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evabellasworld · 3 years

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Storm of the Republic

Chapter 28

AO3 Link | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28

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Summary: When Tup murdered General Tiplar during a battle, Anakin Skywalker and Captain Rex dispatched Ahsoka, Fives, and Yara to solve the mystery that was plaguing the Clone Army. Meanwhile, Senator Padme Amidala contacted Commander Fox, Commander Tori, Riyo Chuchi, and Dipper to help her continue investigating the death of Palpatine, suspecting that Dooku was behind the evil plot. But when Dooku send an ISB agent to stop them, the team had to race against time to search for the truth, which could alter the course of the galaxy.

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Bulldozing through the jungle, an Imperial officer was seated on the transport, recording a list of crates inside the inventory. There were 6 crates of Angel’s Heart that were collected from the mines, and he had to make sure that everything was accounted for. The last thing he wanted was his superior giving him a demerit for his performance at work, or worse.

The Empire isn’t like the Republic. Everything has to be in order, otherwise, he would have to pay the price for his failure. As harsh as they are, the officer thought the Imperial is more organised and fair, unlike the previous administration. Back then, Aaron was stuck as a clerk for 27 years. He hoped that his last boss would notice all the effort he had contributed, but that didn’t happen.

Instead, his deserved position was given to the boss’s son, leaving him disappointed. Most of his friends also had a higher position than him. While they were enjoying life with a higher salary, Aaron had to get by with his husband and two daughters back home. He always dreamed about pampering them with whatever they want, but that only happened once a year.

After this, I’m going to treat them to a steakhouse tonight, he smiled to himself, as he peeked through the Angel’s Heart. And I can finally get the makeup palette Lia has been saving up for months.

The soft pink crystal was shaped exactly like a heart, reminding him of Valentine’s day. It was common for Aaron to see the Angel’s Heart crystal in a fancy jewellery store, but he wasn’t sure why the Empire would want a huge crate of them. To him, they were just there for the pleasure of the eye. There’s no healing properties from the Angel’s Heart at all.

I hope everything goes smoothly this time. The last time I transported these to HQ, we had to deal with raiders.

Unfortunately, that was only a dream. Before Aaron could sit down, the transport braked abruptly, causing him to fall on the metallic floor. “Ouch,” he yelped, as he got up and rubbed the side of his face. “What’s going on up there?”

“Sir, we have a pregnant woman crossing the street,” the B1 battle droid reported to him. “Should we fire, sir?”

Aaron shook his head. “No, don’t open fire. I’ll see what I can do for her.”

As he stepped out of the vehicle, Aaron saw a dark-skinned woman strutting in front of him, cradling her baby bump with one hand and carrying a sack with the other. With a tattered hood, he noticed her feet were adorned with worn-out slippers, prompting him to approach her gently. “Excuse me, but do you need help?”

Odd Eye widened her eyes as she turned towards the Imperial officer, realizing that she was dealing with someone who was flesh and blood. “Thank you for your kindness, but I can handle it myself.”

“I can help you,” he insisted, keeping a safe distance from her. “You’re pregnant and you look like you’re struggling to walk.”

“Are you sure about that, sir?” her voice shook, hiding her hands behind her. “I’m sure you have a lot of things to worry about right now.”

Aaron shook his head as he offered his hand. “Don’t worry about me, miss. I’ll be alright, I promise.”

With a hint of hesitation on her face, Odd Eye took a deep breath and held his hand as they crossed the muddy road together. He was kind, just like Erhan.

She never expected that an officer who worked for their enemy was helping her. She wondered if he was happy with his current job, given that the Imperial didn’t treat anyone with kindness and compassion. Her shoulders slumped as she thought about his fate in Imperial’s grasp.

“Thank you for your help,” said Odd Eye, as they reached the other side of the road. “You’re too kind, sir.”

“No worries miss, I’m glad to help,” Aaron gave her a warm smile. “Though I don’t mean to pry, but are you currently living with your partner?”

She frowned, her head hanging low. “He’s not here anymore.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” he replied. “I’m sure he was a great man.”

“He was a decent man,” Odd Eye sat down, nestling her bump. “My partner was overjoyed by the news. It was too bad he would never get to meet his son.”

He nodded, pressing his lips together. “I bet you miss him very much. It must be painful to carry your baby all by yourself. I mean, I can’t imagine being separated from my husband and my two kids. It’s the saddest thing you could experience in life.”

“You have a family back home?” she looked at him, forcing a smile. “Are you close with them?”

“They’re the joy of my life. My family is the reason I’m still here, even if life turned gloomy. We always have each other’s back, no matter what.”

Odd Eye bobbed her head silently as she noticed Boil, Faven, and Hyewon infiltrating an Imperial Troop Transport, taking down the droids without a single sound, along with Thire and Stone taking on the second vehicle. Thire and Stone assisted the three of them, giving them a thumbs up.

They seem to understand the assignment. I'm impressed.

She then shifted her focus towards Aaron, who was showing her a picture of his family, which was taken in a professional studio. “Lia is my oldest child. We adopted her from a foster home when she was 2 years old. She likes makeup and fashion, and she wanted to be a stylist after she graduated from trade school.”

“That’s cool. What about your other daughter? What does she like to do?”

“Mika loves to sew dolls in her free time, especially creepy dolls. She likes them very much, even though it scares me from time-to-time.”

Odd Eye chuckled, watching Nygma pulling out a droid’s head from its sockets. “Well, it’s good she enjoyed her hobby. I would kill to make myself a doll like her too.”

“You have no idea what she’s capable of,” Aaron gleamed, as Odd Eye signalled Tarot and Draco to take on the first transport, without the officer paying attention at all. “She loves horror movies a lot. She doesn’t even flinch whenever she sees blood. It’s pretty creepy, if you ask me.”

“I see a bright future for your daughters, sir,” she praised, as she glanced at Cody stabbing a droid with a knife. “I have faith that they will thrive in the future. Say, may I know your name? You seem like an interesting person.”

“Aaron, my name is Aaron Koo,” the officer introduced himself, not knowing that Obi-Wan had slashed the enemy with a lightsaber. “What about you, miss? What is your name?”

Before Odd Eye could answer him, Aaron heard the blaster clicking behind him, causing him to turn around with his hands up. “Surrender, Imperial scum,” ordered Cody, pointing his weapon at his face.

“Take it easy, Codes,” Odd Eye stood up, holding out her hands. “He doesn’t mean any harm. He’s only doing his job, that’s all.”

“You heard the lady, trooper,” Aaron gestured towards Cody. “Drop your weapons. No one is getting hurt here.”

Reluctantly, Cody lowered his blaster as Obi-Wan and Mina approached them, putting down their weapons. “You’ll be safe with us, officer,” reassured Obi-Wan, before turning to Odd Eye. “You did a splendid job, commander. Well done.”

Aaron froze as he stared at Odd Eye. “You were going to kill me? After what I’ve done for you?”

“I’m sorry, Aaron, but you have a good heart, and I didn’t want to hurt you at all.”

“Please don’t do this,” he begged, dropping to his knees. “I still haven’t told you about my husband. I don’t want to die without saying goodbye to him. I love him so much. You would understand, miss, considering you’ve lost your partner without any closure.”

He’s right, thought Odd Eye.

“You’ll be safe with us, officer,” the Jedi kneeled towards him. “You have my words. We won’t let anything happen to you and your family.”

Aaron could only stand up with his arms behind his head as he saw Thire stepped out of the transport. “We have successfully taken over all the vehicles, general,” the Coruscant guard reported. “Permission we proceed with our next plan?”

“Granted, commander,” Obi-Wan approved. “Let General Gomez and General Almarez-Guttierez our status report.”

“Sir, yes, sir.”

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ilguna · 4 years

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Meliorism Talks

EUNOIA

the title is interesting

METANOIA

the dawn of time

metanoia is a boost for self esteem

slowburn teaser

when did they find out they were soulmates?

gale + rosecelli, friends?

how i came up with the last name

tanith is gone

rip tanith

their soulmate words

is rosecelli a dom or sub?

songs that give me vibes

who would finnick choose, gallows or rosecelli?

inspiration for prevaricate

one bed au

finding out the definition of prevaricate

liking how it’s going so far

reaction to the minefield

reaction to chapter 17 of metanoia

after i murdered hydri

relieved at prevaricate ending

loving the ending!

cute as HECK

happy with the metanoia ending

excited when i posted the moodboard

identifying with personality/moodboard

what would rosecelli study in college?

is rosecelli and gallows the game storyline?

canon name reveal

personality vs looks

what happened to rosecelli, happened to annie

how to pronounce rosecelli

aftermath

why did finnick get mad at rosecelli and not johanna?

i suggest an angsty AU

please don’t kill him

anon loves the idea

i am unrelenting

no, i will never let them be happy

cry my children

bargaining for a short story

photo album short story?

roscelli’s to-be axe

the axe fits rosecelli’s aesthetic

rosecelli would go feral

rosecelli is That Bitch

living through rosecelli

i suggest a metanoia prequel

rosecelli is AMAZING

metanoia prequel

rosecelli’s fancy weapons

random convo

pet names (or lack thereof)

rosecelli showers finnick in gifts

trident is iconic

a gift idea that rosecelli bought finnick

finnick talking to annie about living situations

finnick and rosecelli moving in together

annie staring at rosecelli in chapter eighteen

chaotic power couple

finnick leaving annie

rosecelli warned finnick

finnick breaking the news to annie

who’s annie’s soulmate?

might be true

poor annie

beginning of the hate fuck convo

spicy couple

would rosecelli shower finnick in sugar cubes?

what if finnick/rosecelli had fucked in district 13?

finnick would’ve been smug after the hate fuck

annie watched finnick flirt in the arena

flirting wasn’t obvious

what’s up with tigris?

what happened after rosecelli killed the peacekeeper?

what if finnick left like rosecelli wanted? - AU

would annie leave finnick for her soulmate? - AU

what would’ve happened in chapter fourteen

would finnick still get married in that case?

would rosecelli and gallows get along?

would finnick regret marrying annie anyway? - AU

who would win in a fight? rosecelli or annie?

finnick’s girl can whoop some ass

did finnick and rosecelli get along during rosecelli’s victory stop?

rosecelli’s favorite ice cream flavor?

zavian would get frozen yogurt

and peanut toppings

tanith and zavian being soulmates

and the immediate regret after

smh anon has grown attached

same anon

who would win in a fight? gallows or rosecelli?

content anon think she’s trying her best

didn’t rosecelli have male cousins? (fight idea cont.)

disappointing that everyone calls rosecelli a bitch

she’s not always like that

rosecelli would have to eat all the sugar cubes to piss finnick off

them fighting? i think u mean making out

fighting is their foreplay lmao

finnick would stick around even after death

the encounter in 13 is canon? no but i can make it be

only play fighting tho

nasty spat to make out session in front of panem

canon would be nice but annie...

breaks up w annie for that good puss puss

everyone watching back home like....

gallows/rosecelli crossover - AU

what about the other way around?

how rosecelli would react

gallows would pull a knife on rosecelli

what would she smell like?

definition of metanoia

who would they be?

something rosecelli would say

idea where rosecelli killed peeta and johanna - AU

liking that idea

rosecelli was unfazed

the worst time to find your soulmate ever

poly of rosecelli/gallows/finnick?

feminist icon!!

what if rosecelli and finnick had a baby?

reminds her of a brooklyn99 quote

roscelli not letting finnick help

them being parents!!!

beetee as godparent???

im loved <3

comprimising in choosing katniss?

rosecelli being poc friendly

FASHION SENSE

a sad ass idea

her star signs!!

explanation 1/3

explanation 2/3

explanation 3/3

her EXACT birthday

i am rosecelli

new au incoming

here it is - AU

more to it

even more to it

it sounds cool though

rosecelli slander

rosecelli keep 6ft away challenge

planet anon and i are rosecelli

his speech to her was cute af

he was dropped as a baby

krampus before santa

as she should

the motherly voice...

malefic - AU SHORT STORY

i expanded on it some ^

and a little more

its not her fault!!

they scared the shit outta each other

new idea for rewrite

rosecelli = new toy lmfao

baby talk is back, bless up

finnick’s self care trips

omg the mfing godparents

what if rosecelli/gallows were tributes in the same games?

her internal diaogue lmao

AKRASIA

i suggest the idea

more off the idea

excitement about the title

short story idea - AU

another short story idea - AU

annie finds her soulmate post-metanoia

what if annie found her soulmate after metanoia?

running into finnick/rosecelli

don’t have to compete for annie

ROM-COM

finnick is the face of the rebellion

i write out a blurb if rosecelli/finnick died together

plutarch getting them both out?

rosecelli is a handful but she’d be helpful

rosecelli begrudgingly accepting the fact she’s “mockingjay”

rosecelli would have to be shitfaced to do anything

finnick as the face also makes sense

trying to find a name for rosecelli’s rebellion title

how it would change rosecelli/finnicks relationship

more to the pretend relationship

re: pretend relationship and kissing

gale being nosy

the rebellion name?

annie having to watch her ex fuel the rebellion

what if rosecelli is tasked with protecting finnick? - AU AU

further explanation of above

a scenario in which rosecelli protects finnick

another funny one

rosecelli kills katniss/peeta to protect finnick (bodyguard)

reaction to that

rosecelli comforts finnick after mags

the thought of that is feel worthy

even more feels

song suggestion for rosecelli

rosecelli just wants to be loved

finnick is a literal puppy

finnick is the only annoying puppy she wants

them kissing the arena and then remembering the cameras

draco/roscelli and harry/finnick parallel

pyrrhic

only she is allowed to kill finnick

AU for Roscelli/Johanna being lovers

enemies to lovers with johanna? - AU

omg if they were soulmates - AU

sexual tension <3

finnick/rosecelli are otp BUT johanna and rosecelli--

the hate sex????

imagine johanna’s face when they speak to each other

#ilguna #meliorism talks #metanoia

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clmcl · 4 years

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Dramione fanfics rec (2018-2019)

Hey, guys, this is just some fics that I like. I have a similar list here if you are interested or in need of a good dramione. I don´t read much angst so these are mostly fluffy. They´re not all published in 2018-2019 but I discovered them these years. I hope you all enjoy:

An Unexpected Malfoy by RiverWriter : Once upon a time Hermione Granger literally ran into Draco Malfoy in a bookshop. His mother sees a connection between her son and the muggleborn that she can't ignore and determines to get to know the girl. An imagining of how things could have gone if Hermione had been taken under the wing of the Malfoy family. WIP

The Troublesome Thing About Time by LadyKenz347 : Draco Malfoy has just arrived from twenty years in the future and insists on speaking to his wife, Hermione Granger. The only problem is that the Draco Malfoy she knows is still the snarky, button-pushing boy upstairs-and not the man in front of her now. COMPLETE.

Diamond Heart by artemisgirl: When Hermione approaches Draco Malfoy proposing a fake relationship between the two of them as part of a scheme, he's eager enough to participate - the potential benefits outweigh any costs on his time. But as it all progresses, Draco finds himself wondering what it would be like if what was 'fake' was real. COMPLETE.

The Alkahest by Shadukiam : The Marriage Law, once enacted, has the power to destroy Hermione's perfectly normal life. Luckily, she and Ron are already planning to obey the horrific law together as a team... Until a Malfoy-shaped wrench gets thrown into the works. WIP.

The Silk Thread by LoverGurrl411 : Dumbledore's dead, the ministry's desperate and crumbling around them, and war is on the horizon-but the only war that truly matters has yet to begin: the war of hearts. In between silence and hatred lies a twisted desire that will either consume them, or help them survive Voldemort's rise to power together. Marriage Law Fic. AU Seventh Year. WIP (one of the few angst).

The Family Business by Nova5621 : Scorpius Malfoy is convinced his parents are secret agents. Fancy formal wear, stashed weapons. I mean, look at how they met! COMPLETE.

A Secret Admirer by DragonLady37 : "Who does that belong to?" Lucius asked, his tone harsh. Draco's fingers tightened around the piece of cloth as he turned to his father. He kept it tightly in his fist. "My soulmate," he growled. "You've found her?" his mother asked, hand over her mouth, tears shining in her eyes. "Finally?" DRAMIONE, AU, Veela Fic. COMPLETE.

Draco's Bad Day by Maloreiy : Draco is having a bad day. In fact, every day is a bad day because he's been trying (unsuccessfully) to convince himself he's not in love with Hermione Granger, who is engaged to Ron (the prat) Weasley. Except that all of a sudden she's not. And Draco's about to have more good and bad days than he had ever expected. WIP.

Howl For Me by Kittenshift17: The Ministry enacts a Marriage Law, magically pairing couples who'd never in a million years agree to even speak, let alone wed. Paired off with Malfoy, Hermione has to suffer the added indignity of the Ministry banning all contraception and forcing fertility treatment and aphrodisiacs on them all. Draco's secret makes it worse. WIP.

Drastic measures by hbsj: Draco's mother had a plan: Draco would marry Astoria and make perfect little heirs to the Malfoy line, he wasn't necessarily happy about it but he knew he couldn't get what he really wanted anyway so what the hell, right? Hermione did NOT agree with the plan and would literally do anything to thwart it, will she succeed? A fun/dirty five-part Dramione, rated M for smut and language. COMPLETE.

