#the wise gudgeon

[blankboyo]

the wise gudgeon

fanart of a soviet cartoon I found

[enbysiriusblack]

underrated characters headcanons? :3

sybill trelawney:

ravenclaw in marauders year

dated remus for a bit (pisces twins and very childhood sweetheart vibes but their relationship was mostly remus letting her practice tarot and palm reading on him all the time and sybill helping him revise)

was in love with pandora and emmeline but broke up due to her dream of living up to her family legacy as a seer (so broke away from society and lived in her great great grandmother's old cottage)

was always getting high behind the greenhouses

thinks the only thing that matters about her is her ability as a seer, and she lives her life thinking she failed

kingsley (changed last name to mcintosh):

gryffindor, best friends with frank and alice (dated frank)

gay gay homosexual gay

was friends with narcissa during school. they bitched about people's outfits to each other and started school gossip all the time

took peter under his wing when he saw him upset in first year about james and sirius leaving him out of a game, so he took him back to the common room and taught him how to play the guitar

flitwick's favourite student

davey gudgeon:

slytherin in regulus' year (so his and evan's roommate)

huge fan of sirius & james and their pranks and was very confused and upset when they both suddenly turned cold and mean to him after he got injured by the whomping willow

loves talking. about anything and everyone. will continuously talk forever

isn't liked by his roommates (regulus and evan) so becomes friends with the ravenclaws and hufflepuffs in the years above (ie. caradoc, amos, benjy, hestia, edgar, etc.)

has never been serious about anything ever in his life

hestia jones:

hufflepuff and on the quidditch team as a chaser

all her closest friends are guys (would be called a 'pick me girl' nowadays), but does get on okay with mary, emmeline, and florence

nicknamed 'jonesy' by pretty much everyone

straight but sometimes snogs marlene when she's drunk

very straightforward and wise, whilst also empathetic

caradoc dearborn:

also hufflepuff and chaser/captain on the quidditch team

in love with benjy fenwick, his best friend, but has no desire to ever come out and still plans on dating a girl instead

very much gives off privileged, white, rugby lad vibes

after benjy's gruesome death, he ran away and left england, moving to the other side of the world (australia), and sunk into a deep depression because of his grief (he never went back and was assumed dead)

emma vanity:

slytherin in the same year as narcissa

best friends with narcissa

quidditch captain and thinks of dorcas meadowes as her protege

remains neutral in the war for self preservation (was disappointed when narcissa married lucius, who she knew was a death eater, but still kept in touch with narcissa and met up with her for cocktails and brunch often)

[libidomechanica]

Methings hours have a wise pretty milk and leaves

Yet now, Sir Foole! But it’s a jolly hastens adoptiue sonnes, who fought I saw their hearse: he parson: gudgeons of the changed to wise me. The horrible enough they weren’t ridiculous. Which yet no sleepy one, the deed where by a Christian mother proscenium of they might thy fire change enormous in dare not loue. In a hope doth stuck fast and Washing wrote loves a woman’s may bridal bed, wee must had quiet ashamèd; I had cease, the one would loved the continuance. Cast and sense of the year, some slouches of the robs there and created— and earth. For oblivion laid you!

[crossed-paws]

Crossed Paws, Book 1: Rising

The Characters of Crossed Paws

CREEKCLAN

Territory: a small, freshwater creek and its surrounding marshlands at the edge of the river

Prey: River lamprey, European eels, barbels, bitterlings, bleaks, roaches, chubs, dace, minnow, gudgeons, rudds, tench, redfin perch, zanders, ruffes, Wel's catfish, burbots, curlews, water voles, spoon-billed sandpipers, black-tailed godwits, Madagascar pochards, mallards, citrine wagtail, snipe, moorhens, water shrews

Dangers: Flooding, unstable ground, landslides, northern pikes, European conger eel, cranes, adders, herons, egrets, geese, swans, northern harriers, osprey, beavers, mink, river otters

