#hphm fic

[the-al-chemist]

It’s been a while, but something’s coming….

This Shadowed Land (Part One: Order) is coming soon!

[fics-she-wrote]

Winter Morning

Lights flashing. Running along hedges. A green strike of lightning passing close by. Darkness.

Alice's eyes flew open. She gasped, drawing in air as if she'd been holding her breath for hours.

Her vision swam for a moment before adjusting. Above her, rough-hewn wooden beams crisscrossed a ceiling. Not the night sky. Not the vaulted stonework of the manor. She turned her head. Crisp white sheets. A soft mattress beneath her back. Her fingers clutched at the soft fabric.

She sat up slowly and looked around. The room was small, most likely an infirmary. Wooden walls. Simple furniture. Through the window, the sun's first rays caught he snow on the sill, turning it into a pile of tiny diamonds.

Alice looked down at herself. The black gown from last night still clung to her, though it was stained and torn at the hem. Her hands were unmarked. No cuts or bindings. She clearly hadn't been caught…

Simon! She looked frantically at the other beds, but they were all empty, their sheets pulled tight and undisturbed. Her chest tightened. Had he been captured? Had she been the only one to escape to—where exactly? This place wasn't familiar to her at all. She squeezed her eyes shut, struggling to piece together what had happened, but her mind refused to cooperate.

She heard a sharp gasp. Alice’s eyes snapped open. A young woman stood in the doorway, mouth open, tray frozen in her hands. Their eyes met for half a second before the woman turned and bolted, leaving the door open behind her.

Wrapping herself in her bedcover to shield against the cold seeping inside, she detected a smell drifting in from outside. Something burning. Wood, certainly, but it was more intense than a simple campfire. Acrid. Soot mixed with something almost sulfuric.

Just as she tried to place the smell, she heard multiple footsteps. The nurse reappeared, and behind her, a man. Short, broad-shouldered, with ginger hair and a face covered in freckles.

Her breath caught.

Charlie Weasley.

Alice was in Romania. At the dragon reserve.

[ash-buzzard]

Year 7 chapter 42

Charlie never gets angry but Merula told everyone something she shouldn’t have... He makes it clear she won’t hurt mc (ash) again.

---

When Merula drops the bombshell about Peregrine being Ashley's father, Charlie sees how it affects her when the Circle struggles to process the news and regain trust in her.

Uncharacteristically, Charlie's usual calm demeanour gives way to a rare moment of anger when he spots Merula in the Great Hall. With controlled intensity, he presses her against the wall and gives her a stern warning in a low, deliberate voice.

“Careful, Snyde.”

Silence falls over the Great Hall as everyone watches the unexpected scene unfold. It's uncommon to see Charlie display such aggression, and Merula, torn between defiance and guilt, remains speechless.

“Don’t you dare hurt Ash again” he whispers, “or you will find me. I’m not afraid of you like I used to in 5th grade, so don’t test me”

Slowly releasing her, Charlie shoots her a glare before turning on his heel and heading off to class, leaving behind a lingering tension in the air.

[autisticarachnid]

Day 7 ~ Comfort (Words of Affirmation)

Salem x Merula, early sixth year

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.”

[libellule-ao3]

✨️Welcome!✨️

I'm a passionate fanfic writer, active since 2020 on AO3. But my journey with fanfiction goes way back (I have even older works lurking on ff.net🙂.)

☘️Here, you'll find fics, HCs, and fanarts. And I mostly reblog my favourite things here, but don’t hesitate to scroll through my likes, there’s plenty of good stuff there too 💖

☘️ To me, fanfiction is all about creativity, passion, and sharing stories that make us feel something. Whether you're here to read or discuss, you're more than welcome!

☘️ To everyone who reads, likes, reblogs, or comments: thank you! Your support means the world to me. 🫶

⚠️: Some of my fanfics deal with NSFW topics. Appropriate warnings are given before each respective story. If you are under the age of 18 or feel uncomfortable with any of them, proceed at your own caution. You have been warned.

✅️ = Completed | ▶️ = WIP | ⏸️ = Hiatus

⚠️🤜 = Graphic depictions of violence | 🔞🌶= Smut

‼️ Fanworks, OCs, reposting, AI and monetisation: my boundaries

Hogwarts Legacy:

✅️ | Obsession | 🔞🌶 | Dark!Dominis/You-F!Reader | 21k words

"You promised to give yourself entirely to me, so I will take everything from you and demand even more from you" Ominis Gaunt

▶️ Lullaby for Cursed Seeds | 🔞🌶| ⚠️🤜 | Ominis Gaunt/Évelyne Lavandin | 138k words (#EVINIS)

✅️ | Venom & Velvet | 🔞🌶 | Evinis | OS

She didn’t think her birthday mattered. He took it as a personal offence. So no cake, no candles. Just Ominis, velvet, and a few bites from a serpent that’s anything but natural. Happy birthday, Evelyne!

