#like she would hate Hermione in a heartbeat if she and ron ever broke up regardless of the why

[elisedonut]

i know I've talked about this before but i love the concept of Percy and who he's with getting the same kind of treatment from the family (read mostly Molly)

and Percy handling it in a complexly different way to how Bill did

I always think of him getting into a serious relationship a few years down the line so he's healed a bit and offended as hell over his mom still not trusting his own decisions and trying to set him up with random women(because it would be girls sorry Molly is homophobic but just doesn't realize it) when his SO is literally right next to him

I know that she doesn't actually ever mention the Bluer age gap so really she likely wasn't bothered by that part but I think that would be different if Percy was with a boy tbh

like I think she would complain about the age difference between Perclin

also i think the idea of her inviting like Luna (or like Romilda Vane if you want to play into how she sees love potions as whatever plus shes even younger) is neat because of how messed up that would be and having her be like 'it's different' no no it's not

She honestly thinks shes helping like thats really important when it comes to Molly imo

that she honestly thinks shes doing something good and that Percy would be happier with someone else

shes just you know wrong and hasn't figured that out

So she just doesn't understand why he's fighting this so much when she knows best she knows her little boy far better then anyone else she knows he needs someone better someone worthy of him so she just doesn't get why Percy getting so mad about it

on the bright side

because Percy left once before shes more willing to listen to reason whenever he doesn't talk to her for like a week or storms out of a dinner because she said something and he was at his limit

He'll get her to understand eventually

[xreaderbooks]

Hidden (1)

Pair: Draco Malfoy x reader, Harry Potter x sister! reader, Platonic! Cedric Diggory x reader

Word count: 3.3k

Warnings: curse/swear words, fluff, soft Draco 

Summary: You and Draco have been in a secret relationship for 2 years already and he wants to go public but you don’t think that your brother is ready. 

Masterlist - part 2

If he were to ever find out; you would be dead. Or maybe he'd be supportive. It's always important to remain optimistic in situations like this, But then again how many people can say they are put in the position where they fall in love with their brother's enemy. Knowing Harry he'd probably be understanding, maybe, who were you kidding the rivalry between Harry and your boyfriend have been going on for years now and Harry would only ever see Draco for his past mistakes and... the more recent ones. The only reason he continues to bother your brother anymore is to keep up the charade of hating him. In reality he actually doesn't mind Harry anymore, at least that's what he tells you. In the end it'll all be worth it.

You were nervously wringing your hands as you were walking towards the room of requirements to meet your secret lover. You wanted Draco to ask you to be his date to the yule ball and publicly announce yourselves as a couple, you was tired of sneaking around and pretending to fake fight in front of your brother and your friends. You wanted to hold his hand as you walked through the halls and have him walk you to classes and sit next to you in the ones you did have together. You wanted him to kiss you good morning when you see each other in the great hall for breakfast and kiss you good night when you go to your respective dorms or houses. It was exhausting having to come up with excuses to see each other and hard trying to come with reasons to argue in front of people when all you wanted to say was that you loved him and thought he was perfect.

In the moments where girls would come up to him and shamelessly flirt with him because, for all they knew, he was single, You just wanted to come up to him right in front of the other girl and show that he was yours, and you were his. Unfortunately, Draco just had to go and mess things up without knowing the trouble it'd bring for your relationship. Not that you knew you would fall for each other.

Now you were trying to find a way of asking Draco to the Yule ball. For a year and a couple of months already you've been hinting at exposing yourselves and let everyone know you're a couple. However, every time you tried to make an actual conversation of it Draco would deflect and change the conversation or would shut down the idea completely. You knew it was scary and Harry's opinion mattered to you, way more than she'd care to admit but she loved Draco and wanted everyone to know it.

The room of requirements appeared itself to you; your reoccurring meeting spot. The anxiety of rejection making your palms sweat a little.

"Hello, My love." He leaned down to kiss you. "How were your lessons?"

"Boring as usual, I zoned out in Mcgonagalls class and of course she noticed and called me out." You huffed plopping down on the sofa that always appeared in the room. The room of requirements always showed up as a living area with a fireplace and couches with an assortment of fruits, snacks, and drinks. Sometimes even a bed for other times... "I had no clue what she was asking I guessed but I still got the question wrong. It was so embarrassing."

You let out a sigh. "Anyways how were yours?"

"The same as every other day, I missed you." He sat down next to you, pulling you closer to him so that you sat between his legs as he played with your hands. Your heartbeat sped up at his touch also knowing you had to bring up the yule ball. You inhaled and decided it was now or never. "Draco, How would you feel if we went to the Yule ball together?"

He got up, loosening his tie a little. You got up from the couch knowing where this was going.

"Y/N I don't think it's such a good idea." Your cheeks began to heat up with anger. You've been together for almost two years now and he wanted to reject You? Your mind was racing with all the bullshit excuses he would use, all the excuses he would bring up you were ready to rebuttle. Now your insecurities began to creep up. What if there was someone else? What if he was embarrassed by you?

"And why not?" Your voice raised a tiny bit, you tried to keep it in check to not start a screaming match.

"It's not safe for you, My father-"

"Screw your father Draco, When are you going to stand up to him?" She rolled her eyes.

"He hates your brother and if he finds out we're together who knows what he'll do to you."

"My safety is the least of my worries. Besides I'm not scared of your father."

"Your safety is my top priority Y/N, don't you understand?" He steps closer, grabbing your face in his hands.

You remove his hands and shake your head. "I don't believe that."

"You don't believe that I care for you, after all this time." His head tilts to the side, a look of hurt flashed before his face.

"No I do, I just dont believe my safety is your top priority, you're afraid of your father and what he'll do to you as well."

"You don't know what he's capable of."

"I have an idea but I don't care."

"Aren't you afraid of what Harry and your friends would say?"

"Yes and No, They'll have their opinions but nothing they say will change how much I love you." You raise your head to seem taller somehow.

He paced around the couch. "Just give me a couple more months to introduce the idea to my family."

"I've been bringing this up for months Draco and the yule ball is the perfect way to do it."

"I know we have it but just give me a little more time." He begged

"A little more time? really?" You laugh bitterly. "I can't do this anymore."

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"I love you, you know that, but I want to be able to tell the world how much I love you because I can't handle seeing another person flirting with you because they dont know that your mine or other guys approaching me when I'm not the slightest bit interested." You gently grab his face pulling him closer. "It's just not enough for me. I'm tired of this."

"I love you too but I can't."

You took your hands off of his face and stepped back. "I'm done."

"What would happen if your brother knew, you think he would just step back and let us be happy?" He shouted as you began to leave. Tears were forming in your eyes. "Or your friends, they'll try to separate us and you know it!"

"Don't you dare pretend you know anything about them! I already told you I don't care if they don't approve." You turn back to argue. "You're not even afraid of my friends, you're afraid of what your little pureblood buddies will say."

He stayed silent, you could tell he was trying to bite back his tears. "You're a coward, We obviously didn't think this through in the beginning." You look down refusing to show that you were about to cry.

"I-" You interrupted. "No Malfoy, I think I know what you want, its all clear now." You back away from him. "These past few years were amazing but I can't keep us a secret anymore. I think we need time to ourselves."

You walked out of the room of requirements with warm tears streaming down your face, but he wasn't going to let you go that easily. He ran after you shouting out your name in attempt to catch your attention but you didn't turn back.

Draco noticed Harry has approached you, engulfing you in a hug. "Y/N what happened?" Harry met Draco's eyes. "What did Malfoy do to you?"

"Nothing." You tried to force Harrys attention elsewhere. "I was just being emotional, you know? and I kind of just broke down in the wrong place."

"C'mon lemme walk you to your dorm."

~~~

It was breakfast time a couple days before the Yule ball. Since the argument with Draco, Y/N has been attempting to lift up her own spirits. Trying to convince herself that she was an independent person, she didn't need him. Besides, he seemed to be getting along fine without her now.

In Draco's mind however he was anxious to be with her again. He was sure she was going to get over it and come back to him in no time. This was an ongoing argument between them anyways and her and Draco always came to an understanding.

At least that was his thought process before he overheard a group of girls gossiping about Cedric Diggory. They were talking about a girl who they thought the popular Hufflepuff would ask the upcoming ball. Normally he'd be uninterested but Y/N's name was brought up to conversation. They were rating if they'd be a good pair and if she was even good enough for Cedric, as if they had any right to. Dracos mind became wrapped in jealousy.  'Prick' he thought. He never had any bad blood with Diggory til now when he suddenly showed an interest in Y/N. He couldn't stand the idea. He also thought that if he were to show up with a date you'd also be infuriated and come crawling back to him. And he knew just the person to ask.

~~~

Later when everyone was in Snapes class writing down notes, Hermione next to Ron who was next to Harry. You were across from Hermione. Ron was complaining about not having a date to the ball. "This is mad, at this rate we'll be the only ones in our year without dates." He said, while Snape was walking by and he snapped Rons head to his notebook.

He continues and leans towards Harry and breathes out a laugh as he says "Well, us and neville."

"Then again he can take himself." Harry laughs along.

You and Hermione share a look. You rolled your eyes and continues to do your work as Hermione tells them that Neville already has a date.

"Oh now I'm really depressed." Ron whines.

On the other side of the table Fred sends a note to Ron telling him to find a date before all the good ones are gone. Whatever that's supposed to mean.

"Who are you going with then?" Ron whispers to his brother. In response Fred chucks a paper ball at Angelina Johnson. Who looks annoyed when she looks back at him.

"Angelina-" Fred mouths while pretending to dance. "Will you go to the ball with me?" She agrees and Fred winks back at Ron.

Ron then leans towards Hermione starting off the conversation with "Why Hermione, You're a girl." 'Honestly Ron' you thought 'This boy couldn't be any more stupid.'

"Oh well spotted" she retorts. Harry taps Ron on his arm to warn him that snapes coming their way but its too late. Snape slaps Ron on his head with a book as well as harry and walks off, reading someone's notebook.

"C'mon it's one thing for a bloke to go alone, for a girl it's just sad." Ron makes a 'sympathetic' face at her.

"I won't be going alone because believe it or not someones asked me." She slams her book closed, hands it to Snape, walks back to respond with "And I said yes" she whisper shouts as she leaves.

"God Ron, you're such an idiot." You say.

"How was I supposed to know?"

"You could've said it in a better way, is all I'm trying to say." she puts her hands up in surrender.

"Well, what about you (y/n)?" He says suggestively. "Any eligible bachelors worthy enough?"

"No but I'm definitely not going with you."

"Why not?"

"Because she's my sister" Harry gives him a face as if it was obvious.

"Exactly it'll be embarrassing if I go with you-" You notice how he looked down. "It's not you, well, it is." You couldn't find the right words without making him feel worse. "It's just that if I go with you, it'll seem like I couldn't get a date of my own so I had to go with my brother's best friend type of thing."

"You understand don't you?"

"Yeah whatever" He responds and changes the subject.

~~~

The same topic is brought up again later that evening when you hung out with Harry in the Gryffindor common room. Nobody would shut up about it so you left. You were reading a book, trying to study for a defense against the dark arts test and you did not wanna get on Moodys bad side so you didn't see when you bumped into someone.

"Oops sorry, wasn't looking where I was going." You wanted to finish your last sentence before you looked up and saw that it was one of the champions. Cedric Diggory. You also recognized him from the quidditch world cup/port-key incident that happened before school. You didn't formally meet.

"No worries." He smiled. "You're Harry's sister, right?"

"I'm (y/n)." You put your hand out for him to shake. He shook her hand, "I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to properly introduce myself, I'm Cedric Diggory."

You chuckled and nodded your head. "I know."

He tilted his head then realized he was practically famous around Hogwarts now. "Right." He smiled again.

"Excuse me, Ive got to go, it's almost curfew and I definitely don't want to get caught out."

"Don't worry about it, I'm a prefect. I could walk you to your house if you'd like?"

"Sure" You accepted his offer, not being foolish enough to walk around without the proper authority to get you out of trouble.

~~~

After that night with Cedric, You had spent more and more time with him. It would always be a coincidence that you'd meet. In classes they never knew they had together, walking beside each other in a rush to get to any of their meals, etc. the only times you would both see each other on purpose was in the halls talking to your friends and going to say hi to one another or when you went to wish Cedric luck. You were friends, you thought it was a nice change hanging out freely with someone instead of sneaking around. And just hanging out with someone other than Draco in her free time in general. Not that you didn't still love him it was just nice.

What you didn't know was that the platinum haired slytherin saw every interaction. Every laugh, every smile, every that was innocent in the eyes of everyone else; was criminal in Dracos. He was pissed so as revenge he decided to make his "relationship" with Pansy more public in an attempt to make you jealous. His plan was futile since you weren't paying the slightest bit of attention to him. Or so he thought. You saw every interaction that he and Pansy had and tried to play it off cool, not let him see how much it affected you. He made his decision and you broke up with him, you can't claim him anymore.

The day before the Yule Ball came quick, you were walking around the lake and Cedric came running up behind you.

"(y/n)! Wait up!" He waved you down.

You turned around "Hey Ced" you smiled. "what's up?"

"So the balls tomorrow..." He suggested

"yes..." You urged him to continue, a slight smile was playing on your lips

"Would you- and I know this is an odd question to ask but I do think we've been getting closer..."

"Oh get on with it!" You yelled

"Would you like to go the ball with me?"

"Yes, Yes I would." You laughed, he let out a breath of relief and hugged you.

"Oh thank Merlin, I thought you were also going to reject me."

"No way somebody rejected you!"

"Remember that girl I told you about?" you nodded, "Cho said she already had somebody else."

"I'm sorry Ced" You rested your hand on his shoulder in sympathy.

"It's alright (y/n), now I get to go with somebody better." He playfully pushed you. "Hey! I just realized I was your second choice, you twat!" She joked and pushed back.

"I will never forgive you for this Diggory!" You said dramatically pretending to swoon. He played along, grabbing your hand, pulling you closer to him. "Oh, how must I redeem myself."

"It cannot be done" You continued the act by pretending to ignore him.

"How about butterbeer on me?" You glanced at him. "Done."

"Cool, I'll meet you at the stairs by the great hall before the ball starts, remember the champions walk and all that."

"Alright."

~~~

You were nervous as you walked down the steps to the great hall to meet up with your date. It was a magical moment, he had his back to you. He hadn't noticed you were coming down until Parvarti Patil pointed you out. He turned around and grinned, reaching out a hand to help you from the steps.

"You look stunning." He complimented. A light blush spread on your cheeks as she thanked him.

You joined the other champions in a line with their dates. You saw Hermoine and Victor Krum together, in your mind you applauded Hermoine for scoring a date with the Durmstrang boy. During the ceremonial dance, the champions had to do with their dates you secretly tried to look for Draco through the crowd of students who were watching, but you couldn't find him. ' With Parkinson' you thought bitterly.

When people started to join in on the dancing with their partners you decided to excuse yourself to get a drink and hopefully cool the rage you felt when you thought of Draco and Pansy together. 'They were probably in a broom closet snogging' you internally rolled your eyes at that. Cedric came looking for you a little while after, asking if you were alright. "As good as I can be." You responded.

Cedrics brows furrowed. "What's wrong? Did I do something to make you uncomfortable?" he asked panicked, "No, no you're great." You sighed. "You're practically perfect and I don't wanna make you think I didn't enjoy spending time with you or that you're a second choice..."

"But you'd rather spend your time with some other guy?"

"Not the way I would've worded it. But yes, there's this guy that I really like, we were dating for while actually and..." You sighed again. "Nobody knew,  I wanted to tell people and he didn't so we broke up."

"And now your here with me." Cedric gave her a small smile. "Hey, listen it happens I'm glad we're here together even if it's just as friends."

You felt your heart lift up, no longer weighed down with guilt for leading him on. He put his arm around you, you let your head rest on his chest.

~~~

The night was almost coming to end half of the students already went up to bed, the other half was still dancing the night away. You and Cedric included, you shouted and jumped and actually danced, enjoying this time. You forgot about Draco for a period of time, ignoring him as he danced with Pansy. That is until Cedric excused himself to go to the restroom. Draco came up to you with a determined look on his face.

"Ditching dates now?" You commented.

"I left her with Blaise, she'll be fine." He shrugged. "Where'd Diggory go?"

"Bathroom." You tried to be dry in conversation so that he'd leave you alone.

"You sure he didn't ditch you?" He replies with a smirk. You scoffed, "Like you care."

"Contrary to your belief I do actually care about you."

"Doesn't seem like it."

"I'm tired of this Y/N, I love you and this time away from you has made me realize how much I need you."

"Then prove it."

[azaleablueme]

Inexplicably Fond

There was something inexplicably soul-stirring about her touch- no matter how innocent, no matter how fleeting. Romione one-shot Genre: Romance Era: Books HBP Words: 2232 FFN  AO3 ..... There was something inexplicably soul-stirring about her touch- no matter how innocent, no matter how fleeting. Ron knew it always of course - the first realisation had been back in their third year when she had flown into his arms after months of not talking to each other. But it hit him more powerfully now - after having almost lost his life, after a disastrous chance at romance that was only fueled by the need to prove his worth. Lavender had only broken up with him a couple of days ago. Although he was relieved, the guilt of having dragged her into the mess still weighed heavy on his heart. Especially because while Lavender seemed genuinely miserable, he was at peace having returned where he truly belonged. The soft sounds of their shoes clicking on the stone floor brought him to his present and he looked around. The moon was bright in the sky tonight, flickering in and out of view as clouds floated across the pre-spring sky. The moonbeams filtered in through the small windows high up in the ceiling, lighting up the otherwise eerily dark corridor. He wasn’t quite sure why they were patrolling this part of the castle tonight; the Astronomy Tower and the neighbouring corridors were usually taken up by the Ravenclaw prefects on Tuesdays. But he was not going to question her choice of path or ask why they had deviated away from the usual route. He had sorely missed spending this alone-time with her all these months, and just having her close, walking beside him in the quiet of the night, in comfortable silence brought him more peace than anything ever had. There was something different about Hermione tonight. She didn’t seem to be her normal self - she mostly ignored the common classrooms where the rule-breaking students lurked, skipped the two tapestries that were famous for hiding couples. She didn’t even take out points from the two third-years who were busy scribbling rude words in the History of Magic classroom. And now she had guided them to a place which was definitely not chalked out for their rounds.

