#and ALMOST GET SHOT by gamekeepers..........

[thethirdromana]

Shooting accidents seem to happen a lot in Victorian novels. I had a bit of a look to see whether this reflected reality or if a shooting accident was just a convenient way to get a character out of the way.

I couldn't find any actual stats, but there are around 2,500 recorded articles in English newspapers about shooting accidents from 1885 to 1895. Quite a few of them describe the exact scenario that happens in Dorian Gray:

Mr Lionel Gisborne, of Allestree, near Derby, accidentally shot Leonard Fearne, a gamekeeper, who was in attendance upon a shooting party on Tuesday afternoon. The keeper was beating a hedge, and received the charge in his face.

(from the Northern Guardian, Thursday 19 September 1895)

While the Duke of Cambridge, his son, Colonel FitzGeorge, and other gentlemen were shooting [unreadable] Wednesday. Colonel unfortunately mistook two beaters for pheasants...

(from the Worcestershire Chronicle, Saturday 6 October 1894)

Whilst out partridge shooting on Thursday, on the grounds Major Templer, Abbey Court Farm, Lidding, near Chatham, one of the party, of the garrison, accidentally shot one of the keepers named Ackhurst.

(from the Derby Daily Telegraph, Friday 9 September 1887)

Gentlemen out shooting didn't just kill or injure their beaters and gamekeepers, but frequently also each other:

At Bramingbam, near Luton, five gentlemen went out rabbit shooting, yesterday, when, in passing through a hedge, Mr. W. Webdale's gun went off, the charge entering the back of Mr. Crook, of High Wycombe, who now lies seriously injured...

(from the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, Wednesday 26 December 1888)

Mr. Robert Harvey, the Conservative candidate for Devonport, has had narrow escape from serious injury. While shooting on the moors in Scotland with Colonel North's party, some stray shots from overloaded gun struck him in the face...

(from the Nottingham Evening Post, Monday 24 August 1891)

LORD BEAUMONT KILLED. The tenantry on the Carlton Towers estate, near Selby, have lost a kindly landlord by the lamentable shooting accident which took place yesterday, almost within sight of the Towers.

(from the Manchester Evening News, Tuesday 17 September 1895)

And every so often the keepers shot the gentlemen too:

Mr. J. Wootton Isaacson, eldest son of Mr. F. Wootton Isaacson, M.P., was accidentally shot by a keeper on Thursday while out shooting at Carlton Towers, Yorkshire, the residence his sister, Lady Beaumont.

(from the Derby Daily Telegraph, Saturday 3 September 1892)

#dorian gray weekly #i find the language used in these fascinating #a kindly landlord! #and note that the gentlemen out shooting get called Mr and the keepers and beaters don't

[golden-reedwolf]

One of the comments I saw on that post about better welfare for invasive species mentioned a close season when they’re breeding, but sadly even many native species don’t get that luxury. 

Foxes in the UK have no closed season, meaning they can be killed year round and at any age. A lot of farmers/gamekeepers/pest controllers deliberately target foxes during the breeding season. I see so many pictures on social media of nursing vixens that have been shot. The more ethical ones will at least try to find the den and deal with the cubs too, but many simply don’t care and leave them to starve. As long as they die it doesn’t matter how. There’s a lot of outright hatred for foxes in this country and sadly there is a section of the hunting/shooting community that enjoy seeing foxes suffer. I’ve seen some pretty horrific things on pro-hunting forums that still upsets me.

And I get that the breeding season for foxes also coincides with when sheep have their lambs, so sometimes it is necessary to cull problem foxes. But many farmers just shoot every fox they see regardless of whether they’re causing any problems or not. The government’s own figures suggest that less than 0.5% of lamb losses are the result of foxes, and most of those are in more remote areas (like the Scottish Highlands) where natural prey is scarce. Poor husbandry and poor health of the ewes are the main cause of lamb mortality, plus things like bad weather, accidents and dog attacks. Most lambs taken by foxes were scavenged already dead, but it’s easier to blame a fox than sort out your own bad husbandry.

There are also times when foxes may need to be culled to protect rare species. Ground nesting birds are at particular risk and I know some nature reserves in the UK cull foxes during the breeding season if they’re causing problems. But for the most part there’s really no need to be killing foxes in large numbers all year round. Their population isn’t going to explode out of control if they have a closed season for a couple of months while rearing their cubs. If anything, general culling can cause fox numbers to increase by breaking up family groups and encouraging vixens to produce larger litters. When you kill one fox another just moves in to take it’s place. On the other end of the scale some areas have such heavy fox control that they’ve almost been wiped out in parts of the country. Rural fox populations are down 42% over the past 20 years because so many landowners have zero tolerance for them. 

At the end of the day foxes are one of our few native predators left. They do an important job as both scavengers and in controlling rodent and rabbit populations. They’re also highly intelligent animals that deserve better than being treated as nothing more than a pest to be got rid of. 

#foxes #animal welfare #wildlife #the amount of hate some people have for foxes here is insane #like i get if a farmer is genuinely losing livestock to predators #and i don't have a problem with killing individuals/local populations causing actual problems #but i lot of so-called problems are exaggerated or could be fixed with better husbandry #like i once saw a farmer on twitter claim that three ADULT ewes had been killed by foxes #even tho it was obviously a dog attack #a newborn lamb is about the limit of what an adult fox can take

[halothenthehorns]

All in the Family

Chapter 77: The Hungarian Horntail

Sirius would swear the ground kept shaking even as he got himself up onto hands and knees, his vision was staying blurry longer than usual rather than letting anything into focus, and at first he thought it smoke in his eyes as he finally distinguished bonfires dancing all around him.

His long dark hair fell in curtains around his eyes, but now that he'd adjusted, it did nothing to obscure the fact he was face to face with a dragon. He screamed. A high pitch, death like noise that hurt his own ears, causing the fire breathing nightmare to roar louder and spray a white hot breath right towards him. He tried to get to his feet, too fast, and lucked himself into falling just below the deadly blast. Then he did get himself upright and took off at a dead run, until he ran face first into an invisible barrier just barely on the shadows of the last cage.

He staggered back, clutching his freshly bleeding nose but gripping his heaving chest instead, took the seconds it was worth to see the other seven weren't actually in the cages with any of them but staggering about in their own fear, and made the split second decision he wished he'd had available to him two summers ago.

"Padfoot, are you okay?" James asked in concern, seeing the blood matting his muzzle, but the dog merely shook his head, and his whole body with it, before pacing anxiously as far from the nearest dragon he could.

"That's a question I don't expect we'll get an answer to until we leave this spot," Remus pointed out. "Even then, I'm sure it'll just be, shut up."

James nodded in silent agreement and decided to get right to that, summoning the book to him. The book came shooting from in between the feet of the largest black one that had spikes all along it, the blue cover was blackened around the edges and still smoking slightly, not a great omen.

Peter came hesitantly over to them, rubbing at the back of his neck awkwardly but still asking in genuine concern, "is he okay?"

"You try asking him," Remus nearly had to shout over the still roaring beasts, who seemed no more pleased with their presence than them. Remus barely noticed, despite the fact he'd usually salivate at the chance to see live dragons. His eyes were on the nick in his ear once more, barely illuminated in the still bright flames being shot in all directions. His gut clenched once more, he wondered if he was going to be sick again. Why on Earth did Peter come over here to check on them when he had every reason in the world not to?

James Potter read out the very obvious chapter title as the other four stayed huddled in the shadows as well for safety.

"Which one's the horn-tail, do you think?" Alice asked quietly enough she hoped it wouldn't cause the green one to keep direct eye contact with her, glaring in a truly predatory way.

"Ah, the one with horns on its tail?" Frank offered politely, watching Regulus's progress. He was braver than he would have given the kid credit before moments ago, he'd scattered after them upon first finding themselves here, but was now walking back between the four enclosures cautiously to head back towards the Marauders group.

Amazingly, he made it to the other side without a burn, though the blue one had tried her best.

"Why are they here?" Lily demanded faintly. "Hagrid having a baby on the school grounds was insane enough, what the bloody hell is wrong with this Tournament?" She finished by answering her own question.

"I don't want to know," Alice groand, clutching Frank's hand harder. He returned the pressure in kind, all three of them wincing and burying their backs farther into the invisible barrier.

Regulus was chewing painfully on the inside of his cheek as he slowly but openly approached the four like they were more dragons. He had no clear goal in joining them, an oddity itself as he never did anything without a reason. All he was sure of was that he'd never heard his brother scream like that.

James stopped halfway through Skeeter's blithering article, admittedly happy with any reason to stop he was so disgusted, but tracked Regulus coming closer with narrowed eyes. He had three good reasons not to trust whatever he was coming over here to say right now, all involving the three currently around him.

He hadn't said a word about Remus, or to him, but neither had any of the others. He didn't know what would incite Regulus to now, but he'd push the welp into the nearest dragon's cage if that was it.

He had zero clue what that recurring conversation Regulus and Peter had been having was about, but was in no mood to learn of it now when he wanted a chance to try and have Peter back talking to them, he didn't trust any Black to help with that right now.

Padfoot was currently shaking on his strong legs, all fur bristled on end and tail between his legs as he let out heart stuttering growls and soft whimpers intermittently. This bloody area was traumatizing enough to the lot of them they'd be happy to never be so close to a dragon again, he couldn't imagine having to stare at these things for hours with no clear way to escape, again. It was the dog though Regulus had his eyes on as he approached.

Regulus almost couldn't hear his own voice amidst the still painfully loud roaring, so he cleared his throat awkwardly and tried just a touch louder, "is, ah, is he-"

"No, he's not alright!" James Potter was scowling at what he perceived as a stupid question. "You mind if I get around to fixing that?" He waved the book obnoxiously.

Regulus frowned, but shook his head and kept what he'd really been about to ask to himself as Potter continued. Is he going to change back, had been his actual question, as it was hard to put together what his mind was telling him, that this beast was actually somehow his brother. He shot a side glance at Lupin uncomfortably, he couldn't imagine being trapped like that, in a body so, minimal.

The last time he'd seen this massive canine, it had its jaws around a werewolf that would have happily eaten them all. Now it looked like just as much a dangerous animal itself, and a cornered dog was the most vicious kind. The blood just barely visible in the glittering teeth from the injured nose that he'd caused was not helping the image.

His parents would be impressed, he vaguely realized the longer he looked. Despite the fact he had to remind himself every other second that was indeed Sirius, rather than another terror of this Forest, his sixteen-year-old brother was an animagus. Not a fact he'd really taken the time to appreciate back when it had been revealed, considering everything else happening. He shot another anxious look at Lupin, this time out of the corner of his eye, and then glanced through the thick foliage once more to make sure it wasn't a full moon again, but couldn't see through it to be sure.

Orion and Walburga had been wrong about so much, it seemed. The Dark Lord, his screw-up of a brother never managing to accomplish anything, it seemed they were even wrong about werewolves as well. The pale, tall kid that stood half behind James Potter looked more afraid of him than vice-versa as he seemed to be waiting for something just as much as Regulus was. He chanced a glance at Peter, who was still standing just a few feet away more than was casual but standing firmly nonetheless, obviously more weary of keeping his eyes on the massive dragons than any other immediate problem like the two seemingly dangerous animals at his back.

Regulus again had to remind himself of his Animagus lesson he'd had just this year, that the difference was Sirius was in full control of his mind, where a werewolf never was. Just because this terrifying bear-like dog looked like it was going to lunge forward and tear their throats out any second, Sirius wouldn't...right? Surely if he was, he would have done so to Peter and claimed delirium when he changed back, but instead as James Potter kept talking, detailing Harry's reaction to the article, Sirius almost began to relax.

Not by any noticeable means if you weren't looking for it, but Regulus was. Almost one by one, his fur began to smooth out, his tail came out from under him to merely become horizontal, and he was leaning forward on his toes. Careful, calculating, eyes still resting on the danger and teeth bared, but no longer growling quite so loud.

He'd been studying Animagi a bit for his upcoming exams of course, but never with any more intensity than the curricular questions he might perceive. Nothing of the magnitude Sirius must have gone through to be like this. Regulus only knew the very basics, and even those processes were still beyond him. The question that really boggled the mind was, why had he done it?

At the time, the book version of his brother had said it was to help their werewolf friend, but what use could this be except a meal? It had come in handy, certainly, in keeping him at bay, but only for the precious time it took to get away from those deadly jaws. The creature was unreasonable at all senses though, it had nearly torn Sirius and Potter to shreds without a second thought, so clearly no pack mentality had spared him.

It was a conundrum he had no hope of understanding without actually talking to Sirius, and possibly Lupin so long as he was going to stay in his human form while doing it. As Potter had pointed out though, that didn't seem likely to happen until they got away from this place, the Horntail shooting a blast of fire in their direction that all five of them had to duck to avoid proving a valid point.

After that, Potter's reading increased in tempo even more, he almost blurred through Harry's trip to Hogsmeade, and Hagrid's odd invite that nevertheless they all almost immediately understood would somehow lead to this place.

Lily almost wanted to slap the gamekeeper for being so excited about this, even bringing a competitor's Head along like some sort of date. Even Potter could come up with better romance than this!

Alice and Frank winced and pleaded with the ground to swallow them whole on the spot when they heard that the challenge Harry would be facing did indeed include these dragons, nesting mothers to be spacific. The clutch of eggs, now that they knew to look for them, was indeed in the massive shadows well guarded, anybody would have to be insane to get near them! If Harry died trying, what would happen to them?

James' voice wavered uncomfortably as he heard that Karakaroff was sneaking there just as Harry was leaving, his mind going to Cedric and some kernels of pity for the kid who would be the only one of the Champions left out, but the majority of his mind was still on Harry and how he was going to! Hopefully Sirius would be of some help, after he had his own little freak out while talking to Harry in the fire?

He at first uneasily exchanged a small look with Remus as the conversation began, at least Sirius was looking better than the unrecognizable murderer from the Shack had described, but the longer it went on, the more obvious their worried exchanges got. Until finally he flat stopped and his mouth hung open for several beats, and Remus didn't even prod him to keep going.

Sirius had no reaction to the dragons Harry would soon be dealing with. Sirius was more worried talking about the Death Eaters in the castle, like Karkaroff! Sirius...really had changed.

Whether it was Azkaban or just time, they wondered what other little things would he have also prioritized over? He was still reckless, impulsive, this they knew, and he clearly put Harry above his own well-being, at least that was the same... but did he still have sticky fingers when it came to his friends' clothes? Did Sirius still throw his head back and laugh with his whole body? Did Padfoot still remember what it was like to trust anyone besides himself?

The big, glaring obvious difference of what would happen to Peter had shook them to their core, but it wasn't until now they thought back and really felt in their bones how different this world was, almost alien from theirs. It had been almost fun up until that awful moment to think of this as their future, that James and Lily would get together and have this child, that they'd just hear the tales of Harry's insane school years and find out what had killed them so they could keep the good and pretend the bad would never come. The real question though, was how any of this was going to end?

"Would you two quit gaping at each other like fish!" Peter finally snapped as the silence dragged on and Padfoot began whimpering uncomfortably right at their feet. "Dissect his shitty choices later please and get us out of here before we're roasted alive!"

The red one shot a mushroom-shaped fire right over his head to prove his point.

James swallowed uncomfortably, but complied, trying to take what comfort he could that was the first normal thing Peter had said to him in a while, and smothering whose fault that was how long it had been.

Finally as the pages reached their end for this chapter, Regulus did speak up once more, the question coming out of him the least of his concern really, but the only one he expected anyone other than him to come up with an answer to for now. He looked at Remus Lupin, and asked, "does that really help?" His eyes needlessly flickering back to Sirius, err, Padfoot? The dog that had actually almost loosened up, still in a tense weary stance, but of a hunter sighting its prey rather than fending it off. His brother.

Remus Lupin smiled in surprise, but answered cordially, "like you wouldn't believe."

#Harry Potter #fanfiction #GoF #Marauders #Wolfstar #Jilly #dragons #Remus Lupin #Regulus Black #Sirius Black #James Potter #Peter Pettigrew #Lily Evans #Frank Longbottom #Alice Smith

[fairyoftbz]

[11:18]

🎄Day 22 of the Christmas project🎄

Chanhee was drying his hair with a towel as he just got out of the shower, making his way to the living room. Nose glued to the window, you had your camera in hand, staring at the scenery in front of you, on the lookout for a potential animal appearance. Chanhee stroked your back, which made an odd curve, the only position you found somehow comfortable.

"Have you seen any?" He asked you in a whisper as if speaking louder would scare away any animals that might lurk around the house. "Yes, I saw a fox chasing a hare, and two elks in the distance," you whispered back, pressing a few buttons on your camera to show him the shots while keeping an eye on the landscape in front of you.

Chanhee smiled at your beautiful pictures, kissing your temple before looking out the window with you.

"I fetch a sweater and I'll be right back," he said, and you nodded without looking at him, your head moving like radar, ready to unsheathe your camera to capture some beautiful natural shots. Your boyfriend stood up, his footsteps echoing in the silence in which your little cocoon had been immersed for several minutes now. You inhaled sharply and smiled, finding the atmosphere around you relaxing, despite the freezing cold biting the wood on the other side of the wall. A fire roared in the fireplace not far from you, enveloping you in a soft warmth, complementing the plaid that was wrapped around your legs.

This morning, you got up with plans in mind, wanting to go on a trek with the gamekeepers to see the different animals that inhabit the national park in which you were spending your holiday season, but the weather had decided otherwise. Upon awakening, a thick blanket of snow decorated the roads and the fields surrounding the house, the 4x4 vehicle parked in front of the door had at least a metre of snow on the hood, as well as on the roof. The guides then called you, confirming that your tour should be delayed for a few days, while the roads were cleared, and the weather was better.

With Chanhee, you then decided to cuddle in bed to enjoy some quiet time together, the thickness of the snow outside diminishing all the sounds around the cabin, creating a peaceful atmosphere. You were at peace until the cry of an animal not far from your house got you out of bed. You dived on your photographic equipment and approached the window cautiously, gasping in surprise when you saw some beavers by the lake which was a few meters from your house.

“Chanhee, look! There are beavers!" You smiled as you turned on your camera, zooming in on the animals and letting out a little sound of admiration. "They are so round and fluffy," you said and Chanhee chuckled, his head over your shoulder as you both looked at your pictures. "Looks like stuffed toys, they're cute," your boyfriend looked at you before smiling, receiving a kiss on the cheek as you continued to take pictures of them.

You spent the rest of the day glued to the window, on the lookout for the slightest sight of a wild animal. You were rather happy with the results of your photos, but that did not replace a real excursion through the national park and the surrounding woods. A large number of animals now populated a folder on your computer, browsing the various photos to observe their qualities and details. From pictures of bison, caribous, elks or even moose, to smaller animals, beavers, otters, or prairie dogs, you couldn't be happier with what you had.

But there still was one only cloud on the horizon. You really wanted to go on this expedition and, watching the weather forecast on TV, you knew it wasn't going to be for tomorrow. Even, not for this trip. You shut the computer shut and laid next to you on the sofa, before placing your hands on your thighs, a slight pout appearing on your face.

Chanhee appeared from the kitchen with two cups of tea as you sighed, getting his attention. He frowned at your arms crossed over your chest, amused by the situation.

"What makes you so sulky, darling?" He said as he set the two mugs down at your feet on the coffee table, sitting next to you. His musky scent invades your nostrils, sighing with ease at his hand on your thigh. You tilted your head and puckered your lips, Chanhee smiling before placing his lips on yours in a quick kiss. "I really would've loved to go with the guides to see the animals up close," you whispered, and he put his arm around your shoulders, stroking the back of your head. "But you've already seen plenty of them thanks to your camera!" He exclaimed but you shook your head. "It's not the same," you whined and shrugged. "Listen. If I promise we'll come back, will you get rid of that sad pout from your mouth?" Your eyes lit up as you looked at the man next to you. "Really? Would we come back here next year?" You asked with your voice full of hope. He nodded with a smile, shrugging. "I wouldn't mind," he said, and you clapped your hands, bouncing on the couch. Chanhee rushed to the cups to push them away from your feet, not wanting to have to replace the faux hide rug.

You looked happy, but you still had that veil of sadness in your eyes, so Chanhee got up from the couch and walked over to your bedroom, his action causing you to frown as he didn't immediately return. As you were about to get up, he reappeared from the bedroom, his arms loaded with duvets and several cushions, which he piled on the sofa.

"What are you doing?” You questioned him as you watched him get to work, moving different things around the couch. Your eyes widened as he began to remove the parts that made up the sofa and placed them on the floor. "I'll make a fort for both of us," he explained as he continued to set up different elements to make the space cosy. You watched him do it, him refusing your help when you offered to give a hand.

Once everything was finished, he rubbed his hands as if he were trying to warm them up and looked at you with a satisfied expression.

"After you, my love," he said in a very polite tone, designating the fort he had just set up. You smiled and stood up, tucking your head between the blanket that served as the door. You let yourself fall into the cushions, relaxing and made grabby hands for your boyfriend to hug you and join you. "I know it's not going to compensate the excursion with the animals, but that the best I can do," he said with an almost sorry look, but you interrupt him immediately, hugging him tightly.

"Nothing beats your company. I'll see the animals later. Now I want to enjoy being with you before we get home,” you said, feeling Chanhee's heart beat faster at your words, smiling against his shirt as he soothingly stroked your back up and down, glancing at you before kissing your cheek tenderly.

