#newt!mc explained

[writingfool001]

What do you think would happen if Newt mc was the one who challenged Riddle to the duel? Would they have won? And if they did, what happens afterwards? (tho I'm pretty sure it's something not pleasant)

I think that they would have stepped in if Riddle went too far with Ace and Deuce but would have avoided since Riddle is a dominant figure as a dorm leader. Riddle would have probably lectured them for not looking him in the eye when they first met.

I think they would win since they had some more experience with their spell casting and don't really have to worry about blot accumulation.

I think it would have ended in the overblot since Riddle was mad about Trey's unique magic was able to turn the rose bushes into cards during that battle.

[hazyange1s]

the process of detonation (g.w. x f!mc)

summary: Garreth has a bit of a crisis when the reality of growing up starts to hit hard. While trying to overcome self-doubt and bottle up the explosion waiting to happen, she’s there to show him that there’s nothing wrong with a little chaos.

tags: allusions to adhd, alcohol use, seventh year, awkwardness and fluff, literal fireworks, too many food metaphors?, friends to lovers, gryffindor!reader, garreth is an ace at pining, beater!Garreth because yes obviously, the “wearing his sweater” trope, seniors and their existential crises, mc only referred to by she/her pronouns

word count: 5.6 k

rating: T

a/n: my entry for @garrethweasleyfest ! the prompt I used was “explosion” (kind of got inspired by explode - mother mother)

read on ao3

Garreth wasn’t all that good at really explaining the inner workings of his mind, but perhaps he could give it a go.

He might be biased, but in a way; he thought people could be compared to potions. They’re messy, complex, and each have their own set of ingredients that make them what they are — and change how they react. Some people have a little extra rose petals to them, some a sprinkle of stardust, and others are just…pure poison.

In Garreth’s case, his brewing tended to say a lot about his own concoction of self.

Of course, for most of his life, he never really considered that there might be something fundamentally wrong with whatever recipe God or whoever had used to create him. It wasn’t until seventh year when he was finally considered a grown wizard that Garreth began to suspect… and to wonder if there was any leaf or powder out there that could be thrown in to stabilize him.

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In Garreth’s defense, he had a lot on his mind that day.

Between his growing stack of homework assignments, early morning Quidditch practices three days a week, and the NEWT study group he’d been strong-armed into joining by Natsai and his Aunt, it was a wonder he had any working brain cells left at all. And that didn’t even count the time he spent on his own, er… creative projects.

So it wasn’t all that surprising that he’d accidentally broken a golden rule of potion-making in his sleepy endeavor at a cure for ague. Not once as his knife rocked against the cutting board did he consider that everybody else was flattening the blades and pressing down instead, and the rest of his friends were too oblivious to, either.

“— But then, he tried to kiss me! No request, no warning, nothing! One second I’m mid-conversation about centaurs’ rights, and the next his tongue is two inches from my face! All of that time wasted when I could have been doing any of the million other; more important things I have going on!”

Oddly enough, hearing about his friend’s failed attempts at courting (which were rather numerous) was the best part of his day so far.

Garreth nodded along politely, offering a vague “mhmm” and “you can’t be serious” at appropriate intervals, gaze flickering between his workstation and the witch in the midst of a passionate rant while turning her ladle idly in her own cauldron. He’d never been good at strictly keeping his eyes on his own work, and it was that much harder with her directly beside him; her vest unbuttoned and cheeks fairy floss pink from the vapors surrounding them.

She gave a resounding huff, dropping the ladle to rest her elbows on the textbook open in front of her. “All that is to say; I’ve come to the conclusion that men are incorrigible.”

“Sounds fairly accurate,” Garreth snorted. He gently nudged her off of the book (they often shared his, as it was filled with helpful notes) to double check a measurement.

Even if some little voice whispered that reasonable was boring and she should keep her — ahem — mind open to other possibilities, he dutifully ignored it.

“Although, we’re not all pigs, you know. Some of us have a spot of…well. Class, I suppose.” He grumbled.

“I hope you’re not referring to yourself,” her laughter rang out like the peal of a bell. “You’re a lot of things, Garreth, but you’re not exactly the epitome of a gentleman.”

His face pinched, and again she chuckled, which was a small consolation.

It stung because it was true. Garreth wasn’t exactly a rake by most standards, but he flirted with too many witches and wizards and had snogged half that number besides to be much else. He was a terrible dancer, didn’t have a fortune to inherit (even if he had been the eldest Weasley), and flaunted most rules and regulations.

So, no, he wasn’t winning any awards in Witch Weekly for Bachelor of the Year.

To spite her, he did the gentlemanly thing and conceded, albeit not so gracefully. “I’m only trying to say…you shouldn’t lump us all in with a few bad apples. I certainly wouldn’t have disappointed you like that.”

“How comforting to know. I’m still sticking with my hypothesis, but thanks for trying.”

Well, now he was thinking about how he would kiss her, if given the chance.

(This was purely for scientific reasons, of course.)

Garreth, eager to salvage what remained of his pride, readied another reply as he sprinkled the flakes of dittany into his lightly smoking cauldron. It would have been a good one, too, if not for —

“Garreth!”

There was only a hair of a second between her shouting his name in warning and what was possibly one of his most impressive explosions to date. Even though she lunged for him, she was too late to stop the blast from sending him reeling backwards with a hand over his burning-hot face and a very unbecoming cry of surprise.

Having expected him to be closer, she stumbled in her attempt at pushing him out of the way, and thus they collided like two atoms — tumbling to the stone floor in a jumble of limbs and hissed curses.

“Come on, seriously, Garreth?” Sebastian groaned from an adjacent potions station. He, along with a few others who’d been close to the blast, were coughing and waving away billowing clouds of smoke.

Natty sighed. “That’ll be another ten points from Gryffindor.”

But their protestations fell to the wayside once he was peering up at the sheepish face of his savior; no more than a few inches away. Within kissing distance, even.

Wait. What?

“Fuck. Ow. Sorry,” she groaned, trying to untangle their aching limbs as she lay half-splayed across Garreth’s chest.

It was then that his traitorous mind started paying attention to how warm she was, how bright that ring of pure gold in her eyes was, how infuriatingly good the blend of mallowsweet and smoke clinging to her like a second skin smelled…

Shiiiiittt. Shit, shit, shit.

“No, it’s, uh, it’s my fault. Totally my fault, I wasn’t, er…paying attention,” he panted. The wind had been thoroughly knocked out of him — and it wasn’t just because her elbow had struck him right in the stomach when they’d fallen.

When she managed to sort herself out and hastily climb to her feet, that stinging feeling from before returned, and Garreth didn’t notice the developing bruise on his tailbone one bit.

“Are you alright?” She asked.

“Oh, er, I think so,” he stood up, legs wobbling like a newborn thestral, and dusted off his robes. “My pride took the biggest blow. Though I suppose I should count myself lucky I had the Hero of Hogwarts to save me.”

He waggled his brows, and her jaw went slack before she was doubled over in a fit of raucous laughter.

“What?! It wasn’t that funny.“

“No, you —“ she can hardly get the words out between breathless giggles. “Garreth, your eyebrows.”

Reaching up, his fingers found the ridge just above his eyes — where, indeed, great chunks of what was once thick ginger hair are missing. “Bollocks. That’s the third time in six months.”

The unfortunate loss of his eyebrows (and dignity) became yesterday’s news when she traversed the newly formed space between them to rub what he assumed was soot off of his nose, still chuckling to herself. He resisted the urge to brush away the wayward hairs sticking to her forehead in kind.

“I’ll give you this — you’re definitely not most men,” she grinned.

It was probably an insult, but all Garreth heard was a ringing endorsement. Against the odds, he cracked a lopsided smile of his own.

Maybe he’d even call it a victory.

Professor Sharp waved his wand, and the thick fumes disappeared, allowing them all a good glimpse of his signature long-suffering scowl.

“Ten points from Gryffindor. Shocking, I know,” the ex-Auror sighed, resigned. “And I expect that cauldron to be replaced within the fortnight.”

Well. A bittersweet victory, to be sure.

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Everything tumbled downhill from there.

In the spirit of further self-reflection, Garreth knew that their unceremonious meeting on the dirty floor of the Potions classroom wasn’t some hit-him-over-the-head moment of recognition ��� even if most of his revelations came in that form. This one had been creeping up on him since fifth year, like a wily sort of poison; disguised with a sweet scent to throw him off.

But just how massively fucked was he, you may ask?

That became clear one rainy afternoon. Not just any rainy afternoon, mind you, because those were a galleon a dozen during autumn in the Scottish Highlands; but the afternoon of their first Quidditch game of the year against Slytherin.

Which didn’t help the fact that his head was already so not in the game.

It started out well enough, with Gryffindor managing to make several goals in a row that had their swaths of supporters in the stands crowing with pride. Garreth did his best to keep up as he weaved and dodged and looped around the field, trying to focus solely on the hunt for Bludgers. Of course, this required him to pay equally close attention to his teammates lest they fall victim to one of the bloodthirsty balls.

One teammate in particular more than the others, perhaps.

Flying was made all the more difficult by the sheets of icy rain pelting his face. Not even the goggles – with the assistance of an Impervious Charm – were helping him distinguish much more than vague blobs of color streaking through the cloudy sky. This, he justified, was why he started to miss more swings than he made and almost dropped his bat (twice). It wasn’t Garreth’s fault the elements were working against them.

Despite that, they were still forty points up when the conniving snakes switched tactics and started going after Gryffindors’ three female Chasers. Natty was an expert at evasion, and Nellie tended to fly high to avoid them… but not her.

She always had to be in the bloody thick of it, didn’t she?

It might have been annoying, if it wasn’t so damn impressive. Garreth couldn’t help but admire the way she moved; how she’d feint and crack a little smile each time someone fell for the trick. The way her red sweater clung, dripping, from her frame and strands of hair curled around her wet forehead were particularly distracting, too.

For the first time in his career, Garreth found himself wishing he was in the crowd – just so he could watch her.

Sebastian tossed the Quaffle to Imelda over Natty’s head – only for his face to contort with rage when it was snatched from the air between them. Garreth whooped proudly when she took off towards the goal posts. The first Bludger was hot on her tail, but so was he, maneuvering between her and the ball. He spent the next few minutes as her guardian until having to turn tail at the last minute to rescue Lucan.

The next events happened so quickly he couldn’t quite recall much but this: a familiar, feminine cry of alarm from behind him, the brown blur of a Bludger streaking towards him, and the reverberation in his arm when his bat connected with it. There was a thunderous crack, and then another scream.

What he’d meant to do was send it towards any of the three Slytherins trying to overtake her, but instead…

Garreth’s entire world narrowed down to the moment when she just barely managed to duck out of the Bludger’s path. He’d come to a screeching halt on his broom, hovering mere feet away from her with his eyes wide as saucers behind his foggy goggles, something sinking inside him as the Slytherins flew off with the Quaffle. The stadium erupted into cheers for them seconds later.

“What the hell was that?” She panted, her indignant scowl apparent even through the downpour. “You almost took my bloody head off, Garreth!”

“It — it was an accident. And you’re fine, right, so no harm, no foul?” He had to shout to be heard over the spectators and the wind.

“An inch to the left and I wouldn’t have been fine at all! I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but you need to get it together!”

“I just –”

She sped off so fast the resulting wind made him shiver. Either Garreth was simply losing his touch, or there was something seriously wrong with him lately. Cursing to himself, he shook off the chill her anger had left him with and the shame that followed, and threw himself back into the game comforted by the knowledge that he’d be able to get roaring drunk at the after party.

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Drunk might be an understatement, actually.

By the time the party was in full swing, Garreth had already downed more than his share of the sneakily procured liquor (courtesy of yours truly, Sirona’s unrelenting generosity, and several bribes to the house elves in the kitchens). Someone had enchanted a few of the lamps to change color occasionally, throwing red and green and blue lights around Gryffindor’s common room, which teemed with House members in Quidditch jumpers and all other manner of memorabilia. Even little Doge and Dumbledore had emerged briefly to shyly congratulate the team.

Not even the jubilant music pouring from the gramophone or the well-earned laughter of the partygoers could drown out what was going on inside Garreth’s head.

He’d never embarrassed himself so profoundly at a match before. Quidditch, like potion-making, was one of the few areas Garreth excelled in, and he couldn’t even do that right. Ever since school had started up again, he’d been a mess. Exploding cauldrons, racking up more detentions than ever, always saying the wrong thing…

It was seventh year, for Merlin’s sake, and he was a grown wizard now. But while everyone else was coming into themselves, it seemed like he was just coming apart.

So instead of enjoying the victory, Garreth had taken to drowning his sorrows in drink while watching from the sidelines; neck-deep in an early quarter life crisis while slumped in one of the armchairs. Leander found him there eventually, his freckled face a mask of concern as he leaned against the wall beside him.

“What’s with the sour face?” Leander raised a brow. “We just beat Slytherin! I thought you’d be dancing on the tables or something.”

“I’m not really in the dancing mood. Go on, I’ll live vicariously through you.” Garreth grumbled.

“As much as everyone would probably love to see that, I’d rather find out what’s got your wand all knotted up.”

Garreth sighed, raking the hand not currently clutching a glass of Firewhiskey through his still-damp curls. “You saw what happened, Lee. The team’s probably pissed at me for being a massive disappointment, especially…”

He gestured vaguely to the hero of the hour (the hero of every hour of every day as far as he was concerned, and she’d earned the title several times over) across the room. She was talking with Natty, Nellie, and Cressida by the fireplace, her smile brighter than the flames’ glow that lit her from behind. A clawed hand squeezed at his heart.

“Oh, that? That was…I mean, you made a minor miscalculation. Most of them have forgotten already, I reckon.” Leander’s eyes darted to the side — as they always did when he was lying horribly.

“A minor miscalculation that could have led to the untimely death of one of my best friends.”

“You’re being even more dramatic than usual…are you tossed already?”

”I dunno, mum; am I?”

There was a quiet rumble around him, like thunder. At first he thought it was just his stomach informing him of how much he’d indeed had to drink, but then a fat drop of rain landed on his nose.

Leander’s big, dark eyes rolled to the ceiling, and he dragged Garreth onto his slightly unsteady feet with an arm in his. “Alright, you’re being bloody insufferable, and you’ve quite literally got a dark cloud hanging over you. Come on, up you get — go talk to her and apologize.”

“No, Lee, please!” Garreth whined. “I’ve suffered enough humiliation today.”

”Don’t be a coward, you’ll be fine.”

The taller boy weaved through the crowd easily, pulling a stumbling Garreth along beside him until they came face-to-face with the very group of girls he had been avoiding all night. They all went quiet immediately — which was not a good sign.

Garreth scratched the back of his head, glancing between Leander and the witch with the suspicious scowl in front of him, feeling for all the world like he’d never been less of a Gryffindor than in that moment. Surely the alcohol was supposed to help with these things, right?

”Er…would you like to dance?” He blurted.

Well, that wasn’t what he’d meant to say at all. But having to talk to her at all in his clumsy state seemed even more daunting with all eyes on him, and getting her alone was a simple solution.

“You sure you’ll be able to without tripping over your feet?” Nellie snorted.

“‘M perfectly cohabitated — uh, coordinated, I mean,” Garreth argued.

Natty shook her head, hiding her laughter behind a hand. “Oh, dear.”

His favorite witch turned a familiar shade of pink, and for a moment Garreth feared that she’d laugh in his face, but eventually she sighed and handed her bottle of Butterbeer to Natty.

“If you step on my toes, I’ll jinx you,” she warned, leading him to the center of the room where groups of friends and cozy couples were scattered to dance to the magically amplified music (it was a miracle none of the professors had come to complain about it, really).

“No promises.”

Garreth wrestled with what to do when they got there. Was he supposed to take her hand? Her waist? Or, rather, should he keep it friendly and avoid touching her at all? The latter option seemed much less risky, and yet he found himself longing to feel her hand in his and the heat of her body. He’d been hooked ever since that day in Potions.

Deciding it would be better to keep his distance for now, Garreth went with swaying awkwardly on the spot instead, but she had other ideas — her hand sought out his, and she threw him into a dizzying little turn that evoked both laughter and a slight wave of nausea.

