#but I think we sometimes forget how many physical fights Merlin started

[whataboringstory]

I don’t think we talk about how much of a feral country boy Merlin was in season one (and the earlier seasons generally).

I haven’t rewatched the show since May so my memory is a little rusty but this boy shows up to Camelot- a place where he will literally be murdered if he flashes his sparkly eyes around- with so much damn confidence. It’s a little iconic and my anxiety-ridden ass is a little jealous. But like only a little because feral country boy was a bit of a mess.

He shows up to Camelot and on his first day, he tries to start a fight with a knight. A KNIGHT. Not only is he a knight but he’s also the PRINCE. It’s good and all standing up for the little guy and trying to get the knights to treat the servant better but this feral country boy straight up RIPS OFF HIS JACKET and just LAUCHES himself at a fucking KNIGHT who was THROWING KNIVES a second ago. Feral. Iconic. Lil country boy has no shame and no self-preservation.

Then the next day, feral bastard bumps into Prince Prat again and just sasses him so fucking hard. Who gave him the authority to hold that much sass in his feral body. Feral boy then gets into annother goddam fight.

Again, my memory’s shite so I’m skipping to season 1 episode 4 when Merlin accuses Bayard(?) of poisoning Arthur’s chalice. Feral boy is so confident in that scene. He STARES this KING down that he just accused being like “it’s alright, I’ll drink the poison and you’ll see that this bitch is a lying stinky bitch that just tried to poison my prince. RIP me I guess but at least I’m not a liar” and downs the glass while keeping DIRECT EYE CONTACT. Feral energy.

Skipping ahead again to season 2 episode 1 because my memory’s shite. Feral farm boy full on BODYSLAMS Cedric into the floor, wrestles with him then crawls under Arthur’s bed trying to fucking catch him while Arthur is looking on so confused about why he’s in love with this fucking idiot who is ready to throw hands 24/7.

Jump to season 2 episode 7. Guias is accused of sorcery, Uther sentenced him to death, Aridian (i cba to google how to spell his name, bitch doesnt deserve a correct spelling) goes on about purging the magic out of him with fire. Feral farm lad pops out and starts shouting about how arridian is a liar and charges towards him. He then has to be half tackled and dragged away by Arthur while looking like an angry mouse. Then once Arthur has him out of sight in the dungeons, Feral country boy tries to deck Arthur in the face. Valid reaction but fucking feral.

I know there’s gotta be countless more examples but thats all I can come up with today. I really wonder what he was like in Ealdor. He was probably bullied a lot by the other kids, because 1) he’s a little magic boy who can barely control himself at the start, so he probably acted pretty strange in order to keep the secret 2) He’s a bastard 3) He’s a sweetheart who’s so kind and lovely and that’s often seen as a weakness in men(which is total bull). So yeah, he probably didn’t have the best time. But he did have his friend Will, who was also feral and very angry and probs not the best influence, but he really needed will there.(I bet they caused so much trouble in the village and I live for that thought). I think having to deal with people picking on him growing up probably caused him to have to have that bravado and willingness to always stand up for himself/others and get into physical fights with arseholes. He holds so much confidence even though he comes from no high-valued background and has 0 power (0 non-magical power). I think his magic also made him a little cocky. He was a cocky little bitch. Love to see it.

We love feral farm boy

#that’s my son #Merlin #bbc merlin #merthur #yea idk where that came from #I love his feral side #I don’t see people talk about it enough #we always talk about how Arthur’s the one with the temper #because he is #but I think we sometimes forget how many physical fights Merlin started #even though he sucks at physical fights #he’s a beanpole #apart from when he’s ripped in season 5 #but at that point he’s grown out of his feral stage and into his emo depressed stage #so like why does he think fighting people with his bare hands is a good idea #like honey #you were gifted with brains beauty and magic for a reason #maybe use the brains a little more #(I know that’s difficult when you have to share said braincell with Arthur but come on) #I love him so much #whataboringpost

[bookishable]

deathly hallows book moments

warning: this one’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions, read at your own risk.

‘the idea of a teenage dumbledore was simply odd, like trying to imagine a stupid hermione or a friendly blast-ended skrewt.’

“i don’t think you’re a waste of space.”

‘he felt like asking them to show a little more respect for his privacy as they all began stripping off with impunity, clearly much more at ease with displaying his body than they would have been with their own.’

ron: why do i have to clean my room? mrs weasley: !!! WEDDING !!! ron: theyre not getting married in my damn bedroom

“we’re coming with you. that was decided months ago—years, really.”

“if i picked up a sword right now, ron, and ran you through with it, i wouldn’t damage your soul at all.” “which would be a real comfort to me, i’m sure”

harry waking up on his birthday forgetting he was 17

“accio glasses!” although they were only around a foot away, there was something immensely satisfying about seeing them zoom towards him, at least until they poked him in the eye.

ron giving harry a book called twelve fail-safe ways to charm witches for his birthday

“i’ve learned a lot. you’d be surprised, it’s not all about wandwork, either.”

‘the rest of her speech was lost; harry had got up and hugged her. he tried to put a lot of unsaid things into the hug and perhaps she understood them’

“are you planning to follow a career in magical law, miss granger?” “no i’m not, i’m hoping to do some good in the world!”

“it’s time you learned some respect!” “it’s time you earned it”

hermione: when we were little we heard stories like snow white and cinderella ron: what’s that, an illness? harry: rip me i never got read any stories

“a brutal triple murder by the bridegroom’s mother might put a bit of a damper on the wedding.”

“merlin’s beard, what is xenophilius lovegood wearing? he looks like an omelette.” excuse me why wasn’t auntie muriel like this in the film

“he used to down an entire bottle of firewhisky, then run on to the dance floor, hoist up his robes and start pulling bunches of flowers out of his—” “yes, he sounds a real charmer”

harry suggesting that xenophilius lovegood’s deathly hallows necklace is the cross-section of the head of a crumple-horned snorkack

“vot is the point of being an international quidditch player if all the good-looking girls are taken?”

‘harry heard her mutter a suggestion as to where ron could stick his wand instead.’

harry reading lily’s letter and noticing that they wrote their g’s the same way as each other, i’m sobbing

‘the letter was an incredible treasure, proof that lily potter had lived, really lived’

KREACHER’S GODDAMN TALE

kreacher hitting mundungus over the head with a saucepan “perhaps just one more, master harry, for luck?”

“if anyone shouldn’t go, it’s harry, he’s got a ten thousand galleon price on his head—” “fine, i’ll stay here, let me know if you ever defeat voldemort, won’t you?”

‘with a twinge of regret that had nothing to do with food, harry imagined the house-elf busying himself over the steak and kidney pie that harry, ron and hermione would never eat.’

‘not knowing or caring that their living son stood so near, his heart still beating, alive because of their sacrifice and close to wishing, at this moment, that he was sleeping under the snow with them.’

the sign outside the wreckage of the potters’ house, covered with messages left for harry

the child who had the nerve to say “nice costume, mister!” to mr tom riddle the dark lord voldemort, what an icon

“after you left, she cried for a week. probably longer, only she didn’t want me to see. there were loads of nights when we never even spoke to each other. with you gone… she’s like my sister, i love her like a sister and i reckon she feels the same way about me. it’s always been like that. i thought you knew.”

“you’ve sort of made up for it tonight, getting the sword. finishing off the horcrux. saving my life.” “that makes me sound a lot cooler than i was” “stuff like that always sounds cooler than it really was, i’ve been trying to tell you that for years.”

ron single-handedly fighting off five snatchers by telling them he was stan shunpike

“he must’ve known i’d run out on you.” “no, he must’ve known you’d always want to come back.”

“i just think it’s a bit spookier if it’s midnight!” “yeah, because we really need a bit more fear in our lives”

“death’s got an invisibility cloak?” “so he can sneak up on people, sometimes he gets bored of running at them, flapping his arms and shrieking…”

luna decorating her bedroom ceiling with paintings of her friends (i’m not crying, you are)

POTTERWATCH

“we’re all human, aren’t we? every human life is worth the same, and worth saving.”

“i’d tell him we’re all with him in spirit, and i’d tell him to follow his instincts, which are good and nearly always right.”

hagrid throwing a ‘support harry potter’ party

“the fact remains he can move faster than severus snape confronted with shampoo when he wants to”

“no! you can have me, keep me!” this book went from making me smile to shattering my heart in around three pages

‘hermione was screaming again: the sound went through harry like physical pain.’

ron’s ‘passable imitation of wormtail’s wheezy voice’

“so young, to be fighting so many.”

‘ron said, “blimey, a baby!” as if he had never heard of such a thing before.’

‘he seemed set on course to become just as reckless a godfather to teddy lupin as sirius black had been to him.’

“he was never free, never, the night that your brother died he drank a potion that drove him out of his mind. he started screaming, pleading with someone who wasn’t there… it was torture to him, if you’d seen him then, you wouldn’t say he was free.”

“i’m going to keep going until i succeed—or i die. don’t think i don’t know how this might end. i’ve known it for years.”

“i got this one for asking her how much muggle blood she and her brother have got.” “blimey, neville, there’s a time and a place for getting a smart mouth.”

“yeah, well, food’s one of the five exceptions to gamp’s law of elemental transfiguration,” said ron, to general astonishment.

“why would harry potter try to get inside ravenclaw tower? potter belongs in my house!”

‘harry heard a little strain of pride in her voice, and affection for minerva mcgonagall gushed up inside him.’

harry using the cruciatus curse on amycus in front of mcgonagall because “he spat at you”

mcgonagall dueling snape and sending a swarm of daggers at him

“where’s professor snape?” “he has, to use the common phrase, done a bunk” minerva i love you

neville throwing mandrakes over the walls

“is this the moment? OI! there’s a war going on here!” “i know, mate, so it’s now or never, isn’t it?”

‘and percy was shaking his brother, and ron was kneeling beside them, and fred’s eyes stared without seeing, the ghost of his last laugh still etched upon his face.’

‘a herd of galloping desks thundered past, shepherded by a sprinting professor mcgonagall.’

harry stunned the death eater as they passed: malfoy looked around, beaming, for his saviour, and ron punched him from under the cloak. “and that’s the second time we’ve saved your life tonight, you two-faced bastard!”

trelawney using crystal balls to knock out death eaters ‘with a movement like a tennis serve’

“are you a wizard, or what?”

“you must kill me.” “would you like me to do it now? or would you like a few moments to compose an epitaph?”

‘this cold-blooded walk to his own destruction would require a different kind of bravery.’

‘he was tiny in death.’

‘he felt he would have given all the time remaining to him for just one last look at them; but then, would he ever have had the strength to stop looking?’

“we’re all going to keep fighting, harry. you know that?”

“i am sorry too, sorry i will never know him… but he will know why i died and i hope he will understand. i was trying to make a world in which he could live a happier life.”

“until the very end”

“this is, as they say, your party.” harry had no idea what this meant; dumbledore was being infuriating.

“it is a curious thing, harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it.”

“do not pity the dead, harry. pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.”

“of course it is happening inside your head, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”

‘the scream was the more terrible because he had never expected or dreamed that professor mcgonagall could make such a sound.’

ron breaking voldemort’s silencing charm “he beat you!”

“i’ll join you when hell freezes over, dumbledore’s army!”

harry calling voldemort tom riddle like “yes, i dare”

‘tom riddle hit the floor with a mundane finality, his body feeble and shrunken’ where please, movies?

