#the moment rowan told me she had the hots for bill

[sylvarantii]

I will never forgive Hogwart's Mystery for allowing your player to display feelings for Bill Weasley, but not Charlie.

Listen, I have nothing against Bill. He's a chill guy and I'm really glad to have him as a friend in this game.

But I feel nothing for this guy. At least nothing beyond platonic feelings of "I like you and I'm glad you're my buddy."

Charlie is so neat though. I love his passions for dragons so much and ever since he was described in the books, I've really wanted to get to know the kind of guy he is. He is adorable and just has a bit more vigor to him in contrast to his older brother that's a bit more mature and laid back.

I don't know, I'm only in year 3, so I could end up being proven wrong, but it's just...kind of a bummer.

I'd say it's even more of a bummer that you can't date any book canon characters, but I'm sure Jam City didn't want to disappoint and be like, "Well, they're already canon characters with relationships in the future or possible relationships and it would mean you guys would have to break it off at some point, so it's for the better you never get together." but still sort of sucks.

[tomtenadia]

Blind mistake

Rowaelin month - day 8

So, this fic was fighting me at the beginning. as I started, deleted and restarted a million times.

Then slowly the idea came and here it is. What I was not expecting was to write a A Little Braver AU.

Aelin and Rowan meet under different circumstances and are two different people from thee actual story. Aelin is still the captain at east station and Rowan still the airforce captain.

Yes, this is a happier fic but as Aelin said in KoA... she loved Rowan because it was him, the man who had known pain as deep as hers.

IN order to enjoy this fic you do not need to have read ALB. A part from Pete popping up for a brief second at the end, this is a complete stand alone story and no knowledge of ALB is needed.

Rowan sighed. His love life sucked so much that he ended up using a dating app. Since Lyria dumped him a year before he had been struggling to go back in the game. He had been on a few dates but so far none of the women he met had sparked his curiosity. Far too bland and with almost no personality or far too bothered by looks. Some of them had been downright stupid and he had been a gentleman and played along when all he wanted to do was run away screaming. The last nightmare had been a woman called Remelle who Lorcan had recommended to him. He had to feign food poisoning and pay the chef to let him escape from the back of the restaurant to flee the monster. He had paid the bill sneakily, and once home he had insulted Lorcan and his poor taste in women.

Now he was again in a restaurant, ready for probably another fiasco. He and the woman had chatted a bit and she had seemed interesting so he had dared to ask her out and she had accepted. On the paper it was all good. In reality he was getting ready for another crazy escape. Maybe he should just give up and live alone and become a grumpy old man.

He had a kingsflame on the table near him, their code to recognise each other at the restaurant. The fact that they knew very little about each other made him nervous. It was a recipe for disaster. He knew she was a personal shopper and that she liked movies and music. He was really dreading the encounter now, and started to realise that perhaps it had been a mistake. She could have lied.

Until he raised his head and he noticed the woman who had just entered the restaurant. He then spotted the flower pinned on her green dress as they had agreed. Gods, the woman was way too hot for him. There was a catch somewhere. His heart raced when realisation dawned on her face and she waved and started to walk to him. The smile. Damn, the smile could stop a man’s heart. The woman walking toward him was a goddess. He was expecting her to turn away for another table until she sat down in front of him at his table. Rowan was speechless.

“Sorry, I am late. Accident on the ring road. I stopped to give a hand to west station.” She used her hand to brush off the smudge of grease he had only just noticed she had.

“You stopped?”

“Yes,” she looked at him with a strange light in her eyes “I am a firefighter. I am the captain at east station.”

Rowan blinked twice. Shit. She was the wrong woman. She was not here for him. Of course. It was too good to be true. She had sat at the wrong table and a part of him was sad.

“I am Aelin.” she said and he knew that it had dawned on her as well that he was not her date “You are not Chaol.”

Rowan shook his head “I am Rowan.”

“Holy shit. I saw the kingsflame. The restaurant. And you smiled at me when I came in. I just assumed...” He did not want her to go. 

“Ach, I was having second thoughts anyway.” He shrugged.

In that moment the waiter came and they were hesitant for a moment then Aelin grabbed the menu and started ordering, surprising him. Rowan got some wine for both and they placed as well their order.

“Our dates are late anyway. Maybe stuck in the horrendous traffic out there.”

“You will not hear me complain.” Said Rowan with a smile “so, you stopped and helped?”

Aelin nodded, sipping a bit of her wine “I couldn’t resist it. West station was there but there were so many cars involved that I had to something. The traffic wasn’t moving anyway.”

Rowan could not believe the woman in front of him. Not only she was a goddess. She had even stopped to help her colleagues save people from a car crash on her way to a date. Where had she been all his life?

The waiter came with their order and smiled at the expression of joy when Aelin looked at the amount of food in front of her. Another point for her. She had an appetite. He had no need of another date ordering a boring salad. He was a healthy eater but loved a woman with an appetite, especially because he loved cooking.

“So Rowan, what do you do?” She asked him while tackling the gigantic prawn on her seafood tagliatelle.

“I am an airforce pilot. I am a captain.”

Her face lit up “as in the uniform and all? And the awesome planes?”

Rowan nodded.

Aelin was about to take another sip of her wine when two figures stopped at their table. A brown-haired man and a blonde woman. Both had a kingsflames pinned on their dresses.

“Excuse me but you are with my date.” Said the stranger.

Rowan looked up from his risotto “finders keepers.”

“And he is my date.” Said the woman in a shrill voice.

“What he said.” Added Aelin while eating another prawn.

“We got stuck in traffic. There is a massive road accident on the ring road.” Chaol complained, not letting it go.

“Yeah I know. I stopped to help and I still made it here before you.”

“So what does this mean?” Asked Chaol.

Aelin stared at Rowan. It was a no brainer. Chaol was cute but Rowan was sex on two legs. Between the silver hair and the green eyes he ticked all of the boxes. And he was a pilot. Chaol was an accountant.

“You two can go on a date together.” She suggested and hoped they took the hint.

“That is rude.”

“Oh shoot,” said Aelin covering her mouth in fake surprise “I must have left the fucks I have to give in my bunker gear.”

Chaol looked at her aghast. The blonde woman turned on her heels and left.

“You missed an opportunity.” He added before he left as well.

As soon as he left Rowan burst into laughter and she joined him “no fucks to give…” he said trying to catch his breath “I have to steal this when my CO drives me nuts.”

“Ansel, one of my firefighters, she taught me that.”

“It’s fucking perfect.” 

And both resumed their dinner without the awkwardness of a blind date. No stupid questions like how many siblings do you have or what is your favourite colour. No, with Rowan there had been a connection from the start and the joke had been the final proof.

“Most guys would have left running at my joke. I have a big and foul mouth. Not very lady-like.” She apologised. “I work in a male dominated place. Apart from Ansel and my two paramedics, I am surrounded by guys and well, they are not easily scared.”

Rowan chuckled “I am in the military. My CO uses fuck you as a term of endearment and one of my lieutenants has the record for the most innuendos in a sentence.”

“How many?” Asked Aelin curios.

“Ten.”

“No friggin’ way.”

Rowan nodded solemnly. Then looked at her and he was glad she sat at his table mistaking him for another man. They had known each other only for twenty minutes but he was dumbstruck by the woman.

She was fierce, intelligent and with a wicked sense of humour.

The meal had been perfect. Aelin had polished every single plate in front of her and also ordered dessert. And when she offered to pay for half the bill he had smiled. He had plenty of dates where the woman didn’t even offer. She took it for granted that he, being the man, was the one paying. He had no issues with that, he was happy to pay, but the fact that Aelin offered made him realise that she was different.

They left the restaurant and he gasped when he saw a red pickup reading Terrasen fire department on its livery, parked just outside the restaurant.

“Way to scare the patrons away.” He joked.

“Sorry. Yesterday I took a lift to work from a colleague and I forgot for a moment that I had a set the date for tonight after my shift. So I grabbed my work pickup to get here. I need to go back to the firehouse and return it.”

“I’ll follow, you drop off the pickup and then I drive you home.”

“I can take a cab, you don’t have to come all the way to the station and back.”

“Humour me,” he said giving her a beautiful smile and she accepted.

Ten minutes later they were at east station and she parked the pickup in its corner at the side and out of the way.

She saw Rowan getting off the car.

“Welcome to east station.” She said extending her arms. She pushed a button and the rolling doors slid up and two big trucks appeared in front of him. He had always wanted to see one up close.

“Cap,” said a man at her back “what are you doing here? I thought you were on a date?” He smiled “that bad? I told you accountants were a bad idea.”

Aelin laughed “looks like I got myself an airforce pilot instead.” She winked at him and Rowan’s heart skipped a beat.

“I’ll tell you next shift, Pete. I just brought back the pickup before Dorian kills me.”

She waved at her relief captain and followed Rowan in his car and told him her address.

While he drove she studied him. He was wearing a nice pair of jeans, a shirt and a black leather jacket. She should have guessed he was military. Aedion had the same posture and he was ex-army.

“Which house?” Asked Rowan, waking her up from her thoughts.

“The one with the blue door.”

He parked and walked with her up to the door “I had so much fun tonight,” she said to him, not wanting him to leave her.

“I am so glad that you sat at the wrong table. This was the best blind date ever.” He looked at her and wanted to kiss her so badly but they had just met and he did not want to pass a a pig.

She moved a step toward him “I am glad too.” And her lips brushed his cheek in a kiss “perhaps we could go on a proper date. One where we are actually meant to meet each other.”

Rowan sighed relieved “It would make me very happy.”

Aelin rummaged in her bag until she found a pen then grabbed his wrist and pulled up his cuff a bit and wrote down two numbers.

“The first one is my personal mobile number. The second one is the direct number to my office. I am known to leave my mobile in my bunker gear.”

“Thank you.”

“Let me know a date and if I am not free we can find a better one. Us firefighters have crazy long shifts so I need to be off.”

He took her pen and her wrist and wrote his number “then you text me. A day that you are off shift. I work regular hours. This makes more sense.”

He took a step down from the few step and she hated the idea of him leaving.

“Goodnight, Rowan.” She opened the door and looked at him one last time.

Rowan waited for her to disappear behind the door and then went back to his car and was grateful for the best blind mistake of his life.

[carewyncromwell]

[Once Ben was on board, Carewyn rushed downstairs to fetch the coat her mother had saved up to get her from Madame Malkin’s for Christmas. She stuffed the lining with five blue Coldfires, before stuffing its pockets with about ten more each, in case Ben and Bill needed any extra. Then she and Rowan exchanged one last hug before separating, Rowan heading upstairs toward the Astronomy Tower and Carewyn rushing down the icy corridor to find Bill and Ben. 

She found Bill and Ben waiting at the top of the newly Unvanished Stairs. At the sight of her, Bill called down to her,]

Bill: “Carewyn! It’s gotten even worse up here!”

[Carewyn darted up the stairs. She found ice crackling through crevices in the walls, up into the ceiling and down through the floor.]

Bill: “This must be why it’s gotten so bad in the rest of the castle -- the cursed ice is creeping out wherever it can -- like a bundimun infestation...”

Ben: “(anxiously) Please don’t make me imagine the ice eating away at the castle walls like acid right now.”

[Tearing her eyes away from the ice, Carewyn fetched out the Coldfire packs she’d brought with her out of her pockets, handing them to both Bill and Ben.]

Carewyn: “Here -- put these under your shirts. They should help fight the cold.”

[Both Gryffindors grinned in relief as they stuffed the blue fire packs down their shirts and into their sleeves, though Ben’s smile was a bit weaker than Bill’s.]

Bill: “Perfect -- I was just thinking how annoying it is that I outgrew my last sweater...”

Ben: “(uncertainly) ...I skimmed over the Hot Air Charm too, in case it might help. It’s supposed to be used to dry wet clothes, but...well, it does conjure hot air.”

Bill: “(nods approvingly) Every little bit of heat we can make should help.”

[Carewyn gave Ben an encouraging smile. Then, setting her jaw in determination, she raised her wand and strode down the hall, right up to the icy door of the Vault. She was aware of Bill on her right side and Ben on her left -- Bill walked with just as much focus, his fist clenched tightly around his wand, while Ben followed with more trepidation. As they approached the door together, Carewyn tried to reassure her classmate.]

[Ben offered her a very weak smile.]

Ben: “...Is it okay to be terrified?”

[Carewyn’s face immediately turned concerned. Her gaze fell down to Ben’s shoulder and then flitted up onto the wall behind him.]

Carewyn: “...Ben, you can go, if you -- ”

[But Ben shook his head fiercely.]

Ben: “I’m not leaving you and Bill. Just...is it okay that I’m completely terrified?”

[Carewyn blinked, startled. Then she gave Ben her strongest smile in return and nodded.]

Carewyn: “Absolutely.”

I’m scared too. And I know Bill is scared, however brave he’s acting. We’re all scared.

[Ben gave a shaky laugh.]

Ben: “Good.”

[Despite the terror in his posture, he took out his wand and held it up in front of the door. He glanced at Carewyn and Bill out the side of his eye.]

Ben: “I reckon the Exploding Charm might be a bit stronger than the standard Knockback Jinx...it’s a little loud, though. Do you think I should chance it?”

[Bill looked impressed.]

Bill: “The Exploding Charm? That’s stuff at my year level, that is.”

Carewyn: “(grins proudly) I told you Ben’s a master at Charms.”

[Ben’s ears flushed a very dark shade of red as he grinned incredulously at Carewyn, looking half flustered and half touched.]

Bill: “(brightly) I say go for it, Ben -- noise is the least of our worries right now. You use the Exploding Charm, and Carewyn and I will use Incendio. Spread out, and be ready to dodge when the door blasts its Freezing Charms.”

[Carewyn nodded.]

Carewyn: “Let’s all attack on the count of three -- one...two...three!”

Ben: “BOMBARDA!”

Carewyn / Bill: “INCENDIO!”

[BOOM. FLASH.

With the sound and light of a thunderstorm, the three students attacked the Snowflake on the door. More than a few times they had to dodge blasts of ice -- once Carewyn’s ankle had gotten grazed with the ice and Ben took a quick moment to help her thaw out with Incendio while Bill continued attacking the door.]

Ben: “Are you all right, Carewyn?”

[Carewyn had been holding Ben’s shoulder to stay upright while holding her ankle steady for him to unthaw, and she gave it a grateful squeeze.]

Carewyn: “Yeah -- I’m fine -- come on -- ”

[Without skipping a beat, Carewyn raised her wand again, lashing out at the Snowflake on the door.]

Carewyn: “Diffindo!”

[Her spell hacked into the ice like a sharp knife, leaving a large dent. Ben beamed from ear to ear.]

Ben: “The Severing Charm! Brilliant idea, Carewyn!”

Carewyn: “Thanks!”

Ben: “(excitedly) Let me try something...Aberto!”

[This spell of Ben’s collided sharply with the door behind the snowflake, making a weird crack. The door was trying to open -- but the Snowflake Lock held it in place. It blasted a large flurry of white light at Ben, who had to dart back with a scream to avoid it.]

Bill: “Smart thinking, Ben! Alohomora’s only meant for unlocking doors not locked with magic -- Aberto can sometimes work on magically locked doors!”

Ben: “(gasping for breath) Hah...yeah, but...it didn’t work -- ”

Carewyn: “(excited) No...but now we have a way to attack the lock from both sides!”

[Racking her brain to review the wand movement she’d seen Bill use earlier that school year, she pointed his wand right at the Snowflake.]

Carewyn: “Impedimenta!”

[It was a direct hit. The Snowflake survived, but the white light coming out of it was taking more time to gather.]

Carewyn: “Ben, try to open the door again while Bill and I attack the lock! FLIPENDO!”

Ben: “ABERTO!”

Bill: “CONFRINGO!”

Carewyn: “INCENDIO!”

[BAM. 

In an instant, the Snowflake Lock was double-teamed by an explosive ball of flame and a blast of light erupting from the door on the other side. The Vault door gave a great shudder. Then, at last, the Snowflake weakened, dissolving away in the face of Carewyn’s flames in a wave of frigid water down to the floor.

Bill, Carewyn, and Ben couldn’t stop themselves from crying out in excitement.]

[Almost as soon as Carewyn had said this, though, the stairs under their feet gave a very menacing quake.]

[The quaking wasn’t just under them now -- it was emanating out from the icy doors that had once been kept shut by the Snowflake Lock, alongside a terrible rumbling akin to thunder.

Bill’s freckles stood out sharply on his blanched face.]

[He glanced at her anxiously.]

Bill: “...but...what if it was keeping something in?”

[CRASH.

In an instant, the double doors had been flung open, and white light poured out of it. Stepping out of the light -- perhaps even emerging from it, whole cloth -- was a tall, living suit of armor, caked in ice and snow and holding aloft a sword as iron as his armor.]

[Carewyn’s face lost all of its color.]

The Ice Knight from my vision!

Carewyn: “Get back!”

[But it was too late. Bill had already flung himself in front of Carewyn, pushing her back before the Knight’s sword’s blow could land.]

Bill: “GARG!”

[The older boy was flung up off the ground, encased in fresh ice that hoisted him up off the ground.

Carewyn whirled around in alarm.]

Carewyn: “Bill! Hold on!”

Bill: “D-don’t w-worry about me -- brr -- h-help Ben -- ”

Ben: “(determined) No! It’s...it’s time for me to help you -- ” 

[Even with his knees knocking and his hand on his wand trembling, Ben faced the Ice Knight with as brave of a face as he could muster.]

Ben: “Carewyn...h-help Bill out of there! I’ve got this! Flipendo!”

[His spell collided with the Knight head-on. Carewyn was reluctant to let Ben fight alone...but at the same time, she knew Bill would be better help for him than she’d be, when it came to Wizard Dueling. And so she rushed over and tried to thaw Bill out.]

Carewyn: “Hold on! Incendio -- ”

[Carewyn lit her wand with a controlled flame, trying to carefully melt the ice. Bill struggled to try to pull his arm free, flexing the fingers with difficulty.]

Bill: “M-my wand -- h-hand me my wand -- ”

[Carewyn spotted Bill’s wand on the ground a foot away. She rushed to grab it and bring it back to Bill when -- ]

Ben: “ACK!”

[Carewyn was knocked backward off her feet, dropping Bill’s wand, as another block of ice was flung out, lashing itself onto Ben and trapping him up off the ground too.]

Carewyn: “Ben!”

[The Ice Knight turned its blade toward Carewyn.]

Ben: “Carewyn, watch out!”

[In desperation, Bill flung himself down against the half-melted ice as far as he could, snatching up his wand and pointing it at the Knight’s back.]

Bill: “FINITE INCANTANTEM!”

[WHOOSH!

With a flourish of its blade, Carewyn was knocked backward to the ground by a powerful, wintry wind. Miraculously, however, she wasn’t frozen solid like her friends had been -- Bill’s spell hadn’t managed to stop the Knight, but it had still collided with the Knight’s sword...and in doing so, had undone its most powerful magic. 

Carewyn shot back to her feet, her face alight.]

Carewyn: “Bill, you stopped his Freezing Charms!”

[The Knight lunged forward, his sword raised, and Carewyn had to quickly jump back so as to not get slashed apart. She led the Knight further back down the hall, away from Ben and Bill as the older Gryffindor fought to get himself and Ben free of the ice before it could spread further.]

