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whenihaveyouromione · 3 years

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When I Have You - Chapter 10

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Chapter 10

Ron didn’t pry, but he was pleased to see that his words had made some kind of impact on Harry, because on moving day, Ginny appeared the happiest Ron had seen her in a very long time. It seemed Harry had taken his very vague and inexperienced advice and done something to assure Ginny that she was important to him.

Cheerfully, she offered her assistance in their move.

Ron didn’t have much to bring over. Just his clothes (which, once he had his own money, he was going to replace), and everything he’d had pinned to his wall. It almost felt a bit childish taking all the Chudley Cannons things he’d collected over the years, but he couldn’t allow his mother to toss them out either, which he knew would happen if he didn’t take them. Perhaps it was time he got a new bedspread, but he could at least store the other stuff away somewhere as keepsakes.

He’d just watched the last of his possessions fly into a large cardboard box when Ginny came into his room and sat down on his now bare bed. She looked around at the empty walls, where all of his posters had once been, and smiled. “Ah, so that is the colour of your walls?”

“Ha, ha.”

“Hermione will be disappointed,” Ginny continued. “She actually told me she thought your obsession with the Cannons was endearing; even when I told her you’d had it that way since you were five.”

“Really?” Ron asked, his mind suddenly picturing an even bigger room for more souvenirs. “She likes my room?”

“Yeah,” Ginny said, rolling her eyes. “She loves a lot about you, Chudley-Cannons-obsession included.” She looked at the box on the floor and smiled. “But I’d still think of a new way to decorate.”

“You’re being unnaturally nice,” Ron said, suddenly suspicious. “What do you want?”

“Nothing. I just assume I have you to thank for Harry’s sudden change in attitude.”

Ron flushed. “Er, he told you about that?”. He really didn’t want to engage with Ginny in a conversation about this. It was one thing giving Harry advice; it was a whole other thing to have to talk to his sister about her lovelife. Though, from what she had just told him, it seemed that Hermione and Ginny didn’t seem to have an issue discussing theirs.

“No, but it was such a sudden change, I assumed someone was in his ear, and you were the one I told about my frustrations, so I figured… well, thanks, Ron.”

“Anytime,” Ron mumbled, not meeting her eye. “Someone needed to say it. I don’t want him messing you around.”

“Funny, isn’t it?” Ginny continued, as if she was oblivious to his awkwardness. “You and I, being friends. I mean, you’re my brother and I love you, but it’s almost as if we’re friends now, too.”

“I guess,” Ron said, the thought only just occurring to him that he had, in fact, been spending a lot of time with his sister since the war. “It makes sense, I suppose. I’m friends with Harry, you’re friends with Hermione, I’m with Hermione, you’re… with Harry.” The last part came out in a squeak.

Ginny snorted. “It really makes you uncomfortable, doesn’t it? Me being with Harry?”

“Well, you are my sister,” Ron said, “and he’s my best mate, and… you’re my sister, and it just feels… weird. But I’m alright so long as I don’t hear about the intimate details —”

“Says you, who shares that with Harry!” Ginny scoffed.

“That’s different,” Ron said.

“How?”

“Hermione isn’t his little sister.”

Ginny laughed. “You being my brother doesn’t seem to stop her…”

“What?”

“Nothing.” Ginny stood up from the bed, grinning. Then, catching Ron completely off guard, she hugged him. Ron hugged her back, and he realised that he couldn’t remember the last time he’d even hugged his sister. They must have been really young…

“What was that for?” he asked when she pulled away.

“For standing up for me,” Ginny said. “Even when I don’t need it, even when I resent you for it, even when it’s to your best friend. Thank you.”

“Er, anytime.” Ron picked the box up from the floor, and Ginny followed him down the many flights of stairs until they reached the bottom. Harry was already waiting, with even less stuff than Ron had.

It was a stark reminder for Ron that while Harry may have been famous in the wizarding world, he had grown up with less than Ron had. It had taken Ron a very long time to work it out; that his best friend in the whole world had had a miserable life growing up thanks to his Muggle relatives, and most of the time, Harry had never sought the attention he got.

Ron got that now, and he no longer envied Harry. In fact, he felt sorry for him. Ron wanted nothing less than to ever be in Harry’s shoes.

Harry eyed the box Ron carried in his arms, then smiled. “Plan on decorating the house?” he asked.

“No,” Ron said. “I just don’t want Mum throwing them out. Although,” he looked to Ginny, “apparently Hermione finds it endearing, so you never know.”

Harry snorted and then nodded to the fireplace. “You ready?”

“Yep.”

It felt very odd to be leaving the Burrow, knowing that he’d never be back. Not to be living there, anyway. He’d probably still come over for dinner often, and to visit. This had been the only home he had known, and as small and as crowded as it was, it was still home, and, if he was being honest, always would be. No matter where he lived in the future, he’d always remember the Burrow.

Molly gave them each a hug, wiping her eyes and carrying on like it would be the last time she’d ever see them. She then placed a container of food on top of Ron’s box.

“That’s so you boys don’t go hungry tonight.” She sniffed, gave them both another hug, and finally stepped back to give them access to the fireplace.

“It’s alright, Mum,” Ron said, throwing some Floo powder into it. “We’ll come back to visit often. You’re all good.”

Ron let Harry go first, considering it was his house. Ginny said goodbye to him in a way that forced Ron to look away. She said something about seeing him tomorrow, letting him settle in. Then Harry was gone.

With one last goodbye (to his family and his home), Ron followed and was soon stepping into the much darker room of number twelve, Grimmauld Place.

He looked around, a strange feeling settling upon him, and it wasn’t because this was now his home; Grimmauld Place had always made him feel a little uncomfortable, even when it had been bustling with the Order.

“The Blacks were a miserable sort, weren’t they?” he said to Harry. “We definitely need to brighten this place up a bit if we’re going to be living here.”

Harry smiled and nodded. “Yeah, definitely can’t live here with house-elf heads all through the house. Hermione would have a fit. They’ll be the first to go. Maybe some new furniture, too. Something more…”

“Colourful?” Ron offered, looking down at his box of Chudley Cannons stuff again. “I mean —”

“We’ll go shopping tomorrow,” Harry promised. “For now, let’s just sort out what’s what.”

Ron followed Harry up the creaky staircase, stopping on the landing with the covered portrait of Walburga Black. “I really wish that could go,” he said. “Not sure I fancy coming down for breakfast every morning and having to see her.” He shuddered, still remembering the times she’d screeched for hours at a time when he, Harry and Hermione had stayed there for a brief time on their Horcrux hunt.

“We’ll work on that, too,” Harry said. “Maybe Auror training will teach us some new tricks that we can use.”

“If Moody couldn’t do it, do you think we can?” Ron asked.

Harry shrugged, continuing up the stairs until they reached some of the bedrooms.

“You can have that one,” Ron said, indicating the one Harry had lived in for a bit after the war. “If you want, I mean. I guess we have plenty to choose from.”

“Nah, this will do me,” Harry said. “Which one will you pick?”

Ron contemplated some of the wooden doors. One had belonged to Sirius’ parents, which he flat out refused to even consider. Another was the one he’d stayed in just the other year. “That one, I guess.”

Harry nodded.

Ron pushed open the door to the room slightly down the hall and opposite Harry’s room. It was just as he had left it before; cold, dark and rather gloomy. At least this time he had the means to change it.

He set the box down and turned to Harry. “Are we crazy for living here?” he asked. “It’s not the best place in the world…”

“It’s the only other home I know,” Harry said. “It’ll be alright for a while, won’t it?”

Ron nodded. “Yeah, I guess. It’s huge for the two of us, though.”

“Would have been even bigger with just me.” And Ron saw the grateful smile Harry gave him. It warmed Ron; he was welcome here.

“So,” Ron began, “what should we do on our first night here?”

…

The answer to that question was to have a quiet night in. That evening, around dinner time, Ron fetched the food his mother had given them, and they sat in the large kitchen at the end of the table to eat it. It wasn’t much, but it was more than what either of them could have cooked for themselves.

“So, maybe shopping for food is the first step tomorrow?” Ron asked as he sent his empty plate flying to the sink. “Where is Kreacher, anyway?”

“I… dismissed him,” Harry said. “When I first came back. He wasn’t too pleased about it, but he’s free now. Who knows where he’s gone, but I’m sure if we ever need him, he’ll be glad to come back to the house of his old master.”

“Right, so I guess we’ll be doing our own dishes then?” Ron said, and Harry smirked.

“Don’t let Hermione hear you saying that,” he said.

“Don’t plan on it,” Ron said, yawning. To his surprise, he realised that that was the first time since that morning that he’d thought about Hermione. In the hours leading up to dinner, he and Harry had attempted to brighten up the place, but to no avail. “I hope she’s alright,” he added after a moment.

“Percy said she was fine, didn’t he?” Harry asked. “That it was all going to plan?”

Ron nodded. “Yeah, but I’d love to hear from her personally, you know? I guess it takes a while for an owl to get here from Australia.”

“I guess…” Harry looked around the empty kitchen, frowning. “Hey, you don’t fancy a Butterbeer, do you?”

“Sure,” Ron said. “You got any?”

“No,” Harry said, “but I can get some. Why don’t we really celebrate our first night as housemates?”

“By getting drunk?” Ron asked.

“No, by, just… celebrating?”

Ron grinned. “Sounds like a plan, mate. Listen, you get them this time, and once we start getting paid for the training, I’ll do the next one.” Once again, he felt a thrill rush through him over the thought of making his own money. There were so many things he wanted to do with it that he doubted he’d be able to do it all on the first go.

“Agreed,” Harry said and he clambered from his seat. “Won’t be too long,” and he vanished down the hall, where Ron heard the whoosh of Harry disappearing via the fireplace.

The house immediately became quieter the moment Harry was gone. Ron got up from his own chair and wandered back down the hall and to the stairs. He contemplated writing to Hermione while Harry was out and letting her know that he wasn’t at the Burrow anymore. But then he decided against it. She had far more important things to worry about than him telling her that he’d moved house. He’d mention it in a reply whenever he received an update from her.

Instead, he moved into the living area, which — like the rest of the house — was dark and bland. Sirius had hated this place growing up and as an adult, and Ron had never been a fan of it. It held a lot of memories for him, good and bad, and he hoped that eventually he’d be able to erase the bad ones entirely.

He moved into the drawing room and sat down on the sofa, smiling slightly to himself. Here had been a good memory for him. It hadn’t been that long ago, though it felt like a lifetime. It was the first night here after escaping the wedding, and they’d all been terrified of being discovered after the attack in Muggle London.

Ron remembered how he’d insisted he sleep on the floor and let Hermione sleep on the cushions. It seemed silly now, considering all that had happened, but it had felt right at the time. He’d been so desperate to prove himself to her despite having just fled an attack on theirs — and everyone else’s — lives. In fact, it had seemed even more important in that moment to give her some sign about how he felt. How many more days would they have together?

And it had kind of worked, too, for not long after Harry had fallen asleep she’d shifted on the cushions, her head turning slightly to face him. She’d been so close in that moment, and even with his own fear for his family, his father’s Patronus the only word that they were safe, her presence soothed him.

“I’m scared,” she whispered.

Those two words put everything else aside then, and he reached for her hand and squeezed it.

“Me too,” was all he said.

He had expected her to let go after that, but she didn’t, and he had absolutely no intention of letting go if she didn’t want to. They’d fallen asleep like that, and it had been the calmest he had felt in a very long time.

In the present, he sat there for a long while, until Harry returned carrying some bottles of Butterbeer and one large bottle of Firewhisky. He held them up. “All ready to go!” he said.

The remainder of the evening was great, Ron thought. They chatted, mostly about Quidditch and what would happen once the new season started. Ron, as usual, had higher expectations for the Cannons than he should have, while Harry said if it was possible, he’d really like to attend a game or two. His only experience in watching the professionals was in the World Cup, which had been years ago now.

“I hear Oliver Wood is actually getting a chance to play this year,” Ron said. “So the Prophet says, anyway.”

They both smiled at that, and as amusing as it was, Harry and Ron agreed that they were genuinely pleased for the old Gryffindor captain.

“Though, I’ll be honest, it would be a sweet victory if the Cannons beat Puddlemere,” Ron said.

As the evening wore on, and the Butterbeer bottles slowly emptied, Ron found himself contemplating what life was going to be like in the coming months. The day after next he’d be all consumed with training, but what would happen after that? Once training was complete? Would he become a real Auror? Someone who could go on missions, catch Dark wizards?

And what of his life with Hermione? She wanted to finish school, and he had no doubt that once she got her one hundred NEWTs or whatever exceptional result she was capable of, she’d be highly sought after in whatever career she chose to pursue. But then what?

“You alright there?” Harry asked, snapping Ron from his thoughts.

“Hm?”

“You looked as if you were lost in thought,” Harry said. “And you had a stupid grin on your face.”

“Oh, right.” Ron felt his ears burning. “I was just thinking.” He wasn’t sure Harry would appreciate him talking about how he just simply could not imagine a future that didn’t involve Hermione in it anymore, so to change the topic, he said, “This’ll be great, won’t it?”

“What will?” Harry asked.

“The two of us living together?”

“Yeah,” Harry said with a small smile. “I think it’ll be fantastic.”

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priorireverte · 3 years

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Congratulations Ash!

Your application for Harry Potter has been accepted. I think we’re all really excited to have such a central, pivotal character in plan. Not just me in my entirely biased excitement for Lily to have her son around. Make sure to let us know if/when you settle on a faceclaim for him.

Please look to the checklist for the next steps and reach out if you have any questions!

OUT OF CHARACTER

NAME & PRONOUNS: Ash & She/her

TIMEZONE: est

ACTIVITY LEVEL: On average, I tend to get online every other day to get through my replies. Although weekends I’ll usually be on daily.

ANYTHING ELSE: Experience - I have been in the Harry Potter rp community for almost ten years now, and have been doing so on Tumblr for about six.

CHARACTER DETAILS:

NAME: Harry James Potter

BIRTHDATE: 31 July ,1980 Zodiac - Leo. Starting with the obvious, let’s put the Leo in Gryffindor, I see what you did there sorting hat. Harry spent his entire life from the young age of eleven, thrown into the spotlight. Others were interested in him for things outside of his control as long as he could remember, but he’s embraced that attention and put it to good use. He is very compassionate and caring, going out of his way to help others around him. His pride can get in the way at times, and tied with the ability to hold a grudge Harry has a sense of there’s my way and the wrong way. Respect from those he most admires is vital to him. He had spent days obsessing over why Dumbledore hadn’t shared their similarities with him, and has never felt a sense of pride as strong as when McGonagall stood up for him to Umbridge. Harry is a leader, the type of person everyone around him looks towards for the answers to their largest problems.

GENDER, PRONOUNS, and SEXUALITY: Gender and pronouns do not have much meaning to Harry, even though he had grown up with his entire identity being centered around his title as ‘Boy Who Lived’. He has never necessarily felt a connection to this title, but has not thought about it anyplace outside of logistically knowing when someone shouts for ‘the boy’ that can mean him. Harry’s Bisexuality however, is something he has been learning to embrace after years of confusion. His Uncle Vernon of course had a few select words for people who liked the same gender, but outside of pushing away the nerves in his stomach whenever he had to listen to his relatives derogatory language he had not realized that being attracted to multiple genders was an option. Harry has has dated during his teen years; He went on dates to the Yule Ball and Hogsmede, as well as his former relationship with Ginny, but he always felt slightly behind his peers in terms of sexuality and maturation. He assumes it was the fact that he spent so much time feeling unsafe and afraid that he didn’t have the time to explore those feelings, but there was also so many things he simply didn’t know that he is only just learning now in the start of his twenties. BLOOD STATUS: Halfblood. Harry’s status as a halfblood may have been the deciding factor in the course of his entire young life if Dumbeldore’s theories were to be correct, and they usually were. Harry and Tom Riddle shared this trait, both half-blooded wizards and in the end it seemed to have been a deciding factor in Riddle’s choice to mark Harry as the chosen one to become his own equal. However another similarity they share is how out of place they had felt in the muggle world and the strong sense of home the Hogwarts walls had provided both. Harry has no prejudice against those of muggle blood, one of his best friends is muggleborn thank you very much, but he has no connection to the muggles who raised him and were supposed to have been his family.

HOUSE ALUMNI: Gryffindor - While he strongly believes it was begging that landed him in red and gold, Harry is very much a Gryffindor. Being brave doesn’t mean never being scared, it’s what you do when faced with fear and Harry has stood up to nearly every terrifying challenge sent his way. He needed that house, as much as he also fit in. Harry grew up the one who was going to end a war, being surrounded by other brave, chivalrous people helped him greatly obtain his own confidence to do what he needed.

OCCUPATION: Harry Potter’s refusal to join the Auror Department sparked quite the buzz once he had finally made the announcement, and the decision had absolutely been one he had not taken lightly in the slightest, but at the end of the day Harry’s fear and distrust in the Ministry won out over his need to constantly swoop in and save the day. That doesn’t mean he hadn’t helped with the effort, he spent the first year out after the war off to help with trials and giving the right information to people who needed it, but after years of being branded a liar he simply couldn’t bring himself to work for the same Ministry who endangered lives by refusing to see what was right in front of them. Instead Harry went home, to the one place that he had always felt he belonged and once again did the impossible. Harry Potter has been the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts for two whole years.

FACECLAIM: tbd

CHARACTER BACKGROUND

POSTBELLUM

While he had not been given the instructions to die at the hands of Voldemort until he had been seventeen and only moments away from walking towards his own murder, after seven years of nothing but waiting for the next fight a part of Harry had assumed from a young age one of them was going to have to ultimately kill the other in the end. The lead up to a final showdown at the end of each school year had been convenient, and while he refused to accept the thought, likely planned out to go that way by a certain headmaster, but it couldn’t have continued on forever. So Harry had never allowed himself to think of a life after the fall of Voldemort, or of happiness and family and one day growing old. He was nothing more than a soldier, a child so deprived of affection he put everything he had into fighting back for the approval of his Professor and put little value on his life outside of being the Chosen One, so the first year following the war was especially hard. From the second he had entered the magical world he had been ‘The Boy Who Lived’. Since the age of eleven years old he had been expected to fight the dark wizards and save the day and he did not know how to be anything else. Harry couldn’t see his value outside of his willingness to jump to the occasion and solve problems. After the war his life’s purpose felt complete at only seventeen years old and it was extremely difficult to accept.

But then the Ministry expected him to be the poster boy for everything they had been doing towards the cleanup process- sending owls on a near daily basis asking Harry to sit on death eater trials or begging him to speak out in favor of the Ministry and their new laws. Just how much of himself Harry was willing to give had been one of the most difficult choices he ever had to make. Fighting injustice was all Harry knew. The Death Eaters had done horrendous things and even after the fall of Voldemort Harry felt a responsibility to ensure they were taken down, however Harry’s trust in the Ministry had been greatly punctured over the years he had been in the magical world, even before the Death Eaters had taken over. It was a delicate balance, and the power his word suddenly held brought a level of anxiety he was unfamiliar with, but he knew that there were too many people who would never see justice without his intervention.

His involvement in the war had only increased his fame and suddenty the Ministry of Magic and every paper in wizarding Britain were harassing him once again. Harry’s friends had been encouraging him to step back and take the time to recover; live a normal, quiet life, whatever that meant. He had never even gotten the time to properly grieve over Sirius’s death, let alone the countless other people he had lost since then who had died in his mind, because of him. He didn’t know how to step back and live a normal life, but he had craved it as long as he could remember so Harry put his everything into attempting. It took a year to realize that Harry that he would never feel that pain in his scar again, that even if he had never wanted it there to begin with an entire piece of someone’s soul he had been living with since he was a year old was gone forever and his only purpose in life had been completed before he ever had a chance to finish his NEWTs.

So He pulled back, isolated himself for a while in a way he wasn’t proud of, but didn’t know how to cope without. Going to anyone but Ron and Hermione with his problems had always seemed incomprehensible, and even then it was always easier to tell them about whatever crazy thing was happening to him at the time than discuss the feelings behind everything he had been through. He busied himself with mindless projects, spending all of his time hiding out from his friends by putting all his energy into restoring 12 Grimmauld Place. The house was now his and he didn’t want to leave the reminder of how horrible his godfather’s own childhood had been. It was the baby Teddy Lupin that was the only one who could get Harry’s undivided attention and compassion for a short while during the beginning of life after the war. He told himself it was so easy to share such raw emotion with the little boy because at first he couldn’t even understand what Harry had been saying, but Harry had felt a strong bond to the boy the second he learned of his godson’s birth. He hadn’t taken over raising Teddy, he was too young and unsure, Andromeda was the right choice as Teddy’s guardian, but Harry made a point to be a large part in his upbringing. He refused to allow him to grow up as lonely and afraid as he had been himself, and Harry felt a personal responsibility to make sure Remus and Tonk’s sacrifices of their lives weren’t for nothing and Teddy would grow up loved and in a world better than any of them grew up in.

Turning down a position in the Auror Program had surprised himself more than it had seemed to any of the people who knew him best, which had only confused him more. His dream job since he had been only fourteen had never truly been a dream, but a logical choice for someone whose entire life revolved around being manipulated into fighting. He had truly believed he would never get past his back and forth with Voldemort, and the auror office only fit the narrative. Even knowing these things didn’t make knowing he was going to be letting people down any easier and he nearly said yes solely out of fear of saying no.

His time back in the castle has been everything he never thought he would be allowed to have and Harry is taking full advantage of that fact. Teaching is something Harry had felt so strongly about in the short time he was doing so with the DA, and in the proper setting where he had the ability to ensure this next generation was not going to have to ever fear their time in the castle was the calling he never knew about.

—

All the lives lost during the war was something that sat in Harry’s thought even still, more than anything else. He never knew anything but loss, but the grief he felt the past few years was different. He hadn’t been grieving the loved ones he never had, instead the people he loved and cherished who were torn away from him too soon. Watching the Weasleys without Fred had to have been the hardest part of anything after the war’s end. He had envied Ron’s family for so long, now all he wanted was to take the hurt away from the people who he grew to call his family that were now going through this pain he knew too well.

As hopeful as the returned made Harry, it all scared him as well. He knew what happened when wixen played around with death, and even more so he knew just how dark the magic around it could be. But he also doesn’t want to feel the pain again of getting his hopes up to have family by his side to have it ripped away. He doesn’t trust it to last.

PERSONALITY

“There’s no need to call me Sir, Professor.”

Harry for some reason unknown to me, has started to be perceived to be this hypsteresque, bad-ass. A smoker, rogue auror who doesn’t play by the rules. Harry Potter is a sassy and sarcastic. But also a quidditch obsessed nerd who loves his friends with everything he has and stands up for what he believes in. He has that stereotypical Gryffindor temper, and does not always think about the consequences of his sharp tongue, but he has never been one to allow people to walk over him or anyone else. He was a victim of abuse and neglect and his words, that wit was the one thing he had to cope as a child treated like nothing more than an unwanted freak. But Harry is also the person who told Snape his nickname was Roonil Waslib. He’d spend hours on end talking to his bird and one of the first moments of the entire series he is empathizing with a snake who had been trapped and never knew their family. His friends are everything to him and Harry’s loyalty can be seen almost as a fault. There is no difference between his friends and family, and to betray or mistrust them is one of the worst things he can imagine of himself.

