#merlin pride exchange

[feuxx]

!!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!! this is incredible and i have NOT stopped thinking about this amazing and gorgeous piece. All the care and love you put into this! The representation !!! Bi arthur (my beloved), enby merlin, pan gwaine, ace leon, lesbian gwen, demi lance, aro elyan, and trans percival!!! (the top surgery scarS PLEASE 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖) I CANNOT I AM FREAKING OUT AT THIS!!!!!!!! Thank YOU SO MUCH my lovely friend god this gorgeous and im speechless!!!!! my word!!!! aaaaaaaa happy pride month to u too my dear 😭💖💖💖💖💖🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

Happy Pride Month! It is Pride in Camelot too.

Drawn for pride exchange @merlinpride

It is my gift to @feuxx I hope you like it.

I draw that many people at once for the first time, that was both hard and fun to do. @eachpeachpearplume suggested a way to add Elyan and Percival cause I couldn't find enough space.

I used a photograph by @maryluis to draw background. Thank you so much!

[ocpotluck]

Happy Pride @oneirataxia-girl

[srslyblvck]

a dare too far, james potter [ Part II ]

pairing: james potter x fem!reader

synopsis: james was dared to make you fall in love with him. unknown to him, he was falling for you too. But soon the truth comes out, and you are left heartbroken.

genre: angst

warnings: mentions of y/n, heartbreak

word count: 5.5k [ a/n: what can i say, i lost track lmao ]

part I

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ THE DAYS FOLLOWING YOUR discovery had been a blur of pain and confusion. You had avoided James like the plague, refusing to even look in his direction. Your heart still ached, but your pride and self-respect kept you from falling apart in front of everyone.

It wasn’t long before your friends—Archie, Leonard, Autumn, and Florence—noticed something was wrong. They knew you too well, and your sudden distance from James didn’t go unnoticed. You hadn’t said a word about what had happened, but one afternoon, while you sat with them at lunch, Florence finally broke the silence.

“Y/N,” she began softly, “what happened with James?”

Your fork stilled in your hand, and for a moment, you debated lying. But the weight of it all was too much to bear alone, and with a deep breath, you told them everything. From the dare to your overheard conversation in the library, every heartbreaking detail spilt out. By the time you finished, your friends were fuming.

“He did what?” Archie’s voice was low, dangerous. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, the muscles in his jaw tensing.

Leonard, usually calm and rational, had gone stiff, his face a mask of barely controlled anger. “He was using you… for a stupid dare? Merlin’s beard…”

Autumn reached across the table to grasp your hand, her face a mix of empathy and fury. “That—that is despicable.”

Florence was quieter, but her steely expression said it all. She had always been protective of you, and seeing you hurt had ignited something fierce within her.

Archie was the first to stand, pushing his chair back with a sharp scrape. “Where are they?” he asked, his voice like ice. “Where’s Potter and his pack of idiots?”

You shook your head, reaching out to stop him. “Archie, please—don’t do anything. It’s not worth it.”

But Archie’s mind was made up. “Not worth it? He messed with your heart, Y/N. He hurt you. That’s more than worth it.”

Leonard and Autumn exchanged a glance, and Leonard stood as well, his usually calm face clouded with anger. “He’s not getting away with this.”

“I don’t want you to fight—” you tried again, but Archie had already turned to leave, his face set in grim determination.

“You don’t have to come,” he said, his voice softer now, though still filled with anger. “But I’m not letting this slide.”

Before you could say another word, Archie and the others were already storming out of the Great Hall, leaving you behind. A heavy sense of dread settled over you as you watched them go.

Archie didn’t need long to find them. James and his friends were walking through the hallway just outside the Great Hall, laughing about something Sirius had said, completely unaware of the storm heading their way.

Without warning, Archie charged forward, grabbing James by the front of his robes and slamming him into the stone wall with a loud thud. The sound echoed through the hallway, silencing the students nearby who had been watching.

James let out a grunt of surprise, but before he could say anything, Archie’s fist connected with his jaw in a solid punch. James staggered against the wall, his hand flying to his face as he winced in pain.

“You think you can just mess with her like that?” Archie growled, pinning James to the wall again, his face inches from his. “You think you can just play with her feelings and walk away without a scratch?”

James blinked, still reeling from the punch, but when he met Archie’s eyes, there was no deflection or defense in his gaze. There was only guilt. “Archie, wait—”

“No, you don’t get to explain!” Archie spat, shoving him harder against the wall. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done to her? You broke her!”

Sirius stepped forward, his eyes flashing angrily. “Oi, get your hands off him—”

But Leonard blocked Sirius’s path, his expression dark and uncharacteristically cold. “Back off, Black. He had this coming.”

“Look, mate, we didn’t mean for it to go this far,” Sirius said, trying to reason with Leonard, though his voice lacked sincerity. “It was just a stupid joke.”

Autumn, standing beside Florence, scoffed. “A joke? You think it’s a joke to toy with someone’s feelings? You think it’s funny to break someone’s heart?”

Remus, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke, his voice soft but firm. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like this, Archie. James didn’t mean—”

But Archie wasn’t listening. “I don’t care what he meant! He knew what he was doing. You all did. You think you can just play with people’s lives because you’re the Marauders, huh? Because you’re so damn popular?”

James, his cheek red from the punch, swallowed hard. “Archie… I’m sorry. I didn’t—”

“Shut up,” Archie snapped, pushing James harder against the wall. “You knew what you were doing. You used her for a dare—you made her believe she could trust you. That she could actually care about you. And you did it for what? A joke? To get Evans jealous?”

James opened his mouth, but no words came out. Guilt twisted in his gut, more painful than any punch could have been. He had no defense. No excuse.

“I didn’t mean to—” James started, but Archie cut him off, his voice growing colder.

“You did mean to. You knew exactly what you were doing. You toyed with her feelings and now you’re going to pay for it.”

James felt the weight of Archie’s words settle over him like a lead blanket. He hadn’t wanted it to go this far. He hadn’t wanted to hurt you—but that didn’t change the fact that he had.

Before the situation could escalate any further, the sharp, familiar voice of Professor McGonagall sliced through the crowd.

“Mr. Hatcher! Mr. Potter!”

Professor McGonagall strode into the hallway, her eyes blazing with fury as she took in the scene before her. James was pinned against the wall, blood trickling from the corner of his lip, Archie’s fist still clenched tightly in his robes.

“Step away from him, Mr. Hatcher,” she ordered, her voice leaving no room for argument.

Archie hesitated for only a moment before letting go of James with a sharp shove, stepping back but not taking his eyes off him.

McGonagall’s stern gaze moved between the two boys. “Would someone care to explain what, exactly, is going on here?”

For a long moment, no one spoke. Archie’s jaw was still clenched, his fists balled at his sides, and James simply wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes cast downward. He didn’t even try to defend himself.

Seeing that no one was going to speak, McGonagall sighed, her lips thinning into a tight line. “Very well,” she said, her voice icy. “Since neither of you seem inclined to explain, you will both serve detention. One week. Starting tomorrow.”

James nodded, knowing he deserved far worse. Archie, however, still seemed on edge, his glare burning into James even as he stepped back.

McGonagall’s expression softened, if only slightly. “Now, all of you—back to class. This nonsense is over.”

The gathered students began to disperse, and McGonagall gave one last stern look at both boys before turning and walking away, her robes billowing behind her.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Archie took a step closer to James, his voice low but dripping with contempt. “Stay away from her, Potter. If you ever come near her again, I’ll make sure that punch is the least of your worries.”

Without another word, Archie, Leonard, Autumn, and Florence walked away, leaving James standing in the hallway, bruised and guilty.

Sirius, Remus, and Peter stood in stunned silence, unsure of what to say. But James just stood there, his back still against the wall, staring after Archie as the weight of his actions pressed down on him.

He had ruined everything.

The following days were unbearable. Everywhere James went, he could feel the tension. Students whispered about him as he passed, and the disapproving stares of his classmates burned into his back. But none of that hurt more than seeing you.

You had become a ghost in his world. You still smiled softly at your friends, still went to class like normal, but you never once looked his way. It was as if he no longer existed to you. And James hated himself for it.

It took him a while, but eventually, he gathered the courage to try and make things right. He knew it wouldn’t be easy. He knew he didn’t deserve your forgiveness. But he had to try.

One afternoon, James found you in the library, sitting alone at one of the tables near the back. He approached slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. You were reading, your eyes scanning the page with an intensity that told him you were trying to ignore him even before he said anything.

“Y/N,” James said quietly, standing a few feet away from you.

You didn’t look up. “What do you want, James?”

He swallowed hard. “I just… I need to talk to you.”

You sighed, closing your book but still refusing to meet his eyes. “Haven’t you done enough already?”

James flinched at the coldness in your voice, but he forced himself to continue. “I know I’ve hurt you. I know I’ve messed up in a way that I’ll never be able to fix, but… I want to apologize.”

You remained silent, but your fingers clenched tightly around the edge of the book in your lap.

“I never meant for it to go this far,” he continued, his voice sincere. “It started as something stupid—something I regret more than you’ll ever know. I’ve thought about it every day since then. And I hate myself for it.”

Finally, you looked up, your expression filled with sadness and anger. “You didn’t think about how much it would hurt me, did you? You didn’t care that I might actually fall for you. That I might trust you.”

James shook his head. “I did care. I didn’t realize how much until it was too late. I’m sorry, Y/N. I never wanted to break your heart.”

James swallowed, the guilt weighing heavily on him. “I know. I’ll never be able to take back what I did, but… I want to make it right. Somehow.”

You shook your head slightly, your voice soft. “I don’t know if you can.”

For a moment, neither of you spoke. James stood there, hoping for a sign, a flicker of something that would let him know he wasn’t too late. But you simply looked back down at your book, your walls firmly back in place.

James left the library that day feeling more hopeless than ever. But he wasn’t ready to give up. Over the next few days, he tried—small acts of kindness that he hoped would show you he was serious about making amends. He held doors open for you, left small notes of apology on your desk, and even helped you with your Potions homework from afar, making sure you had all the right ingredients laid out. He didn’t push. He didn’t ask for anything. He just wanted you to know he cared.

When you walked into class, your desk would be cleared of stray ink stains. A forgotten book would find its way back into your bag, or a note of apology would be slipped into your books. At first, you tried to ignore it all, but eventually, it became impossible to pretend you didn’t notice his efforts.

Despite everything, there was a part of you that still cared for James, a part of you that hated how much you missed the way things had been before the truth came out. It was that small part of you that made it harder to ignore him.

But you tried. You tried not to care. You tried to remind yourself of the hurt, the betrayal. You didn’t want to forgive him… but some days, you found yourself softening, despite everything.

James made sure to keep his distance, always careful to avoid Archie and the rest of your friends. If Archie found out that James was still trying to win back your trust, he’d make sure James regretted it. But James wasn’t doing this for anyone else anymore—not for Sirius, not for Lily. He was doing it for you, hoping that, one day, you might believe in him again.

It was a long process, and you weren’t ready to forgive him completely. But little by little, you began to see glimpses of the James Potter who wasn’t just a reckless boy trying to win a dare. He was something more than that—someone who was genuinely sorry for what he had done.

You still weren’t sure if you could ever fully trust him again. But maybe, just maybe, you could start to forgive him. One small step at a time.

It was a cool, crisp afternoon at Hogwarts, the autumn air biting softly at your skin as you climbed up the empty Quidditch stands. The Gryffindor team had finished their practice a while ago, leaving the pitch quiet, save for the rustling of leaves carried on the wind. You liked coming here after everyone had gone—there was a peace to the open sky and the vastness of the field that made everything else feel distant.

You wrapped your cloak tighter around yourself and settled into one of the seats, letting your eyes wander over the golden leaves scattered across the pitch. For a while, you just sat there, lost in thought, until the sound of someone clearing their throat snapped you out of your reverie.

“Mind if I sit?” James stood at the edge of the row, his broomstick in hand, looking uncharacteristically uncertain. His messy hair was windswept from practice, and there was a tentative smile on his face, like he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to be near you.

Your heart gave a small jolt. You weren’t used to him being this hesitant around you. “Sure,” you replied softly, gesturing to the spot beside you.

He sat down carefully, leaving a bit of space between you, though the air around him still felt warm and familiar. For a few moments, the two of you sat in silence, both staring out at the empty field. The awkwardness between you was palpable, but it wasn’t uncomfortable—it was more like the calm after a storm, when everything is still fragile, but quiet.

“You used to come to all our games,” James said after a while, his voice low, as though he was afraid of breaking the peace.

“I still do,” you replied, not looking at him. “I just... sit further back now.”

James winced, but nodded. “Yeah, I noticed. Haven’t seen you up close in a while.”

You glanced at him then, catching the way his eyes softened as he looked out at the field. The cocky confidence he’d worn like armor for so long was missing. In its place was something quieter, more genuine.

“I don’t blame you for keeping your distance,” he continued. “I deserve it.”

You hugged your knees closer to your chest, not responding at first. There was still an ache in your heart whenever you thought about what had happened, but the anger was flickering.

“Why do you care so much now?” you asked quietly, your voice almost lost in the wind. “Why are you trying so hard?”

James turned to you, his hazel eyes full of sincerity. “Because I care about you. Really care about you. And I don’t want to be the reason you’re hurt. Not anymore.”

The openness in his voice took you by surprise. You had seen James like this before, but only in fleeting moments. Now, it felt like the bravado had peeled away, leaving someone real beneath the surface.

“You weren’t like this before,” you muttered, more to yourself than to him.

“I know.” James leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I thought I had to be... I don’t know, bigger than life all the time. Like I had to prove something to everyone, especially myself. I’m not proud of that. But you’ve always been real with me, and I wasn’t real with you.”

His words hung in the air between you, and for the first time in a long time, you didn’t feel the weight of betrayal as strongly. You felt a little lighter, like maybe, just maybe, things could be different.

“I’m not expecting you to forgive me all at once,” James added, his voice softer now. “But I want to show you that I can be better, for you."

You looked down at your hands, picking at the edge of your sleeve. “It’s just... hard. Trust doesn’t come back that easily, James.”

“I know,” he said, his voice a little rough. “But I’m willing to do whatever it takes, no matter how long it takes.”

You looked at him then, really looked at him, and you could see how much he meant it. There was no smirk, no playful grin—just James, raw and honest. The boy who had been careless with your heart was trying to make amends, and for the first time, you felt like he truly understood the weight of what he’d done.

The wind ruffled his hair, and for a moment, you found yourself smiling softly at the familiar sight. “You’ve got ink on your face,” you said, pointing to a smudge near his temple.

James blinked, touching his face with a confused frown. “What—oh.” He chuckled lightly, his expression sheepish. “I guess I got a bit too into planning out that Transfiguration essay.”

You shook your head with a small laugh, the sound surprising both of you. It wasn’t much, but it was something—a tiny crack in the walls you’d built up.

James seemed to catch the change in your mood and his smile widened, though he didn’t press you further. He leaned back in the seat, his gaze shifting back to the field. “You ever flown before?”

“Once,” you said, shrugging. “I’m not really a fan of heights.”

James grinned, the old spark of mischief flickering in his eyes. “Well, if you ever feel like giving it another go, I’m pretty good at keeping people safe on a broom.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help the smile tugging at your lips. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Silence settled between you again, but this time it wasn’t awkward. It was comfortable, like an old friendship slowly knitting itself back together. You weren’t sure where things would go from here, but for now, sitting here with James felt... nice.

And maybe that was enough for today.

It had taken weeks to come to a decision. Every day, you had wrestled with the memory of what James had done, how he had played with your heart like it was a game. But, as time went on, you couldn't ignore the fact that James had been trying, truly trying, to make things right. You could see it in the way he no longer sought attention, the way he was quietly helping without expecting anything in return.

Forgiveness was hard, but holding onto anger was harder. And you were tired—tired of the pain, tired of feeling like you were carrying a weight that wouldn’t let go. So, with shaky hands and a racing heart, you left a note on James’s desk:

Meet me by the Black Lake at sunset.

You didn’t write more, unsure how you would feel when the moment came. All you knew was that you had to give him—and yourself—a chance.

When James found the note, his heart nearly stopped. He read it over and over, as if afraid it might disappear before his eyes. You wanted to meet him. His mind raced, a thousand possibilities flickering through his head—was this the moment he had been waiting for? Or was it a final goodbye?

His hands trembled as he pocketed the note, trying to calm himself. He didn’t want to get his hopes up, but for the first time in weeks, a spark of hope flickered in his chest.

As sunset approached, James made his way to the Black Lake, his nerves twisting with every step. And there you were, standing by the water’s edge, your arms wrapped around yourself, lost in thought as you watched the gentle ripples on the surface.

James’s heart skipped a beat. You were beautiful in the fading light, and for a moment, he simply stood there, watching you, gathering the courage to approach.

Finally, he took a breath and stepped forward. “Y/N.”

You turned, your eyes meeting his, he could see the conflict in your gaze—the hurt that still lingered, but also the kindness that had always been part of you.

You took a deep breath, glancing out at the lake before speaking again. “I’ve been thinking a lot, James. About everything. About how much I was hurt… but also about how you’ve changed.”

James stayed silent, afraid to interrupt, afraid to break the fragile moment you were sharing.

“I’m might be angry,” you admitted, your voice steady. “But I don’t want to hold onto that forever. I don’t want to carry this weight anymore.”

