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fantisyoflove · 4 months

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Snape's First Year Teaching {Part 3}

⚠️ mentions of death ⚠️

Chapter word count: 7446

Total work word count: 24,244

...

Things seemed to turn in your favor as Severus was actually being... nice! He said 'hello' to you in the halls, he waved you over to him during meals, he asked about your day. You felt like a complete 180 had happened over night.

Unknown to you it basically had. During his meeting with Dumbledore he was given the task of getting close to you. Dumbledore had said you were close with several death eaters and this was the 'in' he has been looking for and if Snape got close to you then you would bring him into your world and he could get closer to Voldemort. This was Dumbledore's plan all along, getting Snape in. All he had to do was attach himself to you and rise up in the ranks with the death eaters.

*that night*

"The Burke girl seems quite taken with you." Dumbledore said fondly.

Snape raised an eyebrow, hands behind his back, he fidgeted with his fingers, "I haven't noticed." He said blankly.

Dumbledore nodded and sipped his brandy, "She is pure blood."

"Oh?"

"There is a gathering in a few months... it would benefit us if someone was there to listen in." He said waving his hand dismissively.

Snape nodded, " You want me to become friends with her and gain access..."

"Actually Snape, I was hope you could get closer to her than that." Snape was taken aback. Truly started he didn't know how to respond.

"Sir?"

"Snape, this is a delicate time. She will not involve you in important meetings if you are merely a 'friend'...." Dumbledore leaves the tension in the air.

He sips his brandy.

"I can't" Snape says flatly.

"But of course you can! It doesn't mean anything and she won't know until everything has worked in our favor... hopefully. You said, Snape, that you would do anything to protect her?" Dumbledore was looking right at Snape.

Snape felt like Dumbledore was hiding something but he couldn't be for certain. He remembered what Melyra had said about his palms, he leaned into the feeling. Suddenly he felt himself overwhelmed with feelings that he knew weren't his own. He pulled back again, Dumbledore didn't seem phased at all. He plunged back into the feelings and the overwhelming feeling of betrayal, contempt, and secret fell over him. He pulled back again and nodded to Dumbledore.

"I will see what I can do."

"I'm counting on you Snape. You are my only hope."

Snap felt sick but he nodded again. He couldn't disappoint Dumbledore.

***

You leaned into the attention if it meant completing your mission for Dumbledore. You had to find out if Snape had an in with the Death Eaters meeting next month at the Malfoy Manor.

One night you asked Snape if he wanted to come to your place and grade papers together. He accepted a little too quickly for his normal hesitant self but you took it as your attempts to draw him into a more physical relationship actually working. You started wearing perfume that you knew would draw him in.

He had a very distinct smell of parchment, herbs, and pepper specifically. You actually really liked his smell, it reminded you of your greenhouse and of a library at the same time.

Together you sat in your flat, Snap at the table and you laying on the floor. The silence wasn't too still as the scape of your quills continuously writing kept a steady sound around you both. You listened to Snape's subtle breaths and suddenly noticed his breathing changed and you cast your eyes on him without moving your head. He was looking in your direction, then he ducked his head suddenly, only to look right back at you. You held yourself still, faking the controlled concentration you were trying to emulate.

"You close to done?" He asked

You pretended to try and find a good spot to stop in your grading to them acknowledge him. "Hmm?" you hummed in response. He signed in exasperation.

"Are you done yet?" he said exhausted.

"Mmhm, I think so for the night at least. " You grinned at him.

"Well then I guess I should get going..." He started packing up his supplies.

You snorted, "Please Snape, Let me make you a cup of tea and we can sit for awhile, maybe talk .."

He gave you a perplexed look but nodded. He finished pack up his things and you watched his every move.

The way his thick solid hands grabbed onto his ink well and quill with such a delicate touch. His fingers just dusting over each item before putting it away with such elegant flourishes.

Snape felt your gaze and was very confused how you would be making tea just by staring at him.

He raised an eyebrow at you and stared straight at you point blank.

"Well...?"

"Oh right," you giggled. "sorry."

You brushed against his arm as you entered the kitchen and started the kettle. He thought it was weird how little you used magic and thought it odd given what Dumbledore had said about you.

You settled a scoop of tea leaves each into two mugs. Once the kettle was whistling you poured the water into each mug.

"Milk? Sugar?"

"A splash and two teaspoons"

You raised an eyebrow, "... Please" he finished unsure your intentions.

You smiled and complied, "You like your tea sweet?"

"Yes." he said defensively as he took his cup and saucer.

You smiled and hummed to yourself as you added a splash of milk into your mug and two teaspoons. You stirred it together and took a tentative sip.

Snape's watched you closely.

"Hmm" you hummed, " I like it! You have good taste." You moved to the couch and Snape followed a little perplexed.

"How do you usually take your tea?" He inquired

"Oh well I don't know, I don't really drink tea often.." You trailed off taking a sip of your tea and looking around the room absentmindedly.

"Hmph" He scoffed and gulped at his tea. It was the perfect temperature and had a hint of lavender to it.

The way you lounged on the couch, completely at home and comfortable in your space, was the perfect opposite to Snape. Sitting up straight, back against the back of the couch, both feel on the floor. The picture of perfect posture.

"So," he took another sip. "Is this 'hanging out'?" he rested the mug on his knee holding it with both hands.

"Well yea Severus, I mean we could talk. You could tell me a story. Or we could just enjoy the silence."

"I would like the silence." he said flatly. You suppressed a bemused smile and nodded. With you back against the armrest, legs tucked under you, you set your tea down on the side table and leaned your head back with your eyes closed.

Severus was staring at his cup of tea but felt his eyes drifting to you. He watched you, the way your chest rose and fell, how your fingers fidgeted; your pointer finger tracing along your thumb over and over. The way your eyelashes fluttered every so often. Suddenly he got a thought and focused himself, slowly allowing his mind to meet yours. A rush of pure calm came over him, how could you be so calm and relaxed?!

He pushed a little more and saw himself, during breakfast, reading and sipping a glass of pumpkin juice. The feeling of content and warmth that surrounded this memory was overwhelming for him. He pulled back out and was glad to see you still in the same position, eyes closed, because he had to bring his hand up to wipe a few tears that had trickled down his face. He turned away from you and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and pointer finger. Then he took several large sips of his tea. Clearing his throat he got up and went to the kitchen to pour some more water into his mug.

You opened your eyes, your head tilting to the side. You felt a soft smile on your lips and watched him move about the kitchen. He seemed to be getting more comfortable in your home. Which was a good sign. You felt like he was actually starting to open up to the idea that you both were getting close to one another. You tried not to have real feelings for him but the more time you spent with him the more you felt for him.

If Dumbledore was right then Snape was on your side in this war which means .. potentially.. maybe... you both could continue this afterwards too. It was a dumb thought, you had made an unbreakable vow to never disclose the truth to Severus and you knew he wouldn't be pleased once he finds out this whole thing started out with lies and deceit.

"Severus ..." you begin.

"Hmm?" He hums while stirring his tea.

"You know the Malfoy family?"

"Of course, why?" He pauses in his stirring and taps his spoon on the edge of the cup before putting it back on the counter. He was trying to be nonchalant but inside his mind was running a million miles a minute.

"Well I was wondering if they had invited you to the... to a small dinner they are having with some particular friends?" You held his gaze. You were meant to get him in, you had the means, and see what they knew and what he would do with the information. Severus rose one eyebrow and took a small sip of his tea. He moved back to the couch and sat down.

"I haven't had the pleasure, no." He said flatly.

You sat up, crossing your legs, "well I barely know anyone at these things... maybe you would like to come with me." You squeezed you fingers tight in your lap and kept your face neutral. This would be the turning point, this would tell you weather Dumbledore was right or not. You were so nervous, what if he declined.

"Well," he said after a beat. "I'm not much one for dinner parties but if you'll be there too...." He trailed off as he set his tea down on the end table beside him. You leaped at him wrapping him in a hug, "oh thank you, Severus! Thank you thank you" you squeezed him one more time and then jumped up off the couch.

Severus was frozen. Why had you hugged him? What did that mean? Was this how friends acted or was he better at this "more than friends" thing Dumbledore hinted at. 'I am going to break her heart' he thought bitterly and suddenly his mood was very gloomy.

You ran to your table and scribbled a note onto a scrap of parchment then whistled out the open window. Your owl flew in, fluffed their feathers, and clicked their beak affectionately. You tied the paper to their leg and with a stroke to their head told them to bring it to your father. A small who and they were off.

"What's that for?" Severus asked hesitantly.

"Oh just to tell my father I will be bringing a plus one to dinner. It would be terrible to show up without first informing our hosts."

.......

The days leading up to the dinner Severus was very nervous. About being your date or about finally having an in with the death eaters and the possibility of getting closer to Voldemort he wasn't too sure. He tried to be as subtle as possible but unfortunately he hadn't mastered the art of subtilty.

He handed, more like shoved into your hand, a flower he had picked then quickly left with his head down. You couldn't help but smile and shake your head and then shoo the students that had stopped to gawk.

Then he came to get some herbs from your greenhouse and while you were reaching up for the jar he blurted out, "You look nice today!" You turned back to him with a smile. "Oh? Well thank you." You were covered in dirt and your hair was slowly slipping out of the bun you had pinned to the top of your head. You wiped your forehead with the back of your hand, because of course you were also sweating profusely in the hot greenhouse, and managed to smear a nice line of dirt across your forehead as well. Snape flushed pink and then excused himself.

During dinner one night you rested your hand on his forearm. He was filled with anxious thoughts of you finding out about him, about seeing him for how he actually is, of finally breaking whatever curse you were under that made you want to be around him. He had convinced himself you didn't actually like him, because who could like someone like him, but you were just falling for this fake persona he was putting on to make you want to be with him. But then your hand rested on his arm and all those thoughts left his mind at once. He felt the pull to your mind and soaked in the warm feeling that was you.

'I can't do this' he thought bitterly.

.......

The day before you and Severus were set to leave for the dinner at Malfoy Manor, Severus paid Dumbledore a visit.

"Headmaster, I am not sure it is wise to use the Burke girl like this"

Dumbledore had his back to him and was looking out the window.

"Oh, Severus," He sighed. "Lily Potter is pregnant. Due at the end of July..." He trailed off as he turned to face Snape.

Space grabbed onto the headmasters desk to steady himself, "...no" he breathed.

"Yes." Dumbledore nodded sullenly. "You know the prophecy as well as I." The realization dawned on him.

"You must protect her!"

“You disgust me,” said Dumbledore, so much contempt in his voice. Snape seemed to shrink a little, “You do not care, then, about the deaths of her husband and child? They can die, as long as you have what you want?”

Snape said nothing, but merely looked up at Dumbledore.

“Hide them all, then,” he croaked. “Keep her — them — safe. Please.”

“And what will you give me in return, Severus?”

“In — in return?” Snape gaped at Dumbledore but after a long moment he said, “Anything.”

.....

Snape went with you to Malfoy Manor, you both entered through the rear door so you could change robes before anyone saw you.

Snape felt silly for not thinking of what he would wear to such an event. Then he felt utterly ashamed and embarrassed when you asked to pick something out of his closet and you couldn't find anything 'suitable'. You had just shrugged and said you would find him something perfect to wear.

You held his hand as you dragged him up the stairs and then gave him a small push into a room and shutting the door before anyone could see you.

You two had spent a lot of time alone but suddenly it felt different this time to Severus. Alone with you in a room that only had a bed in it. He wondered if you were thinking the same thing as you started digging in a closet and pulling out dressing bags.

"I had my house elf put these in here for us. Let's change and get down stairs before more people arrive." You set the bags on the bed and open the zippers. "this one is for you." You say patting the dark almost black green robes in front of him.

Snape feels the material between his fingers, something very expensive. "You didn't have to do this." He says softly, head downcast.

"What? Severus I wanted to do this for you." You said touching his shoulder. He turned to face you and you pulled him into a hug, your arms wrapped around his waist. Severus didn't know what to do at first but slowly he raised them and wrapped them around your shoulders.

"It's the least I can do for you choosing to come with me." You squeezed him tight once more and then turn around and start undressing.

Snape was frozen, you were taking your clothes off. You were taking your clothes off with him in the room. You were taking your clothes off with him in the room, a room that only had a bed in it. He took in a sharp breath.

You turned around quickly, worried something was wrong, your shirt completely undone. Snape's jaw dropped and he quickly threw his hands up over his eyes and spun around.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't see anything! I swear!"

You giggled, "Oh Severus," you push his shoulder playfully and turn back around to keep changing. "You act like you've never seen a woman change clothes before! We are both adults, right?" you tease.

Severus uncovers his eyes and peaks over his shoulder, "Well yes we are both adults, but umm no"

"No?" you question not turning around as you let your skirts fall to the ground.

"my" Severus says in such a small voice you almost aren't sure if you actually heard him. He cleared his throat, "umm no, never."

You turn around now, just in your bra and panties. They are a lacey black set, he is almost sure its the same ones he saw on your bed the first time he was in your flat.

"Well, now you have." you say simply with a shrug and pull on your blouse and start buttoning it.

Severus's eyes were wide and he wasn't sure to do now. The pit of his stomach was hot and heavy and he was feeling a lot of pressure in his trousers. He was very grateful his cloak was still around his shoulders because it covered him perfectly.

You stepped into your skirts and turn around, "Can you tie this for me, Severus?" You asked. Severus was frozen in place, ' this isn't real' he thought.

"Severus?"

"Oh um yes, sorry, what do I do?" He stepped forward and took the laces in his hands. You felt him shaking.

"Pull them tight like a tennis shoe and then tie them together at the top." You sucked in your stomach and held the front of the shirt where you wanted it.

It took Severus a few tries to get it tied right, he hands were shaking so bad.

"Are you going to change?" You asked as you untied the ribbons from your hair and shook it out.

"I am.. I was jjus.. Maybe could you. Can you promise not to look?" he stuttered out.

You gave him a soft smile and touched his cheek, "I promise I won't look." You whispered and turned to the door, hands held over your eyes.

Severus waited a moment and then slowly started taking off his cloak. He kept his eyes on you as he pulled off his shoes and then pulled his tucked in shirt out of his pants.

You heard his belt clink and then the leather slapped against itself as he pulled it free from his pants. The sound created a knot in your stomach. You knees squeezed together involuntarily and you were shocked how something so simple seemed to ... turn you on. You felt your breath catch as you heard his pants hit the floor. Not seeing what he was doing was also very thrilling and seemed to add to the growing arousal.

Severus was so worried you would see his almost naked body and be disgusted with him. He tried to tuck his erection into his waistband so it wasn't sticking straight out as he pulled on the dress robes. He thought maybe he could calm himself down by touching your mind again. You wouldn't be thinking like he was. As he did the buttons down his chest he felt for your thoughts. An overwhelming rush of arousal and pure lust washed over him. His knees felt weak and his hard cock started twitching, precum leaking out. He pulled away so fast and fell backward onto the floor coming back to himself fully.

"Severus! Are you okay? Can I look? What happened?" Pure concern poured from your mouth.

"Fine, fine, just slipped. Wait a minute longer." He said quickly. His skin felt hot and far too sensitive for the heavy fabric draped around him.

Finally he told you you could turn around. He looked absolutely handsome although a little sweaty. 'He must be nervous' you thought.

"Come on lets get down stairs." You said holding out your hand for him.

"Is there, umm like a bathroom? I could use? Could I just have a moment?"

"Oh yea, just through that door. I'll wait in the hall and make sure no one is coming, okay?"

Severus nodded, "yea perfect thank you." He waited until you left first and then went into the bathroom and cast a silencing charm and a stronger lock spell.

With a long deep sigh he undid his belt and the button on his trousers. He let them fall to the ground and then sent his boxers down with them. Taking his cock in his hand he whimpered at the touch.

He thought about how perfect your body looked in next to nothing. The soft curves around your hips and the fullness to your thighs. He thought about how soft your skin would feel under his fingers.

He recalled the deep arousal he felt from you, that couldn't have been because of him, no it was because of something else you were thinking about. His hand stroked along his length again and again. His breathing became shallow and he closed his eyes and let his head lean back against the door. He was so close. He needed to hurry up. He thought about you on the couch, watching your head hanging back as your chest rose and fell. He thought about you looking like that with him on top of you.

He jerked faster, letting his thumb brush the tip of his cock to bring the beads of precum down along his cock.

He thought about the sounds you would make if he got the chance to do everything he thought of to you. The sound of his name on your lips was the last thought he had before he came, his hips spasming into his hand. He groaned and pressed his head into the door.

Casting another spell to clean everything up he righted his clothes and set his face. One more deep breath and then he joined you out in the hall.

You lead him down the stairs and stopped at the last landing. You grab his hand and pull his arm into yours. He isn't shaking anymore but you feel a tremble in your hands. He covers your hand with his and gives you a small smile.

"Ready?" he ask

He nods. Together you descend the steps, Severus feels a strange energy come over you. From the corner of his eye he can see your face. It looks like stone from here. He caresses along your mind and instead of feeling the usual warm glow of your presence, he feels a dark and cold wall of steel. He can't push further into your mind he realizes, how you did this baffles him, he will have to remember to ask you to teach him this spell. He would right now but he didn't want you to know that he was spying into your mind.

The next few hours felt like a blur and a fever dream at the same time. Severus was introduced to several people all at once. He noticed the strange looks he got but those faces quickly turned away as your cold icy gaze landed on them.

"I thought you said this would be a 'small' dinner." He whispered harshly into your ear.

"It is.. for the Malfoys" you say coolly. You grab a flute of champagne and motion for Severus to do the same. You trace the rim of the glass with your pinky and then stick your finger in your mouth while casting your eyes around the room.

"Everything alright?" He whispers in your ear. You nod but then grab his hand suddenly and pull him a little fast into the next room, then down a hall, then into a closet before shutting you both in the dark.

Catching your breath you grab onto Severus's shoulders. I don't want to alarm you but I feel I should warn you. I thought that this was going to be a small gathering but more... influential members have come and Mr. Malfoy is serving very high end champagne. Which unfortunately means HE is coming." you hiss quickly to him.

"He? He who?"

"Voldemort" you let the name fall like air but it hits Severus like a boulder.

"Him! He is coming tonight?"

"Yes, I think so. Are you still okay staying here?"

Severus breaths in your scent, was this a test? Dumbledore would want you to stay... was she seeing if you would truly commit to being a death eater like her?

"Yes." He says firmly. You silently curse in your head. You wished he would have said no and you could get him back home safe in his own bed... away from all this mess. You force a cool smile and nod.

"Good, then lets go back." Before she could reach the door handle the whole thing flies open.

"If you are quite finished snogging your little boyfriend in the closet" A tall broad shouldered man said coldly. "Dinner is served."

Severus blushed and stared down at his shoes but you held your head high.

"Oh daddy, we just wanted some time to ourselves. You know how I don't like busy crowds."

The man pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Melyra can you please behave tonight. I want everything to go as planned."

"Of course father. It will all be... perfect." you quipped. Pushing past him you drag Severus along with you.

"Sorry, sir" he says as he passes.

"Don't apologies to him," you hiss. "He interrupted us!" you sneer.

Severus glances back at your father who just shakes his head and rolls his eyes. Severus wasn't too sure why you were acting so different but it must be a habit you uphold in certain company.

At the table he pulls out your chair for you and then sits to your left. You father unfortunately sits beside him and a woman who looks very similar to you sits on your right.

"Mother."

"Melyra"

You both sounds cold to one another but Severus saw how she squeezed your hand under the table and how you squeezed back.

You lean towards Severus your lips brushing his ear, "love is seen as weakness to those who can not feel it"

He furrows his brow at you and begins to ask what you mean when the clinking of a glass catches his attention.

The grand double doors at the end of the great dinning room glide open and several buff and mean looking wizards stomp through before parting to allow a single man. Tall, thin, and looking a pale grey with snake like eyes floated into the room. Everyone stood, he sat at the head of the table, everyone sat after him.

"Friends..." his voice was hollow and echoed in the otherwise silent room. "... let us eat." Lucius raised a hand and food appeared on the table top just like back at Hogwarts.

Much to Severus's disappointment nothing crucial was said during dinner but he had kept a mental tab on all the names he learned that night. That would be at least something to tell Dumbledore.

.......

The warm summery weather had gave way to the bitter cold fall and then the freezing winter. Snow fell freely along the Scottish hillsides. You loved the snow and curiously Severus did not.

You found him bundled up in his office a steaming cup of tea on his desk as he scribbled away over some parchment.

"Severus it's snowing! Let's go for a walk."

He closed his eyes in exasperation and then looked up at you, "we've been over this before, Lyra, I do not care for the outdoors and least of all the cold."

You sigh dramatically and flop down in the chair across from him. "Ssseeevvveeerrrruuuussss" you whined.

Severus had to push his lips together to stop from smiling. He loved the way you said his name, especially when you were trying to get your way. He also loved how you refused to sit anywhere "normally". You had one leg over the arm rest and your shoulders and head hanging off the other side in a dramatic faint. He promised Dumbledore he would get close to you and he was very grateful that it was so easy to like you. Leaning back in his chair he rested his elbows on the armrests and steepled his fingers.

"Miss Burke. Is this really how you will be conducting yourself?"

You peeked one eye open, "yes!" And closed it again.

Severus sighed, "let me get my coat."

"Yes!" You shouted jumping up and pumping both arms in the air.

Severus rolled his eyes but when he turned to go upstairs he couldn't help but smile to himself.

...

You walked next to Severus, snow flakes falling around you guys. He tucked his chin into his scarf and gave an exaggerated shiver.

"I don't know why you insist on walking outside. We can walk just as easily inside the halls... where it is warm!" he said pointedly.

You giggled, "Oh Severus, the outside air is good for you! And besides its not that cold out! AND look how pretty it is when it snows!" You held your arms out and did a twirl almost slipping on an icy patch. Severus gave you an unimpressed look.

"My point exactly, not only is it cold, you almost slipped! Who knows what would have happened." He started walking ahead of you. "Could have hit your silly little head on the ground and then what? You start having to teach muggles studies because you've lost so many brain cells."

You roll your eyes and tuck your hands into your pockets and speed walk to catch up to him, his long legs carrying him further faster than your shorter ones. You watch his soft curls bounce as he walks and get an idea. Running ahead you cut him off and stop in front of him making him stop too.

"Kiss me."

He startles and a soft choking sound, "www.hat?" he stuttered.

You took a bold step closer, "you heard me, kiss me" you stared straight into his eyes until he looked away.

"You don't wanna kiss me" he said bitterly his eyes cast down and to the side avoiding you all together. He tried to shoulder past you angerly his hands buried in his pockets.

You caught his cloak and pulled him closer to you, your foggy breath curling around him, you are a foot away from him one strong tug would pull him into your space.

Severus was breathing heavily, you didn't mean it, you were teasing him, trying to humiliate him. You didn't mean it, you were teasing. he repeated in his mind. He wouldn't look at you. You didn't mean it, you didn't mean it....

"Severus." Your tone pulled him out of his trance and he felt his body forced to look at you, but the look in your eyes made him turn away immediately.

"Sev, kiss me."

"First of all, don't call me that. Secondly, you don't want to kiss me" he said. He sounded like he was scolding one of his students.

"Do you not want to kiss me?" You said giving your best sorrowful voice.

"No!" he said in a panic. "no," he said softer. "you don't want to kiss me Lyra, just stop"

You pouted, "I understand, if you don't want to kiss me please just say so..."

"It's not that... persay.. Lyra please..." You closed the distance between you two. Sharing his air you fixed the collar of his cloak and his scarf, you felt his breath catch. "Lyra" his whispered in a heavy breath. "you don't..."

"I want you, Severus." you said firmly and giving his lapels a hard pull. You two were nose to nose now. You traced your nose along his jaw, your breath was hot and quick. "If you don't want to kiss me, tell me." you say into his ear. Your lips are ghosting against his cheek his breath is coming out fast now. You pull back to look into his eyes.

"I've never..." He starts

"Me either." you cut in, that surprised him. His eyebrows disappearing into his bangs.

"you don't want..."

"Don't tell me what I want Severus!" You say firmly. "Do.You.Want.To.Kiss.Me?" you enunciate every word.

Nodding his head he hisses so softly, "yes"

"Then kiss me" you say as you press your temple against his. His body responds and he leans into you. His hands are still balled into fists in his pockets. His breath is ragged and he presses his head into yours. "kiss me" you whisper again nuzzling against him. He nuzzles back, "I.." he chokes out but you are looking at him now. Your cheeks pink from the cold your eyes looking directly at him. He licks his lips, and then licks them again.

Then all at once he rushes forward, you are startled by the sudden movement, but then he stops right before his lips meet yours. Your hand cups his cheek, you forgot your gloves, you look one more time into his eyes and then close the breath of space between you two. Severus puckers his lips to kiss you and you move your hand along his cheek to the back of his head and put a little pressure there. You don't want to scare him away but you want him to know that you want this just as much, or even more, than he does.

You lick along his bottom lip, a small moan escapes the back of his throat and you use that to explore his mouth with your tongue. His tongue responds in kind. The kiss deepens. You gasp against his lips and then his along his cheek. He is gasping and trying to calm himself when you whisper in his ear,

"Do you want to touch me?"

He nods furiously, his hands coming out of his pockets finally and one cupping your chin the other diving into your hair. He steers your lips back to his and kisses you again and again. You are giggling now as he kisses all over your face. One final kiss on the tip of your nose and he finally pulls away. You see the fog of tears welling in his eyes.

"You are so beautiful." You say, Severus blushes .

"Stop. I am a pathetic mess." He pushes you away and shoves his hands back into his pockets.

You grab onto his cloak and pull him back to you, "don't you dare push me away. You always do this, Sev, as soon as I get closer you try and shove me out. I am not leaving just because everyone else has. Let me like you, let me kiss you, let me be with you! I think I've earned at least a little benefit of the doubt." You have a little bite to your tone.

Severus won't meet your eyes. You grab his chin and make him face you. His eyes are still down cast, you kiss him anyways. His body responds to you, leaning in kissing you back.

"You are so beautiful like this" you kiss him your tongue begging for entrance from his lower lip. He lets you in, "I like you like this."

He pulls away, "I'm weak" he snarls. You grab both sides of his collar and pull him in a little rougher than you originally intended. "You are NOT weak." You press your forehead into his.

"I like you like this because you are finally being yourself. I like Severus as his is. He doesn't need to hide or filter himself for me." You rub your cheek against his. He finally looks at you, tears still threatening to spill out of his eyes.

"Do you mean that?"

"Of course I do" You kiss him again. "You are so good" you kiss him more. You felt like you could kiss him forever. At first it was awkward and clumsy but now you both had found a rhythm. You moan against his lips, "You feel so good"

He sucks in a breath, his hands are back on you now. Gripping at your cloak and pulling you in.

"mmhmph," you grunt against his lips. He is holding you tight against him now and you feel something pressing against your thigh.

"Such a strong man" you huff in his ear, his hips jerk and he pulls away embarrassed. You didn't know he could get pinker!

You smile at him, "want to show me how much you like me?" you giggle. He gives a half smile and tries to turn away.

"Please don't," You say and pull him closer.

He shrugs you off, "No we better stop..."

"Why? Do you not like me?"

"NO!" He yells then corrects himself. "I'm sorry, I just.. I like.. like you .. a lot. I just don't want you to ... I don't want you to find out.... I don't want you to think..." He can't get a full sentence out. He feels like he is going to start crying again. You feel your eyes get misty too.

"Severus, I've never done anything like this before... with anyone." You say firmly and step into his space again, he doesn't pull away. "But this," you gesture to the both of you. "Feels right. I want you." He melts against you at those words. You wrap your arms around his neck and pull him in. He won't look at you again, "You don't mean that!" He hisses.

"Severus Snape, Stop pushing me away! I want you. All of you. I want to hold you, I want to kiss you, I want to fuc.." You cut off. His head snaps up and he locks eyes with you.

"What?" He whispers

"I mean.. eventually.. when you are ready .. I would like.. like my first ... time..." Now you are sputtering.

He searches your face and even peaks into your mind and all he can see, all he can feel, is himself kissing you over and over again. He doesn't know what to do with all these feelings and suddenly a panic rises in his chest.

You see the panic in his eyes, "don't feel like you have to! Say the word and I'll back off.. I just thought.. you know.. with the way things are.. that YOU might want to.. and if you did.. I want you to also know... that I also... want to..." You are rambling and stuttering and a complete mess now.

Severus touches your lips, they have started to look puffy from the kissing and a little redder. Then he holds the back of your head and pulls you into him to kiss you. His other hand wraps around your waist and pulls your body against his, you fit together so perfectly. You gasp and then moan, a whimper escapes his lips.

"Come on," you say as you pull him along with you.

"Where are we going?"

"To my flat, we are going to clean up and then we are going to snuggle in my bed!"

Severus's eyes go wide but he doesn't feel like there is really a choice here even though he would choose you again and again. If you gave him the choice his shame and trauma might tell him to go away to his own room and sulk but you wouldn't let him. If he really didn't want you he would have made that perfectly clear. You knew he was just pushing you away because he was afraid of letting anyone close to him. But you would get close to him even if you had to do all the work yourself!

Back in your home you take turns showering. You go first and Severus sits awkwardly perched on your coach until you are done. You come out in just a towel to tell him its his turn.

He nods wordlessly and goes into the bathroom. You go to your room and quickly cast a cleaning spell and put on a pair of comfy pajamas. You lay out some for Severus too.

He asks you to close your eyes again and you do. You pull the covers up over your head and wait until you feel him sit on the edge of the bed.

"Good?" you ask as you peak out. He is smiling "yes" he says exasperated

"Good! Come here." You pat the bed next to you. Severus reluctantly climbs over and sits on top of the covers.

You roll your eyes and climb out from under the covers. You settle down next to him your body turned to him and you pull at his shirt, guiding him to lay turned to you as well.

You trace your finger along his face. Down his nose, along his jaw, over his hairline, and across each cheek.

"You are so beautiful." You say again and kiss his nose.

"Whatever" he mumbles under his breath. "I am disgusting" He hisses and turns away from you.

You huff. "Sev! For all the magic in the world could you just please once enjoy a moment with me! I know it's hard to believe that you are cared for and you are important to me and that I'll never hurt you but I don't know what to do!" You feel tears prick your cheeks.

"Please" you whisper defeated.

He turns back to you, "Don't cry" he holds you against his chest.

