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Self-Published Author

I did it!

I finally did it!!

Christmas day saw me independently publish my first novel After-Life on Amazon!

If you like anything from the supernatural, to angels and demons, to ancient greek legends, and ghostly children... This will be the one for you, please help to support me!!

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Latest chapter added - feel free to have a read and let me know what you think - all constructive feedback is appreciated!!

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Every 21st century piece of writing advice: Make us CARE about the character from page 1! Make us empathize with them! Make them interesting and different but still relatable and likable!

Every piece of classic literature: Hi. It's me. The bland everyman whose only purpose is to tell you this story. I have no actual personality. Here's the story of the time I encountered the worst people I ever met in my life. But first, ten pages of description about the place in which I met them.

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I've actually started to write something outside of fanfiction - shock horror! It's still a work in progress but one that I am enjoying. There are satirical themes as well as angels, demons and ghosts. It would be lovely to read people's thoughts on how this looks so far :) Hasten to add that the title is a work in progress and please forgive my feeble attempt at creating my own front cover via canva lol

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This is why it is so important to be critical and double check everything you generate using image generators and text-based AI.

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I agree with this, but I also know how debilitating social anxiety can be too, whether in person or hidden behind a screen. If anyone wants to leave a comment on my fanfics, then by all means do so if it's not a positive response, make it a constructive comment on where you think I could improve with my writing (no insults please).

For those with social anxiety, scared of writing a comment, just take a moment to reflect on how torn an author of fanfic is at projecting their work out there for the world to see. It has taken me years to have a modicum of faith in my writing capabilities to be able to share it online, so a comment of praise or a genuine sign that something I've written has resonated with an inner chord somewhere is an indescribable confidence booster!

Just, as an FYI for those nervous about leaving comments/worried their words won't be read/feel they might be mistaken for an AI and will have their comments deleted - just pop in a specific reference as to what it was about the fic that inspired you to comment. I can guarantee there aren't that many authors on AO3 who would chastise you for leaving a heartfelt comment on their word babies. Me, myself, and I included :-).

Had to share this here because you're right and you should say it. It's incredible how many people came out of the woodwork as soon as AO3 was down and suddenly had no compunctions at all about screaming how much they love and need fanfic--on the AO3 twitter. Is it so much harder to do in the comment section?

At this point I don't care anymore if people call me entitled or think I'm out of line. If fanfic is so meaningful to you that you cannot go half an hour without, let alone 24h, then you can get over yourself long enough to write a fucking comment. No excuses.

"writing comments is hard and scary" yeah well GUESS WHAT so is writing fanfics. fandom as a community is dying, because it is instead treated as a COMMODITY, a CONSUMER PRODUCT. We're not asking for much. We're asking for a CONNECTION. We don't want to sell, we want to share.

You've shown your hand. You've admitted you cannot live without us. Now ACT LIKE IT. Go write a fucking comment.

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I got this comment on a story from my Other AO3 Account this morning.

(Info redacted because I prefer keeping these accounts separate but no one follows me on the side blog I have for that account.)

The story was posted almost a year ago and is relatively “popular” by my average statistics even though it has tropes and themes that are big turnoffs for a lot of people (hence separate accounts). This popularity is undoubtedly because it’s a Marvel Loki story and that fandom is massive.

So there is obviously an algorithm or a bot scrubbing ao3 statistics and leaving this comment on fics that meet a certain metric with the main character of the fic inserted into the comment.

I had a little time to kill this morning so I decided to investigate further. And y’all this is so predatory. Come on this journey with me. It made me mad. It may make you mad.

First, if you go to Webnovel’s website, you HAVE to choose between male lead or female lead stories before you can go any further. WTF?

And that’s weird, but this gets so much worse. This is basically a pay-to-read site that has different subscription models. Which… okay BUT! The authors don’t get paid! Look at that comment again. They’re promising a supportive and nurturing community, but zero monetary compensation. It’s basically, “post your stuff here so we can get paid and you can get… nice vibes?” I mean look at this Orwellian writing:

Using the phrase “pay-to-read model” in the same sentence as “qualitative changes in lifestyles for authors” deliberately makes you think that you can get paid and maybe even make a living on this website. But that’s not actually what it says and authors will not receive one red cent.

Oh but wait, the worst is still to come. In case this breaks containment (which I kind of hope it does) this is where I mention that I’m a lawyer in the US.

I don’t do intellectual property or copyright law but I do read and write contracts for a living. So I went to look at their terms of service. It was fun!

Highlights the first, in which Webnovel gets a license to do basically whatever they want with content you post on their site. This is how they get to be paid for people reading authors’ writing without paying them anything.

Highlights the second, in which Webnovel takes no responsibility for illegally profiting off of fan fic. This all says that the writer is 100% responsible for everything the writer posts (even though only Webnovel is making money from it).

Highlights the third which say that by posting, the author is representing that they have the legal right to use and to let Webnovel use the content according to these terms. So if a writer posts fan fiction and Webnovel makes money from people reading the fan fiction, and the House of the Mouse catches wise, these sections say that that’s ALL on the writer.

