#nonverbal magic

[tenth-sentence]

And from her palm – released by the memory, perhaps – the rapture broke.

"Weaveworld" - Clive Barker

[lynnlyrae]

I was talking about Arcane finale with a friend and joked that Isha didn’t die, but went to past because of hexcore magic, grew up, became friends with two guys who kinda reminded her of her previous adoptive family… in this new life she became known as… Felicia……

[cripplecharacters]

Hi! I am writing a non-speaking character, but I am not non-speaking and this story is a fantasy one so I want to be careful in my portrayal.

Basically, this character (who also is a smith, if want to know) has magic, and can create an illusion of her speaking, which she uses only when she is forced by societal expectations (I want to highlight how the society she lives in sucks). But this costs her a lot of energy. So, when she is at home with her partner, she either doesn't communicate, or she writes or uses a sort of telepathy in which you feel the telepath's feelings, or see their mental images, but not the thoughts. This type of magic is less taxing on her, so she prefers it.

So, I want to use her magic as an accessibility tool, without making her not non-speaking.

I just want to know if this is okay, if I thought of everything or there is something important I didn't consider about making her non-speaking. Thanks for your attention, and sorry for the long ask.

Hello! I’m glad you’re paying attention to avoid the magic curing a disability trope. However I have some thoughts.

I think having her just not communicate with her partner even some of the time makes very little sense. Most people who can’t speak have a form of communication all the time, typically the barrier is just that others don’t understand it. Some other options I can think of to make magic an accessibility tool is something where she writes and her magic speaks it allowed. Try looking at real alternative communication methods to get ideas!

- Mod Patch

[uefb]

In the HP books, the students start working on non-verbal magic around year 6. It requires a great deal of concentration, as @scamanderishredmayniac said. There’s quite a few examples of non-verbal magic in FB, as you’ve noted, and a decent bit we see, too, from adults in the HP films. There are, however, also examples of both wandless and non-verbal magic in the FB films. As you mentioned — “Grindelgraves” uses neither his wand nor words when he retrieves Newt’s case and then arrests all three of them (FB1). Additionally, Newt says the word “relashio” while held by the zouwu, but his wand is nowhere in sight (FB2), thus implying wandless magic.* We additionally see strictly non-verbal magic from Queenie and Tina while preparing supper in FB1, and a slew of non-verbal magic from all the main characters in FB3, particularly the dueling scenes (watch Theseus & Lally’s street duel in Bhutan, for example). Snape’s lectures in HP6 lead me to believe non-verbal magic is highly advantageous (and thus, probably, fairly common) for adults.

Beyond that, we also know from HP that children often express their magic — accidentally or on purpose — without knowledge of incantations and without wands, in their younger years. For example, Neville Longbottom’s bouncing instead of dying when dropped out of a window as a lad (book 1); Harry’s accidental disapparition to escape bullies in primary school (book 1); and Fred & George turning Ron’s teddy into a spider when they were little (book 2). So while well-done wandless and wordless magic do require concentration, mind power, and skill, they’re technically within a wizard’s purview. In fact, the entire school of Uagadou encourages wandless magic, indicating that wand-use is, in fact, very much cultural. (And—per Rowling in another Pottermore article—wands are a European invention, which… Well. Non-European wizards certainly exist, and they certainly did magic prior to European colonialism!) Anyway — this article from Pottermore very briefly describes non-verbal and wandless magic.

All that being said…

I believe it’s important to remember that JK Rowling’s Wizarding World is a shining example of soft world-building, meaning the magic system is—imho—wildly under-developed. (Here is a wonderful video essay discussing soft v hard world building using Studio Ghibli, Lord of the Rings, and HP as anchor points. And here is a quora thread discussing whether the WW is a soft or hard magic system.) Now, soft worldbuilding doesn’t inherently make HP/FB bad, but it does mean we don’t know why things work and—many times—we don’t even know the how. In this case, there is a great deal of inconsistency in how wandless and non-verbal magic is used in the WW universe, and lots of lacking clarity (e.g., what *is* wandless? Does having the wand on a person as opposed to, say, laying on the floor make a difference? Further - why is the wand held? Are hands particular important for magic use, more so than other body parts? And will a verbal spell always be more powerful — or take less energy — than an incantation? Etc etc etc.) through all levels of canon material.**

All of that last paragraph to say…

Personally….

For headcanon and fic purposes…

I’m of the opinion that if the use of magic is at least somewhat Logical™️, I’ll buy it. For me, soft worldbuilding and unexplained magic systems leave a lot of extra “sand in the sandbox,” so to speak, when it comes to creativity. ^_^

Anyway, hope this additional info helps!!

*I’ll be interested to watch the films again and actually pay attention to any other examples of wandless magic.