“Oh, are you leading?” He chuckled, suddenly thankful for the ballroom lessons they’d all received the year prior as he mimicked her move, twirling her playfully with ease that surprised even him.

“That might be safer,” she said. “Although you’re not doing half bad so far.”

“Always the tone of surprise,” Garreth grinned proudly.

He spent the better part of five minutes praying he wouldn’t step on her toes while simultaneously working up the courage to acknowledge the erupment in the room. And, because the universe didn’t like to make anything easy for him, Garreth had to compete with the little flutters in his stomach that beat their furious wings each time she laughed or squeezed his hand.

Merlin, just pull your wand out of your ass.

“Hey, so, about earlier. You know, during the game… you’re right, I wasn’t…I don’t know where my head’s been lately. I didn’t mean to muck things up.”

His breath held until she shrugged, her easy smile fading into something edged with concern. “Don’t worry about it. We won, and my head’s still attached to my body, so no hard feelings.”

She drew back, the impish grin back as she spun him again — which wasn’t very easy considering he had to duck under her arm. The room seemed to be moving with him, and Garreth had to right himself as subtly as possible when he came to a stop as colors that didn’t belong to the lights danced in his vision.

“You alright?” She chuckled, her hands braced on his biceps to steady him. “I think Nellie might have had a point about you tripping.”

“No, no, I’m good, just waiting for the room to stop spinning so I can look at you again.”

That hadn’t quite come out right. In place of the eye roll he was expecting, she giggled, adding fuel to his liquid confidence.

“Gods, you’re cute when you laugh,” Garreth found himself saying. He realized she was leading him away from the crowd, and soon he sank into a squashy cushion beside her. “I mean, you’re a bit blurry right now, but…still cute.”

“Okay, what’s gotten into you lately? Not that I mind the flirting… but you’ve been a right mess for weeks. I don’t think I’ve seen you this drunk before; not even when you saw your OWL results.”

A low groan rumbled in the back of his throat. “I’m peachy, pinkie promise.” Did she just say she didn’t mind his flirting?

Giggling at how absurd the words sounded together, he stuck his pinkie out to her and waited. “Come on, these are sacred!”

She did actually roll her eyes this time, but then her smallest finger hooked around his, and it didn’t pull away even when they were certainly exceeding the normal amount of time for a handshake. Garreth could smell the sweetness of Butterbeer on her breath.

It wasn’t enough to convince her, though. “Are you stressed about NEWTs? Who am I kidding, everyone and their grandmothers are. But if it’s really getting to you, then —“

Apparently, she wasn’t giving up, so Garreth sighed and rested his head against the back of the couch.

“Yes, I’m a bit strung out over the exams that will decide our entire career, what d’you think? I’m not going to have a fit over it.”

“Sorry,” her hands raised in surrender. “Just trying to figure out why you haven’t quite been yourself since the term started because I bloody care.”

“I would argue that blowing things up and making stupid decisions is very much on brand for me.”

Releasing a heavy sigh (more like an impatient huff, really), she wrested her pinkie from his, leaving Garreth more than a bit disappointed. But then again, what had he expected? That she’d sit there and hold his hand?

He hadn’t earned that. Somehow, he had earned her friendship from the very first day of their fifth year, but in no way did he reserve the right to even hope of something more. She was, well… extraordinary, and Garreth was an extraordinary disaster.

Maybe it was time he rectified that.

“Wait,” he tugged pathetically on her sleeve when she rose from the couch. “Sit with me for a little bit longer? I might need someone to Accio a rubbish bin over here soon.”

To his great relief, she sat down again, shaking her head to disguise a little chuckle. “You’re something else, y’know?”

”I’ve been told once or twice.”

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Bonfire Nights had been sparse the past couple of years around Hogwarts, as many of the residents had feared drawing attention to themselves with the looming threat of Ashwinders and goblins and the like. This year, Garreth had had the pleasure of seeing pyres built weeks beforehand, and by the end of October Zonko’s had sold out of Filibuster’s Fireworks.

As night settled over the Highlands, bonfires began to flare to life all along the rolling hills, appearing like flaming stars from the view at the castle. Garreth, alongside a group of fellow seventh years carrying sparklers and mini-fireworks, spent the brisk walk to the hill above Hogsmeade village lost in uncharacteristic melancholy. He’d never been the sort to reminisce; preferring to live in the here and now whenever possible, but for some reason the knowledge that this would be his last Bonfire Night at Hogwarts made it all a bit bittersweet (the flavor of the month, it seemed).

They drank hot chocolate in ceramic mugs provided by Sirona, surrounded by the body heat of the villages’ residents as they talked and laughed and chased their children away from the forest at the edge of the plateau. Hogsmeade’s lights had been dimmed for the occasion, glowing softly below them to allow the six foot pyre they gathered around to shine.

“I can’t believe next month is Christmas already,” Leander was saying between greedy sips of the drink cupped in his blue-tinged hands. “Then it’ll be the New Year, then Spring Break, and before we know it we’ll be taking our NEWTs and graduating…”

“Breathe, Lee,” Garreth chuckled. At least he wasn’t the only one getting hit with the terrifying reality of time all at once.

”I know, is it not amazing? The last few years have gone by so quickly. I will miss this place come summer, though,” Natty sighed wistfully.

Nellie snorted. “Speak for yourself. If I never have to open a textbook again after school is over, it’ll be too soon.”

“Where’s your sense of adventure, Leander?” His favorite Gryffindor (don’t tell Nats or Leander) joined their little circle, her frame wrapped in a thick red scarf and one of his old Christmas sweaters she’d stolen from him in fifth year and never given back — not that he minded, as it didn’t fit him anymore and looked far better on her, anyway.

The lanky redhead grumbled a reply, “Easy for you to say. Half of my job will be desk work.”

“No shame in that,” she shrugged. “Garreth’s going to be behind a cauldron, after all.”

“Hey, Potioneers do other things besides just… brew. I’ll still forage for my own ingredients, travel to sell them… hell, one day, I might just have my own shop.” Garreth said with pride.

“So long as you don’t blow it up,” her cheeks dimpled when she smiled.

As if on cue, a loud boom shook the ground beneath them. Everyone’s eyes shot to the sky, cheers swelling amongst the crowd as the first firework exploded in a shower of golden sparks, dissolving back towards the earth like falling stars. Despite all their talk of the future, Garreth felt like a first-year again as a smile broke out on his slightly chapped lips, apparently not immune to the childlike wonder the fireworks always seemed to bring.

The next one was even louder and brighter. Garreth nearly jumped out of his skin when an iron grip closed around his arm and a body pressed into his left side. She had buried her face in his shoulder, too, and a warm feeling unrelated to the cocoa spread from his stomach.

“Aww, is the big, bad Gryffindor afraid of fireworks?” he teased, trying not to enjoy the smell of her shampoo or the color in her cheeks too much as she looked up at him sheepishly.

“Shut up!” The shivering witch hissed. “Am not. I’m just…cold, and you’re a damn furnace, as usual.”

“Oh, you’re cold,” Garreth pouted just for the drama of it. Then, before he could convince himself it was a bad idea, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders to pull her closer still. “I suppose I’ll have to keep you warm, then.”

”And they say chivalry is dead.”

She flinched after the third blast, leading him to rub her shoulder in a subtle attempt at comfort, his heart thumping almost as loud as the fireworks now going off in quick succession when she curled into him. It was then that his Neanderthal brain concluded why she might have been so terrified; after fighting in a bloody war just two years ago.

“Sorry,” she mumbled.

“Don’t be. I don’t mind.” At all. Garreth laughed to himself and set down his mug in the grass so he could cover the ear she didn’t have pressed to his chest with his hand.

“You know, you’re really sweet when you want to be,” he thought he heard her say over the explosions echoing throughout the valleys.

He lowered his head to speak into the ear closest to him, lips brushing the flyaways from her hair, rubbing her arm again when he noticed her shiver. “Don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to uphold; can’t have everyone think I’ve gone soft.”

Truth be told, his limbs always felt like melted taffy around her — he was practically a puddle at her feet.

They were quiet for a few minutes. Eventually, her head lifted partially from his shoulder, and with a sidelong glance he caught her peering up at the sky with a look best described as wonder. Each burst of sparks was reflected in her wide eyes, and Garreth felt tiny pricks of electricity along every nerve in his body at the sight.

“So, um…” he scrambled for something to say so he wouldn’t think about how close her lips would be if she turned to the side a bit. “Are you still going to write to me after school’s over? Or will you forget all about us little people when you’re off traveling the world in search of ancient relics and having daring adventures?”

“Of course I’m going to write, you moonmind,” she looked up at him, then, and his hand fell from the side of her head. “And I’ll come visit, too, so I can see that shop of yours.”

Perhaps she was just humoring him, but Garreth found nothing but sincerity in her soft smile, and his own crooked grin widened at the thought that she might be one of the first to genuinely believe in him.

“What’s got you so pensive all of a sudden?”

He shrugged, absentmindedly playing with the frayed edges of her cashmere scarf. “Maybe it’s just the old age catching up to me. It pairs well with my bum hip, I think.”

”Come on, I’m serious. I won’t tell anyone and ruin your sterling reputation, I swear.”

“I don’t know,” Garreth let out a sigh, his breath clouding in the air between them. “Just realized how much I’m gonna miss you.”

“And here I thought you’d be sick of my face after seeing it every day for three years,” her eyes darted away from him to watch a spray of green and red fill the starry sky. She wasn’t shaking anymore.

Never, he almost said. Garreth knew, as he gazed hopelessly at her perfect profile, that he would never be tired of her face — well, of all of her, really. In fact, he wouldn’t mind seeing her every day for the rest of his life.

“If you’re going to miss me so desperately… Perhaps you could join me on one of my so-called ‘daring adventures’ sometime; on the off chance Pippin gives you a holiday.”

His brows shot up as she met his stare. “Really? You’d want me to tag along?”

Their classmates and the villagers burst into raucous whistles and hollering as the finale began, fireworks filling the air with the smell of gunpowder and a rainbow of light that flashed on everyone’s uplifted faces. Garreth held her tightly lest she start to panic again, but the witch in his arms just laughed jubilantly at the crowd’s infectious excitement, nodding in response to his question.

“Sure. Never know when you might need a talented Potioneer to back you up. Fair warning that we’re bound to run into some trouble now and again, naturally.”

The thump of his heart became something wild and frantic, beating away beneath the hand she’d placed on his chest until he feared it, too, would simply explode. Gods, if they weren’t careful, he would wind up doing something massively stupid… or massively genius, depending on the results.

“As long as you’re there, I say bring it on,” Garreth beamed.

He could hardly believe his luck. She’d asked him to accompany her on her travels! That had to mean something, right?

Only one way to find out for sure…

“And would it be…er, just the two of us, or would Sebastian and Ominis and the rest of the crew be joining as well?”

Her eyes sparkled with recognition. “That depends on how you would feel about us traveling alone.”

”Would it be rather selfish of me to say that I’d love to have you to myself for a bit?”

“Probably…” her breath warmed his cheeks, though they were already burning hotter than a cauldron flame as Garreth became hypnotized by the way her teeth worried at her reddened lower lip. “But then I’d have to admit that I’m selfish, too.”

Now, that was a sign.

The last round of fireworks were utterly deafening, so Garreth had to lean in once again until the cold tips of their noses brushed to say, “Could I be even more of a self-serving bastard and ask you for one more thing?”

”Yes, you can — and yes to anything you want,” her lashes fluttered as her gaze dropped down to his slightly parted mouth.

“Anything?”

Garreth wasn’t one to ignore an opportunity when it arose. He took it and ran, gently placing his hand beneath her chin at the same moment his eyes slid shut and their lips brushed together with such a delicate touch that he shuddered. Then she took the lead, deepening the kiss with a wispy little sigh that had him weak at the knees and left him unable to form any solid thought but for how fucking incredible she tasted with the remnants of rich chocolate on her tongue.

When the two of them disconnected, the last sparks were fading from the sky, but they lived on in Garreth’s veins, popping and crackling like Fizzing Whizbees.

“See?” He murmured while still trying to catch his breath. “Didn’t disappoint you, did I?”

Her laughter bubbled up between them, brighter than any display. “You never disappoint, Garreth Weasley.”

Garreth had wondered before if he’d been made wrong; like one of his failed experiments with just a splash too much of the wrong thing. But perhaps — especially with someone like her to help keep him stable — some of the best things could come from the unpredictable and the unexpected.

He didn’t exactly find the missing ingredient…it had been there all along.

[koolades-world]

Obey me! brothers and their secondary sin w/ sin swap

Ok hear me out. Each of the brothers has their primary sin, obviously. It’s what caught my attention to the game in the first place. After all, dating the avatars of the seven deadly sins is pretty eye catching

However, after playing the game for about a year now and really digging into the lore of the brothers, I can’t help but notice some patterns. At the beginning of the game, I actually kept thinking Levi was the avatar of greed from the way he behaved.

As I was writing it, it made less and less sense to me and sounded more stupid but hopefully y'all think it makes sense

Lucifer’s second sin is lust.

Half a joke, but have you seen this man?? He oozes sex appeal. Makes you wonder just how many demons or people have thrown themselves at him just for him to push them all away. Who wouldn't want to date him? He could have anybody, he just needed to say the word. He claims he has no desires, but he just hides them away very well, as shown by the hellfire newt syrup incident. All he needs is to be a little more free and a little less afraid of word getting out. Asmo probably claims it takes years off his face lol

Would still be very diligent and do his duties, but half the time that door is locked, he's probably getting it on

Not sure if it would be the same person or people, or different people, just depends on him

Overall, I think he would be able the same. Lucifer is Lucifer after all

Mammon’s second sin is envy.

Mammon loves his money, but greed and envy are usually a package deal. It's difficult for me to explain, but someone who is greedy is usually envious and vice versa. Greed and envy run close together since Mammon gets out more, envy would have a larger impact on his life. Not to say that Levi isn’t jealous, but it’s easier to not get envious when you’re not in you’re room all day, every day.

Not much change. Would definitely get matching jewelry with Mc, with his name on it if possible if they didn’t already

Not that he liked sharing before, but he won't budge for anyone now

Don’t even think about touching Mc, like don’t even look at them

Levi’s second sin is greed.

Like I said before, I actually though Levi was greed at first. I learnt pretty quickly who was who after a week or so of playing. Levi is envious and does not want to share Mc, which is greed. I’m starting to think Mammon and Levi argue so much because they’re so similar.

Overall, not much would change, like Mammon

Would be less inclined to share, which does extend to Mc to an extent

Definitely finds ways to keep Mc with him “accidentally”

Satan’s second sin is gluttony.

This was actually the easiest for me to match. He’s not hungry per say, but he’s hungry for knowledge. He reads lots of fiction books, be he also reads lists of nonfiction books. The amount of stuff he must know is insane. His brothers are smart too, but what sets them apart is that he is always actively seeking it out. He is always seen with a book in hand, so he’s always learning something. On top of that, there’s also school so he’s learning there too. Part of me thinks he wants to learn so much is to learn more about himself and to be better/more knowledgeable than Lucifer

Despite me saying it was the easiest to match Satan to gluttony it’s also the hardest for me to imagine him as a traditional gluttony demon

Probably uses this to his advantage in a way to read more, since he’s always reading while eating and now they can’t stop him because then he’ll go on a rampage

Probably still just as clean and tidy as before, so absolutely no food in his room. Midnight stacks stay in the kitchen

Probably also sees this as a bit of a break. Like he can just walk around without getting mad at how that demon’s face looks

Asmo’s second sin is sloth. I almost gave him both wrath and pride, but eventually settled for sloth. He’s never actually blown up in game and hasn’t tried to kill Mc (I think) but the things he’s says sometimes are incredibly threatening and are scarier coming from him than from Satan. Like that one time he was like “if you ever lie to me again I’m going to rip out your heart out to see if your heart is telling the truth” and he was giving this dead serious scary look I nearly shit myself. He’s also incredibly vane and will kill anyone who disagrees, which means he’s very prideful. It’s a different kind of pride than Lucifer, but it is pride nonetheless. I gave him sloth in the end because he's perfectly content with letting everything come to him. He likes partying, yes, and he has his skincare routine while Belphie does not, but Belphie is sloth to the most extreme. If he was allowed, he would probably have people do everything for him.

