#i love the stupid wizard hat so much

[hellbatschilt]

The Idia Starsending concept art is giving me "Why were you at mad at me island" energy

[weasleyreidstyles]

Serendipity

chapter seven

summary: it was only meant to be a purely transactional relationship. he would help her strengthen her abilities in return for her getting his friends out of his father's nasty path. he didn't mean to fall for her, but loving her was the easiest thing in his dark world.

no use of y/n, but your general nickname is Meadow. all characters are aged up to be over 18.

pairings: mattheo riddle x fem!ravenclaw reader; platonic!slytherins x fem!reader; platonic!golden trio x fem!reader

warning(s): this is quite long, canonical voldemort style violence, use of one wizard slur (bloodtraitor), one mention of torture, parental death (minor mentions)

series masterlist; previous part; next part

The weeks flew by after that day in the Room of Requirement. In those weeks, you and Mattheo had gotten nowhere with researching your newfound siphon abilities, as most literature was just a regurgitation of previous works. The two of you grew closer, sessions usually ending in a spontaneous make out or sensual tryst, but he still refused to go any further than that. Refused to be completely vulnerable with you. Safe to say that your days were a lot more interesting, but it was becoming harder to hide your clear feelings from the prying eyes of your curious friends.

Harry had been frequently visiting Dumbledore's office for his own lessons of sorts and he had learned more about Mattheo's father, Tom Riddle, but nothing about why he needed one of Slughorn's specific memories.

The four of you were slaving away in one of the Herbology greenhouses when Hermione brought up the subject of Slughorn's illustrious dinner parties, which Harry had been avoiding.

"There's no way you'll be able to get out of this one because he actually asked me to check your free evenings, so he could be sure to have it on a night you can come." she said, wrestling with the weird pod-like creature that you were studying for that week.

Harry groaned as you snickered at his misfortune. Meanwhile, Ron, who was attempting to burst his pod in the bowl by putting both hands on it, standing up, and squashing it as hard as he could, shared a look with you and said angrily, "And this is another party just for Slughorn's favorites, is it?"

"Just for the Slug Club, yes," said Hermione, annoyance written on her face.

The pod flew out from under Ron's fingers and hit the green house glass, rebounding onto the back of Professor Sprout's head and knocking off her old, patched hat, causing you, Ron and Harry to let out loud laughs that died out at the Professor's unimpressed look sent your way.

Harry went to retrieve the pod while Hermione carried on, "Look, I didn't make up the name 'Slug Club'—"

"'Slug Club,'" repeated Ron with a sneer worthy of one of Malfoy's. "It's pathetic. Well, I hope you enjoy your party. Why don't you try hooking up with McLaggen, then Slughorn can make you King and Queen Slug—"

"You almost sound jealous, Won Won." you teased, using Lavender's cringe-worthy nickname that he clearly abhorred. Despite having a girlfriend, you just knew that somewhere deep down in his stupid, stupid brain, Ron still had feelings for Hermione.

"We're allowed to bring guests," Hermione, who had turned a bright, boiling scarlet, snapped, "I would have asked you, but I don't think your girlfriend would like that very much."

You turned to face Ron as he gufawed at your best friend. "Don't worry Ronald, I'm not one of his favourites either. Teddy's invited me as his plus one for this one, I'll let you know what we're definitely not missing out on." He only glared at you again in response.

Theodore had asked you to accompany him so that he wouldn't be stood alone as Blaise flirted his way through the other pureblood attendees. You had agreed and he gave you free reign of his Gringott's vault to choose a dress from a boutique that Pansy had graciously taken you to. It paid well to have a rich friend or two in this world.

It seemed that everyone knew of Slughorn's party and the chance of going as a guest with one of his members – you and Hermione caught Romilda Vane and her friends whispering about 'Harry' and 'Fred and George' and 'Love Potions' in one of the girls' toilets in the intermission between Transfiguration and Potions, and had watched in shock as they discreetly opened one of the twins' own Love Potions disguised as perfumes between them. You had both warned him to be wary of them, but of course Harry rarely listened to the two of you.

The three of you were walking out of the now-closed library, Ron off with Lavender Brown somewhere, when Romilda came up to him and offered him a bottle of Gilllywater. Hermione's i-told-you-so look had him declining it, but she seemed prepared and had shoved a pink heart shaped box of chocolates into his arms.

"Chocolate Cauldrons." the girl had said. "They have fire whiskey in them. My grandma sent them, but I don't like them."

Romilda smiled before walking away.

"Definitely firewhiskey in there," you say sarcastically. "Give it a whiff before you eat them. Make sure it's not Ginny you're smelling." you say before leaving the pair, laughing at Harry's disgruntled look and making your way to the Ravenclaw common room, intent on researching a book on Mermaids and Siphoners, but you weren't confident that you'd find information that wasn't in the books you'd already combed through.

~∞~

"I'm going with Luna." Harry said the next day. "To Slughorn's party. I'm going with Luna."

"That's wonderful, Harry." you say with a smile. "She really needs a pick-me-up bless her. Some idiot in her year keeps stealing all her things."

The girl came and told you not an hour later, an excited gleam in her pale blue eyes.

~∞~

A few days later, you were waiting outside the Slytherin common room, nervously smoothing out nonexistent creases from the fine silk of your deep green evening gown. You had agreed to meet Theo, Blaise and Pansy here before walking to Professor Slughorn's office together, where the dinner party was being held.

Hesitantly, you knocked on the door to the common room, not knowing the password for it, obviously. The person who answered it made you want to smite them immediately – Greggory Goyle was as nasty as they came.

"What do you want, bloodtraitor?" he spat as he glared down at you, before his beady eyes snapped to your body, namely your chest.

"Not that it concerns the likes of you," you say, voice full of venom, "But I'm waiting for my date to Slughorn's dinner party."

"What poor soul agreed to take you to something as sophisticated as a dinner party?" the boy sneered, his gaze beginning to become an uncomfortable hindrance before your friend's voice rung out into the empty corridor.

"I did, Goyle. Now kindly fuck off." Theodore snapped before his gaze softened on your form. "Tesoro, you look dazzling." his face lit up with a smile as he twirled you under his arm.

"Thank you, Teddy." you flushed, while giving him a once over. "My, my, don't you clean up nicely." he swatted away the hand that patted his cheek.

As you were greeting Theo, the rest of his friends exited the common room, Lorenzo announcing that you'd have to wait for Blaise to 'stop staring at his reflection' as he did. It was obvious that Theo and Pansy were regulars at illustrious dinner parties: Theo wore a tailored suit, with a crisp white shirt and a dark green silk waistcoat and tie (charmed to match the exact colour of your own dress); Pansy wore a sleek dress in a rich shade of deep plum and her face was painted exquisitely with makeup that accentuated her pretty siren eyes, her short black hair styled into a flattering bob. She had come right up to see you in the dress she'd helped you pick out: a dark green silky number that hugged your body in the most flattering way.

She was busy fawning over the way your hair fell over your shoulders gracefully, when the hairs on the back of your neck stood on end and you felt a familiar prickle in the back of your mind. You turned to find Mattheo, white shirt partly unbuttoned, hair disheveled and eyes slightly bloodshot as he admired you with no shame. The way his deep, onyx eyes took you in from head to toe made you feel hot all over, and the words he spoke into your mind, made you melt even further. If that was even possible.

You look beautiful, love.

You smile at him in gratitude which was sent in waves to the forefront of his mind – a new trick he had taught you. He nodded his head with a proud smirk which sent flutters right to your core.

You look much better in Slytherin green than Ravenclaw blue, darling. You should indulge more often.

The boy was actually flirting with you and he basked in the sight of your flustered expression.

Pansy was the only one of the surrounding group to see your interaction and she gave you a look that you understood was her way of telling you that the two of you would be discussing this later.

Finally Blaise, who had just stumbled out of the stonewall entrance, said with an exasperated breathe: "Let's get this over with, please. I want to get there so I can leave earlier. If Slughorn asks me about my mother's latest husband one more time I may explode."

You stifle a laugh behind your hand as the tallest Slytherin glares down at you. "Were you not the one making us all wait in favour of admiring yourself in the mirror, Zabini?"

"When you have a face like mine, it must be admired Meadow." he replied with a self-assured smirk. Lorenzo practically guffawed at this, which is when you notice that his eyes were bloodshot like Mattheo's. But he was always a cheerful boy, seeing him laugh was a regular occurrence within this group.

Soon after Blaise appeared, you hooked an arm in the crook of Theo's elbow and the four of you began your walk to the classroom, completely missing the glare that Mattheo was pointing at the back of his best friend's head.

Compared to other offices you'd seen, Slughorn's was namely the biggest. Drapes of emerald, crimson and gold were streamed about the ceilings and walls, creating a tent-like effect about the room and thousands of faeries fluttered about the golden glow of where the apex of the drapes met, the faint fluttering of their wings could be heard over the music and chatter. The moment the four of you entered you'd commented on how crowded and stuffy it was as a live classical band played over the loud conversation from older wizards all around the room.

"I didn't know he invited elders here." you mumble to Theo who hums at you.

"It's all networking. A way to secure future positions in the Ministry." he said, resentment dripping from his tongue.

"And you don't want that?" you ask, staring at his profile, thanking him when he gave you a flute of champagne.

"I wanted to be a professional quidditch player, but my father wants me to follow in his footsteps." he says, before dropping his voice to a mere whisper. "And I mean that in all senses of the word, tesoro. It's not something I particularly want."

You hummed at his answer but squeezed his arm all the same. He sent you a sideways glance full of warmth. You'd almost forgotten about what he would endure during the upcoming holidays; it made you feel inexplicably guilty that you'd be having fun with your friends and family while Theo would be suffering.

Blaise and Pansy had already found themselves at the table of food platters with Daphne Greengrass, which is where you also found Harry, Hermione, Luna and Cormac Mclaggen. You grabbed Theo's hand and dragged him towards them, ignoring his discontent with being within radius of Harry and Mclaggen.

"Hi guys! Mclaggen." you say as you reach the quartet. "Mione, Luna you both look gorgeous."

They both thank you before all four of them frown at the boy behind you. "Oh for Rowena's sake, he won't bite, will you Teddy?" You sent him a pointed look over you shoulder, which had him instantly agreeing, albeit reluctantly.

"Only if they don't bite first." he says, his deep, accented voice dripping with uninterest. "Let's go and dance, tesoro. Make the night a little less unbearable."

You agreed and spent a majority of the night sipping on expensive wine and laughing with your three Slytherin friends, mindful to avoid Harry's looks of something that you couldn't name that he sent your way.

~∞~

The four of you spent hours dancing, only interrupted when Harry asked to steal you away to dance with him, as Luna had become caught up in a conversation with Ginny, Dean Thomas namely absent from her side. While you and Harry were contently swaying, there was a disturbance at the entrance.

You watched in the corner of your eye as Harry's face lit up with a sinister smirk at the sight of Malfoy being dragged into the room by Filtch who had him by the scruff of his robes.

"Professor Slughorn!" he said in his typically slimy voice. "Found this one lurking in the corridors upstairs. Claims he was invited to your party but was delayed in attending. Did you issue an invitation?"

If looks could kill, Filtch would be six feet deep.

Malfoy was glaring at the man with distain and fury as he yanked himself free of the caretaker's grasp, brushing away imaginary flecks of dirt from his rumpled suit.

"All right, I wasn't invited!" he said angrily. "I was trying to gatecrash, happy?"

Filtch was evidently not happy about this, but the look of immense joy that crossed his face sent shivers down your spine.

"You're in trouble, you are! Didn't the Headmaster say that night-time prowling's out, unless you've got permission, eh?"

Slughorn dissipated the situation with drunken ease, inviting Malfoy to stay for the remainder of the dinner party. Harry's face was a picture of bewilderment, mirroring Filtch's one of overwhelming disappointment.

"He looks a bit ill doesn't he?" you say under your breathe as Hermione comes to stand beside you.

"Who?" Harry asked, dumbly. You stared at him with a deadpan expression on your face.

"Malfoy. He does look ghastly pale." Hermione mumbled while you all watched as he chatted away to Slughorn about his grandfather.

"He's up to something." Harry said obstinately. You and Hermione shared a look and simultaneously rolled your eyes.

"You've got to stop with this Harry. You don't know for certain that he's a Death Eater." Hermione muttered, keeping her voice low enough that others wouldn't hear. "It's bad enough that you outright accused him in front of Professor Mcgonagall and Professor Snape."

"I still can't believe you had the audacity, to do that." you say, but Harry wasn't listening to either of you. In fact he followed right out behind Snape and Malfoy when they exitted the room, not ten minutes after the latter's noisy arrival.

"Oh for fuck's sake." you grit your teeth at your friend's stubbornness. Hermione shook her head before dragging you over to where Luna and Ginny were stood, having watched Harry sneak out.

~∞~

With the Christmas holidays finally upon you, you were spending a few days at the Burrow with Ron's family before you floo'd home to your family.

Hermione's lack of presence seemed to lay heavily upon you as you sat next to the empty seat in the kitchen that she'd always sit in. You don't know how she puts up with Ron and Harry without you – a headache was slowly building up in your temples as Ron asked Harry to repeat what he'd heard when he followed Snape and Malfoy out, for the millionth time, as the three of you polished Mrs. Weasley's cutlery.

Finally reaching a breaking point of sorts you snap at the pair.

"If you defy the unbreakable vow, you die. It's a sacred pact, Harry. Are you certain that Snape accepted one?" they turn to look at you as if forgetting you were there.

Ron nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Fred and George almost convinced me to make one when I was five, but Dad went mental when he found us. Only time he's ever been scarier than mum." he pauses before adding an anecdote about Fred being punished pretty severely, which seems to summon the two giant twins into the kitchen, clad in expensive slacks, making fun of the fact that Ron and Harry were still not of age yet – unlike you. Fred turned to you then, a bright smile lighting up his face.

"Hello gorgeous, how are you coping with these ninnies without Mione?" he had a dazzling smirk on his face, which you would've fallen for once upon a time, had a polar opposite, wicked smirk not taken up your entire mind.

"Barely, as usual. How've you been, Freddie?" you smile up at him as he sits on the edge of the table, leg brushing your's.

Ron dramatically gagged, interpreting this as a flirtatious interaction. This turned the twins' attention onto him once more.

"We've heard through the grape vine that you have a new beau, Won Won." George said with a smirk. Ron turned to glare at you and you held your hands up in surrender. If you could use your legillimens abilities on him, you'd be screaming "it wasn't me, I swear!", but Ron would surely have a heart attack if you so much as whispered into his mind.

