#I need to get around to reading ministry for the future | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

shadowtriovibes · 1 year

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it's a sign of the times

Pairing: Sebastian Sallow x f!MC

Rating: PG

Word Count: 3.2K

Summary: request [paraphrased]: "Rivals-to-lovers Sebastian and MC use a Time-Turner to travel to the future with Ominis in search for a cure for Anne. Instead they find a girl who's the spitting image of MC trying to sneak into the Restricted Section in the 1910s, only she has freckles like Sebastian..."

the 'verse continues in "the train ain't even left the station" [AO3]

“Anne-Marie Sallow!” she calls out. “Just where do you think you’re going?” At once, the three of you freeze. “Did she say ‘Sallow?’” hisses Ominis. “Did I hear that right?” “I – no. No,” Sebastian stammers. “There’s no way that’s what she said.”

“Can you please remind me again why I’m even a part of this harebrained scheme?” you ask for at least the third time.

You’re crouched around a small table in one of the far corners of the upper section of the Library. It’s well past curfew, but since you aren’t technically breaking any rules by avoiding the Restricted Section, you’re currently getting away with your loitering, as do most students who are caught studying after hours this close to final exams.

Only, you’re not studying. You’ve been summoned there by Ominis, who despite being your closest friend at Hogwarts is also a conniving, duplicitous liar who neglected to tell you that this whole thing is Sebastian’s idea.

You watch warily as he turns over a contraband Time-Turner in his hands, inspecting its impossibly small dials and knobs. The golden sands inside the hourglass hypnotically shift back and forth while he reads over its inscriptions and consults the guidebook he’d smuggled out of the Restricted Section earlier that same day.

You have no idea where he managed to get the device – perhaps in one of those vaults along the coast in Cragcroftshire that he’d been exploring during the summer term. However, now he’s got it in his head that perhaps the reason you haven’t been able to heal Anne is that the cure to her curse simply hasn’t been invented yet. Therefore, a quick jaunt several years into the future ought to reveal a way to rid Anne of her illness (and maybe even earn his way back into her good graces).

It’s not the first ludicrous and impractical idea he’s had in the past year, nor will it be the last, but it’s certainly one of the more radical ones.

“Merlin’s beard, I’ve already told you,” Sebastian sighs. “Since we’re going forward in time rather than back, this is an unauthorized use, and in case we get stuck in the future, we might need your ancient magic.”

“So I’m an insurance policy?!” you demand.

“Not so much for Sebastian as for me,” Ominis answers plainly. “He thinks he’s got it all sorted out, but I’m not as sure.”

“I know what I’m doing,” Sebastian interjects.

You huff and roll your eyes. “Need I remind you that using a Time-Turner to go forward is expressly forbidden by the Ministry? It’s only to go back.”

“Loads of people have done it, though,” he argues. “I’ve been reading all about it, it’s well-documented.”

“And they’ve all come back to the present?” you demand.

“Yes,” he snaps. “...For the most part.”

You scoff. Unbelievable.

“Do you two honestly think my magic is just an unlimited get-out-of-Azkaban-free pass?” you hiss. “I have no idea how to manipulate time and space. If we get stuck there, we’re stuck there.”

“I’m sure you’ll figure something out like you always do,” Sebastian mutters distractedly as he fiddles with the Time-Turner.

You glance at Ominis pleadingly and he just shrugs.

“You know we can’t let him go alone, we’ll never get him back,” Ominis reasons.

“Is that such a bad thing?” you grumble.

Sebastian shoots you a warning look before he holds up the Time-Turner for the both of you to inspect.

“I have it set to jump forward twenty years,” he explains. “We’ll have to get cozy before we go, as we’ve all got to be wearing it. Physically, we’ll land precisely where we are now, at the same time of day.”

“What if the layout of the Library changes?” you ask skeptically.

“The castle hasn’t changed in centuries,” Ominis points out. “Compared to its history, two decades is indeed quite short.”

“...Fine,” you finally mumble. “Go on, then. Let’s get this over with.”

The three of you stand in a tight circle in a spot tucked away behind some shelves, hoping to remain hidden there after you make the jump forward in time. Sebastian drapes the thin gold chain connected to the Time-Turner around the three of you; it even seems to stretch and extend in length to fit. Then he murmurs a brief incantation to the enchanted timepiece and spins the innermost piece a whopping twenty times.

Your stomach lurches while it turns over and the world around you seems to spin out of control, almost like one of those Muggle carousel rides you saw once as a child. You can barely make out years and years of students and professors walking around you – through you, even – and countless books sliding on and off the shelves until everything comes to a sudden halt and you fall straight to the floor.

Ominis and Sebastian tumble with you, winded.

“That felt bizarre,” Ominis wheezes. “Where are we? Did we travel anywhere?”

“N-no,” Sebastian breathes. “Everything else just… traveled around us.”

You glance around the Library and see that as Ominis had suggested, it looks largely the same. There are some newer books among those you recognize on the shelves, their spines less creased and dyed with more vibrant colors than those of your time.

One title jumps out at you: Advances in Practical Conjuring, 1900-1910

We’re in the 1910s, you think bewilderedly. We’re in a new century.

Mercifully, the layout of the library seems to be largely unchanged. Rows and rows of dimly lit stacks stretch along the length of the grand room with two winding spiral staircases leading down to the lower level.

Once you catch your breath, the three of you cast Disillusionment on yourselves and huddle together to make your way downstairs to the Restricted Section. Ominis leads the way with his wand extended to search for any lingering students or restless ghosts, having long since proven that his spatial awareness bests both yours and Sebastian’s even without his sight.

Your trio makes it downstairs and past the first row of shelves before Ominis stops in his tracks. Sebastian collides with him and then you knock into Sebastian, causing you both to hiss some choice words at each other.

“What’s going on?” you demand in a whisper.

“Someone just came in,” Ominis explains. “The librarian is at the desk and she hasn’t noticed, but a student is coming down the stairs.”

Sure enough, across the room you see a faint flicker of light and can just barely make out the outline of a small student sneaking down the main stairs – must be a young one, you think, no more than thirteen.

“I think it’s a girl,” you offer. “I can see her just over there.”

“What’s she doing?” Sebastian whispers.

“I’m not sure yet,” Ominis says carefully. “She’s past the desk, the librarian didn’t see – oh, for Merlin’s sake.”

“What is it?” you breathe.

“She’s going straight for the Restricted Section,” Ominis mutters. “Just our luck, I suppose.”

The three of you remain crouched behind the shelf while you watch the girl creep ever closer to your hiding spot. You’re panicking inside your head, wondering what possible seams of the universe might immediately be torn to shreds if she were to spot the three of you, but thankfully she seems single-minded in her mission to gain access to the locked collection of books across the room from you.

“She’s tiny,” Sebastian snorts. “I suppose the young ones are even more bold in the future.”

“Weren’t you about her age when you first started to sneak into the Restricted Section?” Ominis reminds him.

Sebastian insists, “No, I was fourteen. I didn’t go in until Anne was attacked. She’s got to be twelve at most, maybe even a first year.”

“Will you two be quiet?” you hiss. “She’s going to hear you!”

Across the room, the Disillusioned girl pulls a key out of the pocket of her robes and starts to insert it into the lock. A girl her age wouldn’t have mastered Alohomora yet, you think, nor would it be effective on this kind of lock. You have no idea how she managed to get a copy of the key, however.

“Do you suppose we could just go in after her?” Sebastian proposes. “She’s nearly got it open, we should take advantage of that.”

“Are you mad?” you scoff. “We can’t be in there at the same time, we’ll get caught!”

“So what if some little girl from the future sees us?” Sebastian argues. “Why wouldn’t she believe we’re just students from her time doing our own research?”

But before you can further explain to Sebastian how astonishingly stupid that idea is, the girl across the room gasps softly and drops her key to the floor. In front of her, the lock is glowing red as if it’s searing hot.

That’s a new security development from your time, you think. It’s rather lucky the three of you didn’t discover that the hard way.

Immediately, the young librarian leaps from her seat and hustles across the room to the Restricted Section’s gated entrance much faster than Madam Scribner ever would have.

“Hang on…” you say under your breath. “Is that – that’s Sophronia!”

“Who?” Ominis asks.

“Sophronia Franklin, she’s a fourth-year in our time,” you explain distractedly. “She’s always lingering in the library, of course she takes over for Scribner once we finish school.”

“I know her,” Sebastian chimes in. “Tried to get me to play a game of trivia in exchange for returning a book on curse breaking I’d been waiting for. Rather precocious, I thought.”

You glare at Sebastian and he merely rolls his eyes.

“I didn’t mean it in a flirtatious way, I was referring to her choice in books,” he grumbles. “Merlin, you’re protective of her.”

“She’s a sweet girl,” you murmur, appreciative of the fact that Sebastian can’t see you blushing. Truthfully, you don’t think much about Sophronia these days, other than that she absolutely cannot catch the three of you in her Library as she’ll easily understand what you’re up to.

Before you can try to convince the boys to call it quits and return to the present, Sophronia rounds the corner and the girl’s Disillusionment charm melts away in surprise.

“Anne-Marie Sallow!” she calls out. “Just where do you think you’re going?”

At once, the three of you freeze.

“Did she say ‘Sallow?’” hisses Ominis. “Did I hear that right?”

“I – no. No,” Sebastian stammers. “There’s no way that’s what she said.”

“Apologies, Madam,” you hear the girl say with a cheeky lilt to her voice. “I was just looking for a book for my aunt, that’s all.”

Just then, Sophronia leans down to pick up the dropped key and all three of you catch a glimpse of the young girl’s face. She’s probably around twelve, like Sebastian had guessed, but her face… Merlin, she could be your younger sister.

Her slightly-upturned nose is nearly identical to yours, only she’s got a small smattering of freckles across hers. Then there’s her chin, which juts out just a bit like yours does, and you’re too far away to make out the color of her eyes but you’re positive that they’re almond-shaped just like your own.

Now that you think about it, her hair is tied back like you always did with yours when you were younger – braided with a green bow at the end, only her hair is a rich, warm brown color.

“...Is that you?” Sebastian asks softly. “How. How are you doing this?”

“That’s not me, I’m right here,” you remind him.

“Hold on, what am I missing?” Ominis whispers.

“That girl looks exactly like this one,” Sebastian insists. “She’s got her nose, her eyes, her face shape. It’s like there’s a second-year version of her, standing right across from us.”

“We’re twenty years into the future,” Ominis reminds you both. “...What if she’s your daughter?”

You feel like the room is starting to spin around you again, and you find yourself pitching to the side before Sebastian quickly tugs on your arm and pulls you back behind the shelf.

“Do not go daft on us now,” he mutters. “I don’t care if that is your daughter–”

“She’s your daughter too, you know,” Ominis chimes in. “In case you were wondering.”

“Wh… What?” Sebastian stutters, and Ominis gestures for the two of you to listen in.

“Goodness, Miss Sallow,” Sophronia sighs. “You really are so much like your father, always sneaking into the Restricted Section.”

You watch as the girl puffs up her chest proudly, a mischievous smirk on her face that doesn’t strike you as particularly like you at all – but rather Sebastian.

“I’ll gladly take that as a compliment, Madam Franklin,” Anne-Marie says.

“While I respect that you are both voracious consumers of knowledge, he, like you, had little respect for the rules of the Restricted Section,” Sophronia continues. “I’ll have to ask you to leave until you get permission from a professor for relevant research or turn fifteen.”

Anne-Marie is still arguing with the librarian as she’s being escorted out. “Perhaps if you would just let me borrow the book for a while–”

“I’m afraid I’ll also have to give you detention this time,” Sophronia interjects. “I can’t keep looking the other way simply because I owe your mother a favor. This is the third time this term!”

Anne-Marie huffs and folds her arms. “But my godfather–”

“Your godfather is a very busy man who would undoubtedly appreciate it if you spent more time staying out of trouble,” Sophronia finishes, “than trying to emulate your father. In fact, I think Ominis would agree with me that one Sebastian Sallow in this world is quite enough!”

Well, that certainly clears things up.

Sophoronia marches Anne-Marie up the stairs and out of the library. The three of you, having already forgotten your original mission, put your heads together without a word so Sebastian can drape the Time-Turner around your necks and return you to the present.

You collapse in a heap on the library floor, but this time it’s fully empty – even the librarian’s desk light is extinguished. You sit in silence for a few moments, and you and Sebastian don’t dare look at each other. Eventually you force yourself to stand and offer Ominis a hand up, steadfastly ignoring the other boy.

“So,” Ominis finally says, barely concealing his smile. “When exactly is it, do you suppose, that the two of you fall hopelessly in love with each other?”

You both curse at him at the same time, and Ominis throws back his head and laughs.

“Shout at me all you want, but that little girl is proof that the two of you are destined for each other,” he crows. “Oh, how brilliant!”

“Come now, Ominis,” Sebastian says with a nervous laugh. “You don’t seriously think that girl is, what… our child or something?”

“That’s precisely what I think,” Ominous answers, smirking. “You said it yourself, she looks exactly like her mother.”

“Stop!” you interject. “I’m not anyone’s mother, in case you forgot.”

“Perhaps not yet,” Ominis agrees primly. “I imagine it will be several more years before Sebastian makes you one.”

Sebastian goes deeply red while you sputter indignantly.

“Thats – that’s foul, Ominis,” you insist. “It’s untoward to even be talking about this!”

Sebastian folds his arms and raises an eyebrow. “Really? You’re that offended by the very idea of us having a child together? I’m hurt.”

“W-well, I just meant that we shouldn’t talk about things that haven’t yet come to pass,” you explain nervously. “Besides, all that is years away. Decades, even.”

Sebastian glances sidelong at you, and you wonder if you’re imagining the way he looks you up and down.

“Right,” he says slowly. “It’s not like we know anything for sure, obviously.”

“Of course,” you agree. “...I don’t suppose you have any other family members named Sebastian? Distant relatives, perhaps?”

“Why?” he drawls. “Looking to snag a cousin of mine so I won’t be the one to father your children?”

You shove him right into one of the bookshelves, but he laughs like he doesn’t regret it one bit.

“Now now,” Ominis murmurs. “You ought to be kind to your future husband, you don’t want to damage his virility.”

“I have half a mind to put a dent in Sebastian’s virility right here and now to save me some trouble later,” you reply, casually aiming your wand at his groin.

“Have you gone mad?!” he stammers as he takes several steps backward. “Put that thing away!”

“Oh, will you please relax?” you sigh. “We just saw one of your descendants, your ability to procreate is in no danger.”

“You could still put me in the Hospital Wing,” he sulks. “Besides, it’s not just procreation that I use it for.”

Ominis snorts. “Unfortunately, I am intimately aware of that.”

You make a face while Sebastian grins cheekily, offering no apology.

The three of you start to make your way toward the exit into Central Hall, ignoring the weak protests of the prefects stationed outside. As you make your way back toward the Slytherin common room, you all fall silent again, lost in your thoughts.

You aren’t sure how you’re supposed to forget what you saw, you think. In the future, you have a daughter. Her father is Sebastian Sallow, and… and she’s brilliant. Beautiful, courageous, more than a bit headstrong, and as determined as you both are if not more so.

You catch yourself actually grinning, and when you glance over at Sebastian, you see the same expression on his face.

“Anything you care to share?” you ask him.

“I know we probably shouldn’t talk about it,” he starts, “but there is one thing that girl said that I won’t soon forget.”

“What’s that?” you ask.

He’s quiet for a moment, and then he admits, “I heard her say she’s looking for a book for her aunt, and you haven’t got any sisters.”

You smile softly and reach for Sebastian’s hand. “No, I don’t.”

He lets you take his hand in his to give a reassuring squeeze.

“She’s still alive,” Sebastian says quietly. “She… she’s still sick, probably. But she’s still alive in the future. She meets my daughter, and she knows her.”

“She does,” you say. “And – and maybe we don’t quite know how that happens yet, but you can have a little faith, Sebastian. Things will work out the way they’re supposed to, and Anne will be with us for a long, long time. There’s still plenty of time to make things right again.”

He nods wordlessly but doesn’t drop your hand.

Just before you arrive at your common room, Ominis stops in his tracks.

“Hang on… Her name, Anne-Marie?” he asks you. “That sounds like something Sebastian would have picked. How generous of you.”

“Aww,” Sebastian laughs. “You must be so in love with me by then to let me pick the name.”

You grit your teeth and ignore them as you murmur the password to the giant stone snake guarding the door, hoping to get some well-earned rest and be rid of these boys for the night.

“Don’t worry, darling,” Sebastian says as he ducks around you and slips inside the door. “I’ll let you pick the name for the second one, and we can duel for rights to the third.”

You go running off after Sebastian and holler, “You bastard Sebastian Sallow, how many damn children are you expecting?!”

Ominis quickly pulls the door shut behind him and shakes his head.

“Godfather,” he mutters to himself. “I’ll never know peace, will I?”

---

[Get to know more of the Sallow kiddos in "the train ain't even left the station" ❤️]

#hogwarts legacy #hogwarts legacy fic #sebastian sallow #ominis gaunt #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow x reader #sebastian x mc #sebastian x reader #my fic #time travel #i tried to stick to time-turner lore as much as possible while completely retconning it #(future) dad!bastian

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dittanyinbloom · 1 year

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Baby Fever

Ominis Gaunt x Fem!MC. 11 years after the events of fifth year. Could been seen as a final part to Note Taking. But trilogy is so sweet I didn’t want to include smut.

Summary: Anne is struggling after the birth of her child, and Sebastian has too many kids of his own to give Anne the proper care she needs. Sebastian calls on you for help, but your husband Ominis insists on coming along despite his affinity for children. 13.3k long so grab some tea besties.

Warnings: 9.5k of fluff and angst and Ominis healing from childhood trauma and then about 3.5k of smut. Breeding kink but like- it’s sweet I swear. Maybe a bit of cockwarming thrown in there (Sorry, Jesus. I’ll repent later). Minors DNI!

.🍼🌿🍼

Y/N,

I hate to do this while business is booming for you, or should I say blooming? Sorry. I need a bit of humor whenever I can get it. Anne is not doing well since having the baby. She’s been on bed rest and she’s a complete mess. I can imagine you ridiculing me, but I am allowed to say such things. She is my twin after all.

Her husband still isn’t back from that work trip. My wife has been asking around the Ministry for me, but no one knows anything. He wouldn’t have missed the birth of their daughter. And she’s four days old now, the cutest thing, by the way. She's starting to look just like Anne’s baby photos.

Anyway, I’m getting off track here. Sorry if this letter is scattered. I’ve got all four of my kids here with me. Their mother has to work while I’m taking off time to look after Anne. Obviously, someone has to earn money for the abundance of school robes we’ll be paying for in the very near future. They can’t be home alone with the youngest being only one. He’s walking now! Have I told you yet? Well, standing and wobbling. He’s getting there. Gonna be the next Slytherin Quidditch Captain in no time.

All this is to say, I need some help here with Anne. Helping her and taking care of her newborn is a two-person job. My kids make it a three-person job. I’m drowning a bit in diapers and screams and tears. Think everyone here has had a tantrum today alone, including me.

Needing your help desperately, my dear sister-in-law of mine. Don’t let Ominis roll his eyes when you read him that bit. He is my brother, blood be damned.

Sincerely,

Your Most Handsome Brother-in-law

S.S.

P!S! Please for the love of Merlin, bring washcloths. Between everything I’m trying to keep up with laundry and it’s simply impossible.

You glanced over the top of the letter once you were done reading it aloud. Contrary to Sebastian’s predictions, Ominis was not rolling his eyes. In fact, he looked forlorn and pale. Not only was he worried about Anne’s safety considering her poor condition after having the child, but he was no doubt worrying about Anne’s husband who was actually quite a lovely bloke. He fit in just right with Anne and Sebastian, and he very quickly grew on Ominis despite his attempts to keep the jokester at bay. In his eyes, Ominis had enough of that energy with Sebastian and Anne, who had been handling her curse greatly in the last few years and was back to her wild self, until the pregnancy complications that is.

What Ominis refused to acknowledge was that Anne’s husband didn’t have the mischief or malice of Sebastian and Anne. He was just a golden, loveable, arguably dopey guy. His love for Anne was so pure. He bawled multiple times on their wedding day. Being gone for so long during the latter days of Anne’s pregnancy was unlike him. And to miss the birth of his firstborn child, and likely their only considering the complications, was beyond excusable. Not that he would even try to excuse it because he was truly that honest of a man!

And then there was Anne, the most heartbreaking part of the letter. The doctors had her on bed rest seemingly indefinitely. She spent the last two months of her pregnancy in that dreary bedroom. When her husband was forced onto his work trip a week and a half ago, you closed up your magical plant shop and stayed by her side until the baby was born. A girl. She was born healthy with the cutest button nose. You held her for hours after she was born while the healers and Sebastian all huddled around Anne in worry.

Once Anne was safe and resting, Sebastian had tiredly collapsed on the couch next to you. You hadn’t seen him that exhausted since you were teens still in school, causing mayhem that affected yourselves more than others. His wife had been watching over all four of their kids all day so that Sebastian could spend that moment with his twin. You put the baby girl in her uncle’s arms and the two fell right asleep just like that.

It had only been a few days, but you were wanting so desperately to get back to the little girl. And while Sebastian’s kids were a handful, to say the very least, you wanted to see them as well. You had done your fair share of babysitting those mongrels, so they were quite attached to you. Their obsession with you and inclination to always come visit and run up and down the hall of your home was actually welcomed, as crazy as that sounded.

By the time you realized you loved children and wanted some of your own, you were already deeply devoted to Ominis. Because of his past, he wasn’t too enthusiastic about having children of his own. That was fine. Sebastian seemed set on having plenty for everyone.

Ominis stood from his velvet armchair and announced, “I’ll grab the washcloths.”

“Ominis, you do not have to go.”

He had stopped in the middle of the hall to ponder it. His head shook in disapproval. “I’m going to look after Anne. You’ll look after the baby. Sebastian will pack up the Quidditch team and head home so that Anne can rest in a peaceful house. Does that sound like a plan?”

You met him in the hallway and took his hands in yours. Butterfly-soft kisses were left on his knuckles. You spoke firmly and slowly to make your point. “You do not have to go with me to Anne’s. I can take care of both. It’s okay.”

“Don’t insult me,” Ominis insisted with a harsh whisper. “I won’t faint at the sight of a child, and if Anne needs me, I will be by her side. She is my sister.”