If Asmo was a sloth demon, he would have people do everything for him. Dress him, do his makeup, feed him

He would still dress cute, and love partying but all the parties would have to come to him

Online shopping would become his best friend

He would probably love devilgram more since it’s convenient and easy

Beel’s second sin is pride.

While he doesn't care much what other people say about him, he cares very much about his family. A single wrong word about any of his brothers, or god forbid, his sister, you are guaranteed to go flying through the nearest wall. His family is the thing most important to him. He's proud of them and everything they've done, and is very supportive. Lucifer is the same way and they both display it in a quiet way. I don't know if there's a word for being prideful on the behalf of others.

Expect him to be much more possessive

He's the same but this man will not take shit anymore

Someone looks at you wrong? sorry babe it's other side of hell for them. Someone making fun of you (why they would do that when you know the brothers is a death wish)? You’ll never see them again unless you find their head on the RAD flagpole

Belphie’s second sin is wrath.

This demon has major issues. Ever since the fall, he's been mad. Mad mostly at humanity, probably a little bit at himself. All he has wanted to do is get revenge on humanity for what they did to his sister. He might seem like a cute, sleepy demon, but there's so much boiling under the surface. He literally strangled Mc, for crying out loud. Just because he likes Mc doesn't mean he likes other humans or has forgiven humanity as a matter of fact. Only second to Satan since he was literally born of rage

I imagine Belphie almost as normal but a lot more irritable. If you are not Beel, do not wake him up from a nap and expect him to be happy

I feel as if pranks towards Lucifer are a way to channel his rage so either they would ramp up times one hundred or disappear altogether because he would be bullying Lucifer in other ways LOL

His grades would probably become even better than Satan’s and Lucifer’s since Satan and Lucifer actually try and Belphie can do the same without effort. Without sleeping 24/7 he would have more time to put in more effort

I want to write a longer fic about the brothers with these swapped sins and/or take a deeper dive into how each brother does or doesn't display each sin since I love character analysis :)

I think it would also be interesting just to break down what it is to be a demon of a certain sin, not just the brothers specifically

[misc-obeyme]

I was looking for another word for 'moan' and I imagine a scene after the whole newt syrup shenanigans where mc walks into hol and goes "huh" Satan:"what is it?" mc: "guess now that I'm here again there's another reason for the name lamentation" Satan:*blushes deeply cuz he understands immediately" mc is suppressing a laugh Mammon:"I don't get it" Belphie: what... oh *blushes too* Beel:??? Levi:"mc you need to chill" *can't stop blushing either and runs to his room" mc bursts out laughing, Satan pats mc on the head: "I've unleashed a beast" Hope it gave you a good chuckle or smth

LOL anon please I love that Mammon doesn't get it. I'm just imagining MC having to explain it to him later. Or maybe Satan does, that'd be pretty funny, too.

Now I kinda wanna use that word in place of moan. I do feel like it has a more depressing connotation to it, though lol. Like everybody is sad that MC has arrived... but really it's more like everybody is going to be crying because MC has arrived. You know, because MC makes them feel so good they can't help but cry about it.

I quite like whimper and whine myself. They make everyone sound so much more needy than moan.

Groan is funny because if used in certain ways it sounds like the person is in pain lol.

Anyway, I love Satan just being like, yes this is my fault and I accept it fully. Meanwhile Levi is just like nope absolutely not. Doesn't come out of his room for hours. Maybe days.

Belphie will tell Beel later.

Good thing Lucifer wasn't around for this, I think he'd be giving everybody a lecture about it lol.

[mirai1269]

Mission for Love: Mind Control Part 3

([MC]'s thoughts are formatted like this)

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

"Uhm... big bro, what are you doing?" Asked Newt. [MC] put his index finger to his mouth, requesting silence.

"I'm investigating." He replied. Newt tilted his head to the side, then turned his eyes to where [MC] was looking.

"Why are you stalking Leon?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowing with concern. [MC] scoffed at the accusation.

"I'm not stalking him! I already told you, I'm investigating!"

Newt looked at his brother with doubt and concern.

"You're... not looking forward to get beaten up by him, right?"

The older brother finally had enough.

"Something's up with Leon! I need to find out what it is. But since I'm not the kind of person you're implying I am, I have to unveil this mystery from a distance."

The explination didn't seem to win Newt over, but it's not like [MC] had time or energy to deal with him in that moment.

They were at the school gym, hiding behind the door. Leon was sitting at the bleachers, looking devastated. Suddenly, he dug into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

"What could he- AAH!" [MC] yelped. His phone started ringing. Leon called him. Great! Just as he was about to accept the call, Newt snatched the device from him. "Ey!"

The younger brother pulled out his earphones, plugged it into the phone, gave one earplug to his brother and kept the other to himself. Then he accepted the call.

"Hello?" Leon spoke hesitantly. [MC] gulped in fear.

"H-hi Leon! What did you call for?" The boy asked. Newt remained in silence. They could hear Leon let out a small whimper at [MC]'s stuttering.

"[MC] you have to believe me! I didn't mean to attack you. I would never hurt you! I don't know what happened yesterday- heck, I don't even remember yesterday morning!"

Newt scoffed at what Leon just said.

"I only know about my...deviance, because a teammate of mine showed me the video he made. I wanted to talk to you about it, but you kept running away. I-I'm not blaming you, I totally understand. I mean it did hurt but... anyways, so I figured it'd be best if I send you a text. But then, WHOOSH!"

The two brothers were mimicking their confused looks.

"What do you mean, 'whoosh'? Did you drop your phone?" [MC] asked.

"No! Whenever I try to text you, I suddenly blackout and my phone says I've blocked you. Not only that, your number also gets deleted. I figured it's best to directly contact you. Thankfully, it seems to be working." Leon explained.

"Do you not remember blocking me?" [MC] asked back. Leon groaned.

"Look, I don't think I can spare time to chat with you right now. I want to, believe me, but I think something or someone is trying to keep me away from you."

The reasoning started to concern [MC].

I hope Leon's not infected with some kind of mind altering virus. Or is it aliens?! Or supernatural yandere?! Please no! Even 1 yandere is too much, let alone 2, but this?!

[MC] let out a deep breath to calm himself.

"Leon. If what you're saying is true, then I suggest you stay away for the time being. If this "entity" will hurt you... I don't know if I could bare that..." [MC] cried out.

On the other hand, I can finally take a rest from Leon for a little!

Leon gasped at the suggestion.

"[MC] I-... alright, I won't talk to you directly."

[MC] hummed in satistfaction.

"But I will keep my eyes on you in some way! If this guy or thing is planning on hurting you too eventually, I want to be ready to step in!" Leon added. [MC]'s blood went cold in an instant.

IS HE GOING TO STALK ME???!!!

"G-great. I-" [MC] gulped "-appreciate it!"

Looking back at Leon, [MC] could see the boy beaming with joy.

"Oh, by the way, what you asked earlier. Yeah, I never remember blocking, nor deleting your number. And you know what the weirdest part is? I always have this massive hea- AAAHHH!!"

The two brothers immediatelly turned to look at Leon. He was holding his head, kneeling on the ground, howling in pain. They could even hear faint sobs through the phone. Just as [MC] was about to run towards him, the screaming stopped. Like a robot, Leon calmly picked up the phone.

"L-Leon? Are you okay?" [MC] asked, shaking in fear. In response, Leon let out a chuckle.

"You know... It's not very nice to talk through the phone, when you're so close."

If Newt hadn't also held the phone, it would've dropped to the ground, as [MC] quickly pulled his hands away.

"L-Leon wha-"

"I know you're watching me. You know how much I looovee attention, but... I enjoy it a whole lot more when it's from someone much closer... under my direct gaze... as you're begging for mercy..."

[MC] could feel his legs shiver from feelings, along with fear, better not disclosed.

"I'll say this once. Don't try to talk to me again! Stay the f*ck away from me! And lastly, if you ever go against what I've just said... I'll f*cking snap your pretty little neck~"

Newt was baring his teeth at these threats, while [MC] was going pale.

"Oh and, while your brother's there too- What? Do you think I hadn't noticed his pathetic, annoying sniffing? Anyways, it goes for Newt too. Leave me alone, and maybe, I'll leave you alone. Capisci, tesoro~?"

With that, the call ended and [MC] was once again blocked.

"What the..." Newt mumbled. Suddenly, something clicked for the older brother.

"That wasn't Leon."

Newt looked at him like he was some sort of lunatic.

"Leon can't speak Italian!"

(A/N.: I don't know if Vincent is multilingual, but I kinda headcanon him as such, ergo him slipping in the Italian. Also, I had to use google translator for that. It means "Understand, darling?")

[jazlynriddle]

Welcome to your life - Pt 2:

Acting On Your Best Behaviour Ch 14:

Summary:

They'd seen it in their fellow orphans often enough to recognise the pattern and were now forced to admit, despite their hopes to the contrary, that Isidora had likely suffered similar side effects.

No… they'd always known she had. The Keeper had just wanted the power that Ranrok had, enough to convince themselves that they would be able to handle it better than that naive woman.

With the start of the Keeper’s sixth-year in Hogwarts, comes a whole slew of headache-inducing challenges from the most unexpected of places. Between insignificant pests throwing wrenches into their plans and tedious teenage drama, that the Keeper is entirely unprepared for, they wonder if they'll make it to their NEWTs without losing their sanity.

Or worse, Ominis or Sebastian.

Warnings: Sebastian x MC x Ominis! Drug Addiction! Spoilers! Slow-burn corruption! Dark content! Fucked up 1800s orphanages! MC has no love for Anne or Solomon! Dubious happy ending (it's happy for MC, Seb and Ominis at least).

You can also read on AO3! (chapter specific warnings below)

Notes:

Warnings: Graphic descriptions of injuries!

Ahaha, this ended up being much longer than I thought it'd be, 5.5k words in total, but I just couldn't split this into two chapters because I didn't want to disrupt the flow.

Oh well, I doubt anyone reading this wants less to read xP

"Hey, Poppy, how were the snidgets?" Natty asked in a hushed voice as her friend joined her at their usual table in the Three Broomsticks.

"Oh, they were wonderful, the little ones have started trying to fly and one of them made it a whole meter!" Poppy leaned close as she spoke quietly, her eyes shining with happiness as she gushed. "I can't wait to see the day when the species is no longer endangered."

"Me neither." Natty smiled softly at how earnest and glowing Poppy was when she spoke of her beloved beasts.

Natty truly couldn't understand how the other students could bully this gentle soul, feeling rather honoured that Poppy had entrusted her with such a momentous and significant secret. While the circumstances around her mother's decision to move to Britain were far from ideal, Natty was glad to have come here.

She had found a friend who'd helped her protect her new home and even come to terms with her father's passing with their support. She'd found Garreth and Amit to be surprisingly fun to hang out with and had become close friends with Poppy.

Poppy was probably the brightest, sweetest, and loveliest person Natty had ever met. Adventurous, brave, strong, and kind. Poppy was really something special and Natty was sure they'd be friends for many years.

"I'll do whatever it takes to protect the little ones." Poppy declared, her eyes blazing with determination and Natty felt her heart warm.

"If there's anything I can do to help, I insist that you allow me." Natty couldn't help taking Poppy's hand in her own, squeezing lightly as she spoke.

Poppy's answering smile, her resolute and firm nod, felt almost as though a vow had been sealed between them. Natty felt like she would do whatever it took to make sure Poppy would always look so happy, barely noticing the doors near their table opening.

"Oh, I see you ladies are early." Natty jumped when Amit greeted them cheerfully, brushing snow off his shoulders as he approached the table.

Natty lifted her hand from Poppy’s to give him a small wave. "Hey Amit."

"Is that a new coat? Such a lovely shade of blue, reminds me of mooncalf eyes." Poppy asked as Amit took his usual seat.

"You noticed! Yes, my mother gave it to me as a Christmas gift over the break." Amit nodded proudly, before humming curiously. "Do mooncalfs always have the same shade of eye colour?"

Natty smiled as Poppy eagerly began explaining, enjoying the sight of her friend in her element. It was pretty clear that Poppy enjoyed interaction, despite previously keeping to beasts before the Keeper arrived.

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late!" Garreth's voice came half a second before the doors burst open and he tumbled through them alongside a cloud of snow.

"Great entry." Natty commented with a chuckle as Garreth clambered into his chair, juggling an armful of odd strips of… string?

"What's all that for?" Amit asked curiously as Garreth dropped the pile on the table, while Natty quickly moved the butterbeers out of the way.

"Trust me, you don't want to know." Garreth grinned as he dropped heavily into his chair.

Amit spent the next several minutes trying to get him to elaborate, when several people began to stream into the pub, exclaiming about something that seemed to have happened in the square a few moments ago.

Natty pondered what that might have been about but was quickly distracted when Garreth finally began to explain the prank he was planning.

The moment the Keeper felt the broom between their knees lurch forward abruptly and begin plummeting towards the ground with incredible speed, from a solid ten meters in the air, they knew exactly how much pain they were about to experience.

The memory of the workhouse manager's mangled body, twisted and contorted on the floor, flashed through their mind. Followed by the less expected pang of regret that pulsed through their chest, at the thought of leaving Sebastian with that same image burned into his mind forever.

They clenched their teeth, like hell they'd let that happen without a fight.

The Keeper reached into their robes, taking precious seconds to draw their wand, and quickly cast a Protego shield, raising their left arm to guard their head for additional defence. The magical sphere of protection formed a split second before they slammed into the ground, cracking the concrete from the force of their landing.

The Keeper felt the impact rip through their body, immediately followed by sharp pain exploding across their ribcage and their throat filling with rust.

The throbbing pain across their limbs was almost negligible beside the burning agony that came with every breath. Each shaky inhale scraped past the blood bubbling up through their windpipe, choking the Keeper as they struggled to maintain consciousness.

A distant scream made its way through the fog of pain, their name.

That voice screaming their name, it sounded so familiar, but they'd never heard it like that, so distressed. Somehow, their chest hurt even more.

"Damn it, stay with me! Don't give up!" Sebastian desperately pleaded as he knelt beside the Keeper's bloody form in front of Honeydukes. His hands shook as he pulled a vial of wiggenweld potion from the Keeper's satchel lying beside them, before slinging the satchel’s strap over his shoulder.

Their eyes were still open but the distant haze in them terrified Sebastian, his mind filled with flashes of his parents at his feet, their faces swollen dark purple and eyes red from the toxic fumes they'd suffocated on.

This was so much worse.

The Keeper had landed on their side, so their left arm and leg were both twisted in the wrong direction. More alarmingly, there was a pointed bloody white bone stabbing out of their chest, ripping through their blood-stained uniform, presenting a horrifying image that Sebastian was certain he'd see in his nightmares for the rest of his life.

Slipping an arm under the Keeper's shoulder, he tried to lift them slightly into a relatively upright position, causing them to cough and spray blood across their torso. Sebastian felt awful at the pain the movement was clearly causing, nausea churning in his stomach, the itch to punch Selwyn in the face again was overwhelming.

Sebastian could hear the bastard being detained by Officer Singer behind him, so at least that was something he didn't have to worry about right now. He would punch the fucker again later.

Suppressing his panic, Sebastian unstopped the vial and rested it against the Keeper's lips, pouring the wiggenweld potion into their mouth. They coughed once more, pushing half the vial’s contents down their chin, their stuttering breaths rattling raggedly, and Sebastian quickly cast the Anapneo charm to vanish the blood in the Keeper’s throat.

He felt his vision blur as he reached for another potion, his blood-coated fingers slipping frustratingly across the vial’s smooth glass.

"I know it hurts, please, just try to swallow." Sebastian choked out, scrubbing his sleeve over his eyes to wipe away the desperate tears as he opened the second vial to try again. "Just hold on, Ominis is getting nurse Blainey. I shan't let death come for you, you hear me?"

The Keeper's throat muscles tightened as they struggled to force the potion down, past the endless stream of blood that continued seeping into their windpipe. The moment the vial was empty, Sebastian discarded it and stroked his hand over their hair to soothe them, waiting with bated breath, each second stretching on far longer than it should.

