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the-al-chemist · 6 months

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The Prodigal Son

For Day 3 of @thethreebroomsticksfic’s Weasley Week, I present a little Percy angst.

Warnings: mentions of Christmas, when right now it’s only October.

December 1995

It was Christmas Eve, and in the Ministry of Magic Headquarters, work was slowly grinding to a halt. From the window of his office on the uppermost floor, Percy had a clear view of the festive memos that left a trail of glitter in their wake as they flew back and forth across the atrium. Far below, colleagues were bidding one another glad tidings, and the fireplaces flashed green as staff clocked off and went home to the families impatiently waiting for them to return.

Now that day was growing late, Percy must have been one of the only people left working. He was certainly the only person left on his floor; even the Minister for Magic himself had gone home to the bottle of brandy that he said was calling his name. As he left, he had praised Percy for his commitment to his work.

Percy was committed to his work. If it were not for his conscientiousness, he would never have secured such a prestigious job role at such a young age. He was living proof that diligence and determination could get a person far in life.

In truth, however, it was not his excellent work ethic that kept him at his desk this Christmas Eve. It was more of a case of him having nowhere better to be.

Still, as the lights in yet more office windows deluminated, and the crowds down in the atrium dwindled further, Percy had to admit that he longer wished to remain where he was. He may have only had a tiny, empty, and extortionately expensive flat to return to, but being there alone couldn’t be worse than being alone at work. He could hardly spend the night before Christmas sleeping at his desk, after all.

He passed no one in the corridor on his way to the elevator, but as its doors opened on the second level, he was joined by a tall and familiar-looking wizard a few years older than him. The wizard had dark brown hair and fine lines around eyes, and a stack of books floated in the air beside him.

“Evening, Weasley,” he said. “Merry Christmas.”

Percy’s Christmas was unlikely to be merry, but he forced a smile and replied stiffly, “And to you, Davies.”

“I heard about your dad’s accident. He’s out of St Mungo’s now, isn’t he?”

In response to Chester Davies’ question, Percy gave a curt nod and made a humming noise. He had not visited his father during his stay in hospital. He felt guilty about not doing so, but given the way the two of them had argued the last time they spoke, he imagined that his presence would not have been particularly conducive to a speedy recovery. Percy had not yet entirely forgiven his father for the things he had said during their argument; he could only presume that the lingering resentment was mutual.

“Your family must be relieved to have him home for Christmas,” Chester continued. “I suppose that there’ll be a lot of you at your parents’ house this year.”

The way he spoke made it sound like another question, and Percy felt compelled to answer.

“I’m not certain,” he said. “I’m not spending Christmas with them this year. Too busy with work.”

Chester looked almost disappointed, but he quickly recovered himself as the elevator came to a halt and opened out into the atrium.

“Well, when you see your dad, give him my best. And your mum and Bill, too.”

Percy couldn’t bring himself to tell Chester that he would not be seeing his family to give them anything. Not that he hadn’t been sent anything from them. Just that morning a soft parcel had been delivered to his flat with a label written in his mother’s hand. He knew without having opened it what would be inside. Every year since he could remember his mother had knitted him and each of his siblings a jumper. It was a tradition, just as much as the turkey on the table, the gnome on top of the tree, and stockings opened beside the roaring fire.

Without warning, Percy was struck with a sudden pang of homesickness, one that he couldn’t ignore. He wished profoundly that he had never argued with his father, that he had never left the Burrow, that he could be there now enjoying Christmas with his family.

But, he thought, perhaps he could. He had assumed that he would be unwelcome, but if his mother had sent him a jumper, then maybe she would have left a place at the table for him as well. The more he considered it, the more Percy was certain that this was the case. The jumper was more than just a gift, it was an olive branch. It was his mother’s way of saying that he was still loved, that he still belonged. Surely, he would still be welcomed with open arms. After all, what was Christmas if not a time for forgiveness?

His mind made up, Percy stopped in a Muggle shop in the London street above the Ministry of Magic and bought a large bottle of sherry, the most expensive in the shop. He tucked it under his arm and ducked into an alleyway so that he could Disapparate without being seen.

He thought longingly of the Burrow, of home, of the ramshackle house with its drafts and mess and the wailing ghoul in the attic. He thought of the piles of shoes in the porch and numerous odd socks in the washing and the chickens that pecked in the yard. He thought of the warm woollen blankets, the smell of his mother’s cooking, and the cosy golden glow of the lights that shone through the windows during the darkest nights. He took a deep breath and smiled as he Apparated to the front garden, where he found the house…

Empty.

The place was silent. The lights were all off. No one was home. It was Christmas Eve, and the Weasleys were elsewhere. Percy didn’t know where exactly, because no one had bothered to invite him. Clearly, no one missed him that much.

Percy was half-helplessness, half-bitterness. He felt like a small child, lost and alone. He felt like an old man, aching and world-weary. More than anything, he felt angry. His anger only increased when he returned to his flat to see the still-unopened gift his mother had sent him resting on the table.

Jaw clenched and fingers trembling, he picked up the parcel and carried across the room to the window, where his owl Hermes was resting on his favourite perch.

“Take it back,” he told Hermes, who blinked at him and let owl a low and doleful-sounding hoot in response. “Just take it back.”

His voice was louder than he’d intended it to be, and his eyes began to sting. Hermes ruffled his feathers, but he took the strings of the parcel in his talons. Percy exhaled.

“Thank you,” he said, gentler this time. He stroked the feathers on the top of Hermes’ head with the back of one finger. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

As he opened the window to let the bird out, a chill entered. Percy steeled himself against it, welcoming the feeling of physical discomfort, appreciating the way it distracted him from the pain he felt in his heart. And as the last friend he had left in the world disappeared into the midwinter night sky, carrying the last piece he had left of his family, the clock struck midnight.

It was Christmas, and Percy was all alone.

#percy weasley #harry potter fanfiction #hpff #Weasley week #weasley family #order of the phoenix #chester davies

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catohphm · 8 months

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First Year Frantics

Hi everyone! Welcome to to a new fanfic about my HPHM MC, a Ravenclaw named Cato Reese. In this story it will be explored how he and his new friend Rowan Khanna faced the antics of the Slytherin school bully Merula Snyde in their first year and the consequences her actions would have on Cato's life at Hogwarts.

Fascination and excitement await in most, if not all first year students coming to Hogwarts. Cato Reese was no exception. The expulsion and disappearance of his older brother roughly a year before had been a point of contention in his family but it had been set aside by the busy working of their parents and the prospect of Cato's first term at the prestigious magic school.

However, it was inevitable that the young boy would become caught up in the social drama, rumors and discourse that circulated in the student body like many kids before him. It is important to note that the Daily Prophet had already been running stories on the Reese brothers before Cato first arrived at Hogwarts. From these articles many only knew him as a weird kid at risk for falling into the same dangerous path and misdeeds as Alex. This assessment came about from the Prophet's intrepid, scandalous reporting and the ignorance that collected as a result of little evidence of Alex's behavior at school available to the public. The coverage of his drama had a long-term impact on Cato's Hogwarts education as he arose into his teenage years.

What follows is a recount of a few encounters early in Cato's first year establishing his conflict and rivalry with the school bully Merula Snyde and other bullying and drama incidents later on. Through overcoming these hurdles, he became stronger, mature and confident as an individual.

While on their way to their first Potions Class with Professor Snape, Cato's new friend Rowan was ahead of him when they crossed paths with a Slytherin girl in their first year.

"Just look at what we have here in the halls on their way to potions." She said smugly. "You. Let me deal with your little friend here first and then you're next, Reese."