Guess I’m going to have to test out those new dueling spells I practiced --

Carewyn: “Impedimenta!”

[The spell collided with the Knight’s sword as he used it to defend himself, but it nonetheless seemed to slow him down. His next strike was much easier for Carewyn to avoid.]

Carewyn: “Expelliarmus! Flipendo!” 

[Carewyn had to dodge the Knight’s strikes, and not all of hers landed, but it seemed that him not being able to land any real blows on her, combined with the damage Ben had delivered to him earlier, made her spells way more effective on him. And so, after a good back-and-forth, Carewyn was finally able to get the upper hand with her much taller opponent and -- with one final spell -- made the living suit of armor collapse to his knees in surrender.]

Carewyn: “INCENDIO!”

[With the Ice Knight defeated, Carewyn rushed back over to Ben and Bill. Bill had just about finished thawing Ben out, and Ben was holding his own wand up shakily to dry off his and Bill’s icy-wet clothes with a Hot Air Charm.]

Carewyn: “Bill, Ben -- are you both okay?”

Ben: “Carewyn...”

Bill: “We’re fine.”

[The two boys were both shivering and pale but smiling from ear to ear. At Carewyn’s approach, Bill immediately brought a trembling hand up to grab Carewyn’s shoulder, giving her a quick look-over himself for any injuries.]

Bill: “Are you okay?” 

[Carewyn nodded.]

Carewyn: “Mm-hmm.”

[Bill fetched a bottle out from his back pocket.]

Bill: “Here -- some Invigoration Draught, from Penny. Thought I should make sure I had at least one of these on us...”

[He passed it to Carewyn first. She took a sip, and immediately she felt like a burst of energy had flooded her veins.]

Carewyn: “Thanks, Bill...”

[She handed the bottle to Ben too so he could take a sip.]

Carewyn: “Thanks for before too...you really saved me back there, with that counter-spell...”

Bill: “I was trying to end the spell that brought the Knight to life in the first place...but I guess that was wishful thinking, on my part...”

Carewyn: “(firmly) Even if it didn’t work like you hoped, you still did keep me from getting frozen. That’s all that matters.”

[Bill took the potion bottle from Ben and finished it off before tucking the empty bottle back into his pocket. Ben gave another little shudder as he looked from the now motionless Ice Knight on the stairs to up at the foreboding open doors.]

Ben: “...So...did we do it? Is the curse broken?”

Carewyn: “(shakes her head) The ice is still here in the corridor, so it must still be in the rest of the castle too...”

Jacob said that the only way to break the Vault’s curses was to open them...

[Carewyn’s eyes narrowed as she looked from Bill to Ben.]

Carewyn: “...There must be something in there that we still have to open. Come on...”

((...To be continued...))

[rowanwhitethornisbae]

Arrest Me

Prompt: “I proposed to you last night and now I'm arresting you.” 

Warnings: Language, mentions of sexual assault. 

Rowan Whitethorn was exhausted. After breaking up a drug deal and arresting several stupid teens for disorderly conduct, all he wanted to do was go home to his beautiful girlfriend. 

Fiancée. He corrected himself with no small amount of happiness. He’d proposed last night actually. Dinner on the roof on their apartment, which he’d decorated with lights hanging off of every surface. Aelin had said yes before he even really managed to ask. He was still smiling to himself as his partner climbed back into the passenger seat. 

“Got you some coffee.” Fenrys said, grinning like always. Normally that constant smile would bug Rowan, but not today. Nothing could dampen his mood. 

“Thanks Fen.” He replied, handing his friend a five dollar bill. 

Just then, a voice chimed through the police radio they had on constantly. “Closest unit please report to a bar fight at Gavriel’s over on twelfth street.”

Rowan and Fenrys both groaned as they realized they were by far the closest to the bar. Putting his coffee in the cup holder, Rowan picked up his mic. “This is unit 78. We’re on our way.” 

Ignoring Fenrys’ muttered complaints, he pressed down on the gas. There were no need for sirens and it took them barely two minutes to pull up in front of the bar. Gavriel’s wasn't exactly unfamiliar to Rowan. With the owner being Aelin’s uncle of sorts, they often frequented it. Truthfully, he wasn't sure there was a single spot in the small bathroom that he hadn't taken Aelin against. He laughed to himself as they burst through the doors and into the bar. 

What he saw almost made his heart stop dead in his chest. A dark haired muscular man was lying unconscious on the floor with two other people standing over him. Across the room from them, a burly bearded man whom Rowan didn't recognize was being restrained by two others. He was screaming at a young woman, who was yelling endless profanities right back at him. 

Aelin Galanthynius. His Fiancée. The love of his fucking life was currently being restrained by her cousin as she thrashed and screamed. There was blood all over her face and he couldn't tell if it was coming from her nose or lip. 

“Holy fuck.” He said loudly and both parties went silent and turned towards him. 

His eyes were only on Aelin though. Her face lit up when she recognized him, and then fell again when she realized the situation. 

“Hi Ro.” She said sheepishly, a quiet smiling tugging on her lips. 

For a brief moment, his resolved faltered. She’d always had that affect on him. Since the second Aelin had ran into Rowan, literally, and spilled her coffee all over him, he’d been entranced. Her cheeks had been rosy from the winter chill and a few snowflakes were perched on her long eyelashes. Her blonde hair was in a loose bun and a few strands escaped from under her red beanie. If love at first sight existed, that had to be it. 

“Hi love.” He said, shooting her a mocking smile. Rowan honestly had no idea how to feel. Currently; worry, anger, and amusement were winning. 

He turned behind him slowly, reluctant to take his eyes off Aelin. “Fen, you call for an ambulance for the unconscious one. Take the rest of these guys in and get their perspective. I need to talk to Aelin.” 

Fenrys, luckily, knew better than to argue against this time. Within seconds he had called for the paramedics and cuffed two of them men who seemed most involved. The others slunk away into the background after making false promises about bailing their friends out. 

Finally, Rowan turned back to his soon to be wife. She was attempting to clean some of the blood off her face and was only succeeding in smearing it everywhere. Shoulder’s slumping, he took her hand and pulled her over to a barstool. He grabbed her hips and lifted her up. She was looking at him oddly in her attempt to read his mood. Rowan’s hands roamed from her hips and stilled on her lower stomach. The tank top she was wearing had ridden up and he tugged it down slightly. She shot him a wicked grin. 

“I’m shocked Rowan. Normally when you pick me up it’s because my clothes are coming off not on.” 

He didn't laugh and her smile quickly disappeared. Stepping away from her, he walked behind the bar and ran a cloth under warm water. 

“What happened Ace?” He asked, back facing her. 

He could almost feel her take a breath in. “Nothing I just got upset.” 

Rowan snorted as he turned back around. He stalked towards her slowly, cloth dripping water onto the wooden floor. 

“I know when you’re lying.” He began dabbing at the blood on her face. “Tell me the truth.” 

She tried to turn her face away from him. Gently, he grabbed her chin and forced her eyes to meet his. 

“He started out just hitting on me. Who can blame him I am really hot.” She laughed weakly and he motioned with his eyes for her to continue. “Then I told him I was engaged but he wouldn't let up. I tried to push him off but he grabbed my...” Aelin gestured at her breasts and Rowan turned livid. He could barely breathe, let alone think. Noting his reaction she placed a soft hand on his shaking wrists. 

“It’s fine Rowan. I kicked him in the balls and punched him out. Unfortunately for me though, his friend got upset and slammed my face into the bar. My nose broke and my lip split. I started screaming at him but before I could actually knock him out stupid Aedion pulled me back.” 

Rowan took a deep breath in, attempting to calm the raging quiet in his head. All he wanted to do was go after those two guys and beat them to a pulp. Instead, he was here, wiping the remaining blood off his fiancée’s beautiful face. 

When he had finished, he kissed her on the cheek, then the corner of her mouth. She grinned against him as he captured her lips with his own. He tugged lightly on her bottom lip with his teeth and she pushed her hips against him. Groaning softly, he pulled away. 

“I need to take you in to the station” He told her. 

Her grin was nothing short of wicked. “Cuff me officer.” She winked at him. 

He spun her around and gently placed the cuffs around her wrist. “I proposed to you last night and now I'm arresting you.” Her shoulders shook with laughter. 

“I keep you on your toes. It’s why you love me.” She turned around to kiss him. 

“One of the many reasons.” He spoke onto her lips. 

As he escorted his fiancée out to his police cruiser, Rowan couldn't help but smile. This fiery woman before him was his future, his entire world. He wondered if he’d ever stop being so damn happy about it. 

[snelbz]

Shot to the Heart {Rowaelin AU Fluff}

Tag Team with @tacmc aka the BDavis to myPSawyer.

Once a month, everyone took a night to spend time together, outside of a bar, and just have fun. Oftentimes, that meant a game night at someone’s house, a nice dinner or ice skating, in the winter. But sometimes, they liked to get out and do more fun things. They’d been zip lining, kayaking, played putt putt, you name it. There were times where things got a little competitive between them all, especially when they decided to compete between the sexes.

They were still banned from the Strike & Spare from the last boys and girls night.

So when it was Elide and Lorcan’s turn to choose, they decided to do something a little more conducive to their violent behavior.

“Where exactly are we going?” Aelin asked as she climbed into Rowan’s truck.

He glanced at his watch. “No clue, Lorcan just said to meet at Rita’s at eight.”

“That’s dangerous,” Aelin muttered, but her grin told him that she approved.

He pulled onto the road and began their drive, only the radio playing in the background. He kept trying not to stare, even though she looked beautiful and he wanted to tell her as much. They’d been best friends for years, always teasing that fine line between best friends and so much more.

Their friends constantly teased them about it, as they all began to settle down one by one.

You already spend as much time together as a couple does.

They’d always had reasons not to though. In high school, there was Sam and Lyria, though the four of them were always together. Makes sense that they ended up together, after they both went away to Fennharrow for college. Rowan and Aelin couldn’t be happier for them. The break ups had been amicable and they were going to Fennharrow together for their wedding next Spring.

In college, Aelin had met Chaol and Rowan had Remelle. Chaol was a permanent figure for a while, but Remelle was more of a time to time thing. They’d both been single for a while, but nothing had ever happened. There were many glances and accidental brushes between them, more so when the two of them had a movie night.

Then, the next time they saw one another, they pretended like nothing had happened.

Rowan didn’t mind it, though. He preferred to have Aelin as a best friend then not have her at all. Even if he did make a move one day, he didn’t know how she would take it.

When Rowan pulled into Rita’s, the others were already there, on the patio, drinks on their hands. Aelin was out before he was, hurrying over to throw her arms around Lysandra and Elide. Rowan watched her before grabbing his wallet, his phone, and his keys and joining them there.

Lorcan was watching him suspiciously.

He sat next to him, motioning to their regular server for his regular drink. He looked over and found Lorcan still looking at him.

“What?” He asked.

Lorcan raises his beer to his lips. “This a date?”

Rowan rolled his eyes. “No, I offered to drive her because it was on the way and she can’t hold her liquor.”

The two looked up and found the trio of girls tossing back a shot of amber liquid.

Lorcan took his drink, setting the bottle on the table top and crossing his ankle over his knee. “It’s reasonable, as far as your excuses go. Both are valid and make sense.”

Two dark bottles appeared in front of them and their server slipped away like she’d never been there.

“It’s not an excuse,” Rowan muttered, taking a sip from his glass. “It’s a fact.”

“Whatever you say,” Lorcan mumbled, but it was blatantly obvious that he thought Rowan was full of shit. “But when you two get married, Elide has called Maid of Honor.”

It took everything in Rowan’s power not to roll his eyes. “Don’t you two have anything better to talk about when you’re alone?”

“We’ve been together for five years,” Lorcan said, as if it was an appropriate answer. “So...no. We talk about bills, who’s going to do the dishes, and when the hell the two of you are going to fuck.”

Rowan choked on his drink.

“I never thought I’d have to ask this, but please don’t discuss my sex life with your fiancée.”

“Excuse you?”

Rowan and Lorcan looked up and found Elide and Aelin standing at the end of the table.

Rowan stammered but Lorcan laughed quietly.

“Okay,” Aelin said, awkwardly, “Is everyone here?”

Elide sat down next to Lorcan and said, “Fenrys, Asterin, and Manon are meeting us at the...place. Dorian is already there.”

“So, that’s a yes?” Aelin laughed.

“That’s a yes,” Elide confirmed, snuggling up close to Lorcan’s massive frame. “So, let’s get tipsy and go get banned from yet another family-friendly establishment.”

Lorcan snorted and raised his glass.

Rowan raised his glass to Aelin’s and met it with a clink.

“Our friends are ridiculous,” Aelin said, underneath her breath.

“Sometimes I wonder why I keep coming back,” Rowan replied, before chugging half his glass and setting it down on the table. When he met her humored gaze, he was reminded exactly why he kept coming back.

They finished their drinks and Rowan and Aelin packed themselves back up into Rowan’s truck so that they could follow Lorcan and Elide to the surprise location. Aedion and Lysandra stayed to order food and would join them shortly.

“So what conversation did I walk in on back there?” Aelin asked once they were on the way.

Rowan cleared his throat and said, “What conversation?”

Without even looking, he knew she had an eyebrow raised. “Really, Rowan. The conversation about your sex life.”

“Just Lorcan being an asshole,” he said, trying to wave her off the conversation.

Aelin was looking at him, and he was trying so hard not to look back

“I have no sex life,” Rowan blurted, after her silence had gone on a few seconds too long. “Not that I’ve never had sex, or don’t have opportunities to...Gods. Nevermind.”

Aelin was laughing quietly. “Holy shit, you’re flustered.”

“No, I’m not,” he said, gripping the wheel a little bit tighter. “I’m just...very personal.”

“Even with me?” She asked, humored.

Especially with you, he thought. Instead, he said, “Yes.”

Her grin only widened. “When’s the last time you got laid, Ro?”

His cheeks were on fire. His ears were on fire. The back of his neck was on fire. Everything was on fire. He cleared his throat again. “That’s none of your business.”

“Just tell me if it was recent or not,” she turned in her seatbelt to face him.

“No,” he laughed. “I’m not telling you that.”

Aelin said, “Why not, we tell each other everything. I’ll tell you.”

“Please, please don’t,” he blurted.

She lifted a brow, then began to nod, slowly, recognition showing in her eyes. Rowan suddenly felt like an idiot, but then Aelin said, quietly, “It’s been a long ass time, if that makes you feel any better.”

“I don’t- it doesn’t-.” His words broke off as he sighed, and Aelin laughed quietly. “You go get some if you wanna get some… I just…don’t want you to get hurt, that’s all.”

“How very kind of you,” Aelin crooned, but he was sure he ruined it all now, was certain she knew that he was full of bullshit.

“As your best friend, that’s my job,” Rowan said, trying to make himself sound convincing.

As he pulled up to a red light, she leaned over and patted his cheek. “And you’ve done a wonderful job.”

Unable to stop himself, he turned and pressed his lips to her palm, locking eyes with her. It was the ballsiest thing he’d ever done and he felt hot and cold all over as he waited for her to react. She swallowed hard, tongue peeking out to wet her bottom lip and-.

A horn honked behind them, as the light had been green for longer than two seconds, and Rowan turned his head forward as quickly as Aelin withdrew her arm back to her own side of the cab. He hit the gas and they took off, and Aelin flipped the bird behind them.

“Ace,” he laughed, “you can’t do that. He had every right to honk at me.”

She crossed her arms and sat up a little higher. “Yeah, well he didn’t have to lay on his horn like an asshole. A simple beep beep would have sufficed. Stupid, impatient fucker.”

The truck got quiet for a second and then they both dissolved into laughter, the tension from the moment before fading into near obscurity.

Two minutes later they followed Lorcan’s car into the parking lot of a laser tag facility, and Rowan swore under his breath.

Aelin laughed. “What? You don’t like laser tag?”

“The last time I played laser tag, I was twelve and ate too much shitty pizza,” he muttered, parking and turning off the engine. “Let’s just say they had to stop the game, turn the lights on, and call for the janitor to come in with a mop.”

“Aw,” Aelin said, her grin suggesting that she felt no pity. “Well, it’s a decade later, and you’ve had no shitty pizza. So, get out and let me kick your ass.”

Before Rowan could reply, she was out of the truck and closing the door behind her.

He groaned and laughed quietly as he had a feeling he was in for a hell of a night.

He got out of the truck and slipped his hands in his pockets as he walked over to where everyone was grouping up.

“I want to be up front and say that I feel like the girls cheated,” Rowan said to Lorcan as he leaned against the rail next to him.

“And why is that?” Elide asked, outrage written across her face.

“Because every single one of you are wearing black.” Lorcan tossed a pointed glance at his fiancée.

Elide held up her hands. “I said nothing.”

Manon’s man-eating grin said otherwise.

Rowan looked down at his light gray t-shirt. At least it wouldn’t glow when they got inside, unlike Dorian’s pure white v-neck.

“If Aedion and Lys don’t get here soon, we’re starting without them,” Manon announced, already growing impatient.

“Agreed,” Lorcan said.

They waited thirty more seconds before the impatience grew unbearable, then their group of eight was walking in.

Girls vs. boys.

Rowan was unprepared. He needed another drink.

Thankfully, it seemed Lorcan was in agreement because the first place he went was to the snack bar and ordered two pitchers of beer. Rowan reached for one of the glasses but Lorcan pulled them back.

“Nope, these are part of the game.”

Rowan raised an eyebrow as Elide began to explain the rules.

For the most part, it was the regular run of the laser tag - hit your opponents’ targets with your point-and-shoot laser pointer and get the most points for your team. There was one caveat though.

“Both pitchers have to be empty by the end of the round,” Lorcan announced. “If your team doesn’t finish your pitcher, you automatically lose.”

“It doesn’t have to be drunk equally. If Aelin doesn’t feel like drinking,” Lorcan mumbled Like that would ever happen, and Aelin glared at him, “she doesn’t have to drink. Just as long as its empty at the end.”

They all voiced their agreement, put on their vests and gathered their guns, then they were tossed into the room.

Rowan was met with darkness and neon, glowing lights as he hurried into a tower. It was his go to. Get to the highest point, and see everyone. Then he paused, as he noticed a lock of his hair falling down in front of his face.

He had silver hair, in a room full of blacklights.

He was instantly a target.

After cursing his hair, he was on the move. He spotted Manon from the other side of the room, took aim, and hit her target.

She yelled a curse at him before he was moving, once more.

He headed for the predetermined boys base, and filled a cup with beer. It seemed he was the first to do so, but Fenrys soon jogged up, muttering about how it was unfair for a marksman like Manon to even be playing this game. His chest target was lit up red and he had a good ten seconds left before he could get back in the game. He saw Rowan and said, “That your first?”

He nodded and began drinking. “Drink two every time we stop?”

Fen nodded. “Quickest way to kill it.”

They both took a minute to chug before Rowan asked, “Seen Aelin?”

Fenrys shook his head. “She’s got a good spot, I’m sure. She has the mind for these things. Strategic.”

Rowan agreed. She was that.

After setting his plastic cup down, Rowan was back on the move.

