#triwizard tournament! au

[theonceandfuturequeenoftarts]

Harry really should’ve expected something like this, but he’s still bewildered.

(And more than a little pissed off.)

Of course some bastard managed to enter him as the fifth champion in the Triwizard Tournament.

...Well. There are four schools participating, but “Quadwizard Tournament” doesn’t have the same ring to it.

There are several people shouting at each other and him in a variety of languages, and while he has no idea what they’re saying, he gets the gist of it: how did this scrawny fifth year have the audacity to trick the Goblet of Fire and enter the prestigious (and deadly) tournament?

He wishes they’d ask him so he could clear up that he hadn’t done that, and he doesn’t want to take part in this tournament, and they’re all being world-class prats right now.

Well. Except for Cedric Diggory. He just looks a bit confused, bless him.

Dumbledore asks him if he put his name in, and he says no, and maybe he overestimated these people because pretty much all of them scoff and don’t believe him. 

The Koldovstoretz champion’s voice cuts through the hullabaloo and says, in barely accented English, “If he is required to participate, why not let him forfeit?”

Thank Merlin, there’s a voice of reason in all this idiocy.

All eyes turn to the tall young man – Tom Riddle, Harry’d heard the name said by his love-struck peers enough times since the other schools arrived to remember it – who looks politely disinterested in the chaos around him.

“That sounds good to me,” Harry says, hoping that’ll be the end of it.

But of course it isn’t. 

The Durmstrang headmaster sneers something that sounds awfully rude at Riddle in a language Harry doesn’t recognise, which makes the boy tense and darkens his eyes. And then the shouting starts up again.

For all that the gathered headmistresses and headmasters and students were arguing against his participation before, they’re now demanding that he take responsibility and not besmirch the tournament’s prestigious history nor the Goblet’s choice by bowing out. Harry is once again of the opinion that there is no continuity or logic in the thinking of magical people, so he zones out like he does when Uncle Vernon wants to rant at him.

As the group finally quiets down and Dumbledore explains what the next steps are for the champions, Harry tunes back in to listen with half an ear. The other schools’ representatives send him dark looks as they depart, while Cedric gives him a pensive frown. Dumbledore ignores Harry’s attempts to catch his eye and disappears as soon as the discussion ends.

Well that’s just great.

Harry decides to head back to the Gryffindor common room – he needs to vent his anger at this madness to his friends, who will hopefully have his back.

(Though, the look on Ron’s face when Harry’s name had been called… No. Ron knows him better than that.)

Before he gets too far, he hears a voice call, “Harry Potter.”

He turns reluctantly, hoping it’s not another person ready to call him an attention-seeker or cheat, to find Tom Riddle.

Feeling his shoulders lower from his ears where they’d risen in pre-emptive defensiveness, Harry manages a half-hearted smile for the older boy. “Hey. Thanks for trying to help, back there.”

Riddle shrugs and somehow makes the motion elegant. “It was obvious you did not want to be chosen." 

Harry thought so, but apparently they're the only two of that opinion. “What did the Durmstrang headmaster say to you?”

“Nothing I didn’t expect,” Riddle says dismissively. When Harry doesn’t relent, he clarifies, “Igor Karkaroff rejected my application to Durmstrang because I’m not a pureblood. I’m sure you can imagine his opinion of me – and my blood – hasn’t changed in the intervening years.”

Harry can feel his hackles rise. Yes, he can imagine – he’s heard what the pureblood bigots have said about Hermione and the other muggleborn students over the years.

“Well, there’s only one thing to do, isn’t there?” Harry says, grinning sharply. “We’ll both just have to–” absolutely crush them all “–prove them all wrong.”

Riddle’s eyebrows rise slightly and one side of his mouth twitches. “I suppose we will.”

Harry holds out a hand. “May the best champion win.”

Riddle accepts the handshake. “Indeed. I’m glad to have your support.” 

Delivered in a perfect deadpan, it takes Harry a couple moments to realise the other boy is making a joke. He laughs, and Riddle finally lets his face break into a grin.

