#madam pince | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

fallingforfictionalcharacterss · 1 year

Text

Merry Christmas everyone💚

I hope you´ll all have some wonderful days and can spend some time with the people you love, no matter if you are celebrating or not.

The best Christmas

Summary: Draco and you are spending Christmas together at Hogwarts even if you never used to like each other.

Warning: reader with a kinda sad past (mentions of sickness and death), but mostly fluff

Your gaze followed Hagrid, who was struggling to carry yet another fir, that was meant to be positioned in the Great Hall, where Professor Flitwick would cover it in tons of tinsel and baubles. The music of the choir was echoing through the castle. They were probably practising for the last banquet before the holidays when they would perform some Christmas songs before Professor Dumbledore would wish all students, who would go home for the feast, a merry Christmas and also a happy new year.

The huge footprints Hagrid had left on the ground, would soon be covered by new snow, that was still falling from the grey sky. You couldn’t help but smile, as you saw some first-years running around, all excited while having snowball fights and building an entire army of snowmen. Their cheeks and noses were already coloured red, yet their eyes were sparkling, and it seemed like they couldn’t even feel the cold.

You on the other hand were freezing terribly, so you shot them a last glance before you went back into the castle. Unfortunately, inside it wasn’t that warm as well, so you quickly rushed to your common room, where the ingle and the hot chocolate the house elves would bring you, would warm you up again.

As soon as you climbed through the entrance to the common room, a cosy warmth lulled you in, as well as the pleasant smell of pastries and punch. As you looked around, you noticed, that none of your friends was sitting in the armchairs in front of the fireplace. You sighed. Probably they were already in their dorms, packing their things for the ride home tomorrow.

As you went up the stairs and opened the door, your assumption proofed to be true. Hermione was standing in front of her suitcase, weighing some books in her hands.

“You know that in the holidays you are meant to relax, don’t you? We will have continue studying soon enough. At least try to take a few days off.”

Hermione still looked at the books with furrowed eyebrows.

“I won´t have time on Christmas anyway.”, she answered, without tearing her gaze from the books. “But I will stay until after new year, so I can spend the time between the days to read something. That isn’t even actually learning. For me, this is relaxation as well.”

You rolled your eyes at your friend´s stubbornness.

“If you say so.”

Hermione sighed and threw both books in her case before she closed it. As she turned around to you and saw your questioning look, she shrugged her shoulders.

“You never know.”

“You are always prepared for all eventualities, aren’t you?”, you chuckled.

“As if this would be a bad thing.”, Hermione responded. Then she took a look at her clock. “It´s almost time for dinner. I´m already looking forward to Dumbledore´s speech this year.”

The next day, you were standing at the railway station, and watched your friends, loading up their things. You watched the scene with a bittersweet feeling. When Ron had tucked away his last belongings, he turned around to you once more.

“Are you sure, you don’t want to come with us?”, he asked you. “Mum would be really happy about it. She was already asking for you.”

But you shook your head.

“No Ron, I´m fine. Really. But wish your mum a merry Christmas. And also the rest of your family.”

After many goodbyes and even more assurances from Ron and Hermione that it would be perfectly fine, if you would change your mind and wanted to spend Christmas either with the Grangers or the Weasleys and Harry, you would always be welcome, they finally got on the train.

You waved them goodbye until the train disappeared behind the next bend.

Then, you slowly made your way back to the castle. You didn’t quite know how to feel. It was the first Christmas you would spend on your own. But it was just the way you wanted it. Last year, you had spent it with the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione. It had been perfectly fine, yet, it had felt wrong sitting at a table with a family that day, that wasn’t yours. Mrs Weasley had seen this differently of course, since she had embosomed all of Ron´s friends and saw you as a part of the family, and normally you agreed with her, yet, on Christmas it was different. Somehow, at this time of the year, everything felt different. This year, all you wanted was your freedom and to spend the holidays in peace. Also, in practical terms, you wouldn’t be on your own, even this year. Some students always stayed in Hogwarts during the holidays and so did most of the teachers. So you wouldn’t suffer from a lack of company for sure.

“What are you still doing here (Y/l/n)? Do even your friends don’t want you to ruin their holidays with your presence?”

You let out an unpleasant grunt. That wasn’t exactly the company you had hoped for.

Draco Malfoy leaned against the castle wall right next to the entrance, a thin grin on his lips.

“I could ask you the same Malfoy.”

You were genuinely surprised to see him here. Malfoy had always headed home over the holidays. You knew that many things had changed for him since his father had gotten arrested at the end of the last school year, but you had thought that this was yet another reason for him to go home and spend some time with his mother.

“I have more important things to do than to celebrate.”, the blond boy answered, while pulling a secretive face.

You rolled your eyes.

“Please don’t tell me I will have to deal with you the entire holidays.”

He huffed.

“I could say the same. So, tell me, why didn’t you leave with your annoying friends and give me a chance to actually enjoy my holidays?”

“I don’t think that this is any of your business.”, you snapped back.

Malfoy shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t care anyway. As long as you won´t bother me for the next few days.”

“Me bothering you? Don’t make me laugh, Malfoy. But oh, I forgot, you have to deal with more important things, don’t you?”

Malfoy´s grin only grew wider.

“Exactly, and you really don’t have to know about it.”

“Did I ask?”, you responded.

“I know that you always stick your nose into other people´s businesses.”

“Do you really think you are that important to me, that I will spend my free time on you?”

“You got something better to do?”, he quickly replied.

“I can think of many things. And if you may excuse me, I´m cold now.”

You walked past him, ignoring his gaze following you.

On the first days of the holidays, you spend mostly on your own. Only a handful of students had decided to stay in the school over the holidays. You weren’t exactly sad about it. You spent much time reading, taking walks through the snow and sometimes you found some other students who would play Wizard´s Chess with you. Even Professor McGonagall had announced that she was always up for a match and would grant every student, who would be able to beat her, a surprise. No one had ever managed to do so though and you highly doubted that someone would make it in the near future.

The only thing that disturbed you from having the perfect lazy Christmas holidays you wished for, was Draco Malfoy. He was sneaking around the castle, always looking busy and you couldn’t help but wonder what was on his mind. But what displeased you even more than his secretiveness was the fact that he was sitting on the Slytherin table all alone for most of the meals you were having. Not many other Slytherins had stayed over the holidays and none of your year. But while the students of the other houses didn’t care about the age or the house of the other students these days and you found yourself sitting on the table with some Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs as well, the Slytherin boy seemed to prefer staying on his own over having to deal with the other houses, as well as the handful of other Slytherins that stayed in the school as well.

Sometimes you caught him staring at you and the other students sitting at one table all together with a strange look on his face, but whenever he realized you had caught him, he quickly looked away again, acting as if he didn’t care about it at all. At some point, you had caught yourself thinking that you might as well ask him to join you, but then you remembered who Draco Malfoy was after all, and you rejected the idea again. Still, you intended that if he would come up to you -even if you highly doubted he would ever do so- you wouldn’t mind him joining you. Because on Christmas, everyone should come together, shouldn’t you?

Over the few free days that had already passed, you had gotten into the habit of taking a walk around the castle ground. By now you had to pave your way through the snow that was coating the ground in a thick layer. It was still almost constantly snowing, but you enjoyed being outside, feeling the cold air filling your lungs, getting your head clear, just thinking about nothing at all. And as long as you were covered in cosy sweaters and a warm winter jacket and just kept on walking, it didn’t get too cold.

You never knew where it would take you next, and you loved it. You visited the owlery, the lake and sometimes Hagrid, who always greeted you with a large cup of warm tea and some biscuits, that unfortunately were so hard, you were wondering how in Godric´s name you had managed to not lose a tooth yet.

Today, your feet carried you to the Quidditch pitch. You didn’t exactly know why, there was nothing going on out there, but you needed a destination.

Reaching it, you realized, that there was actually nothing special about it, even though it had something magical looking at the arena, covered in white, everything being quiet. You wouldn’t have guessed how loud and busy it could get here, if you wouldn’t have been at many matches yourself, supporting your team and cheering as well. You circled around the arena once, before you got ready to head back to the castle.

But just as you wanted to do so, you heard a sneering voice behind you.

“What are you doing here?”

You turned around, facing Malfoy. You didn’t know where he had come from, you had really thought, you had been on your own.

“Taking a walk. This isn’t forbidden, is it?”

“Wish it was for you.”, he responded.

“What are you doing here then?”

Malfoy raised an eyebrow, looking amused.

“For real (Y/l/n)?”

Of course this was a stupid question. Malfoy held his broom in his hand and was wearing his Quidditch jersey. His normally neatly styled hair was dishevelled, and his cheeks looked slightly rosy. Even though you hated to admit it, he looked unfairly good like this, even with -or maybe even more because of- the mocking grin on his face.

“I mean why are you practising right now? On your own and while it´s freezing?”

The grin on his face only grew wider and his eyes sparkled.

“Are you worried about me?”

“You wish Malfoy.”, you snorted. “I just thought you had more important things to do.” You imitated his momentous voice.

“Sometimes even I need to switch my brain off.”, Malfoy responded, not reacting to your teasing. “But I originally planned to do so without my fans bothering me.”

You rolled your eyes.

“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t call myself a fan of yours. Also, I´m already on my way back. So you´ll be on your own again in no time.”

“Good.”, Malfoy responded.

But you had barely taken a few steps when you heard the snow crunching under some boots behind you. At first, you tried to ignore it, but after you had already had made half of the way back to the castle, and you still heard the annoying sound, you turned around once more.

“Are you following me?”, you asked.

Malfoy shook his head.

“You don’t expect me to wait out here freezing to death until you are gone and I won´t bother you, do you?”

“Well, you were the one who told me I shouldn’t bother you.”

“You can wait here until I´m gone (Y/l/n), I don’t mind. But I won´t do so for sure.”

“Neither will I.”, you responded.

“Fine.”

“Good.”

“Great.”

You let out an annoyed groan before you continued your way, Malfoy walking silently next to you.

Only when you were near the castle, he spoke up again.

“So… Why are you taking a walk on your own, when it´s so cold and the snowfall is that heavy?”

You narrowed your eyes as you looked at him.

“And you are implying that I´m the one who´s worried about you.”

Silence.

“Sometimes I need to get out of my head as well I guess.”, you answered his question.

“Does it work?”

You were irritated by his interest, but still, you decided to answer once more.

“Mostly. At least for a while.”

Malfoy just nodded.

When you entered the castle together with Malfoy, you glanced at him from the side. This had probably been the most awkward interaction you had ever had with him, and you weren’t quite sure how to end it now.

But luckily, Malfoy decided it for you. He glanced at you as well and then gave you a short nod, before leaving into the direction of the Slytherin common room, without saying a word.

Your gaze followed him. When he had turned around the next corner, you shook your head.

This had definitely been awkward.

The next day, you went out again, this time heading towards the lake. But just like yesterday, you weren’t on your own for long. Because at some point, someone larger, with much bigger steps, caught up to you.

But instead of continuing his way and passing you, Draco Malfoy once more adapted his pace to yours. You glanced at the boy who was walking by your side quietly.

“You still want to tell me you don’t follow me?”, you finally spoke up, when he decided to keep on pretending as if he didn’t just appear next to you and keep your company.

Malfoy huffed.

“Do you think I am in need of doing so?”

“What are you doing here then?”

“Taking a walk. Someone told me it´s good to switch off my brain.”

You looked at him, slightly surprised that he cared about what you had told him.

“Does it work?”, you asked, even if you weren´t sure why you even approached him.

“If you would just shut up it might.”

“I´m not forcing you to keep my company.”

“I never intended to do so.”

“You can walk away then.”

“So could you.”

“Why should I, I´ve been here first.”, you responded.

“So?”

You sighed in annoyance.

“If you don’t want my company, you can leave.”

“I could. But so could you.”

“I could.”

But neither of you did.

And it went on like this for a few days. It was like an unspoken consultation between the two of you.

At some point during your walk, the two of you met up and Draco adjusted his pace to yours since you were struggling with the masses of snow, that, on the worst day, almost reached your knees. The two of you bickered for a while, claiming that you just tolerated the presence of the other one, while actually, you found some kind of comfort in those walks. He didn’t force you into chatting, actually, he didn’t even force you in keeping his company, but that’s why you enjoyed it. You didn’t have to give an account for any of your behaviour, had no kind of commitment. On rare occasions, you did talk to each other, but the questions, as well as the answers, were almost always taciturnly. But maybe that was just what you needed at that time of the year.

On the day before Christmas Eve, the sky had finally cleared up. It was still cold, but at least it had stopped snowing and the sun was shining again, making the snow, the landscape was still covered in, sparkle.

Once again, you met up with Malfoy somewhere outside of the castle. This time, you were walking through a grove near the border of the forbidden forest. The sun that shone through the trees, drew beautiful patterns on the ground. The snow was by now frozen, so you didn’t cave in that easily anymore, and crunched under your feet.

For some reason, Malfoy seemed to be way happier today than he had been the last days. He was almost talkative. But since he was Malfoy, that wasn’t exactly a good thing. He ran his mouth about all different things, while you just listened to him, sometimes zoning out a bit, since your mind was occupied with different things.

“Do you think Weaselbee and his family even have the money to buy some presents?”, he asked you, after he had bragged about the ostentatious Christmas parties his family always used to host. “I think it´s strange they all went home over the holidays. I mean if they would have stayed in Hogwarts, they would at least have gotten some food. Don’t think Weaselbee will get that at home as well. But for Potter, it still must be paradise. At least Weaselbee still got his parents; not like Potter.”

Your gaze shot up.

“You know these are still my friends you are talking about?” Your voice was sharp.

Malfoy looked at you haughtily.

“So?”

While over the last few days you had sometimes wondered what exactly the reason had been you had never liked Malfoy, now you suddenly remembered again.

