#sir. reginald the cat

[royalxenawolf]

River Black and the Philosophers Stone Chapter 3: Into The Alley

Warnings: Alternate Universe, Original Characters, Crossover(BBC Merlin & Harry Potter), Fix-It, No Beta Reader, Sane Tom Riddle/Not Evil Tom Riddle.(if i forgot anything let me know) Victoria belongs to @brokken-emo-lost

Words: 8,766

Master List

A few days after the escape of the Brazilian boa constrictor from the zoo, Harry and Atlas awoke early in the morning. Even though they knew it was daylight, they did not want to get up yet. They were content with laying in their beds, wrapped up in the duvets, and ignoring all of the noises coming from below their flat in the main area of the Leaky Cauldron. But this morning, it was notably louder than usual.

The Leaky Cauldron is always loud and full of noise, a well-known fact that the residents had to make peace with long ago if they chose to live there. And yet, despite the fact that it was always loud and bustling, there was a noticeable difference from the usual loudness that Atlas and Harry had grown accustomed to. So, they were happy with electing to ignore it. That was until a sudden loud tapping noise sounded out.

Atlas flopped over onto his belly, burying his face in his pillow with a groan, while Harry pulled his duvet up over his head in an attempt to ignore the tapping. Tap. Tap. Tap. Atlas popped himself up on his forearms, hair falling into his face as he turned his head and glared at his and Harry's bedroom door before swinging his legs over and jumping down from the top bunk.

Harry sat up in his bunk and watched as Atlas walked to the door. Harry threw the duvet off of himself and got up slowly, shuffling his feet over to the small wardrobe in his and Atlas's room. "I'm going to get dressed," Harry said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as Atlas hummed in response while opening the bedroom door. Tap. Tap. Tap. The noise came again as Atlas walked down the hall towards the annoying tapping.

He heard the shower turning off and blinked a little to get the sleep from his eyes. "Mum is up already," Atlas thought to himself as he walked into the kitchen. There, rapping its talons on the window, was a gray owl. In its beak was the daily newspaper. Atlas rolled his eyes. As close as they lived to Diagon Alley, Atlas never truly understood why they always got their newspaper via owl post. But nonetheless, he walked over and opened the kitchen window.

The owl swooped in and landed on the table in the middle of the small kitchen. It dropped the newspaper and started to squawk. "Alright, alright," Atlas said to the owl as he walked over to a glass container that looked a lot like a biscuit jar. It sat on the worktop in the kitchen. The owl continued to screech and squawk as Atlas picked up the jar. "You will get your payment. Hold on," Atlas said as he glared at the owl in annoyance.

Atlas typically loved animals of all kinds and varieties, but for as long as he can remember, he swears this exact same owl has been delivering the daily newspaper, and it is always impatient. Atlas takes the lid off of the jar and looks in... empty. It's empty. Atlas sighs and sets the jar back down as the owl's squawks and screeches got louder. Atlas looks into the hall. "Hey, Mum!"

River caps her eyeliner and looks away from the mirror. Normally, she wouldn't bother putting on makeup or trying to keep up appearances, especially when just going into Diagon Alley. However, with all the noise going on, it was very obvious that a lot of people were using the Leaky Cauldron to get into the alley today, which meant there was a chance she might run into someone she used to know. And well, it's best to give them as little ammunition against her as possible.

River placed her eyeliner down in front of her mirror and poked her head out of her bedroom door. "Yeah?" Atlas heaved a sigh of relief at the sound of his mum's voice. "Where are the Knuts at for the newspaper? They're not in the jar," Atlas called down the hall.

River swore under her breath. She had forgotten to refill the biscuit jar with Knuts last night. She turned and looked down the hall. "I'll take care of it. Just go get dressed." Atlas looked over his shoulder at the owl screeching on their kitchen table. Honestly, he thought he would prefer being in his room than anywhere this particular owl was located.

Atlas turned and started speed-walking down the hall. "I will go do that right now," Atlas said, passing his mum's room and into his and Harry's room. He quickly opened and closed the door behind himself. Atlas looked up, and there was Harry, fully dressed, just casually lying on his bed flipping through an old photo book. Atlas looked at Harry like he had somehow personally offended him. "Have you been in here dressed the whole time while I was out there dealing with the owl from hell?" Atlas exclaimed at Harry while pointing towards the bedroom door.

Harry slowly looked up from the photo book and directly at Atlas. "Well, I just thought since you seemed to be handling it... that you didn't need my help," Harry stammered out as Atlas stalked closer towards the bunk beds. "You—" Atlas said as he pointed a finger at Harry, "—left me out there to face that horrible creature alone, how could you Harry, your own brother." Atlas finished his sentence by throwing himself onto the bed across Harry's legs.

As Harry grinned, he shoved Atlas off of his legs to the floor. "You would have done the same to me," Harry shot back as he sat up fully and crossed his legs. Atlas propped himself up on his elbows and grinned up at Harry. "Maybe, maybe, but you can't prove it." Atlas climbed up onto his feet and walked to the wardrobe. "Did you get the owl sorted?" Harry asked, grabbing his and Atlas's shoes from under the bed. Atlas looked over his shoulder while pulling a black t-shirt from the wardrobe. "Huh? Oh no, mum said she would." Harry nodded and put his shoes on.

River walked out of her bedroom and into the kitchen, coin pouch in hand, as the owl continued to get louder and louder. River looked at the owl once in the kitchen and, as she suspected, Sr. Reginald hissed at the owl for being loud, and the owl hissed back at him in return. "Okay, let's see," River said to herself as she counted out five bronze coins and walked over to the owl, who held out its leg where a small leather pouch was tied. River placed the coins in the pouch. "There you go, five knuts." The owl turned and flew back out of the opened kitchen window as River sighed.

After breakfast and River reminding Harry and Atlas to stay close to her and also reminding Harry to keep his hair brushed down over his forehead, they were all out the door and down the stairs. River led the way as Harry and Atlas chattered away excitedly behind her. After all, they had never actually been to Diagon Alley before, despite living so close to it. "How do you think we will get into Diagon Alley?" Harry asked Atlas excitedly. Atlas waved his hands in front of his face as he answered, "Probably some super secret magical passageway." Harry's eyes widened. "Do you really think so?" Atlas gave Harry a smile. "Well, I mean, it has to be that, right? The Leaky Cauldron is a door between muggle and magical." River chuckled to herself as she stopped in front of a brick wall at the back of the Leaky Cauldron, the boys stopping behind her and looking at the wall confused.

"Uhhh, mum?" Harry said while looking at the wall. "Yes, dear," River said as she turned to look at the two boys. Harry and Atlas looked at River as Harry pointed at the stone wall. "That's just the back wall of the Leaky Cauldron." Atlas looked at the wall with a skeptical expression. "Yeah, what Harry said." River grinned. "Just watch," she said as she turned back to face the wall. But right as River took her wand from her pocket, a voice sounded from behind them. "E-e-excuse m-me." River, Harry, and Atlas all turned around, and there standing not too far from them was a pale young man who made his way forward, very nervously. How strange, Atlas thought, as he took notice that one of this man's eyes was twitching.

"Yes?" River asked as she twirled her wand with her fingers, an old habit she had taken up when she first received her wand years ago. The young man looked even more nervous with River twirling her wand as he looked at her and the boys. "Are your b-boys g-going to h-h-h-hogwarts?" River looked at Harry and Atlas as they both grinned. "Yes, we are," Atlas said, looking so proud of himself and Harry. The man looked at the boys. "Well, i-i-its nice to m-meat you. I-i'm q-q-q-Quirinus q-q-Quirrell. I-i will b-b-be o-one of y-y-your t-teachers at h-h-h-hogwarts." Atlas tilted his head as he looked at Quirrell. "It's nice to meet you, Professor." Harry looked up at Quirrell, bright green eyes shining with curiosity. "What sort of magic do you teach, Professor Quirrell?" "D-Defence Against the D-D-Dark Arts," muttered Quirrell, as though he’d rather not think about it.

Upon hearing Quirrell's muttered answer to Harry's questions, River's eyes snapped to him. She stared, thinking, "So this is him. This is the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor." River tilted her head to the side and looked Quirrell up and down. In River's opinion, he did not look like much. From the way he appeared, River thought he was barely suited to be the librarian for Hogwarts, let alone the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. River smiled with her teeth and stepped forward, "So you're the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor? It's so lovely to meet one of my boys' future teachers. I really hope you don't lose any of your limbs while teaching." Quirrell looked at River and laughed nervously as he turned back to the boys, “Getting all your equipment, I suppose? I’ve got to pick up a new book on vampires, myself.” He looked terrified at the very thought. But he continued on, "Perhaps we will run into each other." Both boys shrugged. "Maybe," Atlas said as River put one boy on each side of her. "Right, well we best be going, you know, things to do and all that," River said, turning around with the boys to face the wall again. "Right, now watch this," River grinned as she held her wand in hand. "Okay boys, pay very close attention, alright?" Harry and Atlas nodded as River lifted her wand to the wall. "Three up... two across..." River said, making sure Atlas and Harry were paying attention. "Right now, stand back." The boys did as they were told. As River tapped the wall three times with the tip of her wand, the brick she had touched quivered and wriggled. In the middle, a small hole appeared. It grew wider and wider. A second later, they were facing an archway large enough for even a giant, an archway onto a cobbled street which twisted and turned out of sight. “Welcome,” said River, opening her arms wide, “to Diagon Alley.” She grinned at Harry’s and Atlas’s amazement. They stepped through the archway. Harry and Atlas looked quickly over their shoulders and saw the archway shrink instantly back into a solid wall. "Alright, which one of you has the list?" River asked as she watched the boys staring at anything and everything they saw. Harry looked up at her. "Huh? Oh! I have mine right here." Harry pulled the list out of his pocket and handed it to River, who opened it and read it aloud as she began walking.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Uniform

First-year students will require: Three sets of plain work robes (black)

One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils’ clothes should carry name tags

Set Books

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner’s Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

Other Equipment

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT

ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

River looked over the list again to make sure that she didn't miss anything. "Well, everything looks like the standard," she said. Atlas and Harry looked at River. "Mum, will we be able to get it all?" Harry asked as he and Atlas observed how the sun shone brightly on a stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop. Cauldrons of all sizes, copper, brass, pewter, silver, even self-stirring and collapsible, said a sign hanging over them. Oh, how Harry and Atlas wished they had about eight more eyes. The boys turned their heads in every direction as they walked up the street, trying to look at everything at once: the shops, the things outside them, the people doing their shopping.

"Of course, we will. There's not much that Diagon Alley doesn't have," River turned to look at the boys and smiled. They were taking in everything around them with such amazement it was impossible for River not to smile while watching them.

"Ey! Hold on there!" A loud booming voice called out further back up the alley. River, Harry, and Atlas all turned their heads. Walking towards them was an enormous man, he was at least twice as tall as a normal man and five times as wide. He had a long, shaggy mane of thick black hair and a wild, tangled beard that hid most of his face. As he walked through the crowd, they parted around him to make more room. River smiled, recognizing Hagrid, and waved to him as he lumbered his way over.

"There yer are, been lookin' everywhere for ya," River stepped back and looked up at Hagrid with a smile. "Hello, Hagrid." Hagrid lifted his hand in greeting. "River," before he turns to the boys and looks at Harry. "Harry, I'd recognize ya anywhere. Look just like yer dad, ya do," he then turns to Atlas. "And this must be Atlas, should've known, got yer dad's hair." Harry and Atlas stared at Hagrid for a bit before finally Harry spoke up. "Uhh, thank you... we think," Atlas looked Hagrid up and down. "Sorry, but you seem to know us, but we don't know you." Hagrid chuckled. "Right, I haven't introduced myself. Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, but just call me Hagrid, everyone does." The two boys nod. "Right, well it's uh, nice to meet you, Hagrid."

River placed her hands on her hips and looked up at Hagrid. "What brings you here, Hagrid?" Hagrid shrugs and looks at River. "Oh, ya know, doing important business for Dumbledore." Atlas and Harry exchanged wide-eyed looks. Dumbledore? They thought as they looked at each other. They had heard that name before from their mum. She always said to never trust an old man named Dumbledore, but mum was being nice to Hagrid, and Hagrid said that he was doing something for Dumbledore, so maybe there was something that they were missing. River looked at her boys out of the corner of her eye. She could almost hear the wheels in their heads turning.

"Dumbledore still has you running errands for him, does he?" River said, kicking at the cobble path with an old, well-worn boot. "Oh yeah, ol' Dumbledore knows he can trust me, and since I'm going to be here anyway, he asked me to help out Harry." River tilted her head. She may not trust Dumbledore... but she did trust Hagrid. He wasn't a bad person, didn't have it in him to be.

"So, I don't suppose you'd mind me borrowing Harry for a bit?" Hagrid asked, looking at River with hopeful eyes. "Where are you going?" Hagrid puffed out his chest. "Gringotts, of course." Harry and Atlas both looked excited. They wanted to see Gringotts. River sighed. "Well, alright." Harry grinned as Atlas turned to River. "Can I go too, mum?" Harry also turned and looked up at both River and Hagrid. "Can he?" Hagrid looked at both of the boys and laughed. "I don't see why not, if it's okay with yer mum, of course." River ruffled both Harry and Atlas's hair. "Alright, you can both go." Atlas and Harry went to run around but then turned around. "Don't get anything without us!" River laughed and waved them along. "I won't," River said as Hagrid walked past her to join the boys.

River turned to walk somewhere else but quickly turned around. "Oh, Hagrid, what did you say you were helping Harry with again? I completely forgot." River looked at Hagrid with a smile as he turned and looked at her. "Oh, well Dumbledore wanted me to show him his vault," Hagrid said, and River nodded. "Right, well you better go join the boys." Hagrid looked at Harry and Atlas. "Oh right, guess I better," and Hagrid lumbered off with the boys.

Once they were out of sight, River reached into her pocket and pulled out her keys. Among them was one tiny golden key. River looked at it, tiny and glistening when the sun hits it. As far as she knew, there were only two keys to the Potter's vault. She had one, and Victoria was supposed to have the other.

And if Hagrid had a key to the Potter Family Vault from Dumbledore then... River shook her head. No, it was best not to think like that. Victoria, wherever she is, she's strong and resourceful. She was fine... she had to be. River slid the key back into her pocket. Well, she might as well get what she needs while she waits for the boys. River walked down the street carrying Sir. Reginald in one arm when suddenly someone bumped into her.

"I am so-" River starts to say as a male voice cuts her off.

"Watch where you are going," River smirked as Sir. Reginald hissed at the man. She recognized that voice. River pulled her shoulders back, puffed out her chest, and looked up.

"Why, Lucius Malfoy, as I live and breathe. Fancy running into you here," before Lucius could say anything, River swiftly turned to the woman standing next to him and smiled. "Narcissa, darling, it is so good to see you again. How have you been doing, dear?"

Narcissa nodded at River. "Hello, River. I have been alright."

River looked at them, noticed that they had a boy with them. That's right, how could she have forgotten? They have a son around Harry and Atlas's age. River stepped back slightly and actually took in their appearances. Lucius had not changed much since Hogwarts. He was a bit older but he still had the same pointed face, and cold, pale grey eyes. His hair was longer now, it was still pale blonde but longer, tied back with a ribbon and what wasn't tied back was slicked back with so much gel that it was basically glued to his head. In his hand was a wooden cane with a silver snake head.

Narcissa stood next to him. She was still as beautiful as ever, still tall and slim, and very pale, with piercing blue eyes that could see into your very soul, and gorgeous long blonde hair that cascaded down her back, and she still had the same clear, cold voice as always.

Lucius and Narcissa's son was a different matter. He was tall and slender but not as tall as Atlas, probably around the same height as Harry, with blond hair, pale skin, a pointed face, and icy gray eyes. To most, you probably look like his father but to River, he looked like his mother except for the way his hair was done today. It was also slicked back, similar to how Lucius had his, and she couldn't tell if it was because the boy wanted to be like his father or if it's because that's what Lucius wanted the boy to look like.

River mentally shook her head. "Where are my manners? Who is this with you?"

Lucius looked down his nose at River and sneered as if she was lesser than him and in his mind, she was before answering. "This is our son, Draco. Draco, this is River Pendra–"

River cut Lucius off before he could finish. "Black, River Black."

