#silmarillion/hogwarts

[animatorweirdo]

Hogwarts Student In Middle Earth

Requested by Anon

Hi! Sending you a request for headcanons (?) of a Hogwarts student landing in Middle Earth and meeting the elves? Thank you!

(Author note: I couldn't figure out what kind of reaction you were hoping for, so I made another analysis like fic to go through all the ages of Arda and the elves' reaction toward a Hogwarts student. I hope you enjoy it. )

Warnings: some mentions of the first age events, the first age, mentions of dangers, and trauma, some elves being nice, some not, possibly getting stuck in a world, some nice moments, and adventures.

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- If you were a Hogwarts student and ended up in Middle Earth. The reasons for that could be a failed group project, messing up with a spell, or going somewhere you were not supposed to go and falling through a magical crack in time and reality that dropped you off in Middle Earth. 

- How you manage will depend on your age and knowledge of magic, If you are somewhere in the sixth or seventh year, you would probably do fine. If you are somewhere in the third or fifth year, you will have challenges but will manage. However, if you are a first or a second year, you are a literal child in a dangerous world. 

- For the sake of this fic, let’s make you either a sixth or a seventh-year student. 

- If you dropped off in Middle Earth at the age of the trees, there is a high chance you ended up in Aman. 

- You would cause a small shock among the high elves as they have never seen a human, especially a child capable of magic. You might be a small teen, but in their eyes, you would most likely be considered a toddler and they would not be able to comprehend your age. 

- However, you will most likely be safe among them after explaining what happened and that you made a magical mistake.

- The Valars would likely give you some help, and some elder elves who are familiar in the ways of magic. 

- You would be given a chance to get familiar with different elven clans and their cultures, and in return, you would share a little of the human world and the world of magic there. 

- I think they would feel intrigued by your charms, and if you struggled in Astrology, they would likely be more than happy to help you learn— taking their appreciation toward Varda’s stars. However, don’t try to fly on the broom in front of them, they would likely get a heart attack. 

- They would likely teach you a few things about their magic so that you could show off to your friends in your world. 

- The chances are that you would be returned to your world before any of the darkening and schemes of Melkor began. However, if you appeared in Aman when it happened, you would most likely be kept at a safe distance. 

- You could offer your magic to make light through the darkness and help the injured with your potion skills, but otherwise, there would be very little you could do to help. 

- You would be traumatized if you witnessed the kin slaying and then you would be sent back without another word. 

- Overall, depending on when you appeared in Aman during the age of the trees, your experience wouldn’t be awful and there is a chance your eyes might end up glowing after seeing the two trees. However, you might want to stay away from Melkor and the drama between Feanor and his family. And no, the elves would still treat you as a toddler even if you were a teen by human standards. 

- If you appeared in the first age, then you would most likely have a rough time and would have to find a way back to your home on your own. 

- Personally, I think the safest places and elves for you to meet are either the Falathrim or the Doriath elves. I think Cirdan would easily take lost children under his care and offer help to you in magical arts, and you would be more safe from the dangers. If you appeared in the woods of Doriaths, the Sindar would be slightly skeptical of you but give you a chance to explain your situation, and if you do not turn out to be a danger, then they would allow you to stay and seek help from Melian. 

- I think with the Falathrim you could make use of your potion skills during your free time, and with the Doriath elves, you could make use of herbology and knowledge of magical creatures. 

- They would be more open-minded to your magical abilities and since you are a child in their eyes, they would let you stay safe from danger. The chances of you finding a way back are way higher and they could teach you a thing or two in magic. 

- I think the Noldor would be the least safe people for you to meet. Since they are mostly located in the north, you would face more dangers, and they might be the most suspicious of you and your magical abilities. If you manage to convince them, then they might allow you to remain with them for safety. However, some of them might find use in your magic against Morgoth, so your chances of going home would be low and you might get put into danger, depending on which elf you meet. 