**For an overview of perspectives on canon in the Wizarding World see here and here.

So spells cast without necessarily speaking is a relatively common thing in FB, I presume? I did notice that Newt several times didn't actually vocalize when he cast spells. Of course, certain times he did, like when he undid Grindelwald's transfiguration with "Revelio" but in one of the other movies, he just points his wand and the door unlocks. I didn't hear an "Alohamora". Also Graves/Grindelwald, when he took away Newt's case and bound Newt, Tina and Jacob. He just swished his hand this way and that and boom, magic done.

I was under the impression that you had to have some skill to do that, but perhaps I confused it with wandless magic. That does require a great deal of skill.

[pratchettquotes]

"In Uberwald the dwarfs and trolls haven't settled their old grievances, there are large areas controlled by feudal vampire or werewolf clans, and there are also tracts with much higher than normal background magic. It is a chaotic place, indeed, and you'd hardly think you were in the Century of the Fruitbat. It is to be hoped that things will improve, however, and Uberwald will, happily, be joining the community of nations."

Vimes and Vetinari exchanged looks. Sometimes Carrot sounded like a civics essay written by a stunned choirboy.

"Well put," said the Patrician, at last. "But until that joysome day, Uberwald remains a mystery inside a riddle wrapped in an enigma."

Terry Pratchett, The Fifth Elephant

[zazagundam]

JOKES ON YOU, I CANT GET FLUSTERED OR FLIPPED OR SWITCHED FOR SHIT LMAO

[padfootastic]

So. You say in this post that Sirius Black is a very powerful character and that he was severely underplayed. Can you elaborate on that? Like i beliece you, but i need to know exactly why you think that ya feel?

hi hi hi! i just went through several months worth of my asks bc i was so sure i’d answered something similar before (when i was generally more coherent) but this is the only thing i could find lol. (not complaining bc i found other good stuff but oh well)

so, i have a few reasons for this.

one, that he managed to ‘retain his sanity’ in azkaban; have enough presence of mind (and good enough eyesight!) to recognise pettigrew and come up with an escape plan and actually manage to pull it off. he has incredible strength of mind & character imo.

two, he’s so smart. becoming an animagus at 15, helping create a magical map that’s so versatile, being super unbothered about his OWLs/academics, all the outsider pov comments we have.

third, bouncing off that, he’s also rational. he’s intelligent. he can connect dots and form a picture. and tbh, considering the avg wizard’s poor ability to think critically—this one trait in itself pushes him to the top of ‘very capable, very powerful’. (this meta is really quite fascinating too)

four, i think magically also he was really quite good. not just bc of the animagus thing, but also that he’s duelling death eaters (iirc he beat someone before tango-ing w bella) after like. years of incarceration and months of being locked up in his childhood house of horrors.

and this is all just canon. if u include HCs on top of that—i have so many about like, the black family teaching their kids skills/spells from an early age and making them generally more competent/ruthless than others their own age.

re being severely underplayed—man. this one gets me so bad lmao. here we have a character who’s demonstrated some serious magical ability, can think well on his feet, can draw conclusions from facts like you’ve not seen before, and is heavily, unequivocally devoted to harry (and therefore, the cause). this is one person that would’ve done anything in his not-inconsiderable power to end the war bc it’s taken so much from him.

(and again, venturing into HC/AU territory, if u consider the black family & its power/authority/resources, then that’s a whole other thing)

all of this and what was he relegated to? haunting the walls of GP & being shifted from one prison to another. that’s it.

[whatarewedoingdude]

I go through a dramatic magical girl transformation every time I go nonverbal

[taoofshigeru]

A Cure for Joy but Not for Silence (Castti x Malaya)

A take on Castti/Ochette's crossed path where a confluence of magic brings back a familiar face. Trauma is still around, but so is love and comfort. Temenos and Osvald are also there. (2000 words)

-----

As Ochette called upon a bevy of trees, frogs, and axe-wielding tree frogs to beat back the shadow, a cleric and a scholar watched from a safe distance.

The purple light surrounding the ominous, writhing tentacle seemed familiar to the inquisitor. It took him a few moments for the hunch to turn into a connection.

Just when Castti and Ochette were starting to venture deeper into the woods, he took their colossal scholar by the arm. "Osvald, a word, if I may…"

Watching Castti treat the wounds on the duorduor turned that connection into a near-certainty. He grimaced. Then he thought of something. "Castti, you still have several phials of that cure mixed up."

She blinked. "Yes, why?"

He nodded towards the depths of the woods. "I very much doubt this is the last beast in these woods we'll see that's in need of treatment. May I borrow one?"

She nodded, and handed him the phial, which he tucked into his tunic.

They hastened on ahead into the woods. It should have been daylight, but it was dimmer than dusk.