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF FAMILY

Harry’s memories of life before Privet Drive do not consist of anything more than flashes of colors and the occasional face. Perhaps a voice he wasn’t able to place. Family has always been Harry’s greatest desire, the things he wanted most in the world. The Durleys had been Harry’s closest living relatives, but made it clear they were not Harry’s family. His aunt and uncle made sure to remind him constantly that Harry was nothing more than an inconvenience in their home, and that he would never be as loved or cherished as their son. The idea of family was nothing more than that for a very long time; an idea and a dream. At thirteen the possibility of family had been dangled over his head in the form of a fugitive Godfather. Harry’s time with Sirius was too short, they should have had years together to make up for the twelve apart and it was after his death that Harry felt ready to give up on the idea of ever having a real family of his own. Of course that makes him feel selfish. Ron and Hermione every bit as much his family as any last name or title could make them. Harry could argue they were more family to him than Sirius and him ever had the chance to be. And the night Mrs. Weasley had called Harry ‘as good as’ another son still plays in his mind on a loop some nights when he’s looking for a reason it’s all worth it. Harry’s family isn’t blood, but he loves them all just the same. That doesn’t change the fact that he’s thought this return could mean him getting the only thing he’s ever truly wanted.

HISTORY

Harry really does wonder at times what it would be like to have an easy life. He had only been a baby when the weight of a war was thrown onto his tiny shoulders, marking him the one chosen to defeat the greatest dark wizard of their time. As a small child however, Harry would never have believed it. He had known nothing more than he was an orphan, living in cruel circumstances under the stairs in his aunt and uncle’s home and getting bullied by his cousin. It wasn’t until Harry’s eleventh birthday that his life truly began. When Hagrid had stormed down that hut to tell Harry about the truth of himself and his past, Harry felt a sense of self for the first time in his life. He had gone off to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry and made friendships for the first time in his life. Even before the rest of the world had been sucked into another war, Harry had been drawn in from a mixture of a hero complex and clues laid out only slightly too conveniently to test and discover the boy who lived that would one day become the chosen one. Harry fought back every year, somehow always granted a new challenge and more pain until his fourth year when it had become more than a challenge that any reasonable adult would consider too dangerous.

Cedric Diggory’s murder had sparked the beginning of the war, but the greater meaning to Harry lied in the young boy who lost his life solely because he had been in the wrost place at the wrong time. He had gotten between Harry and for that reason alone he was dead. It was something Harry never learned to forgive. And it sparked the belief that people around Harry somehow always ended up dying because of him.

Sirius’s death left Harry inconsolable. He never had the proper time to grieve, with a target on his back and the war picking up quickly, but losing the one family member he had left destroyed Harry in a completely different way. And again, Harry came to the conclusion if he had only checked in the mirror Sirius could have still been alive.

The hunt for horcruxes was something else entirely. He had no connection to anyone outside of Ron and Hermione and when Ron had left it broke Harry’s heart in an entirely different way. He kept waiting for the ball to drop and one of his best friends to get hurt because of him. He clung closer, forgave quicker, and fought harder trying to keep anyone else he loved from dying.

Remus and Tonks’ deaths held a significance just as strong but different for Harry. He was a Godfather and when Remus had named him so it had become the new most important thing about him. Being the Chosen One, or the Boy Who Lived didn’t matter when there was a little boy who depended on him to stay alive and watch out for him.

OOC EXPLORATION

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?

This group is every guilty pleasure I have ever had mixed in with a wonderful plot and beautiful writing. Even though recently role plays set in the trio’s era are few and far between, the ones I have been a part of always seem to either lack writers willing to write for Harry or his character is quickly taken by someone who does not know the story beyond either solely the movie franchise or random bits of knowledge. I’ve noticed a stigma in the Potter fandom, especially the role playing community, that the ‘true fans’ have to prefer secondary or background characters. While I also love building on characters we do not see as much of in the books, it has always saddened me that this character that I grew up with is seen as the easy write up. Because we as readers have so much on Harry I’ve actually found his character more difficult to write for, but equally enjoyable.

As per Harry as an actual character, he has been like a friend since I was seven years old.

#prioriacceptance #harry potter

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wollymalfoy · 4 years

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Hogwarts is my home... (pt 2)

(Pt1)

Description: Y/N snape and the twins prank the Slytherins.

Writers note: I’m sorry I had to make the reader a Slytherin for the story to flow :/ I hope you all enjoy this I had a lot of fun writing this and I’m so excited to write the rest!

‘Y/N, please be careful in hogsmead’ your father said as he stocked the supply cupboard, ‘and don’t be hanging with those Weasleys, they get you into trouble’ he furrowed his eyebrows. ‘You know that isn’t going to happen’ you said laughing but your father didn’t look amused. ‘Come on they aren’t that bad, if you just got to know them....’ you said trying to persuade him into liking your best friends, Fred and George Weasley but decided to stop. He seemed to be in a foul mood, worse than usual. He ignored you. You sighed and said your farewells and went off to find your friends.

You was now in your third year which meant you was able to go to hogsmead with all the students from 3rd year and up. You had of course been there before but never alone, you had always been with your father, Severus snape. He had seemed off since the papers came out saying Sirius Black had escaped, you understood he was probably on edge and thinking about your safety but it still annoyed the hell out of you. You ran outside and saw a group of students leaving the gates of the grounds. With your permission slip in hand you ran to Professor McGonagall and handed it to her. ‘Good morning professor’ you said. ‘Good morning, Y/N’ she looked down to you, you where very small for your age, ‘now, you be careful out there dear.’ ‘I will’ you smiled and turned to see your friends, Fred, George and lee. ‘Y/N! looking good!’ said Fred with his hands in his pockets. ‘Shut it’ you said giving him a light punch on the shoulder, ‘what’s the plan?’ ‘Well we was thinking, go to the three broomsticks for butter beer’ said Fred. ‘And then in there we’ll explain the plan’ George finished smirking. ‘It better be good even I don’t know’ Lee said walking backwards. As you walked down the path you saw a large pile of leaves, you had a suspicion that one of the boys would try and throw you into it, so you decided to make the first move. Although you was small you gave Fred a hard push and he fell onto his stomach into the pile of leaves. The leaves blew everywhere and one flew into Lee’s mouth as he began to laugh. He began to spit and cough to remove the leaf. All four of you began laughing so hard that tears began to form in your eyes. George and you couldn’t contain your laughter and collapsed to the floor. ‘It’s not even that funny’ you said through laughs. Fred has managed to get out of the pile of leaves and made his way over to the 3 of you. After you had all calmed down you walked down to the three broomsticks, George’s arm over your shoulder.

‘I’ll get the drinks’ lee said and you each passed him the money for your drinks. You found a table and was about to sit down when a platinum blonde haired boy caught your eye. ‘Give me a minute’ you said to the twins and made your way over to Draco. The twins shared a look of betrayal. ‘Hey’ he said putting his coat over the back of his chair, ‘hello, how’s your day?’ You asked him. ‘Better now’ he smirked and winked at you. You couldn’t help but blush at this. ‘Why don’t you sit with us’ he gestured his hand to Crabbe, Goyle, Zabini and Parkinson who looked very red in the face. ‘Thanks for offering but I’m here with the twins and Lee’ you said looking from pansy to draco. ‘Come on Y/N/N, come sit with some civilised people’ said Zabini looking as smug as ever. ‘Don’t be a prat’ you said giving him a sour look, ‘they’re my friends you arse’. ‘I guess I’ll see you in the common room’ Draco said placing a hand on your shoulder. You nodded and turned around, your stomach seemed to leap when Draco touched you but you ignored the feeling and shoved the feelings deep down. ‘Just ask her out mate’ you heard Lee say to George. ‘Ask who out?’ You said curious wiggling your eyebrows. Fred laughed. ‘We don’t talk about crushes in front of girls, they go blabbing’ George joked but his face was flushed redder than his hair. You stuck your tongue out at him. ‘Are you gonna tell us the plan or what then!’ Lee exclaimed after a while of silent drinking. ‘Okay, calm of Lee’ George said holding his hands up as If to surrender. ‘Y/N, you my dearest are the main character in this’ Fred said smirking. ‘So what is it!’ Lee said impatiently. ‘Lee will you be patient!’ George snapped. ‘So, Y/N here will give out these to the Slytherins as they leave the common room to go to dinner this evening’ he said holding up an orange sweet. ‘What is it exactly?’ You pondered. ‘This is a nosebleed nougat’ Fred said proudly. ‘Didn’t you say they wasn’t ready?’ The twins must of heard the uncertainty in their voice and told you that it wouldn’t matter because they’re ‘only slytherins.’ ‘Excuse me’ you said angrily, ‘I’m a Slytherin.’ ‘Ye well your different aren’t you’ George said but you remained sat there arms folded angrily.

The boys didn’t mention the plan for the rest of the day they knew pushing you would only make you not want to do it more. However on the walk back you agreed and the boys lifted you up into the air just as they would have done to Harry Potter if he had won the quidditch match.

That evening you did as the boys had instructed and stood by the archway of the common room door and handed out the orange sweets. You couldn’t help but feel guilty as each student took this unknown sweet. Blaise Zabini began coming up the marble steps and gave you a wink. ‘Would you like a sweet Blaise?’ You asked putting on your sweetest voice. He laughed, ‘I’ve learned not to trust you in the unknown things you give out. I still remember the box from first year’ you laughed but you had to admit he was being smart. The box Blaise was talking about was made by you in a way to impress the twins. It contained bats and spiders that would pounce out when opened. The twins thought it was ‘brilliant’ ‘I might have to steal this idea’ Fred had said after poor Zabini had been pranked. Blaise strutted off for dinner and after the common room was empty you followed in his suit. As you entered the great hall you searched for the red headed boys but the only red headed boy there was Ron. He smiled as he saw your standing in the entrance. ‘Boo!’ A voice called behind you, you jumped at the sound and span quickly. The two red headed boys stood laughing at you and you couldn’t help but smile at their handsome faces. ‘Did you do ittttt’ George said joyfully. ‘Of course’ you said ‘however no ones eaten them yet I thought I’d tell them to eat them just before dessert so that we’d have more victims, you know since they can’t warm each other’ you added. ‘You’re brilliant you are’ they said in unison. ‘Come on boys you’re blocking the way!’ Said professor sprout, ‘and girls’ she smiled as she noticed you when the boys had parted letting her through. You and the twins separated to each side of the room to your house tables. Draco was sat in deep conversation with Crabbe. Pansy staring contently at his face, you always though her crush for him was a little weird. Obsessive maybe. You sat down across from her and she turned her head to smile at you. ‘I can’t wait to try these sweets Y/N’ she said enthusiastically, ‘did you make them yourself?’ ‘I erm... yeah, yeah I did’ you managed to say. You knew that if you had told her the Weasleys had made it no one would eat it, rather in fear of being pranked or disgust that the sweet was made by a ‘blood traitor.’ The feast commenced, foods of all kinds appeared on the table. You took a helping of Y/F/F and began to eat. ‘So Y/N, I’m looking for a tutor, I was wondering since you know... you excel in everything’ he paused and searched your face for a sign of protest, ‘I thought you could be it?’ Pansy choked on her drink, the though of draco and you alone mustn’t have settled with her. ‘Sure, yeah no problem,’ you answered. ‘Great, I knew I could count on you’ he said with a wide smile, that rarely made an appearance on the handsome boys face.

After the main course, it was time for dessert a moment the twins and lee (he was told by the twins) were excitedly waiting for. You however where very anxious. As soon as the plates cleared from the main food to desserts of all kinds your heart began to beat fast and hard. ‘WAIT!’ Pantry cried you thought she had suspected something and your heart sank. ‘We need to eat the sweets remember’ she said, ‘lovely Y/N made these herself.’ The hall was quiet from Pansy’s screech and you could hear some sniggering from the other side of the room which you knew so well. You couldn’t help but smile at this. One by one the Slytherins ate the sweet and as quick as you could say quidditch blood flooded out of the unlucky slytherins noses. ‘I KNEW IT!’ Blaise shouted and laughed uncontrollably. Slytherins got up out of their seats clutching at their bloody noses. You stood up too unconsciously staring at the slytherins as they ran out of the hall with a mixture of amazement and fear on your face. You glanced over to the three boys who where laughing and smacking the table in amusement. ‘Y/N SNAPE!’ Your father said in a stern, authoritative voice. ‘Well shit’ you muttered to yourself.

Thanks for reading :)

If you’d like to be tagged in the next parts let me know :)

#draco malfoy #blaise zabini #fred weasley #george weasley #lee jordan #harry potter #severus snape #severus snape x reader #draco malfoy x reader #blaise zabini x reader #fred weasley x reader #george weasley x reader #ron weasley #pansy parkinson

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somenewsarah · 5 years

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Not Funny

Requested: Yes: “hey could you write a draco imagine where the reader and draco get into a fight and she’s giving him the silent treatment and is purposely avoiding him in classes and everything, fluffy ending please!! :) love your writing!!”

Pairing: Draco x Gryffindor!Reader

Warnings: None

Genre: Fluff with some fighting

Word Count: 1.9k

Sirius Black looms in the air like a dungbomb. Hogwarts hadn’t been the same all term long, not with the dementors lurking around all your hideout spots on the edge of the grounds. It had especially put a damper on your relationship with your Slytherin boyfriend, Draco Malfoy. You two were like magnets from the moment you first meant. He was drawn to you, and you to him, like none other.

Although, his obsession with his nemesis, Harry Potter, was getting out of control. You never really liked it when he would pick on him, and his growing obsession was getting incredibly annoying. You would never say anything about it, though. Well, you never thought you would.

Quidditch is the only light that seems to be glowing now. You shuffle towards the pitch with your fellow Gryffindors, today being such a big game for the House Cup. It was Gryffindor against Hufflepuff, and the infamous Harry Potter was going up against Cedric Diggory. If Gryffindor wins, they only need to beat Slytherin to win the cup.

“I’m sure Harry is nervous,” Hermione says, clutching at her rucksack.

“Blimey, I can’t imagine having someone out to kill me, but still trying to play Quidditch,” Ron murmurs. “Bloody brilliant.”

“He’ll be fine,” you say absently. You peer around the other Gryffindors at the sea of green that travels in front of you, but you don’t see your blond-headed boy. “Have either of you seen Draco?”

“No,” Hermione huffs. She was the only one that ever stuck up for your relationship with the Malfoy boy, but she made it very clear that she didn’t really approve of it.

“Probably off trying to get Sirius Black into the castle,” Ron hisses.

“Bugger off,” you snap. “Draco would never. At least give him some more credit than that.”

“He’s mental!” Ron exclaims. “I’ve never seen someone hate Harry as much as Malfoy does.”

“Well, Harry hates him just as much, and I find that it’s not really any of our business,” Hermione says, crossing her arms.

Together, you climb up the tower and find your seats in the middle of the bleachers. It doesn’t take long for everyone to get settled, and soon, Madam Hooch is blowing her whistle and the game begins.

The day is gloomy as 14 brooms rise into the air. Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor captain, looks menacing as he takes his place in front of the three goal posts, back arched and at the ready to block any quaffles.

Harry and Cedric have a brief showdown, but it’s soon interrupted by the scene below.

“Katie Bell for Gryffindor has the quaffle and is in control from the very beginning of the game! Amazing that girl is. Should really consider- Sorry professor- GRYFFINDOR SCORES, 10-0!” Lee Jordan, a fellow Gryffindor, announces.

You crane your head, your eyes trying to focus on nothing but the game, but your attention continuously averts to the Slytherin students, looking for Draco, or even Crabbe and Goyle. But they’re nowhere to be found. Only Pansy Parkinson glaring at you across the pitch.

“Harry Potter has seen the snitch! Wow, what a brilliant flier that one is! If he caught it, Griffyndor would win 40-10! A new record for them,” Lee shouts into the mic.

You watch on, and indeed, Harry was soaring above the game. He looks down at the ground, following the snitch, and you follow, trying to see it for yourself. But instead, you see something much scarier. Dementors. Harry seems to have noticed them, too. He shoots a spell, and a wispy stag leaves his wand. But what it met wasn’t dementors at all. No, McGonagall’s face pales in sheer fury as she pulls off the hoods of Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle.

“Please don’t be mad, it was just a dumb joke,” Draco says, pleading with you for what felt like the millionth time.

“It wasn’t funny,” you say, trying your hardest to remain calm. You tuck your feet under your legs, sitting in one of the oversized chairs in the library, your head stuffed in your Herbology book. “Just leave me alone, Draco. I’ve had enough.”

“Y/N, please,” he says, his voice dropping to almost a whisper.

“Go,” you demand. Your eyes finally meeting his own. He straightens up, runs a hand over his slicked-back hair, and nods once, finally leaving you alone.

His silence didn’t last long at all, though. Oh no, it didn’t even take a full twenty-four hours. The very next morning in your Potions class, Draco takes his seat at the table next to you.

“Good morning, love,” he says cheerfully. “Over our spat yet?”

Scoffing, you get up quickly and move to sit at the table with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, abandoning Draco altogether. This went on for the entire day, but by the seventh and final hour, you didn’t even sit at your usual table, insisting that it’s just easier to sit with your actual friends.

“Thanks for sticking up for me,” Harry says to you at the end of the lesson. “I think it’s really great of you. I know it isn’t ideal, especially that your boyfriend hates your best friend.”

“Yeah, well,” you start, shoving books in your rucksack. “You hate him just as much. You’re not as awful to him as he is to you, I’ll give you that, but you still assume some awfully untrue things about him.”

And with that, you sling your bag over your shoulder and march out of the classroom, heading to your dorm.

It’d been a long week, and you still didn’t know where you stood with Draco. Sometimes you felt like you might be ready to forgive him, others it felt like he never really changed.

Today is your first trip to Hogsmeade since coming back from Christmas a few weeks ago, and you were more than excited to visit Honeydukes and the Three Broomsticks. You weren’t particularly excited to visit alone, but Fred and George were going, so maybe it wouldn’t be so awful after all.

You walk in the snow, kicking the ground a little with the tips of your boots, when Draco catches up to you.

“Can we talk?” He asks, his eyes full of hope. “I miss you.”

You keep your eyes on the ground, ignoring him completely. You just weren’t in a place where you were ready or willing to talk without it all blowing up in your face, so you keep quiet, trying your hardest not to look over at him. You always give in to those grey eyes.

He sighs, but doesn’t push his luck. He pushes forward, stuffing his hands in his coat pockets and walking farther out of your sight, catching up to Crabbe and Goyle.

“Are you alright?” Hermione asks, moving to walk next to you.

“Yeah, this is just really annoying. Why can’t they just get along?” You ask, running a frustrated hand through your hair.

“I don’t know,” Hermione says, shaking her head. Ron moves to walk with the two of you, but smartly keeps his mouth shut about the situation.

Hogsmeade managed to cheer you up loads. Your pockets were more than emptied, but you were fulfilled with your purchases. Chocolate frogs, bottles of butterbeer, and Zonko’s trick wands lined the insides of your bags, and you thought you might find yourself in a sugar coma if you ate anymore.

Walking towards the common room, you notice something unusual and red on the floor. Upon further inspection, you find small rose petals between your fingers. You follow them up Gryffindor Tower and all the way to the Fat Lady.

“The new password for you, my dear, is the place where you had your first kiss with Mr. Malfoy,” she says, her cheeks rosy, and a small giggle escaping her lips.

“Oh,” you sigh. “Can’t you just let me in with the usual password?”

“It’s romantic,” she snaps. “Now, the location?”

“The Astronomy Tower,” you say, trying to suppress your own smile. You feel your cheeks heat up as the portrait swings open. There is no chatter from the common room like there usually is, but instead soft music.

You walk inside, following the rose petals on the floor. Inside, each wall of the common room is covered in your favorite flowers. One side is roses, one is daisies, then tulips, and finally, orchids. Draco stands in the middle of the room, holding a bouquet of sunflowers and baby’s breath.

“Draco,” you sigh, moving to stand in front of him.

“I need to say something,” he starts. You move to speak, but he shushes you. “Please, let me say it before I chicken out.”

“Go on,” you say, covering your mouth with your hand to hide your own grin forming. His cheeks are pink, and his eyes dart nervously.

“I picked out these flowers because not only are they your favorite flowers, but because each of them remind me of you. Roses, because your cheeks always turn this perfect shade of red when I kiss you, or tell you how much I adore you. Daisies, because I’ll always remember our time together this past summer and how you’d wear daisies in your hair, and how beautiful they looked. Tulips, because that perfume you wear drives me crazy and they smell the same. And orchids, because they remind me how, even though you’re so strong and sturdy, you’re still delicate and beautiful and the things that I do can really effect you. And for not realizing that, and for being a jerk to one of your closest mates, I’m sorry,” he says, finally looking up at you.

You uncross your arms, taking a step towards him. “And the sunflowers?”

“Sunflowers are your favorite flower. I know that. And because you are my sun, Y/N. No matter where you go, I want to be looking at you. You’re the sun, in this situation, and I’m only a flower, following you wherever you go,” he says confidently. He reaches up, caressing your cheek with the back of his hand.

You smile, wrapping him in a hug around his neck.

“This is so beautiful, Draco,” you say, hiding your forehead in his neck. “Thank you so much.”

“Does that mean I’m forgiven?” He asks, fingering your hair softly.

“Yes, I think it does,” you smile up at him. He leans down, kissing you gently.

“Why baby’s breath in the sunflowers?” You ask, finally looking down at the bouquet.

“Oh, is that what they’re called?” He asks, looking quizzically down at the flowers in his own hand. “I just thought the green stuff went well with the yellow. Had a lot of help from my mother.”

“I believe it,” you giggle. “Seriously, thank you for taking me seriously.”

“Always, my love,” he kisses your forehead. “From now on, I’ll try to be more pleasant to Potter. No more stupid jokes.”

“Alright,” you nod. You move from his arms, sitting on the couch in front of the fire, breathing in the aroma of all the flowers. “Stay a while?”

He sits next to you, pulling you into his arms once again. The two of you spend much of the night together, unbothered in the Common Room, laughing and talking, and filling each other in on the mundane events that happened while you weren’t speaking. Draco fulfilled his promise for the rest of the year, and kept his comments to Harry light, and for that, you would always be grateful.

#Draco Malfoy #draco malfoy angst #draco malfoy smut #draco malfoy imagine #draco malfoy fluff #draco malfoy x reader #harry x draco #draco malfoy smut #drabble #Harry Potter #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter imagine #hogwarts #fighting #oc x canon #draco x y/n #draco x oc #reblog

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hpdaddyfest · 5 years

Text

Anon Masterlist - 2019

That’s a wrap! Thank you to all of our authors for such a wonderfully varied fest. If you haven’t managed to keep up with the fics as they were posted, here’s a handy anonymous masterlist for you ahead of author reveals on Friday 18th October.

Discipline Is The Key to Success - Neville/Harry/Draco, 7.4k, E Summary: “So tell me, pet,” Neville started, leaning in to whisper against Harry’s lips, his nose nudging Harry’s, “how’d you like Draco pounding into you while I fuck your face?” OR The time Harry Potter obsessed over Malfoy all over again, Neville noticed it and they found a way to stop Harry and Malfoy’s animosities.

Storyteller - Severus/Hermione, 2.6k, E Summary: Hermione asks Severus to tell her a story.

Sunshine and Rainbows - Parvati/Lavender, 1.3k, G Summary: This isn’t the life Parvati expected with Lavender, but she couldn’t be happier.

Yes, Daddy - Ginny/Harry, 1.3k, E Summary: Ginny is comfortable as a woman. She’s also comfortable wearing clothes that some people might say are for men. She also really likes when her boyfriend calls her daddy.

The Stakeout - Harry/Draco, 10.6k, E Summary: The Head of the Auror Department is a slave driver; Harry and Draco are both sure about that. Instead of a fun End of the Week Game Night with friends, Robards sends two of his best Aurors on a boring stakeout. It does not take long before Harry and Draco find alternative methods to keep boredom at bay.

Classroom Encounters - Remus/Sirius, 1.1k, E Summary: Remus is having a hard time controlling himself, between teenage hormones and the moon approaching, he and Sirius need to find time to release this energy before Remus explodes of sexual tension.

Darling - Neville/Minerva, 1.1k, E Summary: After a day of hard work, Minerva just wants to escape into her chambers, and into the arms of the man she loves; her daddy.