You chuckle, lightening the room for a moment, “Oh, so Anne is your sister, but you can’t admit Sebastian is your brother.”

“That’s because Anne is my sister through and through, but Sebastian can’t just claim such a title just because his kids call you Auntie. Such a thing has to be earned! Bestowed upon!”

“Okay, okay,” you giggled and smoothed his shirt across his shoulders to calm him. “You know he only says it at this point because it gets a rise out of you. And perhaps that’s why I bring it up too. You’re cute when you go red.”

“Oh, well thank you for adding to the stress,” Ominis shortly huffed in annoyance then turned to the bathroom to grab your house’s supply of washcloths.

Usually, he went along with your playful tones unless he was really out of sorts. You frown and follow right at his heels into the bathroom. “Sweetheart, we are all stressed. I’m sorry to make light of things in such dark times, but you always say you enjoy my light. I’m only trying to help you feel better.”

“I know. But right now-“ Ominis pinched the bridge of his nose. “Can I just be alone for a moment? Why don’t you go pack up those strawberries for Sebastian’s kids? You know we won’t finish them before they go bad if they stay in our kitchen.”

With your head hung low, you trudged to the kitchen and began to ransack your cupboards for potential meals. If things were really as bad as Sebastian made them seem, he likely didn’t have time to cook properly for the kids, Anne, and even himself. A few sandwiches and the berries would make a healthy enough lunch. If Ominis was truly planning to go with you, Sebastian really could head home for a break like Ominis suggested. Sebastian could no doubt figure out dinner for his kids at his own home with the stress of Anne and the newborn off his shoulders.

“I’m sorry for snapping,” that was Ominis leaning against the doorframe to your tiny kitchen. He looked exhausted as though he fought some great battle during his moments of solitude in the bathroom. He hated this side of himself, the one that could be so cruel. With his history and his trauma from his childhood, you didn’t ever fault him for being triggered.

The entire friend group was blissful until Sebastian started having kids with his wife, which was only a year or two into having your adult jobs after graduating from Hogwarts. Ominis had gotten used to them, slightly, but now with Anne having a child, he felt like he couldn’t turn in any direction without feeling an immense guilt.

“That was hardly snapping,” you kept up your light tone. It wasn’t an act. You really weren’t fazed by his behavior. These were stressful times for everyone. “You’ve bitten me before, so I think I got off a bit lucky this time.”

His cheeks turned a light shade of pink. After all these years, you could still fluster him. It was actually one of your favorite pastimes. How much teasing could Ominis handle? You were always itching to find out.

“That- that was one time. And you- you said you liked it,” Ominis straightened from his lean against the doorframe as he stammered on, “And that was different.”

“I did like it,” you reassured him. Memories of that night fluttered back. The sting in your shoulder. The cold from the blood dripping down. Tasting metallic on his lips afterward… “Maybe if you would bite me more, I wouldn’t have to keep pressing your buttons to see which one ignites that side of you.”

Ominis rubbed his face as though he was tired of your antics, but his cheeks turning a deeper shade, nearly all red now, told you all you needed to know. “You drive me crazy, you know that?”

“Didn’t I just admit to doing it on purpose?”

Ominis could hear the knife come out into the cutting board. He tilted his head. “What have you been up to in here? Thought you were going to grab the strawberries.”

“Sandwiches for everyone. Doubt Sebastian has had time to make lunch yet. I’d rather make them here than amid whatever chaos is happening there.”

Then Ominis was behind you, gently placing a hand on your shoulder to map out where you were. It glided down to the small of your back and then snakes around the front, his other joining as his body pressed into yours from behind. His chin rested on your shoulder. His chest rumbled against your back as he spoke, “Forgive me for taking my stress out on you?”

“You hardly said anything, Ominis. There is nothing to forgive.”

His lips pressed right at the back of your jaw where it met your ear. “Maybe I’m asking in advance for tonight.” Then his mouth opened. His teeth grazed your skin so lightly you thought you imagined it. And then, rather evilly in your opinion, Ominis stepped back and released his hold on you. “Hurry up with those sandwiches. I’m going to handle a few things before the trip, but I’ll be waiting by the fireplace to floo by the time you are done in here.”

Sure enough, your husband was waiting for you patiently at your fireplace after you finished packaging up the lunches. He held out a hand to steady you as you stepped up on the brick, hardly a necessary gesture, but he was being extra sweet with you while he still could.

“I put a closed sign out on the shop,” he sounded almost formal about it.

“Thank you,” you breathed out in gratitude, “I completely forgot.”

“That Alihotsy is getting a bit big for the nursery. It’s extending across the walkway. Startled me for a second.”

“Sorry. Yes. That fellow from Honeydukes is meant to come by sometime this week for it. I’ll have to write him to explain that we are looking after Anne. Maybe he wouldn’t mind if we dropped it by late at night on his doorstep?”

“Maybe tomorrow night. We’ll be too tired after this.”

You chuckled and shook your head. “You always talk me into being lazy with you. Promise you won’t talk me out of it tomorrow too?”

“I would like its leaves out of the walking path, so I promise, tomorrow night we can take it to him. I won’t drag you to bed too early.”

“But I do look forward to ending up in bed with you after.” And with that, you threw down the floo power and were transported to Anne’s bungalow in Feldcroft. Upon entering, the first thing you noticed was the noise. There was a baby crying, kids screaming, and footsteps pounding around on the hardwood floor.

“I said to get that thing out of here!” That was Sebastian, sounding exasperated.

“I can’t catch it!” His oldest child, who was seven going into eight now, whined back.

“Then chase it out the door! It can’t be in here. It- oh! Y/N. Thank Merlin you’re here. Popped in at an awful time. Sorry for the mess.” Sebastian, while cradling his youngest in his arms, a baby who was about a year old now, kicked a few toys out of the way so you could step off the edge of the fireplace.

“Auntie Y/N!” Three children trapped you with hugs from all around. Then behind you, Ominis popped up in the fireplace and the three were rushing to embrace him as well.

You chuckled and put a hand on Sebastian’s shoulder to ask, “Seb, why is there a chicken on the couch.”

“It’s on the-?” Sebastian turned and started to wave the brown chicken off of his sister’s couch. “Shoo! Shoo! You are lucky I haven’t cooked you yet!”

You rolled your eyes and pulled out your wand. “Levioso. Accio.” The brown chicken squirmed in your arm, but you held it at your hip and then turned to the three kids with an eyebrow raised. “Who brought a chicken in the house while Auntie Anne isn’t feeling well?”

None of the kids said a word, but the two oldest shoved each other while they all stared at the floor in shame. You sighed and said, “If you go and collect all the toys in the house and put them in the diaper bag, I will give you the surprise I brought.”

The kids lit up. Their guilt long forgotten.

“A surprise?!”

“What is it?”

“Ah, ah, ah. Pick up your toys first.” Then the three of them were off collecting the messing they made and putting it in their youngest sibling’s enchanted diaper bag.

You put the chicken in the backyard and came back to see Sebastian and Ominis having a chat on the couch while the baby while trying to pull itself up on the side to join in. Ominis flinched when the baby grabbed his pant leg. You were quick to dive down and pick the little one up, grunting as you did so.

“My oh my, you have gotten big! What are they feeding you? Rocks?”

“That one’s gonna win the World Cup. I just know it. Gonna be the best Beater there is.” Sebastian played with the baby’s chunky ankles while you held it. It cooed back at him as if it understood and agreed.

You laughed and moved the baby to your hip to then use your free hand to touch Ominis’s shoulder. “You wanna go check on Anne while we set up the picnic for the kids outside?”

Ominis nodded and stood up to leave. He seemed thankful to have an excuse not to join the chaotic lunch plans.

Sebastian smiled wide. “Am I hearing this right? You brought lunch?”

“Just some sandwiches and strawberries. Figured you hadn’t had the time.”

With an exasperated sigh, Sebastian leaned his head against the back of the couch and closed his eyes. “You thought right. It’s been… a lot. The baby is sleeping now, I mean, the other baby, the newborn, Anne’s baby.” Sebastian paused for a second then whispered, “That’s still so crazy for me to say. I’m so happy for her.”

“You and your cousin are going to be the best of friends!” You told the one-year-old on your hip. So close in age. How fun! They’ll only be a year apart at Hogwarts. Bet they’ll get into even more trouble than we did.”

Sebastian covered his face and groaned. “Merlin, don’t say that. They already make me crazy as it is. Can’t imagine how I’d handle them being as wild as us.”

“Sebastian, there was a chicken on the couch when I got here. You may want to mentally prepare yourself for all sorts of Hogwarts shenanigans.”

Meanwhile, Ominis was knocking on Anne’s bedroom door and waiting to hear her voice before letting himself in. Sebastian’s kids were still being rather loud, but the decibel levels had greatly depleted. Ominis shut the door gently, but firmly, hoping to trap out any further noise. Their little feet could still be heard scampering about the echoey wooden floors as they searched for their abundance of toys to put away.

“Thought you two must have arrived,” Anne sounded exhausted. Ominis’s heart immediately ripped in two. He hadn’t heard her voice so raspy since they were teens. Anne had mostly healed from her curse. At around the ten-year mark, she decided she wanted to try for a child. She and her husband were happy and head over heels in love. They just wanted one child to share the love with. The risk was great with Anne’s past, but she didn’t want some retched curse to stop her from living her life the way she dreamed.

“And it was a good thing we did. Sebastian’s kids were terrorizing your home.”

Anne laughed at that, though it was quiet and airy. “They are just playing, Ominis. That’s why kids do. Not a dull day around here lately, that’s for sure.”

“Still, I’m sure you could rest better if it was quiet.” Ominis took a step to the right, meaning to meet her at her bedside.

“Wait-,” Anne croaked out, causing Ominis to freeze. “The bassinet is on this side. Come around to the other.”

Oh, right. Ominis swallowed thickly. He had forgotten about Anne’s baby for a moment. The room was so peaceful. It was hard to believe a child was in here with them. “Right, sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry for, Min,” Anne reassured as Ominis walked around to the other side of the bed. “Just didn’t want to bump into it and wake her. She’ll be hungry when she wakes up.” Which was Anne’s way of gently warning him that the baby was probably going to cry for food soon that way he didn’t panic when he heard it.

Ominis cautiously sat on the side of Anne’s bed and asked, “Anything I can get for you? I’m here to look out for you, and Y/N is going to look out for the baby once she feeds Sebastian and the kids and sends them home.”

“Honestly, I was dying of boredom before you came in. Just you being here is enough.” Anne placed her hand over Ominis’s and squeezed. “And how is my Y/N doing? How’s the shop coming along?”

There was a thankful sigh of relief from Ominis’s lips at the subject change. He could talk about you and the shop for hours. “We’re loving it. She put me to work though with all the upkeep. I’m regretting cutting back my hours at the Ministry. At least they didn’t make me sweep.”

Anne’s soft chuckle sounded much closer to her normal self this time. Ominis let some of the tension in his shoulders release from knowing Anne wasn’t feeling too much pain at the moment.

“You know, they would take you back full-time in a heartbeat if you offered.”

“No, no,” Ominis quickly backtracked with a smile, “No, trust me, being at the shop is a walk in the park in comparison to the Ministry’s paperwork. The half of my week there is like a vacation. Besides, it’s right next door to the house. No travel sickness. And the greenhouse smells lovely. Much better to work in than those dingy offices.”

“Hey now, don’t talk bad on those dingy offices. I can’t wait to get back to them in a few weeks. I’ve already planned on how to reorganize mine. Bit of spring cleaning.”

Whatever was going on with Anne, Ominis had assumed it was to do with the curse. Hearing her so confidently say she would be back to work soon made Ominis tilt his head in confusion. Was she being her stubborn self, or were things not as bad as Sebastian’s letter made it seem. It was always hard to tell with the twins. Anne played everything off as fine, but Sebastian acted like Anne’s paper cuts were life-threatening.

“Planning to get back there so soon? Well, don’t strain yourself. The office will still be just as meek and dusty no matter how long you wait.”

“Suppose so. Might be nice to spend some extra time just with her.” Ominis couldn’t see it, of course, but he knew Anne was referring to the baby in the bassinet on the other side of the bed.

There was a soft knock on the door, and with Anne’s approval, you cracked the door open just enough to peek your head in. “Up for a few visitors? The kids want to say goodbye one by one. I’m including Sebastian in that category too, of course.”

“Hey!” Could slightly be heard from the hallway.

Then, one at a time, you allowed the kids to give their Auntie Anne a kiss goodbye. Lastly, Sebastian went in with his youngest in his arms. Anne chuckled at the red stains on the baby’s hands and shirt from the strawberries. She could picture how it probably mashed the berry in its hand before shoving it in its mouth and likely missing its mouth entirely so that the strawberry ended up mostly on the ground. Her heart tinged a bit. She wished she could have joined them for lunch and not been forced to stay in her tiny bedroom.

“Get some rest,” Sebastian mumbled as he kissed her forehead.

“You too,” Anne replied. “Thank you for looking out for me these past couple of days, but go home and relax. Ominis and Y/N will take good care of us here.”

Then Ominis felt a hand on his shoulder. By the way it lightly massaged him, he instantly knew it was his wife. She leaned in close to whisper to him, “I’m going to walk Seb and the kids home to make sure none of them wander off. They’re a bit ornery today. Will you be okay without me?”

A pang of guilt stabbed him in the stomach. Ominis hated that he was the one you were worried about leaving while Anne was quite literally bedridden. It was embarrassing that you felt as though you needed to check in with him before taking a quick walk just a few houses down to Sebastian’s place. His…affinity to kids was bad, he knew that, he knew that you knew that and that’s why you were being overly protective. Still, it hurt his ego just a bit.

“Take your time. We’ll be okay here,” Ominis whispered back, trying his best not to sound short. If there was any uneasiness in his tone, he knew you would drop everything to comfort him. That couldn’t happen now. Sebastian might have needed your help walking the kids back, but Ominis knew that it was partially an excuse on your part to spend more time with them. He didn’t want to take that from you.

The baby, well, Anne’s baby was sleeping anyway. Sebastian’s was blowing raspberries while Anne was cooing a goodbye to it.

He waited until he heard the front door close to admit to Anne, “You asked how she’s doing… I don’t think she’s happy.”

“With the store?” There was a hint of terror in her voice as if Anne feared it was something worse.

After a moment of silence, Ominis shook his head no. “I can tell she wants more. She grew up in a big family and then Hogwarts was always just as loud and chaotic. At first, I think she appreciated the peace and quiet after we got our house, but lately… Lately, I wake up in the middle of the night and she’s gone. She goes and falls asleep by the gramophone in the living room as if she needs the noise for comfort.”

A gentle hand touched his shoulder as Anne said, “Oh, Ominis…”

“I think she would be happier if she were with someone that could provide what she wanted, but she’d never admit that.”

“No, she wouldn’t. I know you can’t see the way she looks at you, but you’re her world. Don’t ever even suggest such a thing to her. It would shatter her. She is happy with you, just you. We’ve talked about it before, she and I. She is content with being an aunt to Sebastian’s kids, and now my girl. Please don’t worry over this in the slightest.”

Anne’s comfort eased his pain, but the guilt of it all still weighed him down. They chatted for a while about Sebastian’s wife and her exciting job until you made it back to the house. You leaned against the doorframe of the bedroom and listened to the two old friends talk for a while before interrupting, “Do you want to have a bath while I change your sheets for you, Anne?”

“Is that your way of saying I smell?”

“Your hair is a bit of a mess,” you joked as you walked up to her side of the bed and gently moved the bassinet so that you could help Anne up.

At the sound of shuffling and Anne wincing, Ominis offered, “Do you want me to-“

“It’s alright,” you said, suspiciously quick. “Us girls have got this. I’ll just set Anne up in the bath. Do you want to start removing the blankets?”

Ominis stood from the bed and started to remove the covers at your request, albeit a bit reluctantly due to his confusion and frustration. Why didn’t you let him carry Anne to the bathroom? It wasn’t like the intimacy mattered. He couldn’t see.

Wordlessly, he carried the laundry to the back porch and then felt through the linen closet for another set. The two of you met back in Anne’s room at the same time. You kissed his cheek and took the fitted sheet from him to start unfolding it. That was the only covering you managed to get on before the baby stirred in the bassinet. It started to cry out, loud and demanding. Ominis flinched and clutched the blanket he was holding while you scooped the baby up in your arms.

“Oh, that sounds like a hungry cry,” Your voice was soft and unfazed by the cries. “Come on. To the kitchen, we go. I’m going to show your Uncle Omi how to make a bottle for you.”

Ominis tensed at that. “Why? I thought we agreed that I take care of Anne and you take care of…her.”

“If we really are going to be here the next few days helping out, you might as well learn.” You didn’t say anything more as you headed to the kitchen. It was up to Ominis whether or not he followed.

And follow he did with a heavy sigh. Anne’s kitchen was far more spacious than your own. He still hadn’t mapped out where everything was since it all seemed to spread apart. There was even room under the south-facing window for a breakfast nook area that had the perfect view of Feldcroft. You stared out at it wistfully. Down the way a bit, you could make out Sebastian’s two oldest digging away in their front yard. They had told you on the walk back that they had been trying to dig to the center of the earth. You had laughed and told them they would need a pretty long ladder, but you didn’t discourage their determination.

“Do you want to hold her while I grab the-“

“Just tell me where it is,” Ominis insisted, sounding a bit exasperated. His heated tone made you giggle. When you first met him, he used to always be on edge like this. There was a cold exterior about him that was snappy and sarcastic. In his defense, Sebastian was putting him through a lot at the time with his unforgiving plight to find a cure for Anne. But you didn’t mind it then just like you didn’t mind it now. Ominis was complicated, and that’s what drew you in.

“A step forward and to your left. Should be a cylinder tin on the second shelf of the cupboard.” Your direction was easy to understand and deeply appreciated.

Sometimes at work with the Ministry, Ominis would ask something like, “Which one?” Only for his coworker to inevitably reply something stupid like, “The green one.” He never had to prod you for more information. If only he could bring you everywhere to direct him like this. Though, maybe not while you held a crying baby in your arms.

“I’m putting an empty bottle right beside the tin here. But first, we need to set up the kettle.”

“Are we making tea for Anne?” This he was familiar with even in Anne’s kitchen. Ominis made quick work of taking the kettle from the stove and filling it in the sink.

“Just heating up the water a bit. Not too hot. I’ll show you how to check the temperature after we’re done. While that’s heating, you can measure the power. There should already be a scooper in the tin. Two scoops should be plenty. She’s still so tiny.” You took a moment to admire the baby girl in your arms. She really was the spitting image of Anne.

While you rocked her to soothe her cries, Ominis poured two scoops of the formula into the bottle and tried not to grimace at the sour smell of it. Now he understood why babies smelled the way they did. It was a mix of this awful powdered milk and the starchiness of baby powder. Very off-putting and unpleasant.

“Water should be warm enough now. I’ll tell you when to stop pouring. Go slow,” you directed. You stopped him just at just a quarter full and reached to touch the bottle to feel how hot the water was. “Just a splash of cold water and that should be perfect.” Ominis brought the bottle to the sink and literally just let the smallest splash into it. You giggled and prompted, “Okay, maybe two splashes.”

Next, you handed him a clean top for the bottle which he took a moment to stir on straight then asked, “Are we done here?” in a very bored tone.

You smiled as you shook your head and clicked your tongue. “Always so impatient, my love. The powder needs to be mixed in. You’ll have to shake the bottle and-“ Ominis started shaking the bottle immediately, wanting to get this over with. Formula sprayed out of the nipple and got on the kitchen floor, Ominis’s hair, and your face. He froze, realizing his mistake.

Your laughter was so intense that you doubled over, clutching the baby to your chest so that you wouldn’t drop her during your fit. Ominis was blushing, but the sound of your laughter made him smile sheepishly.

“I am an idiot,” he proclaimed.

“Yes, yes your are. You have to cover the tip of the nipple.”

“Excuse me?” Ominis sounded almost offended. You laughed harder, not being able to take much more of this.

“That’s what the rubber part of the top of the bottle is called! It’s not like I came up with it!” After taking a deep breath to calm yourself, you reached over and placed Ominis’s finger over the tip of the bottle. “Okay, now you can shake it without making it rain indoors.”

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled shyly.

“I love you,” you answered.

Once the formula was mixed up, it was time to test the temperature. “This part is simple. Hold out your wrist,” you told him. When he did, you guided his hand that was holding the bottle to dab the slightest bit of formula on his inner wrist. “Do you feel that?”

A flash of uncertainty washed over his features. “Yes, but how do I know if it’s right?”

You held out your wrist, lighting bumping it to his so he knew where you were. “Let me feel and I’ll tell you.”

The fingers of his free hand drifted across the palm of your open one, acting as if he wasn’t sure where your wrist was. You had a smug smile knowing it was all for show. You had made your movements very clear. He only wanted to touch your hand, but you weren’t about to call him out on that. The bottle dipped to let a drip fall on your wrist. It was like warm. Not too cold that the powder didn’t mix in properly, and not too hot that it would hurt the baby.

“This is perfect. You want to test it on your wrist again so you can remember this temperature for next time?”

He snorted and insisted there wouldn’t be a next time, but he tested the formula on his wrist once more and looked rather deep in thought as if trying to memorize the feeling. You kissed his cheek and thanked him while taking the bottle. A weight lifted off Ominis’s shoulders when the baby stopped crying in your arms. He let out a heavy sigh.

“Glad that’s over.”

“Well, get used to it because it’ll probably happen every four hours or so.”

That statement did not spark joy for Ominis, but you hadn’t been trying to. It was the truth. This was the reality of helping out Anne right now: a crying newborn.

“Let’s go check on Anne in the bath.” Now that was a statement Ominis didn’t mind. You followed him down the hallway and stood at his side while he knocked on the bathroom door.

“How are you doing, Annie?” He asked in a soft tone.

“Just fine, Min! I’ll be getting out soon. How’s the baby?”

“Ominis made her a bottle!” You cut in proudly.

Anne paused a moment then asked, “‘S it poisoned?”

Ominis rolled his eyes while you responded, “No! I watched him like a hawk. I promise! He did great!”

Anne’s laughter echoed in the bathroom. “Well, then thank you, Ominis!”

In the living room, you nestled in on the couch, using the armrest to support your elbow. Holding the baby in the kitchen that whole time had made you ache. She wasn’t heavy either, maybe six pounds at the most. You couldn’t fathom how Sebastian held his youngest all day. That baby was huge!