A few steps further ahead, they were all engulfed in darkness.

…

As the scholar wandered further into the woods, he found himself hearing a voice that sounded like deep, raspy dusk. "Poor, pitiful Osvald. Lost your wife, you could never protect her."

"Why?" Osvald replied flatly. "Rita's death was Harvey's fault. I did everything I could, and now Elena is safe."

"Ah, but you're failing your daughter. Not there for her in this fragile recovery period. If only you had more power…" The voice trailed off.

"Why?" He didn't seem the least bit bothered. "Temenos is a high-ranking church official, and he was there when Harvey confessed to his crimes. Very likely I'll be exonerated within the year."

"…" The voice paused for just a moment. "Doesn't it ever make you curious, what it was that Harvey found at the end of his research? The true seventh source?"

"Why?" The scholar continued walking. He didn't even miss a step. "Whatever it was was clearly of an inferior grade to my own love for my adorable daughter."

"…" The pause was slightly longer this time. "Think of the possibilities of untapped sources of magic. Knowledge, wealth, half of the world, it could all be yours!"

"Why," His scruffy beard concealed the faintest hint of a smirk. "I don't really see what you're getting at."

…

"Couldn't protect them. Couldn't protect Jörg, or Roi, not even Crick." The voice in the darkness spoke to the cleric, mocking him. "You slept in bed as your wayward lamb walked his way to the slaughter."

Temenos grimaced. For all his outward confidence, this particular subject was not something he enjoyed being reminded of. "And I made examples of those responsible." That didn't mean he didn't have a retort ready. "And I aim to do the same to you."

"To me?" The voice boomed with laughter. "Why, you misunderstand me. I'm here to help you. To help give you power for your revenge."

"Revenge against who, exactly?" Temenos fixed on a point in the darkness that seemed to glow brighter than all the rest. Then he started walking. "This isn't the same puerile ploy you pulled on Kaldena, I hope? Inflicting tragedy and offering the power to get revenge against the enemy of her true enemy?"

"Kaldena was a fool." The darkness scoffed back at him. "You're clearly much too wise to fall for the petty ruse that worked on her."

"Oh, so that was you?" He responded with a dry wit. "I was going off a hunch. So, in a sense, I do appreciate the courtesy in your confirming my suspicions."

The darkness went silent, for a moment. Then, "How did you know?"

"I doubt. It's what I do." He winked at the point, which was growing brighter by the moment, then broke into a full sprint. "And you made it easy."

"YOU-!!" Humor was gone from the voice now, replaced by inhuman, primal rage.

"SACRED EFFULGENCE!!" He heaved his staff into the point of dark purple light, and the illusion shattered.

…

The cleric and the scholar found themselves standing on an endless lake of grey. Osvald was the first to notice Ochette and Castti were there next to him, facing off against what looked like dozens of the same writhing purple fragments of darkness Ochette had beaten back earlier.

Temenos was a hair slower, on account of the plum he had shoved down his throat. But the glow of his light magic hit one of the writhing curses incarnate just before it could strike at Ochette from behind.

Together, the four travelers made quick work of the gruesome attacker. Soon, the tendrils were in full retreat, but one lingered for just a moment.

That was long enough for Ochette. "Oh no you don't! RAWR!!" She bit into the darkness itself, and her fangs sunk deep.

That was as much time as they needed. "Now, Osvald!" He grabbed the phial of cure out from his tunic and tossed it in the scholar's direction.

A gruff, solemn chant had began even before the thin cylinder of glass was tumbling through the air. "This is! THE ANSWER!!" Osvald blasted the phial with the One True Magic (II), and the beam shot out towards the tentacle. Ochette jumped away just in time. So hasty was her jump that she did not, for once, land gracefully.

In the time it took for that attack to land, the rest of the tentacles, and the darkness itself, retreated. Ochette, Temenos, and Osvald were left standing beside Castti, slumped over with emotional and physical fatigue. And one other person, who had appeared exactly where the tentacle had been before Osvald had blasted it with pure, radiant spirit.

…

Castti looked up, and saw a ghost. This one wasn't wearing a wry smile, and the emaciated look was a far cry from the healthy state in which she had last seen her. But there was no mistaking those eyes. "…malaya?" It was a face she had resigned herself to never seeing again.

"It's okay, Malaya. I remember everything now, you can rest." She fumbled forward, not really understanding what was happening. "Haha, I must really be under the weather to be seeing things again." She put a hand to her forehead, laughing to hold back the tears. She felt so silly.

Ochette looked at the other woman, confused. "Mama Castti, who's this?"

A jolt of pure, stinging understanding shot through the apothecary. "You can see her?" Her head whipped around to Osvald. "Can you see her?"

