hinnyfied

[hinnyfied]

Frequently Asked Questions

Hi friends, I've decided to turn my ask box off for a while. This is not in response to any specific ask or any drama, I just can't keep up right now, and I continually feel guilty receiving asks I don't have the energy to answer. I've decided that guilt is not so great for my mental health right now, so I'm taking a wee break and figured I'd post some answers to some of the questions I receive the most.

Snippets and Spoilers can be found here.

***

When will TLE3 be released?

I don't have an exact date, but it probably won't be in 2025. I am giving myself the space and time to write TLE3 at my own pace and pleasure, and I plan to have a full draft finished before I start publishing on AO3. I promise when it's ready, you'll be the first to know.

***

Can I print TLE?

Please do not print TLE using any commercial printing service, as this is not legal (at least in the US, which is where I am). If you are printing and binding it yourself solely for personal use and in a manner that is 100% in compliance with copyright law – aka no one at any point in the process can make any money off of it – then I personally am fine with it (and very honored!). However, I cannot give approval for anything that infringes copyright law in any way. Thank you for understanding! I don't want to be sued!

***

Can I translate/create a podfic/create fanart for TLE?

I would be so unbelievably honored! I give a blanket approval for translations, podfics, and fanart, and I'm so, so touched that you would take the time to do this. I just ask that you ONLY post to AO3* and to please mark it as a related work so it's linked to the original. I may be slow to approve the AO3 email linking the fics, but I promise I will! Thank you!!

*except fanart, obviously. Do whatever you want with that. Although if you post it on tumblr, I would LOVE to see it. <3

***

Are you on any other social media sites?

No. I am ONLY on Tumblr, AO3, and the TLE discord. I don’t even use social media in my personal life, so don't try to find me! I'm not there!

***

Do you have fanfic recommendations?

I’m sorry, but I am not a good resource for this. I haven't actually read much fanfic as I spend most of my limited free time writing it. However, I always recommend checking out @jilyawards for a fantastic collection of the incredible talent in this fandom over the years.

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Do you take requests for one shots/other fics?

No, sorry. I have my hands more than full with TLE.

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Do you take suggestions for the plot of TLE?

No, sorry. I have the story pretty tightly plotted from beginning until the (very) end, and while I occasionally swerve down new creative alleys, I’m very committed to sticking to my original plan.

***

Is [super specific spoilery thing] going to happen in TLE?

You are of course welcome to ask, but I am almost certainly going to shout “SPOILERS!” and run away cackling.

***

You say this is a canon fic but [super specific thing that I don’t agree with] is included. What gives?

For the purposes of TLE, ‘canon’ means the original seven books. Everything else is dressing. I do include as canon a lot of the lore JKR provided in interviews while the books were being published (for example, James being a Chaser), however I tend to view all post-book authorial additions as mostly optional. I do use a fair amount of Pottermore in my story, but I do not keep up with new HP material, so it’s impossible to stay up to date with everything. For example, I tweaked the Animagus process somewhat to my liking as opposed to what is described in Pottermore. This is partly because I already had my version sketched out before that was published, and mostly because I did not like what was given on Pottermore.

I do not consider any of the films canon. If this alleged HBO show happens, I will not consider that canon. Video game? Not canon. I also simply do not know what the words ‘Cursed Child’ mean, as I am pretty sure this is from an alternate timeline in which I do not exist. Tra la la. :)

All of this to say: The seven books are the framework. However, I feel pretty strongly that within that framework there is room for many, many interpretations – particularly with regards to the Marauders era, about which we know so little. Just because my headcanon or characterization is different from yours (or vice versa!) doesn’t make it less canon. Similarly, just because something is not explicitly described in the seven books, doesn’t mean it is against canon for it to have happened in the background, unnoticed by Harry, or before the timeline of the seven books starts. See: Wolfstar.

***

Wait, there’s wolfstar in TLE?

Yes. There will be wolfstar in the series. I did tag it from day one, please stop sending me shocked and horrified messages! (lol) Because people have such strong feelings about this ship, I always feel the need to give my little disclaimer: There will be wolfstar. Personally, I love it and am excited to write it. However, if you are a fan of exclusively fluffy, happy wolfstar, you might be disappointed. If you are interested in exploring the fraught, occasionally toxic relationship between two angsty, repressed, and deeply traumatized young men during an escalating war…strap in, gird your loins, etc. We're gonna have some fun.

***

Why do you have two blogs?

Because I'm dumb. Because I didn’t know how tumblr worked when I started this whole nonsense and thought that a side blog sounded like a good idea…aaaaand then pretty much immediately regretted it. This was back before you could reply from a sideblog, so everything was a mess. I'm an archivist at heart, so I can't bring myself to delete @chdarling-tle but I almost exclusively use @chdarling these days. Feel free to only follow that one, unless you only want chapter updates and none of my silly reblogs, in which case @chdarling-tle is here for you. Otherwise it's pretty dead over there.

(ok, confession: this actually isn't a frequently asked question at all, but I shoved it in here anyway because the two blog thing annoys the shit out of me and I wanted to give some context for my disorganization. I meant well, once upon a time!!!)

***

Do you have a Patreon?

I’m amazed and flattered that I’ve been asked this enough to include it in an FAQ, but no, I do not. While I am so appreciative that people want to support this project, TLE is a work of fanfiction, created entirely out of and for love, and is in no way a commercial endeavor. I do not make a penny off of this project. I almost certainly lose pennies to this project. But that's okay! Because of the aforementioned love! And, once again, my deep and enduring desire to not be sued!