#rosy tbz december #the boyz #the boyz imagines #chanhee #chanhee imagines #chanhee x reader #the boyz x reader #the boyz scenarios #the boyz fanfic #tbz network #choi chanhee #the boyz drabbles #the boyz fic #the boyz chanhee #the boyz choi chanhee #chanhee scenarios #choi chanhee imagines #choi chanhee scenarios #the boyz chanhee imagines #the boyz chanhee scenarios #kpop #kpop imagines #kpop scenarios #tbz scenarios #tbz #tbz imagines #tbz fluff #the boyz au #the boyz christmas au

[mlleecrivaine]

The Fred Weasley Experience

Author’s Note:  Had an interesting thought about what people tend to come to each of the twins for in a relationship, wanted to write about it. 

Word Count:  3,454

Pairing:  Fred Weasley x f!reader

Warnings:  Language, but when isn’t that a warning with me. Angst.

Summary:  Fred turned down his shot at happiness because he couldn’t stand to be hurt again. Did he make the right choice?

–

Is it unreasonable to want to punch yourself in the teeth? Fred wondered as he sat crammed into the space between his bed and his dresser.  

If he were to move at all from this stiff-backed position, anyone who wandered in would be able to see him.  Knowing the universe, it would be George who found him, so he stayed at a painful right angle willing his skull to fuse with the stone behind him.

Maybe being used again wouldn’t be so bad, he thought.  Couldn’t be that different this time around…

But it could be that different, and he knew it.  He knew without a doubt that the moment he touched you or, God forbid, kissed you, it would be different.  He would be irrevocably fucked and then the end would hurt that much more than usual.

So this sting, this… this guttural grief that he was feeling now would be all the more worth it in the end.  He’d never have to hear the words from your mouth.

But Merlin, he wished he’d said yes.

---

You sat in the common room with your chin in your palm, scratching notes on your parchment out of your astronomy textbook and trying to ignore the twisting embarrassment in your stomach.

“Y/N?”

You looked up.  Hermione was standing over you with a tentative expression.  She was holding a few books aloft as if she’d been hoping to ask to sit across from you, but now that she saw your face, she was thinking twice.

“You’re welcome to it,” you said, gesturing vaguely with the end of your quill at the chair opposite.

“Thanks,” she said slowly.  She set her books down and added, “Are you alright?”

“Fine,” you answered, leafing through a few pages in your book.

“You don’t look fine…”

“I said I’m fine,” you reiterated and continued your notes, keeping your eyes firmly off of hers.

Hermione took in a sharp breath and then seemed to think better of it and flipped open a book.

The pair of you worked in silence before you finally laid your quill down.  Your face screwed up as you thought the words before you said them.

“He said no.”

“Oh, Y/N,” Hermione breathed, reaching across the table and putting a hand on your elbow as you leaned it on the table to cover your face with your hands.  “Did he say why?”

You shook your head, trying to take a deep breath to keep more tears from coming than already were.

“He j-just said no and then he walked a-away,” you whispered.

A few deep breaths later, you were able to take your hands off your face and look at Hermione who offered you a handkerchief.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly.  “I know how much that meant to you.”

“I’m devastated,” you muttered.

“I know,” she said, giving you a pained look.  “Well he’s an idiot for not taking his chance with you.  It’s so clear how much you care about him -”

“Yeah, but if he doesn’t care for me back, what’s the point?” you spat, with more venom than you meant.

Hermione seemed to brush it off.

“Regardless, he’s missed out.  It’s his loss.”

You nodded.  You didn’t believe it, because loss rang so deeply in your chest, you knew it belonged to you.

To your relief, she stopped trying to comfort you and you both fell back into a pace with your reading.  You sniffed occasionally and she kept shooting you sympathetic glances, but you didn’t speak.

“Anyone seen Fred around?”

You felt a stab in your gut just at the sound of his name.  It hurt all the more that the voice was almost his.

Turning around, you saw George wandering over to your table with his hands in his pockets.

“Are you alright, Y/N?  What happened?”  George’s brow creased and he hurried over, crouching beside you.

“Nothing,” you said quickly, turning away from him.

“Are you sure?”

“It’s nothing, George,” Hermione said firmly.  “I think Fred’s upstairs.”

“Cheers…” George said slowly, standing and putting a tentative hand on your shoulder that you petulantly wanted to brush off but didn’t.

He went upstairs and you stood, gathering your things.

“Where are you -”

“I’m going outside.  I need some air.”

“Do you want me to -”

“No.  And… if you can, just don’t tell anyone where I am?”

“You’ve barely told me where you’re going.”

You quirked an eyebrow and shoved the last of your things in your bag.  Slinging the strap over your shoulder, you made for the portrait hole.

---

“Fred?”

Fuck.

The dorm door opened and Fred pressed himself back into the wall, hoping his brother would just look around and leave.

“Fred, are you in here?”

“Down here,” Fred grunted.

George appeared a moment later, clearly confused about where Fred’s voice had come from.

“Blimey, you too?”

Fred curled his lip.

“What do you mean, ‘me too’?”

“I just left Y/N downstairs in a state, do you know… what happened?”  Realization finally dawned on George’s face.

“Nothing,” Fred grumbled.

“Well I’d say it’s not nothing, considering the two of you look like you just had a row.”

“We didn’t row.”

“Well then what… okay, that’s enough, get out of there, come on.  That can’t be comfortable.”

“S’not.”

“All the more reason to get up, then.”

George stood himself and stuck his hand out, waiting for Fred to take it.

“Come on!” he urged.

Fred sighed loudly and took his brother’s hand, letting him pull him up.  About four things in Fred’s back cracked as he stood.

“How long have you been down there, mate?”

Fred just shrugged as the pair of them sat on the edge of his bed.

“What the hell happened?”  George asked.

Fred just shook his head and looked down at his hands.

“Did you ask her out?”

“No,” Fred mumbled.

George made a noise and shook his head, looking out the window as he considered his response.

“Listen mate, I can’t read your mind,” he finally said.  “Y/N looked like… like someone just died and you’re up here doing whatever you’re doing… ‘m not stupid, something happened.”

“Y/N asked me out,” Fred mumbled.

George raised his eyebrows and laughed.

“Oh, shut up!”

“No! That’s a good thing, isn’t it?  Freddie, that’s what you’ve always wanted!”  George exclaimed.

“I said no,” Fred breathed.

George stared deadpan at his brother before letting out a sarcastic laugh.

“You’ve got to be joking,” he said.  “What possessed you to say no?  Fred you haven’t shut up about Y/N since fourth year -”

“George people don’t stay with me,” Fred snapped angrily.  “I want Y/N, more than anything, so much, and what happens when she eventually gets sick of me too?”

George gaped at his twin.

“People stay with you, George.  You’re… we’re different.  I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s like…”

“It’s like what Alicia said, isn’t it?” George said, cluing in.  “Fred, that’s one opinion, it’s not -”

“But it’s not one opinion!” Fred said.  “I’ve been with how many people now?  Not a single one has lasted more than a few months.  And Alicia just hit the nail on the head, didn’t she.  Everyone just wants to experience me.  I’m like some kind of… side-show attraction or something, you come, you have your fun, you leave.

“And what happens to me, then?  I just end up bruised and lonely, meanwhile everyone wants to have their first real ‘thing’ with you…

“And what about Y/N?  We start something, I’ll get invested because of course I will with her, and then she’ll leave once she’s had enough of the show.  And I’ll be crushed, George.”

George’s heart twisted in his chest and he reached out and put a hand on his brother’s shoulder.

“Fred -”

“Don’t try to make me feel better, George,” Fred groaned, shaking his head.  “I don’t want to hear it.”

George bit the inside of his cheek.

“I won’t, then,” he said tentatively, “but if you ask me, the look on Y/N’s face tells me that you’re not alone in how you’re feeling right now.”

Fred met his brother’s gaze.

“Fred, she’s been moony over you for ages.  Longer than any of the other birds I’ve ever seen you date.”  George licked his lips.  “I’m sure you noticed I took her to the Yule Ball at Christmas?”

Fred grit his teeth.

“Couldn’t miss it, mate.”

“Yeah, well, I promise you it wasn’t me she wanted to be there with.”

Fred narrowed his eyes.

“She was looking at you all night.  Swear on my life.”

Fred felt his heart start to shatter all over again.

“Fred, I don’t know what people see in you versus me and I don’t care.  Both of us deserve to have what makes us happy, and you’re letting the person who can give you that slip between your fingers.”  George grinned.  “Remember the stupid stories dad used to tell us about chasing mum around?”

Fred let out a laugh.

“That could be you, you tosspot.  Now you march your arse downstairs and you say yes to that girl.”

“Alright,” Fred said with a real grin on his face.

He launched himself off the bed and ran for the stairs.

He bounded down the stairs and stopped dead on the last one, turning his head from side to side, but you weren’t anywhere he could see.

“Looking for Y/N?”

He whipped his head around to find Hermione looking at him with pursed lips.

“Yes!  Where is she?”

“I’m not telling you.”

“Oh Merlin, Hermione, please.” Fred got down on his knees next to her chair.  “I messed up.”

“I’d say!”

“Is she okay?”

“No, she’s not okay!” Hermione shouted and then lowered her voice.  “You can’t just go around playing with people’s hearts like this.”

“I didn’t mean to play, honestly,” Fred said, feeling the emotions start to spill over.  “I was terrified.  I made the wrong choice and I need to find her.  I need to take it back.  Please, Granger, where is she?”

Hermione side-eyed him intensely before she finally sighed.

“I don’t know.  She just said she was going outside.”

“I owe you,” he said.  “Anything you need, anytime.”  He scrambled to his feet.  “Thank you!”

He bolted out the portrait hole before Hermione could respond.

---

You laid out on the grass between the forest and Hagrid’s pumpkin patch.  You’d seen the gamekeeper wandering off into the Forbidden Forest when you came down this way, and decided to use the opportunity to hide down here.  It was the least obvious place anyone could look for you.

And yet still, just as the sun was starting to go down, Fred’s voice came over the hill.

“Y/N!” he shouted.

You held your breath and counted like you were listening to thunder instead of the voice that put air into your lungs.

“Y/N!” he yelled again, this time much closer, like he’d gotten to the dip in the path.

With every ounce of energy you had, you tried to sink back into the dirt.

“Y/N!” he screamed, his voice breaking.

A tear rolled down the side of your face into your hair as you heard his footsteps retreating back up the path.

---

You stopped at the top of the stairs before the portrait of the fat lady just at the strike of curfew.

“Password?” she asked.

“Whirligig,” you muttered.

He’d be on the other side of the portrait waiting for you.  Always so obstinate.  So head-strong.  So not the person you needed to see right now.  You’d give your leg for an invisibility cloak.

The fat lady swung open and you wandered in.

The common room was mostly empty but for a handful of fifth-years panicking over OWLs revision.

You crept past them and started up your stairs when you heard voices coming down the boys’ stairs.  Pressing your back to the wall, you watched as George, Lee and Ken Towler all barged down the stairs talking excitedly with one another.

They disappeared out the portrait hole together, earning grumbles from the fifth-years.

Fred was the only one upstairs at the moment, you realized.

No.  No, no, no.  Let it go.  But the sound of his voice breaking outside knotted your insides again and your heart pulled for him.

Before you could really make up your mind, you were already halfway up the boys’ stairs.

You stopped with your hand on the knob and half-opened the door, knocking.

“Why are you knocking?  I’m not in a state just ‘cause you left,” he growled.

You almost closed the door, but you pushed it open further.

Fred sat on the edge of his bed, back to the door, looking out the window.  The duvet was fisted in his hands and he was kneading it between his tight fingers.

Quietly, you closed the door behind you.

“What did you forget?” he asked.

“It’s me.”

He whipped his head around so fast he cricked something and you watched the pain flood over his face for a split second before he scrambled up to standing.

You swallowed.

He stood there stupidly with his hands hanging useless at his sides.

“I looked everywhere for you,” he said.

“I know,” you admitted.  “I… I was in the pumpkin patch.”

He fisted his hands and looked up at the ceiling.

“It’s okay; I didn’t want you to find me,” you muttered.

“I was right there,” he whispered.

You closed your eyes and pressed the pads of your fingers to one of them.

“What did you want?” you murmured.

Fred snapped into action.  He stepped right up to you with his arms outstretched -

You held up your hands to keep him away.

“Don’t… don’t touch me.  Just answer my question.”  You took a step back for emphasis.

“I made a mistake,” he whispered.  “I shouldn’t’ve told you no.  I… Y/N, I was scared.  I was scared you wouldn’t care about me like I care about you.  I didn’t want to get hurt…”

“So you hurt me instead?” you asked.

Fred made a noise.

“When you say it like that, of course it was a terrible idea.  I shouldn’t’ve.  I should’ve said yes; I want to say yes.  Please let me say yes…”

“Fred…” you started.  “I gave you my heart and you threw it back at me.”

He pressed his lips together, opening and closing his fists by his hips.  He just nodded.

“I don’t want to put my heart back out there,” you admitted.  “I can’t let you do that to me again.  It hurts so much.”

He nodded again.  You could hear clipped puffs of air coming from his nose, but he didn’t take any real breaths.

“I don’t… I don’t think we should hang out anymore.”

His lips trembled but he nodded again.

“You’re probably right.  You always are.”

You looked down at his shins and nodded.

Without a word, you left.

---

“‘S with you?”  Angelina asked at Saturday breakfast a few days later.

You looked up at her and just shook your head, looking back down at your cereal.

“Boy trouble?” Katie asked.

You didn’t respond, but you chewed your lip.  Fred took Angelina to the Yule Ball and you’d never forget the all consuming jealousy you felt watching them dance together.  She had something you never would, and she didn’t even want it like you did.  That memory.  A memory you’d hold close for your whole life if he only gave you a breath of a chance like he’d given her.  That is, it would’ve only counted before this.  You couldn’t take his pity offers now.  He was selfish.  And stubborn.  And just as broken as you, from the looks of it.

“I heard you asked Fred out,” Alicia said slowly.

“You didn’t!” Angelina exclaimed.  “Good for you!”

You sneered and looked away.

“Didn’t you?” she went on.  “Well you should do if you haven’t, you two’d actually be alright I think.”

“‘Alright’?” you scoffed.  “Thanks.”

“No one’s alright with him,” Alicia said, rolling her eyes.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” you asked.

“Oh come on, you know he blows through partners like they’re going out of style,” Alicia said.  “Of course, I’m pretty sure he’s just waiting around for you, but it’s good practice for the rest of us in the meantime.”

She and Katie exchanged a grin.

“What?”

“Ever heard of the ‘Fred Weasley Experience’?” Katie joked, although you didn’t find the concept funny.  “He’ll date anyone for a few weeks, no hard feelings.”

You furrowed your brow.

“No hard feelings?” you repeated.

“Yeah!  It’s like a ride, you get on, have your fun, get off when you’re done,” Alicia said with a wide smile.  Angelina snorted.

“You can’t possibly think that’s what he wants?” you demanded.

“He doesn’t say no?” Alicia said with a shrug.  “I mean, it’s clearly not ideal, but -”

“But nothing, that’s his heart you’re messing with!”

“Hey, I’ve never done it!” Alicia said, throwing her hands up.

“And for me it was just the ball, nothing else,” Angelina said.

“Yeah, it’s more of a joke among the other houses, I think,” Katie said.

“That’s not a bloody joke,” you breathed, getting up from the table.  It’s no wonder he said no.

“Hey, Y/N, what’s wrong?” Angelina asked.  “Did you really ask him out?”

“It’s none of your-”

“Just listen to me for a moment?”

You paused and looked at her.

“I tried asking him out after the ball, but he told me there was someone else,” she said.  “It’s you.  Just about everyone knows it.”

“Are you sure?” you asked.

“Yeah,” Angelina said.  “That’s why no one’s felt as bad as they should.  They all know he’s holding out for you.”

“Thanks, Angie,” you said, breaking into a sprint and running back to the common room.

You burst through the portrait hole and George and Lee were sitting on the couch playing exploding snap.  They looked up as you came panting in.

“Is he upstairs?” you asked, doubling over and cupping the stitch in your ribs.

“No, he went down to the lake,” George said.

You heaved one great breath and nearly collapsed, but you waved a thank you and turned back out the portrait hole.

“You gonna listen to him this time?” George called after you.

“Yes!” you hollered back before launching yourself down the stairs.

It was a perfect day to be outside.  Not so hot that you wanted to throw yourself in the lake, but not too breezy that you couldn’t read comfortably.

You ran straight down to the lake and at first you had a flash of deja vu.  He was nowhere in sight.

Just as you were about to call his name, you spotted him reclined under a beech tree, his hands clasped on his lap and his eyes closed.

You wanted to let him doze but you also desperately needed to talk to him.

You settled for a slow approach and you sat down next to him, leaning back against the tree.

He was really beautiful.  The way his hair fell softly over his face.  The way his lips just looked perfect when he had no expression.  The long, lean line of his body, carved out by quidditch and mischief in equal measure.  The beautiful deep hazel of his eyes which you now realized were watching you watch him.

“Good morning,” he said.  There was no tone to his voice.

“Morning, Fred,” you murmured in response.

He watched you, waiting for something.

“Have you ever heard of the ‘Fred Weasley Experience’?”

He nodded.

“I hadn’t until this morning,” you said, licking your lips.  “It’s awful.”

“Lot of fun on my end.”

“That’s not what I wanted,” you said.

“You sure?  I understand that I’m a good way to get your feet wet.”

“I don’t want to wet my feet, Fred.  I want… I want so much more than that.  With you.  Or not at all.”

His eyes searched yours.

“You sure?”

“I am.”

“Will you let me say yes then?  Because Y/N, I’m miserable without you.”

“Only if you let me promise that I’m not going to let you go,” you said.

He cracked a smile.

“I’m holding you to that.”

You smiled back.

“Can I touch you now?”

“Please do,” you said.

Very slowly, like he was going to scare you away, he sat up a little straighter and turned on his hip so he could wrap you in a hug.  He was warm and he smelled so good.  His hair tickled your cheek.  He sighed into your neck.

“Do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me?” he murmured.

“Yes.”

#fred weasley x reader #fred weasley #harry potter #imagine #reader insert #x reader #angst #fluff

[monstersandmaw]

Embers - male dragon shifter x reader) Part Two (sfw)

(this is supposed to be going up every Friday, but I was a dumbo yesterday and forgot, so here it is, a day late and with my apologies!)

Here's Chapter Two for you, in which we find out our dragon shifter’s name (pronunciation at the end if you’re curious). And Frankie speaks with a heavy Welsh accent.

I was trying to keep each chapter to under 1000 words, but that didn't work out so well for this one. It's nearly 2000 words. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!!

A phone call from a number you didn’t recognise interrupted your quiet Friday evening, and you answered with some trepidation. Usually it was marketing calls at this hour, and nothing was guaranteed to make you lose your shit quicker than someone phoning up to sell you double glazing or, even worse, to try and scam you out of your life savings.

This time, however, a bright and bubbly voice with a lilting accent asked, “Hiya, I hope I’m not calling at a bad time, but you gave my friend your number in the hopes of finding a flute teacher?”

“Oh my god!” you blurted, nearly dropping the phone. “Yes! I didn’t think he’d actually pass it on. Thanks for calling.”

The laugh that trilled out of the person on the other end was more like a bleating giggle, and it was then that you remembered that the teacher was a faun. “No problem! My name is Frankie, by the way, and I’ve actually got space to take on a new pupil at the moment. If I got it straight it’s your niece?”

“Yeah, she’s six.”

“Ok, if you could maybe tell me a bit about her and what level she’s at, that might help me plan a bit, but we could set up a trial lesson - free of charge - and go from there?”

“Perfect. As for her level, she’s brand new. She’s wanted to play the flute for a long time, but she’s only six and my brother couldn’t really afford lessons until now.” As a single father, a widower, your brother did his absolute best for his little girl, and with no kids of your own, you stepped in to help quite a lot. “She’s bright and a quick learner, though she’s not particularly verbal. She’s always been drawn to music though; I think it’s a half-siren thing…”

“Yeah, that’ll be it!” he chuckled. “As long as she’s going to listen to me, that’s a good place to start from; I don’t need her to recite the Trollbridge Common Dictionary as well. I teach up at Mikaeïl’s house - he lets me use the music room free of charge.”

You frowned in confusion. “Mikaeïl?”

“The red-headed, starched-shirt-wearing, giant nerd-bag you met in the coffee shop,” he grinned and you snorted your tea nearly out of your nose.

“Oh my god.”

“Right? I mean, Kaeïl is an absolute marshmallow on the inside, I promise, but he comes across as a complete arsehole, doesn’t he? Anyway, back to the flute lessons. You let me know some dates when she’ll be free to come over, I’ll give you the address, and we can see how we get along. Texting is better for me as I’m usually teaching during the day.”

“Sounds good,” you said, and began to arrange the rest with Frankie.

Afterwards you did a quick internet search and found him easily enough. He was apparently well known, both as a teacher and a soloist, and he and the quintet did a number of local concerts too. You couldn’t resist zooming in on a few photos which also had Mikaeïl in. God, he had amazing bone structure, but he definitely had one severe case of resting bitch-face for sure. He wasn’t smiling in any of the photos and he looked severe, and untouchable as a hot coal.

Satisfied that Frankie was the genuine article, you called your brother and fixed a date to take her to the address Frankie had given you.

The next Friday, you picked Celia up from school while her dad took the night shift at work. The hours weren’t great, but it meant he got slightly better pay. Plus it meant that you got to have Celia for the night, and that was always fun. She was intelligent and creative, if quiet, and after dinner the two of you usually watched a film together or read if she didn’t feel like watching anything. You knew she missed her siren mother dearly, and her death had almost destroyed your brother. You and he were all the family she had now; her own grandparents had wanted nothing to do with a half-breed human.

You found Mikaeïl’s place easily enough, and as the enormous gates swung open for you, drove your rather shoddy car along the mile-long gravel driveway through gorgeous parkland and up to a frankly ridiculous mansion on the outskirts of Old Trollbridge. You barely restrained yourself from cursing out loud. The place was insanely beautiful.

