#Marauders fandom is split in half now: | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

captainsophiestark · 7 months

Text

Werewolf

Remus Lupin x Reader

Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Written for my Year of Olympians and part of a bigger challenge being run by @yearofcreation2023! It features a ton of other awesome creators and runs all year, so go check it out!

Fandom: Harry Potter

Prompt: Artemis; wilderness, the moon, protection, hounds

Summary: Remus' SO decides to finally figure out why he's been looking so rough every month and gets more answers than they bargained for.

Word Count: 1,890

Category: Angst, Fluff

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

Mysteries were overrated.

Every so often, when I dove headfirst into learning something new and spent hours doing that for fun, I wondered whether I should've been sorted into Ravenclaw instead of Gryffindor. But now, after spending far too long trying to reason my way to understanding, I'd decided to throw logic out the window and do some good old fashioned following people around instead. My Ravenclaw friends would never let me hear the end of it when I told them, but right now, I didn't care.

My boyfriend, Remus Lupin, had been ill on and off for months. He leaned on his friends, relied on them for support, but never turned to me. I'd talked to him once or twice, but he'd never given me a straight answer, and when the third month in a row came around that he looked on the verge of death's doorstep, I decided to get to the bottom of things one way or another.

Which was why I was out in the middle of the night on the Hogwarts grounds, trailing a far distance back from the Marauders as they moved in a pack. All of them except my boyfriend seemed in good spirits, and whatever was going on, I felt for Remus. I hadn't expected the adventure to take us out of the castle, so I still wore pajamas, and only love for my boyfriend kept me from turning right around to seek shelter from the cold night air.

To my surprise, the four boys ahead of me made straight for the Whomping Willow. I knew they were idiots, but I had no idea what possible draw the murder tree could have for them right now, especially with Remus so clearly feeling terrible. Then, in a flash, Peter disappeared.

I blinked and rubbed at my eyes, trying to figure out what I'd seen. Then, in the dull moonlight just barely filtering through the clouds, I saw a rat scurry across the roots of the tree. A moment later, the branches froze in place, and the remaining three boys ducked into a passage normally hidden among the roots, the rat following right after them.

Of course they were unregistered Animagi. I knew that month they'd spent barely talking hadn't been a ploy to mess with the Slytherin Quidditch team, or James trying to impress Lily with his friends' support, or anything else they'd claimed. But Remus hadn't been part of that.

Before I could second guess myself, I let every last ridiculous Gryffindor instinct take over and rushed to the tree, sliding into the hole at its base a split second before the branches began whipping around again furiously. I muttered a quick lumos to light the way ahead of me, then hurried after the boys.

Before I got very far into the tunnel, I heard horrifying screams coming from ahead, the same kinds people said came from the Shrieking Shack. I hesitated for half a second before racing off down the tunnel in the direction the boys had gone. Whatever that noise was, it wasn't good, and I needed to make sure Remus and our friends were alright.

I made it about ten steps forward before I collided with someone. They wrapped their arms around me and held me in place to keep me from moving forward, and after a moment's shouting and confusion, I recognized the person holding me.

"Y/N, you have to get out of here!" shouted James, his tone urgent. I'd never heard him yell like this before, never saw his cool composure drop to the level of the panic currently in his eyes.

"James, what's going on?" I cried. I heard that horrible screeching again, and I tried to move past him. "Where's Remus?"

"You have to leave, now! It's not safe-!"

A moment later, an earsplitting howl replaced the screaming. I froze and so did James, and our wide eyes slowly found each other. I knew that howl from Defense Against the Dark Arts. That was a werewolf.

"You have to run, now," James finally said, his voice low but firm. "If you don't, he'll kill you. It doesn't matter that he loves you, when he's transformed... he has no control."

"Is he... is he going to be okay?"

"Not if he comes back to himself to find out he killed you. Now get out!"

With that, James turned on his heel and transformed before my eyes into a gigantic, gorgeous stag. I could hear barking and snarling further down the corridor, still not close but definitely getting closer. I hesitated, hating to leave without doing anything, but James was right. I didn't have a choice.

I took off running back the way I'd come, trusting the Marauders to take care of Remus tonight. For now, that was the best I could do.

Commotion followed me the whole way out of the tunnel, getting just so slightly closer as to make me nervous. When I finally raced out of the tunnel, I just remembered to slam the root on the tree to stop the branches. I didn't look back as I raced up the grounds to the doors of the castle, finally breathing a sigh of relief from the safety of the entry hall.

I quickly ducked into the nearest secret passage lest Filch catch me out of bed, then slumped back against the wall and slowly sank to the ground. The adrenaline of the past few minutes crashed over me in waves, and I focused on taking long, deep breaths. Slowly, as I calmed down, the actual information that came with my investigation tonight sank in.

My boyfriend was a werewolf. His three best friend were unregistered Animagi, and they apparently spent every full moon with him in their animal forms.

Every DADA class we'd spent discussing werewolves (which, thankfully, hadn't been that many) suddenly came rushing back to me. All the time our teacher had spent talking about them as if they were monsters, while Remus just had to sit there and listen. I clenched and unclenched my fists, taking a second to run the odds on expulsion if I punched a teacher.

Remus was nothing but the sweetest, most wonderful person I'd ever met, and I was so lucky to have him in my life. The thought of people ignoring that, of Remus' face if someone called him a monster... all I wanted to do was wrap him up tight in my arms and never let him go.

I decided to focus on that last feeling instead of the 'punch a teacher' feeling. I had no idea how long these transformations lasted, but I had a feeling Remus would be awfully beat up when he finally did make it back here. With a quick pitstop in the kitchens to grab a few of his favorite snacks, I headed back up to the Gryffindor common room to wait.

Only sheer force of will and a deep love for Remus kept me from passing out after the first hour. The fire was warm, the blanket nest I'd made on my favorite common room couch was comfortable, and the adrenaline dump just made me want to pass out. But I kept my eyes open, waiting for him to come back. Finally, a little after three in the morning, the portrait door swung open.

"Come on, Moony, let's get you upstairs."

"It's okay, nobody got hurt-"

The Marauders staggered into the common room, James and Sirius holding Remus between them as Peter held the door. They all froze on the spot, however, when they saw me waiting on the couch.

"Hey," I said, finally moving from the spot I'd spent the past few hours holding down. I blinked sleepy eyes and managed a smile as I approached Remus and the others. "Uh... do you guys mind if I get a minute with my boyfriend?"

James and Sirius shared significant looks, then both turned to Peter. After a moment's hesitation, they looked back at me and nodded.

"Moony we'll, uh... we'll see you upstairs," said James. He nodded to me as he eased away from Moony and headed for the stairs, Sirius following behind him with a narrow-eyed warning look in my direction. Peter followed, giving me a mix of a look between James and Sirius'. Then, finally, I was alone with my boyfriend.

"So... I'm still your boyfriend?" he asked. He leaned heavily to one side, away from me, as I approached him. The hurt and defeat in his voice ripped my heart open all over again.

"Rem... of course. I love you. Nothing could ever change that."

Remus didn't look like he quite believed me, but he drifted in my direction anyway. I smiled and closed the rest of the distance, taking up the position his friends had filled before. I wrapped an arm around his waist and started leading him towards the couch.

"You're not... afraid of me?"

I scoffed and helped Remus ease down into the blankets, then settled in next to him. I'd spent hours preparing this fort, and when I saw a little weight ease off of Remus' shoulders as he settled in, it was worth it.

"Of course I'm not afraid of you. I love you."

"But James said..."

"Never mind what James said. I love you, Rem, and nothing in the world could ever change that. I'm just sorry I couldn't do more to help you."

Remus huffed a laugh as I leaned against his side, then finally put his arm around me. I laid on his chest, listening to his heartbeat as he spoke and wrapping my arms around him in the most comforting hug I could.

"You find out I'm a werewolf and almost get killed in the process... and you're wishing you could've done more to help me?"

"I'm a Gryffindor, babe, I don't scare easy."

He laughed fully now, loud and joyous. It didn't last long, since he was clearly exhausted, but the sound made my heart sing.

"What on earth did I do to deserve someone as wonderful as you?"

"You were a wonderful person every single day of your life, clearly. Now here, look what I got." Without further ado, I pulled out the snacks I'd stolen from the kitchen. Remus literally gasped.

"Did you get these for me?"

"Yup. If I'd gotten them for me, they'd've been gone already."

"You're wonderful. Have I mentioned that lately?"

"Yes, but I can always stand to hear it again." We shared a smile as Remus dug into the snacks, his head resting against mine, and then I sighed. "So... what do you think the odds are of the rest of the Marauders helping me through the steps to become an Animagus?"

Remus choked on what he was eating, then looked at me with wide eyes.

"You're kidding."

"I'm not! I want to be there to support you, Rem, through everything. I guess... as long as that's okay with you?"

He smiled, then gave a little disbelieving laugh. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my forehead before snuggling up with me again.

"I can't think of anything that would be more okay with me."

"Okay, good. But I'm going to put myself in charge of coming up with a lie to cover the mandrake leaf in my mouth. I'm pre-vetoing anything the rest of you come up with."

"Probably a good decision."

****************

Everything Taglist: @rosecentury

Harry Potter Taglist: @valkyriepirate

118 notes · View notes

lifblogs · 4 months

Text

Better Late Than Dead

Fandom: The Bad Batch Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Pairing: Tech/Phee Word Count: 1268 Summary: Tech arrives on Pabu for the first time since he was rescued from Dr. Hemlock, and put his mind back together (mostly). A special someone is there waiting for him. AUTHOR'S NOTE: Disclaimer, I have PCS (Post-Concussion Syndrome) so this story could be a mess, it could be great. I don't know, but I tried, and I had fun. First story I've written since I hit my head. I am sooooo nervous about it for some reason. This fandom seems like nothing but kind, though. If you read it, thank you. READ ON AO3

Tech paused getting off the ramp. Once he stepped off onto Pabu he would no longer just be on the Marauder with his family. He would exist in a public space, with people who… might not understand, who would see him differently. He was different.

There were some stares from the crowd, but he couldn’t track all of them, faces blurring and disappearing as he watched. But maybe those eyes were still on him.

Subconsciously, he touched the back of his head, feeling the metal plate there that replaced part of his skull, felt the lines where his scalp had split, where either through injury or one of his many surgeries his brain had been exposed. His new and enhanced left eye (replacing the gouged one from Plan 99) searched the space before him frantically, but he tried to take in what the right saw first: bright, blue skies with white, puffy clouds; a calm ocean for kilometers on end; happy people in colorful clothing—survivors, every one of them. How could such a place exist when he’d been through such horrors in Hemlock’s dark labs? Now it was like this beautiful place only half-existed.

The beauty was what his right eye saw. The left one… He hadn’t had a chance to reprogram it yet. Most of what he saw through it was a dizzying array of heat signatures, structural integrities, and the best places to shoot a target. According to his eye, everyone was a target. This was all superimposed over his regular vision from his right eye. The confusing signals to his brain usually left him with the feeling as if his eyes were being scooped out (half a phantom pain and reminiscent of his real horrors), and it would throb up into his head. With the metal plate added in, he had more headaches than he could manage on most days.

Still feeling anxiety churning in his gut; cold, clammy fear gripping the back of his neck and stripping him bare, he held up his new datapad. Tech decided to do a quick check of his metabolic system, and the absorption levels of his various injected pain meds, and their half-lives. This was done through a chip implanted at the base of his skull. Unfortunately that had required an extra surgery, seeing as that hadn’t fit in the area where he’d needed his skull repaired.

His datapad beeped quietly, and a yellow bar showed up near the top. He’d need to re-inject his left hip soon.

Tech glanced up, the real galaxy around him becoming too real. Coming towards the ramp with a hesitant smile and shining eyes was Phee.

His heart suddenly seemed too big, blood somehow beating hard all across his torso, even as it crawled up his throat. Phee. He really had thought of her, even remembered one instance of Hemlock torturing him for mentioning her name. He shuddered, his mechanical left leg shifting in a way that seemed too obvious and inhuman to him.

Tech wasn’t the same.

Am I even Tech?

No, no. You’ve… you’ve been over this already. Done the work. I. Am. Tech.

And he had thought about Phee in what he had thought would be his last moments. He’d surprisingly had the time to think about a lot of people.

He’d thought about his last-minute realization, and he’d mourned what could have been. And now… there she was. Here he was. Pabu. Safety. Phee.

Tech took a deep breath, tried to swallow back his fear, and stepped down the ramp, all too aware of how he looked now. Feeling clumsy with this changed body, he struggled to put his datapad back on his belt. One last thing to put between this moment and the next, the inevitable.

Phee met him at the bottom of the ramp, letting him step off. For a moment the voices around them dimmed, but neither of them spoke.

Oh no, she’s horrified. She’s disgusted. She’s—

“You look different.”

Blunt, as always.

“Oh.”

“I think I like it.”

“You… do?” Tech asked, caught off guard as he usually was with her. (How could anyone script conversations with a flirtatious, bold pirate?)

She shrugged. Was she… crying?

Some of his vision blurred. His eye malfunctioning? No. His right one. He was crying.

Hesitantly, she touched his shoulder. Tech jumped a little, but let her warm, assuring touch stay there. He wondered what that hand felt like—strong, calloused.

“It’s you, isn’t it?”

Was this him? All these differences, and injuries, and modifications?

Well, he was still Tech, so he supposed that made the plate in his skull him, the chip, the cybernetic leg, and eye. Still… Tech. Just different. A new Tech.

“I suppose.” He was surprised to hear himself speak.

“Then of course I like it! But I have a bone to pick with you.”

Tech almost backed away, startled, as her finger prodded against his chest.

What bone?

What—Oh!

“Seven months?!” she went on, voice raised and rough. “I don’t see you for seven months?! And all I could get out of Mr. Face Tattoo was that you were ‘indisposed.’”

“Sorry I’m… late,” he got out, as if that somehow summed up everything that had changed his life, that had even affected hers.

That’s when a sob left Phee, and her tears spilled, and she cupped Tech’s scarred face in her hand. It was calloused, just like he’d thought it’d be. Something about her touch was reassuring and invigorating all at once.

And it was kind.

Tech hadn’t realized how much he’d needed someone outside his family to support him until that moment. It left him weak in his right knee, and he might have trembled.

Phee sobbed again, and then got out with a smile bright enough to rival the stars, “But still—better late than dead, I always say.”

Tech held her hand against his face for a second, marveling at the feeling, her words. Then he wasn’t sure who pulled who into an embrace, but suddenly she was flush against him, her heart beating fast, chest moving with her sobs, a wild scent of ocean salt, island fruit, and some kind of warm spice surrounding him. With his chin tucked against her shoulder, and her head resting against his he learned her hair was a softness he’d never felt before.

“Though of course you had to lose one brown eye on me,” she joked. He was surprised when it didn’t hurt, not from her.

“I’ll try not to lose the other one.”

“You’d better. What am I supposed to call you now? ‘Brown Eye’ doesn’t sound romantic.”

“We could… make it romantic,” he ventured, voice a soft murmur against her.

Phee laughed, and pulled back, patting his cheek. “Honey, I’m not sure you know what romance is.”

For the first time since Plan 99, months and months ago, Tech laughed—something he’d thought he would never be capable of again. And, he thought, maybe he’d like to do it again. With Phee.

“I’m smart,” he assured her, watching as she wiped away her tears, wishing he could do it for her. He went on, surprising himself, “I’m sure I can learn.”

Phee took his hand in hers, and Tech was startled by how much he enjoyed that her hand was smaller than his.