(One day I do hope to share some original writing, and if you feel so compelled, you may absolutely pay me for that, but I'm not quite there yet. 😉)

***

Ok but seriously when will TLE3 be released?

(sorry I couldn't resist)

***

Ok that's all I can think of right now. Thank you so much as always for your enthusiasm and support. My closed ask box is in no way a commentary on my appreciation for this community, I'm just very, very tired.

lots of love, CH

[hinnyfied]

WIP tag game

Rules: make a new post with the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Tag as many people as you have WIPs. People send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, then post a little snippet or tell them something about it!

Thank you @ginnyw-potter

These are mostly ideas with some actual writing sprinkled in there (still getting back in the fanfic-writing saddle after a lonnnnng break).

Into the Mist

Sirius and Molly talk Dursleys

Call Your Mom (George & Harry) ((yes this is a Noah Kahan reference, don't at me))

When Cam Met Lily

Tagging @di-daynamic @annabtg @artemisia-black & @merlinsbudgiesmugglers

[hinnyfied]

Prompt list for March 2025:

1. Wish2. Flowerbed 3. Beater 4. Contrast 5. Free 6. Button 7. Control 8. Twinkle 9. Messy 10. Cupboard 11. Nose12. Curly 13. Glowing 14. Pastry 15. Ex 16. Sneeze 17. Makeshift 18. Blood-traitor 19. Tranquility 20. Trickle 21. Breakfast 22. Tongue-tied 23. Blanket 24. Coastal 25. Nuance 26. Substantial 27. Floorboards 28. Clock 29. Eyelash 30. Criminal 31. Owlery

More info and rules Discord

[hinnyfied]

Sparrows

As the funerals came to an end, so did the simplicity of their finding comfort in one another, and they were forced to confront the undeniable - the Harry and Ginny that had shared that kiss were gone, irrevocably changed during their time apart.

Read Sparrows Here!

Finally writing again after a super long break and kicking it off with some Summer of '98 angst. ♥️

[hinnyfied]

Be My Valentine - Author Reveals

It's time for the last of our author reveals!!

home is wherever I'm with you by @starlingflight for @emmathecasualauthor - Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley Hermione is homesick, but home is never far away.

Ron's Valentine's Insubordination by @unhingedromione for @starlingflight - Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley Hermione told Ron not to bother for Valentine's Day. He ignored her, of course.

Sparrows by @hinnyfied for @di-daynamic - Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley As the funerals came to an end, so did the simplicity of their finding comfort in one another, and they were forced to confront the undeniable - the Harry and Ginny that had shared that kiss were gone, irrevocably changed during their time apart.

No Plan by @juniperpyre for @annabtg - James Potter/Lily Evans Potter Lily has a simple mission almost go badly. She and James contemplate adulthood, love, war, and duty.

Irressistible to a Potter by @ginnyw-potter for @sophie-hatter-jenkins - Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley, James Potter/Lily Evans Potter Ginny waitresses for James and Lily at dinner on Valentine's day so they can focus on each other. And completely selflessly she will occupy Harry after so they have the house to themselves.

A massive thank you to all of our authors! It's been such a wonderful fest!

[hinnyfied]

Be My Valentine - Author Reveals

It's time to reveal some more of our authors!

Don't Call Me Honey, Honey by @merlinsbudgiesmugglers for @midnightstargazer - Andromeda Black Tonks/Ted Tonks Andromeda had a plan to spoil her husband for Valentine's Day. But now the kitchen is covered in flour and the cake (his favourite) that she'd attempted to bake was lopsided and somehow both burnt and undercooked, and Ted is due home any minute.

Letters Home by @liiilyevans for @herblazinglook - Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley The letters Harry and Ginny send each other after she goes off to training camp.

Cita secreta en San Valentín by @missdblack22 for @starlingflight - Andromeda Black Tonks/Ted Tonks Es el día de San Valentín y Andromeda quiere darle su regalo a Ted, pero entre las clases, que mantiene una relación secreta con él y que está prometida con Rabastan Lestrange y se ve obligada a tener una cita con él, ¿conseguirá Andromeda darle su regalo a su enamorado y novio?

Sitting Vigil by @eastwindmlk for @juniperpyre - James Potter/Lily Evans Potter Lily sits by James' side after a bad quidditch accident.

If Possible, Read This First by Cmdr_Tom for @hinnyfied - Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley Prompt: Handwritten Letter, dinner, soft, champagne

We've got one more day of reveals to come!!

[hinnyfied]

Be My Valentine - Author Reveals

It’s time to reveal our next 5 secret admirers! How many did you get right?

Sticky Fingers by @sophie-hatter-jenkins for @harryissuchalittleshit

How hard can it possible by to make salted caramel brownies? Two hours later, it became apparent that the answer to that question was 'much harder than Ginny thought.' Fortunately, every cloud has a silver lining, as Harry is only too pleased to demonstrate.

To The Edge Of The World by @annabtg for @siriuslychessi

She will follow him anywhere; through unbeaten paths, under foreign skies, to the edge of the world and further still.

It's Okay To Be Happy by @tedwardremus for @livelaughlovetoread

Remus and Tonks enjoy a quiet morning in bed after they elope.

summer heat runs through cold by @di-daynamic for Cmdr_Tom

Harry didn't expect much when he was forced by his godfather into becoming a camp counselor - certainly not falling in love through a summer fling.