A Boost Over Heaven’s Gates - Remus/Sirius/James, 18k, E Summary: Sirius is with James. Remus knows this. He’s known for years. Known since school perhaps, it’s sort of nebulous in his mind, like the concept of the two of them as separate beings isn’t worth lingering on. Neither of them are subtle in any way, both wear their hearts on their sleeves. Remus isn’t subtle either, maybe it comes from growing up in such close quarters with them both, but they think they are smart sneaking off to see each other like Remus and Lily don’t realise.

The Maintenance and Keeping of a Little One - Neville/ Luna, 3k, E Summary: The rules have been disregarded and Neville is forced to do what good Daddy’s do when their Little One’s start misbehaving.

Calming Down - Blaise/Theo, 3.5k, M Summary: Sometimes, Theo can let his stress get the better of him. Thankfully, Blaise knows exactly how to bring him down.

As you can see, this has been quite a small fest. We’re up for running it again if people are interested in that, whether as a participant or follower, so if you’ve enjoyed the fest please let us know! We’ll be checking all our posts across all four platforms so be sure to interact (likes, reblogs, tags, replies, kudos, comments, reccs).

#hp daddy fest #hp daddy fest 2019 #hp fest #daddy fic #hp fanfic #anon masterlist

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kittenshift-17 · 5 years

Note

What are your favorite dramione fanfictions??

Ok, so I’ve been sitting on this Ask for over a month trying to think of favorites because I honestly haven’t read a dramione fanfic that wasn’t written by me or one of my besties in a really long time. But I’ve put together a list of those I have read, and those I liked enough to add to my “Favorites” list on FFN. I’ve included a bunch of my own stories, too, since I honestly do enjoy reading my own work and hope others will too. *shrugs*

Presque Toujours Pur by ShayaLonnie Bellatrix's torture of Hermione uncovers a long-kept secret. The young witch learns her true origins in a story that shows the beginning and end of the Wizarding wars as Hermione learns about her biological father and the blood magic he dabbled in that will control her future.

Howl For Me by Kittenshift17: The Ministry enacts a Marriage Law, magically pairing couples who'd never in a million years agree to even speak, let alone wed. Paired off with Malfoy, Hermione has to suffer the added indignity of the Ministry banning all contraception and forcing fertility treatment and aphrodisiacs on them all. Draco's secret makes it worse.

The Alkahest by Shadukiam The Marriage Law, once enacted, has the power to destroy Hermione's perfectly normal life. Luckily, she and Ron are already planning to obey the horrific law together as a team... Until a Malfoy-shaped wrench gets thrown into the works. Dramione. Cover by littleneko1923 (thank you!).

Lady of the Lake by Colubrina Hermione and Draco team up after the war to overthrow the Order and take over wizarding Britain. "I don't even especially mind belonging to you most of the time," he closes his eyes and just breathes for a bit, savoring not being in pain. Finally he adds, "Just… try to take better care of your toys." Dark Dramione. COMPLETE

Last Year by Canimal There's nowhere to hide when a victorious Voldemort sends his best tracker to find Hermione. Draco won't give up until he finds her again. A story of the unraveling of the lies we tell ourselves. (Dark!Hermione)

Give Unto Me by Kittenshift17: The Ministry is offering rewards for having children. They've got a list of unconventional pairings and their willing to give certain people the thing they want most. When Ron overreacts to the idea of Hermione being paired with Mafloy and does something stupid, Hermione's life is set on a new path. One that involves having a baby with Draco Malfoy.

Eros & Psyche by RZZMG Draco challenges Harry and friends to play EROS & PSYCHE, a scandalous card game with a dark, mysterious history. It's Slyth vs. Gryff, male vs. female, pride vs. desire in the ultimate game of hearts and amour! Pairings: Draco/Hermione, Blaise/Ginny, Ron/Pansy, Seamus/Lavender, Theo/Daphne, Harry/Tracey. AU 7th yr. Secrets, romance, angst, and sex await the turning of the first card...

Summer of the Dragon by Lena Phoria 3 years after the war Hermione takes a break from Ron and accepts a summer job collecting supplies for Ollivander's wands. What she doesn't expect is having to work with Draco Malfoy, who's more haunted by his past than she ever would have believed. Together they will travel the world, fight dragons, conquer demons and maybe find exactly what they're looking for. COMPLETE.

The Silver Dragon by Kittenshift17: "This can never happen again," he warned quietly, waving a hand between the two of them indicatively. Hermione nodded emphatically in agreement, not daring to say a word lest she be terribly rude. Or vomit. Either was an option. Hermione wondered why she had a terrible sinking feeling inside to think that it still might.

The Green Girl by Colubrina Hermione is sorted into Slytherin; how will things play out differently when the brains of the Golden Trio has different friends? AU. Darkish Dramione. COMPLETE.

Stripped Bare by Kittenshift17: *COMPLETE* Dragged to Malfoy Manor, Hermione is tortured for information on Harry's whereabouts. When the Cruciatus curse proves useless, Bellatrix settles on a heinous course of action to loosen her tongue. Forced to come together under threat of death, Draco and Hermione are about to learn there is more to their relationship than hatred.

Ninety-Five Percent by HufflepuffMommy A new Wizarding Marriage Law has come into effect and Hermione takes her chance with the Ministry and lets them decide who would be the best match for her. Who would ever believe that Draco Malfoy would be her best match with a 95% Compatibility? (Hermione/Draco). Rated M for language and mature themes later on. COMPLETE!

Sang et Lumière by Freya Ishtar *8th Year* Late one night, Hermione hears a sound that chills her bones—a howling from the Forbidden Forest, yet all werewolves fled at the end of the War. When she finds Draco stumbling back into the castle the next morning, she becomes his confidante . . . and something more.

Tip of My Tongue by Kittenshift17 When Draco's wife is caught cheating and pregnant to another man, Draco must fight for custody of his son, Scorpius. Hermione, determined to ensure her son, Aurelian, grows up knowing his brother without Draco finding out, somehow winds up tangled into the middle of Draco's impending divorce. Can she help it if she also keeps finding herself tangled in his embrace, and liking it?

His and Her Bruises by lezonne "I congratulate your ability to leave a mark on me, Granger. Although I must make a point of it that my bruises on you are far larger than yours on me. When competing, you should always aim to win, yes?" Fractured timeline from fourth year up; will eventually look into their lives after school. Violent references. Sequel "His and Her Scars" is now up!

The Wayward Familiar (complete) by Freya Ishtar Returning for 8th year, Hermione unexpectedly winds up with a 2nd familiar when the one she buys for Ron as a gift—a ferret she jokingly names Draco—refuses to go to him. When she realizes the creature isn't what it seems, she goes further than she ever thought she would to get the real Draco back.

Addicted to You by Kittenshift17: An act of kismet whilst herb gathering sees Hermione interacting with an unknown werewolf. When he bites her while she is in her animagus form, he sets into motion a twisted destiny that binds them together as mates. With Remus and Sirius there to help her through, Hermione's biggest worry is finding out the identity of the werewolf who marked her.

Star-Crossed by HeartOfAspen Three years post-DH (EWE/Dramione). A prophecy handed down the Malfoy line for generations revolves around Draco, throwing a wrench into the life he's trying to rebuild. Even more perplexing, it somehow also seems to involve one Hermione Granger? Angst and murder, fluff and stuff.

Amuse Me by sloanwolves DMHG head boy and girl share a dorm. Draco walks in on Hermione doing something naughty then blackmails her. And Draco has been secretly been pining after the head girl all year! - Rated M for explicit sex scenes, language and lots of casual drug use.

Little Do You Know by Kittenshift17: Post-war, eighth-year marriage law fic. In a world where pureblood pomp collides with muggleborn sass not everything is as it seems. As the pairings unfold in the most peculiar matches, the current and former students of Hogwarts have a learning curve ahead of them. Little do they know that those people they called enemies might turn out to be their perfect match.

A Dangerous Affair by krissh Hermione was terrified. The rage in Draco's eyes was unmistakable; He looked like he was ready to kill someone. When she did not answer, he slammed her arms above her head, pinning her to the wall. "How dare you mock me like that," he snarled in her face. "You filthy mudblood."

Curls and Bruises by s l y t h e r i n d o l l "When I'm done with you, I won't need your permission. You'll simply be begging for it."

Better Dig Two by Kittenshift17: Hermione never expected she'd fall pregnant with a lovechild fathered by a mystery man to get back at Ron for cheating. Her drunken revenge leads to the birth of her son. 5 years later she is confronted by Draco Malfoy with a photo she thinks is of her son. Things get complicated when he tells her it's not.

The Risk-Reward Ratio by MissiAmphetamine Set during TDH; a maimed, disillusioned Draco surrenders himself to the Order after he earns Voldemort's displeasure. Hermione's pity for him blooms into something more and he stops seeing her as just a mudblood, as they both discover there's far more to each other than they ever thought possible.

A Regular Life by acro acro Draco's mouth popped open. He'd seen hair like that before in his other life, all curling golden-brown madness, rippling and crackling with an intensity that matched the gold fire in its owner's eyes. Her eyes. Her…Mione. Draco stumbled forward on disbelieving feet. "Granger?"

Lost Images by EvilGu MARRIAGE LAW Hermione must marry Draco Malfoy- the only wizard that (begrudgingly) petitioned for her who is not actively trying to kill her. If only there was some loop-hole... Can the unlikely pair survive marriage, in-laws, ghosts, murderous enemies, and their own traitorous feelings?

Unrequited Snowfall by Kittenshift17: Draco Malfoy has a secret. An Infatuation. An Obsession. '"I have to admit Granger, I was less than pleased with some of the things you drew in this book of yours" he said, pulling his hand away before he could do something crazy like sliding it into her hair and tugging her close so he could snog those pouting lips of hers.' Sequel: UNREQUITED SNOWSTORM.

Unrequited Snowstorm by Kittenshift17: SEQUEL TO UNREQUITED SNOWFALL. The trial of Draco Malfoy was the most controversial of the year. Most felt that he ought to be thrown into Azkaban for his crimes, the other half passionately believed it was wrong to lock up an eighteen year old boy for choices he'd been forced to make under duress. Hermione Granger never expected the trial to take a turn like this. DMHG.

Isolation by Bex-chan He can't leave the room. Her room. And it's all the Order's fault. Confined to a small space with only the Mudblood for company, something's going to give. Maybe his sanity. Maybe not. "There," she spat. "Now your Blood's filthy too!" DM/HG. PostHBP.

Draconian Heart by camnz Hermione had known the bitter end was coming, but it still took her by surprise as their cottage was crumbling from the force of the Deatheaters' assault. There really wasn't any hope left, but she would fight none the less. The dark side had won and there was no place left in the world for the remnants of her side, so this is how it ends. Very DARK - contains non consentual.

Wrapped In Red by Kittenshift17: *COMPLETE* During a school wide Secret Santa, Hermione has the bad luck of picking Draco Malfoy, suspected Death Eater. When she tries to sneakily learn his secrets in order to get his gift, and Malfoy winds up trapped under some mistletoe, things get out of hand. Who said snogging a Death Eater wouldn't land her in a strangely addictive mess? A Christmassy Dramione tale.

The Switch by BackInBlack99 When Hermione and Draco wake up in each other's bodies, chaos ensues. Will they set out to make or break the other's reputation? And can they find something more along the way? Pride, pranks, and forbidden temptation...

The Boy in the Hammock by galfoy Hermione tugged at the string holding the hood onto the boy's head, gingerly pulling the fabric back to reveal his face. Lying before her, barely recognizable beyond the swelling and the blood, but still very much himself, was Draco Malfoy.

Seeds of Seduction by AnjaliMalfoy There is only one rule in the game of seduction...Never fall in love. Draco Malfoy is a prized Death Eater. Hermione Granger, a member of the Order of the Pheonix is sent to seduce him for information.

Fallen by cyropi What can you do when hatred is tearing your world apart? Can you survive when love is all you have left? And how can you win when you’re fighting your own reflection? DMHG, HPGW.

Mistletoe Masquerade by Kittenshift17: *COMPLETE* Hermione Granger receives a strange and beautiful gift anonymously, and is swept off her feet at the Ministry's staff Masquerade Christmas Ball. Caught beneath the mistletoe, Hermione finds herself snogging an incredibly intoxicating young man, only to be shocked when she learns with whom she had been locking lips.

Aurelian by BittyBlueEyes Two years after the war, a young stranger pays a visit to the burrow. His arrival alone is baffling, but the news he brings of an upcoming war turns the world upside down. Hermione's quiet, post-war life will never be the same.

Someone Saved My Life Tonight by JadedDragon4 COMPLETE! They didn't choose to be partnered together or for tragedy to strike. But now, lost, hurt, and together, they must choose to save each other . . . or die alone.

Bathwater by xXBeckyFoo It's their 7th year,the Dark Lord's dead and the Death Eaters are all rounded up. Nothing could go wrong, right? There's a sense of peace in the air, but how long can it possibly last when the Ministry's throwing people together for all eternity? Curse the new Marriage Law.

An Aversion to Change by Mel88 Sent back to Hogwarts with the suspicious title of Head Boy, Draco is forced to share a dormitory with none other than Hermione Granger. With a war looming on the horizon and another danger even closer to home, their final year is anything but ordinary.

A Marriage Most Convenient by AnneM.Oliver Hermione lost it all when she divorced. Draco would lose it all by age 30 if he didn't marry. Marriage to each other would be perfect, one would even say it was most convenient. Her daughter even looked like him, although, he wondered why that was.

What A Difference A Night Makes by Kyra4 DHr prefects, top students in their year and Houses. Makes sense that they'd be chosen by the faculty for an honors project that requires them to be locked in the astronomy tower all night. Will they fall for each other or rip each other apart? COMPLETE!

Soooo.... Yeah.... Lemme just fling these 42 recommendations at you. *laughs*

All I ask in return is that if you read the works by these talented authors, please, please, please, make sure to leave them some kind and encourgaing reviews in return.

xx-Kitten

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sirius · 5 years

Text

Chaos Theory Part 9

Pairing: Cedric Diggory x Reader, Harry Potter x Reader, Draco Malfoy x Reader

Warnings: Swearing

Word Count: 6316

A/N: Ahh okay this week is going to be super busy for me!! I have two more chapters that I want to release before Christmas, and two more Young gods chapters as well!! It’s going to be a challenge, but I think I can make it. I’m not actually all that happy with this chapter, but it’s important so it’ll have to do. Anyway, enjoy <3

Chapter Nine:

On the morning of the first task, you hardly sleep a wink.

You had watched as the room had gone from complete darkness to those misty, almost whimsical shades of blues and greys without really appreciating it. Instead, you had laid awake in bed, marinating in your own thoughts and anxiety.

In a few hours, your best friend and your sort of boyfriend would be fighting a dragon, and the kind of dread that grows from that is like a fungus spreading across your scalp; it’s uncomfortable, nauseating and terrifying all at once.

The gravity of this entire ordeal has never felt heavier as you lie on your back, staring up at the ceiling, sliding the beads on your bracelet round and round in tight, little circles. You feel like your stomach is climbing its way up your throat, a greasy wave of nausea puttering around at the back of your mouth as you pray to any god that’s listening for Harry’s protection.

Sirius’ words come back to you, whispering in your ear, haunting you as you lay on your back gripping the bed sheets; All I know for certain is that whoever put your name into the Goblet did it for a reason…

You blink, scratching hastily at your wrist. If someone really, truly was going to attack Harry during the Tournament, you would have to do everything in your power to stop them, to ensure Harry was safe, to protect, not only Harry, but those around him like Hermione and Ron and Cedric, even Fleur and Victor, they were all at risk here...

Nightshade crawls up your bed and nestled herself under your arm in a comforting sort of way, purring loudly. You absentmindedly scratch her head, staring blankly at the ceiling as you try to calm your racing thoughts.

It’s a task that is easier said than done in your experience.

Beside you, you hear a soft sigh issue from Hermione’s bed. You wonder, vaguely, if she’s had difficulties sleeping, too. Perhaps she was losing sleep agonising over this, too, turning restlessly in her bed as the minutes rolled by.

You both were invested in this as much as Harry and Cedric were; both of you had spent hours helping Harry with his Summoning Charm and - without anyone knowing of course - you had offered to help Cedric with his task. Cedric, being the noble and fair hearted boy that he is, refused to drag you into something that could get you into trouble, but you made sure the offer would still stand, regardless.

Peering through a crack in your curtains, you notice that the curtains surrounding Hermione are still drawn. Gently prodding Nightshade on her tummy, you peel yourself away from your bed and tip toe across to hers, tugging gently on the curtain.

“Hermione?” You whisper, softly, so as to not wake the sleeping forms of your dorm mates, “Are you awake?”

“Yes,” Hermione replies, gently, “Yes I’m — I’m awake.”

You bite down on your bottom lip and carefully open the curtains, poking your head in through the gap.

“Can I...can I come in?” You murmur, sheepishly. Hermione smiles benignly and pats the side of her bed. You crawl in beside her and she pulls you into a warm embrace.

“Worried about Cedric and Harry?” She asks, though it’s more of a statement than a question.

You nod and she squeezes you a little tighter, comforting you without using words, “Aren’t you?”

Hermione pauses, hesitating. You crane your neck to peer up at her and she bites down on her bottom lip. When she speaks, her voice is so soft, it’s almost like a breath of fresh air, “No, I’m not worried...I’m terrified.”

The two of you lay in silence, holding each other close and watching as the light in the room begins to change, getting thicker and warmer, bathing the room in bright, golden light. It’s a stark contrast to the cold dread that drips down your spine like stalactites, but the warmth blossoming between you and Hermione as you lay silently in her arms is enough to distract you from your own thoughts.

Right now, it’s all you need to drift off into a light doze, allowing yourself to relax in your best friends arms for a fleeting moment.

***

When you wake up again, it’s 8am and the spot beside you has grown cold.

You blink lazily; your eyelids feel like sandpaper grazing against your eyeballs. Your body yearns for more sleep, but you know you can’t...not yet...not until the first task is over...

Stifling a yawn behind your fist, you peel yourself away from Hermione’s bed and dress into your school uniform rather sluggishly. After ensuring that you look somewhat presentable, you manage to drag yourself away from your room, down the stairs and out of the common room, mindlessly greeting your friends as they pass. Neville had even tried to strike up a conversation, but you weren’t in the right frame of mind to carry it.

It’s almost like you’re about to throw yourself at a fire-breathing dragon instead of Harry and Cedric; it certainly feels that way. Your stomach feels like it’s been transfigured into a lump of cold steel as you walk toward the Great Hall, not even caring where you’re heading. The fear is persistent and determined to tear the last shreds of your hope and optimism from your rib cage like some sort of hungry, wild beast.

You’re so caught up in your thoughts, you don’t even realise you’ve arrived at the Great Hall until you’re standing in front of Harry and Hermione.

“(Y/N)?” Harry says, softly, your name on his lips drawing you out of yourself.

You blink once, twice, thrice, noting the similar expression Hermione and Harry are wearing. They stare at you carefully, as though they’re afraid you might shatter before their eyes.

Does everyone really think I’m just pretty and emotional?

Irritation bites into you but you let it slide, biting down on the inside of your cheek and feeling the flesh swell in response as you drop into the spot next to Harry.

“How did you sleep?” You ask Harry, pushing your fears aside as you stare into his nervous, green eyes.

“Horribly,” Harry grumbles, playing idly with his food, “But at least I have a plan. Let’s hope it works.”

“I’m sure it will, Harry,” Hermione coos, softly.

“You were loads better at the summoning charm last night,” you piece together a gentle smile you hope looks reassuring.

“About that...” Harry begins, awkwardly, “Uh - thanks for helping.”

“Well, of course,” Hermione snips as though it were the most obvious fact in the world, “We’re your best friends, Harry. We’re here for you!”

You reach under the table and cover his hand with yours, thumbs tracing the smooth hollows between his knuckles. Harry stiffens for a brief, fleeting moment, hesitating before he relaxes into your touch like water flowing around a river stone. He raises his troubled gaze from his plate to your eyes, and for the first time, you see genuine fear creeping into them.

At that moment, all the veiled secrecy that has been welling between the two of you doesn’t matter. Harry could have all the secrets he wants but that will never change how you feel about him. He’s your best friend, now and always, and you will do anything to help him, protect him, support him.

“Always,” you breathe, so gently you’re not sure if he’s heard you. Harry dispels your doubts with a half-hearted smile. He intertwines your fingers.

They stay interlocked for some time, hidden beneath the table like a shared secret and a promise of comfort, breaking apart only after breakfast concludes and you’re both forced to untangle your fingers and start toward your first class. On your way to History of Magic, you spot Cedric and his group of friends chatting excitedly as they head toward their own class, and you excuse yourself from Harry and Hermione, rushing toward Cedric.

“Cedric,” you call, and he spins around at the sound of his name, a dazzling smile filling his lips when he spots you.

“(Y/N)” he beams as you approach him, eyes shimmering like morning stars.

“Hey, (Y/N)!” Troy Hammond greets, cheerily. You high five Troy, exchanging quick pleasantries with him before turning to Cedric.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?” You ask, ignoring the teasing chortles of Cedric’s friends.

“Of course,” Cedric smiles reassuringly.

“But we have Transfiguration first up,” Troy says, “McGonagall will be pissed...”

“I’m sure she’d be willing to forgive me if I choose to let off some steam before my first task,” Cedric replies, smoothly, the edges of his lips quirking a little. Troy arches a brow.

“I see what’s happening,” Troy smirks, glancing between the two of you and nudging his friends, “(Y/N) Arden is leading our sweet, innocent Cedric astray!”

Cedric rolls his eyes as his friends burst into teasing laughter, “Ignore them, (Y/N). They’re just jealous they can’t have you...”

Troy shrugs, “I mean, you’re not wrong. I’ll be the first to admit that - when Golden Boy Cedric here started ranting obsessively about you - I was a bit jealous.”

Cedric flushes an adorable shade of pink, “I was not ‘ranting obsessively!’”

“Please, Cedric,” one of Cedric's friends pipes up. You recognise her as Kamala Siad, “The way you were talking about her, I thought you were going to propose!”

You bite your lip, warmth blooming beneath your cheeks. Cedric rolls his eyes again, his cheeks the same, romantic tint of pink as a burning sunset.

“Whatever. I’m going to go help (Y/N) now...”

Before his friends can think up any more witty remarks, Cedric takes your hand and leads you away.

“I think you may need some new friends,” you giggle as you arrive in the rose gardens, his hand still snuggly wrapped around yours.

“Tell me about it,” he groans, wincing. You smile softly at Cedric, gazing up at him and admiring for the millionth time how handsome he looks when he’s embarrassed.

“Is it true, though?” You ask, voice gentle against the autumn breeze, “Do you...do you talk about me to your friends a lot?”

Cedric interlaces your fingers with his; they fit together like two pieces of the same heart. He gives your hand a gentle squeeze, smoothing the pad of his thumb over the pressure point between your thumb and index finger.

“I can’t deny that I’m constantly thinking about you,” Cedric’s eyes sparkle as though they contain all the secrets of the universe, “So...maybe it does slip out every now and again.”

You catch your bottom lip between your teeth and nibble down on a goofy grin, cheeks warming like sunlight on a cold day. He gazes into your eyes, pupils like obsidian against glittering sapphire, his smile pulling back to reveal a row of perfectly even, white teeth.

Such a beautiful smile...

“So...” Cedric begins, slowly, “Was there anything you wanted to talk about?”

“Not really. I just...I wanted to see you before the - uh - first task...”

Cedric nods in understanding, averting his gaze to a nearby tree, his smile faltering for the briefest of moments. Fear and anxiety flit across his expression, passing like a shadow before he composes himself. You give his hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze and Cedric catches your gaze again.

“I appreciate it,” he murmurs, a genuine smile playing on the edges of his lips, “Really, I do. Every moment I spend with you makes me stronger.”