—

When Riddle uses parseltongue to get past the Peruvian Vipertooth (“What were they thinking, including a human-eating dragon?” Hermione demands when Harry first sees her after the first task) and retrieves the egg in less than two minutes, it causes an uproar. How did someone with Slytherin’s gift, who was born on British soil, not end up going to Hogwarts? The details of Riddle’s first introduction to magic and meeting with Professor Dumbledore are splashed across the front page of the Daily Prophet the following day.

Needless to say, the headmaster is in a bit of hot water with the Hogwarts board of trustees and the pureblood crowd.

(Karkaroff is looking decidedly pale, too.)

Harry thinks he’s the only one who sees the vengeful grin on Riddle’s face while everyone else is staring at Dumbledore getting dressed down. When Harry congratulates Riddle later that day, he knows the older boy understands it’s for more than just retrieving the egg the fastest.

(As for his performance in the first task, Harry’s content with how he did against the Hungarian Horntail, even if he’d gotten a little singed. He might be in second place, but he’s nipping at Riddle’s heels.)

[not-rab]

little twitter posts based on my fic At Midnight - Chapter 3 <3<3

[sunseekerlove]

y’all tell me why over the summer i had no time to just sit and write like an entire fic yet now i’m back at school and i’m like okay wait but i gotta write and i’ve written like three chapters of my own book and i’m working on the marauders triwizard tournament story again

[mkmgwrites]

Goblet of Shadows on AO3.

Please mind the tags. This is a very dark fic.

Chapters 43, 44 and 45 have now been released on the GOS Discord Server.

Summary:

Voldemort has won. The Order has fallen. Harry Potter is dead.

Five years after the Battle of Hogwarts, Hermione Granger is pulled from Azkaban and forced to compete in the Dark Tournament against fellow fallen Order Members.

The Goblet of Shadows assigns each high ranking Death Eater a Champion. The Champion who wins the games will get to go free and their master, one of Voldemort’s Scions, will have secured their position as his Successor.

With Hermione being assigned to Draco Malfoy, the highest ranking Scion, she may have a chance.

There can only be one victor, one survivor and one shot at freedom.

Let the games begin.

[elysian-writing]

okay putting some thoughts out here

im thinking beauxbatons champion regulus and obviously hogwarts champion barty maybe drumstrang champion remus if i wanted a big part of it to be wolfstar but there's also the fact that im going to change canon to make this tournament the reason why its canceled later on so we'll see ig rivals -> friends -> lovers -> spoiler is how its going right about now but we'll see if it takes a turn

[bloodpxct]

' bathed in your blood, I kiss you. You had never been so handsome. '

;; GRINDELDORE TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT AU

;; The world burns as the two young men form an unimaginable bond, falling prey to each other's manipulations and soul crushing devotion to each other. A fellow participant lays dead in their wake, as lovers they die together, souls intertwined forever.

[draigonboother]

The Bolt, Chapter 5

Excerpt: "Around them, everyone else seems to have also reached the same conclusion, and the hall is filled with loud, excited conversation and stunned looks — some confused, some amazed — and her name floats from mouth to mouth like a rising current, Granger Granger Granger. Pansy is talking him now, nudging his shoulder, but her voice melts into the other voices, blurry and faraway, and Draco cannot think of anything except her hand in Krum’s —"

Summary: A world without Voldemort, in which the Triwizard Tournament occurs in their sixth year. This story navigates Draco's and Hermione's relationship through their sixth and seventh year. Involves secret relationships, pureblood and muggleborn politics, love, and growth.

[lolathestoryteller]

jily microfic (Jily lives au); Goblet of Fire

look at him, the champion

“What’re you thinking, Lil?”

Lily looks up from the daily prophet, which she’d tossed aside onto their coffee table just a moment ago, and sighs. “He’s fourteen.” she worries. “Just look at him…he’s so much younger than them.”