“Don’t talk about them like that. And just for your notice; I spend Christmas with them the last year and it was amazing!”, you snapped back.

“Why didn’t you do it this year again then?”, Malfoy asked.

“I already told you; this is none of your business. And I don’t want you to think up yet another reason to run them down.”

“So there is one?”, Malfoy asked.

You shot him a deadly glance.

“You really are an asshole, you know that?”

You quickened your pace, not wanting to spend more time than necessary with a boy who talked so badly about your friends.

“(Y/l/n), wait! There´s no need to be offended.” With a few large steps, he caught up with you again. “Can´t you just wait for me?”

“Why? So you can continue making fun of my friends?”

“I didn’t mean to…”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t mean to do so. You always did. Why should that change now?”

“I just want to know.”

“What?”

“Why you´re rather staying on your own at Christmas than be with people you love.”

“Why do you even care?”

Silence.

You glared at him. “Never mind.”

On your way back to the castle, both of you fell silent again, but this time, it wasn’t as comfortable as in the last few days.

And when you stormed up the stairs to your common room, while Draco headed towards the dungeons, he knew, he had screwed up.

On the day of Christmas Eve, you were sitting in the Gryffindor common room, staring into the fire. You felt miserable. In the last few days, you had hoped that this year it would be different, that you wouldn’t have to deal with all those feelings, but now, you felt even worse. You should have known better from the very beginning. The company of a Malfoy, even if it might had felt pleasant at that very moment, was never a good thing. And it was even worse, that you had let yourself get lulled in by the illusion of him being anything else but an idiot.

A small knock on the door, made you look up. You couldn’t think of a single person who would want to get in here but wouldn’t have the password.

It knocked a second time.

You sighed and gave up your cosy spot on the couch. As you opened the entrance, you furrowed your brows in irritation.

Malfoy was standing in front of you, in his winter uniform and with a wry grin on his face.

“What do you want here?” Your voice was cold.

“I haven’t seen you outside. Is everything alright?”

“I´m fine.”

“Why weren’t you out there then?”

“Why should I?”

“So we can go on a walk.”

You shook your head in disbelief.

“You really think I want to go with you after what you said yesterday?”

Malfoy cleared his throat.

“This was a misunderstanding.”

“Oh, I think you´ve expressed yourself clearly.”, you responded.

“I didn’t mean to upset you…”

“But you did.”

“It was just fun.” “Not for me.”

“I´m sorry if you misconceived it…”

“Goodbye Malfoy.”, you cut him off.

You wanted to slam the door, but Malfoy was quick to put a foot in between.

“Okay, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have said this. I´m sorry I did.”

You looked at him, pleasantly surprised. This was probably the only actual apology he had ever made.

“I shouldn’t run my mouth on people who aren’t even there and what I said about Weasley and Potter was below the belt.”

“It was.”

You couldn’t help but smile. You had never thought you would ever hear Malfoy apologizing to anyone at all. For some reason it must have been really important for him to get you out of here because you highly doubted, he would have been able to say this.

“And I apologize for it.”, Malfoy said once more, spitting the words out as if they were poisoned, staring at his own feet as he did so.

The smile on your face only grew wider.

“I´ll grab my jacket really quick.”

You could have sworn you had seen some relief on Malfoy´s face, as his gaze shot up.

“Can I come in?”, he asked, glancing into the room behind you curiously.

You realized that Malfoy had probably never visited a Gryffindor before, let alone standing in front of the open door of your common room. You had to admit that you would also be kinda curious if it would have been the common room of another house, but you knew that your friends would probably kill you, if you would let, out of all the people, Malfoy in. Also, even if he recently might had shown a side of him, you hadn’t known yet, you still didn’t trust him completely. Not even five minutes ago, you had sworn yourself to never fall for his bullshit again, yet, for some reason, you did once more. But this was a border, you probably shouldn’t cross.

“You wish Malfoy.”, you answered. “Wait for me here, it won´t take long.”

This time, your feet carried you to the owlery. On your way there, you didn’t talk at all, but you could feel Malfoy´s gaze lingering on you most of the time. The sun was shining brightly, being reflected by the shimmering snow. You had to squeeze your eyes to see anything at all.

When you had reached the owlery and climbed up the stairs, you almost slipped on a frozen spot. But Malfoy was quick to grab your arm, helping you to find your balance again.

“Careful (Y/l/n).”, he grinned, locking his gaze with yours.

You could feel your skin prickle, where Malfoy was touching you, even through your jacket. For a second you just stared at him, fascinated by his eyes, which had just the same colour as the sky above you. But as you saw Malfoy´s smile only widened as he noticed the way you were scanning his features, you were quick to look away again, clearing your throat.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” His hand lingered on your arm for another second, before he let go of you. “Just try not to slip once more. I don’t want you to spend the holidays in the hospital wing.”

You just nodded, not trusting your voice, before you continued your way, now placing your feet much more carefully.

When you had reached the owlery, you watched Malfoy tying a small package onto the leg of his eagle owl. Your own owl was sitting on a sim next to you, while you carefully caressed her plumage.

“It´s a Christmas present for my mother.”, Malfoy explained to you, when he had sent his owl on its way. “I think she is sad I won’t come home this year. It´s my first year spending Christmas away from my family.”

You could hear his voice sounding a bit more hollow than usual, filled with the yearning of heading home like he always had done it.

“You should always be with the people you love at Christmas. It´s nice if you are able to forget all your worries for some time and just be grateful for what you got.”

Malfoy´s gaze was still fixed on the owl, which slowly disappeared in the distance. He nodded absent-mindedly.

“I´m sure you will be able to go home again next year. And then you will have another of your feasts and get all spoiled by your mum.”

Malfoy looked at you and gave you a small smile.

“I hope I will. My family is very important to me, you know? Not because of the bloodline and all of this. But because that´s where I belong. Because I know they will always be there for me.”

You mirrored his smile. He came over to you, fondling your owl as well, who looked at him distrustfully and rattled her chanter. But soon, she started to enjoy the additional attention she got now, nibbling on your fingers benignly.

“That´s why I didn’t want to go with Ron this year, you know? It´s his family, not mine. I know they didn’t mind me, but I still felt out of place.”, you spoke up after some minutes of silence.

Malfoy tore his gaze apart from your owl and now looked at you instead.

“Why don’t you visit your family then?”

You sighed.

“Christmas isn’t exactly the happiest time of the year in my family.” You could see the confusion on Malfoy´s face, but it seemed like he didn’t dare to ask.

You bit your lip. You weren’t sure if you should tell him. It wasn’t like it was a secret or something to be ashamed of, but even after all these years, it was still hard for you to talk about it. You barely ever talked about it with your friends. So why should you do so with Malfoy? But for some reason, you felt more comfortable with him right now, than you usually did with most of the other people you spend your time with. And he wanted to know, after all, didn’t he?

“It´s just… My mom died a few years ago.”, you told him, dedicating your entire attention to the owl in front of you, as if it was her, you were telling the story. “Dragon Pox. In the beginning, they told me there was no need to worry, and that she would make it, but she didn’t. She passed away, only a few days after Christmas. I spent the holidays sitting by her bedside. I was hoping till the very end she would still make it. I even brought her a present.” You let out a bitter chuckle. “But on Christmas, she was already gone. She was still breathing, but she was gone. She didn’t recognize me anymore. And neither did I recognize her. I just felt like it wasn’t my mum anymore lying there. I had already lost her back then. At some point… At some point, I was just wishing it would all stop. And it did shortly after it.”

You paused. Malfoy had stopped fondling the owl. You felt his gaze burning on you, but you didn’t dare to look at him.

“The next year, I was desperately trying to get the perfect Christmas with my family. But it felt like we were all pretending. One day I was expected to be happy and thankful and the next day I should be all sad and mourning. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mind celebrating Christmas and remembering her on her death anniversary, but not like that. I don’t want to pretend one day that everything is just fine and then break down crying as soon as midnight has passed. And I don’t think that´s what she would have wanted for us. I mean, I can miss her and still celebrate. Thinking about the good things, you know? Anything else just felt as if I was pretending. And I just couldn’t do it. That´s why I visited Ron last year. But somehow it felt just wrong as well.” You shrugged your shoulders, your voice sounding almost uncaring as you said: “I guess there is just no right way to deal with this.”

Malfoy and you stood there in silence for some time.

“I… I am sorry, I didn’t know…”, Malfoy finally spoke up. “I´m… I´m sorry. Really sorry.”

You took a deep breath and looked up at him. In his eyes, you could see some heartfelt sympathy.

“You say that really often today, Malfoy.”, you teased him, trying to relax the situation a bit.

“No, for real, I…”

“I know.”, you cut him off. “But it happened a long time ago and this year I just… I just wanted to finally do it my way. Just don’t want any pressure on me.” You sighed. “Sorry I killed the mood though.”, you chuckled.

You could see a small smile creeping on Malfoy´s face again.

“Now you apologized.”, he stated.

“Sorry, I…” You stopped and rolled your eyes. “You know what? I´m not. I can apologize whenever I want.”

“That´s what I wanted to hear.”, Malfoy grinned.

“Can we leave now? I get cold.”, you asked.

Malfoy nodded, and on your way back to the castle, you had an almost normal conversation. Just like friends would have one. And when he told you goodbye, you wondered, if maybe, by now, you were. But maybe friends wasn’t the right term to describe what you felt for the blond boy now. All you knew was, that, by now, you were for sure more than just two people who happened to know each other.

When you woke up the next day, you had almost forgotten it was Christmas, until you saw the small pile of presents at the end of your bed. You spend the rest of the morning, unpacking presents and trying to beat a Ravenclaw from your year in the new Wizard´s chess game she had gotten for Christmas.

Then it was time for the banquet. You had always heard the stories about the Christmas meal at Hogwarts, but when you walked into the Great Hall it was better than in your wildest dreams. Snow was falling from the ceiling, still, a cosy warmth embraced you. The tables of the different houses were thrust aside and replaced by one table standing in the middle of the room, where the teachers and some students were already sitting, patiently waiting for everyone to arrive. You sat down next to the Ravenclaw girl that had beaten you so badly in Wizard´s chess this morning and opened one of the Christmas crackers that were spread all across the table. You squeaked in surprise when some living white mouses jumped out of the cracker, quickly trying to escape the maze of feet under the table.

“Is the seat still free?”, you suddenly heard a familiar voice.

You looked up and saw Malfoy standing there, pointing at the seat next to you. You were a little bit surprised that he approached you. Not in a bad way though. But even if you had spent some time together in the last few days, besides your walks, you had stayed for yourself, mostly ignoring each other, especially when other people were around. But now he was standing there and smiled down at you. You returned the smile and nodded.

“Take a seat.”

Malfoy sat down and you tried to ignore the irritated look the girl next to you gave you when she saw you not only not being rude to the probably most hated Slytherin of your year, but actually being nice. You were chatting for a bit before Professor Dumbledore raised from his seat.

“I don’t want to bore you with a long speech. I know you are all here for the food. So all I have to say is merry Christmas and Bon appetite!”

And when he clapped his hands, your plates were filled with the most delicious dishes. You had thought that the Halloween meal had already been the best banquet you had ever witnessed, but Christmas was a whole other level. Also, the atmosphere was relaxed and familiar, and you chatted with most of the students and teachers.

The climax of the feast was probably Hagrid and Professor Slughorn, who were emptying one bottle of oak-matured Mead after another until their faces took an unhealthy-looking red colour. At some point, they performed a not-so-rhythmic version of the song “Christmas at Hogwarts”, while Professor Dumbledore used his wand as a baton. The trio earned tons of applause from their audience, but when Hagrid wanted to take a bow, tripped and nearly knocked over the table, Professor McGonagall decided that it had been enough alcohol for the evening and replaced it with some pumpkin juice.

After hours of eating and drinking, the table slowly emptied. Hagrid had fallen asleep with his head on the table and when Professor Slughorn excused himself, you could see him staggering. Madame Pince and Mr Filch were engaged deeply in a conversation and you highly doubted you had ever seen either of them that happy.

You felt comfortably full and sleepy, even if it was only late afternoon. When you finally stood up from the table, stretching your stiff limbs, Malfoy did the same. You had chatted almost the entire time with him, even laughing together, just enjoying each other’s company.

You left the Great Hall, still talking.

“Would you like to hang out some more?”, Malfoy asked, when you had nearly reached the place, your ways would have to part if you would go to your own dorms again.

“I would love to, but honestly I don’t think I can take a walk now.”, you told him, genuinely feeling sorry, since you would have loved to continue spending your time with the boy by your side. “I´m way too tired today.”

“We could also do something else. Just unwind for a while.”

You felt a smile creeping on your face, but at the same time, you felt a bit nervous. You had never spent your time with him any other way, besides the bickering, you had before those holidays. What the hell were you supposed to do with him?

There was only one way to find out.

“I´d love to.”

“Are you sure this is okay?”, you asked, nervously shifting from one foot to another.

“There´s no one in there. They´re all gone.”, Malfoy answered.

You were standing in front of the entrance to the Slytherin common room. You had decided you actually wanted to hang out a little bit longer, but everywhere in the castle, it was freezing cold, since the only rooms, that were heated were the ones that were used, and right now, these were only the Great Hall and the common rooms. You were surprised that Malfoy had even offered you to get to the Slytherin common room, especially after you had refused to let him into yours.

“But still…”

“It´s your decision (Y/n). But you won´t get this chance again.” You felt some chills running down your spine when you heard him calling you by your first name. He had never done so before.

“So we are on a first name base now?”, you teased him.

You could have sworn that Malfoy´s cheeks slightly darkened, but he rolled his eyes in annoyance.

“I will leave you here, if you won´t decide soon.”

You raised your hands in defence and sighed.

“Fine, let´s get in there.”

You could see a triumphant grin on Malfoy´s face as he stepped aside.

“After you.”

