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gigilberry-wips · 4 years

Text

Ch. 3. Jack’s POV: Late August

Media: Fanfiction

Rating: General

Warnings: No Warnings Apply

Fandoms: Harry Potter - J.K Rowling, Rise of the Brave Tangled Dragons/The Big Four, Rise of the Guardians (2012), The Polar Express, Enchanted, Treasure Planet, The Princess and the Frog, Big Hero 6

Characters: Jack Overland (Rise of the Guardians), Emma Overland (Rise of the Guardians), Christopher (The Polar Express), Giselle (Enchanted), Dr. Delbert Doppler (Treasure Planet), Tiana (The Princess and the Frog), Honey Lemon (Big Hero 6), Original Cousin(s) of Hiro and Tadashi (Big Hero 6)

Tags: Hogwarts AU, kid!fic, Family, Fluff and Humor, Light Angst, Worldbuilding, character study

Word count: 11,855 words

Chapters:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24

AO3 Link

Summary:

Where Jack goes shopping for his school supplies in one of the most famous magical streets. (No, not the one you're thinking of.)

.°○♤○°.

A/N:

Decided this A/N was cringe so I changed it. Ehem. Let's try this again.

- First off, a big shout out to @/iamlongstockings and her very kind comments for motivating me so much that I decided to write not one but two huge, mammoth-sized chapters before I'd gone away for a few months. These chapters are for you. *finger guns*

- You know those streets that are seen in Tangled during that kingdom dance thing? Imagine that the street described in these chapters has the feel of that.

- This chapter and the next go far more into introducing the world I've set up. There will be hints of lore that'll be explained in further detail either later on in this book or else in others. Nothing definite, just taste. You can give any questions you have in the comments or else keep them with you and (hopefully) see them answered by this series' end. Or you can toss them at me on tumblr

- Here's the reason I'd put that "ocs running amok" warning in the intro. This is where it starts. It'll only get worse from here. If that's not your jam, then now's your last chance.

.°○♤○°.

The summer festival was days away and the magical side of the country looked like it.

Decorations in red, orange, pink, and gold spanned the wide street, easy to see even in the early morning light. Flowers in the same colours bloomed on the windowsills, the doors, and around every corner. Fresh posters declared games and events galore for the promised holiday, and in a few hours the hawkers would arrive to sell their holiday themed goods to the soon-to-be-busy market square.

On a nearby roof, a witch carefully adjusted a weathervane. The few soft, puffy clouds, barely visible in the distance, kept well away and the sky above her head hung a clear, eggshell blue. It promised to be a blisteringly sunny day.

Jack observed all of this and wondered once again how he'd ended up here.

In Halley House, school shopping took on an entirely different look compared to most others. It was a big event. And it had to be done a certain way.

It was taken as a fact that those who were of schooling age had to work together to get their supplies in order. Throughout the summer it became a kind of back-alley business for younger children to meet up with the older ones and trade for books and bags and robes, even promising to do chores if they had nothing else to offer.

And if the children lacked in friends or didn't go looking fast enough, then…too bad for them.

While this happened, the parents, guardians, or graduated students who had to be responsible for their siblings would “meet up for tea”. These meetings happened in late summer, and between tea and local gossip they'd all fix a date to descend onto several tiny market streets that ran like arteries throughout the nearby magic-muggle village and hunt down whatever was left of the second-hand goods.

School shopping was not an event to be taken lightly, or to be done without at least half of everyone involved.

Except Jack's call for schooling happened long before any of this could start.

Instead of spending the summer running after older children, or his mother inviting herself to one of these meetings, his first real clue that something was not as it should be came in the hands of a man named Christopher Armitage.

Mr. Armitage worked for the part of the magical government that dealt with school affairs. He'd sent a letter beforehand asking if they would mind terribly if he stopped by, for the matter he had to discuss could not be done properly through paper.

It was through him that they learnt that Jack had been accepted to study at Hogwarts, one of the most prestigious magical schools on the English continent, long before Jack's letter was even set to arrive.

There were not many in Halley House who received such letters. Jack would be the first he knew of.

There would be no more thoughts of him going to one of the local magical schools, hidden within the folds of rolling country hills under layers of protective magic. Those weren't even entirely boarding schools. They were a common feature of the working class and, as such, spent about half the school year letting the students stay and teaching them while the other half sent them back where they came with reading and homework meant for them getting homeschooling from their families and each other. This was why the notes of older students were worth more than money.

This didn't mean that the working class students who graduated from those schools were destined to stay in the working class. That's not how witch society worked.

And Hogwarts was technically still a school that brought future witches and mages into the world. Hogwarts graduates were always put on the path of grand, impressive jobs, whether they took them or not.

Not as bad as finding out you're a wizard. That meant no one ever saw you again.

(There were rumours about that, about what happened when a wizard was chosen. Blinding light, trumpets and thunder, a golden carriage flying down from skies that looked as if they'd been cracked open like a nebulous, star-filled egg.

Not that those rumours held any weight. And if there ever appeared a wizard willing to share, then the common opinion agreed that correct way to respond was to take off running, with your fingers in your ears.)

But even if Hogwarts was perfectly fine and fancy, even if there was nothing wrong about children going there, that did not erase the fact that everyone knew the wizards had something to do with it.

That was a lot for a newly 11-year-old Jack to deal with.

A sudden tug pulled Jack's attention back.

His sister finished tying a ribbon around his wrist, grinned up at him, and went skipping away.

The ribbon was a brilliant red. It clashed horribly with his drab outfit of a too-many-washes-to-really-be-white tunic, a sleeveless brown overshirt, and brown trousers worn enough to be fraying at the ends.

…At least it was traditional. Best way to blend in on a famous magic shopping street.

Meanwhile Emma had found a light pink ribbon that near perfectly matched the shade of her nicest pinafore. She danced with it, the shiny cloth twisting in the air every time she spun, breathily humming to herself and happy with the world. Lucky her.

Mr. Armitage had not dressed to blend in. He wore a muggle suit coloured a sombre, ministry-blue. His blonde hair was as neatly combed as any self-respecting government employee's should be as he sat chatting with Jack's mother at an outdoor table of a tiny café.

And if the way they kept glancing over at him and Emma was anything to go by, they were just about done with their early morning tea.

Mr. Armitage nodded and stood up. Emma immediately shot over.

“Are we done? Are we ready?” She asked, bouncing on her heels.

“Almost. Just one more thing.” Mr. Armitage turned to their mother. “Would you like to accompany us?”

Jack also turned to her. She looked tired.

She always looked tired. There could be any reason why. But some part of Jack—a very large, very loud part of him—wondered if it had something to do with his new school. She'd been shocked when they'd first heard the news (of course she been, anyone world be), but had congratulated him well enough, had hugged and kissed him and said how proud she was.

But she'd spent a long time awake that night. And sometimes when he brought it up, she'd smile but her eyes would be sad (and he didn't know why and she never told him why and no one ever told him anything—)

“Well, Jack, what do you think?”

“What?” Jack said, intelligently.

“This trip is for you. If you'd like me to come along, then I will, but it's your choice. Which would you like?”

Ideally, Jack would be happy if his mother went shopping with them. This was his first time on one of the four major streets. They were lucky it was only a few hours from where they lived, and they could make it into a day trip. And he be getting so many new things that day. “New” was not a thing any of them were used to.

But Jack had made plans for that day. Plans that if his mother knew of she would not like.

Jack could do better than get caught first thing in the morning and he wasn't about to disgrace himself like that.

And anyways, she'd be coming with them for sight-seeing later. She might as well have the time to rest.

So what Jack did was go up to her and shuffled his feet.

“If it really is alright…I'd like to go with just Em' and Mr. Armitage to get my school things.”

He didn't try to play up the nervousness, didn't do something as obviously fake as wringing his hands. He wasn't a hand-wringing kind of boy and both of them knew it.

Her mother reached up and cupped his face. “Of course it's alright, darling. You have fun and I'll see you for lunch.”

“Thanks, mum. We’ll be back soon.” Jack kissed her cheek. Then he went to Emma and took her hand. “We ready to go?”

“Ready!” She pumped their hands.

“Then we’d best be off. Good day, Ms. Overland.” Mr. Armitage gave a quick bow, hand over his heart, and then put on his hat.

Jack and Emma waved to her as they turned the corner down the street, until they lost sight of her.

“Where are we going now?” Despite how curious he was to look around, Jack made sure to keep pace with Mr. Armitage.

“First the bank to see about the money. Then on to the main street where we’ll get started with the shopping.”

The next turn widened into the main part of the street. Shops had just begun to open for the day. A few people were out and about setting up last minute decorations. At that time of day, the faint smell of fresh pastries wafted freely through the air, interrupted only by the scent of all the flowers.

Come the height of the festival, there would be singing, dancing, and lights from colour-changing lanterns and sparkling magical illusions. It was plenty fun in the village, the adults making things lively enough for Jack and the others to have a good time, but the celebrations that would happen here would be grand.

The bank they came to was not what he’d expected. It wasn’t particularly impressive or brooding or anything else of the sort. No stone gargoyles crouched over the windows and there wasn’t a marble column in sight. Instead, the squat, plain building stood at exactly one normal ground floor height and that’s it. One could climb up a window to reach the roof no problem. The other buildings surrounding it made it look squatter and flatter than it actually was. It looked more like either the biggest building in a particularly boring village or a minimalist museum owned by a muggle on a budget.

They entered through an unadorned door and were met with cream walls and polished wooden floors. Even at such an early hour, there were people milling around the wide front area, some sitting in chairs set up along the walls, waiting for their number to be called by those working at the front desk.

It was them who caught Jack’s attention first. For obvious reasons.

Nearby, Emma squeaked. “Faeries!”

They were quite obviously faeries, even if they weren’t the dark forest and tricky mischief variety. Were it not for the translucent wings and twinkling golden dust, they could’ve almost been mistaken for the humans they worked alongside.

Mr. Armitage, each of his hands holding one of theirs, gave them a light squeeze. “They are, and you’re both very lucky they’re fond of children. Mind your manners, you two.”

He walked them to the front counter and stated their business to the man who sat there. Jack was just tall enough to see over desk and find the man’s nametag, which said “Mr. H. Winters”.

“…Ah, yes. From the ministry. Hm. Yes…yes, everything seems to be in order, I believe.” He handed a roll of parchment back to Mr. Armitage, where it was tucked away into his suit jacket. “Now, then, whose funds is it that you’ll be needing today?”

“The ones that have been kept aside for Mr. Jackson Overland.”

Adjusting his spectacles, Mr. Winters opened a few drawers and came back up with a thin sheaf of papers and a simple, golden key. He flipped through the papers and nodded. “Here they are. Shall I ask one of the staff to bring you the money or would you like to go collect it yourself?”

Mr. Armitage glanced down. Jack stared up at him, open and curious. From the corner of his sight, he could just barely see Emma leaned against the man’s side and giving him what was most likely a pleading face.

“If it can be arranged, I would prefer to go to the collection centre along with these children.”

“Very well.” Mr. Winters swung open a small door next to the desk and called out. “Deeya, would you mind taking the customers with you, please?”

“Gladly,” a musical voice answered.

The voice resolved itself into a faery. The specks of golden dust from her wings twinkled on her dark skin and hair, while the rest of it dissolved into the air, making it seem like she faintly glowed. Tiny, golden bells hung from her ears, as pretty as the smile she wore along with the deep green robes and golden sash of the other bank employees.

Deeya took the key, caught sight of them, and without a word held her hand out to Emma. Emma looked just about ready to float off of the ground.

Shuffling past the desk led them to a second, average-looking wooden door in the back. As Deeya led them to it, she spoke to Emma, serene and soft as a summer breeze.