“Well, come on then,” she said, starting to drag him along, towards society as a whole new person. “You’re gonna have a lot of studying to do.”

Tech smiled, somehow, as he followed her, leaving just a little bit of that dark lab behind him.

#star wars #the bad batch #tbb #tbb tech #phee genoa #tech x phee #techphee #techphee fanfiction #tbb fanfiction #the bad batch fanfiction #star wars fanfiction #star wars tbb #star wars tbb fanfiction #fanfiction #tech #writing #my writing

65 notes · View notes

whatstruthgottodowithit · 1 month

Text

The Other Evans Girl [Part Forty Nine]

Fandom: Harry Potter [Marauder’s Era]

Pairing: Sirius Black x Original Female Character, Sirius Black x Daisy Evans, James Potter x Lily Evans

Characters: Sirius Black, Original Female Character, Daisy Evans, Lily Evans, Remus Lupin, James Potter, Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, Alice Fortescue, Frank Longbottom, Marlene McKinnon, Albus Dumbledore, Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew, Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix LeStrange, Walburga Black, Orion Black, Jasper Thicknesse, Barty Crouch Jr, Mulciber, Walden McNair

Word Count:7736

Rating: Teen

Summary: Hogwarts is a safe haven, a home for many, but it’s often a place where heartache, love and complex emotions dwell and none know that better than the Marauders. Lily Evans just wants to make it out as a successful witch though the oncoming war and the ongoing advances of James Potter threaten that. Daisy Evans, her twin, has other goals. Join the Evans sisters as they make their way through Hogwarts, prepare for war and eventually find love.

Notes: This is the second to last chapter! It was going to be the end with a lil epilogue but it needed splitting into two.

I'm going to follow up with around eight is oneshoty type things that cover the end of the first to the end of the second war so hope you enjoy

LINK TO AO3 // LINK TO PINTEREST // LINK TO ALL PARTS

Sirius had been right, after Christmas the days went faster than ever with the first of April arriving so quickly the day itself felt like its own joke. Still he tried to keep positive even if the crippling workload, Auror exam prep and maintaining school students' safety meant he was busy all the time. Then again busyness came with its own perks seeing as even though he’d decided he couldn’t do anything about Regulus it didn’t stop him worrying. He tried not to think about it too much but it was hard not to. Especially since whenever he saw him the boy looked on edge and depressed. With every glimpse Sirius felt a crashing wave of guilt course through him even if he reasoned that seeing him was good. It meant he was still here; they hadn’t got him yet and that was something. It meant even from afar Sirius could still keep an eye on him. He’d even reasoned that come the end of term Regulus might cave and take his brother up on his offer to flee that wretched house, not that he was holding out hope.

For now he was helping those that wanted to be helped. Even without it being the right thing to do it helped him learn, preparing him further for the Auror’s exam which was fortunate, seeing as he’d never been one for public service whilst at school like his prefect friends. Not to mention it felt good to be going into a career where he would be making a difference or at least he would be if he could pass his test.

Early last week McGonagall had pulled him, James and Alice aside to inform them of the set up for their exam date. They’d each be seen in one-hour intervals with the exam involving a half hour written test and the rest doing practical magic with the examiner. Since he’d revised everything Frank had told him too as well as some other topics just in case Sirius wasn’t too worried though he wasn’t awfully fond of being first for the chopping block thanks to his good old family name putting him ahead alphabetically.

Still the sting of alphabetical order was taken away by the fact it meant Daisy could join him, her free period coinciding with his time slot. They were standing outside the classroom he’d been instructed to go to, ten minutes early at her insistence. He was leaning against the cold stone wall, watching her as she tried to think of another test question to fire at him.

‘Okay, tell me the signs of a confusion hex,’ she said, her nervous shifting stalling as she looked at him pointedly and awaited an answer. Sirius fought a smile and the urge to tell her she looked just like Lily when rattling off exam questions. If he was smart enough to sit the exam he was smart enough to know when to keep his mouth shut when it came to Evans women.

‘Disorientation, misuse of correct words and phrases, changes in mood,’ Sirius said with a yawn that made Daisy frown though she pressed on with her interrogation.

‘And how is that different from being under the imperius curse?’ Daisy asked, grimacing as his hands skimmed her sides, pulling her closer so that they were inches apart, only stopped as she placed her hands on his chest to keep him at bay.

‘Aren’t you supposed to be doing your application for the St Mungo’s program?’ Sirius asked, leaning in so that their heads were dangerously close.

‘It’ll wait for now,’ Daisy said, resisting the urge to kiss him. She needed, they needed, to focus even though it was hard to do as he smirked and said in a sultry voice, ‘Dais.’

‘It’ll wait,’ Daisy said, pulling back as she tried to keep her composure, ‘now come on.’

‘Oh I can’t think anymore,’ Sirius whinged, his brain hurting with all they’d tried to cram in since breakfast.

‘But-’she protested but he waved her off.

‘If I don’t know it now I never will,’ Sirius said. Daisy frowned. She understood that she was going overboard and she had no doubt that all her friends were good enough to get onto the course but she wanted to make sure it was because of their own merit. That they had done everything they could to ensure their future instead of resting on their connections and greased wheels.

‘Don’t you believe I can do it?’ Sirius asked.

‘Of course I do! With your eyes closed but I just want to make sure,’ Daisy said hurriedly, shoving him as she realised that he was teasing her though that only made him pull her closer, his arms ensnaring her against him as their chuckling died down. They were quiet for a second, just enjoying the moment. Daisy fiddled with his collar, straightening the crease in it as she asked, ‘nervous?’

‘A bit,’ Sirius admitted, his thumb making circles against her school jumper, ‘but I’m sure it’ll be fine.’

‘You’ll be great,’ she reassured.

‘And if not you can always cheer me up,’ he said, whisking her around until she was pinned against the wall.

‘Sirius!’ she squealed as he leaned in, their noses touching one another.

‘There’s no one around,’ he murmured before his lips brushed against hers. Daisy pushed him back and exclaimed, ‘so!’

‘Spoil sport,’ he smirked.

‘Yeah well,’ Daisy started but she shut up quickly as the old wooden door to the classroom creaked open bringing with it a short, balding wizard dressed in a three-piece midnight blue suit. He looked just as startled as they were to see the pair of them fraternising in the middle of the corridor but he recovered quickly as did Daisy pushing Sirius away and straightening herself up.

‘Mr Black?’ the examiner asked, looking between them.

‘That’s me,’ Sirius said, adjusting his own robes before he offered a hand out to the examiner as if the manners and etiquette that had been hammered into him since birth had only just managed to surface above the hormones and revision he had stuffed into his brain in the past three months.

‘Elias Foggerty,’ the examiner said, taking his outstretched hand and shaking it politely before his gaze went to Daisy as he asked, ‘are you also to be examined?’

‘Oh, uh no I was just going,’ Daisy said, a pink tinge still on her cheeks which deepened as she looked at Sirius who was smirking, ‘good luck.’

And without letting him reply she scurried down the corridor and headed to the library ready to start her St Mungo’s application.

✵✵✵

Fortunately the exam went off without a hitch not just for Sirius but for James and Alice too. They’d all managed to complete the written exam in its entirety and the examiner had been understanding and courteous which had meant they’d been at ease when performing the practical side of the test. It had even been good for Daisy too as her nervous energy throughout the entirety of Sirius’ exam had forced her to focus on her St Mungo’s application which she had fortunately heard back about a week later informing her that her place was confirmed just reliant on her grades being on par with the requirements. And seeing as she was one of the first to hear - some of her friend’s chosen career paths leaving them in limbo - it meant she had some spare time on her hands which she had opted to spend thinking about the end of year prank.

Many ideas had been floated around her but none had captured her heart as of yet and since she and Sirius had final say she was holding out for something good. It was what she was dwelling on this morning, a disappointingly grisly day in mid-May where the light streaming in from the high windows of the great hall was simultaneously bright and dull. She was lost in her thoughts stirring her cup of tea absentmindedly as the boys chatted around her. To her other side Alice and Marlene were talking quietly and Lily was sitting across from her but not participating in any conversation as she scribbled furiously on a piece of parchment. No one bothered to ask what it was knowing it was better not to as it wasn’t liable to be a late piece of work and rather something extra she had assigned to herself as though her work load wasn’t staggering already.

‘I figured as long as we score at least forty before we get the snitch that’ll be enough to make sure we get the cup,’ James said with a mouthful of toast.

‘Yeah but Ravenclaw don’t need that much so we’re going to have to make sure they don’t score more than twenty,’ Sirius reasoned, through a mouthful of bacon. Normally he wouldn't be one to forgo manners but when it came to quidditch he was willing to let it slide. He hadn’t realised just how much he’d missed being part of the team last season and even though his life had been slightly hectic with the transition into seventh year he’d been happy that he’d managed to get back on the squad. And seeing as it was his last chance to play alongside James in an official capacity he wasn't going to miss a moment of it, even if that meant talking with his mouth full.

‘True but I reckon if you and Rufus stay up our end of the field it’s extra help for Simon not to mention you can block anyone from getting close at scoring,’ James said. He was tempted to draw a diagram, coordinating the state of play but he didn’t have time as the morning post started to arrive, his grand tawny owl landing beside him, standing on Lily’s parchment as it graciously dropped a letter in front of him. James gave her a polite stroke before she flew off leaving the thick envelope behind.

‘What is it?’ Sirius asked, turning his head to read the front of the envelope. ‘Mr James Potter’ was scribed neatly on the front but that wasn’t what caught his eye. It was the bright red stamp in the corner that got his attention, the words AUROR’S OFFICE, emblazoned on his brain.

‘Is that?’ Daisy asked, the arrival of the owl enough to snap her from her daydreaming.

‘Looks like,’ Remus said, spying the letter over James’ shoulder. James looked stricken, paling as he turned it around so that he could open it. All eyes fell on him at once, Lily’s work pushed aside as she said encouragingly, ‘Well it’s thick. That’s a good sign.’

James nodded and peeled the envelope open, pulling out the stack of papers that were inside and unfurling them so he could read. Everyone watched as his eyes scanned the page digesting every word until he looked up, looking too stunned to get his words out.

‘Well?’ Peter asked eagerly.

‘I got in,’ he said surprisingly quietly, ‘I’m gonna be an auror.’

‘Oh I knew you would! Congratulations,!’ Lily squealed pulling him in for a hug though he still looked as though he was going through the motions rather than fully embracing it. A flurry of congratulations came from the group before all eyes turned to Alice who was skimming through her own letter which had arrived not a moment later but had been lost in all the hubbub.

‘Al?’ Daisy asked, receiving a beaming smile from the mousy haired girl as she said, ‘me too! I got in!’

‘That’s brilliant!’ Daisy congratulated as did everyone else before she rushed off to write a letter to Frank. Yet as the happiness faded all eyes turned to Sirius who had a pleasant smile on his face but a distinct worry in his gut at his lack of letter. Daisy felt her own nerves bubble which he clocked immediately, squeezing her thigh reassuringly as he said, ‘it’s fine.’

‘It’ll probably come later,’ James said with determination, ‘you know what the post can be like.’

‘Yeah,’ Sirius nodded, though he wasn’t convinced.

No one seemed to know how to navigate the conversation around this awkward sticking point as they could see James now practically vibrating with excitement but holding back on account of Sirius’ feelings. Sirius was just about to tell him to carry on and have a look at what they’d sent him when he felt a tap on his shoulder forcing him to turn around. Standing behind him was Regulus.

He looked terrible, as he had done since Christmas, with perpetual purple rings under his eyes that made his high cheekbones look razor sharp and his face thinner. His hair was brushed but not styled and his uniform practically hung off his frame instead of fitting him perfectly like his mother would have had it tailored to be.

‘Regulus,’ was all Sirius could think to say, the surprise of him being within speaking distance nearly a year after they last communicated taking away all his logic. Regulus didn’t offer any pleasantries and instead pulled a thick envelope from his robes offering it out to Sirius as he said, ‘this came to me. It just said Mr Black…I didn’t realise.’

‘It’s alright,’ Sirius said, taking the bulky letter from his brother.

‘Congratulations,’ Regulus said, the ghost of a smile on his lips.

‘Thanks,’ Sirius said, offering one of his own. At that Regulus shifted uncomfortably offering a curt nod before he strutted from the room.

All eyes were on him as he turned around, a mix of emotions inside him. James didn’t seem to be willing to let him dwell on any of the complex feelings he had for his sibling, gesturing for him to open the letter properly. Sirius slid his finger on the partially stuck flap of the envelope, peeling it back open and slipping the letter out. He read through it carefully with Daisy reading over his shoulder.

Dear Sirius,

I am writing to inform you of the outcome of your application to join the Auror’s department. Following an impressive application and outstanding entrance exam it is with greatest delight that I am able to tell you that you have secured a place on the Auror’s Office Apprentice Program. This is a full-time apprenticeship running for a total of twelve months by which time you should be able to progress to a permanent position within the department.

The course will commence on the 1st of August 1978 and you are expected to report to my office at 9 am. As it is your first visit to the ministry you will need to attend via the visitors entrance, instructions of how to do so can be found in the overleaf.

I have attached details of the course outline along with information regarding salary, benefits as well as some additional reading materials that may be useful to go through before your start date.

If you have any questions or no longer wish to be considered for the position could you please respond to this letter otherwise I shall see you in August.

Warmest Regards,

Elias Foggerty

Head Auror

‘I did it,’ he said, looking up at his friends with a smile, ‘I got in.’

‘Congratulations!’ came a round of replies as Daisy slipped her arm around him and nestled into him for a moment before she pulled back and said, ‘well you know what that means.’

‘What?’ Sirius asked.

‘Pads my friend,’ James said, capturing their attention, ‘it’s time for a celebration.'

✵✵✵

Given there was a frantic, frazzled air amongst the students of Hogwarts the group decided it was probably better to keep their celebration low key and used the opportunity to have a sleepover in the boys dormitory. After acquiring a boatload of food and drinks from the kitchens they headed to the lads’ room which had been transformed into an ideal sleepover suite. Granted Alice and Marlene would be retiring to their own dormitory at the end of the night but nevertheless they took a seat on the sea of blankets and pillows crammed into the middle of the boys’ four posters. The food was laid out atop James’ trunk from which he’d procured a bottle of fire whiskey he’d pilfered from his father’s liquor cabinet and a mini fire was conjured to give it a campfire feel.

Chancing upon everyone’s good mood Peter even managed to talk them into a game of exploding snap for old times’ sake until eating took precedence. And once their bellies were full they just ended up chatting and drinking, reminiscing about their past seven years in the castle. Considering they were such an integral part of each other’s lives now Daisy couldn’t remember a time before this friendship but as the boys regaled tales of mischief from the first few years of their school career she realised just how short a time it really had been. And yet she wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

In fact she was feeling quite sentimental about the whole thing which is probably why she peeled herself from Sirius and knelt up, all eyes falling on her as she looked down at them, wobbling slightly as she said, ‘ahem.’

‘Ooh are we going to get a speech?’ Peter asked with a chuckle.

‘Or a song,’ James grinned.

‘Or a strip tease,’ Sirius said, his hand snaking around her thigh which made her topple over with a giggle though she recovered and raised her glass. Sirius smirked, ‘speech it is apparently.’

‘I just wanted to say congratulations,’ Daisy said matter of factly as she raised her glass, ‘to James, Sirius and Alice on becoming the future safety of the wizarding world.’

‘Our glorious protectors,’ Marlene chuckled, raising her glass.