“Thanks Draco.”, you said, stressing the last word.

The grin on his face only grew wider.

“I like how that sounds darling.”, he said.

The nickname made you blush.

“And I like how that sounded.”, you responded, making him chuckle.

You passed the door and found yourself standing in another world.

The Slytherin common room looked oblong and was covered in green light. The naked stone walls made the room somehow look cold, as well as the dim light, but not necessarily in a bad way. The furnishing looked classic and really expensive. Some leather couches were placed in front of a fireplace, which extended a comfortable heat. But the highlight of the room was the rear wall. Because it wasn’t an actual wall – it was glass. You had always known that the Slytherin common room was located below the ground and near the lake, but you hadn’t thought of this. Behind the glass, lay the great lake. You had a perfect view of it. It looked just like in those big fish tanks the muggles sometimes visited, only that here it looked like there wasn’t even a barrier between the lake and the room. You took a step closer and carefully extended your hand. You wouldn’t have been surprised if you would have touched the water, but instead, your hand met the glass, that, even if it was almost invisible, separated you from the underwater world that was captured under a thick layer of ice right now.

“Do you like it?”, Draco asked.

He had followed you inside, watching you closely as you looked around. He had his hands buried deep in his pockets, looking like a boy, who had just taken you home for the first time, anxiously waiting for your judgement, which, in fact, he was.

“It´s so… different. In a good way.”, you quickly added, as you saw the look on Draco´s face. “I can´t believe Ron and Harry never told me.”

Draco frowned.

“How should they know?”

“Hm? Oh yeah, they must have been in here as well to know what it would look like, wouldn’t they?”

You let out a nervous laugh.

Draco looked at you with narrowed eyes, before he turned around and let himself fall on one of the couches in front of the fireplace.

“You want to stand there all day?”, he called you out.

Slowly, you walked over to him, not quite sure what to do. The entire situation felt strange, even though you felt comfortable with Draco by now. But it also still made you feel insecure.

“What are you waiting for, sit down.”, Draco said, patting the place next to him.

You sat down on the -unexpectedly soft- couch. You glanced at Draco from the corner of your eye, who was watching you closely.

“Are you alright?”, he asked, as he saw how stiff you were sitting there.

You looked like a deer, always ready to jump up and run away.

“Yeah. Yeah, it´s just…”, you cleared your throat, “it´s unfamiliar.”

“What do you mean, love?”

“Being here. Being with you. Just… all of this.”

Draco raised an eyebrow. Amusement sparkled in his eyes.

“(Y/n), we know each other for almost six years now.”

“Yeah, and the first five and a half you hated me.”

“Do you really think that?”

You looked at him, narrowing your eyes.

“You hate everyone Draco.”

“Not necessarily everyone.”

“Every Gryffindor.”

“And why did I go out there every day for the last bloody week even though the cold has nearly killed me?”

Now you were confused.

“What?”

“Do you really think I would have gone out there, risking dying from pneumonia, if it wasn’t for a reason?”

“You told me it was to switch your brain off.”

“It was. Kinda. But I could have done that in here as well. Only that I wouldn’t have such a pretty girl to keep me company.”, he said, with a smug grin on his face.

“Now you´re playing games with me Malfoy.”, you huffed.

The blond boy shrugged his shoulders, a smug grin covering his face.

“Maybe, but at least now you´re relaxing.”

You hadn’t even noticed, that you had sunken back into the pillows, covering the sofa, leaning one arm on the backrest, while you had eyed him distrustfully.

“Don’t do that to me again.”, you responded.

“Why, did I make you nervous for a second? Do you like the thought of me wanting to spend my time with you?”, Draco smirked.

“You wish Malfoy.”, you responded.

But from the way your heart was pounding in your chest, you knew, he was right. You weren’t quite sure how he had done it, or what exactly it meant, but within a few days, Draco Malfoy had managed to make you feel more secure than anyone had in a long time. You genuinely enjoyed his company and didn’t feel as if you would have to play pretend when he was around. And the thought that everything you had done together in the last few days, he had done just so he could be with you, appeared more pleasant to you, than it should.

The rest of the afternoon, you spent in front of the fireplace, huddled up in blankets, while you were just talking or staring into the fire in front of you. And when one time, a second year, entered the common room and gathered all his courage to tell Draco, that students from other houses weren’t allowed in here, Draco kicked him out again, threatening the poor boy to practice all three unforgivable curses on him if he would ever tell someone. When the boy had run to his dorm, on the verge of tears, you had scolded Draco for this, but he just brushed it off, saying he obviously wouldn’t do it, or at least he wouldn’t if you would mind, making you roll your eyes and blush at the same time.

At the beginning of the afternoon, you had both sat on the very opposite sides of the couch, everyone curled up in their own corner. As time went by, you had, more or less obviously, closed ranks, and by now he was so close, you could feel the heat he was radiating. The scene was so stereotypical, you probably would have laughed or called it kitschy, if it wasn’t for the boy next to you. By now, you felt like there was nothing that you would rather do than confirm any cliché you had ever read about in romance books, as long as it was with Draco.

That´s why, when your hands touched and Draco carefully interlocked his pinky with yours, you didn’t shy away, but only smiled and stared into the fire in front of you, not daring to look at the boy next to you yet.

But when you did, he was looking into the flames dancing in front of you as well. His cheeks looked slightly rosy -you weren’t quite sure if the heat the fireplace radiated was the only reason for this- and a small smile played around his lips.

You didn’t even realize you were staring at him, until he turned his head to you, and gave you a small smile.

“Is that okay with you?” His voice sounded hoarse.

Instead of answering, you just disentangled your pinkies, taking his hand instead, now actually interlocking your fingers. You were pretty sure, Draco must have heard your heart pounding in your chest and felt your pulse hammering in your fingers, but if he did, he didn’t show.

“Take that as a yes.”, he chuckled.

You smiled as well.

“Yes.”

And Draco moved even closer to you. His thumb brushed small circles on the back of your hand, making you shiver. Your gaze shifted back to the fire, as you placed your head on Draco´s shoulder. You could feel his breath hitch as you did so. He placed a small kiss on the crown of your head before he looked back to the fire as well.

For a while you were sitting there in comfortable silence, just enjoying the feeling of being close to the person next to you. You felt your heartbeat slowing down again, and felt your body starting to get heavy, as you nearly drifted off into sleep, cuddled up to the warm body next to you, inhaling Draco´s intoxicating scent. For now, you didn’t want to think about what all of this meant. You didn’t want to think about how things would go on after this day or after the holidays. You didn’t want to think about that Draco by now, was in the perfect position to break your heart if he wanted to. And you knew that even if he didn’t want to, there were still many ways he could. Still, right now, all of this seemed far away, as you felt your mind beginning to feel dizzy.

But then you felt Draco slightly shifting next to you, as he glanced down at you. You squinted up to him, slightly confused.

“Is something wrong?”, you mumbled.

Draco smiled and shook his head.

“Nothing’s wrong love. Actually, everything is more than just great.”

You felt his gaze wandering as he said this, making you suspect, this wasn’t the entire truth.

“But you still got something on your mind, don’t you?”, you persisted, slightly sitting up again.

Draco chuckled.

“Actually, I have.”

“You care to tell me?”, you asked, tilting your head.

“It´s just… I thought about…”, Draco paused, and you could see the indecisiveness in his eyes. “(Y/n)?”

“Hmm?”

“Can I kiss you?”

You looked at him with widened eyes. Draco was looking down at you, slightly overawed.

“Draco?”

“Hmm?”

“I would love you to kiss me.”

The smile that spread across Draco´s face could have lightened up the entire room. As if in slow motion, he bent down to you and carefully pressed his soft lips on yours. You returned it just as tenderly, trying to control the smile that now crept on your face as well.

When Draco pulled back again, he looked down at you in awe. His hand was caressing your face, his thumb brushing over the lips, he by now knew, he would never get enough of.

“It was actually because of you, you know?”, he whispered.

You frowned.

“What?”

“Going out there. I mean, in the beginning, I actually wanted to clear my head, but it didn’t work that well. Because I only thought of you.”

“You tell me this as if this would be a bad thing.”, you grinned.

Draco chuckled.

“It isn’t. Not at all. This might be the best thing that ever happened to me.”

You nodded and placed a small peck on the corner of his mouth.

“Not only to you.”

And after many other kisses, wandering hands, and sweet nothings whispered in the ear of the other one, Draco laid back on the couch, but this time he pulled you close to his chest. With his arms wrapped around you and a pleasant haze covering your mind, you were quick to doze off again. But before you did, you spoke up once more.

“Draco?”

“Yes love?”

“Thank you.”

Draco looked down at you, grinning.

“No need for this, darling. I know I´m good but trust me I had my fun as well. No need to thank me.”

“If I wouldn’t know you, I wouldn’t believe it´s even possible to be that self-assertive.”, you chuckled. “But for real Draco. Thank you. That was probably the best day I had in a while and for sure the best Christmas in years.”

If it wouldn’t have been for you in his arms, Draco now would have puffed his chest. It wasn’t just that he was proud that he was the one who had made you that happy. It was more that he could feel his heart swelling just from knowing you felt contented after all. And as he glanced down at you, a small smile still covering your face, he knew that he wanted to make you just as happy for the rest of his life.

“Anything for you darling.” He placed a small kiss on your temple. “Merry Christmas love.”

“Merry Christmas Draco.”

Taglist: @xodracomalfoyxo @marigold-morelli @writingwitch007 @army24—7 @lbhmoon @cappgyuccino @victoriapedroza

197 notes · View notes

squibstress · 4 months

Text

HP Rec Fest - Day 25

Prompt: A fic rated T @hprecfest

A Little Crooked

Pairing: Irma/Minerva

Creator: tea_for_lupin

Rating: T/PG_13

Word Count: 838

Summary: Minerva’s hat is crooked; Irma/Poppy reaches to fix it and finds herself awfully close.

Why You Should Check It Out:

Written to a prompt from cranky_crocus, this fic is a brilliant little moment that's sweet, funny, sexy, and all-around perfect.

Earth Is the Right Place for Love

Pairings: Minerva McGonagall/Madam Rosmerta/Severus Snape

Creator: eldritcher

Rating: T/PG-13

Word Count: 16,000

Summary: Their canticles of now and once and after.

Why You Should Check It Out:

This poetic fic is erotic without being smutty, and gives the reader beautiful, determined, but damaged characters muddling along as best they can in the aftermath of the war.

Eldritcher weaves a spell that is much like the poetry they use to frame the fic: evocative and dreamlike, with a heightened reality that brings the characters into focus in a way that plain prose can't.

#hp fic rec #hprecfest2023 #hp recs #minerva mcgonagall #irma pince #severus snape #madam rosmerta

8 notes · View notes

queerwrock · 2 years

Text

Lesbian Wizard Rock

A Galaxy Away by OwlsWithFins

Baby There’s Filch Outside (ft. Hogwarts Therapist) by The Weirdos Are Out

Dear Tonks by Dots and Lines

Dodged a Bullet by Tianna and the Cliffhangers

From Ginny to Luna by The Whomping Willows

Gryffinclaw Girlfriends by Totally Knuts

Hermione, Be Mine by Muggle Snuggle

Hufflepuffs Make Better Lovers by Kathryn Hoss

In Love With Lily by Tianna and the Cliffhangers

I’ve Just Seen a Witch (Live) by Madam Pince and the Librarians

I Want You by Tianna and the Cliffhangers

Know-It-All In Love by How Airplanes Fly

Les Be In Love by Totally Knuts (Album)

Let Me Count the Ways by Grace Kendall

Magic 101 by KwikSpell

Pomona by Kathryn Hoss

Ravenclaw Crush by The Remedial Potions

Sapphic Magic by Aguamenti

Somos magia by Tarantallegra para Boggarts

Squib Love by Totally Knuts

Us Versus Them by Tianna and the Cliffhangers

Virgin Goddess by Madam Pince and the Librarians

Witches Loving Witches by Totally Knuts (Album)

You’re A Gryffindor by Kathryn Hoss

Masterlist

#lesbian wrock #linny #wizard rock #dots and lines #the whomping willows #totally knuts #kathryn hoss #madam pince and the librarians #tianna and the cliffhangers #aguamenti #how airplanes fly #kwikspell #muggle snuggle #tarantallegra para boggarts #grace kendall #the weirdos are out #not sure whether remedial potions was singing about cho from harry's pov but screw it!

8 notes · View notes

stabby-apologist · 5 months

Text

"I was in the library, in the restricted section; and I came across a very rare piece of magic."

#stabby plays hogwarts legacy ✨️#hogwarts #hogwarts legacy #library #the restricted section #hermione granger #neville longbottom #harry potter #ron weasley #tom riddle #lord voldemort #madame pince #argus filch #severus snape

1 note · View note

sunnami · 3 months

Text

❝time will tell.❞

[credits to the original artist of the photo!! can't seem to find their @ anywhere. title is taken from jane austen's persuasion, as was the first part.]

summary. ❝you are loved. and harry thinks there is no better description that that.❞

pairing/s. poly!mauraders x reader. (james potter x reader, sirius black x reader, lily evans x reader, and remus lupin x reader.)

word count. 9.5k.

tags. reader is referred to mum, with she/her pronouns[!], canon-typical violence [!], canon-typical deaths mentioned[!], very brief marauders as soldiers of the order[!], creepy old men being creepy[!], child abuse[!], pureblood arranged marriages, a minor character expresses wanting to die[!], Depressed and Traumatized Slytherins, the capital is important[!], themes of misogyny [!], teen boys fuck around and find out there are consequences to their actions, THERE IS ACTUALLY A LOT OF FLUFF, I PROMISE YOU, angst, children lose their baby teeth up until the age of twelve!! google said so!! not proofread we die like dobby the free elf

note. damn, i cried, you cried, we all crode. tbh, the first part was only intended as a oneshot, sdfkhdf, but when i re-read it, i thought that i could have expanded on more details,, so now here we are!! i love it more than the first part ueueue. thank you all so so so much for the kind comments :((( please please enjoy the second part to this installment!! part one

HARRY JAMES POTTER was only a few months old when you died at the hands of Voldemort — or as strangers have told him every time they ravaged his personal space and ogled at his scar. They said it was a quick death, better than what had happened to Alice and Frank Longbottom. But that was all they’ve ever said about your death. Unfortunate; caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, entirely different from the pedestal James and Lily have been put on by the wizarding society.