Back in Diagon Alley, the two Ravenclaws had agreed to look out to each other as friends. While reluctant at socializing, Cato was loyal and he would do his best to stand by his friends if they got into trouble.

Merula started to escalate her confrontation with Rowan. As Cato watched from a few inches back, shocked that this girl he didn't know knew his name, more so stopping them right there regardless, his brows slowly furled.

"What's your name, bookworm? Merula demanded. "R-Rowan, Rowan Khanna." Cato's friend answered nervously. "Oh, I see. You won't amount to anything, just like him." She said. "What do you know about Cato? He's just my friend." She continued "Reese is bound to be a heap of trouble just like his hothead brother, he'll only spell doom for this school. I won't let that happen again, for I will become the most powerful witch at Hogwarts."

Rowan didn't buy her proclamation "What? I seriously doubt that you're gonna earn any friends with that attitude" questioning Merula.

"Silence!" She snapped. "Admit that I'm the most powerful witch at Hogwarts." Rowan froze for a second with a shocked look on his face. "Admit it!!" she then yelled at him.

Cato had enough. He stopped in telling Merula "Please get away from my friend. Just leave him alone." in a serious tone.

"Coming in to save your weak little friend like a hero, Weirdy Reese? That will only make things worse. You're only gonna get exp-"

She was cut off by the school bell ringing and an agitated Professor Snape coming out of the potions classroom wanting to know what's taking them so long. He told the three to step inside the class and have a seat before he started taking off house points before being late, dismissing their tattles against each other.

The lesson went smoothly until the very end. Cato had just finished his Cure for Boils when the cauldron started smoking then burst. Everyone at his table springed back to avoid the many small debris flying everywhere while a very dismayed Snape confronted him.

"I knew you would only be trouble, Mr Reese." He said as he put his hands on the table in front of what remained of the cauldron. "Blasting the cauldron on your first day. Not looking good at all for you. Now explain yourself for this dire mishap."

"Professor, I swear, I didn't put anything in my potion that made it blow up." the Ravenclaw told Snape. "Is that true? Who may be responsible other than your very careless self?"

Rowan chimed in "I-I believe it was Merula, sir. She attempted to trifle with us in the halls but Cato told her to leave us alone."

"Is that true, Miss Snyde?

"No, professor." She denied "I'm telling you, they would do anything to make mine and others' time here difficult."

"Yes, Miss Snyde, I understand you come from a highly respected family and will do well to maintain and carry on the good name of their time-honored legacy." She nodded in agreement "Much obliged, professor."

"As for you, Mr. Reese, the mess and shame is on you. 20 points from Ravenclaw." Merula smirked and winked at Cato as the potions master deducted points from the eagle house. He looked down in shock and disappointed as Rowan looked at him with a hint of worry and concern.

The bell then rang. "Class dismissed." announced Snape as Cato and Rowan left their station. He then turned to the two Ravenclaws. "I've got my eye on you, Mr. Reese. On your best behavior you must be, the consequences for further fumbles will be servere. Carelessness and pranks have no business in my classroom, ever. Now get out of here before I take more points away from Ravenclaw."

Feeling rather intimidated by the imposing, cold and towering demeanor of the potions master, Cato was led out of the class by Rowan.

Later that day, Cato and Rowan explained what happened during potions to their perfect, Chester Davies. He produced a note addressed to Cato from Professor Snape.

It read:

Mister Reese,

Perhaps there is some truth to the claim that Miss Snyde botched your Cure for Boils. I have evidence proving that she may be guilty. I want you to head down to my storage and gather a few jars of Pickled Slugs I need for my next class. Return to me in my office adjacent to my classroom with them. Then will discuss the possibility of getting your lost 20 house points back for Ravenclaw.

Directions to my storeroom are on the back of this note.

Professor Snape

"I hope he means it and returns our points back."

Cato was skeptical. "I wouldn't be so sure, Chester. Professor Snape told me he would keep a close eye on me in his classes. He sounded quite serious about it. It doesn't make sense that he'd suddenly change his mind and want to work with me."

"He's right." agreed Rowan "Snape kept on denying our side of the matter. He constantly defended Merula because of her affluent family and her resolve to live up to that reputation."

"Perhaps," consider Chester. "I mean, Snape strongly prefers Slytherin students over other houses in his class. After all, he is the Head of Slytherin."

Cato nodded "That makes some sense, though the professor is still siding with a student just because of her family connections."

Raising an eyebrow, Chester pointed out "what's most peculiar about this message though is this handwriting. I can't argue that it looks like Snape's handwriting. It may be his." he noted. "If I were you, I would still go and check out what he seeks. Snape is no teacher you want to keep waiting at all."

Sharing Cato's skepticism, Rowan offered to accompany his friend to the potion master's storeroom. "It's the least I can do to help you after you stopped Merula." Without any second thoughts Cato agreed. "Sure, Rowan. Snape's letter seems real but I can't shake the feeling this may be a trap. We'll go together."

Following the directions on the note, they arrived at the supposed storeroom in the East Tower.

"Strange," said Rowan. "I thought the storeroom was in the Tapestry Corridor." His friend replied "True, like there may be others, but I don't know what's behind this door. Let's pull out our wands and be ready. Good thing Professor Flitwick already taught us Lumos."

Rowan nodded in agreement. The boys drew their wands. Cato went first and slowly creaked open the door, revealing a pitch black room. "Lumos!" he quietly called out. From the tip of the wand a powerful ball of light flashed out and around. It illuminated the room, revealing a huge array of large green spiked tentacles that revolted and let out a loud hiss in reaction to the blinding light. Cato went "No!" in a panicked gasp upon seeing the menacing green mass. He banged the door shut at once without forethought.

"Rowan! That isn't a potions storeroom. We've been duped. I saw what looked like a huge plant with tentacles in there." Cato's friend immediately knew what he was talking about. "That's a Devil's Snare, Cato. Those plants try to strangle their victims with their tentacles and tighten their grip when they try to resist. Weak to sunlight. They literally hate it and will pull back when any light source hits them." Rowan explained to him. "I know my mum mentioned them a few times. She used to be an herbologist. But I never expected to see such a dangerous plant at Hogwarts." Cato added.

Watching from behind a pillar about a foot away was Merula, she had been secretly observing the entire situation unfold. When she learned that Cato and Rowan had seen through her plan to scare them, she was angry that the Ravenclaws outsmarted her. The Slytherin girl left in a huff when Hagrid showed up to investigate the commotion. Determined to keep her ego covering her own insecurities and traumas afloat, she sought to learn some fighting spells with the intent to get back at Cato and Rowan.

Following the trouble on the first day, Cato was more wary of others outside of the security of his common room. Besides Rowan and those he knew since childhood, he didn't interact much with many others outside his house. An exception was Ben Copper, who spoke to Cato in the following days. The muggle-born Gryffindor boy admired his ability to stand to Merula, Ben was also a target of her bullying because of his blood status. She called him "mudblood" on the train while chasing him. This wrecked poor Ben's confidence in being able to meet new people. He elaborated that he had been watching the first encounter between Merula and the Ravenclaws unfold and observing her so that he would be able to avoid a future confrontation with her in the hall.

Cato understood the poor Gryffindor's predicament. He let Ben know that he got his back and that he would try his best to keep Merula at bay. More than grateful, they introduced themselves to each other and parted ways, Ben feeling a bit better that he found someone at Hogwarts who could be his friend and protect him from the Slytherin girl's tyranny.

