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bush-viper-cutie · 4 years

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The Pond

Pairing: young!severus & fem!reader

Word Count: 1,223

Rating: E for Everyone

Plot: Lonely and disliked Prince Severus Snape befriends a village girl in the forest just outside his castle’s woods.

Warnings: None

A/N: For Snape Appreciation Month, prompt 11: Snape is an actual prince. @snapeloveposts (Part 1??? I kinda wanna make a flash forward one shot of this :o maybe)

Posted: 6/24/20

Masterlist

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Prince Severus normally spent most of his days in the woods outside the kingdom walls, walking through the forest looking for mushrooms, leaves, or the elusive biheaded orange rock slug. Everyday, while his brothers received lessons in dueling or ruling, he was sent out by his tutor to find his own ingredients for the potion of the day.

He wasn’t upset that his older siblings got most of the attention, not truly. He understood his oldest brother was heir to the throne, and that his next three brothers would inherit lands for them each to rule. His youngest older brother, born just one year before him, was the most liked in the village and was the most interested in politics and so his path was clear as well: a royal advisor to the soon-to-be King.

He, however, was the youngest brother, of age fourteen, and not at all liked by the village. They found him secretive because he didn’t like attending balls or festivals. They preferred the looks of his brothers, taking after his father, except they all had his mother’s nose whereas he looked like his mother except he had his father’s nose.

The contrast between them was so great he spent most of his life hiding away, hating the comments he would occasionally hear, “The runt of the litter.” He hated that word, “runt”, like a failed attempt at a sophisticated and attractive Prince. A failed attempt at someone useful to the Kingdom.

He sat down on a log and rested his elbows on his knees. His tutor expected him back in an hour with all the necessary ingredients to start on a new potion, but he could barely walk a few feet without forgetting his purpose and thinking about the outdoor ball he was supposed to attend at nightfall.

Normally the King and Queen excused him from events, seeing as he wasn’t much missed ever, but this time they were adamant about his attendance. The towns people were starting to spread rumors about him, and that apparently wouldn’t do for King Tobias or Queen Eileen.

The night will go terribly.

. . .

The castle gardens had been transformed and people from all over the kingdom were in attendance, walking through the rose bushes, smelling the tulips, and dancing in the center as the band played summertime songs that made even the blue birds sing along.

His brothers were out talking to a group of noblemen from an allied kingdom while he sat by his mother’s side next to her throne. He took out his potions book and reread the ingredients and their description from that day’s lesson.

The ball went on as expected, and the village people seemed satisfied at his attendance, only giving him the occasional sneer or squinty-eyed look. Nosy bastards. As the sun set it was getting harder to read, even with all the dancing flame balls above their heads.

He headed behind the gardener’s shed and sat on a stump, looking up at the top of the trees, wondering what it was like to always be the last to feel the sun’s warmth as it dipped beneath the earth. If trees could talk back, he’d lose his voice talking to them… or perhaps his voice would disappear from underuse, knowing he would rather listen to their ancient stories. He never had anything worth saying anyways.

There was a rustling in the bushed up ahead and a cute girl with shoulder length brown hair came out, covered in pine needles and leaves, carrying two stones. He quickly stood and winced in regret, seeing how terribly scary it must be to have a shadowy stranger jump out from seemingly nowhere.

She recovered from her jump and bowed, realizing who stood before her, “Prince Severus! I’m so sorry… I-I was just exploring…”

Severus nodded. He didn’t know what to say to her. He barely spoke to his own family, let alone strangers, and even less rarely pretty girls with plum color lips and cheeks as pink as rose petals. He stammered trying to say a mixture of ‘Hello’ and ‘It’s alright’, saying something along the lines of “Hitso,” and trailing off.

She laughed, “You have a beautiful pond back there.”

He nodded, remembering the one; the fish in it glowed like soft stars. “Did you leave because it got dark?”

“Yes. The fish seemed to put their lights out and I thought it would be best to leave just before I couldn’t see my way back…” She looked down at her hands and held out the two rocks, “These were on the pond’s edge and… I wanted to take a memento.”

Severus noticed their green and blue shades, “Their great… Did… Did you know the pond glows again after the sun has set?”

She smiled, “Does it really?”

“Yes. I can show you… The toads glow like suns on the rocks and logs, trying to attract the mosquitos.”

She set the rocks down on the stump and slid her arm around his, “Lead the way, then.”

Severus lead her deep into the forest, wand held out for light as the woods turned dark. Once it was pitch black her fingers pressed into his arm, but he was careful with every step he took and called out roots before they even became visible.

