Hello! Can I ask how the alternate Talbott is going? Sorry, just really excited to see your work XD
Apologies to the kind folks who sent these MONTHS ago XD
Good news is that I finally made more progress. I've included a tag for this au for those that want to learn more about it. For the newbies:
This is an au where Talbott is more social and friendly on the outside, but deeply in the anger stage of grief on the inside. He's driven by a strong desire for revenge above all else.
A few more tidbits:
This is set in Third Year, so he's only 13. That's when he first meets Reina.
He acts as a sort of vigilante when targeting Pureblood Supremacist students. He secretly owns a second wand to carry out the attacks. Because he acts so discreetly and uses various disguises, he has yet to be caught.
As an unregistered Animagus, he's able to keep track of his targets, giving him the ultimate advantage.
He created a curse that leaves the words 'Death Eater' across the left forearms of the students he targets, sending a clear message of what he sees them as.
For the sake of his training, he takes Wide Eye potions to keep himself awake as long as possible. When the exhaustion catches up, he takes Dreamless Sleep potions so he can properly rest.
At one point he slept for 3 days straight.
Because of her powers, Reina is the only one who can see his Effigy, which deeply frightens her due to its twisted appearance.
She has nothing against Talbott, but can't be around him for long as his inner negative feelings quickly overwhelm her to the point she gets a high fever.
Talbott is fully convinced Merula is a genuine threat because of her actions during their First Year, as well as her refusal to apologize. He plans to make an example out of her in a future duel.
The story takes place immediately after In the Silence.
He mustâve fallen asleep. It was the sudden strange sensation of cold that roused him. He proceeded to lightly pinch the bridge of his nose to wake himself and noticed a warmth from the weight resting on his side and slightly numb arm.
Elysia. The top of her head and the sound of her low breathing greeted him. She seemed quite cosy wrapped in her quilt despite her head resting on his shoulderâwhich Talbott coudnât imagine to be so comfortable.
The night they shared came back rushing. He had moved the chaise by the sofa so that they both could stretch and rest their legs even with the half-leaning, half-sitting sleep position they took. He remembered both of them had their heads fallen back on the sofa backrest, not touching one another.
He had advised her to go back to her bed, but she refused; reassuring him that sheâd have a better chance at getting some rest out here than in her dormitory. She even urged him to retire to his own bed and thanked him for keeping her company.
Knowing he would be the one not getting any rest should he leave her be, Talbott decided to stay put. After all, he did wish this moment he shared with her could last just a little longer.
She had offered to share her quilt. It was big enough to cover them both but not enough theyâd be wrapped together back to front. However the prospect of being so close to her while on this particular occasion made Talbott decline her offer, be a gentleman, and let her stay warm.
But in the crack of dawn, even the warmth of the quilt made her slightly shivered. He dared not move too much lest he disturbed her sleep as she tightened her hold around him.
The sound of someone politely clearing their throat jolted him into full awareness. Once he came down from his initial shock, he finally spotted the cause of the strange chill in the room: the Ravenclawâs patron ghostâthe Grey Lady, studying him with calculating yet sympathetic eyes near the statue of Rowena Ravenclaw.
âMr Winger?â A familiar voice quickly made Talbott turn his head away from the Grey Lady to the one that gently called him from his other side. Talbott could immediately feel the blood rushing to his face as the realization of his Head of House sitting patiently in a chair nearby dawned on him.
All the while, Elysia, whose sleep had been disrupted from Talbottâs sudden movements, had yet to appear aware of being watched by two more sets of eyes.
Flustered, Talbott tried to create a respectful distance between Elysia and himself, but her frame curled up against him. He was mortified he purposely averted his gaze from Prof Flitwick while trying to rouse Elysia.
âElle, come on.â He gave her a little shake since simply nudging her failed to rise her. He didnât want to wake her and wouldâve let her sleep in. His heart skipped a bit when Elysia lightly stroked his face, still half-asleep. He stole a glance at Flitwick who had his brows furrowed and eyes closed, looking like he was running thin on patience. âElle, please. Flitwickâs here,â he whispered urgently.
Thankfully it was enough to finally jolt her awake, though she was still left a little dazed. Her first instinct was also to make a distance between him and herself as she smoothened her slightly tousled hair with hands before looking down at her quilt and back to Talbott before quickly rising to stand upâwhich Talbott followed suit.