‘Our glorious protectors,’ came the round of replies before everyone took a drink.

‘Who’d have thought it eh?’ Remus teased.

‘Oi, I’ll have you know I’d protect every last one of you with my life,’ James said, flinging a fruit pastille at the older boy though he managed to catch it, tossing it into his mouth with a grin.

‘Well you don’t have to yet thank god,’ Lily said.

‘Not for another eight weeks at least,’ Sirius added.

‘Is that how long we have left?’ Alice groaned, taking a sorrowful bite out of a liquorice wand and resting her head against Marlene’s shoulder.

‘Don’t remind us,’ James grumbled.

‘Sorry to be the bearer of bad news Prongsy boy,’ Sirius said with a chuckle.

‘Eight weeks and I’ve still not heard back from any jobs yet,’ Peter said glumly.

‘Maybe you can have one of the cast offs from Lily’s many, many, many job offers,’ Daisy giggled.

‘It was only four,’ Lily said, rolling her eyes.

‘Four!’ Peter gawped, making Lily go bright red.

‘Well it’s not like I wanted them, I just applied just in case I didn’t get the one I wanted,’ Lily said though that didn’t make Peter, who had been applying for countless ministry positions and had yet to hear back, any better.

‘Yeah they were too low on her totem pole eh Lil?’ Daisy ribbed, earning her own fruit pastille to the head.

‘Too right my girl deserves only the best,’ James beamed, making Lily blush harder, ‘she’ll be the head of the department for international magical cooperation in no time.’

‘It’s just an internship!’ Lily protested though James wasn’t deterred, far too proud to care for details.

‘Better than the transport office eh Pete?’ Sirius teased.

‘Oh shut up,’ Peter said, feeling a little put out though Remus came to his rescue as he offered a sizable sigh.

‘At least you lot can keep a job. I can't wait for the first full moon when they give me the sack,’ he said glumly, causing a subdued air to fall over them thinking about his future. Obviously with the way the wizarding world was at the moment no one’s future was certain, their destinies yet to be laid out before them, and yet each one of them knew theirs was more defined than Remus’. Sure he’d secured a job as a research assistant at a large magical library in London but all of them knew that taking a few days off every single month wouldn’t cut it not without explanation, and even that would require a lot of understanding. Still James and Sirius had been determined not to let him fret over it, each concern he produced countered with unfathomable positivity and alternative plans like they offered now.

‘Maybe not,’ Sirius countered, ‘I mean how punctual do you have to be to be a librarian?’

‘Yeah I hardly ever see Pince knocking around,’ James agreed, ‘sometimes the stack of books to put back is the size of one of the towers.’

‘It’s more than putting a few books back,’ Remus said dolefully.

‘Well if you’re stuck I’m sure dad could put a word in-’ James started earning himself a stern look from Lily who said, ‘let’s not.’

That had been a debate and a half. In the way that James and Sirius had never quite understood what not being a pureblood could mean they also had enormous wealth behind them which meant that even without a job they’d be fine. James hadn't really seen the issue with helping out a friend, offering Fleamont’s services more than once which had not gone down too well with Remus who despite his struggles still wanted to do things on his own merit. Daisy and Lily had had to intercept more than once as they were now, Daisy continuing her sister’s rhetoric as she said, ‘Lil’s right. All this talk of the future is depressing. Can we talk about something else?’

‘You’re right,’ Peter agreed, though she didn’t know if it was for Remus’ benefit or his own given the spotlight that had been shone on his own future, ‘it was depressing enough at Christmas never mind now.’

James and Sirius shared a look, a telepathic conversation as to whether they were in the mood to argue or move on before they eventually chose to retreat, laying their weapons down as James agreed, ‘yeah I know, you were right Dais. It’d be better being eleven again.’

‘Eh I’d settle for fifteen,’ Sirius shrugged, ‘I was fitter at fifteen, right Mar?’

‘In that case I’d definitely opt to be eleven again,’ Marlene teased, ‘back when I had common sense. Dais did too, right Dais?’

Marlene looked at Daisy who was lost in thought, her mind running over the words that had just been spoken. She could feel Sirius and Marlene watching her with concern, probably worrying that their teasing about their past amorous entanglement had hit a nerve. But she wasn’t thinking about that, she was locked onto an idea.

‘Dais?’ Sirius asked after a moment, trying to inject lightness into his voice though his nerves disappeared as Daisy smiled.

‘That’s it!’ she said.

‘What’s it?’ James asked.

‘The prank!’ she beamed.

‘What about it?’ Sirius asked, the worry gone now replaced by excitement.

‘None of us want to leave right? We want to start all over again, first year to now,’ Daisy asked, her excitement growing as seven confused faces looked at her.

‘Yeah,’ Alice said, her eyes narrowing as she watched her friend unsurely.

‘So why don’t we?’ she asked.

‘Why don’t we what?’ Marlene asked.

‘Why don’t we make it so we’re all eleven again,’ Daisy grinned.

‘Like time travel?’ Peter asked, his brow furrowed as he tried to fathom out how on earth they would manage that.

‘Like a de-aging potion,’ Sirius said, cottoning onto her meaning at once.

‘Exactly!’ Daisy beamed.

‘For us?’ James asked.

‘For everyone, the entire school,’ Daisy said, watching as excitement grew on everyone’s faces so much so that the boys looked as though they might as well be eleven again. All the chiselled features, stubble and height practically vanished, replaced by four giddy faces.

‘It’d take some doing,’ James said, leaning in as though it was just the four of them.

‘A while to brew I’d reckon,’ Remus said, ‘but there’s definitely some books we could look at.’

‘Getting it into everyone would be a logistical nightmare,’ Sirius added.

‘Especially if we included teachers,’ Peter agreed.

‘But it’s a good idea?’ Daisy asked, causing the four of them to look at her, smiles on their faces which gave her hope. She may not yet be a marauder but she could come up with an approvable idea at least.

‘Dais it’s bloody brilliant,’ James grinned though his smile dimmed as he remembered Lily was sitting there, watching quietly.

He pulled back at once as did everyone else, all eyes falling on the red head as he braved asking, ‘what do you think Lil?’

‘Well I suppose no one gets hurt,’ she started.

‘And?’ Peter asked.

‘And it doesn’t have to last very long right?’ she questioned.

‘Like a day?’ Sirius suggested.

‘An hour,’ Lily countered.

‘Yeah that’d be long enough for people to get the message,’ Remus agreed though Sirius and James looked a tad put out. Daisy didn’t care as long as it got her sister on board though she still appeared to be deliberating.

‘And if we’re all working on it I suppose it wouldn’t take up too much time,’ she conceded.

‘Is that a yes?’ Sirius asked encouragingly.

Lily sighed, ‘yes.’

‘Good because we’ll need a chief potion brewer,’ Remus said, his academic strengths unfortunately not lending themselves to the subject.

‘Yeah and if we have you Slughorn would give us anything we needed,’ Marlene said.

‘But we all need to be part of it,’ Lily warned, ‘I’m not getting lumbered with this on top of my work.’

‘Of course not,’ Daisy agreed, ‘you lead the potion and we can do the rest.’

‘Strategy and planning is a marauders forte after all,’ James said.

‘Does this mean I’m a marauder now?’ Daisy wagered, earning a look from the boys. Then they were banded together, James draping himself across Lily as they conferred before pulling back and donning their most serious expressions.

‘Ooh are we about to see history?’ Alice teased earning a titter from the girls.

‘That you are my dear Alice,’ James smiled.

‘Daisy Evans,’ Remus said.

‘Yes my dear Moony,’ Daisy smiled sweetly.

‘We would hereby like to invite you to join the marauders as a fifth member,’ he said.

‘On a probationary period of course,’ James stipulated.

‘Of course,’ Daisy said deadpan.

‘And your position will be reviewed regularly,’ Sirius added.

‘Oh yeah?’ Daisy asked flirtily which for once caught him off guard making him shift bashfully and her grin to widen.

‘Hmm maybe we need to rethink our position,’ Peter said looking to James for approval who eyed the pair closely.

‘You might be right Wormy,’ James said seriously, ‘can’t have two marauders fraternising. Might distract from the matter at hand.’

‘Oh don’t worry, I can assure you I'm a consummate professional,’ Daisy said, crossing over her heart. The boys shared a look and then nodded.

‘Well then Miss Evans,’ James said, ‘welcome to the Marauders.’

✵✵✵

After finally landing on an idea the group split their time between revision and planning the prank. Though Lily had declared her reluctance for the task of brewing the potion to fall solely on her she took up most of the work, not quite trusting anyone but her or Daisy to get it right. Which was just as well seeing as some of the ingredients were rare and even if Slughorn had given her the keys to the store cupboard without batting an eye even he would have questions if she went back to him asking for a replenished stock of phoenix tears. Seeing as Daisy hardly used her part of the room anymore they had opted to run the operation from the girl’s dormitory which was just as well because it turned out to be quite the slog. Working out how much potion they would need to add per person to get a desired effect in contrast to how little they could get away with adding to the pumpkin juice so that it wasn’t detectable meant a lot of trial and error. It had also meant that more than once the boys had volunteered to become floppy haired pre-teens again. Still after a few weeks of tweaking they were ready with nearly fifteen batches of corked and bottled potion ready for use.

The only struggle was logistics. This had been debated for some time but in the end everyone felt there was no point going big too early. If they debuted their prank with a week to go people may generate a laugh or two but given how frazzled students were from exams and the prospect of losing revision time due to a silly prank it may go down like a lead balloon. Plus, Peter had pointed out, the later they did it the less time it left for them to be punished. In the end the consensus was to enact their plan at the end of term meal. Everyone in one place, drinking at one time.

Though that came with its own limitations. Seeing as everyone was expected to attend there would be no way more their absences wouldn't be noticed. Minerva McGonagall may have been getting rid of four perpetual headaches this summer but she wasn’t one to slack on her duties before time. No doubt she would be waiting for them, expecting something to go awry for the last time. In fact this had become so much of a problem that on their last day of exams they were still debating it.

They’d just finished their charms exam [their final one ever which was thankfully not as gruelling as expected] and were following the hordes of other students headed down to the lake, soaking up the last rays of summer sun they would get before they went home in a couple days. The end of year feast was tomorrow and now that they had nothing else to discuss it was the main focus of conversation.

‘What about Pete?’ Daisy asked as she watched him and Remus skim stones along the water’s surface. Beside her Marlene and Alice were laying on their outstretched cloaks sunbathing and James and Lily were nestled together across from them, Lily sitting in between James’ legs with his arms around her though he had his head back allowing the sunlight to swathe his face. She was sitting cross legged on the grass with Sirius beside her, who was fixated on pulling grass from the ground and sprinkling it on her leg though she was sure that was a ploy to keep darting his fingers under the hem of her skirt, a smirk gracing his face every time he went too far and got his hand smacked.

‘What about me?’ Peter said, turning around with a concerned look on his face.

‘We all have to be in the hall right?’ Daisy asked.

‘Well unless we want McGonagall to come looking for us,’ James said, cracking one eye open to look at her as he stopped his sunbathing, now intrigued.

‘But at least one of us needs to be in the kitchen to swap our batch of pumpkin juice for the normal one,’ Daisy continued.

‘Yeah, I asked Bonney’s sister but she said she wouldn’t do it,’ James said.

‘I don’t blame her,’ Lily said, explaining as everyone frowned, ‘well it’s a job on the line for her isn’t it!’

‘At least she said they’d turn a blind eye,’ James said, ‘more than we could ask for really.’

‘Anyway,’ Daisy continued, ‘it would only need one of us and one person isn’t too noticeable in a whole table. Pete could use the map, wait until Dumbledore is making his speech and then swap everything out. Once it’s done he can come upstairs and join us.’

‘Why me?’ Peter grumbled.

‘Because he’s the smallest!’ Sirius said, catching her drift, ‘Dais that’s genius.’

‘Eh?’ Marlene said, pushing herself onto her elbows apparently intrigued enough to warrant moving.

‘If he entered the hall in his Animagus form he could slip right under the table and transform,’ Sirius said.

‘And there’s bound to be enough commotion that ol’ Minnie won’t notice,’ James agreed.

‘Why me though?’ Peter said, abandoning his rock skimming as he folded his arms across his chest.

‘Because someone might notice a ruddy great stag clattering into the hall?’ Remus chuckled.

‘But-’

‘Oh come on Pete,’ James pleaded.

‘Why can’t one of you use the cloak!’ Peter protested.

‘Because the teachers would see through any of them in a heartbeat,’ Alice said with a snort.

‘Yeah you’re our secret weapon,’ Daisy grinned, pouting as she gave him her best pleading expression. He deliberated on it for a long moment, looking between three begging faces Sirius, James and Daisy. The rest of the group was looking on amusedly waiting for him to cave. Then with a resigned sigh he said, ‘oh go on then.’

‘Atta boy Wormtail,’ Sirius grinned.

✵✵✵

Everyone was nervous as they filtered into the great hall. Thankfully the end of year feast was unlike other meals and required everyone to attend at the same time, the whole student body filing in and taking their seats in unison Given they were seventh years the group stuck to the end of the table, far, far away from the watchful eyes of the teachers which was good because as everyone took a seat and chatter rose McGonagall swept a cursory glance over her house. Yet fortunately after seeing James’ mop of messy hair and Sirius’ long locks she didn’t look much further and took to her own seat satisfied that everything was on the level.

They’d even tried to throw her off by swapping seats with the twins sitting opposite their boyfriends for a change. Remus was beside Lily and Marlene and Alice took to their other side which provided some normality but still it felt strange. And as chatter took hold of the hall Daisy couldn’t help but dwell on that fact. She couldn’t believe different things were now.

On starting Hogwarts the only person she had known was Lily. She had a family waiting back at home for her. She’d been a hot-headed tomboy and yet she’d still felt as though her and Lily were one. If she hadn't nearly died she might still be those things. She might still be comparing herself to Lily. Wanting to be smarter, prettier, more restrained. The boys had helped her see that she didn't need to be any of that. She was good as herself, she was her own person and more so she had realised she didn't need to lose Lily or push her away to feel that.

In fact over the next few years she had no doubt she’d long to have her twin as close as they had been at eleven. After all, they’d been through hardships and pain and managed to rebuild. They were adults now. They’d made friends and embarked on relationships. More importantly in losing one family they’d gained another, not better, but enough. The Evans girls were still together, like they always would be.

Yet the nerves were there. Thinking of the past made her contemplate the future bubbling up uncertainty and worry as if she were eleven again. Those first year, the start of something new, nerves laying heavy in her stomach, clawing at her as she thought about what was next. Well they did until she looked across the table and found Sirius watching at her with a questioning look in his eyes. She nodded on instinct, knowing he was checking in on her making sure she was okay. Only then did he smile, tuning back into the conversation now that he had reassurance, and as he did he took the nerves with him.

It may be the start of something new and uncertain but she resigned herself that it could never be that bad. After all she had him, her sister, her family. That was more than she could ask for even if they were trying to recapture their youth, a feat that grew closer as Dumbledore rose from his seat, causing instant hush to fall as he moseyed to the lectern. Daisy checked her goblet, finding it empty which was a good sign. She hoped Peter could do it. He’d looked awfully nervous when her and the boys had left him in the kitchens after emptying the bottles to the large vat of pumpkin juice that supplied the entire hall but she had faith. He was a marauder after all.