“Lily,” James interferes gently, sitting down next to her to wrap his arm around her shoulders. “He’ll be alright.”

Lily looks back at the picture— front page, of course— where her son’s uncomfortable smile draws her attention immediately.

He’s stood between Cedric Diggory—Hogwarts’ official and of-age Triwizard Champion—and the Quidditch player, Viktor Krum, who looks like he should’ve graduated Durmstrang at least a few years ago…which makes Harry seem even younger in comparison.

Will he be alright?

“How can you be so sure?” she asks, her eyes still trailing Harry’s nervous features.

She feels James shifting closer, before he leans down to peck her cheek. “Because he’s our son.” he replies steadfastly. “And we’ll help him.”

That, at last, makes her look up at him. “Help him?” she asks. “The rules—“

“You know, you’d think that after so many blissful years of marriage, you’d know that I wasn’t ever much of a following-the-rules type’o guy.”

Lily can’t help the smile that tugs at her lips. “Right, how silly of me to forget.” she replies, before leaning closer to kiss him.

“For once,” she whispers against his lips. “I am more than happy to break the rules with you.”

James smiles back at her, his hazel eyes filled with a gleam that Lily has rarely seen these past few years. “I thought you might.”

[l-lenny]

Dumb Krum… i love you too!

Part 9

TW: drinking

SERIES MASTERLIST

——

In a hurry you arrived at the entrance to the Slytherin dormitories. Opening the passage there waited for you Fred. Looking up at you, as you were practically shining. Your hair looked stunning and the golden pearls were making you more radiant. Your looks were bit different too. He loved the way your lips were almost seducing him. The red suited you better than he would hoped so. Your formal dress hugged you just right and the fur cape were a nice touch to the ensemble. He just looked at you, blushing mess and his troughs were all over the place.

“Oh my Merlin” he said and kissed your hand “pardon my rudeness beautiful lady, but you look like the most radiant and pretty gem in the universe” Blood rushed to your cheeks at his remarks and charms. Still bit like of you wanted those words to be from Viktor but this was also very heart warming.

Arriving hand in hand to hallway where rest of the champions and their chosen were waiting. You looked at Viktor and Hermione. She looked stunning. The periwinkle dress made her features pop. Viktor was staring at his best friend. She looked so different right now. But in a good way. In a way that made is heart swell with emotions. “Ehm now then” said a new voice in corridor, coming to light there stood McGonagal. “You all will be entering the hall in this order firstly will go in the Hogwarts champions then Beubatoux champions and lastly Durmstrang champions. Please note that everyone already entered and you will have the first dance. Please do not embarrass yourself or your house” she said and with a knowing look addressed at Fred she made her way back. As she said you did. Entering the enchanted room where everything was shiny and sparkly you looked straight ahead. Dominant stare as you squeezed Fred’s arm.

“I hope you will have unforgettable time” he said with a smile and bowed before me. “Same goes for you Freddie” I smirked at him as he pulled me to dance. The melody swiftly turned around the Great hall as I became engulfed in the dance. The charming eyes piercing through me. The time was almost stopped. The dance was magnificent and entertaining as slowly everyone began dancing along the champions. Looking into Fred’s eyes he looked deep into yours. You two were moving in a sync and very gracefully. After some time and some photos Fred said: “I will bring you some refreshments” and kissed my hand at last he disappeared in the crowd. I went to greet some of my friends having fun and chatting in the middle of the crowd of their fans. “Artie-“ he spun to my detention and greeted me all cheerful. “Oh! Y/n!” He said and whispered to my ear. “I have sneaked in some of your favourite booze” I punched his shoulder “come let get this party started!” He cheered. “The left bottom of the snow, 12 o’clock” With a heavy sigh I eventually add to the enthusiasm with a smile. “Y/n?” There was Fred with a few drinks. “Freddie~ I have a great idea” I smirked. “Let’s get this party started!” I said as I dragged him to the secret stash. Artie and I have made this system where we would use elements of direction, and colours or things to say where to look. “Make sure none is looking” I said to Fred as he watched me. I came to the last table in white table cloth and went beneath it to find bottle of Tounge tying lemon squash, some fire whiskey and muggle vodka. Piking it up I walked towards my date. “Sooo do you wanna party?” I said as i shook the bottle.