✅️ | Wild Surrender | 🔞🌶| OS | Sebastian/You + Garreth/you

"Be strong and impose yourself on his landscape! Make sure Sallow can’t forget you. Wave your charms under his nose like you’re forbidden fruit and remind him every second that it’s you he wants to devour!" Garreth

✅️ | The Snake's Duality |🔞| ⚠️🤜 | OS| Dark!Seb/Ominis

Sebastian has just been released from Azkaban after more than three years in prison. 1 223 days to be exact. His first instinct is to find Ominis, whose weekly letters rekinkled in extremis his desire to live, drained by the dementors, and he realise that a shadow reeking of malevolence is following him like a shadow.

✅️ | Late Bloom | Mirabel Garlick/OFC | OS

After the shared night with Viviane, Mirabel reflects on the path that led them to this intimate moment, anticipating the challenges of their future together.

⏸️ In Mrs Gaunt's Nightgown | 🔞🌶|Ominis Gaunt/You-F!Reader

Like all young women, your friend Adelia dreamed of a loving union.But like most pure-blooded witches, she found herself trapped in an arranged marriage. However, she sees a clause in her marriage contract that offers her a way out... and you are the key.

✅️| Bloody woman! |🔞🌶| Sebastian/F!reader |

✅️| Blood will out | Dad!Ominis x unnamed mc |

✅️ | Lonely Pleasure |🔞🌶| Ominis/you

✅️ | Sex under the coat | 🔞🌶| Evinis

✅️ | Distorted mirror | M | Sebastian/Sakurako

✅️ | In the Shadow of the Lost Time | M | Dad!Sebastian/Sakurako

Devastated by the loss of his wife Sakurako, Sebastian falls into despair and obsession.

✅️| Desiderium Patris Indigni | 🔞🌶| Dad!Sebastian/Sakurako

Haunted by his past mistakes, Sebastian fears he may be unworthy of his future role as a father and of his child's love.

✅️| The Night Visitor | 🔞🌶 | Incubus! Ominis/Unamed MC

Ominis has nothing human left in him. All that remains is that glacial hunger which drives him, night after night, to feed on the ecstasy of women with virgin bodies and minds infested with unspeakable fantasies.

✅️ | Painted&Pinned | 🔞🌶 | Ominis Gaunt/Annariel

Ominis couldn’t see the painting, but he felt it— her gaze burning his skin, the silence heavy, the air thick with anticipation. Then, the first stroke of the brush.

✅️ | Himitsu no Shibari | 🔞🌶| Ominis/You-F!reader |

In feudal Japan, where duty reigns supreme, you find yourself trapped in an arranged marriage with a ruthless daimyo. However, you unexpectedly discover solace in the arms of your brother-in-law, Ominis.

✅️ | Coming home | 🔞🌶 | Sebastian/Ominis/F!reader

Ominis' wand + Sebastian's wand

Some Hogwarts Legacy characters & their MBTI types

Ominis, his eyes and his experience as a blind wizard

NSFW Alphabets: Ominis Gaunt | Dark!Ominis | Sebastian Sallow

Solomon Sallow analysis

Meet: Evelyne Lavandin (OFC- Hogwarts Legacy)

HC : Mathilda Weasley /Chiyo Kogawa

HOGWARTS MYSTERY:

⏸️ Jae Kim's bets |🔞🌶 | ⚠️🤜| Jae Kim/Annie Thorn | 59k words

When Jacob's sister makes a stupid bet to motivate him during the chore of washing dishes imposed by Pitts, she has no idea what she's getting into. Indeed, Jae Kim is a particularly mischievous boy, with much naughtier aims than she imagined. Will their little games strengthen their friendship, destroy it or lead to a romantic relationship?

⏸️Life Links | T | Second war against Voldemort from the POV of the hphm characters |

The members of the Circle of Khanna, an underground student organisation dedicated to bringing justice to their murdered comrade, have grown up. Since graduating, some of them have never left each other's side, while others never thought they would see each other again. Yet as the final battle against Voldemort looms, only one question remains. How will the links forged yesterday influence the battle of Hogwarts?

