#periculumprompt

[tylermagnusenvest]

“So... Tell me about this boy.”

It was Saturday morning. Saturday the 27th December 2014. Tyler had come down not ten minutes ago, hair still damp from his morning shower, navy jumper hanging a little big on his frame- actually, maybe it wasn’t even his jumper, it was hard to tell sometimes- having just settled at the table with a steaming mug of tea when his mother had leaned over the kitchen island and hit him with a question that had him nearly knocking over his mug.

“What boy? There’s no boy.”

His mother raised a brow and, as if right on cue, a voice came from half way down the stairs, “Oh, there most definitely is!”

Loxley appeared in the kitchen a moment later, wearing an identical navy jumper that looked a little too tight on his broader frame- a fact that had Tyler stifling a laugh despite the fact that his friend had swept in to stick his nose in where it didn’t belong. The younger boy greeted Ardelle with a warm smile, she smiled back and without saying anything aloud she went about preparing him a coffee, he fetched the milk from the fridge for her and then they both settled to lean over the island. Loxley took a long sip from his coffee, it was steaming hot but he didn’t seem to notice, and when he put the mug down he had the biggest shit-eating grin on his face, which just always spelt trouble.

“His name is Jeremy Lockhart, something of a catch in the castle, Captain of his Quidditch Team and everything.”

“Really?” Ardelle’s mouth hung open in the biggest surprised smile. Not good.

“There is no boy.” Tyler insisted quickly, “Jeremy Lockhart isn’t- we haven’t- we’ve barely spoken to each other.”

“That so?”

“Yes, nothing to make a fuss over.”

“That’s funny,” Loxley said it in a way that made Tyler sure it definitely wasn’t, and used a tone far too casual to actually be considered such, when he added, “He’s been asking about you.”

“What?”

He spoke at the exact same time as his mother, hers a gleeful exclamation and his a disbelieving whisper. Tyler didn’t really understand why, Loxley clearly had to be joking, this whole thing was completely ridiculous. For as long as Tyler had even known about Jeremy Lockhart it was clear they had absolutely nothing in common, they shared a handful of classes perhaps but it wasn’t even as though they spoke then, they didn’t even sit near each other- or at least they hadn’t, this last month or so one might say there had been times the Hufflepuff had slid into the seat beside him in class... but it was nothing, they still barely spoke.

“Practically all the time, keeps going on about him, asked me all this stuff during the last week about our plans and stuff over the holidays. I told him he should just ask you but apparently he tried and he wasn’t entirely sure you were interested- something about you not talking to him much in class?- but I don’t really see why you wouldn’t be considering he’s one of the best people I know. Anyway, I just told him to hang in there, said I’d talk to you about it but we were free most of the holidays regardless.”

At some point Tyler had lifted his mug and just held it mid-air, completely dumbstruck by the unloading of information Loxley had just put him through- why hadn’t he mentioned any of this at school? What a complete idiot, if he’d said something sooner then... well, then he wasn’t entirely sure but Merlin, now he thought about it he had definitely done a good job of not talking to Jeremy whenever he saw with him. Tyler didn’t even mean to, it’s just he liked to concentrate in class and when boys like Jeremy Lockhart sat down next to you it was best not to look at them much or risk being completely distracted. Hypothetically. Tyler definitely hadn’t thought about it, or him for that matter, much. Was he blushing? He could feel his face was hot and knew too well to pretend it wasn’t, his mother never missed a trick and if she did then Loxley would definitely point it out anyway, he knew all of that but still he quickly brought his mug to his lips and tried to push away the fluttery feeling in his chest while he sipped at his tea.

“I’m going to change,” Tyler announced abruptly when his tea was finished, standing up from the table. “I need to go to Diagon today and pick up a few things.”

“Let’s all go!"

“I’ll have to pass,” Loxley chipped in. “I’ve got some Herbology stuff to work on, not the easiest this time of year, I’ll stay here and be on official plant and cat duty.”

“Alright well dad and I will still take you, sweetie, I need to pick some things up for New Years anyway.”

Tyler hesitated before sighing, “Fine.” At least he could escape this conversation.

“And while we’re there you can tell us more about this Jeremy Lockhart, I’m sure I’ve heard Lox mention him before anyway but I’m sure your dad will want to hear all about him, maybe we could even have him over?”

“No, thank you.”

Fair to say he literally ran up the stairs.

Diagon Alley was always busy after Christmas and he always had a funny feeling about being there with his parents. If they felt anything about it then they certainly didn’t show it, he spared a glance over his shoulder to check they were keeping up and they were walking arm in arm, his mother’s head resting against his father’s shoulder and a joyful laugh leaving her as he pointed out some odd, discounted decorations a shop over. The attack felt distant in times like this, and it was now, something from a long time ago but something that had always stayed with him regardless. It was just odd, he looked at them in moments like this as they weaved through the crowds, completely happy and radiating it, and in the back of his mind there was a whisper of remembrance to the brief time he thought he’d lost them. All of this could be just a dream, some very wonderful dream, sometimes he worried he’d open his eyes and find himself back in the alley with his parents broken on the floor in front of him, except this time no one came to help them, no one found him, he’d just watch them leave and- well, he didn’t know what would happen to him then, it wasn’t something they’d ever spoke of afterwards, all of them focused instead on the fact that they did still have each other.

He thought about it a lot. If he didn’t have them. Where he’d be, how different things would be, if he’d even have days like this where-

“Tyler?”

His head whipped around at the sound of his name and he came to a sudden stop, barely a few inches from walking straight into...

“Jeremy.”

“Hey, it’s good to see you, I wasn’t entirely sure I had the right person at first but I’m glad I do.”

“Oh, yes, well...” Tyler spared a glance back over his shoulder and immediately rolled his eyes at where his mother had dragged his father off to the side, just a few feet away, pretending to be looking over some hideous wand cases. His father looked completely puzzled as his mother whispered into his ear and then, completely lacking discretion, they both glanced in his direction curiously. He took in a deep breath and chose to ignore them, looking back to Jeremy instead when he added softly, “It’s good to see you too.”

“Yeah? Good.”

He smiled then and Merlin, any attempts to previously ignore the sheer magnitude of loveliness the Hufflepuff gave off just about fell apart. Jeremy was ridiculously handsome, sandy hair and eyes that were so bright and blue they shouldn’t have felt as warm as they did, he was a good height too and sparing glances on brief occasions might have given Tyler the impression that Jeremy Lockhart took care of himself- at least his shoulders definitely suggested as much- and all of that was completely wonderful yet didn’t even begin to compare with the spiral of fluttering that filled his chest when he smiled. It was just so much. When Jeremy Lockhart smiled his whole face lit up, all that warmth he carried around with him just sort of spilled out of every pore, he smiled and everything around him just seemed to sort of disappear. And it had. So many times. So many more than he wanted to admit. Jeremy Lockhart was the sort of boy who only had to smile at you once and you never forgot the way it made you feel, not after years of classes and clubs and almost conversations.And this wasn’t good because Tyler was sure he was staring- gazing, for Merlin’s sake- in the middle of the street like an idiot and losing himself completely in the nonsensical joy he felt when Jeremy even so much as looked at him. Which he was, actually, looking at him with this wonder Tyler wasn’t sure he’d had before- or at least not that he’d noticed. Which could only mean he knew he was staring? Merlin, things couldn’t get any worse. Somehow they did. Because Jeremy was looking at him, watching him intently and then his gaze wandered, dipped down his form in a way that made heat creep up Tyler’s neck... then completely explode onto his face when the boy’s gaze travelled back up towards his face and his tongue darted out to lick his lower lip.

Fuck.

“How was your Christmas?” Jeremy completely interrupted his train of though, or what he was trying to piece together of it, with a question so terribly normal he was pretty sure he was just a complete idiot who was reading into things far too much because Loxley had a big mouth.

