#magorian

[carewyncromwell]

Torvus 🤝 Carewyn

The Wizarding World overall has always had a difficult relationship with all intelligent magical creatures that were not human. Goblins were denied wand use and could often only find stable employment in the Wizarding World through working in magical banks, since the Statute of Secrecy insisted they and other magical Beings stay out of Muggle view. Werewolves were treated as second-class citizens and chased out of most solid employment once their status came to light. Elves were often reduced down to mere slaves in the households of old Pureblood families despite having magic that easily outstripped wizards in regards to power. And the list went on.

Despite this, there were amazingly quite a few such non-human creatures that ultimately helped defeat the Dark Lord Voldemort, when he sought to take over the entirety of Wizarding Britain. At the Battle of Hogwarts in particular, the Order of the Phoenix's ranks included known werewolf Remus Lupin, and it was also backed up by reinforcements such as the school's house elves and (to everyone's surprise) the centaur herd that lived in the Forbidden Forest. One of the bravest members of the herd was one of its youngest warriors -- a stern dark-haired centaur with a tanned, young adult face and a dun-colored flank named Torvus -- and after the Battle, he was bestowed many honors by both the school's professors and his herd, all of which he accepted with very understated gratitude.

Imagine the herd's surprise, therefore, when their grim, stoic hero reacted with visible excitement, in response to a well-dressed, ginger-haired human with red lipstick coming to visit the Centaur Camp after the battle.

"Carewyn!"

Torvus's voice was very low and resonant, but echoed with great warmth as he galloped up to the human. He towered over her, to the point that she was encompassed in his shadow as he trotted quickly around her, looking her over. She was smiling just as broadly as he was, even with how wide her eyes were.

"Torvus!" said Carewyn, her wide eyes bright with delight. "Merlin -- Hagrid wasn't kidding, you have grown a lot!"

"Such is typical for us centaurs," Torvus said mildly, as he continued to look her over with something like muted amusement. "You, however, seem to have only become smaller, old friend."

Carewyn gave a light scoff. "I'm exactly the height I was before, thank you. If you were too, that'd be obvious -- "

"Torvus."

Torvus looked up at the herd's second-in-command, Bane, as he approached. The large black-flanked, bearded centaur glanced from Torvus to down at Carewyn with visible disgust and disapproval.

"What is the meaning of this?" he said, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. "Did my ears actually catch you calling this human your friend?"

Torvus shifted so as to stand right behind Carewyn, bending just enough so that he cast his shadow completely over her.

"Bane, this human is Carewyn Cromwell," Torvus said very lowly. His face had become much more stoic again. "She is an old friend of our herd. Hagrid has delivered gifts from her in the past, around the Winter Solstice -- "

"Hagrid has not been a friend of the herd in many a year," Bane said very sharply.

"A fact that only came about in large part because of his protection of me."

All of the centaurs turned, to make room for another kinder-voiced one as he approached. Despite the large hoof-shaped scar stamped into his chest and his immense height, this new arrival moved with both conviction and an almost deer-like grace.

Carewyn's eyes lit up.

"Firenze!" she said, delighted.

Firenze approached Carewyn at a much more leisurely trot, but was otherwise just as warm in his welcome as Torvus. He even opened his hands to take both of hers.

"Carewyn Cromwell," the part-time Divination professor greeted her with a fond smile. "I was very pleased to see your star's trajectory shifting back towards Hogwarts, if only temporarily."

"I'm so glad you're back home with your herd again," Carewyn said earnestly.

Firenze glanced back at Bane's counterpart -- the older, dark-haired leader of the herd called Magorian -- as he too clopped forward to get a better look at Carewyn. Magorian looked less condescending than Bane, but he still studied Carewyn very critically, his black eyes tiny sparkling pinpricks on his face with how narrowed they were.

"Remind me of these gifts Carewyn Cromwell has sent our herd, Torvus?" said Magorian.

Torvus moved that little bit closer to Carewyn so that his head was right over hers, as he stared down his herd's leader.

"Nine years prior," he said very stoically, "Carewyn secured the herd's blessing through gifting us a loaf of hand-baked banana bread, a batch of Hagrid's rock cakes, branches of fresh sage, and our most extensive star chart. She then brought me many other edible gifts throughout that year and the following year, and upon her graduation from the wizards' school, sent the herd other handmade goods through Hagrid. Most recently, three years ago, Hagrid passed along a box from her that contained what she called 'candied oranges.'"

"Magorian, if I may speak?" asked Firenze. Upon the leader giving a nod of consent, he pressed on, "I can testify to Carewyn's character. I was the one who first welcomed her into our herd -- "

Bane blustered through his nose and lips. "Hardly surprising -- you've always had a soft spot for humans, Firenze -- "

"I thought that you, like the rest of the herd, had come to see the rightness of us helping the humans in their fight against the Dark Lord," Firenze challenged him.

"That may be," Bane shot back, "but just because we had to ally ourselves with humans for our own self-preservation doesn't mean we have to befriend the creatures that have deemed the world we occupy theirs alone to control -- "

"Firenze, you said you wished to speak in regards to Carewyn Cromwell's character," Magorian cut off both of the younger centaurs, crossing his arms. "Was what you said truly all you wished to say?"

Firenze's eyes narrowed just a bit as he turned his focus back onto the leader.

"No. Prior to being welcomed to our camp, Carewyn helped with breaking the curse on the Vault placed in our Forest by the four Founders of Hogwarts school. In doing so, she brought peace to this forest."

"She also returned my lost arrowhead to me," Torvus interjected quickly.

"Torvus." Firenze shot the younger centaur a short, but still supportive look over his shoulder -- almost as if reminding him to let him do the talking. "...Carewyn's efforts likewise brought peace to our herd, as well, by helping Torvus reclaim his honor and bringing him back into the fold. Not to mention that her treats have always been quite tasty," Firenze added with a bit of a smile in his expression.

Magorian cocked his eyebrows at Firenze. He then glanced from Torvus to down at Carewyn still standing tall in his shadow.

"Do you agree with Firenze's assessment of your achievements, Carewyn Cromwell?" he asked.

Carewyn tried very hard not to look away or blink, however much she wanted to.