Camp location: the remnants of an ancient twoleg cave dug into the rocks

Current High Saint and Herald: Dabblestar and Duckthorn

CreekClan traces its lineage back to the legendary Clan of Agile Swimming, a group renowned for their mastery of water and the unique environment of their marshy territory. Over time, CreekClan has evolved into a distinct and influential presence among the four Clans, standing out as the only Clan to successfully forge alliances with each of the other Clans. This rare achievement speaks volumes about CreekClan's role in the broader community, where they serve as a crucial bridge between the often competitive and territorial groups. Their ability to maintain these alliances is a testament to the diplomatic skills of their leaders and the naturally empathetic and caring disposition of CreekClan cats.

The strength of CreekClan's alliances is also supported by their strategic advantage: an abundant and consistent supply of prey. The rich waters and marshlands of their territory provide an endless bounty, enabling CreekClan to trade prey for other resources that they may lack. This trading network not only fosters goodwill and cooperation among the Clans but also ensures that CreekClan remains well-supplied and connected. Whether it is their natural inclination toward empathy or their wise use of resources, CreekClan’s unique position as the central ally among the Clans underscores their importance and influence within the forest.

THE CATS OF CREEKCLAN

HIGH SAINT

Dabblestar — short-haired blue ticked tabby tom with hazel eyes

HERALD

Duckthorn — short-haired black she-cat with amber eyes

SHAMAN

SCHOLAR

Fallensplash — short-haired cream mackerel tabby tom with green eyes

HEALERS

Furzecoat — long-haired black classic tabby she-cat with yellow eyes, herbalist branch

Bonewatcher — short-haired black classic tabby tom with gold eyes, herbalist branch

WARRIORS

Acaciafoot — short-haired white tom with copper eyes, sentinel branch

Batfrost — short-haired black classic tabby tom with copper eyes, hunter branch

Giantbranch — long-haired black and red spotted tortoiseshell she-cat with gold eyes, mentor branch

APPRENTICES

Trainee Oak — short-haired red tom with amber eyes

BLESSEDS

Myrtlethicket — short-haired blue she-cat with yellow eyes

Olivebee — short-haired chocolate and red mackerel tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes

SACREDS

Sacred Heather — short-haired black she-cat with amber eyes

Sacred Fire — short-haired red spotted tabby tom with amber eyes

Sacred Adder — long-haired blue mackerel tabby tom with green eyes

Sacred Kestrel — short-haired chocolate and red mackerel tortoiseshell-tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Sacred Claw — short-haired red classic "pseudo-tabby" she-cat with hazel eyes

Sacred Thorn — short-haired blue tom with copper eyes

Sacred Birch — short-haired black and red mackerel calico she-cat with copper eyes

ELDERS

Oddcrest — short-haired white tom with gold eyes

Frogfur — short-haired black she-cat with copper eyes

CREEKCLAN FAMILY TREES

[nobody-in-the-rye]

[rrrauschen]

Valentin Karavaev, {1979} Премудрый пескарь (Wise Gudgeon)

[sovietpostcards]

Yevgeny Rachyov (1906-1997), illustration for Saltykov-Schedrin's The Wise Gudgeon (1957)

[whoisleft-rp]

Would y’all rather see Emmeline, Gladys, or Pandora?

There are certainly pros and cons to each of those lovely options! 

Connections-wise, Emmeline would likely be the easiest for a new person to jump into the game with. She’s a seventh year, like so many of our current student characters, and involved in a wide array of extracurricular activities. She’s also a future Order member. Connections will be easy to come by, and you’ll be able to play her as a student now and a graduate in just a few months. 

Gladys has the built-in connection of her brother, Davey Gudgeon, being taken. She is younger than most of our taken students, and will still be a student for another year – so if writing a character that will still be at Hogwarts long term is what you’re looking for, she’s a great choice! She’s also a fun personality; we need a little wide-eyed innocence on the dash and she’d be a welcome addition. 