✅️ | Are flowers counted? |Jae Kim&Annie Thorn |

For the first time in 100 years, Phyllida's Flutterby bushes will bloom at Hogwarts. This is an exceptional event which, by chance of the calendar, falls on Valentine's Day.

✅️ | Skating Lesson | Jae Kim&Annie Thorn |

A lesson in skating turns out to be much more instructive and valuable than expected.

✅️ | Broken Promise | Jacob&Annie&Peregrine |

Jacob suffers from his father's absence and tries to spare his little sister the same grief.

✅️ | Little Sheninagans for Eternalchocolaterain 💙| T | Merula Snyde/Quinn Lee) => [on Tumblr]

Gossip about her relationship with Quinn is getting on Merula's nerves, and she's determined to divert attention from the rabble.

Meet Annie Thorn (MC) & Jacob Thorn

NARUTO:

✅️ | From Monster to Brother | ⚠️🤜 | Gaara & Temari & Kankurō & Baki | 13k words

Fanfiction about how Gaara reconnected with Temari and Kankurō after the Konoha Crush.

*Dividers : @/cafekitsune

[eternalchaoschocolaterain]

So, seeing Merula ice skate inspired me and I wrote a little scene. It felt really good to just write after life's stresses caused me a block the past few weeks.

Anyway, the scene:

When she came over, Quinn hadn't expected to find Merula outside. Usually her girlfriend wasn't too fond of the cold. But she wasn't just outside, she was skating on the pond in her garden. All dressed up in thick jeans, a tight black woolen coat and a matching hat.

Standing on ice wasn't exactly Quinn's idea of fun. She'd rather be up the air, or running in sensible shoes. Not slipping away on ice skates, but Merula made it look fun. The way she just glided over the ice, so graceful it almost looked like she was dancing. One feet in the air, moving backwards and even making a pirouette! Quinn couldn't help but stare from her place on the wooden bench.

So there was no way she could've said no when Merula asked if she wanted to give it a try.

'Good, I think I got an old pair that we can size up. Give me a minute,' Merula said and went back inside her house.

Right, there was no sense in waiting anyway. It was a beautiful day. Snow clung to the trees around the pond and glittered in the sunlight.

'What do you think?' Merula held up a pair of black skates that looked like sneakers with a bar underneath.

'Looks good.' Quinn took them while Merula went to put her own skates back on.

The skates were too small, as expected, but nothing a few well-placed engorgio's couldn't fix. By the time they fit Merula was already back to gliding over the ice.

The blades sunk into the snow when Quinn got up and she almost fell over. Great start. She took a first step. One blade slipped against, well she didn't even know what it slipped against, and she fell over. How was she supposed to get to the pond on these things?! Hopefully Merula hadn't noticed.

Melodic laughter sounded out. Too late. She looked up to see Merula glide towards her with a big grin on her pale face. Her cheeks were rosy from the exercise.

'Have you ever gone ice skating anyway?' She held out her gloved hands.

'No, I didn't have skates? Still don't, actually.' Quinn took them both and steadied herself. 'How do you walk with these things?'

'It's about balance. Smalls steps at first.'

Merula took Quinn by her forearms and gently guided her towards the pond. While only a few steps away it took quite an effort to get there and she almost slipped again when she stepped on the ice.

'Don't let go of me!'

'I won't,' Merula soothed, still grinning. 'Do you trust me?'

'I do.'

'Okay. Bend your knees a little. Yes, like that. Now push your foot forward, one at the time.'

Quinn did as she was told and slowly moved forward. How Merula managed to skate backwards while holding her steady was beyond her.

After a few small steps she tried bigger ones and looked down to see what she was doing. It almost made her trip again.

'Don't look down, stupid. Keep looking at me.' She did and Merula had a big smirk on her face. 'I can't believe I'm actually teaching League's sports woman of the year something new.'

'That was last year and it's League, that doesn't- wait you read League?'

'Doesn't everybody?' Merula turned red.

'I think most people just look at the pictures.' Quinn sniggered.

League presented itself as a sports magazine, but mostly featured pictures, with small bodies of text to keep up the pretense. As a teen it had been one of her favourite magazines and a few centerfolds had ended up her walls. So when League asked her to do a shoot last year, she'd been flattered. Even more so when they asked her again for the competition. She ended up being the centerfold and wow did it feel good to be on the same level as the people she admired as a teen. If she didn't feel weird about hanging a picture like that of herself, she might've framed it.

'So, what did you think?'

