#Merlin can be a real child...

[heavy-is-the-crown-if]

With how much MC has to do on the road to taking the throne,now wonder the title of the story is like that.Tbh if I was in the story I'd be looking for an opportunity to escape from all the responsibilities😂

Lol 😆😆

Mc will have the opportunity to loudly refuse their responsibilities but Merlin may decide to not hear it. As for the throne...spoiler dear !

Thank you for the ask !

#heavy is the crown #Mc #Merlin #The throne #Merlin can be a real child...

[theostrophywife]

stop the world i wanna get off with you.

pairing: theodore nott x reader. song inspiration: stop the world i wanna get off with you by arctic monkeys. author’s note: the theo brain rot is so real for me besties. i kid you not i listened to the song on repeat while writing this because my mans is arctic monkeys coded. plus, it was only a matter of time before we saw some smutty action from my favorite slutherin 😏 part one: baby won't you be my girl?

You were not a morning person. 

Theo knew that. Hell, everyone in Slytherin knew that. Waking you up before noon on the weekend was a one way ticket to a world of pain. For some reason, your boyfriend was determined to make the top of your hit list this morning. 

You groaned as Theo shifted beneath you, rousing you from sleep. He stroked your hair gently and pressed a kiss on your temple. “I have to go to practice, amorina.” 

Sunlight streamed in through the skylight above Theo’s dorm, reflecting the rippling waves of the Black Lake across your boyfriend’s goose down comforter. You buried your head in the crook of his neck. 

“Five more minutes,” you mumbled against his throat, relishing in his warmth. “Please, Teddy.”

A low chuckle rumbled through his chest. “You said that five minutes ago, sweetheart. Do you want your sweet and sexy boyfriend to be maimed by his captain?”

“If Malfoy so much as touches a hair on your head, I’ll turn him into a ferret again and set him loose in the Forbidden Forest.” You snuggled closer and twined your legs together. “Let’s see how threatening he can be against Aragog.”

“Sometimes you genuinely scare me, Y/N.” He wrapped his arms around your waist. “But apparently, fear is a very effective aphrodisiac for me. I’m learning a lot of new things about myself.”

“I can threaten you some more if you want,” you murmured sleepily. “As long as you stay in bed with me, Teddy.”

Theo groaned as you kissed his neck. “You’re absolutely cruel, you know that?” He tilted your chin up, pressing his lips against yours. You sighed dreamily into the kiss, morning breath and all. 

Even though you’ve only been officially dating for three months, it felt like you and Theo had been together for a lifetime. You were already inseparable before, but after his confession at the quidditch game after party, you spent nearly every waking moment together. Hence waking up in his bed. 

Theo placed a final kiss on the tip of your nose. “Now I really have to go.” You sighed in defeat, pouting like a petulant child. Your boyfriend laughed. “I’ll see you in the stands, babe.”

“Fine,” you mumbled grumpily. 

You watched as Theo hastily threw on his quidditch uniform, admiring the view of his sunkissed skin and toned chest and abs. Thank Merlin for quidditch. 

The cheeky tosser winked before heading for the pitch. You turned over in bed, burying yourself in Theo’s scent as you drifted back to sleep. 

Several hours later, you finally managed to get dressed and dragged yourself to the Great Hall for a late lunch. When you got to your usual table, you found the boys and Pansy waiting for you. Draco and Mattheo were talking in hushed tones, no doubt discussing their strategy to destroy the Ravenclaws while Enzo scarfed down a plate of steak and eggs like his life depended on it. Pansy watched in disgust, wrinkling her nose at your friend. 

“For Salazar’s sake, Lorenzo. You’re going to choke to death and I refuse to resuscitate you.”

“Don’t worry, Enzo,” you said as you slid in next to him. “I’m sure we can find a volunteer to perform mouth to mouth on you.”

As if on cue, a gaggle of fourth years giggled at the end of the table. Enzo didn’t seem to notice. Beside him, Blaise met your eye and shook his head. The two of you often joked that Draco took all the arrogance in their family’s gene pool, leaving poor Enzo hopelessly oblivious. The fact that sweet Lorenzo was related to someone as arrogant as Malfoy never failed to completely baffle the mind. 

“Well don’t you look adorable, Y/N?” Draco drawled. “All decked out in your boyfriend’s jersey.”

You looked down at the emerald and silver jersey with the number 6 embroidered on the front, which was so big on you that the hem hit your knees. Matching streaks of your house colors adorned your cheeks and you had pulled your hair back with a pair of charmed serpent clips that writhed through your pigtails every so often.

“And up before mid afternoon, no less,” Mattheo commented. 

You frowned, flicking him off before reaching for a sandwich. “Speaking of my boyfriend. Where is the little rascal?”

“Last I checked he was still on the pitch,” Draco said as you stuffed a few chips into your mouth. “Practicing to show off in front of you, I imagine.”

“I’ve seen him play before.” 

Mattheo stole a chip from your plate. “Yes, but not as his girlfriend.”

You smacked his hand away and he gasped dramatically. Mattheo fetched something out of his robes and set it down in front of you. The small glass vial shimmered in the light. 

“Your boyfriend wanted me to give you this.” 

A motion sickness draught. Theo knew how queasy and nauseous you got during his quidditch games, so he’d concocted your own special cure for it. Hot and smart. Gods, you were lucky.

You flushed, pocketing the potion. “Thanks.”

“You idiots better win,” Pansy said. “Or else all my hard work for tonight’s after party will go to waste.”

Draco scoffed. “You mean our hard work?” He turned over to you, frowning. “Pans over here had us working harder than a house elf. I’ve got glitter in places glitter should never be.”

“Fitting for someone who thinks the sun shines out of his arse. Maybe it’ll finally teach you some humility, Malfoy.”

Mattheo draped an arm around your shoulder. “You know why our sweet little Pansy’s got her wand in a twist though, right?” He leaned in conspiratorially. “She finally plucked up the courage to invite a certain Ravenclaw to the after party.”

You squealed in delight. “Is that true, Pans? Did you finally ask Luna out?”

Pansy glared at you, practically hissing as she grabbed your elbow. “Say that a little louder, why don’t you? I don’t think they heard you across the room.” 

You snorted. Your best friend has always been a little tightly wound, but Pansy Parkinson with a crush was a whole different animagus. 

“Well, I, for one, am excited for this development in your love life,” you exclaimed, squeezing her shoulder. “It’s about time you did something about this little crush.”

“Says the witch who took twelve years to admit her feelings,” Pansy said with an affectionate eye roll. “Sorry love, but I’m not taking advice from you.”

“I’m choosing to attribute that to first date jitters and not a blatant insult against your best and most loyal friend.” You picked at your sandwich, waving a pickle in the air excitedly. “Don’t be nervous, Pans. She’s going to love you.” 

The encouragement was met with an elbow to your ribs. You paused mid-chew, ready to give Pansy a peace of your mind when a soft voice interrupted you. 

“Hi, guys,” greeted Luna Lovegood. She wore a striped blue and bronze sweater, representing the colors of her house. Strapped to her back was a set of feathered eagle wings that nearly dragged to the floor. “I love your snake clips, Y/N. It’s always great to see displays of house spirit. Beware of the nargles, though. They do love shiny things.”

“I’ll keep an eye out for them, Luna.” You said with a smile. “I’m looking forward to your commentary tonight. It’s going to be a heated match between our houses, but one thing’s for certain. The after party will be absolutely mental no matter who wins. Isn’t that right, Pans?” 

Pansy nodded, the action making her sleek bob graze her sharp cheekbones. You always thought that your friend possessed an austere sort of beauty, but everything about her seemed to soften as she turned her attention on Luna. 

“We can still count on you to make it tonight, right Lovegood?” There was a hint of playfulness in Pansy’s tone that you rarely heard her use. You couldn’t help but smirk. Pansy Parkinson fancied the absolute pants out of Luna Lovegood.

Luna smiled shyly, hiding beneath a strand of platinum blonde hair. “Thank you for the invitation, Pansy. I look forward to seeing everyone tonight.” 

“See you tonight, Luna.”

Luna gave your table a friendly wave before returning to her own fellow Ravenclaws. You waited until she was out of ear shot before bursting into a fit of giggles.

“See you tonight Luna,” you repeated, putting on your best impression of Pansy’s husky voice. “Pansy Parkinson’s totally going to snog Luna Lovegood tonight!” 

“Oh, shut up,” replied Pansy. She tried her best to look annoyed, but the small smile on her face made it rather unconvincing. 

After teasing your friend for at least another hour, the two of you finally headed down to the quidditch pitch. The boys left long ago, presumably to warm up before the big game. You followed Pansy into the stands, cringing slightly at how high up the seats were. 

Across the pitch, the feedback from Luna’s sonoroused voice rumbled through the crowd. “Welcome fellow students. Join me in kicking off this long awaited match between Slytherin and Ravenclaw, the house of yours truly. As always, the goal is to provide live updates and unbiased commentary throughout the game, but I make no promises. Even a Corkendoodle wouldn’t be able to resist showing a little partiality. Now without further ado, let the games begin!”

The crowd roared as players from each side soared through the air at breakneck speed. You gripped the railing, thankful for Theo’s concoction as you squinted at the blur of players. As always, Madam Hooch kicked off the game by releasing a set of bludgers and the elusive golden snitch. With bated breath, you watched as she threw the quaffle into the air which marked the official start of the match. 

A familiar figure zoomed past you, emerald robes streaming behind him as he caught the quaffle and cradled it under his arm. Theo circled through the air, easily outmaneuvering the chasers from the opposing team. He flew straight for a blonde Ravenclaw, making the poor fifth year think that they were going to collide before he swerved at the last second and looped around the frightened player. 

“And that’s Nott of Slytherin with an excellent fake out,” Luna announced in her dreamy voice. “Oddly enough, this chaser is heading in the opposite direction of the goalposts. Another clever tactic, I presume.”

Theo brought his broom to a stop directly in front of you, hovering in mid-air while he cradled the quaffle underneath one arm. He immediately broke out into a grin when he saw you wearing his jersey. 

“In a turn of events, Nott visits the Slytherin stands for a little chat with his friends,” commented Luna. “Actually, that’s his lovely girlfriend Y/N. I did warn her about attracting the Nargles, but nevertheless those serpent clips are a work of art. Oh look, there’s Pansy Parkinson! I know she looks a bit intimidating at first, but she’s really quite nice.” 

Beside you, Pansy turned as red as a tomato. You stifled a giggle just as Theo pulled close, his watercolor eyes crinkling with amusement. 

“My jersey looks good on you, Y/N.” Theo drawled, taking the time to flirt despite the fact that he was currently in the middle of a game. He leaned in and whispered low so only you could hear, “But I bet it would look even better on my floor.”

“Win this match and you might get your wish, babe.”

A smirk curved against his lips. “You evil little temptress. I hope you know that I’m holding you to that,” he inched closer, his gaze dropping to your mouth. “Do I at least get a kiss from my good luck charm?”

You shook your head in disbelief. “Aren’t you supposed to be doing something right now? Like, I don't know, playing the bloody quidditch game!”

He shrugged, winking at you in that cheeky way of his. “I’m perfectly capable of multitasking.” 

Just then, a bludger whizzed past the stands, but Theo was entirely unbothered as he flipped over on his broom to avoid the hit. Your boyfriend hung upside down, keeping his eyes on you the entire time. “Now about that kiss, dolcezza.”

“That’s quite a creative way to avoid a bludger,” Luna continued. “I once hung upside down in a tree in search of moon frogs and it wasn’t the most comfortable position, but not the most uncomfortable either. Oh! It looks like things are heating up for this lovely couple.”

“You’re an absolute menace, Theodore,” you said with an exasperated sigh before pulling him by the collar and kissing him. The logistics were complicated by the fact that he was currently airborne, but Theo smiled against your lips all the same. 

“A good luck kiss,” Luna said with delight. “Those two are absolutely adorable, aren’t they? Ah, young love.”

Satisfied, Theo flipped right side up and palmed the quaffle in his hand. “You hear that, babe? We’re absolutely adorable.”

You rolled your eyes affectionately. “Yeah, yeah. Now go out there and kick some Ravenclaw arse!”

Thanks to Teddy’s potion, you actually managed to keep your eyes open for the entirety of the game. It was a heated match with both teams playing with equal ferocity, but the boys had the upper hand. They moved as one, predicting each other’s moves from years and years of practice. Even the newest additions, Violet and Tracey, seemed to fit seamlessly into the group. 

By the time you reached the tail end of the game, your throat felt raw from cheering and screaming. Pansy was in a worse state, hurling insults when one of the Ravenclaw beaters attempted to grab the tail end of Blaise’s broom. 

“That was obviously a bloody fucking foul!” Pansy screamed. 

“Some colorful words from the Slytherin stands,” Luna said with a little smile, making Pansy blush. “Madam Hooch seems to agree. Robinson has been fouled for blagging Zabini.”

You gripped the end of the railing as Theo zoomed past. The score was tied, but if he made this goal it would put Slytherin up by ten points, effectively winning not only the game but also the Quidditch Cup.

“You got this, babe,” you yelled. “No mercy, Teddy!”

Theo met your gaze and smirked. Vicious woman, he mouthed before careening straight for the goalpost. 

The Ravenclaw keeper looked panicked as Theo dodged the other players and reeled the quaffle back. The shot was perfect, whizzing past the post so fast that the keeper didn’t even have time to react. 

“Nott with the winning shot!” Luna announced cheerily. “That’s game, everyone. Congratulations to this year’s Quidditch Cup winner: Slytherin House!”

The cheers that erupted from your housemates followed you all the way to the common room. In true Pansy fashion, the large space had been meticulously decorated with banners and streamers. The music blared and the liquor flowed, marking the start of a night of mischief and revelry. 

While waiting for the boys to finish showering, you helped Pansy play hostess. You greeted friends from other houses, filling their cups with your signature concoction. A fruity drink that masked the taste of liquor so well that the drinker didn’t realize they were pissed until it was too late. 

“Congratulations on the win,” said a familiar voice. You turned around and saw Murdock raising his green cup in a toast. 

You smiled, clinking your plastic cup against his. “Thanks Christoph. Good to see you here,” you lowered your voice, darting your head around the corner. “So things are going well with Daphne?”

Christoph smiled shyly. “Yeah, thanks for introducing us by the way. We’re going on our first date to the Three Broomsticks tomorrow.” 

After his last disastrous attendance at a Slytherin party, you figured it was the least you could do for your Hufflepuff friend. “Don’t mention it, Christoph. What are friends for? Besides, it’s obvious that you two would be absolutely perfect together.” 

“Who’s absolutely perfect together?” A familiar voice drawled. You felt an arm wrap protectively around you. “Besides us, of course.” 

Even before you were dating, Theo had a tendency to be overprotective towards you. Most of the time he was pretty good at controlling it, but sometimes his jealousy got the best of him. It would’ve annoyed you if it wasn’t so damn attractive. 

“Hey babe,” you said with a little smile, leaning up to kiss his cheek. “I was just telling Christoph here that he should offer Daphne a drink. They’d make a cute couple, don’t you think?”

Realization flooded Theo’s features, followed by a hint of embarrassment. “Definitely,” he said with a rueful smile. “Take it from me, mate. Don’t wait too long before chasing after the girl of your dreams.”

Christoph nodded, looking determined. “Thanks, mate.”

You handed your friend another cup and pointed him in Daphne’s direction. Beside you, Theo smiled sheepishly. His hair was slightly wet from the shower and he smelled like sea salt spray and smoke. The cozy knitted sweater he had thrown on brought out his watercolor eyes. 

“Nice save, babe.” 

“What can I say? I’m a hopeless romantic,” Theo said, placing his hands on your waist. “You bring it out of me, cara mia.”

You rolled your eyes fondly. “You know, I’d be mad if jealous Theo wasn’t so hot.” Theo grinned as you placed your arms around his neck. “But scoring that winning goal? That was downright sexy.”

Your boyfriend toyed with the hem of your shirt. “Oh yeah? Well, I had some motivation, thanks to our little bargain.” His hands slipped underneath your shirt, tracing teasing circles on your hips. “I delivered on my end. Now it’s time for you to pay up, love.” 

“Good things come to those who wait, Theo.” 

Theo pouted. “Fine, but only because I know you’re worth it.”

You pulled Theo in by the belt loop and kissed him, long and hard. He lifted you up and groaned as you tugged at his curls. Theo sighed into your mouth as you took control, showing him exactly how much you wanted him. You topped the kiss off by gently biting on his bottom lip. When you pulled away, Theo looked dazed. 

“Fuck,” he said in a low, dark voice. 

“A little preview,” you said with a smirk. “Just so you don’t think I’m completely heartless.”

“So my dorm or yours?”

You chuckled. “Theo, you haven’t even made your rounds. This party is to celebrate your win, you know.”

“Fuck the party,” he said dismissively. “You think I care about talking to all of these people after that? What do you want, love? Do you want me to beg? Get on my knees for you? I’ll do anything, princess.”

Salazar fucking save you. 

You would’ve taken Theo up on the offer, but this was his moment. He deserved to be celebrated. Besides, he’d be all yours by the end of the night. 

“As much as I love the visual,” you said, pecking him on the cheek. “I want you to celebrate with the team. You lot deserve it after working so hard all year.” You lowered your voice, whispering in his ear. “After that, we can go up to your dorm and I’ll give you your reward. Think you can do that, babe?”

“Yes ma’am,” Theo replied. “God you’re fucking sexy when you’re bossing me around.” 

You smirked. “Good boy.” 

Theo groaned before slipping his hand into yours. “Now come on, before I change my mind and claim my reward right here, right now.”

The two of you made rounds through the party, stopping here and there to talk to your respective friends. Most of the time, you were by Theo’s side watching in admiration as everyone congratulated him on the winning goal. 

Even in deep conversation, Theo never stopped touching you. Whether it was the soothing rub of his thumb across your knuckles or his arm draped protectively around your waist, it was obvious that physical touch was your boyfriend’s love language. 

You couldn’t help but smile at how easy it came to him, like touching you was as natural as breathing air.  

“What’s that smile for, love?”

“I just really fucking fancy you.”

Merlin’s bloody beard. The smile on Theo’s face completely took your breath away. His eyes, which you often joked gave him resting witch face, lit up brighter than the sun. 

“I really fucking fancy you too, darling.”

Finally, the two of you reached your friends on the other side of the common room. Blaise and Enzo were engaged in a competitive game of beer pong against Mattheo and Draco. 

“The man of the hour,” Malfoy announced, clapping Theo on the back. “You fucking killed it out there, mate.” He turned back to the other boys. “We all did.”

“This calls for a celebratory shot!” you announced. “Wait, where’s Pans?”

Mattheo smirked. “Chatting up our commentator. Looks like our little Pansy’s all grown up.”

Across the room, you shot Pansy a wink as she and Luna sat rather close together, huddled on the couch and giggling every so often. You rallied the boys, raising your cups in a cheer. Pansy affectionately flipped you the bird as all six of you hooted and hollered, but she downed the liquor nonetheless. 

The firewhisky must have been a fast acting agent of liquid courage because not even a second after she set her cup down, Pansy was kissing Luna. You squealed in delight while the rest of the group drunkenly cheered. 

This night just kept getting better and better. 

“Another one of our finest lost to young love,” Draco announced dramatically. 

You rolled your eyes. “You could be too if you stopped being a coward and finally asked Hermione out.” 

Malfoy nearly spat out his drink. “Granger? You think I fancy Granger? Little miss know it all, member of the Golden Trio, poster child Gryffindor Granger? Are you taking the piss, Y/N?”

“Oh please,” Mattheo said with a scoff. “We all see the way you look at her in the Great Hall. You don’t just fancy Granger. You’re absolutely smitten, mate.”

Enzo nodded empathetically. “Mattheo’s right, cousin. You should just ask Hermione out on a date.”

“Have you lot forgotten that the madwoman once punched me in the face?” 

“I think she’d be good for you,” you said. “Set you straight.” 

“Set me straight?” Draco repeated. “I don’t need anyone to set me straight. Especially not Granger. I mean, the witch is insufferable with her stupid curly hair and stupid big brown eyes and stupid flawless skin.” 