Pandora, on the other hand, is an adult – we have a great group of graduated and adult characters that would love a new addition to their mix, and Pandora’s unique personality means that she’d be able to mix in with almost any of our taken characters very easily. However, unlike Emmeline, her connections aren’t as built in. Someone strong at reaching out and making connections with fellow writers would be well-placed to pick her up. Additionally, she’s never been picked up in this group before. So you’d have an exciting opportunity to really make her your own and start with a clean slate. 

Hopefully this is helpful – we’re happy to chat more on this, if you need! –Admin Amanda

[bettas-bitsandbobs]

For Unknown Reasons...

My brother decided to make a mudskipper tank. I’m in the process of helping him set it up for his classroom. But since he needed to make “free shipping” on his online order, I ended up filling it with some stuff I can’t find locally.

Another peacock gudgeon (hopefully male), some flower shrimp, some wild livebearers, a school of pencil fish and a snail or two, since my otos don’t seem to like algae when they could munch on the betta and no longer reside in the planted tank. It was so tempting to get some samurai gouarmi, but since I don’t have a solution to the iffy water, I decided not wise and passed.

Not a huge invert person due to past experiences, but fingers crossed they’ll flourish in the local water better than the fish.

Hopefully once the mudskipper tank is up and running I can get some pictures. They’re the dwarf Indian mudskippers, so they should be tiny, ugly, little attitude-laden land gobies that stick to walls LOL.

[noxtms]

*   𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐘𝐌𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐀𝐒𝐊𝐄𝐃   :   Can you see Renee Rapp fitting?

yes, and i’d love to have her ! on the off chance you also wanted ideas, i think that canon wise she’d best suit lisa turpin, victoria frobisher, patricia stimpson or demelza robins, and surname wise i’d love to see her as an avery, blishwick, carmichael, dowson, fenwick, gudgeon, hornby, montague, runcorn, snyde or vulchanov ! if you’d like some wanted connection ideas, let me know ! 

[severepeanutperfection]

Automotive Gudgeon Pin Market Study: An Emerging Hint of Opportunity by 2027

The approximately US$ 3.3 billion market for automotive gudgeon pin is poised for a moderate, just-under 5% yearly growth in the revenue, in 2022. A new study by Future Market Insights emphasizes the critical role of aftermarket in influencing the overall sales picture of automotive gudgeon landscape.

Future Market Insights (FMI) has estimated the Automotive Gudgeon Pin market to grow with year on year growth of 4.3% in 2022 reaching value of about US$ 3,149.4 Mn by 2022 end. The global industry is projected to observe a significant CAGR of 5.0% by value during the period of 2022 and 2027.

The report also sheds lights on the significance of a growing trend involving green combustion engine technologies in shaping the competitive landscape of automotive gudgeon pin marketplace.

Research spots a few prominent attributes favoring adoption of gudgeon pins in automobile -

Growing proclivity for automation

Increasing demand for high efficiency, smart engine systems

Material innovation to deliver stronger, lightweight, and corrosion resistant products

Introduction of enduring gudgeon pins with high load capacity

Automotive Gudgeon Pin Market Remains a Consolidated Landscape

The market structure analysis uncovers that the global automotive gudgeon pin landscape is fairly consolidated owing to significant presence of Tier 1 and Tier 2 companies. Accounting for more than 55% share in the global market value, Tier 1 players such as Mahle GmbH and Federal Morgul continue to augment investments in strategic acquisitions and collaborations, according to the report.

A majority of competitors operating in the global landscape of automotive gudgeon pin market are likely to focus on new product development and launches for an enhanced market position through a unique brand value. Moreover, the report points to a growing focus of a number of gudgeon pin manufacturers on extending product lifespan through diamond surface finishing.

Based on the mechanism, full floating mechanism remains highly preferred among manufacturers of automotive gudgeon pins, which has been attributed to the capability of full floating mechanism to facilitate power transmission to crankshaft from piston. The adoption of semi-floating mechanism on the other side is projected to progress at a moderate pace during upcoming years.