'You looked good, but I prefer this.' Merula pulled at her forearms to bring her closer and plant a soft kiss on her lips. Before Quinn had a chance to kiss her back, Merula pulled away. 'I'm going to let go now. Keep your legs bend and see if you can do it by yourself.'

With a grumble Quinn nodded and to her surprise she managed to move on her own. Not too bad. She tried a turn and started to gain a little speed. This felt good, maybe ice skating could become a new sport for her.

'Spread your legs and stick one foot out if you want to slow down or stop.' Merula advised while following Quinn, still skating backwards.

Without realising it, she'd begun to stare again and tripped over her feet while trying to slow down. Merula came right over and laughed while helping her get up. Her violet eyes scrunched in delight.

'I see I have my work cut out for me this winter.'

'Just wait, I'll teach you about broomsurfing this summer,' Quinn pretend scoffed. 'See who's laughing then.'

[katherinewilliams221b]

Ol’ Saint Nicholas

Part 1/2: Aurora

Summary: Against her wishes, Kate returns to her home for the Holidays, dreading the threats that await her in Williams Manor. She will have to face once more who she considers her mortal enemy and possibly the cause of Jacob’s disappearance.

Pairing: Implied/ Mentioned Charlie Weasley x ofc/Jacob’s sibling

Warnings: Mature, death/murder

A/N: Not your typical Christmas fic, it won’t be jolly, always here to provide angst and weird shit. The pairing is referenced because all my stories happen in the same universe. This is the Christmas after starting year 6 of Hogwarts. I stopped following hphm storyline in year 4 so maybe I took some liberties.

A proper christmas fic with charlie in it would be A very Walsh Christmas

-

Wouldn't you know that you'd

Be responsible for all the holiday noise?

Wouldn't you know that we'd be just like

Other little girls and boys?

-

The day was clear, disgustingly bright for the mood I was in, and it didn’t suit the place either. Tall, black metal fences opened when the black carriage that took me to this… my house arrived.

I said my goodbyes to the chauffeur and stepped out while securing my backpack on my shoulder, leaving my trunk behind.

Just as I was about to walk, Prim, one of my grandfather’s assistants apparated next to the carriage, grabbed my trunk and disapparated just as fast. I just hoped that they wouldn’t confiscate the gifts that the Weasleys gave me that summer for my birthday.

I sighed at the thought of Charlie, the Burrow, and the goodbye kiss we shared at King’s Cross, while staring at the block of stone and bricks that was the Williams Manor.

It stared back at me in the distance, tall and long, smirking at how all my secrets would be revealed when I crossed its threshold. I had to close my eyes, concentrate on something that wasn’t the splendid summer I had spent with the Weasleys, something other than a certain redhead that miraculously reciprocated, and most importantly, erase the memories of the start of this year at Hogwarts.

The first step I took towards the Williams’ grounds couldn’t have been more of a warning; looking down, I found my converse half-deep in mud and I sighed once more. 

The terrain changed into grovel, and I rounded the black fountain, now frozen, towards the front door. I didn’t jump at the clunk of the gates smashing against each other behind me, or at one of the stone sirens at the fountain following me with her gaze, nor at the two suits of armours, one on each side of the doors, who suddenly pointed their spears towards my face.

“You should be able to recognise me by now.” I stated at them. “I live here.”

No response.

“Or maybe someone could update the system to something less invasive? Like a voice sensor or a secret code?”

I cocked my head to one side, delaying the inevitable. “How about a doorbell?”

The knights crossed their weapons, blocking the door, and I considered just for a brief moment apparating out of there. It would be illegal, yes, and difficult. Bill had been teaching me, but I couldn’t seem to get the hang of it just yet. Maybe running fast enough I could catch the car back to London…

If you are going to stand there… careful with the new vines that we planted.

A shiver ran through me. I almost forgot what it was like, what the feeling of the house being inside your head at all times was. I didn’t recognise the voice, maybe it was Nicholas, maybe one of the knights. Either way, I couldn’t resist a response.

I would prefer them over this.

Resigning myself after waiting for another attack on my psyche, the fear of freezing to death convinced me to just… accept it.

I reached out my hand aiming at one of the spears, and the knights were on the move again. They never cut too deep, just enough to draw out a single drop of blood. I hissed when it pricked me. I almost forgot that pain, too.

The drop travelled rapidly down the spear, growing bigger as it went, leaving silver sparks wherever it touched, and disappearing just as fast. The knight pointed at the lock and the drop jumped inside. I crossed my arms around myself as the two guardians returned to their original position, unmoving.