“It was good, thank you, busy but I just spent it with family so it was nice. Did you have a good Christmas?”

“Yeah, the same really, I’ve only really seen my family since the holidays.”

It seemed unusual. Jeremy was so popular. Everyone just liked him, Tyler had always seen it, ever since first year when even then the boy gave off this bright, positive energy that people were just drawn to. He had a lot of friends too, people were always around Jeremy, even more than they came to him and Tyler was Head Boy.

“It’d be nice to get out and do something now Christmas is over though,” Jeremy started again, rubbing his hands together in the cold and casting a look about the street before his gaze fell on Tyler again and he suggested, “We could do something?”

“Oh... Oh, well, right now, I’m-”

He was panicking- why was he panicking? Tyler wasn’t the type to panic socially, he was quiet in nature and enjoyed a good book more than actively socialising, but he generally tried to be an approachable person and he held conversations well, no one could ever say that Tyler Envest wasn’t good with his words, yet somehow that was all just disappearing. He gestured a hand behind him blindly, some attempt to gesture at his parents as an excuse, though he wasn’t sure why he needed one other than the fact that Jeremy Lockhart- a boy who he might possibly have thought completely wonderful from a distance for years- was suggesting they spend time together and he didn’t know how to process that.

“Oh,” Jeremy had followed his gesture and must have got the general idea, his smile dropped so quickly that it actually surprised Tyler, a clearly disappointed look crossing the boy’s face. “What about tomorrow?”

Before Tyler could say anything a familiar voice answered for him, “He’s free tomorrow!”

He was going to kill her.

“Really? Great, alright,” That smile was back, fuck. “I can pick you up?”

“No! I mean, I’ll meet you somewhere, anywhere.” Tyler reached for his pocket, partly just because he could feel the heat in his face and wasn’t sure he could stand to look at Jeremy any longer. “I’ll give you my number, you can send me the details, or call me... or just text, whatever’s fine.”

“I actually have your number-” Tyler paused. Loxley. He was going to kill him too. “But I just didn’t want to use it, I guess, until you said I could. But that’s great, I’ll let you get back to your parents and I’ll call you later?”

“Ok.”

He watched Jeremy tuck his hands into his pockets and walk the first few steps backwards, a grin on his face even when he nearly walked into someone while trying to look a little longer, it was unbearably cute and Tyler had to bite the inside of his cheek to stop himself from laughing at the boy. When he disappeared into the crowd Tyler found himself looking longer than he should too, lingering there for just a heartbeat more than necessary, but when he whirled around he immediately furrowed his brows at his parents. His father gave him a completely innocent look as his mother held her hands up in surrender, still smiling though when she nudged her husband in his side with her elbow.

“I knew he’d be cute, didn’t I?”

Tyler was so nervous. He didn’t often get nervous about things, honestly, his parents had always done a good job of encouraging him to be confident and he’d taken school in his stride but the whole dating thing- if he even dared call this a date- was not something he was used to. He just didn’t see a need to date yet, he’d always focused more on his studies and had assumed that everything else would come after school, and though he might have liked people before it wasn’t something he acted on. Admiration from a distance was a lot simpler. But this wasn’t going to be from a distance, this was a complete removal of any distance, and Tyler didn’t want to be overthinking anything but he’d spent the better part of two hours that morning picking out an outfit, that was completely covered by his coat anyway, and nagging Loxley to put some small plaits in his hair, which though lovely and swept back from above his temples to pin together at the back and keep hair out of his face, were also just covered by a hat anyway. Stupid winter and all it’s layers. And more stupid Tyler, for thinking so much about something that was probably nothing anyway. Jeremy was probably just bored, just being polite, maybe he wouldn’t even show up and Tyler would feel like an idiot for getting his hopes up so much- and for being unable to sleep for hours last night after a ten minute phone call that was mostly made up of timing discussions.

“Tyler!”

He’d been looking at the floor, having arrived at least twenty minutes early and deciding shortly after that Jeremy wasn’t going to show and he’d have to find something to do for the next few hours or risk sending his mother on a rampage, it was cold too though and part of it had been wanting to bury the bottom half of his face down into his scarf. He didn’t notice Jeremy until he heard his name, startling him more than it should and sending a scattering of blush to his face when he looked up, praying the fact that it was so cold would be excuse enough for his rosy cheeks. Jeremy was wrapped up too but he still looked unbelievably handsome, crossing the road in a confident jog and stepping up onto the pavement in from of him with an easy smile on his face, he stepped right up into his space and did that thing again- that agonising thing- where for a brief moment his gaze wandered and his smile grew when their eyes met again.

“You look lovely, I’m glad you wrapped up, I almost forgot it still gets so cold down here. Have you eaten? We can grab something, if you want, though where we’re going there’ll be plenty of food and I was thinking we could just look around and pick things up as we go?”

“That sounds fine- good, I mean, I’m not that hungry so that’s good.”

If the ground wanted to open up and swallow him he’d probably be grateful. It didn’t though and as they started walking he was glad Jeremy seemed so much more at ease with all of this, they walked and Jeremy talked about... well, about everything and anything. He spoke about the things he’d done over the holidays so far, throwing in short stories about his family, and when he asked questions Tyler did his best to answer them without growing completely flustered. It felt so stupid, it wasn’t as though he hadn’t been around Jeremy before, they’d known each other from a distance for years but all of this just felt different. In class Tyler was confident, when talking about school work he had no worries, and he supposed there was something formal but easier to deal with about being at school, wearing a uniform, being able to focus on other things. This was just different because there were times, as they walked, where Jeremy just looked at him with this quiet curiosity that made Tyler’s head swim and heart pound, because Jeremy looked at him sometimes as though he didn’t see anything else, there was just him, and Tyler didn’t quite know what to do with that. He didn’t know what to do when they were walking or when they hopped on the tube, when despite his balance being excellent and him being perfectly confident in not wobbling over at every stop, Jeremy still stood barely a few inches from him and placed his hand on top of his on the rail. And he couldn’t stand the fact that because he was the tiniest bit taller it was incredibly difficult to drop his gaze and avoid catching Jeremy just looking at him.

They ended up at Hyde Park, that was always bustling but this time of year was thriving. Being as early as it was there were less people than he’d expect later but still, the markets and activities here at Christmas were a spectacle and Tyler found himself unconsciously smiling as they wandered through. Jeremy had an excitement that was rather contagious, he jogged up to stalls that caught his attention, mused over tiny decorations or looked on in awe at more intricate designs. He pointed out food stalls too, they tries steaming mugs of mulled wine and selected sticky, sweet pastries and cakes with tiny decorations on them from various stalls. They went to the Magical Ice Kingdom after they’d had their fill of various treats, Tyler had never been in before and as they went Jeremy explained the various themes they had. He wasn’t sure what the theme was this year but it was incredible regardless, there were huge sculptures carved from ice at every turn, butterflies and an array of other creatures that Tyler was in awe of. It was freezing too, he could’ve logically expected that but it still surprised him, a few turns in and he was shivering despite his best efforts not to. He was eager not to draw attention to it but apparently he completely failed, for the rest of the walk through Jeremy was stood right behind him, at times the boy’s hands would appear on his waist, encouraging him to stop so he could point out a particular structure, standing so close Tyler was sure if he relaxed back even a little he’d feel the boy flush against him. So of course he didn’t, even the idea of it had his face burning, which granted did help with the cold so perhaps that wasn’t such a bad thing. They wandered around a little more after that and, even though Jeremy fell into step beside him, every now and against he’d place a hand on the small of Tyler’s back and guide him between the growing crowds, an action that never failed to make Tyler blush. At least ice skating he felt confident with, he’d been with his parents numerous times and was actually fairly good at it, so when they stopped at the huge rink he felt a little more at ease. For a short period, anyway, he took a few confident glides onto the ice only to spin around and find Jeremy looking a little wobbly- not what he’d expected from a Quidditch player who needed a lot of balance, he’d admit.