- If you are somewhat involved with the war against Morgoth, then you would be in much more danger. You would have to count on your specialties to survive, and there might be a chance it would take years before you found a way back to your world. You also might want to watch out for those who try to sabotage your progress and prevent you from ever returning home. 

- With them, you would need a wide knowledge of potions and defense against the dark arts because they will be most useful to you. If you weren’t the best at those subjects, then you would be in the first three weeks of your time there. 

- No matter what, you will return home with some trauma. The first age was a time filled with war, so there would be a little safety for you there.

- If you end up in Middle Earth during the second age, there would be dangers of their own, but the elves would be least dangerous toward you. Your chances of going home would be moderate, and that might be because of the lack of knowledge, but if you work with them, then it would be successful. 

- The third age would probably be safest out of the previous two. The elves would offer you safety in their homes, and help you find a way back home. I think even a first-year would be safe in their care. You would be safe and allowed to learn a thing or two. Finding a way back to your world might take some time, but by then you would have learned new magic, made friends, and returned home. 

- And if you met that one wandering wizard, then there is a chance you enjoyed a few adventures. 

- Overall, the age of the trees and the third age would probably be the safest time for a Hogwarts student to appear in the world of Arda. 

[flnno]

feanorians from Durmstrang.

[lamemaster]

From One World to Another

Request: Please spin the wheel for Aegnor 🛐🥺

Pairing: Aegnor x Reader

Genre: Hogwarts au (yaaaay)

AN: Thanks for requesting 🥹I am befuddled by how well this fits (What in the Hell is Happening Event) Last day tmr

"The mudbloods are at it again," Celegorm snorted, a sneer twisting his perfect features. Aegnor rolled his eyes and glanced out the window, where you stood under the shade of a towering oak with your friend.

You were lost in one of those strange dances the humans called TikToks, your movements surprisingly graceful despite the odd rhythm.

Aegnor couldn't help but admire it. Unlike the elves, bound by tradition and cautious with their magic, humans like you embraced life with reckless abandon.  He longed to understand that world, a yearning that gnawed at him despite his upbringing.  A world he could only glimpse through stolen glances at the strange glowing device you called a phone.

Elves, with their long memories and deep respect for tradition, found themselves drawn to Slytherin.  Though some outliers existed, like Elrond, a Ravenclaw scholar obsessed with elven lore, Slytherin's green banner often fluttered above elven dwellings.

Humans, with their fleeting lives, burned brighter.  Gryffindor, the house of the brave, housed the vast majority.  But there were exceptions – a cunning Hufflepuff pioneer known for his loyalty to his coven, and a Ravenclaw witch whose fascination with magical flora rivaled any elves. 

This Gryffindor bravery, however, wasn't always viewed favorably by the elves.  Many elven elders often scoffed at their recklessness, a stark contrast to the calculated actions favored by his people.

Dwarves, with their insatiable thirst for knowledge and mastery of craft, naturally gravitated towards Ravenclaw. Their halls echoed with debates on engineering marvels and the secrets hidden within the earth. 

Finally, the Hobbits found a home in Hufflepuff. Their love for community, loyalty to their kin, and dedication to the simple pleasures of life resonated deeply with the house known for its badger sigil.

A pang of longing twisted within Aegnor. He yearned for a glimpse into your world, a world documented on those strange glowing rectangles humans called "phones."  He knew it was a forbidden desire, an act frowned upon by most elves. Only his Uncle Feanor, a surprising and rare elven Gryfindor dared to dabble in such human contraptions.

Sitting in the back row, the only sliver of sunlight stubbornly fighting its way through a cracked window was Snape's nemesis. Aegnor sighed, flipping through his well-worn textbook filled with elven script that seemed to dance before his eyes.

