Reuben has definitely tried to build an elaborate, life-sized dragon costume on Halloween using Incendio to create the effect of it breathing fire, and probably needing to be manned by multiple people.
Siobhan rubbed her forehead as she processed the idea being presented to her. Of all of the moronic, idiotic, absurd, and downright stupid ideas she'd ever heard, William Berkeley was suggesting feeding frozen chickens to a teething Peruvian Vipertooth. She'd always been told Vipertooths were faster and more aggressive than any other breed of dragon. But, now that she was dealing with a baby vipertooth in pain from teething, she understood just how feisty they could be.
"You need to soothe them with more brandy, William. What is a frozen hunk of meat going to do for a creature who breathes fire?" She challenged her classmate as they stood on opposite sides of Reuben Willows. Since his first night at the manor four years before, Reuben had been a guest and unofficial apprentice at the Llewelyn Sanctuary for Injured and Sick Dragons. He knew Siobhan, the heir to the sanctuary, to be a skilled dragonologist. He also knew she had chosen not to inherit her father's business. Instead, they had agreed to share the rights and responsibilities that came with running the business in the decades to come. William, however, was the first to be officially, though temporarily, employed by Edwin Llewelyn. None of the seventh-year students could deny that it was an unprecedented honor.
"Are their mouths always hot, Llewelyn? No, of course not. He can chew on it to numb his gums. They like the texture," William explained in a manner Siobhan found condescending.
Siobhan considered his method and wasn't convinced. She hated the idea of feeding a dragon anything that might make him sick. "It isn't safe to eat raw birds."
"It isn't safe for us to eat raw birds. The dragon will be fine. Surely you must have seen a dragon snatch a bird out of the sky," William continued. She had, and it always made her uneasy. Siobhan loved creatures of all kinds, so much that she'd never eaten one, muggle or magic, herself. She stood with her hands on her hips as she tried to come to terms with his suggestion. "I understand your first dragon rehabilitation was a Hebridean Black, Shiv. You may not wish to devour a deer, but it is their favorite feast. You have to consider what is best for the dragon."
Before Siobhan could formulate an appropriate response, Reuben's hand caught the back of her neck in a pinch and rendered her speechless. She glared up at her brother only to find he'd scruffed William and held him at the opposite end of his impressive arm span. "Nobody is snacking on stags tonight—no cause for concern. We will, however, give Will's theory a try. That being said, William, I've worked with Siobhan for a long time, and I assure you she's always considered what is best for the dragons. Can you two work together, or should I reassign you?"
"Don't bother, Reu. This sonofabitch has no idea what I am sacrificing in my consideration for what is best for the dragons. I'm going to prevent them from actually having their hearts ripped out. While, at the same time, my own - never you mind. I'm off to care for Penybryn," Siobhan scratched at Reuben's arm and freed herself from his grip. "I won't keep you from the work you've been hired to do, Will. Work with the vipertooth all you like, but I'll care for my dragon how I see fit," Siobhan had taken delight in the opportunity to remind him he was only at the Llewelyn Manor on business before turning to find her beloved Welsh Green.
PenyBryn Llewelyn sat on a hoard of pine cones and gold coins, swishing his tail gently but happily at the sight of his best friend. "Hey, Peny. You sleepy?" Siobhan asked, stroking his cheek. He recoiled at her touch and sent a plume of smoke out of his nose. The dragon was clearly uncomfortable. Siobhan yawned, a trick to get PenyBryn to yawn so that she might see what had caused him discomfort when she touched his cheek. She was surprised to find that her sweet boy was dealing with his first loose tooth.
"Accio brandy bucket," she called with a swish of her wand. Penybryn sighed with delight at the sight of the medicinal and potent brew from the manor's distillery. "There, there, bub. We'll make you comfortable. You're growing up so quickly, Peny, dear. Galen will be here soon. I'm sure he will be so proud of your big milestone," at the mention of Galen's name, PenyBryn smiled a big toothy smile, giving Siobhan the perfect opportunity to inspect the rest of the dragon's teeth. "Good boy, Peny. I'll be back with Galen later to check on that tooth, bring you a potion, and more brandy," she promised as she gently kissed the dragon's nose.
As Siobhan made her way back to the boys and the teething vipertooth, she saw another boy in the distance. She drew closer and was surprised to find her cousin, Brady Pendleton, roaming the grounds of the manor. "Brady, it isn't safe to be wandering around out here. I saw the marks you received in Care of Magical Creatures," she admonished.
