#oh!! and a pomfrey & harry thing...that might be finished first actually

[kohakhearts]

hp fic masterpost

i realized i haven’t actually crossposted all my hp fic here, so i figured i might as well just make one big post for all of them! i’m not including anything written before 2019, but i’ll put everything under a cut for sake of space and so that i can add new ones if the urge ever comes!

i’ll sort them by gen and ship fics. some contain elements of both; i’ll indicate the relationship focus for each one! just for fun, i put a (*) next to my own personal favourites.

gen

by his side - snape & harry | rated t | 15.2k | angst and hurt/comfort | cw: addiction, referenced child abuse | COMPLETE [posted 04/08/19]

After what is surely a more-than-preventable potions accident, Harry Potter winds up stuck in the hospital wing, unable to wake up. Severus just wishes he knew why Poppy won’t stop bothering him about it.

from grace - snape & harry | rated t | 15k | angst and hurt/comfort | cw: suicide, referenced child abuse | COMPLETE [posted 18/09/19]

From the top of the Astronomy Tower, the stars always look brighter. Funny, how Harry can’t seem to find them at all anymore.

where the heart is - snape & harry | rated t | 15k | angst and hurt/comfort | cw: depression themes, child abuse | COMPLETE [posted 20/10/19]

After the events at the Department of Mysteries in June—and all that came after—Harry finds himself once again stranded at Number Four Privet Drive. With only his own thoughts to keep him company, he takes to writing letters to the only person he thinks can help, if only he were still alive to do so.

As it turns out, though, sometimes help can arrive in even the most unexpected of forms too.

* perpetual memory - snape & harry | rated t | 4.5k | hurt/comfort | COMPLETE [posted 22/10/20]

Even now, Severus cannot understand the inclination to celebrate on the anniversary of what was one of the wizarding world's greatest losses.

Apparently, he isn't the only one who thinks so.

* unravelling - snape & harry, madam pomfrey & harry | rated m | 22k | angst and hurt/comfort | cw: rape/non-con, graphic torture, suicide, character death | COMPLETE (i may add a second chapter someday, though!) [posted 11/04/20]

He remembers what it was like. Sort of. The cold, the hunger, the pain. But mostly, he remembers those gentle hands, the whispered promises: ”I will get you out of this.” It was the only thing that kept him breathing. Most days, it still is.

vertex - lily & harry, james & harry, snape & harry (tbh harry & everyone) | rated m | 24k | angst, fluff, and hurt/comfort | cw: graphic torture, character death | INCOMPLETE [last updated 02/07/21]

Harry had given up hope of ever getting his chance at a family long ago, years before he even got his Hogwarts letter. But when in the midst of the war against Voldemort he suddenly gets an opportunity to have the family that was always supposed to be his, he must face a difficult choice: Return to the war that has torn this family away from him, or hold on to his heart’s deepest desire?

wonder - harry & molly, background romantic harry/ron/hermione | rated t | 16k | angst and hurt/comfort | cw: referenced child absue | COMPLETE [posted 09/03/20]

Molly wonders about them sometimes. How they are always so aware of each other, how closely they cling together. And she worries, too. She worries about them all. She just can’t help it—they’re all her children, in some manner of speaking.

first time for everything - the marauders, background james/lily | rated t | 2.7k | no voldemort au, fluff | COMPLETE [04/05/20]

As Harry's first birthday approaches, James grows increasingly stressed about the fact that Lily has put him in charge of preparing a cake—and he has never, not once, baked in his life. Luckily, his best mates are there to help him out.

-

ship

(nothing) between us - sirius -> james/lily | rated t | 7.3k | angst | cw: character death, referenced child abuse | COMPLETE [25/02/19]

Sirius loves James.

James loves him too, except that he doesn’t.

It all makes perfect sense to Sirius. Somehow.

marauders’ café - james/sirius/lily | rated t | 9.5k | coffee shop au, no magic | COMPLETE [posted 20/07/19]

James and Sirius are insufferable, annoying, ignorant arseholes.

Lily really wishes she could say that’s all they are.

understanding - harry/ron | rated t | 6.4k | relationship study, canon typical angst | COMPLETE [posted 19/12/19]

Of course Hermione knows boys are idiots, and her best friends are no exception. But over the years, watching them dance around each other again and again, she really wishes she weren't the only one who understood what all of it means.

* somnia - harry/ron | rated t | 17.6k | hurt/comfort | cw: referenced child abuse | COMPLETE [posted 02/02/20]

From the time they’re eleven years old, Ron is always there to help him find his peace in those dark and lonely hours of the night. Turns out, Harry has helped Ron find his too.

one touch of this heart - harry/hermione | rated t | 4.3k | angst and hurt/comfort | cw: depression themes, implied suicidal ideation | COMPLETE [posted 05/01/20]

Hermione always knows what Harry’s thinking.

Sometimes, she almost wishes she didn’t.

closing in - harry/ron/hermione | rated t | 7.8k | angst and hurt/comfort | cw: referenced torture, referenced child abuse, claustrophobia, panic attacks | COMPLETE [posted 17/02/20]

Harry supposes he’ll never know how they learned about the cupboard under the stairs. He also supposes he’ll never know how they managed to make him so afraid of it, all these years later.

* blood of the covenant (or, affectionately, “harry potter and the borderline personality disorder”) - harry/ron/hermione | rated m | 16.6k | angst and hurt/comfort | cw: referenced child abuse, mild sexual content, suicidal ideation, self-harm | COMPLETE [posted 24/02/20]

“We’re coming with you. That was decided months ago—years, really.”

They’re the only ones who always stay. Even when he says he doesn’t want them to. Even when he thinks that this time, for sure, they will not come back. Sometimes—selfishly—he is grateful for it.

* in for a galleon - harry/ron/hermione | rated m | 12.6k | fluff | cw: minor sexual content | COMPLETE [posted 12/02/20]

It starts out innocently enough. At first, it’s just rumours. A few under-the-table bets.

And then someone puts up the list: Harry Potter’s Next Girlfriend Boyfriend? Partner. And to make matters worse, his best friends are at the top of it. Figures. He really can’t have just one simple year, can he?

unconventional - harry/ron/hermione | rated g | 5k | fluff | COMPLETE [posted 08/03/20]

A few years, now, have passed since Hedwig’s death, and Hermione thinks it’s time Harry got a new pet. What sort of pet, though, neither she nor Ron know. Not until Harry himself offers her the perfect solution, that is.

a quick learner - harry/ron/hermione | rated t | 2.9k | fluff | COMPLETE [posted 12/03/20]

Video games. It's one of those things not a single one of them ever did as children (though Harry says he might as well have, how often he watched his cousin playing them). But when half the Weasley clan is suddenly invested in them, they really have no choice but to follow along.

* amor vincent omnia - harry/ron/hermione | rated t | 12.8k | fluff | COMPLETE [posted 14/02/21]

As if it weren’t bad enough that each of her best friends is intent on setting her up with the other, with two weeks left to go until Valentine’s Day, Hogwarts is suddenly overrun with a plague of utter lovesickness as an absurd tongue-tying jinx captivates the student body. Hermione might not mind so much, if they had just left the library alone.

* lost and found - harry/draco, gen harry & ocs | rated m | 52k | post-canon, hurt/comfort | cw: child abuse, ptsd, (eventual) mild sexual content | INCOMPLETE [last updated 14/02/20]

Feeling lost immediately after the end of the war, Harry eventually relents to an invitation by Headmistress McGonagall to take up a position at Hogwarts—along with two of his old classmates, apparently. But apprenticeship under a portrait-bound Snape, a tense but strictly professional relationship with Malfoy, and three nosy first years quickly proves to be more of a challenge than he had anticipated.

[post last updated 15/07/21]

[writesowhatnext]

talk trash, get brass // george weasley

Summary: someone bad-mouthing George has make him a little insecure – it’s definitely time for the reader to step in

Request: can i request fred or george dating the reader and she's with her friends and he overhears one of them talking shit about him [he's worried y/n will agree and gets sad :(] but she defends him and says she genuinely loves him 😘 thanks xx

A/N: this took me forever because I can’t choose between the twins but also I was fighting making it a slytherin!reader bc the slytherin girls are written as catty bitches which would make this easier but we move also I wrote planked by his ravenclaw buddies and nearly had a stroke also I dragged Michael Corner’s character through the mud #sorrynotsorry also have I miraculously forgotten how to write in character????

Reader: unspecified

Warnings: swearing, bad friends, argument

“Fred,” you said, finding him in the Great Hall with half of a ham sandwich stuffed into his mouth. “Why is George ignoring me?”

He rolled his eyes when you sat down, watching him with an expectant look as you drummed your fingers impatiently on the table.

“Lovely to see you too, Y/N,” he said, wetting his lips and waving the other half of his sandwich around in his hand as he spoke. “Me? Yeah, I’m doing just swell actually, cheers for asking. No, I wanted the beef really but McLaggen took the last one, the thieving bastard.”

You shot him a dry look, grinding your teeth together. He rolled his eyes again at your raised eyebrows.

“Not in the mood for jokes then, are we?”

“How would you know?” you asked, huffing. “You haven’t told me any.”

“Ouch,” he whined, placing his hand over his heart in mock hurt. “You wound me.”

You sighed, brushing your hair back from your face as your shoulders slumped.

“Come on, Fred. I know you know why he’s been avoiding me.”

For a moment, Fred didn’t reply. He just stared at you, gauging your expression with his level gaze. To say you were surprised would’ve been an understatement; serious Fred was not something you were well accustomed to.

“I don’t have a clue,” he said, leaning back and throwing the rest of his sandwich lazily on his plate. You scoffed.

“Bullshit, tell me.”

“Go ask George,” he replied quickly, gripping the edge of the table with his hands as your voices got louder.

“I can’t ask George, can I, Fred? He’s the one bloody ignoring me!”

You swore sometimes that Fred and George had one brain cell between them and even that could be a bit of a stretch.

“Fine then,” Fred threw his hands up indignantly. “Ask your friend Michael! I’m sure he knows all about it!”

“What?” you said quietly, visibly taken aback, your shoulders slumping. Fred groaned, his hands coming up to hide his face.

“I definitely wasn’t supposed to say that.”

“What did Michael do?”

Fred looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there, wilting under your determined stare.

“Fred…” you said, your tone decidedly warning.

“Your mate Michael was talking bollocks about George to all his Ravenclaw buddies – which is quite rich isn’t it, really? Coming from him, the little toad. Can’t believe he dated Cho Chang; I heard Ginny might be going for him as well… pfft, there’s no accounting for- oi, where are you going?”

You barely caught the end of Fred’s rant, already racing out of the Great Hall, undecided as to whether you were in search of Michael or George first. The universe chose for you, though, when you spotted Michael circling around a corridor, flanked by some of his Ravenclaw friends.

You and Michael were more acquaintances than friends. Truth be told, you only talked to him to start with to help Ginny out; she’d been looking for someone to help her get over her crush on Harry. You thought it was futile given how much she liked him, but you were always happy to help out a friend. It appeared though, that not everybody you called your friend was as friendly. Michael had been fine for a while and you found that sometimes you did actually get on with him, especially when there was nobody else around to talk to. Now, though, now you were questioning your standards.

“Hey!” you yelled, immediately drawing the attention of Michael, his friends, and the rest of the corridor. “Michael!”

“You okay, Y/N?” he asked and as you looked at him, genuine concern written all over his features, all you wanted to do was punch him.

“What have you been saying about George?”

He looked confused for a second and then guilty, and then a haughty look lifted his nose up and you were really, at that second, re-evaluating your decision not to hit him.

“Oh, come on, Y/N,” he said, smiling. “You can’t be serious.”

You stepped closer to him; your hand lowered just in case you needed easy access to your wand.

“Tell me what you said about my boyfriend. I know you said something, so tell me, now.”

He looked to his friends as if considering whether you were actually serious before he scoffed.

“All I said was that you were way too smart to be with a bloke as dumb as him,” you huffed, fists clenching at his words. “I’m not wrong, Y/N, those twins are bad news and they’re hardly boyfriend-“

“Hey, Michael,” you said, trying desperately to control yourself as you frowned, head ticking to the side. “Do you remember two years ago when the Slytherin common room was pink for two weeks?”

He frowned, nervously glancing at his friends. “Sure,” he said, though he seemed anything but.

“Do you remember how they had to get Dumbledore himself to fix it because none of the other teachers could figure out how to make it green again. Do you remember that?”

“Yeah, why? What’s that got-“

“George did that. He used about eight different cloaking spells and spent weeks convincing Nearly Headless Nick to help him and Fred. Could you do that?”

He opened his mouth, but you weren’t finished. Ever since you started dating George, everyone seemed to have an opinion and you were tired of it.

“No, Michael, you couldn’t.”

With your voice raised and your determined gaze directed solely at Michael and his Ravenclaw buddies, all looking very uncomfortable, you didn’t even notice George lurking behind you.

“And you know that time that nobody could figure out how the Gryffindor Quidditch Team knew everything about the Ravenclaw strategies? That was George too. Between him and Fred, they made these things,” you found yourself getting distracted as you remembered how impressed you’d been. “These ears that you can use over massive, unprecedented distances to eavesdrop on people. That technology is legendary, regardless of what it’s used for.”

“And so,” you huffed, adjusting your robes as you leant back, aware that maybe you were being too hard on him. “You can shove your opinion, because George Weasley, my George, he’s a bloody genius. And he’s not bad news. He’s the kindest, sweetest guy and you’d be lucky to be half as patient or funny or amazing as him, alright, Michael?”

Michael looked taken aback by your outburst and even you were slightly surprised at your rant. His friends were equally caught off guard. Well, most of them. The boy on the right of him frowned, rolling his eyes. You wouldn’t have caught it had he not muttered under his breath.

“Weasley can’t fight his own battles, then?”

“What the fuck did you just say?” you reached for your wand and the boys in front of you stumbling backwards to avoid you. Before you could make them eat slugs like you so desperately wanted to, a hand caught your wrist. You spun around, brows furrowed at whoever was stopping you until you saw George’s face, all freckles and gentleness. All the anger that you’d had flooded away as he looked over your shoulder at the three Ravenclaw boys.

“I reckon you should piss off, now, don’t you?”

He didn’t have to tell them twice; within seconds they had disappeared down the corridor before you could hex them properly.

You turned to George as he slid his hand down your wrist to interlock your fingers together.

“Telling everyone my top-secret pranks, are we?” he asked, a crooked smile on his lips.

“Finally, not ignoring me anymore, are we?” you mimicked in the same tone, regretting it slightly as he sighed, his shoulders slumping.

“I’m sorry.”

He pressed his forehead against yours, your noses touching.

“I thought you’d agree with him, didn’t I?” he said quietly, pulling his top lip between his teeth. “I knew he was your friend-“

“He’s bloody not anymore, that’s for certain. He’s lucky I didn’t send him to Madam Pomfrey.”

Your anger sparked again thinking about it, but as always, George’s warm hand rubbing up and down your arm washed it away and you looked at him to see him already smiling at you.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because you think I’m kind and sweet and funny and drop-dead gorgeous.”

You smiled, shoving at him with your intertwined hands.

“I don’t remember saying you were funny. Or gorgeous.”

“I do. It was right before you called me amazing. And besides, gorgeous is bit of a given, isn’t it?”

You made a face at the way he flicked his hair and rolled your eyes but you couldn’t keep the fond smile off your face no matter how hard you tried.

“You really thought I’d agree with him?” you asked quietly, picking at your bottom lip with your teeth. He avoided your eyes. “Georgie.”

He sighed, facing you properly, his eyes trailing down your face.

“Everyone knows how out of my league you are, love,” he said, stroking your cheek with the back of his finger. “Just felt like I was punching above my weight, didn’t I?”

“Well,” you whispered, letting go of his hand to cup his cheeks. “Whilst I am objectively much better looking-“

He pinched your side, earning a grunt in response before his palms settled on your waist.

“I love you,” You pressed a kiss to his left cheek and then right. “And that,” another kiss to his nose then forehead. “Is all that matters.”

You finally pecked him on the lips, happy to see him smiling again, happy to hear his voice.

“So,” you grinned. “If anyone says anything else, just send them to me.”

“Oh, I will,” he said, wrapping his arms around you. “I like it when you get all feisty. Especially over me.”

harry potter tag list: <3<3

@creator-appreciator​

@decadentwastelandtrash

@loveisblindness​

@xinyourdreamsx​

@brainlesspasta​

@hariosborn​

@staringmoony​

@rexorangecouny​

@ickle-ronniekins​ 

@harrysweasleys​ 

@alittletoomanyobsessions​

@peachesandpinks​

[hp-imagines-07]

I can't believe I did it again

Sirius Black X Fem!Reader

Universe: Harry Potter; Marauders era

Type: fluffy, sad and angst

Summary: [y/n] is in love with Sirius and just her best friend, Remus, knows. Until, the day that they saw Sirius kissing another girl...

Request: YES|no - "Hi! Can i have an imagine with sirius black with 14,22,43,36? Thanks bb" @kerouacbridge

Prompts: 

14- "Why are you awake ?" "I could ask you the same." 

22- "It's nothing, I swear." "Yeah. sure, you're just bleeding to death." 

36- "It's cold here..." "Come here, I'll keep you warm." 

43- "SHE WAS CRYING BECAUSE OF YOU!!!"

Warnings: swearing

Song: xxx

Word Count: 1.8K

Posted: 22nd of April 2020

A/N: that's my first time doing a request with prompts, i really hope you like it - and [y/h] means 'your house' 

My Others Accounts: @imagines-07​ (Principal Account) | @stit-imagines-07​ (Stranger Things & IT) | @obx-imagines-07 (Outer Banks) | @cm-imagines-07​ (Criminal Minds) | @mcu-imagines-07 (Marvel Comics Universe)

MY MASTERLIST

Sirius Black...

Well he's a hell of a guy.

The one that all the girls want, the only bad boy at Hogwarts that is really worthy and the best friend of my best friend.

My best friend is Remus Lupin, one of the Marauders, just as Sirius Black, the boy I fell over heals for.

It's not easy being around him so frequently and try to hide my feelings, but looks like I'm not good at this hole thing of hiding feelings.

Moony already knows that, right now and it's been getting harder, because he keeps saying that I should tell for Sirius about my real feelings.

But I always say that I can't, 'cause he's never going to like me back, that's obvious.

But Remus just saw that, when me, James and him saw Black almost fucking a girl in the middle of a corridor.

I could fell the hot tears starting to come, but I couldn't let anyone else know about my secret love for Sirius, so I tried my best to hold my tears back and gave an excuse to the boys, running to my dorm, where I could cry until I didn't had any more tears.

That was the plain, until Lily, Marlene and Alice saw me running, and there wasn't a worse moment to let one single tear to fall.

So they stoped me and, as the girls asked what was wrong and started walking with me to the common room, everything that I did to hold back my tears was totally on the past.

The first tear came and, before I even knew, we were at their dorm, me crying my ass off and the girls trying to understand what I was saying.

"Wait, so you are telling us that you are in love with Sirius and you found him almost fucking a girl at a corridor?" Marlene asked, finally understanding what I was trying to say for the past 20 minutes.

"Oh merlin..." Alice said and hugged me.

Lily sat at the other side of me and dried the tears from my cheeks with her thumbs.

"Girls, did you saw----" Remus said opening the door and seeing us four at Lily's bed, the girls hugging me and my face all red.

He came to us, toke Marlene out of his way and grabbed my hands, pulling me to my best friend's embrace.

He hugged me tight and my sobs come back.

He knew the reason that I was like that, and that's what broke his heart with mine.

Both of us knew that he couldn't do anything to change Sirius feelings about me.

Neither I could.

When I calmed down, I took a bath at the girls dorm and waited until there wasn't anyone - that would stop me and ask why I was crying earlier - at the common room so I could go to my dorm.

The girls were already sleeping when I went downstairs, seeing the Gryffindor common room without a single person.

Thank god.

I sat at the couch in front of the fireplace and tried to organize myself before I would go to my common room.

I know that will be a few people there, probably talking about the match against Gryffindor, they probably are players of the team and, for my lucky, they would be a few of my friends.

Yeah, I'm a lucky girl.

But then, all my thoughts stoped as I heard the last voice that I was expecting and the last that i wanted to hear right now.

"Why are you awake?" Sirius asked to me, coming to where I was.

"I could ask you the same." I had to answer it, I didn't wanted to actually tell him the reason.

"You caught me..." He chucked and sat next to me at the couch, while I kept looking at the fire without a single expression, so he couldn't try to read what I was feeling.

We both sat in silence. 

That wasn't weird, after a moment I could just hear his breath.

*Flashback - Sirius' POV*

I got to my dorm and saw just James and Peter, where is Moony ?

"If you are asking yourself where Moony is..." Wormtail said and caught my attention. Did he just read my mind????? "He heard that [y/n] was crying and went to the girls dorm, because she's probably there." 

"But why was she crying?" I asked and sat beside Prongs at his bed. 

"We don't know..." He answered me, but it was obvious that James was lying. He knew why [y/n] was crying but he didn't wanted to tell me.

Even before I could open my mouth and complain about my brother lying to me, Remus opened the door and everyone looked at him.

"Bro, you're good?" I asked and he looked at me, then I saw his wet shirt - probably by [y/n] tears - and his angry face at me.

Maybe I should run... 

"YOU! YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Moony screamed and pointed at me, coming in my direction.

Ok, I'm a dead man.

James and Peter held him to come any more closer to me, while I got out of the bed I was sat.

"Woah, I know that my mom is a bitch but, what did I did?" I asked confused.

"YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DID?" He asked/screamed and I was still confused about the situation. "SHE WAS CRYING BECAUSE OF YOU!"

*Back to common room - [y/n]'s POV*

I think that already passed 20 minutes, maybe?

That moment I thought that I wouldn't die if I just gave a little look at him, and before I could stop myself I was looking at Sirius.

But he was already looking at me, and I kinda got scared so I just looked away, my cheeks becoming the same color as my eyes were.

"Well, I don't know how to tell you that..." The boy beside me says and caught my attention. "But I think that you should know that, that the girl you saw with me, she was just a distraction. I was trying to forget you..." 

Wait... What is he talking about?

"Look, I know that it might sound kinda crazy, but I've been in love with you since last year." 

W H A T     T H E     F U C K ?????????????

"You should stop screaming, someone would think that I'm killing you!" 

Did I just said that out loud? 

"Yeah, you did." 

Sirius started laughing at my scared face but then stoped when he felt my breath hitting his face.

"When did we get so close?" I whispered, with our noses touching and my lips too closer to his.

"I don't know, but I'm liking it." He smirked at me and I just couldn't control myself anymore.

I pressed my lips against his and he took like 3 seconds to hold my waist and try to bring me the closest we could.

A few seconds after, he tried to deepen the kiss but I pulled away, still trying to process everything that happened on the last minutes.

"Just let me understand what happened." Sirius started and hugged my waist with both of his arms. "Does that kiss means that you fell the same about me or..." 

"Are you actually asking me this? Like, a few hours ago I was crying because I saw you kissing a girl that wasn't me. You know the answer." I said and he smiled, with his perfect teeth.

"Thank you." 

I can't believe I just did it again... 

"Don't worry, I wont tell anyone that you think about something but you accidentally say it out loud." I smiled as an answer to him. "Will be our little secret." 

The next day...

I was at the match, cheering for the team that made the points.

I wasn't really hopping that an exclusive team to won.

One of them is my own house and the other one is the house from my best friends.

I'm gonna win at both ways.

But I just stop caring about the team that would win when I saw, actually pretty close, one of the players from [y/h] pass next to Sirius, but I couldn't see what happened, all I saw was blood coming out of Black's body.

I ran down the stand to the pitch, founding Prongs helping Padfoot to get out of his broom. I went to where they were and helped Sirius too.

"Guys, chill." Black said to us, while me and James grabbed his arms around our shoulders and helped him to get out of the pitch. "It's nothing, I swear."

"Yeah, sure, you're just bleeding to death!" I answered him and he tried to laugh, but the pain stopped him.

I don't know if the game stoped or if they went on without Potter and Black, all I cared was about was Sirius.

We took him to the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey took care of him.

James and Remus were talking - more arguing - about who would stay with him at night, while I looked at Sirius sleepy face.

He's so cute sleeping. 

"[y/n/n]." The boys called me together and I went to the bed they were talking, looking at them.

"You said you could stay with him, right ?" James asked and I nodded, remembering the moment they first started talking about it.

"So, the problem is that we all have the same classes as him tomorrow and we should note the stuff to him..." Moony started but before he could finish, I stoped him.

"Don't worry about it, I can sleep here with him." I said to them and the boys thanked me, already going to their dorms, but bringing a pillow and a blanked for me.

I adjusted myself at the armchair beside his bed and after a minute, I was already sleeping.

It was a long day.

At 3 AM...

"[y/n/n] ?" I woke up with Sirius voice.

"Yeah, Padfoot. Do you need something?" I asked getting up and going to his bed, looking at him.

"No, I just wanted to make sure you were here with me." Black said and I smiled at him.

"And now that you know that, I'll be back to my sleep." I got back at the uncomfortable armchair.

But that night was just so cold, just the blanket the boys gave me wasn't enough...

"It's cold here..." I whispered, thinking that he wouldn't listen to me, but he did.

"Come here, I'll keep you warm." Sirius suggested and I thanked god it was dark so he couldn't see my cheeks getting red as Lily's hair.

"No, your healing. I don't wanna hurt you." 

"But you will hurt me if you don't come here." He used that little voice of him, that I just couldn't say no.

And why am I trying to pretend that I don't want it?

So I just got out of the armchair and Sirius opened space for me at the bed.

As I lied at the bed, Sirius wrapped his arms at my waist and I, trying to not hurt him, putted my head at his chest.

And it actually worked, he's so warm.

"I know."

I can't believe I did it again.

[favefandomimagines]

I Never Planned on You 3

AN: chapter 3 even after the first two parts kind of flopped but hey i like this series and i’m hoping it’ll get better since harry potter tiktok is still somewhat thriving 

sorry for going awol!! i was on a family trip and wanted to unplug for a bit! but i appreciate your patience and i’ll try to have a more structured posting schedule! i also apologize that this was so short, the next chapter will be much longer!!

taglist: @x-lulu​

After Kendra’s talk with George, she knew that she needed to find Harry. Professor Trelawney said that he was the only other student to have the Grim in his tea leaves. What were the odds that both her and Harry Potter had the same fortune? 

She caught up to the young before he entered the Gryffindor common room. “Harry!” She called. “Oh, hi Kendra.” He greeted her. “May I talk to you for a moment?” She asked. “Of course.” He said. Harry told Hermione and Ron to go on without him as he hung back with Kendra. 