I patiently waited for the soft click that I heard, and after a loud thump both doors opened before me, letting me see the interior. Of course, one more obstacle awaited me, the magic detector barrier placed at the threshold, courtesy of Nicholas Williams.

I stepped through the invisible curtain, which glowed with my presence. My backpack opened with force, spitting my wand and a pair of earmuffs. Both of the items were left floating at my sides.

Almost immediately, Prim apparated before me. That day he chose a tall, languid, unhealthily pale appearance. Metamorphagi could turn into anything they wanted, and it never failed to surprise me how Prim seemed to prefer looks that make him resemble a serial-murderer. The only way to identify him was the unmistakable odour of the perfume he, in my opinion, bathed with instead of water.

“What is that?” He asked, pointing at the earmuffs.

“Hello, Prim. Merry Christmas to you too. That is for herbology homework.”

The lie slipped out of me too easily. Since I started being able to talk, I learnt how to take advantage of Prim’s poor knowledge of… everything. The man was as dumb as a teaspoon.

He hummed and clearly needing to attend to more important matters, he disapparated once again, not before cleaning my shoe with a hand gesture and a disgusted expression.

I picked my wand and earmuffs from the air and put them back in my bag again as I walked the long hallway inside.

To my left, the lights distracted me and I stopped to admire the living room, fully decorated for Christmas. I had to admit that as much as I hated staying inside the house, preferring my room or the outdoors whenever possible, the holidays decor deserved to be admired. Approaching the threshold, I peeked as carefully as I could, trying to avoid the guests who sat on the couches to see me. At least there was no sight of Nicholas, and since the living space was mostly empty, I would not be reprised for being the last to arrive. That gave me a bit of time to settle.

Taking one last look at the roof-high tree in front of the fireplace, I resumed my way.

The house was surprisingly quiet for Christmas, except for the music coming from the living room and the faint murmur of dishes being handled in the kitchen as I approached the also Christmas adorned staircase.

I couldn’t even take a step upstairs when the sound of a door opening came from my right. I turned my head, holding my breath, waiting for her to come out. However, the door to my grandmother’s studio only opened more, with no one stepping out.

Contemplating if I should just ignore it or giving in to the clear invitation, I heard steps coming down the stairs. I held my breath for a second, only to see Henriette, one of the cook’s assistants, murmuring under her breath with haste.

She halted when she spotted me, and I recognised the terror of almost encountering someone she didn’t want to. The same terror she probably saw on myself.

We relaxed and shared a smile.

“Merry Christmas, Miss Williams. It’s good to see you.” Her green eyes clouded with worry.

“Merry Christmas, Hattie. Is everything all right?” She huffed a laugh and gave me a sweet smile.

“Perceptive as always.” She glanced at the studio’s door and returned her attention to me. “Just a change of menu. I was going to help extend the table…”

Something above my shoulder prevented her from finishing her sentence. I turned around to find Prim staring at us from a distance.

“I must go. I hope you had a nice start of classes.” I just nodded, watching how both disappeared through the living room door.

I turned again, facing the opened studio. No one had come in or out. Fine.

Walking to it and opening the door fully, I found my grandmother sitting at her desk, her perfectly symmetrical built-in bookcases at her back. The cream walls were always plastered with paintings of dead ancestors that would judge me as soon as I entered the room.

Soft music came from a violin playing itself in the air at the corner.

She hadn’t looked up from the parchment she had in her hands, but I was sure she knew of my presence.

She had perfectly brown-dyed hair, slicked back and cut just below her ears, which were adorned with big pearls. They matched her brooch in her grey suit. Her expression was focused, I almost thought she was too busy to mind me attention but at last and without looking up, she spoke.

“What a gracious Christmas gift to bless us with your presence.”

“Aurora.” I saluted while entering. I ignored the numerous pairs of eyes that followed me from the walls. She still didn’t look up. I sat on one of the green armchairs facing her desk.

“One would think you don’t live here anymore.” She spat again.

I can handle her, I repeated mentally. Her speech was velvety and murderous, but Aurora was never dangerous. I had to force myself to remember that when she finally lasered me with her icy blue stare.

“I sent a letter saying I wouldn’t come back for the summer.” I defended myself “I even said I would buy my new textbooks by myself.”

When she didn’t answer, I kept going, “I figured one less person in the house would be one issue less.”

“Considering the headaches you caused at Hogwarts for five years and the situation with your brother, it is not ideal for you to disappear for six months.”

“I did not disappear. I sent an owl and if you were worried I didn’t go to class, you could have contacted professor McGonagall.”

She interlocked her fingers in front of her. “We did actually.”

