#like Draco but hating Percy is just ridiculous to me

[elisedonut]

abandoned is such a strong word for what happened because of the fight between Arthur and Percy

Percy is so loveable and cute

Like i really do think he's misunderstood and I honestly don't even think it was intentional on jkbitches part

but I'm also not someone who thinks an authors intention really matters tbh at the end of the day Percy is not depicted as a bad person but some people still choose to act like he was

all of his actions make sense when considered from his perspective

[thehufflepuffwife]

It's the fact that someone had the audacity to call Percy Weasley a Trump supporter because he made a mistake for me. They straight up called him misogynistic, classist, a narcissist and (most likely) homophobic because he made a mistake. How does this equal having family issues and leaving for your job because that's what you've been taught your entire life, is to follow authority? No damn clue what they were thinking.

Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy chooses to bully people, uses slurs, is classist and brags about becoming a Death Eater. He's generally just a bad person I don't get the hype at all.

The amount of coexistant Percy Weasley hate and utter adoration of Draco Malfoy that I see on the internet lets me know that people really don’t care about characters with interesting moral arcs, they only care about the characters that they wanna fuck.

And that’s really a shame.

[thecarnivorousmuffinmeta]

Could you talk about the Statute of Secrecy? Or the Ministry’s corruption in General :)

Well, those are two different things. Given that I believe I have an ask floating somewhere in my inbox on the Statute, I suppose we’ll talk about the Ministry of Magic today.

I feel like this is such a broad topic though that I’m not quite sure where to start. I guess I’ll just throw spaghetti at the internet wall and see what sticks.

The Ministry is a Reflection of Society Who Never Admitted They Were the Death Eaters

In the ministry of Harry Potter’s era the Ministry is hopelessly corrupt and filled to the brim with spies (more on this in a later section). Lucius Malfoy, very high up in an unofficial capacity in the Ministry and owner of the Ministry’s mouth piece: The Daily Prophet, was a known Death Eater with a very flimsy excuse.

How is he even able to wield so much influence, you ask? Well, I think it’s not just because of Fudge picking the wrong friends.

I think most the population probably does believe Lucius Malfoy is innocent the way Fudge does. I think it’s a very small subsection, i.e. Dumbledore’s lackies, who go “Nah, ain’t buying it.” I think that, in 1981, when it came time to reveal just how many were Death Eaters and how far this went many people just couldn’t handle it.

Because it was to the point where the nation wasn’t battling Death Eaters, Death Eaters were the nation. Look at the members, these are and were the most influential and prominent families in the country, who combined hold a non-small minority of seats in the Wizengamot. More, these were only the participants, combine those who given anti-muggle and muggleborn sentiment (which I believe are pervasive even among those who claim they fight for the rights of muggles and muggleborns) and you get a nation that is suddenly facing a huge cultural issue that was never previously acknowledged.

We’re talking an entire purge of the Wizengamot, of the Ministry, of the major families and cornerstones of this society. The Black family is completely and utterly destroyed.

People were and remain throughout the 1990′s, desperate to believe it was not as bad as it was or isn’t as bad as it is. If Lucius Malfoy says he was never really a Death Eater then he was never really a Death Eater.

The Ministry is Lousy With Corruption and Spies

What’s hilarious to me is not only is the Ministry incompetent. It is positively flooded with spies. Given the ministry’s overbloated, it’s not even a sizeable minority of employees, but nonetheless every major department has at least one person (if not more) who works for somebody else.

Most work for Tom Riddle. He seems to have intelligence in every department. Through Lucius, who is working pretty much as an unofficial aide to Fudge, he has access to Fudge, complete control of the Daily Prophet, and a voice on the Hogwarts’ board of governors.

Through Rockwood, Tom has direct access to the Department of Mysteries which Lucius is then able to take full advantage of.

Lucius is able to set up an ambush in the Department of Mysteries, getting escaped convicts into the building with the none the wiser, and, had his sole purpose not been a prophecy that only Harry Potter and the Dark Lord can touch, he would have been able to take what he liked. (Though it was always odd to me that the plan was to get Harry Potter to do it, when the better solution would have been to polyjuice Tom Riddle into someone else, set up a tour with the department, and then Tom wanders off conveniently to pick up the prophecy. My theory, I suppose, is that chasing after the prophecy was mostly an exercise in punishing Lucius. And then Lucius fucked up.)

And of course, in book seven, Tom Riddle makes a puppet minister. Point being, to me, it always said a lot that in Book Seven Tom just sort of walks into the building and says, “I’m in charge now” and everyone says “okay”. There was no second Wizarding War, it was a bloodless coup that met zero resistance from anyone but angry school children. 

But that’s Tom’s spies, we also have other spies. Who am I talking about, Dumbledore’s folks of course.

Shacklebolt, Moody, Tonks, and Arthur Weasley are all spies, they just don’t have the introspection to even realize it (which really tells you something about the state of corruption in the ministry). They all work for the ministry, yes, but they in fact pass on information to and serve another master, whose goals do not always align with the government and was a hop skip and a jump away from overthrowing the government at any given moment.

And they don’t even really realize they’re doing this! There doesn’t even seem to be a thought of “I’m doing this for the greater good”, they don’t seem to acknowledge that what they’re doing is very very very bad. Arthur, in fact, is appalled when Percy refuses to do this (well, he’s upset for a lot of reasons, such as that he thinks Percy is spying on Arthur for the minister, but in there is also that Percy refuses to help out with the Order or follow Dumbledore without question). 

Harry paints the Dumbledore’s Army threat that Umbridge saw as something utterly ridiculous, but honestly if I was the ministry I would be worried about this. Dumbledore’s people have infiltrated the ministry just as deeply and badly as the Death Eaters, Dumbledore’s known for recruiting children into his vigilante organization, I don’t know what he’s doing with an army of schoolchildren but I can smell a coup coming.

Anyway, I’m getting off track, point being though that corruption is not only expected and accepted by the ministry, they cannot recognize what it even is. They’re at the point where paying bribes is allocated in their budget.

I Don’t Blame the Ministry For Not Thinking Tom Riddle Was Anti-Jesus

Fudge is designed to get a lot of flack for his outright denial that Voldemort had returned from the dead. He, and other denier characters, are meant to be fools with their heads in the sand who can’t see the obvious.

I ask what about it was obvious?

The only witness to Tom Riddle’s resurrection, Harry Potter, has a known history of erratic behavior.

The previous year, he’d performed illegal magic on his muggle aunt and run away from home. During the previous school year, Harry was revealed to be a parselmouth in a time when the Chamber of Secrets was presumably opened and the mystery was never fully solved (remember, that it was a possessed Ginny never comes to light for more than a few people.) Beyond that, since his first day of school, Harry is routinely in and out of detention, constantly out after curfew, and only seems to not be in serious trouble because he’s openly favored by Dumbledore (who gives him hundreds of points for breaking one of his school rules, during the Philosopher’s Stone fiasco in first year). In 1994, Harry is entered into the Tri-Wizard Tournament under very suspicious circumstances.

We know why all this happens to Harry but from the outside he looks like a delinquent. In fact, he kind of is a delinquent. 

Point being, the only witness is not only Harry Potter (who is already sketch) but it’s Harry Potter holding a dead body of a rival in the tournament.

And he’s claiming that a man who has been nearly fifteen years dead, a man who held the nation in terror and Harry Potter is beloved for destroying, has returned from the grave and conveniently murdered Cedric.

Why is Cedric dead? Well, you see, he and Harry both touched the goblet at the same time because they were going to share the reward. The goblet, a national treasure, was turned into a portkey so that Voldemort could kidnap him.

Why didn’t Voldemort just kidnap him at any other point during the year where he’s guaranteed not to get tag a longs or the wrong kid? Uh... VOLDEMORT IS BACK (for the record, I think it’s because Barty got hung up on the goblet scheme and was determined to ruin his father’s day.)

Where is Voldemort at this very moment? Being evil, somewhere, that is not right here. No, Harry has zero evidence this happened.

Frankly, I wouldn’t believe Harry either.

And when Dumbledore goes about promoting this as sound evidence that Tom Riddle has in fact returned, it starts to get even sketchier. Rather than sounding the alarm, Dumbledore is using this boy’s madness to stir the public into a panic that he, perhaps, plans to take advantage of.

After Dumbledore does that, I would suspect that, even if Harry does give me a memory of the graveyard scene that his head had been tampered with by Dumbledore.

And it’s so convenient that, of all the names Harry picked, it’s Voldemort who killed Cedric. It seems like a ploy to not only deflect the fact that he murdered Cedric but 

Harry’s very upset when some don’t take him at his word but Harry’s also a dumbass and a psychopath. He hates everyone who doesn’t agree with him.

More importantly, necromancy isn’t a thing in the Harry Potter universe. People don’t rise from the dead. Horcruxes exist, but they’re extremely rare, and it seems like no one ever really makes use of them.

So, yeah, not unreasonable that Fudge didn’t immediately go, “My god, Voldemort has risen from the dead! LIGHT THE BEACONS AND SUMMON ROHAN!”

So yeah, it’d take me seeing Voldemort waltzing through the Department Mysteries to go “... Goddammit, this man is more unkillable than Sheev Palpatine.”

After the Epilogue, I am Certain It’s Still the Same Damn Ministry

People hate the epilogue, but in a way, I love it, because it confirms many of my headcanons: these people don’t learn a goddamn thing.

Nothing in their society seems to have changed. Instead of one set of families holding all the power it’s now a new set of families and friends holding all the power. The difference being that they are now all in some way connected to Harry Potter.

Nepotism’s still the name of the game, we still see only human children boarding the Hogwarts Express so you know shit hasn’t changed for the goblins, Draco Malfoy’s alive and well and holds a position in the Ministry that Kingsly graciously allows him to have, it’s just now you have Hermione writing all your laws for you.

The Wizarding World is still the Wizarding World in every single capacity. The only difference is that Voldemort is dead again. Hooray.

Harry and friends simply don’t have the introspection to even realize it.

[drarrymybeloved]

a gift for @isamijoo​ as part of the Wheel of Drarry Mini Exchange🥰💞thank you to @curlyy-hair-dont-care​ for the beta!

wc: 1.7k | rating: G

Not All Heroes Wear Capes, But Mine Sure Does

Draco Malfoy, Editor in Chief of Witch Weekly Magazine, eyes his watch and then the stack of paperwork on his desk. He knows he should stay and get through at least half the pile before lunch, but there is also a photoshoot going on in Studio B right this very second that he wouldn’t mind overseeing. Only because the photoshoot is such an important project for the magazine. Not because of the presence of a certain someone at said photoshoot, not at all.

I’m the Editor in Chief of the damn magazine and I can go wherever I like, he decides. He nods his head as if confirming his own thoughts and exits his office to head towards the studio.

Draco had begun working at the offices of Witch Weekly soon after he finished his community service sentence. Starting as a lowly clerk, his ability to charm and enamour as needed, had him slowly but surely climbing the ranks.

Now, at twenty-five, Draco is the youngest Editor in Chief in the history of Witch Weekly. Soon after his promotion, he had recruited Pansy as a columnist and Blaise as a photographer, both of whom are involved in today’s shoot.

And what a shoot it is, Draco thinks with more than a little satisfaction. Featuring the Golden Trio, the rest of the Weasley clan minus Percy who was “just too busy to make it”, Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, the Patil twins, and Lavender Brown, it’s going to be printed as a special edition with all proceeds going to the War Orphan’s Trust. Incidentally, it’s also one of the most— if not the most— star-studded spread in the magazine’s history. Blaise will photograph all the volunteers in various costumes and get-ups, while Pansy will interview them on the side.

When the idea was first proposed, Draco had been sceptical. While the others were less recalcitrant, Potter was well-known for his dislike of modelling of any kind. He hated being in front of a camera, and everybody in the press corps knew it. Without Potter, the venture wouldn’t necessarily fail, but it would definitely not generate as much profit. Draco had meant to ask formally, perhaps through an official letter bearing the magazine’s seal. Instead, he found himself asking Potter at the weekly inter-house pub night, a tradition started in eighth year that— inexplicably— continued well past Hogwarts. Surprisingly, Potter had agreed with minimal fuss. He wasn’t happy about it, but he had agreed nonetheless.

Reaching the studio door, Draco takes a moment to brush non-existent dirt off his suit jacket and straighten his already straight tie, before pushing open the door. There are a fair amount of people milling around, talking and laughing. He can see Weasley, Finnegan and Thomas near the refreshments table. Charlie Weasley is talking animatedly with Luna while Longbottom listens with a bemused expression. Ginerva and George are slowly turning singular strands of Hermione’s hair purple as she talks passionately with Lavender. The Patil twins are having their makeup done, and Bill Weasley is being interviewed by Pansy.

Draco takes all this in with a cursory glance, his attention instantly drawn towards the man currently posing for the camera, like a compass finding true north.

Harry Potter stands in front of the camera, wearing a gladiator’s skirt cinched with a belt adorned with a golden lion, a red cape adorning his broad shoulders. A sheathed sword hangs at his waist. On his feet are black leather sandals, the straps of which rope around his muscular calves. Without his trademark glasses, his eyes look impossibly brighter. His bronze skin practically gleams under the lights. Presumably, someone had applied oil on him at some point. Draco hastily pushes away all thoughts of hands and oil and Potter out of his mind. Potter’s hair looks artfully tousled instead of its usual mess— a near-miraculous feat if you ask Draco. He makes a mental note to jot down the name of the hair stylist for future photoshoots. The thought is there and then gone because just then, Potter draws the sword hanging at his waist, and Merlin and Morgana, Draco was not prepared to see Harry bloody Potter looking like a hero out of a Greek legend.

Draco lets out an involuntary whimper.

“Hello, Draco.”

Draco quickly snaps his gaze away from Potter to find Hermione looking at him with an amused expression. The purple streaks are gone from her hair— she’d probably known what Ginerva and George were up to the whole time. Meanwhile, Draco had been so busy ogling Potter, he hadn’t even seen Hermione approach him. He flushes faintly and attempts to sound like the Editor in Chief of a major publication rather than what he actually feels like— a schoolboy with a pash. “Hello, Hermione. I hope everything is going smoothly?”

Hermione grins. “Yes, it’s all been rather fun actually. Reminds me a bit of Sunday lunch at the Burrow, what with so many people around.”

“Good, that’s good to hear,” Draco says distractedly, attention already straying back to Potter.

“Harry’s looking rather good, isn’t he?” Hermione asks nonchalantly, following Draco’s gaze.

“What? Oh, yes, yes of course. Now that you mention it, he is. That is, I mean, the stylists did a brilliant job. Especially with his hair, it usually looks like a bird's nest,” Draco lets out a strained chuckle, his cheeks burning. He never should have come down here. Merlin.

Hermione presses her lips together, her eyes bright with amusement. “You should tell him that yourself, he’ll like it,” she gestures behind Draco.

Draco turns, and sure enough, Potter’s coming off the set towards them. He doesn’t even stop to change into regular clothes, for fucks sake. How is one supposed to hold a conversation with him looking like that?

“I’ll leave you two to it then, got some catching up to do with Parvati,” Hermione says, grinning wickedly. Before Draco can say another word, she’s already gone.

Cursing internally, he turns to face Potter, determined to keep his attention on Potter’s face and his face only. Not that that’s not distracting enough. Pushing the unhelpful thought away, Draco opens his mouth to greet Potter. What comes out is, “That’s quite a get-up you’ve got going on.”

Oh joy, already off to an excellent start. Draco cringes internally but forces himself to smile in what he hopes is a pleasant manner.

Potter laughs sheepishly. “Yeah, I do feel pretty ridiculous in all this. They’ve even strapped a bloody sword on me. I barely know how to handle it.”

“Looked like you were doing alright, actually,” Draco says before his mind can catch up with his mouth.

“Oh, er, thanks Draco,” Potter smiles bashfully, bringing his hand up to ruffle his hair. Draco’s eyes helplessly follow the flex of his bicep.

Snapping back to attention, he grasps for something other than Potter’s sword-wielding skills to talk about.

"I have to say though, I was quite surprised when you agreed to this. It's no secret you dislike photoshoots immensely," is what he lands on. It’s something he’s been wondering about and he wouldn’t mind knowing what made Potter agree to do this.

“Yeah, I don’t much like being treated as if I’m some celebrity and I’ve never been good in front of a camera. I would have said no but well…” he trails off, looking at Draco intently. “You’re the one who asked, so,” Potter shrugs as if that clears everything up.

Draco blinks. In a dazzling display of eloquence, he says, "What?"

Potter flushes, but he looks determined. "I agreed to do this because I know this photoshoot is important to you. Not just this shoot, the magazine as a whole. I know that you’ve worked hard to make it into something much more than just another gossip rag. So, um, you know, I did it for you,” he rubs the back of his neck, his face flushed crimson. “It also helps that it’s for charity,” he adds, chuckling awkwardly.

Draco gapes. “But...why?” he manages, bewildered.

“Draco,” Potter huffs. “Because I care about you. As in, I have feelings for you. I thought you would have guessed by now, it’s not like I’m great at subtlety. Pretty much everyone else knows,” he smiles nervously.

 Oh. Oh.  

“You have feelings for— wait, everyone knows?” Draco demands. “And no one thought to tell me?” He hates his friends, really truly despises them all.

Potter’s eyes crinkle with the force of his smile. “Wait so, what are you saying?”

Draco rolls his eyes, attempting to sound cool and collected even though he feels practically giddy. “I’m saying, Potter, that I have had “feelings for you” as you put it, for an embarrassingly long time. And everyone knows,” he says, cheeks pinking. “Well, everyone except you, apparently,” he amends.

Potter laughs delightedly. “To be fair, you didn’t catch on to my feelings for you either.”

“We’re rather ridiculous, aren’t we?” Draco says, laughing ruefully.

“Well, we’re both in the know now, so how about we go for a celebratory dinner?” Potter asks, eyes bright.

“Good idea,” Draco says, attempting— and failing— to keep a straight face.

“Potter!” Pansy’s voice cuts across the room.

“Time for your interview it seems,” Draco says.

“Yeah, although I do have some questions for her myself,” Potter says, squinting at Pansy.

“Oh, I will absolutely be having words with her. And Hermione,” Draco huffs.

Potter smiles at him, and it’s such a wide, unrestrained thing, Draco’s heart misses a beat. “I’ll see you after, then?” he asks.

Draco nods, smile softening. “Pick me up at seven, you already know the address.”

Potter flashes him one last smile before walking towards Pansy’s corner.

Draco watches him go with what is most definitely a besotted smile on his face before turning around to leave. His steps falter when he sees all of their friends staring at him, expressions torn between unbridled glee and despair. He frowns— until he catches sight of Ron glumly handing over a handful of Galleons to a triumphant George.

“You absolute pillocks, did you place bets on Harry and me?” he asks in disbelief.

“It’s a lucrative business,” George winks.

“Sorry Draco,” Lavender says, not looking sorry at all as she pockets the coins Padma grudgingly hands her.

“I hate you all,” Draco informs them cheerfully as he heads towards the hallway, professionalism be damned. He hears them laughing as he steps into the hallway, but he’s too elated to be properly pissed off at their machinations. He’ll get back at all of them soon enough, but for now he has a stack of paperwork to finish— he can’t be late for his date after all.

read on ao3

[hokeytheelf]

Ok, Ron Bashing Needs to STOP - In Defense of Ronald Weasley

I just watched a youtuber basing Ron Weasley (for views or just to be funny, presumably) and I hate the fact that no one really cared as much. After everything he’d done for his friend, he didn’t even get half as much as he deserve. Observe:

Ron defended his friends a lot

“Ron plunged his hand into his robes, pulled out his wand, yelling, “You’ll pay for that one, Malfoy!” and pointed it furiously under Flint’s arm at Malfoy’s face.” - HP2C7 (Hermione being called a Mudblood) 

“If you want to kill Harry, you’ll have to kill us too!” - HP3C17 (On thinking a serial killer would kill his best friend)

“It’s the only way… I’ve got to be taken.”  HP1c16 (Sacrificing himself so the others could go)

"You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don't want to be told?" 

"If you think they can't spot a Mudblood, stay where you are," said Malfoy. "You watch your mouth!" shouted Ron. "Never mind, Ron," said Hermione quickly, seizing Ron's arm to restrain him as he took a step toward Malfoy.   -HP4

You’ll be surprised at how many times Ron defended Hermione from Draco alone. There’s more than one in almost every book.