‘Another year over,’ Dumbledore started, any faint whispers growing silent the moment he opened his mouth. All heads were turned in his direction, even the teachers, their gazes locked onto the back of him as he continued, ‘I hope that you have all come away with more than you started the year with. A head full of facts, a heart full of friendship, even a sense of community that you will take with you into the next year and for those of us set to depart our doors, the wider wizarding world.’

As his words hit all of them, resonating with every student there were a few shared glances as pupils risked a peek at their friends. Of course this speech was like any other, the friendships they had made were the same as many students before them and many to follow but Daisy couldn’t help but feel he was right about the sense of community. She was probably just being sentimental but there was something about the community they’d made, the resistance, that made it hit harder. Her little band of friends could be like any other group except they’d built a club, they encouraged good will and rebellion amongst students who would no doubt enter the wizarding world at some point and hopefully choose the right side. Maybe one day those that had opted wrong would join too.

At that she risked a glance across the hall. As her eyes swept along the seats she locked eyes with Snape who she assumed had been looking at Lily given he scowled and looked away the moment she caught him. Daisy rolled her eyes and continued her path spying the person she was looking for a couple of seats further down. Regulus was sitting straight as a board, his eyes on Dumbledore but he turned when he felt eyes on him. They locked eyes for a moment, the same grey eyes she loved though admittedly they felt foreign on him, and then in the minutest of gestures he nodded before turning back to Dumbledore. Daisy smiled to herself, maybe one day.

After that she turned her attention back to her headmaster who was still speaking, his voice more serious as he said, ‘these times are troubled but if one remembers that our friends are our greatest resource against uncertainty we will go far. So, if you could all raise a glass.’

There was the sound of movement and two hundred bodies scrambled to grab their goblets and raise them into the air. As she took hers Daisy took a cautionary glance inside and found it full to the brim with pumpkin juice. It looked the same as any other day, the yellow liquid sloshing around just as normal as ever yet she didn’t risk a look in the boy's direction and willed herself to trust in Peter.

‘To friendship, freedom and the future,’ Dumbledore said.

‘Friendship, freedom and the future,’ came the response call from everyone present before they all raised a glass and then took a sip.

For a moment Daisy didn’t feel anything and started to panic that it had all gone awry. That was until she heard the squeak of a hinge and looked to find the door of the great hall nudging open by a margin. And when she looked back, expecting to find her grown boyfriend in front of he was no longer there, replaced by the softer features of the boy she’d met on her first day. Glancing down at herself she found her own body changed, a much smaller, flatter stature in its place. In fact as she glanced around she found everyone looking the same, except for the first years who were the only ones to escape change.

Chatter, laughter and pointing immediately erupted all over the place as friends laughed at their childlike pals. Even the staff did not seem to mind, trying to suppress bemused smiles as they noted Flitwick’s chubby cheeks or Dumbledore’s robes which now engulfed him. Even Hagrid had regressed though admittedly he still towered over everyone and the potion was having trouble with his unruly beard meaning he had a youthful look peppered in stubble.

‘Did I do it? Did it work?’ came Peter’s voice grabbing their attention as he popped up from under the table, slipping into his seat next to James as he checked the hall to inspect his handiwork.

‘It worked on everyone but you it looks like,’ James said, taking in the still seventeen-year-old beside him.

‘What?’ Peter asked looking around the sea of baby faces to find them staring at him.

‘You’ve not changed,’ Marlene said, whipping a compact mirror out of her robes to show him. Peter heaved a groan.

‘Didn’t you drink anything?’ Remus asked.

‘I forgot! I was too busy trying to stay out of the house elves' way,’ he said embarrassedly.

‘Oh well,’ James shrugged, throwing an arm around his friend, ‘you did the rest Wormy. No big deal.’

‘But now they’ll know it was us!’ Lily said.

‘Let ‘em,’ Sirius said backing James up which made Peter grow visibly less tense, ‘actually I’m quite annoyed we didn’t think to leave us out of it in the first place so that they did know it was us.’

‘They’re right. Not like they can give us detention is it,’ Daisy said, ‘and if I'm honest I’m kind of weirded out seeing you all like this.’

‘Agreed,’ Alice giggled.

‘You mean you don’t fancy the pants off me again?’ James grinned, his newly acquired puppy fat making his grin seem cheekier somehow. Daisy snorted.

‘I don’t fancy Pads at this point,’ she countered.

‘Harsh Dais,’ Sirius chuckled.

Though their smiles disappeared at once as McGonagall appeared at the end of the table from nowhere, looking down at them with a scowl on her face before her gaze turned solely to Peter. Even as an eleven-year-old she looked intimidating, her beady eyes not offset by softer features or cumbersome emerald robes. Not even when she looked at the boy who was practically eye level with her sat down did she look young or weak, instead he seemed to shrink back as if James, an eleven-year-old boy, could protect him.

‘Mr Pettigrew,’ she said, her Scottish trill higher in pitch yet just as firm as ever.

‘Yes Professor?’ Peter said timidly.

‘Is there something you would like to tell me?’ she asked, crossing her arms across her chest and waiting. It was unnerving to watch and for a moment Daisy was expecting him to spill everything right then and there but he didn’t, clearing his throat and sitting up straighter as he said, ‘no Professor.’

‘Anyone else?’ she asked realising he was not for breaking and casting her net further afield. Everyone was watching them now, not just at Gryffindor table, and yet the marauders stayed silent. Holding their tongue for what felt like the first time ever. McGonagall sighed, ‘very well.’

‘Actually Professor we did want to say something,’ she said, catching the girl as she was just about to strut off. Everyone looked at her. She could feel the boys’ gaze boring into her face as if wondering what she was going to do. She had learned a lot from them over the years and though the goal had always been to get away with their escapades when the chips were down they never normally backed away. More importantly they never normally missed an opportunity to brag after all hadn’t that been one of the cornerstones for her disliking them.

‘Yes Miss Evans?’ McGonagall asked, a soft arched eyebrow raising just a tad.

‘We just wanted to tell you that well, we’ve loved every minute here haven’t we?’ she said looking to her friends who immediately nodded, smiles on their juvenile faces imploring her to continue. Even Lily, who she expected to clamp her hand over her mouth was smiling shyly, finally allowing her sister a little free range, ‘and we just wished we could do it all over again.’

‘I see,’ McGonagall said coolly, ‘and for how long do you foresee this desire lasting?’

‘Oh about twenty minutes?’ James grinned, ‘what do you think Lil?’

‘Yeah,’ Lily said, smiling apologetically at McGonagall as she added, ‘half an hour tops.’

‘Very well,’ McGonagall said before she strode away.

As she walked off, gazes started shifting back towards the teachers awaiting further instruction. Dumbledore still seemed bemused by the whole thing and decreed they might as well tuck in, adding a stipulation that should anyone not be transformed by the time they were ready to depart the great hall they should come to Madam Pomfrey for assistance.

Dinner after that was quite the experience. For the most part everyone’s new looks were easy to get used to which meant conversation resumed naturally as everyone started to eat. Yet as everyone chatted, reminisced and talked about the future the spell started to fade with students popping back to their normal selves in random intervals earning a rapture of cheering and laughter as normality clawed its way back.

And by the time dinner was done and all the plates were empty everyone was back to their normal bodies and ages and the marauders’ spot in the history books was secured indefinitely.

SIRIUS BLACK/SERIES TAGS

@mysteriouslydelicateface @caitlin1996 @imthebadguyyy @maeisafangirl

#my writing #the other evans girl #sirius black #sirius black x ofc #sirius black x daisy evans #sirius black fic #marauders fic #marauders #the marauders #james potter #peter pettigrew #remus lupin

6 notes · View notes

chdarling · 3 years

Note

Hi! Love the fic! And I’ve got so many questions to ask but I’m going to limit myself to 3. 1) What is your relationship to the Marauders/Jily community? (i.e. how long have you been a part of it, why did you join it, did you return in lockdown, etc.) 2) Do you have any idea what song you will use for TLE 3 trailer? 3) How do you handle the pressure of creating such a long and popular series? If you think some day you can’t complete it, how will you proceed?

Anon asking the hard-hitting questions!! 😂❤️

Ok let’s see...

1) What is your relationship to the Marauders/Jily community? (i.e. how long have you been a part of it, why did you join it, did you return in lockdown, etc.)

I’m fairly new to the community! Well, I guess it’s been a little over a year now so not THAT new, but I was never engaged in fandom before I started posting TLE. I’ve been a huge jily fan since I first read OOTP back when it came out, but during the early fandom years (by which I mean when the books were still being published), I was 100% a lurker, hanging out on mugglenet and the HP Lexicon. (Nostalgia!) I read a bit of jily fanfic back then (mostly on mugglenet lmao), but generally I just kind of existed in my own little daydream bubble.

I dipped my toes back into reading fanfic (mostly wolfstar for some reason) around 2015 I think? And sometime after that I started writing TLE in earnest. I continued to write it as a secret hobby for literal years. I told no one about it and I had zero intention of ever showing it to anyone, let alone posting it on the internet. Then came COVID and being cooped up alone in an apartment far away from all my family and most of my friends…I was starting to lose my mind so I dove headfirst into finishing The Howling Nights as a way to cope. Then one day I finished it and I felt a little like the dog who catches his own tail lol. Like…what now? I just wrote a 200k fanfic, am I really going to just keep this on my hard drive forever? I decided to post the first few chapters online as a whim…and now here we are. 🙈

I LOVE the jily community. It is filled with some of the most delightful, compassionate, funny people and has honestly brought me so much joy over the past year. I was actually just talking to @the-dream-team today about how wild it still is to me to discover all these people who are equally obsessed with this very niche thing I’ve been secretly obsessed with for half my life. 🤣

2) Do you have any idea what song you will use for TLE 3 trailer?

I sure do. I have all the trailer songs chosen already. (I say all because TLE4 possibly has multiple trailers, since it will likely be split into parts. And because I have zero chill and had multiple songs I wanted to use.) I have the trailers vaguely story boarded in my head too. 😅 Sometimes when I am stuck writing I go for a walk and listen to my TLE trailer music playlist…they are very epic and inspire me to start writing again. Also A+ cardio because they are bangers lmao.

I’m going to keep the songs a surprise though! 😈

3) How do you handle the pressure of creating such a long and popular series? If you think some day you can’t complete it, how will you proceed?

🥴🥴🥴

Honestly I can’t think about this for too long or I get really anxious. 😅 I am SO grateful to everyone who reads, comments, sends me messages, etc. This has genuinely become such a bright spot in my life and I love sharing this story with you.

…but I also have to pretend y’all don’t exist when I write. 😂😂😂

Writing TLE2 has been such a different experience than TLE1, for obvious reasons. With TLE1, I was writing it exclusively for me, and honestly I was mostly just using it as a playground for learning how to write fiction. I’d barely written any fiction at that point beyond a few dabbles in my youth and I had certainly never written a multi-chapter anything. It’s funny to me now to go back and read it and look at different chapters and be like “oh yeah I was learning about dialogue here” or “heh someone was feeling a little experimental with prose in this chapter, huh?” So yeah it was very much just play without any pressure.

TLE2 has a little pressure, I won’t lie. 😂 But for the most part I really just try not to think about it. I exist in my happy little tumblr/discord bubble and I pretend no one else exists when I write. Because if I don’t I’m afraid I’ll subconsciously shift certain characters/plot lines to what I think people want, versus the story I originally set out to tell, and I don’t really want to do that. Thankfully I plotted all four books before I ever posted TLE1 (zero. chill.), so I already know where I’m going.

But yeah it’s kind of nerve-wracking sometimes because I am at my core a people-pleaser (I’m working on it), and I know that I will make choices later in the series that will not necessarily be popular. (Or maybe I already have!) And if I think about that for too long I get really anxious and it stops me from writing so I just…don’t. 🙃

As far as not completing it…I honestly think this silly story will haunt me to my dying day if I don’t finish it. Like, I cannot even tell you how many times I tried to quit it before I even posted TLE1 in 2020. Half the reason it took me so long to finish is because I was constantly berating myself to stop writing it and work on my original stuff (I know, I’m not very nice to me. Working on it!!!). But damn it, this is the story I want to write and I truly don’t think I’ll be able to stop until it’s done. I’ve tried. It didn’t stick. 😂😂😂

That said, you never know what the universe will throw at you. Maybe I should add a line in my will: “if I perish by surprise please dump this specific scrivener file onto tumblr, they’ll know what to do” lmao

Sorry this got ridiculously long. I'm going to blame the glass of wine in my hand but honestly I think I just have a lot of feelings. 😳

#ch answers #tle

19 notes · View notes

bush-viper-cutie · 4 years

Text

“The Marauders Speak” || YEAR 3 – Ch.29 (HP au)

Chapter List

<-- Last Chapter Next Chapter -->

Day posted: 10/27/2020

Word count: 3, 561

Relationship: EVENTUAL severus X oc (slow burn)

Rating: E for everyone

Warnings: none

-----

A/N: This is my first fan fic I’m writing mainly as a way to practice. This is a retelling of the hp books with an inserted character. Although most every character will be written about, this is mostly for the pro snape fandom. Please do not fear, although this is a severus x oc story, it is an incredibly slow burn as I do not intend for them to get together at all until after the final book events. Chapters will be posted twice a week.

This derivative work follows the events of the Harry Potter books by Jk Rowling and is intended as a fun way to practice my writing. Thank you for reading :D

Hey! Sorry this is a whole week late but I am back! Thanks for being so patient :D

-----

~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~

“Wait!” Harry stopped just below the incline up to the witch’s statue and stuffed the cloak in a little crevice. “Just in case we get caught.”

They were sweating and red and panting from the long run. Heather couldn’t protest, knowing if they got caught, the statue would be sealed and the cloak would be unreachable from the castle, all she could do was nod her head and huff a breathy “Ok”.

Heather started climbing up with Harry right behind her. She stopped at the statue, gripping the walls of the tunnel, and wished she knew what the situation was on the other side. Were Draco and Professor Snape waiting for them on the other side, arms crossed and fuming? Technically, only Harry was spotted. She could hide in the tunnel until after he got caught… She sighed and tapped her wand on the smooth stone and listened to the soft scrapes of the stone sliding out of place.

She stepped out into the hall and looked around. No one nearby. No one had spotted them. She stepped aside and helped Harry out. They closed the witch’s hump and wiped their faces with their sleeves, making them damp.

“They must be searching for us if Draco’s made it already.” She pulled Harry’s collar and wiped a bit of dirt off his cheek. “We should split up so – ”

Harry’s eyes moved from hers and focused on something in the distance. She swallowed and turned, watching as Professor Snape walked swiftly towards them, robes billowing back, cutting through the air with every long stride he took. It was like watching the grim reaper stalking towards them down the dim hall, the warm tones of the torch flames doing nothing to counter the harsh coldness emitting off him. She’d never felt more like a dear, watching dumbly as he stopped in front of them with a deep scowl set in his face as his eyes danced over each of them.

“So.” Professor Snape’s scowl lifted into a relaxed look of triumph, seeing as his effort to catch them turned out to be no effort at all. “Potters. My office.” He turned on his heels and led the way down the hall.

Heather and Harry looked at each other, wishing they had whatever twin telepathy Fred and George had so they could get their stories straight. As they walked, Harry motioned at their hands covered in mud and started wiping them clean. Heather did the same as she thought. Technically they could just say they were playing tag or something, and that was why they seemed so sweaty and out of breath… Do wizard children play tag? She and Harry certainly didn’t but maybe it’d still be believable if she said it.