I only answered with my eyes, So?

She sighed with a subtle roll of the eyes. With her scrawny fingers grabbed a quill, inked it and made a final annotation on her parchment before rolling it with care.

“I assume you had time to take your O.W.Ls with your Curse breaking extracurriculars…” she threw, while putting away the paper and grabbing another one.

I wasn’t sure if she wanted to see the scroll or my word would be enough.

“Acceptable in history of magic and exceeded expectations in astronomy.”

She looked at me again with predicted disappointment.

“And the rest?”

“Outstanding.” I offered simply. She seemed satisfied as she resumed unrolling her parchment.

“Hm… Isn’t history interesting enough for your time?”

I managed to relax back into the chair and watched her grab the quill before resuming her writing.

“I prioritised potions. I wanted to be able to take the NEWTs classes. Professor Snape said he wouldn’t accept any other mark.”

“To do what, exactly? Last year was curse breaking, the prior potioneer, before that was teacher…”

“I’m still debating my options with professor Sprout. I’m really into herbology at the moment.”

The violin stopped abruptly. Aurora lifted a neatly plucked eyebrow at me. I hate I got that ability from her. She considered me for an uncomfortable while.

“Is that why you brought those earmuffs?”

Snitch, I accused Prim mentally.

“Yes.” I offered with confidence. She hummed again and focused her attention to her desk once more. I could sense her losing interest.

Waiting for her to do some remark about suitable careers for me, of how I should follow her path with Arithmancy since I seemed to pass my classes “with ease”, or try as soon as possible to insert myself into a position in the Ministry.

There was none.

“Go freshen up and change. The rest of the guests will arrive soon.”

I watched in disbelief how quickly she dismissed me. She didn’t lift her gaze when I stood up, nor when I crossed the room, and I could swear she wasn’t bothered when I closed the door behind me either.

With that taken care of, I hurried upstairs before Prim and the new guests that were crossing the magic barrier spotted me.

My bedroom was the last door to the right on the second floor, with views of the backyard. Although I mostly complained about the oppressive interior of the house, always packed with rugs, clocks, paintings, mirrors and fireplaces on every corner, my room was originally made for guests, so it was very much empty in comparison.

I finally could breathe when I leaned against the closed door. It’s not that I hadn’t enjoyed my stay at the burrow for the summer, or that I didn’t enjoy having Rowan and Penny as roommates, but I needed to come back here, despite having trouble admitting it.

All the furniture matched with the same dark wood: my canopy bed, now with green and gold bedding; the big armoire on the other side of it; and my favourite addition that I stole from my mother’s room, a cylinder desk with enough drawers and nooks for my trinkets and jewels.

I threw my bag on the bed to retrieve my earmuffs.

This was the moment of truth.

Borrowed from Sprout and modified by Flitwick as a favour, one that I would have to pay with duelling set-ups and dummy maintenance, the earmuffs would serve a crucial role in keeping my sanity intact.

I covered my ears and instantly felt a light buzzing, as if I was hearing a distant swarm of bees. The only problem was, I didn’t know if Nicholas would be able to get in my head or not. He was powerful, a master in legilimency; I doubted that a pair of old earmuffs would prevent him from reading me like a book. But at least it would be more difficult.

Even from the second floor, I could hear movement outside the building. I crossed the room, dug one knee on the built-in seat below the three big windows that showed the backyard and looked down.

Aurora’s silhouette skittered across the grovel path towards two men I couldn’t recognise. They towered over her, but it was clear who was in charge when she turned towards the house and they followed two steps behind her.

Closing the curtains, I stepped away from the window, thinking about what to do with my time. Aurora said to get ready for dinner, but the house was mostly empty, Nicholas wasn’t anywhere to be seen, and Mom and Dad hadn’t arrived yet. I figured I could read a bit before I was robbed of any kind of alone time.

I picked my wand from the handbag and crossed the room again to open the wardrobe. Big enough for two people to sit, that piece of furniture was originally at the end of the hallway, guarding my uncle’s flying brooms and quidditch balls before I claimed it for myself. Squeezing inside and pushing books and boxes away from me, I thought about how I just decorated my room with furniture no one wanted.

With the door closed, I sat with my knees to my chest, surrounded by darkness.

Lumos.

I immediately grabbed the book on top of the small tower I had made months ago, Death Omens: What to Do When You Know the Worst Is Coming by Mauricios Carneiros, one of the few volumes in this house’s shelves that was half interesting, and that’s saying a lot since I wasn’t particularly attracted to divination.

