#credence barebone imagine

[theaskywalker]

Imagine following the ailing Aurelius to Hogsmeade after the events in Bhutan so that you can take care of him

Masterlist

#fantastic beasts #fantastic beasts the crimes of grindelwald #fantastic beasts the secrets of dumbledore #credence barebone #aurelius dumbledore #credence barebone x reader #credence barebone imagine #imagines #fantastic beasts imagines #1930s #bhutan #hogsmeade #obscurial #nursing

[werezmastarbucks]

green

part one - Golden

part two - Silver

part three - Black

credence barebone x fem!OC

there was a boy, a very strange, enchanted boy

word count: 3461

author's note: it turned out as it did

Credence was dying.

He was gathering his stuff, the leftovers of his mind, and leaving this place. Meanwhile, he was watching dreams. Finally, he's seen the obscurial for what it was: a chaotic, confused creature, just like him, unsure of what to do. It wanted in, and it wanted out. It yelled, and gnawed at him, and obeyed him all the while. It didn't really want to hurt him explicitly; most of the time it was just pacing with pain. It was a wound, with blood gushing out of it, and it felt nothing but pain, so pain, it shared with him. Perhaps he shouldn't have fought it to begin with, but it was now too late. The obscurial was turning its forming head, looking around through his eyes. And when it was seeing the ceiling and the window, he saw them, too. He saw faces. The bearded face, the dark face, the freckled face, the beautiful face. It recognized some of them. It remembered the face that it carried once or twice. It knew no language, but he saw this face talking to him, pressing on his chest. Him, it, Credence, the monster. She pressed on his chest, as if trying to keep it in, not out. She sang him a song that lulled him to sleep and he started seeing dreams. It felt like he spoke to her because she replied. She dictated the pictures he saw as he slept.

There would be a boy, she was saying, who will think that the darkness will take him. But it will fail, and the boy will live, because he's strong. And Credence, she was saying, you're even stronger, I think you're stronger. Don't let the darkness take you.

He saw the dreams of New York, and those were the nightmares. He saw the snowy streets, cold, hollow, beige and white. Wind bit his hands like a dog. His skin was breaking apart and dark blood came out in droplets. The wind was so rageful. It was so cold, and he didn't have a coat, and he knew, that at home, it was worse than hell, so he awaited death. The obscurial was dripping from behind his right ear, cracking his skull in two. Someone held his hand. It was a firm, dry grip, someone was shaking him. He was dying, and he didn't recognize them much; he looked at them without any emotion, like he was an empty casket with a face.

Don't fight, don't fight, Credence, the voice said. Let it go. Let it flow.

And he did.

Orlaith left the room and closed the door quietly. It was her birthday, in the middle of summer. She didn't feel like celebrating anything, held by life and death from two sides. Equally painful.

She went outside to look at the street, for a change. They kept the window open in Credence's room at the Inn, but it was still very dense there. Very stuffy. He was releasing so much energy that it ate oxygen. Everything that's been consuming him was predatory, flesh and spirit eating. Sometimes he would tremble and shake, sometimes he would wake up and look at her, or his father, or his uncle, without a trace of recognition. In his eyes, black mist was twirling, it was the obscurial. It's the creature that was opening his eyes and peering outside, at their faces. It was the creature that made his body dance on the bed. The voice it used belonged to Credence, but it asked questions about itself. What am I, what are you, what year it was. Why is it so heavy that it can't get up. It was absolutely cemented to his body, and couldn't leave Credence, like he caged it. They were amalgamating.

She saw the older Dumbledore stroke his forehead and whisper. And the obscurial would rest, letting Credence rest, too.

There were people outside, crowded together in the dark street, like someone had used a deluminator on the streetlights. She walked on to see the stars better.

"Orlaith!" the voice called. It came from the group. She turned, looking at them, her eyes adjusting to darkness. Among them, she started recognizing faces. Oh! All of those faces she knew.

"Happy birthday?" Newt exclaimed, with a little bit of doubt.

Those were her friends. Albus Dumbledore, Newt Scamander, the Botanics teacher, Imelda Ginger, Lodgok the goblin, the farmer from the field, Mr Brance, and the serving elf from the castle, Purrypawn. Those were all her friends, she didn't have many. But they started shooting the fireworks in the air, illuminating the street in all the colors of the rainbow. The brightest one was the golden, forming a dragon up in the skies, that flew on, circling above the field, and then on and on, further into the forest. She saw the face of Tina Goldstein, her little nose crinkled in an amazing, wide smile. She'd never seen her before, but knew she existed somewhere. As they laughed, and yelled, and watched the lights, the thunder of the dragon shattered the houses. Credence saw the dreams of the circus tricks, with fire and magic, stars blown up in the air. Among the sparkles, he was seeing the golden sunbeams.

He woke up like someone pushed him with force. He opened his eyes, forgetting what day it was. It was very warm, unusually. Instead of the normal wooden bars on his ceiling he saw various witch amulets swaying on the strings. Weird, he thought, dangerous. If the mother sees that, she shall punish him mercilessly. He put out his hand, covered in old scars, and tried to reach them, but couldn't. Credence sat up, stood on his knees and started tearing them down. Those were the weridest pranks he's ever witnessed; there was a smal glass vile filled with some lilac powder; and a little soft figurine of an owl; and a glistening bronze symbol he didn't recognize. There was a small dream catcher, bright green and blue. He was in the middle of untying them all when he noticed that something was off about the room. It was spacious and light. He sat back in bed, confused, put his hands to his head to cancel out all sounds and think, and discovered his hair had grown much longer over the night. No, something was wrong.

He jumped from the bed and spun around in this unfamiliar room. It was nice; wooden table was propped against the window, and his bed was small but soft, with white sheets. He walked towards the mirror and didn't recognize himself at first. He looked ten years older than what he was supposed to be. The crack on his wrist wasn't itchy as it usually was, and he dug into the little cut with his fingernail. He cleared his throat because his mouth was so dry. Hearing his own voice, it suddenly stung him, like a recollecting spell. He was Aurelius. And he was ten years older. And he wasn't in New York anymore, but in Hogsmeade. He examined his face in the mirror. Apparently, he was also alive. So alive that he even looked healthier. His skin didn't feel cold, the black circles around his eyes went away. He moved without any ache, feeling the longing strength in his limbs. He smelt himself and nearly retched. The sun was dancing in his room, yellow pollen from the flowering trees on the floor. He stomped his foot, making it fly up a little; his hip wasn't hurting, and the pain that always punished him for sharp movements, never came. He looked inside and asked, are you still there?

I am, the obscurial replied, its voice deep and sticky.

Then why am I not hurting anymore?

I'm not hurting anymore, it echoed.

He ran to the shower, desiring nothing more than to wash away all the feverish, strange dreams off himself. He found some clothes in the wardrobe; shirts of his size, some pants, a vest, a black cloak. He put his hair away from his face into a tail on the back of the head. So that he could see better. He put on the white shirt because it fit him the best, and went downstairs, where he found Aberfort.

At first, the man didn't move, but stared at him in dumb silence. Credence watched his face covered in lines form a grimace of amazement. He had a very old face, his father. He couldn't have been older than forty five years of age, but he looked sixty. His eyes faded with the constant darkness he dwelled in; they have lost its light from looking at that portrait of Ariana all the time. He was stooping, like Credence did, but the worst of all was his mouth. Almost upside down, always hidden behind his moustache, it was ever tightly shut. He didn't dare approach him even.

"How long have I been out?" he asked, his voice still not awake completely. He coughed to hear himself better.

"Forty-one days, Aurelius. Merlin's blessing, you have got out. You have made it".

The man cried silently, clutching onto his shy misery. He held onto the back of a chair, hiding his face in his other hand.

Credence walked up to him, put his hand on his father's shoulder.

"Thank you", Aberfort wailed, grabbing his hand like it was an evasive, unwilling ferret. "Thank you, Aurelius, thank you".

The first thing he did was going into the field. How simply good it was, just to live. To breathe without a second breath echoing inside his chest. To walk without every step stabbing his spine. He let the sun kiss him, lifting his face up. From this spot, Orlaith's house was seen. Or, rather, what was left of it after they'd gone. He fixed what he could, put the roof in place, and gathered the pieces of glass and clay crockery, but he didn't remember where was what. He couldn't find the shreds of furniture as they were probably so light - the feathers, the draping - that they had flown away, or had been picked up by birds for their nests. But he was quite pleased with his work. Doing magic was easy. It was less now like busts of his inner matter, and more like the magic itself. He had to focus to do it. And the wand obeyed him. The monster inside, a part of his soul, the little Credence dying in the cold with unwanted flyers in his hand, was slumbering in the safety of his ribcage as he finally allowed it. He saw his father watching him, always a house away. From the distance. As if he was about to drop dead all of a sudden. Maybe not now, not anymore.

"Um, dad", he asked, approaching. Aberfort flinched like he was hit on the face, "where is she?"

"She went away just yesterday. With Albus, they're looking for Grindelwald. She spent half of day, every day, with you. Albus had to drag her away from your bed".

"When are they coming back?"

"I think today. They aren't far. Go to the castle, maybe they've already returned".

He took a long stroll through the valley, paying attention to everything around him. The honeysuckle, and the bumblebees, the summer pollen in the air, and the black, awaiting mass of the forest, and, most of all, Hogwarts. The name she always said with a special tingle in her voice. He expected the grass and the flowers to whither when he stepped past them, but they did not pay attention. The world around finally accepted him. Credence still wasn't sure this was a promised future, but only clung on the strength, and feeling of having rested for a full life ahead. He felt timidly grateful, undeserving of this beauty, anxiety striking him. This was too good to be true. He could now cut off his old years with a sharp knife and never look back, things like that never happened to Credence. No, but maybe they happened to Aurelius?

The castle stood almost empty, and ghosts, who were not very numbered, prevailed in the halls. He walked quietly, feeling like he was intruding. Hogwarts was, unlike Nurmengard, light, and welcoming. The hallways were wide and made of white stone, and the portraits on the walls watched him with overt curiosity. The fountain in the hall through which he entered had statues of mermaids, who moved their heads and he walked by. There was a soft, barely audible hum to the castle, perhaps those were the walls snoring. He got lost in the unending corridors, the stairs, the unexpected turns. Finally, he noticed the sun started going down slowly. Credence froze in the middle of the corridor, unsure.

"Are you lost, young man?" a female voice asked him. He moved his eyes towards the sound with horror. She was flying on a broomstick, and she was absolutely naked. The witch smiled at him, eyeing him.

He quickly lowered his gaze.

"I- I'm looking for Albus Dumbledore", he said quietly.

"You're almost there. He's in the Defense class".

"I don't know where it is..." he confessed. The witch hummed and flew away. He stared at the empty frame for a second.

"Are you coming?"

"Excuse me, Bella, would you be kind and leave my painting?" another, unhappy voice called. Credence followed the sound.

"Peace, Formulonda", Bella replied, poison in her voice, "a little reminder of beauty won't hurt you. Follow me, pretty boy".

Credence swallowed, embarrassed for some reason. He walked faster, trying not to lose the sight of her as she jumped from one painting to another. Bella led him through the dim hallway, and then they were in a light one again; they took the stairs up and then entered a wide corridor.

"The big door on your right", Bella said, trying to catch his eye.

"Thank you", he mumbled, and hurried away from her. Now that he wasn't burdened with the feeling of life fleeting from him, he remembered how scary it was, to be seen. Oh, it was hot. It was too much for one day already.

He knocked on the door. There was no answer for a while, but then he heard Albus' voice.

"Yes?" curious, energetic. He didn't know what to expect, and so, as he opened the door, the light blinded him. He saw Orlaith, by the desk together with his uncle, and it finally got to him. This was all real. He really made it.

"Ha!" Albus yelled, clasping his hands together. His smile could break apart the stone. "Ha!" He couldn't say anything else.

Orlaith was at loss of words, but she moved instead. Her eyes, the way they looked at him, they were the most beautiful. Credence prepared himself for the collision as she jumped at him, with her arms open.