To distract from Merula, Rowan helped Cato introduce himself to their fellow Ravenclaws. Out of the group, they got along with Badeea the most. Talbott was silent and distant, Tulip, who was still working with Merula at this point, wanted nothing to do with "weirdy Reese" and while Andre was friendly, he was cautious about getting close with Cato because of the rumors. Badeea however did not pay attention to the news as much. She liked to stay in the peace and quiet of painting pictures. Badeea happily invited Cato and Rowan to come and watch her paint after they complimented her artwork.

The two boys liked to watch her paint on weekends and offered her constructive advice. Badeea got to know them as they all conversed together during her work sessions. They would all bond over their shared appreciation for art and disdain for the drama surrounding the Reese family. Non-judgemental, Badeea assured both Cato and Rowan that they could always confide in her and she would be supportive of them.

In addition to watching Badeea paint, the boys found shared pleasure in the wizarding favorite gobstones. During these games, Cato and Rowan exchanged details about their respective lives at home and their family situations. Yet their peace would soon be disrupted by Merula.

The Ravenclaws were in the middle of a game one day when Merula noticed and approached them, obviously displeased with their presence. "I thought you two would have already been on the train home by now. You're just a danger to the school lurking around like this, weirdy Reese." The boys stood up. Wiith a scaredy glare, Cato responded "I thought I told you to stay away from us." Rowan spoke on his friend's side. "Don't we want anything to do with you? You tried to verbally pummel me on our first day." Cato then added "You blew up my cauldron! You put Bulbdadox powder in my Cure for Boils and made it bust."

Merula wasn't having any of it. "You two aren't making any of this simple. Should've just left quietly when you had the chance. Time we settle this in a duel, Reese." He was shocked. "What!? I don't know how to fight!" Rowan was just as well "M-m-me neither! They haven't taught us those kinds of spells yet." Not looking to fight or be in one, Cato then told Merula "Just me and Rowan alone and go back to your miserable day. You're the one who's a danger, not us."

The witch's face turned red. "That's it, weirdy Reese. I'm gonna make something out of the cowardly little Ravenclaw you are!" She quickly pulled out her wand at him and shouted "Flipendo!" ferociously. There was a bang and the beam from Merula's wand struck Cato, knocking him down to the cobblestone. He yelped and grunted in pain as he went down. Rowan shouted "Cato!" as he went to his side straight away. "Ow! Merula! What's wrong with you!? You just hit me with that spell."

She showed no remorse for hitting Cato, gloating instead. "Look at you spread out on the cold floor. Again if you only had just le-."

Angered that his best friend had gotten hurt over someone's stupidity and brashness, Rowan cut her off "Quiet, Merula! If a teacher saw this, they'd make sure your house would go down with you. This is not at all okay!"

She went "Hmph. You two are very lucky I'm backing off now. It would be too… dishonorable for me to hit someone wounded and needing tending to."

"How in Merlin's beard did you learn that spell?"

With rolling eyes, Merula answered "I've been training while you Ravenclaws have your heads stuck in books and homework. I don't see why any of you couldn't learn how to fight, spending all that free time in the library, not that it matters."

"Why?" asked Rowan.

"Cause I'm going to be the most powerful witch at Hogwarts and show you all I cannot be beaten. I hear you've been giving that poor mudblood Ben company."

The remark about the Gryffindor boy disgusted both Ravenclaws. "Merula!" Cato shouted at her while Rowan glared at her.

"Once I'm through with that filthy little horklump, I'll be after you both. Be ready, or not. Mark my words." the Slytherin ended before departing.

Cato exhaustedly told his friend as he lay on the cobblestone "We've got to learn how to defend ourselves if we're going to stop her." A concerned Rowan agreed "You're right, Cato. Merula doesn't appear that she's going to let up if no one does anything. She's been causing a ruckus all over Hogwarts."

This did not help the mood of Rowan's friend. "No one should have to be in fear of her."

"I'm with you on this and will be all the way, Cato. I will do my best to help you. Our common room should have some spell books for dueling."

"Yeah," said Cato. Defence Against the Dark Arts is a load of rubbish. Maybe we can also ask Professor Flitwick for help." Rowan agreed with his suggestion. "Our head of house was a dueling champion when he was a student here. He must know a few charms that can help you protect yourself against Merula."

"We'll have to ask him later," said Cato. We should get back to our common room now before our prefect gets too worried."

Rowan helped his friend back up onto his feet and they returned to the Ravenclaw Common Room together.

While Merula's attack on Cato was flagrantly past the line, it was an isolated incident they could not do much else about. A concerned Chester agreed with their assessment about learning self-defense to keep Merula at bay, but he advised Cato and Rowan to keep the matter on the down-low. Dueling was tightly regulated and unauthorized matches were not taken lightly by the teachers.

Cato's social confidence was also negatively impacted by Merula's actions. He was more avoidant of others and jumpy out in the halls. Already a shy boy with anxiety, the Slytherin's aggressive behavior only made Cato's situation worse. While his boundaries had been pushed greatly by Merula and others shoving the drama of his expelled brother and the Cursed Vaults in his face, Cato's loyalty and devotion to his friends kept him going as he gradually built up his strength studying dueling spells with Rowan in the event should they be pulled into such a confrontation with Merula again.

As they always did though, rumors of Cato and Rowan's struggles with Merula circulated throughout Hogwarts. They resonated with many others who had the misfortune of being subject to her torment and bullying. The boys did not know much of it, but many students were rooting for Cato to step up and put the menacing Slytherin in her place.

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akikocho · 11 months

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NAUUUUUR I WANNA KNOW WHO

*creates an OC*

#hphm #hogwarts mystery #harry potter hogwarts mystery #hphm frog choir sidequest #chester davies #maya bell avery #tulip karasu

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carewyncromwell · 8 months

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"Don't talk 'bout me

Like how you might know how I feel --

Top of the world, but your world isn't real...

Your world's an ideal...

So go have fun -- I really couldn't care less."

~"Therefore I Am" by Billie Eilish

x~x~x~x

When Carewyn Cromwell first joined the Department of Magical Law Enforcement as an up-and-coming lawyer in the spring of 1991, Cornelius Fudge -- the Minister for Magic -- was very eager to welcome her and show support for her budding career. It didn't take long for Carewyn to figure out that Fudge had heard all about her and her brother Jacob's exploits dealing with the Cursed Vaults and apprehending R -- not just from Dumbledore, but from OWL examiner Professor Tofty and infamous Auror Mad-Eye Moody -- and although Carewyn had had plenty of people side-eye her for her dealing with the Vaults at school, it seemed Fudge held no such disapproval. On the contrary, he seemed very keen on interacting with Carewyn, especially around his support staff and the rest of the Wizengamot. And it wasn't until Carewyn finally met him (as well as his Senior Undersecretary, Dolores Umbridge) that she figured out why.

Carewyn had known she wouldn't be the first Cromwell that sought a career in Magical Law. Her Head of House, Severus Snape, purposefully brought it up to her in their Career Advice session, to make sure she was aware that -- at the time of her interest -- Carewyn's ruthless grandfather, Charles Cromwell, was an influential member of the Wizengamot. After Charles's arrest and lifetime imprisonment, the Cromwell Clan's reputation had understandably been tarnished. Carewyn and Jacob's reputations, however, were shining and pristine, because they were the Cromwells who had actually defeated Charles and the rest of R and in the process saved Hogwarts from the danger of the Cursed Vaults. And considering that Fudge was related to the Cromwell Clan through marriage (a fact that still left Carewyn reeling) and had apparently done his fair share of socializing with Charles Cromwell while unaware of his crimes, it was very clear that Fudge wanted to distance himself from that old association, preferably by being on good terms with the people who'd brought Charles to justice. And since Carewyn was now pursuing a promising new career at the Ministry, Fudge had clearly deemed it in his best interest to throw his support behind Carewyn, so as to have her esteem and reputation likewise reflect nicely on him.