"The dragons aren't caged?" Brady asked, looking shocked and suddenly frightened. "I thought there might be cages. I only told my father they fly around at will to scare him," he confessed.
Siobhan studied his expression when he spoke of his father and grew concerned. "Brady, what are you doing here?" She and Brady had not always been close. In fact, their rivalry had only ended a couple of years ago when Galen had joined the artist's club Brady had been part of since their early days at Hogwarts. Her cousin wasn't bad, just over the top with his flair for the dramatic. Considering what she'd heard of his father, she understood it may have been all he had ever known. She couldn't fault him for it. Siobhan knew what it was like to be brought up differently. "If you would rather not talk about it, you can walk with me. I'll show you around. You can meet a dragon if you want."
"No, thank you. The gardens are lovely, especially in the snow. Your father was so kind not to send me home. I just kind of showed up. I'm sorry if I've ruined your plans," Brady mumbled as he looked around at the acres of land that contained both beauty and terror.
Siobhan saw Reuben and William approaching in the distance. "No, you didn't ruin anything. Christmas is already a mess. But you'll be pleased to know Galen is on his way. At least you'll have a friend other than me. I'm glad you're here, honest. Nobody should be alone or afraid at Christmas," she smiled.
"Brady Pendleton!" Reuben smiled and bent down to shake the shorter young man's hand. 'Did Siobhan give you the full tour?"
Brady looked at Siobhan for cover and nodded. "I have seen all I intended to see. Beautiful property," he half-lied.
"And I can assume she gave you a proper Llewelyn Christmas welcome? A real initiation?" Reuben asked with a smirk forming across his face.
As Brady turned to Siobhan, he felt a snowball hit the side of his arm. Ruben looked pleased with himself. Siobhan bent to gather a snowball to launch at an unsuspecting Reuben as Brady shook the snow from his cloak.
Siobhan's snowball landed right on target in the center of Reuben's large back. "Is that the best you can do, Sha?" he challenged. Siobhan dropped her snowball and ran full speed into Reuben's chest in an attempt to tackle the boy. At more than a foot taller than her, the impact against his thick torso sent her stumbling back into a snowbank.
"This means war, Willows. Every man for himself," she grumbled as she packed a snowball aimed for William.
Will held up his hands in defense. "I thought you said I was here on business. Hitting me with a snowball sounds like fun, but are you ready to accept that it would mean I am your guest?" No sooner than he'd uttered the plea for mercy, Siobhan's snowball exploded on contact with his nose.
Brady, an instant supporter of anyone who dared challenge Siobhan, came to William's aid with a tightly packed snowball directed at her unruly hair. Siobhan ducked frozen ammunition and tackled him to the ground in retaliation.
Using her distraction to his advantage, William turned his aim toward Reuben and hit him in the side of his face before helping Brady off the ground. In a fit of laughter, the two uninvited and now completely initiated guests of the Llewelyn home formed an alliance as they scurried behind a tall snowdrift to use for cover.
Reuben gave Siobhan a nervous glance as she raced for her sled. "You're going to get yourself killed," he groaned.
"Take out their defense, take out their chances of victory," she grinned like a little kid as she aimed her sled at the snow fort the boys had hollowed out of the drifted snow. "Are you in or not?" She slid to the front of the sleigh, creating as much room as she could for her mountainous friend.
He couldn't decline. "Ok, but you get on the back. It's better for gravity. Like on a broom."
As the two slid down the hill and through the fort walls in an explosion of ice and snow, Reuben took the more significant impact, but it was Siobhan who went flying and landed in the muddy patch where William and Brady had dug to the ground in their attempt to create as many snowballs to have as backup ammunition. All had been smashed by the runaway sled.
Reuben, William, and Brady stared in horror as they tried to suppress their laughter at muddy Siobhan. She, on the other hand, couldn't contain her giggles at her misfortune. She stood and wiped the snow from her cheeks and would have bent down to toss a final snowball if it hadn't been for her father's voice booming from the bottom of the great stone staircase that led to her home.
"Mail Call!" Edwin Llewelyn called as an owl flew away from the large stone home. Siobhan's hair was dripping with melted snow. She dropped the snowball in her hands and moved to wipe the dirt away from her forehead, only to smudge it further down her cheek. She led the race to her father's side, just hoping for word that the last guest to be expected was on his way.
