El Austen

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[ellaustenn]

Rowan

Paring: None

Word Count: 1381

Prompt: None

Author’s note: Attention: do NOT read this if you haven’t played chapter 18 and the beginning of 19 of Hogwarts Mystery yet. I’m also using my Mc’s name -- El.

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I open my eyes and for a few seconds I forget where I am. I don’t know who I am, nor do I remember my name. I recognize that I’m sodden, immersed in a sweat puddle; I start to tremble, but not because of the cold.

Like lightning, images of a dark and cold forest materialize before my eyes and then fade away. Are they memories of a distant day - or was it yesterday?

Disturbing sounds from everywhere, hooded figures ready to attack, the smell of fear of three young students. The spells that are cast are useless, too weak to counteract that dark oppressive force.

A lioness appears out of nowhere. It is light and silent, powerful, silver-colored. It sends the Dementors away and let the three students breathe a sigh of relief. Relief that doesn't last long though, because when the Patronus disappears, Rakepick makes her entrance with a grin.

My eyes fill with tears, but my brain still refuses to remember the most painful part of those memories.

The images follow one another again and again, faster and faster: Merula attacking Rakepick, Merula who ends up on the ground and swears revenge, my confusion.

I see Rakepick grinning one last time before attacking me. I see myself parrying the first spell, but I still end up on the ground. The second one is too fast and I don't have time to defend myself: I fall to the ground again. I see Ben responding to the fire, dueling with agility against the woman who once was our teacher. Ben is pushed to the ground a couple of times, but with courage and pride he gets up and starts casting spells.

Two words leave Patricia Rakepick's lips. Two cruel, cold, deadly words. I understand what is about to happen and that I, still on the ground, will not have time to save him.

Now I remember who I am and where I am.

There's no use in squeezing my eyes tightly, because that terrifying image materializes in my mind with arrogance. I see my best friend pushing Ben away from the trajectory of Rakepick's spell, a flash of green light that hits her chest and her lifeless body that crashes to the ground

"ROWAN" I scream, wiggling in the infirmary bed.

I realize that I was tied to the bed. Invisible straps cut my wrists and ankles, dig deep with my every movement. I open my eyes and see the blood coming out of the wounds and I look forward to a pain that, unfortunately, does not come.

Right now, what hurts most is knowing that my best friend is gone. Knowing that she won't come through the infirmary door with a worried and angry look at the same time, ready to take care of me and lecture me about getting into trouble once again. Knowing that the nights spent hearing her talk about Bill Weasley are long gone. Knowing that the sound of her laughter and her voice will become more difficult to remember during the years.

"ROWAN" I scream again.

I hear footsteps in the distance and for a moment I seem to hear it: "El, I'm here"

"Rowan?" I call her.

But when the tent is moved, the person standing in front of me is not Rowan.

My world starts spinning, making me sick. I cry so much that my lungs seem to be on fire, the mind becomes blurred and black dots - that are getting bigger and bigger - make their way into my field of vision.

When I open my eyes again, I realize that something has changed. I feel absolutely nothing: I am empty. I find that I am no longer tied to the bed, so I sit and listen to my surroundings. A tray of food was left on my bedside table - scrambled eggs, a slice of toast with butter, two scorched sausages and a glass of what I think is orange juice; leave it there, untouched.

Madam Pomfrey walks over to my bed and glances at the tray, but makes no fuss about it. She extends an old dressing gown and tells me to wear it, then brings up a pair of slippers and tells me that she will accompany me to the Great Hall, where everyone is waiting for the headmaster.

Without saying a word, and with apparent calm, I follow her through the corridors of the castle. The Great Hall is gray, gloomy, has lost its usual splendor. Black curtains with a big "H" hang from the ceiling, the long tables of the four houses are gone. It’s crowded, in the background a continuous whispering.

I walk through the Great Hall slowly, keeping my gaze fixed on the chair that Dumbledore always occupies. The students I find on my way move, letting me pass; some condolences me, others slowly shake their head.

I reach Ben and Merula, but I avoid looking them in the eyes. If I did, I would most likely experience another hysterical crisis and I don't want to be tied back to the infirmary bed. I decide to look around, noticing the rest of my friends only at that moment. They all have their eyes lost in emptiness and also red from crying. Penny can't contain herself and starts sobbing, but she does it silently.

"It doesn't seem real... The idea that Rowan is gone..."

Was this my voice? Or was it someone else who spoke?

"Gone forever." Ben concludes, heartbroken.

Tulip approaches me, Ben and Merula. "It only just happened. You're in shock. We all are."

"It's different for us. We watched it happen." Merula replies, and in the tone of her voice I can make out a touch of anger.

How to blame her? There were three of us, overwhelmed by Rakepick, and none of us did anything to save Rowan's life. I wonder how she managed to find us in the forest, I wonder why she was there and not safe within the walls of Hogwarts. I feel anger rise inside me: You had to stay in the castle, Rowan! You would still be alive! Safe and sound!

It's my fault. It has always been my fault. Since the first day I set foot in this school, I have done nothing but get into trouble, dragging my friends with me. Me and my crazy idea of ​​being able to save my brother, my stupid pride who thinks it’s invincible when it comes to Rakepick and R.

I had to die, I think. Not Rowan. She should have had a long life, she should have become the youngest teacher Hogwarts had ever had.

Without ceasing to sob, Penny joins the discussion. "El... I think I may know why Rowan was in the forest last night..."

She doesn’t even have time to finish the sentence that silence falls in the Great Hall. Dumbledore moves among the students with his eyes fixed before him. He reaches the golden lectern and begins to make a funeral eulogy for Rowan. An unimaginable loss, a devoted and courageous friend and student. I stop listening, because a lump has formed in my throat and my mind is ordering me to scream.

"But remember that if we let Rowan's noble goal to be a guiding light in these dark time..." Dumbledore says, stopping just a second to take his wand. Once held in hand, he point it upward and continues. "Then just like light... The memory of Rowan Khanna - a clever, brave, driven and loyal companion - will shine on."

The tip of his wand glows with a pale but powerful light. Behind him, the rest of the teachers copy his movements and, shortly thereafter, I feel that the students are doing the same behind me. I, on the other hand, am stuck: I can't move a muscle.

At some point, I feel someone next to me taking me by the hand. I turn and, frowning, I see that there is no one there. I look at my hand and begin to tremble. I grit my teeth, wipe my tears angrily and pull out my wand. And as I point it upward, following the example of the others, I swear revenge: "I will kill Rakepick."

[ellaustenn]

Choose me

Paring: Draco x Reader

Word Count: 1247

Prompt:  "Well. Yell, scream, say something. Anything" (#5) and “Choose me” (#22) from this list.

Author’s note: None

Y/N: Your name

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The corridor you were walking through was silent and seemingly deserted. At every turn, you pushed yourself against the cold wall, being alert of the slightest noise, and holding the wand close and ready.

Your job was to make sure that every underage wizards and witches had make it in time to run out of the castle, using the secret passage that lead to the Hog's Head Inn. Kingsley, before sending you into the bowels of Hogwarts, had made you promise that if you found yourself in front of a Death Eaters, you would not hesitate. 

Stupeficium is going to be just fine, you thought, looking around to see if there was someone who needed help.

Suddenly, footsteps could be heard.

Standing still, with every muscle feeling like it was completely frozen, you felt like your heart was about to come out of the chest. There was no place to hide, not even a part of a wall to use as a shield.

You hadn't time to reflect. The person, who was running towards you, didn't notice you and crashed into you. Prepering to hit the hard floor, you closed your eyes... but the pain didn't come.

You opened your eyes and recognized the person who had cushioned the fall. He was pale, more than usual, and his hair was dirty and unkempt. Sitting on top of him, you pointed your wand at his chest; your hand was slightly shaking.

His eyes... they held so much pain and regret. They were telling you to do it, to finish him. One spell, one spell alone, would have been enough, and your mission would once again become the priority. In your head, Kingsley's voice was telling you, again and again, "Do not hesitate".

Suddenly, you were walking back and forth in front of a wall, while in your mind a thought was beginning to take shape. You smiled: I want to see him, I know he's in there.

A door materialized little by little. You pushed it open and found yourself in a room full of old stuff. Furniture of all kinds with thick layers of dust, broken half-mirrors, old books with torn pages. The Room of Requirement had always been fascinating in your eyes.

It was weeks since you tried to have a moment alone with him, one that lasted more than five minutes. Whenever you were together, he kept quietly. From time to time, he would answer one of your questions simply with a nod. You knew there was something wrong. You tried to ask him once, but he told you that he was just busy with his homework.