Fred smirked at you and eagerly nodded. “Bloody hell you are amazing!” With this you were the main reason the ball was on fire! Fred and you spiked the punch bowl and let that ball become a party. You enjoyed yourselfs, the booze making your nerves calm and allowing you to be more relaxed and in a party mood. The Wierd Sisters played splendid music and all of you were having great time.

After few dances with Fred you relaxed with him on the side. “Y/nn!” Slurred a voice you instantly recognised. “Vik?” You turned around just to see him smiling at you lovingly. You could tell he was a bit drunk by the way his eyes dropped and the way he dragged out your name. But to you in that moment it was sexy. “Y/nn” he draped his hand over your shoulders. Fred didn’t liked this too and showed him aside. “Look man I believe she is my date” he said. Viktor however didn’t back down. They started to bicker and your drunken mind started to race. Well this will be awesome….

[distort1xn]

“No courting unless it’s your promised suitor,” Orion Black says, taking a seat across from his sons.

“Can we focus on me for a moment, please?” Sirius presses, pouting slightly. “Marlene’s pure-blood! And she’s gorgeous. Isn’t the point that we ‘grow our ranks’ or something? I am the only boy in school not dating.”

“Your brother doesn’t date.”

“And I have no intention of starting,” comes Regulus’ quick and finite reply.

Orion nods, as though this should be all the convincing Sirius needs. “Remind me why?”

“Have you seen the unwashed miscreants that go to that school?” he scoffs, finally closing his book.

“If I may interject,” Walburga lets herself into the room, an unnerving smile on her face that has sent stronger men than her husband and sons running for the hills. “May I propose an amendment: Sirius can date – when Regulus does.”

Sirius is up in arms instantly. “But he’s practically a dementor! What if he never dates?”

Walburga’s smile grows even more menacing, if possible. “Then, you’ll never date.”

—————————————————————————

COMPLETE

AO3 link for kudos and comments:

Google Drive link for epub (if you were so inclined):

[dramioneasks]

Has anyone recommended “The Bolt” by draigonboother yet? Legitimately one of my favorite fics and so underrated. So much angst, pining, unrequited love, and the world building is so thoughtful and realistic as well! The writing is absolutely beautiful, I can’t recommend this one enough

Thanks!

The Bolt - draigonboother - M, WIP - A world without Voldemort, in which the Triwizard Tournament occurs in their sixth year. This story navigates Draco's and Hermione's relationship through their sixth and seventh year. Involves secret relationships, pureblood and muggleborn politics, love, and growth. "You're a coward," she says quietly. Her voice is steady. Draco doesn't recognize her, the way she looks at him in that moment; as if she'd seen him fully, thumbed through every thought and feeling, felt the wet pulse of his stuttering heart — and came to an understanding about him in which he has not even begun to realize. "You call me over here whenever you feel like it, you hold my hand, you kiss me — but you won't take me to the ball. You can't even say it directly, whether you like me or not." She releases a breath. "And I let you — I let you do that to me."

[cozypancakes]

The first Triwizard Tournament is here! And I am really excited for y’all to read it 

[mo0ns-and-stars]

A little self promo today :3 I started a maurauders ff and I'd like so share:

James and Remus leave for their seventh year at Hogwarts. This year however there will be the triwizard tournament held at their own school! James wants to compete of course and that is all he can think about, until they meet the charming black brothers. Remus is obviously smitten by Sirius and although Regulus claims to find James to be very annoying he can't help the need to keep talking to him.

Or

where voldi doesn't exist, the black brothers went to beauxbatons and James and Sirius compete in a dangerous tournament all while falling in love with someone from the rival school.