"Firenze is very kind," she said quietly. "But I can't take full credit for dealing with the Forest Vault -- I couldn't have done what I did without my friends. Hagrid and Torvus, included."

She shot a quick glance at Bane before returning her gaze to Magorian.

"...If I may, though," she said respectfully, though she didn't give any opening for Bane or otherwise to prevent her from speaking. "I understand if I'm no longer welcome in your home. However much I consider Torvus a friend, and I always will...I know how much he values his family. I would never want to come between him and you. And Bane's right -- witches and wizards have done you a lot of wrong. We still do, in a lot of ways. Even if you had to fight with humans to fight a greater evil, that hasn't changed. And even if I don't agree with how centaurs have been treated, that doesn't mean that it hasn't defined my world and the life I live in it. Nor does it mean I haven't found success in that world that overlooks or even demonizes Beasts and Beings that don't conform to Ministry standards...in part because I am able to conform to those standards."

Bane's face scrunched up completely, his eyes flashing with resentment. All of the other centaurs, though, seemed to react much less distrustfully -- most looked confused or curious, but Firenze and Torvus were both smiling, and even Magorian considered Carewyn with something almost intrigued.

"It's rare to hear a human be so critical of her own kind," the herd leader said levelly. "And rather eloquently so."

He straightened up slightly, his black eyes boring into her from above with a bit less suspicion.

"Very well. I shall uphold Firenze's initial judgment, Carewyn Cromwell. You are welcome, among our herd."

Both Carewyn and Torvus couldn't completely fight back large grins. Torvus quickly gave a respectful bow to the herd leader, before beckoning Carewyn further into the camp.

"Come, Carewyn," said Torvus, his stoic face once betraying that warmth from before that made him look considerably younger. "We can sit further in, and you can tell me of you and your brother's place in this War. Then I can tell you of the Battle waged at the castle."

Carewyn nodded and immediately followed Torvus away from the rest of the herd and deeper into the camp.

For the next few hours, Torvus and Carewyn sat by the roaring fire, catching up. Carewyn told Torvus of her and Jacob's covert assistance of the Order of the Phoenix, her having to stay undercover at the Ministry to sabotage the Death Eaters' efforts, and Jacob both hiding fugitives in his flat and at one point even dousing a dangerous strain of Fiendfyre set loose in Hogsmeade village by the Death Eaters at great risk to his own safety.

"I saw your brother, at the battle," said Torvus, "though we had no chance to speak during it. Your brother appeared to have suffered great losses, there."

Carewyn nodded sadly. The faces of Fred, Tonks, Lupin, and Snape all brushed over her mind.

"We all have," she murmured.

Torvus actually reached in to brush a loose hair off of Carewyn's shoulder, before bringing the rest of it behind her ear. Carewyn wasn't used to people being in her personal bubble like that, but she knew that centaurs in particular expressed affection through fixing and grooming each other's hair. She offered Torvus a weak smile, which Torvus returned with a stoic, but still gentle look.

"Our herd was lucky, to have no casualties," he said. "Though I believe that's because most of us did not join the battle until the second half. Only Firenze was brave enough to fight from the start...the rest of us were hesitant to oppose the will of the stars, even though Hagrid triggered our conscience. It was but when I pointed out the position of Sagittarius and the North Star in the heavens that any of the centaurs allowed themselves to hope that our efforts could turn the tide of battle."

"And you did," said Carewyn, beaming. "Hagrid said that you were particularly brave. He said you took down multiple Acromantula single-handed and saved several teachers' lives."

Torvus shook his head modestly. "Thank you. I am grateful for the praise I have received -- though I remain unsure how much of my efforts were built on my own talents, or if Fate and Potter's own magic had machinations to make my efforts so meaningful."

Carewyn frowned. "What do you mean?"

"When Potter went out to the Forest to give up his own life to the Dark Lord, his sacrifice -- although ultimately not resulting in his death -- still nonetheless sparked to life a powerful protective magic. All because the sacrifice was still so selfless and sincere."

Carewyn's eyes widened, lighting up with realization.

"Love," she breathed. "Potter was ready to sacrifice his life to try to protect Hogwarts."

Torvus nodded, his lips touched with the shadow of a smile. "Indeed. And that spell prevented the Dark Lord or his followers to land any permanent damage on the school or its occupants. So by fighting in the battle...my herd and I both ensured our own safety and were likely given additional strength, in helping to protect those others Potter meant to protect."

Carewyn smiled a bit more too. "Even so...you must not have known anything about that until the Battle was over. I'd say that still made what you did incredibly brave."

Torvus's black eyes softened. "Thank you, Carewyn. As were your words to Magorian -- I think he was impressed by your conviction, when you'd been received with little warmth or trust."

"Your herd had reason to not trust me," said Carewyn. "I am a human, and a witch as well -- and a lot of witches don't treat centaurs with respect. I had to work quite closely with one during the War, much to my displeasure," she added contemptuously.

Torvus cocked his eyebrows. "Ah yes -- the one called Dolores Umbridge, I believe you mean? Firenze has heard much of her exploits at your Ministry, through Minerva McGonagall. I was quite displeased to hear that she didn't learn her lesson, after the justice we bestowed upon her two years ago."

"What did you do to her?" Carewyn asked, cocking her eyebrows as well. "From what I heard, Umbridge was absolutely traumatized by that whole affair."

Torvus gave a light bluster through his lips. "Her trauma came about from her own flaws of character, more than anything we did. The pathetic creature was so disgusted of us merely touching her that we hardly needed to use our weapons -- merely dragging her through the forest, tossing her between us and taunting her the whole while, was enough to terrify her..."

"Well, admittedly, being carried up off the ground by complete strangers who are stronger than you with no chance at escape can be rather scary," Carewyn said coolly. "Especially for women of shorter stature."

"Believe me when I say we would never have treated you with such lack of care," said Torvus stiffly. "Least of all because you wouldn't have conjured ropes trying to strangle our leader or called us 'filthy half-breeds,' 'uncontrolled animals,' and 'creatures of near-human intelligence.'"

Carewyn looked disgusted, but not surprised.

"I never said I thought Umbridge didn't deserve what she got," she said primly. "I was very glad to put her under citizen's arrest the first moment I had."