A Night In by @nena-96 for @unhingedromione

Instead of going out for the night, Ron and Hermione decide to stay in and spend their day together at home.

[hinnyfied]

Be My Valentine - Author Reveals

Our next five fic reveals are here! Did you guess the authors of any of these?

The Sound of Silence by @starlingflight for @liiilyevans - Fleur Delacour/Bill Weasley It’s Valentine’s Day but something feels not quite right for Bill.

Golden Hours by @emmathecasualauthor for @constitutionalweasleymonarchy - Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley It's the eve of their mission to retrieve Harry from Privet Drive, and Hermione, like always, is finding comfort in Ron’s quiet gestures amidst the weight of it all.

kiss me twice ('cause it's gonna be alright) by @pitchblackveins for @missdblack22 - Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley Hermione melts into the kiss, feeling at home for the first time in weeks. They break for oxygen, Ron’s forehead pressed against hers, and Hermione’s panting slightly, looking into his eyes, as she whispers, “that was a long time.”

The Choice by @midnightstargazer for @merlinsbudgiesmugglers - Andromeda Black Tonks/Ted Tonks Andromeda sneaks out to meet Ted in secret, as she has done so many times before. But this isn't like every time before.

There's The Silver Lining I've Been Looking For by @justalittleconfusing for @ginnyw-potter - Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley Harry's 34th birthday carries more significance than another year around the sun. Ginny is on a mission to figure out why he is being so shifty at his birthday dinner at the Burrow.

[hinnyfied]

Be My Valentine - Reveals

It's time the reveal the secret admirers for our first 5 fics!

Light Me Up by @constitutionalweasleymonarchy for @nena-96 - Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes Amortentia Candle We’ll set the mood, but the rest is up to you.

Forever Valentine by @siriuslychessi for @tedwardremus - James Potter/Lily Evans Potter James is a little nervous about Valentine, he is planning something with the helps of his friends but he is worried that Lily would not like it. It has a bit of anxious thoughts but it's a fluffy piece.

Missing Piece by @harryissuchalittleshit for @justalittleconfusing - Luna Lovegood/Rolf Scamander Luna has been waiting for Rolf to come home for months, she misses him desperately and wishes that she had gone with him as his quick trip had turned into three months away from her beloved. But he's more than happy to show her some much needed attention as he comes home to her once again filling the missing piece of her heart he took with him.

Chemical Fingerprint by @livelaughlovetoread for @eastwindmlk - James Potter/Lily Evans Potter Every gem has a chemical fingerprint - a unique pattern that identifies its composition, which scientists can easily determine.

Dinner Can Wait by @livelaughlovetoread for @eastwindmlk - James Potter/Lily Evans Potter James made eye contact with Lily and immediately knew they were not going to make it to dinner without getting their hands on each other.

[hinnyfied]

I have risen from the fanfiction writing grave for the @greenhouse-seven Be My Valentine fic exchange!! My fic is anonymous, for now 👀, but I am so excited to read the rest, especially the one gifted to me! ♥️

Be My Valentine 💞

The owl post has been very busy with Valentine's being sent all across the world! We've had a few dropped off here for our lovely members of the Greenhouse from their secret admirers and we're playing cupid today by delivering them to their recipients.

The Sound of Silence for @liiilyevans - Fleur Delacour/Bill Weasley It’s Valentine’s Day but something feels not quite right for Bill.

Golden Hours for @constitutionalweasleymonarchy - Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley It's the eve of their mission to retrieve Harry from Privet Drive, and Hermione, like always, is finding comfort in Ron’s quiet gestures amidst the weight of it all.

Sparrows for @di-daynamic - Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley As the funerals came to an end, so did the simplicity of their finding comfort in one another, and they were forced to confront the undeniable - the Harry and Ginny that had shared that kiss were gone, irrevocably changed during their time apart.

Don't Call Me Honey, Honey for @midnightstargazer - Andromeda Black Tonks/Ted Tonks Andromeda had a plan to spoil her husband for Valentine's Day. But now the kitchen is covered in flour and the cake (his favourite) that she'd attempted to bake was lopsided and somehow both burnt and undercooked, and Ted is due home any minute.

Light Me Up for @nena-96 - Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes Amortentia Candle We’ll set the mood, but the rest is up to you.

kiss me twice ('cause it's gonna be alright) for @missdblack22 - Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley Hermione melts into the kiss, feeling at home for the first time in weeks. They break for oxygen, Ron’s forehead pressed against hers, and Hermione’s panting slightly, looking into his eyes, as she whispers, “that was a long time.”

Forever Valentine for @tedwardremus - James Potter/Lily Evans Potter James is a little nervous about Valentine, he is planning something with the helps of his friends but he is worried that Lily would not like it. It has a bit of anxious thoughts but it's a fluffy piece.

A Night In for @unhinged-romione - Ron Weasley/Hermione Granger Instead of going out for the night, Ron and Hermione decide to stay in and spend their day together at home.

Chemical Fingerprint for @eastwindmlk - James Potter/Lily Evans Potter Every gem has a chemical fingerprint - a unique pattern that identifies its composition, which scientists can easily determine.