“What did you need to talk about?” Harry asked. “This afternoon in Divination, Professor Trelawney saw something in my tea leaves. She said that you were the other student to have the same thing.” She started. “You had the Grim too?” Harry questioned. 

Kendra nodded her head slightly before Harry spoke again. “Do you think it has anything to do with your father?” He asked. “I-I really don’t know. Everyone thinks I know what’s going on but I don’t.” Kendra answered. “I believe you. You haven’t spoken to your father in 11 years, how would you know anything?” Harry replied.

“Thank you, Harry.” She smiled. The two entered the common room, splitting up to go to their respective friend groups. 

“Kendra, we need to have a little discussion.” Angelina said as Kendra approached her three friends. “And what might that be?” She questioned. “What’s going on between you and George?” Alicia asked. “What? Nothing, we’re just friends.” Kendra said.

Angelina, Katie and Alicia all exchanged a look before looking back at Kendra. “He’s always the first person to defend you and the first person to check on you. Especially with recent events.” Angelina said. “Fred is also your friend and he doesn’t do that nearly as often as George.” Katie added.

“We’ll just wait and see tomorrow. We’re all going to Hogsmeade, maybe he’ll personally invite you.” Alicia teased. “Actually, you can count me out for Hogsmeade. I’m not really feeling up to it.” Kendra said. “What?” The twins interjected in unison. “Kendra, you have to come. We’ve been waiting all term for this and even with recent events, they’re still letting us go.” Fred said. 

The older twin nudged his brother, knowing if anyone could make Kendra join them at Hogsmeade, it was George. 

“Please, Kendra. We haven’t been able to hang out like we did over the Summer before you left.” George said. “You’re really laying it on thick aren’t you, Weasley.” Kendra commented. “If it’ll make you say yes.” He replied. “Fine. I will come to Hogsmeade. But I’m only doing it for you.” She finally said, earning soft cheers from friends. “Only for George, aye?” Fred poked. “And for all of you.” Kendra corrected herself before shooting Fred a glare. 

Fred had been trying to set up his brother and best friend since third year. To no avail. They were both too scared to tell the other in fear of ruining their friendship with each other. But Fred knew better. He knew both like the back of his hand and if they needed a few friendly nudges, then so be it. 

Later that evening, when everyone went to bed, Kendra couldn’t sleep a wink. She tried everything and she didn’t want to bother Madame Pomfrey at such a late hour. So she resorted to sitting on the velvet couch in the common room, reading a muggle book Hermione had lent her. 

As she was just reading about the tragic affair of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan, the sound of shuffling knocked her out of it. 

“Oh, Kendra, I didn’t know anyone would be up.” Harry’s voice alerted her. “Oh, hi Harry. Couldn’t sleep either?” Kendra questioned. “You can say that.” The boy replied. “Well, we can be insomniacs together.” She said. “I actually wanted to ask you something.” Harry said. “Of course, go right ahead.” She told him. 

“Do you remember anything about my parents? I know you were young when they died but you said you knew them.” He asked. 

Kendra closed her book and turned her attention to the young boy in front of her. “I don’t remember much but I do remember one thing. It was before my mother was killed and we were at your house. You were just born and my mother was good friends with yours. It’s my earliest memory actually. I was sitting on the floor, my mother and Lily were fawning over you,” Kendra started with a laugh. 

“And your father sat down on the floor with me and gave me this little doll made out of scraps of clothing. Lily had made it in case they had a girl so James gave it to me. He made sure I wasn’t going to feel left out. He was a very kind man, your father. Knew how to make people laugh, so Remus told me.” She finished.

Harry smiled at the recollection of Kendra’s memory. “So you knew Professor Lupin on the train?” He asked. “Yes. When I lost both of my parents and I was sent to live with the Malfoy’s, Remus did everything he could to get me out of that house. Him and my aunt Andromeda made sure I wouldn’t be forced to share the same ideologies that made the Black’s a very infamous pureblood family. That’s putting it lightly.” She answered. 

“This might be a sensitive subject but do you think your father wants to kill me?” Harry questioned. “Of course not, Harry. My father could never hurt you or anyone who is innocent.” Kendra said. 

Harry nodded his head curtly before Kendra stood up. “Seems talking with you as done the trick to make me want to sleep. So I thank you for that. Goodnight, Harry.” She said. “Goodnight, Kendra.” Harry replied. 

—

The next morning, an abundance of students stood out in the courtyard of the castle, handing their permission slips to Professor McGonagall.

Kendra handed her’s to the older woman. before going to join her friends off to the side. “So, where to first?” Angelina asked. “Let’s go to Honeydukes! I told my brother I’d send him some chocolate frogs!” Alicia answered. “George and I need to run to Zonko’s. We have some new products to plan.” Fred commented. 

“Kendra, where do you want to go?” He added. “I’ll come with you to Zonko’s. I really don’t need to be tempted by Honeyduke’s.” She joked. “Well come on then, Kendra! We have so little time!” George exclaimed dramatically.

The younger twin grabbed her wrist and pulled her along towards the village, leaving their friend group behind. “George, slow down! You’ll rip my arm out of its socket!” Kendra called with a laugh.

George came to a slow stop, allowing Kendra to catch her breath. “Is that better, your highness?” He teased. “Indeed it is.” Kendra replied. “Why were you so adamant on me coming to Hogsmeade?” She asked.

“Because we never spend time together just us. It’s always us and Fred or us and Ginny or us, Ron, Hermione and Harry. Do I need a reason to want to spend time with my best friend?” George explained.

George noticed Kendra’s smile falter ever so slightly before she quickly recovered. “No, you don’t need an excuse. You never need an excuse, Georgie.” She replied.

Though the word ‘friend’ was a word she didn’t like hearing from George. “So we’re just going to ditch the rest of our friends?” Kendra replied. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do.” George answered. “If I know Angelina, she’s already convinced Fred to go to Honeyduke’s with her.” He added

Kendra wanted to say she felt bad that they were leaving their friends behind but whenever she was able to spend time alone with George, she took it.

The two arrived at Zonko’s and George looked like a kid in a candy store. He’s been to the joke shop a million times and yet each time still amazed him.

“So what exactly are we looking for?” Kendra asked the boy. “I don’t know, anything that creates the greatest prank in the history of Hogwarts.” George answered. “You’ve already done that by now. At least I think you have.” She said.

“You’re biased, love. You have to think our pranks are the best.” He said. “Oh really? I have to think that?” Kendra questioned. “Of course you do.” George replied. “Alright then. If I’m being honest the last one you did with Peeves wasn’t the best. The execution was sloppy.” She told him.

George paused his browsing and looked at the dark haired girl for a moment. “Sloppy? My execution was sloppy?” He questioned. “It could have been better. That’s why Snape caught you. If you would have taken my advice, you wouldn’t have had detention for two weeks.” Kendra answered. 

“You’re a minx you know that right?” George asked with a laugh. “What can I say, I get it from my mother.” Kendra said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. 

George smiled down at her as she stood at his side. He hoped that she couldn’t hear how loud his heart was beating or if she could tell that his palms were clammy. He just thought she was so pretty he could never think straight around her. 

“Did you hear me?” Kendra asked him. “What?” He questioned. “I said did you want to go to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer before we go back?” Kendra asked. “Uh, yeah, yeah, sure. I’ll pay.” George stammered. 

“If I didn’t know any better, Weasley, I’d say you were considering this a date.” Kendra teased. “No, no, definitely not a date.” George lied. 

He wanted nothing more than for it to be a date but he didn’t have the courage to ask and what if Kendra said no? It would ruin their friendship forever. Kendra ignored the way her heart felt as if it were tightening in her chest at his words. 

Would going on a date with her be that bad to him? Then again, she didn’t want to jump to conclusions. But she also didn’t want to ruin the friendship she had with George if she were to confess her true feelings. 

So Kendra did what she did best when it came to her true emotions; and that was to hide them for as long as she could. 

[adenei]

I know you don’t want to write about pregnancy announcement anymore but can you do a continuation just for >I’m not sick< please ??? You remember ??? I wanna know the raction of the Weasley’s and Grange’s to this very early news

Hi - Thanks so much for the ask, and I appreciate you remembering me saying that. I got a little carried away with this one, and I hope you love it as much as I do! 

Ask box is open

*******************

The Announcement

Hermione had planned everything out with Ron. They were going to tell their parents that they’d be welcoming a grandchild around the holidays. No one but Ron, Harry, Ginny and Professor McGonagall knew that Hermione had returned home from the semester early. Hermione had kept her interviews at the Ministry and finally decided to take a position within the Magical Creatures department. 

By the time term had officially ended, Hermione was close to three months, and the baby’s heartbeat was strong as ever. A mediwitch had been visiting Grimmauld Place for Hermione’s appointments, and had been required to sign several nondisclosure agreements to protect them and the baby. In order to conceal Hermione’s whereabouts, Ron had insisted he’d ‘pick’ Hermione up from the train, much to the Mr. and Mrs. Granger’s chagrin. 

Ron knew they wouldn’t be happy about the delay in seeing their only daughter, but it helped that Ron had begun to make a habit of going to the Granger’s home once a week for dinner. Even though Mrs. Granger was upset that she couldn’t collect her daughter from King’s Cross, Ron found that she’d given in rather quickly. She was excited at Ron’s suggestion to have his parents join them for their weekly dinner when Hermione returned home, and had begun planning the evening’s meal before Ron had left a few weeks ago.

“Have I told you how sweet it is that you’ve been having dinner with my parents once a week?” Hermione asked, bringing Ron out of his thoughts. She was eyeing herself in the mirror, checking to see how she looked in the flowy, coral colored sundress she’d chosen for the evening. 

“Er, once or twice, yeah,” Ron responded with a grin. He held out his arms for her to come to him. 

“I’m so nervous,” Hermione said. Ron could tell she was holding back tears. “What if they’re ashamed. We should have been more careful. We’re only just starting our adult lives and we’re bringing a child into the world. And we’re not even married yet!”

Ron wrapped his arms tighter around her. This wasn’t the first time she’d spiraled into an emotional mess thinking about everyone’s reactions over how out of order this all seemed. “Well, I thought about giving you a ring to show off tonight, but I didn’t want our parents to die of a heart attack from too much news in one sitting.”

He meant it as a joke to lighten the mood, though he was completely serious about putting a ring on her finger. Baby or no baby, he couldn’t imagine not sharing the rest of his life with Hermione. Ron felt her pull away and look at him.

“You- you have a ring?” she asked. 

“I-” Ron sighed. “Reckon I didn’t think that quite through, did I…”

“Ron,” Hermione pressed.

“Maybe I do. That alright?” Ron said as he looked away. He couldn’t bear her rejection.

“Are you proposing?” Hermione asked in a hushed whisper.

“No!” Ron said quickly. “Er, not yet anyways.” Ron shook his head. “I’m really buggering this up, aren’t I? Yes, Hermione, I do plan on asking you to marry me, but not tonight. I plan on doing it properly, so can we forget this conversation even happened?” Ron was sure his ears were scarlet.

“You really want to marry me?” Hermione asked him cautiously. They’d made mention of the future, but had never actually talked about it. 

Ron’s eyes sought hers. “Course I do. Even if we weren’t going to have a baby sooner than we expected. You’re it for me. It’s always been you.” It felt good to be honest with her. After so many years of skirting around their feelings, they were finally able to be open with each other.

Hermione didn’t trust her voice to tell him she felt the same, so she leaned in and kissed him. Hoping she could put everything she was feeling into that one kiss. Suddenly, it didn’t matter what their parents, or anyone else for that matter, thought. She was going to spend the rest of her life with the only man she’d ever loved, and she felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

“I love you,” she whispered against his lips.

“I love you, too.” Ron reluctantly pulled away and looked at the clock on the wall. “Shite, we’ve got to get going.”

Hermione sighed. “I suppose you’re right. Might as well get it over with, right?”

Ron nodded. They still had a ways to go before it would be the appropriate point in the evening. 

************************

Ron was assisting Mrs. Granger with cleaning up while Hermione and Mr. Granger led Ron’s parents into the living room. 

“Is everything alright with Hermione?” she asked him.

“Er, yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?” Ron responded, trying to be cool. Of course her mother would pick up on her uneasiness tonight. Hermione was trying her best, but she was still quite jumpy.

“She just seems off, is all. Hermione’s normally a ball of energy when she comes home at the end of term. We can barely get a word in edgewise when she’s telling us stories of everything she’s learned. She’s been awfully quiet. You’d tell me if something was wrong, right?” Mrs. Granger looked sternly at Ron. 

“Y-yeah, of course!” Ron said without thinking. 

Mrs. Granger eyed him carefully. As much as she wanted to believe him, there was something in the tone of his voice that told her he was hiding something from her. “Ron…”

“Just, trust me, okay?” Ron pleaded with the woman who would be his future mother in law. “Hermione’s fine. Can I help you get the coffee? I know Mum always takes a cup after dinner.”

Though Mrs. Granger wanted to press him more for answers about her daughter’s peculiar behavior, she let it slide. It was evident that Ron cared deeply for Hermione, and the thought made her smile softly. She completely understood Hermione’s soft spot for the young redhead. She was developing one of her own, it seemed.

After the coffee was ready, they made their way into the living room, and joined the rest of the party. Conversation flowed easily, and now Hermione and Ron were waiting for the right moment to bring up their news. It didn’t take long, since Mrs. Weasley noticed Hermione’s unease now.

Hermione, dear, are you alright? You look pale as a ghost,” Mrs. Weasley said in a concerned voice. “You barely ate anything at dinner, either.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” added Mrs. Granger. 

“I-” Hermione started to speak, but then looked at Ron. They both knew now was as good a time as ever, but the words seemed to fail her.

“We, er, have something we wanted to talk to you about,” Ron finished.

“Is everything alright?” Mr. Weasley asked, looking between the two.

“Y-yeah,” Ron said. He looked at Hermione. He knew she wanted to lead the conversation. She’d said as much earlier today, but he’d be there to fill in if he was needed.

“I’ve- Well, the thing is, I received some news at Hogwarts at the beginning of June,” Hermione started to say.

“Is this about the job you’ve taken with the Ministry?” her father asked. “We knew you were planning to take the job with the Magical Creatures department, but did something else come up?”

“Sort of. I actually finished my exams three weeks ago, and was able to leave Hogwarts a bit earlier than expected.”

“What? But...why didn’t you tell us, sweetheart?” her mother asked. She shot Ron a look, and he knew he was probably going to be in trouble for not saying anything. He met her eyes, not backing down as he supported his girlfriend.

“I- I couldn’t. I wasn’t planning on ending the year early, but I needed to. You see, I’d been feeling really sick and-”

“-You were ill and you didn’t come straight here or to us?” Mrs. Weasley asked, cutting Hermione off.

“I needed to be with Ron. I couldn’t come home or to the Burrow,” Hermione said as she hung her head. She knew she needed to stop beating around the bush. Ron placed his hand in hers, reminding her that he was right there with her. “It turns out it was morning sickness,” Hermione said softly.

“W-what?” Mrs. Granger said as Mrs. Weasley gasped.

“Surely, you’re not…” Mr. Granger started to say.

“I’m pregnant.” Hermione said, regaining her resolve as she looked up. “And Ron and I have talked, and we’re keeping it.”

“How long?” Mr. Weasley asked when no one else spoke.

“Three months,” Ron said.

“So…” his father said, as he tried to do the math.

“Easter holidays,” Hermione supplied. “We said the charms, but Madame Pomfrey said it’s not always entirely effective. It was a shock to both of us at first, but we’ve had a lot of time to think about this, and- and we’re going to see this through. We love each other, and sure, maybe this isn’t the timeline we’d exactly planned, but-” Hermione paused and looked at Ron, who smiled at her.

“When has anything with us ever gone as planned?” he attempted a chuckle. He looked at Hermione’s parents then, and with all the sincerity in the world, he said, “I love your daughter more than anything in this world, and I mean to marry her. I’ll do everything to keep them happy and safe and loved.”

He shifted his arm to wrap around Hermione’s shoulders as he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. Ron could tell Hermione wanted to say she was sorry, but they’d talked about that, and she wasn’t sorry. They were consenting adults, and the child that was now growing inside her was made with all the love in the world. 

They gave their parents a moment to process the news. Mrs. Weasley finally spoke first as she grabbed her husband's hands. “Another grandbaby. Oh, my word, another! I can’t believe it.” She was across the room in an instant, wrapping Ron and Hermione in a tight hug. 

Luckily, Molly’s reaction shook some reality back into Hermione’s parents. Soon everyone was on their feet, hugging and asking questions about when they were due and whether they predicted it would be a boy or girl. Hermione was feeling more relieved and relaxed now that she’d been assured of their parent’s acceptance. 

Later on, as Ron’s parents were getting ready to leave, he took it upon himself to take the empty dishes back out to the kitchen. As he was rinsing the cups in the sink, he heard Mrs. Granger come in.

“I’m sorry I lied before,” Ron said. 

“I appreciate the apology,” Mrs. Granger said as she set the remaining dishes on the counter. “I’ll admit I was mad at first, but I understand now. I couldn’t ask for a better future son in law, you know.”

Despite himself, Ron smiled. “Thanks. I meant what I said earlier, about taking care of her and our future family.”

“I know. Hermione’s lucky to have you, and so are we. Now, you should get her home to rest. I’ll take care of this. She needs her sleep at this stage,” Mrs. Granger said with a smile. 

“Er, right. Thanks for having us,” Ron said as he bid her goodbye.

Mrs. Granger watched as Ron walked out of the kitchen. For all the issues she may have had about the world she’d let her daughter enter at the age of eleven, she was beyond thankful for the redheaded wizard who’d stolen her daughter’s heart. She knew there was no better match in this world for her daughter than the youngest Weasley boy, and there was a newfound excitement that she was feeling as she thought about the life the two would build together.

[the-dead-skwad]

Miss Lestrange Part 2 X Reader X George Weasley

This is going to be a few chapters let me know if you want to be tagged 

Summary: After a summer of torture will Y/N and George figure things out. 

You sat at the Slytherin table with your head down. The noise of the students filling the hall rang through your ears. Everyone seemed so happy to be back and to see each other. You were simply happy you had escaped. If you never saw Malfoy Manor ever again you would be happy. But no doubt the year would end, and you would be back in your mother’s clutches.

“Hey.” Draco’s voice made you jump. “Sorry.” He sat down next to you.

You looked at him, you could see the pain in his face. He wanted so bad to help you over the summer. He wanted so bad to stop all the pain your mother caused you. “Hi.” You forced a smile.

“How are you feeling?”

You shrugged “I don’t know… I hurt.”

He moved a piece of hair away from your face revealing a black eye. “You know you don’t have to sit here. I can walk you back to the common room?”

“I’ll be okay. I want to see what new teacher will eventually die or go mad from defence against the dark arts.” Your bad attempt at a joke, he still laughed. “Thank you though.”

He nudged you causing a gasp to escape you. “Sorry, I was just going to say what are family for but lets not get into that right now.”

“Good idea.”

As Dumbledore started his usual speech about the upcoming year you looked over to the Gryffindor table. You scanned up and down the table until you saw him. He wasn’t looking at first but when he caught your eye you saw so much hurt on his face. All you wanted was to run to him and squeeze him, apologise for everything. Just to sit with him while he held onto you. But it would be selfish of you to bring him into the life you now had, no matter how much you loved him.

Both of you were snapped out of your thoughts when the new defence against the dark arts teacher was announced. You looked up to see this pink toad grinning down on you all “Who the fuck is that?”

Draco chuckled “They’ve bought someone from the Ministry. Obviously can’t trust Dumbledore after what’s his face dying last year.”

“His name was Cedric. That was hardly Dumbledore’s fault.”

“Yeah whatever.”

You rolled your eyes at him. As soon as he was around his Syltherin friends he turned into the usual stuck up arsehole he always was.

“Y/N!” Pansy whispered across the table.

“What?”

She clearly saw the bruises on your face but she didn’t say anything “You know some people are saying you did that? That you killed him.”

“Of course they are. Dumb people will believe anything.”

After Umbridge finished her ridiculous speech about the Ministry everyone got up to leave. You were in no rush to move. You didn’t want anyone bumping into you. Draco hung around a while to make sure you were alright but then left with Pansy. You joined the back of the last group of people to leave the hall. You wasn’t really paying attention to who was around you. You folded your arms in close to your body and kept your head down. People you didn’t know whispered and pointed at you. The more you walked the more you felt the walls close in on you. Your breathing picked up as you tried to make your way through the crowd. As you started to panic someone grabbed hold of your arm. You cowered away without thinking.

“Y/N?” His voice was like music to yours ears. You looked up at him, his soft features melted your heart. You didn’t say anything you just pulled him in and held on. A few tears fell down your cheeks. “Oh sweetheart.” He wanted to ask you so many questions. Why you hadn’t contacted him, why he hadn’t heard anything from you or about you for months but now he had you here, in his arms he never wanted to let go.

You pulled back and looked at him. He moved your hair out of the way and gasped “What happened to you?”

“They found me.”

“Come with me.” He held your hand and pulled you through all the people. You paid them no attention just focused on the man in front of you.

Hand in hand you walked together until you reached the astronomy tower. No one was around you and finally you felt like you could breathe. You sat looking up at the stars, he wrapped his arms around you and you both just took in this moment. Finally back together again.

After a while in the silence he decided to ask you. “What happened to you?”

“Narcissa locked me in a room that was full of spells to stop anyone finding me. She bought me food and made sure I was okay every day. But after a few weeks I thought I was safe and I left the room. I know it was stupid and within hours they were in the manor. They took over the whole place. The Malfoys couldn’t say no, I mean Lucious is one of them. If he protested he would have just been killed.” He listened to your every word. “Bellatrix took it upon herself to make my life hell. Apparently I betrayed her and my father and I could never be who she wanted me to be. To her I was a traitor.” You paused for a second and sighed “No matter what she did though I never gave up, I was determined to come back to you.”

“I..” He was stuck for words. “Y/N I’m so sorry, if I could take this pain away I would.”

“Hey, you’re a fantastic wizard. All these sweets to get kids out of lessons. I bet we could find something to fix this.”

He hugged you a little tighter. “I know we will.”

“Just before we do this I want to ask you something.”

“Anything.” He smiled at you.

You nodded “Are you sure you want this?”

“What the hell do you mean?” He was more hurt than angry.

Trying to find the best words was hard, “I just.. My family are evil beyond all evil. They won’t rest until I’m one of them or dead and I don’t want to put you in a situation where you or any or your family is in danger.”

He shook his head “I’m not leaving you, and I’m not letting you go again. I regretted letting you leave last year and it’s not happening again. I’m with you the whole way weather you like it or not. And besides my family have been with the order fighting this for longer than we’ve been alive.”

“I love you.”

“I love you more than anything.”

Looking into each other eyes your faces got closer and closer, mere inches away you could feel his breath on your lips. Just as you thought you would have the most perfect first kiss a voice came from behind you. “Mr Weasley!” It was McGonagall

He leapt from his seat and helped you up. All your bones ached but you stood straight.

“Oh Miss Lestrange.” It was at the point where even the professors didn’t know what to say to you. “Go back to your dormitories, I would like to speak with you in the morning and Mr Weasley make sure she gets there safe.”

“Yes professor.” You both said in unison.

As you both walked off you laughed “Is it just me or have I somehow got us a free pass this year?”

“You might just have.”

--

“I have spoken with Albus and we both agree that if you feel like you want to stay here until you find suitable accommodation, at Christmas and the years end, that is perfectly fine. We want you to feel safe and I can assure you Hogwarts is the safest place you can be. We won’t let anything happen to you.” She gave you a reassuring smile.

“Thank you professor.”

“Go see Madam Pomfrey and she will look you over. And be careful with Mr Weasley, he’s erm..”

You smiled “I know professor. I know.”

--

Madam Pomfrey only confirmed what you originally thought. Your wounds would heal much slower than usual. The dark magic your mother had used was so powerful there wasn’t any normal magic to fix you. It would just be a slow painful journey back to health. She gave you something to help you with some of the pain but it was all really down to you.

George walked you to your first class of the year, unfortunately you had the toad. No doubt she wasn’t going to take much of a liking to you. You said your goodbyes at the door and walked in to sit down next to Ron.

He sat there for a moment and then nudged you “How are you?”

“I’ll get there thanks Ron.”

“You and my brother.. are you? You know, serious?”

You chuckled at how awkward he was “Yes I suppose we are.”

“Oh thank fuck he was so annoying and mardy the whole break.”

Just before you could carry on talking she walked down the classroom and stood at the front with that shit eating grin. She started to go on about how she wasn’t going to teach you all on what you actually needed to learn and that Voldemort wasn’t real. How she would teach us what the ministry had laid out for us and that me and Harry were complete liars.

Harry stood in protest and started to argue with her. She was winding you up so much you couldn’t really hear what was going off. You tried so hard to keep the anger in you, stop the magic from bursting out. In your head their voices got louder and louder.

“STOP IT!” You voice rang through the room. All the students covered their ears for a second.

“Miss…” She coughed “Lestrange. How dare you make an outburst in my cla- “

“You are blind.” You cut her off. “You believe everything the ministry tells you. You think that you are safe but you are so wrong.”

“I will not have liars in my classroom.”

“Oh I’m a liar? The only time I lie is when I tell someone I’m okay. Because believe it or not Voldemort is real and he is alive.”

“I will not be telling you again!”

You raised your voice over hers. “If he isn’t real then how come I am!”

The people that hadn’t got their mouths wide open had now. You pulled your sleeve up to show the dark mark that you had tried to scrub off. “If he isn’t real then why is his daughter standing right here!”

“GET OUT!” She squealed.

“Gladly.” You grabbed you stuff and walked out the room.

Walking down the halls the anger in you was pulsing. You needed to get it out without hurting anyone. Looking out the windows you caught a glimpse of something. Perfect.

You picked up the pace hoping you would be the only person there. What you hadn’t noticed was George and Fred sitting on a bench. You ran straight pass them without even looking at them. They both followed you without making themselves aware.

You ran down to the quidditch pitch. Breaking into the locker room you found a broom and the box of quidditch balls. You ran out onto the pitch stripping off your cardigan, tie and shirt. Leaving you in a vest top, skirt and boots. The whole while muttering to yourself about Umbridge and how much of a useless bitch she was. To any outsider you looked insane.

Unbeknownst to you the twins stood watching you laughing quietly.

“Hey.” Angelina’s voice from behind them made them jump.

Fred shush her “She doesn’t know We’re here.”

“I saw Ron.” She lowered her voice “He told me her and Umbridge got into a screaming match about you know who.”

“Oh jesus.” George sighed.

They watched for a minute as the bludger flew into the air “Guys?” She asked

George turned to look at Fred “I’ll get it.” Fred sighed. He ran back to get Georges broom.

George ran on to the pitch just as you kick off from the ground. “Hey you! What you doing up there?”