“Here,” Tyler skated back over, unable to help smiling as he offered his hands forward, Jeremy took them both without hesitation. “We’ll go slowly?”

“Sounds good.”

Tyler wasn’t sure why Jeremy would choose to ice skate if he wasn’t any good at it but maybe he didn’t mind too much, not when Jeremy was holding onto his hands and inching across the ice slowly but surely, even less when the boy wobbled and tensed his arms up, pulling them closer together. Somehow he wasn’t a nervous as before, when he had some kind of purpose he didn’t mind having Jeremy so close, didn’t mind the warmth of the boy’s hands in his, it was easier to pretend all of this wasn’t completely overwhelming when he had something to focus on beside the fact that Jeremy Lockhart was rubbing his thumbs over his knuckles and hanging onto his every word. Maybe he was a little too relaxed because one minute he was fine and the next he was stumbling, nearly knocking into someone who whizzed past behind him, but before his legs could give way Jeremy’s hands pulled free of his and the boy shot forward to grab hold of his waist and steady his balance, holding him up on his feet with ease. And Tyler clung to him on pure instinct, curling his fingers into the front of the boy’s coat, relieved at first when Jeremy pulled him right up against his chest and for a moment they just stayed there, holding each other tightly with heavy breaths ghosting between them- everything tender and warm and made all the more perfect when Jeremy sighed in relief and pressed their foreheads together.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m-” He paused, a realisation sinking in and he quickly pulled away to put a little space between them. “You can skate.”

“Ah, well...” Jeremy’s smile turned sheepish, he looked down for a second, but his hold on Tyler’s waist didn’t relax and despite his accusation Tyler still clung to Jeremy’s front. “Yes, I can, but I wasn’t trying to- well, I wasn’t meaning to lie. It’s just you seemed nervous all day and then I brought you here and you were so excited and so confident, it was so cute that I thought I’d let you show off a little? I am sorry though, it was really sweet that you tried to teach me, you’re good at explaining things, I can see why so many people want you as their tutor. Then again you being exceptionally cute could have something to do with that.”

“T-That’s-” Fuck, he was stuttering, fighting the blush that just kept rushing back.

“I really am sorry, it was just nice seeing you so relaxed.”

Ah, crap. Whatever upset he might of felt over Jeremy lying at all, even over something stupid, had pretty much dissolved. Tyler would like to say the flattery played no part but it did just a little, maybe because though Jeremy was definitely trying to get back in his good books there was nothing teasing about his tone, when he said things like that Tyler could almost think he actually meant it.

“It’s alright,” He said after a moment, pulling his lower lip between his teeth as he glanced down at the little space between them, his hands still on Jeremy’s chest, and awkwardly pushed a little more space between them. “It doesn’t matter so much.”

“No?”

“No.”

“Good.”

That smile was back and Tyler couldn’t help but smile a little himself, even when Jeremy released his hold on his waist and instead offered him a hand to hold, which he took in a gentle hold. They stayed on the ice a while longer, until the sky grew a tad darker and their stomachs were rumbling, they headed back to collect their shoes and when they left the park to get something proper to eat he found their hands linked together again.

They got Italian food- his favourite though he hadn’t told Jeremy so, maybe he’d asked Loxley about it, he didn’t mind either way- and shared slices of garlic bread and pizza, tasting bites of each other’s food and even though it made him flustered, which in turn made Jeremy laugh, he couldn’t help but get caught up in the whole day. He wasn’t sure he’d ever smiled so much for so long, not because he wasn’t happy, but because no one had ever made him laugh like that and no one had ever looked so pleased for managing to do so. They debated over the cheque, he was surprised how stubborn the Hufflepuff was about it but Tyler could definitely be worse, in the end they decided to split it evenly. It was dark by then, he wasn’t sure he’d ever spent so much time with anyone beside Loxley, yet when Jeremy suggested they grab something warm to drink he agreed with a smile, not quite ready to leave him yet and heart a flutter when his agreement was met with a gentle squeeze on his fingers. They stopped off at a small cafe that was warm and cosy inside, even at the restaurant he hadn’t taken off his scarf and cardigan but the moment they found a table and Jeremy stood up to order shrugged off the layers until only his sweatshirt remained. He took off his hat too and was sure his hair was a mess, he spared a glance at the counter when he sat back in his seat and immediately wanted to sink down to the floor when he caught Jeremy watching, the smile that pulled at the corner’s of the boy’s mouth making his knees weak- thank Merlin he was sat down already.

“I never notice how long your hair is before,” Jeremy commented when he sat back down, a hot chocolate with a frothy top placed in front of him and a tea pushed over towards Tyler. “Plaits suit you.”

“Loxley did them, I’ve never been good at doing them myself so I don’t bother unless he has the time.”

“Yeah, he mentioned that actually. It’s funny, we’ve always been good friends and I realised the two of you were always close but I didn’t realise until a few years ago that you live together? At home, as well as at school, I mean.”

“Ever since second year,” Tyler nodded, lifting his tea to take a small tip. “My parents always wanted more children, I think, but fostering suited us all better. They considered it before and when I mentioned Loxley it just seemed like a good idea- it was a good idea.”

“He’s practically your brother then?”

“Erm,” Tyler considered the question as Jeremy took a long sip from his mug. “No? Not really, it’s complicated.”

Jeremy didn’t say anything and Tyler shifted uncomfortably in his seat, unsure how else to answer something like that. Jeremy seemed to consider his answer with his mug pressed to his lips, when he set it back down on the table there was a stretch of cream over his top lip, without thinking Tyler sat forward and reached across the table to swipe it away with his thumb. Jeremy licked it before he could, which was horrifically embarrassing, he made a quick more to retract his hand but Jeremy reached up and caught it instead, stretched his fingers out between Tyler’s and brought their joined hands down to rest on the table.

“You and Loxley aren’t... together, right?” His tone was softer, more serious than he’d ever heard it.

“No,” Tyler replied quickly. “It’s not like that, it’s just- it’s just he’s not my brother either. I don’t know how to explain it, he was becoming my friend before my parents started fostering him, and perhaps had we been younger and grown up together it’d be different but it just doesn’t feel that way. We’ve become a lot closer and I care about him- I love him, really- but it’s not like that, it’s just different. He’s my best friend, he knows me better than anyone, I’m grateful he’s such a huge part of my life but I’m not in love with him.”

“Oh.”

“That- It probably doesn’t make sense, sorry.”

He tried to pull his hand away but Jeremy squeezed his fingers and shook his head.

“No, it does. I get it, he’s important to you, but I’m glad you’re not together.”

He wasn’t sure what to say to that, the way Jeremy said it made his skin hot. Jeremy Lockhart’s glad I don’t have a boyfriend. If that wasn’t a thought that was going to keep him awake at night then he didn’t know what was. And it still all felt so ridiculous to him because he didn’t understand where any of this had come from, why all of a sudden this incredible, gorgeous boy seemed to be so curious about him. They were such different people, before this they’d barely spoken outside of class. Tyler was studious and fairly quiet, he had small groups of good friends he’d made through being together in the library, or in clubs, or even as a prefect but other than being Head Boy he was quite sure most people didn’t know much about him. Everyone knew Jeremy Lockhart. Jeremy was Captain of Hufflepuff’s Quidditch team, Jeremy was funny and kind, he was the life of all the parties and if that wasn’t enough he was just so handsome. He’d literally seen people fawn over Jeremy, seen people go to Quidditch games just to watch him, and despite the entirely different worlds they came from even Tyler, at times, had found himself sparing glances at him from a distance. So many people would be happy to date Jeremy, a lot of people had been happy dating Jeremy, even people he broke up with didn’t have bad words to say about him and somehow he was here with him.