He took her to the spot. His favorite spot. The smooth stone by the pond’s edge that rested between two cherry blossom trees. In all of the woods no one could encounter any tree that didn’t have thick brown trunks and dark green leaves, except for these two trees. He often thought of the trees as guardians of the pond, but they were only reachable by one path.

She gasped when she saw them, their petals illuminated on the water’s surface by the distant glow of croaking toads. The moon reflected bright white and the petals danced all around it, swirling with the ripples.

Before finding the pond, Severus always felt the forest was silent and eerie, but any time spent by the pond would teach anyone different. The rustles and broken twig sounds could never maintain their creepiness after witnessing all types of creatures venture out to the pond to play and tussle with their friends and family.

They sat on the rock and remained quiet, watching how the toads stuck their tongues out to catch the unsuspecting bugs and critters that dared to invade their space. He kept looking over at her and drummed on his knees.

His mouth opened and released his thoughts unfiltered, “Would you like to be friends?”

She smiled for a second, but it vanished as the fire behind her eyes died out, “I’m just a village girl… You can’t be seen with me. It’s not proper.”

Severus looked down at his fingers, “Well, I’m hardly seen at all.”

“Then let’s meet here again, every night,” her smile was as bright as her eyes again.

“I’ll make a trail for you, from the village’s forest entrance to here. I’ll make it safe for you to follow at night,” Severus’ excitement got the better of him and his voice was the loudest it’s been in months.

“In that case, I’d love to be friends with you,” she held out her hand like they were sealing a deal.

He shook it gladly.

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sweetbyte · 4 years

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Title: Patronus pt.1

Pairing(s): TodoMomo | BakuMomo (Friendship)

Rating: T

Summary: Apart of the Lessons in Magic Series/HP AU. Yaoyorozu finds a way to deal with failure, Bakugou tries to help, Todoroki is exceedingly distracting and he doesn't even know.....

He expects her patronus to be regal and elegant like her.

He’s vaguely aware of others in the room shouting out ‘expecto patronum’ while others, like him, are waiting for Yaoyorozu to succeed, as she usually does. Yaoyorozu has always been far ahead in every class and has been since first year so this will probably be no feat for her. She’ll summon her patronus, the professor will billow “10 points to Ravenclaw!” and everyone will be in awe of her magical prowess.

With a graceful but practiced swish of her wand, she clearly chants the incantation and suddenly silence falls upon the room as nothing happens.

Shouto hears snickers coming from a group of Slytherin girls who have always had it in for the girl as soon as she was sorted into Ravenclaw. Being from the most powerful pureblood house, it was quite the scandal to have broken the generations of Slytherin heirs. They are quickly silenced by an irate Bakugo, whose jaw is clenched at the sight of Yaoyorozu visibly getting distraught. The action is enough to snap most students from the sight and continue their own attempts at the spell.

As she continues to try, her want movements become shaky and her voice is almost desperate. When Midoriya successfully produces what looks to be a phoenix, her eyes widen and her wand falls to the ground. He takes a step towards her, but Bakugo has already let out a stream of profanity quickly picking up her wand and is escorting her, or rather dragging her out of the class. The professor says nothing, as he’s fascinated by the other boy’s patronus. They were only practicing, no one actually expected a corporal patronus.

The Slytherin girls resume their snickering and Shouto ignores the pang of jealousy and truly hopes that the abrasive blond can console Yaoyorozu.

Bakugou gives her space. He doesn’t ask her how she feels. He doesn’t lecture her. He doesn’t try console her with soothing words or gestures. He giver her space to get through her embarrassing episode of anxiety and she’s grateful.

Once she’s calmed down, she apologizes. He naturally scoffs.

“You don’t have to an overachieving swot at everything, you know.” He’s leaning against a castle wall and she resists the urge to nag him for he’s dirtying his robes. Instead she allows a small meek smile and moves to lean next to him, allowing her head to rest on his shoulder. “You should heed your own advice.”

“I am sorry you missed the class babysitting me.” She starts again causing him to nudge her head. “Stop bloody apologizing.” His tone is warning but she ignores it. “You didn’t get to-“

“It wouldn’t have mattered. I know I wouldn’t have been able to produce one anyway.”

“How are you so sure?” Momo moves her head to glance at him in question, but he stares off into the distance with a blank expression. “We are on the same sodding boat, are we not? No happy memories or overwhelming feelings of love to conjure up…”

She lets out a deep sigh and contemplates how what he said was true. The pure hearted, compassionate Yaoyorozu could not conjure up a patronus because she truly had no precious memory she held close to her heart.

“How utterly depressing” She blurts, almost cynically that it surprises her, and she feels him grunt in agreement.

“Truly fucked up, indeed.”

The rest of week was spent practicing summoning their patronus. The rest of the week was also absent of Yaoyorozu’s presence. He tried not to think about how it bothered him. The head girl is the embodiment of academic perfection so a couple of absent days are not all common for her.