So that’s a little skeevy to start off with but the thing that is seriously shitty and made me make this post was that these assholes are coming to ao3. They are actively recruiting people in comments on their fan fiction. And they are saying they are big fans of the character you’re writing about and that they share your interests.

They are recruiting fan fiction writers and giving every impression that you can make money from posting fan fiction on their site and hiding the fact that you absolutely cannot but they can make money off of you while you try, deep in their terms of service which no one but a lawyer who writes fan fic and has some time to kill will read.

I see posts on here regularly from people who don’t understand how this stuff works, don’t understand that they (and others) can not legally make a financial profit from fan fiction. And there are tons of people who will not take the time to dig into the details.

Don’t deal with these bastards. Fuck Webnovel.

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I've had to limit my comment section to registered members only as I keep getting caught out by AI comments :( it's incredibly disheartening.

Guys, if you read on AO3 please try to create an account. So many of us writers are going to be forced to lock down our fics to registered users out of necessity to help keep AI away, and it kills us because we don’t want to stop any of you from reading.

AO3 is invite only. So if you know an AO3 user, ask if they have an invitation to give you (we’re given invite codes to share with others who want to join) because that’s an easy way to get in. If you don’t know someone you can ask, this is AO3’s instructions for requesting one from them…

I know this seems like an extra step and maybe you don’t think you need it and can just read from people who haven’t locked their fics. But this isn’t just about you as the reader. If you enjoy fics and you want to keep them coming, this is how you support your favorite writers! If our stats and comments plummet, I guarantee writing is going to start going down as well. Nobody wants that! So please consider making an account and signal boosting this as well! 🙏🏻

**NOTE: AO3 indicates (as of today) there’s 48k some people in the queue for invites and they’re sending out about 5k per day. That’s not a bad wait at all!!**

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Commenters are the real MVPs

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^^^^ This tbf

what with all this talk of fanfic and ai and feeding other people's work without permission into ai programmes to 'finish' a fanfic or whatever... it's just showing how people see fic as 'content'? a fanfic as something mass-produced and official, something to consume at a distance and then talk about in a vacuum? something to use for your own purposes and something over which you have a claim?

fanfic is written by fans like you. written out of love and passion and a lot of effort and hard work, so that the author can share their enthusiasm for the characters and stories with other fans. like you. they aren't these untouchable, faceless people above you – they're your peers. gifsets, fanart, fanfic – they're all made by your peers. mutuals. friends.

if you want to know more about the fic, talk to the author! so many fic writers leave their socials in the end notes of their fics – talk to them! they're not going to be affronted or judgemental. chances are, they're going to be over the moon that you like their work and want to engage and discuss the characters and the themes etc. they made you happy with their fic, and you would be making them so happy in return! (and what does a happy writer do? write more!)

as a fic writer, I made one of my closest tumblr friends because she read my fic and left a really nice comment, and then we got talking and brainstorming loads of headcanons and fic ideas together! fic writers want to talk! if you enjoy someone's presence and contributions in a fandom, let them know!

and for the love of all that is good, don't feed someone's hard work into an ai programme!!! whether you post it (which is just horrible tbh) is beside the point – you're facilitating the plagiarism of their fic!

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Chapter 2. Welcome Home, Sebastian

Matilda opened the door to allow Cassy in. As was usual with Cassy, her hair was in a state of disarray, which was poorly hidden under a blood red fedora. She wore her favoured house coloured scarf high around her face, her cheeks looking flushed, and wind pinched. Her breathing was laboured, and Professor Weasley deduced that she had travelled to Feldcroft in a hurry. The look of mixed relief and concern she bore, betrayed the notion that something was amiss.

Cassy observed Ominis’s shaken state and looked worriedly at Matilda, “I see Ominis took the news about as well as we’d anticipated?” Professor Weasley nodded, “indeed, can I make you some tea Cassy? You look positively frozen!” Cassy shook her head, “no Professor, this is an unanticipated official visit. I have some urgent news to pass on from Azkaban and the ministry. Spavin has somehow managed to rush all the papers through and while I had hoped that we still had at least a few more weeks to accommodate his arrival, Sebastian is due to be released at midnight tonight! As we speak, Mr. Ollivander has been hurried to the ministry with his inventory to determine a new wand. As soon as the wand has been administered, Sebastian will be clothed, fed, then apparated directly here!”

“Merlin’s beard!” Ominis blurted out. Throwing the blanket off him, he flurried his wand in the air. The door opened and all the dust and cobwebs which had gathered around the house during Ann’s funeral arrangements disappeared in a cloud through the entryway. Of the two beds in the house, both sheets and blankets were lifted, shaken, and shimmered into a fresh spread which rested neatly on the beds. The single plate from Ominis’s breakfast that morning started to wash itself. One ragged tea towel dryed it up instantly and tidied it away. The fanned broom resting in the corner, hauntingly moved forward independently, and began to sweep the floor clean. Fretting, and picking up his pacing, Ominis turned toward Cassy, “have you had chance to see him? Do you happen to know his current frame of mind? Merlin! Should I even be here at all?” His normally pristine image was in complete disarray. His neat hair was sticking up at odd angles where he’d run his hands through it. His shirt now had marks from the tea he had spat out earlier, he was biting at his nails and his eyes appeared to be trying in vain to focus on various points around the house. Hurrying forward, both Cassy and Professor Weasley caught hold of the panicking Ominis and settled him back in the chair. After several minutes of trying, they both eventually managed to calm him down to the point where he could hold a mug of tea without spilling it on the floor, his hands still shook violently, though.