He crept around a few different corners before he caught sight of her golden ponytail. He followed her, slowly, fully aware that he didn’t have the same graceful, quiet movements that she did. He knew there was straightaway up ahead and if he could stay back long enough, he could get a clean shot on her as she fled to the other side.

He crept along the final corner, pausing to peek behind him-.

He felt a hand on his chest and looked back to find Aelin gazing up at him. He didn’t even fumble for his gun as she pushed slightly and he backed up a few steps. His back hit the wall with a quiet thump and Aelin said, quietly, “Would you like to do what you did in the truck one more time?”

He hesitated, unsure if he was understanding her correctly. She took his bewildered look as acceptance, though, because her smile softened as she leaned up on her toes and pulled his face closer to hers with her hand on the back of his head.

Their lips met softly in the middle, once, twice, slowly, gently.

She tasted bitterly sweet, her peach chapstick mixed with the tequila shots she had earlier and the beer she was downing now. Rowan wanted the moment to last forever, but it was soon broken as Aelin leaned back, her eyes bright.

He smiled and leaned down, wanting to capture her lips against his one more time, closing his eyes.

There was a loud buzzing and then his best began to vibrate. His eyes shot open and Aelin was running away, a devilish glint in her eyes.

He blinked, watching her run away.

She had shot him.

She had kissed him.

Then she had shot him.

He stood, completely frozen, utterly dumbfounded.

Lorcan came around the corner, saw that he’d been shot, and shook his head. “You suck at this, Whitethorn.”

Rowan couldn’t even remember how to form words for a sarcastic reply. Instead, he just turned and walked back toward the pitcher of beer, where he downed two more glasses before deciding to hunt Aelin down as the alcohol warmed his body.

He knew the girls couldn’t be as close to finishing as they were, especially seeing Dorian heading back to their base with maybe one full cup and a half left in their pitcher. Rowan successfully snuck around to where the girls had named their base and found a perfect wall to crouch behind and lie in wait. The pitcher was directly in his line of sight, and it was still over half full.

Elide ran right past his hiding place without noticing him and he knew he could get a free shot out of it, but he’d give away his position. So he waited and he bided his time.

Rowan had just begun scoping out the alley behind his when a flash of white to his left distracted him. Manon ran by putting the pitcher directly to her lips and drinking. His eyebrows raised as she took down a sizable amount of their beer at once, but Aelin appeared beside her. They spoke animatedly and Aelin laughed as Manon ran back down the middle lane, hunting for another victim.

Holding his breath, he threw the empty plastic cup he’d been holding down the empty alley beside him.

Aelin heard it immediately, turning and staring in his direction. He was obscured by the half wall and as soon as she crept by, her gun aimed down the alley, he reached out and wrapped his hand around her wrist, pinning it - and her gun - to the wall.

Her eyes were bright with excitement and he couldn’t stop his gaze from dipping down and watching intently as she bit her bottom lip.

He didn’t know why his voice had dropped so low, why it sounded like he’d been gargling nails, but he leaned down by her ear and breathed, “Was that just so you could distract me?”

He was almost worried for her reply, but then she asked, “Is this just so you can distract me?”

He glanced down, not even realizing he’d been using his body to press her into the wall, hadn’t realized how close their faces had gotten.

He shook his head, slowly, the tip of his nose brushing hers ever so lightly.

Aelin sucked in a breath as she whispered, “Good.”

He kissed her then, much harder than she had kissed him. He slowly dropped her arms that were pinned to the wall, only so he could drop his gun and cup her face. Those delicate, steady arms of hers wrapped around his waist and she held his body close up against hers.

Aelin brushed her tongue along the seam of Rowan’s lips, asking permission, not just taking as she’d done before. But there was nothing he wouldn’t do for this woman, nothing he wouldn’t give to her if it was in his power. He opened for her and let his tongue brush against hers softly. She groaned quietly.

Rowan pulled back, catching his breath, and rested his forehead against hers. He took the moment to gaze at her in the darkness. She was the most beautiful damn thing he’d ever seen.

She breathed, “I’ve wanted to do that for a really, really long time.”

“Me too,” he whispered, laughing quietly. He brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear as he kissed her, once again, damning the game and forgetting about their friends.

For a moment, it was just the two of them, and that was all he cared about.

[otherworldly-realms]

HPHM Christmas Headcanons Pt. 1/2

Making hot cocoa bombs with Penny in the Potions Classroom on Christmas Eve. 

“Penny, I don’t have to ask but I’m going to anyway. Why are we in Potions instead of the Kitchens?” 

Penny waves you away, eyes twinkling with unrestrained Christmas joy. “It’s about the ambience, the atmosphere! Don’t you feel the Christmas Magic?”

You chuckle lightly, eyeing the murky potion bottles stacked on the shelves around you and the Lionfish Spines and whatnots tucked in the dark corner. “Oh yes. I feel it so much here… It’s absolutely bursting with Christmas energy, isn’t it?” 

The both of you had made enough for all your friends, flavours and hidden toppings ranging from peppermint to candied chilies. You packed a Dungbomb for Tulip and Tonks each alongside the real cocoa bombs. You figured you’d get a good laugh early in the morning. 

“Don’t you think this is a little too much?” You point at your little note that says, “To Rowan. For always knowing what to say, especially when you don’t have to say anything at all. Merry Christmas, from MC and Penny.”  You look over at Penny expertly packaging them into small tins. 

“Oh come on now, we agreed to be sweet and sappy this year-” You cut her off, “I did not agree to that.” She pats your cheek lightly, perhaps as a way to calm you down, “A small handwritten note is both of those things.” Penny winks at you as she says this before tying a neat bow around the tin. It’s perfect. “There, this one is for Merula. What did you write for her?”

You grin slyly before flourishing your note dramatically, “To Merula, the Most Powerful Witch at Hogwarts. May you live on your dream as it will not be your reality anytime soon or ever. Merry Christmas, from MC and Penny.” 

“MC! Get rid of that!” Penny slaps your arm lightly and you roll your eyes. “I jest, Penny. I won’t actually say that. If I did, it would be to her face.”

She frowns, crossing her arms around her chest and you huff, lighting the note on fire. “I jest, again.” 

Staying up late with Rowan reading Muggle Christmas stories by the fire in the common room. 

“A Kidnapped Santa Claus... sounds delightful.”  Rowan’s voice is heavy with sleep, they’re barely, just barely awake, having spent the earlier evening with you alone, engaged in a friendly yet very competitive snowball battle. You were victorious of course, showing Rowan mercy in the name of, as Rowan had put it, being on the nice list.  You couldn’t care less if it was the nice list or not, but the poor thing looked like Mrs. Norris during a bath. 

Rowan rubs their eyes forcefully when they catch themselves dozing off, readjusting their glasses now and again. You don’t say anything as they continue to read to you, hitting all the right notes and accents, Rowan’s delivery is nothing short of amazing. 

“In spite of the second rebuff, the Daemon of Hatred thought he would try to influence Santa Claus. So the next day he entered the busy workshop and said: "Good morning, Santa! I have bad news for you." 

"Then run away, like a good fellow," answered Santa Claus. "Bad news is something that should be kept secret and never told." 

"You cannot escape this, however," declared the Daemon; "for in the world are a good many who do not believe in Santa Claus, and these you are bound to hate bitterly, since they have so wronged you."

“Even Nicholas had it hard…” You whisper and Rowan hums before continuing, the sounds of the crackling fire, the soft purr of your pet cuddled in your lap and the flip of the next page has you sinking deeper into the blankets. It faintly reminds you of a lost memory, one you keep locked away. 

It reminds you of late snowy night-ins with Jacob in the winter, huddled by the fire and wrapped in heavy blankets. Jacob makes sure to never let your mug stay cold or empty, always refilling it to the brim of any hot beverage. Chili cocoa with peppermint was your favourite, and Jacob delivered. You both read a story together to each other every night, it didn’t matter what it was, from how the skies were formed to what spirits listened to your dreams at night or even a simple Muggle story. What mattered to the both of you, was that you made time for each other and Jacob made sure that he was the last person on your mind when you drift off to sleep, because that’s what older brothers do, right? They protect you if they could, if they can... but nightmares back then were nothing compared to the ones you have now. 

“MC?”  You blink twice before humming in response and Rowan nudges you in the shoulder. “What is it? Too sleepy?” Rowan nods guiltily and you smile softly at them, before nodding. “Well yes, that and we ran out of tea a pretty long time ago.”

“Oh.” You stare at the insides of your tea cup and the dried leaves at the bottom, sighing wistfully. “Well, let’s go back to bed then. I’ll race you.” 

Ugly Sweater Competition with Bill and Charlie.

Tucked in a secluded corner of the library by the window, the three of you watch as the snow gently floats and falls, Hogwarts had never looked more magical, you thought. Bill is the first to break the comfortable silence, he takes note of his sweater, well, your sweater now. 

“You never wear that.” He says it nonchalantly but Charlie frowns at his brother and you follow suit. “What are you going on about, of course I do.” Bill shrugs but you can tell it bothers him, so you do whatever a normal person would do: you tease him.

“Oh William, I just can’t possibly keep it in me anymore. This sweater is absolutely horrendous. I can’t be seen wearing this atrocity.” Bill gasps at this and Charlie laughs quietly, eyeing for Madam Pince around the corner and you continue at a whisper. “But alas, it was a gift. I tend to cherish things of a sentimental value, for I have a heart still, no matter how cold.” 

Bill rolls his eyes good-naturedly at you and you shrug, falling dramatically onto his shoulder, clutching at your chest. “Why William, won't you gift me another? Or perhaps, Charles my seemingly partner-in-crime that does not involve dragons, won’t you?” You swing your legs up to rest on Charlie’s lap and he grins. 

“Dragon sweaters? Or normal sweaters, like a boring person?” Charlie pulls out a piece of parchment and immediately begins to start doodling. “Are those ugly sweater ideas? Will you knit one for me?” You ask and Charlie pats your leg in return, “Only if they’re dragons.” 

“Of course, I wouldn’t want anything else on my soon-to-be favourite sweater.” Bill sighs at the sight of both of you and you poke his ribs, “Are you going to get into this dragon action or not? We can even make it into a competition.” Bill pulls at a loose thread on your sweater, “You make everything a competition, MC.” You swat his hand away, confident in making sure the sweater lasts for a lifetime. “That is completely untrue, but ugly sweaters are a different kind of competition. No one really loses and we have fun. More sweaters the better.” Charlie hums in affirmation, voicing out his opinion without saying much. You find him biting his tongue in concentration, and you sneak a glance at his parchment. He’s talented, alright.

You whisper to Bill, motioning him to lean down and he raises his eyebrows slightly but follows through. “I actually knitted him a dragon sweater already. Don’t tell him that though. I just wanted to see if my design could stand a chance against whatever he’s got going on over there.” 

“You know he’ll love anything you give him. Ugly sweater or not.” Bill smiles warmly as Charlie hums out a tune you don’t recognize. You let a few a moments pass by, watching the snow fall again, moving your legs against Charlie just slightly so it doesn’t fall asleep nor does it bother him. Bill’s breathing beside you is even, relaxed, welcoming and the warmth radiating from him rivals that of a hearth. 

“Bill?” He hums, motioning you to continue, “You know I wear this all the time, right? So much so that I’m afraid I’ll wear it out too soon.” Bill turns slightly to face you, a soft smile playing at the corner of his lips. 

You shrug, like it’s no big deal. “It gets chilly in the dorms. They’re my pyjamas but you’ll see more of them now it’s winter again.” 

“And here I thought it was because you hated being seen in them.” He laughs, a little nervously at first but eases when you pat his hand. 

“It definitely won’t win the ugly sweater competition, that's for sure.” 

[missnight0wl]

Jam City fused Y6 and Y7 - the analysis

So, I mentioned a couple of times in the past that the Statue Curse starting already in Y6 just doesn’t really make sense. I’ve been also discussing recently how Y6 is a hot mess to put it lightly, and one of the conversations with @nightingaletrash​ – who inspired that analysis with some of her ideas - made me realise that it really does feel like the current year in the game has content from two separate years. Because if you start to dig through that pile of rubbish, you kind of get two routes which make a little more sense on their own than what we’re seeing now. So… let’s get deeper into it. Why am I doing this? I mean, they fucked up so badly by now that it doesn’t really matter. But I dunno, I guess I just feel like organising something.

Oh, and just to give you a better picture of my thought process. The way I imagine how Jam City works right now is that they have the original concept for the story, but it’s still just a concept. Like, it has the main events and perhaps some details, but when they have to figure out things on their own, they get lost – hence all inconsistencies etc.

Now, without further ado, let’s discuss how those years should’ve looked like based on what we know already.

YEAR 6

All right, so I’m basically certain that Y6 was supposed to be dedicated to ONLY Rakepick, Jacob, and R (possibly also the Cabal and all that good juice in general). The funny thing here is that if the Statue Curse indeed wasn’t planned for Y6, it’d actually explain why Jacob didn’t ask about it even once. It always bothers me about him, to be honest. Not only it contradicts past Jacob (who was always worried about victims of the curses), but it’s also… pretty stupid? Like, dude. You want to catch Rakepick, she’s after the final vault, so by finding the vault, you’ll find Rakepick. Dontcha think that getting interested in the curse could be useful? But let’s start from the beginning.

So, Y6 starts pretty much the same. New Ben, angry Merula, “problems” with Beatrice, yadda yadda yadda… Then, we have the first change: Beatrice doesn’t find the petrified victim. We just go to the Divination class and get the prophecy. Trying to decipher it with the Weasleys inspires us to go to the Centaurs for help, and so we go on our gifts hunt (y’know, the herbs, the astronomy chart, and Hagrid’s Rock Cakes). We go to the Centaurs Camp. Then, we can throw some Haywoods drama in between (though I’d remove it….), we see a missing skull in the Artefact Room, so we follow Ben to Knockturn Alley. There, we meet Fletcher who tells us that the Wizard in White from Y5 is back. We talk about it with Dumbledore who suggests that the Wizard in White is from Mahoutokoro. Later, we meet with Charlie who also brings us to Bill’s surprise visit. Bill offers us (and our friends) private DADA lessons… but oh no! The twins are missing! We search for them, the Weasleys are extra worried because there might be SOME new curse at Hogwarts (remember, there’s no Statue Curse here). We finally find the twins, and they tell us that they followed Jacob – allegedly. This sends us on another hunt, this time after Jacob. We hear a lot of suspicious things about him (his weird behaviour at the Library and at the Flourish & Blotts), and finally, we find him in Knockturn Alley. Jacob tells us that R sent the assassin after us and Merula. We duel, and Jacob runs away again. We go back to Hogwarts, we meet Cedric (or not, because we don’t really need it), and BUM! Sickleworth with the White Quill! And so we chase that little rascal! Now, here’s another little change: when MC loses track of Sickleworth, they decide to go to the Hospital Wing because Rakepick might be trying to investigate the victims. Interestingly, it’s the ONLY time anybody talks about the possibility of her being interested in this, even though she paid a lot of attention to the victims of the Sleepwalking Curse and the Portrait Curse (so it has to be important from the curse-breaking point of view). Therefore, I’d say that it was a one-time fluke that Jam City remembered to mention that after the changes to the original concept…

All right, but we’re after Sickleworth again. He leads us to Jacob’s room where we also find Jacob himself. We ask him wtf is he doing there and how he even got in (like, aren’t we using Tulip’s lock anymore? anyone can enter there?). AND HERE’S WHERE WE START THE PLOT WITH THE MINISTRY HEIST. And I know what you’re going to say, BUT… I still believe that it was planned by Rakepick. Because look, there are just too many convenient coincidences on our way to find out about her Dark artefacts (allegedly required for the final vault) for it to ACTUALLY be a coincidence. As a reminder, this is how it goes:

After we get the White Quill from Sickleworth, Jacob wants to follow the Niffler to find Rakepick. He doesn’t let us go with him, but he let us go find the white owl (which is suspicious as fuck because dude believes that the White Quill was sent by R, so technically he sends us ALONE to find someone from R who has a white owl). Our investigation eventually leads us to the Hog’s Head Inn where Aberforth tells us that the white owl belongs to Rakepick (a reminder: Aberfoth was seen talking to Jacob before his expulsion). Like, just think about it for a moment: Rakepick was in the middle of a day in a very public place in Hogsmeade, where even students go occasionally, with A FREAKING WHITE OWL. She had to want to be followed. And so, we follow her to Knockturn Alley. There, Fletcher told us that Rakepick was angry, and that she needs some Dark artefacts from Hogwarts. Fletcher told us that. A guy who’s terrified of Rakepick. I mean, if those artefacts were really that important, Rakepick would tell Fletcher to not tell anyone about it, especially MC! And he’s too scared of her to not listen! (Also, another reminder: during our Legilimency session in Y5 with the Headmaster, we saw a memory of Dumbledore talking with Fletcher. Interesting coincidence, hm?) So again, we go back to Hogwarts, and we eventually go to Snape who - instead of telling us to get lost - informs us kindly that the artefacts were protected with some unknown magic. He also let us know that he passed them to Dumbledore. And what Dumbledore does? He tells us that the artefacts are in the Ministry. And look, Albus might be a jackass, but he’s not stupid. He knew that MC would try to break into the Ministry. So why he told us about it? Because for some reason, it’s important to both him and Rakepick that MC would get to those damn artefacts. I actually had a thought recently that it was the first attempt to let MC know about things we learnt in Y5Ch35 (more on that meeting: here).

Anyway, we start planning our heist, with an Invisibility Cloak (borrowed from Badeea because fuck you, Alistair) and all. Unfortunately, freaking Moody interrupts us and tell us about the escapee who’s after us. We assume that it’s the same assassin Jacob talked about. The school freaks out because of that – and NOT because of Madam Pomfrey getting petrified. We also sneak out at the Lakeshore because while there’s still no curse, we do have the Trident, so we can as well start searching around the Black Lake (because in this scenario, MC actually can use their brain cells, at least sometimes). We get “attacked” by the Wizard in White, and we get detention (or not because it was totally meaningless). In the meantime, Talbott tells us that he saw the white owl dropping a letter. We decipher the message about more White Quills, we go at the Lake to find them, we learn about Dementors coming to Hogwarts. Moody sells us his bullshit that Jacob saved us from the assassin, so we want to find our brother in his room, but instead, we find with Ben another Black Quill. THAT Black Quill addressed to Jacob about their meeting in the Forest Grove. We decide to go to that meeting. Rowan dies (or “dies”).