So Fudge only has interest in being around people who make him look good, rather than anyone with actual integrity, Carewyn thought cynically. Guess I shouldn't be surprised that the chief politician around here acts like it.

Despite herself, though, Carewyn was disappointed. All the more so when she learned in the spring of 1993 just how self-absorbed the man was, despite being given charge of the entire British Wizarding World.

It all started when -- in the midst of a busy night shift -- Carewyn's meeting with fellow lawyer Chester Davies was interrupted by her old school friend Ben Copper bursting into her office.

"Carewyn," he said urgently, "Hagrid's been arrested."

Both Carewyn and Chester whirled around.

"What!?" they cried in unison.

"How can that be?" Chester immediately followed up, sounding confused. "I didn't even know Hagrid was under investigation -- let alone charged with anything..."

He looked to Carewyn as if to ask if she had, but Carewyn wasn't paying attention. She got up from her chair and strolled around her desk over to Ben, taking hold of his shoulder and steering him into the office so she could close the door.

"Tell me everything," she said seriously.

Ben rested his forehead on his clenched fist as he propped his elbow against the wall of Carewyn's office.

"I was just finishing up my work for the day, when I saw Hagrid by the Floo grates with two Hitwizards, talking to Cornelius Fudge," he explained. "Fudge was apologizing, saying something about 'it just being a precaution' and that he was sure once things at Hogwarts settled down, he'd be able to go about his business as usual. Fudge even tried to tell Hagrid that Azkaban shouldn't really be that bad for him -- "

Ben looked absolutely disgusted repeating back such a blatant lie. Carewyn was just as furious herself.

"'Shouldn't be that bad?'" she repeated, her soft voice nonetheless dripping with horror and umbrage. "What, does he think only violent criminals are affected by dementors?"

"Likely!" Ben spat, his brown eyes flashing with righteous anger. "I went over and asked what was going on, and Hagrid explained that it was because of the whole 'Chamber of Secrets' mess. Fudge didn't seem to want to talk about it and kind of just blustered the same rubbish he'd said to Hagrid -- claimed the Hogwarts school governors had been concerned and he'd thought he should take measures to 'reassure' them and the public -- "

"Reassure them?" said Chester, his mouth falling open in disbelief. "But -- you can't mean -- the Minister can't really think that Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets?"

"No -- but apparently because Hagrid was expelled right after the Chamber of Secrets opened the first time, Fudge is perfectly willing to throw him under the bus anyway, just to make it look like he's doing something," Ben said vindictively. "Apparently he's letting the exact same thing happen to Dumbledore too."

"What do you mean?" said Carewyn, her eyebrows furrowing.

Ben leaned his back up against the wall, crossing his arms.

"Hagrid said that Dumbledore and Fudge had come to see him at his hut about an hour ago, when Lucius Malfoy crashed the meeting out of nowhere, just to round Dumbledore up and expel him from the grounds. Apparently that snake Malfoy somehow got all of the other school governors to sign off on the proposal."

The mention of Lucius Malfoy made Carewyn's eyes flare with resentment. Of course Malfoy would be the sort to take advantage of a bad situation to try to oust his old master You-Know-Who's greatest enemy.

"But -- but taking Dumbledore away could only make things worse," said Chester. He clearly had a hard time making sense of all this. "Surely the Minister wouldn't agree to that? He's gone to Dumbledore for advice for years..."

"But how could Fudge have arrested Hagrid in the first place?" Carewyn rerouted the conversation sharply. "The Hitwizards can't arrest anyone without the charges first going through the Department of Magical Law Enforcement...how fast must the charges have gone through, for Chester and me not to have heard anything about them?"

"That's because Fudge didn't involve the Hitwizards or the Wizengamot at first," Ben said coldly. "The Hitwizards I saw looked just as surprised by what they were hearing as I was...even if they did end up going lockstep with Fudge and took Hagrid away through the grate anyway. I reckon Fudge just asked Hagrid to come with him quietly, so he wouldn't have to get the Hitwizards involved..."

"Or have his activities draw too much attention," Carewyn finished.

Her low voice evoked the rumbles of an earthquake as she swept to the door. Opening it, she glanced over her shoulder at Chester, her blue eyes blazing with righteous fire despite the stoicism of her face.

"Chester...I'm afraid I'll have to leave you to finish editing the case file," she said curtly.

"What are you planning to do?" asked Chester.

"Speak to Madam Bones. Hagrid needs a lawyer, and I intend to be it."

x~x~x~x

It only took a half-hour for Carewyn to blaze through all the paperwork needed to become Hagrid's official legal counsel. Unfortunately Azkaban's visiting hours were only from sun-up to sun-down, with each visitor only being allowed an hour each day with a Patronus escort either provided by the warden or conjured by the visitor themselves. The conditions were very familiar to Carewyn -- she'd been reminded them every time she chose to visit Patricia Rakepick in her lonely cell block.

When Carewyn finally made it to Azkaban first thing the next morning and was led to the cell Hagrid had been squeezed into, she found the poor gamekeeper crumpled up in a huge ball, sobbing like a child.

"Dad -- 'm sorry, Dad -- "

Even with her Abraxan Winged Horse Patronus protecting her from the dementors' influence, Carewyn could feel a cold, ocean-like wave of despair crash over her, just looking at Hagrid. Her almond-shaped blue eyes welled up with empathetic pain.

"...Oh, Hagrid..."

She clutched the bars of his cell with her free hand as her Patronus swept through the bars, lightly brushing its nose along Hagrid's arm. Hagrid choked, blinking up through his tears as he shakily raised his head.

"...W...wha'...?"

The grief and paleness of Hagrid's usually rosy, happy face broke Carewyn's heart. She could feel her own eyes welling up with traces of tears as she tried to smile at him.

"It's me, Hagrid," Carewyn said gently. "It's Carewyn."

Hagrid's beetle-black eyes widened. Then, just as abruptly, they flooded with even more tears, which streamed down his face like pouring rain might streak down a windowpane.

"...Carewyn..."

He couldn't keep himself from breaking down into full sobs as he crawled over and slapped his oversized hands up against the bars -- they were too small for him to grab them the way Carewyn had. Even so, Carewyn tried to take his hand as best she could, even if it only resulted in her holding his pinky and ring finger.

"It's okay, Hagrid," Carewyn whispered as soothingly as she could. Her Abraxan Patronus gently rested its transparent wing over Hagrid's shoulder and rested its head beside his arm. "It's going to be okay..."

x~x~x~x

It took sitting with Carewyn and her Patronus for a couple of minutes before Hagrid was able to speak coherently. He told Carewyn everything that had happened, including the reason Fudge had thought he could be behind the attacks in the first place.

"...Th' whole lot thought that he'd been what hurt poor Myrtle Warren, bu' -- bu' I'm tellin' you, Aragog wouldn't-a done it!" said Hagrid. "I tol' 'em that at th' time too...bu' only Professor Dumbledore believed me..."

Carewyn nodded. That sounded about right -- for as much as she resented Dumbledore, the Headmaster had always supported Hagrid. And given the Headmaster's own talent for Legilimency, Carewyn suspected Dumbledore knew full-well Hagrid was telling the truth, just as much as she herself was certain of it. But she also knew that her intuitions based on her Legilimency couldn't be used as evidence of either guilt or innocence...and even if Hagrid didn't believe Aragog was the beast from the Chamber of Secrets and Carewyn doubted it as well, plenty of people could see the circumstances as pretty damning, on their own.

