#mantled howler monkey

[iicraft505]

Mantled howler (Alouatta palliata)

TK

#iicraft505 #animals #mammals #primates #haplorhini #simiiformes #atelidae #monkeys #howler #howler monkeys #mantled howler #mantled howler monkey #hehe balls

[despite-everything]

just spent the last several weeks researching mantled howler monkeys... got sick 2x, dislocated my knee, got chemical burns from bug spray, my things grew mold from the humidity, but i also collected data and wrote a research paper, learned im a very skilled navigator who doesnt even need a map just a compass, discovered im also incredibly good at opening coconuts to drink from them then eat, navigated off trail many times very successfully, floated down a river drunk on rum, met some amazing people, and saw the craziest fucking things. i would go back in a heartbeat

#tree talks #it was AMAZING #i dont really study primatology but it was fantastic #and i learned that i LOVE working out in the field #and feel like a whole different person #anyway hit me up if you want to hear about my research #it was on mantled howler monkeys

[primate-tournament]

🦍The primate tournament list of candidates has been finalised! Polls will start going up soon!🦧

Thank you to everyone who submitted a species! Here is the full written list:

Basal primates (non-simian primates, including Strepsirrhini and Tarsiiformes)

†Notharctus (Notharctus tenebrosus)

Calabar angwantibo (Arctocebus calabarensis)

West African potto (Perodicticus potto)

Red slender loris (Loris tardigradus)

Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis)

Pygmy slow loris (Xanthonycticebus pygmaeus)

Senegal bushbaby (Galago senegalensis)

Brown greater galago (Otolemur crassicaudatus)

Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)

Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi)

†Archaeoindris (Archaeoindris fontoynontii)

†Megaladapis (Megaladapis madagascariensis)

Madame berthe’s mouse lemur (Microcebus berthae)

Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)

Philippine tarsier (Carlito syrichta)

Pygmy tarsier (Tarsius pumilus)

New world monkeys (Platyrrhini)

Wied’s marmoset (Callithrix kuhlii)

Goeldi’s marmoset (Callimico goeldii)

Bearded emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator subgrisescens)

Golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas)

Panamanian white-faced capuchin (Cebus imitator)

Central American squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedii)

Gray-bellied night monkey (Aotus lemurinus)

Bald uakari (Cacajao calvus)

Madidi titi monkey (Plecturocebus aureipalatii)

Atlantic titi monkey (Callicebus personatus)

Black bearded saki (Chiropotes satanas)

White-faced saki (Pithecia pithecia)

Colombian red howler (Alouatta seniculus)

Brown spider monkey (Ateles hybridus)

Northern muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus)

Yellow-tailed woolly monkey (Lagothrix flavicauda)

Old world monkeys (Cercopithecidae)

Mantled guereza (Colobus guereza)

Zanzibar red colobus (Piliocolobus kirkii)

Nepal gray langur (Semnopithecus schistaceus)

Silvery lutung (Trachypithecus cristatux)

Golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana)

Proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus)

Red-shanked douc (Pygathrix nemaeus)

Collared mangabey (Cercocebus torquatus)

Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata)

Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta)

Hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas)

Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx)

Gelada (Theropithecus gelada)

Common patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas)

Bale mountains vervet (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis)

De brazza’s monkey (Cercopithecus neglectus)

Apes (Hominoidea)

Lar gibbon (Hylobates lar)

Pileated gibbon (Hylobates pileatus)

Kloss’s gibbon (Hylobates klossii)

Northern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys)

Siamang (symphalangus syndactylus)

†Junzi (Junzi imperialis)

Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)

†Gigantopithecus (Gigantopithecus blacki)

†Dryopithecus (Dryopithecus fontani)

Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)

Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)

Bonobo (Pan paniscus)

†Australopithecus (Australopithecus afarensis)

†Panranthropus (Panranthropus boisei)

†Flores hobbit (Homo floresiensis)

†Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis)

The first set of polls will go up as soon as I have finished writing the descriptions! In the meantime, I would appreciate if you could share this tournament around- it won’t be much of a tournament if there aren’t that many people voting! In going down the research rabbit hole I’ve found so many interesting species and stories, and I promise learning about them here will be worth your time!