“Do you know why this bank is considered one of the best in the magical world?”

Emma shook her head no.

“It is because only faeries can truly access it. You see, amongst the Fae are many different races, each with their own powers and affinities. We who run the magical banks in England hold an affinity for precious stones and metals. We draw magic from them, and value those who treat them with the respect they deserve. That…and we have a special way of storing it.”

With a flourish, Deeya opened the door.

Bright light poured out. Still holding Emma’s hand, Deeya walked into the light. Jack and Mr. Armitage followed after.

Absolutely nothing would have prepared Jack for what he saw next.

Imagine, if you would, a hollow globe made up of golden bands. Inside of it are moving parts and compartments, so miniscule and delicate that it is hard to tell what exactly they could be. Now imagine that structure expanded, grown bigger and bigger, until it grew so big as to fit several buildings inside of it, could perhaps fit half a city within it.

That was the space they stepped into. They stood on a wide, golden lamp that had no railing or anything to hold onto. All around them the air was filled with hundreds of thousands of fairies. They came in almost every shape and size, from the height of a butterfly to as tall as Deeya herself, and almost all had something gold on them. Jack made a guess that the actual money and goods were stored along the walls, but those walls were so far away that it was hard to see them clearly, let alone catch any details.

It was as if they’d entered into a pocket of space that didn’t fit into the rest of reality. How could such a space possibly exist? How was any of this possible?

Magecraft, said a voice in his head.

No. Faeries, answered another. Even he knew that magecraft had its limits.

(But what exactly were those limits? How would he know them? Who was he to say what mage magic was truly capable of?)

“This is the collection centre. Here you will find many doorways that open to different locations on the English continent and even a select few scattered throughout the rest of the world. You can only access this place through those doorways and it can only be navigated by faeries such as myself—and, well, I suppose other flying creatures as well.”

Without warning, Emma dashed off to one of the far edges. A jolt of panic struck his heart. But before it could get any further, she abruptly stopped, her hands pressed flat against what looked like empty air.

A large hand nudged his back. Jack tilted his head up and found Mr. Armitage’s upside-down smile. He gave his shoulder an encouraging pat.

Jack looked back. Taking a deep breath, he slowly walked to the edge, hands held out before him. Yes, he was more on the reckless side of things, but this was also his first time in a faery bank and he didn’t actually want to die.

His hand suddenly brushed a cold surface. Jack yanked it back. He stared. Then he carefully reached forward again.

It wasn’t glass. But it was cool and smooth. When Jack put both hands to it and pressed, the thing did not yield.

Now that he looked properly, there were a few humans up in the air. Each held the hand of a faery. When one such pair went through the barrier—it parted around them like water—the human also had a faint glow around her like her faery companion. She gave the faery a short bow and they walked out the door.

Something in Jack’s stomach fluttered. Would they have to do that, too?

“Would you like me to take you to the vault, sir?” Deeya addressed Mr. Armitage behind them.

“No, thank you. I would much prefer it if you could bring the money here.”

“Certainly. If you would excuse me—oh. Oh, goodness, hullo.” From the cloud of her hair, Deeya plucked out the whisp of a faery that had flown into it. His wings fluttered quickly as he clung to her finger, tiny and pale. “Are you well?”

Jack might not have been able to see to the other side of the collection centre, but he did see the faery nod. Deeya smiled and waited for him to stand on her palm before she withdrew the key. “My colleague here will go to the vault and return with the required amount. Do you know how much you need?”

“Ah, yes, yes, of course. One minute.” Mr. Armitage searched in his pockets and took out a small piece of paper. The faery accepted it from him and abruptly took off, leaving a cloud of golden dust in his wake.

Not long after, he returned with a bag of coins easily twice as large as him floating behind. Mr. Armitage accepted the bag, thanked the two faeries, made sure Emma and Jack did the same, and the group returned to the bank proper.

Jack stayed quiet during the paperwork, at one point having to sign a document they presented to him. He stayed that way until they stood outside once more.

“Right then, you two. As you know, this street is called Touchstone Avenue, one of the four famous streets, with several smaller side streets branching off from here. But we don't need to worry about them—well, aside from the one we left earlier, but regardless. All the places we'll need to visit today are set up along here. And if you wander to our right, instead of left to the main square, and all the way until you reach the great archway you can see over there, where will you be?”

“At the entrance of a cemetery in Nottingham, located in Nottinghamshire, England.” Emma promptly stated. That year her class had decided to take a stab at local geography and as soon as she’d understood where they’d be going for their day trip she’d made a point to prepare.

“Very good. If you ever find yourself lost, just look for this main street and you'll end up in Nottingham no matter what. Are there any questions?”

Jack tugged on his sleeve. “Are we going to use all of that today?” He pointed to the bag of coins Mr. Armitage still held.

Mr. Armitage's brows furrowed but still he answered. “I should think not. Part of it will be spent here but there should be plenty left over for when you might need it in school this year.”

“Can I see?”

“Of course, Jack. It's yours now.” Mr. Armitage gave him the bag. It weighed heavy in his hands.

When Jack pulled the drawstring open, most of the contents turned out to be golden galleons, with a few silver sickles scattered in between. That was more gold than he'd seen in…weeks, apparently.

(And before that, the answer had been never.)

Jack nodded, his mind made up. He tugged Emma to his side and, upon telling her to hold out her skirt pockets, began piling coins into them.

“Okay, so if you take home about half of these then there should be enough left over for me to get the potion ingredients and other things with. And then with whatever's left of that—”

“Wait, wait, wait, Jack—” Mr. Armitage grabbed his hands. Jack would've ripped them away if he didn't think he'd spill the coins. “What are you doing?”

“I'm dividing my money.” Jack tugged on his hands and Mr. Armitage easily let go. He clutched the bag of money—his bag of money, it was his, not anyone else's—close to his chest. “It's mine now, right? I can do what I want with it, right? If I don't really, really need some of this, then I'll give it to my family. They need it more than I do. It's not like I'll have to pay for food over there. I've already thought it up. I'll spend what I need to on ingredients and tools—you know, since they have to be good quality to last—and then I can get the rest somewhere else.”

“Jack, listen—”

“There's a street we have. In the village. We can go to one of the stores there and get the books cheap—”

“Jack—”

“—and I can borrow the robes from one of the older kids, I know they still have some. They'll just need a little mending but after that—”

“Jack!”

Jack shut his mouth and glared. By that time the crowds had thickened just enough that the street didn't look entirely deserted. From the faint murmurs, they'd begun to attract attention but he refused to look away. So what if they stared? Let them. As if he cared one wit what anyone thought.

Mr. Armitage lowered his hands, sighing. “I apologise for yelling, but what say we talk about this somewhere else?” Jack opened his mouth to argue but Mr. Armitage put a hand up. “I'm not taking away your money. I promise I'm not. And I will listen to you. All I ask is that you also listen to me. Fair enough?”

It wasn't unreasonable, Jack hated to admit it. He was still convinced that there was nothing anyone could say to change his mind, but if Mr. Armitage was offering to listen to him…

To the side, Emma stared between the two. Her eyes were wide and scared, her hands still gripped in the worn edges of her skirt. She'd gone out with them that day thinking they'd all have a good time. She hadn't asked for any of this.

Jack looked at her and felt a sliver of shame crawl into him. But just a little.

Mouth still set in a stubborn line, Jack returned the coins he'd given Emma. He pulled the drawstring shut, took Emma's hand, and followed Mr. Armitage as he led them around the corner of the bank building.

The side of the building was a washed out white, the paint cracked near the edges. Over there the ground was made of packed dirt instead of cobblestone. It muffled their steps. A quiet stillness hung in the air. Somehow, the outside bustle and excitement did not seem to reach this place.

Since the first time Mr. Armitage had introduced himself to them, he’d come by to visit regularly. Mostly it had to do with adult business, like where the money for schooling would be coming from and what they could expect to deal with later and so on and so forth, but at other times he’d entertain Jack and Emma, even if he didn’t have to.

Mostly, he’d just listened to them. That’s not something a lot of adults did well. He…was really good at it. He was also good at giving answers, and telling a good story. But even then, he always seemed to be listening, noticing every little thing in that strangely observant way of his. Strange, patient, and kind: that’s him.

Strange, patient, and kind was what he looked like as he knelt down before Jack, so that Jack stood taller than him. But Jack refused to look at him. He kept his eyes on the weeds that poked between the grass near Mr. Armitage’s knee.

Jack refused to speak, too. He hadn’t done anything wrong. Mr. Armitage had no right to put him in trouble. No one could put him in trouble unless they were his mother.

But Mr. Armitage didn’t start scolding him. Instead, he sighed.

“Jack…what happened? Do you want to explain?”

"There's nothing to explain." Jack crossed his arms. He deemed enough time to have passed to look up and not bruise his pride. “I know I'm right.”

“About what?”

About what? About what? Of all the things to— Mr. Armitage should’ve known all this. He was the one who said he often visited other families like Jack’s and helped them, too. He was the one who’d spent months with them, had seen just how ‘well’ they were doing. How could he of all people not understand something so obvious?

“I know I need to divide my money properly. I know that I should put it where it'll help the most. I know that everything I need can be found somewhere else. If I knew that I'd be getting this much money from this—whatever this is—then I would've never come here at all.”

“Why not?”

"Because I don't belong here!" Jack finally snapped. “And I can't pretend I do either! Do I look like someone who wants to walk around looking like something I'm not? I don't! Those people—the kids and teachers and all of them—at this fancy school I'm going to can just learn to deal with it if they care so much about admitting someone like me.”

Mr. Armitage should’ve been angry. He had every reason to be angry, at Jack being difficult, at him going off like he was and being so rude to the adult in charge of him.

But he didn’t look angry. It didn’t make sense.

“But they do care about you. It's why you were given that much money to begin with. To even things out for you.”

“I don't need other people's charity.”

“You are not a charity case—no, no, listen to me—” Mr. Armitage pressed on, even as Jack tried to interrupt, “if you really were a charity case to them then do you honestly think the school would've given you so much? Think about it.”

It was like dropping an ice cube into a cup of hot water. It did not stop the steam, but ... it made Jack pause.

Mr. Armitage saw that and continued. “If they were only letting you in out of pity then they wouldn't have invested so much in you. Hogwarts wants you to do well. They want you to have all that you need to get a bright future for yourself.”

That…sounded wrong.

That’s not how Hogwarts should’ve worked. Everyone knew that wizards were involved with Hogwarts. Everyone knew that Hogwarts was full of the rich and powerful and the like. Because these were wizards. Absolutely none of what Mr. Armitage said sounded like anything one of them would want.

What Jack didn’t admit out loud was that he didn’t like that he was going to Hogwarts of all places, let alone that it was a rich, posh school. The other children had teased him about it ever since they’d found out. They’d said he’d go mad there, said they might as well get his funeral started since they’d never see him again. And those were the nicer things.

If it really was such a bad thing going to that school, then he didn’t want to go there anyways. He didn’t want to put in any effort or do well at it if all it got him was other people being annoying.

But Mr. Armitage wasn’t a wizard.

And yet…he was the one the government had sent, when the school had requested someone to go. A government created in a witch society.

Jack’s grip tightened.

“…I didn’t do anything wrong. My family needs this. I don’t.”

“…You are right to say that your family would have use for it, I will not deny that. Then, you tell me. Suppose you gave that to your family’s funds. How long do you think it would last?”

Jack hadn’t gone that far in his plans. He had to pause to think about it. “…Well, we do need to stock up on more dry foods. And the winter clothes need replacing this year. And we need to find someone to do repairs, like for the boundary wards in the bathroom and sitting room, and to de-worm the kitchen again, and…and…I don’t know?”

“That’s fine. Give me your best guess.”

