#fd: Legacies

[purpleyearning]

Hope Mikaelson is 99% homosexual and 1% Landonsexual

[enchanted--roses]

Alicia Gift exchange pt 2 for @aliverse

Stefanie Salvatore

Hope you like it! 

Forever Tag: 💠@fiercefray​ 💠 @foxesandmagic 💠 @valdrinors​💠 @fanficanatic-tw​ 💠@robertdowneyhiddlesbatch   💠@chickensarentcheap ​ (wanna be on any of my taglist? ask me!)

[limonnitsa]

Ominis is just too hard to impress

[saiilorstars]

Ch. 43: Sweet and Sour and Other Things

Fandom: Harry Potter (Hogwarts years 1-7) Pairing: Draco x OFC

taglist:@ocappreciationtag @arrthurpendragon  @maaaaarveeeeel @stareyedplanet @foxesandmagic @kmc1989 @caplanbuckybarnes 

​​​​Story Masterlist // Romina’s Masterlist

Fanfic • Ao3 • Wattpad

If you’d like to be a part of this OC’s work/edits, let me know

It seemed like Romina could never be in complete peace with her network circle. First it had been Draco, then Arden, and now Harry. Romina was getting tired of it. Harry hadn't spoken to her since the incident in Potions. Apparently, he really took it to heart that she hadn't allowed him to hex Draco.

"He's gone berserk!" Romina chose Hermione to vent to and perhaps that hadn't been the best idea considering Hermione was already dealing with the fact Harry and Ron weren't talking to each other either. "Not talking to me over that? Seriously? I kept him away from detention!"

The girls were heading for the library, though Hermione swore that if Viktor Krum was there she would leave on the spot. She could only tolerate his crowd of admiring girls for so long.

"He's overwhelmed, you have to remember that," Hermione said, hoping to ease Romina's feelings. She really didn't want to deal with three angry people not talking to each other.

"I do! That's why I stepped in!" Romina exclaimed. "In his right mind, I know that Harry wouldn't initiate a wand duel with anybody! Not even Draco!"

"I think this time Draco may have been asking for it," Hermione said as they passed a group of Hufflepuff girls wearing the badges Draco had created.

"I'm not saying he didn't deserve to be wailed on but we all know that if something happened, Snape would've gone after Harry. I was just trying to help!" Romina huffed. "I even punched Draco for him." Half of a lie. She also punched him because he pissed her off. "I tried finding him in Hogsmeade to talk to him but he didn't even go. And now he just seems more mad at me."

Hermione looked away as soon as Romina asked. The Slytherin was too focused on her irritation to notice Hermione's guilty face.

Yes, Harry had gone to Hogsmeade a few days ago. She would know, she was with him all afternoon. He was under the Invisibility Cloak the whole time. Harry hadn't wanted to deal with anybody's comments but it didn't mean he couldn't see them. Hermione had spent most of her time trying to persuade Harry to talk to either Ron or Romina, or both! But Harry mentioned that Ron hadn't even asked about him and Hogsmeade. Hermione couldn't lie there since Ron really hadn't asked about him.

So she tried with Romina. Romina had definitely asked for Harry at Hogsmeade. But then Hermione made the mistake of bringing Harry to the Three Broomsticks. They tucked themselves in a corner so nobody would accidentally sit on the invisible Harry. Romina was there with her friends Arden, Carolinha and Daphne. And for a moment, Hermione had been really close coaxing Harry out from under the cloak to go talk to Romina once and for all. But the girls were soon joined by more of their group.

Harry liked Angel, he was nice like Carolinha. Blaise and Theodore he could tolerate — they were neutral in almost every battle — but Harry couldn't stand the fact that Draco had come by with a drink for Romina. At first it looked like Romina would refuse it—she pushed the glass back to him. There was a small exchange between the two. Harry saw Romina with her defiant look (he knew that look from years ago). Draco leaned close (too close if anybody asked Harry) and said something to Romina to which she then rolled her eyes at and responded. In the end, she accepted the damn drink and looked pretty content with the situation.

Hermione had seen it as well. She had actually winced when she heard Harry's snarl. He was even less happy with Romina after that and Hermione, sworn to secrecy by the laws of friendship, was stuck in the middle again.

"I think he's over exaggerating," Romina said. "I genuinely tried fixing things by looking for him."

She had searched for Harry for so long that in the end, Arden was the angry one. She claimed Romina was wasting her time on her first trip of the year to Hogsmeade (a trip that Romina was supposed to be enjoying this year) so she dragged Romina to the Three Broomsticks where they eventually found Carolinha and Daphne. Romina admitted that she did sort of forget about her search for Harry once she and the girls started talking. She definitely forgot when they were joined by the boys and a drink was placed in front of her. Draco was smart enough to know that Romina wasn't entirely over the badges. She gave him the credit for at least being aware he wasn't in the clear yet. She then rescinded the credit when he thought she was stupid not to see what he was trying to do by buying her a drink.

"What makes you think I would even want it?" Romina raised her head defiantly, promptly waiting for the best answer he could come up with.

Draco leaned close to her, wearing a stupid smirk on his face. "Why wouldn't you want a free drink?"

Romina rolled her eyes. He was just too damn cocky. She pushed the drink back to him. "Because you could have well poisoned it," she didn't think twice in answering,

"Like I would do that in a public spot. I know how to pick my moments, Oswell."

"So then you  are  trying to poison me?"

In the end, Arden groaned beside Romina. "Just take the bloody drink already!" she hissed at Romina. "Making everything a damn challenge between you two. It's annoying!"

Arden hadn't exactly been quiet with her words. Everyone else seemed to agree with her. With a roll of her eyes, Romina accepted the drink.

"So we're good then?" Draco asked her after she took a sip of her glass.

"I guess," Romina shrugged, offering half a smile. "I look forward to seeing you screw up again. It's inevitable for guys." Romina's joke, which honestly hadn't really been a joke, was well received by the other girls. It did help lighten the mood and after that, she began to really enjoy Hogsmeade.

Romina sighed heavily. "I don't know what else to do."

"Just keep trying please," Hermione almost begged her. "I can't take the silent treatment between Harry and Ron. I'll surely lose my mind if I have to deal with the same thing between you two."

Romina felt pity for the spot that Hermione was put in. Anyone else would have surely cracked by now. "Okay, I promise."

They arrived shortly later at the library but they only lasted an hour before Viktor Krum showed up. Hermione promptly ushered them out before Krum's group of admiring giggly girls showed up.

~0~

Romina kept to her promise to Hermione and tried making amends with Harry. Whenever Romina had the opportunity to, she would try to get close to Harry to talk with him. It was fairly easy considering Ron wasn't around and Hermione tended to be in the library or studying, but even then talking to Harry wasn't an easy job either. He blew her off with such ease that Romina had to wonder if Harry had always kept this disdain against her to himself for years.

"Harry, please," she caught up with him during one of their Care of Magical Creatures lessons. He picked up his pace but Romina did her best to keep up with him even if she did have to half jog it. "Why is this such a big deal? Not even Draco gave me this much crap about it!"

"Hm," Harry curled his fists when he remembered what he saw at Hogsmeade. "Shocker."

Romina shook her head. "C'mon, we're best friends! I was just trying to help! Hermione would've done the same thing!"

Both she and Harry knew that was a lie. Hermione would've never told such a big lie to a professor, much less to Snape.

"I have a big mouth, I know, and I sometimes get riled up when I feel challenged and that's what happened back there!"

"I didn't challenge you, Romina," Harry said curtly. He stopped walking abruptly, leaving Romina a few steps ahead. "You got in the way, I would've had Malfoy this time."

"And then what?" Romina asked, exasperated that he hadn't yet thought of the aftermath of such a ridiculous duel. "Snape would've had your ass with that. I know you know that. I feel like there's more to this than you're telling me and that's not fair."

"Technically, it's what you're not telling me," Harry said.

Romina blinked. Her nose scrunched as she wondered what on earth he was talking about.

"I need to get to class," Harry said, walking hastily past her. Hagrid was grouping the class up ahead and Harry had no desire to be on Romina's side nor Ron's.

~ 0 ~

Days later, Romina communicated her latest attempt to talk to Harry with Hermione. Hermione wasn't surprised at all that Harry had said what he did to Romina. She was just perplexed why he hadn't said it more clearly. If he was that upset with those presumptions, he should have just told Romina directly.

"Hermione, at least tell me he's spoken to Sirius already?" Romina asked as an afterthought. Whatever problems she had with Harry didn't mean she wanted to see danger come his way. Speaking to Sirius was key for Harry to stay safe and well.

Hermione nodded silently. She stopped walking and reached for Romina's arm. "Yesterday night he did."

"And did it go well?" Romina suspected there was something she was missing. Hermione was gripping her arm tightly.

Hermione half shrugged. There wasn't much to report in that aspect. Harry had spoken to Sirius for all five minutes before Ron, of all people, interrupted the conversation right when Sirius was about to tell Harry the spell he needed to take down the dragon. Because oh yes, Harry had figured out the first task were dragons.

"He's going up against dragons!?" Romina half-shrieked, causing Hermione to shush her as several students walking by gave them curious looks.

"Nobody's supposed to know!" Hermione said.

"Well, how did Harry find out?"

"Hagrid showed him—it's a long story," Hermione said when Romina opened her mouth to no doubt ask how on earth Hagrid knew about the dragons. "What's worse is that Charlie, Ron's brother, is one of the wizards in charge of the dragons and Ron didn't exactly say anything."

"Well...we're assuming that Ron knew…" Romina weakly tried to say but even Hermione thought otherwise. Romina sighed. "You know, this year was supposed to be better than last year but I honestly think it's going to be worse. Much, much worse."

"Just keep trying, please," Hermione insisted, once again squeezing Romina's arm.

"Yeah, of course," Romina assured her. "But keep me in the loop about what's happening with Harry. Even if he doesn't want me helping him, I'll do it."

Hermione promised and from there, the girls split for their respective classes. Romina didn't have much of a head for Muggle Studies that day. Rolf was more talkative during the lesson, ironically, and simultaneously used that to try and cheer Romina up. Even as they left the class with an outrageous amount of homework, Rolf rambled on about something called nargles and how everybody apparently had them.

"You and Luna seemed to have hit it off," remarked Romina blankly. She was only paying half attention to the conversation.

Rolf chuckled. "She's interesting. And she does have a lot to say about you."

"Hm, she's about the only one right now with good stuff to say about me."

"Not true, and you know it." Rolf tapped the side of Romina's head. She rolled her eyes. "You're the talk for some people—rumors about the incident with Harry and Malfoy."

Romina groaned. "It came back to bite me in the ass. I'm paying big time for that one."

Not much later did she attempt to talk to Harry again, only this time he didn't even give her the opportunity to string a whole sentence.

"I need to find Hermione for something," he snapped as he strode right past her. He seemed determined and with purpose so Romina decided to call it quits for the day.

She told Arden she wasn't hungry for dinner and went straight for the common room. She decided to take on the homework she'd been assigned for Muggle Studies despite its due date being very far. If anything, she should get started on the Transfiguration work. But of course, being perfectly honest with herself, Romina knew that whatever class she decided to focus on wouldn't actually happen. There was just too much on her mind.

Later on, she heard the entrance opening up. Dinner was over and the students were retiring to their dorms. Romina wasn't sure if she was going to be able to sleep either. She started gathering her things from the couch. Sleep or not, she would be more comfortable on her bed anyways.

"Are you coming to sleep without me having to nag you?" Arden stopped by the couch.

"Yes, don't worry," Romina said. She stacked her one book over the other. "I'll be there in a bit."

Arden watched her for a few seconds as she picked up more of her things. She ultimately decided Romina was telling her the truth and headed for their room.

"So you're starving yourself now," Draco's voice came a few seconds later.

Romina shrugged as she put her roll of parchment on top of her pile. "I just wasn't hungry."

"Right. It's because of Potter, isn't it?"

Romina turned around. She didn't have to say anything. Actually, she did but for fear of making things worse, she kept her mouth tightly shut.

"Arden mentioned it," Draco went on, "You're being ridiculous. So what if he's not talking to you?"

"You got a lot of nerve considering it's your fault," Romina remarked. And so much for keeping your mouth shut.

"My fault?" Draco repeated incredulously. "I'm not the one who told that fat lie in front of the whole school."

"No, but you're the one who made those stupid badges in the first place. As if you actually gave a damn about Cedric Diggory being the champion. You just wanted to mess with Harry as usual."

All Draco did was shrug. It was more or less true.

Romina rolled her eyes. "It's great, really, because no matter how much I try, Harry won't talk to me."

"And somehow you equate that with not eating. That sure makes sense."

"I am not starving myself!"

"No, you're not." Draco reached for something under his robes and the next thing Romina knew, he was tossing her something wrapped up in a napkin.

She barely caught it with her free hand. "What is this?" she frowned. She couldn't unwrap it with her thumb as much as she tried.

"A biscuit. Can't exactly take a plate with me, right?" Draco gestured to the bread in her hand. "But eat it. I'm not going to take more if you're just going to throw it out because of Potter."

"Thank...you…?" Romina was too surprised to sound remotely close to sure.

"Eat it," Draco warned her as he went for the corridors.

Romina stayed where she was for a couple minutes. She was utterly lost but at least now she had something to eat. And it was actually good.

~0~

She might get yelled at, she might even get detention for it, but Romina would try anyway. The day of the first task had finally arrived and knowing Harry, he must be nervous out of his mind. He always said that his legs felt like marshmallows whenever he was really nervous.

"You're going to get in trouble," Hermione insisted despite hurrying along with Romina down to the champions' tent.

"That's why I have you to keep a lookout," Romina said obviously. "I have to talk to him!"

"Now?" Hermione flapped her arm in the direction of the bleachers that were almost full. Everybody was anxiously waiting for the tournament to begin. "You pick now of all times to try again!?"

"Yes!" Romina stopped once they reached the tent. "There's no better time than right now!" She peeked around the tent to make sure there were no teachers around. "Because Harry's at his worst right now and he needs all his friends. Ron's clearly not coming anywhere close here."

Hermione lamented the fact. "Alright, fine," she relented. "Go."

Romina beamed. "Thanks!" She tiptoed down the front of the tent until she reached the opening. She could hear someone walking back and forth near the entrance but she wasn't entirely sure if it was Harry.

If it's Fleur, I can get away with wishing her luck on behalf of my grandmother. If it's Krum, I'll say I was looking for Cedric. If it's Cedric...I'll say I was looking for Harry.