"And because no one else believed you, Headmaster Dippet expelled you with the thought that it would make the attacks stop," surmised Carewyn.

Hagrid hung his head. "...Yeah. An' well...th' attacks did stop, after tha'. Dunno why, aside from th' person maybe decidin' t' cut 'is losses..."

Carewyn's lips came together grimly as she looked at the floor. The gamekeeper's face went that little bit paler as his eyes flooded with fresh tears.

"Yeh -- yeh don't think I did it, d'yeh?" he said desperately. "I-I would never! I woulda never hurt 'em -- Nick an' Mrs. Norris, an' -- an' poor Hermione -- oh, Carewyn, I never woulda -- !"

Carewyn gave Hagrid's pinky a reassuring squeeze.

"I know, Hagrid," she said firmly. "I know you didn't do it. All of those Pureblood wizarding families that claimed to be related to Salazar Slytherin have died out -- and trust me, 'Hagrid' was not one of them. And the beast inside the Chamber of Secrets was supposedly put there by Salazar Slytherin around the time he and the other four Founders made the Cursed Vaults, back in the 9th century. Acromantula weren't bred until the 18th century. Aragog couldn't be Slytherin's monster."

Her eyes softened.

"...And I know you, Hagrid. You love everyone at Hogwarts, even the brattiest students. I know you would never do anything to hurt them."

Hagrid's teary eyes crinkled up to make room for a very weak, watery smile.

"...Thank you, Carewyn," he gave a loud sniff. "It...it means a lot...knowin' yeh believe in me..."

Carewyn gave a gentle pat to his hand through the bars. Hagrid gave another loud sniff.

"...D'yeh...d'yeh know if the Wizengamot'll be able t' stop Malfoy? Get 'em t' bring Dumbledore back?"

Carewyn pursed her lips grimly. "There's nothing for them to stop, at present. The school governors' job is to oversee the school and its Headmaster -- them asking Dumbledore to resign is a completely legal action for them to take."

Hagrid looked distressed. "Bu' -- bu' withou' Dumbledore there, everyone'll be in more danger than ever! Professor Dumbledore was likely the only thing that kept th' Heir o' Slytherin from goin' all out -- "

"That doesn't mean the Wizengamot can overrule the governors' decision," Carewyn said sternly. She then said a bit more gently, "...I know how much you respect Dumbledore -- and you're right, Dumbledore has warded Dark wizards away from the school before..."

Not that he was able to prevent R from sending Jacob and me threats, but they still didn't feel bold enough to show up in full-force until Dumbledore was away...

"...But however foolish their decision might be, it doesn't break any laws. And law enforcement is meant for that purpose -- enforcing laws that have been broken."

Hagrid looked incredibly disheartened.

"They're gonna regret it later," he muttered miserably. "Yeh jus' wait an' see..."

Carewyn gave Hagrid's pinky another light squeeze, exhaling quietly through her nose.

She thought so too -- but she was so unhappy just contemplating the consequences that she didn't have to heart to say so.

x~x~x~x

The consequences, as it turned out, were even worse than Carewyn could've envisioned.

After going out for an afternoon coffee break with Talbott one May day, Carewyn found the Ministry Atrium in disarray, with multiple owls flying in and out of the offices of the Minister of Magic and his support staff and nosy reporters crowding around in an attempt to figure out what was going on.

Tonks emerged from the crowd and filled them in -- apparently the reporters had heard rumors that there'd been another attack at Hogwarts by the Heir of Slytherin, this time with a student actually being taken into the Chamber itself. It was only once Talbott convinced Tonks to change herself temporarily into one of Dolores Umbridge's staffers so she could force her way through the reporters and get more information from the support staff herself that she found out who it was -- and when the pink-haired Auror caught up with Talbott and Carewyn in the Atrium, her heart-shaped face was as white as a sheet.

"Weasley," Tonks whispered shakily. "Fudge said the girl's name was Weasley..."

Talbott's shoulders stiffened as Carewyn's hands flew to her mouth in horror.

"Ginny," she gasped.

x~x~x~x

Talbott, Tonks, and Carewyn all bolted to the lift, taking it up to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement where they could use the Auror Department's Floo Network grate specifically meant for communication. Upon trying to contact the Burrow, however, Carewyn found the house quiet and deserted.

"Are they not there?" Tonks asked Carewyn anxiously as she took her head out of the grate. The ginger-haired lawyer shook her head.

"The school must've contacted Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as soon as it happened," Talbott said solemnly.

Carewyn nodded, her red lips knitting together tightly. "I've got to write to Bill and Charlie right away -- "

"I'll go to Hogsmeade," said Talbott at once. "There might be more information, closer to the school..."

"And I'll go back downstairs!" Tonks agreed. "Maybe I'll pick up some more intel, huddled in with all those reporters -- "

The three dispersed, with Talbott and Tonks heading back to the lift and Carewyn heading to her office. Once she'd very quickly written out a letter each for Bill and Charlie and put all of the expediting stamps on them that she possibly could, she then set about writing another more formal letter to Azkaban prison. Then she raced back to the lift, gave Bill and Charlie's letters to the two fastest owls she could find, and then headed straight for the Minister for Magic's office with the final piece of paper in her hand. The tiny ginger-haired lawyer had some trouble pushing her way through the crowd of reporters until Tonks -- disguised as one of them and therefore much taller and more muscular than usual -- managed to push everyone back enough that it gave her an opening.

When Carewyn reached the slightly open door of the Minister for Magic's office, she didn't even bother to knock the way she probably would've in any other circumstance. Quite frankly she didn't think the Minister would've heard her knock even if she tried, and if he did, he likely would've tried to ignore it, given how much owls were swooping in and out of his office and how noisy it was outside.

"Minister!" Carewyn said urgently.

Fudge looked up, incredibly startled. He'd been pacing the room, one letter in his hands and five left more open on his desk. His trademark light green bowler hat was hanging off the side of his high-backed chair, and he looked incredibly harried.

"Carewyn!" said Fudge, trying and failing to smile. "How nice it is to see you!"

Once Carewyn was in, she immediately shut the door behind her so sharply that Fudge gave a start.

"Ah -- forgive me, my dear, but...I'm afraid I'm very busy at the moment --"

"I know," said Carewyn. "Minister -- I need you to sign a release letter for Rubeus Hagrid."

Fudge was taken aback. "Hagrid? I-I don't -- "

"If the Heir of Slytherin has taken Ginny Weasley into the Chamber of Secrets, then he's still at Hogwarts," Carewyn said sharply. "Therefore Hagrid is innocent."

"Well, yes, but...that'll be dealt with, in due time," said Fudge with an attempt at a reassuring smile as he put down the letter in his hands and started to make a stack of it with the others. "I'll be sure to send along a proper letter to Azkaban, once I get these papers in order, and calm the press -- "

"You needn't send anything," Carewyn cut him off firmly. "I've already written out a formal release, and I'll be happy to deliver it myself -- you only need to sign it."

She put the letter down smack-dab in the center of his desk, right on over the stack of parchment he was organizing. Fudge, however, seemed hesitant to look at it, and instead busied himself with consulting the stack.

"Ah, well...I do appreciate your initiative, Carewyn," Fudge said in a weak attempt at indulgence, "but as I said, this...all will be dealt with, in due time. Now I'm truly sorry, but I'm afraid we'll have to speak more later -- I do have so much to do, in the light of all this -- "

"Minister!" Carewyn said, clearly upset.