Blaise sighed. “No offense, mate, but you’re even thicker than Enzo when it comes to girls.”

Enzo protested in response, but Draco was too busy having a meltdown to notice. His pale complexion blossomed with red as his mouth gaped open. “Do I like Granger?” 

You rolled your eyes. “Obviously, you blubbering idiot.” 

Draco glared at you, then at Theo. “Nott, please get your girlfriend away from me before I have a full on fit.”

Theo only laughed, pulling you closer. “Gladly. We were heading out anyway.” 

You hugged your friends goodbye. Draco was still frowning at his drink when you and Theo finally headed out of the common room. 

“Think about it, ferret boy,” you hollered from the door. “Granger’s a catch! We could use more female presence in this absolute sausage party of a friend group.” 

With that, Theo hauled you over his shoulder. You squealed, pinching his bum as he carried you out of the common room. “Alright, love. That’s enough of that.” 

When you finally reached Theo’s dorm, the two of you fell over in absolute hysterics. You plopped down on his bed, spreading like an obnoxious starfish. Theo followed after, diving on top of you. 

“I think you gave Malfoy an identity crisis,” he said, laughing into your hair. 

You shrugged, rolling over so that you were on top of him. “He deserved it.” 

Theo toyed with the hem of your shirt, tracing circles on your hips. “And what about what I deserve?” 

“It’s coming, babe,” you said with a sly smile. “And pretty soon you will be too.”

“Don’t tease, cara mia.”

“I never tease,” you purred. “I only promise.”

With a satisfied smirk, you pressed your lips against his. Theo groaned into your mouth as you straddled his lap, deepening the kiss. Large hands roamed underneath your shirt, his palms rough and calloused from hours and hours of playing quidditch.

A sinfully delicious moan slipped past Theo’s lips as you trailed kisses along his jaw, throat, and neck. You sucked on his flesh, hard enough to leave marks. You liked knowing that every time he changed, little reminders of you littered his skin.

“Bloody fucking hell,” Theo muttered.

“You’ve got a filthy mouth, Theo,” you teased. “I bet I could shut you up though.”

Your boyfriend groaned like he was in pain. “Please do.”

You winked before disappearing underneath the covers. Theo’s eyes fluttered close as you continued kissing down his chest, taking the time to trace your name on his abs with your tongue, which seemed to be a real crowd pleaser. You stripped off his trousers, kissing his perfectly defined v line before licking a teasing stripe along the underside of his cock.

“Figlio di puttana,” Theo cursed, low and rough. Your knees nearly buckled. There was truly nothing hotter than your boyfriend swearing in Italian. “Don’t stop, Y/N.”

“What was that you said about delivering on my promise?” you asked innocently, looking up at him through your lashes. “Because it feels like I’m giving you the winner treatment right now, doesn’t it baby?”

A choked moan was your only response as you took him into your mouth. You gagged as he hit the back of your throat, bobbing your head up and down in a steady rhythm. Theo fisted your hair in his hands, watching through heavy lids as you sucked your cheeks in. 

“You’re going to be the death of me,” he groaned, stroking your cheek. “But I’m willing to die a happy man.”

You chuckled, sending vibrations to his sensitive head. Theo twitched against your cheek as you gripped his shaft, moving along with your mouth. He continued to curse colorfully while you wrapped your lips around him. You felt him tense underneath you, signaling that he was close. 

Theo tugged lightly at your scalp. “I don’t want to cum yet,” he said huskily. “Not until I’m inside of you.” 

Merlin bless your boyfriend and his filthy fucking mouth. Theo flipped you over, his body pinning you to the mattress as he kissed you roughly. You gasped against his mouth, giving him the perfect opportunity to slide his tongue in. Heat pooled in your core and flooded your body with desire. 

“Theo,” you mumbled, tugging at his shirt. “I need you. Now.” 

He ripped off his shirt, grinning. “Then have me, darling.” 

“I want to be on top.” 

You squealed as Theo rolled over, placing you on his lap. He gripped your hips and gently rolled against you. “I’m not about to argue with that.”

With a smirk, you toyed with the hem of your shirt. Theo grabbed your wrist and shook his head. “Keep it on. I want to watch you ride me while wearing my jersey.”

“Have I ever told you how much I love your filthy mouth?” 

Theo grinned before latching his lips on your breast. He looked up at you and swirled his tongue around your nipple through the fabric. “It’s not ringing a bell. Shall I try the other side?” 

“Gods, yes.” 

He gave your other nipple equal attention as you lined his cock up at your entrance. Precum coated his tip, mixing with your own slick as you slowly lowered onto his length. Theo’s teeth sank into your collarbone, muffling his moan. 

“Fuck me,” he exhaled in a shaky breath. 

“I am, baby.”

Theo chuckled darkly. “Smartass.”

You rolled your hips as he gripped your ass, helping you lift and lower at a faster pace. Theo’s mouth collided with yours, his hands roaming underneath your shirt and exploring every inch of you like he was trying to commit your body to memory. 

The intensity of his gaze pierced you with lust and desire. He lifted the hem of his jersey, watching as his cock disappeared between your folds. 

“I love watching you take all of me, pretty girl.” Theo was ravenous, littering your neck and shoulder with love bites. “You ride me so fucking well. Maybe it should be you out there on the broom.” 

“The only broom I’m interested in is yours,” you quipped back. “Besides, you don’t want everyone else knowing my tricks, do you?”

“Fuck no,” Theo whispered roughly as he switched positions. He pressed you against the mattress, hooking your legs on his shoulder before smirking. “This is for my eyes only. You’re mine, amorina.” 

“Yours,” you breathed as he thrust into you. The angle allowed him to slide in even deeper, hitting all the right spots as your eyes rolled to the back of your head. 

“That’s my good girl,” Theo declared proudly. “Now fucking take it.”

The pleasure hits you in waves. The sounds that you were both making were absolutely filthy, and you were glad that music was playing in the common room below otherwise the whole of Slytherin house would’ve heard you screaming Theo’s name. 

“You getting close, baby?” Theo grunted as you fluttered around him. You whimpered in response, raking your nails along his back. “I’ll take that as a yes. I want you to cum with me. Can you do that, pretty girl?”

You nodded as Theo’s slender fingers rubbed against your clit, pushing you over the edge. You wrapped your legs around his waist and pulled him closer, cursing as the orgasm hit you both. 

Theo kissed you, swallowing your moans of pleasure as euphoria washed over you. He rode it out, hips stuttering as he finished. The two of you laid in the dark, bodies twined together while your heartbeats synced. 

“Holy fuck,” you said in disbelief. 

Theo chuckled. “That did feel a bit sacrilegious.” 

He rolled over and grabbed his wand, casting a quick scouring charm over the both of you. Thank Merlin for magic.

You rolled over, propping your chin up with one hand. “You want to smoke a cigarette, don’t you?”

Your boyfriend shook his head. “Actually, I was thinking about quitting.” 

Now this was news to you. “Oh? Has all my nagging finally paid off?” 

“Maybe,” he said, shrugging. “I’m just thinking ahead. I don’t want our kids picking up the habit.”

Your eyes widened. “Kids? As in, plural?”

Theo nodded emphatically. “Oh yeah, little Theo Jr. and his brother Mattheo don’t need to be exposed to my smoking.” 

You cocked your head in confusion. “Theo Jr.? Mattheo?”

“Don’t ask. I lost a bet.”

“You better be taking the piss, Teddy.”

He chuckled. “Mostly. I am quitting smoking and I am looking forward to a future with you, our hypothetical children’s names to be further discussed.” 

“You absolute menace of a man,” you said, cuddling him with a wide grin. “I fucking adore you, do you know that?”

“I am stupidly in love with you.” 

You giggled as Theo peppered kisses on your face. “Malfoy’s right. We’re truly revolting.”

“Oh, absolutely vile.” 

Theo tucked you into the crook of his neck and kissed the top of your head. “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” you mumbled sleepily. “I love you, Teddy.”

He pulled you close and smiled. “I love you too, Y/N.”

taglist: @annaisabookworm @marina468 @writingsbychlo

please let me know if you'd like to be added.

#HELLO FRIENDS IM FUCKNG SCREAMIGN #theodore nott #theo nott #theo nott smut #theo nott fic #theodore nott x reader #theo nott fluff #theo nott x reader #theodore nott x you #mattheo riddle #draco malfoy #blaise zabini #pansy parkinson #luna lovegood

[frost-queen]

Elements in Harmony (Reader x Sokka)

Requested by: Anon Forever tag:@missmelodramatic, @merlin-dahlia, @alex--awesome--22, @elllie-does-the-posts, @floatlosers, @merlieve, @queen-of-books, @glimmering-darling-dolly @denkisclown, @wildieflower, @meyocoko, @bubblybrianna, @justanothercoco, @subjecta13-thefangirl, @m-rae23, @harleyquinnswifeyfrfr, @swampthing07, @melsunshine, @panhoeofmanyfandoms, @venomsvl, @the-uncoordinated-house-cat, @rosecentury,  @imagines-by-her,  @evilcr0ne, @vviolynn, @iixchloee

Summary: Reader is Zuko's sister. You and Sokka always argue and fight. You keep infuriating Sokka as you won't leave his head, something he can't stand. Certainly not from a fire nation girl. When one encounter leads to an almost kiss. It draws a line when some guy starts flirting with you, leading to Sokka to show you just how infuriating you are to him.

Appa roared deep, flapping his tail up. Aang petted his furred friend as Momo sat on his shoulder. Katara was poking in the fire to keep it going. Sokka arrived with new wood. His gaze fell upon you from afar. Near the cliff were you practising. Performing graceful moves without actually bending. Your performances calm and at peace. Anything but what Sokka was used to seeing a fire bender do.

Mostly their sequences were brutal and hard. Their fire filled with anger. You seemed odd among them. Anger wasn’t what filled your bending. It was a combination of being soft and tough at the same time. Something your uncle Iroh taught you when you were younger.

Sokka threw the wood on the ground, startling Katara. – “Hey.” – she called out annoyed.  – “Sure let us prepare the fire while princess fire nation over there is just dancing.” – Sokka outed gesturing at you. Katara sighed loud. – “Can you only ever complain?”

Sokka grumpily sat down on a log. Glaring your way. Aang approached them holding a bag open. – “We’ll need to stock more food.” – he held the bag upside down. A fruit fell out as Momo immediately jumped for it. Sokka shooed Momo away, picking up the last fruit. – “And that isn’t for you!” – he called out to Momo who flew above his head. Katara got up holding her hand out to Aang. – “I’ll go see if a town is nearby.” – she suggested.

“No, no.” – Sokka answered getting up as well. – “Let fire girl over there do something.” – he pointed at you from afar. – “Her name is Y/n.” – Katara answered crossing her arms. Sokka came closer to her. – “and I don’t care.” – he outed with a sarcastic smile. Sokka whistled loud catching your attention.

You stopped your practise, making your way over. Sokka snatched the bag from Aang’s hand, tossing it at you. You caught it  as he was aiming for your face. – “We need supplies.” – he said bothered. – “Please.” – you responded wanting him to ask nicely.

Sokka puffed loud. – “I didn’t know you had manners.” – Sokka answered. – “Unlike you I wasn’t raised in an igloo.” – you responded loud. – “Yet I’m not the one banished.” – Sokka fired back. – “Sokka!” – Katara called out, shocked at his rudeness. As a response you threw the empty bag at Sokka. It bumped against his chest as he moved his head back to not get hit in the face.

“Apologize right now!” – Katara insisted with a sisterly scowl. Sokka looked back to you, seeing how his words made you feel. Somehow he felt a bit guilty for being so cruel. Yet he didn’t act upon it. He took the bag in his hand. – “I’ll just go by myself.”  - he spoke turning away. Momo flew on top of Sokka’s head making him stop with a deep sigh. – “We’ll all go.” – Aang spoke to maintain the peace.

The four of you entered the woods in search for food, hoping you’d come by a village soon. You were walking behind Aang and Katara when you noticed Sokka falling in step with you. – “No bending.” – he simply said to you. You mimicked his words like a child, teasing him. – “Oh real mature princess.” – he responded.

 “I’m just lowering myself to your standards.” – you answered with a smile. Sokka stepped in front of you, making you stop all of the sudden. He was brazing, glaring down at you. Your words annoying him. Sokka was glaring at your eyes, his face inches away from yours. His gaze fell down to your lips. He caught himself stare at them, making him turn away.

You gasped breathlessly, slouching back as if you were about to pass out. Sokka caught up with his sister, wanting to be as far away from you as he could. Looking briefly over his shoulder to you, falling in line. Grunting soft, he hated how much you messed with his head. Your presence consuming his mind as if you never wanted to leave. No matter how many times he casted you out. It infuriated him.

You were from the fire nation. Zuko’s sister, the one chasing Aang. The one who caused his village pain. – “You know you can just be nice to her.” – Katara spoke looking briefly at her brother. Sokka sighed loud. – “She’s from the…” – he outed as Katara finished his words in a voice that mimicked his. – “fire nation.” – she then giggled at her own imitation of her brother.

“Not funny.” – Sokka said annoyed as it made Katara just giggle more. Sokka looked over his shoulder again, seeing you chat with Aang.

Katara nudged him hard in the side. Sokka tore his gaze away from you. Some twigs snapped underneath his shoes. – “Aang needs her.” – she told him. – “I know, I know.” – Sokka sighed out. – “Then…” – Katara began as Sokka shushed her. She glared at him a bit for cutting her off. – “Don’t shush me.” – she said annoyed, moving her hands to her hips. – “Stop talking.” – Sokka told her, his focus elsewhere.

Katara groaned loud as he covered up her mouth. It was the only thing he thought would shut her up. – “Why have we stopped?” – Aang asked confused. Sokka was looking at every direction, listening in to nature. His eyes widened when he saw a fireblast fly their way. It hit a tree trunk close to them. – “Fire nation!” – he yelled out. The four of you started to run as more fire benders came from out of the bushes. – “It’s an ambush.” – Katara outed, puffing loud. – “You think?” – Sokka responded to her sarcastically.

Aang swayed his stick across, sending an air blast at some fire benders.  Katara stopped a moment to bend some water out of a puddle nearby. Letting it whip against a fire bender. Sokka grunted as they couldn’t outrun them. They needed to stand and fight. He pulled out his weapon, standing ready.

A fire bender was coming your way as you deflected his fire blast by ducking down. You then kicked at him. He stumbled back making you punch his stomach a few times. Sokka ducked down a punching arm, punching the man in his stomach. He then pressed the back of his weapon on his back. The man dropped to his stomach with a loud oof. He saw fire blasts coming your way as you kept avoiding them with just manoeuvring.

“What are you doing?” – Sokka called out to you. You looked back at him confused. – “Bend!” – he outed, stating the obvious. You kicked a guy away from you. – “You told me not to bend!” – you shouted back at him. Sokka jumped back from a blast. – “Just do it!” – he insisted upon annoyed. Suddenly you smiled with a new set off attitude.

Performing a sequence you conjured fire, attacking your fellow fire nation soldiers. Aang jumped above your head, landing in front of you as he flashed a blast of air at them. You moved back assisting Katara. – “I got it.” – she breathed out. You nodded at her. Looking over your shoulder, you saw Sokka getting cornered.

You ran over to him just as a blast of fire was coming his way. Sokka’s eyes widened seeing the blast come his way from his side. You jumped in front of him, arms forwards, palms pressed together as you split the blast in two. The fire flared beside Sokka and you. Sokka blinked stunned at you. You then attacked with fire of your own. Sokka was staring at you, admiring you despite his infuriation with you.

He was so caught up with you, that he hardly saw the punching fist come his way. He jumped back, avoiding the hit just in time. He was about to knock the soldier on his head with his weapon as a blast of fire pushed him away. Sokka looked confused, till he turned his head. Seeing you in a position, one fist out, panting. You had once again protected him. Sokka smiled admiring at you till his expression turned to shock. You were hit by a blast, sending you rolling on the ground. – “Y/n!” – Sokka called out.

You came to a stop, panting loud. Forcing yourself to get back up. Just as you almost stood up straight, were you hit with another surprise blast. It was if the soldiers were turning their anger towards you. One of their own fighting against them. You got hit as the blast pushed you back.

You screamed when you felt a loss of ground under your feet. An in-sinking in the ground made you slide down the hill. Tumbling and rolling down, you met with the ground hard and fast. – “Y/n?” – Sokka called out concerned. He threw his boomerang at the soldier, hitting him in the head. His boomerang returned as he caught it. Running up to the way where he lost sight of you. – “Y/n?” – he panted out nearing where you last where.

Sokka felt the ground underneath his feet crumble away. A scream caught in his throat as he slid down, arms swaying around. On the ground, you groaned in pain. Slowly pulling yourself up by your elbows. Your eyes widened seeing Sokka slide down. At the bottom, he came to a sudden stop, his chest falling forwards. He fell forwards falling hard against your chest as your back smacked the ground again.

Sokka groaned soft when he set his hands beside you, trying to pull himself up. He lifted his head up, his gaze catching yours as he paused. Paused as his face was inches away from yours. Heart pounding loudly as you were captivated in his gaze. Sokka’s gaze went down to your lips  as it made you feel shy. He neared his head a bit as you sensed he had an urge to kiss you. Your gaze flashed up and down from his eyes to his lips and back. If Sokka was about to kiss you, you wouldn’t protest. Sokka felt himself fall deeper, drawing closer to you. What if he wanted to kiss you in this moment. Would it be that bad?

You were bringing your chin closer to him to decrease the distance. Sokka slowly closed his eyes, feeling his lips tingle with the urge. A gush of wind caught him off guard. His eyes flashed back open, suddenly aware of what he was doing. He rolled over, away from you just before Aang landed down. – “So here you are.” – Aang said. You were staring at the sky, panting loud. Feeling extremely hot that Sokka was this close to kissing you.

Katara had climbed down joining Aang. Sokka had gotten up, dusting some dirt off him. Aang decided to head back to Appa and search a town from above. All of you agreed, walking back to Appa. You climbed on Appa, sitting at the back. Avoiding eye contact with Sokka. Sokka was staring down at his own hands.

Katara looked from you to Sokka. – “Is something going on between the two of you?” – she asked. – “No.” – Sokka answered loud. You lowered your head on Appa’s saddle, watching the scenery you were leaving behind. Momo came landing on your head, laying himself down.

Appa roared loud as he descended. Aang had spotted a town. A small village at the edge of the earth kingdom. Appa landed as all of you climbed down. You held the empty bag following Aang into the village. There were many curious heads turning at your friends. They certainly stand out with their watertribe attire and air nomad clothing. You didn’t receive that much attention as you were earth kingdom clothing.

You had left your fire nation clothing long behind. The moment your father banished you after Zuko’s banishment, you gave them up. There was no hope in finding a new home when you wore enemy clothing. Zuko had been given an ultimatum to return. You never did. Not acceding his expectations and questioning the flaming fist of his way of ruling led to your banishment.

The youngest of your siblings, apart by just one year with your sister Azula. You saw more to fire bending then power and anger. Fire could be beautiful if one found a balance between them. Harmony. Your father found that a weakness. Soft. Not something he could have in his daughter.

You went over to a stall where they sold fruits. Sokka’s eyes fell upon a different stall, making his way over to it, without his friends knowing. You bargained with the owner for some of his best fruit. Katara wondered where her brother was, spotting him at a stall that sold herbs. She furrowed her brows, watching her brother buy a patch of leaves. He turned around holding a little patch as he suddenly noticed his sister watching.

Sokka cleared his throat from afar, moving the patch behind his back. It made Katara quirk her eyebrow up. He joined the others once more letting his sister know to stop staring to weirdly at him. – “Look Y/n a herb stall!” – Aang pointed out. You turned your head to look as well. – “You can make that delicious tea of yours again.” – Aang said pushing you towards it.

“Actually…” – Sokka started feeling the patch in his hand. No one heard him as Aang was too enthusiastic to show you the herbs. Aang pulled you to a stop after having pushed you all the way over. – “Anything you like?” – the owner asked as you looked at his products.