A few minutes later, he heaved a sigh of relief when the Keeper’s constant, wet, blood spraying cough finally ceased. Through his tear-filled vision, he saw the Keeper's eyelids flutter and Sebastian grasped their right hand in his own, his chest tightening as their thumb rubbed over his weakly, comfortingly.

The minutes felt like hours as Sebastian murmured an endless stream of encouragement, trying to stop the Keeper's eyes from slipping shut. The chilling knowledge that there was nothing he could actually do seeping into his bones, the way the cooling pool of blood, in which he was kneeling, soaked into his robes, as he cradled their broken body.

The crowd of concerned and alarmed Hogsmeade residents being held back by Sirona, went mostly unnoticed by Sebastian as the Keeper's body grew steadily colder.

"Don't you dare leave me too." Sebastian whispered, fear gripping his heart painfully in his chest as the Keeper's eyes slipped closed and their hand went limp in his.

At the same moment, the unmistakable sound of a nearby floo activating reached his ears, along with-

"Sebastian!" Ominis' anxious voice cut through the din and Sebastian raised his head, eyes seeking out Ominis through the crowd.

"Ominis! Nurse Blainey!" Sebastian breathed in relief as the nurse shouted for the ring of onlookers to part and hastened to the Keeper's side, immediately drawing her wand.

"Stand aside, Mr. Sallow!" The nurse shooed him as she knelt beside the Keeper and Sebastian had to force himself to lay them back on the floor, Ominis rushing over to help him to his feet.

Sebastian knew he couldn’t do anything for the Keeper, but it was so much scarier, now that he was no longer able to hold them and he clung to Ominis instead, feeling the other boy trembling as well.

"Diagnosa!" Nurse Blainey waved her wand over the Keeper and muttered a few words to herself, seeming to be reading something only she could see.

After a moment, she flicked her wand, casting a slew of spells that were spoken too fast for Sebastian to make out. A stretcher was conjured, and the unconscious Keeper levitated onto it as Blainey waved her wand in complicated motions.

Sebastian and Ominis both flinched when a loud crack split the air, the Keeper's bones snapping sharply back into place and drawing an involuntary guttural cry from their throat that made Ominis stiffen terribly.

For something that was decidedly a good thing, the sight of the bone jutting from the Keeper’s chest sliding back under their skin was more unnerving than Sebastian might have expected, and he distantly noted the sound of someone in the crowd retching.

"A- are they-" Ominis choked out, and Sebastian belatedly remembered that Ominis couldn't discern their love's condition like he could.

"T- they're alive. Nurse Blainey just finished setting their bones and is feeding them a blood restorative potion." Sebastian gripped Ominis' hand in his own, forcing his voice to steady.

"Oh, thank Merlin." Ominis' knees went weak with relief and Sebastian put an arm around him to support him. "How- how bad is it? I could only guess what happened when you screamed."

"They- that bastard Selwyn cast Descendo on their broom as they flew over Hogsmeade." Sebastian glared at the boy who was still being berated by Officer Singer just off to the side.

"They probably only survived thanks to the Protego they managed to cast." Sebastian growled, his anger resurging at the memory.

He'd shouted for Ominis to get Blainey as he ran, throwing a punch into Selwyn's ugly mug and knocking the bastard to the floor, before running over to the Keeper. If Officer Singer weren't with the barmy git, Sebastian would have gone for another hit already.

"Not even Black will be able to cover this up." Ominis muttered, his jaw clenched tightly and his eyes seething with a frigid rage.

"Yeah." Sebastian took a deep breath, letting Ominis’ words calm his own fury. They would get their chance for vengeance when the time came. Perhaps even Ominis might make an exception for Selwyn and be interested in participating this time.

Noticing Nurse Blainey sigh and start levitating the stretcher in the direction of the road to Hogwarts, where Sirona was speaking with a cart driver, Sebastian felt his anxiety return. He nudged Ominis.

"Come on, it looks like Blainey is bringing them back to Hogwarts with a cart." Sebastian muttered, his fear returning in the absence of his anger like a bucket of cold water dumped over his head.

Ominis nodded and the two of them followed the nurse through the streets, leaving the disconcertingly red patch of snow behind them.

"Nurse Blainey, a- are they alright?" Ominis asked as they caught up with her on the other side of the bridge.

The nurse gave them a small sympathetic smile. "No worries, it looks bad, but the danger is passed. I can heal them up without any issue from this point onwards, they'll just need some time to rest and recover."

"Thank Merlin…" Ominis breathed, clutching at the front of his robes, his heart rate settling as he sighed in relief.

Sebastian on the other hand was more occupied staring at the Keeper's motionless form on the stretcher, lying there unnaturally still, the only visible skin covered in shades of red and purple. Were they really going to be alright? He couldn’t shake that familiar nauseating fear, his fingers, still sticky with dried blood, were practically glued into a clenched fist.

His fists tightened and the blood cracked, flakes falling from his skin in brown flecks as the nurse came to a stop beside the cart. Watching mutely as the stretcher was attached to its frame with ropes and the nurse took the seat beside the driver.

"Don't worry, I'll bring them safely to the castle." Nurse Blainey reassured, seeing that the boys were still watching the Keeper with anxious expressions.

The two boys nodded, watching in silence as the cart pulled out of Hogsmeade. Ominis took a deep breath to settle his nerves.

"They'll be alright…" Ominis turned towards Sebastian, murmuring gently to him, as he took off his scarf and cast Aguamenti on it.

Sebastian blinked in a daze, as Ominis took his hands, using the damp scarf to clean the blood from them.

"Your scarf…" Sebastian muttered with a small distant frown.

"It's alright, I can clean it later. Come on, we'll go wait for them, alright?" Ominis smiled gently as he put away the dirty cloth, before tugging Sebastian towards the floo.

Along the way, as he shook himself from his reverie, Sebastian noticed Ominis’ exposed cheeks starting to turn pink in the cold.

Emerging at the Hogwarts North exit floo, the two stopped to wait by the gate. Sebastian tugged Ominis over to stand beside him and unwound his scarf, looping it around both their necks. They stood together silently, sharing their warmth, and trying not to worry as they watched the empty road.

Several minutes passed this way, before the sound of neighing thestrals drew a relieved breath from both Ominis and Sebastian as they spotted the cart rolling towards the gate. Its precious cargo safely hovering over the cart, spared the bumpy road by the Nurse's levitation charm.

The nurse was soon guiding the stretcher through the gate, and she didn't seem very surprised when the boys trailed after her like puppies.

Sebastian remembered the first time he'd walked this courtyard with the Keeper, or perhaps lightly jogged would be more accurate. It was almost surreal thinking about how much had changed since then, that he would now be following them instead and in such a way.

That the new student who'd just tossed him onto his arse would come to matter so much to him and Ominis. That he would feel so lost without the Keeper, unable to think of anything besides his fear for them.

The walk to the hospital was frustratingly long, but fortunately, the weekend meant that the halls were rather empty. As they arrived at the infirmary, Ominis took a moment to tug Sebastian's coat off, putting the bloodstained garment away before they followed Blainey in.

The two of them hovered anxiously on the other side of the curtains as Nurse Blainey treated the Keeper, cleaning and redressing them, before removing the curtain when they were decent, allowing the boys to approach.

There was something incredibly disconcerting about seeing their nigh indestructible lover lying on the cot, looking unnaturally vulnerable, their skin a patchwork of dark colours. The Keeper's current condition made the injury to their ribs over their last summer break look like a cat scratch.

"How long will it take them to recover?" Ominis asked the nurse as she tidied up.

The nurse hummed thoughtfully as she collected her tools. "They'll probably need to remain here for at least a week. They may sleep till tomorrow, so the two of you can come back again t-"

"If you don't mind, we'd like to stay with them till curfew." Ominis interjected before she could finish her sentence, his tone polite but firm as Sebastian dragged two chairs over, placing both on the right side of the bed.

The nurse nodded. "Alright then. There are other patients here, so please try not to disturb them, and let me know if your friend wakes up."

"We will, thank you Nurse Blainey." Ominis nodded and the nurse left to clean and return her tools to the shelves, while he moved to sit in the open chair beside Sebastian.

In truth, Sebastian was barely aware of the interaction, only remembering to get an additional chair for Ominis purely out of habit. He was far more concerned with keeping their unconscious lover within his sight, his childhood fear of a loved one slipping away the moment he lost sight of them returning in full force, as he clung to their right hand like a lifeline.

"They'll be alright Seb…" Ominis murmured, placing his hand over Sebastian's, encouraging him to loosen his death grip on the Keeper's. Sebastian took a steadying breath, beyond grateful to have had Ominis' support through all this, as always.

"I- you're right, thanks." Sebastian sighed. "Sorry for being so out of it."

Ominis smiled morosely, shaking his head.

"No, it is I who should thank you. For- for helping them while I went to get Blainey, I don't-" Ominis swallowed thickly, remembering the nauseating stench of iron that clung to Sebastian, that alone had already made him feel faint. "I don't know if I could have done that."

Sebastian rubbed a thumb against Ominis' palm, pressing their foreheads together. When the sound of coughing came from the Keeper, dry and ragged bursts that made their chest heave with effort. Sebastian leaned forward in his chair, bracing his hands against the cot as he breathed their name.

Immediately, at the sound of his voice, the Keeper’s eyes flew open, and they raised their hands as though to protect their head, instantly releasing a curse at the sharp pain that shot through their left arm at the movement.

"Hey hey, it's alright, you're safe." Sebastian murmured soothingly, quickly reaching a shaky hand out to support their arm and ease the yet inflamed limbs back down to the cot.

“Merlin’s beard, you’re going to injure yourself further, moving like that.” Ominis gave a watery laugh, his attempt at chiding coming out more relieved than anything else.

"Ugh." The Keeper groaned, relaxing slightly as the voices of their partners pierced the fog swimming in their brain, their words a barely audible croak. "Where's my-"

"Right here." Sebastian chuckled weakly, feeling like he could finally breathe again as he peeled away the bloodstained satchel still slung over his shoulder, lifting it so the Keeper could see it.

"Good." The Keeper muttered with a sigh, only slumping into the cot's mattress upon confirming the safety of their possessions. "Fucking Selwyn."

Ominis shook his head with a helpless smile, of course those would be their first words upon waking up.

"Please mind your language." Nurse Blainey scolded with a long-suffering sigh as she walked over with a clipboard and a glass of water in hand, apparently having heard their ruckus. "I take it that you remember what occurred before your accident?"

The Keeper blinked blearily at her for a moment, wondering if she had enhanced her hearing with magic, before closing their eyes with a mild grimace, their voice raspy and hoarse. "I believe so."

"Here, let's see if you can drink some water." The nurse placed her clipboard on the table by the left of bed for a moment and helped the Keeper sit upright, just enough to drink from a straw until they felt satisfied.

"Thank you." The Keeper sighed in relief as the nurse lowered them back onto the cot, their voice already sounding less scratchy.

"If you're feeling up to it, I'd appreciate it if the three of you could give me your accounts of the events." Nurse Blainey smiled.

"Surely that can wai-" Ominis began, when the Keeper coughed.

"It's fine, I can rest after, there's not much to tell anyway." The Keeper's shoulders protested, forcing them to abort their shrug with a wince. "Selwyn cast Descendo on my broom. Don't ask me why, I have no clue. I cast Protego and the last thing I remember is Sebastian holding me."

"Alright, thank you." Nurse Blainey nodded with a frown, scribbling notes on her clipboard, before turning to the boys. "Mr. Sallow, you attended to them while Mr. Gaunt came to find me, correct?"

"Ah, yes, I gave them wiggenweld potion, had to use two vials after they coughed the first up." Sebastian swallowed thickly at the memory, jumping slightly when he felt the Keeper place a hand over his trembling death grip on the cot's sheets.

"I see, that was very impressive quick thinking, young man. That increased their chances by a significant degree." The nurse gave him an approving nod and Sebastian felt slightly uncomfortable, it'd been a long time since he'd received praise from anyone besides his lovers.

"This should be enough for your statements." Nurse Blainey nodded as she jotted down their answers.

"When will I be able to leave the infirmary?" The Keeper asked as they lifted their pyjamas to examine their bruised and purple torso, ignoring the nurse's incredulous expression at their action.

"Well, I'd normally say four days, but it looks like you suffered from prolonged malnutrition. While your magic has compensated and kept your physical body relatively healthy, your magical regeneration seems slower as a result. So, I'll be keeping you here a little longer for observation." Nurse Blainey frowned as she looked over the Keeper’s charts. "A week or more depending on your condition."

"Is this common amongst orphans?" Ominis asked coolly, his eyes narrowed while the Keeper lowered their short-sleeved shirt again with a rough cough, inciting a concerned frown from Sebastian.

"Unfortunately." The nurse grimaced, shaking her head with a sigh. "I'll never understand why we don't have magical orphanages."

"I doubt it'd be all that different." The Keeper made another aborted shrug with a wince. "Hopefully I won't take that long to recover."

"Honestly, it could have been worse, your left arm and the Protego took most of the impact, a concussion would have been more complicated." Nurse Blainey mused, setting a small bell on the table, and taking a moment to refill the Keeper's glass of water. "You are welcome to ring this bell if you need anything."

The nurse gave them a kind smile, before leaving the three to their own devices and going to her office to write her report.

"How are you feeling?" Ominis asked the Keeper worriedly from where he remained seated by their feet.

Meanwhile Sebastian leaned closer and took the Keeper’s hand the moment Blainey was out of sight, cradling it to his cheek. The Keeper lifted their hand from his grasp to stroke it soothingly over his hair and he lightly pressed his face against their stomach, closing his eyes and taking a steadying breath.

"Not too bad really, I've had worse." The Keeper huffed a short laugh. "Feels like I'm just aching from one of matron's usual punishments actually. Magic is insane."

Ominis shook his head, his jaw tightening, and his eyes darkening. "You could have died."

The Keeper sighed. "But I didn't. Come here."

Ominis moved around Sebastian to stand by the head of the cot, and the Keeper removed their hand from Sebastian's head, taking Ominis' hand instead with a firm grip. "If either of you think I'm dying at the hand of an idiot like Selwyn, you're barmy."

Ominis snorted, wondering what else he had been expecting in comfort from their lover, when the Keeper loosely tugged the satchel hanging beside Sebastian closer. Feeling the movement, Sebastian sat up, adjusting the bag so the Keeper could rummage through it more easily with their right hand.

Digging through it for a moment, the Keeper eventually withdrew a small bouquet of light blue flowers. "Hold out your hands, Ominis."

Raising an eyebrow, he obliged and was surprised to feel a soft…package? Blinking, Ominis ran his fingers over the object in his hands, the base of it wrapped in cloth, the slightly rough textured petals and sweet scent tickled his nose.

"And these are for you." The Keeper placed a second bouquet in Sebastian's hands, and he stared wide eyed at the bright orange flowers he'd just been handed.

"You got us flowers?" Ominis smiled softly, pleasantly surprised at the gesture.

The Keeper nodded. "These flowers I give you are fleeting, but I am not."

There was a long moment of silence.

The Keeper grimaced. "That sounded better in my head."

Ominis began to tremble with muffled chuckles but soon devolved into laughter despite his efforts to contain his mirth. "That is so incredibly unlike you that I don't even know how to respond."

Sebastian grinned as he thumbed the soft petals. "Where did you even get these? I don't think I've seen flowers like these around Hogwarts."

"I just happened to see some on the way to Hogsmeade." The Keeper looked away with a nonchalant tilt of their head, in lieu of their ability to shrug.

"And how far away were the flowers you'd spotted?" Ominis smiled knowingly.

"..." The Keeper's eye twitched. "Not that far."

Sebastian snorted while Ominis shook his head again, caressing the Keeper's cheek. "Giving yourself to us, I feel, is far greater a gift than anything you could find."

"And you better keep your word that you won't be nearly as fleeting." Sebastian added, plucking one of the blue flowers from the bouquet and tucking it behind Ominis' ear for him, before doing the same for himself with one of his own orange flowers.

The Keeper nodded firmly, feeling incredibly pleased to see the boys adorned with their gifts. "I swear it."

There was a brief moment of contented silence, before the Keeper's body shook once more with several rough coughs.

Ominis quickly passed Sebastian his bouquet, freeing his hands to help the Keeper sit up again. "Come now, perhaps a bit more water may ease your throat."

