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jmscornerlibrary · 4 months ago

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Unravelling Umbridge: Part 2

In which plans are made, Luna Lovegood unwittingly gets the better of Snape, and Fred and George Weasley are about to be caught completely off guard.

(Part 1 is on my blog :)

Featuring: Madame Rosmerta, Snape's pink cheeks, two fat nifflers and McGonagall as a cat.

Disclaimer: No pairings! This is a Hogwarts Professors being chaos fic. Everything is nice and proper (as it should be).

Enjoy!

***

The Three Broomsticks were relatively empty during the dark hours of after-student curfew: after ten. The hour was half-past, fires blazed in their places and the inn was as toasty as it could be on a chilly September night. The faint babble of chatter and clinking of glass coming from the kitchen and the bar was like honey in the ears of the two teachers sitting in the corner of the inn, after a whole day of shouting and chaos in the classrooms and common rooms.

Madame Rosmerta smiled as she wove her way across to the two of them, a glass of gillywater and Ogden’s upon her tray.

“Hello, Minerva, Professor Snape,” she said, with a little wink at the latter. “What brings you here on a late Monday evening?”

Severus Snape started at the wink, then averted his eyes from the pretty lady and instead grasped his glass of whisky. Minerva McGonagall spied a very faint tinge of pink upon his cheekbones and barely kept her face under control.

“Nothing much, Rosmerta,” she replied with a faint smile. “We have some marking business to discuss. It’s a lot more peaceful here, away from the students… and I daresay not much can happen when everybody is asleep.”

Severus inclined his head a fraction as a way of contributing to the conversation.

��I won’t interrupt you then,” Rosmerta replied with an eye-roll and smile. “I’d rather not get involved with such dark business.”

“Very wise,” McGonagall replied. “Thank you, dear.”

There was a moment’s pause during which both Heads sipped their drinks and fixed their eyes on the table, as Madame Rosmerta made her way back to the bar. Snape sighed faintly.

“Your cheeks are red,” Minerva said, not looking up. Severus didn’t retort, though he had to clear his throat quite thoroughly after swallowing.

“A lot of things can happen when everybody’s asleep, professor,” he replied stonily once he regained his breath. “Let’s talk quickly and return.”

Minerva put down her glass and folded her hands, placing her head upon them. “Let us do that. You are aware, perhaps, that Dolores is fond of cats?”

Severus’ eyes were directed to her as he swallowed his Ogden’s and stayed there as he put his glass down.

“Cats.”

McGonagall smiled at his baffled tone and expression - the latter was a very peculiar one, for his eyebrows always formed a low, straight line and his eyes narrowed along with his mouth, so he looked as though he had just swallowed an amphibian - and inclined her head, her glasses flashing peculiarly in the light of the candles above them.

“Indeed. She’s really fond of kittens. Have you been in her office, yet?”

He scoffed. “I am yet to experience that pleasure.”

“Oh, you’ll absolutely love it,” she said, recalling her own disgust after she had set foot in it after an invitation. She had almost been surprised that her clothes hadn’t turned pink from exposure. “But all in good time.”

She pulled out the piece of parchment she had drawn up in her office and splayed it out onto the table. Snape leaned over, studied it, then turned his eyes onto her.

“This is just a print of a cat,” he observed, doubt and severe judgement lining his tone.

“That’s right.”

He studied his older counterpart for a few moments longer, but when she gave no answer, he grimaced. “Would you care to enlighten me, Professor?”

“With pleasure,” McGonagall replied, unmistakably smiling now. “You see, Severus… Dolores is fond of cats.”

“Yes, that we have already established.”

“And I, Professor Snape, am an animagus. More precisely…”

She ran a weathered finger over the rim of her glass, her grey eyes flashing with something which made Severus slightly uncomfortable. He had seen this gleam in the eyes of Gryffindor students fairly often when they were intent on acting up in his lessons; it usually meant they were about to toss things across the classroom into one another’s cauldrons, or something that was equally insipid.

“...I am perfectly capable of turning into a cat at leisure.”

Severus Snape’s face did not change, but as he reached for his whisky, his eyebrows crept upwards onto their highest step. The two Heads stared at one another for one long moment, both their eyes now gleaming, after which Severus put down his glass and inclined his head, slightly begrudgingly.

“I must admit that you, Minerva, are full of surprises.”

“My.” She chuckled. “Was that a compliment?”

“I’m disgusted with myself too.”

“A compliment,” she repeated. “From you?”

Severus looked at her long and hard, then shrugged. “You sound astonished. As though I rarely give out compliments, professor. I will have you know that nobody is as generous in their bestowment as I am.”

Minerva humphed, then rolled the parchment up and carefully set it on fire.

“I should give Slytherin a few points just for the sake of it,” she murmured, tilting the parchment with her wand, as it disintegrated above the table. “Perhaps one or two.”

Snape didn’t look impressed, but something of a smile still lingered on his features.

“I am no longer an adolescent, professor.”

“Nonsense. Unfortunately for you…” McGonagall made a little sound of satisfaction as the rest of the parchment vanished, then turned back to him. “You’ll never be a day over fifteen, for this old crone.”

Severus watched this old crone wriggle on her chair for half a second before emptying her glass, revealing as much excitement as her own stiff person perhaps would ever allow itself to, then returned to his usual stony expression after a moment and scoffed.

“I would hate to be in your place, professor,” he said, imagining short, square, flabby fingers with pink nails before him, magnified from a feline’s perspective. “Though, tell me, what exactly do you plan on doing when you enter that disgusting hellscape of magenta and primrose?” He spat out the last three words. “Are you really going to let that woman cluck and coo at you, perhaps even scratch you behind the ears?”

His lips curled upwards and black eyes began to glint.

“I suppose that would be quite a poke at your dignity. The Head of Gryffindor in such a precarious position? Hm. I reckon you would be giving her a piece of your mind with your steel claws before you could stop yourself, but then the whole plan would be ruined.”

“You would be right.” McGonagall sniffed, no longer liking this turn of events. “Yet I am willing to put it to the side for the greater good, Severus.”

She sent him a pointed glance from behind her spectacles. He rolled his eyes and finished his drink.

“It is a very good idea,” he admitted, placing the glass down with a thunk. “I assume it is to gather more information than we are aware about. Perhaps she hides some strange letters of correspondence in her desk, or something equally vile.”

“Not my thoughts exactly, but whilst I am there, it would not do any harm to sniff around.”

Minerva placed her glass in the middle of the table, neatly. “However, it will not happen straight away, perhaps not even this week. The first few are always the most chaotic. Let us wait until everybody settles down, back into routine… or as much into routine as it can be, with the changes our subject of discussion has so boldly introduced this new order of things… before disturbing it”

They stood; Severus drew a finger over the surface of the table, then turned to Minerva.

“I expect to be informed as soon as you make your first venture, professor.”

“You will be the first,” she replied, as they made their way out of the inn, “and probably the only person who I will inform about this. Stay sharp. And Severus,” she added, looking back at him. “If you are so interested, why don’t you tell Rosmerta directly, instead of being so pathetically discreet? It’s incensing.”

Snape scoffed and averted his eyes from the white smile flashing from over by the bar, surrounded by a cloud of blonde curls, hastily.