He pulls you into a hug and you sigh against his chest, wrapping your arms around his waist. His lips brush against the crown of your head, planting a long kiss to your hair and breathing you in like oxygen. After a long moment, you pull away, keeping your hand in his, and Cedric points at something in the tree.

“Ravens,” he smiles, and you follow his gaze. Sure enough, two ravens are perched on the branch. For a moment, you get a strange feeling that they had just been watching you, but the feeling vanishes when Cedric continues, “They mate for life, y’know...”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. In most cases, they’re so loyal to their mate that if a female’s mate dies, she won’t find another male partner again. Ever.”

You glance back at the two ravens, now playing with each other in the tree. One of them stops, as though realising it’s being watched, and cocks it’s head at you, it’s beady, black eyes clashing with your own.

You turn away, staring up at Cedric, “That’s kind of romantic, in a weird way...”

“I think it’s sad,” Cedric muses, “I mean, That’s the last thing I’d want for my wife or partner. I’d want them to be happy, y’know...”

You turn back to Cedric, wondering what you’d do if Death took him away from you in the same way it took your mother away. You squeeze his hand a little tighter, as though trying to protect him from Death’s grip.

“Kind of morbid, don’t you think?” You mumble, anxiety sprouting between your ribs like weeds.

Cedric chortles and pulls you to his side, slinging an arm over your shoulders, “You’re right. Let’s change the subject.”

The two of you begin to amble down a gravel path, breathing in the scent of roses that blossoms in the autumn air.

“About the Tournament...” you start, anxiously, “I know that Harry didn’t put his name in the Goblet of Fire.”

Cedric raises his brows, “Did you see someone else put it in?”

You chew your bottom lip, “Well, no.”

“Do you have any evidence?”

“....no” you mumble, sheepishly, and Cedric nods.

“How do you know, then?” Cedric asks, gently and unassuming, in a way that passes no judgement in your faith but just out of sheer curiosity.

You stare at Cedric, watching as sunlight streams through his hair and catches in his lashes, bringing out startling hues of blue and grey.

“I just know,” you murmur, “I just...I trust Harry. We’ve been through a lot together so I-I know when he’s lying and - and Cedric, he isn’t lying about this. I think someone put his name in the Goblet so they could plan an attack on him without it looking suspicious.”

Cedric nods again, slowly, as though chewing your comments up and dwelling on them.

“I’ll keep an eye on him for you,” he says, “Make sure he’s okay out there.”

You nearly choke on a sob of relief, lashes fluttering as your heart sings for him, like straining strings to a violin only he knows how to play.

“You would do that?” You breathe, biting your lip. Cedric raises a hand to your cheek, cupping it gently. A comforting, homely warmth tingles beneath his hand as his fingers splay across your skin.

“I’d do anything for you,” he murmurs, “Besides I couldn’t just abandon someone who needs my help.”

Your lips spread into a wide smile, tears pricking the spot behind your eyes as you stare at this boy who would risk it all for you, for your friends, for anyone who needs a helping hand, and you can’t help yourself as you throw your arms around his neck and reach up to the tips of his toes, ready to crash your lips together in a kiss that you’ve dreamt about in every single honey-glazed dream you’ve had of him-

“Miss Arden! Mr Diggory!”

You and Cedric jerk apart. Professor Sprout is standing beside you, dirt-stained hands on her hips. A hint of a smile plays on the corners of her lips, as though she were trying to fight back her amusement.

“Professor Sprout!” You exclaim in embarrassment and surprise, “Um we were just-”

“Consoling Hogwarts champion before the first task,” Professor Sprout interrupts, now not bothering to hide her smile, “I understand he must be feeling quite nervous at this stage...”

Cedric runs a hand through his glossy, brown hair, “Erm...yes. Yes, I am.”

Professor Sprout turns to you, a warm kindness in her large, brown eyes, “Well, I believe offering emotional support to a fellow student is worthy of some points. Ten points to Gryffindor,” her eyes sharpen slightly as her voice suddenly goes stern, “But I suggest that you don’t do this again, in case myself or another Professor aren’t feeling so...generous.”

You and Cedric glance at each other, biting down on a broad grin. Cedric winks at you when Professor Sprout isn’t looking. Professor Sprout stares at you expectantly.

“Well,” she prompts, impatiently, “Off you go, back to class.”

You give Cedric’s hand one last squeeze, a silent bid for good luck, and reluctantly pull away from him. Cedric starts to leave but Professor Sprout stops him.

“Not you, Mr Diggory. I’d - I’d like to have a quick word with you.”

You glance over your shoulder at Cedric, grinning at him. He beams back at you, and as you leave the rose garden, you can’t help but smile as you feel his eyes following your movements.

***

“I’ve been thinking about what you said, and I think you’re probably right...”

You blink at Ron, unsure if you heard him correctly. It’s possible that you misheard; the hum of excited chatter buzzing in the air around the make-shift stadium is loud enough to drown out Rons murmured confession, but by the look on his face, your doubts are instantly dispelled.

“You mean about Harry?” You ask, and Ron nods sheepishly.

“Maybe he - erm - didn’t put his name in...”

Ron trails off, but you can tell by the way his lips quirk that he wants to say more, “But...?”

Ron sighs, “But...”

“(Y/N)!”

Someone is calling your name. You glance around, scanning the hundreds of faces until you spot Fred Weasley sidling toward you.

“Hey,” you try to smile, but your sick on nervous energy that putters around at the pit of your stomach. Though the smile on Fred’s lips is enough to settle your nerves for a few, fleeting moments.

Fred nods at Ron, “What’s up, prat?”

“Nothing much, git.”

Fred ruffles Rons hair and Ron wrenches himself away, smoothing down his messy hair, disgruntled. They bicker in a brotherly fashion, tossing insults at each other as you sit between them, and you find your gaze drifting, thoughts running away from you.

You bite your bottom lip, staring out at the arena where Harry and Cedric will be fighting their dragons. You can almost imagine it; the ash on your tongue and the smoke in your nose, a scream trapped in your lungs and the nail-biting intensity of your anxiety clawing away at the base of your spine like some sort of hungry beast. The next couple of hours are not going to be fun.

“You looking forward to the Tournament?” Fred asks, signature smirk curving deviously across his lips. You scowl at Fred, provoking a laugh from the twin. He throws his hands up in mock surrender and your expression softens a little, “Fine, that was a dumb question.”

“You said it,” you grumble, stifling a smirk.

“I guess I’d be feeling the same if both of my boyfriends were competing against each other.”

Your eyes snap back to Fred, sharpening into an incredulous stare, “What are you implying, Fred Weasley...?”

“Nothing,” Fred shrugs, “I’m just looking out for my brother.”

You furrow your brows at Fred, glancing at Ron briefly, only to find him wearing a similar, perplexed expression as you. When Fred doesn’t continue or explain, you decide to let the comment slide by unattended to.

“Where is George, by the way?” You ask, glancing around.

“Selling snacks,” Fred replies, simply.

“Oh, are you going to start selling shirts, too?” You ask, tone sardonic, and Fred barks a laugh.

“I love it when you’re feisty,” Fred chortles, grinning, and you roll your eyes at his teasing remark, “And you raise an interesting point. We could start selling t-shirts, we’d get loads from those...”

You shake your head, biting the side of your cheek to stop yourself from smirking at Fred’s sarcasm.

“Profiteering from the chaos,” Ron grumbles, “Why am I not surprised?”

“I’m surprised by your lack of surprise.”

You can’t help the laugh that slips from your lips as you regard him fondly in the sunlight.

“You and George always find ways to cheer me up, you know?”

Fred shrugs casually, “I suppose our natural charm is difficult to resist. Ah, speak of the devil!”

You follow Fred’s gaze and spot George at the end of it, shouldering past people before dropping down beside you.

“Hey!” he grins, reaching across to fist bump you, and you pound fists, laughing as George makes exploding sound effects,

“So what’s a pretty girl like you doing here with these two imbeciles?” George grins, ignoring the way Fred groans and Ron opens his mouth in silent protest.

“It’s not by choice,” you quip, teasingly smirking at Fred.

“It never is,” George sighs, then leans in close to whisper in your ear, “I suggest you run for it while you still can. By the way, I saved you a couple of bags of treats,”

George tosses a bag of treats at Ron’s head and it bounces off his forehead, tumbling to the ground.

“Oi!” Ron snaps, disgruntled, as you, Fred and George laugh at his expression. George drops a bag into your lap and you thank him with a flash of a smile, fiddling with the string that ties it together.

“Where’s Hermione?” George asks, scanning his surroundings for her.

“She’s with Harry,” you murmur, leaning forward, “I’m going to go see him afterwards.”

Ron shifts awkwardly in his seat, no doubt uncomfortable with the reminder of his continuous fight with Harry. Fred claps a hand on his knee and springs to his feet, thinking quickly.

“I’m going to find Lee and you’re coming with me, Ron,” Fred orders, dragging Ron out of his seat. Ron glances back at you, bewildered and perplexed, and you give him a helpless shrug and an apologetic look.

George slides closer to your side and drapes an arm across your shoulders.

“You alright?” George asks, surveying you with a touch of concern, “You’re looking a little...”

“I look a little what?” You ask, expectantly, almost daring George to finish his sentence.

“Nothing,” he murmurs, “But all I’m saying, is that - if you’re feeling nervous - don’t be. I’m sure Harry is quite capable, it’s what he volunteered for after all...”

“No, he didn’t,” you snip, firmly.

"You still believe that he didn't put his name in the Goblet himself, huh?"

“Merlin what is with you boys,” you snap, angrily, “First Ron, then Cedric, now you...”

George shrugs, “Well, how did his name get in there?”

You sigh. There’s something about saying the question out loud that makes it infinitely more difficult to answer, “I don’t know, George. I just know Harry wasn’t the one who put it in there...”

George studies you for a moment, eyes sweeping over every detail on your face, and you resist the urge to squirm under his intense scrutiny. He seems to be hesitating, biting his tongue in a way you had never seen the twins to do before.

“What is it with you and Harry?” George asks, rather bluntly.

You flush, cheeks warming uncomfortably, “Nothing...”

“Oh, because of whatever’s going on between you and Cedric?”

“Maybe...”

George nods, smirk strained at the edges, like he’s trying to tack it over his lips to hide all the words he’s struggling to say.

“You know, I’m happy for you. Cedric’s a great guy...”

You tug on your bottom lip bashfully, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. His name has such a profound effect on you like it’s a charm designed to bewitch your heart and fill your chest with millions of butterflies.

“He is...” You breathe, smiling broadly as you reflect on the morning you had spent with him.

“Yeah...almost too good, if you know what I mean...”

You turn to George, brows knitted in confusion as you stare at him, “What’s that supposed to-?”

Click

The sound of a camera capturing the moment in a photograph rings in the air surrounding you and George, drawing your attention away from his peculiar comment to Noah Underwood, who had just snapped the unexpected photo. You shoot him a glare and he shrugs, impassively.

“Sorry,” he mumbles, “It looked interesting. Don’t mind if I use it for the paper? Everyone will probably love to see a picture of their famous writer in the school newsletter.”

You shrug nonchalantly and George flashes a wicked grin.

“Sure,” George grins, “Do you want an actual photo of us posing?”

Noah gives a small shrug, watching as George angles himself toward the camera and draws an excitable expression across his face. You rearrange your face into a friendly smile, forcing yourself to relax. Noah’s camera flashes again once, twice, thrice, before he lowers the device and gives a firm nod. You frown at Noah, noticing the name scribbled into the side of the camera.

“So...you found your camera?” You ask, and Noah glances up at you before returning his gaze to his camera.

“Nah, this is just another one I bought last year,” Noah murmurs, not bothering to look up as he fiddles with his camera.

“Oh,” You bleat, “ By the way, Noah, this is my friend, George. George, this is Noah.”

Noah’s sharp, black eyes flick to George, gaze sweeping up and down as though assessing him, before turning back to you, “I know who he is.”

“See, (Y/N), I’m already so famous, I don’t even need an introduction,” George jokes, lips splitting and curling into a teasing grin. Noah rolls his eyes.

“Well, see you around,” Noah mutters, his eyes holding yours for a brief moment before flitting to George one last time. He scowls and sighs, striding away with fluid, easy movements.

“That kid is strange,” George murmurs in an undertone, watching Noah’s retreating form as he shrinks into the crowd.

Hermione arrives moments later, hurrying towards you with a look of concern and urgency. She drops beside you, utters a mumbled greeting to George, and leans in close to you.

“Harry’s ready to see you whenever you are,” she whispers, glancing at George, and you nod, sliding yourself out of George’s arm and heading off toward the tent.

As you approach it, Bagman’s voice booms through the air, echoing across the make-shift stadium as he addresses the crowd. As you pass several people, you spot Cedric looking more worried than excited, a slightly green tinge to his usually perfect complexion. You catch his eye and flash him your warmest, most genuine smile and Cedric visibly relaxes, fighting his own feelings of anxiety by flashing you a boyish smile, tight-lipped from nerves. He’s whisked away before you can even approach him, and, moments later, the roar of the crowd tears through the air as Cedric makes his appearance.

Finally, you arrive at the tent and slip past the folds, beaming when you spot Harry in the far corner.

“(Y/N)!” Harry practically sings, striding toward you. Fleur Delacour and Viktor Krum barely pay you any mind as you throw your arms around Harry, squeezing him tight in what you hope is a comforting hug. You sigh his name against his ear, burying your head in the crook of his neck as he holds you close, “Merlin, I’m so glad you’re here.”

“I wasn’t lying when I told you I’d always be here for you this morning,” you murmur, untangling yourself from his arms.

Harry gives a half-hearted smile, though it looks dim compared to the radiant smiles his lips usually pull into.

“Can you - I mean - I was wondering if you could stay with me until...” Harry breaks off, glancing shyly at his feet.

“Of course, Harry,” you smile gently at your best friend, placing a hand on his shoulder, “Always. Remember?”

Harry nods and leads you toward a cot he had been sitting on. The two of you sit in tense silence, listening to the crowd clap and cheer and Bagman’s commentary. Harry’s stoic expression remained somewhat calm, despite the challenges that lay ahead of him today, and you couldn’t help but marvel at how composed he seems, compared to your constant cycle of worry.

Harry was always good at putting on a brave face. He had done so whenever the four of you embarked on your adventures, always the first to lead the way. Nobility and chivalry were two of the many defining characters that Harry had, but his Gryffindor courage was perhaps his most commendable.

Still, you can’t stop yourself as you reach forward with a trembling hand and grasp his hand, squeezing it tightly as you listen to Cedric, then Fleur, then Viktor fights their dragons. And when the whistle sounds and the crowds fall silent in anticipation, you find that your muscles don’t want to let go.

Harry reluctantly breaks away from you, though your hand still latches onto his. As he moves to pull away, you give one last desperate tug, gazing up at him fearfully.

“Please, Harry, please be careful.”

Harry nods solemnly, green eyes wide with fear, and before you know it you’re flinging yourself into his embrace, wrapping your arms around his neck, paving a path through his dishevelled, black hair with your fingertips, clinging to him like you don’t want to let go. He holds you as though you were anchoring him, afraid to plunge into the depths of his own uncertainty and fear, and you want to stay like this forever and ever, wrapped in each other as you stand on the brink of uncharted territory, but then you remember yourself and you untangle yourself from his arms, pulling away.

And as Harry leaves the tent, you can’t help but feel like he’s carrying your bounding heart with him.

***

Your best friend and your sort-of boyfriend tie in the first task of the Tournament, and you couldn’t be more thrilled.

Honestly, it’s more relief than it is excitement; it only took a fight with a Dragon for Ron to see reason and apologise to Harry, thus ending their feud and reuniting the ‘Golden Quartet’, as the four of you are so commonly called. Just knowing that the four of you are no longer divided is enough to leave you grinning goofily and floating on air as you make your way toward the Gryffindor common room, Ron’s arm draped lazily across your shoulder.

“Honest to Merlin, if you two fight again, I’m smashing your thick heads together!” you say on your way back from the Owlery, earning a snort from Harry and a laugh from Ron, “Seriously, guys, don’t ever put me through that again or I might just break down and have a premature mid-life crisis. The three of you have already put me through enough with your little secret conversations!”

The air shifts into hesitation and awkwardness, and for a moment, you think you may have rained on their victory parade. The feeling leaves you, though, when the four of you enter the common room and greeted with boisterous cheers that are so loud, they nearly blow you over.

The common room has been decorated with banners (drawn by Dean Thomas, you recognize the art style). The food table is filled with cakes and sweets, the air shimmers with fireworks set off by Lee Jordan, a dance floor has been set up in the middle of the room, and the atmosphere hums with indisputable excitement at Harry’s victory.

“I’m going to get us some drinks,” Hermione shouts over the crowd and heads toward the drink stand.

“And we’re going to dance,” you exclaim, grinning broadly as you snatch the golden egg from Harry and hand it to Lee, who nearly buckles beneath it’s weight. Pushing through the crowd of people swarming toward Harry, you drag Harry and Ron toward the dance floor.

Harry pauses on the outskirts of the dance floor, hesitant, “(Y/N)…”

You roll your eyes at Harry, “Harry, you just fought a fucking dragon. I think you deserve this…”

Harry glances around sheepishly, but Ron playfully shoves him toward you and he stumbles onto the dance floor.

Music floods the room, soaking into your skin and gushing through your veins. You can feel it fill every cell in your body, controlling your movements as you laugh and swing your hips to the rhythm. Ron bops along, cracking jokes at your lack of coordination, and you roll your eyes at him.

“And what exactly are you doing, Ron? The Oompa Loompa dance?”

Ron’s brows knit together in confusion at your reference.

“Hermione never told you about Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?” you ask, and Ron shakes his head, “Never mind. It was a muggle movie based on a book.”

Hermione finds you on the dance floor, holding two cups of butterbeer while another two cups float beside her. She hands them out to the three of you, and you all take a swig.

“You guys have fun, I’m going to be over there–”

“Oh, no,” you say, grinning devilishly, “You’re dancing with us, Hermione Granger.”

“No I’m not!” Hermione says, swiftly.

“Yes, you are,” you insist, firmly, “We’re dancing together, and we’re not arguing about this a moment longer.”

Hermione scowls, but her expression melts away when Ron takes her hand and yanks her into the circle.

“No point arguing with her,” Ron says over the music, “Just have some fun, Hermione! We’re celebrating Harry’s victory!”

Hermione’s cheeks flush pink as she sighs, her posture relaxing as she hesitantly begins to dance. Soon enough, she begins to lose herself in the music, and the four of you dance in a circle, laughing while the world revolves around you.

It hardly feels like the past few months have happened as you as the four of you dance away the stress and anxiety that had perched on your shoulders like a menacing demon. Normalcy settles in, tearing through the tension pounding against your ribs. You want to bottle these moments and smear them on your wrists like a fine perfume.

You glance at Harry and find his eyes already on you, drinking you in like fire whiskey. Beaming and intoxicated on liquid adrenaline, he resembles the same Harry you had sat across from in Fred and George’s treehouse in the summer holidays. Bold and brilliant and beautiful, relaxed and gazing at you as though you were the only star in his midnight sky.

You dance toward him, leaning into him, and wrap your arms around his neck, holding him close as the two of you clumsily waltz together. You breathe him in, registering the scent of smoke and butterbeer and life, a kind of fragrance that not even the richest of wizards could afford, because it’s Harry and he’s here, in your arms, his hands resting on your waist, wrapping around you and holding you like he’s afraid you might fade to dust…

“I love you, (Y/N),” he murmurs into your hair, like a secret made just for you, the words tingling in your ears and kissing the scars on your heart, “I always have, and I always will.”

You pull away from him, tears welling in your eyes, to find Harry smiling warmly at you. His lips are pulled into a smile worth more than any diamond necklace, more than all the stars strung together in the sky.

“I love you, too,” you whisper, “You’ll always be my best friend…always.”

Harry’s smile falters a bit, trembling at the corners, but then it fills out again graciously, “I know.”

The two of you sway to the rhythm, letting it wash over you like a wave as you cling to Harry and Harry welcomes you into his embrace. Neither of you moves with any precise movement, you just allow the music to sweep you away, like leaves in a breeze, following the beat and allowing it to pulse through you, puppeteer your movements, your mind drifting away from you like clouds as your body moves on its own accord.

Nothing has ever felt so natural before, so reassuring in a way that cannot be translated into words. Harry seems to realise this, too, as every now and then he squeezes your waist as though to remind himself that you’re in his arms, not someone else's, and if you weren’t so relieved, you would have thought that was odd. Instead, you allow yourself to be carried away with the moment, collecting every minute of it like seeds and scattering it in the meadow inside your ribcage.

You know it won’t last forever. Harry is going to have to break away at some point, and he will have to talk with the other Gryffindors, listen to them congratulate him on his victory, and ask about that egg. But perhaps that’s the beauty of it. Perhaps that’s why it makes moments like these so precious; because they don’t last forever, so you have to cling to them while you can.

With this in mind, you push away the secrets that had been building up between the two of you, the strange conversations with Ron and Hermione and the odd looks that Harry had occasionally cast your way. Instead, you focus on this single moment in time, this one that you may never get back, and you hug him, hold him tighter, keeping him trapped in your arms like a bird in a cage, like your bounding heart locked away in your chest.

In Harry’s arms, you dance the night away, oblivious to the pair of ancient eyes watching your every move.

@marauderskeeper @weaselby418 @acciorinn @hervench@theseusscamandcr @depressed-octopods-art @steph-fowlie @lilulo-12 @randomfangirl17 @seunlight @thebesteleganttrashyouseen @elsie2018 @polkadotfairyposts @hylianhighlander @dracosdoves @siriuswitches @bernadineisreborn @lousimusician @randomoutsiders @smolldork @danidomm @xrosegoldwolfx @ashkuuuu @sly-vixen-up2nogood @reimiwritrs @tchalland @lucifersnipnips @notorious-fiction @peppermintspecks @sleep-i-ness

202 notes · View notes

shinnystars · 5 years

Text

Fic rec days - Severus Snape x Sirius Black

The Mistletoe Incidents by EliasFinn T 16K

Mistletoes were a tradition in Hogwarts and Sirius, usually, loved them. But then everything got out of hand and - uuurgh - he'd never really wanted to see that, thank you so very much.

Found in the Moments Between the Search by r_grayjoy E 26K

When Sirius returns from beyond the Veil with knowledge of Voldemort's Horcruxes, he takes on the task of finding and destroying them. Somewhere along the way he finds an unexpected ally and perhaps something more.

Epistula Ultima by FabulaRasa M 15K

Snape faces death, but before he does, he has one last letter to write.

Slowly, But Exceeding Fine by ellen_fremedon E 28K

How to kill a dementor, live under a curse, and let go of an old grudge.

An Occlument Heart by BeautifulYes M 15K

Snape knows that, usually, keeping a secret is the bravest thing you can do. But sometimes the bravest thing is to tell one.

Shade More Than Man by Acamar E 46K

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Sorry by IIBNF E 6K

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Confronting A Nightmare by earthphoenix M 3K

Is it still considered a nightmare when you enjoy it? Well, whatever they are, dreams or nightmares, Sirius finds himself quite disturbed each time he closes his eyes to sleep. He attempts to walk it off, only to run into the person that has been the focus of his dreams.

Rubber Ducks by earthphoenix E 10K

Dumbledore has had it with the fighting between Sirius Black and Severus Snape. It is time that they come to terms, make amends ... and there is only one way to do it. Make them work together for a common goal. But what could the two possible have in common? Well, it's more than just being magically handcuffed together.

Hell Sweet Hell by Sionna_Raven E 4K

The place behind the Veil may be heaven or hell, maybe neither. All Sirius longs for is company and his wish is granted, when a wounded Severus Snape lands on his doorstep during the final battle.