Romina was actually dizzy from all that logic but she went ahead and whispered to the champion inside. "Pssst! Harry? Is that you?"

To her luck, it was Harry. He didn't come out but Romina sensed he was right by the entrance. "What do you want, Romina?"

Romina sighed. "What do you think? To wish you luck."

"Really? Not here for Cedric, then?"

"Come off it, Harry. You're my best friend. And I really hate the idea of you being this angry with me while you have loads of worse things to deal with."

Well, at that, Harry could agree it wasn't fun. He didn't have Ron around nor Romina. Two of his best friends were far away and unavailable. "You'll get in trouble for being here," he said weakly. He had no idea why he even said that anyways.

"Please, remember when we snuck out of my house to go to Victoria's 10th birthday?" Romina asked.

Of course Harry remembered. It was one of the brief moments where his aunt and uncle had allowed him to go over to Romina's house for a whole afternoon under the pretense that they would actually be at Romina's house with her aunt and uncle in the house. Neither were true. Sage and Lyonel Oswell were both working and they took advantage to slip on over to their neighbor's birthday party. Dudley was not invited and Victoria would gladly keep their presence a secret. It was all gung-ho until Sage Oswell returned from work early and discovered them. She was livid but she did Harry the solid of not telling the Dursleys' about his lie. They were, however, both grounded under her roof.

"We had to do chores like crazy," Harry said, flexing his hands as if they were still aching from all the mopping and grooming he was tasked with.

Romina laughed lightly. "My hands were all pruned up for days after doing laundry and dishes."

Harry's smile slowly faded. Sometimes it was hard remembering his life before Hogwarts. Things were so much simpler and just childish for a child. "Rom, I miss you."

"I miss you too," Romina said. She turned just as Harry decided to step out of the tent. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that lie to Snape. I was mad that you and Draco were talking to me like that so I sort of went with the easiest thing I could do to get both of you back the quickest."

"Mission accomplished," Harry said with a shake of his head. He couldn't get enough teasing from the Weasley twins alone.

"Are we...are we okay, then?" Romina turned to face him completely.

Harry still thought of Hogsmeade. Maybe Hermione was right and he was just over exaggerating. Right now, at the brink of dealing with a dragon, it all seemed pointless. "Yeah, we are," he nodded.

Romina couldn't contain herself. She threw her arms around him for a hug. "Oh thank goodness! I love you, silly!"

Harry's laugh was muffled with her long hair. "Love you too, Rom."

The flash of a light stunned the two until they realized it was a camera flash.

Rita Skeeter stood a few feet from them with her cameraman beside her. "Young love!"

Romina glared then looked to the side to see Hermione apologetically smiling at her. Hermione's not the best look out, Romina concluded.

"Ohh how...stirring," Rita gushed. "If everything goes unfortunately today you might make the front page."

"How the hell did you even get down here?" Romina knew she of all people shouldn't be asking that. She snuck down too, after all.

"You have no business here." Viktor Krum had come out of the tent with the commotion. "This tent is for champions and friends."

"No matter. We've got what we wanted," Rita said triumphantly then walked off with her cameraman.

Harry could half smile at Krum's words. Friends. He glanced at Romina who was already smiling at him.

"Well alright then friend," Romina started backing away to where Hermione was, "I will be cheering you on."

Harry grinned. He hoped so!

"C'mon Hermione," Romina tugged the girl by her arm. For some reason, Hermione was looking at Krum and vice versa. "Hermione!"

"Yes!" Hermione exclaimed, having no idea what Romina had said.

"You okay there?" Romina eyes her curiously.

"Of course, yeah! Loads now that you and Harry are good again!" Hermione beamed at the idea. Now all they had to do was get Ron to join and they would all be great again.

~ 0 ~

'It seems like Mr. Potter has found love in the midst of the difficult times the Tournament brings. Longtime best friend Romina Oswell (yes, from  that  family!) Had to sneak down before the first Task to wish her boyfriend good luck. The special hugs and exchange of 'I love you' were sweet enough to make you sick! Now Mr. Potter seems to have been able to move past his girlfriend's family's dark reputation. That is what love does in the end!

Romina slammed her copy of the Daily Prophet down on the table, startling those around her having breakfast. "That cow!" She yelled enough to attract the attention of the next table, the Gryffindors.

Hermione looked back at her with her own copy. Unfortunately, Rita Skeeter hadn't stopped with Romina. Hermione was also featured further down the page. She was apparently preying after Viktor Krum of all people.

It was only a few days since the first task and already Rita had done them so dirty out of nothing! Romina was furious but, deep inside, a little impressed with the woman's speed. Still, there was another overwhelming feeling...

"I'm going to murder her," Romina declared, "The next article having to do with me will be about the tragic murder of Rita Skeeter."

Arden was drowning porridge beside her. "Big deal," she said in-between chews, "Not the first time anybody thinks that about you."

"There's a huge difference, Arden," Romina said, "We were nine back then! It wasn't serious!"

"Don't get all upset, nobody's going to take that junk seriously." No sooner had the words left Arden's mouth when Carolinha and Daphne plopped down opposite of them.

"You're dating Harry now!?" Carolinha shrieked, once more attracting unwanted attention.

Romina pointedly looked at Arden. Arden, in return, amended her words. "Fine, only idiots will believe it."

"Hey," frowned Carolinha.

"Is it true?" Daphne insisted on an answer. "I mean, I can kinda see it but still."

"Idiots," Arden reiterated before going back to her porridge.

"No, of course it's not true!" Romina exclaimed. Her eyes skipped over the pair of girls to where Harry sat. He had just smiled at somebody at the next table and spilled milk down his shirt. He had forgotten he had drunk something! "You really think I'm going to be in love with that!?" She gestured furiously at him. "He's like my brother!" Her words seemed to have only appeased them halfway. Romina groaned. "Unbelievable!"

When had she ever given any indication that she liked Harry beyond a friend? She was pretty sure she never had. But now suddenly a crappy article was enough to make many people think otherwise.

"You really know how to get your name into people's mouths, don't you?" Draco caught up with her in the hallway later in the day.

Romina was forced to stop walking. "I have History of Magic to get to. Move."

Draco unrolled his copy of the Daily Prophet and went to the exact spot featuring Romina's and Harry's story. "You do realize that Angel is working up the courage to ask you about this. Thought I'd cut out the middleman."

"How noble of you," Romina said dismissively. "And also how stupid of both of you to think this is true."

"So it's not?"

Romina clapped her hands together hard enough for the strap of her book bag to slide down to her elbow. "Let's see," she leaned towards the article in front of her, "Oh yes, because I definitely told Rita that…" she raised her finger to one line in the middle and read out loud, "'Harry's my light in this dark world that I live in.' Does that sound remotely like me?" She looked up at Draco, her expression flat again.

Draco gave it some genuine thought and the idea of Romina saying those exact words was beyond laughable.

"I assume the wheels are working in that head of yours?" Romina's finger went in circles beside her head.

"I had to ask." Draco started rolling up the pages.

"Why?"

Draco shrugged. He'd read the article earlier in the morning and as stupid as it sounded, he needed to ask Romina directly about it. He didn't quite understand where the urge came from but he didn't spend much time thinking about it either.

Romina shook her head. "How on earth could you believe in that rubbish?"

Just as Draco opened his mouth to answer, they heard the collective shouts of the Weasley twins from a distance.

"Ah! The Chosen One's girlfriend!" Fred clapped as he and George walked towards them.

Draco raised an eyebrow at Romina. That's why.

Romina pursed her lips together. "Don't say a word," she raised a finger at him.

"I don't have to—they're saying it all," Draco said wryly. He turned to leave.

"Well could you...don't say anything either!" Romina called after him. She didn't hear his laugh. Romina groaned and turned to face the approaching twins.

"There she is," George said with a big grin on his face. "The Chosen One's girlfriend! My, my, what a big secret you've been keeping from us, Camille!"

Romina could honestly strangle them right now. "Come here," she directed them with her fingers to lower down to her level.

"Another secret?" Fred said as he and George followed her finger.

Romina smiled sweetly. "Not exactly," she said just before smacking them upside their heads. Her smile dropped to be replaced with utter anger. "Why the hell are you yelling that nonsense!?"

"Because it's funny as hell," George snickered as he rubbed the side of his head.

"And not true!" Romina exclaimed.

"Well of course we know that," Fred rolled his eyes.

George snorted beside him. "Yeah, what do you think we are? Idiots?"

Romina pinched the bridge of her nose. "You're screwing me even more. Some people actually believe what Skeeter wrote."

"Yeah, I know," Fred nodded. "Harry's been red ever since breakfast."

"I need to talk to him about this," Romina said with a sigh. "It's embarrassing. I've known Harry since we were seven. He's seen me with pigtails."

The twins exchanged glances with each other.

"Can we see pictures?" they both asked with the same teasing grins.

"NO!"

~ 0 ~

By the time Romina actually got to talk to Harry, he was still red but it was mostly laughs between them. It eased Romina's nerves so much. They had just gotten back on good terms, after all. Romina wanted to take things easy. Things seemed to be just that way while Harry and Ron laughed. It was also nice to see those two finally good again. Romina joked that they all needed to get together to give Hermione a huge thank you card for dealing with all of them during their respective arguments.

Romina handed Harry their homework for their charms class. Her time was terrible as Hermione joined them on their spot on the ground of the courtyard.

"That's cheating!" She said as she dropped beside Ron, her book bag sliding down her arm in the process.

"Please," snorted Romina, "With that summoning charm he used for the task, he should be letting me copy."

The irritated look on Hermione's face was enough to make the trio giggle at her. Clearly that hadn't been what she meant.

"Speaking of, have you figured out what the golden egg is supposed to do for the next task?" Romina asked Harry partly to get Hermione off her back.

Harry shrugged carelessly. He was studying Romina's homework into his book bag. "I have until February."

"Still, time can fly pretty quickly. Can we help?"

"We're not supposed to," Hermione pointedly reminded them.

"Yeah, because that worked out for the first task," Harry snorted. "But like I said, I have until February. Right now, I just want to think of nothing but Christmas and nonsense."

"Yeah," Ron agreed and high fived with Harry. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I can actually say that sounds great," Romina said as she too raised her hand for Harry to high five. He was all too happy to do it. Romina laughed with him.

"Oh, um, Romina?" Hermione bit on her bottom lip suddenly. "Angel's looking this way and he doesn't seem very happy."

"Huh?" Romina followed Hermione's gaze to see Angel across the courtyard. He looked away as soon as Romina turned her head but it was too late by then. Romina had seen the put-out expression on his face.

"Rom, he doesn't actually believe in what that article said, right?" Harry asked, making a face as he recalled the cringy lines of the article.

Ron snorted. "Half the school does, why shouldn't he?"

Hermione whacked his arm. "Ron! People should know better!"

"Then how about what it said about you, huh?" Ron challenged. "You and Krum."

Hermione's face went pink fast. "That's utter rubbish!"

Romina waved a hand at them to shush the argument. "Every word that Rita Skeeter writes is rubbish. I'm hoping things will die down as time goes by."

"Then maybe you should clarify things for Angel," Harry said, "Because I really don't feel like getting the stink-eye again."

Romina rolled her eyes. "That's because somebody was supposed to tell him already."

"Who?" Harry blinked.

"Another idiot," Romina huffed.

~0~

Romina wouldn't waste time beating around the bush. As soon as she saw Draco in the common room, she marched right up to him.

"Hey!" she called seconds from reaching the couch.

He looked up from a book in his hands, none too pleased he'd been disturbed. "Why is it that whenever you're around, I can never have peace?"

Romina scowled at him. "First of all, as usual, that's rich coming from you. You do realize it's your fault we didn't speak for almost 2 months, right?"

"Oh this oughta be good," Draco said as he put his book down, "What do you want, Oswell?"

Romina shook her head at him, though with a struggle not to smile. "I thought you were going to tell Angel about that stupid article and that none of it was true!"

"When did I say I would do that?"

"You literally said you were cutting the middleman out! What else is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh...I don't know, I thought it would be more fun to let him squirm for a bit." Draco smirked as he picked up his book to continue where he left off.

"What?" Romina made a face. She sighed and walked around to take the seat next to him. "I'm confused…"

"There's a shocker." Draco regretted his words when Romina punched his arm. "How the hell are you so strong?"

Ronina ignored him. "Aren't you friends with Angel?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because lately it seems like you're not. Actually, if I'm getting it right, you guys have been sort of shaky ever since we saw each other during summer."

"Putting so much thought into this, Oswell. I'm touched."

Romina could do without his smirk. "I'm being serious, Draco. What's going on between you two?"

"Nothing," he said in a half laugh. "I have just said a couple things that he hasn't liked."

"Like what, exactly?"

"You really want to know?"

"Yes!"

"Okay, fine." Draco tossed the book which, now that it landed on Romina's lap, was actually a comic book, then shifted on the couch to face Romina. "I told him he needed to stop sticking his nose where it didn't belong. And before you say anything," he raised a finger at her open mouth, "he was trying to make me feel bad for not apologizing to you back then. But that's not all. I guess I was on him for not having the courage to speak up in regards to you."

"To me?" Romina made a face.

At this point, it looked like Draco was ready to smack her for being so oblivious. "He likes you, Oswell! God, how many times do I have to say that!?"

"Well...you could say it without yelling it at me," Romina said, close to pouting. Draco rolled his eyes at her. "And really, is it any of your business what Angel decides to say or not?"

"It becomes my business when he starts acting all high and mighty around me. You can say what you want about me, but I'll say whatever the hell is on my mind."

Romina had no doubt that he would. He had countless times. "Yeah, you don't have much of a filter. One of these days, though, you're going to pick the wrong person to be unfiltered with and get your ass kicked."

Draco didn't pay her any attention. "To answer your question, Angel and I are on neutral terms for now," Draco said, shrugging nonchalantly. He didn't seem very perturbed with the situation. "I didn't say anything because I thought after a while it would become obvious that it wasn't true."

"And yet you had to come ask me directly," Romina pointed out, flashing him a smile.

"Ah, see," Draco wagged a finger at her, "I asked directly. If it's on my mind, I'm going to say it." The certainty in his words made Romina roll her eyes. He was seriously too cocky and proud sometimes.

"It's never that easy, you know," she said.

"For you, I can see. You're just as terrible as Angel for not telling him it's never gonna happen."

"Oh, and why are you so sure about that?"

"Cos it's obvious. Angel's too soft."