“Don’t make me laugh, professor,” he muttered. “Interested. As if.”

Then he stepped past her and stormed out of the inn with his fists clenched and his dark cloak billowing.

And so the wait began, though nobody who observed the Potions Master would have thought that he was waiting for anything, for his masks of indifference were so close to perfect that everybody was convinced that Severus Snape was simply living his best life, or at least as close as it could get to that in present circumstances.

In fact, the Head of Slytherin and the Head of Gryffindor hardly spoke to one another at all that week, though they sat next to one another during meals to oversee the miserable silence in which meals were now spent. Both, however, had the pleasure of not sharing the company of Dolores Umbridge directly, who had taken to sitting next to Dumbledore and bestowing her little observations and ‘hem hems’ onto him. Since Albus was so polite as to never reveal what (as everybody was convinced) he really thought of her presence, he was the one who was suffering at large, running his fingers through his beard, his eyes rather solemn behind his half-moon spectacles though his mouth was always politely smiling and baffling Frog Pinky with stories - which most of the staff had heard before and chuckled at, since they were always told with that in mind - which verged on nonsensical.

Sometimes during these meals, Snape would glance at his colleague, who would return his glance without as much as an inclination of her head, and he would understand that it was yet to happen. He didn’t complain, nor grow more impatient, for he had far too much to do in his own time and his temper was put to the test on many occasions anyway, especially when teaching the fifth years, since Potter and his hilarious camaraderie didn’t have any less nonsense in their heads and twice the usual vigour to bring it into his life this year.

None of that put him on edge in the sense that he dreaded, however. Since Severus operated mainly on logic and common sense, he knew there was no way that anybody but his house rival knew of their conspiracy, and so he had no reason to be - and was not - nervous. Nor was he expecting any sort of confrontation with the amphibious, bureaucracy-hailing blob of magenta which terrorised students with greater ease than he did, regardless of the fact that he was almost double her height.

Confrontation did not come, but eavesdropping did, though it was entirely unintentional. Severus was returning from the staff room after lunch break when upon turning the corner and a suit of armour to where the DADA office stood, he encountered the despised Miss Bufotes-Roseaus at her office door, deep in conversation with Argus Filch.

“I’m telling you, Mr Filch, it was a very pretty little cat, grey, with little black markings on its face. I’m sure you must have seen it before… you do have such a sweet little creature yourself.”

Severus stopped, then receded back behind the corner, into its shadows, and hid behind the suit of armour. From this position, he was almost impossible to see, for there were few windows on this corridor and his clothes were as black as the shadows sticking to the walls, so logic dictated that he ought to listen and collect as much information as possible for the good of the Slytherin-Gryffindor truce, before making his way back. He watched Filch shaking his balding, old head.

“Can’t say I’ve seen it before, professor, but that wouldn’t be the first time Hogwarts has attracted such creatures. I’ve shooed many away on such an occasion myself… my cat is allergic to others of its species, I’m afraid.”

“Well, please be sure to let this one walk around as it pleases, Mr Filch,” Umbridge said with a nod. “I think it’s taken quite a liking to me, and I’ve come to be fond of it myself.”

Severus hardly restrained himself from snorting aloud, though his lip did twitch at the image brought before him of this woman cooing over a po-faced, stiff-backed Minerva-the-cat. He owed his colleague for making him laugh, he thought - it wasn’t a common occurrence and he prized it. But then the conversation turned, and they began to speak of something different, something which had rather the opposite effect on him.

“Tell me, Mr Filch,” Toadus Pinkus began in her sickening sing-song. “What do you think of the professors here?”

Filch pushed out his lips as he thought. “That depends upon what grounds.”

“Why, teaching, of course!” came the reply. “And their beliefs. Those are important qualities, the most important qualities a professor can have. After all, they unknowingly bestow their views and upbringing upon the ones who they teach, and in a world as this one…”

“I see, I see,” Filch said, frowning as he searched in that knock-hollow head he carried on his dowager-humped shoulders. “I suppose most of them are quite good, Professor Umbridge.”

“Hm. Have you ever partook in any recent Care of Magical Creatures lessons, Mr Filch?”

Snape didn’t quite know why, but his fist tightened into the fold of his robes where was currently holding them. Filch nodded.

“I have, actually. I myself have helped with amassing some creatures Mr Hagrid had gotten ready for the lessons.”

“And are they fully approvable? The lessons?”

Filch hesitated. Severus could almost see his little brain working. Umbridge filled the care-taker in.

“They follow the Ministry curriculum? Does he communicate on an acceptable standard?”

Filch frowned; Severus felt his temper rising up like fiery bile from his lungs and into his head.

“Why, I suppose he does…” Filch scratched his chin. “I’m hardly ever there, really. I couldn’t really tell you, professor. You’ll have to see for yourself.”

“A good idea, Mr Filch.” Severus could see the toad smile, as she adjusted the pink bows stuck to the side of her head. “Your domain is mainly the castle corridors, I assume?”

“That’s right.”

“So you know how the other professors do, I suppose.”

“I’ve seen this and that.”

“What about… hm, the dark, unpleasant-looking man. Severus Snape, I believe his name was. Thin, with a crooked nose, surly expression?”

Snape barely repressed a scoff. They could laugh at him if they wished to, he thought, for he was immune to such abominable slighting and often did some of his own in his head, though his slighting was directed at others too.

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about him, Professor Umbridge,” Filch waved his hand with a snort. “The students get on quite alright in his lessons, that’s without a doubt. In fact, I often find myself wishing other teachers would take a leaf out of his book.”

“Hm. Indeed,” Umbridge hummed again. “And the old woman?”

Severus felt the veins in his neck begin to grow hot. He held his breath, expecting more. Filch frowned again.

“Old woman?”

“Yes. I believe McGonagall was her name.”

“Oh!” Filch nodded, then lowered his voice and flicked his eyes around the corridor nervously. “I cannot complain about Professor McGonagall! She’s taught at Hogwarts long before I walked its halls, professor, and from what I’ve seen she has not a single fault in her teaching. A very good witch. Doesn’t quite believe in punishing students as they ought to be, however. A shame, if you ask me.”

“Indeed,” Umbridge pursed her thick lips. “It seems to me that she’s a little too above herself.”

Ha, Severus thought, not even realising he was running his fingers along the smooth material of his wand in his sleeve, does she now.

Filch merely inclined his head at this, but kept silent.

“As though she owns the place,” Umbridge continued. “Perhaps she fancies herself the Headmistress, one day. Quite a prolonged goal, if that’s the case… she must be almost at the end of her life, and she’s spent most of it here, from what I’ve heard… She doesn’t have long to realise it.”

Severus slowly drew out his wand.

“Why, she has,” Filch said.

“A rather sad one… but, that’s simply how life is. It’s not fair, as we both know, Mr Filch, life. Some people amount to greatness, some people…” She sighed, looking pitifully at probably an invisible McGonagall beside them. “Well, they contribute something to the world, but nothing of significance.”

Severus’ hand didn’t tremble as he lifted it, as he saw black and red, his lungs constricted, fire in his veins, pointing the tip of his wand at Umbridge. Fury only increased precision and potency in his spells.