James looked down, his heart heavy with the guilt of everything he had put you through. “I know I hurt you,” he said quietly, his voice thick with regret. “I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but… I swear, Y/N, I would do anything to fix this.”

You turned to face him fully, taking a deep breath. “I don’t know if things will ever be the same, James. But I want to try. I want to give you a chance… to prove that this isn’t just another game.”

James’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You mean… you’re giving me another chance?”

You nodded slowly. “Yes. But it’s not going to be easy, James. Trust takes time to rebuild.”

For a moment, James stood frozen, processing your words. Then, without thinking, he stepped forward, gently cupping your face in his hands. His touch was warm, and careful, like he was afraid you might pull away. He gazed into your eyes, his own filled with an intensity that made your heart skip.

“I swear to you, Y/N,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I will never, ever hurt you like that again. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving to you that I’m worth trusting. I promise.”

Your breath caught in your throat, the warmth of his hands on your cheeks grounding you as your heart fluttered in your chest. You could feel the truth in his words, the genuine regret and longing behind them. And for the first time in what felt like forever, you believed him.

Slowly, almost instinctively, you leaned into his touch, your eyes fluttering shut for a brief moment as the tension between you melted away. When you opened your eyes again, James was still watching you, his gaze filled with hope and affection.

For a moment, everything felt right. You were standing by the lake, the world around you peaceful and quiet, and for the first time in weeks, you allowed yourself to feel that flicker of warmth you had tried so hard to ignore.

But just as you thought things might finally fall into place, a voice cut through the serene air like a blade.

“What the hell is this?”

Your heart dropped as you turned to see Archie storming toward you, his face twisted in anger. He had seen you together. James dropped his hands from your face, stepping back, but Archie was already closing the distance between you.

“Y/N, get out of the way,” Archie growled, his eyes locked on James. “I’m not letting him get away with this again.”

“You’ve got some nerve, Potter,” Archie growled, his fists clenched as he glared at James. “What did I tell you? You think you can just worm your way back into her life after what you did?”

James didn’t fight back, his hands raised in defense. “Archie, I swear, it’s not like that. I’m not trying to hurt her.”

“Not trying to hurt her?” Archie spat, his voice rising. “You’ve already done enough damage!”

“Archie, stop!” you shouted, stepping between them before Archie could throw a punch. You placed a hand on his chest, trying to push him back. “Please, just listen to me.”

Archie looked down at you, his face still twisted with anger. “Y/N, why are you defending him? After everything he did?”

“I know what he did,” you said firmly, your voice steady. “But he’s changed, Archie. He’s been trying—really trying—to make things right.”

Archie shook his head, his fists still balled. “And you believe him? After all that?”

You took a deep breath, your eyes locked on Archie’s. “Yes. I believe him. I wouldn’t be standing here if I didn’t.”

Archie’s jaw clenched, his fists still balled at his sides. “And what if you’re wrong? What if he breaks your heart all over again?”

You shook your head, your voice steady. “He won’t. I know he won’t.”

For a long moment, Archie said nothing, his chest rising and falling with deep, angry breaths. He looked between you and James, his jaw tight, clearly torn between wanting to protect you and the growing frustration of watching you forgive James.

Finally, Archie exhaled sharply, stepping back and dropping his fists. “Fine,” he muttered, his voice low. “But if he so much as looks at you the wrong way—”

“I know,” you interrupted, a small smile tugging at your lips. “You’ll beat him to a pulp.”

Archie gave James one last threatening glare before turning back to you. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

“I will be,” you said, looking back at James, who stood there, relief flooding his features. “I will be.”

Archie sighed, running a hand through his hair before turning to walk away, muttering something under his breath about "keeping an eye on Potter." As he disappeared into the distance, you turned back to James, who was still watching you with a mixture of gratitude and awe.

“Thank you,” James said softly, stepping closer to you once more. “I don’t deserve it, but thank you.”

You smiled up at him, the warmth of his presence calming the nervous flutter in your chest. “Just don’t make me regret it, Potter.”

“I won’t,” he promised, his voice filled with sincerity. And this time, you believed him.

It had been a few days since the Black Lake, since that quiet moment where you'd taken the first step toward forgiving James. You hadn’t fully worked through everything yet, but the weight on your chest had lightened, if only slightly. James, true to his word, had been patient. He wasn’t pushing, wasn’t demanding more than you were ready to give.

One evening, after dinner, you found yourself sitting by the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room, enjoying the warmth while trying to focus on your Herbology notes. You had just managed to start working through a particularly tricky chapter when a shadow fell over your table.

“Hey,” a familiar voice said softly.

You looked up and saw James standing there, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his expression almost shy. It was a look you were still getting used to—the quiet James, the one without the cocky grin and the easy swagger. The one who didn’t assume you’d always want to talk to him.

“Hi,” you replied, offering a small smile.

He rocked slightly on his heels, glancing around the common room before returning his gaze to you. “I was wondering if… maybe you’d like to go for a walk?”

A walk? It seemed harmless enough. And you had to admit, the idea of stepping out into the cool night air sounded appealing after being cooped up with your books for hours.

You nodded, closing your notes. “Sure.”

James blinked in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected you to say yes. But he quickly recovered, grinning in that soft, hopeful way he had started to smile recently. “Great. Let’s go.”

You followed him out of the common room, the portrait of the Fat Lady swinging closed behind you as the castle corridors opened up before you. The two of you walked in comfortable silence for a few moments, your footsteps echoing off the stone floors.

The evening was quiet, with most students settling in for the night. When you reached the castle doors, James paused, opening one of them and holding it for you. The cold air rushed in, crisp and clean, carrying the scent of grass and earth. You stepped outside, feeling the refreshing chill against your skin, and James fell into step beside you as you wandered down the path that led toward the Black Lake.

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the water. The stars twinkled like distant diamonds, and the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze made the night feel alive with gentle magic. It was peaceful here, under the sky, with the world around you so calm.

James cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “You know… I’ve missed this,” he said quietly, glancing over at you. “Being able to just… be with you.”

You looked at him, noticing how the moonlight softened his features. His eyes, normally so full of mischief, were now earnest, searching yours for some kind of reassurance.

“I’ve missed it too,” you admitted, surprising even yourself. You hadn’t realized how much you’d missed these moments, before everything had fallen apart—when James was just a boy who made you laugh, who listened to you, who made you feel seen.

James smiled, but it wasn’t his usual grin—it was softer, more thoughtful. “I know things aren’t the same,” he said, kicking a pebble with the tip of his shoe as you both walked. “And I know I’ve got a long way to go before… before you can really trust me again. But I’m going to keep trying. Every day, I’m going to keep trying.”

There was something about the way he said it that made your heart swell—this wasn’t the cocky, arrogant James who once thought he could charm his way through life. This was the James who was willing to work for it, who understood that he had to earn your trust back, one small step at a time.

“I appreciate that,” you said softly, your gaze drifting over the calm surface of the lake. “I really do.”

For a while, you both fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that didn’t need to be filled with words. It was nice—just walking together, the cool night air wrapping around you both. You weren’t sure what it was, but something about this moment felt right. Maybe you weren’t fully healed yet, but you were beginning to believe that healing was possible.

After a few more minutes of walking, James stopped, turning to face you with a look of hesitant curiosity. “Can I ask you something?”

You raised an eyebrow. “Depends what it is.”

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “It’s not bad, I promise. I just… I was wondering if—if maybe you’d like to come to Hogsmeade with me this weekend?”

You blinked, surprised by the question. He had asked it so simply, without any of his usual flair. It wasn’t a demand or an assumption. It was just a question—a genuine one, filled with hope but no expectation.

“You don’t have to say yes,” James added quickly, seeing the hesitation in your eyes. “I know things are still… complicated. But I’d love to spend some time with you outside of… all this.”

You thought about it for a moment. You weren’t sure if you were ready for anything that felt like a date—not yet. But Hogsmeade was harmless, wasn’t it? A day out, something simple, something that could help rebuild the trust you were slowly finding again.

After a moment, you nodded. “Sure,”

James’ face lit up, his eyes widening in surprise. “Really?”

You couldn’t help but smile at his reaction. “Really.”

“Thank you,” he said quietly, his voice barely more than a whisper.

You nodded, feeling a strange flutter in your stomach. You weren’t sure what was going to happen, or where this new path with James would lead. But for the first time in a long time, you felt like maybe—just maybe—it was worth finding out.

As you continued walking beside him, the moonlight casting gentle shadows across the path, you realized that this moment, right here, was a beginning. Not a fresh start, but a continuation—something that had been broken but was slowly, carefully, being put back together.

And maybe, just maybe, you could learn to trust James again.

One small step at a time.

[theprongspotter]

Update - Jegulus - @stag-microfic - Day 28 - 480 words

“So…” Barty drawls out, smirking from where he’s lounging in between Evan’s legs on the dormitory floor, his back resting comfortably against Evan’s chest.

Regulus, who had just sat cross-legged on his bed, quirks a brow. “So?”

Barty sighs dramatically, rolling his eyes as if he’s been burdened with the most tedious task. “Merlin, do I have to force this information out of you? I swear I will.”

Regulus narrows his eyes suspiciously. “What information?”

Barty’s smirk widens, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Is his dick as big as we thought it was?” he asks, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

Regulus flushes a deep crimson, nearly choking on air. “Barty, I’m not telling you that! I’m not telling any of you that!”

“You’re our friend, you’re supposed to tell us this stuff,” Barty insists, feigning hurt. “You said you’d update us!”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t think that you’d be asking for inches!” Regulus retorts, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “Besides, who even said we fucked?”

Evan, who’s been silently enjoying the exchange, grins wickedly from behind Barty. “Mate, you look thoroughly dicked down.”

Regulus scowls, his embarrassment boiling over into frustration, and he hurls a pillow at Evan’s face. Evan catches it with a laugh, the force barely making him flinch, clearly unfazed by Regulus’ flustered reaction. Barty leans forward, eyes gleaming with curiosity and amusement.

“Well?” Barty presses, inching closer as if Regulus is about to reveal the world’s biggest secret.

Regulus groans, burying his face in his hands as if he could will himself to disappear. His voice comes out muffled but audible enough for his eager friends to catch every word. “Even bigger.”

For a moment, there's stunned silence as the words sink in. Then, as if on cue, Barty and Evan burst into loud, raucous laughter, whooping and hollering like they've just won the lottery. Barty practically doubles over, clutching his sides, while Evan punches the air in triumph.

“Go, Reggie!” Evan cheers, his grin practically splitting his face, the teasing laced with genuine pride. “Knew you had it in you!”

Regulus groans again, this time louder, and falls back onto his bed, wishing the mattress would just swallow him whole. Barty, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye, crawls onto the bed beside him and slings an arm over Regulus’ chest, still chuckling.

“You’ve made us proud, mate,” Barty says, voice dripping with mock solemnity. “Really, you’ve exceeded all expectations.”

Regulus can’t help the small laugh that escapes him, despite his mortification. “You two are the worst,” he mutters, but the warmth in his voice betrays his fondness for their ridiculousness.

“And you love us for it,” Evan quips, flopping down next to Regulus on the other side, effectively trapping him between the two.

“Unfortunately,” Regulus sighs, a small smile tugging at his lips as Barty and Evan grin at him.

[marcskywalker]

alright alright

Merlin has made a habit of laying protective charms and spells on Arthur's armor. The man is a big liability (king or not, Merlin will say it as it is). Running into danger head first, without thought or concern, is his top favorite activity.

It's what makes Arthur Arthur; his courage in the face of death.

So yes, it's become a necessity for Merlin to charm his armor for strength and endurance.

He decides to charm the King's new set of armors in his royal chamber in the middle of the day, while Arthur is away presumably listening to another one of mind numbingly boring reports from his knights.

What is a safer place for Merlin other than this room? Where else can he walk in as he pleases? Move about as he pleases? Leave a mess, jest around, lock the door and loiter as he pleases?

Within these walls, no one would dare to question him.

The King's trust is loud enough.

So, Merlin lays out all the metal on the floor and begins. He holds the cold, sharp chestpiece in his hand. Imagines Arthur under it; Arthur's beating heart and his warm, soft, breakable skin.

His magic flows out of him without command or permission, desperate to erase all the images of his mortal king bleeding and weak.

Oh, protectors of Earth and Magic! Cradle him as you would cradle your son.

His eyes are ember, words still on his lips, the shimmer of magic over the metal, when door swings open.

"Leon is one of my oldest and closest friends, but by Gods he makes me miserable," Arthur lets out a long breath, as if to blow out all the air in his body, looking right at Merlin as he does so.

The gold finally fades from his eyes but Merlin is frozen in place, his bones and breath refusing to move, watching Arthur's face scrunch in confusion, a myriad of feelings flashing through his face before settling on stern eyes and pursed lips.

"Mingling with the druids a lot now, are we?"

"Arthur, I-"

"I know, I know!" he sighs, commanding his face to neutrality, stepping over Merlin and metal towards his desk, "They are my people, too. You're allowed to trade and learn from each other."

Despite his resigned tone, Merlin knows how hard Arthur has worked to ensure a place for Druids in Camelot. Writing in stone, clear as day, that he is more than his father's son; he has claimed them as citizens of Camelot, opening the doors to courts and trade and provisions equally for all in the Kingdom.

Watching Arthur grow into the prophesied will be Merlin's greatest pride. Even if magic is still prohibited to practice under the law, magic users aren't hunted like animals for existing. And Merlin has all the faith in his King that when the time is right, he will bring magic back into the land. Until then, he's happy to live in half shadows.

"I'm allowed to learn magic?" he can't help the skepticism and shock bleed into his tone.

"Well, no! I'm not allowing you for anything, Merlin. But I'm not stupid enough to believe that that's about to stop you."

"So," he draws out the word, unsure of how to step out of the conversation. Unsure if he should even be stepping out of the conversation. "I can learn more magic?"

"You know how I feel about this. The price I have- we have had to pay for it. If you still find yourself curious, do what-" gestures to the laid out armor on the ground, "-ever this is. I only ask that you be careful."

"I'm enchanting it. To keep you safe."

"In exchange for what, Merlin?"

"Nothing-", Merlin loses his grip on the conversation faced with the frightened heartbreak on Arthur's face; the courageous bones bending in unfamiliar ways. "I swear. Nothing. It's not any big magic. The druids do it all the time, we won't have to pay a price for this, Arthur."

"We'll see."

[jamilelucato]

Secrets We Keep - 2 [F.W.]

Secrets We Keep Masterlist

Pairing: Fred Weasley x [y/n] Malfoy

Summary: After a chance encounter late at night, the lines between enemy and ally blur, and the walls she's built to protect herself start to crack. With new alliances and unexpected emotions, [Y/N] must face the truth of who she is—while fighting to keep her family's secrets buried.

Warning: Mentions of dark magic, family drama, mild angst, cursing.

A/N: Inspired by the song Bad Idea from the musical Waitress, this part dives deeper into [y/n]'s inner turmoil and the evolving tension between her and Fred. It's the kiss chapter, if anyone's wondering. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy this next chapter. 😊

PART TWO

For Merlin’s sake, she was nearly eighteen—a woman on the verge of adulthood. Soon enough, she would be the unmarried Malfoy maiden paraded before society and married off to whatever young, noble man her parents deemed worthy. The thought of such a future—of tying herself to a stranger—was unbearable. Yet, in a twisted way, it symbolized her transition into the poised, proper woman her family expected. And women, real women, didn’t cry like this. Not with swollen eyes, blotchy cheeks, and sobs so intense that their throats ached.

This? This was pathetic.

She caught her reflection in the polished surface of a large silver candelabra positioned at her shoulder height in the anteroom between the staircase to Dumbledore’s office and the corridor leading to the other professors' offices. The distorted image of herself was unflattering, but she didn’t look away.

Her nightly walks had become routine, the castle, her endless labyrinth. It had to be her eighth or ninth night sneaking out of her dormitory to wander, using the chill of the stone corridors and the physical exhaustion of climbing staircases to numb her swirling emotions. She had started in the dungeons, but as usual, her legs had carried her upward, far away from her house and its suffocating sense of belonging she no longer felt.

She didn’t hate the girls she shared a room with. If anything, she admired how easy they made everything seem—laughing, gossiping, exchanging hair-care charms and giggling over their shared crushes. [Y/N] liked them, maybe even more than she was willing to admit. But lately, she’d been walking on eggshells, keeping her distance, terrified that the truth might slip out if she let her guard down.

The truth that her family’s pristine image hid a rotting core. The truth that her father—her family—served the Dark Lord.

That night, as every night, she yearned for someone to confide in. Not just anyone, though. Someone who could take her secret and shield her from the crushing weight of it. Someone who wouldn’t gasp in horror at the revelation or, worse, nod in understanding.

And if that was too much to hope for, she at least wanted someone who could distract her—a group of friends who wouldn’t talk about family heirlooms, pure-blood pride, or valuable objects passed down through generations. She wanted to forget.

But forgetting wasn’t so simple. And so she walked, and cried, and loathed herself for both.

With only the magic light cast by her wand as company, she decided to rest in the anteroom. Surely, Dumbledore wouldn’t be working hours in his office? It was almost three in the morning. Not a soul in the castle was awake. Well, perhaps the owls.

[Y/N] let out a shuddering breath. She brushed the tears from her cheeks with a shaky hand, trying to pull herself together.