Always being overshadowed by everyone but is still a decent person to them

it’s always you who gets all the attention, you know it is. I know it’s not your fault,” she added quickly, seeing Harry open his mouth furiously. “I know you don’t ask for it … but – well – you know, Ron’s got all those brothers to compete against at home, and you’re his best friend, and you’re really famous – he’s always shunted to one side whenever people see you, and he puts up with it, and he never mentions it, but I suppose this is just one time too many….” HP4c18

Was he, Harry, Ron’s best friend in the world going to sulk because he didn’t have a badge, laugh behind Ron’s back, ruin this for Ron when, for the first time, he had beaten Harry at something?-HP5C9 (When Ron became a prefect he was genuinely surprised because he’s so used to Harry getting everything, and he made sure after he got the badge to not mention it too much around Harry)

"Five," said Ron. For some reason, he was looking gloomy. "I'm the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts. You could say I've got a lot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have already left -- Bill was head boy and Charlie was captain of Quidditch. Now Percy's a prefect. Fred and George mess around a lot, but they still get really good marks and everyone thinks they're really funny. Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it's no big deal, because they did it first.”  hp1c6

“Least loved, always, by the mother who craved a daughter … Least loved…

He’s always there and always came back

"We're with you whatever happens," said Ron.

Apparently Ron had hoped that this point would come up later, if at all. “Well, I’ve—you know—I’ve come back. If—” He cleared his throat. “You know. You still want me.”There was a pause, in which the subject of Ron’s departure seemed to rise like a wall between them. Yet he was here. He had returned. He had just saved Harry’s life. 

“You've sort of made up for it tonight,' said Harry. 'Getting the sword. Finishing off the Horcux. Saving my life.' 'That makes me sound a lot cooler than I was,' Ron mumbled.” (How is he still so humble?)

My Opinion:

Ron wasn’t just a comic relief, nor was he just a sidekick. If you re-read Harry Potter and try to focus on him as a character, you’d see how he’s overprotective over his friends, especially Hermione. For a boy who had been overshadowed by everyone in his life, he’s a really humble character and a bit lowkey. A lot of people hate on Ron because he ended up with Hermione.

 In the books Hermione is not described as pretty, she’s a know it all with all these little quirks (she didn’t have many female friends too), and we love that about her. Re-reading the books told us that as a muggle-born, Hermione’s life is pretty hard and who defended her the most after everything? Ronald Weasley.  He goes completely ballistic when Bellatrix messed with Hermione. Hot take: Ron and Hermione deserved each other equally. They’re compatible. And Ron, out of all people getting hate for that is ridiculous. 

Just because he isn’t described as handsome doesn’t mean he didn’t deserve to be with a girl ffs. And it’s pretty clear in the books that Hermione actually liked him - ‘Good luck, Ron,’ said Hermione, standing on tiptoe and kissing him on the cheek. ‘And you, Harry –’ Ron seemed to come to himself slightly as they walked back across the Great Hall. He touched the spot on his face where Hermione had kissed him, looking puzzled, as though he was not quite sure what had just happened.’-  also this ‘Ron, he saw, was now holding Hermione and stroking her hair while she sobbed into his shoulder, tears dripping from the end of his own long nose.’ .-also - Ron had had a fit of gallantry and insisted that Hermione sleep on the cushions from the sofa, so that her silhouette was raised above his. Her arm curved to the floor, her fingers inches from Ron’s.

Of course, you don’t have to ship romione  but to hate Ron for ending up with Hermione is the problem here.

Now about Harry and Ron. How many times did we see Harry being relieved to see Ron? Many. But people tend to overlook that. Ron is like the closest Harry has to a family. Ron has a lot to live up to and he has massive insecurities, being the best friend of Harry Potter while also being in the Weasley family sure as hell could give people insecurities.

And you know what’s tragic? In the books he’s overshadowed by his family, Hermione, and Harry, and yet as a character in the fandom, he’s overshadowed by more. You can get where his feelings came from, really. What’s impressive is that he always came back every time, he’s still the most loyal out of all of them. He went through a lot too, got bullied for his family's income, for defending his friends, and for looking like an idiot at Quidditch.

And the audacity of someone lashing out at Ron for ending up with Hermione, leaving Harry (when we know it’s the Hocrux, really), and for having normal feelings as a teen is outrageous. We need to stand up to Ron Weasley more just like he stood up for his friends.

[itsyourchoice-hp]

Year 2: Christmas at the Burrow

Cath climbed the steps to the Owlery, the snow crunching under her feet. There were only two weeks left in the term. In her hand she clutched a letter addressed to her parents, asking if she could spend some of the Christmas holidays at the Weasley’s house. Both Harry and Hermione were going to spend the full break there, and Ron had invited both Cath and Draco to join.

She knew that her parents would definitely say no to staying for the whole break, but Cath hoped that they would be in high spirits when they got her letter and allowed her to spend a few days. Although her parents didn’t talk too much about the Weasleys, she knew that her parents had differing opinions on them.

In general, her father was a part of circles made up of mostly wealthy, Pureblood witches and wizards. Though the Weasleys were a Pureblood family, Father had some strong opinions about Mr. Weasley’s fascination with Muggles and how he treated them as equal to himself. Truthfully, Cath didn’t know enough about Muggles to really form an opinion about them. She had never even met or talked to a Muggle before. Mother didn’t say much on the matter but didn’t seem to disapprove of Cath’s friendships with the Weasleys, or with Hermione, who was a Muggle-born witch.

When Cath opened the door to the Owlery, she saw Harry tying a letter to the claw of his snowy owl, Hedwig. He glanced over, and upon realizing it was Cath, waved. Hedwig hooted at him irritably.

“Alright, alright,” Harry said. He finished tying the letter and then let her take off, soaring out of one of the wide windows. “Hi, Cath.”

“Hello,” she replied, approaching one of the school owls, a small brown one with bright brown eyes. It pecked her finger lightly as she attached the letter to its leg.

“Is that the letter to your parents about Christmas break?” Harry asked.

Cath nodded. “I really hope the owl arrives when they’re in a good mood… especially Father. I hope they let me go…”

“Me too,” Harry replied.

“What are you doing?” Cath asked him.

“Sending a letter to my aunt and uncle that I’m not coming home for break,” Harry said. His face darkened. “Although I doubt they’ll really care.”

Cath felt sorry for Harry. As much as her parents could be difficult at times, at least she had parents who loved her and cared for her. She couldn’t believe the things Harry had said in passing over the year about his aunt and uncle, how he used to sleep in a broom cupboard, that often he would be punished and not be able to eat.

There was silence for a minute as they both left the Owlery and descended the stairs. Cath glanced out at the school grounds, watching the Dementors slowly patrolling. She got that dark feeling she got whenever they were near.

“I wish they’d go away,” Cath remarked.

Harry looked around at the Dementors and nodded in agreement. “Me too. I’m tired of passing out cold every time I’m around them. I don’t know why they affect me so much.”

“You aren’t the only one they affect,” Cath assured him. “I don’t know a single person who could look at one without feeling horrible and terrified.”

“I suppose,” said Harry.

They entered one of the towers, grateful to be indoors. Even the castle, usually cold, was a relief from the chill outside. To the right was the corridor leading towards the classrooms. To the left, the stairway that would take Cath towards the Common Room.

“I’ve got to go,” Harry said to her. “I’m meeting with Professor Lupin about an assignment.”

“Alright,” Cath said, noticing his wand in his back pocket as he turned and walked down the corridor.

Cath began descending the staircase, thinking about the letter she sent. She hated feeling like she was missing out on spending time with her friends during the breaks. Sometimes Cath felt as though she was caught between two worlds; her parents, and her life at Hogwarts.

The staircase beneath her gave a big creaking noise and began to move to another landing. Cath sighed in annoyance. It wouldn’t be too much of a detour, but now she was going to have to through the main floor where the Great Hall and offices were. When the staircase connected, she went down the last few steps and rounded the corner.

To her great surprise, her father was talking in a low voice with Professor Dumbledore, looking very angry. Cath stopped for a moment, partially concealed behind a giant stone statue, and tried to hear what they were saying.

“…endangering the students in such a way is completely unacceptable,” she could hear her father say in an icy cold voice.

“I understand your frustration, Lucius, but I assure you-“

“Frustration? I am not frustrated, Albus. I am livid that my son was injured because of an irresponsible decision made by a professor at this school. I simply will not tolerate this nonsense. I have already brought the issue to the board of governors.”

“I would be happy to sit down with the board and discuss the matter there. But, respectfully, I do not think this corridor is the most suitable place for this conversation,” Dumbledore said calmly.

Cath’s father sighed irritably. “I will send you an owl with the date and time of the meeting,” he said curtly.

“I will await your letter,” Dumbledore replied. “Good day, Lucius.”

Cath could hear Dumbledore’s footsteps coming toward her. Quickly trying to look nonchalant, Cath continued down the corridor.

“Ms. Malfoy! What a coincidence,” Professor Dumbledore said pleasantly as they passed.

“Cathryn,” her father said, still in the same place Dumbledore had just come from.

“What are you doing here?” Cath asked.

Upon closer look, he looked very stressed. As he put on his leather gloves and fastened the buttons on his emerald green winter cloak, he replied, “I’ve been trying to reach Dumbledore for weeks about what happened to Draco. Your mother and I were absolutely horrified to hear that he was so badly injured under the supervision of a professor.”

“He seems to be recovering well,” Cath said, trying to reassure him.

“Regardless, it shouldn’t have happened in the first place,” he replied. “Hippogriffs? In a Third Year class? Ridiculous. That idiot should be sacked, and his beast executed.”

Cath had to bite her tongue, horrified at what her father had just said. “Hagrid didn’t mean to.”

“Whose side are you taking in the matter?” Father snapped. Cath felt silenced, not knowing how to respond. Her Father sighed, knowing his tone had been a bit too harsh. “I’m afraid I have to leave. Your mother and I are very much looking forward to you and Draco coming home for Christmas.”

Cath thought about the letter she had just sent. Did she dare bring it up now? Or should she wait until he was home to receive it? One more look at him made up her mind. “Me too,” she replied.

He placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze before turning in the direction of the entrance. Cath watched him leave, his cloak billowing behind him, and then turned around to get to the Common Room. When she arrived, she sighed in annoyance at the group of students waiting to enter. Sir Cadogan had no doubt changed the password on them again.

“Come on,” Dean Thomas groaned. “You can’t just let us in?”

“And put the noble house of Gryffindor in the face of danger?” Sir Cadogan asked incredulously. “Never. Now take out thy sword and fight me like a real knight!”

“We aren’t living in medieval times anymore!” Seamus exclaimed, exasperated.

“Last I checked it was Flibbertigibbet,” Cath offered, taking a step forward.

“We tried that already,” Pavarti Patil said, crossing her arms against her chest.

“Intruders! All of you,” Sir Cadogan waved his sword at them menacingly, as if he had forgotten he was just a portrait hanging on the wall of an old castle.

“You see us every day! You know we aren’t intruders,” Cath pointed out.

“What’s all the ruckus about?” Percy Weasley said from behind them. He pushed through to get to the front of the line.

“Sir Cadogan changed the password again,” Seamus explained to Percy.

Percy sighed in frustration. “Sir Cadogan,” he said as respectfully as he could. “We had this conversation last week with Professor Dumbledore-”

“Scoundrels! Dogs, all of you!” Sir Cadogan interrupted. “I can see none of you are fit for the task, nor are you brave enough to duel me. Now get back!”

Percy looked so angry a vein was beginning to pop out in his forehead. “I will not have you speak to me that way. I’m Head Boy! I demand you let these students into the Common Room at once.”

“Fine, I’ll let you in…” Sir Cadogan said with a smirk that gave the impression that he was not in fact going to let them in. “If you can tell me who defeated the Wyvern of Wye.”

There were a few exasperated sighs, and Cath worried that steam was going to start escaping Percy’s ears. She had never seen him so cross before; no doubt, he hated having his authority challenged.

“Does anyone know?” Seamus asked the group.

The others shook their heads dejectedly.

Cath suddenly had an idea. It was a long shot, but she might as well try. “Sir Cadogan,” she said, taking a step forward. Maybe if he recognized her from now on he’d let her in… “It was you of course.”

Sir Cadogan didn’t look so much disappointed as he was elated that someone recognized an achievement of his. “Aye, bonnie lass! It was I. It was a dark winter’s night, much like this one… The Wyvern of Wye-”

“Maybe another time,” Dean interrupted, looking expectantly at him.

Sir Cadogan finally gave in, swinging forward with a deep bow.

“Thank Merlin!” Seamus exclaimed.

“Thank goodness you came,” Parvati said gratefully. “I had no idea what he was even talking about.”

“I knew once a Head Boy arrived that he would stop with his ridiculous games,” Percy said from the back of the group. Everyone else ignored him.

“How did you know?” Dean asked.

Cath shrugged. “I just assumed he’d be talking about himself.” She had to admit, she was quite enjoying the attention. She even pretended to act modestly when Dean and Seamus told Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George what had happened.

“Brilliant,” he said to Cath, giving her a lopsided grin. “I never would have thought of that.”

“It’s in A Comprehensive History of the Knights of the Round Table: Fifth Edition,” Hermione said as if it were obvious.

“How could I have forgotten,” Fred said sarcastically. “It’s only my favourite book.”

“I wish I had been there to see Percy get put in his place,” Ginny said ruefully.

Fred and George stood up. “Well, we had best be off…” George said.

“What are the two of you up to?” Hermione asked.

“No good, of course,” Fred replied, winking at her. He had a large piece of very old-looking parchment sticking out of his back trouser pocket, thought Cath doubted that they were going to do any homework.

“Where’s Harry?” Ginny asked, closing her copy of Quidditch Through the Ages and setting it beside her on the couch.

“Meeting Professor Lupin,” Cath answered.

“Did he mention what he was doing with him?” Hermione asked inquisitively.

“Just meeting with him about an assignment,” she replied.

“Doesn’t sound like Harry…” Ron remarked. He was opening a package of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans and held them out to the others.

Cath took a few in her hand and examined them. One was green with brown flecks, while the other was plain light blue. Deciding she had better go with the blue one, she popped it into her mouth and hesitantly bit down on it. Soap flavour. Certainly not the worst, considering there were flavours like earwax, sausage, and troll bogey.

A game of exploding snap started somewhere in the Common Room and Cath jumped up at the chance to play her favourite game. Ginny joined her and they sat down at one of the large study tables with a group of other students including Dean and Seamus and Colin Creevey and Alice Stone, both in their year.

***

The fall term was almost at a close, and Cath was still waiting for a reply from her parents about spending part of the Christmas break at the Weasleys’ house. It had been almost a week since she had sent her letter, and there were only five days left of school before the students were dismissed for two weeks.

It was a Sunday afternoon and the grounds were now completely covered in snow. There was not a single could in the sky that day, causing the white snow to sparkle and catch in the light. That morning Hermione and Ron had left for Hogsmeade, sent along with a list of things Cath, Ginny, and Harry wanted them to purchase for them.

Christmas time at Hogwarts was definitely one of Cath’s favourite times at school. In the girls’ dormitory was a huge window with a cushioned window seat. She and Ginny were curled up on it with a mug of hot chocolate, looking outside and soaking in the warmth of the sun.

Far down below Gryffindor tower, Cath could see Hagrid making his way from the edge of the forest toward the castle, dragging a pine tree in each hand through the snow. He left a long, snaking path behind him.

“Do you remember what happened to my brother in Hagrid’s class a while ago?” Cath asked Ginny, remembering the conversation she had had with her father when he was talking with Professor Dumbledore two weeks ago.

Ginny nodded, taking a sip of hot chocolate. “Has he recovered yet?” Cath could hear a trace of sarcasm in her voice.

“Oh, he’s fine,” Cath waved her hand dismissively. “The only thing is, my father was here a few weeks ago talking to Professor Dumbledore. I overheard them in the corridor. He was really upset about what happened and wanted to take some sort of action.”

“What kind of action?” Ginny asked, looking concerned.

Cath shrugged. “I’m not totally sure… he did mention wanting Hagrid to be fired though.”

“That’s not fair!” Ginny remarked. “It wasn’t Hagrid’s fault. Harry said Draco didn’t follow the instructions properly.”

“I know, I don’t think Hagrid is at fault either. I’m going to try my best to convince my father that it was just an accident,” Cath agreed with her before adding darkly, “Though I’m not sure I’ll have much luck, Draco being his favourite child and all.”

Ginny chuckled. “That can’t be true.”

“He doesn’t even try to hide it!”

“C’mon Cath, you don’t think your own father would actually pick a favourite child. He probably just gets on better with Draco because he’s a boy,” Ginny reasoned.

Cath sighed. “Maybe you’re right.” She blew gently on the surface of her hot chocolate before taking a sip, not wanting to burn her tongue. She licked whipped cream from the corners of her lips.

“Anyways, have you heard back from your parents about staying with us during the break?” Ginny asked, crossing her legs in front of her.

“Not yet,” Cath replied dejectedly. “If I don’t get anything back tomorrow, I’ll send another letter. I don’t see why they wouldn’t want me to go. Christmas at our house is so boring anyway.”

“They have to let you come,” Ginny said. “It wouldn’t be the same without you.”

After a while more of people watching and drinking hot chocolate, Ginny and Cath decided to wander down to the Great Hall to have lunch with some of the other girls in their year. Cath expected to see Harry down there since he hadn’t been able to attend Hogsmeade outings, but he was not in the Common Room or in the Great Hall.

Hagrid had set up the Christmas trees in the entrance hall and was now going to get two more. Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall were using charms and transfiguration to decorate each in Hogwarts house colours.

Unfortunately for Cath, she did not receive a letter from her parents the next day, and despite the several other letters she sent after, much to the chagrin of the owl she kept fastening letters to, did not receive a response until the day before the end of the term.

All it said was:

Cathryn,

We will talk about this when you return home.

***

Cath and Draco pushed their trolleys with their friends through the crowded Platform 9 3/4 and waited in the queue that was forming to exit to Platform 9. All of them were dressed in their warm winter clothes and were chatting excitedly about Christmas.

Cath couldn’t help but feel jealous that all of them were going to be spending the whole two weeks together having fun. She hated the feeling of missing out and wondered if Draco had tried to ask their parents or if he even wanted to join them.

“I think Father and I are going to catch a Quidditch game or two over the break,” Draco was drawling to Hermione.

“What team?” Ron interjected, immediately fascinated by the topic of conversation.

“Puddlemere United, of course,” Draco replied. “We have season passes.”

Cath felt embarrassed by his constant bragging as Ron’s face was overcome with jealousy. She didn’t know why Hermione seemed to find him so interesting.

“That sounds really enjoyable,” she replied. “I’ve never seen a regional team play before. Only our Hogwarts teams.”

“You haven’t?” Draco asked incredulously. “You have to come sometime.”

“There are Mum and Dad,” Ginny said, gesturing to where Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were standing, making conversation with another family. She turned back to Cath and Draco. “Let us know if your parents decide you can come.”

“I hope you can,” Hermione said. “It’s always so much fun at the Burrow.”

“I’ll talk them into it,” Cath said confidently, determined not to miss out on the fun.

“Come, Cathryn,” Draco said. “Mother and Father will be waiting for us.”

They said their goodbyes quickly before Cath and Draco continued to push their trolleys down the narrow corridors of the underground system. Their parents normally met them outside King’s Cross station, where they would help with their luggage and walk over to a store in Diagon Alley and use the Floo network to return home to Wiltshire.

“Did you ask about going to the Burrow?” Cath asked Draco.

“I tried sending a letter, but they never responded,” Draco said. “They probably prefer we stay at home during the break. They hardly get to see us during the year as it is.”

“I suppose…” Cath trailed off. “Do you think they don’t want us to go?”

Draco shrugged uncomfortably, causing Cath to think that he probably thought so. “Just drop it,” he said. “We’ll have a perfectly fine Christmas at home.”

Cath didn’t say anything else, but she certainly wasn’t going to drop it.

Just like always, their parents were waiting for them at the grand entrance of King’s Cross station. It was strange to see them without their regular clothes, but Cath knew that Muggles would be suspicious if they saw people wearing cloaks and robes or pointed hats.

Both their parents greeted them with a smile and helped them with their luggage. Between the four of them, they could carry everything. After returning the trolleys, they made their way outside, where snow was falling gently from the sky. The streets of London were decorated for Christmas, and as they entered Diagon Alley, the streetlights and storefronts were as well.

At last, the Malfoys made it back home. When Cath landed in the fireplace of Malfoy Manor, she couldn’t deny that it felt like home. She stepped out into the sitting room, making sure to dust off her feet before walking through and bringing her things up into her room.