“Anything I can get you?” Ominis was hovering over you from behind the couch. His hand was resting on the back of it and his fingers were reaching up to brush your shoulder. It was clear he wanted to touch you, but you were holding a baby and that terrified him.

“Maybe turn on a bit of music? There’s a very fancy-looking phonograph sitting in the far corner on your left. It’s begging to be played.”

Your wish seemed to be his command. Ominis brought out his wand and used his sensing charm before pointing it precisely at the phonograph. The needle reset itself on the record and began to play a beautiful sonata. It started out with a feathery light piano that was quickly joined by a set of strings. You weren’t well versed enough in muggle music to know if it was a violin or cello, but its tender tones took the lead of the song while the piano supported the beat and background. There was just a hint of a wind instrument harmonizing with the main melody of the strings. It wasn’t prominent enough to tell if it was a flute, or perhaps a panpipe…

“Come sit by me,” you requested dreamily.

With the music and the airy sound of your voice, Ominis was lost in the moment. He kissed the top of your head then walked around the front of the couch to be next to you. The string instrument started to swell. His hand rested on your knee as he sat down and immediately inched higher and higher until his forearm bumped your elbow and he briefly wondered why your elbow was sticking out like that.

Reality came hurtling back like a bludger. His hand jolted off you as if your skin burned him. He had forgotten about the baby being fed in your arms.

Ominis hoped you hadn’t even noticed his slip up, that you were too lost in feeding the child. With the way you were talking to it, Ominis felt as though he was in the clear. You were commenting on how the baby’s hand was curling around your ring finger. It seemed to like the smooth texture of your wedding band.

“You trying to steal my ring, little one? Four days old and your mommy has already trained you to be her little niffler? Well, I’m very sorry. You can’t have my wedding ring. I love it too much. You can have your own if you choose to get married one day.”

“Anna and Sebastian are probably competing to see who can have the most mischievous child,” Ominis said mostly to himself since he assumed you were lost in your own little world.

“I wouldn’t put it past them,” you joked in return. “And you can put your hand on my thigh if you would like. It is not going to offend the baby.”

Sometimes he hated how in tune you were with him. Ominis put a hand back just below your knee and squeezed to show his annoyance with you, a move he often did to fluster you and keep your teasing mouth quiet.

The move was not working out in his favor while you were holding the baby, however. You gossiped to her, “Oh, Uncle Ominis is mad at me for some reason. I’m in such big trouble. He’s got the grumpy pout. I think he’s feeling a bit bashful that I called him out, what do you think?”

A loud thud sounded from the bathroom. Ominis was standing in a flash. You dropped the bottle beside you on the couch to grab him by the shirt, insisting, “You take the baby! I’ll go get her!”

A look of annoyance washed over Ominis's face and he defied your request, “Are you insane? Just let me-“

“She’s going to want it to be me, not you.”

For the first time since your school days, he bitterly reminded you, “I’m blind! It’s not like I’ll see anything!”

You were standing now, matching his volume. “She’ll just want a woman there that understands-“

“I’ve known her a lot longer than you have! She’s a sister to me, I understand her perfectly! She-“

“She’s still bleeding,” you whispered through your teeth, “You know, down there. That’s why she’s been on bed rest. They had to give her muggle stitches.”

Ominis paled and swallowed quickly. He had assumed Anne was hurting from the curse. The last thing on his mind was average birthing complications. “Oh.”

“Sit down on the couch and put your elbow on the armrest,” you insisted in a very angry tone that you only ever used on Sebastian when he was stepping out of line, which was very, very rare these days. Hearing you so angry sent a shiver down Ominis’s spine. He sat, but panic was bubbling to his surface when he realized why you told him to put his elbow on the armrest.

“My love, please, I’m sorry, I can’t- Don’t make me-“

“It’s a newborn, Ominis! She isn’t going to remember this moment! You can’t possibly do anything wrong. Just feed her the rest of the bottle!” Your screaming made Ominis snap his mouth shut.

You leaned down and put the baby, who was now crying from her bottle being ripped from her and all the commotion, into his arms with a gentleness that shocked Ominis. How you went from screaming at him to carefully making sure the baby’s head was supported on his arm just right, he would never know. The bottle was picked up from where it had rolled to the other side of the couch and put firmly in Ominis’s hand with a bit more fire to your placement this time around.

“Feed her. She can’t cry if there is a bottle in her mouth. Relax your shoulders. I’ll only be gone a minute.”

Then your footsteps were fading. Ominis couldn’t stop his entire body from shaking. The baby was still crying, and although the only other sound in the house was the soft piano and strings coming from the phonograph, Ominis was overwhelmed to the point of shock. The baby weighed in his arms, but not nearly as much as he expected it to. He had held Sebastian’s firstborn twice: once when it was a month old and then one other time when it had just started crawling. Sebastian’s baby was never as feather-light as the dainty little thing crying in his arms now. It didn’t even stretch across Ominis’s chest. Tiny little feet were kicking his right arm that had been white-knuckling the bottle. They were covered in fuzzy knit socks that felt soft and plush against his arm with each weak kick.

The baby seemed to kick some sense into Ominis because he realized it would stop crying if he would just hurry up and give it the bottle. At first, he tried placing it in the baby’s flailing hands, but it wouldn’t take it from him. Was holding a bottle not something babies could do for themselves? He was pretty sure Sebastian was able to hand his youngest a bottle and walk away. Why didn’t this one know what to do?!

Ominis was ready to give up, but he didn’t know how to move the baby properly or where to put it even if he had the nerve. The couch? Would it roll off? The floor? Surely that wasn’t appropriate.

“Fine! Fine,” Ominis grumbled. He set the bottle between his legs and then hesitantly touched the baby's chest and glided up to feel where its mouth was. The thing was so tiny, and even though Ominis was holding it, he still expected it to take longer to find its mouth. But before he could pull away, the baby sucked his pointer finger in and bit down. It might have not had any teeth, but its gums were still brutal!

“Ow!” Ominis hissed and yanked his finger away from the little gremlin. He shook his hand with a dramatic flair to lessen the hurt. The baby went right back to crying. “That was uncalled for.”

Finally, Ominis was able to get the bottle in the baby’s mouth. There was an annoying squeak from it sucking on the rubber, but other than that the living room had turned back to its peaceful state. The record on the phonograph was playing a more upbeat tune. All was well.

Meanwhile, you had sprinted into the bathroom panicked and breathing heavily. Anne was lying on her back near the sink, about a meter from the tub.

“Anne!” You gasped and hurried over to her.

“Oh, hey,” Anne laughed lightly, not acting injured in the slightest. “How was your domestic disagreement? I have never heard you two argue like that. It was quite entertaining.”

“Are you hurt?”

“Mostly just embarrassed. I slipped while I was brushing my teeth. Wasn’t even walking or anything, just tumbled over for no reason. Held onto the sink though, so it wasn’t too bad.”

“You need help up?”

“Yeah. My hip is pretty sore, as if it wasn’t bad enough down there already,” Anne always kept a light tone to not worry others. You understood the sentiment. She didn’t want to be treated like a child or hovered over. Sebastian used to do that to her constantly, he had gotten a lot calmer over the years, but Anne hadn’t learned to get rid of her coping mechanisms yet.

“Let me dry the floor then I’ll help you up. Looks like a hurricane happened in here. Were you playing with the bath bubbles?” You joked to put her at ease.

She sighed gratefully for your calm nature. “Maybe. It had been a while since I’ve had a bubble bath. Might have got a bit carried away.”

You dramatically dragged a towel along the floor at the edge of the tub and asked, “A bit?”

It took some patience, but you managed to get Anne to her bed. There was still only the fitted sheet in place, so you added the bedding around her and made a point to tuck her in so tight that she couldn’t even wiggle. She shoved your hands away, laughing at your antics. The two of you chatted for a bit about your new plant shop and whether or not you missed working at the Ministry.

In the living room, the light squeaking of the bottle stopped. Ominis frowned in confusion. He could feel that there was still a bit of liquid sloshing around in the glass. Would the baby start crying again? Why had it stopped eating? Fearing the worst, he set the bottle down on the couch beside him and then leaned his ear in close to make sure the baby was still breathing. He placed his hand over its chest to feel the rise and fall. The tip of his middle finger touched its chin and the bottom of his hand was over its stomach. How could something be so small?

The baby’s hands latched onto his, one grabbing his thumb and the other his pinky, holding Ominis against its chest. Ominis blushed at the contact. The hands were soft and oh, so tiny. It could hardly clasp his thumb properly. Its breathing started to slow. The record on the phonograph came to an end, leaving a soft scratching sound to fill the room.

“Alright then,” his voice was but a whisper so that he wouldn’t disrupt the tranquil atmosphere of the room. Having his hand cradled like that made his heart clench tightly and painfully. The baby’s little cotton clothes were slightly wet around its neck from the formula, but other than that, Ominis didn’t mind that his hand was trapped.

His own breathing started to slow for the first time since arriving at Anne’s place.

A few moments later, you had been sent by Anne to collect her child. She wanted to snuggle with the baby while they both had a nap. The fiasco in the bathroom had worn her out.

The last thing you expected to see was a soft smile on Ominis’s lips while he seemed to be resting. The baby was pulled in close to his chest and was clutching into Ominis’s hand. They both looked fast asleep. The sight filled you with warmth. Your eyes softened, and you nearly wanted to shed a tear. Instead of disrupting them right away, you turned off the phonograph that had been playing nothing and washed the unfinished bottle in the kitchen sink.

When it came time to finally collect the baby from Ominis, you felt slightly guilty for dragging it out for so long. He just looked so precious holding a child. It was doing things to you, making you yearn for things you had sworn off thinking about.

With the utmost care, you reached to scoop the baby out of Ominis’s arms. His left arm tightened around the child, drawing her closer to his chest.

“Don’t,” he whispered.

That was…odd. Was he talking in his sleep? You couldn’t recall Ominis ever doing such a thing.

“It’s just me, love. I’ve come to relieve you from your babysitting duties. Sorry it took me so long.”

You tried going in for the exchange again, but Ominis insisted, “Just another moment, please. Just one moment.” His voice was breaking. It was clear now he hadn’t been sleeping at all to begin with because a tear escaped from the corner of his eye. It had been quite some time since you had seen Ominis in such a fragile state. When he would open up about his family and his childhood, sometimes he would get quiet like this. In those times, he had held onto you like you were driftwood in an ocean of terror he was drowning in. The way he was cradling the baby so close to his chest now meant he was anchoring to her at this moment. You couldn’t bring yourself to take her from him, even if the baby’s young mother was wanting to see her.

The only thing you could do was sit beside him on the couch. Your head rested on his shoulder and your hand rubbed in soft patterns across his arm. A few moments later, you had to tell him, “Anne sent me to collect the baby.”

Ominis nodded and softly said, “We shouldn’t keep her waiting any longer then. You can- you can take her now.”

There was a tense static in the room. The last thing you wanted to do was end this moment. Even with Sebastian’s for at born, Ominis had never asked to hold them, let alone hold them longer the few times he had been forced to.

“Why don’t you just carry her to the bedroom for me, hm?”

That was not what Ominis wanted to hear. His eyes widened with fear. “I can’t I- I don’t know how to.”

“It’ll be alright,” you were already adjusting his left arm so that he was providing better support underneath her as you spoke, “Just support her bum here. You can use your other arm too if you’re unsure. Just bring that one to cover here and- There. Now you’ve got a very good hold on her. After you get up from the couch just put it right back there where I showed you. I’ll lead you to the bedroom. Come along, now.”

Before he had time to come up with an excuse, you were dragging him up from the couch and guiding him to Anne’s room. Usually, he hated being guided places unless the situation was dire or he was in a big crowd. Sometimes people at work would try and guide from around the building. He took a bit of offense to it. If he ever needed a guide, he could just use his wand!

But now he was holding this tiny little thing in his arms, and it was alive and depending on him not to trip or bump into something. Without fighting it, Ominis let you hold his elbow and guide him across Anne’s house to the master bedroom. You had him sit in an armchair in the corner of the room as you joked with Anne, “You said, ‘Bring the baby’, and I wasn’t sure which one so naturally… I brought both.”

“You two look good like that. With her,” Anne commented as you put your hand on Ominis’s shoulder.

You were thankful Ominis couldn’t see your flush or the warning look you gave Anne. Around Ominis, you tried your hardest to avoid the topic of starting a family of your own. Your mother mentioned it every time the two of you visited her. She wanted grandkids. Usually, Anne and Sebastian were safe to converse with because they knew Ominis as well as you did. A comment like that almost felt out of character for Anne, especially since she was so protective of Ominis.

“I’ll have to take your word for it,” Ominis replied smoothly.

“Have you burped her yet?”

“Have I what?”

You laughed and patted Ominis on the shoulder. “That can get messy. Why don’t we let Anne do that, hm?”

“I can do it,” he offered quickly. “Just tell me how, and I can do it.”

You draped a towel over his shoulder and directed him to lay the baby against it. It didn’t take long to burp her. Ominis winced at the wet gurgling by his ear and the pungent, sour smell of the formula coming back tenfold. You giggled at his reaction and seemed to be cleaning up the baby’s face so that Ominis could go back to snuggling her.

“I’m glad you two are getting along. I’d hoped you would. After all, she’s named after you.”

A beat of silence dragged by before Ominis was able to ask, “What?”

“My little Minnie. Cute, don’t you think?” Anne smiled softly. “You were always there for me when Sebastian and I had our falling out. I appreciate you and I’m thankful for everything you’ve done for me.”

“Minnie is such a sweet name,” you commented once you realized Ominis was too stunned to respond. “Perfect for this sweet little girl.”

A couple of hours went by while you and Anne chatted. Ominis didn’t move from the armchair with Minnie and never once complained about his arm going numb from holding her.

Went you stood up so go start something for dinner, an Apparation crack sounded from outside. All three of you were alert and tense, wondering who it could be. You brought out your wand and headed to the front door, but it burst open before you had the chance to get there.

“Anne?!” The desperate cry of her husband called through the house. His heavy footsteps sprinted for the bedroom. Blood and scrapes littered his face and his hair and clothes were in disarray and even looked a bit singed. “Are you alright?” He raced to embrace her.

“You’ll have to give her up now, my love,” you whispered in Ominis’s ear while Anne and her husband reunited.

With a heavy sigh, Ominis stood from the armchair and approached the side of the bed Anne’s husband was standing on. He tearfully took Minnie from Ominis then looked at Anne in disbelief.

“She looks just like you.”

Sebastian’s wife was standing in the entryway, looking just as disheveled as Anne’s husband. While you and Ominis left the bedroom to give the new family some privacy, Sebastian’s wife explained, “There was a dragon attack that led to a cave-in. He was trapped for nearly a week.”

“Lucky you were able to find him. You’re amazing, honestly. Are you okay? Do you need anything? The both of you look like you got in a fistfight with the dragon!” You told her.

“Nearly did! Its tail swung at me at one point. It’s been an eventful day. All that’s on my mind is getting home to the kids and Sebastian.”

“We’ll be heading home as well, I think. Stay safe.”

With her gone, you cleaned up a few things around Anne’s house. Ominis tagged along on your cleaning spree, but he was nearly silent while doing so. You worried today might have been too much for him, but you would decide you would wait to check on him until after getting him to the comfort of your own home.

“You can floo first, Ominis! I’ll be right behind you. I’m just going to throw this blanket in the laundry bin.”

He was gone in a smokey, green flash. As promised, you traveled just a moment later. You hardly had a second to focus on the blur of your living room before a pair of hands were haphazardly dragging you forward until a rather demanding set of lips landed over yours. In his defense, Ominis had warned you earlier that day that he would be taking his stress out on you.

“What a lovely welcome home,” you comment when he pulls away, thinking it would end there.

His voice was a bit raspy in your ear, “Tell me what you’ve been wanting, and I’ll give it to you.” And although the sound of his voice was arousing, you could tell he wasn’t talking about anything sexual. There was a pointed annoyance in his tone. The unspoken dream you’ve been trying to keep to yourself secret all these years seemed to be weighing down on the both of you.

“Ominis, I don’t expect that of you. Is this because of what Anne said about us looking good with a baby? She was only teasing, Ominis. You know I would never ask that if you.”

Lips started to trail down your neck, tasting you. Between kisses, Ominis was whispering, “So good to me. Trying to hide her desires. It’s okay. I want it too.”

“What do you mean?” You managed out between gasps. His hands were exploring every inch of your body as if he didn’t already have you memorized. It took all of your willpower to restrain yourself and pull away from him because he seemed as though he was going to continue on without clarifying if you weren’t going to make him.

He groaned as if he was the one losing out on pleasure by you pulling away. “Want it too. Wanna give you a baby,” he whined softly. The words shocked you enough that your hold weakened. Ominis took the opportunity to lean back in, but you put your hands on his shoulders to hold him at bay.

“I think you caught an illness while at Anne’s,” you say in a worried tone. The back of your fingers pressed to his forehead. “Yup, just as I suspected. You have a bad case of baby fever. I think a good night's rest will be just the cure.”

Rolling his eyes at your antics, Ominis insisted, “I’ve thought about this before, and I know you want one. I don’t need sight to know how you feel about Sebastian’s kids. You are always coming up with excuses to be with them longer. It’s okay. I’m not going to be angry if you admit it. I just want you to be happy.”

“I am happy. I’m happy with you. I don’t need anything more. I would never ask for anything more.”

Ominis rested his forehead against yours. “I know you would never dare to ask. That’s why I’m offering.”

“And you’ll regret offering such things in the morning,” you reminded him.

“No, I won’t.”

“I know holding Minnie was overwhelming for you, but don’t let those new emotions cloud your judgment. You’ve never wanted kids before this. Just think for a moment and-“

“I have thought about it, many times. Maybe I’ve been apprehensive to the idea, but that was before. I thought it wasn’t possible for me to connect with children, that I wouldn’t be able to care for them the way a parent should. I thought I’d be cold and distant like my parents, so I didn’t want to bring a child into this world for them to feel alone and unwanted. But now, with her, I was able to care, to- to…”

“To love?” you offered

“Please say you believe me,” he sounded so lost and broken.

Your hands cupped his cheeks as you wiped away his tears of frustration. “I believe you. I never doubted that you wouldn’t be able to love our child if we had one. I just assumed you didn’t dare to let yourself try because of your parents. I love you, Ominis. Of course I want to have your children. I want them to be just as stubborn, but just as caring as you. I want them to have your sarcastic wit but also your devoted loyalty. It’s something I’ve thought about endlessly, so don’t think I’m turning you down when I ask for you to think on it just a while longer. Let the emotions from today come back down. I’ll make us dinner, we’ll go to bed. Then, whenever you are ready to talk about this, we will.”

Ominis managed to look disappointed but grateful at the same time. “I’ll think on it.”

And think on it he did, or simmer was a closer description. While you were in the kitchen, he pretended to read with his wand. There was a moment of uncertainty when he thought about how holding Minnie had made him feel. Would he be able to connect like that with his own child? But then again, how could he not? His own child would be half you, and he loved every part of you, even the side of you that thought you knew what was best for him by making him sit with his thoughts.

After a while, you brought him a cup of tea and kissed his temple. Ominis mumbled a thank you and continued to pretend to read. He could tell by the way you lingered in the doorway as you left the living room that you had used the tea as an excuse to check in on him. Instead of clueing you into his thoughts, he remained aloof and sipped his tea without showing any emotion positive or negative. The last thing he wanted was to hear you ramble about how he wasn’t in the right headspace to know what he truly wanted.

What he wanted was to be buried deep in you as he came. He wanted to, for once, not ruin his adrenaline rush by pulling out at the last second. He wanted you to have his child. He wanted a family with you, and he didn’t want to waste another second before starting it. This was something he should have done years ago.

“Dinner is ready,” you announced. There was a tremor in your voice as though you were nervous to speak to him. You spent the last thirty minutes hiding in the kitchen and wondering if he was cross with you since he hardly spoke at all when you brought him tea.

“It smells lovely in here.” Ominis played along with you, pretending not to notice your slip-up.

“Thank you. What were you reading?”

“A book that Sebastian’s wife recommended about keeping dragons.”

“That sounds intriguing.”

“It is.”

And that was all you got out of him. Ominis finished his food before you then disappeared to the kitchen to do the dishes while you sat in silence at the dining table. The wine wasn’t strong enough to keep your mind from worrying. How long would things be like this? Usually, Ominis was easy to get through to, so your arguments never lasted long. Would this remain an unspoken thing in your marriage for years to come? Forever?

You tiptoed into the kitchen with your empty plate. Ominis had done most of the dishes except for a single pan and the plate and fork in your hands. Even though you were trying to be as quiet as a mouse, Ominis held his open hand out in your direction and said, “Your plate.”

Reluctantly, you handed him the dirty dish. “Thank you for cleaning.”

“You cooked, so I cleaned. No reason to thank me. It’s only fair.”

“You’re right,” you whispered quietly.

Ominis raised his brow. “What? No comeback? No telling me how wrong I am for not accepting your gratitude? No making me think about it before I decide I want to do the dishes?”

“So you are mad at me!” You said it like it was an accusation. “I knew it. You’re being ridiculous! I’m only asking you to think on this before you decide!”

“You think I haven’t thought about it? Nearly ten years of marriage and you don’t think I fantasize about what it would feel like to hold you while my child is growing inside you?” He dried his hands on a dishrag and then leaned against the counter, looking exasperated. His volume hadn’t matched yours yet. He was holding back.

“You don’t have to do this just because it’s something I want!”

“Just because I’m scared doesn’t mean I don’t want it too!” His yell seemed to echo in the tiny kitchen.

After a second of trying to remind yourself how to breathe, you felt horrible for letting it escalate so far. Hearing Ominis was scared just made you want to comfort him. You spoke softly, “Ominis-“

“No, don’t do that. Don’t pity me and try to comfort me. Don’t use that as an excuse for us not to do this. Either you want us to have a child, or you don’t. I need you to be fully in on this as well. I’ll need you to show me how to make a bottle a few more times, how to change a diaper, and how to hold them properly. I need you to be patient with me, but I don’t want you to pity me. Is that understood?”

“I understand.” His words started to sink in. He seemed satisfied with your agreeability and turned back to the sink to finish the last two dishes. When the water cut off, you were still frozen in the center of your kitchen and trying to figure out if this was all real or a fever dream.

Ominis was humming a melody that had been playing earlier on Anne’s phonograph as he put away the pan he cleaned last. When he passed you by, a hand reached out to touch you. It dragged across your stomach to your hip and squeezed.