The acrid scent of burnt Bubotuber pus mingled with the sweet aroma of gillyweed, a constant reminder of the strange concoctions brewing around him

Snape's incessant droning about cauldron safety did little to alleviate his growing boredom. Suddenly, a cacophony of crashing metal and sputtering flames erupted from across the room, followed by Snape's scathing pronouncement, "Five points from Gryffindor!"

Aegnor winced, his gaze briefly flickering towards the source of the commotion.  There, you stood, exiled from the Gryffindor table amidst a chorus of giggles.

You were a whirlwind of Gryffindor red and mischief, your hair escaping its usual braid.  Without a moment's hesitation, you marched towards Aegnor, a mischievous glint sparkling in your eyes.

"Mind if I join you guys?" you chirped, settling down on the empty stool beside him before he could even formulate a response. 

Before he could stammer a response, his sister, Galadriel, cut in with a frosty, "How about no."

Aegnor felt the urge to glare at his sister. He stole a glance at you, half-expecting you to wilt under Galadriel's icy stare. 

Instead, you met her gaze with a playful glint in your eyes, a barely suppressed smile tugging at the corner of your lips. "Cool, glad that we agree," you replied shaking his hand. 

A sheepish grin spread across your face as you leaned closer to Aegnor, your voice barely a whisper. "Mind sharing the textbook?" you pleaded, a hint of desperation lacing your tone. 

Your own copy lay abandoned on the desk, its pages marred by a splatter of what could only be some sort of disastrous purple goo. 

For a moment, Aegnor felt a flicker of surprise, a jolt of something akin to shyness as you invaded his personal space. He wasn't used to such casual closeness, especially not with someone from Gryffindor.

He stole a glance at his sister, Galadriel. Her lips were pursed in disapproval, a silent reminder of the boundaries he was teetering on.  

But something, perhaps the endearing lack of inhibition in your eyes, won him over. With a barely audible sigh, he shifted the book closer to you, his voice a low murmur as he mumbled the instructions Snape had droned on about mere moments ago.

And that is how his world collided with yours. Reforming itself for the eternity of his life.

[ithilethiel]

【OC】The Silmarillion✖️ Harry Potter

Name

lingua franca：Violetta Valancius

Elvish：Tûrwethiel Vanglirtána

“The parallel world of oneself”

This is a private manuscript ，Please do not repost or use🚫

[dalliansss]

Hogwarts AU by me and @skaelds

Let’s start with ✨Finrod✨ of course

Part-Veela (Indis is a Veela)

Slytherin

Same year with Curufinwë

Wand: rosewood, 14”, werewolf fang core

Prefect and eventually Head Boy (much to Curufin’s chagrin)

Has friends from all Houses

Not into Quidditch

From a purely magical family

Specializes in: potions, muggle studies, occlumency

Other good subjects: herbology; care of magical creatures, defense against the dark arts, charms, history of magic

Best skills: potion brewing, occlumency, charms and enchantments

Eventual job: ministry of magic; muggle liasons department (1st job out of school)

We’ll add the rest of the family later hahaha

[scatteredlight1]

Chapters: 1/9 Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling, The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Harry Potter & Sons of Fëanor Characters: Harry Potter, Maedhros (Tolkien), Maglor (Tolkien), Celegorm (Tolkien), Caranthir (Tolkien), Ambarussa (Tolkien), Curufin (Tolkien), Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley Additional Tags: Magic, Memories, Crack, Crack Treated Seriously, Fluff and Humor, Read the fine print guys, Spellcasting, Original Spells and Potions (Harry Potter), Backfiring Spells, Sometimes it's better to not have help, It's Not Paranoia If They're Really Out To Get You, Not Beta Read, Canon Divergence - Post-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Series: Part 1 of Consequences of not reading the fine print Summary:

“Terrifying dream or not, it definitely didn’t go away. He didn’t sign up for this. Next time, honest to Merlin, he’s checking every inch of every page with a magnifying glass, and then referring to every other book with the spell and inspecting those pages as well. Why, you ask? That’s excessive, you say! Imagine Lucius Malfoy lounging on your couch, three years after he practically killed you and two months after he supported your arch-nemesis. It was very, very creepy.”

