#severus knows that the eleven year old in first year knows more swear words than he ever did

[lilithofpenandbook]

Dumbledore: Oh, fiddlesticks! This really ruffles my feathers!

Severus: Please, just say fuck!

[sapphirelass]

We’ll make it feel like Home - Sirius Black x Sister

Hi! :)

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Please note:

1: I don’t own any of the gifs used, nor any already established characters, so credit to the authors and original creators - You have done a phenomenal job :)

2: English is not my native language, as I was born and raised in Sweden. I have, however, studied English for almost a decade, so I don’t think it’ll be a problem, I just thought I’d let you know ;)

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Word count: ≈ 2100

Paring: Sirius x Sister (Post Azkaban/June 1994)

OC: Nova Black (twin)

Warnings: Angst, Slight swearing (expressions stolen from McGonagall and Merlin, so they’re not that bad XD)

Enjoy!

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*Knock*

*Knock*

*Knock*

The wind was howling and the rain poured down as Nova Black groaned and shifted slowly. She was asleep, which wasn’t exactly weird as it was around 2 A.M., however the blithering idiot pounding on her front door was clearly wide awake. She took notice of the annoying sound and stirred slightly, but was, in her sleepy state, unable to figure out the cause. 

She didn’t really want to wake up either, as she had experienced multiple pleasant dreams over the course of the night, and was in the middle of yet another one now. There was something rather extraordinary about these dreams though… See, usually when we’re dreaming we mix real impressions and encounters with fantasies, and the final product turns out as some kind of obscure, magical concoction of the two. However, the current dreams of this 34 year old witch were 100% real. They were not fantasies?! 

They were memories!

Her childhood hadn’t been all sunshine and rainbows, far from it actually, but tonight there was no trace of the usual nightmares filled with torture, battles and threats of disownment. The Black family had never been… you know… immensely loving, and being sorted into Gryffindor with her older twin brother hadn’t exactly worked in their favour. But tonight’s dreams didn’t even involve the people she had once thought of as her mother or father.

They were about her brother - Sirius

First, she was eleven, sitting next to her brother on the Hogwarts express. They shared a carriage with three other people: Two boys, one with unruly dark hair and glasses, the other with longer black hair and mismatched clothes, as well as a girl with long, auburn hair and green eyes. Sirius immediately hit it off with James, and Nova found a good friend in Lily. Severus… Well, he too was a friend of Lily’s, but he and Nova never really saw eye to eye, his hatred for her brother standing in the way of any possible friendship.

Second, she was twelve, reading in the common room with her legs resting on her brother’s lap. He was deep in conversation with James, probably working on some unnecessarily elaborate prank. They were discussing rather loudly, causing Nova and another one of their friends, Remus Lupin, to share a look of annoyance. The boy suddenly smirked, nodding first towards a goblet of water standing on the table, and then to the noisy troublemakers. Understanding his plan, Nova grabbed her wand slowly, and muttered Wingardium Leviosa. The cup rose a few inches, moved about two feet to the right, and fell straight down on Sirius and James’ heads.  

James and Sirius simultaneously let out an earsplitting, “Nova!!”, as she and Remus practically died of laughter. The older brother jumped from the sofa, pinned his sister to the floor and smirked, his long dark hair covering parts of his face. 

“Oh, you shouldn’t have done that”

Fun fact: The younger Black was extremely ticklish, something Sirius would constantly remind her of, and needless to say - that time was no exception! Neither Nova nor Remus got any more reading done that night, but it was a fun memory nonetheless.

Third, she was thirteen, studying in the library with her brother. Yes, the Sirius Black was in the library!? She was quite sure he had sworn he’d never go in there, however the process of becoming animagi had turned out to be more complicated than they had anticipated.

“Mandrake leaves, silver dew, electrical storms… Sirius, this won’t be easy… or safe… or legal…”

“I know, you don’t need to do it if you don’t want to. You know that?”

“Of course I’m doing it… I’m just saying, now that we have the instructions, we better figure out how to follow them. Mandrake leaves are easy, but ‘dew from a place that neither sunlight nor human feet have touched’...?”

“Forbidden forest?”

“I suppose…”

“C’mon Novie, ‘tis getting late, let’s go back up”

Forth, she was fifteen, and the group of friends finally transformed together for the first time. Never again would Remus have to go through a full moon alone. All their hard work had finally paid off!

Fifth, she was seventeen, everything was great.

Sixth, she was twenty one,  everything was good.

Seventh, she was almost twenty two, everything was gone.

She had lost three best friends and a brother in a night. Suddenly it was all over, everything they had fought for. IN ONE SINGLE NIGHT. 

Sure, Remus was still there, but it wasn’t like before. They had only met once this past year, in August before he went to Hogwarts to teach. At first, she thought he just wanted to catch up, however she quickly realized that there was something in particular he wanted to discuss: The news of Sirius’ escape from Azkaban. 

Nova didn’t think her brother was capable of doing such terrible things 12 years ago, and she was, to this day, convinced of his innocence. Remus on the other hand… Let’s just say that he wasn’t as sure. And she understood. There was loads of evidence, and it all seemed to point to the same thing. 

This minor disagreement was the reason the former best friends had drifted apart over the years, however Remus had still thought it his responsibility to warn her?! That was at least why he had come to visit that rainy Tuesday afternoon last summer. 

~*~

“Nova, I’m serious this time! You have to be careful!!”

“He’s my BROTHER?!”

“We don’t know if that’s still the case! Azkaban changes people!”

“You don’t think I know that??! You think I haven’t worried about that every single day for the past twelve years?! Constantly wishing there was something - anything - I could do to get him back? I know that he’ll have changed, but that doesn’t mean I am going to throw in the cloak and just give up!? Not if I can help...”