Draco held out his hand and River shook it. "Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Black."

River smiled. There might be hope for this boy yet. "You too, young Mr. Malfoy."

Draco's eyes widened as he looked at the woman in front of him who had just shook his hand. Not very many people, or any at all really, have referred to him as young Mr. Malfoy. Young Lord, maybe on a rare occasion, but never mister. This woman seemed odd to Draco. His father didn't like seeing her and his mother almost seemed happy at the sight. He'd have to ask about it later once they were home.

"Excuse me?" Lucius said, grabbing River, Narcissa, and Draco's attention. "But did I hear you say Black?"

Lucius continued, still looking down his nose at River who smirked as she answered him. "Yes, you did. I married a Black too, remember? And I didn't have to offer the parents of mine money to do it."

River said, looking Lucius in the eyes as his sneer turned into a glare. "Watch who you are speaking to.”

River laughed. Oh, poor poor Lucius thought himself to be scary. "Or what? Look around, Lucius, we are in the middle of a crowded busy street. There are too many witnesses."

Lucius looked around and lowered his cane. "And what are you doing here?"

River tilted her head. "Getting school supplies for my sons. I'm sure you'll be most pleased to hear that they will be attending Hogwarts."

Lucius wrinkled his nose in disgust. River could not tell if it was because of her boys attending Hogwarts or something else. "So it is true then, you and that murderous blood traitor did produce a half-blooded welp, two in fact if what you say is true."

River glared at Lucius. She did not care what he said about her but she would not stand for him speaking ill of her husband or her children. "Yes, it's true... although I am shocked, Malfoy."

Lucius arched an eyebrow at her. "What are you babbling about?" he said, annoyed, and River smirked and shrugged. "Well, it's just that you have your hair glued to your head so tightly I can't tell if you actually have any or if it's painted on. I mean, as much grease is on your head you could probably sell it and feed a third world country."

River's smirk widened as she watched Lucius Malfoy go from pale to an awful shade of angry red while both Narcissa and Draco's eyes widened in shock. Well, shock on Draco's part. After all, he had never heard anyone speak to his father in such a manner before.

Lucius angrily turned to his family. "Narcissa, Draco, come. We are leaving. We have things to do."

River waved at their backs while Sir. Reginald mowed at Narcissa's retreating back. "Ta ta~ hope to see you again."

River turned around to continue on her way. "Now, off to do some shopping.”

Meanwhile, Harry and Atlas were enjoying their walk to the bank with Hagrid. As they walked, they turned their heads, looking at everything. There was a plump woman outside an apothecary, shaking her head as they passed, saying, "Dragon liver, sixteen Sickles an ounce, they're mad..." Low, soft hooting came from a dark shop with a sign saying Eeylops Owl Emporium, Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown, and Snowy.

Several boys of about Harry and Atlas's age had their noses pressed against a window with broomsticks in it. "Look," the boys heard one of them say, "the new Nimbus Two Thousand, fastest ever." This instantly got Atlas's attention as he swiftly turned his head towards the shop with the brooms. "Did they say the new Nimbus Two Thousand?"

Harry grabbed Atlas by the arm as he tried to run off. "Come on, Atlas." Atlas looked at Harry and back at the broom shop. "But Harry, it's the Nimbus Two Thousand." Harry kept pulling Atlas by the arm. "We can look with mum."

Hagrid shook his head. "You act like you've never been to Diagon Alley before." Both boys stopped and looked up at Hagrid. "We haven't," Atlas said as he got Harry to let go of his arm. Harry nodded, standing next to Atlas. "Mum always said it might not be safe for us to run around Diagon Alley, so we've never got to come till today."

Hagrid kept walking as the boys ran to catch up. "I suppose she's right. Best listen to your mum," Hagrid winked at the boys, and they kept on their way. As they did so, Harry and Atlas looked at the shops. There were shops selling robes, shops selling telescopes and strange silver instruments that Harry and Atlas had never seen before, windows stacked with barrels of bat spleens and eels’ eyes, tottering piles of spell books, quills and rolls of parchment, potion bottles, globes of the moon...

Atlas looked up at Hagrid, wheels in his head turning with questions. "Hey Hagrid, are there any other Wizarding Banks besides Gringotts?" Hagrid looked down and shook his head. "No, just the one. It's run by goblins."

Harry looked up and grinned. "So it really is run by goblins?" Hagrid smiled. "Already knew that, did you?" Atlas nodded. "Mum always told us if we ever went to Gringotts to be polite and nice to the goblins and that they would appreciate it." Harry nodded and then added, "She also said that if we went to Gringotts to never touch what wasn't ours."

Hagrid's smile grew. "Sound advice that is. Of course, you’d be mad to try and rob it, I’ll tell you that. Never mess with goblins, boys. Gringotts is the safest place in the world for anything you want to keep safe, except maybe Hogwarts.”

Atlas tilted his head. "Do you come to Gringotts often, Hagrid?" Hagrid shook his head. "No, I got a visit to Gringotts. For Dumbledore. Hogwarts business." Hagrid drew himself up proudly. "He usually gets me to do important stuff for him. Helping Harry – getting things from Gringotts, knows he can trust me, see.

“Why would you be mad to try and rob Gringotts?” Harry asked.

“Spells, enchantments,” said Hagrid, pulling a watch from his coat as he spoke. “They say there’s dragons guarding the high-security vaults. And then you got to find your way. Gringotts is hundreds of miles under London, see. Deep under the Underground. You’d die of hunger trying to get out, even if you did manage to get your hands on something.”

The boys walked and thought about this while Hagrid led the way. “Hagrid,” said Harry, panting a bit as he and Atlas ran to keep up, “did you say there are dragons at Gringotts?”

“Well, so they say,” said Hagrid. “Crikey, I’d like a dragon.” Atlas’s eyes widened in shock as he looked up at Hagrid. “You’d like one?”

“Wanted one ever since I was a kid. Here we go, Gringotts.” said Hagrid. They had reached a snowy-white building which towered over the other little shops. Standing beside its burnished bronze doors, wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold, was – “Yeah, that’s a goblin,” said Hagrid quietly to the boys' unasked question as they walked up the white stone steps towards him.

The goblin was much shorter than they were. He had a swarthy, clever face, a pointed beard and, Harry and Atlas noticed, very long fingers and feet. He bowed as they walked inside. Now they were facing a second pair of doors, silver this time, with words engraved upon them:

Enter, stranger,

but take heed Of what awaits the sin of greed,

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn,

So if you seek beneath our floors A treasure that was never yours,

Thief,

you have been warned,

beware Of finding more than a treasure horde.

"Like I said, you'd be mad to try and rob it," said Hagrid. A pair of goblins bowed them through the silver doors, and they were in a vast marble hall. About a hundred more goblins were sitting on high stools behind a long counter, scribbling in large ledgers, weighing coins on brass scales, examining precious stones through eyeglasses. There were too many doors to count leading off the hall, and yet more goblins were showing people in and out of these. Hagrid, Harry, and Atlas made for the counter. "Morning," said Hagrid to a free goblin. "We've come to take some money out of Mr. Harry Potter's safe." "You have his key, sir?" "Got it here somewhere," said Hagrid, and he started emptying his pockets onto the counter, scattering a handful of moldy dog biscuits over the goblin's book of numbers. The goblin wrinkled his nose. Harry and Atlas watched the goblin on their right weighing a pile of rubies as big as glowing coals. "Got it," said Hagrid at last, holding up a tiny golden key. The goblin looked at it closely. "That seems to be in order." "And I've also got a letter here from Professor Dumbledore," said Hagrid importantly, throwing out his chest. "It's about the You-Know-What in vault You-Know-Which." The goblin read the letter carefully. "Very well," he said, handing it back to Hagrid, "I will have someone take you down to both vaults. Griphook!" Griphook was yet another goblin. Once Hagrid had crammed all the dog biscuits back inside his pockets,

he, Harry, and Atlas followed Griphook towards one of the doors leading off the hall. "What's the You-Know-What in vault You-Know-Which?" Atlas asked. "Can't tell you that," said Hagrid mysteriously. "Very secret. Hogwarts business. Dumbledore's trusted me. More than my job's worth to tell you that." Griphook held the door open for them. Harry and Atlas, who had expected more marble, were surprised. They were in a narrow stone passageway lit with flaming torches. It sloped steeply downwards, and there were little railway tracks on the floor. Griphook whistled, and a small cart came hurtling up the tracks towards them. They all climbed in, Hagrid had some difficulty, and were off. At first, they just hurtled through a maze of twisting passages. The boys tried to remember, left, right, right, left, middle fork, right, left, but it was impossible. The rattling cart seemed to know its own way, it had to be enchanted because Griphook wasn't steering.

Harry's and Atlas's eyes stung as the cold air rushed past them, but they kept them wide open. Once, they thought they saw a burst of fire at the end of a passage and twisted around to see if it was a dragon, but too late, they plunged even deeper, passing an underground lake where huge stalactites and stalagmites grew from the ceiling and floor. The cart stopped at last beside a small door in the passage wall, Hagrid got out and had to lean against the wall to stop his knees trembling. Griphook unlocked the door. A lot of green smoke came billowing out, and as it cleared, Harry and Atlas gasped. Inside were mounds of gold coins. Columns of silver. Heaps of little bronze Knuts. "All yours, Harry," smiled Hagrid. All Harry's, it was incredible. How often had Mum had to do without so that Atlas and Harry could have what they wanted. And all the time there had been a small fortune belonging to him, buried deep under London. Hagrid and Atlas helped Harry pile some of it into a bag. "Seventeen silver Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle," Atlas and Harry said in unison. Hagrid laughed, "Well, sounds like your Mum's been doing a good job teaching you boys." Hagrid turned to Griphook. "Vault You-Know-Which now, please, and can we go more slowly?" "One speed only," said Griphook. They were going even deeper now and gathering speed. The air became colder and colder as they hurtled around tight corners. They went rattling over an underground ravine, and Harry and Atlas leaned over the side to try and see what was down at the dark bottom, but Hagrid groaned and pulled them back by the scruff of their necks. Vault You-Know-Which had no keyhole. "Stand back," said Griphook importantly. He stroked the door gently with one of his long fingers, and it simply melted away. "If anyone but a Gringotts goblin tried that, they'd be sucked through the door and trapped in there," said Griphook. "How often do you check to see if anyone's inside?" Harry asked as Atlas stepped a little closer. "About once every ten years," said Griphook, with a rather nasty grin.

Something really extraordinary had to be inside this top-security vault, the boys were sure, and they leaned forward eagerly, expecting to see fabulous jewels at the very least. But at first, they thought it was empty. Then they noticed a grubby little package wrapped up in brown paper lying on the floor. Hagrid picked it up and tucked it deep inside his coat. Harry and Atlas longed to know what it was, but knew better than to ask.

"Come on, back in this infernal cart, and don't talk to me on the way back, it's best if I keep my mouth shut," said Hagrid. One wild cart-ride later they stood blinking in the sunlight outside Gringotts. River was standing there waiting for them. Once she caught sight of Atlas and Harry, she smiled and waved. The boys waved back and ran to her.

"I trust you two enjoyed yourselves," River said when the boys stopped in front of her.

"We did! The bank goes so far underground," Atlas said, looking at River with a huge grin. Harry nodded.

"Yeah, and I have my own vault and it's full to the top with gold and silver and knuts too and–" River cut Harry off by placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Slow down now, you have to breathe." Harry nodded and took a breath.

"Okay, now let's go get the shopping done, yeah?" Harry and Atlas nodded. "Okay,"

Hagrid looked at River. "Is it okay if I slip away for a bit before I leave?"

River looked at Hagrid with a smile. "Sure thing, Hagrid." Hagrid nodded and lumbered off. Harry and Atlas didn't know where to run first, especially Harry, now that he had a bag full of money.

"Let's get your uniforms first," said River, nodding towards Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. So they entered Madam Malkin's shop alone. Harry and Atlas felt nervous. Madam Malkin was a squat, smiling witch dressed all in mauve.

"Hogwarts, dear?" she said when Atlas started to speak. "Got the lot here, another young man being fitted up just now, in fact."

In the back of the shop, a boy with a pale, pointed face was standing on a footstool while a second witch pinned up his long black robes. It was Draco. River tapped the boys on their shoulders. Atlas turned and looked at her.

"I have to go get some things real quick, but I will be right back, okay?" Atlas nodded. "Alright." River ruffled his hair before turning around to leave. As she walked out the door, she looked over her shoulder and saw Madam Malkin standing Harry on a stool next to Draco. She slipped a long robe over his head and began to pin it to the right length.

While Atlas stood close by Harry waiting for his turn, Draco turned his head to look at them both. “Hello,” said Draco, “Hogwarts too?” “Yes,” said Harry. “My father’s next door buying my books and mother’s up the street looking at wands,” said Draco. He had a bored, drawling voice. “Then I’m going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don’t see why first-years can’t have their own. I think I’ll bully my father into getting me one and I’ll smuggle it in somehow.” Harry and Atlas were strongly reminded of the pig boy from the zoo. “Have you got your own brooms?” the boy went on. “No,” said Harry. ”Play Quidditch at all?” “No,” said Atlas. “We go to games sometimes,” Harry said, trying to keep still. “I play, Father says it’s a crime if I’m not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree. Know what house you’ll be in yet?” “No,” said Harry, probably Slytherin or Gryffindor, Atlas thought as Madam Malkin finished with Harry and he stepped down. Atlas took his place and Draco continued, “Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I’ll be in Slytherin, all our family have been. Imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I’d leave, wouldn’t you?”  ”Mmm,” said Atlas, wishing that Draco would shut up. “I say, look at that man!” said Draco suddenly, nodding towards the front window.

Hagrid was standing there, grinning at Harry and Atlas and pointing at three large ice-creams to show he couldn’t come in. “That’s Hagrid,” said Harry, pleased to know something Draco didn’t. “He works at Hogwarts.” “Oh,” said Draco, “I’ve heard of him. He’s a sort of servant, isn’t he?” “He’s the gamekeeper,” said Atlas. He and Harry were liking this boy less and less every second. “Yes, exactly. I heard he’s a sort of savage, lives in a hut on the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk, tries to do magic and ends up setting fire to his bed.” “Well, we think he’s brilliant,” said Harry coldly. “Do you?” said Draco, with a slight sneer. “Why is he with you? Where are your parents?” “He’s a friend, we’re here with our mum but she’s busy,” said Atlas shortly. He didn’t feel much like saying more than that. “Oh,” said Draco. “But your mum is our kind, isn't she? And so was your dad, right?” “Our mum is a witch and our dad a wizard, if that’s what you mean,” Atlas clipped out as he glared at Draco. “I really don’t think they should let the other sort in, do you? They’re just not the same, they’ve never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What’s your surname, anyway?” But before Harry or Atlas could answer, Madam Malkin said, “That’s you done, my dear,” and Atlas, not sorry for an excuse to stop talking to Draco, hopped down from the footstool. “Well, I’ll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose,” said Draco.

Harry and Atlas were rather quiet as they ate the ice-cream Hagrid had bought them (mint and cookie dough with chocolate syrup). ”What’s up?” said Hagrid. “Nothing,” the boys lied. They walked around a bit before River joined up with them again, holding a bag, and then they stopped to buy parchment and quills. Harry and Atlas cheered up a bit when they found bottles of ink that changed color as you wrote. River bought them one bottle each to go along with their normal ink. They bought their school books in a shop called Flourish and Blotts where the shelves were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as paving stones bound in leather; books the size of postage stamps in covers of silk; books full of peculiar symbols and a few books with nothing in them at all. River and Hagrid almost had to drag Harry and Atlas away from Curses and Counter-Curses (Bewitch your Friends and Befuddle your Enemies with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss, Jelly-Legs, Tongue-Tying and much, much more) by Professor Vindictus Viridian. River wouldn’t let either one of the boys buy a solid gold cauldron, either (”It says pewter on your list”), but they got a nice set of scales for weighing potion ingredients and a collapsible brass telescopes. Then they visited the apothecary’s, which was fascinating enough to make up for its horrible smell, a mixture of bad eggs and rotten cabbages. Barrels of slimy stuff stood on the floor, jars of herbs, dried roots and bright powders lined the walls, bundles of feathers, strings of fangs and snarled claws hung from the ceiling. While River asked the man behind the counter for a supply of some basic potion ingredients for the boys, Harry himself examined silver unicorn horns at twenty-one Galleons each and Atlas examined minuscule, glittery black beetle eyes (five Knuts a scoop). Outside the apothecary’s, River checked the list again after waving at Hagrid as he lumbered off to do something for the second time that day.  “Just your wands left” a magic wand ... that was what Harry and Atlas had been really looking forward to.