"Then stop pushing me away. I want you, all of you, all the time. I want you in my heart and in my head." He just stares at you dumbly.

"I love you" he breaths and kisses you. You are afraid if you acknowledge it it will scare him away so you just keep kissing him. Pulling him closer to you, feeling the outline of his body against yours.

"Severus" you moan and his body jerks towards you. Your chest pressing against him and suddenly the burning in your tummy moves south and you feel a lot of your own wetness. The very pronounced outline of his cock pressed against your clit. His hips start stuttering against you. You pull him in closer, whimpers and moans escape his lips without a care in the world.

"My beautiful man, so strong, mmmph you feel so good, I want you, more Severus, ugh please" You breathe against his lips and then into his ear as he ruts against your thigh. You pull his hips tight and kiss his neck, this seems to be very sensitive as his hips sputter and regain the rhythm they had before. He cries out and then jerks away but you were ready for this and your grip on him tightens and you thrust your thigh between his leg and let him dry hump against you until he is spent. You hold him close to your body.

You moan in his ear and sigh "Severus." You kiss along his jaw and then down his neck. His hips thrust against you again causing him to cry out. His neck was very sensitive.

He catches his breath finally, "I... I'm sorry" he says softly.

"Don't be" you insist and pull him in for another kiss but this time he pulls back in earnest.

"I told you I am disgusting." He tries to get up but you push him back on the bed. You straddle his waist and rest your hands on his chest.

"You are beautiful to me." You pull your wand from the bun in your hair and let it tumble down your shoulders. A small flick and you had dried his pants and then tossed it onto the bedside table.

You leaned to kiss him but he turned away.

"Severus..." you whined. With a sigh he turned back to you, his eyebrows knitted together.

"You don't have to do anything right now." You kiss his lips even though his own don't meet yours. "But I will be here. If you wanna do something like this again." You nose against his neck and a shiver goes down his spine. "Or something more..." You roll your hips over his and he awards your efforts with soft whimper.

You smile, climb off of him, and snuggle yourself into him. One leg hooked onto his and your head on his chest. The soft beat of his heart settles you.

"Stay with me tonight." you mumble against his side. Severus put one hand behind his head and the other hesitated trying to find a comfortable place to rest before he let it touch lightly on your hip. His fingers danced along your waistband and then settled over your hips.

"Tonight?" he whispered. "Anything for you." He kissed the top of your head and heard your breathing slow and become even. He felt so relaxed and at peace. He reached for your mind then and felt completely at ease. He let the feeling surround him and drifted off to sleep holding you close to him.

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cheshiresense · 1 year

Text

Anon:

Fandom: Harry Potter (CLV kinda?)

Character or Ship: Hadrian from CLV, I love Hadrian/Orion but that might not work here so it's totally up to you!

AU/Trope: I'd love to see an AU where instead of the CLV dimension, Hadrian is sent to a universe still with BWL!Neville but more similar to canon. Maybe with Slytherin!Hadrian and Hadrian taking some of the other Slytherins under his wing? I just really like the idea of a world where the "good guys" win and instead of (or in addition to) Orion it's the Slytherins who need Hadrian in their corner. Doesn't have to be all of them, whoever you prefer writing is fine. I am also down for bashing if you need to work that in. Thank you!

Tags: CLV AU, Slytherin!Hadrian, Canonical Prejudices, Draco Malfoy Bashing, kind of?, tbh this is more or less how I see him in canon lol but I know he's a fan favourite so fair warning, he's not the CLV version here, at least not yet.

-0-

Author's Notes: Hello, it's been a while since I've worked on these. I think I mentioned before that my tumblr inbox got glitchy so I actually couldn't find the other 6 requests from the last batch of 10 you guys sent in for 5+ Headcanons. So I set up an airtable form instead and got someone to test it, and this was the one they sent. It works, so in the future, I'll toss out a new post with the form link for more requests, and maybe I'll get through them in a timely manner lol.

If you're not in the UraIchi server, then you might've noticed that I've sort of been MIA on the writing front for a while now, the last time I wrote and posted something was like back in May last year, and honestly I've been kind of tired and burnt out ever since, and real life is kicking my ass a bit, so when I do have spare time, all I feel like doing is reading fics or webnovels and sleeping. But the winter hols were a nice break for me, and I've started on a couple new fic ideas and added to some wips on and off over the past few months, so I'm slowly getting back into it, and this 5+ Headcanons prompt was one of the things I've been working on. Hopefully, I'll be able to get back into posting fics soon.

ANYWAY, on to the stuff you actually care about: Slytherin!Hadrian, so basically amp up the hardened war vet and dial down the friendship magic XD Way back when I first started CLV, I did consider Slytherin for his House but it felt like everybody did that, plus the politics I would have to get into gave me a headache and I felt like I couldn't do it justice anyway, so I went with Hufflepuff. Slytherin does give me more options to play with a powerful Hadrian who has less morals about flinging that around to get what he wants though since he would be viewed as a halfblood at best and he'd need that currency to make sure nobody messes with him, especially if this universe is more canon than CLV (lbr, almost everybody is at least 50% nicer in CLV lol). So okay, let's give this a spin.

(AO3 Link Here -- I’ll add this to the collection fic on my AO3 to make it a round 15 but this one will be the last for that. If I do more, I’ll start a new fic.)

-0-0-0-

Hadrian ends up being a Hatstall. He sits on the stool for a full seven minutes as the Sorting Hat sifts through his bloodstained memories with a silence so grim Hadrian is tempted to comfort it. Then it proceeds to send back memories of its own, the major points of recent Hogwarts history that would best help Hadrian fit in - Neville, the Boy-Who-Lived; an image of Hadrian's counterpart and an entire family still alive; Quirrell vanquished in first year, a basilisk slain and a diary that bled itself to death in the second, Remus teaching in the third but no Pettigrew in sight; Neville at odds with Potter, Gryffindors at odds with Slytherins, and Death Eater children who hadn't managed to come out of the last war as financially and politically secure as families like the Malfoys, subtly shunned for their parents' sins, while children from the Light side, the winning side, with parents who'd openly defied Voldemort, can do almost no wrong. On the surface, everything looks bright and happy. Beneath it, malcontent and despair bubbles and brews with hardly anyone the wiser, and those who are, are glad to look away.

The Sorting Hat offers no opinions of its own after it is done, only continuing on to extol the virtues of all four Houses while making an argument for why Hadrian would be perfectly suited for each of them in equal measure, before finally leaving the decision in Hadrian's hands.

"Even I cannot be certain where you would do the most good," the Sorting Hat tells him. "Nor do I know which House would do you the most good. There are many children in this school who could use a helping hand such as yours, and likewise, you too would benefit from the same. Who am I to decide which is more important? Perhaps it is most accurate to say that no matter where you end up, who you will help, and who you will allow to help you, a new future will unfold, one made possible only by your existence. Yours is a fate that demands change, Mr. Evans, for better or for worse. But when peril looms on the distant horizon, when our society insists on blind stagnancy, and its people have long stood divided, change is exactly what this world needs. Thus, I leave the choice to you. Where do you wish to go?"

Hadrian says nothing - thinks nothing - for a long deafening minute. The mounting whispers in the Great Hall are easy enough to tune out, and within the confines of his mind, the Hat too remains patiently silent.

The truth of it is - Hadrian is tired. Even now, in this moment, in this place, one year and an entire dimension and seven years away, he still feels like he does on most days— as if he's just walked off a battlefield at the end of one of those kinds of days that can break a man even when you think there's nothing left to break, yet still hyper-alert for the next enemy, the next fight, the next death, because he doesn't know how to do anything else, how to be anything else. On all the rest, of course, it feels as if he never left the battlefield at all.

He is tired, and he honestly doesn't feel like he's capable of helping anyone, not children, not the reflections of his loved ones, and certainly not an entire world that's rapidly revealing itself to be as stuck on a one-way train to hell as his original world had been.

He doesn't want to be a hero, doesn't know how to be one even after all these years, even when other people had always so desperately wanted him to be. A hero, until he'd proven unable to meet their expectations, and then he'd been their villain, right up until they'd needed a hero to stand in front of them again, and round and round and round they'd gone.

The only thing he could never be was just Harry, just himself, and now even Harry Potter is no longer his to claim.

But maybe that's not so bad, not when Harry Potter has always been more story than reality, a patchwork fairytale portrait of a boy, a man, a weapon, a sacrifice, stitched together by every hand except his own.

Maybe Hadrian Evans could be something different.

Gryffindor feels too much like repeating history, and Hadrian would rather not be forced to stare at the majority of those long dead to him day in and day out. Hufflepuff is too prone to crowding together for his liking, persistently eager to be friends with their own members even if they're quick to turn on those who aren't, and Hadrian doesn't think he can bear the overenthusiastic socializing that would require.

Ravenclaw might be best, a House where even the most introverted can find a home if they have a thirst for knowledge, but at the same time, for a lot of them, once they latch on to a question unanswered or an opinion that doesn't fit their worldview, they won't let go until the question is exhausted or the opinion has conformed to what they consider acceptable, and Hadrian has too many secrets and no more patience to be what others what him to be to fit in with those sorts of people anymore. Besides, he's never quite forgiven that House as a whole. Marietta Edgecombe had been Ravenclaw. Quirrell and Lockhart and Trelawney had been Ravenclaws. Every single one of Luna's bullies had been Ravenclaws. He'd worked with members of that House over the years, taught them back when the DA had been up and running, and even been friendly with some of them beyond just Luna, but generally speaking, he has no positive emotions regarding Ravenclaw. He knows that he isn't being entirely fair, because Voldemort had been from Slytherin, and Pettigrew had been from Gryffindor, and the worst of the lot who'd spearheaded the damaging gossip and baseless accusations incriminating him - first for the Heir of Slytherin debacle in second year, and then the Cup nonsense in fourth year - had all been from Hufflepuff, but still, Ravenclaw simply stands out as that one House that holds no appeal for him.

That really only leaves one place he can go though, and Hadrian finds that he minds that a lot less than he once would've. Slytherin will have its own problems, him being a halfblood at best with a very obvious muggle surname, but Slytherins also respect power, and most of them have the sense to back off if they realize they're picking a fight with an opponent they can't beat. And once that's dealt with, Hadrian will most likely be avoided and left to his own devices, with only the occasional curse to his back to worry about. From a bunch of schoolchildren, that's a negligible issue.

In his head, the Sorting Hat chuckles. "Very well then. If you're sure, better be-"

"SLYTHERIN!"

But Mr. Evans," the Sorting Hat says in the seconds before it's removed from Hadrian's head. It sounds thoroughly amused. "Do not be so quick to underestimate your own heart."

And with that last ominous statement imparted to haunt him, Hadrian stands to lacklustre applause and makes his way to his new House as his tie settles into green and silver stripes.

The briefest of glances over the stretch of the Slytherin table tells him that none of the students seated where most of the fourth-years are gathered have moved to make room for him. That's fine. Hadrian would rather not be boxed in anyway. He takes a seat at the end of the table, smiles at the suspicious first-years around him, and then waits for Dumbledore's opening speech to finish so they can start the feast.

Fifteen minutes later, one treacle tart and a glass of pumpkin juice is all he can manage. He sips at some water for the rest of dinner even as he wishes it was something a lot more alcoholic. He speaks to no one, and no one tries to speak to him, although plenty of prying eyes and sneers of disdain find their way to him throughout the meal.

It makes him feel, Hadrian thinks with some humour, almost nostalgic.

Near the end of the evening, he thinks about going over to the Gryffindor table to find Neville, Ron, and Hermione. But he's in Slytherin now, so he doesn't know how they'll react, and after another moment of contemplation, he decides against it. Not much can embarrass him anymore, but he'd still rather not be put on the spot if the Golden Trio rejects his overture of friendship. It won't help his reputation in Slytherin either if he ends up making a spectacle of himself like that. There's plenty of time tomorrow to see how they'll feel about maintaining ties with a Slytherin without too big of an audience watching, and if they're against it, then, well, it's not as if Hadrian hasn't been living as a recluse over the better part of the past year anyway. He sees no problem carrying on exactly as he has.

Fate sent him here against his explicit permission but she sure as shit can't make him dance.

-0-0-0-

Hadrian ends up shuffled into a dorm room with five very familiar Slytherins - Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Blaise Zabini, and Theodore Nott. He gets the remaining bed that's presumably been empty since the others' first year, and a very pointed silence coalesces at his back as he starts unpacking his clothes into his wardrobe.

He ignores it. Instead, he absently begins a count of how long it will take for someone - he's betting Draco - to put their foot in their mouth first. He casts a glance at the floor-to-ceiling window next to his nightstand; like the Gryffindor dorms, the room is circular so everyone has a view to the outside, but here, instead of winds and open skies, it's lake water that shimmers against the glass, with the shadows of passing aquatic life flickering by. It's not bad, just different; the ambience of it is almost soothing.

Someone clears their throat behind him. Hadrian hangs up his winter cloak before moving on to his books. They each get a desk too, complete with a mini bookcase, which the Gryffindor dorms don't have. They have to do their homework on their beds or in the common room. How unfair. But at least Hadrian gets to benefit from it now.

Someone clears their throat again, louder this time. Hadrian smothers a twist of a smirk and bends over his trunk again to fish out his towels and toiletries. His more personal belongings can remain inside, although he'll have to ward everything to the nines anyway.

A displeased noise that comes out gilded with that distinctly familiar Dudley-esque whine of a child who's been spoiled since birth and has never known hardship reaches his ears, and then finally-

"Are you deaf, Evans?!" Draco demands, and oh, look at that, Hadrian wins the bet.

He straightens and turns, idly fiddling with a packet of quills as his gaze falls on the blond standing puffed up and bristling by the bed opposite Hadrian's on the other side of the dorm. He looks him over, looks at Crabbe and Goyle bracketing him with twin expressions of oafish scorn, looks at Zabini standing a ways away, watching the whole room with a smirk that doesn't reach his eyes, looks at Nott who doesn't look at anyone at all.

His attention returns to Draco, considering him for a moment longer before asking mildly, "Did you say something?"

Draco's cheeks flush pink even as he draws himself up and snaps, "You should at least have enough manners to introduce yourself!" His face narrows into a sneer, and Hadrian can almost predict his next words. "But I suppose even that might be too difficult for a mudblood to learn."

For a second, Hadrian wonders if he should tell him he's a halfblood. Then again, it doesn't really matter, and also some people consider halfbloods to be mudbloods too. And now that he thinks about it, the person he is in this world might actually be a muggleborn. But he was homeschooled so at least one of his fictional parents had to have known magic, right? Then again, they could've just been related to a witch or wizard but were muggles themselves. Who knows. Certainly not him since Fate couldn't be bothered to inform him.

"Evans, are you listening to me?!"

Hadrian blinks out of his thoughts. "Yes, I'm listening, what is it?"

Draco glares. His features are so… pointy at this age that the expression doesn't really carry the impact he's probably going for, but Hadrian figures it would be unnecessarily mean to mention it, so he doesn't. Instead, he quickly reviews everything Draco has said, and there wasn't actually a question anywhere in there, as far as Hadrian can tell, but maybe Draco really does want an introduction. Seems like a waste of breath though.

"Is there a point to introducing myself?" He asks. "Everybody heard my name at the Sorting. You even just used it so it's not like you don't know."

Draco splutters as if that wasn't what he expected Hadrian to say. He recovers after a moment and opts to glower harder instead, as if that would hide the way the pink in his cheeks is slowly turning red. Poor bastard. That's what you get when you have a pale complexion and fluster easily.

"Are you actually a mudblood then?" He demands contemptuously.

Hadrian honestly doesn't know, but he can't say that, so he volleys back, "Does Slytherin accept muggleborns?"

He knows they take halfbloods, but he can't remember any muggleborns in Slytherin, although if there are any, he doubts they would be willing to broadcast it, even if it means inventing a magical parent in their family tree.

"Of course not!" Draco refutes, sounding scandalized.

Hadrian can't tell if that's actually true, or if that's just Draco's own belief, but it does make things easier. "Then…" He shrugs. "If you already know, why are you asking?"

A beat of silence passes, then two. The red deepens in Draco's face as he hisses dramatically, "Are you mocking me?"

Hadrian suppresses a sigh. He probably is being too flippant for someone as high-strung as Draco, but it's still a far sight from mockery. He can definitely do better if he wants to taunt someone. Had his world's Draco been this easily riled up? They hadn't even really gotten into any exchange of insults yet. "I wouldn't say I'm-"

He stops.

Across the room, Draco has pulled out his wand, and when he realizes that Hadrian's broken off mid-sentence, the flush recedes from his face, and a triumphant smirk instantly takes its place instead.

"Since you've been sorted into Slytherin," Draco announces, raising his wand with a ridiculously showy flourish that makes Hadrian twitch with the desire to correct his posture. "You should know your place. Mouthing off to your betters is a good way to get cursed around here, especially when you're in the presence of someone like me." He sneers down his nose even as his chin tips up, all peacock proud. "My name is Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. Even the likes of your kind should've heard of my family." He looks smug, as if a mere surname can protect him from anything when it comes down to it. "You'll be staying here for the next four years, Evans, and I guarantee you'll have a miserable time of it if you get on my bad side. But today's your first day at Hogwarts, so I can be generous. If you apologize, I'll let you go just this once."

An expectant hush falls as Draco finishes his little speech. Hadrian doesn't say anything right away, still turning over the packet of quills in his hands, still waiting. When nothing happens after a good five seconds tick by, and the silence gradually becomes strained, Hadrian finally nods at Draco's wand, "So are you going to use that or not?"

The stunned look of outrage on Draco's face is gold.

"Don't say I didn't warn you, Evans!" Draco snarls, jabbing out with his wand. "Oscausi!"

Hadrian has time to arch an eyebrow at the choice of a pseudo-silencing charm before he's flipping a quill into the fingers of his left hand. A swipe of his thumb leaves a chain of runes glittering along its shaft, and then he brings it up, catches the oncoming spell with the tip, and swats it aside with a flick of his wrist, all in one fluid motion. His right hand doesn't stay still either as his wand slides neatly into his palm, and a single wordless modified Expelliarmus darts out and attaches itself to Draco's wand.

The white light of the Mouth-Sealing Charm is sent soaring across the room, shattering against the door in a shower of harmless sparks, and in the heavy silence that follows, Hadrian smiles.

He thinks it's a very bland smile, if he does say so himself. At the very least, he's careful to not look too intimidating or too unhinged, the way he can sometimes get, if some of his dead friends were to be believed, back during the war. Nevertheless, it still makes Draco blanch white, makes Crabbe and Goyle shrink back, makes Zabini lean further back into a convenient shadow and Nott go utterly still from where he's sitting on his bed.

Hadrian glances down at the remains of his writing utensil, most of the barbs now burnt black. It was a regular quill after all, not exactly made to withstand so much magic. He looks back up, at Draco who has a white-knuckled grip on his wand, and with his own wand, he gives the other's a tug, just enough to make Draco's eyes go wide with something like panic, but not enough to actually disarm him and - considering the sheer amount of honed intent in the charm that even Draco can undoubtedly sense - most likely bend the wand's allegiance.

Hadrian holds it for a moment longer, and then lets go. Draco staggers back a step, jerking his wand down and reflexively pressing it into his chest as if he's trying to protect it, or maybe assure himself that it still belongs to him.

Hadrian tucks his wand back up his sleeve before stooping down to pick up the rest of the quills he'd dropped. The burnt one goes in the bin by his desk.

Nobody speaks. Nobody even moves. So Hadrian does.

"That took you almost five seconds," He begins almost conversationally as he opens a drawer to stash his remaining quills away. "From when you decided to fire that spell to actually firing it. And that's not even counting all the time you wasted saying the stuff before that, after you already took out your wand. It's stupid. When you draw with the intent to harm, you shouldn't give any warning at all. And the spell itself was slow. You should work on that."

He pauses, and there's still no response, which he supposes makes sense. He doubts anybody here wants to listen to him preach. He should just wrap things up since the plan is moving along so neatly.

"Anyway, this is pretty unfortunate," He switches gears and smiles again, as fit-for-public-polite as he knows how to be. It doesn't seem to make anyone feel better, but he also doesn't feel like he was that heavy-handed earlier, was he? Ah well, can't change anything now, and it's still in line with what he wants so it doesn't matter.

"I wasn't really expecting to make any friends since I know the average Slytherin's views on blood isn't exactly in my favour," He continues in light tones. "But I was hoping that we could at least remain on civil terms and get along as schoolmates, if only because we'll be living together for the rest of our time at Hogwarts. Since that doesn't seem to be possible anymore though, how about we just go with the simplest solution?"

Hadrian surveys the room and smiles some more. "You ignore me and I’ll ignore you. You attack me and I'll retaliate. An eye for an eye, so to speak. Everybody just needs to mind their own business, and there won't be any problems. That's fair enough, don't you think?"

His gaze settles once more on Draco. "Since you're the only one who's said anything so far, I'll assume you speak for everyone in this dorm. Draco Malfoy, right? So then, do we understand each other now?"

Across from him, Draco shivers imperceptibly like a rabbit caught at the wrong end of a predator's line of sight, but he also swallows and nods and gingerly puts his wand away. It looks like it costs him, but - at least for now - he seems both too shocked and too afraid to try anything else.

"Great!" Hadrian says cheerfully before cocking his head as a thought occurs to him. "Oh, right, one more thing."

He lets his smile fall away. Lets his expression smooth over into marble. And then he lets his magic flare, lets the pressure of it roll across the room like the black merciless depths of a storm-tossed ocean, lets it eclipse them all like death come to call, and then he brings it crashing down, not most of it, not even half, because he hasn't forgotten that these are children, that they're still young, and they can learn, they can be better, and Hadrian doesn't actually want to traumatize them permanently.

But he also remembers Draco - his world's Draco - telling him once, in a fit of aggravated exasperation during one of those times when they'd devolved into insulting each other's House traits yet again because they still hadn't understood what made the other tick, but they had also reached a point in their friendship where they'd started trying to, and kept trying.

"Slytherins respect power," Draco had said, not for the first time, but then he'd also added, for the first time, and haltingly as if he hadn't known why he'd had to explain it at all, "How else are you going to know they're worth your time? Or I guess worth befriending, in your Gryffindor terms."

"You don't decide whether or not to make friends based on how powerful someone is."

"Slytherins don't have friends. I only said friend because you're a Gryffindor and you don't understand anything else."

"Fine, you don't decide whether or not to associate with every single person you come across in your life based on how powerful they are either."

"Why not?"

"Why would you??"

"How else would you know they're strong enough to stand with you? Or competent enough to protect themselves? Power is a good starting line. If they're powerful enough, then they won't be afraid to face your enemies with you, and you can trust them to be capable of keeping themselves safe without having to keep an eye on them every minute of the day. Only brainless Gryffindors prefer doing things like throwing themselves in the line of fire and dying dramatically for each other and calling that a win. Let me tell you something, Potter - it's not a victory when you're forced to suffer a loss. You haven't won anything if you're not around to enjoy the aftermath. So the best allies must be ones who are powerful enough to not only achieve their goals but also survive them."

"…"

"Well, I will grudgingly admit that I didn't put quite that much thought into it when I was younger, but who did? …It's what I believe now though. Did I finally get it through your thick skull this time, Potter?"

After that particular conversation, Hadrian had understood a little better, even if he hadn't entirely agreed with it all. But he hadn't forgotten a single word, and Draco was right— as they are, these kids definitely aren't thinking that deeply, but Hadrian thinks that the core of it at least is the same. Slytherins respect power. And he has power in spades, so at the very least, he can make them respect him.

Of course, if that also happens to make them afraid of him, then, well, he was never aiming to be their friend or even ally anyway. So long as they leave him alone, it's fine.

He brings his magic to bear, allows the weight of it to fall and fall and fall, and he watches dispassionately as Draco goes grey, as Crabbe and Goyle's knees buckle, as Zabini flinches back like he wants to melt into the walls, as Nott curls into himself and may or may not have stopped breathing.

Hadrian catches Draco's eye, and doesn't let him look away. "I have no betters. Do I make myself clear?"

He'd spent half his life being beaten down by the Dursleys, told over and over that he was worth nothing, that he didn’t deserve food or clothes or kindness, that he was a waste of space and better off dead. He'd spent a good chunk of his Hogwarts career obliviously dancing to Dumbledore's tune, and then some more of it knowingly dancing to it because what else could he do with a target on his back. He'd spent over twenty years shackled to Voldemort, to his parents' legacy, to a war that had loved him a whole lot more than he'd ever loved it. And he'd been Fate's everything since before he'd ever even been born.

Some days, he wonders if he even knows what freedom is anymore. Or if he's ever known at all.

But one thing he is sure of is that he will never passively tolerate anyone controlling what he can or cannot do ever again.

Draco whimpers something like agreement, like deference, like surrender, and- that's enough. Hadrian reels it all back, all his magic hidden away again, and in the dizzying wake of its abrupt disappearance, Draco collapses, barely catching himself and his dignity with the edge of his bed. Crabbe and Goyle do crash to the ground, while Zabini has to steady himself against his nightstand, and Nott sways like he might faint.

Too much, Hadrian thinks distantly, and tries to feel bad about it because he really hadn't meant to go that far, but his lines in the sand have also long since blurred away beneath a tide of blood and corpses.

Mostly, he just feels tired, and it has nothing to do with his displays of magic tonight.

He breathes. Turns. Grabs a towel and his underwear and pyjamas and pretends everything's fine. It is fine, now. He's gotten what he wanted. "It's getting late. I'll shower first. Won't be long."

And then he's exiting stage right, straight into the bathroom, and it's a relief to close the door behind him.

Of course, that sentiment is one that's shared by probably every single person in the room.

-0-0-0-

Theo is awake before anyone else the next morning. Or at least he thinks he is because he usually is. But everybody's curtains are drawn, and after last night, he doubts anyone was able to sleep right away, if at all, with the exception of their new roommate.

Hadrian Evans. Great Merlin, where had this person even come from? Even just the memory of his magic - vast and endless and utterly uncompromising - pressing down on them like the sky had fallen on their heads, makes his hands want to shake all over again. For a long, suspended, suffocating moment that could've lasted an eternity, Theo could've sworn he was going to die last night. And the most terrifying thing is that he is absolutely certain that Evans hadn't even been trying that hard.

Evans had radiated enough raw power to force all of them to their knees if he'd really wanted to. But he'd held back. He'd only given them a glimpse, just enough to warn them off. The rest of his magic had been out of reach, but present. It was there, reined in and waiting, but the shape of it and the depth of it had felt… unfathomable, as if it had no limits.

And that doesn't even account for the spellwork he had done. Theo had recognized the Disarming Charm, but last he checked, the average Expelliarmus only deprived a wizard of their wand. A more powerful one might send the target flying and even knock them out, but he's never heard of one that can… threaten to disarm your opponent at your leisure and - if Theo wasn't mistaken - force the wand to forsake its owner. Everybody knows that that's always a possibility in a real duel; if you win and take your opponent's wand, then that wand might not work for its owner anymore. But most of the time, you have to mean it, you have to set out with the intent to do it, the buildup of magic in the duel itself gives that intent a foundation, and there has to be an actual possibly life-threatening conflict of interest between the parties too, a real enmity that even last night - however excessive the exchange - shouldn't have qualified. Squabbles between students just don't count. If it did, with the Disarming Charm being taught in school, there would be a lot more students in need of new wands. The only way Theo can rationalize it happening anyway is that Evans must've been strong enough to compel the wand itself to leave its owner.

Pity he hadn't gone through with it in the end. Evans is powerful, but he's also… Theo is hesitant to call him soft, but if it had been Malfoy, if it had been Blaise or even himself or pretty much any other Slytherin, they would've done it. He's unsure of why Evans hadn't.

And then there had been the thing with the quill. Theo can't even explain that, and he'd mulled it over for half the night. He has the… incidental fortune of occupying the bed closest to Evans', so as soon as Evans had ducked into the bathroom last night, and the others had been distracted with pulling themselves together and possibly trying not to wet themselves, Theo had chanced a swift peek into Evans' wastebasket.

It really had looked just like any other regular quill, one that'd been burnt completely black and missing most of its barbs, but it had been a quill. He'd been tempted to open Evans' desk drawer to check the other quills, but - with Evans' ultimatum still ringing in his ears - he hadn't been that suicidal, so he'd refrained. But from what he could recall, the pack it had come from had looked just like the mass-produced writing utensils one could find in any stationery shop in Diagon Alley.

Whatever he'd done though, he had made it look like child's play. A quill and a Disarming Charm, so fast that Theo could've blinked and missed it. Could someone like that really have remained in obscurity all this time? Evans had apparently been homeschooled up until now, and they haven't even attended their first class yet, but by anyone's definition, after last night, he can't claim to be anything less than a prodigy.

It's… unbelievable. And not even because of any of the blood purity ideals that Malfoy likes to preach about. Theo doesn't think much of muggleborns or halfbloods, but he also doesn't think much of most purebloods, so he's fairly certain it's not high society prejudices that's driving his disbelief. It's just… He's never met anyone - not even his father, and Merlin knows Theo's been afraid of him for as long as he can remember - as effortlessly powerful as Evans had shown himself to be, and he doesn't understand how nobody has heard even a whisper of a rumour of this boy before he'd arrived at Hogwarts.

Someone like him shouldn't exist. Or perhaps there has been one, and that had been how the Dark Lord had made so many people bow at his feet or cower in their homes, but Theo had never met him in person, and so all he has is Evans' example to draw from. And not a single witch or wizard whom Theo's ever met could compare.

Has Evans just been hiding himself? Maybe his family hid him before they deemed him ready to face the rest of the world, and he's certainly proven that he can hide it when he wants to. But what kind of family can bring up this kind of wizard? Evans is only fourteen. None of them had thought him anything special before he'd revealed exactly how wrong they were. And he probably wouldn't have done even that much if Malfoy hadn't immediately taken a go at him, always so obsessed with making sure everyone knows he sits at the top of the food chain.