“…Uh…three months, maybe?” Jack shrugged. He didn’t like that he really didn’t know, and that he’d never thought to ask his mother.

“Three months. This bag is supposed to last you a full year. Come next year and you’ll get another bag with the same amount. You spend as much as you need with this one, and I am perfectly sure that you will have some of it left over. Keep that money. Put it somewhere you can find it when you are in need.”

“But that’s a whole year away. I need it now! I want to do something now! I don’t want to go to school and know how bad I’ve left everything. What else am I supposed to do?”

If Jack didn’t have his hands full he would’ve thrown them up. This was getting ridiculous. He didn’t want to hear any of this “you’re helping them with a good education” or “you’ll be able to help more when you’re an adult” or other such empty assurances. They didn’t do anything to assure him. Either Mr. Armitage suggested something practical or Jack would stop listening and walk out.

He would’ve done it right then. He wanted to. What stopped him was when he saw Mr. Armitage’s eyes. He looked…so sad. Like someone had broken his heart.

“…I’m sorry.”

Jack froze, for no other reason than shock.

“I’m so sorry, both of you,” he looked between Jack and Emma, “I’m sorry you have had to live with this burden. It is a terrible thing, and no one should bear it, especially not you. My words aren’t helping you, I understand that. I wish…”

Mr. Armitage put his hand to his heart, his voice trailing off. He closed his eyes. After a moment, he nodded and opened them again.

From within his suit, he withdrew a tangle of thin, braided leather. On its end hung a small bell, glittering and golden in the morning light as if brand new.

“You see this?” He asked. “This here is a present that someone very dear gave to me a long time ago. Listen.”

He shook the bell. At first they heard nothing, only a faint hum.

Emma stepped forward, her hands extended. Mr. Armitage let her hold the bell and Emma shook it again.

“…I hear it!” She smiled. She made Jack lean closer and shook the bell for him.

Jack waited. Then he heard it. A single note, high and sweet and clear as a sunbeam. “…I hear it too.” He took the bell from Emma and rung it himself, and again the sound came.

“Then there is still hope.” Mr. Armitage said. “That person gave it to me when I needed something to believe in. Someone believed in me back then. And in that school someone believes in you, Jack. If I could keep my hope in them for all these years then I have no doubt that you—both of you—can keep that same hope alive in yourselves, too.”

They were more empty words. Not even a minute before and Jack would’ve refused them.

But something in his heart had melted. A hard, little knot of worry and fear and sadness and the ache of bones older than his creaking under the hand of a winter without end, it simply…vanished. It left him lighter, made it a little easier to breathe. To be happy. He hadn’t even realized how unhappy he was until that weight was gone.

Jack wasn’t stupid. He could guess that the bell in his hands had something to do with it. But it was very hard to be upset about that when he felt so oddly free.

It was hard to think that he’d been so scared and angry before. Scared that the money that was supposed to be his would be taken away, angry that he wasn’t being allowed to use it as he wished. He didn’t want to keep feeling like that, no one did, but he knew they would find their way to him again. Because nothing this good ever lasts.

But someday when he was older, when he looked back on this moment, would he be happy of the choice he’d made?

Mr. Armitage was trying to help. There were strangers out in the world, in a government that’d sent him and a school full of strangers who’d asked for him, who were all trying to help. Perhaps…perhaps he could believe them. Just for now. Just for a little while. For as long as the hope lasted, he would try to believe them and their help.

Jack looked down at the leather bag. A twist of guilt pinched his gut. It felt wrong to call that money his. It felt wrong to use it for himself. The feeling was familiar, but it was muted.

He’d…find a way to deal with it later. He’d think of another way to fix this. He would do it. But for now…for now he’d let this lightness have its way.

Jack gripped the feeling for a moment. Then he held up the bag.

“…I will agree to buy my supplies here. I will agree to go along with this for now. But if things change and I feel like I don't have a choice, then I'll do what I think is best for myself and the people I care about.”

“That is all I ask.” Mr. Armitage accepted the bag and bell.

He tucked them away and stood up. Together they walked out from between the buildings and took the left turn to the main square.

In the centre of the main square stood what was the first and possibly the largest statue that Jack had ever seen. Or rather, it was the first statue he’d met in person that extended so far above his head that if it were to spring to life one day then its iron foot would squish him as easily as the miniscule insect he felt like. The thought made him a little weak in the knees.

The statue was that of a mage. One of the most powerful mages to have crafted history.

She stood as tall as the highest of the buildings and wore miner's gear and a cape that floated in an imagined breeze. Her left hand held a lantern aloft, while her other clenched around a wand. The dulled grey of the metallic surface that had spent countless years exposed to the seasons only served to make the lines harsher, make it seem as if she’d been carved out from the stone she stood on. From the edges of the platform grew four signposts in the four cardinal directions, stretching out into graceful arches tall enough for an adult to easily walk under.

“That is the statue of Lucia, The Lady of the Light, one of the four great architects—which I’m sure you’ve heard plenty about. One interesting tidbit you should also know is that if you tap your wand to one of the signposts and walk under it, you will be transported to one of the other four magical avenues in the United Kingdom." Mr. Armitage walked them right up to the statue’s base. He obliged Emma when she asked for a boost so she could swing from one of the sign posts.

Jack stared up at it. Even from standing so close, he could make out the witch's strong jaw and deep-set eyes. The look in them made her appear solemn and stern. He wondered just how much she must've gone through to give her such a look. He wondered if someday he'd ever look as impressive as that or if he'd still remain a spindly twig even after he'd grown up.

Soon after, Mr. Armitage led them away. The first place they went to was a robe shop that called itself “Enchanting Robes for Enchanting Occasions”.

The sight of the front entrance was enough to make both siblings balk.

“This is so weird, this is so weird.” Jack muttered. Mr. Armitage had to all but march him in, the firm grip he had on Jack's shoulder carrying a promise of getting a lot firmer if he didn't cooperate. Meanwhile Emma seemed to be trying her best to both walk and mould herself into Jack's back and that was not helping his situation at all.

“Given that you'll be attending Hogwarts, I assure you that it will only get a lot worse from here on out. You'll just have to get used to it.” Mr. Armitage stated crisply. Then the shop keeper found them and he was all smiles.

The shop was run by a kind, cheerful, and erratically pretty woman named Giselle. No one had to worry about trying to separate Emma from her brother because the moment the older woman grabbed a-hold of Jack, she fled to hide behind Mr. Armitage. Like a traitor.

Giselle ushered a very flustered Jack onto one of the stools and spelled a measuring tape into taking his measurements, talking all the while about how lucky they were to have come before the actual morning rush or else there would've been such a big line and she wouldn't have had the time to talk to them like this, but then again the days between the school season and the time of the festival were always busy and she was certainly grateful for it but a peaceful morning every now and then was such a welcome thing, and on and on and on…

In between her bubbling flow of chatter, Mr. Armitage talked with her like it was perfectly natural and he wasn't overwhelmed or intimidated at all—unlike Jack—adding a word in here and there, about little details, like what good and remarkable children Jack and Emma were, how in all the time he'd known them they always tried to look out for each other and their oh so hardworking mother.

He mentioned those things casually but it was enough to make the seamstress go into a frenzy of emotion. The one saving grace that stopped the whole fiasco from becoming a mortifying fiasco was the fact that hardly any other customers were in the store and none of the those who were happened to be in hearing range. Or they’d already learnt to tune her out.

Not only did they get the orders for all of Jack's school robes and uniform ironed out, but by the end of it he had two new casual robes and an additional woollen cape, free of charge. They'd even purchased Emma a pretty set of winter robes and her own little cape to match.

“This feels like cheating.” Jack said. He watched as Mr. Armitage carefully tucked the folded robes into a corner of the carpet bag he'd brought with him. Next to them, Emma was still twirling around in her new cape and admiring herself in a window after she’d promised she’d let him pack it away in a minute.

The carpet bag was what truly marked Mr. Armitage as a mage, given he was the one who’d sewn in the runes used to lighten the load and expand the space within. That, and the runic tattoos that Jack could just barely see climbing up his wrists.

He’d only seen them properly once, and not even the full extent of them. They were very cool, though some of the mystery had gone out when he’d been allowed to touched them and they’d done nothing.

(They had to do something. He knew they did. But for some, infuriating reason Mr. Armitage decided that that was what he’d use to annoy Jack with, coming up with a new, bizarre reason every time he asked. Going to Uncle Vladimir didn’t help. Both of them seemed to be in on a joke that Jack still didn’t know and it was so vexing—)

Mr. Armitage chuckled. “Not exactly. In spite of appearances, I can assure you that Madame Giselle has been doing this for far too long to fall for such a thing. She knows the kind of children I work with and just so happens to be an incredibly kind soul.”

Jack was grateful for that and for her helping them, he really was. He was also sure that he could probably find it in himself to be more grateful just as soon as his cheeks stopped feeling so hot.

Next they went to a place that sold things like cauldrons, dragon hide gloves, weighing scales, glass bottles, and other such equipment that any self-respecting potioneer would need.

They got the standard potions ingredients at an apothecary—this one much larger than the one his mother had once worked the register for—with the wares all laid out on the shelves and display tables. Some were in trays, some pickled in jars, and a few of the livelier ones (Fresh ermine fur! Brush them yourself! Ermines not included in purchase) in cages.

While Mr. Armitage paid for them, Jack took extra care to make sure that the parcels containing the more fragile ingredients (not as many eyes or tongues as he’d expected, funny enough; most of them were dried and sealed in jars) were safely stored in the confines of the modest brass cauldron he'd picked out.

By the time they stepped out of there, the sun had rose high enough to signal the start of the mid-morning rush. The street was bustling with people who had come either for last minute school shopping or to prepare for the upcoming festival or even both, if what Jack heard in passing was true. After buying rolls of parchment and ink bottles from a store crammed right on the edge of the main square they—and by they, it was really Mr. Armitage—shouldered through the foot traffic that spat them into a large bookshop that was only a little less crowded inside than it was outside.

A bespectacled man stood up from behind the desk. “Hello! Hello and welcome, dear customers! And if it isn't young Christopher! To what do I owe the pleasure, lad?”

Mr. Armitage smiled warmly as he shook the hand offered to him. “Hullo, doctor. We’re out shopping for school books today.”

“Of course, of course. And I see you have some new faces with you.” The man gave them a once over. "First year at Hogwarts, I assume? Right this way, then.”

Between the milling customers and the stacks of books sorted into neat piles on the floor, they were led to a place near the front window display where there was already a crowd of parents calling out for their own books. Nudging one of the shop assistants aside, he made quick work of grabbing the ones he needed, not even bothering with a list.

He was just about to hand the stack over to Mr. Armitage when they all heard shouting. At the other end of the store stood a growing knot of people and various octaves of decidedly angry screams came from within it.

“Oh, bother. Not again. That would be the monster books, I’m afraid. If you'd excuse me—” He paused when Mr. Armitage waved him off.

Putting down the carpet bag, Mr. Armitage rolled up his sleeves—and Jack got an eyeful of that arm—and pulled out his wand. “Not to worry. I'll see what I can do. Jack, Emma, I won’t be long. Please stay here until I come back.” And then he was off, quickly disappearing into the growing chaos.

They watched him go. The shop owner sighed and put down the books.

“Such a responsible lad. Always has been.” He took off his spectacles and began to clean them.

“Are you really a doctor?” Emma asked.

The man regarded her with an air of amusement. “Like the muggles have? Goodness no. I am a Dr. Delbert Doppler of the entirely bookish variety, young lady. I also happen to be a licensed priest—and not the Christian one, before you ask—but that's more a result of me being an In-Betweener, as the youth call it.”

“You're a squib?”