The last shop was narrow and shabby. Peeling gold letters over the door read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC. A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window. A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as they stepped inside. It was a tiny place, empty except for a single spindly chair which River stood next to. Harry felt strangely as though he had entered a very strict library; he swallowed a lot of new questions that had just occurred to him and looked instead at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling. For some reason, the back of his neck prickled. The very dust and silence in here seemed to tingle with some secret magic.

"Good afternoon," said a soft voice. Harry, Atlas, and River jumped. An old man was standing before them, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.

"Hello," said the boys awkwardly.

"Ah yes," said the man. "Yes, yes. I thought I’d be seeing you two soon. Harry Potter and Atlas Black." It wasn’t a question. "You, Mr. Potter, have your mother’s eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work."

Mr. Ollivander moved closer to Harry. Harry wished he would blink. Those silvery eyes were a bit creepy. "Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration." Mr. Ollivander had come so close that he and Harry were almost nose to nose. Harry could see himself reflected in those misty eyes.

"And that’s where ..." Mr. Ollivander touched the lightning scar on Harry’s forehead with a long, white finger. "I’m sorry to say I sold the wand that did it," he said softly. "Thirteen and a half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands ... Well, if I’d known what that wand was going out into the world to do ..." He shook his head and then turned to Atlas.

"And you, Mr. Black, you have your father's hair and eyes, but you more favor your mother. Let’s see, your father favored a cypress wand, thirteen inches, unyielding. Well, I say your parents favored it, it’s really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."

To Harry’s relief and Atlas’s, he spotted River. "And you, young miss, I do not remember selling a wand to you."

River smiled as politely as she could after hearing and seeing this man make her boys uncomfortable. "That is because you didn't, Mr. Ollivander. My wand was made by someone else.”

"Hmmm," said Mr. Ollivander, giving River a piercing look. "Well, now, Mr. Black. Let me see." He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?"

"I’m left-handed," said Atlas.

"Hold out your arm. That’s it." He measured Atlas from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and around his head.

As he measured, he said, “Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr. Black. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard’s wand.” Harry and Atlas suddenly realized that the tape measure, which was measuring between Atlas’s nostrils, was doing this on its own. Mr. Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes. “That will do,” he said, and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor. “Right then, Mr. Black. Try this one. Apple and unicorn hair. Ten inches. Solid. Go on, give it a wave.” Atlas took the wand and waved it around; the ink bottle on the desk exploded, and Mr. Ollivander took the wand away from him at once. “Blackthorn and dragon heartstring. Thirteen inches. Unyielding. Try this one.” Atlas took the wand. He felt an electrical feeling in his fingers. He flicked the wand with his wrist, and a stream of lightning shot from the end like a storm. River let out a joyous laugh, and Mr. Ollivander clapped, “Well done, Mr. Black, well done.” Atlas went and sat down next to River, and Harry walked up to Mr. Ollivander, “Now, then Mr. Potter, wand arm?.” He pulled the long tape measure with silver markings up off of the floor. “Oh, I’m right-handed,” said Harry. “Right then, hold out your arm.”

He started to measure Harry, same as he did to Atlas, after he was done measuring just like with Atlas he took down boxes. “Right then, Mr. Potter. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave.” Harry took the wand and waved it around a bit, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once. “Here, maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try –” Harry tried, but he had hardly raised the wand when it, too, was snatched back by Mr. Ollivander. “No, no, here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on, go on, try it out.” Harry tried. And tried. The pile of tried wands was mounting higher and higher on the spindly chair, at this point, Harry was starting to think that he had no magic at all and was losing hope that he was actually going to Hogwarts by the second, but the more wands Mr. Ollivander pulled from the shelves,

the happier he seemed to become. “Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we’ll find the perfect match here somewhere, I wonder, now, yes, why not, unusual combination, holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple.” Harry took the wand. He felt a sudden warmth in his fingers. He raised the wand above his head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air, and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light onto the walls. River and Atlas whooped and clapped, and Mr. Ollivander cried, “Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well ... how curious ... how very curious ...” He put Harry’s wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper like he did to Atlas’s wand, still muttering, “Curious ... curious ...” “Sorry,” said Harry, “but what’s curious?” Mr. Ollivander fixed Harry with his pale stare. “I remember every wand I’ve ever sold, Mr. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand gave another feather, just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother, why, its brother gave you that scar.” Harry swallowed. Atlas looked at Harry worriedly, and River goes to grab Harry, “Yes, thirteen and a half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember ... I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter ... After all, He Who Must Not Be Named did great things, terrible, yes, but great.” Harry and Atlas shivered. They weren’t sure they liked Mr. Ollivander too much. River paid fourteen golden Galleons, seven Galleons each for their wands, and Mr. Ollivander bowed to them as they left his shop.

Once outside, Hagrid walked up to them carrying a large cage which held a beautiful snowy owl, fast asleep with her head under her wing. “Happy birthday, Harry,” Hagrid said, holding out the cage to Harry who took it and started stammering his thanks. “Don’t mention it,” said Hagrid gruffly. Harry looked at the owl in the cage then at Atlas and Hagrid. “So, is it okay if I share the owl with Atlas?” That made Hagrid chuckle. “She’s yours, Harry. You can do whatever you want.” Harry smiled at Hagrid. The late-afternoon sun hung low in the sky as River, Hagrid, Harry, and Atlas made their way back down Diagon Alley, back through the wall and back into the Leaky Cauldron, now empty. Harry didn’t speak at all as they walked up the stairs; he didn’t even notice when Atlas shoved him onto the couch or that Hagrid had helped carry everything up to the flat before leaving. Harry sat on the couch with the sleeping snowy owl on his lap.

Harry only realized they were home when River tapped him on the shoulder. “Hey, what do you want to order for dinner? Atlas said it was your pick,” River said. Harry nodded and River went out and bought pizza from a place close by and brought it back to the flat. They ate in the living room, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Harry kept looking around at what they had bought in Diagon Alley. Everything looked so strange, somehow. “Are you okay, Harry?” said Atlas. Harry wasn’t sure he could explain. He’d just had one of the best days of his life, and yet, he chewed his slice of pizza, trying to find the words. “Everyone thinks I’m special,” he said at last. “But I don’t know much about magic. How can they expect great things? I’m famous and I can’t even remember what I’m famous for. I don’t know what happened the night my parents died.” Atlas moved next to Harry on the floor and hugged him. “Don’t you worry about it, Harry. They don’t know you like me and Mum do and besides, we will learn everything once at Hogwarts, and I’ll be there so you won’t be alone. You’ll see, Harry, everything will be fine.” River nudged Harry who looked up at her as Sir Reginald crawled into Harry's lap. "You do not need to be some great and all powerful wizard, Harry. You just need to be yourself, that's all." Harry's eyes began to water and River held her arms open. Soon, she had both boys wrapped up in her arms and a cat on her shoulder as Harry cried. He cried for himself, for his parents, for Atlas, for River, but most of all, Harry just cried. Once Harry had calmed down and they started to finish the pizzas, River told them stories and showed them pictures of Hogwarts, of Lily, James, Sirius, Remus, Victoria, and herself. The rest of the night was a good one, filled with laughter.

[navvka]

The umbrella academy characters as cats 🐱☂️

Part 2

• Ben Hargreeves | Number Six

• Viktor Hargreeves | Number Seven

• Lila Pitts

• The Handler

• Sir Reginald Hargreeves

[thatcakelovingwitch]

Sir Reginald Cattenbottom III Esquire

[eirinstiva]

🐈🐈🐈

I know I should be sleeping, but I got distracted by a YuuMori fanfic and the second part of "Sir Roderick Comes to Lunch" thanks to my friend Bertie Wooster~

“Sir?” “Oh, Jeeves,” I said. “Cats! What about it? Are there any cats in the flat?” “Only the three in your bedroom, sir.” “What!”

CAAAAAATS!!!! And just three: a small black cat, a tabby and a "lemon coloured", I guess it's a cream coloured cat. Basically an orange cat (!) I had once six cats, so I don't think is to many cats. Orange cats are known for their behaviour, blacks are very lovely and tabbies a bit jealous, but the orangeness is contagious and I have evidence:

But just then the most frightful shindy started in the bedroom. It sounded as though all the cats in London, assisted by delegates from outlying suburbs, had got together to settle their differences once for all. A sort of augmented orchestra of cats.

“I fancy, sir,” said Jeeves respectfully, “that the animals may have become somewhat exhilarated as the result of having discovered the fish under Mr. Wooster’s bed.” The old boy tottered. “Fish! Did I hear you rightly?” “Sir?” “Did you say that there was a fish under Mr. Wooster’s bed?” “Yes, sir.”

That explains their behaviour! Also, why is there a fish under Wooster's bed? What's on your mind, Jeeves? I want to inspect closely that mind of yours. There's something amazing in Jeeves' brain that makes him so smart and serene in moments like this when others would be laughing.

I flung open the door. I got a momentary flash of about a hundred and fifteen cats of all sizes and colours scrapping in the middle of the room, and then they all shot past me with a rush and out of the front door; and all that was left of the mob-scene was the head of a whacking big fish, lying on the carpet and staring up at me in a rather austere sort of way, as if it wanted a written explanation and apology.

Lots of cats!

Dear Bertie! "Art is in the blood" and the eccentricity runs strong in your family. Maybe Aunt Agatha should not fear about you but yes at Eustace and Claude. They are popular have the power to attrack people to do the same things.

Special thanks to Spencer for giving the necessary information to Jeeves. In some way the both worked together to break up the engagement and to keep Jeeves job. Honoria deserves another man that wants to be moulded and Wooster needs his bachelorhood and his valet.

[mcybree]

empires smp spinoff where it’s just everyone’s animal companions getting into shenanigans

[fabiosofabz]

Cats are just Goofy little Guys, and mine are Insane. Yes those are 2 different black cats they just look like they got copy & pasted.

[warthogreporter]

A second look at the human fucker community on monster tumblr

🧜‍♀️ Hermaid Follow

After a while you start to notice some trends in how people talk about fucking their hoomans

Vampires: This is Brother Reginald Regicus Regicum who I slowly corrupted and tempted with earthly desires across several long years until he became a creature of the night like myself. We're throwing his one year vampirization party in a month, here's the invite, if you don't come it's a personal insult, to me.

Orcs: This is Himby the Himbo who I snagged in some raid I did because I got bored on my way to the grocery store. It's funny when I make him wear cat ears.

🐻 Beard-Toucher Follow

Demons: These are Sir Good and Sir Goody. I make them wear matching collars because of how they were all but boyfriends before I enthralled them with my dark magic. You noticed their matching collars right?

Werewolves: You'll never believe this, but my human Stucky, who used to be called Lady Stuck Up, was actually a repressed and stuck up person before I helped her embrace her wild side TM.

🐍 Scaled-Scales-Scaling-Scales Follow

Naga: ...Anyway after spending 400,000 years praying I finally met the human who is the love of my life and we recited mantras together, after 200,000,000 years of this we began to *blushes* hold hands and then the gods...

Other kinds of dragons: This is King Dragonslayer the Unfucked. I use him as a display stand for my jewels when not fucking him.

(164,597 Notes)

🐙 WetterThanYou Follow

Showing the humans parts of their world they've never seen (the depths).

(9,846 Notes)

🐎 Seventaur-deactivated20230527 Follow

Man humans really are such pathetic creatures

🐎 Seventaur-deactivated20230527 Follow

Stop reblogging this as a human fucker post! I advocate for exterminating those pests! It's literally in my bio! Human Fuckers DNI!

👿PazuzuOfficial✅ Follow

Hey OP we need to 'talk' IRL. Don't bother turning on your location, I already know it.

(369 Notes)

🐺 HereWolf Follow

Seeing elves in human fucker communities is always such a "bro thinks he's on the team" moment. Oh yeah you're so different from humans with your pointy ears and... oh right that's literally it.

🛣️Elf-Hater Follow

Elves are like humans but lame and pretentious, even lame and pretentious humans are better. Eying a 'human' only to notice pointy ears is like biting into a blueberry muffin thinking it's a chocolate muffin, if blueberries tasted like shit.

🧝Elfeven Follow

🥺

🪓Orcasionally-Really-Cranky Follow

If it makes you feel better I fuck both humans and elves, just got back from a raid where I scored plenty of elves to make into my obedient little whores.

🧝Elfeven Follow

That doesn't make me feel better.

(685,734 Notes)

🦅Feathery Follow

Finally going to an actual human town. What do human eggs look like? Don't want to cause any problems by mistake.

🦋 Gregory-Grigori Follow

People on this webbed site will really just say anything about hoomans huh?

🐂 No-Yournotaur Follow

OP, humans don't lay eggs. It's weird that you thought they did. They're mammals.

🦅Feathery Follow

I thought they were like platypi no need to get up my ass about this

🐂 No-Yournotaur Follow

Okay you know what fair.

(5,873 Notes)

🦋 Gregory-Grigori Follow

I'd say good morning, but I didn't wake up with a beautiful human on each side of me so actually it was yet another mid morning.

(4,384 Notes)

Click here for part 1 and here for part 3

[tothosewholisten]

Forever Healed | TUA insert

Chapter: 00

next chapter>>

Masterlist

…

On the 12th hour of the first day of October 1989. 43 women around the world gave birth. This was unusual in the fact that none of these women had been pregnant when the day first began.

Sir Reginald Hargeeves, eccentric billionaire and adventurer, resolved to locate and adopt as many of the children as possible.

He got seven of them, yes seven.

..

MARCH 21, 2019

I have to be at least somewhat proud of myself for lasting this long. I thought as I sat on the bus, not everyday you are born with magical powers and are destined to save the world from evil. Yes, hearing myself think that sounds crazy. But that's normal in my life.

I had reached my stop after a half an hour of sitting with my earbuds in, listening to nothing at all. I just wanted to seem unapproachable on the sketchy city bus.

My destination was a terribly designed office building, the space was so crammed and ugly it made me want to turn right back around and get on that bus again. But I didn't because I was trying to convince myself that this would be good for me, but I didn't believe my words.

I was about to have a therapy session with some middle-aged white lady who has glasses and tell her all of my life issues, starting every week at 5pm..

It's not like I had anything else going on, I haven't had work for days now. So I thought I'd give it a shot.

The waiting process made me anxious as hell, I finally got the courage to walk up to the front desk and gave the man who sat there my name. And now I have to wait for this lady to get done with some other patient.

I sat on a chair and frowned, like she is really going to be focused on "my" problems and not the 30 other people she sees today.

I swear it was only a second into me zoning out when I heard my name yelled. "Y/n L/n? It's so nice to meet you!" A woman said, when i looked up at her i saw the exact lady i was describing earlier to the closest details.

I let her lead me to a smaller room that looked way better than the lobby. It had two chairs, a water machine, some fidget items and a large window view of the city. Gloria, I learn to be the name of my therapist, asks me to sit with her.

She clears her throat, "I know this is our first session so you may not be the most comfortable sharing details. But I'd like to know a little bit about you if you're okay sharing."

“Well, I’m 29 years old and a home care nurse.” I say slowly. Hearing the words leave my mouth I knew I haven’t amounted to a lot in my years.

"Oh wow, 29? I would've never guessed that Y/n, you don't look a day over 21" Gloria complimented me i give her a tiny smile in return.

I'm not sure why that is, I get that a lot in my working field. Older women saying that they wished they looked as young as me.

"That's a great start for today's session." She smiles, "A little bit me is, you know my name already but I'm 56 years old since Monday. I have 3 children and a cat named Mr. Furball."

I regret what i said earlier because I think I already like Gloria and not just because of Mr. Furball. But the fact that she has a calming sense about her. I find myself listening to what she's saying, and I rarely do that with people nowadays.

"But I would like to hear more about your upbringing, how’d you become the fine young lady you are today?" She says.

Oh, she wants to hear about my childhood. I mean I knew she would ask but so soon, I'm worried about saying anything. So I told her that.

"I'm worried about opening up to someone about my past cause well I've never done it before." I said.