“Some people are simply good enough to be turned into dust,” he found himself murmuring as he took a step back, readying himself, “and that’s the best thing they can hope to amount to… as do the people around them.”

He was about to flick his wrist; just about to hiss out something uncontrollable in the pit of his mind and step back, when something rustled behind him and he froze, shooting a look over his shoulder, his heart stumbling in its thudding plunge from fury to shock.

Two unnaturally-huge, silvery-blue eyes stared up at him, standing a mere two steps away from where he hid. Severus recognised this student; he would be a fool not to, for she stood out with her crazy ornaments, jewellery and distinct bolt-crazy habits. At present, she was clutching a stack of magazines with a pair of strange goggles on her forehead which pressed down her platinum-blonde locks and she was looking at him without a hint of trepidation or concern in her expression.

“Please carry on, professor,” Luna Lovegood murmured dreamily. “I just wanted to watch.”

Severus would have never admitted it, but he felt a strange shudder roll through him which pulled at his nerves. He was uneasy; only for a few moments, however.

He stepped out from behind the suit of armour and retreated back around the corner to where Lovegood stood, leaving the gossiping pair at Umbridge’s door, then sucked in a breath, felt his temper restart, shoved his wand up his sleeve and made motion with his head for her to follow him.

When they got a safe distance away, he stopped his march and rounded on her. The only trouble was, now that he had been caught about to hex another colleague, he didn’t quite know what he should shout at her. But he didn’t need to. She spoke first.

“She’s an awful creature, isn’t she, professor?” Luna Lovegood adjusted her grip on the stack of magazines she was holding - most of them were upside down - and blinked once. “To be truthful, I wish you’d had done it. Please don’t worry about me telling anybody. I would have done it myself, if I could.”

Snape unfastened his jaw, still quite at a loss for words. “Would you, now.”

“Yes. She reminds me of a doxy. Quite a large and fat one, but a doxy regardless.”

He paused, actually snorted in amusement, feeling his muscles protest at the unnatural action of grinning, then regained himself and looked at Lovegood long and hard. After a moment, he just flicked his head towards the other end of the corridor and folded his arms.

“Go,” he said. “Before I take any points off for skulking about the castle.”

She nodded, not taking her unblinking eyes off him for a moment, gave him a little bow, then turned and walked off calmly to her destination.

Snape watched her, perplexed, then remembered what he had heard upstairs and clenched his fists. Nothing he could do now, however, would do anybody any good, so he simply turned on his heel and swept off to his classroom before anything else made him explode again.

It was on a grey Thursday afternoon - three days after the incident with Luna Lovegood - that Severus, whilst rubbing at his temples and muttering darkly under his breath, still smelling the smoke which had coated the surface of his classroom after a particular accident, found that his waiting had come to an end. Minerva finally nudged the topic which had bubbled on his mind and reminded him of the days in which he had tossed a dungbomb into Sirius Black’s bag - the latter hadn’t noticed until it went off halfway down the corridor and Severus hadn’t forgotten the surge of delight which had took hold of his chest for two days after and whenever he had recalled it.

McGonagall matched his step on the way to the staff room so silently and without announcement that he had glanced to his left and ended up flinching when he spotted her black hat, balanced upon her head at its usual degree.

“You look like you’ve swallowed an eel,” the elderly witch observed, as he scowled and grimaced at the way his heart thudded against his will.

“I feel as though I’ve swallowed an eel,” Severus muttered, shooting out a sigh through his nostrils. “And I will go as far as to swallow a poisonous one if you comment on any house points, crying students, my expression, or whatever it is I smell like. I’ve had it up to here with everything today, and I’m unwilling to make any exceptions, whether it be to my elders or betters or whatnot.”

Minerva’s lip twitched.

“Oh, please,” she said once he had finished grouching. “You must realise that you say that every other day. So many times, in fact, that your threats are no longer imposing. But don’t worry Severus, I wasn’t going to, for I have many more important matters to discuss with you before the day is out.”

They glanced at one another, one gaze amused, one perplexed, then made a synchronised U-turn in the middle of the corridor and began to sweep their way in the opposite direction.

“I won’t keep you waiting,” Minerva said, glancing up at him from behind her steely spectacles. “From what I have observed, there’s nothing we, as teachers, can do.”

Snape graced her with a cool glance.

“You have kept me waiting for two weeks after dragging me to suffer at Rosmerta’s just to tell me that there’s nothing we can do?”

She blinked at him with raised eyebrows, then sighed.

“I’m sorry you were so excited about it, Severus. It’s just that I don’t think we ought to stoop so low as to jinx or hex her in the corridors. That’s something that first-years do to one another. We are adults.”

Severus remembered his precarious hiding place behind the suit of armour and his murderous thoughts and intentions and said nothing.

“In short, there’s nothing we can do without blowing everything over.”

They passed through the main entrance, out onto the school grounds. It was a clear day, as warm as though it was still remembering summer, and mostly silent leave rustling and the far-away barking of the Game Keeper’s dog. Severus drew his cloak about him out of habit, scowling at the sky as Minerva walked along with him, her eyes darting here and there to detect anything unusual, also out of habit.

“Perhaps it is for the better,” she said, after they had made their way out onto the Quidditch pitches. “We are, after all, adults. Well, at least one of us is.”

Severus harrumphed in response. Minerva’s lip twitched.

“So you also think it is better to call this off?”

“No,” came the short answer, surprising her. “Conspiracy has become the highlight of my life and I refuse to give it up so easily.”

McGonagall’s eyebrows were raised again as she directed a look at him.

“Conspiracy? Nonsense.” She scoffed. “Conspiracy indeed. It is vengeance you want.”

“And I am not alone in wanting it,” he snapped. “You’ve been just as petty as I have in the roseau regard. Perhaps more.”

“Be that as it may, vengeance is something to frown upon.”

“Ha,” he scoffed. “That depends on the circumstances-”

“Wait, hush.”

They stopped. Minerva frowned; Severus turned.

“It looks like somebody is out,” he muttered after a pause, his eyes turned upwards. “I just wonder where…”

They both noticed ‘where’ at the same moment. Both had the wits about them to keep silent, though both also were stunned into looking sillier than both of them would have wanted.

Fred Weasley was leaning out of the top battlement, his wand out, looking very gleeful as he hovered down a niffler down to a particular window, about three stories below him. A few metres to his left, George Weasley was hovering down another; both creatures were strangely calm as they spun on different axis, as though they knew full well what was about to happen and were fully anticipating it.

McGonagall regained her voice, though it came out rather unsteady. “Merlin’s beard.”

Severus had shut his mouth by now and was observing the two devils with interest, his hands folded behind his back.

“It appears that that window,” he murmured after a moment, “is our most esteemed Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher’s.”

His voice made him sound almost impressed and was quite serene, though his counterpart was neither of those things one bit.

“But they’re on the battlements,” she said in a slightly strangled voice. “Merlin’s beard, they’re inches from slipping-!”

She started forward after inhaling a swift breath, probably to speak her mind very thoroughly about what she thought about them being so insipidly dim-witted, but Severus stuck out an arm to stop her. She looked at him as though he was mad. He certainly had a strange glint in his eyes. Even the corners of his mouth were turned up.

“There’s no way we can do this without blowing it, you say, professor?”

Minerva’s severely judgemental look grew about ten times denser.