Better Call It Home by Ailei E 2K

How dare he still be so beautiful? The loathing in Snape's cultured voice forced Sirius into an even smaller ball, pressed him further back into the shadows.

Two Boys Kissing by Writcraft M 6K

Sirius goes to a gay bar and meets the last person he expects. Under cloudy skies, two boys kiss and that one moment comes to define generations of want, need and hope.

An Unlikely Seduction by neevebrody E 4K

"Well, well, Black…aren't frightened of a little déjà vu are we?" He smacked Sirius' hand away. "If you had any brains beneath all that mangy hair, you'd know that every touch is agony, spell my clothes away."

Out by cynthia_arrow T 3K

It wasn't possible Severus Snape was actually worth pursuing, was it? And it certainly wasn't possible he actually wanted to be pursued?

In Cruciatu Veritas by Kleio E 14K

Sirius is about to discover that, contrary to the proverb in vino veritas, the truth lies not in wine but in pain. Takes place during the Order of the Phoenix.

Day One series by Kleio M 37K (READ THE TAGS)

"Snape has brought me back from the dead and is holding me prisoner in his house. Sounds mad, I know, but that’s Snape for you. Please hurry, I’m afraid for my life. Or rather, my death. Not to mention my bottom. Just hurry. - Sirius Black"

Shadows Of Light by lindsey_grissom E 47K

Sometimes that which we look for is in the strangest of places, and those that we know are not how they seem. With the war between the Light and Dark drawing near, anything is possible.

Strange Bedfellows by earthphoenix E 21K

Most of this takes place during a small window in time when both Severus Snape and Sirius Black would have been in Azkaban prison together. Can a new friendship survive such a place as Azkaban prison? Can it evolve into something more ... if given the chance?

The Devil-and-All to Pay by Leela E 6K

Albus Dumbledore is mad. Severus is sure of it, when the old man sends him to persuade Sirius Black to come back to England and let the Order use his family home as headquarters. The problem, as always, is that Severus cannot say no.

Potion Master’s Pet by blackbludger E 6K

After the defeat of Voldemort, Sirius Black is forced to move into Snape’s abandoned quarters.

Plus c’est la Meme Chose by Scaranda M 8K

Sirius and Severus find themselves cloistered together for ten days with only the hapless Lupin as referee. Not all of them stay the course.

Not Quite Good Enough to Be Going On With by white_serpent E 5K

Two men, a truth potion, and a locked room. Chaos ensued.

Love Potion HP by Tavalya_Ra T 46K

Severus Snape and Sirius Black have always shared a strong mutual hatred, but never before have they been obsessed with each other. Whether it's love or lust, they're both disgusted by it. Someone's playing cupid, but is it fate, Dumbledore, or Voldemort?

Harry Potter and the Ten Years of All Hallow’s Eve by TheRogueHuntress T 7K

What if Lily and Snape reconciled before she died? What if both Sirius and Severus were Harry's Godfathers? And what if both were chosen to look after baby Harry once his parents had been murdered?Life As We Know It Harry Potter style, retold over 10 Halloweens, starting with 31st October 1981.

Think of him as a therapy dog by SabineMichaelis T 10K

(WIP BUT its not a cliffhanger trust me) Sirius is out of Azkaban and in hiding, but has no place to live until Grimmauld place is made habitable. Dumbledore notices that Severus lives alone and has plenty of space for a dog, even if he really doesn't want one.

#sirius x snape #snirius #snirius fic #snirius fics #ficrecdays #snirius fic recs #snack fic recs #snack fics #hp #sirius x severus #snack hp

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sunaprincess7 · 6 years

Text

The Matchmaker

a/n: Okay, so this began life as a birthday present for the amazing @ghost-of-bambi but obviously as I’m the slowest writer of all time it’s taken this amount of time to post anything. Sarah, I’ve been a huge fan of your work forever so I hope it’s not too weird to randomly post this. Happy belated birthday - all mentions of Euphemia are obviously based on your amazing characteristion of her.

This is the first fanfic I’ve written in about ten years so hopefuly it’s okay and not too terrible to read. It’s me gently starting back into writing again with some fluff. Fingers crossed I’ll get better as I write more often. I should mention that James’s personality here is completely different from 15 year-old James as I tried to imagine how 18 years of being a young parent would change him.

Summary: James is a single parent, doing his best to get his eighteen year old son through school when Harry suddenly becomes desperate to set his dad up on a date. AU

FF.net link

“I’ve met a girl.”

James Potter looked up at his son from his dinner plate, mouth half full of the spaghetti Bolognese he had spent the afternoon preparing and was currently trying not to splatter all over the table because he didn’t plan on cleaning the kitchen for a second time that day.

“What happened to Bonnie?” Sirius asked uninterestedly from next to James, picking at his food. “You two seemed so in love it was enough to make me vomit. Not enough merlot,” he added briefly to James, who knew that some form of complaint was coming.

“Nothing has happened to Ginny,” Harry responded dryly, “not a girl for me. One for him,” he added, jerking his head towards James.

“Who? Me?” James asked, not really paying Harry any attention, “and the recipe said a glass,” he added to Sirius, ignoring the smirk that was forming on Remus’s face.

“The recipe is bollocks. And you used rosemary instead of thyme,” Sirius replied distastefully, peering into the bowl with narrowed eyes and picking through the strands of pasta with his fork.

“It’s a Jamie Oliver one. It says rosemary, not thyme,” James answered firmly, getting up to find the book, determined to prove his point and wondering why he bothered trying to feed anyone other than the one human in the room he was responsible for. “And you said you weren’t going to criticise my cooking anymore.”

“That was before I knew you were going to start fucking with a two-hundred-year-old recipe.”

“Dad!” Harry hissed, trying to glare at his father who was rifling through the ‘Oliver’s Twist’ recipe book. James thrust the book under Sirius’s nose, tapping triumphantly at the page.

“I’d advise bringing this up when Sirius isn’t here, Harry” Remus suggested wryly from the other end of the table. “And when Bolognese is not involved.”

“Why are you trying to set him up with a eighteen-year-old, anyways?” Sirius asked, finally turning his attention back to Harry, grabbing some more garlic bread and ignoring James’s insistent tapping at the book.

“She’s not eighteen, she’s your age,” Harry replied, successfully finding James’s eyes. “I think you’d really like her.”

“Thank you, as always, for your concern, Harry but I don’t need you to find me a girl,” James said with a small smile, sitting down again, “have some salad too.” He watched as his son reached for the salad bowl, before settling back to his own meal. Harry’s concern with his love life reared its head at least once a year but usually James was able to avert any serious discussion of the subject matter by bringing up rugby or suggesting another Mario Kart tournament.

“Yes, you do! You’re terrible with women. I can’t remember you ever going on a date,” Harry hit back, ladling a huge amount of salad onto his plate without looking and throwing down the tongs carelessly.

“He has a point, Prongs,” Sirius agreed, inspecting Jamie Oliver’s book with a grimace. “This is bollocks. Why didn’t you use Carluccio’s recipe?”

“Because you stole my book and still haven’t given it back!” James gritted out, grabbing the book out of Sirius’s hands.

“Harry, your father doesn’t need a girlfriend because he has already has a wife to bicker with,” Remus interjected smartly as Sirius and James glared at him in sync.

“I’ve noticed that,” Harry smirked, ignoring his father’s glare. “Seriously, Dad, she’s exactly your type. She’s smart and witty and…and she could…keep up with you,” he finished sincerely. “Just give it a chance.”

“Out of curiosity, where exactly are you meeting women in their thirties, Harry?” Remus queried bemusedly.

“She’s a friend of Mrs Weasley’s,” Harry replied, a little indignantly, still primarily talking to James. “I’ve met her a couple of times at the Burrow. She’s a librarian.”

“Harry,” James sighed, “I will worry about my own love life; you worry about your exams and university. If you get into Oxford, I’ll marry this woman, how does that sound?”

Harry rolled his eyes. “It sounds like you’re ignoring me. Ginny thinks you’d be perfect together.”

“You and your girlfriend are eighty years old,” Sirius observed grimly, “and you know your father is celibate.”

“I am not celibate,” James stated, beginning to sound hassled. “I have a son who is a full-time job,” he continued, pointedly staring at Harry, “and two friends who eat all my food constantly. Now can we please talk about something else? Is Ginny playing on Saturday?”

“Yes, it’s a big match,” Remus replied with the air of someone trying to move the conversation along, passing Harry the garlic bread. “Whole school was worried her ankle wouldn’t recover in time.”

“She’s okay now though, right?” James asked Harry. “You said she’s been back at training.”

“Ginny is fine, her ankle is fine, she is going to win us the match single-handedly, five tries at least” Harry replied, setting his fork down. “Stop changing the subject.”

“As owner of this house, this table, this cutlery and this food, I get to change the subject,” James quipped, setting his own fork down.

“Alright, I’ll change the subject,” Sirius interrupted, “who else thinks Prongs is turning into Fleamont?”

“Sirius…” Remus said wearily.

“What?” he exclaimed, “I definitely heard old Flea’ say that at some point. His cooking was a lot better than yours, though,” he added, flinging a small piece of rocket at James who stopped himself from flinging some salad back.

“You’re not helping,” Remus replied, before turning to Harry, teacher voice now firmly in place, “Harry, you know you are your father’s priority. I’m sure when you’re out of the house, he will start dating.”

“Now, who’s his wife, Moony?”

“Remus is right, Harry,” James said evenly, taking a deep breath. “You are my priority.”

“Ok,” Harry said begrudgingly, stirring his pasta around on the plate and allowing a brief pause before he next spoke. “Changing the subject…” he started as James began to eat again, “isn’t it pathetic that the only person having sex at this table is the eighteen-year-old?”

Sirius, James and Remus looked at each other and James noted his son holding his breath until he saw a small smile make its way onto their faces.

“He’s been spending too much time with your mother,” Sirius said to James, shaking his head, “and not enough time with mine. I’ve said for years some physical chastisement is exactly what you need,” he finished to Harry, thrusting his fork at him yet still somehow grinning with pride.

“Seriously, when was the last time any of you got any?” Harry queried, looking around the table, ignoring his father’s look of disapproval, daring to go further now that he knew he could.

“Well, Moony is still trying to figure out how to tell Tonks he likes her, even though she’s already asked him out, so probably around four years ago when he dated that teaching assistant for three weeks and didn’t tell anyone,” Sirius began, elaborately picking up his glass of wine and eyeing Remus, “I believe it’s unfair to offer women anything more than friendship when I’m still on my philosophical journey towards enlightenment…”

“Which means he keeps telling women he doesn’t believe in work, marriage or having children and they won’t sleep with him after that,” Remus added lowly to Harry.

“And as for your father,” Sirius continued loudly, “add nine months to eighteen years and there’s your answer.”

“Thank you,” James groaned, now giving up on his dinner and leaning back in his chair. “I remember there was a time when you two were actually helpful to me as a single parent.”

“Well, I think we’ve established that, of the people sat at this table, I am the only one qualified to be giving out advice about dating,” Harry said happily, particularly at James. “You should go out with Lily.”

James was about to rebut Harry’s suggest when Remus spoke quickly. “Lily Evans?”

“Yeah,” Harry answered, “you know her?”

“Yes, through Molly as well,” Remus laughed, “she was at Arthur’s birthday party a few years ago. The one you two ditched in favour of staying in to binge watch Stranger Things,” he told James and Sirius.

“Right decision,” Sirius stated triumphantly, as James grinned back.

“You know, Harry might be right, Prongs,” Remus continued, leaning back in his chair. “I can see you two together.”

“Thank you!” Harry sang, turning to his dad expectantly with a large smile.

When James regarded Remus sceptically, he went on, “she’s sharp, funny and very pretty from what I remember. She also laughed at all of Arthur’s terrible jokes which means she has the same sense of humour as you.”

“One, I have a great sense of humour,” James huffed, “two, we didn’t ditch Arthur’s party, Harry wasn’t well and three, if she’s so great, why don’t you go out with her?”

“Harry had a mild cold and we both know you ditched because you’re obsessed with single parent television shows,” Remus threw back confidently, as Harry sniggered. “And I’m not going to go out with her because I don’t fancy her. But, remembering back centuries ago when you last expressed an interest in girl, she seems like your type.”

“He doesn’t have a type, Moony,” Sirius observed, “he’s Joyce Byers in glasses and little Will here is his only concern.”

“Ok, I am ending this conversation once and for all,” James interjected, standing up and leaning down over the table. “I’m going to read in the other room and you two can do the dishes for being such terrible guests,” he said to Remus and Sirius. “Harry, go finish your homework and stop worrying about finding me a girlfriend.”

James gave them all one final look before exiting the room.

“You know he’s going to play Super Mario Odyssey, right?” he heard Harry say as he shut the kitchen door. “And he is going to go out with Lily,” he added as Sirius laughed. “He’ll be pining over her the minute he sees her.”

...

The one habit James noted he had picked up as a parent was the ability to arrive on time. He thought this as he surveyed The Three Crowns from his booth, bemoaning the fact that no one else seemed to have developed this particular skill in the intervening years. Watching the rugby with Harry, Ginny and Sirius had been a tradition for years as was the fact that James always watched the first fifteen minutes by himself.

This Saturday wasn’t so bad, he thought, letting his eyes drift over to the back of the bar where they had been coming to rest more and more the longer he sat there. James didn’t know if it was because of Harry’s insistence earlier that week that he start dating but for some reason he could not stop staring at a girl with a book, a radiant smile and vivid red hair as she sat sipping her coffee.

He was beginning to feel inappropriate, watching her so intently but every so often, she’d smile at something she had read and James would feel his pulse quicken and a smile ghost over his own face. He’d force himself to stare down into his pint but when his self-control weakened, he’d look back up again and once or twice she’d been looking at him. The first time their eyes connected, he half forgot how to breathe, looked away quickly and inwardly wondered how his eighteen-year-old son was better around women than he was.

“You look like crap,” Sirius said as he appeared out of nowhere, sliding into the booth with a pint of Guinness.

“Thanks.”

“Are you ill?”

“I’m fine,” James responded, turning his glass in his hands and taking a second to phrase next question as Sirius watched the match. “Do you think I need to date?” he asked carefully.

“What?” Sirius snorted, looking down from the tv screen. “Is this about the sprog and his obsession with this librarian?”

“Maybe,” James said, his eyes drifting back over to the redhead.

Sirius followed his gaze and turned around in his seat to see what James was looking at.

“You want to date her?” he queried, grinning at James as James inwardly cursed Sirius’s eternal lack of subtlety.

The girl caught his eye again and James felt his stomach flutter. He looked away to smile weakly at Sirius.

“Oh God,” Sirius let out, rolling his eyes. “I don’t think I’m ready for pining Prongs again. I need at least three more pints.”

“I’m not pining,” James said lowly, worried she’d hear them, although that was completely unrealistic over the noise of the pub and the television. “She just…well, she’s…”

“What?”

“I can’t stop staring at her,” he admitted, as Sirius looked at him strangely. “It’s not that I haven’t found other women attractive but since Harry was born, I’ve never really…”

“Fancied anyone?” Sirius tried helpfully.

“…taken a second look,” James finished uncomfortably. “And now…now I can’t stop staring at her.”

Sirius continued to look at him with a strange look, until he sat back in his seat.

“You know, Harry was right, he really is best qualified to give out this kind of advice,” he said, taking a large gulp of Guinness.

“Do you think it’s because he was suggesting I date?”

“I don’t know,” Sirius shrugged, “maybe. Or maybe you just think she’s hot.”

“She’s beautiful,” James corrected softly, staring at her again.

“For fuck sake, Prongs,” Sirius groaned, hitting the table, “you haven’t even spoken to her yet and you’re already looking at her like she’s your long-lost love.”

“Who’s his long-lost love?” Ginny asked, appearing out of nowhere with Harry in tow, both of them in rugby shirts and both of them blocking James’s view.

“Minnie!” Sirius cried, patting the seat beside him, “how are you?”

“I thought you said the man-child was banished from pub rugby,” Ginny asked James dryly, taking the seat.

“He knows where we drink,” James advised her, “I tried distracting him with a chew toy but he followed me here.”

“Oi!” Sirius cried, glaring at James.

“Stop looking wounded, you deserve it,” Harry scolded Sirius.

“Now, who is Mr Potter’s long-lost love?” Ginny asked brightly, smiling at James.

“Harry, you promised she’d stop calling me that,” James muttered.

“Only after you promised you’d make him learn my name,” Ginny replied, elbowing Sirius. “Now, stop ignoring my question!”

“There’s some woman over there that your father is mooning over,” Sirius finally answered, snubbing James’s protests.

“Who?” Ginny asked, sounding delighted as she and Harry eagerly surveyed the pub.

“The redhead in the back. Green dress, book. Making your father weak at the knees, apparently.”

“Ask her out,” Harry said immediately, looking at the woman and then back to James.

“Harry…” James sighed, taking a second to glower at Sirius before letting his head hang forward.

“What?” the boy exclaimed, as Ginny smiled and took his hand. “You like her, right? Just go over there and say hello.”

“You should,” Ginny urged, nodding her head in tandem with Harry as James inwardly agreed with Sirius that sometimes they did look like eighty-year olds.

“Can we all please stop talking about Prongs and his boring love life and watch the goddamn match,” Sirius hissed, wincing at the tv screen. “Your stupid team is losing this match, Mitsy.”

“They’re your team too, you overgrown trust fund baby,” Ginny shot back pleasantly, “and they’re not losing anything, you just don’t understand anything about rugby tactics.”

Letting the sound of Ginny and Sirius’s playful arguing fade into the background as Harry went to get a drink, James moved his head slightly to see if the redhead was still sitting in the back of the bar. He hadn’t noticed her green dress until Sirius pointed it out but now he looked at her, the green stood out to him as much as her eyes. James smiled a little to himself, watching her casually playing with an errant piece of her hair which had fallen from its bun. He was starting to contemplate the possibility of maybe going over to speak to her when he jumped to noticed that Harry had gotten there before him. Unable to yelp in time to stop it, he broke out in a sweat properly this time as he watched the woman smile and turn to his son.

“Sirius, never have children,” James hissed hurriedly, somewhere hoping that his best friend would manage to salvage this situation without him having to do anything.

“Wh…” Sirius began to ask, turning around in his seat and then shaking his head when he saw what James was looking at. “He gets all this from Euphemia, you know. Hattie, tell your boyfriend to get back over here before Prongs dies of shame.”

Ginny was about to respond but lost her chance when the woman stood up and started walking with Harry back to their table, making James wonder if his heart was going to stop before they got there.

“You can tell your boyfriend he is grounded until his twenty-fifth birthday,” James spat, feeling his right-hand drift to his hair, helpless to stop it as Ginny ignored him.

“Hi,” Ginny said brightly to the pair as they reached the booth, all three of them smiling as James wondered how bright red his face was.

“Hi, rocket,” the woman replied, grinning down at Ginny and gripping her by the shoulder. “You playing tomorrow?”

“Yup,” Ginny answered, “can’t wait. I want five tries or more. Nothing less.”

The woman laughed. “Your girlfriend is fierce, Potter,” she said to Harry, whacking him on the shoulder.

“I know,” Harry smiled, “by the way, have you met my Dad? Dad, this is Lily Evans. Lily, this is my dad, James.”

Ignoring what he knew was certainly going to be a long conversation with his son later, James felt his mouth go dry as her vivid green eyes turned to him and she smiled gently. “Hi.”

“I’m not married,” was the first thing that came out of his mouth.

All of a sudden, James couldn’t hear anything other than the sound of Sirius snorting into his Guinness and howling with laughter.

“That was….fantastic,” Sirius snickered between breaths, banging the table with his fist and still coughing up his drink.

“Um…okay…,” Lily replied, a half smile ghosting over her face. James’s eyes drifted from Ginny and Harry’s delighted faces back over to Lily’s. She was now starting to smile fully and James couldn’t help but feel a smile creep onto his own, embarrassed face.

“For the record, neither is she,” Harry said triumphantly, sitting down next to James again and giving him a knowing look.

“Subtle, kid,” Lily smirked, now the only one standing as Ginny sat down too.

“Join us, Lil’,” Ginny invited, patting the seat next to her and shoving a disgruntled Sirius over to the corner of the booth. “Come sit in the non-married booth.”

Rolling her eyes, Lily slid in next to Ginny, nudging her in the side.

“You are a carbon copy of your father, Potter,” she said, eyes darting between them both as James felt his hand go to his hair again, causing Lily to smile once more.

“No,” Harry replied, shaking his head, “not at all. I have a girlfriend. My father is single.”

Lily met James’s eyes, both of them now grinning.

“I think I heard that somewhere,” Lily breathed, blushing lightly which didn’t help James at all.

“I would like to apologise on behalf of my son,” James tried steadily, wincing at the sound of his own ridiculous voice as it came out. “He thinks he’s helping, but he’s not.”

“Not helping would be pointing out that you’ve been single for 18 years,” Sirius added, smirking at James. “Sirius Black,” he went on to Lily, “I’m single but not interested.”

“Trust me when I say she doesn’t care,” Ginny said, rolling her eyes. “Did you know James raised Harry all by himself, Lily,” she continued, now grinning along with Harry.

“I did know that,” Lily nodded, looking again at James who held onto his right hand with his left to stop it from leaping to his hair. “You mentioned that when you brought Harry and his dad up two nights ago,” she said, now smiling meaningfully at Harry. “There seem to be a plan here,” she finished to James.

“I’m starting to get that sense myself,” James responded, trying to look annoyed at his son but failing miserably – he was starting to rather like this plan. “You’re a lot more troublesome than I was as a teenager,” he added to Harry, ignoring Sirius’s snickers of disbelief in the background.

“Maybe you two should grab a drink sometime to discuss the failing youth of today,” Ginny suggested helpfully. “Or why don’t you come to the match tomorrow?”

“Oh, I don’t think so,” Lily said, causing the smile to fall off James’s face before he could figure out a way to agree with Ginny without seeming too eager.

“What? Why not?” Ginny retorted, sounding outraged as James became very quickly aware of how small the booth was.

“Oh, don’t look so put out,” Lily said dismissively, looking from Harry to Ginny. “It’s not the end of the world.”

“Yeah, it isn’t,” Sirius chimed in, “Moony said she was smart but if she doesn’t want to go out with Prongs, she’s an idiot and he doesn’t need her.”

“Sirius,” James warned, unable to apologise before Lily cut in.

“I’m not going to go out with someone who has stood me up already,” Lily said lightly, as all four heads in the booth snapped to look at her at once.

“What?” James and Harry asked at the same time. “He stood you up?” Harry asked, this time by himself, already glaring at James.

“No!” James replied before Lily could, turning to her, his face creased with confusion. “I’ve never…”

“You know, you’re a lot like your mother, Rocket,” Lily interrupted, smiling at Ginny. “And you’re definitely not the first person who has thought that James and I should date,” she went on, now turning to grin victoriously at James. “I have very vivid recollections of Molly Weasley emphatically detailing your every virtue as well as saying, ‘he’s raising Harry on his own, Lily!’,” she chuckled.

“Mum tried to set you up?” Ginny asked faintly, as Lily nodded.

For reasons he was trying to ignore, James felt severely uncomfortable with the idea that Lily wouldn’t go out with him through some misunderstanding. He was about to speak up on his own behalf when Sirius got there first.

“He hasn’t had a date in eighteen years,” Sirius droned, sounding unimpressed, “how is it possible that…”

“14 May 2007,” Lily cut in loudly, not bothering to look at Sirius. “We were supposed to meet for drinks in Newington Green because it was near where you lived: some pub opposite...”

“…the green,” James inserted faintly, feeling his memory come flooding back to him. As realisation crossed his face, Lily smiled wryly. “Oh my God,” he said, sounding exactly as horrified as he felt, feeling the colour drain from his face.

“The Alma,” she remembered. “Molly said you liked it because it had good pub quizzes.”