“Come on Nova, you’re smart. Try to understand, please!”

“Understand what, exactly!?”

He glanced at her, looking sad and tired at the same time. 

“You can’t deny it forever. I don’t understand why, or how either, and I don’t like it but the fact remains: James, Lily and Peter are dead, and we both know why.”

After a moment of uncomfortable silence she spoke up:

“I think it’s time for you to leave, Rem. The fact that you still care about me is flattering, but we clearly disagree on a fundamental level here, and I really don’t know what else I can say. I don’t want to fight you on this so please… just go.”

~*~

Those memories, however, did not bring about enjoyable dreams. The nightmares were back, and though no one could hear, Nova whimpered slightly and curled into a tight ball. 

No longer reliving a stupid argument with her best friend, but instead the worst moment of her life. For the umpteenth time she could see those vicious ministry officials brutally dragging the one person she’d always loved, believed in and trusted, away. 

“NO!”

Nova woke up with a scream, hyperventilating and shaking violently. She tried to calm down, but no longer felt sleepy at all. As a matter of fact, she felt far more alert than she had in a long time, and a chill went down her spine once she finally realized why: Someone was outside her front door!

The knocking was at this point quite frantic, and every now and then she heard a rasping sound, like claws on wood. Nova was terrified! Because despite being a Gryffindor, she wasn’t too careless. And she definitely wasn’t expecting a visitor, having intentionally moved to an isolated cabin in the highlands.

There were two possibilities: 

One: It was Remus. This was the most probable answer, as he was the only one who knew where she lived. That wouldn’t be too bad, but she wasn’t sure if she actually wanted to speak with him right now.

Or two: It was someone else. Presumably someone with unfriendly intentions who she most definitely did not want to talk to.

There were, however not too many available options, the persistent clotpole outside clearly not intending to leave. She took a deep breath, and with her wand clutched tightly in her hand, the witch slowly moved closer to the door. She opened it carefully and stared out in the dark.

Then their eyes met.

For the first time in 12 years.

Sirius

Without a second thought (she was a Gryffindor after all) she launched herself into his arms, causing them both to go tumbling into the mud surrounding the cabin. She wasn’t bothered by it, and with her older brother already covered in dirt from head to toe, it wasn’t really a concern. Not then anyway.

 “You. Proper. Ass. Sirius Black! You trying to scare the livin’ daylight out of me!?”

He rested his head gently on her shoulder, seemingly relaxing when he received a tight hug instead of a door shut in his face.

“That was indeed what I was going for” ;)

Nova shook her head, grabbed a handful of mud and threw it at him playfully. This caused an oh-so-familiar smirk to appear on his face as he mumbled a few well chosen words.

“Oh, you shouldn’t have done that”

Before fully realizing what he had said, Sirius had rolled over, pinned her down and was looking at her from behind a curtain of greasy, dark hair. He then flashed a kind smile and pulled his younger sister off the ground, suddenly noticing her tear-stained face. He reached out a scrawny hand and pushed some hair behind her ear before worriedly asking, “Hey, you okay? Why are you crying, love?”

“Why am I…? Wha…. Holy Merlin, Sirius what do you expect me to do? You go get yourself locked up in Azkaban for essentially murdering our best friends, and then you show up here, in the middle of nowhere, 12 years later asking if I’m okay?” 

“Well, when you put it like that… Listen, Nova, you…”, he grabbed her shoulders gently, “you don’t think I… you know?”

“Of course not, you should know me better than that.”

He looked relieved. 

“You have no idea how much that means to me. I mean, I hoped you’d say that but… you never know I guess… “

“Well, now you do.” She hugged him again. “I will need a bit more of an explanation though. C’mon Pads, let’s go inside. You’re freezing, and you need a bath.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“How are you feeling, Sirius? Really?”

The siblings lay resting in front of the large fifteenth-century fireplace, watching the gorgeously bright flames light up the room. Sirius had spent about three hours trying to bring his sister up to speed on everything that had happened.

“I’m actually good. Especially now knowing for sure that my sister doesn’t think I’m a mass murderer.”

She was quiet for a while, looking deep into his grey eyes as if they held all the answers she was looking for.

“How?”

“How what?”

“How are you okay? I spoke to Remus a few months ago and he’s warned me over and over for the past twelve years. Constantly reminding me that, should we ever meet again, there’d be practically no chance of you still being… well, you?”

She was shaking again, and spoke barely above a whisper, but Sirius put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into a warm embrace. He was about to speak up, but she continued quietly.

“I mean everyone knows that people go insane, even after a few weeks in that place. Don’t get me wrong, having you back is the best thing I could ever hope for and I don’t doubt your capabilities in the slightest, but Sirius how did you stay sane?”

“I honestly don’t know”, he answered truthfully, “I have some theories, but I’m not sure whether they’re very likely…Right now I’m actually perfectly content just knowing that I did.”

She nodded, effectively letting him know that she understood.

“So, what now?”

“I can’t stay here, it’s too dangerous… I guess I’ll just go home, wherever that is.” He winced slightly. “Look, Nova, I understand if you’re happy here, I just... don’t want to be alone... not anymore.”

She hugged him even tighter.