She hands me a cup of water. "That's okay Y/n, we can take it at your pace."

“I grew up in a small house with my mom and dad until I was twelve. When I was scouted by Reginald Hargreeves because of my unique abilities. And I've been there ever since I was 18 when I moved out to live on my own.” I waited for the burst of confusion I was about to get from Gloria. Not everyday one of the Umbrella Academy walks into your office.

“Oh wow…” she says, eyes wide. “You're one of those superheroes? That’s amazing wow.” She nervously chuckles “I’m sorry I’m normally not this shocked about things, and I hear a lot on the daily.”

“It’s okay” I say, staring at my hands.

She clears her throat. “I'm sure being apart of the Umbrella Academy was big but could you tell me about your life before that?”

I closed my eyes for a couple of seconds, pictured my childhood in my brain and opened my mouth.

"Well, I'm sure to this day my father still thinks that my mother cheated on him, due to his "daughter's" virgin Mary-like creation since they were just newlyweds. He held it against my mother all of her life." I took a sip of water and continued.

"I'm not sure why he turned to alcohol. But that turned out as you could expect. He turned on everyone around him and acted like a beast. He regularly attacked my mom for anything she did wrong. But what made him more angry was that his freak of a daughter could heal her mother, after every beating."

"My mom told me before I left I had made her so much happier and in her words. She didn't even question these strange occurrences; she knew her baby was special." I smiled a bit.

I could tell that Gloria was painting a picture in her head of what I was describing too.

"And by the age of 8, I was standing up to my father, even if it didn't end so well. I'd get the beating instead but by the next day, my bloody body would be as good as new. On the surface at least, I had lots of internal issues from that time. But none of that stopped my father from trying to get equal with me.." I stopped talking after that.

My eyes could only focus on my right hand as it was picking at my left hand's skin. It was a habit I picked up as soon as I started to use my powers because I knew my skin would be right back to normal in the next few minutes.

"That's awful y/n I'm so sorry." She frowned. "Would you be okay with continuing?"

I blink up at her. “Yes, that would be okay,” I said. “Then there was this one day..”

..

17 YEARS AGO

“In five, four, three, two. This is Jim Hellerman, reporting live for channel 2 News outside of the Capital West Bank at Main and Sixth. A group of heavily armed men stormed the bank not three hours ago and took an unknown number of hostages.”

That was the big news update of September 2002, I remember. Well I don’t really have to think about it much because I was there with my mom at the bank. She planned on making some deposit when we were screamed at, not to leave by a man who had his gun pointed at us along with so many other civilians. He taped us up and told us to stand in a corner.

That was the first and only time I feared for my life. Police didn’t want them to start shooting, so they didn’t come into the building. Meaning that we were on our own and could die at anytime

One of the armed men walks into the scene unfolding. Sirens blaring, people getting shoved around and threats being made to the innocent.

“Now you’ve put me in a position where I gotta do something I don't want to do. Hmm?” He said talking to another person on his walkie talkie.

My mom brought me closer to her trying to use her body as a shield if things went south. And to us we thought they were about to be.

But strangely, a girl walked up to the man. She’d looked to be around my age in a school uniform and cartoon mask. Her loose curls bounced in the wind as she skipped up to him.

“Shit!” He screams putting his device down. Not noticing the girl until a few seconds after his outburst. “Hey, get back with the others.” He told her, trying to sound intimidating but she didn’t seem to fear him at all.

“I heard a rumor.” She spoke out.

He bent a little to reach her height and get in her face. “What? What did you say?”

She leaned in and cupped her hand to mimic whispering in his ear but loud enough for all of us to hear. “I heard a rumor that you shot your friend in the foot.”

Without any hesitation he did what she commanded and shot the nearest armed man who happened to be trying to rough up my mom. We screamed as he kept shooting.

“We just heard shots from inside the bank. It’s uncertain if any hostages have been harmed in that.”

“There’s some movement on the roof. Possibly law enforcement.”

A loud crash and a boy landed down from the roof. It was crazy he wasn’t harmed at all from that high distance. He was also wearing the same mask and uniform as the girl but he had blond hair. From where he landed he jumped on one of the robbers and started beating him to a pulp, and then throwing him out a glass window.

“Looks like one of the armed robbers had been thrown from the bank.”

Another boy with brown hair runs in from the opposite doors as the girl and yells. “Guns are for sissies. Real men throw knives.” He then threw one of his knives and it curved in the air hitting a robber no where close to where the knife had originally been heading. It was incredible.

“I've been in many hostage situations like this, and it can escalate very quickly.”

The original man hops on a table pointing his gun out at the two of the before seen children plus another one. “Get back you freaks” he says walking back and forth in fear.

“Hey, be careful up there, buddy.” The knife boy calls out.

“Get back now!” The man screams.

“Yeah, I wouldn't want you to get hurt.” The girls mocking voice says.

Right before my eyes another boy teleports behind the man, sitting criss-cross on the table. “Or what?” He said calmly.

The man turns around and shoots at him but before the bullets could hit he teleports again. This time standing up with his arms crossed, clearly not impressed. But the man tries to shoot again.

“Ooh! That’s one badass stapler!” The boy laughs. The man no longer had a gun anymore but a stapler placed in his hand by the kid instead. The boy shoves the stapler into his face and the big man falls back, head hitting the floor before his body does.

“Although there’s been no activity for a few minutes, we’re gonna stay live on location to make sure we don’t miss a thing. In this hostage situation at the Capital West bank.”

The five already counted for children make way for the last and shortest one to make his move. “Do we really need to do this?” He talks quietly.

The blonde one replies to him. “Come on, Ben. There’s more guys in the vault.” So his name was Ben huh?

Ben sighs, “I didn't sign up for this.” Before walking into the room with more people. Large black tendrils illuminated the room as men screaming could be heard behind the door. And a beast roars but then the sound stops and Ben walks out again, this time covered in blood and guts.

He breathes heavily. “Can we go home now?” I felt bad for him.

The kids untied our hands and told us to run. And once it was clear to go my mom started to run out of the doors thinking I was right behind her.

“Now we see the hostages. They— They’re free. They’re scared clearly but they do seem to be unharmed.”

But I was behind her trying to help this older woman who’d slipped on the floor. As I was helping her, the kids walked out too.

“People are coming out now. It’s not the armed robbers. These are schoolchildren in uniforms with masks on. Jim Hellerman, Channel 2 News.”

But there was one not accounted for robber, the one from earlier who had been shot in the foot. I started to run out and call out to my mom who was outside. When the man got up from the floor, cocked his gun and shot at the kids.

Fortunately, he missed them but the bullet hit me.

Questions being asked to the children stopped when they saw my body flail onto the floor outside of the bank doors. I was shot right in the chest. There was blood everywhere and it started to leak over to where the kids were standing. They turned around to see where it was coming from..

Everyone looked horrified and there was a bunch of screaming. Mainly from my mother who was wailing as she ran over to hold me to her chest screaming for me to wake up. And that will be engraved in my memory forever after this day, I never wanted to hear her like this ever again.

Police started to rush over but in a matter of minutes, a miracle seemed to happen. At least to the city that is. There was a yellowish glow around my chest and the blood seemed to have reversed back into my body. Even the stains on my blue dress were gone. The bullet even spit out of my chest; it was truly witchcraft.

My eyes then shot open as I started to breathe in and out.

I don't exactly remember what I felt during those moments but I'm sure I left those people around me stunned. After all this was their first look at powers.

I couldn't care what the paramedics were talking about above my body. I was focused on the 6 children looking at me bewildered as well as the old-looking man with them and whatever my mom was saying at the time.

I was put on a stretcher and rushed to a hospital for evaluations after the pandemics came but they never found anything. It was like everything was perfectly reattached.

But as I was leaving I could see the news reporters zeroing in on the kids trying to get the details on how these children saved the bank from thievery.

“Our world is changing.” The man spoke to the crowd. “Has changed. There are some among us gifted with abilities far beyond the ordinary.” He said looking back at the children. But they weren’t paying attention, some were staring at my ambulance and some eyes were on the ground.

“I have adopted seven such children. I give you the inaugural class of the Umbrella Academy.”

I now realize thinking back, the seventh person he was talking about was me..

..

PRESENT DAY

My mouth felt like it was moving faster than my brain so I took a pause and chugged the rest of my water cup.

Once again Glorias eyes were wide open. As she took some notes down in a notebook I never noticed beyond this point.

"Uh once I got home I remember the house phone noise filled my house with its nonstop ring, the other person on the phone would change my life forever when he came in.”

“And who was that person?" Gloria asked.

"Reginald Hargeeves, eccentric billionaire and caring father from what the public knew.." I rolled my eyes.

"So I'm guessing it wasn't really like that" she asked carefully.

"He was never a father really, more like a hard state-national basketball coach." She wrote that down.

"I guess it was a hard decision for my parents to make well, my mother. My father was ready to give me up as soon as Reginald stepped foot in my small house."

"And I'm sure they thought there was nothing bad about the offer they were given, he promised I'd be raised in a steady environment with the best schooling and my powers would be used for the greater good. And in exchange, my parents would get a large sum of money for my absence."

"What were you doing during this?" Gloria worried.

"I think I was just sitting right there next to my mom actually. I definitely didn't understand at that point what was happening to me. Still thinking about the events of that day.”

"And then I was being taken out of my only home in the blink of an eye. I resisted the people taking me, starting with screaming and then kicking and then running. Back to my mom's arms, Reginald himself had to pull me away from her. The deal had already been struck and there was no taking me back."

Now looking back at my hands I could only see small teardrops on my palms. Gloria reached for a tissue from the other side of the room. "Thank you," I said as I wiped my eyes.

"I like to think that my mom was upset that day but the memory has already started to fade as I reached adulthood.

You know after that day I was no longer 'Y/n L/n' no, I was known by my new name.. Zero Hargeeves."

..

I decided that was the end of my story, at least for now because I couldn't place the pieces together anymore. I was full-on sobbing at that point.

Gloria decided to bring up something more light to talk about next but I don't remember what it was because I'd zoned out and thought about the cat she'd told me about earlier.

The two hours seemed to fly by because the last thing I heard her say was if I didn't have anything else to talk about then that would be the end of the session. My legs seemed to move on their own as I walked out of that building. I would come back at the same time next week and honestly, I think therapy was for the best. I forgot about how I felt about all these things for the longest time.

I started the journey back to the bus stop, stopping to look in the windows of shops.

Shops like bakeries and bookstores and other things like that. Until I came to a stop in front of a store with a TV sticking out in the window.

My eyes scanned the screen and they went wide. The lady on the news had a somber expression as someone died. I was feeling sad for the person's family, but then I read the red-blaring headline.

The person who died was Reginald Hargeeves...

...

Aug 14 update:

If you'd like to be added to the tag list for rest of the series (starts at chapter 10) say taglist in the comments!

[raddest-hat-showdown]

RADDEST HAT SHOWDOWN FULL BRACKET!

Polls for side 4B begin tomorrow, 03/30 at 10am EST. See below for the list of contestants.

Round 1 Side 1A-

Polls starting 10am EST 03/23

Doug Dimmadome vs RGB

Captain Amelia vs Captain Barbosa 

King Julien vs Commander Peepers 

Greg vs Tia Safalin

Ravio vs Jack Noir

Mephisto Pheles vs Carmen Sandiago 

Louise Belcher vs Wander

Ralsei vs Robinhood

Round 1 Side 1B

Polls start 10am EST 03/24

Preceptor Seluvis vs Mami Tomoe

Chess Chocho Cookies vs Papa G

Rennala vs Brain

Jezaille Brett vs Caitlin

Scaramouche vs Cad Bane

Spider Noir vs Fuka Kazamatsuri

Ernesto De La Cruz vs Dandelion

The Good Hunter vs Jotaro

Round 1 Side 2A

Polls start 10am EST 03/25

Mad Hatter vs Lord Yupa

Suika vs Mario and Cappy

Big Hat Logan vs Knuckles

Mizune vs Finn the Human 

Gabdalf vs Apple Jack

Professor Layton vs C.Q. Cumber

Kuzco vs Melia Antiqua

Jin Guangyao vs Trafalgar Law

Round 1 Side 2B 

Polls start 10am EST 03/26

Puss in Boots vs Donald Duck 

Black Hat vs Marx

Midna vs Funky Kong

The Man in the Yellow Hat vs Ice Cap

Niko vs Skullduggery Pleasant 

Dimentio vs Rook Hunt 

Angela Leon vs Merlin

Guinan vs Metallia The Swamp Witch vs Janus Sanders

Round 1 Side 3A

Polls start 10am EST 03/27

La Muerte vs Wild Wheel

Dark Magician Girl vs Chi Chi

Celty Sturluson vs Reginald Copperbottom

Perry the Platypus vs The 11th Doctor

The Captain of the Dead vs R.J. Macready

Luigi vs Cure Miracle Alexandrite 

The Riddler vs Indiana Jones 

Timekeeper Cookie vs Mary Poppins 

Round 1 Side 3B 

Polls start 10am EST 03/28

Rubber Helm vs Smokey the Bear

Stanley Pines vs Rincewind 

Lich King vs Asra Alnazar

Hat kid vs Zora Salazar

Amon vs Snufkin

Ainz Ooal Gown vs Green Arrow

Lady Dimitrescu vs Woody

Jarlaxle Baenre vs Black Pepper

Round 1 Side 4A

Polls start 10am EST 03/29

Captain Hook vs Suwako Moirya

Hat Man vs Luffy

Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen vs The Cat in the Hat

Charon vs Chuya Nakahara

Detective Sokka vs Juvia

Detective Rama vs Pearl

Cerebella vs Wakko

Megumin vs Laszlo Cravensworth

Round 1 Side 4B

Polls start 10am EST 03/30

Link and Ezlo vs Alfredo Linguine

Captain Jack Sparrow vs Vivi Ornitier 

Sir Pentious vs Jughead

The Onceler vs Moist Van Lipwig

Mona Megistis vs Dipper Pines

Robert E.O. Speedwagon vs Stella

Miriel Pastor of Vows vs Ask Ketchum 

Dr. Facillier vs Wirt

MAY THE RADDEST HAT WIN

[royalxenawolf]

River Black and the Philosophers Stone Chapter 2: Zoo Trip

Warnings: Alternate Universe, Original Characters, Crossover(BBC Merlin & Harry Potter), Fix-It, No Beta Reader, Sane Tom Riddle/Not Evil Tom Riddle.(if i forgot anything let me know)

Victoria belongs to @brokken-emo-lost

Words: 5,186

Master List

River woke up extra early today, thanks to Atlas who had turned off both his and Harry's alarm before going to bed. She would have to thank him later. Since she didn't have time to bake a cake, she visited a 24-hour convenience store to buy a pre-made one. After browsing through the selections, she chose the perfect cake decorated with red and yellow frosting.

On her walk back to the Leaky Cauldron, River pulled a little blue pocket mirror out of her pocket. She had carried this mirror since her days at Hogwarts. It was a gift from her father, a special mirror that could contact anyone. She flipped open the mirror and contacted Remus to ensure he would be at the Leaky Cauldron when she arrived, as a surprise for Harry and Atlas.

River could only afford to take the boys out for a big event once a year. By tradition, the boys would decide whose birthday they would celebrate. Last year they celebrated Atlas's birthday, and this year it was Harry's turn. With the boys set to attend Hogwarts, River anticipated being able to give each of them two or three gifts on their birthday. She sighed, hoping that next year she might have more money.

Upon entering the Leaky Cauldron, she quickly spotted Remus sitting alone in a dark corner, keeping to himself. This was not unexpected, as the full moon was only two days away. Remus looked worn, battered, and older than his years—a clear sign of the toll lycanthropy had taken on him.

Despite their history, River approached Remus with a warm, welcoming smile. "Hello Mooney," she greeted him. She knew better than to expect him to address her by anything other than her name, especially given all they had been through. However, that wasn't important at the moment. Today was Harry's birthday, his 13th, and they were there to celebrate.

Remus rose to greet River properly. "River, it's been a while," he said as he reached out to take one of the sacks she was carrying. Knowing Remus's tendency to be clumsy, River handed him the sack with the candles.

"Christmas," River said as she walked past Remus to the stairs leading to the flat.

"I beg your pardon?" Remus asked, following River with a confused look.