#primate bracket #tournament #tumblr tournament #poll #polls #primate #primates #extinct primates #biology #animals #zoology #please let me know if I made a mistake anywhere!

[bugkeeping]

The hind end of a Mantled Howler Monkey (Alouatta palliata) displaying unusual depigmentation (possibly vitiligo?)

Howler monkeys with unusual depigmentation are becoming increasingly common, and research is suggesting this may be due to increased pesticide exposure.

#Alouatta palliata #primates #photography #wildlife photography #I spotted him :)

[fatehbaz]

In the Intag Valley of Ecuador, at this “most biodiverse hotspot on the planet” (the cloud forests of the tropical Andes), local communities have engaged in 30 years of sustained defense of environment and resistance to multiple mining corporations, including Canada’s Copper Mesa Corporation. The group Defensa y Conservación Ecológica de Intag has helped plant tens of thousands of trees while establishing about 40 different forest reserves. Now the planet’s biggest copper producer company (Codelco) is targeting the Intag region, with wells already drilled and important court cases scheduled for 2023. Among the many unique orchids, moths, hummingbirds, plate-billed mountain toucan, spectacled bears, mountain tapirs, critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey, and other creatures, in Intag Valley there are two species of frog which live nowhere else on Earth, previously thought to be extinct: the longnose harlequin frog and the newly-named “rana cohete resistencia de intag” (”Intag resistance rocket frog”). The frogs now provide “hope” and are the subjects of Intag’s pending court cases.

From January 2023, Mongabay provides a thorough report about Intag’s cloud forest ecosystems, community projects, and resistance to mining. Excerpts from their report below.

---

For nearly 30 years, communities have worked to conserve, restore and defend the cloud forests of the Intag Valley in Ecuador, in what locals say is the longest continuous resistance movement against mining in Latin America. The tropical Andes are considered the world’s most biodiverse hotspot, ranking first in plant, bird, mammal and amphibian diversity; however, less than 15% of Ecuador’s original cloud forests and only 4% of all forests in northwestern Ecuador remain. Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer from Chile, plans to open a mine in the Intag Valley that would destroy primary forest and lie within the buffer area of Cotacachi Cayapas National Park — a plan that experts say would be ecologically devastating and not worth the cost. Communities are using the presence of two threatened frog species — previously thought to be extinct — at the mining site to challenge the project [...].

In the 1960s, to encourage development, the government deemed forested properties with no human occupants “unproductive” and open to land grabbers. In turn, landowners were forced to clear at least 50% of the land to prove it was in use. These agrarian laws led to a flurry of deforestation that lasted into the 1990s. [...]

Pumas (Puma concolor), spectacled bears (Tremarctos ornatus), mountain tapirs (Tapirus pinchaque), mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata), the critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps fusciceps), and the colorful plate-billed mountain toucan (Andigena laminirostris) are just a few of the more charismatic threatened species living here. [...]

Our first foray deep into this “terrestrial coral reef” is led by Roberto Castro, a local nature guide, environmental educator, and Zorrilla’s friend and neighbor. [...]

“Here is the Sangre de Drago tree … its red sap [is] a cure for many ailments,” he says. “Here is the Cecropia tree that lives in partnership with the ants.”

He shows us a white flower that shares its nectar with just one bat species and lets go of its seeds in a grand explosion once the nectar is spent. We see the sickle-winged guan (Chamaepetes goudotii), a large ground bird that lays only one, maybe two, precious eggs in a year. The famed Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus) cries out, its song somewhere between that of a parrot and a squealing pig. In the cloud forest, a single leaf is a stage for drama: ants farming aphids, lichens making their slow march against the moss. The forest drips with life.

We stop in a grove of massive elephant ear plants, twice as tall as a person. “These plants tell us water is abundant,” Castro says. The water trail leads us to a 10-meter (33-foot) waterfall. Castro stands in the stream below and pulls out a minuscule underwater castle made from pebbles.

“This is the home of moth larvae,” he shows us. [...]

Zorrilla and other community members started the environmental group Defensa y Conservación Ecológica de Intag (DECOIN) in 1995. [...] DECOIN helped communities establish 38 small-scale forest reserves that, altogether, protect almost 12,000 hectares (nearly 30,000 acres) of forest within the buffer zone of Cotacachi Cayapas National Park. [...]