"Lavender Brown, was it? That's what Ginny said in her letters. How'd you manage to bag a girl, Ronniekins?" Fred chimed and they snickered as Ron's face went bright red.

"Piss off, will you." Ron mumbled, you and Harry smirked at his discomfort. "She's sweet."

"And here I thought he and Mione would've overlooked their pride and gotten together by now." Fred murmured to you, his breathe hitting the shell of your ear. You turned to face him, finding his alluring blue eyes staring right into your own.

"I believe that means you owe me a galleon...or five. I recall a bet we made at the Yule Ball, Weasley. It's time to pay up." you say, your eyes glinting mischievously as you held out your palm expectantly.

"You and your memory will ruin me, woman." he mutters scornfully, but he gives you a stack of galleons, discreetly nonetheless. You smile victoriously.

"Good to know business is treating the two of you well, Freddie." he smiles and shares a look with George.

"When are you coming to visit the shop, Meadow?" George asks as he uses his wand to slow Ron's polishing down.

"Is that an official invitation, Weasley?" you ask, satisfied with the peace you feel by being in the Burrow again, despite Hermione not being there.

~∞~

Mattheo hates his father with a burning passion. Tom Riddle was a cold, manipulative and tyrannical man who was absolutely not fit for the role of 'dad'. It's ironic, he thinks, that he should have a father who was incapable of feeling love, in all senses of the word. But Tom had loved Mattheo's mother once, in some sick and twisted way. Maybe it wasn't love, but he had a sick devotion for the woman that Mattheo never got to meet. She died after giving birth to the Riddle heir.

When his father was defeated all those years ago, Mattheo was handed off to the first family that bothered to know of his existence. Theodore Nott Senior was even less of a good father, to both him and Theo. But Teddy's mother took on the responsibility of showing them what it is to be kind, loving and compassionate.

That all withered away upon her death when he was only eight years old. It broke him, but it broke little Theo even more to lose the only parent who ever cared for him. Over the years, the well-mannered, inquisitive little boy transitioned into a coldhearted, unfeeling person, but sometimes Mattheo wished that people saw him for who he truely was, instead of the person they painted because of who his father was.

It's the reason he feels so drawn to you, he summises.

Someone who should hate him, someone who should despise him for all that he is, looked past his carefully constructed armour and saw that broken boy within. He wondered how long that would last, when you found out how much of his facade was his true identity. In his eyes, Mattheo was a monster. A carbon copy of his father.

The vast dining room that he found himself seated in felt entirely too small. The atmosphere was ripe with anticipation as the Dark Lord himself stared down at them from his erected throne at the head of the table. Mattheo sat in the seat adjacent to him, as his 'right hand man'. Showing that he would never be anything more than a soldier to his father. Lucius Malfoy sat opposite him, Bellatrix Lestrange in the next seat as she nodded in rapt attention to whatever Voldemort was saying.

The doors to the entrance hall of Malfoy Manor swung open with a slow and menacing creak, inviting Draco to walk in, followed closely by Theo and Enzo.

This is the part of the holidays that Mattheo had been dreading the most.

"Thank you kindly for fetching me our guests, Draco. Please be seated boys, and let dinner be served." Voldemort's hand sweeped through the air and the three chairs beside Mattheo pushed out at their own accord; his friends took the seats wordlessly, Theo seating in the one opposite Bellatrix.

Shortly after, the family's house elves wordlessly clicked their fingers and a feast appeared before them all. Mattheo didn't touch a single piece of food on his plate. Neither did his three friends, his brothers. He was infinitely grateful that Blaise and Pansy were not here. He planned on maintaining that for as long as he possibly could.

After the food, some of which had barely been touched by the hoard of Death Eaters in attendance, had disappeared, Voldemort stood up, towering above them all like an angel of death.

"Now we indulge in my favourite part of the evening." he says, clapping his thin, boney hands together delicately. "Theodore, Lorenzo...please, join me."

He held out his hands, offering the 'stage' to his son's friends. Mattheo had to physically claw at the seat beneath him to refrain from stopping them as they obeyed. Theo's chest shook with uneven breathes and Enzo didn't dare look anyone in the eye. Draco shifted uncomfortably in his seat, unprepared to watch his friends submit to the same fate.

"Who wants to go first?" Voldemort asked the two boys, his snake-like voice coated in something akin to excitement and glee. When neither boy spoke up, he slammed a hand to the table, causing everyone in near viscinity to flinch. A vision of pure psychotic rage paints the monster's face.

"Fine." he snapped. "Mattheo, my son, come up here please."

Mattheo schooled his features and locked any thoughts of his friends, of you, up tight. When he was within reach of his father, Voldemort caressed his shoulders, strong from years of relentless Quidditch training, and whispered, his voice a mere hiss as he spoke in the tongue that only the two of them, and Harry Potter could understand.

Choose. He whispered. Who will go first? Choose and I'll spare you my wrath later.

Mattheo didn't know what to do, he was crumbling in front of his father's loyalist of followers, who were snickering and whispering amongst themselves. The insurmountable feeling of guilt festered in his stomach, a sick feeling persisting in his gut. How could he subject any of his friends to this?

CHOOSE! Or I will hunt down anything you hold dear. That is a promise, boy.

He couldn't let his father know about you. He knew the moment he discovered your abilities, Voldemort would seek you out and trap you with no hope of escape and use you for his own power hungry means. He couldn't let that happen.

"I'll go first." Theo's voice broke through his inner turmoil and Voldemort's sinister smirk travelled to his best friend's face. Theo was masking his terror well, but Mattheo saw right through him. Enzo visibly sagged in relief, no matter how short lived it was. He straightened when Mattheo entered his mind.

Don't show weakness. It'll be over soon, I promise brother. I'm sorry.

He gave an almost imperceptible nod. His features schooled into masked indifference.

"Theodore, my boy." Voldemort crooned. "What a good example you set for our young recruits. So...eager." a dig at Draco, who was yet to make headway in his task. "Come."

He beckoned Theo with a single come-hither motion. Theo moved with poised grace and knelt before the Dark Lord, staring up at the creature with stoney eyes. "Just like your mother." he tutted, and Mattheo clenched his fists tightly, fury painting his veins in vibrant fire. "It's a shame, truely."

Voldemort took hold of Theodore's left arm with bruising force but did the opposite of what Mattheo expected. "Mattheo, come. Since you failed to choose, you will do the honours for me. Mark him."

He began to protest, but Fenrir Greyback was behind him in seconds, pushing him to the ground with brute force. He struggled and fought until his father held a hand that physically stopped the fight with his magic.

"I won't do it." Mattheo spat. "No."

Voldemort's head contorted the way a snake's would when agitated and he shot a singular curse at his son with no hesitation.

Mattheo writhed as the effects of the Cruciatus curse overtook all his senses. Consumed in his agony he failed to acknowledge the sound of his best friends' grunts and screams as their skin was branded with the skull and snake of the Dark Mark, identical to the one festering on his scarred left arm.

There was no saving them now.

But at least Blaise and Pansy were safe in their own manors, not privvy to the price he would eventually pay in exchange for their own freedom and safety.

~∞~

hope everyone had a lovely christmas and a happy nye🫶🏼 thought i'd give you a long chapter by delving into a mattheo pov ;)

i love my degree but sometimes psychology makes me want to rip out my hair🙃🙂

taglist:

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[padfootagain]

Black Dog Neighbour

Hi everyone ! Today, we’re answering a request made for my 6k followers event by @nobodyshomearchive : “hi hello lovely xxi have been hooked to your blog lately, and to say that is an understatement in all honesty. congratulations on 6k followers <33 so for your celebration can i get an enemies to lovers (ouh massive surprise 👀) with sirius black (preferably post azkaban but it's okay if you don't want to!) cause i'm literally so head over heels for that man. and i'm loving your something good series :) again, congrats and feel free to ignore the request if you don't feel like writing it/it doesn't hit your creative spot.

have a great day/night hun <;3”

Thank you so much for your request, and I hope you like this! I didn’t do post-azkaban Sirius, because he doesn’t exist in my brain. I have been in denial for so long, the Potters are living their best lives, didn’t you know?!

Anyway, still went for post-Hogwarts and post-war Sirius, simply didn’t include anything referencing to Azkaban or… anything canon compliant, to be fair. But as per usual for me when it comes to this character…

Hope you like this! Tell me what you think!

****

Pairing: Sirius Black x reader

Warnings: A small warning for an ex being an arse and showing up drunk on your doorstep (there’s nothing violent, but you do physically push him away, so heads up on that, just in case). But the rest’s cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute!!!

Summary: God, you hate that guy next door. Bloody annoying neighbour with his noisy motorcycle, his loud friends, his annoying laugh, his charming smile, his amazing hair, his effortless way to sport sexy leather jackets. He’s insufferable, you hate him to bits. The fact that he’s a talented wizard who can magically change into a dog to guard your door when your ex comes bothering you again will not change your first impression in the slightest, by the way. You still hate him to guts. Probably…

Word count: 4592

Sirius Black Masterlist – Main Masterlist

Sirius fucking Black.

Your neighbour, aka worst enemy, aka the person you despise the most on earth.

He is loud. He is annoyingly pretty. He is getting on your fucking nerves... again!

Of course, it is Friday night, which means that his stupid friends are over for a “boys’ night”. What a scam…

In consequence, you are currently casting sound-proofing spells all over your walls in an attempt to shush their idiotic laughs. And especially Sirius’s; his unmistakable bark-like laughter, loud and boisterous and absolutely prone to draw a grin from your face even if you don’t mean to. By Agrippa’s hat, you will soon either cut his throat or call for an auror. Or maybe you could burst into his apartment and shout into his face just so he can see how bloody annoying that is. Or kissing him to shut him up sounds like a plan, too…

You shake your head, grinning at your own genius idea. Sirius and his friends are being rudely loud again, when you have already told them a thousand times – which is to say every Friday for the last six months, since Sirius moved in the apartment next to yours – that the walls in this old building of Diagon Alley are too thin, that you can hear everything going on in Sirius’s apartment despite sound-proofing spells… and that they need to keep it down past 11pm because you have work the next day. The absolute dread of working in retails does not, by any means, spare the Wizards and Witches of this world…

You look through your apartment for the object that would make the most noise. You give a few items a try, but settle for the good old pan and spoon. Ha, what precious allies these two are, never failing you.

You add a little spell to amplify sounds – just for good measure – find some earplugs, and then proceed to bang the shit out of that pan, right by your common wall with Sirius’s apartment.

It goes on for five full minutes before you manage to catch the quietened sound of something against your door…

And sure enough, when you stop and take your earplugs out, someone is banging at your door.

“Y/N!” a voice that you easily recognize shouts. “STOP THIS FUCKING NOISE!”

You open the door wide, and have to bend to the side to avoid Sirius’s fist as it misses the door.

“Merlin! Sorry! You’re okay? I didn’t touch you, right?” Sirius asks with anger instantly replaced with worry.

“I have amazing reflexes.”

And anger is back into his dark grey eyes again...

“What the fuck are you doing in there?! Are you mental?!”

“I don’t know, Sirius. I didn’t notice anything over the cacophony of your friends shouting into my ears all night!”

His jaw clenches, and you hate yourself for noticing the trembling of the muscle there, and finding it terribly attractive…

“And you had to make all this ruckus instead of simply walking three meters to my door and nicely ask us to shut our mouths because…?”

“Because I’ve asked you dozens of times, this has been going on for fucking months, Sirius!”

He rolls his eyes, and Merlin do you want to punch him straight across the jaw… his very sharp, very pretty jaw…

“We’re just having a nice evening…”

“And I am trying to sleep!”

“It’s barely midnight!”

“I work tomorrow, you asshole!”

“Ermm… guys?”

“WHAT?!” you both exclaim, turning to face a shy-looking Remus.

“Sorry about the noise, Y/N. We’ll be more careful next time. We’ll leave for the evening.”

“You don’t have to leave…” Sirius complains, but James is already walking out, helping a drunk Peter to cross the corridor.

“It’s late, anyway. Lily’s gonna worry, I was supposed to be home twenty minutes ago,” James argues, and Sirius has to yield.

“Alright, see you on Sunday, then!” he shoots his friends a grin, and the group waves at you.

You rudely ignore them, crossing your arms before your chest. And as Sirius turns back to you, his frown is icy and he quickly matches your stance.

“You’re such a pain in my ass, Y/N…”

“And you’re a jerk.”

“Asshole.”

“You’re insufferable, you know that?”

“You’re one to talk!”

“Oh, you talk plenty enough for both of us. And loudly so!”

Before he can reply, you’ve stepped back into your apartment and slammed the door.

You hear him pestering after you for a moment, then nothing, and finally a door slamming.

Well, that went well…

You are in trouble.

Big… huge trouble.

Your ex has just stepped into your shop, and you don’t know how to react.

You didn’t break up in a horrendous way, on the contrary! He wanted the two of you to remain friends, and you simply didn’t, worried that you wouldn’t be able to get over each other if you stayed in touch. And by the look he gave you as he stepped inside your shop ten minutes ago, and the many glances he’s thrown at you since, you’re pretty sure that you were right about this.

It's not like your relationship was terrible, by any means. Josh was nice, reliable, but also… not for you. You didn’t have much in common, at the end of the day, and if his personality and looks were nice, it was hard to build a lasting relationship on… nothing. It was for the best that you called it quits.

And as if your day needed any darkening, Sirius Black chooses this very moment to step into your shop. You don’t wait for him to aim for the counter to take out a large pouch in which you have gathered all the ingredients for his friend’s monthly brew. He smiles at the sight, moves towards you. And you hate yourself for the leap your heart makes as he comes closer.

“Hi, Y/N.”

“Hi.”

It’s the first time you speak to each other since the ‘spoon and pan incident’, and you both hesitate. How are you supposed to act now? Apologise for being petty and kind of a dick? Ask for his apology for being a dick? Act like nothing happened?

“Thanks for Remus’s stuff,” Sirius says, voice quieter than usual, gentle, asking for a truce.

Outside, it’s snowing, winter claiming the streets of London, and there are little snowflakes caught in Sirius’s hair. It looks lovely.

All of a sudden, you’re longing for some eggnog, and some pumpkin pie.

His fingers are cold when they meet yours, tips brushing over your knuckles as he picks up the bag, and you hate your own heart for stammering.

“No problem. You know the drill,” you tentatively smile, while Sirius hands you some silvery Sickles.

“I would also need pearl dust, please. Here’s the amount.”

He hands you a parchment with quantities written on it, four small packages to be prepared separately.