Before the boys caught up to her, Edwin wiped away the smudges from Siobhan's cheeks and handed her an envelope. "Stagg wrote. We can expect him by sundown," he grinned. His words barely reached her ears before she was running right past her father and up the great stone staircase to the house. She smiled at the light sliver of the moon she could see appearing in the sky as pink streaks formed on the horizon. She had so much to do to prepare for Galen's stay.
Reuben was the first to join Henry in the kitchen after drying off and changing his clothes. There wasn't a room of the Llewelyn home that felt unwelcoming to him. He poured himself a cup of tea and helped himself to a slice of pumpkin bread while he waited for Siobhan and the boys to dress and settle in for the evening.
William took a moment longer to fuss over his hair and attempted to decide on what kind of attire might be appropriate. He settled for the same kind of black trousers and thick denim shirt he'd seen Reuben and Edwin wearing throughout the day. He looked out of the window in his guest room and marveled at the view of the baby vipertooth sleeping peacefully. Proud of himself for knowing the creature was comfortable because of his skills, he started to feel less like an outsider among the guests of the Llewelyn family.
As Brady tied his tie, he wondered if he'd correctly assumed the dress code. It wasn't like Siobhan to dress formally. She'd made a splash at their fifth-year ball when she'd borrowed a dress from Adelia Selwyn. Then again, even a dragon would look nice in one of Adelia's fine silk dresses. He looked around at the formal appearance of the home and considered the evening was a celebration and should be treated as such. Dressed in his favorite dinner jacket, he made his way downstairs to the festivities.
Brady was surprised to find Reuben and William in the kitchen with the butler. Even more confused to find his somewhat distant uncle or cousin, he wasn't certain of their real relation; Ed Llewelyn was having tea and joking with the man they all called Henry. The lack of order and hierarchy was amusing to him in all the best ways. Friends, family, colleagues, dragonologists, and butlers all celebrating together was absurd. Delightfully absurd. Even more confusing than the high concentration of men in the kitchen was that Siobhan was nowhere to be seen.
"Is Siobhan stuck to the ice on the doorstep while she stands outside waiting for Stagg? Shall I get the shovel? Perhaps some hot water if she's really wedged in?" Reuben grinned and helped himself to another slice of pumpkin bread. Ed Llewelyn glared a seemingly intimidating look at Reuben, startling William and Brady, before breaking into a laugh.
Brady and William shared a confused glance but were ultimately relieved to find Ed's glare had not been directed at them. Brady had never seen anyone like Ed. He was taller than most men he knew, muscular, and fortunate to be so large. Had he been a smaller man, he'd have run out of places to cover himself in colorful tattoos long ago. Still, when he laughed at the joke the boys were clearly not in on, he seemed like the most gentle person Brady had ever met. William, on the other hand, had always idolized Ed. Though when there were no dragons in sight, he was surprised to find how the expert's serious demeanor faded into one more joyful than he'd have expected. Edwin shook his head and playfully slapped the back of Reuben's head, "You know as well as I do, she would stand there, just waiting for Galen, all night if she could ever decide on a dress," he said. Even Henry cracked a laugh at Siobhan's expense.
"Galen? You mean Galen Stagg? The boy who cried when the Muggle Studies professor read Bryon? I prefer Shelley as well but I was not going to require a handkerchief," Brady scoffed. His comment would generally be the kind of criticism he only offered in the confines of a conversation with Carolyn, where he knew he wouldn't be scolded for such observations.
William shook his head in protest. "No, Galen Stagg is the boy who cries when new nifflers are born. Who cries to Byron?"
Reuben and Ed shared a knowing glance. Reuben raised his hand as to tell his found-father he would resolve the situation at hand before there was a more severe situation to be seen. "You're both right. He's also the boy who cried in flying class. You might catch him shed a tear tonight. The odds are good, but you don't want to place bets. If Siobhan hears a word that could be interpreted… in any language… as us bullying Galen, we can all expect to sleep outdoors with the dragons tonight. Don't mention the crying and don't mention the obvious."
"What's the obvious?" Brady asked, leaning in towards William to be certain both of the new boys didn't end up sleeping in a dragon hoard.
"It is obvious!" Reuben, Edwin, and Henry said in unison.