‘mcgonagall had replaced the house tables, but nobody was sitting according to house anymore’

peeves’ song voldy’s gone mouldy

‘tears were sliding down from behind the half-moon spectacles into the long silver beard, and the pride and the gratitude emanating from him filled harry with the same balm as phoenix song.’

harry FIXING HIS DAMN WAND

“i’ve had enough trouble for a lifetime.”

“if you’re not in gryffindor, we’ll disinherit you, but no pressure.”

albus complaining that everyone is staring and ron being like “it’s me. i’m extremely famous.”

‘the scar had not pained harry for nineteen years. all was well.’

#deathly hallows is the best book and i am not taking criticism on this #congratulations if your eyes are still dry #hp book moments #deathly hallows #harry potter books #harry potter quotes #hp textpost

[dracolucius-abraxusmalfoy]

I’ve been inactive lately and I felt guilty so here have some fluffy angst.

Part 3 for @fallautumncozyblog​

See part 1 and part 2 first.

When he meets up with Draco in the kitchens the next morning, he feels a little like he’s walking on air. Draco is already at the table, bent over a textbook and notes, and picking at the lemon earl grey scone that he favours. His cup of tea isn’t even steaming anymore.

“Draco.” He says, and he can feel the emotions in his throat, just barely holds them back.

“Draco.”

Draco looks up. Worry etched between his brows. “Are you alright? You sound odd, are you sick?”

Harry shakes his head. “I talked to Hermione. Last night.”

Draco’s face immediately falls, and he looks away, too his notes, even though it doesn’t even really look like he’s seeing them.

“Oh. Right. Okay. I’ll…” he doesn’t finish his sentence, but Harry can take a wild guess at what he was going to say, because he’s standing now, shoving notes into his book bag in a way Harry knows he’ll take hours to short of later.

“Draco-”

But he shakes his head. “No, it’s alright. I get it. They’re, they’re your everything, Harry.”

And, god, he’s so smart. Harry never really appreciated quite how smart until recently, but he’s even smarter than Hermione sometimes he thinks, but he’s so, so terribly dumb.

He doesn’t bother with words again, because apparently, Draco isn’t going to listen. Instead, he grabs the front of his robes and crashed his lips against his.

Draco stays stock still, doesn’t move a muscle, so instead of continuing, which really, isn’t at all pleasurable unless it’s being reciprocated, Harry pulls back.

“Is this-” he starts but doesn’t get a chance to finish asking if it’s okay, because suddenly Draco’s hand are in his hair and his lips are pressed against his and, ya. Defiantly. None, not a single kiss he’s ever had with a girl, has ever felt like this.

That bloke he’d met in London over the summer had come close, but nothing quite reached the level of magnificent of having Draco pressed up against him. Draco who pulls away far too soon.

His smile, bright and warm and joyful makes up fro it completely.

“Oh.” He says, and Harry laughs because yes, Oh. He grins back.  

“You absolute Berk.” He says because that’s their thing, now, before kissing him again and sitting down in the chair.

Draco moves his chair closer, before sitting back down next to him.

“Your talk was that good?” Draco asks

And Harry nods. “It was.” And smiles. “We should talk.”

Draco reaches out to touch his arm, and his smiles haven’t changed. Makes slow churning warmth settle in Harry's belly. Happiness he thinks.

“We should. But not right now.”

Harry nods and pours himself a cup of tea just as a house-elf conveniently pops up to bring his customary bowl of fruit.

The day goes by in a blur of Draco. It’s all he can think about, but they don’t have a moment to spare between classes and homework and by the time curfew rolls around Harry hasn’t been able to catch up with him. As eight years they're given considerably more leeway than everyone else, but Harry does think that extends to being out more than a couple of minutes past the final curfew. He’s tempted to go looking for Draco anyways, but he’ll probably be in his common room anyways, and as much as house relationships have improved this year he doesn’t think his presence in the Slytherin commons will be any more well-received than it has in the past. Maybe if he can get an invitation things will be different. He’s surprised when he pulls out the map then, to see that Draco is in fact still in their window. They’ve always been careful not to stay out after curfew. Many of the teachers are forgiving of Draco’s past, but while Harry would most likely get a slap on the wrist for all but a few of the professor’s, Draco’s probation hinges on his good behaviour, which means no detentions.

He’s only a floor away, and Draco is still curled up on the sill when he rounds the corner.

“What are you doing?” He asks, and Draco startles, almost falling sideways in his hurry to turn around.

“Merlin, Harry. I thought you were a professor. I couldn’t concentrate on homework and I  couldn’t sleep either.”

Harry nods and comes to sit next to him. Draco moves easily, lifting his feet before putting them back down in Harry’s lap. It’s nothing he hasn’t done before but it feels bigger now.

They’re both quiet for a long time, listening to the rain pattering against the window, and for the sound teacher’s shoes on the stone.

“Draco?”

He’s been waiting to ask this all day, practically holding his breath, but now that the moment has arrived he feels like he doesn’t have any breath to hold.

“Yes, Harry?”

“Are we… Is this.”

Draco sighs, and turns away from the window to face him.

“What do you want us to be Harry. Because I can assure you, whatever it is you want, I’m okay with.”

“I… Like you.”

Draco nods, stretching a hand out for Harry’s, grasping it tight when Harry reaches back.

“I like you too.”

Harry smiles and squeezes back. “Good. And… I want to be this all the time. I don’t want… I don’t want peoples opinions to stop me from touching you when I want to.”

Draco’s smile grows bigger, and sadder, all at once. “Are you sure? That’s not going to be easy. I’m alright if you want to-” “Is that what you want? For it to stay a secret? Everyone already knows we’re friends. We don’t have to announce it or anything and to be honest with you, I don’t think I’m much for public displays, but Draco I don’t want to hide.”

His shoulders relax minutely as if he’s been expecting Harry to back out at the first sign of an exit, but he nods and squeezes his hand tighter.

***

It takes less than a week for Ron to notice something has changed, and he must have been paying closer attention than Harry thought because he hasn’t done much more than rest his hand on Draco’s back. Maybe there's something about the way they move together now, more united, in sync. He noticed it with Ron himself when he and Hermione finally got together.

Whatever it is that he’s seen, he apparently decides that the best place to confront Harry about it is in the crowded hallway outside of the charms classroom.

He doesn’t say much, yes something vaguely incoherent about betrayal and lunges at Draco. Harry’s not sure how he really thought that would end for him, but apparently, he hadn’t expected Harry to fight back, cause he looks surprised when he ends up on his back before he gets within a foot. Draco looks surprised too, having taken a step back, but unharmed. Harry turns his attention back to Ron, and while he’d been hurt and annoyed before, now he was fuming.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Did you seriously think I would just let you attack him? Did you seriously think I wouldn’t fight back?”

Ron sneers at him, his face red as his hair. “You’ve done plenty of attacking yourself. Don’t think you have room to judge there mate.”

His stomach sinks, and he can feel the blood drain from his face. He can see Draco lying on the ground, can hear his wet gasping breaths. It’s something he’s simultaneously tried very hard to forget, and promised to always remember.  

Hermione’s scandalized Ron is almost enough to convince him to leave Ron to Hermione.

“That was a low blow Ron and you know it. You know.”

“Yeah, I do. No wonder you were so beaten up over it. Just couldn’t stand the thought of cutting up you boyfriend could you? I always wondered why you had no trouble with the other death eaters. Guess I know now. How long have you been fucking him I wonder? Was it some big joke? ‘wonder how long it’ll take Ron to see! Right in front of his big stupid face!’ Bet that’s why you saved him from he fire too, couldn’t stand to loose your little piece of ass.” Harry punches him then. At some point, Ron had gotten up off the floor and in his face. Harry had been planning on letting him finish his little rant before walking away, but he’d gone too far, again. Harry know too that despite what he thinks of Draco, no matter how mad he is at Harry, that he knows better than to think those things are true. Which is worse, somehow, because that means he’s saying them to be cruel, because he knows they’ll get under Harry’s skin. That’s what makes Harry punch him, heat of the moment or not.

Ron is defiantly surprised by that. They’ve never come to blows before, not physically like that, but he doesn’t hesitate to give back. Harry’s jaw cracks from the force of the hit, and he can hear both Draco and Hermione’s frantic yelling, but he tackles Ron to the ground  anyways. He’s just about to hit him again when Draco grabs his wrist and pulls. He’s not strong enough to actually lift Harry off of Ron, but it does pull him to a stop, makes him think long enough to hear the words he’s saying.

“Harry. Harry come on. It isn’t worth it. I’m not worth and neither is he. Let’s go.” He pulls again, and this time Harry goes with him willingly, standing up and taking a step back from Ron. He’s realizing now that everyone is watching them, a circle formed around them.

Draco is still talking to him, and put an arm around his waist, one hand circling his hip in a comforting motion. “Let’s go Harry. Come on.” Harry nods, and follows him. They walk until they reach the front doors, and then keep walking. Only stopping to sit once they read the edge of the lake. Draco’s attempt to draw him out are only met with stony silence, and eventually, he stops trying.

Things go on like that for a while. He spends most of his time with Draco outside of classes, and talks to Hermione when he can, even if that means he and Ron ignore each other’s presence completely. Ron continues to glare at him in classes and in the hallways, and when it comes time for bed, their dorm in these and awkward, Dean and Neville constantly trying to find ways to talk to both of them without breaking the precarious ceasefire.

Harry hates it. He misses his best friend, and while he’s not willing to leave Draco just to make Ron happy, he’s do just about anything else. He knows he needs to find a way to fix this, but the only way he can think of seems like it would never work.

Draco thinks he should do it anyways.

His last class before lunch is Transfigurations. Draco is placed in the 7th year Slytherin-Hufflepuff class, so Harry is left alone with Ron and Hermione. Their table is quiet, and Harry half contemplates sitting with with Luna and Ginny across the room, but gives it up as a bad job when Hermione glares at him. He wonders briefly if she’s become an expert Legilimens, but he thinks she’s just rather an expert at reading his expressions.

“Harry James don’t you dare!” She whispering furiously, and Harry holds his hands up to his chest in innocence.

“I didn’t do anything!” He says, smiling,  but his frown returns when Ron shoots him a glare around the back of Hermione’s chair.

He sighs, and turns away. He has to talk to Ron over lunch, talk to both of them, if he can convince him to skip. They’ve both got a free period after lunch, maybe  if he promise to take him down to the kitchens afterwards. He doesn’t think Draco will be there, unless he decides to skip Arthimancy again. He nods to himself and settles down to wait.

Transfigurations, much to his, and everyones surprise, has become his best subject. It had been useful while they were on the run, and while he might never have a perfect understanding of theory- although, he was picking that  up quite well too- his spell practicals where the best in the class, even above Hermione.

Everyone had been a little surprised when his new wand had  been Fir. Hermione had thought he’d keep Draco’s, but although his wand worked surprisingly well for him her had felt like it was sad, almost, being away from its original owner. That’s how they’d become friends, when he’d noticed Draco’s new wand misbehaving, and had remembered the Hawthorn one buried in the bottom of his trunk sometime during September.

Harry had found him in a forgotten  window seat on the fifth floor, and Draco had been grateful when he’d returned it, won back with a simple expellearmus. Harry had showed up at the window a week later to  find Draco  once again doing his home work  there. He’d joined him without  a word, and, somehow, they’d become friends.