“Don’t worry Pads, let’s find a safe place together. Then you’ll never feel like you’re alone. We’ll make it feel like home” 

~ L

Masterlist

[moonscarsandstars]

please try to enjoy this ancient artefact that i wrote long ago.

~~~

An eleven year old James Potter was much lonelier than he thought he'd be. Everyone else seemed to know where to go, and they all knew each other except for him. Everything was fine when his parents were with him, until he stepped onto the train and realised he hadn't the first idea what to do.

Platform nine and three quarters was so much better than he expected it to be. Bustling families everywhere, laughing and smiling. Many other kids his age and way older running around, catching up on what they had missed. 

James really couldn't wait till he was a part of this happy, free crowd of children.

And he was filled with excitement, until he realised how lost he really was. His parents didn't tell him what to do on the journey. Didn't they mention a sorting ceremony at the start? He really wanted to be in Gryffindor. How was supposed to do that?

James wandered down the aisle, to find a compartment that wasn't filled with huge sixth or seventh years, who practically looked like adults. 

Each compartment was filled with groups of people who all seemed to know each other. Except for one at the end, which James checked inside, and saw only one small kid, practically hiding from the rest of the school. And he didn’t look okay.

He had three deep scars running down his face, and looked a bit paler than he should've been. He was somewhat tall for a boy around James's age, and looked pretty lanky, with his robes hanging off of his body. Messy, light brown hair covered his head. His hazel eyes were filled with fear, with dark shadows under them. The boy looked positively terrified at the sight of another person. 

The kid looked pretty young, and was hopefully also a lonely, scared first year that James could befriend.

"Hey, is it okay if I sit here?" His voice sounded less brave than he wanted it to. The hazel-eyed boy seemed to consider the idea for a brief moment before quickly nodding and muttering something that sounded like "sure."

"So, um..." said James, trying to make conversation. "What's, uh, what's your name? I'm James, by the way,"

"Uh, hi James," said the boy in a quiet, somewhat raspy voice. "I- uh, my name is Remus. Remus Lupin." With the shy smile he gave, the boy looked slightly surprised at the idea of someone talking to him. "Are you also a first year?"

"Yeah, I am! Nice to finally see another one of me!" said James with a huge grin overtaking his face. His usual confidence came back after seeing the boy smile.

The other boy seemed to warm to James, as he curiously asked "Do you have any idea what Hogwarts is like?"

"Not really, my parents didn't tell me that much about it. But they talked to me about the different houses! Have you heard of them? I really want to be in Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart, like my father!" He wielded an imaginary sword, with an exaggeratedly proud and noble look on his face, making Remus laugh a little.

Another young-looking boy walked in, interrupting the moment. He had combed, black hair, that reached just above his shoulders, and warm but intense, grey eyes that were filled with emotion. A serious expression occupied his face, but James could see it was masking fear and anger underneath. Why?

The boy's entire body broke into relief at James’s offer for him to join them. Remus stared at the boy, with an interesting, somewhat captivated expression on his face. Awe? Anger? James couldn't tell.

"Please tell me you're also first years," mumbled the boy in a guarded voice. 

Seeing the other two eagerly nodding, he looked much happier. "I'm Sirius," he said, much more relaxed, with a wide grin taking over his face.

"I heard you talking about Gryffindor from outside, and I have to say, I couldn't agree more," the boy- Sirius- said excitedly, making James light up. "But everyone else in my family's in Slytherin," he finished, with a hint of disgust.

"And there I was, thinking you seemed decent," said James, with mock sadness, which followed with Sirius adding almost fearfully "but I don't think I'm going to be in Slytherin!"

The three chattered on throughout the journey, though Remus stayed guarded and seemed unwilling to reveal much about himself. Sirius seemed like a worthwhile person, and Remus was definitely someone to stick around.

But something told James that they were both definitely hiding some secrets of their own, no matter how cheerful and friendly they both seemed. By the time they reached Hogwarts, James could've said he'd made two new friends.

The castle could be seen far away as they reached the station, and Merlin, it was beautiful. The huge, bricked, grey walls towering over the cliffs, with the greenhouses on one side, and a huge quidditch pitch that made James's face light up with joy and excitement. They reached the station, where a giant, jolly man with a huge beard and loads of hair welcomed them, and told all the first years to follow him.

The giant, beetle-eyed man, whose name was Hagrid, cheerfully lead them towards a small river, or a big stream, where a dozen or more small boats were floating atop of. James, the two other boys in his carriage, and two other kids climbed into one of the boats.

"What're your names?" James eagerly asked, earning him a tired scowl from Remus.

"I'm Lily, and he's Severus," replied the redheaded girl, who was sitting next to a miserable looking boy with greasy black hair. James thought she looked really pretty. "We've been friends for a really long time now," she added.

"Cool, well I'm James, and these are-"

"I'm Sirius. Sirius Black, and..."

"I- I'm Remus Lupin," Remus said in a soft voice, while staring at the floor. Lily's gaze seemed to linger on him for just a second longer than the others.

While excitedly chatting with everyone on the boat, James figured he didn't like the look of Severus, who remained quiet while glaring outside. Exchanging glances with the other two he'd met earlier, he could tell that they didn't like him either.

The girl, Lily, however, seemed really nice, and was liked by even Remus, which was surprising, as the quiet boy didn't seem to like any of the others they'd talked to on the way. Her intense green eyes went well with her fiery red hair. Everything about her was fierce.

They clumsily climbed out of the boats, as there seemed no graceful way to do it, and made their way toward the giant gates ahead of them. They could see the entire castle, and Merlin, was it beautiful. The giant walls stretched out high, and had a sort of ancient, full-of-wisdom feeling to it. James could swear he felt the building radiating magic. The entire place seemed surreal, and in a way, enchanting.