His Veela Heritage by RiverWriter : His entire world shifted and he was suddenly certain that his life was no longer really his own, it belonged to her. He could only hope she'd forgive him, could only hope she'd accept him. Because he was a veela and Hermione Granger was his mate. The only woman who had any chance of truly making him happy was the same girl he'd spent half a lifetime tormenting. Karma was a bitch. COMPLETE.

Veela For A Day by tammyfait69: 8th year fic. Pansy gets her hands on a Veela lust potion & plans to lure Draco into her bed. When her plans go to pot, & Draco gets doused with the potion instead, he becomes irresistible. What will Draco do when half his class is trying to get down his pants? Why, turn to the brightest witch in his class of course. Will Hermione help or jump him herself? COMPLETE.

A Fear of Wolves by I'm All Teeth: "Do not stray from the path again. There are terrible monsters in these woods that would like nothing more than to devour delicious little girls like you. Run along to your grandmother's house and pray stop for no one." Fairy Tales, retold. COMPLETE.

In the Arms of Her Dragon by Wolf Blossom: "Why're you crying?" Draco whispered, sitting down beside Hermione in a deserted Great Hall. Looking up at him with puffy eyes, she admitted what happened earlier at the Gryffindor Tower. Without a moment's hesitation, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and said: "Come on, you're spending the night in the Slytherin dungeon. With me." WIP.

The Worst Date Ever by MotherofBulls: Hermione loses a bet to Draco and now has to let him take her on "the worst date in the history of the world." His words. Hermione is in for a night full of crappy pub food, a rented children's choir, and casual violence. But at some point in this rubbish heap of an evening, Hermione finds that there's more to Draco than she thought. COMPLETE.

The Trouble With Veelas by hiddenhibernian: Draco just wants to make Hermione happy. Unfortunately, telling her he is a Veela and she is his mate would achieve exactly the opposite, so he has to find another way. Nothing else in Draco's life has gone according to plan, so he ought to have known it would only go downhill from there... Veela!Draco. COMPLETE.

Shallow Draco by MykEsprit: When Draco Malfoy is cursed to see only inner beauty, he finds Hermione Granger to be the most beautiful woman in the world. How utterly predictable. Dramione. One-shot. COMPLETE.

She was Beautiful by longdistance: What if Draco had other reasons for bullying Hermione so badly in school? What if her life had depended on it? This is a story of what happens when they meet again eight years after the war. He'll begin work on healing the wounds he created. COMPLETE.

A Season of Miracles by StoriesForTheMature: Hermione must tell Draco that he is the father of a suddenly motherless child. Will he refuse his new role as a father? Not if the miracle of Christmas has anything to do with it! COMPLETE.

Who Could've Thought That by Lerysakon: "Enlighten me, Granger, as to why you are being referred to as Professor Granger." Sorting. A new professor. The children make new friends. And Hermione has something to reveal – who is this mystery man of hers? COMPLETE.

Second Time Around by Neko-Tenchi: Draco fell in love with Hermione after it was already too late. Then a contraption of Dumbledore sets Draco back in time to his first year of Hogwarts with no memories of the future, but all his future-self's instincts, feelings and love felt towards Hermione. How will he do things the second time around. Time travel story with a twist: Draco Edition. WIP.

Her Number One Fan by Peanutbuttertoast1: Hermione leaves England to start a new life...only to return to find that the world has moved on in more ways than one...and her heart is touched by an unexpected encounter with her #1 fan! COMPLETE.

What Lynx Us Together by BirdsOfAFeather92: Draimione soulmate with a twist. What happens when its voluntary? WIP.

Lines by FlyingWorldOtter: Wizards were gathered in large numbers, because when matched, a fine magical line would connect your heart to your soul mates' heart. Once you had found the person at the other end of your line you would then hold hands and a golden glow would appear around the hands and personalized rings representing the couple would appear on their finger. WIP.

Fated by Hanako A: Hermione has always thought of herself as a rational creature. However the magic of her blood won't be denied, and there's nothing she can do to stop her fall. COMPLETE.

A cornucopia of noncoincidences by muffin_reverie: She was leaving her position as a Healer for good, or at least she thought she was.“I reckon you may want to reconsider that thought about not having to heal anyone ever again.” Ron awkwardly shifted on his feet.“Because you may have just broken Draco Malfoy’s nose with your knuckles.” COMPLETE.

A Game of Chance by TheLastLynx: Hermione barely registered Harry calling out after her to let in someone he was apparently waiting for. So when she rushed out, deep in thought, she smacked straight into the tall person standing just outside the door. ‘Careful there, Granger,’ someone with a pleasant baritone said, chuckling under his breath. ‘No need to hit on me.’ Hermione’s head snapped up. The pointy face of Draco Malfoy looked down on her, something like humour brightening his pale eyes. She raised her chin, ignoring the heat in her cheeks. ‘Don’t flatter yourself, Malfoy.’COMPLETE.

A Theo-logical Dilemma by LightofEvolution: “Draco, Miss Granger is yelling at the dog in the tea room. What did he do?” Narcissa asked. “Maybe he ate her reports?” he suggested, knowing it wasn’t true. A little story about Hermione, Draco, and a black Labrador with a very human pedigree. COMPLETE.

All This Time by GirlwhoLived: It's 2007. Hermione has a job at the Ministry, a posh flat and even a new kitten. She is happy and content with what her life has become. And then Ronald Weasley appears on her doorstep. Three years ago he broke her heart and disappeared without a word. But now he has returned with every intention of winning her back. But Ron is in for one hell of a surprise. Hermione got married a year ago. To none other than Draco Malfoy. WIP.

All You Want by SenLinYu: Eighth Year at Hogwarts was supposed to be Hermione’s. And it is, just not in the way she expects. Omegaverse fic. COMPLETE.

Amateur Cartography by worksofstone: That one-night stand with Draco Malfoy was a mistake. Hermione doesn't make mistakes, or at least she isn't supposed to. She's working hard at her Ministry career, however frustrating and pointless her job may be, and she's also got to live up to everyone's expectations as Hogwarts's most famous Muggle-born and a top-tier War Hero. So, why is she still sleeping with Draco Malfoy, ex-Death Eater and infamous pureblood? And why isn't she certain that she wants to stop? COMPLETE.

Bond by HalfwayThrough: Years into the war, Hermione is trapped for an entire night between a broken wand and a Death Eater. The consequences of which will affect everything. WIP.

Calla by RiverWriter: She had been missing for more than ten years. But then she had dark magic cast on her in the Department of Mysteries, and that insidious curse did more than just injure her physically. It revealed a secret, a truth. Hermione Granger could finally be recognized as the girl she’d been at birth: Calliope Nott. WIP.

Dangerous by sunalso: Life is, at last, safe and stable for Hermione. She knows who she is and who she loves. Until something starts to follow her in the dark and she finds she might not know herself at all. WIP

Business Partners by Debboluh: Andromeda Tonks approaches Hermione with an idea to start an orphanage and community center for children and families who have been affected by Voldemort’s werewolves, other extra-magical children and families are more than welcome! But what secret is their potions master hiding? And will Hermione ever find out? Draco's mood swings are giving Hermione whiplash, first he doesn't care and then he offering his own house!? COMPLETE.

Okay, I got tired. That´s all I´ll probably do another next year (or a part 2 this year).

#dramione #dramione fanfic #fanfic rec #random #draco x hermione

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torestoreamends · 5 years

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Fic: Uncomfortable Truths

6.5k words, G rated

Astoria was hoping her sister wouldn't find out that she was dating Draco Malfoy until after she'd talked to him about her illness. Unfortunately, nothing can be hidden from Daphne, and Astoria is convinced it's time to reveal the uncomfortable truths about her life. But how will Draco react?

This fic was written for @astoriafest. It was beta'd by the incomparable @abradystrix.

Read it on AO3

“Have you taken your medicine today?”

Astoria tries hard not to wince as Daphne pulls the vacant garden chair out from under the table with an awful metallic scrape and sits down.

“Good morning, Daphne. How lovely to see you today. Yes, I am well, thank you for asking.” Astoria takes a sip of her tea, looking coolly at her sister over the rim of the cup.

Daphne rolls her eyes. “Don’t throw a hissy fit about it. Mum told me to ask. I just thought I’d get it out of the way.”

Astoria sets her tea cup down with a light tinkle of china and folds her arms. “Yes, I have taken my medicine today, thank you. I take it every day. Which you would both know if you ever bothered to write.”

Daphne tuts. “You know Mum’s too shaky to write these days, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t care about you. And I’ve been busy, but it’s not as if I don’t Firecall you twice a week, including, and correct me if my memory has been modified, last night.”

Astoria takes another sip of tea. “How is Mum?”

Daphne shrugs and reaches for the teapot. “She’s alright. Quite frail, but that doesn’t mean she’s not still razor sharp. And don’t stand within reach of her walking stick. She uses it as a weapon.”

Astoria snorts into her tea. “How many bruises have you got?”

“Several. They hurt.”

Astoria grins, has another sip, then puts her cup down and dabs her mouth on her napkin. “I will go and see her, I promise. But I know that if I go now she’ll spend the whole time lecturing me about how I need to eat more to maintain my weight.” She rolls her eyes. “That’s not productive for anyone. I know I need to eat more, and I am, but...” She gestures to herself.

Daphne nods sympathetically. “I know. You’ve always been stupidly skinny anyway...” She picks up three sugar lumps and drops them into her tea before adding a large splash of milk. “How are you doing at the moment anyway? You seem okay.”

“Do you have to take all the sugar lumps?”

“No. Just three. Don’t avoid the question.”

“I’m not! I was just...” Astoria gestures at the now largely depleted sugar bowl. “Concerned about the state of my sugar. Anyway. I’ve been better. I’m not bad, just tired. Going back to work is always hard, you know? I’ll feel fine at home, and then suddenly there’s all the extra stuff to do, and the walking, and all the talking to people. It adds up. And then there’s the new potion I’m taking, which is terrible for my appetite, so I never want to eat anything, even though I have to.”

“You should talk to them about that,” Daphne says, stirring her tea and then licking the spoon clean.

Astoria pulls a face at her. “You’re an animal. Mum would be appalled. And I am going to talk to them. I have an appointment next week. I think they’re going to end up keeping me in for some tests. Apparently my blood is ‘weird’, which is very non-specific and I’m also not sure why they’re surprised, because I have a blood malediction. But anyway. This is such a boring thing to talk about. How are you? I forgot to ask about your holiday.”

Daphne groans. “Oh, it was dismal. I’m never going on holiday with anyone else ever again. I’ll just take myself to a beach and lie in the sun and sleep for a week. All we did was walk around crumbling old ruins, and my feet still haven’t recovered.”

“You went to Greece, and you thought it was dismal, and you hated the sightseeing? I’m disowning you.”

“I’m not a history nerd like you.”

“Apparently not. I would die to go to Greece — the trip would probably actually literally kill me — and you didn’t even bother to appreciate it? I can’t believe you.”

“Well now I feel guilty.”

“Good,” Astoria says brightly. “You were meant to.”

“I did bring some pictures to show you,” Daphne says, leaning down for her bag. “If it helps.”

“It might. Come round here.”

Daphne scrapes her chair round beside Astoria’s and they start going through the photos. Astoria insists that Daphne recount as many facts as she can about everywhere she visited, and Daphne complies. Neither of them notice time passing, and soon an hour has passed, then an hour and a half, and next thing they know, their conversation is interrupted by a quiet, polite, throat clearing cough.

They both look up to see a tall, blond figure, smartly-dressed in black trousers and a green shirt, hovering awkwardly at the edge of the patio. Astoria greets him with a warm smile, while Daphne simply stares.

“Hello,” Astoria says, getting to her feet. “I can’t believe it’s three o’clock already. I completely lost track of time. I’m so glad you let yourself in.”

“I did knock first,” Draco says, gesturing to the passage at the edge of the patio that leads round the side of the house. “But there was no answer, and since the gate was open...” He looks at Daphne with a fearful hesitancy. She’s still staring at him like she can’t believe his existence. “I wasn’t aware that we would have company.”

Astoria smiles. “We won’t. Daphne was just leaving. Weren’t you?”

Daphne looks at Astoria. “Who is he?”

Draco frowns. “I’m... Draco Malfoy. We were at school together.”

Daphne waves an impatient hand. “Yes, yes, I know who you are. Why is he here?”

Astoria draws herself up very straight and turns her smile on her sister. “I invited him for tea.”

“You invited him for...” Daphne’s eyes have gone incredibly wide, and a grin is starting to form on her face. “We talked over the Floo for two hours last night, and we talked for two hours this afternoon too, and at no point did you think to mention-“ She jerks her head at Draco, who is still standing on the other side of the patio, looking distinctly uncomfortable.

Astoria sighs and looks at him. “I really must apologise. What my sister means is that it’s very nice to see you, and she hopes you’re well.”

Daphne nods and gives Draco a very wide gleeful smile. “Oh absolutely. It is marvellous to see you.”

Draco gives a curt nod in response. “Likewise. You look tanned. I trust that you had a good holiday. Astoria told me you went to Greece?”

“Oh she did, did she?” Daphne looks like she’s about to explode with delight as she turns a very significant gaze on Astoria. “You two have been discussing me, when I was unaware that you were discussing anything at all. In fact, I was unaware that you were anything more than very distant acquaintances.”

“And this is why, because I knew you would be this childish about it,” Astoria hisses. She takes Daphne by the arm and pulls her to her feet. Daphne doesn’t resist, she’s goggling at Draco again, apparently still unable to comprehend his presence in Astoria’s back garden.

“Please excuse us for a moment,” Astoria says. “I’m just going to take my dear sister outside and murder her.”

Draco smiles. “I won’t report you to the Aurors.”

Astoria grins at him. “I’m eternally grateful. Please take Daphne’s chair so she has to leave.” Gripping Daphne’s arm, she marches off inside the house, with Daphne hurrying along beside her.

As soon as they’re away from the patio door, Daphne pulls herself free and finally explodes into paroxysms of excitement.

“Astoria! Draco Malfoy is in your back garden. Because you invited him here for tea. Explain!”

Astoria sighs. “You’re being very loud. And I think you’ve just explained everything there is to explain.”

“But- But Draco Malfoy!”

Astoria’s cheeks heat up and she folds her arms. “Yes. Draco Malfoy. Is that a problem?”

Daphne holds up a hand and checks her points off on her fingers as she makes them. “Let’s see. He’s ludicrously rich. He’s supposed to be very intelligent. He’s from a significant family. He’s hot as fuck.”

Astoria gives a polite little cough and ducks her head as her cheeks burn.

“See?” Daphne points at her. “You admit it. You fancy him. There is just one problem here.”

“Which is?”

“Oh, nothing major, just the fact that he’s a former Death Eater, which isn’t exactly very you.”

Astoria nods. “I know. But-“

“But?”

“But.” She holds up a hand to stop her sister from interrupting again. “He’s working on it. Did you know he’s helping the Aurors at the moment? And I... I’ve recommended him some books. Which he’s read. And... and he’s not perfect, but who is? We all have to start somewhere, don’t we?”

Daphne stops looking like a Bowtruckle that’s just been handed a plate of fairy eggs and scrutinises Astoria. “Who do you think he is? Do you trust him?”

Astoria looks down at her hands. “I don’t think he’s who everyone else thinks he is. And as hard as it may be to believe, yes. I do trust him.” She looks up at her sister, and Daphne nods.

“Okay. And does he know about your illness yet?”

Astoria shakes her head. “No. I’m going to tell him this afternoon. I knew you would ask that question, and I wanted the answer to be yes when you found out about him. That’s why I didn’t tell you before.”

Daphne nods slowly, considering. “And how do you think he’ll react?”

“I want it to be good, but...” Astoria shrugs. “I want him to be the person who says ‘okay, we’re only going to get a few years together, let’s make them count’. I want him to be the person who knows he’s going to have to sit by my hospital bed and watch me fade away, but who wants to love me anyway. It’s a lot to ask.”

“But that’s your life,” Daphne says softly. “It shouldn’t be a lot to ask. If he feels any way about you at all.”

“I know...” Astoria murmurs. “That’s why I have to tell him now. Before I get in any deeper.”

Daphne tilts her head to one side and looks at her. “You really like him, don’t you?”

“Mmhmm.” Astoria gives a shy little nod, and Daphne steps across and hugs her.

“Oh, Astoria.” She kisses Astoria on the cheek and strokes her hair. “I hope he’s everything you need him to be.”

“Me too,” Astoria says in a tiny whisper.

Daphne kisses her on the other cheek too, then releases her. “Draco Malfoy though.” Her serious expression disappears as her delighted grin starts up again, making her eyes sparkle with amusement and mischief. “Astoria Greengrass you are such a Slytherin. You and your ambition. This is salacious.”

“If you tell Mum. If you tell anyone. I will hex you so hard your toes will fall off.”

Daphne throws her head back and cackles with laughter. “Now there’s a threat. Will it be enough to stop me?”

“It’d better be.”

“I’ll think about.” Daphne twirls around as she heads into the entrance hall. “Have a fun afternoon with your sexy Malfoy boy toy.”

“I hate you,” Astoria calls after her.

Daphne cackles again and blows a kiss over her shoulder as she dances out of the house, still laughing.

Astoria rolls her eyes and waits until the door is firmly closed behind Daphne, then she returns to the garden where Draco is waiting.

