#the problem was ​she used it to betray her friends and obsess over other students

[ifawnleaf]

"arrived there in a way that completely abandons ... a definition of heroism based in lunacy, unhinged behavior, reckless violence, and absolutely enormous swings in the face of reasonable alternatives"

kipperlilly's a psycho for digging up her teacher's grave? for killing her party members? for resurrecting a forgotten god of conquest? when she could've instead gone on a school-assigned adventure to gain practical experience, like a normal student? sounds pretty unhinged to me.

i just think of all the things to criticize her for, NOT being a violent lunatic is not one of them. girl was CLEARLY unhinged. her methods were not antithetical to aguefort, the issue was being a villain instead of a hero lmao

[bestworstcase]

One Chekov's Gun that has yet to fire I think the FNDM should bear in mind: Theodore is canonically so ready to throw hands that he'll wager his position as Shade's Headmaster just to spice things up.

Whether he ends up becoming an antagonist and that's how they defeat him, or SALEM decides to take him up on the challenge and Vacuo's cultural norms force him to cede power to her when he inevitably loses to her, that gun is on the mantle and WILL be fired before the Vacuo Arc comes to an end.

HDJFJD this would be hands down the funniest way for shade to fall, but could you quote the source on that bc i do not remember him doing that and couldn’t find it skimming through before the dawn

i did, however, just skim-reread most of before the dawn and reminded myself of a whole pile of vacuo thoughts including:

- lol the villains are a pair of twins with a fraught codependent relationship with each other, one who gives her people seemingly limitless power and one who uses literal mind control to force people to obey him (including his twin, although he doesn’t have as much control over her as she lets him believe), both entirely drunk on believing they’re the rightful heirs to a monarchy of the distant past. their father literally cites ozpin’s philosophy as a justification for believing in his family’s mythical royal heritage even though he implicitly admits he knows it’s bullshit. the heroes bemusedly ally themselves with the grimm to defeat said twins and it ultimately comes down to the more reasonable twin betraying the one who’s obsessed with control. i just—

- subtle!!!!!

- ETA: oh and yatsu describes the experience of being under jax’s influence like this: “With those alterations to his memory—to his very identity—a new Yatsuhashi had been born, with unrestricted anger, unafraid to use his strength to serve Jax. Meanwhile, the real Yatsuhashi, submerged in his consciousness, could only watch and struggle to regain control. He’d had to work out a way to turn his Semblance against himself for the first time, losing some of his own memory in order to cast off Jax’s programming and reassert independence.” so interesting that there’s another character cursed to live with a corrupted identity-stealing alternate version of himself in his head eh

- the book‘s cultural worldbuilding is profoundly interesting to me, because vacuans explicitly buy into the idea that you have to be “hard” to survive, that it is their fault they were conquered and exploited for so long because they had it too easy and they got “soft”—but the story itself contradicts this mindset at every turn, because rumpole’s vicious behavior towards the students (ostensibly to prepare them by stripping away everything comfortable from their lives) is revealed as deliberate sabotage, jax’s disdain for “weaklings” (and boiling unspoken hatred of himself for being “weak”) is explicitly the root of his corruption, every bit of progress the heroes make comes from cooperation and kindness, and one of the most emotionally triumphant moments in the story is sun rejecting his instinct to run into battle in favor of staying with a bunch of total strangers who need his help, followed by that group collectively leaping to help him dig his friends out of a collapsed mineshaft before he can even think to ask them to—in short the thematic conceit of the narrative is very much about the strength of community and compassion, not the rugged individualism vacuo takes so much misplaced pride in

- and in one sense that’s just of a piece with what rwby *is* but the thing is? that has NEVER HAPPENED in rwby proper, because rwby proper has been eight volumes of huntsmen and huntresses taking ozpin’s lead by treating the common people like helpless wards who must be protected, sheltered from the truth, and carefully guided into doing the right thing, and as a consequence the heroes of rwby proper have never ENGAGED with people as anything but a logistical and/or moral problem to solve—except blake in menagerie, sort of?, but even that is combat-oriented and framed as a struggle against communal apathy. meanwhile sun turns away from a fight—turns away from the thing huntsmen are meant for—to take care of people who are scared and disoriented and in pain, and those people IMMEDIATELY, without question, without discussion, come together to help him in turn.

- “it should not be this hard getting people to just cooperate” says oscar about a bunch of terrified people reluctant to evacuate their homes (though note that only one of them had an actual problem and her daughter was dealing with her, so catastrophizing much?). “the people he had just rescued, some of them barely able to stand on their feet, were helping him dig out someone they didn’t even know […] this felt like a different kind of teamwork” thinks sun about people who are scared and sick but see an opportunity to help and take it without hesitation.

- is ozma out of touch? 🤔 no, it’s human nature that’s wrong

- my hunch is theodore’s gonna try to take the fight to salem with the sword of destruction. he’s bombastic. he’s impulsive. when the crown attacks his school and his students ask what’s going on and who is attacking them he literally answers “does it matter? charge!” and he’s so keen on fighting that he harasses his own students into sparring with him (“dancing around the circle of students, jabbing fists at them, feinting left and right, beckoning them to come fight with him” who put this man in charge of a school). he has to be cajoled into mounting a serious defense against the crown’s attempted coup because he’s afraid of “weaken[ing] us for the big one,” i.e. salem, if he “invests our full strength in this fight.” he proudly delegates most of his actual job to rumpole, signs off anything she tells him to do, and pays so little attention that he completely misses that she’s been brainwashed. he is, frankly, kind of an idiot figurehead.

- now consider this: at the time NORSE turn up with the entire population of atlas and mantle and the news that the whole kingdom is just gone, all of one day after ruby’s apocalyptic broadcast, vacuo has just weathered a popular insurgency by reactionary monarchists and, although jax doubled the size of his army using his power of suggestion, fully half of that army comprised true loyalists. many of these people evaded capture after the battle and remain at large. grimm overran the city during the battle and the outer defenses of shade academy were breached. the governing council barely even qualifies as a joke; theodore is the king of vacuo in everything but name. and during the attempted coup, sun rallied the people of vacuo to fight back by invoking the exact same nationalistic rhetoric jax used to justify his movement (“Long ago, we lost our identity and our way of life because people became too content. We let other kingdoms come here and take what they wanted, put us to work mining dust, let us die in their mines. And then they left us with nothing but sand and heat. They promised us prosperity and paradise, but we ended up with nothing but bitter memories.”)

- in short the state is in shambles, on the brink of civil war, and at the end of the book theodore is already priming his students for an even bigger conflict (“when the time comes, we will be ready for the greatest test any of us have ever faced”)—without explaining who or what he’s talking about, so between this moment and ruby’s broadcast in the indeterminate future it’s all but guaranteed that every single one of these kids will have been thinking about where they stand if it comes to civil war or if vacuo is invaded by another kingdom because those are the things they’ve been primed to anticipate.

- and theodore’s social and political power in vacuo is contingent on maintaining a “good relationship” with the vacuan police and local huntsmen (many of whom are royalists).

- so vacuo is a hot mess a breath away from exploding into full-blown national populism, and theodore’s best shot at keeping that situation under control is to point it at salem, not the thousands of vulnerable refugees, and the most effective way to do that is to go all-in on the “hardship makes us STRONG and we’re BETTER than all these wimps who ran away when THE ENEMY attacked their homeland” rhetoric and if you are the de facto monarch in this situation, and half the nation does not consider your authority legitimate, and you’re temperamentally inclined to escalate the fighting anyway, and you’ve got the divine relic of destruction sitting in your basement…

- …yeah?

- and then as far as theodore himself goes the question really is whether or not he’s the first headmaster to get sense knocked into him before he dies because there is no way stoking those flames is gonna end well for anybody, including him.

- also if i’m generally on the mark about salem and she rocks up in the middle of all this to call a ceasefire and negotiate an alliance against the gods i will LOSE IT. the one kingdom legitimately prepared to go to war with her and she’s like “actually,” hskfbdkfb

- and that’s how salem’s villain -> hero arc provokes full blown civil war in vacuo, probably

[kamreadsandrecs]

Title: The Night Ocean

Author: Paul La Farge

Genre/s: historical, mystery, literary fiction

Content/Trigger Warning/s: racism, classism, antisemitism, homophobia, drug use, cheating

Summary (from publisher's website): Marina Willett, M.D., has a problem. Her husband, Charlie, has become obsessed with H.P. Lovecraft, in particular with one episode in the legendary horror writer’s life: In the summer of 1934, the “old gent” lived for two months with a gay teenage fan named Robert Barlow, at Barlow’s family home in central Florida. What were the two of them up to? Were they friends–or something more? Just when Charlie thinks he’s solved the puzzle, a new scandal erupts, and he disappears. The police say it’s suicide. Marina is a psychiatrist, and she doesn’t believe them. A tour-de-force of storytelling, The Night Ocean follows the lives of some extraordinary people: Lovecraft, the most influential American horror writer of the 20th century, whose stories continue to win new acolytes, even as his racist views provoke new critics; Barlow, a seminal scholar of Mexican culture who killed himself after being blackmailed for his homosexuality (and who collaborated with Lovecraft on the beautiful story “The Night Ocean”); his student, future Beat writer William S. Burroughs; and L.C. Spinks, a kindly Canadian appliance salesman and science-fiction fan — the only person who knows the origins of The Erotonomicon, purported to be the intimate diary of Lovecraft himself. As a heartbroken Marina follows her missing husband’s trail in an attempt to learn the truth, the novel moves across the decades and along the length of the continent, from a remote Ontario town, through New York and Florida to Mexico City. The Night Ocean is about love and deception — about the way that stories earn our trust, and betray it.

Buy Here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-night-ocean-paul-la-farge/8614852

Spoiler-Free Review: This wasn’t entirely what I was expecting, but it was a pleasant surprise, especially since I blasted right through it. I honestly wasn’t expecting to be so compelled by the prose given the way the book appears to be formatted, but hey: it was very readable despite occasional moments of confusion regarding who was talking at any given point in time.

Just to get this out of the way: no, one doesn’t need to be deeply familiar with Lovecraft’s life, or even Robert Barlow’s, to understand and enjoy this book. As long as one knows that Lovecraft was a deeply racist, classist, misogynistic, and antisemitic person, and that these tendencies appear across all his writing, then one should be fine. And even if one DOESN’T know (though I find that hard to imagine, given that it is 2023 and the most recent brouhaha over Lovecraft’s politics happened way back in the late 2010s - which is around the time this book came out, incidentally), one will find out soon enough in this book. It’s probably one of the main “true” things that this book presents. Because what this book is about (among many other things), is truth and lies, and how the latter can sometimes be hard to differentiate from the former if it’s compelling enough.

In line with that, this novel also tries to tackle what happens when we figure out the truth - and the truth turns out to be undesirable or painful (or both). Lovecraft played around with the idea that there are some truths out there that are so destructive, they can literally drive a person mad; this is the most common fate met by the protagonists of his stories. This book does something similar, but the destruction is more on the level of the self, and one’s relationship with other people and the rest of the world. This was, in my opinion, the most interesting part of the novel, and where most of conflict springs from. Does one WANT to believe the story being told? What if it’s not true? How IMPORTANT is it to one that the story being told is true? What lengths will one go to, to determine if it is? And what happens when what one feels doesn’t align with external evidence? Is truth something one FEELS, or is it something one PROVES? Unfortunately, the difference between the two is not always clear - both in this novel and in the real world.

This book also plays around a lot with intertextuality: the way texts reference other texts in various ways both obvious and subtle. This book contains both, with references not just to Lovecraft’s work (though obviously the story references his work the most), but to the immense network of twentieth-century SFF fandom. If one is the kind of reader who’s deeply familiar with the names and faces of that period of SFF, then one will be able to tease out a LOT more references than I managed to, since I’m just not as familiar with all the people mentioned and referenced in this novel. Fortunately there are footnotes provided, so any vague references were at least explained, but I’m sure googling names will prove just as helpful.

Another idea this novel plays with is the idea of people AS stories: that is to say, what makes us who we are, as individuals and perhaps as cultures, is the stories we tell about ourselves, and maybe the stories we tell TO ourselves, too. Is it possible to entirely change who one is just by changing the story around oneself? An interesting question, not least in the age of the internet where it’s easy to change how one is perceived - and therefore, who one IS - just by telling a different story in a sufficiently compelling way.

Overall, this was a really compelling read in ways that I hadn’t expected, but was pleasantly surprised by. It asks a lot of interesting questions about truth and our relationship with the truth, framed around two bittersweet romances, one of which might, or might not, have happened.

Rating: five strange journals

[emmym1]

My thoughts on... Ghost-Spider 2019 (#1-5) "Dog Days Are Over"

So the Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider story continues in Ghost-Spider (2019)! Gwen is going to college over at earth-616 now and tries to balance life on 2 earths. I really enjoyed reading these few issues! It was a nice balance of friendly neighbourhood Spider-Gwen Ghost-Spider stuff, Gwen's personal life & problems and a new storyline! Peter helps Gwen get into the college he is teaching at. And it goes surprisingly smoothly, interestly enough they're accustomed to interdimentionaly travelling students! I really like Gwen's & Peter dynamic in this, friends but not close friends due to them having their baggage with their own versions of each other. Peter also seems to have solved Gwen's power & symbiote problem, Gwen seems to have underfed the symbiote causing problems to her powers (which is really funny considering Gwen's eating habits). With all this figured out Gwen is ready to start college & getting used to a whole different dimension. Things go pretty smooth for her actually! She makes new friends, is on time for classes and still has time for her responsibilities in her own universe! Although she is getting a bit careless. She sees earth-616 as this place without problems or worry, where nothing and no one can touch her. Although it quickly becomes the opposite. Turns out on of her newly made friends - Benji Jones - is actually a spy working for the jackal, who happens to teach at Gwen's college under a fake name. Jackal is obsessed with Gwen and wants her at all costs. From here things start to spiral. Benji tries to track down Gwen's whereabouts for the jackal and succesfully found out she's interdimentional travel. After reporting back to the jackal she seemingly gets betrayed and he does something to her. Her current whereabout are unknown and Gwen doesn't trust it either. After this the jackal follows Gwen all the way back to her home dimension. He quickly meets the jackal of earth-65 and uses him to get Gwen. Turns out earth-65 jackal has found a way to subdue Gwen's powers after experimenting on one of Gwen's mini-symbiote spiders she left after a battle. They set up a trap and she takes the bait. She gets captured and taken to the jackal's hideout. 616 jackal is a massive creep and Gwen is having none of it. Eventually 616 jackal kills 65 jackal and the Mary Janes barge in to save Gwen. They succesfully do so but the jackal escapes. I really love how cool and badass the Mary Janes are, they're my favorite side characters in the Spider-Gwen/Ghost-Spider comics! 616 jackal has replaced 65 jackal's place in Man-Wolf gang. Speaking of Man-Wolf, turns out he is the son of the current mayor of earth-65 J. Jonah Jameson. Pretty crazy twist! Because of that he gets out of police custody super easy due to him "not being himself" while being transformed as Man-Wolf. His gang actually makes a lot of trouble and seems to be more of disturbance than they used to be. This gives us some really cool friendly neighbourhood Spider-Gwen/Ghost-Spider (i love both of her superhero names equally!) stuff! I love the way they show her taking upon criminals and how she handles situations and slowly regains the trust of the city. In one of her battles we once again see a glimpse of Gwenom come forward so i'm currious (and a bit worried for her!) as what will happen with that. As said in the beginning of this post, i love how they're able to balance all these storylines and still make room for more lighthearted fun stuff! Like her constant arguments with MJ or her trying to be a normal student. It's fun to have a balance in serious and fun stuff. And that balance in the storytelling also (for me at least) represents Gwen finding balance in being both Gwen Stacy & Spider-Woman. It's really cool to have seen her achieve that balance and being able to do what she promised herself. Although that balance seems to be fragile at times. So i wonder if she'll be able to keep it as this run continues!