“Do you have any jasmine leaves?” – Aang asked for you. – “I certainly do boy.” – the owner answered. – “Actually I…” – Sokka began wanting to let you know he already bought the jasmine leaves. The owner presented Aang with a patch of jasmine leaves. Aang nudged you to accept them. – “Aang we really don’t need them.”  - you told him. – “Of course we do, you love jasmine tea.” – he encouraged you to take them.

“Your uncle taught you to make it.” – Aang added with a smile. – “Y/n I…” – Sokka spoke wanting to place a hand on your shoulder and reveal his patch to you. A new pair of hands grabbed the patch from the owner. – “I’ll pay for her.” – all of you turned your head to a boy. He smirked flashing a wink at you.

His wink baffled you as you weren’t used to that kind of attention. The boy tossed some coins in the owner’s hand. Sokka got shoved aside as the boy wanted to be closer to you. He held the patch up for you to accept. – “You really don’t have to…” – you said feeling a bit embarrassed someone paid for you.

“Nonsense.” – he grabbed your hand, facing your palm up, placing the patch in your hand. – “Anything should be paid for a pretty girl like you.” – he finished. Sokka puffed with a roll of his eyes. The boy slid his arm over your shoulder, moving you away from your friends. – “You look like a girl who likes tea.” – he spoke as Aang followed behind him. – “How does he know.” – he asked happily astonished that he had guessed. – “We literally stood by a herb cart.” – Sokka answered bothered.

The guy was leading you to a tea shop. His arm was still around you as Sokka found himself glaring at it. Katara and Aang clearly unbothered with Sokka’s concerns. – “Has anyone told you, your smile is like a blossom on a spring day?” – he said. It made you touch your lips shy. – “No.” – you answered. Sokka tensed his jaw. You were about to enter the tea shop when a pull on your wrist pulled you to a stop.

You slowly turned as Sokka had taken a hold of your wrist. Aang, Katara and the guy walked further in. – “Something wrong Sokka?” – you asked confused. – “Are you seriously following a guy like him? Just because he flashes a smile at you and gives you a compliment, you girls fall hard.”

You smiled teasingly. – “What’s so funny?” – Sokka expressed loud. – “Nothing.” – you answered with a shake of your head. – “You are cute when you are so worked up.” – you patted his cheek teasingly. The guy came standing behind you. – “Are you coming sugar?” – he asked placing a hand on your hip. Sokka saw it almost making him lose his mind. – “She’s not!” – Sokka stated clear, grabbing you by your wrist. – “Hey!” – the guy called out when Sokka dragged you away. – “Sokka… Sokka.” – you breathed out as he kept pulling you away.

He went into an alleyway, pushing you against the wall. Sokka groaned loud as you could only stare confused at him. He turned around, grabbing you by the waist as he pressed his lips on yours. Eyes wide with shock, you blinked startled at the touch of his lips on yours. He pulled away half angered at himself for kissing you.  – “Why are you so infuriating.” – he outed. Sokka noticed you were still holding his patch with herbs so he slapped them out of your hands.

“Hey!” – you called out as Sokka gave you his with some roughness. – “I bought these because I knew you liked them.” – he told you. – “I don’t know why I bought you them, because I shouldn’t. Certainly not for a fire nation girl!” – he went on. – “So why do I care for you. Why can’t I get you out of my head, and why did it bother me that, that guy was hitting on you!”

You smiled coming up to Sokka. – “Oh hush.” – you told him, grabbing him to kiss him. Sokka gladly accepted your kiss, holding you by your waist. – “You are cute when you get worked up over things.” – you told him, making him smile sheepishly. Sokka held you again, kissing you once more just because he could. Certainly now when he made peace with himself and simply let himself fall for you.

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

Read more of my fics on my Masterlists!

#imagine #fanfiction #fanfic #fic #avatar the last airbender #avatar netflix #netflix atla #atla #atla live action #avatar aang #katara #sokka #sokka x readeer #sokka x you #sokka x y/n #sokka x firebending girl #sokka x fem reader #fire nation #prince zuko #earth kingdom #avatar imagine #avatar fanfic #avatar fanfiction #sokka imagine #sokka fanfic #sokka fic #sokka fanfiction #momo and appa

[megankoumori]

In defense of a "Wicked Stepmother":

Sarah's Stepmother in "Labyrinth", named Irene in tie-in media, only gets about a minute of screen time before Sarah rushes off to her room in a soaked snit. Fanfic writers usually turn her into an evil bitch and even the manga sequel, "Return to Labyrinth", has her cold and abusive to Toby, her biological child. But here's the thing...

I think Sarah's mother gets a bum rap.

Dressing nicely for an evening out and having mild conflict with a teenager does not a Lady Tremaine make. And as someone who actually lived with a narcissistic, manipulative, emotionally abusive stepfather, I can tell you that Irene doesn't even come close to wicked step parent territory.

Backstory first. It's never spoken of in the film, but clues in Sarah's room tell us that her real mother is a stage actress who abandoned her and her father for another actor. Sarah idolizes her mother and tries to emulate her with play acting. Sarah's father met and married Irene sometime after Linda ran off, and Sarah, who thinks her mom walks on water, resents the hell out of Irene for taking her place. A place that Linda abandoned for another man.

She couldn't help it. He looked like David Bowie.

Let's look at her first alledged transgression. She won't let Merlin into the house. Instead she orders him into the garage. Heartless, we assume because we all love dogs and only the most soulless of monsters don't. But slow down. She didn't leave him out in the rain. She put him in the garage. Furthermore, Merlin is an Old English Sheepdog. Is he a nice dog? Sure, but he's also a breed that's notorious for being high maintenance and hard to keep clean and right now he's soaking wet and filthy. Irene isn't being cruel, she's trying to keep him from ruining the carpet.

So now Sarah and Irene are in the house about to have their confrontation. "Sarah, you're an hour late..."

Sarah lost track of time. Sarah is the one who screwed up. Irene has every right to be frustrated. For all we know, she and Robert were supposed to see a movie or meet someone and Sarah's tardiness wrecks their plans. Note, please, that while she is frustrated, she's not even yelling. My mom would have screamed bloody murder and then held it over my head for weeks.

"Your father and I go out very rarely..."

"You go out every single weekend!"

There is no way to confirm who is right on this. I will say Sarah is the one prone to hysterics and exaggeration, so it's not looking good for her.

"And I ask you to babysit only if it won't interfere with your plans."

I ask. Irene asks. She doesn't demand, and she doesn't expect Sarah to give up her previous plans.

"Well how would you know what my plans are? You don't even ask me anymore!"

Sarah, you were LARPing in a park by yourself. Furthermore, with the storm you would have gone home anyway.

"Well I assume you would tell me if you had a date. I'd like it if you had a date. You should have dates at your age."

Irene doesn't want Sarah to be a Cinderella stuck at home every night. She wants her to go out and have a social life. This is literally the opposite of the bedtime story Sarah tells Toby later.

Also, "I'd assume you tell me..." Irene might not be wording it in the best way here, but she wants Sarah to communicate with her. She wants them to have a relationship.

Then Robert enters the scene. "Sarah, you're home. We were worried about you."

WE were worried. As in both he and Irene. You think that's the reason she was waiting on the porch? Because their sixteen year old daughter is an hour past when she said she'd be home and now it's raining and getting dark?

It's not like she'd ever talk to a stranger.

Sarah runs up the stairs in a snit, not even acknowledging her father and leaving Irene dismayed. "She treats me like a wicked stepmother in a fairy story no matter what I say." Her voice isn't angry, it's hurt. She's making an effort to reach Sarah, but nothings working. She can't break through the tantrums and the anger and the hero worship of Linda.

Sarah is a fantasy junkie. It's all over her room. Her books are all fairy tales. Her dog and her teddy bear are named after figures from Arthurian legend. But she's wrapped herself in a different kind of fantasy, a toxic one. One where Irene, well meaning and kind, is one of the evil stepmothers from her fairytale books, while Linda is good and virtuous like one of the dead moms at the beginning. Except Linda isn't dead. She's shtupping a costar.

Part of Sarah's coming of age and maturity is rejecting Jareth, the stand in for her mother's lover and therefore finally rejecting following her mother's selfish path. We see her finally let go of Linda by putting her picture and clippings in the drawer. Hopefully, the next morning, after she picks the confetti out of her hair, she'll finally be able to start over with Irene.

#labyrinth #jim henson #sarah williams #the goblin king #jareth #david bowie

[interstellarsystem]

Little Plural Things

Systems can present in a lot of different ways. Sometimes, being a system can be loud and obvious if you're naturally more overt and/or out about yourselves as plural. Sometimes, it can be quiet and barely noticeable, but still there--just harder to see. Our system is fairly obvious if we're unmasked, but there are still things that escape even our own knowledge when we're masking as hard as we can. Little things that to us, remind us that our system is undeniably real. This is a post about those experiences we've had with barely-noticeable signs of a system.

Not every system will relate to these experiences, some might feel similarly about a few points, some may have others of their own entirely, some might not know or not have anything like the experiences we mention, and that's all part of being plural. No two systems are mirror images of each other. This is a post about our experiences.

1. Handwriting

Recently, we've had it brought to our attention that we have different handwriting. We don't write with a pen/pencil often, but we were asked to fill out a worksheet for our psychologist recently. She told us that whoever in our system wants to contribute to it can, and suggested that we signify who wrote what in some way--to which we chose different pencil colours for different headmates. We took the worksheet home and put things on it depending on who was in the front and if they wanted to.

It turned out, that some of our writing widely differs from each other. Out of the 6 people who wrote on the sheet, most of them were wildly different. Rift and Martin wrote the most tidily, with Rift's writing looking more "proper" and "adult". I (Vince) apparently am not the best at neat writing but I managed to be better than what our "normal" writing is like from what we remember. Merlin wrote messily like he was writing very fast. Mystery wrote with very large letters with sharp angles that overall made it look like it was written by a child new to writing. Which makes absolute sense. It's not a child, but its hands in-headspace are bigger than ours and that was the actual first time it had written anything on paper since it got here.

Somehow, it took until our psychologist pointed it out for us to notice how different it was.

2. Vocabulary Choices

Something we are able to notice sometimes is how our vocabulary and sometimes sentence structure changes based on who is speaking. Some obvious examples are our British headmates substituting "bloody" for other words as an exclamation and the difference between what some of our headmates would call a "chip" or a "fry".

Other times though, it's more subtle. Sometimes there's certain phrases that will just have a word or two swapped out and it does tend to point toward who is fronting even if people do use multiple of these. Some examples are:

"I suppose" vs "I think" vs "I believe"

"Kinda" vs "Kind of" vs "Sort of" vs "Sorta"

"Recently" vs "A bit ago"

"Sleepy" vs "Tired"

"Lol" vs "Haha" vs "Lmao" vs a keysmash (Even though these are text-based they are quite telling.)

"Quite" vs "Very" (Speaking of the above.)

Getting more subtle with them, some other examples are:

"You know" vs "Y'know"

"Uh" vs "Um"

"Uh-Huh" vs "Mhm"

Sometimes typing is influenced too. The amount of em-dahses within the text, the consistency of proper punctuation, how mechanical the text feels, how many run-on sentences there are and even how much tends to be written in one message/post can all point toward different people being in control.

3. Accidental Accents and Inflections

While accents are usually very obvious, we're generally good at masking them. Generally.

Due to us living in Australia, our headmates with accents straight from London don't stick out too bad when they're struggling to mask, but they are still noticeable to those around us who know we're plural. Passerby on the street or people who don't see us often don't think much of it, but certain people we are close to know that a few people in our system find it harder to mask and can tell when they're fronting very easily because of it.

Even if we are masking our accents properly, some parts of the way we speak still come out. Some of us end sentences on a higher-pitch more often due to what our accent generally has us do and some end more on lower-pitch notes when speaking. Some of us put emphasis on certain syllables differently. There's lots of little things that go into language that make it hard to completely mask.

4. Food Choices

More of a noticeable one, but something we tend to brush off as "just a bad batch" when it happens. Some of us like and dislike different foods and drinks, some of us to an extreme degree.

Mystery hates the brand of juice we normally buy and thought that it might've just been past expiry (it was not) or just a bad batch of the juice, but they're consistently the only one who doesn't like it.

Rave likes spicy food much more than the rest of us because they have a harder time tasting it. I on the other hand can't handle spicy food at all and am worse with it than the others in my system.

Some of us favour different brands of food and some of us might like/dislike textures of food differently too.

5. Default Facial Expressions

Different resting facial expressions are something we hardly notice because we don't look in a mirror often due to dysphoria. What we do know though, is that some of us just rest our faces differently.

I look more stern and tired than others. I have a bit of an angrier resting expression.

Martin looks a little bit more anxious due to being an anxiety-holder, but he also looks softer and kinder.

Crowley also looks tired but has less of a stern look and more of an almost blank one.

6. Body Language

This is one we don't know too much about because we can only get knowledge on this from other people, but most of our headmates have a different "vibe" by the way they carry themselves.

I end up seeming to-the-point and business-like.

Martin reads as being very anxious even if he's not always.

Crowley reads as smug.

Mal reads as if he's planning something mischevious and silly.

We've been told that Filigree just reads as "gay".

We're not sure what actions make us seem this way, but some of us can be clocked by others around us as fronting without even talking first. I don't know how people do it, but it's something in our body language.

7. Clothing Choices

A few of us have different clothing choices--Crowley still wears sunglasses everywhere due to light sensitivity and wears dark colours, I prefer to wear button-up shirts as opposed to more casual things, Martin prefers hoodies that are lighter in colour and Merlin prefers to dress in pink and black and more fluffy textures.

We don't have too many clothes overall so to others it does just look like we're cycling through our wardrobe, and sometimes we are, but there's certain styles some of us tend to lean toward more than others.

---

Some of these might seem quite noticeable, and maybe they are if you know we're a system, but people change a lot so once again some of this is much more subtle than it sounds. People who don't know that you're a system hardly ever notice, and if they do they put it to "having an off day" and leave it at that.

We wanted to take some time to appreciate those little things we find it hard to notice, though. And maybe it'll end up helping some other system realise how unique they are as individuals and help fight off the imposter syndrome like these realisations did for us.

#alterhuman #system #didosdd #plural #actually did #actuallyplural #plural system #plurality #endo safe #pro endo #quoigenic #pluralgang #op #vince (he/they) #everything althu #althu experiences #everything plural #plural experiences

[alias71]

Endeavour & Joan - Missing Scene

It all started with this print (© The Red Dress London on Etsy):

I noticed that the moment depicted between Endeavour and Joan was not included in Season 6, which this artwork was commissioned to advertise. I didn't think much about it until the wonderful @sircolinmorgan posted this image from shutterstock:

Finally! Evidence that the deleted scene existed! But where from? Some investigation was required...

Okay, so when lightened up a bit, what you can tell just from that pic alone is that there’s a blackboard in the background, someone sitting at a desk, and you can see the edge of a camp bed (you can also see that she’s holding his other hand!) All of that of course suggests ‘Deguello’ and the aftermath of the tower collapse in the gymnasium. As far as I can tell there’s only one scene in the episode at this location and it’s when Endeavour escorts a child to a waiting parent and then Strange and Thursday are there and reach for him (quite a lovely caring moment):

Compare the first of these three pics and you’ll see the blackboard, the person at the desk, and that the blue area in the shutterstock pic is the privacy screen next to the blackboard.

Endeavour is wearing his blue shirt that’s consistent with both images, but he never takes his jacket off in the actual scene and it’s very odd that Strange touches Endeavour’s shoulder and he turns around, only for the scene to immediately cut to the makeshift morgue scene with DeBryn. You never see another scene at that location as far as I can tell. Does that imply something was cut there? The shutterstock pic shows Joan at that location, but she was never there in the episode.

The next scene with Endeavour is when he visits the little girl in hospital and meets Joan there:

Their conversation is extremely brief with Joan telling Endeavour he should be at home:

Morse: I wanted to see if she was all right. How is she? How's her mum?

Joan: Hanging in there. You should be home.

Morse: Home. So should she. So should her mother. So should everyone.

Joan: Accidents happen.

Morse: Yeah, not like this. You know, somebody's got to be responsible. Is there anything I can do?

Joan: You've done your bit and more.

Morse: Good night.

Joan: Good night.

Joan is of course wearing the same as in the shutterstock pic. The next time we see Joan she runs into Endeavour when he’s investigating the surveyor and she’s changed clothes:

They talk about the survivors and then have this little exchange:

Joan: How are things with you?

Morse: Oh, one day's much the same as the next.

Joan: I didn't mean work, I meant you.

Morse: Oh, it's the same thing, isn't it? Have you seen your father lately?

Joan: Not much. Why?

Morse: Well, I just wondered if he was all right. He hasn't seemed himself lately.

Joan: Oh.

Morse: Anyway, there it is.

It’s extremely halting and Endeavour leaves looking all awkward and uncomfortable. Make of that what you will because neither of the filmed scenes between Endeavour and Joan play like they could have had such a close moment as in the shutterstock pic with Joan touching his face and holding his hand. Obviously one was switched out, but it seems to me the entire tenor of their interaction in 'Deguello' was changed. These are the only scenes they had together and Joan isn’t in the rest of the episode or the next season for that matter! I wonder if it played a part that Sara Vickers wasn’t available - I have no idea how far in advance they could have known. It's also possible they felt that a romantic moment would have been out of place in the midst of a tragedy, or perhaps they simply decided against allowing Endeavour and Joan to be close. No matter the reason, it's a real shame - it looked like a beautiful scene!

Anyway, that was my little Sherlockian endeavour (snort!) into the missing Endeavour/Joan moment everyone was robbed of. I think it’s probably much like the sigil scene in BBCs ‘Merlin’ where a totally different version was filmed with a very different feel, and we don’t know why that was swapped out either! Damn my favourite shows.

#itv endeavour #endeavour morse #shaun evans #joan thursday #sarah vickers #deguello #season 6 #morsetache forever! #and also those dark suits

[queer-ragnelle]

Feel like malory choose which characters he didnt like and which he did and then went through the motions of doing his retelling but that means stuff like Arthur doing the Mayday Massacre gets like a paragraph and has no influence on the narrative. Malory put a biblical exodus king/herod the great moment in there and then said “dont worry about it :]” meanwhile I literally cannot stop thinking about The Implications

he really did. the largest downside is malory was simplifying the post vulgate, which was already a simplification of the vulgate. so it’s like a horrendous game of telephone & all the depth & nuance is lost.

for example, in the post vulgate, arthur sleeps with morgause when he’s young, before he’s married, & she didn’t realize it was him (it was dark?? medieval logic.) point being that the adultery double standard isn’t a factor, she did not mean to cheat on lot, & arthur was single. that’s a narrative hiccup on malory’s part. furthermore the prophecy of a child born on may day come to destroy the kingdom was vague, so arthur’s intention was to round up the children born around that time, & raise them, until they were old enough to distinguish who was who. lot & morgause were sending baby mordred willingly, thinking this was a good opportunity for their son to be tutored in the high king’s household, only for the ship to crash, & for them to believe their son had died as a result of this summons. but he didn’t, & was raised alongside sagramore, eventually coming to court & learning of his real brothers, the other sons of morgause, that way.

i think the original stories & spins malory included were the best of it, especially gareth beaumains & his adventures with the damosel savage. but much of what he adapted he fumbled, all the motifs are forgotten, characters are inconsistent or hold beliefs which aren’t supported by the narrative itself (ie, mark sucks we hate him! what has he done? shhh don’t worry about that just hate him! team tristan!). kind of a mess!

i recommend the vulgate instead. it’s long. but skipping the history of the grail starting from the story of merlin it gives an in depth explanation of everything at play, all the characters rise to power, & their motivations. then the vulgate proper picks up with baby lancelot. norris j. lacy’s translation is a dream to read with really thorough footnotes to explain any references made or translation nuances.

the PDFs can be read here if you’re so inclined.

#arthurian legend #arthurian legends #arthuriana #arthurian mythology #le morte d'arthur #sir thomas malory #ask #liridi

[oneknightstand-if]

How would the in relationship Ro’s react to an MC getting very serious saying “If you end up being the traitor kill me before your reveal so I can die thinking we were real.”