Professor Weasley observed the situation and pondered out loud, “this change of circumstances worries me greatly Cassy. What on earth was Spavin thinking, not informing Sebastian of the current situation here?” She sat down heavily on the chair opposite Ominis and furrowed her brow in deep thought and concentration. Cassy knelt beside Ominis and slipped her hand in to his. She had always had an appreciation for his genteel manners. It had taken a little time to rebuild his trust at the end of their fifth year, however Ominis had remained staunch and committed in his friendship with her. She had successfully introduced him to her fellow classmates who he’d barely spoken to before Sebastian was expelled. Natty, in particular, had proven to be an incredibly empathetic confident while Ominis worked through the grief of losing his closest of friends. Together, both Natty and Cassy had helped their shy and reserved friend to not lose his faith in his fellow witches and wizards and maintain hope that soon things would turn around for the good. The friendship between the three had remained steadfast throughout the rest of their school days. Even now, with Natty and Cassy both in the auror department at the ministry and Ominis spending most of his time caring for Ann; their friendship had continued.

Ominis had been by Sebastian’s side when Professor Black, unceremoniously, snapped his wand and handed it to a ministry official. He had apparated to the top of the Charm’s tower to watch as the ministry carriage flew off to Azkaban, Sebastian peering tearfully out the rear window to wave back to his friend, hands shackled. Sebastian had lost all his fight and had peacefully withdrawn to the carriage from the headmaster’s office, after giving Ominis, what everyone presumed was, one final hug.

Ominis had spent that night in the Undercroft, sobbing loudly. Holding his hand now, Cassy was reminded of how she had joined him down there, how they had both held each other and sobbed into the early hours of the morning. Ominis in a fit of rage had cast confringo at Isidora’s triptych and pensive, destroying them both in mere seconds. Something Cassy wished she’d have done sooner.

Seeing her friend in such a state right now, was excruciating! It had been her decision to turn Sebastian in, after all. While she had encountered her fair share of dark witches and wizards during her fifth year, she’d always duelled fairly. In his quest to cure his sister, however well-meaning his intentions were, Sebastian had instead lost himself to the dark arts. As she observed Ominis’s pained expression, her eyes stung with tears and she brushed her coppery fringe across her eyes, to prevent Professor Weasley from seeing her moment of weakness. Cassy delicately squeezed Ominis’s hand, “Oh, dear Ominis! I had hoped to offer you more time for this news to sink in, and to help you prepare more for Sebastian’s arrival. Unfortunately, we do not have that luxury and so I advise that we play this cautiously. I have put together the premise of a plan which I hope in the next few hours, we can all perfect before I go undercover.” Standing up, Cassy began to pace calmly from Ominis’s bed to the kitchen. “From what I have been able to glean from my fellow aurors, I have discovered that Sebastian is aware that you moved in with Ann, Ominis.” In response to his apprehensive expression, Cassy smiled; “by all accounts he was relieved to know that she is not alone.” Ominis’s shoulders relaxed somewhat, and he breathed out a long, shaky breath. “Sadly,” Cassy continued, “he’s still not up to speed with his sister’s passing. Natty is leading the auror team who will be observing both you – Ominis, and Sebastian, 24/7 for the first week of his being here. They will take up residence in the abandoned houses in this hamlet and will play the role of new neighbours. Natty however, will be openly on duty as the local law enforcement of the area, just like officer Singer was at Hogsmeade back in the day!”

Professor Weasley and Ominis both nodded their agreement with the arrangements prepared thus far. Cassy was relieved to hear no objections, however she did hold some reservations for the next stage. Sighing, she continued; “naturally, when Sebastian returns home tonight, he’s going to sense something is amiss when Ann isn’t here to greet him. I have some ideas I would like to run by each of you. I admit, they each seem as unbelievable as the next, but please interject if you can think of anything better.” Cassy Paused her pacing, and stood up straight, she composed herself, quietly. Ominis did not need to hear anxiety in her voice at this time, he needed to hear confidence and certainty. “My first thought was for Sebastian to meet you, Ominis. You and Natty could delicately break the news of Ann’s passing to him. The auror team will position themselves around the house. You will be always protected; however, we cannot predict what spells Sebastian might cast in his state of grief. As we know, there is only one way to protect against the worst of the unforgivable curses and we do not wish to risk harm to anyone, tonight. Natty has experienced the crucio curse first hand and it’s not something she wishes to experience again; however, she has said she will do what she must to ensure your safety. That being said, I am certain Sebastian would not wish to squander this second chance of freedom, however he has always been somewhat unpredictable.”