The gates opened, revealing the interior, which was even more magical. Huge staircases leading up to giant doors. Giant moving portraits decorated a few of the walls. James couldn't wait to spend his school years here. He could hear Remus loudly gasp, while Sirius audibly exclaimed different variations of the word "wow," at least five times.

At the top of the staircase, a woman was waiting for them. She was wearing emerald green robes with black lining, and had a stern face, and a tight, black bun. But her eyes, though the rest of her face was scary, were smiling at the crowd of eleven-year olds eagerly waiting for their journey at Hogwarts to begin.

And though they didn't know it yet, that's where their story started.

[dumbasshourtonite]

So I have been rereading Harry Potter (I did not pay for the books so I am not helping JK Rowling in the slightest.) and I have noticed some things that I either just did not pay attention to or definitely forgot about.

This is the first time that I have read any of the books in 5 years and I have not read the first one in 7 years but I have done lots of research through theories, headcanons, and countless trivia facts. Once I get to books 6 and 7 it will be my first time reading them as I refused to read those as a kid out of my hatred of Albus, Severus, and the resurrection trope in general (also the canon couples in general but I am not bitter I swear 🙃).

Philosopher’s Stone (Up to Chapter 7) A short list of things I have noticed and/or questions:

1. Muggle is clearly used as more of a substitute for buffoon or moron rather than an actual classification of people as it is in the later books.

2. So far almost everyone who is labeled as above average weight is specifically clarified as bad. The exceptions to this are Neville, Hagrid, the trolley witch (who doesn’t even have a name as far as I remember) and Molly. Now you would think that this would be the majority since it is not a necessary description and I am only seven chapters into the first book but no this is not the case.

Dudley and Vernon

Marge who isn’t even a full character yet is specifically listed.

Crabbe and Goyle

And finally one surprising jab at Olivander literally lines before Harry say that he thinks that he doesn’t really like Olivander very much.

There is also the fairly neutral train officer dude who Harry doesn’t really like but I don’t really count that.

3. The line “Nearly headless? How can you be nearly headless?” Is actually Seamus’s line but they gave it to Hermione in the movies.

Side note but I completely forgot that Piers Pulkis (Dudley’s best friend in book 1 and the third kid on the zoo trip) is actually a reoccurring character....

4. I am pretty sure Hagrid is a functioning alcoholic like i love him and all but he asks an 11 year if there is “something stronger than tea” in the literal lake shack... He basically takes a shot of some vaguely alcoholic beverage (probably fire whiskey judging by Harry’s description and how whiskey actually looks.) before making above mentioned tea. All of the leaky cauldron people just know him at the bar. He goes to have a drink while Harry is having a robe fitting and also Draco’s father say the he gets drunk and does strange things. This rumor is likely exaggerated but many rumors start with just an exaggerated fact.

5. Vernon just causally mentions beating Harry... which like I knew that must have happened but like I didn’t remember it actually being mentioned at all much less that causally...

6. Also Harry says that the Dursleys do not starve him in chapter seven but he says that he spent several days in his cupboard that were supposed to be with no food in like chapter 3 or 4 and he even sneaks into the kitchen at night to eat because he is still so hungry and is still so skinny that he must not have much at night or during the day.

7. I also completely forgot that that give Harry Dudley’s second bedroom before book 2.

8. Fred and George CATCALL eleven year old Lavender Brown. I am literally disgusted. They actually use the word catcall to describe it. How the hell am I supposed to root for these characters that I used to love so much now... JKR how in hell’s name could you think this was okay!?!?

Ugh 😩 🙃😑 I will update as I go through the series... if I actually don’t rage quit.

Oh also TRANS RIGHTS just in case anyone was not clear on the fact that I am definitely antiTERF.

[hpdrapery]

and all was well

fandom: harry potter ship: draco malfoy/harry potter/severus snape word count: 1642 also on ao3 and ffn

Sometimes all that's needed to turn a bad day around is a little company.

Harry collapsed onto the sofa, utterly oblivious to the world around him. It had been a horrible day. Skipping Charms likely wouldn’t make it much better, since he was sure he’d wind up with detention for it, but he couldn’t stand the idea of sitting through an hour of class with the Gryffindors that afternoon. Kicking off his shoes, slipping out of his robes, and taking off his tie, he laid down, now much more comfortable in the remainder of his uniform. According to the clock, it was just past three, so he had three hours in which to relax before once again facing his classmates for dinner.

Harry was so caught up in his thoughts that he hardly noticed when the couch cushion dipped next to his feet. It was only when he felt a gentle hand against his shin that he realized he wasn’t alone.

“Oh, hey,” he murmured distractedly, shifting to stretch his legs across Severus’ lap, so that the other would have more room.

“Oh, hey?” Severus echoed, arching an eyebrow. “Don’t you have class right now?”

“Yes, but I think it’s best for everyone if I don’t go today,” Harry replied, avoiding eye contact. It always felt like Severus could read him effortlessly, even without using Legilimency.

“In other words, you’re cutting class because you’re in a mood.”

“You’re one to talk. You’re the moodiest person I know, and the second most dramatic, after Draco.”

“Impertinent brat,” Severus muttered fondly, hand still resting on Harry’s leg. “I should turn you in to Flitwick, you know. I’m sure he’s wondering where you are.”

“But you won’t.” If he hadn’t been sure of that, he wouldn’t have gone to Severus’ chambers, after all, even though he hadn’t thought the professor would actually be there.

“Not this time,” Severus agreed grudgingly, glancing at the clock. “But don’t expect me to make a habit of covering for you.”

“I won’t, I won’t.” Harry smiled faintly, noticing that Severus seemed to have had a rather unpleasant day himself. “Did the first years blow anything up today?” he asked lightly, sitting up to move closer, still half in his lap.

“When don’t they?” One arm slipped around Harry, holding him close. “I swear, they’re all idiots with absolutely no regard for safety.”

Rolling his eyes, Harry leaned comfortably into Severus, pressing a kiss to his cheek. While he sympathized with the other’s frustration, it was always just a little funny to hear how Severus genuinely didn’t comprehend why eleven year olds didn’t have the same focus and attention to detail as NEWT-level students.