He smiled to himself,  thinking about it. Their relationship hadn’t been effortless, but Harry found that talking  with Draco was easy, and at some point, Harry found himself waiting in the windowsill for Draco almost everyday.

Transfiguration passed in a blur of practical spells and theory he would have to relearn later from his books. When class ended, he gathered up his stuff quickly, leaving Ron and Hermione behind so he could wait just outside the door. He knew if he tried to catch him before he left the room he wouldn’t be getting anywhere.

The flow of students passed him without even a look in his direction, as he waited. Ron was almost always the last out of every class, and so it was almost ten minutes before he passed, and Harry reached out to touch his shoulder.

He was suddenly nervous, unsure what Ron reaction would be, but he steeled himself. It had to be done.

“Hey, mate, I was hoping we could… talk?”

Ron met his eyes for only a moment before looking away and shrugging.

“Sure, whatever.”

Harry nodded and started making his way towards the common room, trusting that Ron, and possibly Hermione, would follow.

There was rarely anyone there during lunch, and if there was the dorm would defiantly be empty. He couldn’t see any reason Seamus, Dean or Neville would be there for any reason Harry wouldn’t have heard about.

Sure enough, the common room was empty save one first year hunched over a desk in the corner. Harry sat down in his favourite chair, leaving thee love seat open for Ron, and Hermione, who had indeed trailed along behind them.

Once they were seat he cast a wandless silencing spell, and Hermione gave him a look. She’d been after him about doing unnecessary wandless magic since the war had ended. She didn’t want him to tire himself out just because he could. Wandless is hard for a reason Harry.

She wasn’t wrong, and so he relented, giving her a sheepish grin before turning his attention back to Ron, who was staring moodily into the fire.

“So..” He paused. He didn’t really know what he wanted to say. Didn’t know how to say it.

“So..” Said Ron, looking up to meet his eyes. Harry could see the determination in them, and Harry thought that was a good thing. He thought that maybe it was the determination to work it out.

“I miss you, you know. You’re my best mate and I miss you.”

Ron doesn’t appear to soften any to that, but Harry thinks he see’s a subtle shift in his eyes.

He doesn’t say anything, and Harry’s about to start talking again, will keep talking until he relents, but all at once that fight goes out of Rons shoulders.

“I don’t care you know. That you like blokes. I  wish you’d told me, but I don’t care. I just. Why’d it have to be him? There’s plenty of others that would kill for the chance mate and not just because you’re Harry James fricking Potter either mind you.”

Harry shakes his head. “It’s him because it’s him Ron. Why Hermione?”

“Because it always been Hermione.” He says, seemingly without even thought.

Harry lifts an eyebrow. “And it's always been Draco too, don’t you think? Even if it wasn’t the same”

“How long-”

Harry laughs, “Days actually. Just days before you ambushed us in the hallway.”

“Oh.” He says sheepishly, but smiles, just a little, vaguely in Harry’s direction.

“He’s.. He’s a good sort Ron. I know he wasn’t in the past, but it is now.”

“I still don’t understand.”

Harry nods, and catches Ron’s eye.

“You don’t have too. Just try to accept it. That’s all I’m asking.”

Harry doesn’t think that that’s the end of it, not by a long mile, but it’s something at least, and at this point, he’ll take whatever he can get.  

Bonus:

“Did you have to bring him round for Sunday dinners?” Ron asks.

He looks vaguely constipated.

“He can hear you” Draco pipes from Harry right. They all three ignore him.

“You told me to invite him round to the Burrow.”

“Ya but… Did it have to be during Sunday Dinners? Everyone’s going to be there.”

“Isn’t that rather the point of inviting him to the Burrow Ronald?”

Thank god for Hermione.

Harry squeezes Draco’s hand, just to let him know that Harry hasn’t forgotten he’s there. That tends to make him rather tetchy. The squeeze back is tight enough to hurt. Harry winces. Too late then probably. He sends him a pleading look, paired with his largest puppy dog eyes and a rather messy kiss to his cheek. The kind Draco pretends to hate but always seems to get him to do whatever it is Harry’s asking.

He rolls his eyes, but his grip on Harry’s hand loosens significantly.

“Good then! All sorted. Better hurry, don’t want to miss the beginning of dinner you know how Molly gets about that. Come along then!”

Harry pulls Draco hand to get him to walk faster. The Burrow is within sight now.

Molly is in the doorway before they even reach it, and she’s fusing over Draco before she even acknowledges the rest of their presence.

“Draco! So good to see you. You’re far to thin darling, come in come in! Here have a mince pie.”

Harry can tell that she’s trying hard for him, even if she isn’t nearly as strained as he was expecting. He appreciates it more than anything, and when he is given his customary Molly Weasley hug, he squeezes her extra tight. The returning tightening of her arms is enough to let him know that everything is going to be alright.

He winds an arm around Draco waist when he’s released, and Draco doesn’t hesitate to lace their fingers together on his hip.

#Draco Malfoy #drabble #drarry #Harry Potter #Ron Weasley #fluff #angst #fanfiction #fanfic #Hermione Granger #My writing #writing

[lucywsly]

❧ you’re absolutely fucking GOLDEN and i cannot wait to see who you BECOME ❧

❝ I met a girl like sunshine and lightning. Now suddenly, I’m an optimist. ❞ SOFIA CARSON? No, that’s actually LUCY WEASLEY. A SEVENTH YEAR student, this HUFFLEPUFF student is sided with MCGONAGALL’S ARMY. SHE identifies as a CIS-WOMAN and is a HALF-BLOOD who is known to be UNAMBITIOUS, BLASÉ, and IMPRACTICAL but also COMPASSIONATE, CONFIDENT, and LOYAL. { JANE, 22, NZT, SHE/HER }

make way for the chaotic horny!

resident unambitious, impractical sunshine girl, but compassionate, loyal, and always up for shenanigans!

her pinterest can be found here !!

there are so many exclamation marks so far but honestly that’s on brand for lucy’s energy

she’s adopted! same age as molly (she’s a sag, so she’s already eighteen, merlin almighty) and same dorm too —- even though they’re not actually, just bc of the adopted thing, lucy absolutely considers them twins in spirit and she loves molly more than anything in the world

they’re the same age but like.... honestly lucy always thought of molly as who she’d want to be when she grew up lmao? it’s just, well, they both want to help people, but frankly, molly is much better at it. she’s just..... much more practical and skilled asdfghjkl

that said, lucy’s pretty confident in who she is. sure, she absolutely admires the hell out of her friends and relatives — thinks all their skills are ah-maz-ing and wishes she had some of their practicality and competence — but she knows who she is and she’s happy in that. she’ll always love & think the world of her family and friends but she really is secure in who she is too. it makes sense to her that people like lily and james are better at this new world than her. it’s not thinking less of herself, it’s just —- practically, she’s utterly useless for practicality, and that’s. not ideal in war but overall, it’s okay, like, she’s Okay, that’s just how it is, she’ll just blithely stomp on someone in heels, you know? i think it’s good, though, like even though she’s useless at so many things, she’s so sure in who she is —- i think it’s something her friends and family can anchor to and rely on, even if she doesn’t realise it. like, whatever else, lucy is absolutely ridiculous but she’s unwavering in that and herself and her love for all of them

lucy absolutely loves a good wind up & takes great pleasure in teasing her father and uncles. she loves her dad though until the absolute end —- looooooves him. her dad can be pompous, and he’s a stickler for rules and he can be boring and uppity and sometimes he’s too snooty and she wants to whack him up the head, and she teases him for being silly all the time, but he’s good, underneath it all. she’s absolutely nothing like him and she puts very little stock in bravery ( like, it’s cool, but — whatever? she’s grown up with brave people all her life, and she loves them, but not bc they’re brave? ) but she thinks sometimes people forget there are lots of different kinds of bravery and ok sure her dad didn’t face voldemort like uncle harry did nor face those giant spiders when he was small like uncle ron did ( someone else in her family would probably know what they’re called and all the other unnecessary information about them but lucy’s never been especially interested in magical creatures, frankly ) but for someone ambitious, someone who needs to be right, someone who has pride in himself, one of the bravest things he can do—one of the best testaments to his character—is being able to swallow that pride and admit to being wrong. and he does that sometimes, she’s seen him do that, and she loves him fiercely for it. lucy knows her dad is considered the boring one, of the assorted uncles, but she doesn’t care—she loves him fiercely and she takes a lot of her importance of family from him.

still, even though she loves him, she’s absolutely nothing like him except for the family importance situation. like, she’s so unambitious that it quite possibly physically hurts him. she handles it by just blithely ignoring it and kissing him on the cheek and just teasing him until he gets worked up and she ends up laughing and her mother yells something about cholesterol from the living room. she loves him to death but she’s not going to change just bc… she’s not like him? she wouldn’t have the slightest idea where to start. she knows he loves her, and she loves him, and that’s enough for her. lucy is lucky to have the cheerful irreverence and blithe willpower to just sort of ignore her dad and laugh everything off when necessary.

that said, he’s so pompous and it’s so funny. lucy 100% takes more after her mother, who’s more creative (kimberly and i are still discussing what she does for a job but we know it’s going to be creative or social justice oriented and v much non ministry), but she’s always gotten along great with her uncles bc they’re so down for a wind up, just like she is

she’s… not practical. like, she’s so impractical. she loves loves loves helping people because she loves people in general but, frankly, she’s not always very effective about it bc she’s just not a practical person. she tries though, she really does. it doesn’t always go her way, but her heart is always in the right place

i mean she’s genuinely nice?? she never really tries to be good and she’s not particularly polite, but she just really likes people and it manifests in genuine compassion and infectious laughter. she’ll also talk to and flirt with anyone. wish i was joking. but yeah like re: niceness, she’s not always, like, polite and she teases and stuff, but she has a good heart and honestly probably doesn’t have a mean bone in her body

she’s going to be incredibly stoked and also startled if she passes her n.e.w.t.s and is probably 35% of the way to albus having a stroke

she takes charms, herbology and divination because she’s actually pretty decent at those and has fun, and someone talked her into sticking with dada so she had a back up so she didn’t end up with only two n.e.w.t.s if she didn’t pass, and it has worked out somewhat in that she has slightly more defensive skill than she would have if not, but she really needs to refocus in that class (or just when people are teaching skills in the m.a.) because at this point, her best plan for attack/defense/fighting is to stomp on people in her scary heels

sofia carson isn’t particularly tall but lucy’s like 5′10″

has the most mad ideas and just. goes with it. absolute blithe confidence and good humour, decides to try turn the black lake into a beach or something. a fair knack for getting people to come along with her, especially because even some of the more exasperated and reasonable people she knows often end up coming along just to try stop it from reaching the absolute heights of madness, bc they know she’s quite hard to deter

she never means to cause trouble, not really, but it’s the obvious consequence of her ideas that she doesn’t think through

loves matchmaking and loves love

not so much for herself though —- she’s absolutely not opposed, but she’s a chaotic horny and while generally likeable and she likes people, very much so, she’s never been in a long-term relationship, though she’s been on bunches of dates

would absolutely play fmk in her dorm and give only professors as options

nsfw tw // would rather fuck shrek than kylo ren // end tw

lucy’s just... honestly, all heart. she’s far from the most practical, knowledgeable or pragmatic, and she’ll drive you up the wall even as she has you laughing fondly, but she loves with all she has and she’s generous and gives freely, and she’s loyal and will always have your back, even if her skills aren’t helpful... she’ll always be there with you