Her red lips danced with a bit more mischief as she added, "And to forcibly clear out her office. I've always liked cats -- but Umbridge really has made it very difficult for me to like anything patterned with them."

When Carewyn finally left the Centaur Camp, Torvus, Firenze, and Magorian all sent her off with good wishes. Magorian reiterated the promise that she would be welcome to visit the Camp in the future, if she so desired, and that any gifts she were to send through Hagrid would be accepted with open arms. Firenze even gave Carewyn a parting gift of several branches of lavender, bound with twine.

"Lavender has protective properties," said the part-time Divination professor. "It can ward off negative energies that may surround the holder. And if I'm not mistaken, lavender is a scent you're attuned to," he added with a wryer smile, with a pointed twitch of his nose.

Carewyn covered her mouth to hold in a giggle. "I keep lavender sachets in my bureau. Thank you, Firenze."

Torvus himself walked Carewyn out of the Camp all the way to the perimeter of the Forest, and the two exchanged a hug before parting.

Carewyn sadly had much less chance to visit Hogwarts and Torvus by extension as much as she would've liked, around all the work she had to do for the Ministry...but through gifts and mutual friends, they stayed in touch, and whenever they did get the chance to collide again, the two stoic personalities would both light up when in each other's presence.

Friendship Drabble Prompt!

[hollowed-theory-hall]

Notes from my Deathly Hallows reread: Slughorn returns with the Slytherins

So, most of you probably saw or heard of that interview JKR gave back in the day about how Slughorn came back to the battle of Hogwarts with the Slytherin students:

JN: And how much is it that being sorted into Slytherin is, you know, sorted into good guys and bad guys here? JKR: Well, they’re not all bad, that would- I know I’ve said this before, (JN: Yeah, I remember.) and I think I said it to Emerson, they are not all bad, and, well, far from it. As we know, at the end, they may have (laughs) a slightly more highly developed sense of self-preservation then other people because… SU: Yeah, right. JN: Yeah. JKR: A part of the final battle that made me smile was Slughorn galloping back with Slytherins, (SU: Yes!) (JN laughs) but they’d gone off to get reinforcements first, you know what I’m saying? But yes, they came back, they came back to fight, so I mean- but I’m sure that many people would say “Well, that’s common sense, isn’t it? Isn’t that smart, to get out, get more people and come back with them?” JN: Yeah.

(From this interview)

And like most fans, I always kinda assumed it was her retconning things in the books again, because I just didn't remember it happening and she added a lot of little tidbits (some more contradictory than others) in the years after the books, so I don't tend to take them too seriously. But I was reading Deathly Hallows last night and she might've actually written that in:

And now there were more, even more people storming up the front steps, and Harry saw Charlie Weasley overtaking Horace Slughorn, who was still wearing his emerald pajamas. They seemed to have returned at the head of what looked like the families and friends of every Hogwarts student who had remained to fight, along with the shopkeepers and homeowners of Hogsmeade. The centaurs Ban, Ronan, and Magorian burst into the hall with a great clatter of hooves, as behind Harry the door that led to the kitchens was blasted off its hinges. The house-elves of Hogwarts swarmed into the entrance hall

(DH, 734) 619

Harry later mentions a horde of wizards, and we know Harry doesn't actually recognize all the students in his year, let alone all the students in Slytherin he doesn't interact with regularly. So, I wonder if she really meant by "they seemed to have returned" other Slytherins when she wrote it initially and how much of a retcon that interview really is.

Considering it was the middle of the night, the Slytherins likely were wearing pajamas, like Slughon, and maybe cloaks over them and not school robes, so it's possible Harry would have no way of knowing who's a student if he doesn't know them personally.

The only real issue I have with the canonicity of it is this statement from Voldemort:

"If your son is dead, Lucius, it is not my fault. He did not come and join me, like the rest of the Slytherins. Perhaps he has decided to befriend Harry Potter?" "No—never," whispered Malfoy.

(DH, 641)

But perhaps he's talking in hyperbole (or just being a shit to Lucius, as he does), since we know Crabbe and Goyle hadn't come back to join him either and he doesn't mention them.

Additionally, when the Golden Trio goes up to the headmaster's office Phineas Black says this:

and Phineas Nigellus called, in his high, reedy voice, “And let it be noted that Slytherin House played its part! Let our contribution not be forgotten!”

(DH, 747)

It doesn't sound like he's just talking about himself, Snape, and Slughorn, it sounds like he's talking about actual combatants, so...

JKR's statement about Slytherins fighting in the Battle of Hogwarts on Harry's side (besides Slughorn) is surprisingly, probably, canon.

The interview I mentioned was only 7 months after the book came out, so I wonder if she wrote a different version of that paragraph before editing and was thinking about that... It seems the intention might've been there even if she didn't write it all that clearly...

[book--brackets]

Summaries under the cut

Damar by Robin McKinley

This is the story of Corlath, golden-eyed king of the Free Hillfolk, son of the sons of the Lady Aerin.

And this is the story of Harry Crewe, the Homelander orphan girl who became Harimad-sol, King's Rider, and heir to the Blue Sword, Gonturan, that no woman had wielded since the Lady Aerin herself bore it into battle.

And this is the song of the kelar of the Hillfolk, the magic of the blood, the weaver of destinies...

The Railway Children by E. Nesbit

In this much-loved children's classic first published in 1906, the comfortable lives of three well-mannered siblings are greatly altered when, one evening, two men arrive at the house and take their father away. With the family's fortunes considerably reduced in his absence, the children and their mother are forced to live in a simple country cottage near a railway station. There the young trio—Roberta, Peter, and young Phyllis—befriend the porter and station master.

The youngsters' days are filled with adventure and excitement, including their successful attempt to avert a horrible train disaster; but the mysterious disappearance of their father continues to haunt them.

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

Alone and lost—on the North Slope of Alaska

Miyax rebels against a home situation she finds intolerable. She runs away toward San Francisco, toward her pen pal, who calls her Julie. But soon Miyax is lost in the Alaskan wilderness, without food, without even a compass. Slowly she is accepted by a pack of Arctic wolves, and she comes to love them as though they were her brothers. With their help, and drawing on her father’s training, she struggles day by day to survive. In the process, she is forced to rethink her past, and to define for herself the traditional riches of Eskimo life: intelligence, fearlessness, and love.