Romina gasped in offence. "What are you trying to say about me? And I'd watch that unfiltered mouth of yours!"

Draco knew there was no way he was going to get out scot-free once he said what he had to say but in the end, the desire to see her reaction won out. "You're sweet and sour." Even with the room's dank light, he could see the pink tinge on Romina's cheeks.

"I'm what?"

"You're sweet—that's self explanatory—but then you get sour and all hell breaks loose."

Romina gaped at him. "How d-are you!?" Her voice cracked out of embarrassment.

Draco laughed. "You asked and I answered."

"With the wrong answer!"

"No, I don't think so," Draco struggled to keep his laugh from getting louder. Romina looked ready to murder him.

"I am not sour," Romina folded her arms over her chest.

"You have a knack of running your mouth whenever you feel like you've been a)—" Draco started listing off his fingers, "—challenged, b) blown off, c) just downright offended. Notice how I said 'feel' because half the time, you're just imagining stuff."

Romina rubbed the side of her neck. Okay, that may be true in some parts. "I don't like being 'sour'," she said quietly.

"It's not a bad quality but I know for a fact Angel can't handle that. He's going to coddle you and that's the last thing you need."

"And what, pray tell, do you think it is that I need?"

"A good smack," Draco didn't hesitate to answer instantly. "Among other things."

"Well!"

"Well, if you're being senseless, why on earth should you be coddled for it?" Draco waited for an answer that he knew Romina would never give. Another quality of hers was being terribly fair. He knew that she knew he was right.

"The fact that you're actually making sense is kind of scary, not going to lie," she said in the end.

"Sweet and sour is what you are and the sooner you get that, the quicker you can find a way to let Angel know the truth already." Draco grabbed his comic off her lap and flipped to the page he'd left off on.

Romina exhaled and leaned back on the couch. "I have no idea, honestly. I guess I've been putting it off."

"No," Draco said sarcastically. He flipped one more page.

"I don't want to hurt his feelings."

"You're going to do it either way."

"You're so blunt!"

"I believe it was 'unfiltered'?"

Romina turned her head at him but he was too focused on his current page to care. She leaned slightly in his proximity. "What are you reading anyways? I've never seen you read comic books."

"It's not mine—I stole it from Goyle." From the corner of his eye, Draco could see Romina's widened eyes. "Relax, I'll give it back eventually. He pissed me off so naturally I had to get him back where it hurts most."

"I don't know what's worse," Romina started with a true pensive moment, "The fact you steal so easily or the fact that I'm just now learning Goyle willingly reads. And comic books too!"

As soon as she started scooting close to him, Draco reacted. "What are you doing!?"

"I want to see!"

"No!"

"You can't tell me anything—you stole the damn thing!"

"Oswell, I swear to God, you need to back the hell up! God, don't you know anything about personal space?" He scrunched his nose when her chin came to rest on his shoulder.

"That may have been a recurring comment on my report cards in my muggle classes." And yet, Romina reached over to flip a page back.

Draco gaped at her. "Unbelievable!"

"I just want to see," Romina insisted. "What are you going to do?"

"Smack you!" Draco gave the answer almost before Romina even finished asking it. "I take it back, you're sweet, sour, and annoying."

"All I hear is that you think I'm sweet," Romina said with an annoying laugh. She flipped the page back to where Draco had originally been. "This one's kind of boring."

"Then get off me," Draco said pointedly.

"Or we could just read it together?" Romina tilted her head enough to meet his gaze. She was definitely closer than she planned on (for reasons having to do with the simple act of annoying him). She felt the familiar warmth rush up her face but even then, she couldn't pull away. Despite his snaps, she felt comfortable with him. They could go back and forth with snaps and bickering but they could also easily fall into whatever this was. Friendly and playfulness with a touch of snaps inbetween. It was just so...nice.

"You're so childish, Oswell," huffed Draco but he let things be anyways.

"Yeah, cos you're ever so mature," he heard her mumble under her breath.

For the sake of his sanity—because he was sure they could go back and forth again for the rest of the evening—he said nothing more. They read the comic together in silence but every so often, Romina had to point out things that just didn't sit well with her. Surprisingly, Draco didn't show signs of annoyance. It started getting funnier the further they went along the pages. Romina was very animated over these comics, something Draco couldn't quite get with. He really only took the comic from Goyle to get back at him. Romina took these things very seriously apparently.

"Sweet, sour, annoying and weird," he said some time later. "The list just keeps growing."

Romina had gotten tired of their earlier position and decided to rest an arm over Draco's shoulder to then rest her cheek. She didn't think she could get away with it but clearly she had and she was slightly giddy over it.

"Keep talking but all I hear is the sweet part," she said calmly as she flipped to the last page of the comic. She missed his smile.

"Of course you do," he said. He would've shaken his head if she wasn't right next to him. He could've pushed her away but that meant getting rid of her rosy scent. It seemed peculiarly stronger today and he was just fine with it.

"You keep complimenting me, it's not my fault," Romina shrugged lightly. "I have an obligation to point it out."

"You're quite insufferable, you know that?"

"That's my line."

"So you admit you say it just because?"

Romina side-glanced him with an admittedly pretty smirk. "Careful there, you almost sound like you're hopeful."

Draco rolled his eyes but with his pale skin, it was almost impossible to hide his flush. "Shut up," he said as a last resort. Romina laughed.

A few seconds later, Romina's laugh was interrupted—or rather covered—by an even louder commotion at the entrance. To their surprise, they saw Arden and Theodore coming in laughing together.

"Am I seeing right…?" Romina mumbled to Draco who was just as surprised as her.

"Bloody hell, how long have we been here?"

"Oh hey," Arden greeted them, "My, you two look cozy."

In that moment, Draco could genuinely say he hated Arden King. Romina pulled away from him as soon as the words left Arden's mouth. The air around him changed and he was no longer smelling sweet roses. (And he didn't have the warm touch either).

Romina had scooted a few inches from Draco and sent Arden a glare for her words. "What are you two up to?" She flipped the subject because she was sure that Arden would have plenty more to say if they gave her the opportunity.

"Well, Theo and I were pretty much making up crap for our Divination homework…" Arden explained and had another good laugh with Theodore. "I taught him that Trewlany pretty much buys anything you put so long as you add in 'the planets will align' and whatnot…"

'Theo?' Romina mouthed at Draco. For a moment, he thought he misheard too.

Theodore confirmed it, however, when he started listing the several ways they were supposed to die this upcoming Christmas. "I gotta say, Arden's kind of creative with these things."

"Oh, so suddenly I'm supposed to forget the last month?" Draco asked him. "You told me what I would die of if we didn't switch back."

"Yeah, you got Parkinson—I'd say that's the short end of the stick alright," shrugged Theodore. "I like my partner. At least she's funny."

Romina and Arden giggled with Draco's stunned reaction. "What?" he demanded.

"Don't tell me you actually thought you were funny?" Arden asked, nearly losing it when he raised a hand to stop her.

"Nott, you and I have some talking to do," Draco declared, getting up from the couch and tossing the comic so carelessly that it hit Romina on the side of her head.

"Hey!" she frowned. She got a hand as well. "Hey!"

"Keep the comic, Oswell." Draco motioned Theodore to walk with him to the hallway.

"It's not — it's not ours!" Romina called after him in vain. She sighed and got up with the comic in her hand. "Thanks Arden, you ruined it."

Arden turned her head slightly, her lips curving into a teasing smile. "Oh, and what exactly did I ruin?"

Romina cleared her throat awkwardly. Why the hell had she said that? She scratched her head. "Uh, I...you know what? I need to go finish homework."

"Mhm," Arden pretended to agree, "Sure."

Romina made a quick stride for the hallway. She hoped to God that Arden would grant her a couple minutes to come up with a better thing to say before coming into the dorm as well.

[loveb1tes]

meet spencer reed, my founder of the family dynamics challenge!

he currently lives in sunny oasis springs, hoping to make it big in the culinary world. although spencer is fully committed to becoming a master chef, he can't help but think about the one thing that would satisfy him more: starting a family.

gen 1 goals:

- complete ¾ of aspiration

- have a minimum of 3 kids

- master cooking + baking skills

- marry as a (ya) and remain married

- complete at least 5 gold-level dinner parties

- maintain a garden with 10 unique plants, including a cowplant

- optional: open a restaurant

i've never attempted any s4 challenges, so i'm excited to play out spencer's life!

[occasionalsnippets]

As for you filling in as Red Robin later on, it might be better to discuss it chronologically with Batman getting lost in the timestream and the no good very bad follow up conversation about who should wear the cowl that somehow ends up with you filling in as Nightwing.

Hi, love the FD au!! there was something you mentioned in one of the other asks about FD!MC filling in as Nightwing after the battle for the cowl and it’s been rotating in my brain like a microwave lmao

the entire lead up into the red robin series is such a mess, and i know FD!MC ended up helping Steph during her robin run so that probably turned out better than in the comics, but so many things happened and lots of people tim cared about died so i can imagine that she had her hands full…. poor mc

A/n: asdlakjsh a more humourous take on the follow up on Bruce getting lost in the time stream. Battle for the cowl is messy and Does Not Happen like it did here I guess.

Taglist: @dragondevinity, @lonely-star2044, @sheep-from-rad, @ilxandra, @thethingwiththefeathers, @star-wars-lycanwing-bat, @sackofsadstuff, @zonked-times, @paastaboi, @venfia, @fantasy-angelo, @linaisadream, @shirp-collector-of-fixations, @roseapov, @alittletiredcry

---

So, Bruce is gone.

Exploded, vanished, died, and whatever during the battle with Darksied. Everyone is, for a lack of better words, bouncing off the walls but not quite falling apart at the seams yet. You're pretty sure Bruce is alive (something something timestream?????) and Tim is digging through something for a theory so you're calling a capital E, Emergency meeting.

The topic: Who is going to be the next Batman.

Right off the bat, Tim, Damian and Steph are automatically disqualified on accounts of being too young.

"Cass?"

"No. Would be The Bat, not Batman."

Fair enough.

“Jason?”

He scoffs. “Fuck no.”

“If he became Batman, he’d be an evil gun Batman who kills people,” Tim chimes in.

So that leaves Dick to inherit the world’s worst legacy.

You look at him.

He looks at you.

Everyone else’s eyes flick between the two of you.

“What are you looking at me for?” You raise an eyebrow.

“Well, I just thought that, you know, you might… want…”

“No.”

Why was he looking at you anyways? You’re absolutely the wrong build to pretend to be Batman.

“If Richard is to become Batman-” Damian’s face twists a little. “Then, what is to become of Nightwing?”

There's a mischievous twinkle in Steph's eyes. "Well if we want the net number of vigilantes to be the same-"

--

"This is an awful idea," you say for the record as you cross your arms, dressed in Nightwing's suit.

"It's this or you become Batman." Dick, in the Batman suit, pats your shoulders and pulls the cowl over his head.

Your hand twitches.

Fuck Darksied and Bruce and the timestream. You are so not getting paid enough for this.

[eddie-brii]

So, I blame @dipperscavern for this. I was minding my own business and found the post about a firefighter au. I, as a paramedic and firefighter in RL, had to fulfill the now moral obligation to write this. AKA I wanted to picture Cregan Stark in a FD uniform and Bunker gear.

This is only a TEASER for a fic I'm calling Sirens and Hearts of Fire for right now. It will be a first responder Cregan Stark x first responder reader. I have a lot more to add until I'm done and, honestly? I'm already coming up with so many head cannons for this au!

Side note: if anyone has questions about what something means, please go ahead and message me. I will happily answer it. 😊

Please enjoy.

“Medic Short Shit! Please report for duty!” was shouted by a deep, northern accent across the fire bay.

“Shut the fuck up, Lieutenant Stark! Not everyone can be as tall as a fucking tree!” She shouted back from the back of the squad. She heard laughter ring out from the guys in the day room and had to roll her eyes.

She knew she was late to the morning meeting but the check off was almost done. When joining the Winterfell Fire Department two years ago after job opportunities dried up in the Stormlands she hadn’t quite pictured being this comfortable. Most of the major FDs were fully staffed and openings were fought over by a few dozen applicants. It was better just to relocate since she didn’t have any roots set down in Storm’s End. It was interesting to say the least. Most of the people she worked with were legacy fire with founding members in their family lines. The Starks, Velaryons and Targaryens being the most noted with five generations of firefighting.

She quickly checked the last cabinet and marked off in the book that it had everything it needed before putting away the binder by the airway seat. She huffed as she got out of the squad and hurried over to the meeting. Cregan and Jace were waiting at the door to the crew area of the station with a half grin on the latter’s face.

“Finally decided to join us, L.T. Spitfire?” Jace said, using the nickname the department had given her. He was clearly enjoying irritating her this early in the morning before coffee.

“Maybe if someone whose name starts with a J and ends with an Ace didn’t steal Luke away when he was supposed to be checking off the back up squad, truck check wouldn’t have taken so long. Besides, we both know Baela had a rough night on the Medic and there was a lot to restock.” She huffed as she moved passed them. She heard Cregan chuckle as she did, ignoring the shiver that wanted to go through her body at the sound. Cregan Stark was what every woman dreamed of when they thought about Firefighters. Strong, handsome, looked wonderful in and out of bunker gear. And he was entirely off limits in her opinion. Especially after she was told his longtime girlfriend, Arra, died in a car accident.

From what Baela had said they were going through EMT-basic class together when it happened. Cregan responded to the scene with the others on the engine and had been nearly inconsolable with she had been a DOA. He took close to a year off from the job as he tried to piece himself back together. His father and other department members finally managed to get him to come back not long before she joined. Needless to say, the crush which she developed on him went unspoken after she heard that, despite Baela swearing up and down it might be time to say something.

She waved to Chief Stark as she entered the kitchen and went to the coffee maker, pouring some into her favorite mug while ignoring the chuckles of the other crew members around the room.

“Squads up to par, Lieutenant?” Rickon asked, unbothered by her lateness to the group. She gave a thumbs up as she took her first drink of caffeine, the dark liquid already helping her perk up. She sat down next to Luke and Ben, the former giving her an apologetic look with a sheepish smile for leaving her by herself this morning. Ben was practically glued to his own mug as he looked over cardiac rhythms on his phone, trying to memorize them. Both had their books on the table for paramedic class. It was clearly leaving the two younger men haggard, and it was only going to get worse.

Chief clearing his throat tore her attention away from the guys and the chatter through the room quieted as everyone listened to assignments for the shift.

