#type: selfpara

[ofmagicspells-blog]

                 -- September 21, 1976 at approx. 11:51 AM

Lily Evans painted her nails vibrant colors. She would also make it a habit of doing the same to her friends when they were bored, but you could tell a hand was Lily's by the distinct color to it. Fitting, really, for a girl with such vitality.

Mary MacDonald would often shove her wand through a messy bun. She may have been the quieter one of the four, but eyes would certainly fall on her each time her dark wavy hair tumbled down her shoulders. She may not seek your attention, but she was certainly striking when she got it.

Alice Fortescue was always doodling. On her friends' arms, in the margins of her notes and tests; her little drawings were everywhere. A bit of an airy habit for such a formidable blonde, but even the most commanding of personalities have their dreams.

Marlene McKinnon always read the last pages of books before the beginning. She nabbed her friends clothes in the mornings and had a tendency to hex before thinking. She was stunning, but in the way a lightning storm was stunning.

These girls were so drastically different that, had they been anywhere but Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, they would have been an oddity. How could such clashing personalities be such good friends? Well, it was made obvious enough ten days into their sixth year. That Tuesday had started off as normal as possible at a school filled with magicians -- breakfast in the Great Hall, Transfiguration with Hufflepuff, the weekly (sometimes daily) occurrence of overwhelming sexual tension within two groups of four friends. Not to forget the ongoing battle between Benjy Fenwick and Emma Vanity; they had broken up during the first week of school and the entirety of sixth year (plus a good part of seventh year) was forced to pick a side. If looks could kill, they both would be six feet under.

But by lunch, it was proving to be far from their typical Tuesday.

The blame for the turn of events could be put on several people. Alice Fortescue would prove to be the main one blamed, but she was far from the only troublemaker at hand. Marlene McKinnon and her unauthorized Quidditch practice (which had also occurred on that Tuesday) could also be part of the problem. Nicholas Mulciber and Mikael Avery were definitely two prime suspects. It could be said that James Potter always played his part in every tale of trouble within the sixth year class. But who was truly at fault would never come to light -- there were only six witnesses to that fight and none of them were about to share the real chain of events. For some, it was incriminating. For others, it was embarrassing. For the remaining people, it was out of loyalty to their friends that they didn't spill the metaphorical beans to Professor McGonagall. Everyone played their part, though, so let it be known that it wasn't entirely one person's fault.

The foursome had been late to lunch -- if they hadn't been, it was an easy assumption to make that this wouldn't have happened. "We were simply helping them prepare for the upcoming match with a little scrimmage. An unauthorized and maybe unexpected one. You could argue it was unwelcome, but that's just an opinion. And perhaps they weren't even on their house Quidditch teams, but frankly, our dear Professor Mathis should be thanking us," Marlene continued on as the trio strolled down the corridor, "no one wanted to hear what that fuckwit had to say anyway. He was going on about bloody pureblood supremacy -- a crock of shit, more like it." Once she went off like this, they all knew there was no stopping her. Frustration would only continue to bubble to the surface as she retold the morning's events; Sirius had been fuming when they left Mathis Underwood (the flying instructor's) office as well. Mary seemed to have a calming effect on him when she linked her arm with his, though she was unable to cool down the raging brunette on her other side. Alice didn't even bother trying, so instead they just listened.

"What gives him the fucking right to decide who is lesser than him? Sounded just like that ugly git Mulciber. I'll show him filth --" Marlene cut off when Mary's hand gripped her wrist, meant to stop her as two other sixth years crossed their paths, less than two feet of space between them. The teen wizard looked smug at her words, despite the insult, and his lackey mimicked the expression.

There's something you should know about Mulciber: he didn't care what you said about him. What mattered was that you were speaking of him in the first place. He truly was a Death Eater in the making. Preaching of the 'Dark Lord's' proper wizard beliefs, how pureblooded families should be leading things, that muggles and muggle-borns should "learn their place." Everyone deserves to have their own opinion and all, but Marlene knew just where he could shove his shitty beliefs.

"Really, Marlene, you think you'd learn." A smirk curled at his lips. "Detention again?" Her fingers twitched in the direction of her wand, but then Sirius' fingers wrapped around her wrist and were more of a restriction than Mary, which only irritated her more. "You too, Sirius, though it seems like you've already decided your place." They all knew that was a reference to him leaving his family recently to live with the Potters. To be truthful, Marlene thought it was the smartest bloody decision he had made in his life. Her jaw set as he opened his shoddy mouth yet again. "It's a shame though, you and Alice really have some potential." The way he eyed her made her hands curl into fists, nails shaping moons onto her palms. For the sake of Mary and the other two, she kept herself quiet, despite every instinct screaming otherwise. "Too bad you girls decide to surround yourselves with blood traitors and mudbloods."