“Can I walk you home?”

“Oh, well, I’m going to apparate?”

“Then... Can I walk you to Diagon Alley, where you can apparate us both to yours, so I can be sure you got home safe?”

He was doing that smile again and Tyler, completely weak against it by this point, just found himself nodding.

Fuck it.

He wasn’t sure how late it was when they appeared at his front gate, only a short path’s walk from his house, Jeremy’s hand in his. It was dark but there were lights on in the house, he had no doubt Loxley would be up and it wouldn’t surprise him if his parents were up too, if only so they could bombard him with questions about his day- or his mother would bombard, his father would listen intently with quite encouragement.

“This is me,” His breath ghosted as he spoke.

“It’s nice.”

“Thank you.”

Tyler glanced towards the house, very aware of Jeremy’s hand in his and the odd knot in his stomach at the thought of letting go. Which was so silly, it was all so ridiculous, he probably wouldn’t see the boy for the rest of the holidays now and by the time they got back to Hogwarts all of this would be a distant memory anyway. He turned back to Jeremy and gave a small smile, tried not to let it show that he was completely disappointed that this was over, and reached behind himself to take hold of the gate.

“Today has been... today was wonderful, thank you for taking the time to see me.”

“You don’t need to thank me, Tyler.”

“Alright but I’m grateful anyway, I had a lot of fun.” There was a moment of silence, during which Tyler hesitantly pulled his hand free from Jeremy’s hold. “I hope you have a good rest of the holidays, Jeremy.”

He turned to go, about ready to run up to his room, bury his face in his pillow and scream. This all felt so very stupid, he barely knew this boy and still the idea of not seeing him until school made his chest ache, and the idea of seeing him then but not being able to be near him, to talk to him like he did today, to hold his hand, made him want to cry. All very stupid, completely ridiculous, which Tyler was neither of. So it was best he just hurry up and forget about all of this anyway but he’d barely took a step before he was spun back around and Jeremy’s hands were on his hips, keeping him in place.

“Wait, I just- I need to say some things and I’m not really sure where to start but I need to say them now or I’ll be thinking about it for the rest of my life. Can I?”

Tyler just nodded.

“I just feel so, I don’t know, so stupid? Because you’ve just always been there, in classes and in the castle, for the last seven years you’ve been so close and I just never really knew- it’s just that Loxley talks about you all the time, and because he thinks so highly of you I think I always knew you had to be a decent person, but he would say things about you and it just didn’t fit with the image of you I had. And I didn’t know you but that was alright, just hearing about you through Loxley was alright, I didn’t even think much about it until Halloween-”

Oh. He supposed it wasn’t entirely true that he had never spoke to Jeremy properly. Halloween felt like a long time ago, Tyler had thought about it since but it hadn’t seemed so important, at least it hadn’t seemed important to Jeremy. It was nothing really, Hogwarts always through a party and when that one was over it wasn’t unusual for the older students to continue it elsewhere, it had been in Slytherin this year so Tyler had gone for a short while but in the end he’d headed back to his dorm early. When Jeremy showed up for the dorm he wasn’t even looking for him, apparently Loxley had lost a bet and was meant to wear some ridiculous costume but Jeremy hadn’t seen him in it yet, and Tyler had informed him simply enough that his friend wasn’t there. He hadn’t changed out of his costume yet, fluffy white ears still atop his head and tail swaying behind him, Jeremy was part way through asking about it when Alice came out from under his bed and the boy quickly caught on that, rather embarrassingly, he’d dressed as his own cat for Halloween. Tyler had been horrified really, quite sure his entire face went red when Jeremy laughed, laughed so much he nearly stumbled over actually. It really was nothing, Tyler had just brought him in, let him sit down and given him a glass of water. Jeremy had asked him about the open book on his bed and he’d briefly explained something about it, perhaps why he liked it so much, and then Jeremy left. And maybe Tyler had asked Loxley to check on the boy the next day and to pass on some hangover potions if he needed them.

Even thinking about it now made him flustered.

“And then things were just different, I don’t know how to explain it, it’s like everything Loxley said about you that I didn’t understand was suddenly ridiculously obvious. I saw you everywhere all of a sudden, in class or in the corridor, I’d notice you in the Great Hall and get so caught up watching you I’d forget to eat. You had always just been there and you weren’t doing anything differently but it just became more and more obvious that you do so much, you work so hard and look after everyone else, you’re always studying and are probably miles ahead of half the class but every time a professor asks a question you let other people answer first. You read all the time though, all kinds of things, I’d catch you reading poetry or fiction and when you concentrate on something you really love there’s this hint of awe in your eyes I’d never really noticed before. You rarely laugh but you smile to yourself when people say things you like, you smirk when Loxley complains and play with your hair when you’re tired.”

Christ. He looked to the floor, biting his bottom lip as his skin prickled with heat.

“And you chew your lips when you’re nervous, which is hardly ever, I’ve seen you do that more today than ever before. You take exams in your stride but you hate to fly, you’ve never come to a Quidditch game. You look down when you blush, and sometimes when people say something good about you it’s like you don’t believe it.”

“Jeremy-”

“But you should. I wasn’t looking for it before but, Tyler, you’re completely, terrifyingly wonderful and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you for months. Now I’ve spent today with you I don’t think I’m going to be able to stop thinking about you ever, I’d be an idiot if I did.” He paused, his breathing was heavy, ghosting between them and Tyler was doing his best not to just melt right there. Jeremy stepped closer, pressing their foreheads together and Tyler could feel his heart pounding. “I don’t want to wait until we go back to school, I don’t want to stop seeing you. Tyler, I like you, in fact I might be just the tiniest bit crazy about you.”

Fuck.

That was a lot to process, more than he’d ever expected, the mere idea that Jeremy noticed him so much made his thoughts a mess. He didn’t know what to say but maybe that was good because Jeremy cupped a hand to his cheek, tilted his head with his thumb and, just when he was sure he couldn’t be more enamoured with the boy, he kissed him. So very softly. Jeremy’s lips were wonderfully warm- not to mention his fingers, that slipped back through his hair and came to rest at the nape of his neck- against the winter air. Maybe it was only a second or two but it was enough to make Tyler’s skin burn, enough that his eyes closed and when the boy pulled away even a little the softest, disappointed sigh left him. He was so sure he was going to pull away, going to let that be the end of it, which was just not good at all. He couldn’t help it, Jeremy’s nose brushed against his and when he felt the boy’s weight shift even just a little Tyler pressed forward, chasing his mouth eagerly. He could feel Jeremy smiling against his lips, and the boy’s hand sliding down his back and then pulling him forward, and all of it was so much he had no choice but to cling to him, to grip a hand at the boy’s chest and slip the other arm up around his shoulder. He was so aware of Jeremy’s hands pulling him in that he was surprised by the heat of his mouth, the taste of his tongue, he gasped and stumbled a step forward but Jeremy pressed him back. Right back until the fence was digging into his back, it clattered when he fell against it but he didn’t care, how could he care when Jeremy was pressing forward against him? And Merlin the way Jeremy kissed. He kissed hungrily, desperately, biting at his bottom lip and tasting his mouth. When Tyler got even half a second to breathe he was moaning, pulling him back in, so eager for Jeremy’s mouth on his and the boy’s hands pulling him impossibly closer. He didn’t even know how he did it but at some point Jeremy’s hands found their way inside his coat, up under his layers until his fingers were freezing against his skin, splayed out on the small of his back and pressing them together. Tyler’s fingers were up in the boy’s hair, his chest rising and falling rapidly, he was quite sure he’d completely melt if they kept this up and when Jeremy took a moment to groan his name, Tyler just about died.

“Jeremy-” He breathed, practically mewled, lips brushing together even when they were completely out of breath. “Fuck.”

“On the first date? Don’t tease me, Tyler.”