It's Okay To Be Happy for @livelaughlovetoread - Remus Lupin/Nymphadora Tonks Remus and Tonks enjoy a quiet morning in bed after they elope

The Choice for @merlinsbudgiesmugglers - Andromeda Black Tonks/Ted Tonks Andromeda sneaks out to meet Ted in secret, as she has done so many times before. But this isn't like every time before.

summer heat runs through cold for @cmdr_tom - Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley Harry didn't expect much when he was forced by his godfather into becoming a camp counselor - certainly not falling in love through a summer fling.

Cita secreta en San Valentín for @starlingflight - Andromeda Black Tonks/Ted Tonks Es el día de San Valentín y Andromeda quiere darle su regalo a Ted, pero entre las clases, que mantiene una relación secreta con él y que está prometida con Rabastan Lestrange y se ve obligada a tener una cita con él, ¿conseguirá Andromeda darle su regalo a su enamorado y novio?

Letters Home for @pitchblackveins - Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley The letters Harry and Ginny send each other after she goes off to training camp.

Missing Piece for @justalittleconfusing - Luna Lovegood/Rolf Scamander Luna has been waiting for Rolf to come home for months, she misses him desperately and wishes that she had gone with him as his quick trip had turned into three months away from her beloved. But he's more than happy to show her some much needed attention as he comes home to her once again filling the missing piece of her heart he took with him.

No Plan for @annabtg - James Potter/Lily Evans Potter Lily has a simple mission almost go badly. She and James contemplate adulthood, love, war, and duty.

There's The Silver Lining I've Been Looking For for @ginnyw-potter - Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley Harry's 34th birthday carries more significance than another year around the sun. Ginny is on a mission to figure out why he is being so shifty at his birthday dinner at the Burrow.

Sitting Vigil for @juniperpyre - James Potter/Lily Evans Potter Lily sits by James' side after a bad quidditch accident.

Sticky Fingers for @harryissuchalittleshit - Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley How hard can it possibly be to make salted caramel brownies? Two hours later, it became apparent that the answer to that question was ‘much harder than Ginny thought.’ Fortunately, every cloud has a silver lining, as Harry is only too pleased to demonstrate!

If Possible, Read This First for @hinnyfied - Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley Prompt: Handwritten Letter, dinner, soft, champagne

home is wherever I'm with you for @emmathecasualauthor - Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley Hermione is homesick, but home is never far away.

Ron's Valentine's Insubordination for @starlingflight - Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley Hermione told Ron not to bother for Valentine's Day. He ignored her, of course.

To The Edge Of The World for @siriuslychessi She will follow him anywhere; through unbeaten paths, under foreign skies, to the edge of the world and further still.

Irressistible to a Potter for @sophie-hatter-jenkins - Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley, James Potter/Lily Evans Potter Ginny waitresses for James and Lily at dinner on Valentine's day so they can focus on each other. And completely selflessly she will occupy Harry after so they have the house to themselves.

Dinner Can Wait for @eastwindmlk - James Potter/Lily Evans Potter James made eye contact with Lily and immediately knew they were not going to make it to dinner without getting their hands on each other.

Over the next week our secret admirers will slowly be revealed! So keep an eye out to find out!

[hinnyfied]

Be My Valentine

Greenhouse Seven 2025 Secret Admirer Fic Exchange

We're celebrating Valentine's Day 2025 at Greenhouse Seven with a Secret Admirer Fic Exchange!

Join in the fun by signing up, selecting your prompts (one for each of the senses) and the ships you would like to write for and receive in your gift.

As always in the Greenhouse, this is a fest to celebrate our fave canon couples, check the FAQs if you're not sure which couples that includes.

❤️ The Important Bits ❤️

Dates:

The time for all deadlines is 9am GMT

Sign ups: Open from now and will close on Sunday, 5th January. To sign up, go to the Google Form and fill out your info.

Matches shared: Tuesday, 7th January

Submissions Due: Monday, 10th February

Fic Reveals: Friday, 14th February

Admirer (Author) Reveals: For the week after Valentine's Day we will reveal a number of authors each day.

Rules:

🌹Submissions must focus on Canon Couples (See FAQs for what counts as Canon Compliant) but can be in both Canon and AU settings

🌹Fic submissions should be at least 1000 Words - there is no maximum on word count

🌹No explicit content featuring minors (under 17 years of age)

🌹Beta’s are highly encouraged! If you don’t have anyone to beta for you, come join Greenhouse Seven on Discord! There are plenty of people who can help out.

FAQs:

❤️What is a Canon Compliant Couple? For the purposes of this fest, any couple that does not break-up couples featured as together at the end of the 7 Harry Potter books counts as canon. So ships such as Deamus & Hannah x Neville are more than welcome!

❤️How should I submit? Fics should be submitted to the AO3 Collection by the submission date and gifted to your recipient

❤️ What if I sign up but can't complete the fic by the submission date? Life happens! We get it. If you can't complete the exchange, please let us know as early as possible. We have a number of authors who have offered to step in in the case that someone needs to drop out.

❤️What if I need an extension of the submission date? Due to the tight turnaround between the submission and reveal dates, we won't be offering extensions for this fest.

❤️I have another question not answered here You can always reach out to the mods, @starlingflight and @merlinsbudgiesmugglers on tumblr, or come on over to the discord server and pop your questions in the fest channel there!

[hinnyfied]

The sting of his glasses biting into the bridge of his nose, and an insistent dull ache in Harry’s neck roused him from his sleep. His discomfort was at sharp odds with the familiar and reassuring scent of Ginny’s floral shampoo filling his senses.

His eyes flew open.