The contempt and disgust his tone was drenched in was cut off by a crack.

Pain bloomed across Marlene's right hand from where she had nailed Mulciber's jaw (because, frankly, dislocating his jaw was far more shocking and effective than a hex would ever have been). Five wands had been drawn -- the crack, Marlene soon realized, hadn't been from her punch; a hex had come from Alice's wand -- and they all were in defensive stance, none wanting to be the next to cast a spell. At least, until Sirius said some jinx she had never heard of and then a duck bloomed from Mikael's wand as he muttered a defense, a quack blending in with the foreign yet familiar sounds of spells. Now that it had began, shit truly started to hit the fan.

An affligo hex was just barely dodged by Marlene as she pulled her wand from where it was sheathed in her robe. "Castreo!" Was the simple, yet effective, spell coming from Mary. Mulciber managed to sidestep it where the jinx bounced back to Sirius. His eyes widened in shock as he let out a surprised groan, doubling over, caught off guard . Avery was growing frustrated as he tried to cast another spell, only for the duck count to round up to three. Some of her anger morphed into amusement, a slight frenetic laugh slipping from Marlene's lips at the sight of the annoyed Slytherin. Whatever that jinx was, she'd really have to ask the boys about it.

Two more spells were cast and the brunette watched as hives bloomed on Mulciber's face while horns seemed to appear out of nowhere on Alice's head. Then a spell was being aimed at Mary and Marlene found herself sidestepping in front of her, attempting to utter a blocking spell, only for it to be a moment too late. The brunette was knocked backwards, taking her best friend down with her.

When Professor McGonagall came through the corridor, yelling out a spell and halting the chaos, each wizard froze in place.

"What," the older woman began, harsh lines creasing her young face, "in Merlin's name, is going on?" Her gaze washed over the six magicians, both concerned and stern. "Up. Now. To the infirmary. Then you all will meet with me in my office."

As far as who got in trouble, Alice ended up taking blame and, in turn, getting five days of detention. Sirius and Marlene ended up with four Saturday detentions that day, while the remaining three participants were punished with two. Both Slytherin and Gryffindor lost fifty points a piece, earning loud protest from everyone involved.

They weren't aware at the time that this was only painting a larger target on their backs and, in hand, Mary and Lily's. Never did Marlene -- or any of them -- expect what was to come from Mulciber in retaliation. It may not have came right away, but it certainly was coming. Another thing to know about Nicholas: hurt him and he'd do the same. Times five hundred. The following several months would only prove to be the most eventful of their six years at Hogwarts. Time and time again the four girls and their marauding male equivalents would prove how and why such different people were such good friends.

The only question was whether their loyalty would be their greatest strength or ultimate downfall.

[ofmagicspells-blog]

You’re raised hearing fairytales set in long ago times in far away lands, with kings and queens and their kingdoms. You’re told long-winded stories of knights in shining armor and royalty with their gowns and tall towers. Princesses waiting to be rescued by the prince and whisked away back to their castles. Princes looking for their princess.

Yeah, well, here’s a wake-up call: this isn’t a fairytale. These young men and women aren’t princes or princesses. They're living in a magical world during a magical time and they sure as hell don’t need to be saved by the likes of a hero on a bloody horse. They’re here to write their own story and that means they have to be their own heroes.

This tale may not be a love story, but that’s not to say it isn’t a recurring theme.

Remus Lupin whole-heartedly believed in love. Just not that he deserved it. Men bound by the moon weren’t there to be loved by the likes of the sun.

Mary Macdonald did too, though she accepted those emotions much better than the lot of them (in fact, she accepted quite a lot better than the rest of her friends).

James Potter knew it was out there. If he were to be honest with himself, he would realize that he had already fallen hard. And he would have hated it.

Lily Evans wouldn’t actively seek it out. While she may not have been in love in that moment, she was certainly getting there.

Marlene McKinnon claimed not to believe in love. The reality was that she spent too much time trying to avoid it. You see, the stars of the sea were never meant to love the stars in the sky. Because when the oceans fall for the heavens, they have a long way to drop.

Sirius Black treated it like a joke. After all, the beauty of the constellations was meant to be loved at a distance; not up close. In truth, he almost needed it more than all of them.

Alice Fortescue was terrified of love. Though she would later stare down a wand into the stormy eyes of a woman who would drive her to madness, praying for the two boys she loved most.