Cath’s bedroom was large but fairly simple. The walls were painted an eggshell white. Against the wall opposite the door was her bed, a four-poster with a sage green bedspread and a beige throw blanket. On either side of her bed were two tall windows that let in the afternoon sun.

A large pine wardrobe sat against the wall to the left of the door. To the right was her small bathroom. The side of the room on which the door was, sat a small desk with a stack of books on it. Cath’s favorite part of her bedroom was the large wicker chair that hung from the ceiling. It was large enough that she could curl up on it and comfortable enough that she occasionally fell asleep while working on homework.

The curtains of her four-poster bed were white and billowy. It was so quiet; Cath had gotten used to sharing a dormitory with the seven other girls in her year. Though she did like her room here, it didn’t feel as warm as the Gryffindor dormitories, and Malfoy Manor as a whole lacked the coziness and charm of Gryffindor Tower.

Cath didn’t bother unpacking. Instead, she set her trunk on the ground and picked a book out of the small stack on her desk. Her mom had bought her a set of novels by a well-known witch for her tenth birthday. Cath had tried and tried countless times to read them, but teen romance novels were not exactly her speed.

The book she had selected from the series was called Meet Me at the Clock Tower. The cover showed a young couple kissing under the clock tower in Diagon Alley, a famous magical landmark. Two bookmarks peeking out about a quarter of the way and halfway through told Cath she had attempted to start this one several times.

From down the hall, she could hear Draco and her parents come up the stairs, presumably to drop off the remaining luggage. Cath flung the book onto her bed and looked out of her doorway. This was her chance to interrogate her parents about why they didn’t want her staying at the Burrow during the winter break.

Her mother walked towards Cath’s room with her other things. When she saw the book lying on Cath’s bed she smiled. “Reading those again? Don’t you think it’s time for some new books?”

Cath forced a smile. “Yeah… I suppose so.”

Her mother pushed her long hair over her shoulder and put Cath’s trunk on the bed. Cath opened her mouth but then hesitated. Before her mother left the room, she said, “Mother, I was just wondering if you and Father had given any more thought about… you know, going to the Weasley’s for a bit?”

Her mother stopped in the doorway, gave a small sigh, and then turned around. This time, her smile looked rather forced. “Darling, don’t you see your friends every day at school?”

Cath was beginning to feel very annoyed at this point. She just wanted a straight answer. “Why can’t I go? All of my friends will be there. I really don’t want to miss out!”

“You know, why don’t you try making some other friends? It’s nice to branch out a little bit, isn’t it darling?” Mother said, that fake smile still plastered on her face.

“But why?” Cath asked. She didn’t mean to, but her voice was beginning to rise.

“There are some things that you won’t fully understand until you’re older, you see. Your father and I both agree that… perhaps you should spend time with other people too,” Mother tried to explain, keeping her voice calm and in control.

Tears sprung to Cath’s eyes. She tended to cry when she felt angry. Perhaps it was time to try a different approach. “Please,” she pleaded, trying to use the tears to her advantage. “Please, mother, I just want to go for a few days.”

Her mother automatically put a hand on her shoulder to comfort Cath. Her sympathetic eyes told Cath that she was giving in. “I’ll… talk to your father,” she said, defeated.

“Oh, thank you!” Cath exclaimed, hugging her mother tightly.

She smoothed Cath’s hair before turning around to leave. Feeling satisfied, Cath jumped onto her bed, sinking into the soft feather mattress. Her mother was far easier to win over than her father.

A moment later, she heard someone else enter her room. Cath looked up and saw Draco leaning against her door frame, arms folded across his chest.

“That was a nice little show you put on there,” Draco said.

“I did it for both of us,” Cath said as if that were supposed to somehow justify it.

“Mother could never say no to you…” Draco said, looking slightly bitter as he said it.

“Well, good thing you have Father,” Cath retorted. “You know, it would help if you could ask him about staying at the Burrow.”

Draco shrugged, looking down. “Maybe.”

“Why have you been acting like that?” Cath asked, sitting up.

“Like what?” Draco asked defensively.

“You know,” Cath said. “Sometimes you’re all over Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and sometimes you avoid them. I don’t get it.”

She could tell she was right; Draco frowned and dropped his arms to his sides. “Whatever, Cath.”

“Ask Father!” she called after him as he turned and went back to his room. Cath lay back down, staring up at the covering of her four-poster. She was already bored. Her friends were no doubt having the time of their lives at the Burrow… probably playing games, eating treats, having snowball fights…

Cath drifted off into a light sleep. She had no idea how long she had slept for when she awoke to Draco hitting her with a pillow.

“Draco!” she groaned.

“Supper is ready,” he said, tossing the pillow back on her bead.

Cath sat up and gathered her hair into a tail and changed into some more comfortable lounge clothes. Their house always seemed so cold, no matter how much Cath bundled up. Her footsteps echoed on the hardwood floor as she made her way across the hall and down the long, curved staircase to the first floor.

She breathed in the smell of food wafting from the kitchen, catching hints of thyme and red wine. Her parents and Draco were already seated, and their House Elves were sending platters of food floating over to the dining table.

Cath always thought their dining table was far too long. It seated at least twelve people and looked rather silly with just the four of them taking up the end. Above their heads was a grand chandelier that had been in the Malfoy family for centuries, according to her father. The teardrop-shaped crystals reflected the flickering candlelight.

On the table was roast beef with carrots and potatoes, and a loaf of steaming hot bread wrapped in a cloth to keep warm. The smell made Cath realize just how hungry she was. Her parents sipped dark red wine from antique goblets.

Her father cleared his throat and Draco and Cath both looked up at them. Meals were more or less void of conversation, so whatever their father was about to say must be important.

“Your mother and I have decided to allow you to visit the Weasleys,” he said. It sounded as though the sentence was incredibly hard for him to get out.

Cath’s eyes widened in delight.

“For two nights,” he continued. “After Christmas day.”

“Oh, thank you!” Cath exclaimed. “Thank you so much!”

Her father forced a smile and nodded, taking a gulp of wine. Their mother was delicately cutting her carrots and potatoes, glancing over to their father.

Cath could tell that Draco was excited but trying to act nonchalantly as he buttered a slice of bread. She had always looked forward to Christmas, but now she wanted to skip right past it so that she could be with her friends at the Burrow.

***

As predicted, the first week of Christmas break was quiet and rather boring. Cath’s parents had a few families over and made her spend time with their friends’ children while they were over. Draco enjoyed bossing Vincent and Gregory around, but Cath had absolutely nothing in common with Corban and Lysandra Yaxley’s daughter Clara, who was a Second Year in Slytherin house.

Clara was a very pretty girl with blonde hair that fell in neat curls at her collar bone. She was very fair-skinned, which made her full pink lips stand out. Clara was graceful and poised. Her every movement was fluid and precise as if she were a ballerina. She was at least a head taller than Cath, who felt awkward and clumsy compared to her.

Cath didn’t know what to talk about and felt stupid just sitting across from her trying not to stare too much. The two of them attempted to play a rather half-hearted game of wizard’s chess before they both resigned themselves to sitting in silence, awkwardly sipping on tea. Cath’s father seemed particularly disappointed that Cath hadn’t become immediate best friends with Clara and encouraged her to try harder when she was back at school.

It was finally the day after Christmas. Cath had scribbled a quick note to Ginny on the day their parents gave her and Draco permission to stay with them for a few days. At ten o’clock sharp, Cath was in the sitting room holding a bag with everything she needed for two days. Draco came in a few minutes later, followed by their parents.

“Are you sure you don’t want to eat breakfast here?” Mother asked. She smoothed Cath’s hair behind her ears as she often did.

“I’m fine,” Cath said confidently. “Well, bye! Thanks again for letting us go.” She hugged both of her parents, genuinely grateful.

“Behave yourselves,” Father said.

Without another word, Cath stepped into the grand fireplace, took a handful of Floo powder, and said confidently, “The Burrow!”

She squeezed her eyes shut as she began to shoot away, keeping her arms close to herself and trying to remain as still as possible so she didn’t end up in someone else’s fireplace. Moments later, her feet landed on solid ground and she stumbled out of the hearth into a small, cramped sitting room.

Cath looked around. She felt as though she were in the most comforting, warm home. Compared to hers, where everything seemed cold and quiet, the Burrow was colorful, warm, and alive. A charmed feather duster glided around, and knitted blankets seemed to cover every sofa and piece of furniture. In the corner to her left was a huge Christmas tree, decorated with a variety of ornaments, including pictures of the Weasley children. The walls were a warm yellow, and on one was a massive clock with many hands, one for each member of the family. All of the arrows but two, who Cath had never met, were pointed at “Home.”

The kitchen was in view, and Cath saw the dishes being washed by themselves, as well as a washcloth wiping surfaces. She could hear muffled voices from upstairs. Cath walked tentatively towards the staircase. She looked up and saw that it looked as though different stories were added to the house at different times; all of the landings were uneven and differently shaped.

She heard a poof from behind her and heard Draco approach her. He looked around with a rather unpleasant look on his face.

“They must be very poor,” he remarked.

Cath felt angry and protective, but before she had the chance to respond, she heard footsteps above her. She looked up and saw Ginny standing at the top of one of the landings.

“Cath! You’re here!” she exclaimed.

“Who’s here?” said someone from about three floors up. Fred and George came into view. “Oh! Hello, Malfoys.”

Hermione burst out of a room and hurried down the stairs. “Oh, I’m so thrilled you both could come!” she exclaimed. She gave both of them a hug, causing Draco’s face to flush slightly. “Did you have a nice Christmas?” she asked.

“It was nice,” Draco replied. He looked a lot more relaxed now.

“Harry, Ron!” Ginny called up the stairs.

The boys came out of a room from the floor above Ginny and saw Cath and Draco. Harry looked incredibly happy. From the little she had heard about his aunt and uncle, Cath was sure that being at the Burrow for Christmas was like heaven.

“Cath, fancy a game of Exploding Snap?” George said, with a look that said he knew she wasn’t going to turn him down.

“Obviously,” she replied.

All of them found a spot in the small living room. While the game was being set up, Cath leaned over to Ginny and asked, “Gin, who are the other two on the clock?”

She pointed to the big clock where Bill and Charlie were away.

“Bill is our oldest brother,” Ginny explained. “He’s five years older than Percy. He works in Egypt as a curse breaker for Gringott’s bank. And Charlie is two years younger than him. He trains dragons in Romania.”

“Are they here?” Cath asked.

Ginny shook her head sadly. “They haven’t been home for Christmas for two years. But we did get to visit Bill in Egypt last summer. Mum always tries to convince them to come home, but they’re having the time of their lives.”

Cath admitted that they both sounded incredibly cool. About halfway into the game, the front door opened, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came in with their arms laden with bags and parcels. They set everything down in the entrance, and Mrs. Weasley waved her wand at all the bags, which began to float into the kitchen and unpack themselves. Carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, apples, and cranberries all washed themselves in the sink while canned and dry goods flew into cupboards and pantries.

“Oh, the Malfoys are here!” Molly exclaimed to Arthur. She came into the living room, stretching her arms out for a hug. Cath, though surprised, received her nearly bone-crushing embrace. Not even Draco could get away. “We’re so thrilled you could join us for a few days. Have you had breakfast? You look hungry.”

“We're fine,” Cath replied politely.

“I’m starving,” Draco said at the exact same time.

“And good heavens, it’s nearly lunchtime! Let me set out some tea and biscuits to hold you over,” she said, hurrying back to the kitchen.

Mr. Weasley stopped her and took off her scarf, coat, and wool hat for her before she went to business. He nodded politely at Cath and Draco as he hung both his and Molly’s outerwear on a coatrack that was already dangerously close to falling over on account of all the jackets and scarfs hanging on its many arms.

“It’s a pleasure to have you,” he said over the noise of the game. “I trust you had a nice Christmas?”

"Very nice, thank you,” Cath replied. “Thank you so much for letting us stay.”

"Of course,” Mr. Weasley smiled. “Any friend of Ron and Ginny’s is a friend of ours.”

Moments later, a fresh pot of tea and some biscuits were making their way to the coffee table. As everyone poured themselves a cup, Cath couldn’t think of a better way to spend Christmas break than with all of her friends in one room.

[thiscitychickk]

If you don't mind sharing, I would love to hear about how you came up with the idea for CLUAH (like giving them age gap, Hermione's backstory, anything about the characters, and your thought process for the plot so far) I am obsessed with this story and I'm always rereading when I wait for the next update!

Thank you so so much! I am glad you’re enjoying it :)

So I’ve always been annoyed by fics about American politics as they’re clearly written by people who’ve never worked in the federal government (which is fine!), and I wanted to write something accurate. It’s like the way the House and Senate look different on the sets of West Wing, Veep, Scandal, etc.. Nothing is accurate. So I’ve had little snippets written, but nothing with a plot fully fleshed out. Just the idea of Hermione and Draco meeting and falling in love in Washington.

I read a book a few months ago called The Idea of You by Robinne Lee that’s focused on a couple with an age gap (a la boyband member becoming infatuated with a fan’s mother at a meet and greet. book is incredible, buy it/read it/love it) and it spurred my inspiration to have Draco as a Member of Congress and Hermione as a staffer. There are a lot of dangerous power dynamics in Washington that I’ve been warned by women who are gracious enough to have helped me (and continue to help me!) get my feet under myself living across the country from my family and as a young female on the Hill. Whether it’s a chief of staff trying to be your friend or another office’s legislative director asking you to dinner at a business meeting or a lobbyist trying to hit you up... a lot of dynamics are dangerous and potentially illegal with the super strict ethics laws and guidelines we have to follow as staffers. So it seemed fun and challenging to try out!

Plotwise, all of my stories are dialogue heavy. My biggest pet peeve in any story I read is when couples fall in love but it feels like moving from A to B because it’s expected rather than giving them a decent background and love story with highs and lows and ‘moments’ that make a real relationship. What do the characters like? What do they hate? What is their day-to-day routine? Clearly you can’t fit everything in, but it’s important to get enough for me that people aren’t just like omg they’re in love and finally having sex BUT like... wow, I see why they’re in love and I’m so glad that they found each other! Smut is great, sure, but fully fleshed out relationships are much better in long fics.

A huge part of DC that is difficult, especially on the Hill, is being a Christian and a Democrat. On dating apps all of the first messages I get are ‘you’re a Democrat and Christian?’ or ‘are you fine if I’m conservative?’ That’s just part of DC and being a person of faith, and take faith out of it and dating across party lines is STILL weird. It’s something that I continue to navigate and I think it’s so fun to explore through this medium.

There’s absolutely NO way that Malfoys would be liberal or Hermione would be conservative in America, so this is a necessary plot point in CLUAH. Some people are saying ‘oh they’ve not fought at all so far, not realistic.’

And, I say, noooo offense, but have you been in a relationship where you’ve been super attracted to someone and have the best time with them and laugh all the time and push off serious stuff? Sure, you know their mom’s name and the funny story about their childhood cat and the drama about their dad’s step-dad, but like... you aren’t talking about tax policy and guns and the Supreme Court’s 1993 ruling on *insert issue here.* 

That will ALWAYS come up, and it did already in Hermione and Draco’s relationship. I did it in a theoretical way. Hermione is theoretical, and would certainly think that having that conversation checked off the box of ‘we had the political conversation and he doesn’t spit at gay people on the streets or try and convert people of a different religion if he sees them at a restaurant, so things are fine.’

There is a huge difference between living out your political beliefs and discussing them. There will be votes soon that Draco takes that piss Hermione off. If they want to be together, they’re going to have to live through that. Think of all of the campaign promises that Lucius will have to make to rally the base. So much is coming on that front, and that’s been a huge driver in my plot so far and will obviously continue to be as we move ahead.

In terms of the characters, I’ve been focused on filling some of the stereotypes on the Hill and DC in general.

There are a lot of people like Harry who rely on their parents’ wealth and either go to grad school or law school in DC or just have a really ridiculous job and spend most of their time at the bar and nice restaurants.

Pansy is the typical ‘my parents got me this internship’ girl, but I love her and wanted to help her grow past that.

A lot of chiefs are like Blaise, Remus and Severus, and honestly, that’s how good chiefs should be... incredibly loyal, to the death, for their member, but also knowing they’re the only person who can talk their member off a ledge and tell them their ideas are dumb or unethical or not well thought out.

Percy is the quintessential hardworker who annoys everyone, but somehow made their way up the chain and knows too much to ever get rid of. He doesn’t have many friends, but it’s totally fine because he is serving the public!!!! We love Percy, even if I don’t love Percy-types in real Hill life :)

This is super long and rambly, but hopefully I answered some of your questions!

[fierte-verte]

Being Ron’s Twin Sister (and Dating Harry) Would Include:

* being ron’s best friend, closest confidant, partner in crime, and favorite sibling

* getting smothered with love from your older brothers (especially bill, since you’re the first girl in a long line of rowdy brothers)

* being a role model to ginny, as well as sharing know-hows on being a woman of confidence and strength

* bonding with arthur over your mutual interest in muggle everyday items

* sitting in a compartment with harry, hermione, and ron on the hogwarts express—the start of a beautiful friendship

* owning a tabby cat named myra despite ron’s firm opposition

* weekly wizard chess games because you two are self-proclaimed prodigies 

* playing side by side with ron in the chessboard chamber

* and winning because you two are unstoppable together

* grimacing when harry recounts his duel with quirrell 

* “that’s bloody gross, imagine having you-know-who breathing down your neck”

* excelling at transfiguration as well as potions, with the latter being an annoyance for snape

* but not herbology, because you’re too busy waving a wailing mandrake in draco’s face

* “sorry professor sprout, i completely underestimated how much of a wimp he can be...”

* defending your family against draco whenever he teases you guys about being poor

* “why don’t you go cry to your father about this, malfoy?”

* being mcgonagall’s favorite—an honor not even the great harry potter can attain

* playing chaser for the gryffindor team, in which you and Ginny make one formidable pair

* rolling your eyes all day every day just because you can

* acting as ron and the twins’ lookout when they rescue harry from privet drive, or all of their other schemes really 

* always failing miserably as you’re no match against molly weasley’s maternal instincts

* “i cannot believe the four of you! where on earth do you get these ridiculous ideas from?”

* teaching ginny awesome hexes, and using a few when the twins piss you off

* going into the chamber of secrets with harry, ron, and lockhart, then discovering tom riddle’s true identity

* shielding ginny from the fight between harry and the basilisk 

* meeting sirius black in your third year

* with the freed prisoner liking you for your fierce spirit and good heart

* being distressed when ron and harry fight over the triwizard tournament

* comforting ron when he gets insecure about being harry’s sidekick 

* but also believing that harry is wrongly accused of cheating 

* slipping harry secret notes to make sure he’s okay throughout the day

*  coming up with plans to help them reconcile with an exasperated hermione 

* “ronald weasley! honestly, will the two of you just make up!”

* being harry’s rescue target for his second task in the triwizard tournament 

* crying over cedric’s death because he was your charms mentor and friend 

* forming a tight bond with harry that slowly begins to feel like a crush instead

* ron sensing the change in your dynamic, then encouraging you to do something, anything about it 

* when you and harry finally get together he’s your number one supporter 

* though he does prefer not to see you two act all lovey-dovey before him 

* “blimey, (y/n), i’m still here you know”

* being one of the first DA members to be able to produce a Patronus

* slipping a weasley concoction into umbridge’s tea, and stifling an especially loud laugh when she burps out worms in the middle of lesson

* impressing the twins with your stealthy pranks

* studying with hermione so as to ace your O.W.Ls

* becoming close friends with luna, dean, and neville

* hard-core glaring at ron when he makes fun of luna

* dueling lucius malfoy at the department of mysteries 

* being devastated when sirius gets killed, as you’ve come to consider him family over the years

* chasing down harry when he goes after bellatrix 

* “no harry, this isn’t you!”

* getting slammed into a wall by voldemort and blacking out

* harry escaping his control when he thinks of you 

* joining slughorn’s club because of your exceptional potion skills

* giving ginny some advice on her relationship with dean

* boosting ron’s confidence when he’s doubting his own abilities as a keeper

* “for merlin’s sake ron—you’re a weasley, have some faith in yourself won’t you?” 

* hating mclaggen and his poor treatment of ron

* then almost banging your head against the wall when your brother starts to datelavender 

* comforting hermione with harry

* helping ron realize his feelings for hermione

* and wanting to strangle him because he’s incredibly dense when it comes to romance

* accepting bill and fleur’s relationship before molly and ginny do

* “to hell with it mum, they’re in love.”