One Knight Stand takes place over a two week timespan after which it climaxes/concludes with everyone's past incarnations getting revealed and the saboteur(s) being exposed.

Except for Adrian (who the MC has known for years in one fashion or another), they've only known these people for a couple of weeks. That's going a liiiittle too hard for most of them.

Merlin: Dear child, if I was the traitor you'd all already be dead.

Adrian: *is completely losing his $h!t over here at the implications... except for a_bond 4 = stalker Adrian who is just really, really confused right now*

Arthur: *is current Sir-Not-Appearing-In-This-Scenario since he's not playing Real Life Among Us with you... or is he?*

Percy: Indeed, he too wishes that he was a real boy and not a wooden puppet.

4̵0̶4̷ ̷E̸r̴r̵o̴r̸ ̷N̵o̴t̵ ̵F̵o̷u̷n̷d̸: Look, they are trying v̶̧̨̛̛̪͉̙̠̤̘̓͐̇͊̅͛̌̓͂͘͝͠ę̸̧̘̪͎̦͚̜̙̪̍̾͜ͅṛ̵̃͋y̴̢̛͇̥̝͔̒͒̇̍̓̈́̊̉̅ ̶̨̪̭̘̭̻̝̗̱̞̇̃͑̿͜ḫ̶̢̝͚͎̼̪̪͍͔͇͖͒̈́͑͜͝a̸̢̨̱̖̝͉̲̝̗̘̺̖͎̦͑̒͆̊̋̎̋͑̀̑̓͝͝͠r̴͇̼͉̰̳̺̘̺̫̱̟͍͍͕̎̍̊̇͒̐͐͐̈̅́͝ḑ̸̢̡̧̳̠̯̞̭͙̿͒̀͂́̿͋͝ to fulfill the "kill me" part of this request if you'd just stop running...

Cassandra: Gunning a bit hard there, are we?

Gwen: Oh! I understand you completely! It's so nice when people are completely in sync like this, right? And please, do the same for me!

Vivian: *is Lady-Not-Appearing-In-This-Scenario since she's not playing Real Life Among Us with you... or is she? Also, really, don't tempt her!*

Lorelei and Broderick:

#No Tumblr spellcheck I still don't want to type One Night Stand #oks-asks #oks-ROs #interactive fiction #oneknightstand #one knight stand

[i-am-a-teabag-cause-i-can]

BBC Merlin Prompt:

ok; so we know next to nothing about Dragonlords in canon, because there's literally 2 of them in canon, Balinor and Merlin, so the whole inheritance thing isn't really fleshed out. Can only sons inherit. if a Dragonlord has multiple children does only the oldest inherit. I only the oldest inherits do the others have Magic and so on.

For this idea I took the option of all the children have varying degrees of Magic, but only the oldest would inherit the actual commanding a Dragon.

Anyway back to the actual idea:

VERSION 1#

Balinor wasn't an only child. He had a younger brother. A younger brother who by the time of the Purge was already married and had a son. He like all the other folks gets arrested and burned at the stake. His wife then immediately remarries to protect her son from being drowned and is like "my child, son of a sorcerer? oh no sir" and lies about having stepped out on her husband. So at the end not even her son knows who his real father is.

This child also doesn't know he has magic, because like Morgana he repressed it. Being marginally less powerful than either Merlin or Morgana he never notices. He joins the knights and one day he unknowingly meets his younger cousin. No one sees the resemlancy, because unlike the rest of his family he inhereted his mothers blond hair.

Now you may be wondering who this son is. It's Leon. And one day After s2e13 The Last Dragonlord, but Balinor survived and is hiding at his families old Keep. So anyway Leons mom meets Merlin and is like "Balinor?" cause Merlin looks a lot like Balinor did as a teenager. And that's how Leon learns he has magic and a stupidly powerful cousin. And later meets his grumpy uncle and together they might manage to teach Merlin some swordfighting.

and at some point there's the typical magic/dragonlord reveal.

VERSION 2#

In my second version the younger brother survives the Purge and flees to Cearleon where he changes his name etc. and joins the knights there maybe falls in love again and has a second son. He later dies in the Kings service. Leaving his second wife and son penniless.

Because of magic and destiny and what not. The second son also meets Merlin later in his life. He like Leon is part of the Knights of the Round Table. And Leon is like wtf THAT'S?! my little brother?

So now Balinor has his cryptid, magic god son, his noble knight nephew and his not so noble tavern-loving nephew, aka Gwaine.

if anyone wants to write this feel free, just tag me or something.

#bbc merlin #merlin #sir leon #gwaine #merlin emrys #balinor #fanfic #fanfic prompt #fanfic ideas #dragonlord merlin #uther pendragon

[biblicallyaccurateangeloncrack]

Genshin and hsr characters as pinned messages (out of context) from discord servers with my friends: a shitpost

(uhhh cw some nsfw jokes and cuss words)

wriothesley: "i do not want an alpha transformation happening rn "

march to danheng: "my coquette lungs are better than your emo lungs"

hu tao: *ghostly voice* "oooooogly boogly why'd you skadoodly me?"

xiao, learning how to spell: "i lvove elmo music"

childe: "he is in my feet"

klee: "yeah my grandma's actually kim kardashian"

bronya to cocolia when she got sick as a kid: "Mother please carry me outside before to see the sky one last time before the consumption takes hold of my body and soul"

hu tao: " "weenis", said eerily"

bennett: "THE SANDWHICH TOOK ME OUT"

blade: "that link is longer than my plans for the future"

serval: "i pledge allegiance to the american bra"

itto: "i am in heat growls the summer has come and i am in heat growls"

zhongli: "*old man voice* when i was your age i fought kids"

stelle/caelus: "when i was my age i eated drywall"

fu xuan: "JING YUAN ILL SNIPPERS YOU UP IF YOU DONT STOP WITH THIS GOOBEROUS SHIT"

diluc, about venti: "i like to prentend he was a fever dream i came with at 4am"

fréminet, trying to speak french: "they said Lyney tu dumbass"

sampo: "I think Luka would beat up Luka while Luka watches. and then Luka would join in and beat the living daylight out of Luka"

silver wolf, about blade: "ppl with lactose intolerance boutta have their 2nd period ongomg"

kayea and rosaria: "we're a match made in the deep dark depths of the abyssal caves in fuck knows where"

jingliu: "am i.........one of those queers........."

yanquing: "shout-out to my home dawg Charles aka history teacher for dropping this wisdom on me"

shinobu: "itto if you say anything penis related you are banned"

ayaka as a kid: ""please take me to the garden so that way i can see the shining sun for the last time before my frail body decomposes with the disease known as ligma""

lyney: "imagine Neuvillette seeing a bunch of orphans blow up infront of him"

yoimiya: "are you really friends if you dont have matching vagina bracelets ??"

wriothesley: "My name is actually marlinus maximilianus Merlin guys"

caelus/stelle: " *bites your toes playfully* "

Pompom: "i eat gender for dinner"

xiao: "is life without endless pain and suffering only for it all to end leaving nothing but emptiness and all your suffering being just for the entertainment of the entity that we call god. an entity who is the real reason as to why we humans end up hurting others, for pain and suffereing is nothing but an endless spiral no matter how hard you try."

kafka, messing with blade: "do you like the gay foot"

yanfei: "YOU CANT LET IT GO LET IT GO YOUR WAY OUT OF A RESTRAINING ORDER"

kokomi: "DEMENTED DOLPHIN"

Furina: "they oui oui'd me"

shenhe: "the cld never bothered me anywa......."

kiara: "agressive meow"

ganyu: "are you a tree cause i wanna eat you"

dainsleif: "while youre kissing you bf or whatever ill be watching in the walls"

venti: "I FART ON PLANES"

scaramouche: "childe I will shave you bald"

itto: "perry plaptypussy"

seele, in response to hook's drawing: "10/10 Einstein could never"

razor, to bennett: "I WILL LICK YOU TO SLEEP"

sucrose, about to collect more bones: "*deranged loud breathing*"

kequing, to half of liyue: "SHUT UP COLOR WHEEL"

cyno: "genderfluid people's favorite song is liquid smooth"

kequing: "the feminine urge to beat up your coworkers with a stick"

dehya: "i piss on biphobes" kaveh: "but what if they have a piss kink..."

albedo: "he looks like a failed science project"

baizhu: "blowjob? nah, blownose"

silver wolf: "story time, honkai star rail made me leave my brother at a gas station and i do not regret SHIT"

blade: "if i end this year without killing myself its a miracle"

columbina: "btw dead bodies take less space if you bury them like theyre standing up"

zhongli: " *cracks back and walks away leaving a trail of dust behind"

@muachiro @geetkk @veimwah @etherific @zohakutenstan

#shitpost #silly hours #genshin impact #honkai star rail #gi #hsr #hu tao #baizhu #blade hsr #columbina #danslette #zhongli #morax #silver wolf #sw #albedo #albedo kreidprinz #kequing #dehya #kaveh #cyno #sucrose #razor #bennett #benny #seele hsr #hook #hsr seele #itto #arataki itto

[taiyoandluna09]

My "Nanatsu No Taizai" rewrite/redesign Pt. 1

(Nakaba has proven to have great ideas for the manga but doesn't push his full potential alongside, including weird shit and not answering certain questions. If you have any questions or anything please go to my ask box for me to answer.)

• Meliodas is gonna be more flirty towards Elizabeth, including making sexual innuendo words towards her instead of him full on sexually assaulting her.

• Elizabeth is now 20 years old instead of 16. I have no clue why nakaba made her sixteen when meliodas is a full-on grown adult because that makes it creepy.

•Now that Elizabeth is 20 years old, that makes Veronica 22 and Margaret 26

•Meliodas and Elizabeth's curse are the same with one change. I find it weird how their was a child reincarnation of her and how Meliodas said he loved all of them. From now on, all of Elizabeth's reincarnation's are all adults, and there was one child reincarnation, but Meliodas loved her in a familia way. The child reincarnation existed to show that the curse is ruthless and cruel no matter the age, etc.

•Meliodas didn't know Elizabeth as a child because I hate how nakaba did that since that makes their relationship so much creepier. Meliodas still meets the sins, grandmaster, etc, but he doesn't meet Elizabeth until the start of the story.

•Meliodas has ptsd from all of reincarnation deaths, and instead of Elizabeth getting knocked out for the reason of his demonic power getting out of control. I imagine instead it would be some random girl who accidentally witnessed the death of the grandmaster and ran to warn the sins (basically what child elizabeth did). Meliodas lost control because he got ptsd flashbacks of liz's death and that makes him lose control, it ends the same way with merlin sealing away his power.

•Elaine and ban met when they were children since that would make their relationship make much more sense and make elaine looking like a child not creepy. They knew each other for a much longer time than the og since it doesn't make sense.

•King and Diane met when they were both pre-teens since Elaine is younger than king, and it would make their relationship not creepy. Diane is now way older than Elizabeth in both giant and human years. (I hate how nakaba made Diane younger then Elizabeth in human years, which makes Diane 15 and that's so fucking creepy.)

•Elaine alongside King both developed their adult wings during the battle with mael alongside new adult forms. Elaine now looks like a grown adult. Yay! :D (No, she hasn't changed back since I hate how nakaba made her go back to her loli form, and I hate it so much.)

•I wanna develop Elaine's abilities real quick because I find it weird that no one really realizes how powerful Elaine is. I mean, yeah, she isn't as powerful as king, but she is still powerful . She literally guarded the fountain of youth for hundreds of years and killed people who proved a threat to the forest. Elaine still has the power of wind manipulation, but it's more frequent and shown in the story than the og.

•Elizabeth's season 1 outfit is now her season 2 outfit and no one can tell me otherwise :)

•Elaine and King both have those fairy tattoos on their face alongside having fairy ears since they don't look magical or look like fairies to me in the og. The whole fairy race has their own language, and the siblings both speak it occasionally.

That's part. 1 of my rewrite/redesign series. If you have any ideas for it, please come to my ask box so I can answer them.

#nanatsu no taizai #seven deadly sins #elizabeth liones #meliodas #ban #anime #king harlequin #elaine the fairy saint #nnt diane #nnt elaine

[its-actually-minicika]

A Bumpy Aftermath (18+)

(HotD Hogwarts!AU)

part 2 of "The Yule Ball";;

List of headcanons for the main three;;

Pairings: Aemond x Reader, Jacaerys x Reader, Aegon x Reader;

Warnings: ANGST, pining, jealousy, NSFW content (not in the way that you hope for), (Y/N) is crushed in this one, not proof-read yet;

Word count: a lot, and we're not even done;

Author's Note: I apologise for the delay! I know I was meant to post this long ago, but I got wrapped in so many things this holiday season. When the time came to edit what I had in my drafts, I rewrote the whole thing from scratch - I think you guys deserve the best I can offer, and I wasn't proud of that particular end result :")

Speaking of time, this fic contains a lot of time-travelling - as opposed to how it's portrayed in the Harry Potter franchise, the time travelling in this fic works quite differently; When you do it, not only do you disappear from the present you left, but you also fully replace the past version of yourself from the time you decided to travel to - as such, there no "clone" lurking around that you have to be careful with. The only disadvantage for our heroes is that there is no one to fulfil the good and the bad actions that they did a night before...

After the wrap up of last night's celebrations, (Y/N) wakes up with dread flooding her veins - although she has Aemond, the sun rays bring both Jacerys and Aegon forth, shining over her confused feelings.

All's well when ends well, but what will happen if she can't figure out her heart?

The gentle promise of a new dawn slowly stirrs (Y/N) awake.

Her eyes flutter open, and she brings her hands up in a lazy stretch. Slowly, yet surely, she gets up from her warm bed, and stiffles a yawn that threatens to escape her parted lips.

"Well, good morning, sleepy head!" Celeste Bone, her roommate, teases the girl lightly. "We thought you were dead for a sec there. Not even the screams of the Quiddich team woke you up."

(Y/N) is taken aback, and her eyes widen momentarily - not only was it a Sunday afternoon, but there were no games to play during that time of the term, either.

Noticing her confusion, Celeste shakes her head and adds through a mouthful of jelly beans, "The Slytherins had a fight with our guys - tell me something new - and they took it up on the empty playing field. But Lucaerys got pretty roughed up. They're not sure he's gonna play in the next games."

(Y/N)'s mouth hangs open in shock - a pained look graces her features, and she bites her inner cheek, while quickly dressing up in her robes. "Merlin's beard, is he okay now?! What started the fight?"

"He's in the West Wing, in the Infirmary. Wost thing he's donning on is a concussion. They..." Celeste scratches her head in an attempt to remember what exactly started the misunderstanding. Her expression turns sour and she snaps her fingers.

"They overheard the Slytherins taking shit about that Graphorn Professor Lynnen brought last week to class. You know how Androw got scratched by it? His mommy issued a whole investigaton over the legality of bringing a real magical creature to class... turns out there's a lot of but's and if's when it comes to that."

(Y/N)'s head pumps in pure shock and adrenaline. You oversleep one time, and this is what happens to the whole school?

Celeste shrugs her shoulders.

"Either way, their guys said some fucked up shit, ours retaliated by punching them real good. Luke called Androw a 'hairy butt' or something, and those bastards full on jumped him!"

"Fuck." (Y/N) exhaled through a strained breath, not even bothering to tie up her shoelaces. "Poor Luke. And poor Jace, too..."

She left her Common Room in a hurry, jumping once every two steps on the moving staircase, until she reached the Infirmary. As she entered through the big oak doors, the exasperated sighs of Miss Margelle, the school's main nurse, could be heard as clear as day.

"To anyone who isn't his immediate family, get out. Out, I said! Let the poor child rest!" She scolded infinitely, until the students of the Gryffindor Quiddich team started leaving the waiting room one by one.

(Y/N)'s back stiffened, and she lowered her head to sneak past the student body to reach Luke's bed. There, she found Jace, Baela and Rhaena already seated, and a very beat up Luke to match their worried faces.

"Luke!" The girl uttered affectionately, reaching for his bandaged palm. "I came as soon as I heard. Those Slytherins are God damn savages."

Jacaerys is the first to leap up, his eyes full from a mixture of affection and reluctance over last night's events. He is quick to offer (Y/N) his chair, running a hand though his brown hair, not knowing whether he should apologise once more or concentrate on the subject at hand.

(Y/N)'s eyes are the first to soften up at the sight of him, and his bloody nose.

"Jace... don't tell me they got you too!" She muses with a crooked smile, worry evident in her voice.

"If you think they got him, you should've see how they looked like after Jace had a turn." Baela announces loud and proud, jerking her head in the direction of two far away beds, separated from her field of view by a sheer curtain.

"Baela...!" Jacerys chastises the young Targaryen with a slight blush on his cheeks.

"What? They can listen in all they want - It's not like it's a lie!"

After shaking his head with a barely hidden smirk, Jace turns his full attention to (Y/N), and bites his lower lip. "We're fine. Those fuc--... those Slytherins aren't gonna touch either one of us anytime soon."

"But they'll take their revenge on Böfur alright!" Rhaena sniffles loudly with teary eyes.

This snaps (Y/N)'s attention, and the girl exchanges a look with Jacaerys, who only bites his cheek in remorse at the reminder.

"Wait, what happened?" The Gryffindor enquires, leaning onto the chair more, her hands clasped tightly over her chest. "Celeste told me that Androw pressed some charges against Professor Lynnen. What will happen to the Graphorn?"

"That's the thing." Luke sighs in the hospital bed. "The lawyers pressed charges against them both - they wanted to arrest Lynnen and euthanise Böfur."

"The news for the latter came by this morning." Jace added sombrely. "Their request actually went through."

For a second, (Y/N) can feel her heart stop. The only noises that befall the Infirmary are Lucerys' growl and Baela's loud curses.

She nods her head briskly, and gets up on her feet, just as fast as Jace did. "Then we must do something. We can't just let the poor guy be taken in by the Ministry."

Jace's eyes fill with glee and determination, and the male hums in agreement. "Absolutely." He concludes, dusting the creases out of his robes.

"And I know just the way to do it."

Two sets of rapid footsteps descend from the moving staircase. Jace and (Y/N) scurry along, on a pathway that could only lead to the Hufflepuff Common Room.

With each taken step, the girl's brows furrow deeper - what did Böfur's fate have anything to do with the gentle Hufflepuffs?

And, if she could be honest to herself, she had no wish to bump into Aegon again.

Mayhaps sensing her distress, or simply being wrecked by their lack of conversation, Jace takes in a deep breath and lowers his head to the ground.

"I wanted to tell you how sorry I am about the things I said last night." His husky voice echoes throughout the empty corridor. Only when he feels (Y/N)'s shoulders relax, in a silent encouragement to continue, he keeps going. "I behaved like a jealous pig, and I want you to know that I'll spend every single day that's left in this year to make it up to you."

Chocolate hues clash with shining (y/e/c) eyes - Gryffindor glances at Gryffindor, until both their stares soften in fondness.

"Jace..." (Y/N) utters through a deep sigh, "It's okay."

"No. No, it isn't." He whispers amusedly, vexxing himself for his unprincely behaviour. "You were so happy on the dance floor, and I ruined it all, because... Because I couldn't stand the idea of you having fun with someone other than me."

Jacaerys' pained face speaks of his honesty from miles away - still, he takes in a shaky breath and recoils into himself, persisting with his confession.

"I was selfish. I was an ass. Most of all, I was a coward." His eyes flutter close for a few seconds, before opening them again to grace the girl with the softest of smiles. "I wanted to ask you to the dance myself. I had everything ready, I knew all the things that I had to say, and yet... I never did."

He shrugs his broad shoulders and runs a hand through his rebel hair. He can't say he expects the girl to answer. Even now, he feels selfish for staining a heartfelt apology with his feelings for her - still, he had to let her know.

The only thing he was hoping for now was that (Y/N) could find it in herself to still be his friend.

Her mouth hangs wide open, before she collects herself, biting her lower lip in tribulation.

Although Jace's confession made her heart leap in place and her face surely turn red, the girl had to swallow down the feelings he awoke in her - she was Aemond's girlfriend now, and she had to let him know. As gently as she could.