He nodded. "There's a woman on the ground next to you. Dark skin, long hair. Signs of malnutrition. She's conscious."

Temenos stepped between them. "Now, wait a moment Castti, we need to be c-"

He was physically thrown off the ground as Castti dived forward like a woman possessed. She embraced the woman in a hug heavy enough to knock the wind clean out of her.

"MalayaMalayaMalayamalayamalayaOhit'syouit'sreallyyouyoudon'tknowhowmuchIhopedandprayedandafterIrememberedandeverythingandyoudidsomuchformeandIcouldn'tdoanythingforyouandIohgodsyou'realiveandhereandIcanfeelyouandIloveyousomuchandInevergottotellyoubefore*sob*, OhMalayaMalayamydearMalaya-" She didn't know where she was anymore, and she could not care. Tears and snot were spilling freely down her cheeks. Even after Temenos got up, Ochette stood, feet planted and arms out, making it very clear that he wasn't going to break up that moment.

It ended up being Malaya who pushed the apothecary away. "_,_." She opened her mouth as if to say something, but no words came out.

Osvald nodded in understanding. "You love her too, but you're hungry?"

"She's what?!" Castti's head jerked up.

Malaya winced and rubbed her stomach. "_,_!" She shook her head, smiling weakly at Castti.

"'You hugged the wind out of me, you damn mother hen.'" He gave a wry smile. "And my name is Osvald. I'm traveling together with your friend? Wife?"

"Wife!" The apothecary was the one to answer this question. "My wife is alive, I," She took another look at Malaya and her eyes widened with belated shock. "Oh gods, look at you, you're skin and bones, we need to get you some food."

"Alright, that's settled!" Ochette whipped out five sticks of jerky from her pack and handed them to Malaya, who wolfed them down and took five more before the beastling lifted her off the ground and the group began to walk back to town. Osvald, who had been the least disturbed in the confrontation with the shadow, lent Malaya his coat for warmth and let Castti lean on him for support.

"Hey Osvald, how did you know what she was saying? I couldn't even hear, and my ears are the best among us, I think?" Ochette's companion Mahina chimed in.

His gaze grew a little harder. "I learned how to read lips on Frigit Isle. It was useful for gathering information."

"Oh, I see." Ochette turned over to Malaya, who had grabbed a fistful of grapes from her pack and was downing them in groups of three. "You really are light, ma'am. Eat as much as you like."

"Wow, Ochette sharing her food. This is a special day, yes indeed." Mahina hooted jovially.

Temenos cut in between the two, voice so low that neither Castti or Malaya seemed to be able to hear. "I would like to preach caution. Whoever that woman is, she came from the shadow. And it spoke to me in there. I'm almost certain it's connected to what we've been investigating."

"Osvald, can you grab him by the cloak? With one fist? My hands're kinda full."

"M'kay." The scholar obliged, yanking the cleric down for the hunter to glare at.

Ochette hissed back, "Now listen here, you. You weren't with us when Castti went back to Healeaks for the first time. I've seen that woman rip a real live antlion in two, but that village had her shaking in a way I've never seen. And the name I kept hearing her say while we were there? 'Malaya.'" She indicated the woman held in her arms, "You can keep an eye on things, sure. But if you mess up this moment for her I'm gonna put my footprint into your rib cage."

His smile never fell the whole time she was talking. "I understand. I can leave the two of them to you, then?"

"So long as we're clear, Temmy." She bared her fangs at him.

By the time they had arrived back at the inn, it was still light outside. The sunlight seemed to give Malaya a physical boost, and Castti a mental one. The two of them sat outside on a bench, with Ochette standing nearby. She held a pouch that was seemingly still full of food and drinks, and this time Castti indulged herself in some spicy jerky. They sat there for a little while.

Castti asked the question that had been on her mind. "Do you remember me?"

Malaya nodded her head. Yes, yes I do.

"Oh, can you still not speak?" She leaned over, concerned.

She shook her head no.

"So you can't speak?"

Malaya shook her head no again.

"You don't want to speak?"

A nod, yes.

"I'm sorry, I just." Castti stopped. "There's a lot I wanted to ask. But I don't need to ask it now." She stared into those eyes, those lovely brownish-black eyes which, now that she looked closer, seemed to be carrying new, silent scars in them. "We can wait. But I do have one request." She supposed hers did too. They really would have a lot to talk about.

Malaya nodded her head.

"C, can I hold your hand?" She stumbled with that on her way out of the gate. Even so, "It's only, I just, gods! I spent this whole time imagining a version of you to help myself get through all that trauma, and I almost went and accepted you were gone." Castti fixed her eyes on those deep, familiar eyes again and "I need to feel that you're real, and next to me. Is that okay?"