Well, he certainly doesn't anymore, and if Theo hadn't been caught up in the confrontation last night just like everyone else, he would've been tempted to applaud the spectacle of Malfoy being taken down a peg or ten. Before Evans' arrival, Theo was the one Malfoy liked to take jabs at every few days, and it was only partly because he'd had a halfblood mother. The Notts could've been said to be respectably rich once upon a time, but after the war had ended, with his father's political clout being almost nonexistent and most of their extended relatives either dead or in Azkaban, they'd been easy pickings for the Aurors. His father had escaped prison time with the Imperius excuse and some bribes, but that hadn't prevented multiple raids on their home and a hefty list of fines that had left their vaults near-depleted. And what little fortune they have left is reserved almost entirely for Theo's father's alchemy obsession that's more often focused on illegal research topics than not, as well as his black market dealings, although neither of those at least is widely known, or who knows if they would even have their ancestral manor left after the Aurors were done with them?

Malfoy loved reminding him of almost every one of those things as often as he could, and the most absurd thing is that - more than being born from a halfblood mother or poverty or loss of prestige - Theo's pretty sure Malfoy's biggest reason for disliking Theo is because Theo had refused to follow him around like Crabbe and Goyle back in first year.

So here they are now, and after three years, Theo had more or less become inured, not to mention it wasn't as if Malfoy only bullied him, or even bullied him the most - nobody could top that list while Potter and Weasley were around to fight for first place on it - but it had still been annoying and stressful because Theo was the only one who had to share a dorm with him. Considering the Malfoys' standing in society however, all he could ever do was stay silent and bear with it.

Admittedly, he'd been a little happy when Evans had been sorted into Slytherin, because between Theo and an unknown halfblood-at-best with no allies and no significant family background to speak of, the perfect prey in every way, Malfoy would definitely enjoy targeting the latter more, and even if the blond ponce still came after Theo, it would at least take some of the pressure off of him.

Now… well. That will still probably pick back up sooner or later, but Theo resents it less when he thinks about how it will take at least a few weeks before Malfoy will be able to strut around again after last night's humiliation. And also…

He thinks again of last night, of how Evans had basically smacked Malfoy down like he was nothing more than an unruly upstart getting above himself, and of that quiet oath too - I have no betters - and it hadn't even been pride or arrogance or superiority, only stone-cold certain fact.

He thinks of the fear he'd felt, but behind that, beneath that, more than that, there had also been nothing less than a breathless, heady, wondrous sense of reverence that had settled itself behind his ribcage, in his lungs, in the sudden hungry swell of curiosity that he'd just barely managed to lock behind his teeth, and it had only grown stronger after a night of fitful sleep.

He wants to see that magic again. He wants to know what else Evans can do.

And most importantly, he wants to know if he can do it too.

-0-

Ten minutes later, Theo hears Evans pull his bed curtains back. Very cautiously, he twitches his own curtains open half an inch to watch Evans get up, stretching languidly and scrubbing a hand through his messy black hair before gathering up his toiletries and a change of clothes. Like this, he looks completely normal, nothing at all like someone who could flatten all five of his roommates with a thoughtless flex of his magic. Even his eyes are just green now, no longer glowing like the light of a Killing Curse.

Of course, then Evans waves a hand at his window curtains, which obediently sweep open in response, and… yes, why not? Wandless magic seems par for the course for Evans, even if Theo has only ever heard of a handful of seventh-years capable of some very basic wandless spells if they concentrate hard enough.

Evans leaves for the bathroom as if casual uses of wandless magic is an everyday occurrence for him, and only after the door has closed does Theo let himself relax.

Evans had never even glanced over, but somehow, Theo thinks the other boy had known he was being watched anyway. But he'd said nothing, hadn't even given any indication that he'd noticed, let alone minded. Theo still isn't sure why he'd let Malfoy off so easily yesterday - because on hindsight, when it came down to it, all Evans had really done was scare them and scare Malfoy most of all; despite the verbal abuse and even the Dark charm Malfoy had shot at him, Evans hadn't actually hurt any of them in return - and Theo doesn't get it but maybe part of it is just because Evans doesn't take offence easily.

It seems unwise to Theo to not at least dole out some injuries as a reminder when that offence had been as insolent as Malfoy's, but perhaps Evans has his own measure of such things. Besides, Malfoy's known to say worse. Theo's looking forward to what happens if Malfoy forgets himself and says something even more loathsome. It's not impossible. Malfoy has been unchallenged since he came to Hogwarts. He's used to saying and doing whatever he wants, even to the upper years and those outside his own House. Most people ignore him when they can and indulge him when they can't, or otherwise manage or placate him with their own methods, but the one thing no one has ever done is tell him no, tell him to stop and make it stick. Potter and Weasley tend to give as good as they get, what with how short their tempers are, but they're louder and more obvious about it, so they get caught more often, which just makes them even angrier, so it never actually feels like they win, even when Malfoy doesn't either. Certainly, no amount of lectures or point loss has managed to deflate his ego.

But now there's Hadrian Evans. Theo doesn't need a second demonstration to know that Malfoy is outclassed in every way, but funnily enough, Malfoy himself might need it.

Theo eyes the bathroom door for a moment longer before finally getting up himself. He's barely set his feet on the rug before Blaise - in the bed on Theo's other side - also whips open his curtains, looking far more alert than he ever has this early in the morning.

For several seconds, they stare at each other in silence. And then - because he isn't sure if the other three boys in the room are awake yet - Theo pitches his voice even lower than usual and says, "He said Malfoy spoke for us."

Blaise blinks twice, and then something like distaste curves up at one corner of his mouth. "I heard."

Theo nods. They're on the same page then. Neither of them is particularly keen on this opinion that Evans has regrettably formed, Theo because of obvious reasons, and Blaise because he's Blaise.

Blaise has always been strange. He's the type who gets along with everyone and gets along with no one. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone - biased Gryffindors aside - who would say a bad word about him, but they'd probably have to think a while if you asked them to describe something of personal significance about him too. It's not that he's average - he's never failed a class, and he's especially good at Potions - but for all that he can carry a conversation in a way that makes everyone feel comfortable and included, and he could probably talk rings around a politician without making them feel stupid, he also never lets anyone close enough to actually get to know him. He's approachable, but only when he wants you to approach him. He's generous with his smiles, but sometimes, it feels a little like he's laughing at you. He might say something condescending or spiteful to you one day, but he has the kind of charisma that makes you forget that the very next. People might call him friend and invite him over for a chat or a game of chess, but most don't make any attempts to go beyond that. And if you know what to look for, as Theo has learned to do, you would realize - Blaise views the world like it's one big boring joke, and his estimation of most of the people in it is probably somewhere around the level of dancing clowns.

Theo doesn't mind. The two of them aren't friends either. They're also not enemies though, and occasionally, they can be allies, but only when Blaise feels like it. Sometimes, the other boy will distract Malfoy from messing up Theo's potion in class or launching yet another diatribe on all of Theo's deficiencies, but Theo will never ask him to because he has nothing to repay Blaise with.

It works for them. Blaise does what Blaise wants, and even Malfoy can't control him. Theo is secretly envious of that— with the Zabinis' seat of power in Italy, it means they don't have that much clout in Britain, and yet nobody messes with Blaise, not even the few who don't buy into Blaise's charm or simply hate him because he's a Slytherin. Not even Malfoy messes with him, and even Theo can't tell if it's Malfoy's self-preservation instincts kicking in to ensure that he isn't about to go insulting someone with a black widow mother like Blaise's, or if Malfoy genuinely hasn't noticed that Blaise doesn't respect him at all no matter how pleasant his words can be. Honestly, when it comes to Malfoy, there's a decent chance of either option being true.

With all that in mind though, it's not a surprise that Blaise isn't pleased with being slotted in as one of Malfoy's lackeys, especially by someone as impressive - or, as Blaise might put it, entertaining - as Hadrian Evans has swiftly proved himself to be.

"It's fine," Blaise says next, rolling out of bed to get ready for the day. He's already regained his typical lazy slouch, as if he hadn't been just as terrified as the rest of them last night. His eyes slide to the bathroom, then away, unreadable but more focused than Theo's ever seen them. "We live in the same dorm, and we'll attend at least most of the same classes. He'll see soon enough that we don't share the same opinions as Malfoy."

Theo watches him dig into his wardrobe. "And then?"

"Then?" Blaise tips a more familiar look of knowing amusement at him. "Then you do what you want, and I'll do what I want, and at the very least, we'll have the good sense to not throw ourselves straight onto a hippogriff's talons like dear Draco."

Theo smothers a snort and rises to his feet. Neither he nor Blaise take Care of Magical Creatures, but everybody had heard of Malfoy's idiocy last year. The phrase "my father will hear about this!" had reached a record high by winter's end. Not much had come of it, not when Hagrid had had the likes of James Potter and Sirius Black and Albus Dumbledore championing him. Even Lucius Malfoy would - and had, more than once over the years - find it difficult to contend with the British wizarding world's vaunted war heroes when they join forces. In the end, Hagrid could continue teaching so long as he did it alongside a second professor hired by the school, and even the hippogriff got to live. Malfoy had not been happy, and he'd made sure everybody knew it too, but at least he'd also whined less about it once Slytherin House had learned to snigger about it where he wouldn't hear.

But 'throwing oneself onto a hippogriff's talons' had become rather popular vernacular ever since, subtle enough that even Malfoy couldn't call anyone out on using it without embarrassing himself, but funny to everyone who understood, and nobody could even say who'd started the phrase. Theo's money would be on Blaise though.

The bathroom is spelled so that nobody outside can hear anything when the door is shut, but they can hear the lock click open just fine, and almost in tandem, he and Blaise both immerse themselves in picking out their outfits for the day as if it's a task that requires every last bit of their attention.

Evans walks out. True to his word, he ignores them completely, neither greeting them nor sparing them a glance as he moves back to his section of the dorm. Theo watches him out of the corner of his eye as the boy folds his pyjamas away before proceeding to pack his bag. He catches a glimpse of an Ancient Runes textbook, and his mind abruptly flashes back to the quill. But… that can't be right.

Evans shuts his bag, pulls on his robes, and toes on his shoes. Like this, there's something vaguely familiar about him that Theo can't place right away, and the thought is gone again as Evans slings his bag over his shoulder and strides for the door.

He still doesn't look at any of them, and he's gone from the room a moment later. They might as well have been empty air.

Theo's fingers tighten around the shirt he's holding. Somehow, he-

-doesn't like it.

-0-

Malfoy gets up two minutes after Evans is gone, moving around with an exaggeratedly unaffected sort of poise that makes Theo want to roll his eyes. At least the blond doesn't try to make conversation until Crabbe and Goyle wake up as well.

Evans aside, Theo is the first out of the room, as per usual, although this time, Blaise accompanies him up to the common room and out of the Dungeon. It takes no time at all to arrive at the Great Hall, and this early, most of the four House tables are still empty of students, although more and more are gradually drifting in in groups of threes and fours.

Unlike the other Houses who like cramming into whatever space they see, Slytherins are more political about it. The end seats are left to the outcasts or first-years who don't know better yet, while the midway point of the table is typically reserved for the most influential students, such as those with the best grades or the largest range of social connections or the strongest family background, or some combination of the three. And everybody else arranges themselves between the two extremes accordingly. The only time that changes - from what Theo has heard - is when someone is so magically powerful that they can overwhelm everyone else. Then it doesn't matter what grades or connections or background they have because magic is respected most of all, although they would usually have some qualifications in those other areas. But either way, they would be given reigning place of pride in the middle with their chosen followers around them, and everybody else would sit where they're told to sit, regardless of their accomplishments.

Someone like that hasn't come along in fifty years though, not since the Dark Lord was still at Hogwarts.

So it's jarring to see Evans seated at the very end, furthest away from the High Table, with a book open in front of him and a steaming mug in one hand, but Theo supposes it shouldn't be. He's newly transferred in, and a halfblood besides, so he probably doesn't know about the traditional seating arrangement, and since it's still just the second day of school, it's not as if anybody else outside their dorm knows that Evans is anything but the unfortunate fourth-year with a muggle surname sorted into Slytherin, so he really can be considered an outcast.

Theo exchanges a look with Blaise before tentatively taking a seat at their usual spot a few feet away from the halfway point of the table. It doesn't feel right to… go over Evans' head like this, but it's not like they can really do anything about it at the moment. Theo in particular is technically sitting above his station, but his family is still one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, no matter how far it's fallen, and he gets decent grades in almost every class. He's also on friendly terms with Blaise, and the fact that he shares a dorm with Malfoy is a double-edged sword. Malfoy has the status to sit near the middle ever since he was a first-year, and it wouldn't look very good for him if he's seen completely spurning a Nott in his generation. So Theo is largely left alone so long as he looks like he's nominally part of Malfoy's group during mealtimes.

Theo spends the next five minutes sneaking sidelong glances down the table. Blaise does the same, and neither of them is obvious about it so nobody comes up to ask them any questions. Other Slytherins begin filing in, and more than one wrinkles their nose or sneers when they pass Evans, as if they've smelled something repulsive.

Theo has to make an effort not to wince every time it happens. Blaise watches with a shallow smirk hitched across his face and something cold and callous and thoroughly amused in his eyes.

By the time Malfoy - with Crabbe and Goyle on either side of him - sits down across from them, about half the table is full, plates of breakfast have started appearing, and Evans still hasn't looked up from his reading.

Malfoy - much less subtle - shoots something sulky and resentful with just a dash of fear down the table and mutters, "Doesn't even know how to sit properly."

Theo really does roll his eyes this time, although he makes sure to do it down at his scone. Before anyone can say anything else though, Evans unexpectedly straightens, his attention finally lifting from his book. Malfoy immediately stiffens as well like he thinks Evans had heard him from all the way down the table, which Theo wouldn't put past Evans's ability but also doesn't think that Evans thinks that Malfoy is worth that effort to eavesdrop on.

Evans looks around, but not at any of the Slytherins. He cranes his head over one shoulder, seems to catch sight of whatever he's looking for, and gets up, shutting his book and tossing it back in his bag. Then he's making his way across the Hall, past the Hufflepuffs and the Ravenclaws, straight over to the Gryffindor table that's only partially filled at the moment but is also hosting the Golden Trio, who had just come down for breakfast.

Evans stops a few feet away, and Longbottom, Weasley, and Granger turn to face him. What Theo can see of their expressions indicate that they're surprised and a little wary, but they also seem like they know each other. They converse about something, Weasley makes some exaggerated hand gestures, Granger smacks him, and then Evans says something else that makes the Gryffindors burst into laughter, startled but bright.

And then Evans moves forward and-

-sits down.

At the Gryffindor table.

Longbottom and Granger are smiling, and even Weasley - with his hatred for everything Slytherin - seems fine with it, going back to plating more food for himself while passing some sausages over to Evans.

In Theo's peripheral, Malfoy's face has lost so much colour that he could pass for a ghost. Theo can't tell if he's just that offended or if he's actually managed to comprehend the fact that he's already alienated possibly the most magically powerful student at Hogwarts from Slytherin House, to the point where that student doesn't even want to eat at the same table as them, and classes haven't even started yet.

Theo can't tell, nor does he care, but if he'd ever needed any more reasons to despise Draco Malfoy, this would be it.

He averts his gaze from Evans, even if the mere thought of him preferring a bunch of Gryffindors - and those Gryffindors at that; the only ones worse would be Potter's lot - over his own House is… grating. But staring isn't going to win Theo any favours and might just tick Evans off. Besides, there are plenty of others who have noticed a Slytherin sitting with Gryffindors, and they're staring enough for ten of him.

He starts on his breakfast. School has just begun. There's plenty more time in the future to observe Hadrian Evans.

-0-0-0-

Within the space of a week, Theo is cautiously pleased to find that he shares all nine classes with Evans. The core subjects are mandatory of course, but in addition to Ancient Runes, Evans also takes Arithmancy, both of which Theo is also studying, and after three weeks, he gets a slightly more detailed picture of what Evans is capable of.

In class, Evans doesn't stand out, or at least not in a way most people would notice. He doesn't take the initiative to answer questions posed by the teachers, and his spells and potions aren't particularly dazzling when they're assigned practical classwork.

But every time a professor calls on him, Evans always answers correctly. Every time they have to practice a new spell, Evans doesn't clamour to be the first to show off, and he isn't the one who produces it with the most eye-catching burst of magic, but when he's asked to show his progress, he always does it exactly the way the teacher demonstrated it at the beginning of class. Even in Potions, all he does is work discreetly in the back corner on the Slytherin side of the room. He never finishes early, but he also never finishes late, never failing to turn in a textbook-perfect potion ten minutes before class ends, and a couple times, Theo catches Snape watching Evans with an inscrutable expression after the boy quietly hands in yet another flawless potion.

After three weeks, Theo can conclude that while Evans doesn't deliberately dumb himself down, and in fact is performing spectacularly across the board, he does it in such a reserved, inconspicuous manner that even most of the professors probably aren't going to notice until they've graded a good few months' worth of homework and tests.

He does it for every subject. Every single one, except Ancient Runes, and Theo is convinced that that's less because Evans didn't try, and more that… well, some brilliance just can't be hidden.

In the third week, when Babbling hands back their first assignment - Acceptables and Poors all around of course; some days, Theo isn't sure if he wants to strangle Babbling or himself, just to put himself out of the misery that is attempting to understand anything their Runes professor says - she holds Evans back at the end of class, and half the students snicker like they think he's in trouble or did so badly that even Babbling can't stand it, and it's the best joke they've ever seen. But two days later, some papers that Evans has left out on his desk while he's off doing something else, probably with his Gryffindor buddies, catch Theo's eye while he's on his way to his own desk. More specifically, the symbol of the Department of Magical Education stamped on them catches Theo's eye, and after some very hasty and very undignified neck-straining and squinting from a prudent five feet away, he more or less understands.

Babbling hadn't held Evans back because he was doing badly. Babbling had held him back because he was doing so good he would be sitting his Ancient Runes O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams on the twenty-third of October.

Three minutes after that revelation, Theo's still sitting somewhat dazed in his chair when Malfoy returns, Crabbe and Goyle in tow. The blond also spots the papers on Evans' desk and - after suffering day after day of, in Malfoy's increasingly belligerent opinion, being disgraced by Evans due to all the time he was spending with Gryffindors, and even three of the ones Malfoy hates most - practically lights up with a malicious sort of glee at the opportunity to get a little revenge.

He seems to have already forgotten that first night's lesson, and it hasn't even been a month yet. Sometimes, Theo is honestly baffled by Malfoy's Sorting into Slytherin. What ambition is there in a boy whose solution to everything in life is to fall back on his father and surname and family money? What cunning is there to speak of when he so often acts without even considering the option of leaving himself a way out, just in case his taunts and schemes backfire on him one day?

Or perhaps the real mystery is how he's managed to go this long without anyone telling him that the world won't always bend to his demands.

"O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams?" Malfoy says loudly as he wanders over to read the papers. He scoffs. "No matter how much magic he has, there's no way that's possible. He's just a fourth-year. And a halfblood! I bet he paid Babbling to sign him up for them. Everybody knows she's not all there so Evans wouldn't even have to pay her a lot to persuade her."

Theo flicks a glance at Blaise, who'd brought up the rear, a few seconds behind Malfoy, and had entered on near-inaudible footsteps in time to witness this latest snowballing disaster. The taller boy's lip curls, and his next words come out in such a nonchalant drawl that it takes a moment for Malfoy to register the bite of them, "Why would he do that though? He's not you."

Malfoy flushes an unflattering shade of red. "Zabini! That's not funny!"

Blaise's insults are always taken as jokes. Theo thinks that's the only way Malfoy can weather them, because he doesn't truly dare to cross Blaise, so even if he does know better, he still has to feign ignorance.

"It can't be possible," Malfoy repeats, turning back to the papers. "Otherwise, why hasn't he said anything about it? If it were me, I'd let everyone know! Obviously, he knows he'll fail, so he doesn't dare to spread it around."

Theo tries to wrap his mind around that logic, fails, and gives it up as a bad job.

"Then, why is he taking them?" Crabbe suddenly pipes up, blinking with a befuddled air in Malfoy's direction.

Malfoy rolls his eyes. "Obviously, Crabbe, it's to impress the Boy Who Lived. You've seen how Evans is constantly fawning over Longbottom." And there's the jealousy leaking into his voice even as it strengthens as if he's gaining confidence in his conjecture the longer he speaks. "He's still just a vulgar halfblood with subpar upbringing after all. He needs political connections if he wants to make anything of himself in our world. And Longbottom's a soft touch, and an idiot besides at everything that isn't digging in the dirt. Just trying to take the exams is probably enough to make him think Evans is a genius."

He takes another step forward, almost hovering over the desk now, childish spite tarnishing his features. "Let's see what the rest of Slytherin thinks of this. We are in the same House so Evans should look for support from real purebloods. I'll help him out."

Malfoy reaches out, and Theo goes still, staring, avid and unblinking.

(Greedy.)

Hadrian Evans does not disappoint him.

Malfoy's hand lands on the papers, and it's as if a miniature explosion takes place. There's no warning as the desk ignites with enough interlocked, interwoven, bloody intricate runes to send anyone reeling. It blankets the entire desk in layers of circles and lines and eye-watering spirals, before even those disappear in a blaze of brilliant silver light that pulses once before bursting outward and knocking Malfoy clean off his feet.

Malfoy screams as he's sent flying across the room in a tangle of flailing limbs and flapping robes. Coincidentally - or not? - he lands on his bed in a graceless upside-down heap, the bag he's still wearing smacks him in the face, and the momentum tumbles him straight over the far side of his bed and onto the floor with a final muffled thump that cuts Malfoy's shriek to a yelp.

The light disappears, along with the runes. The room goes eerily quiet, and for a long moment, nobody moves.

It's Blaise who reacts first.

He laughs.

It's enough to snap Malfoy out of his stupor. The blond scrambles to right himself, pushing to his feet, fury and humiliation writ large across his face as he opens his mouth to shout, "Shut up, Zabini! Wait until my father hears about this! Evans will regret-"

There's a clatter. The door opens.

Malfoy shuts up so fast Theo wouldn't be surprised if he bit his tongue.

Evans steps inside, and then stops. He looks around, looks at his desk, looks at a still dishevelled and increasingly pallid Malfoy, and then he shuts the door behind him and heaves a very deep sigh.

"Seriously?" He asks in rhetorical tones. "I just went to borrow a library book. I couldn't have been gone for more than thirty minutes."

Nobody says anything. Evans sighs again before striding over to his desk. He raises a hand and combs his fingers through the air— or perhaps something only he could see, and that's proven correct as a runic array shimmers into existence, swirling together before reshaping itself into-

-a memory.

Specifically, it's a replay of everything Malfoy had said and done as soon as he'd gotten within three feet of Evans' belongings, complete with sound and colour. It's basically a pensieve without the pensieve or the removal of memories to supply it.

Theo wants so badly that his teeth ache with the leashed desire to ask a million questions immediately.

Patience, he reminds himself.

"Hm," Evans says once the memory's run its course, and the runes wisp away once more. Theo is both surprised and not when the other boy proceeds to pull out his chair, sit down, and dig out his library book, clearly intent to continue his work.

Behind him, Malfoy seethes, and before he can think better of it, or he simply doesn't think, he barks out, "Do you think you can treat me this way, Evans? Do you know who my father is? When I tell him about this-"

"Tell him then," Evans interjects, leaning back to slant a cool look at Malfoy. "Tell him you tried to steal my things, and my wards tossed you onto your bed, and the only thing it really bruised was your ego. Or you can lie and make up something that would make you more of a victim, and big bad mudblood Hadrian Evans bullied you terribly. What's the worst that could happen? Expulsion?" He huffs a laugh, and as far as Theo can tell, the thread of mirth that laces the sound is astonishingly sincere. "Malfoy, I don't actually care. I don't need Hogwarts."

He really doesn't. Worse comes to worst, which other school would be daft enough to not scoop him up if they see what he can do with runes? And that's not even getting into everything else he can do. Any school would accept him in a heartbeat and then laugh themselves to tears if Lucius Malfoy actually managed to get him ejected from Britain's sphere of influence on some trumped up charges just because his son went crying to him. Besides, since Evans had been previously homeschooled, he could always just return to that as well.

Malfoy opens his mouth, then closes it, and he does that a couple times, eyes wide in his face like he's never met anyone who has stonewalled him this way, who has challenged his authority so directly, more than once, and yet remains utterly unintimidated and untouchable.

Evidently, he never has.

Evans regards him for a few seconds more before sighing once more. "I thought I was clear enough that first night, but apparently not. When I say 'attack', I don't just mean with a wand. All my things are off-limits unless I say otherwise, so if I were you, I would keep my hands to myself. You don't want to know what my wards will do to you if they sense intentions worse than just petty theft. I hope you won't forget again."

He holds Malfoy's faltering gaze for a moment longer before turning back to his books and papers. Malfoy stumbles back a step as if he's been physically released, and he looks like he wants to pitch a temper tantrum but also doesn't dare. In the end, he storms out of the room without even straightening his robes or smoothing back his hair, and nobody tries to stop him or go after him, not even Crabbe or Goyle, who've both retreated to their beds, shoulders hunched, almost bowed, angled almost in Evans' direction.

Evans is already poring over his library book though, quill in one hand, inkwell set out, fresh parchment beside it. It's clear he's done interacting with the lot of them.

Theo almost lets it go, as he has every other time he wants to speak to Evans, to ask him questions, to know. He's already biting his tongue and swallowing down the words and opening his bag to fish out his homework.

Except-

It's been three weeks. Theo can be patient when he has to be, but more and more, it's… starting to feel like he doesn't have to be. He's had an entire childhood's worth of practice at dissecting emotions, at looking at a person's face and words and actions and taking all of them into account to figure out how they really feel, if they're angry at him or upset with him, if they're about to lash out even when they're smiling, or if there's still time to appease them even if they look like they're about to go for their wand.

Evans is harder to read than most, but at the very least, Theo can tell that he doesn't get angry often. In fact, there's only ever been that one time, that first night, and even for most of that incident, Evans had only acted to secure his own safety in their dorm once it became clear that Malfoy wasn't going to leave him alone otherwise. None of it had been driven by rage, not even when he'd nearly drowned them in the undertow of his magic over that particular handful of words Malfoy had jeered at him. And ever since then, Evans hasn't done anything except go about his business while ignoring theirs. That went for the rest of Slytherin too, and even some students in other Houses who don't like the fact that he's a Slytherin. Sometimes, they make snide remarks, usually behind his back, sometimes within his hearing range, and to a man, every student in their House has openly shunned him since he went to sit with the Golden Trio that first breakfast, but Evans has never given them a second glance, or really even a first glance, not out of anger or embarrassment or distress, and certainly not out of any desire for them to accept him, which just seems to offend them even more. But Evans is simply… indifferent to it all.

Most importantly, as much as Theo has been able to conclude, Evans isn't prone to violence. He always seems calm and easygoing when he's with the Golden Trio, and quiet the rest of the time. And from the very beginning, he's never done anything to harm any fellow Slytherins, not even Malfoy. Even his wards seem to have some kind of function worked into them that would rate the level of threat first and only respond with the same degree of damage.

Actually, not the same— if Malfoy had been caught taking another Slytherin's documents without permission, important or not, it wouldn't be too much even if they cursed his hands in return. They probably wouldn't, because it's Malfoy, and people are used to being more lenient with him, but normally, even Malfoy wouldn't do something that gauche anyway. No matter how much they've spoiled him, his parents have at least taught him pureblood etiquette. He's never even tried to rifle through Theo's belongings.

Admittedly, Theo had committed a slight faux pas as well when his curiosity had prompted him to read those Ministry forms, even if they were laid out on Evans' desk - unintentionally seeing them in passing was fine but the polite thing to do would've been to keep walking - but at least he hadn't been stupid enough to get too close, let alone put a single finger on them. Malfoy really only has his own poor impulse control to blame for going too far yet again, and Theo has every right to judge him for it.

Although since it was Evans, Malfoy had probably categorized him as someone who doesn't deserve a pureblood's courtesy.

Even then though, Evans hadn't retaliated with anything more than the ward equivalent of a watered down Knockback Jinx, which is basically a common prank amongst rowdier students. Malfoy's pride had - once again - been hurt, but nothing else, even when it would've been Evans' right. And he hadn't gotten angry this time either.

Of course, Theo isn't foolish enough to think Evans isn't capable of violence when he wants to be. If he's pushed far enough, Theo is certain that the other boy could and would inflict some significant damage that would at least end with a visit to the Hospital Wing. Perhaps it was his magic, the relentless weight of it that said it wouldn't hesitate to crush them if they proved themselves a real threat. Or perhaps it was Evans himself, who looks at Malfoy after each stunt like he's putting up with a recalcitrant child that he has to go easy on because said child is too young to know better, except the detachment in his gaze also says that he's weighing Malfoy's age on a scale and waiting for the day his youth will no longer be able to compensate for his actions.

Frankly, Theo hopes that day will come soon. But that's his pettiness talking, and Malfoy in general is none of his concern. What Theo really wants is to learn all those things for himself. Well, not all, he's more than self-aware enough to know he's nowhere near as powerful as Evans, but some of those things - the spellwork, the runes - surely those things can be taught to others even if they don't have incredible amounts of magic? Even if it's slow-going and difficult, Theo isn't afraid to work for it.

So long as he learns even just a little of what Evans knows - and he clearly knows so much, knows the things that can actually be useful in real life - then perhaps, one day, maybe even before he graduates Hogwarts… escaping his father won't be a fool's hope anymore. And if there's a chance that he can do that, then no matter how exorbitant the price Evans names, Theo would be willing to pay it, even if it takes him the rest of his life to honour the debt.

But nothing's going to happen if they're not even on speaking terms. It's been three weeks. Already three weeks. Only three weeks. Maybe it really is still too soon, but at the very least, Theo doesn't think Evans will do anything worse than say no.

At his back, he can feel Blaise's eyes on him, but he doesn't turn around.

"Is that-" His voice doesn't crack, thankfully, but it comes out croakier than normal, giving away his nervousness. He bites back the urge to hex himself and tries again. "Is that taught by the time we graduate?"

Evans… doesn't react, doesn't even look up. For several tense and increasingly awkward seconds, Theo thinks maybe the other boy will just continue ignoring him, or maybe he even thinks Theo is speaking to one of the others, not him.

But then he writes something down and flips a page of his book, and then he raises his head and shifts away from his desk to face Theo.

It's a little daunting, to suddenly have that piercing bright green regard aimed straight at him, but there's also no hostility that Theo can see, and that settles some of his nerves.

Evans looks at him, then frowns, then asks in return, blunt, but amazingly, willingly enough, "You mean the wards?"