* crying happy tears of joy when your oldest brother gets married

* hunting for horcruxes along with the golden trio

* infiltrating the ministry and accidentally breaking a few of umbridge’s cat plates

* being distressed (again) when harry and ron start to irk each other

* feeling crushed at ron’s decision to leave the search

* being equally angry with him as hermione

* but forgiving him the moment he opens his mouth to crack a lame joke

* “you owe me a hundred chocolate frogs—two hundred, if you want to complain.”

* visiting godric’s hollow with harry and hermione 

* burying dobby with harry

* “he’s at peace now, harry, he’ll be glad to rest”

* being the first to forgive percy when he returns to the family 

* sobbing hysterically on george’s shoulder when you peer down at the stretcher and see fred’s body

* watching brokenheartedly as harry heads into the forbidden forest

* “i can’t lose you too”

* wanting to pass out at the sight of harry’s body, until you realize he’s feigning death

* dueling bellatrix with ginny, luna, and hermione

* “not my daughters, you bitch”

* sharing a heartfelt embrace with the golden trio after the war

* “if you do that to me again, potter, voldemort will be the least of your worries.”

* mourning fred’s death, but also feeling relieved that sirius was able to be avenged by your mother

* returning to hogwarts to help with reparations and to finish your final year of school

* spending a lot of time with teddy and spoiling the kid rotten because he’s absolutely adorable

* “look ron he’s made his hair red like ours”

* continuing to have ron’s back whenever and wherever, no matter how big of an idiot he may be at times

* through thick and thin, you’ve grown to know each other better than anyone else

* and you wouldn’t trade your love for all the chocolate frogs in the world

* scanning teddy’s history textbooks for your name and ron’s

* “hah! ron! i have two more mentions than you do.”

[old-primavera-cerezos]

A dare

At a bar: Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean, George, Percy in a booth, a few rounds in. The Weasleys are pink cheeked. Percy has let slip a curse word. Seamus is in Dean’s lap.

“It’s been way too long for me, mate,” Harry says, and Ron nods

“You need to find someone to go home with”

Percy starts to say, “Harry, you can’t just—use people—” and George interrupts with, “I have a dare for ya, Hare,” and of course Harry goes with the dare

“The next bloke who walks in here, you gotta try to go home with him” — Now not a single person in this group has a bit of sense left to them and it seems like a great idea to try this, except to Percy, but George has now jinxed his lips together

Dean orders another round and they all watch the door until their attention spans collectively run out (approximately 4 minutes)

They’re back to a heated Quidditch debate when the door opens and

George lays his head down on the table, cackling, gesturing at the entryway

Ron just mumbles “oh Merlin help us”

Harry’s eyes are stuck on Draco Malfoy, because who else could it have been, he’s known his whole twenty two years the universe hates him, why would this be any different

Draco sits at the bar and he looks so ridiculously out of place in his bespoke suit and shiny hair but he barely wrinkles his nose at the liquor selection

Ron is saying, “Mate, the next one, the next—” but Harry is a bona fide idiot and never backs down from a challenge (somewhere in his brain Hermione is saying you’ve always had a thing for Malfoy but he ignores that) so he pushes Seamus and Dean out of the booth and walks over to the bar

George has moved to see Harry but he’s still crying with laughter

Percy is making his prefect face but his mouth is still jinxed

“Alright, Malfoy?” Harry says (he doesn’t slur it because that would be embarrassing)

Malfoy sighs. “I’m just here for a drink, Potter, go back to your little friends, I won’t do even a spot of dark magic in your holy presence”

Harry snorts and sits in the next stool (very gracefully considering his legs are almost completely feelingless)

“I didn’t come over here to kick you out, I came over to take you home with me”

As the words leave his mouth and the sip of martini Malfoy just took leaves his, it occurs to Harry that he’s never said anything like that, but he’s in too deep to question his methods now

An hour later, Malfoy has finished two martinis and Harry has downed two glasses of water so they’re on about even footing; Harry has learned Draco bought an antique shop which will open three blocks away in the spring

Draco mentions he bought the shop because it’s so close to his flat, where he lives, alone

Harry’s brain short circuits and his jeans get a little tighter and he says, “Oh? Close to here?”

Draco gives him a little glance and mumbles something Harry thinks might be can’t believe that worked and he stands. “It’s around the corner. Let’s go.”

[cauliflowercounty]

Weasley vs Weasley Pt. II (Draco Malfoy x Reader) [Tumblr Remaster]

Blood Status:  Half-Blood or Pureblood

House: Gryffindor

Word Count: 2.5k

A/N: This is a remastered version of an old fic I wrote on my Wattpad with some new themes/twists.

You are the Molly and Arthur Weasley’s adopted daughter and in the same year as Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Read the previous part:��Part I

Not Proofread

-----

You and Draco met up increasingly often in the following weeks.  Most of the time you’d find a secluded spot in the library to finish your essays and study together in.  You’d help him finish his essays, and he’d help you in potions.  If it was a nice day outside, he’d leave his Slytherin posse in the Great Hall and come have lunch and play some Gobstones with you in the courtyard instead.  

He’d take you to Hogsmeade for dates.  At the Three Broomsticks, you both would chat about school and friends then go to Honeydukes or take a walk. One night you both snuck up to the astronomy tower and slow danced under the stars until 1 am and kissed you for the first time.  Your relationship was a happy one. He’d make you laugh, but what you appreciated most was how he listened. 

Before, you didn’t really have anyone to talk to about being adopted.  Even though your family was massive and infinitely supportive of you, you were scared to death that you would come off as ungrateful if you told them the truth, that you felt isolated and different. You enjoyed the dynamic of your family and you didn’t want to hurt that or them.  They’d given you a home and a family to love and be loved by, after all.  The least you could do was make life normal and pain free.  

As you would hash out your feelings and worries, Draco listened and gave you that outlet that you so desperately needed and really understood your situation, even encouraging you to say something to your parents or at least the twins or Percy, who you’d been always been closest to out of all your siblings.  

“They love you, y/n,” Draco had said one day in sincerity, “They won’t suddenly kick you out if you tell them how you’re feeling.  You’re part of the family, even if you don’t feel like it sometimes.  It’s where you belong.”

You’d thanked him, this time strongly considering talking to your family for the first time ever, pulling him off to your next class.

Today, you’re walking in the halls together, Transfiguration books in your arms, trying to find a quiet studying space.  It being a Friday, most people aren’t in the mood to do work, but you and Draco both agreed to get a head start on your work.

As you reach the Grand Staircase, you spot Ginny on a staircase rotating towards you and Draco. It fits into place in front of you, and she spots you immediately as she starts to walk down.  Her face drops into a scowl, stoping past you, nearly clipping your shoulder.  Ginny’s been like this every since that day in Hogsmeade, and you were just about fed up with it at this point.  You liked talking to your sister.  Even though you felt like the odd one out in the Weasleys, it didn’t mean your relationship with all of them meant nothing.  You motion to Draco that you’re going after her and he nods back.

You rush to follow Ginny into the Great Hall.  As you catch up to her, you tap her shoulder.

“Hey, Gin,” you say with a smile, attempting to set a light tone.  She turns around and looks you up and down.

“Hi,” she responds dismissively, turning around to try to find Luna.

“Ginny, wait,” you say, quickly grabbing her hand, which she tugs out of your grasp violently, eyes flaring at you as Draco walks into the Great Hall behind you.  You withdraw your hand, a hurt expression on your face.  She’s reacted to you as if you were trying to bite her.

“Quit it, y/n!” Ginny seethes.

“Come on, Ginny!  I did nothing to hurt you!” you argue, following her as she storms to Luna’s position at the Ravenclaw table.  

“Ugh!” Ginny grumbles, turning on her heel to snarl directly into your face, “How do you not get it, y/n?!  Just by being near him you’re hurting the family! The Malfoys are our enemy!  He is our enemy!” she shouts, pointing at Draco.  “You’re betraying the family!”

As the words leave her lips, the walls seem to come crashing down.  Anger and sadness fill your senses.  Your insides feel like a churning pot of lava.  The tears sting at your eyes.  Shaking, you turn on your heel and rush out of the Great Hall, not caring where you go, just as far away from Ginny as possible.  

After what seemed like hours of endless, blind running through the halls, you find yourself wedged inside a broom cupboard, the mildewy smell filling your nose.  You breath heavily through your nose and try to calm yourself down, but each time you get your heart rate down, Ginny’s words rip through you and you start to cry again.

“You’re betraying the family!”

“You’re betraying the family!”

“You’re betraying the family!”

“You’re betraying the family!”

It’s a never ending nightmare.  The last thing you ever wanted to do was hurt the Weasleys after all they did.  She was right.  After all they’ve given you.  They took you out of that orphanage and gave you a home.  They gave you clothes and food.  They gave you seven siblings, seven, that you could play with endlessly who loved you and cared for you and then you go off and date Draco Malfoy.  His father wants your father removed and put in a mental institution because he’s not a bigot.  

It’s not worth it.  No matter how happy Draco makes you, no matter how much Draco listens, no matter how much Draco makes you feel like you belong somewhere, it’s not right.  This is not how you repay the family that’s given you this life you decide.  It’s time to end it, but the thought of that makes you cry more.  You don’t want to let go of Draco and your strange relationship.  You don’t want to let go of it because of how it makes you feel, how it makes you happy. 

Just as you feel another wave of tears coming, the door to the broom closet creaks open.

“She’s in here,” you head Draco say softly.

“Thanks, Malfoy,” you hear the twins say in unison.

“I’ll wait out here,” Draco says as you hear the twins come in, their wands lit.  As they come closer, you hide your surely blotchy and puffy face from them, ashamed.  The twins slowly approach you and sit in front of you.

“Y/n?” Fred asks, reaching out and taking one of your hands in his.  “I’m sorry about what Ginny said.”

You sniffle, looking up at your brothers and whipping your tears away with the back of your free hand.  “You shouldn’t be apologizing, Freddie.  You had nothing to do with what happened between Ginny and I,” you sigh.  “You should just leave me alone.  Ginny is right... about what I’m doing.  I shouldn’t be with him.”

“Y/n...,” George says.  “That’s not true.  You’ve been so much happier lately.  You shouldn’t go sacrificing your happiness just because of one stupid thing Ginny says when she’s angry.”

“But she’s right! I’m doing a disservice to Mum and Dad,” you blurt, covering your face again.  “Lucius Malfoy hates us.  He’s elitist and had insulted dad countless times. He stands for everything Dad doesn’t and now I’m off cozying up to his son at school!”

“It’s not like that, y/n,” Fred says.  “You’ve found someone who cares about you who makes you feel like you can be yourself.  Isn’t that what all of us are doing or trying to do?”

“Well, yeah, but-”

“Y/n.  Please stop.  You are not betraying the family!  We love you and will love you no matter what.  If anyone’s betraying the family it’s Percy, but he’s still family even if him and Dad are fighting.  Mum and dad still love Percy and if they still love Percy when he’s being as much of an idiotic prat as he is now, they’ll surely still love you.  As for Ginny...  Ginny just doesn’t understand what you’re feeling.  She hasn’t ever had to worry about feeling like she truly belongs in the family like you have and she’s popular, so she’s fit in everywhere,”  Fred explains softly.  “She doesn’t understand what it’s like for you.”

“It’s just so frustrating!  It’s like I owe everyone something all the time, and I can’t help it, and I can’t ever seem to pay them back for it or compensate because all I seem to do is take!  I- It’s... Her words just rubbed me the wrong way. Being grateful and courteous and not stepping out of line is always a focus and some of my nightmares are like that, you all rejecting me...,” you trail off, leaning your head back against the wall.  With that, the twins swoop in and give you a tight hug.

“We’ll never reject you, y/n,” Fred says.

“Especially if you’re trying to be happy,” George adds on.

“I love you two goofballs so much it’s ridiculous,” you smile, holding them close.

“We love you, too,” the twins say back.

“By the way...,” Fred says.

“You should go out and talk to Malfoy,” George finishes.

“He’s the one who found us and told us what happened,” Fred explains.  “You should have seen his face. He was so worried I was afraid he’d burst.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” George confirms.  “Go on, y/n.” 

Taking a deep breath you stand up and go to open the door of the broom closet.  Peaking your head out of the door frame, you look around for Draco. A few feet away, Draco is sitting on a stone bench, hunched over and bouncing his knee in nervousness.

“Draco,” you call over to him and immediately his gaze shoots toward you.  You walk over and join him on the bench.  Cupping his cheek in your hand you give him a small, soft kiss.  He smiles into it and wraps and arm around you.  “thank you,” you whisper as you pull apart.  “Thanks for getting my brothers.”

“I thought you’d like to talk to them over me,” he states.  

“Come on, I love talking to you,” you reply with a small laugh. 

“But I don’t know you quite as well as they do.  And I certainly don’t know Ginny like they do, either,” Draco admits.

“That’s true,” you agree. “You did the right thing, Draco.  You knew exactly what I needed and when.”

“I’d be a lousy boyfriend if I didn’t,” he chuckles.

“Oh, so now that’s what we are, huh?” you grin at him.  “Why couldn’t you have said that when I’m not blotchy, puffy, and recovering from a family argument?”

“Would you have preferred I say it never?” Draco suggests, putting on his old Malfoy smirk. 

“No,” you sigh, kissing him again. “I’m glad you said it.  We’re together now. Officially.”

“Officially,” he states.  “So... What are we going to do about the Ginny situation?”

You sigh and tip your head to the side against Draco’s shoulder, thinking about how Ginny’s probably still furious at you.  You decide you don’t want to deal with her stubbornness until she’s cooled down a bit.

“I think we should leave it alone for now...,” you decide, standing up suddenly, determined.  “I think I’m going to go write mum and dad and tell them how I feel.  Ginny’s probably drafting a letter now and I’d prefer it if I also got a word in.”

Draco beams at you.

“I know this is cliché and cheesy, but I’m proud of you.  You wouldn’t have had the confidence to do that a week ago,” Draco says supportively.  “I’m backing you one hundred percent.”

“Great!  Can I borrow some parchment?” you ask.

“Why do you need my parchment?”

“That Charms essay is coming up and I’m worried I won’t have enough to finish If I use it to write my parents a letter!” you defend.  “And since you’re my boyfriend now, shouldn’t you be helping me?  Aren’t you ‘backing me one hundred percent?’”

“I see what you did, there, y/n,” Draco smiles, standing up and taking your hand.  “Alright.  I’ll give you all the parchment you need.  Just walk to the dungeons with me?”

You nod whole heartedly and start walking arm in arm with Draco towards the staircase to go down to the dungeons.  Fred and George were right.  You weren’t betraying the family, you were just trying to be happy and enjoying the company of someone who really gets you, and that person just so happens to be Draco Malfoy. 

Tomorrow, you decide you’ll find Ginny and sit down with her and have a nice long talk. Sister to sister and hopefully you’ll both reach a level of understanding that you’ve lacked and so desperately needed in recent weeks and then you can all move on, which should work as long as Ginny doesn’t do anything rash or unexpected.

----

Part III coming soon!

[bbyx]

ripple effect - part three

Summary: During her fourth year at Hogwarts, (y/n) Deauxville falls for none other than Cedric Diggory. But it's not easy when you have to deal with protecting your family's fortune, keeping your father's illness a secret and having two of your closest friends catch feelings for you.

Pairings : reader x cedric, reader x draco, reader x harry

With help from some of the Ministry's interns, your tent was finally up. It was lilac purple with a beautiful satin finish. Walking inside always took your breath away just because of the sheer size of the tent. It smelt brand new and didn't have that homey feeling like the Weasley's tent but it would do for a couple nights.

(y/n) plops down on the bed. She opens up and rereads the letter that Minister Fudge had sent her father two months ago. You had started reading your dad's mail and answering for him since he was no longer capable of doing it himself. Your father had a very formal way of writing so it had been easy enough to imitate his handwriting to answer the Minister's letter.

You open the creamy beige envelope and pull out a sturdy white letter with gold embellishments. It reads:

Dear (f/n),                                                                                                                  I hope this letter is finding you in good health. I've heard that you have recently been traveling Europe in search of new properties. Barty and myself were wondering if you would be so kind as to join us for a meeting during the Quidditch World cup. The time is nearing and we must finalize the deal.  Looking forward to seeing you,                                                                                                                                Cornelius

You tried remembering what you wrote in the answering letter. It went something like this.

Dear Cornelius,                                                                                                         I am currently in Romania for business and I unfortunately will not be back in time for the Quidditch World Cup. However i've left my daughter (y/n) in charge of my business affairs while I am away and she would be delighted to join you. Barty and yourself can finalize the deal with her.  Wishing you the best,                                                                                                                                             (f/n)

Your father had started a real estate company when he was twenty four and it had grown into one of the most successful businesses in the wizarding world and in Britain. You assumed that the Minister and Barty Crouch wanted to buy a property but you didn't know anything further. It was a very secretive affair and you had searched your father's files extensively but there was no mention of this mysterious deal anywhere. You were essentially going in blind.

The meeting was going to be over dinner in the Minister's box during the Quidditch Match. (y/n) had time to kill so she walked back to the Weasley's tent.

You arrive just in time to see the Weasley twins and Ludo Bagman betting on the games.

"Personally I have to agree with Mr.Bagman, my money is on Bulgaria winning" You tease and the twins shake their ginger heads.

You hear sirens that signal the stadium has opened. You head over with your friends. The inside of the Quidditch stadium is just as breathtakingly festive as the outside. Red and green coats everything, it is filled with headshots of various Quidditch players and drunken voices singing national anthems.

"Blimey how far up are we dad!" Rom complains.

"Well, put it this way, if it rains you'll be the first to know." You turn towards the familiar cold posh voice. Lucius Malfoy.

You had grown up with the Malfoy's and practically spent half your childhood at their house. Narcissa has become a second mother to you after your own mother's death. (y/n) had her suspicions that her parents and the Malfoy's were hoping their children would get married but (y/n) cringed at the idea. It wasn't that you didn't like Draco but your relationship was more like cousins. He was like that one favourite cousin everyone has that makes all family gatherings fun. But you couldn't stand the snobby facade Draco put on whenever he was around other people. Like now.

"Father and I are in the minister's box. A personal invitation from Cornelius Fudge himself."

"Don't boast, Draco" Lucius says while nudging him with his cane. " There is no need with these people."

You rolled your eyes so hard it felt like you could see the back of your skull.

"Ah miss Deauxville, I believe you'll be joining us in the Minister' box." Lucius says in a respectful tone.

You hated how he talked to your friends like they were lower than you. Lucius nudges Draco with his cane and Draco immediately offers you his arm. You look back at the trio and mouth help me as you take Draco's arm.

"Have fun" Hermione says sarcastically.

The Minister's box is filled with house elves carrying trays of little delicacies and wizards and witches dressed in overly formal clothing. You immediately felt underdressed in your sweater and tennis skirt. But to your delight you could see the sweat glistening off their skin, after all it was still mid August.

A curly haired blonde woman in a ridiculously tight plum dress and green glasses walks over to Mr. Malfoy.

" Ah Lucius, darling, I see Draco has brought his little girlfriend along." She sneers at you, clearly not recognizing you. However you knew exactly who this was, Rita Skeeter, a slimy idiotic gossip columnist with worms for a brain.           " Hope she enjoys this once in a lifetime opportunity to dine with such fine people."

You feel a hand on your shoulder.

"Miss Deauxville, so glad you could make it. The Minister would like to talk in his private room."

Rita Skeeter's face blanched when she realised you were a Deauxville and you follow Barty Crouch through a curtain into a smaller room with a round table and a huge window.

Seated at the table was Minister Fudge, you took a seat just as the team mascots stepped out on the field. The beautiful Bulgarian veelas danced on the field while the Irish leprechauns bounded with their gold, this angered the veelas who in turn transformed into demon-like bird creatures. The teams stepped out on the field, national anthems were played and the snitch was released.

"Well let's get this over with quickly so we have a chance to enjoy the game" You say.

Cornelius Fudge starts.

"Yes, yes well as I'm sure your father mentioned, the Ministry would like to lease a property for a couple months."

Just then Percy walks in holding a stack of papers.

"Here are the papers you asked for Mr.Crouch." He says importantly.

"Ah thank you Weatherby. You may go now."

You almost choke trying to stifle your laugh, earning a glare from Percy as he leaves. Mr Crouch hands you a stack of papers.

" The contract." He simply states. You're too distracted to notice the house elves bring the meal to the table.

You take your time to look it over for any loopholes. Normally your father would have his team of lawyers draw up his own contracts but this would do.