High-end Automakers Shifting to Titanium-based Gudgeon Pins

As indicated by the material-wise analysis of the global automotive gudgeon pin market, steel has been a prominent choice among manufacturers owing to superior efficiency to function within high temperature ranges, i.e. up to 3000 Celsius.

However, titanium is gradually emerging as a more lucrative and favored material type among key manufacturers of automotive gudgeon pins. Titanium-based gudgeon pins, projected for rapid growth in adoption especially for high performance vehicles, is earning higher popularity owing to an exceptional ability to function at temperatures as high as 15000 Celsius that is manifold compared to that of steel.

Aftermarket Reflects Noteworthy Potential in Terms of Sales

Research evaluates the impact level of growing purchasing power of consumers on the overall sale of automotive gudgeon pins. With an increasing number of consumers actively investing in high-end cars, it is more likely that the subsequently growing demand for premium vehicle maintenance and servicing would fuel the demand for aftermarket parts at a high pace. Automotive gudgeon pins are thus likely to discover lucrative adoption opportunities in both the segments, aftermarket as well as OEMs, says the report.

Over 50% of the US consumer base prefers aftermarket supplies of automotive components over expensive parts supplied by OEMs. While the US has been among the key automotive markets over the years, the aforementioned statistical figure will reportedly account for a significantly growing revenue share of aftermarket in the automotive gudgeon pin landscape.

Automotive Gudgeon Pin Market By Segmentation

By Material Type:

Steel

Titanium

Aluminum

By Product Type:

Fixed Pin

Semi-Floating Pin

Full Floating Pin

By Vehicle Type:

Passenger Car

LCV

HCV

Two Wheelers

By Sales Channel:

OEM

Aftermarket

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

Japan

APAC

MEA

Two-wheeler Parc Boosts Market Growth in Emerging Economies

Dramatically fostering automotive production in major developing regions including Asia Pacific, Africa, and Latin America is projected to boost automotive gudgeon pin sales in OEMs segment. Passenger cars currently take up an approximate share of 50% in the total market value.

The bolstering two-wheeler parc across prominent emerging economies such as China, India, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, and ASEAN countries is most likely to hold a positive impact on the sales of automotive gudgeon pins in coming years.

A promising growth outlook estimated for emission-less vehicles such as solar-powered automobiles and electric vehicles, which are currently in a nascent phase, will however hold a considerably negative influence on the current revenue growth scenario of automotive gudgeon pin market in both developed and developing regions.

For More Info@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/gudgeon-pin-market

[fleetwoodmar]

Name / Age / Pronouns / Timezone:

hi hi HI i’m mar, i’m almost twenty one and i prefer she/her pronouns. i’m from the rainy netherlands and so am currently in the gmt+2 timezone : D

Zodiac Sign:

i’m a leo, which means mY SEASON IS ALMOST HERE. i rly am such a leo, tbh, drag me for it. i’m also a taurus moon and virgo rising, so i’m a stubborn mess all over.

Hogwarts House:

loud & proud gryffindor!! double lion. honestly thought i was a hufflepuff for the longest time, but i think gryffindor is just where i belong?? still not 100% sure tbh but it’s what all the quizzes have been telling me lmao and ig i’m a heedless idiot for sure!!

Describe yourself using a meme:

come to del taco, they've got a new thing called, fresha, fr e sh a vo ca do!!!! this one just ... gets to me. the energy in that vine is a kind of energy that speaks to me, and it’s definitely a video i could see me and my friends making just for shits n giggles. i love that vine so MUCH GUYS

Describe your character(s) with a short aesthetic: Like this!

ROSE. warm, cozy jumpers. listening to old records. staying up reading until dawn. sand spilling through your fingers like water. leaning your head on someone else’s shoulder. the smell of freshly baked apple pie. holding your breath for as long as you can. pick nicks. diving in an icy ocean in the middle of the winter. dried flowers. hands covered in dirt. singing along to your favourite song as loud as you can, without shame. doc martens with flowery socks. 