Celia had her hands pressed up against the car windows, mouth open. “My teacher lives here?” she asked.

“It’s the house of his friend,” you said, trying to sound unfazed and unaffected by the grandeur. Mikaeïl must be a very wealthy person indeed.

You parked up outside and Celia hopped out, piercing eyes gazing up at the warm, sandstone facade of the building with its many sash windows and ornate architectural details. Her dusky brown wings - small for a siren her age, but then again she was only half-siren - were flexed slightly, as though she planned on flapping up to get a closer look at the carvings above the door, but you took her hand before the thought got any further, and led her to the front door, her brand new flute in your other hand.

It took a while for someone to come to the door, but when it was answered, you were surprised to find that it wasn’t some servant or butler in fancy livery, but it was Mikaeïl himself. You recognised him instantly, and he looked at you from behind his circular, gold-rimmed glasses with the same, piercing gold eyes. Despite the colour, they were cold and unsmiling. Beside him, in complete contrast in every way, stood a very short, slightly stocky figure with the white, woolly lower half of a satyr. He wore a thick, dark green, knitted jumper despite the warmth of the day, and he had massively thick, curling horns that coiled around his ovine ears. His curly hair was cut relatively short, and matched his white legs in colour.

He extended a hand to you as Mikaeïl stepped back silently and disappeared into the shadows, and he bleated, “Hi! I’m Frankie. And you must be Celia,” he added, turning his dark eyes to her. “Nice to meet you. Would you like to come in?”

She nodded shyly, and you ushered her inside in front of you. Frankie’s big cloven hooves clopped loudly on the marble entrance hall, and Celia gasped as she took in the beautiful, sweeping staircase that curled up the cylindrical walls of the drum-like entrance hall that was capped with a coffered dome.

“It’s quite something, isn't it?” Frankie said conspiratorially to her, and she nodded again. “Come on, let me show you guys the music room. It’s got the loveliest piano. This way.”

Mikaeïl had all but vanished.

Nattering constantly, Frankie led you away down a light, airy corridor with gold and cream silk wall hangings and 18th century landscape paintings on one side and a gallery of windows overlooking the gravel driveway on the other, and into an equally beautiful space. Somehow, despite the obvious wealth, the music room was tasteful and bizarrely modest. Yes, that was an original Steinway, and yes, there was a crystal chandelier - relatively small, but still - in the centre of the moulded-plaster ceiling, but the huge windows looked out onto a private terrace and parkland beyond, and it had the feeling of a well-used, well-loved, functional room.

Celia was utterly entranced. Her wide eyes took it all in and you stood there dumbstruck as well.

Eventually, however, you both got over it, and Frankie brought over a very ordinary, metal music stand and parked his behind on the piano stool with a grunt. “Right,” he grinned and she giggled slightly. “Let’s see what we’ve got here.” He pulled out his own flute from its case and showed her how to align the sections of her own correctly.

You sat at one side of the room, but you realised quickly that Celia kept looking over to you before she spoke, so you said, “Celia, I think you might learn better if I wait outside. How would that be?”

She nodded and you knew her well enough to see that she wasn’t worried, and Frankie shot you a smile and a nod. “We’ll be about another half an hour,” he said quietly.

With that, you left, and wandered up the corridor and back into the entrance hall.

You took your time in the corridor, admiring the paintings, and you were just looking up at the ceiling of the entrance hall again, marvelling at the artistry of the whole thing, when someone cleared their throat pointedly from the doorway to your left and you jumped.

“Can I help you?”

It was Mikaeïl. He was dressed in a smart shirt, with a black waistcoat and black trousers today, and his long red hair was tied back in a smooth ponytail that fell halfway down his back. His horns glinted in the low light, looking more like strangely-carved precious gems, flecked with gold, than keratin, and his eyes reflected oddly, like cat’s eyes in the dark.

“I…” you faltered. “I thought it best if I left them to it…” you said stupidly. He seemed to have the effect of draining your IQ to zero with just one look.

“So you took the liberty of roaming the halls of my home instead?” he said in a cold drawl.

“I… I’m not poking around,” you countered hotly, finding your words coming back to you. “I’ve only walked along the corridor!”

A tiny smile twitched at the corner of his lips. “Would you like something to drink?”

His polite question caught you off guard, and you gave him a blank look. “I thought you were going to have your gamekeeper shoot me for trespassing…” you said dryly.

Mikaeïl barked a harsh but amused laugh, the rigid lines of his body softening just a fraction. “Not yet at least,” he said and turned his back on you.

Assuming you were meant to follow, you did. 

Part Three

—

I really hope you folks enjoyed this one! Don’t forget to let me know if you did enjoy it by leaving a like and/or reblogging it!

For all early releases, character art and bios, upcoming story info, and much, much more, join me over on Patreon!

You’ll have access to stories before anyone else, and you’ll get instant access Patreon-only content as well, including polls and an exclusive monthly story for those on the Pixies and Goblins tier or higher!

__

| Masterlist | Patreon | Ko-fi | Writing Commissions |

It’s pronounced ‘mick-eye-ill’ :)

#dragon shifter #dragon #dragon x reader #dragon shifter x reader #exophilia #dragon boyfriend #monster lover

[fredweaslies]

the gardens that grow between us | chapter three

∙ word count: 1324

• fic index

DRACO LED THEM BACK TO THE GREAT HALL the next morning for breakfast. The hall was less decorated from the night before, but it didn't stop the girls from being fascinated by every intricate detail and carving that lined the walls. The girls beelined to the Slytherin table so fast that they didn't even notice Draco and his two idiot minions were at the Gryffindor table causing a commotion. Dolores peered through the heads blocking her view of Draco, there she saw Draco teasing a boy with jet black hair. She rolled her eyes and continued to scarf down food.

Their first class of the day was a doozy; History of Magic. But, Paloma and Dolores seemed to be fascinated by the fact that Professor Binns was a ghost. Whenever they would look over to Draco, he looked like he was on the verge of slipping into a deep sleep.

After class ended, the girls excitedly approached the class they looked forward to the most; Care of Magical Creatures.

"Our professor is Hagrid for Merlin's sake..." Draco mumbled to the girls, who were barely listening as they gawked at every detail of the castle. "Who's Hagrid?" Dolores asked. "The bumbling idiot of a gamekeeper for Hogwarts," His annoyance reflected his walk, as he bounded with each step and his arms swung aggressively, "not to mention we have it with the Gryffindors." "How one person can be this fired up at twelve in the afternoon baffles me." Dolores whispered to Paloma.

The trio finally reached the small hut that sat outside on the outskirts of campus. It stood in front of a foreboding dark forest. Paloma's eyes grew as she saw a large man loom over the crowd of already gathered students.

"That's Hagrid?" She whispered to Draco. "That's right, that oaf..." He continued but Paloma zoned out as she studied her classmates. "He just looks like a giant teddy bear." Dolores pouted.

Paloma and Dolores excitedly stood closer to Hagrid, while Draco stood back with two friends who looked like they could bite Dolores' head off.

The girls stood behind another trio; a boy with jet black hair, a girl with curly hair, and a boy with fire-red hair. Due to the girls' short statures, they could barely see anything standing behind the tall red-headed boy. When she tried to move around, students blocked their paths, too engrossed in what Hagrid was saying. As Hagrid pulled something out and started to show the class, Dolores stood on her tippy toes to catch a glimpse. But, she quickly lost her balance and tripped forward into the red-headed boy.

"Hey, watch it!" He exclaimed, his voice was deep for a third year. He spun around ready to confront Dolores, but instead, his face looked stunned. "I'm so sorry...I just couldn't see...I'm sorry..." Dolores shot out rapidly, her face grew red. In the heat of her embarrassment, Hagrid then disappeared into his hut to retrieve a forgotten item. "No, I'm sorry - I didn't know it was..." He continued nervously. "Oh my gosh!" Squeaked the girl next to him, Dolores felt Paloma jump slightly.

"You - you two are the new exchange students!" She said excitedly, just then her hand shot up to shake their hands, "I'm Hermione Granger, this is Harry, and this is Ron." The boy with the jet black hair turned around to meet their faces, Paloma tried not to stare at the scar on his forehead.

"Why hello, Hermione, Harry, and Ron. I'm Paloma and this is Dolores." Paloma introduced charmingly, she shook her hand and Dolores followed suit. "How are you guys liking Hogwarts so far?" Harry asked eagerly. "Oh, it's been great," Dolores started, "Except for History of Magic." Paloma continued. This comment earned a laugh from the boys.

While Paloma and Hermione shot the breeze, Dolores studied Ron's face. Soft features with freckles seeming to kiss every square inch of his face. But, he caught her staring and his freckles disappeared into his reddening face that was seeming to match his hair.

The rest of the class was - interesting - to say the least. Paloma and Dolores laughed the entire way to the infirmary to visit Draco after he was hurt by a Hippogriff.

"He is such a baby." Dolores snorted, the girls could barely contain their laughs down the hall.

★

After they powered through their class schedule, the pair wanted to go back to their rooms and disappear into their sheets. But, Paloma knew she still had to go to Quidditch practice with Draco. The sky had turned into a crisp burnt orange shade and Paloma and Draco treaded over the green grass to get to the Quidditch field. Draco had his arm wrapped in a bandage that Paloma rolled her eyes at.

"Is that really necessary?" She asked, trying to stifle a laugh. "It almost took my head off!" He shouted.

As they got to the Quidditch pitch, they saw a group of tall boys donning green uniforms stood huddled around each other. As they approached, the group scarily faced the two.

"Hello boys, this is Paloma Martinez -" Draco began, a towering boy with jet black hair interrupted, "You're the star Quidditch player from America?"

"So they say," Paloma answered softly.

"I'm Marcus Flint, I'm captain. What was your position?"

"Chaser."

"Aren't you too small for a chaser?" A boy from the back of the group interrupted, earning snickers from the group.

The dark-haired boy shushed him immediately and continued, "If you're as good as they say you are, you have a spot on our team."

Paloma smirked, "Fine, let's play."

This prompted all of them to mount their brooms and rise steadily off the ground, a feeling Paloma was fond of. They all zoomed across the sky, ripping past Draco and other players. While she was up there, it was clear to everyone on the team that she was the fastest out of all of them. She punted the Quaffle through one of the goals, narrowly missing a boy's head, making him zoom out of control.

Just then, Marcus began to slow down and stare at something down on the field. Paloma stopped next to Draco, "What is it?" She asked.

"Gryffindor," he said with disdain. As the rest of the team glided down towards the field, they met face to face with the Gryffindor team, dressed in scarlet red robes.

"What are you doing here?" Marcus questioned, his face contorted with disgust. The boy who seemed to be the captain stepped up to Marcus. Paloma's only thought was how cute he was, she felt the heat rise to her cheeks but she couldn't tell if it was from whizzing around in the air.

"We have the field for 6, Flint." He muttered. Paloma stood on her tippy toes to catch the sight of the other players, catching a look from Harry, in which she waved discreetly and earned a hesitant wave back. Finally, her eyes caught onto two tall red-headed twins standing in the back with folded arms. The heat in her cheeks lingered as she thought they were even cuter. I could get used to being around them at Quidditch games she thought. Through all of this, she didn't even catch the bickering between the two captains.

"Fine, we're done here anyway." Marcus declared, the team following suit as he stomped off across the fields and back to the castle.

"Martinez." He demanded, eyes still glued towards the castle leading charge. Paloma caught up to his side.

"You got the position." Paloma squeaked and gave a tight hug to Marcus, who looked confused and slightly disturbed at her glee. She then ran back to Draco and excitedly hit his arm.

"Watch it, Paloma," Draco mumbled, but Paloma could see the slight smile that started to appear on his lips.

"Just because you're my future husband doesn't mean I'm going to go easy on you." She teased, Draco rolled his eyes.

◀︎ chapter two ☆ chapter four coming soon! ▶︎

#harry potter #harry potter fanfic #harry potter fanfiction #oliver wood x oc #draco malfoy x oc #fred weasley x oc #ron weasley x oc #draco malfoy fanfic #fred weasley fanfic #*mine

[edream93]

You’re a Gryffindor, Hook: Year 2, Part 1

Okay, so I thought I posted already this but then Tumblr ate it? So essentially, here’s part 1 of Year 2 of “You’re a Gryffindor, Hook” . You can also read it on AO3. Enjoy!

She ignored the stares and odd looks she received as she made her way into the stands. It wasn’t a surprise that she stood out with her emerald green robe in a sea of red and gold. 

A snake in the lions’ den, she thought with a roll of her eyes, unconsciously holding herself taller. Honestly, she would have thought they would have gotten used to it by now. 

But this wasn’t the first, nor would it be the last time that Uma Tritaea gained stares. It had become almost a daily nuisance since her first class where she chose her best friend, her closest confidant, over a centuries old house rivalry. Shouldn’t the noble and brave Gryffindors know something or two about loyalty? 

Several older Gryffindors hissed as she passed them by. She hopped smoothly over a purposefully extended leg that happened to be in her path. Uma made a mental note of them. She would get them back with stinging hexes that would have them howling anytime they tried to sit on their behinds. 

Not now though. Too many untrusting eyes watching the Slytherin witch. Now she had to be on her best behavior. After all, there was a reason she was in the stands belonging to the house of lions. 

“Anyone sitting here?” she asked a familiar looking boy. Ben, she thought. From Herbology. He was one of the few Gryffindors that didn’t make Uma want to hex them.

“Yes!” a brunette girl sitting next to him glared at Uma just as Ben said “No,” already making room and genuinely giving a smile that took Uma off guard.

“What Audrey means is, it’s all yours. Promise,” he said, his smile growing impossibly brighter despite his companion’s glare twisting into an offended sneer as Uma gave a nod of thanks, sitting down. Ben opened his mouth, as if to say more but was interrupted by the game’s announcer. 

Diego DeVil, a fourth year Slytherin boy that Uma always saw flirting with anything with legs at their house table - the ghosts included - sat with microphone in hand at the stand where the professors, other school staff, and a few bored looking representatives of the Ministry were congregated. 

“Hello ladies, gents, and non-binary friends to the first match of the season, Gryffindor versus Slytherin!” DeVil smoothly crooned into the ancient looking mic, waiting a moment for the crowd’s enthusiastic screams to die down. “This is surely going to be one for the books, folks! The players are now getting into position as Madame DunBroch steps out onto the field to begin the game!”

What looked like small figures, in red or greens, hovered hundreds of feet above the ground on their brooms as the fiery red haired Gamekeeper and Flight Instructor walked towards the sealed chest in the middle of the field. 

“Which team are you watching for?” Ben startled Uma out of her intense stare of the field just as Madame DunBroch released the bludgers and the snitch, the small gold ball a fleeting speck of glimmer in the air before disappearing. It was a strange question, Uma thought. After all, it was the assumption that if your house was playing, you were cheering for them. 

Uma’s gaze was instantly drawn to the source of an excited crowing that she could still easily pick out despite the loud roar of the crowd as the quaffle was thrown up into the air.

“Not watching for a team,” she said, watching as one of the players in Gryffindor red snatched the quaffle from the air, taking off with surprising speed towards the Slytherin goal post.

Merlin, she hoped that her idiot of a best friend didn’t get himself hurt. Again. (Harriet had a habit of sending both Harry and Uma a howler when Harry got himself in dumb situations.)

Uma found herself sitting up straight and tense, hands fisted in her robes as she watched one of the new Slytherin beaters, a second year named Jay Abanazar, sneak up from behind and club a bludger at the Gryffindor chaser. Uma leaned forward, eyes never leaving the chaser as he quickly spun out of the path of the bludger with fluid ease and scoring in one move.

“Whoa! Looks like the infamous second year Harry Hook is trying to make a statement, scoring the first goal of the game!” DeVil chuckled despite the obvious booing coming from the Slytherin stands. A little bit of tension released from Uma’s shoulders as Harry completely bypassed the few members of his team that attempted to congratulate him. Instead, to Uma’s annoyed amusement, he flew towards the Gryffindor stands, blue eyes on her. 

“Ye see that?!” He grinned, all windswept hair and boyish charm as he leaned forward on his broom to get as close as possible to her. “Uma, did ye see that shot?”

“Harry! The game is still going!” One of his teammates yelled as they zoomed past, chasing one of the Slytherin chasers, a sixth year with long ice blonde hair pulled into a high bun, who now had the quaffle. But Harry didn’t even look back, waiting expectantly for Uma’s response with a wide grin. 

“Yeah, you did good Hook,” Uma allowed herself to smirk as she tried to push him away. “Now go and try to make Jay cry.”

Harry’s grin widened as he grabbed her hand, pressing a soft kiss on the back of it. “Aye aye capt’n!” 

Again, Uma refused to acknowledge the stares directed at her as the Gryffindor chaser zoomed off with surprising speed back into the game. Harry was just being his usual showboat self. It tended to grind on most people’s nerves but Uma found it as normal as the sun rising and setting. 

 The Gryffindors around her jumped to their feet in a deafening roar as Harry intercepted and flew away with the quaffle before the blonde Slytherin chaser could even comprehend that the ball was no longer in her hands. Harry swooped back towards the Slytherin goals, two of the school’s numerous part dwarf cousins who were the Gryffindor beaters flanking him to keep the bludger off him before he scored another point. 

The entire House of Gryffindor cheered wildly, everyone’s focus on the field. One stare though did itch against Uma’s skin enough for her to turn with a glare, hand already reaching for her wand, just in case. 

“Do I have something on my face, Florian?” 

A blush that had nothing to do with the crisp wind filled Ben’s cheeks. “Oh. Uh. No, I was just- nevermind,” he awkwardly turned back to face the game. Uma’s eyes narrowed but sensed no maliciousness from the boy, turning back as well to watch the game. 

Hours later, while Slytherin would be celebrating late into the morning hours thanks to their Seeker finding the snitch before Gryffindor could score any more points, Uma would find herself spending the night in the infirmary (long after Madame Flora had tried to kick her out). She had carefully wedged herself next to Harry on the bed, finishing a letter to Harriet explaining to the older witch how her only brother had yet again wound up in the infirmary again, said wizard next to her, sleeping off the Skele-Gro potion that was repairing his left arm with cringing pops and snaps that Uma bit her bottom lip to ignore. 

After finishing the letter, she was just about to read the section on cecaelias in her book of water-based magical creatures Harry had insisted on buying for her when they had gone school shopping when she felt him shift next to her. He reached out sleepily with his good hand, fingers lightly twisting in her braids like they always did when he wanted to make sure she was close. “Did ye, did ye see me, Uma?” he mumbled, already falling back to sleep as he curled closer to her.

Uma gave him a fond smile, carding her hand through his wild hair. “I saw,” she said, pausing for a moment before leaning over and pressing a quick, feather light kiss on his brow before returning back to her book, ignoring the happy sigh that escaped from her best friends lips or the way that she slowly let her breath match his until they were both asleep. 

#disney descendants #uma descendants #harry hook #hogwarts au #descendants fanfic #edream93 fanfic #edream93 fanfiction

[ottostherapy]

How to not be an adult - Reunion

Severus Snape x OC

a/n: Still a Snape appreciation month story, cause Snape deserves some love. Excuse my language, not my mother tongue.

post-war au, where Snape survives and returns to teaching at Hogwarts. After disappearing for almost four month, he is to meet his new colleagues.

warnings: none

word count: 1358

Part 1

(gif’s not mine)

Soon the other teachers arrived, some of which Severus knew, some of which he couldn’t recall having met before. Filius Flitwick was late to the feast they had in the Great Hall, which was not to his surprise. The short wizard continuously had a hard time letting go of his wife, or the other way around, Severus didn’t know.

He, himself was sat next to Minerva and Horace Slughorn.

While his former potions professor had a lot to talk about, Severus kept to himself. He watched Septima Vector talking to a rather small, chubby witch, with puffy dark hair, standing to all directions, listened to a vivid conversation between Rolanda Hooch and Pomona Sprout about the effect of Fluxweed in brooms. Nearby sat Poppy Pomfrey, who had taken interest in a neatly dressed witch. All around the staff chattered, yet the air glimmered in a tense.

Minerva cleared her throat and stood up. “I want to welcome you all to this years’ Hogwarts staff!” The professors quickly silenced. “I hope you enjoyed our first meal together.”

Here and there Severus saw a nod. Rubeus Hagrid even managed to rasp an “Of course” between slugs out his massive cup.

“Since we are now a vast mixture of common and new members, I reckoned we get to know each other a bit better before the year starts.” A whisper went through the table of teachers.

Severus and his long-established colleagues vividly remembered the silly games Albus had made them play over and over again.

“I think a quick introduction, a few words about yourself will suffice for tonight.” Minerva paused. “Due to the recent events, I have permitted myself to take a few changes in structure and curriculum, so for the next year we are joined by mental-health experts.” She looked to the neat witch next to Poppy. “At Rolanda’s and Poppy’s request, I have also decided to include a teacher for the sportive students, who are less interested in performing Quidditch, whereas I do question their common sense.”

Severus smiled faintly at her words. Ever since he remembered the older witch, she had been overly-engaged in cheering for Gryffindor to win the Quidditch-Cup. Admittedly, he himself was competitive, ambitious, one could say and he was glad to have been able to smear the victory of his house into Minerva’s face for a few years. Of course, this had never felt as good as the year his friend Regulus Black, captain of the Slytherin team while Severus was still learning had beat the arrogant James Potter in Gryffindor team.

“I did include a little twist for our introductory round”, Minerva summoned a good amount of parchment snippets. “These are quotes I have collected from you throughout the years knowing you, for those whom I don’t know as long, I chose quotes that do not immediately give away they are taken from the interview.” She had the snippets fly to the staff, one for each of them. “Once you introduced yourself you read the quote and then it’s everyone’s turn to guess.”