Frank Longbottom, on the other hand, was not. He was quite possibly the most courageous about the concept when it came down to it. He would later sacrifice his sanity for it. For the cause, for his friends, for his son and wife.

Alisa Buckley wouldn’t dare dream of it again. Soon, though, she would see that strange, lingering sense of deja vu would bring her home.

Mathis Underwood found it in the last place he expected. But a war had the ability to flip things upside-down.

Aurora Sinistra was an intelligent woman who did, in fact, believe in the concept of love. She would also soon realize that it depended on circumstance. Two people who should work, sometimes just...can’t.

Jaxon Webb wasn’t a believer. Maybe he softened upon meeting the woman with her head in the stars, but the truth was that he wasn’t the kind of man you loved. Betrayal could be dressed up in charming words, but the scar twining his arm could not.

Narcissa Black dreamed of love.

Lucius Malfoy did not.

Ted Tonks believed in it as much as any young man would.

Andromeda Black knew it was there, ever-present everywhere you turned. She may have been the wisest of them all.

They say all is fair in love and war, but this is all far from fair. Perhaps if they knew what was to come, they would have watched out more. But they didn’t -- so they didn’t see just how much they had to lose when the time came. Because even when they were face to face with Death in the form of a wand, their thoughts would be to protect others first. Maybe that would be their downfall; or maybe, just maybe, it would be their greatest advantage.

Again, not just yet. We'll be getting there -- but first, there’s still quite a bit of their story to tell.

[ofmagicspells-blog]

02 february 1977 at approx. 12:02am.

"Girls, wake up. It's an emergency, we're taking you all to St. Mungo's."

"Professor McGonagall, what -- "

"Marlene, please go round up the boys, they're coming, too. Lily, Alice, wake up."

Alice begrudgingly listened, still only partially believing that she wasn't dreaming. She was terribly surprised when her eyes fluttered open, blue-grey irises falling onto the tall figure in sweeping robes. The woman was as composed as ever, but her usual authoritative features had worried lines creasing her still-young skin. That, ultimately, was what sparked panic in Alice. Something was wrong -- really wrong.

"Professor -- "

The inquiry was silenced straight away. "No questions, I'll tell you along the way. Please, just come with me."

02 february 1977 at approx. 5:23am.

Alice was about to play a rousing game of spontaneous combustion, she was sure. At first, she had been irritated by the rude awakening at midnight in the form of their formidable Head of House, but that agitation soon morphed into anxiety. Now, about five hours later (five hours that felt like a century) they still remained at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

Mary had been attacked.

And they didn't know who did it. In reality, Alice was positive they all had a very good idea of who the culprit was.

"Fucking hell only family can see her!" A voice rang out from the end of the hall. Lily flinched in the chair against the wall that Alice was repeatedly pacing past. Three of the boys had gone to see what food they could scrounge up. Remus was sitting next to the redheaded witch, eyes flickering around without really seeing, fingers tapping on the armrest, chest rising and falling a tad more rapidly than usual. "We are her family!" Mr. Macdonald and Jennifer were in Ireland and couldn't be there until the next morning. "Oh, feck off!" English accent took on a Scottish bite. Alice continued her pacing, gnawing at her fingernails. There was a break in conversation that the blonde couldn't hear as the receptionist spoke. Then the yelling was back, echoing in the sterile space."I don't care if the bloody Queen of England says we can't -- you need to let us in there!"

How was this possible?

Okay, that wasn't the right question. It was possible because pureblood supremacists had a mob superiority complex that only ever made them make an arse of themselves. They felt as though muggleborns were toys to be played with like some fucked up game of cat and mouse. Merlin's pants, how could one group of people be so filled with hate? Who cared that they weren't magical? They were all human and maybe Alice couldn't see a life without her magic, but that didn't mean she thought of herself above all of them. After all, her mother's family were muggles and they were hardly much different from anyone else.

And just the mere fact that someone (she wasn't about to name names just yet, Nicholas Mulciber) in Hogwarts had the audacity to use dark magic on the grounds to torture quite possibly the sweetest girl there was.. it made a sharp anger flare up in the blonde. What gave him the right to treat her like that? To harm her without a care in the world, as if it were his game and he made the rules. Alice's unbitten nails dug into the palm of her right hand, lips flattening into an almost invisible line.

What had he done to her?

They had been in this room for hours, only occasionally wandering for a change of scenery and to talk between themselves. None of them had been able to sleep, or even find it in them to try. Mary meant so much to all of them and she knew that until they saw her, safe and okay, the tension they had all built up wouldn't go away.