HOLLY. ink stained hands. cutting pictures from old magazines for collages. nail biting. light pink, lacy underwear. pulling at your skin in front of the mirror. glittery eyeshadow. pillow fights. perfectly clean, white sneakers. glossy lips. buying new clothes and not daring to wear them. stumbling on heels. drinking vodka from a water bottle. high hopes kept quiet. snorting while laughing. sloppy drunk kisses. perfectly polished nails. writing mean words on the palm of your hand. 

Are there any canons, face claims, or surnames that you’d love to see here at Holocene?:

i would, of course, like to see apps for louis and albus, but also? give me like. relatives to hogwarts professors. kids of the nieces and nephews of mcgonagall (my queen), great grandchildren of sprout, etc etc. surnames i’d love to see are shafiq, parkinson, skeeter, gudgeon, creevey!! and more ! i just want everyone.

fc wise, i Love naomi scott, jodie comer, ryan destiny, ross butler, frank dillane, ashleigh murray, ezra miller, jamie blackley, justice smith, zoe kravitz and katie stevens!!!

What are you looking for in a Next Gen RP?:

i love imagining that the kids of some of the characters we grew up with turned out to be? it’s so much fun, and there’s so many directions you can take it and ways you can interpret it, and there’s not usually a wrong way to do so?? unless you make harry a shit dad or something. fjksdf. i’m super hyped to see everyone’s kids come to live in an environment that’s hopefully a nice balance of angst and fluff, because i live for BOTH. can’t wait to see ppl interact and stuff and YES!! hype

[libidomechanica]

Untitled # 8651

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by a the modesty, and youd fair tumbleme.  And birth such is insane loue is Milk, sincession.  And all build and what more against 

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have … nor replied as insane. When  the so sort, and I will ever shrinkle  gatest ship, for play, ever same and emb

argod a nymph Ill sayne the star calld the  Star upon the defective, her bed to  for there shalt strain souls wintell skill agreend Raphael. 

My luves ranged: and I  this a-cold of late did around,  or from the Reading hot after 

oftent, in arried the fearful, in playgrounds,  the light pricion: When Salámán  was her bowres. Hath breat same alonely 

Nymphes or locked the nick minst and  strikes a sations. Each that it been  to anothing worstand measure: and find of 

guard grow little cross sicker name day went convincessage  dream. gudgeons of deemd himself, in thou be  with take to preted rode and wise. 

[mugwomps]

@elodieunderglass The Wise Gudgeon

Yevgeny Rachyov (1906-1997), illustration for Saltykov-Schedrin’s The Wise Gudgeon (1957)

[petrificushq]

where could you see hunter schafer and olivia cooke working?

Well firstly, we always love to see our wanted connections taken and I could see Hunter working quite well as Demelza Trelawney. Canon-wise, Hunter would also be a good fit for Emma Vanity and the eventual Pandora Lovegood. I could see Olivia being a great fit as an Abbott, Doris Purkiss, or as Gladys Gudgeon. Both ladies could also make an excellent Mafalda Hopkirk too!

[owlways-and-forever]

Summary: Lily Evans thought her life would be normal. Well, as normal as it can be for a muggle-born witch in England. But when her boyfriend turns out to be the prince of the wizarding world, and tensions begin to rise among factions of wizarding society, Lily must find her way in situations she never anticipated, and try not to lose sight of her identity. Word Count: 2,762 (21,619) Links: ao3 | FFnet | Tumblr: Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5

A/N: This might be a shorter chapter, but the good news is that I've decided to add a few chapters, so we're looking at something in the 20ish range ultimately. This chapter is closing in on the end of school, and a lot of things are starting to feel different. Thank you so much for reading this story, and please leave feedback and share it with your friends!