Horace nudged Severus’ side. “Don’t give me away, Severus.” The elder wizard wiggled his eyebrows at his former student.

“I will be silent as the dead.”

Horace twitched. “Oh no, no. Please don’t say that, dear.” Severus felt his heart sting. For the past years, he had lived knowing he had to die, knowing he had to kill Albus, knowing there were few people who appreciated him. Not to mention his father or his bullies. He was aware Horace valued him as a wizard, he had not expected him to appreciate him as a human being.

“Can I go firs’, Minerva?”, Severus heard Hagrid holler in excitement, to which she nodded.

The giant Gamekeeper and Care of Magical Creatures-Professor nonchalantly stood up. “Erm, well. My name��s Rubeus Hagrid an’ I am proud to stand ‘ere as the schools Keeper of Keys an’ Grouns, all thanks to Albus Dumbledore. Err, an’ I am also teaching the kids the Care of Magical Creatures.” He raised a hand to scratch his chin underneath the feral beard.

“Thank you, Rubeus.” Minerva gave him an affirming smile. “The quote?”

“Oi!” Hagrid unfolded the paper. “It says: I was expec’ing to see more blood today.”

Severus could barely contain the sneer, that was crawling the muscles around his mouth. He glanced at the very red, laughing Poppy, remembering the remark she had given towards the Slytherin-Gryffindor match a few years ago.

Against his anticipation, the quote-guessing game was a rather fun occurrence.

He found out Filius had gotten an anonymous love-letter the year, that the annoying Lockard had been employed, Pomona regularly talked to random cats around the greenhouses, hoping them to be Minerva, Maia Reed, the witch right next to Poppy had specialised in psychology at a muggle university and even though she looked so strict was a huge nerd for karaoke. Upon the mention of her degree at the muggle university the new professor for Muggle Studies shot her an envious look.

He, Baldwin Sivit, reminded Severus of Arthur Weasley, except he was less red-headed and did probably not have numerous children, he did however, raise the same energy, being all-interested in Muggle artefacts and such. Severus already knew he was not going to deliberately make friends with this person.

“Look, this one even copied his name on the test, we are teaching a year of dunderheads.” Severus shifted. He took a large sip red-wine and tried to look as indifferent as possible. Of course, all of the common professors laughed, knowing exactly, there was only one person in the room to be making these kinds of remarks.

Much to his surprise the small witch with the puffy locks snorted, before she blushed furiously. She searched the other adults’ faces with a curious look. As she reached his dark eyes, Severus couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at her.

“Definitely him!”, she blurted out, pointing at Severus. Her voice was low, raspy, with a delicate accent, he could not match. And if he didn’t know better, he would say she had stuck his tongue out at him.

“Why would you insult a student like this?” Sivit glared at Severus.

Before Severus could speak – he had something along the lines of “It’s not an insult if it’s true” in mind – Minerva intervened. “Professor Snape slips sarcastic remarks every now and then.” She paused, inspecting both Sivit and Severus strictly.

What an understatement, he thought to himself, but Minerva quickly continued: “He however, beholds very high aspiration regarding his students, which usually results in very well-educated young adults.”

“Indeed, indeed. You have, to this day, excelled every student I taught. Besides, did I ever tell you? The students I took over, are without exception experts at basic-knowledge.” Horace nodded in excitement.

“Even Longbottom?”, Severus asked raising an eyebrow. He did not turn his head to face the Potions Master, but his eyes scanned the wizard to his side cautiously.

Horace didn’t answer, instead the witch, who outed him, started introducing herself. “My name is Lilou Frei, I am the new Transfiguration Professor, I have attended Hogwarts for my own education from 74 to 81, some of you might remember me”, she winked at Pomona Sprout, then searched Severus’ face for any emotion, but he kept a straight face. He did not remember Lilou, and he certainly was very displeased with her name. “After graduating, I spent my years in my mother’s hometown in Switzerland, studying the art of turning one thing into another and also turning myself into a duck, because honestly, who doesn’t like ducks, they are lovely!” She cupped her face with her hands, probably thinking of the ducks she was referring to. Severus could not recall having seen a lovely duck, ever. “Oh, and I have an undying love for bouncy castles.” She added straight-faced.

Severus couldn’t help but grin. Ducks, an undying love for bouncy-castles and that bubbly energy of hers. This year would be … interesting.

“My sentence says: You will not regret this; I can turn myself into a duck!” Lilou giggled. “Oh how very unfortunate. This is me!”

#Severus Snape #prosnape #snape appreciation month #snape fanfiction #snape fanfic #snapeloveposts #snape lives au #snapedom #snape x oc #hp

[magic-in-my-mind]

Marthur:

Molly and Arthur Weasley

Based on this conversation in GOF, The third Task:

“And the fat Lady?”, said Bill. “She was here in my time,” said Mrs Weasley. “She gave me such a telling-off one night when I got back to the dormitory at four in the morning-” “What were you doing out of your dormitory at four in the morning?” said Bill, surveying Mrs Weasley with amazement. Mrs Weasley grinned, her eyes twinkling. "Your father and I had been for a night-time stroll.” she said. “He got caught by Apollyon Pringle - he was the caretaker in those days - your father's still got the marks."

Also based on my drawing:

A Date night in the 60′s

Arthur Weasly finally asked Molly Prewett out on a date, of course she said, yes. Molly already had been waiting for him to ask her out. 

She didn’t know what he had planned, but she was excited anyway. She tried to keep her date a secret from her younger brothers, but it turned out that they found out about it somehow. On the day of their date, Molly came downstairs from her dorm, to meet Arthur. But she saw Fabian and Gideon cornering someone in the gryffindor common room. As she came closer she recognized the boy, the twins were cornering.  “Fabian, Gideon! Let him go! Now!”, she shouted at her brothers with both hands on her hips. She was wild. Fabian tried to argue but Gideon knew better and shook his head warningly. “Don’t you two dare do that again! And now go back to your dorms!” Her eyebrows were almost touching so angry was she with the twins. “Now!”, she shouted and shot with her finger to the boys dormitories. The twins quickly ran to their dorms and shouted: “Sorry, Molly!”

“I am sorry you had to see that, they are just over protective.”, she said in her sweetest voice to Arthur. He looked scared for a moment but then he smiled and said: “You look stunning.” Molly had her favorite dress on, it was red like the gryffindor banner. She smiled and blushed: “You look good, too.” Arthur started laughing: “That's not true, that's just my school uniform and a cardigan.” Molly blushed even more, he always looked good in his uniform. “Shall we go then?”, Arthur asked and held the portrait of the fat Lady open. Molly nodded and climbed out the hole. “Where are we going?”, she asked when they were already in the great hall. “It's a surprise.”, he said smiling and opened the door for her to get outside. They went down some stairs to the boats. “You know the spell to make them move?” Molly asked, astonished. Arthurs head turned red like his hair and mumbled: “Hagrid showed me the spell.” Hagrid was the Keeper of Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts and currently trained by Ogg to take the gamekeeper job over when Ogg retired. “Sorry I didn’t catch that. What did you say?” Molly teased him, she liked it when he blushed. “Nothing! Let’s go!”, he jumped in one of the boats. He couldn’t expose Hagrid, he knew he wasn’t allowed to do magic anymore but he was a great friend, so Arthur kept quiet. Molly stepped after him in the boat, it dandled a bit. She lost her balance, but before she fell in the water Arthur grabbed her hand “Careful it’s a bit wonky.” he smiled and helped her sit down. Then he mumbled a spell, Molly could’t make out what he had said, and the boat started floating slowly over the water. Molly couldn't take her eyes off him, she was absolutely amazed by this man. “Molly, look. The sun is setting.” Molly looked in the direction, Arthur was pointing at. “Isn’t it beautiful?”, Arthur said, he was a dreamer, but he was absolutely right. It was a beautiful purple sunset. “Yes, it is.”, Molly smiled at the sun. They quietly watched the sun setting and didn’t even realise that the boat was still moving. The boat hit the shore. Arthur stepped off the boat and helped Molly out of it. 

“Come on that wasn’t all, there is still your surprise waiting for you.”, Arthur said and walked out the gates of Hogwarts. Molly laughed and quickly came after him. “You're still not telling me where we are going, are you?” Molly asked, amused. “No.”, was the only answer she got. She followed him. The path was lit by some levitating candles, but Molly didn’t recognize the path they were walking. She never left the grounds after dark. The lights got brighter. “We’re in Hogsmeade.” Molly exclaimed. Arthur smiled: “Yes, and we are going to the three broomsticks.” Molly was a bit confused, she thought the pub would close every night, the same time as the students had their curfew. Arthur saw her confused look and explained: “They are open longer for tonight only.” But before Molly was able to ask why, Arthur opened the door and they went inside. The light was dimmed and many of the tables were pushed to the side. At the far end of the pup was a stage build up and some microphones were standing on it.  Molly was a bit confused about it all, but many of the witches and wizards in the pub looked excited about something. No one was bothered that two under age Hogwarts students entered the pub. “Arthur, what is going on?” Molly whispered worriedly. But he just smiled at her and told her to wait. Almost immediately four young witches stepped on to the stage and started singing. Molly freaked out: “Arthur! They are singing Celestina Warbeck's song! I love this song, please let us dance.” Arthur smiled, that was exactly what he wanted. “My pleasure.” he said and pulled her between the already dancing couples. “What's in my cauldron full of hot, strong love” Molly and Arthur danced all night long until their feet hurt. When they sat down to get a drink, Molly confest: “That was the best surprise I ever had.” Arthur blushed, his face already matched his hair. “I wanted to get you tickets for Celestina Warbeck, but I couldn’t get any. I am sorry.” Arthur looked at the tips of his shoes, he really wanted to get her tickets, but they were so rare that they were only sold on the black market. Molly took his face in her hands and forced him to look her in the eyes. She smiled, with her sweetest smile: “Don’t be sorry. This was perfect.” That made Arthur blush even more, he smiled at her and then hugged her. He really wanted to kiss this beautiful Lady in his arms, but he knew, if he kissed her now he might ruin everything. No kissing on the first date. So instead he held her very tight in his arms and enjoyed the moment. After he let go of Molly again she said: “We should go back, it’s way past curfew.” She made Arthur laugh: “Yes, you are right. Let’s go back.” 

Molly casted a warming spell upon them as soon they were outside. On the way back they sat in the boat again, it was faster than walking around the lake. Lots of stars were shining over Hogwarts. Molly had a déjà vu: “It looks just like the first day in Hogwarts.” Arthur didn’t even look at the sky, he just had eyes for Molly and said: “Yes, just like the first day.” Both were talking about different memories. Molly remembered the beautiful night sky over Hogwarts, when the train finally arrived. Arthur was thinking about their first trip on the boats floating over the lake, he sat next to Molly that day. “We are back.” Molly said and they stepped on the pier and walked back upstairs. “Now we have to be super careful, not to get caught by Pringle.” Apollyon Pringle was the caretaker in Hogwarts, he loved to punish pupils. Especially when he caught them out of bed after curfew. They managed to squeeze through the door and up to the sixth floor when they heard the creepy voice of the caretaker: “I smell students out of bed!” Molly and Arthur started running. Molly shouted the password as soon as she saw the fat Lady’s portrait on the seventh floor. But instead of opening she just said: “What are you thinking? You should be asleep, it’s four in the morning.” - “Would you please just let us in already? Pygmy Puff.” The portrait opened, as soon as it closed again Molly let a sigh out: “That was close.” But when she turned around to see Arthur, he was gone. He must have got caught. Molly tried to go back outside to help him,  but the fat Lady wouldn’t open up for her. She heard screams outside, Arthur's screams. “Please open, I need to help him.” Molly begged weeping. But the portrait stayed shut. “Molly?” her brothers must have heard her. “What’s wrong?” Fabian asked her. She wiped off her tears: “Pringle got him.” The twins pulled her in a hug and patted her head. After she calmed down a bit she sat down on one of the armchairs near the chimney. Her brothers looked confused at her, so she explained: “There is no point going to bed anymore, breakfast will be soon and I couldn’t sleep now anyway. I’ll go and check on Arthur later in the hospital wing.” Her brothers sat down on the sofa next to her and she told them all about her amazing date with Arthur.

#marthur #molly weasley #arthur weasley #molly and arthur weasley #molly and arthur #weasley family #60s #lovers #lovebirds #Incorrect Harry potter quotes #harry potter canon #Harry Potter #hp gof #molly prewett #gideon prewett #fabian prewett #prewett brothers #prewett family #harry potter fandom #hp fanfic #hp #Gryffindor #slytherin #Digital Illustration #digital drawing #fanart #underrated characters

[smoothshift]

The Clarkson Review: Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante (Oct. 13) via /r/cars

The Clarkson Review: Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante (Oct. 13)

The Clarkson Review: Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante (Oct. 13)

Of course I will go and see the new James Bond film, but I almost certainly won't enjoy it. I haven't really enjoyed any of them since Daniel Craig took over.

I know he wants his Bond to be fallible and weak, like the character in the books, but I don't want to see 007 swigging Heineken from a bottle that just happens to be label-side out, and I don't want to see him bleed, or fire his gun at something and miss. I want him to be Roger Moore, the cheeky chappie who could speak Latin, fly a space shuttle and lay anyone low with one of his signature karate chops.

Craig's Bond can't do that. In fact, if you actually stop and think what he's done in the past, you'd have to conclude he's completely useless. In Casino Royale, he didn't notice that the woman he'd fallen in love with was spying for the other side, and then, despite his best efforts, he let her drown in a lift. The next woman he lurved, in Skyfall, got shot in the head by a former colleague. Oh, and then he took an old woman who needed to go into hiding to his own bloody house. Where she and 007's gamekeeper wandered about on a darkened moor, with a torch, just in case the baddies needed even more help locating her.

Before that happened, though, Bond went to interview someone in Shanghai and ended up throwing him off a skyscraper. And in an earlier scene, he was shot by Miss Moneypenny. I'm telling you, Johnny English is better at espionage than this guy. So's Inspector Clouseau.

But the worst bit in Skyfall came when the director Sam Mendes decided to blow up Bond's Aston Martin. So he pumped it full of bullets until it exploded.

I'm sure, to the luvvie-in-chief, this was fine, because a car is just a collection of plastic and metal and glass. But a car is not just a collection of plastic and metal and glass. And Bond's Aston is more of a car than most. It has been a part of my life since I was four. I have owned many models, including one that would fire a small man under the sofa. And Mendes blew it up so he could get Craig to do some acting. I considered at the time filling Sam's dog with bullets until it exploded, just to show him how it felt.

The car was put back together in the next Bond film, Spectre — and it appears in the new movie as well — but it was like making Ring of Bright Water 2 and trying to argue that someone had sewn the otter's head back on.

I bet Aston Martin had a duck fit when it saw the DB5 reduced to a smouldering ruin, because Bond is its marketing department. He is its PR machine and its ad agency and its ambassador all rolled into one. So I bet it really did try to sew the DB5's head back on, because without 007, the company would have to maintain a public profile on its own. And it doesn't have the cash for that.

I'm not sure it even had enough cash to develop the car you see before you today. It's called — deep breath — the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante, and sometimes you get the impression that you're tootling about in almost two tons of make-do and mend. With a bit of cast-off Mercedes tech to maintain a veneer of modernity.

To create it, Aston had to chop the roof off a normal DBS, but this meant finding somewhere to put the electric roof mechanism. That meant rerouting the massive exhaust system and that meant turning the fuel tank round and redesigning every body panel aft of the doors.

The company managed it, but sometimes the roof doesn't go down when you operate the switch, the boot is laughably tiny, and it gets so hot in there, owing to the exhaust system, you could roast a chicken. There's also a problem with the interior. Astonishingly, we got four adults in it, and that's impressive, but it is almost identical to the interior you get in a far cheaper DB11 Volante. And that's not good enough.

The basic starting price of the DBS Superleggera Volante is £247,500 and, I'm sorry, but if I'm going to blow a quarter of a million on a car, I don't want it to have the same innards as a car that costs almost £90,000 less. The trouble is, of course, that when you've spent all that money turning the fuel tank round, there simply won't be enough left to do the air vents as well. Or fit a glovebox.

It sounds like I have a real downer on this car, and I haven't finished yet, I'm afraid. Because superleggera is Italian for "superlight", and it just isn't. With a couple of people on board, it weighs more than two tons. Perhaps that's why it endlessly catches its chin-mounted skid plates on speed humps. And why its tyres are so thin you need to be very careful when you're parking, even against a dropped pavement, or you'll kerb the wheels. Perhaps Aston should have called it Supergrasso.

You can feel this weight when you're driving, too. It doesn't come across as a feisty little whizz-bang; it's no water boatman. But that said, it's fast. Rocket-ship fast. It's almost too fast, because on wet roads you would be well advised to treat the throttle with extreme caution or you will have a crash. You even need to be careful sometimes on dry roads.

And that raises a question. If you can't unleash all the volcanic fury without the back end having a few moments of panic, then why not save yourself the best part of £90,000 and get the DB11 Volante instead? Because you can exploit all the power in one of those, all of the time.And it has the same interior. And it's a little bit more civilised and comfortable.

It's almost as though Aston bit off more than it could chew with the DBS. Think of its engineers as pianists. They're accomplished enough to impress their friends and colleagues, but they're not really able to put on a penguin suit, walk onto the stage at the Royal Albert Hall and attempt Liszt's La Campanella.

If you attempt to build a 211mph car that costs £247,000, you need to make sure that you have the money to pull it off. Yes, the DBS Superleggera Volante is one of the best-looking cars ever made, and it's blisteringly fast and it makes some laugh-out-loud noises from the tailpipes, but as a package, it's flawed.

Hopefully, the new Bond film will be a gem and will keep alive the aura that surrounds the man and the car he drives. But I wouldn't count on it. The way things are going, they'll replace Craig with Anthea Turner and give her a Nissan Leaf. And that, I fear, would bring the curtain down on Britain's best-loved car-maker.

In the meantime, if you want an Aston because you, like me, grew up worshipping them, then don't despair because the DB11 Volante is brilliant. That sort of car at that sort of price? Nobody does it better.

(Source [paywalled]): https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/clarkson-review-aston-marton-superleggera-volante-v0gz2qs0w)

#reddit #autonews #auto #cars

[sussex-nature-lover]

Saturday 27th February 2021

Big Coats

Look at the garden. The sun’s out. What a difference from just a couple of weeks back. The woods are so busy and there’s singing all day long. I won’t be needing my ‘big coat’ again for ages - or so I hope, not that it’s had many outings at all this past season.

Our lady Pheasant total is seven regulars plus one occasional and the lads, here they are with one teeny Robin in their midst. They’re a really good example of little and large getting along well together.

The House Sparrows regular perch by the Conifers caught my eye out of the side window and this time it’s occupied by a Blackbird and a Song Thrush who were having a little tussle. Despite the size difference, the Thrush wasn’t daunted and it didn’t really amount to anything. By the way, I’m still working on the mystery bird that I can’t identify from that same spot. I’m veering towards a very small female House Sparrow perhaps, kind of small Dunnock sized. I’d almost settled on a Dunnock but think the colours are much rich. I’ll post when I think I’ve decided, but I wouldn’t hold your breath in anticipation to be honest.

This morning the Blackbird was visiting on the roof and then while I was on the phone to Ms NW tE, we had a Goldfinch visit at the birdbath. It’s hard to capture a shot at the best of times, as you know well, but one handed whilst chatting, impossible. Crow has kept watch and declared that the Goldie dips its head for a quick drink exactly three times and then takes off quick sharp.

A rather damp Blackbird

Yesterday though I had a good viewing and took loads of photos. It was late in the afternoon as I’d gone upstairs to draw the curtains, so it wasn’t great light for pics and, because of who it was, it turns out most of them look identical.

The Reveal

Sparrowhawk is back, so I’m going to have a really good look at them here because it’s been a while since I spotted one.

The kind of good news is that Sparrowhawks can only thrive if their prey is present in good numbers and has a healthy population. Here’s the fact file

Scientific name: Accipiter nisus

Family: Buzzards, kites & allies

Status: Resident breeder and passage migrant

Breeding pairs: 35,000

Wintering birds: 100,000

Conservation status: Green

Length: 28 – 39 cm

Wingspan: 60 – 67cm

Weight: 110 – 350g

Average lifespan: 4 years

When I say the photos are all the same, it’s quite incredible how patiently birds of prey can sit still, observing and biding their time.

Sparrowhawks are small, broad and rounded-winged raptors with long tails and long, thin yellow legs. They can be difficult to spot but we usually remember to look out for one when we realise the feeders have gone quiet and we can’t see any birds around. We know all their regular perches.

The male bird is somewhere between a Blackbird and a Collared Dove in size, although the one below looks larger. He will have a blue-slate grey back and white underparts showing rufous barring and reddish cheeks. You’ll notice they are greyer on the breast and belly areas

The white flight feathers have conspicuous dark grey bars.The bill is hooked and is grey with a black tip and yellow cere.

Females have reddish cheeks, brownish-grey upperparts and less rufous barring than the male. They have a more prominent white line above the eye. 

Female Sparrowhawks are about twice the weight of males, one of the largest differences between sexes in any bird of prey. This enables her to carry extra body reserves needed for reproduction and to go for several days without a meal, but it also means she is a less agile hunter than the male. Females are therefore more likely to take larger prey like Pigeons and males will typically hunt small songbirds. Sometimes they ambush their prey from a perch, while other times they may fly low, suddenly changing direction to fool it.