death, grief, loss, war tw // war is hard. it is. no matter who you are. but with something like this, where it’s touched her loved ones, it’s inescapable. honestly, lucy feels kind of helpless. she adores her entire family, and uncle harry was always someone who never made her feel silly for who she was. not that it would have been an easy thing to do with her blasé approach to life, or that any of her relatives would intentionally try that anyway, but uncle harry has always felt like warmth, quiet love, and making space for others without them having to fight for it. and him being gone is something lucy doesn’t know how to deal with. for the most part, she’s excellent at separating things from her personal life, which is sort of how she’s approaching the fact that their school administration is taking away personal freedoms, and showing their bias, with a fairly blithe attitude for the most part, but harry and minerva and kingsley are too close to home. she can’t separate those, and honestly, she’s not sure she’d want to. it might feel like a disservice, and feeling things is the one thing she knows she can do for them, capably. it makes her blood boil, as much as her blood can, because how dare they take away such good from the world? how dare they take them away from their families, the people who love them? and she’s scared, when she stops to think about it, but truthfully, she doesn’t think about that too much. not for herself, exactly, but the people she loves. being scared is a new experience for her, but it’s not something that stops her —- she’d still step out into a fight, which is frankly just an awful idea, she’d be no help whatsoever, but she just can’t bear the idea of someone she loves stepping out alone, so she’ll always be with them. silly, scattered, flighty and blithe as she may be, impractical to a fault, but her heart’s in the right place. the biggest impact of harry’s death is that she’s just sad about it. her grief isn’t a fiery rage, as much as the injustice of it rankles her. it’s just a loss that isn’t sure how to build something back up in a world without such a huge part present. but lucy’s always been someone with more mad ideas than sense, and a heart full of love and light, and a knack for making others laugh because she herself is so often laughing, and maybe that’s all she can do now. just be herself, and hope that alleviates things for some people. // end tw

her music taste is weird

or like

not weird, just there’s no real theme or specifications to it except that it’s got a beat that makes her feel alive

the easiest way to encapsulate it is to probably say her ideal playlist is one that you can sing along to at the top of your lungs while driving down a highway with the windows down and wind streaming through your hair & dance in your seat to

THIS SONG is a example of what i mean (i think she’d be down with the message too, like, a song abt loving a city? fuck yeah, nothing’s soulless! but the real draw of it is that it’s something she’d enjoy singing along to on a road trip. something PUMPY. you know what else is on this playlist? fuckin’ all star by smashmouth. hips don’t lie by shakira. 4ever by the veronicas. money by 5sos. life is a highway by rascal flatts. the fuckin’ jo bros. we’re living large here people)

character parallels: janet van dyne / the wasp ( bubbly, chatty, loyal, friendly socialite turned fashion designer turned superhero — marvel 616. ) ; cleo sertori ( sunshine ditz extraordinaire — h2o just add water. ) ; simone ( flaky, irresponsible, bright hearted, confident, i think she’s a model & will sleep with anyone (see caption) — the wrong girl. ) ; evie grimhilde ( fashion designer who loves making people over, true love, has chemistry with everybody & stomps on someone’s foot as a legitimate tactic when swordfighting — the descendants. ) ; thor odinson ( confident, good-hearted, unambitious, sometimes thoughtless or careless, doesn’t know who kevin bacon is & would hug the hulk — mcu. ) ; chelsea parker ( flirty, ditzy, outrageous, silly, usually says whatever she’s thinking & would make out with someone/flirt as a distraction for shenanigans and escapades — st trinians. ) 

#iidyintro #why is she this way

[yourdeepestfathoms]

Morgause Headcanons

Y’all I’m sorry I had to. I have a ton but here are a “few”

Morgause doesn’t get nearly enough attention as she deserves. The show also did her dirty and barely gave her the spotlight she should have. So here’s a bunch of headcanons that I came up with because it’s My City Now

I’m just super soft for this girl okay don’t @ me

Also if any of y’all ship Morcest then you can kindly fuck off. None of these headcanons that involve Morgana are shippy or supposed to be taken in that way. They’re healthy sibling headcanons and not fucking incest. Just fuck off in general if you ship siblings together.

* Really really really really REALLY loves spiders

* Tarantulas are her favorite and she has a bunch

* Morgause, with her tarantulas on her arms: I am the spider queen

* Names all her tarantulas after goddesses

* Calls them her “pretty girls”

* Then there was this one incident,,,,

* Morgause: *outside with one of her spiders*

Some hawk: *comes out of nowhere and snatches it up*

Morgause:

* Also snakes

* Would walk around with a python coiled around her neck

* Doesn’t like admitting she is/was wrong about something

* Doesn’t do well in emotional situations (i.e. freezes up, avoids eye contact, has a meltdown, loses control of her magic)

* Don’t ask for her comfort because she’s terrible at it

* The best she could do is:

* Gets uncomfortable when people invade her personal space

* Doesn’t enjoy being touched out of nowhere

* That being said, sudden hugs, too (Morgana learned that the hard way)

* Always has a weapon on her. Whether it be a flail or sword or a dagger hidden in her boots, she’s always armed

* Even though she has magic, she just feels a little safer with a weapon

* But if she doesn’t or magic isn’t a option, she will freaking bite

* Bite, scratch, spit, kick, punch- she will absolutely lose it if she feels cornered

* This one time she got her mouth covered by some bandit and her fight or flight instincts kicked in. Before she thought to use her magic, she clamps her teeth down on the man’s hand and bites off three of his fingers

* This other time another bandit had her pinned against the wall, touching her in a very provocative way. She was panicking, adrenaline making her act NOW and it wasn’t magic she went with. Instead, she bites down on the man’s ear and jerks her head, tearing it off completely. She literally bites off an ear

* Trust issues

* Prone to sensory overloads and she isn’t quite sure why. They make her sister worried, though

* Also panic attacks. She hates them and describes them as being one of the worst feelings in the world.

* She goes through almost all of them alone. This coping mechanism isn’t very healthy and it has taken a toll on her.

* Doesn’t know how to ask for help

* Sensitive to bright lights and loud noises

* Honestly sometimes forgets she has magic

* Will climbs things to get something she can’t reach

* Morgana: Sister, what are you doing?

Morgause, on top of a shelf and an oddly placed stool: Getting the poison

* Loves to draw and is actually a really good artist

* If she ever met Aithusa, she would try and get the baby dragon to sit still long enough to draw her

* Morgause, chasing Aithusa around the tower: So this clearly isn’t working

* Has drawn her sister MANY times because she just loves her so much

* Yes, Morgause actually cares deeply about Morgana

* She just has a hard time expressing it and usually it comes out the wrong way. Or every word is about revenge and her plots, while, deep down, she just wants to tell Morgana how much she means to her. But she can’t. It’s like she’s cursed and she hates it

* No this isn’t Morcest- some of you guys are just fucking disgusting

* Gets the Mom Friend™ treatment by Morgana

* Morgana: Sister, did you eat today?

Morgause: Yes, I did, MOTHER.

Morgana: >:O

* But then the next day....

* Morgause: Sister, this is our new ally, C-

Morgana: That’s MOTHER to you.

* Morgause may seem like this refined and sophisticated young woman, but she’s actually kinda ungraceful

* It’s the pressure of situations that make her seem like she knows what she’s doing

* Like she attempts to storm out angrily after an argument with a bunch of nobles or maybe some allies and she rams straight into the wall and knocks herself unconscious

* Her sister is always quick to cover it up

* Morgana: I laid down next to you so people would think we were chilling

* Allergic to hazelnuts and coconut

* When she had an allergic reaction, she started scratching at her throat, like she was trying to open up an airway. She actually made herself bleed from exertion and Morgana had to hold her wrists so she wouldn’t complete tear into her esophagus

* Is....really violent with herself when she’s upset....

* Claws, bites, scratches, pulls her hair out

* She’s not okay. She just acts like she is

* Morgause, after not sleeping for a week straight:

* Very tolerant of pain. She doesn’t know how to act around people being really worried about her, so she pretends she’s okay. So, overtime, she’s learned to endure many things

* Though, this usually ends up with her completely forgetting about an open wound and it gets worse

* Morgause, undressing and finding an infected gash in her side: ???????!!!??!??????!??!?!?!!??

* In a physical fight? Amazing. Perfect form. Very agile. In a magical fight? Powerful. Ready to act. Clever. In a verbal fight? Uhhhh

* Throw out a “Your golden eyes look creepy!!” and she’s dead. you did it. u obliterated her

* Claustrophobic and secretly afraid of the dark but don’t tell anyone

* Morgana, trapped in a tight, magic-canceling cell by Merlin: Alright. It’s okay. If we can just assess the situation and look for any weak spots in the wall, then we can-

Morgause, ramming the door so hard she splinters the wood and dislocates her shoulder: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

* Morgause is definitely that kid who was like “THE SUN IS TOO BRIGHT. IT HURTS MY EYES. IM GONNA FIGHT IT”

* She tried to freeze a lake so she and Morgana could walk over it and she slipped mere seconds after stepping onto the ice. Morgana laughs so hard she falls over on the shoreline, watching as her usually stoic sister is scrambling on the ice

* Morgana, at breakfast: Good morning, sister!

Morgause, running on seven hours of sleep for the past eight days: *grabs a banana, peels it, eats the peel*

Morgause: afternoon

* Hopelessly shy when it comes to nudity

* Morgana: Let’s go to the hot springs

Morgause’s monkey brain: ur sister wants to fuck u when u naked

Morgause: Actually I have to go water my horse

* There are burns and scars all across her back, on her upper arms, and around her thighs. They could be from failed magical spells that strain her body or from fights she got into. Maybe they’re from something else, though...

* She doesn’t like them and shows general signs of distaste when people see them

* Okay but if Morgana is able to persuade her to go to some hot springs it would be like this

* Morgana: What are you doing?

Morgause, standing in the water in a full set of armor: Bathing, sister, what do you think

* Prunes herself and likes being clean but can do it herself

* Morgana is the only person in the world who she would let comb her hair

* Super tender-headed

* Morgause: OW!

Morgana: I haven’t even touched you yet

* Sometimes forgets to eat enough

* When Morgause was holding Morgana’s unconscious, poisoned body, she was actually crying. Those tears weren’t fake or some kind of hoax. She couldn’t fathom the thought of losing Morgana like this. She just got her sister back and she couldn’t bear having her die in her arms

* And when Uther woke up and Arthur ran in with all the guards, she got super defensive and protective. She wasn’t going to let anyone touch her sister.

* She cried into Morgana’s chest after giving her the cure because she had expected her to wake up right away. She just sat there, ear pressed to her sister’s chest, listening to her heartbeat and praying that it didn’t stop.

#I HAVE A LOT OF FEELINGS OKAY #SHE DESERVED MORE #I love imagining her being younger than Morgana #it’s canon now okay #dont tag as ship #if any of you nasty fucks do im gonna kill #bbc merlin #merlin tv show #merlin tv #merlin #bbc morgause #bbc morgana #morgana #morgana pendragon #morgause #headcanons

[cece2046]

Close the Curtains - Chap 3

Thank you my beta @reynardinepttr! for loving the direction this is going!

Teddy Lupin × Hermione Granger

FFN: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12748991/3/Close-the-Curtains

AO3: http://archiveofourown.org/works/12922338/chapters/30119079

@sissannis Come on here and rant to me and ask your damn questions about that song!