"Cre-he-he-dence", she cried. Her little body against his, he realized he had been stooping again, and instead, embraced her, straightening his back.

"I was just away for one day, one day", she was hollering. With the tears on her face, and her hair on her face, too, in the glimmer of her gold, she looked like the greatest thing he'd ever seen; maybe like the wooden spirit, or a mermaid from the hidden pools below the blue rocks.

"You look so healthy, Credence!" Albus noted joyfully.

"I guess I'm better", Credence replied.

"Better? You're absolutely, irretrievably, positively well. Do you feel any weakness at all, any pain?"

Credence shook his head no.

Orlaith let go of him, sniffing, wiping her tears away with a whole palm, like a child, and looked at him closely.

"That is just great", Albus admitted, "good job, good job Credence, and you, Orlaith. I had no doubt it would all work out".

She sneezed out of surprise, hiding her nose in her small palms.

"What do you mean!" she yelled, "no doubts? You told me to leave all hope!"

Albus shrugged and tilted his head guiltily, with such a sheepish smile that Orlaith was stupified.

"Oh, you..." she finally uttered, "you absolute calculating, secret-keeping, people-manipulating, warlock chief. Did you make me, did you make me believe he'd die so that I, what?" "Oh, I didn't try to make you suffer, dear. But I did hold a little hope all to myself, I admit. I was really hoping it would work", Dumbledore responded apologetically.

"What would work?" Credence asked. Orlaith's face was moving with some unreadable expressions.

Albus looked at her with some hidden spell untold.

"Well? Don't you know? I thought you'd get it, Orlaith, since you know me through and through".

"Uh..." she puffed, frustrated.

"Love. The ancient magic", he clarified. "Only love could cure an obscurial. And I think I'd told you before at some point, but you didn't seem to pay attention".

She blinked.

"Love", said Dumbledore, "is the most powerful tool of ancient magic. It heals the wounds that would otherwise take the wounded to the world of dead. It shields us from the treacherous dark spells. Love is what cures even death itself sometimes. An obscurial could only be saved with love, from one side, and from the other. Your greatest strength was never your rage, Orlaith, although you seemed to think that. It was love that made the earth help you, the love you felt for the creatures that made the forest defend you. And you", he turned to Credence, "my boy, once you stopped fighting it, and pitied it, the part of yourself that had been nurtured by the lack of love, found its way back to your core. You never fight an obscurial. You understand it. You accept the love that will tame it".

They stood, dumbfounded, in complete awe of Dumbledore's speech.

Orlaith wanted to throw her hands in the air and yell, of course! Of course you are so simply right all the time!

They looked at each other like two schoolchildren, a little bit awkward.

"It would have taken immense strength out of you, of course", Albus added, giving Credence a proud tap on the shoulder. "You, being of our blood, a Dumbledore. You know you will be known as the boy who lived through one of the most trying conditions one could ever, possibly, have".

Credence scratched his neck, wishing he could stare at the wall and digest everything. Suddenly he saw Orlaith's smile leave her lower lip and the teeth biting into it. She gave Dumbledore a look of complete revery.

"What did you say?"

"That he's strong".

"No, after. The boy..."

"...who lived", Albus helped. "Why?"

She gasped, and then gasped again, and her stare became glassy.

"Oh. Oh..."

She gave Credence a desperate, loving look.

"Oh..."

Neither of them understood what's gotten into her. Orlaith looked like she was about to combust into flames on the spot. Thinking proccess reflected onto her face.

"I'll be back", she snapped suddenly, in a very shrill voice. Credence started getting worried. He looked at his uncle after she ran out of the classroom.

Albus was less concerned, - maybe a little, just out of politeness.

"She'll be some time".

"Does that happen often?"

"Once in a while. Do you want some tea? Will you please tell me how you feel now?"

They walked towards the stairs, Credence, throwing confused looks at the door.

Not a single word passable for print crossed her mind as she ran through the castle. Oh no, that was too much. She almost fatigued herself to death by the time she reached the Divinations rope ladder. She was being incredibly lucky - or Matilda didn't have a place to live? because the Professor was still there in the middle of July.

She didn't greet her, but shoved her head into the room, startling the soothsayer almost to death.

"Professor!" she shouted like mad, "I screwed up! I screwed up so much!"

Matilda clutched the dress on her chest in fright.

"What happened?"

Orlaith was stammering.

"The- the- the boy, the vision, remember, when I came to you, the tree, the boy!"

"Yes, yes, I remember that, miss Peverell".

Now, hearing this name was sure horrifying to her.

"The boy you've seen in the crystal ball, don't prevent the tree from growing! The boy!"

"Yes, what about him?" Matilda yelled, "the lost, dark-haired boy, what about him?"

"What eyes did he have?"

She tried to recollect what she's seen. Ah, it was easy for the child had very distinct, bright eyes.

"Green", she replied, "emerald green".

She let go of the ladder and crashed down on the floor, hitting her head on the stone. As she lay there, Orlaith watched the blurry bright opening of the class. Oh, she thought.

Uh-oh.

#ezra miller imagine #credence barebone imagine #fantastic beasts imagine #hogwarts legacy #harry potter #credence barebone #aurelius dumbledore #albus dumbledore #harry potter imagine

[roseisbeautiful]

Cornelia Street

Actor! Credence Barebone x Actress! Reader

Summarization: After you finally confronted about how you feel to Credence, he finally realised what he had done wrong and its starting to guilt him down to his core.

Warning: More angst!, second chances, realisation, Credence changes, reader is trying to move on but can't.

Again if you haven't read the first one please read it. The first one, the title is "You're losing me"

I'm gonna do the pov for credence in this one🥹😉

Ever since you finally told him the problem it had hit him harder than any punches he had received. It hurt him so much, he couldn't believe himself. Did he really let himself do this to his precious girl? He missed you so much. The situation had changed him to the point he had to take a break in working, he'd been drinking and doing stuff he'd never do when he was with you.

Everytime he got drunk all he could think about was you, all he could mutter was sorry and your name. He couldn't handle it, he misses everything about you. If he could have another chance he promises that he wouldn't let anyone get in both of your relationship's way.

Again he was drunk, and he suddenly thought about how he should text you. He picks up his phone and tried to contact you but instead is met with a "This person has blocked you", he couldn't believe it. This made him sober up quickly. After reading that he began to think of what he could do to talk to you in person or not, when he finally made up his mind he had decided that he needed to talk to you in person.

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

To say that you had been devestated was an understatement, you couldn't move on at all.

Everything you had done you could only think of him, every single turn it was full of him. It's been months since you both had broke up, around 5 months ago.

You couldn't move on easily, after all he is your first love, your first kiss, your first partner in crime, Your first everything. As much as it had hurt you, you knew you shouldn't go back, because once a cheater, always a cheater, right?

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Back to Credence's POV:

I went to every place that I think she would be in, where we always would be in. As I looked and looked all I could see is the memories we had created together. God I hate myself for hurting her, she deserves everything. She doesn't deserve all the pain I put her through.

As I though about all the stuff I had regretted, I saw her, My Everything. My Glyndel, As soon as I saw her, I chased after her yelling her name, "(NAME)! (NAME)!" .

She turns around looking around upon hearing her name, when she saw me her eye's turn wide, the phase of her walking going faster like she'd wanted to run away from me. When I catched up to her, I grab her arm and turn her around, so I could see her beautiful face.

"Credence.. " She whispered like my name was a forbidden word to be used, her eyes started to water, her lips quivering. She was trying to fight the grip I had on her, I couldn't let her go, the fear of losing her crept onto me.

"Darling, I-, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry for what I had done. Please forgive me, please give me a second chance, I still love you alot, I'm not ready to lose you." I said trying not to cry, still having the same firm grip i held on her.

She had started tearing up too, she stopped fighting my grip, "C-credence look I'm so sorry, but I think we shouldn't try again, please just leave me be.."

She whispered through the sobs, it hurt me that I had hurt her so much, and that's when I realised, I might not have the chance to be with my girl again, it shattered my heart into pieces.

"Please give me another chance please..? Just give me a month to try again?" I said begging her.

"Fine, one month, that's all you'll get and the last you'll get" She said in a hurried whisper.

I smile softly and hug her gently "Thank you, thank you for giving me another chance."

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I'm finally back!! I had a long break, school has been stressing lately but I swear I'll try to update you guys more.♥️

#Spotify #ezra miller #ezra miller imagine #credence barebone x reader #credence barebone #credence x reader

[multific]

Harry Potter Collection

Credence Barebone

Draco Malfoy

Best Summer

Bullies

Imagine

The Prince and Princess of Slytherin

Deepest Desire

Jealous - Headcanons

Fred Weasley

October

Hero

Argument

No More Doubts

Beyond Houses

Always Did, Always Will

Meant to Be

Tom Riddle

Much the Same

Mattheo Riddle

The Yule Ball

Be Paw-Sitive

Too Good

Anniversary

A Sunny Afternoon

The Lion and The Snake

Black Quill

Finds You Crying - Short

In The High Of The Feeling - Smut

A Couple too Many Drinks

Love Potion

In This Together

Any!Slytherin

Memories

#harry potter imagine #harry potter imagines #fred weasley x reader #draco x reader #draco malfoy x reader #credence barebone x reader

[kulapti]

Bookbinding of A Wizard's Devotional by @polymathema, March-July 2023.

A Wizard’s Devotional (Fantastic Beasts, Percival Graves x Credence Barebone) is about recovery from depression, some magic politics drama, and the complex experience of navigating whether and how to practice Christianity as a queer person especially if your religion was weaponized against you. Fics about Credence often touch on this, but most of the time religion is either mentioned extremely briefly or the character immediately and aggressively rejects his religious background. Those choices are good interpretive options that have their place. However, AWD leans in to a space where many queer Christians find themselves as young adults. I appreciate polymathema's compassion for this character and the many contradictions between his upbringing and experiences. I also recommend this work for gay yearning and nuanced approach to characters dealing with depression.

— About this project under the cut

I’m very excited to show off this binding now that I have mailed a copy to the author! Huge shoutout to polymathema for answering my questions, he was very nice when I (a random internet stranger) asked him stuff about a fic from years ago.

This binding one of a nearly identical pair I made, and part of my ongoing project where I plan to make four matching bindings of my favorite fics from the Fantastic Beasts fandom. My personal copy is pretty much the same except for the spine decorations. I’ll post more photos when the set of four is done! To be clear this is the copy I mailed to polymathema; whenever I make a ficbinding, I try to contact the author and offer to make them a copy as well.

Can you even imagine my delight when I found obscurus lookin fabric!! The resale store had a lot of colors but for this particular piece I wanted the codex (physical book; the actual “book” is the text) to look somewhat like a religious text considering its themes, so I went for the subtler, not quite subdued navy as opposed to a brighter blue or purple option.

Materials: Textblock is archival paper, laser printed text, scrapbooking cardstock endpapers, with linen and beeswax stitching, reinforced with cotton cheesecloth as mull. Sewn endbands are cotton embroidery floss. Covers are Italian rayon bookcloth (spine) and hand-dyed cotton batik backed with handmade wood pulp paper (ink-like cover pattern). Cover lettering is machine-cut metallic heat transfer vinyl. The case is constructed of archival bookboard, handmade wood-paper, cotton rag paper, and PVA craft glue.

#ficbinding #gradence #bookbinding #my art #handmade #artists on tumblr #a wizard's devotional #polymathema #here there be fandom #fantastic beasts #id in alt text #gradence bookbinding quartet #fic rec #author has received his copy and im bouncing off the walls about it!! #thesis: fandom is can and should be about love and sharing. evidence: I mail a ficbinding and feel happy #book shiney #tailfeather binding

[catofadifferentcolor]

Terrible Fic Idea #81: Harry Potter, but make it Aberforth's Daughter

Having been told that choosing to be a muggle in the Wizarding World is "not getting into the spirit of things", I set about determining under what circumstances I could bear to live in the British Wizarding World. This is what I came up with.

Or: What if the SI were to replace Aberforth Dumbledore's OC daughter?