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

The Penderwick sisters busily discover the summertime magic of Arundel estate’s sprawling gardens, treasure-filled attic, tame rabbits, and the cook who makes the best gingerbread in Massachusetts. Best of all is Jeffrey Tifton, son of Arundel’s owner, the perfect companion for their adventures. Icy-hearted Mrs. Tifton is less pleased with the Penderwicks than Jeffrey, and warns the new friends to stay out of trouble. Is that any fun? For sure the summer will be unforgettable.

The Harper Hall of Pern by Anne McCaffrey

For centuries, the world of Pern has faced a destructive force known as Thread. But the number of magnificent dragons who have protected this world and the men and women who ride them are dwindling.

As fewer dragons ride the winds and destruction falls from the sky, Menolly has only one to sing, play, and weave the music that comes to her so easily—she wishes to become a Harper. But despite her great talents, her father believes that a young girl is unworthy of such a respected position and forbids her to pursue her dreams. So Menolly runs away, taking shelter in a cave by the sea. Miraculously, she happens upon nine fire lizards that could possibly save her world...and change her life forever.

Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch

Warning: this description has not been authorized by Pseudonymous Bosch.

As much as he'd love to sing the praises of his book (he is very vain), he wouldn't want you to hear about his brave 11-year old heroes, Cass and Max-Ernest. Or about how a mysterious box of vials, the Symphony of Smells, sends them on the trail of a magician who has vanished under strange (and stinky) circumstances. And he certainly wouldn't want you to know about the hair-raising adventures that follow and the nefarious villains they face. You see, not only is the name of this book secret, the story inside is, too. For it concerns a secret. A Big Secret.

Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

Kyle Keeley is the class clown, popular with most kids, (if not the teachers), and an ardent fan of all games: board games, word games, and particularly video games. His hero, Luigi Lemoncello, the most notorious and creative gamemaker in the world, just so happens to be the genius behind the building of the new town library.

Lucky Kyle wins a coveted spot to be one of the first 12 kids in the library for an overnight of fun, food, and lots and lots of games. But when morning comes, the doors remain locked. Kyle and the other winners must solve every clue and every secret puzzle to find the hidden escape route. And the stakes are very high.

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

Caddie Woodlawn is a real adventurer. She'd rather hunt than sew and plow than bake, and tries to beat her brother's dares every chance she gets. Caddie is friends with Indians, who scare most of the neighbors -- neighbors who, like her mother and sisters, don't understand her at all.

Caddie is brave, and her story is special because it's based on the life and memories of Carol Ryrie Brink's grandmother, the real Caddie Woodlawn.

Pendragon by D. J. MacHale

BOBBY PENDRAGON is a seemingly normal fourteen-year-old boy. He has a family, a home, and even Marley, his beloved dog. But there is something very special about Bobby.

He is going to save the world.

And not just Earth as we know it. Bobby is slowly starting to realize that life in the cosmos isn't quite what he thought it was. And before he can object, he is swept off to an alternate dimension known as Denduron, a territory inhabited by strange beings, ruled by a magical tyrant, and plagued by dangerous revolution.

If Bobby wants to see his family again, he's going to have to accept his role as savior, and accept it wholeheartedly. Because, as he is about to discover, Denduron is only the beginning....

Goodnight Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian

The gruff and surly Mr Thomas Oakley is less than pleased when he is landed with a scrawny little city boy as a guest, but because it is compulsory that each villager takes in an evacuee he reluctantly agrees. It soon becomes obvious to Mister Tom that young Willie Beech is hiding something, and as the pair begin to form an unlikely bond and Willie grows in stature and in confidence he begins to forget the past. But when he has to return to war-torn London to face his mother again he retreats into his shy and awkward ways once more.

[blorger]

What's up with Firenze?

As in the centaur's name. All the other named centaurs (Bane, Ronan, Magorian) have old English/ Irish names, Firenze alone gets to be named after an Italian city (in the original Italian no less).

I understand giving him a thematically different name from the rest of his herd because his story arc is all about being Not Like Other Girls (quadruped version) but why this specific name?

It's got nothing to do with stars and divination (which the centaurs are big on), Firenze the city doesn't appear to have any significance in the magical world, hell, Italy as a whole gets skipped over in the HP universe world-building (if it wasn't for Firenze I'd have assumed jkr is not aware that Italy exists).

Were Firenze's parents big into travel (or as big into travel as one can get whilst in voluntary isolation)? Did some student drop a tourist guide at the edges of the forbidden forest and they just liked the sound of the word? Are centaurs big on geography and jkr just never felt like mentioning it?

But seriously: is there some UK-based pop culture/ literary reference I'm missing? The mind boggles...

[omgkatsudonplease]

The Whispers of Lady Polixenes: Hogwarts & London, 21 June 1996

“Enough!” Umbridge turned her wand on Harry. “I have had enough of your insubordination, Miss Granger! If you both refuse to confess—endangering this school and the students within, then perhaps the Cruciatus Curse will loosen one of your tongues!”  “No!” screamed several people at once. Hermione and Ron had yanked their Toadies forward; Ginny was trying to tread on her captor’s feet; Luna and Neville were both yelling incoherently against their gags. But it was Draco who had risen out of his chair to stand in front of Harry, blocking him from Umbridge’s view. “We—we haven’t got any time for this, Headmistress,” blustered Draco, pointing towards the mantle clock, which was now reading eight-ten. “We’ve got to reach the rendezvous point for the treaty signing.” Umbridge’s eyes narrowed at him. “What in Morgana’s green Avalon are you blathering about, Heir Malfoy? The treaty signing isn’t until sundown.” “Yes, but we’ve got to go, if we want to make it to the rendezvous point on time—” “We do not need an hour to walk to the Centaur camp,” cut in Umbridge flatly. “I…” Draco trailed off, his eyes darting between Umbridge’s wand and the clock. “Magorian sent a note earlier! I just forgot to tell you about it until now because of the effigy, but some—some stuff about the treaty meeting has changed, and we need to get going now!”  

Read HERE on AO3!

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1916 – Francis Sheehy-Skeffington was apprehended while trying to stop looting during the Easter Rising and was later murdered by the British without trial.