“If you are feeling against the idea any sort of way, now might be your last chance to speak up,” he warned, “I won’t be able to hold back tonight with this on my mind.”

“Don’t hold back-“ Was all he needed to hear before you were backed up against the kitchen counter with his lips how and heavy on yours. His approach was usually far more gentle. The two of you could kiss for hours before he’d even cop a feel. Now his hands were unbuttoning your clothes at your waistline and tugging the fabric down with haste.

This is what you’ve been dreaming of. Only a handful of times had Ominis ever devoured you in such a way. Things were more heated when the two of you were younger, exploring each other, and having uncontrollable urges. Since marriage, Ominis had calmed in that sense. You lived together, so he had the ability to take his time and appreciate every inch of you. It was always about bringing you pleasure as many times as the night would allow. Tonight was a stark contrast to those gentle touches.

Before you knew it, he had your panties around your ankles and was telling you to sit on the counter that he had just cleaned. You hopped up as told, but your position still didn’t have his approval. His fingers hooked under your knees and yanked so that your ass slid across the counter until it was nearly hanging off the edge. He smirked at the feeling of your heated core bumping into his dress pants.

“Right there. Stay right there on the edge for me.” And then he was sinking to his knees. His hands held your inner thighs to keep you from trying to close them, not that you would have.

His mouth was everywhere except the one place you wanted it so desperately. Your clit ached for attention. It seemed like Ominis would be taking his sweet time with you after all. This was usually welcomed attention, but tonight, you wanted him inside you more than anything. You didn’t even need to finish yourself as long as he spilled inside of you.

But even though your mind didn’t need an orgasm, that didn’t mean your body wasn’t craving it. Your hips bucked slightly when his nose nearly brushed against your clit. His hands held you down on the counter as he chuckled. The vibration of his laugh made you quiver.

“Don’t fall off the counter, now. Twisting your ankle won’t get you out of taking my cock. I’d just lay you on the bed and elevate your foot with pillows before filling you up.”

“Ominis,” your voice came out like you were scolding him. He’s spoken dirty before, but never quite like that.

“Just today you admitted in this very kitchen that you push my buttons on purpose to get me to snap and bite you, yet I’m the one being told off. And for what? Making sure my wife’s hypothetical, hurt ankle would be taken care of before I give her the child she so desperately wants?”

“I- oh-,” You lost your train of thought as his lips brushed against your clit before taking it in his mouth and sucking. The feeling was too much after waiting for so long. You squirmed again, this time to get away. The feeling in the pit of your stomach always felt better releasing when things had been slow and steady. Now, you could feel the tension building alarmingly fast.

Ominis took your hips trying to move as a sign of your eagerness. His tongue lapped up your wetness that had started to seep out. Then, it dipped inside of you and his nose rubbed against your clit. Your hands were gripping the edge of the counter to keep yourself from flying off.

Now you were saying his name like a prayer. Your breathy pleas were quite the opposite from how you had just scolded him a few moments ago. Hearing you pant and mumble his name made him smirk. You could feel the corner of his mouth rise slightly against you. That action was enough to send you over the edge, almost literally if Ominis hadn’t been holding you in place on the counter. He kept his tongue in place to feel you pulse around it, though he was careful not to overstimulate you and ruin your high. Only when the pulsations slowed to nearly an end did he pull back and stand up.

“Such a good girl for me. Coming on my tongue and sounding so sweet.” He kissed you with the taste of your juices still on his tongue. You hadn’t even dared to let go of the counter while Ominis got to work unbuttoning his own pants. “Was gonna wait to have you in the bedroom, but I don’t think I can.” And then, he was lined up at your entrance and pushing in.

His movements were slow as he took you in an all consuming kiss to distract you from the stretch. Normally, you could handle whatever Ominis threw at you. This time, you were sitting nearly upright because of how close Ominis held your for the kiss. The position made it hard to take him fully, at least in an enjoyable way. You tried leaning back, and while that did help things start to feel pleasurable, your hand had landed in a stick of butter. The plate clanked against the counter. You immediately cursed under your breath.

Ominis, having heard the plate, had the audacity to laugh at your demise. He pulled out and scolded you, “You aren’t making a mess of my clean kitchen, are you?”

“It seems like you’ll have to wait until we get to the bedroom after all, and now I’ve got to wash my hand as well!”

His hands didn’t leave you the entire time you stood at the sink to try and scrub away the slimy mess on your hand. Even while walking down the hallway his hands were at work taking off your shirt and throwing it who knows where. Needless to say, you were both naked by the time you made it to the bedroom.

Vibrations ran down your neck from his voice mumbling while his lips were against your skin. “Lay on the bed.”

You had expected his hands to be all over you again the moment your back landed on the mattress. Instead, Ominis felt around for the pillows at the head of the bed. He tapped your hip. “Lift up.”

It was hard to deny his odd request because of how deeply you loved when he got a bit bossy like this. You lifted your bum so that he could slide a few pillows under you. The gesture seemed sweet, but entirely unnecessary. You’d been married for nearly nine years now, it wasn’t like you were delicate in the bedroom.

“You’re very sweet, my love, but I don’t need this to be comfortable. You won’t break me.”

Ominis stilled. His hand rested on your thigh. It looked as though he was debating something. “It’s not… for your comfort.”

“Then why are you- oh.” You swallowed your words when it set in. Your hips were high in the air like this. Gravity would make the mess Ominis was about to make stay inside you instead of seeping out.

“But are you comfortable like this?” Ominis ran his hand from your hip to your breast. His hand squeezing around you was faint and soft, more akin to a tender caress instead of anything overtly sexual.

“Yes,” you earnestly answered.

“You might have to stay like this for quite some time,” Ominis leaned closer to your ear to whisper, “Can you handle that?”

You nodded, then felt stupid before replying verbally, “I’m comfortable like this. I can stay as long as you think it’s necessary for it to… set in.”

His hand moved from your breast to lay over your heartbeat for a moment. A satisfied smirk spread across his lips. “Your heart is racing.”

“I might be a bit excited.”

“Oh yeah?” Both his hands smoothed down your body until they rested on your hips. He got on his knees between your legs. “Is that what people are calling it these days?” His thumb messily rubbed over your clit then dipped down between your folds to feel the sticky arousal that had been leaking out of you since the kitchen. There wasn’t much of a rhythm to his movements because he was just wetting his hand so that he could lubricate himself, but still, his hand touching you there in any capacity made your breathing pick up.

You were mumbling his name all desperate and breathy. Ominis chuckled at how needy you sounded. Giving you what you were begging for, he lined himself up, which caused you to whimper even more because his tip dragged across your clit a few times before he found your entrance. As he started to sink in, you sighed in relief. This angle was much better than sitting on the counter. With surprising ease, he nearly bottomed out. There was just a pinch of tightness that made him still for a moment.

His lips were leaving tender kisses across your chest and neck while he let you adjust to the feeling. You were mumbling into his neck for him to move, to take you. Your neediness made him want to give in to those desires, but Ominis wanted to memorize everything about this moment. The smell of sweat and sex in the air was absolutely vile, but incredibly mouthwatering all the same. He could go deeper than he ever had before at this angle, but that area felt tight around his tip. Ominis pulled out slightly and thrust back in slowly, being careful not to go too far and hurt you.

“More,” you were begging, nearly crying in the crook of his shoulder.

Not being able to deny you a second longer, Ominis started to thrust his hips. It wasn’t shallow, but he still wouldn’t let himself go further than the two of you were used to. Your arms wrapped around him and your nails lightly skimmed across his shoulders. He shivered and his hips stuttered unevenly, accidentally driving deeper into you. Immediately, Ominis pulled back and whispered an apology in your ear, but you held tighter onto him.

“Again, do it again.”

A tentative hand brushed the hair off your forehead so Ominis could kiss it. He pushed in deeper, but deliberately slow so he could listen for any signs of discomfort. His thumb found your clit again, hoping to give you a bit of pleasure to combat the fullness. The second his thumb grazed over you, your walls convulsed around his cock and your body shook erratically.

Ominis felt his own waves of pleasure building. On instinct, he tried to pull out to finish on your stomach. Your thighs wrapped around his waist to hold him in place.

“Please, come inside me. I want to make you a daddy.”

Your words made the tips of his ears go red. But now that he wasn’t so lost in the moment, he remembered the whole point of the evening, why he had made you rest your hips on a pile of pillows, and why he was able to reach this deep inside you in the first place.

“Stop me if it hurts,” was all the warning Ominis could give before his hips started to rut against you, hitting as deep as his length would allow with every feverish thrust. His pelvis was hitting your clit each time, Turning you right back into a moaning mess beneath him.

“There, right there.”

His breath was hot and heavy on your neck, “Gonna fill you up with my seed, sweetheart. I’m gonna fuck you just like this twice a day with your hips all high and willing to take me until we find out it worked. And then, I’m going to keep coming in you every night after to celebrate. I’ll fill you up so good, that we won’t know if it’s my come or my child growing in you that’s making you bigger.”

Talking dirty wasn’t new for Ominis, but it was rarely obscene and never, ever like this. That with how deep and fast he was fucking you made you speechless, breathless, thoughtless. You couldn’t even see straight, so you just held onto him for dear life and panted, but no breath was deep enough to fill your lungs or call you down. The tension in your entire body builds to the point that your leg was cramping. You wrapped it around Omni’s leg just to ease the pressure, but Ominis saw that as you wanting him to go harder.

So he did. His hips snapped into you hysterically. You cried out in ecstasy as another orgasm hit you like a train.

His hips faltered and he groaned as he came while your walls relentlessly milked his cock. You couldn’t stop writhing beneath him. Feeling his warm spurts of come paint your walls and add pressure made your intense waves of pleasure drag out. Ominis was on his elbows and panting, his lips right above yours. You already couldn’t breathe, but you pulled him down for a kiss regardless.

“I love you,” he gasped as he pulled away from the kiss. “Was that okay? Are you hurting? Should I get you a-“

Ominis had started to move, but your arms wrapped tighter around him and your walls clenched around his length. “Don’t move yet. Stay. Just stay.”

Seeming to understand and reciprocate your need to be close, Ominis rested on an elbow and then used his other hand to caress your body as if you were made of glass. “I’m not going anywhere, love.”

The two of you laid like that for a while just playing with each other’s hair and whispering sweet nothings. Soon, Ominis started to get hard again inside of you. He slyly shifted his hips, but his excuse of getting more comfortable didn’t work on you.

“Ominis,” you whined in an exhausted tone. How was he ready to go again!?

His kisses on your neck paused while he laughed against your skin. “Well, I did say twice a day until we’re certain, didn’t I?”

#writing this gave me so many emotions #i grew up in a house that was an in home daycare and in my later teens my mom fostered babies #so it was fun to get into the mind of someone that doesn’t feel the same as me #i think Ominis would be apprehensive about kids because he is insecure and thinks he would ruin them and repeat the cycle of abuse #Sebastian as a dad... I'm imagining him with a bit of weight on him and smile lines... im mentally cheating on ominis #also Seb's family is lowkey based on Crowlispo's OCs #I'm imagining Agatha going on some grand adventure to save Anne's dorky husband #hogwarts legacy #ominis gaunt #ominis gaunt x reader #ominis gaunt x mc #ominis gaunt smut #my writings

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mxlfoydraco · 1 year

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Hello! I'm getting back into fandom after many years and was hoping you could recommend the best (or most popular) drarry fics to come out in the last 5 years?? The longer the better! I'm having such a blast re-reading old favs and would love more to read! Thank you so much!

I was also away from the fandom the past three years, we share the feeling! I'll go for +100k and skip super well known examples (e.g., Grounds for Divorce)

Alucinatio by alexmeg (127k)

"It's... it's not good," Harry tells them lowly. "They've given him a month's time, only." There is so much he needs to explain, but his head is foggy and exhausted and he can't think properly, can't think of how to relay all that he's learned. "Have you heard of Alucinatio?" is what he starts with. "The Daydream potion," Hermione says. "The person who intakes it experiences very vivid and realistic daydreams of all they could ever want, but is essentially in a severely catatonic state out in the external world, incapable of any basic functions." Harry nods. "Somebody's given it to Malfoy." He remembers the tattered remains of a black coak wrapped around Malfoy. "I think it might have been Professor Snape." They take a minute to process that. "And... the cure?" Ron asks. "Tears of anyone the experiencer craves love of," Hermione answers.

I Do Not Love You by Writ_and_romance (228k)

In 2013, a carefully-designed Obliviation leaves Harry reconfiguring his life and identity without any memories of true love; an act that’s essentially erased Draco Malfoy from his mind despite a wedding band and shared home. In 2000, Draco had expected Pansy’s relationship with Luna to bring the Gryffindors a bit closer to his orbit of quiet, carefully pacifistic existence, but he never expected to navigate such a transparent embrace into a unit of family, friendship, and love. A mystery, two love stories, and a reminder that learning to love never has an end date.

Nor All That Glisters by @sweet-s0rr0w (110k)

Lonely and frustrated on house arrest, with no prospects for the future, Draco begins brewing Felix Felicis in an attempt to improve his lot. Just in the short term, of course. He isn’t a total idiot.

But before long he finds himself with a thriving business, a nice flat, some actual (albeit irritatingly Gryffindor) friends, and a very satisfying sex life. What’s more, no-one is hexing him in the street. And Harry Potter is single, and gorgeous, and giving Draco decidedly interested looks.

Stop taking the Felix? You must be joking…

Soup-pocalypse and The Great Curry Cataclysm by @norelationtoatticus (104k)

Eleven years after the war, Draco Malfoy leads a quiet, boring, and perfectly respectable life, thanks very much. Or, at least he does, until a sudden and very unexpected veela awakening causes him to throw soup all over Harry Potter in the middle of the Ministry cafeteria.

Every Hour Has Led to This by @sassy-cissa (105k)

Banned from the wizarding world and sentenced to live as a Muggle for ten years, Draco Malfoy finds his world turned upside down. Navigating the Muggle world becomes easier thanks to help from some unexpected strangers who become family. But when his mother insists Draco fulfil an agreement set when he was a child, he finds himself married and a father. Then a divorced single father. After the war Harry Potter found himself without purpose, until an unexpected offer changed his life. Playboy, Quidditch star, war hero – Harry seems to have it all, until a Quidditch accident ends his career. Lost and without purpose, Harry’s life is lonely until a surprising event brings him to Draco’s door…literally. Running parallel lives for nearly 10 years, when they reconnect both Draco and Harry find the passion for life that had been missing. A story of love and loss and how the best things in life happen in their own time

Pages of You by @wolfpants (101k)

Summer, 1980. Harry is floating between university and becoming a Real Certified Adult. He's not ready. He really isn't.

In a desperate attempt to have the Best Last Summer ever, he takes a casual job at his godfather's bookshop in London, starts an illicit pen pal affair with a wordy posh boy that he's catching feelings for, all while dealing with the son of Sirius's business rival, one Draco Malfoy, insufferable know-it-all extraordinaire.

A story about trying to figure out who you are, where you're going in life, and who you want to take along with you.

Notes on a resurrection by newleaves (126k)

It was never Draco’s intention to raise Sirius Black from the dead.

The Liars Department by @dorthyanndrarry (103k)

This is a story about Harry meeting up with Draco Malfoy four years after the war. And a story about Harry, well, not hating his job per say, but it's not like he has much to compare it to and it seemed fine. His whole life seemed fine. Then Malfoy came along with and his flashy suits and fast car making everything seem dull in comparison, and Harry... Harry couldn't just leave well enough alone.

Turning Leaves by @kbrick (112k)

Draco and Harry have a one-night stand that ends in disaster after Harry tells Draco he's unable to move beyond their poisonous past. So when Draco finds an unusual Time-Turner in the Department of Mysteries, he seizes the opportunity to start fresh with Harry. Only instead of fixing things, he keeps making them worse.

Bolts by @lqtraintracks (114k)

Harry joins the Hogwarts staff as the new History of Magic Professor, while Draco has already been teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts for the past year. When Samantha, a first year, is being bullied one day and throws a made-up Truth curse at her harasser, only to accidentally hit Harry instead, Harry becomes cursed to tell the truth, and not only that, he has to regularly tell it to Draco Malfoy. Samantha is clearly gifted, maybe the most powerful witch or wizard to ever come through Hogwarts, and yet she has no idea how to take the curse off. As they work to remove it—and also teach Samantha how to control a power that's becoming more dangerous by the day—will Harry's truths become too much to handle? And will whatever’s going on with Draco just make everything exponentially worse?

Freedom to be by @quicksilvermaid (169k)

Harry Potter is the Boy Who Lived. 12 years after the war, he's become the Boy Who Lived For Everyone Else. He has the perfect wife. The perfect house. The perfect job. The perfect friends. Only nothing feels perfect. Until one day he stumbles across a club called Release and begins a journey of self-discovery that takes him to a very different place.

By the Grace by @letteredlettered (139k)

Harry is an Auror instructor. Malfoy wants to be an Auror.

Two to Shore by Lamplighter (204k)

Harry and Draco meet in Madam Malkin’s and instantly take a liking to each other. Just kidding. They don’t, but Harry does get sorted into Slytherin, and they do become extremely good friends.

Way Down We Go by @xiaq (109k)

The war was over. Or at least that’s what the papers said. They’d been saying it, for months, as if people needed reminding. Maybe they did.

In which Harry and Draco both run away from their pasts and conveniently choose to hide in the same tiny American town. It's super.

Nyctophilia by prolonged_autumn (107k)

Everyone's back for 8th year, and Harry and his friends seem determined to spend their last year in school running around at night, hyped up on coffee and alcohol and Honeydukes candy, doing all the childish things they didn't have the chance to do before. Draco watches as he's always watched: from afar, quiet and bitter and hopelessly in love. That is, until Pansy decides she's had quite enough of it.

Make Yourself by @anyaelizabethfic (103k)

Harry just wants to be safe within the freshly painted walls of Grimmauld Place, with his friends around him. But when he hears Draco Malfoy has been spotted at the local soup kitchen, he can’t help but encourage a different type of stray to come under his roof.

Kept Man by @drarry (147k)

A downtrodden Harry Potter in a serious dry spell is looking to be a kept man, and a lonely Draco Malfoy responds to his anonymous ad. A perfect storm of lust, scandal, and maybe even love. A Daddy Kink Magnum Opus.

The Ordeal of Being Known by @lou-isfake (146k)

When Auror Potter is anonymously cursed with silence by being forced to hide his own voice inside his mind, there’s unfortunately only one person in the country with the qualifications to fix it: Certified and Licensed Healer Legilimens, Draco Malfoy, specialist in Mind Curses and Afflictions. It’s obviously a terrible idea, a disaster waiting to happen, but Draco’s never been able to back down from a challenge… especially from Potter.

Harry Potter and the Welcome to the World of Grey by @sobsicles (456k)

When Harry fails to keep his anger at bay and Voldemort possesses his mind, the events that follow lead him down a long road to realizing the world isn’t as black and white as it seems. Chaos, hilarity, and tragedy ensue with a Dark Lord being honest all the time, a rival becoming something else, and a world demanding to be saved. Featuring frightened Death Eaters, deep conversations with a monster, Pureblood traditions being ridiculous, and the fight to do the right thing with no true options. Harry’s life just gets more and more bizarre with each passing moment. ~~~ Or, the one where Harry’s life gets split in half, and he has to figure out how to bring it back together.

The Secret Keeper by @the-fools-errand (225k)

On Halloween 1981, Albus Dumbledore made a decision that would change the course of history, concealing Harry Potter’s survival at the hands of Lord Voldemort underneath a Fidelius Charm. But when Harry comes of age in the Muggle world, Dumbledore realises too late that the fate of the world may depend on a boy who has never held a wand. An unlikely team assembles to teach him everything he needs to know before the charm runs out, but only one of them knows the truth behind the Dark Lord’s return to power. If it were anyone else, Draco would have no problem turning them over to the Death Eaters, but there’s something about this certain bespectacled idiot that has him questioning everything he’s ever known. Will Draco seal the fate of the wizarding world by uncovering the Chosen One or will Harry save Draco from a fate of his own?

Dwelling on Dreams by @the-sinking-ship (135k)

Draco thought he could avoid Potter for the duration of his brief return to England. He’d stick to his schedule and be back home in Paris, where he belonged, in a few short months. No trouble at all. He had plenty to occupy him, what with the opening of the London branch of his successful apothecary, his innovative research, drinks with Pansy, a backlog of unread potions periodicals. Except Head Auror Potter is everywhere — in Draco's chair, at his door, in his dreams. All six feet of motorbike-riding, combat-boot-wearing, sex-hair-sporting Saviour of the World packed into one unfairly fetching uniform. Potter won’t leave Draco the bloody hell alone, won’t let him breathe, let him forget, let him sleep. Because no matter how fast Draco Malfoy runs, Harry Potter is always hot on his heels.

A Sword Laid Aside by @korlaena (128k)

When Draco’s cover is blown during a deep undercover operation and the Ministry is compromised, Ron takes Draco to the only safe place he can think of—Potter. Hiding out with a taciturn Harry Potter, who has been missing from the Wizarding World for almost two decades after a shocking fall from grace, is nothing like Draco thought it would be. Draco has to navigate dealing with this Potter while being hunted by Dark wizards and wanted by extremists in the Ministry. When things take a turn for the worse, Draco has to decide whether he's going to keep running or find a way to protect the world and the people he cares about most.

Changing Tides by @carpemermaidtales (109k)

Draco has spent half of his life spouting the things his father has taught him without much thought about how he feels about what he says. When he unexpectedly comes face to face with the Dark Lord, he grapples with the harsh realities of the world and struggles with his changing views on life. Instead of doing what’s expected of him fifth year, he joins Dumbledore’s Army and learns how to defend himself, how to make his own choices, and how he can be something greater than his father’s example as he grows into his own man rather than his father’s shadow. The choices he makes change both his and Harry’s fates, intertwining their paths until they converge.

Taking Chances by @gracerene (135k)

After the war, Draco disappeared and started over in America, vowing never to return to Great Britain and the fraught past he left behind. Unfortunately, when his mates convince him to sign up for an exchange programme for the last year of their Auror Training, Draco learns that he doesn’t have much of a choice in the matter.

Graceless Heart by @orange-peony (132k)

Harry is lost and broken after the war. He has gone to countless funerals, broken up with Ginny, moved back into Grimmauld Place—which feels darker and dirtier than ever before despite how much he tries to fix it. He feels lonely and desperate, but he won’t ask for help, and he still can’t cry.