Some context:

First, we're leaning heavily on book canon while dipping our toes into Hogwarts Legacy as far as the extended magical communities in the Scottish Highlands are concerned. This means no Fantastic Beasts movies, no Credence Barebone, but the Hogwarts Legacy map and the implication the Wizarding World is bigger than just a school and alley - and actually magical.

Secondly, the OC wakes up with memories of her past life as the SI on her fifth birthday. This is less of a true SI than a modern woman in the British Wizarding World, with the middle-aged SI being a critical HP fan with an engineering background.

Thirdly, the SI takes the place of an OC - Aberforth's daughter, Aishwarya Devi, born in early 1979 as a result of fling with an Anglo-Indian astrophysicist by the name of Sandhya Devi who moved to the UK as a young adult. Although Aishwarya - Ash - is never unaware of who her father is, her parents agreed before she was born that Sandhya raises Aishwarya by herself for a variety of reasons that are part wartime paranoia, part not wanting to burden a child with the expectations of the Dumbledore name, and part Aberforth really not being cut out to be a husband or father. Assume she existed in canon, was sent to school in her mother's native India, and never made it into the pages of the books.

Just imagine it:

Ash grows up in the town of Brocburrow in the Hogsmede Valley. She is a quiet but inquisitive child - two traits that only grow more pronounced after she remembers he past life as the SI.

It becomes painfully clear early on that there is nothing she can do to prevent the Second Wizarding War from her position as an untrained underage witch, so Ash concentrates on learning everything she can so as to survive it, soaking up everything her mother can teach her - Wizarding and muggle astronomy, plus more runes and arithmancy than most ever learn in Hogwarts - and reading everything she can about this new world she has unfortunately found herself a part of.

The more she learns, the less impressed with the British Wizarding World Ash becomes. Too much power is concentrated in the hands of too few, with most wizards willing to blindly follow the most magically powerful among them because of a lingering belief that the magically powerful are magically powerful because they are deserving of it. (Think of the similar medieval concept re: nobles and their presumed nobility.)

Aberforth has little role in her childhood. If Ash had really been a child, it would have been easy to mistake his distance for lack of care, but having once been a semi-functional adult it's easier to see that Aberforth simply has no idea how to interact with children. He tries for her sake and Ash can't help but love him for it, even as he fails miserably.

Although Sandhya initially wishes her daughter to attend her alma mater back in India, Ash manages to convince her to let her attend Hogwarts in the fall of 1990, one year before Harry Potter is set to start his schooling.

To no one's surprise, she ends up sorted into Ravenclaw - and wielding an acacia and huma feather wand. ("A kingmaker's wand," Ollivander says.)

First year it's her intention to keep her head down and avoid attracting the notice of her uncle. Ash succeeds in this, coming across as just another academically gifted Ravenclaw, albeit one who makes a bit of a name for herself complaining that the muggles know such much more about outer space than we do. And math. Calculus was invented before the Statute of Secrecy, you know.

She also manages to strike up a surprising friendship with fourth year Percy Weasley - their usual tables in the library are next to each other and so they form a quiet academic acquaintanceship that evolves almost without them realizing it into true friendship. As least half of this is based Percy once telling his brothers off for a prank that borders more on bullying than humor, and the rest on Ash being just that advanced in astronomy and arithmancy.

Second year Ash is determined to stay out of the sorcerer's stone debacle - but also sets out to cultivate a friendship with Harry Potter, initially because it's the only way she can think of to get him away from the Dursleys (as any sensible adult should have done the first time he crossed their path) and out from under her uncle's thumb, but later because he is genuinely a sweet kid who soaks up all the affection he's given and returns it threefold. She does this by inviting him to celebrate Diwali with her and the other Hindi students - which opens up a can of worms regarding Harry's hereto unknown desi background - and establishes herself (and through her, Percy) a trustworthy older student Harry can rely upon.

This works out better than she can possibly dream when Harry takes his fears regarding the stone to Percy, who then presents them to McGonagall in a way that leads her to stake out the third floor corridor in her animagus form, catch Quirell in the act, and watch him die when Voldy deserts him.

Third year starts fairly close to CoS, but after the first petrifaction - about which the Headmaster does nothing save almost seem to encourage the rumors about Harry being the Heir of Slytherin - Ash decides to use her first Hogsmede weekend to act. She goes to the Hog's Head, tells her father exactly what is happening in the school, and watches as Aberforth's face turns into a storm cloud.

She has no idea what Aberforth actually does - only that the next morning the Headmaster announces the school will be closed until the person behind the petrifications is caught. She spends a week at home before the school reopens and though there are rumors the Aurors found a basilisk in the school, not a word of explanation is ever given to the students.

Ash's third year continues without further incident - except now she is on the Headmaster's radar. Albus had been kept carefully unaware of his brother's child, but now that he knows of her existence, he's eager to fit Ash into his Greater Good. Ash rebuffs him, but it's hard to be sure if even that isn't part of his plans.

Fourth year follows PoA fairly closely, though it's Ash's house Harry runs away to following events with Marge. Sandhya is more than happy to take her daughter's friend in, but the more she learns about Harry's home life, the more concerned she grows, and starts the ball rolling in the muggle world to have the situation investigated. This plays out quietly in the background while the school year otherwise follows canon - up to and including Wormtail's escape at the end of the year.

The summer before fifth year starts with both Harry and Dudley being removed from the Dursley home. Harry gets to stay with Ash and Sandhya while the Wizarding World fights over who gets to become Harry's legal guardian. They never get to decide - Harry is legally emancipated when he's forced to take part in the tournament - but the whole situation shines a bright light on everything that has been going on at Hogwarts the last few years. Dumbledore comes out of the situation with his titles intact, but his reputation in tatters - particularly after he claims Voldemort's return, which many think is a way to try to regain his former prestige.

Sixth year - OotP - is where things really start to change.

Despite his emancipation, Harry continues to live with Ash and Sandhya - Ash having very much taken up the mantle of protective older sister at this point.

With Dumbledore's political power already on a downward arc, it makes no sense to send Umbridge to Hogwarts. So Percy Weasley is the new DADA instructor instead. This makes a certain amount of sense, as Percy's frantic work keeping Crouch Sr.'s department running even while he was imperiused/ill/dead meant that things actually ran smoother. Fudge sees Weasley as a potential rival to be cut off at the knees... and one of the few Hogwarts graduates in his employ with an O in DADA.

This is awkward for a number of reasons, not least because despite having remained friends throughout Hogwarts, after running into each other at the Yule Ball (Ash was Harry's date) they're in that awkward stage of waiting for Ash to be older before investigating the attraction between them.

Sixth year goes well, with Percy setting out to teach not torture, and doing just enough to keep the ministry off his back - there are some parts of Hogwarts that need to be investigated, i.e. security and the reduced class offering - as well as doing just enough for his fellow professors to think he's a ministry toadie - Flitwick and McGonagall are not convinced by his act, but others are. There's still an incident at the DoM at the end of the year, but Harry is able to tell the relevant adults so that it's they who spring Voldy's trap, not half-trained children.

Ash's seventh year - HBP - goes by similarly smoothly. The major change here is that 1) Harry repeats everything he learns from Dumbledore to Ash, whose takeaways from the memories are far more critical of her uncle, and 2) Ash and Percy begin dating, but so little changes between them that only those they've explicitly told notice.

With the Wizarding World at war, it's a bit of a culture shock when Ash begins muggle university the next year, majoring in astrophysics. Her flat near the college serves as a well-warded base for Harry and co to hunt for horcruxes after Grimmauld Place is lost. She fights in the Battle of Hogwarts, and though she'd intended to save as many as she could, it's still a surprise when she manages to save Fred Weasley from his canon fate.

Afterwards, Ash goes on to gain a doctorate in astrophysics in the muggle world and work on integrating muggle discoveries with Wizarding knowledge, as her mother had done for the past several decades. Her friendship with Harry means that her work is put in a greater spotlight, and when Professor Sinistra finally retires Ash is the one asked to replace her. Sometime between all this she and Percy marry - much to the surprise of the other Weasleys - and have a single child just old enough to start Hogwarts when Ash begins teaching.

Harry himself takes a more political role in this world, having come to the conclusion very early on that oppression and ignorance help no one, and that it's the Wizarding World's belief that might makes right that got them all into this situation in the first place. He's Head of the DMLE for several years before being elected Minister for a maximum three terms. His administration is marked by efforts to shift Ministry hiring practices from nepotism to merit, as well as make laws apply legally to people of all magical backgrounds. He's not entirely successful, but it's a vast improvement.

Bonuses include: 1) Albus Dumbledore not evil so much as misguided - he honestly, genuinely thinks that he knows what's best for everyone. Maybe he even does. He's simply forgotten that people are not pawns and just because you want what you think is best for them doesn't mean that they want it, or that it is what is personally best for them. All of this should be brought up when he tries to pull Ash into his web; 2) An institutional problem with bullying in Hogwarts. All houses have villains and victims, but Gryffindor has more than its fair share of the latter, compounded by Dumbledore's nepotism and McGonagall being too busy to breathe most days. This eventually comes to a head during GoF, when Ash ties a charm into the school wards that writes the word Bully across the perpetrator's face when they violate standards borrowed from a muggle secondary school's guidebook; 3) Aberforth playing a greater role in Ash's life as she grows older, especially after she comes to him for help with his brother in CoS; and 4) Ash and Harry becoming siblings of choice. Ash never displaces any of Harry's friend group, but is there and willing to listen in a way no one in his life had been previously. And that changes everything.

And that is, surprisingly, more than I'd thought I'd have. As always, feel free to adopt this bun, just link back if you do anything with it.

Other SIs: Aberforth's Daughter | Lysa Arryn | Petunia Evans | Princess of Dol Amroth

More Terrible Fic Ideas

#plot bunny #fic ideas #harry potter #self insert #aberforth dumbledore #female original character #desi harry potter #hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry #wizarding society #wizarding world #percy weasley #families of choice #found family #desi oc #hp #original character

[samantha-rae-velcher]

Heaven without fear

Credence Barebone x Dom!Fem reader

Requested by: no one at all😀

Warnings: Dom reader, sub credence, smut, swearing, edging.

Summary: Credence seeks out comfort from Y/n after his wicked care giver beats him, Y/n calms him down and comforts him in a more pleasurable way. Just for clarification the reader is a year younger than Credence.

A/n: (18+) YEAH YOU HEARD IT HERE FOLKS! (18+)....BUT IN REALITY!...I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!

___________________________

Y/n knew Credence for a while, she watched him from afar, once in a while talked to him, and even came by the church to see him. She saw the hatred his mother had for him, and it made Y/n's blood boil.

On occasion she imagined using the cruciatus curse on that evil woman, Credence had no idea she was a woman with magical abilities, until the day she came to him while Mary Lou was out.

"Credence, what did she do to you?" She had whispered in her usual kind tone. He shook his head and looked away from her.

"Let me help you." Y/n gently took his hand and guided him to his bed, she sat him down and unbuttoned his oversized cotton shirt.

She pressed her forehead to his and ran her finger tips over the red gashes on his chest, he let out a quiet whimper of pain and grasped her arm.

"Shh shh shh shh, it's okay. Let me heal you, Crede."

He slowly nodded allowing her to begin her spell.

"Vulnera Sanentur." She quietly chanted over and over until the gashes had disappeared.

"You're a witch?" He asked.

"Yes, you mustn't tell Mary Lou. Do you understand?"

Their eyes locked and he whispered...

"I promise."

________________

Now here Y/n was sitting on her couch, curled up in a warm blanket hidden away from the cold snow of the outside, when there was a sudden but quiet knock at her door.

"Who in the?" She grumbled.

Y/n began yelling from across the house, as she practically hauled towards the door.

"Listen, Bub! I don't wanna here nothin about no witches or wizards! I have no interest in half decaying meat! I don't want bug infested coffee beans nor do I desire to be criticized on what my lawn looks like!" She then swung open her door. "So I would rather you take your deseased up-"

She was cut off by the obviously upset young man in front of her, blood soaked the palm of his hand and his white shirt looked tattered and dirty.