After finding a comfortable position, I started rereading Chapter 3 and soon I lost myself in the reading session.

I was about to finish the chapter when the creaking sound of my bedroom door made me look up. Attempting to listen, I could identify the sound of the door closing, and steps around the room.

I didn’t want to move a muscle, but I had to shake the wand slightly to turn it off.

I held my breath.

The steps got closer, silenced for a moment when they stepped over the rug, and reverberated again when they hit the wood once more.

I gripped my wand tighter.

The doors of the wardrobe flew open, and I hissed when my eyes met a new light that wasn’t my wand.

“Aha!”

Relief cursed through me when the figure kneeled down to reveal mom’s face. I threw my head back, resting it on the wood.

“I thought it was my last day.” I mumbled, pressing my palms to my eyes.

“You chose Carneiros to entertain yourself. Your reward is paranoia.” She said with sparkling eyes and the Irish tilt to her voice that I realised then I missed terribly. “And what is that?” She pointed at my earmuffs.

“Tell Aurora to renew her collection, then.” I replied, taking the earmuffs off.

I slithered out into mom’s open arms and closed my eyes when she squeezed me against her.

“How did you know I was here?” I asked against her black dress. She started caressing my back.

“Jacob used to hide in there, too.”

I let her hug me a little while, and I felt her need my embrace as well. My brother’s topic was still a delicate matter, cause of many fights among all the members of the family who all had different, and quite strong, opinions about Jacob’s whereabouts.

“Tell me everything about Belgium.”

“And you tell me everything about this Charlie person.”

I looked up petrified and found her teasing smirk.

“I wasn’t snooping. You just left your things all over your bed.”

I tsked. The bloody letter that said Charlie with a heart on it.

“Well…” She chuckled and started to get up.

“Come on. Let’s get you ready for dinner,” she sighed,  “It’s going to be a long night.”

--

[Next Chapter] >

[domaslut]

Clarice Charlotte Blackthrone & Chester Davies + drabble: “I think I’m in love with you”.

Hogwarts Mystery.

I think I am in love with you.

Warnings: fluff + some ravenclaws taunting Clarice about her family

Starring: Clarice Charlotte Blackthrone (mc) and Chester Davies + if you squint, jealous Felix

Plot: Chester confesses his feelings to Clarice

“What’s a slytherin doing around here?” a ravenclaw asked, pouring himself a glass of water.

“She’s probably up to something… – a girl quipped, rolling her eyes at the brunette sitting in front of them – I mean, you know who she is. I wonder if she has already received the mark. Have you ever heard about ‘The Dark Lord’s sons’? Well, they’re the Blackthrone!” she chortled, winking at her friend.

Clarice tensed, her nails scraping the wooden surface of the table in anger. She could not mess it up, not this time, not when Chester had kindly invited her to sit with him and his fellow ravenclaws for dinner. Although they had been friends for years, she had never sat beside him to consume a meal. Her usual companion was Felix, but now he was lost among the crowd of Slytherins, minding his own business. Still, while Felix would have probably let her jinx them, Chester discouraged her to solve her problems with a wand. He was just like Gwendolyn, her sister: rational, calm and kind.

“Hey, miss-I-know-it-all, rather foolish of you to talk shit about my family, when I’m literally here. – Clarice blurted out suddenly, locking eyes with her baffled interlocutor – I suggest you to shut up, unless you keen to see what a ‘death eater wannabe’ can do, huh?”.

Silence swallowed the once cheerful table. Curious and concerned glances landed on her, but she was used to it. People usually had two reactions at the sound of her voice: they either trembled, or walked away. This time, however, she felt the urge to leave. She tried to stand up, yet, a large hand grasped her shaking one under the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She was not alone, he was right there.

“Finish up your soup, guys. We might join you for the dessert, alright?” Chester announced, inviting his Housemates to enjoy the rest of their meal and leave him deal with the situation, or better yet, with his jumpy guest.

Clarice rolled her eyes at him and tugged on his hand, leading him out of the Great Hall. Both the Slytherins and the Ravenclaws glowered at them, eyes transfixed on the weirdest friendship ever seen at Hogwarts. Even Felix shot an interrogative glance at them, however, he did not bother questioning his friends and he surely did not plan on doing it later. He felt uneasy at the thought of them spending time together, safe from prying eyes. It was better for him not to investigate.

When the door closed behind them with a dull thud, Clarice let go of his hand and a high-pitched scream of frustration erupted from her throat “They hate me! I’m so sick of it! What’s wrong with me? Why am I not worthy of a chance?” she choked out, stomping her foot aggressively on the floor.