[yourreddancer]

Today in Politics Bulletin 37, 12/31/24

Ron Filipkowski

Jan 1

… Bernie Sanders has called Trump’s bluff on one of the hundreds of promises he made on the campaign trail. While Trump was busy promising everyone everything to get elected, he slipped in that he was going to pass a law to cap interest that credit card companies can charge at 10%. This would be huge for American consumers. Of course, Trump never had any intention of following through with that.

… So Sanders introduced legislation to do exactly what Trump promised. Now we will see if he really meant it, and what his Republican friends in the Senate think after they get a visit from banking lobbyists. Sanders: “During the recent campaign Donald Trump proposed a 10% cap on credit card interest rates. Great idea. Let’s see if he supports the legislation that I will introduce to do just that.”

… Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) was asked why she first announced she wasn’t running for Congress again, but then changed her mind: “Unfortunately, I have to fight my own party because my party is betraying the American people. I was getting PTSD from this job. I think maybe I need to spend more time and get my sanity back. But a lot of people in my district were upset. So I said okay I’ll just let the people and God decide.”

… I agree with her about needing to get her sanity back.

… Steve Bannon continued to hammer away at the Tech Bros on his show: “Sacks, Musk, and Vivek - I’ve taken down bigger guys before.”

… Former George W. Bush Campaign Manager Stuart Stevens, who is now a Democrat, says that people should not ignore the fact that Steve Bannon has turned on Elon Musk: “Bannon is a guy who has defined himself as a thug, and thugs must do thuggish things. I think Musk has no idea what he’s getting into when he gets in a fight with Bannon over this.”

… Stevens then explained that if Bannon is ever able to turn Trump against Musk as he’s trying to do, that could be a big problem for him: “There’s been reporting that Musk was not a student when he got a visa, and when he made his application for naturalization he put false information on that document. That is grounds for revoking citizenship. It happens all the time. One reason why Musk is so obsessed with immigration is because he knows this. I wouldn’t bet against Steve Bannon.”

(NOTE: PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOULD REVOKE AND DEPORT MUSK NOW!!!!!)

… Trump made a rare post on X today. He posts a lot on Truth Social but has averaged only about 1 a week on X. This was today: “Senate Democrats are organizing to improperly stall and delay the confirmation process of many of our Great Nominees. They will try all sorts of tricks starting very soon. Republicans must not allow them to do that. We have a Country to run, and many big problems to solve, mostly created by Democrats. REPUBLICANS, BE SMART AND TOUGH!!!”

… I have a theory that the words he randomly chooses to capitalize is some kind of code to his QAnon followers, but I haven’t cracked it yet.

… Elon Musk bizarrely changed his name on X today to “Kekius Maximus” and changed his profile photo to an alt-right, white nationalist meme that combines the Maximus character from Gladiator with the groyper Pepe the Frog. Kekius comes from the name of a fringe cryptocurrency. It is unknown whether Musk has an ownership stake in that particular coin, but he has promoted others in the past that he does own - including DOGE.

… Meanwhile, Musk addressed allegations that the “Adrian Dittmann” account that constantly praises him, which he reposts and promotes often, is really him: “Suppose for a moment that Adrian Dittmann IS my sock puppet account I use to flatter my main. Isn’t the Left always telling people to love themselves? Or am I just not loving myself in their narrow, conscripted, ‘right’ way? Hypocrisy at it’s finest.”

… This is why happens when a bad human also becomes a ketamine addict.

… Former Trump Press Secretary Sean Spicer posted a poll on X which asked if Republicans agreed with Musk on the H-1B visas or if they agreed with Steve Bannon on it. He got over 92,000 votes, with 67% siding with Bannon over Musk.

… But Musk continued his purge and punishments of right-wing accounts today who disagreed with him on this. White nationalist talk show host Stew Peters (758,000 followers): “Elon Musk is STEALING money from my subscribers and LYING to them. This morning I woke up to find that removed my blue check mark and canceled my ability to have subscribers. My subscribers were told that I canceled my subscription service and they would not be refunded for the next two weeks in which they’ve already paid X for, but which won’t allow me to provide them content. This is intentional deceit and theft.”

… White nationalist Nick Fuentes: “Today X appears to have un-verified 5 more prominent critics of the H-1B program. Their checkmarks were taken, subs were refunded, and character limit reduced. This is now overt political censorship. This comes after the Project Groyper brand account and all of its affiliates were suspended last week.” Sad!

… It might be time for a class action lawsuit. I suggest ‘Racist Broke MFers v. World’s Richest Racist MFer’.

… The stock market under Biden’s economy has been red hot for two years, breaking all-time highs on a regular basis. We are on course to have the best two year performance this century, with the highest returns on investments since 1997-98. The market was up 24% in 2023 and another 20% in 2024. Now we will see how things go with Trump.

… Republican Rep. Eric Burlison says that Trump’s DOJ needs to investigate J6: “We truly had some very disturbing things happen with the FBI and their involvement. They created many entrapment scenarios on American citizens who were just simply patriotic and wanted to express their 1st Amendment rights. Instead, they were enticed and encouraged to do things that they didn’t even know might be illegal.”

… But Burlison wasn’t done: “I also personally would like to see us continue the investigation of the Biden family.”

… AdImpact Politics study of spending in the 2024 election shows total amount spent by both campaigns combined was $3.2 billion, which was $70 million more than 2020. From the day Biden dropped out, Democrats spent $1.45 billion and Republicans spent $988 million.

… The total spent on ads for all US political campaigns in 2024 was $11.1 billion.

… $1.7 billion was spent on House races. The two most expensive races were NY-19 at $50 million and ME-02 at $42 million. Democrats narrowly won both races with Josh Riley winning in NY 51-49% and Jared Golden winning in Maine 50.3%-49.7%.

… $260 million in ads was spent on the abortion issue alone in 2024.

… Former Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman, who lost his primary to George Latimer after pulling the fire alarm in the Capitol and other incidents, told NBC that he may run for Governor of NY or Senate: “I’m a badass motherf—-er. For someone to have to spend $25 million to beat me - that must mean I’m a bad motherf—-er. I must be doing the right thing, fighting for the right things., and they are desperate and scared.”

… Trump’s incoming WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says that she plans to completely remodel the WH Briefing Room. I agree it is a cramped space that is poorly laid out, but this quote made me wonder if it is more than just about the setup: “We’re exploring ways to make sure that room reflects the media habits of the American people in 2024, not the 1980s.”

… Not exactly sure what that means, but I have a feeling it has something to do with getting fringy right-wing podcasters and independent media into the room in front of legacy media.

… NewsNation host Chris Cuomo says one of the reasons Democrats lost the election is because they downplayed the assassination attempt of Trump: “What I found completely appalling and outrageous was how unimpressed lefties were by Trump getting shot in the head. That’s exactly why you lost the election. You are out of touch. You lost the plot about how people feel in the majority. That’s what you did. And that was a perfect example of it. That situation? ‘Well, I think it was just a teleprompter.’ You would have never assessed it that way if you didn’t wish the guy had died.”

… I disagree with the first part of Cuomo’s statement and have no comment on the last part.

… Doesn’t sound like Ivanka Trump will be going anywhere near the WH this time around: “My intention for 2025 is to lean into love, courage, and purpose—and to keep growing through it all. Here’s to fresh starts, deepening relationships, living with presence, being more gentle with ourselves and each other, and the beauty of what’s yet to come!”

… Then she posted a swimsuit photo. Living her best life on Saudi money.

… The Atlantic announced that they are hiring a bunch of new reporters to expand their political coverage for the Trump Administration. Two of the new additions are WaPo reporters Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer with others rumored to be announced soon.

… Matt Gaetz said the biggest reason why Trump got involved in endorsing Mike Johnson for Speaker yesterday is because he was worried about his election needing to be certified on Monday, and the Speaker election is this Friday. Without a Speaker sworn in before J6, the House can’t proceed with certifying the election for Trump.

… Four years ago, Trump wanted the certification delayed on J6 to cause chaos in a desperate attempt to hold on to power. Now he wants to make sure that certification isn’t delayed by the chaos of a Speaker election stretching on into the weekend. Gaetz: “We would have never held up McCarthy two years ago for concessions if a Trump certification hung in the balance. Now it does.”

… Thank you so much for supporting us in 2024. I know it ended up being a tough year. I fear 2025 and beyond will be quite a bit more difficult. When so many are appeasing and caving to curry favor with the new regime, that will never be our approach to dealing with Trump and this Administration because we are clear-eyed about who these people are, and we know what they intend to do. While others surrender, we will never stop fighting. Thanks for joining us in that.

[ac3id]

Impius

pairings: yandere!demon!namjoon  x  student!reader

summary: you are a rebel in your school. your teachers, parents, and even friends are fed up of you tactics. but your mysterious English teacher has taken an unusual interest you and promises to you show you a new world. a world better than the one you live in. how can you say no?

warnings: gender neutral reader, oral sex(m receiving),reader is also a virgin, age-gap kinda cus like namjoon is a demon whos 83756834758 years old n reader is a senior in highschool lmaooo

word count: 2.7k

masterlist

Like any other demon, Kim Namjoon needed to feed on human souls to exist. He hit the jackpot when he started as a teacher in Borealis Convent private boarding school. An endless supply of pure, untainted souls awaited him.

In a school that taught faith and hope, a demon lurked and controlled it from its shadow. He charmed everyone he met, his attractiveness added to his strengths, he was invincible. He had everyone in the school bent to his will, he was the ruler and no one questioned him.

Students often went missing which caused worries among school but as the principal magnificently covered up the disappearance, no one ever asked. The principal was a greedy pig. He had formed a contract with Namjoon- money exchange of his soul--How ironic.

They all blindly followed him not knowing he is the vicious monster they feared so much.

He lived peacefully- everything he needed was presented to him, he had no fear of losing anything. Everything fit perfectly under his fist and honestly, it bored him. But just then, you came along.

You were different from the others and, you knew it. Even though you knew that your parents and peers despised you for you being yourself, living life the way you wanted, you never gave into their greedy demands. You chose to stay true to yourself, fighting for your way, refusing to turn into another mindless robot who lived to satisfy the monstrous society. You felt bad for the others who could not see the world in your perspective- you, really did but the others didn't even try to give sympathy to you, they labeled you as a disgrace, a disappointment, anything vile so it could break your spirit and turn you into a follower whose only purpose is to serve money-hungry demons.

That was the reason he took a liking you. You shined like a diamond. No matter how hard they pushed you into the ground you never broke. You always got right back up, walking past the others- you were amazing. He couldn't wait to devour your soul.

Your soul was pure, unstained with the hunger of ambition he thought you would be his best meal but soon that hunger grew into something darker. Soon, he found himself obsessed with you- he wanted you all to himself, away from the rest of the world where no one could hurt you.

You and Namjoon grew close, he understood you like no one else. He was kind, gentle, caring, and oh so hot. You often found yourself thinking about him before you drifted off to sleep and it didn't take long for you to realize you were harboring a crush on your English teacher.The thought of Namjoon dominating you tantalizing and appealing in all the ways it made your insides twist with pleasure.

The thought that he would never be yours often sent you into a frenzy, some so many people suited him better than you did and it drove you mad. You wanted to be with him but you knew it would never be possible. So, you concealed your feelings deep in your heart for no one else other than yourself to bear with the pain of one-sided love.

You sat on the concrete floor skipping through the pages of your novel humming to yourself. Absorbed in the world of fiction, you did not hear the swift angry clicking of heels behind you until you felt your book being grabbed out of your hands by force.

You turned around to see who had interrupted you from your peaceful endeavor. Turning around, you immediately regretted it. Looking down at you was Mrs.Lee, her face scrunched as radiated murderous rage. She pulled you up from your elbow steadying you straight as she glared at you,

"What are you doing here, L/N?" she snarled at you her teeth clenched and arms crossed. You internally rolled your eyes, "I was reading a book." sarcasm settled heavily on your tongue as you mocked her and it drove even madder.

"During my class?"

"Yes."

There was silence followed by Mrs.Lee skimming through the pages if your novel. "This book is banned from the campus, how did you get it?" she asked with repressed anger in her voice, you shrugged your shoulders and answered, " I don't know" Mrs.Lee pulled your hand and started dragging you towards the exit, she murmured how it was 'over for you' but as both of you were about to exit a familiar face appeared in front of you.

"Mrs.Lee," Namjoon greeted, you sighed internally feeling relieved since you knew he would save you from three months of detention.

"Mr.Kim! How nice to see you and would you look at this, L/N is skipping classes again." She pushed you in front of him, you looked down at the floor avoiding eye contact with the tall man as you tried not to burst in a fit of laughter. Namjoon smirked at the down at you as he saw you struggle. He sighed and turned back to Mrs.Lee, with faux disappointment in his eyes he spoke, "I see, L/N is troubling you again. They are indeed the problem child aren't they?"

"They are always skipping class and causing trouble and look at what they were reading here!" She handed the scandalous novel to him. He looked over the hard copy, immediately recognizing the genre.

"Erotica on school grounds? Seriously L/N?" He questioned, his voice sent shivers down your spine as he spoke with a grimace in his tone.

You don't look up from the floor as you feel his gaze linger on you. The urge to laugh which floated your mind minutes ago dies down when you recognize his disappointment in you.

"Mrs.Lee, please don't waste your time on them. You head back to your class, I'll deal with L/N."

Mrs.Lee hesitates for a second but obliges when she feels Namjoon's demonic stare burn her soul. She leaves you alone with Namjoon and takes her exit.

You still look down on the floor, unable to look up at the dark-haired man in front of you.

"Y/N," he starts. A hand comes down on your shoulder and you finally look up at. He's smirking down at you, the book next to his face, "Do you, actually understand this book?" He asks. You feel your face flush at his implications as you stare off into the distance, "Yes, I do." you answer sheepishly.

You hear him laugh, his finger falls beneath your chin as he pulls your face up forcing you to look at him. "Are you a virgin, Y/N?" He asks his eyes staring deep into your soul, searching for something. You flush harder, your mouth agape, you blurt out a response, "That's inappropriate!!" Namjoon's smirk returns slowly casting into a sinister grin.

"What's inappropriate, Y/N? I simply asked you a question."

The longer you stared into his beautiful brown eyes, the more you felt yourself get riled up.

"So will you answer my question?" He asks- no demands.

"Yes." You meekly whisper. "Follow me."

You feel your heart hammer against your chest as he leads you to his office. He sits you down on the sofa while taking a seat opposite to you.

"Where did you find this book, Y/N," He begins, he sits with his leg spread as he leans forward moving closer to you his elbows rests on his knees. The book was placed on the small coffee table between the two sofas.

"My senior lend it to me," you look down at the book to avoid meeting at Namjoon's gaze. The way he looked at you sent shivers down your spine, it was dangerous and alluring.

"I see. Tell me, Y/N, when you read this book who do you think of?"

"W-What?" you shutter, you feel the room get hotter as it became harder to breathe, Namjoon sat in front of you his brow quirked he repeated the question. "When you read this book, who do you think of? There must be someone you want to do these things with?" His voice is like silk, you could just listen to him speak for hours on end.

"I don't- why are you asking me this!?" You squeal your face flushed red you recall all the nights you had spent awake thinking about the contexts of the book but instead of the main characters- it was you and him.

"Hey c'mon, why are you getting so angsty? If you tell me you want, I'll tell you who I want." Namjoon shifts in his seat, he leans back on the sofa his arms crossed over his chest. The smirk still played on his lips and the look in his eyes was coy. You clear your throat and answer,

"Jimin, I like him." You lie.

You did like Jimin but, it was nowhere close to how you felt about Namjoon.

your hands fidget , and He observes with a raised eyebrow.

"Jimin?" He questions, he is aware that you're lying but he decides to play along.

His eyebrows knit together and he sighs, "Well that's a shame. You want to know who I want?" you nod.

"You."

His lips curl as he looks down at you. Your eyes are wide open as you try to process his words. You try to come ready with a response but he beats you to it. "You know you're a bad liar? I know you want me too. Come here."