In Intag, communities are self-defined administrative units, whose leader is nominated by its residents. It’s up to each community to decide how to best protect forests. Most include agreements prohibiting activities such as [...] cattle ranching, mining [...]. Bolaños and fellow community members planted more than 60,000 trees on slopes that were originally forests but had been converted to pasture decades ago. Working for six months each year between 2008 and 2013, dozens of community members planted 22 native species [...].

Intag’s richness aboveground is rivaled by a different kind of wealth below: copper. [...]

In 1996, the Japanese mining company Bishimetals, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation, found evidence of massive copper deposits in the Intag Valley. [...] In 1997, local communities reacted [...]. No one was harmed in the incident, but it was enough to make the company pull out. [...] After Bishimetals retreated in 1997, things calmed down until the Canadian mining company Copper Mesa Corporation (formally Ascendent Copper) entered the scene in 2004. [...] The company tried for five years to develop the project and used paramilitaries and violent force, Zorrilla tells Mongabay. [...] DECOIN helped residents file a lawsuit against both the mining company and the Toronto Stock Exchange for complicity in human rights violations based on Copper Mesa’s actions. [...] [I]n 2010 the Toronto Stock Exchange delisted Copper Mesa Mining Corporation.

---

Now, the communities face the world’s largest copper producer, Chile’s Codelco, which has partnered with Empresa Nacional Minera (ENAMI EP), Ecuador’s state-owned mining company, and invested millions into advanced mining explorations across Intag — in particular within the 5,000-hectare (12,400-acre) mining concession known as Llurimagua. [...]

According to several community members Mongabay spoke to, around 400 military and police officers used force to ensure the presence of Codelco and ENAMI in the mining concession. [...] Javier Ramirez was the president of the Junín community in 2014 when he was arrested for “sabotage and rebellion against the state.” [...] Codelco persisted and set up camp in the Junín Community Reserve, a patch of primary, old-growth forest [...].

Codelco has installed at least 90 drilling platforms within the reserve, digging down to depths of 1,200 meters (3,900 feet). [...]

The U.S. nonprofit Earth Economics [...] valued ecosystem services in Intag, such as water, food, climate regulation, soil retention, pollination, waste treatment, recreation, and scientific research, at $447 million per year in 2011. That’s higher than the projected revenue from copper mining in the region [...].

At the base of a waterfall, we stop to catch our breath, and Zorrilla steps forward. “This is close to where they found the frogs,” he says.

And here enters hope.

Among the dozens of threatened species in the tropical Andes, two have been found in this reserve and nowhere else on Earth: the longnose harlequin toad (Atelopus longirostris) and the Intag resistance rocket frog whose name was chosen through a contest. Both were presumed extinct until they were recently found again in the Junín Community Reserve. [...]

Finding these frogs has given the community a strong argument to try to legally stop mining development [...].

In September 2020, the Intag communities won one of the few cases upholding the rights of nature in the lower court. But the case was overturned in the higher provincial appeals court due to a procedural error. [...] The case is now before a three-member appeals court. After months of delay, a new judge was appointed in December. The new judge wants to have all of the evidence presented again, essentially starting the process over. The next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 23 [2023]. [...]

We speak with Norma Bolаños about Mujer y Medio Ambiente (Women and the Environment), a group of nearly 50 women in Intag who make products out of cabuya, a fiber they produce from the agave plant, and color with natural dyes. [...]

In Cotacachi, we visit the home of Cenaida Guachagmira. She’s 28, the same age as the resistance movement, and has known this fight her whole life. [...] “The companies have their weapons and we have our dignity,” Guachagmira told Re:wild in an interview earlier this year.

---

Headline, images, captions, and all text published by: Liz Kimbrough. “In Ecuador, communities protecting a ‘terrestrial coral reef’ face a mining giant.” Mongabay. 9 January 2023. [Italicized heading and first paragraph in this post added by me.]

[markhors-menagerie]

Mantled guereza (Colobus guereza)

These stunning monkeys live in the forests of central Africa. They are well adapted for eating leaves, but will also eat fruit, wood, insects, and soil. Like howler monkeys of South America, guerezas will create a roaring dawn chorus that can be heard from a surprisingly long way away.