"Credence." Y/n said, stepping out of her house and wrapping him in a tight hug. "Come inside before you freeze to death."

He fallowed her in and she took him into her washroom. She looked at him with worry in her eyes, y/n gently caressed his cheek and connect her lip with his.

"You can stay here. I don't want you going back." She whispered.

He pulled her into a warm embrace, hiding his face in the crook of her neck.

"I'll heat you a towel, get yourself washed up and I'll bring you some new clothes."

He nodded. Y/n turned and left the room, closing the door behind her. Credence removed his clothes and turned on the shower, stepping in he let the warm water run down his scarred skin.

Y/n gently knocked on the door and opened it slowly, she set his clean dry set of clothes on the sink and turned to leave until..

"Wait...could you heal my wounds? I don't want to get blood the new shirt."

She locked eyes with him and nodded, Y/n slowly removed her clothing and joined him.

"Give me your hand." She said.

He did so and Y/n chanted her spell, he towered over her watching and listening to her words, the way he felt for the young girl was like nothing else he experienced before. She was kind and gentle, Y/n actually cared about him and he could feel that, she looked at him with such love and protected him.

"I love you." He whispered.

She looked up at him and smiled, Y/n captured his lips in a passionate yet hungry kiss, she suddenly felt his hard member brush against her leg.

"Credence...I." Her voice came out breathy and soft.

"Please." He rested his head on hers and quietly begged. "Please, I need you."

Y/n smiled and gently took hold of his hard cock, he let out a hushed gasp and groaned into her shoulder.

"Shh shh, just feel it." She comforted.

Y/n began slowly stroking his member, Credence gripped her waist and began thrusting into her hand.

"Please please please." He whimpered.

"Please what? You want more?"

"Yes, Y/n I want more."

Her grip tightened and she rubbed him faster, Credence leaned down and started kissing and biting her neck, leaving marks all over her. His marks.

________________

"Where is Credence!?" Mary Lou's Voice rang through the church louder than the bells themselves.

Modesty looked down at her shoes, the same with the rest of the children. Mary had them lined up like criminals, she wanted to know, where? When? Why? And, how? Who done it? And where was the body? Who did she have to thank?

"I want Credence found!"

"No need." Y/n said calmly. "I know where my Credence is."

Mary Lou turned only to have a wand pointed at her hideous bob of a hair cut.

"You're a wicked!" She said while backing up.

"No you're the witch my dear, the one that beats children. Credence, the kindest boy Ive ever met."

"Where is he?"

"Somewhere you'll never find him, you won't even try."

"And why is that?"

"I'll give you one word." Y/n said. "Obliviate."

THE END ❤️

I hope you like it @kpopgirlbtssvt while you wait for your other stories

#credence barebone x reader #fyp #fanfic #foryou #foryoupage #x reader #smut #credence dumbledore #credence x reader #credence Barebone x Fem reader #credence barebone smut #credence barebone

[dragoneyes618]

Headcanons for the boggarts of the Fantastic Beasts characters

Credence Barebone - Mary Lou Barebone. Yes, even years later, after Paris and Nurmengard.

Chastity Barebone: Mary Lou Barebone

Modesty Barebone - Mary Lou Barebone

Mary Lou Barebone - the stereotypical caricature of a witch

Newt Scamander - The world inside his suitcase destroyed, with all of his creatures dead (I imagine that his worst fear of having to work in an office changed, since his job wandering the wilds and finding different magical creatures is pretty much the opposite of that, and he worries what will happen to his animals if it's decided they're too dangerous and his suitcase is taken away, like at MACUSA that one time).

Leta's was already shown.

Theseus Scamander - Newt dead or injured.

Yusuf Kama - his father telling him that he failed to avenge his mother.

I couldn't think of anything for Tina, Queenie, or Jacob.

#fantastic beasts and where to find them #the crimes of grindelwald #newt scamander #theseus scamander #leta lestrange #credence barebone #aurelius dumbledore #chastity barebone #modesty barebone #mary lou barebone #yusuf kama #fantastic beasts headcanons

[ramblings-of-a-mad-cat]

Your character backstory of Legacy kinda inspired mine.

Asper Willow (my MC) was considered a squib. And he was heavily mistreated by his pureblood family because of it. One day, at age of 15, at a family gathering in July, after a lot of insults and attacks, he snapped, sending a huge table over the wall, breaking it. His family then, after realizing he is indeed a wizard, started to treat him differently, with more respect, except one member: his brother Rumos Willow. After a chaotic adventure before getting to Hogwarts, Asper gets sorted into Slytherin, mainly for his ambition to become the most powerful wizard of all time, as he sees that the more powerful he is, the more people respect him, and no one will look down on him, ever again. Once he finds out he can see and wield Ancient Magic, oh boy, he will do whatever it takes to harness as much of it as he can: lying, manuplating and backstabing whoever he needs to

Yeah, you can see he is a bit messed up. But I plan him to improve throught the story. I also plan on giving other characters more development. Mainly, Isadora is the main villian, not Ranrok. I have a little twist in my sleeve that may have already been used, but yeah, Ranrok is not the main villian. I actually have a touching scene with him and Asper: Ranrok giving the gauntlent we saw him using, and Asper promising he will return it after he dies

*Rubbing my hands together* Oh, I love me a long inbox message. It's like walking through a wonderland. And I'm sorry, did you say I inspired you? Because this is the part where I melt into a puddle, cartoon style. You are so very kind to say so, my dear anon, even if Tumblr has forced you to sign up. Welcome to the Account Plane!

First of all, the name "Asper Willow" is freaking beautiful, it just rolls off the tongue so nicely and gives an edge that I can dig. And I'm already feeling both pity and fear at how powerful he is with no training and the anger that would fuel that power. Come to think of it, if magic builds up over time without being recognized, is it possible that it could grow stronger? Y'know, like aging a Scotch? Is that why The Fifth Year, and other "late bloomers" are in tune with Ancient Magic? Is that why Obscurials like Credence Barebone are so powerful?

I'm already curious about Rumos. I both dislike him...and also strangely respect him? At least he, unlike the rest of the family, isn't disingenuous. At least he didn't change his behavior or his treatment of Asper for no good reason. It's funny, I've been working on siblings for Peri, and I actually did give him one that he still doesn't get along with called Athena. (Goin' for that Greek theme, oh yeah.) And just hearing that Asper will do anything for more power...oh this is so boss and so scary. I suppose I don't need to ask about whether he harnesses the Ancient Magic at the end or not, but now I am curious about whether he stands with Sebastian or betrays him...

Honestly, the more I think about it, and the more of Akemi Stormborn's Let's Play that I watch...the more I think to myself that this was a wasted opportunity. Politics aside, Ranrok's potential aside...he's just pretty boring, at least in how he's presented in the released game, compared to Isidora. She mirrors The Fifth Year in so many ways and her descent into darkness was very well handled. Can I just say that I love that moment you described between Ranrok and Asper. That is exactly what we should have gotten. Imagine MC and Ranrok discovering an artifact together and the player can choose how to react, with there being an option to immediately say, "Who was it's maker? Do they have any living kin?" And Ranrok just. Stops. And stares at them. Like he doesn't dare believe what he's hearing.

Just. The potential of this game was limitless and I will be forever sad at how it fell so short of that. It's still an enchanting adventure, but I can see the truly breathtaking adventure it might have been, hidden between the lines...

#Harry Potter: Hogwarts Legacy #Asper Willow #Ranrok #Hogwarts Legacy OC #HPHL The Fifth Year #Isidora Morganach #Hogwarts Legacy #Harry Potter Headcanons

[preseriesdean]

many days ago i was tagged by the lovely @twochildreninamoteldemo to share the first lines of ten of my most recent fanfics and after overcoming a brief period of imposter’s syndrome i finally got around to it!! thank you josiah for thinking of me 💕

ao3 link ❤️

cabin fever (sam/dean, 500 words, g)

With a low fire crackling in the hearth, the interior of their cabin in the middle of the woods is tinged orange, light flickering across the wood paneling and dozens of picture frames hung along the walls.

across state lines (femsam/dean, 13k, e)

Dean always thought Sam was still too young the first time she asked to join him and Dad on a hunt, still all bony knees and cheeks soft like dough.

a round trip journey in your head (sam/dean, 7k, m)

Imagine this: You’ve been in love with the same person for your whole life, but you haven’t seen them in two years.

coda (credence barebone/percival graves, 10k, m)

Numbing pain spreads through his veins, writhing around tendons and sinews and brittle bones until it’s as if his fingertips are on fire, until every muscle is tense to the point of bursting.

miles to go before i sleep (gravebone, 3k, t)

It’s when darkness descends that he comes.

encore (gravebone, 8k, m) - probably my favorite work

It’s two weeks later that they see each other again.

i did decide to skip my tainted past as a star wars reader insert/ofc writer 😮‍💨 gonna share the first lines (or what are currently the first lines) of my main wips instead, in the hope that it motivates me to open gdocs again. they may or may not see the light of day at some point. 🤔

buried above ground (femsam/dean)

Sweat runs down from Sam’s temple to her chin, leaving behind a streak of clean in the layer of sweat, dirt and grass, residue of the soccer field.

blood drops and cheeto dust (sam/dean)

Sam has heard bones break before, but now, in the crypt-like basement dwelling of the djinn they’ve been tracking for days, the cracks of Dean’s fingers being crushed beneath the djinn’s feet resound across bare concrete walls in a way that Sam feels right in the marrow of his own bones.

not like this (sam/dean)

The air is clean. It’s a wood cabin, paneled orange floor to ceiling, deer heads on the walls, and somewhere in the one bedroom off the hallway a stuffed-full duffle bag sits at the foot of a made bed.

topography of secrets (sam/dean)

“Fucking hate witches,” says Dean, and Sam looks over at his brother, at the dusk-orange tint to his skin, at the disgusted little frown distorting his face, at the rays of the setting sun that breach through the thicket of the treetops making his hair appear light blond. He looks away.

❤️

#s.txt #s.docx

[theaskywalker]

Imagine escaping from Circus Arcanus with Nagini and Credence

Masterlist

#fantastic beasts #fantastic beasts the crimes of grindelwald #fantastic beasts the secrets of dumbledore #credence barebone #nagini #credence barebone x reader #credence barebone imagine #imagines #fantastic beasts imagines #wizarding world #1920s #paris #france #circus #obscurial #snake #shapeshifter

[werezmastarbucks]

black

part one - Golden

part two - Silver

part four - Green

credence barebone x fem!OC

Then he said to me: "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is to love and be loved in return"

warnings: language

word count: 9056

music: awakening the forest by everrune, fireproof by the national, strange birds by birdy, this will make you love again by iamx, the spirit dragon by mordela morana, ocean rose by tim janis

She mostly spent her days crying and nights, hunting. As she watched the baby run around in vivarium, she realized that the better Qilin felt, the less of Credence there was. Still, this was an exchange on a different plane of reality for her. She couldn't imagine betraying this creature, not even for Credence. This didn't mean he didn't matter. Orlaith needed everything to fall right into place.

Since their last meeting two months have flown by, and Dumbledore's promise of changes within a month might have been just a ploy after all. Grindelwald's acolytes didn't have it easy in the woods. They died in such numbers that it was time for the Lord to get concerned, but apparently, he had other business to attend to, and never showed up. Orlaith was ready to fight him, messy or not; the earth was on her side. As May came, the powers returned to the nature, and it woke up. She was teaching animals to fight back. She was training defense spells on whoever she happened to meet at the Forest in the wrong hour. Speaking of criminals, of course.

Orlaith decided, while she was obediently waiting to Dumbledore's attack! to get the matters in order. Especially she wanted to apologize to Matilda something-porne for her unfriendly demeanor.