OR

Harry uses a spell that transfers memories from powerful historical figures into people living in the same century as the spellcaster. He expects Merlin, or even the founders, to appear. What he gets are the seven sons of Feanor. He is not even slightly prepared.

[aotearoa20]

So I’m sorting all of finwe’s grandkids into hogwarts houses for moodboards, as one does. And you know there’s not a lot of Ravenclaws in the royal family of the ‘love learning and making things’ people

which explains some things but is also kinda sad. Like Finrod and Maglor would definitely be in the loves learning house if they weren’t hopelessly following people into doom because of their stupid oaths. Dad jr ought to be in ravenclaw but he is too busy starting a coup to be doing to do any actual making stuff

just feels like there’s so much exploring and creating potential that’s lost cause everyone’s fighting themselves, each other and the freaking Lord of Darkness

anyway if anyone want to weigh in on whether Fingon is a hufflepuff or griffindor please do, cause I’m at a loss?

[sampungmgadaliri]

I have a new ship: Galadriel x Minerva McGonagall. I cannot explain. I hope you get what I mean.

[expecto-kedavra]

Thorin’s last words - “There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. But sad or merry, I must leave it now. Farewell”

I want to know what Tolkien line hits you hard every time. Where you are just left stunned. It can be from the books, movies, a scrap of paper the Professor wrote on once, whatever. Share your impactful line!

[saintsenara]

Do you have any thoughts on any of the next generation ships? I know you’ve answered Scorbus and Lorgo already (and maybe Tedoire, I’m not sure), and that you didn’t know who most of the more obscure characters were (although I don’t think I’d count most of them as obscure considering Polly, Yann, Karl, Craig and Delphi all appear more than James or Lily in CC) but what about some of the others? Lilysander? Tedoire? Tedique? Scorose? Scorlily? Scorgo (I think I’ve seen it called Soulscorpion more though)? Lorlily?

I can’t honestly ask you about most of them since you don’t even seem to know who some of the major next generation characters are (like every popular ship with actual character interactions I basically can’t ask you about), but I was curious to know if you had any opinions on any other next generation ships?

Although it is honestly a little funny how many people in this fandom know so much about the super obscure characters mentioned once by name and then haven’t even heard of the main characters in CC. Like damn, you don’t even know about Karl having the least chill anyone could possibly have? Don’t even know about Polly casually wiping blood off her shoes while actively flirting with Scorpius? Don’t even know about my dead gay son Craig? Like you can name every single order member but you can’t name the main villain of CC? Kind of hilarious, I can’t lie.

cursed child - and characters who only appear in it - is obscure.

the reason people can name extremely minor characters mentioned once in the seven-book series is because those are the things the vast majority of people in this fandom consider to be only or primarily canon - and with entirely legitimate reasons. this shouldn't surprise you in any way.

i've not read it or seen it and i have no interest in it as a standalone product - i'm willing to cherry-pick certain things which it mentions [i.e. delphini's existence] because i think they work plausibly with the characterisation of the people involved in the main canon, but i'll be frank that the things i know about it come second hand...

and while this is mainly to do with my personal red line when it comes to engaging with jkr's post-deathly hallows stuff [having come back into the fandom after she went off the deep end], it's also because i don't think it sounds particularly compelling as a piece of media and i don't regard it as canon. the same is true of the games - you'd get an "i don't know who these people are" answer if you asked me about a ship which involves characters who only exist in hogwarts legacy - and the fantastic beasts films - the only ship i've heard of there is grindeldore, and my personal outline for grindelwald's rise etc. has nothing to do with the one these films set out.

none of the characters you mention are "major next generation characters", from the perspective of harry potter fans, be real. not only are they not mentioned in the books, they're also not mentioned in any of the extra-canonical material which exists about the post-series universe - such as jkr's interviews or her writings on pottermore. they're characters in a separate fandom - and the cursed child fandom has, as far as i can tell, only the most tenuous overlap in terms of fandom presence and community with the harry potter one, and people who are in both seem to exist pretty discretely in each one [whereas, for example, the fandoms for lord of the rings and the silmarillion or game of thrones and house of the dragon are more blended].

so ask about your ships there.