At the same time, Sebastian rewrapped the bouquets and tucked them back into the satchel, before picking up the glass of water and holding it up for the Keeper to sip through the straw.

It made both of them feel much better, being able to help care for their injured lover, to tangibly help them feel better. So, when the familiar voices of Natsai and Poppy, calling the Keeper's name, reached their ears, both Sebastian and Ominis' faces took on an irritated scowl.

The familiar forms of Poppy and Natty soon came into sight, followed closely by Amit and Garreth as well.

The moment the girls saw the Keeper, Poppy let out a gasp of alarm, her eyes welling up with tears at the patchwork of purple-red bruises covering their arms, neck, and jaw. "Oh Merlin, how could this have happened?"

"This has gone too far." Natty frowned in indignation. "The headmaster will surely have to expel them."

"Has Nurse Blainey treated you yet?" Amit asked, his eyes wide with concern.

"Wow, you look like shite." Garreth commented and the barrage of questions and statements ceased as everyone in attendance stared at him for his tactless comment.

The Keeper snorted, with a dry raspy. "Thanks, mate."

Sebastian set down the glass he was still holding, at which point the Keeper's entourage seemed to finally notice him and Ominis.

"Oh, Sebastian, Ominis, what are the two of you doing here?" Poppy asked with some surprise and the Keeper wondered why she was surprised, considering the amount of time they spent with the two boys.

"They were there when Selwyn attacked me, Ominis went to get Blainey and Sebastian helped feed me wiggenweld potion." The Keeper explained simply.

"They did? Oh, thank you both!" Poppy beamed at them with such teary gratitude that both Slytherins immediately felt uncomfortable.

"It was fortunate that the two of you were there." Amit agreed with a less enthusiastic but equally sincere gratitude. "We only found out when Sirona told us what happened."

"We should have been there… he wouldn't have had the opportunity if you hadn't been coming to meet us." Natty looked away guiltily. "I can't believe this happened to you whilst we were ignorantly waiting on the other side of town, drinking butterbeer none the wiser."

Sebastian snorted and opened his mouth, but the Keeper cut in before he could speak.

"It was my own decision to attempt to land in Hogsmeade to make up for lost time." The Keeper coughed a few more times, clearing their throat before continuing, giving Natty a pointed look. "You needn't blame yourself for something someone else did."

Natty gave a weak smile in response and Sebastian gave the Keeper a side glance, before sitting back down in his chair.

"I appreciate you guys coming to see me, don't worry, Blainey says I should be recovered in a couple days." The Keeper gave a mild smile.

"Glad to hear it, would be a bummer if you missed out on Selwyn getting buggered." Garreth grinned. "You can bet that we ain't letting him get away with this."

Natty and the other three nodded, while Ominis and Sebastian suppressed the impulse to roll their eyes.

"By the way, what's with the flowers?" Garreth asked, squinting at the small flowers tucked behind the Slytherin boys' ears.

Sebastian stiffened, looking quite at a loss as to how to respond and the Keeper's mind raced for an appropriate means of handling the situation.

To their surprise, Ominis huffed snootily, brushing back a stray strand of blond hair with a nonchalant. "Why, don't think they're pretty?"

An awkward silence fell upon the group, and the Keeper let out a stuttering laugh at Ominis' unrepentant poise, a satisfied smile lingering over his lips.

"The others don't need to know that I wasn't planning to join them." The Keeper sighed, closing their eyes tiredly. Their four friends had hung around for a few minutes longer, before leaving to have dinner in the great hall.

"Why do you not want them to know?" Sebastian scrutinised them.

"It would only serve to add unnecessary complications to our interactions." The Keeper explained with a dismissive twitch of their fingers.

"I guess if you say so." Sebastian folded his arms with an oddly petulant air about him.

"You seem awfully considerate towards them. Does it really matter if Onai is feeling some misplaced guilt over your injuries?" Ominis asked coolly, his expression inscrutable, and the Keeper raised an eyebrow, wondering what he was getting at.

"Natty's weak to guilt, it's just less troublesome to deal wit-" The Keeper paused, a concerning possibility for this vein of conversation occurring to them, and they frowned. "You'd better not be feeling guilty for my injuries. This is all Selwyn's unbelievable stupidity and neither of you could have seen this coming."

Ominis blinked. "That's not…"

He trailed off as the Keeper failed to suppress a yawn, grimacing when they realised he'd heard it. The briefest sardonic shadow passed over his face, before Ominis shook his head with a gentle smile. The expression was quickly mirrored on Sebastian's as well, softening his previously grumpy frown.

"No matter, we've tired you out long enough." Ominis stood from his chair, leaning over to press a soft kiss against the Keeper's forehead. "Don't worry about us, you should focus on resting to recover."

"Ugh, sorry Omi." The Keeper murmured drowsily as Ominis withdrew, their voice sounding oddly distant, and their mind began to fog over again, making even their own thoughts difficult to parse.

"We'll come visit you again tomorrow morning." Sebastian added, giving them a quick peck on the lips, and tucking the blanket snugly around the Keeper, finding their uncharacteristic sleepiness rather adorable.

"See you both tomorrow." The Keeper nodded sluggishly, their eyes slipping closed, as the two boys quietly left the infirmary.

As the Keeper's mind sank into a deep sleep, they wondered what Ominis had been about to say, and the conversation gradually faded from their memory into inky darkness.

Notes:

Hopefully I managed to blend Sebastian's dialogue lines "Damn it, stay with me! Don't give up!" and "I shan't let death come for you", that were cut from the actual game, into the chapter naturally x'D

Somehow it felt kind of awkward while I was writing, but I just really wanted to work the cut lines into this fic haha

I am so cruel to my characters-

Also, I feel like, considering that accidental magic tends to work with subconscious needs, for example Harry Potter's hair regrowing overnight. If the Keeper were in a situation where being less physically fit due to malnutrition, it shouldn't be too unreasonable for magic to compensate.

Hopefully that makes sense xD

[themuffin2649]

A scenario Slightly inspired off This

Senario Title: Trapped

They had their eyes on the prize, there stood an unknowing MC minding his own business, oblivious to what was lurking in the bushes.

Fortunately for him, the two were also unaware of each other as they prepared their traps.

Vincent, putting on his armor (a lesson learned from last time) readies his blow dart gun and points it at his target from behind the bushes.

Leon on the other hand, already has his trap set, and he was just waiting for the prey to fall for it.

MC: Ahh, it’s so beautiful outside today. The birds are singing and and trees stood tall basking in the golden sunlight. Newt was right, he did need to touch grass.

As the MC bended over to let his hand brush against the soft blades of grass, the two readied their positions.

Leon: “THERE’S A BEAR BEHIND YOU!!!” He screamed from behind the bushes, startling the MC.

Vincent: Oh hell no! Vincent thought as he jumped out of his hiding spot and aimed the blow dart gun at his target. This causes the MC to run the other way away from Leon’s trap

However, while it seemed like a win for him, he found himself getting caught in the trap Leon set up for his target, in a panic, Vincent shot his blow dart gun before he was completely suspended in the air.

MC stood there super confused about Vincent now trapped in a net, and even started to walk up to it when he heard a rustle from the bushes. There, Leon revealed himself while struggling to walk in a straight line.

Leon: “dammit Vincent…. You ruined it…. y-you ruin everything….” He said before passing out and collapsing on the ground.

MC ran up to Leon to make sure he was ok, when he spotted a blow dart on his chest. He then looked back at Vincent trapped in the net with a blow dart gun in his hand.

MC: “So… care to explain this?”

Vincent: “uhh, he started it!”

Leon of course couldn’t defend himself while knocked out. So MC stared back in disappointment.

Vincent: “Umm…. Please let me out! I’m sorry I tried to tranquillize you! I won’t do it again! I’m getting sweaty and crushed within my own armor! uhh, Leon tried to trap you too!!” He said, desperate to be let out.

MC stood there for a moment before a cruel idea came to him, with a smirk, he looked at Leon, then back at Vincent.

MC: “I want you to stay there and Think about how sorry you are. Until Leon wakes up, you’re stuck there… How long is that tranquilizer supposed to last again?”