She's been to the castle more or less reguralry, with all the baby walks, but rarely in the daylight. As the warm May wind dried everything up, and healed some of her soul, the road to Hogwarts also was made better, without deep pools of water and heaps of dirty leaves. One day, as the baby still slept, Orlaith escaped the house and flew for the castle. On a broom; it was finally warm enough. She flew fast, like she used to; watching the glimmering water below her, rippling with the glimpses of sunlight. The castle stood in front of her an unpenetrable mass. She even flew around it a couple of times, feeling the wind in her hair, trying to stop herself from thinking she could pull quidditch. The field stood, undisturbed, with its flags, bannerols and tabards fluttering in the wind. The world was laughing happily, again for the coming summer. The summer that awaited everyone, no matter where. She had no idea that even at Nurmengard, where the severe weather always held, the ice broke off from the rocks, and the winds ceased just a little, letting the warm air gather. Which made the Lord incredibly concerned at last.

She flew through the hallways of the castle like she was a fifth-year student; gathering surprised looks with her bright hair, and the flowers in it, and with her colorful dress. The poor pupils had still to wear the black uniform, and she looked like a ghost in flesh, unhinged. Children were preoccupied with the exams, drawing near, inevitable. That was one of the things she missed about studying.

She actually encountered the Headmaster himself, as he was pondering at the portrait of a naked hag on a broomstick, flying over a village at night. The moon was yellow in that painting, the witch's hair was obsidian black. She smiled coyly at everyone who looked at her.

"Oh, greetings, Peverell".

Orlaith sometimes couldn't express how proud, refreshed and excited it made her feel, when someone called her that.

"I'm thinking about removing Bella from this corridor".

She gave a look to the witch, who waved in return.

"Are the boys getting too agitated?"

"You have no idea. Always sheer commotion at this exact spot", he turned to her, adjusting his little reading glasses and examining her appearance.

"Isn't this whole summer look too immodest for studies?"

"I have graduated, Headmaster. Under Black".

"Headmaster Black. But didn't he make it known on your graduation certificate, that your results were satisfactory at best, and you ought to still catch up even after?"

"My results were excellent, Headmaster", she forced herself not to laugh, "Black just hated me because I didn't call him Headmaster".

"Headmaster Black".

He shook his head, closing his eyes.

"So, are you still studying, or not?"

"Not anymore, Headmaster".

"But I hear you've been practicing in the woods. Again".

His stern stare made her rise on her tiptoes.

"Uh... yes?"

"Without supervision? A witch of your abilities would act unwisely if she elected to train her duelling skills against the actual criminal, pugnacious enemy".

"Would you like to join me, Headmaster? I think I've located a specific hollow where they think it's absolutely comfortable to plot invisibly. Have you got my owl, by the way? Was Professor Dumbledore made aware of Grindelwald's alliance present so near the school?"

Dippet brushed her off.

"No Grindelwald acolytes have been to Hogwarts yet, thanks to you. Why bother anybody else with it?"

She bid goodbye to him, leaving the wizard next to Bella. If he is so sinile now, she thought, what happens in thirty years' time?

She reached North Tower without other adventure and found the rope ladder hanging suggestively. She shoved her head into the class and looked around.

"Professor?" she didn't want to let her know that she didn't remember her last name.

There was shuffling behind the door, then, Matilda showed up, in a purple trapezoid dress with long, light sleeves.

"Hello?"

"Do you remember me? I'm a Peverell you'd been looking for. We met at Hogsmeade and you gave me a prophecy, and I was rude to you".

Her eyes lit up with recognition.

"Ah, yes! Come in".

She climbed up and found herself in the Divinations class. Of course, with every new teacher the interior always changed, but this time, little to nothing seemed different. There were still crystal balls and books neatly placed on the shelves. The flying candles were now without fire, sleeping. Some empty cages were on the tops, aimless. Maybe it was more purple, understandably.

Matilda offered her a coffee, and they sat at the round table in the middle of the room.

"Were you any good at this subject while you studied?" Professor asked curiously as they made it half through their drinks.

"Complicated. I happen to be a kind of a prophet", she confessed, "but in all the wrong places. Very often, when I needed to glance into the crystal ball, I saw instead what I already knew would happen".

Matilda looked at her knowingly.

"Where have you travelled from?"

"Far away", she nodded. She suddenly felt warm, she realized, she'd underestimated this woman. Matilda didn't ask too many questions, but was politely inquisitive.

"Was it in the form of dreams, or visions?"

"Books", she replied. Matilda was impressed, although, Orlaith always felt sad when she needed to talk about it. The sight of an empty house on the autumn street flooded her head every time. The house she'd left, without saying goodbye.

"So, Professor", she decided to lead the conversation away while it was comfortable, "you told me not to prevent the tree from growing. Have you, maybe, got any more insight into that?"

The soothsayer clicked her bracelets on both hands.

"I'm sorry, but no. The initial message, too, was very foggy, uneven. It looked like something that could be changed, or, on the opposite, set in stone".

"Future can't be set in stone", she argued, "I've already changed it".

"Well. Do you want to try for yourself? If we ask the right questions, maybe you'll understand more".

She nodded. They put away the cups: luckily, Matilda didn't suggest reading the future on coffee grains. She draped the windows quickly and moved one of the crystal balls towards them.

"This is the one where I saw it first. I'm sorry, only I can use it".

"That's fine", Orlaith consented. Matilda touched the ball tenderly, like it was a baby calf. Orlaith thought of her own, sleeping at home. She might have already awaken. But she never got scared when she was alone; she just waited for her in the kitchen, where it smelt the best.

"What do you want to ask?" Matilda offered, looking inside. To Orlaith, the ball looked absolutely transparent.

"Don't prevent the tree from growing. What did it mean?"

There was silence as Matilda peered inside.

"A boy. Dark-haired, thin, very pale, he looks lost. He's alone... do you know him?"

"Credence. What about him?"

Matilda shrugged.

"It's just him. I'm sorry. You know the spirits won't just explain everything to you in detail. The veil is heavy, and it's not easy to hear through".

"I understand", she mused. Matilda looked at her with compassion.

"You look like a person who's had a lot of fights to carry these flowers in your hair".

"I'm about to have more".

Something caught Professor's eye as she moved back to the ball.

"Oh. Oh!" she gave Orlaith a look of amazement, "why are you keeping a Qilin at home?"

Ice-cold fear touched the back of her neck.

"What about it?"

"Someone wants to take it".

She all but stumbled down from the rope-ladder. Damn forbidden zone of the castle, she needed to run so much to even get to the territory where she could fly, to say nothing about apparating! Her breath in her throat, Orlaith told herself that prophecies weren't immediate; and that, in fact, of course anybody would want to take Qilin away. If they knew it existed. Newt made sure nobody, but them four, knew about it. Stairs after stairs she flew, knocking off students and rubbing against the corners; finally, she was in the yard.

"Accio broom!" she screamed, and soon, her broomstick was racing to her with pleasant whooshing through the air. Jumping up, she only made it as far as the field outside, and she disapparated immediately. Then, another course of running through Hogsmeade. Nobody could know where it was, no one, if only Aberfort hasn't lost the match. As she reached the house, her chest was stabbing with pain, knees giving in. She turned the key in the lock and threw the door open.

Qilin was lying on the sofa at the back of the kitchen. Upon seeing her, the baby got down and trotted towards her, happy.

She fell on the floor, hugging the creature. She was trembling.

"I love you. I love you so much, baby, you know I love you".

Just to be sure, she checked the second floor and the wardrobe, and used revealing charms. Nothing came of it which was good. The feeling of unease wouldn't let go though. She felt paranoid. She didn't know what, something still hovered above her. She tried to think what Matilda told her, and made no more of it.

The rest of the day she was just cleaning, letting the birds in, to play with the baby, and feeding cats outside. It was a good day, and she dreamed to take the Qilin to the field, but it was impossible. Evening came, and she decided to go at least to vivarium, the one where she had the ocean, to let the baby play in the water. She put on her evening cloak and made it upstairs to pick up the Invisibility Cloak. Qilin looked a bit tired, so, she was in two minds.

Then someone knocked on the door.

That was not normal. Even understanding it was Aberfort, she felt unhappy. What might have happened that he came himself instead of sending an owl?

Orlaith came downstairs with her wand in her hand, just in case. Waited for another knock, but it didn't come.

She walked up to the door and listened. One time. They knocked just once, scaring her.

She said to herself, you. You, Orlaith, are the Cutter, the Witch. Are you going to be afraid of a guest at your door?

She opened it and stepped back to have better swinging ability.

It was Credence.

Something felt heavy and tragic. Against the homely fire and the light of the house, he looked like a ghost. Still the same face, but white, with blacker eyes than ever. Without a smile, it was mocking her. Orlaith thought he really was a ghost, sent by Grindelwald to break her, and it meant that Credence was dead. He looked like he was resurrected with the Stone.

He stepped into the house quietly, closing the door behind him.

"Hello Orlaith", he said gently.

"What are you doing here?"

It was really him, but very, very barely.

She noticed he had his wand out, too. She instinctively stood her back against the set of stairs where, above, in the bedroom, the baby was already lying in her little bed.

He looked up through the ceiling.

"How did you find my house?"

"Just like I penetrated the dome at the pond", he replied, "I seem to sniff you out easily, even when you try to stay hidden".

She swallowed a scream.

"Credence..."

"I know what you have here. I need it".

She put out her hand and stopped him from coming closer.

"You can't have her".

"When Grindelwald found that another Qilin survived, he was very unhappy with me".

There was something very off with the way Credence spoke; maybe it was already difficult for him. Orlaith felt her ugly helplessness in her throat.

"He told me if I don't get this baby, he'll kill me".

She had to bend her arm because he was now standing closer already. She clutched his shoulder.

"I can't", she whispered, "I'm so sorry. I can't let you have her".

Credence lowered his head to meet her eyes.

"You said you wouldn't give up on me".

And nothing more. If he shouted, blamed her, that would be easier. Credence took the first step of the stairs, moving her with his body. Orlaith clutched on the banister, trying to push on his shoulder, but he was surprisingly strong. There was feverish glint in his eyes. He only looked whithered; in reality, although the obscurial already shone through him, in temples, cheekbones and knuckles, Credence stood is ground very firmly.

"You'll need to kill me, my love", she said. Her head was bowed, his breath on her forehead. She tried to push him as hard as she could, but there was no strength in her limbs.

"I will".

She felt his arm going down with his wand, and their fists touched.

"Look at me".

She raised her eyes.

"Trust my rage".

In a moment something struck her. His eyes expressed nothing, could not. She realised, if Credence has discovered her location, Grindelwald must know it, too. His wand crisscrossed with hers, giving it a light shove. Then he jumped back to the door, and they pointed at each other.

A couple of non-verbal spells met in the air, exploding in fiery flashes. She stepped up to have a better aim and shot, trying to get him; but every spell, Credence broke mid-air, sending one in return. Orlaith ducked, allowing an orange curse bash a hole in the wall behind her. Credence stepped closer, and she forced him to retreive, showering him with superficial blinding curses. He ran deeper into the kitchen, and she followed. Wondering what she is supposed to do next. One, two, three, five, ten curses, bouncing off of each other. They fought symmetrically, guessing each other's movements as they went.

"You'll need to kill me", Credence said, standing in the destroyed kitchen, among the shreds of wood.

"No!"

Credence tilted his head like he was annoyed. She recognized the mist appearing around him, and jumped back as he started to turn into a black cloud of shadow and fire.

"No!"

She ran upstairs. Qilin was trembling in her bed, looking up at her for help as she stumbled next to it.

"You'll be alright, baby, you'll be fine".

She could feel the floor vibrating under her feet as the cloud grew. The obscurial moved with a howl that sounded like a thousand tortured voices. All of those voices belonged to Credence.

She reached for the Invisibility Cloak lying on the bed, holding the baby with the other hand. She just managed to grab it with the tips of her fingers when the swirl of chaos crashed the floor and sucked her inside.