"Sir,- We're not supposed to," you being but he simply smirks, arms crossed on his chest. "Well, who's going to stop us?"

holding your hips down to keep you positioned securely on his lap

your body jolts against his, a pleased smile spreads across his face, his breath fanned across your neck as he pulled you closer.

"Sir, I-.." you begin, but your voice betraying you and leaving you speechless as his lips continue to trail over your neck, kissing along your jawline and to your chest and collarbones, placing wet kisses on every inch. Your head automatically tilt backs, your body reacting to his sinful touch and allowing him better access. His lips were so warm, You melted into his touch and felt your heart start to beat faster. A soft moan escapes your lips, his ministrations making you slightly dizzy and lightheaded.

"Tell me Y/N, what do you want?" the words almost tickle against your skin, a mix of fear and excitement dances in your eyes, your stomach flips in giddy anticipation. He can't help the small dimpled smile tugging on the corners of his lips. His lips move to the crook of your neck, the eagerness growing as his lips suck and nibble on your skin to leave a mark behind, letting his tongue lick the sore areas afterward.

You let your hands run along his chest, a thin layer of sweat had formed on his chest. His shirt clings to his skin, grabbing around it, and while pulling his shirt over his head, your palms pressed against his broad pectorals, completely lost in the curves of his body.

You felt dirty, but you'd be lying if you didn't crave more. 

His hot breaths blew across your neck, making him shiver, his presence clouding your senses. Your lips hovering over his. 

"Sir, please kiss me," you whine. He looks down at you which his hand strokes your thigh. "Sir? It's Namjoon baby. Ask again." His hot breath falls on your lips and you beg again.

 "Please, Namjoon, kiss me." 

He complies and crashes his lips onto yours when you feel his warm lips on yours, your entire mind fogs up. Everything's a blur as you move your lips against each other, his hand slides slowly along your thigh and tracing the patterns of your leggings with his fingers. 

The kiss is intimate and rough, filled with passion. Your lips parted as his tongue slipped into your mouth, deepening the kiss. Your body melting against him as his tongue tempted and teased yours, dominating your mouth. Your hands move to his hair, tugging at his hair making him moan into your mouth.

His hands rest on either side of your hips, thumbs rubbing slow circles on them, you could feel him growing hard under you, the feeling of his hardening bulge poking you was overwhelming. You held onto his shoulders and ground yourself against him, your hips moving against his. He was grinding with you at the same pace, lips still on yours as he let out low groans of satisfaction

he pulls away from you, your lips chasing after his.

"I want you on your knees, baby." He demands. Smirking down at you as you get down on your knees. He runs his tongue over his teeth, unzipping his pants and pushing them down to free his cock.

his dick lays against his stomach. He strokes himself, eyes boring into you as you crouch below him, eyes fixated on his length marveling at the sight

"I'll show you a new world, Y/N. Come here" he orders, motioning toward his bulge. "(c’mon baby, shoe me wat doze handz do lmao )"

Riding on the confidence from before, you reached out and gently gripped him at the base, pressing your thumb along the vein on the underside and relishing in the noises it draws out. You angle your wrist slightly so you can continue stroking the spot, while mentally making a note to yourself to remember it for future reference. You feet his hand in your hair, stroking, gripping ever so carefully.

His hand moved to cover yours, and he assists you in stroking your hand steadily pumping along his length.��

"Like this, start slow." Your eyes widen in fascination, finding it impossible to form proper words, mouth watering the sight in front of you. Eyes trailing at the pre-cum leaking from the tip and licking it eagerly. Namjoon's strangled moan was all the encouragement you needed. You run your mouth around his dick while gazing up at his face-

"Fuck," swears escapes his plum lips, sending shivers down your spine. Gently letting go of your wrists as his eyes flutter close.

Namjoon's chest heaves as his breath quickens, eyes boring into you as your tongue darts out of your mouth, licking up from the base towards the tip getting his dick wet. You take him into your mouth and hollow your cheeks around him, tongue lapping around whatever it could reach. He starts thrusting forward, right down your throat, You immediately start to gag and place your hands on thighs to keep you steady. A thin glistening layer of sweat forms against his forehead. His breath was heavy and ragged, his chest huffing

you moaned around his cock, jaw aching, knees in agonizing pain, his hand gripping harder at your hair. "Fuck yeah baby, your mouth feels so fucking good," he pants.

 You take him further and further into your mouth, his groans get louder and more frequent. Your grip tightens around his strong thigh, nails digging into his muscle enjoying watching the pleasure wash over his face.

"Fuck," Namjoon growls through gritted teeth, and rolls his hips up into your throat, thrusting his hips with horny, reckless abandon.— which makes his thigh muscles tense.

Namjoon pulls out deliberately. His heavy pants accompanied a silent cry as he cums hard onto your face, stifled breaths cut short with a deep moan calling out your name. Gripping your jaw still in one strong hand his cock twitching before thick strings of cum spurting out and splashing across your face. Dripping over your swollen lips and dribbling down your neck, decorating the blossoming bruises painted on the expanse of your chest.

"you look so fucking sexy with my cum on your face, baby,"

"Such a dirty little rebel," He says in a breathy voice that sent shivers down your spine.

you fell back on your heels, feeling exhausted. You went to wipe your face, but he stopped you. Namjoon dragged his thumb through the mess on your cheek, collecting his release and bringing it to your lips, you eagerly sucked and swallowed at the cum-slicked fingers, moaning for more.

"You want more? Such a greedy little thing," He teases,

your quivering hand reaches out to gently push a strand of damp hair away from his forehead. His half-lidded eyes study your entire face before slowly dipping down to connect his lips with yours in a kiss.

Namjoon kisses your lips a little softer this time. You sighed into the kiss, relaxing a bit. His thumb drew small circles against your cheek as a way of comforting you and telling you that you've done a good job.

bonus-

[a/n: listening to blood,sweat and tears and house of cards while writig do be hittin different]

let us know if u want more bangtan content here

[annatao]

[ -  Bad English - ] This was a necessary update, because in the comic book, that's exactly what she looks like+ it must conform to the canon. I also updated the information about her.

Cona Dei Basic information

Class: Alchemist Type: Protection Health: 135/in uber – 245 Speed: 110% Team: RED Weapon To kill effectively, the Alchemist must increase his damage with his potions. The main thing: the Scorpion submachine gun is an experimental weapon that was developed by the “MannCo” corporation intended as an upgrade for the standard class. However, it was stolen by a certain thief who had all the necessary access. Later, this weapon underwent a change, and then went to the Alchemist. Ammo is coated with acidic composition. - 20% damage + causes bleeding from burning acid Burning sensation: 4/sec x 5sec Secondary weapon: a one-handed crossbow that fires poison bolts. *If hit in the head-crit * damage 25-60. Depending on the distance Close Combat: Hopesh is a cold weapon that was once given by Henrik as a decoration. Now she uses it in battle. 4 slot: potion set. In total, Kona can carry one potion of 3 types with her. For example, a regeneration potion (for yourself), a poison that causes bleeding, an acid bomb. * In the game, the mechanics worked like this: holding down the 4 button and scrolling the wheel, you select 1 of 3 potions that the player selected in advance in the menu. After use, they would recover for about 30 seconds. The distributor has about 20 seconds (She would take resources from there) Special opportunity: Margo the rat – if you sneak up on the victim from spita, the Alchemist will release his pet and it will get under the enemy's clothes and start biting, thereby causing bleeding for 6 seconds. Alchemy Kit There are 3 categories in total: *For yourself *For your team *Halloween

For myself: *Fire Resistance Potion-Reduces fire damage by 50% for 5 seconds *Potion of the feather-gives the effect of a smooth fall, thus it saves itself from damage. The effect passes as soon as the Kona touches the ground. *Regeneration Potion-the effect lasts for 5 seconds and restores 5 health points each. For the attack and for your team: Potion of power-Gives mini-crit. Apply an effect can, as well as himself, and on any player from his team, but only one. The effect lasts for 5 seconds. Freeze Potion-slows the victim down, and the victim takes a small amount of damage for 6 seconds. You can get rid of the effect if the friendly Pyro warms up with his flamethrower. Poison Potion-a small dark cloud is created when thrown. Causes poisoning within 5 seconds, removing 4 health points each. Bacon's Potion-removes negative effects from the team A bandage-An alchemist can give a bandage to a teammate who is bleeding. If this effect is not present, the item will not work. It does not regenerate and does not heal, only removes this effect. Acid bomb "surprise" - is a throwing glass projectile with acid. When it hits the ground, it releases an acid cloud. * Works on both enemies and allies. *When igniting such a cloud, it deals additional damage to everyone who was in it * Only an Alchemist or a first-aid kit at the base can cure this "poison". * Does not work on the Alchemist himself, as the cloth that hides her face is soaked with the antidote and does not work on the Arsonist, as well as on those who are in the uber. Halloween ones. On maps where the Alchemist acts as a boss, these potions are available to mercenaries ONLY in the alchemy machine (there are 3 of them for the entire map) : 1. Explosive potion "Griffin's Feather". It is enough to throw a potion at your feet and it allows the player to jump high and smoothly descend without any damage. Valid for 20 seconds. It works by the type of parachute. 2. Death Potion-turns the player into a zombie (cosmetic effect) 3. Potion "???» - an unknown potion that, once applied, turns the player into toads, deer, elephants, jackals, panthers, chipmunks, bats, cats, and otters (cosmetic random effect.) 4. Reduction Potion-turns players into toddlers that squeak like chipmunks. It also gives you the ability to fly, but you can't use weapons. Exc: Taunts, Machine Gunner's food. 5. Potion of Fear-Scare the shit out of your enemies! But be careful, because it works not only on the enemies, but also on you, too. It can be repelled with compressed air. 6. Potion "blood of the Vampire" - causes a thirst for blood in the owner and if he does not "drink" it from enemies, he will slowly lose health. This poison works for 30 seconds. 7. Potion "Magic for weaklings!" - prohibits the player from picking up and using spells. A potion for those who want to play the classics on this map. 8. Potion of Regenerations – is there no Medic in the vicinity or does he not hear you? Were you injured or had your arm torn off? No question, use this tool and your problems will be solved quickly! Valid for 7 seconds. 9. There is also a new spell during the boss battle (Marasmus, Cona Dei) - challenge Margot. Summons a mutant rat that walks on its hind legs, wears skin clothing, and uses a heavy wooden hammer as a weapon. Health – 460 units. * Rarely when using this spell, during a battle, Kona may resent that Margot " betrayed her» Biography Age: 27 Origin: Greece Bad habits: no Motto: "You need to start all over again" Appearance: Dark brown hair, brown eyes. Normal build. From clothing she has a T-shirt, over which she wears a bulletproof vest with straps for securing weapons. Dark skinny trousers,army boots. On the belt there are two pouches, and there is on the leg. Description Little is known about her past. She doesn't really tell outsiders about it, rather evasively and reluctantly, missing a lot of details. She keeps silent about how she got into the ranks of the mercenaries, because she doesn't really want to talk about it. However, her current goal is to start all over again. Many people will think that she has a secretive character, but in addition to such a trait, you can notice calmness, and an Alchemist can easily be caught off guard when a girl is passionate about something. If you make her angry, the girl will think of a very good plan of revenge, and as for the consequences for her victim, she will not care much. Good and bad qualities: a good friend, not against putting his shoulder to "tears", lack of sleep often cause her indifference to the environment, with which she began to struggle, before she could score a bolt on it. She is careful in her work, but when it comes to working with a Medic, she puts more effort into it. Attitude to other mercenaries Scout-friend (the best option for a direct attack, like " hit and cover») Soldier-dislikes, often comes into conflict with him. This is mostly due to misunderstandings, or the Soldier starts them himself. Arsonist – best friend (fire-acid duo-effective, especially ambush attack on the very crowd of opponents) Demoman- friendly. Do you have someone to borrow gunpowder for experiments Machine gunner – at first she was afraid of him, but over time she became more friendly to him Engineer-work colleague Medic - Teacher-Student relationship Sniper-neither friend nor foe Spy-neutrality Ada Gilbert-passive-positive. Sometimes Miss Gilbert's obsession annoys her Jeanne-neutral Evidence * The last name " Dei "is taken from the song "Green day" and supplemented, since she does not have her own. * The Alchemist keeps a pet-a lab rat named Margo. *Her first mercenary friend was an Pyro. * The girl participates in a joint project with a Medic and an Engineer, building the first prototype of a helmet for viewing dreams, which also records them. *Because of her 8 years of solitude, it is difficult for her to communicate with the rest of the classes outside of combat. *The Alchemist has a thick notebook where she draws different happy moments from life. *The Alchemist has no education, but she was taught all the standards and everything else by her so-called brother. * In non-combat, he wears light but closed clothing, and prefers to wear an arafatka over his face. * The alchemist almost never takes off his gloves.

[wondereads]

Personal Recommendation (2/14/20)

The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley

I’m doing something new this week! I’ll be reviewing every book in The Sisters Grimm series. Each will get a small paragraph and get a rating out of ten, and then I’ll rate the series overall. Hope you guys enjoy it! Please keep in mind this will contain spoilers for the later books, so don’t read ahead if you don’t want some major spoilers!

#1: The Fairy-Tale Detectives     9/10

The very beginning! Sabrina and Daphne Grimm, after a year in foster care with some dubious caretakers, are being sent to live with their grandmother, who, until a few days ago, they didn’t know existed. Granny Relda lives in Ferryport Landing, a typical small town in almost all aspects except for the significant population of fairytale characters or Everafters. The first book serves as a good introduction to Buckley’s world. The sisters have been shielded from fairytales their entire lives, so it’s easy to insert explanations for the inexperienced reader. It also very quickly sets up Sabrina and Daphne’s characters by using their reaction to Granny Relda and her fairytale reveal. Daphne, being a younger, more sheltered child, accepts it wholeheartedly and is excited to get involved in solving magical mysteries. Sabrina, after protecting her sister from nutcases for a year, has a much more cynical outlook, and it takes an actual giant scooping Relda up for her to believe. There’s also some memorable introductions for other important characters such as Mr. Canis, Puck, Mirror, and Mayor Charming. In terms of the plot, Buckley consistently creates mysteries that have twists but aren’t too difficult to follow for late elementary students.

#2: The Unusual Suspects     7/10

Things are starting to get a little more intense. Sabrina and Daphne are required to go to school after being preoccupied with chasing giants around the countryside. Unfortunately, especially for Sabrina, who wants to regain some semblance of normalcy, something is killing the teachers at school. I forgot how gruesome the murders were. I also forgot that Sabrina is in sixth grade. This particular book always got on my nerves. Sabrina is clearly having some issues; her parents are missing, she’s trapped in a town with fairytale characters, she can’t see to escape humiliation either at the hands of Puck or her classmates, and now people are being killed left and right. And yet, her family refuses to see that she needs help and decides to reprimand her constantly instead. The villain for this book is particularly disturbing. I must warn readers-child manipulation and abuse is a common theme in these books. If you couldn’t already catch on in the first book, it becomes obvious here that Sabrina has some grudges against the magical community.

#3: The Problem Child     7/10

This book has a sort of in-between feeling to me. Sabrina comes upon a maniacal little girl dressed in red who is holding her currently enchanted parents captive. The little girl, obsessed with recreating her family, is convinced they are her own parents and controls a jabberwocky, her ‘kitty’. All she needs is a granny and a doggy-Granny Relda and Mr. Canis. Everything in this book pours into the next ones, while, unlike the other books, there isn’t much of a self-contained plot. Red comes more into play in Tales from the Hood and The Everafter War, the election sets up Magic and Other Misdemeanors, and the vorpal blade and Puck’s injury lead into Once Upon a Crime. This book, however, introduces Uncle Jake, one of the most interesting characters in terms of development, and it also begins the problem of Sabrina’s magic addiction. The events of this book contribute to Sabrina’s distrust of magic after she has some run-ins with her addiction. It is also when you maybe start to develop some affection for Charming, despite his over-inflated ego.