Oh well, you thought, passing a pile of broken chairs, I'm going to find out anyway.

Slowing down your pace, your hearing perceived his voice. It wasn't that far away from you, but it was muffled by several odds and ends. You smiled once again: Here you are.

"Harmonia nectere passus" he repeated what seemed like a spell a few times, then he opened a cabinet and put in a green apple.

"Thought you were too busy with homework" you said, announcing yourself. 

The Slytherin froze. You could see the tension building up. "What are you doing here, y/n?"

He didn't call you "my love", and it hurt a little.

"I know there's something bothering you, Draco" you replied, taking a step towards him. "And you know you can trust me. So why aren't you telling me what's going on?"

Draco turned to face you. He looked paler than normal, very tired, with his eyes full of what seemed like... fear? You took another step towards him, reaching out a hand for him to take it. Draco stared at it for a brief moment: a part of him screaming to him to scare you away and the other to take you in his arms.

"Everything's okay, my love" you told him, taking a final step. You gently kissed his lips. "Whatever the problem is, we can work it out together."

He pushed you away, being super careful not to hurt you. As you narrowed your eyes, Draco unbuttoned the left sleeve of his shirt and slowly rolled it up to reveal his forearm. There, on his pale skin, on his thin arm, there was a black tattoo. 

You didn't understand immediately, but when he finally looked at you, with his jaw clenched and in his eyes anger in place of fear, your eyes began to fill with tears. 

The Dark Mark. Draco has the Dark Mark on his arm. He's a Death Eater.

Minutes passed by, but for the both of you they seemed like hours, days, even years. You didn't know what to say, how to react, so you stayed silent.

After a couple of minutes, he yelled: "Well. Yell, scream, say something! ANYTHING!"

For the first time in your life, you found yourself scared of the guy you loved. And when he started to move in your direction, you took a step back and raised a hand to tell him to stay where he was.

"Please, y/n" he said, this time in a desperate whisper. 

Without saying a thing, you turned around and went straight to your Dorm. You two never spoke to each other again, not until...

"Everything's okay, my love," he said, in a low and trembeling voice.

And in a second, you were back to the corridor. Draco was trying hard not to cry.

"Don't" you hissed. "Don't you dare call me that"

To stop the shaking, you put your hand on top of the other. You moved closer to him, between your faces there were a few inches. Bursting into tears was the only sensible thing that came to mind, but a part of you knew that you should make Draco inoffensive. He was the enemy, the person to whom you cared most in the world who had betrayed you.

"WHY?!" you screamed to his face. "YOU HAD ME! YOU COULD HAVE CHOSE ME!"

"You know why" he whispered.

He caressed your cheek with his thumb, slowly and lightly. With that single touch, you felt all the love you had missed all those years you've been apart. But you couldn't forgive him, not that easily.

"I don't give a fuck about what your parents thought, or still think!" you hissed. "I give you the chance to open up, to talk to me, and what you choose instead? You join the army of Lord Fucking Voldemort!"

Draco went silent for a moment, that was the first time he heard you curse. Then, out of the blue, he said: "I love you, y/n"

Not even a second later, Draco's lips were on yours. The kiss was desperate and passionate at the same time. It was like he needed your lips to breathe: he was seeking air and kissing you was his only way to survive. 

You tried to stop him, but Draco was the missing peace you needed to feel complete. As you started to kiss him back, your hands followed their own brain and went straight to his messy hair. You pulled it a little bit and Draco bit your lip. 

And even though you felt guilty for all the people fighting to stay alive, you kept kissing Draco. Because a part of you knew that the moment you let him go Draco would have run to his parents, and to the monster with the red eyes, leaving you again to fight alone.

“Choose me” you said.

[ellaustenn]

Shall we get a butterbeer?

Paring: Talbott x Reader

Word count: 808

Plot: Talbott and Jacob’s sibling have this weird relationship were they play a lot of games. Each time, the loser has to do something ridiculous, but this time something is going to change.

Author’s note: None

Y/N: Your name

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You were in the middle of yet another game with Talbott. The both of you were fully immersed on it, not bothered by all of the students watching you closely.

You hadn’t decided about what the loser should have done yet: as always, you just stared at each other in the courtyard before saying “Time to play” at the same time. It was going to be something ridiculous and embarassing though, so you needed to win. Last time you lost one of your games, Talbott made you yell during dinner that you loved Snape and that you wanted to marry him.

That cost you two weeks detention with Pitts in the kitchens.

It’s not going to happen again, you thought.

“You are the game, the game is you” you repeated a few times, in a low voice.

“You said something, love?” Talbott smirked and threw one of his gobstones, making you lose another point. You didn’t have time to blush, because a putrid liquid hit you right in the face: Talbott started to laugh. “You make it so easy, y/n!”

“Shut it!” you hissed, trying to keep your heart at bay, since it was jumping for joy, betraying you.

It wasn’t the firs time Talbott called you “love”. It started not longer after you helped him finding his mother's necklace: at first it was unusual, for him of course, but for you too; then it became something so natural and beautiful that made you feel special. 

What you and Talbott had was special.

As you were playing the next move, you remembered that time you learned Oblivate with the help of professor Flitwick.

“If you’re just going to erase my memory of it, you might as well tell me an interesting secret, y/n” Talbott said, staring at you with a intensely.

You shifted your weight from one leg to the other, knowing exactly what you would have told him. You took a deep breath and: “Then this might be a good opportunity to tell you that... I fancy you, Talbott”

Surpries by that, Talbott took a step back and stared at you for a few seconds and then asked you: “Wh-what? Are... are you serious?”

“Lovely,” said Flitwick. “Shall we proceed?”

Someone tapped you on the shoulder and you, shaking your head, returned to reality. You were so caugh up in your memories that you didn’t relise that everyone, including Talbott, was still waiting for you move. 

“Judging by the smell, I’m guessing Talbott is ahead?” Rowan said, sitting right next to you and wrinkling their nose.

“About to win, actually”, Talbott added, blowing you a kiss while you were glaring at him. 

You told him to go to hell and studied a way to win the game. He was a few points ahead, so you just needed a good throw to turn the situation around. You looked at him and saw his smirk: he was sure that he was going to win.

Then, as you bit your lower lip to concentrate even more, something changed: he watched you as a strand of your hair fell in front of your face, and wanting to move it behind your ear he move foward a little bit. 

“Hey love,” he started, not being able to stop himself. “Shall we get a butterbeer later?”

It took your brain a while to record what Talbott had just said, but when it did you suddenly stopped. Your eyes met and for a brief moment there was only you and him. Your heart yelled and jumped with joy, your cheeks started to take color and a smile made its way to your face.

Then, the part of you who thought Talbott was just asking you out to win the game, came out without letting you know. Now it was you smirking.

“I thought you ‘fly solo’” you said.

You threw your last gobstone in the right place and a few seconds later Talbott was smelling just like you. The crowd started to yell your name again and again, Rowan was smiling and shaking their head: you finally won the game. Talbott blinked a few times, still surprised by himself for asking you out and because he had lost the game. 

“Congratulations, love” Talbott said, getting closer to you with a sweet smile. “I’m very impressed. But, uhm, you know that it won’t happen again, right?”

“Whatever you say, Winger” you replied, smiling just like him. “Now I really need a shower: next time, let’s choose a different game” you started to walk towards the castle, but stopped and turned around to face him: “Oh, I’ll see you after dinner to discuss what you need to do”

Talbott smiled again. “We could do it in frond of a butterbeer. You know, I wasn’t joking before” he came closer again and took one of your hands in his, then looked you right in the eyes and said: “Shall we get a butterbeer, love? Just you and me”

[ellaustenn]

More of draco x reader please!!

Will do!

😘

[ellaustenn]

Love Notes

Pairing: Draco x Slytherin Girl Reader

Word count: 3572

Plot: Draco is getting love notes from some one.

Author’s note: None

Y/I: Your Initial

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It was the middle of the night when your eyes suddenly burst open, at the exact moment when a flash of green light was about to hit you in the chest. Nervously, you pulled away the covers and sat down, realizing you were sweating - not to mention you were also short of breath.

You clenched your jaw nervously, both hands clenched into fists. You hated having bad dreams, that was for sure, but those where fate decided you had to die were the ones you hated most. A spell, a flash of green light and you wake up tense.

You looked around you: all the other girls were still asleep, deeply. To your right, your best friend had a smile on her face, and occasionally babbled something incomprehensible; were they dreaming about someone special?