Before nodding, Malaya reached out with her own hand, the one that wasn't still dismantling a pomegranate and shoving it in her face, and wrapped her fingers through Castti's own. Then she nodded. Of course, chief.

~End~

[cluepoke-archive]

Calendertown is my love letter 2 autism I think

[an-ecu-harrypotter-au]

TPS Part 16: Masters Of The Chambers

Ah'm cryin in the bathroom cause Ah jus know this ain't gonna end well. Jacklin ain't even had that bow 'er daddy gave 'er when she left tha's how serious it is. Ah can't stop havin all these visions like one bout the giant wizard's chess game, one bout Quirrell attackin 'er an everythang just bein on fire. It's awful. Ah jus can't let 'er go alone but Ah can't go wit 'er cause Ah dunno what Ah'm doin.

"Ah jus gotta go wit 'er. She don't even know wha's in there past Fluffy."

Ah leave ta find Godric's paintin.

"Godric? What do Ah gotta do here?"

"Go."

"Ok."

Ah practically run out the room when Ah know nobody's seein me ta go an find 'er. Ah didn't need ta go far cause Ah see 'er on the main set a stairs.

"Jacklin."

She turns ta see me.

"We need to be quiet. Get under the cloak so no one can see us."

Ah scurry on over ta her. Ah realize this' mah first time actually usin this. Ah don't even know if it's workin.

"Ah dunno everythang that's gonna be down there but Ah know there's gonna be a chessboard that we ain't gonna be able ta walk past without playin. Ah got the exact set a moves we gotta do up till Ah'm facin the White Queen."

"What does that mean?"

"Ah dunno she comes up ta me an everythang gets fuzzy after that."

Ah see Jacklin's startin ta get nervous like any normal kid should be.

"We're here. Now when we go in I have a plan to distract Fluffy with bright lights from my wand while you open the trapdoor."

Ah ain't got any better ideas so no point in arguin.

"Ok."

She opens the door an is about ta use 'er wand when Ah hear music.

"Wha's that noise?"

Ah jus see Fluffy sleepin. All 3 heads.

"It's a harp. Professor Quirrell must have already been here. We need to move fast. Who knows when Fluffy will wake up."

Ah practically dive ta the trapdoor an open it.

"How far down do ya think it goes?"

"I have no idea. The only way to find out is to jump."

Ah gulp. Too late ta turn back now but it still don't mean Ah don't feel like Ah'm gonna pee mahself. Jacklin an Ah hold hands then jump.

"Ahhhhhhhhh!"

Ah dunno how long we was fallin but landin on what feels like a buncha jelly worms don't make me feel better.

"Help Ah can't move! Wha's happenin?!"

"I don't know, Toby. I can't see. I think we're in Devil's Snare."

Ah start panickin cause Ah know we ain't spose ta let it touch us. Devil's Snare's like the plant version of a python. Ah know all bout what python's do an start cryin.

"We're gonna die!"

"No we're not! I just need to get to my wand. You know they hate fire and sunlight."

It really starts ta tear inta mah skin.

"Hurry Jacklin!"

Ah can hear 'er struggle even though Ah can't see 'er. Ah close mah eyes cause Ah'm too scared.

"INCENDIO!"

Ah dunno wha happened but Ah feel us fallin again.

"Ahhhhhhh!"

"Spongify!"

Ah land on somethin soft like a pile a feathers. Ah know this' an emergency mission but Ah gotta cry fer a second bout how we didn't die jus now.

"Toby?"

Ah try ta pull mahself tagether an stand up.

"Ok. Ah can keep goin. How'd ya do that?"

"I'll explain later. We need to keep moving. Even though we overcame two obstacles who knows how far ahead Professor Quirrell is."

Ah start ta follow 'er an see a set a stairs.

"Where's that go?"

"I have no idea, Toby. It might be another way for Headmaster Dumbledore to get in and out since he can't apparate within school grounds to the Philosopher's Stone."

We go through this door an Ah see a buncha flyin keys high in the air. Then Ah see a door cross the room.

"Let's see. There's a broom, a locked door, and a lot of flying keys. I know what we need to do."

"What?"

"Look at the lock. What does it looked like?"

Ah look real close at it.

"Looks real old cause it's dull an all. Ah think it's steel blue. That's bout all Ah got."

"I see it. Now I know exactly what to do. Toby wait right here. This is just like Quidditch. I need to catch the key just like the Golden Snitch."

Ah watch 'er get on a broom an start chasin the key. She's got real good eyes if she's able ta keep track a that key. Ah see 'er whizzin round an jus like Quidditch she ain't seein what she's bout ta crash inta.

"I have it!"

"Jacklin the wall!"

She turns jus in time ta not directly hit the wall but the tail end a the broom hits it. It starts spiralin an Ah move out the way so Jacklin can jump an not hurt herself.