The familiar scent of Ginny’s floral shampoo was not one he typically had the privilege of waking up to. He also didn't usually make a habit of spending the night in Ginny’s childhood bedroom, where he found himself now, with her head laying heavy on his shoulder, causing Harry's heart to stutter in his chest at the nearness of her.

Her eyes shone like amber in the early morning sunlight when she opened them. She winced as she sat up, her hand flying to her own neck which was evidently just as cramped as Harry’s from a night in such an awkward – and wonderful – position. His fingers itched to reach out and rub it for her, but he contained the urge. The combination of waking so close to her and the dream he’d just had, he assured himself, was the cause of the deep sense of longing within him.

“I suppose Mum didn’t want to wake us, she’s always saying we work too many hours.” Ginny said through a yawn. “God, your shoulder is hard though… very inconsiderate of you not to put a cushioning charm on it before I fell asleep on you.”

His smile was weak, the corners of Harry’s mouth barely twitched. “I'll try to be more thoughtful next time.”

There would never be a next time. There shouldn’t have been a this time. She was engaged to someone else.

Continue reading chapter three here.

Start from chapter one here.

[hinnyfied]

An amazing fic from an amazing person! 🥳 Grateful beyond measure that I get to call you a friend. 😭❤️

Well, two years and a very long hiatus from writing later, the final chapter of Homecoming is here.

I truly did not believe this fic would ever be finished so this is a very surreal post to be making.

To anyone who has read, commented, or given kudos, you have no idea how much that meant, coming back after such a long time away. Thank you.

Now, given that it's New Year's Day, I need to give a special shout out to three people who were there even when I had no time to write, or for hobbies, and at several points in 2023 when I was certain was life was about to collapse around me. Three people who I would not have had the confidence to start posting again without: @lanaturnergetup, @hinnyfied, @solongdaisymayy thank you for everything, I adore you all immensely ❤

[hinnyfied]

If anyone still follows my very dead page... thanks to a mental breakdown brought on by too much work, here are two more chapters of Homecoming, my extremely dormant Drastoria fic.

I pick this up a few weeks ago but didn't want to post until I was confident I would actually finish. There are 10 (possibly 11) more chapters to come, most of which are fully written already.

Anyone who actually did follow this previously, apologies, I've deleted the last chapter I'd previously posted. It just didn't serve the story well.

Link to the new chapter is here.

[hinnyfied]

It's All About the Yearning

Day 3 of @thethreebroomsticksfic Twelve Days of Yule Bash! Today was inspired by the prompts Auld Land Syne and New Year's Kiss.

A recently dumped Teddy Lupin is fully prepared to spend his New Year's Eve alone.

Thankfully Vic is there to keep him from wallowing too much.

Read on AO3

Snippet:

‘Gee Teddy, got enough room out here with all your friends?’

Teddy couldn’t help the way his mood lifted at the sight of Victoire’s strawberry blonde head as she scrambled through his window. Once she was on the roof, she straightened up with a flick of her hair and proudly held out a bottle of pilfered champagne for his inspection.

‘What are you doing here? I thought you were at Sarah Anderson’s.’

Vic shrugged as she settled next to him. ‘It was all just people trying to find someone to snog at midnight while getting drunk on cheap booze.’ She skillfully opened the bottle of champagne with a smart pop and took a swig before handing it to Teddy.

‘So you decided to come here and steal Nan’s instead?’

Victoire took the bottle from Teddy with a roll of her eyes. ‘You know Mama always says Andromeda is the only Englishwoman she has ever met with good taste in wine,’ she said before taking a long swig of her own.

[hinnyfied]

The Lights That Never Go Out

Chapter 2: And There You Were

A/N: Things take a scary turn when Charlie and Artemis go looking for Christmas decorations. This chapter matches @thethreebroomsticksfic’s Yule Bash prompt ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’.

Warnings: discussion about survivor’s guilt and PTSD

5th December, 1998

Charlie had always liked doing things by hand. There was something to be said about doing things the hard way, the Muggle way. He had made a point of learning to put up a tent without magic, to fix his own clothes with a needle and thread, and to make necklaces with hand-carved wooden pendants. In doing so, he had developed rough fingertips, a lot of patience, and a sense of unmatched satisfaction at seeing his finished work.

He found that keeping his hands busy kept his mind at ease. After the war ended and the funerals of those he had loved and lost — Tonks and Fred being the two that most affected him — he had quickly attempted to return to work. His work had sent him home. He needed time, his boss had told him. Time to heal, time to be. Charlie had disagreed, but his arguments had been dismissed.

He didn’t need time. He didn’t need to be, he needed to do.

That was how he had ended up with his current project: rebuilding his parents’ house. It was a project that was taking longer than he anticipated, even with the help of his younger brothers. Having never renovated a house before, Charlie had no idea how much he had taken on until it was too late. He had wanted it finished by Christmas, but had realised in October that he would either need to rethink his schedule or resort to doing everything by magic. He had chosen the former.

Now, at the start of December, the Burrow was still nowhere near to being the perfectly imperfect home Charlie remembered from his childhood, but that didn’t matter. Much of the house had originally been built by magic, and so he had needed to use magic to reconstruct its skeleton, but he had promised himself that he would do everything he could by hand, and he had stuck to his promise.

It was now a case of making sure that the Burrow would be Christmas-worthy in the next two weeks. It had been Artemis who had suggested to him that no one would even look at the unfinished parts if there were enough decorations up to distract people from them.