Ominis swallowed hard, “While I might be twenty, I feel my life has been well lived. I have experienced great suffering and witnessed horrendous cruelty. What stays at the forefront of my mind however, and readily available to recall, is the love and compassion I have witnessed from all I hold dear. Ann, Sebastian, you-Cassy, Natty; and you Professor Weasley. I have loved with all my heart and if Sebastian were to accuse me of failing Ann, of allowing her to pass in agony; if he were to react with casting the ultimate spell, then I… I…” Professor Weasley sniffed and sat up straight, “there will be no need to talk about the idea!” She interrupted, with a tone that suggested that Ominis should no longer continue down his trail of thought. Ominis sighed, “very well Professor, I would just like Cassy to know that should anything happen tonight, that I do not regret a moment of the life I have spent finding friendship, peace and love with those around me now.” Cassy approached Ominis and rested her hand on his shoulder, which he affectionately held and squeezed in turn. “I am of the same mindset as Professor Weasley my friend, no more talk of those thoughts tonight. Besides, I do have an alternative plan. One which takes you away from Feldcroft completely.” Cassy turned her attention toward her friend and former tutor, Professor Weasley. “Professor, if I may? I have it under good authority that Professor Sharp is looking to go undercover on a personal investigation to finally close his last case - that of the murder of his former partner in the auror division of the ministry. Hogwarts will need a stand in (if not a replacement) potions teacher. We all know how adept Ominis is with potions, as much as he used to claim otherwise.” She smiled as Ominis finally showed the glimmer of a smile. Cassy continued; “I would propose that Ominis would be more safe and secure at Hogwarts than here. I know it’s a sanctuary to many of the teaching staff there, and few of their faces have changed since we concluded our studies there.” Cassy paused to conjure up a chair and, sitting down, steepled her hands together and rested her chin on her fingertips. “My final idea is that Ominis joins me undercover. The risks for this are so much greater however, that I do not feel this to be feasible. Ominis, I would be unable to promise that you and I will not be found out. Sebastian was, after all, uncannily observant and knew more than he let on to either of us, on many occasions!”

The three of them sat in silence for some time, considering each of the options presented. Finally, as the clock chimed another hour, Professor Weasley cleared her throat. “After due consideration, I believe the second plan to be the more secure of the three. Yes, Professor Sharp is being reinstated as auror, for how long – he cannot and will not divulge. So, yes, we are in need of a new potion’s teacher and Ominis, you would fit in quite well in the teaching faculty. As you know, Professor Sharp was also head of Slytherin house, your birth right in fact. I do believe…”

Ominis shuddered and interrupted, “I swore to have as little to do with my family and Salazar Slytherin as I possibly could, Professor! To take on such a role, I fear I would only make them proud! I do not wish for their affections!” his nose crinkled at the thought of the Gaunt family line simpering toward him once again, the reflection set his pulse racing. Professor Weasley sternly observed Ominis. She was more than aware of his childhood trauma, “Ominis dear, do not see it as your stepping into their shoes. See it as you are setting a new precedent. You can rejuvenate the house of Slytherin into one that holds compassion, understanding and tolerance. All the values that you cherish!” Ominis bowed his head and sighed deeply, “I… Of course, Professor, I understand. I would be lying if the thought of returning to Hogwarts does not fill me with a sense of comfort. Please, continue Professor, I apologise for my interruption.” Matilda looked toward Cassy who nodded with an affectionate smile, then continued. “As an (at the time) ex-auror, Professor Sharp was especially strict about the security to his office, and the student’s safety in the dungeons. I agree with Cassy, Hogwarts would be most likely the safest space for you Ominis, should you wish to pursue this option.” Ominis continued to sit in quiet contemplation before slowly leaning forward. Speaking steadily and quietly he shared, “students can be quite cruel. As you both know, I have been blind from birth, but I have found my other senses were heightened to seemingly impossible levels. I would hear whisperings from several corridors away about ‘creepy Ominis and his ghostly stare’. They would distance themselves from me as the secret of my being a parcelmouth began to gain traction. I feared them, just as much as they feared me. I was just as unknown an entity as they were to me. Until Sebastian and Ann took me under their wing. They were my protectors. My wings. They helped me soar above the unseen and created a world where I belonged, finally!” Shakily, Ominis sighed, a single tear rolling down his pale cheek. “Now I struggle to gain air with one of my wings cruelly taken from me, the other pinned in shackles for so long… I can no longer see what lies ahead. I am more sightless now than I have ever been. Hogwarts was a home, a sanctuary for me once. Could it be my haven a second time?” Ominis slowly rose to his feet, “accio trunk,” he sighed.

From the curtained off bedroom, next to Ann’s old potion’s table, a large patch covered trunk slunk toward the trio. Waving his hand over the latches, the trunk’s lid sprung open and with a single wave of his wand, all his belongings neatly folded themselves into its confines. After a minute or so, the trunk’s lid shut and waving his hand once more over the latches, a small click signalled it to be locked. Standing straight, Ominis turned toward Professor Weasley and said, “I am ready to return to Hogwarts, Professor.” He once again proffered his arm for Professor Weasley to take. Before apparating from the house, Ominis addressed Cassy, “none of us know how this might turn out. I want to believe that Sebastian will be just as he was before everything happened, but I fear he has been through too much for him to be unchanged. Cassy, we both know I had my reservations about you when we first met. I know you well enough now to safely assume you will be aware of my continued questioning of whether we did the right thing those years ago, handing Sebastian over to the authorities. Please know this, regardless of those hesitancies on my part, I value our friendship deeply and wish nothing more than to see you safe from harm. Please, check in with me as much as you can with an update on how things are going, please let me know if I can safely be with my friends once more. For now, though, take care and speak soon.” The sound of his farewell had barely left his lips, before both he and Matilda Weasley apparated directly to Hogwarts.