At first, Harry had wondered if it was due to your blood relations, being the daughter of a renowned Death-Eater, heiress to the fortune of a pureblood House. Harry can’t even count the amount of conspiracy theories he’s read or heard to his face that it must have been you who betrayed James and Lily, and not Sirius Black.

Even Hermione’s shared to him a theory that your death was faked to surrender your loyalty completely to Voldemort — of course, Hermione was eleven at the time, head full of books and her favorite theories, and Harry’s already forgiven her. But there’s a part of him that despises the way he’s never known the full truth about his parents, just bits of information dangled in front of him like bait for people [read: the Dursleys] to get him to do what they want, to act like the way they want. Until Remus and Sirius, you were a stranger to him, really.

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

(1976; CURRENTLY, IN THE PAST.)

IT IS RATHER UNFORTUNATE that Madam Pince has already taken her position as the unbearable librarian at this point in time. The woman gives Harry and you a pointed look as you slam the large book onto one of the tables — to Harry’s surprise, you glare right back at her. You’re awfully flushed, however, blushing cheeks betraying the fire in your eyes; it must have been from when Remus escorted the two of you to the library; he had tried to brush your hand with his pinky, to which you had responded with a startled hiss — Remus only smiled and chuckled at you, and Harry swears he’d like to forget that entire interaction because he saw literal stars in Remus’s eyes.

Jumping back in time and potentially causing chaos? Fun.

Meeting your parents? Definitely fun, in the strangest of ways.

But watching them pine and fall for each other? Not so fun.

Nonetheless, he hesitantly takes the seat across yours and watches you flip through the pages until you land on a chapter with the large, bold letters: THE CURIOUS CASE OF ELOISE MINTUMBLE — Time-Travel and Its Many Dangers. He meets your gaze with a sheepish grin, mustering a look of innocence; except the puppy dog eyes only worked when he was nine — you are not amused.

You slide the book towards him, scarily resembling Molly Weasley when she’s miffed with the twins. “You are aware, right, that just by existing here you’ve changed the future? Your future? And, that’s not even the worst thing that could happen.”

Harry sulks. “Yes, mum.” He prefers not to think about it, actually, it makes his head hurt.

“Don’t call me that in public!” You whisper heatedly, looking over your shoulder to check if anyone had heard him — to your luck, the library was empty, save for a Hufflepuff that was passed out on top of his books. “The less people that know about this, the better. It’s bad enough we told Potter about you. Do you even know what you’re going to do?”

“Considering I was thrown here against my will, no.” Harry shrugs. “And to be honest, I was just going to obliviate the people who asked too many questions.”

You reach over to smack his head, scowling.

“Ow! That hurt!” Harry rubs the sore spot as he grumbles petulantly. “This is technically child abuse, did you know that?”

You roll your eyes. “Do you at least have a plan to get home?”

“Of course I do,” Harry retorts with a scoff, “Her name is Hermione Granger.”

“Hopeless.” You groan exasperatedly. “Absolutely hopeless.”

Harry only grins in response. For a brief moment, he forgets about the present — his reality where the skies are bleak and home is where he knows the feeling of loss more than the warmth of his own parents’ embrace. He lets himself forget, and pretends he isn’t the Boy Who Lived. Just some random boy who’s pestering his mother — even if she likes to deny the inevitability of being romanced by the Marauders, (except for Wormtail because Harry would eat troll slime before he ever lets that happen.)

“Right then,” You say after your tangent — which Harry tuned out when he hears the words, be responsible. “If I’m going to help you get back home—”

Harry’s heart drops to his stomach; as selfishly as it sounds, he didn’t want to go home just yet — not to where people just took and took from him. He’s exhausted. Still, he puts up a front of being excited to be returned to his timeline. It’s for the greater good, of course, because his existence — present or past — is always somehow a threat to the wizarding society.

“—you need to answer this one question for me.” Your voice drops lower as you stare at him intently, lips pressed firmly.

Harry nods slowly. “As long as it’s within reason, yeah.”

You inhale sharply. “Do I outlive Dolores Umbridge?”

The wince escapes Harry before he can even stop it.

That’s all the answer you need, apparently. Your mouth hangs open in disbelief, eyes nearly bulging out of your head as you slam your hands down onto the table surface, shrieking.

“That slimy bitch!”

Needless to say, the two of you are kicked out of the library.

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

(1970; ORIGINAL TIMELINE.)

YOU ARE ELEVEN when your father introduces you to Ferguson, commonly known as Fergus, Bulstrode. He smiles at you with a leer, eyes hungrily dipping to the neckline of your dress. You grit your teeth as you hold out your hand for him to take — you almost shudder at the feel of his lips on your cheek. You eagerly take a step back away from him, hoping your father won’t notice the way you shy from Ferguson’s touch. You’re not dull, you fully understand the implications of this introduction and the way Ferguson is complaining to you about his third wife’s passing — as if you were the solution to his loneliness. Bile rises to your throat, and you shove it down with a forced laugh at your father’s jokes about Mudbloods. From across the room, Allegra Greengrass stares at you in sympathy, and you send her a glare — you do not need anyone’s pity.

The corset your mother laced on too tight is suffocating you; this whole Yule extravaganza made for elitist purebloods is suffocating you; and yet, you smile and greet every red-lipped witch your mother introduces you to. For hours, you pretend, and you pretend. By the time the guests have left, you wonder if you have any more of yourself to give.

You manage to convince your mother to let you slip away for the night. Without missing a beat, you rush outside and into the garden labyrinth, lest old Ferguson snatches you up for a dance and let his gaze wander elsewhere. For the first time since the sun had set, your aching feet finally find some relief. You drop onto the edge of the stone fountain as you toss your heels to the side. You begin working your fingers through your hair, ripping the glittery ribbons from your head. It’s not until you’re unclasping your necklace that you realize you are crying. Tears fall from your eyes, and they sink deep into the fabric of your dress.

You barely hold back your sobs. Your chest heaves as you hiccup; your vision goes blurry as your fingers grow numb. There’s nothing you can do but cry.

You’ve used up all your smiles for tonight.

But then, the sadness turns into resentment and then turns into indignation. Harshly, you wipe the tears from your eyes as you rip a violent scream from your throat.

You sink to the ground, perfectly polished nails digging into the soil as you gather patches of grass and tear them from the roots. You throw a handful of mud at the marble statues. You grab another fistful of mud, scream, then bash your head against the garden floor. You let out another cry, whimpering as you curl into yourself; shivering as a gust of wind brushes against your skin. Surprisingly enough, this is the most human you’ve ever felt. This is the most you have ever felt — period.

When hiccups regress into soft sniffles, you lay on your back, watching the stars float above. As the last of your tears slide down your cheek, you lift a shaky hand to trace the constellation in the sky. It’s not a familiar one to you, but then—

“That’s Sirius.”

You sit upright in a snap, wiping away the wetness from your eyes as you muster a mean glare at the newcomer.

Sirius Black.

“Oh, none of that,” He tells you when you move to stand. There’s barely any emotion on his face and it irks you that you can’t figure out what he’s planning. What you don’t expect is for him to sit beside you, thereby ruining his expensively tailored suit.

“You’ll get creases,” You scold him instinctively, nose scrunched — but your voice is hoarse; too tired to put up any pretences. “Your mother will be cross with you.”

Sirius scoffs, laying his head on the dirt, making sure to smear his sleeves with grass stains. “Walburga can go fall in a ditch and die for all I care.”

You gasp. “That’s horrible!”

Sirius gives you a look. “You don’t believe that.”

You really don’t, but you don’t have the courage to admit it either.

After a few moments of silence, Sirius asks, raising a brow, “So who was that?”

“Who was who?” You stare at him with knitted brows, toying with your fingers. You still can’t wrap your head around how weird this is — sitting with Sirius Black in the middle of your mother’s hedge maze, your once bright blue dress now sullied at the ruffles, eyes bloodshot and your hair a frizzy mess. (Sirius thinks you look cute, though; especially with your missing front tooth that peeks out every time you talk to him.)

“Bald guy, older than Merlin himself.” Sirius makes a face. “Looks like a troll. Smells like one, too.”

A giggle flutters past your lips, and your hands fly to your mouth. You really shouldn’t be bad-mouthing your guests, but Sirius was right — Ferguson really did act like an ugly troll. You sigh, letting your arms fall to your side. “My betrothed.”

Sirius nods in understanding. “My mother tried to set me up with my own cousin once.”

You grimace. “Which cousin?”

He sits on his knees to face you, and with a very solemn face, he says, “Bellatrix.”

This time, you laugh freely, throwing your head back as Sirius pouts at your amusement. “O-Oh, that’s golden.”

“No, it’s not,” says Sirius, lips twitching as he watches you snort like a pig through your giggles. “It’s horrible. A literal nightmare. You should feel awful for me.” He pokes your stomach, and it just makes you laugh harder, eyes disappearing into your smile. “Oi. I said feel awful, not take the piss out of me.”

“S-Sorry.” You wheeze, batting away his hand pulling at your cheek. “I just can’t imagine Bellatrix in a white wedding dress and saying her vows to you.”

“That’s disgusting.” Sirius gags. “You’re horrible, I hope you know that.”

When you finally calm down and Sirius tickles your bare feet until you cry in surrender, the two of you lay on the grass as he points out each constellation to you. Later, he fishes a small box of sugar mice from his pocket and offers it to you, opening one for himself. “Here’s to shitty parents and the one day we get to decide our own future.”

You bump your squeaky candy mice against his. “Cheers, Black.”

“Will you go to Hogwarts next year?” He asks you once he’s bitten off the tail of his mice.

You nod.

Sirius shifts on his side, holding his pinky out to you. “We’ll be friends when school starts?”

Again, you nod, wrapping your pinky around his. “Friends.”

The next September comes, Sirius finds a compartment and one James Potter in it. You sit with Allegra Greengrass and Endora Lestrange on the way to Hogwarts. You are sorted into Slytherin, and Sirius finds freedom and a home in Gryffindor. You play the role created just for you; you lift your nose at those beneath you, adorn yourself in custom-made silk clothing, and carry yourself with the etiquette of a pure-blooded lady. Perfect grades, perfect hair, perfect clothes, always picture perfect.

You pretend that Allegra doesn’t throw up in the evenings from the fear of getting married to a man twice her age. You pretend that you don’t notice Endora sleep-walking and begging for her mother to save her from her father. You pretend that under your blankets, in the Slytherin dungeon, you are safe.

You pretend that it doesn’t hurt when Sirius looks at you in disappointment when you shove a Hufflepuff student to the ground for getting a higher score than you in Charms.

They call you an ice-princess behind your back, and you overhear some of the fifth-years calling you foul words as well, and no one steps in to stop them; there’s no defending a Slytherin, after all. But you are keeping your head above treacherous waters, and you suppose that is all that matters.)

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

(1976; CURRENTLY, IN THE PAST.)

“SO ACCORDING TO THIS, Eloise was stuck in 1402 for five days until she was retrieved to the present, which means we only have four days left to figure out a way for you to get back home.”

Harry sinks into his chair, arms crossed over his chest. The two of you had found an empty classroom to discuss your plans away from inquisitive ears. “What’s the rush?” It’s unfair, he’d only just met you, and now he’s losing time with you.

You sigh. “Harry, Eloise Mintumble spent five days in the past and when she came back, her body aged five centuries, and she died in St. Mungos. It’s not just about altering the whole timeline, you could actually die.”

When you are met only with silence, you close the book, frowning. “Harry? What’s wrong?”

Harry swallows the lump in his throat, looking out the window to avoid your gaze. “What do you know about the Mirror of Erised?”

Your head tilts in confusion. “That it shows our heart’s deepest desire.”

“Yeah,” says Harry, nodding. “I was eleven when I found it.”

“Oh, Harry. . .”

It’s almost pathetic how quickly his eyes water. “Did you know, before today, I hadn’t known at all what your voice sounded like?”

You stay quiet, and Harry sucks in a shaky breath.

“When I looked into the mirror, I saw my parents—all of you. There I was, in the middle. You were behind me—happy.” Harry swipes a tear from his eye. “I wanted to stay in that room, stare at that mirror forever.”

“It’s—”

“Dangerous, I know.” He laughs bitterly. “Just like finally being able to meet you all here.”

“Harry, you aren’t supposed to be here in the first place,” You say quietly, eyes drooping sadly.

“I know that!” He exclaims desperately. “But is it so selfish to just want some time? I don’t want an illusion, I want the real thing. A real family. Why can’t I have that? Bloody Malfoy gets everything he wants, and what do I have?”

“Your friends,” You tell him firmly. “Your friends who must be worried sick that you’re gone and must be going great lengths to bring you back.”

“I know.” Harry wilts. He’s got Remus at home, too, who probably needs him more than ever after Sirius’s death. “I know. But can’t I just have this one thing?”

You purse your lips for a moment, brows furrowed in thought. Then, you break the silence with: “Do you want to hear a story?”

“What?” Harry croaks, peering at you through wet lashes.

Shrugging, you say, “Stories to remember us by. I’ve got six years worth of stories and then some. I know it’s not much, and you’ve probably heard some of these already from the others in the future, but it’s better than nothing, right?” You lean against the back of your chair, glancing at the wall clock before grinning at Harry. “We’ve got time to spare, anyway.”