“Is everything alright?” He asks. He’s still standing up, but he’s moved closer to the table and looks to have been examining a pot of sweetpeas that have just come into glorious bloom.

“Yes, it is. I’m sorry about my sister. She wasn’t aware that we were seeing each other.”

“I gathered,” Draco says mildly. “I hope it’s not a problem.”

“It is very much not. She wasn’t even supposed to be here this afternoon. She has a habit of turning up uninvited.” Astoria rolls her eyes as she goes back to the table and starts sorting out some more tea.

“I’m not sure she likes me,” Draco says, coming across to the table.

“It’s not that.” Astoria gestures for him to take the seat next to her. “She’s just protective. And very excitable. She wants the best for me.”

“A good sister, then.” Draco picks the chair up and moves it round to the other side of the table.

“She has her moments. May I pour you some tea?”

“Please. I’m gasping.”

Astoria smiles and pours out two fresh cups of tea from the pot she’s just made, then she slides one across to Draco and keeps the other for herself. “Didn’t you have an auction this morning?”

“I did. Everyone’s trying to get rid of their more nefarious items now the Aurors are threatening more raids, and there’s that new legislation on the cards. It’s a buyer’s market.”

“And you’re not concerned about the raids yourself?” Astoria asks lightly, stirring a dash of milk into her tea.

“Today I was buying for the Ministry, so I wasn’t concerned at all. Although I did get something for you too.”

Astoria looks up from her tea in surprise. “Oh? Is it cursed? Because you know I refuse to accept gifts that don’t have the potential to kill me.”

Draco snorts. “I’m sorry to disappoint you. It’s not cursed.”

“Well that’s a shame. It would have been so romantic.”

“I’ll remember for next time,” Draco says drily. He fishes in his pocket and pulls out a very small package wrapped in black tissue paper. When Astoria takes it she discovers that it’s slightly squashy.

“What is it?” She asks, pressing her fingers against it.

“Why don’t you open it and find out? And don’t squash it too hard. It’s delicate.”

“Noted.” She picks her wand up and carefully cuts the Spellotape on the package. As she opens it, the Cushioning Charm inside bursts, and she can see a small, silver brooch fashioned to look like a spray of flowers. There’s a bright yellow sunflower, a beautiful pink rose, a couple of blue forget-me-nots, and a delicate lily. Each of the flowers is set with tiny jewels that sparkle in the afternoon sunlight as Astoria lets the brooch roll into the centre of her palm.

“I see what you mean,” she says, after a few moments of silence. “It is delicate. And rather beautiful, thank you.”

“It reminded me of you and your garden.” Draco looks around at the flowers spilling out of their borders in banks of effervescent colour. “I hope it’s okay.”

“It’s...” Astoria looks down at the glittering brooch and tries to find the right words. She’s rarely speechless, but this is undoubtedly the nicest gift she’s ever been given by someone outside of her family. “Yes. It’s more than okay.”

Her fingers tremble as she tries to pin it to her top, and she can’t even blame her illness because this is one of her better days. It’s simply emotion, and the overwhelming feeling that she likes this man beyond all reason. And she still doesn’t know whether she’ll be able to keep him beyond today. By the end of this afternoon he could have walked away forever.

“I think...” She draws a slightly shaky breath and gets to her feet. “I think I’m going to go inside and get some biscuits. And Daphne used up nearly all the sugar lumps so I’ll get some more of those too. Are there any particular biscuits you like?”

“I was always partial to a Ginger Newt.”

Astoria pulls a face, and Draco winces.

“Was that the wrong answer? I hope it’s not a deal breaker.”

“We’ll see. Between that and the not-cursed brooch you’re certainly on rocky ground.” She gives Draco a smile, and hurries away into the house.

Once she’s in the kitchen, she leans against the wall and closes her eyes, breathing deeply. It takes several minutes and a couple of glasses of water before she feels even slightly composed, but then she gets flustered again trying to find any biscuits. As a general rule she’s not a biscuit person, but now she’s promised them, she surely has to deliver.

In the end, she finds the biscuit tin at the back of one of her cupboards, and mercifully it has an unopened packet of Ginger Newts inside. She tips them onto a plate, nudges them into a vaguely artful arrangement, and hurries back outside.

“Your disgusting biscuits, sir.”

Draco gives an amused little smirk. “You could have brought some that you liked. I wouldn’t have minded.”

“No, I’d rather judge you for your terrible taste.” Astoria drops into her seat, pats the brooch on her blouse to make sure it’s still attached, then leans back, preparing her most judgemental expression for the moment when Draco bites the head off of his Newt. It’s a very short lived moment of judgement, because as Draco crunches the biscuit, he looks at Astoria, and she can see the question in his eyes even before he says a word.

“I...” Draco pauses and looks at the remaining half of his biscuit like it’s going to tell him what he’s trying to say.

“You?” Astoria prompts.

Draco nods. “I understand if you don’t want to say, but I’m curious. You and your sister are close, I know that. You get on well. So why did you decide not tell her about me?”

Astoria swallows. That wasn’t the question she was expecting, and she doesn’t know how to navigate it.

Draco puts his biscuit down on the edge of his saucer and cleans up a few of the crumbs with the tip of his finger. “If it helps, you can say that you’re ashamed of me. I would understand that. I know I’m not exactly at the top of anyone’s list of people to associate with.”

Astoria shakes her head. “No, that’s not it at all. I’m not ashamed to be with you. Who you are and what people think of you are two very different things. If I was ashamed I wouldn’t be doing this. The fact that people think you’re a terrible person doesn’t bother me at all, because they’re wrong. Misguided, yes; imperfect, yes; still learning, aren’t we all? But not bad.”

Draco frowns at her. “So what is it, then? Because that was the only answer I could think of.”

Astoria sighs, shoulders slumping. “I didn’t tell her because... because there were important questions that I needed answering before I did.”

“And... have I answered them?”

“No.”

Draco nods and picks up the rest of his Newt. Astoria can see the disappointment in his expression, the slight downturn of his mouth, the crumpled crease of his forehead, the way his eyes have gone the grey of an overcast Monday morning.

“Draco,” she murmurs. “I haven’t even asked you the questions yet. It’s not your fault you haven’t answered them. They’re not...” She waves a hand and casts around for the right phrase. “They’re not first date questions. Or second, or third, or... It’s bigger than that. It’s my whole life and whether it fits with yours.”

Draco inhales and exhales through his nose, less like a sigh and more like he’s bracing himself. “Go on, then. What are these questions?”

There’s a defensive edge to his tone, and Astoria knows what he’s thinking — that these are going to be questions about him and how he’s planning to change himself. She reaches across the table to where his left hand is lying upturned beside his teacup, and she brushes her fingers against his.

“Draco, they’re not about you. I mean, they are, but not in the way you think. In terms of problems that need solving, believe it or not, your past isn’t the biggest one.”

He shifts his hand to interweave his fingers with hers, and as he does, the rolled up sleeve of his shirt tugs just high enough on his arm that a fraction of the red Mark is visible just beneath it. “How so?”

Astoria strokes one of her fingers over his knuckles and decides that it’s time to just get on with it. “I’m ill,” she says simply.

Draco frowns at her. “You don’t look ill. Or sound it.”

“No,” she agrees. “I don’t. Not at the moment. But I am... Do you remember the day we first talked properly?”

Draco squeezes her fingers. “Of course. We were at the apothecary, and you were buying those weird herbs. We talked for about ten minutes and then you said you were tired and had to go home. I assumed you said that to get rid of me.”

Astoria nods. “I did go home, and I was in bed for three days straight. I only got up in the end because I was starving and Daphne came and made me dinner. It was only a few weeks after I was discharged from St Mungo’s, and I shouldn’t have gone out, but I was mind-numbingly bored.“

“St Mungo’s,” Draco repeats. “It’s serious then? And it’s still affecting you what, nine months later?”

“It’s affected me for my entire life,” Astoria says. She’s trying to be as matter-of-fact as possible. If she can lay it all out, simply and in all its detail, that’s best for both of them. The second that emotion seeps in, that’s where this gets painfully difficult.

“Go on,” Draco murmurs.

Astoria looks from their interwoven fingers, up to his face, which is inscrutable. Draco is impossible to read, and at times it’s infuriating, but at others, like right now, it makes everything easier.

“Have you heard about the Greengrass curse?”

Draco’s lips quirk into an amused smile. “Of course. I read about it while I was researching your family tree. It’s a myth, isn’t it? Just one of those stupid stories.”

“It’s not a myth,” Astoria says. “I’ve got it. It’s a sort of blood malediction. It means I have to take five different potions three times a day. If I get so much as a paper cut, I end up in hospital. It makes me more susceptible to other sorts of diseases, especially if I’m already sick. One day it’s going to kill me. If I make it to fifty I’ll have been extremely lucky. Forty is more likely. You’re probably less than a quarter of the way through your life. I’m half way through mine...

“If I’d been normal, if I’d been any other girl, I would have asked you out for a drink that day we met, but instead I went home to bed, and when I woke up I’d missed the Owl you sent me. That’s it. That’s my life. Frustrating and exhausting and difficult. One day I’ll be fine, going to work just like everyone else, and the next I’ll be in St Mungo’s for six months. And this is why I couldn’t tell Daphne about you, because I needed to be able to tell her that you knew all this and still wanted me anyway, and that’s not something that you can just... ask someone over dinner, or...” She waves her free hand and trails off, not sure what to say next.

There’s a very long moment of silence, then Draco tucks a bit of hair behind his ear. He’s been growing it out recently, and it’s almost to his shoulders now, wispy blond curls wafting in the breeze.

“You’re going to die,” Draco says. His face is emotionless, but his voice sounds thick and choked.

“Everyone’s going to die, but I’m doing it faster than most people. I’m just that precocious.”

Draco doesn’t laugh or even smile. He doesn’t react at all, he just presses on. “And this curse. How did it start? I don’t remember seeing that in the books I read.”

“One of my ancestors,” Astoria says. “They were cursed. I looked into it, and I found out the story. Someone was trying to bait a Muggleborn and they stepped in to stop it. It turned into a duel, and they got cursed. They saved the Muggleborn though.” She watches Draco’s expression as she says it, and for the very first time there’s a flicker of something.

“You’re going to die,” he says slowly, “because one of your ancestors decided to help a-” He cuts himself off with a brisk shake of his head. “That’s...”

“Does it make you angry?” Astoria asks, shifting her fingers in his grip but not letting go of his hand. “A Pureblood girl dying because her stupid ancestor stood up for a Mudblood?”

“Yes!” It explodes out of Draco, the most emotion he’s shown so far, pure, frustrated anger. He pulls his hand free and picks up another Ginger Newt, which he snaps in half and starts to crunch. Maybe it makes him feel better, because as he eats, his shoulders relax a little and he looks back at Astoria.

“Is this why you do what you do?” He asks. “Because of that? I suppose it makes sense.”

Astoria nods. “Yes, it is. It used to make me angry too. But then the war started, and there were all the stories in the papers. People disappearing. People getting hurt. People having their wands taken. They were no different to us, but just because someone decided that pure blood is better, a bunch of people were having their lives destroyed, were getting murdered. And I realised that the whole thing was stupid. My ancestor didn’t stand up for a Mudblood, Draco. They stood up for a human being. Let’s get over ourselves. If I’m going to die, I’m at least going to own it. I’m actually proud of the curse. I’m not happy I’m sick, but there are far worse things to die for.”

“Why does it have to be you though?” Draco murmurs. “It’s not fair.”

“What, because I’m a pretty Pureblood girl with her whole life ahead of her? I’ve heard that before, and it’s complete and utter-”

Draco shakes his head. “No.” It comes out sharply enough to stop Astoria in her tracks. “No, it’s not that, it’s...” He struggles for a moment, dusting his fingers off on his napkin, turning his teacup round on its saucer, then finally reaching for Astoria’s hand again and squeezing it tight. “We need you. The world needs you. To keep saying things like that. To keep looking at the stupid things we’ve always believed and telling us to get over ourselves... If people like you are going to die then what hope do the rest of us have?”

“Well...” Astoria turns their hands over and spreads Draco’s fingers out gently so she can lay her hand directly on top of his. “That’s very nice of you to say, but I’m not the only person who can say things like that. Hermione Granger says them all the time.”

Draco pulls a face. “Yes, but that’s-“

“Different?”

He nods.

“How about this,” Astoria murmurs, now closing her fingers into the gaps between his. “You can say things like that too.”

Draco curls his fingers round her hand and looks up at her. “Can I?”

She nods. “I think so. And if it’s different coming from a Pureblood girl then just imagine what people will think when they hear it from a former Death Eater.”

Draco falls silent for a moment, once again staring down at their hands. He looks rather lost all of a sudden, overwhelmed, and Astoria squeezes his hand tighter to remind him that she’s there.

“When you’re sick,” he says finally. “When you’re in hospital, what’s it like?”

“Ugh,” she groans. “Really boring. I mostly just sleep all the time, because I’m too ill to do anything else.”

“Does it hurt?”

She nods. “Sometimes. And I get really weak. It’s difficult to do much, and when I try it hurts even more.”

Draco looks down at his tea cup, a slight frown creasing his forehead. “It’s difficult to imagine,” he murmurs. “When I said you don’t look ill... sometimes you do look tired, or pale, or... I’ve noticed that you get these bruises on your arms.”

“I bruise easily.”

“I know. Now I know why. But aside from all that...” He shakes his head and looks up at her. “I can’t think of anyone I know who’s so alive. That’s what I meant when I said- You’re always so bright. Even when I worry that you haven’t slept, you’re still...” He waves his fingers in a little starburst motion. “You’re still sparkling.”

Astoria gives a thin smile. “I try to keep up appearances. A lot of effort goes into it.”

“And how are you feeling right now?”

Astoria thinks. “I wasn’t expecting Daphne to turn up, and when she’s like that it’s tiring. But you’re always calm. Maybe that’s why I like you so much. So I’d say a solid seven out of ten. It’s a good day.”

“Seven out of ten is a good day,” he repeats, and it’s not a question or a judgement. It’s more like he’s making a mental note of the fact. “And these potions that you take. What are they? What do they do? Do you have to take them all at once, or?”

“Why?” She asks, squeezing his fingers. “That’s a lot of questions.” She can’t remember anyone asking her so much before, especially not about the details. Normally people don’t like to pry, or they’ve already been scared away.

“You don’t have to tell me. But if we’re going to spend more time together then it might be useful for me to know. Just in case.”

Astoria blinks at him in surprise. Of all the answers he could have given, that was the one she had least expected.

“Would you like me to show you?”

“Not if it’s inconvenient or too personal.”

“It’s not.” Astoria gets to her feet and collects the used tea cups on to a tray, which she picks up with a flick of her wand.

Draco follows her into the kitchen and waits as she unloads the cups and saucers into the sink. He looks around thoughtfully, and she watches him out of the corner of her eye, wondering what he’s thinking. Finally he clears his throat.

“Astoria?”

“Yes, Draco.”

“Do you have knives in here?”

It’s such a random question that she laughs and turns towards him. “Yes, it’s a kitchen. Of course I have knives. How else am I supposed to cook?”

“But you said earlier that if you cut yourself by accident... and what happens if you smash something?”

Her laughter fades. “I suppose it’s a fair question. I’m just careful. And I use magic a lot. But I’m not fragile. I’m not going to drop dead from a single speck of blood. And I suppose it’s risk and reward, isn’t it?”

“Go on,” Draco prompts.

Astoria leans against the worktop behind her. “Well... I could decide tomorrow that it’s my ambition to become a world class Beater.”

Draco smirks at her. “That would be quite the career change.”

Astoria shrugs. “Maybe it’s my calling in life. Or not, because I have terrible hand eye coordination. The first Bludger I missed would hit me smack in the face, give me a nose bleed, a black eye, and probably kill me. But if it was my dream and I thought it would be worth it, I’d probably still have a go. Risk and reward. That’s an extreme example, but I’m not going to not cook myself dinner or drink tea from my favourite tea set just because I might one day accidentally cut myself. That would be ludicrous.”

“Touché,” Draco says with a nod. “It won’t make me worry about you any less, but I do understand.”

“Good. I think. You wanted to see my potions?”

“I did.”

Astoria gestures upstairs. “Let’s go then.”

“Into the inner sanctum,” Draco says, with a smile that glitters mischievously.

Astoria swats at him. “It’s hardly a scandal. Looking at my delightfully boring medication.”

“I’m sure if our mothers found out they’d be appalled at the intimacy.”

“My mother is appalled by everything I do.” She catches hold of Draco’s hand and pulls him along the hall, up the stairs, and into her bathroom.

“This really is the inner sanctum,” Draco says, pausing in the doorway and looking around.

Astoria glances over her shoulder at him. “Have you never seen a bathroom before, Draco? Do you still use chamber pots at the Manor?”

“No. It’s just... your bathroom. It’s very revealing. You have fancy summer berry shampoo.”

“And chamomile and ginseng bubble bath. Well observed.” She opens the medicine cupboard above the sink and starts pulling out the potions, arranging them in an arc on the counter beside the sink. Draco sits on the closed toilet lid and picks up the first one.

“So this is...”

“For Blood Replenishment. When I forget to take that one, I pass out. It happened once in school. I nearly gave Flitwick a heart attack.”

“I hope you never made that mistake again.”