Cassy allowed herself a moment to be momentarily vulnerable. The small cottage was rife with grief, and she felt impacted by all the stored energy writhing in its brickwork. Gathering her composure, Cassy meticulously finished the tidying of the house, ensuring it was ready for Sebastian’s arrival. As a final thought, she wrote a note as detailed as she dared, explaining the absence of Ominis and Ann. Once finished, she quietly left the house, locking the door behind her and hastily hurried to her assigned lodgings, a small cottage on the outskirts of the hamlet, tucked away.

It was an empty, small, one bedroomed space. There was room for a small stove, a bed, a trunk of belongings and very little else. Smiling, Cassy waved her wand in a circular motion and uttered the incantation “capacious extremis”.  Immediately the room suddenly took on the form of a cosier and more spacious two-tier cottage, with a window facing out directly toward the Sallow’s house in the hamlet’s square. She hurried up the stairs and Cassy opened her trunk on the bed. Its contents contained a large collection of vials filled with a thick and lumpy mixture.

As part of the agreement that she be assigned to the Sallow case, Cassy had agreed to Minister Spavin’s one request, that she go incognito. Sebastian was not to be made aware that he would be watched from all sides of his life by the auror community, he would need a confident to help rehabilitate him back into the lifestyle of a quaint, quiet hamlet. With that in mind, Cassy had been sent to the Unspeakables department, with the task of securing a collection of Polyjuice potions of one figure, a generic individual who would be unknown to Sebastian and would not likely cross paths with their body double while in the Highlands of Scotland. After an hour, Cassy had walked away with a year’s worth of Polyjuice potion of the same figure.

Cassy grabbed one of the vials and headed down the stairs. Sitting in her armchair by the fireplace, Cassy observed her new clock. It was an item Professor Fig had bequeathed her in his will, with the memo: ‘I always knew you were safe…” It was an interesting clock. The hands were shaped like delicate dessert spoons and had portraits of those she had an invested interest in illustrated on their domed heads. Each were pointed to a different location. There was a smaller clock in the lower right-hand corner of the main face, indicating that the time was fast approaching midnight.

There were two hands that pointed toward Hogwarts, featuring the worried portrait of Ominis and the more tired portrait of Professor Weasley. Another hand, with Natty’s face, beaming excitedly back at Cassy, was slowly making its way to Feldcroft. ‘She opted for broom travel then…’ Cassy mused. Natty loved learning new spells, but the art of apparition had never appealed to her, preferring to view all the world had to offer from a bird’s eye view. As the clock chimed midnight, a new portrait materialised on a hand that had been resting with a bunch of its brethren pointing to ‘Azkaban’. It swiftly joined the select few other hands and deftly swung over to Feldcroft, just as Natty’s hand rested beside it. Cassy slowly approached the clock to gain a closer look at the figure looking back at her. His face was gaunter than the last time she had seen him and his auburn hair looked messier than ever, with a few flecks of white from the stresses he’d endured. There was no mistaking the determined features on the man’s face however, Sebastian had returned home to Feldcroft.

Cassy quietly raised her vial of Polyjuice potion to her lips and steadily drank its contents. The taste was sour with the aroma of rose petals. In the mirror, beside her stairway, she watched as her features took on the form of a witch, not too dissimilar in age to herself. Instead of a short, bobbed, coppery mane of hair however, this witch’s preferred style was long, flowing, and black. Her eyes were emerald green and stern looking, far removed from Cassy’s own warm hazel. Her face was slender, pale, with a hardened natural expression.

Cassy was not overly aggrieved with her new appearance. Certainly not unattractive but offering the vibe that this was not an individual to be trifled with. Cassy reviewed her notes. She was to play the role of Melisandre Bones, a stall holder in the hamlet, selling items of clothing and apparel.

She headed back up to her bedroom and changed into the garments the department had provided her with, an emerald, green cloak, with a thick pair of walking boots. Coarse and figure-hugging trousers that had a fleece like inlay to allay the cool weather. She’d been provided with a plain white blouse and a corsetry waistcoat to provide a form of armour. The belt she wore held a long, slender holster for her wand. Changing into all these items, she descended the stairs to her living room once more and approached the secret window that could only be observed from inside the cottage and zoomed in on areas of interest. From this viewpoint, Cassy observed Sebastian stepping out of the cottage, holding tightly to the note she had left.

His face was contorted in the most pained expression. Had she have known no better, she would have presumed he was under the influence of the crucio curse were it not for the fact that he carefully sat down on the front doorstep, head in hands, shoulders bouncing heavily as he sobbed for the loss of his beloved twin sister. Cassy’s heart went out to him, she yearned to be by his side, but knew better. Sebastian had always been unpredictable and unnaturally perceptive. No, if she were to approach him now, even in this delicate state, she felt certain he would see right through her disguise. Instead, she watched on as Natty sat down beside him and waited for the wave of grief to pass; “welcome home, Sebastian” Cassy sighed dejectedly.