Harry manages a smile, setting down his glasses before rubbing his stinging eyes with the handkerchief you offer him. He figures this is what Remus means when you’re the gentlest creature he’s ever known — just not gentle in what the world expects you to be.

“What do you say, Harry? I give you tidbits of the past, and you tell me if you know anything about the next Triwizard champion, so I can place my bets in advance.”

Harry snickers. “Not a chance, mum.”

“Worth a try.” And the smile you give him is nearly blinding.

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

(1977; ORIGINAL TIMELINE.)

YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND what it is about Gryffindors and their hobby of invading others’ personal space.

A year into dating and James likes to shove his head under your shirt, claiming he loves the sound of your heartbeat — but you know really what he wants to nestle his head in between. The amount of cashmere blouses he’s ruined is absurd! Sirius has a hobby of tracing runes on the plane of your stomach. Lily prefers it when you sit in front of her, just within reach where she can wrap her arms around you and rest her head on your shoulder. Remus tends to lag behind the group when he notices you walking slower due to your leg flaring up. He kisses the side of your head and promises to chase the pain away — sappy poetic that he is. And in the moments where all five of you are together, tucked under a wide alcove, you can best believe there is no escaping what they like to call, a cuddle pile. Limbs are tangled, kisses are shared, and confessions of love are whispered.

Before them, you hadn’t really known the different ways to love and be loved.

Onto the pressing matters at hand, you discover that the brazen show of affection extends to their parents as well. Particularly, the Potters. After a year, you finally caved into James’s requests for you to spend the holidays at their manor, since the others have already made a space for themselves there, and James had said it would be an honor for you to feel at home with his parents, too. Honestly, you spoil them too much — one look into his bright, wide eyes and you gave in. James didn’t even care that you brought two luggages for clothes alone; he lifted each bag with delight and with ease.

(Remus had the audacity to laugh when he caught you and Sirius staring at James’s flexed muscles, mouth wide open.

“As I have said, Remus Lupin, I do not drool!”

“Sure, dove, whatever you say.”)

But now, you really aren’t so sure of your decision.

“Oh, she’s beautiful, Jamie!” Euphemia encases you in a bear hug the moment you step inside the manor. You’re engulfed in the scent of cinnamon and burnt sugar. You stiffen as she cradles your face in between her palms, smiling ever so fondly at you, cooing about how precious you look, much like a mother would — and how your mother never did. You wonder if this is what you’ve been missing all along — the thought stabs you right in the heart. “Please excuse the mess, dear, we haven’t had the chance to clean up yet, Monty and I are excited to try the recipe Lily owled to us the other day, you see.”

“I-It’s okay,” You rasp, struggling to hold back the tears.

“Oh, what a darling you are!” Euphemia smiles and ushers you further inside. “Come, come. The others are right upstairs. You must be tired from the train ride. It is so lovely to finally meet you. Make yourself at home, dear heart — James Fleamont Potter! Give your mama a kiss this instant! Don’t think introducing your girlfriend will distract me from the fact you didn’t owl me letters for two months straight!”

James whines as he hides behind you. “Mum, I’m seventeen, stop embarrassing me.”

Euphemia scoffs, hands snapping to her hips. “You’re going to be my baby boy forever, now come here.”

With a shy smile, you step away to surrender James to his mother — you don’t understand which part of this is embarrassing; you wish for a mum who’d welcome you home like that, with unconditional love and kind eyes. James squawks and calls you a traitor, just before his mum attacks him with loud, exaggerated kisses to his cheek, leaving lipstick stains all over his face. You hide a laugh behind your palm, ignoring the way your heart pangs at the sight of their unrestrained smiles. Euphemia lets her son go after a few more seconds, cackling at the masterpiece she’s created on a grumbling James, who’s rubbing his skin to erase his mother’s affections. She hugs you once more before setting you off, telling you to meet Fleamont after you’ve unpacked.

Just as you reach the foot of the stairs, you hear a girlish squeal, then the sound of rapid footfall against each wooden step. Lily greets the two of you by jumping off the last step and wrapping each arm around yours and James’s neck. “Welcome home, Jamie!” She captures his lips with her own before doing the same to you, cupping your cheek lovingly, “So happy you made it, princess! How was the ride here?”

You were never a fan of traveling by Floo; it made you nauseous after, and left you with a pounding headache for hours. Without hesitation, the others offered to accompany you on the train, but you insisted they Floo ahead to Godric’s Hollow — it took a lot of convincing, but they finally agreed, (they’re not the only ones spoiled; they couldn’t refuse you, too.) With the exception of James, who wanted to be there when you saw his home for the first time. You nearly cried when you saw how well-loved their manor was; rose shrubs dipped in snow, Sirius’s motorcycle parked outside, a mailbox with poorly painted shapes, the fences covered in Christmas lights, and the amount of shoes by the door. From outside, you could hear the laughter and warm conversations.

“It was fine,” You say in a daze.

Lily sees right through you — and frowns sadly. “You alright?”

Were you?

You catch sight of the moving photographs of James and you finally reach your breaking point. There’s a swell in your throat that you can’t seem to push down. There’s a photo of James, Lily, Remus and Sirius; James is in his Quidditch jersey, raising the Golden Snitch high up in the air, Remus is twirling Lily, his arms around her waist, and Sirius is holding up a charmed banner that says: Gryffindor Rules! Slytherin Sucks! Except For My Darling Angel Love Of My Life Most Beautiful And Gorgeous Perfect Brilliant Girlfriend!

There are hints of life all around the manor. Remus’s textbooks and scarf are laid by the coffee table. Lily’s O.W.L. marks are framed on the wall, along with Dumbledore’s letters to James and Lily awarding them the position of Head Girl and Head Boy, as well as McGonagall’s previous letter to Remus that came with his Prefect badge years ago. There’s a spot dedicated to Peter, filled with a photograph of him awkwardly holding his Herbology test, one that he scored a hundred and twelve percent on. It’s a wall dedicated to them, you realize.

Then, you find it.

Right there, up above James’s spot, and beside Sirius’s display of beyond perfect Transfiguration exam marks, and a picture of him and Remus kissing each side of your face.

It’s a space on that wall just for you.

James follows your gaze and rubs the back of his head, ears tinged with a shade of deep pink. “Mum left a space when I first told her about you. I-It’s yours, you can put anything you want there.”

“I can’t,” You whisper, lips quivering as your heart cracks into a million pieces. It’s too much.

James blinks. “Can’t? It’s yours, I promise. Mum won’t mind. You can even hang your dumb Montrose Magpies poster and I won’t tear it down — Marauders’ honor. I can help you if you want. I-I’m not good as decorating as Lily, but I paid attention to your boring explanation of color theory and I know that you hate this shade of—”

“James, I can’t do this.”

That’s all you say before you run out of the door.

(And you’re absolutely delusional if you think James won’t follow you out that door and into the brewing snowstorm.)

You hear James call out to you, but you opt to ignore him and clutch your winter coat tighter around your body, shivering in the blowing wind, trudging through the deep snow through your heeled boots — designer couldn’t help you now even if you tried. You sniff, the salty taste of your tears dripping to your lips, chest tightening with a foreign kind of pain, and the frost nipping at your fingers. You give up after a few minutes, falling to the ground with an anguished cry, hand clutching the front of your chest as you struggle to breathe.

James reaches you in a matter of minutes, draping his jacket over you, barely flinching as the cold welts his bare skin. Frantically, he wipes the tears from your eyes, a pained expression on his face as he sees you cry helplessly. “Come on, dove, it’s not safe out here. Let’s go back home, yeah? I’m sorry for upsetting you. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry — I’m so sorry, dove, please don’t cry, it’s killing me to s–see you like this.” Tears fall from his eyes, and he begins stuttering from the cold, but you can’t go back to the manor. “What did I do? Please tell me so I can fix it. I love you—I’m sorry.”

You bat his chest. “G–Go home, Jamie. I’ll just take the train back to the castle.”

“What?” He shakes his head, grabbing onto your hands. “Y–You can’t. Not in this weather. You’ll get sick if you try to walk back to the station.”

You withdraw from his hold as you back away from James, slipping into the ice-cold mask you know so well.

James rises in an instant, reaching for you. “No, no, no, no, no. You don’t get to do that. Not now. Not with me. Please, just come home and I-I’ll fix it.”

“Goodbye, James,” You tell him firmly, clenching your jaw as you look him straight in the eyes.

He grimaces. “That won’t work on me, princess, and you know it. Don’t push me away—please.”

“Go home, James!” You yell bitterly, pivoting on your heel as you march through the thick inches of snow, hearing Remus and Lily’s voice grow louder in the distance. “Just go!”

He grits his teeth, nails digging deep into the palms of his hand. “You’re a coward if you walk away from here—from us—right now!” James shouts through chattering teeth and stray tears. “And I hate cowards more than anything!”

You don’t look back.

(Later that night, James stares blankly at the fireplace, tossing twigs now and then. He’s all out of tears. Remus crosses his legs as he sits beside James and offers him a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

“Don’t want one,” He mutters, words coarse from earlier, head turning away from Remus’s gift. “Just want her.”

Remus sets the beverage on the ground before pulling James’s head down to his chest, gently wiping the tears from his eyes as he wraps the blanket around both of them. He presses a soft kiss to James’s hair.

“I said I hated her,” James says weakly. “I don’t—I never will. I just hate that she’s out there spending Christmas all alone. She could be here—with us. I hate not knowing that she’s safe, or that she thinks I don’t love her anymore—that’s a bloody lie, Moony. I adore her. If anything, I don’t deserve her.”

James finds out that he does have more tears left in him. “I miss her. Bring her back, Rem, please.”

“You’ll cry yourself sick, love.” Remus wipes each tear away. “Let’s go to bed, yeah? Mornings do have a way of bringing miracles to us.” Because after a night of excruciating pain under the moon’s command, he wakes up to sunlight, and there you all are — smiling down at him like he is deserving of love; and maybe Remus can’t fault you for running away.

You’d kiss him gently and tell him how proud you are of him for coming back to you.

Remus only hopes you come back to them, too.)

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

(1976; CURRENTLY, IN THE PAST.)

“AND THAT, dear Harry, is how I humiliated Lucius Malfoy in fifth-year.” Your eyes gleam wickedly as you rest your arms on the school desk. “If he ever bothers you in your time, just mention my name—oh, I wish I could see the look on his face when he realizes I’m haunting him from my grave. Tell him, okay?”

Harry nods excitedly. “Definitely.”

“Got anymore stories?” He asks.

You cackle menacingly. “Boy, do I ever. Let me tell you about the one time Beckett McLaggen took me out on a date to Madam Puddifoot’s!”

Harry grimaces. “Do I even want to hear about this?”

“Oh, pish-posh.” You dismiss him with a wave. “You do, this story is hilarious. Now that I look back on it, Sirius was quite cross with him for the rest of the day—how strange. I wonder why.”

Harry stares at you in disbelief. “You’re joking.”

“I most certainly am not, Harry Potter.”

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

(1974; ORIGINAL TIMELINE.)

AN EAR-PIERCING scream wakes you up in the middle of the night. You snatch your wand from under your pillow, heart thudding against your chest in fear — last year, the Prewett twins decided it was funny to break into the girls’ quarters at midnight; you get a month worth of detention for hitting Gideon with the Expulso curse and suspension from class for two weeks, while the twins get away with a slap on the wrist and have the time of their lives spreading rumors of you being a Death-Eater.

Endora shoots up to her feet as well, staring at you in panic — then the girl screams again, and you realize it’s Allegra.

You sigh in relief, lowering your wand before saying to Endora, “I-It’s alright. I’ll handle it.”

“Are you sure?” Endora asks timidly, gnawing at her lip and wincing when Allegra wails once more.

“Certain,” You respond, yawning.

As Endora climbs back into her bed, you slip into Allegra’s side, holding her head to your chest, brushing your fingers through her hair and untangling the knots. Like most of the Greengrass women, she was of ethereal beauty — silky blonde hair, smooth and fair skin, deep blue eyes that enchant wizards and witches alike. But her cheeks have gone sallow from exhaustion, eyes devoid of any emotion, and her skin now sunken into her bones.

“I don’t want to marry him—I can’t! He’s old enough to be my father!” Allegra sobs violently, desperate for anyone to hear her, but no one really ever hears their cries from the dungeon. “They said they’d wait until I graduated—they promised! I’m supposed to marry him this summer!”

Your heart breaks for your friend — there’s nothing you can do but hold her until she’s cried every bit of her soul out.

“I hate them,” Allegra whispers to you; she had been shedding tears for hours, trembling in your arms until morning finally came.

“I know,” You say defeatedly.

“I wish I was dead,” She replies lifelessly. “He can’t marry a dead bride.”

“Don’t say that,” You beg as you hug her tight; afraid to lose her to the world that has worn her down. “Please.”

Allegra sinks into her pillows, and you follow in suit, hesitantly laying your head beside hers. She stares at the ceiling dully. “The world is so, so cruel to us daughters sometimes. And it’ll be cruel to our daughters, and their daughters. When will it end?”

“I don’t know,” You say honestly.

Allegra hums, neither disappointed nor surprised, and turns away to lay on her side. “Pansy,” She mumbles.

“What?”

“If we lived in a better world and I married for love, I’d want to name my daughter Pansy — like the flower.”

(Later that day, you are given detention for beating Evan Rosier to a pulp. He makes a joke about dirty blood, and you snap — you are tired of laughing and pandering to the arrogant men in your life. This is the first time you publicly defy your parents, and it felt good — more than good, it was liberating. It’s like breathing fresh air for the first time. Then, you earn a second detention for storming up to the Gryffindor common room and punching Fabian Prewett in the face — because fourth-year boys had no business sneaking into the girls’ dorm in the middle of the night for some stupid prank — and you threaten him by pointing the tip of your wand deep into his neck, demanding they apologize to you, Allegra, and Endora.