He was just about to ask when there was the softest touch of her finger on his. He almost forgot to breathe and sucked in a breath. It was surely a coincidence. And then there it was again - just a graze of skin over his finger, the touch lingering just long enough to tell him that it was intentional.

Despite the quiet or perhaps because of it, he was suddenly inexplicably aware of every little sound, that of their perfectly in-sync footsteps, the faint rustling of the forest outside, the gasp that escaped his lips, the soft sound of her whimper… He stopped on his track and so did she.

Tentatively and praying with all his might that he was doing the right thing, he stretched his fingers just a little and as expected, they came in contact with hers. The tip of his index finger traced hers, once, twice.

In the six years of their friendship, they had shared many hugs. Held hands, bumped knees, teased each other playfully. But this was different.

Hyper aware of the faint sound of their breathing, and the feel of her soft skin against his rough fingers, he sought her out a little more, his fingers now touching the tips of hers, silently asking permission, begging to let him hold her hand. He could barely see anything, and yet he had never been so aware, so in the moment. 

Her fingers curled just the smidge and her small hand was suddenly encased in his - and despite the innocence of the act, he knew this was something new in their relationship. The pad of his thumb traced her wrist and she sucked in a breath. 

He slowly turned to his left towards her, not being able to make out much in the darkness as the moon hid behind a cloud but she took a couple of steps back - and he was only beginning to question if she wanted him to let go when there was that sound again - a soft whimper as if she was trying to cut down her sobs. Pain tore through him like never before. What had he done this time to make her cry that way? He would have asked but then she suddenly tugged him a little by the arm and caught him off-guard; he just about stopped himself from crashing onto her by placing his free palm against the stone wall behind her. 

Her finger traced over his in the smallest of touches, he still couldn’t see her face as she hung her head and this time when she whimpered again, he let go of all inhibitions and cupped her face with his free hand. Sure enough, there was moisture beneath her eyes. He swiped away the tear with his thumb before putting the smallest amount of pressure on her to lift her face and meet his eyes.

“Hurt you again, haven’t I?” he asked in the softest of whispers. There was no one who could overhear them, not even a portrait but somehow it was important that only she heard his words.

She nodded her head in negative, her hair swinging mesmerisingly and sniffed and wrapped her fingers around his wrist while he swiped the pad of his thumb tenderly over her cheek. 

This was beyond what best friends did. He had a girlfriend for a fair few months - he hadn’t shared a tender moment like this even once.  “Are you still mad at me?”  She denied yet again. “Are you scared?” She met his eyes, and in the momentary moonlight, he could see her tear-rimmed eyes. She mouthed a small ‘no’ this time.

He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He swiped his tongue slowly over his bottom lip before he found his voice.

“Did you… miss me?”

There was a small pause before she nodded once and suddenly he could feel moisture trickle down her cheek. The moonlight broke through the gap in the clouds again. As it filtered in through the neatly arranged windows, it cast long beams that fell on the wall in a stripe-like pattern through the length of the corridor, lighting up her features just enough for him to see. He let go of her other hand to cup her face with both hands and her fingers gripped him at his wrists as she closed her eyes, and bit her lower lip in an attempt to cut off another sob, while her body shook at the attempt.

“Why didn’t you …” he managed helplessly. He hunched to balance their height differences and realised she had lost a fair bit of weight too. She felt smaller than before.  Pressing his forehead to hers he exhaled wistfully before he moved away just a smidge to watch her. He took in her face, drinking in her features, swiping a lock aside and tucking it behind her ear and sniffed a little himself. Watching her in pain was excruciating - it felt as if his heart would rip out of his chest. “What can I do to make it better?” he asked when he had finally found his voice. “Tell me?” he begged. 

“Dunno,” she replied miserably as she let go of his wrists and grabbed the lapels of his robes and looked away, sniffing softly. 

“Will you believe me if I say I missed you too?” he asked and felt like the admission lifted a weight off his chest.

She looked up at him, searching his eyes. He wanted to tell her it scared him to bits to think how much he missed her in the past few months, how much he longed to have her back. But it was hard to put in words. There was no other explanation for it - no lie that he could fool himself with anymore. 

He was in love with her. 

Perhaps for years now without even realising it himself. And to think he was the one who had made her so miserable… His fingers continued to caress her face.

“I would walk here all alone, you know?” she admitted slowly, as she let out a small, bitter chuckle. “No one came here, no one got to know if I cried.”

Ron cursed himself under his breath. He took a few deep breaths to steady his nerves, swaying on the spot, torn between pulling her into his arms and letting her go because he couldn’t possibly deserve her. “Why don’t you hate me?” he asked.

“How could I?” she answered quietly, meeting his eyes for a fleeting second before looking away, her fingers tracing over the Gryffindor logo on his chest. “I’ve loved- ” she broke off abruptly. Ron couldn’t breathe. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to himself, while the other continued to cup her face, the soft curls at the back of her head tickling his fingers. 

“Hermione?” he called softly, once he had managed to gather his wits.

“Hmm?” 

“Will you let me kiss you?”  

Her eyes snapped up at him as she let out the smallest of gasps and then her cheeks flooded with colour. He was utterly thankful that the moon had not flitted back behind the clouds. 

She nodded just once. And with his heart thudding madly as if he was doing this the very first time, he touched her lips gently to hers, before moving away to look at her face. She was clutching his robes at the chest, eyes closed and breath coming in gasps. Relieved, he inched closer again, and pressed his lips on hers, his eyes fluttering shut as he placed the smallest and most innocent of kisses and then just revelled at the sensation by lingering in that position for a few more minutes. He could feel her heavy breathing, flushing cheeks and slightly shivering form. If he could he'd slow down time to hold on to these moments.

“You okay?” he asked, brushing a curl away.

She swiped her tongue out and wet her lip before nodding a smidge. “Mmm-hmm” she added weakly.

He pressed his lips to her again, this time carefully pulling her lower lip between his, sucking on it. She paused for a few heartbeats and mimicked his action as if learning from him - and just like always, learning well. He let go soon because somehow these fleeting kisses were way more mind-bogglingly intense than anything he had done so far. Hermione‘s fingers had found his lapels again and were clenching it in her fists. He pulled away because his heart was thundering in his chest, begging him to slow down. 

“I -”

His wristwatch beeped at that instant, shattering the quiet, signalling it was past 11 O’clock and time to return back to their dormitory. 

Hermione opened her eyes slowly, face crimson. “I-we we should head back…” she suggested haltingly, and he let go of her unwillingly.

The walk back to the Gryffindor tower was quiet, not because there was nothing to say - quite the contrary in fact.  Ron had to use all the self-restraint he possessed to ensure he didn't pull her behind a tapestry.  It was imperative that he took it slow, that he proved himself to her first. Proved that he deserved her love. They met the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff prefects on their way, and the portrait of the Fat Lady was in view at the far end when he stopped on his tracks. Hermione turned at him, curiously. In the light of the torches that shone in their brackets, he could see her so much more clearly now, but he longed for those precious few minutes he had left behind. 

He walked over to the tapestry that hid a passage to the third floor and looked at her. 

She glanced between him and the gaping hole in the wall before silently walking inside. He followed suit, the heavy drapes falling back in place and hiding them from view. 

“Lumos” he muttered and stuffed his wand in his pocket, the light from it lit the passage in a dim glow. He inched closer to her encasing her between the wall at the back and him in front. Gathering all the Gryffindor courage he possessed he took her right hand in his, rubbing the pad of his thumb over her knuckles. 

“Take your time,” he said at last. “I need to earn my way back to you -” he cut off her protest by placing his fingers of his other hand on her lips, momentarily losing track of what he was planning to say, swiping his thumb over them before gulping thickly and pulling his hand away. “ - I really do.” He took her free hand in his, watched their entwined fingers as he continued. “I know you’ve been thinking about this all this while,” he chuckled before the melancholy hit his words, “You’ve been wondering how to fit this- us- with Harry and the Horcruxes and everything else. I -I just want you to know that I’ll wait. And I am okay with whatever you decide.”

“You mean it?” she asked. “Mmm-hmm.” 

She placed her head against his chest and he wrapped his arms around the small of her back, sighing deeply.  

He'd wait but he wouldn't stop loving her no matter what she decided, he promised himself.

[durmstrange]

Dusk - Ron Weasley

Hello and happy Tuesday!  Hope you all enjoy another little Ron fanfic. :) 

Word count: 907

When looking in from the outside, a relationship had always seemed so easy to you.  So effortless, blissful, and beautiful.  During your fifth year, when you had began your first relationship ever with your closest friend, Ron Weasley, you discovered how untrue your naive thoughts were.

The beginning of the relationship was rather difficult for you.  

Perhaps it was because you were so accustomed to doing your own thing and communicating as little as possible to others, or because you were used to being alone, but regardless, it was new and foreign to you to have someone willing and happy to accommodate your feelings, schedule, and thoughts.  Ron was easy.  He was kind, funny, and willing to do anything and everything you said.  You were truly grateful for him, but you always had a hard time adjusting to anything. 

About a month into your relationship, after a particularly rough detention with Professor Umbridge, you felt vulnerable.  You didn’t know what you wanted or needed in that moment to feel better, but as you wandered the nearly abandoned corridors with no destination in mind, your mind reeled and anger and your hand throbbed in pain.  You found yourself in the clock tower courtyard, looking out upon the Hogwarts grounds with watery eyes and a heart that felt like it sunk below your feet. 

After roughly twenty minutes, as the sun set and the sky was pigmented with oranges, pinks, and red, the large wooden doors on the other side of the courtyard opened.  Ron, Harry, and Hermione exited, talking quietly among themselves, until Harry’s eyes landed upon you.  

He came to a stop, elbowing Ron in the ribs.  “Ow, what was that for?”  Ron asked his best friend angrily.  

Wordlessly, Harry pointed to you, sitting on a low wall with tears streaming down your cheeks and a blank look on your face.  “She’s crying,” Hermione observed in a quiet, sad voice.

Ron’s heartbeat picked up at the sight of you, so sad and solemn.  “I’ll catch up with you both later, yeah?”  He asked without bothering to wait for a response.  He picked up his pace, practically running to you.

Truthfully, you were so lost in your own thoughts that you failed to notice Ron approaching until he was directly in front of you, immediately taking you into his arms.  “Love, what’s wrong?”  He asked as you broke into a sob, burying your face into his robes.  

For a few moments, you cried quietly as your face remained in his robes, unwilling to look up at him in your current state.  Over the years, Ron had seen you cry many times before, but it felt different now.  Ron rubbed your back and ran his fingers through your hair, allowing you time to let your sadness and frustration out.  

As you calmed down and finally pulled away, Ron did the same with a worried look on his face.  Your red, scarred hand remained in your lap, and Ron’s eyes fell to it almost instantaneously.  I will not interrupt my superiors.  Ron sucked a sharp breath in, before taking your face into his hands.  “That wretched toad!  Why didn’t you come to me?”  He asked you quietly as he wiped your tears away with his thumbs.  

You closed your eyes, trying to fight more tears from coming.  “I’m sorry,” you murmured.  “I’m not used to having someone like this, someone to run to with my problems.  I would hate to be a burden.”  Your voice was sad and unsure as you opened your eyes once more, red and watery from crying.  

Ron moved to sit next to you on the wall, holding your hand so gently.  “You can always come to me.  That’s what I’m here for, after all.  For anything,” Ron assured you as you leaned your head on his shoulder, still sniffling.  

“She is so rotten,” you muttered and wiped your cheeks with the back of your hand.

Chuckling gently, Ron nodded.  “You’re absolutely right.  She is rotten, to the core, probably.” 

With a small huff, you lifted your head once more.  “I’m sorry that I’m sort of a ruddy girlfriend.  Its so foreign to have someone this close to me, that cares as much as you.  You make everything so much better.”  

Ron smiled to himself and his cheeks reddened gently.  “You’re not a ruddy girlfriend,” he laughed quietly.  “You’re just not used to letting people in.  That’s all right, you know.  I’ll be here every step of the way, whether you let me in fully or not.  I’ll be here regardless.”  Quickly, he leaned over and placed a quick kiss on your temple, making you smile gently and lean into him.  

“This is my favorite time of day, you know?”  You asked him quietly as your eyes searched the horizon, taking in the colors.  “It’s never been as nice as it is here, now.  With you.”   Your eyes remained forward, not looking at Ron.  

His eyes followed your own, looking at the sunset turning to dusk, where there were streaks of dark blue cutting into the oranges and pinks and red, and he smiled.  “Well, I’ll be here for each one here on out,” he murmured and wrapped an arm tightly around you, bringing you as close to him as he could manage.  You rested your head on his shoulder, giving a soft sigh, and felt as ease once more, because of Ron.  Your only one.

[malfoymanortings]

somebody else PART 3

SUMMARY: Mae has been in love with Draco Malfoy since her first year at Hogwarts. Draco Malfoy fell in love with Mae in their fourth year, and then promptly fell into Pansy’s bed instead. All the while, Mae clings to the hope that Draco will change. That is, until, Ron Weasley takes his chance.

PAIRINGS: toxic!Draco x OC, Ron x OC, Ginny x Luna

TRIGGERS: slight mention of suicidal thoughts.

im not going to lie... i kinda hurt myself wriitng this one. hope you all enjoy! there will be one more part after this, so let me know if you would like to be added to the tag list.

Mae wasn’t sure exactly when it happened, but she began to view Ron Weasley as more than a friend.

The two of them had begun spending time alone more frequently, either at their stone ledge overlooking the Black Lake, or in the Gryffindor common room. Mae felt very comfortable with Ron, something she hadn't truly felt with Draco. With Draco, she had always felt she wasn’t good enough, and of course, he never hesitated to tell her that himself.

Ron was… so different. In a very good way. He never made fun of her admittedly loud boisterous laugh, he never made a crude comment when her hair was wildly out of place, he never gave her a dirty look when she ate. He laughed at most of her jokes, he made her feel wanted. It was a rather new thing for Mae.

Ron and her sat in the common room now, a game of Wizard’s chess between the two. Ron successfully overtook Mae’s king, winning the game. He gave her that smile of his, the slightly crooked, half lifted smile showcasing a glimpse of his pretty white teeth. She felt something flutter in her stomach then, and she swallowed hard as she returned his grin.

“Checkmate.” declared Ron, beginning to put the game away. Mae grumbled good naturedly, rolling her eyes. 

“Next time, I get to pick the game, Ronald Weasley.”  responded Mae loftily, brushing her hair out of her face.

Ron laughed, his eyes moving up to meet hers. They both stilled for a moment, tension between the two. Mae could feel each heartbeat thump through her chest, and she glanced down at Ron’s full lips. She let herself wonder, for a moment, what it would be like to kiss him. She wondered if he felt the same thing, for he shifted in his seat and licked his lips.

“Ron beat you again, hm?” Ginny’s voice broke the silence, as she plopped down on the couch next to Mae. “Guess everyone has to be talented at something.”

“That sounds like an insult.” remarked Ron, breaking eye contact with Mae. 

“Very intuitive of you.”

Mae laughed at their banter, shaking her head. The look she had shared with Ron was not forgotten, and she couldn’t help but wonder if Ron would have kissed her had his sister not shown up.

She quickly squashed that thought. She didn’t want to get her heart broken again.

Harry burst into the common room then, heading straight for Ron. The three of them gasped as they realized Harry was soaking wet and dripping with blood.

“Where’ve you-? Why are you soaking -? Is that blood?” Ron stood, staring bewildered at Harry.

“I need your book,” Harry panted. “Your potions book. Quick… give it to me…”

“But what about the Half-Blood -?”

“I’ll explain later!”

Ron pulled into his bag and took his copy of their Potions book, handing it to Harry. Harry ran upstairs then, and before the three could speak about what he had done, he came barreling back downstairs with his schoolbag in hand.

Mae got a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.

“What d’you think’s gotten into him?” Ginny questioned Ron, staring at the portrait hole Harry had disappeared from.

“Dunno..” Ron trailed off, staring the same.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Harry like that,” said Mae quietly, resting her chin in her hand. “Is his life always so dramatic?”

“Yes,” both Ron and Ginny answered simultaneously. 

“Alright then.” Mae widened her eyes slightly, slightly amused. 

“I’m going to meet Luna for dinner,” Ginny stood, twisting her long red hair back into a bun. “Are you lot going to skip?”

“Ron, skip dinner?” Mae laughed, shaking her head. She stood up then, holding out a hand to Ron. “Come on, then.”

Ron took her hand, and Mae couldn’t stop a small smile as his large one engulfed her small one. As he stood, she took note that he didn’t attempt to remove his hand from hers. Again, her stomach fluttered at the thought.

The three of them left the common room, heading down to the Great Hall. As they passed the girls bathroom, they could hear Moaning Myrtle wailing about something.

“Harry Potter has killed Draco Malfoy!” 

Mae stilled, her hand slipping out of Ron’s grasp. She felt as though her limbs were filled with ice, as Myrtle once again wailed the words.

“Draco Malfoy is dead at the hands of Harry Potter! Muder in the bathroom, murder in the bathroom!”