Vincent’s face turned pale as he remembered that the tranquilizer was supposed to knock out MC for 6 Hours

~~~~ Afterstory ~~~~

Leon: “ugh… my head still hurts. What the hell was in that tranquilizer Vincent?!”

Vincent: “Oh boo hoo! You have a headache and took a nice 7 hour long nap. WELL GUESS WHO SPENT 7 HOURS BEING COOKED ALIVE IN THE HEAT WHILE SUFFERING CRAMPS BECAUSE OF THIS DAMN ARMOR!!!”

Leon: “ha! Serves you right!”

[defoozor]

The Boys but Hogwarts Mystery or something idk

I’m tempted to make additional HPHM character, but everything in story will be taken literally, seriously and in an extremely completionist way.

Let me explain why…

MC is a superhuman. Bio product. Artificially created by government with the help of Dai Ryusaki’s researches. Even Dumbledore is in cahoots with that.

MC is set to cultivate multiple skills - becomes an animagus, enhances their legilimency, does absolutely every chore and event planning around Hogwarts, befriends nearly entire school and solves their problems, becomes Prefect and later Head Girl/Boy, passes OWLs and NEWTs in all O’s, plays and wins the entirety of Quidditch, makes any creature bow and tremble before them, closes every Cursed Vault, becomes a master Duelist, does every investigation for Hogsmeade ever, singlehandly runs and supervises the Clubs, keeps Forbidden Forest in tact, gains obscure titles and achievements for breakfast, does half of the work for both Ministry and St. Mungo.

Not to mention that they also have to deal with at least 8 people having a crush on them.

And all that in a span of 7 Years. Under Dumbledore’s careful watch and guidance.

For best efficiency MC’s “parents” are ordered to distant themselves from MC as much as possible, so MC develops immunity to stress on their own, and Merlin forbid they develop any human feelings or emotions. That’s why MC’s mother is so absent in their life throughout school years.

But the father? Oh, the father.

Peregrine. Peregrine is in fact, is a previous failed experiment. We know from their dialogue with Dumbledore - Peregrine had a painfully similar to MC school life. But somewhere along those years, up to Wizarding War something went wrong. He gained his own consciousness and woke up from Ministry’s influence on him. He found out what he is, and set himself to go against Ministry.

Dai Ryusaki was not a dark wizard, but we found out he feared his own inventions and attempted to prevent others from using it as it was dangerous. Peregrine’s curse has nothing to do with that amulet he’s carrying around, or anything from the outside. Peregrine’s curse occurred inside him because of the experiment and it IS what went wrong.

Peregrine made an underground organization and wants to take Ministry down for what they did to him, and now he gradually can’t take a single sneeze without aggravating himself and setting Ryusaki’s Fury off.

But what about MC? Peregrine can’t tell MC about their true nature. He fears to set MC’s fury as well, and doesn’t wish that upon them. Instead, he attempts to give MC bits of what Ministry took from them - he rebels against Ministry’s ways and dumps at least some parental affections to them. Although he fails at it because there’s so little time left before MC graduates and Ministry will inevitably snatch them to work for them and use as a weapon, and Peregrine is between 5 fires himself. All he can do is rushed and sometimes outright dangerous to himself and others decisions, that are more often than not taken over by R Fury without him even realizing that.

He knows he’s cursed. But he doesn’t always know when it’s showing. And he can’t accept any help because of his big “main character” ego. Despite all that he still dare I say, loves his kids and wants to prevent them from, in his eyes - greater evil.

What about others in the story?

Rakepick is a government experiment that went rogue as well. But she developed a lot more murderous and sociopathic tendencies, and possibly without use of Ryusaki’s research. While Peregrine and MC are set to charm and gather people around, Rakepick is not. She was meant to be efficient worker, problem solver. Until she became a problem…

She was sent to take Peregrine down. She pretended to join R on her own terms, and was meant to dismantle it and their Leader. She would go to any extent, and because of her frivolity she would even take down MC to hit Peregrine where it hurts. But it happened so, that someone else took the blow for MC and we know how that ends…

Rakepick wanted MC down, because she thought MC will end up like Peregrine. She’s not concerned about Ministry’s interests, she thinks that she knows better. However, after everything that went down, during Azkaban events, she sees and realizes where she was wrong, and just simply states that MC “has a good heart, and shouldn’t loose it”.

That concludes her character and her arc.

Jacob was not raised to be Ministry’s secret weapon. He gained a lot of similar to MC talent on his own, but he has too much free will and acts rather emotionally than rationally. That’s why Ministry dismisses him, as they simply don’t see potential in him.

Jacob does a bit of a better job at giving MC family experience, right under Ministry’s nose. Although, it’s still not perfect obviously. And, Jacob acts on the matters on his own, and gets hurt a lot, making mistakes that are inherent if you’re a human being.

Despite turning most of attention to MC for reasons stated above, Peregrine cares about Jacob as well. He desperately wants to be a normal human being, a father at that. Jacob wants to have his family as well. It just happened so, that their family is in this big of a mess.

MC’s mom is a mindless Ministry drone, I will not elaborate, we will never see her.

Who and why joins R? Why are people of R are so against the government, that they are willing to work with Peregrine?

R members we seen were walked over by government in one way or another. They all seem to be typical denizens of Knockturn Alley, but they end up there not because they’re inherently evil. But because, if in this world you fail at following the system - you end up at the bottom. They have no choice, but to live like this, because the system doesn’t give them another chance. Or, they suddenly do have a choice, and it’s to join an organization. It’s not perfect, it doesn’t have your best interests in mind. But it promises to stick it to Ministry, right?

And now, when majority of your organization are these people, they will inevitably do something stupid. So, when you send someone like Shiratori to retrieve your kids, someone like Shiratori will do something stupid, like attack them, or have 0 diplomacy and talking skills.

That’s why R appears to be an evil Cabal. They may not have “bad” intentions, but they just don’t possess better skills and are full of spite and grudge.

__________________

The final conclusion.

THEY ALL NEED THERAPY HAHAHAHAHAHA

Byeeee!

[phazbinophobia]

Are you a gamer? somewhat, i play the few games i have a bunch. Did you think about boycotting the game? No, why would i, i find the whole thing nonsensical, like im lgbt and i dont care at all, its a great game. Which platforms have you played on? switch How many playthroughs have you done? hard to explain about 2 ish though How many times have you actually defeated Ranrok? 1 How many hours of gameplay do you have? cant be bothered to check Platinum? im on switch :( Tell us about your MC: ravenclaw, reserved, cautious, can be witty and slightly caustic at times, never pounces in the wrong moment, very tactical. What house did you choose on your first playthrough? ravenclaw (im a ravenclaw with a bit of slytherin in me) Which house had the best common room? so far i think hufflepuff. Which house had the best quest? idk Did you make mostly nice or mean choices? a mix, i tended to weigh morals and benefits Did you learn the Unforgivables? in some save slots yes If so, did you use them? a few times, but i perfer the strategy and fun of actual fighting instead of nuking them.... there is something satisfying about expelliarmusing goblins then hitting them (or their friends) with their own weapon Which companion has the best storyline? poppy, and sebastian. Who is your favorite professor? Hecat, shes very simmilar to me. Sebastian, Ominis, or neither? ominis ominis ominis, sebs nice too Did you turn Sebastian in, you raging hypocrite? nope Did you steal the Fwooper feather for Garreth? depends on the save Did you burgle Lawley's cellar? yes Did you release the ancient magic at the end or keep it contained? cant remember Who is your favorite character overall? ominis, and maybe professor hecat if we knew more about her Who are you crushing on in the game (if anyone)? ominis Did you tend to dress sensibly or ostentatiously? inbetween, though always well put together (never wore those eye of newt things)

Hogwarts Legacy Fan Survey

Looked for something like this and couldn't find anything. If you have done more than one playthrough, let's go with your first one.

Are you a gamer? Did you think about boycotting the game? Which platforms have you played on? How many playthroughs have you done? . How many times have you actually defeated Ranrok? How many hours of gameplay do you have? Platinum? Tell us about your MC: What house did you choose on your first playthrough? Which house had the best common room? Which house had the best quest? Did you make mostly nice or mean choices? Did you learn the Unforgivables? If so, did you use them? Which companion has the best storyline? Who is your favorite professor? Sebastian, Ominis, or neither? Did you turn Sebastian in, you raging hypocrite? Did you steal the Fwooper feather for Garreth? Did you burgle Lawley's cellar? Did you release the ancient magic at the end or keep it contained? Who is your favorite character overall? Who are you crushing on in the game (if anyone)? Did you tend to dress sensibly or ostentatiously?

Tag three people to learn about their Hogwarts Legacy fan experience!

[writingfool001]

What Really Matters

Author's Note: I decided to keep this one and delete the old one later. I like this one better.

Request:

 Due to the culture of looking down on half-bloods in the wizarding world, I can picture Newt!MC sympathizing with Sebek about his internalized racism as they had seen multiple Slytherins act the way he does in order to hide the fact that they're either a half-blood or a muggle born. It'll be touching if while Newt!MC is explaining their world to Sebek they touch upon the blood status subject and bring up example of half-bloods being just as exceptional as any regular magician.

Pairing: Newt!MC x Sebek (Platonic or romantic)Warning: Newt!MC is based off of Newt Scamander, mostly dialogue, short.

You've met many people on your travels, different races, ethnicities, and so on. Compared to your fellow wizards, you would treat everyone you met with decency unless you saw a valid reason not to. Ever since you arrived at NRC, there were few who didn't let anyone doubt their magical abilities due to their background. Yet there was a certain first year, in your flying class, who often called you human and would talk about humans or about Malleus being superior. Overtime, you learned more about his lineage and how he himself was half human himself which made you thought perhaps that is what fed into his usual behavior. 

“Sebek, I didn’t know your dad was a dentist?” You started out as we were studying. 

“Why would that be important as of right now?” he told, looking up from his homework. 

“You always ask me questions; wouldn’t it be fair if I could not do the same to you?” 

He glared a bit as his eyebrow twitched a bit before speaking. 

“...yes, he is.” 

“Such a fascinating job, he must be quite special.” 

“He’s just a magic-less human dentist.” 

"So, what? His magical ability does not change the fact that he is special. I presume your mother holds him in a high regard." 

"She does, though I do not entirely understand why." He grumbled as he wrote out his notes. 

"She likely saw him for who he was rather than the lack of magic." You suggested, only for him to scoff at it.  

"That does not take away from the fact that he does not have magic." 

"That does not make him any less important besides, do you care about having magic that much?" 

"Yes, or else I would be weak, it would've been easier if my father wasn't magicless." 

It was a little surprising to hear Sebek be somewhat open with you considering how he's usually yelling at you and such throughout the day, but it was nice. It also showed some of his insecurities about himself. 

"There have been many extraordinarily talented people I have met. Many of them being half-blooded magicians that have been more exceptional than the sum purebloods magicians." You start "I do not judge on one's magical capability or who they're related to which you should learn to do as well. Each to their own." 

  “You won’t see me differently for my blood?” He asked as you shook head before he let out a hearty loud laugh. “I don’t believe you.”  

“I remember my first friend outside of school was a young man who was very passionate about baking and didn’t have any magical talent. I still hold him dear in my heart as he's passionate about baking. I envied how easy it was for him to talk to others while I struggled with it. He's one of the most extraordinary people I met.” You smiled gently as you recalled your dear friend. 

“He didn’t have any magic?” 

“He had some, but he was considered magicless by most and he was fine with that. It didn’t matter if he had any magical talents or not, it mattered that he was passionate, something I admire.” 

You both sat there for a while before you packed your books and notes up then got up. Before leaving, you turn to him. 

“Don’t let your lineage or magic be how you define yourself. It’s the passion that is what makes someone like you the way you are. You’re Sebek to me. Just remember that.”  

You turned on your way and left. The next couple of days, you noticed a small pep in Sebek’s step and how extra loud he was during flying practice. It's good to see some things don't change. 

[gayandvibin]

20 witt Robbie and Rowan xd

This potions test is going to be the death of him.

Rowan Khanna had always hoped that he would flicker out in old age, or as the first to make a monumental discovery that will hold their family in history books for millennia to come.

But as it stands, perhaps sixth year is what's really going to do it.

The words swim on the page under the golden glow of candle light, and it is at this dank hour of the morning the youngest Khanna is certain that Severus Snape is the most vindictive bastard he has ever met in his life.

He thunks his head down on the desk, the bridge of his glasses pressing an indent into his skin.

There is a hearty chuckle from his bed,

"Alright there, Ro?"

"Superb, love."

"Mmm, is it your wolfsbane or your cheese based potions that's getting you?"

Rowan throws his head back, squeaking the chair back and looking over at his boyfriend.

"I cannot believe he is making us study all of this crap."

Robert grins, potion books closed at his side,

"I think it's the only fun Snape gets, and who are we to deprive an old man of his dreams?"

Rowan straightens, rubbing at the bridge of his nose,

"Is it a bad call to drop a subject right before end of year tests?"

"Maybe. But at least you don't have to pass, I'm never going to live it down if I willingly spent two years of my life in that classroom, only to have Sanpe laugh in my face on results day."

"Ugh. Robbie, I am going to die before we get there."

"Oh c'mon babe, you just need some sugar."

Muttering curses to himself, Rowan opens the textbook and scans the page.

If he keeps reading, nothing can go wrong, right?

The bed shifts over his shoulder as he turns over, noting the list of ingredients and his own spidery annotations.

It's once he's read through most of the method that a weighty packet smacks him right in the side of the face.

"Sorry!"

He squints at Robbie, grinning sheepishly at the headboard,

"What in the actual fuck was that?"

"Sugar! It helps you think, something about brain pathways or whatever."

He waves a hand as if in emphasis of his point.

Rowan bites his tongue and unfurls the paper bag.

Oh.

"Thank you, Robert."

His mouth quirks into a smile without his intent.

"Well, they are your favourite, so I've been saving them for you."

For a moment Rowan can feel liquid gathering at the corners of his eyes, but he blames it on the early morning and a lack of sleep, jamming half of a sugar quill in his mouth.

He hums a half-formed reply, and flicks through the chapter.

Almost there... almost there and then he can sleep...

Twenty minutes becomes forty, then fifty, and soon his desk chair is beginning to mold to the crook of his spine.

The barest hint of sunlight trickles between the curtain gap, and his candle pools wax in a disquieting puddle.

The notes are barely less nonsensical than they had been an hour or so previously when Robert makes the decision to seat himself in Rowan's lap, winding around his limbs like a bowtruckle.

"What are you doing?"

"Well, if you're not coming to bed, then I'm coming to you."

He sighs,

"Robert, you are in the way of my notes."

The shorter of the two shrugs, seemingly settling in further.

"I love you, but I need you to go away because you're really bloody distracting and I have to pass this test tomorrow."

Robbie looks up at him, eyes half lidded as he mumbles,

"You're not taking anything in, so you might as well get a couple hours of sleep, right?"

He yawns into Rowan's chest, and he supposes he can't argue with that.

So his potions notes lay open on his desk, pages creased under a bag of sugar quills, well into the morning. His dreams are unfettered by the monoliths of his textbook, and Robert curls at his side.

The day is good, at least, and no tragedy befalls Rowan Khanna.

In fact, he rather pleased by its outcome.

[obeymycok]

MC’s Demon Form - Belphegor

Just to be clear, MC can use all their forms. This is just the one that the brothers first saw MC in. If you haven’t read the setup for these headcanons, as well as the pact headcanons that explain what’s happening here, I strongly recommend you do so (they will be linked below) Otherwise, on with the reactions!

EVERYONE IN THE TAGLIST: Please let me know in the comments if you would like to be on my general taglist as well for everything I write, thank you!

Taglist: @trashlord-007  @waldeinsamkeit600  @simpinginthecorner  @xxgenderenvyxx  @q-ueue

Pact Headcanons     Setup

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

“MC!!!” Mammon shouted as he sprinted to the fallen beast followed closely by the rest of the brothers. Apparently, too close. Mammon stopped dead in his tracks, feet still sliding over the dirt as his brothers crashed into him at full force. They all got up ready to curse him out, but the sight in front of them quickly shut them up.

There you were, but you looked like..?

Belphegor...

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

Lucifer

What?

That’s not what he expected

Obviously upset it’s not him, but doesn’t hold a grudge when he finds out you have a form for every demon

Please do not let Belphegor’s sin stop you from keeping up with training and RAD homework

Mammon

“OI! I’m yer first man, you should be using ME as your protector!”

He’s salty but show off your greed form for a bit and he’ll be fine

Willing to give piggy back rides if you’re tired

Let your first man do his duties dammit!

Leviathan

Obviously jealous, but he’s happy for Belphie

If anyone knows insecurity, it’s Levi and he knows Belphie still feels insecure about his relationship with you after what happened in the attic

Avatar of Envy pushes his jealousy aside to be happy for his lil bro

Let's you sleep on his Ruri-chan body pillow

Satan

Hopefully another menace to join the Anti Lucifer League

Seriously though, he’s very happy for Belphie

If he doesn’t already, he’ll read to you when you wanna nap or just don’t feel like doing anything

Once again, craves watching you tear some shit up

Asmodeus

He just thinks you’re absolutely adorable💖🥺

Wants to take you shopping so you guys can get matching silk bed sets

He’s actually rather calm about the whole thing compared to every other reaction of his

Guess even the narcissist can be truly happy for his baby brother

Beelzebub

He’s so happy he’s literally sobbing, not even getting words out, choking on air type shit

He just grabs the both of you and does not let go

Once he stops sobbing he literally turns into an excited Mammon

“I’ll pick up some Super Spicy Newt Chips and all the ingredients to make Belphie’s favorite soup and maybe even some sushi...OH MC could we maybe get some human world cheeseburgers before we leave I’ll buy enough for everyone🥺👉👈”

Belphegor

He’s frozen in place trembling as the tears pour down

Even after he....you still...you...he just can’t believe you’d want anything to do with him let alone his demon form and using his magic to protect yourself

“S-s-stupid h-hu-man...” and he breaks down as Beel and you hugged him for dear life

The Attic Sandwich Club needs to have an emergency session ASAP

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

And the series is finished! Thank you to everyone who read all the parts and definitely lmk if you want more of this type of stuff and feel free to send ideas/requests! All parts will be tagged in my masterlist and the Setup post at the top :)

[devildomimagines]

Okay so i couldn't get this out of my mind. Lucifer and MC definitely had sex before she left devildom. At least in my playthrough. But they didn't when she kissed him because of the golden helffire newt soup. So I was wondering of you could write it so they did? And that MC was a virgin before Lucifer?? I'm a bit of a sucker for this stuff.

Anon, I am sorry. If you're still around, you and I both know this has been in my inbox for a while.

Let me explain, when you sent this, I had no clue what you were talking about because I wasn't that far in the story 🤣 Thankfully, they nerfed the bosses and I'm further along with stronger cards.