"You want to lease lot number 637? The two acres in the Black Forest, next to Hogwarts? You're sure?"

"Yes" The Minister replied looking uncomfortable.

"There are a few modifications we would like to do to this property." Barty Crouch cuts in.

"What kind of modifications?" You ask, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Well first we would like to cut most of the trees off"

You squawk.

"What! You realise that property will lose all value without the trees."

"Indeed but the ministry is prepared to compensate you for the trees and any fire damage." Mr.Fudge adds.

"Fire damage! What on earth are you planning on doing there!" You blurt out, you're voice rising several octaves.

" Miss Deauxville, we would tell you if we could, trust us it would make this so much easier, but unfortunately you are still a Hogwarts student and therefore we regretfully have to keep our lips sealed."

You decide to let it go. After all your father had done plenty of suspicious deals before he fell ill.

"How much are you offering?"

"370 000 galleons for eight weeks" Barty answers. You knew that property in the middle of the Black Forest was essentially worthless because of the aggressive centaurs that lived around it. They were offering a lot more money than expected so you quickly grabbed your pen and signed the contract. The two other men did the same. You got up to shake their hands and left the room.

(y/n) sat next to Draco and Lucius Malfoy for the remainder of the game. They made small talk but she couldn't focus on anything other than that property in the Black Forest.

Why the hell would the ministry be so eager to lease that dump? Why would there be fire damage? Why cut all the trees? Questions were swarming your mind like bees.

You look up when you hear the tremendous cheers coming from all the Irish fans. The game was over. You smile to yourself.

Those bloody Weasleys predicted it. Krum caught the snitch but Ireland won.

Both teams came up to the Minister's box to shake his hand. Everyone got up and clapped when the Irish team proudly walked in. The Bulgarian team stomped in with it's sulking seeker Victor Kum leading them. You started shaking hands with people you barely recognized just trying to get out of there as fast as possible. You shake Viktor Krum's hand and give him a warm smile, after all the guy had just lost the biggest game of the year, and he gave you a smile that never completely reached his eyes. Suddenly a bright flash blinds both of you. When you regain sight you see Rita Skeeter standing there with a camera.

"Beautiful photo" She says with the phoniest widest smile.

You finally join the Weasley clan and Cedric Diggory around a campfire later that night after the Malfoys had insisted that you have dinner with them.

"Where were you? I was getting worried. I mean. We. We were getting worried" Harry says quickly. The others give him strange looks.

"Stuck at a dinner with the Malfoy's." You sigh "If anyone mentions politics or the stock exchange one more time I will slit all your throats ok?" They all laugh and explain that they're playing truth or dare.

"Give me a dare! Give me a dare!" Ginny pleads.

"That's not how it works Ginny, you have to get picked." George explained.

"We've been playing for an hour and nobody's picked me !" She whines.

"Fine, eat this" Fred says, handing her a candy.

She pops it in her mouth and her tongue starts to swell enormously. She runs to find Mr.Weasley.

"She asked for it." Fred says, throwing his hands up.

They all keep playing, (y/n) not really paying attention. She was distracted by the Minister's words: "we would tell you if we could, trust us it would make this so much easier, but unfortunately you are still a Hogwarts student and therefore we regretfully have to keep our lips sealed."

"Cedric, truth or dare." George asks, smirking.

"Dare."

"Very well, your dare is to go ask one of those veelas on a date." He says pointing to a group of breathtaking creatures. You feel a pang of jealousy as Cedric gets up. Instead he comes and sits next to you.

" (y/n), how about a date?"

"Sure" You smile and turn red as George gets up, flailing his arms around..

"No no no. I said a Veela."

"George, are you a bloody idiot, everyone in Great Britain knows (y/n) is a quarter Veela." Hermione says.

Fred and George look at you puzzled.

"Really?" Asks Fred.

"Can you do that cool demon bird shit?" George looks at you suspiciously.

You laugh. "No! It would be kinda fun though if I could. But no, I can't turn into a bird or enchant men into falling hopelessly in love." You say making dramatic hand gestures.

" I don't know about that" Mumbles Harry. You shoot him puzzled looks.

As the night goes on the group keeps talking and playing various games. Your eyes start to feel heavy.

"I think I need to go to sleep." You mumble.

"You can always sleep with me." Fred purrs. Ron hits him with the back of his hand. Cedric's jaw stiffens as he glares at Fred. He looks like he's about to say something when Hermione cuts him off.

" I'll walk you back to your tent (y/n)"

You agree and say goodnight to everyone. As you're walking back you hear screams and see dark figures with masks levitating and torturing a muggle family. You and Hermione run towards the forest where you catch up with Ron and Harry. Ron trips. Lumos Hermione whispers and a bright glow appears on the tip of her wand.

You spot Draco leaning calmly against a tree close to you.

"Better go Hermione, unless you want to show everyone your underwear, if so stick around it would be tremendously funny" He sneers while gesturing to the levitating family.

How can he be so freaking calm when people are literally being tortured less than fifty feet away?

Harry and Ron start defending Hermione and question Draco about his parent’s whereabouts. Meanwhile, you're stuck in a trance watching the family of muggles being tortured and feeling helpless.

"Have it your way, Potter" Draco grins maliciously. "If you think they can't spot a mudblood, stay where you are"

Anger ripped through your body at the sound of those words and you were about to tear his vocal cords out and jinx him within an inch of his life when someone gently squeezes your hand.

"(y/n), let's go." Cedric says, his eyes pleading.

[im-a-meteorite]

i’ve been marathoning the harry potter movies since im in quarantine and i’ve been taking some notes. i’ll post them all bc why not 

sorcerer’s stone

harry knowing that there’s no post on sunday,, a genius

hedwig’s theme playing when harry looks out of the window and sees an owl flying by, very nice

hagrid doing magic at the house on the rock thing,, wouldnt the ministry be able to track that?? since there’s no wizard that lives there, they should be alerted?? or did they remove the trace from hagrid once he got expelled?? like does it work by the trace only or? bc if it doesn’t work by location then how would they know that a muggle witnessed the magic?? idk anymore

the kids staring at the nimbus 2000 and saying its the fastest model yet,, then the camera zooming on the handle w/ the background blurred -> the most straight forward foreshadowing

hagrid is actually the worst person to take harry on his tour situation,, like bro literally left him in the middle of a train station

the weasleys and harry going to the platform while theres a shit ton of ppl walking around,,, statute of secrecy where??

the great hall is on the first floor?? i thought it was on the ground floor

ew the hats

i wish the movies had dumbledore’s weird few words speeches

“theres not one witch or wizard that went bad that wasnt in slytherin” broooo

mcgonagall is so savage i love her

snape is an asshole

a crap ton of chessboards in the great hall study hall scene,, foreshadowing the challenges?

madam hooch really yeeted herself out of neville’s way

✨🥰 oliver wood 🥰✨✨

harry really wiped the troll buggers on his robe,, disgusting

snapes hair is lowkey on fleek tho,,

making most of the slytherins ugly bc they’re the “evil” house is just a disservice to all the inbreeding

hermione setting snape on fire is truly iconic and very extra tbh like sis why tf would u know a spell like that

seasonal transition wasnt that great tbh

overall the directing style is kinda basic

“not in the restricted section,,” rule breaking hermione is the best hermione

dumbledore’s handwriting is so extra and loopy like tf?? but it fits his character

the hedwig flying season transition was good

“immortal?” “it means you’ll never die.” “i know what it means!”

50 points each for being out of bed??? wtf is this point system

filtch saying there’s werewolves in the forbidden forest,,, thats illegal sir

hagrid calling the trio by their first names but draco by his last,, we love favoritism

harry’s thoughts r so ridiculous,, “snape doesnt want the stone for himself, he wants it for voldemort!” lmaoo wtf,, evidence pls sir,, u don’t even know he was a death eater. was it the bad vibes?? bc same

harry figuring out that the person who gave hagrid the dragon egg is voldy,, a genius

“kill us faster?? now i can relax!!” ron is so iconic i love him

“lucky we didnt panic!” “lucky hermione pays attention in herbology”

how is it that harry’s hand burned quirrel but not the skin on harry’s neck?? that shit makes no sense

yeah i really cant imagine this dumbledore fighting voldy in movie 5

hermione’s headband in the reunion scene is so cute i love it

chamber of secrets:

how is dobby even allowed to just jump on the bed?? like is it bc harry isnt his master that he can do smth like that

“dobby has heard about harry potter’s kindness” or whatever,, bro u work for the malfoys either the elves gossip or draco is waxing poetry about harry

aunt petunia saying “we have ice-cream” after that whole affair is just ridiculous

DIAGONALLY

this seems like the extended version bc i dont remember the borgin and bruks scene to be that long

the close ups with lucius and ginny’s books r insane lmao like chris columbus made it so obvious

also mr weasley’s acting is so funny like its so exaggerated

lucius malfoy is so dramatic and extra we love it

also lucius knowing hermione’s name and “draco’s told me all about you”??? bro whats with draco?? lmaoo

snape really got mad with the whole car business

mandrakes r fucking weird bro how did jkr come up with that

PERCY WALKING WITH PENELOPE CLEARWATER??? HOW DID I MISS THAT??

omg colin had so many lines?? wow

omg erol with the fucking howler,, iconic

ron’s facial expressions?? pure comedy, rupret is so good

LOCKHEART REALLY SAID “GOOD GIRL” THEN WINKED AT HERMIONE

“pesky piksy pescinomy” this bitch dumb

“why is it always me?” poor neville

omfg ✨🥰 oliver wood 🥰✨

ahh using the seeker position for fighting

ew draco used the m-word

the shit the basilisk is saying is so lame lmaoo

how does harry not recognize that he’s hearing a different language?? or does parsaltongue act weird

HOW IS THE WHOLE SCHOOL IN THE SAME CORRIDOR???

“i know the counter-curse that could’ve spared her” bitch the dirty looks he got?? omfg

the movies would’ve been 500% better if they had lee jordan’s iconic quidditch commentary

“scarhead” “TRAINING FOR THE BALLET, POTTER?”

“what did you expect?? pumpkin juice??” madam pomfery is a queen

dobby is dumb dumb

“who am i, hedwig? what am i?”

“reading? i didnt know you could read?”

“look at my face” “look at your tail!”

“you can’t cancel quidditch!”

“oh harry, if you die down there, you’re welcome to share my toilet”

lockheart: do you live here? ron: no *smacks him in the head with a rock*

“voldemort is my past, present and future” are all slytherins this dramatic??

the tension between hermione and ron in the last feast was insane

justin filtch fletchy is so ugly im so sorry i cant

prisoner of azkaban:

im sorry but harry doing underage illegal magic pisses me off every time

aunt marge 🤢

“do they use a cane boy?” “oh yeah, i’ve been beaten loads of times”

that whole scene is so chaotic

“you cant do magic outside of school!” “oh yeah? try me”

sirius really dumb for barking at harry like it makes no sense

the knight bus is probably one of the best things in this movie

“whatcha doing down there??” “i fell over” “whacha fell over for?” “i didnt do it on purpose!” “well come on then, lets not wait for the grass to grow”

harry leans over and looks for the grim, stan: “whatcha looking at?”

“yeah take it away ernie,, its gonna be a bumpy ride”

this whole thing is written and directed so perfectly

i hate how they replaced tom bc it really made no sense

all the bits of magic in the leaky caldron is so genius

fudge reminds me of trump but like dumber

the blue lighting and coloring is just great, it fits the colder vibe of the story (not like HBP with the hazy/blurry effect)

ugh the glass and mirror transitions are one of my favorite things,, alfonso curon really did that 

i love the weasleys,, also everyone looks great in this movie

omg the scene with arthur talking to harry about sirius with the sirius poster always being in sight?? amazing

contrast of light and darkness just echos the whole dementor vs patronus situation

i dont even understand why remus took the train other than for the nostalgia

the lights slowly turning off in the different carriages?? amazing

the visual representation of the dementors’ effect is great

REMUS!!!

i wish there was more emotion from remus when he’s talking about sirius,, like that was one of his only friends

snape clapping literally twice for remus,, ajhshsh

ahh the placement of the slytherin and gryffindor tables right beside each other to increase the tension and further the plot

oh yea the new dumbledore, also cool hat he has

omg the new fat lady painting

omg the candy scene?? so cute i love lads being lads. that scene just echo’s dumbledore’s light in the dark quote bc its storming outside at night and they’re creating a happy environment within the dark especially with the dementors

ah yes the clock references + following the bird to show us important parts of hogwarts and putting the whomping willow in the forefront

ron’s reading of harry’s tea leaves,, still on point tho. ron really has a knack for divination

buckbeak! omg drapple

draco is so hot especially with that ring also the slytherin pins??

“oh yeah, terribly funny, really witty. god, this place has gone to the dogs”

the kids look so messy i love it + harry’s uneven tie

HERMIONE CLINGING TO RONS ARM!!

“its killed me! your gonna regret this, you and your bloody chicken”

omg the boggart lesson

“riddikulus!” “this class is ridiculous”

fuck snape!

draco really pushed someone with his bandaged arm

remus is such an amazing professor i love him and i just miss him so much

ugh harry in this hoodie?? amazing

remus and harry’s conversation with the music :(( lily :((

wtf is that eye painting??

percy screaming about being head boy,, bro stfu

sirius is such a dramatic little bitch i love it

seasonal changes marked by the wimping willow

“turn to page 394”

what a fucking rude ass bitch,, i hate snape

harry really be seeing the grim everywhere

i wish they had “wheres wood?” “trying to drown himself in the shower”

winter transition with hedwig! + clock tower

“come and join the big boys”

i just adore this scene of the twins giving harry the map (bro i really want a series about the marauders)

whos that skinny bitch with draco???

harry’s way too rash tbh

also mcgonagall being also too nonchalant about the whole marauder’s situation?? like those werent your students

remus is a soft boy dark academia icon

if only dumbledore wasnt a dumbass,, remus could have been uncle moony raising harry with sirius

ron’s nightmare scene?? iconic

“my dad didnt strut. nor do i” umm james potter was also a drama queen sooo probably strutting

“you, YOU FOUL LOATHSOME EVIL LITTLE COCKROACH” “hermione no, he’s not worth it”

sirius’ dog form really looks like a rabid dog omfg

the part where hermione grabs harry while she’s on the wimping willow omfg

“only one will die tonight” YOU DRAMATIC BITCH UR NOT MAKING THIS BETTER

“finally the flesh reflects the madness within” “well you’d know all about the madness within, wouldn’t you remus?”

why the fuck is the shreaking shack is swaying in the wind??

QUARRELING LIKE AN OLD MARRIED COUPLE

why the fuck didnt they knock peter out?? like tf?? they’re actually dumb dumb there were so many ways for this to go right

this man really sent 2 13-year-olds on this dumbass mission

buckbeak really beat up remus,, “professor lupin’s having a really tough night”

harry’s a fucking psycho with this patronus bullshit,, i cant

can they stop screaming while flying on buckbeak?? someone might hear them

im still mad sirius didnt get his name cleared,, so much would’ve changed

“we did it” “did what? goodnight” i fucking hate dumbledore and his mindlessness omfg sometimes i wanna punch him in the face

fuck snape for outing remus as a werewolf,,, but also he really didnt have to resign. like istg wheres the marauder energy when it comes to defying everyone??

i wish the movies had went into the marauders’ history :(( its one of my favorite aspects of the series

[halothenthehorns]

THE DUELING CLUB

  THE DUELING CLUB

Remus was still puzzling, and knowing better than to interrupt him Sirius instead said, "I think he's thinking it's no longer a Gorgon."

"Why?" Lily asked, it was the only reasonable explanation to her.

"Something Binn's said," Remus said, going cross eyed a bit as he continued to categorize everything he knew about this situation so far. "I'm just wondering, well of course it would suite Slytherin... but how could it be..." and he trailed off into more mutterings.

Harry took a leaf out of Ron's book and said, "If, in a month or so, you feel like explaining, you will let us know?" He couldn't deny how eager he felt to hear another answer, since he was so

sure the Gorgon one was wrong.

"Not going to happen Harry," James said sadly, "he's going to be like this until he works it out in his own way."

"Are we supposed to wait for him?" Lily asked as she got up and took the book from Remus herself.

Lily's actions startled Remus out of his reverie, and he looked about himself before smiling weakly and saying, "Just puzzling out some things. Nothing still makes enough sense though."

"At least tell us why you think it isn't a gorgon," Harry asked.

"Because if it was, there are several actions the teachers could take to prevent that. I'm sure they would have after Mrs. Norris, so how did this happen again?"

"But what else could petrify people, and cat's, like this?" Sirius asked.

"I'm working on that," Remus reassured, "and I will let you know, before the month's up," he finished grinning at Harry.

Harry blushed, not realizing Remus had even been listening, while his friends laughed at the pair.

Lily read on sadly, very scared and upset now. If Remus, the guy who seemed to know everything there was to know about magical creatures, didn't know right away what was running around the school, she was honestly terrified to hear the answer.

Harry woke up the next day with his arm stiff, but all bones in place. He glanced over at Colin's bed, but found some curtains had been put in place to block his view.

"That's hardly going to stop the rest of the school from figuring it out," Sirius said in disbelief.

"Appreciate the thought though," Remus said.

Madam Pomfrey came over and gave him some breakfast, telling him he could leave when he was done. Harry got dressed and left, going up to Gryffindor tower, but finding they weren't there. He began wondering where his friends could be so he could fill them in on Dobby and Colin.

"Huh?" All five of them muttered.

"Wonder where they got to?" James said in surprise.

"Surprised they weren't down there to check on Harry," Sirius corrected.

"I'm sure they, ah," Remus said, not able to come up with a good reason.

Harry frowned, trying not to feel hurt his friends didn't seem to care about whether his arm had grown back.

Lily felt bad for Harry, clearly having a good guess at what he was thinking, and knowing full well his friends would have a good reason, so decided to read.

Harry came across Percy first, asking if he'd seen his brother. Percy said he hadn't, then made the joke that he wasn't so bothered so long as he wasn't hanging around in a girl's loo again.

"He makes that seem like such a bad thing," James said, grinning brightly, "personally I'm offended none of us ever thought of that."

"Of course," Lily said, ignoring her husband, "they went to go check on the Polyjuice Potion. They might have thought you would get out later, so they went there first."

Harry smiled, looking far more relaxed now.

"What makes you think they would brew the Polyjuice Potion in there?" Sirius asked.

"They've already established it's a secluded place no one goes in," she shrugged, "as good a place as any really."

"I can think of some better ones," Remus disagreed.

"And they've already been caught in there, by Filch and Percy," James added.

"Well, let's just see then," she said.

Harry tried to laugh it off, but now went down to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Percy was right, when Harry pushed the door open he startled Hermione who asked at once how his arm was. Harry told them it was fine now and spotted the cauldron resting on a toilet.

"Okay fine," Sirius sighed, speaking for the boys, "but our points still stand."

"We hadn't explored as much as you guys seemed to," Harry said with a shrug, "so it seemed like a good idea to us."

Harry began telling them about Colin, and Ron said that they already knew, they'd heard McGonagall telling Flitwick that morning.

"Subtle," James snorted.

"Explains why they got a start on the potion all the more though," Remus said, "now students really are getting attacked, it would freak them out all the more."

"Freaks me out," Lily agreed.

Ron was insisting this framed Malfoy all the more, how he'd been so upset over his loss of the game he'd taken it out on Colin.

"Would make a good motive if Malfoy could pull it off," Sirius said sadly.

Harry also told them what Dobby had been up to, and Hermione caught on the part where he mentioned that the Chamber of Secrets had been opened before? Ron said this made sense, if Draco's father had been here before and done this.

"Again, applaud the logic he's trying," James said sadly, "but as there's never been another reported instance of a student being petrified like this, I don't see it happening."

Then he said it was a bummer Dobby had said who was doing this. He also pointed out, how was this monster getting around the school without getting caught?

"Can't even begin to figure that out," Remus agreed with a huff.

Hermione offered that it might be able to turn itself invisible.

"No," Lily said slowly, "the times Harry's heard it, he heard it going up. Invisible doesn't equal intangibility."

Then she offered it could be a Chameleon Ghoul.

"Which don't petrify," Remus sighed, "which is what I'm mostly stuck on."

Ron turned back to Harry and said that if Dobby didn't stop trying to save Harry, he was going to kill him.

"My sentiments exactly," James sighed, unable to decide which he was more annoyed by right now, Harry's 'saviour' this year or this mysterious monster.