“Alright, now that everyone’s here let’s get started. Seat assignments are up on the board along with upcoming trainings. We need to wash the trucks today and keep an eye on them throughout the next few months before it gets too cold. Make sure they look good while we can.” Chief said. As he went through the morning debrief, he paused for a moment as he looked over some paperwork next to him.

“Pyke FD has also reached about having us join them for an open water rescue training in the coming months. Speak to Manderly if you’ve got questions or want to volunteer. We’d like to see a good level of participation as this is a good opportunity for the department.” At the chief’s words she blanched, she could almost hear the underline expectations for them to sign up for it. She remembered the last time they had to deal with Pyke and their members, one in particular coming to mind.

“I swear, if fucking Greyjoy starts his shit again…” she muttered under her breath, earning a few chuckles from around the room. She heard a displeased grunt from somewhere behind her but choose to ignore it. Chief shot her a look before shaking his head, continuing over some vehicle maintenance before finally dismissing the meeting and retreating to his office.

She sighed as drank her coffee, scrolling on her phone and barely paying attention to the different conversations that now filled the space as the crew started making breakfast. Mormont manning the stove while the others set out plates and silverware. She was finally brought out of it when Ben tapped her shoulder, a confused look on his face as he held out his phone.

“This is a second-degree heart block Mobitz type II, right?” He asked, the poor guy looked ready to pull his hair out at this point. She took pity on him, taking the phone and watching the rhythm before she answered.

“Yeah, you’re right. I think you’re finally getting the hang of cardiology, Ben.” The shy firefighter almost looked ready to let out a whoop, clearly happy he was getting over his biggest hurdle in class. Luke joined in the conversation, asking questions along with Ben about the hiccups he was having and asking about IV medications. After a while they were interrupted by Cregan and Jace sitting across from the trio, both setting down plates of food for everyone. Before long the rest of the crew had sat down to eat. Most of the conversation revolved around sports, new tools, and plans for the summer while they had good weather. She didn’t pay much attention to it while she ate, still annoyed at the idea of dealing with Dalton. She didn’t notice anyone trying to speak to her until a hand was smacked down on the table across from her.

“Earth to Spitfire, come in Spitfire,” Jace said dramatically while he leaned back.

“What, your highness?” she huffed when she came back to the conversation around her. She couldn’t help but notice that Cregan seemed on edge with whatever Jace had been talking about, his brows knitted together as he looked back and forth between them.

“So how are going to deal with Greyjoy this time around? I doubt he’s going to just give up after you told him off last time,” Jace pointed out before taking a bite of bacon. It was at this point Cregan set down his coffee mug, giving the brunet an exasperated look before he spoke.

“Chief said it’s voluntary, she doesn’t have to go if she doesn’t want to.” He said firmly, clearly as annoyed about the idea of seeing the Ironborn again as much as she was.

“Oh come on, Lt, you know when your dad says something about participation it always means he wants as many people to go as possible. I’ve already checked and it’s not our unit day so he will want to see us there,” Luke added in before he finished off his breakfast. He got up to take his and Ben’s dishes to the sink.

“I second that. You know he’s going to want to have as many of us there as possible. Plus, I don’t like the idea of not being there if something happens one of you guys. You know the Iron Isles are short on medics right now. Not ideal,” she reasoned. As much as she disliked the idea, she wasn’t going to possibly leave her guys without proper care.

“Be that as it may, I don’t think he’s going to blame you if you opt out of this one. He wasn’t exactly happy with how Dalton acted either after I told him. As an officer at Pyke, that was completely unprofessional of him.” Cregan’s argument made her stop mid-bite. She put her fork down as she tried to keep her sudden irritation down.

“What the hell do you mean you told chief?” she said as she narrowed for eyes at him.

“Easy Spitfire, it’s not what you think. It needed to be reported since it was at a training. Chief Blacktyde was grateful that we informed him of the misconduct of one of his officers and said he would handle it.” Cregan tried to calm her down before she went off on him, his hands raised slightly and an amused smirk tugging at his lips. She tried not to huff as she picked up her fork again and shoved some eggs in her mouth. She eyed him as she chewed before she swallowed her food down.

“While you have a point, it still would have been nice to know you told your dad about it,” she said begrudgingly, still annoyed but seeing his point. “Although, that means there should be no issue with me going to the training then, should there?” It was now Cregan’s turn to look irritated as she countered him. She hid her grin by taking another drink of her coffee when all he did was grunt in response. She noticed Jace giving Cregan a look that the lieutenant deliberately ignored while he continued eating. She didn’t think much of it at the time.

She finished off her coffee and breakfast before getting up to hand off the dishes to Locke at the sink. She nodded to the squad crew members that had finished their food as well, getting them up to get the trucks washed for the day.

As she went out into the bay and started heading towards the premiere squad, Luke and Darry went to fill the buckets. Ben grabbed the brushes as she pulled the truck out. Luke started to hose down the squad, wetting down the bright blue apparatus before two of them started scrubbing. Ben went to pull out the back up to be cleaned as well, the older truck a slightly darker shade of blue with an older department logo on the side. She still wasn’t quite used to the different colors they used in the North compared to the Stormlands, the southern region using different shades of yellow for their emergency vehicles. At least it wasn’t the green that the Reach had. She still couldn’t believe the lime green the Oldtown FD used for theirs.

The engine and rescue crews came out not too long after them, pulling out and getting started on their respective trucks. Soon the smell of car soap filled the air as the occasional shout was heard when someone accidently got sprayed with hose. She was silently cursing as she tried to scrub the bugs off of the top front of the squad. The splatter almost seeming baked on as her arms started to ache from the angle she had to hold the brush. She heard the sound of boots coming up behind but didn’t pay it any mind until she was suddenly lifted up onto someone’s shoulder.

“Cregan! Put me down!” She said as she tried to avoid hitting him with the handle of the brush for flailing. She found herself gripping his other shoulder with one hand as her torso was half leaned over his head to keep her balance. Once she was steady, she looked down at him like he was crazy.

“You looked like you needed some added height, Medic Short Shit,” he said with a chuckle, clearly unaffected by her weight.

“Don’t you have your own truck to wash?!” she said, trying to sound irate but didn’t quite succeed as a mix of panic and a touch of something else pitted in her belly. She sent a pleading look to the other guys but several of them held up their hands in surrender as they tried to keep from laughing at her predicament. She mouthed “traitor” to them as she kept a death grip on Cregan underneath her.

“It’s already done if you haven’t noticed. Now get to scrubbing, Luke needs to hose off the soap soon,” he said before readjusting his hold on her legs, securing her enough to make her loosen her hold on him. She grumbled as she carefully straitened up, beginning to clean the bug splatter off again as she slowly relaxed on his shoulder.

After she gotten off what she could, Cregan stepped back from the truck as Luke got to work. She passed off the brush to Darry before Stark slowly lowered her down. She breathed a sigh of relief as her feet finally touched the ground again and sagged back into Cregan as his arm came around her midsection to keep her steady.

“That wasn’t so bad now, was it?” He was grinning down at her, still find her reacting amusing.

“You know I don’t do roofs for a reason…,” she muttered. She wasn’t nearly as irritated as his hand on her hip distracted her but she wasn’t going to let him see that. Before he could say anything, Bolton took that opportunity to open his mouth.

“Hey lieutenant, you think you can stop flirting long enough to help get the bay swept out while it’s quiet?” At his words a collective groan came from everyone.

“Damnit Bolton! You know what that word does!” Locke said as he started to rush relaying hose.

“What? It’s not like it actu-,“ Bolton was cut off as the tones dropped for their station.

“Station 1, Station 1, need a squad to respond to 248 Arrow St for a male with chest pain. Time out 0823,” came across the station loudspeaker. Luke, Darry, and her already getting into the squad before the dispatcher finished.

[space-station-nursery]

🛰️⸝⸝Welcome to the Cabins !

⠁ ⠀⸻⠀ Lets meet the Co-pilot🪐

Meet the owners of the blog! ⁺　　◍ 　 . 　 ⁺　　☆　　⁺ 　 . 　 ◍　　⁺

૮꒰˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶꒱ა ⋆ .ᐟ.ᐟ ———— 𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘴

Quick into : Hi im finn! Im 21 years old [birthday 1/18] and I am married to my wonderful cg FD !! i am a poc blog owner and i only use They/Them pronouns. in the event you forget, please refer to me as my name instead. Im NB, gray-APan, and fun fact, I went to school for Musical Theater!! I can sing and i can dance, but i don't do it anymore unfortunately

૮꒰ྀི >⸝⸝⸝<꒱ྀིა .ᐟ.ᐟ ———— 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘴

꒰ Shows/movies ☆ : ◟Blues clues, any Disney movies [specifically Encanto and elemental rn], Minecraft videos, silly food videos, scary videos/true crime videos, Fish videos

꒰ Games ☆ : ◟ Minecraft, Overwatch, Overcooked, Rolling hills, For the king, Animal crossing

꒰ Other ☆ : ◟ Minecraft, Mimu[a discord bot], Space, The Wondla Trilogy, Amanda Lovelace books, getting to create things, discord

૮꒰˶´ᆺ`˶꒱ა .ᐟ.ᐟ ———— 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴

Shows/Movies : ◟Stranger things, horror movies, House, Garfield and friends, SpongeBob, TMNT, Miraculous Ladybug, Vivo, the Willoughby's, Coco[in honor of my father], The lightning thief musical, any musicals lots of anime probably a lot more i cant remember

Games : ◟Minecraft, For the king, Stardew Valley, Roblox, Mario Kart, Mario Party, CoD [extra for zombies] The finals, Dead by daylight, plants vs zombies [sunflower my beloved], Apex Legends anddddd tbh if you ask me about a game, i might know it

Books : ◟The lunar chronicles, Legend The Series, Lorien Legacies , The magic treehouse , The chronicles of Narnia, Harry potter, Tokyo ghoul manga, The promised neverland manga, Wings of Fire series and lots of miscellaneous books

Music : ◟Mother mother, Florence + the machine, Cavetown, Lorde, Mitski, Laufey, Galen Tipton, Get scared, Sleeping at last, Crywank, Melanie Martinez, Sawyer Hill, Bo Burnham, anything from the 2000's and 2010's, MCR, TOP, FOB, P!ATD, Salvia Palth, TV girl, Daughter, alt-j, Nicole Dollanganger, Joji, Cuco, Djo, just-... a LOT OF MUSIC

Other : ◟Nintendo anything, dinosaurs, space, baking and selling it from home, cooking, Streaming on twitch from my big kid account, Making paci's for the shop, Window online shopping, learning !!!

૮꒰˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა .ᐟ.ᐟ ———— 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴

Ickys : ◟Bad listeners , People who like to interrupt when im speaking, confrontation, bugs, Purposeful misgendering of me or my friends, When bubby is sicky, when bubby is angy, when bubby is sad, bugs, when i loose kitty, when im sicky, sometimes eating food, sometimes drinking stuff [we'll end up at this later], bugs, People who break our DNI, people who break my boundaries, Texture, both the heat and the cold [i have super bad temp regulation] uhmmmmmmmmm fish, and onions and tomatoes and bugs

໒꒰ྀི × ˕ ×｡꒱ྀི১ .ᐟ.ᐟ ———— 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩

Overview : Hi, I don't understand tone very well, so please use tonetags!! I also struggle with staying verbal, especially during times of stress, or when upset. i kinda just-.... shut down, and ill jus sit quietly for quite some time before i choose to speak again. I also have chronic fatigue so i do apologize if i don't get to asks. IK bub can answer them, but also his computer doesn't like tumblr

꒰🚀꒱﹒ Mental : ◟MDD [major depressive disorder], GAD, Agoraphobia, Panic disorder, ARFID, PTSD, and possibly Autistic but getting diagnosed for that is super hard as an adult

꒰🔭꒱﹒ Physical : ◟Fibromyalgia, Endometriosis, possible Hypersomnia [most likely] and possible POTS. Also other physical issues that are not currently diagnosed

[purpleyearning]

Talking about bipolar disorder in my Intro to Social Work and all I kept thinking was "Lizzie Saltzman, my beloved".

[aikoiya]

LoZ: Linked Universe Masterlist

Reincarnation, Not Demise's Fault

Ganondorf's Characterization Profile

Ganondorf's Sexual Profile (NSFT)

- Question About Hyrulean Contraceptives - Question based around my Ganondorf headcanons.

The Inheritance of the Cycle

Wolf Song

King Four

Twi the Cat Whisperer

Ganondorf Nicknames

Sheikah Wild

Gifts For Wild - ♡ Flaming Battle Pan & Hot Iron Ladle! ♡

Fierce Daddy - The origins of FD.

FD the God of War

Fierce Deity's Portrayal

Coordenating the Maps

ZeLink Confessions

Alcohol Appreciators - What imbibements do the Links partake in?

The Chain Meets Fi & Sun

Link of Troy - Making fun of the fact that Warriors had an entire cross-time war fought over his soul.

2 Hyrule's Meet

Twilight, Son of Spirits

The Concequences of Lorule

The Chain in the Depths

Lantern of the Lost

Wolf Speak

The Feral Chef

Barbershop Four

TwiliChops

Time Styles Into Gerudo Town

Not a Fan of RaviLink

Ordon Is The Rural Ireland Of Hyrule

What I Wanna See More Of

Link McCallister

Skye-Inspired GMxIW: Tarnished/Broken Legacy AU

Lost Links:

Missing Links

Lost Time

Bonding Through Music & Ghost Trains

Time's Cadence

The Rhythm of the Universe

Make Sketch His Own Link

Important:

The Master Sword of the Goddess (Art)

LU Obsevations:

New Dungeon Detail

Fun:

HW Gan x Linkle

Other LoZ Masterlists:

LoZ General Masterlist

LoZ Wild Masterlist

LoZ Cultural Masterlists: 1 & 2

LoZ Scenario Help Masterlists: 1, 2, & 3

LoZ My Fanfic Ideas Masterlist

LoZ Great Fics Masterlist

LoZ Linked Universe Masterlist

Other Important Masterlists:

Aikoiya's Writing Tips Masterlist

Master Masterlist <- Go here to see some of the other fandoms I mess around with.

[rosicom]

Famicom Disk System cover of 'Welcome to Die' from DOOM: Legacy of Rust!

[upismediacenter]

‘Isang Daan’, itinanghal ng Filipino Drama 2024

Makalipas ang apat na taon, muling nagbalik ang Filipino Drama sa entablado nang itanghal nila ang dulang Isang Daan, noong Nobyembre 30 sa Narra Function Hall.