At night, when no one was watching, the disgusted sneer she had perfected—the one she had stolen from her father’s own expression—faded away. What replaced it was someone softer. Someone vulnerable. Someone who wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep up the act.

But whether it was a laugh of fate or an unfortunate stroke of luck, she was not alone. She was not the only one awake.

There were few professors’ offices up there. Some kept the empty rooms near their classrooms as a personal choice. Professor Snape, for example, kept himself housed in the dungeons, like the natural-born Slytherin he was.

But there was one unfortunate pink one, who had little to none panther-like appearance, who chose one of the offices upstairs, and [y/n] suspected that the choice was made to stay close to Dumbledore.

Of course, Dolores Umbridge was not the topic. She was not the one who slipped out the front door of her office, at three in the morning.

No, the figure was not the notorious pink one. It was an equally famous red.

Fred Bloody Weasley. Of all the people to run into at three in the morning, it had to be him.

[Y/N] swallowed hard, her sobs lodging in her throat as her eyes darted around, frantically searching for a hiding place. The anteroom was painfully bare—no tapestries, no curtains, no alcoves to disappear into. Her wand was still clutched tightly in her hand, the faint light she had conjured snuffed out instantly. She sat there on the cold floor, heart pounding in her chest, hoping against hope that the darkness would be enough to conceal her.

But it wasn’t.

The soft glow of the candelabra she had forgotten about betrayed her position. Its flickering light wasn’t strong, but it was enough.

Fred didn’t call out, didn’t ask who was there—he wasn’t stupid. Instead, he leaned casually against the wall, squinting in the dim light. His steps were slow, deliberate, the faint creak of his trainers against the stone the only sound in the otherwise silent corridor.

As he approached, [Y/N] froze. She considered her options—she could lie, she could feign illness, or she could stay silent and pray he’d leave her be. But none of those seemed convincing, not when he was already this close.

The moment stretched unbearably, the soft flicker of the candelabra casting shifting shadows across Fred’s face. His expression wasn’t mocking or mischievous as it usually was; it was curious, maybe even cautious, as though he wasn’t sure if he should even be intruding.

Finally, he stopped just a few feet away, tilting his head to the side as he stared down at her. “Couldn’t sleep either, huh?” he asked quietly, his voice devoid of the usual playful lilt.

[Y/N] blinked, thrown by his tone. Of all the things she’d expected him to say, that wasn’t it.

Fred didn’t wait for an answer. He crouched down, careful to keep some distance between them, his movements deliberate and non-threatening. “You, uh… want me to leave?” he asked, his voice softer now, almost hesitant.

It wasn’t a demand or a joke. It was a question, simple and honest, and for a moment, [Y/N] didn’t know how to respond. She was used to taunts, pranks, and snide remarks from Fred and George—this wasn’t in the play book.

She shook her head, surprising even herself.

Fred’s lips twitched, not quite a smile but close enough. “Alright then,” he said, easing himself down to sit on the floor across from her, his back against the wall.

They sat there in silence, the candelabra’s flame dancing between them. It wasn’t comforting, exactly, but it wasn’t uncomfortable either. For once, neither of them had to say a word.

[Y/N] sat still for a moment, the silence between them pressing in. Her chest felt tight, and she knew she had to say something—anything—to break it. But the weight of everything she had just been feeling still lingered, her tears still fresh in her memory. She wasn’t sure what possessed her to ask, but it was the first thing that came to mind.

“Did you plant a bomb in the pink bitch's office?”

Fred’s lips twitched at the corners, a hint of a smile pulling at them, though his eyes remained thoughtful. “Something like that,” he replied, his tone just as dry and amused as ever.

For a fleeting moment, [Y/N] allowed a smile to tug at her own lips, though it was short-lived. The act of smiling hurt—her cheeks were still sore from the hours of crying, swollen and tender.

With a steely look, she fixed her gaze on him. “If you tell anyone you saw me here, I will unleash Cruciatus curses on you until you turn into a house elf,” she warned, her voice cold and resolute.

Fred raised an eyebrow, as if the threat didn’t quite have the desired effect. But there was a glimmer of recognition in his eyes, the tension in his posture betraying him. “I’d say the same, you know,” he replied, a wry smile spreading across his face. “I’m at risk here too.”

The grin he wore was playful, but there was something deeper now, a shared understanding that hadn’t been there before.

Her eyes narrowed as she glanced around, noticing the absence of his twin. “Where’s George?” she snapped.

Fred shrugged nonchalantly, his smile widening as he leaned back against the wall. “Snape’s,” he answered, his eyes twinkling mischievously. And then he flashed her a full, genuine grin—something so real that it was almost disarming.

[Y/N] wasn’t sure what to make of this—this strange, unspoken understanding, the rare glimpse into the Weasley twins' world, or the fact that, at that moment, they were both, in their own ways, in the same boat.

She took a long, careful moment to look at Fred, really look at him, taking in every detail. His arms, strong and defined; his broad shoulders, relaxed against the wall; the easy confidence in his posture, the way his hair, though tousled, seemed to fall just right. And his eyes—holding the weight of things he hadn’t yet spoken aloud.

But then her gaze lowered, to his lips. Slightly parted. Expectation? Or something else? Her mind swirled, as she felt a strange knot form in her stomach.

His cheeks were red—why were his cheeks red?

Her eyes flicked back to his, meeting the depth of his gaze again. Now, those eyes were darker, almost black—sombre. What did that mean? What was he thinking?

For a moment, she wrestled with the urge to speak—to break the tension. But the salty sting of the tears she hadn’t fully wiped away still lingered, and she knew, somehow, that he was still watching her with that quiet curiosity. Her secret—her family’s dark secret—loomed over her, suffocating in its weight. It was so improper here, in this quiet moment between them. She could feel it pressing against her chest, a constant reminder of the chasm between her and everyone else.

And then, before she could think better of it, she moved. A quick, impulsive gesture. Jump or be caught.

So jump it was. Her lips met his.

It was simply a fleeting touch, a soft peck. But in that brief moment, something sparked between them, an electric current that both startled and thrilled her. As soon as the kiss happened, she pulled back, her heart pounding in her chest. Fred’s eyes fluttered open, and it took a moment for him to register what had just happened.

[Y/N] let out a sound, half-frightened, half-embarrassed. What was she frightened of? The kiss? Of herself?

Before she could make sense of anything, her face burned with mortification. She jumped up from the spot, suddenly self-conscious of the awkwardness that now clung to her like a second skin. Her robes caught at her ankles as she moved, making her stumble, but she regained her footing quickly. Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion, but one thing was certain: she had kissed Fred Weasley!

And to make matters worse, she’d done it like a child—impulsive, messy, and utterly unprepared.

THAT SAME NIGHT, MINUTES LATER

The grand prank—meticulously crafted to ruin every single porcelain plate adorned with kitten designs in Dolores Umbridge's office—was perfectly in place. The setup was flawless, engineered so that when the door was opened, the catastrophe would appear to be the result of her own careless actions. Floors below, an equally devious scheme was undoubtedly in motion. George Weasley, with his skilled hands and sharp wit, would be putting the finishing touches on the trap in Severus Snape's office.

But Fred wasn’t moving.

He remained seated in the same spot where he had stumbled upon the tearful Slytherin minutes earlier. His usually restless energy seemed to have deserted him, leaving him uncharacteristically still. The echoes of what had just happened—her tears, her vulnerability, and then that—played over and over in his mind.

Fred Weasley had been on the receiving end of many things in his life—laughs, hexes, detentions—but a kiss like that? Never.

The kiss wasn’t grand or dramatic; it wasn’t even what one might call proper. It had been fleeting, a brush of lips, but it left behind a current of something he couldn’t quite name. Her lips had been soft, warm, and trembling, and the brief touch carried a weight that Fred hadn’t expected. A weight that didn’t feel like just a kiss—it felt like a moment she’d decided on, maybe even fought herself over, before finally letting go.

And then she’d run.

Fred leaned his head back against the wall, staring at the dim ceiling above him. His mind was spinning, trying to make sense of what had just happened. He hadn’t had time to react, hadn’t said a single word before she’d disappeared. And now he was sitting here, replaying it all like a scene in one of those overly dramatic wizarding plays his mum occasionally dragged them to during Christmas holidays.

He let out a long, frustrated breath and ran a hand through his messy hair. “Bloody hell,” he muttered under his breath, more to himself than to anyone else.

Fred Weasley didn’t do confusion. His life was simple. He didn’t dwell on things, and he certainly didn’t let people catch him off guard. Yet here he was, sitting in a dark hallway, absolutely baffled by a girl who, only hours ago, he would have described as Malfoy—the snooty one.

But now?

Now, he couldn’t stop thinking about the way her eyes had looked—red-rimmed and puffy, but with a defiance that reminded him of storm clouds. Or the way her voice had wavered when she spoke, like she was fighting a battle he couldn’t see. And then there was that kiss…

Fred groaned and pushed himself off the floor, finally forcing himself to move. George would be wondering what was taking so long, and the last thing Fred needed was his twin’s sharp tongue picking apart his distracted state.

As he made his way toward the stairwell, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted. That fleeting kiss had opened a door he wasn’t sure he wanted to close. Or maybe, just perhaps, it wasn’t a door he could close even if he wanted to.

TWO DAYS LATER

She’d had enough. A Howler? A Howler, of all things?

Lucius Malfoy, with all his pomp and self-righteousness, had dared to send her a Howler. At least he hadn’t been cruel enough to have it delivered in the Great Hall, where every student would have had front-row seats to her humiliation. No, the family’s sleek black owl, as dark as the night itself, had waited for the moon’s ascent to deliver its cargo—a Howler bound with a green ribbon and sealed with silver wax.

[Y/N] untied the parcel with trembling fingers, her stomach sinking as the seal cracked open. Her father’s voice erupted in a cold, measured monotone that somehow managed to be worse than screams.

“Your brother has reported your carelessness, your lack of decorum,” Lucius began, each word razor-sharp. “Wandering the halls inappropriately dressed, conducting yourself without purpose. If this behaviour affects your grades, young lady, I will have no choice but to petition your professors for additional coursework. I understand that Miss Umbridge did not award you full marks on a recent essay—an embarrassing lapse. I had assumed it to be an anomaly. Let us ensure it remains so.

“The Carrow family,” he continued, his tone heavy with meaning, “has expressed interest in you. Do not disappoint us.”

And that was that. No shouting. No dramatic crescendos. Just cold, calculated disapproval, delivered through the most theatrical medium possible.

When the Howler finished, it hovered for a moment, as if daring her to respond, before folding in on itself and dropping neatly to the floor. She stared at the scraps for a long moment, her chest tight with suppressed fury.

The Carrow family!

She hadn’t even had her formal debut yet, and already she’d been practically auctioned off to the highest bidder. She didn’t need to dredge her memory for details. If Lucius Malfoy had deemed the Carrows suitable, it was because their son—no doubt a fledgling Death Eater—ticked all the right boxes. Bloodline. Wealth. Loyalty to the Dark Lord.

[Y/N] clenched her fists, the fragile parchment crumpling further in her hands. For the first time, she didn’t cry. She didn’t allow herself the luxury. Instead, she tore the Howler into pieces, her movements swift and brutal, and flung the scraps onto the grass.

She was outside, near the rear entrance to the castle that overlooked the path to the Quidditch pitch. The cool night air brushed against her face, doing little to calm the storm raging within her.

With an almost defiant tilt of her chin, she looked up at the moon, searching the vast expanse of stars for some semblance of guidance. But they offered none. The stars twinkled indifferently, as though mocking her plight.

She clenched her jaw, breathing heavily through her nose as her thoughts spiralled. She was to be married off, shackled to some boy her father had deemed suitable, and inevitably inducted into the ranks of the Death Eaters. It was a future she neither chose nor wanted.

How foolish she had been to ever think she had a choice. She never had. Not even as a child.

She’d been moulded from infancy—wrapped in long-sleeved dresses to exude the “Malfoy class,” her hair half-tied to frame the pale perfection of her lineage. A silent doll, a perfect reflection of her family’s ideals. While Draco’s fiery stubbornness earned him their father’s reprimands—or their mother’s smothering, silencing embraces—she had learned early to keep her mouth shut. To think before speaking. Or, more often, to simply not speak at all.

And for what?

The letter had shattered any lingering illusions of solidarity within her family. Draco, her own brother, had reported her. For wandering the halls aimlessly, for her clothing being “too casual”—petty, trivial things. She could have laughed at the absurdity of it all if it didn’t sting so much.

He was no naïve boy any more, she realised bitterly. At some point, he’d shifted from the irritating, idealistic little brother into a perfect disciple of their father’s will. The baby Malfoy had become something else entirely—someone she could no longer trust.

And yet, if he only knew what she had truly done.

The thought struck her with the force of a thunderclap. Two nights ago. The moonlight. The candlelit corridor. Fred Weasley.

She shivered, though not from the cool night air. If Draco—or worse, Lucius—had any inkling of what had transpired, she doubted even the long arm of her mother’s influence could shield her from the consequences.

But then, almost as suddenly as her panic had risen, it ebbed away, leaving something else in its place. Something sharp and hot and utterly wicked.

She let out a short, incredulous laugh, low and quiet, as if afraid the stars might overhear. How deliciously ironic that, in a world where every choice had been made for her, she had snatched a moment of her own. She had crossed every line her family had so carefully drawn.

She felt it again now—that reckless, impish surge, as though Peeves himself had passed straight through her, cackling as he went. It made her feel… alive. For once, she had done something utterly and completely her own. Something wrong. Something unforgivable.

It was a tiny spark of rebellion that flickered in her chest, and it dared grow.

The castle at night was a labyrinth of shadows and whispers, the ancient walls cool and unyielding under [Y/N]’s palms as she steadied herself against one of them. Her heart thundered in her chest, her breaths quick and shallow. She didn’t stop to think—thinking was dangerous, thinking would unravel her resolve. She needed to act before she lost the reckless courage surging through her veins.

Her footsteps echoed in the empty corridors as she broke into a run. The portraits she passed muttered in disapproval, their drowsy protests lost on her. She couldn’t stop now. Not when the fire in her chest begged for fuel. It was dangerous and foolish, and exactly what she needed.

Her mind raced alongside her feet. The memory of Fred Weasley, his smirk, his laugh, the way his lips had felt brushing against hers—it burned like a secret brand. The thought clawed at her now, relentless and consuming. She wanted more. She needed to find him. [y/n] needed to know if this feeling—this chaos, this rebellion—was real, and to confirm it was her choice, once. Her heartbeat thudded against her ribs, faster and louder, like a drum urging her forward. Let’s make mistakes, it seemed to whisper. 

Her breath hitched as she skidded to a halt, stooping to rest her hands on her knees. A judgmental portrait loomed nearby, its painted gaze following her with disdain.

“So what?” she snapped, her voice cutting through the silence. “It’ll be my mistake to make. Mine.”

The portrait shrugged indifferently, its expression unreadable, and she straightened, a renewed defiance lifting her chin.

Elsewhere in the castle, Fred wandered aimlessly, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. The corridors stretched endlessly, cold and quiet, as his thoughts circled like vultures. He was haunted by a memory. A devastating one.

Two nights ago, everything had changed. Her lips, soft and unexpected against his, had been like a spark in the dark. He’d told himself it was nothing—a mistake, a lapse in judgment. But the memory wouldn’t fade. It gnawed at him, twisting and reshaping itself until it was no longer something he could dismiss.

He groaned, scrubbing a hand over his face. “You’re an idiot,” he muttered under his breath. A Malfoy. Of all people. His mind conjured images of her family—their sneers, their disdain, the way they would look at him like dirt under their boots. And yet, when he thought of her, all he could see was the defiance in her eyes, the vulnerability that lurked just beneath.

He leaned against the wall, his forehead pressing into the cool stone. He shouldn’t want this. Fred shouldn’t want her. And yet, the thought of kissing her again refused to leave him. Not a hesitant peck this time, but something real, something that would sweep them both away. The very idea made him wince with self-loathing. A good bad idea, his thoughts taunted him. Make worse what’s already pretty bad.

Back again on the grass ground, where she had begun, [y/n] found herself facing the entrance of the Quidditch pitch, the vast expanse of grass stretching out before her. The cold air bit at her skin, bringing a clarity she didn’t want. She doubled over, hands on her knees, gasping for breath. The fire inside her dimmed, replaced by the creeping chill of doubt.

She straightened slowly, the stars above fading as the first blush of dawn crept over the horizon. The soft light turned the castle into a silhouette, a towering reminder of everything she was running from. Her heart, which had been racing moments ago, began to sink. She shook her head, her lips pressing into a bitter line.

This was madness. Utter madness. She was a Malfoy. He was a Weasley. Their worlds didn’t just clash; they were built on opposing foundations, destined to crumble if they ever truly met. Her brother’s face flashed in her mind, followed by her father’s cold disapproval. She knew exactly what they would say if they found out.

“Poor idea,” she murmured to herself, the words soft and scathing. “Me and you.”

Her shoulders sagged as the weight of it all pressed down on her. She turned slowly, intending to head back to the castle, to bury herself in the lies and expectations that had shaped her life. It was safer that way. Smarter. It was the only way to survive. Time to let this thing go, she thought, her steps faltering. It was a pretty good bad idea, wasn’t it, though?