After a while, when they’re patiently staking out the territory, you see the bird standing on one leg only, I’m presuming, but it’s the same technique Elephants use, I think and is possibly the origin of ‘take the weight off...’ (your feet) meaning to sit and rest.

Between May and July, Sparrowhawks nest in dense woodland, so we have a good environment for them here. Both male and female build the nest inthe fork of a tree. It’s a platform made of sticks and twigs with little or no additional vegetation for comfort. The female lays 2-7 white eggs that are smooth and glossy and have a bluish tint and dark brown markings. She incubates the eggs for 32-34 days and until they’re old enough to be left alone, the male bird will hunt to feed both the female and their brood. Chicks fledge at 26-30 days but will be fed for a further month or thereabouts, by both their parents. 

Juvenile Sparrowhawks are similar to the female but with browner upperparts and wider stripes on the underparts than adults.

Sparrowhawks reach sexual maturity between 1 and 3 years.

I think today’s looks like a young adult female.

She’s taken up the same location as this smaller male in a photo from my picture library. See what I mean about the Big Coat title, although she looks less like a coat wearer and more as though she favours a sweeping cape.

Over the centuries the natural balance between Sparrowhawks and their prey had meant that hawk numbers remained stable. They’ve no serious predators, although chicks and fledglings can be taken by Pine Martens and Goshawks. This threat isn’t really significant as both of these are scarce in the UK.

In the 1800s, however, they suffered persecution at the hands of Victorian trophy hunters or landowners and gamekeepers. Even today we’re seeing distressing reports of various birds of prey being targeted.

During the Second World War their numbers began to recover, but by 1950 they were declining again as a result of the widespread use of organochlorine pesticides, such as DDT. These accumulated in the birds and resulted in a number of problems, including thinning of eggshells that reduced breeding success. By the late 1950s Sparrowhawk numbers crashed across the UK, and they almost disappeared from eastern England where the use of these pesticides was heaviest. It took until 1986 for DDT to be banned in the UK.

Also from the library, hiding in the big tree at the end of the garden

As well as feeding on birds, Sparrowhawks will also catch rodents, young hares, rabbits and other small mammals. Some people are worried that Sparrowhawks eat too many small birds and cause their population to fall, or even become extinct. Emotions can cloud the fact that the scientific research points to the contrary. Long-term scientific studies have shown that Sparrowhawks generally have no, or little impact on songbird populations, but I can speak from personal experience how distressing it is to witness the hunt and kill and it’s a reason why we removed the window feeder.

It is also worth remembering that Sparrowhawks and songbirds have existed side by side for thousands of years without any detrimental effect on songbird numbers. Food availability and the number of suitable nesting sites naturally restrict the number of Sparrowhawks in an area.

Small birds can rear between five and 15 young in a season. In the absence of predators such as Sparrowhawks, the vast majority of these would die anyway, of starvation or disease. The reason that small birds raise so many young is an evolutionary adaptation because so many will perish.

Only one or two of these 5-15 young need to survive and breed in order to keep the songbird population stable. If they all survived to breed there wouldn't be enough nest holes, caterpillars or territories to support such numbers.

Sparrowhawks remove the most vulnerable individuals, so those with the best escape tactics thrive. The fittest and healthiest are much more likely to breed successfully and produce a greater number of fitter young birds that have a better chance of survival.

If habitat is diverse and contains plenty of food and cover for small birds, the balance is tipped further in favour of the prey. It’s why we have feeders hanging from the towers and near the shelter of the multi stemmed palm.

So there we have it, both sides of the story. I always say that we’re lucky we can pop to a shop or order in, birds and animals have to start each day hunting for the food they need for themselves and their families. It’s all the circle of life, even though we don’t like to witness it and you’ve got to admit that the Raptors are a truly magnificent group of birds, imposing, majestic and beautiful just as much as their tiny relatives.

FUN FACT:

The colour of a Sparrowhawk’s eyes changes and depends on its age and gender. Typically younger birds have greenish-yellow eyes which become brighter yellow within the first couple of years of their life. In some older Sparrowhawks, the eye colour can become orange or, occasionally, in males even turn to a shade of red. 

♦ all bird photos above are my own

For comparison

Photo credit: Birdspot UK

Goshawks were all but extinct as a breeding bird in the UK by the end of the 19th century due to loss of woodland habitat and persecution from gamekeepers. Deliberate and accidental reintroductions have seen the population slowly recover.

Measurements:Length:48-62cm

Wingspan:135-165cm

Weight:600-1,100g (male); 900-2,000g (female)

UK breeding:280-430 pairs

FROM THE NEWS THIS WEEK:

The ultimate BIG Coat!

The ultimate Before photo

A rogue overgrown sheep found roaming through regional Australia has been shorn of his 35kg (77lbs) fleece – a weight even greater than that of the famous New Zealand sheep, Shrek, who was captured in 2005 after six years on the loose. Imagine carrying that excess weight around with you...although I’m beginning to feel a bit the same myself!

The merino ram, dubbed Baarack by rescuers, was discovered wandering alone with an extraordinarily overgrown wool coat, and was promptly shorn to save his life.

What a smart young man he is, with his little light designer coat. Hope he gets a Spring in his step now.

You can read the full story Here (outside link)

#nature birds photography

[halothenthehorns]

TLTNLT- THE EYE OF THE SNAKE

Lily eyed the book with worry before glancing to Harry. She wanted to volunteer they stop for the night, at least on the good note of Hagrid's return.

"Don't even Lily," James began pleading at once, recognizing the look on her face as she eyed the book, though it wasn't her turn. "Please, we haven't gotten to hear about the twins revenge yet for what Umbridge did to my boy! After that, I swear I'll back you on calling it a night." She couldn't help but give in quick enough, she wouldn't mind hearing a little comeuppance for that toad as well.

Sirius refused to get up to get the book though and demanded James just throw it to him, it dissolved into an argument of who was lazier, and Remus solved the debate by Summoning the book to him and then smacking Sirius upside the head while Lily did the same to James.

Sirius snatched the book away but waited patiently for Harry's joyful laughter to subside, they knew they were all going to long for that noise too soon again.

Hermione ploughed her way back to Hagrid's cabin through two feet of snow on Sunday morning.

"Dedication," Sirius chuckled.

The boys would have gone with her, but their homework refused to allow otherwise.

"No, I think that one wins," Remus sighed.

  It was difficult to concentrate, as someone was enchanting snowballs to fly into their common room window. Ron finally lost his patience after an hour of this and shot his head out, telling whoever it was below that as prefect he'd put someone in detention if one more- then he shouted in pain.

"At least someone around there knows the proper response to that," James chuckled.

He pulled his snow covered face back in to announce it was Fred and George.

All five of them started chuckling, but suddenly Sirius was even harder than before, and he wouldn't stop for several moments until finally he ran out of air and then his shoulders were still shaking.

"You know you're going to have to explain that," Remus said conversationally while watching his friend fall to pieces.

"Think back to the last time the twins were mentioned throwing snowballs," Sirius insisted, now watching the others gleefully for them to get the joke.

"Err, last year, we had a snowball fight with them," Harry offered.

"No, farther back," Sirius insisted.

James got it first, his eyes widening with some fascinating combination of fear and unrestrained humor. "The twins, were pegging Quirrell, with snowballs..." he trailed off in a strange tone of voice, but the twitching smile creeping across his face was threatening the same reaction as Sirius' soon.

"On the back of the head, where," Remus tried, and failed, to finish though the other two realized already and felt their mouth's flop open.

"Merlin's beard," Lily whispered, glancing to the first book and feeling the urge to start praying Quirrell never divulged who it was doing that or the twins would be next on Voldemort's list after her own son.

James couldn't help falling into the same laughing fit as Sirius had now, and Harry joined in uneasily like he was still half fighting back the urge to scream at the idea.

Remus just pressed hard at his temples, now fearing for his friends lives. They may very well start laughing in Voldemort's face the next time they came across him if this crossed their minds at the wrong time.

Sirius kept going with a grin still stuck in place, he hoped Harry had shared that little bit of information with them or he'd be very disappointed.*

Hermione came back around lunch, Ron at once asking if she'd planned his lessons out for him?

"I was surprised she didn't start doing that when he was spending a whole year on flobberworms," Remus sighed.

Hermione admitted she'd tried,

"The sad part is, she's not actually kidding," James chuckled.

before explaining she'd been there the first half hour knocking and he hadn't even been there.

"Why?" Lily demanded of the poor girl. "Go fetch yourself a nice warm cuppa and come back, clearly he was out doing his gamekeeping."

"Credit for determination?" Remus offered weakly.

When he did come back, it was from the Forest, causing Harry to groan in trepidation. That place was teeming with the sort of creatures that would get Hagrid fired.

"Hagrid has to do work in there as well as the grounds," Sirius corrected, "remember the unicorns from your first year? He self obligates to tend to any injured creature in his reach."

"This doesn't automatically mean his first lesson back has to do with something in there," Remus agreed, though Harry hardly looked convinced.

He asked what was being kept in there,

"I'm sure I could spend an hour telling you all the creatures in there, and Hagrid probably has a cataloged book on them," James chuckled.

but Hermione said he refused to explain. She'd still tried to explain to him why it was so important he go over lessons about Knarls rather than Chimeras, while instantly telling the terrified faces of the boys she doubted he had a Chimera.

"Hagrid's disappointing me then," Remus said with a blank face, leaving his friends unsure how much of a joke he meant that. He'd certainly been excited enough about dragons...

Though it didn't seem to be from lack of trying, considering he'd mentioned how hard it was to get eggs.

Remus cracked and began snickering with laughter while the other two rolled their eyes.

He still wouldn't even explain to her how he'd gotten those injuries.

Lily couldn't help but go back to worrying her lip at this, but he was still up and moving so she was at least convinced he was fine. She wished she could know what had gone wrong, to warn the poor dear so this never had to happen to him, but at least he was back at school and away from whatever had happened.

Hagrid's reappearance at the staff table at breakfast next day was not greeted by enthusiasm from all students.

All five of them scoffed, thinking he should have gotten a standing ovation for what he'd been out doing.

The twins and Lee made the event noticeable at least, by running up to the staff table and wringing his hand in a welcoming greeting,

The Marauders began laughing even harder, knowing they'd have done the exact same thing.

though most like Parvati and Lavender exchanged glum looks. The very smallest of Harry's unbiased opinion even understood why, at least Grubbly-Plank's idea of an interesting lesson didn't involve getting heads ripped off.

"Where on Earth has your sense gone?" James demanded deadpan, though not as well as he'd liked as he couldn't help nodding in slight agreement. He adored Hagrid and there was no better gamekeeper, but it wouldn't kill the man to stop putting his son in extra danger like some of his previous creatures had caused.

They trekked down to his first class back with heavy trepidation, with only minimal relief to see only the usual Slytherins present, Umbridge hadn't arrived yet and Harry was not looking forward to how they'd likely act worse than usual with her around.

Sirius was already flush with anger at the thought, in some distant way he almost found it remarkable how he could continue wanting to punch the same person in the face repeatedly, he was more than used to that feeling, and was just having to redirect it.

However, the High Inquisitor was nowhere to be seen as they struggled through the snow towards Hagrid,

"Probably because it goes over her head and she got lost," James said with relish.

"Let's hope she goes wandering into the Forest and never comes out," Remus grumbled.

who was not a reassuring sight, his bruises now turning green and yellow,

"That means they're starting to heal, even if they aren't the prettiest sight," Lily began smiling with relief.

and some of his cuts still seemed to be bleeding.

They all frowned uneasily at that though, but James quickly tried to reassure, "maybe he's just, err, picking at them, you know scratching at the scabs." None of them really believed this, Hagrid should have the self restraint not to, but they couldn't think up anything else.

Harry could not understand this: had Hagrid perhaps been attacked by some creature whose venom prevented the wounds it inflicted from healing?

Sirius practically felt the cold chill wash off of Harry beside him, looking over with worry to see he'd gone ghastly pale and was shivering at the mention of this. He opened his mouth in concern, but Harry was already forcing himself to remain out of the moment, pinching the bridge of his nose and breathing deeply before looking around at them. He did not try to offer a comforting smile, just nodded to show he was fine and turned back to Sirius. There was still something dark lingering in his eyes, washing Sirius with a now familiar deep worry. He hadn't seen Harry this afraid to learn something since the end of last year, when Cedric had died...but no, this must be something else, maybe he was remembering the basilisk too vividly, no one else was going to die!

Sirius exchanged a look with the others, but when Harry felt like the silence was going to smother him he forced himself to find his voice and pleaded, "it's alright, really, I don't know what that was about but it's certainly nothing to do with Hagrid's class," even this small memory he offered made him twitch with unease even as he relaxed for that being true, and Sirius forced himself to keep going for at least that miniscule comfort.

As though to complete the ominous picture, Hagrid was carrying what looked like half a dead cow over his shoulder.

Remus couldn't help but snort in surprise, making Harry smile despite himself.

He gave them the happy greeting of telling them they'd be working in the Forest today.

Lily couldn't help but groan in frustration, she felt like tearing out her hair at her boy now being forced to go back in there again.

"Calm down dear," James placated even as he kept a worried eye on Harry, but though he was frowning his words still seemed to be true, he wasn't afraid of the Forest, much, at least not to the level of whatever memory he'd nearly remembered. "We told you the older students go into the forest for some advanced Care of Magical Creatures classes. Hagrid is doing this a bit early, usually only NEWT students do, but when has Hagrid ever been conventional?" He laughed at the end like something was actually funny.

Lily didn't join in, but she didn't feel like yelling at Hagrid, as much, either.

Malfoy got panicky at once, demanding to know what was in there?

All of the boys couldn't help a dark chuckle for this.

Harry couldn't help but smile watching Malfoy squirm. Ever since his last Quidditch match, anything that caused Malfoy discomfort was good with him.

Even Lily couldn't help a twisted little smile for that. Of all the times she'd detested that sport for multiple reasons, she'd never condone something that made her son so upset, and clearly losing his spot on the team because of this twerp meant he deserved far worse than just a little discomfort.

Hagrid ignored this and beckoned them all to start following him, explaining over his shoulder that he had the only domesticated ones in Britain.

Remus couldn't help his level of interest rise. He completely trusted Hagrid's words on this and was hoping Harry was experiencing something he hadn't gotten to in his own classes with Kettleburn, and was now resisting the urge to snatch the book away from Sirius with curiosity.

Malfoy's voice lost none of its panic as he demanded how sure Hagrid was of this? It wouldn't be the first time he'd brought wild things here.

"I, well I mean the skrewts were," Lily struggled to both disagree with Malfoy and not make Hagrid come off too bad in that, but failed and the boys couldn't one hundred percent back her up either, so they let the awkward silence hang.

Hagrid scoffed of course they were trained, Malfoy countering by demanding what had happened to Hagrid's face then.

"Oh surely that's nothing to do with this," James said at once as Lily lost an extra shade of color. "If Hagrid says he's domesticated them than he did, that means it's been years since he's had whatever this is. No, I'm still convinced those injuries have something to do with whatever happened on the way back from the giants."

"Something that made Maxime come home early and leave him to himself," Lily reminded a little snippy. Even knowing it hadn't been Maxime to rat out Hagrid last year, she was still a little cold towards the woman who'd caused him so much pain in her original down turn of him, though she'd been suppressing it since clearly Hagrid had forgiven her.

"I'm positive that was Hagrid convincing her to do so, which makes me wonder if Hagrid did come across some new creature and he didn't want her to get hurt," Sirius tried.

"Which still has nothing to do with this actual lesson," James finished with conviction, as he felt that had made his original point.

Lily wasn't entirely convinced, but as they had nothing more to go on, let it go.

Hagrid snapped that was none of his business and to stop asking stupid questions.

"I love Hagrid," Sirius chuckled.

They stopped so deep into the Forest there was no longer snow on the ground, and Hagrid dumped the cow carcass in a semi clear patch of trees.

"Do I want to know what happened to the other half?" Harry muttered with unease.

"Was probably breakfast for whatever this is," Remus said with far too much eagerness in his opinion. "Now he's coming out with more, as more than likely they haven't wandered off too far since then."

The class stayed very far back into the trees, peering around as if expecting to be pounced upon any moment. Hagrid hardly took notice of this as he told them they'd soon be attracted by the smell of blood, but he was going to give them a call to let them know it was him.

Remus was clearly listening with the most interest, a smile on his face Harry hadn't seen since they'd been talking about the Skrewts. He was so busy silently laughing at his utter enthusiasm for this, and his friends clear indulgence as they were not so silently snickering at his clear interest at this, his memory pain from before was easily being put to rest for now.

He shook back his shaggy head and gave a shrieking cry like some monstrous bird.

"Oh!" Remus' smile didn't at all dim even as he clearly understood what was going on while Sirius nodded in the same way. "You're going to love this lesson Harry."

"Why's that?" He couldn't even pretend at uneasiness with how happy the both of them were. He glanced to his parents who both shrugged, they didn't recognize the noise.

Remus and Sirius exchanged a look, but then they both smirked and neither would tell Harry, though clearly sure of themselves Remus was right.

Hagrid did so three more times before stopping and smiling at a space between two gnarled trees where a pair of blank, white eyes were shining, and soon a dragonish face emerged followed by the skeletal body of a black winged horse.

Harry gasped in surprised pleasure while Lily and James grinned as well for finally getting the joke.

"You tossers," James happily scowled at the two, "you couldn't have just said it was Hagrid's way of calling the thestrals."

"Where would be the fun in that?" Sirius chuckled.

"It's not like we were one hundred percent sure," Remus batted his eyes innocently. "Kettleburn had to get Hagrid to bring one to our class in our last year, he'd only been trying to domesticate them only a few years previously and we only got to see the one, so we weren't positive that was how Hagrid got their attention."

"You both recognized that noise and you know it," Lily rolled her eyes at them while Harry was now bouncing eagerly in place. Even having these creatures explained to him already, he was still eager to finally have the memory returned from his own time, at least then Ron wouldn't think him crazy anymore.

It watched the class for a second before disregarding them and moving to the cow and eating.

Harry watched this in relief for a real answer of these things, looking eagerly to Ron, who was still looking everywhere else before uneasily asking why Hagrid had stopped calling for it?

Lily fidgeted with a bit of hair as the question occurred to her, but she didn't want to ask as it felt rude. Harry clearly had no restraints as he blurted the question. "Who's Hagrid seen die?"

"His dad," Sirius said, the smile beginning to dim as he recalled, "he explained that to us when he was leading out a rope with nothing on the other end."

"So you can't actually see them?" Harry said in surprise.

"I can now," entirely losing the smile now. "Couldn't then."

Harry felt bad for his question at once, glancing uneasily around and realizing they'd all be able to see them now just from the looks on their faces, and no longer had the courage to ask.

Most of the class were the same, except Neville who was watching with distaste at the gorging, and a Slytherin who was watching the swishing tail with unease.

"Oh," Lily murmured as she brushed her nails uneasily through her hair.

Remus and Sirius nodded without surprise though. Their classes hadn't even been as large as Harry's and half the class had been able to see them.

Two more arrived moments later, Hagrid turning to properly face the class and asking for those who could see them to raise their hand.

When Harry did, Hagrid nodded, saying he wasn't seriously surprised.

"How would he know whether I could or not," Sirius blurted out, then scowled at Remus when he pinched him, but then they all grinned as Harry again laughed at the joke.

Malfoy demanded what exactly were they supposed to be seeing?

For answer, Hagrid gestured again at the carcass. There was a beat of silence, before several people gasped in shock and took a step back. Harry supposed it would be an even stranger sight to watch bits of flesh being stripped away and then vanishing.

"Certainly an interesting experience," Remus chuckled.

Hagrid explained they were called thestrals, causing Hermione to oh in surprise.

"I wonder if you'd told her about this instead of Ron if she'd put it together?" James asked.

"Not sure, depends on if the books do or don't say what's pulling the carriages, otherwise I wouldn't really think she'd make this particular leap," Sirius shrugged.

"If Harry'd described them, I bet she would have," Remus defended.

Parvatie seemed even more alarmed at this, saying she'd been told they brought misfortune to those who could see them.

"That's just superstition, like Muggles and black cats," Sirius scoffed. James looked confused why such a thing would be a superstition, but decided against asking.

"I'm pretty sure by the time you do see them, you've been as unlucky as it's possible to be," Remus grumbled. 

Trelawney had told her-

"Why am I not surprised?" Lily rolled her eyes in exasperation.

but Hagrid cut her off to properly explain that was just a superstition. They were extremely clever. These didn't get any work besides pulling the schools carriages though, and occasionally Dumbledore asked to use one to fly somewhere when he didn't feel like apparating.

As he kept speaking more were arriving, one brushing past Parvati who squealed in alarm, though Hagrid insisted they had nothing to be afraid of. Then he asked the class why only some of them could see them?

Hermione raised her hand.

"Those who are surprised, please raise their hand," James rolled his eyes.

Once called on, she said it was because only those who had seen death had the ability.

Hagrid gave her ten points before stopping in confusion upon the hem, hem noise.

Sirius made a guttural noise in outrage, all too willing to feed this owl treat to the thestral, though she'd hardly be big enough to qualify as a snack.

Harry felt a funny little feeling rising in him, the idea of Umbridge in the Forest caused such a huge stirring in him that must be more significant than her studying one of Hagrid's classes...

Hagrid stopped in surprise. Never having heard this before, he looked to the nearest thestral in concern as if coming from it.

Remus threw his head back in laughter, probably a little too amused but unable to help himself.

When made again though,

Now the lot of them were giggling, still more at Remus' reaction.

Hagrid spotted her and greeted her still with a friendly tone.

She took no notice of this, speaking again in the loud voice as if he were slow.