“It did,” Sirius said, clearly taking the opportunity to speak because words were failing James. “We went every Thursday. Why didn’t you tell me you had a date?”

“Why didn’t you show up is the more important question?” Harry put in, continuing to glare at James in the way that only disappointed children can.

“I…I…,” James stuttered, trying to remember back to his thought processes that night, “I can’t really remember,” he said, as Harry rolled his eyes. “I only…vaguely…remember not wanting to leave you.”

“That’s your excuse?” Harry retorted dramatically.

“It’s a pretty good one, kid,” Lily said, drawing Harry’s attention and ire away from James. “Well, it’s a good one for not wanting to go out on a date,” she reassessed, “you still could have called,” she added, smirking again at James.

“I definitely should have called,” James replied, leaning forward earnestly. “I am really sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Lily stated charitably as Harry snorted, “really it is. I had a few drinks, ate and went home with the barman,” she smiled, effortlessly lightening the mood as Ginny giggled.

“Really?”

“Really. We went out for 6 months,” she laughed, “it’s the reason I remember the date I was stood up. If I wanted to blame the whole wretched relationship on you I could, I suppose,” she mused humorously, looking at James.

“Lily, on behalf of my father, I would like to apologise,” Harry said solemnly, mimicking his father.

“You don’t have to, I’ve already done that,” James said quickly, before turning to Lily again, “really, I am. Sorry. I was an idiot. There’s no excuse.”

“James, it’s fine,” Lily replied, focusing on him so completely with those green eyes of hers that James had to take a deep breath. “Give your dad a break, Potter,” she said to Harry. “Everyone is stupid in their early twenties…apart from you and the missus obviously.”

“Well then you give him a break,” Sirius mumbled as James kicked him under the table. “Give him another chance and go out with him.”

Lily laughed, shaking her head and turned to James, “you know that is officially the third person to ask me out on your behalf.”

“Eh….yeah….I can see that,” James said, feeling himself go red again.

“He doesn’t have a lot of experience asking girls out,” Sirius put in helpfully.

“He really doesn’t,” Harry confirmed to Lily earnestly.

“If it helps, you’re the first girl I’ve wanted to ask out in 17 years,” James added quietly, trying to pretend that he and Lily were the only two people at the table. She smiled in such a pretty way, his stomach flip-flopped, and he was forced to stare at the table.

“That was a pretty decent line for someone who’s been out of the game so long,” Lily replied, sounding far more sensible than James although he noted she now blushing again.

“Ask her out,” Ginny hissed unsubtly across the table, causing everyone to laugh.

“Could I maybe take you to dinner?” James tried, feeling relieved as Lily continued to smile.

“Sure,” Lily said with a small nod of her head, “as long as you’re planning to show up this time.”

“Trust me, he is,” Sirius confirmed, “He’s free every Saturday for the next ten years. Pick one that suits you and he’ll be there.”

“Here,” Lily said, scribbling on a napkin and then handing it to James, “that’s my number. Call me and we’ll arrange a date,” she stood up, and turned to Harry and Ginny, “and nice wing-manning, you two. You did nothing to help,” she said pleasantly to Sirius finally before walking away.

“See,” Harry said to James, nudging him once more. “She can put up with Sirius. She’s made for you!”

...

“Do not wear that stupid patterned shirt that you think looks nice,” James heard his son yell up the stairs.

“I can get dressed by myself, thank you,” James yelled back, throwing down the patterned shirt and making his way back to the wardrobe, now knowing why he hadn’t bothered to date in eighteen years. The sick feeling in his stomach wasn’t one he was used to but if felt like a snake was slithering around his innards. He didn’t know how he was going to finish a meal never mind make witty conversation.

“Something white, Prongs,” Remus suggested, also yelling up the stairs. “Wear a white shirt and some form of jacket.”

“How do you know what he should wear?” he heard Sirius query derisively.

“I’m reliably informed by my female colleagues that when going on a date one should always try to look like James Bond.”

“Are you planning to feed my son at all this evening or do I need to call mum?” James yelled back, picking out the one white-ish shirt that he possessed and wondering if the only formal jacket he owned was his old school blazer.

“He’s eating cereal out of the box, does that not count?” Sirius asked.

“We’re ordering pizza at mine later,” Remus supplied, just as James was about to yell back. “The black jacket Harry wore to his formal last year is still in his wardrobe, it’d probably fit you.”

“Thanks,” James replied hesitantly, throwing on the white shirt and wandering into Harry’s room to rifle through his wardrobe. He jumped when he felt a hand fall on his shoulder.

“You’re going to be fine,” Remus reassured, moving over to Harry’s bed to sit down.

“I don’t know about that,” James half-laughed, pulling hangers apart. “I never learned how to do this bit. I was too busy learning how to put on nappies.”

“I spoke to Molly earlier this week,” Remus replied, as James found the jacket. “She couldn’t have been nicer about Lily. She doesn’t sound like the kind to put you through the ringer. Plus, she knows it’s your first date in a while…”

“I doubt she forgot when Sirius and Harry were reminding her every two minutes,” James cut in grumpily.

“…so I think you’ll get a bit of leeway if you do anything stupid.”

“Like what?”

“Like propose.”

James laughed, turning to look at himself in the mirror. “You know, when Harry had his first date with Ginny, I told him it was going to be easy and he shouldn’t worry. Clearly, I was an idiot.”

“Clearly, you were right. They’ve been together for a year. Sounds like their first date went well.”

“Why did I say I’d do this?” James moaned, throwing himself down on the bed beside Remus. “There is no way I’m not going to make an idiot out of myself. When I look at her, I can’t think properly. I can’t talk like a normal person…”

“You’ve been texting this week, haven’t you?”

“A bit,” James admitted, “she’s much better at this whole flirting thing than I am too,” he said, pulling out his phone and passing it to Remus.

“She likes you,” he grinned, scrolling through the messages.

“I have no idea why,” James replied, grabbing his phone back and looking at his own messages. “I text like someone in their fifties. I remind me of my mother. I should’ve watched more of that Love Island thing Sirius was obsessed with. I might have learned something.”

“You text fine, you don’t have to be like a reality tv contestant, you can just be yourself,” Remus said, patting him on the back again. “Molly says she thinks you’re charming.”

James felt his eyebrows leap up into his hair, “she does?”

“According to Molly,” Remus smiled, “so you must have done something right at the Crown.”

“Moony, hurry up, he has to leave in five,” Sirius screeched from downstairs, as Remus threw his eyes up to heaven and they both got up.

“Will you tip the delivery guy this time,” James asked Remus as they made their way downstairs, “they add half an hour to my delivery time every time you don’t.”

“Yes, I will,” Remus droned, shuffling down the stairs behind him. “I also won’t let Sirius answer the door, will make sure we put out any fires before tweeting about them, lock the door before we leave and only let Harry have two beers, not five.”

“So basically, you’re going to make this the dullest evening ever,” Sirius greeted them with Harry in tow, both of them eating out of the same box of cereal.

“I am leaving now,” James said, ignoring them.

“Oh!” Harry said, shoving the box of cereal towards Sirius. “Here,” he went on, stuffing his hand into his back pocket and pulling out a condom. “I’m staying at Remus’s tonight. Be safe. Last thing you want is an unexpected pregnancy.”

“Brilliant,” James said dryly, pushing Harry’s hand away and going towards the door. “I will be coming home tonight, so you don’t need to stay at Remus’s,” James advised.

“I’ve been waiting my entire life to make that joke,” he heard Harry say to Sirius as he shut the front door.

...

As he walked to the restaurant he had suggested, James was glad he had picked one that he could get to on foot. For one, the cold air was helping to calm his nerves and cool him down and for another, it meant he caught sight of Lily standing outside of the trattoria, leaning against the wall, before she saw him. That gave him the opportunity to acknowledge how amazing she looked before he actually had to talk to her. She was wearing some floaty white dress with pink flowers and birds on it that somehow helped her to look unreasonably pretty. She had a leather jacket on over that made James think Sirius would probably approve after all.

Taking a deep breath to ready himself, James ruffled his hair and walked up to her with what he hoped was a normal smile. “Hi.”

“Hey,” Lily replied brightly. “You’re here.”

“Yes,” James laughed, “I made it this time. Is that why you’re standing outside?”

“Yup,” she grinned, “I didn’t fancy sitting at a table by myself for an hour whilst the waiters looked at me like I was pathetic. At least this way, I could make sure you showed up.”

“Eh, yeah…have I apologised for that?”

“Twice,” Lily said, “so I think three times would be overkill. Shall we go in?”

Managing to open the door for Lily, ask for their table and seat himself all without saying anything stupid, James opened his menu when Lily did likewise.

“This all looks great,” she hummed, as James took a second to appreciate the sight of her swooning over the menu. “Good choice.”

“Sirius approves of their Bolognese, so I figured it was a safe bet,” James agreed, mentally taking note of the food he could eat without looking ridiculous.

“Molly said you cook for them all quite a bit,” Lily half-asked, still looking downwards.

“Yeah,” James replied, “Sirius and Remus sort of live with me and Harry, except when they decide not to. I think you know Remus? He said he met you a couple of years ago?”

“At Arthur’s birthday,” Lily nodded, setting her menu down. “Seemed a little shy at first but by the end of the night…”

“…you realised that was an act and he’s the worst prankster you’ve ever met?”

“Yes!” Lily said excitedly, smiling widely. “He put shaving foam behind all of Molly’s door handles.”

“I love watching people figure out that Remus is completely evil,” James grinned back. “Everyone thinks he’s this shy, principled teacher the first time they meet him. Then he rips the last pages out of the books they’re reading and they figure out his true nature quickly.”

“He does not do that!” Lily hissed, looking genuinely horrified.

“I’m sorry to say it’s true,” James replied sorrowfully. “For two years, I thought Sirius was ruining all my books and he thought it was me doing it to him, and then one day we went to Remus’s house and he had papered the bathroom with the pages of all the books he’d defaced.”

“What did you do?” Lily asked, attention rapt.

“I think Sirius called him his hero and swore fealty to him on the spot,” James tried to recall. “We had just finished watching Game of Thrones,” he clarified.

“I find all of this offensive as a librarian,” Lily stated firmly, shaking her head. “I’m going to have to reprimand Ginny. She cannot call him her favourite teacher when this is how he behaves.”

“Harry says you met him at Arthur’s party too?”

“Yeah,” Lily smiled, “he was lovely. Cleared the table with Molly and got everyone drinks the whole night. Very mannerly.”

“That’s all my mother,” James clarified hastily. “She loves Ginny, she’s determined they’re getting married and that Harry is going to impress his in-laws.”

Lily laughed out loud as the waiter appeared and took their order.

“So, you know a lot about me from Harry and Ginny and Molly,” James began again, starting to feel more relaxed as Lily smirked. “What about you? Any crazy friends who live with you or children who act like the parent?”

“None,” she replied, “although I do have several crazy friends. They like to show up to the library, sneak in bottles of wine and get drunk while I work. Then they complain about the service.”

“That might just beat Sirius and Remus,” James laughed, “although do not tell Sirius about that or he’ll be with your friends next time you’re working.”

“They’re great really,” Lily said happily. “I’d be lost without Mary. I was given seven outfit choices for this evening and then told which one to pick.”

“Well, Mary has great taste. You look beautiful,” James tried, hoping that the line that sounded romantic in his head actually came out that way.

Lily gave him a stunning smile for his efforts. “I’ll let her know,” she said as the waiter arrived to bring over some water and take their orders.

“So, is Harry happy that you’re finally on a date?” she asked after the waiter had left.

“Delighted,” James confirmed.

“He and Ginny seemed to be very interested in your love life.”

“I think he’s just worried about going off to university and leaving me alone,” James said, inwardly wincing at how feeble he sounded.

“That’s quite cute,” Lily replied sincerely. “That’s a good son you’ve raised all by yourself.”

James grinned, “I definitely didn’t raise him ‘all by myself’. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without a lot of help from my parents. And Remus and Sirius as well. But he’s turned out pretty great, even if it is me saying that.”

“Is it okay to ask about his mum?” Lily queried, somewhat nervously.

“Yeah,” he nodded, “it is. She’s a photographer, travels a lot. Harry sees her when she’s in England. Most of the time, she lives in Amsterdam.”

“How long has he lived with you?”

“Since he was about one,” James said, knowing he was getting into uncomfortable territory but deciding it was better to tell the story now. “I knew from when he was born that I wanted to take care of him and after a while, his mum wasn’t really handling the responsibility so well. Which was fine. She wanted to go to uni and all of that. I wanted to stay home with Harry. So, I spoke to my mum and we all decided Harry would live with us.”

“How did you meet her?” Lily continued, still sounding unsure of herself.

“In school,” James said. “We didn’t really date,” he went on steadily, “just sorted of bonded over Pokemon Blue and then were a bit stupid.”

“A bit?” Lily said incredulously, “I can’t believe you even bothered with blue, yellow was the only one worth playing.”

“Yellow wasn’t out until 2000 and I was already hooked on Blue by then,” James corrected confidently, smiling when Lily looked impressed rather than repulsed.

“That is some serious nerd knowledge,” Lily marvelled, looking at him in such a way that he ruffled his hair again, inwardly hating himself. “Do you still play?”

“Not at all,” James obviously lied, “I’m a grown-up man who isn’t in any way addicted to Pokemon Go.”

“Brilliant,” Lily laughed, “Ginny told me about this.”

“About what?” he asked, as the waiter arrived with their food.

“About the videogames, the D&D, the board game café…”

“In my defence, I like rugby as well,” James tried, looking down at his plate.

“Oh, she told me about the rugby coaching and pub rugby too,” Lily smiled, startling James when she reached across the table to take his hand. “But it was the nerd thing I liked best.”

“It was?” James asked, hoping his hand wasn’t too clammy.

“Yeah,” Lily nodded, a bit bashfully, “librarian, remember?” she said, gesturing to herself.

“Is that why you decided to give me a second chance?”

Lily smiled and shook her head. “No, I gave you a second chance because you’re really hot.”

James couldn’t hold back the disbelieving laugh he let out.

“You are!” Lily insisted, squeezing his hand before she let it go. “And…you know…the good father thing helps too.”

“It does?” he checked, as Lily grinned in a way that James found particularly alluring.

“Yes,” she confirmed, “your love for your son somehow makes you hotter. I have no idea why. Now, ask me about my book collection. As a nerd, you’re about to find me unbearably hot.”

...

Over the rest of dinner, Lily revealed herself to be pretty much the perfect woman, save for her preference for Charmander as a starter Pokemon. What James still couldn’t believe was that everything she said indicated that she was an in to him as he was to her. He didn’t know what he was doing to make her feel this way but no matter how stupid or ridiculous he sounded to himself, Lily laughed, smiled and flirted her way through the rest of the night. Still putting James’s flirting skills to shame but at least giving him the confidence to relax a bit more and think that maybe she might go out with him a second time.

However, no matter how relaxed he was by the end of the night, nothing prepared James for the shock of her trying to kiss him.

“Are you okay?” she giggled, as he jumped when she moved in closer to him after they had walked away from the restaurant.

“Eh…yeah,” James breathed, feeling once more like an idiot but taking both Lily’s hands and pulling her closer again. “I wasn’t expecting you to do that.”

“I keep forgetting you’re new at this,” Lily said quietly, moving towards him easily.

“So, I kiss you now,” he confirmed, as Lily nodded with a small laugh.

“Yes,” she murmured, kissing him first.

Kissing Lily and feeling her press up against him after a full week of day-dreaming about her was the best wish fulfilment James could have hoped for. It made him forget all his concerns that he didn’t have a clue what he was doing, emptying his head of all thoughts but her and how amazing she was.

“Would you maybe like to do this again sometime?” James blurted out as Lily pulled away, keeping her arms looped around his neck.

Lily laughed again.

“James, this is the part where you try to get me to go home with you.”

“I do?” he responded, causing her to laugh harder.

“Yeah,” she confirmed, nudging her nose against his. “If it helps, you won’t have to try that hard.”

Ignoring the twisting in his stomach, James smiled, “fancy seeing my video game collection?”

...

James was busy making scrambled eggs when he heard the front door open and close behind him.

“Hey,” he said to Harry and Sirius as they ambled into the kitchen.

“As you can see, he’s still alive and only has a minor hangover,” Sirius announced, clapping Harry on the shoulder.

“How’d it go last night?” Harry said immediately as James looked at him.

“Good,” James replied, trying to hide his smile. “We had a nice time.”

“Good,” Harry repeated, evidently happy though sounding slightly surprised.

“Didn’t bring her home though,” Sirius mocked, elbowing Harry.

“I didn’t expect him to,” Harry condescended, folding his arms. “Doesn’t matter, means I can make that condom joke another couple of times.”

“That’s if she’ll see him again,” Sirius put in, lowering himself into a chair. “She might just’ve said it went well to not hurt his feelings. Did she actually laugh at dinner or was she pity laughing, Prongs?”

James was saved the trouble of responding as Lily strode into the kitchen, silencing Harry and Sirius in the middle of their chuckles.

“I don’t pity laugh,” she said, not looking at either of them and walking over to James, hair still wet from the shower, his shirt looking better on her than it ever did on him. “Do you have a hair dryer?” she asked, moving her arms around his neck and pressing a kiss against his cheek.

“Yeah,” he smiled, thoroughly enjoying the stunned looks on Harry and Sirius’s faces. “Sirius’s from when he lived here. It’s in the closet in the bathroom.”

“Thanks,” she said, giving him another kiss, “I’ll be down in a minute. Don’t let Sirius eat all my breakfast,” she added, leaving with a smirk.

“There isn’t breakfast for anyone other than me and you,” James said after her, turning back to the stove.

“What?” Sirius yelped, finally finding the words to speak.

“You have to feed me, I’m your child!” Harry protested.

“How long is it before you bugger off to uni again?” James asked, ladling the scrambled eggs onto two plates with toast.

“Hey!” Harry objected, somehow managing to sound half-pleased.

“We’re eating upstairs,” James decided, lifting the plates and cutlery, “Harry, if Sirius won’t feed you, call your grandmother or Ginny or Remus or someone.”

Ignoring Harry’s protests, James climbed the stairs, smiling as he heard Lily singing from above.

“Oi, Evans” he called, “breakfast is ready.”

#jily #jily fanfiction #hinny #harry potter #single dad au #singledad!james #jily au #i am so nervous #ahhhhh

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skamfairy · 6 years

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - thoughts after reading it for the first time

hello pals, well damn, it’s officially been about two days probably three, after i finished ootp because I needed to process the hell out of it before i could discuss it sjhshjhjsa otherwise i would have just spent this whole post screaming WHYYYY sahjhasj so lets do this

how in the world did this book make my love for harry GROW EVEN MORE??? i didn’t think that was possible but here we are. We really see in this how everything is effecting him mentally and it’s incredibly heartbreaking and realistic. i love him so much and the whole time reading this i just wanted to hug the poor boy :((

OKAY THE ORDER i love the order. they are so cool and different and really fun to read. like the first part of the book shows them all engaging with each other and their dynamic so well, and it’s soooo fun to see. one of my fave scenes still remains to be mrs weasley and sirius arguing over how to raise harry sjhashjshjhsa that was just sajhsahjhjas i love seeing all these people who care about harry interact it’s really fun to read. ALSO tonks is SO COOL

alright alright, i should probably acknowledge the elephant before i continue otherwise the rest of this is gonna be me in denial asjhhajs SIRIUS :(( SIRIUS. i really really really love this character you guys, he’s everything i have wanted since the moment i met harry. all i asked for was someone who could love him and support him, someone harry could talk to and trust. someone who loved harry like a parent and harry could go to for love and comfort like a parent. and then we finally got sirius. This book really made me see the dynamic between sirius and harry, crystal clear. it showed how alike they are. and when harry was angry, it was like sirius was the only one who understood that anger cos he felt it too !!. harry had someone who understood him, loved him and would do anything for him. he finally had a parent. So, i ask you this, WHY WOULD THEY JUST TAKE THIS AWAY FROM ME AND HARRY????? HUH??? H U H?? IM SO MAD YOU GUYS IT’S BEEN DAYS AND IM STILL MAD AND SAD BUT LIKE NOW IM MOSTLY MAD. it’s not fucking fair it’s not. and the ending when harry finds that mirror that would have saved sirius?????? my heart literally died. IT DIED. they didn’t even get a proper moment to really be together you know? like they couldn’t talk and see each other the way they wanted to because harry was so worried about losing him. and now it’s just. it’s over. and it happened so suddenly it just,,,,he was there and then he wasn’t. STAB ME. the impact of this was huge and i can’t explain the kind of emotion it invoked in me. it was so intense and that alone is one of the reasons i absolutely adored this book.

on a nicer note, i absolutely love Luna Lovegood. She is such a good character, ever time she appeared i would instantly smile or get excited, like she brings something so different and exciting to the story. she’s super different to them all and because of that they judge her at first but she continuously turns out to have so much wisdom and help to give if they just listen to her. WHAT I REALLY LOVE THO, is how throughout the whole book we see harry be completely discredited by the ministry and because of that no one believes him, and it’s incredibly frustrating and isolating. but then we see that mirrored in luna. like harry, she’s also discredited by everyone who knows her, so much that they call her “looney” lovegood. and because of that, no one takes anything she says seriously, just like harry about voldemort. but we see that when we do take her seriously, what she says is helpful. I especially love this because at the end when harry is empty and grieving, he desperately seeks something that could give him that tiny shred of hope or comfort that he desires. he even seeks out nick the ghost, but then in the end; the person who is able to understand how he feels the most, is the only other person that has been just as discredited as him. and it’s luna who is able to give him the comfort he needs. and i really really love that. it’s so perfect to me. and i see luna as such an important character i better see MUCH MORE OF HER PLEASE

umbridge can go to hell

I LOVED DUMBLEDORE’S ARMY !!!!! that was incredible and the room of requirment !!!! ahhhhhh i love. it was so cool to see harry accept his talent for defence against the dark arts, and to use that to rebel against umbridge and teach his peers. i really love how at the end the people who go to harry to help are who harry sees as the people in the DA he’d want help from the least, which makes them all unlikely heroes but they are all so incredible. like i adore these kids you guys. i would do anything for them. i can’t wait to see more of them ahhhhhh

as always the twins were AMAZING i love them so much they really are two of my ultimate fave characters in ANYTHING EVER like i would literally do anything for them. I BETTER still see them in the next book a lot even tho they aren’t in school anymore. pls pls pls gimme my fred and george content

i should probably acknowledge cho because harry’s first experience at dating was super amusing and tiring but it feels like that was a lifetime ago. i really liked how they showed that tho. like they were both more into the idea of each other than the real thing and that’s often what a first crush is. i really liked how this was depicted.

asbhjjbhdsajhbdsahb HAGRIDS GIANT LITTLE BROTHER i just have to say that i adored this sjhaahjshjsa it was so fun among the angst thank you hjshjsajhas

Okay that ending was incredible but more than anything, the scene in dumbledores office and the PROPHECY was so so so good. not so much for the info dump but more for the way we saw the relationship dynamic between the two and the feelings it gave me. like i really felt what harry was feeling and the fact that i was able to feel that is amazing to me. that’s what i want out of books and this whole book, but especially that scene did that for me. the prophecy is holyyyyy fuck. it breaks my heart. harry finds out on the night when his godfather died trying to save him, that the reason his parents died was because voldemort wanted to kill him. it’s horrible. but also i find it so interesting how it could have easily been neville (which im also proud of because i kept asking my friend questions about why neville and harry are SO SIMILAR *flips hair* im that good) but voldemort CHOSE THE HALF BLOOD which can i just say, is so contradictory to voldemorts entire motive of this war. to keep the wizard world pure blood only; but his greatest enemy is the half blood like him. not the pure blood. like dude you’re admitting the half blood is the only wizard strong enough to beat you soooooooooo i also really wanna learn more about this and why he chose harry like AHHHHHHHHH IM GOING CRAZY WITH FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS I CAN’T BELIEVE I ONLY HAVE TWO BOOKS LEFT

OH OH OH i almost forgot !!!! dumbledore continues to talk about snape like he’s the greatest thing since a beard comb and it’s so frustrating. especially when harry and i are fucking grieving because they keep killing off the people we love and not asshole bullies like snape. like ugh CAN HE STOP whats his deal??? like we know he was bullied (to be fair apparently he also fucked with james back) but how does that justify him literally being a DEATH EATER??? speaking of death eaters, i hope they all die painful deaths, especially bellatrix. she’s disgusting. BUT I DIGRESS, i guess i don’t know how to feel about snape tho. idk. i hate him just like harry does don’t get me wrong. but im so CONFUSED like what is he playing at?? did he tell sirius where harry was going to help or to make sure sirius would be there so his friends can kill him? like im sorry but i don’t trust him. idk guys im just WHATS THE POINT OF THIS DUDE??

okay so i probably missed a lot of stuff cos there is way too much in this to cover, and if i missed something you really want my opinion on please shoot me an ask, but overall i LOVE this book. i think it’s my favourite one so far I SAY THAT ABOUT ALL OF THEM but you can’t blame me. they are all SO SO SO GOOD AHHHHHH help me i’m so obsessed. but seriously this book invoked emotions in me i didn’t know i possessed. I cried so so so much in this over so many different things and i feel like i have a connection with these characters i’m not entirely sure how to explain. i just really love them and this story and im hurting right now, but i really hope harry will find happiness it’s just SO UNFAIR sdhhjashjas im sorry im okay im okay. im gonna start the next one soon hopefully knowing i’m grieving with harry will help ashhjas. ALSO part of the pain of this, was when sirius died i couldn’t stop reading to react to it because i was so sure it wasn’t real and that he’d come back because HOW COULD IT BE REAL? and that’s exactly how harry felt so once again, i love how this story makes me truly feel and see things like harry i love that i’m able to connect to it like that and it’s a massive reason why i love this as much as i do AHHHH <3

#mikki reads hp for the first time #hp

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authormitchel-blog · 6 years

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Slytherin Harry and The Goblet of Fire Part 2

The Weasley’s home was just as alive and full of magic as it had been, though two new faces greeted him.