" -- responding to all these letters from the governors, from Minerva McGonagall, from Arthur Weasley -- coordinating a response, for all press releases, and sending it along to the Prophet -- all before heading out to the school myself, to ascertain the gravity of the situation -- "

Carewyn could hear Fudge's rambling, but it was oddly muffled, in her own ears. Because of her Legilimency, she could sense Fudge's feelings wafting off of him just as clearly as she could hear him with her ears -- and in that moment, when she herself was so urgent, all she could feel from Fudge was the desire to run. To avoid, to push away, to ignore -- to not deal with his terrible mistake at that moment, and instead just try to make himself look as capable as he could to the public at large --

All that Carewyn could feel coming off of Fudge was cowardice.

And it was this that made Carewyn cut into his rambling with the cold sharpness of a knife.

"Minister."

Carewyn managed to catch Fudge's eye, and when he made eye contact with her, his voice immediately died in his throat. Her almond-shaped blue eyes were burning with a kind of cold disapproval the likes of which he'd never seen.

"I realize that you wish to be seen as a compassionate and attentive leader," Carewyn said very softly. "But trust that, in leaving an innocent person locked up in a prison manned by creatures that can drive people mad with their Dark aura alone -- when all you'd have to do to help him is sign your name...you currently appear as anything but."

Fudge opened his mouth, trying to stammer out a weak attempt at a stern response. "N-now, Carewyn -- I-I already told you I'd deal with -- "

But Carewyn merely picked up the release letter again and slapped it right back down on the desk in front of him.

"Minister -- you've already wrongfully sent a man to Azkaban before he'd even been formally charged with a crime," she murmured. "All while being quite certain he hadn't committed the crime in the first place, to the point that you reassured him that he'd probably be released 'once things settled down.'"

Carewyn's blue eyes narrowed.

"...Don't shame yourself further."

The Minister's face had lost quite a bit of its color as he stared at Carewyn. He rather shakily lowered himself down into his chair, regarding Carewyn with a wariness he never had before. Then, looking almost cowed, he averted his eyes, reached for the quill in the inkpot at his desk, and signed the release letter. He mutely held the letter out for Carewyn to take.

"Thank you," Carewyn said quietly.

She turned on her heel and headed for the door. When she opened it, ten owls swooped in, flocking around Fudge's desk and raining even more letters onto and around his desk.

"If I may make a suggestion, Minister," Carewyn said a bit more levelly as she left, "going to Hogwarts right now to deal with the problem would both make you look more proactive and give you some relief from all these letters."

Without waiting for Fudge's response, Carewyn left his office. Once she'd pushed her way through the crowd of reporters (even taking out her wand at one point to better coax them back), she dashed over to the closest Floo Network grate, snatching up some Powder in her free hand and chucking it down at her heeled feet as she climbed in.

"Azkaban Prison!"

And in a burst of emerald green flames, Carewyn had disappeared.

x~x~x~x

Once Hagrid had been released from his cell, Carewyn brought him with her to her mother Lane's new cottage, out in the country. The half-giant was still in pretty poor shape after his three-week-long stint in Azkaban, and since Carewyn knew he'd never fit in her tiny London flat, she figured at least Lane's new home would be a comfortable place to get Hagrid fed and healed and await further news from the Weasleys and Hogwarts.

As the night wore on, Carewyn received a few short updates from Tonks and Talbott -- Hogwarts was going to be closed; the girl's parents were at the school; the school governors were convening for a secret closed-door meeting. It wasn't until very early the following morning that Carewyn, Hagrid, and Lane received the news they'd all been hoping for, in the form of a long letter from Mrs. Weasley.

Carewyn dear, Bill wrote to Arthur and me telling me of your letter to him, so after following up with him and Charlie via Floo, I thought it best to write to you straightaway. Ginny is all right. My son Ron, his friend Harry, and their Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, were able to locate the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry, bless him, was able to both kill Slytherin's monster (a basilisk! Merlin's beard, I was terrified, thinking of that poor boy facing off against that thing!) and rescue Ginny. Arthur and I are so grateful, even now I still can't stop crying. We're so relieved to know Ginny's safe, and that Ron and Harry are both safe as well. Unfortunately poor Gilderoy Lockhart apparently had his memory wiped...at his own hand, no less! He actually had the audacity to try to modify my son's memory! I suppose it's true what they say about never meeting your heroes!! Oh well, it seems Professor Dumbledore will have to find yet another Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for next year. Oh, yes, I nearly forgot -- Dumbledore has returned to Hogwarts! Apparently all of the school governors (excluding Lucius Malfoy) heard about what happened to Ginny and immediately sent a letter to Dumbledore begging for him to come back. And he did, of course -- he was so gentle with Ginny, after her ordeal... Oh, but Carewyn dear, truly, I cannot thank you enough for caring so much for Bill and Charlie. Arthur had sent them his own letters not long before we left for Hogwarts, but from what I understand, your letters reached both Bill and Charlie well before Arthur's did, and I appreciate you trying so hard to make sure they knew what was going on as quickly as possible. Arthur and I send our love, and Ginny as well. Do consider coming over to the Burrow for a visit sometime soon -- Ginny was a bit cheered at the thought of having "another girl" over for dinner! Your mother and brother are more than welcome as well, if they're available. Arthur would be delighted to know what your mother thinks about pinball machines. All our love, Molly Weasley

Not long later, Hagrid returned to Hogwarts, and Carewyn returned to work at the Ministry. It was when she returned to the Ministry that Carewyn noticed Cornelius Fudge's attitude toward her had gone through a considerable change. When she arrived in the Atrium, she caught sight of the Minister likewise heading into work. At the sight of her, Fudge immediately approached her -- but his smile was not as wide open and overly amiable as it was before.

"Hello, Miss Cromwell," he said.

Carewyn blinked. "...Minister."

Fudge inclined his head respectfully. Taking a quick glance around the Atrium, he then spoke a bit more stridently.

"...Professor Dumbledore told me that Hagrid has settled himself back in nicely. He expressed admiration, for your defense of him...Madam Bones did, as well."

Carewyn frowned as her eyes drifted off toward the lift.

"Hagrid was my client," she said simply. "It was my job to advocate for his well-being. And it wasn't either lawful or right for him to remain imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit."

To Carewyn's surprise, Fudge's pleasant expression actually seemed to crack a bit, betraying something strangely insecure.

"I suppose so," said the Minister a bit stiffly. "Well then, Miss Cromwell...I'm afraid I must be off."

He paused. Then, forcing a slightly more politician-worthy smile, he asked, "I hope...I might likewise call on you in the future...should I wish for an expert legal opinion? Madam Bones does speak very highly of your abilities as a lawyer, you know."

Carewyn cocked her eyebrows in surprise. She honestly wasn't expecting that.

"...Of course," she said, once she'd recovered.

Fudge tipped his lime green bowler to her, before turning and sweeping away toward his office. As Carewyn watched him go, she couldn't help but frown.

It was bizarre -- it didn't feel like Fudge disliked her now or anything after she'd so coldly called him out in his office. Even so, there was a wall around his feelings that wasn't there before: something guarded. And yet it didn't seem suspicious or mistrustful. If anything, it felt almost formal: like Fudge was standing that bit taller and being that bit more detached and dignified than before. Less like he was trying to buddy up to Carewyn and use her as a prop to elevate himself and more like how an employer would treat a high-ranked employee...

And then it hit her.

Fudge had called her "Miss Cromwell." Not "Carewyn," not "Carewyn, my dear" -- but "Miss Cromwell." In the same sort of respectful tone of voice he'd use for Madam Bones and other older, respectable Ministry employees.