Feel free to read the full fanfic on either Wattpad or AO3 - links above. Hope you enjoy :)

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First rule of being a woman is everything you do is going to be ridiculed and nothing you do is going to be seen as good enough so literally just do whatever the fuck

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Absolutely love Pasta's artwork!

by pasta as avatar ( Twitter )

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by mura ( Twitter | @jstmura )

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Chapter 1. Farewell to Old Friends

[Thought I'd share the first chapter of The Sallow Saga Vol. 1 - In the Shadows of a Legacy] - gain some insights on here. Points to keep in mind: This is a work of fan-fiction that is of my own making. It can be found on Wattpad or AO3 (links below):

Brief overview: set 5 years on from the events of HL, all our favourite characters are in their 20s and have long since left Hogwarts. Ominis became Anne's full time carer. M/C (named Cassy Weaver) and Natty are now aurors. This story is based on the concept of Sebastian having been sent to Azkaban at the end of HL. Feel free to add your thoughts at the end.

It was a small group who attended Ann Sallow's funeral. Her home hamlet, Feldcroft, had never been particularly large, however its populous had moved further afield after the events surrounding her brother's arrest. It appeared that after the loss of Solomon Sallow, the ex-auror, many thought the family to be cursed in more ways than one and after five years, it was only Ann who resided in the hamlet. Her closest friend, Ominis, insisted on doing all he could to watch over his adopted sister; so much so he moved in and became a permanent guest. Together, they lived a quiet and peaceful life until Ann took a turn for the worst and no number of healers could help. Ominis took on the role of carer to ensure her final days were comfortable, then fought tooth and nail to insist that she be buried alongside her parents in the family tomb near Milton Keynes. Not one of her old neighbours who she had supported during the rise of Ranrok's rebellion, agreed to attend.

The weather had been overcast as they'd entered the church, as Ominis took to the podium, the clouds gathered outside ready to wash away mushc of December's residual snow. Ominis looked out over the pitiful group who had attended. Ann deserved so much more than this, for all the pure kindness she had offered him throughout her short life, Ominis was frustrated he could not have celebrated her life with more of her old friends. Steadying both his nerves and sorrow, Ominis cleared his throat to address the gathered. "As some of you here will know, Ann was a dear, dear friend of mine. We were both sorted into Slytherin house, alongside..." he hesitated, swallowing a bitter lump in his throat; "alongside her twin brother, Sebastian. All three of us together, were a trio unlike any other. We were the rebels without cause." Some delicate murmurs of agreement met these words, from a few of the mourners. Ominis gleaned confidence somewhat from knowing Professor Weasley sat close to the back of the room. While he couldn't see her, she had assured him that she would be sat toward the rear of the hall, ready to walk by his side to the tomb. Matilda Weasley had her head bowed low, dabbing regularly at her eyes. Her dark, maroon witches hat obscured much of her face, but her flaming red hair poking out from under the rim relayed it was her. "Toward Ranrok's rise, Ann interrupted a gathering of goblins and dark wizards and was cursed, by Rookwood. To this day, we still do not know what that curse was, but it was enough to condemn Ann. Just one innocent child. So cruel. Since that day, Ann remained in Feldcroft, being cared for by her uncle Solomon, until his untimely death; receiving glimmers of hope from her brother, Sebastian; until his..." another pause. Ominis sighed, how much tragedy could one family experience in so short a space of time? "Until his arrest. From that day on, Ann and I remained closely tied. We lived together and very soon I discovered that while I had insisted on ensuring her the best comfort and care; she was providing so much more for me. Ann was a powerful, fierce, and devoted friend. I will never experience such a friendship as hers, in this lifetime at least..."

So saying, Ominis nodded to the priest, who began the sermon of final rights. Everyone bowed their head as the soprano who Ominis had hired, sang out Ann's favourite poem from Dulcibella Philbert's collection. Her voice filled the cold church hall with warmth. For all of a moment, Ominis felt his heart swell as he listened to the lyrics:

You are as dear to me as an Augurey, Whose voice foretells the coming rain. You are as loved by me as a Crup could be - Whose loyalty is true and plain. You have cast a spell over my heart, I want it not undone; You have charmed me from the very start. You have always been the one.

As Ann's coffin was lifted by the ushers and carried out of the church to the Sallow's family tomb, the assembled group slowly rose to their feet, and each bowed their head as the coffin was carried by. One by one, each member shuffled behind the ushers, creating a serpentine like path toward Ann's final resting place. Finally, after what seemed like an immeasurable amount of time for Ominis, the tomb's doors closed on his dear friend.

The rain that the clouds had been threatening to release for some time, began to fall. With each drop of rainfall, it felt like each member of the congregation approached him to rest a hand on his shoulder, complimenting his arranged send off for Ann, before making their polite excuses to leave. Eventually, only Ominis and Professor Matilda Weasley remained, both with hands clasped in front of them, both heads bowed. After a short while, Professor Weasley raised her head, delicately dabbed her eyes with a pristine, lace handkerchief and turned to face this phenomenal young man.