Theo nods carefully, making sure he doesn't look too eager or too demanding. Masters of their trades are always rightfully reticent about their knowledge and skills to anyone who isn't their own mentor or apprentice, unless they're a teacher. Evans may not be a master signed and sealed and authorized to practice, but nobody who can write the exams at fourteen can be considered an amateur.

Evans shrugs. "I haven't exactly flipped through the Ancient Runes syllabus of every year so I can't really say. If it continues at the same pace as third-year and fourth-year though, then probably not. You'd maybe get to the point of basic wards, but not much more than that. Compound wards like these-" He raps his knuckles against his own desk. "-put crudely, requires the use of runic coils to weave together multiple basic arrays, on multiple levels, in varying sequential order depending on how multifaceted you want the wards to be. It's not that difficult once you start getting some practice in, but from what I hear, you guys don't even begin practical work until after your O.W.L., which… I don't really get, but maybe Hogwarts is big on theoretical learning. But yeah, at that rate, I don't see how you could be constructing something like this by graduation."

Theo's head is spinning. He didn't understand… anything in that summary except perhaps a general idea of "basic arrays". It's rare for him to feel so stupid.

Evans is still watching him, and he doesn't seem impatient for their exchange to be over, or irritated that it's taking place at all. He looks like he's waiting for Theo to reply, so Theo hurries on to keep the conversation afloat.

"So you didn't learn Runes following the Hogwarts curriculum when you were homeschooled," He surmises. "Does that mean the standards here fall short of the international schools?"

It wouldn't be the first time. Britain's educational requirements have been growing more and more lenient for years. Correspondingly, their elective options have also been reduced to four due to budget cuts and lack of interest in anything harder than petting animals and making up death predictions. Every year, more second-years choose to sign up for Care and Divination than they do Arithmancy or Runes. It's one reason why the number of incoming students has been gradually declining and consists of more muggleborns than purebloods. Foreign schools are strict about accepting any children outside of their designated countries, but those in Great Britain and Ireland who want better for their kids and can afford the higher prices tend to prefer sending them to one international school or another instead of Hogwarts.

But Evans shakes his head. "I wouldn't know that either. I didn't really follow any official curriculum when I was learning." He pauses a beat, like he's thinking about how much to reveal, or even why he's revealing anything, but then he seems to decide it doesn't much matter. "The person who taught me was a bit… unconventional about it. He was a very good teacher, but he wasn't actually a teacher with the degree and whatever else you need to be a Ministry-approved professor, so he didn't really care about following some checklist of what a student attending a magical school was supposed to learn. Plus he was kind of a genius at runes. Ward-cracking and disassembly in particular since that's what he majored in - he was a Curse-Breaker - but he was pretty good at almost everything else too, which meant he found the basic stuff pretty boring. So when he taught me, and he realized I didn't have any trouble getting the foundations down, and I could mostly keep up even when he skipped ahead to more advanced stuff, he basically ended up just jumping between the subjects he liked most, filled in any gaps along the way, and gave me free rein to research whatever I found interesting. And whatever topic I picked was the one he lectured on, or helped me look up if it was one of the few areas he didn't know much about."

His expression turns wry, if only for a moment. "Apparently though, according to Babbling, that means there's nothing left for Hogwarts to teach me. But I don't know how I would compare to students in other schools."

He finishes and falls silent. It's the most he's said since that first night, and it's clear as day that whoever this Curse-Breaker tutor was, Evans respects him a great deal, great enough to ramble on about him to a roomful of near-strangers, and considering what he'd had a hand in molding Evans into, he deserves every bit of that respect too.

Theo envies it. He is oft a creature of envy, and it hollows him out a little more every time it rears its head, but he's resigned to it. He wonders why Hogwarts can't have a teacher like Evans' instead of the whimsical mess that is Babbling, who can never get through a single class without her train of thought wandering away like an untrained dog off its leash.

"Then," Theo continues, carefully neutral, carefully watching for any signs of displeasure on Evans' face. "Once you pass your exams, will you simply have an extra study period slot? Or will you be required to attend another elective?"

Evans blinks at him. "The first, I think. I might see if it's possible to take an owl-distance university course or something, but spare time in my day isn't bad either."

"Then," Theo forges on, watching as Evans's mouth twists a little, like he knows that this is what Theo has been aiming for from the beginning. Theo can't tell if he disapproves though - he doesn't think so - and it's too late to divert his course anyway. "What do you think about tutoring?"

Evans cocks an eyebrow. He doesn't say anything for several anxiety-inducing seconds, just scrutinizing Theo with a face blank enough to rival Snape's when he bothers to stop sneering. The quill in Evans' hand taps-taps-taps against his desk before the boy swings around in his chair completely to face Theo.

"Tutoring," He repeats. "You want me to tutor you in Ancient Runes?"

And at least he doesn't sound derisive, nor does he put any particular emphasis on any part of that question. It does make it harder for Theo to gauge how he should respond though.

"Yes," He confirms, because straightforward seems to be what Evans prefers. He thinks, briefly, of including Blaise, but he doesn't actually know if Blaise would like tutoring as well, and even if he does, Blaise can ask for himself. Theo isn't that charitable, and Blaise might even take offense if he tries to be.

"I can compensate you for your time," He adds, because he's poor by pureblood standards, but not so poor that he can't afford decent education, especially with the nest egg he's been secretly building on the side since he turned eight and realized his inheritance was only going to get smaller at the rate his father was drawing from it for his… extracurriculars. His seven years at Hogwarts at least have already been paid for, robes and supplies and even some pocket money included, because even Silas Nott isn't going to let his son go into public at even more of a disadvantage than he already is. So as long as Evans doesn't ask for a huge sum of money, or even if he does, and he's willing to take part of that payment in favours, then Theo should have enough from his own funds to cover the cost.

Evans leans back in his seat and doesn't say anything about payment. Instead, he looks almost puzzled as he asks, "Why do you need tutoring though? Even if you want to learn stuff like this," He motions at his desk. "I wouldn't be able to even start teaching you how until you got at least the basics down, and that's what Hogwarts teaches, so is there any point in getting more of the same lessons from me?"

For a moment, even Theo can't come up with a way to say 'yes, because Babbling can't teach worth a damn, and I don't actually know how I passed last year but I definitely won't this year with the way her lectures keep getting lost somewhere between class and Atlantis every bloody week' but in more polite terms, if only because Evans might not appreciate anyone badmouthing her since she's obviously the one vouching for Evans' qualifications in order to let him take his exams so early.

Fortunately, Blaise has no such compunctions.

"Have you seen the way Babbling teaches?" The other boy enquires in his usual lackadaisical tone, just aggrieved enough to sound invested, but mild enough to leech the provocation out of it. It also gives Blaise a foot in through the door, drawing Evans' attention to him without making it seem as if he's interrupting.

Theo glances behind him at where Blaise is now lounging in his own desk chair, emptying his bag of textbooks and papers even as he glances over to meet Evans' gaze, and his expression has eased into an invitation to commiserate over Babbling's questionable teaching methods. All of it is designed to look casual and cordial, to keep this fragile first exchange lighthearted, if also full of a resigned sort of exasperation, funnelled together in order to lower Evans' guard.

And it seems to work too, like it does with everyone Blaise turns his charms on. At the very least, the way Evans' mouth quirks in response looks reflexive enough to be genuine.

"That's fair," Evans concedes, a wry sort of humour suffusing his voice. "She's not the best at… staying on topic."

Theo has to suppress a snort, but something of it must show on his face anyway because Evans' eyes snap back to him, and a moment later, a quicksilver grin flits across the other's face, bright in a way that lights up his whole face, and perhaps Blaise will have to try harder after all because Theo realizes that this is what genuine looks like on Evans.

"Okay, I get why you might want a tutor," Evans acknowledges. "But isn't there anyone better for that?"

Theo blinks at him. "Better than someone who's ready to take his exams in a month?"

Evans' eyebrows go up briefly, and something in his eyes sharpens. "No. Better than someone who's a halfblood orphan in Slytherin, stuck in a one-sided grudge-match with a pureblood brat who has all the maturity of a toddler and isn't going to be very happy if his friend starts hanging around the guy he wants to curse into the Hospital Wing."

Orphan? is Theo's first thought, followed by, I wish Malfoy was around to hear that. But all of it is superseded by a defiance that bursts out of him before he can curb it, "We're not friends."

Evans waves a hand. "Yeah, yeah, I know, Slytherins don't have friends. What I mean is-"

"No," Theo says, wincing internally at how he'd cut Evans off mid-sentence. "I mean, we aren't friends. Normally, we aren't even civil acquaintances most days."

Evans eyes him for a long moment like he can hear all the things Theo isn't saying. Theo's pretty sure Evans doesn't know about his family's circumstances - How would he? Why would he even care to look it up? - but he seems to be able to glean at least the gist of it in a single glance because he seems to accept it easily enough, and the next thing he says is, "Alright, but that doesn't change the fact that he's still not going to be happy about it."

"Good," Theo says, once again before he can stop himself, and with more relish than he should convey. Even if he's often thought that anything that made Malfoy unhappy was a good thing, he's certainly never expressed it out loud. He doesn't know what's come over him, only that there's something about the way Evans is watching him, patient and without judgement, that makes him… bolder than he normally would be.

And since he's already opened his mouth, he might as well keep going.

"So long as you're willing, I don't mind what other people might say," Theo says as firmly as he knows how to be. "I need to raise my grades for Ancient Runes before I take my OWLs next year or I'm never going to pass. I would appreciate any tutoring you can spare the time for." He hesitates, but only for a beat. "If you want, in addition to monetary compensation, I can also snub Malfoy at dinner somehow. And you would know it wouldn't just be some show we put on either. Malfoy doesn't have it in him to be humiliated in public, even as a stunt."

It's far more outspoken and far more audacious than Theo is accustomed to being, and he can feel Blaise's eyes on him again. But he gets the impression that if he doesn't put his cards on the table - that he really does want to learn from Evans, that it's his main motivation, even if it isn't the only one - then Evans might think Theo is playing some kind of trick on him, possibly on Malfoy's orders, and that's the last thing Theo wants him to believe.

Besides, this is also an opportunity. Theo had been resigned to living under Malfoy's temperamental rule for the duration of his Hogwarts career. It wasn't as if he wouldn't be doing more of the same as an adult, after all. Considering the difference in their social status, Theo would still have to bow his head, and jump when told to jump, and remain courteously - or at least forbearingly - deferential in front of Malfoy whenever they see each other. At least this more childish version at school is giving him plenty of practice for the future.

But now, there is Hadrian Evans, whose existence no one had expected and no one thus far can control, who isn't afraid of Malfoy, whom Malfoy is afraid of instead, and Theo honestly can't see that changing. Of course, the real world is very different from some squabbles between teenagers, and Theo has only known Evans for less than a month. But… call it instinct. Even if one day the Malfoy family can really make it so that Evans can no longer live well in Britain, Theo gets the sense that the other boy would rather up and move to a different country than ever submit to anyone.

People with inborn power like Evans won't bow. They don't know how to.

And if Theo can get even a fraction of that protection that openly siding with Evans might earn him, then the choice is obvious. He's long known that he isn't powerful enough or ambitious enough or even brave enough to stand on his own. That in order to thrive, or even to simply live a satisfactory life, it would be best to choose someone's shadow to settle in. Preferably, that someone would be willing enough to leave Theo alone most of the time and wouldn't ask too much of him, but he already knows he wouldn't be able to get that from his father or Malfoy.

Then, there's no point clinging to either of them. Before, there had been no other choices, and between his father and Malfoy, Malfoy was the better bet, though it wasn't as if the blond ponce could've gotten him out from under Silas Nott's thumb either. But at least being - loosely - affiliated with Malfoy would, in the future, offer Theo some protection from his father's obsessive tendencies. It wouldn't do for one of Malfoy's circle of acquaintances to disappear under mysterious circumstances after all.

Now there's a new player on the field. Of course, Evans probably doesn't see himself as one, and wouldn't care even if he knew. But that doesn't change the fact that his shadow casts a long and looming line, and somehow, it feels more like a refuge than anyone else's Theo has ever come across. Evans might not be willing to protect him, if only because he would have to make himself known to do so, and if there's one thing Evans has shown over the past few weeks, it's that he much prefers staying in the background. But even if he isn't willing to protect Theo, at the very least, he can teach Theo how to protect himself. So, Theo might as well take his chances with Evans, and the first step in doing that is to make it very clear to all and sundry that he's throwing his lot in with the halfblood Slytherin transfer.

He hadn't quite been prepared to go this far when he'd first decided to speak to Evans today, but doing things by half measures doesn't bode well for him either. Prevaricating or at least being vaguer about his intentions might leave him an extra hand to play, a way to retreat in case associating with Evans becomes too dangerous one day, but no one likes a fence-sitter.

In Slytherin, every decision is a power play, whether it seems like it or not. An insignificant word or action might result in large consequences that aren't always obvious until the waves and ripples have settled. And Theo's never been much of a gambler, preferring safety over potential riches. But the things he can learn from Evans are too tempting to pass over. Put in plain terms, he's technically using Evans as a means to an end, which no one in Slytherin wouldn't approve of, but for a good chunk of this House, Evans' blood would definitely outweigh any usefulness he might have, especially since he hasn't publicly proven himself in any way at all. And the way he spends all his free time with Gryffindors hardly helps.

Still, it's a risk Theo's willing to take. And now the Quaffle is in Evans' hands, and all that's left is to wait for his answer.

Of course, if Evans says no, then Theo can only hope Blaise is feeling magnanimous today and won't go spreading this little story around. Then again, there's Crabbe and Goyle too, and they'll definitely tell Malfoy, so it will get out either way.

Such is Slytherin, where the only shared secret you can trust to remain a secret is when all other parties are dead.

In front of him, Evans only raises his eyebrows for a moment before amusement quirks one corner of his mouth. "Well you don't have to go that far."

Theo can't tell if the other boy understands the implications of publicly cutting ties with Malfoy, but he's relieved to hear it anyway. He'd do it if it's a condition Evans sets, if only to alleviate any concerns Evans might have of being played, but it's not as if he wants to do it. He would happily see Malfoy humiliated any day of the week, but Theo is at heart an introverted person. Open confrontation of any kind will always make him uncomfortable.

Evans studies him for a while longer as if weighing his sincerity. Eventually, he says, "I'm not opposed to tutoring. Actually, I'm already doing that for Hermione every Wednesday and Saturday. Adding one more doesn't make much of a difference. It's just that I don't love tutoring so much that I want to do it more than twice a week. So," He smiles, and this time, his expression is one of a sharp sort of curiosity. "If you want me to tutor you, then you'll have to be okay with Hermione. And I don't just mean tolerating her presence enough to sit at the same table as her. I mean if you say one bad word about her blood, I'll take that as an attack on me and react accordingly. Understand?"

Theo blinks once, twice, digesting that ultimatum with something like disbelief because- "Is that all?" And then, because it couldn't possibly be that easy, he hastily tacks on, "How much would you like to be paid?"

Evans blinks back at him, looking like he's re-evaluating Theo on the spot. Then he makes a dismissive gesture and says, "I'm not short on money. Also I don't make Hermione pay so it wouldn't be fair if I made you pay." He sits back with a finality that starts bringing an end to their conversation. "Wednesdays and Saturdays, 4-6pm in the library. I know we share all the same classes so that shouldn't be a problem for you. Showing up isn't mandatory, you can just come whenever you want, and I'll tutor you in whatever you need help with. My only condition is that you treat Hermione with basic respect. Of course," His mouth twists into a strange smile. "That goes for her too. And her friends if they happen to stop by."

Theo has to suppress a grimace at that, but it's mostly out of reflexive distaste. Even if Weasley starts flinging insults, he's sure he's heard worse than anything a Gryffindor could come up with, and his tolerance is high, so it doesn't much matter whether Evans can prevent it or not. Actually, it's already pretty novel that he would try at all. This is by far the easiest and weirdest deal Theo has ever been offered, which only makes him that much more suspicious, but Evans also adds no other terms, so Theo is forced to conclude that this really is all Evans wants from him.

The sheer unfairness of what each party is bringing to the table is jarring. Does Evans not understand what's happening here or is he seriously willing to offer up his time and knowledge on a silver platter at basically no cost?

Part of Theo wants to ask again, to make sure Evans really doesn't want anything else, but since they've come to this point, even if Evans were to ask for something in the future, Theo would have no obligation to give it. It's admittedly somewhat uncomfortable, to receive so much in exchange for giving back so little when he wasn't even the one manipulating Evans towards this outcome, but at the same time, wouldn't he just be stupid if he keeps pushing the issue? Complaining about not having to spend any money or owe any favours seems rather counterproductive, and even though Theo is willing to pay for a chance like this, that doesn't mean he wants to if he doesn't have to. Of course, he supposes it isn't very honourable of him to not at least insist on some form of compensation, but that's why Theo isn't a Gryffindor.

So then.

"Very well, I agree to your terms," Theo says, letting himself relax a bit more when Evans' expression doesn't change. And because even a Slytherin should acknowledge genuine goodwill, he shoves past his own discomfort and manages, if a bit stiffly, "Thank you, Evans."

Evans makes a face that's something left of embarrassed. "It's just tutoring, you don't have to be so formal. Besides, you're still the one who's going to have to put up with Malfoy pitching a fit once he finds out."

Theo almost shrugs. That's not anything new. He might have to field some curses hurled his way once other Slytherins realize he's no longer under Malfoy's "protection" and is seen spending time with a halfblood, but it's not as if he has no way of protecting himself from most spells that a student can get away with using in public at Hogwarts. He already has a few family wards set up around his bed too, so Malfoy can't get to him while he's asleep, and the only time he spends in the Common Room is when he's crossing it to leave the Dungeon or return to his dorm, so his Housemates aren't likely to be able to corner him there either. So long as he's careful, he'll be fine.

Blaise's voice cuts into his thoughts, speaking this time with the lightest touch of concern seeping out from behind a thin veil of indifference that would've fooled even Theo if Theo didn't know the way Blaise can change his approach like he's changing clothes depending on his assessment of the person he's talking to. "You sure you don't need to ask Granger first before letting a Slytherin join your tutoring sessions? She might not be too happy to have Theo there. And her friends definitely won't."

Evans' attention shifts again, and as with Theo, his gaze is neither friendly nor hostile, but it's different all the same in a way Theo can't quite name. "Is that my problem?"

The room is quiet for a beat.

Evans smiles, careless, casual. "I'm the one doing the teaching. Who I teach should be up to me, shouldn't it?"

Blaise stares, unblinking, hands finally gone still. "Aren't those Gryffindors your friends though?"

"Sure," Evans agrees. "Still doesn't mean they get to tell me what to do just because they're biased against Slytherins." He shakes his head. "I doubt it'll be much of a problem though. Like you said, they're my friends, and aren't I a Slytherin too?"

Nobody says what Theo is certain they're all thinking— that in many ways, Evans isn't anything like your average Slytherin.

(And in others, Evans is the very epitome of one, but the Golden Trio probably doesn't know that, do they?)

"Are you saying other Slytherins are welcome in your tutoring sessions then?" Blaise says next, and it's the most straightforward Theo has ever seen him, skipping at least three prevarications and five backhanded compliments that Theo could've sworn Blaise would normally include just because he doesn't know any other way to speak. Apparently not.

Except Evans' response is to huff a breath that sounds like laughter, except not in any way they've heard before, not as amicable, and Theo sees Blaise's smile grow a little fixed.

If they were in the business of distributing vices, then excessive hubris would undoubtedly go to Malfoy, but only because Blaise doesn't have the same reckless self-defeating habit of flaunting what he has everywhere and retaliating like a rabid lapdog the moment he feels slighted, the latter of which is helped along by the fact that he doesn't hold many people in high enough esteem for them to offend him. After all, you wouldn't get mad if a ghost or a goblin or even a house-elf - as unlikely as that is - is rude to you, would you? At most, you'd punish the latter and move along with your day. And for those who do register enough as people in Blaise's eyes, well, Blaise far prefers retaliating when the other party least expects it.

It's the same now, in the way Blaise blinks twice rapidly but doesn't otherwise react. Of course, since this is Evans, he won't be able to retaliate later either, not with any kind of success, so it's doubly impressive that the other boy manages to keep his pride nailed down and tucked away.

"You know," Evans says lazily, mirth or perhaps mockery gleaming in his eyes. "You could just ask. Take a leaf out of Theo's book; it wastes less time."

Because even Blaise's straightforwardness needs to take a stroll or two around the block first, and apparently, Evans had caught onto that possibly since the first time Blaise had opened his mouth since this conversation began.

Blaise's lips thin, but after a moment of no doubt weighing the pros and cons, he shrugs gracefully like it doesn't sting and asks, "Then, may I join your tutoring sessions, Evans? I would also appreciate some assistance with my Ancient Runes studies. Of course, I will abide by the terms you've set as well."

Theo listens and wonders just how much self-control those three sentences took. Before today, he hadn't even known Blaise was capable of it, and the fact that he is, for this, actually says a lot more about his regard for Evans than Theo had realized even just a minute ago.

At least Evans doesn't make it harder for Blaise than that.

"Sure," The other boy acquiesces with the air of a predator sitting back on its haunches. "On your own head though."

At this, a trace of a smirk - his real one, beatific in its cruelty, instead of his regular fit-for-public one - cuts across Blaise's face for the span of a heartbeat. "No problem."

Evans levels another long look at him before shaking his head with another twist of a smile. "Okay then. We're all good now?" He looks from Blaise to Theo and even spares half a glance in Crabbe and Goyle's direction before nodding, satisfied. "Fantastic. Back to work for me."

He spins back around to face his desk, reaching for his quill, and the rest of the day passes as usual, without another word traded between them, even when they all get up for dinner. Malfoy comes back shortly before that, stalking over to his section of the dorm with the mulish single-minded intensity of someone unwilling to even acknowledge Evans' existence, although that probably won't last once he finds out what Theo and Blaise have agreed to.

Later, in private, Theo remarks to Blaise, "I didn't expect you to care so much about your Ancient Runes grades."

Blaise slants an indecipherable look at him even as a shallow smile stretches the width of his mouth. "Who wouldn't care about their grades when someone's offering to help raise them for free?"

It's a rhetorical question and answers approximately nothing, but Theo wasn't expecting anything of substance anyway.

Besides, when it comes down to it, he supposes it's not so surprising that Blaise can also see which way the wind is blowing, hard enough to tell anyone with decent enough instincts that a major shift in power is imminent.

And no one likes a fence-sitter.

-0-0-0-

Hadrian would like it to be known that he isn't quite sure how he's gotten to this point in his life.

Well, that's a lie, he sort of knows, or at least he can pinpoint all the decisions that got him from Point A to Point B, but he supposes he just wasn't expecting a couple Slytherins whom he'd always assumed - even back in his original world - were just Malfoy's lackeys in school, to commit, and commit hard. They hadn't even participated in the war on either side, as far as he was aware— Nott had died relatively early on under mysterious circumstances, and Zabini had by all accounts returned to his home country. To Hadrian, they'd been little more than faces in the background that he'd never even exchanged five words with in total before coming to this world.

But within the first week after they've asked to join his tutoring sessions, Nott and Zabini - Slytherin/Pureblood Rule Number Who-Knows-What: you can't use someone else's first name until you're invited to - make it really fucking obvious who they're… supporting? Have sided with? Because Slytherin is a nest of brewing factions and shifting alliances and political doublespeak and even a couple blood feuds, and this is precisely why Hadrian doesn't want anything to do with this House.

Except apparently, agreeing to tutor Nott and Zabini means he's… joined the power struggle? Formed his own faction? Decided to vie for in-House supremacy and possible world domination? Who knows because Hadrian sure doesn't, and he's determined not to know, because surely if he just continues doing his own thing, it'll become clear sooner or later to all and sundry that he has no interest in fighting a bunch of schoolchildren over whatever they think he wants to fight for.

It's just that he can't quite do that either, because not even three weeks after Nott and Zabini start joining him in the library every Wednesday and Saturday with a wary but accepting Hermione, something that translates to them moving their seats to sit with him in class and - when they can make it look natural, if still deliberate - walking with him in the hallways, the displeasure and animosity in Slytherin House reaches breaking point.

It's not as if Hadrian hasn't already been the target of multiple hexes and curses from his own Housemates. He's a halfblood who hangs out with Gryffindors— it's to be expected. But so far, the spells have always been in the realm of reasonable, ones that might make him trip down the stairs or rip his bag or screw up his potion, and he's been able to block or avoid them all, so he'd figured it wasn't that big a deal. He'd put the fear of a Horntail in Malfoy early on because he has to live with the berk, and he doesn't much feel like returning after a long day of classes just to have to butt heads with him every single time. But he basically has no intersections with the rest of the House, so he just hasn't bothered paying attention to any of them.

Then, perhaps rather suddenly, Nott and Zabini are there, not so much orbiting him as they do hover from afar. But they join his tutoring sessions, and they're serious about learning from him, listening earnestly and asking questions and even checking out the books he recommends they read if they have time. There are holes in even the most simple of their fundamental knowledge of Runes - Babbling, read a how-to book on teaching for Merlin's sake - so Hadrian has to more or less start from the ground up, as he had with Hermione, but both of them quickly prove themselves more than intelligent enough to keep up, and they're startling enthusiastic - by Slytherin standards - about everything he teaches them. Nott is more obvious - more ravenous - about it, but even Zabini - who likes to pretend he's only there for the novelty of it or something and therefore tends to play up a laidback sort of indifference - never fails to complete the optional exercises Hadrian writes up for them once a week.

And outside of the tutoring sessions, it's like they've decided that being tutored by him means that he's now their new Malfoy or something. Not that Malfoy was their Malfoy before, if Hadrian had understood Nott correctly, but they'd at least acted like they were part of Malfoy's groupies. Now they've done a one-eighty, and it's not as if they follow him around all the time the way Crabbe and Goyle do with Malfoy, honestly if you don't count classroom and dorm room, they're not even around him half the time, especially Zabini, but when they are around, when they move their cauldrons next to his in Potions class despite working separately, when they go down to breakfast with him despite splitting off at the entrance, when they trail behind him back to the Slytherin Dungeon after a tutoring session, they're so damn conspicuous about it that they might as well be waving neon-bright signs above their heads.

In contrast, they don't even sit next Malfoy during mealtimes anymore, much to the blond's increasing red-faced ire that vaguely resembles a Silenced teakettle on the brink of boiling over. But now they sit at the end of the Slytherin table, which Hadrian has gradually gathered that that's not a good thing, but he doesn't know how to fix it either, and neither Nott nor Zabini seems to mind.

They also talk to him now, not often, not just in private, and not just about Runes, although that does still take up the majority of their conversation topics, if only because they don't know each other that well yet. But in their dorm or in class or in the library or in the halls, sometimes, Nott would say something completely normal, like whether or not he owns an owl or if he's noticed Snape's increasingly intent attention on him or if he's found the secret passageway connecting the Dungeons to the sixth floor yet because climbing six flights of moving stairs isn't what anyone would call a good time. Zabini on the other hand prefers sharing obscure gossip that even most of Slytherin isn't aware of, sordid little secrets like whose parent has a mistress (or three) on the side that will very likely cause an inheritance problem down the road, who killed a cousin over the summer due to jealousy but has done a decent enough job of covering it up as an accident because said cousin had been the heir apparent, and even who had to go to Pomfrey for an Abortion Charm just last week but will likely have to break her betrothal contract - and consequently have her magic bound, as per the terms of said contract - in the future anyway because there's no hiding the loss of her virginity from the olde family magicks no matter how frantically she searches for a way.

To the former, Hadrian responds the way he would if Neville or Ron or Hermione were to ask him similar questions. To the latter, he says, "You have serious issues, Zabini."

Nott never smiles, but his body language is a little less closed off and his eyes look a little less hunted with every random conversation they have. Zabini is almost always smiling, and in response to Hadrian's incredulity, he only laughs like it's the grandest joke he's ever heard.

They grow on him, is the thing. One's probably abused at home, and the other is honestly half a psychopath already, and Hadrian shouldn't care but he's always had a bit of a soft spot for broken people, people who don't quite fit in no matter how well they fake it, people who remind him of himself. And the war he'd survived had only served to destroy what little compunctions he'd ever had about getting too close to dangerous things.

So they grow on him, day by day, and half a month in, the other Slytherins apparently can't handle it anymore.

Hadrian's just coming back from dinner. Nott and Zabini are with him, having joined him once he'd bid Neville, Ron, and Hermione goodnight. They're halfway across the common room when Hadrian catches movement in his peripheral, and he has half a second to decide what to do, to abort the reflex to go for his wand, to cancel the shield ward sparking at his fingertips, to pivot around on the spot and abruptly swing himself right into Nott's personal space, which means Nott immediately puts on the brakes, and - behind him - Zabini has to do the same.

Hadrian senses more than feels the curse that grazes the back of his robes and splashes against the far wall between a pair of suspiciously empty armchairs in an area that's normally a popular hangout spot. There's no sound, but out of the corner of his eye, he sees the way it oozes a sickly viscous purple that puddles to the ground and eats straight through the carpet before finally evaporating into nothing.

He doesn't turn his head, doesn't challenge anyone into a duel the way his hands are itching to do. Instead, even before the spell disappears, he's already asking, "Did you copy down the Potions assignment from today? I just remembered I forgot."

In front of him, Nott's turned three shades whiter, and he's already pale-skinned to begin with, so he obviously recognizes the spell. Zabini clearly does as well if the way he's gone gargoyle-still is anything to go by.

If they'd continued walking, that curse would've hit Nott right in the ribcage. His left ribcage.

A beat of silence passes. Then Nott takes a breath and answers in a voice that doesn't waver but is even more inflectionless than usual. "Yes, I wrote it down. I can show you."

"Cool, thanks, let's go."

Nobody else speaks, nobody even moves, as Hadrian leads the way back to their dorm.

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle aren't back yet so they have the room to themselves. As soon as the door is shut, Nott almost slumps onto his bed, hands shaking. Zabini pulls out his chair to sit, a smile hooked at one corner of his mouth, but absolutely nothing about the rest of him says amusement.

(Slytherins don't have friends, and Zabini doesn't seem to know how to have friends, but Nott's probably the closest to one that his disposition will ever allow.)

Hadrian looks from Nott to Zabini and back, and then he asks, "Who was that boy? The one surrounded by that group by the fireplace."

The one who'd fired the spell. Don't think just because a bunch of students were arranged in front of him that Hadrian had missed the way his arm had moved, the jab of a wand, the blossom of light at its tip before the curse had flown across the room. Did they think he was blind?