“Well, Sev, they’re kids. It’s kind of to be expected,” Harry said, for what felt like the hundredth time that month.

“You and Draco were never like that,” he retorted, sounding much like a petulant child himself.

“Mm, whatever.” Harry had long since learned that there was no use in trying to have a proper conversation with Severus on the topic. He’d be much more suited to a job as a university professor, if such a thing existed in the magical world.

“What has you upset?” Severus asked after a few minutes, seemingly remembering that he wasn’t the only one who’d had a bad day.

“Just...stuff.”

“Such as?” Severus chuckled, a sound that never failed to make Harry smile, and tugged the younger man fully onto his lap.

“Rumors going around again,” Harry mumbled, wishing he could hex whoever had started them.

“Ah, the one about Draco being in a secret relationship with Zabini? I overheard that one in the hall earlier.”

“Yeah, that and another one about the three of us being evil. I suppose I should be used to all of it by now, but sometimes I just can’t stand the way everyone looks at me.” Harry frowned, glaring at the wall. The idea that the Boy Who Lived wouldn’t be affected by anti-Slytherin sentiments couldn’t be farther from the truth.

“There will always be people who are suspicious of us, unfortunately. You must try not to let it affect you. As for the rumors about Draco’s love life, I’ve said that the two of you can be together openly.”

“No,” Harry replied with a sigh. “We should wait until we don’t have to keep you a secret. It wouldn’t feel right otherwise. It just...makes me jealous, imagining him with other people and not being able to correct anyone about it.”

“I know,” Severus agreed, idly thumbing over Harry’s hipbone. “It makes me jealous too.”

“Well, I suppose as soon as the war is over, and Draco and I graduate, all people will be able to talk about is our sinful Slytherin triad,” Harry joked, capturing Severus’ lips in a quick kiss.

“Perhaps for a while, but eventually there will be new rumors about one of us cheating on the others,” the professor replied dryly, though he leaned in and gave Harry another kiss afterwards.

“Can’t you ever just be optimistic for a minute?” Harry asked, frowning.

“I’m simply being realistic. Our relationship will always be rather high-profile, given how well-known we all are, and as such, there will be gossip.”

“Mm, we could always just hide away somewhere nobody will find us for a while.”

“And then there would be rumors about that.”

Harry simply nuzzled against Severus lazily, trailing kisses over his jaw and neck.

“Mind if I spend the night?” he asked a few moments later. It was remarkable how quickly one of his boyfriends could cheer him up after a day of rumors and Gryffindor teasing.

“You know I don’t.”

Harry’s lips curved into a satisfied smirk, and he nodded. It had only been a couple of months since he and Draco started sneaking into Severus’ chambers at night, but it was already clear that it put all of them in a better mood. If he thought he could get away with it, Harry would gladly spend every night tangled up with Severus and Draco, but as it was, he simply had to savor each opportunity he got. The rest of Severus’ students would have to do the same, as, from an outsider’s perspective, the man’s moods were more varied and unpredictable than ever before.

“I know,” Harry said, still draped in Severus’ lap. “You’re lucky you have us, really. I don’t think you’d ever relax otherwise.”

“I rarely sleep through the night alone,” Severus admitted, grimacing as though the words caused him physical pain. As much as Harry liked knowing that he helped his lovers as much as they helped him, he knew that the older man would never like admitting to any vulnerabilities. He gave a sympathetic hum, opting not to press the issue.

“I’m sure Draco will want to stay too,” he replied instead, deciding that the blond was a safe conversation topic.

“If he isn’t out cavorting with Mr. Zabini instead.” Severus’ eyes gleamed with mischief, and Harry scowled, leaning his head on a black-clad shoulder.

“You admitted that it makes you jealous too,” he protested. “It would bother you even more if you had to listen to it all day like I do.”

“Yes, it does,” Severus said, fingers gently stroking through Harry’s messy hair. “I don’t enjoy the thought of either of you with someone else any more than you do. What I do know, however, is that Mr. Zabini is an insufferable playboy, working his way through as much of the student body as he can. Not at all Draco’s type, wouldn’t you agree?”

“I suppose it is a little funny when you put it that way,” Harry agreed, mind drifting to all the things that made Draco so lovable, and so high-maintenance.

“I’d much rather picture Draco shagging you.”

“Who’s shagging Harry?” Draco asked, having entered the room halfway through Severus’ sentence.

“You,” Severus replied, dark eyes watching as Draco walked over to the couch and settled down next to them.

“Lucky me.” Amused, Draco gave each of them a kiss, then drew back to give Harry an appraising look. “Right now?”

“Not right now, you git,” Harry replied, laughing and swatting at Draco gently. “Sev was just saying that he’d rather picture you shagging me than Blaise.”

“Ah. Well, I’d hope so, prat. You are rather adorable.”

Chatting idly between bouts of companionable silence, the remaining time before dinner passed quickly. With an agreement to spend the night together as planned, the three split up before going up to the Great Hall.

The evening passed uneventfully, and Harry was able to ignore most of the gossip around him, aided by Draco surreptitiously holding his hand now and then. Before he knew it, he was able to slip out of the common room. Once in Severus’ bedroom, Harry was able to relax again. A glance to the others showed that it was much the same for them. Everything was easier when they didn’t have to pretend.

“Graduation can’t come fast enough,” Draco said, once they were all settled in bed.

“Sneaking around might have its benefits too,” Harry mumbled around a yawn. “I don’t even want to think about the sorts of things the press will say about you when they find out. But...I can’t wait either. Being able to do this every night, and not have to hide that we’re together in public will be amazing.”

Severus made a soft noise of approval, and Harry continued on talking for a while, musing about their future lives together.

Realizing that he hadn’t gotten any replies for a while, Harry glanced to either side of himself, only to find that both Draco and Severus had fallen asleep.

“I love you,” he murmured fondly, closing his eyes. Harry almost always had pleasant dreams when falling asleep in his lovers’ arms, but his last thought before dozing off was that right now, reality was even better.

[legatumrpg]

full name: remus lupin

age: nineteen

gender and pronouns: demiboy and he/him/his