“How are you doing?” said a red head Harry hadn’t met before. The man grinned and held out a rough, large hand. Ah, thought Harry, this had to be Charlie, Ron’s brother from Romania. He had a broad, good natured face which was weather beaten and so freckly he almost looked tan, but it was the large burn on his muscular arm that tipped Harry off the most.

Next, Bill, the other brother, got to his feet smiling. Harry knew from Ron that Bill worked for the Wizarding Bank Gringotts, and that Bill had been Head Boy at Hogwarts, but where Harry had always thought Bill would be just an older version of Ron’s other brother Percy, fussy and law abiding, Bill Weasley looked down right illegal.

He was tall, like Ron, with long hair that he had tied back in a ponytail. He was wearing an ear ring with what looked like a fang dangling from it. He looked like he had just come from a rock concert, with leather, no, dragon hide boots, too.

Just then, a flurry of sparks burst into the room.

“What was that?” Harry asked.

“Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes,” said Ron, clapping Harry firmly on the shoulder. The twins came into the room next. “Our newest invention,” they said together.

“Yeah,” said Ginny Weasley. “Who knew all those noises and explosions coming from their room were actually leading up to something.”

“And not just fireworks,” said Fred.

“But all sorts,” said George. “Prank wands, trick sweets.”

“Brilliant,” Harry said amazed. Percy came over then and shook Harry’s hand before skiving off to finish some very important work.

“He’s enjoying the new job then?”

“Enjoying it,” said Ron darkly. “I don’t reckon he’d come home if Dad didn’t make him. He’s obsessed. Just don’t get him talking about Crouch.”

“Yeah,” said George. “They’ll be announcing the engagement any day now.”

“A Minister’s husband, we couldn’t be more proud,” said Fred, making cow eyes in the direction Percy had gone.

Mrs. Weasley moved into the kitchen after greeting Harry and offering him some food. “Have a bite dear, I just need to finish the rest then we’ll be ready to eat.”

“Are you staying for dinner, Remus?” she asked.

“Can’t, Molly, but thank you, you know how Sirius gets.”

“How is he?” Harry asked. “He sounded good in his last letter.”

Remus smiled, the one he seemed to only have when he thought of Sirius.

“He’s becoming a barrister apparently. He’s been studying the law and writing letters to send to everyone he can find to see if he can expedite his case. He wants to have you with him as soon as possible.”

“I want that too,” said Harry. “But you guys will be home soon, and I can come see you.”

“Of course,” said Remus. “We’ve already received partial free hours with Arthur’s help so that we can come here some days to see you. And of course, you can always come over ours. We may have to employ some non-magical means as to stay off the radar. But Sirius can’t wait to see you.”

“Tell him that I feel the same,” Harry said as he walked Remus out of the house.

“And thanks for coming and getting me today.”

“I wish I could have come sooner,” said Remus, looking regretful. “Your cousin will be alright by the way. It’s a simple charm. He should be back to normal by now, in case you were wondering.”

And before Harry could tell him that he hadn’t been wondering.

“It’s okay, Harry, wanting the best for family doesn’t stop just because they don’t want the same for you. It’s engrained in us to want good things for family and to want them to love us back.”

Harry nodded, but he didn’t want to think about it.

Then, Remus touched his shoulder.

“But family comes in many different boxes, and I want you to know that you have a family, families actually, and that we all love you and want the best for you and we want you to know that we care.”

Harry smiled.

“Even if that means blowing up someone’s fireplace?”

Remus laughed, looking younger in his joy.

“Yes,” said Remus, chuckling. “Even if it means blowing up someone’s cousin.”

NEXT CHAPTER

After explaining the concept of a portkey they began their climb up Stoatshead Hill. Harry couldn’t ever say that he was in shape, but after a summer of being ignored and locked away in his room, this time his choice, he was more out of it than normal and the climb was taking its toll on him. When Harry made it up the hill he saw Mr. Weasley shaking hands with a ruddy looking wizard with a scrubby brown beard who was holding a moldy looking old boot in his hand.

“This is Amos Diggory everyone,” Mr. Weasley introduced. “He works for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. And I think you know his son Cedric?”

Cedric Diggory was an extremely handsome boy of around seventeen. He was also Hufflepuff’s seeker and Captain. After everyone said, “Hi,” Amos Diggory asked good naturedly, “All these yours then, Arthur?”

“Oh no, only the redheads,” said Mr. Weasley. “This is Hermione, friend of Ron’s and Harry, another friend.”

“Merlin’s beard,” Amos Diggory said, his eyes widening. “Harry? Harry Potter?”

“Er…yeah,” said Harry, feeling a little uncomfortable with all the attention. “Ced’s talked about you of course,” said Amos Diggory.

Really, thought Harry.

“Yeah, he told us all about playing against you.”

“Yeah,” said Harry, breaking into the other man’s litany. “Well your son’s a great flier sir.”

Amos Diggory looked pleased and Harry thanked Pansy for that little piece of advice. People always like to talk about themselves and a change of subject was only as far away as you could bring up their child or ex. And Amos Diggory did just that until they were surrounding the boot and the portkey activated.

The campsite was amazing. Harry had rarely seen so much magic or so many wizards in one place with the exception of Hogwarts. Mr. Weasley sent Ron, Hermione, and Harry off on an errand. On their way back they ran into Seamus Finnigan. They had wandered into a patch of tents that were all covered with a thick growth of shamrocks, so that it looked as though small, oddly shaped hillocks had sprouted out of the earth.

“Like the decorations?” said Seamus grinning. “The Ministry’s not happy.”

“Just showing some pride,” said Dean Thomas, their classmate and Seamus’s best friend. Seamus clasped Dean on the back and Dean smiled at him good naturedly. Seamus gave Dean a bright smile in return, looking at his best friend like he was a member of Ireland’s team.

“Right-o, Thomas,” he said.

The trio after giving vows of loyalty to Ireland set off to investigate the other team’s side: Bulgaria.

There, each and every tent was adorned with the image of Viktor Krum.

“He looks really grumpy,” said Harry, looking at the boy’s surly face and heavy black brows. “Really grumpy?” Ron raised his eyes to the Heavens. “Who cares what he looks like? He’s unbelievable. He’s really young, too. He’s a genius, you’ll see.”

After getting the water, they met up with a few more familiar faces. Oliver Wood spotted Ron’s red head, and mistaking him briefly for one of the twins stopped and pulled him into a quick conversation. He had made the Puddlemere Untied Quidditch team and Harry felt happy for him. Wood was a good player. He knew from last year that Flint had made Bulgaria, he doubted that he would be playing tonight but he was still happy for his former Captain.

“There you are,” said an all too familiar voice.

Harry turned around to see his old Captain coming up behind the trio, eyes only for Oliver Wood.

“I said to meet me by the gate three minutes ago, Wood.” The man looked like he had last year. Large, burly, with a no nonsense air about him, and that tone in his voice that said that Harry…no Wood, this time, would be running extra laps.

Flint reached Wood then finally noticed the three people Wood had just been talking to.

“Potter? What are you doing here?”

“I’ve just come to see the match,” Harry said. “With the Weasleys. We were just getting water when…”

“Great news,” said Flint, cutting him off. “Now, can we get going Wood, or do you wanna keep chatting with the third years instead of meeting the Bulgarian team?”

Wood looked at Ron like Flint had somehow just announced that Wood was about to give Flint top secret Quidditch secrets, but then he said, “It’s just to gather intel, Flint, you do remember that right?”

“Right, right,” said Flint unflinching. Then under his breath, “Intel on how thick Krum’s broomstick is.”

Harry nearly choked. Flint patted him on the back, said cheerily, “Nice to see you, Potter, mess up my team while I’m gone and I will find you.” Then walked away with Wood following quickly at his footsteps, keeping up their argument about intel verses waxing brooms.

They passed Ernie Macmillian who still flinched slightly when he saw Harry, heir of Slytherin or not, but always made an effort to wave regardless. Ernie was normally okay after the first bout of boasting passed his mouth. Still, they didn’t stay long.

They also passed Cho Chang, a very pretty girl who played seeker for Ravenclaw. She waved and smiled at Harry and as Harry raised his hand to wave back, water splashed all over his front as Millicent clapped him hard on the back.

“Oi, Potter, try not to dribble, yeah?”

“Millicent!” he said, throwing himself at her, and nearly dropping the water all together.

Millicent hugged him back just as hard as he hugged her, but then pulled away like it was all Harry’s idea. She looked the same as ever, perhaps a little bit taller, but still broad around the shoulders. Millicent would never be a small girl, but to Harry she was the most wonderful bit of magic he had seen all day. She looked healthy, her skin tanner than normal because of the summer. Her hair had grown back, and she was now wearing it in a longer, slightly tousled way that framed her round face nicely.

“Granger,” she greeted and pulled Hermione into a tight hug. “Got your letter, nice of you to tell me that you were staying with the Weasleys. I recognized it for the cry of help that it was and have come to rescue you.”

“Ha, Ha, Bulstrode,” said Ron.

“Oh Weasley, sorry I didn’t see you there,” said Millicent. “Though perhaps I thought you were one of those floating Muggle contraptions that they use to attract the attention of feeble minds at automobile parks. It’s the red, is all.”

Ron rolled his eyes, but Harry could see that he was holding back a small laugh.

“What are you doing here? I didn’t think you liked Quidditch,” Harry asked.

“I don’t,” said Millicent. “But events like this are equally about the connections and esteem as they are about the actual game.”

Ron looked at her blankly.

“Meeting people,” elaborated Millicent. “Haven’t you noticed all of the different wizards here, from all over the country? My father knows a good investment opportunity when he sees one. He might be a barrister by title, but his heart runs gold.”

Harry nodded. He had seen the influx of different wizards. He had heard a group of kids their age speaking French not a few moments ago.

After agreeing that Millicent would come back to the camp ground with them, Harry and the group started to make their way back.

Mr. Weasley was having quite the time lighting a fire, so Hermione quickly stepped in and showed him the correct way to not scald himself.

Millicent shoved her way into the tent past a surprised looking Fred singing Ginny’s name. Fred quickly followed her back into the tent though he was just saying something about taking a walk around with George.

Then Harry noticed that someone else was standing by the fire.

“Everyone, this is Ludo Bagman, you know who he is. He’s the one we’ve to thank for getting us such good tickets….”

Ludo Bagman was easily the most noticeable person Harry had seen so far. He was wearing long Quidditch robes in thick horizontal stripes of bright yellow and black. An enormous picture of a wasp was splashed across his chest. He had the look of a powerfully built man gone slightly to seed; the robes he was wearing stretched taut around his belly that he surely had not had when he had played for England.

Bagman waved his hand as if to say the tickets had been nothing.

“Fancy a flutter on the match, Arthur?” he said eagerly, jingling what seemed to be large amounts of gold in his pockets.

Mr. Weasley bowed out, not eager to get on Mrs. Weasley’s bad side. Harry couldn’t blame him. Then the twins stepped up.

“We’ll take your bet,” they said in unison as they came back outside. “We have 20……… that Ireland will win, but that Krum will catch the snitch.”

“Now, boys!” chided Mr. Weasley, still looking as if Mrs. Weasley was going to pop out and catch him at any moment. “You’ve worked hard for that money. You shouldn’t risk it.”

“Now, come on Arthur, it’s their money, let the boys do as they please.”

“And girl,” said Millicent, walking up and handing some money to Bagman.

“Ms. Bulstrode,” he greeted happily. “And what would you like to bet.”

Millicent smiled, looking as if she was going Bagman a favor by having her cater to his bet. “What they said,” she gestured to the twins.

Bagman looked like he wanted to warn her off such a bet, but she said, “I’m sure,” then disappeared back into the tent.

“Yeah, dad,” said Fred. “If Bulstrode can handle it then I think we’ve got this.”

“ Yeah, don’t worry, Dad,” said George.

“Absolutely not. If your mother finds out she’ll…”

“Okay,” said Bagman, but added a conspiratorial wink in the twin’s direction when Mr. Weasley wasn’t looking.

“Have you seen Crouch?” Bagman then asked.

“Mr. Crouch?” said Percy, suddenly abandoning his look of poker-stiff disapproval and exchanging it for a look that was positively writhing with excitement.

“Yes,” said Bagman. “The man knows over two hundred languages, and I really need him to help me with a troll delegate right about now, but I seem to have lost him.”

Bagman looked around, and shrugged.

“Any news of Bertha Jorkins yet, Ludo?” Mr. Weasley asked.

“No, though being as forgetful as she is she’ll probably wonder back in October sometime thinking it’s still July.”

“Someone should be sent to look for her,” said Mr. Weasley. “She’s been gone quite a….”

With a snap, like a quick change in subject, Barty Crouch apparated in. Looking rather stiff and uptight, the elderly man was dressed impeccably in a crisp suit and tie. His hair and mustache neat and trimmed perfectly. He shoes were polished to shine. Harry could see why Percy idolized him.

“Some tea, sir?” Percy offered.

“Oh,” said Mr. Crouch, looking over at Percy in mild surprise. “Yes….thank you, Weatherby.”

Fred and George choked into their cups. Percy went very pink around the ears, but busied himself with the kettle as Crouch bid a curt farewell to Mr. Weasley then left with Bagman to meet with the delegate.

&&&

Mr. Weasley was right, they did have good seats. They were close to the Minister himself, and Millicent and her family. Harry waved at her, and noticed the rather similar looking but older girl sitting beside Millicent looking bored even with all the excitement in the air.

Harry sat and looked in front of him.

“Dobby?” said Harry, incredulously. The house elf turned slightly, and Harry realized his mistake.

“Sorry, I just through that you were someone I knew.”

“But I know Dobby too, sir,” squeaked the elf. “My name is Winky, sir, and you, sir. You is surely Harry Potter.”

“Yeah, I am,” said Harry.

“Dobby is a always talking about you Harry Potter, sir, he says that you are the greatest wizard to ever live, sir. And that you are brave and good, sir. But Dobby isn’t here, sir, and he wouldn’t be up this high either unless maybe you asked him, sir. Dobby would do it for you. Dobby is quite fond of you, though he is getting wilder and wilder. Out there with no family to serve and doing whatever he likes…being downright bawdy.”

“He’s just having a little bit of fun,” said Harry. “House elves is not supposed to have fun Harry Potter,” said Winky. “House elves does what they is told. I is not liking heights at all, Harry Potter,” she glanced towards the edge of the box and gulped---“, but my master sends me to the Top Box and I comes, sir, to save his seat. Winky is a good house elf, Harry Potter, sir.”

“So you found someone to consort with even lower than the Weasleys did you, Potter?” drawled the voice that haunts Harry’s dreams.

“Only when I have to share a room with you, Malfoy.”

Harry could hear Draco roll his eyes.

“Enough Draco, your mother is waiting,” said another familiar holier than thou voice: Lucius Malfoy.

Harry watched as the blonde and his father walked away, looking up for the first time to see that like he had, Malfoy had shot up quite a few inches over the summer. Whatever, Harry thought, his face is probably still as pointy as ever. He was still a git, just maybe a taller git.

Then the show began, and Ireland rained gold from the skies as Harry and Ron watched from Omnioculars.

Harry looked down at the field as dancers made their way to the center of the pitch. Music started and they started to dance. “Veela,” Harry heard someone say in an awed tone. Harry didn’t know what the big deal was, until he started to watch them. Ron nearly bumped him out his seat in an attempt to get closer to the creatures on the field.

Harry’s own mind started to go blank. The Veelas skin was moon white, their hair white gold. The nagging suspicion that the Veelas white blonde hair reminded him of someone kept Harry mostly sane while George looked like he was about to follow Ron over the edge. And before Harry could remember who they reminded him of or follow the others, they stopped.

Ron looked like he had been abruptly woken from a vivid dream while Fred like Harry, merely looked a little dazed. Malfoy further down the aisle looked as if he hadn’t been affected at all. Harry wondered at that before he saw Draco remove something from his ears.

Millicent eyed Harry wearily as if to make sure that he was alright, and motioned to Fred and George, George of who was nearly passed out on the ground. Harry laughed as George’s more together brother tapped him on the cheeks lightly to spur him from the stupor the Veelas’ dance had put him in.

&&&

The game was amazing. Ireland had won. Bagman announced the ending of the match. “Krum may have caught the snitch, but team Ireland are the winners!!!” Then after removing the sonorous from this voice. He said a little hoarsely, “They’ll be talking about this one for years.”

“A really unexpected twist that… shame it couldn’t have lasted longer….Ah, yes… yes, I owe you.. how much?” he asked, as Fred and George had just scrambled over the back of their seats and were standing in front of Ludo Bagman with broad grins on their faces, their hands outstretched.

&&&

“The Ireland supporters are really going at it, huh?” asked Fred as the group plus Millicent walked back to the camp. Ginny and Millicent were singing Irish folk songs with George as accompaniment. Ron was still going on about the beauty that is Krum in motion when they entered the tent and Harry heard a particularly loud explosion of fireworks before Mr. Weasley rushed into the tent.

“Kids, now!” he says in a tone Harry had never heard from the older man before.

The group rushes outside. “Dad, it’s just the Irish,” said Fred.

“It’s not the Irish!” said Mr. Weasley panicked. Then the sight before Harry’s eyes changed. No longer were the screams he was hearing those of triumphant joy, or the shouting that of congratulations, but of terror. The fireworks that Harry thought were going off in the distance were no longer bright lights in the sky, but light from wands that were exploding tents in the distance.

They were under attack.

“Fred, George, take Ginny and go that way, we need to meet at the portkey. We need to help the Ministry.”

People were running everywhere as Bill, Charlie, and Percy took off with Mr. Weasley in the direction the ministry officials were gathering against the threat. Millicent gave Ginny Weasley a panicked once over before joining in beside her, Fred had one of Ginny’s hands and Millicent the other as George held his wand out, cast Lumos, and started to lead them back to the hill.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron followed in behind them, but as people rushed past, the two groups got further and further separated from one another. As the group got further away from the explosions and the subsequent fires, the woods started to grow darker, and quickly the two groups lost one another.

Harry was about to demand that they all link hands so that he didn’t lose either of them when he heard Ron yelp in pain.

“What happened?” said Hermione anxiously, stopping so abruptly that Harry walked into her. She illuminated her wand.

“Tripped over a tree root,” Ron said, sounding slightly embarrassed.

“Well, with feet that size it’d be hard not to,” said a drawling voice from behind them.

Draco Malfoy was standing alone nearby, leaning against a tree looking utterly relaxed. Ron uttered a particularly nasty word in the English language, but Malfoy only laughed.

“Oh, Weasley, hadn’t you better be hurrying along now,” said Malfoy, as he refused to address Harry directly since Harry had snubbed him in the booth. “You wouldn’t like her spotted, would you?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” said Hermione.

“Granger, they’re after Muggles,” said Malfoy. “D’you want to be showing off your knickers in midair? Because if you do, hang around…they’re moving this way, and it would give us all a laugh.”

“Hermione’s a witch,” Harry snarled.

“Have it your own way, Potter,” said Malfoy, grinning maliciously. “If you think they can’t spot a Mudblood, stay were you are.”

“You watch your mouth!” shouted Ron.

“Don’t mind him, Ron,” said Hermione, seizing Ron’s arm to restrain him as he took a step toward Draco.

There came a bang from the other side of the trees that was louder than anything they had heard that night. Several people screamed nearby. Malfoy chuckled softly, but Harry heard the shaky quality it held.

“Scare easily, don’t they?” he said loudly. “I suppose your daddy told you all to hide? What’s he up to----trying to rescue the Muggles?”

“And where are your parents?” said Harry, his temper rising. “Out there wearing masks, like real heroes?”

“If they were I wouldn’t likely tell you, would I? But there’s no need to ask where your parents are?”

Harry just rolled his eyes. He knew now what his parents died for. And now that he had Sirius and Remus, Harry would never forget what his parents had done for their world.

“Let’s go,” said Hermione, “We need to find the others.”

“Keep that big, bushy head down Granger,” Malfoy sneered, but Hermione looked as over Malfoy and his taunts as Harry was.

The trio set out on the path again to find the others.

“I’ll bet you anything his dad is one of that masked lot!” said Ron.

“Well, with any luck, the Ministry will catch them,” said Hermione fervently.

Hermione scanned the forest, but Fred, George, Millicent, and Ginny were nowhere to be found. The forest was packed with other people, just not the people that they were looking for. They encountered a group of teenagers arguing in what Harry thought was French. Hermione mentioned that they must be students from Beauxbatons, another wizarding school.

“Oh…yeah…..right,” said Harry.

“Fred and George can’t have gone that far,” said Ron, pulling out his wand, lighting it like Hermione’s, and squinting up the path. Harry dug in the pockets of his jacket for his own wand….but it wasn’t here. Only his Omnioculars.

“Ah, no,” Millicent was never going to let him live this down. “I’ve lost my wand!”

“You’re kidding!” Hermione and Ron scolded in unison, like two very upset parents who were very disappointed in their child.

“Maybe its back in the tent?” offered Ron, after they had searched the immediate area.

“Or it fell out of your pocket when we were running.”

“Yeah,” said Harry. “Maybe…”

Then a rustling in the woods drew their attention, and Winky the house elf made her way into their field of vision.

“There is bad wizards about!” she squeaked distractedly as she leaned forward and labored to keep running. It looked as if she had just escaped some invisible force instead of a thorny bush. “People high…high in the air! Winky is getting out of the way!”

And she disappeared into the trees on the other side of the path, panting and squeaking as she fought the force that seemed to be restraining her.