It was impossible to blush more but he still felt the heat rise in his face, even if he smiled against the boy’s mouth regardless.

“I should... this is n-not the time for this, I should be inside.”

“I don’t know, now seems pretty perfect.”

He laughed softly but shook his head, “Jeremy, I can’t.”

“I know, unfortunately. I just...” He kissed him again, unbearably briefly. “Can I call you?” Tyler could barely think, when he nodded it was barely noticeable but Jeremy still smiled and added in a deliciously soft tone. “Tonight?”

He nodded again, more eagerly this time.

It felt wrong to untangle from each other as they did, even now, outside his house where his parents were probably waiting up for him and about to grill him on his day with a boy whose mouth was still pressing brief kisses to his. He missed Jeremy's hands on him the moment they weren’t there, sighed unhappily and pressed himself close to the boy again when Jeremy took a small step back to give him space. He didn’t want space. He uncurled his fingers from Jeremy’s hair, ran his hands down the boy’s chest, found his lips again in another kiss, smiled when he pulled back and Jeremy let out a frustrated groan. He was sure his lips were swollen, they were warm and tingly against the cold air but Tyler didn’t care, Jeremy was looking at him with this achingly wonderful longing look.

“I’m glad I got to see you home safe,” Jeremy whispered, his tone playful. “I would’ve liked to see more of you but that can wait.”

“I’m not the type to rush into things,” Tyler countered, his voice softer, tinged with a seriousness that didn’t match Jeremy’s.

“I know.” The boy just nodded. “That’s alright.”

“Ok.”

Tyler wasn’t sure how to say goodbye after that, after all of it. He felt fluttery and giddy, it was completely stupid but he just didn’t really care, and even though they were barely touching now he still found Jeremy’s mouth for one last brief kiss. Then he had to physically tear himself away, turn around completely and unlock the fence, letting it fall closed behind him to create a physical barrier between them, quite sure otherwise he’d find himself falling back against the boy in a matter of moments anyway. He got half way down the path before he turned around to see Jeremy watching him, he twisted himself around to walk the rest of the way backwards, smiling to see Jeremy waited until he was right up on the doorstep before he mouthed ‘I’ll call you’ and then disappeared. Tyler gazed at the spot he stood for a few moments before sighing and turning to open the front door. He stepped into the hall and let the door close behind him, no sooner had he done so did he hear footsteps running along the hall upstairs. He leaned back against the door just as Loxley appeared on the stairs and his parents walked through from the kitchen, all of them looking at him expectantly. Loxley had that annoying grin on his face again.

“Well? Was I right or not?”

Tyler took in a deep breath, wanting to roll his eyes but instead finding he could only drop his head back against the door and sigh.

Fuck, he could really fall for this one.

Tyler groaned.

“There’s definitely a boy.”

[chandra-moon-blog]

amortentia

The first time Chandra took a whiff of Amortentia, she cried. She was a fifth year, and it was brought out in a potions class, as a demonstration, for one thing or another. Each person had leaned in, to smell it, and Chandra, curious, leaned in too.

She was met with seawater and jasmine flowers. The smell of the rain on the hot stones which paved the roads back home. Above all else, she smelled a singular, familiar perfume. Shalimar Guerlain. It is a perfume that is full of vanilla, of incense, of citrus and of myrrh. It smells like home. It smells like belonging. It smells like Luc-Jacques. “It’s a woman’s perfume!” Chandra remembers calling, humour in her small, nine year old voice. Luc-Jacques, a gangly boy of thirteen, merely hummed, smirking down on her with his dark wavy tresses half-covering one eye. “So it is, little dove.” He says, green eyes sparkling in mirth. Chandra rolled her eyes, crossed her arms, and waited for Luc-Jacques to go on. He had the soul of a poet, damn him, and more than enough of the craving for dramatics. Luc-Jacques rolled his eyes again, and Chandra grows mildly worried for those pretty little orbs. She can’t bear losing them already, not without at least a few years of marriage under their belt. “Fine. Well. It is a woman’s perfume, yes, but—Tell me. Do you know the story behind it?” Chandra blinks, and shakes her head, leaning forward, interested. The light of the setting sun bathes everything in sight in gold and oranges, including her and him. The blooming orange trees bathe the air in a thick, unrelenting stench. And yet, all she can smell is Shalimar Guerlain, now, and forever more. “Well. A frenchman, Jacques Guerlain, was told of this most lovely, epic story, when he visited India. By the domes of the Taj Mahal, this little man was told of the eternal story behind that great monument.” Recognition sparked in Chandra’s eyes, but she still let Luc-Jaques, the great bloody ham, go on, as she leaned back on her hair, white silks spreading over the thin, rich wood. Luc-Jaques eyes wander, Chandra’s lips curve, and she waves a hand, “Go on.” She says. That gets his mind out of the gutter well enough. He clears his throat, and does just that, hands waving in the air. He is a teenage boy, coming into his own. His limbs are too big for him, and his ears, too. Like that of an elephant, she had said, doubled over in laughter. Luc-Jacques had prickled up, and said he’ll grow into them, soon enough, so can you please stop laughing at him? Chandra stopped, and did not doubt that Luc-Jacques would grow up into a most handsome man indeed. “Well, Jacques Guerlain was told the story of Shah Jahan. Who met his wife-to-be in a bazaar. Struck by her beauty, and the purity of her soul, as soon as the prince became Emperor, he took this mercantile girl for wife.” Chandra couldn’t help it. She snorted, so loudly that she startled some of the peacocks Luc-Jacques’ family owned, to the point where they fluttered and mewled out their pathetic little song. “Am I meant to believe, Luc-Jacques, that I’m the beautiful, pure, mercantile girl, in this scenario?” Luc-Jacques closed his eyes, then, and seemed to pray for divine intervention to save him, before he peeled his eyes open, exasperated. But still stared at her with endless, and unbelievable fondness. “No. You’re the trash under Shah Jahan’s shoe. I’m the beautiful wife, go away, shoo, demon.” He accented, with a hand gesture, and when Chandra sunk into bubbly laughter, he ducked his head, pink, cottons sliding with a slick sound with each movement. “Of course you’re Mumtaj Mahal, dangit. Let me finish this uber romantic story, alright?” Chandra did just that, even if she kept smirking at him the whole while.  “Okay—Alright so—So, So Shah Jahan married this woman, Mumtaj Mahal. And they loved each other so dearly, that they went on to have 13 children. They were the happiest couple in their land, to the point where, I imagine, they struck all with jealousy at the sheer sight of them.” Chandra gave a pointed wink at that, and Luc-Jacques returned it. Still, despite the light heartedness here, Chandra knew what came next. Every child in India knew. “Mumtaj Mahal soon lay pregnant with her 14th child. A child who made her pregnancy unbelievably difficult. And, Mumtaj Mahal, a woman who had gone through so much and so many children, died in childbirth, holding the hand of the man she loved with all of her being. It is said that the king wept so loudly, that his mournful cries could be heard in every corner of the known world.” Luc-Jacques sits by her side, on her seat, and reaches out, to play with Chandra’s locks of hair. They are still only neck length, but they are curled, and slathered in perfume and oils. “To honour the woman who he was ready to give the world for, Shah Jahan decided to create the greatest wonder of the modern world, the greatest tomb to ever be. The Taj Mahal. The Jewel of India, for the woman who was called the Jewel of the Palace.” Luc-Jacques hand strokes at Chandra’s cheek, and she finds herself leaning into the touch, enraptured by the sheer amount of passion and love in his eyes. Vanilla and incense and citrus and myrrh fill up her nostrils. “And Guerlain, so struck by this tale, made a perfume to honour this story, just as Shah Jahan erected the Taj Mahal to honour Mumtaj Mahal.” His thumb rubbed just under Chandra’s eyes, and Chandra’s cheeks were pulled tight, in her smile. “And so I, to honour Guerlain, to Honour Shah Jahan and Mumtaj Mahal, have decided to wear this perfume. But not just to honour them. But to honour my very own jewel, my very own love eternal, too.” Chandra doesn’t remember who leaned in for the kiss, then. Only that when they pulled away, their breaths were heavy, and the sky was a smidgen darker, as dark as a plum, as dark as a bruise. Chandra knew she was in love with Luc-Jacques as thoroughly as every child in India knew the tale of the Taj Mahal. And she smiled at him, then, and as he smiled back, missing teeth peering at her, she found herself leaning in for yet another kiss. And so, years later, with Luc-Jacques having been missing and presumed long since dead for six years now, when she smelled Shalimar Guerlain again, Chandra cried. Chandra cried, and cried, and then she drank, and she fucked. And after that she was alright again.