"The last time you were here, it was Christmas," River explained as they finished climbing the stairs. As they reached her flat and she was retrieving the key from her pocket, the door to flat number 7 opened.

Out walked Ms. Sallow, a hunched-over elderly woman with her gray hair piled on top of her head in a bun. She always wore modest clothing and never took off her half-rim reading glasses. Ms. Sallow was known for having an opinion or complaint about anything and everything within the Leaky Cauldron, including its residents. Nobody knew how old Ms. Sallow truly was, but River knew she had been living in flat number 7 long before River moved into number 6.

Despite Ms. Sallow's less than desirable personality, River always tried to be kind. She smiled, waved, and wished her a good morning, and today was no different.

"Good morning Ms. Sallow, having a good day so far?" River asked.

Ms. Sallow looked at River over the top of her glasses. "So those boys of yours are going to Hogwarts, are they?" the old woman croaked out, a disgusted look on her face that River sadly expected.

River never understood why, but for some reason, as soon as they moved in, Ms. Sallow took a disliking to them. When Harry came and moved in too, she also disliked him. River couldn't comprehend it and wasn't sure if she wanted to. She suspected that it was because the old woman was alone and presumably had no one. After all, no one had ever been seen visiting Ms. Sallow.

Nonetheless, River continued to smile at her and nodded, "Yes, they will. They received their letters a week ago."

Ms. Sallow sneered and snapped at River, "Yes, I know. I couldn't enjoy my morning cup of tea because of their infernal yelling."

River looked guilty upon hearing this. "I am terribly sorry, Ms. Sallow. It won't happen again."

"You best see that it doesn't," Ms. Sallow said as she walked by with her nose in the air, leaving Remus and River in the hall.

After a bit of standing there, Remus said as he leaned on the wall next to the door of number 6, "Well, she's as lovely as ever."

River tried to hold in her laughter as she unlocked the door. "Come on in."

River walked into the flat first, heading straight to the kitchen to place the cake in the fridge. Remus followed, shutting the door behind him.

In the kitchen, Remus saw River magically preparing breakfast. "Do you need anything, Mooney? Tea? Coffee?"

Remus shook his head. "No, I’m fine. I do have a question, though."

River turned to look at Remus, tall and handsome. Despite appearing to belong there, he seemed out of place. River smiled, although she felt sad. She had been doing that a lot recently - smiling when she felt sad. "Alright, what is it?" she asked.

Remus fiddled with his hands and looked at his feet. "Well, I was looking through an old photo book the other day and I found a couple of old photos. I would like to give them to the boys. I would have waited to give Atlas his, but...." Remus trailed off, not needing to say who the photos were of.

River knew without being told. Even though she kept smiling, she couldn't stop the tears from falling. She walked over to Remus, hugging him and refusing to let go. Despite his initial flinch, he eventually returned the hug. It might sound crazy, but neither of them could remember the last time they had hugged each other.

River turns her head to the side without lifting it from Remus's chest. "I think they would love to have those photos, Mooney," she suggests. Remus nods in response. After a few more minutes of hugging, River pulls away. She proceeds to make breakfast for herself, the boys, and Remus, who insisted he didn't need anything.

While she's cooking, Remus sits at the tiny table in the small kitchen. Once breakfast is ready, River walks down the hall to the boys' bedroom. She opens the door and glances at the bunk beds in the corner. To grab the boys' attention, she knocks on the doorway. "Come on boys, time to get up. We don't have all day."

Harry stirs, looks in her general direction, and then rolls over to face the wall. Atlas, however, doesn't move at all. River sighs and places her hands on her hips, finding the situation typical. Usually, Harry is easier to wake, but there are days when it takes more than one attempt. Atlas, on the other hand, is a heavy sleeper and not easily roused.

Determined, River walks into the room and up to the bunk beds. She reaches up to the top bunk and gently shakes Atlas. "Atlas, it's time to get up." Atlas groans in response, but eventually sits up in bed and swings his legs over the side. "Alright mum, I'm up," he concedes.

Next, River leans down to the bottom bunk and nudges Harry. "Come on Harry, time to get up. It's your birthday." Harry puts on his glasses and tries to crawl out of bed, only to bump his head on Atlas's feet. Both boys complain.

Ignoring their protests, River heads to the door of the boys' room. Over her shoulder, she calls out, "I'm going back to the kitchen where your surprise is. You two get dressed.” "Yes, mum," the boys respond as River shuts the door.

Sometimes, River would chastise herself for letting Harry call her "mum". Other times, she was glad that he saw her as a trustworthy figure. She would always remember the first time it happened - when he had approached her to ask if he could call her "mum". Seeing his excitement at having a "mum" like everyone else had made her say yes. In River's mind, it seemed fair; after all, Atlas called her "mum", so why shouldn't Harry do the same?

As River entered the kitchen, she found Remus sitting at the table with a cup of tea she had made for him, despite his protests that he didn't need anything. Looking at her over the rim of his cup, amusement was evident in his eyes. "Boys giving you trouble?" he asked. River tilted her head to the side, her old confidence tinged with a hint of school-time arrogance shining through. "Now why would they ever give me trouble?" she retorted with a touch of haughtiness in her voice. Seeing this, Remus smiled genuinely for the first time since his arrival. "Well, they are their father's sons," he replied.

River held back her laughter and responded, "Yes, well their fathers weren't the only ones who got into trouble." Remus’s smile widened at this, and he said, "I have no idea what you're talking about." River burst out laughing, her smile evolving into a grin. "Oh yes, how could I possibly have forgotten that Remus Lupin didn't get into nearly as much trouble as James Potter and Sirius Black?" Remus joined in the laughter, "I seem to recall that you got into as much trouble as Sirius and James."

Gesturing dramatically, River said, "What can I say? You're only a Hogwarts student once in your life." As Remus calmed his laughter to finish his tea, he mused, "You know, sometimes I think you got in trouble on purpose, just so you could spend more time with Sirius."

River dropped into a chair, gasping dramatically, "Remus!" She couldn't hold back her laughter for long. "Well, it's true, isn't it? Atlas is the proof, after all." Leaning on the table, River conceded, "I suppose it is, a little bit." The two adults continued their banter until Atlas and Harry, now dressed, emerged from their bedroom.

"Harry, do you hear that?" Atlas asked, turning towards Harry. Harry was still rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he turned and looked down the hall towards the living room and kitchen.

"Yeah, it sounds like..." Harry's voice trailed off as he listened to the two voices coming from the kitchen. Once Remus's voice carried down the hall to the two boys, they turned to each other with matching grins and shouted in unison, "Uncle Mooney!"

Atlas and Harry rushed down the hall to the kitchen. When they saw Remus, they both hugged him, almost knocking him out of his chair.

"Hello, Harry. Atlas," Remus greeted. Atlas was the first to pull away from the hug, a grin that looked identical to his father's on his face.

"What are you doing here?" Atlas asked. Remus ruffled Atlas's hair as Harry finally let go.

"Isn't it obvious?" Harry started to grin. "Are you coming with us to the zoo today?"

Remus returned Harry's grin with a smile. "I am," he confirmed.

River chuckled as she finally got all of her laughter under control. "All right, let's eat. The sooner we get done, the sooner we can meet up at the zoo with everyone."

Both boys looked up from their food and exchanged glances before Harry asked, "Everyone?"

River nodded. "Yes, everyone. Andy, Dora, Tom–" River was interrupted by Atlas, who suddenly looked even more excited.

"Dora is going to be there!" Atlas exclaimed.

River smiled. "Yes, Dora and your granddads, and your aunt will be there, too."

Harry and Atlas high-fived. "All right!" they cheered.

After breakfast was over and Remus had insisted on helping River clean the dishes using magic, they were out the door, out of the Leaky Cauldron, in the car, and on their way to the zoo. They were lucky that July 31st was a sunny Saturday that year, but the zoo was crowded with families.

Andy and Dora were easy to spot, particularly because of Nymphadora's standout pink hair. Spotting the others in the crowd was more difficult. Tom was in the car park next to his car, holding a cup of tea and with one hand in his pocket.

Atlas enthusiastically hugged Tom, while Harry waved. River's dads and aunt were waiting not far from the entrance. Both Harry and Atlas, excited, ran to them, exclaiming, "Granddads! Auntie!" They laughed and returned the boys' hugs.

River, along with Andy, Dora, Tom, and Remus, walked over to them. "Hello, dads, Aunt Morgana," River greeted. Morgana smiled, hugging River and saying, "It's good to see you." River returned the hug and then embraced both her dads. Remus shook hands with them, greeting, "Merlin, Arthur, Morgana."

Greetings were quickly exchanged before Dora and the boys led everyone towards the entrance. Dora insisted that they get ice cream, so Merlin and Arthur bought them large chocolate ice creams.

Nearby, there was another family: a mom, dad, and their son. The mom was a thin, blonde woman with pale skin and large, pale eyes. She had an unusually long neck. The dad was a large, muscular man with a red face, mustache, and very short neck. Atlas thought his wife's long neck compensated for his lack thereof.

Their son, a boy around Harry and Atlas's age, had thick blond hair, watery blue eyes, and a large pink face. He was also very overweight and was throwing a tantrum about the delay, which was preventing him and his presumed friends from getting ice cream.

River made a face and nudged Merlin as she took the lemon ice lolly from him. Merlin turned to look at her, puzzled by her nudge. River leaned over and whispered, "Dad, that's them."

Merlin turned his gaze towards the seemingly ordinary family now ordering large ice creams for their son and his friends. "Really? That's Lily's family?" he asked, looking back at River. Lily had always been an extraordinary witch who adored magic. She often spoke of her desire to show her family everything. The idea that the woman in front of them could be related to Lily was baffling.

River simply nodded in response. "Yes, they had Harry in a cupboard under the stairs when I took him away."

Merlin crinkled his nose in disgust before urging everyone onward. "Well, I suppose it’s a good thing you got to Harry when you did." River smiled and followed, casting a glance over her shoulder at the Dursleys. She kept an eye on them simply to ensure they didn't recognize Harry. They had already caused him enough pain, and she wouldn't let them ruin his birthday.

As they entered the zoo, their group had formed a line. Merlin, Arthur, Atlas, Harry, and Nymphadora were at the front. Tom, Andromeda, and Morgana were in the middle, engrossed in a conversation likely about dark magic, with Andromeda attempting to steer it in a different direction. River and Remus followed at the rear.

River smiled and licked the lemon ice lolly that Merlin had given her without asking if she wanted it. The boys and Dora were leading Merlin and Arthur this way and that. Remus coughed to get River's attention, and when she looked up at him, he averted his gaze to his feet. He finally asked the question that had been gnawing at his mind since breakfast, "Earlier, when you told the boys who would be here, you...you never mentioned your sister."

River stared at Remus for a moment before looking at the ground. After a while, she looked up at him and answered, "Yes, well that's probably because I have no idea where my sister is...no one does." Remus looked shocked to hear this. River and Victoria had always been inseparable. It's true that not all myths or rumors about twins are accurate, but for these two, a lot of it was. Seeing one without the other was nearly impossible. So hearing that River had no idea where her sister was came as a shock.

"No one?" Remus asked, for the first time truly noticing the change River had made to her hair. At first, he thought maybe he was just seeing things, but now that he took a good look, the hair was no longer black and blonde. It was now solid black, River's hair now a spitting image of Victoria's. "Not even–" Remus started to ask again, but this time his question was cut short as River looked him in the eyes and answered his unfinished question, "Not even Merlin or Morgana." River looked away, back at the children, seeing them happy brought a slight smile to her face.

River, for the sake of Atlas and Harry, had done many things, one of which was not going to look for her sister Victoria, despite her desire to do so. She couldn't leave Harry and Atlas; they were her boys, and she was committed to supporting them throughout their lives.

Remus simply nodded. He didn't voice his thoughts, deciding it was best to leave the subject alone. He craved answers. Most of his friends were gone, and his only certainty had been that the twins, that Victoria was safe. Now, he was filled with uncertainty.

The melancholy atmosphere around them was interrupted when the boys called out for River. They wanted to show her a gorilla they had spotted. Jogging over to join them, she watched the gorilla scratch its head. It reminded her of Vernon and Petunia's son, Dudley, though it wasn’t blond and probably far smarter than Dudley would ever be. She kept these thoughts to herself; it was best not to voice them.

Harry and Atlas had the best morning of their lives, apart from the constant presence of the Dursleys at the zoo. They enjoyed a meal at the zoo restaurant until a boy started throwing tantrums, first about his dessert not being big enough and then about his father taking too long to bring him another one. Harry and Atlas exchanged knowing looks, understanding that such behavior would have cut their day short with River, who would have sat them down for a serious discussion.

During the boy's tantrum, Morgana discreetly tried to use magic to silence him, but Arthur and Merlin intervened. After lunch, they visited the reptile house. It was cool and dark, with windows lighting the walls and showcasing various lizards and snakes slithering over wood and stone. River, Merlin, and Tom listened to the snakes hissing about humans treating them as mere attractions. Some snakes seemed to enjoy the attention from human guests, while others despised it.

River glanced at Harry and Atlas, the boys unaware of her ability to communicate with snakes, a trait inherent in her bloodline. Merlin, too, could speak with dragons, who conversed in Parseltongue, a dialect slightly different from that of snakes. The differences were minor, but sometimes River would look at both boys and worried.

There was a possibility that Harry could speak Parseltongue. After all, the Potters were connected to the Gaunts through the Blacks, and the Gaunts were direct descendants of Salazar Slytherin. However, neither Harry nor Atlas had shown any signs of being a Parselmouth. River concluded, thankfully, that neither of them were like her, Tom, and Merlin.

It did not take long for the boys and Dora to find the largest snake in the place. The snake was large enough to wrap its body twice around a car and crush it, but it was content to sleep and ignore the people tapping on its glass enclosure.

The pig-like boy and his family from earlier were also there. The boy, with his nose pressed against the glass, whined at his father to make the snake move. Despite the tapping on the glass, the snake did not budge. Tom watched with disdain. Just because an animal couldn't speak up for itself didn't mean it should be treated poorly.

River had made them all promise not to use magic in public at a Muggle zoo, so Tom held back from teaching the boy and his father a lesson. Nymphadora, who had graduated from Hogwarts a few years prior, also looked displeased with the man and his son. River was almost tempted to intervene using wandless magic, a skill she had mastered at a young age thanks to Merlin. No one had to know, but she refrained.

She chose to watch as children ran around, observing various things. In her case, she watched her children wait for Vernon Dursley and his son to move, so they could get a closer look at the snake.

"Do it again," the boy ordered. His father rapped the glass smartly with his knuckles, but the snake simply snoozed on. "This is boring," the boy moaned as he shuffled away.

Harry and Atlas grinned, finally getting their turn to look at the snake. They moved in front of the tank, looking intently at the creature. Atlas nudged Harry and pointed at the snake.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it died from boredom," he said. Harry chuckled, placing his hand on the glass.

River watched from a slight distance, wrapping her arms around herself and shivering. She felt sympathy for the snakes, stuck in their tanks with only the occasional visitor tapping on the glass. It wasn't a life anyone should have, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Harry and Atlas gasped as the snake suddenly opened its eyes and slowly raised its head until its eyes were level with theirs. It winked at them. Atlas rubbed his eyes, making sure he wasn't imagining things, while Harry looked around to see if anyone was watching. For once, no one was, even River had taken her eyes off the boys momentarily.

Both boys looked back at the snake and winked too. The snake glanced towards the Dursleys, then back at the boys. "I get that all the time," it seemed to say.

"I know," Harry murmured through the glass, unsure if the snake could hear him.

"It must be really annoying," Atlas said, resting his head on the glass. The snake nodded vigorously, "It isssss."

"Where do you come from, anyway?" Harry asked. The snake jabbed its tail at a little sign next to the glass. Harry and Atlas peered at it. 'Boa Constrictor, Brazil.'

"Was it nice there?" Atlas asked. The boa constrictor jabbed its tail at the sign again, and the boys read on: 'This specimen was bred in the zoo.'

"Oh, I see – so you've never been to Brazil?" As the snake shook its head, a deafening shout behind them made Harry, Atlas, and the boa constrictor jump. It also drew attention from the adults Harry and Atlas were with.

"DUDLEY! MR DURSLEY! COME AND LOOK AT THIS SNAKE! YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT IT'S DOING!" Dudley came waddling towards them as fast as he could.