The events after Rowan’s death are pretty much the same, including the formation of the Circle of Khanna. We still have Charlie, Barnaby, and Liz working on creatures in the Black Lake, even though the curse is not active yet, but we have enough clues to suspect that (the Trident + MC actually remembers the note found in the Weird Sisters TLSQ about the Sunken Vault). One change: we confront Moody more strongly about where the hell was he. Because he was allegedly responsible for the Dementors at Hogwarts, so why he even still has his job? We also learn more about whether or not there’s any investigation, about Rowan’s parents etc. Alanza arrives, and here things are also pretty much the same so far. Bill convinces us to go back to the crime scene where we actually find the necklace – which was the obvious connection to the Ministry heist - or anything else important. We meet Torvus who tells us that Firenze has the interpretation of our prophecy, which is foreshadowing for our future confrontation with vault!Jacob (more here). Hearing about another loss, we feel the need to meet our brother. We go to Duncan, to the Boathouse, and we finally meet Jacob. We confront him about where the fuck he was when Rowan died, what happened with the assassin when he allegedly chased him, and what the fuck was it about with that letter which R wrote to him. He sells us some bullshit: that Rakepick manipulated him after his expulsion and that he went after the Cursed Vaults because he felt worthless, yadda yadda yadda. We call him out on that or we talk with someone else about it: that Jacob always wanted to protect his loved ones and Hogwarts, and that’s why he got involved with the Vaults. Therefore, what he’s saying now doesn’t make any sense. Then, our meeting with Jacob is interrupted by Beatrice in the Lake. Although, I’d personally remove that part as well as her whole chapter - unless we could learn from that something important about Y5. In its current form, it didn’t really add anything. But either way, this is the point when we went to Hagrid and Kettleburn to ask about Grindylows (Y6Ch28), which eventually led to the Whomping Willow. You know, that “the most stupid transition in the history of writing”:

creatures in the Black Lake -> Giant Squid -> big dangerous creatures -> big dangerous things -> Whomping Willow

But here’s something interesting.  George in his friendship activities has this question:

I assume it has to be a left-over from the original concept. Because it doesn’t really make sense for George to help us with that in the future if we’ve already spent time researching the Whomping Willow. So, I believe that George (or both twins) were supposed to help us with that part instead of Ben and Merula. Here’s my proposition:

After we confront Jacob about Rowan’s death, whether or not we find Beatrice in the Lake, we later meet George/the twins who told us that Jacob disappeared mysteriously around the Whomping Willow. It can be also connected to the Marauder’s Map. Let’s say that they confess that they saw it on the Map, and perhaps even when they went missing earlier this year, they didn’t actually see Jacob, but they saw his name on the Map. I mean, I assume that the Map had to return at some point in some way. Either way, it reminds MC that Jacob had some notes on the Whomping Willow in his room, we search for it with George, we also find some of Rowan’s notes. We go to the Whomping Willow, with the twins or someone else, and we find the Black Quill containing the message about the meeting at the Borgin and Burkes. And here’s where the big role is played by our team dedicated to spying:

I know that technically a lot of them take part in the whole action (Tonks, Jae, Andre), but it’s just bizarre to me that they weren’t addressed as THE TEAM who was created for situations like this. Also, Tulip wasn’t even included in any of that. I’m pretty sure that Jam City ignored it because they switched their focus to the Black Lake plot a little earlier, and they got fucking lost.

The rest can go pretty much the same: we find out about the mole etc. Except, WE STICK TO THAT. We find out that Merula who is the mole, and that leads us to the end of the year, with the conclusions about Jacob, Rakepick, R, and the connections between all of that.

YEAR 7

Of course, a lot depends on how Y6 would actually end, but in general, we have to put in here everything which we removed from Y6. So, shortly after the start of the new school year, someone (might be still Beatrice) finds the first victim of the Statue Curse. We put more focus on the “creatures team” (Charlie, Barnaby, Liz) who were slowly doing their research all that time, step by step. Badeea and Talbott also had more time to work on their map. Eventually, Madam Pomfrey gets petrified, so we have to speed up. We enter the Black Lake, we meet the Merwoman, and we move to the whole plot with music and the Weird Sisters. And the best in all of that is that the Maestro’s Music Shop in Hogsmeade is indeed a location unlocked in Y7:

So, it all fits perfectly.

I dunno, I feel that even if MC was still dumb and all, such separation of themes in Y6 makes things a little clearer, and simply makes more sense. Also, maybe it’s just me, but I feel like the inconsistencies happen more often in the subplots related to the final vault. For example, when Moody told us about the escapee, MC used their brain cells to figure out that it might be the same assassin Jacob talked about earlier. Kind of similar situation was when we found the necklace in the Forest before Rowan’s death: MC actually remembered that Rakepick’s Dark artefacts are supposed to be at the Ministry. But when it comes to the final vault, a lot of things are being repeated over and over again, MC didn’t remember that Pince and Binns already research the Merpeople, Alanza didn’t remember that we met the Weird Sisters a couple of chapters earlier etc. It’s as if the writers didn’t keep track of what they already moved from Y7...

I have no idea why they decided to mix everything up, though. They clearly don’t have a good grasp of the story, so no wonder we’re getting a hot mess. Again, why? Perhaps they’re buying some time before the grand reveal about Jacob/Rakepick/Rowan? It’s the only thing that comes to my mind, to be honest, though it’s still stupid. If you want to build up suspense among the players, we need some clues to what could really be happening etc. But no. They had in their notes to make Alanza mention that Rakepick smells like cinnamon, but it was too hard to figure out that maybe it’d be a good idea to use it in the context of her Polyjuice Potion etc. Sigh…

Anyway, we’re doomed – but it could’ve been not bad! Like, I didn’t really change much, just organised it a bit. And the weird thing is that mixing plots won’t create more content for them. It’d be the same in the length, just more confusing for everyone. I mean, they won’t manage to finish both plots (with R AND the final vault) by the end of Y6. One of them or both will have to be moved to Y7. So, it should’ve stayed separate, to begin with, if you ask me.

[shyvioletcat]

Okay this one can be used earlier in the story (soon maybe?): “I’ve been waiting to get to know you from the moment I first saw you.” - more Rowaelin fireman au please ❤️

Think of this as the fluffy epilogue. *Excessive amounts of notes at the end*

Masterlist

~~~~~

Rowan woke up to an empty bed, and for a moment he thought last night might have been a dream. Then he realised whose bed he was in and saw a note neatly folded on Aelin’s pillow.

I’ve gone for a run. I expect you to be gone by the time I get back. I’ve got a hot date to get ready for.

Rowan smiled and got out of bed, the smile was from knowing he was her hot date.

On the kitchen bench there was a pen and Rowan used the blank side of Aelin’s note to write his own. Then he gathered the lights he’d brought over the night before and locked Aelin’s door behind him as he left.

~~~~~

Even though it was Sunday morning Aelin had woken up fairly early. Rowan had looked so peaceful as he slept beside her so she’d snuck out of the bedroom, grabbing her running clothes as she did. Before she left she’d dropped a note on her pillow, taken on last lingering look at the beautiful man in her bed, and left.

Before Aelin set off she called Lysandra, then started at her warm up pace. It almost rung out before Lysandra answered and she clearly wasn’t happy about it.

“You better be dying,” Lysandra said hoarsely.

“I’m not dying. But you just might when I tell you what happened last night,” Aelin said and then told Lysandra exactly what had happened between her and Rowan.

Lysandra was squealing by the end. “Finally!”

Aelin just laughed, “So what do I wear?”

Lysandra went through various outfits, Aelin giving a few one word answers as she picked up her pace. It took a while but they finally agreed on what would be the perfect outfit for her lunch date.

“Good luck,” Lysandra sang into the phone as she hung up.

Aelin had decided that she’d gone far enough and started home. She was only slightly out of breath by the time she unlocked her door. The bag of lights were gone from the coffee table so Aelin assumed that Rowan was gone, but she checked her bed anyway to be sure. On her way to the shower she saw a slip of paper on the kitchen counter.

Kingsflame Cafe 1130. I’ll see you there.

Aelin grinned. She thought they’d go from here, together. But she approved of this idea. Aelin did like to make a good entrance.

~~~~~

Rowan was nervous, even though he had absolutely no reason to be. After that kiss last night there was no doubt left whether or not their feelings were mutual. Aelin had been the one to ask him to stay but Rowan had been the one to start the kiss. 

He’d told Aelin to meet him here because he wanted to get her flowers from the florist two doors down. If they had arrived together the whole buying process would have been awkward. Instead he’d arrived at the cafe 10 minutes early, went to the florist and picked out a small bouquet of flowers that he thought would look nice on her coffee table and come back to the cafe to get a table.

Then he waited, 5 minutes, 10. He got nervous when it approach 15 but then the door opened and there she was. Aelin breezed in, confident and beautiful, wearing a blue floral dress that wrapped around her and to float about her knees as she moved. Her hair was swept away from her face but was mostly left out as it tumbled over her shoulders. Aelin looked around for him and when she spotted him her blush pink painted lips spread into a smile.

Rowan stood without thinking and Aelin walked right up to him placed a hand on his chest and kissed him, so softly it was barely a whisper of a kiss. Rowan’s hand had gone to Aelin’s waist and she smiled at him as she pulled away.

“Again?” Rowan asked, his hand squeezing her waist.

Aelin only took a step back. “Make this a good date and you’ll get the rest.”

Rowan’s hand tightened on her waist, Aelin only smiled innocently up at him. He let go and picked up the flowers from the table.

“For you.”

Aelin looked genuinely surprised as she took the small bouquet from him, a delighted surprise.

“Thank you,” she said and sat down.

Rowan sat as well and watched as Aelin moved aside the salt and pepper to make room for the flowers. They looked over the menus and the waiter came over and took their order, then they were left to themselves to wait for their food.

“So,” Rowan said.

“So,” Aelin copied, leaning her elbows on the table.

“How was your run this morning?” Rowan asked, leaning forward as well.

“Refreshing, I love the smell of the air after rain,” Aelin said.

“Petrichor.”

“What?” Aelin said tilting her head a little.

“That’s was its called, the smell after rain,” Rowan explained.

“Is that right?” Aelin said.

Rowan chuckled, “Yes.”

“I never picked you as a man for fancy words,” Aelin said.

“What did you pick me as then?” Rowan asked.

“Very boring. Probably would only ever read biographies, but the ones about to dullest men imaginable, the blandest beige food palette, no sense of humour at all,” Aelin listed off.

Rowan lent back in his chair. “When did you decide all this?”

Aelin sighed. “I’m not sure exactly. Maybe it was when you refused to smile at me all those times we passed on the stairs.”

“Well maybe it you hadn’t thrown obnoxiously loud parties every other weekend when you first moved in I would have been more willing to smile,” Rowan countered.

“It was summer holidays and a lot of my friends are teachers, it’s what we do,” Aelin said in her defence. “What about me? What did you pick me as?”

“You?” Well,” Rowan leaned forward and took Aelin’s hand, “I’ve been waiting to get to know you from the moment I first saw you.”

It wasn’t a lie. The day she moved in he’d come home and there she was carrying a box and struggling to open her door, he had helped her and she had given him a dazzling in smile in thanks.

Aelin’s flushed, an adorable blush on her cheeks. “Why didn’t make your move earlier then?”

“You opened that depraved mouth of yours and I changed my mind.”

Aelin tipped her head back and laughed, her golden hair falling down her back. “What?”

“I accidentally parked you in just after you moved in,” Rowan said. “You went off.”

Aelin’s brows furrowed for a moment and then she smiled as she obviously remembered.

“You don’t accidentally park someone in,” Aelin said.

“I just had to run upstairs and someone else was in my spot, one of your friends I recall,” Rowan said. “Your main excuse for ranting at me was that your pizza was getting cold.”

“I was on my way to pick it up and was running late,” Aelin said with a shrug as if that excused her behaviour of yelling at him.

Rowan let out an disbelieving laugh “You are…”

“I’m what?” Aelin leaned forward again and tightened her grip on his hand.

“I’m just glad I broke down your door so that I could get to know you better,” Rowan said softly.

Aelin bit her bottom lip and she smiled at him.

“I think,” Rowan said as he lent over the table, Aelin instinctively lent in too.

“Yes?” She whispered.

“I think I see something I like.”

Rowan closed the distance between them and he could feel Aelin’s smile on his lips as he kissed her. Then there was someone clearing their throat beside them and Rowan reluctantly pulled away. The waiter stood there with there food and quickly put it down and walked away.

Rowan saw the blush on Aelin’s cheeks, and knew his own were flushed as well. But he didn’t care. Finally he let go of her hand and picked up his cutlery.

“Alright Fireman Whitethorn, do your worst. Get to know me better.”

While they ate Rowan asked Aelin any and every question that came to his mind, and she did the same for him. They laughed and smiled at each other, caught in the thrill of getting to know someone new. A while after they had finished eating Aelin and beckoned him closer and given him a long lingering kiss. Rowan go the message and paid the bill. Aelin was waiting at the door, her small bouquet in one hand but she link her other hand with his while they started their walk back to their apartment building.

Rowan couldn’t wait that long to kiss her again though, and stopped suddenly. When Aelin turned to ask him what he was doing he didn’t give her a chance to ask before his lips were on hers. Someone muttered an ‘excuse me’ and it was then Rowan realised they’d stopped right in the middle of the footpath.

Rowan scowled. “I swear if we get interrupted on more time...”

Aelin just laughed as she led them on. “Come on. I’ve got and fancy new lock on my apartment door thanks to some bubbling idiot.”

Rowan smiled as she tugged on his hand. Breaking down Aelin’s door was to best mistake he would ever make in his entire life.

~~~~~

Well. That’s it. I did it. I finished a fic. Wow, what a ride.

I want to thank everyone who liked, reblogged and commented on any of the chapters. Especially the comments. I seriously would have given up so long ago if it wasn’t for your reactions and support. It’s been fun. I just want to say I’m sorry that I couldn’t reply to each and every comment, life is busy. But I want you to know that I read every single one of them.

Thank you to everyone who sent in prompts to keep this fic going. It literally wouldn’t wouldn’t have happened without you.

Lastly big thanks to Alex @tangledraysofsunshine. You’ve had my back during this. You’re the best.

OH AND HERE’S THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! The slowburn might be over but I am 100% not closing the door on this AU. I’m still open to prompts for it, basically forever. The future drabbles wont be written chronologically but I’ll try to put them in some kind of order on the masterlist. I’ve already got a Christmas special lined up.

I just want to say thank you again. I love you all.

Tags: @tangledraysofsunshine // @nalgenewhore // @highqueenofelfhame // @galyxsy // @fucking-winchester-trash // @literary-licorice // @http-itsrebecca // @highladyofthesith // @aelinfire-bringer // @soup-that-is-too-hawt // @sleep-and-books // @3am-reading // @average-girl-at-best // @but-she-was-aelin-galathynius // @rowaelinforeverworld // @alifletcher2012 // @westofmoon // @tswaney17 // @mydarlingfireheart // @rowansfirebringer // @chocolate-eating-bitch-queen // @vanilla28 // @fireheart-of-your-dreams // @enquires-state-building // @im-not-rare-im-rarr // @your-high-lady // @mariamuses // @ttakeitbacknoww // @vi0let-femmes // @kindofawalkingpoem // @sleeping-and-books // @armixers-unite // @velarian-trash // @queenofxhearts // @princess-galathynius // @heroesofterrasen // @ladyofstoriesandmusic // @unassumingsodalovesherbooks // @empire-of-wildfire // @brittneym15 // @camerooonchiu // @worldoffae // @mybbyfeyre // @crackedship // @lowhangingtreebranches // @over300books // @yourwhisperingshadows //  @thesirenwashere // @pilesofriles // @chemicha // @keshavomit // @sarahbringsoutmygay13 // @wifeofchrishemsworth // @impossiblescissorspeachpaper // @cat5313 // @judelovescardan // @illyrian-velaris // @flowerspringsea // @whitethorn15 // @whiskeybusiness1776 // @notaddictedtoanything // @thereaderandfangirl // @mynewdreamwasyou // @tintinnabulary // @the-regal-warrior // @searchingforbellarke // @queen-of-wings-and-fire // @court-of-fuck-me-daddy // @officialasianbitch //

[rosegoldannie]

Tell Me no Lies Chapter 18

Sorry it’s been a while, I’ve been super sick and had schoolwork to catch up on, and my school has been cancelled until the beginning of May because of Covid19.

On the bright side, this means more time for writing, so please send in prompts and I’ll write them! And thanks to @hizqueen4life​ for kindly reminding me that y’all are suffering!

There will be one more chapter of Tell Me no Lies, and possibly an epilogue if you all are interested. I’ve been considering doing half-chapters from Rowan’s perspective, and want to know if that is something you all are interested in.

Masterlist

Previous chapter

Blood roared in his ears as he made his way through the crowds towards the bar, his mind still reeling from the events of the last hour, and his lips still tingling from her kiss.

Aelin was… She was everything. When they had finished, and she had stroked his cheek, Rowan had nearly died. His heart was so full it was painful. And her laugh… Gods, he found himself grinning, as he braced his arms against the polished wooden counter.

Tonight had given him everything.

The last gods only knew how many weeks had been agony. While he couldn’t pinpoint when, exactly, it had started, only that she had been his world for a long while. It had taken her meeting with Chaol for him to realize it, but still.

Her smile… gods, when he saw it his heart was full.

He’d nearly told her a few minutes prior, when he’d revealed how much he loved her laugh. That hadn’t been what he had initially wanted to tell her, but seeing her smile, how her eyes had lit up. 

Rowan had wanted to tell her the truth.

That he loved her.

That he had for weeks. Months, even. Since… Hell, since the day they’d met and he’d mistaken her for Aedion’s fiance and she had utterly shaken him to the core.

Even now, he chuckled at the memory, a soft smile spreading across his still-tingling lips, and he could feel her still wrapped around him. He could still feel her cool, smooth hair whispering through his fingertips, how she had sighed against him.

He would tell her, he decided.

Maybe not tonight or tomorrow, but he would. And if she rejected him, he would live with it. He would find a way. But Rowan knew that if he let things carry on much longer without confessing, he would never be able to forgive himself.

As he waited in line, his mind utterly filled by the blond beauty he loved, counting down the minutes until he could return to her, who was waiting only a short ways away, he began rifling through the possibilities they had, of a possible life with her. Possible children.

And that was why he didn’t notice the dark haired woman watching him with predatory eyes.

He at last reached the front of the line, and ordered two drinks, then returned to his thoughts.

“Well hello,” A sickly sweet voice purred.

Rowan didn’t realize she was speaking to him, until she placed her hand on his forearm. He damn near jumped at the shock of it, sending her a suspiciously angry glance.

She let out a hearty chuckle, stepping closer to him.

He matched her step, and backed up, his glance turning to a glare.

“My name is Remelle.” She purred, that hand stroking up his arm.

He jerked away from her. “I’m not interested.” He said, firmly. Slightly cold.

Remelle giggled, which sent a chill down his spine, and Rowan found himself glancing over his shoulder to see the bartender still working on their drinks. He had half a mind to simply leave and return to Aelin, but decided against it upon thinking of how disappointed she would be.

She took a step closer to him, now only an inch or so separating them.

He clenched his teeth, and pressed himself as far back into the counter - and as far away from her - as he could. 

“Are you sure? I won’t tell.” She murmured, leaning into him, and licking up the column of his neck. He instantly jerked away, and wiped at his neck.

Disgust roiled deep in his gut, and he fought the urge to heave. With a stern glare, he moved away from her and went to an area a good twenty feet away, shaking his head as fury roiled in his gut. He kept half an eye on the bartender, who was now finishing up their drinks, and the other eye on Remelle, who was still watching him, and licking her lips, those predatory eyes narrowing.

Rowan looked away, shuddering.

“What, am I not good enough for you?” A low voice huffed in his ear, strong perfume washing over him. He nearly gagged.

Stepping down from the stool on which he was seated, he turned to lean against the counter, and glared at her. “Look, I’m not interested. I have a girlfriend who I love, so go find someone else to warm your bed.”