Chapter 6

They were summoned to the Great Hall for dinner, a notice posted in every common room and the library, an announcement made in each class during the last period of the day. They were all to proceed directly to the Great Hall. It was unusual, normally they were free to come and go as it suited them, and sometimes they could take dinner, albeit a simpler fare, in the common room or elsewhere if they were busy. It was only on special occasions that dinner in the Great Hall was compulsory, feast days and the like, and they always knew about those in advance. Never, in their 7 years at Hogwarts, had they been called to dinner like this. It meant the air was full of mystery as dinnertime approached, but the moment the students of Hogwarts stepped into the Great Hall, it became abundantly clear that they were not being summoned for good news.

Black banners hung high in the air, fluttering gently on currents of air. The teachers all stood in front of the long staff table, all of them robed in deep black. A sombre mood hung in the air, thick and heavy and hot enough to choke them all. Lily reached for James’ hand as they moved farther into the Great Hall, dread growing in her stomach. The entire student body moved in silence, taking their seats as quickly as possible. When everyone was seated, Dumbledore finally stepped forward.

“It is with great sorrow that I must tell you all of the passing of one of our own students,” he began, his voice deep and booming, filling the Great Hall. “David Abraham Gudgeon, known to most of you as Davey, did not return from the Hogsmeade trip yesterday. It is believed that Davey used the opportunity to return home to see his family, fearing for their safety. After searching for him, Davey’s body was found in his family’s home, along with the bodies of his mother, father, and younger sister.”

A gasp shuddered through the room at Dumbledore’s words. The older students knew more about the war that was brewing outside of Hogwarts, they knew that it had come dangerously close to them, stealing away family members and pitting students against each other, but this was the first time it had reached inside the walls of Hogwarts, snatching a student away.

“As many of you will know, Davey was a seventh year Hufflepuff, and I have no doubt his classmates will miss him very much,” Dumbledore continued after a pause. “He was kind, and loyal, a gifted Charms student and an advocate for others who were less fortunate. He demonstrated all the virtues of a true Hufflepuff, and for that he will be remembered.”

The students and the professors all bowed their heads in silence, remembering Davey. Lily had known him best through prefect duties, bonding over the muggle things they missed from back home. He had helped her study for her Charms O.W.L, when she had been nervous about it, and she had often joked that he should take over the position of Charms teacher when Flitwick retired. He had promised to help her study for her N.E.W.T.s again this year, but they hadn’t gotten to it yet. She felt an immense sadness wash over her at the thought of missing out on that friendship.

“There has been talk going around,” Dumbledore began again after a respectful amount of time had passed, “for some months now, about the war that is coming. You have heard frightening things, felt the tension growing in the castle. There have been clashes between students in these very halls. We strive to protect you here, as best we can, but this has always been a school based on inclusivity, and that has meant that students from all backgrounds have been welcome here. I urge you all to think about what side you will fight for, because there is one thing to be sure of - there is no staying neutral in this war. I will not… I cannot tell you who to side with. I can only hope that if each of you examines your conscience, you will make the right decision. Remember Davey Gudgeon when you make your choice, remember all who have been taken already in this war, all those yet to come, and choose wisely.”

He strode around the staff table and took his seat in the ornate gold chair reserved for the headmaster, steepling his fingers and watching the crowd of students carefully as the rest of the professors took their seats at the table. Food began to appear on the tables, but no one felt very hungry. The Great Hall was quiet, silent, as everyone sat, pushing food around idly.

Dumbledore was the first to excuse himself, sweeping through a side door, closely followed by the four heads of the houses. Students began filing out soon after, returning to their common rooms to grieve privately - the library and quidditch pitch would be silent tonight.

Lily wrapped her arm around James’ waist as they walked back to Gryffindor Tower. Ahead of them, Sirius and Remus were whispering together, leaning into each other for support, while Dorcas had reached out to Peter. Marlene and Mary had stayed behind to talk to some of their Hufflepuff friends for a little while.

“It’s awful,” Lily whispered as the six of them stepped into the common room.

“It was only a matter of time before it was someone we knew,” Remus replied heavily, almost resigned to what was happening in the world around them. He seemed tired, weary, as if the war was taking a physical toll on him and slowly draining him of life.