Ang Isang Daan na isinulat ni Liza Magtoto ay unang itinanghal sa Virgin Labfest 9 noong 2013 at muling itinanghal sa Virgin Labfest X bilang bahagi ng revisited na mga dula noong 2014.

Sa direksyon nina Wynelle Llaguno at Abbie Cuaresma at sa pamamatnubay ni Ginoong Carlo Pineda, binigyang buhay ng Filipino Drama (FD) ang kwento nina Ting (Gabby Romero), isang balikbayang ipinagmamalaki ang kalyeng ipinangalan sa kanyang Katipunerong lolo sa tuhod, at anak niyang si Bituin (Alexa Natividad), isang teenager na hindi maunawaan kung bakit nararapat niyang pahalagahan ang “legacy” ng kanilang pamilya. Nang makitang titibagin ang kalye at gagawing bagong highway ng trapong si Mayor Lenlen Manera (Lexzyn Mejia), nauwi sa isang mahaba at nakakatawang laban para sa kalsada, karapatan, at kasaysayan ang kanilang paglalakbay sa pakikilahok ng iba pang kasapi ng komunidad.

Panghuling proyekto ng FD 2024 ang nasabing produksyon, at dito ipinamalas ng mga mag-aaral ang kanilang mga natutunan sa isang semestreng paghahanda at workshop sa pag-arte. Ayon kay Lexzyn Mejia na gumanap bilang Mayor Lenlen Manera, maraming aspeto ang kanyang pinagtuunan ng pansin upang mabigyan ng hustisya ang nasabing karakter lalo pa at hindi niya inaasahan ang oportunidad na ito.

“Isa sa mga kinaaayawan ng henerasyon natin yung mga pulitikong tulad ni Mayora na kurakot at makasarili kaya hindi agad ako naka-relate sa gusto niyang ipaglaban. Gayunpaman, masasabi kong worth it naman lahat ng practices at trial and errors na ginawa ko upang makuha yung personality niya. Nakatulong ang mga exercises sa emotions at control dahil talagang kinailangan namin ito sa pagsasagawa ng comedic play. Sa industriya ng teatro, sinasabing mahirap magsagawa ng mga komedyang dula, pero naging mas madali ito para sa akin at sa klase ng FD dahil lahat kami ay nagtulungan at nag-contribute upang mapasaya ang aming mga manonood,” dagdag pa ni Mejia.

Ayon naman kay Wynelle Llaguno, direktor ng FD 2024, isa sa pinakamalaking hamon sa pagsasagawa ng produksyon ang iskedyul dahil sa dami ng iba pang inaasikaso ng bawat isa sa kanila. “Pero masaya ako, at sobrang proud sa FD kasi kahit ganito ‘yung naging sitwasyon namin, kitang-kita ang dedikasyon ng bawat isa. Lahat may inisyatibong lumampas sa tungkuling iniatang sa kanila, para lang mairaos namin ‘yung play..… Masasabi kong nalampasan namin ang bawat problema, malaki man o maliit, na aming kinaharap dahil kasama namin ang isa’t isa,” pagkukwento niya.

“Gaya nga ng sabi sa amin ni Sir Carlo: mawala lamang ang isa, buwag na kaming lahat. Ang produksyong nasaksihan ng aming mga manonood ay itinaguyod hindi lamang ng isa, kundi ng dalawampung mag-aaral ng Filipino Drama 2024,” dagdag pa ni Llaguno. // nina Ria Bautista at Rachelle Torralba

[zorosmalewife]

chain rxn up8

Chapter 12 DONE! BOO YAH! Just [checks notes] five to go haha. [looks at all the hacking and sawing I've done to the outline] Six to go! Haha!

I'm trying to do NaNoWriMo this year, with my goal being to complete this fic! I've been making good progress on it, and I will hopefully be able to continue as I have been.

I am once again changing the projected chapters because God I am apparently totally incapable of hitting target lengths. The scenes are going to be as long as they want to be, and I know that forcing it will make an inferior product, so. Until this point, I have (obviously) been following a set pattern of scenes (scene, family dinner interlude, scene, spar interlude, repeat) but since a lot of those flow into each other without breaks, it might behoove me to be less strict with it. (It's not like any readers who haven't seen these posts would recognize the pattern for what it is, anyway.) Chapter 13 was supposed to be 3 sections long, so 'love' needed to be at least 3k, but I wrote 500 words that I'm extremely pleased with and need a separate followup... So that means chapter 13 will have to be different. The emotional through-line no longer works, so I'll have to push 'sacrifice' back into chapter 14, and probably pull some of the slated chapter 14 stuff into 13. And then because of that I kind of ended up adding new scenes, removing old ones, moving a bunch of shit around... It'll be a bit of a hackjob, but worth it. Hopefully.

There's a lot that goes into the pacing. I tend to have only one Major Emotional Beat per chapter, otherwise it feels muddled and rushed. So each chapter will, ideally, have one emotional through-line, interspersed with character interactions. Which means that if I'm writing according to the outline, and I write something I like that has a different emotional through-line from the chapter it's slated to be in, I'll just have to move the scene. That's part of why everything keeps changing. Another part is that while it's a little silly, I like to end chapters with impactful lines. So, if I write a really good closing line, I might just end the chapter there. It's mostly about vibes TBH

Scenes, in tentative order, starting with chapter 12:

12 - trust [COMPLETE] INTERLUDE - S5 - wrestling -> mihawk [COMPLETE] 13 - solidarity [COMPLETE] INTERLUDE - FD 6 - nipples [COMPLETE] 14 - honest answer [COMPLETE] -- predicted end of chapter 12 & start of chapter 13 -- INTERLUDE - S 6 - mihawk.... 2! [COMPLETE] 15 - love [COMPLETE] INTERLUDE - FD 7 - icy [WIP] 16 - sick INTERLUDE - S 7 - excuse -- predicted end of chapter 13 & start of chapter 14 -- INTERLUDE - FD 8 - recovery 17 - hair INTERLUDE - S 8 - secrets INTERLUDE - FD 9 - sacrifice [COMPLETE] -- predicted end of chapter 14 & start of chapter 15 -- 18 - charades [WIP] INTERLUDE - S 9 - real 19 - top INTERLUDE - FD 10 - calm -- predicted end of chapter 15 & start of chapter 16 -- 20 - it all comes spilling out. INTERLUDE - S 10 - unseen -- predicted end of chapter 16 & start of chapter 17 -- 21 - reunion INTERLUDE - FD 11 - awkward 22 - future [WIP] INTERLUDE - S 11 - unequivocal victory 23 - legacy -- predicted end of chapter 17 & start of chapter 18 -- 24 - ok stud. INTERLUDE - FD 12 - announcement, and all that comes next

Total word count: 72,677 -> 78,167

[saiilorstars]

Ch. 41: Hallow's Tricks

Fandom: Harry Potter (Hogwarts years 1-7) Pairing: Draco x OFC

taglist:@ocappreciationtag @arrthurpendragon  @maaaaarveeeeel @stareyedplanet @foxesandmagic @kmc1989 @caplanbuckybarnes 

​​​​Story Masterlist // Romina’s Masterlist

Fanfic • Ao3 • Wattpad

If you’d like to be a part of this OC’s work/edits, let me know

Halloween was approaching now but even though Romina loved the holiday, she couldn't find it in her to be in the spirits for it. And it wasn't like she wasn't surrounded by Halloween. Pumpkins had begun going up as decorations around the school. Their meals had started bearing the pumpkin themes as well. Many of the students were already planning on what their Halloween eve would look like apart from the fact it would also be the night the champions of the Triwizard would be announced. It was all perfect...so why the hell wasn't it?

Romina had to shake herself out of her thoughts to give Angel the attention he deserved. They sat on the floor of the common room with the table between them; Carolinha and Daphne sat on the couch behind Angel. Angel, bless his heart, had tried familiarizing himself with the muggle traditions of Halloween and he was eager to show Romina what he had so far.

"I mean don't get me wrong, I'm not sure I like the idea of muggles going around imitating us but I guess it's harmless doing costume competitions," he was saying. Behind him, Carolinha was showing Daphne the magazine full of muggle costumes that Angel had somehow acquired.

"You're telling me," Carolinha scoffed. "People actually walk the streets dressed as ketchup and mustard bottles?"

Romina nodded. "Yup. My favorite pair I've seen has to be the PB and J."

"PB and what?" Daphne lifted an eyebrow at her.

"Peanut butter and jelly," Romina said, surprised that she had to even explain that.

"What have you dressed up as, Romina?" Angel curiously asked, though with a hint of a flush. He thought she probably looked adorable in whatever costumes she'd picked in the earlier years.

Romina was none the wiser as she thought back to the years before Hogwarts. "I was Tinkerbell the last year I went to my muggle school. That's the little fairy in Peter Pan with the green dress, doesn't talk." All three of her friends gave her the same blank stare. "Not ringing any bells? No, of course it wouldn't be. Before that, I was a witch of course. Couldn't help myself with that one. I've also been a vampire slayer, a cheerleader, and queen."

"Way to be on the nose," Angel remarked, making Romina laugh. "Witch, vampire slayer and a bloody queen? Really?"

Romina flushed pink with embarrassment. "I thought I was being cool about it."

Angel leaned forwards, resting his arms over the table. "More like blatantly obvious."

"What? That was I queen?" Romina pushed her hair behind her shoulders. "Why yes, that is blatantly obvious." Carolinha and Daphne both snorted. "Thanks for pointing that out."

Angel playfully rolled his eyes. "Sure, you're the queen."

"Say it again!"

Angel wasn't even surprised anymore. "You're the queen, Romina." It was all worth it when he heard Romina's giggle. That was what Draco and Arden saw when they emerged from the corridor.

"Trying to be a little more obvious there, Angel?" Draco made the call before he even finished thinking it. Soon as it left his mouth though, Arden shoved her elbow into his side. "Ow!" He threw her a glare.

Arden upheld his glare with her own, silently reminding him about what they'd just talked about. "Maybe we should go," she 'suggested'.

"Go where?" Romina asked them, forgetting the conversation altogether. She had begun understanding what Theodore meant the last time they talked. It seemed like she was never able to find either Arden or Draco alone. They were either gone or together. It was beyond strange and kind of irking her.

"None of your business, Oswell," Draco muttered and started walking for the entry door.

Arden groaned as she hurried after him. "We just talked about this!"

"Talked about what?" Romina never got her answer. Arden disappeared with Draco once again. Romina scowled. "What the hell is going on?"

"Romina, don't even worry yourself with Draco," Angel said, leading to a very huffy response.

"I am not worried," Romina said, "I would never be worried about him."

"Well good because you shouldn't be," Angel said, "I've noticed that you're not arguing with him a lot anymore."

"Oh, we've noticed that too and thank god because it was getting annoying," Daphne remarked. She'd gone back to the flipping through the magazine with Carolinha.

Romina shook her head. "We haven't stopped, he's just…not doing a lot anymore."

"Isn't that good?" Carolinha made a face because the way Romina had spoken led to believe that she was annoyed.

"Yeah, course it is," Romina scratched behind her ear. She wasn't going to admit that it was somehow leaving her a little disheartened inside. If Draco had lost interest, then it meant he had no intention of fixing things with her. He was ready to leave things as they were.

"Romina, are you okay?" Angel asked after silence stretched between them for too long.

Once again, Romina had to shake herself out of her thoughts. She needed to stop thinking so much about things. But then there's Arden…

"Actually, I forgot I have to finish some homework," she ultimately decided to say. She got up from the floor and went straight for her dorm. She would bury her face in homework if it meant warring off thoughts for a while.

~ 0 ~

"I told you not to say anything if it was going to be mean, sour or downright snappy," Arden reprimanded Draco once they were far away from the common room. They walked together down the hallway.

"It's Angel who's doing it," Draco snapped. "You know he's pulling all this crap to finally make a move on Oswell, right?"

"So?" Arden snapped, thumping him on the side of his head. "That's none of our concern!"

He smacked her hand away from him. "Don't touch me!"

"Then stop being an idiot! Who cares what Angel's doing? At the rate you're going, Romina's never going to speak to you again. Isn't that what you should be more concerned about?"

Draco didn't say anything but the huff he gave was answer enough. Arden picked up on the fact he used that as an admittance to something he didn't want to say out loud.

"Just take my advice already and talk to her," Arden said for what she was sure was the millionth time.

"It's hard."

"How?"

"She infuriates me!" And that was the nicest way Draco could put it. He wasn't sure if Romina had always been like that but lately she was annoying him in every way possible. She never let go of the stupid war she started with him. For every thing he said, she had something to quip back. He liked a challenge but why did she have to constantly be in a battle with him while others like Angel got all the playful banter, the nice eyes and giggles—

He stopped walking abruptly. Unwelcomed heat rushed up the back of his neck and face.

Arden was a few steps ahead before she noticed Draco was no longer with her. She looked back at him and wondered what the hell he was frozen for. "What are you doing?" She raised an eyebrow at him. She swore she saw him jump.

"Nothing!" he said quickly. He pushed away all thoughts concerning Romina and her giggles. In fact, he shoved them to the deepest part of his mind. He had no business thinking about that.

"Okay, are you going to do what I'm telling you to or are you going to drag this out for another month?" Arden asked, "Because we've been at this all October."

"I just need more time," Draco said. Arden blinked in surprise. That was a different answer than the previous times. The first time he had said some not so nice words to her for "talking to him like that" and whatnot. He was thinking about talking which, in fairness, was a step up. He was thinking how best to approach the subject with Romina.

So Arden would take it.

~0~

"My dear Aline!" Romina had heard Fred's call from a good distance. She tried her best to escape down the hallway but in the end, the Weasley twins captured her by the arms and lifted her up to then carry her.

"When will you stop doing this!?" Romina groaned, her legs swinging back and forth in her attempts to get down.

"When you grow some more," George said then shares a snort with his brother.

"You jerks!" Romina exclaimed.

"Calm down, Aline," Fred said once they put her down. They had carried her all the way to the courtyard. "We just wanted to discuss some things with you."

"And for that you had to carry me through the whole school?" Romina fixed her shirt that had ridden up a little on the ride. "Can't you be normal?"

"We have style," George said proudly, flicking the collars of his shirt. Fred did the same.

"You have something alright — nerve," Romina shook her head. Both twins laughed in agreement. "So what do you want?"

"We were just wondering what ideas you had for Halloween this year," Fred said.

"Right." Romina crossed her arms over her chest.