A feline smile wormed its way across her thin lips. “I won’t tell.”

“I don’t care.” He snapped, glancing again at the bartender. “I’m not interested, so leave me alone.”

Remelle took several steps forward, pressing herself against him.

Rowan angled himself away from her, and again fought the urge to heave and gag. “I’ll be the best night of your life, baby.”

He turned his head to glare down at her. “I do not care. Leave me alone. I am not interested.”

Scoffing, she shook her head, and pressed farther into him.

He tried to move to the side, but she braced her hands on either side of him, and refused to allow him to move. Again, he glared down at her. “Let me go.”

She grinned. “No.”

Anger flared in him, as the music turned booming. “Let me go. I am not interested, and I have a girlfriend. Go find someone else.”

Something flickered in her eyes, sending a spark of fear through him. It was a look he often saw in the eyes of the less respectable men of society, and it had him clenching his jaw and leaning as far away from her as he could.

Suddenly, she was surging forward and slamming her lips against his, wrapping her arms around his neck and forcing her tongue into his mouth.

Disgust roiled through him as he shoved at her, attempting to push her away. He grunted as he finally freed himself from her. Without looking back, or checking on their drinks, he threw a twenty dollar bill over the counter, and stormed away, heading towards the bathrooms.

Once there, he emptied his stomach of its contents, and washed his sweaty face. 

Bracing his hands against the rusting sink, he looked up into the mirror and found hot tears streaming down his face, and dark red marks now blossoming across his neck and disappearing down the collar of his shirt.

Swiping at his tears, he reassured himself that he was alright, then set about washing his face, scrubbing viciously at where that vile woman had licked him.

After half an hour of rotating from the sink to the toilet, then back to the sink, he washed his face for the last time, and rushed back to their group’s table, pissed to discover fresh tears streaming down his blotchy face.

He had planned to beg Aelin for them to go home, but stopped when he realized that she wasn’t there.

He again swiped at his tears that simply refused to stop, as he approached. Aelin was gone. As was Lysandra, Elide, and Aedion. Lorcan was the only person there, and was typing furiously on his phone, eyebrows drawn together.

“Hey,” He rasped, sniffing.

Lorcan immediately glanced up, his eyes hard. They softened upon seeing his current condition, but only slightly. “You look like shit.” He stated.

He snorted, sliding into the booth. “Thanks.” He glanced around again, eyes scanning for the blonde bombshell he wanted to see so badly. “Where is everyone?” He murmured.

His friend huffed, an almost smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “You mean Aelin?” That smirk disappeared in less than a second, and his expression shuttered, turning hard. “She left. A while ago.”

Rowan felt as if his heart had dropped into his gut, coldness spreading through him. His voice was painfully soft when he at last managed to speak. “She left?”

His friend turned, glaring at him with an intensity that he had never seen. Especially in regards to Aelin, of all people. 

That cold feeling only increased, now being joined by something frightfully close to fear.

“Lorcan, what do you mean she left?”

He snapped. “She left because of whatever the hell you did, asshole. She was heartbroken. Lysandra drove her home.” He paused, shaking his head. “Honestly, fuck you. I don’t know what you did, but I do know that she didn’t deserve it.”

With that, Lorcan slid out of the booth and disappeared into the crowds, leaving Rowan completely and utterly alone with his slowly breaking heart.

It took over an hour for the panic to subside enough for him to be able to stumble out to his car, and drive home in a numb fog. The entire time, he cried silently, swiping at his eyes. Panic setting his blood roaring in his ears, drowning out the sounds of the city.

When he burst into their unnaturally silent apartment, the first place he went was to her room.

He knocked, but was met with stony silence.

After several long moments, he cracked the door open, and when he wasn’t met with a barrage of screaming, pillows, and insults, he stuck his head into the dark room. What he saw nearly broke his heart.

Aelin was sprawled across her unmade bed, still wearing her jacket and shoes, fast asleep, with great streaks and lines of mascara smeared across her face.

His heart gave a painful squeeze at the sight, but he quietly made his way over to her vanity and retrieved several makeup wipes, then returned to her, settling down next to her on the bed.

Turning her head gently, he began to wipe away her makeup, taking extra care to clean off the eyeliner and mascara smeared by countless tears.

Again, his heart squeezed when she let out a small whimper, and clenched her fist. It felt as if she held his heart in her hand. Hell, she probably did and didn’t know it.

Once all of her makeup was wiped away, he began wiping her face with one of her facial cleansing wipes, then gently finished her entire skincare routine, from moisturizing to hydrating facial oils to spot treatments to night sprays. She had ‘forced’ him to learn it one Saturday night, weeks before, when he had come out into the living room to find her reclined on the couch with a glass of wine and a bright green face mask.

By the end of that night, he had been beside her, wine and all, with a facemask as they watched the news about the upcoming election. Though he would never admit it to her, he actually quite enjoyed skincare.

The memory brought a smile to his lips as he brushed through her curls, then gently removed her jacket, jewelry and boots.

He rummaged quietly through her dresser, and returned with what he knew to be her favorite t-shirt and sweatpants. He then carefully slipped the shirt over her dress, then the sweatpants, making sure she was completely covered before unzipping the dress and gently removing it, sliding the strappy sleeves down her shoulders and arms, allowing it to pool on the floor. As a final touch, he slipped her favorite fuzzy socks onto her feet before covering her with that purple butterfly quilt that she always wrapped herself in on chilly mornings, and slipped silently from the room.

He made sure to plug in her phone, and leave a glass of water and headache medication on the nightstand for her, along with what he knew to be her favorite chocolates.

A cold, numb feeling began in his chest as he settled into his own bed and drifted off to a fitful, restless sleep.

Aelin awoke to a cold, dark room. She instantly felt tears begin to fill her eyes again as memories of the previous night filled her line of sight.

Memories of her and Rowan.

Of how he held her, moaned her name as if it were both his salvation and destruction.

Fresh tears began tracking their way down her face, which she quickly swept away.

It was then that she noticed she wasn’t wearing her dress, and that her skin felt fresh, crisp in a way it never did when she slept in her makeup.

Slipping out of bed, she padded over to her vanity,where she discovered the remnants of several different wipes, and her folded dress.

She never folded her clothes, regardless of whether or not they were clean. She never bothered to change out of her clubbing clothes at night. And she never bothered to take off her makeup after a night at the club.

Which meant that he had done it.

He had come into her room sometime after she had fallen asleep, and… done this.

While part of her melted slightly at the kindness of what he had done, a much smaller, albeit louder, part of her screamed and roared its anger over his presumptuousness.

She huffed, then stuffed her feet into her deer slippers, and stomped out into the living room, knowing full well that he would be up by now.

He was, perched drearily in the armchair by the window, clad in sweats and an old Adarlan U hoodie. Something about the domesticity of that sent a bolt of pain to her broken, shattered and bleeding heart.

Dark circles sagged under his normally vibrant, green eyes. Though, at that moment they were muted and dull, along with everything else about him, she noted.

Rowan had barely even glanced up when she entered the room, keeping his eyes trained out the window, where snow was now flurrying down viciously. “We need to talk.”

Something akin to relief settled in her gut, right alongside the agony of seeing him in person for the first time since… the night before. The logical part of her rejoiced in the fact that she might get answers. 

Aelin settled warily onto the couch, keeping her Ashryver eyes trained solely on him, ignoring the pain his silhouette caused her.

“Last night…” He began, wringing his hands and not looking fully at her.

Aelin felt her heart begin to crack again, and resolved to not cry or show any signs of being hurt during their conversation. “What about it.”

His head whipped up, and he sent her an almost annoyed glance. “What happened at the club.”

“What did happen at the club?” She pushed, her voice taking on a sickeningly sweet bite. “I don’t remember much of last night.” She crooned.

The look he gave her could have crippled lesser men. “You know what.” He sighed, running a hand through his tangled hair. “I heard that you left. Crying. And I was worried. I hope I didn’t push you into anything.”

“Ohhh, that.” She hummed, ignoring the tightness in her chest.

Rowan seemed to relax slightly, and his brows began to unfurl, as a hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “Yeah, that. I, um, I think we should talk about it.”

“Yes, of course. Go on.” She goaded.

He glanced up, seeming to search her face. “I wanted to get your take on things, and see if you had any regrets or anything we should talk about.”

A loud voice roared in her mind to not go through with her angry urge, but she quickly silenced it. “Oh. That.” She hissed through her teeth. “Yes. I do have regrets.”

Her roommate’s face began to slowly crumble.

“I regret that we danced together. I regret that we kissed. I regret that we fucked.” His face continued to fall, and he clenched his eyes shut, bowing his head. “I regret not being enough for you.” His eyes flew open at that, and he opened his mouth to protest, but she silenced him with a look. “But most of all, I regret falling in love with you, Rowan Whitethorn.”

He looked both completely awed, his eyes blown wide, and utterly, utterly heartbroken, tears slowly tracking down his cheeks, his jaw agape.

“But most of all, I regret every moment I ever spent with you. I regret every drive, every piece of pizza, every cup of coffee. I regret that Fen left, and you moved in. I regret the moment we met.” With that, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room.

And that was both the truth, and a lie. She did regret every single thing she had said, and more. She regretted every single second that Rowan Whitethorn was in her life. But she also didn’t, and that damn voice of reason in her mind was screaming at her to go back and let him explain. It screamed and wailed and howled that she had to give him a chance to explain. That she owed him at least that much. 

She didn’t turn around.

She simply continued to ignore that damn voice.

It was only as her hand connected with her doorknob that she heard a low, deep whimper, then a rattling sob.

The next week was complete hell.

Rowan spent the rest of that day crying, at times so hard that if she had less resolve, Aelin would have gone to check on him, or even apologized. But she didn’t.

By the second day, they began to ignore each other, not even speaking when they were in shared areas. He had burned his finger while making soup, but she had simply ignored him, and continued scrolling away on her phone.

By the third day, he became snappy, often making rude comments whenever their paths crossed. Even going so far as to snap at her for taking a long, hot shower, when he went to do the dishes.

By the fourth day, they were fighting, and Rowan had stopped cooking for two. Worse than they had when he first arrived. It started when he left out a cereal bowl, and she grew angry at him for it. By that evening, they had had eight full-on screaming matches, which all ended the same way: with them both calling the other a selfish, spoiled, arrogant prick, and stomping off to slam the door to their room.

By the fifth day, Rowan stopped doing the dishes.

And that was how, a week after Elide and Lorcan’s engagement party, they were screaming at each other over something that Aelin couldn’t remember. 

“You are so self-centered!” She shouted, glaring ferociously at him. “You only care about yourself.”

“Oh, I’m self-centered? Says the one who spends hours in front of her mirror every day!”

“At least I don’t think I’m better than`everyone.”

“Bullshit! You think you’re so much better than everyone.”

“I do not.”

She let out a harsh laugh, shaking her head. “Yes you do. You only care about yourself.”

“I do not.” Any trace of warmth was gone from his voice.

“Yes you do.” She hissed, crossing her arms. “With you, it’s always me me me. You’re the only one who can ever do anything right. You’re the only one who can do no wrong.”

His gaze hardened. “If you really feel that way, then maybe I should move out.”

“Maybe you should!” She snapped, crossing her arms. 

“Fine.”

“Fine!”

Something inside her broke.

Three days later, she woke up early, and slipped from the apartment with a heavy weight in her pocket.

It had been nearly four months since Aelin had driven herself anywhere. Well, since she had driven her car.

She had an appointment at the hospital to check up on her, and to see how she was healing from the surgery. Rowan had promised to drive her, but given how difficult the last few days had been, Aelin simply wasn’t comfortable having Rowan drive her anywhere. 

He had spent the last few days searching for apartments, and had found one late last night. He had informed her that once the holidays were over, he would be moving out.

She had told him that was fine, and that she already had another roommate lined up.

That was a complete lie.

Truthfully, she was completely heartbroken, and absolutely dreaded the idea of living alone. More than once, Rowan had walked in on her crying, but she had waved off his most likely fake concern.

Rowan was moving out.

Their stint as roommates was coming to an end.

They would never have to see each other again.

She would never have to see the man who broke her heart again.

And Aelin could feel part of her soul dying at the thought.

She leaned back in the driver's seat, slapping the wheel with a muttered cuss.

Turning the key again, the engine let out a pathetic rumble, but still didn’t start. Great. Just great.

After several texts had been sent, which all ended in her friends apologizing, but saying that they couldn’t drive her to her appointment, she braced her head against the steering wheel for several long seconds, before venturing back up to their apartment, and banging on his bedroom door.

` He finally answered after numerous rounds of knocking. “What.” He snapped, his dress shirt half buttoned.

It took several moments for her to find the words to speak, most definitely not because of the sight in front of her. “My car broke down. I have a doctor’s appointment.”

Something, some light that had flickered in his eyes for the last several seconds, guttered. “Lysandra? Aedion? Nesryn?” He half-snapped.

“They’re all busy. I already tried.”

That light went out.

“Alright, fine.”

He slipped back into his room, and returned just a minute later in his usual suit, and led the way down to his car.

A small part of her savored the walk down, knowing that this would most likely be the last time they would be in a car together. Again, the logical part of her brain roared for her to apologize, to give him another chance. But she shut that part down, and slipped into the passenger seat.

Ten minutes later, Rowan’s crisp dress shirt was covered in grease, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows as he worked and coaxed the engine, looking for whatever was keeping his car from starting.

After fifteen minutes of him clanking around with his engine, and a further ten minutes of them arguing, they finally agreed to share an uber to her appointment, and he would then take the uber to his work. And now they were waiting just inside the lobby for the uber.

Rowan had his arms crossed, and was looking out the window. He let out his third huff in the span of a minute, and her patience snapped.

“What.”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t play that game with me.”

“I’m not playing a game.”

“Well then what’s your problem.”

“I don’t have a problem.”

Aelin rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. “Yeah sure.”

“I don’t.” He snapped, rolling his eyes.

She shook her head, gritting her teeth. “Fine.”

He let out another huff, and whirled on her. “I just don’t see why you wouldn’t check on your car to make sure it can still run.”

“What.” She deadpanned.

“If your car is left untouched for a long time, check in on it. Everyone knows that.” The ice was so strong, it was a miracle Aelin didn’t have frostbite. “Hell, drive it once a week. Every moron knows that!”

“Well I didn’t.”

“Clearly.” He muttered under his breath.

Anger sparked in her. “What the hell is that supposed to mean.”

He whirled on her, those green eyes blazing with icy flame. “If you had simply used one brain cell - just one - you would have known that you needed to check on your car. But no, you’re Aelin. You know everything.” He hissed. “Whenever something goes wrong, it’s never your fault. Always someone else's. You think you can do no wrong.”

“I do not!” She roared, eyes narrowing and blood turning to steam. “If anything, you do.” Aelin huffed and crossed her arms, glaring out the windows. “You are so full of shit.” She muttered.

He whirled on her, his face contorted with fury. “I’m full of shit?! Really? You're the one who's been an absolute insane, crazy bitch for the last week for no reason!” Taking a step back, Rowan shook his head slightly, his voice becoming vulnerable and quiet. “And I don’t get it.”

It felt as if she had been punched in the gut, the air whooshing from her lungs. “Really.” She scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Yeah. And it hurts, Aelin. It fucking sucks.”

“Really?! You wanna talk to me about pain? You really want to go down that road?!”

He paused.

Looked away.

And swiped away a single tear.

“No.” He finally said, the words frighteningly final. “No, I don’t.”

And if her heart wasn’t already broken, that would have sent her over the edge. The pain in his eyes.... If she hadn’t seen him with that other woman, she would have run into his arms, kissed away his tears. Anything.

The next five minutes were awful. Rowan was clearly doing his best to conceal his tears…. And failing miserably. Every thirty seconds or so, he let out a small sniffle, and swiped at his increasingly puffy eyes. He was utterly pathetic. Though, she wasn’t much better, sending him furious glares every few seconds.

Honestly, who the hell did he think he was? To play innocent about this…. To act as if he wasn’t in the wrong. To act as if she were the one who had screwed up. It was infuriating, and brought her blood to a boil.

At last, Rowan glanced over at her, and swallowed thickly. “Look. If this is about what happened at the club….” He began, running a hand through his disheveled hair.

“And it is.” She snapped, crossing her arms.

He paused for a moment, then continued. His words were slow, careful. “I’m sorry if what we did upset you. I thought that it was consensual, but if you view it differently, I apologize. If you feel that I took liberties, then I am so, incredibly sorry, Aelin. That was never my intention, and I promise it will never happen again.”

Aelin pursed her lips, tapping her foot. Completely and totally unsure of what to feel. “It's not about that.”

His face fell. “Then what, Aelin?” There was no bite, no hiss. 

“You know what.” She hissed, glaring accusatorily.

“No, I don’t.” He begged, throwing his hands out.

She froze, scanning his every feature. Something in his gaze broke her, and she finally allowed her eyes to fill with tears. “It hurts.” She murmured, her lip wobbling. “It feels like I’m dying. Because for the first time since I was sixteen…. I felt loved. I felt like I was enough for someone.” She held his gaze for several long, painful seconds. “But I wasn’t. And it hurts. It hurts like hell.”

He jerked half a step towards her, his face crumbling. “Aelin, what-”

“I saw you, Rowan.”

He paused, then paled. His green eyes widened imensely. “Aelin, it’s not what you think. I promise.”

“Save it. I don’t want to hear it. Really.”

Outside, a small, blue car pulled to a stop and honked thrice. They both raised a hand to acknowledge it, but remained where they were.

Her roommate sighed. “You don’t have the full story.”

Aelin pushed past him and strode out into the snow. “And I don’t want it.” She called over her shoulder.

She had one hand on the car door handle, when there was a muttered swear from behind her, then quick, crunching footsteps. “You’re wrong.” He stated. “I didn’t kiss her.”

Turning sadly, she found that there were only a few inches separating them. “Rowan…. It’s alright. I forgive you.” Her voice was filled with nothing but defeat.

“No.” He snapped, gripping her shoulder with heartbreaking gentleness. “Let me finish.” He took a deep breath, then began. “I did not kiss her. I would never. I was getting our drinks, and she came up to me, because she wanted a bedmate. I declined and walked away. She followed me, and cornered me, then forced herself on me. I pushed her away, and left to find you. And now you know the truth; I would never, ever kiss someone else, because there is only one person I ever want to kiss.” Hot tears began streaking down her frozen cheeks. Rowan began to gently wipe them away, and continued. “The only person I ever want to kiss, or to kiss me, is you. Because, Aelin, I love you. I have for a long time. What you saw…. I promise that isn’t what happened. I would never, ever do something like that, but I hope you can forgive me, because I am so, so incredibly sorry.”

Hot tears were now streaking furiously down her face, smearing the small amount of mascara she had bothered to apply. She sniffed loudly, then coughed, swiping aggressively at her cheeks. Rowan let out a huff of a laugh, and helped her in wiping them away, having taken her reaction as a good sign.

Once her voice was steady enough to speak, she cleared her throat. “You love me?” She sniffed, her gold-ringed eyes turning red and puffy.

He only smiled, dragging a finger sweetly down her cheek. “I love you. I have since the moment we met, and I will love you until this world is nothing but ashes and dust between the stars.”