Remus stopped laughing at that, but a smile lingered in place that gave Harry the creeps. He didn't usually find Remus that scary, ironically he found him the most open and friendliest as his dad and Sirius had this way of looking sometimes that made him want to duck for cover. Yet this wasn't the first time he'd seen evidence Remus could be the scariest one of all. It was clear in this instance that though he usually ducked away and tried to ignore what people thought of him though, he wasn't going to let anyone be thinking or doing anything like that around Hagrid.

Reminding him his inspection was today.

Hagrid agreed happily that she'd found the place, asking if she could see what they were doing today?

"Death is scarier than her face, so maybe," Sirius snapped.

Umbridge pretended as if she couldn't hear him, cupping her hand to her ear in confusion.

Lily's mouth popped open in outrage. She'd seen evidence of this the first time, but clearly the woman was going to keep putting on a show, and the thought of ringing her neck was clearly starting to look like a kindness.

Hagrid frowned in confusion as he began explaining thestrals, but as Umbridge kept the charade up, Hagrid flapped his hands and mimed horses hopefully.

Umbridge made a note on her clipboard about how he had to resort to sign language to communicate.

James spluttered with indignation and set the little table on fire, though he hadn't consciously pulled out his wand.

Harry scrambled for a moment to recall a spell to put it out, and Lily realized a moment later that anger wasn't her mind's manifestation but she really did have to wave her wand to vanish that.

Though they all had the understanding of why she was doing this to Hagrid, the fury it pushed them all to for treating him like this was just as bad as what Voldemort had been known to do. How could this horrid walking soulless monster claim to be anything else while treating him like that!

Hagrid clearly heard, but turned back to the class disoriented and tried to think back to what he'd been saying before her arrival.

She made a note of this as well, saying he had short term memory.

Lily wrapped her hands tight around James', both to still her own hands and his from setting anything else on fire.

Malfoy looked as though Christmas had come a month early;

"Great, I got his present all ready, hope he enjoys his new coffin," Sirius snarled.

Hermione, on the other hand, had turned scarlet with suppressed rage.

"She's far more restraint than us," Remus said flatly. "I'd have already given her a fat lip for starters."

Hagrid gave her another uneasy look before ploughing on back to patting the first to arrive, a male named Tenebrus-

"That was the one he brought to your class?" Harry tried valiantly to keep up any tone that didn't promise murder.

"Yep." The one word answer from Remus was not encouraging.

but Umbridge cut him off to ask if he was aware the Ministry classified Thesterals as dangerous?

"They classify anything more than a kelpie dangerous," Sirius' lip curled in disgust, shifting protectively towards Remus, who for once was so angry on someone' else's behalf he hardly recognized the intended slur against him.

Hagrid only chuckled, saying they weren't anything of the sort. Sure they may take a bite at you if you annoy them-

Umbridge made another comment on her notes about how he clearly enjoyed violence.

"Well I guess we all share that trait, and she's perfected it," Lily hissed.

Causing Hagrid to start looking anxious as he corrected a dog would do the same if put in that spot, but thestrals just had a bad reputation.

Remus sighed heavily. He would have quite enjoyed chatting about this, he found it a great way to put into perspective many misunderstood creatures, but as that woman would be classified as more dangerous than a dragon to him, now didn't seem the time.

Umbridge did not respond to that, but instead continued miming out her actions for him too obviously while saying she was going to start asking the students questions and he should continue.

Sirius was white knuckling the book by the end of this, never having been more tempted in his life to turn into Padfoot for the act of revenge from this woman being eaten by a creature. He'd never envisioned using his animal as anything more than a friend to Moony, but this woman managed to taint something he'd only ever seen as a good side of himself.

Hagrid stared at her, clearly at a complete loss to understand why she was acting as though he did not understand normal English.

"It's almost kinder this way, more deniability later when he claims not to know anything about her murder of being strung up in a tree," James huffed.

Hermione had tears of fury in her eyes.

Lily was close to that urge as well, and she couldn't even act on it, so she almost envied Hermione as well as wanted to snap at her to get on with setting her on fire.

Hagrid tried to keep his flow, but was again distracted by Umbridge turning to Pansy and asking how well she understood Hagrid?

James's hands were shaking in fury underneath Lily's grip. He couldn't believe Hagrid was letting this woman do this to him. Then again, he'd also been letting Malfoy get away with this for the past two years. He couldn't comprehend why Hagrid wouldn't stand up for himself and tell this woman to shove that clipboard up her arse.

Like Hermione, Pansy had tears in her eyes, though these were of mirth. Her answer was almost incoherent from her suppressed giggling.

Somewhere in there was a fascinating parallel between these two girls, but it was too clouded with anger from everyone else to be paid much mind by anyone who would.

She still half managed to say no, it mostly sounded like grunting. Umbridge made a note of this while Hagrid flushed beneath his bruises but refused to let himself stall again, telling the class

At least Remus still had the clarity of mind to acknowledge this as the correct response rather than wanting to drown her in a pile of dung like he still wanted to.

about their amazing sense of direction. Just tell them the place you wanted to go, and a thestral would get you there.

Harry felt a feeling buzzing at the back of his mind, frowning for a whole new reason that had a terrible connection to this scenario. In the Forbidden Forest, looking at Thestrals, needing some place to go...even Sirius reading was mounting that feeling into an actual panic at just trying to connect these dots, but then a warning sting had his eyes watering from the pain of thinking about this too long and he was forced to let the threads unravel again. The others were still too angry at what Umbridge was doing to have noticed this time.

Assuming they could understand you, Malfoy mocked loudly enough everyone heard. Umbridge smiled indulgently while Hagrid stumbled off with another blush.

Umbridge turned to Neville then and asked who'd he seen die?

Lily's face gained an extra blanch in fury, it seemed quite the miracle in itself Umbridge was managing to find every way possible to anger her.

Neville answered his grandfather, while Umbridge kept going without a care and asking what he thought of them?

Neville gave Hagrid an anxious look before saying they were okay.

Umbridge noted this by instead jotting down the students were too frightened to speak their mind.

"You're too stupid to realize how little time you have left to breathe," Sirius vowed.

Neville tried to correct her that wasn't it-

Lily made a guttural noise that was probably meant to be sympathetic if it had been less angry.

but Umbridge was now ignoring him as well.

She turned back and mimed one last time she'd send Hagrid his results,

"That wasn't an inspection," Lily howled furiously, "that was a persecution that should have been your execution!"

before leaving.

Hermione was hissing about that foul, lying, twisted old gargoyle,

"I'm running out of insults. Those weren't quite as bad as I was hoping for, but it's good Hermione's keeping it fresh," James seethed.

as they headed back to the castle thirty minutes later after class. Demanding of the two if they could see what she was up to.

"Certainly doesn't take a blind man," Remus huffed.

Answering for herself it was Umbridge's thing against half-breed's! She was going to treat Hagrid like a troll because of his giantess mother! It wasn't fair!

"Nothing in my life seems fair," Harry muttered to himself, his anger bleeding out into something far worse. He was getting scared. Now that Umbridge had come and gone with such a blatant abuse of her power, he couldn't help fearing what was going to happen to Hagrid because of it. She couldn't possibly find a way to send him back to Azkaban could she?

That hadn't even been a bad lesson!

Ron did remind that Umbridge had said they were dangerous.

James actually made the motion like he was going to smack Ron upside the head. "Since when does Ron take anything that lime toadstool says over Hagrid?"

"He was just arguing with Hermione, like he always does," Harry sighed, though he'd given Ron an affronted look for that too at the time.

Hermione impatiently explained it was just as Hagrid said, they were able to take care of themselves, in fact they were really interesting. She wished she could see them.

That cooled most of their anger. While right in line with Hermione's fury, she had no idea what she'd really just asked for, giving them all a moment of surprise. As mature as Hermione acted, they forgot sometimes these three were still only fifteen when this was happening.

Harry quietly asked her if she really did, and she looked suddenly horror struck.

Lily hummed with a small smile on her face, at least Hermione was always quick on the uptake, even her own mistakes.

She began apologizing, saying what a stupid thing that had been to say, but Harry told her to just move past it.

She did by saying in surprise how many could, three in one class.

"I envy the generation where that's the good news," James muttered.

Malfoy came upon them again to ask if Weasley would be able to see the Quaffle if he watched someone snuff it.

"Do you think he could see the Snitch better with two black eyes?" Sirius barked in fury.

He didn't wait for a response as he walked off laughing with his friends, Hermione telling them both to ignore him.

"I hate it when she tries that advice," Harry groaned. "It never actually makes me feel better."

"Doesn't usually stop you when you decide to retaliate either," Remus said grimly, "and this time seemed appropriate."

The holidays were approaching, and the castle was showing it. Ron and Hermione's prefect duties were becoming more demanding, Ron's commentary on them keeping Harry updated, such as the time he'd had to try putting up tinsel with Peeves on the other end trying to strangle him,

"A tradition in itself," Remus at least tried for a friendlier tone of voice, though Sirius still seemed too down to put his usual enthusiasm into the holiday. He supposed it was of some comfort Hagrid hadn't been kicked out of the castle his first day back though.

or when he'd had to watch over the first and second years on their break times and he complained they'd never been such cheeky snots at that age,

"Oh no, you were far worse, as you had more practice at home," James promised.

"He's not even speaking from experience with that one," Lily said with a faint smile, "believe it or not, he didn't give his parents as much hell as you'd think." She told Harry.

"Gave me more credibility when the teachers tried to tell my parents I did something, they thought I was an angel," James batted his eyes innocently while Sirius snorted and rolled his eyes, properly informing Harry, "or they just indulged him and me too much not to think half the stunts we pulled weren't funny."

and of course having to do patrols with Filch who had dung for brains.

"Least some things never change," Lily said wistfully, and students complaining about Filch was always a common one.

Hermione had her own growing problems, worrying about all those poor elves she hadn't managed to free yet and were stuck here over Christmas.

Sirius frowned at the pages, having some real questions for Hermione about all this. Did she really think she was releasing elves, and the castle wouldn't be showing it? That someone wouldn't be investigating this even if her plan was working? Hermione could easily get into big trouble if she even was, he wouldn't be surprised if the Ministry charged her with theft and all sorts of things. He left all of that to himself though, since she wasn't doing a thing, and instead was distantly amused at her worrying over something so foolish to him.

Harry, who had not had the heart to tell her that Dobby was taking everything she made,

"I can see the pro's of that," James chuckled.

"Though I still think that could have been an educational moment for her," Remus frowned.

"Only if she'd listened and realized the way she should have," Lily disagreed, "and I'm not entirely sure she would have yet, if ever," she finished with a fond smile for the girls tenacity.

bent further over his essay so she didn't have to see his face. He wasn't particularly looking forward to this holiday, as for the first time since he'd been here he wanted to spend it away from Hogwarts.

Sirius couldn't help but perk up with interest at that. He hadn't thought about it too much last year, enjoying himself in provoking Harry in the mix of his Yule Ball failings, but now he wondered just what he'd been up to last year at this time. Had he and Remus finally managed to regain one of their own traditions and spent the holiday together? Or had he spent it alone in that old cave with Buckbeak, wondering if Harry would make an appearance and amuse him by ignoring his rules by coming out of the castle to see him.

Between his ban on Quidditch and his worry about Hagrid he was feeling far more resentful than the holiday spirit of this place.

"I don't even blame you," Remus sighed in agreement, thinking the Burrow would be a relief even with Molly and Sirius in one place compared to this storm of a castle.

The only thing he ever looked forward to anymore were the DA meetings, and those would have to stop over break as nearly all the members were going home. Hermione was going skiing,

James opened his mouth curiously in confusion, but Harry promised Hermione explained it to Ron.

which she'd explained to Ron's confusion about how Muggles strapped narrow boards to their feet to go down a mountain.

James's eyes widened in even more confusion and perhaps a little concern at this idea, before Lily began giggling without restraint and promising James it was in fact great fun. Though never having had the pleasure of doing this herself, she was now promising him they could do this together and he would never turn down such an offer.

Ron was going home to the Burrow, and Harry endured several days of envy before asking Ron how he'd be leaving and Ron mentioning in surprise Harry was coming with him, his mum had told him so weeks ago.

Lily snorted and shook her head in exasperation while the boys all chuckled at what they'd felt was implied by this point.

Harry brightened at once at the idea, but somehow felt all the more guilty as he thought of Sirius. He wondered if he could persuade Molly to invite his godfather over.

"But of course she will," James looked scandalized anyone could think otherwise. "Even she couldn't have the heart to leave him alone in that place, I've been half hoping he's been sneaking over to the Burrow just to get some air now and again."

Sirius grinned at his best mate for the overly protective words that he wasn't convinced were true. It was impossible to imagine his life without James, but he had the nasty feeling he was hardly up for leaving his bed to sulk anywhere that wasn't the fireplace in hopes for someone to be around being in that place all alone. He doubted his spark of life would lead him into doing something like James suggested being in that mood, he'd need one of his friends around to give that back to him.

Even though he doubted Dumbledore would permit Sirius to leave Grimmauld Place anyway,

"Dumbledore needs to stop having a say in everything," Remus snapped hatefully. He never in his life would have thought he'd say any such thing, but regarding Sirius being locked away in that place he knew would always be an exception. Just the thought of it was putting a damper on his lively friend!

he couldn't just think of leaving Sirius alone with Kreacher.

Sirius tried for laughter at the idea, but it came out too twisted. None of the others refused to even nurse the idea, there was just no chance Molly was that cold hearted. No matter her feelings about Sirius' personality, even if she did value Dumbledore's rules as an absolute law, she must see what that place was doing to Sirius! No mother could look at him and think what was happening to him was in any way good for him!

Harry arrived in the Room of Requirements for the last DA meeting early, and was glad he had, as Dobby had taken to decorating for the holiday.

"Naw!" Lily cooed at how sweet that was, while the boys just looked confused at such an odd gesture.

"How could you tell it was Dobby though?" James asked in surprise.

"Who else knows where this place is?" Sirius returned with a shrug, all of them missing the slightly appalled but vaguely amused look on Harry's face.

He'd known at once it was the house-elf, because nobody else would string up so many baubles that said 'Have a Very Harry Christmas!' with his face on it.

Sirius blinked slowly at this for a moment, before he tossed his head back in laughter, and began sliding down the couch with mirth. It might have been a touch forced at first, to ease away the bitter taint of thinking of his future again, but now he couldn't seem to stop. Harry wasn't particularly delighted to see no one was exactly trying to get him to either, but rather suppressing their own laughter.

Harry tugged the book away without remorse and kept going loudly over Sirius, who quickly recovered and tackled Harry, pinned him down and easily snatched the book back, sat on it and continued snickering to himself until he decided he was done before going on all while Harry rolled his eyes affectionately at his godfather. Moments like this making him truly feel sad for his own future, that he had no recollection of ever seeing Sirius this happy and full of life, and growing more worried all the time he never would.

Harry had only just managed to get the last of them down

"Why on Earth would you do such a thing, ruining his hard work!" Remus demanded still a bit breathlessly.

Harry just scowled at him without response.

when Luna came in and saw all of them in his hand, asking if he'd put them up.

Harry said no, it had been Dobby a house-elf.

"At least you acknowledged somebody else's work," Lily said through still wobbling lips.

Luna pointed out a few decorations he'd missed, such as mistletoe.

"I think you brought that one on yourself, not being the first thing you took down," Remus told him lightly while Sirius and James fell into renewed giggles.

Harry jumped away from that at once, Luna nodding seriously that was a good idea, it was known to be infested with Nargles.

Little tears of mirth were pouring out of Sirius' eyes, he'd hardly stopped giggling for a line in between getting all this out and this was only making things worse. He didn't yet have his voice back to properly make his joke, but that didn't stop him from trying, though it only came out a garbled mess that the others just shook their heads at, Harry almost looking disappointed when he kept going without repeating himself sensibly.

Harry was saved the necessity of asking what Nargles are by the arrival of Angelina, Katie and Alicia.

"Well now you're just disappointing me," Remus pouted, "I'd have loved for you to ask anyways."

"I'm sorry," Harry actually sounded like he meant it.

All three still had snow in their hair and were shaking their limbs from cold as Angelina announced he'd been replaced,

All of James' humor was wiped clean, looking like he'd been sucker punched in the gut for that reminder. Sirius too lost his sense of fun for the reminder of why no more Quidditch practices had been mentioned, that dower look on his pup could never be funny.

by Ginny Weasley.

"Well, well, well," Lily said in surprises, all the boys looking marginally impressed it was another Weasley to have made the team. Harry's reaction was a brilliant smile, like a proud sibling, but not quite right, Lily couldn't help but notice. He didn't seem at all agitated like she would have thought of learning of his replacement, and she frowned in thought as he began twirling the ring upon his finger yet again...

"I'm not surprised," Sirius smirked in some form of congratulations someone had taken this away from his pup. "Her whole family's got talent, it's only natural she'd get a portion!"

"Do we know if Percy is any good at the sport?" Remus said curiously.

"More important matters, who's broom was she using?" James pondered.

"Not Ron's, he's still using his," Sirius thought out.

"I may have guessed the twins if-" Remus began bitterly, but Harry cut in with an enthusiastic smile.

"I think it was the twins, or I mean, I think the twins bought her a broom, called it an early Christmas gift." He thought back to watching Ginny enthusiastically thanking the twins for something anyways.

"Oh, that was so sweet," Lily enthused.

"Wish they'd thought of that over the dress robes for Ron, but it is good to see them doing so much for their siblings," James fondly agreed.

Harry gaped in surprise as Angelina said she was pretty good, though not her first choice, but they couldn't have him... she trailed off with a dirty look at Harry.

The boys hardly noticed a thing about Harry's lack of the proper reaction he should have had, they were to belligerent for him he wasn't the one on the team and now Angelina wasn't helping anything.

Harry bit back his retort, did Angelina really think he wouldn't rather be there?

"Thank you!" Sirius barked, waving his hand impractically in Harry's face like he'd been saying the same thing in here, though he still had that funny smile in place. The thought had been crossing his mind frequently enough before he relearned Ginny's ability in Quidditch, and this seemed oddly significant to him for some reason...

He asked about the Beaters for a change of subject, and they were Jack Sloper and Andrew Kirkie, neither with much promising talent. Other members began showing up, saving Harry from further response so he didn't have to keep seeing Angelina's reproachful looks.

James scowled and shifted in agitation, thinking that earned Angelina a dung bomb under her bed for this repeated offense against his son. A little sympathy wouldn't kill her.

Harry began by telling them they'd only be reviewing today, no sense in starting something new right before a three-week break.

Sirius sighed, but didn't want to linger on anymore bad, they'd had enough of that already, so picked back up a chipper enough tone while telling Harry, "yet more evidence you took your learning smarts from Moony. Everybody loves the teacher that doesn't assign holiday work like practice."

Sirius' smirk widened as he managed to make Harry and Remus bluster with appreciation for the praise at once.

Zacharias became disgruntled at once, wishing loudly someone had told him there wasn't anything new, he wouldn't have come.

"Well then someone should have informed him," James rolled his eyes with regret.

Fred shot back he was sorry Harry hadn't told him then.

James whooped with delight, beating Sirius to his own joke when saying, "yes, I mimicked a twin, I win!"

"Win what exactly?" Sirius demanded with his own grin.

"Not sure, I'll let you know though," James promised.

"How about the right to tell Sirius he can't make that dumb joke anymore," Remus offered.

"You can make that yours," James waved off, his eyes lighting with something Harry had grown to associate with a Marauder story, "I think I've got something better."

Sirius met his eyes with a challenging stare of his own, going on without fear.

They broke off into the usual pairs and began going over some old spells, Harry doing a few with Neville before breaking off and passing around. When he got near Cho she beamed at him, and he had to resist the urge not to simply hover near her.

"Aw man, you mean she stopped trying to improvise her spell work around you?" Sirius smirked at Harry. "Also, I'm growing disappointed in you pup, I haven't heard one instance of you encouraging those private lessons she so clearly needed."

"Can my reward for not strangling him please be he stop making those jokes," Harry begged his father.

"I would never, this is an endless source of amusement," James snickered while Harry turned pleading eyes to his mum, who could only offer him sympathy at this point.

By the end Harry was swelling with pride as he watched their progress in comparison to the start of this group. Neville's spell only hit Dean rather than his target, a much closer miss than normal!

Harry let Sirius' teasing go, he couldn't seem to hold anything other than pride for those around him, his friends doing so well. He honestly believed they could have been just as great under any tutelage, he already knew they were all capable as Remus had been the start to them all understanding the work needed to go into this class.

Harry called a halt after an hour and told they were doing so well, when they got back he'd even start teaching them Patronuses.

"Ooh," Lily grinned, "now you're getting advanced."

"They've all caught up to all the spells I knew," Harry's smile increased at the idea, ignoring that pesky feeling about something regarding that for-coming lesson. "That was the last one I had preplanned, and it's a really difficult one."

"I know you'll get them through it without a problem," James said like this was obvious. "I am a bit curious how you plan to do it though."

"Hopefully he just starts with getting the spell down first for them, he doesn't need the extreme measures he had to go through, he can build up to that later." Remus offered with a small frown, no one wanted to hear of Harry around anymore dementors, even the boggart kind.

There was an air of excitement as they all left in the usual groups, most shouting a Happy Christmas to Harry as they departed. Harry hung back as Ron and Hermione left though, still hoping to receive one from Cho.

"Uh hu, and maybe a little something more," Sirius persisted, Harry's face turning a stunning new shade of red the others hadn't quite seen before. His memory was raising a flag of warning already for whatever was fixing to happen, and he had the desire to take the book away from Sirius again for a whole new reason.

He realized she was the last one left when she waved Marietta to go on and Harry felt a jolt go through him.

James wolf whistled while Harry pleaded with the ceiling to cave in.