Francis Skeffington, writer and pacifist, was born in Bailieborough, Co Cavan on the 23 December 1878 to Joseph Bartholomew Skeffington and his wife Rose née Magorian. The family moved to Co Down shortly after his birth. He was educated by his father, a schools inspector and enrolled in University College Dublin (UCD) in 1896. While he studied at UCD he became close friends with James Joyce and…

[fictionalsimp09]

hiiii

15, 17, and 29 for the identity ask thing!!

15. five most influential books over your lifetime.

Ooh, this is interesting. I'd have to say Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, Solitaire by Alice Oseman, Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

17. would you say your tumblr is a fair representation of the “real you”?

No, I'm constantly reblogging shit and irl I'm too scared to talk to people, let alone about my interests (once I start talking, I don't stop and I don't want to annoy people). But I only reblog things I agree with, so it also kinda is

29. three songs that you connect with right now

Probably Bedroom Ceiling by Citizen Soldier, The Archer by Taylor Swift and the problem by Khya

[can-of-w0rmz]

hi! i just saw your post about your interest, and if i may ask, could you recommend me some musicals and books?

i love historical/gothic stuff, and i’m looking for some recs :]

have a nice day!

Sure, I could try! Although I’m not super certain which you’ve probably read already lmao

Books: Honestly pretty much just all the standard gothic shenanigans that you’ve probably already read? I guess Carmilla, La Morte Amoureuse and The Vampyre are slightly more niche (which I found out about back when I was getting into gothic literature by reference from my wonderful mutual @virtuous-vertebrae (they have absolutely flabbergasting wonderful art so absolutely go check them out if you already haven’t)) but yeah more or less on the gothic side of things most of the books I’m into are reasonably standard. Tell-tale Heart too I really like that I don’t think I ever posted about. I remember liking The Raven even though I haven’t read it in a couple years I think. (Those are the only two Edgar Allen Poe works I’ve ever read haha) And of course Dracula, Frankenstein, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, all the standard shenanigans

By way of NON gothic literature, Les Misérables 100%, and Goodnight Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian is probably up there for one of my favourite books, although I’m probably very biased because I read it in primary school when I was 11 and I have a lot of really good memories of reading it lmao. But I’d still 100% recommend it. Apart from that, yeah, kind of it?

Musicals, again, no clue what you’ve already listened to, but obviously, Les Misérables (10th anniversary cast recording supremacy, Philip Quast you’re an absolute genius), Phantom of the Opera of course (25th anniversary recording supremacy), Frankenstein A New Musical (Hunter Foster you ARE Victor Frankenstein to me), The Count of Monte Cristo musical is pretty good although I don’t think I’ve ever listened to the entire thing from start to finish? The Jekyll and Hyde musical I have mixed feelings on, obviously it isn’t remotely book accurate however the songs are absolute bangers so I’m including it. Not really gothic, but Ride the Cyclone is great, The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals is always great. The Sound of Music is bloody fantastic, adore it. Sweeny Todd, of course. I’m still known to listen to Hamilton on occasion💔 Yeah, more or less it.

[littleplasticrat]

Welcome!

I live in the bin. She/her, mid-30s, English. Call me Jade

I have very normal feelings about Baldur's Gate 3 and video games in general and I also sometimes share a meme or an animal pic

This blog is NSFW in that I would not advise looking at it while in your place of employment, unless you work for the same company as me (Mr Magorian's Whoredom Emporium)

Check out my BG3 male pin-up collection here, with colouring pages here!

Click here to see my art (some NSFW) and process pictures

I've written some smutty fanfics

Print shop (NSFW not currently available)

[pseudowho]

HIHI I can’t remember if I already asked more questions but I’ma assume no cause my brain says no? SO HERE WE GOOOO

Favourite book? And most recommended book? (I’m asking for both because for me it’s different)

Planes, Ships, or Cars? Which is the worst and why?

What is the one song that could make you happy no matter how sad you were?

What is your party trick?

FUN FACT: Elmo and Cookie monster are ambush predators. For context: ambush predators and categorized by the placement of their eyes (on top of the head) some popular examples are: tarantulas, great white sharks, crocodiles, hippos, etc etc….

Hiiii! I've had trouble answering your asks, for some reason they just won't process? I'm not sure why. I answered your last one as a screenshot and post yesterday.

Let's see if this one works...

All time favourite book: Goodnight Mr.Tom by Michelle Magorian. It's one from my childhood that sticks with me. My most recommended book I, The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley

Planes; I am mostly deaf in one ear with significant internal scar tissue, that prevents my eardrum from popping. This makes the changing pressure caused by air travel agonisingly painful for me.

Accidentally in Love by Counting Crows

I can dislocate my thumbs

Retaliatory fun fact: although I can tolerate The Muppets and Sesame Street, I have a terrible puppet phobia. I dearly wish I loved classic movies like The Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, but I see the puppets in my nightmares.

Thanks for fucking up Elmo for me though

Love,

-- Haitch xxx

[cecilyacat]

BBC Big Read List

Many years ago, I first started tallying the books from the BBC Big Read list, seeing how my reading and interests correllate. I don't take it as the "one truth" on which books are worth reading or "good", I just find it interesting which ones I agree with. Let's go!

Out of the BBC's "The Big Read" list from 2005, which ones did you read, plan to read or started to read, but didn't finish? The ones I read are fat, the ones I still want to read are in italics, the ones I started but didn't finish are crossed out and all the other ones I have either never heard of before or never wanted to read them.