#markhors-menagerie #primates #old world monkeys #monkeys #animal facts #fun facts #animals #biology #colobus monkey #mantled guereza

[costarica08]

3 Popular Costa Rica Tourist Attractions

Costa Rica is 19,652 square miles of unadulterated magnificence and the ideal spot for nature darlings to relax. With 20 normal parks, eight natural saves and safeguarded regions, 25% of this nation's territory is secured. This is more than some other country on the planet. Whether you appreciate water, air or land exercises, or a tad bit of every, Costa Rica will not frustrate.

Water Activities

Costa Rica rides Central America and has shores on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans with both highly contrasting sand sea shores that sunbathers appreciate. More dynamic water exercises you can seek after on your excursion to Costa Rica incorporate swimming, remote ocean jumping, surfing, parasailing, kayaking, windsurfing and that's just the beginning.

Around 300 miles off the shore of Puntarenas is Coco Island where swimmers and remote ocean jumpers can see vivid coral reefs, whale shark and white finned shark, as well as an overflow of other marine life. The Pacific coast districts of Esterillos, Hermosa and Marino Ballena National Park are particularly famous with surfers, while swimmers lean toward La Punta. The Puntarenas Estuary is phenomenal for water skiing, bird watching and in any event, visiting the mangrove swamps by boat.

Air Activities

No excursion to Costa Rica would be finished without a covering visit. Take an ethereal cable car 100 feet over the backwoods floor and see tree frogs, plant snakes, many bird species and, surprisingly, three-toed sloth. Assuming you would prefer to encounter the shade up close and personal, venture out tree-to-tree through zip lines. Monteverde is known for its particularly gorgeous overhang visits. One vacationer organization even has a tree-top lodging in the shade for those needing to encounter the wilderness around evening time. Make certain to evaluate the Superman link at Turu Ba Ri Tropical Park. This is a 3280 foot long zip line that takes travelers zooming over the covering at 55 miles each hour.

The very bold can attempt the 200 foot drop bungee bounce at the old Colorado River Bridge. This bounce is said to have outstanding picturesque perspectives. Sight-seeing balloon visits are accessible at San Carlos, which is around 20 miles East of Arenal.

Land Activities

Corcovado National Park is home to ungulate, huge felines and each of the four of Costa Rica's monkey species: the White-headed Capuchin, Mantled Howler, Geoffroy's Spider Monkey and the Central American Squirrel Monkey. This region is known for the overflow of natural life. You make certain to see large numbers of these creatures as you climb the miles and miles of mountain trails. In the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve you will see in excess of 800 unique types of bird, more than 100 types of well evolved creatures and 2000 plant species, including orchids, as you climb the mountains and climb the paths. What's more, you can go spelunking in the caverns at Venado or horseback riding or bird watching at numerous other safeguarded regions in Costa Rica.

Weariness isn't a choice while going on an outing to Costa Rica. With such a huge amount to see and do, you will end up wanting to remain longer and begin making arrangements to get back to this tropical heaven even before you load onto the plane to return home.

For More Info :- 

Costa Rica Life Tours

Costa Rica Nature Holidays Tours

[snototter]

Mantled Howler Monkey (Alouatta palliata) in Costa Rica

by Matthew Goulding

#mantled howler monkey #alouatta palliata #aloutatta #atelidae #simiiformes #haplorhini #primates #mammalia #chordata #uploads #wildlife: costa rica #monkeys

[darwin1601]

Golden-mantled howler Monkeys/Mantel Brüllaffen sind die häufigste Affenart in La Selva. In Familienverbänden bis zu zehn sind sie auch oft am Fluss zu beobachten.

#costa rica #la selva #mammals #monkeys #golden-mantled howler monkeys

[iicraft505]

Mantled howler (Alouatta palliata)

TK

#iicraft505 #animals #chordata #mammals #primates #haplorhini #simiiformes #monkeys #howler monkeys #mantled howler #mantled howler monkey

[metalheadmickey]

Top five primates! (Are there five I don't really know anything haha don't JUDGE me!)

Aaaaand top five computer keyboard shortcuts. Idk why, I'm whimsical!

🤷‍♀️

Hey, Howl my love!!