[mea-laetitia]

So I’m reviving my Jegulus Triwizard Tournament AU fic! I’m super excited about it I have big plans for it hehe the first chapter is up right now and here is a little preview of chapter 2. Enjoyyyy!

-

The Marauders had never found it so easy to score weed than they had that night. Now that Sirius and Regulus were reunited, they had an almost unlimited supply. James couldn’t remember exactly when, but at some point Regulus had become the school’s unofficial weed dealer, growing batches under his bed with some strange magical lights as well as somewhere off in the forbidden forest that no one else was privy to. Until now, they had been fortunate enough to procure what little they had, albeit very rarely; Regulus had always favoured Remus for they had a shared love of muggle literature. Who knows how that was discovered, James never bothered to ask, but Remus would occasionally turn up after studying in the library with a telltale grin and a small black bag he had charmed to be void of smell. How he managed it, James didn’t care. As long as they had weed, he was happy, and now they were positively rolling in it and he was absolutely over the moon.

“Merlin bless your brother Sirius.” He sighed wistfully as he finished rolling up the fattest joint of his life.

They were sat in their usual smoke spot overlooking the Black Lake, the shared bounty between them was larger than it ever had been, and they had decided there was no better way to celebrate the commencement of their final year of school than to smoke in excess, something they had seldom been able to do before.

Peter’s own was several times smaller than the rest of theirs. He hadn’t smoked since fifth year, when he had horribly greened out and swore it off for the rest of his life. But Sirius was not about to let him miss this golden opportunity.

“What was the point in me reuniting with my brother if you’re just going to let it go to waste?”

James didn’t see fit to mention that it certainly wouldn’t have gone to waste if Peter didn’t join them. Peter high was a phenomenon he had sorely missed, for the boy would become a giggling mess and say some of the funniest things in the world that even while high James wasn’t sure his own mind could think of.

When they were all finished, they stuck their joints together in cheers and Remus used his wand to light them all at once.

“That is some good shit right there.” Sirius said proudly, relishing in exhaling his first puff.

Remus took another drag and peered at Peter with concern. “Okay so far Pete?”

The boy nodded almost too enthusiastically and took another puff that turned him into a coughing mess. James pat him roughly on the back a few times with a fond grin.

“Attaboy Wormy. More you cough the higher you get y’know?”

“That’s a total myth Prongs.” Remus rolled his eyes. “How would that even work?”

“It recycles it through your lungs.”

“Honestly listen to yourself mate.”

Five minutes later even Remus wasn’t making much sense. James leaned back against the tree they were sitting by, staring into the sky and wishing not for the first time that he was capable of taking his broom out for a fly right now, but any time he tried to form an intelligent string of thoughts he was reminded that that was most likely a terrible idea. The only downside of Peter’s newfound drug lust was that he could no longer take them each in turn for a fly on the back of his broom. Oh well.

“What’s even the difference between the stuff he grows outside versus under his bed?” James pondered aloud.

Sirius’ eyes were comically bloodshot. “I think the outside stuff he grows the muggle way, whereas the charmed lights and shit he uses for the inside weed makes it stronger. I think, he’s never actually told me.”

The four stared silently at the bank of the Lake as it lapped softly from whatever movement from a creature within stirred it.

“So what are we smoking right now?” Peter asked.

James examined his own joint as if he would be able to tell the difference just by looking. The ember at the end slowly devoured the weed, gradually making it smaller and smaller. He took a hasty drag so as not to allow it to all burn up.

“Muggle shit I reckon. He’s not been at Hogwarts long enough to have grown a proper batch of the good stuff yet. But he said the stuff he grew in the forest he just left there all summer, so I’ll bet he has an absolute motherload of it.”

The thought of Regulus tending to his plants makes James grin. He had never really pictured Regulus as being a person with his own life and hobbies, despite knowing for years that he had been doing this. But certainly, he must have been passionate about it enough to take the growing so seriously. James wonders what Regulus must be like when he smokes.