blood status: halfblood / werewolf

occupation: bartender and tutor

affiliation: neutral

i n t r o d u c t i o n »

What happened to you wasn’t your fault, but you blame yourself for everything that came after. The first time you turned, you were not even six years old, rampaging through your mother’s garden and making your way through the neighbourhood dogs until you returned to your home, small, shivering, and bloody. For years you learned to do this alone, isolating yourself for the safety of others, harming yourself for the safety of others, and lying to those you cared about the most. Despite everything that has happened to you, you still have a noble soul. Your demons haunt you, but at least now, you know you won’t have to do it by yourself.

b i o g r a p h y »

It began with his parents. Nice enough people, with well enough intentions. Beautifully, disgustingly in love, the type of marriage which seems to only be portrayed in sappy novels, the type which drip honey and nectar and leave hope for an unattainable future sparkling brightly in the eyes of the young girls who gobble them up whenever they’re given the opportunity, sticky pages and all. His father was a kindly man with hair which must always lay just so before he allowed himself to leave the house, a nose which, were it any more feminine, would be labeled as “button” in shape, always upturned, and thin lips on which a smile could almost never be found. A Pureblood from an affluent and well-to-do family, he was not raised to look down his distinctive nose at anyone unlike himself, but still found it somewhat difficult to break the habit. Hope, an appropriate name, was the one exception to the rule, it seemed. A Muggle, and with every expected characteristic of one at that. A round, ruddy face which always wore a smile, unruly light hair that lay about her face and shoulders as a mess of curls, and a heart altogether too big for the chest to which it was dutifully confined. A more perfect couple was not to be found. They balanced each other out, it seemed; case in point that opposites, apparently, do attract after all.

In due time, Hope, with her large Catholic Welsh family, and Lyall, both with his small yet distant assortment of blood relations as well as the entourage which comes with being dubbed the utmost authority in the Wizarding World on Non-Human Spirituous Apparitions, found themselves welcoming a new member to the family. Remus, a tiny baby boy born with his mother’s curly locks and his father’s surly expression. He seemed destined to be the perfect child, an absolute cherubim of a boy, set to inherit his father’s legacy. Instead the universe seemed fit to punish Remus, now a cooing and burbling toddler, for the sins of his father. Lyall, at a press conference, promoting his new book, was baited into speaking poorly of non-human magical creatures. Apparently already having rather strong opinions on the subject, he fell into the trap laid out for him, and the comments garnered the attention of one Fenrir Greyback. At first Greyback considered killing Lyall, but that would be too easy. Then he settled upon killing his son, and seemed set on the idea, until he laid eyes on the boy. Four years old, already losing his baby fat, staring up wide-eyed and trusting from his bed at the towering figured looming over him. Killing him would be too easy, he decided, in that moment. Lyall Lupin needed to be taught a lesson, and what better way than to turn his most precious possession into the thing he hates the most?

This was the burden with which Remus Lupin was saddled. His first memories became those of tearful full moons, of clutching at his mother’s skirt and sobbing, begging her to fix him, falling to his knees in front of the Crucifix on the parlor wall and demanding that she tell him why God had let him become a monster. His mother could only kiss his forehead, watching as the tears fell to the threadbare carpet, and tell her son that everything happens for a reason, that our pain makes us weak so that we can depend on the Lord who makes us strong. Over time, the words lost their meaning, and everything else in his life along with it. Every breath was like walking through cement, struggling to keep his head above water for a life not worth living. His father had built a life, a reputation, upon helping the people of the world, and Remus could hardly even help himself.

Nothing about his affliction ever got better with time, he found. People always promise it does. His mother and her church swore up and down that God is the ultimate healer, that he can heal any affliction, any wound, any illness. But no cure for Remus’ lycanthropy ever came. Only severe PTSD which grew as he grew, adhering itself to his personality until they were indistinguishable. Over time, it became manageable. Almost easy to forget about. But with war looming on the horizon once more, the episodes are starting again. Waking up in pools of cold sweat, disassociating just by looking out a window at the moon, feeling possessed to claw his own skin off. He’s back to spending too many hours staring into the mirror, trembling fingers running down the length of the scars on his face, reminding himself who and where and what he is, that he is real and he exists and this monster does not control him. Remus stares his own reflection in the eyes until he swears he sees it move. The middle of the night is a dangerous time for an unsettled mind.

When he turned eleven, the move to Hogwarts was frightening. Everything he had been terrified of suddenly all happening at once. Now, where he had spent his days with his mother in a dim room, silently giving himself the education other children his age were getting in loud classrooms that smelt of chalkboard dust and sunlight, he was thrust into the public eye, into this world where he would be surrounded by strangers who would forever hate him if they knew the monster lurking just under his skin, behind his eyes. When James and Sirius suddenly took him under their wing, he was convinced it was out of pity. Handsome and popular from families with unstained names, Remus was certain they would eventually get tired of him, leave behind the boy with nervous holes picked in his jumpers and gangly limbs the second they found friends more like them.

Every night for years, he laid awake taring at the canopy of his lumpy bed at Hogwarts, shaking hands clasped tight over his chest as chapped lips moved in a silent cry for help, praying for help, for guidance, for God to not let them make a fool of him as he came to care about them. Now he knows better, and these wonderful boys, with all their flaws, have saved him. No longer when he looks in the mirror does he see a monster. The wounds are still there, the scars permanent reminders of his past, and while he’d still much rather lay low, under anyone’s radar, the hatred he once felt for himself has subsided.