"Any new Muggle tricks you learned for us?" Fred wiggled his eyebrows at her. "Ron said you watched some new muggle Halloween movies during summer. Anything we can use?"

"That depends, do you guys do musicals?" Romina smirked. "Cos the Nightmare Before Christmas had some good songs."

"I'm not sure singing is where our talents lay," George said, "But you're more than welcome to join us."

"Yeah, my thing's the violin. Arden does the singing."

"Arden?" Harry heard the last thing Romina had said. He, Ron and Hermione were walking up to the trio. "If she doesn't watch out, she's going to get hexed."

Before Romina could ask what he meant, Ron answered it. "We just saw her with Malfoy in the library."

"Again?" Romina said a tad softly. Last time she heard, Arden said she was heading for the astronomy tower to work on a project.

"Again?" Ron made a face. "You mean she's willingly spending time with Malfoy?"

"Maybe they were working on a project," Hermione said with a groan. "We shouldn't be getting into anyone's business, even if it is someone like Malfoy."

"I care for Arden only," Harry clarified. "She's our neighbor and friend, right Romina?"

Romina nodded silently. She was more preoccupied wondering why the hell Arden lied to her earlier. Theodore is right. He has to be. Except it absolutely irked her that he was right.

"Well if he gets smart with Arden, Georgie and I are more than happy to help out with some tricks," Fred said, swinging a shoulder around Romina. "We have an insider in the Slytherin House." Romina felt his subtle nudge and as much as she wanted to smile, it wasn't wide enough.

"Romina, we were going to go visit Hagrid, if you wanted to come," Harry said, eyeing her strangely.

"Um, yeah, that would be nice," Romina said, deciding that she needed to stop thinking so much about business that wasn't anything to do with her. Hermione was right.

"What about our tricks, Romina?" George asked, feigning offence that they were being forgotten.

Romina playfully rolled her eyes. "I'll make a list of all the cool things I saw in the last Halloween movies."

"There's our partner in crime!" Fred gave her a big hug from the side and followed it with a sloppy kiss on her cheek.

"Ah! Fred!" Romina exclaimed, swatting him away from her.

"Off we go, George!" Fred announced as he took off in a sprint.

"Agreed!" George nodded. He made to leave but at the last second, he dove for Romina and kissed her other cheek.

"GUYS!" Romina yelled after the pair who couldn't have run any faster. "Ron, your brothers are insufferable!"

"Which ones," Ron said, causing a round of snickers.

"C'mon Rom," Harry slid his arm around Romina's shoulders.

"Just don't kiss my cheek," she warned as they started down for Hagrid's hut.

"Kiss the spots where Fred and George kissed you? Yeah, I'll pass," Harry said, crinkling his nose at the thought. "Maybe later."

"Jerk," Romina chuckled.

~0~

As it turned out, Romina remembered exactly what had soured her mood before visiting Hagrid. Seeing Arden in the Great Hall reminded Romina. Looking around to make sure that no one else (specifically a blonde) was around, Romina headed for their table.

"Oh hey," Arden greeted Romina when she sat down beside her. "I was wondering where you went."

"I went with Harry, Ron and Hermione to visit Hagrid." Romina started going through their dinner options on the table.

"How nice!"

"Mhm…" Romina watched her friend pick up her goblet to drink.

Arden noticed it soon enough and cut her drink short. "What?"

Romina ducked her head; she swallowed hard. She was itching to bring up the subject but she had no idea how.

Thankfully, Arden had known Romina for such a long time now. She knew Romina like the back of her hand. "What is it?" Arden asked her. "Something's on your mind."

"N-no…"

"Romina, I can see it. Come out with it," Arden motioned. "Afraid I'll bite or what? C'mon." Arden nudged her on the side until Romina ended up smiling. "What's the secret?"

It's yours, Romina sourly thought. "Arden, you would...you would tell me if something big happened in your life, right?"

Arden snorted. "Yeah, just as soon as something happens."

Romina sighed in annoyance. She left her plate and shifted to face Arden. "You know that in this entire world, you and Harry are my best friends." Arden nodded. "You two are the people I most trust. You've been with me way before Hogwarts. I love you guys."

"Me too, Romina," Arden agreed. "And I'm sure Harry feels the same way. Why are you talking like this?"

Romina was frustrated. She was frustrated with Arden for not telling her the big secret about her and Draco. She was frustrated with herself for not being able to directly ask Arden about it.

"Romina, what is it?" Arden pressed for the answer. Whatever was nagging at Romina's mind had to be big to make her act like this.

"Arden, you would tell me if you were seeing someone right?" Romina finally asked. "Whoever it was...right?"

Arden had no idea where the question had come from but if it was bothering Romina so much, she would just answer it. "Yes, of course."

Romina nodded, staying silent to give Arden the chance to speak. Except, Arden didn't. She didn't know what else she was supposed to say. "You would tell me, right!?" Romina asked again, nodding at Arden to speak.

"I already said yes," Arden said, making a face of confusion. "Why, is anyone interested? Oh! Is it that cute Durmstrang boy Blaise talks to? Cos he is cute!"

"Arden!" Romina snapped, startling the brunette. "Aren't you—is there something you want to tell me?"

"Not really, no," Arden answered slowly, eyeing Romina with concern. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Romina couldn't believe her ears. "Me!?" she said incredulously.

"Yeah, what is it with you lately?" Arden genuinely wanted to know. "Is it this Draco thing that's finally getting to you?"

Romina wanted to tell. She wanted to yell so badly. She swallowed it down, slamming her hands on the table as she stood up.

"Romina, what's happening?" Arden stood up with Romina but the latter was storming away before Arden even touched her. "Romina!"

"Leave me alone!"

~0~

Romina did not speak to Arden for the rest of the week. She found it incredibly hard to get over the fact Arden lied to her face. Romina felt like she needed time to get rid of her anger before she could talk to Arden again.

Meanwhile, Arden was going crazy trying to figure out why on Earth Romina was so upset with her. As much as she thought, she couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation. She even got the others in their group to try and help her out but they were just as lost as she was.

"I'm turning into you," she told Draco before their Divination class was to begin. "She's not talking to me."

"Sounds to me like she just came to her senses," Draco remarked, smirking at Arden's scowling reaction. "All this time, you've been nagging me about screwing up. Now look where you are."

"Why the hell do I even talk to you?" Arden muttered.

"Because I made my payment," Draco was happy to respond with. It was hilarious reminding Arden that she was basically in debt with him until further notice. Course then Pansy showed up to claim her seat next to him and reminded him exactly how big his payment had been. And Romina had yet to direct a word to him.

"What do you want, King?" Pansy demanded.

Arden didn't even bother with her. She locked eyes with Draco and pointed a finger at him. "Talk to her now."

Draco would've liked to demand how the hell he was supposed to do that when Romina made it her personal mission to stay clear of them both. He ended up thinking about some ways during class. Trewlany never had anything interesting to say anyways. Plus, Pansy would take care of the work for him. (It was the only good thing that came out of the exchange).

After class, Arden made sure to remind him to go find Romina. He had to shake Pansy off him, literally—she was clinging to his arm—to go search for the stubborn girl. Whether it was lucky or not, he spotted Romina sitting by herself in the courtyard. She held a book in her hands, muggle by the looks of it.

"'Princess Bride'?" He asked in bemusement when he sat down beside her.

Romina silently flipped the page. She should've known better than to pick a public spot for reading. Hermione Granger owed her for such stupid advice. This was supposed to calm me down...

"Gotta say, Oswell, I didn't take you for the princess or bride type," Draco remarked. He smirked when Romina met his eye.

"I can like many things," she said with no emotion whatsoever, "But don't get it confused. It's not your typical princess story."

"Does it have a prince?"

"Yes but—" Romina was quick to say when she saw Draco opening his mouth, "—he's actually the evil one. It's the masked man in black who gets the girl."

Draco snorted. "Seriously? I didn't know you were that type!"

Romina scowled at him. "Shut it! Can't you go somewhere else? Bother some poor first year or something!?"

"I needed to talk to you!"

Romina scoffed. "Now you want to talk to me?"

"Hey, I've been trying to find you but you keep hiding or something!"

"I am not hiding from anybody." Lies. Romina was definitely doing her best to avoid him and Arden. It was easier with Draco because they didn't share a dorm. "If I was hiding, would I really come out to read here of all places? Use your brain, if you have one of course."

"You didn't have any doubts when we were partners in Potions," Draco reminded her with a smug smile. "You were definitely happy with the results."

Romina rolled her eyes. "You love the attention you get from your class partners, don't you? Heard you specifically switched Theodore for Pansy of all people. I know Divination isn't all that hard but...even then..."

Whatever smugness Draco had vanished. "I did not ask for Pansy."

Romina scoffed. "Right." She turned the page of her book.

"I didn't!"

"Then why did you switch partners?"

"Why are you so interested?"

"Because Theodore's came up to me about three times to complain about you and Arden blowing him off. Honestly, whatever you two have going on, do me the favor and leave me out of them."

"Going on…? What the hell are you talking about?"

Romina finally stopped pretending to read—she had been looking at the same sentence over and over for minutes now—and looked at Draco. Her eyes had widened to make her point that this was Draco's moment to tell her the truth. Given that Draco had no idea what this truth was, he could only stare back. The blank stare was Romina's final straw.

She smacked his shoulder with her book. "You're insufferable!"

"What did I do now!?" Draco was sure he was going to lose count on how many times Romina had hit him with something.

"And you've got some nerve!" Romina exclaimed, smacking him again with her book.

"Can I at least know what I had the nerve of this time!?"

Romina's answer came in the form of another smack. "Like you don't know!"

"I don't!" Draco saw the next smack coming when Romina raised her book again. He caught it before it hit him on the head. "Stop hitting me!"

Romina held onto her book tightly and tried pulling it out of Draco's hands. "Let go!"

"Why? So you can go ahead and 'lightly tap' me again?" Draco would never forget the poor excuse she gave him the last time she decided to get violent with him. Romina should count her lucky stars he didn't retaliate for that one. Anyone else who dared to hit him on the head in front of a whole crowd would've been hexed.

"If you don't let go of my book right now, you're going to wish all I did was 'tap' you!"" Romina pulled on her book again. Draco was surprisingly stronger than he looked. Her pull did almost nothing. She could feel his fingers touching hers each time she pulled. It shouldn't be causing her any type of sensation. The same went for the stupid smirk on his face.

"Got lost in my eyes there?" Draco made the question just as soon as it'd come to mind. It was too hard to resist.

"You wish," Romina said, releasing her book in the process. She laughed when he nearly fell back from the sudden loss of her pull.

"Oh, that was funny?" Draco released a breath once he'd reclaimed his balance on the bench.

Romina nodded, the ghost of her laugh still playing at her lips. "Mhm, yeah."

Draco mocked her for a brief second before whacking her on the head with her own book. It wiped any trace of a smile and laugh from her.

"You hit me!" Romina said, eyes wide and mouth in a gape.

"You hit me like 10 times already!"

Even though that was very true, Romina wouldn't admit it. "Give me that!" She snatched her book from him. "Go find Arden or Pansy or whoever the hell you're talking to these days!" She jumped from the bench and glared.

"I'm talking to you right now but I frankly don't understand what's going on." This was nowhere near what Draco envisioned when he thought of talking to Romina...but she always had a way of changing things around him. He got up as well and faced Romina. "Why are you so...grumpy lately?"

"I am not grumpy!"

"Yeah, you are. It's adorable up to a certain point…" Draco said, trailing off when he noticed the fluster on Romina's face. He smirked. "Alright there, Oswell?"

Romina couldn't stand his smirk. "I hate you!" She gave him one more smack with her book then stormed off.

"Don't think you do!" Draco called after her in an almost sing-song manner.

She absolutely hated him.

~ 0 ~

The Halloween feast was, as usual, delicious. The Great Hall was filled with floating candles and pumpkins but what really took the attention was the Goblet of Fire's new place at the head of the room. Tonight, the three champions would finally be announced. Everybody was jittery, to say the least. Even Romina was excited despite the fact that Mr. Crouch was back in the school. She had done her due diligence of not looking his way. She was having a much better time with Angel, Carolinha and Daphne anyways.

"'I myself am strange and unusual'," she mimicked Lydia Deetz after gushing about the character in her latest line of favorite Halloween movies. "She's who I would've gone as for Halloween this year."

"That movie just sounds weird," Daphne said, shaking her head.

"I think it's funny weird," Carolinha shrugged her shoulders. "Definitely haven't heard something else like that. Muggles are creative."

"It was such a good movie but remember—don't say Beetlejuice three times!" Romina warned with a playful finger.

"Yeah, that guy just...he doesn't sound too nice," Angel said with a grimace. "Why'd you like the movie again?"

"Because it's funny," Romina chuckled. "Our favorite part was the singing."

"And when you say 'our' you mean Arden…?" Angel watched Romina sober from her laugh at the mention of her best friend she currently wasn't speaking to.

Arden currently sat with the Carrol twins a bit further down the table, unsurprisingly (in Romina's mind anyways) not too far from where Draco was sitting with Blaise. Romina didn't even look in their direction.

"Don't start, Angel," she warned quietly.

"You've never gotten into a fight with Arden," Angel said. "What happened?"

"Nothing," Romina insisted. She grabbed one of the pumpkin pastries on her left. She would rather not think about the fact her best friend refused to tell her about her ongoing dating. She was thankful that the feast was done a few minutes later. She would much rather focus on the champions that were going to be called.

Dumbledore had risen from his seat, commanding the silence of the entire room. "And now the moment you've all been waiting for, the champions selection!" He approached the Goblet whose flames were beginning to glow red. Soon, it shot into the air to spit out a piece of parchment.

Dumbledore caught it and unfolded it to read the first champion's name. "The Durmstrang champion is ... Viktor Krum!"

Everybody burst into cheers and applause as the Krum got up from the Slytherin table to walk up to Dumbledore. He shook hands with the headmaster then followed Crouch and Lugo Bagman towards a door behind them.

The Goblet soon spit out another name. The parchment was baby blue and perhaps laced?

"The champion from Beauxbatons... Fleur Delacour!"

A girl with near silver blonde hair rose from the Ravenclaw table. Romina recognized her as the girl Ron often fawned over. And by the looks of it, all the rest of the boys fawned over her too.

"Look, the other students aren't that happy," Carolinha remarked about the rest of the Beauxbatons students at the Ravenclaw table.

"Seriously," Romina said after shifting in her seat to get a better look. Some of them were actually crying. "Where's the solidarity my grandmother spoke of?"