Knowing that you wouldn't be able to sleep anyway, if not with difficulty, you got out of bed and left the dormitory on tiptoe. When you arrived in the Common Room, a deep silence enveloped you in its embrace - strangely, now that you were there, you felt much more relaxed. The protagonists of the paintings on the walls slept and snored and all the fireplaces, except one, were turned off.

You went to the burning fireplace, your legs practically moving by themselves. Perhaps staying for a few hours in front of the fire, sitting in a comfortable armchair, would help you fall asleep again. But when you reached the armchair, you realized that you weren’t alone.

Blond hair, very light skin and gray eyes that, fixed in the fireplace, seemed to be burning.

"Why aren’t you sleeping?" Draco asked, his voice reduced to a whisper.

You frowned and, instead of answering him, asked him, "How did you know it was me?"

Draco didn't even turn around. He stared at the flame that danced in the fireplace, his cheeks flushed with heat. You wondered how long the boy was there, but then, looking down, you noticed that he was holding a piece of parchment in his hand.

"Another of those lone notes?" You asked him, pushing him a little further to make room for you in the armchair.

When you sat down next to him, you realized that it wasn't exactly as comfortable as you had imagined. The space was what it was and in two it was quite tight; this, however, gave you the possibility of getting closer. You leaned your head on his shoulder, and he seemed to stiffen for a moment - but it was only for a little bit.

"Do you want to read it to me?" You asked him, without even waiting for an answer to the question you had asked him earlier.

Draco thought about it, shifted his gaze from the fire to the parchment sheet and wet his lips. "If you really insist"

You found that fake tone of indifference amusing, especially because you knew that Draco loved those little messages. He found them everywhere: among the school books, among the notes, in the bag where he kept his quidditch stuff. One morning he had decided to eat a hard-boiled egg for breakfast and, in pulling away the shell, he was surprised to find parchment instead of the egg.

These messages had started popping up about four months ago. They were signed with a simple initial. The first month, Draco had passed him to investigate who could be the person who sent him the known ones, completely forgetting the Triwizard Tournament and Potter's participation in it. Furthermore, the fact that you knew the identity of that anonymous person made it even more fun.

"My love I have been dreaming about the day you ask me to accompany you to the Yule Ball for a week. I imagine the two of us in one of those corridors that the students don’t use that much, hidden behind a column. You have your hands on my hips, your mouth next to my ear. I can even feel your hot breath against my skin and the chills running down my spine. As soon as I say yes, you kiss lips, leaving my breathless. You get me even closer to your body and I instinctively put my fingers in your blonde hair. Ask me to come with you to the Yule Ball, my love. Make this dream come true. Y/I "

"Thank goodness it's not like the last one you received," you chuckled, watching as Draco's hand went to position on your left thigh. "That was so corny that I had diabetes for a week when you read it to me" Draco's lips curled into a slight smile, but then his gaze turned serious. "It is the first time they call me "My love""

"So?" You asked him, finding nothing wrong with it.

"Nothing, Y/N," Draco replied, now stroking your knee. "I just want to understand who this person is and why they make me find these notes everywhere"

"The reason seems pretty clear, don't you think?" You made yourself closer, turning your head just enough to make your nose touch his neck. "This person has a crush on you, a big one actually"

"They could come forward and tell me in person, rather than leave me parchment sheets in the eggs," he complained. "Or you could just say their name, since you know who they are"

"For the hundredth time: no, it's too fun to see you in the investigator's shoes. Find out for yourself ” was your reply; then, remembering the question he asked you: "Why did you come here? Couldn't sleep?"

Draco turned slowly towards you: since you had changed position, staring at the burning fireplace, in the reflection of your eyes he saw flames dancing a silent song. Your face was kissed by the colors of fire and now you too had red cheeks because of the heat. With his free hand, he passed the forefinger along the length of your nose, sliding down to the chin - he stopped an extra second on the lips.

Shortly before answering, Draco wondered how he could feel at the same time something for two different people: there was this anonymous, who for four months had been sending him short messages, a dowry sweetie ... and then there was you.

"I found the parchment sheet on my bed. Tiger says one of the first year entered our dorm this afternoon, claiming to be "The Mysterious Owl"”

You rolled your eyes: The Mysterious Owl? I just gave him one job!.

"What a ridiculous name," Draco muttered. "Anyway I came here to reflect: I want to find out who this person is, at all costs, and then because I realized that the Yule Ball is getting closer and I haven't invited anyone yet"

"Why don't you ask Pansy?" you teased him. "You'll see how she’ll wags her tail with joy"

Draco gave you a playful push with his shoulder, then turned to give you a kiss on the cheek. "I'm going to sleep, are you staying here?"

Nodding, you told him that you would stay in the Common Room a little longer.

...

"My darling I found a book of Muggle poetry in the library. It was hidden behind some tomes of potions and ancient spells. I believe that Madama Pince reads it at night, perhaps thinking of someone dear to her. I leafed through a few pages, read a few poems. Many of these were dedications for their own half, so romantic that I almost started to cry. Some were so beautiful ... I thought of transcribing one, keeping it for a future note to send to you. By the way, do you really keep them all in an old shoe box? The notes I send you, I mean"

Draco widened his eyes: how did this anonymous know that every single note he had jealously kept in an old box? They certainly had to be someone close to him.

With a quick run he reached Tiger and Goyle inside the Common Room, not caring for you that, amazed, you looked at a beautiful Christmas tree decorated. Draco dropped the bag of books, put his hands on Tiger's shoulders and ordered him to point out who that stupid kid who called himself "The Mysterious Owl" was.

He knew, it was obvious. He just had to kindly ask him some questions. Tiger's eyes widened, surprised by Draco's gesture. He stammered a few meaningless words, then glanced at Goyle in the hope that this would give him a hand.

Draco rolled his eyes, exasperated: "You just have to point him, Tiger. It's not that difficult!"

Hearing Draco raise his voice, you momentarily abandoned the Christmas tree and turned in his direction. You wrinkled your forehead and, trying to understand what was going on, you approached the trio silently. You stayed there beside them for a while, absorbing everything Draco asked Tiger - which was slowly recovering from the shock.

When you realized that Draco was on the trail of 'The Mysterious Owl', your heart ended up in your throat: you decided to run out of the Common Room to go and look for the boy who helped you with the messages. You didn't know exactly where to find it, but you could ask around and see.

After almost an hour and a half, and after running back and forth across the entire castle, you found the little Slytherin in one of Hogwarts' courtyards. He was intent on talking to a black-haired girl who turned her back on you, but it wasn't hard for you to figure out who she was.

"Parkinson" you called her tight-lipped.

Both the girl and the Slytherin kid looked at you. The boy opened his eyes and mouth wide, surprised and at the same time frightened to see you there; Pansy, on the other hand, smiled sweetly - something that made her strangely resemble Snape.

"L/N," Pansy replied, crossing her arms over her chest and looking down at you. "What brings you here?"

"It's none of your business," you replied, very quietly. "You instead?Enjoy torturing little kids? Should I remind you that among the qualities of the Slytherins there is no malice, but something else?"

"Let's get to the point, L/N," Pansy replied, taking a few steps in your direction. "I know your secret, L/N. I know why you need this pathetic kid and, guess what? I think it's time for another message to be delivered to Draco"

If Pansy's purpose was to frighten you, you were completely immune to all her efforts. Besides, you knew very well that she had a colossal crush on the blond Slytherin and that she certainly wouldn't rush to inform him that you were his secret admirer. What you had to do now was find a way to make her go away, then talk to the Slythering kid and get the message that Parkinson wanted to get to Draco.

Being happy for what she had done, Pansy left.

At that point, with an amused smile you approached the first-year boy: "Pathetic, don't you think?"

The Slytherin kid didn’t say a word, merely looked at his shoes. The smile flew away from your face and, troubled, you frowned. You asked him what he was hiding from you, why he hadn't already pulled out the message that Parkinson wanted to send to Draco - because you wanted to see it burn, maybe drinking a cup of tea.

When the Slytherin didn’t answer, you decided to pressure him. You stepped forward, shortening the distance, and asked him how Pansy Parkinson knew he was practically your owl. Even to this, the boy did not answer, but at a certain point he seemed to be trembling.

You rolled your eyes and put a hand on his shoulder: "It doesn’t matter how she  discovered us. Now I want to know where the message is"

"Delivered," he whispered, his eyes still lowered.

"Excuse me?"

You didn't know if you understood well or not. Maybe your ears had decided to play you a trick, making you hear one word rather than another. 

"Delivered" the Slytherin repeated, this time with a little more courage.