Ignoring Ron and Ginny, Mae ran into the bathroom, her heart beating wildly in her chest.

“Myrtle, where is Draco?” she asked wildly, staring at the ghost girl.

“Professor Snape sent him to Madam Pomfrey, although it’s too late!” wailed Myrtle, floating around the bathroom. “So much blood!”

Mae ran out of the bathroom, barely noticing Ron and Ginny calling out to her. Her blood pounded in her ears as she raced to the nurse, hoping beyond hope that Draco hadn’t really died. As she caught sight of him, she stopped.

He had been hurt, most definitely, his unbuttoned white undershirt now red with his blood. Madam Pomfrey was spreading dittany on his chest wounds, having already tended to his face. Mae felt her heart break as she waited for Madam Pomfrey to leave. Once she did, Mae walked over and took Draco’s hand.

He opened his eyes slowly, unfocused as they landed on her. “What are you doing here?”

“Myrtle said you died,” swallowing past the lump in her throat, Mae rubbed circles on his hand with her thumb. “I had to come see if you were alright.”

“Unfortunately, I am,” scoffed Draco, rolling his eyes. “Potter couldn’t be man enough to kill me.”

“Draco,” breathed Mae, her heart stilling as his words processed. “Why on earth would you want to die?”

Draco seemed uncomfortable now, as though he wished he hadn’t spoken those words. “I’m surprised you don’t want me dead. Aren’t you best friends with the pathetic trio now?”

“Just because I’m close with them, doesn’t mean I want you to die,” Mae stopped for a moment, thinking hard. “As much as I’ve wanted to hate you, I never could.”

“I’ve given you plenty reason to.” responded Draco quietly, averting his eyes.

“Yes,” nodded Mae, still holding his hand. “You have. But… through all of it, I loved you.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t love you properly,” Draco shut his eyes, his voice quiet. “I never really deserved you.”

“Draco…” Mae trailed off, a lump growing in her throat. She didn’t know what to say.

“If it isn’t too much to ask,” Draco paused, forcing his eyes open. “Could you kiss me, one last time?”

Mae felt her heart breaking all over again as she nodded. If he weren't on what seemed to be his deathbed, she probably would have said no. But for the first time in months, she felt like he was the Draco she had fallen in love with. 

She bent down, pressing her lips against his cold ones. His hand reached up to grasp the back of her neck, fisting in her hair. His tongue parted her lips, exploring her mouth as he had done so many times before. His other hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb grazing over her tears that had spilled out. She placed her hands on his cheeks, and she was surprised to find tears of his own. Perhaps they were hers that had fallen on his face, perhaps they were his from his injuries, or maybe, just maybe, he was crying over what they had lost.

Mae would never know.

She pulled away first, her heart aching once more. Draco opened his eyes, his expression unreadable.

“I think I’m in love with Ron,” whispered Mae, a tear slipping down her cheek. “He’s nice to me.. And I rather enjoy that.”

Draco shut his eyes, taking a deep breath. “Be happy with him, then.”

Mae nodded, and she stood from his bedside. They gave each other once last look, and Draco seemed, for the first time, apologetic. She turned then, and left the hospital wing. Ginny was standing outside, appearing to have been waiting for her. She was sympathetic, her arms crossed. 

“Ron would be better for you, you know,” said Ginny quietly, shaking her head slightly. “Draco will never be the man you want.”

“I know,” Mae nodded, feeling confused. “I don’t want Draco.”

Ginny stilled, raising an eyebrow. “Then why did you kiss him?”

“Because he asked…” trailed off Mae, looking down at her shoes, and back up at the ginger. “I needed the closure.”

Ginny scoffed. “Some closure. Ron saw you, you know.”

“He what?” Mae looked around, but didn’t see him. “Where is he?”

“Well,” Ginny let out a deep breath, shifting awkwardly. “He saw, and he got mad. Dunno where he went from there.”

“I just saw Ronald head back towards your common room,” the girls turned to see Luna walking towards them, barefoot. “He seemed quite upset.”

Mae felt panic rise in her chest. “Thanks, Luna.”

“No problem.” replied Luna, snaking an arm around Ginny’s waist. The redhead pressed a quick kiss to the blonde’s temple.

“I’m going to go explain to him.” Mae told the girls, who nodded. Mae left them then, hurrying to the common room. She didn’t want Ron to have the wrong impression. She had to tell him how she felt, that it was him she wanted, if he would have her.

Thankfully, Hermione was entering the common room just as Mae turned the corner.

“Hermione,” called Mae, rushing over to her. “Can I come see if Ron is in there?” 

“Sure.” Hermione nodded, pushing the portrait open. The girls stepped inside, and Mae felt her heart freeze in her chest as she caught sight of Ron.

Ron was wrapped up in Lavender Brown, the girl sitting on Ron’s lap as his hands twisted in her wavy blonde hair. They were snogging, heavily, and Mae’s still fragile heart broke into bits as she witnessed the scene. 

“Mae..” Hermione began, but Mae left before she could say a word. 

Tears burned her eyes as she fled through the castle, her chest aching as she replayed the scene over and over in her head. She spit out the password to her dorm, rushing up the stairs to her room. The room was quiet, empty, as most everyone was at dinner. Her appetite was gone.

Her chest ached and she lay on her side, facing the wall. Tears slipped out of her eyes as she stared, unseeing, the scene of Ron snogging Lavender replaying in her mind until she fell into an uneasy sleep.

taglist: @phantomsmalfoystyles @lidiyabest @justmimithings @xoxohollands @xmtd5 @glossydols @bisousmorningstar @dracoswifeyy @reaganwonders @big-galaxy-chaos (if i missed anyone, I do apologize! just let me know if i did)

Part one

Part two

Part four

[pregnant-piggy]

More than this

Harry Potter x reader

Part two of Walking in the wind

Words: 4100

Warnings: mentions of alcohol

after the song: More than this by One Direction

A/N: i spent the whole day crying to 1D videos yesterday. Maybe i should’ve posted this on the 23rd, but honestly I kinda forgot this one... Also if you want to rant about 1D to me, please do because i could talk about them the whole day

-------------------------------------

You were finally settled in your new apartment. It was not big, but it was your own. You had decorated it after your own taste. It was all yours. No one to share it with.

It had been a month since Harry had broken up with you and you were doing better. You had your life back on track, or so you heard Hermione say to Ron a week ago.

‘Yeah, she is doing better,’ Hermione said. ‘She is looking for her own apartment.’

‘That's nice,’ Ron said, taking a sip of his beer.

You were on the other side of the bar, hidden behind a group of girls, who were giggling loudly. You were out with a group of friends. They were dancing on the other side of the space. Ron and Hermione had separated from the group and walked to the bar. You could not help but follow; you thought they would be talking about you and Harry.

And you hadn't been wrong. The moment you had hid behind the loud girls you heard your name fall from Ron's lips.

Now you were anxiously waiting to hear Harry's name. You hadn't talked to him since that day in the rain. That day that was still freshly painted in your memories, like it was just yesterday.

Ron opened his mouth, but before you could hear what he was saying someone bumped into you, spilling their drink at your feet. You jumped away in shock almost losing your own drink and looked at the person responsible for the wasted alcohol.

It was a handsome man about your own age. He had dark hair and bright eyes, blue as a summer sky. On his lips played an apologetic smile and you had already forgiven him before he had even said anything.

‘I'm sorry! I wasn't looking at where I was going, my friend was still talking to me and though it wasn't about anything important I listened to it and then I was distracted and bumped into you and now the whole floor is wet...’

The man spoke fast and he stumbled over his words. You chuckled softly and smiled at him.

‘It's alright,’ you said, interrupting his talk.

‘I was rambling, wasn't I?’ the pretty stranger asked, looking a bit awkward.

‘You were,’ you said with a smile.

There was something about this man that felt familiar and comfortable. You tried not to be distracted by his gorgeous eyes, but it was difficult.

‘I'm Matt,’ he said and gave you his hand. ‘I'm not drunk, just clumsy,’ he added and you smiled.

‘Hi Matt, I'm y/n. I might be a little drunk.’

You were searching for your coat, but you could not find it anywhere. Running around your apartment you looked at every possible place it could  be, but it wasn't there. You were running late and you hated the feeling. It wasn't you to be late. You were always on time. Always.

Would it be at the first date after the break-up that you were not?

You gave up on searching for the coat and grabbed your keys. The door slam shut behind you and you flinched at the loud sound. In a hurry you ran down the stairs, almost tripping over your own feet.

- -- -

Harry was walking down the street while nodding along to the music on his head phones. He was feeling good today. The nice weather only added to his mood. He even wanted to say hello to the people he came across in the street.

The beat of the music changed and Harry moved his steps along. His feet aligned perfectly with the heavy bass of the song.

Something about the scene reminded Harry of you. Maybe it was the song, maybe the sun or maybe just the happy mood. But as Harry was walking in the city to his home, he thought of you.

Ever since that day in the rain Harry had not tried to find contact with you again. You had made it very clear that you didn't want to be friends with him anymore. Harry had never known that you had still loved him so much. He thought that it had been obvious you weren't working together.

But if you did not want to see Harry then that was fine. He was fine without you. Breaking up had been a good thing.

That was the thought in Harry's head the second before he saw you.

You were sitting on a terrace on the corner of the street, laughing at the person in front of you. Harry's feet stopped. He examined the person; it was a man and by the way you were laughing Harry realised it was a date.

You were on a date. A date with someone else.

Harry's heartbeat plummeted in his chest. What was this sickening feeling he felt in his stomach? What was that aching sting in his chest?

It was not because he was jealous of you. It could not be. Harry broke up with you. You were not together anymore and you had every right to date someone else. But then why did it hurt so much to watch?

Harry knew that eventually you and him would date other people, but he never thought that it would be this fast. You had only broken up a month ago. It was a month since Harry had seen you in the rain and you told him that you had never stopped loving him.

Quickly, Harry turned on his heels and walked away. The happy, joyous mood that he had had just mere minutes ago, was gone completely. Instead of the blue sky with the happy sun, there were now grey clouds and heavy thunder. The music got a different feel to it when Harry turned it up, as if to blur out his emotions.

‘You can't really like this music!’ you cried out as you sat down next to Harry on the couch.

He had been blasting his music through the stereo on highest volume. The bass bounced through the air and made the photo frames shake on their shelves.

‘Why not?’ Harry asked and he turned down the volume to talk to you.

‘Because it's so loud!’ you said. ‘It's not good for your ears, you know?’

You lifted your finger to Harry's ear and pressed it lightly. Harry laughed and changed to music to a more soft song. He got up from the couch and pulled you in his arms. You wrapped your arms around Harry's neck as his hands found their way to your waist.

‘I like this better,’ you said and rested your head on Harry's chest.

You both stayed silent as you swayed on the music. Harry's strong arms were folded around you waist and you listened to his heartbeat, that was synchronised to the music. He pressed a light kiss on the top of your head and rested his chin on the same spot.

Even long after the music was done playing, you stayed in each other's arms. Too comfortable to notice the silence around you.

- -- -

‘I had a really great time,’ Matt said at your front door.

One hand was already on the door handle ready to open your door and leave Matt outside. You had forgotten how to date; you and Harry had been friends before you started dating so there had never been those awkward first dates.

Harry knocked on your door and as you opened it you were faced with a big bouquet of flowers in every colour of the rainbow. The mob of black hair was somewhere behind it.

He cleared his throat and lowered the bouquet to reveal a bit of his face. ‘Ron said I should bring flowers and this were the only ones left,’ Harry said.

‘Are you sure you didn't rob the florist?’ you joked and took the flowers from him.

‘Ha ha, very funny. Are you ready?’

Were these those nerves everyone kept talking about? You felt nothing. Yes, the slight butterflies you always had around Harry, but you were comfortable with him and you knew there was nothing to be nervous for.

Harry draped an arm over you as you walked to the restaurant. The butterflies increased, but there were still no nerves.

‘Are you nervous?’ you asked Harry.

‘No,’ he answered and looked at you. ‘I'm excited. Why, are you nervous?’

‘I'm not. But everyone always talks about “the awkward first date" and the nerves. Is it normal that we don't have them?’

‘Maybe you're not nervous if you are with the right person.’

Someone waved their hand in front of your face and the memory faded.

Right, you were not alone yet. Matt was still there.

‘I'm sorry, I didn't sleep much last night. The Simpsons-marathon got the best of me,’ you said and Matt did not smile.

Your smile faltered as you were reminded that this was not Harry. Matt, according by the look on his face, did not like the Simpsons. You and Harry did; it was your go-to show when you couldn't sleep.

‘Alright, maybe I should catch up on some sleep,’ you said as an excuse to leave him alone. ‘I had fun, Matt. We should do it again!’

With that and a fake smile you stepped into your apartment, leaving your date alone outside.

- -- -

As soon as Harry got home he fell on his couch. He stayed there, face on the leather and hands along his body. He wasn’t jealous. He was not. It was just that seeing you with someone else was not something he was prepared for. He never imagined that you would get over him so fast.

Harry got up from the couch and stumbled to the kitchen. Without even looking around he headed straight for the liquor cabinet. He had to forget you. You were over him and he had to get over you, something he had apparently not done yet.

With every glass his sight got foggier and his head started to get heavy. But the memories of you stayed in his mind. They even seemed to get more.

You lied on the bed with your hair as a halo around you. Your arms were up in the air as if you tried to catch something. There was a sweet smile on your face and you giggled at nothing.

Harry stood in the doorway and was watching you. He had a grin on his face. You had way too much to drink at Hermione’s and Pansy’s party. But Harry loved you when you were drunk. You got all clingy and giggly and it was adorable to look at.

‘Can we get a sheep?’ you asked suddenly, with your hands still in the air.

Harry walked further into the room and he took your hands. You looked at him. Your lips were pink and there was a blush on your cheeks. Harry wanted to kiss you so bad right now.

‘Why do you want a sheep?’ he asked and he sat down next to you, pushing your arms down.

‘They’re so fluffy and sweet! And we can make out own sweaters!’ you exclaimed and turned to your side, so you were facing Harry’s knee. With your finger you started to trace figures on his legs.

‘We’ll talk about it in the morning,’ Harry chuckled and he brushed the air out of your face.

You turned your head to him and stared at him with big eyes.

‘What’s wrong?’ Harry asked and he brought his hand to his face.

‘You’re so pretty,’ you sighed and you took Harry’s hand. ‘I want to kiss you.’

‘Then do.’

You got up from lying down and sat on your knees. Right before your lips touched Harry’s you stopped and blinked. You placed your index finger on his lips and leaned back.

‘I have a boyfriend,’ you said resolute. ‘I can’t kiss you.’

Harry burst out in laughter and shook his head. ‘Babe, I am your boyfriend. You can kiss me.’

You raised your eyebrow at Harry and examined his face. Then, all of the sudden you placed your lips on his mouth, making Harry stop laughing and melting under your touch.

He hated you.

No, he hated how he still loved you. How you were still in his mind when he had thought that you weren’t.

He hated that every single thing around him reminded him of you. The bookcase that you had hit your head on and you then had to be taken to the ER. The couch that you used to sleep on when Harry was working late. The TV that you had bought for his birthday. The mugs in the kitchen cabinets that you had bought and that Harry had thought were so ugly.

Every single thing in the apartment had shared history.

Harry had to get out. He wanted to get out of this place.

He downed his last glass and walked out of the apartment, already knowing where he was going to.

- -- -

‘I brought coffee,’ you said and held up two carton cups.

Harry smiled thankfully at you and took one cup. The coffee warmed up his fingers that had turned cold from the wind. He had been waiting for you for twenty minutes and he had been afraid you were not going to show up.

‘What do you want to talk to me about?’ you asked as you sat down next to Harry.

Harry cleared his throat and stared at his feet, that were playing with the snow under them. He had been wanting to ask you this for a while, but he had never had the courage. So when Ron and Hermione had made it clear to him that the feeling was mutual, Harry had stepped up and asked you to meet him.

‘I want to ask you something,’ Harry said and he looked up to you.

‘And you could not do this over the phone?’ you remarked with a slight chuckle. Harry stayed silent and you took his hand to encourage him to speak. ‘What’s the matter?’

‘Wouldyougooutwithme?’ Harry spoke fast and incomprehensible.

‘Slower please.’

‘Would you go out with me?’ Harry asked after a deep breath.

‘Like a date?’

‘Yes, I mean if you want that. You don’t have to! I was just wondering and I-’

Harry was cut off by your lips on his. He shocked but after a second he kissed you back. His cold hands found their way to your cheeks and he cupped your face.

Your hot breaths formed little clouds in the air as you broke apart. Harry had a stupid grin on his face and you were smiling at him.

‘I would love to go out with you, Harry.’

- -- -

The TV was on, but you weren’t watching. Your phone was in your hand but you were not paying attention. You were thinking of Matt.

His face was flying around in your head, but it was unclear. His features were blurred and his eyes far away. You had had fun with Matt, you really had, but there was something missing. There was someone missing.

You scolded yourself for thinking such a thing. You reminded yourself of what had happened.

Your eyes shifted to the TV-screen and you watched the bright colours of the commercials. Laundry detergent, car, yoghurt, another car, clothes, insurance company, toothpaste, another car.

You did not even register the information thrown at you. For you it were all just colours. You sunk further into the couch and rested your head on the backrest, your eyes staring at the ceiling.

A knock on your door woke your from your trance. It was midnight, who could that be?

In your sweater and pyjama shorts, on your woollen sock you stumbled to your door, expecting a neighbour who must be at the wrong door. So when you opened the door and you saw Harry you were surprised. What was he doing here?

Harry was staring at his feet and he said nothing. The penetrating scent of alcohol reached your nose. The scene reminded you of your past history with him.