[sturdybackbone]

become

Rain was hitting the glass with such strength that, if Artur didn’t know better, he could almost think the glass was going to shatter. The skies were thick and gloomy outside, and lighting would occasionally flash outside.  Artur and Headmistress McGonagall had been planning this for a very, very long time, even before the weatherwitch went and predicted a lightning storm for the 20th. This had been in the works since, practically, his second year, when he’d read about the Animagus transformation in a book, and saw it as an opportunity to impress his favourite teacher. And now, years upon years of work and labour were finally going to come to a head. 

McGonagall was positively glowing with pride, now, laced with some dark tendrils of worry, as she held out the potion that Artur had brewed a month ago. The Animagus Potion, the last step. Everything was going to be fine. He’d done all of the steps, he had done all of the needed chanting, had held a mandrake leaf in his mouth for that bloody damn month—Everything was fine. Today was the day when it would all be worth it. And yet, Artur’s stomach is roiling with apprehension. “Worrying is for those who haven’t done their work.” McGonagall had told him, a few times, over the course of their relationship. Artur typically agreed with her, and yet, here he was, staring blankly at a potion, gnawing on his bottom lip. McGonagall smiled lightly, almost assuredly, and he returned her expression with a weak smile of his own, before stepping to her, and taking the potion.  “I do hope you’re not anything too large.” She says, in a way that most would describe as neutral. But, knowing the woman, that’s as close to humour as she could get with a student.  “Or too small.” Artur replies, staring into the depths of the deep, blood red potion, watching how the light flickers in it, even through tinted class. “I think I’d strangle myself if I turned out to be a frog Or, worse: A gerbil.” Teo would likely eat him, if that was the case.  McGonagall’s lips were still upturned, as she moved back, a few steps. Artur nodded, heaved a breath, eased himself onto his knees, and took out his wand, placing the tip over his heart. He pops the cork of the potion, and silver smoke came dancing out. He looks up at her, back at the potion, shifts on his feet, and speaks the words that he knows better than the back of his hand, by now. “Amato Animo Animato Animagus.”  And in the very next moment, he places the potion at his lips, tips it back, and drinks it all in one gulp. It’s a horrid, horrid texture, all scales and fur and tastes like licking a cat and like musk and like dirt, but that’s good. That’s what it’s supposed to taste like. It’s supposed to taste like unlimited potential, and that’s exactly what it is.  Artur carefully sets the empty vial aside, and McGonagall summons it, as well as Artur’s wand. Wouldn’t want it to be snapped mid-transformation, after all.  There are four seconds of reprieve, of nothing, but the horrible aftertaste of the potion in his mouth. It almost becomes five, and Artur almost starts worrying, because there are four words, four words for the Animagus chants, four words for the four realms of the world where creatures dwell, so what—Before he bends in two and slaps a hand onto his mouth, unable and unwilling to breathe. He does not vomit, despite feeling like he’s about to, and feels a magical mechanism slide in place, not allowing him to anyways, else the transformation would be ruined, and he’d end up some half-man half-beast. Artur swallows, nausea still impossibly heavy in him, and when he opens his mouth, to slowly exhale, red mist comes slithering through the gaps between his fingers into the air, like blood in water.  There’s a roiling pressure in his stomach, that’s building, and building, like a pot the heat, and all Artur can say, before it all explodes, is a meek little, “Oh fuck.”  An immense pressure, the likes of which even ten of Artur’s fathers couldn’t match, suddenly presses itself against his shoulders and neck and head and spine, and Artur is sent to his hands and knees, as he makes mildly pained inhales and exhales, as his belly spits fire and might at every single inch of his body.  He hears the distant sound of bones cracking, but none of the resulting pain. It’s likely they’re all jumping, like impatient children in too-talle seats, and then, and then, he can all but feel them warping, taking muscle and tendon and sinew with them. By now, the potion’s painkilling properties kicked in, and while Artur could feel nothing but strong nausea and dizziness, he was aware of every single thing happening to his body.  Of his organs spinning as they shrunk, of his muscles becoming smaller but tighter, stronger. Of his face warping and sharpening, of millions upon millions of little pins pushing against and breaking through the surface of his skin, and some senses dulling and others sharpening, and at some point it becomes such a blur of sensations that Artur simply can’t keep up any longer. And so he doesn’t. The transformation barely takes 90 seconds, but it felt quite a lot longer than that. Like a lifetime, almost.  And at the very end, Artur’s lying on his belly, blinking up at the world, eyes wet and teary, body itching in a way like a scab that’s on its way to healing does, and Artur realizes that he is really looking up at the world.  Oh god. He’s not actually a gerbil, is he?  Artur tries placing weight onto new foreign limbs, as his head whirls around to assess his body. In the process, he sees McGonagall take a step closer, but doesn’t pay her any heed, just yet. Because now he's positively ogling himself. What kind of creature is he—Artur sees dark and brown fur that’s the thickest he’s ever seen, sees small, stubby legs, and a body that never seems to end, and if he crosses his eyes he sees a long, cream snout, and then there are these massive claws, gnarled and curled in a most frightfully amazing way— “Polecat.” McGonagall breathes, before a grin, full and bright, climbs onto her face. Artur’s attention is instantly brought to her, and his very first instinct, in this alien body, is to raise his fur, arch his spine, and let out this most hideous rattling sound from deep, deep, deep in his belly.  McGonagall chuckles, shaking her head, “And an ornery one at that, too.” And Artur finally managed to gather his senses, in the next moment and quiets down. There’s a moment of quiet.  “A European Polecat.” McGonagall takes another step closer. The urge to hiss comes again, but this time Artur suppresses it. “How... Interesting, Mr. Kalinkalovsky.”  Her eyes are twinkling, and she looks as proud as she’s ever been. “The feral ancestor of modern day ferrets. Known to be rather independent, and rather proficient hunters. Those deceived by their unimpressive looks and similarity to their tamed cousins often end up learning the wrong way about their ferocity, stubbornness, and sheer determination to end up where they want to be.”  McGonagall nods. Are her eyes twinkling, or are they actually shining—

“Yes.” She sounds breathless, and so, so, so proud. “That fits you quite well, Mr. Kalinkalovsky.”   She crouches down by him, and extends a palm. Before anything else, Artur wants to hiss. He thinks that’s going to be a very familiar urge, if he plans to spend any time at all in this body. And then his second urge to smell the new, interesting thing, comes. And that’s what he does, slowly, carefully, skittering over to her.  After a moment of curious sniffing, her hand twists up, and lightly rubs at the space between his eyes and forward. “Yes.” She mumbles, scratching idly by his ear, while Artur merely blinks at her. Her expression is so, so, so soft, and so fond.  Then she blinks, she leans her shoulders back, and she straightens up, tall and imposing, once more.  She summons Artur’s wand, and puts it by Artur’s little feet. “Now, Mr. Kalinkalovsky. Let’s practice transforming instantly, now shall we?”  The rain still beats outside. Lightning flashes both outside, and inside. Artur, by the end of things, is tired and drained in a way that goes all the way down to his bones, and further, into his magic, leaving him half-hollow, but in a way that feels utterly satisfying.  The hour is now late, and McGongall, with her eyes twinkling, says, “Go to your dorm, Mr. Kalinkalovsky. Get some rest.”  (He’s grinning so brightly that he looks like a miniature sun. He doesn’t notice.) Artur nods, and makes way for the door, when he hears, “You did a fine job today, Ar— Mr. Kalinkalovsky.” And Artur nods, nods, still grinning, and as he veritably skips back to his dorm, Artur feels lighter than he has in years, years and years, floating, and floating, into happiness and into gleeful satisfaction.  The very moment his body touches a roughly horizontal surface, in his dorm, it falls and sinks, and Artur’s out like a light before he even had a chance to take off his shoes. 