1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien 2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen 3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman 4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams 5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling 6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee 7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne 8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell 9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis 10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë 11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller 12. Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë (and I thought it was horrible. But I wanted to finish it!) 13. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks 14. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier 15. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger 16. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame 17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens 18. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott 19. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres 20. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy 21. Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell 22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling 23. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling 24. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling 25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien 26. Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy 27. Middlemarch, George Eliot 28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving 29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck 30. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll 31. The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson 32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez 33. The Pillars Of The Earth, Ken Follett 34. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens 35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl 36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson 37. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute 38. Persuasion, Jane Austen 39. Dune, Frank Herbert 40. Emma, Jane Austen 41. Anne Of Green Gables, LM Montgomery 42. Watership Down, Richard Adams 43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald 44. The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas 45. Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh 46. Animal Farm, George Orwell 47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens 48. Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy 49. Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian 50. The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher

51. The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett (and I love it) 52. Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck (didn't finish it in school but want to try again) 53. The Stand, Stephen King 54. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy 55. A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth 56. The BFG, Roald Dahl 57. Swallows And Amazons, Arthur Ransome 58. Black Beauty, Anna Sewell 59. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer 60. Crime And Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky 61. Noughts And Crosses, Malorie Blackman 62. Memoirs Of A Geisha, Arthur Golden 63. A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens 64. The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCollough 65. Mort, Terry Pratchett 66. The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton 67. The Magus, John Fowles 68. Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman 69. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett 70. Lord Of The Flies, William Golding 71. Perfume, Patrick Süskind 72. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell 73. Night Watch, Terry Pratchett 74. Matilda, Roald Dahl 75. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding 76. The Secret History, Donna Tartt 77. The Woman In White, Wilkie Collins 78. Ulysses, James Joyce 79. Bleak House, Charles Dickens 80. Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson 81. The Twits, Roald Dahl 82. I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith 83. Holes, Louis Sachar 84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake 85. The God Of Small Things, Arundhati Roy 86. Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson 87. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley 88. Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons 89. Magician, Raymond E Feist 90. On The Road, Jack Kerouac 91. The Godfather, Mario Puzo 92. The Clan Of The Cave Bear, Jean M Auel 93. The Colour Of Magic, Terry Pratchett 94. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho 95. Katherine, Anya Seton 96. Kane And Abel, Jeffrey Archer 97. Love In The Time Of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez 98. Girls In Love, Jacqueline Wilson 99. The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot 100. Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie

101. Three Men In A Boat, Jerome K. Jerome 102.Small Gods, Terry Pratchett 103. The Beach, Alex Garland 104. Dracula, Bram Stoker 105. Point Blanc, Anthony Horowitz 106. The Pickwick Papers, Charles Dickens 107. Stormbreaker, Anthony Horowitz 108. The Wasp Factory, Iain Banks 109. The Day Of The Jackal, Frederick Forsyth 110. The Illustrated Mum, Jacqueline Wilson 111. Jude The Obscure, Thomas Hardy 112. The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾, Sue Townsend 113. The Cruel Sea, Nicholas Monsarrat 114. Les Misérables, Victor Hugo 115. The Mayor Of Casterbridge, Thomas Hardy 116. The Dare Game, Jacqueline Wilson 117. Bad Girls, Jacqueline Wilson 118. The Picture Of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde 119. Shogun, James Clavell 120. The Day Of The Triffids, John Wyndham 121. Lola Rose, Jacqueline Wilson 122. Vanity Fair, William Makepeace Thackeray 123. The Forsyte Saga, John Galsworthy 124. House Of Leaves, Mark Z. Danielewski 125. The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver 126. Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett 127. Angus, Thongs And Full-Frontal Snogging, Louise Rennison 128. The Hound Of The Baskervilles, Arthur Conan Doyle 129. Possession, A. S. Byatt 130. The Master And Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov 131. The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood 132. Danny The Champion Of The World, Roald Dahl 133. East Of Eden, John Steinbeck 134. George's Marvellous Medicine, Roald Dahl 135. Wyrd Sisters, Terry Pratchett 136. The Color Purple, Alice Walker 137. Hogfather, Terry Pratchett 138. The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan 139. Girls In Tears, Jacqueline Wilson 140. Sleepovers, Jacqueline Wilson 141. All Quiet On The Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque 142. Behind The Scenes At The Museum, Kate Atkinson 143. High Fidelity, Nick Hornby 144. It, Stephen King 145. James And The Giant Peach, Roald Dahl 146. The Green Mile, Stephen King 147. Papillon, Henri Charriere 148. Men At Arms, Terry Pratchett 149. Master And Commander, Patrick O'Brian 150. Skeleton Key, Anthony Horowitz

151. Soul Music, Terry Pratchett 152. Thief Of Time, Terry Pratchett 153. The Fifth Elephant, Terry Pratchett 154. Atonement, Ian McEwan 155. Secrets, Jacqueline Wilson 156. The Silver Sword, Ian Serraillier 157. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Ken Kesey 158. Heart Of Darkness, Joseph Conrad 159. Kim, Rudyard Kipling 160. Cross Stitch, Diana Gabaldon 161. Moby Dick, Herman Melville 162. River God, Wilbur Smith 163. Sunset Song, Lewis Grassic Gibbon 164. The Shipping News, Annie Proulx 165. The World According To Garp, John Irving 166. Lorna Doone, R. D. Blackmore 167. Girls Out Late, Jacqueline Wilson 168. The Far Pavilions, M. M. Kaye 169. The Witches, Roald Dahl 170. Charlotte's Web, E. B. White 171. Frankenstein, Mary Shelley (I've read excepts for uni) 172. They Used To Play On Grass, Terry Venables and Gordon Williams 173. The Old Man And The Sea, Ernest Hemingway 174. The Name Of The Rose, Umberto Eco 175. Sophie's World, Jostein Gaarder 176. Dustbin Baby, Jacqueline Wilson 177. Fantastic Mr Fox, Roald Dahl 178. Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov 179. Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, Richard Bach 180. The Little Prince, Antoine De Saint-Exupery 181. The Suitcase Kid, Jacqueline Wilson 182. Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens 183. The Power Of One, Bryce Courtenay 184. Silas Marner, George Eliot 185. American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis 186. The Diary Of A Nobody, George and Weedon Grossmith 187. Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh (I stopped after the toilet-scene. Too disgusting) 188. Goosebumps, R. L. Stine 189. Heidi, Johanna Spyri 190. Sons And Lovers, D. H. LawrenceLife of Lawrence 191. The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera 192. Man And Boy, Tony Parsons 193. The Truth, Terry Pratchett 194. The War Of The Worlds, H. G. Wells 195. The Horse Whisperer, Nicholas Evans 196. A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry 197. Witches Abroad, Terry Pratchett 198. The Once And Future King, T. H. White 199. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle 200. Flowers In The Attic, Virginia Andrews

Read: 57 Want to read: 60

Some of the books to read I know very little about except the title and that they're classics, some others I know a lot about (and I even have "Men at Arms" on my TBR pile for when the mood strikes me next). I like reading classics once in a while, but especially older ones I can't read too often, I need to be in the right mood for that style of writing.