Your hand fell from his shoulder, your eyes widened so slowly that it seemed to be happening in slow motion. You felt the heart beating faster and faster, the air choking in your throat.

"When?" You managed to say.

"This morning," said the boy. "Parkinson just wanted confirmation that I did it" then he added: "I didn't want to, I'm sorry. But Pansy always scared me and I ... I didn't know what to do"

"What did the message say?"

The boy took a deep breath, then recited: "I had a brilliant idea, my love. I want you to know who I am, but for this you will have to wait until the evening of the Yule Ball. Be patient, my beloved. I will wear a red dress, on which I will place a golden rose - so it will be easier for you to recognize me."

...

December 25, 1994

You were patient too, along with Draco. Only this he didn't know.

After the note that Pansy had sent to Draco, you had written another one and had it delivered by your Slytherin owl. You wrote that that would have been the last message and you had attached a little poem to him that he had to ask at the first meeting. Immediately after finding the parchment sheet, Draco ran to you and showed it to you, in his eyes you saw a flash of despair.

"Remember them our date at the Yule Ball, Y/N! And the red dress with the silver rose, that's important! "Draco had made you promise.

His tone of voice surprised you, because it was so different from what he usually had. In any case, you promised that you would do it.

It was almost time to go and you were just finishing up. Despite not having invited anyone, you had decided to participate in the dance with Draco and his friends - as they too had decided in the end not to invite anyone in particular. Of course, Pansy had decided to join you.

For the dance you had opted for a long emerald off-shoulder dress with a not too wide skirt; the straps were made of a material similar to lace, very soft to the touch and comfortable to wear. Your mother had sent you a family necklace just before Christmas: the chain was finely crafted silver, the medallion was the family crest about three centimeters by three in size.

You had your best friend helping you with your hair. She had made two braids on the sides of the head, which then went back to the back almost to form a crown.

"Remember that you promised to reveal everything to Draco, Y/N" your best friend told you. "And if you ever need me, or if Malfoy should hurt you in any way, come and call me so I can kick his ass" and with one last kiss on the cheek, your best friend went out to meet his companion.

After checking yourself one last time in the mirror in the dorm, you decided it was time to go. I went down the stairs that led to the Common Room, and almost shyly you looked around for Draco, Tiger, Goyle. 

You reached the trio and cleared your throat to get their attention. All three, when they turned to look at you, opened their eyes and mouths, making you laugh.

Draco was wearing a black suit that highlighted his fair skin. The blond hair was simply amazing. The eyes were bright, surprised and simply bewitching. You were able to smell his perfume, which was delicious and intoxicating as always.

Amused by the expressions of the three boys, you snapped your fingers to make them come back down to earth. "So? No compliments?"

Now, your shyness was gone.

The only one to speak was Draco: "You are beautiful, Y/N"

He went over to give you a kiss on the cheek, then took your hand and made you turn around. He hugged you, breathed in your scent and gave himself mentally stupid for not having invited you to the dance as his escort. If it hadn't been for that anonymous and their messages, which kept coming back to his mind, he probably would have done it.

And I would have been very lucky., he thought.

While embracing you, he told himself that perhaps he had given too much weight to that anonymous person. Perhaps he would simply have to find the courage to talk to you with an open heart, tell you how he felt about you - for almost three years now. Yet there was something that blocked him, only he didn't know what.

At first, when the messages had jumped out, Draco had even hoped you had sent them.

Suddenly, Draco noticed  someone dressed in red. He let you go and turned to the passage that allowed to enter and leave the Common Room.

As she had written in the note, Pansy was wearing a red dress with a narrow skirt. On the neckline she wore a brooch in the shape of a golden rose. She gave you a cruel smile, then approached your group and stood in front of Draco.

"Pansy?" He asked, confused. "Was it you all along?"

Pansy changed her expression, played the part of the girl who wanted to hide her feelings - something she had never been able to do. She came close to him, took his hands and told him that she had always been in love with him. Then he decided it was time for everyone to go to the dance, because she couldn't wait to dance with Draco.

Draco looked at you one last time, before following her: you were smiling sweetly, and although you knew the whole truth - about the messages and the person who sent them - seeing him go away with Pansy hurted you.

Along with Tiger and Goyle, you followed Pansy and Draco. Immediately outside the Common Room, in the damp corridor, Draco stopped abruptly.

"Pansy, wait," he said, feeling that something was wrong. "It can't be you"

Pansy, alarmed, replied, "What do you mean? Of course it's me!"

"But I don't ... I don't feel anything different. I ... I thought that ... "Draco shook his head, not even so convinced on how to finish the sentence. He turned to look at you and suddenly he felt sick: I was day and night worrying about who was sending me those messages, when the right person for me was always next to me.

"The poem," he said in a low voice, turning back to Pansy. "Recite the poem you sent me in the last message"

"P-poem?" Pansy stammered, turning white.

"When I say I love you, please belive it’s true. When I say forever, know I´ll never leave you. When I say goodbye, he promised me you won’t cry, Because the day I will be saying that I will be the day I die"

Draco turned to you, your cheeks now pink with embarrassment. You bit your lip, you shrugged and smiled: "No red dress, my love. No golden rose"

Pansy, angry, returned to the common room, slamming her feet. Tiger and Goyle left you alone.

Draco stepped in your direction, his lips bending into a delicate smile. One step away from you, he stopped, unsure of what to do. He wanted to take you in his arms, get lost in your eyes to the point of exhaustion ...

"It's kind of cheesy, I know," you said, and your face took on an amused expression. "And I have to admit that when I read it for the first time, my diabetes came back"

Draco burst out laughing, relieved. He asked you why you were hiding behind those messages, how the idea was born and why you hadn't blinked when Pansy, shortly before, passed off as his secret admirer. You answered calmly and sincerely, explaining everything to him in every detail; you also told him how you felt at the first parchment you wrote to him - anxious, amused and at the same time happy.

"It was a way to tell you what I feel, also because at the beginning I didn't know how to do it" you concluded, rocking your heels, a little embarrassed.

Draco bit his lip as he smiled, then took your hand and beckoned you to follow him. Without saying a word, Draco took you to one of the corridors near the Great Hall - which fortunately was deserted at the time. He approached a column and drew you to him, so as to hide both of you; he put his hands on your hips and put his lips close to your ear.

"You're not really doing it," you whispered, remembering the letter you sent him some time ago.

"Don't spoil this moment, Y/N" he chuckled, and his warm breath hit your skin giving you an exciting, pleasant electric shock. "Now I have to ask you to come to the Ball with me"

He asked you, and at the same time he slowly turned his head. Now your noses were touching.

"You suck as a detective, you know?" You told him, before kissing him in a voracious way.

[ships4you]

- prompt list -

Prompt List #1 ♛ Imagines

“We’re not just friends and you fucking know it.”

“Please don’t cry. I can’t stand to see you cry”

“Stay with me”

“Walk out that door and we’re through”

“Well. Yell, scream, say something. Anything”

“I can’t breathe”

“I hate how much I love you”

“Why are you so jealous?”

“Where do you think you’re going”

“Just leave me alone”

“I need some time”

“Despite what you think, I am completely capable of taking care of myself”

“You can’t keep pretending it didn’t happen, cause guess what? It did!”

“Just please be my best friend right now, not the guy I just confessed my love to.”

“Stop pretending you’re okay, cause I know you’re not.”

“Just talk to me”

“Bite me”

“If you insist”

“I think I’m in love with you, and that scares the crap out of me”

“I think you’re just afraid to be happy”

“Why are you so nice to me”

“Choose me”

“We’ll get through this, I promise”

“You’re so fucking hot when you’re mad”

“You’re mine. I don’t share”

“Just shut up and kiss me.”

“If we get caught I’m blaming you”

“Make me”

“Do you want to kiss as bad as I do right now”

“I think I forgot how to breath”

“Stop biting that fucking lip!”

“You’re blushing”

“I missed something didn’t I?”

“You come to my room and wake me up at 4am, to cuddle?”

“Well this is awkward”

“Is that my shirt?”

“You look like you need a hug”

“I can’t believe you don’t like Disney movies”

“Please come home, I miss you”

“You’re so fucking adorable”

“How can you still look so attractive while crying.”

“I’m pregnant”

“You’re lucky you’re cute”

“Cuddle me.”

“Sometimes I really don’t like you”

“What if I told you I’ve been in love with you since we were kids.”

“You’re seriously like a man-child.”

“You’re getting crumbs all over my bed”

“Im too sober for this”

“Oh god, I need a drink”

[ellaustenn]

If you’re interested in requesting some imagines! I’ll do my best, I promise!

