warning for fighting, insults and profanity. Disclaimer: This is in no way meant to be hateful against the character of Charlie Weasley- I do really love him. It is simply an in-universe retelling of the reaction to his line- “Have we ever really been safe with the danger MC brings around?”
Merula goes looking for Salem and hearing about their fight with Charlie in early sixth year.
Merula knocked cautiously on the door to the artifact room.
She’d been searching for Salem for several minutes, ever since she’d heard yelling in the courtyard and stumbled upon Penny and Farhan holding Loki back as she screamed insults at Charlie, a furious look of rage on her face.
“What in the bloody hell is going on here?” Merula had questioned, utterly bewildered. It wasn’t uncommon to see Loki pissed off, but never had she seen that anger directed at a friend of Loki’s. Charlie looked a bit scared, but also angry.
“This pendejo insulted Salem ‘n Thalia!” Loki cried angrily, struggling against the two holding her back. “He put the blame on ‘em fer all the danger o’ the vaults, and ‘e’s got the cheek ter be upset ‘cause we got angry an’ defensive o’ ‘em!”
“Am I wrong?” Charlie spat back almost reflexively, quickly flinching as Loki writhed particularly violently at that. “We keep getting into danger and they’re the common denominator!”
“Cierra la maldita boca!” Loki roared, barely held back by the two. “You fucking apologize! They’ve been riskin’ their safety an’ lives t’stop those vaults, an’ you ‘have the audacity t’blame ‘em fer the danger? Que te folle un pez!!”
Merula felt anger swell up inside her as well, and a rare, small wave of approval at the sight of Ben’s face contorted in rage at Charlie. “Wait- then where’s Salem?”
“They ran off!” Penny panted, trying to tighten her grip around Loki. “Towards the main hall? I believe? Can you go find them, they were crying!”
Merula swallowed down the intense rage she felt at that, staring menacingly at Charlie. She gave a silent nod of approval to Loki, almost telepathically communicating “fuck him up for me” before turning on her heels and running towards the main hall.
Merula whipped her head around for any sign of the metamorphmagus, before catching a glimpse of a shadowy hallway that she knew led to the artifact room. It was something known almost exclusively by all of those within their social sphere/involved somehow in the vaults, and with it being close to class time, Merula figured that’d be the first place Salem would’ve hidden.
She was proven right as she approached the door and heard very muffled sounds of crying. Trying to swallow down her scorching anger, Merula opened the door and quickly closed it behind her before looking at Salem.
The witch was a mess- blue eyes wide, face tear streaked, hair messy and no longer bright and colorful, instead now a dull brown. Salem wiped furiously at their face in embarrassment.
“Wha’s you doin’ ‘ere?” Salem sniffed, still wiping tears to little success. Merula kneeled down and grasped Salem’s cheeks in their hands, pulling them to meet her eyes.
“Why else would I be here? My girlfriend’s upset!” Merula remarked, trying to tone down her anger as much as possible. She knew how sensitive Salem was to tones. “I can’t just let you suffer in silence. You didn’t let me do that all summer, remember? You kept dragging me places and cheering me up. I wanted to return the favor.”
Salem whimpered as more tears fell. “Ah, Charlie- what he said wasn’t wrong at all! Thalia and meself kept pokin’ around those vaults, an’ everyone’s been in a right pickle ‘cause of it! You got tortured! All 'cause of me!” They covered their face with their hands as another sob wracked their body. “I keep causin' danger, I just keep makin' it worse, y'know? Yous would all be safer keepin' yer distance from me!”
Merula moved instinctively and pulled Salem into a tight hug, pressing a kiss to their cheek before pulling them closer. “Now you know that’s not true. What is it you kept telling me? It was my anxiety talking so much, convincing me things were worse than they were? That’s what your brain’s doing right now!” Merula pulled away just enough to hold Salem’s face firmly in front of their own. “We’re all safer with you and Thalia working on those damn vaults! God knows them damn professors don’t do a bloody thing about ‘em! Beatrice got out ‘cause of you! Jacob got out ‘cause of you! Remember!?”
Salem sobbed into Merula’s hands.
“Naw naw - I’m just - it’s all me own fault! If we hadn’t poked into those bleedin' vaults-“
“They still would’ve opened!!” Merula cried, pulling Salem once again into a tighter hug. “They still would’ve opened. Matter of fact is, those bleedin’ vaults were destined to reopen, and you and your buddies are the only ones doing anything about it! Don’t listen to that daft bastard, he doesn’t know a damn thing!”
Salem let out another sob, but shifted as they wrapped their arms around Merula, leaning deep into the hug as if it was their lifeline. “Youse- ye really think tha'?” They asked, voice trembling, laced with sorrow and palpable anxiety.
Merula tightened her grip around Salem. “Of course I do. Look, who was it that believed in me in the first place? Who insisted I could be good? Who was it who stayed with me that whole summer after fifth year, barely leaving me alone to ensure I was alrigh’? It was you, Salem. You’d never hurt anyone on purpose, ever. I know that better than anyone, I think.” Merula pressed a kiss to Salem’s forehead. “You’re so much kinder than you think you are. Honestly, I dunno how I got so blessed to have met you. I committed so many sins that I never thought they’d be repaid with anything but suffering- but then I met you. You are the kindest person I’ve ever known. And I’ve seen you run into danger just to protect others. That bastard doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Hell, you helped protect him in the bloody vaults!”
Salem sniffled- not quite a full sob, but something akin to a wet laugh escaped their mouth. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. Don’t listen to him. You’re one of the most selfless people I know.”
Salem sniffled again and dug their head into Merula’s shoulder, relishing the comfort and smell of their girlfriend so close. The two then just sat in silence for a good while, enjoying each other’s company.
“Thank you.” Salem finally mustered, pressing a kiss to Merula’s cheek. “I dunno wha' I'd do wit'out ya.”
Merula gave a proud smile and hugged Salem tighter. “Same here.”
i drew our au’s autistic mcs for the occasion <3333
- and always remember to stay educated and conscious, to be kind to and support autistic people of ALL support needs, to raise the voices of those around you and always, always accept autistic people, no matter how “weird” you think they are. we are stronger together in solidarity than we are apart.
in honor of pride month, the cursed friends au crew now has pride icons with some of our mcs- featuring salem, farhan, loki, ryka, samz, amaryllis, oliver and skai (our newest member) !! keep an eye out for some pride icons with some of the hphm cast !!