She broke.

Her heart shattered and reforged itself with his words.

Whimpering, Aelin threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck, she sobbed, heavy and wheezing and whimpering.

He only held her, pressing his nose sweetly into her neck and breathing her in. “I love you so much.” He whispered.

She could only sob harder, whimpering into him. Rowan simply pulled her closer and held her tighter, murmuring sweet nothings into her ear as he stroked her hair.

When they at last parted, he continued to hold onto her shoulders, gazing into her eyes as if he were searching for something. Seeming to have found it, he surged forward and captured her lips in his. Aelin instantly opened for him with a high pitched groan, making to slide her tongue over his bottom lip. He moaned into the kiss, but still pulled back a few moments later. 

Pressing his forehead against hers, he panted. “Oh gods.” He moaned, breathing heavily. “I never want to stop doing that.”

“Me neither.” She hummed, gazing into his eyes.

“Gods I love you.”

Eyes shining, she allowed herself to speak completely from the heart. “I love you too.”

His answering smile seemed to click with something in her heart, making her feel full for the first time.

Finally, he pulled away and opened the car door for her, muttering an apology to the driver. Aelin smiled at her love, and slid gingerly across the seat, smiling as he slid in after her. He yanked the door shut with a sharp thud, and grinned over at her, leaning over to place a sweet kiss on her cheekbone. Without turning to the driver, he murmured, “Adarlan General, please.”

From the corner of her line of sight, Aelin saw the driver nod, and they pulled out of the parking lot and into traffic.

Rowan gently took her hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze, as they gazed into each other's eyes. For the first time, Aelin found herself imagining a fututre, though she knew it was stupid. They had only just figured out their first serious problem, and admitted their feelings, but she still was picturing what it would be like to walk down the aisle, with him waiting at the end, tears glistening like diamonds in his emerald eyes.

What they didn’t see as they gazed deeply into the other’s eyes was that they were not headed in the direction of the hospital. No, they were speeding quickly in the opposite direction.

“You both are quite cute together,” The driver mused, speaking at last, his voice not quite deep, but scratchy nonetheless. She jolted, eyes flying to the front of the car.

Rowan murmured a quiet thanks, squeezing her hand tighter in his. But Aelin remained completely and utterly frozen, horror draining the blood from her face.

It was then that he turned in his seat to face them, revealing the gun at his hip. “Hello, Aelin.” Arobynn purred, those heinous eyes glinting. “It’s been a long time. We have a lot to catch up on.”

The doors locked with a resounding, echoing thud.

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[hphm-etched-engraved-everlasting]

1. Clara

Author’s Note/Table of Contents

For the first time since I was a first year, I felt scared stepping into Hogwarts.

September 1 should have been a day for every student to look forward to. After all, the prospect of learning more magic and catching up with friends in a hallowed castle that lived up to its reputation was exciting for any normal student. But I was not like most others; I was not a normal student at all. I was anything but normal, and it was no thanks to her.

As my sister and I disembarked from the Hogwarts Express together, both of us in our Hogwarts robes, I couldn't help but feel a little lightheaded to see the number of students chatting excitedly among themselves. It was almost as if none of the curses they've encountered had affected them in any way. I suppose that was understandable, since they all knew that eventually the curse-breakers would do something about the travesties that befell upon them. Still, they had no idea just what every hero had to endure. I didn't even feel heroic just by breaking curses so that Hogwarts could resume its normalcy.

At least it still seemed normal enough for my sister to be able to attend school at peace and ease.

"Firs' years! Firs' years this way!"

My ears perked up the minute I heard Hagrid's voice beckoning all the newcomers to the school towards the boats, and I grinned as I lead my sister along. She looked a little intimidated at the thought of leaving my side, even briefly, but she nodded bravely as she went with me to meet with my giant friend.

"Clara! Yeh doin' alrigh'?" he asked me the moment I approached him.

"Yeah. As well as I can be," I answered him with a forced smile. "This is my sister, by the way. Her name's Emily, but most people call her Em."

Hagrid nodded and beamed at her. "Well, when yeh got a sister like her, yeh'll do great things here!" he reassured her with a clap on the shoulder that almost knocked her over. "I'll take yeh to the boats, alrigh'? Yeh can meet the other firs' years there, an’ I'll take yeh to Hogwarts. Yeh'll see yer sister in the Great Hall."

Little Em nodded, but not before giving me a hug. "Take care, Clara."

"See you inside, Em."

As Hagrid ushered little Em away, I followed the rest of the crowd towards the carriages pulled by invisible beings. Or at least, at the time I thought they were invisible. What was pulling the carriages, anyway? It had to be something mysterious. I shook my head as I got into the first carriage I saw that wasn't completely occupied--and a moment later, a familiar magizoologist-in-the-making climbed in after me.

"Liz!" I greeted her with a grin. "Hey!"

Liz turned to me and smiled back serenely. "Hey, Clara. Thanks for your letters--they're a joy to read."

"Indeed! It's always a joy for me to keep regular correspondence with my friends. I'm just glad you had a good summer, Liz," I responded with a nod.

"Regular correspondence, huh? What about with me?" an all-too-familiar voice piped up, a huge grin on his face as he took a seat beside me.

"I wouldn't forget about you, Barnaby." I grinned back at him and kissed him on the cheek. "Not after our first date. I guess we have been writing...quite often."

Eventually, another familiar student made an appearance--Jae.

"Hey, detention buddy," he greeted me with a nod as well, taking a seat beside Liz. "Or should I say, no-longer-in-detention buddy?"

"Jae. Fancy seeing you here," I said, trying hard to keep a straight face, though I couldn't help but smile. Jae was very good company when I was spending quite a bit of my fifth year at Hogwarts in detention, working in the kitchens alongside the house elves. He was just as involved in the curse-breaking plan as I was back then.

"Likewise. I suppose you got it better than I, though. Pitts would be very happy to see me," Jae simply said with a grin.

"Oh, I doubt it. Unless you can make better sandwiches for us," I teased back with a laugh. "At least then Pitts would give you a good raise."

The four of us laughed a little, Barnaby's hand gently brushing mine as the carriage lurched forward and took us to the school. There was little I could do to stop the rush of heat blossoming in my face as I remembered our first date together. Though word about me having a crush made me feel so self-conscious, I decided to rub it in everyone's faces--even if things didn't exactly go as planned. And to think that he felt the same about me...well, if that wasn't a good start to our once-upon-a-time, what was?

Soon, we were greeted by the massive castle looming over us, the glow of the torch lights from within visible through their postage stamp windows. Most others would probably murmur in excitement or awe, but I felt none of those things within me. Instead, a lump of fear formed at my throat, nausea rising within me like hot lava prepared to spew out of a volcano. For so long, I was able to push the feeling of unease down because none of my questions had been answered. I had the curiosity hanging, but they were easily masked. Now that my curiosity has been satisfied, they left me with sleepless nights, tired eyes, and no way to hide my true emotions. I just didn't expect my questions to be answered that way.

I'd prefer remaining curious instead of knowing what it meant to live a nightmare.

Everyone eventually headed into the Great Hall, Barnaby's hand eventually brushing mine again but this time holding on to it, his calloused tough hand warm against my suddenly ice-cold one. It was all I could do to not slip away as I squeezed it once, interlocking my fingers with his under hopefully no watchful eye. No, wait, there was one. Percy Weasley walked by and noticed the two of us holding hands, giving no reaction whatsoever.

We all eventually parted ways, heading towards our respective house tables. As I started to make my way to the Gryffindor table, eager to meet up with Rowan, my eyes soon honed in on Tonks and Charlie waving me over at the front. I quickly joined them with a wave of my own, and Tonks did a little victory fist pump.

"Wotcher, Clara!" she greeted me. "Blimey, am I glad to see you!"

Charlie beamed at me as well. "Me too. Especially after how you 'disappeared' from Bill's party before graduation!"

"We didn't have a chance to ask you about it before everyone left for the summer holidays," Tonks piped in.

I chuckled and smiled at the two of them. "I'm very glad to see you both, too. But I can't tell you anything about my disappearance. I've been sworn to secrecy."

The same words I told Rowan last year before the summer holidays left my lips almost automatically. If this information was passed to the wrong hands, I would never forgive myself. Not that they would, given how much I trust my friends above anything. But I still had to watch my back for potential backstabbers. I just hoped there wasn't another Rakepick in the mix of all the kind faces.

"You do know who that was who crashed the party, though? Alastor Moody?" Tonks prompted.

"Mad-Eye, some people call him. At least, that's what my dad says," Charlie said, and I shrugged.

"He was a hero of the Wizarding War!" Tonks regaled. "He was responsible for sending countless Death Eaters to Azkaban. He's rather a big deal, Clara."

Sounds just like the Auror Tonks would be looking up to. After all, she did want to become an Auror herself when she grew up, and I knew she'd be a great one. "I know that now. I see you're a huge fan of his, Tonks," I laughed.

"Hey! Anyone who's ever thought of becoming an Auror would be a fan of Mad-Eye Moody!" Tonks exclaimed with a huge grin on her face.

Just then, Rowan came over, waving to the few of us as well. "Hi! How were everyone's summer holidays?"

I had never been more relieved to see Rowan. She's been with me since the very beginning, before I stepped foot in Hogwarts. Now I was more than honoured to call her my closest friend at school. After all, she helped me pull through with my studies while I was otherwise breaking curses at the school.

"Not bad, actually. I spent my summer doing a lot of reading about--"

"Ooh, me too!" Rowan exclaimed, cutting Charlie off. I almost laughed; reading was one thing Rowan loved to do back home on her family tree farm.

"I was going to say I read a lot about the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary," Charlie recovered slowly.

Now the grin slipped off from Rowan's face. "Oh. I...read about other stuff."

"I'm just happy to be back at Hogwarts with minimal bumps and bruises," Tonks chipped in with a light shrug.

"Bumps and bruises?" I asked. "What were you up to, Tonks?"

"Nothing exciting. But you know me. I get banged up just dismounting my broom," Tonks responded.

That was pretty fair. Clumsiness was one of Tonks' weaknesses, and I hoped it wouldn't completely hinder her chances at becoming an Auror.

"What about you, Clara?" Rowan asked, turning to me. "I mean, I got your letters. You did have a rough end of the school year, too. What was on your mind?"

While Rowan and I did have regular correspondence over the summer along with the rest of my friends, I could only tell her everything happening to me on the surface. I was scared of information falling into the wrong hands--especially after what Mad-Eye Moody told me last year that made me worried out of my mind. Still, she did ask me a fair question. My mind wandered to my sister, who I know would be standing outside the Great Hall right now while Professor McGonagall attended to other matters before the Sorting.

Little Em, who I held so dear with my life--just as much as I did my friends and family. Perhaps she and I weren't as close as Jacob and I, but she was a part of my family, after all. I felt obligated to keep her safe from all the dangers around us--especially her.

Her. She was all I could think of over the summer. How she lead me on, made me trust her before betraying me by saying she betrayed my brother first. Using me for her gain was just...low. And using my friends like petty useless trinkets--I couldn't fathom the limits anger could reach.

"I thought mostly of Rakepick," I confessed.

The mere mention of her name made the atmosphere more tense.

"I couldn't stop thinking about what she did, not just to me, but my brother before me, and now my friends," I said in a quiet voice, so that no one but the three heard me. "How she lead us all on, convincing us that she was helping us when she only wanted us for her operation. To spy on us for our adversaries. And now that we're back, I can't help but think about what she'll do next, and what I could do to stop her. After all, we are one Cursed Vault away from ultimate peace at Hogwarts. Whatever's in the last Vault must be powerful, and it cannot fall into the wrong hands."

Rowan's jaw became very set the moment she heard this. "Indeed. Rakepick's hands would definitely be the wrong hands. So what would you do about this? After all, you did mention that everything will change--not to mention, you were so busy curse breaking last year, we didn't have much of a chance to bond."

"I guess time will tell."

I couldn't say more.

Next moment, the first years were filing in, Professor McGonagall leading the way as she carried the Sorting Hat and stool to the front, and I caught a glimpse of my sister mixed with the rest as I took my seat beside Rowan at the Gryffindor table. Little Em didn't look so little among the first years, but she was still little to me, and probably most vulnerable if Rakepick somehow knew about her.

If something happened to her, I would never forgive myself.

I clenched my fist under the table as I watched the Sorting unfold, hoping and praying that whatever house little Em gets Sorted into, she would be safe and protected.

[carewyncromwell]

[HPHM] Rowan Khanna Playlist

suggested by @immagrosscandy // featuring Dev Patel and Katrina Kaif as Rowan

   “Belle” ~ Beauty and the Beast

“The Wizard and I (cover)” ~ Elsie Lovelock

“I’ll Be There For You” ~ The Rembrandts

“Book of Dreams” ~ Bruce Springsteen

“Lean on Me” ~ Bill Withers

“Time After Time” ~ Cyndi Lauper

“I Am What I Am” ~ Gloria Gaynor

“Stand by Me” ~ Ben E. King

“See You Again” ~ Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth

Rowan Khanna was the brave, loyal, brilliant, and ambitious only child of a pair of wand-tree farmers. Whatever she expected when she first arrived in Diagon Alley, it was not running into the younger sister of “delinquent” Jacob Cromwell, Carewyn, but from the moment the two collided, Rowan immediately knew her life at Hogwarts was going to be a million times better and more exciting than she could’ve imagined. Neither Carewyn nor Rowan had ever had a real friend before, but Rowan immediately warmed up to the passionate, yet sensitive girl -- especially when the two went into the bookstore together and Carewyn just couldn’t help but hum songs under her breath as they picked out their schoolbooks. Carewyn and Rowan’s instant fondness for each other was justified when Rowan told off some older kids for bullying Carewyn about her brother and when Carewyn later stood up to Merula Snyde to protect Rowan, even if it resulted in her losing house points. As the years went by, Carewyn changed a lot, developing from an overly sensitive, self-conscious, and hot-tempered girl to a stylish, poised, confident Mama Bear, while Rowan remained as studious, single-minded, and socially awkward as ever. That did result in a bit of tension between them for a short while, as Rowan felt like Carewyn was sort of “leaving her behind” and felt insecure about how the only friends she really had were ones she made through the more popular and charming Carewyn. Fortunately in their fifth year, after a small flare-up, the feelings cooled. It soon became clear that they each thought they were holding the other back, and that Carewyn herself envied Rowan for being able to just be herself and focus on her dreams, rather than being what everyone else needed her to be. This heart-to-heart made the two girls closer than ever...and yet, because of that, in their sixth year, Rowan was one of the first to get a bad feeling that Carewyn was holding something back and hiding her true emotions again. Even Carewyn’s other friends like Ben, Penny, Talbott, Chiara, and Charlie had started to notice -- but Carewyn seemed almost physically unable to rely on them, as if she were Atlas carrying the world on her shoulders and refused to inflict that heavy burden on anyone else. Knowing that her friend wouldn’t ask for help until it was far, far too late, Rowan made the decision to follow Carewyn around in secret from a distance, just to make sure she was there, in case Carewyn ended up needing her. Unfortunately the time Carewyn ended up needing Rowan also ended up being the worst day in Carewyn’s life...and the last day of Rowan’s. But although Rowan’s life ended, her legacy lasted far beyond her, forging chains of love and fealty between all of the people she’d touched in life and inspiring them to fight, grow, and live for her.

[the-marx-brothers-will-live-on]

Leonard Joseph "Chico" Marx (March 22, 1887 – October 11, 1961) was an American comedian, musician, actor and film star. He was a member of the Marx Brothers (with Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, and Zeppo Marx). His persona in the act was that of a charming, uneducated but crafty con artist, seemingly of rural Italian origin, who wore shabby clothes and sported a curly-haired wig and Tyrolean hat. On screen, Chico is often in alliance with Harpo, usually as partners in crime, and is also frequently seen trying to con or outfox Groucho. Leonard was the oldest of the Marx Brothers to live past early childhood (first-born Manfred Marx had died in infancy). In addition to his work as a performer, he played an important role in the management and development of the act in its early years.

Chico was born in Manhattan, New York City, on March 22, 1887. His parents were Sam Marx (called "Frenchie" throughout his life), and his wife, Minnie Schoenberg Marx. Minnie's brother was Al Shean. The Marx family was Franco-German Jewish. His father was a native of Alsace who worked as a tailor and his mother was from East Frisia in Germany.

Billing himself as Chico, he used an Italian persona for his onstage character; stereotyped ethnic characters were common with vaudevillians. His non-Italian-ness was specifically referred to twice on film. In their second feature, Animal Crackers, he recognizes someone he knows to be a fish peddler impersonating a respected art collector:

Ravelli (Chico): "How is it you got to be Roscoe W. Chandler?"

Chandler: "Say, how did you get to be an Italian?"

Ravelli: "Never mind—whose confession is this?"

In A Night at the Opera, which begins in Italy, his character, Fiorello, claims not to be Italian, eliciting a surprised look from Groucho:

Driftwood (Groucho): "Well, things seem to be getting better around the country."

Fiorello (Chico): "I don't know, I'm a stranger here myself."

A scene in the film Go West, in which Chico attempts to placate an Indian chief of whom Groucho has run afoul, has a line that plays a bit on Chico's lack of Italian nationality, but is more or less proper Marxian wordplay:

S. Quentin Quayle (Groucho): "Can you talk Indian?"

Joe Panello (Chico): "I was born in Indianapolis!"

There are moments, however, where Chico's characters appear to be genuinely Italian; examples include the film The Big Store, in which his character Ravelli runs into an old friend he worked with in Naples (after a brief misunderstanding due to his accent), the film Monkey Business, in which Chico claims his grandfather sailed with Christopher Columbus, and their very first outing The Cocoanuts, where Mr. Hammer (Groucho) asks him if he knew what an auction was, in which he responds "I come from Italy on the Atlantic Auction!" Chico's character is often assumed to be dim-witted, as he frequently misunderstands words spoken by other characters (particularly Groucho). However, he often gets the better of the same characters by extorting money from them, either by con or blackmail; again, Groucho is his most frequent target.

Chico was a talented pianist. He originally started playing with only his right hand and fake playing with his left, as his teacher did so herself. Chico eventually acquired a better teacher and learned to play the piano correctly. As a young boy, he gained jobs playing piano to earn money for the Marx family. Sometimes Chico even worked playing in two places at the same time. He would acquire the first job with his piano-playing skills, work for a few nights, and then substitute Harpo on one of the jobs. (During their boyhood, Chico and Harpo looked so much alike that they were often mistaken for each other.)

In the brothers' last film, Love Happy, Chico plays a piano and violin duet with 'Mr. Lyons' (Leon Belasco). Lyons plays some ornate riffs on the violin; Chico comments, "Look-a, Mister Lyons, I know you wanna make a good impression, but please don't-a play better than me!"

In a record album about the Marx Brothers, narrator Gary Owens stated that "although Chico's technique was limited, his repertoire was not." The opposite was true of Harpo, who reportedly could play only two tunes on the piano, which typically thwarted Chico's scam and resulted in both brothers being fired.