“Hey.” You smiled down to him and flipped the bet in your hand.

“Do you know what you’re doing?”

You shrugged “Why don’t you come up here and find out?”

George turned to Fred who was standing behind him with his broom “This girls gonna be the death of me.” He laughed as he jumped on and flew into the air. “You okay darling? Angelina told me what…”

“Watch out!” You flew past him batting the bludger straight up.

“Shit!” George laughed nervously. “That was not bad.”

“I have seen all your games and most practices. I get the idea and besides how hard can it really be?”

“It’s more dangerous than hard..”

You shrugged “Best keep up then?” You winked and flew even further up.

After a while your body really started to hurt, you weren’t sure if it was your injuries or just how much you were laughing. “Babe I’m gonna have to stop, I’m hurting!” You called across the pitch.

“Okay.” He smiled and started to fly towards you. The bludger came up from behind him and before you could call out it smacked him in the back knocking him off his broom.

It was almost like it happened in slow motion as he fell to the floor. You called out as you swooped down to him. “Oh fuck! George!” You called kneeling on the floor next to him. What do I do? You thought to yourself, panic filling your body. You leant down and kissed him. Not your ideal first kiss and you had no idea why you thought it would work, he wasn’t a poisoned princess.

You felt his mouth move and you sat back with a frown plastered across your face. He was smiling “Hey you asshole.”

He laughed and sat up “God that took the wind outta me.”

“That’s not funny.. What if I had done that to you!”

Just as the bludger flew back down towards you it stopped mid-air. You both looked up to see McGonagall furious. “Oh fuck.” You said under your breath. Helping each other off the ground to stand like naughty children.

“Miss Lestrange, is this what you thought I meant when I said to be careful?”

“No professor.”

“And Mr Weasley, surely you would stop her from further injuring herself?”

“In all fairness professor I was the only one that got hurt during that.” She gave him a look “But that of course is not the point professor.”

She sighed at you both, “Just get back to your classes and Miss Lestrange.” As she spoke she put the bludger back in the box.” I should hope you know as soon as you feel better I expect to see you signing up for the Slytherin beater.” She hid a small smile as she walked away.

You ran together off the pitch and into the tunnel that leads to the changing room. “Did you think I was that good? I mean I don’t really know what I was doing but –“

George cut off your rambling by pushing you against the wooden slats. He looked into your eyes for a moment before pressing his lips against yours. After the best first kiss he leans back and looks at you “You were perfect.”

[halothenthehorns]

OWL POST AGAIN

Remus hated to be the one to get their attention, to remind them there was still a chapter left, but he figured they may as well get this all over with sooner rather than later. They'd have more than enough to be dealing with later as is. Lily came down the stairs with the baby, but decided to hand him over to James while Remus got started.

Hermione was trying to get Harry's attention, telling him they had ten minutes left to get to the hospital wing before Dumbledore locked the door.

"The fact that you still somehow pulled all of that off is a miracle," Lily muttered.

They began running down the spiral stairs of the tower,

Sirius couldn't help but wonder if this was the same tower Hermione and Harry had been caught on with Norbert, and how much trouble he could have left his pup in if he was discovered helping him. They may be almost done but he felt like his worries would never end.

and as they reached the bottom and began tearing through corridors, they had to come to a quick stop as they heard Snape saying that he hoped Dumbledore wouldn't cause a fuss about Black receiving the Kiss.

Remus ground his teeth together as he forced that out. He just couldn't believe anyone was okay with this punishment, that the Minister had given his permission for it to happen! The only reason he wasn't still shouting about it was because Sirius had gotten away, but that didn't make what they'd tried to do feel any better.

Fudge agreed it would happen the moment Macnair arrived with the dementors, and how grateful he was this whole matter was to be over, how much he was looking forward to telling the Daily Prophet about this.

"Ha!" James snapped, no real humor to be found as he scowled at the book, though briefly distracted when his infant took advantage to their proximity and made a grab for his glasses. The father had a chore for a few moments getting them back from the tight little fists.

Fudge even said that when Harry came back to his right sense he'd probably want to tell the Prophet all about how Snape saved them all.

Harry made some gagging noises as he theatrically clutched his throat at the thought.

Finally the voices passed by, and they kept running for some time until Harry heard Peeves approaching, and they had to duck inside another classroom as the poltergeist went bouncing by with laughter. Hermione was muttering how terrible a thing he was, laughing about Sirius getting Kissed.

"Oh he wouldn't," Lily frowned. "He can't hate you that much. Why would he hate you at all?"

"I like to think Hermione may have just jumped to the wrong conclusion that time," Sirius agreed with his head cocked to the side. "He has no personal interest what happens to me, could be anything that's got him in such a good mood."

Then she warned Harry they only had three minutes left to get back, and as Peeves' voice floated away and they started running again, Harry asked what would happen if they didn't get back in time.

"Madam Pomfrey will know you got out," Lily guessed, "and you could get into a cart load of trouble."

"They can't prove anything," James said at once, bouncing around in unease because he knew how untrue that was. At least Snape would try to pin the whole thing on Harry, and since Fudge clearly liked him this could turn pretty nasty.

Hermione groaned she didn't want to know as they sprinted forward, the door finally coming into sight and Dumbledore saying what time it was and that he was going to lock them in.

"Did it say anything about Dumbledore not seeing you?" Remus asked, "because otherwise that really would have been impossible."

"I think Dumbledore's okay," Harry shrugged, "he did know about all of this after all, we just couldn't let him lock the doors."

Sirius was still cross eyed as he tried to work out that Hermione and Harry had just left to save him...but now they were arriving and talking to Dumbledore because they just had...man he hated time travel.

He began to shut the doors just as the two came barreling forward, and he smiled at the sight of them, asking if they'd accomplished everything. They agreed, and then Dumbledore pressed his ear to the door and agreed that they'd left as well.

"Because, you know, that's a sentence that exists now," James rolled his eyes.

He ushered them inside and then really did lock the door. The hospital wing was empty once again except for Ron who was still passed out.

Sirius cracked up laughing at that, imagining the poor kid's face when they had to explain all of that to him later.

Madam Pomfrey came back out in a very bad mood.

"I believe that," Remus nodded in sympathy.

Harry and Hermione thought it best to accept their chocolate quietly. Madam Pomfrey stood over them, making sure they ate it.

"Think it's kind of moot by this point," Lily shrugged, "since it's technically been what, three, almost four hours since that run in with the dementors, and since Harry warded them off the second time Harry never even got a second blast."

"Please stop," James moaned, "I've only just wrapped my head around this, don't make it worse."

"Just let them enjoy the chocolate in peace," Remus agreed.

Harry could hardly eat his share though, sitting tense on his bed, worrying and waiting for some kind of news, which he received by hearing a fearsome roar of outrage.

"Who wants to bet it's some new horror?" Remus sighed, trying to imagine what else could have happened tonight to cause that.

"Oh come on Remus, now you're just depressing me," Sirius tried to give a light laugh, though admittedly on the same page as him.

Madam Pomfrey was alarmed at the noise, demanding to know what that could be, but in answer, they heard Fudge trying to tell Snape that Black must have disapparated!

They couldn't help it, they all started laughing at once. Sirius had just gotten the best of Snape, and the man didn't even know how. He'd just had every last bit of false glory snatched away from him, and he deserved every second of it for what he'd tried to do to Sirius. Only Lily felt the tiny spot of pity, as he didn't know any better, he thought Sirius really had done all of those things, but what he'd tried to do wasn't forgivable. He could have listened to them, which she knew he never would, shouldn't have been out there in the first place, he'd only gone out to torment Remus. So even she couldn't help giggling a bit at this comeuppance.

He was reprimanding himself that they should have left someone in the room with him!

"Yeah, they should have-" Sirius rolled his eyes.

"But thank Merlin they didn't," James finished for him.

"I think Dumbledore might have had something to do with that," Remus said without any of his usual warmth in speaking of their old headmaster.

No one argued the idea, but they all noticed his tone, and he kept reading quickly before they could ask.

Snape wouldn't hear it though, storming through the hallways and screaming that this had something to do with Potter!

"Well he's not wrong," Harry smirked.

"But still," Lily shook her head at just how stupid and sad this display was. "His first thought is to jump to you? He doesn't even know why you'd help him, he has no idea about any of this, but his first instinct is to blame it all on you."

"They still can't prove anything," Remus grinned, as Harry and Hermione had the perfect alibi now.

Fudge tried to protest that, but then the door opened with a bang.

Five scowls were aimed at the book though, that bit of violence really was uncalled for.

They both came in, with Dumbledore who was the only one looking like he was enjoying the show.

Remus and Harry gave a happy little laugh, they found the Headmasters attitude perfect with their own, but nobody else still looked very pleased with him, still working out and wanting answers from him before they'd allow any good feelings to surface again.

Snape stormed over to Harry, demanding to know what he'd done!

"Yeah, cause he's really going to tell you," James rolled his eyes.

Both Madam Pomfrey and Fudge tried to calm Snape down, but he wouldn't hear of it as he shouted in the kid's faces that they'd helped Black escape!

"Best part is, he's actually right," Sirius cackled.

"Those were always the best moments," Remus agreed with an old smirk. "When he'd try to catch us at something, and he'd be the one telling the truth, but we still got off." His face fell at the end, old memories of the four of them laughing about this all day after the fact, and unable to picture that without going blood thirsty again, so moving on fast.

Fudge demanded he stop, he was talking crazy.

"Least he admits it now," Lily huffed.

Snape was adamant though, saying he knew he was right, but then Dumbledore interrupted by pointing out they'd been in the locked door this whole time, to which Madam Pomfrey confirmed. Dumbledore went on smoothly that unless Snape was implying they were in two places at once, it couldn't be done.

Remus full blown laughed as he realized Dumbledore had just told Snape what Harry and Hermione had done, and yet in such a tone they all knew it wasn't possible, they wouldn't have believed it if they hadn't just heard Harry's account.

Harry also got the realization that somehow Snape had been left out of the loop of Hermione's Time Turner, otherwise he would have thrown that out. Maybe Harry had been wrong before and Flitwick hadn't known about Hermione's secret either, Flitwick just hadn't questioned Hermione missing one class from her perfect attendance, so McGonagall probably had been the only teacher to know about it.

Snape froze as he looked at everyone, Fudge's shocked look,

"Goodbye Order of Merlin," Sirius sneered.

to Madam Pomfrey who looked mildly concerned, to Dumbledore who was still giving a small smile. Snape stormed out then without another word, and Fudge cautioned Dumbledore he should keep an eye on that one.

Harry couldn't help a small frown, wondering why that felt foreboding to him?

Dumbledore sighed though, saying that he understood Snape's feelings of disappointment.

"Disappointment!" Lily nearly shrieked. "He wanted to watch Sirius be, well murder would have been kinder!"

"Ge, thanks Lil," Sirius grumbled.

Fudge sighed that Snape wasn't the only one, how the newspapers were going to have a good laugh at him.

"Oh you poor thing." James snapped, his dislike of this minister growing more with every time he spoke. Every time he'd been mentioned all he'd seemed to care about was what the Prophet, and by extension, the public would think of him. He may be in his rights to do what had happened so far, but it didn't make any of them like him one little bit.

He would be humiliated between Black and that hippogriff getting away in one night. Before he left though, Dumbledore asked about the dementors, and Fudge agreed they'd have to be taken away as well.

"Thank you!" They sighed in relief, thinking that if one good thing had come of tonight, it was that! They didn't even care about the reason. Even if Harry did know how to get rid of them now, the last thing they wanted was him going near them again.

He couldn't condone their behavior of letting them try to Kiss Harry.

"Now how did he know about that?" Harry asked in surprise, he'd certainly not told anyone, and Sirius didn't even know, he'd passed out too soon to even tell Dumbledore, and Snape had shown up too late to see that.

Remus did not look happy to answer, but he hated talking about dementors at all so that wasn't new. "Dementors can, ah, communicate, but it's not something pleasant at all. When they wish to, they can string together thoughts in your head, putting together what they wish for you to understand what they're telling you. It's, unnerving to say the least. Honestly though, I'm surprised they would admit to doing it."

Sirius offered back, "well the Dementors don't have any sense of loyalty to the Ministry and as Hagrid says, they don't care about innocence, so telling Fudge that they were going to perform the Kiss wouldn't have stirred any sense of guilt in them. Harry was in the way of their mission, so they were just doing what came naturally to them-" he couldn't help but stutter for a bit right there, the vivid mental image still trying to suck the soul out of him now at his little pup in that situation. "They were probably just told to report what had happened, why they'd come after me and why they left, and they did."

Harry nodded in understanding, but still asked for more, "how did they know to come out there though?* Snape nor anyone ever got a chance to call for them."

James despised every last word he was using, it only served as more of a reminder of how long Sirius had to be there for this to be true, but he still offered, "they say if you're around a dementor enough, it gets ah, a sense for you. It can tell when you're nearby. That's also why they were even used as guards over just say Aurors, they didn't know about Sirius being a dog so the Ministry would have figured the dementors would sense him approaching miles before he got there. Now Sirius has been a dog all year, so they wouldn't have been able to tell that, but he came out of the Whomping Willow as a human talking to you, and the second he did that they would have sensed him and come swarming." He finished with one more great shudder, still feeling sick all over at the thought of this topic.

Harry decided he was out of questions for now, still knowing he'd much rather never have to deal with those things again then keep coming up with questions for them, but also trying to ignore the feeling saying that was wishful thinking.

No, they were too unmanageable, and they'd have to find something else to guard the school, maybe dragons.

Sirius groaned something unintelligible that none of them needed to translate. They all agreed anyways, they really hoped Fudge was kidding.

Dumbledore agreed Hagrid would enjoy that.

"Least someone would," Remus laughed.

Then they left as well, and Madam Pomfrey went back to her office, but the sounds of the doors closing again finally awoke Ron.

"Oh boy," Lily muttered, not exactly looking forward to hearing this story explained again in detail, she'd barely held it together the first time around.

He caught sight of his friends and at once began demanding to know where Sirius and Lupin were.

"Actually that one's a valid question," James frowned, getting a little twitchy as he realized they may not be as in the clear as he'd hoped. Remus hadn't exactly slipped his mind, but as Sirius' problems had been slightly more pressing he hadn't thought about it since Remus was last mentioned. Now he realized there was still a fall guy around, and it wasn't Harry. Snape himself had said he would try and get Remus Kissed along with Sirius, but while Sirius had made a run for it, Remus would probably wake up somewhere in the forest and come stumbling back up to school into the waiting arms of Merlin knew what.

Remus hardly looked concerned, he just gave a halfhearted shrug and tried to keep reading in the most nonchalant way possible. He'd already worked all of that out and knew he wouldn't have a problem dealing with those consequences, someone other than Sirius deserved them and because it was Remus' fault he'd gotten away, Remus would pay for it and wouldn't let his friends dwell on it any more than he could allow.

Harry helped himself to some chocolate as he told Hermione to explain.

Time skip to the next day, where a Hogsmeade visit was being enjoyed by most of the school, though the trio rather enjoyed spending their time out by the lake and talking about the previous night's events, and wondering where Sirius and Buckbeak were now.

"Wherever the nearest non extradition country is I would hope," Lily muttered.

Harry was lounging in the shade, absently watching the water and the giant squid floating just underneath the surface, his mind across the shore where he'd seen his own patronus stag gallop towards him...

James still gave a happy little smile at that reminder, beaming down at his infant son and cooing to him with pleasure.

Then Hagrid arrived, greeting them with still happy filled teary eyes. He admitted he should be upset about the escape of Black, but asked if they knew what good thing had happened? They feigned they didn't know,

"Can't imagine how well that worked out," Sirius snickered.

and Hagrid beamed as he explained Buckbeak had gotten free! Hermione praised how good that was, while trying to subtly give Ron a shove for starting to laugh.

"That could have still been appropriate," Remus chose to laugh now, "happy laughter for his friend."

Hagrid didn't seem to notice as he explained he must not have tied him up right, though he had been worried Lupin had gotten to him last night.

"Wasn't actually a problem," Harry gave a slight laugh, worried that Remus' good mood had vanished the moment his name came back up.

Thankfully Lupin had said he hadn't eaten anything.

Harry was very torn, he wanted to ask how Remus would even know such a thing, was it just like a feeling he would get? Vague memories that wouldn't make sense, and he had to piece them together? He held that in though, the same fears as everyone else bubbling up because they really wanted to know what had happened to Remus.

Harry asked in surprise what that could mean, and Hagrid was shocked that they hadn't heard, since Snape had told the Slytherins this morning and the whole school must know by now.

"Snape told the Slytherins what?" Sirius began dangerously, his eyes narrowing to near slits as Remus tried to keep going, ignoring his own mounting sense of doom at how this was starting.

Lupin's a werewolf.

"HE DID NOT!" James roared, his hands shaking so bad he was in danger of dropping his child, who began crying at the outburst. James tried to force himself to calm down, rocking his baby gently but the shaking wouldn't stop. He'd been so angry at hearing all of this for so long now, he should have had plenty of practice, but hearing what Snape had just done to one of his friends was not going to be an easy thing to move past.

"I am going to kill him." Sirius vowed right then, his eyes going dangerously dark and his hand already wrapped around his wand. "He couldn't have my soul sucked away so he turns on you! What's he trying to do, get you arrested next!"

Remus tried to pacify them, as Lily and Harry weren't looking much better, "honestly I'm considering myself lucky Hagrid's not yet saying I've been executed. I'll take this over-"

"Snape had better have been fired for that, or so help me I'll wring Dumbledore's and Snape's neck!" Lily cut him off with pure venom. "That was private information that in no way affected anyone at the school, he should not be able to get away with that!"

"It's probably Dumbledore who stopped the Committee for the Control of Dangerous creatures coming after me the moment Fudge made it to the Ministry," Remus argued back, shrinking into the couch at the looks he was getting. He kept going though, he'd always been the persistent one, "if that's all Snape could get away with doing to me, then I'll still be thankful."

"That's it, you're going on the chopping block next," Sirius snapped, unable to comprehend how Remus was still defending them. He'd been targeted as much as Sirius this year and still he was straining to keep peace.

Remus didn't look happy about it though, he was wavering terribly as he struggled to keep going.

He was still torn apart inside at what Dumbledore seemed to have done to Sirius in leaving him in Azkaban, how it must have been his Headmaster who had convinced Remus Sirius had done all of those things in the first place, but still it had also been Dumbledore who'd allowed him his job this year, who was clearly still protecting him from the worst of what could happen. Dumbledore had tried to fix his mistake and had helped Sirius in the best way he knew how by giving Harry and Hermione the means to slip Sirius out, shouldn't that give him some redeem ability? Despite how fearsome everyone still looked, Remus kept going while the silence lasted.

Then Hagrid explained he was packing now of course.

"Packing?" Harry repeated, looking just as shocked as anyone at hearing the news. "Why, you aren't really leaving because of that!"

"He better not be," Sirius snapped when Remus failed to answer.

Truth was that yeah, Remus could see it. He'd come closer in that night to attacking three students, one of them being Harry, than he ever had in his life. It had been his fault the rat had gotten away because he hadn't had the sense to stay in the Shrieking Shack, the kids were convinced enough they could have come up with any other solution and dealt with this in the morning, anything other than what he actually did! Still being smothered with guilt, Remus kept going for now, loudly, as he knew James and Lily were fixing to start telling him off like Sirius was going to. He wanted to hear the full thing, find out if he had quit, or was being fired, or something much worse could still be happening that Hagrid didn't know about.

Harry repeated that back and demanded to know why? Hagrid was surprised at Harry's shock, saying he was leaving of course,

"Hagrid just lost some points with me," James muttered, thinking that Hagrid should be at least a little more upset, but then he reflected that may be too harsh on him. Hagrid had only gotten the story second hand, probably didn't know all the details of how and why Remus was out on the grounds like that. It still irked him anyone would expect Remus to leave because of this.

that he'd resigned and wouldn't risk it happening again. Harry jumped to his feet despite Hermione and Ron protesting that if he'd already done the act, but Harry insisted he still wanted to go talk to him and he'd meet them later.

Remus sighed, he'd gotten the feeling Harry would come and see him, it didn't make him feel any better though. He owed Harry a world of explanations, even with everything come clear about Sirius it still didn't really explain where in the name of Merlin he'd been these past thirteen years. Maybe now that he wasn't technically Harry's professor anymore, but an old friend of his father's, he could explain just a little bit more.

Harry charged up to the office and found the door cracked open. When he poked his head inside he found everything packed away, but Lupin watching the door expectantly. He smiled as Harry came in, saying that he'd known Harry was coming while gesturing towards the Marauders Map.

"That joke never got old," Sirius muttered, as they'd done that to each other all the time, though with more spirited fun of hiding behind a doorway and trying to freak out the others. It only served as yet another painful reminder though, that the rat had fallen for that trick the most and often retaliated by trying to shoot a curse at them no matter how many times they repeated it and it had always been funny. Great, now he couldn't even think on his map without getting a cold and murderous chill.

Clearly seeing something was bothering Sirius, Harry quickly asked, "I've just thought of something. If Remus was watching us all night, how come he wouldn't have seen me and Hermione twice on that?"**

Remus did a double take at Harry, nodding and saying, "now that's a fair question, but I think it was the timing of it all. I would have turned on the map at about the time I was done with my own exams, to watch you lot head down to Hagrid's. We know Hagrid's Hut itself can't actually be seen on the map, so the doppelgangers wouldn't have been seen any more than the original trio. When you guys left, the second Harry and Hermione would have been following along in the edge of the Forest of their own progress, perhaps still just out of sight of the maps range. By the time Sirius collided with Ron and dragged him and," he grimaced for a moment but still managed to get out the name without biting his tongue off, "Scabbers underground, I would have been sprinting out the door and probably not paying too much attention to anything anymore." He looked around like he was expecting someone to argue with him, but when no one did he concluded. "The only instance where I possibly would have seen them both was when Harry and Hermione are first in the closet after they've time-turned back, and the trio were on their way down to Hagrid's. The only way I can explain this is that I hadn't opened the map to see this yet."

"Makes as much sense as anything that happened that night," James snorted.

Harry belayed that and repeated what Hagrid had told him, and Lupin agreed it was true.

"Remus!" Lily snapped. "You're being ridiculous!"

"How so?" He shot back, trying for a pleasant tone. "How are you not trying to strangle me and agree with me, I nearly bit Harry. I could have killed those kids because of my oversight, and what if it happens again? I won't let some accident hurt anybody, and Sirius won't be around next time."

"But that was-" James tried to add, but Remus was being adamant.

"A one time event, but what if it happened again? I'm actually happy I'm not taking the risk."

The others were at their wits end with him, but what could they do? They couldn't force him to keep the job, it was just maddening that something like this had been taken away from him.

Remus was a good teacher, by far the best one Harry had yet in that subject, but more than that it would have just been nice for him to be on hand more for whatever mayhem Harry was clearly going to get into. It was hard enough for him to keep down a job, especially one as good as this.

James and Sirius still blamed the rat for this happening, linking Remus' fall from his certainty in the job to his interference, yet another thing he'd ruined in their life.

Lily couldn't help but blame Severus, he'd gone and told everyone about this for a petty justice he thought he deserved. The students would tell their parents and Remus would be terrified of what the public would think of him, and he'd lose every last drop of faith he should have in himself. That potion was good for him, but she couldn't begin to imagine how expensive it was, plus Remus wasn't that good at potions himself. So this all meant he was probably going to go back to a relatively closed off, and pained life. Remus had been very right in saying Sirius wouldn't be around to help, with any luck he'd left the country and wouldn't be coming back until his name was cleared.

Harry was the most monstrously disappointed, still grumbling, "but you're the best Defense teacher I ever have." He still meant it with the utmost sincerity, he didn't need his memories to reinforce that assured feeling. It would have been even better now that he knew of Remus' connection to his father, and with Sirius gone out of the country with any luck, he would have liked someone closer by, but he wasn't getting anything from that. With the gentlest of prodding he tried to deduce that he never got that close to Remus. He didn't even think he'd remained in his life all that much, which just wasn't adding up with what he felt now. It left him confused and hurt and still he couldn't help but think that he never got an answer for this.

Remus though was thinking on something else, that maybe if he was lucky he had quit for a totally different reason than his lycanthropy. After all if his assumption was right and Dumbledore had convinced him of Sirius' actions, then everything had come out properly, well that meant that Remus would have turned on Dumbledore. If he was lucky, he may well have stood up to the headmaster and said something about it, maybe quit in some shot of spite for what he'd been convinced of. That may have been giving himself too much credit though, he'd proved time and again he'd back Dumbledore's play no matter what. He didn't really want to keep bringing the idea up, but he wanted so badly for it to be true he offered that to the others. Sirius actually smiled, he rather liked that idea of Remus telling off the headmaster. When no one else put up an argument for it, Remus decided to keep going.

Harry demanded to know why, if the Ministry thought Lupin had been helping Sirius? Lupin went behind Harry and shut the door before answering,

"Always a good idea," James sighed, still not happy, but willing to hear Remus out. "Even if the map showed no one else there, I wouldn't put it past half the paintings in that school to go chatting."

that no, Dumbledore had convinced Fudge otherwise.

That at least gave them all a shot of relief. Whatever wrongdoings Dumbledore had done to Sirius, at least he'd made up for them in that action of protecting Remus. He had been at Hogwarts on Dumbledore's orders, so he'd better have stood up for him. Sirius knew he would have wound up in Azkaban all over again if he heard otherwise.

Then he explained that act had just been too much for Severus, having that happen on top of his Order of Merlin taken away from him,

"Clearly not hard enough, as he's still breathing," James snarled.

so he'd told everyone about his werewolf status that morning.

Lily began swearing colorfully under her breath all over again, unable to believe he'd done something so horrid and cruel. Snape had better have been fired for that as well, it just wasn't right he could get away with doing that to Remus!

Harry was still confused why he was leaving just because of that! Lupin gave him an odd smile as he explained that within the hour letters would be arriving from parents,

Remus couldn't help but notice how he hadn't actually answered Harry's question, maybe giving him a little more hope for his own idea, but it still wasn't enough. It would never be enough for what he owed Sirius for believing that lie, but if leaving this job and with any luck actually helping Sirius now, perhaps spending his now free time looking for the rat while Sirius was safe, then he'd take the trade any day.

that they wouldn't want a werewolf teaching their children.

"They can bite me," Sirius snapped! Remus had gone to school with most of those people, Dumbledore should have pointed out to all of them that Remus wasn't dangerous, stuck by his Professor as much as he'd surely done for Snape when he'd been hired fresh as a Death Eater. He really wished Harry had sat in on that conversation, because if Dumbledore hadn't done everything in the world to convince Remus to stay then he was going to have a shit fit all over again.

After last night, he agreed with them, he could never let those circumstances come about ever again. Harry still rebutted that Lupin was the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher they ever had, and pleaded with him not to leave.