#4: Once Upon a Crime     10/10

This one is my personal favorite. After Puck’s run-in with the jabberwocky, the Grimms take an emergency trip to New York, Sabrina and Daphne’s old home. There they plead the king of Faerie, Oberon, to heal Puck. Unfortunately, Oberon is poisoned within hours of their arrival, and Relda, of course, takes the case. This book is so much fun because in Ferryport Landing they just sprinkle the whole town in forgetful dust. In New York, Everafters need real jobs and a way to cover their tracks as beings who don’t age. The Wizard of Oz works at Macy’s, Ebenezer Scrooge makes a living as a medium, and pirates such as Long John Silver feed off of Wall Street. It also addresses the downsides of that. Everafters don’t age; some of them don’t even look human. It comes as a shock to Sabrina, but her mother, Veronica Grimm, was secretly working with the New York Everafters to fix their problems. I feel that Sabrina finding a connection to her mother through the Everafter community is the first step she takes toward accepting her role as a Grimm.

#5: Magic and Other Misdemeanors     8/10

The conflict between humans and Everafters starts to take center stage. Someone in Ferryport Landing is stealing powerful magical artifacts, causing rips in time, but the Grimms have to split their attention with Mayor Heart’s new tyrannical rule. This is where the series begins to take a darker turn. The new mayor, the Queen of Hearts, and Sheriff Nottingham are set on running every human in Ferryport Landing out of town, and the divides between human and Everafter are becoming more pronounced by the day. The rips in time are particularly interesting, especially Sabrina and Daphne’s trip to the future, which really raises the stakes going forward. Also, the idea of a past Grimm arriving in town, giving Heart and Nottingham a chance to end the entire family, is very nervewracking. Also, the concept of Everafter-human relationships and how that would work presents some interesting conflicts.

#6: Tales from the Hood     10/10

There’s nothing I love more than a fractured fairytale. Intent on getting rid of the Grimms’ staunch protector, Heart and Nottingham put Mr. Canis, or the Big Bad Wolf, on trial. Some investigation in order to clear his name reveals that the story of Little Red Riding Hood might not be all true. Technically, the entire series is based on fairytales, but this is the first book where those stories are actually challenged. The actual story of Little Red Riding Hood is amazing, and it also ties into all the other stories the Wolf is present in. Also, I love Red, the sane Red, and I always get so happy when she’s cured. Once again, Sabrina clashes strongly with her family in this one, for understandable reasons. I’m less inclined to side with her on this one, but she definitely learns her lesson.

#7: The Everafter War     8/10

The Grimms are finally united! Henry and Veronica Grimm are woken up from their magical sleep, but Henry, having too many bad memories, wants to leave town immediately. Unfortunately, the Scarlet Hand has taken over all of Ferryport Landing and only a small resistance stands in their way. There’s a lot of family drama in this one. The dynamics of Sabrina, Daphne, and their parents are all out of whack after spending over a year apart. On one hand, they now have parental support again. On the other, Henry can’t seem to conceptualize that Daphne is, in fact, not five anymore. If that isn’t enough drama for you, Puck finds out he and Sabrina are married in the future, and Snow and Charming are caught up in a soap opera of their own. Also, not to mention the plethora of betrayals in this book. The plot is really picking up here.

#8: The Inside Story     8/10

This one took quite some imagination. After the reveal of the Master’s identity as their own beloved Mirror, Sabrina, Daphne, and Puck pursue him and Pinocchio through the Book of Everafter, a living book filled with fairytales that could actually change history. I find it absolutely hilarious that the kids absolutely refuse to follow the story no matter what. Also, this is where Sabrina starts coming into her own. She’s going through a rough patch in this book. As would anyone whose best friend turned out to be the leader of a magical terrorist organization. By the way, if you are connected to these characters in any way, Mirror’s betrayal will hit you like a punch to the gut. She’s having trouble trusting her judgement, which will have her come back stronger than ever. Also, it’s nice to see her and Puck get through a couple sentences without a barrage of insults. Finally, Relda was such a badass in this book. If you didn’t love her before, you definitely love her now.

#9: The Council of Mirrors     9/10

It’s time for a happily ever after. With Mirror running loose in Ferryport Landing and the rebellion in tatters, things are looking bleak. Especially when the twenty-four remaining magic mirrors issue a prophecy putting everyone’s fate in the hands of Sabrina and Daphne Grimm. Sabrina starts out pretty broken in this book. She’s been betrayed, her grandmother is possessed by an evil mirror, and now everyone is expecting her to lead an army. I absolutely love that when she gets the push she needs from the mirrors it plays to her strengths. She’s a master of planning and subterfuge, and it’s so nice to see it come out. On a less chipper note, I hate Atticus with everything in me, and I was so happy he ended the way he did. In terms of Mirror, I found it poetic, but also so typical of a kid’s book, that he was defeated by the one thing he never had: love. Finally, the reason this book doesn’t get a 10/10 is because I felt the epilogues were kind of rushed and unrealistic. However, they don’t have much impact on the book overall, and I still loved most of it!

Overall 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

The Sisters Grimm is one of my favorite series from childhood. The characters are realistic, relatable, and get great development. Kids books are great because there’s no worries about the idea being too juvenile. This book could never be an adult book, the ideas in it are too silly. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t amazing, and I find the crazy ideas and cheesy lessons absolutely charming. It gives some unexpected sides to some well-known characters, and the amount of thought that went into incorporating classic and even more obscure characters into the modern world was crazy and very amusing at times. I also suspect that this series is the root of my fondness for fractured fairytales. I would recommend this book to people who like modern fantasy, sibling relationships, and fairytale characters in a decidedly un-mystical setting.

The Author

Michael Buckley: American, 51 years old, also wrote N.E.R.D.S. and Undertow

The Reviewer

My name is Wonderose; I try to post a review every two weeks, and I take recommendations. Check out my about me post for more!

[hpdrizzle]

Below is the list of all the fic for 2020 drizzle fest! Thanks for all your support - reveals will be posted on 10th October, Saturday. 

FEMSLASH Title: Time After Time Pairing: Ginny/Luna Summary: A few weeks after the Battle of Hogwarts, Luna buys an ice cream truck. Title: sugarcane in the easy morning Pairing: Ginny/Pansy Summary: “I mean, it’s not like there’s anything special about Ross,” Pansy continues. “Why do the most beautiful and powerful women go for the most painfully average men?” Title: Under Adverse Conditions Pairing: Ginny/Pansy Summary: With most of the castle away at Hogsmeade, Ginny and Pansy use the time to fly together. Title: Asbhury Manor Pairing: Millicent/Hermione Summary: Millicent farms the land on her manor. She enjoys the work and the weather, but she is lonely. Enter Hermione Granger.

There are many more awesome fics under the cut! 

GEN / MULTIPLE PAIRINGS Title: You Don’t Know [how you betrayed me] Pairing: Voldemort. Tom Riddle Sr. [GEN] Summary: Tom Marvolo Riddle meets his father on a cold and wintry night. He never meant for things to unfold the way that they do but there had been something inside him that wanted to investigate where he came from. Title: Thunder & Lightning Pairing: Hermione Granger/Fabian Prewett/Gideon Prewett Summary: A thunderstorm and a little bit of magic bring Hermione a pair of unexpected guests. Title: Getting some Vitamin D Characters/Pairings: Hermione/Adrian/Marcus Summary: Hermione takes advantage of the warm, Caribbean sun.

SLASH Title: Storms of Stars and Scars Pairing: Remus/Sirius Summary: Seven storms over seven years of Hogwarts tell the story of how Remus and Sirius fell in love. Title: Come In From The Cold Characters/Pairings: Remus/Sirius Summary: The first Hogsmeade weekend of the Marauders’ sixth year. Alternatively: In which Sirius frets and works to keep Remus warm, James argues it’s not that cold, Remus wishes the cold brought something more, and Peter just wishes everyone would get their heads out of their asses. Title: Hourglass Characters/Pairings: Remus/Sirius Summary: Sirius encounters a boy who got mugged. He offers to give him a ride home. Title: time, curious time Pairing: Remus/Sirius Summary: “Do you still remember how it started?” he asks. “How could I forget?” you ask back. Title: Riverbank Pairing: Remus/Sirius Summary: While looking for an escape from his broken family, Sirius finds the riverbank. And a boy with pink hair. Title: A Summertime Thunderstorm Pairing: Remus/Sirius Summary: Summers in Wales were ideal. Sunny, windy, warm without being sweltering… and the perfect time for Remus and Sirius to explore the feelings they’ve been dancing around for the better part of a year. Title: Freedom They Can Reach Pairing: Remus/Sirius Summary: Under rising thunderclouds in late July 1980, Remus and Sirius take a different road towards home or freedom. Title: That Summer was Good to Us Pairing: Remus/Sirius Summary: Summers in Wales were ideal. Sunny, windy, warm without being sweltering… and the perfect time for Remus and Sirius to explore the feelings they’ve been dancing around for the better part of a year. Title: Eye of the Storm Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: A storm rages blindly around a cabin with no doors. Without magic, Draco and Harry are trapped inside. Title: The cold never bothers me anyway Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: It takes Harry one pointless mission to the Arctic, three falls into the snow, a few lines from Let It Go, and thousands of floating ice crystals to realize just how beautiful Draco Malfoy is. Title: Brighter Than The Sun Characters/Pairings: Draco/Harry Summary: Draco was promised a relaxing day at the beach. This was certainly not it! Title: Winter has called you [and me] Characters/Pairings: Draco/Harry Summary: Draco decided to visit his aunt in the countryside to be a little bit away from the city. While going back, he didn’t notice a snow storm was coming, trapping him in the snow a few cities away from his aunt’s house. He didn’t expect a handsome man to save him. He also didn’t expect Harry to be his soulmate. Title: A Fault In The Weather Characters/Pairings: Draco/Harry Summary: Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes have brought out a new item: a Portable Swamp. As one of their most trusted amateur prototype testers, Harry is ecstatic to get this latest object. The only problem is that it…doesn’t seem to work. It’s generating storm clouds that sweep through the Hogwarts corridors, and showering the students with rain, hail, and snow. The storms are getting stronger, but Charms Professor Malfoy and DADA Professor Potter are on the case. Title: Key to my heart Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: Harry Potter gets locked out in the rain. He goes to his neighbour Draco Malfoy for help. Title: (You’ve Gotta) Taste The Rain Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: Harry can’t take the rat race anymore and quits Auror training just before graduation. He hopes a move to the country will bring him what he’s looking for. He doesn’t factor in a wandering neighbour who turns out to be very familiar. As the rain continues to pour, things get heated. Title: The Locus of the Fracas Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: Harry is assigned community payback, and it’s all Malfoy’s fault. Title: Only Happy When It Rains Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: Weather-Be’s, the up-and coming business of Draco Malfoy, guarantees* perfect weather for your event! If you need warm sunshine, Weather-Be’s will provide it. If you want atmospheric fog, we can make that happen. We have a 100%** success rate at giving you the weather you want. | *guarantee invalid if Harry Potter is in attendance | **success rate drops to 97% when Harry Potter’s attendance at events is counted. Title: Golden Daffodils’ Sea Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: Harry returned to Grimmauld and curled alone in Sirius’ bed, the night weighted on him and he choked with fear. A crack inside him had the shape and sound of their portkey disappearing. He didn’t sleep that night, Fred’s funeral fresh in his mind too. The guilt at his lack of tears or emotions the previous day overwhelmed him and kept his eyes opened so he could feel how undeserving of the Weasley’s love he was. The months after the Battle of Hogwarts are sunny and beautiful, even though it feels like the sky should be falling around Harry. He tries to get through grief while fixing Hogwarts, capture some Death Eaters, return to his last year of school and befriend one Draco Malfoy. However, he’ll have to realize grief is not the only thing he has to fight now that he came back from death. Title: Let him be kind Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: A ghost is haunting the halls of Malfoy Manor, wailing at all hours of the day. Unfortunately for Draco, the only person to happily offer their ghost-be-gone services was none other than Harry Potter. Title: Forever In My Mind (Be My Golden Sunshine) Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: Harry Potter flees London and a broken engagement. He finds solace in the vineyards of Châteaux Malfoy and finds a love that he could never have expected. Title: No Rules in a Breakable Heaven Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: When a magical rainstorm reveals everyone’s deepest desires, Harry learns far more about his friends and colleagues than he ever wanted to know. Worst of all, he suddenly has to face his own deepest desire. Title: What the body wants is coolness Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: Draco and Harry have been seeing each other for months, and Harry decides the best way to tell their friends is to bring Draco to a group beach outing. Draco’s given up enumerating all the ways this plan could go wrong. Title: Comfort In The Storm Pairing: Harry & Ron Summary: “Storms are even scarier outside of the cupboard. Title: I will answer thy prayers (if thou wouldst drink of my life) Pairing: Voldemort/Harry Summary: Instead of duelling Harry in the graveyard, Voldemort kisses him instead. Title: The summer of 1899 Pairing: Albus/Gellert Summary: The cicadas are humming on that humid summer day when Albus meets Gellert for the first time. What follows is an intense, passionate affair that lasts for one perfect summer. Title: Kick In Characters/Pairings: Severus/Sirius Summary: Severus loves his husband, he really does. Even if his obsessions with nudity and rain drive him crazy sometimes. Title: Unexpected Companion Characters/Pairings: Harry/Theo Summary: While picking up a birthday cake for Hermione in Knockturn Alley, an unexpected rainstorm causes Harry to take shelter where he finds himself bumping into someone he hasn’t seen in quite a while. Title: A Loss of Control Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Hugo Weasley Summary: Bored at yet another Ministry charity event, Hugo goes for a wander and finds himself with someone he never expected to. Title: heartbreak was never so loud Pairing: Marcus/Oliver Summary: Oliver starts out wanting to help Flint fit into the team. Somewhere along the way, he loses his heart to the large, surly Beater. Title: Searching For Comfort Pairing: Snape/Harry Summary: Severus was mostly there for the air-conditioning. He didn’t know it would change his life! Title: What the rainbow never tells me Pairing: James Sirius/Teddy Lupin Summary: When James is challenged with an impossible task—to find the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow—no one expects him to succeed. But what they don’t know is that James has a pretty good in with England’s premier Weather Wizard, Teddy Lupin. Title: His Reward Pairing: Snape/Draco Summary: All Draco wants for Christmas is protection. And snow. Title: Too Good To Be True Pairing: James/Regulus Summary: He couldn’t help but peruse James’ body as he answered his question. It was slowly distracting Regulus, but he couldn’t think about that now. HET Title: Funny Weather You’re Having Pairing: Zach/Luna Summary: Zach notices a strange weather pattern around Luna’s house, and decides to investigate. Title: Windy and Windy Roads Pairing: Ron/Hermione Summary: After a shopping trip in Flourish and Blotts, the wind decides to kidnap Ron’s hat. If only the wind knew what that hat meant to the Granger-Weasleys. If it did, the wind would likely have left it well enough alone. Title: Sitting in the Rain Pairing: Luna/Rolf Summary: Luna is sitting in her garden out in the rain and Harry decides to go out and join her. Title: Storming Love Characters/Pairings: Harry/Daphne Summary: Harry never expected to wake up to a rainstorm in his bedroom without a hole in the roof. Can an owl to Theo break the storm that seems to be following him? Title: Brighter Than The Sun Characters/Pairings: Pansy/Ron Summary: Ron Weasley has found the love of his life. All he needs to do is get the asking right and he’s sure Pansy Parkinson will agree to tie their lives together… if only the weather would cooperate. Title: Weathering The Storm Pairing: Ginny/Blaise Summary: Ginny’s invitation to her first quidditch match as a Harpie has Blaise a bit nervous. The storm brewing in the sky is almost as strong as the storm brewing in his heart. Can they both survive the match and its aftermath? Title: I want to feel the thunder (I want to scream) Pairing: George/Luna Summary: Sometimes things don’t need to be said, but they’re nice to hear anyway (especially when it stops your boyfriend from turning into a frog every time it rains). Title: How It Falls Pairing: Ron/Pansy Summary: Pansy Parkinson wants to live life her own way, but her mother has other ideas—specifically, she wants her to marry a certain type of wizard. Title: Corazón De Mi Alma Pairing: Harry/Hermione Summary: Harry and Hermione travel to Mexico for the repatriation of a cursed Mayan artifact. Title: Pathetic Fallacy Pairing: Hermione/Draco Summary: ‘I have an idea,’ he said quietly, ‘but I don’t think you’re going to like it.’ Title: Suddenly this rain, This defeat Characters/Pairings: Hermione/Draco Summary: A weeks long storm of mysterious origins brings more than just a headache for Hermione Granger. It also brings Draco Malfoy back into her life and her heart in a way she never expected. Title: Anchors In A Storm Pairing: Hermione/Draco Summary: Draco’s current mistake—well, it wasn’t simply one, but three—was a chain of seemingly unconnected events that, when spliced together just so, made one hell of a shit storm. Title: Queen of my heart (long may she rain) Pairing: Hermione/Draco Summary: Draco likes Granger./Granger likes books./This could be useful. Title: Make it Rain Pairing: Hermione/Draco Summary: It is raining the first time Draco Malfoy kisses Hermione Granger. Or more accurately, the first time she kisses him. Title: though she be but little Pairing: Hermione/Draco Summary: He wasn’t Shakespeare, painting pictures with his quill tip; just a boy with a festering mark on his arm and a storm in his head. Title: Shifting Sands Pairing: Hermione/Draco Summary: Hermione notices a discrepancy during an audit. Draco tries to convince her that nothing is amiss. Lightning strikes at least once. Title: Flaming Tears Pairing: Hermione/Draco Summary: He set fire to the rain and watched it pour as it touched her face.