Before she can cook up an apology and a reasonable explanation for her following rejection, a familiar head of silver hair catches her eye.

Of course it was him.

"Jace - there you are!" Aegon's distressed groan shook the very staircase to the core.

His leg was jerking rapidly in place, and he looked as if he'd been waiting on him for hours on end. "Took your sweet time, didn't you? You know I can't stay here for long."

Quickly, his attention falls on the familiar clump of (y/h/c) hair, and Aegon averts his eyes while choking on his own remarks. "(Y/N)." He says in a most stale manner, coughing in the back of his hand.

Utterly unimpressed, the girl apprisingly nods her head, keeping her mouth in a tight line. As for Aegon, the older male was doing anything but look at (Y/N), shifting from one foot to the next.

The other one who is sharing her expression is the older Velaryon, who completely gives up on waiting for his uncle; instead gesturing towards Aegon's pockets and taking the first step forward.

"We're sorry we're late - but we're here now." He finally says, as Aegon's hand frantically searches through his robe. His purple eyes light up when he gets a hold of something.

"Ah, here we are - good as new." The Targaryen muses expectantly, handing Jace a rusty looking necklace with a proud look.

"What is that?" (Y/N) asks through a quirked up brow, as she runs her fingers down the dainty hourglass.

"That, dear (Y/N), is a very old and important family heritage." Whilst speaking, Aegon pauses dramatically, waiting for the girl to gesture him to keep going.

Noticing her lack of enthusiasm towards his antics, he nods his head in awknowledged defeat and quirks the corners of his mouth downwards in a most amusing frown.

"You're still mad about last night - fair enough. Are you familiar with the term... 'time-turner'?"

At that, (Y/N)'s eyes turn up. She nods her head decidedly and huffs out in a breath.

"The magical device that allows any witch or wizard to turn back in time for a limited amount of hours."

Jace gives her a boyish wink and smiles happily. "That's right! ... This is our best bet to save Lynnen and Böfur." He adds in a more serious tone.

"How in the world did you get your hands on this?" The Gryffindor asks, mesmerised by the priceless antique. "I thought the entire stock of Time-Turners were somewhere in the Ministry building, held under lock and key."

Aegon throws (Y/N) an arrogant smile, and shrugs his shoulders playfully.

"As I said, it's a very precious family heirloom... and the name Targaryen weighs very heavily in the magical world." He snickers while adding, "You know, just in case you were wondering."

A pang of annoyance graces (Y/N)'s features, and Aegon raises his hands up in quiet surrender.

"I only meant it as a helpful tip in case you ever need anything." The oldest of the Targaryen brother solemnly says.

Jacaerys, too, rolls his eyes silently, but pats his uncle on the back in a greatful manner. "Thank you, Aegon. We couldn't do it without you."

"I know." The older male agrees thickly, checking his own pocket-watch. "Well, look at the time, indeed." He chuckles to himself, "I wish you good luck on your ventures, dear nephiew, darling (Y/N)."

Choosing to ignore his petname, the Gryffindor looks at the Targaryen with renowed interest and confusion.

"You're not coming with?" She asks tentatively, to which Aegon shakes his head, rocking an expression akin to frustration.

"Tsk, I can't." He tuts lightly, as he buries his hands into his black robes. "I have to go to court - courtesy to my baby brother."

"Aemond?" (Y/N) asks in disbelief, before adding on. "Court? I knew you'd eventually end up there, but I thought it'd take more time than that."

Feigning hurt at her silacious words, Aegon placed both his hands atop his heart, moaning painfully, as if he'd been shot.

"You hurt me, wound me truly - mom always said that the prettiest girls have the deadliest mouths."

Snickering at his double edged meaning, no doubt more than overjoyed, Aegon rose to his feet again.

"It's not what you think, though - thanks to your precious Aemond, Professor Lynnen is in more trouble than worth." This time, his attitude is serious.

Aegon lets out a bitter laugh and clicks his tongue in pure annoyance. "That brat can't keep his mouth shut about anything he deems improper."

"What do you mean?" (Y/N) asks, eyes wide from both confusion and offence raised at her boyfriend.

"You don't know?" Aegon asks, fully befuddled, before letting out in a low whistle. "I though you were the first to know, since my brother is your best friend and all."

As Aegon turned his back on the pair, taking the way down on the moving staircase, he threw nonchalantly over his shoulder:

"Aemond was the one who alerted the Ministry of the 'misconduct' the head of my house was showing. Professor Lynnen is facing trail because of him."

For once, (Y/N) is happy that Aegon has his back turned on her, for she imagines that the expression she's wearing beats the result of any farce he may have pulled on her over the years.

Anger bubbles inside her: not only from Aemond's lack of communication and transparancy with her, but from his cruelty, as well.

Professor Lynnen was an old man, with a happy attitude and a kind heart. He never showed up late to class, and was always understanding with missed deadlines and less than stellar turned-in homework.

Most of all, he took it upon himself to give his students the best possible experience with the 'Care for Magical Creatures' course. And if you were to take a survey over Hogwarts' most popular and loved professors, Lynnen was a safe bet to always come out on top.

To say that (Y/N) took the news personally was an understatement. Aemond knew - this was her favourite faculty employee!

... And Lucaerys' too. But there was no way he did it on a whim to hurt him, despite all the differences they both had. ... Right?

Although she defied the thought with everything inside her, (Y/N) couldn't help but feel as though this mummer's farce was a sleek attempt for revenge; over something that happened way before their time at Hogwarts.

Always the kind and attentive soul, Jace quietly puts his hand over the girl's shoulder, rubbing small circles in a soothing manner. He offers her a sympathetic smile, one that lets her know just how much he understands her fury.

"I'm... I'm so...?" She tires to say though a quizzical brow. The Gryffindor lets out a huff of pure disbelief, and shakes her head, not knowing what to think.

"I know how you feel. It sucks being left out of the loop. Especially on something so important. But we'll fix it - together, right?" Jacaerys offers her a tiny smile, reassuring her with a gentle squeeze of her shoulder.

"Right. Together." She repeats, eyes full of determination.

Jace's hands reach for (Y/N)'s neck shyly, and, for a moment, the pair catches each other looking into the other's eyes with unspoken longing. (Y/N) is the first to break the stare, coughing slightly while glancing at their shoes on the hard floor.

The boy's ears are caught ablaze, but he brushes off the feeling soon enough.

"Right, so..." He whispers, biting his lip, "About 32 turns should do it?"

"32 hours sounds good." (Y/N) concludes as well, "It gives us enough time to prepare for everything and talk to the twins and Luke about our plan."

Jace smiles at her fondly, and lets out a small chuckle. "I'll tell Luke to mind his business when he hears those rascals talk nonesense about Böfur and Lynnen."

The pair share a laugh and turn their eyes to the dainty necklace that sits over both their necks. Silently, they beging to count.

One... Two... Three... Four... Five...

"Alright, here's the plan: since there isn't anyone who can take our place at the Yule Ball, I fear we'll have to attend." Jace's velvety voice rings into the girl's disoriented ears, puncturing through her dizzy head. He's holding onto her, gently, ensuring that she doesn't fall over or backwards due to the nature of their trip.

(Y/N) lets out a groan in protest, and brings a hand to massage her temples. "What a ghastly way to time-travel..." She heaves out in an attempt to ground herself back to reality. "How do you look so well after all that?"

The eldest Velaryon smiles sheepishly and shrugs his shoulders.

"Fine, keep your secrets." The Gryffindor nudges him playfully, though still with a quirked brow. She nods assuringly, and returns her attention towards the subject at hand.

"Right. I still have to dance the opening waltz with Borya. We'll leave after - thankfully, everyone will be preoccupied with the ball, so the sneaking around part should be easy."

Jacaerys gives the girl a wide smile, and checks his hand watch from underneath his Gryffindor attire. "It's twelve o'clock. We need to get to Lynnen's office first, talk to him about what'll happen to Böfur."

As he speaks, the two begin walking side by side towards the small hut by the trident river.

(Y/N) exhales shortly, and gives her classmate a saddened look.

"I wish we could do something for him, too. Even if we sneak the graphorn out and away from Hogwarts, Lynnen is still going to face trail for school misconduct."

Jacaerys' steps cease for a moment, and a deep frustration crinkles his eyes. He spares the girl a comforting look, and runs a hand down his face in defeat.

"Aegon will still testify in his favour, to be sure." He breathes out in deep thought, "As will the Headmaster and every other student involved - safe maybe for Aemond and Androw."

In exchange for his words, (Y/N) hums in agreement, and adds in her own right.

"He's held in too high esteem to ever lose his job. Most of our Professors are eccentrics, anyway." She agrees quickly, "The worst they can do is prohibit him from bringing any more magical creatures to class."

Having given each other some courage with their shared hopes and beliefs, the two resume their walking in a more hurried pace. They pass classroom after classroom with their heads hung low, until...

"Ahaha, oh, Aemond!"

The soft giggling of a girl catches (Y/N)'s attention. It seems to be coming out from the 'Advanced Potions' class. Both Gryffindors share a curious look, before taking a peak inside the empty room.

Sure enough, there they are: Alys Rivers and Aemond Targaryen, fevereshly conversing about something with wide smiles on their faces.

"Listen, Alys, I wanted to ask you something." The Slytherin's smooth voice echoes throughout the spacious room.

"Of course~ anything!" She replies in a flirtatious manner, pulling her lavish hair out of her sleek ponytail.

(Y/N) was fast to take a step back, pulling at Jace's robes in a quiet attempt to grab his attention.

'Let's go.' She mouths to him, jerking her head to point at the ever moving enchanted set of stairs. He nods promptly.

For the rest of their way down, the Gryffindor tries her best not to think about the interaction she unwillingly spied upon.

So that's where Aemond was when he...

Her partner in crime disperses her thoughts with a nonchalant smirk.

"You know she stole Rosaline Petch's hair conditioner last year? Then she gaslit her into believing she just used it all up. That's why they had that ugly fall out." He states in a matter-of-fact tone.

Unexpectedly, a roaring laughter cascades from (Y/N)'s lips. Unable to calm down, she leans into the cold wall for support, raising up her brows in a display of surprise.

"Jacaerys Velaryon! Where in the world did you hear this?"

"It is known!" He laughs alongside his friend, "Come on, everyone in the Gryffindor Common Room talked about it!"

(Y/N)'s fit of giggles aggravates by the second. She quirks her head to the side and holds her sides from shaking. "Oh, everyone, is it?"

"Okay. Maybe not everyone." Jace's ears redden at having been caught. He offers the girl a beaming smile and admits shyly, "It was Sara and Elisabeth who wouldn't stop talking about it, and..."

"And?"

"And they might have invited me and Cregan to one of their super-exclusive gossip groups last winter... and..."

(Y/N) lets out a fake gasp, jabbing his side with her elbow in a playful manner.

"I cannot believe my ears. Jacaerys Velaryon and Cregan Stark - listening to gossip about Alys Rivers' hair!"

"Hey, it's like, totally full of extensions!" Jacerys strains his mellow voice to a higher pitch, immitating Elisabeth's manner of talking.

"Oh my God!" The girl exlaims, undisputably laughing even harder, crouching forward to steady herself once more. "That's what you were doing instead of Charms homework?"

"Come on, it was totally worth it!" He chuckles whilst looking a way for just a moment.

"How?" She grins cheerfully at her friend. "Past you would cuss you out to the Seven Hells and back! I remember even now how you used all your money to buy an enchanted feather, only to have it taken away when we took our O.W.L.'s."

Jacaerys groans into the air, and shuts his eyes while shedding an imaginary tear. "Please... don't remind me about that. It's supposed to be a well guarded secret!" He whispers near (Y/N)'s ear.

His eyes soften, however, and he ruffles the back of his head. "It was worth it... because it made you laugh now." He answers truthfully.

A comforting silence befalls the two after that: both hiding their faces away, smiling wistfully and blushing profusely from the all-but-an-actual-confession that Jace managed to slip from his lips.

"Sir, you must allow us to help you release Böfur back into the wild." (Y/N) says categorically, leaving no more room for pleading or refusing.

Professor Lynnen sits down at the pumpkin shaped table, a warm cup of tea presented in front of him and his two little guests. He runs his spotted handkerchief over his bald head and neck, taking in a deep, consoling breath.

"(Y/N), Jacaerys..." The old man begins, but cuts himself off at the sight of the distressed teens. "Böfur will be returned to his herd in Switzerland by the end of the month, I, I..." His eyes squint from underneath his rectangular glasses, and he shakes his head in confusion. "I'm afraid I don't understand why you're so adamant in having him go tonight."

"Something bad is about to happen if we don't smuggle him out tonight - or at least hide him in the forest." Jace's voice is laced with worry, and he openly pleads with the Care for Magical Creatures professor.

At his explanation, Lynnen's shaky hand comes to ruffle the boy's hair affectionately, as he smiles down at the two of them prudently.

"Child, there is no reason to worry over the unknown. I, I know that the Ministry wants to seek judgement against the poor fellow, but rest assured that nothing bad is going to happen to him." Having said that, Lynnen sniffs into his handkerchief and readies his voice by coughing. "All life is precious. The Ministry knows this, as well." He adds wistfully, with an admirable determination for a person so spent.

"Sir, but you don't understand... we do know." (Y/N) bites her lip harshly, glancing at her professor from over her simmering cup of tea; prolonging herself against the chair even further.

Lynnen's already expanded eyes widen to a comical amount.

"You... know already?" He asks tentaively, taking in a deep breath of understanding. His eyes swell with the warning of tears, and he brings another pocket handkerchief to his runny nose. "Oh, my poor Böfur..." The old man wails silently.

Both Gryffindors exchange a look of worry, and get up from their seats in order to console the hurting soul.

"He doesn't have to die." (Y/N) says with renowed fire, "We'll make sure he doesn't, but we need your help to take him away."

Jacaerys follows the pattern of her words not a heartbeat later, "Tonight is the Yule Ball. Every teacher and student will be in the Great Hall, dancing. We can come unseen to your hut again - we'll take Böfur and give him in the care of some centaurs we know until the time comes for him to leave." He speaks with passion in his heart.

"You can stay with the rest of the students for the whole celebration - you'll have an alibi, and no one will suspect you of freeing him. There's thousands of students at Hogwarts, but only twelve professors." (Y/N) proclaims optimistically, giving his wrinkled hand a gentle squeeze.

To both their surprise, Lynnen squeezes back, giving the pair a big, tight smile.

"That went better than expected." (Y/N) huffs, as she skips yet another two steps on their ascend.

"We still got a mouthful for using a Time-Turner on school grounds." Jace shudders at hammering tone Professor Lynnen used with them, but still smiles to himself when (Y/N) laughs. "Everything is falling into place, though." He takes a moment to collect himself, before uttering, barely above a whisper, "I'm glad we're doing this together."

"Me too. I don't want to jinx it, but I think we're actually going to pull this off." The girl muses to herself, and stops her walking once they reach the portrait guarding the entrance to their common room.

"I'll see you tonight?" Jace hushes in a sweet promise.

"I'll see you tonight." She replies with a wide smile that scrunches up her freckled nose.

The two turn to the awaiting Fat Lady, and prepare to say the month's ever changing password:

"Caput Draconis!"

The rest of the evening went on in an uncanny recall of déjà-vu.

(Y/N) put on her black and red silk dress, and she asked Celeste to do her hair.

She put on the same red lipstick, and did her eyes with the same eyeliner.

Finally, she walked down the stairs to the Great Hall, skipping down the exact same steps.

Borya bowed down, he kissed her hand - she might have blushed.

Alys tugged on Aemond's arm, and she might have glanced at them - although her nerves were pulling her apart.

This time, she forgot to wave and smile.

The first waltz began.

A flutter of emotions overcame her.

She looked at Jace.

Once.

Twice.

Three times, before the dance was over.

Once.

Twice.

Three times, she was twirled around by the Durmstrang student.

When they pulled apart, she looked at the clock - half past eleven, so close to midnight.

She danced two more, maybe three dances.

Jacaerys did the same.

When the clock struck the hour of the wolf, both Gryffindors excused themselves, promising to return momentarily.

While everything went down, Aemond looked.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Four times.

Five times.

Endlessly - until (Y/N) disappeared into the night with Jacaerys Strong following her foosteps.

The one thing that wouldn't change that cursed night, was the feeling of pure anguish he felt, as he watched the girl he loved leave with his nephiew in such a hurry.

Then Alys called out to him. And his vision became blurry.

Two sets of hurrying footsteps made their way across the smooth pavement, seemingly chasing each other to who was the fastest runner.

Jacaerys' hand went under and into the green flowerpot, in which Professor Lynnen left the set of keys to Böfur's fence.

(Y/N) let out a sigh of relief when the boy presented the set to her, and she grasped it with her own cold fingers.

Since no one was watching them, and there was no reason to hurry besides for their own benefit (the sooner they freed the graphorn and took him into his safe oasis, the sooner they could return to the warmth of the Great Hall), the two friends joked and wrapped their heads around the one problem they were facing in between small breaks: 'Just how are we going to transport him without having the guy scream into the night and alert everyone?'

Jacaerys came with the solution. There was plenty of fresh kill inside Lynnen's house, to feed the beast during the day, and they so happened to have all his keys.

Baiting him into the forest with it, all the while keeping him busy with the copious amounts of meat, the daring Gryffindors managed to pull through with their plan.

(Y/N) bowed down in reverence when she handed Böfur to Magorian, the mighty centaur who overlooked all which moved and entered in the Forbidden Forest - and Jace followed suit.

"Okay, now let's get out of here." She whispered to him in a grave tone, shaking to the core from the unforgiving cold.

Jacaerys soon noticed her shaking, and no amount of future protest from the girl managed to sway him into taking his coat back from her smaller form.

"I have the blood of the Dragon." He jested lightly, shaking his head at another of her failed attempts. "It keeps me warm enough. Don't be proud and wear it! I wouldn't forgive myself if you caught a cold."

"Y-You could die from anaphylactic shock, you know." The girl retorted through grittered teeth, rubbing her hands together to bring more warmth to her stiffened limbs.

"And it would be an honor to die knowing you were safe."

The smallest of smiles graced her lips, and she grabbed the eldest Velaryon by the robes again.

"Today is not the day you die."

Now it was Jacaerys' turn to smile.

The celebrations might've just as well ended when (Y/N) and Jace reached the Great Hall again. More than half the student population seemed to be utterly drunk on the spiked punch - courtesy to Aegon, who, in lack of both his nephiew and darling (Y/N), got bored during the forth or fifth dance -, and the other half poisoned by the questionable cookies that Vela Castillo made 'especially for the occasion'.

Not even Borya escaped their deadly clutches. Almost green in the face, he bowed down stiffly before his date - it was a miracle that he didn't empty his bowels then and there -, excusing himself profusely from the dance floor and scurrying to the Dungeons, where the Slytherin Common Room resided.

Baela had already went to sleep.

(Y/N) scrunched up her nose in amusement, and Jacaerys stiffled a small laugh.

"It seems that we're both partnerless." The girl noticed with a quirked brow. Her eyes scanned the perimeter of the wide room, but found no sight of silver hair, or charcoal black.

Where did Aemond and Alys go?

"Yeah, but the party's spent." Jace noticed in a stale manner, glancing at (Y/N) with the corners of his eyes. "I'm sorry." He added, barely above a whisper.

"Huh? What for?" It was her turn to question him, utterly perplexed.

"For... I mean..." Jace gestured towards the ballroom with a solemn expression, "For taking you away from the ball. You didn't get to dance like last night - or, well, tonight."

A cautious smile graces (Y/N)'s lips, lighting up her fair features. She pats Jace on the back and jests delicately.

"I don't need two nights in a row of dancing like that - I have a killer muscle ache already."

Hearing her words, Jacaerys laughs earnestly. Still, he gives her an apologetic look, which (Y/N) shoots down with a passing wink. "Don't worry. I mean it."

Her hands go above her head in a linguid stretch, and the Gryffindor stiffles a yawn.

"Good job to us for today!" She concludes lazily.

Although tiredness was taking over her, she couldn't help but feel a tad aggravated by what the end of the Yule Ball meant.