"Out of the way, you," he said, punching Harry in the ribs. Caught by surprise, Harry grabbed Atlas for support, and they both fell hard on the concrete floor.

What happened next was so fast that no one, other than the eight attentive witches and wizards, saw how it unfolded. Dudley and his friend, who Atlas would later call 'the pig boy', were leaning right up close to the glass one moment, and the next, they had leapt back in horror.

Harry and Atlas sat up and gasped; the glass front of the boa constrictor's tank had vanished. The snake was quickly uncoiling itself, slithering out onto the floor. People throughout the reptile house screamed and started running for the exits.

All except for Harry and Atlas's group were in a state of surprise. Tom was trying to conceal a smirk behind his hand, while Andromeda gasped, looking at the tank and the boys. She was unsure whether she should be worried about the boys or try to keep everyone else calm. Morgana, on the other hand, was grinning. Arthur, who had decided that he would be the responsible one for the day, sighed with feigned annoyance and frustration, sliding a hand down his face. Remus was highly concerned about the sudden appearance of a snake, thanks to magic. Meanwhile, River, Nymphadora, and Merlin were doubled over in hysterical laughter.

River was laughing so hard that she had to lean on Merlin for support. As the snake slid swiftly past Harry and Atlas, Harry could swear he heard a low, hissing voice say, "Brazil, here I come... Thanksss, amigos."

The keeper of the reptile house was in shock, repeatedly muttering, "But the glass, where did the glass go?"

Once River collected herself, she herded the boys out of the reptile house. Harry and Atlas were sure they were in for trouble. However, as they headed back to the Leaky Cauldron, they were pleasantly surprised when River glanced in the rearview mirror with a big smile on her face.

"Well done, boys!" she praised.

Atlas and Harry exchanged looks of confusion.

"Pardon?" Atlas asked, glancing at the back of his mum's head. Harry leaned over to see if there was a second mother he and Atlas were not aware of.

River chuckled. "That snake deserved to be free, and those two boys deserved a little scare," she explained, looking in the rearview mirror again. "But do not make a habit of it."

The two boys grinned. "Yes, mum," they agreed. River nodded, satisfied with their response.

Once they returned to their flat at the Leaky Cauldron, the real celebration began. Harry opened all of his presents and River brought out the cake, which she got teased for a little bit. It wasn't long before the party started to wind down and everyone began to leave. Remus, however, stayed behind a bit longer. The gifts he had for Harry and Atlas were personal, and he preferred a more private setting for their presentation.

Remus helped River clean up while Harry and Atlas played with Harry's new wizard chess set, a gift from Merlin and Arthur. "I really cannot thank you enough for staying to help out, Remus, but you really didn't have to," River said as she finished washing the dishes. "Nonsense, River, it was my pleasure," Remus replied, a slight smile on his face.

"Well, no time like the present, I suppose," said Remus. He walked over to his jacket and pulled out two photos. One was a photo of Lily and James, taken shortly after Harry was born. James was holding Harry while Lily leaned on his shoulder. The other was a photo of Sirius holding Atlas, sitting on a sofa, grinning up at the camera as if he had just won the lottery.

River observed Remus as he stared at the two photos in his hand. His hands shook a little, but he coughed and composed himself. There would be time to cry and feel sorry for himself later. For now, it was time to share his gifts.

Remus called out to the boys, "Harry, Atlas," interrupting their game of wizard's chess. Both boys looked up at him. "Yeah?" Harry asked as Atlas cleared some space on the floor for Remus to sit.

Slowly, Remus crossed his legs and sat down on the cleared spot on the floor. He looked at the two boys and said, "I have presents here, one for each of you." Atlas and Harry leaned forward, surprised and a little worried. They knew their Uncle Mooney did not have much, so they never asked him for anything.

"You didn't have to, Uncle Mooney," Atlas said, and Harry nodded in agreement. Remus chuckled and shook his head, "No, no, I want you boys to have these. They're not much, I'm afraid, but I think you will like them."

He held out his hands, each one holding a photo: one for Harry, and one for Atlas. They exchanged looks, took the photos, and looked at them in shock. They had seen photos of Lily, James, and Sirius before, but these were different. The people in these photos were looking at the camera with so much love, and were captured with such care.

Overwhelmed, the two boys threw their arms around Remus's shoulders, hugging him and crying. They thanked him over and over for the photos, and Remus himself also cried and hugged the boys in return.

River stood in the doorway between the kitchen and living room, holding Sir. Reginald the cat and scratching behind his ears. After the crying had settled down, the boys asked Remus questions about the people in the photos. They wanted to know when the photos were taken and asked him for stories. Remus answered all of their questions and shared stories about their parents until it was time for him to leave.

River walked Remus all the way to the door of the Leaky Cauldron, after making sure that the boys were safe and sound in bed. Remus turned to River and thanked her for inviting him. River placed her hands in the back pockets of her jeans and looked up at Remus, arching one eyebrow. "Remus, you are their Godfather and my friend, and I consider you more than that. I will invite you to every occasion, birthday, and holiday that there is," River stated with conviction and honesty, looking directly into Remus's eyes.

There was nothing but love and honesty in her gaze. River had always been like this, Remus thought, recalling all the times River would go out of her way for any of them. Victoria had been similar, though she tended to be more cold and distant in larger groups. In smaller ones, she was fine. Remus would never forget the times she cursed or hexed somebody for mocking his scars, or the time she turned Lucius Malfoy's hair the most awful shade of pumpkin orange imaginable.

River leaned forward a little. "You could stay, you know,” she suggested. Remus stared at her. Yes, he thought, it would be nice to belong somewhere. However, he believed he was a danger to River and the boys. He would never voice this concern to River; she would immediately correct him, tell him that he was wrong. So, he simply shook his head, "No, no, I must be going."

River nodded, "Right, full moon. Be careful out there." She wanted to urge him to stay, but she knew better. Whenever she felt sad that day, she had just smiled. As Remus nodded and left, River returned to Flat number 6. She went to her own room and started getting ready for bed.

On her nightstand, there were two pictures. One was with her and her sister Victoria, and the other was with her and Sirius. River lay down. Her cat, Sir Reginald, was already curled up on the pillow next to her. River turned her head to the photos on her nightstand, "Goodnight Victoria. Goodnight Siri." Soon, like her cat, she was fast asleep, only to be plagued by nightmares.

[annashadowstar]

This is a hybrid Au that I’m working on. It will be a comic and story. This is part 1 of Hybrid Au. Hope you like it.

Cameron Calvin -@rarestdoge

Danny, Mirage, and Annesa Felizima - @capturecharlesau

Ulle, Jay, Crusher and Scottie - @jaytoons7

Accordion and Violin -@bluetorchsky

Amelia Copperbottom -@androidcharles

Brutus-@smoresthehalloweenqueen

Nicole-@lovelygirlnicole15

———————————————————

Chapter 1: Vocation

Hybrids. A rare creature mixed with humans and another species. Everyone knows hybrids are really rare. You could be born as a hybrid. Another way to become a hybrid is a more painful way. Being experimented on. Most of the hybrids were being experimented on as a test subject. A lot of hybrids escape the lad and live on their own life, hiding their hybrid form to blend in as a human. Mirage and his siblings were one of them, and so were most of his friends. Mirage was running down the hall, so he was told to be in Reginald’s office in 10 minutes. He knocks three times when Mirage stands in front of the office door.

”Come in!” Mirage opens the office door and closes it, facing the chief. “Come sit down.” Mirage takes the seat and faces Reginald. “Sir, what do you need me for?” Mirage asks, curious and confused. Maybe is one of the missions? “No, I don’t need you for anything.” Mirage raises one of his eyes brows. “Then why do you call me…?” Reginald fold his hand and place them on the table. “Well, you and your siblings had been working in the Clan for almost 2 years, correct?” Mirage nods. “Well, RHM and I had talked a little and decided that you and your siblings will go on a break for all the hard work you three give the Clan.”

A break. Mirage can’t believe his ears. The Chief decided to give the Felizima siblings a break from the crime. “Are you sure about this, sir?” Mirage asked. “Yes, I’m sure, Mirage. You and your siblings have done enough crimes for the past 2 years. So we decide to give you guys a break.” Reginald told him. Before Mirage could question where they would live, Reginald beat him.

“And don’t worry about the government or CCC. You guys will be living near a forest which makes it very easy for others to get lost. I’m pretty sure you can handle yourself since I’ll give you a map.”

Reginald looks at RHM and gives him a nod. RHM walked to one of the drawers and grabbed a tan color map then handed the map to Mirage. Mirage opens the map and looks through it. They are gonna live somewhere in North America. Mirage folds the map looks at his chief and gives him a bow. “Thank you so much, sir,”

“You’re welcome, Mirage. You’re dismissed.” Mirage walks up to the door, exits it, and then closes it. “Yes!” Mirage then ran to the cafeteria to meet up with his siblings. “Oi, Danny!! Annesa!! I got some good news!!”

The kitchen door flew open as a waiter, Danny, came out from the door. “Hey, bro! What’s the good news? Can we maybe talk somewhere-“

“DANNY FELIZIMA!!! WHERE ARE YOU!!!” Mirage looks at the kitchen and then back to Danny. “What did you do this time?” Danny nervously looks at Mirage. “Oh… you know… just accidentally eat a fish?”

“Oh boy…” Mirage looked up and saw a very angry Scottie stomping out of the kitchen. “Didn’t I tell you those fish are for the CUSTOMERS?!” Scottie looks like they’re gonna explode. “This is the SECOND TIME THIS WEEK!!” Mirage quickly stepped in. “Heyy, Scottie! You can’t blame us, can you? We’re still part of a cat!” Scottie glared at Mirage. “So?”

“So? Cat eats fish sometimes, Danny is a cheetah after all!” Scottie didn’t say anything and crossed their arm. “… Fine, I will let this one slide. But if I caught you again, not even the chief can save you.” Scottie points their knife at Danny and then walks back to the kitchen. “Thanks for the save. Anyways, what’s the good news?” Annesa appeared behind Danny. “Well, as ya can see, Chief Reginald decided to give us a break!”

“Really?” Danny ask. “Yeah! Awesome, right?”

“You do know that everyone is getting a break, right?” Accordion appeared behind the Felizima siblings, making all of them jump. “Accordion?! Where the hell did you come from?” Accordion chuckles with Violin next to him. “We just got here. So, where would you be living? Accordion and I was gonna live somewhere in North America.” Mirage looks up. “Us too. Chief even gave us a map.”

Annesa pulls out her notebook. ‘Wait… how long is the break?’

“Oh, it’s gonna be a year, at least that’s what I heard,” Mirage answered her question. “And when are we gonna leave?” Danny adds in. “We have until next week to pack. So in the meantime, we can get ready now.” Violin told him. Scottie comes out from the kitchen with some snacks. They put them on the table next to everyone. “Might just eat something before we start packing.” Everyone sits down and begins to chat. Scottie still glaring at Danny about the fish. The cafeteria door was opened by Crusher, Danny’s boyfriend, Jay, Ulle, Nicole, Brutus, who is holding Cameron’s hand, and Amelia, who is glaring at Cameron. Seems like those two got into a fight again.

“Hey, love.” Crusher came over to Danny and kissed him on his cheek. It has been a while since those two started dating. “Could you two, like, stop fighting for 5 seconds?!” Scottie gives Cameron and Amelia a harsh glare and quickly shuts them up about who’s the favorite child. Everyone takes a seat. So, we all know where we’re gonna live?” Violin asks, making everyone nod. “Let’s start with Jay first.”

“Well, I’m gonna live in North America. What about everyone else?” Ulle starts next. “Gonna live with Jay since he doesn’t mind me living with him.” Ulle points at Jay. “Accordion and I were gonna live together. Cameron and Brutus are gonna live with us. What about you, Scottie? Do you want to live with us?” Violin kindly asks Scottie. “Um… I would like to live with Jay and Ulle if that’s not troubling you two.” Ulle gives them a wave. “Of course not! And Amelia, where are you gonna live?” Once Amelia heard her name, she stopped glaring at Cameron and looked at everyone else. “Oh, I’m gonna live with…”

“Wasn’t your fathers gonna take you with them?” Danny ask. “Oh, no. They want a vacation by themself. I don’t want to bother them so I told them I’m gonna live with one of you guys. I might live with Danny, though. If you guys won’t mind.” Amelia awkwardly looks at the Felizima siblings. “Oh, no, it’s ok. We got a lot of rooms in that house.”

“Crusher, Nicole, where are you guys gonna live?”

“I’m gonna live with my sweetheart.” Oh no… Mirage sigh. “And I’m gonna live with Jay, Ulle, and Scottie. Ulle and I already talk about this.”

“So everyone has a place to live in?” Everyone nods. “Great! Now let's get packing. Don’t want to pack too late.” Everyone got up from their seat and started heading toward their room, while Danny and Scottie left behind to deal with the dishes. Mirage got his luggage and started packing. He got the things he needed, like clothes, toothpaste, toothbrush, some extra money for just in case, shampoo, etc. He wonders how big the house is. It says that it has at least 5 or more bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. A large kitchen, a backyard with a swimming pool,(don’t think they’re gonna use it), and a forest. ‘Why is there a forest behind the house?’ Mirage couldn’t think much anymore. He needs to stretch. He makes sure he locks the door and transforms into his hybrid form.

Mirage is a bobcat hybrid, and maybe living next to a forest isn’t that bad. He swigs his short tail and uses a hair brush to brush his ears. “Next week, we get to leave and enjoy ourselves. Mirage grabs a remote turns on the TV and watches the news. “Breaking news. A factory has been destroyed by three giant bird-like monsters. The police officers searched for the survivors but found none. They guess they were being killed by those monsters.”

“Bird monsters? Brutus is the only bird hybrid we know of. Then there must be other hybrids like us… wonder where they are.”

The next weeks came pretty quickly. Everyone was waving goodbye as they got in their drop ship. Once they arrive at their location for the year, they start to get ready. When they arrived, they were kinda surprised that they were all neighbors. Danny, Mirage, Crusher, Amelia, and Annase start looking around the house, which is more like a mansion. There are 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a backyard with a big swimming pool, a balcony, a large living room, and a kitchen. There’s also a third floor. The third floor has some extra room, a good room to hangout or work out with. But there's one bad thing about this mansion. There's dust everywhere. When they first step into the house, dust hit their faces. Mirage went to the backyard and took a good look at the forest.

“It’s a pretty big house for the four of us, no?” Crusher asked, looking at where Mirage was looking. Mirage rolled his eyes. “It would be better if you weren’t here.”

“Why do you hate my guts so damn much?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because you’re the one that got me in jail for a year?” Crusher slowly chuckles. Mirage felt a pull on his shirt looked down, and saw Annesa holding her sketchbook. ‘You guys should put away your tophat before someone sees you.’ Mirage and Crusher look at each other before running back to their room and putting away their tophat. Mirage then closed the window carbon and himself back to his hybrid form. "Guys! It's time for lunch!!"

Oh yeah. It takes almost 2 hours to travel here. Mirage walks to the living room. Annesa and Amelia was already there, eating. Well, not Amelia. "Remember to wash your hands, Mirage." Danny put two plates on the table and went back to the kitchen and grab the last plate. After Mirage finished washing his hands, he went back to his siblings and Crusher and sat down. "So, have you guys heard the news?" Crusher asked, with food in his mouth.

"Dear, don't talk with your mouth full. Yeah, I have heard the news about that factory. It was destroyed by a bird monster. Do you guys think it's a hybrid?" Danny asks, rolling his pasta with his fork.

"Yeah. But Brutus is the only bird hybrid that we know in that factory and he is with us all the time." Amelia points out. 'Should we go and find the hybrid?' Annesa asks with her sketchbook in hand. Everyone looks around at each other. "...Maybe we should. Who knows what people will do to them. But the world is so big. How are we suppose to find them?"

Silents. No one talks. "Let's just force on the vocation right now. We can talk about this later." Danny stood up and took his plate to the sink. Annesa and Crusher followed. Mirage looked at his food and began to poke them. "Brother, stop poking your food. It's gonna get cold." Mirage smiles and continues eating his food.