Time passed in the school with even more worry than before, the story of Colin passing around like wildfire. The first years in particular seemed to take this fact hard, now moving around in herds and seeming to fear stragglers would be picked off.

"Those poor dears," Lily said sadly, "imagine you being a first year there, and even a muggle born to boot!"

"School never even got that bad for us," James agreed, and they had grown up in the epitome of Voldemort's reign.

Ginny had been seen looking very disturbed as well, since she sat next to Colin in one of her classes. Harry had seen her twin brothers trying to cheer her up, though in his opinion they weren't doing a very good job.

"Well this can't be good," Sirius said brightly.

The two were taking turns in covering up in disguises of fur and jumping out at her from behind corridors.

Sirius couldn't help but chuckle at those antics, it did seem like fun indeed.

"Honestly Sirius, even you never tried to scare first years," Lily snapped.

"No," he agreed, "but I would have done it to my baby brother. There's a difference."

"Why would that scare Regulus?" James asked.

"Why would that scare Ginny," Sirius countered.

"Alright you two," Remus cut in, "let Lily keep going."

They only stopped when Percy got onto them for it, telling them off for giving her nightmares.

Sirius winced slightly, he didn't think it would scare the poor kid that much.

Among the older students, illegal trades of protective amulets were going around.

Lily made a noise of scathing disgust, saying, "Probably Lockhart's fault as well. He was the one going on and telling people he made some magical amulet that protected people."

"It's ridiculous, we all agree," Remus nodded, "since I doubt a single thing those students could come up with would keep something like this away."

"You got any more ideas yet?" James asked.

"Nope," he muttered in annoyance.

Neville had been taken in by this, having bought what was told several protective charms, before being reminded that he was a pureblood. Neville argued back that Filch had been targeted, and Neville was considered almost a squib.

"That poor kid," Lily said miserably, she hated how down Neville seemed to be.

"There's no such thing as 'almost' a squib," Sirius scoffed, "you're either magical, or not. Someone ought to smack whoever convinced Neville to get that stuff."

December was starting to approach, and with it their head of house began listing names of who would be staying behind on holiday this year. Harry and his friends signed up, strangely along with Malfoy.

"Pity that," James said in disgust, knowing full well the little git would have more opportunities now to be a jerk with less people around.

"Good for us though," Harry reminded him, "since there would be less witnesses around for our Polyjuice Potion."

Lily sighed, still not happy about this. Harry had survived it without major side effects, which meant most likely his friends had to, but it still made her uncomfortable such a young student was attempting such a huge project without supervision.

Harry and his friends were pleased with the timing, as this meant they could use the Polyjuice Potion with less witnesses about. Still they were hitting the snag of how to get certain ingredients, and Harry decided he'd much rather face the monster prowling the school then steal from the Slytherin head of house.

"Thank you so much for that mental image," James said, trying to force a laugh.

Hermione pointed out that what they needed was a distraction so that someone could sneak into Snape's office.

"She makes it sound so simple," Remus scoffed.

"It can be," James offered, an old gleam appearing in his eyes again, "say they-"

"Don't," Lily said at once. "I'd be more than happy not knowing the details of how you can scam stuff away from a teacher. I'd rather see what Harry did."

James deflated but nodded his ascent, he was curious to that as well.

Then she decided she'd do the actual stealing herself, as she had never been in trouble before. So she told the boys all they had to do was cause a little problem in the next class for about five minutes or so.

"Oh is that all"? Sirius chuckled.

Harry couldn't help but laugh, as he felt causing trouble in Snape's class was about as safe as poking a sleeping dragon in the eye.

"Hey, that's the school motto," Remus chuckled.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus, which translated from Latin means never tickle a sleeping dragon," Remus said brightly.

"The things you know, honestly," James cackled.

"So Draco means Never?" Harry asked.

"No, it means Dragon," Sirius said, "Purebloods are often named after the stars, constellations, and galaxies. Sirius is the Dog, Draco is the Dragon, etcetera."

"So glad I got left out of that," James laughed.

"It's a rough translation, Latin is really hard to do properly," Remus said, trying to get back on topic.

"Can we move on?" Lily giggled at the lot of them, "before someone else comes up with a lecture worth of comments."

"Like you would if we kept going," James smirked.

Lily blushed, not willing to admit he was probably right.

There opportunity came up in the next class. It started as usual, with Malfoy flicking unknowns in Harry's direction. He knew better then to retaliate though, because if Snape caught Harry doing the same he'd be in detention before Harry could protest.

"Still a git then," James muttered, having privately enjoyed not having to deal with any of Snape's classes this year.

Hermione gave the signal, and Harry started the distraction by lighting up a firecracker,

"Oh, you're not," Lily began with trepidation.

watching it come to life,

"Oh he is," James disagreed, the opposite emotion playing across his face.

"That's dangerous," Lily moaned, "if he drops that in his own potion, we don't even know if Harry did it right, being runny could be caused-"

"Mum," Harry said quickly, "I didn't throw it in my potion."

Lily gave him a wary look, before nodding and reading, still fearful.

and chucking it across the room into Goyle's cauldron.

"That's ten times better," James cackled, "if I've noticed anything, he's an idiot who doesn't need help making his potion explode."

"It was even more dangerous that way!" Lily disagreed with annoyance, "because he could have done something really bad to his potion, and now it's going to get everywhere!"

"Good distraction though," Sirius grinned at Lily.

Lily strangled herself off, remembering her promise not to continue yelling about this. Though to be fair, she wasn't yelling about the stealing part, just the distraction part. Still, sucking in a deep breath she read.

It was certainly a good distraction. Goyle's potion went everywhere, splashing across everyone in the room who all started swelling in odd places. Malfoy got a face full himself, and his nose started swelling up.

All four boys were snickering like children now, while Lily blatantly ignored them. At least Goyle seemed to do his potion right, which was a miracle in itself.

Snape was quick to call attention, commanding everyone to the front of the room to get the problem taken care of, but not before ominously threatening he would find out who did this.

"Why does he think someone 'did it'?" Remus asked, a crazy smile still plastered on his face. "Like Prongs said, he's stupid enough to blow up his own potion."

"That's rich coming from you," James said with glee, now eyeing his friend and making Remus wince, "since I remember quite well when you-"

"Okay," Remus groaned, "sorry I mentioned it."

"What?" Harry said eagerly.

"I blew up a potion," Remus huffed, feeling it was obvious, but willing to explain for Harry. And only Harry. His friends were gits. "And they've never let me live it down."

"Well, since you did it like once a year," Lily said, "you can hardly blame them."

"Lily!" Remus yelped, looking at her in an almost betrayed way.

"That was for ratting me out about the cat," she smiled sweetly, "and it was for Harry's benefit."

Harry wasn't listening. He was too busy laughing at them. Remus trailed off into mutterings, his friends catching a few familiar excuses like 'not my fault I kept falling asleep' but Harry had

calmed down and Lily was ready to keep reading.

Harry attempted to hide his laughter as Malfoy tottered around, his nose now heavy enough he couldn't properly hold his head up. While the majority of the class went up front with all manner of expanded limbs,

"Wish I could be there to see that," Sirius said with glee.

"I love how Harry seems to come up with the best prank ideas, and he doesn't even try," James agreed.

Hermione managed to slip back into the classroom, the front of her robes now misshapen.

"Subtle," James snickered.

After the room calmed back down, Snape stalked over to the cauldron in question and dug out the remaining bits of the firework.

"Oops," Harry winced, having hoped Snape would go along with his father's line of thinking, and not investigate it too much.

"You don't get into trouble do you?" Lily asked in trepidation.

"Snape can't prove Harry did it," Sirius disagreed.

"When has that ever stopped him," James huffed.

Snape was not pleased, promising expulsion if he ever found out who had pulled this.

"That's harsh," Remus said, "it was dangerous and stupid, fine I'll agree, but that's only worth a few detentions."

"I will repeat," James said, "when has that ever stopped him from exaggerating."

As they were exiting the class, Harry was worrying that Snape knew it was him.

"That's creepy," Sirius shuddered, "I really wish you'd stop saying that kind of stuff Harry."

Harry shrugged, having a vague feeling his younger self was right, but he had no idea why.

Ron brushed it off, pointing out that Snape had no proof, and rhetorically asking what could he do about it? Harry said it would be something nasty.

"At least you'll be on your guard," James said brightly.

They dumped the ingredients into their potion, and nothing more eventful happened until a week later when they found a poster saying a Duelling Club would be started.

"That's an awful idea," Remus cackled.

"Why?" Lily said, puzzled, "I think it's a great idea. Honestly, why didn't we ever do that?"

"Think about it Lily," James said in a slow voice, "a large abundance of student's, all being encouraged to point their wands at each other, with minimal to no supervision."

Lily pursed her lips and said, "Well, when you put it like that, but I think students should understand how duelling works before they graduate at least-"

"Nah," Sirius said, still grinning with Remus at the potential for mayhem this could cause, then he put on a school teacher's voice as he said, "the students are too young to know how the real world works. Enjoy your youth while you can."

"Who was that?" Lily asked

"McGonagall," Sirius said, his face dropping slightly when she hadn't caught that right away. "We asked to start a duelling club at the end of our first year, and she said that to me."

"Personally," Remus said, still grinning, "I think she just said no to you, and anyone thereafter, because it was your idea. I told you I should have been the one to suggest it."

Sirius huffed and muttered something inarticulate.

"So why do you think it's allowed now?" James asked.

All of them shrugged, having no idea about this.

Claiming the first lesson would be that night. Ron laughed, asking if the teachers thought Slytherin's monster could duel or something, but he looked just as fascinated by the subject as anyone.

"That would be interesting," James snickered.

"No," Remus disagreed, "but the person who's supposedly Slytherin's heir, and doing this, most likely can."

"You really know how to kill the mood," Sirius grumbled.

At the designated time, most of the Hogwarts students appeared in the Great Hall, watching the setup stage eagerly.

"Oh," Lily said brightly, "perhaps it's just a demonstration purpose."

"Why would you demonstrate something, and expect them not to do it?" Remus disagreed.

The students were speculating who would be teaching the class, and one mentioned how they'd heard Flitwick was supposed to be some sort of duelling champion.

"Now that is a rumour we started," James grinned.

"We got sick of hearing people mock Flitwick behind his back, so we said that. Shut people right up." Sirius agreed.

"I'm surprised that's still circulating," Remus grinned.

Harry began to say he didn't care so long as it wasn't Lockhart, who showed up just then,

"Well we found our test dummy," Remus muttered, causing all of them to snicker.

followed by Snape.

"Now this I might actually enjoy," Sirius said, growing bright eyed.

"Most useful thing Snape's ever done, blown that idiot up," James agreed, leaning forward eagerly.

Lockhart began greeting the students, claiming that he had started this little thing to give them all a chance to learn to defend themselves as he had done on numerous occasions, then referenced a few of his books.

"Does he ever go a full hour without mentioning that?" Lily asked in disgust.

"If that's not the biggest load of rubbish," Remus sniffed.

Then he pointed out Snape as his assistant, Snape having claimed a minor bit of practice.

"Well he should," James grinned a bit, "otherwise he would have been the test dummy."

"That wasn't funny James," Lily snapped, flaring up at once.

He raised his hands in surrender, mentally thinking that wasn't the brightest thing to say in front of her.

Lockhart told the students not to worry though, he wouldn't maim Snape permanently.

"We're not," Sirius said vacantly, "I'm actually torn because I'm rooting for Snape to kill him. It's the weirdest thing ever!"

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Remus said brightly.

"I'll take that," James shrugged.

Ron muttered it would be wonderful if they both just killed each other.

"We can only hope," Harry sighed, knowing he had just chuckled then when Ron said it.

Snape was not pleased at this speech, and Harry knew that if his teacher had been glaring at him like that, Harry would be running for his life.

"Aw Harry, you really do need this club," Sirius said sadly, "Snape's not that scary."

"Maybe to you four," Lily huffed "but he's how much older than Harry?"

That made the three boys fidget, while Harry smirked at his mom.

The teachers turn on each other then, beginning to demonstrate the proper way of acknowledging you were in a duel, and then saying how they would both do a spell on three, though neither would be aiming for death of course.

"Wouldn't count on that," James muttered, knowing full well Snape wasn't known for holding back.

Harry didn't buy that,

James beamed at Harry, more than pleased he had mimicked his son or vice a versa, which ever.

looking at Snape. Once the countdown was done, Snape used the spell Expelliarmus.

Harry startled a bit, he knew that spell for some reason. It meant something really important to him. Why this spell in particular though?

"Wow," Remus said in surprise, "he only tried to disarm him?"

"Nicest spell he's ever used I'm sure, " Sirius sniped.

There was a flash of red, and Lockhart was tossed off his feet, his wand flying away.

"Ha!" All five of them said with glee.

"This is one time in my life, I'm actually happy Snape cursed someone!" James crowed with glee.

Lily rolled her eyes at them again.

All of the Slytherins cheered him on for it.

"You mean you didn't join in?" Sirius asked.

"We weren't going to be cheering for Snape," Harry said, "but we were certainly clapping."

Which caused them to laugh again.

Hermione seemed the only one upset, asking if Lockhart was okay? Together, Harry and Ron voiced that no one cared.

"Agreed," the three boys also said together.

Lockhart got to his feet and brushed the whole thing off, saying he could have stopped Snape if he wanted, as it was more than obvious what he'd been about to do.

"Exactly how many times can he pretend he knows what he's doing?" Remus asked in disbelief.

"Please let Snape cut his hair off, please let Snape cut his hair off!" Sirius started chanting.

Snape still looked livid, and Lockhart decided to change focus onto the students, telling them to go into pairs.

"Bummer," they all muttered, having rather enjoyed the spectacle.

Both teachers began going through the crowd and sorting them off, Snape reaching Harry and his friends first, and deciding Harry should pair off against Malfoy.

"Now he's just starting trouble," James said in disgust.

"Harry can beat him no problem," Sirius said at once.

"I'm not doubting that," James nodded in agreement, "but Snape's just lost any points I would have given him for that Lockhart stunt."

He also paired up Hermione with another Slytherin girl named Bulstrode. Harry didn't think much of her, as she strongly reminded him of the cover of Holidays with Hags.

The three boys made choking noises to hold back their laughter, something Lily noticed, though she smiled grimly pleased they had tried to hold back at all.

Lockhart was back on stage, declaring they should ready themselves. Harry and Malfoy did just this, never taking their eyes off the other.

"Smart pup," Sirius nodded.

Lockhart instructed the students were to disarm their opponents only!

"Right," James drew the word out in disbelief.

He began counting down, but Malfoy struck out on two.

"What a little cozener," Sirius muttered.

Using a spell that made Harry stagger as if he'd just been clubbed over the head with a frying pan.

Lily winced in disgust, that horrid mental image of her sister trying to do the same thing back at once, but she pushed past the hazy read vision so she could read how Harry reacted.

Harry gathered himself up quick enough, sending back the spell Rictusempra.

"That was being kind," Remus said, still grinning at Harry's brilliant reaction timing.

"You're a natural," James beamed.

Malfoy was now doubled over and laughing. The two boys weren't the only ones at this though, the whole hall was now casting any spell they wanted at the other. Harry was still watching Malfoy, feeling it would be poor sportsmanlike to attack him while he was incapable of doing the same.

"What?" Sirius yelped, "No! Now's the time to disarm him, like Snape did to Lockhart."

Harry said, "Sorry, it just didn't occur to me."

"Well, you've got potential, we'll work on it," James said, still grinning.

Malfoy wasn't out yet though, managing to get out in between giggles Tarantallegra.

"That's the best he's got," Remus scoffed.

"Honestly, all of you," Lily said, "can't you just be happy they're not trying to kill each other?"

The boys didn't even bother to look sheepish, they were enjoying this too much. As much of a prat as Malfoy had been all year, here they were in a sanctioned opportunity to get some payback.

They only wished Harry would take a little more advantage than this.

Lockhart was trying to get control back, but Snape stepped in and used the spell Finite Incantatem.

"Thank goodness there's one grown up around," Lily muttered.

At once all the spells in the room vanished. Harry glanced around and spotted Ron apologizing to his partner Seamus for whatever his broken wand had managed to do,

"I keep forgetting about that." Sirius snickered, "Did you ever find out what his wand had done?"

"Made some kind of foul smelling gas, Seamus was about to throw up before Snape did that," Harry said.

"I really hope he gets a new one, at least over the summer," Lily sighed, "he can't keep that thing for the rest of school."

"I want to know why another teacher hasn't said something by now," Remus puzzled. "That can't be allowed, or even safe."

"It's not really the teacher's job though," James said back with a frown, "after all, what can they do? Make the Weasleys buy him a new wand?"

Remus sighed, but agreed it couldn't really be helped.

but Hermione and Millicent Bulstrode were still at it. The Slytherin had Hermione in a headlock

"Oi!" Harry hooted in indignation.

"Now how did that happen?" Remus asked.

"Dean told us later," Harry grumbled, now remembering that vividly, "Hermione did disarm Millicent, and she charged at Hermione instead. Guess Hermione didn't react in time."

"Well, props for thinking on her feet anyways," Lily said weakly, speaking about both girls.

and Hermione was so much smaller she couldn't wiggle out. Ron and Harry leapt to her defence, both boys struggling to pull the other girl off, and when they managed she did not look happy about it. Lockhart was wandering around the hall, coaching students on how to fix their injuries,

"I really wish I could have been there to see that," Sirius sighed.

and then mentioning how he should probably teach how to block spells.

"Did that just occur to you?" James scoffed.

"I'll faint if he even knows how to," Remus griped.

Lockhart decided to call a pair up to the stage to demonstrate, at first calling on Neville and Justin, but Snape cut in by saying Neville would screw up.

"Dang, why does he seem to hate Neville as much as you?" Sirius asked with a scowl in place, hatting this nearly as much as if he'd said that about Harry.

Harry opened his mouth to answer, but it was gone as soon as he had tried to start. So he shrugged and slumped back, instead saying, "guess he just hates everyone."

Pointing out how Justin would probably be sent up to the hospital wing in pieces.

Lily muttered something indistinctly, she hated how rude Sev was being to a child, in public.

Then he voiced that Harry and Malfoy should be up there.

"I'm okay with this," James nodded, "Malfoy owes a few more curses sent his way."

Harry went up to the stage, and Lockhart began to demonstrate what Harry should do.

"Whatever he just showed you, do the opposite," Remus said.

Harry nodded in agreement, not even needing to remember what Lockhart said to know Remus knew better.

He raised his wand, did a complicated zigzag motion, and dropped it.

All five of them laughed meanly, Remus loudest of all. He hadn't realized his advice would be taken so literally.

Lockhart laughed it off, saying his wand was a little overexcited,

"Your mouth is a little overused," James grumbled.

all the while Snape was whispering something in Malfoy's ear that was making the younger boy grin in a way Harry did not like. Harry asked Professor Lockhart if he'd show him that blocking spell again,

"He never showed you anything to begin with," Sirius yelped.

"Snape really creeped me out just then," Harry defended.

"Lockhart doesn't deserve that title," Remus muttered to himself. Sirius heard him and gave his friend a sympathetic look, knowing exactly why Remus would feel so angry about this.

and Lockhart just told Harry to do what he did. Harry pointed out all he'd done was drop his wand.

"Like I said," Remus nodded, "the opposite of what he did."

"I still don't know how to counter though," Harry sighed.

"Then duck," Sirius shrugged.

Lockhart began counting down again, and Malfoy got off his spell first, Serpensortia.

"What?" they all yelped in shock.

"What's that going to do?" Harry asked uneasily.

"It conjures a snake!" Lily moaned in fear.

"From nothing?" Harry asked, "I thought you said that was seventh year magic?"

"Most likely, Snape had one nearby, which is what he was whispering to Malfoy," Sirius said uneasily. "The spell doesn't actually make a snake out of nothing, it summons the nearest one."

"Why would Snape even have a snake nearby?" Harry asked in disbelief.

"You can use their venom's in certain potions," Lily muttered.

"Oh," Harry deflated, that wasn't out of normal then, for a potions teacher to be using something like that. "So, how would I even get rid of that?"

"A banishing spell," James shrugged, looking as upset as the others, "but since you might not know that yet, Snape most likely told Malfoy to do that, just so he could scare you. Then he'll get rid of it himself."

At this explanation, they all still were giving each other very weary looks. Harry didn't understand what the big deal was, so he finally asked, "Okay, so why are you all looking like something really bad is about to happen?"

"Harry, don't you remember the last time you ran into a snake?" Remus asked cautiously.