James and Sirius have both decided to become Aurors, and Remus is happy for them, but that life isn’t for him and they all know it. He wants to help people, of course, but in smaller ways. Safer ways, both for himself and the people around him. So he spends his nights bartending, offering a listening ear to whoever might need it, and his days tutoring, giving some of his excess knowledge to those who are struggling. Anything he can do to make a difference and just scrape by, living by himself in a dingy flat he can barely just afford. This isn’t the life he as awarded at birth, and he knows it, but it’ll have to do.

c o n n e c t i o n s »

the marauders » In the beginning, you never believed you were deserving of friends until they came along. For a long time, you worried that this friendship was fleeting. But time and time again, you were proven wrong. They became far more than just friends — they were your family and despite the world telling you that you are undeserving of them, they stayed by your side and for that, you will be forever grateful.

dorcas meadowes » It’s easy to see the differences between the two of you but much harder to look at the similarities. They balance you out. When you have your dark days, they know exactly what to say to make things better. You had spent hours in the library helping them with their studies and they have spent time helping you to enjoy the little things, even if they don’t realize that. The one time you weren’t there for them became a fatal mistake for the other.

severus snape » They know your darkest secret and you have spent nights awake worried about when they are going to let loose their knowledge. Once you sympathized with them, once you felt bad for the torment your friends put them through, but how can you sit easily with someone who hangs your very secrets above your head? You worry about them but in the end, you have no choice but to trust them.

Remus Lupin is played by TOM YORK and is TAKEN

[emmaswritingdump]

Battle of the Bands- Chapter Five

Words: 2172

Pairing: Drarry

AO3 // Wattpad

Ch 1 // Ch 4 // Ch 6

Masterlist

In the past, Draco used to idly wonder how a person in Harry Potter's position could be happy. His parents were dead, his uncle and aunt seemed to hate him, and he had had the entire music industry watching his every move from the moment he was born- how could anyone cope?

Even now that they've been spending time together and getting along, he's still not sure. He knows he himself has a hard time with his parents being so famous and having worked for Voldemort, but Harry must have it worse. He envies him for being so strong through every obstacle thrown his way.

Until Death Eaters show up at Hogwarts, that is.

It starts out as a normal day: Draco and Harry are goofing off behind the counter when a vaguely familiar-looking man with a suspicious expression on his face walks into the store.

Harry catches sight of him first, and stops the stranger from walking past the counter by asking him if he needs any help.

The man doesn't answer his question.

Instead, he merely narrows his hard, cold eyes at Harry.

"Potter," he says, his voice a low growl.

Draco's stomach jolts when he suddenly realizes where he knows the man from- he used to work with Draco's parents.

This is definitely not good.

The rivalry between Voldemort and pretty much all other musicians and producers was well-known in the industry- and also widely feared.

Voldemort was powerful and rich. He could do pretty much anything he wanted without consequence. He had a bad habit of ruining careers, and anyone who opposed him turned up mysteriously dead days, weeks, months, or even years later.

Of course, the connection between him and these deaths were often dismissed- likely due to fear- but the few times the connection was acknowledged by authorities, his cronies- Death Eaters, as most called them- took the fall for him.

Lily and James Potter were widely known for speaking out against him and helping to get him arrested.

The Potters faced multiple death threats, but one night, they were actually killed. The very same night, Voldemort himself was finally arrested and charged with their murders.

Harry was a year old.

Soon after his arrest, reports were released that Voldemort was charged with more murders than just those of the Potters, decreed a serial killer, and sentenced to death.

His followers were shunned, and many were arrested- but some managed to escape persecution, Draco's parents being two of them.

Draco knows this man. He remembers him from when he was small. He can vaguely recall him arguing with Draco's parents: whispers that Voldemort may be alive, after all.

He remembers his parents telling the man he was wrong, that Voldemort was dead, and that he would just have to accept it. After all, why would the court lie to the public and say he had been executed?

Harry narrows his eyes back at the man. "Do I know you?"

"No, but I know you."

"Dolohov," a voice snaps. The three all turn to see Severus Snape, one of the music teachers, scowling at the man. "What are you doing here?"

The man- Dolohov- glances around anxiously before replying in a low voice.

"You know why I'm here, Severus."

Snape gives Draco and Harry a suspicious glance and tells Dolohov to follow him, then leads him away from the scene.

"That was odd," Harry says, watching the two men go with a furrowed brow.

"That was worse than odd," Draco responds. "That man is- or was- a Death Eater. I remember him coming to my house when I was little and talking to my parents."

Harry appears alarmed. "Are you serious?"

Draco nods. "And the fact that he just left with Snape is even worse."

It's a well-known fact that Snape used to be a Death Eater. They say Dumbledore, the man who runs Hogwarts, hired him as a spy before Voldemort was arrested. However, many people still question his loyalties.

"We need to find out what's going on in there," Harry says.

And that's how they find themselves crouched outside Snape's office door straining their ears to hear whatever's going on inside.

"Are you sure?" Snape's voice says in a hushed tone- almost a whisper.

"Yes! I know no one believed me when he first disappeared, but it really is true, I swear! I saw it with my own eyes!"

"There's no way it could have been someone else? No way you're mistaken?"

"I'm absolutely sure. Voldemort is alive, and he is currently at my house."

Draco's stomach drops. He looks over at Harry, who looks ghostly pale. Hesitantly, he places his hand on Harry's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him.

"Why are you here?"

"He sent me to get you. You were one of his most trusted Death Eaters, and the best spy he ever had. We have to go to him now."

Snape hesitates for only a moment. "All right, then. Let's go."

Draco and Harry quickly scramble away from the door and into a dark and empty practice room across the hall, taking cover in the shadows just in time as Snape and Dolohov exit the office.