You get what you want, naturally — as princesses do. You decide then that you’re going to create a world where girls like Allegra don’t cry anymore.)

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

(1976; CURRENTLY, IN THE PAST.)

HARRY TWINGES WHEN he hears the end of your fourth or fifth story of the afternoon — no wonder you had been so angered by his being in your room. “I-I’m sorry—”

“Yesterday was hardly your fault,” You interrupt him. “There’s no controlling where magic brings you, not in your case. You didn’t know, but now you know. I don’t hold it against them — anymore. Fifteen-year-old boys can be stupid, and at least they’ve learned from their mistakes. You should have seen your mother — erm, Lily — she looked like she was ready to kill them after finding out what they had done. Even Molly was cross with the twins, and you know how loyal Molly is to her family.”

Oh, Harry knows.

And Hermione knows it all too well.

“Others call us evil, conniving and cruel, Harry,” You tell him grimly, “But I will protect my own, no matter what I have to do.”

At that moment, Harry thinks he understands why some people come to fear Slytherin.

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

(1978; ORIGINAL TIMELINE.)

“LOOK, LILY-PAD, the princess is drooling again.”

You open your eyes to glare at Sirius. “I don’t drool, idiot.”

Lily chortles as she presses a kiss to your shoulder. “Of course you don’t, princess.”

Currently, you’re lying on a shabby loveseat that is too small to hold the three of you; it’s the only furniture in the new cottage you call home, where Potter Manor was right across the street. (Euphemia was ecstatic to have you all nearby — the lovely woman was sprite for her age, but you notice the way she stops to sit and catch her breath, Sirius and James hovering over her attentively; you’re good at pretending, so you pretend that the Potters will be around forever.) Some rooms are dusty with cobwebs, walls unfinished, with the floors creak under your feet, and there’s no other place you’d rather call home.

You’re in between Sirius and Lily; your lips swollen from their kisses, cheeks flushed and the column of your throat graced with love marks. It’s the most beautiful set of jewelry you’ve ever worn, not even burmese rubies could compare. Lily’s hand rests under your jumper, Sirius’s thigh wedged between your own. While peace blankets the three of you, James and Remus have yet to come home from their task given by the Order.

“You need a haircut, my love,” You mumble drowsily, pulling at one of the dark ringlets — it’s gone past his shoulders now. He captures your hand and leaves a delicate kiss on your fingertips.

Lily buries her nose in your hair. “She’s right, Siri.”

“I’m always right.” You pout.

Sirius, love-sick fool that he is, smiles as he tilts your chin with his finger and ensnares you in a kiss that leaves you breathless. “Course you are — our girl’s bloody brilliant, isn’t she, Lily-pad?”

“Without a doubt.”

You roll your eyes at their antics, rolling around so that your back is pressed to Sirius’s chest — they’re not fooled, however; Lily sees the way your eyes flicker in amusement and the way your lips threaten to curve up into a smile. She traces the swell of your lips with her thumb, to the dip of your nose, and to the apples of your cheek. Sea-green eyes beam at you.

“I love you,” says Lily, committing every inch of you to her memory as she wears a melancholic smile. “I don’t know who told you that you don’t deserve to be loved, but they were wrong. You are so precious to us, dove, you don’t even know how much. This right here is real — and nothing could ever change that.”

As it turns out, you did have more smiles to give — only the happy ones; not the fake, courteous smiles that you had given to your mother’s friends in the past. You come to intertwine your hand with Lily’s, the one that had been resting on your cheek, tenderly wiping the tears that pooled within your eyes. Your heart could burst from your chest. They had a habit of wringing every emotion out of you; of making love feel real, not just a myth from a Muggle storybook. And you find, that you didn’t mind this particular habit of theirs. In the comforts of the place you call home, where you irrefutably belong, you are free to seek their arms and fall into their love, and the best part is where you get to love them right back.

How lucky you are.

“Let’s get married,” You blurt out, holding your breath, feeling Sirius’s hand on your waist stiffen.

“What?” Lily gasps breathlessly.

You smile up at Lily. “Let’s get married. All of us. I don’t care where, o–or about the rings, let’s just get married. With the war going on, we deserve s–something good.”

Lily sobs as she nods excitedly. “Yes. Oh my Gods—we’re getting married!”

Sirius stares at you in wonder. “Bloody hell, dove, give a guy some warning, would you?”

You grin. “Is that a yes?”

“It’s a yes — forever.” Sirius dives in to kiss you senseless. “Couldn’t get rid of us now even if you tried.”

“I don’t think I’d want to, anyway.”

Right then, the rickety door slams open, and you hear the loves of your life calling out for the three of you. Followed by the heavy thud of Dragonhide boots plunking down onto the floor

“We’re home!” James announces in the entryway.

Lily wastes no time in shooting up from the sofa and welcoming them home with quite a unique greeting:

“We’re all getting married!”

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

(1976; CURRENTLY, IN THE PAST.)

“That ring is an heirloom passed down to the children in our family,” You tell Harry, pointing to the band around his finger. “It’s meant to symbolize our loyalty and duty to our House. My mother said I would have earned it only when I became a wife to Ferguson Bulstrode.” You chuckle at Harry’s perturbed grimace. “No, I didn’t marry him — thankfully. After Allegra. . . I—I. . . I couldn’t bear it. If I was going to marry, it would be on my own terms, and it would be for love, nothing less. Then, if my child wanted it, I’d give them this ring. I want to leave behind a legacy that I created. When I was younger, I’d resigned to a fate that was forcefully carved by someone else’s hand.”

You shake your head. “I want to die being remembered by those who loved me. Otherwise, I was never truly alive.”

Harry won’t let that happen, he won’t ever let your name be forgotten. He’ll share of your kindness to his friends, of your bravery and loyalty. Hermione will love your fondness of Muggle musicals and how you stood up to Lily’s defense in a world that ostracized her for being different. He’ll remind Remus of your love for him, that he had brought you hope in times of despair. Harry is going to make sure the world knows you had been so full of life with endless love to give. You are going to be remembered in the way Voldemort never will.

“What do the words mean?” He stares at the writing: Tempus Edax Rerum.

You smile. “Time, devourer of all things.”

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

(1978; ORIGINAL TIMELINE.)

“REMUS—THE MUGGLES ARE stuck in the telly again!”

Remus snickers as he takes the vacant space beside you on the loveseat, now sewn up with care and spattered with knitted quilts and throw pillows — still too small to carry three people but hasn’t given out yet, anyway. He takes Lily’s legs over his lap, swiftly stealing a kiss from your lips. “It’s a film, dove, they’re acting.”

You purse your lips. “They’re trapped inside, then?”

Lily snorts into her tub of chocolate fudge ice cream. “Not quite, princess, it’s recorded. Movies are like moving photographs — but they’re an hour long with sounds.”

“Oh.” You turn your attention back to the screen, back to the film Lily had been watching. You had to admit — the story of Sandy and Danny was an interesting one. “Lily-pad, she’s singing — again.”

Sirius hushes you from where he was cuddling James on the other couch. “She’s supposed to sing, dove, it’s a musical.”

“Well, yes,” You begin, and James groans into Sirius’s chest, “But they should just talk instead of singing all the time — Sandy’s got a lovely voice, though. I just don’t understand why Danny’s treating her like that! Truthfully, I don’t like any of Sandy’s new friends, other than Frenchy — she’s harmless. If I was Sandy I’d move on from Danny — but then again, that hair and those muscles, and his leather jacket! I can’t blame her.”

Sirius glowers at you. “You like his leather jacket?”

“His hair?” James exclaims in horror.

Remus chuckles as he tucks you in his side, kissing your temple. “If I were you, dove, I’d be quiet and just watch the film.”

“Oh, no, no.” Sirius barely glances at the television as he pauses the film and stands up to point an accusatory finger at you. “Since when were you into leather jackets? Do you think those are cool? Since when? Jamie, should I get one? Let’s unpack this, right now. And his muscles, really?”

Your eyes roll to the back of your head. “Play the film, Black, I want to see the end of their love story.”

“I’m telling Euphemia on you!”

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

(1976; CURRENTLY, IN THE PAST.)

“—and then we realized that we accidentally locked Hermione in with the troll.” Harry’s arms flail about as he shares some of his adventures with you — it had only been fair. He felt like a young boy again, entering Hogwarts for the first time as he watched you listen to him intently, gasping at tale of the vanishing glass and scolding him when he says he and Ron had decided to go searching for Hermione, and by extension, the troll.

Your eyes grow wide. “A troll? In Hogwarts? They can’t have, not unless—”

“Someone let it in—I know!” Harry grins. “You’re not going to believe who let the troll in the castle.”

You snap your fingers, “Malfoy, the older one. I know that lump’s got something to do with this. Can’t have been Snape or Quirrell.”

“Just you wait.” Harry’s eyes twinkle with mischief. “—and so, Professor McGonagall finds us, and can you believe it? She awards us for dumb luck! Then. . .”

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

(1979; ORIGINAL TIMELINE.)

IT HAD COME AS A surprise when you volunteered to join the Order of the Phoenix. You wanted to scoff at their shocked faces — was it so surprising that you wanted to protect your family? They let Severus Snape join their ranks, and you’re fairly certain that you’re a better fighter and survivalist than him — not the better liar, however, he can have that one. The week before, you and the others had an argument that lasted for the whole day. They did not want you in harm’s way, and you would rather die than stay at home, waiting idly for them to return, when you could be out there alongside them.

(“It’s not some game out there!” Remus runs through his hair in frustration — he had always been so careful to never raise his voice at you, but this one time, he needed you to back down. “Every time you step into a raid, there’s a possibility of you dying, don’t you understand that? And even if you survive — you’ll have blood on your hands, and it does not wash away no matter how many times you try, trust me, we know.”

“So what?” You throw your hands up in the air, equally aggravated. “I just stay here like some. . . some pet waiting for their owners to come home?”

“Yes!” Lily angrily replies. “That is the whole point of us joining the Order — so you get to live another day. So we all have a chance at this new world without a war. Let us protect you!”

You grind down on your jaw. “You have got another thing coming, if you think I’m not going to fight tooth and nail for my future.”

James slams a fist onto the kitchen counter. “There are horrors out there you can’t even imagine. I-It’s worse than we thought. It’s our every nightmare come to life.”

You raise your chin defiantly. “Then we face it together.”)

Each day, you survive, and each day the five of you return home — scarred and bruised, but safe within the arms of one another. When you collapse and crumble, it is only for the walls of your home to witness.

Now a month into autumn, you are on your first task without Sirius, James, Lily or even Remus. Instead, you are assigned by Dumbledore to Knockturn Alley along with Peter Pettigrew and Gideon Prewett. How strange time was, years ago you’d never associate with the proud Gryffindors, and now you had to trust them to guard your back. Everyone had to grow up quickly during war, even pranksters.

The alley was quiet — too quiet for your liking. You had been on alert since the moment you apparated into the area, wand at your ready. The back of your neck prickled with goosebumps as you kept an ear out for any sign of movement.

Peter shivers and you glance at him — he’s become far too skinny, constantly shrinking into himself out of fear. And while you want to comfort him, you keep your eyes up ahead. Still, there's a nagging feeling that you can’t quite make out. It’s different from all the other times you’ve been asked to search and rescue.

“Don’t you feel like there’s something wrong?” You ask Gideon, eyes snapping to the flock of crows flying overhead.

“Dunno, kid,” Gideon says, nudging your shoulder with pressed lips. “Everything about this is freaking me out. The place is too empty.”

“I get what you mean,” You reply, swallowing your own nervousness. Without waiting for the rest, you speed up your pace. “I’ll scout ahead, who knows what’s been here before us. I don’t want to risk any of our lives, so let’s be careful. Gideon, ward the area while I check for any cursed objects, last time you almost got your arm cut off by a newspaper of all things. And Peter, could you. . . Peter?”

When you turn to check behind you, it all happens so fast.

“Avada Kedavra!”

You scream as Gideon’s deathly pale body falls to the floor.

“No!”

You aren’t given a moment to rush to his side — someone digs their wand in the side of your neck, and you stiffen in their hold. It’s not until they hiss in your ear that you recognize the voice.

“Rosier.” You spit, biting down on your lip when he presses the tip of his wand further into your flesh.

“Stupid witch,” He taunts, eyes dilating with vengeance. “Where are your lovers now?”

“Jealous?” You claw at his arms, chest heaving up and down. “We don’t have room for one more, sorry.”

“Shut up!” He pushes you to the ground in blind rage, and that’s all the opening you need.

“Expulso!”

Each curse you send his way lands on his cloaked body, sending him staggering backwards. With ease, you deflect each spell he counters with. You’re winning, he is growing tired, and perhaps that is why you let your guard down.

“Accio wand!”

The magic fizzles out, and the spell dies on your lips. As you swivel your head to find out who’s stolen your wand, you expect to find another Death Eater — except it’s Peter. Just Peter Pettigrew, quivering in his boots with tears and snot dripping down his face, your wand in his free hand. You furrow your brows — it doesn’t make sense.

“Peter?” You call out.

“Crucio!”

The curse finds its home in your body — and it sinks deep into your flesh, grinding your bones until you slump to the ground, wriggling as you draw blood from your lips, refusing to let them hear an ounce of your pain. Blood trickles down your nose as you hear Evan Rosier dancing around you in glee. You know this curse well; the sound of your father condemning you gleefully echo in your head. You crawl over to Gideon — hand desperately reaching for his shirt.

“Crucio!” Rosier grabs you by the hair and howls with laughter. “Scream for me again—Crucio!”

It’s as though someone had begun to rip you in half. Your bones shift and crack with every uttered curse. The veins in your eyes have popped and through bloody vision, you see Peter cowering away from you.

“You—fucking—traitor,” You gurgle, throat welling up with blood that’s risen from your stomach. “They’ll—never—forgive you—never.”