Fleur soon disappeared along with Krum and now the final name had been released from the red flames. Excitement increased tenfold as they waited to hear who would be the Hogwarts champion.

"The Hogwarts champion... Cedric Diggory!"

The entirety of the Hufflepuff table jumped from their seats to cheer Cedric on. He was perhaps the most cheered for champion. Romina was no exception to the cheering.

"I know one of the champions!" She clapped excitedly.

"Excellent! We now have our three champions!" Dumbledore said once the applause had finally died down. "But in the end only one will go down in history. Only one will hoist this chalice of champions, this vessel of victory the tri-wizard cup!"

But before he could say more, the Goblet hissed as its flames once more turned red. Confusion spread in the room as the flames released another piece of parchment.

Equally confused, Dumbledore reached for the fluttering parchment in the air. There was a long moment of awkward silence before Dumbledore finally read the name on the parchment. "...Harry Potter."

Silence.

Even Dumbledore seemed like he didn't believe what he had read. Gazing down at the parchment again, he repeated the name written down. "Harry...Harry Potter!"

Romina nearly keeled over. Her head flipped in the Gryffindor table's direction and saw Harry was frozen in his spot. All eyes were on him. Some students were even standing up just to stare at him better.

"Harry Potter!" Dumbledore called again, lowering the parchment in his hand to spot the brunette.

"Go on Harry. Harry for goodness sake," Hermione urged Harry. It had to be better than just sitting there waiting for the vultures to come for him because oh they were going to come. Hermione saw at least a handful of angry eyes on Harry.

Harry was numb but his legs seemed to do him the grace of letting him stand up.

"He's a cheat! He's not even seventeen yet!" He heard someone say as he slowly walked up to the head of the room.

"What is he doing?" Carolinha whispered to Romina. "What on Earth does he think he's doing?"

Romina could only shake her head. There was no way in hell that Harry had figured out a way to slip his name into the Goblet. Better men had tried. So how the hell did his name end up in the Goblet?

~ 0 ~

It was absolute chaos in the Slytherin common room that night and the following morning. There wasn't a single soul who believed that Harry had not willingly put his name into the Goblet of Fire.

"Please, half of you didn't even like Cedric Diggory before tonight," Romina spat at a grumbling group of fifth years near the fireplace. "You all wanted a Slytherin champion so don't for a second say you loved Cedric."

"C'mon Oswell, you can't defend Potter for this one," Draco called. He, Blaise, Theodore and Angel were huddled at one of the tables. "He just wants the attention."

"Harry wouldn't be stupid enough to put his name into the Goblet, much less for attention," snapped Romina. "You're the one giving him the attention if we're being technical." She went straight for the dorms that night. She could very well pick a fight with everyone and she would if they asked for it.

"C'mon Romina," Carolinha watched Romina sulk on her bed later in the evening. "You really don't think Harry may have just gotten smart like the Weasley twins tried to a while back?"

"He wouldn't do it, Carol," Romina insisted. "God! Haven't any of you paid attention so far!? Harry doesn't seek attention! He doesn't put himself in mortal danger for fun!"

"Harry's not like that," Arden spoke quietly and avoided Romina's look. She was as unwelcomed as any other time but she would be damned if she listened to someone else claim that Harry put his name into the Goblet.

Romina did look in her direction but she didn't snap. For a moment, there was solidarity between them. Truthfully, Romina missed that.

"Then how did his name get in there?" Daphne curiously asked. "Because out there," she made a nod for the common room, "there's a lot of nasty rumors going around."

"They're just that, Daphne, rumors," Romina said sharply. "I beg you guys not to believe in them. I know Harry, okay? I have all my life. He did not do this." Carolinha and Daphne ultimately nodded but there was still a hint of doubt. Romina didn't waste the night arguing with them. She had a feeling there would be plenty of unconvinced people to deal with in the days to come.

~0~

Romina was able to find Harry the next morning but was surprised to find out that Ron was one of the people who firmly believed Harry put his name into the Goblet.

"He's finally lost it," Romina whispered after hearing Harry's moment with Ron the previous night.

"I tried telling Harry it's more jealousy than anything else. It's always Harry getting the attention whether or not he wants it." Hermione seemed torn between both sides. Romina understood her. It wouldn't be easy handling both boys for the time being.

"I don't," Harry practically snarled. He was just as furious as Ron was with him. He expected his best friends to believe him! Two out of three did!

"Really, try to understand him," Hermione insisted. "Ron's got all these brothers to compete against at home and you're his best friend and you're really famous…"

Romina made a cutting motion across her neck. Harry could give a damn about anything else right now.

"Great, really great," huffed Harry, "Tell him from me I'll swap any time he wants. Tell him from me he's welcome to it. People gasping at my forehead everywhere I go…"

"I'm not telling him anything," Hermione snapped. She didn't deserve any of his attitude, that much she was sure of. "Tell him yourself. It's the only way to sort this out."

"She's right on that, Harry," Romina remarked only to earn a deep scoff from Harry in return.

"You haven't spoken to Arden in how many weeks now?"

Romina blinked. Fair point.

"I'm not running after him trying to make him grow up!" Harry continued. "Maybe he'll believe I'm not enjoying myself when I've got all my neck broken or—"

"That is nowhere near funny," Hermione scolded him.

"Bad joke indeed," Romina said, "At least tell me you've already written to Sirius about this?"

"I told him earlier," Hermione informed.

"And let me guess, he hasn't?"

"Not that I know of!"

"I'm right here!" Harry snapped at the pair. "And I'm not doing it. He came back to the country just because my scar twinged! He'll probably come bursting into the castle if I tell him that someone entered me in the Triwizard Tournament!"

"Doesn't matter, he would want to know," Hermione said sternly.

"He's going to find out anyways, Harry, might as well cut out the middle man," Romina patted his shoulder comfortingly.

"How?" He asked, clearly unconvinced.

"It's called the frikin media, Harry! The Daily Prophet is guaranteed to be covering this and given that you're 14...I'm pretty sure it's going to be some big news."

Harry stayed quiet, and pensive. That did make sense. Sirius was in hiding but he didn't live under a rock. "Fine," he sighed. "I'll write."

"Thank you," Romina said, voicing Hermione's relief as well.

The two girls personally accompanied Harry to the owlery to witness the letter being written. They couldn't take the chance of Harry backing out at the last minute.

~ 0 ~

The days that came after were no better for Harry. Romina didn't have to be in Gryffindor to know that. In fact, it was probably better that she was in another House. She saw things perfectly.

The Hufflepuffs were absolutely livid with him. None of them were talking to the Gryffindors. Even the Ravenclaws were doing their best to avoid the Gryffindors. Romina didn't bother much with her own House. The Slytherins were split in three. One side was just as livid as the Hufflepuffs, the second side were genuinely interested to see how the hell fourth year Harry Potter was going to compete against the more advanced students and the last side simply didn't care.

"I don't think we should be splitting our loyalties between Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory," Luna Lovegood shared her unique opinion with Romina one afternoon. The two girls had found a comfortable spot in the courtyard where Luna could show Romina the latest edition of the Quibbler.

Romina smiled to herself. Luna never had one bad thing to say about anyone, not even one bad thought. "I wholeheartedly agree, Luna."

Luna shrugged slightly. "Hogwarts has two champions. We're fortunate, really."

"I don't think Harry sees it that way," Romina said with a light sigh. She leaned on Luna's side to get a glimpse of the next page of the Quibbler. "He's scared. He's got less years of experience and the fact that most of the school hates him doesn't help either."

"I'll cheer for him," Luna said, making Romina smile. Luna hadn't even properly met Harry. She just knew him through Romina and Ginny Weasley.

"I'm sure he'll appreciate that," Romina said.

"Romina," she heard Rolf call. He was approaching the two girls. "Hey!"

"Hi Rolf," Romina smiled at him. "Luna, this is my cousin, Rolf Scamander." The bright blonde girl wiggled her fingers at Rolf. "Rolf, this is my friend, Luna Lovegood."

"Yeah," Rolf nodded. Romina guessed that he knew much of Luna's quirky reputation like the rest of the school. "Hey," he smiled at Luna. "You reading the Quibbler?"

"Luna shows me the editions every month," Romina said.

"My father's the editor," Luna explained.

"Oh, that's cool!" Rolf exclaimed. Luna beamed. It wasn't often that people said things like that to her.

Romina looked between the pair with a small smile. "You want to read it with us?" she asked Rolf, figuring Luna would be more than happy to share with another person. Romina didn't think anyone else really read the Quibbler, much less with Luna herself.

"Sure!" Rolf said, making way for Luna's other side on the bench. "Oh, I almost forgot. Romina, I just ran into Arden King—she was asking for you."

Romina's eyes lowered to the Quibbler's pages. She had no idea why turnips were supposed to be lucky but she would rather read that than deal with this conversation.

Luna, however, had no idea that Romina wasn't on speaking terms with Arden. "Arden is your friend, isn't she?"

"Was," Romina whispered before clearing her throat. She looked up and happened to see Harry walking from the opposite end. "You know what? I forgot I have to go talk to Harry about something. Rolf, you want to read the Quibbler with Luna?"

"Umm…yeah, but what about Arden?"

"I'll see her later," Romina said, promptly getting up from her seat. "I'll see you guys later." She hurried away before either Luna or Rolf said something else about Arden.

Unsurprisingly, Harry was alone when Romina walked up to him. Hermione was off in the library and he just couldn't stand spending so much time there.

"Not like Ron, huh?" Romina giggled.

Harry's expression soured at the mention of Ron. "Not at all but you know what? At least Hermione believed me."

"He'll come around, Harry, I know it," Romina assured. "Has, um, has Sirius written back yet?"

"Yeah, yesterday. He wants to talk face to face."

Romina stopped walking, widened eyes meeting Harry's. "How's that going to work?"

"I'm sure Sirius has a way. He told me this Saturday at one o'clock in the morning."

"Tell him everything, Harry, got it?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "I know—"

"I mean it, Harry Potter. Everything," Romina pointed at him. She knew exactly how Harry was. He would try to hide things from Sirius no matter how dangerous it got.

"Yes, I promise, sheesh!" Harry exclaimed. "Get off my back, will you? It's not been a lovely week."

"Yeah, I know, I'm sorry," Romina said. "I did get to read Rita Skeeter's article about you—erm, you didn't tell her that you cry at nights, right?" Harry deadpanned her until she answered herself. "Right, course…"

"Everything in that article was lies," Harry huffed. "I didn't say any of that stuff."

"It's like Hollywood," Romina said.

They started walking again, albeit slowly as they continued to discuss the lies that were sure to come in future articles if Rita Skeeter was the author.

"But listen, Harry, just know that I'll be cheering for you. In fact, even Luna Lovegood is on your side!"

"The only Ravenclaw," Harry mumbled.

"Well, I know that Angel, Carolinha and even Daphne are rooting for you. Just, um, don't be surprised if you hear the girls gushing about Cedric too."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Is it just them gushing over Cedric? I seem to recall you doing the same thing at one point."

Romina's face turned a bright red. "Shut up he's cute,," she promptly said, making Harry chuckle. "You know I'm your number one supporter!"

"Right. Hey, what does Arden say about this?" Harry had to ask. He'd been trying to broach the subject but lately his days were consumed by his own problems.

"I don't know what she says these days," Romina shrugged.

"Rom, why are you two fighting? You never fight."

"I abhor lies, Harry, you know that. And right now, Arden is lying to me. I know she is and she knows it too but she doesn't admit to it."

"I really can't see Arden lying to you of all people," Harry said, even making a face at how absurd that was. He'd known both Romina and Arden since before Hogwarts and if there was one person Arden King could never lie to, it was Romina. Romina was Arden's confidant for everything. It was vice versa.

"Well she has now," Romina said quietly, "And it hurts. I thought we were best friends."

"Just talk to her, Rom," Harry insisted and heard Romina's loud groan.

She picked up her pace, leaving Harry to trail after her. "No!" she yelled. "I've given her ample time to come clean! I'm not going after her for anything!"

"Oh, so you're so keen to tell me to talk to Ron but you won't take your own advice?"

"That's different!"

"How!?"

Romina whirled around, coming face to face with Harry. They bore the same challenging glares. Ironically it was something that Arden used to point out whenever they got into moments like these. Unfortunately, Arden was nowhere near to help ease the tension, neither was Hermione for that matter. The only person nearby wasn't quite interested in helping them out.

"Why so tense Potter?" They heard Draco's voice somewhere nearby.

Romina and Harry tore their eyes from each other to face Draco, only that took a moment seeing as they couldn't actually find him. Romina happened to look up and found the blonde perched up on a tree. Her face scrunched up in utter confusion. "What the fuck are you doing up on a tree?" Harry followed her gaze up and frowned.

"Gotta see the sights, Oswell," Draco remarked, "You know you spent about an hour with Looney Lovegood over there? How interesting can that really be?"

"You spy on me now?" Romina raised an eyebrow. "Are you that bored? Or just that creepy?"

"Rom, let's just go," Harry reached for Romina's arm. He had absolutely no mood to deal with Draco today.

"Don't go so quickly, Potter," Draco called, stopping the pair in their tracks. "You know, my father and I have a bet going on. I don't think you're gonna last ten minutes in this tournament. He disagrees. He thinks you won't last five."

Now it was Romina trying to tug Harry away.

"I don't give a damn what you or your father thinks Malfoy," he snapped, "He's vile and cruel, and you're just pathetic. Let's go, Rom!" He turned right on his feet and strode away, leaving Romina to scurry after him.

Neither saw Draco jump from his spot on the tree, hand whipping out his wand to aim on Harry's back. The loud bang stopped Harry and Romina in their tracks, but neither understood where it came from, nor why several students had yelled. They turned around and saw Moody not too far from them with his wand out and levitating a...white ferret?

"I'll teach you to cast when someone's back is turned!" growled Moody apparently at the creature. It bounced in the air, going zig-zag all around.

"I'm so confused," Romina whispered to Harry, both of them in a trance much like the growing crowd around them.

"I'm not," Harry said, his eyes widening as he started making the connections. Romina saw the odd smile on his face. "That's Malfoy, ha!"

"What?" Romina hissed.

"Didn't get you, did he?" called Moody over to Harry. Harry shook his head, his grin might as well be glued on by this point. Moody forced the ferret into a smack against the ground.

Romina flinched. She actually heard the smack. "Make him stop!" She tugged on Harry's arm but he was frozen and not out of horror. "Harry!"