[ellaustenn]

Hey. I just read your story Alone and I really enjoyed reading it. Are you thinking about writing a part 2? (Sorry for my english)

Hi!

It makes me SO happy that you liked the story!

To answer your question: when I wrote “Alone” I thought that it would have been just a part of a story, kinda like an epilogue of a big story that I never wrote.

I don’t really know whether write another part, like a special chapter, or not. I had something in mind, where Charlie and Mc meet again and become friends again (maybe during The Battle of Hogwarts, since I feel like - even of people don’t remember her - she’s part of the Order).

I guess we’ll see 😊

Everything is possible 🖤

[ellaustenn]

Finally did it!

[ellaustenn]

Still alone

Pairing: Kinda Charlie x Reader

Word count: 1418

Plot: May 2nd, 1998. The Battle of Hogwarts just ended.

Author’s note: This is the second part of one of my previous stories. So, if you haven’t read “Alone” yet, go check it out! Also, I appriciate all your comments/likes/reblog! Thank you so much!

C/Y/E: The color of your eyes

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

The Battle of Hogwarts has just ended, and the sun gives new light to a partially destroyed castle. Rubble, dust, the buzz and the cries - quiet or not - of the survivors; it almost seems we have escaped the clutches of Hell.

Hobbling, I pass through the Entrance Hall and in a few seconds I’m outside the walls of Hogwarts. The large main courtyard is surrounded by an oppressive silence, so heavy that I find it hard to breathe properly. Here too, the remains of the battle occupy most of the soil: boulders of different sizes that have collapsed due to the spells fired in bursts. I find one not too tall and sit on it.

I gaze at the horizon and realize that the nature is making fun of those who are still alive. Because, despite the battle, the dead, Hogwarts in pieces and all the rest, my eyes can't help but admire a simply beautiful panorama.

I smile bitterly and let my wand drop to the ground, which I have been holding in my hand all the time. I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees, and take my head in my hands. Clutching my hair tight, I scream with pain and rage; the hot and salty tears that wet my cheeks. I tremble, and I know it's not because of the cold.

I lost Tonks.

I try to give myself an attitude, I try to get up to get air. But nothing to do: the tears come back, the pain only increases and the lungs burn and beg for me to resume breathing properly.

I lost Tonks, I repeat myself.

In my mind the image of her lying on the ground, devoid of life, is formed. Her hair is no longer bright pink, not even the shadow of her beautiful smile on her face. When I entered the Great Hall, at the end of the Battle, I was very convinced to find her together with those of the Order, or with our old group of friends; I had already imagined her going up and down the Hall, helping those in need.

I didn't even have time to say goodbye.

And next to her, in the same position, Remus Lupin - her husband. I wonder how it would have been to know him, threaten him not to hurt my friend, take on the role of the aunt who spoils the grandchildren - starting with the little Teddy. And at that moment I burst out laughing. It’s not a real laugh of pure joy, it is more a fusion of melancholy and anger, because I know that these fantasies that I have just made don’t exist and will never exist.

I scream again, and this time I fall to the ground. The knees collide with the hard and cold ground, and a pain radiates throughout the body. I let the tears still run down my face, until my ears intercept the sound of footsteps behind me.

"Thanks for saving me"

When my brain registers my brother's voice, I jump up and turn around. Jacob is a couple of meters away from me: he has clothes and hair full of dust, an oblique cut  quite deep on his left cheek - the blood is now congealed around the wound. His eyes are tired, a veil of sadness doesn’t let their usual brightness pass.

He steps in my direction and tries to smile, but the result is more a grimace of pain.

"Thank you" he repeats.

He extends a hand because I hold it tight and I, who don't know exactly what to do, I look at it for a couple of seconds. In that time, I feel my heart pounding in my ears and my breath catching in my throat. I think back to when we were in that corridor fighting the Death Eaters, when one of those brutes threw the Avada Kedavra at him and I threw myself upon Jacob so that he won't get hit by the spell.

I decide to shake his hand. But when my skin comes into contact with his, Jacob pulls me to him and hugs me. Without thinking twice, I squeeze him as if my life depends on this hug. I don't even try to hold back the tears. I squeeze it harder when Jacob seems to loosen his grip: The last time I hugged him was before the curse, so I want this moment to never end.

Can I wish for at least my brother to remember who I am?

"Jacob, your parents are looking for you"

Then Rowan suddenly emerges from the half-destroyed door that opens onto the Entrance Hall. They’re hair too, it's dirty with dust, so come their clothes. They’re glasses are crooked, a lens is chipped.

I let go of Jacob just enough to look into his eyes. I realize that he has no idea who I am, I'm just That-Person-Who-Saved-Him-During-The-Battle. I bite my lip and I hold back the umpteenth scream, then I stay to watch my best friendship and my brother return to the castle.

He just hugged me because I saved him. But doesn't he realize the similarity between us?

At the same time that Jacob and Rowan enter, a red lightning comes out with ferocity. He kicks a small boulder, curses the world and passes the back of his hands over his eyes with force, to wipe away the tears. He passes by me, my  c/y/e eyes and his blue eyes come into contact for a moment and the world collapses on me.

Charlie also lost Fred, and I, like a fool, even forgot about it.

Charlie stops in place. We are practically back to back, but there are more than two meters to divide us. I turn slowly towards him and notice his shoulders move up and down quickly, shaken by silent sobs. He lost his hair tie: his red hair, typical of Weasleys, fell on his shoulders and back. The bare arms are full of burns and cuts - some new and some old by who knows how much. From where I am, I can even see freckles.

"I saw you at The Leaky Cauldron"

Charlie's voice is warmer than it used to be, deeper. So different from what I remembered, yet still with the power to make me feel at home.

He turns, and again he passes the back of his hands over his eyes. "You have something familiar, you know? Who are you?"

"I'm sorry for Fred," I reply instinctively, but I immediately bite my tongue. I know he's hurting, and I'm probably making it worse. He doesn't say a word, he just nods.

"However, I am no one", I then add, in a whisper. And as soon as the words leave my mouth, I force myself to bite my cheek. "Only one of the many who wanted to help defeat Voldemort"

I see Charlie take on the same expression he had at The Leaky Cauldron, as if he were trying to remember who I am and how he knows me. I wonder if it is possible that the curse has faded after all this time; but if it had been so, I would have realized when Jacob hugged me.

I recover my wand and close my eyes for a moment. "It would be better for me to say goodbye to Tonks before they take her away"

When I open my eyes, Charlie is half a meter from me. He is studying me, his head is slightly bent. I lose myself momentarily in two wonderful blue pools that, unfortunately, do not recognize me. I still remember when we were still studying here, at Hogwarts: when he saw me in the corridors, he came towards me with a broad, breath-taking smile; all those freckles, that satisfying hug, his scent, his body against mine...

"You won't forget me, right Charlie Weasley?" I whisper, repeating the exact same phrase as when, years ago, he told me he wanted to go to Romania. "You'll write to me every day, isn't it?"

He opens his mouth, takes another step towards me.

In a hurry, reminding me of the cost I would be forced to pay, if only someone knew who I was i step back and  go through the doors, walk through the Entrance Hall and return to the Great Hall, ready to greet my old friend for the last time

[ellaustenn]

Masterlist

Charlie Weasley

Isn’t it obvious?

I’m an idiot

Alone

Still alone

Draco Malfoy

Love notes

Choose me

Talbott Winger

Shall we get a butterbeer?

Other

Rowan

Last update: 02/25/2020

[ellaustenn]

Hey. I just read your story Alone and I really enjoyed reading it. Are you thinking about writing a part 2? (Sorry for my english)

Hi!

It makes me SO happy that you liked the story!

To answer your question: when I wrote "Alone" I thought that it would have been just a part of a story, kinda like an epilogue of a big story that I never wrote.

I don't really know whether write another part, like a special chapter, or not. I had something in mind, where Charlie and Mc meet again and become friends again (maybe during The Battle of Hogwarts, since I feel like - even of people don't remember her - she's part of the Order).

I guess we'll see 😊

Everything is possible 🖤

[ellaustenn]

Alone

Pairing: Kinda Charlie x Reader

Word count: 1211

Plot: Inspired by this prompt: “You come home, make some tea, sit down in your armchair and all around there’s silence. Everyone decides for themselves whether that’s loneliness or freedom.” I also read a theory yesterday, where Mc, in the last Cursed Vault, is going to pay a price: their friends will forget them because of a spell (or a curse or something).