I can't believe that now I'm posting this in the middle of everything happening on Tumblr. If this gets blocked for ios users, then we'll just consider this a special exclusive for everyone else.

I'll put it under a readmore, but I hope, if you are still here, that you enjoy this!

Warnings: Minors DNI, NSFT/NSFW, Sexual content, female pronouns and afab anatomy for MC(I guessed this is what you wanted since you used she in your request), and spoilers for 22-C (I pulled some lines to start off).

“When I look at you, my chest tightens, and I feel as though I can barely breathe,” Lucifer explained.

“Me too,” you rubbed his arm and he tensed. You kind of liked his attempt at restraining his reactions, though you know he wanted nothing more than to lean into your embrace.

“The longer I’m around you, the harder it’s become to fight back these feelings. And I’ve finally reached the point where I don’t think I can contain them anymore.”

“Oh?”

“So please…” Lucifer looked to you with a vulnerability he rarely displayed, “Master, give me an order…”

“Will you kiss me?”

He nodded, took your hand and his first kiss, he placed on your knuckles. “Ever since you left the Devildom…”

Lucifer turned your hand around and kissed the inside of your wrist, “Not a day has gone by that I haven’t thought of you.”

He pulled you closer and kissed your neck, with a possessive growl he added, “I even considered going to the human world to find you, and bring you back here.”

Regaining some composure, “But never once did I imagine…” he gently kissed your forehead.

You locked eyes and leaned towards him for your mouths to interlock. He hummed savoring the taste of you that he has been missing for so long. Somehow, he remembered he was in the middle of his sentence and disconnected from you to finish, “That you’d come back to me on your own.”

You looked at him seeing everything he hid from others and he did not look away. His fear, his hope, his love, they were all for you.

“I love you. Truly and deeply.”

“I love you too, Lucifer.” You grabbed his hand and kissed his knuckles as he had yours.

He smiled warmly, he knew you loved him but hearing the words did wonders. “Strange, I thought the burning would have subsided by now but it only feels more intense.”

“I wonder why,” you teased and kissed his neck. You felt his adam’s apple bob as he gulped and then felt his sharp inhale as you sucked at his skin right under his jaw.

“M-mc,” Lucifer started to question and then he had his answer, you hadn’t actually given him an order, just asked a question.

You held his face in your hands running your thumbs over his cheeks, the temperature of his skin was rising, “You’re beautiful when you blush like this.”

“Don’t tease,” Lucifer finally looked away, trying to save the last slivers of his decency.

“I wonder,” you asked out loud, “would you make love to me if I ordered you to?”

His eyes became the size of dinner plates in response to your boldness.

“I’ve never been with anyone like that,” now you were realizing the situation and although embarrassed, you still wanted this with Lucifer. “I’ve never been with anyone that I’ve trusted more than you and felt safe exposing myself to so intimately.”

There were so many thoughts racing through Lucifer’s mind that he appeared frozen. He would be your first? You choose now, while he’s under the influence of the golden hellfire newt syrup, to ask that he provide a controlled loving experience? He might actually go mad if you don’t give him an order right this second but he wanted this with you so badly. In fact, he was already completely hard under his pants at just the thought of it.  “Give me the order and I will see it through to completion.”

You frowned, “Sit down on the bed.”

Confused at what went wrong, he did sit, though he was still yearning for you. The unnatural burning inside him stopped escalating.

You sat next to him, taking his hand, “I don’t want you to simply follow an order, I want you to want to, if that makes sense.”

“Perfect sense, dear.” He squeezed your hand, “I want this too. Now that my head is cleared of the frenzied all-consuming fire, I will make it plainly known: I want to make love to you. I have for a while but did not want to pressure you into doing anything before you were ready. Your comfort and pleasure will always come first for me.”

That was exactly what you wanted to hear. You jumped into his arms kissing him as you two fell back onto the bed.

With a laugh he asked, “shall we?”

You nodded with giddy excitement as he took the lead.

First you watched as he got up to remove his coat, shoes and belt. From your spot on the bed, he then helped you out of your shirt, kissing down from your neck to your stomach.

You stood to help him out of his vest and necktie. You went to unbutton his dress shirt and you could feel a hesitation from him. “Do you want to keep going?”

“Yes,” he exhaled like he had been holding his breath. He began explaining, “You should know that I have some scars from the Holy War-”

“And I will love you all the same,” you confirmed with a kiss.

All the tension you felt from him before had melted so you picked up where you left off and unbuttoned his shirt. There was a deep scar near his hip and a few white lines of scratches littered about his chest and arms. Lucifer shrugged off the garment and when he twisted to throw it on the floor you saw the scars of where his third set of wings would have been. You began kissing him, mimicking what he had done for you when the idea to kiss his scars jumped into your mind. You kissed the faintest ones you could find first and as you made your way down to the injury on his hip, he knew what you were doing.

Lucifer rubbed your head and wondered, how did he get so lucky to be loved by you.

As if you were reading his mind, “I will always love every part of you Lucifer.”

“I was just thinking the same of you,” Lucifer took the lead again and held your hand as he sat on his bed.

You leaned against him as you straddled his hips. You could feel his hard-on rub against your own arousal. Cheekily, you ground against him as you stole a kiss. 

“Mn,” he moaned through the kiss. Then backed up to smirk at you, “It’s like you know what you’re doing.”

“I swear I don’t,” you laughed. 

Lucifer delighted in seeing your smile for a second before swiftly shifting you to lay on your back as he hovered over you, “Then allow me to demonstrate.” 

He kissed down your neck to your chest, sneaking a hand under your bra to cup your breast. He pinched your nipple and you gasped. “Did I pinch too hard?” he asked, concerned. 

“No,” you blushed, “it’s just… different I guess.” You watched him breathe out, relieved. The power imbalance between the two of you came to mind and it reaffirmed that your trust was well placed. You brushed some hair from his face, “Thank you.”

“For…” He hadn’t followed your train of thought because he pinched your nipple again.

“No!” You chuckled and clarified, “For caring about me.”

“Well,” Lucifer kissed your neck, “I should be the one thanking you,” he kissed your sternum, “for seeing me as me,” he kissed above your belly button, “and nothing else.”

You placed a hand under his chin to make him look back up at you, “That’s where you’re wrong Lucifer.” He was confused so you continued as you pushed him under you, “I see everything in you. You’re the sun in the middle of rain.” You placed a hesitant hand near his waistband and tried to put more words to your feelings. “You’re the warmth of a fireplace after being out in the cold.” You unbuttoned his pants. “You’re like coming home.” You finally looked back up at him to see he was covering half of his face with one hand, the other hand balled into a fist. He watched silently as you unzipped his dress pants. You tugged slightly and he raised his hips to slide his pants off completely.

It took a few moments for him to speak again, “You don’t-” he moaned as you placed a hand over his underwear to feel the outline of his dick.

“I want to, for you.”

He nodded and wriggled his underwear down, freeing his cock. 

You looked at first, taking in its shape and girth. You looked up at him, you imagined his blush matched your own. Your inexperience catching up to you, now at a loss.

Lucifer wordlessly took your hand, he led you to wrapping your fingers around the base, he grunted as his fingers helped you tighten your grip. Your thumb rubbed against a vein you found underneath, his grip tightened and then so did yours by proxy, his eyes closed relishing the feeling. Noted. 

You took the opportunity of his eyes being closed to give a kiss to the head. His eyes shot open so fast. With your eyes locked, you licked from where your hand was still holding to the end, watching his reaction was everything you hoped for. The taste was somewhat what you expected, the saltiness of skin and sweat, but the bead of precum that you caught lingered on your tastebuds. You debated what it tasted like as you moved your hand up to his tip. Cautiously you smeared your thumb through his precum and rubbed at the slit on his dick.

He actually whimpered, hard to believe if you weren’t there to hear it but that’s just what you do to him. Lucifer recovered quickly though, “Enough, allow me.” His hands found their way to your last bits of clothes, quickly unbuttoning and pulling the fabric to slide off of your legs. Very gently, he nudged your legs open, allowing you the opportunity to withdraw your consent if you wanted.

It was the last thing you wanted, your blush was deepening. To be so seen was proving to be emotionally overwhelming.

“We can stop,” Lucifer now put his consent check in words, sensing your shift.

“I’m ok.”

“Tell me if that changes at any moment, no matter what,” He waited for you to nod in promise before continuing. He leaned back and situated his face back between your legs, “You’re beautiful, you have nothing to be ashamed of and no reason to hide.” Before you could completely process that, he licked a flat tongue over your sex.

“Ah!” You squeezed your legs around his head in surprise. His hand tapped your leg and you could feel his chuckle as you released him.

“Too much?” Lucifer smirked and you knew that was a little payback for what you did earlier.

“No, I just, it’s just a new sensation, sorry.”

“No apologies necessary, love. Maybe something more familiar then?” He brought his thumb to his mouth and gave it a lick. He swiped it across his pointer and middle finger to wet them as well. Then brought his hand between your legs, rubbing his thumb around your nub.

At the foreign feeling, you squirmed. Maybe you had played with yourself before but the feeling of someone else playing with your most sensitive bits was exhilarating. “L-lucifer-”

He took the opportunity to speed up his rhythm. Your body responded on it’s own by leaning into his touch. “Stunning,” Lucifer admired you.

Now self conscious, you hid your face behind your hands as he worked you undone.

“Oh no you don’t,” Lucifer pulled your hands up above your head with his free hand. He smiled down at you so softly that you almost forgot what you two were doing. That is until he pushed a finger inside you. As you gasped, he lowered to kiss you through the intrusion. His one digit curling inside you and then drawing out and pushing back in for you to acclimate to the feeling. He read your body and as you got used to one finger, he added another. True to his word though, you didn’t feel any pain, he took his time to make sure you were fully prepared for him.

You definitely felt worked up, as he pulled away you noticed the slow unwinding of something deep inside you. He chanted a quick spell and you raised an eyebrow.

“A magical barrier… for protection,” He added for clarity but you could see his ears turn pink.

“Ah, gotcha,” you blushed, embarrassed you hadn’t thought to ask. That led to other questions about sex with demons that you would have to research later.

Lucifer leaned over you. The tingle of magic and the pressure of his dick where his hands had been, excited you even more. “Tell me you want this.”

“I want it, I want you, please.” 

Lucifer nodded while he lined himself up and began easing into you. It was obviously the most you had been stretched so far and there was a slight ache this time but nothing unbearable. He must have noticed and began kissing you as a distraction. You held his arms as he overwhelmed your senses. He bottomed out and all you could mutter was, “S-so full.”

“You’re taking me wonderfully darling,” Lucifer cooed in your ear. The magic continued to tingle so holding still wasn’t too bad in and of itself. He didn’t move his hips until he sensed you were ready. When you wriggled against him, he took that as his cue you were looking for more. Slowly, he pulled back until just the tip was inside you and then pushed all the way back in.

“Mn!” You let a small whimper out.

His eyebrows shot up, questioning was it too forceful?

“Keep going,” You encouraged.

He relaxed and abided with another movement of his hips. You nodded and he set his pace, even and measured just like everything he did. 

The constant movement was working you to a point you had never been. Inside it was like a coil was being wound tight, you heart beat faster and it felt like you were coming to the top of a roller coaster. “L-lucifer,” you panted, “I, uhn, I’m- it’s too much.”

“Go ahead sweetheart,” He moved a hand to rub circles on your clit and sped up his pace, “Cum for me.”

“Ahn~” you hit the peak shortly after. Your legs tensed and your toes curled as you rode the waves of pleasure. Time seemed to stop as you saw stars behind your closed eyes. When you reclaimed some semblance of awareness, you peeked your eyes open to see Lucifer watching you so tenderly.

“I love you MC.”

“And I love you Lucifer.”

[ikevamp-shrine]

*clenches fist*

Omega!Arthur dropping to his knees the moment he meets Alpha!MC…

First off- love this. Second- please entertain me more with your brilliant omegaverse brain juice, you sexy beast you.

And him just being an absolute slutty whimpering mess for the his alpha. Constantly. Following her around and completely soaking the room in his lusty, sugary sweet scent just to make her head whip to him. A shit-eating grin on his face like ‘I know you smell it, look at me, give me attention, and bend me over this couch.’

Such a needy omega he is. Always rock hard for her. Always begging for the slight touch from her.

Him sneaking into her room and 'stealing' her clothes to add to his nest (it's not really stealing when he flaunts through the halls with an arm full of her blouses and skirts looking happier than a milk stuffed kitten) totally doesn't growl when he sees the ones gifted from comte. She ends up making a deal with him that instead of him taking her clothes (it's not like she could just walk around naked and at the rate he was going that was gonna end up being her only option) she would scent everything he wanted her to. She almost regretted the deal when her neck became a little sore after the twenty-third plushy, fourteenth blanket, thirty-second nicknack, and the sixth pillow, but his soft smile and joyful eyes made her suffering worth it.

He does any and everything possible to get his nose closer to her scent glands, from acting drunk so he can be manhandled and draped across her body her strength makes him shiver to dramatically plopping down next to her whining about how tiiirrred he is and my how pillow-esque is her shoulder looking... he is above nothing when it comes to the prospect of physical closeness of her.

He is soooo jealous too. His scent turns sour, twinged with frustration and anxiety when he sees her getting just a little too close for comfort to the other omegas of the mansion (someone explain to the poor man that being on the other side of the room isn't 'too close'). Especially Isaac. His jokes and bothersome interruptions of his daily life, as Isaac puts it, come more often and not nearly as much as before at the same time. It seems Arthur appears out of nowhere when Isaac nears MC just to literally (physically) tug the oblivious physicist away, but then disappears from 'Newt, old boy''s sight the moment he is far enough that it appeases the writer.

The moment MC offers a handmade bracelet to Arthur with the intention to court, he nearly passes out. Bouncing around purring happily and spewing so much excited pheromones it makes the others gag. Theo being more dramatic than the others, obliviously, with his heated quips and sleeve-covered nose. And when he says something a little too mean, maybe along the lines of MC not wanting a slutty omega like Arthur, you best believe MC will be snapping and snarling at Theo, growling like some deranged beast and hiding Arthur behind her. Like you go, girl- protect that precious attention whore. Meanwhile, Arthur has stars in his eyes and a raging hard-on.

Speaking of hard-ons. His heats hit hard. And I mean hard, both physically and emotionally. Before, MC he would seek out those he trusted, dealing with it by getting pinned by Dazai, teased by Comte, or even completely demolished by Theo. He doesn't indulge in his nightly escapades out on the town during his heats; he is far too vulnerable during to feel safe leaving the mansion and the arms of his friends and alphas he trusts with his life. Now, with MC he can't be satisfied with anyone but her.

And such an insatiable trembling mess he is. He just feels so hot and there is just so much pressure pulsing in his stomach and cock that surely MC won't blame him for crying out her name like some desperate puppy, legs spread wide and skin flushed, ripe for the picking. He can feel like slick dripping between his thighs but that is the last thing on his mind when lithe fingers and pretty nails pinch at his pebbled, pink nipples. The roughness of her clothes against his sensitive skin is almost torturous but the wispy tips of her hair tickling over his rips and belly make it worth the discomfort.

And when his head becomes slightly less hazy and the ground forms below him he freaks out when he notices MC is gone from his nest. Tumbling around his room like some newborn deer, throwing himself at his door to wrench it open, and nearly dragging himself across the floor to where his alpha's scent is the strongest. Which happens to be the kitchen... where she was making soup for him... because he hasn't eaten... because she was making him forget everything but her name and the feeling of his legs going numb.

He's so emotional when he finds her that fat crocodile tears slip down his blotchy cheeks as he all but falls into her open arms blubbering about he promises to be a better omega and that he's sorry and please don't leave him. MC nearly freaks out just as much as him thinking he's hurt himself by accident until she manages to tuck him back into his nest and spoon-feds him the soup she made.

The omega looks so pitiful with his tear-rimmed, big blue eyes, downturned brows, his swollen pouty lips, and sweaty chest that her heart thumps painfully against her ribcage. Like seriously MC? How could you think you could get away with being out of the safety of his nest and arms for even a moment. How dare you try to make this hormonal and very hungry sex monster homemade soup in the kitchen that is most definitely not his room while he was literally passed out and dead to the world. scoff.

anyway...

He's very quickly learned one of his new favorite things is to be jerked off from behind by MC. He loves the safety and security he feels once he has to lean back against his alpha, his body just too weak to support itself after hours of being played with and railed.

Her cheeks and tongue rub against his neck as he shudders and shivers, cum spilling over her fingers once more. He can feel his face blazing while she smears the thick liquid between her fingers and screams as she stuffs said fingers deep within him, fingering the keening little omega as if her life depended on it.

omg. just imagine his whimpers while MC is kneeling over him, his cum from their previous rounds dripping out of her and onto the wet patch of curly hair below his belly button, mumbling about how he's been spoiled a bit too much as of late, and come on pretty boy, work a little harder, and him trying so desperately to push up into her but being held down by her hands on his hips and lower tummy. He gets so frustrated he almost cries (bully, he calls her) until she gifts him a little mercy and sinks down onto him, completely owning him and wrecking him entirely at that point he does cry lol such a sensitive baby.

Finale thought. Humps his pillows.

and scene.

[mirai1269]

MC, Newt, Leon, and Vincent play Mario party 10. To prevent a rage-induced murder make the game more unifying, they are playing Bowser Party, which means all players are one team versus Bowser.

Everyone’s a team, what can go wrong?

Just a group of pals having a nice afternoon! Surely it'll go nice-

Newt: "No! Last time you were Mario! It's my turn now!"

MC: "Newt, we agreed that whoever wins the staring contest gets to choose first. You lost, so sit down and choose someone else. How about Yoshi or Toad?"

Newt: "NO!"

Vincent: "Wow, Newt's got a temper."

Leon (lying): "Oh, you should see MC. He is much more viscious when he's angry. One time, he threw his notebook at my head when I got a question wrong when we were studying."

Vincent: *looks at Leon* "That explains a few things then."

Leon: "Like what?" *murderous glare*

Vincent: "Oh, just the fact that you think I'll get scared off is enough to prove it."

Leon: "Prove what?!"

Later...

Leon: "VINCENT YOU IDIOT!!! How could you roll a 1?!"

Vincent: "F*ck you! The game lagged!"

Leon: "Guys, if we lose, it's Vincent's fault."

Vincent: "SHUT UP!"

A little later...(after Bowser's Clawful Climb)

Leon: *loses his hearts and dies* Dang it!

Vincent: "Good job, Neandrethal! Guess expecting you to push two buttons repeatedly was a lot for you."

Leon: "Oh, I'll push you down from a bri-"

MC: "Aw heck. Only rolled a 2. We're gonna die."

Vincent: "It's okay darling! It is a tricky game."

Leon: "Yeah, no worries. We're here to have fun!"

Newt: "..........." (Simps.)

[jazlynriddle]

Welcome to your life - Pt 2:

Acting On Your Best Behaviour Ch 10:

Summary:

They'd seen it in their fellow orphans often enough to recognise the pattern and were now forced to admit, despite their hopes to the contrary, that Isidora had likely suffered similar side effects.