[wanderingmind867]

I've got very picky book taste. I'm picky in many ways. I'm a picky eater, I'm picky about the stuff i'll watch, i'm picky about the video games i'll play, etc. But I want to focus on my taste in books for right now. I have criteria for what i'll read. Let me go find my book collection, and list some of the time i've read over the years. So let's just list the stuff I see, explain it, and then see if we both don't learn about me:

Percy Jackson and everything else Rick Riordan did (I have all of PJO, all of HOO, all of TKC, All of Magnus Chase, and I read the first three books of the Trials of Apollo. I gave up that series after Jason died, both because COVID took me away from school (where I did my best reading), and also because Jason's death devastated me).

Harry Potter (I loved these books as a kid. Or well, I loved Dumbledore and the teachers. The last book was too full of death and no school stuff, so I didn't like it. But the teachers at Hogwarts? I loved them. Albus Dumbledore and Gandalf are still the reason I love Wizards so much. I read Harry Potter nearly five times in a row, because those first 5-6 books were amazing. Now that I know about JK Rowling being a horrible human being... it's hard to engage. But I still do hold love for some of the characters. I just haven't reread the books in a long time).

The Lord of the Rings (I haven't read these since I was really young. But in Grade 2, I read these books. And I read them again once or twice after that. But I never did understand Tolkien's mythos. It's too complicated. I never quite understood who Sauron was, or why he was evil. And the Silmarillion was too dry to read. But I did read The Hobbit, as that EA who died recently gave it to me when I was young. So again, I could never quite grasp them. But I loved Gandalf. I still really, really love him).

The Chronicles of Narnia (In elementary school, a teacher gifted these books to me. A worn out collection of them all. I managed to read the first four books (The Magician's Nephew, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Horse and his Boy and Prince Caspian). But I couldn't get past the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Too many confusing ship terms. It lost me, and I never could get past it. So I only ever read those first four books. I ended up feeling content with that decision, though.

A Series of Unfortunate Events (I never did see the whole Netflix show, and I still never fully understood these books. I heard there were prequels, but I never read them. So these books were always very mysterious. The narrator always talks to the reader, randomly shoving in anecdotes about his tragic life. Confusing books. But they were also very fun. I remember there was a whole lot of great comedy in these books. A lot of depression and existensial stuff too, but I always preferred the comedy).

This is getting too long. Apparently I own too many books. So prepare for a part two. Maybe even a part three. I'll make those shortly. Then we can hopefully evaluate my reading taste, and figure out what I like and dislike.

[saintannatar]

Thank you for tagging me @narisz !! ❤️❤️❤️

Favourite colour: Besides black, I'm really into deep turquoise right now.

Last song: Blessed Be by Spiritbox 😍

Last movie/TV show: Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fucking hilarious, though some of the jokes have aged poorly.)

Next on my watch list: Either House of the Dragon or finishing up the last couple seasons of HBO's His Dark Materials.

Last game: These days I watch the hubby play while I knit. Last game he finished was Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Currently on Elden Ring. Last game I myself played was Hogwarts Legacy (I know...I know. Fuck JKR and bring on the hate.)

Sweet/savoury/spicy: EVVVERYTHINGGG. I'm a sucker for a thoughtful sweet/savory blend. Like salted caramel or chocolate cheddar. (Trader Joe's sold that for a while and it was awesome.)

Relationship status: Happily Married and it's complicated :)

Last online search: How Brooklyn Nine-Nine is spelled out.