“He’s aggravatingly no different to when he’s sober.” Sirius replied, James hadn’t realized he wondered that question out loud. He thanks his good fortune that the sun has lowered enough by now that no one can see his burning face. Really, he shouldn’t care so much about his best friend’s twin, but the boy was fascinating to him, and now that he was allowed to mention him, he just couldn’t help himself.

“When did you smoke with Regulus?” Remus puzzled. “Surely your parents wouldn’t allow that under their roof?”

Sirius smirked. “When have my parent’s rules ever stopped me?”

“Fair.”

“Hey, the top of that tree looks like it’s flipping me off right now.” Peter pointed across the lake. “Is that just me?”

James laughed loudly and looked at the tree in question, which sat inoffensively still and very much was not flipping Peter off.

“You should go give it a piece of your mind mate. I wouldn’t let that slide.”

“I dunno, it looks pretty intimidating to me.” Remus grinned.

Sirius used his wand to relight his own joint and added. “Yeah Wormy be careful, you’re clearly on thin ice already.”

“What did I do to it?” Peter whined, throwing his head back in exasperation.

“Um, dude you’re literally smoking a fellow plant right now. That hash was probably it’s best friend.”

“WELL YOU’RE ALL SMOKING IT TOO!” Peter shouted defensively.

The other three laughed uproariously at their friend. Thank Merlin Peter was a stoner once again because James dearly missed fucking with him when he was high. After a few moments Peter cracked a grin and started to laugh as well, and even though James was utterly content he still couldn’t help the thought from creeping in that moments like these were in short supply now, a year from now they’d have to find a new smoke spot. Or maybe they’d all be separated doing different things with their lives.

James pushed the thought away, grateful that at least that was a year away. He could worry about that later. He took another drag and looked at his friends with a smile.

[mkmgwrites]

Goblet Of Shadows

Chapter 26

“What did Nott want?” Malfoy asked coldly, gaze narrowing with suspicion as he took in the wizard behind her.

Hermione tugged her hand away, confused and tired and riled up. “None of you’re fucking business” she hissed.

Grey eyes flashed silver as a cold smirk graced his features. His platinum hair gleamed against his glowing silver robes.

“Everything about you is my business, Granger” he smirked. “You made it so when you chose me.”

[hoarding-niffler]

Not-friends

This has been a request where I was asked to combine the prompts “Okay, maybe I have a crush on you! So what?” and "What could you possibly be this stressed about?” in a oneshot for Sebastian and my OC Faye. 

I still need to learn how to write both Ominis and Sebastian, so I hope I didn’t butcher them too much. But I had lots of fun, loved to put my OC in there and am eager to practice the boys some more. 

I hope you enjoy! 

Read on Ao3

Ominis’ fingers glide across the embossed printing of his Advanced Potions book, trying to understand and internalise what he’s reading about Veritaserum and how it’s properly brewed, when Sebastian’s voice gives him pause.

“I think I’m ready.”

Ominis nods despite not knowing if his friend will even see his reaction, closes the book, and reaches for his wand.

“No, wait. Just one more minute… then I’m ready.”

Ominis sighs and rolls his eyes—a gesture learned despite never having seen someone else do it—whilst falling back down onto his bed. He decides not to pick up his book again; even he has to admit that today calls for celebration, not excessive study time. He doubts that he could learn anything even if he tried, thanks to Sebastian positively pacing from one end of the room to the other, muttering under his breath just loud enough to disrupt his thoughts. He doesn’t need the gift of sight to know that his friend is scurrying about like a frightened mooncalf, oozing tension with every step.

Ominis puts his hands behind his head, careful not to rub off the pomade keeping every single hair in place and listens in on Sebastian’s mumbling.

“This should do it… oh, no, this won’t work. Damn. Where is my…? Ah, there. Green? Black? Or maybe silver!”

“Dear boy, you look marvellous! Dashing. Nothing less than dapper!”