Groucho Marx once said that Chico never practiced the pieces he played. Instead, before performances he soaked his fingers in hot water. He was known for 'shooting' the keys of the piano. He played passages with his thumb up and index finger straight, like a gun, as part of the act. Other examples of his keyboard flamboyance are found in A Night at the Opera (1935), where he plays the piano for a group of delighted children, and A Night in Casablanca (1946), where he performs a rendition of "The Beer Barrel Polka".

Chico became the unofficial manager of the Marx Brothers after their mother, Minnie, died in 1929. As manager, he cut a deal to get the brothers a percentage of a film's gross receipts—the first of its kind in Hollywood. Furthermore, it was Chico's connection with Irving Thalberg of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that led to Thalberg's signing the Brothers when they were in a career slump after Duck Soup (1933), the last of their films for Paramount.

For a while in the 1930s and 1940s, Chico led a big band. Singer Mel Tormé began his professional career singing with the Chico Marx Orchestra. Through the 1950s, Chico occasionally appeared on a variety of television anthology shows and some television commercials, most memorably with Harpo in "The Incredible Jewelry Robbery", a pantomime episode of General Electric Theater in 1959.

His nickname (acquired during a card game in Chicago in 1915) was originally spelled Chicko. It was changed to Chico but still pronounced "Chick-oh" although those who were unaware of its origin tended to pronounce it "Cheek-oh". Numerous radio recordings from the 1940s exist where announcers and fellow actors mispronounce the nickname, but Chico apparently felt it was unnecessary to correct them. As late as the 1950s, Groucho was happy to use the wrong pronunciation for comedic effect. A guest on You Bet Your Life told the quizmaster she grew up around Chico (California) and Groucho responded, "I grew up around Chico myself. You aren't Gummo, are you?" Groucho is heard in videos pronouncing it "Chicko", as in a Dick Cavett episode with Groucho talking to Dan Rowan.

During Groucho's live performance at Carnegie Hall in 1972, he states that his brother got the name Chico because he was a "chicken-chaser" (early 20th century slang for womanizer).

As well as being a compulsive womanizer, Chico had a lifelong gambling habit. His favorite gambling pursuits were card games, horse racing, dog racing, and various sports betting. His addiction cost him millions of dollars by his own account. When an interviewer in the late 1930s asked him how much money he had lost from gambling, he answered, "Find out how much money Harpo's got. That's how much I've lost." Gummo Marx, in an interview years after Chico's death, said: "Chico's favorite people were actors who gambled, producers who gambled, and women who screwed." Referring to Chico's love life, George Jessel quipped, "Chico didn't button his fly until he was seventy."

Chico's lifelong gambling addiction compelled him to continue in show business long after his brothers had retired in comfort from their Hollywood income, and in the early 1940s he found himself playing in the same small, cheap halls in which he had begun his career 30 years earlier. The Marx Brothers' penultimate film, A Night in Casablanca (1946), was made for Chico's benefit since he had filed for bankruptcy a few years prior. Because of his out-of-control gambling, the brothers finally took the money as he earned it and put him on an allowance, on which he stayed until his death.

Chico had a reputation as a world-class pinochle player, a game he and Harpo learned from their father. Groucho said Chico would throw away good cards (with the knowledge of spectators) to make the play "more interesting". Chico's last public appearance was in 1960, playing cards on the television show Championship Bridge. He and his partner lost the game.

Chico was married twice. His first marriage was to Betty Karp in 1917. Their union produced one daughter named Maxine (1918–2009). His first marriage was plagued by his infidelity, ending in divorce in 1940; he was very close to his daughter Maxine and gave her acting lessons.

Chico's second marriage was to Mary De Vithas. They married in 1958, three years before his death.

In the 1974 Academy Awards telecast, Jack Lemmon presented Groucho with an honorary Academy Award to a standing ovation. The award was also for Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo, whom Lemmon mentioned by name. It was one of Groucho's final major public appearances. "I wish that Harpo and Chico could be here to share with me this great honor," he said, naming the two deceased brothers (Zeppo was still alive at the time and in the audience). Groucho also praised the late Margaret Dumont as a great straight woman who never understood any of his jokes.

Chico died of arteriosclerosis at age 74 on October 11, 1961, at his Hollywood home. He was the eldest brother and the first to die.

Chico is entombed in the mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. Chico's younger brother Gummo is in a crypt across the hall from him.

[catherinestark-hphm]

❣️💘💗💓 ;)

Thank you!! uwu

❣️ When did your OC first realise they were in love? How did they react to the realisation?

At the end of Year 3. After going through the experience of becoming an Animagus and helping Talbott find his mother’s necklace, Catherine realised she had grown feelings for the bird boy. At first, she was confused about it–because she thought she could only fancy Penny, even then that crush faded away–but then she panicked. 

“What if he didn’t like me that way? What if he doesn’t even like anyone that way??”

Her friendship with Talbott was still relatively new so she became easily flustered and anxious whenever she was with him. 

Then, in the middle of her Forth Year, Catherine finally managed to find the bravery to ask Talbott on a date, but she sought advice from Bill first since he had taken the role as her older brother. Rowan and Andre helped as well, and Catherine would always be thankful for them. 

She was nervous. Their first date went as awkward as it could go but it was all worth it when at the end of the day, Catherine got to stargaze with Talbott whilst holding his hand. 

They didn’t label themselves as boyfriend/girlfriend right away, but there were shy smiles exchanged in the halls and hand-holding whenever they had the chance to be alone. And that was enough for a fourteen-year-old witch. 

💘 What do they love most about their partner(s)? What do their partner(s) love most about them?

Catherine loves how shy Talbott can be, but how passionate he is at the same time. He talks about becoming an Auror in a way that makes Catherine believe he will succeed, and when they were starting their friendship, he often would push her away but still send owl her a letter to come meet him at the Owlery where the two would hang out in their Animagus forms. Catherine also adores how genuinely caring Talbott is but in an awkward way. He’s a dork, and she likes that. And he gives her the best advice! It’s honestly surprising how easy it is for Catherine to calm down when he’s around, holding her hand in a comforting manner whenever she has a panic/anxiety attack. He never pushes her to talk about it. Catherine loves him for that.

Talbott, at first, thought that Catherine’s impulsiveness was annoying but when he realised that he felt that way because he was afraid she’d get hurt for it, he changed his opinion from annoyance to worrisome. But later on, he began finding the witch’s stubbornness and willingness to help him rather charming. Even though he claims to fly solo, he could never shake Catherine off his tail and to this day, he thanks Merlin that she never gave up on trying to befriend him. They are quite the opposite. She’s loud and not afraid to be the centre of attention (even though Catherine has told him she dislikes it) and he prefers to stay isolated from everyone else, using his Animagus ability to avoid being spotted–but Catherine insists on bringing him along on her Hogsmead trips with her friends and because of that, Catherine’s circle began approaching him even when she wasn’t around. Gone was his intimidating and loner aura. 

And he… liked that. Somehow.

He fell from Catherine too young. A wizard his age couldn’t possibly know what love was but it happened with this silver-haired, impulsive, and mischievous witch. And even though he tried to shut down his feelings for her, but every time she would smile his way or look at him with her soulful, golden eyes, he was a goner. She is stubborn, loyal, a troublemaker, a rule-breaker and a curse-breaker. And Catherine still managed to be direct with her mistakes, never making excuses or dumping the blame on someone else–Talbott absolutely respected and loved that about Catherine Stark. Because even though she was flawed, she was still a decent human being. And whenever she shows interest in what he’s thinking, he no longer holds back and tells her what is on her mind. 

❤️ How did they end up in a relationship with their current partner(s)? (spoilers for Year 5)

So, Catherine’s first date with Talbott at the beginning of her Fifth Year had been disastrous, but worth it when she got to assert their relationship into something more than just friendship. 

Problem is, with her busy finding the Portrait Vault and becoming part of her Quidditch team, and studying for her O.W.L’s, Talbott and her didn’t really manage to find a proper time to discuss their relationship. 

That was until it was nearing the end of the year when everything terrible happened and after the betrayal. Talbott found Catherine waiting for him at the Owlery, and she looked so vulnerable that when he sat next to her and grabbed hold of her hand, he was kissed instead. Catherine kissed him, and it was awkward. Their teeth clashed and their lips were slightly chapped but for Talbott, it was a wonderful moment with terrible timing.

She started crying afterwards. Apologizing and blabbering about her brother and Rakepick and putting her friends in danger again and she apologized for not spending as much time with him as she hoped. 

Talbott, who had enough of seeing her in that meek state, kissed her to silence her. And this kiss had been less awkward. It was better and gentle. And it stopped Catherine from crying and think about the traumatizing experience she just went through–just for one moment, the two kissed and embraced each other under the stars, inside the Owlery. The kissing stopped when the two inexperienced teens run out of breath, and Catherine was shocked to see Talbott grin in a love-struck manner. 

Talbott was scared to lose her at this point, hearing that the witch he loved faced a dragon and was almost killed by someone students were supposed to trust made Talbott promise himself to stop delaying what he wanted with Catherine before it was too late for him to tell her how much she meant to him. 

He asked her to change everything this Summer. To return to Hogwarts next year as his girlfriend.

Instantly, Catherine said yes in a very enthusiastic manner. 

Talbott walked Catherine to the dungeons afterwards and promptly kissed her in front of passing students for Hogwarts to know that Talbott Winger and Catherine Stark were now a couple.

💓 What is their favourite activity to do together (that isn’t time in the bedroom)?

(oajdkfjs)

They love to fly together. Both being bird Animagi, Talbott always invites her to fly around the castle and the forest, and then, he’d take her down to the lake where they would change back to being human and sit there, watching the scenery while holding hands and sometimes snogging. 

There’s also their trips to Hosgmead, where (during winter season) they’d have warm Butterbeers or hot chocolate and sit in a remote part of the Three Broomsticks, just aimlessly chatting and talking about their future where they are still together. 

Being the last two years at Hogwarts, they began having studying dates as well. And even though Catherine would disrupt the actual studying by teasing Talbott, running her foot up his leg or leaning too close on him, Talbott successfully managed to focus on his studies and even help Catherine with her Transfiguration troubles as well.  

To them, it’s enough to be alone together to be a favourite activity. Talbott likes to stay indoors while Catherine is an extrovert, but they love each other so they always find common ground. 

[strange-and-stranger-still]

Act 1 Scene 1: The Tomfoolery Begins With Brunch, Beer, and Mothman

GM: The date is April 1rst 2012.

GM: Everyone is either freaking out about the end of the world in a handful of months or scolding those who do freak out over being so influenceable.

GM: The only people getting really excited about the upcoming Avengers movie are unredeemable nerds. Teenagers are debating whether Hunger Games was an accurate depiction of the books or beginning a very intense Les Mis phase.

GM: Call Me Maybe and Domino are stuck in everyone’s head, but truth be told, you keep hearing Somebody I Used to Know on the radio as you drive along lonely highways, or bob your head along the background music of your local grocery store, or lay in your bed, and remember for a fleeting moment your old friends from your middle school years, the best friends you’ve ever had. You consider finding them again, maybe sending them a message to reconnect - Youtube is not even ten years old yet and Facebook is still in full swing - and then the impulse passes and you go back to your daily life.

GM: And you all received a letter from an old friend inviting you to their play.

GM: And for brunch, because like. Breakfast food is the best food.

GM: This introduction takes place in a café. You are sitting down to have breakfast - or, as Otis called it in his message, brunch - in the restaurant you always went to as a teenager. The red, crackling vinyl chairs, your booth near the bay window with a view on the seaside and its thrumming rhythm of waves crashing, everything is exactly the same and it only helps you feel so different from who you used to be.

McKenna Prettygood, upon arriving: SUPP NERDS!! LONG TIME NO SEE!!

Francis Weissman: McKenna. 

McKenna Prettygood: Hey Frank

McKenna Prettygood: You’re here first?

Francis Weissman: It's Francis.

Rowan Durnin: Well you two haven't changed a bit.

Francis Weissman: I like to be on time, sue me.

Ada Noboa: Hey everyone!

Francis Weissman: Ada! Good to see you

Ada Noboa: This so weird, I literally thought Otis was dead and now he's inviting us to a play?

McKenna Prettygood: He was dead?

Francis Weissman: I...

McKenna Prettygood: I thought Frank was dead

Francis Weissman: Sometimes I wish, yes

Ada Noboa: I mean it’s been so long I thought all of you would be dead by now

McKenna Prettygood: Is Cal dead?

Rowan Durnin: Honestly, yeah probably

Ada Noboa: Wouldn't surprise me

Francis Weissman: I don't think the dead get mail

Francis Weissman: They don't tend to send it either

McKenna Prettygood: “Don't tend to send it either”

McKenna Prettygood: Jesus Christ Frank, this is not some dead old novel

Mrs Knott: Hi, what can I get for you-oh, Francis?

McKenna Prettygood: Who are you?

GM: For a second, it is almost as if you were about to remember something, but you are snapped back into reality when the waitress arrives for your order. You know her too - Mrs. Knott, a bit greyer around the edges, too tired for forty-three, but smiling when she recognizes you anyway.

Mrs Knott: And McKenna. Still as rude as ever then.

Francis Weissman: Hi, Mrs Knott. You look well.

McKenna Prettygood: You weren't so grey before so

McKenna Prettygood: Looking different

Francis Weissman: McKenna!

Mrs Knott: I wish I could say you weren't so rude before.

Mrs Knott: Tragically, I can't :)

Ada Noboa: Stop it, McKenna

McKenna Prettygood: Where is Cal?

Francis Weissman: I'm sorry about her

Ada Noboa: I'm so sorry about her Mrs Knott

Rowan Durnin: Good evening, Mrs Knott. Excuse our friend

Mrs Knott: Aww Ada, Rowan, nice to see you!

Mrs Knott: The usual then?

Ada Noboa: I don't think I even remember what the usual is

Rowan Durnin: No idea what our usual was, but sure

Francis Weissman: You remember our usual?

McKenna Prettygood: Beer

McKenna Prettygood: It was beer

Francis Weissman, ignoring McKenna: I'm a creature of habit. The usual, thanks

Mrs Knott, also ignoring McKenna: Of course! You know how it is in here, things never change.

Mrs Knott: Apart from McKenna's antics.

McKenna Prettygood: Other than people, people get old

Ada Noboa: McKenna, stop it!

Ada Noboa: Just ignore her, Mrs Knott

Ada Noboa: She's probably just hungry

Calypso "Cal" Triggs: No McKenna keep going, keep going!

Francis Weissman: Oh Jesus Christ

McKenna Prettygood: Hi Cal!

Ada Noboa: Cal, you're alive!

Calypso "Cal" Triggs: No I'm a ghost, idiot

Ada Noboa: And even ruder than any of us remember

McKenna Prettygood: That’s cool, wanna tell me about that, Cal?

Mrs Knott: Table for seven then?

Mrs Knott: I guess your little blonde friend will be joining you?

McKenna Prettygood: He's dead, apparently!

Francis Weissman, sighing: I wish the chemo hadn't worked

McKenna Prettygood: You had cancer?

Francis Weissman: Do you have the memory of a goldfish?

McKenna Prettygood: No

Mrs Knott: Uh... Dead. OK. I'll just... Go... To the kitchen then.

Mrs Knott: Pancakes for everyone.

Ada Noboa: Thank you Mrs Knott!!

McKenna Prettygood: Oh, thanks

Francis Weissman: Thank you!

McKenna Prettygood: Did anyone call Otis?

McKenna Prettygood: It's 2012, we can call Otis

Rowan Durnin: Does anyone have his phone number?

Francis Weissman: I don't have his number

McKenna Prettygood: Oh I have this friend...

Ada Noboa: Just google it or something

Mrs Knott: Hi! Coffee with milk for Francis, black for Ada, decaffeinated for McKenna, hot chocolate for Cal and Rowan, and I made tea for your other friend

Francis Weissman: Ah, thank you. They had coffee on the train but I never trust it

McKenna Prettygood: I'm like really sorry to be rude, but I ordered a beer

Ada Noboa: Please don't bring her a beer!

Ada Noboa: We're good with this, thanks!!

Rowan Durnin smiles politely, kind of overwhelmed by everything that's going on.

McKenna rolls dexterity to not-to-subtly switch coffee with Ada, who tries to punch her in retaliation and fails miserably, accidentally knocking over the table instead. Mrs Knott does not look happy.

McKenna Prettygood: Ada, are you drunk?

McKenna Prettygood: I ordered a beer

Ada Noboa: Sorry Mrs Knott!

Rowan rushes to help Ada out.

Ada Noboa: It’s actually McKenna's fault to be fair

Mrs Knott: Come on, you may look like it, but you're not kids anymore.

Francis rolls their eyes and takes two painkillers.

McKenna Prettygood: HOW IS THIS MY FAULT??

Mrs Knott: When is it not?

Calypso "Cal" Triggs: I think Ada's the one who should lay off the beers

McKenna Prettygood: Thanks Cal

McKenna Prettygood: How are y’all doing beer and drugs now?

Ada Noboa: "Doing beer"

McKenna Prettygood: and I can’t even get a beer

Mrs Knott: God, what are you kids even doing back home?

Mrs Knott: I thought we were rid of you all - no offense, Francis and Rowan

Francis Weissman: We'll be out of your hair again soon, this is a short visit

Francis Weissman: Is Otis coming or not?

McKenna Prettygood: Is he alive?

Rowan Durnin: Yes McKenna he is dead. My condolences

Ada Noboa: McKenna stop saying he's dead!

McKenna Prettygood: YOU SAID IT FIRST

Ada Noboa: I didn't say he was dead, I said I THOUGHT he was dead

Francis Weissman: He's not dead. I think

Calypso "Cal" Triggs: Yeah I saw him walking down the street before I got here

McKenna Prettygood: Oh! Is he a ghost?

McKenna Prettygood: Is he like very pale?

McKenna Prettygood: Deadly pale?

Calypso "Cal" Triggs: Yes

Mrs Knott: Otis? Isn't he rehearsing?

Ada Noboa: Oh, do you know where we could find him, Mrs Knott?

Mrs Knott: Of course! I think his family still owns that house down the street, but he is probably at the Theatre right now.

McKenna Prettygood: Hmmm

McKenna Prettygood: Does he sparkle?

Ada Noboa: We should probably go find him at the theater then

Mrs Knott: The Err Playhouse? Of course you have never been there yet.

McKenna Prettygood: Did you forget the name?

McKenna Prettygood: Err?

Mrs Knott: No, it's their name.

McKenna Prettygood: That's a weird name

Mrs Knott: McKenna Prettygood.

McKenna Prettygood: Yes?

Mrs Knott: Van Reichass.

Mrs Knott: No, nothing, I just wanted to call for your order :)

McKenna Prettygood: How do you know my full name?

McKenna Prettygood: I didn't tell you

Francis Weissman: She has a point!

McKenna Prettygood: Thanks Frank

Francis Weissman: Quit calling me Frank, you make me sound like a guy

Calypso "Cal" Triggs: Maybe she's psychic

Ada Noboa, who owns all the brain cells: Maybe we've just lived here for our entire childhoods

Mrs Knott: Anyway, I hear them calling for your order!

Mrs Knott: I'll be back in a minute!

McKenna rolls a perception check on Mrs Knott, somehow, not remembering that she has known that woman since she was a toddler, and starts being suspicious of her. Is she secretly Mothman?