“…And there’s another term, yes. Although technically it is somewhat inaccurate for the general state of affairs. And blessed I am every day to also be the husband of my lovely wife, Captain Amelia, and the proud father of our children. By the way, has anyone ever told you about her? She's the captain of a star fleet so that means she goes on adventures for a living.” As soon as he mentioned his wife, he started talking like someone who'd just been waiting for anyone passing by to get him started on his favourite topic.

While he entertained a dazzled Emma with talk of his space captain wife, Jack looked out the shop window.

When he wasn’t the one being swamped in the excitement, it was so much easier to see what was going on. They’d set up a temporary stage at the mouth of the square. A crowd had begun to gather around it, like something would be happening soon but he couldn’t see what.

Vendors had finally decided to make use of the foot traffic and set up their stalls. Not as many as would come later, but they were decorated just as brightly, in the same ribbons as the kind Emma had been waving around earlier. Last he remembered she’d left it tied to one of the signposts.

Jack craned his head, trying to see if he could find it. Except the statue had more children running around it, climbing up its base, tying their own ribbons to the different signposts. Jack blinked and for a second he was almost certain he saw a man disappear under one of them. But with all the people he could’ve just as well imagined it. How was it so crowded?

"Why, it's like this every year."

Oh. He’d said that part out loud. Jack looked up to find Dr. Doppler regarding him curiously.

Jack shrugged. “It’s our first time here, so…” Which was another way of saying he was a country boy who couldn’t properly remember being more than an hour away from home, and a crowded, busy home did not nearly compare to a crowded, busy, overwhelmingly stranger-y market.

Dr. Doppler’s eyes twinkled. “Stick around then and you’ll be in for a treat. Every year the celebrations for the summer festival that happen on this street are one of the biggest in all of England. There’ll be special events happening in all the major shops, treats galore, and a live performance at the end of the day, with magic fireworks to match. You’ll see more show variety magic everywhere here, come to think; amazing the things people come up with for celebrations. And, in addition to that, for all the five nights we light the lamp of our lady and it stays lit until the festival’s end.”

Dr. Doppler picked up one of the fallen books and held it out to Jack. It showed a picture of a stylized sun in its centre, with smaller symbols surrounding it. “This book goes into more detail about the historic festivals like this one. You can take my word that it’s one of the best for starting out.”

Jack opened the book. He waited while Emma flipped through the pages before returning it. “…When you say ‘the lamp of our lady’, do you mean the one for the statue of Lucia?”

“Lady Lucia Garcia Rosa Obrador, The Lady of the Light. Also known as The Architect, The Visionary, The First Stone Weaver. Considered to be one of the greatest magical engineers of our time, her bloodline runs strong and her descendants live on to this day. If you know your history, then you might have heard that she’s the one who built this street and created the signposts.”

“That's amazing!” Emma said, her face now pressed to the window.

“It is. And if you ever want to grow up to be like her then you'll be needing a strong basis in Arithmancy, my dear. Can't go bending space and stone if you don't know that.” Dr. Doppler gently tapped her head with one of the books before returning it to its stack.

“I wonder if I’ll be learning more about her this year.” There were storybooks, and many far-flung tales, about her and the people she changed the world with. She’d played a major enough role that there couldn’t not be some mention of her. But the history he’d learnt had only covered the basics.

“You're bound to, sooner or later—hm? What's that?” One of the shop assistants muttered something to Dr. Doppler. “We're running short on the seasonal books? Already? Oh bother, where is that boy? I'd asked Jim to help with the new shipments. Nevermind, nevermind, you take your break, Audrey. I'll handle it from here.”

He shooed away the assistant and peered into the shop's interior. “Now where is that lad? He should've finished up by now, at least.”

Jack squinted through the crowd. Then he pointed. “Found him.”

It was indeed Mr. Armitage, looking slightly ruffled around the edges but otherwise no worse for wear. He eventually reached them and after checking in with Jack and Emma, he thanked Dr. Doppler. In short order, the three had their books gathered up, paid for, and by the flow of the crowd were herded out the doors.

“Well, I got my morning exercise in, so that's fun.” Mr. Armitage shook out his wrist and Jack pretended not be intensely curious. “What's the next thing on our list, children?”

“A wand. It says here we need to get Jack a wand.” Emma pointed to the supply list, like the dutiful List Owner she’d been entrusted to be.

“There’s only one place for that around here. Follow me.” Mr. Armitage retook Jack and Emma's hands and the trio walked back into the street.

They made it out of the square, in the direction of the robes shop and opposite the bank. The further along they went the thinner the foot traffic grew, if only a little. The street took a long, winding turn, until a couple shops down there appeared a high, mossy brick wall marking the very end.

It was to one of those shops that Mr. Armitage led them. Small and unobtrusive, it was easy to miss between the two buildings that neighboured it. Over the door hung a painted sign that read Edevanes: Wands of Quality.

A bell rang as Mr. Armitage opened the door. Inside, the shop was cool, clean, and blessedly empty. The floor and walls were made of a light, almost yellow, wood and what few furnishings there were carried a pleasantly green colour scheme, though most of the space was reserved for rows and rows of shelves.

A few minutes after the bell rang they were greeted by a warm, pleasant voice. “Who is it?”

Mr. Armitage set the carpet bag down. “It is Christopher Armitage.”

From out of the shelves emerged a slender witch dressed in flowing green robes. What struck Jack the most about her were the deep brown eyes that peered out at them from her heart-shaped face. They lit up the moment they caught sight of Mr. Armitage.

She walked up to them and gave him a brief hug. “Hullo, Chris. It's good to see you again.”

“I'm happy to see you as well, Tiana.” He returned her hug and stepped back. “I wanted you to meet two of my current charges.”

Tiana looked to where he directed and saw Jack and Emma still standing in the door. They were at once treated to a dazzling smile that made dimples in her cheeks.

“And what would your names be?” She asked. If she was at all disturbed by their open staring she didn't show it.

Jack decided to take the lead and stepped forward.

“My name is Jackson Overland, but normally I go by Jack.” As was proper manners, he stuck out his hand.

Tiana politely shook it. “My name is Tiana and I am honoured to meet you. Are you the one I will be giving a wand to today?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“Splendid.” Tiana nodded. Then she turned to Emma. “And who might you be?”

Emma, who at that moment was partially hidden behind Jack, had decided to be shy.

Jack could understand why. The shop was clean and well-kept, the robes the witch wore were pretty, and the witch herself even more so. Compared to Emma, who stood in her faded clothes and limp brown hair, and it wasn't all that hard to figure out the reason.

“…'m Emma.” She mumbled, her voice nearly retreating into her.

Jack gave her an unimpressed look. Emma blushed and stepped out.

Making a show of dusting her skirt off, she introduced herself properly. “My name is Emma Overland. It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am.”

“And it is wonderful meeting you as well, Emma.” Tiana took the hand that was offered to her in both of hers. Her fingers were unadorned except for a single ring, set with a deep green gemstone and surrounded by tiny diamonds that glittered in the light.

She smiled when she saw Emma staring at it and held it up for both of them to see. “This is my wedding ring. Isn't it pretty?”

“It's very pretty.” Emma nodded, mesmerised.

“Thank you. It was given to me by a prince.”

“A prince?”

“It's true.” Mr. Armitage said as Tiana stood. “I would like to introduce you both to Princess Tiana Edevane ot Maldonia, married to the crown prince of Maldonia.”

That did the trick. Shyness gone and forgotten, Emma’s face alighted with joy.

“Does that mean you live in a castle?” She asked, bouncing on her toes.

Tiana chuckled. “Not at all. I visit sometimes but I mostly live here.”

Emma opened her mouth to ask another question but paused. Her brows scrunched up in thought.

“If you get to be a princess…then why are you a wandmaker?”

“Because this store, as well as the gift of wandmaking, belong to my family.” Tiana said, sweeping a hand out to the store. “My family, Edevane, has been making wands for millennia. Ever since I was young, I have always wanted to learn the craft. This is my family's legacy, and even after I married I still wished to keep it alive.”

Tiana turned back at Emma. “If it's any consolation, I can tell you first-hand that it is possible to be a princess and also follow your dreams. Now then, come!” She clapped her hands together. “Enough of this dilly-dallying. We don’t know how long this might take so let us get on with it.”

Tiana waved Mr. Armitage and Emma over to the plush stools huddled near the door. She passed by her desk and pulled out a tape measure with silvery markings along its edges, and then with one slim hand she reached out and took Jack's chin.

For a moment Jack felt immobilized. The hand on his chin held him steady, as dark and deeply brown as the eyes that seemed to peer right into his soul. It lasted hardly a second but it felt much longer.

Tiana made an amused, huffing sound. Her hand withdrew. “You have a solid streak of mischief in you, child. I would call it an obvious Dogwood if it didn't feel so predictable. Arms out, please.” She took up her tape measure and began to measure him. “But then again, that mischief I saw was tempered with goodwill and responsibility.”

“You saw it?” Jack asked. Had she really been staring into his head?

“In a sense, yes. I have a talent for this kind of thing. Always have. There are also other things I saw in you, both within and without. Clever eyes, kind heart. Loyalty, certainly. Aspen might do. Or perhaps Reed…”

That last part she said to herself as she wandered off into the shelves, the tape measure continuing to measure without her. She soon returned with an armful of thin, long boxes.

“Here we are. Now before we begin, I shall go over the basics.” Tiana laid the boxes on the floor. From out of her robe sleeve she slid out her own wand.

“To keep your wand attached to you, what you want to do is take the base of your wand such that the wand is pointed away from you, like so,” she did this with hers, “tap it to your wrist—inner or outer, whichever works—then circle the base around your wrist, tap the spot again, and you're done.”

Tiana let go, but instead of her wand falling to the ground, it hung mid-air as if suspended by an invisible thread. “This is a weak spell that anyone regardless of age or ability can perform, and it can be broken by just giving the wand a good tug. This is also a standard issue spell that will ensure your wand doesn't go flying out of your hand. I have seen far too many wands go flying into shelves, people, and even myself and I do not wish to see that again if I can help it. Please also take care not to poke yourself in various body parts or in any of the furniture while you're testing out these wands. Did you get all of that? Lovely. Let's try these out.”

Tiana opened a box at the top of the stack. “Dogwood, unicorn hair core. Twelve inches. Springy and rather flexible.”

It was in Jack's hand for hardly a second before she snatched it away.

“Just as I thought. Predictable.” She tsked, returning the wand and pulling out another. “Walnut, unicorn hair core. Nine and a half inches. Try this on for size.”

This time Jack got to hold it for longer. He waved it around some but all that came out was a weak shower of sparks.

“…Better than nothing. But not good enough.” Tiana offered a different wand, this one bone white. “Aspen, dragon heartstring core. Ten inches. An agreeable wand, good for detailed spells.”

Jack held it and didn't feel anything. Nothing happened when he waved it.

They went through six more wands before Tiana stood up, muttering to herself.

“Perhaps…or it could be…but would it work?” She went back to the shelves. A few minutes later she returned with two boxes.

She opened both of them and pointed to one. “Chestnut, dragon heartstring core. Nine inches.” She pointed to the other. “Cedar, unicorn hair core. Eleven inches. Give them a try.”

Jack took the first one but it felt the same as the others. He gave it back and took the second.

That was when he felt it. A warm feeling travelled up his arm, bubbly and energizing. He drew the wand down and slashed it up in a bright arc of white and golden sparks.

Tiana beamed. “There we go. That's more like it. What do you say, Chris?”

From near the door, Mr. Armitage and Emma clapped. “I'd say we’ve found a winner.” Armitage said.

Jack smiled so hard his cheeks hurt. He felt amazing, exhilarated. He couldn't wait to start learning the spells his wand would cast.