It surprised me a bit that I never met her in this house again after that night. It shouldn’t, but it did. I know all the facts. She’s back for a reason. Since she’s back for Harry, then good chances are she’s back for some serious shit that’s going down in the background that we innocent citizens have no clues about. In that case, she must be busy, so it’s perfectly reasonable that she’s never at home for dinner, never home before everyone went to bed, and never home after everyone got up. If it weren’t for the soft footsteps I heard in the midnight from my room, I’d say that she never came back, ever.

Sometimes I sit on my floor beside my bedroom door and just wait. I can hear her. My hearing ability is quite impressive. Not like dogs or something. I can’t predict earthquakes. No. But I can hear her movements in this house. She’s opening the front door. She’s stepping into the house. She’s closing the door. Silence. What’s she doing? I imagine her leaning on the wall and staring blankly, exhausted from all her work. Whatever that is. I want to go down there and comfort her, maybe get her a cup of tea, but something’s holding me back. I can still feel her on my fingertips. I can feel her whenever I close my eyes. Was I overstepping? Would I be overstepping again? She’s obviously busy. Is this really the best moment to make my move?

Timing is a mystery.

Ah, she’s coming upstairs. She moves slowly, almost contemplatively. I rest my head on the wall and watch clouds flowing past the moon outside my window. She walked past my door. No, that’s not quite right. She walked to my door, paused, and continued down the corridor. Yes, that’s better. Somehow this moment, this pause, is more intimate than anything else I’ve ever shared with her.

I can’t stop thinking about the fact that our rooms are on the same floor. If I tear down all these walls between us, would this become a little easier?

I’m still the king of calmness, though it’s not like there’s anyone here to witness this incredible achievement. James and Albus and Lily are all back at school. Harry’s too busy. Ginny’s too occupied with her magazine career and strengthening her bond with Harry, as if three kids are not enough. She visits him almost everyday. At least that’s the impression I get since whenever I go to the Auror Office to chat with Harry for a bit she’s always there.

She’s here today. He’s happy about that, I can tell.

I chuckled. Harry gives me a confused look.

“Nothing.” I said, “Just thought of someone and their problem with happy endings.”

“Who’d have problems with happy endings?” Ginny asked absently.

“Realists?” Harry suggested.

“Sounds bitter to me,” Ginny teased him.

I can’t help but get defensive. “Well you got your happy ending years ago, but not everyone has your luck.”

Ginny snorted. “People don’t need luck to find their happy endings. They need to fight for it like hell.”

I stood up and turned to leave. “I think I know one person or two who fought as hard as you that never got their happy endings. Like my parents.” I raised a hand as a goodbye. “See you later, Harry.”

I walked to the Minister’s Office. Time for the weekly briefing from all departments. Our Department Head recently developed an illness that made him unfit for this routine. The symptom includes cursing verbally, hexing, and attacking physically, all towards the Minister. Not good at all. No one knows what happened. Might be related to the rumour that his daughter loves politics, but loves politicians more. I don���t even want to know. You’d think after so many years leading the Department of International Magic Cooperation, he could be more… diplomatic about it.

Am I angry? Nah. I admit that I could’ve backed off for a bit in Harry’s office, but for a split second I decided not to.

Maybe that’s because deep in my heart I know that someday I need to stand up to them for a more serious matter. Hermione. I don’t know the origin of my confidence. I just know that there’s something there even when she has given me zero reason to believe it. How arrogant is that? I’m preparing to fight for her before anyone mentions a duel. Before the reason for a duel happens, really. At this point, I don’t know what’s making me more excited - the possibility of her becoming something more than a friend to me, or the prospect of wreaking havoc?

I don’t want myself to sound like a cheesy romantic novel, but the wolf in me is pacing.

Oh my fucking Merlin’s in-laws, scratch that. That’s worse than I expected.

“And the DIMC? Any issues you want to address this week, Mr. Lupin?” The Undersecretary asked.

“Not really,” I responded. Since the instruction for me is simply “kill him off Teddy when you get the chance”, I guess there’s nothing especially important happened. “The Norwegian Diplomatic Department still refuses to have a nice and long talk about the dragon blood import clause, despite our efforts. We’re prepared to explore other options from Russia or Finland. The proposal will be submitted to the Minister within one week.”

“Very well. Have a nice weekend, gentlemen.” The Minister dismissed us.

Ms. Lou from the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes seems extremely displeased, but she didn’t say anything until we’re all outside the Minister’s Office.

“He wouldn’t forget the ‘Ladies’ there if I’m representing the DMLE,” she said acidly.

“You, darling?” Oliver Wood laughed, “You won’t survive DMLE for one week, believe me.”

“You’re saying a woman wouldn’t qualify for law enforcement?” Her voice got a little shrill.

“Of course not!” he said, “But you have to be extra intelligent and ruthless to be there. I’ve only known one or two witches who can do it without years of struggle.”

“Oh, like who?”

“Hermione Granger, for one,” he said. I adjusted my steps to fall behind them discreetly. “That girl could’ve become the Minister if only she stayed.”

“The Golden Girl, huh? I heard she’s back?” Ms. Lou asked, the wisp of hostility gone.

“Yep. I wonder why, though. I hope she’ll come work in the Ministry. It’ll be nice to have someone with that sharp a mind as a colleague.”

“Even if she’s back she won’t be working in the Department of Magical Games and Sports, Wood.”

“Hard to say. She’s always got an eye for Quidditch players.”

Interesting.

“Why did she leave anyway? She had a future here, didn’t she? War heroine and all that.”

He shrugged. “Do I look like a gossip expert?”

She laughed. “I bet you’d know all about it if she played Quidditch.”

He turned back suddenly, “Ain’t Hermione living in your place, Teddy?”

“Harry’s house, yes.” I nodded absently as if I wasn’t listening in their conversation just moments ago.

“Tell her Oliver Wood said hi, alright? And if she wants to try her out-of-the-world organisational skill in my department, I’ll be so grateful.”

I highly doubt Hermione will be willing to become a secretary, but I said okay anyway.

It’s not like I know what she’s planning to do.

Or rather, what she’s been doing.

It must be over a month before I saw her again. It was two o’clock in the morning. I was planning to get a drink from kitchen because I couldn’t sleep, and imagining her smile doesn’t help. Reading the dullest report doesn’t help. Jerking off doesn’t help, either. I was on the top of stairs when I heard someone talking quietly in the kitchen.

“You can’t expect me to let you do this alone,” Harry said.

“It’s no big deal, Harry.” That’s Hermione.

“How is that not a big deal? It’s dangerous.”

“You say that like it means anything.”

“What, dangerous? Of course it means something, Hermione. I don’t want to lose you again. Ron doesn’t want to lose you again. He’s with me on this, you know.”

“Of course he’s with you. He’s always with you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“No. I’m sorry. Ignore me. I’m just so tired.”

“Take an assistant. Take an Auror with you. That’s all I’m asking.”

“I don’t want to, Harry. I have to build trust with them and that’s just so damn much work.”

“Why can’t you just trust them first until they give you a reason not to?”

“Because trust-worthy people are so rare, Harry.”

“I trust my men.”

“Oh, Harry,” she sounds incredibly sad, “I’m sure your men are loyal to you.”

Silence.

“Are you saying the loyalty to me doesn’t necessarily equal to the loyalty to you?”

“Are you angry?”

“No.” He paused for a bit. “No. I think I understand.”

“It was good, wasn’t it? Our old days in school.”

“Yeah.” There’s smile in his voice. “So dark and dangerous, but you two were always there.”

“We’re never going back, Harry. You know the moment my blind loyalty to you ended.”

“I know.”

I walked down the stairs softly and sat down on the last step. There’s flickering light filtered out under the kitchen door. I imagined them, two best friends, sitting on the opposite sides of a table, years and years between them like a river.

“So you know after that every time I stand with you, I make that choice consciously all over again?”

“Oh.”

“I’m with you, Harry. I made that choice before I came back. I make that choice everyday here. I’m not doing this for old time’s sake. I’m doing this because I choose to. You can trust me.”

“I know.”

“I wish she knew that, too, years ago.”

“Hermione - ”

“I know. I know. Merlin almighty I’m not starting that again.”

“You just started it.”

“I’m sorry. Okay? Just forget it.”

“I never asked you to leave! She never asked you to leave! You left me when it was so bloody hard to cope so you don’t get to come here and accuse the person who got me through the funerals and heartbreaks!”

For a long while she didn’t say anything.

And then I heard her sigh.

“I don’t want an Auror with me because I’m an independent consultant. I will be making my own decisions, which you may or may not agree with. I’d rather not kill my assistant every time that happens just so he wouldn’t be able to tell you.”

“I would never spy on you - ”

“Oh you would, Harry, you definitely would. Twenty years ago you wouldn’t, but we’re here and this is now. If you don’t spy on me, you are not a competent Head Auror. I’m just sorry that I can’t make it easy on you. I really do.” The scratching sound of a chair against the floorboard. “I will find an assistant from independent resources, though. I’ll give you that.” A kiss on the cheek. “Good night. Love you.”

“Love you.”

I didn’t move. I had plenty of time to creep back up the stairs and into my room, but I didn’t move. I was still processing all the things I’ve heard. So many questions without answers. So many questions that I’m not sure I want answers for.

She didn’t see me until she’s directly in front of me. She didn’t jump or yelp. She just paused for a bit, and proceeded to walk past me.

My left hand circled her left ankle at the last moment.

She didn’t say anything.

“Do you need an assistant?”

“Yes.”

“May I apply?”

“Teddy - ”

“May I?” I asked again, for the first time looked up to her face. She looked calm, composed, and determined.

“No.” Not one ounce of apology behind the word. This woman can be admirably hard and cold when she wants to.

Thankfully I can feel her pulse, which might be the only thing that’s keeping me sane. Her quickening, mad, erratic pulse. In my palm. Like a dying butterfly struggling for life.

My sign. My revelation. My reason for a war.

#Teddy Lupin #Hermione Granger #fairestoftherare #hprarepairnet #Teddy Lupin×Hermione Granger #I... have nothing to say #happy 2017?

[arynladyofice]

“Extremely detailed character sheet template”

This is a WIP headcanon template, I didn’t want to keep it buried in my draft, so I decided to post, and simply continue to fill it whenever I can. So basically, as long as you see this note, I haven’t finished filling it. I will reblog it when I finish filling it, too!