When he agreed to help the Aurors at Malfoy Manor over the summer, he thought that he would be breaking dark curses. Harry never thought that he would actually spend his days sorting out dusty books with Draco Malfoy, or teaching him how to cook.

Little by little, as they begin to navigate their life post-war, Harry and Draco become intimate…in more ways than Harry could have ever expected.

Brave Though The Stars They Make Me by @dwell-the-brave (108k)

After the events at the end of his Sixth Year, Draco Malfoy has been kept all but prisoner in his childhood home, Malfoy Manor. Alone, terrified, and desperate for some way out, he begins to have strange dreams - dreams of Harry Potter. Are they a trick of his mind? Or are they a way to change his fate, and a chance at redemption?

Always Already by @aibidil (170k)

Harry and Draco are perfectly fine, separately minding their business in 2004, when the Unspeakables conscript them into service... in the First War against Voldemort.

Come for mutual pining and forced proximity in a 1980 hotel room, stay for young Sirius and philosophising about immortality and wormholes. And an eighties cowboy soap opera.

He Comes Like a Thunderstorm by @korlaena (140k)

Draco is doing his best to balance the life he wants to live and the life he’s forced to live. He’s nearing the tail-end of a long, post-war probation when Harry Potter crashes back into his life with all the grace of a charging Erumpent, breaking through his carefully constructed rules and routine. Caught up in a whirlwind of sex and lust, Potter unwittingly shows Draco that his life as an Incubus doesn’t have to be as lonely and unfulfilling as he thought, but how long can it last?

Close Behind by @oflights (134k)

To rescue Draco from the Underworld, Harry has to look forward. Unfortunately, Draco has to look back

where all the veins meet by @saxamophone (146k)

It's the summer of 1998. The battle is over, and Voldemort is dead, but Harry still has more questions than answers. Who is he without a piece of Voldemort's soul in his head? What is he supposed to do now? His friends try to help, but the only thing that can hold his attention—one of the only things that ever has—is Draco Malfoy, out on parole and weirdly hanging around the British Museum. As they keep running into each other, Harry sees that Malfoy is different, and he wonders if he can be someone else, too. Featuring rumpled band shirts, poker games everyone hates, fumbling sex, and a Harry going a little mental over how wands even work.

#drarry #drarry reclist #drarry fic rec #drarry fic recs #drarry fics #drarry fic #draco malfoy #hpdm #harry potter

2K notes · View notes

mj-ackerman · 2 years

Text

Since someone already translated the Mission 1 of the Novel, I'm gonna proceed with Mission 2 and the rest: You can read the Mission 1 story: Anya's Nature Class HERE

SxF Light Novel: Family Portrait Translation Mission 2: Yuri's Day Off (Part 1)

Note: The italicized sentences are the characters monologue, while the bold and italicized quoted sentence are the ones Anya's reading. DO NOT REPOST

Part 2>>

“Hello, Mr. Bellman. How are you feeling?”

Yuri Briar. 20 years old.

He lost his parents at an early age and was raised by his older sister, his only immediate relative.

“Oh, I’m sorry. This room kinda smells a bit, isn’t it?”

Wanting to make his beloved sister’s life as easy and happy as possible, he studied hard from an early age, and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by skipping grades, and is now traveling around the world as a young elite diplomat…but it is just his title on the surface.

Currently, Yuri Briar works for the National State Security Service, also known as (SSS). Ranking as the second lieutenant.

“Even if I ventilate the room, the smell of a filthy traitorous bastard keeps coming back. I wonder where the hell is the smell coming from? Right? Mr. Bellman?”

The man is a secret police officer.

------

“When was the last time you took a rest, Yuri?”

“Thank you for your hard work, Lieutenant. I took a nap three days ago, so don’t worry about it.”

When he called him out as he came out of the interrogation room, the younger subordinate replied with a smile.

Yuri is tall but slender and with a baby face, his SSS uniform looks like a school uniform when he wears it.

“I want to devote myself to this work, to make the country where my sister lives a better place.”

With a bashful face, he talks about his dream like a young little boy.

But the lieutenant knew that his harmless smile was not all he had to offer. Even now, Thomas Bellman is still vomiting, the traitorous politician who could not be dropped by anyone. The reason why the black gloves are soaking wet must have been from the blood of the traitor. This is what this man is, bloodthirsty.

“Then take a rest tomorrow. It’s a holiday.”

“I told you, I’m fine. My energy is on max!”

“That’s an order from your superior.”

“What?!”

Yuri exclaimed in frustration when he casually ordered him to do so.

“I don’t have time to do that. I must catch Twilight as soon as possible to eliminate the threat coming from the West!”

He’s like a tenacious hunting dog.

Although he can be an uncontrollable mad dog sometimes, he is usually astonishingly serious and diligent. He is like a loyal dog to his owner, the country.

No….

In this man’s case, it is not the country itself that he pledges allegiance to, but rather, to “the country where my sister lives.”

And for that reason, he gave up his bright future and chose to do dirty work himself….?

Being a diplomat is a dream job for many students today. It’s not something that you can just aspire to become but rather, it’s something that you have to work hard for.

What would his sister think if she found out that her young brother had abandoned his brilliant career and was now working everyday in a place where the sun doesn't shine, getting his hands dirty? Or maybe that’s the reason why this man is hiding real job from his sister…, as he thought about that, he immediately stopped.

Everything is just his own speculation. If there is one unwavering truth, it is that everything Yuri Briar does, exists only for the sake of his sister’s happiness.

Good grief, what a healthy boy he is.

He is not stupid enough to be sentimental, but he admires the unwavering faith of his young subordinate. Therefore, he don’t want to use them up with the stupid things like overworking…...due to the lack competent personnel.

“You need a reasonable rest regime so that you can work more smoothly and accurately. It’s fine, you can rest tomorrow. And after the holidays, you can go back and work harder.”

“With all due respect, sir, but…”

“This is for the country. More importantly, it’s for the sake of your sister’s happiness.”

“......I understand.”

At the mention of his sister, Yuri reluctantly agreed in the end. Looking at him, his face, which became sulky, did not look like a ruthless secret police.

------

“Aaah. they suddenly told me to take a rest, but what should I do now?”

Yuri, who was forced to take a day off half-heartedly, was lying on his bed at home with a lot of free time on his hands in the morning.

Outside the window, which can be seen from his bed, there is a cloudless blue sky.

Oh right, I remember Dominic said he was going on a trip with Camilla. Ah, I also want to go somewhere with my sister for the first time in a long time….It would be nice if we can eat something delicious together.

What came to his mind was the smiling face of his beloved sister, Yor. At that, Yuri’s face loosens sloppily.

“Today’s a holiday…. So the city hall will be closed.”

While looking at the calendar, he looks at the picture frame on the low chest and sees Yor smiling at him in the photo. Yuri’s cheeks blushed at the beauty that would make even the goddess of beauty fade away.

If my sister is also on break from work, maybe I can go visit her again…. It’s been two weeks since I saw her….Oh, but if it’s a holiday, then the hospital is off too.

In that case, the loathsome Lottie is also supposed to be at home.

Loid Forger, who works at Berlint General Hospital, is, regrettably, Yor's husband. Yuri, however, did not approve of this. To him, Loid was nothing more than a diabolic thief who took away his most precious sister in the whole world just because he is a little bit nicer, a little bit taller, a little bit refreshing, and a little bit caring, an excellent doctor.

Why does he need to have a day off anyway? He needs to work like a sled cow, regardless of holidays, then die somewhere because of overwork!

As he was getting frustrated remembering the wastefully well-dressed face of his sister’s thief, Lottie, the phone on the top of the low chest rang.

Yuri lazily lifted himself out of the bed, while clicking his tongue as he said,

“It’s so early in the morning, who the hell is calling? Yes, Yuri Briar speaking.”

When he answered the phone in an unfriendly voice, he heard a beautiful, angelic voice coming from the other side of the receiver.

“Oh, Yuri. It’s me, Yor.”

“S-S-Sis?!”

The tone of Yuri’s voice jumps up an octave.

“I’m so sorry for calling so early in the morning. Are you going to work now?”

“No, it’s my day off today.”

Yuri responded shyly. At that, Yor’s voice brightened.

“Really?”

“Y-Yeah….sis. I don’t have any business trips and it's a holiday today, so I’m free for the day.”

“That’s great.”

Yuri’s heart was ringing along with the cheerful voice of Yor.

Sis is happy that I’m off from work. I’m sure that she also wanted to see me….Oh, Lieutenant, thank you so much.

As he was thinking of sending a bouquet of gratitude to the superior he was complaining a minute ago, he heard Yor says,

“That’s good. Actually, Loid is not here for work today .”

Yor said something that made him even more happier. Yuri’s heart suddenly became light, airy like the blue sky today.

“Something like an urgent call came in…”

“I see, Lottie has work today. That's amazing, no I mean, that’s tragic, sis.”

He rephrased, but he can’t even keep his voice from getting lively.

“Come on, don’t call him that. Loid is way older than you,Yuri. And he’s also your brother-in-law, address him with respect, okay?”

Yor reprimanded Yuri in a troubled voice.

Although Yuri obediently responded, “Yes, sis,” he honestly had no intention of addressing Loid with respect. Furthermore, he doesn’t even have any intention of calling him “brother-in-law.”

I still haven’t acknowledged him as my sister’s husband. No, like I would ever admit it. I won’t admit it even to death, Forger

As he was harboring hostility towards Loid inside, Yor asks him over the phone,

“So, Yuri, can I ask for a little favor? Could you please come over now?”

“Of course sis! I’ll be right there!”

Yuri danced wildly with joy at the request from his beloved sister, he ran out of the house almost fully clothed and headed straight for the apartment where his sister was waiting for him, His steps were lighter than a bird’s feather.

“I’m here, sis. What do I have to do? You need something in a high place that you can’t get? Or maybe, you need help to carry heavy loads? Or do you need someone to sign the witness testimony in your divorce papers? I’ll do whatever you need!”

Yuri opens the door to the Forger’s house with a bright smile. Then, Yor, who seemed to be waiting impatiently for his arrival says,

“Yuri, you’re here. Thank you so much!”

She also greeted Yuri with a bright smile.This smile seems to come from their genes.

Oh, sis. How cute and well-groomed you are today. I’m the happiest person in the world having the most beautiful and kindest sister in the world.

As Yuri was trembling with happiness in his heart, a small creature appeared from behind Yor as if to disturb his surging joy.

“Unkie!”

“C-Chihuahua girl.”

Anya Forger, the child from the previous marriage of the loathsome sister thief, Loid Forger.

She’s such a hardcore idiot who misheard “knowledge is power” as “knowledge is swole chihuahua”. However, her auspiciousness of wanting to become a great person in order to feed his sister with delicious food is quite impressive. But after all, she’s still the child of that Loid Forger. Yuri can’t let himself be fooled.

“Don’t call me unkie, I’m not your uncle.Don’t you have school today?”

“Today is a holoday.”

“You mean, holiday”

But come to think of it, it’s a national holiday, so it wouldn’t be strange for the school to be closed. That was a blind spot, Yuri clicked his tongue inwardly.

“But still, it’s better than having Lottie. I'll just let her watch her cartoons, and she won’t be able to disturb me talking to my sister. Oh, SIS, my SISTER! I’ll do anything for you my sister, Oh, my dear sister Yorrrrr, my SISSSSSS!!!”

“....Ugh.”

Upon hearing those thoughts, Anya’s face painted an expression that resembled a Noh mask, belching softly.

“You always have heartburn, don’t you?”

“My stomach is full.”

You nasty brat. I bet you ate too much for breakfast. Well, I understand why you wanted to eat as much as you can. My sister’s cooking is exquisite. It has an indescribable aroma, the more you chew, the more you sweat, the stronger the taste of the ingredients, and occasionally it even includes chopping boards, so not only is it full of nutrients, it also makes your teeth stronger….. Oh, I want to be a food ingredient and be chopped up by my sister.

After a moment of screaming in his chest about his feelings for his sister, Yuri turned to Yor.

“So? What do you want me to help you with? Tell me whatever you need. Do you need me to carry the shopping bag, clean the fan, or do the laundry? I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Actually…”

“Oh right, since the weather is nice, how about we do some redecoration? Let’s take this opportunity and maybe you and Lottie could have separate bedrooms..-”

“No, about that…”

Yor hesitated for a moment, frowning her brows slightly, looking troubled as she stammered in front of Yuri, who happened to be very enthusiastic. Yor looked wonderful even with a look like that.

“What’s wrong, sis? We’re close, aren’t we? If you have something to say to me, you can say it, don’t be shy.”

When Yuri said that with a cheerful and enthusiastic smile, Yor finally spoke.

“Actually, there’s an event organized by the city hall today…”

“Yes, yes.”

“Millie was supposed to be the participant, but this morning I suddenly got a call from her saying she has a cold, and I had to go instead. But Loid also has an emergency that he can’t missed out, and Franky, the one we always ask for, is also busy…”

Hmmm…Franky? Who’s that? That's a completely unfamiliar name…

Yuri reacted strongly to the name of a man he had never heard his sister mentioned before.

Maybe he’s a nanny, hired for babysitting or something.If he’s serious and just doing his job then it’s fine, but if he’s a piece of shit who tries to make a pass on my sister, I’ll execute him

Yuri thought, gritting his teeth.

“The event will last for half a day and I couldn’t leave Anya home alone. So, Yuri, would you mind playing with Anya?”

“Eh….”

Yuri stiffened involuntarily at the unexpected turn of events. Ruminating over Yor’s words, he asks in horror,

“I-In other words, you want me to stay in this house without you and with this chihu- I mean, with Loid Forger’s daughter? In this house without you, sis??”

“Yes. Can you do that for me?”

In an instant, Yuri’s beautiful holiday fell apart.

Oh my god, and here I thought I could finally spend the day with my sister…but I have to spend it with this Chihuahua girl? I’d rather read books on interrogation and study torture while surrounded by pictures of my sister, it’s a million times better than doing this.

Yuri almost collapses on the spot in despair. But Yor looked at him with moist eyes and said,

“Please, Yuri. You’re the only one I can count on.”

At that, as the brother who loves his sister more than anything else in the world,

“Okay sis, leave everything to me!”

He had no other choice but to say yes……

--------

It has been 30 minutes since Yor left for work.

Yuri sat on the sofa in the Forger's living room, casually flipping through the pages of a magazine. However, he wasn’t looking through it intently.

Before that….

“Well then, I’ll be back as soon as possible, I’m really sorry, Anya. I'll bring you lots of gifts. Yuri, please take good care of Anya.”

After saying that, Yor rushed to work. Her graceful appearance as she walked out the door was still reeling in Yuri's mind.

“I’m bored, Unkie.”

Anya stretched out as she lay on the carpet under the low table, reading the comic "SPYWARS".

Yuri nodded and got up on the sofa.

“Then, do you want to study?”, he asked.

“Uh….study…”

Anya made a blatantly disgusted face, but she didn’t mean to harass him.

Yuri, who usually doesn’t interact with children, could not imagine playing with children in a way that would please them. All he thinks about is to get a better job as soon as possible and become a man who can protect his sister. Journalist, lawyer, doctor, technician, he studied all fields evenly so that he can handle all kinds of occupations. Therefore, he didn’t have any time to play, but he never complained about it. In fact, he is proud of the fact that all knowledge he has cultivated in this way is the foundation that supported him today.

“Tell me what subject you're not good at, we'll focus on that part.”

“I-I don’t have any subjects I’m not good at. I’m good at everything.”

“Don't try to lie to me with that stupid face of yours. Well then, we're going to study all the subjects.”

When Yuri said this in a nonchalant tone, Anya groaned “Geh” sounding like a strangled frog.

“Is this girl really an Eden student? I bet my sister must have suffered a lot because of her….Poor sis, married to a man who already has a child. Right! What if my tutoring made her a little smarter? Then, my sister would say, “As expected from you, Yuri.”, with a sparkling smile like jewels. And then maybe, she will reward me with a kiss on the cheek reward, just like when I was a kid. Oh sis, my beloved SISTER. I love you. You're the most beautiful woman in the world, no one can compare to you, sis.”

Suddenly, Yuri felt a cold gaze directed at him, stopping his overflowing feelings of love for his sister running out of control. When he looked to his side, he saw Anya staring at him silently. When Anya met Yuri’s eyes, she let out a heavy sigh. It was as if she was saying “Good grief, what a troublesome guy.”, she was so annoyed that she had a persistent cough, but was only able to let out a dry cough.

“Come on, hurry up and go to your room and go get your notebooks, textbooks, and reference books. Don’t forget to bring your learning supplies too.”

“I don’t feel like studying today.”

“Even though you have a lot of free time?”

“I have free time, but I don't have time to study.”

Yuri sighs at Anya’s cheeky remarks, “Well, go watch TV then.” he told her.

Efficiency doesn’t increase even if you beat the ass of people who don’t like it. Even though he had lost his sense of reason towards his sister, Yuri was still rational enough to realize this. However, Anya appeared to be even less endearing.

“There’s no cartoons to watch at this time.”

“In that case, lie down and take a short nap. Like that fat dog over there.”

Yuri, who was annoyed, pointed at the dog sleeping peacefully on the carpet. It’s a lazy dog that makes him wonder why people keep such a dog. It can’t even be a substitute for a guard dog.

“Ah no. No need to take a short nap, just fall deep asleep. Sleep until my sister comes back.”

“.........”

All of the sudden, Anya looked at him staringly. She looked extremely dissatisfied.

“What? You look like you want to say something.”

Saying that, Anya quickly left the living room. Yuri thought that she had most likely sulked and retreated to her room, but she soon returned with a notebook and pencil in hand. She sat down directly on the carpet and began to write diligently on the low table. Occasionally, she would glance at Yuri and would chuckle meaningfully, then move her pencil diligently again.

What is she writing about?

Looking at Anya’s hand, Yuri saw a series of squiggly lines on the paper, involuntarily he exclaimed “That’s dirty!”. The writing looked like worms crawling on the ground, harder to read than any type of treason code.

“What’s that…. Is that some kind of curse spell? That’s creepy.”

“A diary, I’ll show you later.”

Anya grinned eerily saying that. Yuri replied with a “Huh”. He then took the notebook from Anya and tried his best to decipher it……

“Today is a holiday. And yet I have to stay at home with Unkie. Unkie isn’t like uncle scruffy, he doesn’t play with me. Unkie told me to sleep like a dog all day. Unkie is bad, I’m so sad”

“AAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

After reading it, Yuri fainted with his head in agony. It was truly a cursed word, a cursed book.

If my sister reads those lines, she’ll definitely hate me!!

“Yuri, that’s too much! I hate you for being such a bad kid!”

Yuri imagined his sister saying that while furiously turning her back. Just thinking about it, he banged his head against the low table in despair and confusion.

“You’re so violent, Unkie…”

Anya swallowed, flinching at Yuri’s eccentricity.

“Let’s go out!”

Yuri stood up, blood streaming from his head.

“You’re bleeding.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

He looked at Anya, who was pointing at his head, and gave her a serious order.

“We’re gonna go out to play now. Get ready, chihuahua girl.”

---------------

“Ooting! Ooting!”

“Stop flapping your feet. And it’s “outing”, not “ooting””

Yuri had been awake for several days in a row before his superiors gave him a reluctant day off. And now, he couldn’t help but sigh as he sat in the tram with the daughter of the despicable thief. Why should he, an excellent secret police officer who pledged allegiance to the country, have to suffer such a fate?

An old woman sitting nearby looked at the excited Anya, she squinted her eyes and said,

“Oh my, she’s so cute.”

What’s so cute about her? Damn it, this is all because of Millie - my sister’s co-worker

Going to his sister’s house, helping her, eating the food she cooks, talking with her - this dream holiday was ruined all because that girl caught a cold.

Does she really even have a cold?

The timing is just too good to be true. If she had forced her beautiful, kind-hearted, angelic colleague, who never doubted others, to work on a troublesome holiday, then such a woman should be executed right away. She doesn’t deserve to live.

….No, no matter what kind of woman she is, she still might be an important working companion for my sister. After all, if I have to execute someone, it should be Loid Forger, who forced his daughter to my sister on a holiday and is working on his own ....Damn it, if that man were a spy, I could have executed him with dignity.

While Yuri was thinking about those things, the tram arrived at the station they needed to get off. Anya jumped off the platform.

“Where are we going, unkie? To the amusement park? I want to ride a ferris wheel.”

“Since you’re just gonna play anyway, why not go to an educational place where you can play too, right? We’re going to “STEP WORK KIDS”.”

Anya repeated it as “SNACK WAAK KISS”. A young woman who was walking nearby heard it and burst out laughing.

She’s really a total embarrassment. Even though he was annoyed, Yuri corrected her.

“It’s Step-Work-Kids. I remember one of my seniors at work told me he went there with his wife and kids.”

“What’s it like? Is it fun?”

“To simply put it, it’s a place where children can simulate working in their field of interest and help them choose a career for their future. It’s a huge government-approved indoor entertainment facility created with the aim of encouraging the development of the necessary human resources such as lawyers, judges, military personnel, doctors, scholars, engineers and other professionals needed in Ostania.”

“It’s a little bit difficult.”

Anya looked at him with dull eyes like a dead fish.

“You’re talking like an alien, unkie.”

“....in other words, it’s a place where you can play around with different jobs and decide what you wanna be in the future.”

Hearing that, Anya’s eyes immediately lit up. She clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest and sighes excitedly.

“Sounds like fun.”

“Right? Let’s get going then.”

As he said this and turned to go to the address where the amusement facility was located, something soft touched his left hand. Yuri then realized that Anya was trying to hold his hand, he winced involuntarily at that.

“.....what are you doing?”

“When we go ooting, I have to hold papa and mama’s hands, and so does scruffy.”

“What’s with this scruffy? And we’ve been outside for a while now.”

Honestly, Yuri was reluctant to hold her hand, but then he realized that if he lost her just because he didn’t want to hold her hand, he would have no face to show to his sister, so he unwillingly held her hand. The hand he held was warm and a little damp, probably because her body temperature is higher. Moreover, her hand is very sticky.

God, it’s dirty….why didn’t she wash her hands properly?

While thinking that, he was also surprised how small her hands were.

“How old are you?”

“I’m six years old.”

“I see.”

Yuri glanced involuntarily.

Are these hands smaller than a child’s at her age? Or are they bigger? He had no idea what size a six year old's hands would have.