"Or ever will have," Harry still agreed.

"Maybe it won't be permanent," Lily offered hopefully. "Maybe once that rat is caught, and Sirius' name is cleared, maybe Remus will get it through his thick head he's needed at that school."

Everyone else wanted to look like they believed that, but the fact that Harry didn't add anything but instead just gave a slight frown wasn't encouraging.

Lupin just shook his head as he finished packing, and while Harry stood there trying to come up with something else to prove his point, Lupin changed the subject by saying how proud he was of how much Harry had accomplished.

They all sighed, grateful and at least agreeing that if Remus had to leave at least he'd left with something good behind him.

Then he asked about Harry's patronus, but Harry first asked how he'd even known? Lupin pointed out how else had all of those dementors gone away? Harry explained what had happened, and Lupin agreed that's why they'd called James Prongs.

Harry couldn't resist the bright smile that crept over his face all over again, words didn't describe how happy he was his patronus had been his own father, that he'd finally gotten to see the magnificent animal that had spent countless nights protecting his brother from himself. He still couldn't help but wonder though, if he was an animagus, he'd clearly be a stag as well, but what would he look like? So similar to his father that they'd hardly be able to be told apart even then?

Then Lupin handed Harry back his Invisibility Cloak, saying he'd found it in the Shrieking Shack.

"I thought you pocketed that in the Shack?" Lily frowned.

"Don't look at me," Remus frowned, as that had been the last time he'd heard it mentioned as well.

"Maybe I found it on the grounds and put it in there," Sirius shrugged, that being unlikely as he didn't really think he could spot that from the air on Buckbeak, but he also liked the idea that he wouldn't have just up and left without saying goodbye to Remus. Maybe he had thought back to Remus, and found him after he transformed and dragged him back to the Shack, and found the cloak along the way. Maybe he'd wanted to make sure Remus woke up with a friend at the end of his bed one last time before he had to leave for how long. It didn't sit right with him if he really hadn't considered Remus at all after his own freedom was offered.***

Then he also added on that he felt Harry should be given the Marauders Map back, saying that he was sure he Ron and Hermione could find something to do with it.

"Hopefully the good kind," James added on happily, thinking it was high time his son use that for its intended purpose.

Lily didn't even disagree anymore, she'd happily take hearing her son pull some goofy prank rather than constantly worrying about his life at this point.

Harry took the map back with a smile, asking about how those manufacturers would have found it funny if he'd been led out of the castle. Lupin agreed James would have been very heartbroken if his own son had never learned any of the secret passages of the school.

"Well he's got you there," Sirius agreed with a real laugh.

"I can't deny I'm disappointed it took you three years, and you didn't even find the first on your own," James sighed, wagging his finger in mock scolding at his son, causing him to laugh all the harder.

Then there was a knock on the door, and only after Harry stuffed his cloak and map out of sight did Remus call for them to come in. It was Dumbledore, telling Remus there was a carriage waiting for him. Lupin thanked him, picked up his suitcase and old grindylow tank,

"So that's actually your tank then," Lily muttered. "Why do you even have that?"

"For fun," Remus rolled his eyes at her. He was known to randomly catch wild animals and study them before releasing them again, he actually had a niffler at his house right now he was most likely keeping in that tank, though thankfully as they lived off of dirt and he'd left plenty in there he wasn't worried about it going hungry.

and said his goodbyes to Harry and the headmaster. He told Dumbledore he didn't need to be seen down,

Though still disappointed and argumentative on the subject that Remus should keep his butt right where he was, the others noticed for the first time Remus was acting a little odd around Dumbledore as well. Maybe Remus' idea wasn't all that crazy.

and he gave a final smile at Harry before the two shook hands and he shuffled out the door. Harry got the feeling Lupin was trying to make a quick getaway.

Harry couldn't help but frown, he had a bad feeling he wasn't going to be seeing Professor Lupin for some time, and it wasn't making him feel any better.

Harry sat down in the empty chair as he watched the door, and it took him a moment to realize Dumbledore was still there. He asked what Harry was so upset about, that he should be proud of what he did last night. Harry sighed that he hadn't made any difference, that Pettigrew had still got away.

"That's not your fault at all," the four of them all tried to say at the same time, making Harry try to shy away at so many people half yelling at him at once.

Remus, James, and Lily gave a quick pause when they realized they'd startled him, but Sirius kept going, "Harry you must realize that wasn't your fault. What were you supposed to do?"

"I even went back in time and couldn't do anything about it," Harry shot back, still frowning deeply, wishing he could have taken Hermione's Time Turner and still tried something!

"What am I, chopped liver?" He demanded right back. It still stung, that Harry had to rescue him at all when it should have been the other way around. Yes he was eternally grateful, but he should be the one protecting Harry, not causing even more problems with his life! Still he kept up his point, "you did exactly what you were expected to do, help out my sorry arse. Now come on pup, I'll get upset all over again if you're really going to be stubborn on this."

Harry couldn't help a light laugh then, surprised that he actually did feel better. If Sirius didn't blame him, the one person who'd been most affected by the rats getting away, then maybe it really wasn't his fault.

Remus and Lily smiled, pleased Sirius had gotten through to him, but James couldn't help that feeling again. Something he'd never felt before wanting to make an appearance, like he should have been the one to comfort Harry about that. Why would it bother him now though, Sirius was doing just fine.

Dumbledore was shocked, repeating what Harry had said, but instantly corrected Harry had made a huge difference! He'd found the truth, and saved an innocent man from a terrible fate. Terrible. That word niggled at Harry, and all at once he remembered 'Greater and more terrible than ever before' and he realized those were the words of Professor Trelawney's prediction.

"Oh wow," Remus muttered.

"Yeah, I forgot all about that," Sirius said with some real annoyance. She really couldn't have thrown a name into that stupid prophecy. Some other clue that would have made his life a lot easier to cope with! Even if he had been the one to convince the others this Professor was a real Seer, he now probably disliked her the most of all.

Harry began to tell his headmaster that his Divination teacher began acting strange yesterday, and Dumbledore asked if he meant stranger than normal?

Harry couldn't help a little snort, at least the Headmaster admitted it.

Harry agreed that she'd said something about Voldemort coming back because of a servant, that he'd return even more powerful.

Harry gave a terrible shiver at that remembrance, and he wasn't the only one. Now that Sirius wasn't having his life ruined by that, he considered all of the words all over again and felt bile curling his stomach as he realized how true that felt. It wasn't real though, right? Voldemort wasn't really going to come back, all because of that rat? At least now he didn't really think it was his fault, but he got the feeling no one had really convinced him of that in his own time.

The others weren't feeling much better. They recognized Trelawney had clearly made a real prediction, but maybe they were lucky and it wasn't being literal. Maybe he wouldn't really 'come back' but...and they couldn't really think of any other way that could mean. Well, hopefully it still wouldn't have to deal with Harry, right? That could take years to happen, and Harry was safe here with them now, so they really didn't want to linger on that long.

Then she hadn't remembered what she'd even said, and Harry asked if that had been a real prediction? Dumbledore agreed that made her account up to two.

Harry felt a little stirring in him, wondering why that felt significant. He remembered back to feeling he would be grateful he kept Trelawney's class, and he wondered if it had been because of this prediction about the rat and Voldemort, but he didn't really think so. Was it because of this other prediction then? Why would he care about that?

Harry was shocked at how calm Dumbledore was about this.

"With any luck, because he knows Voldemort coming back isn't ever going to be a problem," James muttered.

Pointing out that he'd stopped Sirius and Lupin from killing Pettigrew, so if Voldemort did come back it would be his fault!

"Oh Harry," James quickly said this time, frowning slightly at him. "You can't really believe that one? You showed him mercy, that's a lot more kind than he deserved. They were still his actions though, his decisions, not one thing would be linked back to you."

"I'm still grateful you did as well," Sirius quickly added while Remus nodded vigorously. "If we had murdered him, then who knows, maybe I never would get my name cleared, because that rat couldn't admit to anything he did. I may not have been able to prove that was his body, but I'd done something to it to make it look like him. No, we needed him alive."

Harry had to chew on that for a moment before he nodded, finally admitting that while he would always feel guilty Peter got away, Sirius had been kept alive and that was the important part. He nodded his agreement and while Sirius and Remus looked happy enough to move on James couldn't help a lingering frown, a tickle of annoyance that yet again Sirius had gotten through to Harry while he hadn't.

Dumbledore disagreed at once, explaining to Harry that he did the right thing in sparing Pettigrew's life, because he now owed his life to Harry.

'Which is a hell of a lot more than he deserves' James still couldn't help but snarl, wishing they could change the subject again already as the longer this dragged on the more agitated he got.

Voldemort's most loyal servant was now also in Harry's debt.

"Something which will bite both of them in the arse," Remus said pleasantly, hoping Harry would stay well away from that, but enjoying the irony for as long as he could.

It was something that had happened the moment Harry stepped up, creating a bond between the two of them. Harry protested he didn't want a bond with Pettigrew, he was the person who'd got his parents killed! Dumbledore though said that this was magic at its roots, unintentionally or not, something that could not be undone.

"Like when I saved you," Lily added on. "That wasn't a spell, it was an action that created magic, not something you can or can't do on purpose."

Harry was still frowning, hating to think he had any connection to that rat for what he did, but he leaned a little closer into his mother anyways and let it go for now.

Dumbledore finished with the idea that he had a feeling Harry would be grateful for this someday.

Harry considered that for a moment, and realized that Dumbledore may have been speaking the truth. He had no idea why, it was a very faint feeling, but something in him was agreeing with Dumbledore, and he hoped it was worth it.

Harry couldn't picture it, and Dumbledore seemed to sense this as he also said that he'd known James quite well his whole life, and he knew James would have done the same for Pettigrew.

James sighed and looked away from everyone. He still didn't know what he'd do when the time came and they could leave this place, when he knew for a fact Sirius and Remus might still go and act on that now before the rat even saw it coming. Would James join them, would he try to stop them, or would he stand by and do nothing which would be just as bad as either option. He hated himself right then, for not wanting Peter dead for what he did to them, but he still couldn't bring himself to want his death either. And yet when he looked him in the face again, would that still be true? Wormtail, one of his brothers. Maybe Dumbledore was right, but it didn't make him happy either.

Harry admitted that he'd thought he'd seen his dad last night, he'd thought it had been James who had sent that patronus saving Harry's life. Dumbledore agreed it was an easy swap, and though Harry may grow tired of hearing it, he did look remarkably like James. Expect for the eyes of course, those were his mother's eyes.

"Nope, that never gets old," Harry smiled brightly, trying to catch his dad's eye as they were all well aware of the battle warring in him right now, none of them feeling they had a right to make the decision for him, he had to come to grips with that on his own just like before. Harry did want though to keep his mind on something more pleasant until then, so he kept going even though his dad wouldn't really look at him. "I never get tired of hearing that, makes me happy every single time."

James heard that alright, and gave him a bright eyed look right back.

Harry still called himself stupid for thinking it, he knew his dad was dead.

Remus still couldn't read that without a hitch in his voice, the news never getting easier to hear, the act that had caused it now more fresh and disturbing than ever before, but James was still distractedly smiling at his son and so Remus kept going past that.

Dumbledore gently told that he didn't really believe the dead left the living. Harry showed the best quality of his parents every day, which helped them to live on. His father had come alive again last night through his son, Prongs rode again.

James was so giddy he was nearly bouncing, because that's exactly what he'd wanted. Even if it had only been in spirit, he had been there for his son when he'd been needed most. Sirius could give all the advice he wanted, at least James had that! His brain gave a quick little pause, realizing what he'd just thought and for the first time understanding what might have been bothering him, but then he got distracted by Sirius blurting out, "ah, what? How did he know about Prongs?"

Remus was frowning down at that, wondering if perhaps he'd finally told Dumbledore?

It took a moment for Harry to catch up and realize what Dumbledore had said, and then Dumbledore explained that Sirius had told him everything last night, including the animagi part.

"Oh," Sirius shrugged. "Guess I really did tell him everything."

"Well I suppose that's a good thing at least," Lily sighed, this also meant that Dumbledore would also know about the rat's animagus as well, he'd be much easier to find with Dumbledore and Remus looking for both personas of the traitor.

Dumbledore gave a small chuckle as he congratulated his past students for the feat, and then he gently reminded Harry that he'd found his father inside of himself when he'd needed him most.

Harry and James were beaming at each other, more happy then they'd ever been that they at least had this to identify with to each other, something that couldn't just be put down to a genetic look or old possessions. Harry truly emulated his father right then and forever with that one simple spell.

Then Dumbledore finally left, with Harry more lost than ever.

Nobody at Hogwarts really knew what had happened the night of Black's escape except for the trio and Dumbledore.

"That seems to be a running theme for you," Remus rolled his eyes, "you getting caught up in the mess, and at the end of the year everyone else trying to catch up."

The closer school came to an end, the more wild the stories became of what really had happened, but none of them ever came close to the truth.

"I'd like to think that if anyone did guess that well, they'd put Trelawney out of a job," Lily laughed.

Malfoy was furious about Buckbeak.

"Oh boy," Sirius groaned, his eyes narrowing with distaste. Now that he realized his own life had been saved because of that hippogriff, he felt insanely protective of the beast, which made Malfoy's actions this year all the more loathsome to him.

He was convinced that Hagrid had found a way of smuggling the hippogriff to safety, and seemed outraged that he had been outwitted by a gamekeeper.

"Ha," Remus snapped, happy that Malfoy hadn't actually been able to get away with anything this year.

Percy was as talkative as anyone about Sirius,

"Oh great," James groaned in disgust, he already didn't like this one, he really didn't want to hear anymore failing statements about his brother now that he knew the absolute truth.

speaking of the political side and how when he entered the ministry he'd come up with some new proposals for the Magical Law Enforcement, mostly going over this to the only person who listened to him, Penelope.

Lily on the other hand couldn't help but be interested. While she would curse anyone who tried to use those on Sirius, she could think of plenty of other people those could do some good towards.

Percy was clearly a smart and ambitious boy, she did want to hear these things and see how they could be put to use.

Though the weather was perfect, though the atmosphere was so cheerful, though he knew they had achieved the near impossible in helping Sirius to freedom, Harry had never approached the end of a school year in worse spirits.

All four of them couldn't help but be in absolute agreement with him. Between Remus leaving, Sirius still being on the run, and the rats escape plus the horrid rise and fall of hope of wanting more than anything for James to have been alive, this was by far the worst year for them to have lived through.

He wasn't the only student upset at their Defense teacher leaving, having overheard Seamus glumly wonder what they could be getting next year, while Dean gave a hopeful offer of a vampire.

"I'd prefer the werewolf," Sirius grumbled with distaste.

It wasn't just Lupin though, Harry also couldn't keep his mind off of that prediction, and kept wondering if Pettigrew had caught up to Voldemort yet.

Remus couldn't get that out completely coherent. He may agree with his friends, the rats actions had nothing to do with Harry's decision, he'd done the right thing, but it didn't erase the black hatred he possessed whenever the name was mentioned, whenever he realized all over again what he'd become and what he was going to do to James, Lily and Sirius.

The thing that was lowering Harry's spirits most of all though, was the prospect of returning to the Dursleys.

"Oh," Lily moaned, placing her face in her hands and nearly bursting into tears all over again at that. In the following events that had led her to worry about Sirius' life, she'd almost forgotten about that horrid reminder but now it was back full force. It just wasn't fair that this had been ripped away from Harry and Sirius, that he was forced back with those horrid excuse for people. His return would be made all the bitter because of what that rat had done, his hand being the one to wrench all of that away.

For barely ten minutes, Harry had been offered something more, a real home with Sirius, his dad's best friend, it would have been the closest thing he would ever get to having his own father.

Sirius couldn't help but wriggle with displeasure. Of course he wanted that to, to be that missing piece of James for Harry, but it hurt terribly that he'd have to play the role at all. James should be there for his son, to be the scolding parent and happy go lucky father all in one, while Sirius could be the goofy Uncle and help him get away with everything.

James couldn't help in that moment leaning away from Sirius slightly. Of course he still wanted Harry away from the Dursleys, of course he wanted Harry to have a proper home life, but it still didn't erase his rising fear that he was only just beginning to realize he had.

While it was supposed to be a good thing he hadn't heard a word from Sirius, as this meant he was going underground, it still didn't erase how miserable he was that what he wanted most of all was impossible.

"Not impossible," Lily said at once, watching all of them take several steps back in their mood with displeasure. "It just might take a little more time." What they wouldn't give for Harry to even have gone on the run with Sirius than go back to Privet Drive, after the cupboard and starvation and whatever else Harry wouldn't speak about, anything Sirius could provide would be better than that!

Their exam results came back, and they'd passed everything. Harry was shocked he'd actually gotten through on Potions, and couldn't help but wonder if Dumbledore had done something to stop Snape failing him.

"I didn't even know he could do that," Harry admitted, "it was just a guess."

"Well, I'm not really sure, but I wouldn't be surprised either," Remus couldn't help with some blistering hatred still lingering as it was made clear Snape still had his job.

Snape's behavior toward Harry over the past week had become quite alarming.

Sirius couldn't help a low whine of fear, he'd been afraid of this but now his earlier joke had come back and it wasn't nearly as satisfying as he'd thought. He'd been so sure that he and Remus could step in and Harry would tell them whenever Snape did something to horrible and the two of them could tell Snape to shove it for Harry! Now neither of them were around, and Harry was the only one left to take the fall for all of Snape's built up hatred, and it just wasn't just!

Harry wouldn't have thought it possible that Snape's dislike for him could increase, but it certainly had. A muscle twitched unpleasantly at the corner of Snape's thin mouth every time he looked at Harry, and he was constantly flexing his fingers, as though itching to place them around Harry's throat.

Lily's throat vibrated she made such a scathing noise, she wanted to jack slap him all the way to the Whomping Willow and let that tree finish off the rest of him she was so sick of him. She'd thought he'd hit his low in calling her that word back in fifth year, and she just kept being proven how wrong she was but the hurt had stopped chapters ago, now she was left with simmering hatred that was going to boil over on him the second she could.

He'd concern himself with that next year though, as for now he heard about Percy getting top grades in all of his N.E.W.T.s, and Fred and George getting a couple of O.W.L.s each,

"How would they know that?" Remus chuckled in surprise, "they wouldn't get the results until summer."

"I, have no idea," Harry said, blinking in shock as well. "I suppose with their dad being in the Ministry, maybe they got a heads up that they at least passed a few, and just guessed the rest. I just remember them talking about it is all."

"Well good for them anyways," Lily sighed, finding at least one thing to smile about again.

and because of the Gryffindor win with the Cup the end of term feast was done with lion pride because they'd won the House Championship as well. Even Harry managed to put all of his worries aside as he laughed happily at everything that night.

All five of them gave great sighs, wishing the story would just end there, wanting more than anything to move to the part already where the most eventful part of Harry's next year of school would be him reading in the paper about the capture of the rat and Sirius arriving on the next holiday break. The fact that Remus kept going just wasn't giving them any pleasure, and they didn't see how it could.

Hermione offered up some more news, that she'd quit Muggle Studies.

"What, are you telling me she actually got tired of being tired?" Sirius rolled his eyes.

Ron was shocked, saying how she'd only just told them she'd made a three hundred percent score on her final.

"And she still got a perfect score!" James balked.

Hermione shrugged that off, saying that now she'd dropped that class she had a normal schedule, and she'd turned her Time-Turner back in. She couldn't handle another year like this one.

"But, but she didn't even use it for anything fun," Remus couldn't help but whine. "She had that thing for a whole year and only used it on homework."

"Well I'm happy to hear that," Lily sighed, "that poor thing needs more of a break, if she went another year like that I'd be even more worried for her."

They were boarding the train now, and Harry couldn't find the enthusiasm to jump in to discuss this. Ron noticed first and told his best mate to cheer up, he'd be sure to call Harry over this summer as he knew how to use a fellytone now.

That at least gave them a little chuckle again, yes Ron clearly knew exactly what he was doing.

Hermione corrected him on the proper name, and told him he'd do some good from Muggle Studies.

"I'm sure he gets enough of a lesson at home," Harry corrected, fondly remembering most conversations with Mr. Weasley started or ended with something to do with Muggles.

Ron ignored her and kept going, talking about how Harry would have to come over to his place, as it was the Quidditch World Cup this summer!

"It's what!" All four boys perked up like the sun anew. Lily couldn't help a girlish giggle at that, she would hear about twenty more Quidditch matches then the disaster of a year she'd just lived through.

"Oh please Harry, I'm begging, tell me you go," James moaned, clasping his hands together as if in actual prayer.

"I sure hope so," Harry nodded back eagerly, he had a very good feeling about this!

"With any luck Ron wouldn't have mentioned it without having some way to listen in as well," Remus pacified, his own eyes lighting up with hope at the possibility.

Ron also mentioned that his Dad could normally get tickets from work.

"That's even better," Sirius practically squealed. "Can you imagine hearing about an international game through Harry! He'll get to see the professionals at work, oh glory I think I'm going faint-" and he was actually jittering around so much he may not have been joking.

"Relax Padfoot," Remus had to restrain himself from laughing to hard. "Don't go wetting yourself before it even starts."

Harry was laughing too hard to respond, the longer he thought about it the more sure he had been right, or at least he really hoped so and this was one good thing to be looking forward to.

This idea actually managed to cheer Harry up, agreeing he was sure the Dursleys wouldn't mind seeing him leaving after what he did to Aunt Marge.

"Thank you for that lovely reminder," Lily forced a laugh this time, her bad mood still lingering enough Harry had to go back at all, that this would be the first time he'd be face to face with them since Harry had left that place. She still couldn't help but ask "why couldn't you just stay at the Leaky Cauldron again until Ron's parents would let you come around?"

"I asked Dumbledore," Harry groaned, "and he said Tom wouldn't allow it, as I'm still underage and would need consent again, apparently the Minister gave it the first time but wouldn't again."

They had to suck in air very carefully to prevent themselves from screaming about that all over again, wishing Dumbledore and the Minister would stop making decisions for Harry already.

Couldn't he at least go stay with Remus! It would be tricky, but surely they could have worked out something other than this!

Feeling much better, Harry now happily joined them in a game of Exploding Snap, right up until the lunch cart came around and they all got some treats of everything except chocolate.

"Can't even blame you," Remus couldn't help a light snicker, at least happy he had another line or two before he had to think on the end of the train again.

It was late in the afternoon before the thing that made him truly happy turned up...

"Oh yeah," James asked, trying to perk himself back up.

Hermione noticed it first, saying there was something out the window.

Well that was an odd way to start, but Harry had said it was something happy, so none of them could even get worked up about it, instead Remus kept going with heavy interest.

Harry pulled the window open and found it was a very tiny gray owl, twisting this way and that from the stream of the train, but clearly making its way to Harry's window, while holding a too large letter.

"Aw," Lily couldn't help but coo with a smile, wondering who on earth that could be from, but knowing mail always made her son happier.

Harry reached out and caught it, finding it felt like a fluffy Snitch in his hand.

"Jeez, that thing is tiny if it'll fit in your palm," Remus raised a brow in surprise.

He brought it inside and released it, where it began zooming happily above the ceiling, clearly proud of itself as it dropped the letter to Harry's lap. Hedwig watched with a disapproving look, and Crookshanks yellow eyes were following its progress as well.

"Uh oh," they all couldn't help but say a little indulgently, no one able to pick a bad feeling towards the ginger cat after what he'd done for Sirius this year.

Ron noticed this and snatched the owl safely out of harm's way.

Sirius couldn't help but laugh, wondering why the little owl hadn't swooped back out when it was done with its task, but finding Ron's actions nice enough.

Harry unfolded the letter, and happily exclaimed it was from Sirius!

"What?" They yelped in shock.

"Sirius, why would you be sending me mail," Harry frowned in concern. "Wouldn't someone be able to trace that back to you?"

"Oh no," Sirius brushed that off, that hadn't been why he was surprised. "It's plenty easy to make yourself untraceable, paranoid old gits do it all the time when they think the Ministry's out to get them, which they're probably right about," he finished absently. "I can send mail and not have the owl unable to trace it back to me with a spell or two, no I'm just surprised I'd send it so early."

"I'd have thought you'd wait at least a month, you know put some believability into the idea that you aren't in contact with Harry, rather than on the train when anyone could have seen that," Remus explained their confusion.

"Oh," Harry shrugged, that hadn't been what was bothering him at all, he always rode with just Ron and Hermione.

Harry began reading out loud, that Sirius' note started with a hope Harry got this before he reached his own home, he wasn't sure how used to his aunt and uncle were to owl post.

Sirius muttered something under his breath that made James and Remus give an almost cruel laugh, and though Harry and Lily may not have been opposed to whatever he'd just suggested, neither really wanted to ask for details either.

Then he said that he and Buckbeak were safe in hiding, but he wasn't going to say where in case the owl was intercepted.

"There's that Marauder brain I've missed hearing about," Remus said fondly, he just knew Sirius had to have some sense still about him.

He wasn't too confident of the owl he'd picked, but it had seemed up for the job.

"Where would you have gotten him anyways," Harry couldn't help but ask, when he realized Sirius wouldn't have explained that.

"Probably found him in the wild," Sirius shrugged. "It's a lot more rare to find intelligent owls that aren't wizard bred up for the job, but it's not impossible either."

He was sure the dementors were still out looking for him, but they weren't going to find a trace of him where he was. He planned on letting some Muggles get a sight of him sometime soon,

"Sirius," Lily began with worry, but hoping he had a good idea of why Sirius would do this, James waved her down so Remus could keep going.

very far away from Harry so that some of his security would get let down.

"Oh," Lily still pouted, but then acknowledged, "yes, well I guess that's alright. Just please at least tell me you let them spot you from a long ways off, even Muggles could be dangerous if they catch sight of you."

"Worry wart," Sirius returned fondly, loving he could still pick on her at all for this and receiving the glare she gave him with pride.

He did add on that he was sorry he hadn't a chance to mention it before, but it was him who'd sent that Firebolt-

"What a shocker," James rolled his eyes with a laugh.

"Never saw that coming," Remus snickered.

Hermione interrupted to say she'd known it all along.

"And still with the 'I told you so's from her," Lily couldn't help but chuckle, still finding the girls faults more human than alienating. "Hasn't she learned anything this year?"

"Don't take so many classes," Sirius shrugged.

Ron agreed, but pointed out that it hadn't been jinxed either. Then he yelped in pain as the little owl he was still holding nipped him too hard on the finger in what it clearly thought was being kind.

"Yes, owls tend to do that a lot," James smirked, his own owl Click having a knack for doing that whenever he delivered a letter.

Back in Sirius' letter, he explained that he'd done it by having Crookshanks hand in the order for him, but the money for the broom had been taken out of his own vault.