The door to the kitchen flung open, making Brady flinch. He'd nearly expected his own father to burst through the door to scold him for laughing in the kitchen with the help. Instead, Siobhan came through the door to join the men in the kitchen. Brady looked at William, who was looking at Reuben, who was grinning at Ed, who couldn't take his eyes off of his daughter. None of them could. The disheveled girl who had tackled them both in a snowball fight, muddied her face in the sleigh race, and climbed onto a dragon's back to remove a splinter from his wing was standing in front of them dressed in a pristine gown made of red silk. Her hair was loose, but she wore the faintest trace of rouge. Brady and William shrugged at each other, and now both completely certain nobody understood the Llewelyn family dress code. "Henry, has there been word from Galen?"
What would a Siobhan story be without Reuben Willows and Galen Stagg? Just as boring as my year would be without @that-scouse-wizard and @cursebreakerfarrier - Also, starring William Berkeley, and we all know what this year would have been without @beloved-bucky who keeps me entertained almost 24/7 - and Carolyn Nyberg who belongs to the loveliest @lifeofkaze last, but certainly not least, the story includes a mention of one of my favorite girls, Adelia Selwyn, who incidentally was written by one of my favorite girls @thatravenpuffwitch - the fact that you all let me write your amazing characters makes me smile endlessly.
Harry Potter Hogwarts Legacy Appreciation Week - Day 4: Favorite Ships by Moots
Hey guys! This is the fourth entry for @endlessly-cursed’s fantastic HPHL Appreciation Week. Today the focus is on other people’s ships! Y’all have made some wonderful couples and friend groups/duos! There are so many of them that again it is a challenge to narrow down which ones will be featured for the post. Anyway here goes:
Tedelia - Adelia Selwyn @thatravenpuffwitch and @cursebreakerfarrier
Slytherin and Gryffindor in love and getting along like peas and carrots? It’s hard to believe for the common student but if the passion is there it is going to happen. Dear Addy is far from the stereotype of her house and she is so wonderful and compassionate! Teddy and his dormmates are a group of chaotic Gryffindors but they love their gals all the same. Together he and Addy have built a beautiful family with three great kiddos. Danny is a frequent visitor to the Selwyn-Ellison household and he loves Teddy, Addy and their kids so much!! He considers the kids part of his found family just as much as their parents, they’re like nephews and nieces to him and he tries to find them great gifts for their birthdays and Christmas celebrations. Danny has always been close with Teddy and Adelia - he and Teddy are colleagues as aurors and he stops by to see Adelia frequently while working in France. The role that Tedelia has in Danny’s life is why it is number one on this list!
Roxariel - Gabriel Sapieha @slytherindisaster and Roxie Haley @beloved-bucky
This wholesome ship reaches number two spot by a close margin to Tedelia. I cannot decide which should be number two because its more like that it and Tedelia hold equal places in my book. Still this ship is one of my favorites because the gal in here is Danny’s sister figure and best friend Roxie! Gabriel is also a dear friend to him! He is protective of Danny and cares a lot for his well-being, where to he would put himself in harm’s way to keep him safe. The dynamic for Roxariel is unique - I just love how Gabriel and Roxie are still able to love each other so much even though she is a vampire. In a time where racism and supremacy still dominate the wizarding world, this couple can be an example of how minorities can still achieve successful and fulfilling lives just like regular people. Danny is also very grateful to have Gabriel and Roxie in his life and they’re very dear to him - his life would never be complete in their absence.
Galehan - Siobhan Llewelyn @kc-and-co and Galen Stagg @cursebreakerfarrier
Two sweethearts that have it all. Their story is about living life to the fullest. Bonding over a love of magizoology and outdoorsy-ness, Bon-bon and Galen live a very unique and epic lifestyle with many connections around the world. They look over many creature reserves in several countries - one of which is located in the U.S. state of Arizona. Danny vibes with the couple over their appreciation and reverence of the outdoors, reminding him of the better angels of his old home far away. He loves Bon-bon so much and they’ve been best buddies since their Hogwarts days. Galen is such a sweet and soft boy with great compassion and acceptance for minority groups which Danny really appreciates! When working in America he often stays at one of the reserves under the care of Shiv and Galen and is always happy to see them and hear about their latest adventures!