Current obsession: Still the Silmarillion/the rest of the Legendarium. Currently trudging through LOTR for the first time 😅 and I do intend to finish it! New mini-fixation right now is total solar eclipses; already excitedly planning for the 2045 one!

Greatest flaw: Definitely my overuse of emoji Probably my people-pleasing.

If you feel like it my dears @rufyshinra @dontclimbonthat @keyknows @ofstarlightandbows @transsexualhamlet @ughtumno

[flnno]

Winter is always Harry Potter.

Glorfindel a Hufflepuff.

[sweetlog]

Five Remarkable Fanfictions That Will Steal Your Heart

1. “Build Up A New Us” by Harp_of_Gold (Silmarillion Fandom):

This ongoing fanfic delves into profound redemption stories for characters like Sauron, Maeglin, and even Morgoth. It explores themes of trauma recovery, accountability, and justice. But it’s not all serious—there’s also polyamory, healthy BDSM practices, and joyful queerness. The author masterfully weaves deep insights with feel-good moments, reminding us that everyone deserves a happy ending.

2. “Splint” by helenamarkos (The Lord of the Rings Fandom):

Set in the 4th Age, this captivating fanfic introduces an intriguing cross-species relationship between a ranger of the North and a lonely orc shamaness. The story beautifully explores love, culture shock, prejudice, and genuine feels. The characters are all original, yet the storytelling is incredibly compelling.

3. “Fantastic Elves and Where To Find Them” by evansentranced (Harry Potter Fandom):

In this heartwarming tale, Harry is abandoned by the Dursleys as a child. Instead of a dark street life, he carves out an unconventional existence. Hogwarts is absolutely not ready for the unconventional wizard he becomes. The humor and heartfelt moments make this fanfic a delightful read.

4. “Purple Days” by Baurus (Game of Thrones Fandom):

Imagine Joffrey, the notorious tormentor, stuck in a Groundhog Day-like loop until he becomes a far less terrible person. Eldritch secrets, redemption, and unexpected twists await in this well-written fanfic.

5. “The Alexandra Quick” series by Inverarity (Harry Potter Fandom):

Set in wizarding America, this series features an original cast of characters. The world-building, character development, and storytelling are exceptional. Although incomplete, the published books showcase the author’s dedication and talent.

[softmoonlightmelody]

about me

decided i should probably make this

so, hi! you can call me moonlight. i use he/him pronouns. i'm primarily in the keeper and silmarillion fandoms, although i do blog and reblog other content from other fandoms, and i blog and reblog about general queer and transiness stuff.

other blogs: @moonlightswritingandstuff (my writing blog), @moonlightswritinginspoarchive (self-explanatory)

i have an ao3, it's the same name, it's linked in my blog. enjoy.

so here i'm going to go into everything mostly important:

i'm in full support of trans people (i am one, after all) and literally everyone in the lgbtqiap+ community. i am not about to hate someone for arbitrary reasons

i do not support jkr or any terfs, but my general opinion on harry potter and jkr is 'let it die in obscurity. i could not care less' and as thus i generally don't reblog anything about jkr, even negative. i tend to stay away from her in general. point is i do not support anything jkr has done, including her antisemitism, transphobia, and general terribleness. i'm missing a bunch of things because she sucks but oh well. if you like harry potter, that's fine, like what you like, but know that i do not support jkr in the slightest. relating to the hogwarts legacy game, i am of the opinion that it sucks despite never even touching it. jkr can go die in a hole, but i generally want her to die in obscurity. it would be a great day when no one remembers her.

i'm open to most ships, i do not care about what UNLESS they are incest or pedophilia ships. however, i skew favourable to femslash ships, and i do acknowledge characters who don't get in a relationship and aro and a-spec characters. they are cool, and are all my blorbos.