They walked down the dungeon stairs and turned a corner into Professor Snape’s office. She had already grown comfortable to the threatening atmosphere of the room, having been inside only a thousand times asking countless questions – half of which were always answered with ‘Leave my office and ask again next year’ – but by Harry’s face she knew how intimidating it really felt to be in here.

The fireplace was half lit, casting everything in a dim green light, accentuating the sliminess of things stuffed in jars and mounted above his desk. She could never tell if the room was round or square or if there were any doors inside the room; there was never enough light to tell. The only well-lit area was his desk with the dozens of candles floating around and set on books and inside jars or stuffed in the necks of old and empty tall glass bottles.

They walked up to the only chairs centered in the room and looked at him as he stood in front of his desk with a small smile.

“Sit,” he ordered them.

They sat, waiting for him to take his own seat behind his desk but he remained standing, towering over them a few feet away.

“I’ve just heard the strangest story,” he began, speaking casually as if they were long-time friends. “Mr. Malfoy has just told me of his strange experience by the Shrieking Shack.”

Heather swallowed.

“See, he had run into Weasley – apparently alone – and was standing talking to him – ”

Heather looked over at Harry, watching as his lips moved to say something, probably wanting to say Draco had been teasing Ron about his family, but he remained silent.

“When a large amount of mud hit the back of his head.” Professor Snape paused for a few seconds. “How do you think that could have happened?”

Heather kept her mouth shut and glanced at Harry who looked very surprised.

“I don’t know, Professor.” Harry looked very innocently back at Professor Snape.

Professor Snape’s calm demeanor slowly drained as his eyes bore into Harry. “Mr. Malfoy then saw an extraordinary apparition… Can you imagine what it might have been?” His eyes turned to Heather’s.

Heather shook her head. “No.”

“It was a floating head,” he said sharply. “Your head. Mr. Potter.”

Heather and Harry stayed silent for a long while. An uncomfortable long while. Professor Snape seemed to be waiting for them to give up, give in, he had them cornered and there was no escaping Draco’s very factual story.

Heather took a breath and before she could speak, Harry’s words cut the silence.

“He ought to go see Madam Pomfrey, if he’s seeing things like – ”

Professor Snape leaned in. “What would your head have been doing in Hogsmeade?” he asked softly. “Your head is not allowed in Hogsmeade – No part of your body has permission to be in Hogsmeade. So how had your head made it there?”

“Professor – ” Heather started, ready to plead guilty and beg for anything but expulsion.

“We know all that,” Harry cut in quickly. “It seems like Malfoy’s having hallucin – ”

“Malfoy is not having hallucinations!” Professor Snape snarled. He bent down and placed a hand on each arm of Harry’s chair so that his face was a foot away from Harry’s. “If your head was in Hogsmeade… then so was the rest of you.”

She knew they had been defeated and caught. There was no way they were getting out of this one. He knew Harry had been there and if they kept up their ignorance then the punishment would only get worse. “Prof – ”

“I was in Gryffindor Tower,” Harry interrupted her again. “You told us to go to our common rooms and – ”

“Can anyone confirm?” Professor Snape slowly turned to her as well, triumph back on his face. “And you? Can anyone confirm you were in the common room or even inside the castle while Mr. Potter’s head was floating about Hogsmeade?”

“No,” she sighed.

Professor Snape straightened and his thin lips curled into a smile. “So. Everyone from the Minister of Magic downward has been trying to keep the famous Potters safe from Sirius Black. A murderer who has been spotted in the area and has already attempted an attack on one of you… Except the famous Potters follow no laws or rules. They let the ordinary people worry about their safety. Famous Harry Potter goes where he wants, with no regard for consequences – And of course where would he be without his most devoted follower.”

Heather’s face went red and she looked away. She felt the bag of ingredients under her sweater and counted the bottles, trying to calm down. He was trying to provoke them, make them admit their guilt. She had wanted to give in already, but now her anger melted her lips shut and her throat closed.

“You’ve no proof.” Harry sat up again in his chair. “Just because Malfoy Hallucinates my head in Hogsmeade doesn’t mean I was in – ”

Professor Snape looked down at him. “How extraordinarily like your father.”

Heather and Harry looked up at him suddenly, blinking with true surprise.

His eyes glinted at their intense attention on him. “Your father was exceedingly arrogant. A small amount of talent on the Quidditch field made him think he was a cut above the rest of us. As you do, Potter.”

Harry’s jaw clenched. Heather’s stomach felt like stone, heavy and cold.

“He too strutted ‘round the place with his friends and admirers at his heels – The resemblance between you is uncanny.”

Harry’s resemblance to their father had always been mentioned with praise, but Heather could see a deep hurt setting in. Harry was no longer looking innocently astounded that such a tale could have been spun about him from Malfoy. His eyebrows were pulled in and the distant green flames of the office danced on his eyes.

“Our dad didn’t strut. And neither do I.”

Professor Snape looked at them and shook his head slightly. “Your father didn’t set much store by rules either.” His words dripped from his mouth like venom.

Heather glared at him. If there was anything she hated more than hearing good things about her parents… it was hearing awful things about them. The rocks in her stomach had disappeared, replaced by a deep and hungry pit that fed on her anger. She was mad there was no one here to defend her father. Mad that she felt the responsibility was on her. According to the world, their father had been amazing, and funny, and talented, and loved… and here Snape was painting a very opposite picture. One she hated thinking about more. It gave her father flaws, something that made him feel infinitely more real and alive than anything good he’d been before. He was feeling real… too real.

Snape’s thin face was full of malice and spite. “Rules were for lesser mortals, not Quidditch Cup winners. His head was so swollen – ”

“SHUT UP!”

Harry was on his feet, hands clenched, mouth open – except the words had not come from him.

Snape’s dark eyes were glaring at Heather dangerously. His teeth were bared as his upper lip curled up in a snarl. “What did you say? Potter?”

Harry was still staring at her in disbelief and she stood with him. Tears were streaming down her face and she could feel her hands shaking. “I said shut up about our father.”

Harry turned back to Snape. “You’ve no right to say what you’re saying. We know the truth – Dumbledore told us. You wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for our dad!”

Snape had gone the palest Heather had ever seen him.

He stared at them rigidly and slowly his black eyes focused and the small bit of color returned to his skin. He let out a harsh and shaky breath. “And,” he whispered, “did the headmaster tell you the circumstances in which your father saved my life? Or did he consider the details too unpleasant for the Potters’ sensitive ears?”

The room was silent, except for the quiet crackle of the logs in the fireplace, and the occasional drip of candle wax onto books.

“No,” Heather whispered.

He took a step and stood directly in front of both of them. “Have you been imagining some act of glorious heroism? Your father selflessly coming to my rescue? Let me correct you – your saintly father and his dear friends played a highly amusing joke on me. One that would have resulted in my death if your father hadn’t finally come to his senses at the last possible moment. There’s nothing brave in him saving his own skin. Had their joke succeeded, him and his friends would have gotten expelled… and worse.”

Heather’s forehead hurt from frowning. She relaxed her face and wiped her tears away with the palms of her hand. She stared at her tears and sniffed. She was done with Snape’s cruel tactics and whatever he gained from ruining the memory of their father. She could no longer feel her stomach, or the anger that had been boiling in her veins. She didn’t feel sad. She felt empty. And all she wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep and forget she ever heard anything about their parents.

She sniffed and turned, taking a few steps towards the door.

“I haven’t dismissed you, Potter.”

Heather stopped walking.

“Both of you, turn out your pockets,” Snape spat suddenly.

Heather walked back and turned out her skirt pockets, showing the empty white cloth and a small bag of coins that she placed on his desk. Harry swallowed and placed his Zonko’s bag of tricks and the Marauder’s map next to Heather’s coin bag.

Snape picked up the Zonko’s bag.

“Ron gave those to me last time he went to Hogsmeade.”

“Indeed? How sentimental of you to be carrying them ever since.” He picked up the bag of coins and shook them. “And what would you be needing money for?”

“They were just left in my skirt from – ”

“The last time you were in Hogsmeade?” Snape picked up the map.

Heather glanced at Harry who looked confidently relaxed.

“And what is this?”

Harry shrugged. “Just a spare bit of parchment. For essays. You’ve assigned a lot.”

Snape’s eyes narrowed and stayed on Harry as he spoke. “This parchment is too old to hold much ink… Why don’t I give you newer parchment… and throw this one away for you?” His hand moved towards the green fire.

“Don’t!” Harry blurted out.

A twisted grin appeared on Snape’s face. “So. Are you going to tell me this is another treasured gift from Mr. Weasley? And not some sort of letter… or instructions written in invisible ink? With directions on how to get into Hogsmeade without passing the dementors?”

Heather swallowed. “There’s no way to not pass the dementors. And Professor Dumbledore has secured the whole castle so how could there be instructions for that?”

Snape’s eyes gleamed. “Why don’t we find out?” He spread out the map and took out his wand. “Let me see… Reveal your secret!” He tapped the map but it remained blank. “Show yourself!” He tapped again but nothing changed.

Heather was starting to feel less and less numb as dread took over. This was the proof he needed to prove they had been in Hogsmeade. She hoped endlessly that the Marauders had thought of teachers trying to reveal their map. Just because Mr. Filch hadn’t been able to did not mean Snape couldn’t, or wouldn’t make it his mission to find out the secrets to Harry’s ‘treasured’ old bit of parchment.

“Professor Snape, master of this school, commands you to yield information you conceal!” Snape hit the center of the map with his wand.

Harry snickered but his amusement turned to horror as words appeared on the surface of the map, letter by letter.

‘Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people’s business.’

Heather stared at the words in alarm. The terror continued as more words appeared, one mark at a time.

‘Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony, and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git.’

The words just kept appearing.

‘Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a professor.’

Heather’s knees buckled and she sat back down on her chair. Harry covered his eyes with his hands as the map wrote out more.

‘Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day, and advises him to wash his hair, the slimeball.’

Snape was frozen in place, staring at the words. Heather imagined this would all be very hilarious in the far future, if Harry and her could manage to walk out of his office alive.

“So…” Snape said softly. He strode to his fire and grabbed a fistful of powder from a jar on the fireplace and threw it into the fire. The powder glittered in the air and popped as it reached the flames, turning them a lighter green. “Lupin! A word!” Snape yelled at the wild flames.

Harry sat in his chair and both Heather and him stared as a shape appeared in the fire. Moments later Professor Lupin was stepping out of the fireplace, brushing ash from his mustache.

“You wanted a word, Severus?”

Snape’s face was contorted with fury as he stepped back to his desk and pointed at the map. “I have just had the Potters empty their pockets and he was carrying THIS.”

The words were still shinning as if freshly inked. Professor Lupin glanced down and nodded.

“Well?” Snape waited.

Professor Lupin looked like he was reading over the map but he was taking far longer than necessary.

“Well.” Snape repeated. “This is evidently full of Dark Magic. Which is your area of expertise, is it not? Lupin? Where do you imagine he got such a thing?”

Professor Lupin gave a controlled chuckle. “You really think this is full of Dark Magic? It looks as if it is merely an old bit of parchment charmed to insult anyone who reads it. Does that really seem dangerous, Severus? Seems childish to me. I would guess Harry’s gotten it from a joke shop. Perhapse Zonko’s – ”

“A joke shop? You believe he has gotten this from a joke shop and not from the manufacturers themselves?” Snape’s jaw went rigid with anger as Professor Lupin smiled amusedly.

Heather didn’t know what was going on or what Snape was talking about, as apparently neither did Professor Lupin.

“Harry, Heather, do any of you know these… ‘Wormtails’ or whoever these men are?”

Heather and Harry shook their heads.

“Now you see, Severus. This must clearly be from Zonko’s.” Professor Lupin leaned on Snape’s desk and waited for him to say anything else.

There was a loud THUMP and the office door swung open. Several jars shook and clinked from the commotion and Ron came running in, out of breath. Ron Stopped next to Professor Lupin and huffed.

“I – gave – Harry – and Heather – that stuff.” Ron took another deep breath. “Bought it… In Zonko’s – ages ago…”

Heather felt the sudden need to laugh and held it in. Harry did his best not to look at Ron too cheerfully and they both held in their astonished faces, making sure to look utterly unamused, as if the world’s dullest mystery was finally solved.

“Well,” Professor Lupin clapped his hand to Ron’s back. “Thank’s so much for clearing this whole mess up, Mr. Weasley. Now let’s get out of Professor Snape’s hair, shall we?” He took the map and folded it into his robes, “Severus, you won’t be needing that will you?” He turned and faced the three of them. “Harry, Heather, Ron. A word about the vampire essays I’ve assigned to you – Good rest of your day, Severus – ”

Heather and Harry stood and were herded out of Snape’s office without a glance back. They walked out of the dungeon and remained silent until they made it to the entrance hall. Harry stopped and turned to Professor Lupin, who paused before turning to him as well.

“Professor, I’m – ”

Professor Lupin held up his hand. “No explanations.” He looked around and lowered his voice. “I know that Mr. Filch had confiscated this many years ago. I know what it really is. I’ve no idea how you have ended up with it but I am truly shocked that you never turned it in. Especially after the last time a student left information lying around the castle… I won’t be handing this back to either of you.”

Heather nodded. “Did… you or Snape know Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, or Prongs?”

Professor Lupin sighed. “They were well known… somewhat. Now, I won’t be covering for any of you next time. You two may not take Sirius Black seriously, but I would have thought you two understood the sacrifices your parents made to keep you both safe… Sneaking off and putting yourselves in danger are poor ways to repay them.” He looked away from them and walked up the stairs.

Ron, Harry, and Heather stood awkwardly at the foot of the stairs. Heather was less so hurt by his words than by the fact her new favorite teacher likely thought they were childish and selfish and reckless with their lives.

“I’m sorry. I kept trying to convince you to two to go to Hogsmeade. It’s my fault.” Ron crossed his arms over his chest and kicked at the dirt.

Heather put her hand on his arm. “It’s not your fault… or not JUST your fault. I knew we shouldn’t have gone but I had things to buy.”

“And I went knowing I shouldn’t’ve. We don’t blame you at all.” Harry started up the stairs.

They followed him up, all deciding to skip dinner, and walked up to Gryffindor Tower in silence. Heather was about to say goodbye to them when she noticed Hermione walking down the stairs towards them holding a letter.

Ron frowned at her. “Come to gloat? Don’t bother telling on us, we’ve already been told off by Snape and Lupin.”

Hermione ignored him and looked at Harry and Heather. “I thought you’d like to know… Hagrid lost his case. Buckbeak is going to be executed.” She held up the tear stained letter and walked back up to the portrait hole, stepping inside.

The three of them stared at the letter, recognizing the giant tears of Hagrid.

“We should have helped more,” Ron whispered.

~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~

Chapter List

<-- Last chapter Next chapter -->

-----

@lokilover-39

@halcyonrogers

@krazykatkay456

@lady-of-black-roses

@writingmi

-----

#harry potter #heather potter #pro snape #severus snape x oc #severus x oc #snape x oc #severus snape x reader #severus x reader #snape x reader #snape fanfic #snape fanfiction #snape fan fiction #fanfic #fanfiction #fan fiction

27 notes · View notes

bammtoris · 4 years

Text

SHIP HISTORY MEME

Embrace your past and get to know your friends’ fandom origins!

Rules: Post gifs of your fandoms/ships starting with your most current hyper fixation and work backward. (Bonus points if you share any stories about how or when you got into that ship! But not necessary!!) Then tag anyone whose fandom history you’d like to learn about!