“Not yet.” She picks the next potion up and presents it to Draco. “This is a sort of thickening solution. It helps my blood to clot properly. There’s another stronger version I have to take if I actually cut myself, but that can kill me in a whole other variety of exciting ways.”

“Well that must be comforting,” Draco says drily. “The potion that’s meant to save your life can also kill you.”

“Oh it is. It’s reassuring to say the least.”

Draco looks at her and they share a smile as he reaches for the next bottle. There’s something about sharing dark jokes with him that makes her feel lighter. He’s not panicking or backing away. He’s taking this in his stride, and it’s wonderful.

“I know what this one is,” he says, reading the label on the largest bottle, a big round thing full of purple potion. “It’s a Painkilling Potion. A very mild one.”

“Ten points to Slytherin. And this one?” Astoria hands him a much smaller bottle of blue liquid.

Draco squints at the tiny writing on the label, then shakes his head. “No idea. It just looks complicated.”

“It helps with my immune system. I’m not very good at fighting off diseases. Apparently most of the people who’ve had this curse before me have died of another illness, not the curse itself. So don’t sneeze on me, Malfoy.”

“That won’t be a problem,” Draco says loftily. “Malfoys don’t get sick.”

Astoria laughs. “When it’s winter and you’re moping around with a cold I’m going to remind you that you said that.”

Draco waves her away. “And the last one?”

“A Strengthening Solution. It’s the newest one I take, and it’s good. It helps me recover faster. But I don’t have much appetite while I’m taking it.”

“Have you told anyone about that?” Draco asks.

“Daphne’s going to love you,” Astoria smiles. “She asked the exact same thing. I’m going to talk to them about it next week.”

“Good. You need to eat. That seems important.”

Astoria sits cross-legged on the floor and beams up at him. “Seriously. I think you’ve just won my sister’s heart.”

Draco examines the last bottle for a few more seconds, then he sets it down with a soft clink of glass on porcelain and looks at Astoria, expression serious. “I have never done anything like this before,” he says softly. “I don’t know anyone else who’s ill like this. I don’t know if I’d be any good as a bedside companion. I don’t know if I can be the person you need. I certainly doubt whether I’m the person you deserve — you could do so much better than me, we both know that.”

“That’s still not true,” Astoria interjects.

“We’ll agree to disagree. But what I’m trying to say is that... if you want me, I’ll do my best to learn all this.” He waves a hand at the line up of potion bottles on the side. “The medication, and when you need to rest, and I don’t know. What food you need to eat, all of that. When you’re in hospital I’ll visit you, if you’re not sick of me. And like I say, I might be terrible at it. You might want me to go away. But I’ll do my best, and if that’s not good enough I’ll do better. Because I do love you, Astoria. Very much. And although I know I can’t understand yet what I’m getting into here... It’s a risk I’ll take, because this is your life, and I do think that I’d like to be as much a part of it as you’ll allow me to be.”

Astoria gazes up at him from the floor, and in a sweeping flood all the emotions she’s been holding back, the hope and worry and love and now relief, come rushing in. She blinks hard against hot tears that sting her eyes, and she rests a shaking hand against the sink to steady her as she rises onto her knees and reaches out to Draco with her other hand.

He takes it in both of his and squeezes it tight. “Are you okay?”

She nods. “Mmhmm.” It comes out high-pitched and squeaky, and she sucks in a trembling breath. “Okay. I just... would quite like to kiss you now.”

“I would be amenable to that.” He lends her enough strength to pull herself to her feet and when she stumbles upright, he shuffles sideways on the toilet seat to make room beside him.

Reason tells her that this isn’t romantic or hygienic, but her heart isn’t paying any attention. It’s thumping very hard in his chest, and it only gets louder as she sits beside Draco and reaches up to cup his cheek with her hand.

“Did you really just say you love me?” She asks, brushing her thumb along the sharp ridge of his cheekbone.

He nods, a sharp, silver intensity in his eyes. “I believe I did. I hope it’s not a problem, because I don’t want to apologise for it.”

“It’s not a problem,” she murmurs. “I was actually just thinking that I love you too.”

A little smile flickers across his lips. “Well isn’t that convenient.”

“Very.” She steadies his face with her other hand, then leans up and kisses him with as much warm, solid gratitude as she can manage.

He threads his fingers into her hair, supporting the back of her head in a gentle, steady grip, and she smiles against his lips. This afternoon probably couldn’t have gone any better. That doesn’t mean any of this is going to be easy, but it’s a start. Now he knows, now she has her answers, and she can’t help but think that Daphne is going to be thrilled.

#Harry Potter and the Cursed Child #Cursed Child Fic #HPCC Fic #Cursed Child #Drastoria #Astoria Greengrass #Draco Malfoy #Daphne Greengrass #My writing #Keep The Secrets #astoriafest #astoriafest 2019 #cc squad #This is my first of two fics for this fest #and I'm trying to write fics that put Astoria at the centre of her own narrative #and particularly which give a voice to the other women of CC and beyond as well #(although I'm still not sure what my second fic is going to be...)#(that's tomorrow's job!)

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professional-anti · 6 years

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Chapter Six: Forsaken

Chapter Six: Forsaken Aka Nazgûl. Anyhoo, Clary meets Alec and Jace in the weapons room. Alec is still hardcore judging her, but honestly, at least he’s not sucking her dick like Hodge. Our parabatai/parabros are polishing some seraph blades made by ppl Jace calls the Iron Sisters. I wonder if they’ll come back up, or if this is just another unnecessary detail.

Clary asks the perfectly reasonable question of if the blades are made by magic, and Jace shits on mundanes:

“The funny thing about mundies,” Jace said, to nobody in particular, “is how obsessed they are with magic for a bunch of people who don’t even know what the word means.”

Um,,,,, this means what exactly? mag·ic ˈmajik/ noun noun: magic 1 1.  the power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces.

So far, everything has been supernatural. Please tell me, Jace, about your super speshul definition of magic that will totally be nothing like this definition.

“Magic is a dark and elemental force, not just a lot of sparkly wands and crystal balls and talking goldfish.”

Clary rightfully gets annoyed at him bc he’s been fucking ridiculous. Asking if some crazy angel knives were made by magic is nothing like asking about sparkly wands and crystal balls and flue powder whatever the hell else Jace wants to bitch about. Also, steles? Wands. Crystal balls will probably come up. Talking goldfish? Give it time. Jace gives a suberdumb comparison metaphor that I’m not even gonna type out. Clary tells Jace that’s he’s driveling, and I wish she’d go off like this more. Alec unexpectedly joins team Clary and tells her that they don’t do magic.

????????? What do you call your steles and runes, then??????????? They’re literally spells??????? Cassie has just come up with this random definition of magic that makes no sense and leaves a lot of other stuff undefined. If steles aren’t magic, what are they?????

Clary asks Jace to take her to her apartment and ohhhhhhh I get it. Alec is jealous bc he has a crush on Jace. Why, Alec?? You could do so much better!! And you will do better!!! Alec is my BFF rn bc I also have a crush on my straight best friend, rip me. It’s just gay culture. But Jace shouldn’t even be into Clary. They just met. Gag me with a spoon.

Jace admits that he wasn’t totally sure that Clary was a Shadowhunter before using the stele on her, but it seems like she would have died if he hadn’t done it, so idk. I’m mad, but I got bigger problems, you know what I’m saying?

CLARY SLAPS HIM. CLARY SLAPS HIM. CLARY SLAPS HIM.

(source: https://giphy.com/gifs/harry-potter-hermione-granger-draco-malfoy-okjBrdrg20LZu)

Go OFF. Okay, so Jace goes into “an angry silence”. Boo hoo. Clary feels guilty and I’m gonna slap HER bc no one needed a slap more than Jace. All he’s done so far is mock her and make her feel bad!! It isn’t Witty Banter or Flirting, it’s just rude AF. But I’m glad the narrative seems to realize that, at least a little. It still won’t stop Clary from falling in love with him, sigh.

Ohhhhhh noooo we get some of that “Clary isn’t like other girls!” bullshit:

Farther down the train, two teenage girls sitting on an orange bench seat were giggling together. The sort of girls Clary had never liked at St. Xavier’s, sporting pink jelly mules and fake tans. Clary wondered for a moment if they were laughing at her, before she realized with a start of surprise that they were looking at Jace.

Bc girls who like boys are always Sluts and Skanks who wear those ugly jelly mules and get *gasp* tans!! There’s nothing inherently wrong with giggling or wearing fashionable shoes (were these fashionable in 2007? I was but a child then) or getting fake tans. But Cassie is doing this to show us that these are the stereotypical girls, and stereotypical girls are annoying and boy-crazy and not to be trusted. Clary is short, remember? She’s Not Like Other Girls.

Also, what is the deal with Jace? I’m legit confused. I’ve never seen a man so attractive that I had to stop and giggle out loud with my friends. We might whisper or text about it, but boys, contrary to popular belief, don’t send girls into tailspins. And if a boy does? There’s nothing wrong with the girl. She’s not dumb for giggling!!!

Ohhh boy.

She remembered the girl in the coffee shop who had been staring at Simon. Girls always got that look on their faces when they thought someone was cute.

Always. We always get that look on our faces when we see someone attractive. Does CC realize that girls are not a homogenous group? And remember, Clary’s not putting herself in the group of girls. She’s too special for that look. That’s for the airhead girls. (This is why it’s totally possible for CC to write Anti-Semitic crap, btw. Bc as we see here, she also writes sexist crap.)

Clary angsts for a little bit about how Jace’s looks are so different from Alec’s “cameo looks” (???) and then daydreams about Jace’s eyes. They have some dumb banter about the girls. Jace explains about Alec being his parabatai which is just a fancy term for fighting partners. I WANT CLARY AND ISABELLE TO BE PARABATAI but these books are sexist so I doubt it but OMG YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS MY SHIP NOW. BC IT’S THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT CC WANTS AND I DON’T CARE!!!!

*Happy sigh* (this video warmed my cold bisexual heart)

Okay. Back to business. Jace says that the Lightwoods are his adopted family, and they get to her apartment. Jace pulls out the Sensor and explains that it senses demons/demon energy. Who designs these? Why is it the only thing we’ve seen so far that merges magic and tech? Is Elba all a merge of magic and tech? If Shadowhunters can merge magic and tech, why do they use such archaic weapons? Who designs the magical technology? I have so many questions and I’m sure approximately none of them will be answered.

They go into the apartment and all the furniture has been removed. Everything’s weirdly cold, and when she tries to go into her room, the door punches her or something. It’s a little unclear. There’s a giant in the apartment!! Jace tries to fight the giant and rushes Clary out of the apartment. They very cleverly shut the front door, and the giant bangs right through it. Jace falls down the stairs fighting it and breaks his arm, so I guess it’s time for some poorly written hurt/comfort. Also, the seraph blades are disposable??? And you have to name them before using them, and I’m not sure where these names are coming from. Like, you name it, and then a blade bursts out of a hollow tube. I’m honestly imaging these:

Ugh, AP Bio labs were the WORST. Jace tells Clary not to watch bc she’s a child I guess and kills the giant. Then he draws a rune on his skin that heals him, so I stand corrected on the hurt/comfort front. Clary has a random memory of her mother being covered in faded scars that look like Jace’s faded rune, and, even knowing what she does now about glamor and magic shit, goes “oh, but that’s not really what her back looked like.”

I think Clary might actually be really dumb?

Clary’s also fucking shocked that Jace’s arm is healed and it’s just. She knows about runes. She knows about demons and giants and people who are half angel, and this still gets her?

It turns out that the guy isn’t actually a giant, just a former person who was drawn on with a stele. Now he’s one of the Nine Riders, in thrall to a ring…ahem. Forsaken are controlled by the ppl who drew on them with their magic sharpies. Jace starts to go upstairs to check for more, and Madame Dorothea pops out like: “There are more where that came from!” Umm. It’s a pretty small apartment, no? I feel like they already checked everywhere.

Jace gets really confused bc even though he explained to Clary that witches are mundanes who can do some magic not a single chapter ago, he still doesn’t understand how Madame Dorothea knows anything. Dory gets dramatic about the Clave, which I appreciate. They suck. Then Dory tells Clary to forget about her mom, and Clary understandably freaks out. Dory’s all, I’m not getting involved, hun. But then Jace threatens her with the Silent Brothers, and she invites them in. She also drops Jace’s real name, Wayland, and Jace is like, Yo wtf.

Anyway, they go in. The end.

#anti cassandra clare #anti the mortal instruments #book snark #CoB: Chapter 6 #CoB snark

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thysurveys · 6 years

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760.

1. What is something you like to think about while you fall asleep? My future.

2. What was the overall tone of your last phone conversation? I was surprised.

3. Is there anyone that you are drifting away from? When was the last time you talked to that person? I was and more than likely have. There is more than one person. I’ve drifted from a lot of people since last year.

4. Can you describe what love feels like, physically? It’s exhausting, but all at the same time, I feel so, so happy with my relationship.

5. What is something that survey-takers do that gets on your nerves? Nothing.

6. Have you ever asked anyone what they really think of you? What was their response? Yes, actually. Thankfully they’ve been decently nice responses?

7. Is there anything or anyone that you have an obsession with? If yes, when/how did it start? Yes. It started since I was a kid, really.

8. How often do you use ketchup? How about other condiments? Rarely. Also rarely.

9. If you are afraid of the dark, what makes it scary to you? I used to be. I sort of still am if I am already anxious. The unknown.

10. Have you ever had anyone make fun of your for a fear you have? Sort of?

11. What is the worst trouble you have ever been in? I don’t actually know.

12. How long do you spend brushing your teeth? Does it bother you when other people don’t brush their teeth? Few minutes. I mean, it’s good if you do. Nobody fancies bad breath, let’s be real.

13. Who do you trust more: your parents or your friends? None.

14. If you woke up to discover that you were 9 years old again (back in your same 9-year-old life, but with your current mental abilities), how would you react, and how would you spend your time? Good question. I have no freaking idea what I would do or how I would react. I would more than likely have a panic attack because, I’m fucking 9 years old again?

15. How long do you think you could tolerate going without showering? Not very long at all. I barely last a day most days.

16. If you had the power to control minds, what would you do with it? I’d help people think positively.

17. What is so great about your favorite place? Nature, the freedom. The scenery.

18. How long did you spend cuddling with the last person you cuddled with? 30 minutes, maybe. We fell asleep.

19. What is a question that you have a hard time answering? What do you want to do with your life? < Mhm.

20. You are completely alone with your favorite celebrity/person/whoever. What do you do? Nothing. I am alone with my favourite person very often.

21. Do you consider anyone you know to be a slut? What do you think makes someone a slut? Nope. I don’t really use nor like the word “slut”. It’s disrespectful if you sleep with someone who has a partner, but otherwise, if you’re single, and they’re single... go for it.

22. If you had the power to instantly transform someone’s life (for the better), who would you choose to use this on? This is an easy one. Kevin. He has been through so much in such a short period of time and I would do absolutely anything to make it all okay again for him.

23. You wake up to a ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE. Your family is safe, but most of your city is zombified. You need weapons and various other supplies. What is your first general course of action? I would gather everyone together and think of ideas? I don’t know!

24. If a family member (or boyfriend/girlfriend, if you have one) happened to be infected by one of these undead creatures, how would you go about dealing with that situation? I’d make sure I was infected too then. I don’t want to live without my family nor Kevin.

25. Would you rather spend time with Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, or Edward Cullen and Jacob Black? What would you do while with them? Harry and Draco.

26. What is something that you do that others might think that you are weird for doing? I don’t know. I’m sure there’s a lot.

27. If you could relive a part of your life in exactly the way it happened, what part would it be? What importance does this event have to you? Last year, 22 of July. It was the night Kevin’s life changed. As well as August 9 of last year.

28. What is something that you wish you could remember? More of my past, maybe? But that may also be a good thing I don’t remember.

29. Does it bother you when surveys ask about political or cultural topics that could possibly be controversial? Yeah, sort of. Sometimes.

30. Does someone’s view on homosexuality effect how you feel about them in any way? Well, yeah. It does.

31. How about someone’s view on religion? Not really, no. It depends, I guess.

32. What is something you do (if anything) that you could get in trouble for if you were caught? Speeding? Haha. I don’t know.

33. When you cry or laugh uncontrollably, does it sound strange/funny? Probably.

34. If you were paralyzed from the neck down, would you still want to continue living? Why or why not? It would be extremely difficult. I would more than likely think of dying more than once, for sure, but I can’t leave behind people who love me. That isn’t fair.

35. What are your general thoughts on suicide? I don’t know. I mean, I do. But it’s complicated, you know? I don’t know.

36. Have you ever known anyone with an eating disorder? Yes.

37. Has any medication you’ve taken ever made you sick? How so? Mhm. Just nauseous.

38. What is something you wear that others might consider unfashionable? Idk.

39. Do you tend to make rude comments about the way people look/dress, or about what stereotype they might belong to? Nope.

40. Do you think the type of shoes you wear says anything about your personality? Not always, no.

#surveys #survey #question #questions #quiz #personal #bored #misc

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cursewoodrecap · 4 years

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Session 2: Academics and Debates

Due to DnD being scheduling hell, Clem the fighter is Definitely Standing Just Offscreen this session. Meanwhile, the DM introduces two mechanics he has been dying to try out: Corruption, and the Deck.