But for the time being he let Tiana take it. When she held it, it was with gentle hands and far away eyes. “…It does suit you, now that I think about it.”

“What do you mean?” Jack asked.

“It's just…I know the unicorn from which the hair within this wand came from.” Tiana looked down at him. Her smile was just a touch amused. “He…had a personality in him, let's just say. It fits. A fine, clever wand, just like its user.”

The other wands were cleared away by shop assistants made out of odd, little wooden animatrons. Jack's new wand was packed into a box lined with velvet and paid for with seven galleons.

While they were finishing up the purchase, a few other customers clamoured into the store. Jack made absolute sure his new wand was kept safely away before he allowed Emma to drag him out the door.

“Finally! I'm hungry.” Emma whined. Now that she said it, Jack realized he was too.

By then it was just about midday and the street was well and truly packed. The weathervane from before had done its job and the sun rode high in the sky, uninterrupted and blazing. The summer air brought the distant sounds of music. It also brought the scent of food, thin enough that it was hard to place exactly what it was, only that it came mixed with the smell of dust, sweat, and heat off the cobblestones.

Mr. Armitage checked his wrist. “The watch says it's now quarter to twelve. Our shopping is just about done, and your mother should be expecting us. Shall we go find her?”

“But can we still eat here?” Emma asked, leaning dramatically into his side.

“Yes, yes, of course we can. There's a nice inn we can go to where they—…oh.” Mr. Armitage trailed off. One of his hands came over his eyes and he squinted into the distance. “…Oh my.”

Jack twisted his head around to try and see what he was looking at. Next moment his eyes went wide. “Is that—”

“IT IS!” Emma shrieked. Her near mad dash into the street was ended by Jack and Mr. Armitage each grabbing an arm.

Across from them was none other than The Lucky Cat Café.

In the magical side of England, The Lucky Cat Café was something of an urban legend. The sweets and treats sold in the café were rumoured to be the stuff of legends—delicious, intricate, and each and every one unique in all the ways that no one else could replicate.

But in spite of its popularity and high demand, the café had one peculiarity. It was a café that would pop up for a few days in a single location only to disappear into thin air and not be seen again for months on end. No one could ever predict when or where it would show up after that, not even those who considered themselves familiar with the café and its owner. The one thing that stayed constant over the years was the fact that it would inevitably show up on one of the five magical streets during festivals and holidays.

And wonder of wonders, it was that very same cafe that occupied that very street for that year's summer festival.

Mr. Armitage tried to keep up with the two as they dragged him there. “Slow down, slow down! The cafe isn't going anywhere.”

“Yet.” Jack said.

Emma windmilled her free arm. “We're getting cake!”

“A whole cake.”

“For mum!”

“And we'll all share.”

“Can we get strawberry? Let's get strawberry!”

“Let's see what's there first.” Mr. Armitage interrupted.

They finally reached the cafe entrance and together Jack and Emma pushed open the glass doors. It was a momentous occasion.

To everyone’s surprise, the cafe was nowhere near as packed as it should've been. Only half the quaint little tables were occupied, one of the customers being a man Jack vaguely recognised seeing in the bank earlier. Three people stood in line at the counter.

Now that they were inside, Emma left them and shot right to the nearest display case, nose pressed to the glass.

“So pretty! So pretty!” She gushed.

“Thank you! Which one would you like?”

Behind the counter stood a young-ish looking adult with pink spectacles and dark blonde hair done up in a bun. The name tag over her apron read “Ramona/Honey Lemon”.

Jack walked up to them while Emma shuffled her feet, undecided.

“…Which ones are good?” She asked.

Ramona—according to her name tag—smiled down at the two of them. “I'd say all of them. I helped make them.”

Jack felt more than saw Mr. Armitage lean over him to get a look at the offered sweets himself. “Are you the one who runs this café?”

“Nope! I'm just a friend of the family. Ms. Hamada is out at the moment so I'll be helping you with your orders today.”

“You talk strange. Are you not from England?” Jack asked her. Mr. Armitage made to chide him but Ramona simply laughed.

“It’s that obvious, isn't it? Yeah, no, I'm not from anywhere here, just visiting from America. I crossed over the pond for the summer and then I’ll be gone again. Now, what can I get you kids?”

They spent a good, long while looking over the display cases. Cakes, biscuits, sweet rolls, fudges and toffees, piles of candies that Jack couldn't recognise (according to a display card, one of them was called “dango” and they came on a stick), and a number of colours for each—there were so many things to choose from. Ramona pointed out a board behind her that gave that day's special, but on hearing “coffee walnut cake” both children made a face.

They decided on a fluffy looking mixed berries and cream cake and about 2.5kg worth of bite-sized caramel squares. For the sake of Emma, who made sure to remind them that she was only six years old and had spent the entire morning being very good and very patient, Mr. Armitage asked if the children could have a “smoothie” at one of the tables.

“Whatever that is.” Mr. Armitage said, while his two charges sniggered.

“It's made with milk and fruits. It's very good.” With a wave of her wand, Ramona made some chopped fruit fly into a metal tumbler. She sealed it and tapped her wand to the outside. “Isn't that right, Haru?”

This she directed to the teenage girl who sat at the register. Her name tag read “Haruna/Mint” and with the line of waiting customers being long gone she perched on the stool behind the desk counting up the earnings, her pen idly wandering over the paper by itself.

“Hm? What?” She looked up. “…Ah, yes, it's good.” Then she went back to counting.

Ramona chuckled and shook her head, pulling out a tall glass. “By any chance, have you come here for school shopping?”

“We did. How did you know?” Jack asked.

“Well it's not your sister who needs it and you look about old enough. You hear that, Haru? Your new junior's shopping here.”

Suddenly, the teenager took on a new light. She was a Hogwarts student? On the same street as him, on the same day he’s here. What were the odds?

A mix of emotions bubbled up. Surprise? Delight? Confusion? Curiosity? Jack didn’t know. What he did know was that his first reaction was to open his big mouth pelt her with questions.

“You go to Hogwarts? How long have you been going? What year are you in? What's it like there? Will I see you there? Wait—how did you get in, because I—”

Jack finally noticed the girl staring at him like he’d grown another head. He realized too late that 1) he hadn’t even introduced himself, 2) he was being rude, and 3) he probably sounded like an idiot.

“I—I mean, you don’t have to answer any of that, of course you don’t, I mean I probably didn’t make any sense—not that I’m saying you—um, I, I think I should’ve told you my name first, or at least…I…I’m sorry…”

Haruna made no comment. She just continued to stare, until Jack petered off and looked away, warm in the face.

The distinct sound of a pen clacking against a hard surface made him look up again. Haruna leaned forward at the register, until her face was just a little higher than his. A few whisps of hair swayed at the motion, loose from her ponytail.

“…If you end up in Gryffindor, then maybe you can ask me again.” She held up a brown paper bag of caramel squares between them and raised a single, pointed eyebrow. “Good luck.”

Jack didn't know what to make it that. So he quietly took the offered bag and shuffled back to the others.

They sat at a table near the wall and he and Emma made quick work of the smoothie. (“It's apple, want to try?” “No thank you, children, I'm fine.”) By popular vote it was decided that the cake had a better chance of staying whole inside the carpet bag than out and that Mr. Armitage would personally hold the caramel squares to avoid the other two possibly snacking on them.

They walked outside, hand-in-hand, slowly making their way up the road and past the main square. After that it was a matter of searching for the right side-street to take them back to where they’d started.

In spite of the busy morning, the feeling of ‘lightness’ still had its hold on Jack. It filled his head with thoughts of how relieved he was that the shopping was finally done, how he was looking forward to the rest of the day spent having fun with his family.

Mr. Armitage peer down at him. “You look happy.”

“I am happy.” Jack said. And, surprisingly, it was true.

“I’m glad, then. That’s good.” He squeezed his hand, a reassurance. “Does that mean you might try and get used to all this?”

Jack looked around. He looked at the colourful shop fronts, the decorations that hung everywhere, the bright flowers that perched over the doors and pinned to the occasional hat of a passer-by. From a nearby stall rose the smell of fried food, salty and sweet and fragrant.

“…Maybe.” He shrugged, and left it at that.

.°○♤○°.

A/N:

- Here's a picture I drew of Jack and Emma's outfits.

- What's this made-up festival you ask? What is this made-up street? Why is any of this significant? Wait and see, wait and see…

- In Hindi, Deeya means lamp. I thought it a good fit.（*＾-＾*）

- I think my favourite parts of this chapter were the wand selection and that bit of lore about The Lucky Cat Cafe. Which ones were yours?

#jack frost #rise of the guardians #rotg #rise of the brave tangled dragons #hogwarts au #fanfiction #fanfic #fluff #my writing #kid fic #b1: tfy #rotbtd hogwarts au

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dcusrclicta · 5 years

Text

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖂𝖍𝖔𝖑𝖊 𝕲𝖆𝖓𝖌 𝕴𝖘 𝕳𝖊𝖗𝖊! || 𝕸𝖚𝖘𝖊 𝕷𝖎𝖘𝖙

Muses Statuses

Primary muses will get frequent starter calls & attention almost equal to the actual main muses. If you send a meme & don’t specify who it’s for & Brittnay or Severus don’t want it it will be answered by a muse of this status. They will also answer memes specifically for them.

Secondary muses’ll get starter calls every now & then. They will answer memes sent specifically for them.

Request Only muses are only played if another player wants them. They will very very rarely get starter calls. They will answer memes sent specifically for them.

Every single muse on this blog painstakingly organised by fandom. All canon & fanon divergent because I wanted to save them. Information in parenthesis means they have a Harry Potter AU verse.

Blog Headers (Main Muses)

Name: Severus Tobias Snape Year: Cute. House: Slytherin Blood Status: Befouler Antichrist Eye colour: Cobalt Age: Old enough to say no. Birthdate: 1/9 Height: 6′7 Patronus: Horned Viper

Description: I still hate my job. I still hate people. I’m just immortal now. Please leave my office & don’t touch anything on your way out.

Status: Main

Fandom: Harry Potter

Name: Brittnay Mathews Year: College Junior (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: Human (Pureblood) Eye colour: Blue Age: 21 Birthdate: 6/15 Height: 5′5 (Patronus: Pitbull)

Description: Cross me & I’ll hurt you, bitch. Otherwise I’m Brittnay Matthews your new best friend. People think I’m full of myself but in reality they’re just angry I’m better than them. I used to go to Overland Park high school. I’m glad I don’t anymore.

Status: Main

Fandom: Youtube {x}

Harry Potter

Name: Lilith “Lily” Sophie Evans Year: Graduated/Verse Dependant House: Slytherin Blood Status: Demon/Witch Eye colour: Green/Blue/ Sometimes they go crimson. Age: Doesn’t matter. I won’t die. Birthdate: 1/30 Height: 5’3 Patronus: Bold of you to assume I have one Description: My sister was right. I’m a freak. Even my parents saw something… Wrong in me when I was younger. They tried to pretend I was fine. ”Just a few odd occurrences here & there.” Until an older boy who couldn’t keep his hands to himself suddenly found that a hand could very easily be turned inside out. In the long run it was a good result. They found quite a bit of child pornography in his little hovel of a bedroom. My parents knew I did it but couldn’t quite figure out how until the Hogwarts letter came. They were both horrified & relieved. But to make a long story short. Once I met Severus Snape & we put our interest in the Dark Arts together… I got WORSE. & it felt good. I became addicted to the draw of dark magic, occult magic in particular & now Tom Riddle wants me to tell him what I said to Lucifer to get this new body. I might tell him if he begs in the right tone.