[sondermink]

Political Puff

"Dad! I finally cast a Patronus! It was a cute little dove!!" "You what?! Like Sebastian? Oh, Sonny, I'm so proud of you! I can't wait to see it!"

It felt like icy cold water had been poured directly against his unprotected lungs when his dad had said that. Sam and Sonder Mink had discussed the law at length, and the both of them knew that it was against the law to perform magic in front of a muggle. Though when it came to family members, it was a little... Vague.

"Dad, I - " "Sonder, please, they're not going to snap your wand for showing your dad a charm! Don't be silly!"

His mum wouldn't agree. In fact, she didn't agree. Hesina Mink was less naive and less inclined to break any sort of rule, vague or not. The line went quiet and for half a second Sonder thought that the connection had failed. Again. He was calling from Hogsmeade, right on the outskirts of the magical little village, and it wasn't exactly the most secure connection.

"Sonny? You don't have to if you don't want to, okay? I'm sorry for pushing you."

He didn't like to dwell on things that he couldn't change but this part of being muggleborn sucked. It was totally and completely sucky and there wasn't a thing he could do about it but stomp his feet and try not to let his dad hear the catch in his throat when he tried not to sob into the phone.

"It's okay dad! I-... I'll get a picture."

It wasn't fair. His friends who were pure or half blood didn't have to worry about having their magic taken away from them if they accidentally slipped up and did magic in front of someone that they loved. He'd spent his entire life sharing magic with his dad. Tricks they learned together and tricks they learned apart, they always shared that part of their lives. Now Sonder wasn't allowed and it hurt.

It was part of the reason his mind had recently turned to politics. He could fight for muggleborn rights. He could help define who was family and make the laws more clear. He wanted to make a difference. Most of all, Sonder wanted to share his magic with his dad. He wanted to show his dad his Patronus in person.

That and he wanted his phone to work at Hogwarts. Not being able to regularly contact his family was about the most suckiest thing ever.

[delightful-delta]

Diagon Alley (First)

“Mummy said if I behave and be extra good then I can choose any sweet I want from the sweet shop.” A small yet surprisingly confident voice came from the little girl hiding in her young mother’s tattered cloak. The tall, skinny shopkeeper with giant red spectacles burst into laughter, and feeling encouraged Delta continued, “She also said she’d make me anything I want at home!”

At this Delta’s mum’s face went bright red. You could see the blush straight through her dark skin, even up to the point where half of her jet black hair had been shaved off, “My, my!” though the shopkeeper chortled at Nova’s embarrassment her laughter was purely good natured, “Your mum is going to spoil you rotten you lucky girl!”

Nova knew the shopkeeper was only being hard on her because she was almost like a mother to her. When Nova left her traditional, uptight muggle family to get a flat in Diagon Alley the old woman had given her her first real wizard job. When Nova had gotten really into social justice for magical creatures and corruption within the ministry, the shopkeeper had allowed her to put bright flyers and signs in the shop window. When Nova had broken up with her girlfriend, the old woman had given her a place to stay. And now that Nova was raising a young daughter with her mysterious lover in the country side, the shopkeeper had ensured Nova would be her best supplier of rare plants, herbs, and ingredients. “It’s her first time to Diagon Alley,” Nova nearly whined, “I’m terrified!”

“Don’t worry dear,” the shopkeeper tutted, lifting up a crate of muzzled screech snaps that Nova had brought in, “I was once a young mother too!” turning to the front counter the shopkeeper brought out a sack of coins and a small pot holding a cactus with a green trunk and a big, spiky red bulb sitting on top. It was a normal muggle plant, but Delta’s eyes went wide.

“Gymnocalycium!” she reached her hands towards the plant. She had one like it at home, but that one had an orange top. This one was red.

“This is a present for you when you get home, if you behave!” she told her sternly, before her cheeks pulled into a smile and her hand was ruffling Delta’s platinum hair, “And this is for you Nova, excellent work as always.

Nova didn’t take the sack, only giving the shopkeeper a look, “You and I both know that’s too much. You need to start paying me what you owe me!”

The shopkeeper pushed the sack into Nova’s hand, closing her fingers around it, “Fine then. It’s not for you, it’s for Delta. Buy her something nice, a toy broom maybe. You were always the fastest one on the pitch.”

Back into the bustling streets of Diagon Alley and again Delta was clutching onto her mother’s cloak, wide brown eyes trying and failing to take everything in. She had seen streets like this in the picture books her dad read to her or the movies she watched with her mum, but being there was something altogether different. It was all overwhelming for the young girl—the sights, the sounds, the smells.

The smells seemed to be the most intriguing part. They were the first thing Delta had noticed, hitting her like a stack of bricks, making her tummy feel like it had been days since she’d had a snack even though she was only munching on a frozen banana minutes ago.

It was instinct that told Delta to stray from her mum’s warm presence, to find someone and to latch on and eat up that wonderful smell. But each time the thought occurred to her, so too did her mom and dad’s words: ‘Stay close to mum. Do not let go of mum’s hand no matter what. Breathe through your mouth. Wait for the café to think about snacks. Do not walk away from mum.’

Something was wrong with Delta. She was young, but she understood that. She wasn’t like the other kids, the ones she watched run down the side streets of Diagon Alley with no problem whatsoever, screaming and laughing. She wasn’t like her mum either, striding through the streets with an iron grip on her child’s hand. Daddy and Delta, they were both similar. They could both smell it and feel it. But Delta was different from even him.

Delta found herself bumping into her mum’s legs as Nova stopped short in front of a brightly colored street café. “You’ve done wonderfully today darling.” Nova said to her once she had crouched down so they were eye to eye, “Mummy is so proud of you for being so good. Daddy will be proud too. Now: What’ll it be? Cupcake or chocolate croissant?”

Delta grinned wickedly,her eyes lighting up as her stomach growled, “Both!” she declared proudly.

Nova laughed before leading her daughter into the sweet smelling shop. Delta had done so well today. She had given her mother hope. Today, she could have both.

[loxley-blair-lockhart]

Self Hating Snake

If mom had gone to school here, she'd definitely be a Slytherin.

The thought struck him uncomfortably as yet another kid was sorted into Hufflepuff. He was overwhelmed by jealousy at each and every one. Every new badger was less a chance that he'd get in. The way he saw it, the houses had to be split into relatively even numbers. More Hufflepuffs now meant less when he was called, and he could have sworn that almost every single person had been a Puff so far.

Assholes.

Being Blair meant he didn't have to wait too long to be sorted.

"Lockhart, eh?" The Hat spoke inside his mind, an unsettling feeling.

Loxley frowned and shook his head. No. He was a Blair. He'd always been Loxley Blair.

"No?" The Hat's voice made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. "Well then, just as well. A brooding boy, several dark marks on your past, several to come. He's loyal, there's no question, but to a point..."

He hadn't gone back for his dad. He'd saved his own skin before even attempting. He hadn't even screamed, hadn't made to hurt any of the muggles who had set his parents on fire. He hadn't done anything.

He ran.

He was a coward.