After he finished, Mirage decided to grab a seat and sit down, facing the forest while sunbathing without his hybrid form show since he didn't want anyone to find out. He then slowly started to relax until he heard something. "Crusher, I swear if you-" He opens his eyes and looks around, notice Crusher isn't here. Weird... He could have sworn he heard something.

Mirage turned back to the forest and saw something yellow. "Che diamine…" Mirage stood up and went into the forest for a closer look, but he couldn't find anything. He looked down and saw a feather. A yellow feather. It's not an aqua feather and it's too big to be a hummingbird feather. Mirage pick it up and begin to get a closer look on this strange feather.

“What do you find?” Amelia appeared behind Mirage. “A feather. It’s not Brutus’s feather.” Mirage shows her the feather he found. “Maybe it’s mine?” Mirage knew Amelia was joking since she’s a mouse hybrid… Computer mouse hybrid.

"Mirage? Amelia?" Mirage and Amelia turned back to their house as he heard Danny calling for them. "Can you guys help us clean the house?" Mirage turns back to the forest and walks back with the feather in his pocket. "Coming bro..." Two pairs of eyes watch him leave. “Wanna bet I will clean faster without a break?” Amelia challenge. Mirage rolled his eyes. “You’re a android. Of course, you don’t need a break.” Amelia chuckles and begins to run back. Let’s hope they don’t need a day to clean the house.

--------------------------------

Clearing the entire is tiring!!! Most of the places in this mansion are dirty. When was the last time people lived in this mansion?! "Tired already?" Crusher asked, sitting on the couch with Mirage. "You're the one to talk!" Mirage look at Crusher. "So, what were you doing out there?"

"Huh?"

"What were you and Amelia doing out there before Danny called us to clean the house?"

“Why do you ask?”

“Just curious.”

“… Amelia and I went into the forest and found a yellow feather.” This got Crusher’s interest. “A yellow feather?”

”Yeah!” Amelia joins in and sits next to Mirage. “A light yellow feather. Mirage found it and I’m trying to figure it out which bird it belongs to.” Crusher hums. “Can I see the feather?” Mirage reaches for his pocket pulls out the feather he found on the ground and gives it to Crusher. He took it and analyzed the size and the color. “You think it’s a duck hybrid?” Amelia struggle. “It might be. But don’t think so.” Crusher gives the feather back to Mirage. Amelia stood up and reach for her pocket and took out two different feathers. A blue feather and an aqua-green feather. “Where did you find those?”

“I found it in the forest, but not that deep,” Amelia answered. “Are lunch, I went inside the forest and got some fresh air. Then I saw something or someone moved so I chased after it to get a better look then I found those feathers.” Amelia explain. “Can you give me those for a moment?”

“Here.” Amelia gives both feathers to Mirage. He then compares the size to three different feathers. “What are you guys doing?” Danny and Annesa asked. Danny goes behind Crusher and lies on the chair with his arm crossed while Annesa sits across Crusher. “Amelia and I found three different feathers in the forest.”

“Feathers?” Danny asked, looking at the table. “Yes, dear.” Danny hums and opens his mouth again. “Do you think it belongs to a parrot?” Everyone looks at Danny. “Because think about it. There’s a forest behind this mansion and there must be a lot of animals. Parrots might be one of them. "

"I don't think so. Parrots live in a rainforest, I think." Amelia points out. "Let's just get some rest. It's pretty late. And, if you want to call the others, there's a cell phone in the kitchen. Good night!" Danny walked up to a bathroom and went to take a shower. Crusher followed behind. Annesa told Mirage and Amelia, saying that she would be in her room. Amelia stood up. "Whew. I'm gonna go and charge myself up. You can keep those feathers. Night!" Mirage wave at Amelia and took the feathers and went to his room.

He placed three feathers next to his bed and went to the bathroom, to take a shower. After he finished, he sat down on his bed and pulled over his blanket. He was about to close his eyes but saw a glow. A yellow glow. Mirage sat up and saw three feathers glow. His eyes widened a bit. Those feathers belong to a hybrid. A magical hybrid Animal feather doesn't glow. The reason why it glowed was still unknown to Mirage. He picks up the yellow feather, and stares at it, before putting it next to his pillow.

"I will tell the others tomorrow. It's late at night right now." Mirage slowly closes his eyes and drowns in sleep. A figure was watching him for a second before flying away into the forest.

Next

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I hope you enjoy the first chapter of Hybrid Au. See you in the next chapter or comic!

[jewish-culture-is]

The Maine coon lives at my dad’s, her name is Daphne after the scooby character and she is the epitome of dumb and pretty. The rounder boy lives at my moms, his name is sir Reginald. He likes to stick his claws and teeth in people but is genuinely super snuggly. The horse is my giant puppy his name is Tony and he is the sweetest boy you’ll ever meet. Tony lives at the barn not either of my homes.

cats AND A HORSE?!?!?!?!?!? we are a horse supporting jew page ^w^

[misterah13]

All SpongeBob characters

SpongeBob SquarePants

Gary The Snail

Shelley The Scallop

Patrick Star

Squidward Tentacles

Sandy Cheeks

Mr Eugene H Krabs

Sheldon J Plankton

Karen Plankton

Mrs Penelope Puff

Pearl Krabs

Larry The Lobster

The Flying Dutchman

King Neptune

Queen Amphitrite

Triton

Princess Mindy

Jody

King Neptune’s Mother

Mermaid Man

Barnacle Boy

Pyrite Ponderer

Miss Appear

The Elastic Waistband

Captain Magma

The Quickster

Madame Kassandra

Madame Hagfish

Squilvia

Squidette

Squidina Star

Bunny Star

Cecil Star

Herb Star

Margie Star

Grand Pat

Uncle GrandPat

Inga Star

Ed Star

Sam Star

Silly Star

Confused Star

Hungry Star

Janet Star

Marty Star

Patrick Nonstar

Ice Cream King

P-1000

Elephant Snail

Moose Snail

Squilliam Fancyson

Ma Cheeks

Pa Cheeks

Granny Cheeks

Randy Cheeks

Rowdy Cheeks

Rosie Cheeks

Sparky

Sue Nahmee

Cuda

Kyle

Phoebe

Rattlesnakes

Man Ray

Dirty Bubble

Harold SquarePants

Margaret SquarePants

Grandma SquarePants

Grandpa SquarePants

Todd SquarePants

SpongeBox

SpongeBox’s Holographic Doorman

Burger Beard

Prawn

Craig Mammalton

Rosy Cheeks

Macadamia

Pistachio

Hazelnut

Kenny The Cat

Regigilled The Octopus

Wise Kraken

Krakens

Goth Whale

Doctor Marmalade

Professor Percy

Lord Reginald

Atomic Flounder

Jumbo Shrimp

Sinister Slug

The Octopus King

The Moth

Breakfast Monster

Kelp Thing

DoodleBob

Clam Head Candy Cad

Jeff Tentacles

Kevin C Cucumber

Gordon Plankton

Cletus Plankton

Mama Plankton

Plankton 2.0

Betsy Krabs

Redbeard Krabs

Mr Doodles The Worm

Krabs Senior

Mrs Tentacles

Granny Tentacles

Jeff Tentacles

Plankton’s Ancestors, Cousins and Family

Granny Plankton

Spot The Amoeba

Chip Plankton

Lighthouse Louie

Otto

King Poseidon

Sage

Tony The Sea Turtle

Sea Turtles

Anchor Man

Buford

Cletus

Luther

Wonder Whale

Robot Mantis

King Jellyfish

Queen Jellyfish

Jellyfish

Blue Crested Blaster Jellyfish

Speckled Squirter Jellyfish

Two Fisted Jumper Jellyfish

Gold Throated Singer Jellyfish

No Name/Friend The Blue Jellyfish

Ol Bessy The Jellyfish

Dopey Dick The White Jellyfish

Firejellies

Jellybee

Bat Jellyfish

Moon Jellyfish

Jelliens

Jellien Leader

Seahorses

Sea Urchins

Clamu

Jennifer The Sea Anemone

Comb Jelly

Stingray

Stan The Manta Ray

Gulper Eel

Wormy

Professor Percy

Dr Marmalade

Lord Reginald

Fuzzy Acorns

Mystery The Seahorse

Sea Whelks

Sea Snails

Miss Marigold The Sea Snail

Penny Pinchers

Alaskan Bull Worm

The Sneaky Hermit

Hermit Crabs

Yeti Crabs

Federico The Waiter

Shrimp

Brine Shrimp/Sea Monkeys

Johnny Krill

Krill

Snellie

Sea Slug

Leech

Eel

Stanley S SquarePants

Captain Blue SquarePants

BlackJack SquarePants

Bubbles The Talking Dolphin

Janitor Bots

Ancient Warrior

Manatees/Sea Cows

Earless Seals

Bubble Buddy

Squidabeth

Clams

Scallops

Black Scallops

Karen Plankton 2.0

E.M.I.LP.

Fredrick

Abominable Snow Mollusk

Mermaid Teenager 1

Mermaid Teenager 2

Mermaid Teenager 3

Mermaid Teenager 4

Mermaid Teenager 5

Mermaid Teenager Incidentals

Mermaid 1 (The Cosmic Shake)

Mermaid 2 (The Cosmic Shake)

Mermaid 3 (The Cosmic Shake)

Sir Urchin

Snail Fail

Tooth Fairy (Character)

Narlene Narwhal

Nobbert Nobby Narwhal

WillyBob The Narwhal

Ma Narwhal

Pa Narwhal

Mr Eugene Krabs’s Three Nephews

Noseferatu

Kidferatu

Captain Of The Sea Ship Atlantis

Lord Royal Highness

Atlantean Royal Guards

Nando

Worm Hogs

Rolly The Dinosaur

Dinosaurs

Sea Dinosaurs

Sea Tigers

Sea Elephants

Sea Cows

Lucky The Sea Cow

Bessie

Sea Giraffes

Sea Bunnies

Sea Bears

Sea Spiders

Sea Chimps

Sea Monkeys

Sea Rhinoceroses

Sea Baboons

Sea Hippos

Sea Snakes

Sea Mules

Sewer Snake

Sea Monsters

Sea Monster

Fifi The Worm

Robot (Character)

Worms

Spotted Glistening Meadow Worms

Mrs Wormsley

Wormsley Children

Earworm

Peanut Worms

Nematodes

Rex The Worm

JK

Atlantean Citizens

The Greek Chorus

French Narrator

Goofy Goober

Mayhem Machine

Mr Sun

Patchy The Pirate

Potty The Parrot

Stephen Hillenburg

[sshbpodcast]

Tales from the Holodeck: VOY Fanfic: Jake’s Teleplay

It's that time again. It's A Star to Steer Her By's 7th anniversary, and [not so] coincidentally Star Trek's 57th! Slightly more coincidentally, we also just wrapped our watch-through of Star Trek: Voyager! Not only can you check out our favorite and least favorite episodes, but you can also peruse our latest celebratory fanfic!

Scroll on below to read the latest installments from our annual "Tales from the Holodeck" writing challenge, and follow along with our cold reads on this week's podcast episode (this one's at 03:33). We present to you Jake's tender and haunting tale of holograms and heart. It's the slash we didn't know we needed.

[images © Paramount/CBS]

"Hollow Gestures"

By Jake

Random picks: Reginald Barclay, Lewis Zimmerman

SCENE 1 - INT. LEWIS ZIMMERMAN'S LAB, JUPITER STATION

Fade up to reveal the laboratory of LEWIS ZIMMERMAN aboard Jupiter Station. The camera pans around the disordered lab. Stacks of PADDs littered about, half-eaten trays of food. A menagerie of holographic creatures find perches amongst the clutter. The camera stops on the visage of a middle-aged, balding man, the EMH. The EMH stands still, expressionless; lifeless.

ZIMMERMAN (O.S.): Computer, initialize EMH.

The computer chirps in acknowledgement. Suddenly, the EMH comes to life.

EMH: Please state the nature of the medical emergency.

ZIMMERMAN, nearly identical in appearance to the EMH except for a hint of stubble, walks into frame, assessing the EMH.

ZIMMERMAN: I have acute stabbing pains in my chest, shortness of breath, and my left arm is numb and tingling.

The EMH, seemingly unfazed by the otherwise alarming symptoms, calmly picks up a tricorder off of a nearby table and begins scanning ZIMMERMAN.

EMH: There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with you. Please take an anti-inflammatory and return in four hours if your symptoms persist.

ZIMMERMAN: Doctor, I really think something is wrong, and I have a strong sense of impending dread.

EMH: (flatly) You could be experiencing a mild panic attack. I recommend taking slow, deep breaths until the feeling subsides.

ZIMMERMAN: (annoyed) Don't you understand?! I'm dying. I'm GOING. TO. DIE. Right now. Do something!

The EMH again glances at the tricorder. Looks up.

EMH: Your scans are inconsistent with a prognosis of imminent death. If these symptoms persist I can prescribe a light sedative.

ZIMMERMAN: (exasperated) Computer, deactivate EMH.

The EMH fades out. Zimmerman falls into a chair and slumps. He picks up a nearby PADD, glances at it, and chucks it across the lab, frightening a cat.

ZIMMERMAN: I'm sorry, Felix.

The cat runs over and hops up onto ZIMMERMAN's lap.

FELIX: Don't mention it, Doc. You'll get there.

ZIMMERMAN pats FELIX, who begins to purr. The comm unit on ZIMMERMAN's desk chimes. He taps it aggressively.

ZIMMERMAN: What is it?!

HALEY (O.S.): Your two o'clock is here. Do you need a moment?

ZIMMERMAN: Already?!

ZIMMERMAN brushes some crumbs off of his uniform and halfheartedly pats down his hair.

ZIMMERMAN: (sighs) Send him in.

A moment later, BARCLAY slinks in carrying a PADD. He glances around the lab in a mixture of awe and fear, as if he's about to meet the great and powerful Oz.

ZIMMERMAN: I apologize for the state of the lab.

BARCLAY: Oh, it's q-quite alright, uh, Sir.

ZIMMERMAN: …And you are?

BARCLAY: (suddenly unsure) Uh, Reginald. Lieutenant Reginald B-Barclay, sir. I was supervising the EMH integration on the Intrepid?

ZIMMERMAN: Ok, Lieutenant. And what can I do for you?

BARCLAY: I'm, uh, I'm here to deliver the field reports from the shakedown?

ZIMMERMAN: Something wrong with subspace?

BARCLAY: Sir?

ZIMMERMAN: I asked why you were here.

BARCLAY: Oh, right. Um. I was in the neighborhood.

ZIMMERMAN: Of Jupiter… right.

ZIMMERMAN holds out his hand. BARCLAY looks confused, but after a second it clicks. He hands ZIMMERMAN the PADD. ZIMMERMAN begins reading it.

BARCLAY: The integration was a complete success. You'll see the treatment outcomes and diagnostic accuracy are in the ni- ninety-eighth percentile compared to organic doctors… (beat) I'm a g-great admirer of your work, Doctor. I read your paper on multiplex matrix pipelining. It's revolutionary. And the EMH is an-

ZIMMERMAN holds up his hand to silence BARCLAY. It works.

ZIMMERMAN: Who wrote this?!

BARCLAY: I- I did, sir.

ZIMMERMAN: And these field reports, they came from actual EMH patients?

BARCLAY: Yes, of course. I mean: yes.

ZIMMERMAN: (quoting) Insipid demeanor? Klingonesque bedside manner?! Emergency medical hothead?!! And you call this complete success?

BARCLAY: Those are just a f-few of the more… uh.. colorful? responses. The vast majority were far more… di- diplomatic?

ZIMMERMAN: More diplomatic!? This is an utter failure!

ZIMMERMAN slams the PADD onto his desk. He taps the comm unit.

ZIMMERMAN: Haley, when is the next EMH integration scheduled?

HALEY (O.S.): The Voyager EMH is scheduled to be integrated at Utopia Planitia in six weeks.

ZIMMERMAN wipes his face with both hands, thinks.

ZIMMERMAN: Contact Starfleet. Inform them that EMH will be delayed. Indefinitely… Pending complete overhaul. And advise them to deactivate the Intrepid's EMH until further notice.

HALEY (O.S.): Doctor? Are you sure you want me…

ZIMMERMAN: That is what you're here for, isn't it?

ZIMMERMAN again taps the comm unit, deactivating it. He cups his hands over his face. BARCLAY stands motionless, unsure if he should say anything. After a moment, ZIMMERMAN looks up.