The last time I updated this was in 2015 and I had read 44 and wanted to read 72 - so 15 books in 9 years xD Like I said, it's not a challenge or a goal to read all of them, just a convenient way of keeping track of which classics I want to read eventually.

[book--brackets]

[teeth317]

Just the centaur guys from hp. There’s literally no evidence that Firenze and Magorian are brothers but yk what this is my headcanon and no one can take it away from me

(I know no one cares about them but I do so)

[braveclementine]

Chapter 33

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (However they are very few so those under the age of 18 can still read a majority of this book. However please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

𝕸𝖞 𝖙𝖗𝖚𝖓𝖐𝖘 𝖜𝖊𝖗𝖊 packed, Sadie was in her cage, my stuff was being taken out to the train. However, my body was outside of Severus' office door and I knocked.

"Since when do you have to knock to come in?" He said as he opened the door. "Come in."

I came in and then sat on his bed. "Sev, I-"

He pressed his lips to mine and said, "I'm glad you can walk."

"I took so many things for granted." I whispered. "I'm not going to do that anymore." I kissed him back.

"You're going home?" Severus asked, cupping my chin in his hand.

"Yes." I said. "But I know where you live so I'll come visit. . . only if you want of course."

Severus hesitated. "I know the Dark Lord's sending Wormtail in as a sort of. . . helper."

I nodded, "It's a good thing I'm not human then." I turned into a cat and kneaded his knee with my paw. He laughed.

"Very well then." He said, picking me up under my front legs, letting my back legs dangle. I glared at him. "Hmm. . . you need a name. Like-" He could barely keep his face straight. "Mittens."

I hissed and turned back into a human and he collapsed under my weight and we were both laying on the floor. "Call me mittens again." I growled threateningly.

"Ooh scary." he muttered, holding my face in his hands.

I hissed again.

He grinned and pulled my head down so that he could kiss me again. "Your father's going to let you come to my house?"

"Well." I said, kissing his neck. "He's going to be in and out a bit and I highly doubt Trang's parents are going to let me hang out for her so what else was I going to do over the summer? Homework?"

He snorted, "You probably have your homework done already, don't you?"

I grinned. "Almost."

He rolled his eyes. "You're going to be late for the train."

"Good thing I can run now." I said, getting up off of him. "Love you Sev."

"Love you more Elizabeth." He said unexpectedly and pressed his lips to mine again with a ferocity unmatched by mine.

And then I was spinning out of his room and headed out of the classroom and hurried up the stairs and down the corridor, past room eleven and then paused and entered the classroom.

Firenze was pacing around, looking up at the trees with a sort of sadness in his eyes. "Elizabeth Kane." he greeted me mournfully as saw me.

"Hey, I just wanted to say good-bye." I said softly. "And I also wanted to tell you I'm sorry. . . again."

Firenze was silent for a moment and then said, "I heard you possibly saved Magorian's life."

I hesitated. "Well I couldn't let that foul Umbridge woman hurt him like that. . . and a selfish part of me hoped they'd let me into the forest if I showed that I was willing to die for them and an unselfish part of me hoped that. . . well that they'd let you back into the herd as well."

"Dumbledore told me that Ronan and Ivagio were advocating on my behalf." Firenze said. "I don't think Bane will back off though."

"No." I said sadly. "Probably not. I just wish I could make things better for you."

Firenze smiled at me and said, "Come back next year and show me your archery skills Elizabeth Kane."

"I will." I said, giving him a smile and then ran over to him and hugged him, "Take care Firenze." I kissed his cheek.

"Good-bye Elizabeth Kane." Firenze said, smiling, and then, to my utmost surprise, he kissed my cheek back before trotting off into the fake forest without looking back. I regained my sense of sanity and then left the room, sprinting down the castle stairs, taking them three at a time, so that I could make it to the carriages on time.

I caught a carriage with Ernie, Susan, Hannah, and Terry. I noticed that Ernie and Susan seemed much closer now and I wondered if they were dating yet. Then I wondered if by telling them about the future would mean that it could potentially change.

I twisted the ring on my own hand, watching the thestrals in front pull the carriage, their hooves moving in synchronized motion. As we got out, I saw Ernie paused to look at them.

"You can see them now?" I asked softly.

Ernie nodded. "I am sorry that you lost your Godfather Elizabeth."

"Me too." Susan said, coming up behind me and putting a hand on my shoulder. "I wish things had turned out different."

I shook my head, "At least we're all safe. That's what- that's what he would have wanted. Come on." We walked to the train and found a carriage to ourselves, Justin and Anthony joining us in the compartment.

"Congratulations on healing Elizabeth." Anthony said, sounding a bit put out. According to Susan, Anthony wished he'd been able to go to the Ministry with us. He seemed to have thought of it as a sort of testing of his skills.

"Thanks Anthony." I said, sitting down. Suddenly, I saw Harry walk by and then Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle met him and they attacked Harry. All of us rushed out and used a variety of spells and hexes and jinxes. Anthony looked like he was enjoying himself very much and I rolled my eyes as I sent a tickling hex at Draco.

When we were done, we had three very large and ugly slugs squeezed into Hogwarts uniforms. One of them- Malfoy most likely- was wheezing with laughter. Harry, Justin, and Ernie hoisted them into the luggage rack and left them there.

"I must say, I'm looking forward to seeing Malfoy's mother's face when he gets off the train." Ernie said with satisfaction, watching Malfoy ooze helplessly. I knew Ernie was still sour about Malfoy docking points from him.

"Goyle's mum'll be really pleased." Ron said, coming up the train corridor. "He's loads better looking now. . . Anyway, Harry, Eliza, the food trolley's just stopped if you want anything. . ."

Harry thanked us and went back with Ron but I said that I would be hanging out with the others. It was time to start acting like a true Hufflepuff- I didn't say that out-loud though.