Status: Primary

Name: Thomas Marvolo Riddle Year: Graduated House: Slytherin Blood Status: Demon Fledging Eye colour: Blue Age: Rude. Birthdate: 12/31 Height: 6′4 Patronus: Hmmm, my little secret. Description: Join my cult. Satanism is actually very beneficial if you’re respectful. No. You don’t have to slit your wrist to join… Please. Stop slitting your wrists to join.

Status: Primary

Name: Scorpio Felix Sepelio Tobias Exodus Snape Blood Status: Vampire Eye colour: One is jade one is cobalt and they swap sides frequently Age: 91 Died at 36 and it’s been a while. You do the math, mate. Birthdate: 11/10 Height: 5’3

Description: Surprise bitches. I bet you all thought I was dead…In a matter of speaking that’s still accurate. The greasy little snot did indeed best me when I was human. I respect that victory &even though I miss them.. My children don’t need me. I wasn’t good to them when they did. I doubt they’re aware I came back and I’ll keep it that way for all our sakes. There’s no point in asking me how exactly I returned to life. I don’t know and I don’t particularly care. Maybe Hell just can’t handle me yet.

Status: Primary

Name: Eileen Tabitha Prince Snape Year: Graduated House: Slytherin Blood Status: Pureblood Poltergeist Eye colour: Black Age: Well. I died at 35 so let’s go with that Birthdate: 12/18 Height: 6’11 (Used to be 6'6 but I had this weird growth spurt two days before I died.) Patronus: Didn’t have one apparently

Description: … I really don’t have anything to say to you. I died, I decided I wanted to come back. Er. Awkwardly enough the old castle I was haunting is now inhabited by my son and his family. They’re all really bloody loud. No wonder the rest of the ghosts make so much noise back. And no. I have not introduced myself to any of them. I mean. Sometimes I talk to ‘em but I’ve never gotten an answer. Plus unlike most of the floating assholes here I’d much rather keep to myself, thank you.

Status: Secondary

A Song Of Ice & Fire

Name: Rhaegar Daeron Targaryen (Year: Graduated/Verse Dependant) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: ??? Eye colour: Violet Age: 34 Nameday: All I remember was being born in the high summer Height: 7’1 (Patronus: Hungarian Horntail)

Description: I’m believed to be dead. Walking about when one is believed to be dead is actually quite boring no matter how much it may benefit the Realm. I do admit I made. Many mistakes however in my defence not all prophecies are interpreted in a straight forward manner. I did better than any of you would have in the situation so save your criticism for until you watch a man identical to you get his chest caved in by a war hammer.

Status: Primary

Name: Prince Joffrey Baelor Targareyen (Year: Fourth) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: Human (Pureblood) Eye colour: Green Age: 13 Nameday: Ask Mother. Height: 6′1 (Patronus: None) Description: I am hungry. You all bore me. I am going home. Please stop asking me why my Father faked his death. I am never going to tell you. Ask me again & I’ll tell my grandfather you were planning another rebellion. Then I’ll roast my chicken over the results. If you say something insulting about my mother in front of me… Even my grandfather won’t be able tostomach looking at what remains of you.

Status: Primary

Name: Queen Rhealla Targareyen (Year: Graduated) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: Human(?) (Pureblood) Eye colour: Violet Age: 49 (Yes, I know I don’t look it) Nameday: Sometime in the High Summer Height: 5′4 (Patronus: Chameleon) Description: My obedience is owed to my King. My loyalty will always be to my children no matter what destruction it will bring. I will never fail my children again.

Status: Primary

Name: King Aerys Targaryen Second of His Name King of the Andals & the First Men Lord of the Seven Kingdoms & Protector of the Realm (Year: Graduated) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: Human Mine is the blood of Old Valyria (Pureblood) Eye colour: Violet Age: Hm. Nameday: High summer. Height: 6′8 (Patronus: Gila Monster) Description: Burn them all.

Status: Request Only

Name: Viserys Targareyen (Year: Seventh) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: Human (Pureblood) Eye colour: Violet Age: 17 Nameday: It escapes me. Height: 6′3 (Patronus: Crocodile Monitor) Description: I MUST remember that I am the blood of dragons. I must be strong. I must not forget myself. I must remember who I truly am inside. I must drink from the cup handed to me.I MUST.

Status: Secondary

Name: Daenerys Visenya Targaryen (Year: Fifth) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: ??? (Pureblood) Eye colour: Violet Age: 15 Nameday: During a violent storm Height: 4′9 (Patronus: Blue-tongued Skink) Description: My family’s way is fire & blood… But my heart sings a softer song… & I don’t know which way is right.

Status: Secondary

Name: Danny Flint Blood Status: Shade Eye colour: Grey Age: Old Nameday: ? Height: 5′4 Description: Being dead was less droll. {x}

Status: Request Only

Name: Robyn Black Robin Blood Status: Poltergeist Eye colour: Hazel Age: Hm Nameday: Some far off winter Height: 6′5 Description: “The Gods above all knew his crimes The lord read off his lists The Gods above all knew his crimes The men’s hands balled to fists His legs they kicked, they jerked, then slowed The crowd not once did cheer His legs they slowed, then finally stopped The crowd not once did jeer” {x}

Status: Secondary

Name: Ser Jaime Lannister (Year: Graduated) (House: Hufflepuff) Blood Status: Shade (Pureblood) Eye colour: Green Age: I’m dead. Sorry. Nameday: Does it matter? Height: 5′6 (Patronus: Munchkin Cat) Description: I stayed loyal to the Targaryens & they won. But I died when Robert Baratheon caved in Rhaegar’s chest… At least I got to watch him die for it.

Status: Primary

Name: Lancel Lannister (Year: Graduated) (House: Hufflepuff) Blood Status: Human (Pureblood) Eye colour: Green Age: 17 Nameday: Eh Height: 6′1 (Patronus: Devon Rex Kitten)

Description: … I wish I was one of the smallfolk to be honest. Or the youngest.

Status: Primary

Name: Joanna Lannister (Year: Graduated) (House: Gryffindor) Blood Status: Human (Pureblood) Eye colour: Green Age: 47 Nameday: I remember it was cloudy? Height: 5′6 (Patronus: Centaur) Description: Rhaella says I’m too kind. So be it. I’ve seen enough harm to others, sometimes at the hands of those I love the very most & I will NOT add to that bloodshed.

Status: Secondary

Medici The Magnificent

Name: Jacopo de’Pazzi (Year: Graduated) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: Tatzelwurm (Cursed Werewolf/Pureblood) Eye colour: Green Age: 596 54 Birthdate: 4/30 None of your business Height: 5′10 (Patronus: Canis)

Description: ... Perish all of you.

Status: Primary

Name: Francesco de’Pazzi (Year: Graduated) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: Demon (Pureblood) Eye colour: Hazel Age: 575 Birthdate: 1/28 Height: 6′1 (Patronus: Maned Wolf)

Description: From now on. I ask the questions & find my own answers to them.

Status: Request Only

Name: Giuliano de’ Medici (Year: Graduated) (House: Gryffindor) Blood Status: Spectral Fae (Pureblood) Eye colour: Blue Age: 566 Birthdate: 3/25 Height: 5′10 (Patronus: Yorkshire Terrier) Description: I am the brother who lacks purpose. I’ll gladly drink to that.

Status: Request Only

Die Hard

Name: Karl Vreski (Year: Graduated) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: Human (Pureblood) Eye colour: Blue Age: 19 (Typically) Birthdate: 10/25 Height: 6′1 (Patronus: Jackal)

Description: I’m Karl. Lacrosse. Tacos. Boxing. American football. Whatever activity that involves either Hans Gruber or hitting something? I like it. Tony’s alright. Good brother at least. Not at all annoying like the normal younger sibling M.O. Far nicer than me. I’ll likely end up being a lawyer same as my father. Boring but Hans and I are already working at the damn firm so it’s an easy job. I’m sure Hans’ll come up with a more fun idea. He always does.

Status: Primary

Name: Tony Vreski (House: Hufflepuff) (Year: Seventh) Blood Status: Poltergeist (Pureblood) Eye colour: Blue Age: 17 (Typically) Birthdate: 9/3 Height: 5′10 (Patronus: Rooster)

Description: I’m Tony… I uh. I play some football. Real football not American. I’m Karl’s younger brother and… To be honest Hans scares me a little bit even if we’re all like brothers… Uh more often than not I just go along with their crazy plans because. Well because my brother says it’ll be fun. And. It usually is. Even if some of it’s a little illegal.

Status: Request Only

Stephen King

Name: Beverly Marsh Blood Status: Human Eye colour: Green Age: 14 Birthdate: 8/26 Height: 5′3

Description: I’m Bev. Looked into that stupid clown’s deadlights & lived. I’ll be a loser to the end & I’m honestly real proud of that. Losers have no where to go but up, after all.

Status: Primary

Name: Richmond Richie Wentworth Tozier Blood Status: Human Eye colour: Caribbean Green Age: 14 Birthdate: 8/10 Height: 5′10 Description: I’m only afraid of werewolves & girls with eyes that are hard to not get lost in.

Status: Secondary

Twilight

Name: Jacob Black (Year: Seventh) (House: Gryffindor) Blood Status: Shapeshifter (Half Veela/Werewolf) Eye colour: Brown Age: 18 Birthdate: 7/30 Height: 6′5 (Patronus: Australian Cattle Dog ) Description: Hi, I’m Jacob & I’m not having any fun anymore.

Status: Primary

Name: Jasper Hale (Year: Graduated) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: Dark Fae (Vampire/Pureblood) Eye colour: Crimson (Blue) Age: Like 70ish? Birthdate: ?? Height: 6′1 (Patronus: Maine Coon) Description: I’m so glad I moved out of that stupid house.

Status: Secondary

Name: Rosalie Hale (Year: Graduated) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: Dark Fae (Vampire/Veela) Eye colour: Crimson (Blue) Age: ? Birthdate: ? Height: 5′9 (Patronus: Cougar) Description: What those two said. Also yes. I stole the kid. Renessme would’ve been a horrible name.

Status: Secondary

Name: Claire Hale (Year: Fourth) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: Dark Fae (Half Vampire/Halfblood) Eye colour: Brown Age: 15 Birthdate: ? Height: 5′5 (Patronus: Cymric) Description: I’m glad my mom stole me. My real parents sound shitty & Renessme is a fucking dumb ass name. Jacob & I? Not dating, what the fuck he’s like my brother. &Ilikegirls.

Status: Primary

Disney

Name: Ursula Trident Blood Status: Sea Witch Eye colour: Green Age: It escapes me Height: Depends on whether I have the tentacles or not. Description: I’m only here to help these poor, unfortunate souls out here all alone in the world.

Status: Request Only

Name: Yzma Chimbo Blood Status: Witch Eye colour: Hazel Age: If my plans go well it won’t be relevant Birthdate: No. Height: 5′9 Description: I will burn brighter than the sun. & take it entirely for myself.

Status: Request Only

Name: Gaston LeGume Blood Status: Human Eye colour: Blue Age: 21 Birthdate: … Height: 6′5 Description: I just wish to stop fighting this war. I want to go home.

Status: Secondary

Name: Sidney Phillips Blood Status: Human Eye colour: Grey Age: 18 Birthdate: 8/15 Height: 6′1 Description: Yea, every else thinks I’m crazy too. Leave me alone.

Status: Secondary

Name: Gothel Altergott Blood Status: Unseelie/Human Eye colour: Green Age: 26 Birthdate: eh Height: 5′6 Description: I fear the ravages of time far more than I should.

Status: Secondary

Name: Lina Grimhilde Blood Status: Witch Eye colour: Blue Age: 48 Birthdate: Eat this apple & I’ll tell you Height: 6′1

Description: Don’t waste your time. I’m just as vain & unattainable as I appear.