[boku-no-abo]

I'M BACK! muahahaha. What are you headcanons for Omega Aizawa, Omega Bakugou, and Alpha Mic??? hehehe

Omega Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead

His scent is fresh ink.

He’s gotten shit about his scent being atypical before, and at this point he’s numb to it.

He lets Eri sleep in his nest to help with her nightmares.

Most people assume he’s an alpha or beta at first glance, but he’ll correct them if they say something about it or ask.

He’s the only omega on the UA staff except for Recovery Girl, but their age difference makes it a little hard to connect with her about omega problems seeing as she stopped having heats like, twenty years ago, so he feels a little lonely sometimes.

His only omega friend is Ms. Joke, and every time he meets up with her to talk about omega problems, he leaves desperately wishing he had other options.

He’s in a loose pack with Midnight and Mic. Packs are officially made by having a “head” alpha lightly bite all the other packmates on the scent gland on the left side of the neck (the right scent gland is for mating bites), and they’ve never done that, but their inner alphas and omega see each other as packmates.

When he’s in pre-heat (my verse’s pre-heats last for a week), he has his friends scent his sleeping bag so it can serve as a nest.

He’s an obsessive nester, and gets a little OCD over it at times. In pre-heat, he’ll spend hours reorganizing his nest to try and make it look “perfect.”

Omega teachers have a habit of getting attached to their kids, and he’s no exception. He gets pretty emotional whenever one of his classes graduates.

Class 1-A is the most attached he’s ever gotten to a class though, mainly because of his instincts kicking into overdrive during the USJ incident.

I have a concept called “imprinting,” which is when someone’s inner alpha/beta/omega accepts someone younger than them as their pup, usually after an event of some kind. Tsuyu imprinted on him when he saved her from Shigaraki, Bakugou after the Kamino incident, Shinsou after he was accepted into the hero program, and Eri after he’d been looking after her for a month or two. He has not talked to any of them about it, much to Present Mic’s chagrin.

Sometimes, when he gets the scent of a student on his clothes during the day while he’s in pre-heat, he’ll add it to his nest, as pre-heats make omega instincts stronger, including parental ones.

Most of the items in his nest were scented by Present Mic.

Omega Bakugou Katsuki

His scent is burnt sugar.

Like Aizawa, he’s gotten shit for his scent, as burnt smells are associated more with alphas.

Mitsuki’s an alpha and Masaru’s a beta, so he latched onto Inko as his omega role model when he was a kid. It shifted to Aizawa when he got to UA.

He doesn’t ask before he takes your shit for his nest, and he won’t give anything back. If you’re missing a shirt or a pillow, then too bad. It’s his now. You should’ve guarded it better.

He doesn’t give a shit about how people will see him because of his omega status. If they think omegas shouldn’t be this loud, or angry, or take leadership positions, then fuck them! He doesn’t need their shitty opinion!

He’s the head omega in the class, and there is literally no debate over it, unlike the role of head beta or head alpha.

Iida and Momo have a little rivalry going, seeing as they both see themselves as the head alpha, but they’re too polite to actually fight each other about it. Bakugou is infuriated by this and commonly tells them to “fight each other already!” whenever he sees them back down from another conflict, and sometimes has to be stopped from trying to fight them himself.

The first person he lets in his nest who wasn’t his dad is Jirou (as bros, not romantically), who normally comes to him when she needs emotional support. The rest of the Bakupack usually use Kaminari as their “emotional support omega.”

He’s the best omega in the class at reading people and the emotions in their scents, but he is horrible at reacting to it correctly.

Deku thinks of him as a packmate, and every time he mentions that out loud, Bakugou tries to blow his head off.

He got Aizawa to scent a blanket for his nest once. It was probably the most awkward encounter in both of the omegas' lives, but the result was well worth it. It’s his favourite item in his nest.

He’s gotten a lot of shit since the sports festival about being “too alpha” for an omega. He tries not to let it bother him.

Camie’s his go-to friend for omega shit. They’ve gone nest shopping together a few times. Kaminari felt betrayed when he found out.

Alpha Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic

His scent is chocolate fudge.

Most of the UA teachers are alphas, but he’s the main one alpha kids go to when they have questions that have to do with their secondary gender, mainly because he makes a big effort to make his students feel comfortable with him. Omega kids tend to go to Recovery Girl, and beta ones to Thirteen.

He changes his seating plan monthly so he can place alpha kids next to their omega crushes and vice versa, just for the drama.

His favourite student is Jirou (though he doesn’t let it show to anyone but her), and he sees the younger alpha as his “protege” thanks to her sound type quirk, spending time teaching her how to protect her allies hearing in battle. Thanks to this, he was the first person she told about her attraction to other alpha females and crush on Momo. He, of course, uses this knowledge to place them together in as many group projects as possible.

He gets really excited when Aizawa asks him to scent things for his nest, even though he’s been doing it for him since high school.

He’s pretty chill as far as alphas go. He’s got a dominant personality, but he only really gets protective over his packmates when he has a legitimate reason to think they’re in danger.

The only dominance fight he’s gotten in was with an alpha who was trying to court Aizawa in high school, even though the omega was oblivious to it. The alpha walked out with a burst eardrum, and Aizawa was pissed off about it for a week thanks to how stupid he thought it was.

He really likes seeing people he’s interested in wearing his clothes. Once, in high school, Aizawa put on his jacket and he got a nosebleed at the sight. Midnight hasn’t let him live it down to this day.

He loves letting his friends in his den, mainly because he likes compliments.

The reason his little pack with Midnight and Aizawa is informal is because they don’t want the drama of picking a head alpha, but he’s pretty sure he’d make a better one than Midnight (she, of course, thinks the exact same thing)

Damn this ended up being long lmao

[sarcasticnerdfan]

My Unpopular Harry Potter Opinions

I don’t like Draco/Harry

I don’t like Remus/Tonks

But I love Teddy and that whole part of Deathly Hallows where Harry yells at Remus to go back to his kid

Idk it’s confusing

I don’t really like Hagrid

Scorpius/Rose is terrible (this one’s not that unpopular I don’t think)

I don’t like Ron/Hermione because they argued over everything in the books and annoyed each other a lot

I don’t like that everyone just married their high school sweethearts

I don’t like Dobby and was almost kind of happy when he died

I know I’m a terrible person

Dumbledore was a horrible person

I’m more okay with the “Severus” part of “Albus Severus” because everyone was always going to remember Dumbledore, and I think Harry only used Severus so that Snape’s contribution would be recognized

And if Snape lived Harry would not have named his child after Snape

Avada Kedavra is dumb and boring

I think Ron should have died instead of Fred

I will forever be upset that Harry didn’t tell Voldemort that Regulus Black betrayed him

Harry should have been the DADA teacher after being an Auror for just a few years to round up the remaining Death Eaters

I really want a story or something when Harry and co’s kids get told about the war in detail, whether in be from their parents or in a school history lesson

I don’t think Neville/Luna should have been a thing. They’re great friends but Luna is too free-spirited to ever be the kind of wife I imagine Neville wanting.

Why did everyone get married and have kids? There are plenty of people in the real world who don’t want that and it would have been cool for someone besides Charlie Weasley to represent that.

Percy is not a bad person!!!

Sirius Black was totally and completely suave, dapper, smooth, gentlemanly, etc. but also respected everyone (girls, trans, lgbt+, etc) and their boundaries and always made sure people were comfortable. (again, not sure how unpopular this is, but I haven’t seen much on it so...)

The Golden Trio should have remained 100% platonic

Oliver Wood is really freaking fantastic

McGonagall was basically everyone’s mother

James Potter was a selfless amazing man

this is becoming more like just my opinions oh well

Scorpius/Albus is perfect

Harry Potter would have been a great dad

I don’t like the fanfics/headcanons that portray everyone as gay (or in a gay relationship or trans) because that’s not how real life works but it doesn’t really bother me as much as a lot of other things.

Seamus/Dean is great

I would rather have Fred die than Remus Lupin

I’M SORRY OKAY

Draco and Astoria are so cute together and they’re great parents and probably both total dorks and I love it

Sirius/Remus definitely happened and is great

I used to basically idolize Hermione but now I find her annoying and overly-emotional

The movies messed up Ron and Hermione 

Fred and George are geniuses

If Fred had to die I wish he died for someone. You know, like shielding Percy from an explosion but dying in the process. Something like that would have been perfect and shown the depth that a lot of people don’t think about

Everyone should definitely read the books because they’re so much better

Oliver/Percy is great

I pity Draco Malfoy

Somewhere deep inside, Bellatrix cared for her disowned family. She didn’t try to kill Sirius, she tried to stupefy him. It didn’t seem to effect her much after the fact, but it still makes me wonder because she’s normally so ruthless. She didn’t even hurt him.

Lupin is so extra and fabulous and I love him

After the war, the trio definitely worked hard to make life better for werewolves

Madam Pomfrey is a bamf

I hate it when people blame the Horcrux for Ron leaving in Deathly Hallows. Because Hermione and Harry could control themselves, and Harry was a literal Horcrux himself, so putting the locket on was like double and he was still relatively fine (aside from being grumpy)

I really want to know how menstruation works at Hogwarts

McGonagall never let people see her cry so she shut herself off after the Battle of Hogwarts. 

Maybe when McGonagall is crying alone in her office one day recently after the battle, Harry comes in and they talk about a lot because she was always basically his mother and she loves her students as if they were her children

Harry is a sweetheart but also so fucking sassy and I love it more than anything

The books are so funny tho

It sort of seems like Harry/Ginny make better friends, but idk I could go either way they’re not horrible

Slytherin isn’t that bad

Harry & co. definitely had PTSD and lots of trauma and I want to know more about their processes and dealing with it

Sirius/Remus is the best damn power couple ever

Draco deserved a redemption arc

There should’ve been more focus on other houses besides Gryffindor

Half-Blood Prince is one of the best in the beginning and end, but the middle is boring and unnecessary

Ravenclaw is the best house

Prisoner of Azkaban is also one of the best (movie and book)

Deathly Hallows is the best book, but neither movie is that good

Harry is actually clever/smart/intelligent and people always say he’s not but he really is, especially in bad situations. 

Hermione may be smart, but in urgent situations, she’s too emotional and can’t think which isn’t good

Harry is great at quick-thinking and problem-solving

Hermione was a control-freak and also sort of abusive/manipulative

Voldemort’s ego made him not as scary

Fleur was a bamf

Molly Weasley is a questionable mother and close-minded

There are a lot of plotholes

Percy was so complex and didn’t deserve the hate

ALL CHARACTERS MAKE MISTAKES

The movies aren’t that bad, but people compare them too much to the books

The houses aren’t that great of an idea with the different traits, and the fanbase obsesses over the houses way too much

Lily/James is such a powerful and healthy relationship and I love it

I love the platonic affection shown without romantic intentions I might add to this

[normal-thoughts-official]

Oooh yeah the first time I was playing as a female mc because I wanted to romance ava and I usually go male mc if I want to romance a man and female mc if I want to romance a woman (and I think there was one book with where mc could be non-binary so I picked that one but I didn't finished the book), and Stacy's brother felt Hetero™ in a way, like Hollywood ish (? Honestly like cinematographicly bad hetero) but I ended up really loving Andy too, and Stacy felt a little flat but also I really liked her potential, like go crazy girl, and the mom issues.

Apart but holy shit you're 10000% right about that teacher like who inmediately threatens expulsion just like that for something not violent ??? And to an honor student with way too much on his plate ??? Obviously it would have been bad with any student, but you have literally the reason of why he's doing it and as a teacher HE LITERALLY COULD HAVE HELPED WITH IT ??????? Like something teachers can't really help students because it's a family thing only or is a financial struggle or etc but it was literally because of school (and his family, but the teacher could have heloed him with the school part)

(Identity thief anon (also I go by any pronouns ahhshs))

ur valid! that's lowkey what i wish i'd do (picking female MC if my fave LI is female and the other way around, i mean) but unfortunately i always go into the stories blindly having no idea what i'll find </3 so i cant really do that doiajdiosa and then i get attached for the MC i picked so i feel bad about changing their gender/name/appearance when i replay. so what i usually do is that i pick a male MC when i get the option because A- u don't always get the option, so i end up being male half the time and female half the time either way; and B- i feel slightly more comfortable with a male identity than a female one. like i'm still nonbinary and i wouldn't consider myself male aligned or within the gender of Man, but like... when i first came out i went by any pronouns but then because im afab everyone was like "cool, she/her only it is" so i was like fuck that and stopped using she/her. so i feel slightly more comfortable with a masc MC and end up going with that

there's also the fact that it always feels slightly genderfucky to have a male MC because choices is so sexist and also always writes the stories assuming ull pick a female MC, even when they give u the option not to. so when u pick a male MC he's very like not toxically masc and some things they add to make a QuiRkY MC that are very white woman and would feel annoying are actually kind of subversive for my black and brown male MCs. so like another win for queerness /j