Author’s note: In this OneShot, Mc has a muggle job. Also, Charlie Weasley x Reader cause I can’t get enough of this. Also-also, just like the other OneShots: English is not my first language (I’m Italian).

Y/N: Your name

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

I look away from the documents I have on my desk and stare at the watch on my left wrist. It reminds me that I should have left the office twenty minutes ago. I sigh: I really don't want to go home, in that dull empty and sad apartment. There is no one waiting for me with open arms, with a warm smile and a "How was work today?" Nothing, just total silence. Maybe I should go out, go to a muggle bar and drink until I forget the faces of those I lost and those who forgot me. I feel like I want to forget my name. I think back to the last Cursed Vault, the one in which I managed to save Jacob. I wanted at all costs to bring him back home safe and sound, to make sure that our family breaks down as it used to be: united and happy. I still remember that feeling of completeness that I felt as he returned my embrace, when we finally met again.

But I had forgotten that, by saving him, I would have to pay a very expensive price.

One spell was enough, too powerful to break, and almost everyone forgot me. My professors, my friends, my family ...

The only one who, for some strange reason, remembered me was Dumbledore. Until he was murdered, I used to write him letters: I told him about my muggle work and how my life was going; most of the time I lied and told him that everything was fine, but I have the feeling that he knew very well how things really were.

However, despite his work and the Ministry's eyes on him, Dumbledore was able to cut out a moment for me and answer my letters. He used to update me on the things that The Daily Prophet didn't talk about, how things were going at Hogwarts, and I read and re-read these letters from him.

I cried silently at his funeral. I was in one of the last rows and I couldn't take my eyes off his grave, beautiful and horrible at the same time. I remember that, at some point, someone put a hand on my shoulder to comfort me. I turned to say thank you, but recognizing the person who wanted to help me I started to cry even more.

It was Rowan.

“It’s okay,” she whispered, her eyes shining and her smile affectionate. “He’s still here with us. He will always be”

I wanted to tell her that I wasn’t crying just for Dumbledore. I had even bitten my tongue not to tell her who I really was, not to remind her of what we had been through together - how we met in Diagon Alley, our years at Hogwarts, the Curse Vaults. And although she had forgotten me, I still considered her my best friend. Except that if I opened my mouth, if I only dared to tell everything, the spell would come back to haunt Jacob, and this time he would take him away for good.

No, I had to be strong for all of them.

“You should already be home, y/n” my boss tell me, bringing me back to reality.

“I was reading some documents for tomorrow, the ones that will serve in the meeting,” I reply. “Then I would have brought them to your office and...”

I am interrupted by a: “Go home, y/n. You’re exhausted, I can see it in your eyes”

I look down and sigh, then I nod and put the desk in order. When I leave the place where I work, the sun has already set and the sky is a blue hand covered with just two or three stars. A light breeze tickles my skin, refreshing my face. A group of friends pass me by giggling and chatting, and a pang is immediately formed in my heart.

Perhaps the idea of ​​getting drunk is not too bad. No muggle bar, though: I feel like firewhisky.   

The Leaky Cauldron is practically deserted; in this period, with the war getting closer and closer, the place is little frequented. An old witch is sitting at the counter and Tom, who is in front of her, talks about who knows what. A man with a dark blue cloak is seated in a corner, a large, long scar runs across his face from right to left; he sips something strong, judging by the expressions he makes. At a round table, there are seven people - all with hoods that cover most of their faces. They speak in a low voice.   

"Firewhisky" ordered to Tom, looking first at him and then at the rest of the place. When Tom leaves me the glass on the counter, I take it and go to occupy a table in the center of the room. The light is suffused, almost intimate, and the fact that there is no habitual chaos makes me uncomfortable.

I sigh, looking around. As if I were unconsciously attracted to it, my gaze rests on the dense group of people. From where I am, I can see the faces of two of them quite well: a girl who vaguely reminds me of Penny and the other who reminds me of Ben. I have a strange feeling, as if someone had just punched me in the stomach. What if they were really Penny and Ben?   

"It’s not them" I try to convince myself. "Why should they come here?"

I put my heart in peace and bring the glass to my lips, but just before drinking the contents I realize that someone is staring at me. I try to understand who he is and, in doing so, I bend my head slightly like a curious child would. From under the hood I can see what appears to be freckles, expressive blue eyes return my gaze and on the lips there is the hint of a smile.

I understand who he is and my heart loses a beat: Charlie.

Mentally, I scream at myself to stop looking at him, to concentrate on something else, or to leave the Leaky Cauldron and return to my apartment. But I just can't ...

I drink the firewhisky all in one breath and I keep at bay the desire I have to run to him to hug him and breathe his scent. I don't even wonder why he's here, rather than in Romania. When I return to look at him, I recall all the moments we spent together and those times when, to no avail, I tried to tell him what I felt for him.

I miss Charlie terribly. It hurts even more to know that I have to simply sit here and admire him from afar without being able to do anything. I know I should leave, but it's like I'm stuck to the chair.

He's even more beautiful than before, I think to myself.

Suddenly, while I am considering whether or not to smile at him - just this once -, Charlie frowns: he has the classic expression of someone who is having a deja-vu.

I get up, under his gaze, and with tears in my eyes I pay and leave the Leaky Cauldron. Without turning around. Alone.

[ellaustenn]

Charles is spelled CharlEs! Not Charls 😂 wow

Where did I write Charls instead of Charles?🤔

EDIT: Found it! LOL

[ellaustenn]

I’m an idiot

Pairing: Charlie x Reader

Word count: 2325

Plot: Charlie is avoiding you for some reasons, but he doesn’t share them with you. He just stopped talking with you, and is actually Penny who tells you what’s happening. 

Author’s note: Charlie Weasley x Reader cause I can’t get enough of this. Also, just like the first OneShot: English is not my first language (I’m Italian). 

Y/N: Your name

Y/H: Your House

January, 1988.

I entered the library with a slow pace, my gaze fixed on the floor. At my chest I was holding History of Magic, the books bag was slamming against my leg at every step. I passed Madama Pince's desk and I heard her mumble something incomprehensible; I was so downcast that I didn’t even have the strength to roll my eyes.

I passed some dusty bookshelves, I saw a few books levitate towards their place almost as if they had their own soul, a couple of students greeted me with a brief gesture. I found the person I was looking for sitting at a long table between two high shelves.

He was passing a hand through his ginger hair when I sat down next to him. He looked tired, sighing from time to time. In front of him he had a piece of parchment full of notes, books of different subjects were open.

“How long have you not slept?” I asked him in a low voice, placing my things on the table.

Bill Weasley shook his head. “N.E.W.T.s are approaching, and I need to stay focus on my studies. Besides, I fear I’ve forgotten what going to sleep means”

Without saying anything back, I nodded. I knew exactly how Bill felt: my O.W.L.s were getting closer as well. At times it seemed that my brain was melted, for those hours I remained glued to books to study. Occasionally, I would even stay up almost all night to review History of Magic or Transfigurations.

One time, Rowan woke up after having a bad dream. Her first intention was to sneak into my bed, wake me up and tell me about the nightmare, but I wasn’t even in the dorm. She had found me only by going down into the Common Room.

“Y/N, you should be in bed!” she had called me, shaking her head.

“I wanted to reread Ancient Runes’ notes,” it had been my answer. 

Next to me, Bill grabbed one of his books and started turning the pages. When he found what he was looking for, he stopped and began to read in a low voice. A lock of ginger hair fell on his face and he, blowing, moved it.

I tried to get myself to study too, I didn’t come to the library for conversation after all.

I opened History of Magic to the page where the last topic Binnis had explained began, and in my mind I could even hear the monotonous voice of the ghost.

For almost ten minutes I managed to stay focused on the text, then a side note caught my attention. Three words had been written obliquely, one below the other and in block letters; the 'O's were a snitch.

“I love you”

I bit my lip and passed the index finger on the writing, knowing very well who the calligraphy belonged to. Sighing, I turned to Bill: perhaps he could tell me why my best friend, as well as a boy for whom I had a huge crush on, did nothing but avoid me for weeks.

“Bill,” I called him. “Do you know why Charlie is avoiding me?”

My voice was a whisper, little more than a breath. I was not sure that Bill had heard me, but he lowered the book he was reading and turned to me. His skin was pale, his eyes lit by a sad light that didn’t suit him at all. For a second I felt myself sinking, as if Bill knew something I didn’t know, as if he were about to tell me that Charlie had changed his mind about me and started to hate me.

“Oh dear Merlin! What have I done?” I asked him, already feeling the tears coming. 