He was watching all this from the corner of his eye as he pretended to straighten something, when he heard a distinctive sniff. He turned in surprise to see Cho standing in the middle of the room crying.

"Wow Harry, you got her crying before you even did anything, that's got to be a new record, even better than myself if you can believe it- ouch!"

Remus whacked Sirius upside the head to get him to stop while Lily's face folded with sympathy. She'd been fixing to snap at both boys to quit picking on her son for this already, now she realized Cho wasn't even trying to make a move back, but looking for sympathy, and she really hoped Harry at least tried to help rather than running for the hills like James' slightly panicky look showed he wanted to now do.

He didn't know what to do. She was simply standing there, crying silently.

Lily rubbed at her temple, confounded how his automatic reaction wasn't to go to her, wrap his arm around her in comfort, ask if she wanted to talk about it or if she simply just needed a shoulder. She knew not all boys were as dunce as hers, but they certainly acted like it sometimes.

Instead he feebly asked her what was up?

Sirius couldn't help a snort of surprise, which he immediately regretted as Lily gave him a blistering look and Remus nudged him hard in warning not a second before he'd done it.

Cho stammered out some kind of apology while saying she'd just been wondering if he'd known all this if he'd still be alive.

"Oh," Sirius whispered like a deflated balloon. There went any humor he could have offered.

Harry felt his heart sink down into his intestines. She wanted to talk about Cedric.

Lily gave a heavy sigh in understanding. Cho was looking for someone who'd been close to Cedric like she had, someone to understand what she was going through on her level, and Harry really was the closest person to that, and yet the worst one. Harry had his friends to talk to about this, even Sirius, but not on the same level Cho was seeking. She no longer could imagine the two together anymore if this was how Cho was going to start trying reciprocating feelings for Harry, she couldn't even imagine this turning out well for the two poor souls in this moment.

He still told her Cedric had known all this, he couldn't have made it to the Cup if he hadn't, but once Voldemort wanted you dead you didn't stand a chance.

Harry was starting to look a little green from being forced to remember this again all while the bubbling sensation of being around Cho alone.

She hiccupped at the sound of Voldemort's name, but kept his eyes as she whispered he'd survived as a baby.

Harry defended while moving towards the door,

Remus couldn't help feeling something cracking at his jaw for that, maybe a smile, as he all too easily envisioned anyone running for the door after seeing a crying girl.

no one knew why that was, it wasn't something he boasted.

Harry met Lily's eyes, the flash of understanding present in the whole room, why Harry wouldn't share how he did know some of the answer to this with just anyone. He'd never even told if he'd shared with this Ron and Hermione, and no one was going to ask.

Cho suddenly realized where Harry was heading and asked him not to leave, again apologizing for this.

Harry tragically stayed in place, thinking he'd have been much happier with just a Merry Christmas.

"Right, it's all her fault bringing this up, we're all in agreement," James was babbling uneasily until Lily nudged him to get him to stop, they all just wanted to change the subject.

Cho admitted she realized this must be hard for Harry, she supposed he just wanted to forget about it all.

He did, but it felt heartless saying so.

"Not heartless," Lily promised him at once. "It's natural love, I promise."

"Does it get better?" The whisper escaped him before the question had even formed in his head. No one had the heart to lie to him and pretend it did, but the full range of that answer couldn't just be covered in a quick chat. Lily had been asked the question though, and she would never just not answer him.

"With the right people around you, you can learn to live around it."

He seemed to relax under her words, his smile easing as he glanced out the window, into nothing really but his own memories. For a while he'd almost selfishly wished he hadn't gained these back, had almost entertained the idea he'd done this to himself on purpose for some ease of a better life, but the peace settling over him at her words convinced him on the spot he could never do such a thing, because she was right.

Cho changed to saying what a good teacher Harry was, and Harry awkwardly thanked her.

"This whole thing is awkward," Sirius muttered, wishing he could skip a few pages already, no amount of mocking Harry at his crush was worth this ball of pain seeing his pup so miserable at the reminder of Cedric.

Harry felt torn in half, his desire to run from the room still prevalent while his feet had no ability to do so.

"Girls," James muttered in agreement. How they managed to cause a never ending conflict inside was their own source of magic.

Cho was coming closer to him now, pointing at another bushel of mistletoe.

"Uh oh," Remus hummed under his breath.

Harry's mouth was going dry, he said the first thing that came to mind, it probably had Nargles in it.

"That's what you lead with eh?" James couldn't help but ask as Harry's face grew steadily more red. He wasn't mocking though, Harry was surprised to hear, more watching him with indulgent curiosity to see how this played out.

She asked what those were, and Harry deflected he hadn't a clue, she'd have to ask Luna.

"I'd have thought it was obvious, you should never bring up another girl at a time like this," Sirius pleasantly informed Harry, who seemed to have lost all ability to speak in here as his mind couldn't grasp anything else now. They'd stopped talking about Cedric, he should be grateful, but oh he'd never wanted to see their reaction to Cho being so close to him!

Cho was almost nose to nose with him now, he could count her eyelashes...

He returned to the common room to find Hermione and Ron sitting by the fire,

Sirius suddenly felt cheated. Moments ago he'd been wanting to skip this just so Harry could at least have this private moment and he'd have much more fun speculating and poking fun at his pup, but now the book actually had gone and cut this off! He even tried to check if pages had been stuck together before giving up and looking to Harry hopefully, demanding, "alright, out with it, what happened next?"

Harry sat there for a long time with a such a look of shock they wouldn't have been that surprised if he'd just announced he'd lost all his memories again for realizing what had just happened. The words that came out didn't even seem to be attached to him. "She kissed me."

Harry hardly registered the whoop of joy from his father or the enthusiastic pat Sirius was giving him, it was hard to think past much of anything really. At fifteen he'd felt more elated than he ever had in his life while also so infinitely confused because of what she'd done after the fact. He couldn't quite bring himself to string those words together yet. All at the same time, some very distant part of his mind was shaking its head at his past, not quite in disapproval, but not exactly happiness either. It took him several more moments than it should have to realize that Sirius was going to keep going.

While clearly happy for him, there was something about this reaction they couldn't put down all to shock. His smile was oddly detached, something clearly lingering in him showing this wouldn't stay a happy memory for long. This couldn't then be the first kiss between him and his future wife, or if it was then something really interesting must happen in between times.

both writing, but Hermione's was clearly a letter so long it was dangling off the table.

Lily started giggling uncontrollably while none of the Marauders even seemed to be giving this a passing thought. They were all ignoring her, thinking it was for an entirely different reason.

Ron was on the hearth doing Transfiguration homework, but both looked up upon his entrance and asked what had taken him so long.

Harry couldn't decide what to say. Half of him wanted to tell them,

"I get the feeling you're not going to get a choice," James said, watching Sirius impatiently to see if what they all knew had happened, really had! This was Harry's first kiss after all, and Harry was still acting too wide eyed to give them much to go on in here.

the other half wanted to take the secret to the grave.

"I honestly can't blame you, considering company," Remus snickered. James and Sirius were acting like this was his Quidditch team announcement and Lily hadn't stopped giggling for several moments, he couldn't imagine Ron and Hermione would react much better when they found out.

Both asked if he was alright, had something happened?

"It's a touch sad by those reactions they're assuming it was something bad," Lily managed to get out, trying to compose herself and stop laughing at Harry's face and her husbands proud smile.

Harry had just decided he wasn't going to tell them anything when Hermione took matters into her own hands,

"I think I'm actually grateful for it this time," Sirius agreed with a touch of impatience, Harry wasn't helping anything in here, they needed a bossy hand.

by asking if Cho had kissed him.

"Hermione needs to read a book on subtlety," Sirius snorted.

"Like you'd be any better," Remus rolled his eyes.

Ron sat up so fast he spilled his bottle of ink while Hermione watched Harry with a slight frown, until he finally nodded.

"Why's she frowning?" That caught Lily's attention.

"Not for the reason you're thinking," Harry told her, blinking slightly and clearly coming back to hear to glance at her with a still benign smile. Whatever had been bothering his mind before had clearly passed for now, and he was willing to at least semi laugh along with whatever they were. "There's nothing between us, I swear." He was now more sure of that than ever.

Lily nodded without surprise, just confusion at the reaction.

Ron gave his friend a triupmhent first pump and began rolling on the floor laughing.

"Padfoot did much the same," James huffed. "Wouldn't believe me for ages I'd finally gotten her to kiss me until she did it in front of him."

"Can you blame me?" Sirius said without remorse. "You'd been going on for ages it was going to happen, woken up from enough dreams convinced it had-"

He ducked as James chucked a pillow at him to get him to stop, but now Sirius wanted to keep going remorselessly because of that until Remus nudged him and reminded, "let's focus on one at a time for now."

Sirius sighed but acquitted.

Hermione gave Ron a look of deep disgust and returned to her letter.

"Ah," Lily finally said in understanding.

"It's not that bad, just because Hermione didn't laugh along doesn't mean she needs to think him childish," James rolled his eyes while Lily pressed her lips together to hide a smile.

Ron came back to himself enough to ask how it was?

Harry considered for a moment before saying wet.

Cue four collective snorts of laughter, Lily couldn't help herself.

Ron made a noise that might have indicated jubilation or disgust, it was hard to tell.

Harry wished it were harder to tell in here.

Harry clarified it was because she was crying.

"That's what she gets for bringing up what she did before she started this," Remus sighed.

Lily was watching Harry critically now, hoping he'd been kind to Cho after all that.

Ron's smile faded a bit as he asked if Harry was that bad at kissing?

Sirius was becoming unintelligible, his voice wobbling as he fought to keep reading around his laughter at Ron's conclusion.

Harry felt his own worry begin as he suddenly wondered the same thing.

"I don't think that's determinable from one peck-" Remus began with a light smile before he was cut off by James' scoff of disbelief.

"Not my son!"

Lily smacked him upside the head.

Hermione scoffed of course he wasn't while going back to her letter.

"Know this from experience does she?" Sirius couldn't resist poking even having expected Harry's eye roll.

Ron demanded how she knew, while Hermione explained Cho spent all her time crying. At meals, in the loo.

"Merlin, you'd think she'd run out of tears," James was starting to look a little frightened at such a thing occurring while Lily smacked him harder. James rubbed at the spot but was suddenly a bit happy that Harry wasn't more enthusiastic, and defensive, of this. If this was Harry's future wife, he'd start to feel a little worried about this.

Ron said he'd think a bit of snogging would cheer her up, while Hermione called him the most insensitive wart she'd ever had the displeasure of meeting.

"Hermione is so eloquent," Lily chuckled.

"I don't see anything wrong with what he said," Sirius grinned, while Lily scowled at him and considered parting some of Hermione's wisdom on him specifically, not that it would do him any good.

Ron asked what she meant by that.

"I found it fairly obvious actually," Remus pointed out.

Harry desperately asking who cried while they were kissing?

"Didn't you take the time to ask her, try to talk to her?" Lily tried to keep the accusation out of her voice.

"I mean, she kind of just took off after the fact, I kind of patted her on the shoulder for a quick moment," Harry struggled and ultimately gave up trying to explain himself as Lily's brows kept rising.

Hermione looked at the pair with exasperation before asking didn't they understand how Cho was feeling?

They both said no together.

Lily rubbed at her temple even while she was thanking the universe for her son having a friend like Hermione.

Hermione set down her quill and began the list of things she knew were upsetting Cho, like her now crush on Harry could be an insult to Cedric's memory and everything that entailed, plus she was performing so bad in her school and Quidditch lately because of all these feelings her place on her house team could be compromised.

"Bloody hell, the girl sounds like a train wreck!" James said, actually yelping in pain at how hard Lily smacked him that time.

"A little sensitivity dear," Lily said acidly.

"It's not like I said it to her face," James defended.

"Has Cho and Hermione been having secret conversations where she learned all this?" Sirius demanded as he kept looking at that list of things.

Lily groaned and rolled her eyes in exasperation, she really needed to go hang out with Alice when this was all over.

"Just be grateful she didn't try to say all that in one breath," Remus remembered from her first appearance.

Both boys sat in stunned silence after that little speech before Ron declared one person couldn't feel all that, they'd explode.

"Honestly," Sirius agreed. He hadn't even found that many of those things that complicated, why was Cho making such a big deal of them.

"Apparently it's even affecting her Quidditch abilities, I think the girl needs some time off to sort herself out," James said with a touch of sympathy, and an apologetic look at Lily, who decided that was as close as he was going to get to understanding that heaping mess.

Hermione told him just because he had the emotional range of a teaspoon didn't mean everyone did.

"Well that's hardly fair," Sirius couldn't help but defend, "Ron's been through some stuff as well, doesn't necessarily mean he can compare and understand how she's feeling."

Lily looked to him in surprise, thinking that had almost been some form understanding on Sirius' part.

Harry said he hadn't known any of that, she'd just started crying all over him and he hadn't known what to do, Ron saying he didn't blame his mate.

"No one really can," Remus agreed, even Lily was shifting anxiously as she wasn't sure of the right thing to say to Cho, one of her real friends would have been better like that Marietta.

Hermione asked if he was at least nice to her, and Harry defended he'd patted her on the back a bit.

Hermione looked as though she was restraining herself from rolling her eyes with difficulty.

"She's more restraint than most," James grinned slightly, as Lily herself lost the fight and did just that.

Then Hermione asked if he was going to see her again, and Harry said he didn't have much of a choice, she was still a DA member.

"That's not what she meant and you know it," James scolded.

"No, not really," Harry said with such a sincere face James believed him, and shook his head at his poor son who kept looking around for some kind of answer no one was going to give him. Then it was clear by the look on his face he'd gotten it, and his face flushed anew as clearly his mind was wandering off.

Harry's mind suddenly set in a whirlwind of being alone with Cho, who may actually be happy and not crying, and his stomach clenched painfully.

Ron asked what if Harry hadn't wanted to ask her out?

"That's fair," Remus agreed, "for all she knew, Harry might not have wanted her to kiss him."

"Well he did, and now he has, so the question is what he's going to do with this next," Sirius said, looking curiously to Harry, who gave no indication he'd heard, and then back to the book curiously.

Hermione told him he was being silly, Harry'd had a crush on her for ages.

"I want to know when she started to notice," Harry muttered. She'd made it clear she knew at the Hog's Head, but how long before then? How long had Cho been planning this? Was he already making a fool of himself by not having done something ages before now! His mind was bubbling with too many questions, and it suddenly slammed into him his real circumstances. At the time, he'd have been aching to write to someone about this, more than likely was going to bring it up to Sirius on his holiday visit...but now he actually did have his dad he could ask. His parents real advice, if he'd so chosen... but for some reason he just couldn't put his finger on, not about Cho...

Harry didn't deny this, but he was certainly feeling wrong footed now after Cho had spent so long crying into his shoulder.

"Oh I'm sure she won't be like that forever," Remus tried to say sympathetically, but he was still too amused by his friend for that to have quite come off right.

Ron changed the subject by asking Hermione who she was writing that novel to.

She simply said Viktor, Ron asking Krum in shock?

Hermione said did they know any other Viktors?

"You know, I actually don't right off the top of my head," Sirius looked honestly disappointed he couldn't mock Hermione for that.

"What a wasted moment," James agreed with a sigh.

Ron finally turned back to his homework disgruntled, leaving Harry to his silent thoughts. He watched the fireplace instead, suddenly wishing Sirius' head would appear there and give him some advice about girls.

James looked like he'd been sucker punched in the gut, again. Who knew that all those years later, Sirius' joke would turn into Harry's only option. It hadn't occurred to him yet this was where Harry's thoughts would head, but of course that made logical sense, no matter how scandalized it made him feel. He glanced over and saw Sirius looking a bit shamefaced to have read that, while Harry was frowning at him and clearly wanting to apologize. James shook his head though, refusing both of them for something neither could help.

Hermione called it a night not too much later, the boys heading up to their own silent dorm, Ron muttering about what she saw in Krum?

"An impartial friend," Lily said with an eye roll. Though it had never been confirmed, she hardly thought Hermione had the time to both travel to Bulgaria over the summer to visit him, and be so in touch with the Order as she'd clearly been.

Harry considered it for a moment before remembering how much older than them he was, and an international Quidditch player.

"Harry, you are not helping!" Sirius said as dramatically as possible, biting his tongue to stop himself adding that Ron would probably pop by and see him as well during break now, though more likely he'd go see his own dad, or maybe one of his brothers.

Ron pretended he hadn't heard while saying the guy was grumpy.

Harry agreed very grouchy, his mind still on Cho.

"There's the proper response," Remus said, looking uneasily between the crackling tension that James and Sirius were suddenly trying to pretend didn't exist. It's not like either of them could help it, neither blamed the other for the circumstances and both would do anything to change them, leaving both completely unaware what was even needed apologizing for.

They slipped into bed silently, the rest of their doormats already asleep. Harry left the hangings around his bed open so he could stare out the window, thinking back and wondering how he'd have felt if just twenty-four hours ago he'd realize he'd be kissing Cho Chang.

"You'd probably have vomited from stress," Sirius told Harry, then suddenly frowned as he watched a bead of sweat trace down his face. Harry was suddenly looking sickly pale, a white hot pain resting on his mind of some memory fixing to return. He'd been far too distracted from Cho and now Sirius and James to notice the oncoming warning signs like before, but they were there now. The tightening of pain around his consciousness, his breaths starting to go shallow. He couldn't sense any oncoming pain though, which meant this would be something even worse...

Sirius exchanged a slightly panicky look with the others, but no one needed to tell him what he already knew. Harry couldn't say what was suddenly making him look so panicky, and the only way to find out was to keep going. Yet just by the look on Harry's face, Sirius suddenly knew he'd rather be doing anything else in the world. He could never do that though, leave Harry in such sickening dispense, so he took a deep breath and forced himself to keep going with the same enthusiasm as before. Harry was going to bed after all, nothing was going to happen to him in his dormitory, they had a bit of time...

He thought about Hermione's explanation, but she'd somehow made this all feel more complicated.

Lily opened her mouth wearily, she wanted to keep talking about this, chat with her son and offer up some more advice, but James wrapped a reassuring arm around her waist and she at once acknowledged that delaying whatever was plaguing her son wouldn't make the blow any better.

He decided he wished Hogwarts offered a class on how girls' brains worked, that would be more useful than Divination.

James gave an uneasy laugh that echoed oddly in the room, all of them sitting tensed as if waiting for a snake to strike. Harry's shaking and pain filled expression promised something bad was coming.

He slipped into an uneasy dream, back in the DA room with Cho accusing him of being there under false pretences. He'd apparently promised her a thousand Chocolate Frog Cards like Cedric always gave her, but he couldn't give them to her. Hermione appeared and said he had promised, and since he couldn't, he should give her his Firebolt instead.

Sirius spluttered in indignation, even as a dream he couldn't imagine saying such a ludicrous thing and he turned to grin at Harry, wanting to see his pup go back to normal for just a second and be outraged at the idea as well, but he was so focused on something that he couldn't understand it was as if Sirius wasn't even there. Yet the tense set of his shoulders made it clear he was still aware enough, waiting for the blow to start.

The dream changed . . .

Remus was picking at his sleeve just for something to do that wasn't waiting for this horrible news, plucking at a loose thread that would soon create another hole he'd have to patch and he didn't care. So long as he kept focusing on that, his mind couldn't go wild and create some horrid scenario that surely they must just be exaggerating, that look on Harry's face didn't necessarily mean...

He was in a long dark corridor with a locked down at the end. His body flew smooth against the floor, everything was vibrant colors around him. He tasted the air with caution and scented the man stirring on the floor. His impulse was to bite, but his work was too important. He tried to continue on, but then the man fully awoke, and he had no choice, he lunged and felt warm blood, now everywhere as the man fell back again, the blood was everywhere, and his forehead hurt terribly...

Sirius had managed to get through that by reading as if yet another odd dream of no significance, because none of that had made a lick of sense. That had sounded like, a snake maybe? It was attacking someone, but obviously Harry was just having some vivid nightmare, maybe about the basilisk or anything else, he couldn't wrap his head around another alternative.

Then he looked to Harry, hoping for some sign of relief, that this nightmare had just scared the dickens out of a young kid like so many others had, but he knew. He was stark white, his mouth had flopped open and his face etched with horror all while his hand pressed into his scar as if holding his head together.

"Harry, Harry breathe." Lily pressed her hands to either side of his face, stroking his wet cheeks and refusing to let go as he kept shaking.

"I, what did I do?! He's dead-"

"No!"

The word crackled like electricity through his mind, he should know that voice, believe that word, but it was impossible. He was trapped between a memory and a fear, it was all his fault!

The book had fallen out of Sirius' sweat slicked hand, but he lunged back for it and began flipping wildly through the pages. He couldn't just sit there and do nothing, he had to know what was wrong with Harry, and he couldn't think of any other way to force him out of this state than to find out what really had happened.

Someone was screaming his name, there was a poker pressed against his forehead, but nothing seemed real until he rolled to the side and vomited.

In some wild part of his mind, Remus had to guess Harry hadn't done that yet simply because he wasn't yet aware enough of his own body. He was still trapped in a limbo of what was and an impossibility that he couldn't rationalize.

Ron was there though, asking what was wrong, and Harry forced himself to breathe past the pain, he had to tell him.

James felt useless just standing there, only on his feet by sheer willpower of hovering over his son when he was so vulnerable despite his shaking limbs. He couldn't do anything, Lily wasn't getting through to him, and no matter how much he kept whispering to Harry they just weren't getting a reaction.

Ron's dad had been attacked.

"No," Lily snarled, her hands tightening around Harry as he began shaking in place, somehow, impossibly, his fright growing by the second. Her sharp green eyes wouldn't leave his face, but Sirius could still feel their intensity spurring him on.