Elsewhere, Fred’s pace quickened suddenly, his body moving before his mind could catch up. He had no idea where he was going, but he knew he couldn’t stop. His feet pounded against the stone floors, his breath coming in short bursts. The castle seemed to pull him forward, its twisting corridors narrowing until he could feel the weight of dawn pressing against the walls.

He didn’t want to find her. That was what he told himself. But the truth gnawed at him, sharp and insistent. He needed to see her, needed to know if she felt it too—that spark, that chaos. He had to know if it had meant something, or if he was just a fool chasing shadows.

As he neared the Quidditch pitch, the cool air hit him like a wave, clearing his head just enough for him to curse his own stupidity. But then he saw her.

[y/n] Malfoy stood in the grass, the faint glow of dawn outlining her figure. Her hair was tousled by the breeze, her arms wrapped around herself as though to ward off the chill. She looked fragile against the vast sky, but there was a strength in her stance that made his breath catch.

He stopped, his chest heaving as their eyes met.

Neither spoke. Neither moved.

The sun lingered just below the horizon, as if hesitant to interrupt the stillness, granting them the fragile, fleeting privacy of the in-between hours.

Fred saw her first. And yet, the strike of it—the sheer improbability of her standing there—was just as breathtaking to her.

Had he been looking for her? Had he felt it too, the same turmoil of rebellion, of need, of something greater than them both? [y/n] didn’t know. She had no answers to her spiralling questions, and for once, she didn’t care. She would have to ask him herself.

Her breathing steadied as a newfound calm settled over her. Slowly, deliberately, she took her first steps toward him. Fred, who had been running so fast mere moments ago, now stood frozen in place, rooted to the spot as he watched her approach. His gaze dropped to her feet—delicate steps in dark blue slippers—carrying her closer, closer.

To him.

He could hardly believe it. Fred had been so certain she would avoid him forever after that stolen, fleeting kiss in the shadows. But the horizon was brightening, and so was she.

[y/n] Malfoy wasn’t hiding any more.

Fred let her close the gap between them on her own because part of him still doubted that whatever she was going to do next would be good for him.

“You kissed me,” he said, as if it was the only thing he could say to her.

“Yes,” she agreed—well, she really had.

“And then you avoided me,” he added, the words tinged with an unintended cruelty. He didn't mean to push her away, not when all he wanted was to bring her closer. But Fred Weasley was clumsy with feelings, and he hated how his tongue betrayed him.

[y/n] didn’t flinch. She doubted anything Fred said could push her away. “I did,” she admitted, her tone softer now, her head tipping slightly to one side, almost in resignation. “That part was intentional.”

Fred frowned, his chest tightening. “Let me guess. Because, bam—I'm a Weasley. That reality hit you, didn’t it?” He tried to sound casual, but the words escaped him too fast, and he felt ridiculous as soon as they hung in the air.

But [y/n] wasn’t offended. Her retort came swiftly: “And I'm a Malfoy, dear Weasley. What does that mean, really?”

His gaze faltered, his brows knitting together as her words settled in.

“It's too early for us to be defined by names like that,” she continued, a faint smile teasing her lips. She crossed her fingers and stretched her arms out in front of her, like a child trying to reach the sky. “I’m just [y/n]. For a few more days, I’m still seventeen. And you? Who are you?”

Fred blinked at her, unsure of what to say. The silence lingered, stretching just long enough for doubt to creep in. Was he really not going to get it? Her head tilted slightly in question, but her disappointment didn’t last long.

Fred closed the gap between them. His hands found her waist with a determination that surprised even him. Before either of them could think too much, her face tilted forward, meeting him halfway. The kiss was easy—natural.

And [y/n] didn’t pull back. Her breath caught against his lips for only a moment before she parted them, inviting him closer. When his tongue brushed hers, her hands rose to his shoulders, fingers tracing the curve of muscle, grounding herself in the sensation.

This was a kiss. Deep and unrelenting, it was more than skin meeting skin; it was a convergence of need and affection. She pressed herself against him, craving the connection, wanting to lose herself in the solidness of Fred Weasley.

Fred matched her intensity, his hands moving from her waist to her back, then higher, threading into her hair. He marvelled at the soft, silver strands as they slipped through his fingers, untangling the remnants of her earlier rush. At that moment, [y/n] let him have her—her posture, her defences, all of it.

For Fred, the sensation was everything.

But, like all good things in life, the moment had to end. Eventually, they pulled apart—but [y/n] remained in his arms, her warmth still pressed against him.

“I'm Fred,” he said, a little breathless but smiling anyway, the mischievous glint in his eyes softening. “George’s twin. It’s a pleasure to meet you, [y/n].”

It was beautiful. That was [y/n]’s first thought. The way he said her name, the way he looked at her—it was like she was the only person in the world. But then the second thought came. Slowly, her hands fell away from his face, where they had been cradling him just moments before.

It felt like a fantasy. Too good to be true. And even if it was true, it felt too good to be hers.

The moment passed. Fred noticed the change instantly. Her body tensed in his arms, her back straightened like a shield raising itself, and even the silver strands of her hair, which he had so joyfully tousled, seemed to settle back into a pristine, unyielding order.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice low with concern.

“Nothing’s changed,” she replied, her words carrying a quiet sadness. It seeped into her voice, her expression, even the hesitant way she pulled his hands away from her waist.

Fred’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean, [y/n]?”

She hesitated, the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her. “I thought it would change,” she admitted, guilt creeping into her tone. Her voice broke just slightly as she added, “I thought this would be enough to save…”

“Save what?” Fred pressed gently, his voice filled with care, though worry was starting to edge into it.

Save me, she finished in her mind, but the words never made it past her lips. She looked away, stepping out of his hold. Now, without his embrace to shelter her, the towering silhouette of the castle loomed around them. Hogwarts now felt more like a reminder of the person she was supposed to be.

And how she had failed everyone.

A tear slipped from her right eye before she could stop it. Damn it. She brushed at her face with a trembling hand, but Fred had already seen. Fred noticed everything about her, and this was no exception.

Something was very wrong.

Wasn’t she the one who had invited him to be someone new? To shed the weight of expectations? Then why did it feel like she was slipping back into the role of the Malfoy daughter—the person she so desperately wanted to leave behind?

“You’re not making sense,” Fred said, his voice tinged with both confusion and concern. The whiplash of her emotions was challenging to follow, and it worried him.

“I’m not,” she admitted bitterly, frustration bubbling over. She took a step back, then another, as if physical distance might make her words sting less. “I never am.” She paused, swallowing hard before adding, “I’m sorry, Fred. I thought... I thought this kiss would be enough.”

Her voice cracked on the last word, and the weight of her thoughts dragged her down. What kind of fool am I?

A kiss wouldn’t save her. This wasn’t a fairytale. A true love’s kiss wouldn’t wake her from the life already spiralling out of control, unravelling like a story written by someone else’s hand. What power did Fred have against Lucius Malfoy? Against the man who, by now, had likely finalized her engagement to someone hand-picked for status and strategy?

What had she been imagining? That they’d run away together? Into the sunset? And go where? The Burrow? She snorted bitterly at the thought. [y/n] wouldn’t last a day there. She wouldn’t even know how to be in a world so unadorned, so painfully honest.

She wanted to escape her name, her lineage, the weight of expectations that pressed down on her every step. But could she? She couldn’t run from the habits ingrained in her, the luxuries she loved. Her hand unconsciously brushed the soft fur of her robe—an extravagance that cost more galleons than most people earned in a month.

And Merlin helped her, she loved the robe.

Her feet moved before her mind gave the order, pulling her away from him.

“No, not again,” Fred called after her, his voice carrying desperation. He reached out, his fingers just brushing the air near her hand. “Don’t run from me again.”

Her chest was tight, and she was still fighting back the sob that was already breaking free, her breath hitching painfully. “This was a bad idea, Weasley,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, though she knew he could hear her.

She slowed for just a moment, long enough to meet his gaze. His hand was still outstretched, a silent plea hanging between them. Her eyes softened, guilt flickering behind them. “But thank you.”

Then she turned and ran, the moment's weight trailing behind her.

[theroundbartable]

When Arthur leans that Gwaine is Merlin's best friend -

"Can you imagine? I've known Merlin for far longer than Gwaine!!!! I mean- why Gwaine? Is it his hair? Are they getting drunk together? Are they hooking up? ...."

He swallows down his pride and ask Gwaine about Merlin's interests.

"you make that sound like I was nervous!!! It's not like I don't know Merlin! It's just that he doesn't really talk about himself -"

And Gwaine, knowing how Merlin feels about Arthur-

"what do you mean 'feel'? Merlin isn't mad at me, is He?"

Would like to play wingman. But firstly, Merlin is as much an enigma to him as he is to Arthur, and secondly, Merlin always seems somewhat distracted. So Gwaine gives up and just makes up half the shit he tells Arthur in exchange for free ale.

"I- what the- that little bastard!"

[almost-correct-quotes]

before pride month ends anyone wanna be the merlin to my lancelot and tell me your secrets in exchange for me trusting you with my life and risking it for yours without a thought

[jupiterpp]

CHAPTER FIVE: ODD | 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐞. -𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

important note; This is the first time I'm posting my stories on Tumblr. My mother tongue is not English so expect grammatical errors ahead.

word count: 896 words

MASTERLIST | CHAPTERS

We got the highest score at the presentation.

As the announcement rang out that we had achieved the highest score in the class for our presentation, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and relief wash over me. All the hard work and late nights we had put into the project had paid off, and I couldn't be happier.

I exchanged a quick glance with Riddle, and for a brief moment, a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips before he returned to his usual composed demeanor.

"I knew the two of you would be such a good match if you worked together!" Slughorn exclaimed. We were inside his office; he had heard the news and invited me and Riddle for some snacks.

With a smirk, I couldn't resist a sassy response. "Well, Professor, I guess even the most unlikely pairings can work wonders when one-half of the duo isn't too busy being a know-it-all," I said, shooting Riddle a glance.

He shot me a glare.

"Hey, don't give me that look," I retorted, crossing my arms and meeting his gaze head-on. "You know it's true. Maybe if you weren't so quick to dismiss my other ideas, we could have gotten even higher marks."

"I'm impressed that you managed to do your project while on prefect duties, Tom." Said Slughorn taking a sip of his coffee.

Riddle's lips quirked into a smug smile at Slughorn's words. "Well, I'm nothing if not efficient, Professor," he replied smoothly, a glint of pride in his eyes. "Besides, it's all about time management, isn't it?" he grabbed a biscuit from the bowl, and took a bite of it.

"Correct," Slughorn chuckled.

"Must be easy when you have all the time in the world," I mumbled under my breath, rolling my eyes as I stood up to grab a book on Slughorn's shelf.

Riddle's eyes flickered towards me, his expression icy. "Some of us know how to prioritize," he said coolly. "Perhaps you'd do well to learn that skill yourself."

This guy.

"Ah, ah, ah, don't even start here in my office, you two," said Slughorn, waving a hand between us as if shooing away a couple of bickering cats. I huffed and glared at Riddle, grabbing my stuff beside him before walking away.

"Prioritise," I muttered under my breath, mocking his tone. "As if I don't know how to manage my time."

Riddle's voice, low and smooth, cut through my thoughts. "I heard that."

I didn't bother looking up. "Good. It was meant for you."

"Merlin, just go to your next class, both of you." came Slughorn's exasperated voice, and I wasted no time in leaving, shooting Riddle one last annoyed glance before shutting the door.

Another month had gone by and Riddle never fails to piss me off all the time. His lack of empathy and his constant need to be right grated on my nerves more than ever. It seemed like every interaction with him ended in frustration or annoyance, leaving me feeling drained and irritated.

Despite our success in the Defense Against the Dark Arts project, our dynamic hadn't improved. If anything, it had only worsened as time went on.

"Stop doing that." His voice startled me. I glanced at him.

"What?"

"Stop scratching your quill on the table. The ink is going everywhere."

I rolled my eyes at Riddle's interruption, resisting the urge to snap back. "Sorry," I muttered, setting my quill down with more force than necessary. "I'll try to control my penmanship, Your Highness," I added sarcastically.

I clenched my jaw, fighting the urge to give him a piece of my mind. Instead, I forced a tight-lipped smile and turned my attention back to my parchment, trying to block out his presence beside me.

But as the minutes passed, the tension between us only seemed to grow thicker. Every scratch of his quill against parchment grated on my nerves, each word he muttered under his breath felt like a jab at my patience.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, I groaned. "Could you be any more annoying?" I muttered, shooting him a glare.

Riddle raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "I could ask you the same thing," he replied coolly, not missing a beat in his writing.

I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms. "Honestly, Riddle, if I wanted a lesson in insufferable arrogance, I'd have just read one of your essays."

He looked up at me, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "If you spent half as much time on your studies as you do coming up with these witty remarks, you might actually keep up with me."

I scoffed, feeling my temper flare. "Maybe if you weren't so obsessed with being the best at everything, you might actually have a friend or two."

He paused, his quill hovering over the parchment. For a moment, I thought I'd hit a nerve, but then he shrugged. "I'd rather be right and alone than wrong and surrounded by sycophants."

"Well, congratulations," I said sarcastically rolling my eyes. "You're doing a stellar job at that."

His eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of irritation crossing his features before he regained his composure. "If you have something to say, say it,"

I held his gaze, my own eyes flashing with defiance. "Fine," I snapped, my patience wearing thin. "You're-"

He narrowed his eyes at me but paused when he noticed me looking behind him. He turned to see what had caught my attention.

Standing in the doorway was Dennis Bishop, his expression unreadable as he observed the room. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, a mixture of surprise and apprehension flooding through me. What was he doing here?

"Dennis..." I trailed off, uncertainty clouding my thoughts. As soon as Riddle turned around, Dennis yelped and quickly exited the library. I furrowed my brows and stood up, my eyes not leaving Dennis's retreating figure. Riddle shifted his gaze towards me, narrowing his eyes.

"That's it," I said before closing the book. "You're not getting away this time."

"What are you doing, Delcroix?" Riddle called after me, but I ignored him and hurried towards the library exit, determined to catch up with Dennis. As I pushed open the heavy wooden door, the cool corridor air greeted me, sending a shiver down my spine. "Dennis! Wait!" I called out again, hoping he would pause and give me a chance to catch up.

I grumble under my breath before turning around the other corner and constantly bumping into him. He fell onto the ground in such impact and he looked horrified to see me.

"You!" I exclaimed. "Why are you stalking me, Bishop?"

He didn't respond, just whimpered on the floor, covering his head like I was about to hurt him. I was about to say something when I heard footsteps behind me. It was Professor Slughorn, with Riddle following closely behind. The other students were whispering at the sudden commotion, their attention fixed on Bishop and me.

"What's going on here?" Slughorn demanded, his eyes darting between us.

"Professor," I called out. "What the— how did you get here so quick—"

"Bishop? Goodness gracious!" Slughorn exclaimed, kneeling to help Dennis up. Dennis's eyes widened in horror at the sight of Riddle. His breathing became uneven, and he slapped Slughorn's hand away, bolting down the corridor before anyone could react.

"Bishop!" Slughorn yelled before running after him leaving me and Riddle alone in the hallway. I narrowed my eyes before glancing at the boy beside me who was already walking away.

"What the hell was that?" I asked, catching up to him. He gave me a side glance.

"What?"

"Dennis seemed horrified to see you." I crossed my arms at him. "What did you do?"

Riddle shrugged nonchalantly, his expression unreadable. "he's easily spooked," he replied dismissively, his tone cool and collected as always. "It's not my concern."

"You're lying."

"I am not," he sighed as we headed back to the Slytherin dormitories.  He gave me a look, rolling his eyes. "Now stop pestering and go over the important stuff we reviewed earlier if you don't want to fail your DADA class."

Oh, right. Despite the success of the project a month ago, I was flunking the tests and Merrythought paired me up with the top of the class, Riddle. Talk about irony. He only agreed because of the twenty points he'd get if I had improved. He was really serious about it.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," I muttered, feeling annoyed. "I'll go over it, alright? No need to keep reminding me." I said dismissively, earning a glare from him before I walked away, heading to the girl's dormitory.

Days passed in a blur of study sessions and late-night cramming. Riddle's relentless tutoring was intense, but I couldn't deny it was effective. I found myself making progress in subjects I had previously struggled with, thanks to his guidance. I tried to ignore what happened to Bishop the last time I met him. He was acting very weird and stalking me. Despite my efforts to focus solely on my studies, thoughts of Bishop's odd behavior kept creeping into my mind.

and before I knew it, It was already examination day. 

I was a bundle of nerves. I'd been studying non-stop, thanks to Riddle's relentless tutoring sessions. The questions seemed tougher than I remembered. Time flew by in a blur of scribbled answers and anxious glances at the clock.

When the examiner finally called time, I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding as I handed Professor Merrythought the test paper as the others who were done with the test shuffled around to get their stuff.

"Feels like I flunked big time," I grumbled as I settled between Silvius and Elara in the Great Hall, a plate of food in hand. I huffed and stabbed my food with my fork.

Silvius shot me a sympathetic glance. "Come on, Delacroix don't be so hard on yourself. You probably did better than you think."

I shrugged, not convinced. "Easy for you to say. You didn't have Riddle breathing down your neck the whole time. He was deadly serious getting that twenty points."