The hospital was too-hot. The stone walls lined with magic-fueled torches seemed to radiate heat, though the linoleum floor was cool. The sun was rising in London, bright light straining through the wall of windows. Eyes shooting over to a clock on the wall, she was surprised to see that it was just after six am. Perhaps time was passing faster than she thought. A hand tugged its way through her unruly blonde waves as she paused, staring down to where Marlene was still standing, arguing with the secretary. Someone must have cast a muffling charm, for their words could no longer be heard, though the brunette could be seen fighting just as fiercely as before. A brief tired, humorless laugh escaped Alice's lips at the sight. She would have felt bad for the action, particularly when Lily looked at her curiously, but then the redhead joined in.

A few moments later it died down, the pair sharing understanding, albeit mildly surprised, looks. Alice glanced back up to see James had joined the argument, one hand holding a brown paper bag, the other resting on Marlene's curled fist on the granite desk in the manner of someone who had done so endless times before. Alice had been curious as to why the four of them had been given the crude wake-up call as well, but she could see now. The headmaster and professor were well aware of what went on in their school -- Remus needed the boys. Marlene needed James and the long-haired boy with his hand on her shoulder. Lily, unknowingly, needed the four of them as well. As did Alice, though a certain awkward boy with messy brown hair also flashed through her mind.

And Mary needed all seven of them. All for their own reasons that, ultimately, boiled down to their loyalty to each other. How they had all come to be, Alice wasn't sure. She just knew that she was glad they were all here now.

Her mindless watching was cut short by a cautious hand on her upper arm. "Alice." Peter was looking at her curiously, a tad nervous as he met her eyes. "You alright?" 

She didn't have an opportunity to respond before the trio was booking it back to where the remaining four had set up camp. Lily looked up, eyes gleaming hopefully while Remus jumped to his feet.

"Fourth floor, let's go."

[ofmagicspells-blog]

Believe what you must, but their tale isn’t a love story.

It’s a web of purposeful encounters, too many heated arguments, friends that were barking mad, and a boy and girl who needed to grow up.

Yes, they came to love each other, and perhaps love is the moral of the story, but first and foremost, theirs was a tale of necessary growth. They had to find themselves and what they wanted, who they needed, before they could begin to truly find each other. A boy with gravity defying hair who laughed too much had to face the worst before he could step up. A girl with bright eyes and a temper as fiery as her hair had to face the biggest heartbreak before she could love him.

Yet still, this isn’t the love story you’re expecting. It’s not one with a happy ending and it doesn’t fade to black the moment that bleeding green light fills the screen. This is their lives, and real life isn’t a movie — it’s messy. You can’t write out the gritty little details. You can’t predict how things will turn out because no one can see the future. Okay, perhaps a rare few witches and wizards can, but generally no one can anticipate the plot twist coming your way.

No, not entirely a love story. It’s one of loss. Loss of family, friends, strangers targeted solely because they don’t have magic in their blood. This is most evidently a story of prejudice, of how war can change and reduce people to a fraction of the person they once were. Because war doesn’t make people rise to the occasion; it shows you who is brave enough to fight for a better cause, a proper future. Though is it worth it if no is left to witness it?

Ultimately, this is a tale of family. Not only your blood, but the one you choose. A story showing how the love of family can’t conquer all, but certainly can prevail death. After all, the love of four boys couldn’t prevent one who was already walking on the edge, whose faith was shattering, from tipping over to the side of skulls and snakes. It can’t stop the brutal massacre of a certain brunette and her kin. It won’t thwart the woman in love with her Lord from torturing two mad wizards into insanity. Simply can't stop the sheer betrayal that's to come from friends, from lovers. And never was it intended to overcome the unforgivable words that dropped a courageous man to the ground or the blinding green jet of light that filled a child's room. But love does prevail, love does keep that remarkable child alive.

That's a spiel for another time, though, another era. This one begins in the late 1960s with a redheaded girl and a boy down the block who introduced her to the world of magic. Funny how fate works sometimes, eh? She was Lily and he was Severus and none of this would have been possible had they not been best friends, once upon a time.

People change, though, they do. Just not always for the better. That was the case with Severus Snape, who joined a budding group of Death Eaters and lost the girl he loved so much. Lily lost someone too, when their relationship ended. She lost her best friend. It hurt more than anything the young girl had experienced yet, but people change. She had as well, of course -- her desire to protect her people flourished, her temper rose, she refused to stand back while people like Mulciber and Avery ruined good people and innocent lives. For he was Severus and she was Lily and that's why it no longer could work. They had chosen different paths to follow.