Status: Request Only

Name: Henry Harry Jameson Hook (Year: Slytherin) (House: Seventh) Blood Status: Half-demon/Sorcerer Eye colour: Blue Age: 17 Birthdate: 10/23 Height: 6′2 (Patronus: Savannah cat) Description: All it takes is one wrong look & I’ll EVISCERATE ya… Taken by Uma daughter of Ursula. Ya want me? Ya have ta ask her permission & pray she likes ya & is in a SHARIN’ mood. Jamie Hook is me mum an’ she taugh’ me all I know about bein’ scary. Me da??? ‘Eard e’s a dumbass. Dunno who it is but me mum never lies.

Status: Primary

Name: Carlos De Vil (Year: Sixth) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: Half-demon/ Sorcerer Eye colour: Blue Age: 16 Birthdate: 3/20 Height: 5′7 (Patronus: Red Fox) Description: Hi, I’m Carlos & life is pain, only valid things in this world are only science & Evie Grimhilde, bye. Gemini De Vil is my midget brother who I love. Devil De Vil is my crazy ass dad. My mom is dead, thanks for asking.

Status: Primary

Youtube

Name: “Andrew” Antisepticeye McLoughlin Blood Status: Computer Virus Entity/Demon Eye colour: Lime Green Age: 29 (Existing for 3) Birthdate: 10/10 Height: N/A Description: It’s better if ya dun run. It’ll just drag et out. Plus sometimes ya lot chip my knife on one of yer stupid bones. & I dun really li’e runnin much ta be honest.

Status: Primary

Name: Chase Brody Blood Status: Human Eye colour: Blue Age: 29 Birthdate: 4/11 Height: 5′10 Description: Hey bros! I’m Chase! Uh, some of ya already know tha! Anti brought me here! He said it’d be fun an’ I trus’ ‘im! I swear ‘e’s actually always been kinda nice ta me! Besides the ‘ole threatenin’ the kids thin’ but we’re frien’s now! He says he’ll teach me how ta shoot a real gun someday!

Status: Request Only

Family Guy

Name: Brian Griffin Blood Status: Dog(?) Eye colour: Green Age: ??? Birthdate: ??? Height: 6′4 Description: I used to be an alcoholic dog. Now I’m an alcoholic. Not much to say after something like that happens. I’m really confused to be frank. Maybe now I can actually get someone to take me seriously & publish my book.

Status: Request Only

Adventure Time

Name: Griffin “Finn” Merterns Blood Status: Human(?) Eye colour: Blue Age: 19 Birthdate: 3/14 Height: 6′3 Description: Hey bros! I’m Finn, a radical kid that makes it his business to help people out and kick monster tail! Mostly when I’m not doin’ that I’m chillin’ it up with my bro Jake in the tree house so as long as you’re not some wacko monster that wants to eat up my face you can swing by and we can fire up BMO or something.

Status: Secondary

Name: Marceline Abadeer Blood Status: Vampire Demon Eye colour: Green Age: 1003, Approximately Birthdate: Unknown Height: 5′9 (Various) Description: Marceline the Vampire Queen, dude. Sure you’ve heard of me before so I wouldn’t be surprised to see you shaking in your boots right about now. Been traveling and terrorising the Land of Ooo for a while now though it’s nothing too irreversible. Mostly I’m just "a radical dame that likes to play games" as a very special someone once said about me.

Status: Secondary

Invader Zim

Name: Zim Wagner (Year: Graduated) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: Irken (Muggleborn) Eye colour: Crimson (Grey) Age: 23 Earth Years, now Birthday: 11/6 Height: 5′11 (Patronus: None)

Description: I’ve found a much better cloaking device but I’m STILL banished… I suppose I’ve defected at this point but my plans aren’t doing much better, even with Gaz’s… “Assistance.”

Status: Primary

Name: Gazlene “Gaz” Membrane (Year: Graduated) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: Unknown (Pureblood) Eye colour: Blue, Green, Amber, Violent depends on the lighting & my mood Age: 22 Birthday: 7/13 Height: 5′4 (Patronus: None) Description: One day Zim will actually be worthy of the name Invader. Until then I guess I can enjoy watching the flames from his inventions exploding smolder.

Status: Secondary

Ten: Murder Island

Name: Nathan Clarke (Year: I died in seventh) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: (Verse dependent) Poltergeist (Half-blood) Eye colour: Blue Age: 17 Birthdate: 8/13 Height: 6′2 (Patronus: Some squiggly thing I dunno)

Description: Hi I’m Nathan & I wanna die… Haha gottem!

Status: Secondary

Mythology

Name: Loki Freyjason (Year: Graduated) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: God of Mischief & Chaos Eye colour: Green Age: Don’t be rude. Birthdate: Mind your business Height: 6′0 (Patronus: Corn snake) Description: I am Loki of Asgard. & I’m so fucking tired of all the gards. Note: Loki has mixed slight MCU influences where I feel like along with whatever asinine original headcanons I come up with.

Status: Primary

The Boy

Name: Brahms Hillshire (Year: Sixth) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: Half-demon Eye colour: Green Age: 16 Birthdate: Don’t care Height: 5′11 (Patronus: None) Description: I’m a child serial killer. I want to play around in your innards. & blood. I want to play around in your blood too.

Status: Primary

Five Night’s At Freddy’s

Name: William Afton (Year: Graduated) (House: Slytherin) Blood Status: Unknown (Pureblood) Eye colour: Green Age: 41 Birthday: 7/10 Height: 6′3 (Patronus: None) Description: I will put him back together. No matter the cost. No matter to how deep the depths I’ll have to sink to turn out to be.

Status: Secondary

Suicide Notes

Name: Sadie O’Connell Blood Status: ??? Eye colour: Blue Age: 19 Birthdate: I don’t actually remember Height: 5′6 Description: I tried to kill myself over a boy who didn’t love me back. Someone brought me back & now here I am, I guess.

Status: Primary

#x: Well Then Write! (Character Bio)#x: That's A Shiton of Paperwork (Masterpost)#c: All

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bluejevergade · 5 years

Text

Jour 18 : Witch / Magic

Dans un monde où les gens pouvait naître avec de grandes capacitées et de grand pouvoir, certains choisissait d'user de leur capacité pour faire le mal, comme la Mort Rouge, Drago Point Sanglant ou Pitchinier Black. D'autre comme Furie Nocturne, Dragon Vipère ou le Cossak Joyeux avait choisi de combattre le mal et protéger les innocents. Et d'autre, comme Poulet Enragé et sa sœur la Hideuse Enragée ou Cryo Freeze s'en servait pour s'amuser. Et Hiccup Haddock, dans son costume de Fury Nocturne, passait encore une fois, sa soirée à chasser Cryo Freeze à travers toute la ville parce qu'il avait gelé toutes les canalisations d'eau de la ville.

Problème vite réglé, mais la ville devait se passer d'eau pour la journée. Et il le poursuivait dans le vain espoir de l'attraper. Il le chassait de toit en toit et finalement lui lança un tir plasma qui le cloua au sol. Il se posa à côté de lui.

-Ça suffit, Cryo Freeze. Tu m'as m'accompagner au poste.

Mais Freeze ne bougeait pas. Il restait allongé sur le toit de l'immeuble.

''Merde, je l'ai pas tué, quand même ?''

Hiccup s'approcha de lui et le retourna. Freeze avait les yeux ouverts mais ne bougeait pas. Comme s'il s’était endormi les yeux ouvert.

-Hey, hey, faut se réveiller… Bon sang, ne me dit pas que j'ai encore envoyé quelqu'un dans le coma…

Soudain, Freeze remua et colla ses lèvre sur les siennes. Hiccup mis quelque seconde à réagir et quand il voulut se dégager, Freeze l'entoura de ses bras. Il caressa tendrement la commissure de ses lèvres et le héros, oubliant complètement qui ils étaient respectivement, se laissa faire. Depuis combien de temps n'avait-il pas goutté la compagnie de quelqu'un ? Son job de super héros lui prenait toutes ses soirées et ses journées, ils les passaient à travailler dans la boutique de fleurs de sa mère. Depuis combien de temps n'avait-il pas profité de la présence de quelqu'un de la satisfaction de sentir un corps chaud contre le sien quand il s'endormait ? Ça lui faisait tellement…

Froid.

Freeze s'écarta et Fury Nocturne réalisa qu'il avait les mains prises dans la glace.

-Sale fils de…

-Tatata, fit Freeze en mettant son doigt devant sa bouche. Ne gâche pas ce moment en étant grossier.

-Tu as triché !

-C'est le but, trésor. Faut bien utiliser les atouts qu'on a. Oh, le prend pas mal, mon mignon, t'es le premier à t'être autant approcher de moi. Mais malheureusement… Je ne peux pas te laisser t'approcher davantage. Alors voilà, je pourrais te dire que j'ai juste usé de l'effet de surprise pour prendre l'avantage, et c'est vrai, ça marche à tous les coups. Mais je dois avouer que je préfère quand c'est toi qui me pourchasses, parce que t'es carrément le plus sexy. Beaucoup plus que ce Russe psychopathe. Enfin quoi qu'il en soit, à la prochaine, mon mignon.

Il lui vola un autre baiser et s’enfuit en courant du toit.

Hiccup se rappela qu'il pouvait jeter des tirs plasma avec ses mains et se défit rapidement de ses liens glacés. Quand il redescendit il inventa une excuse autre que la simple réalité pour expliquer pourquoi Cryo Freeze s'était échappé aux policier. Puis quand il eut fini de raconter, il s'envola et atterrit dans une ruelle sombre où il enleva son costume et le fourra dans son sac avant de rentrer chez lui. Il passa la porte de son appartement à 23h37 et soupira en allant se coucher. Mais malgré la fatigue, impossible de s'endormir. Cryo Freeze avait sans le vouloir toucher un point sensible. À quand remontait sa dernière relation ? Avec Astrid au lycée. Puis il était devenu Fury Nocturne, elle Dragon Vipère et ça les avait éloigné. Et en huit ans, il n'avait pas eut de relation. Même pas de coup d'un soir, même pas de flirt avec une jolie caissière ou un joli barman. Rien.

''Faudrait peut-être que je me case, il serait temps''

Immédiatement, la vue de Jackson Overland, le sexy binoclard qui venait prendre des fleurs pour sa mère trois fois par semaine s'afficha dans son esprit. Jackson était gentil, mignon, discret, et s'il n'avait pas eut un emploi du temps aussi chargé, peut-être qu'Hiccup l'aurait invité à dîner un soir. Mais impossible de planifier sa vie quand un appel des force de l'ordre pouvait arriver n'importe quand. Dieux merci, il travaillait pour sa mère et sa mère savait quel activité il pratiquait. Il avait hérité du don de son père qui à sa grande époque, se faisait appeler Thornado. Puis il avait voulu fonder une famille et quand ils y avaient eu d'autres super-héros que lui, il s'était retiré. Pour se faire tuer six ans plus tard quand Hiccup essayait d'apprendre à maîtriser ses pouvoirs et que…

-Non... Non, pense pas à ça… Murmura-t-il en fermant les yeux et en plaquant ses mains dessus.

Mais trop tard. Il revoyait cet scène avec une perfection effroyable seize ans plus tard. Il se recroquevilla et comme souvent quand il y pensait, il s'endormit en pleurant.

Le lendemain matin fut plus que pénible pour Hiccup qui n'avait dormi que quatre heures. Sa mère lui fit remarquer qu'il avait une sale tête et les regards inquiets que lui jetaient les clients. Et ce fut ce jour là, comme par hasard, que Jackson Overland vint prendre les fleurs pour sa mère.

-Vous… Avez eu une courte nuit ?

-On va dire ça, dit Hiccup en se forçant à sourire.

-C'est… C'est votre petite amie qui a du être contente.

-Nan, juste la télé.

-Oh.