Bill took my hands in his and shook his head. “Y/N, you didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just that I don’t know how to answer you: Charlie is avoiding me too”

“What? But you’re his brother!” I replied, frowning. “Why is he doing this to you? And more importantly, how long is this going on?”

Bill shrugged. “A few weeks? I don’t know, Y/N. I noticed that, whenever I wanted to have a chat with him, he find an excuse to leave”

I looked down and shook my head, most of the hair fell in front of my face acting as a tent. I bit my lip so as not to cry, because without Charlie I felt incomplete, even empty.

I remembered that morning when I waited for him just outside the Great Hall, we both had Potions and, as usual, we would go to class together. He came out of the Great Hall with Andre discussing a bit of the quidditch match that would have taken place that weekend and a bit of dragons.

Andre had noticed me instantly and, with a dazzling smile, had approached to greet me with a hug. I was almost hugging him when, suddently, Charlie had grabbed him by the uniform and had dragged him away, leaving me there, alone.

I had chased them, I asked Charlie what was wrong with him and why he had not even looked at me.

“Leave me alone Y/N” he simply said.

Since that day, I had tried in every way to make me forgive anything I had done to make him so angry. I stopped him in the corridors to talk to him, but he moved me away and continued on his way; I threw him notes during the lessons, but he threw them without even reading them. One afternoon I went to see his quidditch practice and, at the end of it, I had waited outside the locker room.

“Charlie said it’s gonna take a while. He asked me to tell you to not wait for him” one of his teammates had said.

Someone moved the chair in front of mine. Bill let go of my hands and I, trying not to think about how bad it was to stay away from Charlie, I raised my head and saw Penny. Her blond hair was gathered in a high tail, her lips bent in what was the hint of a smile.

“I did some research,” she began, shifting her gaze first on me and the on Bill.

“Research? Why? Were there any research to do?!” panic seized my voice, my mand was already plannin an excuse to be able to deliver the paper late.

In the distance, Madama Pince said, “SHHH!”

Penny chuckled. “Calm down Y/N, it doesn’t concern any of the Hogwarts subjects"

Relieved, I relaxed against the back of the chair and gave her time to continue. Now I was really curious to know what she was referring to. 

“Apparently, someone put a gossip aroung on you two” Penny said, pointing to Bill and me with a finger. “It is rumored that you’re together and that you” and she pointed to me. “will spend the summer at the Weasley’s”

Bill frowned and I followed him.

“It is also said that, after Y/N ha gratuated, you two will get married”

Bill and I exchanged a look and immediately burst out laughing. It was ridiculous for people to think that Bill and I were a couple, and even that we should get married right after I graduated.

“I was just coming here to tell you everything when Andre stopped me,” Penny added. 

I immediately stopped laughing. “Did he tell you why Charlie avoids us?”

Penny nodded. “The rumors have convinced Charlie that you two are dating”

Bill had been elected Head Boy that year. One of his duties was to organize the evening patrols: all four Prefects were put to work, but in pairs. And the plan that Bill and Penny and I had created was based on this.

A meeting was called so the Head Boy and Girl could choose who was to work with whom. The Head Girl unrolled a small piece of parchment she had held in her hands until that moment, then took a deep breath and called out our names aloud. Bill winked at me when I heard: “Y/N, you’re with Charlie”

I turned to him and smiled, hoping to see him do the same. But Charlie sat with his eyes fixed on his hands.

“Don’t demoralize yourself right now, sis” Bill whispered in my ear. "You have the whole evening to explain him how things really are, and maybe, who knows, he'll be the one you'll marry after graduation"

I blushed and pushed him away.

A few hours after dinner, while the last students walked over to their Common Rooms, I found Charlie waiting for me on the first floor. He stood with his back against the wall, beside him the paintings yawned and got ready to go to sleep.

His ginger hair was always gathered in a low ponytail, his blue eyes fixed on the floor, the lips - so inviting - were slightly open. I told myself that if I had been silent enough, I could have stayed there to admire it, maybe I would have even taken a step forward to be able to count those wonderful freckles.

I cleared my throat and he jerked his head up. I realized that I could lose myself in those blue pools.

Charlie pushed himself off, soaked his lips and then said, “You go to the right and I go to the left”

Without even waiting for my answer, he began to walk. I frowned and stood still for a few moments, trying to understand what had just happened. When I finally recovered, with the sensation of having a boulder in the pit of my stomach, I snapped to the left and followed him.

“Charlie!” I called him over and over again, and every time he heard his name he accelerated the pace.

“Charlie, wait a second!” I screamed at him, reaching out to stop him.

He stopped, and I nearly ruined him. I stopped in time, leaving between us just a meter away - which was too much for me.

“What do you want?” he asked me, sighing.

During the morning I had one hour and I had exploited it by throwing down what I wanted to say to Charlie. I wrote a perfect speech on the pergament, which I had even memorized, but at the moment all those words had vanished into thin air. I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

Exasperated, Charlie shook his head and started to leave. Before he could even move a single step, I grabbed him by the wrist and looked him straight in the eye.

“You're an idiot Charles Weasley!”

Charlie's gaze fell for a second on my hand around his wrist, then he looked back at me. “What?”

“You heard me!” I exclaimed, letting him go.

“What do I owe this outbreak of anger?” he asked me, narrowing his gaze.

“You've been avoiding me for weeks and you haven’t even told me why! It was Penny who told me your stupid and childish motivation!” I replied, narrowing my gaze and crossing my arms to my chest.

“Stupid and childish?” he asked, raising his voice.

He took a step toward me, shortening the distance, but I didn’t move.

“Exact!” I exclaimed, stamping my feet on the ground. “Bill thinks the same as I do”

“Bill here, Bill there!” he said angrily. “You're always talking about him, Y/N. I would say that I really did well to distance myself, don’t you think?”

“You're an idiot.” I said, pushing him and chanting every word at the same time. “All those times that it's just you and me and you only remember the parts where I'm talking about your brother? What, you forgot maybe that time I supported you all the way, when that wizard cheated us by selling us a Acromantula egg instead of a dragon egg?”

Charlie opened his mouth to reply, but I continued with tears in his eyes.

“Or all the times when I come to see your quidditch practice, or the games? I cheer for you everytime, even if it’s Gryffindor against Y/H?” I swallow, the voice broken by tears. “And let's not forget the times when I have to face one of the challenges that the Cursed Vaults subject me to: Charlie, you're the first to whom I talk about it, not Bill”

“Y/N...” Charlie closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath.

“Keep on believing in rumors that are absolutely fake, Charlie Weasley,” I mutter, wiping my tears hard with my palms. I pause to catch my breath, and when I finally see myself in the Gryffindor's blue eyes, a fake laugh comes out of my lips. “And to say that it’s always been you”

Shaking my head, I waved to him and decided to do the patrol on my own. The next day I would have to tell Bill and Penny that the plan was not successful and that, most likely, I had completely lost my best friend.

At this point I didn’t even mind the fact that I had confessed that I liked him.

I started walking, hugging myself and repeating in a low voice not to cry. Then I heard someone running beside me and two hands resting on my shoulders.

“Is not Bill? Was it never him?” Charlie asked me, his voice reduced to a sigh.

I shook my head and instinctively threw myself into his arms. “I only want you, stupid”

Charlie returned the hug, then took my face in his hands. He apologized in a low voice about how he had treated me, begged me to forgive him and murmured over and over again that I he missed me so much. At each word, his face was closer to mine.

“I'm an idiot,” he whispered, just before his lips touched mine.

[ellaustenn]

Isn’t it obvious?

Pairing: Charlie x Reader

Word count: 2043

Author’s note: For Rowan I used “he/she” and “him/her”, because I know that there’s a male Rowan and a female Rowan. This is also the first “xReader” that I write in absolute and English is not my first language (I’m Italian). 

- - - - - - 

The air was fresh, sparkling. It smelled of moss, grass wet with dew and damp earth mixed together, a sweet and strangely melancholic combination. The water of the Black Lake was still, resembling a large mirror on which the colors of dawn reflected. Pink that blended with blue, yellow that blended with red and orange; a wonderful painting. 

You let yourself go to a sigh. You were sitting on the trunk of a tree fallen a few feet from the shore of the lake. An elbow resting on the legs, the palm of a hand supporting the head. You were still wearing pajamas, on your feet a pair of slippers with the colors of your House.