“It’s called a missed erection,” she had informed him, with the utmost confidence in her convictions.

She had made a good enough point that Charlie hadn’t bothered to correct her on her mistake. The following day, the two of them had ended up venturing into Diagon Alley, the key to Charlie’s brothers’ old shop tucked into the back pocket of Artemis’ jeans.

“George still hasn’t been back here?” Artemis asked quietly as she unlocked the door and they entered the eerily quiet Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes. She closed the door behind her, and immediately opened one of the windows.

Charlie shook his head. He didn’t think anyone had been in here since the shop had been forced to close, not even Verity the former shopgirl, who he had met for the first time at Fred’s funeral.

“George said there are a load of decorations in the storeroom,” said Charlie, before his thoughts could get away from him and linger on memories of the day they had buried his little brother. “Let’s go and have a look.”

The storeroom was enormous, and filled with shelves upon shelves of unsold stock and cardboard boxes. It was hard to know where to begin to search, but without even needing to voice a plan, he and Artemis lit their wands and crossed to opposite ends of the room.

Charlie made his way along shelves at the rightmost end of the storeroom, using his wandlight to illuminate each and every box he could find. At the end of the shelves stood an upright cupboard with doors. Charlie tried to open it. It was locked.

“Artie?” he called out, looking at the keyhole and handle. “There wasn’t a second key, was there? Smaller than the one for the main door, possibly made of brass?”

“No. Why?”

“Never mind.” Charlie pointed his wand at the door. “Alohamora.” The door clicked quietly, and Charlie reached out to open it with his spare hand. “I wonder what he’s done with…”

His sentence hung unfinished in the air. It was not the only thing that hung there.

Hovering in front of Charlie’s face was a mass of green and grey smoke, which began to twist and contort itself into the shape of a skull. Slowly, the skull’s mouth opened, and from it a shadowy snake slid towards him.

Charlie’s hands fell to his sides, completely slack, and he dropped his wand. As it hit the floor at his feet, it deluminated, plunging him into darkness. Somewhere in the distance, he thought he could hear someone calling out his name, but he could barely hear it over the sound of his own pulse hammering away in his ears.

“Charlie?”

He felt a soft pressure on his shoulder, but he did not look to see what it was. He could look nowhere but at the shadow-skull, the smoke-snake, the greenish glow that made tears sting his eyes and his stomach churn.

The pressure on his shoulder became a tug at his arm which grew stronger with each pull. When he stumbled backwards, his eye contact was broken, and so too was the floating skull’s trance. He turned to see Artemis at his side, her fingers gripping his upper arm.

“Come on,” she said. “This way, come on.”

Charlie was in no mood to put up a fight. He felt far too weak for that. He had barely made it out of the storeroom before his legs were unable to support his weight, and he had to lean against one of the shop walls. Artemis placed her hands on his shoulders and pushed him down the wall until he was sitting on the floor with his back against it. She crouched down in front of him.

“It’s fine, Charlie. It was just a Boggart, it can’t hurt you. Look.” Charlie didn’t look, but he heard the storeroom door slam closed. “It can’t get out now. You’ll be okay. Just stay there, I’ll be back in a minute.”

With that, she was gone. Charlie didn’t even see her leave, but he knew that he was alone, sitting on the floor, a closed door between him and the… Could it really be a Boggart? He had never known a Boggart to look like that before.

He put his head into his hands, running them from his chin and up into his hair, which he pushed back from his face. He took a shaky breath and exhaled, closing his eyes and lifting his face to the ceiling.

A little bell rang, and he opened his eyes to see Artemis re-enter the shop. In her hands was a bar of chocolate. She sat down beside his feet facing him, and held out the chocolate bar to him.

“Here,” she said. “Eat this, it will help.”

Charlie shook his head. “That’s for Dementors, not Boggarts.”

“You gave me chocolate once when I saw a Boggart.”

“I was just improvising.”

“Well, so am I. Eat it.”

It was clear from the stubborn look on Artemis’ face that she was not going to take no for an answer. Not wishing to be force-fed, Charlie reached out and took the chocolate from her and bit into it. He had not been expecting it to do anything, but at the sweet taste and creamy texture, he felt his heart slow ever so slightly, and the tightness in his chest started to ease. Artemis had one hand on his forehead.

“You feel clammy,” she informed him, “but you look less pale now.” She removed her hand and looked at him with narrowed eyes. Charlie felt as if he were being scrutinised closely. “Has your Boggart changed since you last saw it?”

Charlie closed his eyes. “Don’t do that.”

“I’m not using Legilimency on you.”

“You are.”

“Not deliberately.” Charlie glanced at Artemis, who had leant back slightly and had a less searching look in her eyes. She nodded her head at the door. “Just then, you didn’t just look scared, you looked surprised, too.”

“Well, you don’t exactly expect a Boggart to be in a joke shop, do you?”

“You know what I mean. You looked how I felt after my Boggart changed, and I know you must’ve seen a Boggart before at school, so…”

“Yeah, alright.” Charlie gave in. He shrugged. “Yeah. It’s different to what it was when I last saw a Boggart. I mean, that was back at school, so I’m not sure when it changed to… to that. To the Dark Mark.”

He heard his own voice shake as he said the words, and took another bite of chocolate. It had less of an effect this time. Artemis’ hands were in her lap, her head nodding slowly.

“This summer, maybe,” she suggested.

“Yeah, some point last year would make sense.” Even as he agreed, Charlie knew that it was wrong. “Or even before, maybe. The World Cup.”