There will be a full post about Corruption later (when DM tells us how the rest of it works, lol) but the point is this: the longer you stay in the cursed forest, the deeper you go, the more you experience there - the more cursed you become. It corrupts you. You can earn corruptions in various ways - cosmetic (looking more monstrous and less humanoid); psychological (e.g. feeling a compulsion for bloodlust or gaining a terrible phobia); or others I have forgotten about right now, at 9:50pm, while eating lasagna.

Certain things that happen when in the woods give you points toward a score called Taint. (Heh heh heh.) We, uh, lost our Taint virginity this session. (No, DM, we will not stop. You brought this upon yourself.)

The Deck is a deck of cards used to determine encounters. Again, full post later, but it has such cards as “The Hunt,” “The Crown,” “The Wanderer,” etc. Each one can symbolize multiple things. For example, “The Crown” represents authority and government, so it could mean help from Duke Shieldeater’s forces - or it could mean a dangerous clash with enemy soldiers.

ANYWAY, STUFF HAPPENED:

We woke in the Temple of Rack in the village of Ovruch, early in the grey dawn hours. There was brief scramblin’ around as the players did math to figure out how much starting wealth we all had and how much spare change those bandits had left lying around for us. Valeria spent some of the money overnight to make some Holy Water.

We scooted on out of the town without really saying much to anyone - the few people awake and the guards on patrol were definitely giving us Looks, but we didn’t really stop to chat.

Shoshana leads the way towards the ravine she had directed Sir Balderich to. Even in the 8 months since she’s been out in this direction, the woods have gotten darker and more foreboding, alarmingly tangled and twisted. A decent Survival check does right by us, and DM directs Shoshana, as the one rolling it, to draw a card from the Deck. She draws The Crown.

The Crown: Authority, government. A bit of good luck (and perhaps DM guilt?) leads us to a fortuitous find: an abandoned cart bearing the seal of the Royal House of Valdia, smashed and overgrown. There’s a strongbox off to the side, nestled in a hard-to-see place, miraculously untouched by bandits. Gral examines it, wondering if he might be able to coax open the lock...when the pommel of a shining sword just slams down and smashes the lock mechanism to smithereens. Thanks for the crit, Valeria.

We find: 100gp, 4 jewelry items of 25gp value each (1 mirror, 1 bracelet, and 2 rings), a silver dagger (given to Gral), and a bladeless sword hilt carved in runes. Gral and Shoshana determine that the sword hilt is not evil and probably magic, but hell if we know what it does.

We travel onward, and Valeria draws the next card: The Wanderer. The DM cannot suppress his glee, because he has an NPC he really really likes and it’s time to use him!

We hear shouting in a strange language - Draco-Aquilian, which only Valeria knows. Also generally crashing mayhem noises. We hustle on closer, and Valeria understands that the person is shouting “OH GOD! LIGHTNING DOESN’T WORK! LIGHTNING DOESN’T WOOOORK!”

There is a cart, drawn by two lizardlike beasts of burden. There is a Shambling Mound trying to engulf the cart and its inhabitants. Two Goliaths, a male and a female, are all tangled up in the thing, and there is a skinny, fancily-dressed blue Dragonborn generally panicking atop the cart. Being PCs, we attempt to kick butt. It eats Valeria (a helpful Goliath pulls her out), Shoshana sprays it with weedkiller, and we all go “???!?! WE ARE LEVEL 2″ but we don’t die. Valeria uses a Smite of some sort that looks like glowing vines snake through its plant form and burst into roses!!! It’s very Sailor Moon. Valeria gains 3 Taint for dropping to 0 HP while in a Cursed area.

The fancy Dragonborn hops down from the damaged cart and addresses Valeria in Draco-Aquilian, which nobody else speaks. “Greetings! I certainly must say, I did not expect to be rescued by a Knight of the Rose! I am Lucinius Galvan, Professor of Archaeology of the University of Aurentium!” He and Valeria chat a moment - “Argent? Oh I’m sure I’ve heard that name-” “Daughter of Renata and Bastion of the Silver Steppes.” “Oh, of course! The princess who became a knight! I’m merely an Earl myself-”

a) Yes, I wrote down your lore, feel free to correct my spelling; b) They’re speaking Fancy Dragon Words so the other characters don’t know any of this.

We also meet his Goliath bodyguards, Bjorn and Ingborg, who speak...not that much Valdian. They are Vangarians - part of a highly professional force of mercenaries rented out by the Draco-Aquilian Emperor. Extremely practical in the face of nonsense. Lucinius, meanwhile, requests them to bring out Tea! and Fancy Teacups! and Breakfast! and little stools to sit on! Bjorn complies, long-sufferingly. Shoshana is Awkward Turtle about fancy rich people things, and Gral is pretty suspicious but definitely has some jam and toast.

“I say! Are you local to this area, madam?” he inquires. Turns out he’s searching for some Aquilian ruins in the area, and Shoshana is able to give him decent directions to the spot she used to play in as a child. He describes his research - there’s a presentation, with visual aids. Bjorn tries to save us from having to sit through it, but academia cannot be stopped. Why did the Aquilian Empire never conquer the Greatwood? We must DO ARCHAEOLOGY about it!!!

Also, he identifies the mysterious sword hilt as, functionally, a scroll of Flame Blade. Neat! Due to a conversational mix up between etymology and entomology, he gives us a magic beetle that acts as a floating lamp. We love our Rune Beetle. (He pulls it out of “one of his many pockets,” and is immediately declared to be wearing the world’s fanciest Tacky Fisherman Vest.)

He’s ready to cheerfully forge on into the forest! Gral and Shoshana quietly pull Bjorn aside and warn him that the Cursewood is, like, super cursed? Did you guys not notice??? Bjorn and Ingborg thank us for the information, and continue on their way, almost certainly figuring out how to put a child leash on the adorable fancylizard.

Gral draws the third and final card of the night: The Outlaw. We come across a small camp: the bandits who attacked Ovruch the night before. Gral overhears them - their leader, the largest and most imposing, is threatening the others into compliance. They are uneasy - the wolves ran away last night after the werewolf was killed; can they trust the freaks in the ravine not to betray them? Doesn’t matter! The freaks in the ravine will eat them if they don’t cooperate, and they’ll get better loot by working with ‘em.

Shoshana is like “welp,” and rolls up her sleeves, but Valeria very nobly goes “NO, there must be Another Way.”

“Uh, you do realize those are the guys who KILLED INNOCENT PEOPLE yesterday, right?”

“And we just heard they’re being coerced! We don’t have to just kill them.”

Valeria strides into the bandit camp in a Nonthreatening Pose, weapons down. The bandits all jump to alertness, because Large Dragonperson In Armor, Oh No. She begins to offer them another option - we don’t know if she’s thought of one yet, but dang does she roll well on her Persuasion check to get them to listen. The bandits are going “...hmm, IS there another way?” but their leader, the madness of the Curse in his eyes, orders them to attack.

We kick their butts; Valeria deliberately nonlethals the bandit leader into unconsciousness. Gral offers the other bandits a harsh but fair option out: “Travel south, to where Duke Shieldeater’s forces are clear-cutting forest in order to hold back the Curse. Volunteer yourself for manual labor there. You will be treated fairly, if you work. In your spare time you will learn Orcish, for we have need of translators.”

The bandits, who have all gained Brooklyn accents, say, “Okay, deal, but...your friend there ain’t gonna kill us as we leave, is she?”

Because as they spoke, Shoshana had definitively Chill Touched their leader to death.

She agrees she’s not going to kill the bandits, but they better get the fuck out of here.

We also grill the bandits for information on The Hunt, which is what the “freaks in the ravine” call themselves. We learn that they sleep with wolves around them, and those that disagree with them are hunted for sport. There are traps set up around the perimeter of their territory - that’s how they captured the knight, who they are now keeping in some kind of cage. The bandits are unsure of the identity of the main leader - there was Lupo, the werewolf we killed last night, but they mostly listen to this Weird Guy In A Hood. Also, there is a huntress-woman, an archer girl. Shoshana freezes, and carefully asks who the huntress is, and what she looks like. They say she’s spooky; the shadows cling to her.

The knight is caged in the ravine, the part where it gets supernaturally dark. Most of the camp is outside The Darkness, but there’s a cave down there where the Huntress and the Weird Hooded Guy and Lupo lived. They bring the bandit leaders down there sometimes, to show them who’s in charge.

Also there’s this war-boar running around, with a dead Demish knight still strapped to its back?

We let the bandits (whose accents have swapped to Southern) escape, and then Valeria and Shoshana have what some folks call a “spirited ethical debate,” which in layman’s terms means they are PISSED at each other.

Valeria is shocked and appalled that Shoshana would kill an unconscious man. Especially when the bandits were surrendering and cooperating! Monstrous and brutal behavior. How could you?

Shoshana angrily stands by her decision. “How many people did those men kill last night?” she asks. “People I grew up with. And you think letting these bandits go free is worth letting them do that to innocent people again? Their leader was already Curse-mad. Too far gone.” (To be fair, she is too pissed off in the moment, and her player too awkward, to articulate her position this eloquently.)

Valeria erases 3 Taint for doing something so noble and heroic against the will of the Curse. Shoshana gains 3 Taint for acting in a way encouraged by the Curse.

With nothing to do but simmer at each other, and Gral diplomatically not choosing a side out loud, there is nothing to do but move on.

DM agrees that we could take a long rest now and reach the ravine by 4 or 5 pm. We jump at the chance to get our spell slots back, but each take 3 Taint for spending so long out here in the cursed lands.

All characters are now level 3.

#session recap #shoshana bat chaya #gral omokk'duu #valeria argent #ovruch #the ravine #the hunt

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tomriidle · 7 years

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on this special edition of fic rec friday we celebrate both my upcoming birthday (cough august 13 cough) as well as the time i re-entered the fanfiction world and never looked back 5 years ago. here are 17 of my favoritest fics that i’ve read over the years. (note: please check the warnings of each fic before reading them) enjoy!

They Also Serve by elecktrum [ NARNIA ]

“A companion piece to my story 'Into the West' from Edmund's point of view. As Peter journeys westwards on his quest, Edmund must endure both Jadis' curse and the pain of being left behind.“

Vantage Point Universe by Aggie2011 [ AVENGERS ]

an entire universe of 30+ fics chronicling the life of clint barton, both pre and post-avengers. features clint&coulson brotp/father-son relationship and clintasha. aka pure bliss and heartache.

Fate’s Favourite by The Fictionist [ TOMARRY ]

“You always get the stories where Harry goes back into Tom Riddle's time, then either stays or gets sent back. End of, unless he tries to make Voldemort good. But what if things went differently? What if, just once, someone followed a time traveller back?“

Death of Today by Epic Solemnity [ HARRYMORT... slightly ]

‘COMPLETE LV/HP: Raised in a Muggle orphanage, Harry arrives at Hogwarts a bitter boy. Unusually intelligent, he's recruited by the Unspeakables and the Death Eaters at a young age. As he grows older, he constantly has to struggle to keep his footing around a manipulative and bored Dark Lord, who fancies mind games and intellectual entertainment.“

steel in your hand by Mira-Jade [ SIFKI ]

“For war and trickery have been entwined from time's beginning, until star's last light.“

Son of the Sea God by Sassenach082 [ PJO ]

“Zeus kills Sally Jackson with his master bolt when Percy is six months old, drastically changing Percy's life and the course of his future. AU.”

Tainted by Macx [ Jurassic World ]

“Jurassic World: Owen Grady had always had a talent for animals. It ran in the family. Masrani Global recruited him to train raptors. It was a novel idea, something only a crazy or insane person would attempt. Owen wasn't crazy or insane. He knew he could do this, though his grandfather had always warned him: don't get too close. Don't let them connect. Well, too late. Way too late.“

The Blossom by warrior4 [ REDWALL ]

“We know about Martin's backstory, but what about another who was important to Redwall's first Warrior?“

Hold On by Crookshanks.x [ DRAMIONE ]

“Hermione is stuck at the Order Headquarters while some of the others are on mission and she's worried out of her mind. She's been in denial for so long, but her growing concern starts to bring out things she didn't know she felt. DHr. Oneshot.“

take a deep breath (and let it go) by lincesque [ GRAMANDER ]

“His father taps his finger against his inked wrist and smiles, loving and fond.

“They say that your ink represents the soul of your other half, an unbreakable bond between you and the one you’re destined to be with.”

a soulmate au where people are marked with an ink tattoo that fills with colour only when they touch their soulmate for the first time.

(aka the one where newt has a thunderbird across his wrist and an entire world to search)”

Us by Pangea [ CHERIK ]

““Charles,” Erik says, and if his voice hits a pleading note then who can really blame him, “Charles, it’s me.”

It takes several longer moments before Charles musters up the strength to answer, breath stuttering horribly as he tries to breathe. He’s shaking, entire body trembling.

“Erik,” Charles says, his voice cracking, “Erik, I want to die.”“

Looks Can Be Deceiving by corvusdraconis [ HARRY POTTER ]

“AU/AO/EWE: What if Severus Snape had taken Hermione Granger under wing secretly during her time at Hogwarts? What if Draco Malfoy really wasn't the bigot he let everyone think he was?(Follows canon mostly up until the end of GoF, and then detours off into AU territory w/Severus as father figure)”

a switchblade is my preferred weapon by badacts [ ANDREIL ]

“The Foxes take on an injured Kevin Day, and get a Raven-trained backliner with a point to prove into the bargain.“

Allegiance by KaelinaLoveLomaris [ STAR WARS ]

“Luke is captured by Imperials while on a mission and ends up needing his father's help getting out of a tricky situation. What follows is shameless Luke and Vader father-son bonding, with plenty of action, angst, and fluff, as Vader finally has his son at his side and plots to destroy the Emperor. Everyone's favorite Imperial, Admiral Piett, plays a large role, as does Luke's fellow pilot, Wedge Antilles, and Boba Fett will probably make an appearance.

Post ESB AU, with canon divergence. This is not Dark!Luke. It is eventual Vader redemption.“

Eye of the Beholder by elecktrum [ NARNIA ]

“Told from various points of view, this is the story of two battles: one against a ruthless enemy, the other to save the life of the High King.“

Equally Cursed and Blessed by Mina1 [ STAR WARS ]

“Luke Skywalker, battered and bruised after his collision with destiny on Bespin, is called upon by the Alliance for a desperate rescue mission that goes horribly wrong. There's only one person who can save him: his father.“

Keeping Appearances by EscapeFromReality [ HARRY POTTER ]

“Harry walks the halls of Hogwarts seriously injured and is confronted by the Slytherins. They take him to Snape, who uses Legilimency to make a startling discovery. Is Dumbledore really who he says he is? Is Harry really on the right side of the war?“

#fic rec friday #fic rec #when i say fic rec i really mean reccing of fics i've recced multiple times #not that it matters 10/10 would reccomend to read #xoxo idk why im doing this #lol enjoy

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malfoygrass · 7 years

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Vipers and Hemlock drops

Lucius Malfoy loathed and admired his daughter in law with equal intensity, but mostly he just loathed her.

If he were to say exactly why he did, he’d publicly claim that little Astoria was a sad dissapointment to his family name and that he didn’t like her blood traitor tendencies anymore than he liked her simpering personality.

But the truth was deeper than that, Lucius disliked Astoria because unlike Draco he could not manipulate her and by extension she used her influence to twart any of his attempts to do it to Draco. From the moment his son had introduced his future wife to him, the girl’s eyes had sparkled with defiance and Lucius, smart man that he was, knew that the little brat would be nothing but trouble.

Harry Potter had taught Lucius not to underestimate children but it was Astoria Greengrass who would make the hard lesson stick. Cold wars were things Malfoys exeled at and fortune had seen fit for little Astoria to be cut from the same cloth of their lot, because he knew that the silent war he fought against her would probably last until long after Lucius was dead.

On paper Lucius couldn’t find any fault in her breeding, she was as pure as Pansy Parkinson, even more if the rumors about the origins of her bloodline were to be believed, her father had stayed neutral in the war, she was educated, wealthy, well spoken, posessed good taste in clothing and her family conections had survived the fallout of not one but TWO wars, not to mention she was beautiful, graceful and talented, indeed some waging tongues would even dare to say that such a jewel was too good for HIS son and there lay the problem.

Contrary to what it seemed on the outside, Hyperion Greengrass hadn’t raised a fool and Astoria was every inch the Slytherin he sometimes wished Draco could be.

Had Draco chosen a different pureblood girl, someone more insecure or a a bit more desirous for attention, Lucius would have been satisfied, but that wasn’t the girl he chose, Draco had to fall in love with a girl who wasn’t afraid of his father and that made Lucius seethe.

Oh she was respectful enough to his face of course, if she hadn’t been Lucius would have gotten a reason to complain about her and the girl was smart enough to know she needed to avoid antagonizing him (too much), it was the resentful glint in her eyes and the subtle purse of mouth whenever she looked at him that made the Malfoy patriarch know he’d never like her.

Because Astoria didn’t want his good opinion, she blamed him for what happened to Draco during the war. And in her eyes, he was the enemy. And that’s why Lucius loathed her.

Her body language spoke for her in ways her mouth didn’t. Whenever Lucius entered the room, Astoria’s hands would automatically reach for Draco’s arm in what anyone watching would consider an affectionate motion, she’d subtly take a small step in front of him and her feet would angle towards the nearest exit, even when she was required to be in the same place for hours, her body never lost the protective stance as long as Lucius was present.