1. Howler monkeys! All howler monkeys really, but mantled howlers are my faves. They're all so loud and dumb. My loves.

2. Aye-ayes. Super misunderstood, super endangered, really creepy, I love them so much.

3. Guenons. I think all guenons are neat and really beautiful (although I guess I am partial to De Brazza's monkeys because I love a beard. They look like wizards).

4. Orangutans! People of the forest! My beloveds.

5. Golden lion tamarins. Tiny beautiful glowing tropical babies.

There are about a million other species I am in love with and interested in, so this was really hard. I can't tell you how many times I changed this list!

I'm technologically inept and can't think of any keyboard shortcuts off the top of my head! I'm sorry!

#this makes me miss undergrad. aahhhh #thank you for this ask though i loved it! #i'm sorry i was only able to answer one of them lol #i was like 'keyboard shortcuts?????' and then my brain went brrrrrr #like i really have no answer for that. i am dumb #spaghetti mutual of my heart #ask game #🐕🍝🐩

[primate-tournament]

Round 1, part 2, match 1: colobus monkeys

Mantled guereza (Colobus guereza)

These stunning monkeys live in the forests of central Africa. They are well adapted for eating leaves, but will also eat fruit, wood, insects, and soil. Like howler monkeys of South America, guerezas will create a roaring dawn chorus that can be heard from a surprisingly long way away.

Zanzibar red colobus (Piliocolobus kirkii)

This species of colobus is only found on Unguja island, off the coast of Tanzania. Isolated here, they have developed a more human-like face, with a flatter snout and larger brain. They live in a variety of forest environments, and have a specialised stomach for digesting leaves. They are also known to eat soil and charcoal.

#primate bracket round 1 part 2 #primate bracket #tournament #tumblr tournament #poll #polls #primates

[lemmonlyman]

Currently fiddling with a story but I’m curious to see if anyone would be interested in MORE of this 

thanks to @addictedtostorytelling for the gif set that started this

love the idea of how stupidly dumb and in love these two would be re: their marriage.

The sun shined brightly through the partially opened tent. The sounds of the jungle could be heard although judging by the birds it was still quite early in the day. They had yet to begin the usual “chorus” as some of the other scientists had begun to call it. That normally didn't begin until mid-morning.

There was what sounded to be a howler monkey off in the distance. But that was also up for debate amongst most of the camp. Mantled howler monkeys only seemed to have been found on the eastern part of the jungle well over 20 KM from base camp.

It was the thin sliver of light that seemed to be poking through a seam in the tent that awoke him. He was sure it was that and not the fact that up until a few weeks prior had worked (nearly) every evening of his adult life. He couldn’t even blame the “jet lag” seeing as Costa Rica was merely an hour ahead of Vegas. Surely it wasn’t the drastic change in his life that had caused his sleeping schedule to be broken. Nor the fact he was now in bed with his soon-to-be wife.

No, of course it wasn’t that.

He smiled to himself and hugged Sara a little closer. He had to chuckle to himself a little at the memory of the night before.

He and Sara had been enjoying dinner in her tent, away from the other scientists, happy to just be alone together. They’d both spent far too much time just gazing at one another than eating.

It was after about twenty minutes of gazing at one another that Sara threw out

“Wanna marry me?”

#csi cbs #gsr #sara sidle #Gil Grissom #honestly may or may not finish this #got an idea thought I’d see where it went #figured I’d share either way tho

[puravida-blog]

Take a look at this Mantle Howler Monkey. Then LISTEN below to how the alpha male calls his troop. When the males all get going in the morning to wake up their clan, it sounds like Jurrasic Park! They're the loudest land animal on the planet!!

[rjzimmerman]

An endangered Yunnan snub-nosed monkey. (Photo by Ming Li)

Excerpt from this story from The Revelator:

There are more than 500 known primate species, but it would be hard to tell that by looking at recent research. Want to know how chimpanzees are doing across Africa? We can tell you plenty about them. But understanding how nocturnal pottos are doing across the same region? That may be more difficult.

Here’s why: A new study by primatologists Michelle Bezanson of Santa Clara University and Allison McNamara of University of Texas-Austin surveyed 29,000 recent journal articles and found a lack of diversity in the species studied, field sites chosen and research topics.