Ominis lifts an eyebrow. Despite never using them, he knows that each dormitory is furnished with a full-length mirror with an enchanted Gargoyle’s head on top. Slytherin’s mirrors tend to be quite blasé if not downright condescending whenever someone steps in front of them, so hearing the light voice excessively compliment his friend comes as a surprise. Sebastian must’ve really gone all out tonight.

“Oh, what do you know, you’re an antique piece of rubbish at best!”

He also seems entirely unimpressed.

The mirror gasps, retorting with a flippant ‘I say!’ before falling quiet once more.

Sebastian continues to fill the silence with his quick steps across the various rugs, but Ominis has had enough. He sits up with a swift movement, his hands checking if his hair needs a bit more Sleakeazy’s before finally lifting up his wand. He walks over to his friend with practiced steps and leans against his wardrobe, effectively stopping Sebastian from rearranging his outfit for the umpteenth time today.

“Sebastian, what could you possibly be this stressed about? At this pace the Yule Ball will be over before we even get there. Stop worrying.”

Sebastian lets out a huff but seems to stop pacing.

“Easy for you to say with your perfectly coiffed hair and flawless complexion!”

Ominis sputters. Since when did Sebastian notice these things? And since when does he sound so… petulant. He knows his friend to be stubborn to a fault, but this is something else. He furrows his brow, resigning himself to make the decision for the both of them.

“You are ready. Let’s go.”

Without waiting for Sebastian to either agree or disagree—confident his friend would vehemently deny his assessment—Ominis points his wand away from him, reaches for Sebastian’s overpriced dress robes and guides them out of their dormitory towards the Great Hall.

Sometimes Sebastian wonders if Ominis’ trust in him is misplaced. It’s not long after they started going up the moving stairs that his friend’s hand loosens its death grip on his robes, convinced that Sebastian will dutifully follow him. While he’d be flattered in any other circumstance, it now takes everything in him not to double back to their room and lock the door. Who wants to visit the poxy Yule Ball anyway? If he wanted to attend, Sebastian would’ve chosen his absolute best dress robes, his current ensemble is second-rate at best. He would’ve spent not one, but three hours in front of the mirror, trying to tame the abomination that most call hair—or whatever sentient being decided to grow on top of his head. No, he did not look forward to the Yule Ball, and he certainly did not make an effort to convince people otherwise!

The first few times Sebastian trips over his own feet Ominis doesn’t react, but after the fifth time he suddenly stops and turns on his heel, nearly throwing him off balance and back down the staircase. Not that he’d mind too much at this point…

“Sebastian.”

“What?” Wait, was that his own voice? Why did he sound so out of breath? Must be these endless steps!

“What’s wrong?”

Sebastian stares at his friend, not sure how to respond. He balls his fists and…Merlin, why are his palms clammy? What is it with this castle and the sudden humidity? His skin is itching as well, must be these low-budget robes he spent a year saving up for.

Realising that the silence between them is stretching into awkward territory, Sebastian clears his throat, shrugs, and starts to move past his friend, further climbing towards his demise. Ominis follows him closely.

“There is nothing wrong. Stop worrying! The robes are just a bit too long, I’m not used to—”

“They are not, Sebastian. You told me how you had them custom-made. They fit you perfectly.”

Sometimes he hates Ominis for being such a good listener.

Finally reaching the corridor towards the Great Hall, Sebastian lets out a heavy sigh and leans against one of the stone walls. He presses his palms against the cool slate, hoping to give his overheating body some relief.

He knows Ominis can’t see him. He’s aware there’s barely anyone around anymore—most students have already gathered in the hall—but he still needs to close his eyes to say what’s on his mind.

“It’s—it’s Faye,” he finally says.

“Did something happen?”

Ominis sounds surprised, even worried, something that would warm a certain spot inside Sebastian’s chest if his mind wasn’t occupied with this damn Yule Ball and its… implications.

“No! I mean, yes?” Sebastian presses his now cool hands against his eyes, groaning into his palms, “I—I saw her earlier! Ominis, she was wearing a dress!”