“When it went up over the crowds during the riots?”

That was it exactly. Charlie shuddered at the memory, even now.

“Do you remember when we were little,” he said to Artemis, “how adults would always talk about people who’d gone missing or been killed by Death Eaters?”

“When they thought we couldn’t hear them, you mean?”

“Exactly. But we always heard them, right? And the story would always be the same, someone would leave their house and come home, or go to someone else’s house, and find the Dark Mark over it. They were such scary stories, but they were just stories. But then, that night…”

“It was real,” Artemis finished his sentence for him.

“It was real, and it was terrifying. It was the most scared I’d ever been, at that point in my life, anyway. I remember when it went up, Dad and the twins and Ron and Ginny, they were all off somewhere trying to keep out of the action, and I…” Charlie swallowed before continuing, “That was the first time I ever worried someone I cared about might have just died. I’d known people who had died, obviously, like my uncles and Rowan, but I hadn’t been scared for them at the time, if that makes sense.”

Artemis’ eyes were wide and sympathetic. “It does. It makes a lot of sense.”

“I’ve felt like that so many times since then, and it never gets any easier. During the war, every time I opened a letter or went home, I’d be so scared about what I’d find.” Charlie placed his half-eaten chocolate on the floor. Speaking was making him feel better than eating had done. “I’d worry that the letter would contain bad news, or that I’d get back and everyone would be gone, and there would just be the Dark Mark, there, hanging in the sky just like…”

As his voice tailed off, Charlie screwed his eyes shut and rested the back of his head on the wall behind him. Artemis didn’t speak. It were as if she were expecting him to continue, but Charlie didn’t feel able to continue.

“Like that Boggart?” she asked him eventually, and he shook his head. A few moments later, Artemis let out a soft sigh. “At Hogwarts. At the battle, it was over the castle that night,” she said with a tone of realisation. “Oh, Charlie. That must have been horrible.”

“It was,” said Charlie, his eyes finally opening as he felt Artemis’ hand squeeze his own. “I… Actually, no.”

“What?”

“Nothing.” He shook his head. “It’s nothing, not when pretty much everyone else went through much worse than me.”

“Just because other people had bad stuff happen to them, it doesn’t make the stuff that’s happened to you less bad, Charlie,” Artemis told him.

Charlie was not sure that he agreed. He took his hand back and crossed his arms over his chest. Artemis fell quiet for a few moments.

“If you don’t mind me asking,” she said, “what was your Boggart before?”

He didn’t mind her asking.

“A Howler.”

It seemed a silly, trivial thing to have as a Boggart these days, but Artemis didn’t laugh. She raised her eyebrows, almost conspiratorially.

“Who from?”

“Everyone,” said Charlie. “Mum, Dad, Bill, Professor McGonagall, all the other teachers. All of them saying that I’d let them down and failed them and disappointed them. That I hadn’t been good enough or done well enough, that kind of thing. I know—”

“It’s not stupid, Charlie,” Artemis interrupted. “It’s not stupid at all.”

“No, I guess it isn’t.” Charlie was stuck by a small epiphany, though it was not one that made him feel any better about the situation. “I mean, I have let people down. It’s just now there are worse things than people being disappointed by me failing them.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, the people I’ve let down are dead, aren’t they?”

The words came out harsher than he had intended, but Artemis didn’t even flinch. Her eyebrows furrowed in concern.

“Charlie,” she said quietly. “You didn’t let anyone down.”

But that simply wasn’t true.

“I did. I did let people down. I let Tonks down. I let Fred down.”

“How?”

“I wasn’t there.”

“You were,” Artemis told him. Charlie shook his head. “You got there as soon as you could.”

“That wasn’t good enough, was it?” Before Artemis could contradict him, Charlie continued, “I was too late to protect them, and I should have protected them. I should have been there. I mean, Fred was my little brother, for Godric’s sake! What kind of older brother doesn’t…”

Charlie stopped mid-sentence. He was tiptoeing around a dangerous topic for Artemis. His eyes drifted out of the open shop window to the street outside. Diagon Alley was bustling, presumably full of witches and wizards buying gifts and supplies for Christmas. Were they going to be celebrating without loved ones this year? Were any of them plagued with feelings of guilt and inadequacy?

“You know what the worst part is?” murmured Charlie. “I didn’t even realise.”

He wasn’t sure that he had spoken loudly enough for Artemis to have heard him, but she answered him: “Realise what?”

“Fred. When I got to the castle, the first thing I did was look to see who was safe and still there fighting. I went in and I made sure I could see Mum and Dad, and Ginny and my brothers and… I thought I saw the twins, but I didn’t, I just saw George. In my head that meant that they were both there, that they were both safe, but he was already gone. And I didn’t even notice.”

He had never told anyone that before. He had thought that he never would tell anyone, not even Artemis.

“Please don’t tell anyone I told you that,” he added, and his peripheral vision, he saw Artemis shake her dark-haired head.

“I won’t. Promise.”

“I don’t want people to judge or think badly of me. More than they already do, anyway.”

“No one thinks badly of you,” said Artemis. There was a genuine note of surprise in her voice. “Why would they?”

Why would they not, Charlie wanted to ask her, but he didn’t. Instead, he shrugged his shoulders.

“I dunno, probably because I’ve spent the whole war safe and cosy in Romania while they were fighting,” he said. “Because I didn’t do enough, or care enough, and I wasn’t there when it mattered.”