ILITW MC in particular i feel has HUGE nonbinary vibes like no reason at all he just does <3 maybe it's just that for once the male clothes for ILITW actually fUCK. i wanna dress in that goth outfit <3 so gorgeous ugh. i love him even tho he's a fucking dumbass

also there's a book where an MC can be enby? worm? ive only ever read one book in choices with any enby characters at all (america's most elligible, books 2-3) but they weren't even a LI which is disappointing cuz they were a billion times superior to any of the LIs. sorry america's most elligible LIs fans

also oh connor IS the epitome of white cistraight man even when u play as a man tbh, like he was just so cistraight to me daouhdsaojdasij he kind of annoys me but also i forget that he even exists until he shows up onscreen and choices starts trying to push me into his lap and i'm just like, ugh, not again

and yeah i think i feel a similar way about stacy. i don't dislike her as a character and i don't feel like she as a character felt flat, her growth was very interesting and i loved seeing her start to challenge her mom like YESSS GO GIRL GIVE US EVERYTHING, she just felt flat as a LI to me ig? like idk i didn't feel chemistry between her and my MC personally, but also like, stacy girls are valid u know

right exactly. like i don't think ppl really understand that a school that doesn't drive people to cry during finals week and feel absolutely crushed by having to be there and that makes ppl feel like they're stupid, not enough, and overwhelmed IS IN FACT POSSIBLE and actually pretty easy to make when we stop treating students like statistics that will get the school more clients/funding (depending on whether it's a private or public school). and like as a teacher getting my degree in brasil it just feels completely surreal to me that anyone would see a student who's so overwhelmed by the amount of extracurriculars and responsibilities he feels like he has to take that he starts taking drugs to help his performance despite it affecting his health, and see that as like... something morally reprehensible? like it is bad that it happened but it's not the student's fault, what's morally reprehensible are the circumstances that led to his decision, not his decision

and like it is very much a systemic problem, more and more kids are taking focus pills to be able to survive the pressure of school and have a shot at a future, either on their own or because we are actually medicalizing not existing to be productive. and if it's a systemic problem then the fault is at the system?? and like holy shit i legit don't understand why choices gave us options like being like "it still isn't enough" when lucas gets rid of his pills, what do you mean it isn't enough??? enough for what??? to FORGIVE him???? for something that only hurt himself??? for something that is very much a systemic problem and therefore NOT HIS FAULT????? literally what the fuck even is this, lucas doesn't have to "make up" for a single thing, he needs to be HELPED is what he needs

like idk i know that the school system in the US is...... extremely backwards lmao which is not a term i like to use because it usually implies imperialistic views but the US is the height of world imperialism so like actually idc. brasil has a pretty progressive constitution and as a teacher my whole education was focused on being critical of the school system, particularly the productivity obsession, and drilling into us again and again that we aren't supposed to just be teaching subjects, we are also supposed to be teaching how to be a citizen, be a critical human being, work towards building a better future, and learning and growing AS A PERSON to be healthy and happy are values of the school system

like that's easier said than done when schools are under insane amounts of pressure by companies in practice to be productivity-driven, and most teachers who actually want to do a good job end up having to live at the edge of the knife and constantly fighting back outside pressure, but at least it is very much a mandatory part of our education to become teachers and also like literally part of the constitution. so i just... i can't fathom reacting the way mr cooper did? like as a teacher i felt BETRAYED, i felt like he shat all over my profession because that is the opposite of what we should be doing, this is a kid who needs help

and just like hOLY SHIT HE DID NOTHING WRONG, what are you punishing him for??? it's not even a like, stealing bread to feed your family situation, because what he did HAS NO VICTIM OTHER THAN HIMSELF, and therefore HE IS THE VICTIM NOT THE CULPRIT. he doesn't have to repent or atone or answer for a single fucking thing, he didn't victimize others, he doesn't have to apologize, there's nothing to punish him fOR??? like i don't believe in punishment anyway cuz im a prison abolitionist but doDAUSDJADASIJDAS???????????? HE DIDN'T. HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG. WHY IS THIS WHOLE GAME ACTING AS IF HE WAS IN THE WRONG. OH MY GOD

it's like saying that someone needs to be forgiven for self harming????? like how is it that someone has been hurt continuously until it led them to hurt themselves and then they have to? make up for it to a bunch of other ppl? my god it makes me so mad and i genuinely don't understand the logic, like usually when i see someone doing fucked up shit i can see the logic but i don't agree with it, but this time i genuinely DON'T SEE THE LOGIC. my USan friends said it was because he was technically doing drugs but like i legit still don't understand

anyway any school that drives a student to do something like that needs to rethink their entire curriculum and the psychological effect it's having on kids, because lucas is 1- not even the first one according to mr cooper; 2- even if he was, that'd be the only one who got CAUGHT; and 3- even if there was really only one singular student who went tHIS far, i doubt the others weren't feeling that same pressure and dealing with it in other similarly unhealthy ways

i know that's probably easier in brasil than in the US even if it's by no means easy here because here at least in public schools the curriculum and political-pedagogical plan has to be agreed on by the school community (teachers, parents, students, workers, and anyone who lives in the area of the school) and it's updated every year, so like, you have more means to do something to change the school in a deeper way, altho of course that still has to mean swinging the rest of the community, but still. but at the very least he could have looked for counseling for him? tried to find a way to take some of the workload off his shoulders? given him some more time on assignments? motioning for all the clubs he was the president of to have co-presidents so he was less overwhelmed?

like there was just daodsao he could have done so many things and he justs DIDN'T he chose to not only punish him instead but quite literally THREATEN HIM WITH DEATH because that's what calling the police on a latino student over a drug charge is. like he might've survived but the possibility that he would fucking DIE was very much there, and i know choices didn't think of that because they'd rather die than think about the racial implications of anything but holy fucking shit. and im not even getting into how mr cooper is BLACK because then ill just start biting people like thanks for putting that threat on a black character's mouth choices. if u need me ill be foaming at the mouth

anyway SORRY god why is it that i always get to the salty part within 2 seconds of joining a fandom i promise that i actually like it lives and the way they handled most of their plot, i genuinely think it's a very well written and actually worth ur time story but i just doadosaida like i said particularly as a teacher in the context where i'm being taught, plus with all my political beliefs, i just can't let it go aaaa

also ty for telling me ur pronouns! idk if i assumed them at any time, i don't think so but i might have done so without realizing and if i did im really sorry. also sorry for the gigantic salty reply daojdsaojdaisjsajdoadsaodasj rip me i never shut up

[honhonluigi]

I'm curious. You've said you dislike religion (which is valid as fuck and I have the same opinion), but if that's the case then why is Angie one of your favorite characters?

(I don't mean anything offensive or anything by this, by the way! If it makes you uncomfortable feel free to delete it.)

No, no, man, I totally get it. I’m sure it looks confusing from the outside. I can explain myself no problem. 

I guess it’s probably important to give a little explanation of why I hate religion so much, because it’ll make more sense then. I don’t hate religion because I’m an atheist. I am an atheist because of evidence and facts. Because I want to draw my conclusions based on fact and evidence. If I saw what I thought was undeniable proof of any god’s existence, I’d change my mind. Nah, I hate religion because I was raised in a cult. Not like a “my parents were heavily evangelical/strict” way. My parents were actual official members in an actual cult, listed as a cult by government officials (though they’re considering removing it from the list which would be a supremely bad idea.) You look up all the fucked up things that cults do? Those lists of “How To Tell If You’re In A Cult?” You’re describing this religion to a tee. It gets an A+ in every aspect of cultism. It wasn’t a cape-and-fire-chanting-in-the-woods cult. Those aren’t real. This was a Christian-based cult. (Most real-life cults are. Aside from like...Scientology maybe?) But they weren’t just Christians who took it seriously, like I said. It was a separate cult religion and the entire religion is officially cited as a cult. It was just Christianity-based. See if you can guess what it is. Based on the clues I gave I’d say there’s like...two choices. 

Anyway, that’s why I hate religion. Because I’ve seen and suffered first-hand all the damage that religion can cause innocent people. Not just in religious wars and acts of prejudice, but just in individual thought and life control aspects and so much fucking trauma. In torment and guilt and wasted years. In passed opportunities and ended relationships and sexual repression. Religion sucks. (In my opinion, all religions are fundamentally cults at their core. Or they would be, if the worshippers actually adhered strictly to the rules that they made. Which they usually don’t, hence why most mainstream religions aren’t thought of as cults.) I hate religion for the core principles of ‘sinning’, hell/heaven/paradise, good vs evil, thought-crime, religion-over-family, faith, not thinking for yourself, and believing whatever you’re told. That’s so damaging. But I don’t hate religion just because “lol it’s so stupid, I can’t believe people believe that shit!” or “religion is just too mainstream for me!” I can see why people would believe that in the old days, when things couldn’t be explained by science. I hate all religions, even the non-mainstream ones like wicca and shit. And I actually think studying ancient religions is really interesting. It’s an aspect of culture, and I can respect that. 

What does this have to do with my opinion of Angie? A lot, actually. I didn’t just go off on a religion rant for no reason. 

So, for starter’s, I don’t hate religion because I think it’s “too stupid to be believable” or that being religious is “too mainstream”, like I said. I don’t look down on religious people for being stupid, gullible, or trend-followers (more on that later.) That means that I can still respect Angie as a person, even if she’s religious. That’s important to know going forward. 

But the main reason is, I hate religion, not religious people. I hate the institution of religion, any religion. I hate the ideas that it carries and the practices it puts into play. But Angie is not any of those things. She’s just a person. She’s not responsible for any of the things that any religion, including hers, will do. She just believes in it. She, as a person, is not the thing that is doing all the damage I hate so much. Maybe her religion is, but she as an individual is not. 

Religious people are victims. I know. I was there. 10 years ago, I was an indoctrinated, god-obsessed homophobe, shivering in anticipation of a doomsday when god slaughtered billions of sinners. I won’t say I was different, and I always knew something was wrong about religion. No, I believed like everyone else. I was indoctrinated as much anybody. Religious people can’t help what they believe. They are the victims of peer pressure, cultural expectations, propaganda, lack of information/education, deliberate thought control, family pressures, and many other factors. Trust me when I say: they really can’t control what they believe. That’s why it’s pointless to argue with them. Their beliefs don’t come from logic. They are all victims. And I see everyone in my former cult as a victim, not an enemy. They really can’t help it. I can’t express that enough. 

So it’s not Angie’s fault that she’s so deeply ingrained in a religion. It’s not a character flaw for her, and it doesn’t make her evil or bad. In fact, it makes me like her more. I feel sorry for her. I sympathize with her. I was exactly where she was when I was 13. I know to everyone else, Angie’s religion is just a caricature or a joke. But to me, it makes her character deeper, more interesting, and sadder. 

Also, Angie’s not a cultist. Oh, this one makes me so mad. Everyone who says “Angie is in a cult!” or “Angie became a cult leader!” has absolutely no idea what an actual cult is like. The DR writers don’t know. The fans don’t know. It’s nothing like what Angie does. She never becomes a cult leader. Trust me. I would fucking know. 

When she becomes Student Council President or w/e, the Student Council has nothing to do with her religion. She’s doing that because she believes she knows what’s best to stop people from killing each other. She’s not doing it because “my religion is right and you all need to convert!” Otherwise, she’d have done that at the start. The rules she makes, like the night time curfew, have nothing to do with religion. (Also, her rules about flashback lights and night time curfews were completely correct and were good ideas, but go off I guess.) Yeah, she might say “Atua told me to do this!” But all hyper-religious people credit their creativity, ideas, or achievements to god. Whether or not those had anything to do with religion. She’s doing it because she has ideas that she thinks can help, not because she wants to push her religion. 

Case in point: in order to join her Student Council, you don’t have to believe in Atua. You don’t have to convert. K1-B0 and Himiko make that choice, but Tsumugi and Tenko don’t. And Angie doesn’t care. You’re allowed to be one of their group without sharing Angie’s religion. And once Angie’s Student Council is in power, then what? Fucking nothing. She doesn’t force anyone else to convert to her religion either. Even the people who didn’t join the student council. They’re allowed to not believe. She never approaches them being like “you have to join my religion now that I’m in power.” And she still treats Shuichi and Kaito as politely and friendly as always. (Not Maki and Kokichi, but for obvious reasons. She was right not to trust Maki, after what they learned about her.) Angie not once ever uses her power to push or pressure or threaten or force anyone to worship Atua with her. It doesn’t happen. She’s not a cult leader. If she was, it wouldn’t be optional. There would be grotesque amounts of threats, social isolation, pressure, etc even to those in her own student council if they didn’t believe. I won’t go into detail here, but trust me, it would be so fucking different if her little group actually followed the criteria for being a cult. Even when Tenko goes behind Angie’s back and escorts Shuichi into the school after dark, Angie doesn’t threaten her or oust her. She forgives her. She doesn’t say “no one is ever allowed to talk to you again” or “you have to do a horrible punishment” or “you have to die”. She just...forgives her. Yeah, she insults her a little, but she has a right to be angry after being lied to, betrayed, and used by Tenko. Still, she forgives her. Also: Tenko being in the school after dark and Angie being upset at that has nothing to do with Angie’s religion at all. The rule of not being out after dark doesn’t either. 

Also, her actions before her rise to power weren’t culty either. Angie never pushed her religion on anyone. I hate people like that. People who want to force others to believe the way they do. They’re the fucking worst and the scum of the earth. Some of the worst, most evil people alive, in my opinion. Angie’s not like that. She only talked to people about her religion if they asked her. As she explained to Tenko “I wasn’t brainwashing anyone. I was just answering questions.” Himiko, Gonta, and K1-B0 asked her questions because they were curious about her religion. She answered them. When they showed interest, she kept talking to them about it. They were the ones who said they wanted to convert. She never even asked them. And then when they wanted to, she welcomed them with open arms. They approached her. All she did was speak openly and honestly with them. She never forced anyone to convert to her religion. She never even forced anyone to listen to her talk about her religion. When Kaede and Shuichi got uncomfortable about it and changed the subject, she let it fucking go. She stopped talking about it. She never made the first move when talking to someone about Atua. They always approached her first. That’s definitely not culty. That’s just a religious person being honest when they’re asked questions, or getting excited when someone shows genuine interest in their beliefs. Of course she would be excited. These are her friends, and she truly believes that her religion is correct. She would be happy to see them safely in it. In her eyes, it’s the only place where they’re safe. Also, if she was truly a bad religious person, she would think that everyone who didn’t convert to her religion deserved to die. Mark of cults. But she doesn’t. She loves all her classmates, tries to keep them safe, and prays for them when they do die. Also, she believes that they get into Atua’s kingdom simply for being good people, even when they don’t believe in him. That’s definitely not culty. A cult is like “everyone who doesn’t worship like you is always evil, and they always deserve to die, and if they don’t convert then they are not worth saving. If you don’t believe in our religion you will definitely be killed at judgement day no matter what.”

But, most importantly: Angie’s religion is not the only aspect of her character. Angie’s religion actually has nothing to do with my opinion of her. I like her because she’s cute, bright, hopeful, happy, and persistent. She’s kind and selfless and she tries her best to keep everyone happy. She’s confident in herself, even if other people ridicule her. She’s got an interesting twisted side to her, with her composure in the face of death and her desire for blood sacrifices. But that doesn’t stop her from being kind and friendly to everyone. And she’s surprisingly smart, in her own ways. And appropriately ruthless when going after her goals, which is always something I admire. (I loved that she was willing to turn on Himiko when it seemed obvious that Himiko was the culprit, instead of obnoxiously ignoring facts like Tenko. Um, hello? If Himiko is the culprit, you all die? And if she’s the culprit, she’s trying to kill everyone, which kind of gives Angie the right to revoke her friendship from Himiko, yeah?) Angie’s character goes so much deeper than her religion. As far as her religion influencing my opinion of her, it...doesn’t. I pretty much just ignore it. I love her for who she is, not what she believes. 

[carewyncromwell]

[Bill’s modified Cursed Barrier would allow its caster to keep anyone with a Dark Mark from entering a certain space. He demonstrated the wand movement for the assembled students so they could follow along with their own wands -- then everyone split into small groups and practiced it together.

When Bill felt confident about how everyone’s wand movements looked, he addressed them]

Bill: “Well done, everyone! Now all that’s left to give the spell a go.”

[He turned to Carewyn with a smile.]

[Carewyn grinned, striding up to the front of the class. Raising her wand, she slashed at the air in front of her.]

“Relinquo Mortis!”

[A bright flare of white light created a pretty, star-like shield around her like a bubble, before quickly dissipating away.

Carewyn gave Bill a frown.]

“...How do you know if it’s worked? No one here has a Dark Mark, so we can’t test it...”

[Merula whirled on Andre, opening her mouth as if to retort, but Carewyn ended up talking over her, looking both shocked and very disapproving.]

"Andre!”

[Andre was startled by the level of severity in her voice -- Merula was too.

Charlie shot Andre a reproachful look out the side of his eye.]

Charlie: “Not cool, mate. You gonna say the same thing to Barnaby next? His folks knew You-Know-Who too.”

[Startled, Andre glanced over at Barnaby, who looked hurt.]