Elara nudged my shoulder gently. "You've been putting in the work, that's what counts. And hey, if worst comes to worst, we'll study together for the retake."

I let out a sigh before someone called my name not far from me. A student handed me my test paper and then Silvius's before calling another name.

Silvius's exclamation pulled me from my thoughts. "What the hell—the scores are already out?!"

I glanced over at him, then down at my own paper, my eyes widening in shock. "Oh, wow," I muttered, scarcely able to believe it. "I passed?"

Relief flooded through me, mingled with a sense of accomplishment. Maybe all those late-night study sessions had paid off after all. Elara was given her test paper as well causing her to grin at the sight of her score on the right side of her paper.

"Okay, so all of us passed?" Marcellus nodded before folding his test paper with a smile on his face. "I say we should go to Hogsmeade to celebrate!"

Silvius practically jumped out of his seat, his eyes still glued to the test results. "Seriously, we all passed? That's amazing!" He shoved his paper into his bag, grinning from ear to ear.

"I was so sure I messed up that last section," I mumbled with a raised brow before folding the paper.

"I've been dying for a butterbeer," Augustus exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"I could use a break from studying, that's for sure."

"Woah, woah, woah, hold on you guys," Elara pulled Silvius back down to his seat. "That's only one subject, we still don't know about the others."

Silvius groaned, slumping back into his chair. "Come on, Elara! Can't we just enjoy this small victory?"

Elara shook her head, her expression serious. "We can't get ahead of ourselves. Let's check the results for the other subjects first. Then we can celebrate properly."

"You're such a killjoy, Right Delacroix?" Silvius looked at me.

"She's not wrong—"

"I am always right. So shut up." Elara glared at Silvius who looked taken aback by her gaze.

The Slytherin common room was cozy, and it brought me comfort every time I stepped inside. The dim lighting cast a warm, inviting glow over the dark green and silver decor, making the room feel like a hidden sanctuary. The soft crackling of the fireplace and the deep, plush armchairs beckoned me to relax and unwind. I loved the way the light from the fire danced on the stone walls, creating shadows that seemed to tell stories of their own.

I sat down on one of the couches near the fireplace, joining my friends. The warmth of the fire immediately enveloped me, and I could feel the day's stress melting away. The soft, flickering light cast a cozy glow over the room, making it feel even more like a sanctuary.

Elara was already there, sprawled comfortably with a book in her lap. She glanced up and gave me a smile. "Hey, finally decided to join us?"

"Have you guys seen my quill? I left it somewhere in the library." I let out a sigh, taking a seat with crossed arms.

"I don't think so. Did you check your bag?"

I shook my head, feeling a pang of annoyance at my forgetfulness. "Yeah, I did. Must have dropped it somewhere while I was studying." 

"You should go to check the library. It might still be in there." Marcellus said with a smirk plastered on his face.

"Don't listen to him, you'll only get in trouble."

"Only if you're as obvious as you usually are," Marcellus teased.

"Riddle might have caught me, Marcellus," I said, glancing at him with a small laugh escaping my lips.

"You think Riddle hangs out in the library all night?" Marcellus raised an eyebrow. "He's got better things to do than play hall monitor."

I sighed, knowing he wouldn't let this go. "Alright, fine. But if Riddle catches me, I'm blaming you."

"Don't even," Elara warned and grabbed my wrist when she saw me standing up from my seat. I glance down at her. "You can borrow mine,"

"No," I replied, shaking my head. "That quill is custom-made. I can't just replace it."

"I'll go with you!" Augustus chimed in, a wide grin spreading across his face.

Elara sighed, clearly exasperated. "You three are gonna get into so much trouble."

"Relax, Elara," Augustus said, waving off her concern. "We'll be in and out before anyone notices. Besides, what's the worst that could happen?"

"You clearly haven't met Riddle," she muttered, crossing her arms. "I hope you and Marcellus get caught."

'✦ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹ೃ⁀➷-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-˚. ೃ⁀➷'✦ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹

The three of us peeked our heads around the corner of the hallway to see if there was any movement. The coast seemed clear, but the anticipation of getting caught sent shivers down my spine. We exchanged nervous glances before silently agreeing to proceed cautiously.

"Go on in," Agustus whispered beside me as I placed my hand on the wooden door of the library. "Me and Marcellus will be on watch."

I nodded and pushed open the door and stepped inside the dimly lit room. The scent of old books filled my nostrils, and the silence was almost suffocating. I moved quickly, scanning the tables and shelves for any sign of my lost quill.

But even as I searched, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Every creak of the floorboards made me jump, and every shadow seemed to move when I wasn't looking. I tried to push aside my paranoia and focus on the task at hand, but the fear lingered in the back of my mind like a dark cloud.

And then, just as I was about to give up hope, I spotted it—a glimmer of silver nestled among a pile of books. Relief flooded through me as I reached out and grabbed my quill, holding it tightly in my hand.

"capture, capture," My heart skipped a beat as I heard the voice, low and ominous, coming from the other side of the bookshelf. With my quill clenched tightly in my hand, I peered around the corner, my pulse racing with a mix of fear and curiosity.

There, standing in the dim light, was Dennis Bishop. His eyes were wide, unseeing, and his lips moved feverishly as he repeated the word over and over again while reading a book, his shaky hands pointed at the words. His once-familiar face was twisted with a manic intensity that sent a chill down my spine.

"She must be," Dennis muttered, his voice strained as if he were running out of breath, despite the fact that he was sitting perfectly still. I was snapped back to reality when the library door opened and closed shut. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly ducked under the nearest table, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps.

I felt a shifting not far from me, and I turned to see a familiar eye peeking out from underneath the table nearby. Panic surged through me as I realized it was Marcellus, his face twisted with fear.

"What the hell—" I began, but Marcellus cut me off with an urgent whisper.

"[name]!" Marcellus whispered, his eyes darting back and forth at the door and me. "We've been spotted!"

Shit. Great. These idiots, instead of running away and hiding somewhere else, just had to lead whoever was after them straight to me. I gasped as the door opened once again and quickly closed shut. The sound echoed in the quiet library, sending a jolt of fear through me. I glanced around frantically, my heart pounding in my chest, only to find Augustus and Marcellus shuffling under their feet and hiding beside me.

"What the hell are you two doing?" I whispered harshly, glaring at them.

"You fucking idiot, This is your fault, Augustus," Marcellus whispered and harshly nudging him. 

"You both are idiots! keep it down or we'll get caught!" I hissed, frustration bubbling inside me as their bickering threatened to draw unwanted attention. We were already in a tight spot, and their squabbling was only making things worse.

My heart skipped a beat as I caught a glimpse of a pair of shoes moving closer, and I immediately recognized the person's body movements. They knew that we were here. Panic surged through me as I realized that we had been discovered, and I knew that we were running out of time to come up with a plan.

With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I motioned urgently for Augustus and Marcellus to quiet down, my eyes darting around the room in search of any possible escape route. But as I scanned the library, my mind raced with the realization that there was nowhere to hide, nowhere to run. 

The footsteps grew louder, each step echoing in the silent library, pounding in my ears like a drumbeat of doom. My heart hammered in my chest, the fear so palpable I could taste it. I felt the cold sweat trickle down my back as I realized we were at the mercy of whoever had found us.

Just as the person was about to come closer to our spot, we held our breaths, the tension so thick it was suffocating. I could see the shadow of their legs cast on the floor, inches away from us. The silence stretched, a taut wire ready to snap. But before they could come any closer, a voice called out, cutting through the air like a knife.

"Riddle," It was Dumbledore.

"Professor Dumbledore," Riddle replied, his voice smooth and composed. I could see his shadow turning around to face Dumbledore.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be on your prefect's duties right now?" Dumbledore asked, his tone gentle but firm. 

"That's exactly what I'm doing, Professor," said Riddle, putting both his hands behind his back. "I saw two figures sneaking into the library, so I came in hoping to catch them."

Dumbledore paused, considering Riddle's words. "I see," he said slowly. "However, it is rather late. Perhaps it would be more prudent to continue this in the morning."

Riddle hesitated, but his voice remained calm. "Of course, Professor. I'll make sure the library is properly secured before I leave."

"Very well then," Dumbledore said. As they began to walk away, Riddle walking in the other direction away from us, I caught a fleeting glance of Dumbledore's eyes. For a moment, they seemed to flicker in our direction, a knowing glint in their depths. Did he know we were here? It was impossible to tell.

'✦ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹ೃ⁀➷-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-˚. ೃ⁀➷'✦ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹

As I settled into my seat in class, I couldn't shake the feeling of eyes on me, the prickling sensation of being watched. Glancing around, I expected my gaze to meet Riddle's, but I caught Bishop's eyes across the room. his expression unreadable as he observed me from across the room. It sent a shiver down my spine, the intensity of his gaze unsettling.

And then, another pair of eyes caught mine.

Finally, when the class was over, I wasted no time in making my way to Dumbledore's office. I needed to talk to him about what I had seen in the library last night. The mysterious girl's unsettling stare and Bishop's presence had left me with too many questions, and I hoped Dumbledore could provide some answers.

"Delacroix? I did not expect you to be here." Dumbledore said his eyes searching mine. "Is there something you need?"

"Yes, Professor," I said swallowing the lump that was forming on my throat. "You see-"

"Is this about the stalker you have?" Said Dumbledore as he approached me. My eyes widened in surprise at his statement, caught off guard by his directness. How did he know? Did Slughorn tell him?

"Yes...How did you know?" I asked.

"Slughorn told me."

"Figured," I muttered under my breath. Of course, Slughorn told him about it. "It was Dennis Bishop. He's been tailing me ever since I set foot in Hogwarts."

He let out a thoughtful hum and turned his back on me, a gesture that caused me to raise a curious brow at his behavior. With measured steps, he walked closer to the window, his gaze fixed on something beyond the glass.

I followed his line of sight and noticed the Quidditch players passing by the window, their figures darting gracefully through the air on their brooms. For a moment, Dumbledore stood in silence, his expression unreadable as he watched the players with a contemplative air.

I cleared my throat, breaking the silence that had settled between us. "Is everything alright, Professor?" 

"You know Mrs. Cole from the muggle orphanage, Right?" He asked, not looking at me as he fiddled his fingers behind his back. I furrowed my brows at him.

"I do," I replied cautiously, unsure of where this conversation was headed.

"Mrs. Cole told me back at the orphanage when I came to get Tom," he continued, his voice low and contemplative. "Mrs. Cole takes a summer visit to the seashore with the children from the orphanage and Tom Riddle coerces two of the other kids, Amy Benson and Dennis Bishop, to go with him into a cave. Mrs. Cole said they were so messed up by whatever happened in there that they became mute."

My eyes widened at Dumbledore's words, a shiver running down my spine. Dennis had seemed perfectly fine the last time we spoke, so whatever had occurred must have happened while I was away in London.

Is this what Mrs. Cole telling me about being cautious around Riddle?

"...Is this why Dennis has been acting like that all this time? Because of Riddle?"

"It's what Mrs. Cole said," Dumbledore said. "It's possible that whatever happened in that cave had a lasting effect on Dennis and Amy."

[racfoam]

I totally thought the last snippet was gonna lead down the “he’s old, you think he hasn’t snogged someone” route. Was not expecting horny Voldemort. Makes me more eager for snippets from his POV being all love sick and Death Eaters being grossed out. Like when you see your parents kissing.

Harry: “I’ve decided that I’m a snack, it’s just that no one is hungry.”

Voldemort in her head: “I’m fucking starving.”

Omg, I’m laughing 🤣 Bless you, this exchange is brilliant.

Also the “he’s old, you think he hasn’t snogged someone” is hilarious, too.

“I'm fucking starving.” is on point, OMG, hahaha.

Poor Death Eaters. I don't think you have to worry about them witnessing it too much, Voldemort is a very private sort, he wouldn’t go kissing Harry in front of —

No, hang on. He possibly would. But maybe just once when he finally gets Harry with him. He likes to show off. Otherwise, in public, he is very possessive and keeping her tight to his side.

Look, the man was born in 1929 and grew up.in the 30s/40s and was in his 20s/30s in the 1950s London. He’s going to be like Pride and Prejudice type of thing, he touches her hand once and is going to ask for her hand in marriage the next day. Merlin forbid he sees her ankle or thigh, man is dead on the spot (he doesn’t show it, though, but he needs to sit down or take a second to think propely again). He will be a perfect gentleman. Most times. There’s a duality to him. He's both creepy or well-mannered.

Oh, when he saw Harry during summer wearing a T-shirt, ie saw her arms, he needed a moment to collect himself before he spoke to her, his brain went empty and he wanted to conjure a coat for her. (How nice of him!)

Barty has grabbed popcorn, he loves it.

[merlinpride]

Title: the ordeal of being (but with you)

Author: @slantedknitting

Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Rating: Teen and Up

Pairing: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon

Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Mushrooms, Hallucinations, Hallucinogens, Mushroom Induced Hallucinations, Arthur Pendragon Retursns, Sharing a Bed, Arthur cuts Merlin's Hair, Merlin has PTSD, Merlin has Nightmares, Arthur Comforts Him, Nightmares, Arthur Wants to Live on a Farm, Getting Together

Summary:

Merlin lives alone - if what he’s doing can really be called living. He sleeps, he eats, he whittles. Sometimes he dreams, but he wish he wouldn’t, especially when the line between dreams and the waking world starts to blur.

This isn’t how Merlin wanted to be found by a miraculously returned Arthur, but this is his reality.

Written for @paxopalotls for the Merlin Pride Exchange!

[unravellingsilencehq]

“Oh, Merlin, tell me, does THE STAR get what she deserves?” She is in THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX & CLOSED to finding out. 

— she walks through the world as;

name → marlene mckinnon pronouns → she/her identification → cis female  year of birth → september 1959 - september 1960 face claim → brittany o'grady blood status → pure-blood sexual orientation → bisexual occupation → chaser and captain of pride of portree in the britsh and irish quidditch league future information → n/a

— she is best described as ;

An enimag of DRAGON BREATH and STARLIGHT, while she burns with PASSION and CONFIDENCE, her past LOVE AFFAIRS leave her TARNISHED. TRUTH spills from RED WAR PAINTED LIPS in often BRASH tone. Armoured in LEATHER and HEELS, THORNS fail to protect a MISGUIDED HEART from MISERY that seeps into her veins like POISON. As BEAUTIFUL and as FLEETING as a DYING STAR pleading for someone, anyone, to cast them a glance. 

— her story starts with ;

tw: death

Raised on the coasts of Isle of Skye, Scotland; the young witch was never without the wind in her hair and fire in her heart. Youngest of three elder brothers, DOUGAL MCKINNON [brother], COINNEACH MCKINNON [brother] and NATHAIR MCKINNON [twin brother/unknown adversary]. Ansel and Iona were thrilled to finally welcome her after longing for a daughter. The favouritism they held towards Marlene was unparalleled. The ‘golden child’ who could do no wrong, Marlene learned that with a bat of her eye lashes she could get away with murder. Spoiled, Marlene has an air of entitlement; finding herself too often caught in her own world to consider the effect she has on others. While her mother made her superficial, her brothers made her bold. Daring to fly higher, ambition and determination rooted deep as she strove to gain their approval. Speeding through the valleys on broomsticks to challenging each other to eat handfuls of vomit flavoured Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans; there was never a dull moment with the four together. While frowned upon by their mother, she begrudgingly had to accept that while she’d longed for a daughter to wrap in beautiful bows and soft mannerisms, Marlene grew to be unashamedly herself; striding through the world as if ready to conquer it. 

Coming to Hogwarts it was no surprise that Marlene was sorted into Gryffindor. Marlene knew Hogwarts would come with countless tales of adventures and trouble; what she’d never expected was to find her three best friends among the hallowed halls;  LILY EVANS [best friend], MARY MACDONALD [best friend] and DORCAS MEADOWES [best friend]. Dragging them across the castle to explore rooms under instruction of Coinneach, they hid in secret passageways, exchanged secrets and quickly became each other's support network. While all different, they held the same virtues. Growing up privileged with pure-blood status, Marlene had never been exposed to the prejudices that encapsulated so much of the wizarding community. Snide comments and glares towards her friends infuriated her, unable to understand how anyone could see less of them due to something as trivial as blood. But she bit her tongue only for the sake of Lily and Mary. However after the torment LARKIN MULCIBER [adversary] inflicted on Mary, Marlene had to be held back from throwing a swing every time he passes in the halls.

A formidable quidditch player, she could file her nails while simultaneously scoring a goal. Her confidence and skill quickly caught the attention of JAMES POTTER [friend/ex-boyfriend] and it wasn’t long before the pair started dating. Finding his confidence and charm compelling, a part of her delighted at the prospect of dating Gryffindor’s ‘golden boy’. While Lily held distaste for James, even to a blind man it was evident how captivated by Lily James really was. The jealous type, Marlene couldn’t help but feel irked he was so blind sighted by her best friend. Considering the notion that their relationship had merely been a ploy by James to get closer to Lily, the pair eventually split. Since, Marlene holds her heart closer to her chest. Still, the best thing to come from her relationship with James was REMUS LUPIN [friend], PETER PETTIGREW [friend], but most notable SIRIUS BLACK [best friend/potential love interest]. Hitching a ride on the back of Sirius’ motorcycle, they were reckless, young and brave. What worries her is the way Sirius’ smile can make her heart ache. Seeing how careless he can be with women, the last thing Marlene wants is to be another discard with the fantasy of something better around the corner. Stolen glances turned to missed opportunities as life after Hogwarts quickly took hold leaving behind blissfully ignorant moments and a strand of what ifs.