Thanks for the tag Laura <3 @badguywindow

2019 - (?) Brightwell prodigal son

Man, where do i even start with these two <3 since when i saw the pilot i had a hint of ok, i see there’s going to be something between these two, as the show kept progressing and especially ep 5 man my heart <3, they got me at the “you can trust me” part and let me add the deal sealer “you are the one i like talking to” that was it, they own my heart now.

2018- Jaaron the walking dead

wow look at that another ship involving Tom Payne, i literally kept watching twd bc of Jesus, the show had become so repetitive but his tiny amount of screentime is what kept me hooked till his ending, he was finally embracing himself in season 9, Aaron and Jesus clearly living the best married life, being soft as hell and happy, until they had to kill Jesus off which still ACHE a lot, these two deserved better especially tom.

2018- Elu Skam France

OK but can i say how MUCH i love this ship TOO MUCH, They are honestly the most adorable thing on earth and every time they are on-screen my heart flips uwu <333 i discovered them a while back, basically watching the first seasons of skam France, since i had already seen the original Skam, i gave it a try with the french universe and it did not disappoint.

2014- Stydia Teen Wolf

mY God more babies uwu i still adore this ship, and i discovered it back in that I´m a teen who doesn’t watch cartoons anymore phase, leaving that aside man i love them, Lydia being the one taking stiles out of a panic attack I'm still weak for that type of trope, (see Dani talking to Malcolm after his panic attack for further detail djd) also i love the moment of realization on Lydia’s face, I'm really falling in love with this knucklehead, and there u have it.

2013- Johnlock Sherlock

Holy my obsession with this ship was incredible, idek how i got into the show i think it was bc of the whole superwholock thing back then, their dynamic and the obvious romance between these two amazing, AND THE LYING DETECTIVE EPISODE “it is what it is” godamn it, they really did that. i also adore the whole sign of three-episode which is ofc in disguise a full johnlock episode in reality.

2013- Tenrose Doctor who

i used to watch the old doctor who at my grandma’s house, years later the New who came by, started watching and my heart got split in half THIS SHIP MADE ME CRY A MILLIONTH TIMES and i will go down with it, the “doomsday” episode is still pierced in my heart, they made me the happiest person alive and i still miss this regeneration and companion a lot. David Tennant slaps as the doctor.

2011- Destiel Supernatural

Oh this one is a hard OTP, forever canon in my heart, since the introduction of castiel, every single interaction, GODS, they were made for each other, “gripped u tight and raised you from perdition”, im still not over that and they basically conrtucted my whole ass childhood i owe a lot to this show.

2011- Cherik X-men

Man, i have always been a slut for X-men even from when i was small, and like i was like? 10 here so yes we stan the gay husbands and i wasn’t really aware at the time lmao, we love a queer naive queen. also very happy we got them having their Honeymoon in Paris at the end of Dark phoenix only worthy part of the movie.

idk year- Wolfstar Harry Potter series

Hey i know this are not the actual actors, but fandom decided this would be great actors for younger versions of remus lupin and sirius black and im all for it, i ADORE them with all my heart and i think i reread the harry potter books solely for their scenes together which are very little sadly, but theres always fanfic, “The marauders” by Pengiwen made me fall in love with a headcanon version of them totally recommend it.

Tagging: @musicalmedic @paranoid-peaches @give-me-malcolm-and-whump @whumpypepsigal @boatofmagic @malcolmwhumply @frankensteinsmomster @ihavejarlsberg

#tag game #ship history meme

26 notes · View notes

eastonia-blog · 4 years

Text

I’m going to do a weird.

I know a whole lot of us are stuck at home due to the COVID19 outbreak and all our respective governments attempting to flatten the curve. So I’m going to break out my VAST library of fanfiction recommendations for you to read! Please bear in mind that my tastes in fics are not necessarily like yours so the following 15 Fandom reccs might be hit or miss. All ships and above T ratings will be tagged with brackets, all crossovers will be mentioned in those same brackets. Also, if I mention it’s part of a series, I’m not just recommending the fic I mentioned, I’m recommending the whole series. I’ve tried to recommend a different author’s fic each time. So! Let’s start with the 3 fandoms I mention in my blog description.

1) ATLA Fate Deferred (Zutara) Aang remains in the iceberg ten years longer. Sozin’s comet comes, the world keeps turning with no Avatar to save it, and by the time he’s finally found by a waterbender and her Fire Nation husband, a lot has changed. [Zutara established relationship full series rewrite; Now on Book II: Earth] Cheating at Pai Sho (Canon Divergence) “You said you were the Avatar!” “…I lied?” Aang doesn’t get rescued in episode two, and no one’s seen him go glowy yet… so he starts bluffing. Hard. Or: “The Avatar joins Zuko’s quest to find the Avatar.” In which Zuko doesn’t join the Gaang, the Gaang joins Zuko. The Undying Fire: Blood and Fire (First in the Undying Fire Series, eventual Zutara) Book 1. In which rescuing the Avatar from Pohuai Stronghold doesn’t end so well. It’s a tough life being a banished prince trying to get home, especially when the Avatar just wants to be your friend and keeps making everything confusing. Oh, and did Zuko mention he somehow healed the kid? Yeah, that happened. Stalking Zuko (First in the Stalking Zuko Series, eventual Zutara) Katara has developed a new hobby. At the Western Air Temple she takes to stalking Zuko. Much silliness and shenanigans follow. In chapter 20: Katara and Zuko return home to the others. Katara hates the F word and she comes to a decision regarding Zuko. Embers (Canon divergence) Dragon’s fire is not so easily extinguished; when Zuko rediscovers a lost firebending technique, shifting flames can shift the world… 2) Percy Jackson and the Olympians The Father (Percabeth in the GFFA, eventual Anidala) It all started with a wish, but because it was Percy Jackson it couldn’t have been a friendly goddess granting him a wish. No, it had to be Nemesis, goddess of revenge and balance. Now Percy and Annabeth are stuck in a strange new galaxy right when an ancient and powerful darkness finally begins to stir. Glass Figures (MCU Mashup) I lifted my gun, pointing it towards the minefield of shattered fragments, and kicked the small coffee table out of the way.Only to stare down at an awfully familiar face, which split into a somewhat lopsided grin. The intruder raised his hands in a mocking surrender. //“Long time no see, dude.” //I lowered the gun. “What the hell are you doing in South Peru?” //Or in which Clint Barton and Percy Jackson have a long personal history that starts in high school. All Together, Cousins (Canon divergence) When Thalia ran away with her toddler brother, Jason, she slowly gathered her cousins: she and her cousins being Big Three children. As Jason gets older and their motley group expands to six, Thalia resigns herself to the fact that she won’t always be the leader of the pack. As she accepts that, something more is coming, able to challenge even the gods above. A Crown of Golden Leaves (Historical AU) Annabeth, a Lady from the declining polis of Athens, must marry the Heir Apparent of Rome to save the rapidly expanding world from a threat even the gods couldn’t foresee. Deluge (Percy in the Arrowverse) Barry has to deal with yet another Metahuman that Zoom has pitted against him. But this ‘Metahuman’ is an unwilling pawn in Zoom’s plan and really wants to find a way around killing the Scarlet Speester. But how can he when Zoom is holding something against him?

3) DC Firework (First in the Sparks in the Dark Series) Orphaned and removed from the only life he’s ever known, Dick feels like there’s no light left for him in the world. His new benefactor, however, still sees something worth saving… Chronological beginning of the Spark in the Dark series. Iron, Fire, Mirror-Glass After a brutal confrontation with Bane, Bruce comes away with a broken spine and the certainty that his days as Batman are over. An unexpected discovery offers him another chance—but at what price? The story of a man who risks his soul for the sake of his mission, the dangerous creature he names Robin, and the unlikely partnership that will shape the legend of Gotham’s Dark Knight. Get Back Up There was a mole, one who played a long game. The team was betrayed, crushed. Robin nearly died. What are they going to do now? Only one chirped the answer. Get back up. WARNING: lots of talking, little action, many follow ups Five Times …Five times Damian thought of Dick Grayson as his father, and the one time Dick thought of Damian as his son. Future-fic. YJ characters will show up later. Batman!Dick and Damian as Robin. With guest appearances from Jason, Tim, Cass, and Steph. Unveiling the Mystery Series of one-shots about the team learning a little about Robin (Dick Grayson). With all the fics, I heavily suggest you also read what else these authors have to offer in their archive.

And now here’s the plethora of other fandoms I read fics in under the cut!

4) Harry Potter The Horse (Mature) Looking after a Muggle animal should be easy compared to saving Hogwarts from Voldemort. Harry and Draco might disagree with that. Featuring Luna, Marauders, peppermints and, of course, a tall, black, badtempered horse named Simon. The Potions Master’s Nephew An accident occurs and Professor Snape finds himself trapped in his fifteen-year-old body. Enrolled into Harry Potter’s fifth year, he is forced to hide his true identity. Girls, drama and teenage angst do not bode well with Severus. Keeping Up with the Grangers (Dramione, Mature) Mr. Malfoy, I invite you and your mother to tea next Tuesday, May 25th at 2o’clock to discuss recent events. Dr. Helen Granger //… …// He glances at the boxy too-uniform numbers flashing on the face of Richard’s radio. It’s nearly noon, and he should be getting ready to leave; but there is still a harsh tension in his shoulders and neck that he wants to work out before Hermione finds him. It is, after all, Tuesday; and while his Tuesdays were designated ‘tea with Helen’ days previously, they are now ‘lunch with Granger’ days, ever since the chance meet-up with the Weasel’s wife and the insufferable swot herself. Faceless (Dramione, Mature) New year. New love. New threat. A powerful enemy is on the rise, and Hermione Granger finds herself intertwined in a relationship with Draco Malfoy – only she doesn’t know it’s him. / / RUNNER-UP: Enchanted Awards Summer 2017 for Best Relationship Development

5) Devil May Cry And the Rest is Silence (Mature) The destruction of the Saviour wasn’t the end. Too many people had too much invested. An Uncle’s Thoughts Dante’s thoughts and feelings regarding one particular quarter-demon kid. Vignettes that span from the start of Devil May Cry 4 through Devil May Cry 5, and beyond. Fortuna’s Fool Events after DMC5 with flashbacks to the events we briefly see in DMC4SE only with Vergil telling Dante all about Nero’s mother. Family ties are so complicated, aren’t they? Family of Happenstance Some orphans have happy endings, getting adopted or finding their family. Having a demon slaying half devil for a father tends to throw a tiny monkey wrench in the process. AU Father!Dante, Son!Nero. Rated because hunters don’t exactly have clean mouths.

6) Power Rangers (Focus on Might Morphin’ and Dino Thunder teams) Of Love and Bunnies Set just after Dino Thunder. When Angel Grove announces another Power Rangers Day, Tommy takes the Dino Rangers to Angel Grove for a reunion with the original team… including Kimberly. TommyKim, JasonTrini, KiraTrent. The Reason (Part 1 of eclyptyk neo‘s Dino Thunder AU) COMPLETED. DT. AU. Years go by as Tommy Oliver becomes accustomed to his job as a teacher. A person from his past returns. The new ranger team grows interested in its outcome. How will these new changes between rangers young and old be? Sequel: Ordinary World Change of Hearts (Wild Force) PRWF: When Jindrax and Toxica set out to find themselves, they had no idea that their greatest adventure was only beginning. Chronology Conundrum DT/MMPR - After a strange mutation is released in Reefside, the five Dino Thunder Ranges find themselves thrown back into the past, circa 1995 Angel Grove. Somehow, they have to figure out how to make it back to their present without destroying it or themselves. And if they succeed, they must navigate the consequences of their actions in the past, while still protecting Reefside. 7) Merlin (Mergana leaning) The Other Version of Events What if Merlin and Arthur had met when they were children? What if a mysterious illness fell over Ealdor and Merlin was blamed? What if Arthur had actually felt sorry for him? What if destiny was thrown at them in a whole new way? AU, no slash, Bromance, A/G M/M… You get the idea. Flipping the Coin, Part 2 of Coins (2nd story in the Coins Sage but 1st multichapter) Merlin and Gwaine are sent on an adventure to discover their past and stay one step ahead of Morgana. Fearing for them, Arthur and the other knights set out to find them, but soon discover much more than they bargained for. Alt version Season 5. Sequel to “Two Sides of the Coin” Angst, Adventure, BAMF, Bromance, Redemption, Twists on Arthurian Legends. The King’s Legacy “I hope you are rolling in your grave brother, I will find your son, and I hope he is like you. I will ruin him and gain a lovely weapon in the process.” Cenred spat on the grave, “I win Balinor.” .Sequel posted. The Warlock’s Quickening (First in the Albion Cycle) Merlin might have come to Camelot to master his magic, not to end the Purge, but he’s not going to sit idly by while his kin suffer. Oh no. Whether it’s releasing a chained dragon, smuggling sorcerers out of the city, or trying to change Arthur’s mind, he’s fighting back. Now. Series rewrite beginning after 1X02 featuring Proactive!Merlin. AU.

8) Dragon Ball Under the Radar (Gohan/Videl) Gohan is living life as a secret superhero, but Videl is making it her business to find him out! How will Gohan manage her and Saiyan hormones? Will he fess up? Or will he try to live his life -puts on sunglasses- “Under the Radar”? *applause* Thank you! Thank you! And GOODNIGHT! G/V obviously. Rated T because adult situations and language in later chapters. COMPLETE! Golden God (Mature) To save the lives of millions, Gohan is forced to expose himself as a Super Saiyan, proving that his tricks are indeed very real. And it drives the whole world to insanity. Warning; becomes a little graphic goes as it on. Walking Towards the Sunset Bardock’s curse sends him to a mysterious place where weaklings are abundant and an odd trio claim to be his family. Eventually giving in, he stays with them to discover that Earth is more unlucky than Planet Vegeta. Impatiently waiting for his son’s arrival, Bardock has to survive a new life with his estranged family and a certain girl set on finding the truth. (Saiyaman-Buu Saga) Plus One (Gohan/Videl, Mature) Tired of being pursued by the gold-digging, glory-seeking, Satan obsessed freaks of the world, Videl will resort to the only method open to a celebrity like her to find Mr. Right. 9) Sailor Moon (Mainly SenshiShitennou) The Crystal Age (Rewritten) In an alternate version of Season 1, as a result of Beryl’s curse at the end of the Silver Age, Tuxedo Mask and the reincarnated Shitennou are fighting a losing battle to save the city and find the lost princess. Sailor Moon has disappeared, Sailor V is working on her own, and the other Senshi are still just ordinary girls. Sequel to The Silver Age. MxU, SxS. Please R&R. Hooligans It’s after Galaxia and time for University. The Senshi and Mamoru settle into life in Great Britain and meet some old friends. Inner Senshi x Shitennou and Usagi x Mamoru. Modern Timeline. Strong language, crude humour, hilarity and sexual situations abound, be warned, there will be some heavy angst later on too. Never Gone R A single choice can change the course of Fate: a choice, say, like waking up on time. If that choice were made, Chiba Mamoru would never meet Tsukino Usagi; but, he WOULD meet Unami Seiya and the burden of Terra’s future would fall onto his shoulders. Never Gone AU. The Dinner Hour (Part of The Dinner Series) It can be hard to be patient in the face of eternity. But good things come to those who search and refuse to give up on their dreams. R/J. (Sequels: Dinner And Again, Dinner at Last completed!)