Nott blinks up at him, features still pinched. It's Zabini who answers, soft as silk, "Malcolm Avery, seventh-year."

Hadrian takes a moment to digest that, to press that face into his memory before filing it away for later. He focuses on his roommates again instead and presses on, "Has this sort of thing happened before?"

Because even if they're spending time with him, Nott's an old pureblood name, isn't it? And Zabini is Zabini, and everybody's heard of his mother. Even if they're shunned a bit, jeered at a bit, even hexed a bit, any serious assaults should only be aimed at Hadrian, right?

Well, apparently not. That curse earlier had been a much Darker cousin of the Bone-Vanishing Spell, a variation on the more public-friendly Bone-Breaking Curse. If Hadrian hadn't seen it coming, if he hadn't stopped Nott in time, that thing would've not only shattered the left half of Nott's ribcage but also stabbed the resulting fragments directly into the nearest organs before dissolving into the bloodstream as a lethal poison— in this case, it would've been the heart and a lung. Nott would've been dead in under a minute, drowning in his own blood in extreme pain, and it's a tossup if even Hadrian would've been able to save him.

Zabini - unsurprisingly - shakes his head. For all that he doesn't have an old bloodline to rooted in Britain, he still has enough family clout to grant him a strong backing. And that's not counting his own means of protecting himself. Hadrian had actually gotten the feeling very early on, from the moment they'd had their first conversation, and he'd only been proven right as they'd gotten to know each other a little better— Zabini has all the best traits of a quintessential Slytherin. And thereby also all of the worst. Magic-wise, Hadrian can overpower him in a second, but that's why Zabini knows not to make an enemy of him, knows how to bend and stretch and profit while he's at it. He doesn't need anyone to protect him.

Nott on the other hand doesn't reply right away, and when he does, it's an evasive, "Spells like that would be an instant expulsion from Hogwarts, especially coming from a Slytherin, and from a seventh-year, they'd go straight to Azkaban. There are portraits all over the school. I'm not stupid enough to wander into places where there aren't any."

Hadrian aims a flat look at him. "That's not what I asked."

Nott purses his lips and stares at his lap. Hadrian waits him out.

"…They've tried cornering me," Nott finally admits, grudgingly, almost resentfully. "There's no avoiding a couple areas with no portraits. But they never used a curse this Dark before, and I've always been able to slip away."

Hadrian swallows the first three things he wants to say, to shout, because at his core, he likes to think he has a long fuse, but when someone crosses his line in the sand, his temper has always been explosive and violent, which won't help here.

Besides, hadn't he more or less told these two to handle the consequences of letting him tutor them on their own? Even if they weren't Slytherins and actually had the mind to reach out for help, they probably wouldn't have come to him after what he'd said, so he has no one to blame but himself and the fact that he'd underestimated just how deep some Slytherins' senseless hatred runs.

So he breathes through his first instinct, his second, his third, and then he pushes off the desk he'd been leaning on in favour of pulling out parchment and ink and the appropriate books.

"Alright, come here," He beckons, spreading everything out on his desk. "I'm gonna teach you a Fourfold Rebounder Ward so you can wear it on you from now on. The variation I'm thinking of has a chameleon element, so it'll be both strong enough to deflect a curse on the level of the one from earlier and also camouflage it when it's bounced back at whoever attacked you. It's based off of intent too, so it won't act up in a scuffle or a practice duel or something, the other person has to really want to harm you with deadly intent, so keep your guard up for other stuff, and honestly, this should just be for emergencies, you should still try to dodge it because it's not good to grow overly dependent on stuff like this. I'm confident the runes won't fail when I'm the one making it but your reflexes will get rusty if you get lazy. It's a bit- okay, a lot more difficult than anything you're learning right now, but I'll do most of the work, you just watch and provide the magic at the end, and once your foundation is a bit more stable and we can move ahead to more interesting things, I'll come back to this first so you'll be able to learn how to do this yourselves one day."

A long silence follows. Hadrian looks up. Neither of his roommates has moved. "What's wrong?"

Another few seconds tick by. It's Zabini who gets up first, an odd smile on his face, one that Hadrian's never seen before. But all he says is, "Nothing's wrong. I was just hoping if we waited a bit, Malfoy will get back in time to see what we're doing and finally keel over from high blood pressure."

Hadrian snorts with laughter. "Get over here. If that really happened, we'd be the ones who'd have to waste time carrying him up to the Hospital Wing."

Zabini's expression says that that wouldn't be his problem but he only smirks and saunters over to Hadrian's desk with his chair. When they both turn to look, Nott is already on his feet as well. He doesn't say anything, but he looks steadier, and he's watching Hadrian with a strange gleam in his eyes that makes them look almost feverish.

They settle down around him, eager - by Slytherin standards - to learn in a way that reminds Hadrian exactly why he likes to teach.

He gets to work, explaining each step even though he knows most of it is going over their heads. That's fine though; for now, these wards just need to protect them properly, and in the future, he'll teach them how to protect themselves.

-0-

Of course, things aren't over just like that, because Hadrian's temper is an explosive and violent beast, and the only things that's changed from when he was still a teenager is the fact that he's gotten a lot sneakier about it as an adult.

They aren't friends. But Nott and Zabini are his roommates and his students and kids that he's starting to genuinely care about, and nobody gets to walk away scot-free after fucking with the people under Hadrian's care so long as he's still alive to do something about it.

Malcolm Avery is seventeen anyway. That's an adult by any magical community's measure, which means Hadrian doesn't have to hold back.

It takes a week. A week of slipping out after curfew and eavesdropping on conversations, of finding out what the seventh-year's next practical Potions class will be working on and scanning all of Avery's belongings to see what Dark spells he's been mucking about with, and finally of filching Avery's cauldron for an afternoon while he's in class and replacing it before he returns to his dorm.

When it happens, Hadrian isn't even in school. Even if he were, it wouldn't matter because he'd made sure to time everything just right, and all the fourth-years - and most of the rest of the student body too - are already in the Great Hall waiting for lunch to be served. Seventh-year Potions is in the morning block, and Avery always goes overtime when there's a practical.

Hadrian isn't even in school, sitting his Ancient Runes exams at the Ministry all day instead, but he certainly hears all about it when he gets back that evening.

A few minutes before noon, a silver doe Patronus comes bounding up from the dungeons with an urgent summons for Pomfrey, Dumbledore, and McGonagall. Nobody hears what is said, but the three staff members rush off even as the food begins to appear, and nobody hears from them again until half an hour later when whispers start going around about Healers from St. Mungo's being called and one Malcolm Avery being carried out the front doors on a stretcher because his condition is too unstable to be transported through the Floo. The professors don't really tell them anything except that there was a Potions accident, but - as these things do because the rumour mill at Hogwarts is healthier than ever, and there'd still been a few other seventh-years in class with Avery at the time - everyone more or less knows what happened anyway by the time afternoon classes start. Potions is cancelled for the rest of the day, because no one else was injured but Snape was too busy furiously documenting what had happened after running multiple diagnostic spells over the remains of Avery's cauldron to teach. Also, he has to submit said documentation and a Pensieve memory to the Aurors investigating the accident, which doesn't exactly say great things about his mood, so nobody's unhappy about being able to give Potions a miss.

Apparently, Avery had been using his cauldron to make other potions - banned potions - in his dorm room. His roommates had been willing enough to keep mum and even give him a hand, and the book he'd been learning from had been found in his trunk. Thankfully, he hadn't managed to make anything too terrible yet, and his failed attempts hadn't managed to kill anyone, but he also hadn't cleaned his cauldron properly, and so there'd been a mess of residue potion and Dark magic clinging to the metal. Coincidentally, it had ended up reacting quite badly to the potion that the seventh-years were to work on that day, and the end result was a magnificent explosion that Snape had barely managed to protect himself and the other students from in the nick of time. There'd been no helping Avery who'd been standing right next to the unholy concoction.

In the aftermath, the explosion had caused bad enough burns to disfigure Avery, but time and Healers would fix most if not all of that. Far more serious had been the potion damage to his body— the liquid had seeped right through his skin and disintegrated the majority of his left ribcage, and then it had gone on to chew even further, straight into his heart and left lung, an insidious venom that had dissolved into his bloodstream and sent him into convulsions that had wrung scream after agonized scream out of him until Pomfrey had deemed it safe enough to knock him out, although even then, his body wouldn't stop seizing from the pain.

He'd still been alive when he'd been rushed out of the castle. Word has it that he's still alive now in St. Mungo's, except the Healers have no idea how to even begin treating him. Mixing multiple failed attempts at Dark potions, most of which even Avery's own roommates couldn't list all the names of or in which order he'd made them, together with one N.E.W.T.-level potion but in an explosion that had caused the maximum amount of entropy in the magic imbued into it— Merlin himself wouldn't be able to fix it with just a wave of his wand.

By dinnertime, everybody is talking about it, and the professors have given up trying to stop them.

(In truth, the outcome probably wouldn't have been quite so serious if Hadrian hadn't added a spell to amplify the toxicity and volatility of the residue in the cauldron, as well as several looping single-use runes to hide the volcanic buildup and also bind the whole thing to Avery alone so that it wouldn't have hurt anyone else even if Snape hadn't reacted in time. Without Hadrian's interference, it would've still exploded sooner or later, but Snape might've seen the danger signs in time to evacuate everyone from the classroom, and even if he didn't, the effects of the potion on Avery probably wouldn't have been so terrible.

But then, that wouldn't have been enough. After all, lessons like these should stick.

Avery will live, but he sure won't enjoy it.)

It's almost ten by the time Hadrian gets back to the Slytherin Dungeon. Snape drops him off at the entrance before sweeping off to his own office in a dramatic billow of irritably flapping robes. He'd been at the Ministry for half the day just to piece together what had happened for them, but as Hadrian had ensured, the Potions master had been cleared of any negligence in the matter. The potion had very obviously shown no signs of exploding - three other experts had verified - and students are expected to take care of their own cauldrons from third-year onwards without the professor having to do weekly checks. Snape had been released by dinnertime, but he'd apparently decided to simply eat in the Ministry cafeteria and return with his student and Babbling, so here they are.

Except-

Just before Snape makes to leave, he turns and pins Hadrian with a long appraising look, clinical and penetrating. Hadrian stares back serenely, and maybe the fact that his mind is a steel trap wrapped around a battlefield would be highly suspect to anyone looking in, but he also doesn't feel so much as a brush of Legilimency from Snape whatsoever. The professor really is just looking at him.

It's a strange new world.

In the end, Snape doesn't say anything before walking off, and Hadrian is left to blink after him before letting himself into the common room.

Everything goes eerily silent the moment everyone realizes he's back. Even if he hadn't said anything, someone - let's be real, it's Malfoy - had spread the news of Hadrian taking his Ancient Runes exams early, so pretty much everyone had known where he'd gone today. It was never a secret though so Hadrian hadn't cared, except when he steps into the room, it's very obvious that everybody is focused on him, and just as obvious that nobody is willing to make eye-contact with him.

The younger students should've already retired for the night. At least everybody still in the common room, studying or playing chess or chatting with each other like any standard evening, are fifth-years and up, so most of these students had probably known - or had been told after the fact - exactly what that curse would've done to Theo Nott that day, and exactly who had been the one to attack him.

And everybody knows what had happened to Avery today. More specifically, they know that what had happened to him today had been an almost perfect mirror of what he'd wanted to do to Nott one week ago. Nobody here believes in coincidences, and there's only so many people who would've had the motivation to orchestrate the entire accident down to the smallest detail.

Most of them have known Nott and Zabini for at least a few years. Perhaps they're not on speaking terms, but they'd still been Housemates for a while. Something like this isn't really Nott's style, and while it is Zabini's, neither of them has the ability.

The only real unknown is Hadrian Evans, and if they still can't put the pieces together at this point, they might as well sell their brains.

The area by the fireplace, normally always occupied by Avery's group at this time, is empty today. Avery's at St. Mungo's, his roommates are in overnight lockup at the Ministry, and any who aren't but were part of Avery's faction are probably hiding up in their rooms. Nobody else has taken their seats, not even the students who usually do when Avery hasn't claimed it for the day.

Hadrian walks towards the doorway leading to the boys' dormitory, and no one stops him. It feels like the entire room is holding their breaths. Nobody speaks. Nobody even moves until Hadrian is out of earshot.

The dorm is likewise very quiet when Hadrian enters. Malfoy's bed curtains are already drawn, as are Crabbe's and Goyle's, but Zabini's are open, and he's lazing against the headboard with a book in his hands while Nott is still at his desk doing homework.

They both look up as soon as the door swings open. Zabini stays on his bed but Nott even stands up as Hadrian shuts the door behind him. His whole frame is tense with a restless sort of energy, and he's staring at Hadrian with shining eyes. They both are, although in different ways. Zabini looks equal parts ecstatic and hungry, while Nott just looks the kind of deeply confused and deeply grateful that makes Hadrian want to set fire to someone, preferably whoever stitched this very expression into Nott's range of emotions out of the pieces they'd torn from him.

Nobody says anything right away. Hadrian squints at them as he makes his way to his own bed, feeling vaguely perturbed, because he hadn't truly expected them to not connect what happened to Avery back to him, but he hadn't thought they would be so fixated on it either. Maybe a roundabout tactful thank-you from Nott, an offer of a favour at most. But not… this, whatever this is.

He laments the fact that these two aren't more stupid when it comes to this sort of thing. Ron would be oblivious. Hermione would be determinedly oblivious. Neville… would actually react a bit like Nott, Ginny would react a lot like Zabini, Luna wouldn't react at all but she'd be extra cuddly for a few days, and gods, Hadrian needs saner friends.

Not that these two are friends of course.

He manages to get through a shower, brush his teeth, and climb into a bed before Nott is suddenly at his side, eyes still shining with something Hadrian really doesn't want to put a name to. Thankfully, he doesn't burst into any heartfelt speeches that would probably embarrass everyone within hearing range. Not so thankfully, he honest-to-fucking-Merlin bows, all archaic and meaningful in every way Hadrian has never learned and so doesn't understand, but even he can sense the weight and deference behind every word as Nott murmurs, "All of mine is yours, until the end of days. I would be honoured if you would call me Theo."

"Jesus fucking Christ," Hadrian mutters, because sometimes wizarding swears just don't have enough oomph to encompass the never-ending circus trainwreck that is his life. He scrubs a hand over his face, peeks at Nott - at Theo - who's still halfway bent over, and of course, it's just his luck that he has no idea how to respond in the proper pureblood way.

He would've preferred the heartfelt speech.

"I'm a halfblood, I don't know how to respond appropriately," He says bluntly because he doesn't know what else to do. But he also flicks a Silencing Ward at Malfoy's bed, then at Crabbe's and Goyle's as well because you can never be too careful, and then he leans over and hauls Theo upright and catches his gaze and holds it, "I'll call you Theo if you call me Hadrian. One day, you'll be strong enough to take care of your enemies on your own, and you won't need anyone else to do it for you if you don't want them to, but until then, if all of you is mine, then your enemies are too, so I'll deal with them if it turns out that they still haven't learned after today. That makes us allies from now on though, which means we're equals, and that means you never, ever bow to anyone again. Not me, and not anybody else either. Understand?"

Theo stares again, wide-eyed and lost and so terribly young, and sometimes, Hadrian wonders what it says about just how messed up the world is when broken kids can be bought so easily.

Finally, almost dazedly, Theo gives some semblance of a nod.

"Hadrian," He says, and something about him straightens, grows steel, settles.

"Hadrian," He repeats and dips his head, not a bow, but respectful all the same, and his eyes are still bright with that unnamed creature, but at least he looks at Hadrian head-on. "Thank you. Goodnight."

Hadrian sighs and figures that this is about the best he's going to get tonight. Maybe it'll dial back to normal in a few days. "Goodnight, Theo."

Theo smiles, tiny, crooked, a little awkward. It's the first one Hadrian has ever seen from him, and that at least he can't be upset about.

They can finally go to sleep though. Theo returns to his own bed, Zabini is still watching them both from his bed like they're his new favourite show, and Hadrian resolutely pretends he doesn't see anything else as he takes down the Silencing Wards before drawing his curtains, rolling over, and promptly making a sincere attempt at smothering himself with a pillow.

His life.

-0-0-0-

End Notes: Ok wow so this got hella long and I didn't really get to all the stuff anon wanted whoops. Theo just… wouldn't stop thinking lmao, and also this AU has the potential to get so big so I ended up cramming in worldbuilding wherever I could. So unfortunately all you get is sort of a starting snapshot of where this is going and how Hadrian is going to turn out and a shitload of Theo's character. I kind of wanted to do him and Blaise's POV but I could only fit Theo, and I feel like getting Blaise through Theo's POV actually added to his character just as much as a personal POV would've. Anyway, those two are basically blank slates in canon so ofc I would pick them to write lolol.

#headcanon meme: answered #HP series #c'est la vie #hadrian evans #theo nott #blaise zabini #draco malfoy #headcanon #slytherin hadrian au

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hp-fanfic-archive · 4 months

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A-Z AU Rec List

Saw this A-Z list of AU writing prompts and decided to make a rec list based on it! This has a little bit of everything, pairings wise, so hopefully there’s something for everyone.

A: Apocalypse AU Love In A Time Of The Zombie Apocalypse by rizzlewrites [dramione, E, 356k] After Voldemort, there was this. The clock is ticking to create a cure to the unimaginable horror that currently grips the world. Hermione finds herself unwillingly allied with the most hated man in Wizarding Britain. (also available as a podfic)

B: Bounty Hunter AU Bounty Hunter by SnippyandSnarky [drarry, M, 32k] Set after the 7th book. Voldemort is nearly defeated. A familiar bounty hunter is picking off Death Eaters one by one. (also available as a pdf or e-book file)

C: College AU Wannabe Your Lover by Maraudererasmut & shadow_prince [wolfstar, M, 15k] Somewhere in America, Fall of 1997 - Returning to University, James refused to room with Sirius in the wake of The Great Cheez-it Battle of '96. They must adjust to living with someone new, Mr. Potter worried they'd both get scurvy, James unsuccessfully continued trying to court one Lily Evans, Snape got what was coming to him, and Sirius was the most confused of them all.

D: Do-Over (Second Chance) AU Do It All Over Again (Series) by DracoWillHearAboutThis [drarry, E, 468k] All he wanted was a way out. A way to do it all over again, and to erase his mistakes. He stared at the crackling blue flames so hard they imprinted in his vision. At age eleven, Draco receives a letter from the future, which will make him change the path he has set out upon and lead him into a life he'd never dared to imagine. (also available as a podfic)

E: Emergency Responders AU Oh, We Lost Magic by nerakrose [wolfstar, jily, G, 4k] The year is 1985 and Sirius, Remus, James and Lily are working as paramedics in muggle London, living seemingly normal lives…except there's really an awful lot of weird things going on.

F: Fake Dating AU Distractions by morningsound15 [hermione/ginny, T, 86k] Ginny sighed and slumped back in her seat. “You’re letting him win. He’s winning the breakup!” “Everything you’re saying is ridiculous! You can’t win a breakup.” “Obviously you can, and Ron is doing it!” “You’re being childish. Not everything is about winning and losing.”

G: Ghost AU Another Day in the Sun by REwrites [wolfstar, T, 19k] Is it haunted? I suppose that depends on who is telling the story.

H: Historical Fiction AU Blood and Brimestone by calanthe_fic [drarry, E, 42k] The Inquisition claims it reforms and cleanses Prodigals of their demonic heritage, but Captain Harry Potter learns that the Church has lost its way and is worse by far than the devils in Hells Below. (also available as a pdf or e-book file)

I: Investigation AU Caught by Phiso [wolfstar, G, 4k] Sirius Black was the thief no one could catch – at least, not until he met his match in Detective Inspector Remus Lupin.

J: Jazz Club AU A Specter of The Night [+Podfic] by writer-or-whatever [wolfstar, T, 1k] Roaring 20s Wolfstar AU OR The one where Sirius turns up out of the blue as a Jazz singer and Remus is confused and still very much in love.

K: Knitting AU Charmed Wool by winnett [drarry, E, 11k] Draco works for the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department (MMAD). Tracking down an illegal knitter of charmed jumpers takes him to County Cork where he never expected to find the missing Chosen One. (also available as a pdf or e-book file)

L: Lycanthropy AU seventeen moons by we_built_the_shadows_here [snily, G, 6k] “The scar is small, at least,” Pomfrey says, pulling the bandage snug around the cleaned wound. There’s a pity in her voice that makes Severus want to throw up again. “It will be easily covered.” Dumbledore catches him inspecting it, as if mesmerized. “You are lucky to have survived at all,” the Headmaster says. Severus does not say I don’t feel very lucky because it is stupid and obvious. Instead, he says unsteadily, “I want to press charges, sir.” Pomfrey stills, tightening the bandage to the point of discomfort. “Remus Lupin would be executed,” Dumbledore says. “The Ministry takes a dim view of werewolves who infect other wizards.”

M: Musician AU Bubblegum Blues by reachthetree [wolfstar, M, 5k] Remus actually looks down as she smiles, like a shy teenager in a first kiss scenario, and it gives Sirius deja vu. She’s lived this exact moment before. Only in another life. When Remus lifts the bass, Sirius sees a tattoo on the back of her upper arm, and drops her little notebook on the sticky floor. She’s only known one other person with a tattoo like that. But it can’t be… Can it?

N: No Voldemort AU Sing Me a (Christmas) Love Song by andromedablacc [James/Sirius, G, 1k] James is a famous Quidditch player, and once upon a time Sirius was famous in his own right.

O: Office AU Of Tinsel and Nice Starts by nerakrose [wolfstar, G, 2k] Mysterious clouds and strange coffee abounds. Office romance.

P: Photographer AU Rule of Thirds by bluepeony [wolfstar, G, 2k] Modern AU: Sirius Black, star of the university's football team, only wants one thing: a teensy-weensy, harmless little kiss.

Q: Quidditch Player AU our kiss is as the moon to draw by blackkat [lily/narcissa, T, 1k] “Problems, cousin?” Narcissa calls to Sirius, cool and sugar-sweet. She’s smirking, braid of pale hair coming loose, and Lily should absolutely be cheering for Gryffindor, but she can't help herself. As Narcissa turns into a sharp dive, snatching the Quaffle right out of James's hands as she passes, she whoops, clapping her hands together. “I think this is the part where I'm supposed to call you a traitor,” Remus observes from the seat beside her, as dry as dust, though he hasn’t even lifted his gaze from his book.

R: Receptionist AU They don't love you like I love you by moonlightgalleon [wolfstar, G, 5k] Hospital receptionist Remus Lupin usually invites superheroes as guests for the kids. That is, until he gets the unusual request of inviting villain The Canis.

S: Soulmate AU Amare Series by ABlackRaven [harry/cedric, T, 173k] Cedric feels drawn to protect Harry Potter. Whether this be from Dementors on a Quidditch pitch or the tasks of a life-threatening tournament, he's determined to help him. He can't help but worry about the younger boy. Eventually friendship takes root and potentially…something more? Harry feels drawn to Cedric, safe when he is near. He certainly has no shortage of dangers in his life, from an abusive home life to the growing threat of Voldemort. He cant help the guilt that he puts Cedric in danger by proximity. Eventually friendship takes root and potentially…could he hope for something more? And when the end of the third task goes horribly wrong, will either of them survive? A rewrite of Book 4 revolving around Harry and Cedric.

T: Time Travel AU Escaping the Paradox by Meri [snarry, E, 35k] After Harry is thrown back in time to 1971, he has several choices to make. (also available as a podfic)

U: Undercover AU The Chosen One & The Halfblood Prince by waitingondaisies [Harry & Severus, T, 93k] Severus Snape was discovered as a spy mere days before the start of the school year. Thankfully, Albus had been working on a vague contingency plan for this possibility. It had been inspired by the question, “What would it take for Severus Snape to see that he was wrong about Harry Potter?” The answer? Force Severus to go undercover as Alfonse “Eli” Hopkirk, a sixth year Gryffindor.

V: Vampire AU Immortal Claim by ladyofsilverdawn [snarry, E, 16k] Harry needs Snape's cooperation to solve a case, but navigating vampiric culture and Snape's powerful allure proves more challenging than he anticipates.

W: Western AU Hell and High Water by Krethes [susan bones/pansy parkinson, T, 7k] Pansy is the daughter of the leader of a notorious band of outlaws that's been running this dusty old town for as long as she can recall. Then one day a new sheriff rides into town with her pretty little niece at her side who keeps making pretty little eyes at Pansy and -- aw, hell. (also available as a podfic)

X: N/A

Y: Youtube AU real life has no appeal by orphan_account [wolfstar, G, 7k] In which Remus is Lily's roommate and Sirius, James and Peter break into places.

Z: Zombie AU Love In A Time Of The Zombie Apocalypse by rizzlewrites [dramione, E, 356k] After Voldemort, there was this. The clock is ticking to create a cure to the unimaginable horror that currently grips the world. Hermione finds herself unwillingly allied with the most hated man in Wizarding Britain. (also available as a podfic)

Yes, yes, I know. The first and last list items are the same, but there are only so many zombie and/or apocalypse AUs.

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lucigoo · 18 days

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Here are my Marauder fics. Mostly Wolfstar but I will say if they aren't. Hopefully someone likes at least one of them <3

First Wizarding War: Siriusly, what the fuck Pads! (Part of the Operation Rescue Regulus Series, Wolfstar, Past Jegulus) Summary: After finding out about James and Regulus, Sirius is going to stand back and watch him be killed by a Death Eater, whoops. Really Regulus? (Part of the Operation Rescue Regulus Series, Wolfstar, Past Jegulus) Summary: James, Sirius and Remus put their plan into place. Time to rescue the youngest Black, wether he's happy about it or not. They took my heart, I'm going to take their lives. Summary: Sirius walks in the Order meeting happy and joking with James.

He walks out with his whole life changed and a plan of death and destruction on his mind. A Lone Wolf Once Again Summary: Remus came back from the werewolves and found his whole life destroyed.

His friends dead, his nephew lost and his partner apparently being the cause of it all.

Remus looks at those around him and can't understand why they arnt as angry as him, why aren't they raging about the unfairness of it all? Death on the Other Line (Dorcas/Marlene, Background Wolfstar) Summary: It was only a fight, a fight with her girlfriend. These things happen during normal times, let alone during a war, but unbeknownst to Doras it was the last fight she and Marlene wold ever have. Months of love and work for Moony's sweet treat Summary: Remus had a rough moon, so now Sirius decides its time to share the secret project he's been working on for the last few months. Anything to treat his Moony when he isnt feeling his best. You're Floo Was My Emergency Contact Summary: Sirius is in Moody and Kingsley's custody after Halloween 1981. Dumbeldore is his emergency contct but he isn't answering his floo.... I'm bitter: You were mine first (Past Jegulus) Summary: James catches Regulus in an alley after a Death Eater attack. One thing leads to another and Regulus revels in the fact James isnt as good as he pretends to be, he never has been.

Child Aquesition:

You did what now? Summary: Sirius knew he was the reckless one in this relationship. Until he wasn't. When Remus did something crazy, he went big. Like stealing werewolf kids big. Bring Back Black: In not dead (Past Sirius/Remus, Remus/Tonks) Summary: Remus and Tonks are getting married, they are standing there, ready to say their vows when an unexpected guest turns up. Please Stay Summary: Sirius has been fighting his whole life and sometimes he doesnt always win against the intrusive thoughts that swirl in his mind. Remus hates sitting by his husbands hospital bed, but at least he's alive for him to sit there. At least, this time ... No MCD!! You're still a traitor (Past Sirius/remus, Remus/Tonks) Summary: Sirius came from the veil to find to his family. He found them, he found them ensconded in The Burrow. Harry was there and alive and still carrying on. And so was Remus. But this time the love of Sirius' life was married, to his cousin no less.

Sirius has to be the brave one, now, the mature one but he really doesnt want to be.

Harry gets a loving family: I see your monsters (Part of the The Mismatched Family of Harry Potter series, all the queer Marauder ships) Summary: Most of Harry's large, mismatched family is away at the same time. He is not happy, so his dad teaches him a new song. I'm waiting for Mummy ( (Part of the The Mismatched Family of Harry Potter series, all the queer Marauder ships) Summary: Lily is due back from her and Mary's honeymoon any time now. Harry is waiting. Everyone being apart for so long has taken a toll on them all. Not on my watch (Minerva/Poppy, eventual Sirius/Remus, part of the Who Harry should have grown up with series) Summary: Minerva stand with Albus, looking down at Baby Harry Potter, she listens to Albus and decides not a chance, not on her watch. You wont be alone Madadh-allaidh ((Minerva/Poppy, eventual Sirius/Remus, part of the Who Harry should have grown up with series) Summary: Minerva and Poppy have Harry and they are keeping him, come hell or high water. But they have another lost boy out there, a young man who feels alone and won't make the best of choices alone.

Poppy and MInerva will give him what he needs, hope and the family he craves to soothe him because of the one he has lost.

What Does The Wolf Say? (Wolfstar, Jily, Part of the Uncle Swearwolf series) Summary: It's bedtime in the Potter household, which means time to read a book for Harry.

It's Not Always Me You Know? (Wolfstar, Jily, Part of the Uncle Swearwolf series) Summary: Turns out 4 year old Harry can swear in more then one language.

Whoops, Remus thinks to himself, but its not all his fault, no matter what Lily says. I Give Up (Wolfstar, Jily, Part of the Uncle Swearwolf series) Summary: Remus is exhausted, its almost a full moon and the last thing he needs is a howler from Molly. Why did everyone always blame him. He's Marrying Me (Regulus/James, Background Remus/Sirius) Summary: Regulus is nervous, more nervous then he has ever been before. But why wouldnt he be? This is the start of his happily ever after, after all. Mummy Loves You Harry (Gen, Lily-centric) Summary: Lily knew, she knew there was something wrong with that knock on their door. She had known this would be her end, but she swore to anyone who was listening that this would not be Harry's end.

Reincarnation: 957 years and Remus loves Sirius in every one Summary: Remus has loved Sirius ever since he met him, and in every life since. But loving Sirius is never easy, especially when he manages to get some unknown deity involved in their lives. Marauders at Hogwarts: Smile Summary: Our pair of resident idiots being being oblivious and Remus being jealous. I'm coming Petite Étoile Summary: Sirius Black has heard his brother is going to get the mark. Due to The Incident with Snape, he has no one to turn to. He has been protecting his brother from their family ever since he could remember.