He was definitely drunk. He swayed on his feet as he stood in the middle of your living room. He looked around and his eyes rested on the picture of you and him you had standing in your bookcase.

You were standing in front of him, watching him put his hands in his pockets, not saying a single word. You waited for him to start speaking, but he kept his mouth shut. Minutes passed by and nothing happened. Harry looked at you, but he didn’t look you in the eye.

‘Honey, what’s wrong?’ you finally asked, done waiting. ‘I thought you were out with the guys?’

Your words seemed to pull Harry from his trance. He finally looked you in the eye and he formed a little smile on his lips.

‘I was, but something got in the way.’

‘Is everything alright?’ you asked worried, not knowing why Harry was looking at you with a smile.

‘Yes, everything’s more than alright.’ Harry kept standing with his hands in his pockets and that smug smile on his face. You grew annoyed. You knew Harry wasn’t that drunk; he had not started calling you princess or doll, something he only did when he was drunk. But he wasn’t completely sober either. His cheeks were slight red and he was not standing very stable.

‘Harry, what is going on?’ you asked irritated. ‘Why are you here?’

‘I love you.’

It was the first time he had said those words. He was the first of you to say it. You knew you loved Harry, but you were afraid what would happen if you would say it and he did not think the same.

But now Harry had said the words. He was staring at you with the same smile, but you saw the worry growing on his face as you took your time to answer.

‘I love you too,’ you said after a silence and Harry sighed relieved.

‘I know we haven’t been together very long yet, but I have known you for so long and I know that I love you and that-’

You broke him off by kissing him. ‘I told you I loved you, why are you making excuses?’ you remarked with a grin on your face.

‘I’m a bit drunk. Say it again.’

This was the same scene, yet a different sphere.

‘I saw you today, with that guy,’ Harry started, head turned to face the floor. ‘You shouldn’t be with him. It’s not right. You should be with me. I know I broke up with you, but I never should’ve. I never stopped loving you. The idea of you in his arms kills me. I can’t think of him lying down next to you at night. I can’t love you more than this, doll.’

You stared at Harry. One part of you wanted to shut the door in his face, the other part wanted to hold him in your arms. But you did neither of those things. You stepped aside and let Harry in.

He stood still in the living room and you were reminded so much of that night he told you he loved you. Which he just did, in a completely different way.

‘Harry, what do you mean?’ you asked, your fingers playing with the blanket on the backrest of the couch.

‘Take me back,’ Harry said. ‘Let me hold you in my arms and stay there. Let me be there when you fall asleep at night. Let me be there when you realise that we are perfect together.’

Your fingers stopped playing with the blanket and you took a step closer to him. You looked at his face and saw the tears in his green eyes. But his breath reminded you of his state. The moment he had called you doll, you had realised that he was drunk. You should’ve known it the moment he had stepped to your door, but some selfish part of you thought that he was really there because he loved you.

‘Harry, you’re drunk,’ you said and grabbed his arm. ‘You said it yourself, we weren’t working. We are better apart.’

Your own words broke your heart. You still loved Harry, you had never stopped loving him, not even when he broke your heart, not when he hurt you again on that day in the rain.

And of course you wanted to be with him, but you didn’t want to hear those words when he was drunk. You could not be with someone who only realised he loved you when you weren’t his anymore.

‘No, we’re not,’ Harry rasped. ‘You shouldn’t be with him, princess. He is not right for you. When he opens his arms and holds you close at night, it just won’t feel right. Because you belong with me. I can’t love you more than this, doll.’

Your heart stung at the words. They were sweet but they broke you. They were everything you, deep down, wanted to hear, but they hurt you now.

‘No, Harry. You told me we were not working anymore. You are the one who said we could “stay friends”. You are the one that broke my heart because you did not want to work on the relationship. We are done, Harry.’

Tears were running down your cheeks, but you looked at Harry. You saw that your words had reached him, despite his drunk state. He stared at you in disbelief and then collapsed on the couch.

‘Harry!’ you cried out and dropped on your knees next to him. He had his eyes closed and his breathing was telling you he had fallen asleep. With the tears still coming down, you draped the blanket over Harry, turned off the TV and walked to your bedroom.

- -- -

Harry was woken by the sunlight that was coming through the blinds. He felt an unfamiliar couch underneath his body and when he looked up he did not recognise the space he was in. What had happened last night? All he remembered was that he had seen you with a guy and that he had gone home and drowned himself in alcohol.

But the rest of the night was black and when he tried to think of how he got wherever he was right now, all he felt was an aching sting in his chest.

Harry sat up straight and looked around the room he was in better. He had never been here, he knew that for sure. Yet, there was something about this room that felt familiar and welcome. It reminded him of his own home, before you left. Could it be that…?

Harry’s thought were interrupted by a sound from the room behind the closed door. He opened the door softly and his heart skipped a beat when he saw who was in the bed.

You.

Had he, in his drunkenness, gone to your apartment? What had he done? Had he hurt you, had he done something embarrassing? Or worse, had he told you he still loved you?

Because when he was watching you right now, he realised that he did still love you. But he also felt that sting in his heart as he looked at you.

‘Harry,’ you said. You had sat up in your bed and were watching Harry with a look he could not place. Was it hurt?

‘I’m sorry for whatever I did last night. I was drunk. What I said was not true,’ Harry quickly said.

Your face fell and you turned your eyes to your hands. ‘Oh,’ you mumbled.

‘What did I say?’ Harry asked.

‘You told me you saw me with a guy and that you still loved me,’ you said with a sniff.

‘Oh,’ was all Harry could bring out.

Were you sad because Harry told you he loved you? Or were you sad because he denied it was true?

‘Do you still love me?’ you asked and you looked up to Harry.

There was a tear rolling down your cheek. Harry hurried over to you and sat in front of you. His hands took yours and he tried so hard to look you in the eyes, but he just couldn’t.

‘I do.’

His voice was low and his words were more whispered than said. But you heard them. Your hands began to tremble in Harry’s and that was when he looked up to you.

‘I do, too,’ you whispered back.

‘I’m sorry for everything I have said. I should not have broken up with you. I was afraid to fight, I was afraid to work on it. But now, I want to work on it. Because I can’t love you more than this.’

-------------------------------------

taglist

@kitkatkl @girllety @yuptha-tsme @sleep-i-ness @iamak20

let me know if you want to be added!

MASTERLIST

[honouraryweasley12]

Remembrance

At Shell Cottage, Ron and Hermione grieve a fallen hero. In doing so, they must face some truths long-hidden and make a decision about their future.

Also on FF.net

The sunlight streaming through the window provided ample light, but the sprawl of words in front of her were hazy, Hermione's own thoughts preventing her from focusing. It was rare for her to have such difficulty, especially when she was reading for sheer enjoyment. Her recovery had taken a lot out of her, and she'd been pouring her remaining energy into the planning of their next task.

A lull in the strategizing was a welcome change, yet she felt unsettled. Like she should be doing something more meaningful with the precious respite they had been granted. Time seemed to slow at the cottage, her first real breather since August.

The book lay still in her lap as she stared at the window, her eyes misty as she recalled the blur of empty oppressive days and narrow escapes, living in fear and paranoia.

So much had happened, the most recent as terrible as anything she could recall physically, and certainly the worst thing she'd ever personally experienced—the wiping of her parents' memories an extremely close second.

The torture she had suffered was not something easily forgotten, being so close to her own demise shook her to her very core. She found tears would come unbidden, as they were presently, at the most random times. Her hands had started trembling, and any loud noise startled her. Through it all though, she had found her source of comfort and healing.

Ron.

She smiled and wiped the wet trails running down her cheeks. The pretense between them had been shattered. That night had been a wake-up call that anything could happen, and it spurred them both, especially Ron, into action. They were no longer afraid to be openly affectionate and supportive toward one another. She didn't care about being vulnerable in front of him, if it meant an embrace and the soothing warmth of his hand rubbing slow circles on her back.

It was their silver lining.

She sighed, putting aside the book. She wanted to embrace his attentiveness as much she could, until their time ran out. It wouldn't be long now until they had to abandon the safe haven of Shell Cottage and attempt another incredibly dangerous mission.

Their so-called plan was foolish at best, fatal at worst. It was high risk but also high reward, their first real lead on a Horcrux in ages. The chances were grim, but at least there was a sliver of hope. She didn't want to think about that now, especially the myriad of potential outcomes.

The urge to see him seized her. Gingerly, Hermione got out of the bed and shivered, her skin erupting in gooseflesh as a gust of cool sea air blew into the small bedroom. She eyed the jumper he'd thrown over the back of the chair, where he'd been spending time with her at every possible opportunity. Debating for a second, she slipped it on and took a deep breath, his scent a balm for her frazzled nerves.

Slowly making her way down the stairs, she could hear muffled voices from the small living room. Turning to the kitchen, she found Harry, staring hard at the white wood of the quaint table as he turned that lucky shard of glass over and over in his hands, a reminder of what they had suffered through.

She almost couldn't bear to look at her friend in such a state of despair, opting instead to glance around Bill and Fleur's kitchen. Something was missing though—or rather someone. Ron was usually around to keep Harry's spirits up, so it struck her as odd that he was alone.

A sudden panic gripped her, her heart pounding in her chest. Where was he? Had he left? Her hand flew to her chest and she tried to take a calming breath, despite her obvious stress.

No, he wouldn't do that again. He'd promised her, and she believed him. The demons that had been plaguing him months ago had been pushed away with the destruction of that insidious locket, at least for now.

She hated that this was her first reaction, still scarred from his last departure. The bruises on her heart were a sickly yellow, healing but not completely gone.

Stop it, she chastised herself silently. He had more than made up for it since his return. Even now, after she'd been through such a painful ordeal, he was showing such consideration and concern for her. A deft touch that she never would have suspected he possessed. This is how she thanked him? By doubting him, yet again? By dwelling on a mistake she knew would haunt him forever?

She felt disgusted and angry at herself. He'd come through for her  innumerable times, the doubt the last vestiges of lingering hurt. She didn't trust anyone more than she trusted Ron, that much she knew.

Harry, who suddenly looked up from his stupor, raised his brow at the large letter 'R' emblazoned across her torso. He must have noticed her misery and nodded his head towards the door. "He's outside."

"Thank you," she whispered, watching her friend's face as it fell into deep thought once again, the weight on his shoulders crushing him.

Pushing open the door of the cottage, she stepped out, squinting from the bright light. Too many days of darkness had taken its toll, the freedom of simply being outside, in the open, felt foreign. She raised a hand to shield her eyes from the harsh rays and began walking toward her source of comfort.

Ron was crouched down, all limbs and fiery red hair, messed from the breeze. He had matured, they all had, far too quickly. His transformation upon his return had shocked her, but her self-erected barricade hadn't allowed her to express it.

She hugged herself as she walked up, the too-long arms of his jumper enveloping her thin frame. It was a poor substitute, having felt his warm embrace more in the past few days than she had over the previous seven years.

He stirred slightly as she approached, stilled by her hand on his shoulder. His weathered plaid shirt was soft under her fingers. She almost laughed at how easily they'd transitioned to something more than they'd ever been. How natural it felt to just give in and touch him without fear of rejection. The years they spent skirting their feelings seemed rather silly now.

She waited, giving him time. She was learning not to rush him. That he would often take a minute to organize his thoughts the way he wanted to, rather than feeling the pressure of replying before he was ready to. It was just the two of them on the bluff, with the churning sea below. Nothing else existed except the memorial in front of them.

The crudely carved stone held a heartbreaking epitaph. Such simple words for someone who had made the ultimate sacrifice.

Ron sniffed, his voice rough. "He was so fucking innocent."

She squeezed his shoulder in agreement, watching from above as he twisted a pair of worn socks in his large hands. After a moment, he gently laid them down at the feet of the plot and placed a stone on them to keep them in place.

He cleared his throat before continuing, his voice wavering. "I wish I could do more, besides giving him Bill's old socks."

Her eyelashes prickled with tears at seeing how deeply Dobby's death was affecting him. Beneath her hand, his body shook for a moment and calmed. After taking a deep breath, his voice broke the silence, quiet but firm.

"I've thought—for a while now—that if the time came, I'd sacrifice myself to help Harry. So many have. Maybe that's all I would be good for. The expendable Weasley. Seemed like I was made just for that purpose. Now..."

She held her tongue, wanting to admonish him for even considering something like that, to extol his virtues, and tell him how truly broken she felt during his time away. How much he meant to her, Harry, and everyone that knew him. Something stopped her; she was curious to hear where he was going with this.

He glanced up at her, his piercing blue eyes filled with an intensity she'd never seen before.

"Now, I... I don't feel as if I could, knowing what I might be leaving behind... what could happen if I dared to think I could make it through this."

That one look told her everything. Everything. His remorse, his fear, his love for her. She was the reason he wouldn't do something foolishly heroic. Even though he already had in rescuing her.

She could see his continuing struggle, his anguish. The waves of tension were palpable, his muscles straining under her fingertips.

"It feels so wrong to want something, to want happiness. Look at Harry—he's given up everything for this war. I bet if he could sacrifice his life to end it, he would in a heartbeat."

Seeing his pain so openly caused her chest to tighten. She wanted to wrap him in a hug and spirit him away. Just the two of them, hidden from the rest of the world.

Her voice was soft in her ears. "It's not selfish to want to live, Ron. To want something more after this war. There's a life beyond this that I dream about, too."

As he watched her, she tried to convey everything he meant to her through her eyes. That the life she imagined included him, could only be with him.

He gave her a slight nod, as if telling her he understood. Slowly, his hand reached up and met hers, their fingers loosely intertwining.

"I'm scared, Hermione. Scared for Harry and my family. Mostly terrified for you, of losing you. Almost did."

He looked away, but Hermione knew what he meant. She shared the same fears, unvoiced but ever present.

Ron sniffled again and let out a quiet cough. "Those were the worst moments of my life, in Malfoy Manor. I felt so bloody helpless. There was nothing I could do."

She didn't mean to say it in the moment, but it slipped out. "We're even now."

His neck twisted up and he stared at her with wide eyes, his expression one of incredulity. "You can't mean..."

She nodded, her eyes wet. "When you left, I was so afraid I'd never see you again. I was utterly heartbroken and there was nothing I could do. Whatever the locket was doing to you was a form of torture, too. It must've been for you to leave. That wasn't the Ron I know."

He protested, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. "You can't compare the two! You didn't choose to be tortured, and you still didn't give in. You weren't the stupid git who left!"

In that moment, she knew in her heart she forgave him, that he had come back and ultimately saved her. She was hit by a sudden realization.

"Don't you see? It doesn't matter anymore! Whatever happens, we'll find each other again. My voice brought you back, and you were there to rescue me!"

She felt his posture slump.

"I didn't though, not really. I couldn't even take your place." Ron's voice dropped to a whisper, almost lost in the breeze. "I couldn't stop them from hurting you."

"It was an impossible situation, but you saved me, Ron. Everything you did that night saved me. Your screams for me, the way you fought them, getting me here safely. Harry told me—"

He shook his head. "I got lucky, so fucking lucky. Dobby was the real hero," Ron said, staring back at the carved stone. "Hermione... he died... so... so you could live. He didn't have to help us save you. If it was Harry he was worried about, he would have just brought us here first and then maybe tried to rescue you. But he didn't. Without him... I would have lost you."

His words rung in her ears, a horrific truth. "He died... so you could live."

She hadn't thought of it that way. In her head, she’d equated the loss of Dobby with another loved one protecting Harry. The impact of it hit her, and she stumbled back a step. Ron was on his feet in an instant, pulling her to him as they cried, together. Mourning the loss of such a selfless, compassionate soul. Releasing the pent-up emotions of almost losing one another. Ron held her tightly and she was reminded of Dumbledore's funeral. This time, however, Ron dropped loving kisses into her hair.

She pressed her face to the flannel of his shirt, her tears soaking into the cloth. She held onto him, anchored to the cliff by his strength.

"Dobby was so incredibly courageous. Gods Hermione, I don't know what I would have done if he hadn't saved us all. If he hadn't sacrificed himself."

"He saved me, Ron. But so did you."

He looked down at her, brushing away her tears with large unsure thumbs. Their eyes met, the gaze between them deep.

"Sod it!" He suddenly declared. "You-You are the most important thing in my life, and if you hadn't survived..."

She pressed a finger to his lips, causing them both to shudder. "I did, and I intend to finish this and have the life I want. With you. But..."

"Not until this is over."

She nodded. "Alright, Ron?"

"Yeah," he agreed, but he couldn't resist pulling her against him once again.

They stood there for a moment longer, silently paying their respects to the one who gave them a chance.

"I swear Hermione, I'll never forget what he did. I'll never be able to thank him or repay him."

"All we can do is honour his memory and keep fighting."

Ron nodded his head in agreement. It was all they could do for the future they both so desperately wanted.

As they turned to head back to the cottage, she thought she heard him whisper a final thanks to Dobby.

They were quiet as the walked down the cliffside, their hands clasped. A new determination had overcome them. They were going to fight. They needed to be as brave as the departed elf.

As they reached the cottage, Ron playfully nudged Hermione, the amusement obvious in his voice. "You know, maybe SPEW wasn't such a bad idea."

"It's S.P.E.W!"

[aidanchaser]

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Everyone Lives

Table of Contents beta’d by @ageofzero, @magic713m, @ccboomer, @aubsenroute, @somebodyswatson

Chapter Twelve The Wandless Witch

Lily gingerly turned the page of the charred book in her lap. Regulus had salvaged the book from the library, and had suggested that it might be intriguing to her. Judging by the tight, old-fashioned script, the book must have been as old as Hogwarts. Deciphering it in the early morning light was a challenge, but the content was well worth the effort.