“What’s up with her?” said Ron, looking curiously after Winky. “Why can’t she run properly?”

“Bet she didn’t ask permission to hide,” said Harry. He was thinking of Dobby and the way that he would have to beat himself up anytime he did something that he knew the Malfoy’s wouldn’t like. And before an argument could break out between Hermione and Ron that Harry would be forced to join, they set off once again.

They followed the path deeper into the woods, passing Goblins and wizards who were spouting nonsense. Harry saw Stan Shunpike, from the Knight Bus, before he, Hermione, and Ron ducked into a clearing. Hermione was just saying something when she broke off abruptly. Harry and Ron turned around and looked too. It sounded like someone was staggering toward their clearing. They waited, listening to the sounds of the uneven steps behind the dark trees. But the footsteps came to a sudden halt.

“Hello?” called Harry tentatively.

There was silence.

Harry got to his feet and peered around a tree. He was about to ask, “Who’s there?” when without warning, the silence was rent by a voice unlike any they had heard in the wood; and it uttered, not a panicked shout, but what sounded like a spell and a battle cry.

“MORSMORDRE!”

And something vast, green, and glittering erupted from the patch of darkness Harry’s eyes had been struggling to penetrate; it flew up over the treetops and into the sky.

“What the…?” gasped Ron as he sprang to his feet again, staring up at the thing that had appeared.

For a split second, Harry thought it was another leprechaun formation. Then he realized that it was a colossal skull, comprised of what looked like emerald stars, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue. As they watched, it rose higher and higher blazing in a haze of greenish smoke, etched against the black sky like a new constellation.

Suddenly the world erupted into screams, but when Harry looked back to see the person who had conjured the skull, he was gone.

“Who’s there?” he called.

“Harry, come on, move!” Hermione had seized the collar of his jacket and was tugging him backward.

“What’s the matter?” Harry said, startled to see her face so white and terrified.

“It’s the Dark Mark, Harry!” Hermione moaned, pulling him as hard as she could. “You-Know-Who’s sign!”

“Voldemort’s……”

“Harry, come on!”

Harry turned before a series of popping noises filled his ears. Harry whirled around, and in an instant, he registered one fact: They were surrounded, and each of the twenty or so wizards that had appeared out of thin air had their wands pointed right at them.

Without pausing to think, he yelled, “DUCK!”

He grabbed the other two and pulled them to the ground.

“STUPEFY!” roared twenty voices….there was a blinding series of flashes and Harry felt the hair on his head ripple as though a powerful wind had swept the clearing. “STOP!” yelled a voice he recognized. “STOP! That’s my son!”

Harry’s hair stopped blowing about. He raised his head a little higher. The wizard in front of him had lowered his wand. He rolled over and saw Mr. Weasley striding toward them, looking terrified.

“Ron…Harry…” his voice was shaky….”Hermione…are you all right?”

“Out of the way, Arthur,” said a cold, curt voice.

It was Mr. Crouch. He and the other Ministry wizards were closing in on them. Harry got to his feet to face them. Mr. Crouch’s face was taut with rage.

“Which of you did it?” he snapped, his sharp eyes darting between them. “Which of you conjured the Dark Mark?”

“We didn’t do that!” said Harry.

“We didn’t do anything!” said Ron, who was rubbing his elbow. “What did you want to attack us for?”

“Do not lie, sir!” shouted Mr. Crouch. His wand was still pointing directly at Ron, and his eyes were popping….he looked slightly mad. “You have been discovered at the scene of the crime!”

“Barty,” whispered a witch in a long woolen dressing gown, “they’re kids, Barty, they’d never have been able to….”

“Where did the Mark come from, you three?” said Mr. Weasley quickly, jumping on the pause in Crouch’s allegations.

“Over there,” said Hermione shakily, pointing at the place where they had heard the voice. “There was someone behind the trees….they shouted words…an incantation…” Crouch seemed to doubt Hermione’s words, but none of the other Ministry wizards apart from him seemed to think it remotely likely that Harry, Ron, or Hermione had conjured the skull; on the contrary, at Hermione’s words, they had all raised their wands again and were pointing in the direction she had indicated, squinting through the dark trees.

“We’re too late,” said the witch in the woolen dressing gown, shaking her head. “They’ll have Disapparated.”

“I don’t think so,” said a wizard with a scrubby brown beard. It was Amos Diggory, Cedric’s father. “Our Stunners went right through those trees….There’s a good chance we got them….”

“Amos, be careful!” said a few of the wizards warningly as Mr. Diggory squared his shoulders, raised his wand, marched across the clearing, and disappeared into the darkness. When he appeared once again, he was dragging something or someone along with him.

It was Winky. For a few seconds Crouch remained transfixed, his eyes blazing in his white face as he stared down at Winky. Then he appeared to come to life again.

“This….cannot…be,” he said jerkily. “No…..”

He moved quickly around Mr. Diggory and strode off toward the place where he had found Winky.

“No point, Mr. Crouch,” Mr. Diggory called after him. “There’s no one else there.”

But Mr. Crouch did not seem prepared to take his word for it. They could hear him moving around.

“Bit embarrassing,” Mr. Diggory said grimly, looking down at Winky’s unconscious form. “Barty Crouch’s house elf…. I mean to say….”

“Come off it, Amos,” said Mr. Weasley quietly. “you don’t seriously think it was the elf? The Dark Mark’s a wizard sign. It requires a wand.”

“Yeah,” said Mr. Diggory. “and she had a wand.”

Ludo Bagman showed up to make matters even more colorful.

“But she couldn’t have done that, she would have needed a wand.”

“She did, and I think we should hear what she has to say for herself.” Crouch gave no sign that he had heard Mr. Diggory, but Mr. Diggory seemed to take his silence for assent. He raised his own wand, pointed it at Winky, and said, “Rennervate!”

Winky stirred freely. Her great brown eyes opened and she blinked several times in a bemused sort of way.

“Elf!” said Mr. Diggory sternly. “Do you know who I am? I’m a member of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures!”

Winky began to sob, rocking herself backward and forward on the ground in what Harry recognized as a self-soothing gesture. He was reminded forcefully of his own past.

“As you see, elf, the Dark Mark was conjured here a short while ago,” said Mr. Diggory. “And you were discovered moments later, right beneath it! An explanation, if you please!”

“I….I….I is not doing it, sir!” Winky gasped. “I is not knowing how, sir!”

“You were found with a wand in your hand!” barked Mr. Diggory, brandishing it in front of her. And as he did, Harry knew where his wand had went.

“That’s mine!” he said.

Everyone in the clearing looked at him.

“Excuse me?” said Mr. Diggory, incredulously.

“That’s my wand!” said Harry. “I dropped it!”

“You dropped it?” repeated Mr. Diggory in disbelief. “Is that a confession? You threw it aside after you conjured the Dark Mark?”

“Amos, think who you’re talking to?” said Mr. Weasley, very angrily. “Is Harry Potter likely to conjure the Dark Mark?”

“Of course not,” the zealous man seemed to concede. “Sorry…carried away….”

“I didn’t drop it there, anyway,” said Harry, jerking his thumb toward the trees beneath the skull. “I missed it right after we got into the woods.”

“So,” said Mr. Diggory, his eyes hardening as he turned to look at Winky again, cowering at his feet. “You found this wand, eh, elf? And you picked it up and thought you’d have some fun with it, did you?”

“I is not doing magic with it, sir!” squealed Winky, tears streaming down the sides of her squashed and bulbous nose. “I is…I is…I is just picking it up, sir! I is not making the Dark Mark, sir, I is not knowing how!”

“It wasn’t her!” said Hermione. She looked very nervous, speaking up in front of all these Ministry wizards, yet determined all the same. “Winky’s got a squeaky voice, and the voice we heard doing the incantation was much deeper! It didn’t sound anything like Winky did it?”

“No,” said Harry, shaking his head. “It definitely didn’t sound like an elf.”

“Yeah, it was a human voice,” said Ron.

“Well, we’ll soon see,” growled Mr. Diggory, looking unimpressed. “There’s a simple way of discovering the last spell a wand performed, elf, did you know that?”

Winky trembled and shook her head frantically, her ears flapping, as Mr. Diggory placed his wand against the tip of Harrys.

“Prior Incantato!” roared Mr. Diggory.

It was the Dark Mark.

“I is not doing it!” Winky squealed, her eyes rolling in terror. “I is not, I is not, I is not knowing how! I is a good elf, I isn’t using wands, I is not knowing how!”

“You’ve been caught red handed elf!” Mr. Diggory roared, though Harry knew that he knew her name. “Caught with the guilty wand in your hand!”

“Amos,” said Mr. Weasley loudly, “think about it…precious few wizards know how to do that spell…Where would she have learned it?”

“Perhaps Amos is suggesting,” said Mr. Crouch, cold anger in every syllable. “that I routinely teach my servants to conjure the Dark Mark?”

There was a deeply unpleasant silence. Amos Diggory looked horrified. “Mr. Crouch…not….not at all…..”

“You have now come very close to accusing two people in this clearing who are the least likely to conjure that Mark!” barked Mr. Crouch. “Harry Potter….and myself! I suppose you are familiar with the boy’s story, Amos?”

“Of course…everyone knows….,” muttered Mr. Diggory, looking highly discomforted.

“And you are aware of my own history, and that I detest anything tied to the Dark Arts.”

“Yes….b….”

“And I am fully aware that, in the ordinary course of events, you would want to take Winky into your department for questioning. I ask you, however, to allow me to deal with her.”

Mr. Diggory looked as though he didn’t think much of that suggestion at all, but it was clear even to Harry that Mr. Diggory fell lower in the hierarchy at the Ministry than Mr. Crouch did.

“You may rest assured that she will be punished,” Mr. Crouch added coldly.

“M-m-master…”Winky stammered, looking up at Mr. Crouch, her eyes brimming with tears. “Mmmmaster, please.”

Mr. Crouch stared back, his face somehow sharpened, each line upon it more deeply etched. There was no pity in his gaze.

“Winky has behaved tonight in a manner I would not have believed possible,” he said slowly. “I told her to remain in the tent. I told her to stay there while I went to sort out the trouble. And I find that she disobeyed me. This means clothes.”

“No!” shrieked Winky, prostrating herself at Mr. Crouch’s feet. “No, master! Not clothes, not clothes!”

Harry knew that the only way to turn a house-elf free was to present it with proper garments. It was pitiful to see the way Winky clutched at her tea towel as she sobbed over Mr. Crouch’s feet.

“But she was frightened!” Hermione burst out angrily, glaring at Mr. Crouch. “Your elf’s scared of heights, and those wizards in masks were levitating people! You can’t blame her for wanting to get out of their way!”

Mr. Crouch took a step backward, freeing himself from contact with the elf, whom he was surveying as though she were something filthy and rotten that was contaminating his over-shined shoes.

“I have no use for a house-elf who disobeys me,” he said coldly.

Mr. Weasley got Harry’s wand back and excused them.

“What’s going to happen to Winky?” said Hermione, the moment they had left the clearing.

“I don’t know,” said Mr. Weasley.

“The way they were treating her!” said Hermione furiously. “Mr. Diggory, calling her ‘elf’ all the time…and Mr. Crouch! He knows she didn’t do it and he’s still going to sack her! He didn’t care how frightened she’d been, or how upset she was…it was like she wasn’t even human!”

“Well, she’s not,” said Ron.

Hermione rounded on him.

“That doesn’t mean she hasn’t got feelings, Ron. It’s disgusting the way…”

“Hermione, I agree with you,” said Mr. Weasley quickly, beckoning her on, “and you’ll find that many others do as well. But now we need to get back to the tent and see if we can find the others.

“We lost them in the dark,” said Ron. “Dad, why was everyone so uptight about that skull thing?”

“I’ll explain everything back at the tent,” said Mr. Weasley tensely.

But when they reached the edge of the wood, they were stopped by a large group of anxious looking people.

“What’s going on in there?” they asked Mr. Weasley.

“Who conjured it?”

“Arthur…it’s not…Him?”

“Of course it’s not Him,” said Mr. Weasley impatiently. “We don’t know who it was; it looks like they Disapparated. Now excuse me, I want to get to bed.”

He led Harry, Ron, and Hermione through the crowd and back into the campsite. All was quiet now; there was no sign of the masked wizards, though several ruined tents were still smoking.

Charlie’s head was poking out of the boy’s tent. “Where are….”

“I’ve got them here,” said Mr. Weasley, bending down and entering the tent to see Fred, George, Millicent, and Ginny waiting for them.

Bill was sitting at the small kitchen table, holding a bedsheet to his arm, which was bleeding profusely. Charlie had a large rip in his shirt, and Percy was sporting a bloody nose. Fred and George looked unhurt though shaken. Ginny was sitting near Millicent and the two looked shocked by what they had gone through.

“Did you get them, Dad?” said Bill sharply. “The person who conjured the Mark?”

“No,” said Mr. Weasley. “We found Barty Crouch’s elf holding Harry’s wand, but we’re none the wiser about who actually conjured the Mark.”

“What?” said Bill, Charlie, and Percy together. “Harry’s wand?” said Millicent.

“Mr. Crouch’s elf?” said Percy, sounding thunderstruck.

With some assistance form Harry, Ron, and Hermione, Mr. Weasley explained what had happened in the woods. When they had finished their story, Percy swelled indignantly.

“Well, Mr. Crouch is quite right to get rid of an elf like that!” he said. “Running away when he’d expressly told her not to…embarrassing him in front of the whole Ministry…how would that have looked, if she’d been brought up in front of the Department for the Regulation and Control….”

“She didn’t do anything…she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time!” Hermione snapped at Percy, who looked very taken aback. Hermione had always got on fairly well with Percy better, indeed, than any of the others.

“Hermione, a wizard in Mr. Crouch’s position can’t afford a house-elf who’s going to run amok with a wand!” said Percy pompously, recovering himself.

“She didn’t run amok!” shouted Hermione. “She just picked it up off the ground!”

“Look, can someone just explain what that skull thing was?” said Ron impatiently. “It wasn’t hurting anyone…Why’s it such a big deal?”

“I told you, it’s You-Know-Who’s symbol, Ron,” said Hermione, before anyone else could answer. “I read about it in The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts.”

“And it hasn’t been seen for thirteen years,” said Mr. Weasley quietly. “Of course people panicked…it was almost like seeing You-Know-Who back again.”

“I still don’t…”

“Ron, You-Know-Who and his followers sent the Dark Mark into the air whenever they killed,” said Mr. Weasley. “The terror it inspired…you have no idea, you’re too young. Just picture coming home and finding the Dark Mark hovering over your house and knowing what you’re about to find inside….” Mr. Weasley winced. “Everyone’s worst fear….the very worst….”

There was silence for a moment. Then Bill, removing the sheet from his arm to check on his cut said, “Well, it didn’t help us tonight, whoever conjured it. It scared the Death Eaters away the moment they saw it. They all Disapparated before we’d got near enough to unmask any of them. We caught the Roberts’ before they hit the ground, though. They’re having their memories modified right now.”

“Death Eaters?” said Harry. “What are Death Eaters?”

“It’s what You-Know-Who’s supporters called themselves,” said Bill. “I think we saw what’s left of them tonight…the ones who managed to keep themselves out of Azkaban anyway.”

“We can’t prove it was them, Bill. Though you’re probably right.”

“Yeah, I bet it was,” said Ron suddenly. “Dad, we met Draco Malfoy in the woods, and he as good as told us his dad was one of those nutters in masks. And we all know the Malfoys were right in with You-Know-Who!”

“But what’s the point?” asked Harry. “Levitating Muggles… I mean?”

“That’s their idea of fun,” said Mr. Weasley. “Half the Muggle killings back when You-Know-Who was in power were done for fun. I suppose they had a few drinks tonight and couldn’t resist reminding us all that lots of them are still at large. A nice little reunion for them,” he finished disgustedly.

“But why did they disapparate then?” asked Ron.

“Use your brains, Ron,” said Bill. “If they really were Death Eaters, they worked very hard to keep out of Azkaban when You-Know-Who lost power, and told all sorts of lies about him forcing them to kill and torture people. I bet they’d be even more frightened than the rest of us to see him come back. They denied that they’d ever been involved with him when he lost his powers, and went back to their daily lives….I don’t reckon he’d be over-pleased with them, do you?”

No, Harry thought. He didn’t think Voldemort would be pleased at all.

***

The rest of the summer went by in a calmer manner. They got their books, played Quidditch, and Harry ate more food than he thought he could hold. The only majorly exciting thing had something to do with a wizard named Mad-Eye Moody. Mr. Weasley and Amos Diggory had rushed to take care of that matter. Then before Harry knew it, it was time to board the Hogwarts Express.

Bill and Charlie decided to come and see everyone off at King’s Cross station, but Percy, apologizing most profusely, said that he really needed to get to work.

“Don’t worry about it,” Fred told Percy. Then to George he said, “I think their having a lover’s tiff?”

“I agree,” said George. “If my lover forgot my name I’d be quite miffed myself.”

“Oh, poor boy,” Fred said, gazing after Percy’s retreating form as he hurried to get ready for work.

Millicent met them at the station. She was waiting for them as they went through the barrier.

“Wow!” she said when she saw them. “Ginny, I never would have guessed you were hiding that in your family tree,” Millicent said as she eyed Charlie as he lifted Ginny’s trunk onto the train.

Ginny laughed at her.

“Charlie’s not that great. He volunteered to help me pack my trunk…it took two hours, Millicent, TWO hours!” Ginny bewailed.

“That’s fine, Ginny, I like a thorough man.”

“Ugggh,” Fred gagged as he had caught wind of their conversation. Millicent merely blew him a kiss. And though George got on the train to save their seats, Fred had quite the time trying to get his trunk on the train until it was time for everyone to say goodbye.

“Goodbye, Charlie,” said Millicent in an over dramatized fashion.

“See you, Bulstrode, I’ll send you that book we talked about soon.”

“Great,” she said, flashing the dragon tamer a bright smile.

“Yeah,” said Fred, clasping Charlie hard on the shoulder. “Send her that book on dragon grooming, she really needs to get those scales under control,” he said before boarding the train. Millicent scowling at his back.

“Bye, Charlie, I’ll miss you,” said Ginny.

“Ah, don’t worry, Gin,” Charlie said. “I might be seeing you sooner than you think.”

After quite a few more intriguing and frustrating hints about what was in store for them this year, they boarded the train. Millicent, Ron, Harry, and Hermione ducked into a compartment and Hermione held her hand to her mouth, “Shh,” she whispered suddenly.

They listened, and heard a familiar drawling voice drifting in through the open door.

“Father actually considered sending me to Durmstrang rather than Hogwarts, you know. He knows the headmaster, you see. Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore…the man’s such a mudblood lover…and Durmstrang doesn’t admit that sort of riffraff. But mother didn’t like the idea of me going to school so far away. Father says they actually learn the Dark Arts there, not just the defense rubbish that we do…”

Hermione got up and shut the compartment door before Malfoy and his gang could walk by.

“So he thinks Durmstrang would have suited him, does he?” she said angrily. “I wish he had gone, then we wouldn’t have to put up with him.”

“Durmstrang’s another Wizarding school?” said Harry.

“Yes, and it’s got a horrible reputation,” said Hermione. “It puts a lot of emphasis on the Dark Arts.”

“Or they used too, you would never know now,” said Millicent. “As the school and their secrets are kept well-hidden.”

Harry looked at her blankly.

Hermione assisted.

“Other wizarding schools like to conceal their whereabouts so nobody can steal their secrets. Hogwarts itself is concealed from Muggles,” she said. Then added, “But I think Durmstrang must be somewhere in the far north. Somewhere very cold because they’ve got fur capes as part of their uniforms.”

“Ah,” said Ron. “Think of the possibilities. It would’ve been so easy to push Malfoy off a glacier and make it look like an accident…Shame his mother likes him…”

Several of their friends looked in on them as the afternoon progressed, including Seamus, Dean, and Neville. Seamus was still wearing his Ireland rosette, the tiny voices squeaking the names of Ireland’s members. Dean reached to try and reenchant it but the normally relaxed Seamus pulled away from him in an odd gesture.

Dean shook it off though, and Harry knocked it down to the superstition of it all.

Neville listened jealously to the others’ conversation as they relived the Cup match.

“Gran didn’t want to go,” he said miserably. “Wouldn’t buy tickets. It sounded amazing though.”

“It was,” said Ron. “Look at this, Neville…”

He rummaged in his trunk up in the luggage rack and pulled put the miniature figure of Viktor Krum.

“Oh, wow,” said Neville enviously as Ron handed him the figurine.

&&&

They were all positively soaked as they made their way into the castle. Peeves was launching water balloons at unsuspecting fifth years soaking them even further until Professor McGonagall threatened to get Dumbledore.

Harry sat at the Slytherin table beside a very decidedly not wet Blaise.

“How did you manage this?” Harry asked the dark skinned boy and his dry clothes.

“What?” asked Blaise. “My mother taught me grooming charms before she was concerned with teaching me how to walk. It’s not my fault your magical education has failed you.”

Harry laughed.

“Could you at least shoot a drying charm at my underwear then, it’s turning into a swamp down there.”

Blaise laughed at him but took pity just as the sorting was about to start.

After the sorting hats song, Professor McGonagall called the first name.

“Ackerley, Stewart!”

“RAVENCLAW!”

“Baddock, Malcolm!”

“SLYTHERIN!”

It was normal for the houses to cheer loud for their new classmates, but Slytherin seemed to be trying to outdo even that standard today. They cheered loudly for Baddock, and though the rest of the houses would seem to have every reason to not clap for the newest snake after news of what happened at the Cup had spread, a few gave a polite clap. Even the people at the Gryffindor table who Harry knew had been distressed from the attack didn’t react any different than normal.

“Creevey, Dennis!”

Tiny, Dennis Creevey, Colin’s brother edged forward, tripping over Hagrid’s moleskin, just as Hagrid himself sidled into the Hall through a door behind the teacher’s table.

The hat was placed on his head, and the announcement was made:

“GRYFFINDOR!”

After the sorting and the feast, Professor Dumbledore got to his feet.

“Now that we are all fed and watered. I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices.”

Most of the notices were the same, until Dumbledore said, “It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year.”

“What?” Harry gasped. And Malfoy who hadn’t been paying attention to Dumbledore in the slightest was now shushing everyone in his immediate vicinity so he could hear what the man had to say next.

“This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teacher’s time and energy, but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts….”

But at that moment, there was a deafening rumble of thunder and the doors of the Great Hall banged open.

“Aw,” said Dumbledore as the odd looking man, clunked his way into the Great Hall. “May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? Everyone, Professor Moody.”

It was usual for new staff members to be greeted with applause, but none of the staff or students clapped except for Dumbledore and Hagrid. Everyone else seemed too transfixed by Moody’s bizarre appearance to do more than stare at him.

It was the man’s eyes that did it. One of them was small, dark, and beady. The other was large, round as a coin, and a vivid, electric blue. The blue eye was moving ceaselessly, without blinking, and was rolling up, down, and from side to side, quite independently of the normal eye, and then it rolled right over, pointing at the back of the man’s head so that all they could see was whiteness.

“As I was saying,” proceeded Dumbledore as Moody took his seat at the staff table. “We are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year.”

Dumbledore explained the rules, and that it was a competition. One person, a champion, from each of the three major wizarding schools in Europe would compete. Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, and Hogwarts.

Then and Harry wasn’t sure whether it had to do with the fact that the competition hadn’t been held in a hundred years or the death toll, Dumbledore announced that there would be an age limit.

Harry could hear all the hopefuls in the Great Hall bust out in outrage. Precautions would be put in place and no one under the age of seventeen would be able to enter. Malfoy looked downright disappointed while a rather large looking Slytherin seventh year merely nodded to himself.

“The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!”

They had been dismissed.

#Harry Potter #Slytherin!Harry #Slytherin Harry #Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire #gofp2

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