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Aberfort ran like he has never run in his life. He ran and ran through the valley, forgetting he could apparate closer to the gates of Hogwarts. He has completely forgotten he was a wizard, for the first time in his life. He was just human now, running through the heavily scented fields of lupins, skimmias and rapseeds; towards the castle that shone brilliantly above the dark sleeping lake. In the middle of May, Hogwarts celebrated almost every day to prepare students to the rough season of exams. By the time Aberfort finally made it to the gates, it was almost midnight; many teachers have already gone to bed, to say nothing about students. He thundered into the hall, then made it towards the stairs. He was looking for his brother.

He was lucky and knew it as Albus usually went to sleep extremely late. At ten minutes past midnight, he was still in his office, not a sign of exhaustion on his face, in his white and silver jacket, writing something at his desk. However, as he heard heavy steps from the outer class, he was ready for the visitor.

If Aberfort was a horse, he'd be covered in foam.

"She's gone", he panted with a wheeze. Albus got up to his feet.

"They're gone. Aurelius... he found them".

They apparated right to the bridge leading into Hogsmeade. It was even faster than taking the secret tunnel into the Honeydukes. As they ran through the streets, Albus held his brother by the forearm, not to let him fall. Finally, the eastern side of the village was less lit than the center. That's why they chose this house for her. From the distance, Albus could already see the shambles of the dwelling, in the place where the house used to be.

"No, it's not supposed to look like that..." he uttered. They approached hurriedly and Albus sent several Lumos light balls to hover above. The breath was caught in his throat. Something wasn't adding up. Someone betrayed them. He turned to his brother, grabbing him by the collars.

"Where's the match, Aberfort?" he shook him well to stop his eyes from rolling around in their sockets.

"It's here!" Aberfort roared. As he reached for his pocket to demonstrate it. "Here!"

"Did you tell him? Through the mirror?"

"No! He doesn't speak to me, almost never!"

He was gasping for air, thinking, intensely. Something wasn't adding up.

He used the revealing charm to try to peek into what happened here, but the house had been protected too well. It meant, Credence managed to get inside even while the dome still stood. How? If even a Dumbledore spell did not let him see what was transpiring here in the last moments before the explosion.

"Go, send an owl to Newt, gather everyone immediately", he said. Aberfort was panting like a dog. He wasn't tired anymore, but tearing apart. Albus barely thought about how he must be feeling, knowing that his son is in the middle of this.

He stood there for a couple of minutes, deliberating. Then he turned and walked back, towards the bridge.

In fifteen minutes' time everybody was gathered at his office. Newt was the most panicked, understandably. His old ticks were coming out as he paced around. Albus wished Theseus supported his brother a little, even just to stop him from being a moving target. Eulalie was intently watching something on his desk, as she always did when thinking. Her lips moved a little as ideas rushed through her brain. Bunty was staring at Albus, completely lost. She also looked like she blamed him. Jacob collapsed into the chair with red draping, gazing in front of himself, mouth slightly agape. Albus wondered if the muggle had lost his mind.

"Alright", he clapped his hands, and Bunty jumped with surprise.

"Let us not deviate from hope".

"How?!" Theseus exclaimed. "We've just lost both our magical creature and our most powerful asset".

Newt sighed like all life left him.

"Bunty, will you please, give Newt a chair", Albus asked softly. She hurriedly took the zoologist by the arm and led him to sit him down next to the desk.

"How could he have done that", Jacob murmured. "I thought he was... on our side".

"He had joined Grindelwald last year", Eulalie reminded.

"He only did that to protect Orlaith", Newt replied slowly. His eyes were teary.

"Here's the thing I don't understand", Albus said. "There are no bodies and no blood".

Aberfort shrugged.

"He obviously turned. He might have just dissolved them both completely. And died, too".

Theseus was rocking in place.

"The question is", Eulalie said suddenly, "what we do right now. Election is in a week". She looked at Albus intently. He nodded.

"We do what we planned. Everything stays the same.

"But we don't have the Qilin", Newt squealed. Finally, Theseus approached him, and patted him on the shoulder, his hand stiff. That was an endearing gesture from him.

"Grindelwald might not know it. If he had sent Credence to pick up the second baby, and Credence died on the spot, he never gets it, either. We go with the suitcases anyway and see what happens".

"That's barely a plan, Dumbledore".

"The plan was not to have a plan at all", Albus retorted.

"And when we're up there?" Theseus asked. "And we don't have the second Qilin to show people that Grindelwald had been lying?"

"We fight. We do our best to shower him and his acolytes, and we move on as we can".

There was a collective sigh.

The room was sad, divided. The candlelight was dying slowly below the ceiling. Something didn't add up.

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The morning of election was cloudy, a bit cold for a June. The clouds swarmed the sky, promising a storm that would rock the land. Cold winds stabbed the earth and the village, and people, dressed too lightly for this uncharacteristic weather, were bundling themselves tighter in their colorful cloaks. In the middle of the square, where the stairs were leading up towards the Election Podium, was much hotter, the wind unnoticed. People hurdled, crowded, pushed and pulled, paced and yelled their happy slogans, chanting, organizing in separate, orange, red and green groups. Then, on the stairs, the wind ferociously attacked again, tearing the hats from the heads, flapping skirts around the legs, slapping magicians on the faces. A butterfly was struggling to fly up. In this howling vortex of cold air, it flapped its wings with fading strength, thrown around by the gusts of it; the desperate attempts almost paid off as it managed to fly up and up slowly, gradually, while there, on the top of the stairs, the dramatic revelation has already begun. Someone managed to catch it carefully in unclosed fist, and put the butterfly just behind the layer of their black and white striped blanket serving as a coat against the wind. Inside, finally in the warmth, the butterfly landed on a wet, little nose and looked around. A strange creature looked at it back and cooed soflty.

Up there, on the wide round place, Albus Dumbledore locked his eyes with Gellert Grindelwald. The green fireworks were exploding in the air, shattering the sky, as Gellert's face was being translated into all the magical sanctuaries where people watched. He was now the new leader of the magical world.

Newt was wriggling in Mr Pewdence's hands, trying to liberate his working hand. He looked at Eulalie quickly, asking, now what? She stood not far from him, equally guarded, but she wouldn't let them grab her shoulders. Jacob laid on the ground, his face white like snow, a thin trickle of blood dripping from his nose.

There was a soft snap characteristic for apparition. A couple of gasps later, people divided, and a figure stepped up from the last higher steps, towards Grindelwald. He was frail, dressed in all black, his hair covering his face almost completely.

He locked eyes with Grindelwald whose nostrils flared from how livid he became.

"So", he said quietly, "you're alive".

Aberfort shook in his place, his feet scratching the stone, but Albus garbbed him.

Credence said nothing but looked at the wizard for a couple of seconds. Then he raised his wand, slowly, and gently moved it in the air. From the tip of the wand, streams of red smoke flew up towards the wizard and formed a huge word, visible enough for the translation, above his head.

L I A R

Gellert dismissed it with an impatient twitch on his hand.

"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.

"He's lying to you!" Newt screamed. "This Qilin is dead! It's been resurrected through necromancy, it's corrupted!"

Rumble moved through the crowd, people swayed like one liquid body.

"Bring him here!" Grindelwald snapped. Newt was dragged in front of him, Dumbledore aware of every movement.

"Credence", he asked, as gently as he could. Credence turned his face towards his uncle, pale, with eyes full of hatred.

"Where's Orlaith?"

The boy smiled but said nothing.

Before getting to the zoologist, Grindelwald moved his attention to Credence again.

"You haven't only failed me, but also betrayed? You, who had been thrown out like garbage, a circus freak. I took you in. I gave you what you desired the most, your history. I gave you your name, Aurelius. I gave you a home. And now you're dying, and looking at me, for what? You dare to raise your eyes at me".

Credence was smiling. Not a single time either Newt, nor Albus has seen him smile. Gellert's spell was so quick that no one was in time to react; even Albus. He's been too preoccupied with the unrealistic oddness of this appearance. Credence himself fended it, with a wide movement, sending the red flash away, above people's heads. Albus noticed something extremely curious, familiar, about this movement, the hand outstretched recklessly. And the wand - he's seen this wand before. He's seen this wand, dragon core, seven inches, extremely stiff, red wood. A smile of disbelief curved his lips as he raised his own wand to protect.

"Where's the second Qilin?" he yelled, in the high, shrill voice, to raise the wave in the crowd. He stood a little behind Aberfort, who stared at him curiously.

"Show us the second one!"

"Yeah! Show us the second one!" someone picked up. Several voices demanded the same. Grindelwald smiled like a knife.

"There is no second Qilin. You see the only one, the real one, in front of you. All this", he motioned towards Scamander, kneeled before him, "is just a distraction".

Credence sat on the steps, supporting himself with one hand.

"Excuse me! Goddammit! Will you- hey, thank you!" there was another high-pitched voice, as if from someone very small - a child, or a female house elf. Crowd grumbled, preoccupied, and people were finally making a narrow corridor, to let them through. Another person, covered in a striped back and white blanket, was stumbling upwards on the stairs.

"Oh, the-" Orlaith's hand caught herself on the steps, "these stairs, fuck", she mumbled under her breath, her voice unusually high with exhaustion. From the blanket, a butterly flew out and disappeared in the milky sky.

"Are there... two hundred thousand of them, or something?"

"What is this?" thundered Grindelwald. He was losing patience. She threw the blanket off her shoulders. Orlaith held the Qilin baby in her hands, snuggled against her chest. She was wearing a black shirt, not unlike Credence's, and dark trousers. In all black, which Dumbledore hasn't seen her quite often, she looked ever more menacing. Her long ginger hair flew in the furious wind, like golden Celtic song. She stood straight for a second, but then bent forward, putting her free hand to her knees, panting from the running. Credence watched her attentively. She waved her hand, motioning them to wait.

"These fucking stairs!" she yelled in thin voice, but it cracked. She's never cursed that much, in front of people.

"This is precarious", Grindelwald said with finality. "This is a ploy".

Orlaith let the Qilin jump off her arms, and it trotted joyfully around, paying little to no attention to the chosen leader. It ran around in circles, enjoying the weather, as Newt looked at her with tears in her eyes. Albus, without breaking the gaze from Grindelwald, walked up to Orlaith and helped her to get up. She jerked, suddenly, as if she didn't expect his help.

"How are you holding up?" he whispered. Her gaze was stern as she only allowed him to take her by the shoulder and raise to her feet. She immediately stepped away, closer to Credence. He met her halfway.

Qilin, meanwhile, was making her way through the crowd, towards Santos. The noble witch kneeled before the animal, bowing her head low. People started forming a circle around Grindelwald as his face hardened. He saw that the Qilin had chosen, and his own, barely alive, infernally blue, was now wandering aimlessly at the edge of the platform, unused. He opened his mouth to say something poisonous at the wands ponting at him, but was interrupted.

"Ow! Ah!" Credence talked for the first time. His face was bubbling and he grabbed on it, searching support in Orlaith. She, too, was shaking, grimacing. In front of the amazed crowd, the two seemingly changed places, and Orlaith was now holding onto Credence, and Credence stood where she had stood before. He was the one who had saved the butterfly.

"Ha! The most amazing thing I'd seen in a long time!" Albus laughed. He was so relieved. Meanwhile, Gellert finally recognized the girl.

"You. I knew the chains had meant something".

"Oh", she grimaced, "shut up!"

There was a swirl of spells. Green, blue, orange flashes flew towards Gellert, and he fended them all. Orlaith pulled Credence a little at the side, seeing that he was on his last leg. He was very pale, although visibly holding on. She searched for Aberfot with her eyes. He was making his way to them, but with the pushing crowd, it wasn't easy. She noticed Credence was, although he stood on one knee, looking closely at Albus.

There was a pause in the shootout, as Gellert tried to voice towards the wizards. Albus was impatient, clutching his wand, but he could only fight the servants, not the lord. The chain was choking him.

"You know, I wish I had broken your chains", Credence muttered. Orlaith followed his gaze.

"Accio!" he screamed, in the last burst of energy. Everything seemed to slow down. She felt that, together, they were something more. In between the moving bodies, preparing to attack Grindelwald again, she could see the long silver chain with the blood-red-hearted vile sprung in the air. Dumbledore was pulled along with it, barely keeping himself on his feet. She aimed as well as she could, which was relatively new to her; she just usually shot in wide bursts, hoping to shatter as much as possible.