The title, no longer legible on the blackened cover but neatly scripted above the table of contents, read, The Sigilic and Somatic Secrets of Sorcery. Lily had never heard the word somatic before, but after a few days decoding the book, she understood that it meant something to do with hand movements for spell casting. It had been strangely thoughtful of Regulus to give the book to her, damaged and ancient as it was.

Ever since the duel at the Diggorys’ had cost her her wand, she had been working hard to use magic without one. Her memory of the Chamber of Secrets was ever-present these days. She had failed to protect Harry then, had been helpless against the diary and the basilisk without her wand. She would never let herself be that helpless again.

Lily set the book down on the tea table and focused on the pocket watch resting beside it. Locomotion Charms had always come easily to her, so it was what she had decided to start with. She bit down on her lip and focused, stretching out her hand and her mind to the watch, willing with all her might for the watch to fly into her hand.

But focus was so hard to come by, especially here in the parlour. Her mind was stretched across too many fears and too many worries. There was Harry and James, Remus and Sirius, Tonks and Picksie, Regulus and Petunia, and the Weasleys and the Prewetts and the Longbottoms and, and, and…

With a long, tired sigh, Lily picked up the pocketwatch.

The face of James’ watch was almost entirely red, with only the tiniest golden crescent on its edge, representing the last vestiges of the waning moon. The golden numerals illuminated against the bloodred backdrop showed that it was hardly past noon, and James had told her she was not allowed to panic until three.

She hated waiting. She had hated it in the first war, both waiting to be grown up enough to fight and then having to hide away from it all. Now here she was, waiting again, for James to come home and for Harry to confide in her.

At least Harry had not left Grimmauld Place yet. There was some small comfort in that.

Sirius had been by a few times, but he spent most of his time with the Tonks. In the last month, the Order had settled into something fairly stable, at least when compared to any point since Dumbledore’s death. Moody and the Diggorys were tucked away with Arabella Figg, who had a lot more room in her home since the Ministry had seized her Kneazles and revoked her breeding permit. Lily, James, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Regulus were more or less stuck in Grimmauld Place, though James and Regulus slipped out for information, using their Animagus forms when they could. Harry had offered James the Cloak, but James had refused. He had said that Apparating onto the top step was challenging enough and he didn’t want to worry about keeping the Cloak over him each time he did it.

Lily had left exactly twice, both times to check on her sister. Hestia Jones was employed as Vernon’s new secretary, so that he could still go to work and have someone watching him. Picksie and Emmeline stayed at the safehouse with Petunia and Dudley, and discussions about how to get Dudley back to school safely were growing more tense by the day.

“I thought you’d have this wrapped in a week,” Petunia had sniffed last time she was there.

“James and I spent nearly two years on the run last time.” Lily tried so hard to be patient, but she had lost patience for her sister many years ago. “It’s not like I can just wave a wand and make it all go away.”

“I still don’t understand why you can’t just do magic.”

“That’s not how magic works —”

“I mean why you can’t do magic at all. I see that — what did you say she is? An elf? — She does magic all the time. She certainly doesn’t use a wand. Must be nice to wave your hand and have the dishes clean and the beds made.”

“Elf-magic is different,” Lily had protested, but with far less energy than her earlier arguments.

Lily had bought that wand at eleven years old. Petunia had come along for that trip to Diagon Alley — her first and last trip. The Evans family had walked into Ollivander’s shop, eyes wide at the stacks of boxes lining the walls from floor to ceiling.

“I suppose we just pick one out?” her father had asked and reached for one of the boxes.

“Don’t, dear, you’ll knock them all over,” her mother had warned.

A cough had startled them, and when they had turned around, a wizened old man had limped out from the back of the shop.

“Welcome, welcome!” he had said, and surveyed each of them. “Now, which of you lovely ladies will be chosen by a wand today?”

Lily dabbed at the corner of her eye as tears welled up alongside the memory and reached for the old, damaged book. She remembered how dismissive they had all been with Remus when he had lost his wand a few years ago, and she regretted that attitude now.

Of course, were Ollivander’s shop still an option, she would have replaced her wand without hesitation. It hurt to lose the wand she had carried since childhood, but it was more painful to be utterly useless in a war that her husband and son continued to fight in. Still, she could have had more patience with Remus. It seemed that Lily was always having to learn patience, from the time she had fallen down the stairs before she could quite walk, just to keep up with Petunia, to nearly forty years later, sitting in this ancient house, waiting for James to come home.

The light in the parlour continued to shift east as Lily pored over the ancient text, read theories on how blood might channel magic as easily as a wand. It was full of pureblood drivel, which she supposed should not surprise her from a text in the Black family library, but if she could read past that, she might find what she needed to hone her wandless casting.

Despite her intense focus, the sound of a chain rattling in the doorway broke Lily’s concentration. She abandoned the book and watch and hurried down the stairs. She reached the entryway just in time to hear James murmur, “I didn’t kill you,” and the ghostly figure of Dumbledore dissolved into nothingness.

She threw her arms around him and kissed him.

“Morning, Lils,” he murmured into her cheek and kissed her back. His unshaven face was scratchy, but she didn’t complain. She was just glad to have him.

“You made it past the crowd outside.”

He grunted. “There’s about six or seven out there. Surprised they didn’t bring You-Know-Who himself. I mean, what do they expect? We’re just going to take Harry down to King’s Cross like everything’s normal? Like they aren’t out for our blood?”

“Maybe they think we don’t read the paper.”

“I wish we didn’t have to.”

Lily looked down at the rolled up paper in his hands. These days, the Daily Prophet told them at least as much as they learned from the Order, even if they had to read between the lines to understand it.

“I’m afraid to ask how things can get worse than suggesting that Harry is a murderer and rounding up Muggle-borns for questioning.”

“I don’t know if it’s worse, but…”

James waited until they were settled in the parlour to show her the front page. Lily had hardly sat down when she shot to her feet.

“Snape?” she spluttered. “How? Where’s McGonagall —”

“It certainly puts the mandatory Hogwarts attendance policy in a new light,” James said. “And the Carrows have been named as professors for Muggle Studies and Defense.”

Lily paced the parlour, unsure what to do with the rage burning in her. A Death Eater, in charge of Muggle Studies? What were the students going to learn? And what would happen to the Muggle-born students? She wondered if they would simply be separated from the others, or sent off to Azkaban.

Lightning danced between Lily’s fingertips and she itched for something to do with her hands, something to hold onto. She itched for her wand.

James leaned back into the sofa and watched her pace. His steady gaze only added to her anger.

“How can you be so calm about this?” she spluttered.

“I’m not calm,” he said evenly, “I’m absolutely furious. I keep picturing Snape sitting in the Headmaster’s office, with Dumbledore’s portrait behind him.” James paused, and she watched his fingers tap against the arm of the sofa before following the familiar path through his hair. “There’s nothing we can do, Lily. We can’t take over Hogwarts anymore than we can take over the Ministry.”

“Why not?” she snapped, fully aware of how foolish a question it was. “Why can’t we just take the Ministry back? I’ll depose Thicknesse the way I did Lockhart and Umbridge.”

She wasn’t exactly joking, but James smiled.

“Sirius asked me the same thing.”

Lily paused, her anger momentarily tempered by concern for their friends. James took advantage of her hesitation and gestured for her to sit down beside him.

She went, both willingly and reluctantly. He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her against him. She could hear his heartbeat, pounding as quickly as hers.

“How is Sirius?” she asked, though saying anything that did not address her anger felt reaching down her throat to pull rocks from her stomach.

James ran a hand through his hair again and glanced out the parlour window. “Alive.” His adam’s apple bobbed and she imagined he was reining in his anger as much as she was trying to rein in hers.

“Has he done something to upset you?”

“No, not Sirius.” He bit down on his thumb. “I think you and I should visit Remus this week.”

Lily frowned. “We’ve talked about this. It isn’t safe. The Ministry is watching them, hoping Ted will come home. If they catch sight of me or Harry —”

“Remus isn’t with Tonks and Andromeda.”

“Where is he?”

“Sirius thinks he’s back with Frank and Alice, which would make sense. They have the largest space, probably are under the least suspicion, and there’s no reason for the Muggle-born Registration Commission to stop by.”

“Certainly an easier place for us to drop by,” Lily said. “But if Remus didn’t feel safe with Andromeda and Tonks, why not come here? Why not stay with us?”

James hesitated, and the way he would not look at Lily made her nervous.

“Tonks is pregnant.”

As it so often was, Lily’s first response was anger. It flared in her chest, hot and heavy. She struggled to douse it, struggled to remind herself how just an hour ago she had tasked herself with being more patient, especially with Remus. She decided that, for the moment, the best thing to do was to focus on Tonks.

“How far along?”

“In Sirius’ unprofessional, self-taught opinion? About ten weeks.”

She evaluated her anger and attempted to at least keep it out of her voice, even if she couldn’t banish it entirely. “How long has Remus known?

“He found out after the wedding. I think that the day Ted left was the day Tonks told everyone, more or less. But I’m getting all of this second hand through Sirius, and you know how dramatic he can be.”

“And we’re only just finding this out because…?”

James shrugged. “Because Sirius didn’t want us to worry? Because he hoped Remus would come to us? I didn’t ask.”

Lily was unable to hold her anger in any longer. “What is Remus thinking? Surely he remembers what it was like for us with Harry! How could he think that Tonks —”

“I don’t think he does remember,” James said, so softly that she almost missed it. “He wasn’t really there for most of it. It was Sirius and Peter who saw us most. We saw him for the New Year and… that was it.”

“So you’re defending him?”

James looked at her, and she could read quite plainly that he didn’t appreciate the jab. And in his defence, it wasn’t a fair one. Of course he understood her anger. He always did.

“He’s scared,” he said, “and I want him to know he isn’t alone. That we’ve been through this before. I think we can help.”

Lily bit down on her lip and looked down at her hands. She tried, desperately, to set aside her anger. She had never understood how James could appear so calm, even in his anger. He said it came from his mother’s etiquette lessons and from hours spent with old ladies at garden parties. Sirius had once said it was because James’ temper was a glacier, cold and smooth on its surface, but hard and unforgiving underneath.

Lily tightened her fingers in his and squeezed, as if she might take some of his coldness to abate her own fires. She needed a bit of his patience.

Last summer, she had lost her temper on Remus, and had accused him of avoiding Tonks because he was a werewolf. She had claimed to understand his fears because she was Muggle-born. And it was true that there were times she and Remus understood one another, times they both knew what it was to be an outcast. But there were also times that she had no idea what he was going through. She might brew a potion for him monthly, and she might help with his burden, but she could never bear it for him, and would never truly know what he went through.

“I know you care about him, James,” she said, “so please trust that I say this with love, not anger, but I think Remus is alone in this.”

He pulled his hand away and got to his feet. It was perhaps a harsher rejection than shouting might have been. “How can you say that? We know what it’s like —”

“We don’t, James. We’ll never know what it’s like to be Remus. We will never live with fear the way he does. I don’t know that we can help him with this.”

James shook his head. “Remus is family, Lily. He doesn’t get to do this alone.”

“When Remus is ready to talk to us, he will.”

“He’s too stubborn for that.” He ran his hands through his hair and let out a slow, deep breath. “Do you remember why we only saw Remus a few times during the first war?”

“He was doing missions for Dumbledore. We were on the run. He and Sirius weren’t speaking. It was an unfortunate constellation, but there was nothing we could do about it.”

“But this time we could do something about it.”

Lily picked at the hem of her skirt, rearranging it and flattening it unnecessarily. But it was easier to look at her skirt than to look at James. “Do you remember what I said to you last time, when you asked why we couldn’t spend more time with Remus?”

James was quiet. She wondered if it was stubborn anger or reluctant acceptance. She risked a glance at him, but his hard face didn’t give her any clues.

The door creaked, startling Lily. She searched her pocket instinctively for her wand before remembering she no longer carried one.

Though James, too, reached for his wand, neither of them needed it. It was only Harry who pushed the door open.

His dark hair was tousled and his eyes tired, but he smiled at them. “Dad, I thought you were out for the Order today.”

“Just for the morning,” James said. “You have me for the rest of the day.”

“Oh — that’s perfect then.” Harry glanced between them. “Er — is everything alright?”

There was only the briefest hesitation. “Of course,” James smiled, “well, except for what’s in The Prophet but that’s never good news.”

Harry eyed the paper on the tea table. “Is that Snape on the front page? I expect he hasn’t been arrested, or the two of you wouldn’t look so murderous.”

James looked to Lily, as if he were asking her permission to share their conversation, or perhaps he was asking her to do it for him.

“Why don’t we all take lunch together,” Lily suggested. “Bad news goes down better with food.”

“Yeah,” Harry said, eyes still on the paper. “Ron, Hermione, and I have something to share with you, too.”

Lily’s eyebrows shot up and her heart leapt, too. She was afraid to hope, but hope came anyway.

“Food sounds excellent,” James said. “I’ve been out since before the sun and would love a bite to eat.”

“I’ll find Regulus,” said Lily. “I’m sure he’ll want to hear our news, too.”

The current residents of Grimmauld Place reconvened in the kitchen beneath the house. It was cooler down here, which made it the most popular room in the house — or it had been, before Hermione’s library had taken over the table.

She had stacked up several of her rune dictionaries to make space for food. Rolls of parchment were piled on one side, along with a quill and ink. Lily cast a cursory glance over the notes, but she didn’t glean anything unusual in them, nor any clues about what Harry wanted to share with her and James.

While James helped Kreacher in the kitchen, Lily gave everyone the good news of Tonks’ pregnancy and the bad news of Snape’s promotion.

As Ron and Harry protested, Hermione snatched the paper from Lily. Her lips trembled as she read.

“They won’t stand for this,” Ron said. “McGonagall and Flitwick and Sprout — they were all there with us. There’s no way they’ll accept Snape as —”

Hermione shot to her feet. “I’ll be right back.” And she disappeared upstairs. Ron watched her go with raised eyebrows.

Harry pulled the article towards him. “The Carrows?” Their name dripped from his mouth like poison.

“Who’re they?” Ron asked.

“They were there when Snape killed Dumbledore,” Harry said through gritted teeth. “They’re teaching Defense and Muggle Studies? How could anyone let this happen?”

“No one let it happen, Harry.” Lily hoped her words were comforting.

“No,” Regulus said, “someone certainly did. Every time someone let a comment about Muggle-borns go unchecked, even the harmless ones, they let this happen. Every time someone was allowed to separate and divide, to ignore truth, they let this happen.”

His words hung in the air as thickly as the smell of cooking sausage, and Lily didn’t quite know what to say. All of them, even her, must have let a comment slide once or twice. Ignored for pride, or to keep peace. Regulus, with his background, was likely the worst offender of them all.

Hermione broke the uncomfortable silence by running in, out of breath, and lugging a portrait half her size.

Regulus got to his feet. “What are you doing?”

Hermione pulled her beaded bag off the table and put it on the floor. With some difficulty, she placed the corner of the empty painting inside the bag and began to push. “I had only just remembered,” she said. And though it took some doing, the painting disappeared into her bag.

“Phineas Nigellus,” she explained. “He was a Headmaster at Hogwarts, and Snape could use him to spy on us. But let him try it now and all he’ll get is the inside of my handbag.” She sat back down at the table with a rather smug smile on her face.

Regulus stared at her with an open mouth. Finally, he said, “Surely a curtain would have sufficed.”

“He’d still be able to hear us.”

“But — you can’t just take the portrait —”

“I’ll return it when Snape’s no longer Headmaster.”

Regulus glanced around the table, and perhaps sensed he had no support in this fight. He sank back into his seat and looked down at his lap. Lily thought he looked rather like a sulking toddler.

“What did you want to tell us, Harry?” James asked, as he and Kreacher set out plates.

Lily was glad that he asked. She had been restraining her curiosity, afraid her eagerness might make Harry change his mind.

Harry and Hermione exchanged a look.

“I still think it’s a bad idea,” Hermione said. “He’ll be expecting us to go there!”

“That’s why we’re inviting them,” said Ron.

“Inviting us where?” Lily asked.

“We think —” Harry started, and Hermione coughed. Harry rolled his eyes. “I think it would be a good idea to visit Godric’s Hollow.”

Lily frowned. “Whatever for?”

“Dumbledore grew up there. And it’s the place I first defeated — well, Peter did, I mean, but he thinks it was me — and I think there might be something important there.”

James raised an eyebrow. “You think You-Know-Who left something in Godric’s Hollow.”

“Maybe. Or Dumbledore did.”

Lily pursed her lips. “But you won’t tell us what you’re looking for.”

“I don’t even want to tell you that we’re going,” Harry said, “but Hermione thinks it would be better if we had the Order with us.”

“I think it would be best not to go at all,” Hermione corrected. “I think You-Know-Who is waiting for us to show up there and it’s dangerous, but I’ve been outvoted.”

“You’ve agreed to a compromise,” Ron said. “The compromise is we bring backup.”

Lily looked over the three of them in search of any clues about the quest they had been handed. It hurt that it had not been Harry’s idea to involve her and James, but she was grateful for the chance to protect him.

“When did you want to go?” James asked.

“Tomorrow,” said Harry. “The sooner we go, the less time the Death Eaters have to prepare, if it is somewhere that they expect us to explore.”

James stared down at his breakfast, and Lily knew that he was thinking of Remus. She reached over and squeezed his hand.

Years ago, when Harry was only days old, James had asked why they couldn’t make the brief outing to see Remus.

“I’m worried about him,” James had whispered, afraid to wake the baby in his arms.

“Remus is an adult,” Lily had whispered back. “He can take care of himself. Harry’s the one who needs us. Harry comes first.”

Now, Harry was an adult, but he still needed them. And as long as Harry needed them, for however much longer that might be, Harry would come first.