Scouted by the HolyHead Harpies, Marlene was on track to become their next Chaser. Unfortunately flying with the Harpies would always stay a dream. With her last match at Hogwarts ending in a one way ticket to the infirmary due to ‘suspicious circumstances’, by the time she was able to return to the sport, it was too late. Still keen for her skill, instead they offered her the opportunity to become an assistant coach which she gladly accepted. Seeing it as an opportunity to learn from some of the greats and fine tune her skills in the meantime. While flying all day and drinking with her friends all night was a charmed life, as unrest among the community grew; so did Marlene’s advocacy. Her defiant and outspoken devotion for her friends was quickly picked up by ALBUS DUMBLEDORE [former headmaster] who spoke of a darkness forming and their need to combat it. The Order of the Phoenix, a group of individuals who believed in equality for all felt fitting for a witch with fire in her heart and dueling skills beyond many in her year. Eager to take her place and make a difference, it was a fight that Marlene joined without question. 

Though fate had other plans. 1982 held turbulence, fleeting hope and abandoned misery. What had started as charming flirting with an old friend at Halloween, led to choking on water rimmed with blood as the very person she was hoping to go home with fell fifty feet before her eyes and lay dead in the Ministry fountain. BOOKER BAGNOLD [friend] was the catalyst. Resistance brewed and attacks continued as The Order were left trying to unravel chaos in its wake. Yet as her mentor BENJY FENWICK [friend/mentor] was attacked, a hopeless fury started to ignite her. Frustrated at the absence of control, there was only so much defense training she could grasp before feeling compelled to believe the rumors that haunted her. The cursed woman, the kiss of death, while the prophet took light of her misfortune, Marlene’s faked smiles hid the uncertainty that left her chest concaving and heart breaking. As shadows haunted London, 1983 solstice left the community finally sensing the hell that was before them. Unvalled, The Dark Lord held everything that they’d been fearing. Battles broke and AMELIA BONES [acquaintance] fell, the devastation that cursed the night left all uncertain of what the future held.

Arrested for the use of an unforgivable curse, while she was inevitably proved innocent under the imperius curse; but for the Harpies they couldn’t afford the bad press after decades of fighting for respect. Losing her job as coach, while her dream became a fleeting memory; her talents were quickly scouted by CATRIONA MCCORMACK [coach] for her home team The Pride of Portree. Knowing her character, Cat stood boldly by her side under scrutiny from the league,. While proactive; it has proven that the rift in the community is rotted blacker than a nightmare. A narrative that has seeped into their own family. Nathair’s outspoken objection towards ANNABETH PEBWORTH [future sister in law] joining the family, has torn the fabric of the once united Mckinnon’s to shreds. While she hopes his callous words are merely rooted in fear, Malene dreads the outcome. A hurricane of chaos feels inevitable to tear through the very fabric of the Wizarding Community as they know it. Unspoken panic from the Ministry and the worry edged deep into Dumbledore’s face is evidence enough. The war to come isn’t a question of if; it’s when. Marlene just hopes that when the lightning hits and turns into flames, she’ll be able to safeguard the people she holds most dear without them falling victim to the crossfire

— she is a LEVEL 6 WITCH & readied for war ;

[spikybanana]

aotc 2 - masterpost

As they went in to stand in front of the Council, Remus was uncharacteristically distracted. 

Whatever it was they were discussing ad nauseam, Remus has heard before. No amount of their sitting around talking was going to change Count Malfoy’s mind about leading this separatist movement against the Republic, nor how unequipped the Jedi Order would be if this was to come to war. There was no use agonizing over what was out of his hands. What he hadn’t thought about nor noticed before, however, was how— grown up— Sirius suddenly seemed. Remus remembered it like yesterday when Sirius had just arrived at the temple, homesick and overwhelmed, and was sneaking into Remus’ room at night to curl up at his side. But all of a sudden, he’d become a fine young man. All through the council discussion, he couldn’t help sneaking sideways glances at Sirius. His steady, intelligent eyes, the confident set of his shoulders even as he stood in front of the miniature intimidation of Merlin himself— evoked in Remus bubbles of pride, and something unnamed, indescribable, striking a deep pang in his chest. 

They’ve come so far, haven’t they? The both of them.

They were an untraditional master and padawan pair, to say the least. Remus was far too young, they said, and Sirius far too old. It had been difficult since the very start. From the moment they arrived back on Coruscant to begin Sirius’ training, rumors about the Chosen One had already run rampant, and Sirius was the worst possible child in dealing with assumptions about him. He scorned fellow padawans who dismissed and worshiped him alike, and threw not a few tantrums against any teacher who thought he needed special attention, regardless of whether their intentions were malignant as he supposed. 

Remus struggled in helping him to find the patience and focus he needed to become the Jedi he wanted so hard to be. He wanted to fly before he could walk, and couldn’t stand not accomplishing something in his first five tries. He was too harsh on himself, though he looked to all the rest of the world like the unbothered prodigy, indolent, riding off his talent. It couldn’t have been further from the truth. 

As for Remus, it was… unsettling, to suddenly be alongside Jedi Masters who had been teachers of his peers. He would never forget the horror of seeing that smirk on McGonagall’s face, that first time (of many) she ran into him trying to chase down Sirius through the temple halls. At least she never tired of finding amusement out of Remus’ pedagogical rants.

But somehow, Remus thought, watching Sirius now, thinking of their last exchange outside the council room door, they’ve managed just fine.

Sirius nudged him through the mental bond they shared, and Remus snapped back to the present just in time to hear Shacklebolt address them.

“...Chancellor Riddle, out of particular concern for Senator Evans’ security, has specifically requested for her to be placed under your protection.” Kingsley said with the faintest unimpressed arch of an eyebrow, “You, Lupin, and Black, are to report to her promptly this evening.” 

Senator Evans. Now that’s a friend they haven’t seen for a long time— not since the unrest on her planet a decade ago. Goodness, since when had she become a politician? 

They accepted the task with a bow, and as they retreated from the room, Remus looked over to Sirius. His eyes were wide and brimming with excitement, doubtlessly at the prospect of seeing James and Lily again. They shared a knowing look. Sirius smiled.

[rainywerewolfmoon]

Tales Of Fairyland

Ao3 link here Tales Of Fairyland - Chapter 6 - Princessmh9 - Original Work [Archive of Our Own]

Chapter 6: A Mark of Destiny

{As they walked to the shore Shadow reighed up and neighed loudly as he galloped off with the other horses as out of the waves the sea Unicorns appeared. The sea unicorns emerged gracefully from the sparkling waves; their forms bathed in the ethereal light of the sun. Their sleek bodies glistened with sea spray, and their eyes held the wisdom of the deep. These magnificent creatures were the protectors of the coastal waters, guardians of the balance between land and sea.

Their ivory horns gleamed in the sunlight, a testament to their mystical nature. Each sea unicorn bore a unique pattern of scales that shimmered with iridescent hues, reflecting the colors of the ocean. They moved with a fluid elegance, their hooves barely touching the wet sands as they approached the royal family. Princess Elara, Willow, and Aurora watched in wonder; their eyes filled with awe at the sight of these enchanting beings.

One of the sea unicorns, a regal mare with a silvery mane, stepped forward and bowed her head as a sign of greeting. Her eyes locked onto Elara, and there was an undeniable connection between them, a recognition that went beyond mere words. Titania, with her innate understanding of the mystical, smiled warmly as she approached the sea unicorn. She extended her hand, palm open, and the sea unicorn nuzzled it gently. The touch conveyed a silent message of unity and respect.}

{Titania} Go on Elara. She won't hurt you.

{Elara hesitated for a moment before approaching the sea unicorn with a mix of curiosity and trepidation. She reached out her hand, mirroring Titania’s gesture. The sea unicorn lowered her head to meet Elara's touch, and in that moment, the bond between the land and sea was reaffirmed through the princess. The Unicorn nuzzled her softly as Elara giggled before it touched her with its horn, leaving a mark on her forehead.

The sea unicorn's touch was gentle yet profound, and as its horn graced Elara's forehead, a shimmering mark, like a delicate seafoam pattern, was left in its wake. Elara's eyes widened in awe, and a sense of wonder washed over her. It was a symbol of the connection between land and sea, a reminder of her role as a bridge between these mystical realms. The Kings and Queens exchanged knowing glances, recognizing the significance of the sea unicorn's mark on Elara. It was a symbol of her destiny and the responsibilities she would one day bear as a leader in protecting the balance of Fairyland. Ash and Genevieve beamed at each other as Genevieve kneels down and takes Elara’s hands in hers.}

{Genevieve, her voice soft and filled with maternal pride} Elara, my Little Star. You are destined for greatness. You have the magic of the greatest wizard of all time in you and it's your destiny to carry this legacy. And now it's also your destiny to protect the Mer Kingdoms.

{Elara worried} But what if I am not destined for greatness Mama? It's not like you ever had a mark for destiny.

{Genevieve smiles as she pulls her bell sleeve up to revel the mark of Merlin on her arm.}

{Elara gasps at this.}

{Genevieve} I got this mark when I first accepted my destiny when I first came to Fairyland. It symbolizes the courage and strength that is in me and that is in you as well.

{Elara stared at her mother's mark, her eyes wide with amazement and newfound hope. The symbol of Merlin's legacy on Genevieve's arm filled her with a sense of purpose and reassurance.}

{Ash kneeling down} Elara, my dear, destiny doesn't always announce itself with a mark. Sometimes, it quietly whispers in your heart and guides your actions. Your destiny is not just about the mark on your forehead; it's about the courage, kindness, and wisdom that reside within you. You have already shown these qualities, and they make you destined for greatness.

{Genevieve} We will be with you always Little Star. You are never alone.

{They pull her into a hug as Elara looks up at Lindir and Albina who nod with proud smiles. Elara felt a warm surge of love and support as she embraced her parents. The knowledge that her destiny was not just about a mark but about the qualities she possessed, and the unwavering support of her family filled her with newfound confidence.}

{Genevieve} Kendra will keep an eye on you and Willow and Aurora while we grownups talk ok Little Star?

{Elara} Ok Mama.

{The smile at this as Genevieve and Ash with the Kings and Queens walk to the water's edge.}

{Kendra} Ok your young highness. You may explore and play as much as you can and like. But stay in my eyesight. I hate for something to happen to you three.

{Willow excited} Yes Kendra. Come on sister, Elara let's go play.

{Aurora giggles as she runs after her brother, but Elara stands there looking back at the unicorn who nudges her before turning around and galloping away to join the blessing. Elara felt her eyes switch to Ruby red again for a moment and sighed. The figures that claimed to be her parents would be back tonight and then she would have to make her choice. Stay here with those who she was told kidnapped her when she was a baby or go with those that clam to be her true parents. Suddenly Aurora laughing screams pulled her out of her thoughts. Willow had found a crab and like any young fairy tot he was determined to chase his twin sister about with it.

Elara chuckled as she ran after them ready to try to help Aurora. As she chased after Willow and Aurora, the worries that had plagued her temporarily faded into the background. For now, the joy of their youthful exuberance and the simple pleasure of being together as a family was enough to fill her heart with warmth and momentarily put her concerns aside.}

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

{As the Kings and Queens and Ash and Genevieve wade out into the water the water started to bubble. The mer guards emerged from the bubbling waters, their tails shimmering in various shades of blue and green. They formed a protective barrier around the royals, their expressions serious and determined. The presence of the mer guards served as a reminder of the responsibilities that came with the alliance between Fairyland and the Mer Kingdoms. King Triton and Queen Cora, the rulers of the Mer Kingdoms, approached the royals with warm smiles. Their presence signified the strong bond between the realms of Fairyland and the undersea kingdoms. The merfolk monarchs greeted Oberon, Titania, Lindir, Albina, Ash, and Genevieve with respect and friendship, acknowledging the importance of the alliance they were forming.}

{Triton} My friends. It's good to see you again.

{Oberon} Triton, Cora, the pleasure is ours. Thank you for hosting us in your beautiful realm.

{Cora} The honor is all ours, Oberon. We value the friendship between our realms greatly.

{Genevieve} And we are grateful for your hospitality.

{Lindir} Your underwater city is a marvel to behold.

{Triton} We take great pride in it, Lindir. Now, let us discuss the matters at hand.

{Titania} Indeed. The alliance we are forging today is crucial for the protection of Fairyland.

{Cora} Agreed. The threat from the realm of shadows is still a threat.

{Genevieve} Me and Kendra have looked everywhere for them, but we have found nothing. It's like they have vanished.

{Ash} And their castle isn't where it was last time. It's like it moves.

{Triton} Such elusive foes make it challenging to confront them directly. We must remain vigilant and share any information we gather.

{Oberon} We have also encountered difficulties locating their stronghold. It seems they have the ability to cloak their presence.

{Cora} We shall redouble our efforts to track their movements and uncover their plans.

{Genevieve} Thank you, Cora. Your expertise in navigating the seas may prove invaluable in this search.

{Lindir} We must also ensure the safety of our children, especially Elara. She is a key target for them.

{Titania} Elara's destiny is intertwined with the balance of Fairyland. We will do everything in our power to protect her.

{Triton} You have our support in this matter. The safety of your daughter is of utmost importance to us as well.

{Ash} Thank you, Triton. We appreciate your understanding and assistance in this matter.

{As the discussions continued, the rulers of Fairyland and the Mer Kingdoms strategized and shared their knowledge, determined to face the threats posed by the realm of shadows together.}

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

{As Kendra watched the meeting from the beach, she kept an eye on the three young royals from the side of her eye. Right now, they were busy trying to see who can splash who the most.}

{Kendra, speaking to herself} Always full of energy and curiosity, those three. They may be young, but they'll grow up to be exceptional leaders, just like their parents.

{She continued to keep a watchful eye on Willow, Aurora, and Elara, ensuring their safety as they explored the beach and played by the water's edge.}

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

{Elara and the twins spent all day trying to splash each other, exploring the rock pools or trying to escape from Willow when he chased them with a crab or whatever else he had found to cause mischief.}

{Aurora} You are as bad as Puck brother.

{Willow laughed mischievously, the thrill of chasing his sister and Elara evident in his sparkling eyes.}

{Willow} Maybe I am, but that's what makes it fun, right?

{Aurora grinned as she splashed a handful of seawater at him.}

{Aurora} Fun indeed! But you'll have to catch me first!

{The trio of young fairies continued their playful escapades by the shore, their laughter filling the air as they enjoyed the simple joys of childhood in Fairyland. Elara, caught up in the excitement of the moment, couldn't help but join in the fun. She darted around the rock pools, her laughter mingling with Willow and Aurora's as they played together by the beach.}

{Elara} You won't catch me that easily, Willow!

{Willow chased after her with a grin, the sunlight dancing off his wings as he tried to keep up with Elara.}

{Willow} Oh, we'll see about that, Elara!

{Their voices carried over the waves, blending with the soothing sounds of the ocean as they created cherished memories under the watchful gaze of the sea unicorns and the approving smiles of the elders.}

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

{Kendra and her guards efficiently set up the campsite, ensuring that it was well-prepared for the night. They built a fire pit, gathered firewood, and set up tents for the royal family and their guests. Elara, Willow, and Aurora watched with curiosity as the camp took shape. Willow was particularly interested in helping, and he eagerly offered a hand to Kendra.}

{Willow} Can I help too, Kendra?

{Kendra smiled at the young prince's enthusiasm.}

{Kendra} Of course, Prince Willow. You can help me gather more firewood. Just be careful not to stray too far from the camp.

{Willow nodded eagerly and set off with Kendra to collect firewood.}

{Aurora turned to Elara with a mischievous grin.}

{Aurora} What do you think, Elara? Should we explore a bit before dinner?

{Elara considered for a moment before nodding.}

{Elara} Alright, but we have to stay close, and we'll need to be back before dark.

{Aurora smiled in delight as she grabbed Elara’s hand and they both ran off towards the cliffs with excitement. Elara and Aurora raced towards the cliffs, their laughter carried away by the sea breeze. As they reached the top, the view was breathtaking. Below them, the waves crashed against the rocks, and the sun was beginning its descent, painting the sky with shades of pink and gold.}

{Aurora} Look at that, Elara! It's like a painting!

{Elara} It's beautiful, Aurora. We're so lucky to be here.

{The two friends sat down, their feet dangling over the edge of the cliff, as they gazed out at the mesmerizing seascape. It was a moment of tranquility amidst the excitement of the day.}

{Aurora} Elara, do you ever wonder what lies beyond the sea?

{Elara} Sometimes, Aurora. There's so much we don't know about this world, and it's fascinating to think about all the places we could explore one day.

{Aurora nodded in agreement, her eyes still fixed on the horizon.}

{Aurora} I hope we have more adventures together, Elara, just like today.

{Elara smiled warmly, her sapphire-blue eyes filled with a sense of wonder and friendship.}

{Elara} Me too, Aurora. Me too.

{Aurora} Has your mother ever taken you to the real world before Elara?

{Elara thought for a moment, her gaze still fixed on the horizon.}

{Elara} Once a star I go with Mama and Papa to a Fairy Ring and we ride up to this place that Mama calls a mansion. My other grandparents and cousins live there. One of my Grandpas doesn't trust Papa.