Harry grinned, looking back that memory was hilarious, and so he agreed verbally, then he faltered at once as he also remembered how upset his family had been. He thought back to how scared and worried they were, and that feeling he'd gotten that many people had once looked at him in the same way. Because he was a Parselmouth. Now, a snake had appeared in front of most of the school, and if he started talking to it again, well that would explain his memory. Harry now grimaced, looking as upset as the rest of them.

"Did anybody ever figure out why I was a Parselmouth?" Harry asked. "You said it's only passed down from the family line."

"No," James said sadly, "I've no idea why you can."

"It doesn't mean anything to us though dear," Lily said as Harry's feelings were clearly sinking even lower.

Harry sighed before waving his mother on, deciding they may as well get this over with.

Harry froze up, and Snape seemed oddly pleased at having the opportunity to be able to get rid of it for Harry

"Jerk," James said with more heat than he normally would have, now fully blaming Snape for what he knew was about to happen to his son.

"You can't blame Severus for this," Lily said at once, "he didn't know-"

"He did this to mess with Harry," Sirius snarled, "and it's going to be awful. It doesn't matter what he intended."

"He's trying to help Filch's cat!" Lily spat, finally using that trump card, "he doesn't hold grudges like you seem to."

"Oh please," Remus scoffed. "He hates Harry because of James. If that isn't holding a grudge, I don't know what is."

Lily opened her mouth to continue arguing, but Harry cut in saying, "Please, I want to know what happened. Mom, Snape does hate me, you can't deny that. Dad, he didn't cause what was about to happen on purpose. Please, can't we just get past this?"

Both parents deflated, muttering their ascent. Sirius and Remus were eyeing Harry with shock, not having believed anything could get those two to stop arguing like that. Then again, they'd never tried very hard. Always having sided with James whenever Lily began her attack.

Lockhart said he would get rid of it first though.

"Bloody hell," Sirius hissed, switching his anger from Snape to Lockhart at once. "That twat's probably just going to summon another snake!"

He waved his wand at the snake, which just soared into the air and landed again with a hiss of protest.

"Nope," James shook his head sadly, "he's just going to make it unbanishable."

"Here I thought he couldn't get dumber," Remus muttered, hating to be proven wrong.

The snake then turned its attention on one of the students, Justin, poisonous fangs exposed.

All five of them winced, knowing full well what was about to happen. Harry would never stand by and allow that to happen. Whether he recognized his ability to talk to snakes or not, they had no doubt he would act on his previous experience with the scaled beasts.

Harry reacted without thinking, jumping forward and telling the snake to back off. Much to Harry's shock as anyone, the snake did just that, going and curling up at Harry's feet.

"Guess you never mentioned that boa constrictor to Ron then," James sighed, if he had Ron would have explained to Harry about what had just happened.

"Nope," Harry said sadly, "it never occurred to me. I thought it wasn't even a big deal."

Harry looked up and around, making sure Justin was okay, only to find the boy looked at Harry with fear.

"A common reaction, learning certain things about people," Remus winced.

Justin shouted at Harry that he was crazy and ran off. Snape came forward and did make the snake disappear then, leaving black smoke in its place.

'So he killed the snake?' Lily thought, thinking that was a little harsh, but unable to think what other effect could cause a snake, that was now unbanishable, to disappear in a puff of black smoke. Still, she was far more concerned with what was about to happen to her son, so she didn't bring it up.

Ron came up on stage then, grabbing the back of Harry's robes and trying to haul the stunned boy away.

"Guess Ron decided to get him out of there," Sirius nodded.

"Probably scared the crap out of him as well though," James said sadly.

He and Hermione dragged Harry to the nearest classroom, pushing him inside and demanding to know what had happened? Harry was still in shock himself, saying he'd just told the snake to stop. Ron was clearly surprised that's what Harry had said, which confused Harry all the more when Ron called him a parselmouth, saying it was a person who could talk to snakes. Harry admitted he knew he could, as he'd once met a boa constrictor and they had chatted,

"Well when you put it like that it sounds ridiculous," Harry said weakly, as his family was still looking rather scared. Lily sighed, she knew she wasn't going to like what was about to happen to Harry at school, but she forced herself to keep reading.

but Harry ended with what the big deal was. Ron explained that this was a very rare gift, and it was bad. Harry demanded to know what was so bad, if he hadn't told that snake not to attack Justin, and Ron cut him off in surprise that's what Harry had said.

"Can't they have heard?" Harry asked.

"No," James shook his head, "I've never heard a Parselmouth in action, but apparently all we can hear is hissing."

Harry went a little paler as he said, "I, didn't even realize, it didn't sound that way to me. I thought I was just talking to it, and it could understand me. How could I have..." he trailed off, looking even more upset than before now.

"We don't know Harry," Lily sighed, running a hand lovingly through his hair, "but I want you to remember that we don't care. Nor will your real friends. It's just, startling is all."

Harry nodded, leaning into her touch for a moment, before letting her go on. More annoyed than ever he didn't know the answer to this.

Harry said of course it was, hadn't they heard? Ron said all he'd heard was Harry speaking in the snake's language. Harry was flabbergasted now, saying how could he have spoken a language he didn't even know? Then he voiced what the big deal even was, he hadn't done anything wrong. Hermione pointed out that it was a very big deal, as Salazar Slytherin himself was a Parselmouth, that's why Slytherin's animal was a snake.

Harry did the same thing now. Great, if the whole school had been thinking it before, now they were going to be convinced he was the heir of Slytherin!

Sirius said loudly, "So why did the other symbols get picked!" Trying to distract Harry again.

Lily answered, "Lions are very proud creatures, known for their bravery. Eagles known for their sight, and Ravenclaw isn't always necessarily intelligence so much as learning to see. Badgers are homely animals, they protect their own and their home, but don't seek out fights. The fact that snakes are known as a cunning animal probably made Slytherin like the animal all the more."

Harry was distracted, listening to his mother. The others knew Harry had been thinking exactly the same thing as them, but since they all knew it was preposterous, they didn't want Harry dwelling on it too much.

Remus also offered, "I've also heard rumor that those were their patronuses as well, which is why they favored those animals."

Harry was instantly distracted now, furrowing up his brow as he tried to remember why he might know what a patronus was? He didn't ask out loud though, deciding to deal with one thing at a

time.

Now that Harry seemed a little calmer again, Lily was willing to read.

Ron agreed that now people in the school were going to think Harry was directly descended from Slytherin himself.

"He's not," James began viciously, "he's as much related as Ron! Why doesn't Ron-"

"It's okay," Lily said at once, "Ron knows that to. He's just making jokes, like you lot always do."

James deflated, looking slightly apologetic. Harry smiled and told his dad he didn't blame him, and in fact thanked him for the defence.

Harry tried to protest he wasn't, but Hermione pointed out that as he'd lived so long ago, Harry could be.

Both James and Sirius huffed and muttered some things about 'all purebloods are' but Lily didn't stop to hear this again.

Harry couldn't sleep that night as he stayed up long into the night, thinking all of this over.

James made a pitiful noise somewhere in his throat. He hated this! Hated not being there for his son, not being able to comfort him when he clearly was upset about this. Harry didn't have anyone to turn to but him! Even Hagrid, and clearly not Ron, could comfort Harry about this matter.

Harry gave him a small, encouraging smile, and James forced himself to return it, though it quickly faded away as Lily kept going.

He couldn't help but wonder if he was that closely related to Slytherin? How would he know, as he knew nothing of his father's side of the family.

"I haven't been this depressed since Christmas of your last year," Sirius groaned, looking pale as snow himself. "What is it about you and holidays? All the worst stuff happens on the best days!"

Harry shrugged, saying weakly, "It wasn't quite Christmas yet."

No one looked very comforted.

Harry tried to say something in Parseltongue again, but it didn't seem to work. Harry wondered if he could only do it when he was looking at a snake.

Remus sighed, rather puzzled, since Harry didn't recognize the difference anyways, if that was true or not, and having no way to find out just let it go.

Harry tried to make a case for himself, pointing out he was in Gryffindor, Harry wondered if the hat had seen Salazar's blood in him?

"Not necessarily true," James said weakly, "your blood really doesn't have much to do with your house. It's more to do with your potential for learning."

"Oh," Lily said briskly, forcing a teasing tone into her voice, "so you're allowed to explain how the hat works, but when I do, it's not relevant."

"No," Sirius said, brightening at once at what looked like a new topic, "we said we didn't want to hear it then, because we wanted to know what house Harry's in. Now, go right ahead, educate us on hat magic."

Lily grinned at him but said innocently, "Surely you don't need me to tell you, you seem to know plenty on your own."

"You're right," Sirius nodded, "I do know. Plus, I still don't care."

Harry let out a burst of laughter at their vain attempt at cheering him up, which had clearly worked. Though, considering the friends he had, he seemed to be used to light bickering by now.

That only reminded him how the hat had wanted to put him in Slytherin most of all.

"It wanted to put you in all the houses," Lily reminded him, "you were just brave enough to say otherwise, hence Gryffindor."

Harry nodded, feeling far better now than he had then.

He also kept thinking about the look on Justin's face, and how Harry would explain to him tomorrow the obvious. That after Harry had spoken to it, the snake had backed off, Harry hadn't been telling it to attack him.

"I agree," Remus said at once, "I wasn't even there, and I realized after Harry spoke to it, the snake backed off."

"But you saw it from my point of view," Harry pointed out in a far calmer voice than they would have guessed. "To the rest of the school, it might have looked like that."

"Why are you arguing for the school now, but not then?" Sirius asked, waving at the book.

Harry shrugged and said, "I was mad then. Now, not so much. Guess I should thank you guys for that."

All four of them beamed, Harry had just openly admitted they had made him feel better, so they felt like they had at least done their job properly now, even if they couldn't then.

The problem came the next morning when Herbology class was cancelled due to a blizzard.

"Wow, wish we got that kind of luck," James said in surprise, "it didn't matter the weather, they never cancelled classes."

"Something about the Mandrakes," Harry said with a shrug, "we were still helping Sprout with them in class, but she didn't want our help with something..."

Lily simply read.

Professor Sprout had done this because she wanted to put socks and scarves on the Mandrakes herself.

"Ah," Harry and James both nodded in understanding.

Harry was left feeling upset in the common room, and Ron finally convinced Harry to just go find Justin if it was bothering him so much.

"Why is it so important to you?" Sirius sniffed. "I don't see why you care what he thinks, since your friends believe you."

"I didn't want someone walking around thinking I wanted them dead," Harry pointed out.

Sirius shrugged, admitting this.

Harry agreed, but then wondered where Justin would be?

James nodded, remembering that constant annoyance until they had finally made the map.

He began wandering the corridors, walking past a few instances of classroom mishaps, like hearing McGonagall telling off a student for turning someone else into a badger.

"Was it on purpose?" James asked innocently.

"Don't know," Harry shrugged, "I never got the full details."

Resisting the urge to take a look,

"You've got more restraint than I do," Sirius laughed.

Harry kept going and decided to try finding Justin in the library.

"Not a bad idea," Lily agreed.

"Though you're kind of out of luck if he's in his common room," Remus added.

Harry had a very bad feeling that he did find Justin that day, and then wondered why he would have a bad feeling about it. Did they have a fight about it and not make up?

He did come across a group of Hufflepuffs, but Justin didn't seem to be among them. Harry overheard a snippet of their conversation, and he froze behind the invisibility section to listen in.

"Pause for irony," James said, which Lily ignored, knowing full well that if it caught Harry's attention like that, she wasn't going to like this.

One boy was saying that he'd warned Justin to stay in his dormitory, since Harry had obviously marked him as his next victim.

"Marked him down?" James scoffed in disgust. "You think he's making a list?"

"Malfoy would be number one, not these random kids," Sirius grumbled.

Then he pointed out it was partly Justin's own fault, having slipped up and saying how he was Muggleborn to Harry's face in their first class.

"Let slip!" Remus yelped, "he said he was going to a muggle school, well before Mrs. Norris was even petrified!"

Harry was grinning at all of them for their obvious defence of him.

Pointing out that wasn't the kind of thing that should be said with Slytherin's monster running around.

"Slytherin's heir wasn't on the lose your first class," Lily snapped, she didn't usually condone these boys odd habits of correcting who was talking in the book, but this kid was annoying her as well.

A girl tried to argue back, saying she wasn't so sure it was Harry. The first boy, Ernie, argued back that of course it was Harry, only dark wizards knew how to speak Parseltongue, there had never been a decent wizard that could.

"Stereotyping," all three boys muttered, very much aware they would have agreed before they knew their little Harry was one himself.

He then began listing the victims, about how Filch had caught Harry, and so Harry must have turned on Mrs. Norris.

"Filch is everyone's enemy!" James snarled, "Is this kid trying to pretend otherwise."

Then Colin had annoyed Harry at the Quidditch game, then Colin was attacked.

Harry sighed miserably, they were some odd coincidences that the people that had annoyed him were the victims.

"Harry, you aren't really taking this kid to heart?" Remus asked in concern.

He admitted what he was just thinking, and that caused them all pause for a moment, not having made those links from victim to Harry. Sirius said, "that's ridiculous, it was those two who were out alone at the time, you knowing who they were doesn't mean a thing."

Harry nodded, looking very much like he wanted to believe him. He also wondered why he felt an odd pang about knowing the victims?

The girl named Hannah said Harry had always seemed like a nice guy though, and he had been the one to make You-Know-Who disappear. Ernie pointed out that was another odd thing, why had You-Know-How gone after Harry? Harry should have died that night after all,

Lily stuttered a bit at that awful mental image.

"You sure this kid is a Hufflepuff?" Sirius grumbled in disgust, "Cause that was about the rudest thing ever!"

and how only a powerful dark wizard could have survived.

"Is he saying Harry was born a dark wizard?" Remus asked dangerously, "Because that is ridiculous! Dark Wizard's aren't born, they become that way through some twisted events."

Then he went on to say this was probably what had caught You- Know-Who's attention.

Lily shivered in disgust at that sentence, while James grew angrier the longer this kid talked. The thing he wanted to know above all others, why Voldemort had gone after his family, and this little jerk was implying it was his son's own fault!

He obviously didn't want another dark wizard being about.

"That's it," Sirius raged, "I'm officially slapping this kid."

Lily quirked a brow at this, but resisted pointing out that they had no idea how old this kid was right now, so that sentence was useless. It made Sirius feel better, so she just kept reading.

Then he wondered what else Harry could be hiding?

"I can run pretty fast, pretty sure most students don't know that," Harry said weakly

"There's my prongslet," James said with glee, "showing some sarcasm in the face of this jerk."

Harry chuckled as James ruffled up his hair a bit.

Harry lost his temper then, rounding the bookcase and giving all of the students a fright, Ernie worst of all as he blanched in shock.

"Good," Lily huffed, "maybe next time they'll think about gossiping in such a public place."

Harry started politely enough, asking if they'd seen Justin? Ernie tried to keep up a brave face, demanding to know why Harry wanted to know.

"To knock some sense into him," Sirius muttered, "and you."

Harry said so that he could explain himself about last night, and Ernie jumped in with there was no need, they all saw it.

"Well then clearly you need your eyes checked," Remus snapped.

Harry pointed out that after Harry had spoken, the snake had stopped. Ernie protested that it had been a near miss.

"A miss?" James demanded, "the snake never even struck out!"

"Now he's just exaggerating his own facts," Sirius agreed with a growl.

Then he followed up with saying he himself was a pureblood, in case Harry was getting any ideas.

"Why would he care!" James grumbled, "I'd attack him just for his fat mouth."

Harry snapped he didn't give a damn about anyone's blood! Demanding to know why he'd even have a reason to attack muggle-borns? Ernie reminded that Harry hated those Muggles he lived with.

"So would you," all five of them muttered, not at all appreciating that reminder at this awful time.

Harry snapped back so would anyone who had to live with the Dursleys. Then he stomped out of the library, ignoring the annoyed look on the librarians face.

"I'm rather surprised she didn't step in," Lily said distantly, "you seemed to have gotten quite loud."

"She was probably about to," Harry shrugged, deciding he must have mistaken Justin for Ernie, and this was the bad feeling he'd had.

He was storming through the hallways, not paying any attention to where he was going, so ran straight into Hagrid.

"Hagrid in the castle again," Remus said, distracted at once, "well this can't be good. Last time we saw him in the castle, he had a dragon!"

"Please don't remind me of that," Sirius sighed.

Hagrid was carrying around a dead rooster.

"Ew," James wrinkled up his nose, "why was he walking around with that?"

"Well, it's a point of conversation anyways," Sirius shrugged.

Harry asked what Hagrid was doing, and Hagrid said that this was the second dead rooster he'd found this term, and speculated it was probably either a fox or a Blood-Sucking Bugbear.

"Well the fox thing is ridiculous," James said, "I've never seen a normal animal survive long enough on the grounds to do something like that twice. The Bugbear though, I don't know. It's not in many textbooks-"

Sirius gave a glance to Remus, and when it appeared he wasn't going to he himself said what he had learned back in his Care of Magical Creatures Class, "That's because Bugbears are a species

kind of boggart, more pesky then anything, but close enough most people don't make the distinction like Hagrid did. They're not known for killing random animals though, so it's just as

unlikely."

"What would kill them then?" James asked, also noting his friend's silence.

Remus wasn't listening. In fact, he seemed absent to his entire surroundings. It all added up... but how! The only magical creature he could work out wasn't capable of petrification...he huffed in frustration and focused on Lily again, then realized they were watching him curiously. He smiled grimly and said, "Sorry, just thinking, what was that?"

"We were trying to figure out what would kill Hagrid's roosters, since we don't like his two suggestions," James said.

Lily was shaking her head at the lot of them and scolded, "Hagrid, being Gamekeeper of the whole grounds, I don't understand why you're arguing the point at all. Just because you wandered the grounds every bloody night doesn't mean you have Hagrid's experience. If Hagrid says it could be either of those, it could be." Then she too turned to Remus to see what had kept him so quite.

"Oh," he shrugged, "a basic charm will protect them from most any kind of magical creatures, but he must have already had that up, so I've no idea." This was partially a lie, he had a vague idea why someone would want to kill a rooster, but he still didn't have proof of this theory yet, so he kept it quiet to himself until he did know. Lily, still suspicious, read.

Hagrid needed permission to put up a charm to protect the rest of his coop.

"Guess Hagrid didn't have that charm up," James shrugged.

"Well, now he can," Lily said, "guess nothing's ever bothered to attack the roosters before this, so he never had."

Then Hagrid asked Harry if he was alright, since he looked quite upset. Harry didn't want to say all of the horrible things he'd just heard from Ernie,

That caused the four of them deep frowns as Harry, once again, seemed reluctant to talk to anyone about something that was bothering him. The only thing stopping them from saying anything

about it was that they were sure he would speak to Ron and Hermione about it.

Harry just excused himself and said he did have to go to another class and began walking off again, winding up in a deserted corridor, where he tripped over something on the floor. He glanced over to see something that made his blood freeze over.

"Why?" James drew the word out in trepidation.

Harry sighed, muttering, "you're not going to like the answer."

Lily felt her own mounting fear as she said.

Justin was on the floor, a look of shock stuck in place on his petrified body.

"Crap!" All five of them said at once.

"Okay, twice is coincidence, now I agree with Ernie," Sirius growled, "someone is trying to frame Harry."

"Next time start with the end of that sentence," Remus told him conversationally, "because I almost slapped you."

Harry was still sitting there, a look of shock on his face like he had been petrified himself, and Lily felt her fear continue to mount when she realized there was something else Harry must remember about this attack. Reading fearfully.

The worst part though, was what Harry had almost run into. There was someone else a foot away,

"I don't want to know. I do not want to know," Sirius muttered, quietly enough that Lily didn't even pause.

with the exact same expression, but instead of his usual translucence, Nearly Headless Nick was smoky black.

As Lily read that out, everyone in the room went very still.

James swallowed hard before whispering, "what could do that to a ghost?"

"No-nothing," Remus whispered, "I've never heard of anything like this."

"That's it, I want to pull Harry out of school now," Sirius said weakly.

"I...agree," James finally nodded.

"Well no one does pull me out," Harry sighed, finally coming out of his reverie.

Remus was turning everything possible over in his mind. He thought he knew the answer, there was only one creature that had the abilities to do this...but since these circumstances had never occurred, that he was aware of, was he right?

He hated to think that, if just one more student was petrified, he might have his answer, but he knew how awful that sounded, so he still kept his opinion to himself.

Harry got uneasily to his feet, staring in shock at the apparently dead ghost. He glanced around himself to find some spiders were crawling away.