10) Les Miserables (Warning: Enjonine ahead) When Apollo Met Persephone (1st of the 1830s AU) The revolution, or at least the first part of it succeeds. Enjolras confronts political and personal realities. Eponine is suddenly faced with more opportunities than she ever thought. Can they guide each other in a world that needs them as much as they need it? Les Choses Qui Sont Arrivées Après “You must flee Paris at once.” Enjolras and Eponine. The thief and the leader, the marble Apollo and the dark street girl… two wholly different survivors of the Revolution are forced together under a dangerous circumstance. Can they successfully fight their demons as well as each other? Neither of them knows quite what is going on, or what will happen when they figure it out. Teacher of Man The first time Enjolras and Éponine meet, it is their wedding day. (arranged marriage AU) My Best Friend’s Wedding Éponine Thenardiér always thought that Marius would eventually come back to her, until the wedding invitation came in the mail. Now she is going to do everything that she can to get him back from that blonde tart Cosette. Nothing goes according to plan and even her partner in crime Enjolras is becoming an obstacle. E/E. 11) Naruto Beginnings Naruto was six years old when he met the man who changed his life. …Now he’s kind of just hoping he survives it. An Inch of Gold (Part of the Legacy of Fire series) Team 7 is sent on a mission to investigate a disturbance outside of the village, where they encounter an unconscious girl in a crater. The mysterious Sarada insists she’s a shinobi from the Hidden Leaf trying to rescue her teammates. When the team discovers she possesses a Sharingan, things become even more unbelievable. [Part of the Legacy of Fire Series] Guilt of Innocence Uchiha Sasuke abandoned Konoha in his persute of power to join Orochimaru. However, this was only a cover story. In fact, on Tsunade’s orders, Sasuke is to act as Konoha’s spy within Otogakure. One agreement and his path had changed forever… Blind (SasuSaku) It was almost time, Orochimaru was going to take his body as a vessel. He hated being used…he refused to be used. With that thought, he took the kunai in his hand and slashed across his eyes.

12) Legend of Zelda (Zelink) The Conviction to Save The princess is dead. Those are the words being whispered in the streets. A great shudder sweeps across the land of Hyrule as news of its beloved monarch’s passing spreads like wildfire. In the midst of the ensuing chaos, a humble village doctor happens upon the body of a gravely injured young woman on the road. Legend of the Miraculous (Concepts taken from Miraculous Ladybug) A legend retold through many a tale, but when a darkness resurfaces after so long, Athena and Sheikhan Wolf must return again! Will Link and Zelda be able to combat this threat? and will they figure out each others’ identities? Come inside and take a look! Hit List AU. It all started as a typical day at Ordon High, until a sudden school shooting turns the life of Link Hero upside down. Now, surrounded by enemies, can Link save his friends and escape the school alive? (Edit 10/2015) Counting Stars Link finds himself caught in the middle of an elaborate gang war. Lucky for him, being a B-list superhero makes that predicament a tiny bit easier. / Modern AU ZeLink, inspired by Spider-Man. Under Revision! 13) Hunger Games Vox Libertas Due to things playing out a bit differently in the last few minutes of the Quell, the rescue also goes a bit differently than expected. Now Peeta has the responsibility of representing the Rebellion thrust upon him. No pressure. *AU Mockingjay. Part I of Dandelion in the Storm AU. Mainly Peeta POV.* Someone To Watch Over Me (Everlark, 1st in the Series) A HG rewrite. What would happen if Peeta was just a little bit bolder, and Katniss a little less emotionally confused? You’d be surprised. Let the Games begin. This is an AU, but I’ve tried to stay as canon as possible. Rated T to be safe. Enthralled (Everlark, Gadge, Mature) Thrall (þræll), n., a slave or serf in Viking Age Scandinavia. After a successful raid, Gale is rewarded with a slave girl: the Saxon noblewoman Madge. Meanwhile, shieldmaiden Katniss grows closer to captive monk Peeta. Gadge/Everlark historical AU with background Odesta and other pairings. Katniss, Vampire Slayer (Mature) “Into every generation a slayer is born.” the man droned out slowly, quietly, in a way that made her think he was quoting something. “One girl in all the world. A chosen one. She alone will wield the strength and skill to fight the vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their number. She is the Slayer.” // Haymitch mocked. “One girl in all the world. Ain’t I just lucky it had to be you.” 14) How To Train Your Dragon Becoming Lífþrasir (Hiccstrid) People often wondered what kept Hiccup going during those early years. When that single, most-treasured thing is taken from him, there is little left to keep him on Berk. The day Stoick returns, and the day before the best recruit is finally chosen, Hiccup leaves Berk; little knowing that he would one day return under … strange circumstances. H/A, R/F, rated for violence. HTTYD Easter Special Sequel to “The Unholy Offspring,” set after the season finale. When Alvin the Treacherous threatens Asgard with a rogue demigod’s help, Hiccup and Berk’s Dragon Riders must prevent an early Ragnorak. It doesn’t help that Alvin has learned to tame dragons, and that the only god that can help Hiccup is a sullen, suspicious boy named Mud. Happy Eos week, Hiccup! The Blacksmith’s Apprentice (Hiccstrid) AU. Hiccup never took the shot on that fateful night-and the war continued. Three years later, Berk is beset by dragon raids and hostile tribes while the boy who should have saved the island is merely the assistant in the forge. With only Astrid as his friend, fate gives Hiccup one more chance to end the war and become the hero he was meant to be. Hiccstrid. Snap (Hiccstrid, Mature) He was just supposed to fix her back, and she doubted that at first. She definitely didn’t expect to get dragged into the ethics of a girlish crush. Modern AU. 15) Star Wars Double Agent Vader The one where Vader turned double agent for the Rebellion about three years after ROTS, and Leia is now his primary contact with the Rebellion. Or, a man attempts to escape slavery by turning into one of his culture heroes, teaching his daughter how to do magic, killing people, and flower arranging. A New History During a heated battle, Dooku escaped into the past! Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker follow to stop him, but discover that Dooku went to the past where Obi-Wan is a young padawan to a very much alive Qui-Gon Jinn. Now, the two must go undercover to stop Dooku’s plans from coming to fruition in order to save not only the future, but also young Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn. Pulse AU for ROTS. As Padme’s life hangs in the balance on Mustafar, a stream of brilliant light causes Anakin to reconsider his choices. Jedi Shmi AU Shmi leaves Tatooine with Anakin and goes to the Jedi Temple.

#Stuff to do #while youre stuck inside #due to coronavirus #eastonia reccs #fanfiction recommendation

32 notes · View notes

mentalcurls · 6 years

Text

On the boysquad as Marauders

Ok, but in the last few days I’ve seen the first posts comparing i Contrabbandieri di Luchino to the Marauders and I get that it’s basically tradition to compare four element group friends to the Marauders, I get that it’s all fun and games and fandom stuff, but still, I’m like W H A T.

First of all, how dare y’all compare Luca Luchino Colosio to Peter Pettigrew??? No way guys, I’m terribly offended on his behalf. I mean, sure, come argue with me that in the group he’s the most awkward, the least successful with girls, the least good looking and those things are alla characteristics he shares with Hogwarts!Peter. He’s the butt of a lot of jokes, he’s the newest entry of the group, the one the guys welcomed later, he’s in a different class, but you cannot come here and tell me he’s got it in himself to turn on his friends ever in his life. He’d never be so jealous of them or feel so excluded that he’d go the bullies, whoever they might be in this instance, and let them sweep him up in their ideas or let them threaten him without going to his friends for help.

If I had to compare Luca to any Harry Potter character, it’d be Neville, 100%. He’s awkward and goofy now, but he’s got great lessons about friendship to teach and he’ll grow into himself and behead Nagini and pull a Matthew Lewis.

On top of this, I just can’t see the whole comparison between the two groups holding up well.

Martino and Giovanni are clearly the same kind of ride or die, blood pact friends at first sight James and Sirius are. But which of them is one and which is the other?

Marti has a difficult family situation, like Sirius, but he’s not as reckless as Sirius; besides, Sirius would have never done to Lily what Martino did to Eva. On the other hand, Martino is not James either, he’d never be the Quidditch champion with all the girls swooning over him, he’s alternative in his own words. I also expect that, this year at least, Marti’s grades wouldn’t be great, while Sirius and James both were top of their class. Above all, Martino doesn’t come across to me as the type to ever be able to try and charm McGonagall and mostly succeed, like we know Sirius and James do.

Giovanni is more athletic and definitely is popular with the ladies, like James. But he’s not the only child his parents dote on, he’s got some problems with his dad and he’d rather sleep at Martino’s than go home late. James brought home his best friend to live with him, probably in the middle of the night, and his parents didn’t bat an eyelash and welcomed Sirius as family. Can you spot the difference? On the other hand, Gio likes to have fun as much as Sirius does, he smoked seven joints in a row that one time Eva reminds him about when they fight in S1 and he’s the one who suggests they go to a party in ep. 5. I can’t see him bullying a Severus type of person, though, I think he’d be more the type to ignore the people he doesn’t like. He’s a “pals before gals” kind of guy, the same way I picture Sirius, but he’s also a great partner like James. Finally, Gio also has really high marks in school, but that means he could be either James or Sirius, who both excelled in academic.

When I think of sad, blue Martino who risks emargination because of his sexuality I’m 100% thinking of Remus, who hides his lycanthropy from his friends, who faces discrimination, who who is amazed by his friends acceptance when he finally tells them. Plus the whole werewolf/AIDS victim/LGBT person link JKR firmly denies, but fits perfectly nonetheless.

And when I think about mom friend Giovanni, who covers for Marti even when he doesn’t know why and isn’t forewarned, who tries to diffuse fights, who always makes sure to include everybody, I think of Remus.

But again, evidence is inconclusive here too. They can’t both be Remus.

And then we have Elia, extroverted, fun-loving, sporty, not very lucky with girls (especially Argentina) despite being a handsome guy. He’s loud, hotheaded, he lashes out and is quick with his fists. Elia who doesn’t really read between the lines, who recognizes the lies Martino tells but gets fed up with him, he doesn’t have the same patience Gio has. Elia who gets the weed for all of his friends, then runs first from the police when they get stopped because he doesn’t do well with authority. He’s also got a difficult family situation, since his parents split up. He often bands with Luca in opposition to the platonic soulmates Martino and Giovanni, but he’s also the one who makes the most jokes to Luchino’s expense.

What does that make him? The troublemaking Sirius friend, who provokes mischief and fights? Or the James friend, generous, only one girl truly in his head, half of the power couple? (Except that we just said he’s definitely not half of the power couple, so should he be the Remus of the group?)

Feel free to come talk to me about this, I’m happy to discuss all of this EXCEPT for the Luchino-Peter thing because I’ll never accept it.

#skam italia #giovanni garau #martino rametta #elia santini #luca colosio #contrabbandieri di luchini #skam meta #the boysquad of loveliness #the marauders #sirius black #james potter #remus lupin #peter pettigrew #harry potter #character comparison #a. writes

9 notes · View notes

beautifulramblingbrains · 6 years

Text

The Dog - Chapter 3

Fandom: Vikings Characters: Ivar, Ubbe, Hvitserk, OC (However brief they appear.) Rating: This is Mature content with trigger warnings.

A/N: Thanks for the great reception. And a big thank you for @murmelinchen for reading through it for me.

First Chapter // 2nd Chapter

Tags: @pathybo@oddsnendsfanfics@sparklemichele @singingpeople@captstefanbrandt @equalstrashflavoredtrash @whenimaunicorn@kiiiimberlyriiiicker1995 @emmysrandomthoughts@pokeasleepingsmaug @underthenorthstar @ariwolf14 @bcat1291 (If you want in or out of the tags just tell me, it’s all cool :))

It was dusk when Avery managed to come to, hearing heavy laughter and jest. Her head rolled and she groaned with pain; a shock of it travelling through the back of her head. Everything was blurry and far away, the images of people morphing, the fires from the camps swirling. She pulled her arms to find them tied behind her and to the wheel of the cart that had her propped up. Her ankles were also bound, and the dusty rag back in her mouth. Panic and claustrophobia set in quickly and she began struggling as much as the pain would allow, whimpering to herself, but stopped when she heard a familiar voice.

“Damn you, heathens! There is one God and he will welcome me in his arms. There is no place for you. He’s seen the massacre of his people and he will be vengeful!”

Benedict Biscop slurred his words, strung up by his arms in his long, and now dirtied nightwear. It was a mocking cross, and in front was a crowd of men drinking and throwing items, taunting him. Benedict’s room demon was on his feet pacing, hands out, speaking in his strange language - Avery guessed some story or joke to do with Benedict and his Christianity.

There was nothing she could do, defeated at the very least as the cold from the ground where she sat seeped into her spine. A tear slipped her cheek down into the rag, and she let her head fall back until her eyes grew heavy, the images of the camp nothing more than background.

By early the next morning, the sun barely making its presence, Avery was jolted awake. Now she felt weak, hungry, and extremely nauseous. The old man who watched her before in the cart untied her wrists and picked her up, putting her in the back of it, her legs hanging off the tailend.

Benedict was being led over to her by rope, his head rolling, pale, stumbling to keep up. The shame they cast upon him was inhumane. She dropped her eyes when they stripped him of all his clothing; his naked, pot-bellied form and privates out for all to see in such cold weather. They left his beloved cross, and it reminded Avery of hers hidden beneath her dress. She touched it and prayed silently in her mind as they tied the end of the rope to the back of the cart nearest to her.

There was a sound of a whip and the cart pulled off, and Benedict all but wailed. She must have watched for mere hours as he tumbled and fell, stood and then dragged endlessly. The sun blazed high, her own head rolling with the rhythm of every rock or bump the cart hit.

Horse hooves came up beside her, the one she named demon settling into a lazy pace. One hand guided the reign, and she could see the long braid of hair swinging behind his mostly close-shaved head. He looked amused for the most part, the teeth marks on his cheek and patch over his shoulder her only relief from his confident stare.

“You will be next,” he said finally. Avery should have known they would be fluent in the countries they invade for mere advantage. “Will be a better view. You should thank him for keeping you covered this far.”

Avery turned her head away, her stomach twisting in either hunger or sickness, she couldn’t tell anymore.

“I wait for it. You will do us a great favour, bringing morale to our plight.” He clicked his tongue and motioned to her mouth piece, leaning over towards her. She let him tug it down, fine lines from the cloth cutting across her cheeks. “What do your beloved Christian men call you?”

Avery tugged on the ties around her wrists, tangling her fingers in the knot. “My name is Avery. And it is what my parents called me. My parents who are dead because of people like you.”

“Where are you from?”

She didn’t trust him and his fake, friendly smile. The eyes of others were on her, watching their interaction. “The East.”

“Ah,” he cooed. “Just wondering if I might have met them.”

Avery let it go, knowing he was mocking her. “But my home doesn’t exist anymore. So it doesn’t matter.” She frowned at him, sticking her nose up. “There is nothing there for you to raid.”

He barked a laugh, his horse’s head lifting up at the sound. “I like you. And it will be my pleasure to take your clothes off when the time comes.” He was distracted by others trotting up next to him; the quiet one, and two others. They were looking far ahead, behind her. She followed their eye-line towards a small river and treeline on the other side.

The pace of the group picked up and it wasn’t long until they found the shallowest part to cross, laughing at Benedict tripping and half drowning, eventually dragged from the water spluttering. The water almost reached her feet. If her ankles weren’t tied she would have rolled and hoped to be washed downstream, perhaps a chance to run. But fate gave her otherwise.

With the small break, Benedict rose up from his knees catching his breath and noticing Avery perched on the cart. He fumbled towards her, his teeth chattering from the cold, and he none-too-gently grabbed her legs. Be it his frozen fingers or despair, they hurt, and she couldn’t push him away. “Avery, Avery, Avery, you are alive!”