{Aurora} That sounds exciting, Elara! I've heard of mansions in the real world. So you have other grandparents and cousins besides the ones in the Enchanted Forest?

{Elara} Yes, but it's a bit complicated. My other grandparents and cousins are humans, not fairies. They live in the real world, which is why it's sometimes tricky.

{Aurora} Oh, I see. That must be interesting. Do you like visiting their mansion?

{Elara} It's different from Fairyland, but it can be fun. And I get to see my other family members there, which is nice.

{Aurora} I hope I go to see the Real World one day. Maybe when I am older Mother and Father will let me go.

{Elara} I'm sure they will, Aurora. And when that day comes, we can explore the Real World together, just like we explore Fairyland. It'll be an amazing adventure.}

{The two friends, bound by their dreams and the adventures they shared, continued to play along the cliffs, the evening's magic wrapping around them like a comforting cloak.}

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

{As Lindir, Albina, Oberon, Titania, Ash and Genevieve said their goodbyes to Triton and Cora they walked back to shore and to the camp. The royal family returned to the campsite, where Kendra and the guards had set up tents and a cozy fire for the night. The sun had begun its descent, painting the sky with shades of orange and pink as evening approached.}

{Genevieve, smiling warmly} Thank you, Kendra, for taking care of the children. We appreciate it.

{Kendra, nodding} It's my pleasure, Genevieve. They are wonderful company.

{Ash worried} What about Elara? Was she ok playing today Kendra?

{Kendra, her expression thoughtful} Elara seemed to have a good time, but she had moments where she seemed lost in thought. It's hard to tell if something's bothering her or if she's just going through the typical trials of growing up. But I kept a close eye on her, and she was safe and cheerful most of the time.

{Genevieve} I just wish I know whats going on with her? I feel like I am letting her down as a mother. I feel like I am the worst mother to her if I cant even work out what is wrong with my daughter.

{Titania and Albina look at each other with worry as they rest their hands on Geneveive’s shoulders.}

{Albina} Genevieve you are not the worst mother in the Realms.

{Titania} Every parent faces challenges, and it's natural to worry about your children. But remember, you are a loving and caring mother, and your concern for Elara proves that. We all have our moments of uncertainty, but it doesn't define our ability to be good parents.

{Ash, his voice gentle} We'll figure this out together, Genevieve. We're a family, and we support each other through thick and thin.}

{Genevieve, appreciative} Thank you, all of you. I just want the best for her.}

{Oberon, reassuring} And we'll make sure she has the best, just like we always have.

{Lindir} Besides I couldn’t ask for someone better to be with the wife and mother of my son and granddaughter.

{Genevieve, touched} Your words mean a lot to me, Lindir. I care deeply for your family, and I'll do everything in my power to protect and support them.}

{Titania, smiling} Now, let's get some rest. Tomorrow is another day, and we have a lot to do.

{Albina} Goodnight, everyone.}

{They all exchange goodnight wishes and retire to their respective tents for a night's rest, unaware of the mysterious events unfolding in the shadows around them. Genevieve and Ash open a tent and peered in to check on Elara. Inside the tent, they found Elara sleeping peacefully. Her face was calm, and she appeared relaxed in her slumber.}

{Ash, relieved} She seems to be resting well tonight.

{Genevieve, her worries momentarily eased} Yes, she does. Let's hope she wakes up in a better mood tomorrow.

{They share a quiet moment together before gently leaving the tent, letting their daughter continue her peaceful sleep. As they enter their own tent Genevieve looks at Ash with a soft smile.}

{Ash} What is it love?

{Genevieve} It's just...seeing Elara finally asleep and peaceful gives me hope that whatever is troubling her can be resolved. She's such a strong and kind-hearted girl. I just want her to be happy.

{Ash} We both do, my love. We'll figure this out together, just like we always do.

{They share a tender kiss as they climb into bed and Genevieve rests her head on Ash’s chest as she traced the scar of where he got stabbed on his shoulder from the dagger of Sablethorn.

{Ash} You know, love, that was a close call. If it wasn’t for the love and strength, I have for you and Elara, I wouldn’t be here today.

{Genevieve} I am lucky you saved me that night Ash. I fear if my induced labor went even farther than it was going, I fear not only we would have lost Elara, but I wouldn’t have survived as well.

{Ash} We've been through a lot together, haven't we? But we always come out of it stronger, as a family. Our love has brought us through some tough times, and it will continue to do so. I'll always be here to protect both of you, no matter what challenges we face.

{Genevieve} I know you will, Ash. And I'll always be here by your side, too. We've created a beautiful family, and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

{With their hearts full of love and gratitude, they hold each other close and drift into a peaceful slumber, ready to face the adventures of the days to come.}

[fashionablyenigmatic]

"Grand. Listen, Troll," Alphonse began sharply, stepping forward before Merlin could open his mouth.

"I have a na—" the troll started, puffing itself up.

"I do not care," Alphonse interrupted, his tone cutting through the troll’s bravado. "I just spent my entire day working on six dresses for my latest fashion show. When I finally went to bed, I was dragged here. I know I'm asleep. He knows he's asleep. But the problem with this dream-world nonsense is that our minds still treat all of this as if we're awake."

The troll opened its mouth to respond, but Alphonse barreled on, not giving it the chance.

"Now, I have a pocket full of iron shavings, and neither I nor MERLIN," he emphasized, gesturing to his companion, "want to waste our time solving childlike riddles posed by a three-foot bridge troll with a club. Clearly, you are not a main character in this journey. Now, here’s how this can go: I could just throw the iron shavings in your face, and while you writhe in allergic agony, we’d step around you and cross the bridge. But today, Merlin and I are feeling particularly lenient—karmically, that is. However, I smell coffee, and that is what I want in exchange for humoring you with these riddles. So, quick sticks. The answer is Secrets."

The troll blinked, its mouth opening and closing in stunned silence. “Uh, um…” It shuffled awkwardly, clearly thrown off its script. “Okay, uh, next one…”

It straightened up, voice trembling as it tried again.

“I end and transform in shadow reborn. Fear me, yet greet me, for I complete thee. Who am I?”

“Death,” Alphonse said, rolling his eyes.

The troll gulped audibly, its grip tightening on the club. "R-right. Uh, um, okay. I dwell in the hearts of men, but too much of me and they crumble. I gild the poorest soul yet tarnish the richest. What am I?"

“Pride,” Alphonse answered flatly, brushing some imaginary lint off his coat.

There was a long, awkward pause. The troll, visibly shaken, glanced nervously between the two men. “U-uhm,” it stammered, the bravado utterly gone. “Cream? Sugar?”

"Please."

And the troll jumped beneath the bridge. And there began a clattering of cups

@legendaryenchantment

"Absolutely not. That would be a ridiculous and overplayed concept, one that has led countless would-be wizards to their untimely deaths. The Wizards' Council saw the dangers of such foolishness long ago and collectively performed a ritual to prevent exactly that from happening. Still, only a handful of us were brave—or foolish—enough to attempt the Journey ourselves afterward, just to ensure the changes worked. Baba Yaga and many other spirits and gods approved of the adjustments. But let me warn you: a death within the Journey may require you to face a different challenge. The object lesson here is simple—you can't take the same test twice."

After a short hike through the dense forest, the sound of rushing water grew louder, signaling the approach of a river. Sure enough, a bridge appeared ahead, arching over the swift current. Suddenly, a troll about three feet tall leapt onto the bridge, its scruffy form blocking their path.

"AGH HAAHA!" it bellowed, striking a dramatic pose. "TO SCURRY FREE FROM ME, THOU MUST ANSWER MY RIDDLES THREE!"

Alphonse turned to Merlin, utterly unimpressed. "Say the word. I’ve got iron shavings in my pocket."

The troll froze mid-cackle, tilting its head in confusion. "…What?" it replied, its theatrical bravado immediately deflated.

@legendaryenchantment

[inmegsmind]

‘You are mine and I am yours.’

Young Sirius Black x Female Reader (SMUT 18+)

Description: Despite situationships becoming an inevitable aspect of teenage life, that doesn’t make them any easier to get through. After a lack of attention from Sirius, will your (justified) jealousy break or solidify your relationship?

Warnings: Angst, some fluff  Swearing, alcohol consumption, jealous reader (leading to slight Marlene slander but I love her really its just for the fic), SMUT, oral (female receiving), fingering, unprotected sex (p in v), light choking and hair pulling.

Word Count: 6130 words.

Author Note: This is slightly longer than I anticipated lmao, also will be updating Falling, my Regulus Black fan fic really soon, I sort of hit as block in my mind with it and decided that instead of struggling trying to complete that it would be better for me to work on some other fic ideas I had to try think about it with a fresh mind. Also I tried this fic with putting all the speech in bold & italic pls let me know if this is easier to read. Ty Ly xxx

-

As a teenager, situationships have become inevitable. Everyone wants someone but nobody wants to feel tied down. One drunken hook up with Sirius Black had led to another which led to a sober hook ups ending up in the pair of you only sleeping with each other but refusing to label what was basically a relationship.

You'd been warned about Sirius flirtatious ways, his charming smile and addictive attention but by this point you didn't care. It had been six months since you first hooked up after a party celebrating a Gryffindor win. Honestly, you didn't expect anything to come of it, you knew what Sirius was like and you weren't against random hook ups yourself then when it happened again you felt a small spark of pride knowing that it was rare for Sirius to go for the same girl twice. Then when the sober hook ups began becoming a regular thing you knew you were in for trouble. Secret hook ups were now a thing of the past and now the whole the school had become aware of the Hufflepuff who had caught the undivided attention of Sirius Black. Or so it seemed.

It had been well over a week since the last time the pair of you had been intimate and the lack of attention had began to take its toll on your mood. Every time you happened to run into him it was a rushed exchange, a quick hug and kiss on the head leaving you feeling annoyed, unwanted and needy for more affection.

These feelings seemed to reach boiling point as you sat in the Great Hall for your lunch and watched as Sirius and Marlene McKinnon obnoxiously and shamelessly flirted across at their table. You had never been a jealous person, always relaxed with a cool demeanour, this was one of the reasons Sirius grew fond of you. You knew he was a flirt, it didn't phase you, especially because you knew you'd been the only person he'd been sleeping with since after the first time you hooked up sober months before. However, things were different now that Sirius hadn't given you more than a second of attention yet was able to give Marlene all of his instead. It didn't help that you knew they'd hooked up before, You and Sirius had always been very transparent about who you'd been with in the past, not wanting the other to feel caught off guard by a sly comment or spiteful whisper.

'Merlin, what did that fork ever do to you?' Your friend, Jessica, whispered from beside you and you were snapped out of your jealous gaze to look down at the silver cutlery that was victim to the tight grip of your fist. Without realising you had been gripping it so tight that your knuckles had become an alarming shade of white.

'It's not what the fork did, it's what that prick is doing over there', Clara, your best friend, spat out as she also glared over at Sirius and Marlene. Jess discretely turned her head to understand and turned back making a grunt of disgust whilst rolling her eyes.

You just about managed to croak out a sorrowful ‘I just don’t get it’ ,your jealousy and anger being pushed aside by a feeling of sadness and embarrassment. It was no doubt that everyone in the school will have picked up on the fact they hadn't seen you with Sirius for days yet he was all over Marlene in front of everyone.

'What's to get? he's a dick and you' Clara pointed her fork at you 'are wayy too good missy'. Her matter of fact tone brought a small smile to your face as Jess muttered her agreement.

'Well we know that’s true' you jokingly responded whilst returning to your meal before continuing 'but like if he wants to end stuff why not just say instead of making me look stupid'

'Nuhh-uhh, you don't look stupid, he looks stupid and Marlene looks desperate, you haven't so much as reacted other than assaulting that poor fork, you look as cool and collected as ever' Jess cooed from across the table and you smiled gratefully at the mousey haired girl.

'Come on, lets get to out of here, if I sit and look at those pricks any longer I'm gonna get violent' Clara grumbled whilst slamming her cutlery down causing a few people to turn heads as the three of you gathered your things. Thankfully, the three of you had a free period next so you could go bask in the warm spring air rather than be cooped up in a dusty and dark classroom. The soft spring air filled your senses as the three of you perched yourself on your usual spot in the court yard. The stone that you sat on felt cold and soothing against your prickly hot skin as you leant against it. You pulled out your book from inside your bag as Jess began to plait Clara's hair, the three of you settling into a calming silence.

Unbeknownst to you, four infamous cheeky boys had noticed the three of you swiftly exit the Great Hall meaning you'd missed the announcement of their party that evening. Followed closely behind by Lily, Marlene, Dorcas and Mary, the Marauders set out to find you and knew that in a free period there was only one possible location.

You heard them before you saw them. The loud obnoxious laughs and hollers always meant that a group of Gryffindors were nearing but when they were this loud there was only 4 certain boys it could be. It took all of your power to not look up as you heard them crossing the court yard and when you were met with the giggles of the girls behind you knew not to dare look up.

'Ladies you missed the announcement' The voice of James Potter roared from a few centre meters away but you continued to keep your attention on the book, at this point not being able to process a single word on the page. You felt a thud beside you as the rich scent of cigarette smoke engulfed your senses, indicating Sirius had sat next to you. His arm made its way to drop around your shoulder but you shrugged it off still not daring to look up at him.

'The announcement?' Clara asked, not even the slightest hint of interest apparent in his voice. One thing you loved about your girls was if one of you had a problem or were upset by someone, all of you shared that feeling.

'Party, Gryffindor Common Room, 9pm, be there', the pride was apparent in Sirius voice as she shared the information which only made the scowl on your face grow, your grip on the book tightening as you continued feigning your interest in the pages.

'Hmm we'll think about' Jess nonchalantly replied and Remus let out a low 'Boo' followed by James' gasp. We were usually the first group to be up for coming to a party.

‘That’s alright cause I know my girl will defo be there, a bottle of fire whiskey Y/N? the usual?' Sirius teased from beside you whilst attempting to put him around you again but much to his dismay it was shrugged off again.

‘No thanks, I won't be coming' you replied bluntly and you thanked Merlin for the strength that came out when you spoke because you were sure your emotions would get the better of you and your voice would crack or come out angry. It was blunt, but calm, almost uninterested, much like Sirius had been in you for the last week.

'What do you mean you’re not coming?' Sirius interrogated from beside you and although you hadn't looked up you knew everyone's eyes were on you. Not wanting to satisfy him with a further answer you just shrugged your shoulders before turning the page in your book to keep up the image that you were indeed still reading.

'Girls you have to come, it won't be long till we graduate and we don't have many common room parties left.'

The sweet voice of Lily Evans attempted to persuade. Sirius eyes were burning holes into the side of your head and you began to shift awkwardly under the gaze before your book was snatched from your hands, almost tearing a page.

'What the fu-' You exclaimed, eyes snapping to Sirius who had a look of annoyance painted clearly on his face.

'Why wouldn't you come to my party? You always come' He quizzed as you reached for your book only to roll your eyes in annoyance as he stood with it out of your reach.

‘Because I don't want to' You replied coldly whilst reaching again to grab the book, becoming aware of how your skirt rose against your thighs as you strained to reach it, Sirius was all to well aware of this too as you noticed his eyes trailing down your legs which made your blood boil, and not in the usual erotic way either.

'Come on, who's gonna entertain me if you're not there' Sirius pouted his mood turning playful where as yours was only turning more angry.

Letting out a loud scoff you were quick to respond 'Oh I'm sure Marlene would be more than happy to do that Sirius, she seemed to be doing such a good job of it not even 10 minutes ago'. The words came out of your mouth in such a calm and casual tone that it sent a sinister shiver down Sirius spine. The atmosphere had very quickly changed and as you turned back to finally acknowledge the others stood spectating you became aware of the proud looks on the girls faces, the mortified look on the Marauders and the way Marlene's face had turned a deep shade of ruby, very fitting against her Gryffindor robes.

'Ohh grow up' Sirius rolled his eyes as you reached over to snatch the book from his grasp. Stuffing it back into your bag you quickly tried to escape the situation but was hindered by Sirius blocking your exit.

'You're not being serious' He continued confusion and a hint of annoyance flickering across his face. You stood for a second not answering, fully aware of the various sets of eyes glued to the pair of you. 'Well what do you expect Sirius? I've barely seen you and whenever I do you're rushing off, no time for me to plenty of time to flirt with girls right in front of me' You let out the smallest hint of the anger that had been building up inside you, watching as Sirius brain began to construct his answer.

'That’s not even the case plus I'm allowed to flirt if I want to, it's not as if you're my girlfriend or anything.' Sirius instantly regretted what he said as he watched the hurt wash over your face. Of course it was true and you knew that but it wasn't like he hadn't been acting like your boyfriend, you just hadn't made it official and it hurt to actually hear it.

'Yeah that is true but I'm also not a scrap on the side who you can pick and chose when you want to fuck'

Before Sirius had even had the chance to respond you were scuttling away with Clara and Jess hot on your heels.

-

The remainder of the school day went by painfully slow as you sat brewing over the earlier altercation with Sirius. Thankfully you didn't share many classes so didn't have the displeasure of seeing him as you tried your best to concentrate.

You were now sprawled out on your bed head lost in your book as you tried to distract yourself. After much protest you had managed to convince Clara and Jess to go to the party, you didn't want them to miss out on what would be a good night just cause you were feeling down. In order to be comfy you'd opted for just wearing some thigh high socks and a shirt that Sirius had gave you one time, taking in the scent as it was more than likely you'd be returning it to him soon.