Despite practicing, less than half of the class could summon a patronus, and he was not included in that small group. It surprised him that, that didn’t bother him much at all.

He ran into her, literally, on the morning of their break day. She had just rounded the corner of the grounds outside, where the air was chilly, when they collided. She let out a squeak as she fell before him, in slow motion it seemed, and he did his best to catch her mid-air to no avail. She landed in a somehow graceful heap, and laughed sheepishly, not yet looking at him or his outstretched hand.

“Ouch. My apologies! I did not mean to de so unaware of my surroundings! You see there was a cat, and I was trying to see if the poor thing was a stray. Though that is probably highly unlikely, I felt the need to check. It’s rather cold out here for a cat to be wondering around- “

“Yaoyorozu.” He interrupts the girls rambling and her eyes fly open as she jumps in surprise.

“Todoroki! What brings you around here? Oh, do pardon me, that came out incredibly rude! Also pardon me again for being so reckless, you see there was a cat and- “He allows himself to smile at her antics before cutting in again.

“Yaoyorozu, I’ll tell you after you let me help you up. I doubt the cold cement is all that comfortable.”

“Oh, right!” Her laugh is light and melodic, and he notes that her hands are soft despite the cold as he helps her up.

“I am truly sorry” Momo begins again, and he waves her off. “If anyone should be sorry, I think its me. I scared off your cat.”

“No worries, my only concern was for it not to be caught in the harsh weathers.”

“I was on my way to the library to study charms.” He answers her first question as he watches her pat down her robes.

“I never pegged you as an early riser.” She blurts out.

“Truth be told, I wasn’t. I rather found I now enjoy the peaceful solitude the morning brings. Additionally, the books I needed where usually already booked out by midday.” He nods his head to the direction of the library and she joins him on his trek.

“It appears I owe you another apology.” His eyebrow arches, asking for elaboration and she laughs lightly. “I may have been the one monopolizing the books.”

Nothing can stop the jump in his chest at the sound of her laugh, and nothing can stop the twitch of his lips. “Well, I can’t say I’m all that shocked.” He is not, it makes perfect sense.

“I’ll be mindful in the future” She promises. “Truthfully, most of them are rereads for me.” She admits guiltily, and he relishes the color that graces her cheeks.

He smiles as they come to the split, finally in the corridors of the castle. “No need to apologize. If anything, now I know who to hunt down in the future.” Her eyes widen and he allows himself to smirk at the sight. “That is, if you can manage to get them before me.

Content with himself, he gives her a final nod. “I’ll see you around, Yaoyorozu.”

His blood is warm as he turns to continue down to the library, willing himself to ignore the thunderous heartbeat that is embarrassingly his.

Momo is still frozen when he disappears from her sight around the corner. She’s frozen, but her body is on fire. Her treacherous heart is surely about to implode.

Momo has spent a good amount of her 7 years at Hogwarts fancying this boy, and in her experience of fawning from afar, she cannot say she’s ever seen him smirk. Well, correction, he has smirked but only a handful of times when dueling in DADA.

What’s worse is that it was directed towards her and she doesn’t know what to do. She remembers the muggle saying she learned earlier in the week and pinches herself. Not dreaming, but definitely dazed, and that’s how Bakugou finds her.

“What’s got you looking stupid?”

“Huh?” His face twists and concern paints his face so quickly that its comical and he puts a hand on her forehead. ‘Huh’ is not and has never been in her vocabulary.

“What the actual fuck? You’re burning up! Don’t tell me you’re sick.” He grimaces, taking a step back in precaution while swiftly retracting his hand. She ends up choking on air, which further deepens his scowl. “You should probably go to the infirmary, you’ll end up worse if you try occlumency today.”

“No! I am not sick!” She argues. They had gotten special permission after some stings where pulled to allow Bakugou to teach her occlumency in efforts to control her emotions after her anxiety episode. Occlumency is mainly used to protect the mind and thoughts, but they concluded that it might assist her in controlling her nerves. Bakugou might not be the most patient person, but what he had been teaching her was helpful.

“I don’t want to hear it. I ain’t taking any chances.” Her nose scrunches up at his comment. His mother would truly be sent to the grave if she heard him talking like that. “I trust you can make it to the infirmary on your own...?”

“What a gentleman, truly. I must insist, I am not- “

“I told you I ain’t-” He rolls his eyes at her obvious distaste “I am not taking any chances, we are done here.”

Again, she’s stuck watching the retreating from of yet another male and sighs. Boys

Bakugou eyes her skeptically when they resume her occlumency lessons in the room of requirement. Momo huffs in response and starts warming up with breathing exercises. Now that he has been teaching her for about a week, he has become rather ruthless when pushing into her mind.