“Crucio! Crucio! Crucio! Come on, witch — SCREAM! Look at her go, Pettigrew, crawling like some pathetic worm.”

You lay in your owl pool of blood, wearing a body that is marred and lacerated. But you see something in Gideon’s hand. I’m sorry, you want to tell him. I’ll get you home to Molly, you promise, please lend me your magic this once. With every last bit of your strength, just as Rosier directs another curse at you — one you know you won’t survive — you snatch the wand from Gideon’s hand and tear the last of your magic from your throat.

“Defodio!”

You wait with a bated breath as silence fills the alley; lucky to have remembered Professor Flitwick’s quick remark as to how the slight difference in pronouncing a charm could alter its effect. Rosier stands on shaky legs, a stream of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. You watch as he looks down to his chest, where a gaping hole now lies instead of where his ribcage and heart should be. As Gideon had done before him, Evan Rosier crashes to the ground.

That just leaves one more problem.

Peter scurries to your side the moment Rosier can hurt him no longer. “I-I’m sorry—I’m sorry. I had to. . . T–They killed my mum, they killed M–Mary, and t–they said I would die too if I d–didn’t do this. I’m sorry. Y–Your father was there, too. He said he would take you in, let you l–live if you joined us. W–We can live, t–there’s still a chance for us to survive.”

Your fingers are bent at unsightly angles, the remnants of the Torture Curse still flowing through your veins, but your face contorts in anger as you let your hand curl around his neck. He sobs louder, and though your grip is weakening — you make sure he looks into your eyes, that he feels your touch.

“I’d rather—die.” You say through gritted teeth, nails drawing blood from his grimy skin. “You’ll die too—you’ll feel my blood on your skin—everywhere you go, Peter.”

Peter shakes his head, now clumsily pushing his wand down to the center of your chest. “Y–You were the only o–one who d–didn’t laugh at me. N–Not like the others.”

“When they find out—you’re dead, Pettigrew.” You laugh darkly as more blood exits your body through your lips. “There’s nowhere you can hide—you’re a dead man.”

“P-Please die,” Peter cries out, each killing spell coming out as a garbled whisper. “Please die, s–so I can live. I c–can’t fight anymore, I’m tired.”

Your vision goes a hazy shade of white, Peter’s silhouette fading away to the familiar scenery of your cottage in Godric’s Hollow.

Oh.

Dying is less painful than you had expected it to be. It’s like coming home after a day’s work.

You just wanted to rest now.

The world caves in on you, and you barely hear Peter’s next words.

“Avada Kedavra.”

(It’s past midnight when Peter Pettigrew arrives at Grimmauld Place, where it’s been altered to host the members of the Order, Lily sobs in relief and gathers him in her arms.

You’ll feel my blood on your skin.

You’re a dead man.

Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead.

“Oh, I’m so glad you’re home safe — welcome home — thank the Gods you’re alive,” Lily blabbers through her tears, checking his face for any major injuries. “Merlin, what happened? There’s too much blood on you. It’s on your shirt and your face.”

“It’s not mine,” says Peter hoarsely.

Sirius’s gaze darkens, arms crossed over his jacket as he leaned against the wall. “Where is she?”

Lily nods, standing on her tiptoes to search for any sign of you. “Peter? I–Is she alright? Has something happened to her?”

Peter stays silent for a moment too long, and he finds himself slammed against the wall behind him, Sirius snarling in his face as he seizes the front of Peter’s soiled shirt. “Where the fuck is she, Pettigrew?”

Peter begins to weep. “I–It was an ambush. None of us saw it coming. Gideon r–ran. She was taking on two Death-Eaters at once and I–I was too far away.”

Lily collapses to the ground with a heart-wrenching scream.

Sirius growls as he drives his fist to the wall, inches away from Peter’s face. “Where is her body?”

“It was a disintegration spell.” With Severus Snape — brought to the Malfoy Manor to be made as an example of what happens to blood-traitors.

James pushes Sirius out of the way and grabs a hold of Peter, knocking his head against the concrete. “It should have been you—” James snaps at Peter. “If it came down to you or her—you should have saved her!”

“W-What?” Peter stammers, eyes wide. “She chose to save m–me.”

James sneers at him. “You should have just died.”)

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

(1996; CURRENTLY, IN THE PRESENT.)

ST. JEROME’S GRAVEYARD had exactly one visitor. Remus Lupin sits in between James and Lily’s graves, a bottle of firewhiskey in his hand — four empty at his side. He must be going crazy. There’s no funeral for Sirius as there’s no body to actually bury, Harry is presumed missing after an attack in Diagon Alley, and your name stares back at him mockingly. He tries not to dwell on your passing — there have been too many holes, too many details left unsaid; and he knows just the rat who has all the answers. Unfortunately, Wormtail won’t come out of whatever hole he’s crawled into. Either him, or Severus.

He sighs, rubbing the temples of his head to ease the growing pains.

You are the first to be buried of the five. Like Sirius, there had been no recovered body to lay to rest, but they asked for a compromise instead. Your name is engraved under Euphemia’s in her tombstone, and Remus figures it’s the fitting place to leave you be — with your mother, welcoming you home with open arms. He hopes you’re at peace, wherever you are. (Because, honestly, at this point, he might just fucking follow you.)

Remus takes another swig of his alcohol, laughing bitterly to himself. He glances at James’s headstone and raises his bottle to him. “Not even in death, huh?”

He downs the last of the drink, rising to his tremulous legs. Remus gathers the flower bouquets he had bought earlier this morning; lilies-of-the-valley for Lily, white carnations for Euphemia, forget-me-nots for you, and for James — Remus leaves a moving photograph of him and Sirius; it’s a snapshot taken by Lily during the wedding as James dips his head low to kiss Sirius. Remus thinks it’s a wonderful memory to remember them by.

“Take care of them for me, Jamie.”

And that is all the goodbyes Remus has the strength for.

end note. i think i was crying the whole time i was writing this part, LMAO. i should be able to wrap things up in the next one. important!! there is actually a scene i was hesitant to include, but i ended up writing anyway. it's the whole part where allegra greengrass breaks down, and it was difficult for me to decide because i knew the implications; that i had a strong underlying message in that part, and i don't want it to be misconstrued or anything. pls pls tell me if it comes off as offensive, i definitely don't want to hurt anyone. nevertheless, thank you again so so so much for reading!! if you spot a plot hole, no you didnt!! i hope the time-jumps weren't too confusing! again, thank you so so much for reading!!

#hp angst #hp fluff #hp imagine #hp x reader #james potter x reader #lily evans x reader #marauders angst #marauders fluff #marauders imagine #marauders x reader #sirius black x reader #poly!marauders x reader #poly!marauders fluff #remus lupin x reader #sunny's hp fics

2K notes · View notes

coryosbaby · 3 months

Text

Mascara || T. Riddle

Fandom: ‘Harry Potter’

Pairing: Young! Tom Riddle x fem! Ravenclaw! Reader

｡.｡ ♡ Content warning . Public sex, praise & degradation, cum play, sub! Reader, dom! Tom

Notes: set in modern day Hogwarts. I never thought i’d want to fuck Voldemort but here we are.

Your feet patter softly against the tile floors of Hogwarts, a book clutched tightly in your arms as you make your way towards the school’s library. It’s a rainy night, incredibly quiet and empty. The other students are at dinner, and you’ve decided to skip out to study for your OWLs. When you open the big wooden doors to the library, the smell of printed ink and old pages invites you further in.

The first thing you notice, when you close the doors behind you and take sight of the room, is that the librarian, Madam Pince, is no where to be found. She must be on her break.

The second thing you notice is the boy sitting in the darkest corner of the room.

You know of the familiar brunette— of course you do. Who wouldn’t? Tom Riddle is a popular slytherin well known for his cunningness, his intelligence, his ability to speak native tongues— and sometimes, his temper. A ravenclaw yourself, you try to steer clear of him. Slytherins usually don’t take politely to anyone outside of their house. Not to mention the fact that you scored the top of your class, with him coming in close second. You suspect that he hates you for that.

He catches your gaze, brown eyes with the resemblance of a serpent. He looks back down at his book, seeming bored.

You let out a breath of air.

You slide your book into the return bin, timidly moving to the shelf about Potions. Snape has been really hassling you lately on your grades, and you really need to turn your B+ into a perfect A. Your fingertips skim over the leathered binds, reading title after title. A voice behind you makes you jump.

“If you’re studying for Snape’s final, I’d recommend ‘Advanced Potion Making’. It will tell you all you need to know.”

His voice is an angelic lilt, though you know that is not in any way what he resembles. The fact that he’s helping you stumps you into utter confusion, and heat creeps up your neck. You nod to him as you begin searching for the book.

To no avail. Your eyes search every bind, every word, but your focus has been diluted because of Tom speaking to you. He sighs, almost annoyed.

He appears beside you, much to your surprise. You nervously bite your lip as he finds the exact book he recommended and pushes it into your hands.

“Chapter nine. I would’ve thought a girl of your ranking in our class would know this already.”

Your brows furrow, embarrassment coursing through you as he sits back down and resumes his tasks. You nervously fumble with the book.

“Thank you.” You reply, because you had been taught proper manners. He scoffs, flicking through the pages of his book. You can’t read the title, though the cover is quite off put ish and dark. Perhaps he had snuck into the restricted section.

“Don’t.”

You frown, though your mind is peaking with curiosity. He seems rude, but he was trying to help you. Maybe there’s something nice under there, after all. Your body is stiff as you sit across from him at the table, silently pleading to God that the boy across from you won’t put a nasty hex on you.

“You don’t have to be rude, you know.”

It slips out of your lips, quiet and unsure. Tom’s eyes narrow at you.

“And as well as that, you don’t have to sit across from me.”

“Perhaps I want to. Perhaps you need a friend.”

“A friend?” He chuckles dryly, his gaze travelling down to your robes. You try to ignore the heat creeping between your legs. “We aren’t going to be friends.”

His insinuation is thick, dangerous. Your heart pounds out of your chest at this unexpected turn of your study hour. You gulp, looking down at the pages.

“Very well then. But since I’ve already sat down, I might as well continue my book here.”

“Or we could continue this conversation in my dorm room.”

He says it smoothly, with no fear or utmost insecurity.

“What?” You blanch, stuttering on your syllables. Tom smirks.

“A smart girl like you, and you can’t even comprehend a single sentence,” he says, his body beginning to move out of his chair. “‘S pathetic, really…”

You breath hitches as his tall form towers over you. Your fingertips grasp the sides of your chair as he leans in close.

“Tom,” you start, warningly. He quirks a brow.

“No?” He questions, and then after a moment, staring into your doe eyes, it dawns on him. His mouth forms into a grin. “Oh, you want it here, don’t you? You want it right here.”

His lips brush just inches over your pouty lips, and you wonder how in the hell you got into this situation and why this slytherin boy is making such a sudden move on you. But knowing Tom, it’s probably out of boredom. Out of the desire for a hook up.

You don’t mind it. Not really, not anymore, because all your protests are ripped away from you when he presses his lips to yours. It’s not tender or sweet, it’s full of sharp teeth and unfiltered lust. His hands rest on your chin, gripping your head so you can’t escape his kiss— can’t escape him.

Your tongue is about to graze his lips when he pulls away. His fingers grasp your shoulder and pull you up to your feet. You stumble, your legs shaky from just a couple of kisses. You gasp when he spins you around and presses your face against one of the nearest bookshelves. His big hands wrap around your wrists and hold them behind your back.

“I don’t want to hear any complaints from you. Do you understand me?” He whispers, his hands reaching down to lift up your robes. “If I do, I’ll leave you here drenched, your clothes gone, with your holes freshly fucked and on display for the entire school to see. Do you understand me?”

You nod instantly. You know that these aren’t empty threats; when Tom says he’s going to do something, he’ll do it.

When he pulls up your robes, taking in the sight of your pretty pink thong, he lets out a sharp breath.

“Prepared, weren’t you?”

You let out a whine, knowing that no, this wasn’t intentional. Tom just caught you on a specific type of day. But looking on it now, maybe the universe was being in your favor when you decided to pick out the flimsy undergarment.

Tom slips the hem of your robes into your hands.

“Hold it.” He commands, and you’re quick to comply.

His hardness presses against you, clothed still but his robes are lifted so he can rut against you in his briefs. It isn’t long before he’s pulling them down past his thighs, his cock sprinting up into the air as he places himself against you once again. You can’t help but drip with need, canting your hips back against him. His cock presses in between the seam of your ass, and you rub against him like a bitch in heat.

And just like a bitch in heat, you purr.

“Tommy..” you let out, and his grip on your hips tighten. “Please?”

He scoffs at the nickname, though his bottom lip is caught roughly between his teeth and he’s trying to contain himself. He wraps his hand around his awaiting length, parts your thighs with the other, and slides his dick up against your throughly aroused pussy.

He’s warm, sticky. You wish you could’ve seen him before this, seen that thing that feels oh so heavy between your legs, but it’ll have to wait. Hopefully, there will be a next time.

When he slides in, it stretches you obscenely. This isn’t your first time, but there’s a burning sensation as he enters you. He’s got the perfect amount of thickness and length to pull a moan deep from your throat.

He doesn’t start slow. His hips smack against yours at a rapid pace, small grunts leaving his silky lips as he uses you like a common whore. Your hands grip your robes and the bookshelf at the same time, trying to keep steady as Tom fills you to the brim. He noses along your jaw and leaves wet, open kisses there. You mewl when he bites down harshly and sucks a mark into your skin.

“Such a tight little cunt you have,” Tom breathes, his fingertips bruising your hips. “Look at you, such a slut for my cock. Does it feel good? Tell me, tell me how it feels.”