It was serious, there was blood everywhere.

For the first time in his life Sirius didn't even seem to realize he'd said his own name, he couldn't think of anything else but getting to the damned part where Harry realized that wasn't true, it couldn't be. It just wasn't possible, because nothing was adding up. Harry hadn't seen that, he hadn't done it, it just had to be a dream, and he'd realize that any second!

Someone far off said they were going for help, but Harry hardly registered the words, insisting Ron understand even as his friend promised it was just a dream. Harry furiously told it had happened... he'd done it.

Lily recognized the change in his parlor just in time, but not fast enough as he managed to vomit on her as well as himself. She didn't let that stop her for one moment, as finally his lungs had returned to him, but now he was gasping so hard that whatever he was trying to say still held no intelligence. All they were sure of was that he believed that, and they weren't going to stop until they convinced him that wasn't a possibility.

Ron clearly didn't understand, telling Harry to relax, Neville had gone to get help.

Harry insisted it wasn't him they should be worried about, there was a huge snake, it had attacked Ron's dad.

Lily hadn't left his side while Remus banished the mess, still running her hands carefully though his hair, constantly whispering in his ear there was no way this was true of him, but it wasn't giving him any comfort; because he knew deep down there was a part of him that had done this.

He tried to get out of bed but Ron pushed him back into it; Dean and Seamus were whispering somewhere nearby.

Remus considered them lucky he wasn't in the room, and fifteen again, as he was likely to turn around and snap at them to leave already, he didn't need anyone's attitude on top of worrying about his family.

Harry had no clue how long he sat there in a state of suspension, but the next thing he understood was footsteps on the stairs, and Neville coming back with McGonagall.

James wanted to feel relief. He trusted McGonagall to know the best way to help Harry right then when he couldn't, but the feeling escaped him as he kept watching his now panicking son. It was as if they weren't there, his eyes were flickering around the room and the fear wasn't dropping out of him for one minute.

Harry had never felt so relieved in his life to see a member of the Order of the Phoenix, at once telling her Arthur Weasley had been attacked by a snake, it was serious, he'd seen it happen.

Sirius finally hesitated in his hasty need for a moment. He wanted to make his favorite joke, he wanted to see it distract Harry from the horrors of this just for a moment, but for all their concern Harry didn't seem to even be aware of them. Sirius wasn't even sure if he'd heard anything since the news of Arthur's attack. That wasn't going to stop him though, he had to keep going, to find out the truth.

He explained in detail everything, and as McGonagall continued to just gaze at him in horror, he shouted he wasn't lying nor crazy!

"Neither of those things was going through anyone's mind," James promised at once, still watching every twitch of Harry's with concern.

"At least no one important," Remus muttered.

Finally she whispered she believed him, and she was taking him to Dumbledore.

Sirius cursed as he finished his part in frustration. Looking to Harry in hopes some relief would appear, Dumbledore would explain, but if possible this news only managed to make him look worse. They just wanted to understand, what was happening to him?

HPHPHPHP

I've heard that in the original rendition of this book JK was actually planning on killing Arthur, and please forgive me for sounding like a cold hearted monster, but I almost wish she had rather than Sirius. The message still would have been made, anyone close to Harry could die, but the Weasley's still have a parent left at least. It really breaks my heart what happened to Sirius through the course of this series, and realizing that in this moment Sirius might have been saved if someone else had been lost always makes me extra upset.

*I've always seen people realize this at the end of the first book, but I always found this a much funnier callback.

#The life that Never LIved #Harry Potter #fanfiction #reading the books #HP #ootp #Marauders #Jilly #James potter #Remus Lupin #Sirius black #Lily Potter

[fart-gate]

SG1

Season 2 episode 4

"THE GAMEKEEPER"

Notes by me

- PJ7989

- the building on this planet looks like a greenhouse dome

- jack: 😎

- sneezy!Daniel

- suspicious people in pods

- why are they dressed for a funeral

- OKAY here we go

- memory loss?? They dont remember where they were

- OH SHIT

- ???? Kowalski????

- he just called Jack "captain"

- is this jacks memory

- this is 1982 so Jack would have been around 22 or 23? A little baby!

- TEALCS HAIR LOL

- wait he has no forehead sticker either

- the goauld are trying to create time travel and I feel like this is gonna come up later in the series. Thats too cool of a potential storyline

- this, however is NOT time travel bc tealc is there and he has no forehead sticker and hair. He wouldnt just be magicly different if they time traveled

- also where is Daniel and Sam

- what are these soldiers and Jack trying to do anyway

- Jack watching his friends die again I'm emotional

- theyre on a loop!!! What is going on

- daniel and Sam are in a New York Museum ooooo

- "okay.....what just happened" my thoughts exactly

- assuming its daniels memory bc theres archeology stuff everywhere

- did some guy in the back round just say "dr jackson"

- his parents. 😟 since the theme is horrible past events I feel like this isnt gonna end well

- HE LOOKS JUST LIKE HIS MOM

- lol both his parents have glasses no wonder his eyes are terrible

- this is extremely fucked up

- lmao micheal shanks acting is so good I want to die 🙃 can u imagine watching your parents get crushed for a second time. What the fuck

- Jack not wanting to go thru this again😟

- the weird people in black are watching

- they changed the position of the bad guys on purpose!!! Cheaters!!

- another loop! Lets try this AGAIN shall we

- "the keeper" youre dressed like a douche

- why does this guy even care if Jack saves his friends or not

- Jack nooooo theres nothing you could have done to save those men

- "we're not playing this game" thats right!!! Hunger games style!!!

- "tell me this isnt real"

- Sam confirming my theory that this isnt real 💞

- daniel being forced to watch his parents die AGAIN. Who said this was ok. This man has enough problems

- "danny" OH MY GOD

- daniel going the extra mile and saying he broke his leg while standing right in front of them. A for effort!

- "okay sweetie?" I'm losing my grip on my emotions right now bye

- how old was he when this happened?

- when the tour guide turned into the keeper dude it scared me lol family friendly shows making me jump

- "where's the fun in that?"

"FUN?!?"

Wrong choice of words douche bag!!! You just proved youre an asshole

- are they watching this for entertainment

- *Daniel watching his parents die for the third time*

The people in black:

- when Daniel stares into his moms eyes for the first time since he was a child. I'm fine I'm just having some thoughts

- "danny jackson!" AHSDJSOSNS

- I cant take this micheal shanks is such a good actor tears are streaming down my face

- hey how come the keeper didnt take a memory from sam

- I dont want him to watch his parents die on a loop for hours!!! What the fuck!!!

- lmao Jack and Daniel doing the exact same thing and being stubborn as hell

- Ah!! Reunited and it feels so good

- the goauld changed sams brain chemistry and thats why he couldnt read it??? Thats SO COOL

- but also how does that work

- assholes???? Like u watch people relive their most traumatic moments??? The fuck is wrong with you

- they are too stupid to know that their own planet is livable again

- the keeper is a douche bag Confirmed and no one is surprised

- yeah sending the people in black away will certainly convince them that youre keeping them safe👌 idiot

- wake up!

- Jack jumping out of the pod lmfao

- youre still in the simulation ya big dummies!! Its very obvious!!

- daniels glasses resting on his head👓

- gee hammond is super on board with the keepers ideas it almost seems like its NOT HAMMOND HHHMMM

- "are you cracked??"

- catch on guys come on

- "sit down, colonel!"

"I dont think so BUCKO"

- there it is!!! Somebody stab themselves to wake up or jump off a high rise or somethin havnt you guys seen Inception

- the keeper is so obvious its not even funny. Like he barely tries to hide the fact that its him lol

- oh hello again Kowalski

- he used to make Daniel laugh 😫

- Jack plays street hockey!

- these people in black dont even know that their planet is literally Eden

- "In our memories...before the simulation....leave me alone"

I forgot he can show them the planet with his memory. Good plan

- are they out for real this time. I'm gonna assume yes since theres only 4 minutes left

- haha his people ruined their own planet and made it unlivable. Environment killing civilians go in the containment pod to think about what theyve done

- theyre out!! Like rats escaping the lab

- when the keeper is losing it bc their picking all his flowers and sg1 just turns around and leaves. Aint dealing with this shit anymore! good luck PJ7989! hope these people dont ruin your atmosphere again lol

~

Whump under the cut

Jack Oniell whump: emotional, punched, shot at, memory loss ish , traumatic memory of former soldier days

Daniel jackson whump: emotional, crying, yelling "no!" Multiple times, traumatic memory of parents death

🎶listening to Out Of My Head by Theory Of A Dead Man

#stargate season 2 #jack whump season 2 #daniel whump season 2

[iamnesta]

A Court of Witchcraft and Wizardry: Part III

The ACOTAR Hogwarts AU that nobody asked for.

A/N: I am so unbelievably sorry about how long it took me to update this. As always, feedback is welcome. (Warning: there is some cussing.)

Part One | Part Two | Read on Ao3

It was the first Hogsmeade trip of the year, and Lucien found himself sandwiched between Feyre and Elain in a booth at the Three Broomsticks. The two sisters talked across him -- something about a charm that makes plants grow -- while Lucien nursed his second butterbeer, wondering why the hell he even agreed to come.

“Right, Lucien?” Elain’s dainty voice caught his attention, bringing him out of the shadows of his own mind. Lucien glanced over at the girl to his left, taking in the amused curve of her red lips, the deep brown of her steady gaze. Her golden hair fell in loose curls around her shoulders, and his stomach lurched. Gods, I want to run my fingers through her hair, I want to --

Lucien quickly blinked away this train of thought and took a hurried swig of butterbeer. The beverage sloshed down his chin and onto his robes, provoking a muttered string of curse words. Elain snatched up some napkins and began pressing them against his collar. Clenching his jaw, Lucien prayed no one noticed the heat that rose to his cheeks as Elain patted at his chest. Just the tiniest bit of contact with this girl and Lucien felt like he was in freefall.

Feyre coughed, barely managing to hide her grin. Her eyes seemed to taunt Lucien as she waved her wand, casting a silent cleaning charm that made the whole mess disappear in seconds. This solicited a fiery glare from Lucien, and a small, “Oh,” from Elain as she withdrew her hands.

“Anyhow,” Feyre continued, as if there had been no interruptions, “I was thinking maybe you, Lucien, could assist Elain in her efforts to restore the old gamekeeper’s pumpkin patch to its former glory.”

“And I was just saying,” Elain interjected with an eye roll directed at her sister, “That you have no interest in growing enchanted vegetables, nor do you have any obligation to help me.”

There was a lull in the conversation, both of the Archerons twisting to look at Lucien expectantly. “I dunno, um…” He trailed off uncertainly, torn between being severely unenthusiastic about pumpkins and wanting nothing more than an excuse to hang out with Elain. She tilted her head a fraction of an inch, curiosity pinching her brows, and without Lucien’s consent the words flew out of his mouth. “I would love to grow pumpkins with you! Pumpkins are great!”

Pumpkins are great? Lucien wanted to slam his head against the table. And why did he have to say it with so much excitement? He sounded way too eager about gardening.

But Elain didn’t appear to notice the faked ardor; she beamed so wide her nose crinkled and her eyes were almost shut. And if Lucien could just get closer, so he could count the faint freckles that dotted her cheeks…

“...hoping to start sooner, but we can always use an herbivicus charm so they’re ready in time for Halloween,” Elain was saying.

Lucien missed the entire first half of the statement. He scrambled to quickly say, “Yeah, of course, sounds great.”

“Great,” Elain repeated.

Her smile is so bright, it’s like the fucking sun. I’m going blind I’m going blind I’m --

A couple shops away, Nesta sighed, her breath briefly fogging the window of Honeydukes. “Remind me again why you need so many Chocolate Cauldrons?” She said.

Amren scowled from behind the impressive heap of candies that threatened to spill out of her arms. “‘Cuz it’s chocolate and Firewhisky and I haven’t had any in three months.” Amren paused to peer around the stack of chocolates. “Three months,” she emphasized.

Without a trace of emotion, Nesta deadpanned, “You have a problem, Amren.”

“I know,” Amren huffed, balancing one last Cauldron on top of the teetering pyramid.

Ambrosius Flume laughed a wholehearted, full-bellied laugh when Amren dumped her hoard on the counter. “Always a loyal customer, my small friend,” he commented as he rung up the purchases. He accepted Amren’s handful of Galleons, and with a wink, he tossed a few Sugar Quills on the pile as well. “On the house,” he whispered.

Exiting the shop, Nesta observed, “You won’t have any money left by Christmas.” A gust of wind greeted them as they stepped onto the cobbled street, a reminder of the winter that would soon arrive, despite the harsh sun currently beating down.

With a smirk, Amren said, “That, dear Nesta, is when I’ll start demanding all those Sickles you owe me from bets you lost.”

“I refuse to pay for your addiction,” Nesta said flatly.

Heavy footfalls rang out against the stone, and Nesta froze, sensing who was approaching without having to see his face or hear his voice. “What is it?” Amren murmured, scrutinizing her friend with concern.

“Nesta! Amren!” Cassian shouted, covering the distance between them in mere seconds. The duo turned towards the hulking shadow behind them. Cassian’s eyes shot to Nesta first, as they always did, taking inventory. To Amren, he asked, “Where’s Feyre?”

“How should I know?” Amren quipped.

“Why?” Nesta demanded. “What’s wrong?”

Cassian threaded his fingers in his dark hair with frustration. “It’s Rhys. He and Tamlin --”

“I’ll find Feyre,” Amren interrupted, “You two go ahead. Try to stop them from killing each other.”

Nodding, Cassian seized Nesta’s hand and began dragging her in the direction of the Shrieking Shack. He kept urging her to go faster, his long legs easily outrunning her, and Nesta was gasping for breath by the time they reached the Shack. She stopped to rest her hands on her knees while Cassian went ahead to disable to the Whomping Willow.

“Gods, I’m out of shape,” Nesta panted, mostly to herself.

Cassian glanced at her. “I could always train you,” he suggested.

With a withering glare, Nesta said, “Not in this lifetime, you won’t. I am not one of those Quidditch-playing apes --”

“Are you done?” Cassian interjected, eyebrows raised, unimpressed by Nesta’s insults.

“Not nearly,” Nesta shot back, straightening and slipping into the passage beneath the tree. Cassian ducked in after her, hunching over himself so as not to hit his head on the low ceiling.

The sound of Tamlin’s enraged roar rattled the windows of the dingy house. A loud thud followed, and Cassian prodded Nesta between her shoulder blades to make her speed up. For once, she complied, and the duo scrambled up the rickety staircase to find the source of the commotion.

Rhysand was picking himself up off the floor, his nose clearly broken. He spat out a mouthful of blood and snarled at Tamlin with red teeth. “I’m going to kill you,” he hissed.

“Then do it,” Tamlin growled, shaking matted blond hair out of his face and pushing his shirtsleeves further up his golden forearms. Rhysand lunged, arms latching around Tamlin’s waist as he threw all of his weight into the attack. They both crashed to the ground, dust clouding the air upon impact.

Cassian crossed the room in two strides, wrenching Rhysand off of Tamlin. Nesta whipped out her wand and thrust it into Tamlin’s face, her eyes cutting to Rhys as she seethed, “You idiots. What the hell were you thinking?”

“I don’t think they were,” Cassian grunted, arms straining to keep the struggling Rhys from breaking free.

With an icy gaze, Nesta commanded in a low voice, “Explain yourselves.”

“That bastard,” Rhysand spat, “Insinuated that Feyre--”

Tamlin snorted. “I was just stating facts--”

“Shut the fuck up,” Nesta snapped, the tip of her wand digging into Tamlin’s cheek.

“Why should I?” Tamlin demanded. “Your sister’s a slut who can’t keep a boyfriend without cheating on him!”

Rhys let out a bellow like a wounded animal, and Cassian swore. “Where the hell is Azriel?” He wondered, more to himself than anyone else. Both Az and Mor had been MIA since breakfast; no one knew where they had wandered off to.

“You know damn well that it’s your fault Feyre walked away,” Nesta shouted, “She was suffering in that relationship and you didn’t do shit to help her! Of course she turned to Rhys; what else was she supposed to do?”

“She didn’t have to fuck him,” Tamlin said, contempt dripping from his words.

“And yet I did,” Feyre’s voice rang out loud and clear, everyone’s attention pivoting to where she stood in the doorway. “I fucked Rhys. On multiple occasions. Get over yourself, Tamlin. I didn’t cheat on you -- you broke up with me.”

Feyre swept into the room, robes billowing, her gaze fierce and determined. Behind her followed Amren and Elain, both of whom looked absolutely murderous. In the shadows of the corridor lurked Lucien, his golden eye glinting. He had lost the eye as a child, and the metal replacement had been an enchanted gift from Tamlin. Tamlin, whom Lucien had believed to be his best friend. Tamlin, whom Lucien had trusted only to be betrayed.

Tamlin, who was now glowering in Lucien’s direction. “Fraternizing with the enemy, Vanserra?”

Lucien shrunk back even further. “He’s not fraternizing with anyone,” Elain defended, crossing her arms.

“Oh, Elain. Sweet Elain,” Tamlin mocked, “You’re no better than your whore sister, the way you play with Lucien and Azriel like they’re nothing more than dogs.”

Elain’s chin wobbled. “I don’t play --”

No one saw Nesta’s fist flying until it collided with Tamlin’s jaw. He stumbled, fumbling for his wand, but Nesta cried, “Expelliarmus!” Tamlin’s wand flew into Nesta’s hand as she began rattling off jinxes. “Flipendo! Ebublio! Levicorpus!” He collapsed; a bubble formed around his body; he began to levitate. “Liberacorpus!” He crashed back down to the floor, the bubble popping.

Tamlin howled. “Bitch!”

“Stupefy!” Nesta yelled, rendering Tamlin unconscious.

The room went still. The only audible noise was Nesta’s rough breathing. Cassian released Rhys, who immediately staggered to Feyre’s side, burying his face in the crook of her neck. Feyre’s stroked her boyfriend’s back comfortingly, still peering at her eldest sister with concern.

Cassian took a step towards Nesta, his hazel eyes gleaming with what could only be described as awe and adoration. He let out a little laugh. “Nes,” he started.

Nesta slid a cool glance toward Cassian. “Use a somnambulist charm to move him to the hospital wing. He shouldn’t be too injured, except for his ego,” Nesta said, very businesslike. “The professors are not to know of my involvement here. Understood?” She regarded each of the witnesses separately, making sure none of them intended to gossip, before stalking out of the room.

#hogwarts au #acotar hogwarts au #acotar #acomaf #acowart #acotar fanfiction #acotar fanfic #a court of thorns and roses #a court of mist and fury #a court of wings and ruin #sarah j maas #nessian #feysand #elucien #elriel #nesta archeron #elain archeron #feyre archeron #rhysand #cassian #azriel #lucien vanserra #amren #the morrigan #morrigan #mor #tamlin #varian #viviane #kallias

[canstudiojb]

Charlie Withers / Gamekeeper, England

Tell us a bit about yourself:

I’m a gamekeeper, on a traditional English shooting estate in East Sussex, I’ve been here for three seasons now. I started off as an apprentice 8 years ago and have since worked in the East Midlands and the Scottish Borders. 

What exactly is a Gamekeeper?

The roll of a Gamekeeper is to simply ‘keep game’ on an estate by the means of feeding gamebirds into certain areas, introducing and controlling the right habitats to encourage pheasant and partridge to thrive as well as controlling pests and predators which destroy habitat, eat surplus food and predate on the game birds.

My job role changes as the year goes on, the purpose of the gamebirds are to provide driven pheasant and partridge for clients through the shoot season (Partridge 1st September/1st February. Pheasant 1st October/ 1st February) although the preparation goes in months before.

Jobs include shooting and trapping foxes as they can easily kill hundreds of pheasants and partridge when they are young costing the Estate thousands of pounds.

I spend a lot of effort preparing and maintaining release pens for pheasants, as this is where they will be realised at 7 weeks old.

Maintaining woodland and game cover gives the birds somewhere safe to eat and most importantly drink throughout the summer time where natural and clean water is hard to find.

The best part about my job is having the freedom to do it my way, although the job is very time consuming and I work seven days a week it’s very rewarding.

Run us through a typical day in your shoes:

Every morning at first light I go off on my quad bike and drive around the entire estate boundary and push back the pheasants and partridge by running dogs, trained to fly the birds back home to where they were released and again in the evening before checking that the pheasants have successfully gone to roost and are not sleeping on the ground.  

I spend most of my time feeding pheasants, this is the main way of concentrating the birds into specific areas of the estate. we use hoppers strategically placed on the estate as well as hand feeding the pheasants by scattering wheat on the floor for the birds to pick at. Whilst the birds are entertained looking for food they’re not wandering off.

As part of my job we must also control the deer population on the estate, Sussex has one of the largest fallow deer populations in the country. Most of the deer that are shot end up being sold to the Game Dealer who buys and sells game all over the country, we provide to local pubs, putting venison on the menu.

What vehicles do you use to get about the estate?

When I’m working there are a wide variety of vehicles I use, predominantly the quad bike as it has the ability to go almost everywhere without leaving a mark on the ground. There is also a John Deere Gator  and a selection of different Landrover Defenders.

Do you have any hobbies outside of work?

When I have time away from work I make the most of it and spend it with my family. It’s important to leave the estate when possible as you begin to feel excluded from the outside world.   

I also have a project bike that I have been working on over the last few years, I picked up a late 80’s Honda 250cc twin that I have modified to suit my style, including shaved subframe and scrambler style seat, updated suspension, and custom two-into-one exhaust and new lights all round, braced handlebars, custom paint job, updated air intake system and handmade side panels. But still lots to do!