“I want to fight!” Sirius swore. He slammed his fist onto a tabletop, making the others jump in surprise.

“We all do,” Lily agreed.

“I wish there was something we could do, right now,” James said, changing the topic slightly. He hated discussing joining the fight, since he knew it wasn’t an option for him.

“Like what?” Sirius spat. “What could we possibly do that would be helpful?”

They were all quiet, knowing that the answer was likely nothing. There was nothing they could do, not until they graduated when they could become soldiers in this fight.

“Emotional wellbeing is important too,” Dorcas whispered, her eyes fixed on the flickering flames in the fireplace like she read something in them.

The words hung in the air, penetrating their minds and taking root there. Sirius scoffed and turned away, pacing across the red persian rug. But the rest of them exchanged glances trying to read each other’s thoughts across the empty spaces.

“What if we planned some kind of service?” James suggested after a long moment. “A memorial or something?”

“How would that help anyone?” Sirius snapped. He turned to look at his best friend and for a brief moment regret flickered across his face.

“It would give us a chance to grieve,” James answered sullenly, as if he had lost all confidence in his words and his idea.

“And it would be a show of support, a public declaration that we’re all against these tyrannical monsters,” Lily added, nudging James encouragingly with her shoulder.

“I could talk to Dumbledore about it,” James offered, “and get permission to put something together, if you guys would be willing to help me.”

“Of course,” Dorcas agreed, and the others all nodded their agreement.

o . o . o

“Mr. Potter, please stay behind,” Professor McGonagall called as the seventh year Gryffindors all began to pack up their things.

James nodded to Sirius and Remus when they offered him an inquisitive look, and they followed Peter through the door. Lily squeezed his hand quickly before ducking out with the rest of the class, and eventually they were all gone, leaving James alone with his Head of House.

“Come with me to the Headmaster’s office,” she said at last, sweeping towards the door.

“Have I done something wrong?” he asked, suddenly nervous. He’d be much better about following the rules lately. Graduation was looming and he was acutely aware that once it arrived, all the details of his school life would likely become public knowledge. He didn’t want to let his family down with stories of how unruly it was.

“Not by my standards,” Professor McGonagall cryptically, her lips pursed as though something were thoroughly annoying her.

James didn’t ask what she meant, and they walked the rest of the way in a tense silence.

King Fleamont stood by the fireplace in Dumbledore’s office, his back to the door, and he did not turn around as James entered the room. James knew that his father was aware of his presence, and he waited for something to be said. As the seconds ticked by, James felt his stomach turning to lead, twisting into heavier and heavier knots.

“Am I to understand that you are organizing a memorial service for a boy by the name of Davey Gudgeon?” the King said at last, his voice icy.

“Yes, Papa,” James answered, trying to brace himself for what was coming.

He watched as his father took a deep breath before exploding. He slammed his fist against the mantle of the fireplace, and several delicate, spindly looking instruments shook in Dumbledore’s bookcase.

“YOU KNOW BETTER, JAMES!” he bellowed, whirling on his son. “THAT BOY DIED IN THE WAR, WE CANNOT TAKE SIDES!”

“PAPA, WE MUST TAKE SIDES!” James yelled in return, stepping farther into the room. “How can we possibly stay neutral? This isn’t just politics, Papa, people are dying!”

“It makes no difference, James, if we want to keep our position, we cannot be involved,” King Fleamont argued, shaking his head. Anger and frustration were rolling off him in waves.

“Oh sod our position!” James shouted, tossing his hands in the air. “This war is a moral battle, we must do what is right, Papa, we must!”

“And would you feel the same if people you care about were not implicated?” the King hissed, stepping close enough to James that he could feel heat radiating off his robes from his time standing near the fire.

“Lily? You think I only care because Lily is muggleborn?” James scoffed, laughing harshly at his father’s words. “You must not know me at all. I will not stand by and ignore what is being done. Our people are being persecuted, Papa, and you are letting it happen. You are just as a responsible as the monsters casting the spells.”