"Thank you, Toby. Now let's see if this works."

Ah put the key in the lock an it opens. Ah look at the wings an notice somethin's weird bout it.

"Why's that key got a bent wing?"

"Someone else already grabbed it. That's how I was able to catch it so fast. It was slower than the other keys."

"Ok."

Ah follow 'er through the door an Ah see the one thang Ah was scared of.

"This' the chessboard one. We're awready on it so only way through's ta play."

"This could take a while."

Ah see 'er lookin at it like she's teachin me how ta play on mah smaller chessboard.

"Jacklin we ain't got time fer that! Ah saw how we gotta play through this."

"Oh. How do we start?"

Ah make sure Ah got mah letters an numbers right.

"Well ya know jus fill in the blank squares. We ain't got a Black Queen an we ain't got a Black Knight. So we fill 'em."

We go ta our spots.

"White has to start first."

"Yeah."

The White pawn moves. Jus like mah vision Ah move our own pawn.

"Pawn ta D-5."

Ah gulp when White takes out our pawn.

"Welp. This jus gonna go exactly like mah vision then. The White Queen's gonna be a lotta trouble but ya gotta trust me on this."

"I understand, Toby."

We try playin our way through the board an it goes exactly how mah vision says it does. Ah realize now why the White Queen was comin up ta me. Jacklin ain't gonna like it but we've gone too far ta quit now.

"Toby? What do we do now?"

"Only thang Ah got left's ta make mah move so the White Queen moves way from the White King."

"What?! No you can't, Toby. There has to be another way!"

"Jacklin Ah ain't no chess expert! Ah tol ya we gotta do it like mah vision done said it's gotta go. Quirrell's probly gonna get Voldy back ta life by the time yer done tryna not be a wimp!"

Ah know it was mean but it shut 'er up. Fer once Ah know Ah'm right bout somethin an she knows it too. If Ah'm gonna be gettin mah block knocked off by the White Queen might as well do it now than sit round waitin.

"Knight to H-3."

Ah walk up ta mah square an if chess pieces had eyes they'd be starin right at me.

"Check."

The White Queen comes up ta me once Ah say it. She's got that spear type thang she's been usin ta take out the other pieces. Ah watch 'er lift it up in the air. This' gonna sting.

Jacklin's POV

I scream once the White Queen knocks Toby out by hitting him right in the head. I have to finish the game and then go back to Toby. Just as he said, the White Queen isn't blocking me from the White King. I have to take her out which would put him in Checkmate. I walk up to her and look at the White King.

"Checkmate!"

The White Queen crumbles and the White King's sword falls to my feet. The door opens which means the game is over. I run back to Toby who's trying to sit up. I can tell he's injured.

"Toby are you alright?"

"Huh?"

His eyes do not look right at all. They look clouded and I know he's not at all fit to duel.

"Ah can keep goin. We gotta move."

I help him up and we walk through the door. I see the troll and sigh in relief that it's already been dealt with. Now I know this was Professor Quirrell's work since only a master duelist can take out a troll like this.

"What could possibly be after this?"

I help Toby through the next door and as soon as we take a step inside we're surrounded by rings of fire. A table appears with various bottles. That's when I finally understand what's been going on. These obstacles have been placed by the different professors. This must be Snape's obstacle.

"Whoa. Fire's everywhere."

That alone tells me Toby isn't feeling so well. He would've reacted to the flames way sooner. I see a piece of paper unfold revealing a riddle.

"Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind, Two of us will help you, whichever you would find, One among us seven will let you move ahead, Another will transport the drinker back instead, Two among our number hold only nettle wine, Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line. Choose, unless you wish to stay here for evermore, To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four: First, however slyly the poison tries to hide You will always find some on nettle wine's left side; Second, different are those who stand at either end, But if you would move onwards neither is your friend; Third, as you see clearly, all are different size, Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides; Fourth, the second left and the second on the right Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight."

"The second left and second right are the same. Two of the bottles have nettle wine in them. If they taste the same these two must be the wine."

I move the two bottles out of the way.

"Poison is always on the wine's left side. That makes the bottle on the left and the 5th bottle poison for sure."

I move those two bottles out of the way. Only three bottles are left with one last bottle of poison remaining. I can tell Toby's condition is dwindling and I need to figure this out fast.

"The ones on each end won't take you forward, but they can take you backwards. They're also different and since the one on the left is poison, the one on the right's for the purple flames."

I move the bottle for the purple flames forward because I know Toby needs to get out of here.

"And now it comes down to this. One bottle has poison. The other will take us through the black flames. Since neither dwarf nor giant holds death inside, that means the smallest and largest bottle can't be poison. Therefore this smallest bottle must be the potion to get through the black flames."