ZIMMERMAN: Is there something else?

BARCLAY: I was just saying that I'm a great admirer of your work, and the EMH is a truly monumental achievement.

ZIMMERMAN again picks up the PADD.

ZIMMERMAN: Clearly…

He tosses the PADD into a nearby pile.

BARCLAY: (reassuringly) It really is. The sheer density of the matrix is beyond anything that's been done before.

ZIMMERMAN: That's the problem. It's too dense. I had to cut out all "non-essential" subroutines just to fit in the medical library. I asked it to tell me a joke and it diagnosed me with tuberculosis! It has no personality! No creativity! No humanity!!

BARCLAY considers whether he should say something… does.

BARCLAY: Sir. I've been thinking a lot about the field reports. And I want to help. And I think… maybe I can?

ZIMMERMAN: You. You can help me?

BARCLAY: Yes. I have quite a bit of experience with holo-programming, myself. When I was given this assignment I assumed I would be assisting-

ZIMMERMAN: I neither need, nor want, an assistant. Never have.

BARCLAY: (dejected) Right. Of. Of course not.

ZIMMERMAN: Thank you for delivering the good news. That'll be all.

ZIMMERMAN curtly gestures toward the door while turning his attention back to his console. BARCLAY, nearly in tears, exits.

FADE OUT.

SCENE 2 - INT. LEWIS ZIMMERMAN'S LAB, JUPITER STATION

ZIMMERMAN sits at his desk tapping on a computer console with one hand while studying a PADD with another. He appears disheveled; his hair is unkempt, his stubble has blossomed into the beginnings of a beard. He hasn't left the lab in days. HALEY enters carrying a tray of food. She brushes aside some clutter and places the tray down.

HALEY: Are you still reading that thing?

ZIMMERMAN reads aloud from the PADD.

ZIMMERMAN: "During a simulated trauma exercise, the EMH attempted to console a double-amputee by informing her that halitosis is curable condition and recommended a sonic periodontal de-scaler." (sighs) I created a sociopath!

HALEY: …This isn't healthy.

ZIMMERMAN: Oh, are you a doctor now, too?

HALEY: (ignoring him) He called again this morning. Asked for another meeting.

ZIMMERMAN: Can't the man take a hint? What'd you tell him?

HALEY: I told him four o'clock today.

ZIMMERMAN: (aghast) You what?!

HALEY: And you should change that shirt before he gets here.

FADE OUT.

SCENE 3 - INT LEWIS ZIMMERMAN'S LAB, JUPITER STATION

Later that day. The lab is a bit tidier. Zimmerman is wearing a clean shirt, and has shaved. BARCLAY enters, carrying another PADD.

BARCLAY: Th- Thank you for seeing me again, Doctor.

ZIMMERMAN: I'm quite busy, Barclay.

BARCLAY: I just wanted to give you this.

BARCLAY hands ZIMMERMAN the PADD.

ZIMMERMAN: (sarcastically) What's this, another round of fan mail?

BARCLAY: It's a p-paper I wrote that I think may be able to help you with the EMH.

ZIMMERMAN looks at the PADD, reading the title.

ZIMMERMAN: You can't be serious.

BARCLAY: I- I am.

ZIMMERMAN: How is this, in any way, supposed to help with the EMH?

BARCLAY: If you read on, you'll see that the adaptive personality algorithms-

ZIMMERMAN: Will create a psychopath!

BARCLAY: No! I mean-

ZIMMERMAN: Listen, I've read all about this. I don't think there's any holo-engineer in the quadrant who hasn't. You're talking about using subroutines from a dangerous, rogue program. No. Absolutely not! This thing tried to commandeer a starship… twice! What possible use could this be for a medical program?

BARCLAY: (assertively) Moriarty only did those things because of the way he was written! He was based on a character from an old-earth mystery story-

ZIMMERMAN: I know what Sherlock Holmes is.

BARCLAY: (embarrassed) Of course. (earnestly) Moriarty was the villain of the story. It was a core component of his personality subroutines. That's why he went rogue. But the adaptive subroutines can be isolated and generalized to any holo-matrix, including the EMH! If you'd just read my paper, I-

ZIMMERMAN: (resigned) I have read it, Lieutenant.

BARCLAY: (surprised) Y- You have?

ZIMMERMAN: Yes. It's… brilliant. It's why I requested you be transferred to Jupiter Station.

BARCLAY: (dumbstruck) You… Re- Requested, me?

ZIMMERMAN: Last week I told you that I never needed an assistant. That's not entirely true. Early in the development of the EMH I had an assistant. Well, a partner, really. A lot of my early successes; the animals, the EMH prototypes… even Haley, were as much his work as mine. He had a mastery with personality subroutines that I just could never match.

BARCLAY: What happened to him?

ZIMMERMAN: He decided that working for Starfleet was squandering his talents so he left. Now he's off making piles of latinum writing holo-novels for overgrown man-children. And I just carried on without him. I named the cat after him. (beat.) When I read your Moriarty paper, it was the first time in a long time that I felt like I'd found… an equal.

BARCLAY is speechless.

ZIMMERMAN: Listen… I would never admit this to anybody, but sometimes I feel like… like a fraud.

BARCLAY: No! Of course not!

ZIMMERMAN: It's just that my entire career I've been regarded as this virtuoso. The EMH is supposed to be my magnum opus. I've spent years compiling the database. Building thousands of subroutines. And this is what I created?! This failure? This joke?

BARCLAY struggles to think of some way to respond.

BARCLAY: If you'd b- be willing… It'd be my privilege to stay and do whatever I can to help.

ZIMMERMAN looks up, assesses BARCLAY.

ZIMMERMAN: Very well…

FADE OUT.

SCENE 4 - INT. LEWIS ZIMMERMAN'S LAB, JUPITER STATION

Several weeks have passed. BARCLAY and ZIMMERMAN are working together, sitting at the main lab console. Both men appear completely changed; upbeat and productive. Functioning like a well-oiled machine. The lab has been completely cleared of clutter.

BARCLAY: (considering) Do you think it's too much?

ZIMMERMAN: Hmm…

ZIMMERMAN taps the comm unit.

ZIMMERMAN: Haley, could you come in for a moment?

HALEY appears in the door.

ZIMMERMAN: Haley, what would you think of a singing doctor?

HALEY: (considering) Well… I'm not sure.

BARCLAY: How about dancing?

HALEY: Singing, maybe. Not dancing.

BARCLAY: That's what I was thinking, too.

ZIMMERMAN: Thank you, dear.

HALEY: (rolls her eyes) Any time.

HALEY exits. BARCLAY and ZIMMERMAN continue their work. As they do, BARCLAY enters some commands into his console.

BARCLAY: Computer, activate EMH.

The EMH appears.

EMH: Please state the nature of the medical emergency.

BARCLAY: There's no emergency. Could you sing us a song.

EMH: I'm a doctor, not a jukebox!

ZIMMERMAN: Humor us…

The EMH looks mildly annoyed, but obliges.

EMH: (singing) Oh my darlin' Oh my darlin' Oh my darlin', Clementine You are lost and gone forever Dreadful sorrow, Clementine

ZIMMERMAN: What song is that?

EMH: (overlapping) In a cavern, in a canyon Excavating for a mine Dwelt a miner-

BARCLAY: That? oh… it's an old Earth song. Don't remember where I heard it.

BARCLAY: Computer, deactivate EMH.

The EMH looks briefly shocked and offended before vanishing.

ZIMMERMAN: A little grim, don't you think?

BARCLAY: I don't know. I've always found it… hauntingly beautiful.

ZIMMERMAN smiles at this, as if his heart grew a size or two.

ZIMMERMAN: You're just full of surprises, Mr. Barclay.

BARCLAY blushes. FELIX hops up on the desk and knocks over a glass of water in front of BARCLAY

BARCLAY: Felix! be careful!

FELIX: Sorry, Reg.

BARCLAY sops up the spilled water with a nearby napkin and scritches FELIX behind the ear.

ZIMMERMAN: These new adaptive subroutines are working wonderfully. We've reduced the matrix size by nearly forty percent! You know, we may actually make the deadline for the Voyager EMH, after all. (beat) I was thinking, Reg, although it's only designed for emergency use, I could see a next-generation EMH being capable of long-term operation.

BARCLAY: I hadn't thought of that, but you're right. With a few minor adjustments, I could see an EMH being able to remain active indefinitely.

ZIMMERMAN: (after a beat) How would you feel about dinner? There's a half-decent Vulcan bistro on the amenities level.

BARCLAY: D- Dinner?

ZIMMERMAN: (covering) To celebrate our breakthrough!

BARCLAY: Oh, right. Yeah, of course. I don't think I've ever had Vulcan food.

FADE OUT.

SCENE 5 - INT. LEWIS ZIMMERMAN'S LAB, JUPITER STATION

The following day. ZIMMERMAN jaunts into the lab, humming "Clementine". Haley is milling about, watering the plants.

HALEY: Good morning, Doctor.

ZIMMERMAN: (uncharacteristically chipper) Morning, dear.

HALEY: (coyly) How was your dinner with Lieutenant Barclay last night?

ZIMMERMAN eyes HALEY suspiciously.

ZIMMERMAN: It was fine. Why do you ask?

HALEY: Come now, Lewis. I've seen the way you look at him…

ZIMMERMAN: (defensively) You see too much! Perhaps I should turn you into a Tiberian bat!

HALEY: I know you don't mean that. I'll just mind my own business.

ZIMMERMAN: Good. (beat) Reg and I have a professional, working relationship.

HALEY shrugs and smiles to herself; she returns to watering the plants. ZIMMERMAN sits at his desk and begins poking at his computer console. After a moment, HALEY goes to leave. As she does, BARCLAY enters.

HALEY: Good morning… (with emphasis on:) Reg.

BARCLAY: Hi, H- Haley.

BARCLAY settles in at the desk opposite ZIMMERMAN. He has an apprehensiveness to him.

ZIMMERMAN: I'm sorry, again, about last night. I had no idea the Redspice Curry would be so spicy.

BARCLAY: Don't m- mention it. It was fine.

ZIMMERMAN: I had a thought about the LMH last night. When we make our proposal to Starfleet Medical I want you to lead the presentation, then I'll come in with the technical details to really drive it home. The old one-two punch!

BARCLAY: That's-

BARCLAY stops mid-sentence and shifts in discomfort.

ZIMMERMAN: …Is something wrong, Reg?

BARCLAY: It's… It's nothing, really.

BARCLAY stands and paces nervously.

BARCLAY: Actually, it isn't.

ZIMMERMAN: (concerned) Go on.

BARCLAY: When I woke up this morning there was a subspace message. (the most pregnant of pauses) I've been reassigned.

ZIMMERMAN is shaken by this.

ZIMMERMAN: Reassigned? That's ridiculous! Where to?

BARCLAY: They want me back on the Enterprise. Well… I guess it's not back, technically… it's the new Enterprise. They want me for the outfitting and sh- shakedown.

ZIMMERMAN: But you can't leave now! We're just getting started!

BARCLAY: I knew this was coming. This assignment was always temporary while the Enterprise was being built.

ZIMMERMAN taps the comm unit.

ZIMMERMAN: Haley, get me someone at Starfleet command.

HALEY (O.S.): Starfleet command? Like… an admiral?

BARCLAY: (interjecting) No, H- Haley. Don't do that.

BARCLAY taps ZIMMERMAN's comm unit. ZIMMERMAN looks at BARCLAY confused.

ZIMMERMAN: (hurt) You… want to leave?

BARCLAY: I- I don't- really. But- (beat) The crew of the Enterprise is like family. They've saved me more times than I can count. I have to do this.

ZIMMERMAN, crestfallen, slumps back into his chair.

ZIMMERMAN: But what about us? I mean, what about our work?

BARCLAY: I'm sure you can finish without me. You said yourself that the EMH is nearly ready.

ZIMMERMAN: What about the LMH? That's as much your idea as it mine. I thought we'd be building it together!

BARCLAY: We can continue to collaborate over subspace. And I w- will come back and visit as soon as I can.

ZIMMERMAN stares off, dejected.

ZIMMERMAN: When do you leave?

BARCLAY: I've been ordered to report to Utopia Planetia by nineteen-hundred hours.

ZIMMERMAN: Today?! (curtly) Well… you'd better go pack.

ZIMMERMAN stands and extends his hand. After a beat, BARCLAY shakes it.

BARCLAY: I just want to say that I ap- preciate the opportunity you gave me. It's been an honor w- working with you, Doctor.

ZIMMERMAN grunts and nods. He sits and turns his attention to his computer console and begins punching out commands.

BARCLAY slowly turns and exits. After a beat, ZIMMERMAN angrily sweeps his hand across his desk, scattering its contents to the floor. HALEY appears in the doorway.

FADE OUT.

SCENE 6 - INT. LEWIS ZIMMERMAN'S LAB, JUPITER STATION

Later that same day. ZIMMERMAN stands in his lab, looking contented.

ZIMMERMAN: I'm really glad you changed your mind.

Pan to BARCLAY, standing opposite ZIMMERMAN.

BARCLAY: I just couldn't leave with unfinished work. When I explained the situation to Captain Picard, he was more than understanding.

ZIMMERMAN: He couldn't have been happy to lose you.

BARCLAY smiles at this.

BARCLAY: I'm sure they'll manage. (beat) …About something you said earlier…

ZIMMERMAN: Hmm?

BARCLAY: About us.

ZIMMERMAN: Oh.

BARCLAY: No… it's just. I don't- (composing his thoughts) I've never felt comfortable with people. I've always been a bit of an outcast in a way; struggling to find where I fit in. Even on the Enterprise it took me a long time to earn the respect of my peers. But even then, I never felt like they truly understood me. And these past few weeks- (trailing off)

ZIMMERMAN: (tenderly) We're a lot alike, Reg. Before I met you, my only friends were my own creations.

BARCLAY: The way I've felt since I arrived here and met you. Well. I finally feel like I've found where I belong. (beat) The truth is… I didn't just stay here for the work… Lewis.

BARCLAY reaches out and takes ZIMMERMAN'S hand. The men's eyes meet. BARCLAY takes a small step toward ZIMMERMAN and leans forward. ZIMMERMAN nervously leans in. Their lips are inches apart when-

The comm unit beeps and ZIMMERMAN pulls away. The moment is gone. ZIMMERMAN angrily smashes the comm unit.

ZIMMERMAN: What is it?!

HALEY (O.S.): I just wanted to let you know that the shuttle to Mars is leaving in fifteen minutes.

ZIMMERMAN: And??

HALEY (O.S.): I just wasn't sure if you wanted to-

ZIMMERMAN: I'm quite busy right now, and I don't wish to be disturbed!

ZIMMERMAN hits the comm unit. He paces, frustrated. He turns back to BARCLAY who looks at ZIMMERMAN sheepishly.

BARCLAY: Lewis-

ZIMMERMAN: (brusquely) Computer, deactivate Barclay hologram.

BARCLAY vanishes. After a moment:

ZIMMERMAN: Computer. (beat.) Delete Barclay hologram.

The computer chirps in acknowledgement. ZIMMERMAN collapses into his chair in despair. He glances around the empty lab. FELIX meows and brushes against ZIMMERMAN's leg. ZIMMERMAN pats the cat.

THE END

—

Don't forget to also check out Caitlin, Ames, and Chris's stories from this year's Star Trek Day festivities. And next week, you definitely don't want to miss when we finally start in on Star Trek: Enterprise over on SoundCloud or wherever you get your podcasts, keep your eyes here for a new series of posts on the blog, hang out with us on Facebook and Twitter, and seize love while you have it (or at least make a hologram about it).

[fabiosofabz]

A collection of Cat, and their daily Shenanigans. Miss Luci Goose likes to roll around looking goofy, Old Man Reginald sleeps like a king in his bed, and Sir Nugget likes to cause chaos. (The other two are guilty of instigating this when it’s his turn to behave.)

[ceru-at-hogwarts]

I comissionned Hazeace Art to draw my OC Arthur Lang and his cat Sir Reginald von Bartleblee the Fifth. They had perfectly captured his essence, his smile, and I can’t be happier about this. This means a lot to me.

Arthur is a Hogwarts Legacy roleplay character who isn’t MC. He is a Quidditch player, a lover of the outdoor and overall someone who suck out the marrow of life.

Carpe Diem

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