He would do the same today, even if it cost him his life. Heather Summary: Listening to "Heather" by Conan Grey, my brain screamed Sirius and Remus. So here is my Wolfstar interpretation with the kind of light angst that comes with our pair of resident oblivious idiots. Mama Hope's Sex ed lesson (Gen, Hope and Remus)

Summary: Hope found a dirty magazine in Remus trunk, she decides its time for her 13 year old to learn all about the birds and the bees, it turns into something else. A conversation about Remus and who he is and his mother being the supportive parent she always will be. Buzzcut Season (Why me mother?) (Gen, supportive Marauders) Summary: Sirius comes back from his first summer holidays after starting Hogwarts scared and worried, what did Walburga do to him?

It's a good job there are so many people who love him in his true home.

Older Marauders:

Happy Birthday, you old wolf Summary: Remus made it to 65, somehow, with his husband by his side. Its time to celebrate with his loved ones. Who's is the tie Harry? (Wolfstar, Drarry, part of the I finally have a family and they are all here series) Summary: Harry was late to lesson, it was ok though. Well, until someone else realised that he didnt have a red tie, but a green one .... He Is Part Of Our Family Too (Wolfstar, Drarry, part of the I finally have a family and they are all here series) Summary: Next instalment Sleep Paraylasis Summary: Sirius cant move, he cant do anyhthing, he can barely breath. Every bad thing that ha sever happened to and because of him races through his paralysied body and he cant do anything about.

But his light, his light that shines so brightly in the darkness of Sirius' life is there to hold him. The World Is Ending and Yet I Smile Summary: The Moon is broken and the moonlight fractured, and yet Sirius looks a this husband and smiles I'm real, I'm here. Open your eyes and see. Summary: Remus often dreams about Sirius and it makes him reluctant ot open his eye to the nothing he knows he will find when he does. But will he? Has he really lost everything?

Muggle Au: The Arcade (Mostly Dorlene, background Wolfstar) Summary: Its Marlene's turn to pick the groups monthly activity. This month Remus has invited along a new friend. I Want To Die Too Summary: Remus sees his worst nightmare happening before his eyes. He isnt brave like Sirius, he isnt strong like James or ruthless like Regulus. Whereas they would all rather go out in a blaze of glory hes expecting to go in a quieter way.

Remus Lupin wont leave this world with a bang, but with a whimper,

Sirius name a whisper on his lips and a shout in his heart. Judge Judy: Wolfstar edition Summary: Remus Lupin has had to take one Siirus BLack to court to pay for the damges he caused. Another fun filled day in the courtroom of one Judge Judy Scheindlin. I Will Be A Secret But Not A Dirty On Summary: Remus and Sirius have been together for 14 years, but no one knows. And now, now Sirius is getting married to appease his mother.

Remus refuses to be a cheat or to be cheated on, so where does that leave them? Red, White and Blue: I Love You Summary: Remus came back from deployment different. He has no faith in himself with the changes to his body. How could he inflict himslef upon his wonderful husband?

Unfortunatly, said wonderful husband is madly in love with Remus and just waiting for him to stop being a prat and come home to him.

Second Wizarding War:

Casual Summary: Sirius has been in an on and off again relationship with Remus for 20 years, kind of hard to always be on when you are in jail.

Still, what happens when Sirius learns he was all in but Remus was still adamnt it was all still just "casual"? I'm Sorry but your not Him (Past Sirius/Remus, Remus/Tonks) Summary:Remus was supposed to be happily married, but he wasn't. His mind swirled to Sirius every moment of every day, but Remus had a wife and an unborn child.

What was he going to do?

Afterlife fics: It Was Always You (Pst Remus/Sirius, Past Remus/Tonks) Summary: Remus has died at the Battle of Hogwarts, and yes, he is sad, and angry, after all he has left his little boy behind, but here, here is where Sirius is. A long overdue conversation needs to happen betwee the two.

After all, Remus needs Sirius to understand that no matter what, It was always him in Remus' heart. A/b/o Breeding my B.... Summary: Sirius is in heat, ready and waiting for his Alpha, so why isnt he here? Remus Lupin better hurry up. Are you a werewolf? (Jegulus, Wolfstar, part of the Are you a werewolf? series) Summary: Regulus is in love with his new boyfriend. He hasnt told James yet. The full moon is the perfect time to go tell him, especially when Regulus wants to confirm that yes, James is obviously a werewolf. Somehting that will make James very happy. Wait, you're the wolf? (Jegulus, Wolfstar, part of the Are you a werewolf? series) Summary: Sirius has just watched his brother walk away to change their lives again. Either hi brother's possibly a werewolf boyfriend would claim and protect him, or he wouldnt and Sirius will have to grab his brother and run again.

He really needs a hug, so he goes to find his possibly a boyfriend lover Moony, the idea that maybe Moony is a werewolf too has rattled around his brain, but unlike Regulus, he knows better.

Animal Au's: Im The Prettiest Thing In The Reef, Love Me Summary: Remus is a grouchy octopus, and Sirius, the most beautiful fish in the reef, is madly in love with him. Now he just has to get Remus to love him back. We Will Find Our Own Herd, Our Own Famil Summary: The Marauders are animals. Sirius and Regulus are leaving their herd, the Blackmanes, they want a new start. They will find their new family on the way as long as they stick together. Thank you for giving me the stars - Lucigoo89 - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] Summary: Remus and Teddy are outcasts, on the edge of Axolotl society, but Teddy makes a new friend and it looks like Remus may make a something more who is willing to show him the stars.

Soulmate Au: Magic and Mayhem Summary: Soulmates are draw to one another, and their other half's family. It never mattered to Sirius, he had James, Lily and Harry after all But now its just him and Harry, and he feels so alone, so scared and terrified he wont ever meet his soulmate, after all, he knows they are near, so why aren't they looking for him like he is them? Genderswap au: Our house of stone where the ivy grows Summary: Sirius is in an arranged marrigae, one to a cruel man. If she wants to save her brother and her werewolf lover, the love of her life, she has to go through with it.

Maybe one day she will be reunited with Remus, maybe she will be wrapped up in Remus' arms and she in hers. Maybe, but until then Sirius will hope. She will hope that their dreams become reality. Creature Au: High Tide Came and Brought You to Me (Mer Remus/Siren Sirius) Summary: Remus was cursed as a child and became a wermerman. 20 years later and he still hates himself and what he becomes once a moth. Maybe some new addotions to his cove will help him feel a bit more at peace with himself? No War au: This is real, but it isnt ME! (Regulus/James, background Remus.Sirius, Even/Barty) Summary: Regulus loves his brother, something he has to remind himself, because right now he wants to murder him. This is all Sirius fault!

#My fics #Marauders #Enjoy #Wolfstar #Jegulus #Dorlene #Jily #the hobbit #Drarry

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acescavern · 9 months

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Prayer for Halatia 1 ( Ateez x Reader )

PROLOGUE ( TEASER )

navi - m.list

PRAYER FOR HALATIA ~ CHAPTER ONE

Word count: 1.3k

Paring: Ateez x reader ~ undecided.

Warnings: Death, sweaty shoulders Hongjoong (this always needs to be a warning), blood, weapon firing but no description of what, impalement by a tree branch.

Note: Hi! Ace here, This is the first installment. I apologize for any mistakes. You may notice I’m not that great at describing physical people but hopefully, I will get better! How do we feel about the reader being possibly fatally injured from the start? If you have any questions or mayhaps any feedback on the fic please send me an ask, I’d love to know your thoughts! I haven’t decided on the Romantic pairing yet but for certain the very least will be platonic!OT8. I have an idea on possibly a Mingi fic? Let me know what you think!

Yunho gave a warm smile to the frail woman huddled in the corner. Dusting his hands off from fixing the window shutters. The small, almost derelict, store makes home for her and her family.

Ateez has helped many people. Those not yet swept away but the mindless erasure of free will. The eight saviors had migrated the blessed citizens to an abandoned town. A town that was once bustling with community, now crumbling and broken. Prince Maddox's men had cleared out all signs of life a while ago. It had been the first town they started with – it was unlikely they would go back.

Yunho gave a tight, uncomfortable smile at the woman's gratitude and thanks. If he had his way, there would be no royalty at all. Instead, a council of sorts ran by the people of Halatia. His views meant nothing now.

The tall man set about his day, fixing and clearing the small problems he was able to make the ruined buildings as homely as possible. Come nightfall, the perimeter fence needed to be secure enough to stop the nightcrawlers.

Whatever experiment Prince Maddox was injecting into his subjects seemed to make them susceptible to sunlight. It worked in their favor, really. The zombified flesh eaters were results of one's body rejecting the experiment. They couldn't stand the sunlight one bit.

Granted, they still had to be careful.. Just because the small town was left alone didn't mean the patrol men didn't wander through once in a few moons.

Yunho startled, a strong hand clapping down on his left shoulder. He was so lost in thought he hadn't sensed the cheerful, brunette man come up behind him. Wooyoung couldn't help but laugh in amusement, teasing his friend for being 'away with the fairies'.

"You're back from forage already?" The older man questioned with light surprise. A noise of confirmation came from the other – the sound in itself didn't sound too promising and as Yunho took a glance to the rucksack hanging off one of Wooyoung's shoulders, he could see that it wasn't even half full.

"Did you get anything on the list?" The hint of doubt in his tone made Wooyoung roll his eyes.

"Of course I did! Who do you take me for?" He dropped a lean shoulder, letting the bag drop to the crook of his elbow. Wooyoung hastily unzipped it, yanking apart the two sides to reveal some of the bag's contents. "There's still a bunch of untouched vehicles about two towns over, on the Intersection…Couldn't remember how many we needed so Mingi and I grabbed what we could before we heard the patrol sirens."

"Patrol sirens? You think they're headed this way? We should tell Captain." Yunho’s careful gaze scanned around the makeshift village around them, catching sight of their leader in the old mechanics garage.

The older male had the handle of a worn pair of cable strippers propped in his mouth, eyes squinted in concentration as he twisted delicate strands of copper wire together. His hands adorned with black faux leather fingerless gloves, the crease of the palms worn away from the cheap quality. The captain wore loose, flair bottom pants, the rounded toes of his boots peaking from the bottom.

With a nod of agreement, Wooyoung parted from his friend to make his way over. “Hey Joong-” he called, cut off by Hongjoong holding up his index finger as a sign for the younger to wait.

Hongjoong held the wire still with two fingers, free hand removing the pliers from their hold between his lips to replace them. His strong grip clapped the pliers shut to enable him to solder the wire in place on the small circuit board on his work bench. Only when he was finished, did he turn to Wooyoung, raising an eyebrow expectantly.

“You’re going to tell me about the sirens aren’t you?” he hummed, flexing his fingers to sooth the ache of wiring for many hours.

“D’you thing they could be patrolling through here tonight?” There was an edge to the younger’s tone.

Their leader threw himself down on the bench seat with a deep sigh, shoulders glistening with a light sheen of sweat as he shrugged them. “We should put out a warning of shut down just incase. The eight of us can hide in here, San fixed the lock this morning.”

Shut down. In other words, to hide all traces of human life. To keep still and quiet until Prince Maddox’s patrol crew had done their sweep through of the town. It was allot of work to pull off but it was the first safety procedure the 7 of them had worked out upon setting up home in the village.

The rest of the evening went by quickly, Ateez working tirelessly to secure their home and people before settling into the garage just before nightfall. Jongho huffed a quiet breath of nerves as he slid the final lock in place on the door, his footsteps nothing but a whisper along the floor as he made his way to the bank of screens and camera feeds where the rest of his friends were watching like hawks.

They knew the drill by now. Each watching a different set of screens for any sign of the patrolmen. Yeosang’s tremoring hands rubbed at his tired eyes, the corners scrunching as he squinted at his screens.

A glimpse of a hand caught his eye from the main gate feed. It was quick and he wondered if it was just sleep deprivation playing tricks on him…. Until the figure came fully into view. A rush of tangled hair, trembling limbs and paranoid eyes sprinting away from something. Yeosang lightly tapped the arm of the person closest to him to get their attention, nimble fingers silently pointing to the figure as to not make any sudden noise. He felt Seonghwa place a palm on his shoulder as he leant closer to look. The woman exited the frame, followed a few seconds later by a patrolman. His mouth was moving, the male shouting something toward her direction as he aimed his weapon. Seonghwa and Yeosang watched him fire, their breathing stopped. Had he hit his target?

With a single glance up to Mingi’s bank of camera’s, neither of them saw the figure move from the blindspot. Not for a few minutes at least, the gate feed still showing the lone, masked patrolman facing the direction of his shot. Eventually, he moved forward. Casually strolling, head tilted in almost curiosity. It was only mere seconds before he was out of sight.

Not for long, his limp body was seen landing still in the view of the next camera, just the other side of the blindspot with a pointed branch impaled through his abdomen. Blood spilled from around the wound. It seemed everyone was watching the same feed now, still and unmoving. Yeosang wanted to speak, he wanted to ask his friends if they thought the woman was okay but he knew the risks of speaking and making sound too early.

They knew the patrolman would likely be nightcrawler food when the pitch black settles over the sky. It felt like hours of waiting to be sure the coast was clear, in reality it was only between ten and fifteen minutes.

“They must have been on the outskirts.” Honjoong hummed quietly, His eyes flickering from camera to camera to try and get a glimpse of the figure again. Perhaps she was still in the blind spot. Nobody had seen her leave it, if she was injured they would have to get to her fast before the nightcrawlers come out from their hiding.

“Should we… Should we see if…” Seonghwa trailed off, somehow the heavy weight of his unfinished sentence was enough for them to understand. Should we find out if she’s dead?

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kuroosdumbslut · 1 year

Note

Hi, i love your blog.

Can you write plese some snape x reader… start with fluff but end with little angst. Thank you love.

Severus Snape x Reader: Not Quite Safe, but Never Alone

This one kinda sucks, but it's all I could think of, and of course I forgot you wanted it to end with angst, but there's a touch of it in there! I'm a sucker for fluff and I had 0 self-control lol

It had been six months by now since the war ended. Six months since you had nearly lost your husband. You still remember thanking Harry over and over again for finding him and getting him help so soon. Severus now stood next to you with his hair tied back and out of his way, a habit he kept since his recovery. You couldn’t help but smile up at him, just grateful he’s still here with you. “Where are we going today, my love?” Severus asked quietly, rubbing his thumb over the back of your hand he held. Since he’s been well enough, he’s made a point to take you out on weekly dates. Even if they’re smaller dates, he always takes you out to lunch or dinner. “We could try that new restaurant that just opened up next to Madam Puddifoot's. I heard they have an amazing menu.” Severus smiled fondly and headed in the direction of the shop, one of several shops the couple was hoping to visit.

However, as you both knew this day would one day come, a few ex Death Eaters stormed through the doors and immediately started throwing curses at both you and Severus. Severus, thankfully, was still hyper aware of his surroundings and was able to throw up a ward around you to protect you from oncoming spells, but a particularly nasty hex caught Severus straight in the chest. Horrified, you let out an anguished scream and dove to his side, sending a few hexes of your own at the attackers and sighed in momentary relief as you saw Harry and Neville both appear just a moment later to detain them.

As he constantly seemed to be thinking ahead, Harry and Neville both had asked for a medi-witch to come on scene immediately before coming. Now, just a few hours and several visits from Neville and a few other Ministry officials, Severus was once again in a hospital bed. At least, this time, he was much more conscious. “Are you sure you weren’t hit, love? They were tossing spells around like insolent first years.” With huffed laughter and a gentle squeeze to his hand, you assured him once more. “Severus, darling, you’ve asked me that nearly ten times. I’m fine. That ward you put around me protected me, I’m more worried about you. Are you okay?” Severus sighed discontentedly and squeezed your hand back. “I’m sore, to be honest, but nothing I haven’t felt before. I’m angry those bastards managed to track me down and nearly killed you. I’ll be sure to plan, hopefully safer, dates for us once I’m out of here, I promise-” You cut him off by gently pressing your lips to his and hushed him softly. “My love, we can worry about date nights and other activities later. I’m safe. You protected me like it was nothing. We may not be entirely safe, but you know I’m never leaving your side.” You paused to press gentle kisses to the scars on his neck and another, even softer kiss, to the bandages covering his chest. “We’ll be okay, Sev. Don’t forget, you’re free from any previous obligations you had. We can leave or move out to a much more rural area. I’d be more than happy to help you start and work with you on your own potions business I know you’ve been dying to start since the war ended. We can make our own life, love. But for now, I need you to rest and recover so I can sleep in your arms again, alright?” Severus groaned quietly and lolled his head onto yours, taking a deep breath and whispering his agreement. “You’re right, of course. We can deal with life after I get out of this damn bed. Though, I will say, I…I think we should move. Move and start our own life, make a business…be happier.” You grinned and pressed your face against the back of his hand. “I love you, Sev. You better prepare to be housebound for at least a week or so, I have no intentions of not being cuddled up with you when you get home.” Severus snorted and ran his free hand through your hair. “I’d expect nothing less of you, my love.”

#severus snape x reader #severus snape x you #pro severus #snape content #snapedom #snape x reader #snape fic #severus snape #professor snape

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ophidianoccultist · 9 months

Text

Uprising

Tom Riddle x F!Reader

================

MINORS DNI 🔞

hi this is my first time writing for tumblr, and im starting off with a whopper. i dont know what all the trigger warnings are supposed to be but i tried my best to be accomodating. also my ass did NOT research but hopefully my memory should suffice and i did my best to keep characters and stuff accurate or at least adjacent. im on mobile btw so im sorry if any formatting is weird but yeah, this one is uh...pretty dark so yeah, hope you enjoy :)

TW: smut, oral (m receiving), master/slave dynamic, bloodlust, bodily harm, very very kinky Tom

PROMPT: This takes place in the infancy of his rise to becoming the Dark Lord. Y/N has been the only one to manage to get somewhat close to Tom, being his first real devoted follower, but does he really love her or is she simply a tool for power and pleasure?

Word count: 1.8k

The stone floor was cold and dry, just like the rest of the manor that had been the base of operations for Tom Riddle, or as his followers know him, Lord Voldemort. The only warmth in the room came from the hearth, which bathed the room in an eerie, orange glow. The light of a fireplace would usually be calming and comforting; yet when juxtaposed with the topic being discussed with the Dark Lord and a table full of his followers, it was as if it filled the room with an ironic coldness.

The table that stood starkly in the middle of the room sat only around ten people. Some belonged to the Black and Malfoy families, as they had the power, wealth, and influence to help spread the message of their uprising. The rest, however, were friends that Tom had made during his time at Hogwarts. He had promised them glory and power should they choose to side with him. And he had the power of the Blacks and Malfoys at his side, so why would they ever question him?

"Remember what we have discussed today, and we shall put our plan into action. This will take much care and caution to execute, lest we wish to be exposed and our movement snuffed out. You may go, and I will call upon you again when need be."

The voice of the Dark Lord reverberated throughout the room, cold and authoritative. With every word that came from his lips, it felt to his followers that he was speaking snakes into existence, coiling around their throats and threatening to squeeze if they so much as spoke a word out of turn. Tom Riddle was a handsome man, with curly, jet black hair that he made sure was always neatly maintained. His brown eyes always seemed to see right through people as if they were ghosts (and depending on who he's looking at, they soon would be). The way he carried himself and strode about the halls with his head high simply screamed that he was entirely fit to be a Dark Lord. The very perception of him was perfect, like someone you would see in a painted portrait hanging in the hall of a lavish castle.

But of course, those thoughts stayed in Y/N's mind as the occupants of the table stood and made their way to the hearth to take the floo network back to wherever they needed to be. The floo flame now bathed the room in a green hue as the Death Eaters made their exit, while the Dark Lord remained seated at the head of the table with his most faithful servant at his side.

On her knees, at his side, as he preferred. Y/N was his queen, yes, but he also still saw her as his inferior. This was commonplace at these meetings; Y/N on her knees at his side as the Dark Lord gave his orders, her head and arms draped across his lap, and a collar around her throat. The leash, of which, he kept a firm hold of. It was all a display of power and of status, complete ownership of another living soul. She had been the first one to bear the Dark Mark on her forearm, and with that, comes special treatment. Y/N was permitted the place as his right hand, able to give orders so long that they do not undermine his own. She was also given the privilege of warming his bed and knowing just enough of his plans and secrets to make her feel special and more complicit in his plots. Little pieces, crumbs of information to make her feel like she was his most trusted confidant.

As the last of the Death Eaters disappeared into the emerald flames, the Dark Lord pulled Y/N to her feet by the leash he always kept a tight hold on. Now that they were alone, he was free to slip on his other mask: the mask of the lover. Now, he was simply Tom.

"Come now, my dear, let us retreat to my chambers for the night. You look exhausted, and I don't say I blame you. Listening to that lot blabbering on about their imbecilic ideas exhausts me as well, at times."

"Of course, my Lord."

Y/N knew exactly what he was implying, as it had become a nightly occurrence. Tom would want to be pleasured by her and, to his credit, he would pay the favor back in kind. He opened the door to his chambers, which were always kept spotless and neat. The emerald blankets that adorned his bed were crisply tucked in and smooth, and there was scarcely a drop of wax on the nightstands on either side from the lit candlesticks. But Tom took a seat on the side of the bed regardless, though Y/N swore she saw his eye twitch as he saw the sheets crease underneath the weight of him. He gave a sharp tug of the leash, pulling her closer to him, and almost making her stumble.

"Kneel."

He did not have to tell her twice. She had learned the heard way that it was unwise to make him tell her twice. Y/N dropped to her knees in front of him, patiently awaiting orders. This was what life was like for her now, and she was perfectly happy with it. When it came down to it, she was still Tom's queen, and truly the one that he respected most. The thought gave her warmth as he thoroughly debased and degraded her every night after the business of the day had been dealt with. All of his frustrations, his tension, his stress, it all went into her. His queen, his pet, his slave.

"You know what to do."

Tom said flatly, in the sardonic and authoritative tone that always coated his words. And as Tom ordered, Y/N did. Her hands moved to unbutton and unzip his trousers, pulling the fabric of that and his undergarments down only enough to free his member, which stood proudly at attention just as the rest of him did every day. That was the only degree to which Y/N was allowed to undress him; Tom had always preferred to do any undressing himself, if he even did at all. But something about witnessing how eagerly and desperately his queen wished to free his cock from its cloth prison aroused him, so he had kindly allowed her that privilege.

Y/N's tongue ran up the underside of his length and swirled around his tip before her lips wrapped around it and moved back and forth. Tom was an impatient man, and did not like to be teased or kept waiting. Soon enough, his hand was tangled in her hair, almost as if he was petting her, before grabbing a tight fistful of it and forcing himself further down her throat. This meeting had been particularly grating, and he needed a release now. He moved the head of his lover back and forth on his cock, reveling in the feeling of her hot, slimy throat clenching around him. Y/N would never get a single moan out of Tom; only heavy and labored breaths, if she was lucky.

Soon, he felt he was on the edge of his release, and his hips bucked a little to fuck the throat of his queen. His queen, no one else's. Y/N was his property, his object, and no one would be able to take her from him. Tom let out a long sigh as he spilled his seed down Y/N's throat, which he had sheathed himself fully into, and with her dutifully swallowing every drop. After it was finished, Tom released his hold on her hair and allowed her to pull back and breathe for a moment.

"Tonight is going to be a little different, my pet. Strip completely and lay down on the bed."

"Yes, my lord. How will tonight be different, though?"

"Do not question me, you shall see soon enough."

Tom commanded coldly, though his voice was laced with a sadistic hunger. Y/N conceded to her Lord and master with a nod, making quick work of her clothes as she let them stay in a pile on the floor. Tom pulled her by her leash to the bed, where she laid comfortably on her back, hands at her sides.

"Now, we are going to try something a little different. It will only bring you pain, no pleasure, so be forewarned. The only pleasure now will be had by me. I must please ask you not to squirm or scream, or else it will end badly for you. Understood, my pet?"

Y/N nodded as he tucked himself back into his trousers and made himself proper again. Tom was now completely dressed, and had stated that Y/N would be receiving no pleasure, so what did he plan to do? Every question running through her head was soon answered as he pulled a dagger from the drawer of his bedside cabinet, studying it carefully. His eyes, which still were even sharper than the dagger he held in his bony hand, darted to the chest of his lover, eyeing the flesh hungrily.

Leaning down, his eyes never leaving the spot above her right breast he had fixated on, he slowly dragged the blade across the soft skin, down her chest, leaving a trail of red in its wake. Y/N hissed in pain, but did not dare move out of position. The blade stopped in the middle of her chest, below her breasts, before mirroring the mark he made on her right side to her left. On complete impulse, Tom laid the bloodied dagger on the nightstand and ran his tongue across the mark he just made. He did not cut deep enough to cause major injury, though it would definitely leave a scar, from the way it was weeping blood. The Dark Lord relished the metallic taste of her essence, letting it rest on his tongue, and letting it drip down his throat. The taboo and unnatural act he was performing was almost euphoric, and it made him feel powerful, as if he was a dementor sucking the very soul out of her body. When Tom was satisfied and Y/N's bleeding had ceased, he sat back up and gazed hungrily down at the chest of his queen, at the work he had done.

Now, Y/N was perfect to him.

Cut across her chest, was the letter V. V for the new name he had chosen for himself. A V to mark his property, a scarlet letter emblazoned upon her body so that she may never forget who she serves. And if ever she does forget, Tom would make absolute certain to remind her.

#tom riddle #harry potter #hp #smut #voldemort

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jmagnabo92 · 9 months

Text

PM - 78 - May 17 - Cherry Pie

@prongsfoot-microfic

When Sirius has a bad day, all James can do is make him his favorite pie.

AO3

***

Whenever Sirius gets in a mood, there’re only a few things that James can do to make things better. Most of those things involve being starkers, but there were a few things that didn’t.

Given that Sirius had told him that he wasn’t in the mood when he got home, James opted for one of the non-starkers options. This meant baking Sirius’ favorite pie – Cherry Pie.

Thus, he focuses on his task determined that his husband was going to feel better no matter what happened at work or wherever that causes such a foul mood. So, he puts on his music and gets to work.

It takes longer to make the pie from scratch, but Sirius deserves nothing, but the best. While he waits for certain steps, he can’t help checking on Sirius and can’t help noting that he’s in his Padfoot form.

This isn’t good.

Hopefully Sirius will tell him what’s wrong when he gets some pie.

It takes some cajoling to get Sirius as Padfoot to come to the kitchen, but as the pie finishes, James temps him with, “It’s your favorite – cherry pie. Why don’t you change back and eat some?”

It still takes a few minutes before Sirius turns back and immediately starts digging into the pie. He doesn’t talk at first, but after a minute or so of eating that delicious pie, he says, “My mother paid a visit to my office.”

“Ah, not pretty then?” James asks. Knowing how awful Sirius’ mother is, especially since he’d been disowned for years at this point.

“She came to ask – well, demand – that I get Reggie out of prison. Something about how he’s done enough time and that he was just an innocent little bigot that joined a hate group but shouldn’t be considered responsible for his own choices. Claimed that it was my fault that he ended up with the Death Eaters, yadda, yadda.”

“You know that’s not true – he was a fanatic years before you left the Blacks, and he was only a year younger than you. No one would expect that you should be responsible for his choices.”

“Thanks, love,” Sirius states. “I know that deep down, but her yelling and demanding at my office today was just a lot – it put me back in that place that I was in when they dragged him in at the end of the war… like somehow I let him down.”

“You didn’t. You weren’t responsible for him, and you can’t do that to yourself.”

Sirius nods, “I know, I know. It’s just hard.”

“At least tell me that you banned her from the office.”

“My supervisor did – something about trying to cheat the system for Death Eaters didn’t seem right and it’s not my choice anyway.”

James nods. “Good, you deserve better than that.”

“Thanks, Jay.” Sirius grins. “And at least I have pie.”

“You deserve it.”

“Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

#Prongsfoot #Bambibelle #Sirius Black #James Potter #78 #Cherry Pie

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jimblejamblewritings · 2 years

Text

yes, i’m a squib | part 33.

Summary: Y/N Black has always been a squib, to the dismay of her pureblood family. Cast out to the orphanage at a young age, she thought that was her life. Until her relative Sirius Black breaks out of Azkaban. Suddenly a letter to Hogwarts in thrusted into her hand and Y/N becomes a true part of the magical Wizarding World.

Warnings for the Series: violence, death, light smut, angst, fluff

Pairing: harry potter x black!reader, cedric diggory x black!reader

Word Count: 5.2k

Previous Part | (Series Masterlist)

Your Year at Hogwarts:

You didn’t go to the first dinner of the year. You didn’t want to see any more Death Eaters or any students in fear. The first thing you noticed was the sword of Gryffindor wasn’t in the office. You suspected that Snape or the Ministry took it. Probably Snape since the sword belonged to Hogwarts which meant it was in his new office. It also meant he had already thought about the fact that you were going to send Kreacher to give it to Harry. Instead, Kreacher left Dumbledore’s office— you still had to get used to calling it yours— to find your friends and give them all the password to the office. Ginny was the first to make use of it. She told you that everyone at the Burrow was fine. Surprisingly, Mr. Weasley still had a job at the Ministry. But the Weasley family was on thin ice. They were labelled blood traitors and all blood traitor families were being monitored a little more.

When Ginny left, you retreated to the bedroom chamber. It was decorated like your Hufflepuff prefect room. You were positive that Professor Sprout did it. You hung up your dad’s old mirror on the back of the door. Hopefully, Harry would pull out the missing shard so you could at least see his face once or twice.

Kreacher appeared on your bed, causing you to jump. He was holding the fake galleon that you had given to him after fifth year ended. It was glowing a bit and warm to the touch when you took it out of Kreacher’s hand. The coins hadn’t been used for an entire year. You slowly made your way through the halls until you reached the Room of Requirement. Ginny was at the front of the room when you got there— the familiar crowd of faces looked at her.

“We need to restart Dumbledore’s Army,” she said with determination.

Cedric’s owl arrived with a letter. You didn’t have one yet to return so you sent the little bird away. You two had been keeping in contact since the wedding. Two years out of each other’s lives seemed two years long enough. On some level, the letters weren’t completely innocent. You two were writing to make sure the other was still alive, that you hadn’t been taken by Death Eaters. Sometimes the letters would simply say: I ate breakfast, I’m still okay. Every letter was dated and you rarely went more than three days without sending one.