I look at the bottle. There's only enough for one of us and I know exactly what to do.

"Toby, take this potion. You need to get back up the stairs and get help."

He shakes out of his daze and looks at me confused.

"What?"

I look at him right in the eyes.

"Listen to me."

The mood shifts. Despite his natural tolerance, I can tell he's under the spell of my Veela magic.

"Don’t argue with me. You need to get Professor McGonagall now. Take this potion that will send you back. This spell will only break once you tell her what happened."

Even though he doesn't want to obey, his body reacts to the command. He drinks the potion and slowly walks back through the purple flames.

"And now the moment of truth."

I drink what I think is the potion that will take me forward. I make my way to the door and open it.

Toby's POV

Ah dunno wha's happened but Jacklin's got some kinda spell on me. She still got the cloak an Ah can't stop mahself from walkin tryna find some teacher.

"Mr. Kwimper! What on earth are doing out of bed?!"

Ah hear McGonagall an tha's when everythang hits me. Ah spill everythang tha happened an Ah can't stop till Dumbledore comes outta nowhere.

"Please relax, dear boy. I will deal with him, Professor McGonagall. Just wait for us at the top of the stairs."

"Very well, Headmaster."

"Now follow me to the dungeons, Mr. Kwimper. There is a stairway that will take us directly down to the underground chamber."

Ah jus follow 'em back ta where Jacklin was. Ah jus hope she ain't died. Ah can't even care bout mah head hurtin.

Jacklin's POV

I'm now in a large amber room and walk down a set of steps. As we've long expected, I see Professor Quirrell standing in front of a 10 foot tall mirror. I lower the hood of the cloak.

"I expected as much, Professor."

He turns around. Now that we're alone he drops the nervous act.

"Clever clever girl."

He snaps his fingers and I find myself thrown to my knees in front of the mirror.

"I knew that boy was a Seer. I led you right to me. And now, my master Lord Voldemort is going to kill you!"

"NO! I demand the stone! Then kill the girl! Show myself to her!"

Professor Quirrell's clearly possessed as he unravels his turban. I'm shocked to see that his reflection has a face on the back of his head.

"TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE!"

I have no choice but to look in the mirror. I only see an older version of me lying in bed. An older boy comes in the room. He looks familar and yet -

"WELL?! DO YOU SEE THE STONE?!"

As soon as I hear that, I know exactly what this is. I start to see the image in the mirror change. I can see my reflection holding the Philosopher's Stone in her hands with the hood of the cloak up. Then I see my reflection stick it into the pocket of my cloak.

"I only see myself and Toby having a big family dinner."

"SHE LIES!"

Before I can even react Professor Quirrell attacks me. His hand wraps around my neck choking me.

"GIVE ME THE STONE!"

I struggle to break free. This is a matter of life and death. I want to say a spell, any spell to force him to let me go. I feel so scared and yet so angry at the same time.

"Ahhhhhh! What is this magic?!"

"FOOL! GET THE STONE!"

I fall to the floor and somehow I managed to set Professor Quirrell on fire. I watch his body burn, which makes a lot of smoke as the fire spreads. I don't know how to get out and I feel like I can't breathe. I don't know where my wand is as I can't feel it in my robe or see it on the floor.

"Help."

I start to cough from the smoke. I don't know how to stop the fire but I feel the stone is still safe with me. I try to walk to where I think the door is, but I collapse and lose consciousness. I can only hope Toby managed to get help in time.

Toby's POV

Dumbledore an Ah get ta the mirror room. Ah see Jacklin on the floor an Dumbledore does some type a magic that makes the fire go way. Ah jus start runnin an trip down the stairs landin on mah knee. Ah don't even feel it hurtin once Ah get ta 'er.

"IS SHE DEAD?!"

"Mr. Kwimper. She's not dead. Find the Philosopher's Stone and give it to me."

Ah can't even try ta say no. Ah find the stone in a pocket an give it ta Dumbledore.

"Thank you, dear boy. Now please, take Miss Gryffindor to the Hospital Wing. I believe you both need immediate attention."

Ah'm jus runnin on autopilot. Ah know Quirrell's burnt ta a crisp but Ah can't even care. Ah somehow manage ta pick up Jacklin an carry 'er up the stairs.

"Come with me, Mr. Kwimper."

Ah see McGonagall at the top a the stairs an Ah follow 'er ta the Hospital Wing. Everythang's all a blur. Ah jus know as soon as Ah sit down on a bed Ah start cryin agin.

"Open your mouth."

Ah feel the nurse open mah mouth an drop two lil buds a somethin in it.

"You need to rest, dear. With that concussion, you should've been brought to me straight away."

Ah think she gave me somethin that made me sleepy. Ah really wanna sleep now. Ah see 'er workin on Jacklin an Ah jus pass out in bed. Whatever she gave me jus really knocked me out.