…..come to think of it, sis used to hold my hands like this.

But of course, his young hands were never sticky with candies…..

“How many minutes, unkie?”

“About 10 minutes.”

“So exciting.”

“Look straight ahead. No more glancing sideways.”

Despite his nagging warnings, Yuri didn’t realize that he had unconsciously adjusted his pace to match up with Anya’s footsteps.

"Welcome to STEP WORK KIDS!"

----------------

#spy x family #spy x family light novel: family portrait #translation #anya forger #yuri briar #yor forger #DO NOT REPOST #I'll post the part 2 later #sxf

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kxyera · 5 months

Text

How the Ghouls spend time alone (SFW) <3

All fluff, first time i've ever wrote something like this :)

Aurora

I know for a FACT this girl can draw. She can sketch, paint, reference, shade and draw in multiple art styles. She's incredibly proud of her art (AS SHE SHOULD?!) and always draws little sketches of the other ghouls when shes bored or alone. She sometimes rips the pages out and gives it to the ghoul she drew, they always fawn over it and thank her multiple times.

Cirrus

She's a doomscroller. Enough said. She has a screen-time of over 10 hours and is not ashamed whatsoever. She also loves online shopping, she spends at least half her time scrolling to buy things she cant and will probably never afford or wear.

Cumulus

THIS. GIRL. CROCHETS. SHE IS A CROCHET QUEEN. She especially loves making stuffed animals and makes the ghouls little stuffed animals for anti-christmas and their birthdays. They're always personalised and is colour-coded to the giftee's element (EG: Fire = Red wool, Water = Blue wool, Air = White/grey wool, Earth = Green/brown wool, Quintessence = Purple). She loves the time and effort spent in making crochet projects, and absolutely adores seeing the other ghouls' face light up when they're gifted one of her projects.

Sunshine

I feel like she'd just enjoy the alone time. She'd go on walks by herself, skipping and listening to music. She just loves everything and is literally a walking ray of sun. literally.

Swiss

He definitely plays loud music and sings along to it. Other ghouls either love it or hate it, depends on what time of day/night it is. He once woke up Sodo at 2am from it. DEEPLY regretted it. Has always stopped playing music at exactly 10pm after that incident.

Sodo

Depending on his mood, he'll either practice his guitar or go on walks. He almost always practices his guitar as he thinks its the only thing that will keep him focused in on something. He plays to get his mind off of whatever happened and he'll only goes on walks when he knows he needs to properly clear his head.

Mountain

He'd be a gardening boy. His room is full of plants and he knows the exact name of every plant in his room. He'd go out to the ministry gardens and sit underneath one of the trees reading. He's a calm boy.

Rain

You bet your ass if its a rainy day he's out there running around in it. Heavy rain? He loves it. Storm? No problem. Thunder? He'll jump at the large crashes of thunder, but find it to be music to his ears. He takes daily showers and the water has to be cold. He loves cold water (especially in the mornings) and he absolutely has a rainfall shower head. His spare time is spent damp.

Phantom

This little gremlin is a walking pile of chaos. He once baked with the ghoulettes when he was bored. Its safe to say he's now officially banned from the kitchen. Everytime he has spare time alone, he instantly goes to find someone to mess about with. He also plans elaborate pranks to pull on the other ghouls in the future. Yes, he has a notebook with all these plans.

Aether

He’s the type of guy that reads a lot of old novels, always has a book on him. He *loves* H.P. Lovecraft, especially ‘Call of Cthulhu’ and could talk about it for hours by a cozy fire if he had someone to listen

#aurora ghoulette #cirrus ghoulette #cumulus ghoulette #sunshine ghoulette #swiss ghoul #sodo ghoul #mountain ghoul #rain ghoul #phantom ghoul #aether ghoul #domestic december ghost ghouls (sorta)#headcanons #ghost headcanons #ghost bc headcanons #ghost bc #kxyera’s headcanons

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blysse-and-blunder · 4 months

Text

in lieu of a commonplace book

saturday, jan 27, 2024

*brennan lee mulligan voice* heeeeeeeelllllllllllllloooooooOOOOOOOOO one and all and welcome back for another thrilling episode of...whatever this is. thank you for being here.

It's 2024! Say hi, intrepid heroes!

reading recently finished:

-orwell's roses by rebecca solnit (audio) - glad I listened, ultimately very gratifying - history, criticism, extremely lush garden-filled prose and love for growing things - nona the ninth by tamsyn muir - felt so much about [redacted] it made me cry. i can unblock ALL THE TAGS NOW - the blue sword by robin mckinley (audio) - catching up on old school fantasy continues -when the angels left the old country by sacha lamb (audio) - beautiful. not not in conversation with good omens but doing something different.

recently begun: -the ministry of the future by kim stanley robinson - can't decide if it's a scifi novel or a policy brief about ways to combat climate change- reading on my mom's recommendation -babel: an arcane history by r.f.kuang - withholding judgment, but i know you probably want me to hate it and so far i don't, really! to my own surprise -the shadow of the wind by carlos ruiz zafrón (audio) - spooky, post-modern but incredibly good at sounding like it is of the time it depicts. many thoughts on the audio book narrator's accent work, most favorable -one corpse too many by ellis peters. wild that i have only just begun reading the cadfael mysteries

listening last week was about discovering and putting on continuous loop the group trousdale on the recommendation of @m2pixie (!) and other trusted friends; the energy, the harmonies! they fill a girl group void i didn't realize i had, it feels like the best kind of throwback, like old chicks or something, some desperately needed bops. exhibit a: bad blood.

today my daylist introduced me to joy oladokun and i'm so glad it did. love her vibe, love this cover art. had to take a picture of my desk, the visuals were so satisfying.

watching the newest series of netflix's lupin!! so far i'm really, really enjoying where this season has been spending most of its time-- the new characters, the new heists, the new stakes. especially fun to watch with friends where we can all shout about the mrs doubtfire of it all, the betrayals, the misdirection, the 'he can't keep getting away with this!.' the original lupin series will always bring back memories of watching it in early lockdown; i'm glad that there's this now to think about and remember instead.

playing hollow knight hollow knight hollow kniiiiiiight. bought it a few months ago when it was on sale, after hanging out and watching @dimir-charmer stream for us a bit, but playing it yourself is a different game. i'm having a blast. it's becoming a problem. i'm having to be so so good and mature in how much i let myself just get suckered in to a full day spent in my little buggy maze adventures. the temptation to keep going until i've made a meaningful advancement of some kind (today: got the longer nail! last time: beat hornet! saved zote the mighty, got the baldur shell charm, and beat the gruz mother!) is very, very real. have also gotten around this by listening to lots of lo-fi hollow knight beats to relax and study to while being 'productive.'

(found this screenshot online, and holy extra health batman)

making pancakes. lots and lots of weekend pancakes. sent a bunch of mail since new year's, and have some new arts and crafts (charcoal pencils!! those little paper cone blender guys! better paper) to fuck around with next time i want to get ~artistic. watch this space.

working on teaching is so all-consuming. it's great, i love it. the course (maps class! if you see that tag, this is that) is going well, i think! first three lectures down. the students i've gotten to know i really like, the material has yet to get old (see one - do one - teach one is so real. i understand this class now, finally, in a way i don't think i did just being the TA, even after three times). it takes so much longer to just copy-paste-change color and font on slides than it should! i've regularly been getting four-five hours of sleep on monday nights before teaching on tuesdays, but it has meant that i don't have the brain space to be self-conscious while i'm 'on', i just. go. having fun selecting teaching 'fits, having (less) fun handling all the students who joined in the second or third week and need help with catching up, but it's not their fault there was a waiting list and lots of turnover.

(petrus roselli - portolan chart of the mediterranean, 1466)

non-teaching: - student letter of recommendation for dental school (DONE) - conference panel proposal (due 1/31) -submit revised conference paper for that prize (due 1/30) -send draft of grant application to A for her to be able to write a letter of recommendation (due IMMEDIATELY WHY ARE YOU ON TUMBLR) (you have until 2/15 to fix it but she needs the draft!) -chapter 3 edits (lmao) -read for that other course you're meant to be the TA for (oops) - give i. feedback on her thing (tonight) -RAship hours (c'mon these are actually paid work, please do them)

#in lieu of a commonplace book #phone didn’t autocomplete that tag which just proves it’s been a MINUTE #ilcb #weekly roundup #Spotify

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dramioneasks · 2 months

Note

I'm looking for fics where both H and D are single parents to Rose and Scorpius and they end up running into each other at a muggle park where D is trying to hide away Scorp from the wizandry press. H and D keep bringing the kids to meet up and then D and H end up getting together and get married and adopt other kids maybe? smut is a plus, with some Molly n Ron bashing, supportive Slytherins and/or Harry and Ginny. Thanks!!!

Just one more - emotionalsupporthufflepuff - M, 40 chapters, Words: 93,708 - Bringing their families together hadn’t always been easy but it had always felt right. Draco loved his daughters even he felt adrift on the estrogen sea without a paddle. Somehow someway, it still didn’t feel complete though. Hermione might kill him for even bringing it up…but he was still going to try.

The Long Way Around - Fractured - E, one-shot - A friendship between seven-year-olds Rose and Scorpius creates an inlet to redemption for Draco, and the chance at a future he never knew he wanted.

Heart of the Phoenix By: I M Sterling - M, 13 chapters - Years after Hogwarts, a widowed Hermione Granger Weasley is surprised to see Draco Malfoy walk into her office. What in the name of Merlin could a St. Mungo’s Medical Curse Breaker need from her? Rated M for later chapters.

A Family United - cleotheo - T, 28 chapters - When single parents, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger, get together they hope that they can build the perfect family with their daughters. At first their wish seems to be coming true, but then a face from the past threatens their happiness and they find themselves fighting for their family. Family based Dramione.

Lost and found By: Anuna - T, 10 chapters - Draco Malfoy, a single father and a Curse Breaker employed at Ministry of Magic wants few things from his life. He mostly wants to be left alone. His work, his reputation and his mother’s schemes are to prevent him from being left alone as he wishes.

Perfect (To Me) - DefinitelyNotAPoet - M, WIP - She was going to be sick. Hermione couldn’t quite comprehend the headline adorning the Daily Prophit this morning. Maybe it was her over tired brain. She did just give birth for the second time less than a week ago and she was beyond exhausted from night time feedings and having to make sure Rose wasn’t feeling less loved after the arrival of her baby brother. Ron had been practically absent throughout not only most of her second pregnancy but had almost missed the birth of their son. Now, Hermione surmised why. She read the headline again. “Coincidence or Planned: Ronald Weasley Bares Two on the Same Day Only Wombs Apart” By Rita Skeeter… She threw up.

-Lisa

#anonymous #draco: single parent #hermione: single parent #children #meet again

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standingappa · 1 year

Text

Somebody reblogged my post and asked for my favourite scorbus fics so.. ASK AND I SHALL DELIVER!😁

(if the fic description is too long i might just put a little summary as to not make the post too long)

My Top Favourites:

Greater Expectations 196k

featuring hufflepuff albus and slytherin scorpius! this fic is just so special in the fandom, it’s so unique and wonderful honestly! There is no other fic that I have read where scorpius is depicted in quite this way :)

Also- if you follow me and have seen my stoner scorbus fic- this fic inspired those posts😉

Albus and scorpius are ‘very platonic’ series

Stories featuring chubby Ministry employee Albus and cheerful history student Scorpius

I love chubby albus😭 I just love their relationship here in general honestly.

My favourite series/ long fics

I Knew It All Along (series) 469k

The story of two Slytherin boys and a relationship everybody but them saw coming

a fandom classic.

The quietly series 407k

classic slowburn scorpius. Spanning from meeting each other- to getting together, to starting a family

Sun Sinks Down, no curfew 123k

Nobody really expects them to take a month-long trip around Europe to escape from their impending future. But, Albus thinks, they've never had the simplest of lives, so why would they start now? A month away from the hustle and bustle of life at home is exactly what the two of them need after their recent escapades and perhaps, Albus thinks, it'll give him time to try and work out when Scorpius started to look so pretty in his eyes.

Bloom 114k

Love is fragile. Rarely, it's fleeting.

Albus knew the feeling very well. He held his adoration for his best friend - Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy - in his hand like a small, glass structure. If he were to slip or fall, it would shatter like a firework. He held on carefully; protecting it like it were a small, injured bird. Albus' heart often felt like that - a small, unprotected entity.

He'd been foolish to believe that love was safe. It bloomed in his chest; a stupid, frilly flower that hardly hesitated to kill him from the inside out.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA- all i have to say on this fic

oh, i’m going to let the future in 41k

Al only speaks English, and he sings in the shower, badly. He likes tea, and he cleans when he’s stressed. He sees a therapist. He has a total of two friends, and one of them is his cousin. He isn’t smart; he’s simple.

He wishes that could be enough.

Escape 41k

Scorpius Malfoy liked to keep himself to himself. He was fine on his own with just his headphones and music. Until he’s paired with Albus Potter for Defence Against the Dark Arts tutoring, and Scorpius learns that being alone is nice, but having a friend is nicer.

There are plenty of ways one escapes their own mind, their own demons. There’s drugs, running, alcohol and Scorpius Malfoys personal favourite: music.

Fave Mid-Short fics 30k- less

Find My Way 32 k

ft. blind albus

Keep it on 5k

smut and bottom albus😁 (adult scorbus)

camera-clicker 14k

Albus Severus Potter has been to many weddings, though none of them have been his own. Really, it was an 'always a bridesmaid, never a bride' situation, or rather - 'always a wedding photographer, never a groom'.

But you’re here right now and I think you’ll stay- 13k

Albus and scorpius visiting the burrow during chirstmas 🤗 If you like this sort of fic- you should definitely check out every fic made by sunshinescorpius (the author of this fic)

special shoutouts:

the painful eagerness of unfed hope

Where life is a dance composed of one step forwards and three steps back, and Albus is still trying to work out how to dance without falling over his own feet. Albus is a poet, Scorpius is an aspiring archaeologist, and they learn together the beautiful way love demands to be felt.

beautifull writing, ft poet albus. (the only reason its a special shoutout is because I need to finish the last chapter)

The moments that made us 116k

So long story short, this is the story of how I, Albus Severus Potter, got with the love of my life: Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy.

Or rather, the moments that made us.

I put it at special shout out because of the first person pov and angsty 15 year old narration might not be everyone’s cup of tea- i definetly liked it a lot

Wildcard 59k

I just HAD to add this muggle football au!! Also- not everyone likes muggle au’s but i definitely thought it was a fun ride!

O come, let us adore him 42k

one of the two weirdest scorbus fics I have read- had a lot of fun tho.

unfinished fics (as of april 2023)

wake 60k 5/12 chapters

scorbus established relationship during a summer holiday in australia (i think ?)😁

The Lost Potter 30k 10/17 chapters

loving it so far- very intriguing

OK i actually have WAY more recommendations for each category but the post is becoming way too long lol i might make a part 2 if anyone asks🤗

#scorbus #scorpius malfoy #albus severus potter #the cursed child #fic list

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startanewdream · 2 years

Text

For the @hinnyfest, prompt #6: "You are speaking about my future wife/husband. Be more respectful"

(Or this is a weird Weasley mess, don't mind it)

***

"Are we gonna tell them now?" Harry asked as they walked the path to the Burrow, following the enchanted lights that one of her brothrts had charmed to indicate the way to Ginny's birthday party.

"Not yet. After I blow out the candles."

Harry glanced at her. "Cold feet, Weasley?" He teased.

"I am just looking for the moment with the most impact," answered Ginny easily. "And you better keep calling me Weasley while you can."

"Weasley," he repeated in a purr, pulling her closer. Ginny grinned as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you, Weasley."

"I love you, Potter," she said against his lips, and then they were kissing, fireflies around them, the night warm and promising–

"Hey, hey!" Ron's voice broke them apart. He had his hands covering his eyes. "No snogging on the party's premise!"

"I thought it was my birthday–why can't I snog whoever I want?"

"Because this is a family party," George answered, pulling Ron's hands away. "It’s safe to look now."

"I would keep his hands–because I plan to snog Harry a lot today."

"Mum!" George called loudly, though Mrs Weasley was far away. "Little Gin is planning to smooch Ickle Harry."

"A lot," added Ginny defiantly. Harry held back a laugh.

"Come on, Ginny, they don’t need to know."

"Know what?" Asked Mr Weasley, bringing a set of chairs outside.

"Ginny wants to snog Harry," said George earnestly, ignoring Ginny's glare.

Mr Weasley coughed, pulling out his glasses to clean them. "Well, they are boyfriend and girlfriend…"

"Thanks, Dad." Ginny beamed at him. "Now–"

"How is that you always get away with it?" Asked Ron, almost amused.

"Because I am the favourite daughter, of course."

"Pst." George chuckled. "It’s not Ginny, it’s Harry. Mum and Dad don’t think Harry can do anything wrong."

"This is Harry we are talking about, right? No offense, mate, but you don’t have a perfect record."

Harry shrugged.

"And it is a full record," Percy added good-naturedly, joining them. "Have you seen your file at the Ministry?"

Harry grunted; his file could easily fill up seven history books if one where to tell them, which he hoped never happened.

"A file?" Asked Bill curiously, passing by with a basket of flowers. “Care to share?”

“Just read Skeeter,” suggested Charlie, smirking at them. “What's now, Harry Potter: Chosen or Lucky One?”

“I’d say he’s lucky and chosen,” Ginny said, eyes narrowed. “And I would stop pestering him—you are ruining my night.”

“Exactly, it’s your birthday, we can mess with Harry,” said George reasonably.

“I would say getting all my brothers bat-bogey hexed would ruin the party.”

“Er—” Harry squeezed Ginny’s hand. “Maybe we can just have a laugh—”

“Not at your expense.”

“According to Skeeter, Harry has faced worse than us,” Charlie teased.

“I can vouch for that,” added Ron. “Acromantulas—”

“How are spiders worse than a professor with two heads?”

“We once threw a snowball at Voldie’s head,” George said, a nostalgic glint on his eyes. “Oh, if we knew back then…”

“How many professors have tried to kill you?” Bill asked in a serious voice. “I lost count.”

“Are we considering Umbitch?”

“No, she just scarred him for life.”

“Got jealous of Voldie probably…”

“That’s it,” snapped Ginny, taking out her wand. “You should be more respectful—Harry’s life is not a scandal that you can just gossip like that—you are speaking about my future husband! He is part of the family and you will—what?” She blinked. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Harry chuckled, clearly amused. “Hum… Ginny—”

Ron was the first to recover. “Husband?” He repeated, glancing from her to Harry. “Future husband? So you—”

“I proposed,” confirmed Harry, grinning broadly. “She accepted.”

“YES!” And then Ron was hugging them both, and his brothers were clapping; Ginny didn’t look like she was going to hex anyone for the moment.

“What’s this?” Mrs. Weasley asked distractedly. “How nice of you to be so happy with Ginny’s birthday.”

“Nah, she has a birthday every year,” George said genially, ignoring Ginny’s warning gaze. “But she only gets engaged once—at least, we hope so.”

“Engaged? Oh!”

"I am gonna hex you," whispered Ginny, even as she hugged her mother.

"It’s bad luck for a bride and a birthday girl to hex her brothers," he replied calmly, winking at her.

Harry laughed. "We will get back to them," he promised.

#Hinny #Hinnyfest #prompt 6: you are talking about my future husband #Weasley moments #It was a hard prompt for me sorry for this mess!

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m0rbidmacabre · 6 months

Text

Domestic December - Day 1 - Blanket Forts

Summary:

We visit Copia and Celestina years later into their relationship. Copia takes some time away from the ministry to spend time with his amore, and does something extra special for them both.

Notes:

Copia X OC Celestina from The Cardinal & His Piccolo Amore (ongoing) - In this it is years later, and Copia is now Cardinal, and Celestina is at the ministry. This gives you a little hope for the future of that fic, huh.

Words: 1818 Read on AO3

The Cardinal & His Piccolo Amore (ongoing)

Day 1: Blanket Fort

Copia and his Celestina have been friends & lovers for many years. Since they met at the orphanage as kids. When they were children, they would always sneak away together into the attic of the orphanage and sat in a blanket fort that Copia had made to give himself comfort, a place to hide away from the world. It was his safe space. The last few weeks had been hard for Copia, Sister Imperator was making it hard for him. He was working hard to keep his station as Cardinal, and to be the best he could possibly be, but his best was never good enough.

Today he has decided to take a day for himself & his love. He needed it desperately. He knew she would be off today, and he knew that they could spend all day together, uninterrupted if he planned it correctly. He had an idea that they both would love, and hopefully it would bring them peace.

He woke up early, checking she was still sleeping before sneaking out of her tangled arms and legs and getting himself dressed peacefully. He didn’t want to wake her; he didn’t want to ruin the surprise. The sun had only just begun to rise the orange glow of dawn spilling in through a small crack in the curtains, he had plenty of time.

He closed the door of their dorm silently and walked quietly down the halls to the laundry room. Finding a single sister sat behind the desk, prepping herself for the day.

“ Mi scusi, sister…” he said to the sister as she was sat looking over her list of what needed to be accomplished for that day.

“ Morning Cardinal, how can I help you? ” she looked at him with surprise that someone else was around at this time of the morning.

“You wouldn’t happen to have some spare blankets would you? I’m planning a surprise for my amore” he excitedly explained to her.

“ Oh... Of course Cardinal ” she headed to the back and returned with four large blankets.

“ Perfetto!! ” he beamed a warm smile to the sister, taking the blankets from her with a smile and a wave goodbye.

He carried on, a man on a mission of love and headed to the apothecary. Again a sister stood behind the counter. “Mi scusi, sister…” he sheepishly said to her. The sister looked over her glasses at him.

“Good Morning Cardinal, here for ritual supplies?”

“Si, erm… no… I need a few candles, well.. enough to light a small room?”

The sister looked at him with a confused look on her face. “Erm.. I’m planning a surprise for my amore” he said lifting the blankets under his arm to show her and giving her a small warm smile. The sisters face lit up with a big smile, she headed into the back and returned with a small box of candles.

“Have a good evening with your love, Cardinal…” she beamed at him. He smiled back and nodded to her as he left.

Now it was time to put his plan into action, carrying the box and blankets, he headed to find the small abandoned room he had found recently while exploring the ministry grounds. On finding it, he opened the door and looked around. It was a small room, mostly empty with no natural light, which was probably why it had been relinquished to the history books, but it was perfect for Copia’s plan. He swept the floor, and tidied away a few boxes and then stood back to admire his work. It was lovely, the perfect space for his blanket fort.