“This is the third time this week,” you said as you directed Neville to sit on the table in the greenhouse.

“Well when they stop torturing third years, then I’ll stop fighting back.”

You dabbed a thick paste-like version of wiggenweld potion around Neville’s black eye. The Carrows were some of the worst professors ever. In Dark Arts, because Defense Against the Dark Arts didn’t exist, Amycus thought proper punishment was students performing the Cruciatus Curse on those that misbehaved. Neville always refused, even picking fights with them. He had started coming into the greenhouse battered and bruised. He winced as you applied the paste.

“Try to get beat up a little less. You’re using more wiggenweld paste than I can make at a time.”

“No promises but I’ll try. Is it true about you and Harry? Slytherins have been having a field day with that.”

You shook your head. “I thought it would be safer if they think that I have no ties to Harry. I probably shouldn’t have made him look like a banshee hater, I didn’t think they’d spread the rumor around.”

“I don’t think anyone believes the last bit even if they think you’re not together. Not anyone that matters.”

“Alright. You look like crap but I think you’ll live, Mr. Longbottom.”

He chuckled and jumped down from the table. “Thanks for the patch up, again.”

“You own this place?” a voice asked as you put the key in the door to your store.

“I have for the past three years.”

You almost dropped the package from the post office when you turned to see the face that belonged to the voice. The man in front of you looked like the spitting image of your late Headmaster. He tried to smooth out his beard.

“You’re the banshee right? You saw my brother die?”

“Your brot— Aberforth Dumbledore?”

You had read his name a few times in the biography of Dumbledore that Rita Skeeter had published. They could be mistaken for twins, Aberforth and Albus. Aberforth offered a drink in his pub and you realized he was your next door neighbor with the shady pub that allowed you to buy your store for so cheap. The pub— Hog’s Head— was dingy. You thanked Aberforth for the cup of firewhiskey and sat at one of the small round tables. Literally no one else was in there and you wondered if he ever got enough customers to make money. Aberforth was curious about the truth. You told him exactly what happened that night— still protecting your cousin and not mentioning his name just that it was a student you knew.

“Come by if you ever need help. I didn’t talk to my brother but I’ve heard a lot about you. Your house-elf came by here.”

“Kreacher in a pub?”

“He was with another one, Dobby, I think? They were looking for Mundungus Fletcher.”

“Oh, yes, that’s a long story… maybe I can come by and tell you next time?”

“That would be nice.”

You began playing with the trinkets in Dumbledore’s office. You still weren’t sure if there was any reason he wanted you to have it but you were having a ball looking around. Dumbledore’s office was weird and you liked it. You stumbled across the Pensieve that Harry had told you about. Your fingers grazed across all the silver vials. Picking up one was tempting. But would it be right to look into a dead man’s memories? At the same time, maybe that’s what Dumbledore wanted? You set the vial back before and walked away from the Pensieve.

“Professor?” you heard a small voice at the door of your Alchemy classroom.

You looked up and immediately sprang into action. One of the second years, a Slytherin, was standing at your door and rubbing their wrists. They were practically raw. You rushed them to sit down on the couches at the front. You didn’t even need to wait for a potion to brew. Ever since Neville kept getting hurt along with others, you started making and storing healing potions of all sorts just as a precaution.

“How did this happen? Olivia?” You asked as you began rubbing the potion as gently as possible on her wrists.

“I disagreed with keeping out muggleborns and some older students heard.”

“They can’t— I’ll speak to someone, I promise.”

“I’m scared to go to class,” she whispered.

“You can stay in here whenever that happens. I’ll start bringing my cat to the classroom. Would that make you feel better?”

You finished getting dressed and began to look at your reflection in the mirror. You finished applying face cream when you caught a glimpse of a green eye. You smiled and gave a wave. The green eye in the corner turned into part of a smiling mouth. The shard meant that Harry could only show parts of his face at a time. He mouthed the words ‘hi’ and ‘I love you’. You mouthed them back. You couldn’t talk to him— both of you thought it was too risky. But seeing him, even just part of him, was reassuring.

“And this is our symbol for the Philosopher’s Stone.” You finished drawing it on the board for your first years. “It’s important you understand the parts that make the symbol whole. When it’s time for your own projects, you will be creating symbols of your own. Yes, Mr. Mulstrode?”

“What’s the symbol for your project, salt into gold?”

You set the chalk down. “Students, listen carefully. Do as your professor says and not as she does.”

They all chuckled. You promised that you would come up with a symbol and give it to them before the first semester was over. You were about to call on another student when Amycus came in. He told your students— who he called brats— that class was over for the day. They all looked at you.

“It’s alright, we’ll pick up tomorrow. No reading tonight.”

The first years scrambled out of the room. Amycus watched you with beady eyes as you put the floating chalk back in the cage. You were careful not to let your grip slip. While everyone knew that you were a squib, you felt that flaunting it would be a bad idea.

“We’re learning about banshees in Dark Arts and I was suddenly reminded that we have one here.”

You didn’t protest but followed him to his classroom where a bunch of seventh years— your friends— were. With a scary gentleness, Amycus motioned for you to sit in a chair in front of the class. His lesson on banshees was nothing but how to use them for evil. You sat still, not even looking at the board, as he began to practically salivate at how dark banshees could be.

“We control a banshee by connecting with them using the Cruciatus Curse,” Amycus started. “This little one belongs to the Dark Lord but you can still practice a bit. You all get only a few seconds, any longer and we risk breaking the Dark Lord’s connection. Longbottom! You can go first.”

Neville shook his head. “I’m not doing it.”

Amycus shoved his wand in Neville’s chest. “Another black eye, Longbottom?”

“Neville,” you squeaked.

“It’s torture. I won’t.”

“You have detention, Longbottom. Meanwhile, I’ll gladly take your turn. Crucio!”

Everyone held their ears as you screamed. You drew your knees to your chest. One by one students went. Hesitation was met with detentions which just meant they would get punished. Most of your friends refused and took punishment. You almost wanted to laugh at them being noble because they only earned themselves punishment but didn’t stop the lesson. Amycus took their turn every time they refused. You weren’t sure if it was better or worse to have short attacks of the Cruciatus Curse.

Somewhere between the start of the lesson and the end of it, you had ended up on the floor. You didn’t hear Amycus end his lesson. Your head was hidden by your knees and you had covered your ears with your hands. Tears were streaming down your face as you tried to not end up visualizing the graveyard. You screamed when a hand touched you, fighting as it grabbed your wrists. You looked up and stopped when you saw your cousin.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, they weren’t supposed to touch you at all. That was the deal promised, no one was supposed to hurt you.”

“Did you d—”

“No. I’d never even think about using the curse on you.” Draco pulled you into a hug. “Let’s go before Carrow comes back.”

He helped you up and out of the classroom. Draco took you towards the Slytherin common room. He moved past the entrance for the common room and kept going until he reached a door for the Head of House. He didn’t let up in his knocking until the door opened. You tensed up at seeing Snape standing there.

“No, no, Draco. Please. He’ll do the same, please, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, please. No more curse,” you begged and apologized for nothing, remembering last year’s lessons with Snape.

“Carrow crucio’d her. He had the whole class practice as part of the lesson on banshees.”

Snape looked horrified as you clutched at your cousin’s cloak. You cried more and protested as Draco got you inside. He grabbed you by the shoulders.

“No more, no more curses,” you sniffled. “Please, no more. Everything hurts.”

Draco hugged you again, cradling the back of your head. “Professor Snape won’t hurt you. I won’t let him, he’s not here to hurt you.”

You calmed down enough to let him lead you inside Snape’s office. You were sat down on a chair and felt Draco’s cloak being wrapped around you. Snape assured you that he would talk to Amycus but you didn’t really hear him. Draco knelt in front of the chair and grabbed your hand until you eventually looked at him.

“I’ll be right back, okay? I’m going to get your bag from the class and then come right back, I promise.”

You looked up at Snape’s desk. Draco squeezed your hand.

“He won’t hurt you.”

“No more curse?” you whispered.

“No curse,” Draco said with assurance. “I’ll be right back.”

Snape watched you stay curled up on the chair. You hadn’t moved once since Draco left. Your eyes were stuck staring at the same spot on the floor as if you were trying not to disturb Snape’s presence and have him remember you were there. You jumped when he called your name.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

You shook your head. Draco came back with your bag in his hand. You weren’t in a position to move yet. Snape knew he had to set Carrow straight, reminding the Death Eater that a banshee couldn’t perform for Voldemort if you were too scared. It was clear from Draco and Snape’s perspective that one more Cruciatus Curse and you would probably be just like Frank and Alice Longbottom. Your hands covered your ears again. Draco swallowed uncomfortably as he watched your hands shake.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered.

Draco knelt down in front of you again. “There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

You shook your head and rocked slightly in the chair. “Let Harry have the banshee power, I’m sorry. Is that why I got hurt? I’m sorry, tell Voldemort I’m sorry. I won’t do it again, just no more crucio please.”

Snape stood up from his desk. Your eyes went wide and you shook even harder. He placed a hand on Draco’s shoulder to refrain from trying to give you a comforting hand in worry that it might set you off. Snape waited for you to look him in the eye.

“Don’t ever apologize for that again and don’t you dare let anyone hear what you just said. Draco, watch her until she’s better.”

Your cousin nodded. You slowly unfurled your legs and let him help you up after a bit of prodding.

“It’s Thursday,” Draco said. “Do you want tea?”

“Yes, please,” you murmured.

Your heart sped up when you heard Remus’ voice on the radio that sat on top of the desk in your office. Cedric had written about a new news station called Potterwatch. You had heard a few students talking about it. You could easily identify everyone speaking: Remus, Fred, George, Lee Jordan, Kingsley Shacklebot. It became one of the few news outlets telling the truth. You found yourself listening to it whenever you could. You even played it in your Alchemy classroom, practically daring students to snitch on you to Snape. No one ever did.

Your class became one of the few classes of reprieve for students that didn’t agree with blood purity. Especially the younger first and second years. You, Professor Sprout, Flitwick, McGonagall, and Slughorn tried your absolute hardest to make Hogwarts feel like it used to. You noticed more students had taken Hagrid’s class than in the past. He was also one of the only reminders of old Hogwarts left.

The kids didn’t complain about the readings you gave out. They actually came with questions and were ready to debate each other. They especially enjoyed when Padfoot chose one of their laps to take his daily naps on. Despite the darkness of Hogwarts, the Alchemy classroom was a bright spot. Kids were even encouraged to openly read The Quibbler and condemn the Daily Prophet. Potterwatch was always on. More students spent their free time in the classroom— although sometimes it was just to escape the horrors of the castle, not because they believed Harry over the Prophet. No one ever snitched. It was an unspoken agreement, even if they argued with each other, that nothing left the Alchemy classroom.

Cedric wrote that he was, in fact, officially out of a job. It was a good run and he had made a name for himself as a stellar seeker. But quidditch was basically gone. The Ministry assured that it would be back but the new order to the wizarding world had to be stable first. He sent his quidditch jumper that he signed. You laughed reading the note that you could sell it one day for a lot of money. You wrote him back saying that you didn’t think money was an issue but you appreciated the new, warm jumper to add to your collection.

You dropped his letter in the little pile that you had in a dresser drawer. It made you pleased to see so many. It meant that Cedric was still alive. He was a pureblood but enough people knew about his feelings towards blood purity. It didn’t help that you were his first and most public girlfriend. The banshee part of you seemed to win out over the fact that you were from the most prestigious pureblood family. Cedric’s stance and his previous relationship with you could mark him a blood traitor. Snatchers had begun taking muggleborns and blood traitors to the Ministry to answer for possible crimes and punishments. Blood traitors were fifty-fifty, like how the Weasleys got let go and went into hiding. Muggleborns were always found guilty of some crime and punished.

You knew plenty of muggle students that fled Britain completely with their parents. It was one thing if they were caught, they’d be thrown in prison because the Ministry still felt a type of way about spilling wizard blood. But their muggle parents would be killed without question. Some of your students that were half-bloods wrote you last notes on their essays saying that they were fleeing to a country that offered refuge and wouldn’t be back after Christmas break.

Christmas held no joy. You took the longest route possible to get to Andromeda’s house. You didn’t want to risk a Death Eater following you. Especially not when you were the Secret Keeper of the house. Tonks was visibly pregnant at this point. You gave her a hug before following her inside. The guest room was nice and simple. Padfoot immediately curled up on the bed to sleep.

Dinner was surprisingly nice. It was the most relaxed any of you had been. The entire family was safe and in one place. You lied about Hogwarts when they asked questions. If Remus knew what Amycus had done, he would find a way to keep you at their house. So you only answered about the students. Remus eyed you with scrutiny.

“What?” you asked.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you without something of Sirius’ on.”

“I do own my own clothes.”

“If it’s a dress or skirt. Your dad contributed to the rest of your closet.”

“Keep talking Uncle Remus and I’ll steal your ratty cardigans.”

Tonks couldn’t help but laugh as Remus couldn’t decide whether to be amused or offended.

“I will not name you as our baby’s godmother if you keep making fun of me.”

“I’m already the baby’s sister, I heard you when you threatened Harry.”

“Heard what?” Tonks asked.

Remus blushed as you repeated his statement. She hit him in the shoulder with a proud smile.

“So I was right,” Tonks said. “You are an excellent father.”

“Well, we want you to be godmother,” Remus continued, trying to ignore the compliment. “We were thinking of making Harry godfather but we weren’t sure if you two would feel like that was us just doing that because you were together. It’s not, I just— James was always supposed to be my kid’s godfather.”

“I don’t mind. I don’t think Harry will think anything of it, either… I want the baby to call me Sisi (Y/N),” you said as you took another bite of food.

“What? Sissy?”

“Sisi. CC. Like sister but cuter. I don’t want to be Aunt (Y/N) even if you make me godmother.”

“You call me Uncle Remus.”

“Because you never chose a different name. And Tonks is my cousin but technically my godmother and I never know what to call her. I’m not confusing the baby.”

Tonks pointed her fork at you. “What if you call me TT? Auntie Tonks, TT.”

Remus sighed. “Is this what we’re doing now? Matching nicknames?”

Tonks smiled. “You’re just upset you can’t be called something cute, Moony.”

He gave you both a look like you two were mental. Andromeda offered her own nickname of ‘TT Meda’ at Remus’ expense. He drank his butterbeer and complained about being the only man in the house which just made you all laugh even more. You jumped when you heard a lightning strike with a flash of thunder. Andromeda stopped laughing to look at you.

“Harry’s in trouble.”

“I thought you said he wouldn’t use the connection or your powers,” Remus said with an edge in his voice.

“He’s not or not intentionally, I don’t see anything. But I can hear it, he’s in real trouble. Near death.”

Tonks wrapped an arm around you. “There’s nothing you can do to help, try not to focus on it before you stress yourself out.”

“Are you giving me your pregnancy advice? Isn’t that what the healers say?”

She laughed. “It’s good advice for everyone.”

The next DA meeting was somber. Luna never returned from the break. First Hagrid on the run and now Luna. You all knew she had been kidnapped by Snatchers or Death Eaters. The thing is The Quibbler was still being published so you couldn’t figure out what they possibly took her for. Ginny came in, throwing The Quibbler’s latest print down on the floor. You all looked to see Harry’s face on the front. Only instead of saying how he was a hero, it labelled him Undesirable No.1 just like the Daily Prophet. It was clear. Luna was taken for Mr. Lovegood’s previous publishings. The Quibbler had been taken over just like every other newspaper. Potterwatch seemed to be the only news outlet that said the truth. It would stay that way as long as they didn’t get found.

After the incident in Snape’s office, you no longer felt a way about peering into Dumbledore’s old memories. Any and every bit of memory on Snape was poured into the Pensieve and you watched them all play out. You pulled yourself away quickly after hearing Dumbledore’s request. How could he have asked Snape to kill him? How was him being gone supposed to help you stop Voldemort? You had more questions than answers but you knew one thing now. Snape never turned you in because he was still working for Dumbledore— you hoped.

You didn’t have a choice but to put your faith in that because you looked into a memory labelled sword. Dumbledore leaving you his office made sense now. You were supposed to try and fill in as many gaps as possible. He couldn’t outright give Harry the sword so he hid it. Someone would have to retrieve it and he had to make sure it was someone who would be able to do so rather easily. You moved the portrait of Dumbledore out of the way to see the hole behind it just like in his memories. The sword was there, glittering even though there was no light shining on it. You took it, hiding it in your robe and ran to Snape’s office. He barely looked up as you bursted in and then locked his office door.

“Ms. Black?”

“I know the truth,” you said.

“I don’t kno— where did you get that?” he asked as you brandished the sword of Gryffindor.

“Can you get this to Harry?”

“The sword has to be retrieved through an act of bravery, that’s how its magic works.”

“But can you get this to him?”

“If I knew where he was.”

You took a deep breath. If Harry caught you in the mirror and they had moved, he would mouth where they were so you knew. You had caught him in the morning a few days ago after coming back to Hogwarts. You were taking a big risk if you were wrong. But you had no magic and Snape was the only person you knew that wasn’t being monitored by Death Eaters. Maybe Aberforth but you didn’t think you could sneak the sword out of the castle. Even if Kreacher had taken it, you would have to walk out the castle doors and surely they’d follow you and see the sword. You just had to hope Dumbledore’s memories rang true and that Snape was on your side even a little bit.

“The Forest of Dean,” you said.

After all the potential sightings of Harry, you weren’t allowed to go back to Remus and Tonks. Voldemort wanted you either at Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, or Malfoy Manor. You were more scared at the fact that whenever he came around, you weren’t yelled at but treated like one of his prized Death Eaters. Lucius and Bellatrix tended to act like you didn’t exist which you preferred. The only time they talked was to remind you that you weren’t allowed to go to the dungeon. They would never trust you to not let out the people down there— you never even saw who was kept there. Draco didn’t leave your side the entire Easter holiday break. With his help, you were able to visit Tonks shortly after she gave birth. You and Draco weren’t there long— only two hours before the family got suspicious. But it was two precious hours that you got to hold little Teddy Lupin.

“I’m proud of you, Uncle Remus. You two are going to be great parents to Teddy. I can vouch for that.”

Lupin pulled you into a hug before you had to go. You and Draco got back without anyone thinking anything of it. The two of you were away from the family for most of the break. Narcissa occasionally showed her face but you and Draco were left alone usually. You still had Thursday tea in Draco’s room. Except it wasn’t on Thursdays. It was every time Snatchers dropped off a new batch of people to Malfoy Manor where they stayed before being transferred to the Ministry. The minute new people were dropped off, Draco would usher you to his room before Bellatrix could start performing the Cruciatus Curse on people. He watched how you always curled up in the chair and just clutched the teacup as Bellatrix did it. You dropped the cup when she screamed the curse particularly loud, the porcelain shattering. Draco immediately got up from his chair to kneel in front of you.

“She did that to me,” you whispered.

“I know.” Draco wasn’t sure what else to say.

“She killed my dad.”

Draco pulled you off the chair and into a hug. You started crying as you remembered the Department of Mysteries. Bellatrix would always scare you. Her enjoyment of torture only made it worse because you knew she felt no remorse.

“You won’t hurt me, right?” you asked quietly.

“Never. Family doesn’t do that to each other.”

“She did.”

“She’s not real family,” Draco said with grit in his voice. “You and Mother are family. Lupin and Tonks, too. That’s our family.”

“And my dad.”

“Yeah,” your cousin chuckled sadly. “Uncle Sirius was the best family.”

Narcissa entered the room, saying that you and Draco’s presence was requested. You gasped when you saw Hermione and Ron in the Snatchers’ arms. They were with another man whose face was so puffy and weird looking that you knew it had to be Harry and Hermione probably did some quick thinking. Bellatrix grabbed Harry by his hair and pulled him towards you. She pointed her wand at you causing Draco to step in front a bit.

“Aunt Bellatrix, it’s not necessary. (Y/N) knows what side she is on.”

She muttered alright before her voice turned into the sickly sweet tone she only used with her nephew and sister.

“It’s not him,” Draco said.

“Are you sure?” Lucius asked.

“Potter’s face isn’t this disgusting.”

Bellatrix didn’t seem convinced. She thought Draco needed time and there must have been something wrong with Harry’s face. They threw Ron and Harry in the dungeon. You tried to step up to Hermione who was kept upstairs after the Snatchers pulled the sword of Gryffindor from her bag. Draco held your wrist tightly, reminding you that you had a part to play or risk dying. You squeezed your eyes shut at Hermione’s screaming. Bellatrix wasted no time as she chose to start carving mudblood into your friend’s arm instead of just torturing her with a curse. You only felt relief at not feeling a chill or smelling anything weird. Hermione might be hurt but there were no plans to kill her.