"See, it wasn't difficult at all," Sirius laughed happily, joyfully imagining the confusion on those shopkeepers face at the cat delivering such odd instructions, but happy it had worked out for the best for his pup!

He hoped Harry would consider it worth the other thirteen years of presents he'd missed.

"It most certainly is," Harry agreed cheerfully, wishing he had it now, to share with his whole family and take another spin on it, wondering why that would cause another bump in his throat.

He also gave an apology for having frightened Harry that night when he'd been outside of his uncle's house.

'Wish you'd gotten around to asking him why he left' Remus couldn't help but think, still wanting more than anything for Sirius to go teach them a lesson about how they'd treated their Harry, but he didn't want to ruin the good mood again so soon so he hurried past that.

He'd only wanted to see Harry, but he realized he may have given him a fright.

"Perhaps a bit," Harry smiled lightly, now wishing he'd caught many more glimpses of that Grim, as it was the most important dog in the world to him, and not exactly liking that aching that wouldn't seem to go away, reminding him of how long he should be expecting the wait for the next glimpse.

He also added something else extra in the letter that should make his next year a little better for him.

That gave them all a perk of interest, what on earth could Sirius have wrangled together for Harry on the run?

He promised if Harry needed anything, all Harry would have to do was send him a letter, Hedwig would find him.

"So, was that spell like, specialized or something?" Harry asked, scratching his head as he tried to work out this complex bit of magic he'd never heard of.

"Well, yes," Sirius shrugged, trying to think of the most basic way to explain it. "I could change the spell just slightly so that only your designated letters would find me."

"You know I have been wondering though, if that spell wasn't placed on Harry long ago," Lily couldn't help but point out now that she thought about this.

"Why's that?" James scoffed.

"Well, Harry is the famous Boy Who Lived," Lily shrugged, always hating the reminder, but willing to say it to work this out loud. "That's got to come with say, some kids wanting to write to him, he is almost like a celebrity. I can't believe not one kid would have addressed an owl to him in their youth, but Harry never received a scrap of mail. If Dumbledore could wrangle together to get your key like he did first year, maybe he placed that no messages spell on you as well, and lifted it for Dumbledore himself through the Hogwarts letters, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, and now Sirius. Of course that wouldn't count for the Improper Use of Magic Office, you can't get out of the trace."

"I, guess," Remus frowned, it did make some sense, even if it did bother them all the more, since any mention of Dumbledore now came with the added irritation of whatever he did to their lives, and really wishing he'd stop interfering already. If he hadn't done this, then Harry would have known his whole life he was a wizard and those Dursleys could have possibly backed off all the sooner. It hadn't happened though, and this was still more speculation than outright answers, so since Harry had no idea of the possibilities himself he just waved Remus on.

He promised he'd send more mail soon, and signed off. Then Harry peeked inside the envelope and found the other thing mentioned, and read it to find it was a note, as Harry's godfather, giving him permission to go into Hogsmeade.

"Yes!" James yelped with joy, catching Sirius by surprise by hugging him and still laughing. Sirius wasn't so unobservant he hadn't noticed James acting a little shifty, but he hadn't understood why which is why he was all the more happy he seemed to have done something good in that moment.

"How would you have even known he couldn't?" Lily couldn't help but ask between laughing. "That hadn't come up in your five minute conversation."

"I am positive I've been sending letters with Remus as well," Sirius shrugged, "maybe he mentioned it."

"I am a little disappointed," Remus couldn't actually say that with a straight face, he was smiling as well but still kept going, "now Harry won't have any reason to use that secret passage anymore."

"I'm sure Harry will still find plenty of reason to get into trouble," Lily giggled.

Harry cheered that Dumbledore would accept that! Then he noticed a PS on the first letter, and found it saying that since Sirius felt guilty Ron no longer had his pet rat, he could keep this owl.

Sirius couldn't help a violent snort of laughter, well he wasn't wrong, but at least this was his way of making up for attacking Ron that night, offering up an owl in return. What an odd way to phrase that though.

Ron went wide eyed in shock as he repeated that.

"Well that backs up that you must have found him in the wild or something," Lily giggled, "I can't see you going through an Owl shop and buying him, or stealing him from someone either."

"Hopefully Molly and Arthur won't say anything," Remus chuckled.

James couldn't help but do a double take, Ron's parents never really having occurred to him before, but suddenly wondering just how much Ron would tell them about this year. If Ron could convince his parents of Sirius' innocence, then that would be yet more people on his brother's side to help him. If he even got Percy to believe it, that would be all the better with his career path, it would do some good for someone in government to know the truth. Ron would have to be careful though, he couldn't go spouting too much before his family really believed the truth or all three kids could do more harm than good.

Ron eyed the owl still held tight in his hands in shock for a few moments before stunning them all by offering it up to Crookshanks.

Harry broke out laughing, thinking that all of their problems could have been solved a lot sooner if Ron had done that in the first place to Scabbers, cracking up even more at the idea of Ron being suspicious of an owl and not even being able to blame him.

Asking the cat what he thought, it was a real owl right? Crookshanks gave a purr.

"There's a sentence you don't get to hear much," Lily gave a half hearted laugh, wanting to find as much amusement as Harry, but the reminder only causing her more hatred again, as well as the boys.

Ron cheered that was good enough for him, he was keeping him!

"So glad someone got their wish this year," James muttered with sincerity.

Harry kept rereading his note from Sirius all the way back onto the platform.

Sirius still beamed with pleasure, happy that he could still do some good for Harry from afar. His pup would never again have to wonder if he had someone to turn to, someone out there to look after him.

He still had it tight in his hand as he went out into the rest of the world, and spotted Uncle Vernon.

Which didn't make his murder suspicions any better upon hearing of those useless excuses of caregivers all over again. He wished he could have arrived on that platform for Harry instead, wanted to be able to walk right up to them and deck them a good one and take Harry far away.

Lily still found it a bleeding miracle they showed up at all to pick up Harry, wondering at what their motives for that could be, knowing that either Harry didn't know or wouldn't tell her anyways.

He was standing a good distance away from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, eyeing them suspiciously, and his worst fears clearly came true as the first thing Mrs. Weasley did was hug Harry.

"Well how dare Harry ever receive a hug," Lily scathed, more venom then she'd expected making an appearance the more often she heard about Mrs. Weasley doing this, but her terrible theory confirmed and wondering if Mrs. Weasley was the only bleeding person to ever give Harry a hug! She wrapped an arm tight around him now to at least comfort herself.

Ron gave Harry a quick wave goodbye as the Weasley's departed, promising he'd call about the World Cup!

James gave a lackluster sigh, never having believed the idea of a Quidditch World Cup could be dampened, but hearing about those stupid Dursleys actually did the trick.

As Harry approached Uncle Vernon and he caught sight of the paper in Harry's hand, he began to threaten that had better not be some new thing he was expected to sign for! Harry told him it was a letter from his godfather, and Vernon began spluttering at once Harry had no such thing.

"I will tear every last one of your limbs off if you ever say that again," Sirius vowed, his eyes narrowing into cold slits while something else gave him a happy spark. So he couldn't be there for Harry in person, but if Harry set this up right, he could be in another more important way.

Harry said that in fact he did, he'd been his parents best friend,

Remus was so eager to hear if he was reading this right he couldn't even bring himself to make a crack about that.

that he was a convicted murderer,

"What a lovely way to start," James beamed, bouncing in place and making baby Harry trill with laughter.

and that he was on the run for now, but he'd be checking in on Harry frequently, to make sure he was happy of course.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes," Lily cheered, doing a little happy dance. If that didn't scare those Dursleys into treating Harry right then nothing would!

Still grinning at the look of horror on his Uncle's face, Harry wheeled his cart towards the cars outside, hoping for a much better summer than the last.

That wasn't the happy ending they'd all wanted, so many things had been left unresolved and they were just so tired of at the end of everything Harry was still forced back into their presence, but for now they'd take whatever happiness they could find, knowing by now it wasn't meant to last.

THE END

"That's the end of this one," Remus finally breathed in relief as he gave it a careless toss away from him.

"Finally," Sirius moaned, slumping back and running his hand across his face. "Remind me to skip the next one."

"No way," Harry yelped in protest, now trying for a frown but just unable to keep the expression as he teased, "then I'd miss out on all the Sirius/ serious jokes."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Lily scoffed, trying to lounge a bit more comfortably as she noticed the time. It was still too early for the next meal, but she had something even more important she wanted to discuss. She didn't really want to bring it up, but she turned to Remus with regret filled eyes and began carefully, "Remus dear, we need to have a talk."

"I know," he agreed at once, some color coming into his pasty skin, though it was red tinted with shame and some fear. His eyes flickered to the baby in James lap and away again, his hands starting to tremble as the idea just kept replaying in his head of what he'd almost done to that baby, what he could do tonight. For a wild moment he wanted to suggest that he should try to leave. Most likely the same thing would happen to him, he'd be knocked out for trying to vacate and the true monster should be as well...but what if that didn't happen? He'd never yet seen magic that would affect his transformation, so what if he did go on a rampage and possibly hurt someone? He couldn't ask Harry to come, it would be far too dangerous either way. Either Harry would be out there alone with him unconscious, or he'd have to single handedly deal with a full grown werewolf.

"You guys are overreacting," Sirius scoffed, placing his elbow carelessly on Remus' shoulder and trying for an offhand tone. "The three of us will barricade ourselves in one of the guest rooms, we'll repair whatever damage we'll make, and be done with it. Moony won't get past us," he finished, gesturing at himself and James for emphasis. "Then I'll come back down here, crash on the couch for a day, and we'll all be good to go."

"Just one problem," Harry frowned, "you should sleep in an actual bed."

Sirius made to shrug that off, but Harry cut him off.

"No way," Harry insisted, a set look in place and crossing his arms. He looked so much like James in that moment Sirius actually had to do a double take. "I've heard how bad this was going to get, and you should get a real bed. I'm sleeping down here tonight, I don't get special treatment."

"Looks like you lost Pads," James snickered as he stretched to stand up.

Remus rolled his eyes to cover a scowl as he muttered something about going to the bathroom and exited the room.

HPHPHPHPHP

Insane girly squealing taking place probably in the background even as you're reading this! I cannot believe I've actually completed three books in a row! There was a lot of hype and build up for this book, and I hope I did it justice! Please let me know what you liked or didn't like!? Got any plot holes or questions in general you want to see me dissect? Got two more chapters to post before I create 4, just because I really couldn't cram everything into the bottom of this one this time. Promise it will come up very soon, ain't no way I'm stopping now!

Thoughts on Prisoner of Azkaban:

The beginning, set up, and basically anything I've ever said previously regarding this series, still holds true 98% through the largest of portions through this book. It never felt like it was dragging to me, once again I was completely thrown off by the bang of a plot twist at the end, the setup of some small backstory on Harry's dad was done beautifully but never felt forced, there is a reason this is my second favorite book in the series. My only reserve on this book is the time travel plot at the end, which I've stated my opinion on, but even that's done so well I can't find nearly as much to complain about as I can in other medias this is done. The wonderful world of Harry Potter has successfully done one of my biggest problems of a plot and gotten away with it beautifully because of the way in which it happened. 9/10 for me! You cannot skip this book by any means, it holds too much for what happens in later books, and why would you with characters like these?

*Question offered by nahte123456! Thank you for the endless discussions you always offer!

** Question offered by maana999, kudos to you, I've never seen anyone ask this, hope you like my explanation.

***I've got a second story called Moon and Stars where Remus and Sirius do have a proper goodbye.

[turning-dreams-into-chaos]

Figures

Figures

*Not my Gif*

Request: Fred Weasley x reader imagine? Could you make it a soulmate au? If not could the reader and Fred go on a first data and it’s fluffy? ThAnk you :)

Requested by: @hahaboop

Request: Can I get some Fred x fem!ravenclaw!reader fluff? I'm not feeling super picky, but I didn't want to give a wonderful writer like you nothing to work with. ^-^

Requested by: @seppys-return-to-madness

Post Date: 9-17-19

Paring: Fred Weasley x Reader

Word Count: 2K

A/N: Not sure if it’s edited well but I just wanted to get it posted! More Harry Potter posts on their way!

~Master Lists~

People say soulmates are star-crossed lovers destined to be. And sure, maybe sometimes they are. And maybe sometimes they leave you with a weird figure sketched into your body with no explanation. Soulmate tattoos weren’t something people talked about out loud. It was a sacred thing only you knew. You found the whole thing dumb and felt like it gave you no true decision in who you loved. It wasn’t that you didn’t want to believe in soulmates, it was just in a world of wizards and muggles, it gets kind of hard to believe in something so universal. You always wondered what would happen when you realized who your soulmate was, was he someone you knew? Or hated? Or maybe someone who was already close to you.

Your tattoo was on the side of your hip in a big bolded area you hid. You didn’t even know what it had looked like, there were just too many lines running past each other and you couldn’t figure it out. Apparently, your someone was supposed to draw the figure and boom, soulmate. But who knows, at this point you’d be really surprised to see someone naturally draw this disaster of a figure.

“I need your help.” Someone whispered as they sat down on the bench next to you knocking your book out of your lap. They caught it before it hit the floor and opened it pretending like they were reading it with you. You were shocked to say the least looking at the red head taking the seat next to you before McGonagall came around the corner, holding a first year who had a head triple the size of normal. You instantly realized what had happened as she neared you both. He needed an excuse.

“You buy me whatever I want at Zonko’s and I’ll play along.” You bargained as the boy raised his brow and gave you a once over. “Time’s ticking.” You smirked as he nodded, letting you scoot a little closer and point to a word on the page. “Weasley! For the last hour, the answer’s right there! What’s the point of tutoring you if- oh Professor! What happened?” You never knew how good your acting skills were until you gawked at Professor McGonagall and she looked between you and the dork next to you.

“Ms. Y/L/N, pardon my interruption, you and Mr. Weasley had been working all this time?” She asked incredulously as Weasley put his hand on your knee, taking the attention onto himself.

“Of course, Professor! Need to study for the test you’re giving us, Y/L/N here is probably my only hope.” You tried to hide the shock in your face and put on a smile. “If you’re looking for my brother, he ran off that way.” He pointed towards the end of the corridor opposite from where they both entered as you nodded your head. McGonagall had glanced between you both before pursing her lips, dragging the poor first year along with her. You flicked the hand off your knee and turned to the boy.

“Reckon that was all you?” You asked rhetorically ignoring the stifled laughter trying to escape him. “Well, which twin are you?”

He stuck his hand out and you met it, letting your fingers accidentally linger a little longer than you needed. “Fred Weasley. At your service.”

“Pleasure. ‘M Y/N Y/L/N.” He tossed your book into your bag and threw it over his shoulder, grabbing your arm to pull you along.

“Well Y/L/N, I think this is the start of a great friendship.” He declared as you rolled your eyes, trying to drown the smile on your face. Fred wasn’t wrong, the next 2 years brought you two closer together and he became your best friend, George found you interesting as well, agreeing that they could use some of your Ravenclaw book smarts to help with their pranks. Sometimes you had to remind them you weren’t just smart, Fred seemed to understand that better than George. He was always the one you’d laugh around with and make up new pranks. Turns out you had quite the knack for it. Almost all of your free time was spent with your new best friends and you couldn’t have been happier.

You were about to enter your sixth year at Hogwarts before Fred invited you to the burrow for the first time, trying to answer Molly as to why he hadn’t brought you around sooner. They were going to the Quidditch World Cup and were bringing along Harry, Hermione and you. As soon as you reached the burrow, Fred was there to bring you into a hug.

“Aww, careful Weasley, I might think you actually missed me.” You joked as he faked scoffed, letting his brother hug you before throwing his arm over your shoulders.

“Mum said you and Hermione could bunk with Ginny for the next few days before we’re off.” He said and took the bag off you, making a soft smile across your face. You completely loved the burrow when you first entered, it was small, sure, but it was homely. Fred watched as you took in all the little items in the house. He couldn’t help but laugh anytime you stare at something in wonder. His hand started moving in a weird pattern as he sighed, looking towards his family. He knew you would be fine if he left for a few minutes. He moved up to his room with out anyone seeing and grabbed his paper and quill.

After your long look around the house you thanked Mr. and Mrs. Weasley for having you, earning a ‘it’s nothing dear’ in return. You saw George right away, watching as he bickered with Ron before you turned to Ginny.

“Hey, Ginny did you see where Fred-“ you didn’t even need to finish your sentence before she was telling you his location. You trudged up to his room, trying not to sound tired by the thousands steps you had to climb. “Fred! Why’d you disappear on me like that?”

Fred looked surprised to see you when his door was thrown open, and he began scurrying around to rid the several hundred drawings around the room before you saw them. He ripped them from the walls, grabbing them off his bed and desk faster than you thought possible. His only problem was you had already seen them, but the drawing you’d seen 17 years before that, on your hip. You bent down to grab one of the papers he dropped as your head raced. Fred stuffed them all in his desk and sighed in relief, resting his hands on the desk before facing you. His eyes widened as he snatched the paper out of your hands, leaving you staring at nothing. He didn’t really know why he wouldn’t let you see them; they were just weird drawings he’d have no control over doing the past two years. It just felt like something he was supposed to keep to himself, or his brother since he had seen them thousands of times.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to see these.” He mumbled and stuck the picture into his pocket. You finally looked up at him trying to figure out what was happening. He drew the figure you’ve dreaded your entire life. You hadn’t said anything and Fred just looked at you with drawn brows when you took a step closer, reaching into his pocket and pulling it back out.

“What are these Fred?” Of course, you already knew, you only asked him to see what his excuse for this was. Fred just shrugged, letting you move past him and open the drawer crammed with paper. They almost flew out with how tight they were, making you jump back. A splash of color caught your attention, them more and more until you finally nabbed the piece with Red and Black lines.

17 years, you had been staring at the mark for 17 years and not once did you ever see the giant F and W colliding with the Y/F/I and Y/L/I. you almost felt stupid, running your fingers across the now obvious red lines marking the FW.

Fred Weasley. The FW meant Fred Weasley and the other initials were for you. He was your soulmate.

“Y/N!” Fred exclaimed when you began to pull your pants down just pass your hip. His worriedness was put to rest when he saw the black ink staining your skin. He reached out to run his fingers across the figure and a sense of warmth over came you. He locked eyes with you again before coming closer and closing the distance more. “Is that…? Are we-“

“Soulmates?” You both asked at the same time, falling into a bit of laughter together before Fred realized his hand was still on your hip and he smirked.

“I’m really glad you’re my soulmate, now everything’s starting to make sense a little.” He admitted and it was your turn to scrunch your brows. He let you cover your hip back up before pulling you to the bed. “It started that day we met. After you left, I couldn’t help but tell George about you. You were amazing, just jumping in and saving my arse. That was the first time my hand started going crazy. I thought nothing of it, thinking it was just my hand but then the next day when you smiled at me, it started doing it again. I went to Madam Pomfrey, but she just smiled and told me next time it happened to pick up a quill and ‘let it happen’. So, I did. Then I started to draw these, these things.”

“They’re our initials.” You informed him as his jaw dropped, looking at the colored pictures and chuckling.

“I can’t believe I didn’t see that. You know what else I didn’t see until I told you the story? Every time I thought of you, I’d draw the figures. How have we gone 2 years as Best Friends and not realize we were so close to our soulmate?” He asked as you nodded, realizing that for the first time ever you truly didn’t know what to say. It all made sense. Fred and you clicked without even needing to try. He rushed into your life and you had no complaints about it.

“I think part of me already knew.” He grabbed your hand and you both laid back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. “So, what now? I mean, what are we?” You felt awkward asking but you really needed to know, everything you believed, everything you wanted to believe about soulmates flew out the window when the man you were supposed to spend your life with turned out to be the man you would’ve choose.

“Now, my dear Y/N, we become enemies. We spent the rest of our lives trying to find a way to prank the other until one of us gives up and-“

“Oh, just shut up and kiss me.” You moaned as he listened, kissing you before he could make another joke or before you could regret him. If the figures alone wasn’t enough to convince you that you and Fred were soulmates, the kiss definitely would’ve done the trick. It felt completely natural, like you were supposed to be doing this your whole life. And even though you really were supposed to be with him, you were glad you got together now. You couldn’t imagine having figured out he was him when you first met. Maybe you wouldn’t have became friends. Perhaps the whole idea would’ve scared you both off and you’d live the rest of your life regretting not helping the red head running through the corridor. But you were meant to help him, you were meant to be together. He was your soulmate.

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[antihero-writings]

The Boy with the Unspeakable Name (Ch7)

Fandom: Harry Potter (and the Chamber or Secrets)

Fic Summary: Tom Riddle may have won his battle with Harry in the Chamber of Secrets, but there were a few unforeseen consequences; loss of Tom's memory being the most obnoxious of them. Is it possible to stop Tom's past from becoming his future? Or is the young Tom Riddle doomed to repeat his mistakes?

(I'll put the links to chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 in a reblog!! I also have a version of this fic with all the chapters in one place!!)

Notes: Was that the fastest I've posted a next chapter, without having it written ahead of time? I think it might be!!

It definitely helped that two scenes were directly from the book XD But still, I was shocked by how fast this got done!

By the way, I realized there was something important I should probably have occur in the previous chapter, that I didn't include, so please note something will be added in at some point! I finished this chapter before I edited the last one so it's not there yet XD I'll let you know at the start of the next chapter if I edited it in.

I also realized I did not mention Fawkes hanging out in the office in other chapters XD, so I'll probably have to edit that back in too, haha!

Comments are always extremely appreciated!! And do let me know if you'd like me to add you to a tag list for this fic!!

Chapter 7:

There was the sound of Dumbledore’s chair scraping against the floor as he stood abruptly.

“Now I must apologize.” Though still solid, his voice had lost its pleasantness, now it had an edge. “Severus.” The word was sharp, “I cannot allow you to treat a student this way.”

The two stared at each other, and it was as if they were having a conversation in simple glances. Snape seemed to lose the silent argument, because he sighed and said in a clipped way, not looking at Tom.

“My apologies. I lost my composure.”

When Harry looked at Tom he saw that, behind the adult’s backs, his lips were curving into a smirk.

He wasn’t even really upset, was he? He’d have every right to be upset by a scene such as this, but in the end…he was just happy to see Snape get in trouble.

Harry and Snape had rarely, if ever, been on the same side, and the muting spell, while he admitted was necessary—(number of things flared to his tongue that he was glad he wasn’t capable of saying)—didn’t give him any fondness for him…yet it seemed for a brief moment, they were united. But he wouldn’t say he was the least bit opposed to Snape’s treatment of Riddle.

He had expected Snape to be his usual collected self, even favor Riddle the way he did Malfoy—they’d suspected on more than one occasion he was in league with Voldemort. Seeing the hatred in his eyes for Riddle made Harry take a step back, both physically and mentally.

“Thank you.” Dumbledore sat back down.

Tom said nothing, his eyes fixed on Snape, intent set in them. “You must really hate me.” He said the words like he relished the idea. “What did I do?” Tom’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve killed a girl, so there must not be much I can’t do.”

The teachers’ eyes widened, and they looked at each other.

“You didn’t kill her.” Dumbledore cleared his throat.

Tom raised an eyebrow. “I thought Harry here made that rather clear.”

“Harry thought you did. But this is magic of course. I am able to deduce from the information you have given me; it was in fact another force working through you through that diary. Destroying the diary severed your ties with that force, but also cost you your memories.”

Harry wondered what Dumbledore’s aim was. He had killed Ginny, they both confirmed it.

“How would you know this from just a bit of information?” Tom scoffed.

“Because I’ve dealt with such forces on more than one occasion—even this specific one before. This one is a particular nuisance.”

After a moment of silence Dumbledore spoke:

“Professor Snape. Will you kindly take Mr. Riddle to Madam Pomfrey?”

“Sir?”

“Well, the boy has suffered a loss of memory, he ought to stay in the hospital wing until we get all this sorted. There should be a few empty beds now that the petrified students have been cured. “Also…” he interrupted them as they turned to leave, and something sad indeed entering his gaze. “Send the Weasleys to me, will you?”

Harry’s stomach gave a painful jolt at the name.

As the two left—(rather stiffly)—Dumbledore flicked his wand, lifting the muting curse Snape had placed on Harry.

Harry drew in a great gasping breath.

“Thank you, professor.” He heaved.

“Don’t mention it, Harry. I don’t imagine that was very pleasant”

“No.” Harry replied, making faces, just glad to have use of his lips again.

“Did Professor Snape force you to drink the truth serum, Harry?”

“Actually…” he rubbed the back of his neck. “I drank it myself.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I must say, that was not an answer I was expecting. May I ask if you had a reason?”

“You told me to tell Snape every detail of what happened, but I…” he rubbed the back of his neck. “I couldn’t. Every time I tried to say something he’d interrupt, or I couldn’t get it out…it was the only way.”

“I’m sorry you had to resort to such measures, Harry. I only meant that he ought know a good potion of what happened, not every detail. I think, in fact, knowing every detail resurrected old grudges for Severus.” He looked towards the door.

“It’s alright. I won’t say it wasn’t fun to watch. …I’ve never seen Snape like that…Why does Snape have a grudge against Voldemort?”

“It is not not my place to tell you.”

“Like he’d ever tell me.” Harry scoffed, then froze, eyes wide, worried he was about to get in trouble.

Dumbledore gave a small smile, “I can see why precautions were necessary.”

Harry smiled sheepishly.

“But, no,” Dumbledore replied. “I don’t imagine he will.

“I apologize if that was rather difficult to watch. I wanted you to be here. I thought you deserved to hear our conversation.”

“Thanks.”

“Sit down, Harry.” He gestured to the chair in front of him.

He was about to sit down, but paused. He knew it was silly, but he didn’t like the idea of sitting in the chair the young Voldemort had just sat in.

Dumbledore smiled a little. “Sit.”

Slowly he lowered himself into the chair, sitting on as little of it as possible.

“First of all, Harry, I want to thank you.” He stroked the phoenix, witch had fluttered down onto his knee. “You must have shown me real loyalty down in the Chamber. Nothing but that could have called Fawkes to you.”

“…Fat lot of good it did me.” He didn’t mean to say it aloud.

“Oh, I think it did a great deal of good. Who knows how things would have gone without that. One thing I know would have gone differently is you likely would have had great deal of trouble getting out of the chamber. Fawkes is the one who flew you out, is he not?”

There was a long moment where they sat in silence, before Harry spoke:

“I couldn’t save her.”

Dumbledore looked up.

“I couldn’t save her.” He continued. “She was lying on the floor, helpless, and he was taking her life force. Next thing I knew she was dying, and he was coming back…” his voice became a pained whisper.

“It’s not your fault, Harry.” Dumbledore said earnestly. “More practiced wizards than yourself have been unable to save their friends and family from Voldemort. Her death is not on your hands.”