"Reducto".

Golden lightning flashed out of her wand for she was the Golden Witch. Credence felt her shining next to him, keeping him warm, as he let her lean on his shoulder for support. The spell, released by her, wasn't just a breaking curse. It was her ancient magic that made it incredibly strong. It was so strong that it could destroy the heartbreak, the betrayal, the sorrow. It crashed into the vile, and the little glass bottle exploded in the air.

Dumbledore was free.

Aberfort finally grabbed Credence and carried him ten steps away, holding him in his arms. Their fingers unclutched, and Orlaith moved her wand towards the dark wizard. Dumbledore's blue, and her golden curses flew towards him, as he twisted as best as he could to avoid being hit, dancing like a fencer. She saw some familiar faces, the faces that visited Hogwarts, fall, and stepped closer. Credence's shirt was far too big for her, so, she rolled her sleeves very quickly. That second she spent on it cost her a would on her neck, burning like hell. She rubbed the spot and focused again. Let the surge of magic of the earth itself thunder down on him. She put her wand up, and people stepped back, watching. Gellert locked eyes with her. She threw her hand down, and the pillar or purple fire engulfed him.

"Dumbledore!" she screamed, holding the trap. He wasn't easy to keep, actually. She could feel his pushback, and was horrified. Albus shot through the purple, curse after curse, and soon, the others joined. The howling mass of the pillar held Grindelwald as he was forced to his knees inside. He managed to break the curse with Protego Diabolica, from the third try, no less; by this moment Orlaith had redefined all she knew about her skills. She had never, she realized, met a wizard of such power, and her careless, insinctive use of ancient magic was only good with crooks. Otherwise, focus just wasn't enough to defeat someone so masterful. But the ring of fire grew, fighting the blue flames. She was getting exhausted quickly, feeling the supportive curses around, but the magic drained her for energy. Blue dragon was growing, consuming the purple fire, and her anger was the last thing that still held up. She thought of Credence. Credence, the boy she refused to let go of, dying ten steps away from her. Someone who never knew love and yet, sacrificed his little freedom for her, twice. His sculpted pale face with heavy, dark, intelligent eyes. The way he made her feel as his hand touched her neck softly, almost with fright. She screamed and pushed, she didn't even put any words to the blow. She just pushed Grindelwald as hard as she could, like a child would push another child on the playground. He flew up, picked up by the purple flash, and was thrown off the edge.

Suddenly, it was all quiet. People rushed towards the end of the platform to see, but he was gone. Maybe disintegrated in the fire, or maybe, disapparated in the air.

She bent and held onto her knees, like Credence, while he was parodying her. All was quiet for some time. Someone was scratching their head. Orlaith panted, looked up at the stormy skies, felt the June cold on her face.

"Alright, you were right. And Black was right, I need to learn more", she admitted to approaching Albus. He smiled like she knew he would always smile at children he protected.

"That was quite a spectacle".

"Is he gone?"

"Gone, yes, dead - unlikely".

He patted her on the shoulder lightly. His hand was scarred from the chain.

"Thank you for that, by the way. That was the most exquisit job from you two".

She turned around to look for Credence.

"They had disapparated. To Hogsmeade, I presume".

People were slowly gathering around her, dozens of curious eyes, which she didn't like. She realized the translation into sanctuaries and places of viewership was still happening.

"Can I... also go, please?" she asked, huddling closer to Professor. He embraced her by the shoulder, and she clutched on Newt, too, to shield herself. They both held her.

"Yes, let's go. And you'll need to tell me where the hell you have been".

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A week ago, Credence landed himself, and Orlaith, with the Qilin, on top of the Astronomy Tower where she guided him. He swayed and fell on one knee because his head spun for a second. Orlaith collapsed, too, but managed to keep the baby in her outstretched arms. She quickly stood up and unfolded the Cloak.

"Are you alright? Credence?"

He took her hand and pulled himself up.

"Yes".

He was not. All his body was being bitten off by frost from his bones. The monster inside of him was raging, knapping. He couldn't lift his right arm. He let the night air soothe him a little, and then Orlaith threw the mantle over him. She stepped so close that he could see every freckle on her nose.

"What's that?"

"A family heirloom. You remember when Grindelwald - Graves - gave you that necklace? Doesn't matter. It's the Cloak of Invisibility".

He didn't ask where they were going, just looked around. He had to hold her around her waist not to let the Cloak slip off of his head. He found it uncomfortable and inappropriately fantastic. He couldn't even think while she was in his arms. In fact, the pain ceased just a little, and it became easier to breathe. He was staring around curiously as they sneaked down the winding stairs.

"Oh, so good it's the nighttime" she whispered, tickling his face with her hair. "No students".

He obeyed her motions, stopping when she stopped, and whispering to the baby when it made noises. Slowly, because they were both adults, and with a baby dragon deer, while the Cloak was designed for only one person - made their way to the lower level. Suddenly, Credence heard conversation. They stepped to the wall, the Qilin between them, two of their palms covering its mouth carefully and gently.

Two students in green ties were treading down the hallway. They stood still while the two boys passed, and then, after a while, Orlaith grumbled,

"Of course it's Slytherin".

And pulled him further.

Finally, they were standing in front of an empty, flat wall. She took the Cloak off and rolled in under her arm.

"What is it?" he asked.

She couldn't hide how excited she was all of a sudden.

"This, Credence, is the Room of Requirement. One of the most tremendous places in Hogwarts. Take my hand".

He complied happily. A rare bird, ghostly bird of freedom was flapping its wings in his chest. Excitement for magic, something unfamiliar to him before, contageously, travelled to him from her. For a moment, he wasn't aching, or tired, or on the run. He was just a boy, looking impatiently, in wonder, at the wall which was changing, transforming, into a door.

She pushed the door, and they entered a huge, light, spacious room with thick red carpet on the floor, with high, tall windows in the ceiling, through which the impossible daylight was flowing; the walls were covered in portraits of witches and banners of birds, and animals, and statues of incredible beasts were in every corner. It was warm here, safe, quiet. Something bubbled peacefully on the intricatly ornamented purple potion desk at the wall; it was an amazing place. In front of him, across the room, there was what looked like a greenhouse entrance, which glowed with white light. As Orlaith let the Qilin go, the baby immediately raced towards the entrance and, in the soft pearl glow, she disappeared inside.

"We're safe here. Not even Grindelwald can find us here, the Room is hidden deep inside the castle, and no one can acess it, who hadn't been inside before".

There were steps leading up onto a little balcony. On either side of it, on the platform, were doors. The left one had the same ethereal glow, but it was somehow bluer. On the other side, the door was most usual, but with a sign of a fairy on it.

"You can stay here. Hey, I'll go pick up dinner".

He drew a breath, still looking around.

"Is this all yours?"

"Well, the Room provides me with what I need. But I designed some of it", she nodded towards potion tabel and two botanic desks with some sort of yellow flowers growing.

"Can I... can I sit?" Credence motioned towards a big, dark-red armchair standing next to a bookcase.

"Of course. Of course, hey, do what you want here. This is going to be our home for the next week, I suppose. Are you hungry?"

He wasn't hungry, he was awashed with the feeling he couldn't put to words. Most likely it was savage, reckless hope. As Orlaith disappeared under the Cloak and left the room, he changed his mind against the armchair. He wanted to see what the gates were, and followed the Qilin.

When Orlaith returned, she found Credence in the vivarium, watching the baby play. She brought her dinner, too, and the beast started stuffing her face. She was growing, and ate all the time now. Orlaith munched on banana bread and had left some food for him in the room. She pulled on his hand, breaking his sunbathing in the field.

"Leave her be", she panted, with a smile, "I want to show you the ocean".

They left the first vivarium and took the stairs onto the balcony. Credence awed at how many books there were here. They entered the second glowing gate, and at first, he thought, he had another episode for there was noise in his head. Blinking in the white sunlight, he realized that it was the noise of the ocean. Grumbling pleasantly, licking on the sharp grey rocks, it was reaching its waves towards him. Orlaith was already running towards the water while he stood, and watched her. She threw herself in the water in her clothes like she was suffocating without it.

The sun did not recognize his white, paperthin skin. He felt out of place here, a black ink spot on this harmonious beach. But he walked on, he removed his shoes and felt the sand under his feet, and then walked into the water to make sure it felt real. It was amazing how he had been kept in a dark tower in the land of eternal winter, where iron bit him, and only ravens circled above the chasm below his windows, and suddenly he was saved. He was utterly saved, he was happy, his shoulders bending forwards, as his knees caved in. He sat in the sand and was silent, tasting the salt of the ocean. Orlaith joined him soon, water dripping from her.

"It looks and feels absolutely real, doesn't it?"

He asked himself if it has all been a dream.

"Does anybody leave here? Any animals?" he wondered.

"Only fish and very small crustaceans. And there, in the field, tiny beetles". She smiled. Her eyes were concerned, palpating his face. She gathered her hair into a bun. Credence looked at her neck and the sunbeams from her earrings on her skin.

She laid her head onto his shoulder, and they watched the waves until the sun started to roll across the water. The ocean was quietening, stepping back lightly, the shining changing from white to gold.

Several days have passed, and each day he was coming to the beach. There were cracks on his arms that wouldn't heal, the general weakness which he felt every day right in the morning. He knew what it meant, the boneache and the black visible through his skin. His body was only going to hold on long enough to go through with the plan which they now could finally discuss in detail.

In the bedroom, behind the door with the fairy sign, Orlaith slept in the bed to the left, with the baby curled at her side; and Credence slept in the right. In the evenings, days and mornings, they discussed what they would do. He watched Orlaith cutting the yellow and red flowers off the bushes with thin silver scissors; they dined in the next room where the narrow corridor led. In the oval shaped hall, the knight armour was displayed at the wall, and the banners: red, green, yellow, and blue. She explained that those were the four houses of Hogwarts, but Credence had already known about it. Grindelwald had told him a lot about Hogwarts, the place that Dumbledore had chosen over him. Still, he liked to listen to her as she spoke of Gryffindor. Most of the things in her Room were noble wine-red and orange, in the colors of her house. She said he would make the first Dumbledore who's destined for Slytherin. He asked why. She smiled like it was obvious. Your bravery is quiet, she said, and you're dark. You were right about it, you are dark, but your darkness is the darkness of the room where treasures are hidden. And you're smart, since you're reading my thoughts. In your pursuit of your name you almost turned over the mountains, and nothing could stop you. That makes you a Slytherin, the quiet menace, the undiscovered hero.

"And you're so dark-haired, you look like one", she shrugged. Credence found this playful categorisation entertaining.

"And what exactly makes you a Gryffindor?" he asked.

"Well, I'm super powerful".

He snorted right in his tea and apologized. Her smile turned into a laugh.

"You have- do you have any ancient magic by any chance?" he asked. "I don't think you've ever mentioned".

"That's what makes me a Gryffindor", she nodded, still laughing. "Dumbledore constantly tells me I'm too self-reliant and reckless. But it's really hard not to be, whent he earth itself helps you. Also, I'm a Peverell. All Peverells historically are Gryffindors, and they descend from the Gryffindor himself".

"The founder?"

"Uh-huh".

"But did you ever find who you were?" he remembered suddenly. He saw this question ruined her mood in an instance. She gave him an uneasy, doubtful glance. He got frightened.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

Instead, she moved closer to him as if she wanted protection.

"I never did, no. I'm occupying the name, the body of an Orlaith Peverell who lived in the sixteenth century. She was, it seems, a lot like me, so I guess, I grew into the persona. But..."

She looked at Credence with trusting eyes.

"I have come into this world after I died. But I was born elsewhere". She put her palms up on the table and observed them. Credence, out of habit, dared to touch them, and she didn't pull away.

"I was born in the world with no magic, no magic at all. Just the planet full of... muggles".

She said the last word almost with disgust.

"I don't remember what it is".