“Yes, father Benedict.” She chanced a look around her to nobody noticing their interaction; too busy cleaning in the river and eating. “They are going to kill us.” Her voice almost warbled, but she managed the strength from somewhere.

“You have to help me.” His teeth kept chattering, an awful sound, and his skin glistened. “Do you know where they take us? Do you have food?” His hold tightened.

“Father Benedict, please,” she grimaced, “you’re hurting me.”

His jowls swung as he anxiously peered around him. “We need a plan. You must find out as much as you can... A town or village we must come across soon...” he spoke crazily, mostly to himself in incoherent mumblings between shivering.

Avery bit back tears from his desperation. “I am next, they say… After you. Father, please, let go.” He grabbed the front of her cloak and she couldn't back away with her hands still tied around her back. “Father Benedict!”

“I can’t feel my feet.”

“I’ll pray for you. But Father-” She couldn’t finish, for Benedict was shoved to the ground, the quiet one holding a knife towards her. Avery closed her eyes, but he only roughly cut the ties around her ankles, then forced her to turn around and slit the ropes from her wrists too. Once free, she rubbed them. “Thank-”

“Wood,” he all but barked, pulling her down, pushing her forward. “Wood, now.”

“Wood? You want me to collect wood? For the fire?” Her mind was racing and she got dizzy once she was on her feet, the sudden urge to piss overwhelming. Her stomach growled and she was mostly jogging ahead of his pace for him not to get too close. When she hesitated at the treeline, he pushed her again and she quickly got down to grab branches and sticks.

He relieved himself by a tree with his back to her and she stumbled upon the point of a specific branch, licking her lips while running a thumb over it. But did she dare to act out again? She bundled it into her arms when she heard him step towards her, the brush under his foot snapping.

Avery felt like a rodent; fumbling hands against the damp earth, searching and piling every little piece of wood into the crook of her arm. He huffed when she dropped some. Her anxiety launched into overdrive and she began shaking, sparing a nervous glance. She told herself that this was her only chance. If she waited any longer, Benedict would surely die, and then she would be next and she would rather spare herself the shame.

“Hurry,” he mumbled, eyes searching out towards the camp being erected by the river. She tried to keep up to speed, but her fingers gradually became stiff and raw. She consciously squeezed her thighs together at the fullness of her bladder, distracting herself with the thought of the sharp branch in the crook of her arm. “Now, stúlka.” He grabbed the back of her clothes, talking in his language, dragging her towards a new tree.

Avery’s arms were full, and when he signalled with a grunt and nod of his head to head back, she threw the lot, apart from the one she’d minded, straight at him, dirt and leaves puffing out into the air.

She ran as fast as her legs would carry her, the shrubbery catching her dress, whipping her ankles, head throbbing, heart pounding. She felt the strength of his hand on her arm and half turned, swinging the branch, tripping and crashing to the ground. Taking him with her halfway down.

He would surely kill her now.

But the image in her mind wasn't the one she saw when she finally stopped struggling. He was leaning over her, his hand covering her scream and weighed her down by a knee to her stomach. There was no anger or rage, no clenched teeth or furrowed brow. He had the audacity to grin at her and it almost appeared as though he had enjoyed their little chase. His hand left her mouth, a chesty chuckle leaving her wide-eyed upon the ground, breathing quickly.

“Feral,” he said, obviously amused by her. “A word my father taught me of desperate and scared animals.” He leant closer, pronouncing the words thickly in his accent. “You are feral.”

“Monsters!” she growled back at him, trying her best to be confident while sprawled so openly in front of him. “Murderers. Marauders. Thieves. Damned!” He let her go with the brightest smile and stood up. Avery turned onto her front and wobbled, trying to stand as the pain in her head felt like it would split at any moment.

He kicked the branch back towards her. Hesitating at first, Avery watched him warily, then she took it, holding it up defensively, new found determination etching her face.

“You kill me, you can go.” He was still laughing at her. “But if you can’t, there is trouble, huh?” His brow raised up over the eye with the scar, pouting at her mockingly.

He was an estranged man with a war torn appearance, Avery noticed. Large hands with scarred and scabbed knuckles, arms defined and tight against the undercloth of his leathers presenting a force not to be reckoned with.

“There is nobody here to see.” He snapped her out of her thoughts. “Your time is now, stúlka.”

Avery still held the stick up towards him. “You understood me and left the children!”

“If it was our children, would you go back and save them?”

“We would-”

“Lies,” he bit back. “When you tell yourself so many lies you start to believe them.” She was staring down her nose at him, arms shaking. “Why don’t you put the stick down. You could take somebody's eye out with it.”

“I’d rather die than go back to your pathetic camp and watch you torture an old man.”

“You come back willingly or dragged.” He shrugged, boredly peering behind him. “I’m busy and have things to do. Become too much work and you will be lead like your holy man tomorrow.”

“I’m as dead as he is.” But her voice wasn’t as strong, and he took the opportunity to reach out, pushing the tip of the stick down, letting it drop to the floor. “I have seen it,” she said, her voice far away; ethereal. “In my dreams I have seen my death, when my blood runs black and it drowns the people around me.”

“And I dream of hot food, I wonder what it tries to tell me?” He let his arms out wide and motioned back to the camp. “It means I’m hungry and I know food is waiting. Are you hungry? You must be.”

“It’s prolonging fate.”

“You already know how you die, as you say. Maybe live a little until then?” His eyes were piercing blue, wide and absorbing everything. A sense of intelligence behind them, humour, and a hint he’d seen some awful things in his time; made some changing decisions from the line pinching between his brows.

Avery leaned from foot to foot in contemplation. He’d saved her before. She didn’t feel safe, but she didn’t think that he was about to hurt her either. She was nothing but a nuisance to him, just another one of their slaves. “Can I have some privacy?”

He looked at her hands pinching the fabric near her stomach and guessed, nodding his head. “Run again, I will kill you.”

And that, she knew, he meant.

Hendrick smacked his lips together after a long drink, Hvitserk still eating from a bowl as the fire crackled before them. Ubbe was silent, entranced by the flames. The old man from the cart walked before them and dropped logs onto the fire sending flickers of burning ash dancing into the air.

“What drives us West?” Hvitserk began. He hadn’t heard much of the plan before leaving, nor asked many questions. He was just becoming used to the withered version of his older brother. But he knew for certain he couldn’t stand to stay back with Ivar this time and be consumed by what ifs.

Hendrick was happy to oblige. He was a good friend of Ivar, a true warrior, sent to keep a watchful eye with the pretense of running the onslaught of raids alongside Ubbe. Though, truly it was Ubbe’s party - a party and chance to rebuild trust. Hendrick was impulsive, unmerciful, and at many times unpredictable. “To avoid detection. An anonymous path of confusion. Isn’t that right, dog?” It seemed Hendrick was smart too.

Ubbe snapped from the trance and sipped the drink in his hands. “Something like that. There is a Keep past the forest. I will go alone or accompanied.” He threw his cup down and stood up, the sound of his leathers shifting as he moved.

Hvitserk stood up too after a moment of not wanting to leave his food and followed out after him. Hendrick saw it as an opportunity.

Ubbe walked with purpose, his sights only set ahead with the two flanking him. “On foot. Quiet,” he commanded, stepping up into a jog at the treeline.

Hvitserk smiled.

Benedict Biscop was tied up a few feet from Avery, and in the movement from around the camp, he took the opportunity to crawl over to her. He frightened her in his suddenness and the rambunctious way he heaved his large form across the ground desperately. He’d been redressed in a drab cloth already dirtied, but slight protection from the elements.

“Don’t be fooled with trickery,” he whispered, stiffly setting down beside her to watch out for anyone listening, his breath lost with the effort. “First chance you have, you must leave a warning or alert the surrounding villages. Word will soon get to the King. Only he will save the innocent.” He shivered uncontrollably. “I am as much dead as I am alive. But as you say, you are next. No mercy for heathens. No forgiveness...”

“We talk of forgiveness.” Avery looked at him to guide her with some knowledge of the Lord for it not to be telling in his eyes, nor comforting her with verses. He merely frowned.

“There is no forgiveness to be had,” he finally said. With his bound hands like hers, he showed the cross from his neck formally clasped between them. “I won’t get far. You-”

“I run, they kill me,” she shook her head, thinking of the conversation she had earlier. Benedict didn’t listen and shuffled by her feet, using the cross to begin working against the thread, splintering it and loosening it enough to pull her ankles free.

“I’ve figured out where we are and where they intend to head to next. Through the wood is a small Keep with a surrounding village called Carham,” he rambled on hastily, “I know the priest. It has high walls and they won’t get in unless they are permitted. His name is Father Murdoch, he keeps pigeons on the roof with the pier.” He breathed in shakily, his teeth bouncing together, and every now and then he would grimace in pain.

“Send a warning,” he growled, snapping the ties around her wrist. “Go, now!” He pushed her a little, and with the prompt she crouched, slipping to the back of the cart. “Now, child. Don’t come back for me.”

“Come with me?”

Benedict pointed to his blackened feet. “I’m not going anywhere.” And then he held out the cross to her. “It will help you more than me. It’s worth its weight, and will do you good when you come out of the other side of this.” When Avery took it, she could feel the burden along with it. “Pray, for us both.”

With new defiance, Avery fought the tears and nodded, slipping into the shadows and towards the woods.

“We’ll lose half the men from arrows before we even make it in there,” growled Hendrick, crouched like Ubbe and Hvitserk by a hut with sleeping occupants. There was lights beaming down onto their faces from the wall, the small glimpse of a lone soldier guarding it. The main gate was up and hadn’t come down since they had arrived. “This is a daylight attack. Is it worth-”

“You’re not scared, are you, fierce Hendrick?” Ubbe mocked him, eyes still dead-ahead on the prize.

Hvitserk snickered and settled. “I agree with Hendrick though, brother. With more men and resources it’s possible, but we’re limited. We can come back or choose somewhere else. The world is our oyster.”

“Somewhere else is two days away with our people and newly acquired possessions,” Ubbe’s tone deepened in annoyance, somehow managing to resist a curse.

After months of mental abuse on failure and betrayal, Ubbe had linked the emotions to his mission. Giving up before even trying wasn’t an option. He had nothing if he couldn’t take his place back on the High table with his brothers - even if that meant sitting with those who had done him such a great injustice. In his new mindframe, it was that or death. And at one point, he was sure he had almost enough courage to go through with it. But he’d lost enough dignity and honour already.

“You’re blinded with your cause,” Hendrick mumbled. He wasn’t expecting for Ubbe to grab the front of his leathers and pull him mere inches from his face.

“Of course I am. I say, I do. You knew the reasons before we left and if it doesn’t work for you, feel free to leave,” he growled.

“He doesn’t mean that,” Hvitserk tried.

“Things are different now.” Ubbe turned to him with a stern expression, his words meaning more without an explanation. “And you don’t speak for me.”

“I am here to help you. I want to help you.”

Ubbe let his eyes drop up and down his younger brother, a look of distaste, and mostly due to uncertainty. “You walked away once before.”

“And now I am here,” Hvitserk defended himself, neglecting the exchange Hendrick made between them. “And now more aware of Ivar’s capabilities. What he did-”

“Save it,” he spat out, “It’s in the past.”

Still crouched, Hvitserk sighed and peered down to the ground. “I’m trying to apologise.”

“We have a fledgling!” Hendrick suddenly tensed and grabbed Ubbe’s shoulder, motioning with a hand towards movement between the shadows of the thirty or so huts to their left.

It was a girl from the billowing skirt, and Ubbe squinted just as she passed through a patch of lighting. The stumbling run and long hair, he knew who it was.

“It’s the wild one,” Hendrick pointed out what Ubbe thought. “The savage Christian girl. Running to her Christian friends. ‘Please, somebody help me from the heathen Vikings,’” he mocked. “You should have let me deal with her.”

But it only gave Ubbe an idea. “Go back and gather some men. Bring our holy man. We will take the Keep tonight.”

“How?” Hvitserk shook his head in disbelief.

“They are going to open the gates…” He turned with a sadistic smirk on his face. “...for her.”

There were two things that had Avery slow near the huts, just before the Keep. One being, she didn’t know where the quiet one and his friends had gone. And two, if she came running, there was a possibility it could be mistaken for hostility.

Even in the cold she was sweating, panting as she rested up against the corner of the last line of houses. A deathly silence drifting along the bare grass between her and the high wall. It was far larger than the old Keep she was used to, and through the fog of the night she could see a pier peeking out towards the sky.

But fear still kept her hidden. They could kill her before she would reach the gate. There was a chance they wouldn’t. However, Avery only had one life and not one to throw away with guessing.

One of the Keep’s churchmen travelled along the wall. From the distance she made out he was idling. If she could capture his attention, it wouldn’t spook them, so she thought.

Everything was so clear in that moment, her plan finally thought through. She knew she wouldn’t stay after, fearing the Quiet One would find her and finally finish her off. No, she would give the message and leave. She would pawn Benedict’s cross, head south, towards Wessex, and hope to stumble upon a farm or household. She was too old for safe passage with orphans and Church aid.

Not that she wanted to undergo a similar scenario as before, but her luck was out, worn thin. There was no innocence to plead on. She had bled multiple times while in the Keep of Benedict Biscop, and was now fully a woman.

Avery also knew that lone women didn’t get far in this new world.

Taking a deep breath and gathering the cloak behind her, she lowered her hood and managed a foot within the light of the torches by the wall.

Only to be yanked back viciously, a squeak leaving her just before her mouth was covered briskly. She froze as she heard heavy panting over her shoulder, feeling hot breath in her hair. She tried to beg that she was sorry, only to be hushed, jolted by strong arms to keep quiet. It was that heavy-tongued language that made her heart fall while he mumbled to himself.

The guard peered over the wall, alerted by the faint noise Avery had let escape in surprise but began back on his way after a moment. When he did, the Quiet One relaxed, but still kept his hand clamped over her mouth.

“You’ve made a mistake, stulka,” he said, and she whimpered while he prised the cross from her palm, spinning her to face him. “What did I say before? ...This is a pretty piece of jewellery.” He stuffed it inside his cloth. “Was it for a message? Were you betraying the safety of my people?” There was no time to answer him. “You scream, I cut your tongue out.”

The moment he lowered his hand, she spat on him. The rage fell off his face and he breathed out slowly. “It’s a start…”

“I will never stop fighting you.”

“You do what you want. But I want to make a trade.” Her mouth fell open at the way he brushed her off. “Benedict, he a good man?”

“Why?” Her brows furrowed and he seemed amused. At first his scar was ugly, an unfortunate feature. Now, with the light from the wall it tinged his face and it was almost unnoticeable. He was just a man, not at all dirtied or covered in blood like the first time she saw him. The ferocity of his eyes was also dulled. If he wasn’t so large and so tall, she wouldn’t have feared him so.

“Come with me and I’ll tell you.” His gaze never wavered, and gradually Avery’s breath was coming back to her. His lips quirked up at her uncertainty. “I walked alone with you in the woods once. Can I not be trusted?”

Avery fought to stay stern. “I don’t trust anybody. Especially men like you.”

“Good thing we are not men.” He flickered between her eyes with a proud grin. “We are Vikings.”

#vikings #ubbe #hvitserk #ubbe fanfiction #ubbe vikings fanfiction #fanfiction #the dog #chapter 3 #beautifulramblingbrains #slow burn #plot #oc #vikings fanfiction

42 notes · View notes