James changed as well, though that was for the better. It was at the cost of his mother's life, the one person he loved most in the world. It was due to the rising war tensions and the father who worked so much and his strong, irrefutable beliefs. A bad boy can become a good man and he may not have been the best, but he was damn well brave. Had the events of sixth year not happened, this tale may have gone far differently.

This story isn't just about the flowers in the field, though. There's the stars in the sky and sea, the sun and the moon, the rock crushing under the weight of his doubts, the rebellion of the brave, and the nobility and graciousness of God. There's an unlimited amount of people involved, and many will remain unnamed, but all hold a place of equal importance in the fate of the Dark Lord.

No, this isn't your typical love story. But there is love and there is life and there is war. Not yet, of course, but we'll get there.

[darceysaltzman-blog]

Miracles Happen | Self Para

The pain was excruciating.  It was unlike anything she had ever felt before and Darcey just wanted it to end.  It seemed almost ironic that she’d been complaining about wanting Sarah born, not realizing that she’d actually been in the early stages of labor for most of the day.  How had she been so stupid?  Darcey didn’t know and somehow she didn’t think she would ever really understand.  All she knew was that pain constantly rippled through her body leaving her crying out.  Mason had been a huge help in getting her to the hospital but now he was gone.  The doctors were afraid of complications from her preterm birth so they banished him to the waiting room.  Darcey had never felt so alone.

Her eyes sought Mason’s as they wheeled her into the delivery room.  Darcey wanted him there but they wouldn’t let him be there.  She needed him and they were keeping them apart.  It was a complicated birth.  They were worried.  She knew that but at the same time she didn’t care.  She wanted Mason.  Bryce was a deadbeat and she wondered if he even knew their daughter was being born.  Mason had been there holding her hand and rubbing her back for most of this pregnancy.  She wanted him there now but it was impossible.  Pain ripped her body practically in two and she screamed as each contraction got closer together and much more intense.  Darcey hated it.  If she never had another child she would be happy with it.  After all this was the most painful thing she had ever experienced.  Nothing could possibly be worth this pain, could it?

“Mason,” Darcey screamed as another contraction ripped through her and she reached out for one of the nurses, gripping the front of her scrubs tightly.  “I want Mason!”  Another cry tore from her as tears ran down her cheeks and she was reminded once again that he couldn’t be there.  They wouldn’t let him in even though she needed him.  After all, Mason was her rock.  For a long time it had been Alaric but now, after everything, Mason was the one she needed.  “I need him,” she cried between contractions as the nurses bustled about around her.

“You’re almost there Miss Saltzman,” the doctor said from somewhere down between her legs where he’d been monitoring Sarah’s progress for what seemed like hours.  Darcey didn’t feel like she was almost there.  She felt like it was taking years and there was no progress.  All she wanted was to hold her baby in her arms.  Was that too much to ask?  Pain was fogging out her mind however and she was barely aware of the nurse beside her holding her hand.  She squeezed the hand and closed her eyes imagining Mason was there helping her through this even though she knew he wasn’t.  He’d be furious they kept him out of the delivery room.  “Alright,” the doctor said drawing her thoughts away from Mason and the fact that he wasn’t there.  “You can push now.”

Those were the words she’d been waiting for and Darcey took them to heart.  Pushing hard she poured every ounce of strength she had left into helping move her daughter into the world.  She screamed and cried out for Mason but Darcey was strong.  Deep down she knew she could do this and in the end she did.  Finally the pressure eased and she heard her daughter cry for the very first time.  Tears of joy replaced the tears of complete agony she had previously been feeling.  Her eyes tracked the nurses as they fussed and cleaned off her little girl.  After everything she’d been through her daughter crying was music to her ears and it was almost relaxing.  It was almost enough to lull her into a state of peace.

For a brief moment she closed her eyes just to wish Mason had been there with her before the nurse was standing there with her daughter in her arms.  Smiling weakly up at the woman, Darcey extended her arms for the baby.  “Sarah,” she said softly once the nurse had placed the little girl in her mother’s arms.  Almost instantly the baby stopped crying as Darcey held her close.  “Mommy loves you,” she said happily before kissing the top of her daughter’s head.  “She will always love you.”  It seemed like a miracle or a dream but after all the heartache and the trauma she had her little girl.  Even though she had doubted it before now, looking down at her daughter’s tiny features, her perfect nose and ten fingers and ten toes, Darcey knew it was worth it.  Just for this moment she would do it all over again.  It was perfect and now she had her family.  “Welcome to the world, Sarah Grace.”