Remus narrowed his eyes and nodded to himself, which this time James and Sirius took note of. They exchanged a loaded look, and determined they would have to ask about that.

Lily was interrupted by a cry from above, making all of them jump. Sirius was the one to get to his feet and make his way upstairs this time, coming back down with the little baby cuddled in his arms. He was talking in a goofy voice saying, "Were you playing? Huh, did Uncle Sirius come in and find you making a mess of your room. I think we need to have a talk with daddy about his play pen disappearing-"

"He did what?" James asked, getting to his own feet and grinning as he followed Sirius into the kitchen.

You could hear them talking in there, and Harry asked, "was that accidental magic then?"

Remus nodded, saying, "most likely he saw something he wanted outside the pen, like one of his toys, so he made the baby gate disappear. The room's baby proofed, so were not concerned he got

into anything."

"How young do you start doing accidental magic?" Harry asked, since the baby Sirius was now bringing back into the room was only a few months old.

"His age," Lily said, "err, your age, whatever. The point is, magic manifests at very young ages."

This was the best kind of distraction possible for the little group right now. Lily set the book aside, and all of them sat around having a nice normal conversation, avoiding the book altogether, because they didn't want to keep reading and possibly upset the baby again. Sirius even asked if

they could have lunch after the baby was done eating. Lily agreed, and left the boys to it while she got up to go do just this.

By the time the baby was done eating, and had been burped and put back upstairs for a long nap, they were all full and in a much more content mood. What they were reading about was scary, no use in denying that, but after such a nice long break they got a little bit of a reminder that it was going to be okay. Harry was here and fine and safe, which was their most important motive.

When Lily picked up the book to read again, she was almost smiling despite the grim mood of the book.

At either end of the corridor, Harry could hear classrooms in progress, and Harry felt torn. Should he call and ask for help? Would they think he'd been the one to do this?

James hesitated before saying, "I think you should have, ah dang. It's kind of awful both ways."

Sirius nodded and said, "If he stayed, it would have made him look guilty."

"If he made a run for it, and anyone even glimpsed him, it would make him look guilty," Remus agreed.

Lily sighed, hoping dearly her son wasn't going to be blamed for this as well.

Harry remained in place with indecision, as Peeves arrived.

"Well this won't be good," James muttered.

The poltergeist saw the problem at once, and began screaming at the top of his lungs what he'd found.

"Peeves yelled a lot louder than that Mum," Harry said lightly.

"I wasn't going to go shouting that," Lily disagreed.

Everyone in hearing range came running out of the rooms, and so much confusion and chaos happened for a moment that several people began walking through Nick.

Everyone shuddered in disgust at this, Nick still being the most disturbing part of this particular attack.

Harry was left standing in the middle of it all as McGonagall arrived, her class in tow, with one kid still having badger hair.

James grimaced, no longer finding that the least bit funny.

Ernie also ran into the corridor,

"Great," Sirius drolled, "this should be good."

and theatrically pointed at Harry, claiming he'd been caught in the act.

"Idiot," Remus muttered darkly, "like anyone would stand around after they'd just done something like that. How do they even think you're doing this!"

Harry shrugged, he had never stopped anyone to ask for details, he didn't want to know.

McGonagall cut him off,

"Thank Merlin for McGonagall," Lily smiled.

Peeves seemed to find this whole thing rather funny as he made up a song on the spot about how Harry was doing all of this.

"Why that little-" Lily spluttered in disgust.

James grimaced and said, "yeah, Peeves likes making songs about awful things."

"I thought you got on alright with him?" she asked.

"No," Sirius laughed, "we just know how he works. We never said we liked him."

"He loved picking on me in particular," Remus added with fond remembrance.

"Why's that?" Harry asked curiously.

"Not sure," he shrugged, "guess I was just an easy target. He called me looney loopy, probably because he found me sleeping in random places throughout the castle."

"Why did you do that?" Harry asked further, not feeling nearly as reserved around these people anymore, feeling like he could ask them anything at this point.

"Transforming is exhausting for me," Remus sighed, "and I slept a lot both before and after it happened. Sometimes I just didn't feel like making the long trek up to the dormitory, so I'd curl up somewhere and take a nap. The amount of times Peeves saw me doing that must have inspired his song."

'He was the main reason we invented the map' James thought fondly 'we got tired of looking around for him every time he did that.' He decided against mentioning this to Harry though, since

Harry still knew nothing of the map, he wanted to sit on that for a while longer until he had established what had happened to it.

Lily couldn't believe they were taking Peeves mocking Harry so lightly, but thinking back on all the things she'd seen the Poltergeist do over the years, she guessed making an awful song wasn't even the worst.

McGonagall got Peeves to stop as well, getting rid of him.

"I'm still happy she did that," Lily said.

The boys nodded, knowing that Peeves was more annoying then amusing to most people.

She began telling the rest of the students to get back to class, asked two of the other teachers to take care of Justin, and then created a fan which she gave Ernie and told him to get Nick up to the hospital wing.

"Would that even work?" Harry asked.

"I've no idea, we never tried," James said curiously.

Ernie did as told, using the air to brush Nick along.

"Guess it does," Remus said in surprise.

"At least they didn't just leave him there," Lily agreed.

"How are they even going to fix him?" Sirius asked, "For that matter, what if someone was petrified with their mouth closed? How would they fix that?"

"You poor it down their nose," Lily shrugged.

"I find it fascinating you know that," James said, grinning lovingly at his wife.

She smiled indulgently at him before continuing, "As for Nick, I've no idea honestly."

Harry sighed miserably, he had a feeling he had asked someone this at some time, but he had no clear memory of this now, so he didn't pry into it.

Finally McGonagall turned her attention on Harry, and told him to follow her.

"Where's she taking you?" James asked in trepidation.

"She doesn't think you did it?" Sirius asked with both surprise and anger.

Harry shrugged miserably, he certainly hoped his head of house didn't think that of him.

Harry tried to explain himself, but McGonagall said she curtly replied this was out of her bounds.

"Curtly?" Remus muttered, "that doesn't help."

She took him to a stone gargoyle.

"Crap." James muttered, "she took you to Dumbledore's office."

"Still doesn't answer whether they're blaming you," Sirius said, looking a little jittery. He'd really get mad if Harry was punished for this.

"I don't think he will," Lily said slowly, "after all, if he didn't think it was Harry back during these exact same circumstances with the cat, why would he now?"

This seemed to relieve the rest of them.

She gave the password, and the statue moved aside, allowing Harry to go up a flight of stairs, and only when he reached the top did he realize he was in Dumbledore's office.

"Well, look on the bright side," James said as he took the book from his wife, "Harry got sent to Dumbledore's office before we did. That's an accomplishment."

[randomfandoms56-blog]

The Confession

Ronald Weasley was The Boy Who Lived’s best friend, that was how most knew him as. He was the sixth and final son of the Weasley line, even his little sister was more important than him. And yet, Ron still stood tall (quite literally) and proud. Just like the Gryffindor he was, of course, he made sure that nobody knew this really bothered him.

And even though he acted like this, those close to him would be able to tell that Ron Weasley hated it. He hated all of the shadows he was stuck in. It was difficult to have six brothers and one sister who all seem to be so much better than him.

The first shadow he was stuck in was his eldest brother, Bill. Bill was the Cursebreaker at Gringotts, the magical wizarding bank. Not only that, but Bill was married to a stunning Veela, who Ron quite honestly used to have a crush on. The couple were quite beautiful together and were already planning on having their first baby.

Then, of course, was Ron’s favorite brother. The second Weasley boy, Charlie Weasley, was definitely someone to live up to. He was a dragon tamer, something that Ron had taken great interest in because of his elder brother. Charlie wasn’t in any kind of relationship, Ron knew that, but he was fine without having any nieces or nephews from Charlie. Charlie was cool enough.

Then, of course, there was the genius of the family: Percy. Percy was a right prat, Ron knew that, but there was no denying that his best friend was a damn genius. And he now had a fiancée who was once in Ravenclaw. A real looker, Ron had to admit.

And then, of course, there was Fred and George. Two of the best people Ron could imagine. They were hilarious and clever, two of the most clever guys Ron had ever known. They both had girlfriends (Fred with Hermione and George with Angelina) and their own joke shop.

And, of course, Ginny. It was simple with her- she was the favorite as his mother always wanted a girl.

Then there was Ron. The sixth child of seven, the one without many redeeming qualities or anything to help him stand out. Other than chess and being best mates with Harry Potter, of course. So, of course, Ron hated not having any outstanding qualities about himself.

It was nearing Christmas, the grounds of Hogwarts had a beautiful coat of powdery snow covering it. Ron didn’t want to leave the common room, knowing he probably wouldn’t be going home for Christmas this year. While he loved his family, he just wasn’t yet ready to go home. To go face every perfect sibling he had. Ron knew he adored his brothers, but he just couldn’t take it directly after the war. He’d already owled his parents that he was staying.

Of Ron and his friends, Harry was the only one who didn’t return for his eighth year. Hermione decided that she wanted to be a healer instead of an auror, so she needed to finish her seventh year. Ron wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, but he knew it wasn’t an auror. He’d seen enough to go onto that kind of line of work.

There wasn’t only that, but Ron didn’t want to work alongside Harry. He adored his best friend, he truly did, but he couldn’t just be Harry’s sidekick again. He needed to do something on his own, something that was truly Ronald Weasley. And being an auror just was not it.

Other things that were on Ron’s mind were all of the changes around Hogwarts. The classrooms were different, not as authentic or old as they had to be rebuilt. The Great Hall now had one extra table, one right beside the Hufflepuff table. It was for the eighth years specifically, all of them now sitting together. Including that was the new common room, one for just the eighth years. Once again, combining all four houses together.

And, of course, how awkward it was with Hermione now. They had broken up, deciding that they weren’t the best as a couple. In fact, dating had slowly started ruining their friendship. So they ended that.

Now, the thing that bothered Ron most was the mixed table. And the mixed common room. Or, at least, it did at first. Ron couldn’t stand sitting with the Slytherins, yet he knew some were innocent. There was still some everlasting hatred between the Gryffindors and Slytherins, but they acted as if that resentment didn’t exist. Unlike before when they acted upon it, it was just silent hatred.

Until Ron met one specific Slytherin. Blaise Zabini. Blaise was, quite literally, a life changer for Ron. He’d heard of the boy’s mother and her reputation, but it was easy to tell Blaise was nothing like that. Ron had originally expected a snobby, rude Slytherin. As usual. Then he and Blaise got to talking. And Ron learned that Blaise was kind, funny, and undoubtedly loyal to his friends. While Ron was a bit upset that Blaise was so close to Draco Malfoy, he slowly got over that fact. It took a few months before Ron started noticing how attractive the dark-skinned Slytherin was.

And that was when Ron learned he was not entirely straight. It started slowly, with Ron appreciating Blaise’s appearance. And then his personality in general, and just how much more attractive that made Blaise. Then there was the small daydreams of him and Blaise. Most of them included small kisses and just them living an everyday life together. What was the final kicker was when Ron woke one morning with morning wood after a very descriptive dream of Blaise.

All of this, to say in a simple phrase, terrified Ron. Ron grew up thinking he liked girls, thinking that him and Hermione were going to be perfect together. And now here he was, getting a smack in the face by reality itself.

Ron groaned, shaking himself out of the spiraling thoughts for the hundredth time that night. This was why he usually didn’t allow himself to drink, especially not this much.

Looking around his surroundings, Ron reminded himself where he was. He was still in the eighth year common room as they were having a Christmas party. A party full of firewhiskey, hormones, party games, and some Muggle drugs Ron refused to touch.

Ron was drunk out of his mind and he could tell. His time span was short and he was looking around, focusing on one thing before going to the next. Then, of course, was how much of a mess he knew that he looked. And there was the thoughts that roared through his head and those impulsive ideas he wanted to act on.

Especially the ones that told him to kiss the Slytherin that sat beside him. Blaise was talking about something and Ron knew that the boy was talking to him, he just really wasn’t paying a lot of attention. And it took a few seconds before Ron reached out and covered Blaise’s mouth.

“Sh…” he giggled with a hiccup as Blaise raised an eyebrow in confusion. Ron spoke before he could register what his mind even wanted him to say. “I- I got somethin’... somethin’ important to tell ya,” he slurred out.

Blaise chuckled and pushed Ron’s hand down gently. Ron could instantly tell that Blaise was sober, almost entirely sober as well. “What is it?” Blaise grinned almost teasingly at Ron.

Ron groaned and shook his head. “That!” he whined and pouted. It looked ridiculously adorable on his red face. Blaise went to say something before Ron shook his head. “Y-your beautiful smile, your laugh, the teasing,” he then flopped back on the couch. “I’m so fuckin’ gay for you,” he pouted. “But, like, you don’t like me and I know that!” he cut Blaise off before he could speak once more. “‘Cause you’re so perfect and wonderful and I’m jus’... jus’ Ron,” he sighed. “You should date Charlie… Charlie’s real cool,” he snorted before pouting once more, this time at himself.

Blaise looked both shocked and slightly amused. Mostly he was amused by the pout, yet the rest was complete shock about Ron’s confession. “You’re wasted, Ron,” he stood and pulled the redhead up with him.

The next series of events was a blur for Ron, but the next thing he remembered was waking up with a killer hangover. There was a small paper on his bedside table with a hangover potion (one with which he downed immediately). He then grabbed the paper and read what it said.

‘If you meant what you said last night, I’d like to take you out on a date. I’m not quite good with emoting how I feel about others, but you’re a special case I’d like to think. So talk to me before breakfast in the morning, please.

P.S. I think you’re the most unique Weasley there is.

- Blaise’

[queen-morgana91]

What are some Draco Malfoy fanons arguments, for you?

Fanons arguments about Draco? Everything that his fangirls say, basically.  

There is no problem if someone likes Draco as character (i like Voldemort, Bellatrix etc lol). A person doesn’t have to be likeable to be a great character. I don’t hate Draco, actually, because he’s interesting. The problem are his fangirls (some of them have insulted me many times on Twitter and Instagram, and i’m just…tired).

 They are like “no, he’s just a misunderstood baby”, or “he had no choice” or they even invent an abusive background like “Lucius Malfoy abused him”.

Nope. Let’s examine who is the real Draco Malfoy:

-He was an evil racist, bully little kid who makes fun of his peers for having dead parents or for being poor.

-His father never abused him. He was a spoiled little rich kid.  One of the first things that we hear Malfoy say is something like, “I think I’ll bully Father into getting me a broom.” Yep! Definitely sounds like something an abused child would say.

-Draco had a choice (like Sirius). He was HAPPY to be a Death Eater. HBP movie is a bullshit. He was scared only when he realized that Voldemort had set him up to fail. And he had a choice from being a complete jerk and to not be a complete jerk.

-He wanted Muggle-borns dead. Especially Hermione. He wished for their death many times. He attempted to cause an animal’s death just because he was too stupid to listen to the bloody teacher (and almost succeeded thanks to Daddy Dearest); exploited Harry’s fear of Dementors during a Quidditch match; hexed Hermione and ridiculed her in front of the class; mocked Cedric Diggory’s death; made Ron feel so insecure about his Quidditch skills he was literally paralyzed with fear on the pitch etc. A really good guy, sure.

-He tried to kill Dumbledore twice and was so bad at it that he almost got two innocent students killed instead; Just to clarify, he never cared for their lives. He was always looking out for his own skin.

-He didn’t turn Harry and his friends in Deathly Hallows book not because he’s a good person, but because he was scared of what might happen should he identify Harry.

-He’s not a “bad boy”. Sirius Black was a bad boy. James Potter was a bad boy. In some way, even Tom Riddle. Draco was pathetic and a coward.

-Draco has done nothing to redeem himself. In Battle of Hogwarts he even tried to kidnap Harry. Draco has never, ever been a good person in the series.The movies are saying cr*p, he never tossed his wand to Harry or never ran up to meet him. He literally told a Death Eater “I’m Draco Malfoy, I’m on your side!” despite having been saved by Harry in the Room of Requirements earlier (Ron tells him as much after a well-deserved punch in the face). Draco, at the end of the Battle, is just sitting there with his parents. He’s just… doing nothing. He’s not being all heroic or awesome, he’s a sitting duck. Not all teenagers can be heroes - nobody expects a teenager to be a hero, but nobody expects a teenager to be a humongous racist douche so full of pride in themselves that they can wish for someone’s death and mean it. Being afraid of being killed by Voldemort wasn’t a sign of conflict or remorse.

Now people seem to be big fans of “redemption arcs” so let me tell you: Rowling DID redemption arcs in her story. Yes she did.

She just didn’t give them to the blonde overprivileged racist rich kid.

You already have the characters you want in canon. Yeah. Raised by the villains, still a hero? Regulus Black. Make enormous mistakes and still a hero? Percy Weasley. Turn your life around and become a better person? Dudley Dursley. You already have the characters you want.

Fangirls don’t like Draco Malfoy. They like “Fanfiction Draco Malfoy”. Because Tom Felton is hot, nothing more. Fangirls have concocted this image of Draco in their head that the boy was a sweetheart in disguise. He wasn’t.

Now, like i said, i don’t care if someone loves Draco as character. But i’m just tired being insulted by some Draco’s fangirls just because i don’t agree with them lol

[homicidalholmes]

Hogwarts Headcannons 3

Give me Harry, Hermione, Dean, and Justin from the D.A, muggleborns they are, doing a movie night every week to help the D.A. relax and bond. They re-start this after the battles, during Eighth year, with several other people such as the returned Slytherins joining in. The entire year they play things like Tangled, The Breakfast Club, Brave, Lion King. But then the last four weeks, they announce they don’t want to mislead everyone that everything is all fun and rainbows. The last four movies are My Sister’s Keeper, The Shining, Marley and Me, and for the last week, a marathon of the entire Jurassic Park series.

Give me Hufflepuffs, who secretly are very relieved to be the ‘normal’ House. Jocks over there, know-it-alls over there, goth wannabees over there, now let’s go camp out by the kitchens we’re gonna need it to survive the next seven years like this.

Give me Ravenclaws who are so done with the riddles when they stumble back at midnight after having fallen asleep in the Library. “What’s the truth?” “THE TRUTH IS THAT I WILL SET YOU ON FIRE IF YOU DON’T LET ME IN.”

Give me the Trio, who use the Marauder’s Map to find the most ridiculous routes to class, knowing every single one of the shortcuts. It’s not odd for them to simply appear out of the ceiling. One day the new first years try to follow them, to learn the school better, but it doesn’t go so well because then they try to go through a disappearing wall the Trio just did they instead run headfirst into it, and the next time they do behind a tapestry, down a waterside, around some sort of tower, causally past an entire doorless room full of bats, and somehow come out on the complete other side of the castle.

Give me Draco whose just completely had it with Harry’s staring and confronts him, like they always do, and Harry just blurts out that he likes Draco’s new haircut and can he touch his hair, and Draco so shocked he lets him. “Potter stop treating me like a cat I’m evil remember? Bloody hell have you gone daft?!” “But… it’s soft…” “I hate you.” But he just can’t find any anger over this, so there’s like no venom whatsoever in it and Harry can’t stop giggling.

Give me Ginny, who can’t stop giggling as Luna confuses the fuck out of an entire crowd with her way of speaking, and who during Seventh year could 100% get away with insulting the Death Eaters because of the way she said things. Who after Luna used said tactic to get her out of a Crucio punishment just clung to Luna, shaking, and realizing that she loves Luna so much for this very reason. That there will never be another person like Luna in her life, ever.

Give me Harry, who was not really well educated while living at the Dursleys, who couldn’t read very well but was wonderful at sneaking around, little tricks like hiding things, and loved music. He taught himself magic tricks, and MERLIN ALMIGHTY THIS 11-YEAR-OLD KID HAS MASTERED VANISHING SPELLS, WHAT, HOW, and Percy, uptight Prefect he is, just loses it.

Give me Ron walking in on Harry talking to some random snake in their dorm room, laughing like the snake said a particularly good joke, tipping his head and smiling as he responds, the python slowly curling up his arm to rest over his shoulder. Ron freezes, stares, and then slowly backs away, closes the door and stands there staring at it for a full half hour in absolute horror.

Give me the rest of the D.A. walking into the Room of Requirement and hearing screaming, Dean shrieking that he’s going to murder someone, Hermione crying, Justin cursing like a sailor yelling for everyone to stop, and the rest panic and run around the corner and there the four Muggle-raised students are. With some sort of odd device in their hands. Playing Mario Kart.

Part One - Part Two - Part Four - Part Five - Part Six - Part Seven