"Slytherin!" His black tie turned green without him saying or doing a thing. He was ushered to the very right of the room, where the quietest, grumpiest looking bunch of students sat.

'No,' He thought. He walked without thinking. 'No this isn't right.' He was one of the first of the first year students to be sorted. He sat alone. Unruly curls hung in his eyes, masking hot tears. He kept his eyes on his hands, his knuckles white as his grip tightened.

'I don’t want to be my mom.’

"Jeremy Lockhart?" Loxley looked up abruptly at the name. A young boy with blond hair bounded up to the podium, and the Hat almost immediately shouted it's conclusion.

"Hufflepuff!"

Loxley dropped his head and tried not to cry. The Hat had mistook him for this other blond boy, and if Loxley had said nothing, maybe he'd be the one excitedly taking a seat with the rest of the Badgers.

'Probably not.' Whispered a dark voice inside his head. 'That boy probably wouldn't have let his dad burn to death.'

[sondermink]

The Quidditch World Cup (First)

"Just let me get up to speed again, where are we going?"

"To the Quidditch World Cup!"

"Right. Yes of course, that explains the portkey and the crowd. Yes... Umm, beg your pardon, but who are you again?"

"I'm Sonder Mink, I'm your son Jeremy's best friend from Hogwarts! I'm a muggle born and this is my very first time going to the Quidditch World Cup and I'm STUPIDLY excited!" He bounced on his toes to lament the exclamation. 

Gilderoy Lockhart nodded, still not quite understanding but being polite about it all the same. Sonder was used to Jeremy's dad being different. He was happy to answer questions.

"Last question - " Gilderoy pursed his lips and slid the oversized glasses down his nose. "Why am I dressed like this?"

Jeremy's dad was heavily bearded for the occasion, wearing a drapey oversized hat, oversized glasses, and an oversized coat. The question had Sonder in a fit of giggles. Gilderoy Lockhart looked nothing like he normally did, and that was exactly the point.

"Because you're a little bit famous, Mr Lockhart! Apparently not in a very good way, I don't really know. Like I said, I'm muggle born, and I think you're pretty nice now, so who am I to judge?" That and Miriam Lockhart had very gently but firmly suggested that he not bother looking into it, that it might taint the idea that Jeremy's dad was a normal, nice person, and that his past shouldn't change anything.

"Uh-ha...Hmm..." Still not convinced, Gilderoy was beginning to become visibly nervous, which made Sonder visibly nervous. He smiled but it was extremely forced and awkward up until the point Jeremy finally emerged from the men's bathroom.

"Sorry, there was a bit of a line. Everyone alright?" Jeremy's dad relaxed at the sight of his son, and so did Sonder. He made an excited kind of squawk and pointed back toward the stands.

"Hurry up Jeremy, we're not going to be able to see a thing if we don't hurry! And I'll get on your shoulders, and I know I'm small but I will get heavy after a minute or so, and you'll regret it!" He pulled on the hands of both the bewildered Lockharts, and so began the Best Day of his Life.

So far, of course.

[delightful-delta]

Quidditch Prompt

Delta... doesn’t even go to quidditch games. But she did want to be a chaser for Ravenclaw when she was five.

It was a beautiful day on all counts, the sun was finally shining and birds and gnomes alike came in full force to enjoy the slight breeze and flowery smell that lingered in the air. It was a nice day for everyone but Delta Lambright-Bludd, who was unable to help her mum tend their massive garden due to the sunlight, and she was very grumpy about it. Normally Delta could put on long sleeves and pull out a massive umbrella or stick to the house’s shade, but it was harvest day and this year’s crop was bound to make enough profit to feed them through winter. Nova couldn’t risk being distracted by her daughter, so she sat her down with an album of old school photos. 

Delta had never seen the book full of pictures before, in fact Nova had barely mentioned her days at Hogwarts to her half vampire daughter, worried she wouldn’t inherit her magic. But it was the little things that changed Nova’s mind and opened her up to sharing her past life with Delta. She had noticed the magical plants responding extremely well to her young daughter, allowed Delta to eagerly mix potions with close supervision, and once she was shocked to walk in the living room and see the piano laying itself as Delta played with her toys. There was still hope she could follow in her mother’s footsteps, it seemed. 

After hours of backbreaking work the screams of the screechsnaps were finally dulled, having been put into their containers to be taken to Diagon Alley the next day, and Nova came in to see Delta staring intently at an old polaroid.

“I didn’t know you could fly mummy!” The small picture looked large in Delta’s pudgy little hands, and Delta’s big brown eyes were staring at it in awe. She had known people could fly--wizards on their brooms and muggles in their airy planes--but she had always thought those were extra special people, far away from her little cottage, appearing only on paper and in magazines. 

Nova dusted off her dirty fingers before taking the photo from her daughter, smudging it with soil nevertheless. She knew which photo it was before she laid her eyes on it--her, in a blue and bronze Quidditch uniform holding a quaffle and occasionally swishing around on her broom before coming to face the camera with a cheeky grin. She stared at it intently, a fond, nostalgic smile spreading across her face, “Of course I can fly! I played quidditch when I went to Hogwarts.” she told her daughter, “I was a chaser for Ravenclaw.”

Delta giggled, “But, mummy, only people from the Prophet play quidditch!”

Delta’s mum went to scoop her giggling daughter up, squeezing her in a hug before sitting down and setting her on her lap, “And what makes you think that? Why, anyone who tries out is able to play Quidditch at Hogwarts. Everyone learns how to fly their first year and--”

“Will I learn how to fly?” Delta interrupted Nova, tugging at on of her dark brown piggy tails.

Nova sighed. Perhaps she avoided talking about her past life at Hogwarts so much because she simply didn’t know if it would be one her daughter was allowed to live. She wanted the world for Delta--for her to be able to get sorted and learn to fly and go through OWLs and NEWTs and get a job--but was it safe? Was it allowed? Even after all these years her husband was still so private about the nuances of vampire life, but he had told her the youngest years were the hardest. “I’ll teach you.” she decided. “We can go out at night, or on a cloudy day. Maybe I can borrow a broom from Martha. Or Thomas, he went on to be a professional player for the Falmouth Falcons, surely he has an old broom we could borrow.” Nova’s head was swimming with excitement. She hadn’t seen her old school friends in years. Would they remember her? Would they be angry for her dropping off the face of the earth? Maybe, but Nova had always been the wild card of the bunch, if someone were to disappear then reappear nearly five years later it would have been her. Delta had grown uncharacteristically quiet. “What’s the matter pumpkin? Don’t you want to learn?”

Delta was silent for a few moments, then, “Will I be able to?” Her tiny voice broke Nova’s heart. Even at the age of five Delta had realized she was different from the kid’s she had caught glimpses of on Diagon Alley trips. Even so young she had realized she was different from her mum. She couldn’t run around and play, or be in crowded rooms, or sit in the bright sun. What if she couldn’t do magic? What if she couldn’t fly?

Nova picked Delta up from her lap, swinging her around, setting her on the couch, and kneeling in front of her, “You’re like daddy in a lot of ways Delta. You’ve got his hair and his smile--” Nova mussed Delta’s platinum blonde mop of hair then squished her cheek, causing her daughter to break out in a fit of laughter, “But you’ve got my blood in you too, darling. Daddy kills any plant he touches, and he certainly can’t cook. But you can, just like me. And you can also do magic just as well as I can. Or, you’ll be able to once you get the proper education. You’re a witch just like mummy, I swear it.” 

Delta brightened up at this. Her mum had never lied to her before, why would she lie about this? “I’m gonna be a chaser for Ravenclaw just like you.” she decided assertively, sticking her pudgy hands on her hips. 

“Well then why don’t we start practice now?” Nova laughed, grabbing her daughter and lifting her in the air, running around the tiny living room and making airplane noises as her daughter screamed with laughter.