Since I never had the fight with with the boys... then there's no reason for Aemond to take off on his broomstick and confess to me tonight. When I wake up tomorrow, we won't be...

A heavy sigh unwillingly parts from her lips - (Y/N)'s eyes trail down sadly, but a pang of optimism finds it's way to her heart.

Even if he didn't confess, I know the way he feels about me. I can just tell him that I love him tomorrow. Explain it to him the way he explained it to me.

With her mind made up on the matter, she relaxes her tense muscles once more. Still...

"Jace, I think I should check up on Aemond. Make sure he's not... food-poisoned and whatnot."

For a second, the girl can swear that his jaw tightens in repressed anger, and his brown eyes glaze over with sadness and longing - but just as quickly as that look seemed to appear, it left his face in an instant.

"He's still your friend." The Velaryon reassures her with a strained smile, "Of course. But let me at least accompany you to their dorms - it's far too dark for comfort, and there's a lot of drunk students haunting the halls still."

"Thank you, Jace." (Y/N) returns his grin sweetly.

Their walk through the catacombs is one of a pleasant silence, and (Y/N) even finds herself humming to a low tune that her mother used to sing.

All's well when ends well, but...

"O-Oh! Oooh, shit!" A slurry moan cuts through the established taciturn.

"Shh, keep quiet..." A loud slap carries it's sound through the deafening darkness, spilling over the Gryffindors' ears. "Fuck, good girl..."

The man's voice shakes with lust, and with each passing second, a feeling of dread seeps into (Y/N)'s body. Jace stiffens next to the girl, and shoots her a quick look.

"Look at you, taking me so, so well - can you give me another one? Hmm?"

"Mmhh, yes, yes, yes, Aemond...!" The woman gasps louder and louder with each wet thrust, until she lets out a muffled scream, no doubt covered by... Aemond's... hand.

The same hand who held onto (Y/N) the night before. A night that didn't even happen. This was now her reality.

The girl's throat closes into itself. It's getting harder and harder to breathe.

"Yes...!" Aemond lets out in a loud bark, groaning loudly, "Good fucking girl. That's it, Alys, that's it, take all my fucking cum."

A loud step back. And then another one.

Retreating is all that (Y/N) can think to do.

Hot, scorching tears fall from her eyes, wasting over her red cheeks, falling on the floor.

She's running away now, clawing at her collar for a chance of fresh air.

She doesn't mind the fact that the couple more than certainly heard her, or that her sobs are so loud, that they're threatening to wake the whole castle up.

"(Y/N)!" Jace's desperate tone chases her down the hallway.

He marches towards her, before changing his mind in favour of approaching the tangled Slytherins, who are definitely closer yet.

"Lumos maxima." He commands with a rage fuelled voice, lighting over Aemond Targaryen and Alys Rivers - who tries to hoist her skirt up in great haste.

Jacaerys doesn't spare her a second glance, instead concentrating on Aemond - without even thinking twice, he punches him straight in the face, busting his knuckles and leaving them bloody in their right crochet.

"You piece of shit." He hisses at his uncle, and he wants to hit him again, but the unforgettable sobs that left (Y/N)'s throat make him immediately run after her.

"(Y/N)! (Y/N)!"

The Gryffindor must have lost his voice by the time he finally finds her, in the inner garden of the castle, resting her head on her knees, trembling with the intensity of her cries.

For what feels like an eternity, he sits on the icy steps with her, silent; rubbing her back soothingly after placing his coat over her smaller form.

The blood that coats his knuckles coagulates, and the initial sting turns into an easing numbness.

Eventually, like all things, her crying ends. Either from acceptance over the situation at hand, or from lack of remaining tears - it ends.

"... When this whole mess happened for the first time," (Y/N) began with a breathy voice, "Aemond sneaked in o-our dorms and told me he lo-loved me."

The girl swallows thickly, and levels her breath again before choking out. "A-A-And he said... that he always will."

Jacaerys is borne of the Blood of the Dragon. Despite all that, when he reaches to hug her, his hands are cold.

His chin rests atop her head in a comforting manner. His strong arms engulf her fully, better than his coat can. Jace's body radiates heat and safety, and he begins to rock her gently from side to side, feeling his own heart break with every venture.

"I can't e-even be mad at him, can I?" She weeps harshly into his arms, "We're not a thing here a-anymore... w-we never were in this reality, I s-suppose."

Jacaerys can't say anything - he doesn't know what she'd like to hear, or how to judge the situation impartially himself.

He feels his blood boil. Of one thing he is certain: he would never do that to her.

He wants to tell her that. He yearns to let her know - but the Gryffindor realises that they are both heartbroken in their own right. And that he had no right to, in light of her situation, to confuse her.

Jacaerys Velaryon settles on hugging her tighter, on smoothing the hair on her back in a gentle caress. "Shh, shh... don't cry. Don't waste your tears on that guy."

Jacaerys Velaryon stays like this however long she needs to. Burning on the inside, and shivering from the cold on the outside.

His jaw clenches and unclenches repeatedly. His concious is fighting against his selfish will - the former wins, and so he tells her.

"We can turn time back again, you know." He rubs her back, creating enough friction to keep her warm. "A turn or two should do the trick. I'll go set Böfur free, and you stay here and dance."

Tears well into his eyes again. They cloud his vision, blurring his surroundings - but he doesn't need eyes to continue, anyway.

"You dance with Borya and have fun... you let Aegon and his stupid brother froth at the mouth again. And then you go to your room. And then you wait for him. And then you talk to him."

For the first time that night, (Y/N)'s eyes shoot up in their own accord. She shakes her head relentlessly, parting from the warmth that Jace's body provided.

"No. No way." She denies him strongly.

"Why not? I can do it by myself." He soothes her back into his embrace, "I'll get it done and you, and Luke, and Böfur will be happy."

"And what about your own happiness? ... No." (Y/N) repeats again, as she brings her own hands to hug Jace back into her. "If Aemond truly loved me, he'd fight harder for me. What s-sort of relationship am I hoping to have, if he jumps Alys the second I'm not available?"

"He's an ass." Jace whispers atop her head again. "Ever since we were children. Don't waste your tears on him, sweet girl. He doesn't deserve you."

After a few more sniffs, (Y/N) finally raises her puffy face from the boy's robes. Her cheeks are red from crying, her eyes still glassy from the tears.

Her full lips quiver in the moonlight - once, twice, three times -, before she collides them with Jace's.

Hers move in wild abandon, while his stay frozen in their place. Perhaps they truly are.

Sensing his lack of desire for their unconventional peck, (Y/N) feels the heaviness of guilt suddenly pierce her soul.

"I'm sorry..." She whispers, an inch away from his swollen lips. "I misunderstood."

"You didn't misunderstand a thing." He murmurs against her turning cheek, while bringing his hand out to cup her jaw delicately and kiss her in his own right again.

Quiet moans leave both their lips. Jacaerys brings his free hand down, down to her waist, and pulls the girl closer to his body yet.

A flash of awareness brings him back to his wits on earth, as (Y/N) lets out a small whimper in his mouth.

With a tenderness rarely found in men, Jace pulls away from her face, caressing her stained cheeks with his calloused thumbs. "I'm sorry. I... I can't."

Seeing her eyes squeeze in pain and her body recoil in sadness, Jace holds her face in his hands gentler still, and whispers once more.

"From the first moment I met you, all I wanted was to kiss your lips." He admits fevereshly, shaking his head, "But I don't want to take advantage of you. You're hurt right now, and for good reason."

Jacaerys slowly rises on his feet, taking (Y/N) with him in his protective cradle.

The two make their way inside the castle. The warmth of the thousand fires flooding their veins like a warm bath after a harsh day in the Winter's outskirts.

"If we are to do this... I want you to choose me." He adds softly.

"I'll wait for you, (Y/N). And even if I'm not the one, I promise you to always be by your side."

All's well when ends well, right...?

┌─── ∘°❉°∘ ───┐

Taglist:

@caramelcandescence @spn-obession @ramielll 💗

└─── °∘❉∘° ───┘

#aemond targaryen #aemond x reader #house of the dragon #aemond fanfiction #aemond imagine #aemond x y/n #house of the dragon aemond #aemond x fem!reader #aemond x you #jacaerys x reader #jacaerys valaryon x reader #jacerys x reader #jacerys strong #jacerys velaryon #slow burn #jacaerys strong #aegon x reader #aegon x you #aegon x y/n #aegon imagine #jacaerys imagine #jacaerys fluff #house of the dragon hogwarts au #house of the dragon jacaerys #house of the dragon aegon #aemond angst #they're all kinda assholes in this one #i'm literally so sorry #part 3 maybe? #let me know what you think

[frost-queen]

Kenough for you // part 2 (Reader x Ken)

Forever tag:@missmelodramatic, @merlin-dahlia, @alex--awesome--22, @elllie-does-the-posts, @floatlosers, @merlieve, @queen-of-books, @glimmering-darling-dolly@denkisclown, @wildieflower, @meyocoko, @bubblybrianna, @justanothercoco, @subjecta13-thefangirl, @m-rae23, @harleyquinnswifeyfrfr, @swampthing07, @melsunshine, @panhoeofmanyfandoms, @venomsvl, @the-uncoordinated-house-cat, @rosecentury,  @imagines-by-her,  @evilcr0ne, @vviolynn, @bimbo4ever , @niktwazny303

Summary: Ken has taken over Barbieland. When Barbie get's desperate for her dreamhouse she turns to you for help. When Ken and you meet each other again, he hadn't forgotten about you. Never being able to get you out of his head. [ read part 1 ]

“I took the lead for once.” – Ken bragged as the other Ken’s sat in front of him. Pulled in by his story. – “She even asked me to stay over.” – he said sounding cool. – “No way.” – one of the Ken’s said. – “Way.” – Ken replied with a nod. One of the Ken’s scoffed with a puff. Ken turned his head to him. – “You don’t believe me?” – Ken asked a bit bitsy. The other Ken placed his hand on his thigh, leaning a bit closer. – “What about Barbie?” – he answered cocky. Ken flexed his muscles, moving his arm up.

“What about her?” – he replied trying to sound unbothered. A few Ken’s eyes widened. Then there was a loud voice. Calling out his name from below. – “KEN!” – the voice cried out clearly frustrated. Ken held his finger up to the Kens, moving a bit closer to the edge to see who was below. It was Barbie standing at his door. – “A moment Kens.” – he commented as if it didn’t bother him.

Ken got down, pushing the barn doors open, letting his arms rest on them. – “What up Barbie.” – he told her cooly. Barbie moved some hair over her shoulder, putting on a sweet smile. – “Ken, this is my dreamhouse.” – she said trying to keep her composure. Ken took in a deep breath. – “This shall hence forth be known as Ken’s mojo dojo casa house.” – he responded.

“This is my dreamhouse!” – Barbie shouted with a stomp of her heel on the ground. Ken chuckled out a laugh so dryly it wasn’t even an attempt of being funny. – “It’s Ken’s mojo dojo casa house.” – he repeated. Barbie wiggled annoyingly like a whiney little child. – “It’s time for the Ken’s to have a dreamhouse Barbie.” – Ken told her. He waved her away, wanting her off his property. Barbie stared in shock at him as Ken returned back inside.

She felt like crying if only she knew what the emotion was. Angry at Ken, she had used up her last attempt. Ever since they came back from the real world, he had been different. Taking over Barbieland to turn it into Kendom. A place where the Ken’s took everything from the Barbie’s. Barbie was at her last wits, letting herself fall into the sofa at weird Barbie’s house.

Weird Barbie stretched her leg up against the wall, tilting her head. – “I assume Ken didn’t listen.” – she said moving her head back and lowering her leg. Barbie shook her head. – “I don’t know what to do anymore. I want my dreamhouse back.” – she whined out wiggling her legs with a shake of her shoulders.

Weird Barbie did a split on the ground, bringing one leg forwards so she had both her legs out in front of her. – “What about the real girl?” – Weird Barbie questioned. – “You mean Y/n?” – Barbie said through her distress. Weird Barbie got back up stretching her arms up above her head. – “Maybe he’ll listen to her?” – Weird Barbie suggested letting her arms flop against her side. Barbie blinked, her distress gone in a matter of seconds. – “You think so?” – she asked getting up. – “It’s worth a shot?” – Weird Barbie answered pulling her shoulders up.

Barbie ran up to Weird Barbie, grabbing her by the shoulders. – “If I can convince her to come here and tell Ken to stop, everything will get back to normal.” – Barbie exclaimed happily, squeezing Weird Barbie’s shoulders together. – “I guess so?” – Weird Barbie replied. – “I could get my dreamhouse back!” – Barbie pushed Weird Barbie away as she spun around, arms flapping till she came to a stop. – “She did do something silly with Ken where their lips touched.” – Barbie said clasping her hands together, already thinking about getting her dreamhouse back.

“You mean kiss?” – Weird Barbie answered scratching the back of her head. – “No silly.” – Barbie answered laughingly. – “There is no contact with a kiss.” – Barbie went on innocently. Weird Barbie held her finger up, wanting to contradict, but Barbie was so in the clouds with her head, it was no use.

Barbie waved Weird Barbie goodbye, going to leave for the real world again. This time there wasn’t Ken jumping on her from the backseat. It was just her and that song she sings her lungs out to leaving Barbieland… urhm… Kendom. Barbie went through sequences of phases before she entered the real world again on rollerblades. Everything was still the same when she left it.

Now she just needed to find you. She… she just didn’t know where you lived. Falling in one of her distress moments again she sat down whining about how she was ever going to find you. As if a miracle was spoken out, you found her. You furrowed your brows seeing the so obvious pink blondie on a spot you first found Ken as well. You decided to walk up to her. – “Barbie?” – you said confused.

Barbie looked up, bringing up a grant smile. – “Y/n!” – she exclaimed getting up and wrapping her arms around you. – “I found you!” – she said aloud making you a bit wary of Barbie’s sudden affection towards you. – “Is… is Ken here too?” – you questioned looking around over her shoulder. – “No, but you are going to save Barbieland!” – she said cheerful still holding your hands.

“I’m doing what?” – you replied shocked and caught off guard. Barbie squealed excitedly, her eyes falling on your shoes. – “We’ll first need rollerblades.” – she pointed out, making your eyes widen. – “Not again!” – you called out being pulled along with her. Before you knew it you were in rollerblades. Arms wide open, you were afraid to make a move. – “I don’t like this.” – you told her remembering last time. – “No complaining, I need my dreamhouse.” – Barbie said, grabbing you by the wrist.

You screamed it out when she started skating, pulling you along with her. It seemed like she was skating without any purpose or destination. With the blink of your eyes, you were suddenly on a snowmobile behind Barbie. – “What is this?” – you asked looking confused around. – “The way to Barbieland silly.” – Barbie answered. It felt like the skimobile wasn’t going forwards but within a matter of moments, the scenery had changed again.

You sat confused in a chair on a camping site as Barbie arrived with an empty plate. – “What is going on?” – you called out slightly panicking as you grabbed onto the chair’s leaning. Barbie joined you, sitting down as well. – “Ken has taken over Barbieland.” – she told you. You stared confused back at her. With the blink of an eye sat you on a two-bike with Barbie. – “He won’t listen to me, so I’m using you.” – Barbie spoke sitting in the front. Looking around you suddenly sat on a rocket with a helmet on.

“Tell Ken to stop and give me back my dreamhouse.” – Barbie told you over her shoulder. You heard a bird caw as you suddenly were in a boat with her. Grabbing the edge, you looked down at the fakest waves you had ever seen. – “You’ll bring everything back to normal.” – she told you with a smile. The boat made way for a pink car as you sat beside her. Feeling a bit awkward. Barbie sang along with the song on the radio as you kept quiet.

You rather inspected the toy car that seemed to almost drive on it’s own. In the distance you saw a big sign covering over with Kendom written on it. – “See!” – Barbie called out, gesturing at it. The car drove past some men, placing bricks on stacks. – “They are building a wall.” – Barbie told you as you kept looking at them even when passed. Not at all how one would build a wall.

Pinching yourself, you hoped you weren’t tripping for it sure felt like it. The pink car drove into the town as you had imagined it a lot pinker. You drove past the beach, hoping to spot Ken there, yet there was no sign of him. The car drove on till it stopped in a small neighbourhood. Barbie got out as you followed her still trying to process what was going on.

Barbie walked up to the house as you staid behind her. Looking curiously around. – “Ken!” – she called out sweetly. Not a moment later opened the barn doors with Ken appearing. – “Barbie.” – he said cooly. – “Ken.” – Barbie said sugary with a sweet smile. – “Can I have my dreamhouse back?” – she asked with a flirty look. Ken chuckled dryly looking away. – “It’s Ken’s mojo dojo casa house.” – he told her annoying her. – “Fine!” – Barbie let out stepping aside to reveal you.

You were still looking curious around till you noticed Barbie had moved. Your gaze falling on Ken. Ken’s eyes widened seeing you. – “Y/n!” – he said excitedly. Smiling boyishly. – “Hi Ken.” – you responded. Ken cleared his throat, changing his attitude. He moved his bare arm up, flexing his muscles at you. – “What are you doing here?” – he asked checking out his own muscles and hoping you were looking at them.

Barbie gave you a little shove forwards, desperate for her dreamhouse. – “I wanted to talk to you. Can I come in?” – you asked. Ken inhaled deep looking over his shoulder. – “It’s boy’s night.” – he told you. – “Can’t you make an exception?” – you answered sweetly. – “One moment.” – Ken held his finger up, disappearing behind the corner. You got startled when he let out a scream off excitement. He then re-appeared all cooly.

“Sure.” – he opened one side for you. You ducked down under his arm, going inside. Barbie wanted to go after you as Ken blocked her way.  – “Not you.” – he said ushering her away. Barbie gasped in shock. Ken turned around leaving Barbie outside. You had entered the house more as you were greeted with many curious men sitting in the living. All turned around to look at you. You presumed they were Ken’s as well, moving your hand up in a greeting.

“Hi Kens.” – you said. Ken came by your side, gesturing at you to make other Ken jealous. – “Hi Y/n!” – all the Ken’s said in unison. Startling you that they knew off you. – “It’s boy’s night.” – one of the Ken’s said. Ken placed his hands on your shoulders. – “Y/n is an exception. She came all the way from the real world to see me.” – he told them.

The moment he said that all the Ken’s came over. Jumping over the sofa to get to you. Some started to poke you in your cheek to feel if you were truly real. Others tried to win you over with their masculinity. It was overwhelming as you felt like being absorbed by Ken’s. Ken waved his hand in front of you, battering the other Ken’s away.  – “Get your own real girl!” – he called out, claiming you as his. Not liking the idea he needed to share you, he grabbed you by your wrist, pulling you upstairs.

Exhausted he sighed loud free from the Ken’s. You stood a bit lost, feeling a bit nervous. It has been a while since you saw Ken. Unable to stop thinking about him and now you were here with him where he lived. Ken’s gaze fell upon you, softening his expression. He walked up to you, taking your hand gently in his. His eyes staring lovingly at you. His cool attitude from earlier fading away. – “I’ve missed you.” – you said gazing lovingly back at him. Ken smiled at that.

He led you further into the room letting you sit down. – “After I left… I couldn’t get you out of my head.” – he told you. – “It’s like I’m thinking more about you than Barbie.” – he confessed, frowning a bit. You smiled shyly as your reaction made Ken wink at you. – “Ken… you should be thinking about Barbie. You are boyfriend and girlfriend.” – you told him, knowing how deep a Ken’s love was for a Barbie. – “But I don’t want to.” – Ken answered holding both your hands now. You exhaled deep, getting up as your hands slipped out of his. Ken looked saddened and hurt at your back. 

“What did you do to Barbieland?” – you asked changing the subject. – “It was time for the Ken’s to take over once I found out about patriarchy. It’s where men and horses run the world.” – Ken explained. – “That is not what…” – you started turning half back to him to explain. – “I know. I lost interest in it once I found out it wasn’t like that.” – he interrupted you. His answer made you chuckle softly at how innocent he was. Hearing you laugh made Ken curl up a saddened smile.