Harry paused, fidgeting with his hands, looking away.

“I could have killed him. When he came back he was lying on the floor unconscious…I could have…I bet most people would have. But I didn’t…I couldn’t…” he stammered, then looked up. “Why couldn’t I?!”

Dumbledore stood and sat on the desk in front of Harry. “Something people often don’t tell you, is sometimes it takes just as much courage to spare a life than to take it, often more. It may be strange to hear, but, I think it may be a very good thing that you didn’t.”

“How?”

“Let me ask you something…do you think Lord Voldemort deserves a second chance?”

Harry thought a moment; he thought of the of the man who killed his parents. Then the boy that had been before him, the one who had told him he was Voldemort, set the snake loose, and nearly killed him, and did kill—

“Honestly, professor? No, I don’t think so.”

Dumbledore nodded. “That’s very understandable. Then let me ask you something else…Do you think Tom Riddle deserves a second chance?”

Harry cocked his head to the side. “Sir?”

“Tom Riddle. Or, maybe not even Tom Riddle. I am referring to the boy who was sitting here moments ago. Not the man who killed countless. The boy who currently is nothing more than that.”

He thought harder. The boy sitting there wasn’t the same, not quite, but he still wasn’t exactly kind…. Harry himself had though Tom Riddle an ally in the diary…

“He killed Ginny.”

“Lord Voldemort killed Ginny. The boy sitting before us moments ago did not.”

“I…I don’t know.” Harry wasn’t sure why he was asking him this. “What do you think?”

“I knew Tom Riddle when he was at school. I knew him to be—while charming on the outside—clever, cunning, and manipulative. Many times I have regretted not seeing what was coming, and taking precautions, sooner. If I had seen him here today I might be inclined to say ‘no’ myself. However…the boy who stood before today may not be the same as the one I knew.”

“What do you mean? Because he lost his memory?”

“Perhaps. However…I think coming back using the diary specifically, as well as Ginny’s life force, as opposed to other means, may have had consequences he couldn’t have foreseen.”

“What do you mean sir?”

“We’ll learn in due time. Currently it is nothing more than an untested hypothesis of mine, and I don’t make it a habit of divulging those as fact.”

“So, you met Tom Riddle—before he lost his memory, I mean.” Dumbledore altered the subject. “I imagine he was most interested in you.”

Harry’s thoughts were jumbled, but something that had been nagging at him before this all started, and it presently came tumbling out of his mouth.

“Professor Dumbledore, Riddle said that I…I’m like him. Strange likenesses he said…”

“Did he now?” Said Dumbledore, looking thoughtfully under his thick silver eyebrows at Harry. “And what do you think Harry?”

“I don’t think I’m like him!” Harry said more loudly than he intended. “I mean, I’m—I’m a Gryffindor, I’m…”

But he fell silent, a lurking doubt resurfacing in his mind.

“Professor,” he started again after a moment, “the Sorting Hat told me I’d—I’d have done well in Slytherin. Everyone thought I was Slytherin’s heir for a while…because I can speak Parseltongue…”

“You can speak Parseltongue, Harry,” said Dumbledore calmly, “Because Lord Voldemort—who is the last remaining descendant of Salazar Slytherin—can speak Parseltongue. Unless I’m much mistaken, he transferred some of his own powers to you the night he gave you that scar. Not something he intended to do, I’m sure…”

“Voldemort put a bit of himself in me?” Harry said, thunderstruck.

“It certainly seems so.”

“So I should be in Slytherin.” Harry said, looking desperately into Dumbledore’s face. “The Sorting Hat could see Slytherins power in me, and it—”

“Put you in Gryffindor.” Said Dumbledore calmly. “Listen to me, Harry. You happen to have many qualities Salazar Slytherin prized in his hand-picked students; his own very rare gift, Parseltongue, resourcefulness, determination…a certain disregard for the rules,” he added, his mustache quivering again. “Yet the Sorting Hat placed you in Gryffindor. You know why that was. Think.”

“It only put me in Gryffindor,” said Harry in a defeated voice, “Because I asked not to go in Slytherin…”

“Exactly.” Said Dumbledore, beaming once more. “Which makes you very different from Tom Riddle. It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. Did you not prove that once again today when you chose not to kill him? That took incredible bravery.” Harry sat motionless in his chair, stunned. “If you want proof, Harry, that you belong in Gryffindor, I suggest you look more closely at this.”

Dumbledore reached across Professor McGonagall’s desk, picked up the blood-stained silver sword and handed it to Harry. Dully, Harry turned it over, the rubies blazing in the firelight. And then he saw the name engraved just below the hilt.

Godric Gryffindor

“Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that out of the Hat, Harry.” Said Dumbledore simply.

For a minute, neither of them spoke.

“Sir?”

“Mm?”

“May I…May I tell Ron and Hermione about all of this? About Tom, about…?” he trailed off.

Dumbledore took off his glasses and cleaned them. “Under most circumstances I would say yes, especially considering Ron’s position, but this one is…rather special. I’m currently of the mind that the less people know Lord Voldemort is back—in any form—the better.

“This situation is both particularly strange, and particularly delicate. You may tell them that Lord Voldemort was working through a diary to control Ginny, and that this lead to her death—that is, of course, what I will be telling the Weasleys…But I believe it is safer for everyone if they do not know he successfully managed to return to the land of the living.”

Harry looked at the ground. The thought of keeping all this to himself was almost more daunting than the fact that it had happened in the first place.

“Harry, where is Ron?”

Harry’s eyes widened. “I…left him down in the chamber…I….I don’t think he would have left if I told him he had to.”

Dumbledore’s eyes mirrored his. “Oh dear. Well we’ll certainly have to sort that out won’t we?”

“What should I do, sir?”

Dumbledore pulled open one of the drawers in Professor McGonnagall’s desk, and took out a quill and a bottle of ink. “What you need, Harry, is some food and sleep. I suggest you go back to Gryffindor tower, while I write to Azkaban—we need our game-keeper back. And I must draft an advertisement for the Daily Prophet, too,” he added thoughtfully. “We’ll be needing a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher… Dear me, we do seem to run through them, don’t we?”

“So…” Harry spoke, his gut twisting, unsure if this was the truth serum speaking, or if pained curiosity was guiding his tongue now, “Hogwarts won’t shut down?”

Dumbledore paused, looking up at him. “I imagine I’ll have to suffer through several unpleasant meetings, but I don’t think they’ll succeed at closing Hogwarts. The threat is gone, isn’t it?”

“Is it?” Harry’s voice was small. “Tom Riddle’s still around…I mean, won’t his memory come back eventually? Don’t you think he’ll be the same person when he gets his memory back?”

“You’re not saying you’d like Hogwarts to close, are you?”

“No!” Harry stood. “Of course not! I just…I…If we’re not safe…maybe it’s better…”

The thought of not coming back to Hogwarts, staying with the Dursley’s for the indeterminate future, with the knowledge that Voldemort was walking around as his sixteen your old self…

“The fact that Voldemort is back in this way makes the situation rather unorthodox, but there’s no place safer than Hogwarts. Firstly, if the school closes, I fear that would make things more dangerous on his end, rather than less. There’s no telling what he could do, released out to the world.”

“But he wouldn’t know how to do magic! Wouldn’t that—?”

“He knows magic exists, now. Knowing him, he’d do anything in his power to learn how to master it, and that could make him far more dangerous than simply teaching him. Hogwarts, while a place that will indeed teach him magic, is a place where we can more easily keep an eye on him. Not to mention the fact that Hogwarts, is, I believe, the one place Tom Riddle felt at home in the world. I think being in one of the few environments he truly felt comfortable in, will help nudge him in the right direction, don’t you?”

“The right direction? You really do think he can be reformed.”

“I am not certain. I still need to do the kind of heavy thinking one does when pouring over an unfamiliar restaurant menu in attempts to decide what to order. …But I think trying wouldn’t be remiss to try.”

Harry said nothing, questions, demands, insults, bobbing to the surface of his brain.

“We can and will certainly discuss this more after I myself have done more thinking on my own.” He said earnestly. “But at this particular moment, I don’t think it beneficial for you to continue troubling yourself. Food and sleep, Harry, I think will do you a world of good.”

Harry stayed a moment, sitting in the chair, trying to think of anything else he could ask, but he was tired of even simply thinking at this point. “Yeah, okay,” he sighed softly, before getting up and crossing to the door.

He had just reached for the handle, however, when the door burst open so violently that it bounced back off the wall.

Lucius Malfoy stood there, fury in his face. And cowering behind his legs, heavily wrapped in bandages, was Dobby.

“Good evening, Lucius,” said Dumbledore pleasantly.

Mr. Malfoy almost knocked Harry over as he swept into the room. Dobby went scurrying in after him, crouching at the hem of his cloak, a look of abject terror on his face.

The elf was carrying a stained rag with which he was attempting to finish cleaning Mr. Malfoy’s shoes. Apparently Mr. Malfoy had set out in a great hurry, for not only were his shoes half-polished, but his usually sleek hair was disheveled. Ignoring the elf bobbing apologetically around his ankles, he fixed his cold eyes upon Dumbledore.

“So!” he said “You’ve come back. The governors suspended you, but you still saw fit to return to Hogwarts.”

“Well, you see, Lucius,” said Dumbledore, smiling serenely, “the other eleven governors contacted me today. It was something like being caught in a hailstorm of owls, to tell the truth. They’d heard that Arthur Weasley’s daughter had been killed and wanted me back here at once. They seemed to think I was the best man for the job after all. Very strange tales they told me, too…Several of them seemed to think that you had threatened to curse their families if they didn’t agree to suspend me in the first place.”

Mr. Malfoy went even paler than usual, but his eyes were still slits of fury.

“So—have you stopped the attacks yet?” he sneered. “Have you caught the culprit?”

“We have,” said Dumbledore, with a smile.

“Well?” said Mr. Malfoy sharply. “Who is it?”

“The same person as last time, Lucius,” said Dumbledore. “But this time, Lord Voldemort was acting through somebody else. By means of this diary.”

He held up the mangled book, watching Mr. Malfoy closely. Harry, however, was watching Dobby.

The elf was doing something very odd. His great eyes fixed meaningfully on Harry, he kept pointing at the diary, then at Mr. Malfoy, and then hitting himself hard on the head with his fist.

“I see…” said Mr. Malfoy slowly to Dumbledore.

“A clever plan,” said Dumbledore in a level voice, still staring Mr. Malfoy straight in the eye. “Because if Harry here” —Mr. Malfoy shot Harry a swift, sharp look— “and his friend Ron hadn’t discovered this book, why—Ginny Weasley might have taken all the blame. No one would ever have been able to prove she hadn’t acted of her own free will…”

Mr. Malfoy said nothing. His face was suddenly masklike.

“And imagine,” Dumbledore went on, “what might have happened then. The Weasleys are one of our most prominent pure-blood families. Imagine the effect on Arthur Weasley and his Muggle Protection Act, if his own daughter was discovered attacking and killing Muggle-borns…Very fortunate the diary was discovered, and Riddle’s memories wiped from it. Who knows what the consequences might have been otherwise.”

Mr. Malfoy forced himself to speak.

“Very fortunate,” he said stiffly.

And still, behind his back, Dobby was pointing, first to the diary, then to Lucius Malfoy, then punching himself in the head. And Harry suddenly understood. He nodded at Dobby, and Dobby backed into a corner, now twisting his ears in punishment.

“Don’t you want to know how Ginny got hold of that diary, Mr. Malfoy?” said Harry.

Lucius Malfoy rounded on him.

“How should I know how the stupid little girl got hold of it?” he said.

Anger rose in harry at the insult

“Because you gave it to her,” his voice was tempered, “in Flourish and Blotts.

“You picked up her old Transfiguration book and slipped the diary inside it, didn’t you?”

He saw Mr. Malfoy’s white hands clench and unclench.

“Prove it,” he hissed.

“Oh, no one will be able to do that,” said Dumbledore, smiling at Harry. “Not now that Riddle has vanished from the book. On the other hand, I would advise you, Lucius, not to go giving out any more of Lord Voldemort’s old school things. If any more of them find their way into innocent hands, I think Arthur Weasley, for one, will make sure they are traced back to you…”

Lucius Malfoy stood for a moment, and Harry distinctly saw his right hand twitch as though he was longing to reach for his wand. Instead, he turned to his house-elf.

“We’re going, Dobby!”

He wrenched open the door and as the elf came hurrying up to him, he kicked him right through it. They could hear Dobby squealing with pain all the way along the corridor. Harry stood for a moment, thinking hard. Then it came to him—

“Professor Dumbledore,” he said hurriedly. “Can I give that diary back to Mr. Malfoy, please?”

“Certainly, Harry.”

Harry grabbed the diary and dashed out of the office. He could hear Dobby’s squeals of pain receding around the corner. Quickly, wondering if this plan could possibly work, Harry took off one of his shoes, pulled off his slimy, filthy sock, and stuffed the diary into it. Then he ran down the dark corridor.

He caught up with them at the top of the stairs.

“Mr. Malfoy,” he gasped, skidding to a halt, “I’ve got something for you —”

And he forced the smelly sock into Lucius Malfoy’s hand.

“What the—?”

Mr. Malfoy ripped the sock off the diary, threw it aside, then looked furiously from the ruined book to Harry.

“You’ll meet the same sticky end as your parents one of these days, Harry Potter,” he said softly. “They were meddlesome fools, too.”

He turned to go.

“Come, Dobby. I said, come.”

But Dobby didn’t move. He was holding up Harry’s disgusting, slimy sock, and looking at it as though it were a priceless treasure. “Master has given a sock,” said the elf in wonderment. “Master gave it to Dobby.”

“What’s that?” spat Mr. Malfoy. “What did you say?”

“Got a sock,” said Dobby in disbelief. “Master threw it, and Dobby caught it, and Dobby — Dobby is free.”

Lucius Malfoy stood frozen, staring at the elf.

“You’ve lost me my servant, boy!” Fury curled around his words as he lunged at harry.

But Dobby shouted, “You shall not harm Harry Potter!”

There was a loud bang, and Mr. Malfoy was thrown backward.

He crashed down the stairs, three at a time, landing in a crumpled heap on the landing below. He got up, his face livid, and pulled out his wand, but Dobby raised a long, threatening finger.

“You shall go now,” he said fiercely, pointing down at Mr. Malfoy. “You shall not touch Harry Potter. You shall go now.”

Lucius Malfoy had no choice. With a last, incensed stare at the pair of them, he swung his cloak around him and hurried out of sight.

“Harry Potter freed Dobby!” said the elf shrilly, gazing up at Harry, moonlight from the nearest window reflected in his orb-like eyes. “Harry Potter set Dobby free!”

“Least I could do, Dobby,” said Harry, grinning. “Just promise never to try and save my life again.”

The elf’s ugly brown face split suddenly into a wide, toothy smile.

“I’ve just got one question, Dobby,” said Harry as Dobby pulled on Harry’s sock with shaking hands. “You told me all this had nothing to do with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, remember? Well —”

“It was a clue, sir,” said Dobby, his eyes widening, as though this was obvious. “Was giving you a clue. The Dark Lord, before he changed his name, could be freely named, you see?”

“Right,” said Harry weakly. “Well…I’d better go.”

Dobby threw his arms around Harry’s middle and hugged him.

“Harry Potter is greater by far than Dobby knew!” he sobbed. “Farewell, Harry Potter!”

And with a final loud crack, Dobby disappeared.

He turned to Dumbledore’s office, contemplating returning to ask him a few more questions, but he saw the Weasleys entering the door.

The pit in Harry’s stomach grew teeth.

Where should he go? Ron was still down in the chamber, and he wasn’t sure either of them would want to talk anyways. Hermoine was surely awake by now…and he probably should give her a warm welcome back to awakness.

If she’d awoken yesterday he’d be ecstatic to go talk to her…but, at this particular moment, if he was being entirely honest with himself, he wasn’t sure he wanted to talk to her. She’d have a million questions for him, none of which he was particularly inclined to answer at this moment.

It came to him that he didn’t want to talk to much of anyone.

Just when he had that thought he saw Hermoine down the hall. Well, not so much saw her, as glimpsed her, then felt her arm around him.

He was expecting her to happily ask what was going on, and where Ron was, but when she pulled away—(the hug was abnormally long)—he saw tears glinting in her eyes and she said, with the air of someone who doesn’t know what else to say, “I’m so sorry, Harry.”

He gave her a quizzical look and she answered his silent question: “Professor Snape told me everything before I left the hospital wing.”

Harry highly doubted he told her everything, but, even so…What was this feeling? Was he actually feeling grateful towards Snape for the second time in the same day?

“I brought you this.” She held up the plate she was holding in her other hand. “I just thought…I wasn’t sure you’d want to go down eat with everyone else.”

“Thank you, Hermione,” and he really meant it, feeling true relief for the first time that day.

“Should we head back to Gryffindor Tower?”

He nodded.

Notes cont: 

Again, that conversation about the sorting hat, and the Lucius scene, are both taken directly from the book (with a couple minimal changes), I certainly am not taking credit for writing them!!!! I just needed both those conversations/scenes to be there more for housekeeping reasons than anything else.

What does Dumbledore call Ron? Is it "Ron" "Ronald" or "Mr Weasley"? I couldn't remember. Also, what does Snape call Dumbledore? He calls him "Headmaster" right? Does that go for both when he's around students, and when he's alone with Dumbledore?

There were a couple places where I was nervous I went a little OOC, but I couldn't think what else to have them say...I hope I was okay?

[handcrafted-by-fluids]

A Glimmer of Hope (Draco x Slytherin reader)

Summary: This is the second and the last part of a sixth year fanfiction. Your friend Draco has recently got distant. You've taken it upon yourself to find out what he's up to. Is it just because he's your friend.

Link for 1st part: https://handcrafted-by-fluids.tumblr.com/post/620292667778236416/a-glimmer-of-hope-draco-x-slytherin-reader

Warnings: Angst

Requested by: @malfoy7

Edited by: @eternallyconfusedsoul

Also dedicated to: @the--queen-of-hell

Y/N- Your name

Y/L/N- Your last name

Part 2

The winter was almost knocking the sunlight off the clock courtyard. Hogwarts had never been a particularly safe place to be in, but this year was going especially substandard, both for you and for the school. Last month a Gryffindor student had been cursed by a jinxed necklace. Draco was still avoiding you, and now he had started missing classes too. You were trying your best to stalk him, but most of the times he ended up in the boys bathroom or the Room of Requirement which you still couldn't access.

Christmas would be there in no time, and the word got around that Draco would stay at Hogwarts for this Christmas, something he never does. You decided to use this as your opportunity to find the truth out. Going back for a vacation wasn't more important than your friend.

On the first day of your holidays, you decided to wait in the common room for Draco to arrive from his regular venture. It was almost midnight when he sneaked in slowly, as it was well past the curfew hours.

"Filch missed you again?", you asked, keeping your DADA book aside.

He almost dropped his wand in shock. It was dark, and clearly, he hadn't noticed you.

When he didn't reply, you got up and stood in front of him. "Do you want me to turn you in?"

"You wouldn't", Draco replied, but it missed the familiar smirk.

"You don't know that, do you?", you replied. "But if you tell me where you were, I won't inform anybody."

"You think I'm answerable to you?", he replied, suddenly raising his voice. You noticed a glittery trail on his face. Was he crying? It was hard to tell in the dark. "I have support from people you wouldn't guess. Also, I asked you to stay away from me".

His voice broke towards the end of the sentence, which pained you terribly. He was crying.

But you had never seen him cry. Never. He had definitely wailed purposefully when he was attacked by the Hippogriff, but those silent tears told something else about the person you knew so well.

He was suffering.

"Draco. You can tell me. Whatever it is. I won't tell anybody. I trust you", you said softly. "It's okay."

"That's the problem Y/N. You shouldn't. You shouldn't trust me", he said, almost inaudibly. "You'll hate me."

"I- I won't", you said, carefully choosing your next words. "We've been friends for five years, haven't we? I never hated you."

"We can't be friends anymore. I have chosen my legacy. This is to keep you safe", said Draco. "Please."

He finally looked at your eyes. You gazed at his beautiful gray eyes which matched perfectly with his pale gray tinged skin and felt a sudden desire to hold his face in your hands and wipe his tears off. After what felt like an eternity, he tore his eyes away.

"I'm sorry Y/N", he ran off to his dormitory once again. You were too speechless to stop him. Were you falling for him?

.....

It was tough to accept what you actually felt for Draco, as now he was as distant as ever. By the time the students returned from the break, you had given up all hope of ever seeing him again.

The first blow came in the form of a widely circulating rumour. Draco had been fatally injured in a duel with Harry Potter. Before you even gave it a thought, you found yourself running out of your Charms class (to Flitwick's immense agitation). In no time, you're requesting Madam Pomfrey to let you in.

Being a Slytherin had it's own advantages. For example, you had some tricks up your sleeve to convince Madam Pomfrey.

"But he's asleep. He's been given a high dosage of sleeping draught. Wouldn't be another six hours before he wakes up", she said, clearly annoyed.

"It's okay, I'm just going to wait here, I won't disturb him".

You spent the rest of the day sitting by his bed and looking at him. Though you're highly tempted to brush off his hair, Madam Pomfrey was good at keeping an eye. You just hoped no other teachers noted your absence in class.

You had lost the track of time when you noticed Draco stirring. Madam Pomfrey rushed to his side and helped him wake up.

"Has the pain reduced?", she asked, as Draco started to regain his consciousness. But he was far past answering her, because he was starting at you tenderly.

"Y/N?", he asked, completely ignoring Madam Pomfrey.

"Oh, very well", said Madam Pomfrey, "looks like your pain is gone. I will give you two some time to catch up while I go for my meeting with Professor Snape", she said and left you alone with Draco.

"How are you feeling now?", you asked tentatively.

"Better", he said.

You placed your hands on his left hand and brought it close to you, but he pulled away quickly.

You noticed a small part of a black ink on his forearm, which looked suspiciously like a tattoo.

"Were you waiting here for all that time?", he asked, to which you nodded. "You know you didn't need to."

"I was worried", you said.

He looked at you unblinkingly, and once again, you felt as if someone had stunned you. All the time you had spent away from him had made you realize how much you loved his company. You had loved every bit of his intoxicating personality- his smirk, his snide remarks, his eyes, and the way he ran his fingers through his golden hair.

He sighed, but didn't break the eye contact. "You deserve the truth Y/N".

"No, Draco. I'm sorry for pushing you all this time, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to", you said. You realized that all your curiosity was driven by your eagerness to be his friend. Now as long as you could just look at his eyes and talk to him, you wanted nothing more.

"It's okay Y/N. I want to tell you."

You nodded and helped him to sit up. "I have been given a task Y/N. By- by the Dark Lord. It is my only chance to save myself and my family".

You shuddered. You had always been afraid to lose all your friends in the wizarding war. You knew it was inevitable, but never really thought about it. Especially how your friendship with Draco would be affected. You knew which side you were in. You were not the bravest, but your parents were killed by the Dark Lord, despite the fact that they worked for him. If you had a chance, you'd definitely fight against him. But if you had a chance to bring back your parents by working for him...

Your thoughts were interrupted when you realized Draco hadn't finished yet.

"I- "

"You don't need to say anything", he said. "I have done horrible things while trying to accomplish it. I almost killed Katie Bell."

So that was him. What task could be so dangerous that he almost killed a student? Afterall, he was just sixteen.

"The truth, Y/N, is that I'm a Death Eater now", he said, and rolled up his left sleeve to reveal a tattoo that you knew so well. He sighed again. "I know you'll hate me after this. But you weren't going to leave me alone, were you? I wanted to keep you away from my messed up life, but I was also afraid that you might hate me. I didn't want to lose you, but you deserved the tru-"

You grabbed his hand and leaned in to kiss him before you could change your mind. For a moment, the world paused. The only thing your senses could pick up was the subtle scent of his musk cologne and the slightly bitter taste of his lips, probably from the medicines.

Before your realized what you were doing, you felt his hands on your cheeks, drawing you in his embrace. He was kissing you back.

After what felt like an eternity, you parted, though his hands were still on your cheeks.

"I love you", you whispered.

"Why?", he mumbled, more to himself than to you.

"You are the strongest person I know. You are doing what you must, but you are not a bad person. I know", you replied. "You don't need to tell me what task you have. I know what the Dark Lord is capable of. We all have our terrors Draco."

He removed his hands from your cheeks, held your hands and brought them close to his lips, and gave them a soft tentative peck.

"I don't know what is to come Y/N", he said. "I might not be able to finish the task, I might not be able to survive. And if I do manage to finish it, I'll never be able to look back, I'll have to commit to him. But for what it's worth, you, Y/N, are my only glimmer of hope, and you'll always be", he said, and kissed you again.

You didn't know how long the peace would last, how long you would have the opportunity to kiss him, how long you could hold on to him, but you knew how much you loved him, and how you always would.

As if reading your mind, he replied.

"I love you Y/N, and I always will."

Note: I tried my best to write it without affecting canon, so it's a bit of an abrupt ending. If you want me to continue this and change the main plot of HBP, do tell me.

[axelsagewrites]

HP*Werewolf Pt1

Ship(s): No romantic ones. Platonic reader X golden trio, platonic reader x Professor Lupin

Requested (?): Nope

Warnings?: Werewolf hatred

Type: angst

Masterlist HERE

Wattpad HERE

Shattered glass fell onto the bedroom carpet. Jagged claws raked ripped lines into the floor. It wasn’t quiet. the screaming didn’t help. A scream surged from my lips as the teeth sunk into my shoulder, claws scrapping down my arms. I could hear distant sound but screams and growls filled my ears. My eyes opened and fixated on the seemingly glowing eyes of the creature onto of me. Coloured lights began flashing. Black spots began to surround my vision. Everything felt distant. Everything went black.

A flickering light greeted my groggy eyes. I groaned and turned my head, my eyes falling on my sleeping parents beside my bed. “What happened?” I croaked out.

“You’re awake!”

“I’ll go get the nurse,” Dad rushed out as I pathetically forced myself into a sitting position.

My mum rushed to help me, passing me a glass of water, “What happened?”

“Its okay honey,” my mum said but her eyes said something different.

I looked around and my eyes fell on the sign I saw outside my room. First floor. “First floor? But I-that wasn’t-what happened- “

“You're awake,” The healer said as she walked in. “Someone will come by to tell you how to…adjust then well discharge you,” her eyes raked me up and down.

“What happened to me?!” I almost yelled.

“It's not even a full moon yet,” the woman grimaced, “You were attacked by a werewolf,”

“But I-I’m not a-I can’t be,”

“Honey it’ll be okay. We’ll always love you the same. Won't we?” She looked at my dad.

“Of course. It’s not your fault,”

“No no no no no,” I held my head in my hands. I can’t be a- I can’t be.