He was speaking to Carewyn not like a child that he could coax onto his side through coddling and fawning...but as an adult he wished to coax onto his side through decidedly more political means.

Carewyn's red lips came together tightly as she turned and headed for the lift, tossing her much shorter ginger bob off her neck.

Well, even if Fudge was truly nothing but a politician at heart, at least now he saw her as an adult who wouldn't become his sycophant just because he acted nice to her.

#hphm #hogwarts mystery #my writing #carewyn cromwell #cornelius fudge #rubeus hagrid #ginny weasley #ben copper #chester davies #nymphadora tonks #talbott winger #lane cromwell #molly weasley #fanfiction #*snorts* sorry fudge but you're never going to be able to coax carewyn onto your side #even if she does end up playing the role of a dutiful subordinate enough that you let her help with the whole high inquisitor thing #she only ends up doing it to rip it down later bc hey someone's gotta put the brakes on your stupidity #honestly carewyn ends up being a really shady b**tch when it comes to fudge despite being such a paragon #but hey in her defense it's hard for her to feel warm toward a guy who was so blind to how toxic and awful her grandfather and uncle are #and who is such a typical politician that he'll cowardly slink around trying to make himself look good rather than really take charge #carewyn is a paragon but she's also a slytherin so she's not above being sneaky or manipulative to achieve her ends

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helenadurazzo · 1 year

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My Favorite HPHM Characters

#hphm #hogwarts mystery #harry potter hogwarts mystery #Erika Rath #Talbott Winger #Badeea Ali #Rowan Khanna #Chiara Lobosca #Patricia Rakepick #Rakepick #Ben Copper #Angelica Cole #Chester Davies #Ismelda Murk

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usernoneexistent · 6 months

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Juniper and Rowan finally get the chance to uncover why Ben was in the corridor and how is it linked to the cursed vaults.

Warnings: injury, more hospital phobia

Juniper took a deep breath as she and Andre sat on the bench. She could see the mist out of her mouth through the cold November. Despite all that practice, blood, sweat and tears she shed, it was thrown for sitting on the bench for their first match. Orion tried his hardest to keep the team's focus on balance and harmony. Still, the friendly competition has grown fierce since the previous game. On the bright side, Juniper wanted to see it as unlikely to be sent to the hospital wing.

Whispers about someone intentionally sabotaging the Gryffindors caused tensions and accusations between the houses and the quidditch teams. Juniper laid low, hoping no attention or clues would land on her.

Orion, Skye and Lucas played hard against the Hufflepuff team. Using the thimblerig shuffle, which she learned from Skye, dazzled the other chasers. Still, what the Hufflepuff lacked with their chasers was made up for with their talented keeper, Morris Beetle. The fifth-year made it challenging, with the points being neck and neck until the Ravenclaw seeker, Roan Smith, took the team to a win.

Dots of blue and bronze were in motion, cheering as Roan Smith held up the golden snitch in victory. This win had just bought them second place on the leaderboard behind Gryffindor. Their next match was with Slytherin, which Juniper was dreading. Her stomach would not stop twisting in knots as when Professor McGonagall. The Professors had cleared Slytherin of guilt and said the sabotage was likely from a third party. However, it didn't stop the resentment and mistrust between not only Slytherin and Gryffindor, but it was affecting the other teams too.

She knew she had to do what was right and eventually say something. It was ruining the game and mostly gnawing away at her consciousness. Still, it would also mean unravelling her openly secret investigations with the cursed vaults. Skye would also accuse her of not focusing enough on quidditch. Maybe Skye was right? Juniper only joined because it seemed fun and valuable. Instead, she has become a hindrance.

While quidditch was slowly making her burdensome, Juniper found some success in Transfiguration. Over a month of handing homework with extra pages and practising her spells, Professor McGonagall finally sent that all-so-important owl.

Juniper jumped for joy and almost gave Rowan an unnecessary heart attack before she joined in. It meant being able to open that passage shortly before Christmas.

"Miss Moss, welcome in."

"Hello Professor McGonagall." Juniper observed the cup with a rat tail on her desk. "Thank you for this private lesson."

"You've earned it, especially with your work ethic over the past month. There has been a great improvement in your classroom and private work." A faint smile formed on the Transfiguration's teachers.

"So, do I finally get to learn Revelio?"

"You do indeed. Please pay close attention." Professor McGonagall pulled her wand out of her dress. "The Revelio charm is used to show the true form of things, and to make the invisible visible. Let us begin."

She had a book on her desk, which they used as an example. The Professor made her practise her forms first, getting her pronunciation and flicks right.

"Well done, Miss Moss. Lets try it on this book."

Juniper inhaled before focusing on revealing the book. She visualised it like she was mentally pulling an invisibility cloak away and showing the book.

The book flickered before finally fully revealing itself. Good, but not perfect enough. Juniper needed to master it, as she would have to cast a spell on a large wall area.

"For a first attempt that was well executed for an advance spell." Professor McGonagall encouraged. Juniper felt a little more confident.

After an hour of constant practising, she got it nearly perfect. The Professor seemed to approve, and Juniper thanked her for the lesson.

She rushed to the common room to find Rowan sitting with her feet tucked on the blue armchair, scribbling down on the parchment. At the foot were her shoes, while on the small dark table was a stack of books with a few open.

She looked so serene, even with scrunched eyebrows; Juniper knew that Rowan was lost in her mind while studying.

"I've learned Revelio. Just had my lesson there with McGonagall." Juniper whispered. Rowan perked with a wide smile. She couldn't let Chester overhear their plans of sneaking out. Once the Prefect hears, he'll never let the girls out of his sight ever again.

"Oh perfect, Juniper. That means we can visit as soon as tonight."

"Good we can't wait any longer."

"What are you two up to?" Chester stood in front, one hand struggling to hold all his textbooks and the other on his coffee mug.

"Nothing."

Chester shifted his eyes between the two.

"It better stay that way." He said sternly before leaving them.

Rowan and Juniper locked eyes with a serious yet worried expression. They might want to reconsider their sneaking technique if Chester was onto them, especially since Skye also mentioned noticing their disappearances in the night.

Later that night, Juniper was more acutely aware; now she crept, each movement more carefully, including ensuring that Skye didn't hear them. Night patrol had increased, but they managed to narrowly avoid them. Rowan ensured they wore more appropriate clothes, later with jumpers and scarves to handle the cold.

"Alright, let's do this." Juniper got into a ready stance. It's one step closer. The cursed vault was just behind that wall within her reach.

"Just be careful, Juniper." Rowan situated herself behind her friend; she had her wand ready, too. "We need to be ready for anything because we have no idea what might appear."

Juniper flicked her wand exactly like Professor McGonagall taught. She imagined the brick wall revealing the cursed vault. She had to get creative; it was small and claustrophobic, but her brother was there. The cheeky grin, that mischievous glint in his eyes, and his blue hair falling onto his face.

"Revelio!"

The wall disappeared and...It revealed a staircase, to her disappointment. Not precisely the cursed vault she had hoped for, but there was something familiar.

"By merlin's beard, Juniper! You unvanished a secret staircase!" Rowan's eyes were wide at the unveiling.

"It's the same staircase from my vision," Juniper said out loud. She subconsciously took a step forward, somewhat drawn by the stairs, but recalled that after the stairs was an ice knight. But another part wanted to run up and ask if she could find Jacob.

"And most likely the same staircase from the message we found carved in the cursed ice," Rowan recalled, but she hesitated. "Where do you think it leads?"