They wait until they hear the pair's footsteps fade, and then wait another minute or so after that to be safe.

Finally Draco peers out into the empty hall, then walks to the end of it to check around the corner.

"They're gone," he confirms when he returns to the practice room. He flips on the light to find a visibly shaken Harry sitting on the floor and staring at a point on the wall with a blank expression. "Harry? Are you okay?"

Harry says nothing. Draco crouches down on the floor next to him and touches his shoulder. "Harry?"

"He killed my parents," Harry whispers after a moment, his eyes not leaving the point on the wall. "He killed my parents, and he's still alive. He got away somehow."

"I know," Draco says in the softest, most soothing voice he can manage. "And I'm so, so sorry. But we can do something about it. We can call the cops or something."

Harry finally stops staring at the wall, and instead turns to scowl at Draco. "We? What do you mean, 'we?'"

"I-" Draco stutters, unsure of what to say. "I want to help-"

"No you don't," Harry argues. "You don't want to help me, you want to help him. Your parents are Death Eaters, after all."

Draco just looks at him with wide, hurt eyes. "But- Harry, I'm not-"

"Forget it!" Harry says angrily with a raised voice, standing from the floor. "There's no way I'm falling for your tricks, Malfoy, so forget about it. You can just go home and tell Mummy and Daddy that I know he's alive and that I will stop at nothing to see him rotting in prison. Go tell them their attempt at using you to spy on me didn't work."

"I'm not trying to spy on you-"

"Save it, Malfoy."

Draco can do nothing but stare as Harry storms out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

Is this what people think of him? Do they all think that, given the chance, he would go running to Voldemort, eager to become a Death Eater?

They're wrong.

They're all wrong.

His parents may not see it, but Draco knows that what Voldemort did was wrong, and that he is pure evil.

He will never become a Death Eater.

He would rather die.

Before he can stop himself, Draco storms out of the room, following Harry. Leaving the hallway, he spots Harry exiting the building and going to the parking lot. He hasn't fully- or even partially, really- thought through this plan in his head before he breaks into a sprint.

He catches up to Harry in the parking lot and grabs his arm.

"Harry, listen to me," he demands angrily. "If this is what you think of me, you must be incredibly dense, because I would've thought you would know me better than that by now.

"I don't want to be a Death Eater. Okay? I've seen what it did to my parents. They have anxiety and trust issues. Sometimes I think maybe they have some sort of PTSD or something. When I was little- it still happens every now and then, but it was a lot more frequent when I was little- my mum would wake up screaming in the middle of the night. They're constantly terrified. That's not who I'm going to be. I'm not going to work for that vile man who murders without reason. I'm not going to be one of his henchmen. I would rather die- and I probably will, if he really is alive, because there is no way I am going to do anything he tells me to."

Harry stares at him, his jaw gritted in his effort not to let the tears spill out of his eyes, and doesn't speak.

"Do you know what the worst part is?" Draco says sadly, lowering his voice a bit. "I thought- I thought we were starting to be friends. I liked that. I thought that maybe our bandmates succeeded, and maybe we were finally getting past that stupid rivalry we've had since we were eleven and I said stupid stuff I didn't mean. But this just proves me wrong. The fact that I was trying to help you and you shut me down because of my parents' bad choices proves that you're still holding onto that ridiculous fight we've been in since we were kids. But guess what, Harry? We're not kids anymore. Not if he really is alive. If he's back, we just lost the last few years of our childhood, because we're both in a lot of danger and we're going to have to grow up now."

"I'm sorry," Harry says after a moment. "I- I thought you would be like them."

Draco nods coldly. "Evidently. So are you going to let me help you or not?"

Harry hesitates. "You swear you don't want to be a Death Eater?"

Draco nods.

"Swear on your life?"

"I swear on my life, on my parents' lives, on all my friends' lives."

After an excruciatingly long moment, Harry finally nods. "Okay. Let's do this."

***

"Let me get this straight," Granger says. "Voldemort is actually alive and has apparently been in hiding for the past sixteen years, you two are friends now, and you're going to team up to put him in prison?"

Harry and Draco nod.

"That's insane," Weasley says. "Harry, you know this is insane right? His parents are Death Eaters!"

"And your parents are great musicians," Draco says. "But in both of our cases, the apple sometimes does fall far from the tree."

"How do we know we can trust you?" Granger asks.

Draco shrugs. "You don't. You just have to take the plunge and hope for the best. And, in this case, the best will be what you get from me."

They exchange an unsure glance.

"I don't know," Weasley says, eyeing Draco suspiciously.

"Guys," Harry says to them. "I know that, after the past six years, it's weird to hear, but I trust him. Over the past few months, we've learned to get along, and- surprisingly- I think we're sort of friends now. I really do trust him."

They exchange another glance, but finally give resigned sighs.

"Okay," Granger says. "I still don't trust you, but Harry does, and I trust him, so that's good enough for me. You're in."

***

Pansy is even paler than usual.

"There's no way," she whispers. "There's no way he's alive. He can't be alive. He can't be."

Draco shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Pans. Dolohov was here, and we heard him tell Snape."

Pansy has lost many family members to Voldemort. Of course, she's too young to remember any of them, but she knows the effect their deaths had on her family.

Then there's her aunt. She was tortured into insanity by Voldemort when she finally decided to stop doing everything he said. She's in a mental hospital now. Pansy once told Draco the story of the only time she ever visited her aunt. She was nine, and her aunt kept muttering about murder and such. It really scarred her. Draco knows she won't want to work for him, which is why he decided to go to her.

"So," Pansy says softly. "You four are going to try to get him arrested?"

"Us and more," Draco tells her. "Harry has more friends who will probably be in, and we might be able to get some of our friends to join- although most of their parents were Death Eaters, so it's hard to tell where their loyalties lie, so we can really only ask our close friends that we know well. Are you in?"

Pansy doesn't respond for one long moment, but finally takes a shaky breath and nods.

"I'm in."