McKenna Prettygood: Miss

McKenna Prettygood: Are you a Mothman?

Mrs Knott: What's a motorman?

McKenna Prettygood: Mothman?

Mrs Knott: I can't keep up with all these new genders now

Rowan just sighs.

Francis Weissman: Is everyone here very stoned?

Rowan Durnin: God I wish

McKenna Prettygood, to Mrs Knott: Are you,,, part moth?

Ada Noboa: I'm starting to get worried about McKenna's mental state

McKenna Prettygood: I’m the same as ever

Ada Noboa: Yeah, that's what worries me

McKenna Prettygood: I'm not the one being suspicious

Mrs Knott: I... I think you should leave now

Mrs Knott: You're disturbing the other customers

Mrs Knott: Do you want your pancakes to go?

McKenna Prettygood, slipping her a hundred dollar bill: We were never here

Mrs Knott takes the money.

McKenna Prettygood: Sorry about the trouble (wink)

Mrs Knott: Honestly, I almost missed you.

Mrs Knott: Goodbye now, please don't come back!

Mrs Knott: And go to the library once in a while!

McKenna Prettygood: Sure!

Ada Noboa: Let's go guys, we gotta check the theater. I'm so sorry about all of this, Mrs Knott

Francis Weissman: Let's go, see Otis, and then get out of here and pretend we don't know each other for another decade

[hphm-imagines]

The bathroom incident (Charlie Weasley x prefect!MC)

Soooooooo, this is my first imagine on this blog, I guess. This whole thing is definitely a spur of the moment kind of thing. English isn’t even my main language (but do feel free to correct it or send me any kind of criticism so I can improve). Anyway, this MC is a female and a Slytherin but you could picture any other House.

Here, Charlie Weasley and the MC, both prefects, mess around in the large bathtub (pool?) of the prefects’ bathroom. It is all very awkward and somewhat innocent.

Disclaimer: nothing graphic, however, there’s some crude language (sorry)

The night was falling over Hogwarts castle, children were leaving the library or the Great Hall, friends excitedly chatting about the dessert, their upcoming assignment, the latest Quidditch game…

(Y/N) (L/N) was quieter than usual, she couldn’t help but think about Charlie Weasley. He had skipped dinner again and she felt her own stomach twist in concern. Damn, Red, pull yourself together.

She passed by a window and spotted a shadow walking briskly in the darkness. Unmistakably, she recognized her friend’s strut as he discreetly came back from wherever he had been all evening, most probably someplace forbidden, she thought. Feeling a slight relief she couldn’t explain to herself, she resumed her casual stroll back to her dorms. 

A group of 2nd Year Slytherins walked past her, insistently whispering among themselves and immediately quieting down once they spotted their prefect.

“Stay out of trouble kids.” she playfully advised, a charming half-smile forming on her face.

The girls blushed furiously and quickened their pace, (Y/N) stifled a laugh. Eventually, she reached her dorm and started to gather her toiletries. This day had been straining and it was time for her to make good use of the perks of her position. 

“You’re going to the prefects’ bathroom?” Asked Rowan, laying on her stomach 

“Damn right I am”

Towel and change of clothing in hand, (Y/N) pushed the door to the prefects’ bathroom. Immediately, she noticed a red head of hair poking out of the tub, facing away from her. Charlie. He turned towards her, his cheeks lightly dusted in pink; either because the situation was embarrassing or because the water was hot but truth be told, both might be right. The situation dawned on (Y/N) as she felt her own face heat up. Damn, it’s hot in here.

“Oh, hey Charlie, do you mind?” She asked, gesturing towards the large bath in the least natural way possible, she thought, scolding herself. Charlie awkwardly returned his gaze to the water in front of him.

“No, it’s fine”

“Thanks”

But Charlie Weasley immediately regretted his words. As he realized he could hear his friend undress behind his back, he swore he had never felt this embarrassed in his entire 15 years of life. He heard the fabric of her shirt slide along the skin of her arms, he could hear her stockings being rolled down her legs and her bare feet traveling around the pool. He lifted his eyes and caught a glimpse of her as she entered the water, wrapped in her towel and sat down on the ledge and let out a weary sigh.

They were sitting at a respectful distance from each other but, at the moment, it felt both weirdly far apart and way too close. Her hand went to her hair and she started to comb through it, undoing her braid, eyes closed.

“Awkward right?” She spoke with a smile and a glint in her eye “You’d think this school would think twice before allowing teenagers to share such luxurious bathroom unsupervised”

“Well, prefects are supposed to be an example for the other students, if they can’t trust us, it spells serious trouble for them.” He reasoned “Plus we’ve got that strict towel policy implemented, and, y’know the other rules…”

“Ah yes, she mused, the infamous no-shagging rule”

They both snickered as they remembered a very embarrassed Bill trying to communicate those restricting rules to a bunch of newly-appointed prefects who were all incredibly bad at hiding their discontent.

“Red, are you seriously trying to make me believe that no prefect in the history of Hogwarts has ever boned in this bathtub?” 

“Gross” Charlie cringed as very graphic pictures invaded his mind and (Y/N)’s laugh resonated in the large room. She refocused her look on the bubbles before her for a hard minute and a heavy silence settled between them. Being a teenager really is the worst. She glanced hesitantly towards him. 

“Soooooo, you missed dinner.”

“Did I?” He smiled playfully, raising his eyebrows. 

“Forbidden forest?”

“You know it” he tried to answer in a casual way that ended up sounding really really fake. He mentally beat himself up.

Great, now it's awkward again. Well done Weasley. 

“D’you hurt yourself again?” She asked. Her tone was bored and resigned She already knew the answer. He gave her a sheepish smile and she scooted towards him.

“Want me to take a look at it for you?”

He refused her help.

“You’re sure?” She insisted jokingly “I could kiss it better”

“I’m pretty sure the rules don’t allow that”

They laughed again as they realized that they were slowly starting to ease into this whole situation.

“Okay but bear with me, started Charlie, a dangerous air on his face, even if you could have sex in here, would you? I mean, given the people you’d have to work with.”

(Y/N) let out an interested hum as she started her introspection. 

“I think I wouldn’t mind getting it on with any of the Quidditch captains.” She pondered, stroking her chin for good measure. “I do like very violent sports. Kind of a turn on, honestly”

Charlie would not have known what to do with this statement had it not been for her impish smirk signaling that she was most definitely messing with him.

“Is it now?” He retorted, mocking her expression and tone.

For a while, they felt comfortable sitting and indulging in the bath. It was so relaxing, they could almost fall asleep.

“Oh, I know!” (Y/N) abruptly shot her eyes wide open and sat upright. 

“Know what?” Inquired her friend who was just starting to relax and was just a tinge annoyed by her recent outburst.

“Who I’d bang.” She said as if it were obvious. All of a sudden, Charlie was interested again. He straightened his back and cleared his throat discreetly. 

“So who?”

She announced her pick in the most simple of ways.

“Bill.”

She watched as an alarmed look came to Charlie’s face.

What. The. Fuck. (Y/N). 

“He’s my brother!” He reminded her with the most offended expression she’d ever seen on him. She continued to tease him.

“Oh, you’re right Charles, I’m sorry. I would never fuck your hot, brilliant, friendly - did I say hot? - reliable older brother?”

Before she could finish, Charlie’s hands were covering his ears.

“Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up - ”

“Have I ever mentioned how hot he is?” She added, trying her best not to laugh at the traumatized face Charlie was making.

Charlie grabbed her by the upper arms and brought her face closer to his as he yelled forcefully.

“I beg of you, SHUT UP!”

For a second she went silent and he felt his stomach fill with dread as he saw her form the most mischievous look ever witnessed.

“Have you ever seen his red hair shine in the su- ” she was promptly cut off as Charlie pushed her head backward and into the water. She emerged to see her Gryffindor friend’s scandalized face and exploded into laughter. Charlie would have to if he hadn’t been scarred for life by (Y/N)’s words … and if he hadn’t realized the position they were in. 

When he had dunked her underwater, her body slipped off the ledge they were both sitting on. Her arms were gripping onto her towel, keeping it from moving. Basically, the only thing keeping her from floating away was the redhead’s hands holding her upper arms tightly. Her feet settled on the bottom of the pool, allowing her legs to graze against his. She stopped shaking from laughter, her face became very serious (too serious?) and her eyes bore into his as he realized that his grip was the only thing preventing her from regaining her balance. He loosened his grasp and she dove underwater. 

In the blink of an eye, she emerged a few feet from him, eyes still fixed on his own with a cryptic look he couldn’t decipher. They stared at each other in silence.

What was that just now? That was weird right? 

Charlie’s mind was racing, trying to understand that absolutely neutral expression she had. Suddenly, a wave of soapy water came crashing down on him. He shook his hair away from his face and looked at her in betrayal. 

“You’re dead to me, (L/N).” 

He dove forward to catch her.

After a few minutes of play fighting, kicking, screaming and - (Y/N) would swear - almost drowning, Charlie ended up sitting on the step again, this time on the other side of the pool, his back flush against the wall, hands up in defeat. (Y/N)’s forearm was pressing gently against his clavicle while her other hand was gripping the edge of the tub. If her left foot was firmly grounded at the bottom of the pool, he could definitely feel her right knee resting on his lap, preventing him from moving. Hearts beating hard and fast, faces red and chests panting, they looked at each other in confusion and wonder as if they finally understood their own feelings for the first time (It was the case). Eyes traveled nervously towards lips and heads inched ever so slightly closer.

Unfortunately for the both of them, the door to the bathroom suddenly went flying open as Bill Weasley interrupted them. For a moment all three students looked at each other incredulously until (Y/N) realized exactly what she and Charlie’s positions suggested and retreated immediately. The eldest Weasley sighed, visibly distressed.

“You, he marked a pause for emphasis, were the only ones I didn’t have to worry about!”

Charlie stepped in to try and settle things

“Bill, it’s not like that -”

“Oh really, his brother cut him off, you’re gonna give me the old ‘It’s not what you think Bill, we weren’t about to disobey your very distinct and clear orders’? You guys had ONE job: Do. Not. Get. Caught. Doing. Stupid. Shit. But NO, you guys had to be the loudest idiots possible. I could hear you from the other side of the hall!”

Bill kept on going for a few more minutes about how they were lucky that Bill had been the one to hear them, how they were really fucking stupid, how Mrs. Weasley was going to be so happy for them, how he was going to have to punish them…

“BILL WE WEREN’T DOING ANYTHING” Shouted Charlie, who didn’t really care about anything Bill had just said up until the part about telling their mother. What a nightmare!

Bill stopped his rambling.

“Okay, I’m going to be really clear with you, kids: firstly, you will never be allowed alone together in this bathroom; secondly, I expect to hear the whole story from both points of view by the time I write my next letter home so I can tell Mum everything. Understood?”

(Y/N) got up and walked a straight towards Bill and planted herself right in front of him. She looked really mad and Bill immediately felt like he was about to get scolded by his mother.

“Nothing happened.” She insisted coldly “There is no story to tell, Charlie and I aren’t together. You should really learn to listen to people before you draw conclusions.”

She picked up her things and locked herself in a toilet stall. Both boys remained immobile and silent while she changed. Bill was, after all, still a teenager and he really had trouble understanding girls sometimes. He failed to see how he offended her so. Charlie, on his part, was also mad at Bill but right now, the only thing he could think about was how disgusted she looked just now. For once, he thought things weren’t going terribly and, if he was absolutely honest, he was kinda thrilled at the idea of kissing her just moments earlier. She clearly didn’t feel the same. 

(Y/N) got out of her stall, fully dressed, damp hair falling on her shoulders. She still looked angry. She took a few steps. 

“I’m going to bed now.” She informed Bill. She sounded like she was trying to remain civil but could tear his eyeballs out. Her falsely sweet tone sent a shiver down his spine. Before she exited the room, she stopped one last time, turn to Charlie with an apologetic smile that lifted the weight on his stomach  “Seen you around Char.”

The two Weasley were left staring at each other. Charlie, who was now relieved to see that his friend was not angry with him at all, leaned back in the bath. 

“You can be kind of an asshole, sometimes.” He confirmed and Bill raised an eyebrow. 

“Because I draw to a conclusion before I listen to people?” 

Charlie hummed in agreement. Bill really disliked the smug look on his brother’s face. 

“Charlie, get out of the bath.” He said sternly. The younger brother sighed, trying his best to seem casual.

“Nah, I was planning on sticking around”

“Charles, get up.” 

“I want to enjoy the water a little bit more.” 

“I’m not asking.” Bill insisted in his best big brother voice.

“And I would rather not get up, Bill.” This time, Charlie was slightly more pleading as he confirmed his brother’s suspicions.

“Nothing happened!” Bill mocked in a high pitched voice as he walked away “Like I’m gonna believe that.”

[ladyhavilliard]

Of  Coffee And Tea - Elorcan

Summary: An Elorcan Coffee Shop AU where Lorcan has no idea how to act around girls - or ask Elide out.

@lorcanswife This is for you, Reagan!! I was your KOA Fic Swap partner! I had so much fun writing this fic and I really hope you’ll like it. I hadn’t written anything in months, tho, and this is my first attempt at Elorcan, so I’m really sorry if it’s too out of character or anything. But I really hope you’ll like it <3

@bookofmirth @rayonfrozenwings

Putting his glass back on the table, Lorcan couldn’t help but roll his eyes. He loved his friends, even though he’d never admit it. Even so, they sometimes annoyed the hell out of him and he wanted nothing more than to make them all disappear.

“I can’t see how my love life is any of your business.”

“It has to be someone’s business, since you’re obviously not doing anything about it!” Fenrys exclaimed. “You go to the same coffee shop every morning. You even wake up early just to catch that girl’s shift.”

“Who said it had anything to do with her shift?” Lorcan tried to defend himself, but there was no point and he knew it, too. He had barely spoken to Elide in the month he had gone to said shop, but she was already haunting his mind whenever and wherever he went.

“You don’t even drink coffee.” Rowan said. “You buy tea.” His voice sounded bored, but all of them knew that wasn’t the case. You couldn’t hate the cheesy dramas and be in love with the drama goddess after all.

“Also, you know I saw her last week, right?” The goddess herself joined the conversation. Lorcan sighed, already tired. Aelin smiled her mischievous smile. “That girl is hot. Really hot. I won’t leave you alone until you at least ask her out.”

The words left his mouth before he could think.

“I already did.”

…

He hadn’t.

For the past month he had learned her name, her schedule and had tried talking to her multiple times, but always failed.

Lorcan has never been a flatterer. He wasn’t exactly used to being nice to people.

So he sure as hell had lied to Aelin that night. He hadn’t asked Elide out. Hell, he hadn’t even talked to her, except to buy his coffee. He was about to change that, though. And today was the day.

After teasing the hell out of him the night before, his friends insisted they’d meat Elide, so Lorcan had to act fast.

Because of that, when he entered the coffee shop the following morning, he was terrified. The scent surrounding him would usually calm him- with the hours he’d spent there, he had not only grown accustomed to it, but it had started to sooth him, to make him feel at home- but not today. Just one glimpse of that raven hair, those onyx eyes and her peachy lips… Oh, he was totally screwed.

The few meters to the counter felt like eternity.

The shop was almost empty this early, so he didn’t have to wait to order. This time, he couldn’t decide if that was a good or a bad thing.

“Morning,” he greeted when he finally reached the wooden counter. There was less than a meter between him and Elide now.

“Good morning,” the girl smiled, looking at him. The way she tilted her head to meet his eyes reminded him how much shorter she was. “Black tea and dark chocolate muffin, right?”

He nodded nervously. The fact that she remembered his order always made him feel a bit excited.

Elide turned around with her back to Lorcan and prepared his order. With her attention somewhere else, he let his gaze wander up and down her body. Her curves, her fair skin, the midnight hair, flowing down her back… Gods, she was beautiful.

When she was ready, Elide turned around on her heels, holding the cup of tea in one hand and the muffin in the other. She places both things on the counter between them.

“That’ll be 4.50 dollars for you,” she said.

Lorcan pulled a 5 dollar bill out of his pocket and gave it to her.

Now is the moment. Now is your chance.

“Bye, thank you,” was all he said before heading to the exit.

If his friends could see him, they’d probably laugh at him. He really was a hopeless case.

Everybody in high school respected him to the point, where he had to wonder whether they weren’t actually afraid of him. The case with his current job wasn’t much different. He had always been strong and fought for whatever he had to achieve. People often tried to avoid him, as if his very own existence screamed he was mightier than them. Scary, even.

So why was that person unable to ask a pretty girl out?

Why couldn’t he even talk to her?

No, he wouldn’t let himself become a coward. And so, he repeated those words as he faced Elide again.

“Pretend to be my girlfriend.”

The words left his mouth before he could think and sounded more like an order than a request.

Elide laughed in return, crossing her arms.

“Right, because I’d do that for someone, who can’t even ask a simple question, but has to act like my master.”

“One sentence and you already think you know me, huh?”

“You’ve been stalking me for a month now and that’s how you try to win me over?” Elide clicked her tongue. She sounded more annoyed than anything, but her eyes gleamed with amusement.

Not only was she the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, but she had the nerve to tease him of all people. Interesting.

“I know you’re smart, but are you sure that messing around is your best option?”

“How did you manage to both compliment me and threaten me in once sentence? That really is some talent.”

Lorcan sighed met her eyes in silence, never looking back. He still waited for her to answer his first question. Elide held his gaze proudly, as if proving a point. When he realized she wasn’t going to say anything, he shook his head a little.

“Why did I get myself into?” he wasn’t complaining, though. Not even one bit. Because not only was Elide beautiful, she teased him with that pretty smile of hers, that told him he better prepare himself. This was going to be fun.

He assumed she was good at reading people, too. She spoke so freely around him, teasing and making fun of him, not caring that she was still working and he was his client. But it wasn’t a careless move- he had seen her being so careful and polite to a woman a few days ago, who had come just to bicker. She had worn a judging look on her face and not for a second stopped complaining about the shop and the way Elide was doing her job. That woman seemed harmless, way more than he did, but Elide had known she was sincere in her anger and disappointment, so she had acted the best way she could.

Around him was different, though. It didn’t matter that he was so much taller than her, or that he could beat her in a second if he wanted to. It wasn’t that she didn’t see him as strong and powerful. She just knew he wasn’t going to use it to his advantage.

She really was an interesting girl.

“You have the looks, so is your attitude the reason you’d never been asked out?” Elide asked in a second. She bit her bottom lip, as if trying not to laugh.

“What..?” Lorcan furrowed his brow in confusion.

“You look like someone who’d make all the high school girl fall all over the place,” she explained, “but you are worse in asking girls out than the four-year-old boy who came here two weeks ago and asked me to marry him.”

“Does this mean you told him yes and, now that you’re a married woman, you’re saying no to me?

“In fact, I did agree to him, but I haven’t seen him afterwards, so we still haven’t announced the wedding.” She shrugged and looked down at her hand- or more precisely, at her ring finger- and pretended to actually wear a ring. “But you keep making assumptions. I still haven’t given you an answer.”

Elide clicked her tongue and a second of silence followed.

“I will not pretend to be your girlfriend.” She told him. “But I’m free tonight if you’re eager to try and erase that ‘pretend part’.