“Heavens above, you are mad.”

“I am not,” he said gently, then pointed above him neatly. “But they most certainly are.”

Minerva looked up just in time to see the two fat nifflers roll through the open window, the Weasley twins shoot one another looks of pure pleasure, rub their hands, and their flaming heads disappear after ducking down. It was followed very closely by a sound as though somebody had smashed a glass jewellery box and a couple of dinner plates onto a stone floor, followed by an indignant meow.

There was a pause in which Snape and McGonagall looked at one another. Then, without a word, they both turned neatly on their heels and made their way back to the castle, with varying degrees of satisfaction and resolution upon their faces.

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lemonadehtwooh · 2 years ago

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Epic of Gilgamesh

Enkidu: *punches Gilgamesh*

Gil (the most touch starved person in Mesopotamia):

Gil:

Gil: I love you

Enkidu: E...Excuse me????

#My simplist way of understanding that whole situation #/j moment but it's so funny to think about #Literally they beat each other up and were like “okay so now we're friends”#gilgamesh #enkidu #the epic of gilgamesh #Reminds me of when Phoenix Ikki from Saint Seiya was just punched enough times to submit to friendship #I wanna doodle this later with my FGO AU versions hopefully #fate grand order

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corvidscreams · 2 years ago

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Sketch reward for @madamlibrarianmarian who asked for some fluffy wing au kesett, and what’s fluffier than a couple of babies?

#kesett #boba fett #cal kestis #calboba #sketch prize #My art #star wars #star wars fan art #Rising Phoenix au #Star Wars fallen order #jedi survivor

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seefullforecast · 4 months ago

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D.M

Captivatingly Reckless

Draco x oc

Part 1 Nott manor

☀︎☽☁︎⭐︎

They had both arrived to an evening at the Nott's home along with a handful of other families. The excuse was a send off to the children leaving for school again in a few days when in actual fact they would be neglected and forgotten about all night. Flora found this to be her favourite of all the outings her mother would drag her to. Theodore Nott was her age also, they were in the same house at Hogwarts, both going into their fifth years and Merlin they could make each other laugh. Flora and Theo would gravitate towards each other during these little get togethers to people watch.

"Oh honestly Flora I am quite astonished!" Theo chuckled as some of his drink splashed due to his careless and over exaggerated arm gestures.

"You can stop with the posh voice, no one is around to listen to us Theo." Flora rolled her eyes recalling the countless times she would trick him into thinking his father was approaching the two of them in the midst of their commentaries. "Besides the Attwoods need all the fashion advice they can get. Surely you can only turn so many animals into scarves, it's just barbaric."

At this point Flora had propped her feet onto the chaise lounge along side Theo who was starting to get more comfortable. He hated these parties, they put him on edge and he couldn't stand when his father held them.

"Yeah well neither of us need to be getting an earful later tonight for speaking out of turn, or falling asleep!" Theo nudged the girl now pretending to snore.

"Theo it's that posh boy voice, it just drones on and then next thing I know..." Flora snored loudly again to receive a hard nudge almost sending her to the floor.

"Okay okay whatever, you're just jealous I can turn mine off and speak normally. You're stuck sounding like that forever. Before we know it you'll have a fluffy little woodland creature sitting around your neck." Theo referred to the fashion faux pas Mrs Attwood adorned and prodded at his friend to which she slapped his hand away.

"On to more pressing news however, Elise told me Pansy was asking after you. Maybe she has finally moved her sights from Malfoy to yourself Mr Nott." Flora teased Theo fully aware of the disdain the two of them held for the pug faced girl.

"We both know your bestie Elise likes to gossip and exaggerate things though don't we Flower. And let's be honest the day pug face stops fawning over Malfoy will be the same day Trelawney actually predicts something!" A snort escaped him as he mulled over his own words.

"Don't shoot the messenger. Parkinson is probably just covering her back for when Malfoy finally caves and rejects her outright. She will need a new target, that's what leaches do they suck all of your energy and you happen to be in her line of sight behind Malfoy." Flora stated matter of factly shooting a pointed look to Theo almost warningly.

"You two already that bored that you've resorted to talking about yours truly?" A new voice drawled out startling the two. Platinum blonde hair came into view. It had grown since the last time Flora seen him. He was taller too but he still looked as pristine as ever and unlike Theo's, his shirt was still tucked in neatly.

"Ah speak of the devil and he shall appear!" Theo theatrically sang making Flora giggle and Draco playfully roll his eyes.

Draco often found the two in a corner at these sort of functions. They never really mingled around the room. Now Draco wouldn't go as far as to say he was jealous but whilst those two could sit and chat all night to each other, his parents would showcase him to any and everyone they could find and make him converse with people he had never met. So indeed he was jealous.

"Manage to sneak away then Malfoy?" Theo questioned as Malfoy only ever seemed to talk to them for a few moments at these parties before he was back to working the room.

"If so then you really did a horrid job because here comes your mother now with mine close behind." Flora grumbled clearly agitated as her and Theo stood up straightening their postures.

In a moment of realisation Flora also quickly grabbed hers and Theo's glasses and discarded them on a table behind them to which Draco sent a knowing look. Flora shrugged at him and the three of them put on wide smiles simultaneously.

Lilian Dalton and Narcissa Malfoy had been acquainted for quite some time and would often write to one another. Flora couldn't tell if they were actually friends or whether they simply kept each other company. It was clear the two didn't have many other people to turn to for solace.

"My look at you three, you all look lovely all dressed up!" Narcissa beamed at the small group that were already starting to grow taller than their parents. Draco sent a smirk to Theo and Flora who were mumbling small thank yous.

"Oh Draco your Mother has been telling me all about how your studies are coming along. I must say how lovely it is to hear of such excellent work." Lilian's words whether she intended it or not were icy to Flora but her smile did not falter.

"Yes indeed I also mentioned to Lilian about how well you..." At Narcissa's input both Theo and Flora found an escape to slip away whilst the attention was on the Slytherin Prince himself. Flora thought it to be the one time she had ever been grateful for his presence. The two scurried off but not before she quickly turned back to mouth a 'sorry' and give the boy a small shrug knowing he was now outnumbered.

Draco watched them both leave and perch themselves across the other side of the room where Mrs Attwood was now making her way towards unbeknownst to them. His line of sight drifted from his mother directly in front of him to Flora and Theo as the night went on. He couldn't seem to find an exit in the conversation.

At this point the party was dwindling down to an end and Draco and his mother were merely waiting for his father and Mr Nott to return from the upstairs study. Lilian Dalton wouldn't leave until Narcissa did so that meant during this entire time Draco could see Flora and Theo in fits of laughter in the far corner. For some reason Theo was now wrapping a dead fox scarf around an unimpressed Flora which had him doubled over clutching his stomach. At least Elise Campbell wasn't here, the three of them would've been wrecking havoc by this point. Most likely in a strategic manner to end the dreaded evening sooner.

"So whatever are the plans for this year Flora? The papers say Potter avoided expulsion in the end after his hearing. Fancy that, he can defeat The Dark Lord as a mere baby but struggles to make it all the way through school." Theo was now sloshing around a new drink he had picked up from somewhere and was tugging Flora to sit by him near the fire after escaping Mrs Attwood.