Your thighs squeeze him, your mouth gaping open in utter ecstasy. Your words are caught in your throat, but Tom is quick to force them out of you with a spank to your ass. You moan, your forehead pressing against the bookshelf’s wooden edge.

“Yes! Yes, it feels so good…” you slur, entranced by the spice of his cologne and the feeling of his girthy length splitting you open. He grunts, bucking his hips into you with vigor.

“And I bet it’s the best you’ve had, isn’t it? All those other boys can’t do it for you. I’m the only one that fucks you this good.”

It’s true, and when his cockhead hits a spot deep inside you that has you keening, your legs quiver and your brain turns to jelly. Tom’s fingers place themselves around your neck and squeeze so hard that your vision blurs at the edges, and you’re enthralled by the fear that courses through your veins. He’s playing your life in his hands like it’s a shiny new toy.

He fucks you like a madman as you gasp and beg for air. Tears spill out of your eyes, salty and wet and Tom takes notice.

“Crying?” He sneers, pounding you so hard that you’re sure the bookshelf will leave bruises as it presses against you. “You’re pathetic. A pathetic, filthy little girl.”

“Mmmhhh..” you cry out. Your eyes roll back as you utter incoherent sounds. He growls.

“Do you want me to cum inside you?” And then, with a harsh grip on your hair, “I want to hear you say it. Beg me. Beg me to fill you, whore.”

Your eyes shut tight, and your hands clasp around his wrists as he loosens his grip on your throat.

“Please,” your voice is a gasp as you finally get oxygen unto your system. “Please, Tom, f-fill me up. Cum inside me.”

A small, throaty groan escapes his lips, and with one last desperate thrust he’s spilling balls deep inside your drooling cunt. His cum spills over the cusp of your used entrance, and when he’s done fucking it into you he pulls out with a sharp exhale.

You can feel his cum spill out of your raw fucked hole, the creamy fluid dribbling down your thigh and dripping onto the carpet below. Your clit throbs mercilessly, still devoid of any attention, but Tom is quick to put a stop to that. He drops to his knees, then, and it’s a surprising gesture that you didn’t expect. He doesn’t seem like the type to get on his knees for anyone, let alone you. But his tongue lolls out of his mouth as he spreads your knees and catches his cum into his awaiting mouth. He licks up your hole, circling your clit with practiced precision. You let out a guttural sound when you hear the obscene noises of the cum spilling out of you, along with Tom’s mouth slurping at your cunt vigorously. He works at you over and over, and you clench when you feel yourself nearing your high. It’s almost embarrassingly quick, but you’ve been denied so long that you need to do it and you need to do it now.

“I’m going to…” you gasp out, as he rubs circles into your clit. He lets out a loud grunt against you, his mouth working harder. “I’m cumming—god, I’m cumming!”

Your orgasm washes over you, hits you like a tidal wave in the middle of an incredibly large ocean. Tom works his tongue and lets you ride out your high, and he sighs and pulls away from your pussy when you come down.

He’s gathered enough arousal to fill his mouth generously, and he kisses you flat on the lips. His tongue slides against yours and you can taste your shared arousal on him. You whimper, licking desperately at his salty spend, and it’s messy and sloppy and absolutely depraved. His teeth nip at you as you swallow it all down.

You’re dizzy, on shaky legs. You turn around, finally getting to see Tom’s face coated in your slick and his cum. He grins at you, and something twists in your gut so primal you feel you might burst.

“Better get to studying, Miss Y/L/N,” he says. “It’d be a shame if this missed study session made you fail your OWLs.”

#bunny writes ͟͟͞☆#Tom riddle #Tom riddle x reader #Tom riddle x fem! reader #Tom riddle smut #Tom riddle fanfic #young! Tom riddle #Harry Potter #Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets #harry potter franchise #Harry Potter blurb #Harry Potter fanfic #Voldemort

2K notes · View notes

wordsarelife · 2 months

Text

—starlight

pairing: soft!mattheo riddle x fem!reader

summary: mattheo had been liking you for years and when you loose your cat, it's finally his time to prove how good of a boyfriend he would be

warnings: really small mention of a loved one dying

notes: y/n is a bit luna lovegood coded

the morning was hotter than the days before, even though it was slowly becoming fall. mattheo and his friends had decided to stay inside for the first time in weeks and were now sitting in the Iibrary, busy understanding their potions homework.

"so" enzo mumbled, the words a bit harder to recognize, because he had the tip of his quill between his lips "what is the answer to number eight?"

"if i tell you, you won't learn anything" theo, the only one who was really understanding the task at hand, groaned.

"yeah, but we would stop wasting our time" mattheo mumbled just silent enough so theo wouldn't hear. blaise, who sat next to him, laughed.

"come on, mate" draco started pleading "you know i normally get these, but it's so hot outside, i'd rather swim in the lake"

"well, you have to earn that first" theo was not budging under the pleading of his friends. blaise, draco, enzo and mattheo groaned simultaneously

"where is pansy? shouldn't she sit here with us and be annoyed at you?" blaise asked, while his eyes wandered to the empty spot next to draco, that was normally occupied by the girl.

"she's got detention with mcgonagall, i'm copying the answers for her" draco answered

"well, now that's unfair" mattheo shook his head "why don't you say anything about that, theo?"

it seemed like theo hadn't even listened to what his friends were talking about. he was busy reading the next number and looked up confused. "what?"

"forget it" mattheo hid his face in his hands, while blaise and enzo exchanged a look, rolling their eyes

"woah" blaise suddenly made next to him "isn't that y/n?"

mattheos head turned, so did the rest of his friend's.

it was indeed you. the slytherins watched in confusion how you climbed the ladder leaning against the shelf. their confusion only grew when you didn't stop climbing at the highest shelf, but used your arms to pull you up on top of the shelf.

"what is she doing?" enzo mumbled

“i have no clue” mattheo watched you closely, following your every move.

he had been kind of in love with you since the third grade. his friends found his crush on you quite interesting, considering you were a bit curious and weird, but somehow all of them agreed that it was in a cute way, a bit too stubborn, a bit too much in your own world.

maybe the carelessness and constant happy mood you were spotted with only added to their confusion. mattheo wasn’t normally the guy to go for girls like you. and it was out of the ordinary to see him as nervous as he was around you. girls normally didn't make him nervous, but you did.

they all gasped simultaneously, as one of your hands hit the shelf a bit too far left and almost made you fall down.

“oh” you said, both at your close call and their presence, you had only noticed them now. “hi” you used the hand that had almost caused you to fall to wave at them

“hey, y/n!” theo raised his hand, copying your greeting, while his eyes were still fixated on the potions book on the table in front of him. he was the only one of his friends who was also friends with you, a result of your similar interest in astronomy.

mattheo watched you closely. he had stood up to catch you, in case there was another close call. him and the rest of his friends watched you as you crawled along the shelf.

“what are you doing?” enzo asked, louder than he had planned which resulted in madam pince shushing him. "sorry" enzo cringed, but it was already too late.

his voice had been so loud and sudden, that it had made you shriek. like mattheo had predicted, you lost your balance and fell down the shelf. luckily, he caught you before you could hit the ground.

“thanks” you smiled, patting his chest and climbing out of his arms.

mattheo was stunned at how relaxed you still were after almost falling to your death. well, maybe not death but you still could've gotten hurt really bad.

“i was looking for my cat” you smiled as if it was the most logical explanation, answering enzo’s question, without any hard feeling about him causing you to fall. “but she isn’t up there”

“ahh, alright” enzo nodded, acting like he understood what you were talking about, but he looked as lost as mattheo felt.

“see you later” you waved your hand at the boys before you turned around and left the library.

mattheo quickly grabbed his potions book, ready to follow you.

“what are you doing?” theo looked at him with narrowed eyes, almost sounding offended “we haven’t finished number nine yet”

“i was trying to..” mattheo trailed off, pointing at where you had last stood

“go” draco directed, pushing theo, who was ready to get up and discuss things with mattheo, back down in his seat.

blaise plastered a hand over theo’s mouth as he started protesting. mattheo nodded at his friends, silently thanking them, before he ran out of the library, hoping to still catch you.

to his luck, you had enough time on you to walk through the halls slowly.

“hey” mattheo breathed, matching your step “do you need help looking for your cat?”

“sure” you seemed happy enough about his suggestion “her name is starlight, but she doesn’t really answer to that, so there’s no point in calling her”

“okay” mattheo nodded “and she normally spends her time on top of the library shelves?”

“sometimes” you shrugged “she mostly spends her time all over the castle”

“do you often do things like that?”

“what?” you smiled “climb on top of shelves and let pretty boys catch me? not really, no” you shook your head laughing, while mattheo was still stuck on what you had described him as.

“how does starlight look like?” he tried a different approach as he followed you through the halls, almost sure you were heading to the astronomy tower.

“she’s a ginger cat”

“well, that’s explains a lot” mattheo laughed and you joined in “why doesn’t she answer to her name?”

“she belonged to my grandfather, she would only ever answer his calling, or react to his voice in general” you explained “he died a few months ago and my parents thought about giving her away, so she's now staying with me”

“that’s sad” mattheo frowned “i’m sorry about your loss”

“don’t be” you smiled up at him with big eyes and he almost missed a step on the way up. “he wasn’t the nicest, i don’t think he even liked anyone apart from his cat, but she’s nice enough most of the time”

“i get it” mattheo nodded understandingly “so where would she normally hide?” he looked around the room, trying to spot the orange fur of your cat. now that he thought about it, he remembered you chasing her around the halls a few times.

“you mind helping me up?” you pointed at the wooden beam over both of your heads

“seems like she prefers the higher spots, huh?” mattheo asked sarcastically, before he picked you up without another word of protest

you climbed on top of the beam, turning your head, before you finally shook it and mattheo helped you back down.

“where could she be if she isn’t here either?”

“i have one last spot in mind” you nodded, thinking “if she isn’t there, then i don’t know where she could still be”

“well, hopefully she is”

“as long as she’s fine” you smiled

mattheo followed you back down the steps of the tower, pending what he could still ask you. he wouldn’t waste any time he could spend with you, he would make the most of it.

his mind was racing, trying to come up with something, but the only thing he could remember was the list of thirty six questions blaise had shown him the day before, swearing that those were the best icebreakers at a first date.

well, this was far from a first date, but it did not hurt to try

“given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?” he muttered, recalling the first question.

your face lit up at his sudden question. “that’s a fun question” you smiled “let me think about it. does the person have to be alive?”

mattheo shook his head

“well then i would pick my grandmother, i think” you smiled, deep in thought “she was a great woman. i remember my grandfather being a decent person back when she was alive. she used to make these crocheted hats for me. i have them in almost every color”

“that sounds nice” mattheo smiled as he noticed how your features lit up while talking about your grandma. he followed you into the great hall, not even questioning it.

“what about you?” you asked him, taking a quick turn and walking up the steps around the wall of the entryway.

“what about me?” mattheo repeated confused

“yeah” you laughed at his forgetfulness “who would you have dinner with?”

“i don’t know” mattheo shrugged

“i don’t accept that answer” you shook your head “i can't believe that no one comes to mind at that”

there was someone coming to mattheo’s mind. but he couldn’t tell you. right now, he only wanted to have dinner with one person and that person was you, and maybe your cat, because not finding her would probably mean that you would be sad otherwise.

“merlin” mattheo answered quickly and you raised your eyebrows

“fan?”

“the biggest” mattheo grinned and cringed the moment your eyes left his face. he was ready to turn around and run away, but your sudden calling kept him from it.

“starlight!” you laughed, holding out your arms and catching the orange cat that had been about to fall from the highest shelf.

“hey” mattheo cooed, softly stroking the cat’s head. the cat hissed at him and he quickly pulled his hand back.

“she likes you” you smiled brightly despite starlight proving the opposite.

“you really think so?” mattheo asked unsurely.

“of course” you were pulling the cat close to your chest “she’s smiling at you”

mattheo wasn’t so sure about that. starlight looked like she was ready to claw his eyes out if left unattended in the same room.

starlight settled on top of your shoulder as you began to walk back down the stairs. mattheo was ready to follow, but starlight hissed at him over you shoulder and it took him a second longer to catch up to you.

despite anything you had previously said, he was sure that that cat absolutely loved you, even if she often spend her time sleeping in the most ridiculous places and making you search for her. he was sure you loved her just as much, even you had so casually talked about the cat's situation he had noticed that you couldn't have endured your parents just giving her away. he had also noticed the worry in your eyes when stalright hadn't been in the astronomy tower.

additional to that, he was also sure she already hated him. maybe she could sense the inappropriate thoughts he sometimes had about you.

“thank you for your help” you had walked mattheo back to the doors of the library, after he had claimed that his friends would probably appreciate his return to finish the homework.

“no problem” he smiled and he had almost sighed at the how pretty you were, just simply standing in front of him “i’d do anything” he mumbled under his breath.

“what?” you laughed, not having understood a sound of what he had mumbled. starlight was busy playing with a strand of your hair. mattheo had to smile at that and you mirrored his expression.

“doesn’t matter” mattheo shrugged and his smile grew brighter as he watched you laugh at him.

you softly held a hand in front of starlight's eyes, before you stood on your tiptoes, softly kissing mattheo's cheek. “thank you, maybe we could have dinner some day” you said, before you waved him a final goodbye “say goodbye starlight” the cat hissed at him once again and you smiled pleased, before you turned around and walked back in the direction of your dorm.

“i’d do anything” mattheo repeated his earlier words when you were far enough away. his cheeks were red and his hand touched the spot on which your lips had rested a few seconds ago. “anything”

#mattheo riddle headcanon #mattheo x you #mattheo riddle x you #mattheo riddle x reader #mattheo riddle #slytherin group #slytherin boys #slytherin boys x reader #slytherin #hogwarts #hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry #luna lovegood #mattheo riddle fanfiction #benjamin wadsworth #hufflepuff x slytherin #soft!mattheoriddle

1K notes · View notes