Character Chart Character’s full name: Unknown. Reason or meaning of name: Full name means “Lady of Ice” but also “Ice Bringer” and it’s good to note “Aryn” is also a translated version of her real name. “Lady of Ice” was gained later on (as she became Lady) so at birth she was simply “Aryn” (”Aryn Ice Bringer”). Character’s nickname: Aryn; Lady of Ice. Reason for nickname: Translation of her full name. Birth date: Unknown, can’t remember the exact date. Physical appearance Age: 500, though has been existing for more than 5000. How old does he/she appear: Eearly 20s. Weight: ??? (not underweight, not overweight, and not close to any of those extreme, so average). Height: 170 cm/5″7′. Body build: Slender, fit, athletic. Shape of face: Oval (same shape as the first two pictures in profile). Eye color: Light Blue, can also be called Icy Blue. Glasses or contacts: None. Skin tone: Fair, almost pale. Distinguishing marks: None. Predominant features: Her eyes (genuine, caring, but can betray her many years), some also says beauty (but this is subjective). Hair color: Pale Blue (Illusioned to be pale blond sometimes). Type of hair: Long, Wavy. Hairstyle: Strands framing her face, some hairs falling down her chest while the rest fall down her back, rarely tie them. Voice: Soft, smooth, can seem to echo sometimes (full out echoes like crystal you tap in dragon form). Overall attractiveness: Attractive, exact level depending on the person. Physical disabilities: None, but being in place too hot will lower her abilities. Usual fashion of dress: Pants, button up shirts, boots, gloves. Favorite outfit: Light Blue riding pants, Light blue button up shirt, light blue gloves coming to her elbows, Light Blue boots coming to her knees with small heels. Often with a light blue or white neckerchief around her neck, wrapped loosely. Jewelry or accessories: Doesn’t have any left, though she does have one pair of earrings offered by a friend. She often wears them. Personality Good personality traits: Gentle, Kind, Compassionate, Protective, Helpfull, Self-sacrificing, Friendly, Always prefer peaceful ways when she can, Loves humor, Forgiving, Loyal. Bad personality traits: Reckless, Ferocious, Protective (can go very far), Unforgiving on some occasions, Unpredictable, Will do whatever she needs to when she has to. Sometimes has a quick temper. Mood character is most often in: Cheerful and curious about the world and people. Sense of humor: Sass, jokes, puns when she thinks of them. Loves all kind of humor. Character’s greatest joy in life: Meeting new people and discovering new places. Character’s greatest fear: Losing Merlin ( @wordlesswarlock ) or worse, being hated by him. Why? She cares for him more than anyone else, if she lost him, she would break. What single event would most throw this character’s life into complete turmoil? Merlin’s death (if it was just hate, she would either try to make amend, or keep protecting from afar, so in either case she would still have a life purpose). Character is most at ease when: Being with her friends (be it Pokemon, humans), especially her closest ones and/or those that know lots of her secrets. Most ill at ease when: Facing Chaos. Enraged when: Someone she cares about is hurt in any way. Depressed or sad when: She lets memories eat at her. Priorities: Protect her friends, follow the goal of her specie the best as she can. Life philosophy: In two parts, “There is so much to see, a neverending wideness, and yet all is unique” and “I will not be your ennemy unless you give me a reason to be”. If granted one wish, it would be: Her whole kin reviving. Including her mother. Why? She misses them a lot, and she can’t help wishing her specie was once more known. Character’s soft spot: Children, Innocent people, Pokemon. Is this soft spot obvious to others? Most likely, she visibly softens. Greatest strength: Her will and heart. Greatest vulnerability or weakness: Her heart. Biggest regret: Not having been able to protect Aska from dying. Minor regret: Killing in rage when she was younger (meaning between 20 and 50 years old). Biggest accomplishment: Fighting off Chaos herself during one of the big wars between Chaos and the Guardians. Minor accomplishment: Lots of things in her eyes, like protecting her friends, taking care of her Pokemon. Past failures he/she would be embarrassed to have people know about: The times she couldn’t protect, and the time she killed out of rage. Why? She doesn’t like to admit she wasn’t always able to protect people, and she still feels ashamed of letting her emotions get the better of her/ Character’s darkest secret: The few times she killed in cold blood. Does anyone else know? No, only Aska had known (and some of her specie), and nobody knows of the most recent (and only killing in cold blood she did after her kin’s death). A Cenred that went to war with a Camelot she had grown to like, the one world that allowed her to see Aska again, and she sought out Cenred after the war ended with his loss to kill him for the loss Camelot went through (including a few important people she had started to get to know and who were important to the Merlin and Artur of this world). Goals Drives and motivations: Her drive and motivation comes from all the places she knows to have not explored yet, and so all the friends she has yet to make. The knowledge she has friends already also motivate her. Immediate goals: Take care of her Pokemon, meet new people. Long term goals: Make sure Merlin lives as long as he can, protect Camelot as long as it feels right, hopefully make sure her friends have long and happy lives. How the character plans to accomplish these goals: Stay in contact with everyone, be there for them in any way, and won’t be afraid to use all the skills she has to make sure they’re all safe. How other characters will be affected: If she achieve her goals? Her friends would have a long life, happy if she’s able to make sure they have what makes them happy. But those that are ennemies, or well if we stay in the mindset of the goals, those that try to keep their friends from being happy (or worse, try to injure or kill them)... Well, either they’ll be too scared to try again, or they’re too injured. Or dead. Past Hometown: Er, Gaia? I haven’t thought of actual names of towns, Guardians live mostly in their own houses here and there, so there aren’t official towns. In short, Gaia is their only town... and their whole planet. Type of childhood: Started off happy, but it took a few years for Aryn to get over her mother’s death, so those years were... sad, as even though she had Aska and her father and some friends, she would always feel sad. It most likely forced her to grow fast, and she probably developped her desire to battle against Chaos as long as she could then. However, by the time she reached 20, she had recovered her joyful nature. Pets: No pets as a child. First memory: Waking up cuddled with Aska as babies. Most important childhood memory: Sadly, her mother’s death. Why: It marked her whole childhood, and forged parts of her personality. Childhood hero: Her dad and his counterpart! She would love to watch them fight or train others; and she hoped to become like him; charismatic, loved and powerful. Dream job: Well, being a Guardian, of course. Education: Gaia’s education, plus whatever she could learn in other worlds. It was mostly turned toward the balance of the worlds as well as magic, but to mix well with other worlds they did learn a few universal things, too. Gaia being a medieval-like world, they learned a lot about politics, tactics, fighting, riding, etiquettes, etc. Religion: Technically, none. And technically, a few worlds considered her specie as divinities that protected the balance. But ever since a child, Aryn has always believed all religions to have some truth in them. Finances:  Without any trouble on this side. I mean, Guardians kind of have the special ability to create the money used where they are through their magic. If Magic wants them to protect worlds, it would also give them some help, right? Present Current location: Spirit, mountains that actually form their own world and connects to other worlds (caves and mountains in any world can lead to Spirit, without people realizing). Currently living with: Her Pokemon. Pets: Not pets, but her Pokemon. Religion: None. Aryn does know enough to know all religions have roots, especially as she did meet gods in the past. Not all worlds might have gods, but for Aryn, all religions have truth in them. Occupation: Traveller, Guardian of Merlin. Finances: As said before, she can create the money needed, so no problem here. She does try to “participate” though, in the sense that she won’t hesitate to use the money she create (do note that it is real, not fake, and so the people she buy from are able to use it). She will even work sometimes, use the money on the same world. Family Mother: Light Guardian, name unknown. Relationship with her: Aryn loved her, and still does. She misses her a lot, and often wonders how it would have been, growing up with a mother too. Father: Thunder Guardian, name unknown. Relationship with him: Adored him, he raised her on his own and did a great job at it. His last actions were to save her, and she can’t forget that either. She was able to talk to him about anything, too. Siblings: None, though Aska could be considered family. Relationship with them: If we take Aska, they were the closest. Nobody was as close as him, and nobody can be. Their souls were two halves of the same, as all Guardians were. The only person she could talk to when it wasn’t her father was Aska. They never hide anything between them, and knew they could count on the other. HIs loss has been and always will be a constant hole in her heart and soul, even if she’s learned to live with it. She’s living for Aska, after all. Spouse: None in main verse, @myheart-ofgold in one of the ships. Relationship with him/her: With Gold, she feels young all over again and safe. She’s been able to tell him a bit about her, and she feels so joyful that he accepts her. She loves him dearly, and would to a lot to keep him safe. They seem to get along well too, both having similar natures, though Aryn has less... recklnessness. Most of the time. Children: None in main verse, none with Gold... yet *winks* Relationship with them: Nothing to say here. Other important family members: Merlin, I would say ( @wordlesswarlock ). She sees him as a brother, very close to what Aska had been to her. She isn’t replacing, as nobody could replace Aska; and even if he was alive, Merlin would still be the closest to her alongside Aska. Merlin is also her true Protégé (the one she bonded her soul with, but it extended to others Merlin because of the multiple worlds state and waking up without worry, causing her magic to latch on the first Merlin it could), and for them, their Proété-Guardian linked evolved into family love. Favorites Color: Light shades of blue. Least favorite color: Not really one, in all honesty. Music: With a good beat. Food: Meat and berries. Literature: Fantasy (she loves to check if one actually speaks of another world, without people knowing). Form of entertainment: Flying, running, swimming, dancing, training her Pokemon. Expressions: Smiles and laughs. Mode of transportation: Flying~ Most prized possession: Her cloak, a gift from Aska. Habits Hobbies: Walks into nature, reading. Plays a musical instrument? Not really, she likes a few, and started learning a few, but she always focused on things other than learning to play. Plays a sport? No, we cannot say she plays a sport. How he/she would spend a rainy day: Watching it from her house or flying into it. Spending habits: Gifts for others, food. Sometimes clothes. Smokes: No. Drinks: Sometimes, she does like alcohol from times to times. Other drugs: No. What does he/she do too much of? What does he/she do too little of? Extremely skilled at: Extremely unskilled at: Nervous tics: Usual body posture: Mannerisms: Peculiarities: Traits Optimist or pessimist? Optimist. Introvert or extrovert? Ambivert and depends on day. Daredevil or cautious? Generally cautious, but she can be reckless too. Logical or emotional? Middle ground here, a bit more emotional, but uses logic too. Disorderly and messy or methodical and neat? Leans more to neat and methodical, I’d say. Prefers working or relaxing? She doesn’t mind work, her life doesn’t demand her she works however, so she is found relaxing most often. She has no real preferences, she wouldn’t like being stuck working for on the long term, though. Confident or unsure of himself/herself? She is confident, she can be shy, but she is confident. Animal lover? Oh yes, you bet she loves animals. Self-perception How he/she feels about himself/herself: One word the character would use to describe self: One paragraph description of how the character would describe self: What does the character consider his/her best personality trait? What does the character consider his/her worst personality trait? What does the character consider his/her best physical characteristic? What does the character consider his/her worst physical characteristic? How does the character think others perceive him/her: What would the character most like to change about himself/herself: Relationships with others Opinion of other people in general: Does the character hide his/her true opinions and emotions from others? Person character most hates: Best friend(s): Love interest(s): Person character goes to for advice: Person character feels responsible for or takes care of: Person character feels shy or awkward around: Person character openly admires: Person character secretly admires: Most important person in character’s life before story starts: After story starts:

found here

#Headcanon

[galactic-pirates]

I watched The Librarians last night - again! (I know I’m obsessed)

I decided to rewatch key episodes from seasons 1-3 before starting season 4 to delay the end of NO MORE Librarians because *cries* 10 full seasons and a movie wouldn’t have been enough, 42 episodes is just sad, but I digress.

The Candle Room

This is what I was thinking about last night. How many candles were burning in there? It certainly looked like more than 8 (Flynn, Eve, Ezekiel, Jacob, Cassandra, Jenkins, Charlene and Nicole).

Some will presumably belong to Librarians out of time like Teddy Chislington, Darrington Dare etc. but what about Duloque? He was Lancelot, another immortal knight. I don’t think the source of his immortality was ever confirmed but Jenkins said that he made a choice, and he chose the library. So maybe Duloque was originally with the library but he wanted to use magic, living so long made him feel superior etc. hence the split.

Jenkins mentioned once that immortals liked the south of France in the summer I think? I forget but I’m sure there was a line like that. Now I know there’s vampires but perhaps there’s a lot more former library personnel out there too. Those that sided with Duloque, or who got tired of fighting and wanted some personal time. Jenkins said that in the 1600′s he wasn’t at the library because he had a personal crisis of sorts so maybe there are others.