He began by stacking some chairs on top of eachother, enough to keep the blankets held high, then pulling the blanket out and holding it in place with heavy boxes on each corner. It made a perfect T shape. He dropped to his knees and went inside, spreading out a blanket on the floor and rolling another up to make a long sausage shape pillow. He sat and smiled at just how perfect this was, as he thought about the times they had spent together hiding in forts with his first rat; Ratto, and most importantly the first time that they had ever had any contact with each other.. the moment that Celestina cuddled upto him when they were children and Copia read aloud to her.. it was a moment he would never forget, and it was the first moment of his life that he knew he had someone in this world that cared for him. The years he spent without her after his move to the ministry as a teen broke his heart, but now they where back together. He loved her endlessly from that first moment and he would do anything to keep her now he had her back in his life.

“ Oh... shes going to love this ” He beamed to himself, trying to contain his own excitment.

He finished up in the room, adjusting the candles so the room had an orange glow, just enough light to lay and read together. “Just perfetto” he smiled. He closed the door to the room and headed back to their dorm room. It was going to be hard to get her to leave the dorms today.. she probably just wanted to sit and watch re-runs of old movies on her day off but he had a plan. He walked into the room to the sound of water trickling and the shower running.

He sat on the bed with a smile on his face and waited for her to return.

“Morning il mio amore” He smiled to Celestina as she walked into the room

“Good Morning Copia, where have you been?” She looked at him wondering why he had left for work so early and then aburptly returned as she was getting ready for her day.

“Oh... Erm... I know your off today, and i know we havent spent a lot of time together recently... So i’ve taken the day off. I thought we could do something together ” he said to her, shifting in his spot, trying so hard not to let his suprise slip. Problem was that he was awful at keeping anything from her. She could tell something was going on the moment she looked at him by just his shifty demeanor.

She raised her eyebrow at him “ What are you keeping from me Copia?”

“Nothing mi amore, nothing.. its nothing to worry about. I’ve just made plans for us thats all”

“Plans?”

“Si, I’ve found some forgotten art hidden away in the a part of the ministry nobody goes too and i thought we could take a look at it. Y’know with your interest in satanic artworks and all. I thought you might be interested in seeing it and possibly restoring it together...” He smiled at her.

He had throught this one through, and he was trying to stand his ground.

“Oh... that sounds fun, but i was going to sit and watch old movies all day. Why dont you join me?”

Copia chuckled. “Amore, We could do that later. Please just get dressed and we can be back before dinner and infront of the TV before you know it...” He smiled at her, sweetly. His eyes shining brightly at her. Trying to get her to agree. Celestina just looked at him and gave in, because she couldnt take that sweet look on his face. She was still suspious, but decided to play along.

“Okay, Okay, but its your turn to get popcorn tonight...” she smiled at him and turned to walk to the wardrobe to retrive an outfit for the day.

Copia beamed as she turned around, secretly feeling like he had won the lottery. Celestina was always very head strong, she had to be in the orphanage. There were times it had saved both of them from harm as children. So it wasn’t often he was able to suprise her without her finding out. He sat and waited for her to get ready, and picked up his small bag that he had prepped by the bed. She arrived back from the bathroom, dressed and ready to go.

“Are you ready?” She asked Copia

“Si... Lets go ” He replied as he picked up his bag.

Copia opened the dorm room door for Celestina and held it open as she left the room, closing it behind them and walked upto her as she waited for him, grabbing her arm and tucking it into his. They walked together, discussing what they were going to watch this evening and it wasnt long until Copia was being a goof and making Celestina laugh. Celestina was starting to think Copia was lost after they had been walking around the building for half an hour... but he was secretly just building up the courage to show her his suprise.

“Are we there yet? I swear we’ve walked past this painting about four times now...” Celestina chuckled to Copia.

“Ahh... Si Si, just around his corner” he smiled.

Copia walked upto the door and took a big deep breath. He felt as through he was about to hyperventilate. He opened the door, and he looked back at Celestina as he held the door open for her.

She walked into the room and took one look around and a huge smile appeared on her face, she was practilcally glowing.

“Whats all this??” She turned around and looked at Copia. He smiled and opened his bag. Pulling out a book and handing it to her. She looked down at the book, it was tatty, worn, its spine broken.. she scanned it her eyes instantly landing on the title.

“Dante’s Inferno? ... is this a joke?” she laughed, tears gathering in her eyes.

“Well, I thought today we could spend our day like we did as children. Hidden in our fort, reading together. So i built us a fort. Nobody will bother us here and Dantes Inferno, well.. you know why i picked this one” He laughed.

Celestina just looked at him and gave Copia a huge smile before she ran over to the blanket fort and disappeared inside. “Come on Copia...” she shouted back to him. He laughed and followed... pulling himself into the fort and relaxing next to to her.

“What do you think?” He asked her.

“Copia, its beautiful, you are beautiful. Thank you my love” she blinked back tears as she snuggled into him. Copia smiled and put his arms around her, holding her tightly. Making sure that she knew just how much he loved her. Endlessly.

#domestic december #the band ghost #ghost fandom #ghost #ghost bc #ghost fanfiction #cardinal copia #papa copia #papa emeritus 4 #ghost copia #fanfic #copia my beloved #papa emeritus iv #copia x oc #domestic bliss #oof my heart #this is so sweet

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celestial--sapphic · 3 months

Text

Get to know Evelyn Caddel: Auror

Read below the cut for my VERY LONG brainrot about Evelyn and her career as an Auror 💥

You can read more about my MC in general HERE 🐍

I also wrote about her love of Quidditch 🧹

She signs up to Auror training with Natty as soon as they get their N.E.W.T results in the summer after they finish their seventh year.

It was a pretty nervous wait for her exam results, knowing she needed at least Exceeds Expectations (E) grades in all her subjects to meet the entry requirements needed to get onto the training programme. Thankfully she comes out with Outstanding (O) grades in Beasts, Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts and Exceeds Expectations in Potions and Astronomy.

They officially started their training in October 1893 and Evelyn's dream of being Head Auror by the time she was 30 is underway.

She and Natty shared an unassuming Georgian terrace house in Cannonbury Square in Islington, London alongside three other trainees during their training period. You can see an 1896 map of the area here and a picture of what Islington was like in 1899 here.

The property faces out onto the green space in the centre of the square and Evelyn enjoyed sitting on one of the benches after a particularly difficult day, closing her eyes and listening to the noisy chatter of the magpies in the trees.

Sebastian was a regular visitor to their house in Cannonbury Square. Sebastian, who was training to be a healer at St Mungo’s, often conveniently stopped by around dinnertime and always graciously accepted Natty’s offer to make him up a plate of whatever they were having and join them. After a few weeks of this Natty realises it is not the food he is coming for but their pretty blonde housemate who he always found a way to sit next to at the table. Evelyn can’t help but laugh at Natty’s wounded expression when she says “I thought he just really enjoyed my ifisashi and rice”.

Poppy stays at the house for a few days at a time every other week before heading back to gran’s cottage in Sussex – where she is living whilst undertaking an apprenticeship in Beast Division in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Poppy spends more time out and about on assignments than in the office – which suits her just fine – so she didn’t see the point in moving to London full-time.

It is a bit weird for Evelyn and Poppy not to have access to the complete privacy of the Room of Requirement anymore and be sharing such close space with four other people. It is particularly embarrassing when they thought they had the house to themselves one afternoon only for Natty to awkwardly ask Evelyn when they make dinner that evening if she and Poppy could use a silencing charm in future, as she had been trying to have a nap.

As a pretty determined person, Evelyn throws everything she has into the training course but does not realise quite how much of a toll it is taking on her – and how little she looking after herself – until she passes out during a stealth exercise. Poppy is, of course, frantic when she gets an owl from Natty telling her that her girlfriend ended up in St Mungo's and asking her to return from her work trip in Cornwall to talk some sense into Evelyn about making time for rest and relaxation.

After that, Natty makes sure she sees Evelyn eating both breakfast and dinner and drinking water every single day.

The intensity training programme combined with Poppy's apprenticeship sending her all over the country put a serious strain on Evelyn and Poppy’s relationship and they briefly split up in the spring of 1894. They get back together after a few miserable weeks where Evelyn mopped around the house and only left to go to training at the Ministry.

When they qualify, Evelyn and Natty are disappointed to find they are often given the department’s paperwork to fill in and file and when they are given assignments they are low level ones – pub fights in Diagon Alley and the like.

“You can’t expect them to put newly qualified Aurors on the hunt for the most dangerous witches and wizards in the world, Evelyn.” Poppy tells her, which Evelyn just grumbles at.

Evelyn’s first big assignment comes 18 months after she qualifies as an Auror. She is part of the team covering the security of the French Minister for Magic during a diplomatic visit to the British Ministry. She knows something is wrong when she is one-on-one with a colleague who opens the door for her with his left hand, a hand he had injured a couple of weeks prior and lost much of his grip strength in. One skirmish and calls for backup later revealed her colleague was actually a known dark wizard using polyjuice potion to moonlight as her colleague – who it turns out had been captured and was being held hostage. The wizard planned to assassinate the French Minister for Magic and pin the blame on the British Ministry for Magic; no doubt which would have caused unparalleled diplomatic fall out.

She praised by both Ministry’s for her initiative in halting the assassination and The Daily Prophet and French newspapers both front page interviews with her.

Evelyn doesn’t meet her teenage goal of being Head Auror by the time she is 30 but is happy enough working as a Lead Auror and oversees a team of 10 junior Aurors. Uncovering secret poaching and beast trafficking rings and seeing those involved punished is a cause she is particularly passionate about; owing to her wife’s work with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.

In her late fifties, she steps away from her work as an Auror and takes up the position of professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts, often telling her students stories of her most dangerous and thrilling cases.

#hogwarts legacy #hogwarts legacy mc #Evelyn Caddel #poppy sweeting #natsai onai #sebastian sallow

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mxlfoydraco · 1 year

Note

Do you happen to know any good Drarry fic with the "De-aging" trope? I've read Away Childish Things and was wondering if there are other similar stories out there

I was so sure I already had a list but apparently not? I'll add ACT as well for future reference, it's one of my all time favorites! I'm also including de-aging a few years, not to a child. Linking a relevant list of mine: Age Difference

Away Childish Things by lettered (153k)

Harry gets de-aged. Malfoy has to help him.

Malfoy Child by Vorabiza (94k)

A potions accident turns Draco into a four-year-old and Harry takes over his care for the next four months.

Pinky Promises Are Powerful Magic by megyal (12k)

Ickle Harry wants to stay with his newest hero.

Teddy Bear Troubles and Other Such Oddities by Kandakicksass (61k)

During potions tutoring with a certain blonde, Harry makes a big mistake. Now he's stuck with a four year old aging a year a week, and he's not sure the boy will make it back to eighteen without turning his world upside down in all sorts of ways.

You Send Me (Honest You Do) by firethesound (37k)

As far as potion accidents go in general, and deaging incidents go in particular, Draco knew this could have been so much worse. Harry only lost about ten years, and all his memories are still intact. But the sight of him looking as if he’s stepped straight out of Draco’s Hogwarts memories has dredged up a whole mess of complicated feelings Draco thought he’d buried years ago, and Draco really doesn’t know what to do with any of it.

'Twixt the Sun and Sward by November Snowflake (30k)

A potions mishap has Harry and Draco meeting on entirely new—or is it old?—ground.

Not Nineteen Forever by @sorrybutblog (5k)

A rogue charm hits on a mission and suddenly, Draco is nineteen again. Harry is still thirty-five and doing his best to look after his de-aged Auror partner (and forget about his long unrequited crush) until St. Mungo’s can brew the antidote. Only, Draco insists on wandering around Harry’s flat wearing nothing but Harry’s pants, flirting like his life depends on it and in the end, Harry’s only human after all.

Christmas with Draco by dracogotgame (9k)

Harry tries to give a two year old Draco the best Christmas ever.

Auld Acquaintance by @aibidil (2k)

All Draco wants for Christmas is for Harry to get home so they can charm their holiday cards and make four different lasagnas to meet their children's and grandchildren's varied food needs. What he does not want is for Harry to get home wearing red Christmas joggers and looking eighteen years old.

Chrysalis by Elfflame (55k)

After the war, the Ministry decides to reform the Death Eaters, and Draco Malfoy is one of the first chosen for the program.

Halloween Night by @dorthyanndrarry (3k)

Halloween only tends to remind Harry of his parents death, there's nothing happy or fun about it. Its a dark day for him. Draco decides to try and change that, to take Harry out and experiences something new. To make new memories. Together.

Growing Pains by SensiblyTainted (190k)

The summer after Sirius’ death: the abuse at the Dursley’s leaves him broken. Snape is asked to try and help, and discovers that the key to saving Harry may be Draco, who has returned after his own difficult summer.

A Change In Perspective by Roozette (121k)

Once there was a potions accident... Ha! Harry turns five, much to the distress of the I don't want to be a Death Eater brigade.

To the Moon by VCCV (35k)

Draco is turned into a child. Harry takes care of him.

Life From the Start by LunaParvulus (74k)

A botched up de-aging potion and Harry suffers from the results. Now, Draco is hands full of one adorable Harry. What if Draco came to like Harry in his baby-state? Can both pretend nothing happened when Harry is back to normal?

P.S. This trope used to be more popular, I got to link from ffnet again since forever ago!

#drarry #drarry fic #drarry fic rec #drarry reclist #draco malfoy #drarry fic recs #my recs #fic recs #hpdm #harry potter #de aging

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braveclementine · 6 days

Text

Chapter 29

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (However they are very few so those under the age of 18 can still read a majority of this book. However please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

𝕴 𝖉𝖎𝖉𝖓'𝖙 𝖗𝖊𝖌𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 his words at first and just stared at him blankly and then I said, "Trang. . . too?" But I most definitely hadn't seen that! But of course. . . I had to look at my visions as though I didn't exist. . . if I didn't exist then Trang would never have learned about the magical world. . . and of course if I didn't exist, Trang would never have been my friend, Voldemort would never have come after my visions. . .

I shook my head, "It's probably just a trick. He'll know that I can't foresee Trang so he added it in for your vision to convince me to let you go. It's all a trick Harry."

"It's not!" Harry shouted. There was a moment of silence. I had no evidence to back up that it wasn't a trick. What if he really did have Trang? Trang would certainly have been much easier to get to than Sirius. A trip across the Atlantic Ocean, find her school, pick her up, take her back. . . how could I check anyways? By the time I wrote to Trang's mother. . .

"How're we going to get there?" Harry asked suddenly.

"G-get there?" Ron asked.

"Get to the Department of Mysteries, so we can rescue Sirius and Trang!" Harry shouted.

"Sirius isn't there!" I snapped back.

"Harry, er. . . how. . . how did Voldemort get into the Ministry of Magic without anybody realizing he was there?" Hermione asked.

"How do I know? The question is how we're going to get in there!" Harry shouted. I shook my head, keeping my mouth shut.

"But. . . Harry, think about this. It's five o'clock in the afternoon. . . The Ministry of Magic must be full of workers. . . How would Voldemort and Sirius- or Trang- have got in without being seen? Harry. . . they're probably the two most wanted wizards in the world. . . and a girl wandering around by herself will attract some attention too. . . You think they could get into a building full of Aurors undetected?"

"I dunno, Voldemort used an Invisibility Cloak or something!" Harry was still shouting. "Anyway, the Department of Mysteries has always been completely empty whenever I've been-"

"You've never been there, Harry." Hermione said, her quiet voice a complete contrast to Harry's. "You've dreamed about the place, that's all."

"They're not normal dreams! How d'you explain Ron's dad then, what was all that about, how come I knew what had happened to him?" Harry shouted.

"He's got a point." Ron said quietly.

"Because Voldemort didn't know about the connection!" I said a bit angrily. "He didn't know that you were going to see it. But now, it's different."

"But this is just- just so unlikely." Hermione said desperately. "Harry, how on Earth could Voldemort have got hold of Sirius when he's been in Grimmauld Place all this time?"

"Sirius might've cracked and just wanted some fresh air. He's been desperate to get out of that house for ages-" Ron said.

"Kingsley." I muttered.

"What?" Harry asked, so shocked by my train of thought that he'd lowered his voice.

"I need to go do something, carry on your conversation. Of course, you'll end up using Umbridge's fireplace but I think. . ." I left it at there and darted out of the room. I ran as fast as I possibly could to the Hufflepuff common room and then up the stairs to the dorm.

I threw my things on my bed and then rummaged in the drawer and found the mirror that Kingsley had wanted me to use in case I ever needed help. I put it in my pocket, breathing hard. I tried to figure out where I was going to be able to talk to Kingsley.

There was the room of requirement, that was good, but I didn't know if the Inquisitorial Squad would be there. Empty classrooms could be walked into, people could overhear in the bathroom.

I decided on the forest. I wouldn't go near the centaurs. . . I'd go near Grawp. Yes, that was a good plan.

I made sure that I was only wearing my shoes, my robes, and had my wand in my pocket. If I needed to dash off to London without the others. . .

I hurried out of the dorm. I smiled at some of the Hufflepuff girls coming up the stairs but passed by them without a word. My eyes were set on only Trang. If she got hurt. . . if she was killed. . . it would be all my fault. All my fault because I'd introduced her to our world. All my fault because I'd simply been friends with her. And it was all my fault because I had opened my mouth to Professor Snape in my first-year about my visions who'd opened his mouth to Dumbledore by the end of the year. And then he'd told McGonagall and I'd told Harry, Ron, and Hermione and then the entire school found out and then the Minister and then of course Wormtail because he'd been Ron's pet and overheard our conversations. Anyone that got hurt or died because Voldemort was after my visions. . . it would be on me. Because I opened my mouth to one person one time.

I hesitated near the dungeons. Should I go and see Severus one last time? Would he suspect anything was wrong? Severus was in the Order. . .

What if I died? I'd feel horrible about not seeing him one more time. He'd probably feel horrible too. Self-consciously, I touched the wedding ring on my left finger and tears popped into my eyes. I took a deep breath, wiped the tears away, and headed into the dungeons. A quick stop wouldn't hurt.

"Hi." I said softly as I came into his office. He was working on organizing his shelves.

"Hello." He said, staring at two different jars and then putting them on different shelves.

"I can't stay long, but I just wanted to come in real quick." I said, hoping that I sounded natural. "Our house is going to celebrate the end of the exams and so as a prefect I have to monitor it."

"Will you come back tonight?" He asked, turning to face me, "After the party's over?"

"I'll try." I said, smiling. "No promises though." I got up on my tiptoes and kissed him on the lips.

"Well I'll keep my hopes up." Severus said, wrapping his arms around me and kissing me on the lips again.

I smiled, happy. "I really will try." I kissed his cheek and then headed out of the room with a smile, and headed out to the grounds before I burst into tears. They weren't loud tears, they just kind've fell. I hated lying to Severus. And I had done it so easily too. I hated myself. I tried to stop them though. I knew I was going to have to get a grip on myself before I talked to Kingsley.

I found my way through the forest silently so that I didn't attract the attention of the centaurs and I found the clearing where Grawp was. There were ropes, laying detached on the ground but no giant in sight.

I sat down on a fallen log and then pulled out the mirror, lifting it to my face. I looked okay. Then the mirror changed and I could see the ceiling of what looked like a Ministry building.

"Er- Kingsley?" I said awkwardly.

There was no answer and my heart started to pound. "Kingsley?" I asked a bit louder. No answer and I sighed.

And then, the mirror on the other side was moving and Kingsley was looking into the mirror. "Elizabeth!" He said, sounding surprised.

I blushed. "I'm - I'm sorry about what I said the other day. It was. . . it was uncalled for."

He grinned. "I know. Professor Snape told me after you two talked."

I gritted my teeth and then took a deep breath and said, "So um. . . Harry had another er- dream. It was Voldemort with Sirius. Now, I already told him they were fake and he believes me. . . I think. . . but he said my friend Trang was also there and I didn't see that. I was just wondering if you could ask dad if he's had any contact with Trang's mother."

Kingsley had dropped his smile and was moving around with something on his desk and said, "Give me an hour okay? You're not going to do anything rash, right?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm sure it's fake. I just wanted to double check."

"Right." Kingsley said. "Alright, give me an hour."

I nodded and placed the mirror back in my pocket and leaned my head back on a tree trunk and closed my eyes. Eventually, I got up and started to walk through the forest towards where Aragog would be. Of course, I wasn't trying to get to Aragog, I was trying to get to Hermione and Harry and Umbridge.

I heard Hermione's voice after a little bit shouting, "Not far no! Just a little bit-"

I watched an arrow fly through the air and land with a menacing thud just over Hermione's head. I scrambled up a tree, taking cover. I could hear many loud horse hooves trampling along the forest grounds.

I heard Umbridge scream and watched as she pushed Harry in front of her like a human shield. And then Harry wrenched himself from her grip and turned to see the fifty Centaurs that were surrounding them, their bows raised.

Umbridge, much to my satisfaction, was uttering odd little whimpers. I grinned even wider. Oh this was fantastic.

"Who are you?" Magorian asked. I saw his chestnut coloured body walking towards the others. She did not answer and he asked in a tougher voice, "I asked you who are you, human."

"I am Dolores Umbridge! Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic and Headmistress and High Inquisitor of Hogwarts!" Professor Umbridge said in an extremely high-pitched voice.

"You are the woman who carved unnecessary words into the back of Elizabeth Kane's hand." Ivagio said, stepping forward. I noticed that Ronan was by his side. I was a bit surprised that he remembered that. Perhaps Firenze had told him.

"She deserved it!" Umbridge said. "She's the daughter of a half-breed!"

Ivagio's face colored in rage.

"You are from the Ministry of Magic?" Magorian asked, putting a cautioning hand up to warn Ivagio who looked like he was going to charge Umbridge.

"That's right! So be very careful! By the laws laid down by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, any attack by half-breeds such as yourselves on a human-"

"What did you call us?" Bane asked angrily.

"Don't call them that!" Hermione shouted angrily.

"Law Fifteen B states clearly that 'Any attack by a magical creature who is deemed to have near-human intelligence, and therefore considered responsible for its actions-"

"Near-human intelligence?" Magorian asked while Bane and several others roared in anger. "We consider that a great insult, human! Our intelligence, thankfully, far outstrips your own-"

"What are you doing in our forest? Why are you here?" Another Centaur whose name I was fairly certain was Achon shouted.