Ken got up as well, approaching you. When he touched your elbow, you slowly turned around to him. His eyes telling you all. He had missed you desperately. As you had missed him. – “Ken…” – you started yearning so much for him. Heart breaking again that you had to leave him again soon. – “I’ll give Barbie back her dreamhouse.” – he simply answered. You nodded letting him know it was the right call. – “and restore Barbieland.” – he said with soft sigh, knowing how it used to be. But maybe things could be different.

Ken’s eyes widened looking at you. He pulled you closer to the centre. Leaving you standing, he rushed to go get his guitar. – “I’ll serenade to you.” – knowing how much you liked that. – “Ken…” – you said knowing he was trying to stall time. – “Or I can show you the beach? I’m really good at beach.” – he chuckled out nervously. Ken laid his guitar away looking desperately around for more ways to keep you around.

“I’ll teach you to skate? We can hold hands. Do that thing again you did with your lips.” – he kept suggesting, getting more desperate by each one. – “Ken.” – you said knowing you couldn’t stay here. You simply came here to restore Barbieland and then leave again. Interesting that it took but a few words of yours for him to restore it. You weren’t meant to stay here. You weren’t meant to fall in love with Ken.

It had always been Barbie and Ken. Never Ken and Y/n. Things like that didn’t exist. Ken grabbed your hands, dropping in despair to his knees. – “I don’t want you to leave.” – he begged. – “You have Barbie.” – you told him with a heavy heart. – “I don’t want her. I want you!” – Ken called out. – “Please…” – he pleaded unable to tear himself away from you. – “Ken, you know I can’t stay here.” – you explained to him.

Ken got up to his feet, ready to do anything to have you longer. – “Am I not worth fighting for?” – he asked with a saddened face. Touching his cheek, you made him look at you. – “You so are Ken.” – you whispered to him. – “More than anything. But I can’t stay here. I’m no Barbie.” – you explained him again.

Ken clamped himself onto you. – “I don’t want you to leave. I don’t want to miss you again.” – he said feeling miserable without you by his side. Ken’s eyes met up with yours, seeing the desperation in them. – “Please…” – he whispered, begging you one last time. A tear rolled down your cheek as Ken wiped it away. – “I wish I could… but  I can’t…” – you told him. Ken placed his hand behind your neck, pushing you closer.

Continue to bring you closer till he felt his lips come in contact with yours. Something he had never done with Barbie. You slowly pulled away as Ken wanted to have another go. Feel your lips on his again. – “Ken…” – you said putting him to a stop. You turned away from him, making your way to the stairs. Ken was panting. Feeling you slip away. – “I’ll come with you!” – he suddenly shouted, making you stop to stare with wide eyes at him.

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

Read more of my fics on my Masterlists!

#imagine #fanfiction #fanfic #fic #barbie #the barbie movie #barbie 2023 #imagine barbie #barbie fic #barbie movie fanfic #ken barbie #ken #ryan gosling #ken x you #ken x reader #ken x y/n #ken imagine #ken fanfic #ken fanfiction #ken fic #barbieland #barbie movie fanfiction #barbie movie ken #margot robbie #weird barbie #imagine ken #ken x real girl #mattel #ryan gosling x you #ryan gosling x reader

[like-sands-of-time]

Do you think the writers realized that the way Gaius was flipping back and forth between "Merlin you're overreacting/seeing things that aren't there/trying to change the future" and "Merlin the situation is dire/this is definitely what's happening/you alone must do this ~dangerous~ thing"

Combined with the way he is a known sorcerer, not only to the court but to the king, kept like the other magical artifacts for times of injury to the royal family that his magic might be useful

Combined with the way this man picks and chooses when to help magic users escape Camelot unharmed or when to stand by and see them captured/killed

Combined with the way he gaslights the shit out of morgana even after he knows Merlin and Morgana know of her powers

That it All equates to a massively manipulative person????? He's doing everything he can to survive, damn the very real shit going on around him. Oh what's the best course of action for another child of magic born to the same lady Vivienne who's first child you snuck out of camelot? Keep her in the dark, keep her fearful and unaware of her dreams and her powers, but yeah she's Evil now because she chooses to see the good in magic and the evil in the king for killing it (which is just another plot issue but whatever nows not the time).

We can only imagine what Camelot looked like in the days of the dragons and all other magic kind, probably a lot healthier, more vibrant, more prosperous. Nevermind that Gaius got to spend his whole youth with that prosperity, Morgana (and Merlin) surely can't miss something she never had!!!!!!!!!!!

And Merlin! Sure he takes Hunith and Balinor's boy in, because he needs an apprentice, because the circumstances line up, because destiny, whatever the reason. And he cares about Merlin's life enough to sacrifice himself multiple times (only because Merlin is Emrys the god among men, immortal, sworn to serve Arthur the once and future king for all of time) But he does not really help Merlin in the following ten years. The boy who came to Camelot, the opinions he held, the care he had for others, that boy is lost or warped more like through years of Gaius' (and Kilgharrah before they just like changed his personality) careful commentary undermining Merlins beliefs and changing his actions. Then when said actions obviously work out poorly(think, self fulfilling prophecy episodes, episodes where Merlin is convinced to outright lie to Arthur's face, etc) then it's Merlins fault and Gaius is there to comfort him and then they share a funny little moment and everything's fine !!!

Like, did the writers mean to write it like this because ho-ly shit! That's how it reads every single episode. Merlin the young warlock would not have done these things. The boy he was in season one? When confronted with admitting his magic(the thing he was so self conscious of, but so proud of at the same time) or lying to Arthur to his face he would have spoken the truth. Gaius (and Kilgharrah) turned him into a man deceitful manipulative tool, bent on controlling Arthur without ever telling him the truth and letting him make his own mind.

Because that Arthur, the Arthur of season one, would have taken in the knowledge of both Merlin his friend, and morgana his sister, and stood up for them, helped keep them safe, accepted them and their magic. That Arthur clearly loved morgana and Merlin above all else, even though he struggled with saying it, he proved it in his actions. Merlin (through his mentors) TURNs Arthur from magic, when he was willing to save Mordred, willing to sympathize with magic users, to see their worth, to spare them if they did not commit crimes, willing to accept the help of a foreign mage in the caves, and willing to question his father To!! His !! Face!! About the knights code.

You're telling me Merlin would forget about these things, would lie to Arthur that Morgause lied, when he could have just said, hey she showed you your mum, but killing your dad isn't the answer. How FUCKING hard would that have been? This show made Merlin a bad guy, a man against his own kind. that's the real tragedy. Merlin, emrys, would never do these things in season one. He had to be convinced by his mum not to tell Arthur after will died. He was willing to share. The show themselves didn't want it, because it provided comedy(how does Arthur not see!!1!) And angst (how does Arthur not see !?!)

#merlin emrys #gaius #arthur pendragon #morgana pendragon #Kilgharrah #bbc merlin critical #bbc merlin #dude apologies for such a long fkin post i just went rant mode huh

[ala-baguette]

It's the most loneliest time of the year

Busy trying to finish KwtL and trying to stop myself from getting sidetracked with what has become an annual tradition of writing an angsty Christmas fic. So here's a throw-back to last year's instead. Summary: Four Christmases in which Percy Weasley was alone. And one in which he very much was not. Relationships: Percy/Audrey Rating: T | Words: 5.5k | Read it here or on AO3

Christmas, 1994

As he descended the stairs, Percy’s ears were met with a cacophony of clanking pots and pans from the kitchen.  A mouth-watering aroma wafted up to meet his nostrils.  Oh, dear.  Mum.  We talked about this.  He straightened his dress robes as he brusquely took the last few steps down and turned the corner into the kitchen.

As he predicted, every flat surface was covered in food.  A dozen mince pies were still left after Mum had sent off the majority of the batch to the rest of the family yesterday, and all week she had been baking biscuits and tarts and cakes.  Now, dish-by-dish, Christmas dinner was making its way out of the oven.  Percy’s eyes followed a plate of Yorkshire puddings as it flew across the kitchen and over to the dining table.  It came to rest beside a large chicken surrounded by roast potatoes, parsnips, and Brussels. Mum pocketed her wand after conducting the Yorkshire pudding dance and turned back to resume stirring a gravy at the hob.  Dad smiled at Percy as he entered, then went back to setting the table.  Percy immediately took note of three place settings arranged at one end of the long wooden table.  Why do they never listen to me?

“Mother,” Percy said with a sigh.  “This is too much food for just you and Dad.  I told you not to go overboard; I can’t stay for dinner, remember?  Mr Crouch is counting on me to make sure everything is prepared at Hogwarts.” 

“Well, I thought, you know…  Just in case you changed your mind.”  Then clearly not able to resist reopening their previous argument, Mum chided, “Surely you can have a small bite before you go.”  She waved her spoon at him like a naughty child.  “The Yule Ball doesn’t start until eight o’clock!”

“Yes, I know.  But I want to get there early!” Percy ground out for what felt like the hundredth time.  “There’s so much to prepare and so many people to organise.  Someone needs to make sure everything is getting done—tables to set up and the band and the decorations.  Merlin knows we can’t count on Ludo Bagman for help.”

“I’m sure the House-elves will have all that taken care of.  Really, Percy.”

“There’ll be a feast at the ball, Mother!” he reminded her.  “I really don’t need to eat twice.  I told you this.  I have to go.”

“Come now, Percy,” said Dad, passing a gravy boat to Mum to fill.  “Go easy on us.  This is the first time your mother and I have been alone for Christmas evening since before Bill was born!  Can’t blame us for feeling a bit lonely.”  Dad was smiling at him in that way Percy hated so much.  That patronising smile that said he saw something Percy didn’t.  Which was complete rubbish, of course.  Quite the opposite, in fact!

Why couldn’t they understand that this was important!  He, Percy, was Mr Crouch’s personal assistant, and this was one of his first real tests.  Everything had to go smoothly tonight.  Percy was representing Mr Crouch and nothing could tarnish the reputation of his boss or his department.

Or maybe Dad did understand.  Maybe that was the problem.  Maybe he was jealous that in the first six months of his career, Percy was already becoming more important at the Ministry than Dad ever would.

But Percy could hardly say such thoughts aloud. 

Percy sighed irritably.  The nerve Dad had to go for that guilt trip.  It was hardly his fault that Ginny, Ron, and the twins had decided to stay at Hogwarts for the Yule Ball.  Hardly his fault that Charlie had said he couldn’t justify the expense of travelling back when he’d already visited twice this year.  Hardly his fault that they had uncovered some big new tomb in Egypt, and Bill had needed to cancel his trip home to work on breaking down the curses protecting it.  Why did everything always fall to Percy?  Why was it always his job to keep this family together?

But Mum and Dad were both looking at him expectantly.  And he had to admit that it was rather sad to see them standing there with so many empty chairs around the dining table.  And the Yorkshire pudding did admittedly smell divine.

Percy reached up and smoothed back his hair.  “Ten minutes,” he said in compromise at last.  Honestly, it was really quite magnanimous of him, Percy thought.  “One piece of chicken.  One Yorkshire.  A little gravy.  Then I have to go.”

Mum beamed and rushed to kiss him on the cheek.  Dad smiled approvingly.  Percy took his seat, and Mum began piling far more than just one piece of chicken, one Yorkshire, and a little gravy onto his plate.  Percy swallowed his complaint.  None of them would ever truly appreciate how much he did for this family.

Christmas, 1995

His flat was tiny.  One room.  That was it.  He’d managed to squeeze a bed in one corner awkwardly butted up against the kitchenette.  A desk that doubled as a dining table sat opposite.  Percy suspected the bathroom had once been a cupboard before the crumbling walk-up had been repurposed into ‘chique industrial’ flats.  Hermes had adopted the top of the bookcase as his perch, nestling himself into the hollow between some exposed piping.  He was currently shredding a newspaper for recreation, a repetitive shhhrup echoing in the quiet of the room. 

Outside was anything but quiet.  The honking of Muggle cars and the rumbling of busses and the yelling of merchants was a constant roar outside the single pane window.  But the constancy made it easy enough to ignore.

Percy pushed his glasses up his nose as he scratched out a line on the parchment at his desk.  He scribbled a correction in the margin, then read it through again.  Shhhrup.  He glanced up at Hermes and let out an irritated breath.  Then went back to his work.

Yes, it was Christmas.  Yes, he could have taken the day off.  But he really wanted to finish this report for the office.  As Junior Assistant to the Minister of Magic, it was, after all, his job to stay on top of these things.  The Minister was counting on him to keep his administration running smoothly.  With all the wild rumours and accusations the Ministry had to contend with lately… Well, it was all keeping Percy very busy, and he didn’t want to fall any further behind.  He definitely didn’t need any more distractions. 

Against his better judgment, Percy’s eyes strayed from the document he was working on to a letter lying crumpled on the far corner of the desk.  He could still make out the closing line from where it lay:

              Love from your brother,              Bill

Percy felt his lip pull up in a sneer.  Love.  How could any of them claim ‘love’ for him.  They had turned their back on him—the whole family had.  Turned their back on Percy.  Turned their back on the Ministry.  Turned their back on their country!  They had gone off to join some foolish rebellion, and Percy had been left behind as the sole voice of reason.

‘Rebellion’ was the word Percy used when he was feeling generous.  ‘Treason’ was perhaps the more accurate word. 

Percy had spent the last six months distancing himself from his family.  It was just a matter of time before Dumbledore and Potter and everyone associated with them was brought down, and Percy would have nothing to do with it!

But now Bill had the nerve to write to him of father’s injuries.  To encourage him to visit Dad at St Mungo’s and ‘mend fences’.  To say that surely Percy should be ‘able to see how important family is in times like these’. 

How dare he lecture him?  When his father had literally been caught dangerously wounded in the Ministry with some utterly codswollop cover-story about an escaped beast that had been previously confiscated by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures?  How thick did they think the Ministry was?  Did they really think that the Ministry didn’t know that Dad had been up to something shady for Dumbledore?  Just because they couldn’t prove it, didn’t mean they didn’t know.

And Percy was just supposed to forgive and forget, just because Dad was injured?  Shouldn’t it mean the opposite?  Shouldn’t something like this be a wake-up call to his family that they had no place getting mixed up in Dumbledore’s insurrection?  Shouldn’t they be the ones coming to him to tell him how wrong they’d been?  To ‘mend fences,’ as Bill had put it?

Shhhrup.

Percy dropped his quill to the desk and a splotch of ink marred his report for the office.  “Do you mind?” he growled at Hermes.  “I’m trying to work here.”

Hermes met his gaze.  The owl cocked his head, blinked once at Percy, then his talons gripped another strip of newspaper deliberately.  Shhhrup.

A growl escaped Percy’s chest.  “You know what?  Here.  If you’re going to do that, why not shred something worth shredding.”  His fist crumpled around Bill’s letter, and he chucked it up on top of the bookcase.  Hermes hopped to dodge the projectile and ruffled his feathers indignantly.

Percy opened his mouth to say something more, but he was cut off by a tap tap tap on the window.  He spun around.  Then was immediately annoyed with himself at the burst of hope and joy he’d felt at the sound.  He paused for a moment, staring at the dark shape on the window ledge outside the glass.  With a sharp release of his breath, he marched over and wrenched the window open.

Errol tumbled in and onto the desk.  The ancient owl was gasping for breath, slumped against the lumpy parcel he’d been carrying.  Percy merely stood there and stared down at him.  A concerned trill came from atop the bookcase.

Percy’s face felt stony as he stared at Errol for a moment.  Then his gaze flitted to the brown paper-wrapped package.  It was lumpy and soft, and Percy had no doubts as to what it contained.  He knew without looking that it would be mustard yellow, because it always was.  Knew there would be not a single dropped stitch.  Knew how it would feel, how it would smell.  He looked back to the owl.

“What are you doing here?”  Errol blinked open tired eyes to look at him questioningly.  “I told her I don’t want anything to do with any of them.”  But Percy’s fingers twitched as a traitorous part of his heart longed to tear open the paper and run his hands across the thick soft wool.  Longed to breathe in the scent of his mother, of his home.  The urge only served to make him angrier. 

“Take it back.”  Hermes let out a warning hiss from atop the bookcase, but Percy ignored him.  “Take it back this instant,” he snapped at Errol.  Errol looked up at Hermes as though begging for help.  The old owl was still slumped and panting and looking utterly exhausted. 

Hermes fluttered down to land next to Errol and glowered up at Percy.  “What?  It’s not my fault they sent him on a long flight to carry a package they knew I didn’t want!” he snapped at Hermes.  Then he turned back to Errol who had still made no move to leave.  “Well?  What are you still doing here?  Go on.  Get out of here!  And take this with you.  Go!”  Hermes snapped his beak angrily at Percy, then turned to nuzzle encouragingly at Errol.  Grasping the parcel in his own talons and nudging Errol toward the window, Hermes spared Percy one last disgusted look before he spread his wings and took flight with the package in tow.  Errol followed tiredly after.

“Fine.  Side with them.  See if I care,” he called out the window after Hermes.  But Percy stood at the open window for a long time after watching them disappear into the night. 

The breeze coming through the window was bitingly cold, but he barely felt it.  He stared after the two owls long lost to the darkness.  Dimly he registered that they were flying northeast, which was not the direction of the Burrow, but he refused to allow himself to wonder why.  It didn’t matter.  Whatever his family was up to, it was none of his concern.  They had made that quite clear.  They had chosen their side.  And so had he.

Slamming the window shut, he turned and marched into the kitchenette.  He bent to retrieve his dinner from the larder, kicking the cupboard door shut after.  He banged the dinner down on the counter and glared down at the packaging.

Mrs Misley’s Magical Meals for One TURKEY ROAST *Tap your wand here and enjoy a warm delicious meal in seconds!

Percy proceeded to prod it so hard with his wand, the packaging ignited.  “Aguamenti!” he yelped, smothering the flames in water.  He let out a long sigh as what appeared to be half frozen turkey soup leaked from the charred packaging.  Cursing under his breath, he scooped the sodden cardboard and some mush that he suspected was supposed to be mashed potatoes into the rubbish bin.  He returned to his desk to finish his report. 

Christmas, 1996

“Weasley.  We’re going,” the Minister snapped through the open kitchen door.  Potter had just swept in from the garden and was returning to his seat at the table with the attitude of a petulant child.  Scrimgeour was clearly in no better mood; he had not even bothered to come in to say goodbye to the family.  The pretence was done with, then.  Thank God.  Just in time.  Because Percy couldn’t have stood a single minute more of it. 

Percy stormed through the back door and slammed it behind him, cutting off his mother’s cry of “Percy, wait!”   He followed Scrimgeour across the garden, the frozen earth crunching angrily under his feet.  Not slowing his speed, he removed his glasses and shook them hard to dislodge the bits of mashed parsnip splattered across them.  He brushed another chunk from his hair impatiently before redonning his specs.

Ahead of him, the Minister was walking faster than Percy would have thought possible with his bad leg and walking stick.  He seemed as eager to be gone as Percy.  Things had clearly not gone well with Potter.  So it had all been for nothing.  Can’t you see they’re using you, Percy?

Percy wanted to hit something.  Fury was bubbling in his chest.  All of this had been to give the Minister an in with Harry Potter.  And Percy had gone along with it.  He’d swallowed his pride and gone along with it because it was his duty.  Because he had trusted that it was in the best interest of the Ministry of Magic.  But it had all been for nothing.  Potter was the most stubborn, pig-headed—

“Dumbledore’s man, through-and-through,” Scrimgeour grumbled under his breath followed by a frustrated growl in the back of his throat.  He shook his head and kept walking, pushing his way through the garden gate.

They were all stubborn.  The whole family was being utterly infuriating.  Why they couldn’t recognise their duty to ally with the Ministry… Why they insisted on sticking to Dumbledore’s secretive agenda when clearly, they were all on the same side… Percy just could not understand them.  None of them.

And yet… Percy had walked into the kitchen a little bit ago.  And he’d smelled the turkey and stuffing.  And he could see the tree covered in fairy lights and Ginny’s paperchains hanging from the rafters in the next room.  And he had seen Mum’s famous Christmas pudding waiting on the counter for dessert.  And he had seen everybody wearing their Weasley jumpers.  And he’d felt Mum hug him, felt her tears on his shoulder, smelled her lemon soap and bergamot scent.  And, just for a fraction of a moment, he had felt like a small child coming down to Christmas dinner.  And he’d had to avert his eyes to keep from wanting it.  Missing it.