“Of course we’ll go with you, Harry,” said James. “I wish you’d tell us a bit more about what we’re expecting to find.”

“I wish we knew a bit more about what we’re supposed to find,” Ron snorted.

“I still think this plan is foolish and unnecessary,” Regulus said. “But I have given you my opinion on where you should be looking, and I will not repeat it.”

“But you’ll come with us,” Harry said.

Regulus looked down at the Daily Prophet and avoided Harry’s gaze. “I think I would be better served pursuing other avenues,” Regulus said. “You are not the only one who was given a task to do.”

“We would appreciate the backup,” Lily said, as James, simultaneously said, “We can take Remus instead.”

Lily took a moment to weigh her anger against her compassion. She had vowed to be more patient, after all. “If Remus will come,” she said, “I know I’d be glad to have him.”

“Remus would be good back up,” Harry said, and turned to Regulus, “but that doesn’t mean you can’t come, too.”

Regulus folded up the newspaper and got to his feet. “I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to join you. Thank you for the news.”

As soon as Regulus had gone, Ron shook his head. “Why does he do that?”

“He’s always been like this,” James said. “I suppose when you grow up with Sirius, you learn very quickly to choose your battles carefully, and that the easiest thing is to walk away before an argument even starts.”

Lily did not understand why Harry leaned so heavily on Regulus, who seemed no more supportive than a two-legged stool, yet refused to lean on her and James. But she held her tongue. Lashing out at Harry would not work — had not worked. She drummed her fingers against the table. “If the five of us are going to —”

“Six,” James corrected.

She sighed. “— Six if Remus comes — are going to leave here tomorrow, we’ll need to be very well prepared.”

“Harry should be under the Cloak,” James said. “If we’re discovered, you’ll be protected.”

Harry shook his head. “I won’t run —”

“You’re no good to us or the Order dead.” James’ voice was firm and unflinching, though Lily’s stomach twisted at his words. “If we’re caught, you run. You can always arrange an Azkaban breakout later.”

Harry glared at James, but Lily did not think that Harry could win this fight. She remembered being seventeen, facing down a war and swearing to die beside her friends. She had not been much older than Harry was now when she had stood between Voldemort and Harry’s cradle. She had nearly died to protect Harry. And then what would have happened? Voldemort would have killed her, only to kill Harry?

A wave of sorrow crashed over her for a brief moment, as she realised how unfair it was for Harry to live the very life she and James had fought to protect him from. She took in a deep breath to steel herself.

“It��s a hard lesson to learn, Harry,” she said, “but sometimes you need to run.”

“You should be under the Cloak,” he said. “You don’t even have a wand.”

It was so tempting to rise to Harry’s temper. She swallowed down her frustration, reminded herself of the many, many times she had admonished Sirius for meeting Harry’s anger with anger.

“I’ll be fine without one,” she said, in as even a tone as she could manage. “You’re the one they want, and we’ll all be safer if they don’t know you’re with us.”

Harry’s fierce glare shifted between her and James.

“Fine,” Harry snapped. “I’ll wear the Cloak.”

It was a small concession. It wasn’t everything Lily wanted. It wasn’t secrets and answers, but it was something. It was a promise that Harry would do his best to stay safe. It was a promise that Harry would live.

“We’ll leave at dawn, then,” said James. “I’ll get word to Frank and Alice to expect us shortly before that. You can all be ready to leave as soon as I get back with Remus?”

Hermione, Ron, and Harry all nodded.

“I’m coming with you,” Lily said.

She could see in his eyes that he wanted to protest, but she returned his stubborn gaze. She was not going to sit here and hide. She was tired of waiting. Besides, he was the one who had said they should both talk with Remus.

James’ shoulders slumped. “Fine.”

Hermione packed her books and parchment back into her bag while Harry and Ron did the dishes. The house was quiet, a sort of quiet Lily remembered from the first war, a familiar calm before the storm.

Despite the quiet, she did not feel especially well-rested when she and James stepped out of Grimmauld Place in the dark hours of the morning. She surveyed the park across the street and the few streetlamps illuminating the walkways.

“How many do you think are out there?” she whispered as he took her hand.

James followed her gaze and grimaced. “Hopefully less than half of what there was this morning. And hopefully less where we’re going.” He squeezed her hand. “We’ll have to be quick when we arrive. Are you ready?”

She nodded and together, they Disapparated.

The magic pulled on her body, collapsing her into James and unfolding her in a single breath. Her feet hit the ground and she had hardly gotten her bearings when James hurriedly pushed her inside a large iron gate then down near the attached wall. She crouched low against the stone as footsteps pounded up the path behind them.

“I heard someone Apparate!” a voice shouted.

Lily held her breath and wished her heart would stop pounding. She was afraid it would give her away.

“There’s nothing here,” someone else said.

A light swept over the pathway, inches from James’ feet. She couldn’t exactly fault him for being unable to draw his ungainly legs up against the brick as tightly as she had drawn hers, but if his tall form was going to be the thing that got them into a duel tonight, she might have some words for her younger self and her fixation on lanky men.

“The gate’s still shut,” the second one said. The light swept away from the house and their hiding place. “Maybe they ran off that way.”

James and Lily listened as the footsteps faded away. They waited until the night was silent once more to even breathe.

James stood and pulled Lily to her feet.

“How did we get in without opening the gate?” she whispered.

“Alice Transfigured a couple of the bars to be flexible,” James replied, voice barely audible.

James Muffled their footsteps as they walked the rest of the way up to the house. Instead of approaching the large red doors, however, James led Lily along the side of the house to a back entrance. He knocked twice, paused and knocked a third time.

Lily did not even have time to register who opened the door when she was yanked inside and drawn into a hug.

“Oh!” Alice squealed, high-pitched but restrained, as she squeezed Lily. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”

Lily smiled and hugged her back. “It’s good to see you, too.” Though she couldn’t see much; it was as dark inside as it was outside.

“Is Frank here?” James asked.

“He should be home soon. He took a late shift so he could see Neville off to Hogwarts yesterday.”

Lily may not have been able to see the worry on Alice’s face, but she could hear it plainly. “You let him go?” she asked.

“Neville was rather insistent, especially when he saw the paper.” Alice took Lily’s hand and pulled her through the dark room and down a corridor where there was at least light coming from a sitting room, though Alice did not take them into the room. “He said he wouldn’t let us risk our positions at the Ministry. Said we were too valuable to the Order. He’s a good one. I don’t think Frank and I deserve him.”

“Neville will be alright,” James assured her.

“Of course he will,” Alice said. “He’s my son, after all.”

Even in the dim light, the pride etched into Alice’s sadness was clear. Lily wondered if Neville knew just how much his parents adored him.

“Remus is upstairs,” Alice said. “I’d keep your wands dim as you go up, though. The last thing we need is to give the Ministry an excuse to search us.”

Lily imagined an unexplained light sweeping over a curtain was the exact sort of excuse the Ministry could use to barge into the Longbottoms’ home. At least the Longbottoms had some pretext of protection.

She clung to James’ hand, trusting him to guide her through the dark, and trailed her other hand along the wall until they reached the entryway to the Longbottoms’ home and the grand staircase that led up.

“I assume you know where we’re going?” she whispered.

James didn’t answer, or he nodded and she didn’t see it in the darkness, but he did lead her upstairs, to the right, and down another corridor. James knocked softly on the door.

It creaked open and Remus’ voice, full of bitter and melancholy, greeted them. “Alice mentioned you were coming by.”

Lily swallowed down a sarcastic, “Good to see you, too,” and followed James inside without comment. She heard the rustle of curtains, then a small light, no brighter than a match, appeared in the center of the room. It was dim, but after so long in pure darkness, Lily had to blink to adjust to it.

In the low light, Lily could make out the scant furniture of Remus’ room: the shadow of a bed and a bedside table, a heavy curtain pulled closed over the window, and the tall dark shape of a wardrobe. Next to the wardrobe, Remus’ trunk sat open, its contents spilling out of it in messy piles.

James took a seat on the floor by the wardrobe and Lily slipped into the space between him and the trunk. There was something about the darkness, the small room, and the secrecy that reminded her of being teenagers again, sneaking around behind professors and prefects, but this time the fear of being caught did not provide excitement like it had then. This time the fear was overwhelming.

As Remus joined them on the floor, the light lowered until it, too, rested on the rug.

After a moment where no one spoke, Remus said, “I know what you’re here to say, so say it and go.”

Lily bit down on her tongue. She wanted nothing more than to tell Remus how of course she wanted to be with Harry, how she had tried to talk James out of this visit because Harry came first, and that Remus ought to take a page out of their book and show the same devotion to his own child, but she didn’t. She took in a deep breath and decided to let James do most of the talking.

But James hesitated, almost as if he had been relying on Lily’s temper to start the conversation. When she didn’t start, he said, “I guess if you know what we’re going to say, we don’t need to say it. So why don’t you tell us why you’re here.”

Remus kept his eyes on the closed curtains, almost like he was watching for light or movement. But the moon was dark tonight. The low light in the room cast harsh shadows across his face, and his scars stood out in sharp relief, shimmering silver lines across his nose.

When Remus finally spoke, his voice was faint and raw. “You were there, at the World Cup. You were there in Azkaban. You’ve witnessed hundreds of transformations. You’ve had at least a glimpse of what it’s like. You tell me what I deserve, for giving that life to someone else.”

Lily’s temper flared, hot and bright. She bit down on her tongue and steeled herself against it. She turned her words over in her head, tumbled the rocks of her anger in the waves of her compassion until their edges were smooth, until she was certain that she could speak without sharpness.

Finally, she said, “No one deserves to be a parent. No one deserves the power to give life so freely, to have such control over another human being. None of us are perfect, and we will inevitably pass our flaws on no matter how hard we try to instill our graces. I also know that it isn’t an easy job to do alone. When you proposed to Tonks —”

“I didn’t.” Remus ran a hand over his face. “She asked me because she knew she was pregnant. She didn’t even want to get married, she never wanted any of this…”

“You know that isn’t true.” Though James’ words were soft, his tone was firm. “We’ve all agreed that Tonks is pack now. She’s family.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out two small gold rings. He slid them across the floor and to Remus.

“Before your dad arrived and ruined our plan, Sirius had me make these. The inscription was his idea, though I did the Charm work myself. I never was as good as you at getting the Call-And-Response Charm to work, so it’s a bit simpler than your handiwork on the map.”

Remus looked down at the golden rings. They were nothing but plain bands, with no indication of magic or intrigue.

“What’s the incantation?” Remus asked.

“You’ll figure it out,” James said.

Lily took in a deep breath and tried to mimic James’ gentleness. “You said that James has had a glimpse at what things are like for you. If your child is like you, don’t you want them raised by someone who knows what they’re going through? Don’t you want to make sure that they don’t have to feel alone?”

“She has a point,” said James. “You can’t expect your kid will get lucky enough to find school mates willing to break Wizarding law just to turn themselves into Animagi out of sheer arrogance.”

If it was supposed to make Remus laugh, it didn’t work. If it was supposed to make him cry, James came very close. His lips trembled and he pressed them into a firm line. He blinked a few times and managed to compose himself before the tears could quite fall. Lily couldn’t help feeling a little jealous of how even his voice sounded when he spoke again.

“You don’t think I made the wrong choice, choosing Tonks?”

Lily did not know how to answer. She looked at James, who kept a steady gaze on his hands as he twisted his wedding band around his finger.

“You know I can’t answer that for you,” he finally said. “No one can. But if you’re that worried about it, talk to her. Talk to both of them. Don’t shut yourself away like this. We’re family, Remus, all of us.”

The silence in the wake of James’ words was heavy, but Lily hoped it was a good sort of heavy. She was proud of herself for not losing her temper, and proud of James for listening to Remus, rather than pushing for solutions — a flaw she and James both struggled with, especially when dealing with Remus and Sirius, who more often than not just needed to be heard.

When it was clear that Remus had nothing more to say, Lily decided it was appropriate to change the subject, and she recounted Harry’s request to Remus.

The melancholy on Remus’ face faded slowly as she spoke, giving way to worry and confusion. “Why Godric’s Hollow?” he asked.

“He said Dumbledore’s left something there,” James said, “or You-Know-Who has. They aren’t entirely sure, and wouldn’t say more, but they’re involving us, so that’s progress.”

Remus rubbed his jaw and stared down at the small light between them. “You haven’t any idea what they’re looking for?”

“None.” James ran a hand through his hair. “I still don’t know why Dumbledore would keep anything from us… or Harry, either.”

There was pain in his voice, so disparate from the bitterness that Lily felt towards Dumbledore. She took his hand and squeezed it. She was angry with Dumbledore for this secret, and angry with Harry for choosing to keep it. James, however, was hurt, more than she truly understood.

“I suppose it’s possible there’s some clue left behind in the wreckage,” Remus murmured. “Didn’t the Ministry scour it pretty thoroughly?”

“I couldn’t care less what the Ministry has or hasn’t done,” Lily snapped, grateful to have an appropriate outlet for her anger. “Besides, I’m sure Harry, Ron and Hermione know to look for something the Ministry doesn’t.”

“You’ll come with us, won’t you?” James asked.

Remus nodded, though his gaze was still distant, still puzzling over the plan. Perhaps James was right to invite Remus, to give him something to do other than wallow in misery and self-loathing. Maybe this was the best way to nudge Remus back to his friends. Certainly it would be more effective than a sanctimonious outburst from her.

Lily stood. “We’ll let you get together what you need, then.”

She and James left Remus to gather what little he had, but before the door closed, blocking out all light, Lily caught sight of James’ small smile. It was the same fond smile he had given her during an Herbology class in their sixth year, when she had excitedly announced that her Flitterby bush was blooming. It was the smile that had finally convinced her that she was officially in love, though it would take her a few more months to admit it to anyone else. It was full of pride and love, the sort of smile Lily wanted nothing more than to kiss.

So she did.

He laughed softly as her mouth touched his, and he broke the kiss but pressed his forehead against hers. “Thank you,” he whispered, “not just for being patient with Remus but for understanding why I needed to bring him with us.”

“I imagine Sirius already did most of the scolding,” she said. “I was happy to just listen.”

This time he kissed her, and laughed too.

When Remus was ready — he did not have much in the way of things to pack — they whispered good-byes to Alice.

They left by the door they had come through and crept around the house with muffled footsteps. It was difficult to see with no moon to light their way; they had only the faintest grey on the eastern horizon and the occasional light of a fairy drifting from one bush to another to mark the path.

They stopped as they reached the gate. James easily found the pliant iron bars, and once he had, he helped Lily through.

They moved more slowly this time, choosing caution over speed, and trusting silence and the darkness to protect them. Lily would regret that choice for the rest of her life.

Remus was halfway through the gate when Lily heard footsteps coming up the path again. She turned, unsure if she should shove Remus back or yank him through. There was no time for a decision as a light landed on the three of them and someone shouted, “There!”

A red spark would have struck Lily in the chest if she hadn’t stepped to the side.

Remus cursed as he reached for his wand and stumbled out of the gate. He drew just in time to put up a Shield Charm, providing cover for James. Two charms crashed into it, the sound loud against the otherwise silent night.

Their attackers were running towards them now, and it was not a question of whether Remus’ Shield could withstand their blows, but a question of if they could Disapparate in time.

Lily grabbed James’ hands and pulled him through the gate.

“Remus!” She clung to James with one hand and reached for Remus with the other.

The shield dropped and Remus grabbed her hand. She felt herself fold into James as he Disapparated the three of them, her body compressing with the familiar pressure — and then an unfamiliar pressure struck her.

She didn’t have time to realise what was happening until they reappeared on the top step of Grimmauld Place and she saw that one of their assailants had grabbed her leg at the last minute.

She kicked the man in the face, dislodging him and sending him backwards down the stairs.

“Oh no,” she gasped, as a pair of cloaked Death Eaters emerged from the park across the street.

“They’re there!” the man shouted and pointed. “They’re —”

“Silencio,” Remus whispered, and the man’s words died in his throat.

“That won’t buy us enough time,” James hissed, wand already pressed to the door, undoing the locks.

“I’ll buy you time,” Remus said.

Lily grabbed his arm. “No — if you’re caught —”

The door swung open and James pushed Remus and Lily inside. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Finite!” one of the Death Eaters shouted.

“No!” Lily shouted, reaching for James’ hand to pull him inside.

“There!” the man shouted. “Can’t you see them? They’re still standing on the steps of number twelve!”

“It can’t be you or Remus.” James pulled his hand away and Lily choked down a sob. “Take Harry and go.”

The thick black door closed, and Lily hardly felt the Tongue-Tying Curse wash over her. She was already choking, already fighting down every piece of rage and sorrow that surged within her.

If someone had asked her an hour ago what James had said to her on that Halloween night sixteen years ago, she might have been able to guess, but hearing it again in his voice, in the same anxious pitch, triggered the memory of that night as clearly as if she had fallen into a Pensieve. Her chest was tight and her breath came in short spasms, but his words also spurred her into action.

She ignored the distorted, ghostly image of Dumbledore rushing towards her, and left for Remus to deal with. She passed right through it and mounted the stairs two at a time. She threw open the door to Ron, Harry, and Hermione’s room.

“We’re going, now!” she shouted.

“What’s happened?” Ron asked. He was only half-dressed and hastily pulled a shirt over his head. “I thought we had said dawn —”

“Death Eaters are here.”

That got them moving.

She leaned over the bannister and shouted down to Remus, “Have you seen Regulus?”

“He was in the study,” Remus said. “He’s taking Kreacher.”

Lily cursed. Of course the house-elf would have been the easiest way out and of course Regulus would take Kreacher for himself, rather than offering all of them the quick Apparition trip. Then again, maybe it was for the best. Kreacher might intentionally Splinch any one of them.