“How many hearts do you intend to break with so many love potions?” you joke, turning around to get to work.

The brass scale is set on a small table, pushed right against the wall, behind the counter. It is an easy task for a professional like you, measuring quickly while Sirius laughs.

“No one, thankfully,” he replied.

“Oh… some Amortentia, perhaps? Trying to figure out who your crush likes?”

“No… nothing like that. It’s the properties for invisibility that I’m looking for.”

“If you plan on breaking into Gringotts, I don’t want to know.”

Again, a loud laugh. And you wish you could hold back your smile, but you can’t, the sound is too infectious for that.

You’ve forgotten that your ex is here, you’re reminded of his presence only when you turn back towards Sirius and he’s standing right behind your tall neighbour, a bag of potion ingredients in his hands.

You avert your eyes, and Sirius frowns at the sight. He glances over his shoulder, spots your ex, but says nothing. You only notice how he tightens his hold on the pouch.

“Pearl dust’s quite expensive,” you tell him, handing him the phials, before announcing the price.

“That’s alright.”

He hands you the galleons, takes the vials, but doesn’t step away just yet.

“You… you’re okay?” he asks, and you’re not sure what to do with his expression. It’s somewhere between annoyance and genuine concern.

“Yeah, sure.”

He nods, like he’s disappointed. He’s not bringing up The Incident, and so you won’t either.

“Right, good day.”

He turns in a hurry, not waiting for your answer, but you notice the way he throws a look back before stepping out into the street, snow falling over his dark coat and dark hair again. You hate how your eyes linger on his frame until he’s out of sight, walking down the busy street, but you can’t help it…

“Hello, Y/N.”

You’re brought back to Earth as your ex speaks, and you turn to him, your smile turning from genuine to polite.

“Hi, Josh.”

“How are you?”

“Good! Do you need anything else?” you ask, pointing at the ingredients he’s put on the counter.

“Huh… no, nothing else.”

“That makes two Galleons, 5 Sickles and 3 Knuts, please.”

He hands you some money, and you hand him his change. You see him hesitating, before diving.

“Look, I… I came here hoping to see you.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, I… I’ve been meaning to tell you. I’ve been thinking a lot lately, about what happened, and… Look, I know I could have done better when it came to us. And I thought… perhaps… if you were willing to give me another chance…”

“Josh…”

“Just… hear me out...”

“No. I’m sorry, but no. We… we were not compatible, that’s all. I like you, you’re nice, but… It won’t work between us.”

Slowly, he nodded, apparently defeated. And when another client cleared their throat behind him, he finally left.

What a mess of a morning…

It is Friday night, and the Marauders are keeping it down. You are surprised by it, but you can only praise these men for being, for once, well-behaved. 11:30, as you slip under the covers, ready for some well-deserved rest before waking up too early to open the shop in the morning. You are ready to fall into Morpheus’s arms and abandon yourself to slumber when someone knocks on your door.

You ignore the sound for a while, but it starts again, and again…

And you thought Sirius was making some efforts. You were ready to commit murder…

You stand up, grab a bathrobe and walk to the door, ready to throw hands with Sirius at this point. Only… only, when you actually open the door, it’s not Sirius who’s facing your wrath.

It’s Josh.

“What… What are you doing here?” you ask, too stunned to think about being polite. “It’s almost midnight.”

But then he looks up at you, and you notice at once that he’s been drinking. His eyes are glimmering, he sways slightly before finding back his balance…

“Josh…”

“Y/N, I… I know that now is not the time, but… please, give me another chance. Please…”

“Josh, we’ve talked about this. Us… it’s over. We’re not getting back together. I’m sorry.”

“But I can try and be better. I’ll be better, let me show you.”

You push him off when he staggers forward, trying to hold you.

“Josh! Stop it!” you raise your voice, trying to get him to let go.

“Please…”

“I said no! Get off!”

He’s finally letting go, but doesn’t take a step back. Instead, he leans against your doorframe, not stepping inside, but making it impossible for you to simply go back in and close the door.

“Josh! Go away! I’m sorry, but this is over between us. You have to leave me alone!”

“But I don’t want to! Y/N!”

“Hey!”

You’re both distracted by the new voice that comes shouting through the corridor. Sirius is standing before his front door, wearing a Queen t-shirt and some dark sweatpants, in what you guess his is nightly outfit. Still, when he comes nearer, hair tied in a bun, glowering, he looks intimidating, tattoos all over his arms on full display, traces of ink peeking above the collar of his t-shirt.

You think for a second that he’s going to make a scene because of how noisy you are right now, not ironic at all given his habits of messing your sleeping schedule, and you’re ready to get angry at him, because this truly is the last thing you need tonight, when…

“You leave her the fuck alone!”

You’re too stunned to react when Sirius comes to stand right by your side.

“She told you to fuck off, so you fuck off!”

“Who the fuck are you?” Josh replied, words a little slurred.

“Her boyfriend,” Sirius lies, but it works wonders, as Josh becomes suddenly very pale. “Now, you fuck off, or I’ll throw you out of the building.”

“You? With him?” Josh asks as he turns to you, and you feel pity for the pain in his eyes, but you don’t regret leaving him.

“Yeah. He’s my boyfriend. Now, please, Josh… leave me alone.”

But he shakes his head.

“I can’t. I can’t. I still love you…”

Sirius looks at you, but you shake your head.

“You have to leave me alone and move on.”

“No… I… I’ll come back later…”

Sirius notices your worry, it almost looks like fear, and he doesn’t hesitate when he grabs Josh by the collar.

“You listen to me now, dickhead,” Sirius growls, it’s almost animalistic, and you’re frozen by this threatening tone of his. “If you set a foot in this building again, if you go see her at her shop, if you so much as breathe in her direction or step in the street she’s in, I will come for you, and I will make sure you can never bother her again. Do you get that?”

“You’re bluffing.”

Sirius grins, something twisted and terribly dark, and even you shiver when he speaks again, voice low and terrible.

“I fought for the Order during the war. I’m a Black. Trust me, you don’t want to fuck with me.”

Slowly, Josh nods, struggling to swallow.

“So… will you leave her alone?”

Again, Josh nods.

“Good boy. Now get the fuck out of here.”

He’s barely released Josh that he’s sprinting down the stairs, stumbling and catching himself against the wall, before disappearing.

But you don’t see that. You’re staring at Sirius, and seem unable to look away.

“You’re alright?”

You’re startled by the softness Sirius’s voice is now wearing, such a stark contrast with the threatening tone he wore a minute ago.

“Y/N? You’re okay? He didn’t hurt you, right?”

“What? No… no, I’m fine! He just… showed up and I couldn’t get rid of him.”

“Yeah, I figured.”

“Thank you,” you whisper as he gets closer.

“You’re sure you’re alright?”

“Yeah, just… a little shaken, I think.”

Slowly, Sirius nods.

“Hey, no need to worry, okay? I’ll keep an eye out tonight. He won’t bother you again. And if he does, in the coming days or weeks, and I’m not around, then you come and tell me. I’ll give him a good fright, and he’ll leave you alone.”

“Thanks but… why would you do that for me? You hate me.”

Sirius chuckles at that, raising an eyebrow.

“I don’t hate you. You’re annoying, but I don’t hate you.”

“Oh…”

His touch is infinitely gentle when he rests his hand on your arm.

“You can go back to sleep. Don’t worry, he won’t bother you again tonight. I promise.”

Slowly, you nod, a little too stunned to complain or argue or discuss what has just happened. Instead, you walk back to your apartment, lock the door, and go back to bed, thinking about the way Sirius’s hands looked gentle without his rings…

You’re in a hurry this morning. Your brain has not finished to process everything that has happened last night, but this will have to wait. You must rush to the shop, and you can’t find your bloody wand…

Ha! There! What is it doing under the couch? Never mind, you need to hurry, and you need to hurry now!

Only, when you open the front door, you almost trip onto a large black door sleeping on your threshold. A huge black dog, as a matter of fact.

“What in Merlin’s beard…?!”

His ears perk up at the sound of your voice, and he looks up at you with dark grey eyes that remind you of someone…

But it’s impossible, of course. That must be his dog, though. Since when does Sirius has a dog though?!

The animal slowly stands, a real giant, all dark fur and intimidating growls, until he’s shaken some sleep off its frame, and then he looks up at you, as if expecting a command.

“Hi,” you say, feeling foolish, but finding nothing better to say.

The dog merely comes closer, slowly, ears down in submission, as if he’s worried to scare you away. You hold out your hand, and he hurries to rub his snout into it, licking your fingers.

You giggle at the sensation.

“You look intimidating, but you’re a good boy, aren’t you?”

He barks in agreement, and you give him scratches as a reward.

“Who do you belong to, huh? Are you Sirius’s dog?”

The dog merely licks your fingers again.

“You look the part, at least. You fit the motorcycle-and-leather-jackets aesthetic.”

A few scratches more, and you finally remember that you are running late…

“Shoot!”

You lock the door, hurry towards the stairs. But you stop the dog when he tries to follow.

“No, no, no! I’m going to work, you stay here. I’m sure Sirius will be back soon. You stay here.”

The dog blinks, but sits anyway, letting you go.

For the whole trip to the store, you wonder who this dog belongs to, and who would let him sleep outside like this. If he really did belong to Sirius, he would hear about this…

Your day is a weird one.

After arriving almost late, but not quite, you spend your morning being busy and running around the store looking for the right ingredients for various potions and clients. And yet, several times during your shift, you feel someone looking at you.

The first time, it’s Sirius, who’s squinting on the other side of the glass door. He looks away the second your eyes land on him, and you’re almost certain that he blushes, although you didn’t think it to be possible to make Sirius Black blush.

The second time, it’s the black dog again, who remains sitting by the door under the falling snow for about ten minutes before leaving.

The third time, it’s the dog again, you see him being petted by a customer as she walks out of the shop.

But if the dog belongs to Sirius, then you guess that he’s been around several times throughout the day, which seems odd. Also, you want to chastise him for leaving the animal alone in the cold for extended periods of time throughout the day. Is he heartless?!

So, as you go home that night, you leave your coat in your apartment before heading to Sirius’s.

He answers on the second knock.

“Oh! Hi, Y/N!” he grins a welcome at you. “Need anything?”

“Yeah… I wanted to talk to you, if you have a minute.”

He merely nods, moving to let you inside.

You’ve been here a couple of times before, but you still appreciate the warm atmosphere of the large space that forms his living room. A huge Gryffindor flag is hung across the wall on the right, while windows let you see falling snow over the roofs of Diagon Alley on the opposite side of the room. A large chimney surrounded by comfortable armchairs and sofas, along with a soft red carpet seem to call for you.

“So? What can I do for you, Y/N?”

You turn to him again while he points at the sofa, silently inviting you to sit, but you remain standing. You cross your arms, and he frowns at the sight.

“Where’s your dog?”

Your tone is sharper now, and his frown only deepens, brows knitted together.

“My what?”

“Your dog. Huge. Black. Looks like he could bite my throat off.”

“I don’t have a dog.”

“Really? He’s been following me around all day. He was on my threshold this morning…”

“…Y/N…” he tries to interrupt you, but you don’t let him.

“No! Listen… Thank you for what you did last night. I was really… Thank you. Josh wouldn’t leave and you were most definitely helpful. But let’s be clear, I’m a big girl, and I can take care of myself! I don’t need your protection or anything, got it?”

You wonder why he’s smiling now, but he is all the same.

“Got it. Was just trying to be helpful.”

“You were.”

“Good.”

“Good. But your good action doesn’t mean that I’m going to accept any harm coming to this cute dog of yours!”

“I thought he wanted to bite your throat off.”

“He looked like he could. He was pretty sweet, though.”

“Hmmm…”

“Anyway… what’s wrong with you!? Leaving him outside all night and then in the street while it was snowing!?”

“Y/N, relax. I don’t have a dog, let me explain.”

“Then whose dog is it? Cause we have to find his owner, I’m going to throw hands!”

Sirius laughs, his usual, bark-like laugh, and your puzzled by the sound. It resembles a bark even more than usual.

Sirius heaves a sigh, shakes his head, apparently hesitating, but eventually, he takes a step closer.

“You have to promise me that you won’t tell anyone about this.”

“Why?”

“Because if you do, I might be arrested.”

Your eyes grow round.

Oh dear… the…

“…Potion. The potion! You’ve done something illegal with it!”

Sirius laughs again.

“The pearl dust you mean? It’s just a trick for my godson, for Christmas. How do you think the presents get under the tree without anyone carrying them in? The fellow is a rascal, standing watch all night to catch Santa red-handed. We need to get more and more creative each year. No, don’t worry, it’s nothing like that.”

“Oh… but then… what are you talking about?”

“Do you promise that you won’t tell?”

“Have you killed someone?”

“Of course not!”

“I don’t know, you were pretty… scary last night.”

“Did I scare you?”

“No… but Josh was ready to faint.”

He laughs again at that.

“I haven’t harmed anyone.”

“Okay… then, I promise.”

Sirius hesitates some more, before warning you not to freak out. You don’t have time to question him though, he’s already transforming into…

“… the black dog!”

You gasp at the sight, but you don’t back away when Sirius approaches under his animagus form. Instead, you reach out for him, giving him a few scratches between his ears, making him wiggle his tail happily.

“Oh wow… you’re an animagus! This is beautiful…”

He laughs as he changes back into human, the sound still somewhere close to a growl.

“Am I a good boy, then?” he teases, making you laugh. “No need to call for the animal welfare…”

“But… what were you doing around the shop today? And last night? Did you sleep on the porch?”

Sirius averts his eyes, and you have to double-check, but you’re certain that he is blushing right now.

“Ha, that… I didn’t mean to look like a creep or anything. But I… I was worried your ex would come back. Just wanted to check on you, ‘s all. I didn’t follow you around or anything! I just… went to check that you were alright at the shop a few times.”

“Why?”

He looks up at you with a slight frown, as if it is obvious, as if you’re stupid for not guessing.

“Because… I was worried about you.”

“About me?”

“Is it so surprising?”

“You hate me.”

“Again, I don’t hate you. You’re simply annoying the shit out of me. I like it, actually.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh.”

You blink, trying to make sense of all this, and Sirius looks at you with amusement.

“Is that why you were quiet last night? To not bother me?”

“Oh, the boys weren’t here. Busy week. We’ll be back at being insufferable next Friday.”

You roll your eyes at that, but Sirius laughs.

“I’m joking! I understand, okay? We’re too loud. We’ll keep it down from now on.”

