In This Darkness

The Art & Sound Behind the In This Darkness Universe

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In This Darkness: Xander Vandenberg's life is a puzzle of buried truths and dangerous powers. Lily Potter's is a dance between expectation and rebellion. When a shadowy threat emerges, their paths collide in a final year at Hogwarts filled with forbidden magic, rising tensions, and secrets that could unravel everything. To survive, they'll have to face the ghosts of their pasts - and decide who they're willing to trust when everything is on the line.

Status: WIP

In Light of You: A series of (mostly) fluffy drabbles following Harry and Ginny from the days after the war.

Status: Complete

Author's Page Link Below:

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

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"There was something unnervingly direct about the way he looked at her, as though he could see straight through her and every connecting nerve inside her body was something visible to him for study."

from In This Darkness, Chapter 25: False Pretenses

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"He paused abruptly. He’d been about to say he didn’t think any of those things about Lily—that she wasn’t beautiful or kind or brilliant—but even the thought felt sacrilegious, like denying something sacred."

from In This Darkness, Chapter 24: Truth Be Told

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January 5, 2025

 Hi friends 💛

I just wanted to pop in and say that I miss you all. Life has been a little loud lately—graduate school, work being… a lot, and trying to be really present for my family have taken up more space than I expected. Writing time has been harder to come by, but not because I’ve stopped caring. However, ITD is still very much still alive in my head, and it’s not something I’ve given up on—just something I’m carrying with me while I juggle real life for a bit.

Thank you for being so kind, patient, and lovely. I’m really grateful for you all, and I can’t wait to be back in the writing headspace again when things calm down.

Sending love and hoping you’re all doing well ✨

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"Then, inevitably, his voice returned, quiet and steady, curling into the space behind her ear."

from In This Darkness, Chapter 23: Residual Effects

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"Whispers curled in the corners of her mind—a shadow of a memory. Dark hair. Solemn blue eyes. A thumb pressing against her palm."

from In This Darkness, Chapter 22: Rude Awakenings

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"He didn’t care who stood in his way—He just needed to reach her. To do something. To stop this, whatever this was."

from In This Darkness, Chapter 21: Of Raging Storms

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"Lily tried not to care. About how close they were sitting. About how he and Katherine had arrived late to class Monday morning, rumpled, poorly rested, and very much together. About how it was always this girl or that girl. And then, more desperately, she tried not to care about how much she really did care."

from In This Darkness: Chapter 20, ...This Way Comes

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“Two masters of a game neither of you even knows you're playing.”

from In This Darkness, Chapter 19: Something Wicked...

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I just wanted to take a moment to say a huge thank you for the Inky nominations! Being recognized for Best Multi-Chaptered, Best Character Development (Xander Vandenburg), Favorite Lead Character (Xander Vandenburg), Favorite Side Character (Hugo), and Best Friendship means so much to me.

Per contest rules, I had to narrow it down to three, and I chose: ✨ Favorite Supporting Character (Hugo) ✨ Best Character Development (Xander) ✨ Best Friendship

These categories are especially close to my heart. Hugo may not always be in the spotlight, but he has been one of my favorite characters to write. Xander’s development has been a journey of contradictions and crafting his growth has been both a challenge and a joy. And of course, friendship is the foundation of so much in this story, shaping relationships just as much as conflict does.

A huge shoutout to all the other nominees—there’s so much incredible talent in this community, and I encourage everyone to check out their work here. Being included among such amazing writers is an honor. 💙

Thank you again to everyone who nominated me! Your support means the world. ✨

As an additional side note - I have been out of town this week for a much needed holiday with my family. However, I am back and have started working on Chapter 19 of In This Darkness. 🥰

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"The fire in his eyes faded, and for a moment, she thought he might break. That he might give in, that he might agree to help. But then, instead, he turned and walked away, a hand running through the back of his hair."

And this time, Lily just watched him go."

from In This Darkness, Chapter 18: A Simple Favor

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“I’ve always been curious—how do two cold-blooded reptiles muster enough heat to properly mate?”

from In This Darkness, Chapter 17: Undercurrent Shifts

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"Vector’s brows lifted in mild amusement before she passed him the chalk. Xander exhaled steadily, then stepped forward, lifting the chalk to the slate. The classroom quieted as the faint scrape of chalk punctuated the moment. He worked through the equation methodically, numbers and symbols falling into place until he reached its conclusion."

from In This Darkness, Chapter 15: Numbers and Notions

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"Then, turning to Oscar, he leaned gently against him, his shoulder pressing lightly, like a horse nuzzling up to someone, before smiling up at him. 'Hi.'"

from In This Darkness, Chapter 15: Hesitant Hearts

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"He stepped forward, the space between them suddenly a feeble thing, and for a moment, she thought he might embrace her—that she might let him. Instead, he held her only with his gaze, and somehow, that was still enough for her fingers to slip from the shelf."

from In This Darkness, Chapter 14: Of Headlines and Heartstrings

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"Her mother’s face grinned up at her, full of life and mischief. Her red hair, tied back in a messy ponytail, seemed to shimmer in the enchanted light of the photograph, and her freckled face practically glowed."

from In This Darkness, Chapter 13: Lessons in Disguise

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“You’re so much fun, even if people say you’re quite full of yourself, and a bit of a snob, and something of a reckless flirt too. Which, okay, maybe you are, but honestly—”

“Merlin, you really know how to build a bloke up,” Edward said, and though his tone was sarcastic, it was also a bit teasing, as if he found her amusing. 

from In This Darkness, Chapter 12: A Study In Distractions