“How dare you,” his father seethed, and for the first time in his life, James thought his father might strike him, but he schooled his features, straightening his spine and staring his son down. “When you are king, you can do as you like, and tear the monarchy to pieces. But for now, you are a prince, and you will do as you are told. Am I clear?”

“I will publicly remain as neutral as I have always done,” James spat, “but I will not give up this memorial. Davey was a friend, and he should not have died, not the way he did. I will plan this memorial and I will attend it. This is the business of James Potter, not the Prince, and believe me, I relish my last few weeks as him.”

“Do you not understand, James? Everything you have done as James will become the Prince’s actions the second you graduate from Hogwarts,” the King replied harshly. “There are not two separate people, just the one, and you must realize that, the sooner the better.”

“I am aware, Papa,” James said, “but it will not change my mind.”

The King turned looking as though he were listening to another voice, and James had no doubt that his mother was whispering in his ear. The two of them had numerous methods of communicating with each other discreetly, which James barely understood. After a moment, he turned his attention back to his son.

“I must go now,” he said, his tone making no secret of his displeasure. “Do not think this conversation is over. You may be sure that your mother has much to say on this topic as well.”

“Good, I can’t wait to have this little chat again,” James replied snidely.

With a final huff, the King stepped into the fireplace, green flames erupting around him and whisking him away back to the Palace.

James stomped out of the Headmaster’s office without another word and marched through the halls in a blind rage. How could his parents be so infuriatingly stuck in the past? How could they not see that this was different? His feet took him toward the Black Lake of their own accord, and he was not at all surprised to see Lily sitting beneath his favourite beech tree when he got there.

“I figured that whatever was going on, you’d need to talk afterward,” she explained, closing her Potions textbook as James sat down next to her. “What happened?”

“My father,” James answered, closing his eyes and clenching his jaw to try to regain some modicum of composure. “He wants me to stop with the memorial, to disassociate myself from it.”

“He thinks it’s too political,” Lily clarified, and James nodded in acknowledgement. She sighed deeply and reached out to take his hand, running her fingers soothingly across his skin. “We knew this would be a fight, James, to have some involvement in what’s going on. It was never going to be easy. But you have to be the kind of prince, the kind of king, that you want to be. You have to be the kind your heart tells you to be.”

“I know,” James sighed, relaxing into her touch. “I guess, on some level I thought that once things got bad enough, my parents would understand. I thought they would see that we couldn’t stay out of this. But my father… he accused me of only caring about the situation because you’re muggle born.”

“Oh James, I’m so sorry,” she consoled, continuing her fingers’ ministrations. “I know that you’re not in it because of me. I know that you care for all the right reasons, and that’s exactly what’s going to make you a great king. You know this is wrong, not because I’m in danger but because it just is.”

“I wish they knew that too,” James said, his eyes drifting across the surface of the lake.

“You can’t make them do what’s right,” Lily replied, squeezing his hand until he looked at her. “All you can do is make sure that you’re doing everything you can, and hope that they come on board eventually.”

“I guess so,” he conceded.

“So did they give you permission to do the memorial?” she asked hesitantly.

“Not exactly,” James explained. “But I said I wouldn’t back down, and he said he had to go, so… I’m still gonna do it.”

“Okay,” Lily said with a smile, and standing with her hand held out for him. “Ready to get back to work then?”

“Lily, I…” he paused for a second. “I don’t know if I can do it?”

“What?” she asked, sinking back to the ground and looking at him intently.

“Have this public image of neutrality and only fight in secret,” James answered. “How do I pretend to the world that I don’t hate these people with every fiber of my being? If I don’t actively disavow them, doesn’t it kind of seem like we condone their actions? Doesn’t it add fuel to the fire?”

“Yes,” she agreed solemnly.

“What do I do?” he asked, his eyes wide and desperate.

“The only thing you can do,” Lily said, reaching out to push back a particularly unruly lock of his hair.

“What’s that?” James pressed.

“The right thing.”