"A no-maj. As a child, I used to read books about magic, but it was so painfully unreal. I grew up with these stories about this magical child who defeated the dark wizard. He was born just like me, thinking he was usual, and then found that he was a powerful warlock. That was the most amazing thing that happened to me. As I was growing up, I got so hung on these stories, that I spent all my time in the countryside, in the woods, looking for the special door leading to the world of magic. And I couldn't find it". She was grim as she spoke, as if she was old. What if she was old?

"Then I became an adult and realized it had all been just a story. Just a product of imagination of a writer. In our world, Credence, we didn't have dragons, and broomsticks, and prophecies, no purple enchantments, no elves, no wizarding schools. Just.... work, buses, taxes, relationships. You get up every day and go to work, and then come back and watch TV... and then go to sleep at night and listen to the traffic".

Credence thought of this world as almost amazing. If he had been born to a place where magic didn't exist, perhaprs he wouldn't have been abandoned. He wouldn't have turned out like he did, he would be normal.

"So... that's how you know the future? You read about... us... in the books?"

"Yes. But everything is differen already. Because I didn't use to be in them".

He thought of the concept.

"The worst thing is that I started a family there".

He was taken aback.

"You... had a husband?"

Something like a thorn stung him in the stomach, phantom. Not the obscurial. Other type of pain.

"Yes. But the thing is, that life almost seems like a dream to me now. I forgot my name, or his, and I barely remember anymore... I think, with time, I'll start thinking that that muggle world was no more than a bad dream. A dream".

She looked at him.

"What if it was?" He mused, "just a long dream?"

She shrugged.

"Maybe. The view of the house doesn't seem to leave me. It was autumn, I died in September. I know I left them behind, and I feel... so awful".

He was shaken to his core. He wasn't sure even Grindelwald heard about things like that. There had to be some meaning to her having ancient magic now. She didn't look like a muggle at all, not even in her previous life. He witnessed her lower her shoulders.

"I'm sorry".

"I would not go back", she said quietly, "even if the hellhounds dragged me by my ankles".

They let the thought soar onto the soft carpet.

"Well", she let her hand snake onto his chest and felt for his watch in the pocket. Credence was still getting used to that. He would stay in place, not a muscle move in his body, in concern that she could be scared off. All the while sweat breaking onto his neck from expecting a blow.

"It's late, and tomorrow's the Day", she clicked the watch closed and gave it back to him, "I'll go wash in the river". He nodded, strange feeling of readiness in him. He knew this could be very well the last evening of his life.

Orlaith was thinking about the next morning. They had already decided how they would apparate, how they could avoid being tracked while travelling. And what they would do. Late evening light in her impeccably realistic vivarium made the air relatively cold for the skin straight out of the river. As she walked out onto the grass and picked up he robe, she saw Credence at the gate. She jumped, putting the robe around herself quicky. She called his name, and he started moving. Something eerie was in the way he walked, without the usual stoop, planting his feet firmly into the ground. Unpleasant paranoic feeling crawled onto her skin as she found the baby with her eyes, grazing hundred steps away. She didn't have her wand, she wouldn't think of it. She trusted Credence completely, she knew him. As they approached each other, she decided there was something different. His face was ready and meaningful. He towered over her.

"I was in the river, Credence", she reproached him. He didn't stoop his eyes like he always did, but on the opposite, made them travel onto her neck and then back to her face.

"You need to be ready for tomorrow".

"I am".

"You need to be ready for my death".

He caught her hands which flew to his head.

"Credence, I told you-"

"I know, I know. You won't accept it, and you need me to fight".

In the silence between them his white hand let go of hers, and she touched the side of his face.

"But no matter how long I'm fighting, the obscurial is eating me. And I'm quite tired of fighting it".

Orlaith didn't know what to say. She was childishly opposed. She wanted to shake her head and stomp her foot. He held her wrist so softly, like she was an artifact.

"I want you to know something", he added. Taking her hand, he opened her palm.

"The elf wouldn't think of bringing you the ointment. I made it myself, for burns, from the slug-dragons we used to have at the circus. I sent it with him because I had been listening to your conversations with Skender".

Her throat was caught in a spasm.

"You took care of me".

He kissed her palm like he did before. He kept it to his face as if he was trying to hide. He used to have nothing, he thought. And now he knew who he was, and he had love. He had felt love, he had felt loved. And he was happy.

As his name left her lips again, he touched her neck, traced the invisible line to her shoulder, and back. They kissed, his darkness dissipating a little, with the warm summer fog. The powerful feeling of hope left him through the pores in his skin, for he didn't need hope anymore.

The light was leaving the sky. The need shoved them close to each other, and they held on, watching each others' eyes in the twilight. Now Orlaith didn't know what to say because she had said it many times. She needed him. She wouldn't let him go. She was stubborn, and selfish, and he just watched as she clung on his cooling hand.

"We go tomorrow", he said finally. "Don't be upset".

"I'm not upset", she argued. "Are you upset?"

"No".

The play of words made him smile a little.

"I was thinking. Do you have a Change-Up potion?"

Orlaith frowned.

"What's a Change-up potion?" there was again a spark of fun in her eyes. Maybe he made her drunk a little.

"It's the potion which makes you look like the other person".

"Aaahh. The Polyjuice potion".

"The Poly... juice", he chuckled, kissing her face.

"I don't. You know it takes a month to preapre it, right?"

She thought.

"But I can steal it from Sharp. He must have some in the Potions class".

"Do you need help?"

She looked sheepish but in the end, managed to get it together.

"No, you better stay here. Grindelwald must be looking for you. I'll be quick".

He let her hand slide off his shoulder, and traced her arm with his fingers. What if in a dream, he thought, watching her leave the vivarium, they were both very boring, non-magical? And there would be a lifetime of this, of him being able to hold her like that?

She shoved her head back suddenly.

"Oi! Why do we need Polyjuice potion again?"

"Well, to confuse everybody even further".

"But we'll need to be silent, because voices don't change".

"I know".

"And you'll need to act like me, you know?"

"So, a lot of cursing?"

She nodded energetically,

"A lot!"

#ezra miller imagine #credence barebone #credence barebone imagine #hogwarts legacy #fantastic beasts #fantastic beasts imagine #albus dumbledore #grindelwald #newt scamander

[witchesnevercry]

@obscurebelief​ liked for a starter set during Secrets of Dumbledore

When Professor Dumbledore interrupted Charms class with a request for her to be excused for the remainder of the afternoon, Modesty could never have anticipated being brought to Berlin. If it were any other scenario, she may have found herself enamored by her new surroundings and the excitement of travel but if his words were to be trusted... today was the day she had been wanting for years.

Would Credence even want to see her? It’d been years since their time in New York and even if she still considered him her brother, what if he was still mad at her? She’d be terrified the night the obscurus killed Mary Lou and Chastity, when that scary man with the awful thoughts approached her. But all the girl could focus on 

There were many ways Modesty Barebone had imagined her reunion with her brother. Throwing herself to the ground to avoid debris from a blasting spell aimed at Professor Dumbledore was not one of them. The young witch fumbled for her own wand, not bothering to worry about the consequences of underaged magic, and forced herself onto her feet, trying to find Credence in the dust and smoke before he struck again.

“C-Credence?” 

#obscurebelief #v; witches never cry #sod spoilers

[whoiscredencept2]

Raven had been silently observing the young man for quite a while, a thousand questions storming in his mind, more and more abstract and confused.

Motionless as a statue, he was barely even blinking. Or breathing.

Credence Barebone. Thin, pale, looking feeble and timid. He indeed looked like someone who would feel out of place in every single corner of the world.

Nevertheless, undoubtedly handsome, Raven thought.

Rumor was he blew up half New York and they had to obliviate the whole city.

Too hard to resist. Raven had seen too much, experienced too much: everything was already too… conventional.

But this… this was something else entirely. He had to know more. See for himself.

He took one step forward.

Aesthetics was calling out for him. Prudence was holding him back.

Hard to imagine that in the body of this attractive young man lived such a destructive energy.

"So… you are the one who caused all this fuss.

"The oldest Obscurial ever lived. Wow." Raven finally said out loud in a theatrical tone, approaching the young man.

"It surely must be nice being you." A reckless provocation. Probably too careless indeed.

Hiding and blending into a Circus was never going to keep him hidden forever, this much Credence knew. There was just hope he wouldn’t have been discovered so soon. Credence didn’t recall seeing this face before but the way this other talked, he knew who Credence was. Caution began to crawl under his skin as the other was nearing. He wasn’t the boy who attempted to control himself anymore. He couldn’t be with this new life.

Jaws tightened at the remark. Then again, it would be a bit hypocritical to say he hasn’t looked and wished to be someone in the upper class, living peacefully without a worry in the world. “What do you want?” The question is expressionless while his eyes are sharpened out of the idea of the Wizards from New York still after him. They did try to kill him before and with the piled-on mayhem, there was not a doubt they’d still want to bring him to ‘justice’.

#the-raven-dhampir #((-sweats-)) #((I hope this is alright!)) #((Sorry it took so long))

[gellertsbumblebee]

Grindeldore growing old together... Imagine Albus and Gell as Grandparents, their child, Destiny Grindelwald, married Credence Barebone, then became pregnant, told them, they got excited, all 3 were in the delivery room when Destiny gave birth, Credence was holding her hand, Albus was giving her calming visuals and Gell let his Qilin comfort her, the little sweetie nuzzled her throghout the process. Destiny gave birth to their first Grandchild, a son she and Credence named Riku...Albus is showing immense pride in her while Gell is overjoyed about becoming a Grandfather, the two babysit Riku so Destiny and Credence can go out on dates.

Albus and Gell are both thrilled their little witch, Destiny, has gotten engaged, both give her away to Credence at her wedding.A few months later, she and Credence visit and are taking a picture with them, Albus notices her belly is slightly bumping, the camera takes photos automatically, on 3, just before the picture is taken, Destiny says "Mama Albus, Papa Gellert, I'm pregnant!" Albus shrieks in joy, while Gell jumps and down excitedly! 9 months later, Destiny has gone into labour, Credence notifies them, Albus and Gell rush to St. Mungo's to be by their daughter's side! As she labours, Credence dutifully holds her hand, with Albus giving her calming visuals, Gell lets his Qilin hop on Destiny's bed, the sweet creature nuzzles her to comfort her. Her non active Labour lasts 45 hours, with her Active Labour lasting 2 hours, after many screams of pain and the men chanting "Push, push, push," little Riku Barebone is born and lets out a healthy cry, Credence cuts his cord, after Riku is cleaned and swathed, Destiny is the first to hold him! Reactions? Credence:Way to go, honey, you did it! Gellert:I'm so overjoyed, I'm a Grandfather!! Albus:I am so proud of you sweetie, you did so well! Destiny:He's so cute! A few weeks later, Albus and Gellert are babysitting their new grandson while Destiny and Credence are on a date.

#Grindeldore as Grandparents #otp prompts

[thatsecondsalemboy]

@witchesnevercry​ | continued

It wasn’t easy, being a child in the Second Salem church, Credence knew that all too well. Life under Mary Lou Barebone was all he had ever known, a life filled with fear and pain and hiding himself away in the hopes that he might be able to escape her wrath for a little longer. He’d often spent hours daydreaming of what it might be like to have a proper family, that his real mother might some day walk in and whisk him away from all of this into a better life.

That dream had died slowly the older he got, as he realised no one was ever coming.

Modesty though, Modesty remembered her family, remembered her ma and pa and brothers and sisters, and he could only imagine how hard that must have been, to leave her family and to come and live here instead. Mary Lou Barebone was a terribly strict woman, and her tolerance for most things was extremely limited.

“It’s okay,” he murmured softly, making sure Ma wasn’t anywhere nearby before kneeling down in front of the little girl and tugging out a handkerchief from his pocket. It was a little crumpled, but it was clean, and he dabbed gently at her cheek, wiping away some of the tear tracks.

“I won’t tell her, I promise. It’s okay.”

#witchesnevercry #v: that second salem boy