“Kitchen window?” Remus suggested.

Lily’s lips trembled and she looked back over her shoulder. Harry had his glasses on and was pulling the Cloak over his shoulders as Hermione fumbled with her beaded bag.

“Follow Remus to the kitchen,” she told them.

“Mum —”

But Lily was already running down the stairs. She crashed into the wall, knocking over a portrait and waking up Walburga. Lily ignored the screams and hurried for the door.

She didn’t know what she was going to do. She didn’t have a wand. She couldn’t do as much as lift a pocket watch.

As Lily wrenched the door open, she recalled the author’s words on intention and focus being the keys to casting, which she also remembered from her studies in Charms. When casting, she had always envisioned what she wanted to happen. The book had suggested there was a need greater than the effect of magic. She needed to picture the cause.

James had not gone far; he defended the bottom of the steps valiantly. Though he had never been able to produce a sizeable Shield Charm the way she and Remus could, he was quicker than either of them, able to deflect and return fire with an admirable accuracy. A red spark shot towards his left, and he stepped aside while returning fire with a matching curse. His target crumpled into the pavement.

Lily was not going to be helpless. She focused on her magic, on the spark inside of her, on the things she felt when she cast — anger, love, fear, and joy, the things that filled her and fueled her. She imagined her magic sparking in her fingertips, like flint igniting tinder. She focused on that power, on that fire, and stretched her hand out to the nearest Death Eater.

There was a loud bang and he stumbled backwards, robes ignited. The flames were easily doused by the Death Eater’s partner, but it gave James the time to Stun them both.

He turned back to her with his eyes full of wonder and a stupid grin on his face.

“Have I ever told you how amazing you are?”

“Maybe once or twice,” she smiled.

“Where’s Harry?”

“I’m right here.” Harry pulled the Cloak down, and Lily jumped.

“Merlin, Harry, I told you to go with Remus —”

“You ran off without a wand, Mum. I wasn’t going to let you fight alone!”

James sighed. “Harry, you promised us you’d run if —”

“Incarcerous!”

Lily had not seen the Death Eater recover from James’ Stunner, but she saw the ropes spring from his wand and yank James down into the pavement. He hit the ground with a crack and she stretched her hand out to —

To what?

She did not have the accuracy needed to free James. She could perhaps Conjure an explosion, blast the Death Eater away —

The Death Eater rolled up his sleeve revealing a bright red brand on the inside of his forearm. He grinned at her — no, not at her, at Harry — as he pressed his wand tip to it and the brand turned black.

What was it she had said to James all those years ago?

Harry comes first.

She did not know if it would work without a wand, but she did not know what choice she had. She wrapped her arms around Harry, closed her eyes, and focused on her destination: Godric’s Hollow.

[xx-thedarklord-xx]

Work With a Side of Gossip

                The watercooler was predictably the highlight of the office. That was where most of the gossip happened and it was the one area Mister Malfoy never looked for anyone.

                “He’s such a dick.” Seamus complained, clenching his water cup tightly. “If I wanted to be yelled at every day, I would have stayed home with my mother.”

                Pansy snorted, smirk lighting up her features. “It’s your own fault for still living at home with her.”

                “I know.” Seamus sighed regretfully. “But even she is more preferable to the boss. If he blames me one more time for the lack of sales in the eastern quarter, I may just commit murder.”

                “The eastern quarter is your job.” Blaise pointed out, leaning against the wall. “But I know what you mean. He’s been a real prick as of late.”

                “Yeah.” Ron admitted, ignoring his desk in favor of standing around them. “What is up with that anyways? I mean he has always been a bastard but these past few weeks it has been hell around here.”

                Pansy leaned away when they all looked at her expectantly. “Why are you all looking at me? I don’t know Mister Malfoy any better than you do.”

                “You’re the one who talked to him outside of work!” Ron argued, shaking his head. “We were all lucky enough to avoid a disaster like that.”

                “Once!” She argued vehemently. “And that was at a grocery store! He was still the same as he always was, I felt like he was judging me for my food selections. I was too embarrassed to ever go back.”

                “It’s not polite to gossip.” The dreamy tone had them all groaning.

                Pansy put her hands on her hips and turned to Lovegood. “What do you know? You’re just a temp. Besides, if you can’t gossip about your boss, then who can you gossip about?”

                Before the woman could respond, the sound of thundering feet had them turning towards the door.

                “He’s coming!” Neville whisper yelled. “Malfoy is coming and he’s in a bad mood. He made the security guard cry.”

                They all scrambled to get to their desks as Lovegood went down three floors to the temp office. Pansy shoved Ron out of her chair. “This is my desk you moron!”

                “Ow.” Ron grumbled as he took the cubicle next to her. “Didn’t have to push so hard.”

                Neville bit his lip nervously, his panic increased when they could all hear footsteps approaching. He was too anxious to pretend to do any work, so he picked up the phone on his desk. “Good morning, thank you for calling Malfoy and Malfoy Shipping CO, my name is Neville. How can I help you?”

                Pansy nodded her head, impressed with his foresight. She turned on her computer and pulled open the spreadsheet she was supposed to have finished yesterday. At least she was really doing something.

                Ron held his breath as he looked towards the door, hoping their boss wasn’t in that bad of a mood. Perhaps Neville had been over exaggerating?

                When Draco Malfoy, the CEO of the company entered, they all groaned internally. He was not in a good mood. There was an angry aura vibrating around the man, his eyes were already narrowed in dislike and his hands were clenched at his sides.

                Luckily, the boss said nothing as he made his way towards his office.

                Everyone jerked in their chairs when his door was slammed so forcefully that it rattled the photos on the wall.

                “I hate my job.” Pansy whispered miserably.

                “Well.” Neville began, putting the phone down. “At least he didn’t say anything to us.”

                Small blessings.

 -----------------------------------------------------------              

              “Excuse me.”

                The voice startled the mid-afternoon crash most of them were experiencing. It was only an hour to lunch and minds had long ago began to wander.

                Pansy, who had been resting her chin in her palm, was surprised by the man’s looks so much that her elbow slid and jerked her face. Perhaps it was her recent break up or the six months respite from sex but this man, this man must have come straight out of a fantasy. He held himself with confidence and had an easy smile. His hair was messy in a way that had her wondering if he owned a brush. It was hard to tell from the distance but his eyes were definitely expressive and vibrant.

                “Is Draco in?”

                Draco? Ron tilted his head to the side at the use of the man’s first name. No one who stopped by ever addressed their boss with familiarity.

                “Yes.” Blaise answered, coming to his senses much quicker than the rest of them. “But he is on a conference call at the moment.”

                The man nodded. “Do you mind if I wait here for him?”

                They all raised their heads to peer at each other, trying not to be the one to make the final decision. If Mister Malfoy didn’t want to speak to this person, then whoever allowed him to stay would face his wrath.

                “Yes.” Neville spoke up in resignation when no one else said anything.

                They watched curiously as the stranger pulled an unused chair from the side and settled himself down near Seamus’ desk.

                “So.” The man began, resting one of his feet on the desk. “What’s the gossip around here like? Anything interesting?”

                That had them all sharing another look. Speaking about their boss to someone unknown was a horrible idea.

                Their silence caused the man to sigh. “Ah, well. It was worth a shot. How has Draco been lately? I know the past few weeks must have taken a toll on him. Hopefully he hasn’t been too hard on you all.”

                The odd familiarity to them had Pansy looking to Blaise in confusion. Who was this guy?

                Neville looked down and noticed that the conference call was no longer lit up. He tentatively picked up the phone.

                “Yes?” The terse reply had Neville wincing.

                “Sorry sir, there is a man here wanting to see you.” He looked over apologetically to the stranger, realizing that he hadn’t gotten a name.

                “Harry.” The man supplied, brows furrowing.

                Malfoy’s door swung open, clearly having heard the man through the phone. “Potter get in here!”

                Pansy almost felt bad for the guy. That was the tone their boss used when he was in a particularly demanding mood. She did not want to be in his shoes.

                She leaned her head back when the man grinned widely. That was not a normal reaction to Malfoy’s anger. Pansy looked to Seamus, hoping to see the same surprise on his face too. She almost snorted at the wary expression on his face. It was as if he thought Harry was mental.

                “Anyone else think that was odd?” Blaise asked, coming into Pansy’s cubicle and sitting on her desk.

                “Definitely.” Ron agreed, standing by Seamus’ desk. “I have never seen someone smile before going into his office.”

                “He’s hot.” Seamus piped up, fanning himself. “If I wasn’t dating Dean, I would offer myself up in a heartbeat.”

                Pansy and Blaise nodded their heads in unison. “Think he is single?” She asked, looking towards the door.

                “With an arse like that?” Blaise shook his head. “I doubt it.”

                “What do you think Malfoy is saying to him?” Neville, the ever worrier wondered quietly.

                “That is a good question.” A few of them said curiously.

                The clock painstakingly moved with a slowness that had Ron wondering if he broke it, if he could claim his early departure of lunch on that.

                “He’s been in there nearly an hour.” Seamus whispered, not understanding that at all. Most scheduled meetings don’t even last that long.

                When the door swung open, they all startled, trying to seem as if they had been working. Pansy was typing furiously, eyes on her boss and Harry exiting. It took a moment for her to realize that her monitor was turned off.

                Seamus was blatantly staring at the two of them, not bothering to hide his open curiosity.

                Ron was trying to appear as if he had been correcting something on his papers but it wasn’t until Neville flipped over his pencil, that he realized that he had been trying to write with the eraser. He would have been embarrassed by this but he was too distracted by the small smile on Malfoy’s face. Sweet baby Jesus that was something he never thought he would see.

                Blaise was pretty sure he was gaping but he couldn’t help it. Not when this was proof that he was dreaming.

                “Oh, before we go.” When their boss turned to look at them, they all straightened up in their seats. “I am taking off for the day. I advise you all to do the same.”

                That was that. They all stared at the spot that the two men had been, in a dumbfounded confusion.

                “Did he just tell us to go home early?” Blaise whispered disbelievingly.

                Seamus vaulted over his desk and scrambled towards the door. “I’m not sticking around for him to change his mind!”

                It was a mad dash after that. Several of them shoving each other to get to the door.

                “Fucking hell.” Ron complained when Pansy shoved him out of the way. “Would it kill you to be gentle?”

-------------------------------------------------------------- 

            “So, who do you think he is?” Seamus whispered as they watched Harry leave the room. This was fifth time in a month they had seen him come and go. “I would say a relative but Malfoy’s father is even more of an arse than he is.”

                “No.” Pansy waved that theory away. “They don’t even almost look anything alike. I was thinking just a friend.”

                “That would suggest that Malfoy has any friends.” Ron pointed out doubtfully.

                “The man’s got a point.” Blaise chimed in with a hum. “But you also can’t deny that the boss is always in a better mood after Harry stops by.”

                “True.” Neville whispered, staring at the closed office door. “Maybe they really are just friends.”

                “We need more evidence.” Pansy concluded, slapping her hand against the desk. “Ron, get that wife of yours to come up with some theories. She’s the resident genius.”

                Ron arched his brows. “Alright. But Hermione is only two floors down in bookkeeping. You could ask her yourself.”

                “Nah. It’s been awkward between us since I drunkenly kissed her at the Christmas party.”

                “Wait. What?” Ron asked in bewilderment.

 ------------------------------------------------------ 

                Neville shot an alarmed look towards Seamus every time Malfoy paced close to his desk. The man rarely ever left his office. So seeing him distressed was setting off his nerves into an anxious state.

                “Has Harry called or stopped by at all?” The question wasn’t barked out or said in anger. It sounded worried and that had the rest of them concerned.

                “No.” Blaise offered when he lost the stare off that would decide who had to deal with the boss. “He hasn’t.”

                “Fuck.”

                Seamus rolled his chair clear to the opposite side of the room when he saw Malfoy run his fingers through his hair. If the man was resorting to messing up his pristine, precious hair, then things were about to get bad.

                “Parkinson, pull open all news outlets, I want you to check—” He was cut off by the sound of running footsteps.

                Pansy blinked rapidly when Harry burst into the room. His clothes were disheveled, ripped and torn in several places. His hair was surprisingly even more messier than usual and he had a gash across his face.

                “Draco.” Harry whispered thickly. “It was a close call and—” The man stopped talking when Mister Malfoy clenched his fists and turned his back around, eyes closed and despair on his face.

                “I quit.” Harry continued, hand raised but not moving towards anyone.

                “You what?” Malfoy turned around rapidly. “I have been trying to get you to quit for years!”

                “I know.” Harry’s hands were raised in surrender. “And I should have listened. But I was too stubborn and wanted to provide for you just as much as you provide for me.”

                “Harry.” The whisper tore at Pansy’s heartstrings. She didn’t know her boss had even been capable of having so much emotion inside of him.

                “I saw an entire team go down, Draco.” Harry’s voice cracked. “That could have been me and I couldn’t bear the thought of you having to bury your own husband.”

                ‘Husband?’ Neville and Ron mouthed, shocked into stillness.

                “You really did quit?” The blonde asked taking a step forward. “You don’t have to do that. I knew what I was getting myself into long before you ever joined the police force.”

                “I really did.” Harry smiled, walking the few feet up to their boss and lifting him up into his arms. “I was thinking about taking you up on your offer.”

                Seamus let out a breathy noise when Malfoy grinned. He almost wanted to slap himself to see if this was real.

                “The business is named after us, after all.” Malfoy whispered before resting his face into Harry’s neck. “I could use your help around here. I’m not the best with people.”

                Malfoy and Malfoy. They had all assumed that Malfoy must have taken over after his father retired and added the extra Malfoy.

                “Alright.” Harry ran his fingers through blonde hair before carrying their boss towards the door. He stopped to address them before leaving.

                “I probably won’t be your boss for another few weeks but if you don’t have work to do, I am going to suggest you have an early release. I’m going to take Draco home.”

                A stunned silence filled the room as soon as the two men left.

                “Married?” Pansy shook her head quickly. “I don’t believe it. Did any of you even know that he was married?”

                “I didn’t even know he was gay.” Blaise whispered, blinking rapidly.

                Seamus looked at his spreadsheets that needed to be finished and the reports from the people underneath him that needed filing. “Nope, I have no work to do.” He declared before taking off quickly towards the door.

                Everyone else shared a look before they too took off after Seamus.

                “Ow!” Ron complained when Pansy elbowed him out of the way. “You don’t have to hit so hard.”

 ----------------------------------------------------            

                Ron ran into the bookkeeping office and ignored Hermione’s stuffy coworkers. “You are never going to believe who Harry is.”

                “Mister Malfoy’s husband of ten years.” She responded, not looking up from a folder of numbers.

                “How did you know they were married?” He was rather disgruntled and annoyed that she knew before he did. “Wait, did you say ten years?”

                Hermione shook her head before shooting him a fond look. “After you asked me to come up with theories for your weirdly gossipy group, I googled Harry. Their marriage is public record.”

                “Oh.” Ron deflated slightly, not wanting to admit how embarrassing it was that they hadn’t even bothered to do a simple internet search.

                “Well, Harry is going to take up a position here. Probably be made some kind of CEO or boss.” Ron added, knowing that this had just been discussed upstairs a few minutes ago.

                “I figured as much.”

                Ron sighed heavily, was there anything his wife didn’t know?

                “Do you think much will change around here?” Hermione asked curiously. “From what you said, Harry is a rather nice guy.”

                That had Ron humming curiously. “I think a lot of things will change.”

-------------------------------------------------------- 

              “You are never going to guess what I overheard Hannah say.”

                The near lunchtime gossip session was underway and Pansy was thankful that it was distracting enough that she wasn’t focusing on her rumbling stomach.

                “Come on.” Harry continued when no one said anything. “It involves Nott down in bookkeeping and Lovegood down in the temp office.”

                “Tell me.” Blaise demanded, they all knew that he had been lusting after Nott and Lovegood equally for months.

                Before Harry could continue, Neville ran into the room. “He’s coming. Smith pissed him off enough that he fired him, he’s not in a good mood.”

                It was a scramble for everyone to get to their desks. No one wanted to anger Malfoy off after he fired someone. That was an atmosphere that guaranteed someone else could be on the chopping block.

                Harry was halfway towards them when he stopped. “Wait, why am I panicking? I’m the co-owner.”

                Pansy snorted but quickly quieted down when Malfoy walked into the room.

                “Why do I have a feeling that you all aren’t doing anything?” There was exasperation in his tone but before he could walk over and investigate, Harry stepped forward.

                “Hello, love.”

                That had Seamus breathing a sigh of relief, he knew that pet names always seemed to get the boss to smile slightly. When Malfoy looked down briefly and his lips quirked up, Seamus shared a high five with Neville.

                “You want to head to lunch early?” Harry offered, entwining their hands. “I’m in the mood for Italian.”

                “Nice.” Blaise whispered, knowing from Harry that Italian was Malfoy’s favorite. The brunette knew how to appease the blonde in ways that he always found amusing.

                “Sounds nice.” Their boss sighed happily, something that still surprised them even months after seeing the changes Harry brought to the usually angry man.

                When the two made it to the door, Malfoy told them that they too could head to lunch early. Harry waited until his husband wasn’t looking to send a wink to them.

                “Harry is the best thing that has happened to this place.” Seamus sighed in delight before he took off running towards the door.

                “No.” Ron warned, side stepping Pansy’s elbow. “You won’t be pushing me today.” He took off after Seamus, leaving behind work that he knew should have been finished before lunch.

                “He’s right though.” Blaise entwined his elbow through Pansy’s. “Harry and Malfoy really make for an interesting dynamic.”

                “I love my job.” Pansy admitted with a smile as she locked up the door.