"You know this is the last place we should be speaking of such topics." Flora became all too aware of some of the guests within the room. She was also aware of the select few who had left sometime ago upstairs and were yet to return, Theo's father included.

"Besides I think what you really want to ask me is however do you catch the attention of a girl, now you have Parkinson on your tail. If you could call her a girl, I see her as more of a demon sent to bring misery to our lives." Flora held a hand to her heart to show she was there for him when he needed the girl advice he clearly wasn't about to seek out anytime soon.

"Oh is that right Flower? I'll make sure to send pug face your way then the next time I see her since you deal with her so well, best of friends you two." His sarcastic lopsided grin earned him a playful shove but Flora's expression warned him of the severity of his words.

"She may be horrid but she certainly does not compare to this oaf I know. Oh what was his name? Leo? No Rio? Whatever it was, this boy..."

"Is devilishly handsome, a comedic genius, the sun of your universe that you revolve around?!" Theo interrupted before any insults could be thrown his way.

"He wishes! No, this boy can really throw a temper tantrum like none you've ever seen." Theo was already rolling his eyes at Flora's exaggerated arm movements and mocking voice, and she was trying to say he was the dramatic one. "I remember on one occasion he refused to leave the common room to go on the Hogsmeade trip because it was raining!" This earned her an exasperated groan in response from him as he hated any time she brought this up.

"I don't know how many times I have to tell you, I had a pumpkin pasty that just didn't agree with me." His eyes grew distant as he shuddered at memories that seemed to haunt him.

"Merlin forbid anyone cross you when you're not feeling your best. You really did shout at me for suggesting it wasn't the pasty but rather you didn't want to get your hair wet." Flora took a large swig of her drink and looked to the fire that was still going strong. Although she loved talking with Theo, she really was tired.

Mesmerised with the flames before her, she yawned.

"That boring am I?" Theo had turned his head towards her, it still resting on the large armchair. The glow of the fire illuminated his face. Flora could also see his heavy eyes and hoped this meant it was getting late and the party would end soon.

"I should go find my mother, should be leaving soon." He gave her an understanding nod. The two stood and faced each other neither knowing whether to hug one another or shake hands but resulted in a simple high five before departing ways. There was no need for proper goodbyes as they would see each other soon at school.

In no time at all Flora had spotted her mother over next to the door where herself and all three of the Malfoys were putting their coats on.

"Ah there you are Flora, where on earth have you been?" Lilian hushed her voice slightly as she passed her daughter her coat.

"Just keeping up appearances mother, just how you like it." This elicited a tut from her mother and a secret grin from Draco who found it amusing to watch their little squabble. He liked seeing it wasn't just his parents that were overbearing.

"Well Lilian as always it has been a pleasure." Lucius graciously bid his farewell followed by a hug from Narcissa and a promise to write soon to her.

"And you write to me also while you're at school. It feels like you and Draco have grown so quickly, where has the time went." Flora's eyes darted to him where he seemed to be in a similar situation with her own mother. Narcissa squeezed Flora's arms before bringing her into a quick hug.

"I shall don't worry." Lilian and Flora gave one last farewell to the three Malfoys before all of them disapparated out of the Nott home.

☀︎☽☁︎⭐︎

Like most nights, Draco was writing in his journal upon returning home. His thoughts still lingered on the party as he tried to recall the names and faces of new people he met. It would be embarrassing for his family if he was to mix any of them up the next time he seen them.

Minor things like remembering names seemed futile now. He felt the change that was happening, something much bigger than him or anything he could imagine. Draco wasn't stupid. He was certain it had everything to do with Harry Potter supposedly encountering the Dark Lord during the Triwizard Tournament last year. Whatever was around the corner seemed to have his mother in a constant state of worry and had his father locked away in his study all too often.

To Draco family meant everything and that was something his mother had taught him from such a young age. She would tell him he could have anything and everything he wanted but none of it would mean anything if he wasn't with the ones he loved. Draco was sure he loved his family or at least was certain he would be upset if anything was to happen to any of them. That's what love is, isn't it?

"Draco." His mother quietly called with a single knock already pushing his bedroom door slightly ajar. He quickly threw shut his journal and lost it amongst his bed covers. "You're still awake I see."

"You aswell." He nodded towards her as she sat herself down on the edge of his bed. She looked around his room before her eyes finally landed on her son.

"It was nice to see you with your friends tonight." She spoke as if she was trying to find anything at all to say.

"We only spoke a short time mother. The three of us aren't that close." He explained but her reaction was only of confusion.

"You have all known each other all your lives, I find that hard to believe." Narcissa was always so sure of Draco but he was growing up quickly. Too quickly she feared.

He was her only child and it was important she knew him. She never wanted him to think she didn't care because that would be far from the truth. She probably loved him too much that it was all she was capable of. Some nights when he was away at school she couldn't sleep because she was so filled with dread. That was because she knew what was looming. Draco may have had his suspicions but never would he come close to the actual fact of the matter.

"Theo and Flora seem like much better company than, who is it again, Gregory and Vincent?" Narcissa had met Crabbe and Goyle a handful of times. She would struggle to tell you anymore about the two other than their names for truly they seemed to be quite frankly dull.

"Crabbe and Goyle are my friends mother, what is this about?" Draco suddenly became curious why he was being questioned of the company he kept so late at night and so close to returning to Hogwarts.

"Nothing dear honest." She sweetly smiled. "Just if anything, promise to make more of an effort with others this school year. Good friends are so important. And Flora's a lovely girl, we wouldn't want her getting into any trouble. Her mother has been telling me she's been turning into a bit of a handful as of late." Narcissa was a smart woman. She wanted Draco to be supported in every aspect of his life. His destiny was out of her hands but so help her she would do anything in her power to protect him.

"Are you trying to ask me to spy on Flora this year so you can report back to her mother?" Draco was simply baffled and couldn't understand what his mother was trying to say to him.

"No of course not don't be silly" she began "I'm looking out for you Draco. People like Flora Dalton and Theodore Nott, you want them in your life. They're the kind of people that will have your back..."

"Crabbe and Goyle have always had my back!" Draco sharply interjected.

"But they will also be honest with you and tell you what you need to hear even if you don't want to." Narcissa finished as if he hadn't even interrupted her. "I'm not saying to betray the friends you have now but simply to consider what may be best for you."

That was not the first time in his life Draco had heard such similar words. He was always being told to sacrifice what he was comfortable with to instead endure what would make him, more importantly his family, look good.

Draco's mother left him with his thoughts and the memory of her saddened smile. He could never truly think back on a time when he saw his mother happy. Draco feared this was what kind of life awaited him in the future and dreaded never escaping from it.

He considered his mother's suggestions and continued writing in his journal as if to find the answers within the pages if he wrote enough.

☀︎☽☁︎⭐︎

Read Part 2

#draco malfoy #draco x reader #slytherin #draco fic #slow burn #enemies to lovers #friends to enemies #friends to more #harry potter #hogwarts oc #theodore nott #draco malfoy x reader #fanfic #order of the phoenix #draco x oc #draco malfoy x you #draco malfoy imagine #oc #harry potter au

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plutosschild · 4 months ago

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Y’all will need to hear me out with this au

#Order of the Phoenix? more like VFD #hp x asoue #my art #digital art #artists on tumblr #Harry Potter #hermione granger #order of the phoenix #teddy lupin #harry potter au #my artwork #harry james potter #hermione jean granger

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adraemelech · 3 months ago

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Hi guys! New fanfic writer here. I've just posted chapter 4 of my first fic, Ashes of Eden to AO3. It's a wartime AU Dramione fic, I would love if anyone took the time to read it!