“That’s just not true,” Artemis replied. “You were there when it mattered for me. You managed to help me at the battle, weren’t you?” Her eyes met Charlie’s for a brief moment before they both looked away. Her cheeks had turned a slightly pink colour. “And you did do things to help from where you were, like getting allies and stuff.”

“The easy stuff.”

“Easy for you, because you’re good at making people like you. Really good at it.” The corners of Artemis’ mouth began to twitch. “And you did something no one else could’ve done.”

“What’s that?”

“You looked after Fergus for me.”

“Anyone could’ve done that, Artie.”

“They couldn’t, because I wouldn’t have let anyone else but you do it.”

Charlie didn’t have it in him to return the smile Artemis was giving him. It disappeared from her face as quickly as it appeared.

“Charlie, look here. Look at me.”

He felt one of her hands rest on his cheek, soft and cool, and he did as she instructed. The look on her face was resolute as she held his gaze and told him:

“Everyone you care about knows that you’d do anything for them. And that’s a lot of people, because you care about almost everyone. And anyone else… Well, who cares what they think? They can think what they like, they can judge you whatever, because they don’t matter. The people who do matter won’t judge you or think badly of you. They don’t. I don’t.”

“I know you don’t,” said Charlie. He meant it.

Apparently happy with his response, Artemis retreated from him. Charlie picked the chocolate bar up again. He snapped the remnants of it in half, and handed one of the halves to her.

“I do feel bad, you know, telling you about my problems when I know people like you have had it worse,” he said.

“Don’t. It’s fine.”

Charlie looked at her carefully before telling her, “I don’t think that you’re fine.”

“I didn’t say I’m fine, I said ‘it’s fine’.” Artemis sighed. “I don’t think I’m fine either.”

“No. Of course not. Sorry. How are you?”

Artemis raised one eyebrow. “Really?”

“Really,” Charlie nodded. “How are you?”

“Well, I have been sleeping a bit better. Not great, but better. Now it’s just managing to be in a room without the windows or doors open that I need to work on.”

Subconsciously, Charlie glanced at the open window again. “That’ll get better eventually.”

“Yeah, but it’s cold now,” Artemis said with a laugh. Charlie couldn’t help but smile, albeit weakly. Her laughter faded, and she looked down at the chocolate in her hands. “I just feel a bit pathetic, really. Panicking about being trapped, it’s—”

“Not stupid,” Charlie interjected. Artemis’ nose wrinkled.

“Maybe not, but it still makes me feel like a coward.”

“You? No way. You’re the bravest person I know.”

But Artemis shook her head and replied, “Not anymore.”

Her voice was quiet, barely louder than a whisper, and her gaze low. There was a look of loss and feeling lost in her eyes that made Charlie’s heart hurt. He decided against hugging her, a better idea entering his head instead.

“I disagree. Come on.” He got up off the floor and held one hand out to her. “I’ll prove it to you, if you like.”

Though she looked sceptical, Artemis took his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet. When Charlie moved to open the storeroom door, however, she shook her head.

“Charlie, wait. I’m not sure if this is a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“Because I haven’t seen a Boggart in a while,” she said. “I don’t know what form it will take. What if it’s a Dementor or… What if I can’t face it?”

“That doesn’t matter, because you aren’t going to face it,” Charlie told her. “I am.”

“What is that going to prove?”

“That you’re still the bravest person I know.” Artemis frowned, and Charlie explained, “If you come with me, I think I’ll be able to face it. If not, then I’m not sure I’ll even make it halfway across the room.” He looked at his hand on the door handle and back again. “Will you come with me? Please?”

It seemed as if an age passed before Artemis slowly nodded her head. Charlie thanked her, and opened the door. With her at his side, he walked across the storeroom to the far corner where he had found the locked cupboard. As he approached, a dark cloud rose in the air between him and the cupboard, once more swirling in the air until he stood face to face with the green, shadowy skull that had haunted his nightmares for years.

His knuckles tightened on the hilt of his wand, but his mouth was too dry and his chest too tight for him to call out the incantation to banish the Boggart. He had to think of something that would make him laugh, but all he could think of was the castle that night, the skull hanging in the sky above it, his brother already dead inside its walls before he even arrived…

“Charlie.”

It was not so much the sound of Artemis’ voice but the feeling of her hand on his arm that caught his attention. He managed to pull his gaze away from the Dark Mark to look at her. She nodded at him and smiled. Charlie closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Riddikulus!”

A light flashed, and Charlie opened his eyes with a start. The Dark Mark dissipated, exploding into a small display of green and white fireworks. Beside him, Artemis let out a little giggle, and the fireworks stopped. The Boggart was gone. It was just them.

“Thank you,” said Charlie.

“What for? I didn’t really do anything.”

“You were there. That was enough.”

He was still trembling, but that stopped as soon as Artemis rose up onto her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Charlie felt the last of his tension leave him as he returned her hug.

Resting his chin on the top of her head, he looked back at the door behind them. He wasn’t sure at what point it had happened, but somehow it had closed without him noticing.

And Artemis, still with her arms held tight around him, hadn’t it noticed either.

[hinnyfied]

For Day 2 of @thethreebroomsticksfic 12 Days of Yule Bash, I've done a little Romione celebrating Christmas in Australia mood board. One of my HCs is that Hermione's parents stay in Australia after they get their memories back, so the Granger-Weasley's have Christmas down under ever other year.