No matter her tiny stature and funny health, she thought that Draco needed to be protected…from his own father.

And Lucius couldn’t even find a way to complain to Draco about that, because what would he even say “the girl you keep bringing home thinks I’m likely to kill you?” Even in his head it sounded ridiculous. Because even alluding to the subject with Draco would mean they would have to actually talk about why Astoria Greengrass felt that way.

And Lucius wasn’t stupid, she was a girl inlove and one way or another Lucius was responsible for the majority of the hurt Draco had suffered in his life, love made people irrational and this was a perfect example of it especially in pureblood girls who were used to manipulating their way to victory. Astoria loved Draco, her affections ran deep, she fancied him to be the only one she’d ever love and she would use all her resources to protect and support him in ways even Narcissa herself couldn’t aspire to. That in and on itself was a problem.

Astoria Greengrass had many masks to wear everyday and Lucius Malfoy liked to think he saw trough every one of them right down to the evildoer she was inside, oh she could pretend to be the perfect daughter, sister, socialite and girlfriend all she wanted but Lucius knew she hated him, it was there pulsing in her veins and coating her hands when she balled her pretty manicured fists and hid them in the pockets of her dress, a impulse to hiss and bare her pretty teeth like the hydra she was, next to Voldemort and maybe Bellatrix, Lucius Malfoy was probably the only person in the world that Astoria Greengrass could bring herself to hate and he knew it.

Draco might think the girl incapable of true hatred and maybe she was, but Lucius hadn’t married into the Black family witout knowing the difference between murder and disdain in the glare of a heiress and the Malfoy gardens had flourished more than once feeding on the bodies of people that brought displeasure to the likes of little Astoria.

Yes Draco respected him still, only out of filial love perhaps but his son’s love was always something Lucius could count on even when Draco didn’t agree with him and no longer supported his supremacist ideals, even if the admiration had long faded from Draco’s eyes, he was still his son and Malfoy men had a way of bonding that no outsider could break. But marrying that interloper had been one insult Lucius hadn’t been able to forgive.

How could Draco have done that? To HIM?.

Lucius agreed with Narcissa in the beleif that it was that girl’s fault, because that’s what she was to Lucius, in his mind his son’s wife would forever be ‘the girl’ a chit fresh out of school who hated him, because considering Astoria a woman would in turn force him to aknowledge that Draco was also a man grown capable of leading his own life without parental interference and Lucius didn’t think he’d ever consider Draco a man.

His son was his legacy, Lucius had taught Draco how to walk, how to use a wand, how to wear his robes in a way befitting a Malfoy, he’d been there in his son’s first quiddich match, bought him his first broom and personally chosen all of Draco’s school books and pushed him in the direction of a perfectly acceptable (if a bit ruthless) pureblood mate that was Pansy Parkinson. Nobody would ever understand how deep it hurt Lucius to see his son being led astray by a girl and not any girl either, but one that Lucius couldn’t outright squish.

Draco might still hold regard for him but Lucius knew that his son would never trust him again, not after his imprisonment brought on the mission to assassinate Dumbledore and how could it not hurt?. His own son who once thought the world of him, now worried that he’d do something to his wife if Draco left them alone for more than five minutes.

She was the first enemy of his that was both resilient and evenly matched to anything Lucius threw at her. In fact the Malfoy patriarch suspected that Astoria enjoyed any opportunity to exercise those barely used tallons on the fabric of his temper. The cloying cunning that Draco found so endearing in his wife, was a deadly weapon constantly used against Lucius and for the life of him Lucius couldn’t understand why Draco didn’t see his sweet Astoria for the awful threat she was.

But Lucius couldn’t force the chit to leave Draco, because every Slytherin could recognize a fellow snake and Astoria had been raised in the nest that produced the strongest ones up to date. She was not the wilting flower everyone thought she was, her apparent ideal wifely attributes only made her more relentless when defending herself against him.

She was educated about her ancestry and her blood status meant she knew enough lore of the sacred twenty eight to be vindictive if Lucius used any slurs or insults about the black sheep in her family. Because for every disowned family member in the Greengrass genealogy, the Malfoys had three, and she wasn’t above reminding him of that time Draco’s ten times Great Uncle was caught bedding pigs (His son, besotted as he was, never saw her barbs as the guerrilla tactics they were, but Lucius did)

Her family’s wealth meant that she couldn’t be bribed with pretty trinkets and worse, she also could ocassionally buy out one or two reporters if say ‘something ghastly’ landed her in the front page of witch weekly, on top of that some of them even did her favors to enhance the angelic public image that she tried to cultivate to buffer the bad publicity that came with being married to an ex death eater. So every time Lucius had something printed that exposed her for the brat she was, somehow someone managed to fix it the next day.

It was infuriating.

And of course she was kind, Lucius loathed kind people… they were weak, nevertheless his daughter in law was the type to floric among mudbloods and kiss dirty war orphans as tough they were all that wonderful, whenever she could sully Draco by introducing him to blood traitors, mudbloods and creatures Lucius didn’t consider good enough to grace the earth then she did, because ughhh the girl even liked Goblins, Centaurs and lesser beings, anything she could do to go against Lucius she would do it out of spite just to passive aggressively rub it in her father in law’s face.

She even petitioned to do her apprenticeship on magical coin, not under a respectable ministry wizard like everybody else, but under a Goblin, because little Astoria absolutely had to have the best and who was better at teaching about galleons and sickles than Goblins.

Lucius had stormed Hyperion’s office when he’d heard and what had the dimwitted man said? “Lucius I don’t see the problem, if Astoria wants to cultivate good relations with the race that hold the purse strings of our world then I certainly won’t do anything to stop her” blah blah blah, Hyperion Greengrass hated Lucius too, he probably enjoyed watching the vein in his forehead throb.

Narcissa was different, the girl wasn’t in an active war with Narcissa and Lucius felt both thankful and angry for that. Because Narcissa thought that the girl wasn’t capable of doing lasting harm, considered her a harmless pest one had to put up with in order to have Draco’s reagard (to be fair Narcissa had been subjected to enough undesirable family members to grow used to that type of approach) so she couldn’t understand the outright war that Lucius was fighting against Astoria right under Draco’s nose.

Astoria had a talent for turning all her weakness into weapons to use, she never hid her blind spots, left her open wounds on the surface for all to see, paraded every single detail that could ever be used to hurt her like a badge of honor in Lucius face and when Lucius inevitably tried to take advantage of them, she’d smile vindictively and brush off his every verbal attack with a grace that few in his acquaintance possessed.

Truthfully her antagonism wouldn’t have made any difference to Lucius had she been anybody else, because as a man of questionable morals and even more questionable actions he was used to the general public hating him, were it not for the fact that Astoria’s reasons were too raw and personal for Lucius to dismiss them.

The little girl wasn’t a hypocrite, she didn’t hate him for his part in the rise of Voldemort anymore than she could hate Draco, or because of the countless Avada’s in his belt, let alone his use of illegal (charms, spells, books, funds) everything, if she had, then it would have been easier to ignore her, because he’d been Lucius Malfoy since long before she came into the world and he didn’t owe explanations to anybody. No Astoria’s hatred was as personal as it got, Lucius had pushed Draco into too many painful situations for Draco to cope with, he had hurt his son because he’d wanted power and glory, placed him in Voldemort’s grasp and jeopardized his life every single day he served the dark lord.

It was something Lucius knew the girl would resent to her dying day, Lucius hadn’t protected Draco, he hadn’t done more to spare Draco the world of pain he’d suffered during Voldemort’s rise and if Lucius had been anyone other than who he was, he was sure that little Astoria Greengrass would have had no qualms in slipping something particularly venomous into his afternoon tea.

So in yes Lucius Malfoy would never like, approve, or want the girl as part of the Malfoy family simply because she was entirely justified in hating HIM and he despised people who held the high ground over him.

He had too much pride to even try to make the girl understand his side of the story, because maybe just maybe his conciense wasn’t as silent as he let the world think it was when it came to Draco’s dark mark and battle scars, maybe little Astoria made him feel uncomfortable because he knew she’d probably seen his son’s scars in the most intimate light and gone to the same conclusion that haunted Lucius at night: he had failed Draco as a father.

And that’s why Lucius couldn’t approve of her, he’d never love his daughter in law or think well of her, he’d never give Draco’s marriage his blessing and would always be in a passive aggressive war with the little interloper.

Because she had every right to feel hurt on Draco’s behalf and Lucius hated her because the alternative was hating himself.

An: well this was a fun foray into the complicated and self centered mind of Lucius Malfoy. Hope I stayed true to his character.

#drastoria #draco malfoy x astoria greengrass #lucius malfoy #lucius x narcissa #lucius and draco #malfoy family #draco malfoy #companion piece #character study

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xblackrosevirusx · 7 years

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OTP Challenge

Pick 5 OTPs

1. Garrus Vakarian x Shepard (Mass Effect

2. Jughead Jones x Betty Cooper (Riverdale)

3. Sasuke Uchiha x Hinata Hyuuga (Naruto)

4. Takumi Arai x Tsubasa Fujimoto (Mystic Destinies: Serendipity of Aeons)

5. Draco Malfoy x Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)

1. Does OTP 3 have a pet? If not, what would they have?

Sasuke has snake summons, which I think would be the closest animals they’d have for pets. I would picture Sasuke using them mostly for ninja business while they’d be looking forward to seeing Hinata because she’d coddle them and treat them well. The snakes divided loyalty between the pair would be a bit annoying to Sasuke but ultimately very useful for them both when they’re on missions.

2. What is a song that you think describes OTP 5?

“I’ll be Good” by Jaymes Young. It sort of describes the Draco redemption a lot of fanficiton have for the couple. The song is basically about being good for all the times you were bad, waking up to see the blood on your hands and trying to fix things.

My past has tasted bitter for years now, So I wield an iron fist Grace is just weakness Or so I've been told. I've been cold, I've been merciless But the blood on my hands scares me to death Maybe I'm waking up today

3. What is the most common argument between OTP 1?

Who’s a better shot.

4. If OTP 4 were to have kids, how many would they have and who are they?

I think Tsubasa and Takumi would have at least one kid. Takumi would be a super proud dad wanting to pass everything down to their son or daughter. I think Tsubasa would probably suffer severe postpartum depression after the pregnancy due to her own fucked up mother. However, I think Takumi and his supportive family would help bring her through it. I think their kid would grow up pretty sneaky and wishfully looking to grow up to join mum and dad in their investigation business.

5. Does OTP 2 enjoy horror movies? What’s their reaction and which movies do they enjoy/hate?

Jughead enjoys horror movies, Betty is a bit jumpy. I think Jughead would make her watch a lot of the classics and Betty would talk him into foreign horror movies she had read about on the film festival circuit. Though horror wasn’t Betty’s favorite genre, she enjoys her double features with Jughead and the long conversations they have about the movies.

6. If OTP 5 was trapped on an island, what three things would they bring? How long would they last?

Draco would bring his wand, his eagle owl, and his broom. Hermione would bring her wand, muggle tooth paste, and Crookshanks. It’s a bit cheaty with their wands, but they’d both survive for a while with their magic. Even without their wands, they could probably still perform some basic stuff. The real question would be how would the survive with each other. Though they have great (fanfiction) chemistry, they still have pretty different and competitive personalities so their would be some infighting and a lot of stubbornness.

7. If OTP 1 and 3 were challenge to the thunderdome, which half of the pair would compete and who would be the victor?

Out of Garrus and Shepard, Shepard would compete and out of Sasuke and Hinata, Sasuke would compete. I think it would be a bit hard to say, with no abilities and no weapons, who would win. Sasuke isn’t a scrapper. He’s a tactical fighter that relies pretty heavily on his blood limit, though he’s not completely useless without it. Shepard is still pretty dangerous whether or not she’s holding a gun. I think Sasuke would rely on his fancy moves and underestimate shepard and that would be his downfall. Shepard isn’t above using underhanded tactics to win and coupled with her skills and years of experience, I think she’d use mind games to throw Sasuke off balance and win.

8. If 2 and 4 went on a double date, where would they go and how would they get along?

I think Tsubasa and Betty would get along famously. They’re both pretty studious and curious people. Both couples had experienced their fair share of sleuthing, so I think they’d have some fun conversations about their investigations. Jughead, on the other hand, would probably get along with Tsubasa but not be able to stand Takumi. Takumi is very emotional and easily excited and I could picture him annoying Jughead straight away. However, I could totally see them staying in touch, what with Jughead and Betty being the investigative journalist and Tsubasa and Takumi being information brokers and private investigators.