Here's the summary: 5 years after The Battle of Hogwarts, Hermione Granger is the potions and weapons master of the Order of the Phoenix and the person responsible for the Order’s success during the war. During a night-time forage with Ron Weasley, she is kidnapped; where Ron is left for dead. Hermione is taken to the dungeons at Malfoy Manor where Draco Malfoy recently took over responsibility from his deceased father. As Hermione is taken from the dungeons, she has to make a choice - Escape or create her own rules. Draco is keen either way.

#dramione #wartime au #draco malfoy #hermione granger #voldemort sucks #order of the phoenix sucks #bamf hermione granger #death eater draco #morally grey hermione #type: graphic #he falls first #angst #angst with a happy ending #my first fic

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iobsessoverfictionalmen · 8 months ago

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Right now the thought of a Harry Potter and X men crossover has taken over my brain.

Imagine Harry standing in the bedroom with Ron and Hermione at Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Hermione's just told him that Dumbledore made them swear not to reveal anything meaningful to him over the summer holidays.

Harry's annoyance quickly turns into anger at the fact that the people he cares so much about were persuaded so easily by his Headmaster. His anger builds and the world goes grey. Everything freezes as if time itself has come to a screeching halt.

Harry's breaths turn shaky as he tries to understand what's going on. Right before his eyes, four misty paths appear. The first path shows him forgiving Ron and Hermione and staying in Grimmauld Place with Sirius. The second path has him visiting Gringotts and allying himself with the goblins. The third has him bumping into Hannah Abbott in Diagon Alley and turning his back on Wizarding Britain.

The fourth path intrigues him the most. Harry notices a mansion that reminds him of Hogwarts but he sees people using their powers openly and working as a team. Fuelled with the desire for change, Harry chooses that path.

The mist swirls around him and when he reopens his eyes, he's sitting in the mansion on a chair being observed by multiple pairs of worried eyes.

Harry's story spills out of him without much prompting and a man with metallic blue eyes finds himself drawing parallels between his life and the teen's. Harry watches him soften the tiniest amount when another person enters the room.

He learns that the man's name is Erik and the second you draw level with Erik, he wraps an arm around your waist and yanks you to his side, needing the comfort that your presence brings. You're quickly filled in, and Harry has the unshakeable feeling that you know more about Wizarding Britain than anyone else in the room.

Time passes. Raven is delighted to have a little brother who accepts her immediately because he knows how it feels to be isolated over something you can't control. Harry doesn't know how you manage it but somehow MACUSA finds out about the state of Wizarding Britain. Once MACUSA is involved, other wizarding places involve themselves and Wizarding Britain undergoes a massive overhaul and Voldemort is defeated before the first Wizarding War.

Harry learns to harness his gift and in doing so, saves many of his friends from those who want to harm them. Working alongside the other mutants, Harry feels protected for the first time in a long time. He's not treated like a child one minute and a saviour the next. Harry's never treated as a pariah.

He feels at home in Charles' mansion and occasionally, when he peeks out of a window that overlooks the grounds, he sees flashes of Wizarding Britain but then, he blinks or focuses on something closer to him and the images fade away.

#my writing #my thoughts #harry potter x x men #young magneto #young erik lehnsherr #magneto x reader #erik lehnsherr x reader #harry potter au #harry is a mutant and a wizard #order of the phoenix au #charles xavier #raven darkholme #x men x reader #harry potter x reader

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pooks · 1 year ago

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okay, so i don't really advertise this because frankly, i do NOT agree with a fucking terf's ideas and therefore, she tainted a beloved book series she wrote and ultimately destroyed my childhood

but then i decided "fuck it, it's a fanfiction and she doesn't have any say in what i wrote or even make money of it"

also i made it gayer. so take that!

anyho, this is my HP/TMA 90s AU fanfiction that turned from a stand-alone story into a flippin series.

so imagine this; canon divergence happens in pre-OotP, Percy doesn't take Fudge's promotion offer (partly because that is sus, partly because web-related shenanigans) so he gets fired instead and what does our lovely ginger nerd find instead? the magnus institute.

so Elias takes a look at this boy and is like "yes, he will do nice for an Archivist" and hires him on the spot.

(and if case you're wondering, this is a TMA where it's set in the 1990s instead of the 2010s)

so we get an archive crew with four assistants and an archivist who has no idea what he's even doing, but he is determined and he needs to keep his wizard status as a secret

that's how this was created;

https://archiveofourown.org/series/3516304

ps. the second season-story is in progress. ;)

pps. i cannot stress this enough, but i DO NOT support the author in anyway and she can throw herself into the sun, for what i care. also i treat the characters better and i made it all better and gayer, because i can.

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calmlyerratic · 4 months ago

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The Marauders show Harry their two-way mirrors

Spoiler alert for ch 16 of Encounters of the Future Sort

"Is that—?" James asked. "It can't be...can it?"

"It's weathered quite a bit, missing the case..." Sirius analyzed.

Harry turned the mirror over. There on the reverse side was a scribbled note from Sirius.

This is a two-way mirror. I’ve got the other. If you need to speak to me, just say my name into it; you’ll appear in my mirror and I’ll be able to talk in yours. James and I used to use them when we were in separate detentions.

When Harry looked up, Sirius and James were both holding identical silver, square compact cases. James flipped his open to reveal a newer, shinier version of the exact mirror Harry held in his hand.

"Who has the other one?" Sirius asked eagerly.

"Well, er—you do." Harry said, throwing caution to the wind. "You're my godfather."

Sirius absolutely beamed. "Of course I am—can't have just any old codger on the job!"

"How old would we be now, anyway?" Pettigrew wondered. "It's 1996, so..."

"Arithmancy really isn't your strong suit, Wormy." James laughed.

Pettigrew flushed. "It's a lot to take in..."

"We'd all be thirty-six," Lupin offered. "However, I don't think it's wise..."

"To what?" Sirius asked innocently.

Lupin glared at him.

"Oh come on, Moony." Sirius said mischievously. "I say we take a vote."

"Er—I think I've missed something?" Harry said.

Harry glanced around the room at the four Marauders, three of which appeared to be on the same page.

"To use the mirror, of course!"

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youroriginalsublimecupcakestuff · 1 year ago

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Draco didn't come for his sixth year everyone though that it was because he became a death eater.

When he fact he elopped with Astoria greengrass helped by snape ( it can also be another slytherin male or female or even an OC but i'll go with Astoria feel free to imagine someone else) .

They are hidden in a property that was either inherited by draco or by astoria and we're living their lovey dovey romance plot isolated from everyone.

They have house elves but Astoria trained herself since she was little with the goal to be the best wife for him because she have always loved him .

Her cooking is delicious and she also have a green thumbs, draco like to play piano while Astoria will sing, draco busy himself by creating new invention and potion and both try to learn new healing spell.