Of course the row that started the minute Potter and Scrimgeour had left the room had been very quick to cure him of those thoughts.  Barely had the Minister and Potter left the room before Dad had accosted Percy, demanding to know what Scrimgeour wanted with Potter.  Dad’s voice was still ringing in his ears.  We’re not fools Percy, and neither are you!  Surely you can see what’s happening here.  Surely you can see that he’s just trying to get to Harry.  Can’t you see they’re using you, Percy? Percy felt his teeth grinding together.  What did Dad know of duty. 

Percy followed Scrimgeour through the gate and swung it shut behind him.  The click of the latch echoed in the quiet stillness of the country lane leading into Ottery St. Catchpole.  He looked to Scrimgeour who was now stationary, staring out across the frosted hills and shaking his head with a sour look on his face.  Percy shoved his hands in the pockets of his cloak and waited.  Waited for the Minister to declare the next move.  Waited for his next instruction.  Waited to do his duty to the Ministry of Magic.

But the Minister merely stood there.

It was a full minute later before Scrimgeour seemed to abruptly remember that Percy was there.  He glanced over and looked Percy up and down for brief moment.  He didn’t particularly seem to like what he saw.  “See you at the office,” the Minister growled.  And without so much as a ‘Happy Christmas’, he Disapparated with a pop.

Percy stood on the deserted lane for a long while.  It had grown dark and the cold bit through his cloak.  He glanced back toward the Burrow.  He could just make out the brightly lit kitchen window through the snow-laden vegetation.  The shadows of people moved within the square of warm yellow light.  Then he turned to stare down the road toward the spot where Scrimgeour’s footprints in the snow disappeared.  Beyond stretched a colourless landscape of snowy hills, pastures bordered by low stone walls and scrubby hedges.  Wind ruffled his hair and tugged at his cloak.

Percy spared one last glance toward the Burrow before he too Disapparated.

Christmas, 1997

The rumble of the Muggle street below was the only sound as Percy sat with his elbows propped on his desk, his hands clasped together.  Even Hermes was quiet tonight.  The owl was staring at the window as though expecting something. 

Percy too glanced to the window.  But there was nothing there.  Just as there had been nothing there the last time he’d checked. 

The night stretched on, and still nothing came.  No owl.  No letter.  No soft lumpy package.

Had Mum finally given up on Percy and not made him a jumper this year?  Had something happened to Errol?  Had something happened to his parents?  Would he even hear about it if it had?

Percy reached up to pull off his glasses.  There was a clatter as he dropped them next to his rapidly cooling and hardly touched tray of Mrs Misley’s Magical Meals for One.

And he buried his face in his hands and wept.

Christmas, 1998

We are so late.  The bathroom door was shamelessly open.  Percy had a clear line of sight from where he sat on the foot of the bed.  He chewed a thumb nail as he watched her getting ready, his knee bouncing up and down restlessly.  She kept saying she was almost ready, but her sparkling emerald green dress was still spread on the bed next to him awaiting its wearer more patiently than was Percy.

He cocked his head as Audrey leaned across the bathroom vanity to check her lipstick in the mirror.  It gave Percy a rather pleasant view of her backside, clad only in knickers and sheer stockings.  Her eyes caught his in the reflection and she winked, a small smile curving up her newly red painted lips.  Percy thought she looked rather smug as she turned her attention to her hair.

“You look great.  You don’t have to put so much effort in.  They’re going to love you,” he assured her.

“I know,” she replied, turning around to look at him directly as she ran her brush through straight dark hair.  “Everybody loves me.  I just feel like looking pretty.”

“I’m just saying, no one else is going to be particularly dressed up.  We’re not really that kind of family.”

“Sometimes, I want to dress up for me, you know?”  She laid the brush down on the vanity and gave her reflection one final look over.  “It’s not always about dressing up for other people.”  She smiled at herself, then marched into the bedroom and picked up the dress, stepping into the skirts.

Percy chewed his lip as he watched her.  “Okay.  I’m just saying that if you didn’t want—”

“Oh, my God!” Audrey straightened, and she turned to look at him as though she’d just realised something.  There was a moment’s pause as she studied him, the dress bunched around her hips as though she’d quite forgotten what she was doing.  Percy tried not to stare at her lace-clad breasts.

“What?” Percy asked, startled by her sudden outburst.

Audrey didn’t speak for a moment.  She shimmied her arms into the sleeves, eyeing him with a sudden frown on her face as she did so.  Still with her eyes on him, she reached around to zip up the back.  Percy made to stand to help her, but she just shook her head and did it herself, arching her back to reach the top.  But never once did her eyes stray from his face.  “You’re nervous!” she accused him.

“What?  I’m not—”

“You are!  You’re completely terrified!  You think they’re going to hate me!”

“I don’t think they’re going to hate you.”  He pushed his glasses up his nose.

“Yes, you do!  You’ve been dragging your feet about introducing me to your parents for weeks!  You don’t think I’m going to fit in with your family!”

“It’s not that…”

“Then what?” she demanded, but she had a teasing smile on her red lips.

“They’re going to love you,” he said weakly.

“You said that already,” Audrey insisted.  She was refusing to let him off the hook.  “Fess up.  You’re ashamed of me.”  Her broad grin acknowledged that no man in his right mind could ever be ashamed of her and she knew it.

“You’re going to fit in great with my family,” Percy assured her, shifting uncomfortably.  He found his gaze traveling to his shoes.  “You’re… you’re going to fit in better than I do,” he added in a mumble.

He glanced up at her just in time to see her teasing smile faulter.  “Percy…” she said gently. 

Percy looked away again, leaning his elbows on his knees.  He felt the bed beside him sag as she sat next to him and felt her eyes on the back of his neck.  Then a gentle hand he didn’t deserve caressed the hair back from his forehead.

“It’s not you I’m ashamed of,” he managed softly.  “It’s me.”  She was so quiet, he had to turn to see if her face would show what she thought of that.  But she was merely gazing at him sombrely, her expression inviting him to go on.  “You’ve only ever seen me at work or among friends.  But my family…” Percy bit his lip and stared at the ceiling as he tried to consider the words.  “I’ve done terrible things.  Said terrible things.  I turned my back on them.  For three years, I did everything I could to distance myself from them.  But if I had just done what I should… Maybe I could have helped…  Maybe I could have stopped… Maybe he’d…”  Maybe he’d still be alive.  But Percy couldn’t say those words aloud.  Not even to Audrey.  Especially not to Audrey. 

“Anyway.  Family gatherings… They can be… hard.  Everybody pretending like none of it ever happened.”

Audrey took a moment before she answered.  “Has it occurred to you,” she said at last.  “That maybe they’re not pretending?  That maybe they’ve just moved on?  Forgiven you?  And that maybe it’s time to forgive yourself?” 

Percy glanced at her, and she was gazing at him.  He saw no doubt in her eyes.  She merely seemed as though she were waiting for him to cotton onto something that was terribly obvious to her.

“How could they possibly forgive me for something like that?” he asked her.  And he looked into her eyes, desperate for them to hold an answer to a question he had asked himself a hundred thousand times, but never uttered aloud before this moment.

Audrey just smiled as though this were the most obvious thing in the world.  “Because they love you, you tosser.”

Percy felt a huff of disbelief escape his chest, and he turned away, shaking his head.  “You don’t even know them.”

“I don’t have to.  I know that you love them.  And I know that I love you.  And I have excellent taste, so obviously they agree with me.”

He looked at her sidelong.  And the grin on her face was enough to break through the gloom.  He laughed in spite of himself.  Reaching up, he cupped her cheek in his hand and her smile shifted from mischievous to affectionate.  They simply gazed at each other for a long moment, smiling like idiots. 

“I love you too,” Percy said at last.

“Well, good,” Audrey shrugged.  “Because it would be really inconvenient if I loved you and you didn’t love me ba—”

But Percy cut off whatever wisecrack she might have had in store for him next by pulling her face close and kissing her hard on the mouth.  He felt her grin against his mouth before submitting, and her lips softened against his. 

Percy had kissed her a thousand times and would kiss her a thousand times again, and still he would not have gotten over the thrill at feeling her lips against his.  The way they always moved and parted in time with his as though to a well-choreographed dance he couldn’t remember learning.  The way they made his heart pound and his stomach clench. The way they made him feel like the most important man in the world and the humblest, all at the same time.

Loosing himself in the feeling, Percy buried his hands in her silky hair and felt hers running up his back.  He deepened the kiss contentedly, but she pulled back slightly, and he felt rather than saw her smile.  “I thought you said we were going to be late,” she whispered against his lips.  “I know how you hate being late.”

Percy groaned.  He did hate being late.  Audrey laughed softly, pecking him lightly on the lips before pulling back fully.  They allowed themselves one moment more to simply look into the other’s eyes.  Audrey’s gaze darted down to his lips and a funny smile tugged at her cheek.  Percy thought she was considering kissing him again, but she stood up determinedly.  “Give me a minute to fix the damage you’ve done to my hair and makeup.  Then we can go.”

Percy threw his head back and drew in a deep steadying breath as she disappeared into the bathroom again.

They arrived at the garden gate to the Burrow hand-in-hand.  Percy felt Audrey give his hand a gentle squeeze before they walked up the garden path.  The door was flung open before they could knock.

“Oh, Percy, thank goodness!” Mum flung herself on him, hugging him tightly there on the front stoop.  “I was getting worried!  You’re never late.”  She pulled back and looked him over as though assuring herself that he was alive and whole. 

“Sorry, Mum—” Percy began.  But before he could get another word out, she caught sight of Audrey standing just behind him. 

“Oh, and you must be Audrey!  At last!  We’ve been telling Percy to bring you for weeks and weeks!”  Percy found himself pushed aside as she dove to hug Audrey.  But somehow he didn’t mind one bit.  Audrey smiled at him from over Mum’s shoulder. 

“Oh, you’re so pretty!” Mum said, patting her own hair back as she took Audrey in up and down.  “Come in!  It’s freezing out here!  I’ve knitted you a jumper.  I so hope it fits; Percy wasn’t much help when I asked your size.” 

“I don’t doubt it,” Audrey laughed, shooting Percy a mischievous grin.  “Men are so useless at that sort of thing, aren’t they?”  The pair of women walked into the house arm-in-arm in happy excited conversation as though they’d known each other for years, and Percy followed behind.

There was a rush of movement and sound through the crowded kitchen as they entered.  Calls of ‘Hello’ and ‘Happy Christmas’ echoed in the cramped space.  Percy found himself separated from Audrey as Dad came up to hug him and Charlie slapped him on the back and George poured him a drink. 

His head felt like it was floating in all the noise and conversation.  Before he could respond to one person, another was greeting him.  Percy craned his head to check in on how Audrey was getting on;  he saw her shaking hands with Harry and, to her credit, she did not appear painfully starstruck like most people were when meeting him. 

Drinks and half-eaten appetisers were claiming spots at the table, but few people were seated yet.  Percy couldn’t help it as his gaze travelled to a particular empty chair at the table.  He was sure it wasn’t empty by coincidence.  No one wanted to sit in that particular spot.

“Hey!  Looking good, Audrey!” called Bill across the room, cutting into an unpleasant reverie.  Percy turned back to look over to Audrey himself.  She had slipped on her first of what was sure to be many Weasley jumpers and was grinning at him from across the room.  The lumpy olive-green wool far from complimented her sparkly emerald dress, but she wore it with so much confidence, the runway models were sure to be adopting the style by next season.  A small cheer went up around the room and Audrey’s grin widened.    “Percy, dear!  Come and get yours,” Mum called, and Percy picked his way through the throng to them.  As Mum turned to collect another jumper from under the tree, Percy felt his arm wrap around Audrey’s waist.  She squeezed him back.

As he’d known it would be, the soft wool was a mustard yellow.  As he’d known it would, it had not a single dropped stitch.  As he’d known it would, it smelled of lemon soap and bergamot.  “Thanks, Mum,” he said softly, kissing her on the cheek.

“Alright, come along, all of you!” said Mum, waving him off, though she had a touch of a blush on her cheeks.  She began shepherding them all toward the dining table.  “It’s dinner time!” she called to the room at large.  Another cheer and some laughter as the group migrated toward the table.

Percy followed suit, but he paused to look around the room.  For a moment, he just stood there, clutching his Weasley jumper to his chest.  He looked around the table as his family took their seats, all chatting amongst themselves, all laughing and smiling and relaxed.  Their faces were brightly lit by the candles on the dining table.  And before them was a spread of all of his favourite foods.  And Ginny’s paperchains were hanging artfully from the rafters.  And the fire was crackling merrily.  And everything was perfect. 

And yet everything was wrong. 

Percy felt his feet faulter.  They seemed unable to make the final few steps to the table.  His breath was coming fast and shallow.  He felt as though he were caught midway through Apparition.  As though a tight rubber band was compressing his chest.  He didn’t belong here.  He didn’t belong in this warm and loving house, surrounded by warm and loving people.  He didn’t deserve it.  How could it be that he was here and someone else was not.  When it had been Percy who had had squandered their last chance to ever again have them all together in this room.

“Er, Perce,” said George as he pulled out a chair across from him.  Percy blinked several times as he tried to clear his head enough to really take him in.  George gestured to his lips.  “Trying out a new shade?  I think red clashes with your hair a bit.”

Percy merely continued to blinked at him bemusedly for a moment.  Then he felt heat flood to his face, and his hand shot up to scrub at his lips.  Several snickers sounded around the table.  He glanced apologetically to Audrey only to find her grinning at him in a way that reminded him uncannily of Fred.  He sighed.  His glare was made rather less effective by the traitorous smile tugging at his lips.  “You didn’t tell me on purpose.”

Audrey shrugged.  “I thought the shade suited you quite well.”

The kitchen was filled with laughter and the screeching of chairs on the floor as everybody took their seats.  George was still sniggering and Dad was smiling fondly at him and Mum was piling food onto his plate and Audrey was beaming at him.  As fast as it had come, the rubber band around his chest was gone.  When he at last sat down, he felt he was exactly where he belonged.

And when Audrey sat herself in the empty seat beside him— the one seat everyone had been avoiding— no one seemed to mind at all. 

Least of all Percy.

#harry potter fanfiction #hp fanfic #canon compliant #percy weasley #weasley family #percy/ audrey #christmas fic #christmas #angst #character arc #family

[pomegrnteseed]

Come Together

Prompt: "I want you" made me think perhaps H is a Beatles girlie cause her parents, and I've never seen Sirius as a Beatles Guy in fic before

Thank you to Beatificbean for this prompt, I really enjoyed piecing this together

“I want you.”

She shrieks, heart in her throat, not just because she’d been sure she was home alone, but because he’s uttering the words that haunt her nightly.

Hermione turns to the doorway and sees Sirius leaning oh-so-casually against the wooden frame, arms crossed as he looks at her. She’s in an ACDC t-shirt of his that she’d stolen from the washing basket and a pair of red jersey shorts. Perfectly acceptable loungewear for baking in the kitchen.

“That’s the song, you’re humming, right? I Want You, by The Beatles? Merlin, Hermione, you’re practically the perfect woman, knowing music like that.”

He laughs and she tries to copy him, but it’s hollow.

Of course he didn’t mean it.

She was more than 20 years his junior. She was the final stray haunting his home; Harry and Ron having moved out and moved on two years earlier. She rattled around the house like a ghost, hardly straying from her bedroom, the kitchen, or the small office they’d transformed into a potions lab for her to mess around in while she figured out what she did next with her life.

Funny how ambition quickly dries up when it’s a reality instead of a child’s dream to survive long enough to live.

“I didn’t know you knew The Beatles,” he continues on, unaware of her internal monologue, stepping towards the oven where she’s finished pouring batter into a loaf tin.

“Don’t you dare stick a finger in there, there’s raw egg! And yes, of course I know The Beatles. My father worshipped them,” she informs him with a wry smile. “Makes me think of home, of learning to bake breads and pastries on Sunday afternoons with him. Mum was useless at the sweet stuff, but Dad was a whizz at baking, you know. Ironic, given his professional quest to save every tooth he met. He’d stick a cassette in and-”

The tears overwhelm her and he pulls her in for a hug. It doesn’t soothe her like he intends, just twists the knife of loneliness harder, but she swallows it all down, pushes and pushes until she doesn’t feel it anymore.

“I have the vinyl in my room, if you want to listen over banana loaf and chai?” he offers.

The only way he knows how to offer comfort is through company and hot drinks. It’s kind of adorable, though she’d never tell him as much.

Forty minutes later, she’s at his bedroom door with chai and a plate with sliced banana loaf, hovering, knows crossing this threshold changes nothing - it’s Sirius, the man who sees her as his ward - but nonetheless the trepidation tangles in her tummy.

The door opens and he’s lounging on his bed, vinyl cover in hand, patting the mattress beside him.

The opening chords of Come Together fill the room. She perches on the edge, pushes a plate in his direction, and busies her hands with her own.

“Did you add cinnamon?”

She nods, not meeting his gaze.

He hums.

“My favourite.”

She knows.

They listen to the entire album in silence, only moving to turn the disk over in its player. She lets the songs surround her in a nostalgic blanket, wistful for the easy, breezy carelessness of childhood.

“Oh darling,” Sirius breaks the silence when the final song ends and the record player clicks off.

She peers up at him, questioning.

“My favourite song on the album is probably Oh! Darling.”

She smiles, it’s weak and thin but that’s as sincere as she can muster. Wishes those words meant something more.

“Because is mine. You know it’s inspired by Moonlight Sonata? The complexity of the harmonies is unbelievable, it’s so layered. And yet, the sound is almost deceptively simple. A real conundrum of a track.”

His mouth twists, not a smile or a grimace, but something pained nonetheless.

“I was sure you’d say Here Comes the Sun,” he murmurs. When she quirks a sardonic brow he grins fully. “Y’know, because you’re so hopeful and full of light. Always looking for the silver lining.”

She’s not sure she is, but she takes the mischaracterisation as a compliment with a snicker.

“Sure, Sirius, whatever you say.”

A beat.

“I best go clear up my mess,” she says, moving to stand.

“I Want You.”

“What about it?” she asks, stacking empty plates and mugs.

“I’m serious.”

She blinks, confused and feeling as though he’s making fun of her. The vulnerability rolls her shoulders in anticipatory defense.

“Hermione. I want you. It would be a literal crime to let you walk out of this room now I finally have you in it. Wearing my fucking clothes, no less.”

She must surely have entered an alternate dimension. Or she’s having a stroke. Because there’s no way in hell this is actually happening.

His tattooed hand shoots out to grab her wrist, pulls on it, forcing her to look him in the eye.

What she sees knocks the wind out of her.

His expression is open, vulnerable, eyes gleaming. Hermione is baffled, completely unprepared.

“Unless, of course, you’re not interested. And- well, why would you be. Ignore me darli- Hermione. Just, forget it. Call it a senior moment, let me get the door for you.”

He leaps from the bed, jostling her as he passes, opens the door, head bowed.

“You- you want me? Seriously?”

“I’m always Sirius.”

“I will smack you, Sirius Black.”

He chuckles but it quickly morphs into a weary sigh.

“You don’t understand how incredible you look when you’re lost in the music, Hermione. Transcendental. You’re a vision. I mean, you always are. But you’re sitting there in my fucking t-shirt, listening to my favourite album, and you have this dreamy little grin. You’re hardly in the room, but it doesn’t matter. You’re comfortable enough to let yourself fully feel the music around me. And that’s no small thing. I know it isn’t. So, yes, I’m struck by an epiphany listening to my favourite band with my favourite witch who’s added my favourite spice to my favourite fruit loaf. Is it really so surprising?”

She laughs and it’s melodic. She’s euphoric.

“Yes, you dolt. It’s utterly baffling. Completely bewildering. Now kiss me.”

And he does.

#sirmione #Sirius Black #Hermione Granger #hp fanfic #harry potter fanfiction #hp fandom #Beatificbean gave me this prompt