âThe sun almost comes up,â Flitwick started. âSee me after breakfast. Iâd better not hear other students speak the two of you getting all cosy in the common room.â With that Flitwick took his leave, signaling the two of them to return to their dormitory.
Elysia started hastily gathering her quilt, uncharacteristically quiet but understandable given what just occurred. She, much like Talbott, must have lost for words.
âAre you sure youâll be okay?â He seemed to catch her somewhat off guard, probably not expecting him to be the one who broke the silence. She turned to look at him and Talbott could swear he could hear her picking her words in her mind.
âIâll be fine,â she finally said. âWonât be getting more sleep, but Iâll be fine.â She sounded more sincere, if not partially to convince her own self that sheâd be fine.
Talbott tried to picture her dormitory. Rowanâs bed next to Elysiaâs. How strange it must be for her; the ache of seeing the empty bed and the pain of turning her back knowing the bed was empty. It made him swallow.
âThen Iâll see you at breakfast,â he told her, hoping he didnât sound too demanding in his words. But Elysia just lightly nodded before bidding him farewell. And with that she disappeared into the stair leading down to the dormitory and out of sight.
Talbott found himself sitting back down on the couch and wiped his hands on his face, but not without tracing the place where Elysia touched his face. He was unsure of what he was feeling. Strickened with grief at the death of his peer, and the glee of being so close to Elysia. He silently cursed himself for finding a bit of joy in an otherwise dire circumstance.
A distant muffled noise below the Common Room dragged him out of his daydream. Some people mustâve already gotten out of beds. With that Talbott started to make his way to his dormitory but the sight of Victor Ketsueki at the bottom of the stair giving him a look with somewhat a knowing smile made his blood rushed to his cheeks. Victor was a nocturnal. Was it possible that he saw him and Elysia snuggled up together in the Common Room? But luckily for Talbott, Victor didnât say anything to tease him. He just waited until Talbott reached him before he began walking with him to the dormitory.
Victor hummed a tune he did not recognize but the fact that he hadnât said anything was nerve-wracking to Talbott. The thought that Victor might be the one who told on him and Elysia to Prof Flitwick crossed his mind.
âDid you tell Flitwick?â Talbott cursed himself for sounding so accusatory towards Victor. He was meaning to make his words sound more like a question. Now with his tone, he just indirectly confirmed what he thought Victor might have seen.
As if it wasnât enough, Victor started to chuckle. âWake Flitwick at the break of dawn? No, mate,â Victor denied. âIf anyone, it must be the Grey Lady. She was already there when I saw you two sleeping oh so soundly.â Now Talbott was annoyed at the teasing. But he paused to think that the Grey Lady was there with Flitwick when he woke up.
Victor let him be and walked past Talbott to the bathroom, leaving Talbott alone with his thoughts. He creaked the door to the dormitory open ever so gently, afraid heâd wake Andre. He hoped Andre was still asleep.
But just his luck, Andre was already awake although he was still lying in his bed. He noticed Talbott coming in. âUp early?â Talbott let out a sigh of relief since apparently Andre had just woken up and mustâve thought Talbott just woke up real early and didnât notice his absence from the night before. Talbott raised his brows as a response.
Andre started to stretch and yawned in his bed. âI canât wait for breakfast,â he said to no one in particular and left their room, possibly to the bathroom.
Oh no, Victorâs at the bathroom. Would he tell Andre about him and Elysia? Talbott never took Victor as the gossip type, but it was rather scandalous what he did last night.
Wait, what did he do last night, exactly? He was comforting a grieving friendânothing more. No one would bat an eye if it was Badeea or Tulip. And yetâ
Talbott quickly made his way to the bathroom. He was unsure whether to expect to catch Victor and Andre talking about him or not. But once he got to the bathroom he only found Andre lit up talking about Quidditch to a Fifth Year and no Victor in sight. Talbott let out another sigh of relief and went to wash his face at the sink.
he was sick, he felt weak, his legs wobbled, his face (and body) was flushed, his stomach felt gooey-like, he was cursed the moment he set his eyes upon the curse-breaker, and he willingly took the curse the moment he let them in his life, heâd rather feel sick whenever he was near her, than to never be near the again.