“Right, okay…”

He bit his lip, ran a hand through his hair, in what you guess is shyness. God, you would have never thought to use this adjective to describe him. His rings catch the warm light of the fire burning in the hearth as he moves his fingers through his hair.

“Look, I… I’m sorry for the other night. Actually… for all the other nights. We’ll be more careful next time,” he says, and you raise an eyebrow in surprise.

You never thought you would hear an apology from him, even less so an earnest one, and yet…

“Thank you, Sirius. I’m sorry, too. It was petty and uncalled for.”

“No, you… you were right.”

He heaves a frustrated sigh, runs a hand through his long dark curls again, rebel strands falling before his eyes. You hold tightly onto the sleeve of your hoodie, refraining the sudden urge to push the curls away from his face, brush them behind his ear…

“Look, I… I don’t want us to be on bad terms,” Sirius goes on. “Could I make up for being a dickhead by buying you some fancy Christmas drink? My treat. As a token of good faith and a sign for peace in our building?”

He offers you his open palm, and you shake hands with a smile adorning both of your faces.

“Deal.”

“Any afternoon free this week?”

“Wednesday?”

“Then, I’ll buy you the fanciest cocoa I can find. And even some pumpkin pie, if you’re nice.”

“Sounds good.”

You’re reluctant to pull away but have to let go of his hand.

“Actually… scratch that,” Sirius shakes his head. “Would you go on a date with me?”

Your eyes grow round.

“A date? With you?”

“Yeah. On Wednesday?”

“But… with you?”

“Don’t act so surprised. You really think I play bodyguard for just anybody?”

You laugh at that, you can’t help it, even if you’re still quite stunned by the whole situation.

You weight your options, but then you look at him again, and the answer you want to give is obvious, even if he gets on your nerves all the bloody time…

“Okay. A date. On Wednesday.”

He grins, bright and infectious.

“Great! Awesome!”

“Great.”

“Great.”

You remain staring at each other for a moment, both of you trying to hide your excitement, until you finally clear your throat.

“I should…” you begin, pointing at the door.

“Sure… busy day?”

“You can’t imagine.”

“Hmm…”

You hurry towards the door, feeling overwhelmed by his nearness.

“See you on Wednesday then!” he calls after you as you reach for your own door.

“Sure! But it better be the best hot chocolate I’ve drunk, or I’ll ask for a refund!”

He laughs, and when you turn one last time towards him, Sirius is leaning against his doorframe, staring at you with a grin on his lips and mischief painted all over his features. He winks, and your heart skips several beats.

“Oh, don’t worry. You won’t regret this.”

*********************************

Taglist :

@reg-arcturus-black @hells-escapees @omgrachwrites

@wolfmoonmusic

[888sss]

All you had to do was knock

This is NOT proofread, because I'm lazy, and just thought of this so I sat down and typed away.

Theo nott x (Slytherin)reader

(I think I have a crush on all TV characters named Theo)

the title is related to something Theo says, idk if it even makes sense

It was Christmas time, and snow had just begun to fall, you were walking with Astoria, through the shops of Hogsmeade.

"Everyone knows what it means to ask a 'friend' to Hogsmeade," says Astoria. Her brown hair hung over the sides of her face and she looked down at the ground.

"I know! He might be an introvert, but Teddy isn't stupid that's why I'm upset. Pansy even thought Teddy liked me, and then he turned around and asked her on a date." I said.

Theo and I were really close, and jokes about our friendship were often made by our other friends, due to how close we were. I'd liked Teddy for ages, but recently he had started asking me to hang out individually, and sitting next to me at meals in the great hall. He even switched with Blaise to be my potions partner, and I suck at potions. Of course, I didn't mind the extra time spent with him, and I loved his company, but now I regretted it, I felt like I had let him lead me on.

"I'm sure he does like you, Y/N. I haven't seen Theo spend this much time with anyone since, well, never." Astoria reassured me. I'm not sure how she could say such a thing when Theo was literally on a date with another girl right now. We walked into Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and looked to see what new ideas the twins had come up with. Astoria wandered to a display table towards the left wall, "You could buy this, and Theo won't even remember Pansy's name." She held up a glass with a sparkly, heart-shaped label that read, "Love Potion". I smiled and gave her a look of disapproval.

"Too soon?" she asked.

I opened my mouth to say something, but I heard the door open, and a cold breeze made the hair stick up on my arms. I turned to the door and saw Pansy walking in, but rather than Theo behind her, it was Enzo. He scanned the store and waved at Astoria and I.

"Y/N, Astoria! Hey guys what are you doing here?" Enzo asked as he was on our side of the store in a few strides, Pansy following close behind him.

"Hey guys," Astoria gave them both a quick hug, "we're just shopping around, y'know?" Astoria holds up the love potion so that Enzo and Pansy can see it.

"What're you buying that for?" Pansy asks reaching for the glass.

"I'm not buying it, y/n is!" Astoria joked.

"I am not buying that, put it back!" I told Astoria, quickly taking it from Pansy and putting it back on the shelf we got it from.

"Trust me y/n if you're buying it for 'you-know-who' then you do not need it," Enzo said raising his eyebrows, exaggerating his tone on certain words. I punched Enzo in the arm,

"I'm not buying it," I said sternly, I knew they were all just joking, but now was a bad time, especially since Pansy was literally right next to me. "besides, Teddy and I already get along just fine, why would I need a love potion? We're just friends."

"So if me and Draco share a bed, you wouldn't think that was a little bit weird?" Enzo asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"Well, not if you guys were both cold, and one of your beds was all the way down the hall," I told them, understanding the message they were trying to send.

The topic of the discussion changed many times before we got back to the comfort of the fireplace, surrounded by green couches, and various books. I sat in an armchair closest to the fireplace, before getting up to use the restroom. When I walked down the hallway I could hear the laughter of my friends, and faintly hear their voices. When I finished up, I looked in the mirror and ran my fingers through my hair, the hat I had taken off messed it up, and no one had thought to tell me. I walked back into the common room and saw that Teddy had returned from wherever he had been, and taken the seat I was sitting in before I got up. Without much thought, I sat down on the arm of Theo's chair and ruffled his hair.

"Hi Teddy," I sang, and seeing him for the first time today, I had almost forgotten I was mad at him, "where have you been?"

The room had gone silent and our friends all watched our interaction. I quickly noticed our proximity and moved to an empty spot on a couch, near his chair so I could still listen for his answer.

"Just around," He spoke softly, "nowhere special."

I was surprised by his answer and looked over at Pansy to see if her expression would show that she knew anything more than he let on, but she had turned back around and was talking with Mattheo about who was the better quidditch player. Theo obviously didn't have much to say, and by the bags under his eyes I could tell wherever he had been, had left him exhausted, so I let him be, and decided that I should get some rest myself.

Morning came, and despite being under water I could tell the sun had risen by the dim rays shining through the windows. I showered, and got ready for breakfast, putting on a jumper and some trousers I'd pulled from a drawer. When I left my dorm and walked into the common room, I could see Draco and Astoria waiting on the couch, tossing a hair tie back and forth as they continued in conversation.

"Good Morning!" I said as I approached the couple.

"It's about time," Draco said as he pretended to be annoyed, "If you took any longer I might've died of hunger."

"I'm actually early today, Malfoy so maybe save your starvation for another day." I laughed.

We made our way down to the great hall, and the rest of our friends made space for us at the table. Pansy was in her normal seat between Blaise and Enzo, rather than next to Theo, which confused me since I thought they liked each other, but I didn't think much of it.

As I took my usual seat next to Theo, an owl flew above our heads and dropped a letter down right in front of me.

"Y/N, you have mail!" Mattheo yelled from a few seats down, as if I couldn't see the envelope land in front of me. Blaise hit him on his had and mocked him for stating the obvious.

"Open it." Theo nudged my arm urging me on.

I turned the paper over in my hands and didn't see a name, other than my own so I ripped open the envelope. A piece of parchment was folded inside it,

'Hogsmeade? 2:00 - Harry Potter'

"Harry Potter, as in the Chosen One, you've got to be kidding me, mate." Draco sighed as he shoved his face into his hands.

I laughed and looked across the room at Harry who was already looking at me, I nodded at him, and he smiled in return, turning back around and saying something to Hermione and Ron.

"You're going to go?" Theo said to me, shocked that i assented to the idea of a date with Harry.

"Yeah, why not? He's cute and popular, he probably just needs a favor anyway," I said "Plus, you can go on dates why can't I?"

Theo's jaw dropped, and then closed again, and he got up and left.

"He deserved that," said Pansy, "I told him no, by the way, I wouldn't go out with him because I know you like him."

I wanted to curse Pansy at this moment for announcing to everyone around us that I liked Theo but decided I would appreciate her rare kindness.

Time passed quickly, and before I knew it, I was dressed up to meet Harry. I zipped up my snow boots and heard a knock at my door, "Come in!" I called whoever it was.

I quickly kicked the clothes next to my bed, under it, in hopes whoever it was, wasn't a professor, or Harry. The door opened, and when I looked up it was Theo.

"Hey Teddy, what's up?" I asked, wondering what he was here for, I had barely seen him the past few days and assumed he was done with his attitude.

He didn't say anything, he took the chair from under my desk and sat down, looking at the ground. I stared at him waiting to see if he was going to say anything.

"You can't go on that date," he said finally meeting my eyes.

"Are you kidding me, Theo? That's what this is about because I'm going out with another guy, you want to show up in my dorm and act all possessive?" I shot at him. He had rarely talked to me in two days, and this is what he came to say.

"Please, you just- you can't go," he stood up, moving in front of me to hold my hands in his.

"So, let me get this straight, we've been just friends for months, and when you decide to ask Pansy on a date it's okay, but when I get asked out on a date you can just come to my dorm, demanding me not go?" I reiterated. I was hurt that Theo genuinely thought I would be okay with this.

"My door was unlocked," he whispered.

"What?" I asked. I felt like I had asked him so many things and hadn't gotten one response.

"I waited for you to see if you would try to talk me out of going, and ask me to stay with you instead." Theo said

"Teddy why would I talk you out of doing something that you obviously wanted to do, I want you to be happy," I told him. I was extremely confused by his intentions.

"Just please don't go y/n I'll take you to Hogsmeade myself, just don't go on a date with Harry Potter of all people." He begged me.

"But why, Theo?"

"You know why." Theo insisted.

"Say it."

"Because I love you y/n, I'm in love with you, and if you go on that date with Harry, you might start to like him, and then I'll have to move to be alone," he confessed.

I was speechless. Not because I didn't reciprocate his feelings, but because I didn't understand.

"So what about Pansy? You just asked her out to see if I would come knocking on your door?" I scoffed.

"It was her idea, I'd ask her to Hogsmeade, so you'd get jealous, but we didn't go by ourselves, Enzo and Blaise came along, that's why Astoria went with you, to make sure you didn't run into us as a group." He explained

Theo was standing so close to me that it felt like his tall figure was hovering. I could feel his breath on my face and looked up at him. He took my face in his hands and crashed his lips into mine. His hands moved down to my waist, and I kissed him back, moving my hands to his hair, pulling at the roots.

"You're really good at that," I said when we finally separated for air, moving my hands to the back of his neck.

Theo smiled down at me, "better than Potter?" he asked with a smirk. I jokingly pushed him away and sat down to write Harry a letter about how I'd be canceling our date last minute.

[hollowwrites]

Hii! I've had an idea in my head for a few days now and I absolutely love your writing ^^

Can I request an Ominis x Female Reader where Ominis finds out the Reader is the person his family forced him to torture with Cruciatus Curse in the past? Some angst with a fluff ending, please 🥺

Repressed Memories

Sorry did you say some angst? Hahahahahah pain…Theres barely any comfort i wont lie my brain stopped working about halfway through this

I’ve pulled Violet Flowers out of my ass. But now I love that name so much…

Warnings - Detailed descriptions of Crucio from the get go. Skip past it after ——————

Word Count - 1769

~

Ominis knew he recognised that name.

It was repeated over and over by his mother, taunting and torturing.

Each time a gut punch, punctuating; this is a person.

——————————————————————————

His skin prickled and tightened upon hearing the curses name. Muscle memory activating and he shrank away from the sound of gargled screaming and muffled moans.

He knew how it felt to have his veins set ablaze. The feeling of every bone breaking and mending and breaking in an instant. The feeling of an Unforgivable cast upon you.

“It’ll be over soon, Violet Flowers” His Mother cooed wickedly over the rasping sobs of the young girl in front of him. Ominis could hear the girl struggling against his mother’s arms. Against whatever restraints they had placed on her.

“If he does as he’s told you’ll only have to feel it once more, Violet” her voice suddenly sweet sang from behind him as she circled her son..

“Beg for the pain, Violet. If you do, you can leave…if you survive” She laughed cruelly.

“Please…” Violet whispered strained and aching, and he felt a tug at his ankle. Instinctually, he kicked her away.

No this wasn’t real.

If he can feel it, it’s real.

This isn’t real…

“See, my love. Violet’s asking so nicely. I…will not. Do it” his mother snapped…

“I can’t…I…” Ominis stammered as tears streamed over his cheeks. This isn’t real. This isn’t real.

“Crucio!” His mother spat, sounding almost bored with this charade.

And his body buckled and broke against the pain he’d felt countless times. He’d grown, somewhat of a tolerance for it. About as much as one can grow accustomed to phantom magical pain.

His teeth cracked and eyes burned through tears as he resisted the temptation to cry out. He would not give that woman the satisfaction.

The most she would get, would be a grunt and relieved groan as the pain subsided.

“I hate to see you like this dear.” She purred once more as her personality flipped again. The doting and ‘loving’ mother reappearing. “Cast it and I’ll stop…”

And they were the last words she spoke before his whole world became pain. To this day, he doesn’t know how long he bore it. It felt like hours went by, his vision blooming from the usual inky blackness to a painful blinding white. His knees came slamming into the stone floor and a different, almost real pain throbbed from his leg. He assumed he’d broken his own knee from the force.

“Do it…it’s okay” Violets voice sang out to him. A siren song amidst a choppy sea. And to his shame, he didn’t hesitate…his hand limply held his wand against the floor and as he muttered the curse, red lightening forked across the stone and bled into her. Her screams replaced his as he cast the Curse for as short a time as possible.

——————————————————————————

~

So when she was called at the Sorting Ceremony, his blood ran cold.

“Violet Flowers” Headmaster Black called disgustingly, almost like he knew she wasn’t Pureblood. Of course he did. Purebloods had the names of fellow blood purists memorised. Even Weasley was respectable. But Flowers?

No…

They tortured muggles. He’d tortured a muggle.

This wasn’t possible. This wasn’t real.