“Someone will be round shortly till then I ask you to- “

“Can’t you have a little tact?” My dad spat at the woman. She rolled her eyes as she walked out, muttering under her breath, “Its okay (Y/N). we don’t need to tell anyone. It’ll be okay,” My mouth was dry, but my cheeks were wet. His words didn’t help. I was a monster. A werewolf.

 The person who came around gave me some random pamphlets like that would help. He didn’t stay long. This was it. This was my life.

 It was still summer, so I was able to adjust a little, but I doubt I'll get used to it. The transformations were the worst. Every month I felt every bone in my body seemingly break, reshape, set, then reverse the whole process. Along with my parents having to restrain me every time.

They had to tell Dumbledore. He came to our house and helped my parents set up a mini sort of prison to lock me in during the transformation. He even said there was a similar thing at Hogwarts for me to use. He was more help than the healers.

Though after our chats my parents talked to him alone for a while. I was able to overhear something about special precautions. Things were strange after the attack. The attack was strange. My parents were hiding something

 I didn’t want to tell my friends, but the idea hovered over me since I saw them. My parents have gotten overprotective since the event. They insisted on taking me themselves, not letting me get the train.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione seemed to already in deep conversation as they walked into Hogwarts. I started making my way over when Hermione saw me and ran up. “Where were you? You weren’t on the train,”

“Oh, err we were visiting people nearby, so my parents dropped me off. No point getting the train if I’m 5 minutes away,” I lied. I'd been here for the past couple of hours as Dumbledore showed me where I would go and going over what might happen and how things at Hogwarts are different.

I learned the story behind the shrieking shack. Dumbledore showed me how to get there and lead me down to an old room. I was to go to the same room every time and never go into the other one. Ever.

“oh okay,” she said as Harry and Ron approached.

“(Y/N) I need your advice,” Harry said, “Have you heard about Sirius black?”

 The talk about Sirius black and all the other rumours going around distracted people from my monthly ventures. It was the scars that didn’t help. Werewolf me would attack anyone, even myself, in frustration. I wore long sleeves, never took my jumper off, and buttoned my shirt all the way up. When Hermione asked, I said I was trying a new fashion thing out. She just rolled her eyes, not even slightly into fashion. That was close.

When the scars were on my face was the real problem. I didn’t share a dorm with any of my friends, luckily, so none of them questioned me. The dried blood on my face prompted me to visit madam Pomfrey.

Sure, I got to skip morning classes, but I still walked into the great hall for lunch. I normally kept my head down but this time it was staying there. As I found my seat beside my friends, I stayed silent. “What happened to your face?” Ron blurted out.

My cheeks went red. “Ronald!” Hermione scolded him. This only drew more attention as people looked over at me. It was normally Harry they’d stare at but this time it was just me and this scar.

Harry cleared his throat, “You alright?” he asked, quietly not that it helped at this point.

I shrank in my seat, “Yeah I um. This is embarrassing,” I said, looking anywhere but him. I took a deep breath and looked up, “I was trying to finish my potions homework last night, got tired, messed up and it’s kind of exploded and now I um look like this,” I rushed out. “So yeah I don’t want to talk about it,”

He believed me, I think, but this was going to be tricky. People soon turned back to there own conversations. Though I felt one pair of eyes on me. My eyes glanced at the teacher's table to see the new DADA teacher staring at me. He’d only been here for 3 months but he seemed good. Dumbledore agreed to only tell teachers on a need to know basis but somehow, I think he knows.

 I knew people were talking about me. It was unavoidable. I couldn’t wear a mask. We had DADA last and for some reason, I was dreading it.

Professor Lupin looked ill. As I took my seat beside Hermione, I couldn’t help but notice it. My gaze caught his as he turned, and I quickly moved to take my books out. “Class turn to page 274 of your textbooks,” he said, finally looking away.

“Hey, it’s nearly the end of the day,” Hermione whispered, “Oh and by the way I was thinking we could look up how to get rid of your scar. There must be a spell or a potion. Well, I'd do the potion,” I just nodded and smiled. After this, I was having a nap.

The class droned on an on. We’d had lessons like this a couple times were the textbook did most of the teaching. As class drew to an end, I could feel myself want to drop out of exhaustion. I kept having to pinch myself awake as lupin droned on and on and on.

“Alright that’s enough for today,” Lupin said, snapping his book shut, “No homework today but I would advise going over your material,” the class began packing up and rushing out as he spoke. As I was packing up my bag, slower than usual because of the exhaustion, he said, “Oh (Y/N). id like to speak with you, alone,” he said before turning back to his desk to organise something.

I groaned and Hermione gave me a look. I shrugged so she did. As the class dwindled out Harry asked, “You want us to wait?”

“I’ll stay,” Hermione said. The boys nodded and took that as permission to rush out, “Honestly I don’t get why they the school.”

“I don’t get why you're surprised,” I joked, “Thanks for waiting,”

“No problem,”

By this point, the last person was leaving. Hermione watched them shut the door and turned to me with an expectant look. I cleared my throat, “Yes professor,”

“Okay (Y/N),” he turned around but paused when he saw Hermione, “You two Miss Granger,”

“It’s okay- “

“No. I did say alone after all.” He gave her a look. Hermione turned to me with a sorry smile but nodded to the door, meaning shed wait for me. As Hermione shut the door Remus sighed, “She’s going to wait,” he muttered before smiling. “You can sit if you’d like,” I didn’t move, “It's just you look like you may well pass out,”

“I’m fine,” I said, leaning against the table. “What’s up?”

He looked down for a moment, “I just wanted to tell you about the syllabus a little. We’ve covered different creatures but soon we'll have to move onto the next unit. Werewolves,” he said pausing, “That wouldn’t mean anything to you, would it?” he asked.

I felt my palms get sweaty and everything clam up, “What? I-I’m not a-Why would I care about those things?” I asked. “I’m not some weird hippy-dippy wolf hugger,”

Any form of happiness fell from his face, “You might say that I would’ve at your age as well. But you’ll understand werewolves aren’t always monsters. Some people maybe but not all,” Lupin said. “It was a full moon last night,”

“I don’t really track the moon,” I lied.

“I have. My parents did it for me then I had to start doing it,” he said, walking behind his desk, “In fact, I could probably list the next several full moons to come off by heart. Just encase,” Lupin began rummaging in one of his desk drawers, “Do you know about the shrieking shack?” He asked.

“It's one of the most haunted places in Brittan,” I said, cheeks going red.

“People have recently begun hearing howling coming from there again. Did you know?” I shook my head. “You don’t have to lie to me,” he finally found whatever he was looking for and shut the drawer, “Do you know why I asked you to wait?”

“Nope,”

“(Y/N) you’re not dumb. And you're also not a monster,” he said before tossing a couple seats of paper onto the desk beside me, “Here. A list of excuses I used and people actually believed. It's tricky to think them up on the spot. Maybe you’ve got a sick aunt, or a spell went wrong,”

“Your one as well?” I asked.

“You can say the word.”

I paused, looking down, “You’re a werewolf,” I whispered, “Like me,”

“Yes. Have you told anyone? Apart from Dumbledore, I assume?” I shook my head, “Trust me when I say if they really are your friends, they’ll realise somethings up. It not an easy life but theirs no point making it harder,”

“I-I don’t know how to tell them. What if they hate me?” I whisper.

“Would you like me to help? We could do it together?” He asked.

Looking up, I glanced at the bracelet on my wrist. Hermione had bought it from one of those cheap souvenir shops for me. I nodded. Professor lupin walked over to the door and opened it. Soon Hermione walked in, sheepishly.

I turned around, puffy eyes and holding back tears. “Hermione, I need to tell you something”

[omg-imatotalmess]

Piggyback Rides

Hey guys! I’m alive... probably... anyway, I’m trying to get my writing mojo back so I’m rereading Harry Potter. This isn’t the greatest, but it’s here. Hope you like it anyway!

Pairing: Draco Malfoy x Reader

Requested: No

Warnings: Swearing 

                                                             --- 

Draco Malfoy and Ron Weasley in a fight at a Quidditch match; what a picture. The Slytherin Prince pitted against someone he considered a surf was almost too much for you. Especially because he was losing. Oh man, you wished you could laugh. God, you would have given about anything to be able to laugh without Draco biting your head off for it later. It really wasn’t every day that you got to witness something like that. 

In all honesty, you probably wouldn’t have been trying so hard not to laugh if Draco wasn’t so pitiful. He really wasn’t the type for physical fighting. Snide remarks and a few curses, that was more his game. As the two rolled under yours and Hermione’s seats, you could hear high pitched howling. The corner of your mouth twitched and you snorted. That had to be Draco. For a moment, you thought about letting it go on a while longer. You figured it wouldn’t kill Draco to get kicked around a little bit (he was a terrible daddy’s boy after all). Maybe getting the snot kicked out of him once or twice would keep him from being such a brat. Sighing, you reached under the seat and grabbed one of them by their hair. As you dragged him up, you caught an elbow to the face. You yelped.

“Bloody hell, woman!” Ron snarled as you dragged him off of Draco. You offered him an apologetic look, rubbing your cheek bone.

“Sorry,” You said, “I think you have better things to worry about though. Namely that bloody nose.” He swiped his sleeve under his nose, making an awful sort of face, before glancing over your shoulder.

“Might want to call them off,” He said. Following his gaze, you watched as Crabbe and Goyle absolutely clobbered poor Neville Longbottom.

“Enough!” You snarled in your best Draco voice. Almost immediately, they scurried away from the unconscious boy. Neville really had rotten luck, but, then again, he’d put himself into that situation. At least, he had that time. 

“Harry caught the snitch! We won! We won!” Hermione cheered. 

“Atta boy, Harry! Wooo-hooo!” Ron whooped. As everyone began to pour out of the stands, you hung back. 

“(Y/N)?” Draco moaned. Rolling your eyes, you peered under the seats. 

“Regret that, do you?” You asked, amused.  

“Shut it!” he snapped. 

“I could just leave you here, ya know,” You said beginning to move away from where he was laid out pathetically. In all reality, you were just turning away so he couldn’t see the smile forming on your face. 

“You wouldn’t,” He said. 

“I don’t know, Draco,” You teased, walking a little farther away, “Besides, you aren’t the only one that got smacked. You were just the only one that deserved it. You have Crabbe and Goyle anyway. ” 

A loud shuffling caught your attention and you knew he was struggling his way from under the seats. Quickly, you doused your smile. For as high and mighty as Draco acted, he really was kinda a baby. You looked back with a smile as you watched him limp towards you. He already had the beginnings of a black eye as well as a pretty nasty looking split lip. Poor kid didn’t stand a chance against someone with as many brothers as Ron. You didn’t take the Weasley’s for violent people by any means, but you did know a thing or two about what big brothers did to their younger siblings. 

“Don’t you walk away from me!” He called. “(Y/N)! Wait for me you heathen!” 

“I’m right here,” You said. 

“Wipe that smile off your face,” He growled, glaring evilly at you. You found it was far less intimidating after seeing him get his ass handed to him on a silver platter. With his minions trailing behind you, you began the long, slow walk to the hospital wing. 

The four of you had barely gotten out of the stands and you were already contemplating knocking Draco out yourself. You never considered yourself a particularly violent person, but you were getting there. It was amazing how loudly Draco could gripe. It wasn’t that you didn’t think he was in pain, but you were pretty sure he was just being a huge drama queen at this point. He moaned every step he took. Your face hurt too, but that was ridiculous. Eventually, you stopped and turned to him stiffly. 

“Would you quit moaning and groaning if I gave you a piggyback ride?” You asked. For a moment, he actually seemed to consider it. 

“Don’t insult me,” He said, looking very much like he wished you would carry him. 

“I’m not. I’m just offering an injured friend some help,” You said. This was a fairly typical dance. He’d resist something until you did one of two things: 1) bother him to the point where he’d give up and go along or 2) stroke his ego until he was convinced he was more of a man for it. Honestly, you weren’t really in the mood for either. 

“I don’t need you of all people to carry me, (Y/N),” He snapped. 

“Draco, it’ll be easier if I do.” His cool, grey eyes narrowed and he snorted indignantly at you. 

“I refuse to let myself be carried around,” He said stubbornly. 

“Oh my god! Just take the piggyback ride before I finish what Ron started and knock you out,” You yelled, your hands planting themselves on your hips. At the mere suggestion of being hit again, he changed his mind quickly and clammored onto your back. 

At first it was a bit of an awkward position. Between his long legs and your short stature, it was a real treat to try to figure out. You fell twice within the first few steps. The learning curve wasn’t too bad after that. Once you guys figured out that he had to keep his legs tucked up beside you instead of letting them dangle, things got a lot easier. Then, for a blessed few minutes, he shut his trap. The place were Ron’s elbow had caught you throbbed a little, but it wasn’t too bad. You’d live. 

“(Y/N),” Draco said quietly. 

“Hmm?” You hummed, hiking him up a little bit as you did. 

“You wouldn’t have actually hit me, right?” He asked. You laughed. Realistically, probably not. You sure thought pretty hard about it, but you doubted you could have actually done that to your friend. 

“Maybe,” You said playfully. Feeling him tense against your back, you sighed. “No, I wouldn’t have hit you.” It was quiet for a little while again. 

“I hope your cheek doesn’t hurt to badly. I thought even Weasley would have the good sense not to hit a woman,” He said. Rolling your eyes, you found yourself having to fight off a smile. Draco did care in his own way. 

“It’s not that bad. So I have a bit of a bruise, no biggie,” You said. 

“Mm-hmm,” He responded. He buried his nose into your hair, squirming a little. You shifted him.

“Speaking of, how’re you doing back there,” You asked. He hadn’t actually whined in a while. 

“I was savagely beaten by Weasley, how do you think I’m doing?” He grumbled. Stupid question. Before he could get too carried away, you began speaking again. 

“You’re such a drama queen,” You said, your smile playing to your voice. 

“I think you underestimate the agony I’m in, (Y/N),” He moaned. You rolled your eyes. 

“Quit milking it, Draco. I’m already carrying you,” You said. 

“I am certainly not milking it,” He said indignantly. Giggling, you lumbered up the castle steps. 

“Yes, you are, you very much are.” Now that the complaining wasn’t a constant stream, you could actually find the humor in it. 

By the time you reached the hospital wing, your legs were about ready to snap. Who knew such a slim kid could be so damn heavy? You dropped him onto the nearest bed before flopping down yourself. Hopefully Madam Pomfrey would be along pretty soon. 

Draco laid himself out like he had been the one to carry you all the way to the hospital wing instead of the other way around. You had to hand it to him; he could make himself a pretty sad sight if he wanted to. The guy looked about as pathetic lying in bed as he had under the seats. The way he was acting, you’d have thought he’d been attacked by a dragon. Definitely not some redhead with a temper, that’s for sure. 

“You’re one sorry sight, you know that?” You said, poking him. He glared at you. 

“I’m in miserable condition,” He countered. 

“Drama queen,” You singsonged. 

“(Y/N)--”

“I know, I know, you’re in agony and you are 100% not a drama queen,” You said, smiling. 

“That wasn’t what I was going to say, but I’m glad you finally figured that out,” He said, looking very pleased with himself. He reminded you of an incredibly bitchy cat you had once. 

“Okay, then what?” You asked. 

“What?” Sighing, your head dropped back. 

“What were you going to say?” The catlike smugness disintegrated. 

“Right,” He started, “Before you so rudely interrupted me, I was going to thank you.” You gave a jerk of surprise. That was a first. Draco rarely ever thanked you. Or any one for that matter. 

“Oh, well, sure. No problem,” You said slowly. 

“You’re a better friend than I am,” He sighed. In a way, that was probably true. You were a better friend, traditionally speaking. 

“Usually.” He scowled at you. 

“You weren’t meant to agree with me, (Y/N),” He grumbled. You laughed, nudging his shoulder. 

“Aw c’mon, I didn’t say you were a bad friend.” And he wasn’t. Not really. You knew he cared in his own way. He’d probably kill someone for you if he thought you wanted him to. So, though his manner of caring was harsh, it’s the thought that counts. He continued to scowl. 

“Oh dear! What happened!” Madam Pomfrey gasped. You hadn’t even heard her come in. 

“Weasl--” 

“He got what was coming to him,” You said, cutting him off. 

“I see,” She said, raising an eyebrow. Smiling, you slid off the bed and patted Draco on the shoulder. 

“Well, looks like Madam Pomfrey can take over. See you later, Draco,” You said. 

“Goodbye,” He said. Before you left, you leaned down and pressed a kiss to his cheek with a smile. 

“Feel better,” You whispered. Just as you left, you glanced back over your shoulder to catch Draco’s flushed face watching you practically skip away. At eleven years old, neither of you was entirely sure what the feeling in your chest was, but you knew you liked it. 

[isidar-mithrim]

It’s the morning after the Third Task, and Neville has been summoned by McGonagall. He goes there worried about his marks, having no idea he’s about to find out that he lived for a year near the man who tortured his parents into insanity.

{First installment of the serie ‘Have a biscuit’}

___________________________________

{Have a biscuit}

Falling down

“Come in, Longbottom” said McGonagall when he hesitantly opened the door, peering inside her office.

She was sitting at her desk with a grim face, and Neville’s heart beat even faster than it had before, when Nearly Headless Nick had told him McGonagall needed to see him right after breakfast. He was hoping with all his might this had nothing to do with his Transfiguration marks. Sure, she’d said he’d passed the final test, if barely, but he couldn’t think of any other reasons for her to summon him. The only certain thing was that his gran would kill him, if McGonagall kicked him out of her class.

He swallowed and entered the room, jumping in surprise when the door closed automatically behind him.

He lingered there, unsure of what to do and not very willing to find out why he was there.

“Well, sit down, then” McGonagall said impatiently, gesturing at the chair in front of her. An instant later, though, she seemed to regret her firm tone, because she cleared her throat and added a softer “If you please.”

Neville stared at her for a moment, not at all reassured by this show of kindness, but then he hurried to do so, fighting the urge to low is gaze on the desk between them.

He’d expected her to be frowning at him, but she actually looked quite concerned, and that made him feel even more anxious. He closed his eyes for a second, praying he’d be allowed to stay at Hogwarts even without taking Transfiguration.

“You… you wanted to see me, professor?” he asked tentatively, his voice low.

“Yes, Longbottom.” She took a deep breath, her nostrils going wide. “I’m afraid I have to give you a news that will probably come as a shock.”

She’d spoken with a strange tone, like… like if she was sorry, or if she was trying to be... well... human. That didn’t ease his tension at all, and a sudden, terrifying thought crossed his mind.

“Is… is my gran ok?” he whispered.

McGonagall widened her eyes, clearly taken aback by the question. “Of course, of course, she’s perfectly fine” she clarified hastily, waving a hand as to dismiss the very idea.

Neville breathed out, feeling a surge of relief.  “Er… ok, good... yeah” he mumbled, beginning to feel slightly embarrassed for jumping to that conclusion.

“Actually...” McGonagall said with unusual hesitation, as if she was bracing herself for something bad, “... it’s Alastor Moody I wanted to talk about.”

Neville dropped his jaw, staring at her astounded. “Moody?”

“Exactly” she confirmed, but that didn’t make it more believable. He kept staring at her, incredulous. She’d summoned him to talk about Moody?

“Well… er... what about him?” he asked at a loss. May be he wasn’t going to teach any more? But that couldn’t explain why McGonagall wanted to inform him – specifically him! – so urgently.

“I understand you were quite fond of him” she said with that oddly softness that creeped him out a bit.

He nodded, not sure of what to say. It was true that – in his own way – Madeye had been very kind to him during the year, and Neville was obviously going to feel sorry if he had to leave, but he still couldn’t get why he was there. It would have been nothing new, after all, since they’d changed every D.A.D.A. teacher so far. Maybe McGonagall thought he couldn’t handle Moody leaving right after Lupin? Had she been afraid he would have get emotional at the news, and had decided to spare him the embarrassment of doing so in front of everybody?

It wasn’t a very flattering thought, to be honest, but it wouldn’t have been that surprising.

He suddenly realised that McGonagall was watching him intently and he squirmed in his chair, feeling uncomfortable under her gaze.

“Neville, truth is...” MgGonagall sighed again, and he took it as yet another bad sign. What if… Merlin, what if Moody had died too? His heart sank at the thought, but he didn’t dare to ask. “... truth is, you haven’t met the real Alastor Moody.”

Neville was dumbstruck. He couldn’t believe is own ears. What could it possibly mean? Of course they had met him... he was there a whole year...

“I... I don’t understand, professor…”

She looked at him with that strange expression again, like if she was sorry for him, and he felt a chill run down his back; then McGonagall hastily cleared her throat and apparently regained her composure.

“Have a biscuit, Longbottom” she said sternly, pushing a tartan tin towards him.

He stared at them in disbelief.  “A biscuit?”

“Yes, a biscuit” she repeated firmly.

He glanced at her, yet again unsure of what to do –  was he supposed to politely decline? And if not, should he eat it right away, or wait for later? But in that case, where was he supposed to put it?

McGonagall pushed the box even closer. “Just pick one, Longbottom” she said gruffly.

Finally out of options, he took a Ginger Newt and ate it in small bites, chewing as quietly as possible, careful to keep is mouth perfectly shut. He could feel her gaze on him, and he fervently wished she’d taken a biscuit as well.

“Er… they’re really good” he said when he’d swallowed the last bite. “Thank you.”

She just nodded in response, putting the tin box aside. Now that he’d finished the biscuit, the silence got even more awkward, and MgGonagall’s gaze even more intense.

“How... how could he not be the real one?” he asked tentatively.

She sighed deeply again, straightening her glasses, and Neville twisted his hands in his lap.

“At the end of August, an imposter captured the real Moody, took his appearance and replaced him at Hogwarts” she explained with a serious tone.

“Oh...” murmured Neville. He hadn’t even known it was possible to took somebody else’s features, and his stomach lurched at the thought. “Is he... is the real Moody ok?”

McGonagall seemed mildly surprised by his question, but answered nonetheless. “Yes, Madama Pomfrey says he will be fine.”

“Good” he mumbled, trying to make order in the chaos of his mind. “So, did the imposter...” he paused, unable to say ‘killed’ out loud. “I mean, what happened yesterday at the maze... was that is fault?”

“It was” she answered gravely.

“Oh…” said Neville, his heart heavy. “And… did he escape, or…?”

“No, he didn’t. Professor Dumbledore saw through his disguise and was able to capture him.”

“So… he’s in Azkaban, now?”

“He is. He was moved there this night, after receiving a kiss by a Dementor as requested by the Minister.” She’d spoken with a neutral tone, but her widened nostrils and thin lips betrayed her disapproval. Neville had to agree, almost feeling sorry for the man. He couldn’t think of a worst fate than having his own soul removed… except, perhaps, being tortured into insanity. He hastily casted that thought aside, searching for something else to ask.

“Was he... was he a Death Eater, professor?”

McGonagall made a move like she was about to put a hand on his shoulder, then seemed to reconsider; she laid her hands on the desk and clenched her fingers so tightly that her knuckles whitened, and he felt a rush of dread.

“Neville… I’m very sorry” she said, her voice almost cracking. “He was Bartemius Crouch Junior.”

He just stared at her, abashed. That… that didn’t make sense… It simply wasn’t possible…

“But... but… he’s dead” he stuttered. “He… he died few years ago… Gran told me… he died in Azkaban… I… I read it on the papers…”

“It was all a ruse” said McGonagall. She kept talking, saying something about Crouch’s mother and some Polijus Potion and his father, but Neville wasn’t following anymore, he wasn’t even listening, it was like he wasn’t there… It simply wasn’t possible… Moody had always been kind to him… He’d given him a book, and he’d asked him how the read was going several times… He’d told him little memories of when he worked with his parents, said he missed them very much… He’d comforted him when he’d been upset for the Cruciatus…

“No… no, he can’t be him… he’s dead…”

“Neville…”

“He was always kind to me… He… he made me tea once… I… I would have know if…”

McGonagall handed him a tissue, and it was like being brought back to reality all of a sudden. He felt his eyes swelled, his face wet with tears and snot. He took the tissue and blew his nose, not even bothering to feel awkward, then he wiped his eyes with the back of his hands.

“How could I… how could I not know?” he murmured, his voice trembling.

McGonagall looked at him with what he could finally recognise as pity. “He played is part well. He tricked everybody” she said, her voice a bit cracked, her eyes shining.

“But… I… I should have know… I should have seen...”

“Neville” she said more fiercely. “You can’t blame yourself for this. Even professor Dumbledore fell for it, and they go way back.”

“I let him… let him tell me things about… about them…” he whispered, hot tears still running on his face.

He saw McGonagall blinking hard, her lips clenched tightly. Then she grabbed his wrist, fixing him in the eyes. “It’s not your fault, Neville. Do you hear me? Don’t ever blame yourself for that. We are the one who should have seen through his fraud, we are those meant to protect you from people like him.”

He nodded slowly and blew his nose again, a bit comforted by her renewed fierceness and by her words.

“Why?” he asked in a low voice. “Why he did all that?”

Why had he spent a whole year fooling them? Fooling him?

McGonagall sighed deeply for the umpteenth time, and he couldn’t believe there was still more.

“I’m afraid he did it for the same reason that sent him to Azkaban years ago… helping You-Know-Who to come back.” She paused for an instant, laying a tentative hand on his shoulder without lowering her gaze.

“Unfortunately, this time Frank and Alice weren’t there to stop him.”

**

Neville walked back to the Gryffindor tower in shock. He was barely aware of the students walking around him, he didn’t care if people stared at him, he wasn’t affected in the slightest by the Slytherins’ remarks about his puffy eyes.

Eventually he found himself standing in his empty dormitory, his gaze fixed at his red curtains, at a loss.

Then, with the corner of his eye, he saw it.

It was laid on his bedside table, because he’d wanted to keep it close, he’d wanted it at hand. How many evening he’d fallen asleep while lost in those pages… It was the book that had made him understood there was something he was truly good at, the book that made him see what he wanted to do in his life.

Feeling more betrayed than he ever did, he grabbed Magical Water Plants of the Mediterranean and, page by page, he tore it apart.

When only the cover was left, he threw it out the window with all his strength and watched it fall, feeling like his whole world was falling down with it.

[Read the next stories – ‘Standing up’ and ‘Moving on’ – on tumblr]

[austenpoppy]

A review of "The Wonderful Won-Won" chapter 4 (part 1 because I'm a fangirl)

@hillnerd I said I would do it after my exams to take the time to say all I wanted to say and so do justice to your work, so here I am ! I always keep my promises. But Tumblr would not let me reblog this particular chapter, that's why I had to do a separate post.

Edit : I have seen your post about your father. I send you my best regards and all the hugs. I know it is hard. Love you. I know it's not much but I hope it will cheer you up a bit.