Chaos erupted around you when Harry— with a fixed face— and Ron were suddenly out of the dungeon. They threw spells at each other until Bellatrix grabbed Hermione. You held your breath as the chill came. There wasn’t enough time to grab Hermione. Not with a knife to her throat. Ron and Harry dropped their wands like Bellatrix demanded. You were about to plead with your aunt when you all heard the squeaking of metal on metal. Everyone’s attention slowly looked up to see Dobby attempting to unscrew the chandelier. You smiled— that was how Ron and Harry got out. Elf magic always bent the rules to serve their masters. Bellatrix screamed as she pushed Hermione away and towards Ron so she could avoid being hit by the falling light fixture. You wanted to run to Harry as Dobby apparated them away but you knew it wasn’t possible. You gasped as you heard the whisper of Dobby’s name, watching your aunt’s knife fly through the air and suddenly disappear with your friends.

~~~

You were in your store when a badger patronus appeared in front of you. You dropped the packet of seeds you were holding and immediately locked the store door— the blinds had been closed since Voldemort took over. The Invisibility Cloak was dropped to reveal your friends. You hugged Ron and Hermione before almost tackling Harry. You pulled away from him before your lips crashed against each other. Harry’s hands cupped your face as he deepened the kiss.

“Are you okay? The Prophet published about Gringotts and I thought—”

“We’re fine. Only two horcruxes left and it’s over.”

“But why are you here?”

“One is at Hogwarts.”

“Okay. And the other?”

Ron spoke up. “The snake.”

Your jaw dropped. Getting to Nagini wasn’t going to happen easily. You weren’t sure if it could happen at all. Harry turned your head back to him.

“We need a way to get into Hogwarts.”

“Aberforth! Put the cloak back on, it’s right next door.”

(Part 34)...

#harry potter x black!reader #harry potter x reader #harry potter fic

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stargazerley · 15 days

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Bright Eyes- the Spiral of Pain and Grief

CW: Suicide, Death, Grief, Downward Spirals

I still don't have enough about Storm to properly cover last week's episode. I really want to do her justice so we're putting her on hold for a bit. Hopefully next week will give us some more to work with. Her absence at Remy's funeral is....disappointing.

Speaking of funerals, yup they started with Remy's and the tears did flow. Hank and Scott carried the casket and Kurt spoke with some very kind and wise words. Talking about potential and heroics and it's all very wonderful. I can't do it justice.

Notably absent from this, aside from Storm, is Rogue. Jubilee comments on this, rather insensitively to be honest. We learn that instead of grieving, as she needs to do, Rogue is on a mission of revenge. She's hunting for Gyrich and Trask while having a run-in with everyone's least favorite military stooge, Thunderbolt Ross. Ross makes a comment about the bunker being able to withstand the Hulk. Either he underestimates the Hulk's strength or Rogue is stronger, regardless she opens the place like a can of tuna.

Later she has been led to some snowy middle of nowhere where she encounters Captain America. Cap manages to calm her down for a bit long enough to investigate a cabin all while allowing her to hold his shield. When he tells Rogue that Gyrich has been moved to some place in Mexico, Rogue seeks his aid which he denies. He tells her he cannot, as he is, go with her it might send the wrong message. She, in her grief, hears this as Cap siding against mutants.

The way he words it, he's clearly concerned about causing an international incident in having a clear representative of the US, regardless of his status as a solider. She proceeds to tighten her grip on his shield, she pulls and he releases it, symbolically letting her go. She throws the shield away without conflict, giving Cap an excuse not to follow her.

She arrives, unhindered, at the compound holding Gyrich, a rather nice mansion rather than the prison he deserves. She beats her way into the building and to Gyrich who puts up little fight. Gyrich alludes to having his mind protected from Jean but Rogue uses her powers to gain the information she requires, leaving him in a short coma, and knocking her unconscious.

She wakes to the comfort of Kurt and the rest of the team. She gets a cry out but nothing has changed. The team are informed by Trask that Sinister was involved, he seems off, and tells them where to find him- clearly a trap.

Gyrich has woken from his short coma, and tells a mysterious figure that all is going according to plan. This figure kills Gyrich- on screen by the way.

When the arrive at the building, Trask has neutralized the people inside and they make their way to the hidden facility. There they see some of Sinister's experiments. They encounter Trask who is on the ledge about to jump as he laments his part in the Genosha massacre. Rogue tries to talk him down for information and catches him before he falls. He is unable to give her the information she wants and to most of the team's horror, she drops him.

Morph takes a moment to point out the crossed line while Logan condones it. Trask rises up having been turned into a Prime Sentinel and attacks the team. The team tries to stop him before Cable shows up. Scott is finally informed that Cable is his son as Cable admonishes Jean for invading his mind (good on him honestly). He tells them that there is a greater evil at hand that must be stopped.

Sinister and the mysterious figure discuss their plans and knowledge that Charles is alive. It is also revealed that the Figure has Magneto bound and powerless. The show fades as "One Eyed One Horned Flying Purple People Eater" plays in the background. Which I'm sure has some meaning but I don't know.

With the recap out of the way (mostly, I know I missed some stuff and others might be a bit out of order), let's talk about the point. This episode is about Rogue's grief fueled downward spiral. She is losing herself to her pain and loss and it culminates with her crossing a line.

It's important to note that Morph was the one to call Rouge out on this. Why? Morph was murdered by the Sentinels and was brought back by Sinister. If anyone has the right to want Trask dead it's Morph but they are more concerned by what this means for the team. Interestingly, Wolverine who lost Morph to the Sentinels sides with Rogue.

There's something visceral about watching a character you relate to spiral in such a way she risks losing herself to pain. Rogue is clearly drowning and has decided this was the right thing to do, but Remy saved her from herself before, he's not here to save her this time. This time she's likely to throw her life away just to avenge his death, both Remy and Erik knew she was capable of this.

Seeing people cheer on someone who is spiraling and full of pain is just....disappointing and a bit terrifying really.

#stargazerley #x men 97 #xmen rogue #xmen spoilers #Suicide #murder #grief and loss #unhealthy coping mechanisms

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casspurrjoybell-22 · 21 days

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Dream Eater - Chapter 6 - Part 2

*Warning Adult Content*

When Damien hasn't returned by midnight, I start to worry.

To be fair, there's very little else to do.

Entertaining guests is clearly not a priority of this establishment.

The room has no T.V. no radio and nothing to read.

At least at home, I'd have had one of those awful hotel-room bibles to laugh at.

I pace, look out the window and pace some more.

When the smell from the weird takeout selection starts to bother me.

I decide to venture out in search of a trash receptacle.

The narrow hallway is empty and despite the 'no vacancy' sign, it feels like the place is deserted.

Trying not to make any noise, I sneak down the hall to the door and let myself out.

It's cold and the overgrown garden has an aspect of creepy decay that makes me shiver.

I walk to the street and toss the takeout boxes in the bin.

When I turn to go back inside, the old man is standing in the doorway.

He's wearing the same clothes as before... a sort of stuffy, outdated suit that was in style half a century ago.

Cautiously, I approach.

"I hope I didn't disturb you," I say. "I was just throwing something away."

He doesn't respond and his eyes look black and shiny as beetles in the dark.

"Er... I'll just go back to my room, then. Sorry."

I wait for him to move aside but he doesn't.

"You should leave," he says in a dry, scratchy voice. "While you still can."

Does he not recognize me?

"Um, no, sorry. I'm a guest here. I'm with the tall dark-haired guy? Damien?"

He nods.

"I thought you were the same one, at first. I tried to warn him, too."

What the hell?

"I don't understand," I say. "Has Damien been here before?"

In the light from the streetlamp, the old man's eyes glint like shiny stones.

"Yes. When this place was new."

I'm no historian but this house hasn't been new in a long time.

"When was that, exactly?" I ask.

A few of the crinkles around his eyes loosen and I get the feeling he's seeing something from a memory.

"Nineteen-twelve," he says thoughtfully. "I remember because that ship sank a week before and I was very busy at the time."

The streetlamp flickers and a shiver crawls up my back like something with too many legs.

"What are you?"

He turns to go in.

"An innkeeper," he says.

Despite my fair share of bad travel experiences over the years, I'm pretty sure that's not a variety of demon. I try again as I follow him inside.

"No, I mean what are you."

Stopping in front of a narrow black door, he turns to face me.

"A psycho-pomp," he says. "I guide the souls of the dead on their journey. Also, a doomsayer, though that is by profession rather than nature."

He opens the door, revealing a steep, narrow flight of stairs.

He starts to go through and I catch at his sleeve.

"Wait... what did you mean before? About leaving and all that?"

He looks at me and I get the feeling he's old as the stones in the foundation.

"The one who brought you here carries doom in his shadow," he says.

"And leaves fire and death in his wake. The last time he was here, he came with another... a creature of beauty and light, much like yourself. I saw the dark end towards which he fell, drawing him swiftly, like a penny in a spiral well. The same darkness catches at you now, whispers at the edges of your fate, calling you to ruin. It may already be too late but if you do not seek death, then you should not stay with that man a moment longer than you must."

Giving me a slight nod, he shuts the door gently in my speechless face.

I'm guessing he's not invited to many parties.

Kind of a downer, honestly.

I return to the threadbare room and lie down, mulling over the man's words.

I should probably feel scared but I'm mostly curious.

I don't plan on sticking with Damien any longer than I have to, anyway, which is hopefully tomorrow morning.

What has me curious is that both the innkeeper and Damien think I have something in common with this Sakariel guy.

But what could a dream-eater with a damaged demonic soul have in common with... for lack of a better word... an Angel?

I'm no more a 'creature of beauty and light' than a pebble is a precious stone.

The room is cold and there's no heating system as far as I can tell.

I crawl under the blankets but they're thin and smell like damp and age.

The mattress dips in the middle and the pillow is lumpy.

I shut my eyes, missing Dante's couch.

A door slams and I jolt awake and sit up.

Damien shrugs out of his coat and casts me an apologetic look.

"Sorry."

I glance at the little bedside clock.

It's 3:33 in the morning.

"Where did you go?" I ask.

For a moment, I think he's not going to answer me but he does.

"Nowhere. I just needed to get away," he takes a deep breath and goes on. "This place holds a lot of memories for me. I didn't think when I teleported us out of my apartment... I just focused on the first place that came to mind and this was it. Well... the forest, actually. But this is where..."

"You were here with him, weren't you? Sakariel."

He nods.

"This was our..." he leans his hands against the wall and hangs his head. "It was a safe place for us or so we thought."

I don't press him for more and after a moment he pushes himself up with a sigh and starts to undress.

"Is there any food left?" he asks.

"I thought you didn't need any?"

He shrugs.

"As long as I'm keeping myself suppressed, my physical body is as mortal as any other. Unless we're in a dead zone, I guess I'll have to eat and sleep after all."

"I'm sorry. I threw out the leftovers."

"No matter. It's almost morning anyway."

He climbs beneath his own blankets on the other bed.

I pull mine around me more tightly.

"It's fucking freezing in here," he complains.

After a moment, I hear the rustle of blankets and then a tug at my shoulder.

"Move over," he says.

He lifts the covers and slides in beside me without waiting for a reply.

"Hey... I didn't say you could..."

"You want to be cold all night? Because I don't."

He wraps his arms around me and pulls me against his chest.

I yelp as his icy hands slide over my back.

"Jeez fuck, you're cold."

"You're warm," he murmurs.

"Compared to an ice-cube, maybe," I shiver.

But his body is already warming, and in a minute I turn over so my back is to his chest and relax into his heat.

He makes a contented noise and squeezes me like a kid holding a stuffed toy.

I sigh and wonder if it's safe to fall asleep like this.

Will he still have nightmares now that his memories aren't suppressed or can I drift off without risking another tour of Hell?

"You smell so good," he says dreamily, on the edge of sleep. "I always loved the way you smell, Sakariel."

I go still but he doesn't seem aware of what he's said.

From his deep, even breathing, I can tell he's asleep.

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phantom-le6 · 3 months

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Ramble of the month February 2024: 90’s MCU phase 5 – transitioning from Secret Wars to Infinity Wars

Having spent much of last month and a fair bit of this one working on submissions to literary agencies for my autism book, this month’s ramble and the one for next month took a bit of a back seat, and as such I’ve still not been able to vary myself away from delving further into my hypothetical Marvel and DC film universes. Apologies to anyone who, like me, were hoping to vary things more. However, hopefully what we cover in this ramble and the next will make up for it, and as April will be Autism Awareness time, I can guarantee something different for then.

By this point, I’m sure readers don’t need as much of a recap on what these posts to do with my 90’s-based MCU are about. Long story short, I’ve done what the meme makers don’t; looked at the comic book and real-world history of Marvel from that era to create an actual 90’s based MCU instead of putting 90’s actors into a present-day MCU. However, as we’re into a fifth phase and well past the 1990’s, we should at least quickly review phases 1-4 first.

Phase 1:

1992: Fantastic Four, Hulk, Iron Man

1993: Thor, Spider-Man, Ant-Man & The Wasp

1994: Captain America: Fantastic Four 2, Iron Man 2

1995: X-Men, Avengers, Daredevil

Phase 2:

1996: Spider-Man 2, Thor: Land of Enchantment, Silver Surfer

1997: Hulk vs Wolverine, Fantastic Four: Doomsday, Iron Man 3

1998: Captain America: Society of Serpents, Daredevil 2, X-Men 2

1999: Avenger 2, Spider-Man 3, Doctor Strange

Phase 3:

2000: Fantastic Four: World War III, Thor: Ragnarök, Daredevil 3

2001: Hulk: Rise of the Leader, X-Men: Fall of the Mutants, Avengers: Under Siege

2002: Doctor Strange 2, The Captain, Spider-Man 4

2003: Captain Britain, Fantastic Four: Enter the Negative Zone, Ghost Rider

Phase 4:

2004: Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Secret Wars: Part I

2005: Excalibur, Defenders, Ghost Rider 2

2006: X-Factor, Secret Wars: Part II, Heroes For Hire

2007: Namor the Submariner, Doctor Strange 3, Iron Man: Enter The Mandarin

As discussed in previous rambles, phase 1 was all about establishing the MCU and its characters, phase 2 was about the expansion and development of the continuity, while phase 3 was mostly about many characters and teams losing, being put on the back foot and so on. Phase 4 then covered Secret Wars, which temporarily deprived Earth of some major MCU heroes to put them through a real alien war, and in the process also allowed some other heroes to come to the fore. Phase 5 then becomes about following on from some of those plot threads while beginning the set-up for this MCU’s version of the Infinity War. So, let’s quickly show you the phase 5 slate and then get right into the details of these would-be films.

Phase 5:

2008: Spider-Man 5, Fantastic Four: Unthinkable, Ms Marvel

2009: Elektra, Black Panther 2, Defenders 2

2010: X-Men: Proteus, Spider-Man 6, Ant-Man 2

2011: Silver Surfer 2, Avengers vs X-Men, Ghost Rider 3

Spider-Man 5 (2008) Directed by Matthew Vaughan

Peter Parker/Spider-Man = Wil Weaton

May Parker = Marg Helgenberger

Flash Thompson = Ben Affleck

J. Jonah Jameson = J.K. Simmons

Joseph "Robbie" Robertson = Denzel Washington

Betty Brant = Parker Posey

Ned Leeds = John Barrowman

Eddie Brock = Wentworth Miller

Randy Robertson = Taye Diggs

Harry Osborn = Ryan Phillipe

Mary-Jane Watson = Alison Hannigan

Herman Schultz/Shocker = Patrick Muldoon

Felicia Hardy/The Black Cat = Elisha Cuthbert

Roderick Kingsley/Hobgoblin = Michael Keaton

Quentin Beck/Mysterio = Nathan Fillion

Captain Jean DeWolff = Jessica Biel

Detective Stanley Carter/”Sin Eater” = James Marsden

In the first three Spider-Man films, we built up to Peter befriending the Osborns and dating Gwen, only for the Green Goblin/Death of Gwen story arcs to play out in Spider-Man 3. The fourth film then gave Peter a clash with the Sinister Six as he struggles to come to terms with Gwen’s death. Following Secret Wars, Peter now has the alien costume, and so film 5 is basically the alien costume story arc. Sounding a little too much like the Raimi/Maguire Spider-Man 3? Trust me, it’s not like that and for two key reasons. Firstly, I’m not trying to shoe-horn Venom in for the third act, just set him up for another film. Second, I’ve chosen Wentworth Miller of Prison Break and The Flash fame to play Eddie Brock, and that’s far from being our only change.

In this film, Peter’s occupied trying to stop a series of illusion thefts being committed on behalf of a new “kingpin”, who turns out to be the Hobgoblin, while also having to track down a notorious serial killer called the “Sin Eater”. As the alien costume influences Peter ever more, the question becomes less will he stop all the criminals, but rather will he become one. Matters are further complicated when costume thief Black Cat begins seducing Spider-Man and the alien costume pushes Peter to accept this despite his relationship with Mary-Jane. The film culminates with a chance clash with the Shocker revealing the alien nature of Peter’s costume, forcing him to finally fight it off. Eddie Brock gaining the symbiote is then handled in a credit’s scene.

Direction-wise, I picked Matthew Vaughan as he’s a proven superhero film director due to his work on X-Men: First Class. He’s the fourth director to take a hand on Spider-Man solo film in this hypothetical MCU, with John Hughes having directed the first two, and 3 and 4 being handled by Frank Darabont and Martin Campbell, respectively.

Fantastic Four: Unthinkable (2008) Directed by Roland Emmerich

Reed Richards/Mr Fantastic = Tom Hanks

Susan Storm (Richards)/Invisible Woman = Meg Ryan

Johnny Storm/Human Torch = David Spade

Ben Grimm/Thing = Bryan Cranston

Alicia Masters = Heather Graham

Agatha Harkness = Angela Lansbury

Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom = Goran Višnjić

Hauptmann = Ronald Guttman

Nick Fury = Tommy Lee Jones

Black Bolt = Pierce Brosnan

Medusa = Elizabeth Hurley

Crystal = Dina Meyer

Gorgon = J.G. Hertzler

Karnak = Alexander Siddig

Triton = Orlando Bloom

T'Challa/Black Panther = Chadwick Boseman

Namor McKenzie/The Submariner = Christian Bale

Barbara "Bobbi" Morse/Mockingbird = Rebecca Romijn-Stamos

Jericho Drumm/Brother Voodoo = Doug E. Doug

Having had the Fantastic Four directed by Leonard Nemoy (films 1-2), Steven Spielberg (films 3-4) and Ridley Scott (film 5), this MCU closes out their share of films under the stewardship of Roland Emmerich, notable for such films as Independence Day, White House Down and Midway. This film adapts the events of the storylines ‘Unthinkable’ and ‘Authoritative Action’, but leaves the events of ‘Hereafter’ to the comics and begins introducing the Infinity Stones. Since non-comics fans and fans who haven’t read those stories won’t get those references, let’s do a quick summary.

In the comics, Doctor Doom turned to magic for an attack on the Fantastic Four, which resulted in Reed and Sue’s son Franklin being taken to hell, and the team having to storm Latveria to get him back. During the incident, Doom scarred Reed before being dragged into hell. Afterwards, Reed seized control of Latveria to dismantle Doom’s arsenal and craft a permanent prison for Doom, one in which Reed would serve as warden. However, when the rest of the team tried to stop Reed, Doom somehow began to possess each in turn, ultimately forcing Reed to kill Ben Grimm just to stop Doom. The events of the Hereafter arc involved a trip into the afterlife to bring Ben back, in the process healing Reed’s scars.

In this film, Franklin is kidnapped and taken to a demon dimension, and Sue leads a rescue team comprised of her, Ben Grimm, Brother Voodoo and the Black Panther to save Franklin while Reed and Johnny attack Doom, aided by the Inhumans and Namor the Submariner. The attack seemingly defeats Doom, after which Reed leads the F4 to Latveria, seizing control of the nation. Fearing Doom is somehow influencing Reed, Nick Fury of SHIELD intervenes along with Mockingbird, Voodoo, Namor and T’Challa, only for the seemingly captured Doom to begin telepathically controlling the other F4 members. Ultimately, Reed manages to force a feedback that wipes Doom’s mind, but in the process, Ben Grimm dies as he does in the comics. With Ben’s death, the Fantastic Four decide to step back from hero work, becoming a think tank called the Future Foundation.

The bulk of the film’s cast is from past films, with the only new addition being mystical nanny Agatha Harkness, played by Angela Lansbury in better keeping with the comics version of the character. As for the Infinity Stone I mentioned, that would be the mind stone, which Doom uses to control the various F4 members until Reed works out Doom is channelling the stone’s power and creates the feedback.

Ms Marvel (2008) Directed by Gates McFadden

Carol Danvers/Ms Marvel = Melissa Joan Hart

Michael Barnett = Brian Krause

J. Jonah Jameson = J.K. Simmons

Frank Gianelli = Rory Cochrane

Tracey Burke = Kate Mulgrew

Tabitha Townsend = Kyla Pratt

Lynn Andersen = Amanda Seyfried

Mystique/Raven Darkholme = Connie Nielsen

Rogue = Anna Paquin

Avalanche = Alessandro Gassmann

Fred J Dukes/Blob = Vince Vaughan

Pyro = Hugh Jackman

Irene Adler/Destiny = Sally Field

When it comes to trying to tackle Carol Danvers in films, one story that’s yet to hit the big screen is the story of her downfall against the X-Man Rogue back when Rogue was part of Mystique’s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Indeed, the 90’s animated series of the X-Men is the only adaptation to handle this, and they did it by neatly sidestepping some disturbing backstory. Long story short, there was a story arc in the Avengers comics around the late 70’s/early 80’s where Carol (then codenamed Ms Marvel) was mind-controlled and raped by an extra-dimensional being so he could be reborn in a body compatible with Earth, then after fast-growing to adulthood, his presence caused a bunch of time disruptions. When Carol then agreed to go with this being, the Avengers made no effort to prevent this.

When Chris Claremont wrote Rogue into Avengers Annual 10 and showed Rogue rocking Carol’s powers, the question that came to be asked was why Carol hadn’t sought out the Avengers upon returning to Earth, and the answer was made clear. The team hadn’t shown any real concern for Carol during her strange accelerated pregnancy, and then let her go off with a blatantly mind-controlling rapist from another dimension. As such, telling the story of Carol clashing with Rogue and the Brotherhood should never be an exact re-telling. Claremont’s story in Avengers Annual 10 was as much about correcting what the writer of the main comics at that time had written, and with film adaptations, you’re better off just taking a different path entirely.

In this case, we’re showing Carol working as an investigative journalist for a Daily Bugle-owned women’s magazine, who uses the Ms Marvel identity to tackle crime where needed. This is based on her original run in the comics, so we have Jameson borrowed from the Spider-Man films while using the magazine staff from the comics for supporting roles. As for the villains, roles from past films like Mystique and Pyro are combined with newly cast actors to give us our second MCU Brotherhood. The film draws in a mix of acting talent, with Melissa Joan Hart reprising the role of Carol Danvers, and Trek alumni Gates McFadden directing the film. McFadden has played the mutant Plague/Pestilence for three X-films before this and has some directing experience, making her a good choice for this project.

Elektra (2009) Directed by Roxann Dawson

Elektra Natchios = Leonor Varela

Stick = Scott Glenn

Stone = Sigourney Weaver

Kirigi = Daniel Henney

Frank Simpson/Nuke = John Cena

Matsu'o Tsurayaba = Hiroyuki Sanada

Kwannon = Kelly Hu

Turk Barrett = Gary Dourdan

The story of Elektra following her death in Daredevil is one Fox didn’t quite get right, in large part because they tried to incorporate plot elements and tropes that didn’t tonally fit with the character. Having used two Daredevil films to set her up before giving the character a one-shot solo film, I think the best thing is taking those bits out. Instead, we get the Hand going after the Chaste with Elektra in the middle, and when Elektra proves more than they can handle, they bring in the pill-popping assassin known as Nuke. It’s a straight-up martial arts action film initially, but then becomes a more Punisher-like action film when Nuke comes on the scene.

Trek alumni Roxann Dawson takes the helm because she’s one of the few women I know of that would be directing anything back around this time. Considering that films with female leads are often better handled by female directors, it makes sense to try and make this the case wherever possible. The cast is either retained from past films of picked to be more comic-accurate. Case-in-point, picking American actor Scott Glenn to play Stick rather than English actor Terrence Stamp.

Black Panther 2 (2009) Directed by Tim Burton

T'Challa/Black Panther = Chadwick Boseman

Shuri = Tatyana Ali

Ramonda = Alfre Woodard

T'Chaka = Courtney B. Vance

W'Kabi = Chiwetel Ejiofor

Okoye = Nia Long

Zuri = Joseph Marcell

M'Baku = Idris Elba

Nakia = Lupita Nyong'o

Monica Lynne = Kerry Washington

Baron Macabre = Sterling K Brown

Jerome Beechman/Mandrill = Joaquin Phoenix

Nekra Sinclair = Toks Olagundoye

Kevin Plundarr/Ka-Zar = Chris Hemsworth

Shanna O'Hara = Scarlett Johansson

Zaladane = Jolene Blalock

Everett Ross = Martin Freeman

In Black Panther 2, T’Challa becomes allied with Ka-Zar of the Savage Land when it turns out his hidden jungle in Antarctica houses a cache of Vibranium to rival Wakanda’s. Most would-be Vibranium hunters baulk at trying to gain the Antarctic variety due to the dinosaurs, but soon both nations are threatened when the woman-controlling mutant Mandrill, his adoptive sister Nekra, the Savage Land priestess Zaladane and Wakandan criminal Baron Macabre team up. Due to the inclusion of some of these villains, I opted to switch from Tim Story to Tim Burton from a directing stand-point. This film also features a change of role for a couple of real-world MCU alumni.

Defenders 2 (2009) Directed by Stephen Sommers

Dr Stephen Strange = Johnny Depp

Namor McKenzie/The Submariner = Christian Bale

Bruce Banner/Hulk = John Cusack

Silver Surfer = David Wenham

Valkyrie = Diane Kruger

Kyle Richmond/Nighthawk = Josh Duhamel

Patsy Walker/Hellcat = Mena Suvari

Wong = Will Yun Lee

Clea = Keira Knightley

Jericho Drumm/Brother Voodoo = Doug E. Doug

Dr Anthony Druid = Mark Strong

Daimon Hellstrom = James Van Der Beek

Dr Tania Belinsky (Belinskaya)/Red Guardian = Beatrice Rosen

Dr Arthur Nagan = Julian McMahon

Dr Jerold "Jerry" Morgan = Stellan Skarsgård

Ruby Thursday = Alyssa Milano

Harvey Schlemerman/Chondu the Mystic = Stanley Tucci

Shuma-Gorath = Geoffrey Rush

The Defenders, Marvel’s superhero non-team, return for a second instalment at this point, and I’ve picked Stephen Sommers as director based on him directing a live-action GI Joe film around the same time. In this film, the few routinely active Defenders learn via immigrant Russian doctor and superhero Red Guardian that a team of scientists called the Headmen have stolen the Reality Stone from AIM in an effort to seize world power for themselves. Allying with Namor the Sub-Mariner, the Defenders seek to stop the Headmen while Clea joins with Brother Voodoo, Dr Druid and Daimon Hellstrom to try and bring back Doctor Strange from the extra-dimensional limbo he sacrificed himself to in Doctor Strange 3. At the same time, the Silver Surfer seeks the Hulk. The whole team then comes together when the Headmen open a portal for Shuma-Gorath, in the process transforming into their strange comic-style appearances.

Everyone from Dr Druid on down in the cast list is new. As for why we’re skipping over the original male Red Guardian and focusing on the second female iteration for this MCU, there’s two reasons. First, the second female iteration served as a Defender in the original comics, and second, these MCU rambles are focused on the main film continuity, which in this version of the MCU is strictly cinematic. TV shows, while allowed as tie-ins, are optional content, and while I’d happily allow a TV show to dive in on Black Widow and some other characters, I think a film was and is a bit much for a character with so little solo comics content.

X-Men: Proteus (2010) Directed by LeVar Burton

Storm/Ororo Monroe = Halle Berry

Polaris/Lorna Dane = Jeri Ryan

Wolverine/Logan = Tom Cruise

Peter Rasputin/Colossus = Henry Cavill

Remi LeBeau/Gambit = Zachary Levi

Cyclops/Scott Summers = Patrick Swayze

Jean Grey = Milla Jovovich

Warren Worthington III/Archangel = Neil Patrick Harris

Beast/Hank McCoy = Alec Baldwin

Robert Drake/Iceman = Michael Weatherley

Banshee/Sean Cassidy = Liam Neeson

Dr Moira Mactaggert = Olivia Williams

Mystique/Raven Darkholme = Connie Nielsen

Rogue = Anna Paquin

Avalanche = Alessandro Gassmann

Fred J Dukes/Blob = Vince Vaughan

Pyro = Hugh Jackman

Irene Adler/Destiny = Sally Field

Professor Charles Xavier = Patrick Stewart

Kevin Mactaggert/Proteus = Iain De Caestecker

Joseph Mactaggert = John Hannah

Rahne Sinclair/Wolfsbane = Bonnie Wright

Danielle Moonstar = Selena Gomez

Jubilee = Chloe Bennett

Everett Thomas/Synch = Christopher Massey

Douglas Ramsey/Cypher = Devon Bostick

With the third X-Men film Fall of the Mutants having split the X-Men up, and a combination of the Secret Wars duology, Excalibur and X-Factor films following events for the divided team, this fourth X-Men film is intended to reunite some of the scattered team into a new whole. It also gives Rogue her defection from the Brotherhood following the events of Ms Marvel. In this film, Moira Mactaggert’s son Proteus emerges as a dangerous mutant and begins a rampage across to Scotland. With Excalibur unavailable, X-Factor is summoned while the X-Men pursue Mystique’s Brotherhood to Scotland. The two teams meet up and reunite when they find Professor X is also with Moira, having been recuperating on Muir Island since being released from a SHIELD hospital (this is set-up over end-credit scenes for Fall of the Mutants and X-Factor).

Direction-wise, the X-Men have been handled initially by Jonathan Demme and then Jonathan Frakes in films bearing their team’s name, while Excalibur was helmed by Christopher Nolan and X-Factor by LeVar Burton. For this film, I’ve put Burton back in the director’s chair. Casting-wise, I imagine same fans will be perplexed by my choice of Chloe Bennett for Jubilee. This is because Bennett is of a mixed ancestry that includes having a Chinese mother, and while the ideal is always to try for exact representation from the comics, there aren’t many actresses active in Hollywood around the time of this film with even one parent of Chinese descent, let alone two.

As such, the question becomes which do you compromise; Jubilee’s racial background or her nationality? My choice, compromise slightly on racial background and bring in some plot threads relating to prejudice against people of mixed race. Quite honestly, characters of mixed race are among those groups under-represented in film and TV, so if I have to compromise, let me at least try and do so in a positive way.

Spider-Man 6 (2010) Directed by Matthew Vaughan

Peter Parker/Spider-Man = Wil Weaton

May Parker = Marg Helgenberger

J. Jonah Jameson = J.K. Simmons

Joseph "Robbie" Robertson = Denzel Washington

Betty Brant = Parker Posey

Ned Leeds = John Barrowman

Eddie Brock/Venom = Wentworth Miller

Randy Robertson = Taye Diggs

Mary-Jane Watson-Parker = Alison Hannigan

Flash Thompson = Ben Affleck

Felicia Hardy/The Black Cat = Elisha Cuthbert

Sha Shan Nguyen = Grace Park

Captain Jean DeWolff = Jessica Biel

Anne Weying = Michelle Williams

Principal Harrington = Viggo Mortensen

Lance Bannon = Hayden Christensen

Gloria "Glory" Grant = Candice Patton

In the sixth of our Spider-Man films, and the last to both start and end with Peter Parker wearing the webs, we showcase Peter and MJ preparing for their upcoming wedding, but the pair are stalked by Eddie Brock, who has now joined with the Venom symbiote and seeks to make Peter’s life hell. He attempts to manipulate the Black Cat into being his co-conspirator as well, preying on her jealousy after the symbiote-free Spider-Man resists her seduction. The story ultimately culminates in Venom trying to force Peter into a no-win situation where he has to choose who to save; Mary-Jane or Felicia. Matthew Vaughan returns to direct, and we get a few extra supporting cast members in lieu of the various villains of Spider-Man 5.

Ant-Man 2 (2010) Directed by Peyton Reed

Hank Pym/Ant-Man = Michael Douglas

Scott Lang/Ant-Man II = Paul Rudd

Maggie Lang = Judy Greer

Cassie Lang = Joey King

William Cross/Crossfire = Ethan Hawke

Taskmaster = Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Alex Gentry/Porcupine = Nick Offerman

Janice Lincoln/Beetle = Naya Rivera

Having left Ant-Man alone in terms of solo films since phase 1, phase 2 marks a return for Hank Pym, who by this point has been out of action since a mental break-down forced him to retire. Now of sound mind again, he tries to deal with tech thief Crossfire, who steals the prototype for a new, more aggressive variant of the Ant-Man suit, the Yellowjacket. However, Hank’s old suit is not safe to use as it clashes with his neuro-chemistry, risking more mental break-down. Even worse, it’s been stolen. In tracking down the Ant-Man suit, Hank encounters desperate divorced father Scott Lang, who stole the suit to get money to cover his daughter’s medical treatment.

With this film, the aim is to pass the mantle of Ant-Man to Scott Lang in a more comics-accurate manner, while at the same time preserving certain casting that the MCU got right, hence why Pym, Scott and Maggie are all retained from the real MCU. In terms of Cassie, I switched to Joey King as she’s had a remarkably steady record of employment for a non-Disney child actress, and I think she’s a great choice to take up this role for the remainder of this hypothetical MCU. Direction-wise, I figured it best to stick with the choices of the real MCU and go for Peyton Reed, having had to go with Sam Raimi on the 90’s-made first Ant-Man of this MCU.

Silver Surfer 2 (2011) Directed by JJ Abrams

Silver Surfer = David Wenham

Thanos = Josh Brolin

Mentor = Michael McKean

Eros/Starfox = Joel McHale

Gamora = Zoe Saldana

Drax the Destroyer = Dean Cain

Adam Warlock = Chris Pine

Pip the Troll = Peter Dinklage

Nebula = Emma Stone

Mar-Vell/Captain Marvel = Jude Law

Following the events of Defenders 2, the Silver Surfer finds himself drawn into yet more Infinity Stone adventures when Kree hero Captain Marvel and the android Drax the Destroyer come to Earth with Adam Warlock, keeper of the Soul Gem. Hot on their heels are Thanos and Nebula, each of whom has begun to seek the Infinity Stones. Worse still, Mar-Vell is dying of cancer. The film is meant to advance the Infinity Stones plot while also adapting the death of Mar-Vell from the comics, not to mention setting up for the Guardians of the Galaxy to appear in the next phase.

For direction, I’ve picked JJ Abrams based on his Star Trek and Star Wars work making him a decent choice for a space-based hero like the Silver Surfer. In terms of casting, we have a few reprises from past films in this 90’s MCU and from the real MCU. However, some shifts have also occurred, most notably with Drax due to wanting to use his original comics origins over the revised MCU/later comics version. The would-be autistic representation of Bautista and Gunn’s Drax quickly become so much farce, so as an autistic person, I’d just as soon avoid that and go down the android route, thanks very much.

Avengers vs X-Men (2011) Directed by Jonathan Frakes

Cyclops/Scott Summers = Patrick Swayze

Jean Grey = Milla Jovovich

Storm/Ororo Monroe = Halle Berry

Wolverine/Logan = Tom Cruise

Peter Rasputin/Colossus = Henry Cavill

Remi LeBeau/Gambit = Zachary Levi

Warren Worthington III/Archangel = Neil Patrick Harris

Rogue = Anna Paquin

Steve Rogers/Captain America = Brad Pitt

Thor = Dolph Lundgren

Janet Van Dyne/Wasp = Catherine Zeta Jones

Iron Man/Tony Stark = Tom Selleck

Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk = Lucy Lawless

T'Challa/Black Panther = Chadwick Boseman

Sam Wilson/Falcon = Will Smith

Peter Parker/Spider-Man = Wil Weaton

Professor Charles Xavier = Patrick Stewart

Carol Danvers = Melissa Joan Hart

Mystique/Raven Darkholme = Connie Nielsen

Avalanche = Alessandro Gassmann

Fred J Dukes/Blob = Vince Vaughan

Pyro = Hugh Jackman

Irene Adler/Destiny = Sally Field

Frank Bohannan/Crimson Commando = Harrison Ford

Louis Hamilton/Stonewall = James Brolin

Martin Fletcher/Super-Sabre = Peter Fonda

Dr Valerie Cooper = Malin Åkerman

Sebastian Gilbreti/Bastion = Bruce Greenwood

Congressman Rev. William Stryker = Eric Roberts

Forge = Jimmy Smits

There have been two occasions in Marvel comics where the X-Men and Avengers have been drawn into direct conflict, at least using multiple issues of a comic and to my knowledge. The first is the 1980’s mini-series X-Men versus Avengers, where the Avengers attempted to arrest Magneto to resume his trial before the world court, while the Soviet Super-Soldiers sought to arrest Magneto for his actions in X-Men #150. As Magneto was part of the X-Men at the time, this naturally put all three teams at odds with each other. The second occasion was the AvX storyline in which Cyclops, Emma Frost, Namor, Colossus and Magik became possessed by the Phoenix Force, something the Avengers tried to prevent and later combat.

While this film draws on the basic concept of both series, that something sets the Avengers and the X-Men at odds with each other, it’s not about arresting Magneto or issues with the Phoenix force. Instead, the issue is Rogue; her status as a mutant terrorist is used to convince the Avengers to apprehend the X-Men. This is bad timing, as the X-Men are working with Rogue to help restore the mind of Carol Danvers. The masterminds of the plot are rabid anti-mutant politician William Stryker and government advisor Sebastian, who in reality is a new form of sentinel in disguise. Luckily, government advisor and secret mutant Forge is suspicious of Bastion and convinces NSA director Dr Valerie Cooper to set up a contingency plan.

As a result, the film builds to a climax where, after the intervention of Spider-Man ends a major fight between the two teams, Bastion unleashes his prime sentinels. Enter Mystique’s expanded Brotherhood in their guise as community service government heroes Freedom Force, and the stage is set for a truly epic battle. Direction-wise, I opted for Jonathan Frakes to helm this entry, and while many actors are reprising roles from past films, everyone from Crimson Commando on down is new to the MCU as of this film.

Ghost Rider 3 (2011) Directed by Mark Steven Johnson

Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider = Connor Trinneer

Roxanne Simpson = Jessica Alba

Eric Brooks/Blade = Jamie Foxx

Rachel Van Helsing = Cote De Pablo

Daimon Hellstrom = James Van Der Beek

Vlad Tepish/Dracula = Mads Mikkelsen

Lilith = Felicity Jones

Mephistopheles = Jeffery Combs

Phase 5 of our 90’s MCU closes out by bringing Johnny Blaze’s time as Ghost Rider to its conclusion, in a story where Johnny teams up with Blade, Rachel Van Helsing and Daimon Hellstrom against Dracula and his daughter Lilith, who are secretly in league with Mephistopheles. The film is partly an original plot and partly an adaptation of the end of the original Ghost Rider run of comics, though it’s far from being the last Ghost Rider film of this MCU. Just as the comics would have others take up the Ghost Rider curse after Blaze, so too will this MCU move onto those later riders in turn. Having used Tim Burton on the first two Ghost Rider films in this MCU, I’ve picked Mark Steven Johnson who handled the 2007 Nicholas Cage Ghost Rider film to take on this third instalment of 90’s MCU Ghost Rider.

This wraps up our look into phase 5 of this 90’s-based MCU; next month, we’ll cover phase 5 of our alternate DC movie universe. Until then, ta-ta for now.

#fancast #mcu

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