Jess took a seat on the edge of your bed and reached out to stroke your hair before asking ‘Are you sure you don’t want us to stay?’

‘Or are you sure you don't want to join?' Clara chirped up and you playfully rolled your eyes at her relentless attempt to get you to get out and have some fun.

'I'll be fine girls, you both look so good so go have a good night and come back with lots of stories and gossip for me'

The three of you exchanged goodbyes before they headed off out leaving you in the peaceful silence of the dormitory. Carefully placing your bookmark to not lose your page, you collapsed back onto the bed with your eyes tightly shut trying your best not to let any of the tears that had been building all day to fall through.

-

A buzz of chatter floated through the bumping music within the Gryffindor Common Room. The party was in full swing, drunken teenagers laughing and hooking in every corner.

Sirius Black, the usual life of the party, stood leaning on the bannister of the stairs that led to the dormitory, a bottle of Fire whiskey in hand as he scanned the crowd. Every time someone appeared through the portrait he hoped it would be you, perking up slightly to only be disappointed. He didn't actually believe that you wouldn't come tonight, that was until it was an hour into the party and there was no sight of you.

'Give up mate, she's not gonna come' the voice of his best friend and wise advisor, Remus Lupin, startled him from behind before continuing 'And I don't blame her'.

'Leave it out Moony' Sirius grumbled before taking another sip of the scolding liquor. Much to his dismay Remus was not about to let it go.

'I just don't get you ya know, you've got this brilliant girl who's quite literally head over heels for you and as far as I was aware you were for her, yet you're desperate to fuck it up for no reason'

The bitter truth from Remus hit Sirius a bit harder than usual which he put down to the fire whiskey. Stuff had been going great between the pair of you, it was so good and so perfect that it scared him. He felt that the high of the relationship developing was so euphoric that if it crashed and burned the after math would be unbearable, and now he had caused it.

'It was too good to be true, eventually she was gonna realise I'm a fuck up and leave anyway' Sirius responded to Remus who scoffed and grabbed the bottle from his hands to prevent him taking another sip.

'Mate, you couldn't have got that any more wrong if you tried' Remus began before his eyes drifted away from the raven haired boy in front of him to something behind him. Sirius spun around in hope of seeing you in the crowd but instead he saw Clara and Jess just a few feet away chatting to Lily. Before he could even think of what he was doing he pushed his way through the crowd of bodies to get to them with Remus closely following behind.

'Fuck off Black, we have nothing to say to you' Clara was quick to snap as he stood in front of them but Sirius wasn't phased by her feisty nature after getting to know her over the past months.

'Where is she? Is she coming?' Sirius quizzed only to be met with scoffs and eye rolls from the three girls. 'Of course she's not Sirius, that was harsh' Lily scolded her friend, she'd said the same earlier to Marlene, feeling disappointed with the pairs behaviour.

‘I didn't mean to say what I said, it was harsh and she knows I didn't mean it'

'Well obviously she doesn't otherwise she would be here' Jess spat before continuing 'and your wasting your breath saying that to us, the person who you should be saying it to is alone in the common room because of what you said'

Sirius hung his head in shame as he ran his fingers through the hair that had fallen. Everything that everyone was saying to him was right and true but he just didn't know how to fix it.

  'Not that I want to help you or think you even deserve it but if I was you I wouldn't be wasting another second of time at this party, I would be down in our common room, trying my hardest to make her forgive me'

Sirius didn't need another second to think before he was racing up to the common room to grab the invisibility cloak and darting back out of Gryffindor tower.

-

Thankfully, you had snuck Sirius into the Hufflepuff common room multiple times over the last few months so he knew how to get in. He tapped the barrel, two from the bottom in the middle of the second row, in the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff, and the entrance was revealed to him. Weary that there may still be a few stragglers or younger students still up and about, he remained under the shelter of the invisibility cloak as he crept his way up to your dormitory.

The large wooden door was slightly open and the dim light crept its way through into the corridor. He slowly tip toed his way over to the crack in the door to peer inside. You were there, sprawled across your bed, book in hand with your head facing away. Sirius felt his heart both flutter and pang with pain as he noticed you dressed in the shirt he had let you have, his eyes floating down to see the thigh high socks tightly gripping at your delicate skin. Trying his best not to make any noise he slipped through the door, moving it ever so slightly to fit his body through and lightly pushing it shut behind him. His intention wasn't to just suddenly appear and scare you but he felt too embarrassed to announce his presence in case you turned him away.

Unbeknownst to him, you could smell his aftershave that you so loved from a mile off, so had been notified of his presence as soon as he'd reached the top of the stairs to your dorm. Even if he was invisible, Sirius Black's presence would always be known to you. For what felt like hours but in reality must have been less than a minute, you attempted to ignore the fact you knew he was there but grew impatient waiting for him to make himself known.

'I know that's you Sirius' you declared, not drawing your attention away from the book but feeling the slight breeze as he removed the cloak. It took all of your strength not to turn and look at him.

'How did you know?' He asked quietly.

'I could smell you' you stated casually, still not breaking your attention from the book, ‘plus I could sense the door shutting and there is no breeze’

'Do I smell that bad?' Sirius attempted to joke in hope of lightening the mood but was only met with a death glare as his lack of seriousness for the situation irked you beyond belief. 'That was supposed to be a joke' he nervously admitted whilst bringing a hand up to awkwardly scratch the back of his neck.

‘Jokes are supposed to be funny', a statement that would usually be shared amongst the pair of you in a teasing matter suddenly becoming serious as your attention returned to the page in front of you. Of course you were no longer reading, you just didn't want him to get the attention he had failed to give you over the past days.

‘I know, I uh wanted to come and speak to you about earlier' Sirius began as he walked over to sit himself on your bed. His body language was awkward, something that had been foreign between the two of you up until this moment. You only hummed in response and Sirius felt dismay as you continued to look at the book and not fully engage with him.

'Look, I didn't mean what I said earlier, it was uncalled for and - can you at least look at me when I'm trying to apologise?' Sirius asked whilst reaching out his hand and placing it on the back of your sock covered calf. Your head spun around at the sudden and unexpected contact, finally taking him in for the first time. His hair was messy and falling in front of his face, just how you liked it. He wore a shirt similar to the one he had leant you that you were currently wearing, the top few buttons undone showing a peak of his porcelain chest.

'You might have not meant it Sirius but it's true, I'm not your girlfriend, if you wanted me to be surely I would be by now so it was just running on dead time for you wasn't it?' 

Although it was a question, it felt to Sirius as more of a statement, something that definitely wasn't true.

Sirius tried to begin again ‘No of course it wasn’t’ but you only cut him off, the last hour or so you had spent alone giving you time to think and construct the things you knew you would want to say when you finally confronted him.

'So why ignore me for the last week or so? Why all of a sudden act like I don't exist or that I'm one of the other girls you fuck and chuck? If that wasn't the case you would be exactly the same as you have been for months. Am I all of a sudden not good enough anymore? Are you bored of me now?'. 

The words poured out of your mouth like a flood of water engulfing everything in its path. Sirius sat there dumbfounded for a second, unaware how his behaviour in the last week had made you question yourself so much when he thought you were the best person he had ever met.

‘No Y/N, you've got it all wrong. It's not you' Sirius began to argue back but yet again you were quick to cut off his explanation. 'It's me, blah blah, that’s the oldest line in the book Sirius' you scoffed as you turned over fully and sat properly facing him this time. Despite the seriousness of the moment, Sirius couldn't help how his eyes wandered over the way his shirt slipped off your left shoulder ever so slightly displaying the skin he had kissed so many times, the way your hair dropped in front of your eyes that were beginning to well with tears.

Sirius responded through gritted teeth, ‘If you gave me a chance to explain myself you would know I wasn't going to say that'  growing frustrated with the situation that felt like it would never get resolved. It was your turn to sit slightly dumbfounded this time before mustering up a response.

‘What if I told you I don't care what you have to say?' you asked back with a shrug, even though you wanted to know exactly how he felt and Sirius knew the same as he confidently responded 'I'd say that you were lying'. The scoff that left your mouth rang into his ears as you attempted to get off the bed whilst muttering 'I think you should leave'.

Sirius took the opportunity he saw in front of him and instead of letting you go past him he lunged forward, pushing you back onto the bed and trapping your body underneath his as you shrieked in surprise. You were now trapped with your back against the plush duvet, Sirius pining both of your arms above your head with his one knee trapped between your thighs, dangerously close to where you'd wanted him most for the past few days, as he looked down at you through his messy fallen locks.

You hated to admit it but the proximity of your bodies after the days of feeling miles apart sent your head reeling. His hot breath tickled your face as the light scent of fire whiskey engulfed you. Staring back up at him you took a hard swallow, not trusting yourself to be the next one to speak.

'Still want me to leave?' he asked, almost too cockily earning another eye roll from you as you attempted to sit up only to be pinned back harder, his leg brushing ever so lightly against your clothed core. 'Yes' you managed to croak out, barely above a whisper and extremely unbelievable. Sirius leant closer and your breath got caught in the back of your throat as he leant into your ear.

'I don't believe you' he whispered and goose bumps began emerging all over your body as he came back face to face with you.

His grip on your left arm disappeared as he brought his had down to caress the side of your face as your free hand grabbed at his shirt, torn between wanting to pull him closer or push him off. Your skin felt on fire under his soft touch as he continued to slowly edge his face closer to yours.

'My beautiful beautiful girl, how could I ever get bored of you? You are too good to be true' Sirius whispered so quietly and sweetly that it almost didn't sound like it come from him.

Before you even had a chance to process the sweet whisper his lips were touching yours, so softly that you felt your heart melt and all the anger slowly dissolve. The kiss was slow and delicate, Sirius testing the waters and not wanting to push it too for if you were not interested but obviously you were.

Letting your hand wander from its grip on his shirt up to the back of his neck, you pulled him closer to deepen the kiss, instigating it to become more passionate. Sirius covered your body more closely, careful not to put too much weight on you, as his tongue began to dip into your mouth, whilst the hand he was still using to pin you down ended up tangled in your hair. With your hand now free you made work of unbuttoning his shirt not wanting to break the kiss but needing to feel his skin on your own.

Sirius pulled back to remove his shirt and the mere sight of him looking down at you with lush filled eyes only added further to your rapidly increasing arousal. You attempted to clench your thighs together in order to relieve some of the tension but Sirius was quick to notice and push his leg up further to stop it. You pouted out your bottom lip as you leant up on your elbows, hoping the pout and doe eyes would convince him to do something.

As Sirius looked down at you he could have punched himself for nearly messing this up. You were a dream and he never wanted to wake up from it. Leaning back down he chuckled as you went in for the a but he quickly dogged and began to place soft kisses down your neck. Your eyes fluttered shut in pure bliss and the small sign of affection as your hand returned to its earlier position on the back of his neck, softly tugging at the hairs.

With each kiss down your body Sirius slowly made work of undoing each of the delicate little buttons, pushing his shirt open to reveal your bare breasts and abdomen. His mouth continued its exploration of your bare body, the soft kisses and light caresses of his hands driving you insane.  It’s not that the sex was rough every time you had it but something about this time felt so delicate, like he was really taking his time to appreciate every inch of you. Instead of continuing his journey down to where you needed him most, much to your frustration, Sirius began retracing the kisses and nips back up your stomach, taking his time to massage your breasts, teasingly rolling your nipples between his rough finger pads.

 A small whimper escaped you as Sirius wetly kissed at the crook of your neck. Unable to control your urge anymore, you let your hands slowly slip down Sirius’ bare chest, lightly tracing your fingers across his soft skin until you reached his belted trousers. Sirius leant in to kiss you once more before realising exactly what your hands were doing. You were making quick work of getting his belt unbuckled and about to slip your hand into his already strained boxers when you felt his large hand grip around your throat. It wasn’t enough to disturb your breathing of course, but the perfect level of pressure to emphasise he was in charge. Breaking away from the kiss Sirius’ eyes burned into your own, the dark orbs clouded with admiration and lust.

‘As much as I would love for you to pleasure me my darling, I’m the one who’s got the making up to do’ he whispered seductively, never once breaking eyes contact which made your head tingle. As you tried to get a word of protest out his slender finger pressed against your lips, shushing you as he made his way back down your body, stopping randomly to leave another love bite and mark you as his.

When Sirius finally made his way down and became face to face with your clothed core he felt like he could cum right there and right then on the spot. You wore a bright yellow thong, your house colour of course, which looked vibrant in contrast to your glowing skin and white thigh high socks. The part Sirius loved the most though was the wet patch that had seeped its way through and was there on display for him and him only.

You propped yourself up on your elbows again, wanting to get a better look at the boy who was teasing you. All of a sudden you felt very exposed to him and wished he would carry on with it rather than just looking. As if he could read your mind, Sirius pressed the pad of his thumb against your clit, creating slow yet firm circles on the pulsing nerve. A wave of pleasure rushed over your body as this was the start of the contact you had mentally been begging for for days. 

Sirius watched, mouth ajar, as you let your head fall back with your eyes gently fluttering shut in pleasure. He had only done the simplest thing and you were already wild for him. Not wanting to deny you of that pleasure a second longer, Sirius dragged the soaking panties down your things, humming his approval as you moved your legs to ease the process. 

‘So so wet baby, I’ve barely even started yet’ Sirius teased but you were way to turned at this point to even pretend you weren’t desperate for him to do something. ‘Please siri’ you pleaded, hoping the pout and doe eyes would again work in your favour like that had so many times before. Of course, it did. Sirius wasted no more time and dragged his tongue flat from your soaking entrance all the way up to your clit which he mercilessly began sucking on. The whimper that left your lips at this long awaited pleasure was the perfect mixture of erotic and pathetic. Sirius couldn’t help but groan against your cunt at the sweet taste of your wetness, so addicting he feared he may never come up for air again. His one hand slipped up around your thigh, pushing it to open wider as he used his other hand to slip his middle and ring finger into your pulsing core. A loud moan left your throat as Sirius began to ferociously fuck you with his finger, your spare hand coming down to grab the hand that rested on his thigh. The deadly grip on his hand reverted his gaze to focus on you. The picture of you lead back with your back arched off the bed as you moaned his name so erotically would be something that he trapped in his memory for the remainder of his days.

Sirius knew you were coming close to your high by the way your pussy clenched around his fingers. ‘Come on my girl, cum for me’ he mumbled against your clit as his fingers pushed into you at a deadly pace causing you to call out his name followed by a string of profanities as you came hard on his fingers and against his mouth.  In true Padfoot style, Sirius lapped up the wetness that left you, feeling proud that he’d been able to make you cum so easily but knew it was more down to your sexual frustration than anything he could have done. Raising his fingers up to your lips he watched in delight as you sucked your own wetness off them before he swooped in for another kiss. You were quick to use your tongue to explore his mouth, feeling drunk at the taste of yourself on him.

‘Tell me what you want’ he commanded breaking the kiss but you continued to leave kisses down his neck as you made work of getting his tights pants off. Trailing kisses back up to his year you seductively whispered ‘I want you to fuck me’ before taking his ear lobe lightly between your teeth as you freed his rock hard dick from his boxers. Sirius groaned as he felt your hand wrap around his aching cock, tantalisingly beginning to wank him off, not that he needed any help getting ready to fuck you. Propping his one arm above your head, he used his other to prop your leg up onto his waste, feeling to impatient to bother even getting into another position, before taking over the grip on his cock. Your heart fluttered with excitement as you felt the tip brush up and down against your slit, gathering the left over slick to use as a lubricant.

The sounds the pair of you made as Sirius slowly pushed deep inside of you were nothing short of pornographic. Your other leg shot up to wrap around Sirius waste, pulling his hips so close that he had now completely bottomed out inside of you as his now free hand moved to grip tightly on the flesh of your ass. Sirius began fucking you instantly not giving you a second to readjust to his size as he leant down to kiss you sloppily. Your hands found refuge on his back, nails digging into his skin and he thrusted into you relentlessly. Your head was fuzzy with pleasure, the sound of Sirius’ soft groans and the skin slapping only turning you on even more. With your cunt still sensitive from your first orgasm you knew it wouldn’t be long before you’d be orgasming again and by the contorted look of pleasure on Sirius face you knew he wouldn’t be lasting much longer. His hand moved from your ass to your front, harshly rubbing against your clit as his other hand moved to yank your hair, pulling your head back to face him fully. 

‘You are mine and I am yours’, despite the roughness he was fucking you with, you knew that the words we’re sincere and that he felt most confident to say them in this situation. Though it was hard to respond between the deep hard thrusts you managed to moan out ‘I’m all yours Sirius’ just as your second orgasm began to hit. Sirius loosened the grip on your hair and you threw your head back into the bed, eyes clamped shut and moaning loudly in pleasure. The sight pushed Sirius to the absolute edge and his head collapsed into your sweat covered chest as he unloaded his cum inside of you, your tight walls milking out all of him.

The pair of you remained in that position for an unknown period of time. Sirius pressed against your bare chest listening to the frantic beating of your heart as you traced soothing patters onto this now scram covered back. It was you who finally broke the comfortable silence,

‘I meant what I said mind, I am all yours Sirius’

‘As did I, I’m all and only yours my darling’.