“…And?”

How can his friend sound so unimpressed? Doesn’t he realise how serious this is?!

“And she’s a girl!”

He can hear Ominis’ hand slap his forehead with remarkable velocity.

“Your perceptiveness would bring Salazar to his knees, Sebastian. Why is that a problem?”

Sebastian’s hands instinctively find his hair—it couldn’t look much worse anyway—and start to rake through them.

“Because I can’t ignore it anymore! She, she is my—our—friend. She was always our buddy. One of us. We fought Ashwinders together! And now she’s wearing a dress and looks pretty in it, she’s probably already waiting and what if this,” his hands wave erratically up and down his body, not that Ominis could see, “is not enough?”

He stares at his blond friend, waiting for a reaction but all he gets is a hearty chuckle.

“How can you laugh at my—at my despair?!”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” Ominis scoffs and steps towards him, slowly putting a hand on his shoulder and gives it an affirming squeeze.

“She did ask you to go with her to the Yule Ball, did she not?”

He gives a half-hearted shrug but hums in agreement.

“She didn’t ask you while you looked all ‘dashing and dapper’. She asked you while you looked how you always do. It will be fine. She likes you.”

Sebastian looks at his friend, searching for any insincerity but finding none. He takes a deep breath, willing his body to lose some of its tension.

“But what if she doesn’t like me enough and only asked me to go as friends?”

“I didn’t.”

Ominis yelps and Sebastian is sure his heart just stopped beating. Faye—smart, beautiful, conveniently quiet Faye—is standing behind them, an odd look on her face he’s never seen before. He can feel his cheeks heating up in embarrassment and his hands leave his hair only to scratch at the back of his neck.

It takes him a distressing amount of time to clear his dry throat and address her.

“How…how much did you hear?”

She cocks her head to the side, a shy smile spreading her lips. Wait, are they glistening? Salazar, help him.

“Well, I’m finally aware that I’m a girl. So, thanks for that.”

Ominis snorts—snorts! —as he lets go of Sebastian and lifts his wand to guide him the rest of the way to the Great Hall. Sebastian’s shoulders slump in defeat.

“I really put my foot in it, huh?”

Faye steps closer, smiling up at him. One of her hands reaches out, smoothing down his hair and adjusting his bowtie. His eyes follow her movements with interest until she speaks.

“Both, I’d say.”

He bites his lip, looking anywhere but her face.

“It’s just, I—”

Something is bubbling up inside of him. This itching, cloying feeling he’s had ever since fifth year. Ever since they fought their first Troll together. Something heavy coils in his stomach, his heart pounds like it wants to break out of his chest and before he can stop himself, he steps closer and practically barks at her, “I—maybe I DO have a crush on you! So what?! That’s no reason to make fun of—”

“I’m glad.”

It takes but two words to leave him speechless. Helpless.

His eyebrows lift as he looks down at her, and notices how her cheeks start to redden. Faye’s fingers, now jittery and—dare he say it? —shaky, slide up towards his elbow to eventually link her arm with his and slowly pull him along. Her hair falls into her face as they walk and if he didn’t know any better, he’d say she was trying to hide from him. Her normally clear voice sounds meek. The penny has dropped.

“I didn’t ask you to the Yule Ball as a friend.”

Sebastian is convinced that her dress, albeit pretty and flattering, can’t possibly be that interesting to warrant her staring at it continuously.

“More as a…not-friend.”

Multiple pennies.

“Huh.”

“I-is that okay?”

Sebastian takes in a deep breath to steady himself, before nodding.

“…It is.”

As soon as the words left his mouth Faye presses her face into his upper arm and he can feel the heat of her blush permeate his robes. A smile, soft and honest, something Sebastian rarely shows anyone, tugs at his lips and his arm pulls her just a little bit closer. Her dress rustles softly and the little sparkling stones woven into the fabric glitter with each step as they make their way towards the Great Hall, ready for the Yule Ball, ready to dance the night away as not-friends.