‘You’re not going to get a proper warning if someone wants to bust in, Yaoyorozu! They are not gonna ask for your bloody permission.’

As soon as she’s done, she takes her position in front of him and nods, signaling she’s ready. He only glares before immediately starting his assault.

‘Build a wall’ She remembers him demanding, but the walls are barely holding up. She vaguely recalls the muggle tale of the wolf and the three little pigs before she feels Bakugou push again. She feels a crack in her barrier and that’s all he needs to bust in. Suddenly she’s on her knees gasping as her thoughts and memories she’s tried to hide flash by her leaving her exposed.

Momo is still trying to catch her breath when Bakugou’s shoes come into her line of sight. She manages to look up and catches the grimace on his face while he extends a hand to help her up.

“Am I getting better?” She asks, breathless, as she lets him pull her up to her feet and he snorts.

“I mean, you are lasting longer, but its still fucking easy to read you. I told you to build-“

“Walls. Yes, that is precisely what I have been doing!” She interrupts him, agitated causing him to snicker. “Sure, it is, princess.”

“You doubt me?”

“Its just really bloody hard to believe when the first thing I see is you hot and bothered over that halfie.” Momo squeaks, mortified.

“Your father is one of the best legilimens, is he not? That annoying prick would be dead if your father saw what I did.”

She knows he’s right, so she can only nod with determination. “Again.”

AN// Thank you for reading. I feel like I’m finally getting my mojo back. Just took a year or two, I know. Excuse any error, this is unbeta’d and non proof-read.

#bnha #my writes #jots #todomomo #bakumomo brotp #hp au #lessons in magic

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sabetha · 5 years

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Iron Tome-a-Thon TBR

Hey pals it's almost July and guess what that means? Time for a readathon! The Iron Tome-a-Thon is an A Song of Ice and Fire inspired adult fantasy, month long readathon that I’ve been convinced to participate in by @marebarrow. If you’re interested in joining, check out this link!

This readathon has 6 challenges and 1 group book (The Poppy War, by R.F. Kuang). I’ve already read The Poppy War, and while it is a fantastic book, I just finished it not too long ago so I’m not due for a reread yet, and I’ll be skipping that one. Below are the 6 challenges and the books I’ve chosen for them.

Winterfell: Read a book set (partially or fully) in a cold climate Deathless - Catherynne Valente

This book has been on my tbr for a while, mostly because I’m not entirely sure I’m going to enjoy it but also I love Valente’s writing, so it’s just been stuck in tbr purgatory. Set in Russia and based on Russian folklore, something I know nothing about, I think this hits the nail on the head for this challenge.

King’s Landing: Read a book about or involving royalty, politics or government Theft of Swords - Michael Sullivan

Theft of Swords is actually an omnibus - the first two books in the series packaged into one. A book about a thief and mercenary, framed for the murder of the king, heists, shenanigans... the real question is why haven’t I read this yet?

Sunspear: Read a book by an author of color or an indigenous author Lagoon - Nnedi Okorafor

Listen. I am an absolute heaux for shitty syfy movies, and anything involving sea creatures and marine biology makes my little science heart burst with happiness as I live vicariously through the characters and mourn the marine science degree I never got. I’ve heard great things about Okorafor’s writing, and I’m really excited for this one!

Oldtown: Read a book about or involving an institution of knowledge or training Queen of Blood - Sarah Beth Durst

I’ll be honest, I just chose this book because I needed something to fill this challenge. But the idea of malevolent spirits that want to end humankind, and young women who train to be heirs to the queen- the one who stands between these spirits and destruction- is intriguing to me, and I’m interested to see how I enjoy this one.

Valyria: Read a book about or involving dragons The Black - Paul Cooley

Alright listen. I know what you’re going to say, so don’t. This counts. This totally counts. I’m back at it again with my shitty syfy-eqsue, sea monster stories, and I don’t care if sea monsters don’t fit your definition of dragons because I am so excited for this one it had to go on my list somewhere. I have been eyeing this book for ages and I am pumped that I finally have a chance to read it.

Asshai: Read an urban fantasy Aloha from Hell - Richard Kadrey

The Sandman Slim series is delightfully snarky, and focuses on Stark, a sarcastic asshole of an antihero that you can’t help but love. This is the third book in the series, which I have been meaning to jump back into for quite some time now and just never got around to.

And there we have it! In keeping with the A Song of Ice and Fire theme, this readathon lets you choose a house, and I have chosen House Martell - love me some Sand Snakes and countries that aren’t ruled by a patriarchy. Happy reading!

#irontomeathon #readathon #tbr #books #entered #jenna speaks

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