Andre: “(upset) No! No, I didn’t mean it like that -- ”

[He looked up at Carewyn imploringly.]

Andre: “Carewyn, you know I wouldn’t think that -- I was just ribbing, I swear...”

[Carewyn crossed her arms, her gaze so piercing it could’ve rivaled McGonagall’s.]

“Maybe you were, but it wasn’t funny. Merula and I may not see eye-to-eye much of ever, but she is not her parents. None of us are.”

If Jacob and I were anything like Dad, we’d be pretty rotten people.

Tulip: “(gives a dry laugh) Ha! I’m certainly evidence of that.”

Tonks: “(cheekily) Me too -- I know if I were ever to procreate, I’d never name my kid something dumb like ‘Nymphadora’ -- “

[Some of the tension ebbed from the room -- Penny and Jae were both laughing, and Liz and Charlie were grinning. Even Carewyn herself spared Tonks a smile.

Andre looked down at the ground, abashed.]

Andre: “(mumbling) ...Yes, of course.”

[He glanced at Merula, clearly reluctant to apologize. Fortunately Merula’s focus was elsewhere -- she kept glancing from Carewyn to Charlie, as if she were still stunned that the two had defended her.]

Bill: “(levelly) Why don’t we go ahead and call it a night? I’ll see you all Friday, after your classes.”

[As the assembled students started to head out, Bill added,]

[Carewyn noticed Rowan watching, as if silently asking if Carewyn wanted her to wait for her. Carewyn gave her a small smile and wave.]

“I’ll see you back in the commonroom, okay?”

[Rowan smiled in return and nodded, before heading out with Barnaby and Liz. Carewyn also shared an offhand wave with Charlie before he headed out. Merula caught her eye briefly and Carewyn thought at first she wanted to say something, but Merula seemed to have changed her mind almost instantly and rather quickly shuffled out with Ismelda.

Carewyn turned back to Bill. His expression had lost some of the confidence and composure he’d shown in front of the others, making him seem a bit more vulnerable than before.]

Bill: “...Charlie told me...you talked him out of leaving Hogwarts, while you were practicing the Barrier spell with Penny and Rowan.”

[His voice was a lot softer and very grim. Clearly he’d been upset when he’d learned what Charlie had been thinking of doing too.

Carewyn’s eyes softened sadly.]

“I couldn’t have done anything else.”

If Charlie left now, I know he’d regret it. He’d miss out on finishing school, his family would be so worried -- and...I could never protect him from R, if he were that far away...

[Bill’s face broke out into a very small, warm smile.]

Bill: “For...supporting him...the way I should’ve.”

[He suddenly looked very guilty.]

Bill: “I’ve been throwing myself into my cursebreaking work to take my mind off what happened in the Vault -- with Rakepick...and, in the process...I completely missed how badly Charlie’s been affected too. Probably feeling the same things I’ve felt...”

[Carewyn’s eyes fell to the floor just to the right of Bill’s shoe.]

“...Yeah. Some of the things he said...did remind me of you a bit -- you know, when we were last in here?”

The anger and sadness -- the pain of being betrayed by someone who was supposed to protect us...

[Bill nodded solemnly.]

Bill: “I remember.”

[His voice then grew a little softer again as he gave Carewyn a weak smile.]

Bill: “I’m just so grateful that you were there for him, like you were for me.”

[Carewyn met Bill’s eyes, her face very serious even despite the gentleness of her voice.]

"And I always will be.”

[Carewyn knew how painful it was to feel truly, horribly alone. She’d had no friends growing up, so when her mother was busy with work and Jacob was at school, Carewyn had become very used to doing things on her own, whether it was finishing homework or playing one-sided games of jacks or checkers. It made her latch on that bit more desperately to her mother and brother -- made her hoard their attention and love that bit more every time --  made it so that when Jacob disappeared, her whole world came crashing down around her ears...

All of her friends at Hogwarts -- Rowan, Bill, Chiara, Talbott, Barnaby, all of them -- they’d made her life more than just obsessively chasing after the Vaults and Jacob. They’d given her the chance to care for them and solve their problems, which in turn gave her real confidence and made her happier than she ever could’ve imagined before walking through those castle doors.

Her friends gave her joy, even in the midst of so much danger and fear -- and for that, she knew she couldn’t let anything happen to them. Even if she had to lie to them -- even if she had to keep secrets and say things she didn’t mean -- she had to make sure they survived. If they did...the best part of herself would still exist.]

I promise. I’ll protect Charlie, and you, and Rowan, and Barnaby -- all of you. I promise I’ll take care of you.

Bill: “Thank you, Carey. My brothers...Ginny...they mean the world to me.”

[Carewyn’s heart ached with empathy. She knew exactly how Bill felt.]

If anything happened to Jacob...if anything has happened to Jacob, out there...

[The thought was too painful for Carewyn to bear. She shoved it down fiercely, unable to put the sentiment into words.

Almost as if on cue, Bill and Carewyn were interrupted by the sudden arrival of Percy, who dashed up to them looking very anxious.]

((OOC: DUN DUN DUN! XD Will probably compress the twins’ disappearance somewhat in my next roleplaying post so as to get to that dragon sidequest, but hey, I do love some Bill and Carewyn interaction. I’ll love it even more, though, when Carewyn can actually lean on Bill emotionally too sometimes...oi! Bill really can’t do much better than Carewyn to look after his brothers, though -- once you are Carewyn’s friend, she is your surrogate Mama Bear, no questions asked. XDD

Honestly, Andre’s little jab at Merula did feel really below the belt to me, did anyone else think so? I mean, it’s not OOC for him exactly, given his wit and critical nature, but...ow, dude! Still adore you to all get out, but I know your ex-girlfriend would have something to say about it, however much Merula still frustrates her. :P

The incantation I made up for Bill’s Cursed Barrier comes from the Latin words for “leave” and “death”...so yeah, it pretty literally means, “Leave, Death!” LOL. The Latin word “mors” is also used in the incantation to cast the Dark Mark, Morsmordre.))

[greenwaterskeeter]

i finally have a coherent personal narrative, and here it is. It’s quite long, but i think of some interest, and might be encouraging!

-Mentions of suicidal ideation, emotional and financial abuse, emotional incest, fatphobia, misogyny, capitalism. Whatever the qpr equivalent of romance is. Ends happily-

I felt for a long time that i should have died when i was 20. Not in the sense that i deserved to, but in the sense that by then i’d accomplished as much as i ever would and was therefore obsolete– taking up resources unnecessarily.

When i was 13, i felt forced to choose between my parents. My bus driver/karate teacher, a kind person who i very much admired, advised me to flip a coin and then, if i didn’t like the result, pick the other. I chose my mother and (privately) pledged absolute loyalty to her (I was obsessed with LOTR at the time and felt that it was the purpose of my life to be a Sam for somebody).

While she was single and struggling to keep the farm and raise my brother (a toddler then), that devotion was used and rewarded. There were times i thought with satisfaction that i might as well be her husband, as well as a parent to my beloved brother. I was proud. I felt righteous. The joy of supporting and protecting her was real. The intermittent anguish of being a minor who could legally only do so much to help was also real. (I believed in laws then).

When I was 17, she remarried (a perfectly nice, wealthy man, as devoted as me and much more powerful) and i went to college. I slowly imploded across all four years, though I didn’t realize that until nearly the end. I think now it was because nothing i could offer her was needed anymore. Every time she treated me like a child instead of the valued partner i had been, i was crushed. Emasculated. i began to feel positively Tortured without understanding why. It sounds like a villain’s origin story, doesn’t it?

When it started affecting my performance, i could only think the trouble was that i was pining for a married professor, as you do. I had fallen in love with him, and made myself his best student (and then his TA, and then began to feel gross about it, quit, and started avoiding where i knew he’d be, all without telling anyone). Once my decline became known and answers were demanded, this was all i could offer in explanation.

I didn’t blame anyone consciously then, but i think now i felt betrayed by how my friends and family reacted. They all thought i must have seduced him (or vice versa if they were generous) to be so torn up. It was too foolish to become suicidal over a crush. They didn’t believe me, or accused me of grandiosity, when i said the professor didn’t even know how i felt. I have always struggled to keep in touch with people, and once my oldest friends gave me the Adultery is Bad talk, it was hard to keep trying.

Everyone did their best and we were all very young. I didn’t understand any more than they did. But still, i can acknowledge now what it would have meant to have just one person who believed in me regardless of understanding. On a deeply hidden level, i felt that my mother, at least, owed me that, after years of faithful service.

But horribly, once it became clear my suicidality was almost entirely passive, she turned on me. She was very frightened. I guess she had also been thanking her lucky stars all that time that i wasn’t turning out like my dad, but here i revealed myself at last to be a freeloader, just like him. I was supposed to go to medical school. I had been the pride of the extended family, the eldest and purest of my generation, a marvel of the local intelligentsia, and i wound up dragging myself back home inept, directionless, cringing, the same as so many unfortunate young cousins and neighbors who’d used to have me pointed out to them as an example. Who would my brothers look up to now?

I endured living at home for a few years. My mom couldn’t keep up the punishment constantly, so although there was no telling when she would start in on me again, or whether she might finally go through with evicting me, there were beautiful things too.

I worked for her husband’s business for no pay, which i understand now was abusive, but i have always enjoyed working with my hands, and when they left me to it, it felt like the old days, like i had a use, even if it was now peripheral. My brothers weren’t sure what to do with me, but we still had fun when we could. The animals comforted me, and it’s special to be able to give affection and gentleness to a creature who depends on you. The woods and mists and early mornings and silent moonlights were still beautiful, and gradually i could appreciate them again. When i was with people, i felt my disgrace abjectly. But on the farm there were many chores to be done alone.

The more i recovered, the more trapped i felt. I even, very alarmingly, spent about two hours one afternoon silently consumed with resentful feelings towards my mother (this hadn’t happened since i was 10). I began to be afraid of losing control and doing something desperate (I totaled two different trucks during this time, on roads i knew well, for no apparent reason). I had given up my spot at a medical school i would not get into twice, and the obvious escape was to reapply elsewhere. I attempted this, and sabotaged it, multiple times.

I got a job at a nursing home, which was hard on my back but full of wonderful people, and was forced to quit when it made me late to my shift at my stepfather’s business too many times. By this i understood that a local job was not getting me out of there. I asked for money to get an EMT certification and was refused. I applied to many online jobs, none of which i had enough time to make money from. I called up one or two branches of the military, and was rejected for being too fat, thank God. I applied to medical school again, and managed to not sabotage it enough that i was accepted into a master’s program instead. It was across the state, five hundred miles away.

And still it might have come to nothing, as i had no conscious plans, actually, of staying away once i was done with this master’s program. The expected thing would be to go on to medical school, but i was only anticipating the first day of being free and couldn’t imagine anything more than a week in the future. I looked at the amount of debt i was taking on for this, knowing in my heart that i would not get a job that could pay it back, and was only relieved that they hadn’t caught onto me and i could still get loans.

There are a lot of things in my story that aren’t what they say is healthy or proper. I shouldn’t have romanticized my own parentification, i should not have had feelings for a 50 year old man, i should have kept trying with my friends, who have good hearts and only made one mistake before i ghosted them, i should have kept telling the truth, i shouldn’t have taken moral injury from things that weren’t my fault, i should have been properly angry with my mother at some point, i should not be grateful that my tendency is to harm myself rather than others.

One person alone should not have been able to save me.

In the second month of my year away, i was in a study group with my roommates and some of their acquaintances, and i laughingly shared some anecdote or other that i thought was harmless. I don’t remember whether anyone else laughed, but one person said: “That sounds kind of fucked up.”

“Oh,” I said, embarrassed. “Eh, well.”

Nothing more was made of it, and we went on studying. Later, this same person saw me sitting in the cafeteria alone and came to sit with me. We met to study again, just us two, and they showed me a video about white tears and watched me closely for my reaction. We compared ideals and found them the same. We came up with a project to collectivize flashcard-making for our class and had to meet frequently to carry it out. “We’re colleagues,” my new friend said, firmly, when people asked if we were together. We discovered ethical problems with the program and protested them, formally and informally. We were accused of being too insular. We talked about our families, and they said things like: “That’s not okay, you realize that, right” and “I think if more people loved the way you do, I’d have a reason to smile in the morning.” It became normal for my eyes to be sore from crying.

Neither of us got into medical school that year. We got an apartment together after graduation, and worked together too until i was fired (I was new to challenging authority and not very subtle in my distaste for our bosses). My friend’s parents wanted them to quit too, to come home while they reapplied, but they said: “Not without Autumn.” So after some negotiating, we went to live with their folks for a while…

We’ve been together for 5 years now. At first I did the same as I’d always done, but my partner made it clear they don’t want self-abnegation from me. I started trying to have boundaries, paradoxically, to make them happy. I’ve dipped into therapy as money allows. I’ve been reading and thinking and writing. Above all, I’ve been loved.

And all this time, I’ve still been deeply ashamed. I’ve spent the last ten years in some degree of emotional pain 24/7. But somehow, two weeks ago, another thing happened that shouldn’t, and i suddenly knew that i was a human being like any other.

I still feel that I should have died when I was 20, but now it’s in the sense that people say, “You shouldn’t have survived that! What a miracle!” Still existing feels like a bonus. I might live a long time from now and i might not. Either way, I’m incredibly lucky to turn my face to the world and know that i am a creature in it, like other creatures. I am well. It’s good that I’m alive.

[missjosie27]

Year 2 Part 7- Second Attempt

Hey, guys. I’m sorry for those of you who were waiting for me to update my story. Quarantining ironically has given the worst bout of creative lapse I’ve ever experienced. The next one will come much sooner. Everyone stay safe and I hope you enjoy as always!

David’s fears proved to be correct about the holidays- they were agonizingly slow and his parents pestering didn’t help matters. And by “parents” that basically meant his mother, who wanted to know everything from his classes, to his friends, right down to the kind of shampoo he was using on a daily basis. On top of that, it was their turn to host Christmas dinner this year and that meant spending time with the MacMillans, who were a lively bunch to say the least. Unlike the Grants, that particular clan had quite a few aunts, uncles, and cousins, some of which he had barely spoke to before. At the very least, it allowed him some breathing room from his mother.

His return to Hogwarts was a welcome resumption of the ongoing goal- getting into the vault and breaking the curse. Dumbledore was back again, but only a week and a half into January he was gone again, presumably on the same business that had kept him away in the first place.

In other words, no one knew anything and the ice was still a problem.

There hadn’t been another student trapped since the incident before Christmas, but the sense of urgency increased all the same among the curse breaking crew. They were ready for another attempt but as always there were roadblocks. And not just from teachers or Filch. For David, the Slytherins continued to be a thorn in his side, none more so than Merula who clearly had designs of her own. This was encapsulated by a simple hallway interaction.

Rushing to Charms with a sandwich stuffed in his mouth, he suddenly felt himself lurch forward and tumble to the ground.

“ARGH!”

Checking that he hadn’t choked or broken anything, David dusted himself off and saw Merula Snyde standing a few feet away.

Why am I not surprised?

“Really? The trip jinx?” he spoke in a bored tone.

A falsely sweet smile crossed the Slytherin girl’s face.

“Sorry, it was the only way to get your attention.”

“You could have just said my name like any other normal person.”

Merula gave a half shrug to indicate her general indifference.

“Guess you were moving too fast. Anyway, quit whining, Grant, that’s not the reason I need to talk to you.”

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” he asked sarcastically.

“It’s about your brother.”

David eyed her carefully.

“What about him?”

“Why do you think he was so obsessed with the vaults?”

It was an attempt to glean information out of him. Merula lacked subtlety and it was evident by the greedy look in her eyes.

“All you ever do is go on about my brother and what a mad nutter he was. Why should I tell you anything?”

“Because I know where he is,” she replied simply with the air of someone dangling a carrot at the end of a pole. “And I know what happened to him.”