Tagging: @arrolyn1114, @nemos-rapture, @xanatenshi, @briefpandatimemachine, @hooked-on-elvis,

@vintagepresley, @aliengoth3, @smokeymountainboy, @bigdaddyelvislover, @mercsandmonsters,

@pledgingmylovee, @presleysgirl6, @thetaoofzoe, and @elvispresley4life.

[cripplecharacters]

Hi! I want to write a story about disabled characters for Disability Pride Month (yes, I know it’s not for a while, but my projects tend to take forever). I’m disabled myself, but I want to check in with other disabled people, especially for conditions I don’t have. I’m probably going to be sending in a bunch of asks as I write it, I hope that’s okay with you.

One of my characters is going to be non-speaking and use AAC. The world is fairly low-tech, but this character does have magic, and I was thinking about having them use a spell to speak for them. I’m wondering if they could also use low-tech AAC (since magic can take a lot of energy depending on the spell) and if so what kind. I’m also wondering how their dialogue would be different.

What do you mean when you say the spell “speaks for them”? If they’re using magic as an AAC device it’s not speaking for them they’re speaking. That’s how they speak.

They could absolutely use low tech AAC as well! Suggestions include a board they can point to, communication cards, and even just good old fashioned pen and paper.

For me with my AAC device I find that compiling a sentence takes longer than someone using mouth words. Similarly sometimes I skip over filler words to save time.

Mod Patch

[brittlebutch]

i can’t stop thinking about this weird little storm chaser AU my brain dreamed up where bill&ted are the POV characters but crucially not the main characters but the problem is that I truly don’t know anything about storms and I worry I’m not smart enough to understand if I do start researching LOL

[tenth-sentence]

Squeeze.

"Incarnations of Immortality: Being a Green Mother" - Piers Anthony

[quarterlifekitty]

ok but what happens if/when Simon’s down for the count after a rough op, and it’s more than a little while until his worried nonverbal gf is allowed to see him. does soap step up? make sure she’s taken care of until Simon recovers? reassure her than Simon will be ok in the end? i MUST know, desperate to find out how this affects their dynamic

(Note: I’m gonna start referring to reader as selectively mute because I was made aware that this is a more accurate description!)

So, to be quite clear, I think she can take care of herself. She’s a whole adult. Simon knows this, and Soap does too. But the real question is what bullshit is Soap’s hindbrain telling him?

It’s that her mate’s down for the count and as a fellow pack member, he’s responsible for stepping up to provide. But he’s trying his best not to crowd!! He knows his LT would kick his ass for that. So he’s dropping by once a day, telling her exactly where he’ll be and when in case she needs him, and says to call him any time, for any reason at all.

She’s just nodding and humming affirmatively occasionally, and she leads him around the house. Eventually he figures out that she’s bringing him stuff to bring for Simon— because Soap is in his unit, he can visit, but civilians like her can’t (live in my magical reality where this is how the military works for a sec). He thinks she looks like a pretty bird— gathering up the best of the nesting things for her man.

He’ll ask if she wants him to stick around for a while, and she doesn’t say anything, but he can see her grind her teeth a bit. And it’s like another little pin inside the lock of his mind clicks into place.

“Know what, bonnie? Dinnae feel like goin’ out today, actually. Errands sound like a fuckin’ ballache right now. Gonna stick around if y’dinnae mind.”

He orders dinner for the two of them— there are some menus stuck on the fridge that have some highlights and underlines in them. There’s a little asterisk and a note in Ghost’s chicken scratch. Safe foods (haha what if I said she had food anxiety too. Then what heehee). So he just orders a few things— he’s a trash can, more than happy to eat whatever she doesn’t want. Puts on a movie he remembers— some ghibli-type thing that was relaxing enough to put her to sleep when they watched it during movie night.

The true mark of progression in their relationship? He keeps blabbing, sure, but he doesn’t try to placate her with words. He just keeps the little activities coming so the time can pass without her noticing.

And Simon doesn’t even have to ask to know that Soap’s been looking after you. He smells like you. That brown sugar milk tea kinda smell.

“How’s my birdie? You been keepin’ her good company, Johnny?”

“You know it only takes her about a day to finish a thousand piece puzzle? Too fuckin’ smart, she is.” Simon chuckles to himself.

“Good man.”

[confused-and-dickless]

I am spinning my homemade blorbos in my head rn but I can't draw good and I don't even have a solid idea of what they look like. They don't even have names. But I know them like my own soul. And they're in love. And they're me. And they're everything. And they love each other. One of them loves soup. Tumblr I'm telling you you'd love these fuckers if only I know how to express anything about them. Maybe I'll write out their backstory and a few of their adventures.