So if you want to find the chapter I'm talking about, go see Hillnerd's blog or follow this link : https://m.fanfiction.net/u/666390/

I recommend you all the other fics written by Hillnerd, they're fantastic.

So... yeah, my reaction to your chapter when I read it for the first time...

OH MY GOD ! OH MY GOD ! OH MY GOD ! Oh mon Dieu !

I'm smiling, a huge grin on my face even if nobody can see it because I'm alone, in my student room, at 2am and I'm too lazy to revise. I'm squealing on my bed, my face is tear-strained because I cried, and I feel very emotional. I swear, my heart swelled at least twice its size !

This is definitely one of my favorite chapters in fanfiction ever.

Let's go back in time to see what happened :

"The brain's tentacles were ripping him to shreds and reality was warping around him as an unsteady pulse echoed in his ears. Spiders the size of houses walked over him while their young devoured his limbs, leaving him unable to move. Powerful convulsions constricted his chest and air bellowed over his shredded lungs. All he could feel was pain, a tangible darkness, and the sensation of being drowned, but backwards?"

It feels so realistic. You got all the sensations of being in great pain yet being unable to move. I especially love "the unsteady beat in his ears". The spider anecdote makes me shudder. How awful !

"The only real thing he could think about, besides the pain, was her. What was her name again?"

Oh man, Hermione is on his mind and in his heart at all time, even in his darkest hour. She's the only thing that can take his mind off pain *eyes water*

The convulsions struck again and again. He longed to be able to lose himself in the darkness, but something kept tethering him to the unimaginable pain. He was drowning again, and his limbs were back, stiff as lead.

No no no my Ronnie is suffering so much he wants to black out, and what if the darkness meant death ? How come this is totally canon ? How come I enjoy this ?

If he could only say her name one time, maybe all of this would end? It almost seemed like an answer to a riddle. He just couldn't think what the riddle was or what the name was he should say. It was like trying to hold a fist full of sand, with each grain slipping through his fingers until he only had a few grains left.

Argh, my little Romione heart. Touché. He tries to hold on to her, the key to happiness, the light in the dark, the fire of comfort.

"How long was he—"

It's nothing really. A tiny sentence. But the fact that the person who said it was unable to finish it is just so perfect, so moving - as if the idea of Ron suffering was unthinkable. *eyes water again*

Why could he not control his body?

Oh god, I know this frustration. Your writing is so moving, you are able to convey so much feelings in the simplest sentences.

Ron did as he was told, even though the light was so bright he could feel it throbbing in time with his heartbeat. A loud ringing tone pulsed in his ears, high and sharp.

I can feel exactly what he is speaking about.

"Can I… Can I touch him?" his Mum ask Pomfrey, sounding teary.

Aaaaaaaah you got me again. The hesitation in her voice when she probably wants nothing more, when she probably craves to touch him... That's it, my vision is blurry, I need to take a tissue (fortunately there's a box on my bedside table)

Ron tried to form a word, any word, to say to his mother, but as soon as he could so much as rasp a coughing fit took him. It rattled and tore through him unlike any cough he'd ever had before. Dark red blood exploded from his lungs and splattered the matron's apron. His lungs rattled as cough after cough shook his chest and tore through his throat.

I just felt a pain in my heart. A pang. It's so heartwrenching to see him suffer like this.

Ron had to concentrate, but was able to barely wiggle them and they felt whole enough.

Oh Ron, how can you make me laugh in a moment like this ?

He tried to wipe the back of his arm across his mouth, but his arm just wouldn't move off the bed, lamely twitching at his side. A slimy trail of sputum and blood oozed out of his mouth, but Pomfrey wiped it away with a handkerchief.

All is in the details. I'm picturing Ron, unable to move, his eyes open and unfocus, a trail of blood flowing from his mouth that he can't even wipe and MY HEART CAN'T TAKE IT.

"We love you, sweet boy. We love you so much,"

Yes ! Give him love ! All the love ! I love you too Ron !

Ron began to panic as he tried again and again to make words. He couldn't. Tears came to his eyes and he started to breathe hard.

Nooo he can't speak my poor little Ronnie he must be so afraid and nooo he has tears in his eyes, my heart felt another pang why are you so good at this ?! That's it, I need a pause because I am actually crying. I am sniffing in my bed, tears have rolled off my cheeks and dampered the mattress. Damn you !

Ron tried desperately to say yes, but all that came out what a strange sound similar to the ghoul that lived in his attic. He tried to nod his head but it wouldn't do what he said and just barely moved to the wrong direction. What was wrong with him? He was trapped. Trapped in his own body unable to say or do anything!

I just want to hug you so much Ron. I can't but I really, really want to. That's one of the worst things in the world, being conscious but not being able to do anything.

"You are alright. What you are experiencing is temporary. You will be able to speak later. Maybe in a few hours. This is not permanent. The part of your brain that forms speech is injured, but will be healed - probably by the time you wake up tomorrow. You will regain movement in your body as well, but that might take longer before it's completely healed. Do you understand, Ron?"

You are such a good healer Mrs Pomfrey. And you need a raise.

"The bleeding will continue on and off again the next few days."

How come people think that the Bezoar erased every consequence possible of the poison ? Ron did not spend so much time in the infirmary for nothing !

"Hermione was here?" Ron asked, trying to sit up as quickly as he could. Instead his head rose off the pillow a few centimeters and he weakly collapsed back onto the bed. He gave another attempt to sit up, but the Matron of the hospital wing made it impossible to succeed.

He seems so surprised it is awful but so sweet. The fact that he tried to sit up twice pulled at my heartstrings.

"Did Hermione seem upset?" Ron blurted before realizing it was Pomfrey he was asking.

God the sweetheart somebody helps me !

Your heart stopped, and you weren't breathing for a few minutes, so it might take a bit for your memory to be back to normal.

HIS HEART STOPPED ! HE WAS NOT BREATHING ! OH MY FUCKING ALLMIGHTY GOD !

What happened? Why am I in the hospital? Who visited? Who poisoned me? Will I be ok? Was Hermione here? Where are everyone? Was Hermione upset? Is everyone else ok? Where's Harry? When can I leave? Will I be able to play quidditch? What potions do I have to take? Where is Hermione? Should there be all this blood? Are you sure this is normal? When will I be able to walk again? How am I going to the bathroom? Did anyone but my parents see me when I couldn't talk? When will I be able to sit up on my own? Why can't I use my hands? Do I still have to do my homework? Can't I drink more water than that? When can I eat? Can Hermione visit me again?

Oh. My. God. My heart swelled. I am once again crying thank you very much my bed is now full of dirty tissues. But like, this list is one of the sweetest and most heartbreaking things ever. I need to squeal. So I put my phone aside and do just that (which means rolling in my bed, laughing and probably looking like a maniac). "Did anyone but my parents see me when I couldn't talk ?". How perfectly insecuringly Ron that is (yes I invent words and no I don't care) ? "Is everybody else okay ?" . Man you just got poisoned, you are in unberable pain and you still ask for everybody else ? You're just so... so caring and I love you ! "Can Hermione visit me again ?" God the sweetest of sweethearts 2.

He coughed and felt some blood beginning to make its way down his throat. 

Somebody do something ! My little Ronnie ! Bad, bad Draco !

How could one person look so perfect and make him feel magically better?

He's so in loooove. That's why I love Romione : the raw love and painful need for each other.

 Well, better besides the feeling that he was choking on blood and couldn't fight off a possessed scrambled egg if he had to.

How dare you make me laugh again ? A possessed scrambled egg *snorts loudly*... I'm laughing through my watery eyes...

...he couldn't help but smile.

That's my sweetest of sweethearts Ron 3. He is in pain yet he smiles because the person he loves most is there and he's my little sun.

Last thing he wanted was the sight of bloody teeth sending Hermione away.

*snorts again* *then feels her heart pang again because it's an horribly sad piece of humor*

Ron could vaguely recall reading something about a poisoning, so nodded, hoping that would leave him alone with Hermione.

*shakes her head and smiles* That's so Ron. He just wants to be with the people he cares about.

"You're really here," Ron smiled hopefully. He thought he'd never have Hermione to himself again. She was biting her lip with worry, but she was there. She was beautiful, though a bit paler than usual. Was she in the hospital wing because she was injured? "How are you feeling?"

FOR F*CKS'S SAKE ! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME ! SH*T ! I NEED ANOTHER TISSUE ! AND I AM NOT HALFWAY THROUGH THE CHAPTER ! P*tain de b*rdel de m*rde ! It is so incredibly perfect and moving and Romione-y. The fact that Ron does not believe his eyes that she cares for him, that he smiles hopefully, that he thinks he would never be with her again, the fact that Hermione is biting her lip but does not say anything, and the selflessness of Ron who as usual does not think about himself at all but worries about his loved ones even though he just got poisoned...

"Better, now that you're awake."

My Romione heart swelled again.

Her hand gently made its way into his, sending a thrill through him like the first time he'd ever ridden a broom. He tried to squeeze it hard back, partly to ground himself that this was real, and partly to let her know something of how happy he was to see her, but all he could manage was a limp clammy hold. She didn't say anything to him, simply putting another hand on top of his one weak one.

I am at a loss for words. I am just so emotional. This image of them together is exactly why I love Romione so much. It is very poignant and moving.

"So… I kind of lied. I don't entirely remember what's been going on… I just wanted to see you," Ron said quietly.

At this point I just want to cherish this chapter forever and I definitely need another box of tissues, so I stand up and go search it. It's the "quietly" that actually killed me : picturing Ron, searching Hermione's eyes, whispering this to her is so sweet.

"Oh shit! Please don't leave. I'm so glad you're here. It's fine… I can catch up on this crap later."

He is so emotionally open I just... Hermione, cherish this boy.

He honestly didn't care if he sounded pathetic or desperate. She was the one thing he could hold on to when time was bending, and he wasn't sure of what was real and not.

My Romione heart does not thank you for the emotional roller-coster.

"I'm not going anywhere,"

Aaaah Hermione you pulled at my heartstrings. No, not you too ! I have enough heart pangs with Ron thanks !

"Sorry I'm so stupid right now. I just can't seem to keep a hold of things in my mind for long."

There self-depreciating Ron goes again... Like, am I hallucinating, or is he actually apologizing for not being well after having been poisoned ?? #Rontheboywhoapologizesforeverything

"You're far from stupid," Hermione said with her trademark scowl, and he grinned at that. "You were nearly killed. You had anoxia, where your brain didn't get enough oxygen. It's literal brain damage."

Yes, Hermione ! Tell him he's great ! Prevent him from being self-depreciating ! I love it so much when people let their appreciation of him shine through ! And she's so cute when she gets so anxious and worried that she has to ramble about facts, explain things and expose her knowledge !

He almost laughed at being brain damaged, but tears began to pool in her eyes.

Again so perfectly Romione-y. Ron sees the funny side of things, or the sadly funny side of things when he gets self-depreciating, and Hermione cries because she saw all the implications.

If it weren't for magic you might not be able to remember anything ever again, or talk, or move, and could have been mentally infirm the rest of your life. It wouldn't have been temporary. You'd not be yourself and I just — I just can't stand the thought that-that someone as alive and as - as wonderful as you could ever be struck down and unable to be yourself and I was so so afraid I was going to lose you and the last things I ever said to you were-were horrible, and I just —"

Oh my Romione. And my eyes are watering again. She's so devastated at the idea of a tetraplegic or diminished Ron, and I am too, that's the wrongest thing ever in fanfiction; and she's using the world "alive" to describe Ron and that fits him so well, and she feels so guilty that's awful even if it pleases me a little (I hate it so much when in fanfiction Hermione "accepts" to forgive Ron for Lavender. 😒)

"Oh, Hermione, don't—" he said while weakly raising his arms as high as he could so she'd come into them. 

My HEART ! YOU STABBED ME ! I NEED A F*CKING TISSUE AGAIN HE'S SO CARING AND SWEET !

~ Squealing time interruption ~

Hermione needed facts and figures to comfort her. "Hey, according to this parchment, I'm going to be ok, right?"

He knows exactly what to say to makes her feel better and that's instinctive. That's my Ron and I love him.

She gave a great wet sniff and nodded, though she looked even paler than before.

They're so terribly cute together. Hug her Ron, my girl needs it badly !

He'd have to humiliate himself a bit to get her to laugh, but it would be worth it.

So you are once again going to be very self-sacrificing, okay Ron, but what are you talking about ? How could you...

"And apparently there are some spells in place, so we don't have to worry I'll wet myself in the bed, even though I'm so mentally infirm," he said with a conspiratorial grin.

*jaw drops, eyes water (my fucking god I really am a mess and I look like I just had a heartbreak but okay), heart swells with enough Ron-love to fill a swimming pool*

~ squealing time interruption ~

Okay, I'm extremely moved and that's for a very personal reason. I have had 16 general anaesthesias in my life, yet I have always refused, even when I was seven, to use bedpans to... you know, because I am so proud; I hate admitting weakness and that felt so degrading, even if it's totally normal; so for Ron to humiliate himself like that just to make Hermione laugh is quite extraordinary and extremely selfless. I would never have done that.

End of part 1

[mrslunasnape]

The Prince Fought The Moon

Tea Time

Chapter 21 - SFW

It was a particularly warm Wednesday afternoon and Luna, Minerva, and Pomona were settling down to have their weekly get together.

"How is Cedric doing?" Luna asked Pomona who had just finished pouring everyone a cup.

"He's doing just fine, thank you. He had some rather nasty burns, but nothing that Madame Pomfrey couldn't handle." Pomona assured her.

"I still can't believe there are two champions for Hogwarts this year. You two must be proud, you each have a champion from your House." Luna said.

"I don't know if proud is the word I would use." Minerva said bluntly.

"Did Harry ever tell you how he managed to get his name cast into the Goblet of Fire?" Luna question as she attempted her first sip of tea, which was much too hot. She set the cup back on it's saucer.

"No. He insists that he had nothing to do with it." Minerva said.

"I would think Potter would have told you, and if not you then certainly Dumbledore." Pomona said as she added an ungodly amount of cream to her tea.

"Albus said that Potter told him the same thing as me. He said he had nothing to do with it, and Albus believes him." Minerva said.

"Well, then I'm sure he didn't have anything to do with it. Harry might be known to make some questionable decisions, but when it comes to lying, at least to you, and particularly Dumbledore, it just isn't something that I see him doing." Luna remarked.

Pomona nodded in agreement as she plopped three sugar cubes into her tea. "So, how are things going with Severus?" Pomona asked giddily.

"Actually..." Luna began, "It's been kind of odd."

"Odd?" Minerva raised an eyebrow as she took a sip of tea.

"The summer was wonderful. It was like we were in our own little world. And the start of the school year was going so well, but I feel like lately he's been drifting away from me." Luna said.

"What do you mean, I see you two holding hands every evening." Pomona asked biting into a crumpet laden with strawberry jelly.

"It's not about that kind of attention." Luna said, her cheeks turning flush.

"Oh dear." Pomona said, dropping her crumpet back to her plate. "Hit a bit of a dry spell, have you?"

"It feels like more than that." Luna continued, "He hardly ever wants to be intimate anymore, and he's started wearing pajamas to bed at night."

Pamona gave a chortle, "Luna, dear, I don't think that wearing pajamas to bed is something that should be taken as a sign that someone is losing interest in you."

"What I mean to say, is that Severus hasn't taken his shirt off in front of me for weeks now. It just feels... weird. I don't know how else to explain it. It's like he's avoiding it." Luna said.

"Well, clearly you've just fallen out of your honeymoon phase. You just have to find the spark again." Minerva said wisely, "I have a suggestion if you're feeling...bold."

Pomona's eyes were transfixed on Minerva, eager to hear more.

"Go on..." Luna said nervously.

"There is a room," Minerva began, "On the seventh floor of the castle. It is located across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. If you look, there will be no room there. But, I've heard that if you pass the room three times thinking about what it is that you really need... Well, then the room provides."

"I don't know, Minerva..." Luna said hesitantly.

"Just a thought." Minerva said matter of factly as she reached for a crumpet.

"I'll keep it in mind." Luna said, although she wasn't really sure.

[somekind0fmagic]

Chapter 3. Snakes and Lions Aren’t Good With Each Other

I do not own Harry Potter or the characters made by the terf, I mean JK Rowling

Next chapter will be mostly the ride back and some sibling love between Lily and Albus

( Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14 )

Chapter 3 Snakes and Lions Aren’t Good With Each Other

It had been almost 9 weeks since Albus's argument with James. Now everyone in his family but Victoire ignored him. When she had found out she immediately went to Albus and talked to him. Basically saying that, at least to her, his house didn't matter. That she had really good friends in Slytherin and that if he needed anything he could go to her. She even added that his friends could too. He told her thank you and that he was grateful for that. And before leaving him to go to class, she hugged him tight and told him everything would be alright.

That was when she became his favorite cousin.

But not much after that he got a letter from his parents. Apparently James had written to their parents, saying some BS about him. But on the good side, Victoire had written to them as well and they believed her when she told them that he was the same kid as when he was dropped off. The letter they sent mostly just said how he should just ignore James and go on with school.

He knew that there would be a talk when he got home, even though they said there wouldn't be.

He was happiest when he got Lily's letter. He missed his little sister dearly. She was happy that he wasn't a Gryffindor because it makes him special. She went on about how her life has been at school. About how she hates the school uniforms but loved everything else about her. Her favorite class was English and her least favorite would probably be Maths, only because it confuses her.

His favorite part of the letter was the photo she sent. She was on the beach with some of her friends. 2 he recognized but the other he didn't.

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

Albus and Scorpius were up in the stands, talking with each other about different quidditch teams while Anneliese was down by the locker room, hyping up her brothers, Aidan, Antonio, Derek, and Dominick. "My favorite quidditch team is either the Holyhead Harpies or the Appleby Arrows."

"I feel like I have to like the Holyhead Harpies because my mum was on the team, but still, they're bloody excellent. So, either them or the Kenmare Kestrels I don't totally know"

"My dad owns the Appleby Arrows so that's probably why I like them so much." Albus nodded at Scorpius's comment.

"Y'know, having to hype up 4 of your older siblings isn't fun. Especially when one thinks he's too good to be hyped up. Like please, you're a shitty person and a shitty player who grabs the snitch way too early."

The two boys looked over at the older girl. "What do you mean?"

She sighed, "Dominick is the seeker and he always thinks that he's better than everyone else at the game. Like, if he gets the snitch, we are usually behind and it only gives us like, a 10 point lead. It's so stupid."

"Your brother or the game?"

She laughed, "Both."

Albus sighed before scrunching his face in confusion, "Off of subject, Anneliese, why didn't you tell me it was your birthday last month?"

She shrugged, "You were caught up in everything with Potter and happy that your sister was constantly writing to you, I just didn't seem important. Plus, I share a birthday with Potter, no way is that good."

"Oh, okay," He didn't bring the topic back up, but he knew there had to be a bigger reason since her siblings didn't say anything either.

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

The game had been going on for 6 hours. It was sometime after 4. Neither team had seen the snitch.

"500-190, Gryffindor in the lead. Slytherins seeker needs to get the snitch and put an end to their misery." Majority of the Slytherins audibly groaned when they heard Maily Jordan give that announcement. She wasn't wrong, for Slytherin to have a sliver of a chance to win the game he needed to catch the snitch, and soon.

A sigh escaped Anneliese's lips, "She's right y'know. If he doesn't catch the snitch soon, we'll just look even more like failures when it comes to quidditch."

Albus looked at her with confusion, "What do you mean?"

Scorpius was the one who sighed this time, "Slytherin hasn't won a single game in 5 years. They almost won the games last year but the other seeker for the other houses kept getting the snitch."

"Oh...I never knew that."

"Not surprising, you're James Potter's younger brother, doubt he would let that be known." Albus just simply shrugged at Anneliese but then let out a scream with the rest of the Slytherins when it was announced that Ravenclaw's seeker caught the snitch.

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

Scorpius and Albus waited for Madam Hooch to come out of her office for class, talking to Anneliese because she broke her arm (on accident of course) and couldn't do the class. They had been waiting for the past 10 minutes. "Ey, Malfoy, I'm still surprised that they let your kind in."

The two boys looked over at who said it. Oxford Wilde was standing next to Rose and Connie Wood. Albus glared at him, "What do you want?"

"Nothing from you, just Malfoy. Tell me, what is it like to have a father who's a werewolf?"

"My dad's not a werewolf! Besides, what's bad about a werewolf? There was a Gryffindor who was one!" His voice went higher than its normal sound.

"He's not wrong Ox, not all people who are werewolves are bad! In fact-"

"Awe, need to share you information about useless things Rosie?"

She gave him a dirty look, "You need to tell Lily to talk to James more."

"And why would I do that?"

"Because you're going to corrupt her with your thoughts! Convince her that we're the bad guys!"

Albus scoffed, "Just because she looks up to me doesn't mean she'll think that! Get over yourself Rose!"

He moved to grab his wand, but before he could reach his, she grabbed her wand and shouted, "Locomotor Mortis!"

He felt his legs lock together and he tried to move. He didn't know the countercurse. The one time he needed Anneliese she wasn't there. So all he could do was send a jinx her way, "Tarantallegra!"

Unfortunately for Albus, she knew the counter-jinx for what he threw at her, but fortunately for him Scorpius fired the counter-curse to the Leg-Lock curse. "Everte Statum!" Albus flew back serval feet, hitting his head on a tree. He pushed himself up and tried to walk towards her, but she yelled another spell at him, "Flipendo!" He was pushed back into the tree. Ears were ringing and everything blurry. He faintly heard more spells being fired and then a whistle being blown.

He felt someone's arms grab him from behind and hoisting him up. Not knowing who it was until he heard the voice, almost as if it was yelling in his ear. "C'mon Mr. Potter, let's get you to the Hospital Wing."

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

Albus blinked his eyes, adjusting them to the brightness of the Hospital Wing. "Madam Pomfrey! He's up! You had us worried Al, I thought we might have to send a letter to your parents or something."

"L, you're rushing, I can barely understand what you're saying. And can you help me up?" To him, it felt like he was yelling, but in reality, he was just whispering.

She carefully wrapped her arms under him and pulled him up. "I'm sorry Al, I was just really scared. Hooch and I came back to see you against a tree, blood coming down from your head." She pulled away and then smiled, "You've never called me 'L' before. I like it."

Before he could reply Madam Pomfrey walked over, "That was quite a fight you got yourself into Mr. Potter. How're feeling?"

He shrugged, "I'm okay, I think. Just a massive headache."

"That is to be expected. Well, let me just check some things out and then I can send you on your way." He nodded and let her do what she needed to.

"I have to go, lunch is almost over and I have to head down to History of Magic." Anneliese stood up, grabbing her bag, "I'll see you later." She walked out of the room and he flinched lightly when the door shut.

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

The fight happened 5 days ago, he had been up for 4. Rose had detention until Christmas break. "It's what she deserves. I think she deserves longer though, but hey, that's me." Was what Anneliese told him when he told her that he was unsure if that much as really needed. It was breakfast and they were waiting for mail and it was almost as like it was magic, the mail came. Scorpius only got a copy of the paper, Annelies got a letter from her mother and cousins from Bulgaria, Albus got a letter from his mother, Aunt Hermione, Lily, and Teddy. He opened Teddy's first, as he never really wrote to him, well, he didn't write to anyone.

Albus,

Hey, heard what Rose did to you, hope you're doing good. Hermione and Ron are livid at her for that, no doubt she'll get a howler from them soon haha. Hope you're 1st year is going good, I actually am happy that you're a Slytherin, makes you...unique. Vic told me that she's been helping you out with things, she didn't say what 'things' were, but then again, I didn't ask. Well, I have no clue on what to say honestly, so just have a good couple of weeks until Christmas, I'll see you then.

Teddy

When Albus finished reading the letter he looked over at the Hufflepuff table, his cousin was talking to some of her friends. He then looked to the Gryffindor table, his family were all joking and laughing with each other. Fred made eyesight with him and gave him a small wave. Albus returned it, Fred was the only one who he used to talk to that didn't really become a dick. But they never really talked as he was always with James.

Albus went back to his letters, opening the one from his aunt next.

Dear Albus,

Hello dear, I know I never write to you and I am sorry that it is only because of this situation. Your Uncle Ron and I will be having a serious conversation with Rose when you all come back for Christmas break. But I wanted to apologize myself, I feel like it's my fault that she is acting like this. I thought I raised her to be better than this, to not pick fights with someone just because of their house. She says that you've 'changed' since becoming a Slytherin, from what I've heard from what your mother is saying from the letters you've been sending to your sister, I highly doubt that. Well, I can't wait to see you in a few week and once again I am very sorry for Rose's actions.

Wish you the best,

Aunt Hermione

He placed that aside and opened his mother's letter,

Albus,

I have no clue when you are getting this, but this morning your father and I got a letter from Professor McGonagall saying that you got into a fight with your cousin. She said how Rose claimed you attacked her first, some agreeing with her, but the majority disagreeing. Your sister is very worried about you and is trying to grab the paper from me to write to you. I always forget how much she looks up to you Albus, it makes me happy that at least 2 of my kids are getting along.

In other news, your father said that plans for the 20th anniversary since the end of the war event at the ministry is already starting to be planned. He was wanting me to ask you if he wanted us to write to McGonagall to get you out of school to come with us, you don't have to of course. 

How has your year been too? You never write to us and I've been getting worried, even if you're just saying everything is okay and you're happy, please just write.

Love,

Your mother

"My mum is mad at me for not writing."

"Same here Al, mine even threatened me." Anneliese and Albus laughed while Scorpius looked confused while reading the paper.

He grabbed the last letter and opened it.

Hey Albie! How has school been? Anneliese? Scorpius? Mum just told me about the fight with Rose, are you okay? I hope you are. School for me has been hard, I lost two friends. They called me weird for having a big family.But in other news, I broke my arm. So I'm sorry that this looks weirdly written, I'm using my left hand. 

Mum says that you go on Christmas break in 3 weeks. So three weeks until I see you again! I'm excited, I wanna hear all about Hogwarts and your friends and what Slytherin House is like!

Hugo and I got into a fight, currently on no speaking terms. I don't like not speaking to him, actually, I'm gonna stop writing and go apologize!

Bye Albie!

Love your sister Lily

He smiled when reading her letter, he really missed his sister. He mostly just missed her chaotic energy and everything about it.

"Damn, Arrows lost their last match."

He looked up to Scorpius, "Good then the Kestrels have a chance at going to the World Cup." He gave Scorpius a smug smile before bursting into laughing. "Anyways, break is in like, 3 weeks. What're you guys gonna do?"

"Cry because I have to deal with all 14 of my siblings. You?"

Albus laughed, "Probably hang with my little sister and see how my cousin who is at Beauxbatons is doing."

"I'm doing nothing." They all laughed when Scorpius spoke.