i do not share personal information beyond what is already in this post and perhaps what people can garner from reading closely. please do not ask me about personal information. maybe sometime in the far future i might share more, but for now, i am a private person online. please do not press about this.

no hate! i'd rather not deal with someone who disagrees with my personal interpretation. a lot of them are personal, like drew tanaka, but at the same time i acknowledge they exist. it's okay to disagree with me, and generally my interpretations are made based off of my cultural framing and general knowledge because i enjoy worldbuilding in various themed cultures.

you can always ask my opinion on literally anything, including fandoms i'm not in. i want to see you ask me about obscure things i've never heard of, let me read a summary on wikipedia, and form my opinion solely based off of it. because that's funny.

i like pretty colours and stuff, which is why a few of my posts and my blog has that look to it

i like occasionally going through a fandom-wide fanart tag to look at cool stuff people draw. i love art, my favourite art movement is probably impressionistic.

relating to that, classical music? cool. i like romantic period.

music in general i vibe to. do not care what i listen to as long as it's not like heavy metal. i digress.

i should probably stop rambling

in conclusion, i generally don't engage in a lot of discourse because i don't need to engage in that. i have my opinions, you have yours, let's stay away from each other on that topic.

[psychedaleka]

I wanna hear about Mairon in Hogwarts... please...

oh absolutely!! this is a semi crack treated seriously plotbunny that turned into a 12k fic (i am currently 3/7 done)

the summary i have for it is:

“When the One Ring is destroyed, Sauron is not sent to the void. He is, instead, reborn as a human child in a world where magic is a little more… every day.

In which The Last Archangel: Firstborn lives rent free in my head and I continue to stan Sauron.”

(the last archangel: firstborn is a supernatural and harry potter crossover which i absolutely love, and if you’re part of those fandoms i would 100% suggest you go check it out)

featuring: mairon finally making friends (and dealing w/emotions in a semi productive way), encountering goblet of fire era dragons, and wannabe dark lord voldemort.

snippets under the cut!

Ravenclaw, Mairon thought, hard.

No need to be so loud, the Sorting Hat said. Are you sure? You’d do quite well in Slytherin.

Not Slytherin, he thought. They’d insult my parents.

Such loyalty, the Hat remarked.

I’d fit in more with Ravenclaw, Mairon insisted, thinking of his charts and rankings. I’m curious, I’m studious— I’d fit right in.

Perhaps, the Hat said, then with an odd note: But sometimes what you are is not what you need. So I’d better sort you in:

“Hufflepuff!”

---

Professor Trelawney started the class with some ominous sounding predictions, and Wayne snickered at them, but they rang true to Mairon. He didn’t know how.

Professor Trelawney turned to Mairon, with sympathy in her eyes.

“Oh, my dear,” she said. “So much fire. I see so much fire.”

“Are you saying his house is going to burn down? Justin said.

“”Fire and,” she said, ignoring Justin, “gold, so bright, the light of a soul fracturing.”

Mairon couldn’t breathe. Even the cup of tea couldn’t stop the lump in this throat. Her words had shaken him, because they were true, but he didn’t know how.

Fire and gold: that was him. Not him, not this him— the other him, the one that had been erased like a palimpsest and was bleeding into this him.

“Huh,” Justin said, turning Mairon’s cup around. “Doesn’t look like there’s much. Looks like tea clumps.”

Mairon stared at Justin’s cups, willing the globs to make shapes.

“I see,” Justin said, “what is that? The sun? The moon? Are those symbols?”

He flipped through the textbook, as though reading it another time will somehow force the words to make sense.

Mairon set down his cup. He had given up on it a long time ago.

“I know what I see in your future,” he said, wryly.

“Really?” Justin looked excited.

“A failing mark.”

Justin pouted.

“How could you do this to me,” he said. “Just because I can’t decipher your squiggle—”

“Let me see.”

“I think it’s the sun,” Justin said.

No, not the sun.

The tea leaves clumped along the edge of the cup: a ring.