David wasn’t stupid. He knew that even if Merula knew what happened to his brother, such information wouldn’t come without a price. Part of him seriously considered it, however. The child of Death Eaters was probably privy to an inner circle he wasn’t familiar with. On the other hand, the second year Slytherin practically lived to manipulate people.

“What do you want in exchange?” he asked.

“Now you’re catching on. I’ll tell you what I know if you tell me more about what you found on the vaults. Promise me that and you have a deal.”

The longing David felt reared its ugly head once more, telling him that no information was too valuable to give up in order to find Jacob. But that was the whole point of the vaults in the first place. It was a risk, but he trusted that finding them would prove to be more useful in locating his brother than whatever Merula had to say. For all he knew, she could be lying.

No, it wasn’t worth it.

“I’m not promising anything,” he said flatly. “Do you really think I’d trust you after all the times you’ve lied to me and everyone else?”

“It’s your loss,” Merula said with an eyeroll. “Or do Gryffindors know nothing about the art of compromise?”

“I don’t compromise knowing that the minute I turn my back you’re going to stab it. And don’t think I’ve forgotten you sent Ismelda to attack me last November.”

He expected her to give him another snarky comment or even threaten him with another attempt on his person. But to his surprise, Merula looked puzzled.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb, Merula. I know it was on your orders.”

“I told her to follow you, not attack you,” Merula replied. “Whatever happened, I didn’t tell her to do it.”

David remained suspicious, but the expression on his rival’s face betrayed no lie or manipulation. It appeared she truly had no knowledge of what transpired until now.

“Whatever,” he muttered slinging his bag over his shoulder. “Just tell Ismelda if she wants to actually hit a moving target, she may have to consider seeing with two eyes instead of one.”

He turned and began walking away but not before one last warning from Merula.

“Have it your way then, Grant. My offer still stands. From what I hear, your brother won’t survive much longer…”

David had to resist turning back around and firing off a curse at her face.

She’s goading you, don’t react. That’s what she wants. Jacob is fine…Jacob is fine….

He repeated these words in his head over and over until he reached Charms, wondering that if he said it enough times, he’d start to believe it.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thankfully, the day wasn’t completely ruined by the conversation with Merula. Rowan and Ben were in the library, but Bill had personally invited him to the courtyard for what he termed a “sparring session”. He hadn’t dueled the elder Weasley since he taught him a few spells in his first year, but he figured there was a good reason for it.

The day was brisk- cold but sunny and no wind. In other words, it was going to be the best kind of weather you could get in Scotland during January. Daylight was scarce so they met during lunch hour.

“I don’t need to tell you that we’re entering the vault soon,” Bill told him as they crunched across the snow laden courtyard.

“We have to break into it before the ice strikes again,” David nodded. “The school goes back to normal and problem solved.”

“I’m hesitant to ever call this place ‘normal’,” Bill chuckled. “Nevertheless, you’re right. The sooner this curse is broken the better. We’ve prepared for it as well as we can given the circumstances. But there’s one piece of business to take care of first.”

“A sparring session?”

“Correct. This goes beyond teaching you to defend yourself from a bully and if something happens to one of us, the other has to be ready to step in. So we’re going to duel each other for a few rounds just to see how far you’ve come.”

David agreed but he couldn’t but wonder if outcomes would be any different than they were last year when Bill had first trained him. He never managed to defeat the eldest Weasley, which was to be expected. However, if there was one thing David knew about himself, is that he was taking more pride every day in his dueling. Quite simply, he hated to lose.

The two took stances about fifteen feet apart from each other.

“Ready?” Bill asked him.

David gave one last icy breath before affirming.

“Give me your best shot.”

The first jinx was so quick out of the wand, David barely had time to duck out of the way. Indeed, it would set the tone for the first match as in the next five seconds, Bill had his wand spiraling into the air and caught it in his hand.

“That one doesn’t count,” David said lamely.

“Of course not,” Bill laughed. “Just like the next two won’t either.”

He wasn’t wrong. David performed better in their next two battles, firing off spells that kept Bill off balance, but still ended up on his behind both times.

Looks like Bill’s gotten better since last year as well, he lamented.

“Call me mental but I don’t think you were this good last year,” he said to Bill as he was pulled up on his feet.

“Neither were you. Your spellwork and quickness have all improved.”

“Don’t patronize me,” David said as he dusted off the snow from his jacket. “I swear to Merlin Madam Pomfrey’s going to have to put multiple bandages on my ass.”

The main issue was that though his spells were accurate, Bill was finding a way to essentially block them. His agility was better, but his opponent was a good deal taller with a far more experienced spell acumen.

“Alright, learning the shield charm definitely helped,” the red head conceded with a sly smile. “But don’t sell yourself short. I think you have what it takes to beat me. I’ve never seen a second year with your skill before.”

“You think so?”

Bill nodded in the affirmative.

“Sometimes, you have to think outside the box to beat an older more experienced opponent. Let’s go one more time.”

They went back to their respective positions and lined up once more, David racking his brains as he did so. If he couldn’t beat Bill the straight forward way as he had with Merula, another tactic was in order, something he wouldn’t see coming.

“Ready?” Bill called out.

They bowed and David rightly anticipated a disarming spell headed his way which he ducked to avoid. Feigning movement, he suddenly dropped low and pointed his wand just in front of Bill’s feet.

“Scintilla abitur!”

A burst of orange sparks shot out, momentarily distracting the elder Weasley as jumped to avoid them. Taking advantage of the lapse in time, David fired off his own disarming spell before his opponent’s shield went up.

“Expelliarmus!”

This time, it was David’s turn to catch a spinning wand from the air, grinning widely knowing he had finally bested the older Gryffindor. Bill couldn’t have looked more pleased.

“And that’s how it’s done,” he said. “The spark charm? Nice touch.”

“Found it in one of books Rowan lent me. ‘A Wizard’s Survival Guide to the Outdoors’. Supposed to help with kindling a fire without the risk of it spreading.”

“I told you,” Bill smiled. “It isn’t just about how many spells you know or how big you are. If you know how to move and press an advantage, you can win almost any time. Now let’s see your fire making spell one more time before we head in.”

David did so, casting a large amount of flame from his wind to demonstrate his full mastery.

“You got it. I reckon we’re ready to go into this vault tomorrow night.”

“Agreed. Best not to wait any longer. Merula came up to me today trying to pry more information.”

“She’s something else that girl,” Bill said shaking his head. “Makes me wonder though.”

A smirk began playing at the end of his lips, causing David to raise an eyebrow.

“What?”

“Nothing…I just think there may be more to this than meets the eye.”

“Spill it already. In plain English, please.”

“I think she fancies you.”

David, who at that point had pulled out a flask of water spit out whatever he had consumed.

“Are you out of your mind?! Don’t even joke about stuff like that.”

But Bill’s grin didn’t subside, if anything it grew wider.

“I’m just saying. She’s obsessed with you, mate. Always following you around trying to catch your attention. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she has a little crush.”

“Thank you for the ghastly attempt at making me lose my lunch but nice try,” David scoffed.

“What’s the matter? I’d say she’s pretty cute for a Slytherin girl,” Bill continued to tease.

“Keep talking and I’ll tell Charlie that I beat you today in a duel by using a spark charm.”

The red head feigned offense.

“Now that’s just low, Dave.”

They continued to joke and rib each other as they made their way inside to the warm fire of the Gryffindor common room. It was comforting in a way that David hadn’t felt in a long time. A sensation similar to that of an older brother teasing you…

It was only then that the desire to reach the vault intensified that much more for the young Gryffindor.

Stay strong, Pip, the memory echoed in his mind.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The next night, preparations were made, and everything was accounted for. Bill and David would be the ones to enter the vault while Rowan stood guard as he was still a bit spooked from the last attempt. He was more than happy to allow the eldest Weasley take a stab at it this time. In order to fool the cantankerous caretaker and his mangy cat, they would use the same method as last time, namely tempting Mrs. Norris with milk spiked with a sleeping potion expertly brewed by Penny. Now that they knew the location of the vault and its defenses, it would give them enough time to hopefully break through it before Filch found out.

David wasn’t overly concerned that only Bill would be accompanying him, as his presence alone ensured a stronger chance of getting rid of this curse. But he was a tad disappointed Ben would not be going. Indeed, his friend remained timid and apprehensive of anything related to curse breaking which was not surprising given the ordeal he had suffered earlier in the year. The blond boy never did recall what happened to him or have any clue who ‘R’ was. Confidence was a fleeting thing as due to being both a second year and muggle born was seen as a soft target by the older students and Slytherins in general.

“You’re one of the bravest people I know, Dave,” Ben told him the night before. “This is something you were made for. I’m not. Plain and simple.”

Try as he might, David couldn’t convince Ben to come along and he didn’t push it too hard. He could hardly blame him for that, but he did hope to continue assisting his friend in other ways, chief among them his fear of well…everything.

So, that aside it was time to take another crack at the vault. Doing their best not to wake the fat lady and avoid any other teachers that happened to be patrolling that night, the trio of Bill, David, and Rowan slowly and quietly made their way towards the 13th corridor. Sure enough, Mrs. Norris was there prowling around in her usual manner, stopping to occasionally lick her paws.

“Got the milk, Rowan?”

“Right here.”

His best friend produced the bowl and proceeded to pour the purplish sleeping potion inside. From there all took it was a simple levitation charm to place it only a few spots away from the hated feline. Sure enough, Mrs. Norris spotted the bowl and greedily licked it dry. From there it only took about thirty seconds for her to wobble around in confusion until finally dropping to the floor in a heap.

“You know, we should really tell Tonks about this little trick,” David joked. “She’d have a good time I bet.”

Rowan rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, in detention.”

Bill took a brief downward glance at the now unconscious cat remarking dryly, “Never did like this thing. Tried to catch me when I was late for class in my first year.”

“Join the club,” David told him as he took out his wand. He racked his brain to try and locate the exact spot he needed to apply his power. In particular he tried to pick out the coldest spot.

“McGonagall mentioned the other day you had mastered vanishing and revealing spells,” Bill told him. “That’s really impressive considering there are some sixth years that haven’t mastered them yet.”

“It’s his best subject,” Rowan added. “Only one he gets better marks than I do.”

“I seem to recall you’re pretty rubbish on a broom compared to me.”

The Indian boy flushed.

“That doesn’t count.”

Chuckling good naturedly, David pointed his wand and envisioned a darkened staircase full of eerie old statues of knights and other such medieval symbols complete with an icy chamber at the end. Though it still took a few seconds and a couple of flickers, the entrance yielded itself.

“Whoa!” Bill exclaimed quietly.

“I know, we said the same thing first time we saw it.”

Rowan gave them a thumbs up.

“I’ll be on the lookout. That potion should knock Mrs. Norris out for a couple of hours but Filch may still be around just in case.”

“Thanks, mate.”

He turned to Bill for one last warning.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this? This is like nothing you’ve experienced before or probably ever will.”

“Not if I become a curse breaker,” Bill said with a wink before turning serious.

“Don’t worry, Dave I’ll be fine. There’s only so much you can prepare you. We have to do this.”

The young Gryffindor, despite anxiety over the negative possibilities nodded.

“As you may have noticed, the temperature is lower than average even by Scottish standards. We have to move as quickly as possible before it overcomes us. It nearly happened to Rowan and I the last time.”

“Got it,” Bill concurred. “Stay behind me so I know you’re safe.”

Without another word, the two boys headed up the stairs in a light jog to ensure the blood stayed warm whilst they broke the curse. As they entered the hall of knights, David began explaining to Bill what they needed to do.

“The main chamber is just ahead. Once we’re inside the door will probably begin firing freezing spells at us.”

“You weren’t kidding about this place,” Bill panted slightly. “I’ve experienced blizzards at the Burrow warmer than this.”

As they reached the entrance to the ice room, however, they found their pathway blocked by a wall of ice about ten feet high.

“That wasn’t there the last time,” David muttered. “This curse keeps getting stronger.”

Bill sized up the ice briefly.

“What do you make of it?”

“Must be the vaults defenses. I wish I knew who built them and why.”

“Time for that later, wands out,” he said. “You know what to do.”

Without hesitation they fired off simultaneous blasts of ‘incendio’ the large plumes of fire burning a hole large enough for an average man to walk through.

“Good enough. After you,” David gestured to Bill who obliged.

Upon arrival Bill threw out an arm to prevent him from going any further. His eyes cast a wondrous glance around the room. It was exactly the same as David remembered- resembling a vast ice castle (or igloo depending on one’s sense of humor) sparkling white and blue with vast amounts of snow. It also gave off a similar feeling as the hallway: that this was a place alive with ancient magic untapped for years by any witch or wizard.

But their focus quickly returned to the door, still guarded by an enormous snowflake shaped shield.

“Is that what attacked you and Rowan the last time?”

“Yup. Started firing off freezing charms as soon as we got too close.”

“That’s the mistake you made last time,” Bill counselled. “It attacked you before you had a chance to put up a proper fight.

“So what do you suggest?”

“Let’s approach it cautiously. We don’t want to set if off before we get a chance to attack. So let’s flank it on each side and cast fire at it when we’re ready.”

David at least felt slightly more confident about this than the last time he had been in here with Rowan. At the very least, they wouldn’t be naively approaching an unknown door without some kind of plan.

The two boys split up and approached from the right and left, careful not to make a sound other than the soft crunching of snow underneath their shoes. David tried to concentrate on putting his full power behind a fire blast but that was increasingly difficult with the bone chilling cold starting to creep into his veins. It was certainly more powerful than the last time and they had perhaps only minutes before they were forced to retreat.

“On three, Dave,” Bill gestured towards him.

David aimed his wand carefully at the shield.

“One…two….three!! Incendio!”

Fire issued forth and hit that door at full blast for a good five seconds. Before David could ask aloud if it worked, a luminescent glow began forming around the giant snowflake in front of the door.

That’s not good

It shot a freezing spell towards him, and the young preteen only just got out of the way as the projectile missed him by inches. Bill, however, was not so lucky. Being a bigger target. he could not avoid the wrath of whatever powers were protecting the vault and he was soon consumed from his lower body to his shoulders in ice.

“Bill!” David said running over, ducking another blast.

“It must have countered our incendio,” Bill uttered. “D-damn this is c-c-cold.”

“This didn’t happen to Rowan the last time this happened. I’ll get you out.”

“Be c-c-careful, Dave. Incendio can kill a person if you’re not careful.”

David thought for a split second. Casting fire would surely get the job done quicker but it was certainly more dangerous. The knockback jinx might do the trick but there was no telling if that would still work or how long it would take.

There was no time, he had to make a decision. In a rapid succession he cast three knockback jinxes to chip away massive chunks of the ice.

“Hurry, Dave!”

“I got you, Bill. You’re almost out.”

Dodging another blast from the vault’s defenses, David grabbed Bill’s hand and pulled as hard as he could, managing to pry him loose from the icy prison.

“Can you walk?”

“Forget walking! Run!”

The two boys made a beeline for the exit, squeezing through the hole they had created in the ice wall, which by now was no bigger than a dwarf, but crouching low they slipped by and took off running, the last of the freezing projectiles missing them by a few feet.

“Dave what-”

“No time to explain, just get to the Hospital Wing.”

Bill stopped, his teeth still shivering.

“No hospital wing, Dave.”

“But you’re freezing your ass off! That ice took Rowan three days to recover from.”

“Halloween is one thing b-but arriving at the Hospital Wing at midnight out of bed is just g-going to lead to more questions from the t-teachers. Get me b-back to Gryffindor Tower and get me c-close to a fire. I’ll be fine.”

They began to protest but the older teen shook his head.

“No use t-talking me o-out of it. Let’s g-go before we get c-caught.”

And off they went, the next ten minutes becoming something of a blur to David. True they had avoided getting caught once more but proper chances and time were running out. Clearly more research had to be done in order to break the seal on the vault.

Sitting by the roaring fire with cups of hot cocoa in hand, the trio didn’t say much but no one needed to. The collective feeling was mutual- cursebreaking was a lot harder than they thought.