#shakarian #bughead #sasuhina #Takumi Arai x Tsubasa Fujimoto #dramione

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readbookywooks · 7 years

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Snape's Worst Memory

BY ORDER OF THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC Dolores Jane Umbridge (High Inquisitor) has replaced Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-eight. Signed: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic The notices had gone up all around the school overnight, but they did not explain how every single person within the castle seemed to know that Dumbledore had overcome two Aurors, the High Inquisitor, the Minister for Magic and his Junior Assistant to escape. No matter where Harry went within the castle, the sole topic of conversation was Dumbledore's flight, and though some of the details may have gone awry in the retelling (Harry overheard one second-year girl assuring another that Fudge was now lying in St. Mungo's with a pumpkin for a head) it was surprising how accurate the rest of their information was. Everybody knew, for instance, that Harry and Marietta were the only students to have witnessed the scene in Dumbledore's office and, as Marietta was now in the hospital wing, Harry found himself besieged with requests to give a first-hand account. 'Dumbledore will be back before long,' said Ernie Macmillan confidently on the way back from Herbology, after listening intently to Harry's story. 'They couldn't keep him away in our second year and they won't be able to this time. The Fat Friar told me--' he dropped his voice conspiratorially, so that Harry, Ron and Hermione had to lean closer to him to hear '--that Umbridge tried to get back into his office last night after they'd searched the castle and grounds for him. Couldn't get past the gargoyle. The Head's office has sealed itself against her.' Ernie smirked. 'Apparently, she had a right little tantrum.' 'Oh, I expect she really fancied herself sitting up there in the Head's office,' said Hermione viciously, as they walked up the stone steps into the Entrance Hall. 'Lording it over all the other teachers, the stupid puffed-up, power-crazy old--' 'Now, do you really want to finish that sentence, Granger?' Draco Malfoy had slid out from behind the door, closely followed by Crabbe and Goyle. His pale, pointed face was alight w th malice. 'Afraid I'm going to have to dock a few points from Gryffincor and Hufflepuff,' he drawled. 'It's only teachers who can dock points from houses, Malfoy,' said Ernie at once. 'Yeah, we're prefects, too, remember?' snarled Ron. 'I know prefects can't dock points, Weasel King,' sneered Maltby. Crabbe and Goyle sniggered. 'But members of the Inquisitorial Squad--' 'The what?' said Hermione sharply. 'The Inquisitorial Squad, Granger,' said Malfoy, pointing towards a tiny silver 'I' on his robes just beneath his prefect's badge. 'A select group of students who are supportive of the Ministry of Magic, hand-picked by Professor Umbridge. Anyway, members of the Inquisitorial Squad do have the power to dock points ... so, Granger, I'll have five from you for being rude about our new Headmistress. Macmillan, five for contradicting me. Five because I don't like you, Potter. Weasley, your shirt's untucked, so I'll have another five for that. Oh yeah, I forgot, you're a Mudblood, Granger, so ten off for that.' Ron pulled out his wand, but Hermione pushed it away, whispering, 'Don't!' 'Wise move, Granger,' breathed Malfoy. 'New Head, new times ... be good now, Potty ... Weasel King ...' Laughing heartily, he strode away with Crabbe and Goyle. 'He was bluffing,' said Ernie, looking appalled. 'He can't be allowed to dock points ... that would be ridiculous ... it would completely undermine the prefect system.' But Harry, Ron and Hermione had turned automatically towards the giant hour-glasses set in niches along the wall behind them, which recorded the house-points. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had been neck and neck in the lead that morning. Even as they watched, stones flew upwards, reducing the amounts in the lower bulbs. In fact, the only glass that seemed unchanged was the emerald-filled one of Slytherin. 'Noticed, have you?' said Fred's voice. He and George had just come down the marble staircase and joined Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ernie in front of the hour-glasses. 'Malfoy just docked us all about fifty points,' said Harry furiously, as they watched several more stones fly upwards from the Gryffindor hour-glass. 'Yeah, Montague tried to do us during break,' said George. 'What do you mean, "tried"?' said Ron quickly. 'He never managed to get all the words out,' said Fred, 'due to the fact that we forced him head-first into that Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor.' Hermione looked very shocked. 'But you'll get into terrible trouble!' 'Not until Montague reappears, and that could take weeks, I dunno where we sent him,' said Fred coolly. 'Anyway ... we've decided we don't care about getting into trouble any more.' 'Have you ever?' asked Hermione. 'Course we have,' said George. 'Never been expelled, have we?' 'We've always known where to draw the line,' said Fred. 'We might have put a toe across it occasionally,' said George. 'But we've always stopped short of causing real mayhem,' said Fred. 'But now?' said Ron tentatively. 'Well, now--' said George. '--what with Dumbledore gone--' said Fred. '--we reckon a bit of mayhem--' said George. '--is exactly what our dear new Head deserves,' said Fred. 'You mustn't!' whispered Hermione. 'You really mustn't! She'd love a reason to expel you!' 'You don't get it, Hermione, do you?' said Fred, smiling at her. 'We don't care about staying any more. We'd walk out right now if we weren't determined to do our bit for Dumbledore first. So, anyway,' he checked his watch, 'phase one is about to begin. I'd get in the Great Hall for lunch, if I were you, that way the teachers will see you can't have had anything to do with it.' 'Anything to do with what?' said Hermione anxiously. 'You'll see,' said George. 'Run along, now.' Fred and George turned away and disappeared into the swelling crowd descending the stairs towards lunch. Looking highly disconcerted, Ernie muttered something about unfinished Transfiguration homework and scurried away. 'I think we should get out of here, you know,' said Hermione nervously. 'Just in case ...' 'Yeah, all right,' said Ron, and the three of them moved towards the doors to the Great Hall, but Harry had barely glimpsed the day's ceiling of scudding white clouds when somebody tapped him on the shoulder and, turning, he found himself almost nose-to-nose with Filch the caretaker. He took several hasty steps backwards; Filch was best viewed at a distance. 'The Headmistress would like to see you, Potter,' he leered. 'I didn't do it,' said Harry stupidly, thinking of whatever Fred and George were planning. Filch's jowls wobbled with silent laughter. 'Guilty conscience, eh?' he wheezed. 'Follow me.' Harry glanced back at Ron and Hermione, who were both looking worried. He shrugged, and followed Filch back into the Entrance Hall, against the tide of hungry students. Filch seemed to be in an extremely good mood; he hummed creakily under his breath as they climbed the marble staircase. As they reached the first landing he said, 'Things are changing around here, Potter.' 'I've noticed,' said Harry coldly. 'Yerse ... I've been telling Dumbledore for years and years he's too soft with you all,' said Filch, chuckling nastily. 'You filthy little beasts would never have dropped Stink Pellets if you'd known I had it in my power to whip you raw, would you, now? Nobody would have thought of throwing Fanged Frisbees down the corridors if I could've strung you up by the ankles in my office, would they? But when Educational Decree Number Twenty-nine comes in, Potter, I'll be allowed to do them things ... and she's asked the Minister to sign an order for the expulsion of Peeves ... oh, things are going to be very different around here with her in charge ...' Umbridge had obviously gone to some lengths to get Filch on her side, Harry thought, and the worst of it was that he would probably prove an important weapon; his knowledge of the school's secret passageways and hiding places was probably second only to that of the Weasley twins. 'Here we are,' he said, leering down at Harry as he rapped three times on Professor Umbridge's door and pushed it open. 'The Potter boy to see you, Ma'am.' Umbridge's office, so very familiar to Harry from his many detentions, was the same as usual except for the large wooden block lying across the front of her desk on which golden letters spelled the word: HEADMISTRESS. Also, his Firebolt and Fred and George's Cleansweeps, which he saw with a pang, were chained and padlocked to a stout iron peg in the wall behind the desk. Umbridge was sitting behind the desk, busily scribbling on some of her pink parchment, but she looked up and smiled widely at their entrance. 'Thank you, Argus,' she said sweetly. 'Not at all, Ma'am, not at all,' said Filch, bowing as low as his rheumatism would permit, and exiting backwards. 'Sit,' said Umbridge curtly, pointing towards a chair. Harry sat. She continued to scribble for a few moments. He watched some of the foul kittens gambolling around the plates over her head, wondering what fresh horror she had in store for him. 'Well, now,' she said finally, setting down her quill and surveying him complacently, like a toad about to swallow a particularly juicy fly. 'What would you like to drink?' 'What? said Harry, quite sure he had misheard her. 'To drink, Mr Potter,' she said, smiling still more widely. Tea? Coffee? Pumpkin juice?' As she named each drink, she gave her short wand a wave, and a cup or glass of it appeared on her desk. 'Nothing, thank you,' said Harry. 'I wish you to have a drink with me,' she said, her voice becoming dangerously sweet. 'Choose one.' 'Fine ... tea then,' said Harry shrugging. She got up and made quite a performance of adding milk with her back to him. She then bustled around the desk with it, smiling in a sinisterly sweet fashion. 'There,' she said, handing it to him. 'Drink it before it gets cold, won't you? Well, now, Mr Potter ... I thought we ought to have a little chat, after the distressing events of last night.' He said nothing. She settled herself back into her seat and waited. When several long moments had passed in silence, she said gaily, 'You're not drinking up!' He raised the cup to his lips and then, just as suddenly, lowered it. One of the horrible painted kittens behind Umbridge had great round blue eyes just like Mad-Eye Moody's magical one and it had just occurred to Harry what Mad-Eye would say if he ever heard that Harry had drunk anything offered by a known enemy. 'What's the matter?' said Umbridge, who was still watching him closely. 'Do you want sugar?' 'No,' said Harry. He raised the cup to his lips again and pretended to take a sip, though keeping his mouth tightly closed. Umbridge's smile widened. 'Good,' she whispered. 'Very good. Now then ...' She leaned forwards a little. 'Where is Albus Dumbledore?' 'No idea,' said Harry promptly. 'Drink up, drink up,' she said, still smiling. 'Now, Mr. Potter, let us not play childish games. I know that you know where he has gone. You and Dumbledore have been in this together from the beginning. Consider your position, Mr. Potter ...' 'I don't know where he is,' Harry repeated. He pretended to drink again. She was watching him very closely. 'Very well,' she said, though she looked displeased. 'In that case, you will kindly tell me the whereabouts of Sirius Black.' Harry's stomach turned over and his hand holding the teacup shook so that it rattled in its saucer. He tilted the cup to his mouth with his lips pressed together, so that some of the hot liquid trickled down on to his robes. 'I don't know,' he said, a little too quickly. 'Mr. Potter,' said Umbridge, 'let me remind you that it was I who almost caught the criminal Black in the Gryffindor fire in October. I know perfectly well it was you he was meeting and if I had had any proof neither of you would be at large today, I promise you. I repeat, Mr. Potter ... where is Sirius Black?' 'No idea,' said Harry loudly. 'Haven't got a clue.' They stared at each other so long that Harry felt his eyes watering. Then Umbridge stood up. 'Very well, Potter, I will take your word for it this time, but be warned: the might of the Ministry stands behind me. All channels of communication in and out of this school are being monitored. A Floo Network Regulator is keeping watch over every fire in Hogwarts--except my own, of course. My Inquisitorial Squad is opening and reading all owl post entering and leaving the castle. And Mr. Filch is observing all secret passages in and out of the castle. If I find a shred of evidence ...' BOOM! The very floor of the office shook. Umbridge slipped sideways, clutching her desk for support, and looking shocked. 'What was--?' She was gazing towards the door. Harry took the opportunity to empty his almost-full cup of tea into the nearest vase of dried flowers. He could hear people running and screaming several floors below. 'Back to lunch you go, Potter!' cried Umbridge, raising her wand and dashing out of the office. Harry gave her a few seconds' start, then hurried after her to see what the source of all the uproar was. It was not difficult to find. One floor down, pandemonium reigned. Somebody (and Harry had a very shrewd idea who) had set off what seemed to be an enormous crate of enchanted fireworks. Dragons comprised entirely of green and gold sparks were soaring up and down the corridors, emitting loud fiery blasts and bangs as they went; shocking-pink Catherine wheels five feet in diameter were whizzing lethally through the air like so many flying saucers; rockets with long tails of brilliant silver stars were ricocheting off the walls; sparklers were writing swear words in midair of their own accord; firecrackers were exploding like mines everywhere Harry looked, and instead of burning themselves out, fading from sight or fizzling to a halt, these pyrotechnical miracles seemed to be gaining in energy and momentum the longer he watched. Filch and Umbridge were standing, apparently transfixed in horror, halfway down the stairs. As Harry watched, one of the larger Catherine wheels seemed to decide that what it needed was more room to manoeuvre; it whirled towards Umbridge and Filch with a sinister 'wheeeeeeeeee'. They both yelled with fright and ducked, and it soared straight out of the window behind them and off across the grounds. Meanwhile, several of the dragons and a large purple bat that was smoking ominously took advantage of the open door at the end of the corridor to escape towards the second floor. 'Hurry, Filch, hurry!' shrieked Umbridge, 'they'll be all over the school unless we do something--Stupefy!' A jet of red light shot out of the end of her wand and hit one of the rockets. Instead of freezing in midair, it exploded with such force that it blasted a hole in a painting of a soppy-looking witch in the middle of a meadow; she ran for it just in time, reappearing seconds later squashed into the next painting, where a couple of wizards playing cards stood up hastily to make room for her. 'Don't Stun them, Filch!' shouted Umbridge angrily, for all the world as though it had been his incantation. 'Right you are, Headmistress!' wheezed Filch, who as a Squib could no more have Stunned the fireworks than swallowed them. He dashed to a nearby cupboard, pulled out a broom and began swatting at the fireworks in midair; within seconds the head of the broom was ablaze. Harry had seen enough; laughing, he ducked down low, ran to a door he knew was concealed behind a tapestry a little way along the corridor and slipped through it to find Fred and George hiding just behind it, listening to Umbridge and Filch's yells and quaking with suppressed mirth. 'Impressive,' Harry said quietly, grinning. 'Very impressive ... you'll put Dr. Filibuster out of business, no problem ...' 'Cheers,' whispered George, wiping tears of laughter from his face. 'Oh, I hope she tries Vanishing them next ... they multiply by ten every time you try.' The fireworks continued to burn and to spread all over the school that afternoon. Though they caused plenty of disruption, particularly the firecrackers, the other teachers didn't seem to mind them very much. 'Dear, dear,' said Professor McGonagall sardonically, as one of the dragons soared around her classroom, emitting loud bangs and exhaling flame. 'Miss Brown, would you mind running along to the Headmistress and informing her that we have an escaped firework in our classroom?' The upshot of it all was that Professor Umbridge spent her first afternoon as Headmistress running all over the school answering the summonses of the other teachers, none of whom seemed able to rid their rooms of the fireworks without her. When the final bell rang and they were heading back to Gryffindor Tower with their bags, Harry saw, with immense satisfaction, a dishevelled and soot-blackened Umbridge tottering sweaty-faced from Professor Flitwick's classroom. 'Thank you so much, Professor!' said Professor Flitwick in his squeaky little voice. 'I could have got rid of the sparklers myself, of course, but I wasn't sure whether or not I had the authority.' Beaming, he closed his classroom door in her snarling face. Fred and George were heroes that night in the Gryffindor common room. Even Hermione fought her way through the excited crowd to congratulate them. 'They were wonderful fireworks,' she said admiringly. 'Thanks,' said George, looking both surprised and pleased. 'Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-bangs. Only thing is, we used our whole stock; we're going to have to start again from scratch now.' 'It was worth it, though,' said Fred, who was taking orders from clamouring Gryffindors. 'If you want to add your name to the waiting list, Hermione, it's five Galleons for your Basic Blaze box and twenty for the Deflagration Deluxe ...' Hermione returned to the table where Harry and Ron were sitting staring at their schoolbags as though hoping their homework would spring out and start doing itself. 'Oh, why don't we have a night off?' said Hermione brightly, as a silver-tailed Weasley rocket zoomed past the window. 'After all, the Easter holidays start on Friday, we'll have plenty of time then.' 'Are you feeling all right?' Ron asked, staring at her in disbelief. 'Now you mention it,' said Hermione happily, 'd'you know ... I think I'm feeling a bit ... rebellious.' Harry could still hear the distant bangs of escaped firecrackers when he and Ron went up to bed an hour later; and as he got undressed a sparkler floated past the tower, still resolutely spelling out the word 'POO'. He got into bed, yawning. With his glasses off, the occasional firework passing the window had become blurred, looking like sparkling clouds, beautiful and mysterious against the black sky. He turned on to his side, wondering how Umbridge was feeling about her first day in Dumbledore's job, and how Fudge would react when he heard that the school had spent most of the day in a state of advanced disruption. Smiling to himself, Harry closed his eyes ... The whizzes and bangs of escaped fireworks in the grounds seemed to be growing more distant ... or perhaps he was simply speeding away from them ... He had fallen right into the corridor leading to the Department of Mysteries. He was speeding towards the plain black door ... let it open ... let it open ... It did. He was inside the circular room lined with doors ... he crossed it, placed his hand on an identical door and it swung inwards ... Now he was in a long, rectangular room full of an odd mechanical clicking. There were dancing flecks of light on the walls but he did not pause to investigate ... he had to go on ... There was a door at the far end ... it, too, opened at his touch ... And now he was in a dimly lit room as high and wide as a church, full of nothing but rows and rows of towering shelves, each laden with small, dusty, spun-glass spheres ... now Harry's heart was beating fast with excitement ... he knew where to go ... he ran forwards, but his footsteps made no noise in the enormous, deserted room ... There was something in this room he wanted very, very much ... Something he wanted ... or somebody else wanted ... His scar was hurting ... BANG! Harry awoke instantly, confused and angry. The dark dormitory was full of the sound of laughter. 'Cool!' said Seamus, who was silhouetted against the window. 'I think one of those Catherine wheels hit a rocket and it's like they mated, come and see!' Harry heard Ron and Dean scramble out of bed for a better look. He lay quite still and silent while the pain in his scar subsided and disappointment washed over him. He felt as though a wonderful treat had been snatched from him at the very last moment ... he had got so close that time. Glittering pink and silver winged piglets were now soaring past the windows of Gryffindor Tower. Harry lay and listened to the appreciative whoops of Gryffindors in the dormitories below them. His stomach gave a sickening jolt as he remembered that he had Occlumency the following evening. Harry spent the whole of the next day dreading what Snape was going to say if he found out how much further into the Department of Mysteries Harry had penetrated during his last dream. With a surge of guilt he realised that he had not practised Occlumency once since their last lesson: there had been too much going on since Dumbledore had left; he was sure he would not have been able to empty his mind even if he had tried. He doubted, however, whether Snape would accept that excuse. He attempted a little last-minute practice during classes that day, but it was no good. Hermione kept asking him what was wrong whenever he fell silent trying to rid himself of all thought and emotion and, after all, the best moment to empty his brain was not while teachers were firing revision questions at the class. Resigned to the worst, he set off for Snape's office after dinner. Halfway across the Entrance Hall, however, Cho came hurrying up to him. 'Over here,' said Harry, glad of a reason to postpone his meeting with Snape, and beckoning her across to the corner of the Entrance Hall where the giant hour-glasses stood. Gryffindor's was now almost empty. 'Are you OK? Umbridge hasn't been asking you about the DA, has she?' 'Oh, no,' said Cho hurriedly. 'No, it was only ... well, I just wanted to say ... Harry, I never dreamed Marietta would tell . .' 'Yeah, well,' said Harry moodily. He did feel Cho might have chosen her friends a bit more carefully; it was small consolation that the last he had heard, Marietta was still up in the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey had not been able to make the slightest improvement to her pimples. 'She's a lovely person really,' said Cho. 'She just made a mistake--' Harry looked at her incredulously. 'A lovely person who made a mistake?She sold us all out, including you!' 