No… they'd always known she had. The Keeper had just wanted the power that Ranrok had, enough to convince themselves that they would be able to handle it better than that naive woman.

With the start of the Keeper’s sixth-year in Hogwarts, comes a whole slew of headache-inducing challenges from the most unexpected of places. Between insignificant pests throwing wrenches into their plans and tedious teenage drama, that the Keeper is entirely unprepared for, they wonder if they'll make it to their NEWTs without losing their sanity.

Or worse, Ominis or Sebastian.

Warnings: Sebastian x MC x Ominis! Drug Addiction! Spoilers! Slow-burn corruption! Dark content! Fucked up 1800s orphanages! MC has no love for Anne or Solomon! Dubious happy ending (it's happy for MC, Seb and Ominis at least).

You can also read on AO3! (chapter specific warnings below)

Notes:

Warning: Descriptions of faecal matter!

Now that the drug addiction arc and its accompanying character and relationship growths are mostly settled. I'm going to start laying more groundwork and preparations, and throw in some time skipping to get to the next arc I've got planned xD

Also, I actually started rereading from the start of the series to refresh my memory and wow, it's gotten long enough that it's taking me, myself, days to read up to the latest chapter! By the time I'm done with this series, I'm probably going to be able to read the entire thing as though someone else wrote it. HUZZAH! =D

"So, what'd you get from those diaries?" The Keeper asked as the group settled down around their usual table at the Three Broomsticks.

Garreth shrugged. "Not that much, still making my way through them. So far, it just seems like they're some truly sad souls. I almost feel bad for them.

The Keeper raised their eyebrows, the madman actually read them!? Honestly, they were impressed by the Gryffindor's dedication to what seemed like his life’s purpose of pranking. "Is that so? Now I'm curious."

"Well, first off, this is apparently their second time taking seventh year, explains why they can even afford to stalk you so much." Garreth rolled his eyes.

"They failed their NEWTs? Considering their penmanship, I bet the professors simply couldn’t read their test papers." Amit snorted, before taking a drink from his mug.

"Probably would've been the case if they hadn't simply bailed on the week of the exams." Garreth sniggered as Amit sprayed his butterbeer across the table.

"They didn't show up!?" Natty exclaimed and it was unclear if the disgust on her face was from the now lubricated table or the idea of the bullies cowardly running away from their exams.

"Yup, apparently they weren't happy with the girls their parents had signed them marriage contracts with and did so as some form of protest." Garreth shook his head. "Honestly, I think it's kinda messed up that these purebloods don't get to pick who they marry. And somehow they're the superior ones."

"Can't say I have any sympathy for them, but it's rather understandable to not want to marry someone you don't love." Poppy glanced at the Keeper. "Especially if you already love someone else."

"I suppose their families don't approve of a pair of no name hillbilly twin girls." The Keeper hummed thoughtfully to themselves. "They aren't firstborn sons, right?"

"Yeah, they've both got older brothers, that's probably why they could get away with bargaining their Hogwarts career with their parents." Garreth rolled his eyes. "Pureblood politics are so weird."

"Politics…" Amit coughed to clear his throat and vanished away the butterbeer on the table before continuing. "I wonder if we can use any of this as blackmail."

The Keeper shook their head. "Probably not anything they'd dare to write."

"Oh!" Poppy's eyes lit up. "In that case, how about we make them share something they wouldn't write down?"

"What, like with a truth serum?" The Keeper raised an eyebrow sceptically. There was no way something like that existed, even in the-

"Veritaserum is a NEWT level potion though…" Amit frowned.

Seriously?

"Are you telling me that there's a potion that makes people tell the truth?" The Keeper asked incredulously.

"Ah, right, I suppose you wouldn't know since it's not very commonly spoken or written about." Poppy smiled wryly.

"If such a thing exists, why doesn't the ministry just use that on people like Rookwood and Harlow?" The Keeper's face scrunched up in bewilderment.

The table went silent.

"Well… there is an antidote and it's said that those with Occlumency can resist it…" Amit trailed off hesitantly.

The Keeper rolled their eyes. "It's the bloody Government, surely they can use a mixture of confounding spells, torture, and force feeding to convict anyone suspected of criminal activity and obviously not allow them to take an antidote. With enough evidence and compulsion, the truth would always surface. If the serum isn't enough, you could even forcibly extract their memories to back it up."

The group went silent again at the Keeper’s casual advocation of torture. Most of them weren't particularly surprised at the Keeper’s stance, considering the way they fought in battle. Garreth's eyes were the only ones wide with surprise, having never fought alongside the Keeper and seen their violent tendencies.

"I'm not sure that's very ethical…" Natty frowned in concern and disapproval.

The Keeper snorted. "I'd say it's more unethical to allow people to harm others over some vague concept of human rights. If the authorities had used Veritaserum on Harlow after we gave them that incriminating letter, Archie's father would still be alive."

Natty flinched and averted her eyes with a frown. The Keeper ignored it, this was a ridiculous point to be stuck on.

"Well, I certainly wouldn't mind trying to brew it." Garreth broke the awkward silence with a nervous smile and a shrug, clearly trying to move the conversation along. "But I don’t know the recipe and it's supposed to take a month to brew. Even if by some miracle, we get the ingredients, I can't be sure it'll work."

"I think it's worth a try." Poppy nodded. "I don’t think those boys deserve the right to keep secrets."

"We can help with gathering the needed materials and I'll help with the brewing." The Keeper nodded as well. A chance to learn how to brew a truth serum was certainly something they wouldn't pass up. Even if it failed, it was definitely worth the attempt.

"I'll see what books I can find on the subject." Amit offered. "Though with it being a controlled substance, chances are slim that we'll even find the recipe, so I'd keep my hopes low."

"I'll check the Restricted Section if you can't find anything." The Keeper waved a hand dismissively.

"You-" Amit's eyes widened, and he paused. "Why am I even surprised that you have a way to sneak into the Restricted Section."

The Keeper flashed him a small smirk, before turning to Natty, waiting for her response, prompting the rest to do the same.

Glancing around the table, Natty sighed. "Very well, but I have one condition, we'll plan the questions together and I'll do the interrogation. I don't want to violate them more than we need to. We mustn't sink to their level."

"Reasonable enough." The Keeper nodded amicably, it wasn’t like they intended to allow the bullies to be interrogated under Veritaserum anyway. Not while those idiots remained abreast of the Keeper’s own secrets.

"Wait, surely you can't be suggesting that we waste this opportunity!? We could have them tell us anything!" Garreth protested. "Think of the blackmail material or at the very least the pranks we could pull on them!"

Natty glared at her housemate while the Keeper snorted, they were amazed that that one hadn't ended up in Slytherin. Still, ethical conflicts aside, it was admittedly nice to have such a naïve group of friends.

"Hey, are you alright, Natty?"

"Huh? Oh, yes, Poppy."

"If what they said is still bothering you, don't worry too much about it. They mean well, they've just been through a lot. Can't have been easy having three villains after them the moment they entered the wizarding world."

"I know… that's the problem. I don’t agree with them, but I can’t say they were wrong…"

"Honestly, I've been thinking about it too."

"You have?"

"Yeah, and I think it's fine to disagree with them. It's having people like you, that prevents justice from becoming cruelty, and people like them judging evil, that protects everyone. That’s what I think at least."

"...I suppose."

"Chin up, we're definitely doing the right thing. They've been looking so much better since we started helping them last month!"

"...yeah, you're right. Hopefully we'll be able to finish this before the Yule holidays at the end of next month."

"Do you think they'll manage to make Veritaserum with Garreth?"

"They and Garreth are the two best potioneers in our year, and Amit is great at potion theory, so I'd say there's a good chance."

"I wonder how they managed to find the recipe in the Restricted Section…"

"Probably with Sallow's help. He's been caught in the Restricted Section so many times, I'm sure he literally just gave them the title and shelf."

"I'm still surprised he and Ominis didn't agree to work with us."

"..."

"When it turns yellow, stir nine times clockwise at medium heat." Amit read from the open tome laid out on the table, before adjusting the temperature of the fire.

The Keeper nodded, eyes narrowed in focus as they carefully moved the ladle at an even pace.

"Is the unicorn horn powder ready? I need at least a spoonful to add after the potion turns red." Amit asked as he returned to reading the next set of instructions on the tome carefully.

"Almost." Garreth replied as he carefully ground the last fragment of horn into a powder. "Bit surprised you knew where to get unicorn horn."

The Keeper shrugged as the potion began turning pink. "I explored the surrounding region a fair bit last year."

"I'm amazed you managed to pass your OWLs while adventuring and fighting Ranrok, Rookwood and Harlow." Amit shook his head as he carefully collected a spoonful of powder and began to add it to the red liquid. "Now, seven times anticlockwise. Garreth, you can start shredding the Dugbog tongue and I'll prepare the Stench of the Dead."

"Got it." Garreth nodded as he readied the chopping board. "Honestly, after your assistance acquiring Billywig Stings for my last endeavour, I was sure you'd join Sebastian and I, as a frequent guest of the illustrious Detention Chamber."

"Only if I were as sloppy as you two." The Keeper snorted, inwardly apologising to Sebastian as Garreth gasped in mock offence. After all, the last time Sebastian had gotten a detention, it had been to protect them.

The Keeper felt the corners of their lips attempt to curl upwards at the fond memory and quickly shook it off. This wasn't the time to be distracted by their feelings for Sebastian-

"Alright, we've got to add these at the same time when it turns blue." Amit moved to stand beside the cauldron with the disgusting smelling bottle and Garreth joined him with his own shredded tongue strips. "You'll need to wave your wand over the pot after they're in to finish the potion."

"Got it." The Keeper nodded, making the effort to keep their stirring constant as they monitored the potion.

"Aaaand…" Amit held his breath as the potion's bright purple gradually bled into a beautiful sky blue. "Now!"

The potion splashed slightly as the handfuls of ingredients plopped into the bubbling liquid. The moment they sank under the surface, the Keeper quickly waved their wand over the cauldron and the surface of the liquid glowed brightly before a cloud of steam burst from it.

The three jumped back in surprise and the Keeper irritably fanned the smoke away with a hand. When the air finally cleared, the contents of the cauldron were now a surprisingly clear and transparent fluid.

"...did we…" Amit murmured, staring at the pot. The disgusting odour of the Stench of the Dead was completely gone.

"We did it!" Garreth cheered, jumping with a fist in the air.

"Don't celebrate so soon, just because it looks correct doesn't mean its potency is desirable or that it actually performs the intended results." The Keeper chuckled at the Gryffindor's excitement.

"Heh heh, that just means we've got to test it!" Garreth grinned and Amit sighed.

"Indeed. The Yule break starts next week, so this weekend is our last chance." The Keeper took a set of vials out of their satchel. "How about you guys start putting the ingredients back while I pour the potion into these vials?"

"Sure, I remember where to put the remaining ingredients we lifted from Professor Sharp's store." Garreth grinned as he scooped the remaining items and dumped them into Amit's arms. "You can help keep a lookout."

"Why me-" Amit complained as Garreth dragged him out of the room by the sleeve.

The Keeper smirked as the two boys left, quickly ladling out the cauldron's contents into six vials which they placed into a blue box and shoved into their satchel. They then removed a brown box containing six identical vials of clear and odourless liquid, placing it on the counter.

With that settled, the Keeper went about cleaning the potion station until the two boys returned.

"Alright, so we're all in agreement on this list of questions?" Natty asked, holding up a parchment.

The Keeper nodded, not that it mattered. If everything went well, she wouldn't even get the chance to ask them.

"Then, let's get started." Garreth grinned widely as he held up the brown box for Natty and Poppy to take one vial each. "Good luck!"

The two girls quickly left the Three Broomsticks through the front door and the Keeper's eyes slid upwards towards the upper floors. Now, it was up to the girls and all they could do was wait for their signal.

Once outside, Natty and Poppy hurried up the snow covered stone steps and around to the other side of the Three Broomsticks. Reaching the side door that led back into the building, Natty lightly pushed the door open and stepped through it, finding themselves on the second floor.

Looking over the banister, Natty noted that the two bullies were on the first floor, leaning against the railings. The bullies' mugs sat on said railings beside their arms as they looked out over the table on the ground floor, where the group always sat with the Keeper, and all in all, doing a terrible job of appearing as though they weren't blatantly spying.

Quietly, she and Poppy made their way down the stairs, and around the bullies, to stand within view of the Keeper’s table behind the bullies. Once in position, Natty lifted her wand and whispered. "Lumos."

Spotting the light from the corner of their eye, the Keeper stood and began walking under the first-floor platform towards the fireplace. The bullies, predictably, left the front facing banister immediately to scamper to the other side of the first floor and looked downwards over those railings to keep the Keeper within their sight.

At the same time, Poppy and Natty quickly, and quietly, brisk walked over to the two abandoned mugs of butterbeer and dripped three drops of the contents of their vials into each, before quickly returning to their original spot. With their task done, Natty raised her lit wand again.

Spotting the second signal, the Keeper collected a handful of nuts from a bowl on the fireside counter and returned to their table casually.

The bullies again followed them, returning to their original spot, leaning on the railings overlooking the Keeper's table. Natty took a deep breath as she and Poppy watched the bullies pick up their mugs and take several gulps from them.

"Alright. Time to see if it worked." Natty breathed and Poppy gave her a supportive pat on the shoulder.

Mustering that Gryffindor courage that she was so proud of, Natty began to approach the bullies when one of them let out a loud groan of pain.

She stopped in surprise, when the other bully broke wind at an embarrassingly high volume, the sound lasting long enough to draw everyone’s attention to its uneven stutter.

One that sounded alarmingly wet, no less.

The nearby customers began to snigger as the two bullies faces paled and then began turning red.

Without a word, the two boys abruptly broke into a sprint, shuffling down the stairs as fast as their feet could carry them, with another loud and wet fart echoing in their wake. The sound came accompanied by the appearances of brown splotches and footprints left behind by the bullies’ shoes.

Garreth immediately burst into uproarious laughter, alongside several other customers, while Sirona shouted angrily at the two bullies as they rushed out of the establishment.

Giggling, Poppy began descending the stairs as well, taking care to avoid the reeking brown spatter on the wooden steps. Natty shook her head with a sigh before following, slipping around Sirona as the bar owner began to clean away the disgusting stains.

"Well, that went well." Poppy laughed lightly as she and Natty reseated themselves at the table.

"Well? I think that was fantastic! A perfect prank if I do say so myself, so worth the month-long brew!" Garreth shook with laughter.

The Keeper smirked. "I believe a wise man once said, he who hath smelt it hath dealt it."

"And if it was more than just gas, he will have felt it. In. His. Pants!" Garreth continued with an enormous grin, as he punctuated each of those last few words by jabbing a finger in the air.

Honestly, the Keeper was wondering if that grin stretching from ear to ear was hurting his face. It certainly looked like it should.

Natty sighed. "I won't deny that it ended up being a funny and unexpectedly suitable revenge, but I would have rathered it gone according to plan."

The Keeper shrugged. "At least it didn't kill them. In all honesty, if we had messed it up worse, it probably wouldn't have been funny."

Natty's face paled at the suggestion and Poppy shook her head. "Well, it would probably have been obvious if it had failed that badly, let's just be glad we got a good laugh for our troubles."

"Indeed, it was certainly worth the effort, and I am nonetheless glad to have learnt and attempted such a complex potion." Amit agreed with a smile.

Natty sighed but her eyes were less downtrodden this time, even managing a small smile. "You're right, we won't be defeated."

"Just because this plan didn't work out, doesn't mean we won't keep trying till we have a solution!" Garreth nodded, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

The Keeper snorted, they certainly were an optimistic bunch, but that wasn't a bad thing. Pessimistic mentalities were more deadly than most of their wizarding peers realised. If you'd already given up in your mind, no plan you concocted would succeed, and you would have lost the battle before it even began.

That was something they respected in Sebastian, his optimism, dedication, and determination to do the impossible regardless of how many people tried to stop him. Even Ominis, though withheld often by caution and anxiety, was not afraid to use whatever he had at his disposal to protect what he saw as his. A trait they too shared.

The Keeper was proud to have gathered so many people with the right life attitudes, not just as friends but in their partners too. They wouldn't let any of this effort be for naught. Neither this group's nor their partners'.

While they knew that not everyone would agree, the Keeper believed that the way to make up for deceiving their friends, was to make sure that they'd done it for a worthwhile reason.

That's why they sought Sebastian and Ominis' aid in preparing a very specific brew for the replica vials, with the express purpose of letting the Keeper steal the actual Veritaserum while still creating an effect that their friends would appreciate. The liquid in these fake vials was incredibly potent, causing a sudden and urgent need to use the bathroom, with only two drops.

Perhaps it was a bit overkill, it had been almost as difficult to create such a fake, as it was to brew the actual Veritaserum. They were beyond grateful to have had Ominis' skill in potion theory, and Sebastian’s resourceful creativity, for this craft.

Fortunately, it had gone surprisingly well, and the Keeper felt that their efforts had been worthwhile. Allowing them to look forward to testing the actual Veritaserum without too much guilt. A full dose was three drops, so if it worked, they'd have at least ten doses per vial for a grand total of sixty uses. A coil of glee and excitement roiled in their chest.

Excellent.

This wouldn't go to waste. Their friends and partners' efforts would become a firm foundation for what the Keeper would soon build.

“Now. What do we do with the rest of these then?” Garreth grinned as he held up the brown box full of diarrhoea-inducing transparent and odourless liquid.

The rest of the group paled.

Notes:

While I do understand that Veritaserum is not 100% reliable and that memories can be doctored, that doesn't change how incompetent the Ministry is in the Wizarding World.

At the end of Natty's questline, Nurse Blainey says "What sort of world are we in where children solve our problems?" And this is indeed an entirely horrifying realisation to come to when it involves your local law enforcement.

The letter we submitted to Officer Singer should have been more than enough to at least begin an investigation, the fact that it was not, is ludicrous.

In a way the Keeper’s argument on Veritaserum is the age-old "guilty until proven innocent" vs "innocent until proven guilty". Their reasons for vouching for "guilty until proven innocent" are (hopefully) obvious enough, considering their childhood, and accordingly, the Keeper very much ascribes to the Machiavellian philosophy "the ends justify the means".

Also, I'll remind everyone that the Keeper is still a 15 year old kid, and maturity does not equal experience and knowledge xD

Plus, they're mostly uninterested in politics, which is where a majority of the Ministry's incompetence stems from, as such, they don't see how the nuances of ethics and responsibility can be utterly suppressed by wealth and privilege.

Like the way Lucius Malfoy weaselled his way out of Azkaban despite being a Death Eater and even manipulated the Minister in Harry Potter.