He only hoped she wouldn’t be sorted into Slytherin. How could she? Very few muggle born wizards were due to its ridiculous entry requirements sewn into that stupid hat.

If she was in any other house he could avoid her…perfect if she’s Gryffindor. He interacts with so few.

“Slytherin”

Upon hearing that word…that cursed sickening name, Ominis froze. Now he would have to avoid her all year.

Then Sebastian befriended her.

And he couldn’t exactly tell him why he hated her so much. Why he avoided every interaction. Why he snapped at the mention of her name and the sound of her voice. Sebastian knew a lot about his life but this was an element he could not know. Knowing your friend had cast that curse, and seeing the person they cast it on…two completely different things.

The worst part was that he liked her.

She was enjoyable to be around.

Uplifting and happy. Bubbly but introverted. Like she was only this way for her friends. And she was like this…towards him.

Had she forgotten? Had his Mother obliviated her? It wasn’t something she normally did. She revelled in the idea that they irrevocably changed people’s lives. Warped normal everyday people into husks and sent them back on their way. She couldn’t have…

…and she hadn’t.

~

As Ominis paced back and forth in the old corridor below the dungeons, he wondered just how much a person could live in denial. Slowly, he rocked himself back and forth muttering more so than usual as Sebastian and Violet spoke.

This isn’t happening.

This is a nightmare.

This isn’t happening.

This is a nightmare.

“It’s up to us. I can teach you Crucio or I can cast it on you” Sebastian said flatly, though Ominis barely heard him over the ringing in his ears.

“No…” His mouth formed but no sound came out

“I’ve already felt what it’s like…cast it in me” Violet said meekly but bravely.

“No…” his voice came this time but it was still a murmur.

“You’ve already felt an Unforgivable?” Sebastian inquired, and unbeknownst to Ominis, he looked towards his blind friend, shaking and rocking over and over.

“No…” - they heard him that time, his voice slowly returning but it still sounded akin to the ramblings of a mad man. This place was truly a living nightmare

“Yes…when I was a child. A family came by our village, wiped out most of us. Those who were left alive were-“

“Enough! Please!” Ominis begged over his own erratic breathing long enough for them both to hear. His hands slammed over his temples, squeezing, as though he could physically push the memories further back and deeper. Hide them inside.

“Ominis…?” Violet questioned, her normal sing-songy tone replaced with a harsh, gravelly one. She was scared…

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry” he repeated, over and over like a prayer. And once again his knees buckled before her and his knee crashed into the stone, the old ache of a long since healed injury throbbing.

And she looked at him. Bent and broken, brows furrowed in confusion. She looked back at Sebastian, hoping to be met with similar bewilderment.

But instead his eyes watered slightly, a look of sympathy, almost anger, was carved into his stoic features.

“Is she-?” Sebastian started taking a step closer to the trembling crouched form of his best friend…

“I didn’t want to. You have to believe me. I couldn’t…I can’t…” Ominis babbled endlessly, no thought crossed his mind that he didn’t verbalise “…you have no idea what it feels like…I just…”

“You just wanted it to stop…” Violet interjected, her voice soft and quiet.

She knew there was something recognisable about him. She always assumed it was just her mind playing tricks on her, or that he was so easy to get along with that he felt…familiar.

Like she’d known him her whole life.

She gently pushed Sebastian out of the way and placed her hands over Ominis’ whose clung to the side of his head. He flinched, violently from her touch, almost recoiling completely away from her. He gazelessly stared up at her.

“I am so…sorry” his voice was barely there…

“Shhh…I know”

“You cannot take that curse again…I cannot be the reason you feel that curse. Not again” his eyes searched for her fruitlessly, hands now falling to her wrists and clinging somewhat painfully as he implored her to listen to reason. “I can’t hear that again. Don’t make me-“

“Ominis-“

“No” his tone shifting suddenly, his conviction strong. “You will not feel that pain again…”

~

Days went by after the Scriptorium and Ominis couldn’t be found. After they toiled and argued Ominis eventually made Sebastian cast that curse on him, feeling that same agony that he had felt numerous times, once more. Sebastian looked on in horror as Ominis took the full brunt of an unforgivable…and simply clenched his teeth. Perhaps he had underestimated his friend all these years…

Though despite everyone agreeing, Ominis still forced himself away from them. Both Sebastian and Violet.

He couldn’t face her.

Not now she knew…

But that didn’t stop her from trapping him in the Common Room late one night.

Ordinarily, it was borderline impossible to sneak up on Ominis. His hearing had advanced with his blindness too much for such nonsense. But in this moment, whilst he stood mind wandering in the alcove by the lake, he was too distracted to hear her walk up beside him.

“You’re avoiding me…” she stated, in as soft a tone as possible.

“Can you understand why?” He muttered, no sense in denying it.

“I can. I just wanted you to know you don’t have to…” she said once again her tone flat almost unemotional. “…as far as I’m concerned, nothing has changed”

“What?” He spat, turning on his heel to face her. “Everything has changed”

And she laughed. How could she find humour in such a thing?

“Nothing has changed” she insisted “I still felt that curse, you still torture yourself over it. Nothing has changed”

“You know it was me!” He snapped, reaching out and grabbing her shoulders. He shook her slightly, not believing she could be so…so…

“I do not blame you” she whispered, his face mere inches from hers, brows slammed over his pale eyes. And if she didn’t know him better, she would have assumed he was angry at her. “Ominis…whilst they cursed you, your brother laughed. Your mother insulted and degraded you. I do not blame you for the pain that I felt. I would have done the same.”

“No you wouldn’t…” his voice cracked and his hands loosened around her arms. His shoulders slumped and she could feel the waves of self loathing emanating from him. “…You are kind. And gentle. And-“

“Vengeful” she finished for him, taking his face in her hands “…I am spiteful and angry. If I had magic then I would’ve done anything to stop that pain…as you did”

“I-“

“Listen to me for once will you!” She snapped “You may never forgive yourself…fine. But I forgive you. And you did it to me. Surely that counts for something?”

There was a silence between them that seemed to stretch out forever…

“I am undeserving of your forgiveness. Of your kindness.” He whispered leaning into her hand, into her warmth, her love.

“You are more deserving than most…”

Sorry if the latter half of this is bad, I’m currently going through the worst flu of my life! Sorry!!

Masterlist

[dilatorywriting]

(just a thought I wanted to shared thinking of grandpa Vil) Howl's moving castle au, Vil's beautiful so you think he'd be howl but no, he's an old grandpa crying about his beauty, you think the poor ol guy has started losing his marbles and let him in to live out his days traveling

Vil: "I used to be so beautiful, royalty envied my beauty, I was a muse!"

reader: "Okay grandpa, lets get you to bed, I'll bring you some tea" :)

Holy fuck holy fuck. Howl’s Moving Castle is genuinely my favorite movie. This is killing me. Also I know this is definitely going in a very different brain direction BUT LIKE. I CAN’T HELP IT

Vil as the Witch of the Wastes, desperately doing everything he can to maintain his youth and beauty. Neige as Suliman’s young prodigy, who easily sweeps in one day to take his place, leaving the once first choice to be the Royal’s Head Wizard as nothing more than a bookend. Vil who after losing access to all the grand magics of the Academy trades his soul away and begins dealing in the inexplicable in order to maintain even a fraction of the powers Suliman tried to strip from him.

Vil, who becomes a living legend and a nightmare—feared so well by all the little town folk that no one ever bothers to even think of getting in the way of his slowly building atrocities. Until one day he curses a poor, innocent, hat shop keeper he sees Neige leading through a waltz in the sky. Curses them to be old, and ugly, and everything he fears. Except after he no doubt ruins their miserable, little, life, they just keep running into each other. The Hat Shop Idiot just doesn’t know what’s good for them. Has sought out powerful magics without thinking to harness it for their own advantage, talks with a fire demon like its a pampered little pet, walks into danger with a stiff upper lip and an even stiffer, tackier, hat. They trade insults with him—as he deserves, who is he kidding—until the both of them are standing at the Gates of Suliman’s castle.

And then that tacky little idiot helps him when his magic fails. Cheers him on with genuine kindness and offers him an arm when his muscles are put under the strains of his real, battered, body for the first time in ages. When Suliman strips him of everything he has left, the poor little Shopkeep he once cursed out of nothing but cruelty takes him with them—saves him too. Gives him his own room in a magic castle and access to every, forbidden, thing he’s been hunting with such wicked fervor. And you, stupid hatter that you are, treat this real, ugly, version of himself with so much gentle kindness that how could he not finally see why all these other magical men and monsters have fallen in love with you too?

[foldingfittedsheets]

I love the fact that cursing you into a swan is just a thing people can do. Like Charles was never shown to be a wizard or whatever, just a guy that decided to do a little curse.

So all the comics I’ve been doing all have like a modern vibe where magic is just. Around. When I picked the swan Princess I knew I wanted Charles to be the wizard that cursed her, so some of the early concept he’s got a stupid little pointy hat but it seemed too out of type as a business man. After a few drafts I was like. Yeah, fuck it. He’s just some guy, he’s got magic.

If it hadn’t already been so long there was gonna be panels of Leda asking why Fen thought Charles is the one who cursed her and Fen bringing up his magical background. But as that’s all offscreen you can also imagine that in this world you can just find a shady wizard type and pay them to curse who you want.

There was also gonna be frames of Fen explaining the magic system but no one likes exposition (or scrolling through ten years of comic to get to the kissing). Basically a curse sticks harder depending on your wealth and status. If you’re just Some Guy you can probably pay to get it removed without too much hassle but if someone manages to curse royalty they are Cursed and have to play along with whatever breaks it.

[misc-obeyme]

I have so many thoughts. SO MANY THOUGHTS.

Spoilers for Lesson 20 under the cut.

From a storytelling standpoint, Lesson 20 was kind of underwhelming for me. It was kinda boring.

Everything is totally resolved and then we have a party? And MC is given the completely pointless title of Devilsitter? And the Celestial Realm is just like yeah okay see ya.

Seriously, Diavolo? Everybody knows you just made that up. Also why did they have to give him that goofy hat? I think this would've been a little more impactful if he'd been in demon form, you know? Anyway...

It felt like we went through all of that for a whole lot of nothing.

It also feels like they want to tell a more complicated story and that's why this whole separate app situation began. But then they were like well we wanna keep some of the overall vibe, so it still has to have seasons and the first one still has to be twenty lessons. Like they should've just scrapped that and let the story play out how needs to. Because I felt like they were just putting filler in there so that they could extend the Nightbringer part of the story into the next season.

All that aside, though, there were things I did enjoy about the lesson, mostly involving the usual character shenanigans.

Sometimes it really feels like Simeon is just always on the outside, longing to be part of this family. He loves them so much he's willing to sacrifice his own standing to help them, but he also knows he's not part of them. We already knew this of course, considering he does exactly that in the OG to make sure MC gets to stay with them. I just feel like Simeon is so selfless. And it's kind of heartbreaking? I just want to hug him.

And oh, my sweet precious Barbatos... if you choose him to escort you, he says some amazing things.

YES. TAKE ME. I'M READY.

Is this the fancy butler way of saying I love you? Don't misunderstand, I am so soft for sweet kisses to the back of someone's hand, but if you think that's gonna cut it, sir, I really need you to try harder.

What can I say, I just want Barbatos to profess his undying love. I want him to break his butler persona and spill his heart out. I want him to actually tell us exactly how he feels and what he's been through and how hard it must have been to live the way he has for so long with the power of time and space at his fingertips. Ugh. Okay, sorry I'm getting off track here. We already know I could probably write another couple of essays about Barbatos aside from the one I've already written lol.

I would be remiss if I didn't talk about Solomon in this lesson, too...

I thought this was an interesting reaction from him when MC asks him to be the brothers' ally. Like yeah, obviously not against the human world, but this was about keeping the brothers in the Devildom? I'm trying not to read too much into it since it could just be that they wanted to make it seem like MC was the one who convinced everybody and stuff. Like okay whatever!

But truly the best Solomon moment was if MC chooses him to give them the "special emblem."

SOLOMON. My stupid wizard loving heart can't take it when you say stuff like this!

And then the forehead kiss, I was just like this is so soft and sweet I'm losing my miiiiind.

What can I say about it other than it was great? Of course I went back and chose all the options. Having Diavolo or Lucifer give you the emblem is pretty sweet, too. But there is just something next level about it being Solomon because of the whole master/apprentice thing, but also because he's the only one who knows what you're really going through. I just really love him, okay?

Lastly, I have to say I was a bit surprised with Mephisto in this lesson... he's starting to grow on me.

Mephisto! I'm pretty sure that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me!

For once, I agreed with him. Also, if it was actually me, I'd be like your arguments are pointless because my last dance is going to be with Thirteen.

I was expecting a little more after the end credits, but it was just a repeat of those weird Nightbringer lines from one of the earlier lessons... I can't remember which one it was. I was really expecting Nightbringer to make a final appearance, but nope.

The hard lesson completely blew my mind, though. I have to make a separate post just for that.

In the end, this lesson had some good parts, but it definitely just felt like filler because they needed to end the season. We're not getting any real answers until next season, apparently. I swear if I have to wait for a season three for some decent answers, I will be flipping tables.

Of course, I'm really just here for the hot anime characters so... I'll just go back to simping as soon as I'm done table flipping lol.

[myers-meadow]

Azog the Defiler x OC: In which Gandalf learns that Orcs can love

Title: In which Gandalf learns that Orcs can love

Pairing: Azog the Defiler x female OC (Hadewych)

Fandom: The Hobbit movie trilogy

Summary: In this tale we follow the Companionship of Dwarves on a dual mission: reach and reclaim Erebor, and maybe rescue a friend they made in Laketown. The last quest leads to more hardship than expected, as Azog has his sights set firmly on the human, and isn't planning to let the Dwarves take her from him.

Warnings: rape/non-con, Azog is his own warning honestly, character death, non-consensual voyeurism, corruption, (mild) rape aftermath, language barrier.

Wordcount: 2147

Gorgeous dividers by @saradika-graphics

"She should be around here, somewhere," called Fili from over his shoulder, scouting ahead through the thick growth of the forest. It was a forest so thick, only little of the late afternoon sun reached through the trees. Thorin, Kili, Bilbo and Gandalf followed him. They were tired, especially now that their end goal seemed so close, yet so far away. After leaving Laketown, the kind friend of Bard, who sheltered them, followed them with provisions and weapons. That was a week ago. Immediately after she found the companionship of dwarves, they were ambushed by Azog's hunting party, and she was taken.