'Well ... we all got away, didn't we?' said Cho pleadingly. 'You know, her mum works for the Ministry, it's really difficult for her--' 'Ron's dad works for the Ministry too!' Harry said furiously. 'And in case you hadn't noticed, he hasn't got sneak written across his face--' 'That was a really horrible trick of Hermione Granger's,' said Cho fiercely. 'She should have told us she'd jinxed that list--' 'I think it was a brilliant idea,' said Harry coldly. Cho flushed and her eyes grew brighter. 'Oh yes, I forgot --of course, if it was darling Hermione's idea--' 'Don't start crying again,' said Harry warningly. 'I wasn't going to!' she shouted. 'Yeah ... well ... good,' he said. 'I've got enough to cope with at the moment.' 'Go and cope with it then!' Cho said furiously, turning on her heel and stalking off. Fuming, Harry descended the stairs to Snape's dungeon and, though he knew from experience how much easier it would be for Snape to penetrate his mind if he arrived angry and resentful, he succeeded in nothing but thinking of a few more things he should have said to Cho about Marietta before reaching the dungeon door. 'You're late, Potter,' said Snape coldly, as Harry closed the door behind him. Snape was standing with his back to Harry, removing, as usual, certain of his thoughts and placing them carefully in Dumbledore's Pensieve. He dropped the last silvery strand into the stone basin and turned to face Harry. 'So,' he said. 'Have you been practising?' 'Yes,' Harry lied, looking carefully at one of the legs of Snape's desk. 'Well, we'll soon find out, won't we?' said Snape smoothly. 'Wand out, Potter.' Harry moved into his usual position, facing Snape with the desk between them. His heart was pumping last with anger at Cho and anxiety about how much Snape was about to extract from his mind. 'On the count of three then,' said Snape lazily. 'One--two--' Snape's office door banged open and Draco Malfoy sped in. 'Professor Snape, sir--oh--sorry--' Malfoy was looking at Snape and Harry in some surprise. 'It's all right, Draco,' said Snape, lowering his wand. 'Potter is here for a little remedial Potions.' Harry had not seen Malfoy look so gleeful since Umbridge had turned up to inspect Hagrid. 'I didn't know,' he said, leering at Harry, who knew his face was burning. He would have given a great deal to be able to shout the truth at Malfoy--or, even better, to hit him with a good curse. 'Well, Draco, what is it?' asked Snape. 'It's Professor Umbridge, sir--she needs your help,' said Malfoy. 'They've found Montague, sir, he's turned up jammed inside a toilet on the fourth floor.' 'How did he get in there?' demanded Snape. 'I don't know, sir, he's a bit confused.' 'Very well, very well. Potter,' said Snape, 'we shall resume this lesson tomorrow evening.' He turned and swept from his office. Malfoy mouthed, 'Remedial Potions?' at Harry behind Snape's back before following him. Seething, Harry replaced his wand inside his robes and made to leave the room. At least he had twenty-four more hours in which to practise; he knew he ought to feel grateful for the narrow escape, though it was hard that it came at the expense of Malfoy telling the whole school that he needed remedial Potions. He was at the office door when he saw it: a patch of shivering light dancing on the doorframe. He stopped, and stood looking at it, reminded of something ... then he remembered: it was a little like the lights he had seen in his dream last night, the lights in the second room he had walked through on his journey through the Department of Mysteries. He turned around. The light was coming from the Pensieve sitting on Snape's desk. The silver-white contents were ebbing and swirling within. Snape's thoughts ... things he did not want Harry to see if he broke through Snape's defences accidentally ... Harry gazed at the Pensieve, curiosity welling inside him ... what was it that Snape was so keen to hide from Harry? The silvery lights shivered on the wall ... Harry took two steps towards the desk, thinking hard. Could it possibly be information about the Department of Mysteries that Snape was determined to keep from him? Harry looked over his shoulder, his heart now pumping harder and faster than ever. How long would it take Snape to release Montague from the toilet? Would he come straight back to his office afterwards, or accompany Montague to the hospital wing? Surely the latter ... Montague was Captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team, Snape would want to make sure he was all right. Harry walked the remaining few feet to the Pensieve and stood over it, gazing into its depths. He hesitated, listening, then pulled out his wand again. The office and the corridor beyond were completely silent. He gave the contents of the Pensieve a small prod with the end of his wand. The silvery stuff within began to swirl very fast. Harry leaned forwards over it and saw that it had become transparent. He was, once again, looking down into a room as though through a circular window in the ceiling ... in fact, unless he was much mistaken, he was looking down into the Great Hall. His breath was actually fogging the surface of Snape's thoughts ... his brain seemed to be in limbo ... it would be insane to do the thing he was so strongly tempted to do ... he was trembling ... Snape could be back at any moment ... but Harry thought of Cho's anger, of Malfoy's jeering face, and a reckless daring seized him. He took a great gulp of breath, and plunged his face into the surface of Snape's thoughts. At once, the floor of the office lurched, tipping Harry head-first into the Pensieve ... He was falling through cold blackness, spinning furiously as he went, and then--' He was standing in the middle of the Great Hall, but the four house tables were gone. Instead, there were more than a hundred smaller tables, all facing the same way, at each of which sat a student, head bent low, scribbling on a roll of parchment. The only sound was the scratching of quills and the occasional rustle as somebody adjusted their parchment. It was clearly exam time. Sunshine was streaming through the high windows on to the bent heads, which shone chestnut and copper and gold in the bright light. Harry looked around carefully. Snape had to be here somewhere ... this was his memory ... And there he was, at a table right behind Harry. Harry stared. Snape-the-teenager had a stringy, pallid look about him, like a plant kept in the dark. His hair was lank and greasy and was flopping on to the table, his hooked nose barely half an inch from the surface of the parchment as he scribbled. Harry moved around behind Snape and read the heading of the examination paper: DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS--ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL. So Snape had to be fifteen or sixteen, around Harry's own age. His hand was flying across the parchment; he had written at least a foot more than his closest neighbours, and yet his writing was minuscule and cramped. 'Five more minutes!' The voice made Harry jump. Turning, he saw the top of Professor Flitwick's head moving between the desks a short distance away. Professor Flitwick was walking past a boy with untidy black hair ... very untidy black hair ... Harry moved so quickly that, had he been solid, he would have knocked desks flying. Instead he seemed to slide, dreamlike, across two aisles and up a third. The back of the black-haired boy's head drew nearer and ... he was straightening up now, putting down his quill, pulling his roll of parchment towards him so as to reread what he had written ... Harry stopped in front of the desk and gazed down at his fifteen-year-old father. Excitement exploded in the pit of his stomach: it was as though he was looking at himself but with deliberate mistakes. James's eyes were hazel, his nose was slightly longer than Harry's and there was no scar on his forehead, but they had the same thin face, same mouth, same eyebrows; James's hair stuck up at the back exactly as Harry's did, his hands could have been Harry's and Harry could tell that, when James stood up, they would be within an inch of each other in height. James yawned hugely and rumpled up his hair, making it even messier than it had been. Then, with a glance towards Professor Flitwick, he turned in his seat and grinned at a boy sitting four seats behind him. With another shock of excitement, Harry saw Sirius give James the thumbs-up. Sirius was lounging in his chair at his ease, tilting it back on two legs. He was very good-looking; his dark hair fell into his eyes with a sort of casual elegance neither James's nor Harry's could ever have achieved, and a girl sitting behind him was eyeing him hopefully, though he didn't seem to have noticed. And two seats along from this girl--Harry's stomach gave another pleasurable squirm-- was Remus Lupin. He looked rather pale and peaky (was the full moon approaching?) and was absorbed in the exam: as he reread his answers, he scratched his chin with the end of his quill, frowning slightly. So that meant Wormtail had to be around here somewhere, too ... and sure enough, Harry spotted him within seconds: a small, mousy-haired boy with a pointed nose. Wormtail looked anxious; he was chewing his fingernails, staring down at his paper, scuffing the ground with his toes. Every now and then he glanced hopefully at his neighbour's paper. Harry stared at Wormtail for a moment, then back at James, who was now doodling on a bit of scrap parchment. He had drawn a Snitch and was now tracing the letters 'L.E.'. What did they stand for? 'Quills down, please!' squeaked Professor Flitwick. 'That means you too, Stebbins! Please remain seated while I collect your parchment! Accio!' Over a hundred rolls of parchment zoomed into the air and into Professor Flitwick's outstretched arms, knocking him backwards off his feet. Several people laughed. A couple of students at the front desks got up, took hold of Professor Flitwick beneath the elbows and lifted him back on to his feet. 'Thank you ... thank you,' panted Professor Flitwick. 'Very well, everybody, you're free to go!' Harry looked down at his father, who had hastily crossed out the 'L.E.' he had been embellishing, jumped to his feet, stuffed his quill and the exam paper into his bag, which he slung over his back, and stood waiting for Sirius to join him. Harry looked around and glimpsed Snape a short way away, moving between the tables towards the doors to the Entrance Hall, still absorbed in his own exam paper. Round-shouldered yet angular, he walked in a twitchy manner that recalled a spider, and his oily hair was jumping about his face. A gang of chattering girls separated Snape from James, Sirius and Lupin, and by planting himself in their midst, Harry managed to keep Snape in sight while straining his ears to catch the voices of James and his friends. 'Did you like question ten, Moony?' asked Sirius as they emerged into the Entrance Hall. 'Loved it, said Lupin briskly. 'Give five signs that identify the werewolf.Excellent question.' 'D'you think you managed to get all the signs?' said James in tones of mock concern. 'Think I did,' said Lupin seriously, as they joined the crowd thronging around the front doors eager to get out into the sunlit grounds. 'One: he's sitting on my chair. Two: he's wearing my clothes. Three: his name's Remus Lupin.' Wormtail was the only one who didn't laugh. 'I got the snout shape, the pupils of the eyes and the tufted tail,' he said anxiously, 'but I couldn't think what else--' 'How thick are you, Wormtail?' said James impatiently. 'You run round with a werewolf once a month--' 'Keep your voice down,' implored Lupin. Harry looked anxiously behind him again. Snape remained close by, still buried in his exam questions--but this was Snape's memory and Harry was sure that if Snape chose to wander off in a different direction once outside in the grounds, he, Harry, would not be able to follow James any further. To his intense relief, however, when James and his three friends strode off down the lawn towards the lake, Snape followed, still poring over the exam paper and apparently with no fixed idea of where he was going. By keeping a little ahead of him, Harry managed to maintain a close watch on James and the others. 'Well, I thought that paper was a piece of cake,' he heard Sirius say. 'I'll be surprised if I don't get "Outstanding" on it at least.' 'Me too,' said James. He put his hand in his pocket and took out a struggling Golden Snitch. 'Where'd you get that?' 'Nicked it,' said James casually. He started playing with the Snitch, allowing it to fly as much as a foot away before seizing it again; his reflexes were excellent. Wormtail watched him in awe. They stopped in the shade of the very same beech tree on the edge of the lake where Harry, Ron and Hermione had once spent a Sunday finishing their homework, and threw themselves down on the grass. Harry looked over his shoulder yet again and saw, to his delight, that Snape had settled himself on the grass in the dense shadow of a clump of bushes. He was as deeply immersed in the OWL paper as ever, which left Harry free to sit down on the grass between the beech and the bushes and watch the foursome under the tree. The sunlight was dazzling on the smooth surface of the lake, on the bank of which the group of laughing girls who had just left the Great Hall were sitting, with their shoes and socks off, cooling their feet in the water. Lupin had pulled out a book and was reading. Sirius stared around at the students milling over the grass, looking rather haughty and bored, but very handsomely so. James was still playing with the Snitch, letting it zoom further and further away, almost escaping but always grabbed at the last second. Wormtail was watching him with his mouth open. Every time James made a particularly difficult catch, Wormtail gasped and applauded. After five minutes of this, Harry wondered why James didn't tell Wormtail to get a grip on himself, but James seemed to be enjoying the attention. Harry noticed that his father had a habit of rumpling up his hair as though to keep it from getting too tidy, and he also kept looking over at the girls by the water's edge. 'Put that away, will you,' said Sirius finally, as James made a fine catch and Wormtail let out a cheer, 'before Wormtail wets himself with excitement.' Wormtail turned slightly pink, but James grinned. 'If it bothers you,' he said, stuffing the Snitch back in his pocket. Harry had the distinct impression that Sirius was the only one for whom James would have stopped showing off. 'I'm bored,' said Sirius. 'Wish it was full moon.' 'You might,' said Lupin darkly from behind his book. 'We've still got Transfiguration, if you're bored you could test me. Here ...' and he held out his book. But Sirius snorted. 'I don't need to look at that rubbish, I know it all.' 'This'll liven you up, Padfoot,' said James quietly. 'Look who it is.' Sirius's head turned. He became very still, like a dog that has scented a rabbit. 'Excellent,' he said softly. 'Snivellus.' Harry turned to see what Sirius was looking at. Snape was on his feet again, and was stowing the OWL paper in his bag. As he left the shadows of the bushes and set off across the grass, Sirius and James stood up. Lupin and Wormtail remained sitting: Lupin was still staring down at his book, though his eyes were not moving and a faint frown line had appeared between his eyebrows; Wormtail was looking from Sirius and James to Snape with a look of avid anticipation on his face. 'All right, Snivellus?' said James loudly. Snape reacted so fast it was as though he had been expecting an attack: dropping his bag, he plunged his hand inside his robes and his wand was halfway into the air when James shouted, 'Expelliarmus!' Snape's wand flew twelve feet into the air and fell with a little thud in the grass behind him. Sirius let out a bark of laughter. 'Impedimenta!' he said, pointing his wand at Snape, who was knocked off his feet halfway through a dive towards his own fallen wand. Students all around had turned to watch. Some of them had got to their feet and were edging nearer. Some looked apprehensive, others entertained. Snape lay panting on the ground. James and Sirius advanced on him, wands raised, James glancing over his shoulder at the girls at the water's edge as he went. Wormtail was on his feet now, watching hungrily, edging around Lupin to get a clearer view. 'How'd the exam go, Snivelly?' said James. 'I was watching him, his nose was touching the parchment,' said Sirius viciously. 'There'll be great grease marks all over it, they won't be able to read a word.' Several people watching laughed; Snape was clearly unpopular. Wormtail sniggered shrilly. Snape was trying to get up, but the jinx was still operating on him; he was struggling, as though bound by invisible ropes. 'You--wait,' he panted, staring up at James with an expression of purest loathing, 'you-- wait!' 'Wait for what?' said Sirius coolly. 'What're you going to do, Snivelly, wipe your nose on us?' Snape let out a stream of mixed swear words and hexes, but with his wand ten feet away nothing happened. 'Wash out your mouth,' said James coldly. 'Scourgify!' Pink soap bubbles streamed from Snape's mouth at once; the froth was covering his lips, making him gag, choking him--' 'Leave him ALONE!' James and Sirius looked round. James's free hand immediately jumped to his hair. It was one of the girls from the lake edge. She had thick, dark red hair that fell to her shoulders, and startlingly green almond-shaped eyes--Harry's eyes. Harry's mother. 'All right, Evans?' said James, and the tone of his voice was suddenly pleasant, deeper, more mature. 'Leave him alone,' Lily repeated. She was looking at James with every sign of great dislike. 'What's he done to you?' 'Well,' said James, appearing to deliberate the point, 'it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean ...' Many of the surrounding students laughed, Sirius and Wormtail included, but Lupin, still apparently intent on his book, didn't, and nor did Lily. 'You think you're funny,' she said coldly. 'But you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone.' 'I will if you go out with me, Evans,' said James quickly. 'Go on ... go out with me and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again.' Behind him, the Impediment Jinx was wearing off. Snape was beginning to inch towards his fallen wand, spitting out soapsuds as he crawled. 'I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid,' said Lily. 'Bad luck, Prongs,' said Sirius briskly, and turned back to Snape. 'OI!' But too late; Snape had directed his wand straight at James; there was a flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of James's face, spattering his robes with blood. James whirled about: a second flash of light later, Snape was hanging upside-down in the air, his robes falling over his head to reveal skinny, pallid legs and a pair of greying underpants. Many people in the small crowd cheered; Sirius, James and Wormtail roared with laughter. Lily, whose furious expression had twitched for an instant as though she was going to smile, said, 'Let him down!' 'Certainly,' said James and he jerked his wand upwards; Snape fell into a crumpled heap on the ground. Disentangling himself from his robes he got quickly to his feet, wand up, but Sirius said, 'Petrificus Totalus!' and Snape keeled over again, rigid as a board. 'LEAVE HIM ALONE!' Lily shouted. She had her own wand out now. James and Sirius eyed it warily. 'Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you,' said James earnestly. 'Take the curse off him, then!' James sighed deeply, then turned to Snape and muttered the counter-curse. 'There you go,' he said, as Snape struggled to his feet. 'You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus-- ' 'I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!' Lily blinked. 'Fine,' she said coolly. 'I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus.' 'Apologise to Evans!' James roared at Snape, his wand pointed threateningly at him. 'I don't want you to make him apologise,' Lily shouted, rounding on James. 'You're as bad as he is.' 'What?' yelped James. 'I'd NEVER call you a--you-know-what!' 'Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can--I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK.' She turned on her heel and hurried away. 'Evans!' James shouted after her. 'Hey, EVANS!' But she didn't look back. 'What is it with her?' said James, trying and failing to look as though this was a throwaway question of no real importance to him. 'Reading between the lines, I'd say she thinks you're a bit conceited, mate,' said Sirius. 'Right,' said James, who looked furious now, 'right--' There was another flash of light, and Snape was once again hanging upside-down in the air. 'Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?' But whether James really did take off Snape's pants, Harry never found out. A hand had closed tight over his upper arm, closed with a pincer-like grip. Wincing, Harry looked round to see who had hold of him, and saw, with a thrill of horror, a fully grown, adult-sized Snape standing right beside him, white with rage. 'Having fun?' Harry felt himself rising into the air; the summer's day evaporated around him; he was floating upwards through icy blackness, Snape's hand still tight upon his upper arm. Then, with a swooping feeling as though he had turned head-over-heels in midair, his feet hit the stone floor of Snape's dungeon and he was standing again beside the Pensieve on Snape's desk in the shadowy, present-day Potion master's study. 'So,' said Snape, gripping Harry's arm so tightly Harry's hand was starting to feel numb. 'So ... been enjoying yourself, Potter?' 'N-no,' said Harry, trying to free his arm. It was scary: Snape's lips were shaking, his face was white, his teeth were bared. 'Amusing man, your father, wasn't he?' said Snape, shaking Harry so hard his glasses slipped down his nose. 'I--didn't--' Snape threw Harry from him with all his might. Harry fell hard on to the dungeon floor. 'You will not repeat what you saw to anybody!' Snape bellowed. 'No,' said Harry, getting to his feet as far from Snape as he could. 'No, of course I w--' 'Get out, get out, I don't want to see you in this office ever again!' And as Harry hurtled towards the door, a jar of dead cockroaches exploded over his head. He wrenched the door open and Hew along the corridor, stopping only when he had put three floors between himself and Snape. There he leaned against the wall, panting, and rubbing his bruised arm. He had no desire at all to return to Gryffindor Tower so early, nor to tell Ron and Hermione what he had just seen. What was making Harry feel so horrified and unhappy was not being shouted at or having jars thrown at him; it was that he knew how it felt to be humiliated in the middle of a circle of onlookers, knew exactly how Snape had felt as his father had taunted him, and that judging from what he had just seen, his father had been every bit as arrogant as Snape had always told him.

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