Jackson remonta ses lunettes et cacha mal la rougeur de ses joues.

-Et j'ai pas de petite amie.

-Ah.

Jackson essaya de tousser pour se redonner contenance. Hiccup lui tendit ses fleurs et s'accouda au comptoir. Il n'y avait aucun autre client et sa mère était dans l'arrière boutique. Il pouvait bien s'accorder une pause…

-Et vous ? Demanda Hiccup.

-J'ai… J'ai personne. J'ai trop de boulot… Enfin vous savez ce que c'est…

-Malheureusement oui.

Jack lui fit un signe de la main pour lui dire au revoir et s'en alla. Finalement, au moment de passer la porte, il fit demi tour et demanda :

-Ça vous dirait de prendre un verre ? Disons... Vendredi soir ?

-Euh écoutez, j'en sais rien.

-Ah, d'accord… Je veux dire, c''est pas grave, enfin... J'espère que j'ai pas tout gâché…

-Non, non bien sûr… C'est juste… C'est pas que vous me plaisez pas. C'est le cas, mais… Je suis bénévole dans un refuge pour animaux, et quand ils reçoivent des appels pour des chiens errants ou des animaux en fuite le soir, ils ne sont que deux et la procédure veut qu'ils partent ensemble pour le capturer, alors je les remplace…

-Oh. D'accord. Ok. Donc. Jamais le soir, en faite.

-Ouais, le soir généralement ça tombe mal.

-Écoutez, je vais vous donner mon numéro. Comme ça, quand vous êtes libre, vous m’appelez, okay ?

-D'accord, fit Hiccup en souriant. Pas de soucis.

Jackson lui fit un petit sourire timide avant de partir. Hiccup le regarda faire en souriant et soupira de contentement en regardant le numéro.

Il pouvait bien se permettre un peu de détente, non ?

Et le sort en décida autrement. Deux soir après, quand arriva 22h et qu'il pensait qu'on ne l’appellerait plus pour la nuit, il essaya d'appeler Jackson mais tomba sur le répondeur. ''Bonjour, la personne que vous essayez de joindre n'est pas disponible. Merci de laisser un message après le bip.''

-Bonsoir, Jackson, c'est Hiccup, du magasin de fleurs. Écoutez, voilà, j'ai ma soirée de libre, visiblement, et je voulais savoir si vous voudriez prendre un verre avec moi. Enfin si vous pouvez. Euh… Bonne soirée.

Il soupira en raccrochant et regarda sa série sur sa toute petite télé. Et cinq minute plus tard, elle fut interrompu par un flash infos. Cryo Freeze avait décidé de faire geler en plein mois de juillet.

Hiccup soupira, sa soirée définitivement en l'air et alla chercher son costume de Fury Nocturne avant de s'envoler par la fenêtre.

La couse poursuite dura moins longtemps, cette fois et il finit par le piéger dans un entrepôt désaffecté à la sortie de la ville.

-Rend toi, Freeze, soupira Hiccup, désabusé.

-Eh bien, tu pourrais mettre un peu plus d’enthousiasme.

-Désolé mais j'aurais pu avoir un rencart, ce soir et… Ne change pas de sujet !

-Tiens, en parlant de rencart…

Freeze jeta une giclée de glace sur l'une de ses ailes et Hiccup cria de douleur. Mais Freeze, pas le moins du monde accablé de regret, sortit son téléphone.

-Voyons s'il m'a appelé, ce soir.

-Hein ?

Freeze lui gela une de ses jambes contre le mur.

-Le mec trop mignon sur qui j'ai craqué. Ah, il m'a appelé ?

Il écouta le message, et Hiccup, grâce à son ouïe bien développé, n'eut pas de mal à reconnaître sa propre voix.

-C’est pas possible…

-De quoi ?

-Jackson ?

Malgré le masque, Hiccup vit qu'il pâlit.

-Comment tu m'as appelé ?

-Jackson c'est toi ? Mais tu es Cryo… Mais c'est pas vrai?!

Freeze s'approcha de lui et lui retira son masque ;

-Hiccup ?

-Mais tu es… Tu es complètement différent !

-Et toi alors ? Tu es tellement mignon et sexy avec ton tablier… Pourquoi faut-il que tu sois…

Hiccup fit fondre la glace de son ail avec un tire plasma en essayant de ne pas se l’abîmer. Et d'un coup de pied, il en leva celle de la jambe. Jackson s'écarta de lui et leva les mains en position de défense.

-Nan, attend recule… Et tu m'a mentis ! Tu ne bosses pas dans un refuge pour animaux !

-Et tu croyais que j'allais te dire que je suis un super héros ? Et toi alors, la comptabilité ?

-Tu croyais peut-être que j'allais t'avouer être un clochard !

Ils se contemplèrent en arrêtant de hurler. Puis soudain, comme frappé par la foudre, ils se jetèrent l'un sur l'autre et s'embrassèrent à pleine bouche. Ils essayèrent de s'arracher mutuellement leur combinaison et quand les sirène de police se firent entendre, ils s'écartèrent.

-Putain, qu'est-ce qu'on est en train de faire ?

-Une grosse connerie, répondit Jackson.

Ils ramassèrent mutuellement leur morceaux d'armure et leur masque et se regardèrent. Ils entendirent les policiers essayer de forcer l'entrée et Jackson demanda :

-On fait quoi ?

Hiccup ne savait pas si c'était à cause du retrait du masques mais il lui sembla que la personne qu’il avait en face de lui n'était plus Cryo Freeze, simplement Jackson Overland, qui venait chercher des fleurs pour sa mère trois fois par semaine.

Avant même de s'en empêcher, il l'attrapa par le bras et le serra contre lui.

-Accroche toi à moi.

Jackson ne se fit pas prier et s’agrippa à lui comme à une bouée de sauvetage. Hiccup décolla et une fois loin, il vit que les forces de l'ordre réussirent à rentrer dans l’entrepôt.

D'habitude, quand il rentrait chez lui, il se posait plus loin et se changeait en rentrant par le bus. Mais ce soir là, il rentra directement par la fenêtre et posa Jackson en plein milieu de son petit salon.

Ils n'échangèrent pas un mot et continua ce qu'ils avaient commencé dans l’entrepôt. Et ce soir là, Hiccup comprit à quel point il avait cruellement manqué d'un corps à ses côtés, à enlacer dans le noir. À aimer dans la nuit. Pour la première fois depuis longtemps, il ne cacha pas ses ailes. C'était tellement agréable de se sentir désiré avec tant d’ardeur. Mais malgré tout, Jackson semblait émettre des réserves. À chaque fois qu'Hiccup voulait attraper ses mains, il les écartait. Il évitait soigneusement de le toucher.

-Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?

-Je peux pas te toucher.

-Ça risque d'être compliqué tu crois pas, rigola Hiccup en dévorant son cou alors qu'il allait et venait dans son corps.

Il essaya de lui prendre la main, mais Jackson l'enleva et Hiccup s’arrêta de bouger.

-Jackson…

-Je gèle avec ses mains, Hiccup. Je peux tuer avec ses mains. J'ai déjà tué et… Je ne veux pas… Je ne veux pas que ça t'arrive.

S'il avait été choqué par ce qu'avait dit son amant quand il avait déclaré avoir tué, il sut aussitôt que ça n'avait pas été voulu.

-C'était un accident.

-J'étais tout jeune et avec ma sœur… On jouait… Et sans faire exprès j'ai… Je l'ai touché Elle a gelé aussitôt. Je l'ai pas fait exprès, je… Je l'ai pas fait exprès…

Il mit ses mains devant ses yeux pour cacher ses larmes, mais Hiccup les prit doucement.

-C'était un accident. Tu n'es pas le seul à qui ça arrive…

Il soupira.

-Ça m'est arrivé, aussi.

-Ah… Ah oui ?

-Mon père. Il m'aidait à maîtriser mes pouvoir et on s’entraînait au tir… Et à un moment j'ai commencé à paniquer en voyant que mes mains ne s’arrêtaient plus. Mon père a essayé de me calmer et je lui ai tiré dessus…

Il s'écarta et souffla un bon coup en retenant ses larmes en s'allongeant. Jackson posa son visage contre son torse, les yeux encore humide et Hiccup soupira.

-Écoutes, ce qu'on a fait… Quand on était jeune...C'était des accidents, d'accord ? On a pas besoin que...

-Tout les jours j'y pense, déclara Jackson.

-Moi aussi.

Ils se turent un instant, plongés dans leur passé et Hiccup eut soudain une idée Il attrapa la main de Jack qui essaya de la retirer, mais Hiccup la serrait.

-Hiccup, non…

-Gèle.

-Non, non, non…

Jackson commença à paniquer.

-Non, Hiccup, si je fais ça tu vas perdre ta main.

-Laisses-moi essayer un truc…

-Non,

-S'il te plaît. Juste un peu.

Il relâcha sa main et tendit la sienne, paume vers le haut.

-Mets-y un peu de glace.

-Hiccup…

-Juste un tout petit peu.

Jack soupira et s'y résolu. Grâce à ses pouvoirs, Hiccup la fit fondre. Il en mit un peu plus et Hiccup la fit fondre aussi aisément. Il se concentra pour créer une masse de glace plus forte et Hiccup en profita pour attraper ses mains.

-Non, cria Jack.

En quelque secondes, Hiccup avait les mains complètement gelées. Il sentait le sang à l’intérieur de ses veines refroidir.

-Qu'est-ce que t'as fait…

Hiccup lui attrapa doucement la nuque. Il le força à le regarder pour le calmer.

-Regardes.

Avec ses pouvoir, il fit fondre la glace et retrouva l'usage de sa main.

-Comment…

-Je peux augmenter la chaleur de mon corps. Mes pouvoirs viennent de là. Et des ailes que j'ai dans le dos.

Jackson attrapa sa main, ayant du mal à y croire et serra Hiccup contre lui.

Au petit matin, ce fut une série de coups sur la porte qui réveilla Hiccup. Il s'enroula dans un peignoir et alla ouvrir. Il tomba sur le mari d'Astrid, Eret, qui était commissaire.

-Eret ?

-Salut. Écoutes, les collègues ont dit que tu avais disparu hier soir, après avoir pourchassé Cryo Freeze, alors je voulais être sûr que tout allait bien.

-Ouais, ouais, fit Hiccup, l’esprit encore embrumé par sa nuit d'amour et du manque de sommeil. Je suis juste… C'est la deuxième fois d'affilé qu'il me file entre les doigts.

-Ouais… Mais faut pas te miner tu sais, il échappe à tout le monde. Même Nick et ses méthodes drastiques non rien donnés.

-Ouais… J'ai juste l'habitude de réussir, c'est tout. Écoutes, j'ai pas beaucoup dormi, ça ne t’ennuie pas qu'on remette ça à plus tard ?

-T'inquiètes, pas de soucis. Je voulais être sûr que tu allais bien. C'est tout.

-Merci.

Eret lui fit un signe de main avant de s'en aller et Hiccup referma la porte. Il s'affala dessus et se passa la main sur le visage. Dans quel situation il s'était mis… D'abord, il laissait filer son ennemi parce qu'il se faisait embrasser, ensuite il découvrait que son ennemi était l'homme qui lui plaisait et par-dessus le marché, il couchait avec.

-Il est partit ? Demanda une voix timide.

Jackson apparut caché derrière un coin de couloir.

-Oui.

Jackson vint vers lui et se colla dans ses bras et Hiccup l'enlaça.

-Comment on va faire ? Demanda Jackson.

-Comme tout le reste j'imagine, soupira Hiccup. On va faire avec.

La suite au prochain épisode !

#Jour 18 : Witch / Magic #hijack #hijack march madness 2019 #day 18 #frostcup #Hiajck week

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