Ernie, Susan, and I answered the others questions about what had happened at the Ministry and they were amused that I'd fought four on one and survive to tell the tale. Anthony was starting get extremely agitated.

"Of course Elizabeth was the best." Susan said. "Everyone else was hurt and it was just her and Harry and Neville."

"Neville?" Hannah asked with a bit of interest, "Really?"

I caught Ernie's eyes and we quickly looked away. "Ernie came in to fight too." I pointed out.

"Didn't do much good though." Ernie said rubbing his eyes. "But I admit, when the adrenaline starts pumping. . . really a shame you weren't there Anthony."

Anthony was gritting his teeth and looking excited at the same time and we all laughed, including Anthony.

"I would've liked a go at Goyle's dad." Anthony said, punching a fist into his hand.

"Eh." I said, "You don't want a target on your back for the Slytherins' to attack."

"Do you think Harry will continue D.A. meetings next year?" Hannah asked with interest.

"I don't think so." I said. "Because it was mostly just to rub it into Umbridge's face."

"That's a shame." Terry piped up. "I liked learning from Harry. He's a good teacher."

"I'll try and convince him to continue the club." I said thoughtfully. "A lot of his spells came in handy at the Ministry. Or maybe I'll continue the club without him."

When the train stopped, we pulled out our luggage and left Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle up in the luggage racks and made our way off the train and onto the platform. The crossing guard let Ernie, Susan, and I through and I waved good-bye as they went to meet their parents.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron were already on the platform and I was surprised, though I shouldn't have been, to see Fred and George there.

"Elizabeth!" Fred roared, pulling me up into a hug and swinging me around in a circle. "I see you're using your legs!"

I stuck my tongue out at him. "Of course I am!"

"Hi Elizabeth!" Tonks said brightly, her short pink hair gleaming in the sun. She was wearing patched jeans and a purple T-shirt and looked like she should be a rock concert.

"Did you come from a concert?" I asked, amused as she gave me a hug too.

"Nah, but I like the look." Tonks said and glanced briefly over at Dad who was shaking Harry's hand.

Uncle Moody nodded to me. I could see Mr. Weasley talking to Hermione's parents and Mrs. Weasley was greeting Ron and Ginny.

I also caught sight of my Uncle, Aunt, and Cousin standing far away and looking horrified about the group of people who had greeted Harry. I caught my Aunt's eye and we stared at each other for a moment and then she looked away. She didn't look as embarrassed now and instead looked rather sad.

I sucked in my cheeks. Harry said they were horrible people, but if I looked like mum, and she looked sad when she looked at me, then there must be a part of her that missed her sister. There just had to be.

"I dunno if that's a good idea." I heard Harry say and I turned to see who he was talking to- which was Dad.

"Oh, I think it is." Uncle Moody growled. "That'll be them, will it, Potter?" He jerked his finger towards the Weasleys.

Uncle Moody, Mr. Weasley, Dad, Tonks, Harry, and Hermione started walking towards the Dursleys and I quickly joined them.

"Good afternoon, you might remember me, my name's Arthur Weasley." Mr. Weasley said, coming to a halt right in front of Uncle Vernon. "We thought we'd just have a few words with you about Harry."

"Yeah. About how he's treated when he's at your place." Uncle Moody growled, leaning on his wooden staff.

Uncle Vernon, looked at Uncle Moody who's bowler hat was covering up his magical eye. "I am not aware that it is any of your business what goes on in my house-"

"I expect what you're not aware of would fill several books, Dursley." Uncle Moody growled and I smiled.

"Anyway, that's not the point!" Tonks interjected and I noticed that Aunt Petunia closed her eyes whenever her eyes met Tonks' hair. "The point is, if we find out you've been horrible to Harry-"

"-and make no mistake, we'll hear about it." Dad said pleasantly, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Yes, even if you won't let Harry use the fellytone-" Mr. Weasley said cheerfully.

"Telephone." Hermione and I hissed.

"Yeah, if we get any hint that Potter's been mistreated in any way, you'll have us to answer to." Uncle Moody said.

"Are you threatening me, sir?" Uncle Vernon bellowed so that many people turned to look at him.

"Yes, I am." Uncle Moody said, sounding so pleased that I giggled, covering my mouth quickly.

"And do I look like the kind of man who can be intimidated?" Uncle Vernon barked at Uncle Moody.

"Well. . ." Uncle Moody said, pushing his bowler hat up so that Uncle Vernon could see his magical eye. Uncle Vernon leapt backward and collided with a luggage trolley. "Yes, I'd have to say you do, Dursley." Then, Uncle Moody turned to Harry and said, "So, Potter. . . give us a shout if you need us though I'm sure my niece here will let us know beforehand. If we don't hear from you for three days in a row, we'll send someone along. . ."

It was the first time that he'd called me his niece and I was so pleased that I was positively radiating with happiness and Uncle Moody chuckled. "Don't know why you're so happy Kane." Then he turned to Harry. "Bye then, Potter." Uncle Moody said, grasping Harry's shoulder for a moment with a gnarled hand.

"Take care, Harry. Keep in touch." Dad said, shaking hands with Harry.

"Harry, we'll have you away from there as soon as we can." Mrs. Weasley whispered, though not quiet enough as Uncle Vernon's face turned purple.

"We'll see you soon, mate." Ron said anxiously, shaking Harry's hand and I grinned, thinking of how much Ron reminded me of Percy at that moment.

"Really soon, Harry. We promise." Hermione said earnestly.

I threw my arms around Harry. "It's going to be hard, I know. But I love you brother. A lot. I'll see you at the Weasleys soon I reckon."

Harry gripped my back tightly and I thought that he might've been crying. "Bye Elizabeth." He whispered and pulled away and turned from us and went to join his family.

Dad put an arm around me and then we walked out of the train station and words played through my head as though it were a song. I'd never heard the words or the tune before but they were comforting and I kept them playing over and over.

And I can't make you stay But sometimes going ain't a choice And every choice you make is one that you didn't avoid

Crash the whip and ditch the car, burn a bridge, follow the stars You'll find the monsters in the dark, but nothing's worth it till it's hard Sometimes it's hard to see things clear, through your tears But anywhere is way better than here, fight your fears

⬅️➡️