Ominis, sensing Professor Weasley's gaze, turned to face her in turn. Many found his foggy, blind eyes haunting and would flinch or bow their heads apologetically to avoid staring. Matilda however, simply smiled. What most perceived to be cold and unclear, were two of the brightest stars she'd ever seen in her Transfiguration classes. "That was a most beautiful send-off Ominis. Ann would have been proud." Matilda said softly, her voice croaky with restrained emotion. Smiling weakly, Ominis nodded. "Thank you, professor. I do appreciate your taking the time to attend. I know with it being January, you are amid the Winter academic year, and must be so very busy right now. I only wish more could have made it. I know how loved Ann was by many of her class friends." Professor Weasley delicately shrugged; "even in the world of magic, where it is so prevalent, death is very much a taboo topic. Many who would have wanted to pay their respects would also like to remember Ann as she was, a beautiful soul, racing on her broom with her brother. Beating you and many of her peers at gobstones; and filling the room with her wonderous laughter." "But they will never see or hear that ever again professor!" Ominis sniffed, "they should have been here! Of all people, I would have thought Cassy..." At her name, Ominis shivered.

Cassy Weaver, the mysterious fifth year starter. Granted, Ominis had valued her friendship at Hogwarts after Sebastian had been arrested and sent to Azkaban prison. But it had been on her insistence that he, Ominis, highlight his closest friend's crimes to the still current headmaster, Professor Black. To this day, Ominis still wondered if he had done the right thing by his closest friend, in listening to Cassy.

Professor Weasley cleared her throat, "I brought news from Cassy with me today, as we both thought you would be of this mindset. Please believe me Ominis, she wished to be here today b..." "Then why wasn't she?!" Ominis interrupted angrily. Quickly recognising his temper was getting the better of him, he steadied his breathing. His wand, always hovering sentient close by his side settled down from sputtering angry sparks from its tip in response to his emotions and emitted a steady warm glow. "My sincere apologies professor. I confess, I have been under a lot of stress recently. Press members from the Daily Prophet have been hounding me for days leading up to Ann's funeral. I cannot comprehend why they would be so relentless, they cared very little when she was cursed in the first place!" Professor Weasley rested a friendly hand on Ominis's shoulder, his mourning robes was soaked through; "how much of the Daily Prophet have you had the chance to divulge in dear?" Ominis frowned, "forgive me again Professor. With Ann's health deteriorating quicker than either one of us anticipated, the affairs of the wider wizarding world meant very little to our lives in Feldcroft. Ann even stopped responding to her post a fortnight before her passing, and refused to let me open anything that came through the door. Her final days were particularly hard, as you can imagine..." The rain began to settle down, with a few rolls of thunder in the distance indicating the worst of the storm had now moved on. Clearing her throat delicately, Professor Weasley carefully picked her words. "Then my dear, I fear I have some news that might come as somewhat of a shock for you. Perhaps it best we head back inside, I believe this news is best suited to private environments than open air conversation."

Nodding cautiously, Ominis proffered his arm to Professor Weasley who, understanding the gesture, placed Her's on his. Within less than a single breath, they had both apparated out of sight of the tomb, arriving in a flash inside the Sallow's small house in Feldcroft. Quietly gesturing for Professor Weasley to seat herself at the rickety dining table, Ominis waved his wand and summoned two mugs from the cupboard. The teapot, resting on the side, filled itself with water, which it boiled independently, before carefully floating over to fill up each mug with a warm cup of tea. This was accompanied by a small pot of honey, which, after bobbing over to the table; proceeded to spoon a teaspoon of its content into each mug. The jar than hurried back to the kitchen to usher the bottle of milk in to providing its services. Professor Weasley admired the procession of it all. She had always been particularly fond of Ominis. He had been such a quietly passionate student, who was meticulous in his appearance and how he addressed and behaved around others.

At school, his dark blonde hair had always been neatly combed into position, not out of vanity, but pure pride. Considering his upbringing, Ominis rarely spoke ill of anyone he crossed and preferred his peers to review him of his own personal presentation and merits, rather than his family's notorious magical status and wealth. Matilda recalled how he had been so introverted in his first year until his friendship with the Sallow twins brought him out of his shell and introduced a gentle yet dark sense of mischievousness to the Hogwarts faculty.

Holding her mug and breathing in the contents, she allowed Ominis time to hang up his sodden cloak, smooth back his hair; straighten his shirt and tie; before sitting down opposite his old favourite professor. "Very well Professor," he said, "what news could you not tell me before?" Taking a sip of the warm, sweet tea to freshen herself up from the coldness outside, Professor Weasley focused her gaze on the young man in front of her. "Ominis, it has been five years since Sebastian's arrest for the murder of his uncle Solomon. During his time in Azkaban, Sebastian has shown nothing but pure remorse for his part played in all that occurred during his final days at Hogwarts. His grief is so that, I have been informed, that the Dementors are unable to feed from him. It would appear the positive memories he held so dear have been swarmed with pure grief and regret. So much so, Minister Spavin has not had the heart to inform Mr Sallow of his twin sister's passing, to save him from spiralling beyond return."