Reubeila - Leila Hellebore @whatwouldvalerydo and Reuben Willows @that-scouse-wizard
While I don’t bring up this ship much it still deserves recognition. Like Roxariel, this ship is another great example of how normally disadvantaged groups in wizarding society are still capable of having romantic feelings, falling in love, getting married and raising a family! Reuben is an awesome quidditch mate of Danny and Leila is a Slytherin lady with demon heritage. Like him they’re both are the type that may seem intimating on the outside but on the inside they’re just amazing friends who do great things for those they know and do their best to give back!
For this task, I am going to talk about two of my favourite characters in the HPHL community: Reuben Willows and Leila Hellebore.
Reuben belongs to the amazing @that-scouse-wizard. I adore Reuben. He’s a scary-looking guy, but really, he is a big teddy bear. He’s very sweet and kind, and good - but that doesn’t mean he’s boring. Far from it. Reuben is tough and brave, and his work on the Llewelyn’s Dragon Sanctuary just proves that: he spends every day working alongside the fiercest and most dangerous creatures known to wizardkind, and I am not just talking reptiles.
As for Leila, who belongs to the astounding and ephemeral Queen that is @whatwouldvalerydo, she was probably the first character that got me interested in HPHL. She’s such an interesting character, not just because of her demon heritage, but because of the human parts of her personality. She is witty and surprisingly sweet underneath her spiky exterior, loyal and loving towards the people she cares about. We all know that I am partial to a tiny but terrifying, feral but fiercely kind girl, and Leila embodies that. Also, the way she hisses at animals never fails to make me laugh.
They say that the whole is greater than the sun of the parts it’s made of. I don’t know if I believe that’s true - both of these characters are incredible in their own rights - but it is obvious that putting Leila and Reuben together brings out the best in each of them. The ferocity and gentleness with which they love one another is what makes this ship, for me, one of the best in this corner of the internet.
This is my entry for the fourth day of @endlessly-cursed Hogwarts Legacy Appreciation Week.
We all love our own ships dearly, but we also have this one (or these many) ships amongst our mutuals and their OCs we just can't get enough of. So here's my two picks for this day - because really, how could you decide between these two?
Ethelys - Ethel Hexley x Lysander Mercury:
Ethel belongs to my beloved @the-al-chemist, Lysander to the fabulous @slytherindisaster
Ethel and Lys are the epitome of enemies/rivals to lovers, change my mind. Both of them incredibly headstrong and quick-witted, they never missed a chance to bicker, banter and insult each other, fully convinced the other just must be the worst person on the planet.
But, as we grow older, we all learn to change our minds, don't we? 😏
These two and their dynamic have so much chemistry, fun and potential. Learning about them - whether it's through art, shorts, or headcanons - never fails to make me chuckle.
Thank you @the-al-chemist and @slytherindisaster for gracing us with this incredibly fun chaos-ship! 💛
Reubeila - Leila Hellebore x Reuben Willows:
Half-demon gremlin child belongs to my dear @whatwouldvalerydo, Reuben to the sweetheart that is @that-scouse-wizard
Reubeila was the first Legacy ship I started to engage with properly and for that alone they will always hold a special place inside my heart.
Reuben and Leila are both so different from each other (and not only talking about this phenomenal height difference) and so unlikely on the first glance. But if you look closer, these two make so much sense. They empower each other when they need it and are there to catch the other when dealing with their pretty depressive family matters. They make each other better, stronger and softer all at the same time.
A very special shoutout to their modern versions in @whatwouldvalerydo incredible Coffee Shop AU Today's Special. I'm living for this story, I'm living for this ship and I'm incredibly thankful to have it (and you) in my life. 💛
Thank you @whatwouldvalerydo and @that-scouse-wizard for creating a ship that shows us that no matter how different we appear, if two hearts beat the same, they are unstoppable.
What I love about Reuben is how much trust his friends can have in him.
David is intelligent enough to keep up, but he’s relaxed and fun. A great escape for his friends who need a laugh.
I simply cannot wrap my mind around the amount of patience and empathy he must have when it comes to his relationship. Honestly, that’s the coolest thing about David.
Aw, thank you so much!
Yeah, Reuben is the sort of generally level-headed guy who you can go to if you need advice.
David and Merula's relationship has had its fair share of ups, downs and everything in between but at the end of the day, there's no one else they'd rather be with. It's ultimately made their bond that much stronger.