"What's going on?" Romina then heard Arden's voice through the crowd. The brunette pushed her way through the crowd until she was close enough to be pulled by Romina. "Romina, what's—"

"That's Draco!"

"What?" Arden's eyes widened and her mouth pursed together to hold back a laugh. Moody was now punctuating his reprimands by smacking the ferret against the ground, the tree and even a stone bench.

Romina groaned. "Arden! Do something! That's your boyfriend!"

"HE'S MY WHAT?" Arden's scream could have rivaled the growing laughter from the crowd. She was absolutely affronted with the confident claim.

Romina frantically pushed Arden out of her way to run through the crowd. She shoved whoever was in her way until she was on the other side. She had no idea where she was going but she had a good idea of the people she was looking for.

She found McGonagall in the hallway and without thinking, Romina yelled her name until she had run up to the professor.

"Miss Oswell!" McGonagall naturally reprimanded her. "That is no way to address somebody!"

Romina was out of breath from running and yelling. "Professor — outside — Professor Moody — and Draco! He's a...!" Romina had to hold her knees to keep herself standing. She was a blundering mess and she knew it.

McGonagall was downright appalled with what she was seeing. "Miss Oswell, calm yourself down and then find me. Perhaps with a little bit more etiquette."

"But Professor!"

"Keep this going and I will take points from Slytherin!"

"I don't care!" Romina snapped frantically.

McGonagall couldn't look any more irritated. "Alright, that's 50 points from Slyth—MISS OSWELL!" McGonagall yelled when Romina yanked her by the hand. "This is highly inappropriate! Let go now!"

Romina did no such thing. "It's Professor Moody! Please!" She insisted, running quicker and holding McGonagall's hand tight. "He's done something terrible!" Romina wasn't sure if McGonagall had said anything, or yelled for that matter, during their run. Romina felt her ears ringing and her heart pounding. She didn't care if she lost the entire points Slytherin had racked up so far. She just needed to get McGonagall to the courtyard so she could see—

"MOVE!" She screamed at the crowd in her way. She did hear when McGonagall scolded her again for squeezing them through the crowd.

Moody was still holding the ferret captive. It certainly got McGonagall's attention off Romina. "Professor Moody what are you doing?" She asked him.

Moody was absolutely calm as he moved the ferret from one point to the next. "Teaching."

It took only a second for McGonagall to realize why Romina had been so frantic. "Is that a student?" she looked back at the young girl who nodded. Romina was still horrified and frankly pleaded for Mcgonagall to do something.

"Technically it's a ferret," Moody answered. He shoved the ferret down Crabb's pant leg, causing a whole roar of laughter, including Harry's and Arden's.

Romina would have yelled at McGonagall to act if her status at Hogwarts wasn't already in danger for the way she dragged the professor there. Fortunately, McGonagall snapped out of her own trance. When Moody pulled the ferret out of Crabbe's pants, McGonagall took the opportunity to point her wand ahead and turn Draco back to normal.

He was, understandably, all out of sorts. His robes were askew and his hair was sticking up in all kinds of directions. He twitched, his eyes flickering from one side to the other as if Moody were about to hit him with another spell. "My father will hear about this!" He yelled, but soon regretted it when Moody stepped forwards.

"Is that a threat?"

Draco chose to run away there and then.

"I could tell you stories about your father that would curl even your greasy hair boy! It doesn't end here!"

"Professor Moody!" McGonagall had to shout over the laughing crowd of students. "We never use transfiguration as a punishment, surely Dumbledore told you that."

Moody didn't look abashed in the slightest. "He might've mentioned it…"

"Well you will do well to remember it." McGonagall turned to the crowd of students, eyes sharp and blazed with irritation. "The rest of you—don't you have studying to do?"

Students went every which way except for Romina. For when she turned around, she came face to face with Arden.

"You. Me. Talk. Now." Arden left no room for refusal. She grabbed Romina's arm and pulled her away.

[financialeducationsip]

Fixed Deposit vs Life Insurance: A Detailed Comparison to Make the Right Investment Choice

When it comes to financial planning, individuals often face the dilemma of choosing between Fixed Deposits (FDs) and Life Insurance. Both are traditional and widely used tools for safeguarding future needs, yet they serve fundamentally different purposes. In this comprehensive guide, we explore every aspect of FD vs Life Insurance to help you make an informed decision based on your goals.

What is a Fixed Deposit (FD)?

A Fixed Deposit is a low-risk investment option offered by banks and financial institutions where money is locked in for a fixed tenure at a predefined interest rate.

Capital Protection: 100% capital protection.

Guaranteed Returns: Interest is fixed and known in advance.

Flexible Tenure: Ranges from 7 days to 10 years.

Liquidity: Premature withdrawals are allowed (with a penalty).

Taxation: Interest earned is taxable as per the income slab.

FDs are ideal for conservative investors looking for stable returns and safety of capital.

What is Life Insurance?

Life Insurance is a risk management and financial protection tool that pays out a lump sum to your beneficiaries in case of death during the policy term. Some life insurance products also offer investment and savings components.

Types: Term Insurance, Endowment Plans, ULIPs, Whole Life Insurance.

Risk Coverage: Provides financial protection to dependents.

Wealth Creation: Some plans offer returns or maturity benefits.

Tax Benefits: Premiums eligible under Section 80C, payouts under Section 10(10D).

Long-term Goal Alignment: Suitable for retirement, child education, wealth planning.

Life insurance is not just an investment—it's a financial safety net for your loved ones.

When Should You Choose Fixed Deposits?

You should opt for Fixed Deposits when:

You want guaranteed, fixed returns.

Your investment horizon is short to medium term.

You are a risk-averse investor.

You need liquidity and flexibility.

Your primary goal is capital preservation, not wealth multiplication.

FDs are perfect for parking idle funds, creating emergency reserves, or planning for short-term goals like buying a car, home appliances, or funding a vacation.

When Should You Choose Life Insurance?

Life insurance becomes essential when:

You have financial dependents (spouse, children, parents).

You are the sole breadwinner of the family.

You want to create long-term wealth and life cover simultaneously.

You need a tax-efficient investment tool.

You are planning for goals like retirement, child’s education, or legacy building.

Term plans provide high coverage at low premiums, while savings/investment-linked insurance can help you build a corpus over time with the added advantage of insurance protection.

Can Fixed Deposits and Life Insurance Be Used Together?

Absolutely. A balanced financial portfolio should contain both FDs and life insurance. Here's how:

Use FDs for liquidity, emergencies, or short-term savings.

Use Life Insurance for income replacement, long-term planning, and tax saving.

Combining both allows you to diversify your investment, mitigate risks, and achieve financial security from multiple angles.

Tax Implications: FD vs Life Insurance

Fixed Deposit Taxation:

Interest from FDs is fully taxable under “Income from Other Sources.”

TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) applies if interest exceeds ₹40,000 (₹50,000 for senior citizens).

5-year tax-saving FDs qualify for Section 80C deduction up to ₹1.5 lakh.

Life Insurance Taxation:

Premiums qualify for Section 80C deduction.

Maturity amount is tax-free under Section 10(10D) if certain conditions are met.

Death benefits are fully tax-exempt.

Clearly, life insurance offers better tax efficiency compared to FDs.

Return on Investment (ROI): Which One Wins?

FDs offer assured returns, generally between 6% to 7%.

Life Insurance (non-term plans) can offer 4% to 6% (endowment), or up to 10% or more (ULIPs, depending on market performance).

So, while FDs win in predictability, insurance-based investments can offer superior long-term returns, especially when linked to market instruments.

Pros and Cons of Fixed Deposits

Pros:

Guaranteed returns

Simple and easy to manage

Flexible tenure options

Safe, even for senior citizens

Cons:

Tax on interest reduces net returns

No life cover or additional benefits

Returns may not beat inflation

Pros and Cons of Life Insurance

Pros:

Provides life cover

Tax benefits on premiums and payouts

Long-term savings and investment

Can serve as collateral for loans

Cons:

Low liquidity

Complex products (e.g., ULIPs)

Higher charges and lock-in periods

Which Is Better – FD or Life Insurance?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The right choice depends on:

Your financial goals

Risk appetite

Investment horizon

Family responsibilities

Tax planning needs

For pure investment and liquidity, FDs are unmatched. For protection, tax saving, and long-term planning, life insurance is crucial.

The most strategic approach? Use both in tandem to secure your future and grow your wealth.

Conclusion: Make an Informed Financial Decision

Whether you choose an FD for stability or Life Insurance for security and growth, it is crucial to align your choice with your financial objectives. Evaluate your income, liabilities, dependents, and risk tolerance before committing to either. Financial planning is about balance and foresight, and the combination of FD and life insurance can offer both.

Don’t just save—strategize. Don’t just invest—insure. Secure today for a better tomorrow.

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National Institute of Fashion Technology

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Srinagar, is one of the newest but rapidly emerging campuses of India’s premier fashion education network, the NIFT Group, established by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Founded in 2016, NIFT Srinagar has become a center for design innovation, textile research, and creative education in the northernmost part of India.

Surrounded by the serene beauty of the Kashmir Valley, NIFT Srinagar not only brings the legacy and academic excellence of NIFT to Jammu and Kashmir but also adds a unique cultural and artisanal touch to its curriculum and pedagogy. The institute plays a vital role in connecting traditional craftsmanship with modern design sensibilities.

About NIFT Srinagar

Established to promote local crafts, revive regional handloom and handicrafts, and empower youth through fashion and design education, NIFT Srinagar functions under the umbrella of National Institute of Fashion Technology, headquartered in New Delhi. NIFT is a statutory body under the NIFT Act, 2006, and recognized as an Institution of National Importance.

The Srinagar campus has a clear vision—to blend local heritage with global design education. With strong academic support from NIFT’s main network, the Srinagar campus is equipped with cutting-edge facilities, creative labs, and a vibrant academic culture.

Campus and Infrastructure

NIFT Srinagar operates from its permanent campus at Ompora, Budgam, located around 15 kilometers from Srinagar city center. The state-of-the-art campus is spread across 30 acres and designed to facilitate collaborative learning, hands-on training, and research in textiles, apparel, fashion communication, and lifestyle products.

Key Campus Features:

Modern academic buildings with AV-equipped classrooms

Design and pattern-making studios

Computer-aided design (CAD) labs

Textile testing and garment construction labs

Resource center and fashion library

Student hostels and cafeteria

Sports grounds and common rooms

Craft cluster labs for local engagement

The campus architecture reflects a blend of Kashmiri heritage and modern design sensibilities, offering a peaceful and inspirational environment for creative thinking.

Academic Programs

NIFT Srinagar currently offers undergraduate programs in design, with plans for postgraduate and diploma-level expansion in the future. The institute follows the semester-based credit system and updated NIFT curriculum aligned with industry standards and global design trends.

Bachelor of Design (B.Des) – 4 Years:

Fashion Design (FD)

Fashion Communication (FC)

Each program integrates foundation studies in art and design with domain-specific skills such as garment construction, textile knowledge, computer-aided design, photography, styling, branding, visual merchandising, advertising, and fashion journalism.

Students also undergo internships, craft documentation, industry projects, and graduation design collections, which prepare them for real-world roles.

Faculty and Learning Approach

NIFT Srinagar has a highly qualified faculty team with academic and industry backgrounds in design, art, textiles, and communication. Faculty from other NIFT centers also visit the campus for workshops, mentorships, and project guidance.

The student-centric pedagogy involves:

Studio-based learning

Live assignments and portfolio development

Industry interface programs

Craft cluster fieldwork in Kashmir’s artisanal communities

International exposure via NIFT’s global partner institutions

With emphasis on local identity, students are encouraged to explore Pashmina, Sozni, Papier-mâché, Kani weaving, and Walnut wood carving as design inspirations.

Craft Cluster Initiative

One of the most unique features of NIFT Srinagar is its Craft Cluster Initiative, where students engage with local artisans to:

Document traditional techniques

Understand social and economic challenges

Co-create contemporary design products

Develop promotional strategies for traditional crafts

This initiative not only preserves heritage crafts but also builds entrepreneurial bridges between students and local communities.

Placements and Industry Connect

The Career Services team at NIFT facilitates campus placements, internships, and collaborations with fashion houses, design studios, and e-commerce brands.

Top Sectors Hiring NIFT Graduates:

Fashion apparel and retail

Handicrafts and home furnishing

Fashion communication and media

Textile and product design

Branding and digital marketing

Entrepreneurship and social enterprises

Graduates of NIFT Srinagar have been placed in companies like FabIndia, Pantaloons, Amazon, Lifestyle, Titan, Raymonds, and various designer labels. Students also go on to launch their own start-ups, brands, and consultancies.

Student Life and Extracurricular Activities

Despite being a young institute, NIFT Srinagar offers a rich and vibrant student life:

Events and Activities:

Spectrum – Annual cultural and fashion show

Art exhibitions and design installations

Inter-college competitions, workshops, and seminars

Photography, styling, music, and art clubs

Clean India drives, eco-fashion campaigns, and women empowerment initiatives

The campus celebrates design diversity and creative exploration, helping students grow personally and professionally.

International and National Collaborations

NIFT Srinagar benefits from NIFT’s national and global collaborations with:

London College of Fashion

Fashion Institute of Technology, New York

De Montfort University, UK

Industry bodies like FDCI, AEPC, CCI, and Ministry of Textiles

These collaborations provide students with:

International exchange opportunities

Joint projects and exhibitions

Internships with global brands

Exposure to global trends in sustainability, fashion tech, and design thinking

Community Engagement and Social Impact

NIFT Srinagar is deeply rooted in social development through design. It engages in:

Training programs for local artisans

Product development for SHGs (Self Help Groups)

Sustainable fashion and zero-waste design workshops

Collaborations with NGOs and government for skill development

The institute promotes design as a tool for rural development, economic empowerment, and cultural revival in Kashmir.

Why Choose NIFT Srinagar?

Part of India’s most prestigious design network (NIFT)

Blend of tradition and innovation in design learning

Opportunities to work closely with craft communities

Industry-focused programs with 100% practical exposure

Support for start-ups, freelancing, and entrepreneurial ventures

Beautiful and inspiring campus environment in Kashmir

Access to NIFT’s global academic ecosystem

Conclusion

NIFT Srinagar stands at the intersection of creativity, culture, and contemporary design. With its strategic location, dedicated faculty, strong academic foundation, and emphasis on heritage crafts and sustainability, the institute is playing a vital role in shaping the future of Indian fashion and design.