After five days of captivity, it was Bilbo, with Dwalin and Thorin, who rescued her from the orc camp as they all slept. She wasn't as grateful as they expected however, frightened beyond words. Her fear remained with her, even though she was safely away from the man-eating orcs.

"You don't get it," she said, keeping her voice hushed even while hours away from the site they rescued her from, "he will find me and it will be worse. You've put yourself in danger, too."

The dwarves waved her concerns away, but it gave Bilbo pause. Something felt off. Why would the orcs come for her? They were hunting the dwarves already. Despite his feeling of unease, their journey continued.

Balin convinced her, with his gentle reasoning, to come with them, and not head back: "We are less than four days march away from Erebor. Once we are there, you'll be safe inside. No orc could enter the mountain and live. Laketown is at least a week from here, on horseback. Don't be stupid and get yourself killed trying to go back."

Hope shone in her eyes at his words, a fearful hope. It was decided; she would come with them. Evening fell, and they set up camp. Hadewych remained withdrawn. As they wound down after their meal, which finally got some life back in her face, Gandalf took up his pouch of pipeweed, lighting his pipe. They sat, gathered in a circle around the fire, flames making their shadows dance.

"Hadewych, what happened to you out there?" asked Fili. None had dared ask before, as her panicked state had been enough of an answer. Kili, who sat next to her, moved her braid aside and gestured at the large bitemark on the side of her neck.

"It looked like they tried to eat you," Kili said, sounding somewhat impressed, his tone light. Hadewych slapped his hand away.

"It's beyond you," was all she said.

Gandalf took the pipe out of his mouth, and agreed with her. "Let the poor woman have her rest. We're not there yet. I have a feeling the worst is yet to come."

Later, when just Bilbo and Gandalf remained, unable to sleep, keep watch, did Bilbo dare to ask the wizard more.

"The orcs, they..." he started, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Why did they let Hadewych live? They would've slaughtered any of us as soon as they had the chance."

Gandalf, old eyes peering from beneath his wizard's hat, replied: "Hmm, it is certainly curious. I suspect we’ll find out soon enough, although I fear it won't be pleasant."

After a short silence, as the moon's rays illuminated the rocky landscape, he continued. "There isn't much we know about orc culture. So far, Azog has proven to be at the top of his tribe, with not just bloodlust, but also a great strategic mind. He's smart, Bilbo, that's what makes him more dangerous than most."

"You're saying he took her for a strategic purpose? But what on earth could that be?"

Gandalf shrugged, movements slow. "You should get some sleep. Tomorrow is a new day."

In the morning as they set out on their journey, Hadewych found Gandalf and fell into step next to him.

"Gandalf," Hadewych started, uncertainty in her voice, unsure of how to ask what she had on her mind.

"Yes, my dear, what is it?"

"Do you know Black Speech?"

"What a curious question. I do understand it, yes. It is a vile language, created by Sauron and I prefer not speaking it."

"I understand if it's too much to ask, but could you maybe teach me? Every little bit would be a great help."

Gandalf halted and turned to her. His eyes bore into her soul and she sensed that he knew and understood a great deal more than any of the companions, more than even the wizard let on. "There may be a way to teach you that will help you more than simply translating words. You've tried it already, haven't you? To let the pale orc teach you."

Unsure, but aware that lies were useless, she nodded. "All I've managed to parse out are a few different words, and that's hardly enough to understand what they say. The dwarves may think I'm safe now, but they don't understand." She adjusted her cloak and hugged it around her. "It's only a matter of time before I'm surrounded by orcs again, and I need to know what they say - to know what is coming."

The wizard hummed. "I see." He paused and regarded her for a long moment. The companions walked on ahead, but it was no matter. They could catch up with ease, if needed. Then he nodded and grabbed his staff. "Then we shall see what we can do."

Another day passed, and Gandalf allowed Hadewych to learn and practice Black Speech. She had little trouble with it, aside from the grammar. During the second morning, she felt a bit more at ease and her normal self returned, and she joked with the dwarves the same as she did while they were in Laketown. Bilbo still eyed her warily - to him, the mystery of her behaviour was not yet solved.

Once they got going, the terrain opened up in front of them, and it gained in height. It would truly only be three more days until they reached their beloved mountain. The hunting party ambushed them from the side, driving them back with a cliff at their side. It was the worst possible road to be ambushed on, and even though Thorin sent Fili and Kili ahead as scouts, they hadn't seen nor heard a thing. Thorin barely escaped with his life. Hadewych wasn't so lucky, as she was slung over their leader's shoulder, defenceless without the weapons or skill the dwarves had. The dwarves hid in the mountains, and the hunting party took off just as swiftly as they came, disappearing into a thick forest, taking Hadewych with them.

Evening fell. The dwarves licked their wounds and regrouped properly that night, and discussed what they could do. Many seemed in favour of continuing their original quest, and not taking the risk of going after the hunting party.

"Is Hadewych not also one of our own?" argued Bilbo. "She went through the trouble to bring us the weapons and provisions, without her we would've been defenceless."

"That's just how it goes, laddie," said Dwalin. "She knew the risks when coming with us."

Bilbo, outraged, looked to the others.

Balin answered. "Aye... But we've been the ones who convinced her not to go back to Laketown. That Erebor would be safer."

"No way she could've reached Laketown on her own anyway," said Gloin, his voice rumbling.

"Perhaps, but a group is easier to track than a woman alone."

"We failed to protect her," agreed Kili. "We can look for her, just a few of us. The rest heads on to the mountain. With just a few, we won’t be easily noticed."

And so it was that now the few of them who went to track the hunting party down; Gandalf and Bilbo came with, out of concern, Thorin and his cousins Fili and Kili; laid low in a bed of ferns, hidden behind bushes and trees, looking on as the orcs set up camp for the night. The pale orc towered over them all. He fed his warg and pet her fur, Hadewych close at his side, one hand in the warg's fur just like him. Kili wanted to creep closer, but was stopped by Thorin.

"So this is why she wanted to learn Black Speech," said Gandalf, which the dwarves paid little mind to. Bilbo looked at his wizard friend with curious eyes. They exchanged looks, and with his voice soft, Gandalf pointed at the scene. "They seem to be talking."

"He's laughing," said Bilbo, surprised. "Gandalf, don't tell me they've become friends."

They watched as Azog lead Hadewych to the campfire, a firm hand on her upper arm. Once seated, keeping her close to him, although it was difficult for them to see, he reached for the grilled meat, steaming in the cold evening air, and took a large bite out of it. The orcs dug in similarly, feeding on what was probably small game they've hunted, or dried food they took with them. Then the pale orc did something Bilbo nor the wizard saw coming. With the dead animal speared on his hooked hand, he plucked off bits of tender meat, and fed them to Hadewych. After letting her eat it right from his hand, he licked off his fingers.

"I'd say she's still deadly afraid of him, not to speak of the other orcs around. Wouldn't you agree?"

"But an orc wouldn't hear reason! Do you really think she talked him into letting her live?"

"That seems... unlikely," said Gandalf, his voice falling grim.

Thorin decided to wait until night fell and everyone was asleep to attack, so they did. The orcs laid down to sleep not long after, leaving just two who kept watch awake, as well as the pale orc and Hadewych. When they got up to rest, they did so on the other side of the mighty white warg, and Hadewych pet her fur as Azog gathered the blanket and mat from a nearby pack. When he spoke to her, his voice was low, unexpected of an orc to speak so gently. The dwarves spread out, trying to scout out the area more now that they had less eyes on them and less ears to listen. Bilbo stayed with Gandalf, leaned against a tree, waiting for the others to regroup. Their friend and her captor had now finally laid down and all was quiet.

"It's taking so long," complained Kili. "When will they go to sleep already."

"Patience," bid Thorin, reigning his cousin in.

They regrouped at their spot, Thorin directed everyone to their positions. When Bilbo glanced over at the sleeping forms of his friend and her captor, he found a rather odd sight. It wasn't immediately clear what he was looking at, as Azog hovered above the ground, facing down, and moved his body rhythmically. Not like someone who is sleeping. Not like someone turning around in their sleep. Bilbo grabbed Thorin by the arm, wordless, and pointed. Then, staring hard through the ferns, he they saw Azog sit straighter up and pulled a leg - a human leg - to his side, changing the angle of his hips. Then his movements made sense. Hadewych laid underneath him, and he moved his hips, grinning sadistically down at her, low rumbles spilling from his throat as he fucked her.

The dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf looked on, forgetting their cover, and stared at the scene in front of them with mouths open in shock. Kili pulled Thorin aside.

"I'm not risking my life for that," he said harshly, voice a little louder than it should've been in the quiet of the night.

Gandalf opened his mouth to say something, but refrained from interfering.

"What is happening, Gandalf, why is this happening?" asked Bilbo, who didn't want to look on, but couldn't tear his eyes away for longer than a second. The pale orc leaned down again, over his captive, and said something to her. The rasp of the Black Speech sounded almost doting. As the dwarves tried to figure out what to do - leave or attack - Gandalf observed the scene and thought of how to answer the hobbit. As he did, the orc snarled, and grabbed his captive close, ripped the fabric away from her shoulder, and bit down.

"It is what it looks like, my friend; Azog has claimed a mate."

Unfortunately for the unobservant dwarves, the pale orc had a short recovery time, and was on his feet within the minute. Quiet as a panther he moved through the thicket. He called out to Thorin, voice loud enough to wake the rest of the hunting party, and the dwarves were outnumbered quick. Hadewych looked on from the sidelines, leaning her back against the white warg, face in her hands, trying to ignore the screams of pain and sorrow as the line of Durin ended before her eyes.

[estherruth-jonsatrash]

Arya's Brother

Written for @jonsa-halloween event!

Oct. 30th: Costume Also on AO3

(Partially inspired by the song "Cate's Brother" by Maisie Peters)

Sansa knew she and Arya were unlikely friends. Truly, if they hadn’t been roomed together freshman year of college they likely wouldn’t have been more than passing acquaintances, at best. And in those first few weeks of dorm life, they were so different from each other both had secretly appealed to get a dorm-mate switch before being told they would have to adjust. Sansa and Arya had laughed together about it, and whatever differences they had, they found the other to be a good influence and shared a few important things. They had similar senses of humor, and Arya’s determination on her soccer team was much like Sansa’s commitment to her studies.

Arya helped Sansa learn how to stand up for herself and not allow being polite to make her a pushover. Sansa helped Arya rein in her temper and be a little more diplomatic at times.

By their sophomore year, the girls were thick as thieves. A fact Sansa was grateful for when she decided to throw a Halloween party and Arya had been the first to RSVP, even if Arya said she thought RSVPs as a concept were “fucking stupid.” Arya had appreciated Sansa’s handmade invitations with an orange and black color palette (obviously) and little cartoon witch and black cat.

Of course Gendry was a given plus-one, but Arya also mentioned off-handedly she was bringing along her brother Jon who had just moved to the city. Sansa knew Arya loved her older brother Jon a lot even if she’d never met him, and she’d told Arya to definitely bring him along.

Sansa was dressed up as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, ruby red slippers, the dress and even the little basket, even though Lady couldn’t possibly fit in it and pass for Toto. She remembered she’d told Arya her costume when she spotted the short girl with the dark hair, a witch’s hat and green face paint, as she realized Arya had themed their costumes together. She smiled and when Arya’s face lit up, she rushed to hug Sansa.

“Sansa!” Arya excitedly said as they embraced. “You look great! I have to steal your slippers tonight!”

“It’s good to see you too, Arya,” Sansa said with a laugh. They hadn’t seen each other as often since they had graduated months ago. “And I don’t think the Wicked Witch ever gets the slippers in the story.”

Arya scrunched her nose and raised her voice to a shrill pitch. “I’ll get you, my pretty! And your big-ass dog, too!” she said, motioning to Lady in the corner, who raised her head slightly as Arya pointed at her.

Sansa giggled as Lady laid her head back down and Arya muttered some guard dog.

“Where’s Gendry?” Sansa asked as she got some punch for herself and Arya.

Arya rolled her eyes. “He’s talking with Hot Pie. You won’t believe this: he wouldn’t be my flying monkey!” she complained.

“And you didn’t break up with him on the spot?” Sansa asked incredulously.

Arya’s eyes gleamed as they fell back into their repartee easily. “No, but I did warn him he’s on thin ice.” Arya chuckled and took a look around the room before turning to Sansa once more. “Sansa, did you meet my brother?”

Sansa had nearly forgotten about the guest she’d never met. “No, I didn’t,” she said, eager to put a face to the name she’d heard so many times.

“Jon!” Arya yelled into the morass of the crowd, waving him over.

And Sansa saw what was quite possibly the most handsome man she had ever seen.

In what was quite possibly the silliest costume.

Jon’s perfect features were twisted with an adorable embarrassment as he ambled over, the little black wings jostled with each step. His curls were pulled back and a small blue hat rested on his head, with a matching blue miniature vest.

“I made him my flying monkey!” Arya said with delighted laughter as Jon blushed.

“Ha, ha, I’m glad you’re having so much fun Arya,” Jon said as he scowled at his sister.

It was for the best that his eyes hadn’t met Sansa’s yet—even in his absurd outfit Sansa’s heart seemed to flutter at the sight of him and the gravelly sound of his voice.

“I really am,” Arya confirmed wickedly. “This is my friend Sansa.”

Then Jon looked at her and if her heart had fluttered before, it seemed to take flight now. His stormy grey eyes lost the edge he’d had and softened into a kindness that made her feel weak. “Hi Sansa, it’s nice to finally meet you,” he said with a sincere smile, offering his hand for her to shake.

“Hi Jon,” Sansa returned and shook his hand. It might be a cliché to say that Sansa felt sparks, but she felt it from her head to her toes, the feel of his hand in hers electric. “And likewise.” Her eyes were looking in his, and he didn’t let go of her hand. They lingered until Arya coughed and Sansa and Jon shook themselves out of it.

“Um, can I get you something to drink?” Sansa asked, attempting to go back into hostess mode and tamp down the blush she was sure must be rising in her cheeks.

Jon looked at the table with punch and other snacks and gave her a smirk. “Actually, maybe water, so I can try and melt this one,” he said pointing to Arya.

“Hey!” Arya scolded as Jon and Sansa laughed together. Oh. She really liked the sound of his laughter, butterflies in her stomach now. “I’m not going to melt but I’ll be damned before I let you ruin this green makeup!” Arya barked.

Soon after, Arya left the two of them. She asked Jon how he was doing since his recent move and learned Jon taught literature at a nearby high school.

Sansa had known from Arya that Jon was a teacher, but not that he taught literature. Swoon.