"Your forest?" Umbridge asked.

"Yes." I shouted and everyone looked around. I jumped from the tree, doing a summersault and landing on my feet between Ivagio and Ronan. "Their forest."

"You!" Umbridge shrieked, pointing a stubby finger at me. "You filthy half-breed brat!"

I pulled out my wand. "You should really leave. This is their forest. It is not your forest, it is not my forest, it is theirs. They are smarter than you, they are are smarter than me, and it is an insult for such a lowly human being such as you to be in this forest. Get out!"

The Centaurs were murmuring amongst themselves now, even Bane looked surprised at me rather than angry.

"May I remind you, that the Centaurs only live here because the Ministry of Magic permits them to certain areas of the land-" She shrieked as an arrow caught her mousy hair as it passed by and I grinned. The other Centaurs laughed too.

"Whose forest is it now, human?" Bane bellowed.

"Filthy half-breeds! Beasts! Uncontrolled animals!" She shouted and I darted away from Ivagio and Ronan as she raised her wand and shouted, "Incarcerous!" I stepped in front of Magorian just in time and instead of him being trapped in the ropes, it was me.

Hermione screamed. Ivagio reared in anger and charged. I grabbed the ropes around my throat, pulling as they tried to suffocate me. Ivagio was at my side as the other Centaurs charged Umbridge, and pulled me to safety, freeing me of the ropes. I gasped for breath. "Thank you." I spluttered, rubbing my throat.

I felt the mirror grow hot in my pocket and pulled it out. "What's the news?" I asked quickly as Ivagio joined the other Centaurs.

I could barely hear Kingsley over the ruckus the Centaurs were making and stepped away for a bit. "According to your dad, Trang's mother said Trang came home early since exams are over. What is going on over there?"

"We're in the forest!" I shouted. "Umbridge. . . well it's a long story. But the centaurs and Umbridge got into a bit of a fight. I have to go. I'll talk to you soon."

I shoved the mirror back into my pocket as some of the Centaurs took off with Umbridge. The other Centaurs pulled Harry and Hermione to their feet, looking at them. "Now, what are we going to do with these two?" Achon asked.

"They are foals." Ronan said. "We do not hurt foals."

"But they brought the woman in here!" Bane roared.

"Please-" Hermione started but I interrupted her.

"Hermione and Harry did not mean for her to meet you guys. They were taking her to the Acromantula in hopes of ditching her." I rubbed my sore throat and coughed.

The other Centaurs looked at each other and then said, "You three will go now." I was a bit surprised by this fact but grateful.

"Elizabeth Kane has done us a brave deed, stepping in front of me." Magorian said slowly. "We will reward that just this once by letting them leave the forest unharmed."

"Thank you." I said, bowing low, "Come on you two, we need-"

But before I could tell them we needed to get to London, there was a crashing sound behind us. Ivagio darted forward to draw me back to the herd lines and pushed me farther back to where Harry and Hermione were standing. I turned and got my first real glance at Grawp.

"Hagger." He said.

The centaurs had fallen silent, staring up at the giant with apprehensive looks. "Hagger!" Grawp said with more insistence.

"Get away from here, giant! You are not welcome among us!" Magorian called.

"HAGGER!" Grawp bellowed, stooping a little.

"Hey!" I shouted, stepping away from the Centaurs and waving my arms. "Hagger, is this way." I pointed, "This way."

"Elizabeth!" Harry hissed, "What are you doing."

I kept my eyes on Grawp. Grawp looked between me and the other two and then pointed at Harry and Hermione said said, "Hermy."

"Goodness." I heard Hermione mutter. "He- he remembered."

"HERMY! WHERE HAGGER?"

"Gone." I shouted up at him. I felt so stupid.

"GRAWP WANT HAGGER!"

"MOVE!" I shouted at everyone as Grawp's hand reached down with the intent to grab. They all scattered backwards except for a snow white Centaur who was swept off his legs. I gasped in horror and dashed to his side, holding out a hand to help him to his feet. He took it, something I was surprised about despite the fact I'd rushed over, and I quickly picked up his bow and arrows and handed them to him while he shook out his legs.

He gazed at me curiously and then joined the rest of the Centaurs who where now shooting at Grawp, piercing his face and causing blood to fall. Harry and Hermione were splashed. Blood specks landed on my boots and the legs of my pants. I groaned. Blood stains were so hard to get out.

Grawp was retreating back into the forest.

"We need to go!" I shouted at the other two and started to sprint out of the forest. Harry dragged Hermione behind him, following me.

As we exited the trees, Harry spat at Hermione, "Smart plan. Really smart plan. Where do we go from here?"

"We need to get back up to the castle." Hermione said faintly.

"By the time we've done that, Sirius'll probably be dead!" Harry said, kicking a tree trunk.

"What are you talking about?" I snapped. "Sirius isn't there!"

"Kreacher said he was." Harry said angrily

"Kreacher can lie to you!"

"Besides-" Hermione interjected. "We don't have wands. And how are you even planning to get to London in the first place?"

"Yeah, we were just wondering that." Ron said. I turned to see him, Ginny, Neville, and Luna coming through the trees. There were thin scratches running down Ginny's cheek, there was a large purple lump above Neville's eye, Ron's lip was bleeding, and there was nothing wrong with Luna.

"So." Ron said. "Had any ideas." he handed Harry his wand.

"How did you get away?" Harry asked in amazement.

"Couple of Stunners, a Disarming Charm, Neville brought off a really nice little Impediment Jinx. But Ginny was best, she got Malfoy- Bat-Bogey Hex- it was superb, his whole face was covered in the great flapping things. Anyway, we saw you heading into the forest out of the window and followed. What'd you done with Umbridge?"

"She got carried away by a herd of Centaurs." Harry said.

"And they left you behind?" Ginny asked, astonished.

"They owed Liz a favor." Harry said.

"And then they got chased off by Grawp." Hermione said faintly.

"Who's Grawp?" Luna asked with interest.

"Hagrid's little brother. Anyway, never mind that now. Harry, what did you find out in the fire? Has You-Know-Who got Sirius or-"

"Yes." Harry said and I shook my head behind him.

"Well." I said. "He definitely has Trang. I contacted Kingsley and he said that Dad got a letter from her mother saying she got back from America a few days ago."

"How'd you contact Kingsley?" Harry asked.

"He gave me a two-way mirror to contact him with in case I ever got into trouble." I said promptly. "But no one else is coming with me to save her." I said sharply.

"Why not?" Ernie asked, coming out from behind the trees with Susan following her. I groaned in dismay.

"Because!" I snapped. "There is no reason for anyone else to come! Trang is my friend. If it was Sirius, I would get it because many of us are involved but it's not! It's my friend!"

"And you're our friend!" Susan said. "Besides, this is what we prepared for!"

"We were all in the D.A. together." Neville said. "It was all supposed to be about fighting You-Know-Who, wasn't it? And this is the first chance we've had to do something real- or was that all just a game or something?"

"No- of course it wasn't-" Harry said, exchanging a look with me.

"Then we should come too. We want to help." Neville said simply.

"Right." Luna said simply.

"Well it doesn't matter anyways because we still don't know how to get there-" Harry said angrily.

"I thought we'd settled that? We're flying!" Luna said.

"Look." Ron said angrily. "You might be able to fly without a broomstick but the rest of us can't sprout wings whenever we-"

"There are other ways of flying than without broomsticks." I said. "We'll take those." I pointed at the two Thestrals that had appeared from the trees.

"Yes!" Harry whispered, moving towards them. Harry stretched out a hand and petted on the neck.

"Is it those mad horse things? Those ones you can't see unless you've watched someone snuff it?" Ron asked uncertainly.

"Yes." Harry said.

"How many?"

"Just two." I answered.

"Well, we need four." Hermione said.

"Five, Hermione!" Ginny said angrily.

"I think there are nine of us actually." Luna said calmly.

"Don't be stupid, we can't all go!" Harry said angrily. "Look you, five-" Harry pointed at Neville, Ginny, Luna, Ernie, and Susan. "-you're' not involved in this, you're not-"

They all burst into protests and I moved towards the second Thestral. "Okay fine, it's your choice." Harry said in a curt voice. "But unless we can find more thestrals you're not going to be able-"

"Oh, more of them will come." Ginny said confidently, who was squinting in the wrong direction for the horses.

"What makes you think that?" I asked coldly, wanting to leave all of them behind.

"Because in case you hadn't noticed, Harry and Hermione are both covered in blood and we know Hagrid lures thestrals with raw meat, so that's probably why these two turned up in the first place. . ." Ginny said coolly.

"Okay, then." Harry said. "Elizabeth and I will take these two and go ahead, and Hermione can stay here with you five and she'll attract more thestrals-"

"I'm not staying behind!" Hermione said furiously.

"There's no need." Luna said, smiling. "Look, here come more now. . . You two must really smell. . ."

Seven thestrals were making their way towards us. The exact number that we needed. Harry gnashed his teeth together and said, "All right pick one and get on, then."

Luna and I swiftly climbed onto our Thestral with grace while Neville flopped onto it awkwardly. Harry managed to get onto his thestral with a mix between Luna and mine grace and Neville's awkwardness.

Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Ernie, and Susan just stood there.

"What?" Harry asked, staring down at them.

"How're we supposed to get on?" Ernie asked, pushing his glasses up on his nose. "When we can't see the things?"

I nearly snarled. Well then! He should just go up to the castle and-

"Oh it's easy." Luna said. "Come here. . ."

I slid off my Thestral and brought Susan over to one next to me and helped her up and then did the same with Ginny while Luna got Ron, Hermione, and Ernie on their thestrals.

"This is mad." Ron said faintly, clutching to his invisible horse. "Mad. . . if I could just see it-"

"You'd better hope it stays invisible." I snapped at him. Then, looking down at my thestral I said, "Ministry of Magic, visitors' entrance, London."

For a moment, the thestrals just stood there and then, they crouched and rocketed upwards. I clutched its neck. Harry and mine led the front of the pack as we flew through the sky. I was surprised at the speed as well- it was faster than my firebolt. Since Harry and I were in the front, the wind hit us the hardest while the others crouched down behind their Thestrals' heads to block their faces from the wind.

I wondered briefly, as Ron shouted, "This is bizarre!", how the others felt, not being able to see their Thestrals and flying at such a fast speed and at such a horrifying height.

But my thoughts didn't last long on this peculiar conundrum. I could feel the mirror growing hotter in my pocket and knew that Kingsley was trying to contact me. I was sure Severus had probably alerted the Order. I thought about dropping the mirror but was afraid of losing it. I might need it eventually.

Oh Merlin's Beard. . . Trang. Oh please let her still be alive. . . of course she was still alive. Voldemort wouldn't kill her yet or else he had no bait. I closed my eyes as the wind was making them tear up. I bent my head behind the head of the thestral.

The sky was getting steadily darker until all that was out were stars. My legs were starting to get numb and I was completely deaf and super cold. I longed to be in a warm bed back at the castle, preferably with Severus. I tried to push him from thoughts however because his words, 'I can't lose you' kept ringing in my head over and over.

We weren't going to die. . . the stakes had changed. Ernie and Susan were with us now and of course, I never foresaw me there. So there were three extra students, I knew when Bellatrix would try to kill Sirius, and of course, Trang would be a different factor as well.

What if Trang isn't there? What if Voldemort simply included her in the fake message?

But she had come back to Britain. She had come back even when she'd promised me she'd stay in America until the war was over. That was the only reason I thought she was there.

But then again, a small voice in the back of my head started to speak, just because you keep every promise you make, doesn't mean that others do.

Trang does. I thought back.

The other voice didn't answer.

Kingsley wouldn't know where we were going. I hadn't said where he would be, had I? Would the Order get there before us? How long would it take for the Order to find us if we got there first? Could I kill Bellatrix and change the future? Somehow, I didn't think so.

Suddenly, the thestral had suddenly dove towards the ground. I heard Susan scream behind me and I turned and saw her clutching her thestral tightly, her eyes squeezed shut. Ernie looked extremely pale, one hand holding his glasses to his face.

The Thestral landed smoothly and I slid off gracefully, patting the thestral as it walked over to the garbage bin. Harry dismounted. Ron fell to the ground. Soon, all nine of us were standing on the ground.

"Never again." Ron said, struggling to his feet. "Never, ever again. . . that was the worst-"

"Where do we go from here, then?" Luna asked Harry in a polite voice.

"Over here." He said. "Come on."

Harry opened the telephone box and I shook my head. "I'll come after you with Susan, Ginny, and Ernie. We aren't all going to fit in there. Wait for us to come down."

Harry gave a stiff nod and Neville, Luna, Ron, Hermione, and himself smashed themselves into the box. We watched Ron dial on the phone and then Harry shout something and then the box went down. A few seconds later, the floor was back and I hurried in. Susan grabbed the receiver and dialed six two four four two.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."

"Elizabeth Kane, Susan Bones, Ginny Weasley, and Ernie Macmillan, rescue mission." I said simply. I was shaking with nerves and they could hear it in my voice. I swallowed hard, resigning myself not to break down. Trang was depending on me.

"Thank you. Visitors, please take the badges and attach them to the front of your robes." There was a clink and the badges slid out. Susan handed them to me and I put them in my pocket without looking at it. "Visitor to the Ministry, you are required to submit to a search and present your wand for registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the Atrium."

"Very well." I said tersely and we started to move.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna were waiting for us impatiently in the atrium. "The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant evening." The voice said and the telephone box door burst open. Ernie led the way out and Ginny brought up the rear. I tossed the badges onto the floor near the fountain. I didn't want to carry them, they were clanking noisily in my pocket. Harry did the same with their badges.

"Come on." Harry said quietly and we sprinted silently through the Ministry. It was so weird that it was completely empty. Anyone could come in here. . . were there cameras? Well, no, not Muggle cameras of course, but surely there was some sort of security system right? The lack of a security guard scared me.

We arrived in front of the golden gates which contained the lifts. Harry pressed the nearest down button and a lift clattered up to us immediately, the golden doors sliding open. Harry rushed inside and we followed as he hit the number nine. The lift started to descend. The lift seemed so much louder than when I was here with Mr. Weasley and Dad. It should've attracted a security person.

"Department of Mysteries" the females' voice said. Harry hurried down the corridor and then turned so that we saw the plain black door at the end of the hallway. "Let's go." He whispered.

Luna was behind Harry, gazing around with her mouth slightly open. Harry turned to everyone so that we stopped. "Okay, listen. Maybe. . . maybe a couple of people should stay here as a- as a lookout and-"

"And how're we going to let you know something's coming? You could be miles away." Ginny said, raising an eyebrow.

"We're coming with you Harry." Neville said solidly.

"Let's get on with it." Ron said firmly.

Harry turned to face the door which swung open. We all trooped into the room, looking around.

The room was circular and everything was identical and unmarked. There were candles with blue flames, giving the impression that we were in a very dark, underwater cave.

"Someone shut the door." Harry mumbled.

Neville shut it and I wished he hadn't. It was so dark in here now that all we could see were ghostly reflections of each other. Harry took a step forward, I supposed to move on, and then the walls started to move.

Susan grabbed my arm in fright. Ernie's face still looked pale but I supposed it could've been the light. The blue flames were spinning so fast that they looked like neon lines on a Muggle coffee shop open sign. The room soon stopped spinning, becoming stationary.

"What was that about?" Ron asked fearfully.

"I think it was to stop us knowing which door we came in from." Susan said in a nervous voice.

"How're we going to get back out?" Neville asked in an uncomfortable voice.

"We'll worry about that after we get Trang first." I said in a calm voice.

"Where do we go, then, Harry?" Ron asked.

"I don't- in the dreams I went through the door at the end of the corridor from the lifts into a dark room- that's this one- and then I went through another door into a room that kind of. . . glitters. We should try a few doors. I'll know the right way when I see it. C'mon."

He marched to the door that was in front of us. It swung open easily. The room was filled with bright lamps, giving the impression that that room was much brighter than this one. However, there was almost nothing in the room except for some desks and a large fish tank in the middle of the room. The tank had green water and was big enough that we all could've swam in it. It was containing multiple pearly white objects which I was pretty sure were brains.

"What're those things?" Ron asked.

"Dunno." Harry said.

"They're brains." I whispered.

"Brains?" Neville asked in disgust.

"Yes. . ." Ernie said, peering over Ginny's head. "I wonder what they're doing with them?"

Hermione had moved into the room to look at them. We soon joined her. "Let's get out of here." Harry said after a moment of staring at the brains in the tank. "This isn't right, we need to try another door-"

"There are doors here too." Ron said, pointing around.

"No." I said. "The door is in the other room, I see that."

As we passed back out of the room, I took out my wand and said, "Flagrate!" A fiery X appeared on the door and once Luna closed the door, the room spun again and the door with the X appeared on the other side of the room.

"I was going to do that." Hermione said, sounding a bit disappointed.

"Good thinking anyways." Harry said, trying to the door directly in front of him again. It opened up to a large room with a pit made of stone. It was like a medieval amphitheater, steps circled the entire room like both seats and steps. Or perhaps it was a bit like a trial room. In the very middle on the lowest tier of the room was a stone archway. It had a tattered black veil surrounding it and it sounded as though there were voices coming from it.

"Who's there?" Harry said jumping down onto the bench below.

"Careful!" Hermione whispered.

Harry was scrambling down all the steps but I prevented anyone else from going down there. "It's the wrong room Harry!" I called down to him, "come one, we need to find Trang!"

I could hear the voices too, calling me, wanting me to come down and touch the mirror. I kept my ground. The voices had to be evil, I shouldn't touch the mirror. Of course, they weren't saying words, but they were giving me feeling.

He ignored me calling "Sirius?"

"Bloody hell." I muttered. "Stay here, keep the door open. We cannot afford to get separated." I sprinted down the steps and grabbed Harry's arm. "Sirius isn't here, come on, we need to go. Trang, remember? We're not in the right room."

Harry let me lead him back up and this time, Hermione marked the door before closing it. The room spun again.

The next door that appeared in front of us was locked. "Don't use Sirius' knife." I said, shaking my head. "The door will melt it and Alohomora won't work either. Let's just move on to the next door."

They listened to me for once, Hermione marking the door again.

Harry pushed the next door open and then cried, "This is it!"

There was a beautiful diamond-sparkling light that met our eyes and I squinted. There were clocks gleaming from every surface of every side. A grandfather clock stood in the corner. The clocks were hanging in spaces between the bookcases or standing on desks. The ticking sound soon drove me crazy and I wondered if that was the point of the room.

I took a nervous step forwards, seeing the crystal jar at the other end of the room. I wandered towards it and watched the tiny jeweled egg hatch from which a hummingbird emerged and then was carried to the top of the jar where its feathers became bedraggled and fell back to the bottom, becoming enclosed in the egg again.

"Oh, look!" Ginny said, coming up to watch the bird again and again.

"Keep going!" Harry said sharply.

"You dawdled enough by that old arch!" Ginny said crossly, jerking me out of my revere. Harry was right, we needed to keep moving.

"This is it." Harry was murmuring, raising his wand. "It's through here."

We all had our wands out. Harry pushed the door open. We were in a high-ceilinged room now. It looked almost as though the dusty shelves went on forever. In front of us was row FIFTY-THREE. There were small glass orbs on the shelves, labelled neatly. There were candle brackets set at even intervals and the flames glowed blue.

I could feel the mirror in my pocket again. I gritted my teeth, wondering if I should bring it out and talk to him or not. I decided against it.

"We need to go right, I think." Hermione whispered, raising her lit wand. "Yes. . . that's fifty-four. . ."

"Keep your wands out." Harry said softly.

Harry led, though I was close behind. My mouth was dry and for the first time, I was glad that Susan and Ernie were here. I was glad that I wasn't the only Hufflepuff. I was glad that I had two true friends here with me.

"We're going to be okay." I murmured to the two of them. They both nodded.

Harry was passing rows so fast that he was barely checking the numbers and it was getting harder to keep up with him.

"Ninety-seven!" Hermione whispered and we stopped.

"He's right down at the end. You can't see properly from here. . ." Harry said nervously.

My heart dropped. Trang wasn't here. I'd led my friends into danger and Trang wasn't even here. I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration.

"Harry?" Hermione asked tentatively.

"Somewhere about. . . here. . ." Harry was saying.

"He's not here!" I said sharply. "And Trang isn't either." I stamped my foot, frustrated. I couldn't punch anything because everything was made of glass. I contented myself with ripping my hairband out of my hair, shaking out the ponytail.

"Harry?" Ron called after a few minutes as no one else had spoken. Susan had a supportive hand on my shoulder.

"What?" Harry snarled and I knew that he too, was feeling a bit like a fool.

"Have you seen this?" Ron asked and I looked up hesitantly. Harry hurried to him asking, "What?"

"What?" Harry asked glumly as we all surrounded him.

"It's- it's got your name on it." Ron said, pointing at one of the small glass spheres.

I raised my wand higher and saw that the date mark was sixteen years ago. The handwriting was spidery and read:

S.P.T to A.P.W.B.D. Dark Lord and (?) Harry Potter

"What is it? What's your name doing down here?" Ron asked.

"It's a prophecy." I spoke now. "That's what all of these are. They're prophecy's. It's what Voldemort wants. It's a prophecy about him and you. Since he couldn't come and get it, he needed you to come and get it. The memory was always fake. Trang coming home was just a coincidence."

"Harry, I don't think you should touch it." Hermione said sharply.

"If you don't remove it." I said, "Voldemort will never get it. But at the same time, It's important that Dumbledore knows what it says. You're the only one who can make that decision Harry."

"What do you think I should do?" Harry asked me, and we had a bit of a staring contest.

"Well..." I said slowly. "If you give me a second, I think I'll be able to foresee that prophecy without you even touching it. However, if you don't take it, Voldemort will keep attempting to get it. I think your best bet is to grab it and smash it when we get out of here."

"Smash it?" Ernie asked incredulously.

"Yes." I said evenly. "And we need to hurry. I'm sure the Death Eaters are around here somewhere. Make up your mind Harry."

Harry hesitated and then he grabbed it. "We'll smash it then."

"I don't think so." A sneering voice said behind us. "Give that prophecy to me, Potter"

We all turned around and my face paled, my heart dropping. Lucius Malfoy stood there, his wand raised in one hand, the other wrapped around Trang, her glasses askew, and a wand pressed against her neck.

⬅️➡️

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