Sure they worry about the outside world but they try to not talk about it, all changed when the order of the Fenix came to their home.

They gave Severus a ring while hiding that isn't an ordinary ring,it was draco's invention with the help of Astoria, if the ring wearer is in critical condition it activate as a portkey leading them to their home, the house elves are sent to ensure that he came safe and sound.

But they we're surprised when the whole order of the phoenix was here After all misunderstanding and suspicion was cleared the order stayed there but they still didn't trust draco and Astoria.

Not that it imported to them all that they cared about was snape wellbeing when they weren't flirting with each others and being lovey dovey to everyone horror. But with the order being here they couldn't Fuck like rabbits like they we're doing before with the adults cockblocking them , and they took the remedial class given when the order member had times to teach them ( which only hermione was happy about ) .

One of the things that draco love about Astoria is that she never remember Harry name and it change every time : sometimes she call him Larry Pottah, others time she call him gary peetah or Barry petar, it's not even malicious, she just don't care about him so much that when Peoples say Harry Potter is here she's like Who ?

Like imagine when the war is over and they have to go on trial, she's still like harry who ? I was with my good friend Larry and Harry is like "oh for merlin's sake" and is facepalming hard .

It make harry crazy but also made her perfect for undercover work even verisetarium don't work on her because she's convinced that he's Larry.

Of course they're was many fight and they weren't enthousiastic to help but in the end them and the order bonded and helped in the war efforts.

(But to make it tragic we can also do that they had children while in the war, both died and the children were to stay with Snape who still died , the trio who love the children took them in but it was hard for them and they're was conflict too like who to let around the children).

#harry potter #harry james potter #draco lucius malfoy #severus snape #severus tobias snape #astoria #astoria greengrass #drastoria #draco x astoria #alternate universe #canon divergent au #order of the phoenix

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strengthinunityrp · 9 months ago

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The Order - part 7

made by Gremx

#marauders era au #marauders era rp #strengthinunityrp #order of the phoenix members #kingsley shacklebolt

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corvidscreams · 1 year ago

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More wings! Set early in the Fallen Order timeline, before Cal can grow out the dye.

Bonus Cal

Additional facts: Boba has a bum wing and still has a jet pack to make up for it. Merrin has lil bat fangs to go with her wings.

#Kesett #rising Phoenix au #my art #cal kestis #boba fett #nightsister merrin #star wars #star wars fallen order #star wars fan art #calboba #jedi survivor

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seefullforecast · 4 months ago

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D.M.

Captivatingly Reckless

Draco Malfoy x oc

Part 2 Prefects

Platform nine and three quarters was in Flora's sights. If she was going any faster she would be running and shoving muggles out of the way. To be going back to Hogwarts meant to be leaving home and Merlin she was desperate to be out of that house, or rather away from her mother.

It had became the norm for her to leave for school on bad terms with her mother. This year being no exception as she thought back to the events of the night before.

☀︎☽☁︎⭐︎

Dinner had been served and like many other times it was just the two of them in the dining room. For such a large room with exquisite views of the grand gardens, Flora always felt it to be suffocating. Other than to save face in public, the mother and daughter only really spent time alone with each other during meal times.

"I expect a letter in advance if you will be returning to the Manor for Christmas is that understood?" Her Mother raised her brows.

"I've got a lot of work to be doing so if you end up arriving here without notice I'll have just too much on my plate." Lilian often looked down her nose towards Flora when she spoke and it made the young girl feel so worthless, like she truly was beneath her mother and would never be good enough.

"We wouldn't want that now would we." Flora grumbled and shoved a piece of chicken into her mouth to mask any words she spoke reaching her mother's ears.

"Also do sort out that moulting feather duster that keeps flying into the bathroom window." Lilian was well aware it was a Weasley owl that kept crashing into the house late at night and was repulsed her daughter felt the need to associate with blood traitors. She knew however there was truly nothing she could do to stop her daughter from doing so as it seemed as of late all Flora wanted to do was antagonise her.

"His name is Errol." Another mouthful of chicken hid that comment also.

One more night and Flora would be at school and wouldn't have to walk on egg shells constantly.

"Oh Merlin's beard I thought I told that incompetent gardener to take out those blasted sunflowers!" Lilian thought aloud as her eyes wandered through the window to the expanse of gardens outside.

"But I planted those. I planted them for you at the start of the holidays" Flora had dropped her fork now and her face had contorted into that of confusion.

"You only did so because your father used to plant them and you thought it would gain a reaction from me." Lilian placed her spoon down and dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin.

"Merlin forbid I try to add a little splash of colour around here." That time she didn't hide her words behind a mouthful of food. Her eyes wandered around the room at the sleek colourless room.

"They're only flowers, they don't mean anything." her mother shrugged as if nothing held sentimental value to her.

"You're right, I mean you've gotten rid of everything else that reminds you of father, we both know how memories of him are such an inconvenience to you." Flora's voice was monotone as if she wasn't surprised in the least that her mother would do such a thing.

"You really are a disrespectful, spoilt brat! I would never dream of speaking to my mother in such a manner." Lilian practically seethed, making visible the vein in her forehead that protruded mostly when Flora and herself didn't see eye to eye.

"Just add me to the list of inconveniences you seem to be raking off. Question is though, am I behind Father or Errol?!" Flora matched the level of anger her mother was showing now, dropping her collected facade. For such a large room, the tension was enough to suffocate anyone.

"Some day your actions will have brutal consequences Flora and you'll only have yourself to blame."

"You can't have regrets for what you don't care about mother, you should know that better than anyone else."

☀︎☽☁︎⭐︎

It would be an understatement to say Flora was looking forward to getting to Hogwarts.

Her luggage was placed on the train and she made her way through the compartments in search of her best friend.

Elise Campbell saw Flora Dalton first as she stood at her compartment door on the train, and had been since arriving ten minutes ago, so she could finally see her best friend after what felt like the longest summer apart.

"There she is! The one and only Ms Flora Dalton. Oh how I have missed you!" Elise had already engulfed the brunette into a tight hug slightly rocking the two of them from side to side. She clearly caught the girl off guard as she stiffened from the sudden contact before hearing the loud voice of her best friend.

"Right Campbell let the girl breathe."Blaise Zabini rolled his eyes as he pried the two girls from one another.

"I missed you too El." Flora couldn't help but chuckle as Elise pulled her into another quick hug after already being pulled apart by Blaise.

"Dalton, long time no see." Flora hugged him next before sitting opposite him with Elise beside her. "Heard you caused some mischief this summer." His raised eyebrow and grin made her scoff.

"Our Flora?! Don't be absurd, she's good as gold aren't you dear." Elise stifled her giggles as she was all too aware of how Flora could be when she was either bored, or alone with her mother. During first year Elise made the mistake of spending Christmas with the Dalton's so witnessed firsthand the no good she got up to at home.

"So I assume all of our mothers are pen pals then. They're all too gossipy for my liking." Slouching back into her seat, Flora folded her arms with a slight shake of her head regarding her mothers actions.

"Where are the others, they're usually rambling on about quidditch or something by this point?"