And that’s troubling. Now is a critical time for primate conservation: Approximately 60 percent of primate species are endangered, half of them critically. And yet, as McNamara and Bezanson’s research of peer-reviewed studies published between 2011 to 2015 found, less than 20 percent of research was focused on conservation. Instead the studies focused on topics such as behavior and ecology, which address theoretical questions. And many papers did not acknowledge the contributions of local communities. Without basic research on the most severely threatened primate species, we lack the information and infrastructure needed to save them. And successful conservation efforts can only happen with the cooperation and investment of the local human communities who live alongside them.

Slightly less than half of the 504 known primate species were the subjects of published research. Only 18 percent of publications focused on primates that were critically endangered or lacking the necessary data for IUCN assessment. The most frequently studied primates were the common chimpanzee in Africa, followed by long-tailed macaques and rhesus macaques in Asia, mantled howler monkeys and black howler monkeys in Central America, and western gorillas in Africa. Of the 10 most commonly studied primates, only the western gorilla is critically endangered.

#science #primates

[thou-crusty-batch-of-nature]

'Crawling back to you'

(Do I wanna know? Arctic Monkeys)

A/N: I'm soo sorry it took so long! Hope you'll like it! Thank you for reading (and requesting)! Feel free to send a request or message me! Lysm

Pairing: Harry x reader

Warnings: fluff, angst

Request: Could u do something Harry Potter x reader were the marauders are alive and the reader is Harry’s gf and is as good as Dumbledore in dueling. And she was staying at Harry’s house for spring break and (Harry is still the boi who lived) Voldemort attacks them and says something like “if she wins she dafe but for now I am going to take the most important thing in ur life” to Harry and he starts crying but then she out duels him and comforts Harry and Jily notices how much they love each other?

MASTERLIST

gif not mine

People have always assumed that I have a perfect life: a loving boyfriend, incredible friends, but people often speak without knowing. And I, of all people, knew that. My life has never been pink, I've never had a family, and besides my friends, no one's ever cared for me. I had lived in an orphanage until an old man wearing funny clothes showed up in my room, telling me I'm a wizard; and a very powerful one, too.

My first year at Hogwarts wasn't a piece of cake either. I was a pureblood gryffindor, but I knew nothing about magic. I didn't have any friends and spent my time either in the library or by the lake. The only person I spoke to was my roommate, a very bright witch named Hermione Granger. She'd always helped me when I was down and even introduced me to her group of friends; including Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. At first, we didn't get along well, but as time passed by we became closer than ever, becoming the family I've never had. We were soon known as the troublemakers of Hogwarts. We used to receive howlers from Lily every week, expressing her disappointment, followed by a short note from James, congratulating our brilliant ideas. In the fourth year, Harry and I went together to the Yule ball, and soon after that, we became a couple.

***

I looked again in the mirror. I was wearing a long-sleeved gown, with grey lace embroidered and a deep decolletage. My long Y/H/C hair fell in a waterfall of loose curls on my bare back.

"Oh my God! You look stunning. Harry won't be able to keep his eyes off you." Hermione said.

"Look who's talking. You're literally glowing!" And she was. Wearing a baby blue dress, she could be easily mistaken for a princess.

"Thank you! Shall we go?" Nodding, I took my best friend's hand. We went down the stairs, careful not to trip. 'These bloody shoes better not make me fall!' The common room was awfully quiet, as almost everybody was already in the great hall.

I was more than excited when Harry asked me to be his partner. I had a crush on him since the beginning of the third year. When we got downstairs he was nervously leaning back and forth, facing the dimly burning fire.

"Hello, Harry!" Hermione greeted happily. He quickly turned his head towards us, mouth falling open while his eyes wandered over my dress.

"Hi-" he said in a squeaky voice. "You-you look gorgeous."

***

Then Voldemort came back. Our life became darker and darker, and since the battle at the department of mysteries, he had been trying to recruit as many wizards as possible. Harry was in incredible danger as the chosen one, and I, because of my power, was the number one in the death eater's list.

I woke up breathing heavily, my hand around my neck. I was used to having this nightmare; I was alone in a dark room, chained, and Voldemort was torturing me in order to become one of them. I woke up seeing the blinding ray of green light, followed by his malicious laugh.

'I am safe. I am safe.' I opened my eyes only to see Harry's panicked face.