This circles round to a vague pet theory of mine. Dean Devlin was one of the creators of Stargate. In Leverage it was WOG that Eliot had worked for the SGC so is it too far-fetched to wonder if maybe Jenkins and the others started out life as Ancients? After all Merlin was an Ancient, even if the knights apparently were not but this is a different reality. One where perhaps the Stargate was never invented. Where the Ancients pored their research into other areas.

We know from Atlantis and the accidental creation of the Wraith that the Ancients were interested in immortality. We also know from when Rodney blew up most of a solar system that exotic particles - the rules of physics not applying - happened sometimes when their research went wrong.

What if magic, the leylines etc. was the result of an experiment that went wrong (or right depending on your pov) and the remaining Ancients split over how to handle it, much like the Ancients and the Ori split. That would explain Jenkins stuttering over “different species”, it would explain the libraries vehemence on “magic corrupts” AND it would explain why there were more than 8 candles.

It would also explain the whole “this side of the mirror” thing - can we say ascension anyone? The whole glowing and transforming into light sure looked familiar.

#The Librarians #fan theory #don't mind me

[nevillelongsbottom]

4 with flintwood, jily, wolfstar, and Charlie/Draco (is this me being greedy) (yes it is)

It ain’t greedy if it’s got Charlie/Draco in there! And I like all these ships anyway. Problem is, Jily and Wolfstar are taking me a small eternity to do, so I’m just going to post the two I’ve done now since I feel like I’m making you wait forever and then post the other two as they get finished (if you want to send them again, that’s cool and I can answer it when they’re done)! I’m sorry it’s taking me a while, I just don’t want to disappoint so I’ve already trashed 2 Wolfstars (I’ll get there eventually!).

But here we are: Charlie/Draco and Flintwood (with a snowball fight)!

Charlie/Draco + In The Moment KissDraco develops a habit of drinking.

Charlie Weasley finds this out when, still a month or twoaway from when he’s expected to return to Romania, he starts volunteering aspart of the Ministry’s veterans support service; he works a night shift so thathe doesn’t have to hear George and Percy wake up screaming or get up in themiddle of the night to find Ron having gripped a mug of tea so hard he’sshattered it, and he sits just outside the special ward at St Mungo’s, in aplastic chair, waiting for people who need his help. His usual fare are peoplestill inconsolable with loss and grief, or people so depressed just being inthe same room as them drains his energy; he lucks out and avoids the drinkerson his shifts until Draco arrives one night, alive like a thunderstorm,Theodore Nott clinging uncomfortably to his arm.

He becomes a frequent visitor; Charlie files permission tomake house calls every now and then, and though he’s denied the right to dothem himself, the Ministry change their minds when three support workers arerebuffed, the doors slammed in their face and the wards around Malfoy Manorstrengthened each time. When Charlie arrives, Draco opens the door, looks himup and down, and steps aside before he even announces his business. 

“I haven’t had anything to drink, before you ask,” he sayssourly. A house-elf moves to make Charlie tea; he dismisses it lightly and doesit himself, manually, like a Muggle. Draco would scoff if he didn’t have to doit himself, something to keep him grounded and all there, no matter how simple. 

“I wasn’t going to accuse you,” Charlie answers, only usingmagic to pour the milk because he can only ever get it right that way. “I justcame to see how you were doing.”

“How do you think I’m doing?” he snaps. Charlie blows on histea and doesn’t answer, his gaze steady, inquisitive. “I should’ve shut thedoor on you, too. I’m upset, alright? Is that what you want to hear?

”“I just want you to tell me how you really feel,” Charliesays patiently. “Like shit. Don’t you?”

Charlie cracks a smile. “Every day.”

-

He visits sporadically during the week, trying to keepthings interesting, trying to catch Draco out, in a moment of weakness. Henever does. Nott had explained that he was a night drinker - the dark scaredDraco, a physical manifestation of his mental fears - but Charlie hadn’texpected it to be so rigidly true. 

He almost looks forward to their visits, sometimes.

He’s on a night shift again when it happens; he’s sitting inthat plastic chair of his and wondering if anyone would mind if he Transfiguredit into something nicer when Neville Longbottom arrives by Apparition, Dracofalling in beside him and trying to lunge at him once they’ve recovered fromtheir materialisation (Charlie wants to complement Neville on a well-done pieceof advanced magic under pressure). Charlie shoves himself in the way, pushingDraco back and barking at him like he’s a badly behaved dragon to stop fightingas Neville wipes some of the blood from his cheek.

“Did he pick a fight with you?” Charlie asks, having heardtoo many a story of Longbottom’s disasters and shyness to suspect anywrongdoing on his part. Neville nods. “Alright. You head on home; I’ll takecare of him.” Without even waiting to watch Neville go, Charlie spins around,seething. “What do you think you’re doing?”

He can tell that Draco isn’t even that drunk, and that’swhat makes him so angry as the Slytherin shrugs. “Fancied giving Longbottom arun for his money.”

Charlie pulls at his hair and groans, trying to keep himselftogether. It doesn’t work. “You can’t do that, Draco! You can’t ask for andwish for redemption and then beat up the real war heroes, because that’s asurefire way to show that you’re not sorry at all and reconfirm yourself asevil! Don’t pretend to me that you’ve had it worse, either, because your familyare all alive. I lost a brother, a precious brother, and I have to live in themess left behind every day and while I know your problems are different from mine,you can’t use them as excuses! Do you see George punching people because theother half of his soul is dead? Because I don’t! And you don’t get to do this!”He’s so angry he feels like he’s about to see spots when he hears Draco shiftand suddenly there’s a mouth enveloping his. 

He knows sensibly that he shouldn’t be doing this, butCharlie is hardly the poster boy for sensible, and he grips at Draco, pushinghard into the kiss, fierce like his dragons, channeling everything into thisone moment, this one crush of lips on lips and twisted tangle of tongues,strong and hot and everything and like the release of all of his frustrationsat once and he wonders if he might explode in this moment, fingers dug intoDraco’s shoulders and Draco’s hands making waves on Charlie’s back beneath hisshirt.

He’s still angry when he draws back the kiss, figuring thatDraco might never. “You’re not off the hook,” he says.

“Yeah,” nods Draco. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“Good. Then go home and get some sleep. I’ll be over tomorrow.” 

The taste of Charlie’s lips and of his frustration is stillthere on Draco’s lips when he steps out into the street, calling for the KnightBus. Maybe it wasn’t the best of ideas, to kiss a fuming Dragonologist, but asDraco reaches up to aimlessly touch his bottom lip, he thinks that he’d love tobe in that line of fire again. 

Flintwood + In The Moment Kiss“Okay, get on over to your next class. Don’t forget yourhomework – next Thursday, you’ve got more than a week, and unless you’re beingtreated by Madam Pomfrey for the next week there’s no excuse good enough.”Oliver watches the group of first years file out of the classroom and he yawns,snapping shut his personal copy of QuidditchThrough The Ages, the spine worn by many a reread. Though his FlyingLessons certainly never included actually studying Quidditch and the history offlight and the game, the curriculum has been updated since his first year, andhe’s certainly kept busy with all the new work.

“Mr Wood,” McGonagall says; he starts, not having even heardher enter. Though she should be calling him Oliver, as they’re now equals,breaking the habit proves difficult; he can still barely get past calling herMinerva. “We’ve hired an assistant for you – I have noted that it is ratherdifficult to keep an eye on an entire class of first years in the sky – and I’dlike you to meet him.”

Oliver remembers her mentioning this; he still thinks thatit’s a good idea.

Until Marcus Flint walks in.

Merlin’s hairy balls.Oliver hasn’t seen Marcus since seventh year, and really, he’d hoped to neversee Marcus again. He doesn’t have a vendetta, but Marcus had always caused anuncomfortable swell of feelings in his belly, and Oliver has never been one foraddressing his feelings. Marcus mighthave a vendetta, though, especially considering their track record together.“Wood,” he says, looking as predatory as ever.

“Flint,” Oliver says, quirking an eyebrow.

“I know your history, you two, and if there’s any whiff of you two fighting, you’ll be outof here like a flash – is that understood?” McGonagall says sharply; Olivernods. He hopes he can keep his patience – his Quidditch career had been endedearly by too many incidents of injuries causing irreparable damage, and helikes this job. He can’t imagine being anywhere else. “Good. I expect the bestfrom the two of you.”

She shuts the door behind her when she leaves. Marcusglares. “Didn’t think it would be you.”

“All the other Quidditch players are coaching or playing.I’m the only one with free time for this.” 

“How come?” Marcus asks, sitting on top of one of the desks. 

“Magic can’t fix everything,” Oliver shrugs. 

Marcus notices that, when Oliver strides between the deskslater that day to take in homework, he walks with a limp. He’s not a Quidditchcaptain anymore; he walks with that straightness, and still has the strength inhis arms, but he’s not the Keeper anymore.

Marcus finds him handsome anyway.

-

“Sir, I was in the infirmary all week because I took a bludgerto the head last Quidditch match.”

“Alright, okay, that’s a reasonable excuse. I’d like it insometime next week, though, yeah? And watch out for those bludgers. They hithard.” Oliver pats the student on the back and smiles. “Now hurry up, McGonagall’llkill me if you’re late and it’s my fault.”

“Thanks, Professor Wood!”

“No problem.” 

Marcus watches the flare of Gryffindor robes as the studentskips away to Transfiguration. He had been refereeing that match, a trial ofhis skill in refereeing, whilst Oliver had been sitting in the stands, watchingintently. It had been in the slightest way nerve-wracking, but he had enjoyedthe feeling of Oliver watching him, studying him, even though he hadn’t knownthat Oliver might’ve been studying him in a different way.

He’s a Slytherin, and the hearts of Slytherins never brokewhile he was at school, but his heart breaks sometimes when he sees Oliver flynow, so reserved, none of that daring he had in school. 

But he’s kind, tempered, a good Professor. Marcus would loveto be on the receiving end of those smiles, those pats on the backs, thosegrins and that praise. 

“Was he really?” Marcus asks. “Not the whole week,” Oliver replies, “but I reckon we canlet him off, just this once.”

-

Marcus can’t sleep for dreams of Oliver Wood on a goddamnbroom, and, thrilled by the novelty of actually being able to leave his room,goes to the Quidditch pitch, taking ten points from a wandering Ravenclawstudent on the way. 

It doesn’t surprise him much that Oliver is already there,balancing rather precariously as he sits inside one of the goalposts. It wouldbe normal to just stand or sit on the pitch, but of course, Oliver is a fuckingmaniac and has to be back at his post, even though it’s no longer his, and shit, Marcus thinks, he’s gorgeous.

He’s kind and he’s gorgeous and that smile of his is goingto kill somebody one day.

Marcus wants to make a move. Instead, he goes back inside.

-

He’s forgotten how much he enjoyed the winters at Hogwarts –it snows and it’s up to his calves and the building is always comfortablyheated so that when he comes in from helping Oliver with lessons it’s nice andhe doesn’t have to bury himself in layers of clothes. And he gets to watchsnowball fights out the window, cackling with glee as a Slytherin pelts aGryffindor in the face.

“Please stop laughing where the students can see you,Flint,” McGonagall advises as she passes him by, so he steps away from thewindow and ventures into his classroom; Oliver is marking essays, his cup ofcoffee stirring itself. 

“What’s taking you so long?” Marcus asks; Oliver hasseemingly been marking these for an eternity. 