"I haven't seen Daphne or Theo yet." Elise spoke with a look on her face as if she was trying to rack her brain for whether she had in fact seen them and she had just forgotten. Flora often teased the girl for having the memory of a goldfish. Without Flora, Elise would most likely forget her last name and need to borrow Neville Longbottom's remembrall.

"Malfoy and Parkinson made prefects so I think they're in a meeting in another carriage before they do their rounds." Blaise shared the information Crabbe told him when he noticed him and Goyle sitting with a group of other Slytherins when first getting on the train.

"Can't say I'm surprised to hear that, pug face can be quite intimidating to younger years when she gets power hungry, those are some of the qualities they look for in prefects aren't they?" Flora's sarcastic comment would've sent Theo into fits of laughter if he was here but instead she received a ghost of a smile from Blaise who knew her words were true and a small slap on the arm from Elise.

Some time had passed with the three sharing different stories of their summers. Within which Harry Potter's name inevitably came up.

"Apparently Dumbledore was at the hearing." Elise piped up.

"Surprise. Him, along with every other Gryffindor get special treatment. Dumbledore was probably the only reason he's allowed back to school. If it was anyone else they'd be expelled and that'd be the end of it." Blaise ranted showing his distaste towards the situation. Flora got the impression that Blaise neither liked nor disliked Harry Potter, but rather hated all of Gryffindor because of Quidditch rivalry. That and probably Malfoy's obsession with the boy, automatically making him zone out of most conversations regarding the chosen one due to Draco's incessant complaining of him.

"Is someone feeling jealous that they don't get enough attention?" Elise giggled at Flora's patronising comment to which Blaise rolled his eyes.

"Im going to get a drink, anyone want anything?" Flora stood to her feet looking to the other two in the compartment.

"Perhaps something sweet since Blaise is so bitter!" Elise mocked the boy who regretted showing any emotion at all now. He knew when the girls were joking and was just grateful Theo wasn't also here as he definitely couldn't bare all three of them together.

"Oh how you wound me Campbell." He muttered to the smug looking girl from across from him.

Making her way through the train, towards where she thought the trolley might be, Flora couldn't help looking through each compartment window to see the different students. Some were terrified first years and others were fast asleep clearly sick of the long journey to Hogwarts.

She kept on her way until some familiar faces came into view from through one of the windows.

"Gin hey, how are you?" Flora beamed opening the door to which four heads turned towards her now present figure.

"Flo! I tried to find you at the station but we all got a bit caught up. How's you, good summer? Here sit down." The red head rambled and pulled Flora down next to her, giddy to be seeing her friend she wrote to all summer.

"I'm better now I've got to see you." Ginny beamed at this.

The younger girl looked up to the Slytherin despite only becoming good friends last year when Flora helped her get ready for the Yule Ball. Ginny had been upset in the girls bathroom the week before the event because she had nothing to wear when the Slytherin girl found her. Luckily for Ginny, Flora Dalton was a sucker for a good movie makeover moment and helped the Weasley girl with borrowing one of her countless dresses. Ever since then Ginny has only ever spoken highly of the girl, always coming to her defence when her brother Ron complained about Slytherins and explaining they clearly weren't all alike.

"Harry, congrats on not getting kicked out, close call for a moment there wasn't it." Flora acknowledged the boy next to to Ginny.

Harry was still surprised anytime he heard her use his first name, it was almost unnatural for him to hear coming from a Slytherin. Nevertheless he chuckled a her comment knowing there was no malice in her words.

"Alright Flora." He sent a warm smile her way. Flora also greeted a shy Neville Longbottom who was holding a potted plant in his lap that was unfamiliar to her but her attention was mainly focussed on a quirky looking character sat in the corner.

The girl wore a striped cardigan and an odd pair of glasses covered her face. She kept her wand behind her left ear and was holding a magazine upside-down, seeming to be reading it.

"Oh Flo this is Loony... Luna Lovegood!" Ginny rushed as she recovered her words. "She's a Ravenclaw." The red head introduced Flora to the peculiar blonde.

"Hello, nice to meet you Luna." Flora nodded in the girls direction with her polite greeting. Luna pulled the upside down magazine from her face and looked to the brunette Ginny had introduced her to.

"Oh so you're Flora Dalton. Padma Patil has mentioned you before." At that Luna lifted her magazine back up to cover her face as if to continue reading. This comment would spark more interest in Flora if only she knew who Padma was.

She looked to Ginny who shrugged in confusion about Lovegood's actions. Luna was indeed quite odd. Flora bid the small group a small goodbye and left Ginny the promise that they would catch up soon.

The trolley wasn't too far away now so she got herself a drink and some sherbet balls to take back for Blaise in an attempt to be funny. They wouldn't be too far from Hogwarts now she thought and this was confirmed when she heard her name be called by none other than Pansy Parkinson.

"Oh Dalton it's only you. I was about to reprimand you for not being sat down somewhere, we'll be coming into the station soon." Pansy tried to flick her short hair as if to show the new green badge she adorned. Flora knew there was no chance of a stealthy escape now that she had been seen.

"Parkinson." Flora greeted with a curt nod. "Enjoy your rounds then." She tried to leave but Pansy wasn't finished.

"Oh I shall. Being a prefect is an important job you know, without us well you never know what could be going on. I expected to receive the role mind you. I hope you didn't have your sights set on it?" Pansy tended to blabber on, one of the reasons why Flora couldn't be around her any longer than necessary, and of course could brag until her ego exploded.

"Well it suits you." Flora spoke through gritted teeth and a pained smile. Pansy really twisted her the wrong way and knew exactly how to push her buttons.

"Oi you two, you're blocking the walkway." Came the drawl of a voice oh too familiar to Flora.

"Don't worry Dracey, I've got this one. Dalton was just on her way." Parkinson's voice was close to whistle tones the way it had shifted when speaking to Malfoy. The pug faced girl had turned to Draco immediately upon hearing his voice, making it now possible for Flora to make gagging motions at Parkinson's expense.

This hadn't gone unnoticed by Draco and he did struggle to hide his smile that Pansy now thought was directed to her.

"Dalton, pity you're not prefect we could've been doing rounds together." He spoke to the girl, missing the exasperated face of a love struck Pansy.

"Literally anything else sounds more appealing Malfoy." She began, "I'm sure you and Parkinson will enjoy all the alone time on late nights patrolling the school grounds. Almost romantic isn't it?" Flora could see Parkinson's face light up unaware she was actually teasing Draco who was slowly becoming more aware of the situation he was now stuck in.

Draco thought Flora to be an evil little thing to be putting ideas into Pansy's head, like she knew the girl could be irritating to him so she liked to encourage the situation. It was like she enjoyed seeing him uncomfortable.

"Anyways I have to get back and make sure Blaise hasn't hexed Elise." Flora was definitely pleased with herself when she saw Draco cringe a smile to Pansy who had latched herself onto his left arm now.

He watched her walk away, his mothers words still with him. He questioned whether he was indeed keeping the wrong sort of company. Or perhaps Flora was just a difficult girl who was forever pushing her luck so needed someone to rein her in.

Draco could picture himself as that person. Probably not whilst Parkinson was hanging from his arm. Draco enjoyed attention but the constant oggling from Pansy was relentless and annoying. At that he felt this year called for a little shake up. He was going to take his mother's advice.

☀︎☽☁︎⭐︎

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