“I guess you must have a problem with the ruby slippers, like the movie instead of the book,” Sansa said.

At her words, Jon looked her up and down with heated eyes that made her feel flush. “Well, normally I would. But those slippers go so well with the red hair,” he said, daringly reaching out to lightly brush a lock of her hair with his fingertips. Jon would normally never be so bold, but he had felt an immediate connection to the gorgeous redhead, had wanted to touch her, and something within him told him she’d be receptive.

Sansa swayed toward him and took a sip of her punch to keep her from jumping him then and there. Though from the looks of it, Jon wouldn’t mind.

She and Jon talked all night.

And okay, she didn’t set out to date Arya’s brother.

But when Jon asked her out, Sansa wasn’t about to say no.

She will later tell Arya the same. Also that she and Jon had simply tripped into her bed.

But Arya doesn’t really mind, in the end. Especially when Sansa becomes her sister-in-law.

[boydepartment]

Enhypen as Stardew Valley Characters

MASTERLIST

i love stardew valley so much..! so i had to 😜 also the character portraits being so ZOOMED IN makes me laugh SO HARD

JUNGWON as THE HAT HOUSE

🎩 i think him being a little hat man fits him so well. and he’s all hidden in the forest near the wizards tower. i think it’s so funny to imagine him being this little mouse LMAO

HEESEUNG as LEAH

🎨 i honestly didn’t know who to put heeseung as. bc the stardew characters are sort of specific to certain traits so it was kinda difficult. however i felt out of everyone leah fit him. he likes to just kinda chill but he has his moments

JAY as SAM

🎸 at first i was gonna put jake as sam. but then it literally clicked. they BOTH play guitar, they BOTH want to be rock stars. they’re close with their families. it’s almost perfect

JAKE as LINUS

🏕️ okay hear me out. i look crazy okay. but HEAR ME OUT. in an old interview jakes dream vacay is literally surviving in the woods by himself or w his dog. he WANTS to live it up in the wild I GUESS. SO THIS FITS HIM BC THATS WHAT LINUS WANTS. and linus is a sweetheart

SUNGHOON as THE WIZARD

🔮 mysterious AND HAS A SECRET PAST. i think if sunghoon was a wizard he’d have such a weird past like this mf. I JUST THINK IT FITS HIM SO WELL.

SUNOO as KROBUS

🗑️ this one i was so excited about. genuinely. krobus is such a sweetheart and severely underrated. HES SUCH A CUTE ROOMMATE AND JUST UGH THE CUTSCENES HE HAS ARE SO SWEET. this is sunoo

NI-KI as ABIGAIL

⚔️ at first i was gonna put riki as linus or someone stupid being how i made him chadder in the animal crossing list. i just think it’s funny to tease him. BUT when i really thought about it he’s a lot like abigail. IN THE GOOD WAYS. like abigail is adventurous and likes to do her own thing.

[sorisooyaa]

Body Swap - June 21st

Characters and Pairing: Thorin Oakenshield and Thranduil / Thorin x Wife!Reader

Movie: The Hobbit

Taglist: @fizzyxcustard​ @lathalea

AN: Ok, Thorin, Thrandy plz don’t come at me, this was just a joke!! Love you both!! 😂 @i-did-not-mean-to​ this is what I meant Angel! Also, I’m sorry no graphic for this, and I’m really busy for the next few days. Ok bye bye, Haldir is whining for my attention again! 😂 - Haldir: Shalini! Get off that thing and look at me chasing my tail or I will chew your slippers again!

“It suits you!” You winked mischievously at your husband. His eyes flashed at you, the icy colour sending chills down your spine.

“I feel very uncomfortable that the fact you like me in this wretched figure, dear wife,” Thorin grumbled. You had to admit, it was odd hearing your husband’s voice fall from the elven king’s lips.

“Who are you calling wretched figure, Oakenshield!” The shouting from the other side of the room made you almost throw your head back in laughter. It greatly amused you; the once tall regal elven king now standing in the body of a dwarf to assert dominance, “If anything you should be grateful, to be blessed for the chance to wear a body so gifted and crafted by the eyes of Eru Ilúvatar.”

“I feel disgusted to have the body of a traitor,” Your husband growled out as you rolled your eyes. You placed a hand gently on his shoulder- or well, Thranduil’s shoulder. As amusing as all this was, it was uncomfortable to suddenly address your king and husband within the body of King Thranduil. The touch of velvet silks underneath your fingertips was not welcoming, nor was it, loving as the leather your husband always wore.

You have heard the fairytales from your own world before, the enchantment of the glass slippers, the curse of a rose, the darkened taste of death from a red apple, to possess the body of an animal and many others, though this, here, was truly something you never thought you would have ever come across. But your husband was within a world where magic flowed with free will, and dangerous curses lurked on the horizon. To be honest, this really, shouldn’t surprise you too much, compared to the many other things you have seen and heard (thanks to that certain wizard with tall pointed grey hat).

“You both do realise this is your own fault?” You stressed out, now strengthening your voice to overthrow them both.

“Pray tell, strange little human, how so is this our fault?” The elven king mocked from within your husband’s body. ‘Strange little human,’ well it was a nickname that started from your initial meeting with his crazy, big, giant tallness!

It wasn’t your fault the humans from your world were in the height range of dwarves. The elven king couldn’t believe you were a human during that first meeting while on the quest to reclaim Erebor.

“Both of you, as per usual, argued non-stop!” Your eyes twitched ever so slightly with each word, every little fight between these two- you swear, sometimes you just wanted to suffocate the both of them.

“I sent you both for a bonding trip, and you come back with some odd curse?” You groaned out, wanting to facepalm yourself for ever thinking this was a good idea. Maybe you should have listened to Balin’s warning, then you wouldn’t have screeched at the sound of Thranduil’s voice from inside your bed chambers, the one you shared with Thorin.

You had however whipped yourself around to find the body of your husband, but he grunted his disapproval of anything and everything he found. You had to listen to a whole speech from Thranduil as you made your way over to Mirkwood about how offensive of a treatment this was.

At times you felt like pulling your own hair out in the middle of these two, but you accepted your fate.

“I don’t know why, I agreed to this stupid ordeal!” Thranduil’s grunted, his voice falling from Thorin’s lips.

“That’s because I promised to give back your precious necklace, you moron! Now, shut up, and think about what happened on your so-called walking trip!” You almost screamed at the elven king, now having enough of his attitude.

The glare you received was familiar, the features of Thorin’s beautiful face moulding together to wear the emotion, but the person was different. You saw it through the eyes... because even if your husband was ever mad at you, he would not let you receive the full heat of his anger, a simple gaze from you or the touch of your skin on his would be enough to melt it all away.

“I do not remember meeting anyone,” Thranduil hissed out, you knew his patience was running out faster than the current of the river just outside, “Except that odd-looking elderly lady on the road on whom that stupid dwarf made a rude remark about and it had angered her!”

You raised an eyebrow, that sounded more like a Thranduil thing, than a Thorin thing.

“You wretched fool! That was you!” Thorin barked at him. Sometimes you actually felt like you were stuck in a nursery, with two of the naughtiest kids known to mankind!

“Thorin, honey, just wait,” You tried to cool how the rising anger within your husband, “An odd-looking elderly lady?”

“Yes, why does it matter?” Honestly, at times like these, you understood why Thorin would often speak out wanting to meet his fist to the elven king’s jaw until it was out of place. But you rather whack him in the head with his own berry-filled crown, though you couldn’t, even though you desperately wanted to, because it was your husband’s body that would receive the damage.

“You idiotic king of these stupid trees!” You whined, running a hand over your face, “For all, we know, that elderly old lady whose appearance you mocked about could have been a wicked witch!”

When a look of realisation passed over the faces of both kings, you rolled your eyes and let out a laugh.

“Then... what do we do now?” Your husband spoke, with a frown Thranduil’s features. For a second, you thought, if Thranduil wasn’t an ellon but a human, like yourself from your world, he would have been probably been concerned over the wrinkles frowns and smiles caused. You covered your mouth trying to keep in a laugh as you imagined Thranduil as a version of Victoria Beckham.

“Amrâlimê?” Thorin questioned at your sudden giddiness.

“I will tell you later, husband,” You promised him with a wink.

“For now we must find a cure for... all this,” You gestured vaguely at them in whole.

“How do we break this curse?” Thranduil made himself known again, of course, he couldn’t stay quiet for too long.

“You both kiss!”

The snap of their alarmed shocked faces towards you made you throw your head back in laughter until you were holding onto your stomach in stitches and tears dwelled in your eyes.

“Y/N!” Thorin grunted at you.

“I’m kidding! I’m kidding!” You said, still laughing, “Let us find this elderly lady then. Unless... you two are actually willing to kiss!”

“Absolutely not!”

“I would rather die!”

You giggled as they answered you quickly with strong disapproval.

“Alright then, let us go find this witch. Maybe she’s the wicked witch of the west in middle earth?” You hummed, nostalgically, remembering the fairytale of Dorothy and her ruby red slippers.

You laughed at the confused expression on their faces, “I will tell you the story on the way!”

[the-owllady]

Red Velvet Hogwarts AU - The Heirs (01)

"That was a mistake... That was definitely a damn mistake, a damn unnecessary mistake... How could you have been so stupid, Kang Seulgi?" Seulgi snarled. Love is blinding, she was sure of that truth. "You should have stayed in London, your secret was safe in London at your former private school." Seulgi had also discovered that jealousy was an awful emotion that was difficult to control.

Her fingers combed through her long hair over and over again. Her hands tensed until her knuckles bulged and clenched into fists to hide her nervous shaking. Seulgi chewed her bottom lip as she listened to Dumbledore's deep voice on the other side of the heavy door to the Great Hall.

"You would have seen Joohyun by Christmas vacation this year at the latest... Why did you let her talk you into this? Maybe she would have been in a relationship by then and you wouldn't have stood a chance, but maybe she wouldn't have been in a relationship and you could have continued to adore her from afar..."

Joohyun's mother and Seulgi's mother were best friends, since Seulgi could remember, Joohyun and she accordingly had also been best friends. Ever since they were teenagers, Seulgi had been secretly in love with Joohyun...

Joohyun had been going to Hogwarts since she was eleven, while Seulgi had been very happy at an elite private school for witches and wizards in the very heart of London. It had been perfect, small classes with private teachers, no questions asked and Seulgi regularly saw Joohyun during the vacations.

Always, Joohyun begged Seulgi to change schools and accompany her to Hogwarts. But at the beginning of this summer vacation, she had also started to rave about a romance with one of her classmates.

Driven by jealousy and one nasty fight with her parents later, Seulgi had received confirmation from Professor Dumbledore that she would be allowed to transfer to Hogwarts. At first, this decision seemed brilliant to Seulgi. At Hogwarts, she would be able to spend much more time together with Joohyun, and Joohyun's crush would certainly have been a thing of the past very quickly in Seulgi's presence...

She partly blamed Dumbledore. He had been delighted to welcome Seulgi and her parents to his office before anyone else. Seulgi had suggested to him at a convenient opportunity that she could join the Gryffindor house. She would have preferred to take her things straight to Joohyun's dormitory, but Dumbledore had instead insisted that, in keeping with an old Hogwarts tradition, she would wear the Sorting Hat in front of the whole school at the assembly at the beginning of every new school year, which would then place her in an appropriate house. Every student at Hogwarts was part of this tradition and Seulgi could not disagree.

She remembered her father's words. "We can't help you anymore..."

Upon saying goodbye, Seulgi's mother had warned her daughter that some secrets were better left covered by the cloak of silence for all eternity.

With a metallic groan, the heavy doors opened to reveal the Great Hall. Eager eyes turned as Seulgi crossed the center aisle with quick steps to join Dumbledore on the podium.

Seulgi found Joohyun's face in the crowd of students at the Gryffindor table. She was sitting between her friends.

Joohyun gave Seulgi a cheerful smile, waving at her.

Seulgi tried to return the gesture with a wry attempt at a smile. Joohyun would soon have no more reason to smile...

Dumbledore retrieved the Sorting Hat from a wooden box.

Seulgi swallowed sorrowfully. The enchanted piece of fabric hovered over her head like a sinister demon.

The hat pursed its lips boredly, then yawned and awoke fully from its slumber. "I guess we have another houseless student..." he muttered unimpressed. "Doesn't she look a little old for a first year?" He laughed out loud and an amused giggle filled the Great Hall in his favor.

Professor Dumbledore smiled as well. "Seulgi transferred to Hogwarts. I'm sure the seventh years will be happy to welcome their new classmate with open arms."

Seulgi felt the Sorting Hat's skeptical gaze resting on her. He glanced at her scrutinizingly.

"Oho..." he murmured, slightly surprised. "Decades... It has been decades since I last felt the presence of one of the heirs to the Hogwarts Houses. It is an honor." He indicated a bow.

Seulgi felt every pair of eyes fixed on her. She herself had caught even the teachers' attention. Excited murmuring and whispering went through the rows.

Joohyun frowned with concern.

Seulgi closed her eyes.

The following words of the Sorting Hat echoed fatefully through the Great Hall. "Welcome home Heiress of Slytherin!"

[21st-century-flapper]

Totally unhinged wrestling theory: the purple bucket hat is a cursed object.

Hear me out. I think we can all agree that Jake Hager didn't have much of a personality or charisma before he got that hat. But the moment he put on the hat, that all changed. Now, he is obsessed with the hat. The hat is his entire personalily. He loves that hat. In fact, he loves it so much that he took a loss because of how much he is focused on that hat.

Now, if you look at folklore, fairy tales and fantasy stories, you have a number of stories in which a hat is imbued with some kind of mystical power. Magical hats are everywhere.

Hager doesn't wear the hat. The hat wears him. The hat controls his mind and body, which is why whenever he loses the hat, he loses his ability to wrestle.

Now here's the part where it gets insidious: originally, the hat was meant for Daniel Garcia. Jericho - who, as we all know, is a wizard - gave it to him as a gift, the plan being that once Garcia puts it on, he is under the control of the hat. Jericho, being the villain he is, was planning to keep Garcia in the JAS via the hat. "You leave, I take the hat away." Unfortunately, Garcia didn't put the hat on but rather threw it away. Hager picked it up and put it on. Jericho's plan has backfired spectacularly, because now his stupid henchman, who before listened only to him, is obsessed with the hat.

Never fuck around with cursed objects. You will find out, and you won't like it.

[stevespookington]

💬 talking about fic 📝 ori's wips tag 🎨art blog: @oriarts 🖋writing blog: @oriscribes

prev stevecarrington ITS SPOOKY TIME (also steve carrington and steve harrington)

latest update:

after all this time (i'm still into you) | 15k 3/6(?) | big bang fic!