-----------------------------------------

Trying to write on the next Simple Acts installment but this has been in my head for a couple days and wouldn't leave.

[unfortunatelysirius]

I Will Never Be Satisfied [Harry Potter x Weasley! Reader – Golden Trio] [Part 2]

:Prompt: Hi! I'm the one who asked for the 'satisfied' imagine And I just finished reading it and it 10x as good as I thought it would be I would really love a part two with the song 'congratulations' from Hamilton. One idea is that you write it where it's years after the movie and the reader isn't married and finds out that Harry cheated on Ginny with cho and gets reader mad. :Additional Notes: Hiya! It really makes me happy to know how much you enjoyed what I wrote, so thank you for that. First of all, both prompts that you presented me were absolutely great. It was difficult for me to choose between them because of how much the two of them intrigued me! Regardless, I went with the one you see above because it got my mind bubbling with a flow of creative juice! And since Y/N is a Weasley, it makes a lot of sense, so hopefully this was the one you favored of the two! (If not, just request me for the alternative prompt. I won’t be offended, I promise!) :Word Count: 1272 :::::::CONGRATULATIONS, FROM HAMILTON::::::: You never thought the day would come when you looked Harry James Potter in the eye and felt nothing but repulsion for him. But today, he completely shattered that notion, and now, he was merely someone you used to know—a complete stranger. “Congratulations. You have invented a new kind of stupid, a ‘damage that you can never undo’ kind of stupid, an ‘open all the cages in the zoo’ kind of stupid, ‘Truly, you didn’t think this through?’ kind of stupid. Let’s review.” When you saw Harry with Ginny, you saw a true romance that could not be compared.  When you attended their wedding, you cried for the first time in years and for once, they were happy tears that poured down your cheeks. While you loved Harry with all your heart and were torn between your sister and the boy you adored, you couldn’t deny how the mere thought of doing such an atrocious thing caused you to be hit with a ball of self-disgust. So you let them have their romance, and you let yourself suffer the consequences. You were willing to sacrifice everything just to see your baby sister smile.

But now, none of that mattered. Were you meant to retain your promises—to keep your nose from their business—when your sister showed up to your doorstep in the first few hours of morning, cheeks tear-stained and eyes sagging with grief? You couldn’t. You refused to pretend you were capable of holding promises. You couldn’t—you just couldn’t. You spent years ignoring the pain. You spent years pretending to be happily without a significant other, all-the-while ignoring your feelings for a bastard—an attractive, big-headed bloke that loved your sister with all his heart, or so you thought. You couldn’t let this go. You loved your sister. You really, really did, and seeing her tear-stained cheeks made your resolve shatter into a million tiny fragments. You couldn’t believe the honest nerve of Harry James Potter—how dare he cause your little sister so much grief and pain? “You took a rumor a few, maybe two people, knew, and refuted it by sharing an affair of which no one has accused you. I begged you to take a break, you refused to— so scared of what your enemies will do to you. You’re the only enemy you ever seem to lose to.” Ginny had barreled herself into your arms, her frame a sobbing mess. You were confused and concerned, all at once. “What’s wrong?” you asked, stroking a hand over the head of her hair, soft as the touch of a feather. When she didn’t respond, you pulled back, looking at her with bewilderment evident in your eyes. “Ginny, what’s happened? It wasn’t the baby, was it?” She shook her head, and almost subconsciously, a hand went to her stomach. A new round of tears was welling in her eyes. “No, no,” she mumbled. “But.. it was Harry. H-he.. he cheated, Y/N. He c-cheated on me.”

You were absolutely livid. “With who?

Who

,

Ginny

,

who

?”

“C-Cho… Cho Chang,” she said.

You remembered fourth and fifth year, how he drooled over Cho when she was taken to the Yule Ball by Cedric—when he went out on a date with her to Hogsmeade and found her interesting and pretty. You remembered it all, and you remembered feeling your heart break when he’d spend hours droning on about how perfect she was and how highly unattainable she managed to be. It seemed like now, he finally managed to lead her to his bed.

But did it have to be now, when he had a wife who was sixth months pregnant?

You weren’t able to tolerate this. And just like that, eight years of unrequited love went up into flames.

“You’ve redefined your legacy. Congratulations.”

Here you were, storming up to Harry’s flat like a Fury seeking vengeance.

“I look at you and think ‘God, what have we done with our lives and what did it get us?’”

You slammed a fist against the doorway, knowing damn well you could have Apparated in. But you wanted the satisfaction of seeing him blanch without worrying about motion sickness.

“That doesn’t wipe the tears or the years away, but I’m back in the city and I’m here to stay. And you know what I’m here to do?”

After a minute, the door came unlocked and a familiar head popped around the corner. He looked positively horrible, face drenched with tears and sweat. Yet, you felt no sympathy.

“Y/N,” he said breathlessly, sniffling hard.

You stared him down coolly. “

I’m not here for you

,” you said viciously. Harry flinched.

“I know my sister like I know my own mind.”

Ginny was helpless and pregnant and not even the comfort of their mother could bring her back from her grief. Looking at ultrasounds and hearing her baby’s heartbeat did nothing to calm her. It broke your heart to see your sister in such a way.

Looking at Harry fueled your anger. If you didn’t have any dignity left, maybe you would have the courage to punch the living, bloody hell out of Harry. Maybe you could use a few curses or such, just to give him a good taste—enough that would make him realize exactly what he’d done.

You pushed Harry aside and stormed in, barely sparing a glance around the place. He’d been in the middle of moving, as Ginny had said a fortnight ago; the flat would be too small to raise a child in. You knew it was no use of him doing so now. You wouldn’t allow them to reconcile. He didn’t deserve Ginny, nor did he deserve to meet his unborn child.

He was scum now, all because of one mistake:

he couldn’t say no.

“You will never find anyone as trusting or as kind.”

Harry looked at you helplessly. “I didn’t mean to, Y/N,” he pleaded. “She was just there—and she… She forced my hand!”

“You do not deserve Ginny. You do not deserve your baby. You sure as hell don’t deserve my pity.” You were fierce, glaring him down. “You are a twat, Harry Potter. A blood twat. Damn you for the pain you’ve caused her. Damn you!”

He was crying. “G-Ginny… is she okay? Is the baby okay?”

“And a million years ago, she said to me, ‘This one’s mine.’ So I stood by.”

You let out a cold, mirthless laugh. “You ruined their lives, Harry. Ginny will need to get through me and six other overprotective siblings that hate your fucking guts to even

consider

forgiving you. You don’t deserve anything. Even Ron is disgusted with you; Hermione can’t even fathom this. You dug yourself a hole. So what will you do? Try and write your way out of it?”

“Do you know why?”

Harry got down on his knees in front of you. He released a shriveled breath, raggedy and filled with snot and tears. “I… I’m so sorry, Y/N. You have to believe me. I-I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

“I love my sister more than anything in this life. I will choose her happiness over mine every time.” Ginny…

You stepped back, not the least bit fazed by his apology. “You’ve gotten exactly what you wanted, Potter. And now you have to live with it.”

“Never lose sight of the fact that you have the best wife. Congratulations—for the rest of your life.”

You then walked away, and you never once looked back.

“Every sacrifice you make is for my sister. Give her the best life.”

Congratulations

.

[ginnyweasely]

HEAD OVER HEELS [PT.3] DRACO MALFOY X READER

pairings: draco malfoy x reader, a lil blaise zabini x reader

warnings: angst just a sh!t ton of angst, some lil sad stuff, swearing?? but light

summary:some soft!draco flashbacks and more insight about what happened between draco and the reader<3

word count:2.3k+

A/N: heyyy!! this is more like an insight from events on last year but still wanted to update!! i got like 2-3 [???] more parts to finish this story i think<3 hope you guys enjoy!! also i wanna create a taglist so send me a request on my ask to be ADDED TO MY DRACO TAGLIST!! also feedback is allwayyss appreciated!! :) enjoy loves

PART 1 |  PART 2 |  MASTERLIST | ASK/SEND REQUESTS

“Y/N? Are you okay?” Y/N was too in her thoughts to even notice the very worried Hermione, in front of her, she got back to the Gryffindor common room after the whole incident with Draco, and never realized how much time she had spent just thinking about him. Being alone with her thoughts scared her for this reason, she wandered off and thought about so many things that she knew would upset her, and she hated it.

She thought about how she could never be with Draco, because he confused her, she didn’t know what he was feeling, even if he was feeling something for her, it was not deep and strong enough that he wanted to be with Y/N, or so she thought.

Y/N didn’t know what exactly Draco thought about her, she didn’t know what was going through his mind when Y/N got with Harry, it was definitely not positive thoughts because he hated it.

he hated even the idea of them, but them being together in real life in front of his eyes? It made him infuriated and nauseous. He couldn’t stand it.

He felt betrayed by Y/N, he felt betrayed that she of all people would choose Harry over him, Draco always thought that he would be with Y/N, maybe not at the time or maybe not in 2 years, 

but eventually he felt she would be his, his girlfriend. At least he hoped for that, he wanted her in every single way possible. It was obvious, the way he looked at her, the way she was the few people who could make him genuinely laugh, the way he would drop everything for her at a heartbeat, it was obvious to everyone, or everyone except for her it seemed.

Draco always felt second best to Harry, and when Y/N, the love of his life was dating Harry, he felt his heart break more than ever, he never thought he would lose her to him too.

He hated Harry because he always needed to compete with him, to be better than him, Draco hated having this competitive side but he couldn’t help it. He wanted to be the best, first, not second. It infuriated him.

But this was more than a competition, it was a heartbreak, Draco lost her to his worst enemy, he thought the only thing he had that Harry couldn’t steal was Y/N, but it happened anyway, it crushed him to his core, that little part of him that cared about basically everything was crushed, in minutes, seconds even.

Draco knew Y/N was friends with Harry, Ron, Hermione and even that upset him, but dating Harry was the line for him, he knew he was closer to Y/N than the Golden Trio, especially the night the two shared together at the top of the Astronomy Tower. 

He knew they were closest which each other when these words left Y/N’s pretty little mouth, “Wow, I’ve never talked about these things with anyone, like not even out loud to myself.” He knew right there and then she was the person he could share everything with.

Draco was of course at first upset about her being a Gryffindor, but once he got to know her, he didn’t care, he realized how Y/N was more than her house. She was really pretty, smart, super kind -which is what made Draco like her in the first place- , and of course she was a really courageous caring person.

Y/N’s parents surprisingly were friends with the Malfoy’s despite their beliefs being different, this helped the two’s friendship more than ever, Narcissa adored Y/N, she admired her intelligence, her pretty face and her brave bright soul. 

She always loved the pair hanging around and encouraged the two, even mentioning it to Draco once or twice, as Draco smiled happily at the thought of getting his mom’s approval about you.

Draco always kept his feelings from Y/N in secret. Deep deep inside of him where no one could even find out. Of course he showed his friend side to her, but he was afraid of what she might say if he finally opened up to her, so he did his best to try and hide his feelings.

Occasionally or more like always he would blurt out compliments and would brush her hair out of her face, so he could get a better look at her beautiful face, in which the both actions would cause the girl to immediately blush up at him.

He was fine at keeping his feelings bottled up, until he realized Harry and Y/N were getting closer and closer, it made him absolutely furious, and after some inner debates with himself, he finally decided, he was gonna open up to you.  He realized he couldn’t take it anymore, he needed to do something, he needed to make you his.

He knew that even if Y/N said she wasn’t into romantic sappy sh!t, she actually was, she loved cute small romantic gestures, so him being the puppy dog eyed in love boy, Draco asked his friends for help and had somewhat of a surprise for you waiting in the Slytherin common room. 

As his plans were finally finished he happily looked around for you, his eyes searching for you nervously.

His hands were sweaty and he kept fiddling with his hair out of sheer nervousness, he kept walking, to the Gryffindor common room, since he didn’t know the password, he forced one of the first years to let him in.

Excitedly he got inside and his eyes searched for you one last time, as he landed his eyes on you, his eyes sparkled in joy, the boy almost jumped up and down from happiness.

He quickly made his way to you before speaking up nervously “Hi, Y/N!” Draco exclaimed. “Hi Draco!” Y/N exclaimed just as happily giving him a warm smile, he smiled up at her once again.

 “I just wanted to tell you that um-“ Draco was interrupted at the sight of him. Harry, he appeared out of nowhere, making Draco’s smile fade quickly, but what even made his smile turn into a whole growl and his fists clenching tightly together was Harry’S next move, Harry approached Y/N and kissed her on the lips slowly smiling at her, Draco’s mouth went dry, his whole world shattered in front of his eyes, he felt sick to his stomach at the sight in front of him, he knew he had to leave or else he was gonna do something stupid, he quickly turned around basically sprinting out of the common room as a worried Y/N followed him.

“Hey! Draco what did you wanna say to me?” Y/N basically yelled from behind him making Draco curse himself mentally for not being faster. “It’s nothing really, I just um had something but it’s whatever, I have to go.” 

Draco said firmly not daring to turn around to meet the girl, and later disappeared into the corridors. Draco spent the entire evening of that day, frowning and really angry that he scared his friends off, he spent the whole day moping around about Y/N, the girl who broke his heart.

Of course Y/N did not know any of this, she didn’t know about his long crush on her, she didn’t know the effect she had on the poor boy, she didn’t know about the surprise, she only knew how upset Draco became once she started dating Harry, she never quiet understood it until that one moment she had with Draco.

It was back when she was dating Harry, she slowly but surely noticed the Malfoy boy distancing himself away from her, it upset her so much, too much in fact that even Harry was getting annoyed by it, she didn’t know why Malfoy was avoiding her and she wanted to know, it pissed her off so much and she couldn’t take it anymore, so when she ran into the platinum headed boy in the corridors and he tried to brush her off once again she had enough.

“Draco Lucius Malfoy!” Y/N said nearly yelling as Draco’s eyes widened at her using his middle name, “You need to tell me what the fvck is going on right now!” She exclaimed angrily as Draco just sighed and pulled her by her wrists to some place quiet so he could explain.

“Nothing is going on, Y/N. Just leave me alone and don’t make a scene like that again please.” Draco muttered and he was ready to leave as Y/N reached her hand to his arm, having a tight grip on the boys arm “Draco.. please don’t go, I can’t stand you avoiding me... I can’t stand not being your friend or being there for each other. Can you just tell me so we can fix it?” Y/N said softly, as Draco sighed turning around as his eyes met hers.

“There’s nothing to talk about Y/N! There’s nothing to fvckng fix! How are you gonna fix my broken heart? The broken heart you caused.. I loved you Y/N but you chose him!” Draco said angrily.

 Y/N’s eyes widened at the confession and she looked at him sadly, “You made your choice, I can’t do anything about that.” Draco said bitterly and sad as he walked away, leaving Y/N all alone.

It was from that day on that Y/N and Harry’s relationship changed, it was as if the confession had something on Y/N -and it did.- it was all she could think about, she didn’t know what to do and it ruined her and Harry’s relationship, well the main reason was that they didn’t really get along but this was a part of it too.

She knew after the break up that she felt the same way towards Malfoy, and that’s why she was scared to even talk to him, scared of his reaction. And she realized now, she was right to be scared, Draco distanced himself from Y/N too much, too long, they no longer had the closeness they once shared, this made Y/N even more anxious, he wanted to be with Draco but he just made her confused, he made her jealous, he made her sad, all she wanted was him to be with her.

“Y/N? I’M talking to you!” Hermione said louder this time and waving her hand in front of Y/N’s face, finally causing the girl to snap out of her deep thoughts. “Huh?” Y/N muttered out as Hermione sighed, “Come on let’s get you to bed, we’ll talk later tomorrow, okay?” Hermione said softly as Y/N nodded simply, following Hermione to the dorm.

***

The next few days were like a blur to Y/N, she didn't mean for them to be that way, but it happened, she couldn't help it, she tried her best she tried her best to not be this sad sappy heartbroken girl, but she couldn’t help it, she tried her best to snap out of it, but seeing him in the halls were still a little too much for Y/N. 

Hanging out with her friends did ease some of it, but she was still very much hung up on Draco, and it didn’t help that every time they saw each other, their eyes would linger onto each other, as they stared at each other for a long time, it made both of their hearts ache, but they couldn’t help it.

Y/N didn't like the situation they were in, she wanted clarity, she wanted to know what was Draco's deal, what he felt, what he wanted with her, and make him trust her again, she couldn't believe that her dating Harry would even cause this much problem, hell she even cursed herself so much for even dating him in the first place. 

She never knew that things were this beyond broken between them, even the thought crushed her. She wanted everything to be okay, hell she wanted everything to be perfect with them.

She wanted to make Draco believe her, and she wanted to know about how Draco really felt. She wanted more than the few exchanged glances in the hallway, she wanted to talk to him, she wanted to fix it, she wanted to make things better, but more than ever, she wanted him.

***

Y/N walked into the Transfigurations class, making her way to her seat quietly and she got out her books quickly. As the Professor arrived and the class started, she started taking her notes, not wanting to miss anything, it was obvious that she had been distracted the few days prior, so of course after a while of taking long notes, her mind shifted, shifted back to where it shouldn’t shift, to Draco.

She tried her best to get his mind off him the whole class, which meant that she had to battle between taking notes and then being distracted, taking notes and then being distracted, which repeated until the class was over, she finally sighed in relief as she tried her best to quickly gather her books, struggling to fit them in her bag.

A nudge on her shoulder snapped her out of her focused bag situation as she turned around curiously, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion at the sight in front of her, “I really really need your help with something.” The boy said desperately as Y/N sighed for the 500th time today “Zabini.” 

Y/N said annoyedly, as Blaise just smirked at her calling him by his last name.