Ominis choked on his tea, spilling much of its contents down his front. "You mean to say Professor, that Sebastian is unaware of Ann's passing?!" he choked.

Matilda bowed her head sorrowfully, "indeed, I do Ominis. Furthermore, Minister Spavin has issued a decree that in the exceptional circumstances of Mr Sallow's case, that he is to be released in the next month. If that weren't enough, he has assigned his auror team to remain vigilant around him, we have no idea how Sebastian will react to normal life outside of the horrendous confines of Azkaban." She paused. Ominis was staring at her. He was pale as a sheet and wide eyed at the revelations just presented to him. His cup had been halfway to his lips when she'd relayed the news of Sebastian's release and he had simply frozen.

Some time passed. The grandfather clock situated behind the curtained off bedroom, tolled the hour of six. The sound of the tuneful chime brought Ominis out of his trance and he lowered his mug to the table. He swallowed several times before weakly venturing, "he will be sent here, I presume?" Matilda nodded, "yes, he is to be returned to his old homestead. The people of Feldcroft were informed that a new movement was being instated to introduce a herd of endangered Graphorns nearby, in the hopes that it would encourage some of the residents to relocate. Only Ann, was informed of the truth. She received a visit from Minister Spavin himself, 2 weeks ago while you were out with Cassy in Hogsmeade. According to a trusted source, Ann was quite insistent that he be returned to his home in Feldcroft. As much as she still harboured some reservations, we believe that she deeply missed her brother and it was, as she declared 'a parting gift' that he be home in time to see her, before she passed. Sadly, the administrative team at the ministry took longer than anticipated in processing the decree and so, he will return home, but Ann will not be here to greet him. He is also to be provided with a new wand..."

Ominis, who had taken that moment to believe it safe to take a sip of tea to calm his nerves, once again choked on its contents, dropping everything as he jumped up from the table; his wand sparked violently; "a new wand! But Professor... We all know how emotionally unstable Sebastian became in his pursuit to cure Ann. We know, how far into the dark arts he went and what he was capable and willing to do to obtain a cure. He cast Crucio on Cassy! He used Imperius on a Goblin loyalist! He killed his own uncle! By yours and the minister's own admittance, he has been in a state of desperation at Azkaban, and now he is to be presented with a new wand?! Really, this is too much!"

Ominis began to pace the room. He loosened his tie and ran his fingers through his hair. Altogether the scene was quite destressing for both professor and ex-student. Matilda stood up and gently placed her hand on Ominis's shoulders. She guided him back to his seat while softly whispering, "I know, I know..." With a wave of her wand, she had cleared away the spilled tea and had conjured a blanket, which she wrapped around Ominis's shoulders; "we knew this would come as a shock for you, dear..." Ominis looked up, his foggy eyes now pink in colour as tears quietly slipped down his cheeks. So many emotions were working their way through him; a mix of grief, anger, frustration and (although he would not admit it out loud) a mix of fear and joy to be reunited with his dear friend – who he had condemned to five years in the cruellest of environments; "you and Minister Spavin have been in close contact, Professor" he quietly observed.

Matilda smiled pleasantly, "Ominis, you misunderstand. I have learned all this from Cassy. She is too close a contact to serve as Sebastian's custodian, instead she has been assigned to review Sebastian's progress from a distance. She was deeply saddened to be unable to attend Ann's funeral today, however she was following orders directly from the Minister to keep her distance and to make it seem as though she has distanced herself from you and Ann. She has been sworn to secrecy, however she insisted that you be informed as she fears that Minister Spavin is showing his years and is not completely firing from all cylinders. Furthermore, someone leaked the news of Sebastian's release to the press, which would explain why members of the Daily Prophet are pestering you. Suffice it to say, you will be under Cassy's protection, regardless of whether you opt to stay here or relocate. She will also be observing Sebastian without his knowledge. We do not know how he will respond to his sister's passing, nor do we know how he will respond to both you and Cassy, as you both played such key roles in his final days at Hogwarts, those few years ago." Ominis nodded slowly. Wrapping the blanket tightly around his shoulders, he cautiously asked; "what is the exact date of Sebastian's release?" Professor Weasley opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted by an urgent knock at the door, making them both jump violently out of their seats. Ominis's eyes were wide with apprehension, and he was rooted to the spot. Keeping a tight hold of her wand, Matilda approached the door, as another set of urgent knocks rained down on the timber panels. This time however, a familiar voice followed; "Ominis? Professor Weasley? It's Cassy! Are either of you in?" 

[rebdebdav]

New Comments on my AO3 Fanfic

The latest comments on my fanfic on AO3 had me grinning from ear to ear last night. After going through some major downward blips in my personal life, my anxiety hit me hard and I started to believe no one was interested/liked what I was writing. Reading these comments at such a low point was just what I needed to perk me back up again!! So thank you to those lovely commenters! If you want to read the fictions for yourself (Hogwarts Legacy Fanfic), the links are: https://archiveofourown.org/works/47123305 &