"What happened?" I usually spent my holidays at the Potters, who took me as their daughter. I owed them everything.

"You were screaming. I thought that-"

"It's ok. I had a bad dream." Harry sat next to me, hugging my warmly.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, grazing your back.

I turned to see his mesmerizing eyes, losing myself in the spring grass colour. "Not really." I whispered. We kissed like we were afraid of breaking each other.

***

"I told you they love each other!" Lily said, nudging James under the invisibility cloak.

"They are just how we were! He takes after me, so hopelessly in love!"

"At least he managed to take her out! You were so nervous when you first attempted to ask me on a date that I thought you would faint!"

James pinched her nose. "Yes, but look at us now!"

***

"Good morning everybody!" I'd just got in the kitchen, where Lily and Harry were having breakfast.

"Good morning darling!" Lily greeted.

"Morning!" Harry said, kissing my cheek. I filled my plate with scrambled eggs and sat down.

"So what are you cool teens up to these wonderful days?" Lily asked, making Harry sigh.

"Mum, stop. And if you asked, I would love to go for a walk with Y/N." He turned to me. "What do you say?"

"It sounds great!"

The diffuse sunlight painted the morning sky. The shy rays were playing on the fields of flowers, slowly drawing patterns on the spring's colourful mantle. We were walking down a narrow path through the forest. The comfortable silence was suddenly interrupted. Harry fell on his knees, letting go of my hand.

"He's here! He's after us!" Harry shouted, "We have to leave now!"

We bolted without looking bavk. I knew he was here; I could feel it. One could call it instinct, I preferred the term fear. Then, the veil of darkness hit us.

***

I slowly opened my eyes. My scar hurt so much that it made me feel dizzy. We were in a spacious room, made entirely of stone.

"Y/N!" I whispered, slowly shaking her. She was lying next to me, eyes barely open."Y/N! Please!"

"Look what a prize we've got here!" a high pitch voice called. "A small bird told me you two were walking happily through the forest! What a pure coincidence that the Dark Lord had a free day!"

"Bellatrix, stop with your boring talk, bring them to me!" Voldemort was sitting on a dark wood chair, his red eyes burning holes through me. Nagini was swirling on his hand. "Harry Potter and Y/N Y/L/N! The chosen one and the girl who is told to be my only worthy opponent! Let's see who is the best after all!"

"Leave her alone!" I shouted.

"Oh how brave are you! You almost convinced me! But I really want to play," he paused to look at us, "I challenge you," he pointed at Y/N "if you win, you and your loved ones are safe, but if you don't, you'll both lose the most important persons in your life. Do you accept?"

"No!" I said.

***

"Yes, I do," I said at the same time as Harry. Voldemort's eyes were locked on me as a wild smirk grew wide on his face. Bellatrix laughed maniacally, throwing my wand.

"Then we shall start."

"One." The death eater started.

"Two." I took a careful step.

"Three." I glanced at Harry, his horrified face following my gaze.

"Four." I could hear the Dark Lord's laugh.

"Five." His voice was sending shivers down my spine.

"Six." I silently stepped forward.

"Seven." My heart was threatening to jump from my body.

"Eight." My hands were shaking violently.

"Nine." I took a deep breath.

"Ten." We turned.

The duel started.

***

The battle was one of the most impressive I've ever seen. Spell after spell, dodge after dodge, Y/N held her head high, not even budging in front of her opponent. Light against darkness, fire against water, good against bad.

And it was far from over.

***

I was barely keeping my breath steady. Exhaustion was threatening to take over me, but I couldn't stop; I needed to win. Voldemort marched closer, creating a dragon of darkness. 'Shit.' Its black wings spread, and the majestical creature flew to me. It looked like Death. I cast a enormous fire Phoenix. It's battle cry shook the entire manor. The creatures collided, exploding.

"Expeliarmus!" I yelled.

"Abracadabra!" I managed to cast a shield over me in time. However, my spell hit the Dark Lord, the impact throwing him on his back. I caught his wand and disarmed the other death eaters, too. Just then, the order of Phoenix apparated in the room. I fell to my knees. Harry ran to me, pulling me in a bone crushing hug. I don't know when I've started crying, nor when he did. It didn't matter. It was over.

All was going to be well.

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