“We should not be out here, [y/n]” Rowan murmured, breaking the silence. “It's against school regulation, and you know it well”

Rowan was one of your best friends, a loyal companion. You two had met at Hogsmeade before you started your Hogwarts adventure, and since then you've never been separated. Rowan was a that tipe of person who really liked studying; Rowan often took her classes instead of Binnis - the ghost did not even notice and kept talking in his boring and soporific tone.

“You could have stayed in bed and sleep late, Rowan,” you replied, shrugging. “Nobody told you to follow me here”

As soon as the words came out of your mouth, you felt guilty. You knew Rowan was there to keep you company, so you were not alone. It was just like when he/she gave you a hand to get ready to face anything between you and the Cursed Vaults. Rowan was your friend and simply wanted to help you.

For the second time, you let yourself go to a sigh. “Sorry”

“For what?” Rowan asked.

“I guess you followed me with the intention of cheering me up,” I replied, biting my lower lip. “and instead I treat you badly”

“You did not do anything like that, [y/n]” Rowan said, putting a hand on your shoulder and holding her a little. “Let's say that at the moment you're... indisposed“

You giggled. “Indisposed?”

Now you both laughed. When the laughter faded, and the silence returned among you, you returned to admire the dawn. The sky was still a wonderful painting: besides the sun, which slowly rose, there were a few white clouds - one in the shape of a centaur.

Your mind returned to the most recent events. You had just started to study the boggars and the professor had decided to make you try to tackle one. You had expected to see He-Who-Not-Must-Be-Named, but the boggart had taken on the appearance of your brother.

Jacob was beautiful, just as you remembered. Your hero, the one who protected you and made you feel the luckiest person in the world. You lowered the wand, wondering why the boggart took the form of Jacob: he could not be your greatest fear.

But you realized that there was something different about him. What did Penny say once? “I hope you find him, [y/n]. I just hope he’s the same person you remember...”

And indeed, the Jacob you had before your eyes was not the good and kind brother you had known. His eyes were closed with a slit, an evil grin on his strangely pale face. He seemed he was about to growl like a ferocious beast. His wand pointed at you.

As if it was not enough, at the time of dinner, someone came to you and told you something have that have definitely put you KO. The Gryffindors of your own year, a Potions, had prepared the Amortentia: Charlie Weasley, your crush, had smelled the vapors of the potion.

“He made the name of a girl of the third year of Gryffindor” they said. “I thought he would have said your name”

Rowan yawned and your attention shifted to your friend. Despite everything, you smiled. You were about to tell your friend that he/she would have to go back to the dorms and get a good night's sleep, that you would wake him/her up later and that you would even bring him/her breakfast, but there was someone behind him/her. The figure that was getting closer and closer was also in pajamas, the red hair indistinguishable.

Charlie Weasley.

Rowan realized that you were looking behind him/her, then turned and frowned. How did Charlie know you were out there?

“Hey” he greeted you, a little embarrassed. “[y/n] can I talk to you for a moment? In privat?”

You nodded. Rowan nodded as well and rose from the trunk, heading for the castle. He/she said he/she was sleepy and would go back to sleep as he/she walked away. Charlie then took Rowan's place.

“I heard about the boggart” said Charlie. “How are you?”

You shrugged and puffed. “Meh”

Having him so close made you feel the heartbeat and the butterflies in the stomach awakened. You looked elsewhere to hide your red cheeks, but you did not miss the amused smile on Charlie's face. Did he saw that you had blushed?

Unfortunately, in addition to the butterflies and that fantastic thrill that ran down the line, you had to remember that Charlie did not return your feelings at all. You began to torture your fingers and decided to change the subject: you didn’t really want to talk about what had happened with the Jacob-Boggart.

“How did you know we were here?” you asked. “Rowan and I came out in the middle of the night on tiptoe. Filch has almost caught us”

“I do not know how to explain it, [y/n]. A feeling, I suppose” he replied, getting closer to you. “It's since they told me what happened to you with the boggart that I struggle to close my eyes at night”

You looked back at the sky and you realized that by now the sun was high in the clear blue sky. The cloud shaped like a centaur now looked more like something formless and without contours. The surface of the Black Lake broke and a huge tentacle emerged that looked for hot rays.

“You know you can always count on me, [y/n]” said Charlie.

You were still torturing your fingers, but he took your hand. He touched the palm with the fingertip of the index and a pleasant shake spread throughout your body. How could he make you feel like that? Why with him even simply breathe became the most beautiful thing in the world? How was it possible that dealing with the Cursed Vaults seemed so easy with him?

“If you need to talk and let off steam, or be quiet for hours“ Charlie continued, now intertwining your fingers.

“Or if I need a dragon egg”  you joked, turning in his direction and smiling.

“Or if you need a dragon egg” he repeated, chuckling.

A smile remained on Charlie's face as the laughter faded. He looked at you in the eyes and imperceptibly approached your face with his. He wet his lips and you thought how many freckles there were on the beautiful face of red guy in front of you. In the chest, your heart was beating so fast that sooner or later - you knew it - it would pop out and tell Charlie what you felt for him.

Then the Amortentia came back to mind.

“So, I heard that Snape made you prepare a new potion“ you said, suddenly getting up from the trunk you were sitting on. You let go of Charlie's hand and hugged you, pretending to be cold. “Amortentia, eh?”

“Would you like to ... would you like to know what was the smells of it?” he asked, his face now as red as his hair.

“Someone is embarrassed!“ you laughed at him, although for you it was like being stabbed in the heart. “Look at you! You're all red, Charlie!”

Charlie got up from the trunk and wiped the sweat of his hands on his pajama bottoms. He could not look you in the eye, he kept clearing his throat to save time and when he finally opened his mouth, you prepared for the worst. Surely, hearing him talk about the person he liked would have destroyed you slowly.

You like them so much, eh?” you asked him, serious

Charlie suddenly raised his head, surprised and relieved at the same time. He smiled, ran a hand through his hair - he had left it loose - and then he said, “Isn’t it obvious?”

Now it was your turn to gain time. As he had done a little earlier, you cleared your throat, then turned your gaze to the Black Lake. Your vision clouded: you were about to cry. But you didn’t want Charlie to see you, so you just nodded and wished him luck.

“I'd better go” you said, trying to smile. “I promised Rowan I would bring him/her breakfast”

You move towards the castle. You had done more or less five steps, when Charlie grabbed your wrist and turned you around. You went to collide with his chest, hurting your nose a little bit. When you raised your head, you found Charlie's face very close to yours. His breath was warm, it tickled your skin.

“Chocolate Frogs, fresh lemon, orange scent and ...” Charlie bit his lip to keep from laughing. “... wet dog”

Chocolate Frogs: they were your favorite. You could have eat them up to burst, you didn’t even care so much about the figurines; you gave them all and Tonks and she, to make you laugh, took the form of those in front of her.

Fresh lemon: a slice always in your hot tea, to give it that aroma you liked so much.

Orange scent: you had a bottle in the trunk and when it was about to end, you always sent a letter to your parents to send you a new one. It was almost impossible to find that profume, but they could do it every time.

Wet dog: it was Tonks who had told the rest of your friends that, like Talbott, you had become an Animagus. Charlie had begged you for weeks to see you in animal form. At the end, you had given in: you had turned into a dog and sat in front of him, with the tail going here and there. Then Charlie had taken a stone and had transfigured it into a ball: “Run to get it [y/n]!” he had said, but you had sat still, staring at him as if to say “Are you serious?” with your  dog eyes.

“Sorry, what?” you murmured, out of breath. “What does it mean?”

“I repeat: isn’t it obvious?”

Now Charlie seemed to have found the courage he had missed for a long time, perhaps from the day you met. At the beginning it was a simple friendship, the one between you two, but over time the feelings had changed and he found himself having a crush on his best friend. He had told Bill, his older brother. Bill told him to come forward and tell you how he felt, but Charlie was afraid of losing your wonderful relationship and you.

“How is it possible?” you whispered, relaxing in his arms. “They told me it was a Gryffindor the person you liked”

Charlie shook his head. He touched your nose with his. “You are the first to whom I say what my Amortentia smells like. Maybe someone wanted to prank you” He pulled away a little, so he could see you well, and frowned. “I wonder why, though”

“Maybe because they know I like you, Charlie” you said softly, blushing.

A big smile appeared on his face. He picked you up and then, without thinking twice, he kissed you. His lips were soft, perfect. You breathed deeply his scent and told you that you didn’t need a potion to know who was the person who attracted you most to the world, because that person was kissing you relentlessly.

Then a chorus rose up. Behind you there were your friends who applauded, exulted, whistled.

“Finally!”

“It was about time!”

“You were the only ones who couldn’t see that you like each other!”