Steve just wanted to keep working on his TV show, but due to some clauses buried in his contract he'd been coerced into a fake dating scheme. Which was especially stupid because Munson didn’t even like him. Steve should know, Munson had already rejected him years ago. Eddie just wanted to keep his head down until his contract ran out so he could get back to writing with Corroded Coffin instead of doing this idol shit. He wasn't counting on getting outed and having to do damage control... by pretending to date someone who he maybe sorta had (has?) a huge crush on. OR: Steve pretends that if he keeps calling Eddie by his last name then he won’t develop any feelings to go with that crush he'd been trying to forget about. Meanwhile, Eddie is trying to figure out what went wrong years ago and if this time could be different.

currently working on:

after all this time (i'm still into you) | 9.6k 2/6(?) | big bang fic!

Steve just wanted to keep working on his TV show, but due to some clauses buried in his contract he'd been coerced into a fake dating scheme. Which was especially stupid because Munson didn’t even like him. Steve should know, Munson had already rejected him years ago. Eddie just wanted to keep his head down until his contract ran out so he could get back to writing with Corroded Coffin instead of doing this idol shit. He wasn't counting on getting outed and having to do damage control... by pretending to date someone who he maybe sorta had (has?) a huge crush on. OR: Steve pretends that if he keeps calling Eddie by his last name then he won’t develop any feelings to go with that crush he'd been trying to forget about. Meanwhile, Eddie is trying to figure out what went wrong years ago and if this time could be different.

different places (different fate?) | 2.1k 1/? | aka role reversal au

part 1, part 2, #steddie role reversal au Dustin swung around, suddenly interested. He asked Eddie to tell him the message or something, his voice faded out of Eddie’s perception, he wasn’t listening. Instead he watched the TV screen with shock. His jaw dropped as he read the alert across the bottom of the screen “Body found, investigations ongoing.” The news crew was outside Harrington’s house. 

multi-chapter fics

a heart's a heavy burden | 8.9k 4/6 (will be back to this after hallmark au is done) #hmc!steddie

Steve Harrington was born an only child to boring parents who both were only children and whose parents were only children and so on. They were perfectly content with a boring life; they were well to do and kept a hat shop in the prosperous part of Hawkins. Steve decided early on that it might not be the most glamorous option, but that he would make it work. And so, Steve worked hard and he listened. By listening to the stories of the land, he soon realized how little chance he had of an interesting future. However, destiny is a funny thing, and in the land of fantasy, Steve soon finds himself on an adventure with his friend Dustin, a strange wizard named Eddie, a fire that loves waffles, and a magical castle after a curse lands Steve with knobby knees and more wrinkles than he can count. aka a howl’s moving castle au

it's christmas eve again | 38k. 13/13 | a hallmark au with a twist

Eddie didn’t know why he was sharing this, he usually never shared this much about himself. But something about how this man’s eyes twinkled seemed to almost compel him. “Holidays you know? And I’m looking forward to seeing my Uncle, but so much has changed… and I got a dumb blind date to go to before I head home.” The man raised fluffy white eyebrows in reply. “Maybe it will be a good one? You never know, a date on Christmas Eve? Could be magical.” A laugh slipped past Eddie’s lips. “Magical? With a guy named Steven? I don’t think so, sorry. I really doubt it, he evidently used to babysit my Uncle’s fiancee’s kid. I mean I like the kid alright. But his old babysitter? I don’t think so.” The plane jerked to a halt and people started moving towards their carry-on bags. “Well, never laugh at fate, my boy, it might just laugh back.” or: fate very much laughs at one Eddie Munson and he finds himself searching for some holiday magic. or: Santa was trying to set him up with Steve fucking Harrington.

no longer theoretical | 5.7k 2/2

“Totally and utterly.” Robin paused before her attention flitted across the store to a tape, probably something for them to watch on their morning shift. Steve swallowed, this was his chance. He had been working up to this for weeks, months even. But something the other day finally pushed his passive musing up to action. “Hey, Robin?” She paused on her journey across the store before turning back to look at Steve. “Yeah?” “What if…” Steve paused and closed his eyes. He swallowed and looked back up at Robin before quietly continuing. “What if I do know what I want?” aka: steve comes out to robin

oneshots

rushing home to you | 1.5k | There were many things Eddie could put up with while dealing with a huge crush on Steve. But Steve standing in their entryway slinging on a jacket over another one of his stupid polos and asking him if he wanted to go watch a romcom with him was not one of those things. 

java chip frappes are always the answer | 1.5k | Sleep deprived and on a desperate mission for caffeine, Eddie stumbles upon the perfect coffee shop. And maybe more?

words wrapped around my arm (shaped like a fucking worm?!) | 1.3k | Steve had unfortunately spent a lot of time thinking about worms. They were fine, good for the soil or whatever. He really didn’t care about worms, but evidently his soulmate fucking did. Would you still love me if I were a worm? It was fucking scrawled across his bicep, wrapping around his arm and holding on tight. Like who the fuck said that to someone they had only just met?!

comin' up for air, breathin' in | 7.4k | Eddie Munson loved music. He loved playing it, he loved listening to it, and he even loved writing about it. Which explained, of course, how he ended up on the fucking soccer beat of the Indianapolis newspaper. Not music, not theater or the arts, not even a sport he at least cared about like hockey. Nope, fucking soccer. Nothing ever happened in the soccer scene of Indianapolis. Well, nothing interesting used to happen. But that all changed when Nancy Wheeler inherited the Mastodons, named after the Indiana state fossil for some ungodly reason. When she inherited the Mastodons and hired Steve Harrington as the head coach.

i couldn't see (you were always right beside me) | 13.5k | Steve hated his neighbor. And then Dustin and the other kiddos left for college and Steve signed up for some online game called World of Warcraft. Which was how Steve met a Night Elf druid named Greyhawk.

lost in the middle of you | 4.3k | Eddie closed his eyes and leaned against the railing in front of him, sun warm on his face. A breeze was coming across the water, gulls crying overhead. A warmth bloomed across his back as Steve dropped across his shoulders, heavy and warm, the perfect combination. Eddie woke up alone. No Steve Harrington. He rolled over, not quite awake, and reached for the other side of the bed. Cold. Steve would have woken him up so that meant… oh.

the icarus to your certainty (oh, my sunlight) | 2.1k | eddie helps steve put together a dnd character sheet for an upcoming game and faces a crisis when steve breaks out his glasses

in our bedroom after the war | 2.4k | eddie is having nightmares and can’t sleep, steve offers to be his lookout.

hey, babe, your hair's alright (hey, babe, let's stay in tonight) | 3.9k | Eddie discovered one downside to graduating is that he doesn't have access to the school to play dnd in anymore. Steve, on the other hand, discovered that he has a huge weakness in the form of Eddie Munson's puppy dog eyes. Steve finally broke down and offered to let him run sessions out of his house and Eddie stuck around afterwards. Eddie paused midstep, “I mean, I was just going to go home and collapse on my couch? What were you up to for the rest of the day, Harrington?” “Probably just going to collapse on my couch actually.” Steve replied with a smile. “But it’s big enough for the both of us and I was going to maybe put a movie on if you are interested? Maybe order pizza later?”

5+1's (series on ao3)

hot patootie bless my soul | 2.7k | 5 times everyone thought steve was just really supportive +1 time they realize he is just a pining and idiotic bisexual

dnd is gay (but so am i so this tracks) | 4.5k | 5 times that eddie introduces harry stevon to the party as a dnd npc +1 time steve meets him (aka eddie accidentally makes a npc based off of one steve harrington)

i'll stop the world (and melt with you) | 2.5k | 5 times that steve falls asleep on eddie +1 time eddie takes a nap on steve

i'm your man (don't you know that?) | 3.7k | 5 times that steve and eddie go on a date +1 time that eddie realizes that they are dating

almost, nearly, finally | 2.5k | 5 times steve and eddie almost kiss +1 time they finally do

and the reason comes on the common tongue of your loving me | 4k | E | 5 times steve finds it incredibly hot that eddie knows what he's doing +1 time when they figure it out together

[dilatorywriting]

Hi!

Sorry English is not my native language, I will make mistakes.

First. I love your lyrics! they are amazing!! I am ready to kiss your amazing diligent hands (of course with your consent) Your texts make me smile stupidly and giggle softly like a schoolgirl who was invited by the most enviable person from the whole school to an event.

So, I'm here because of that post with Howl's Walking Castle.

Good, good. Vil is the Witch of the Wasteland.

Then……Rook Hunt……… Is this Howl? (Not Jack)

Blond? Yes Short hair with a square and straight bangs? Yes. A charming wizard? YEAS

Perhaps in the past, the paths of Vil and Rook diverged because of the views on the world and goals in life that have changed over time. But they warmly remembered their friendship and their small events.

Now I can't get rid of the story that the Rook is a Howl. He am very upset that Suleiman has taken away the magic Power from his dearest friend - Vil. With whom they once studied together with the aforementioned sorceress.

And now this crazy woman is hunting for all the sorcerers, wizards, magicians to sentence to eternal work for a stupid king and endless wars?

No.

He won't stand for it. But what can he do now that his magic power has become so unstable because of the curse?

He almost loses himself.

****

Rook - aka Howl. He was so fascinated by the ignorant owner of the hats turned into an old man. Come to his endlessly walking castle - to avoid the oath. With a strong request that they need a job. And the castle passed by their town very "in time", and they could well take up cleaning in the castle.

Speaking of cleaning….

Rook looks around with embarrassment at its castle overgrown with dust and cobwebs. With a bunch of different stuff and "loot" from his secret hunt. Oh, what a shame. He is so embarrassed that his house looks so inhospitable to others.

Since that day, Rook has noticed significant improvements in its castle. Cleanliness replaced all the garbage and dirt. The ashes no longer scatter all over the living room, unpleasantly tickling the nose. Everything is tidy, shining with gloss, as if delivered just from the store. Products no longer spoil due to the fact that they forgot to remove or cook. While the owner himself is running around outside the castle on his own business… The clothes smell pleasantly of powder and salty air from the shore of sapphire lake. Maybe a pinch of pollen from flower meadows. How much energy is contained in this "cursed old man"?! ****

Forgive me for my invention, but what if the Damned Hat Seller has a very strong magician friend from another country?

Wil is horrified looking at the letter with the coat of arms which he swore that he had seen only Suliman on very rare documents, one or two no more.

-Where… is it from…a letter?

-Oh, it's that statue guy! So, my letter with the address reached him!! - The cursed owner of hats looks with affection at a black raven with a green short ribbon on its paw holding a rather weighty letter.

Vil and Rook look at each other in complete confusion, uttering the unvoiced question "What's going on?!"

-Who?

-Ah… well…Tsunotaro? I was talking about him. This guy was cursed into a stone statue. The poor guy can only move by jumping…..He was very kind to me. When… well….I had to leave my city.

Briefly quieting down and feeling extremely awkward and painful memories of the past, they change the subject.

-He helped me get to the hills. He made me a cane out of a prickly blackberry bush. He said there might be some magicians here who could give me a job. Due to the fact that they are often on the road, there is no one to look after their homes. And I can be hired for a pretty good fee, or just as an assistant…When we helped with his curse, he said that he was now in my debt for the rest of his life….Oh, he writes that he is very glad to know that I am doing well! And yes……I….um….I'm sorry, I asked about your situation…he said that this could easily solve the problem. There's some magical gibberish, I don't really understand it…

-Wait a minute……….. are you saying that you lifted the curse from that stone demon?!

-First of all, he is not a demon. And secondly, he was very polite…Unlike one person who just cursed me at the first meeting. . Third, he seems to be a prince? Now he is putting things in order in his country while he was away a lot of work has accumulated.

Vil rolls his eyes. The old record again.

-I told you I can only cast curses, not remove them. Who even thinks of such a thing?!

-Oooooh, really?And look what this has led you to, "Mr. crunches back is even worse than mine" is only worth turning your head.

-Oh, are you!!YOU!!YOU!!

Vil tries to throw a pillow at the wit from his seat.But it was a futile attempt. The damned owner atelier of the hats suddenly starts laughing merrily. And their curse weakens for a moment. They are young again. Their previously wrinkled cheeks are now decorated with a healthy bright blush. Their hair is no longer gray, their laughter is not hoarse and raspy, but sonorous and pleasant. It only lasts for a moment, and then time devours their body again for the curse.

Schoenheit wants to go back to the past and knock himself out of the past so as not to curse this person…and enjoy this laughter and embarrassed giggling more.

Rook just smiles meekly - Ah, it seems that help will come to us from where we did not expect it at all. Isn't that wonderful~

****

Oh, yeah….

I think Epel is Markle. The guy who works instead of Rook while he wanders somewhere outside the castle. And sells potions and herbs for the townspeople in their shops. He gives the money to his family in one of the villages.

Epel at the sight of Vil - ARE YOU CRAZY, IT'S THE WITCH OF THE WASTELAND?!

Vil leaning on the hands of the Cursed MC to sit down on the sofa, because there was no trace of his previously imperious light, confident gait. - what a loud ill-mannered child..

-I know, but now this grandfather is not dangerous. Vill you put the kettle on, Epel? I'll cook dinner.

-Grandfather?!Excuse me???How dare you address me like that?!I am a great magician and wizard!!No one even dared to cast an unwanted glance at me for a split second!!

-Yeah-yeah, calm down…are you going to eat porridge?

-I hate you…

-Well, you don't have much choice. Or you stay here and you don't have enough problems. Or you get up on your own and leave here on your own two feet since you don't like it here. - The damned MC snorts, taking out an apron and groceries to cook dinner. Easily and confidently soaring in the kitchen to cook everything on time.

-Damn it…..I cursed you to be an elderly man, a crumbling, decrepit crone…and you have more energy than 10 young men and women combined…I don't understand where you got it from…

-Oh, look, he's already started grumbling like a grandfather~

-IT WAS WORTH TURNING YOU INTO A PUMPKIN AND PUREING YOU AND FEEDING YOU TO GEESE!!

Epel covering the ears - MC….why did you bring this angry, loud old man into our house?..

The damned Mc only giggles merrily, covering his smile with his palm, watching the exchange of these two. Suddenly a thought strikes them.

-Oh shit…..I should have asked the Hunter's permission…it's not my house…

I'm sorry it was too long.ahaha..

I can't believe I never considered using Rook as Howl. My guys have the same blonde bob and everything.

But yes! I'm glad I can drag more people into this Howl AU hell with me