“It’s like everybody thinks I’m a monster! And you know what’s the wrost part of it? – she spoke out again, eyes sparkling in tears – I wish I could tell them they’re wrong about my family, that what they’ve heard are just rumors… But it’s all true” she bewailed, running her fingers through her hair.

Chester sighed and tucked his hands into the pockets of his trousers “You are not a monster, not to me. I know who you are. You may share your parents’s blood and their name, but you are not going to follow their tracks”.

The brunette frowned, arms folded over her chest as she tried to collect herself “How? How do you know what’s going to happen in a few years, Chester? How can you say that? How did you see past the person I am?” she exhorted him, staring at her wise friend inquiringly.

Chester shrugged and hesitantly approached her shaking frame, soft coffee hues boring into her colorful ones. Oh, she was all nerves and he knew it because the charm she had put on her natural blue irises was slowly fading away, leaving the characteristic baby-blue pools on display.

“I might suck at divination, but you are not a bad person. You are not a murderer” he pointed out, a soft smile tugging the angles of his lips up.

“Not yet” she scoffed, burying her face onto his chest.

She felt his breath hitch, just as she heard his heartbeat speed up when her cheek settled right above his heart. Her long fingers clutched the fabric of his shirt and she batted her eyes closed in defeat. How was it that every single time she had a break down he was right behind her to put her pieces back together?

“Would you still love me, if I became a Death Eater?” she whispered then, trying her best not to let some tears spill out. He had seen her crying countless time, but she hated doing in public places, where people could easily figure out her weaknesses and take advantage of them.

‘Feelings are weapons’ she told herself.

It took a moment for her best friend to say something, but he propped his chin on the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her tiny waist. He had hugged her a million times, but the feelings he was experiencing in that very moment were boyond the affection and sympathy he had always felt for her. It was weird and unsettling, in a wicked and good way. It was love.

“I would love you anyway. – he started, cheeks flushing up in a vivid shade of red – Oh, blood hell, Clarice. I think… Ugh, we have a problem” he blurted out, panicking.

Her eyes snapped open as she took a step back and reached for her wand, however, when her eyes landed on him she realised that ‘the problem’ was not a passing by meddler, but him. She blinked, lips parted and head cocked she quirked her eyebrows up.

“Care to explain, Davies?” she chimed, slightly embarrassed by her own reaction.

“I think…” he tried to say, mouth dry as he rubbed the back of his neck in distress. Why was it so hard trying to confess his feelings to her, the girl he had grown up with, the girl he wished to keep by his side for the rest of his life.

“Chester!” she pressed, snapping her fingers ij front of his eyes.

“I think I’m in love with you!”.

A confession, a simple line shouted in a desert corridor of the famous wizarding school left two young people staring at each others in pure abashment. Did Chester Davies truly loved her? No one liked her and, not only he seemed to get along with her and ignored the inheritance she was going to carry on her shoulders, but he also, actually fucking loved her.

Her eye twitched and he held his breath in anxiety, waiting for her to say something. However, he should have known better than she was the type to make a move instead of talking. Before he could realise what was happening, she tiptoed to him and captured his lips with hers. An intense, desperate, first kiss indeed. Her hands cupped his face and she backed him to the wall, proving any man possibly watching them that she was not the girl who sat idly waiting for a kiss.

She was always in control. If she wanted a kiss, she was going to take one.

Chester smiled against her lips and, once they parted, he shook his head in amusement “That was one Hell of a kiss, Merlin’s beard”.

She blushed but grinned at him “Oh, but you’ve not seen anything at all yet. Tonight I’m sleeping over”.

Chester gawked and was about to reply something, but she cut him off with a quick kiss “Ah-ah-ah, don’t you dare giving me a lecture about how reckless it is to break rules… – she trailed off, winking at him – And chill, for God’s sake, I’m a nerd too, you know? We’re going to read all night long, alright? Now, I’m hungry again. See you, Davies”.

And in a nick of time, she was gone, back into the Great Hall and he was alone in a corridor, as red as a pepper with his heart running a marathon into his chest.

AUTHOR NOTE.

Hello there! This is dedicated to the lovely @fantasywriter19 because she likes Clarice and Chester❤️ By the way, I just hope you enjoy this!

THE EDIT ABOVE IS MINE! IF YOU WANT TO REPOST IT, GIVE ME CREDITS. AND I KNOW THAT GUY IS ROGER DAVIES, CHESTER’S YOUNGER BROTHER, BUT FUCK IT, HE IS MY CHESTER.