“These students have terrible handwriting,” Oliver grumbles.

“Snowball fight.”

“What?”

“You can’t play Quidditch. We should have a snowball fight.It’s boring here.”

“That’s true.” Oliver gets up and takes a last-minute sip ofhis coffee, pulling a sweater on before his coat and scarf. “You know I’ll win,though.”

“In your dreams.” 

Many of the students stop to admire two of their teachers,absorbed completely in a brutal snowball fight, wands and all – they’re theyoungest on the team, and Oliver is popular, having a whole fanclub to himself,but neither of them care: they’re busy having a snowball fight, eager to beatthe other, years of rivalry still strong. Oliver loves it: his life withoutQuidditch has been horrible, and the idea that he can still have fun, stillcompete – it’s perfect.

And he’s beating Marcus Flint.

“Suck it, Flint!”he bellows, narrowly avoiding a snowball aimed at his head and flicking hiswand, sending three snowballs in a triangle, two of which hit their target. 

“You watch it, Wood!”A student starts betting on which one of them will win. A snowballhits Oliver in the face: hard, brick ice, Scottish snow. “You bastard! I’mgetting you for that!” He moves from behind the snow tower he’s created (he’sScottish; it pays off) and sprints for Marcus, snowball in hand, whacking himfull-force in the face, a beautiful coup d’état. Marcus glares at him, pawinghis glove into the snow for another go, when, still elated by his perceivedvictory, Oliver leans in and kisses him, wrapping his arms around Marcus’sgiant down jacket and pulling him in with that Keeper strength.

Marcus kisses back, unwavering; this has been what he’swanted long before he even left Hogwarts, and Oliver’s mouth is hot incomparison to the cold of the snow seeping through their gloves and layers,moving ferociously as if kissing were just the next stage in their eternalcompetition that Marcus is keen not to lose, pushing back, their mouths justbecoming a clattering of tongue and teeth until they fall from pushing eachother so hard into the snow, Oliver rolling over.

Marcus takes the opportunity to dump a snowball down theback of his neck. He does not earn a kiss for that move; instead, he makes arun across the grounds, Oliver following closely behind him, yelling about howhe’s definitely going to kill him for that, and thinks that this is probablythe best time he’s ever had. 

#i feel like the flintwood one is terrible but hey it's a snowball fight! #love a snowball fight #and some edge from draco #charlie's just worried tbh #he just wants draco to stop drinking cus he's alright #and for him to be ok #also i'm sorry oliver unable to play quidditch made me sad too #but i liked him being able to find solace in something else #especially snowball fights #and teaching #i write shit #flintwood #marcus flint #oliver wood #charlie weasley #draco malfoy #prompt fill

[josephkitchen0]

Therapy Chickens Combat Isolation and Loneliness

By Susie Kearley – The therapeutic value of taking dogs to visit hospitals, special needs centers, schools, and nursing homes is well known. Even docile cats are now sometimes used as therapy animals, providing companionship, confidence, and a feeling of well-being to people in need. But therapy chickens? Whoever heard of chickens being used in therapy?

Chickens as pets are wonderful birds, full of life, and with the instant ability to make us smile. So perhaps that’s why Ione Maria Rojas thought they’d make great visiting companions for elderly people in London’s nursing homes.

Ione founded the Furry Tales project at Stepney City Farm in London in 2013, and with the help of volunteers, took Pekin bantam chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs to residential care homes and day centers across the capital.

“Living in London is intense!” she explained, “So I started volunteering at Stepney City Farm and found the experience really beneficial for my well-being. I’d had a long-term interest in art therapies and elderly health, and I’d volunteered in a couple of care homes running painting workshops. My positive experience with the farm animals made me think the elderly people would benefit from meeting the animals too. I took a few small animals into a home and it snowballed from there.”

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The reaction from elderly people to seeing therapy chickens arrive in their communal lounge was delightful. They were smiling broadly and keen to participate.

“Pekin bantam chickens are known for being really docile,” explained Ione. “They like to be stroked and enjoy perching on people’s laps, making them the perfect therapy animal. The experience promotes interaction and can make those who are very reserved and withdrawn want to join in and hold a chicken! For some people who kept chickens in their youth, it brings back happy memories.”

Therapy animals provide physical comfort, laughter, and are a great topic of conversation. The very fact that the therapy chickens seem so content is a talking point because people think they’ll run away, but the hens are born and raised on the farm. “When the animals are very young, volunteers spend a lot of time with them. They get a lot of handling, so they’re used to it,” said Ione.

A Furry Tales therapy chicken at a care home. Photo by Jess Folan.

In 2015, Ione visited animal therapy centers across America to learn best practices and share experiences of animal therapy in care homes and other environments. At the Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley in Littleton, Massachusetts, she learned about their hugely successful animal therapy program. They have a brood of therapy chickens and the residents with Alzheimer’s benefit hugely from just sitting and watching the birds; they say the experience is calming. One resident started feeding the chickens to improve his mobility.

In Kansas, a day care worker showed the clients how to care for chickens and encouraged those with DIY skills to build a coop. It was a thoroughly enjoyable activity, which gave them purpose and a sense of accomplishment, lifting their spirits.

When Ione returned from her trip, she was struck by the range of physical, emotional, cognitive, and social benefits she’d observed, including faster healing times in patients, and greater community cohesion when animals were involved in treatment regimes. It opened her eyes to new ideas, some of which were integrated into her work in the United Kingdom.

Then in March 2017, Ione handed over the responsibility for Furry Tales to her co-workers, Jane and Merlin. Jane said, “We’ve now developed a series of outreach packages where we take chickens and other animals to a hospital dementia ward, various residential homes, and to sheltered housing, visiting each location for eight weeks. Some of our clients are isolated or socially excluded, so we help to combat that, generate conversations and promote positive relationships.

“Some of our beneficiaries are living independently, but they’re socially isolated and struggle to get out. Some are in wheelchairs or have mobility problems. We can help. We’ve also introduced weekly Friday afternoon drop-in sessions at the farm, so people who enjoyed their eight-week session can prolong the experience. We help with a range of issues including anxiety and depression. Although most beneficiaries are older, we do accept people as young as 25 if we can identify a need and see that they’ll benefit from the experience. They get a mini-tour of the farm and one-to-one contact with the chickens,” said Jane.

Although the work can be therapeutic, Jane is keen to stress that they don’t actually undertake therapy. “We offer Animal Assisted Interventions and activities,” she says.

Elsewhere, a charity called Henpower, set up in 2011 in the north of England, encourages hen-keeping as a way to combat loneliness and depression among older people. A study by Northumbria University, published in 2013, showed that Henpower not only helps to beat loneliness and depression, it also reduces the need for antipsychotic medication in care homes. Henpower encourages people to take full responsibility for therapy chickens, so they’re not just petting them. Participants have a lot of interaction with the project while learning about different aspects of chicken care. Volunteers take therapy chickens to schools, events, and care environments, where people enjoy the interaction and learn about the birds.

Chickens can change lives too. Paul Checkley from England suffered abuse as a child. As an adult, he couldn’t shake off the feelings of shame and depression, had a full psychotic breakdown, retired from his job on medical grounds, and then a friend suggested he adopt battery hens. “They’ve had a horrible life, just like you.” his friend persisted.

Paul adopted four hens; they were featherless and terrified from their ordeal. But as he watched them grow into beautiful, confident chickens. He found it immensely rewarding and the experience gave him the strength to fight his own demons. “The hens accept me. They calm me down and I feel that, through the horrors in both their lives and mine, we connect,” he told The Guardian newspaper.

Today therapy chickens are used around the world to help those in nursing homes improve their mobility and have fun. Residents are more inclined to go outdoors if they can interact with animals when they get there. This means people are motivated to push themselves to achieve greater mobility and independence. The therapy chickens make people laugh, and bring simple pleasures to people who face huge challenges with ill health, disabilities, or have serious mental health issues.

Criminal Rehabilitation

Therapy chickens are also being used to rehabilitate prisoners. At The State Hospital in Scotland, where 75 percent of patients have schizophrenia, chickens roam the animal garden. You might think the patients are a threat to the animals but in fact, they treat them with kindness and compassion. Animals offer non-judgemental companionship, so the sessions can be the first positive relationship that some criminals experience in their lives, opening the door to new positive attitudes and successful rehabilitation. It’s therapeutic, calming, and can enhance their well-being.

Ashworth Hospital in Merseyside, England, looks after dangerous criminals, using therapy chickens to help them deal with a wide range of mental health issues. One of the patients called Chris was hurting himself in prison and was suicidal. He was sent to the hospital to recover and told a BBC reporter, “I look after the chickens. I enjoy it.  It’s therapeutic. It helps me. It’s good to get off the ward and forget about where I am.”

On Rikers Island, the main prison in New York City, the Horticulture Society of New York administers a horticulture course called the GreenHouse program, which trains prisoners to be gardeners and provides employment in gardening roles in the city, following their release. Part of this experience is working with chickens, where they have the opportunity to nurture the birds. For some prisoners, learning about horticulture and animal care provides a valuable connection to nature, which begins a healing process.

At Dartmoor Prison, England, the therapy garden is home to a brood of ex-battery chickens who are now thriving in the prisoners’ care. Their eggs are sold and the money raised is spent on the garden project.

Edinburgh Prison in Scotland has a brood of therapy chickens, who improve the mood of the prisoners who care for them. The prisoners built a chicken coop for them and learned about their welfare. They use the eggs in cooking lessons, and one prisoner said the chickens “put more light into every day.”

Hens at Edinburgh prison

Registration and Training

A good therapy chicken needs to enjoy being handled, so the process of socialization, early in life, is important. They shouldn’t startle easily and should have an easy-going temperament.

In the UK, therapy chickens are not certified because there is no official accreditation process for therapy chickens or Animal Assisted Interventions. There are, however, registration schemes and training programs in the United States. There are also best practice guidelines, to which many organizations in the UK and around the world adhere.

Society for Companionship Animal Studies (SCAS) Code of Practice

International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organisations’ 2014 White Paper on AAI

An organization called Register My Service Animal, LLC says, it can register your chickens as either Emotional Support Animals or Therapy Animals. They do not provide training.

You can also register Emotional Support Animals with The Official ESA Registration Of America. Chickens are accepted. They say, “Any animal that provides therapeutic value can be considered an Emotional Support Animal.”

Chicken owners can apply to work with an organization called Intermountain Therapy Animals, based in Utah. You and your chicken will be screened for suitability and if you’re deemed to be suitable, you can proceed onto the team training course.

There are many animal therapy organizations across the USA, providing opportunities for volunteers and their animals to enter therapeutic environments. Only a minority work with chickens, but it’s worth making inquiries with your nearest center if you’d like to volunteer.

An interactive online course called Chickens and You leads to a Therapy Chicken Handler certificate and teaches the skills needed for chicken therapy, including handling, public speaking, transportation and bird safety. The course explores how to read your bird’s stress signals, and anticipate their responses and behavior.

Therapy Chicken Resources  Register My Service Animal, LLC registermyserviceanimal.com/home.html  Official ESA Registration of America esaregistration.org/my-account  Intermountain Therapy Animals therapyanimals.org/Volunteer.html  Chickens and You chickensandyou.com/course_therapy_chicken.html

Do you have experience with therapy chickens? Have they helped you or a loved one? Let us know in the comments below.

Therapy Chickens Combat Isolation and Loneliness was originally posted by All About Chickens