"Don't know, but we have to check it out. It could be the cursed vault." Juniper said excitedly. Goosebumps formed from the increased cold, the thrill, or both; she couldn't tell.

"Are you sure? The message also that the ice knight guards stands guard past the vanished stairs."

"Nope, but we have to see where this goes. Lumos!" Juniper was getting ahead, and the footsteps of the other Ravenclaw followed suit. "Wait for me!"

Rowan caught up; her breath could be seen in the freezing cold.

"We just discovered an unexplored section of Hogwarts, Juniper. Do you understand how amazing that is?!" Rowan took a deep breath filled with excitement.

"We're making history here. You better note it down for when you write your first history book." Juniper joked as Rowan rolled her eyes in return. They knew she would note it done once they returned to their beds.

As they reached the top of the stairs, Juniper felt her joints stiffen as winter-like weather hit them like a tidal wave. What's worse was they came prepared, which seemed insufficient. They reached the archway, where ice covered every inch of the room, and it was reminiscent of the ice room with the runes in year one.

"It's so c-c-c-cold...Unnaturally cold..." Rowan's teeth chattered loudly. They were faced with a cloud of blue mist. Juniper buried her face into the scarf to block the cold, hoping the wool's warmth would be enough.

"This must lead to one of the cursed vaults." Juniper knew deep down in her gut that this was the cursed vault. Something here in this chilly room called to her.

"Let's hurry and see what we can find. And come back later with a warm coat...." Rowan snapped Juniper out of her weird trance. "Let's go now, Juniper."

Juniper wasn't ready to leave. Even when her fingertips' turned blue, she needed to press further. Strange patterns formed on the ground caught her attention.

"Footprints. Someone else was here, Rowan." Juniper informed as Rowan's head snapped to where her friend was pointing.

"Who? What? How? When? Why?" Rowan replied with a battery of questions.

"I don't ken, but we have to see where it goes."

Rowan was shivering, using her scarf to wrap around her body. "It's freezing...I don't know if we can walk through this, Juniper."

"We don't have to," Juniper smirked, whipping out her wand. "Flipendo!"

The mist cleared and showed steep stairs leading to the large iced snowflake covering a large door. A knight statue stood guard at the side of the door. The ice was crackled and frosted, but some parts were so reflective she could see herself.

"Whoa!" Juniper and Rowan stared in awe at the small pathway to the large door.

"This has to be the cursed vault." Juniper found herself hypnotised. Her hand reached out like an electrical impulse.

"Juniper, I think it's best if we analysed the situation first," Rowan warned. She tried to physically stop her, but Juniper's hand was faster.

"I need to ken, you ken? I don't care about the curses."

Her mind grew cloudy as images flashed throughout her mind. Like a bird, she viewed these rooms in shadowy clouds. Juniper's eyes flickered open with Rowan holding her head.

"Juniper! Are you okay?!"

Juniper was lying on the ground. She seemed to have collapsed like last year; only Rowan caught her time.

"I'm fine, but I had another vision." Juniper clutched her head as a mild but irritating ache spread.

"What did you see?"

"Two rooms. One was dark, and filled with books. The other was cluttered, with a door outlined in chalk." She listed, trying to retain every detail of that vision.

Rowan helped her up. "Well, at least this one doesn't seem as threatening as your last vision." She tried to joke, but Juniper was concerned about the last vision.

"There was one other thing...."

"What?"

"You-Know-Who."

Rowan's face looked like it was hit by the freezing charm stuck on stun and worry. A loud bang from behind the door

"We'll talk about this later. We should go, Juniper. This strange coldness, this entire place, I think it's having a bad effect on us both."

Rowan was right. Their fingertips were blue -purple- even with their darker skin. Juniper licked her chapped lips, already missing the warmth of the Ravenclaw common room despite winter being one of her favourite seasons. However, this is different from the winter she wants.

Ice spat out from the door, narrowly grazing Rowan's arm.

"It must be enchanted!"

"Great now, so the door is attacking us instead. Where's the ice knight?"

"The ice knight is the least of our worries right now. I would rather be fighting an enchanted door," Rowan responded.

Before Juniper had time to think of a witty response, Rowan shoved her body to the side. "Watch out, Juniper!"

Juniper let out a loud groan; her sides ached. Next to her was Rowan's body splayed as her dark hair covered her face. Motionless.

For a second, Juniper forgot to breathe.

"Rowan!"

The Ravenclaw scrambled to get up to avoid the incoming ice attacks. Juniper managed to drag Rowan by her arms while dodging the spears of ice until she was safe away. Juniper used all her strength to pull Rowan over her shoulder despite her lanky friend towering over her.

She found Professor Flitwick on night patrol by pure chance and luck, who immediately took the unconscious student. Juniper wanted to follow her to the hospital wing, but Chester, called down by the head of the house, escorted her back to the common room.

"Didn't I say not to get up to anything mad or reckless?" Chester huffed out as the young Ravenclaw followed in tow.

"I ken," Juniper said quietly, fighting back her tears.

"You're lucky that you ran into Professor Flitwick."

"I ken."

"If you had run into Snape or Filch on patrol, you would be in a lot more trouble than you are right now."

"I ken."

"Can you stop saying I ken?!" Chester snapped. The floodgates of her tears were wide open.

"I'm sorry." She sobbed, causing the Prefect to startle and stop in his tracks.

"I...only wanted to...to find my brother...I did nae think that R-Rowan would...get hurt!" Juniper hiccuped through her tears. As much as she tried to wipe them away, they kept returning, slowly decreasing in volume. Chester awkwardly patted her shoulder as she cried in the common room.

"...I'm sorry that I upset you." He tried to comfort her, and Chester quickly conjured a hankie for her. Juniper dried her tear-stained cheeks.

"Thanks, Chester." She sniffled as it seemed she cried out everything she had. "It seems like I'm committing one disaster after another."

Chester sat them on the sofa, and the fire nearby kept them warm.

His dark brows knitted in. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I...well, as you ken, Rowan is hurt because of me. Ben disappeared and was found with no memory. I thought I could help Skye and ended up making things worse with her." Juniper incoherently rambled on. She omitted the specific details about her involvement with the Slytherin attack and her findings with the cursed vault but summed up everything else.

Chester sighed, which made Juniper nervous. Was he going to get her into trouble? Did she admit too much?

"Sounds like you did a lot, especially dangerous things but I think I get it." Chester sympathised; he clasped his hands together. "I mean, my little brother Roger would do the exact same thing if I disappeared."

A small smile formed at Juniper at Chester's admission.

"But you wouldn't. You would never chase after the cursed vaults. My stupid brother just had to disappear, didn't he?" She cried and laughed. Words that she had never dared to breathe around anyone before. She was Jacob's only line of defence, ensuring a few people knew her brother wasn't mad or dead. That someone hadn't given up yet; she wondered why it was so reliving to call him that.

Her shoulders felt light. Confiding in Chester helped her a lot. In his own way, he comforted her. Chester made her hurry back to her bed, where she heard rustling inside the dorm.

Juniper quickly rushed inside, but the person must have leapt into one of the bunks. As if her night couldn't be any worse.

She couldn't remember much once her head hit the pillow, but the morning before class felt lonely. Not even Penny could fill that void, who came rushing with Tonks to the Ravenclaw table who somehow already heard about what happened. Juniper spilt all the details of her and Rowan's excursion, minus the tears from last night.

"Rowan is going to be fine, Juniper." Tonks munched through her cereal.

"I can check in the hospital wing for you if you need me to," Penny discreetly offered. Juniper didn't want any more people to know of her slight phobia.

Juniper shook her head and determined that she would make it to Rowan's side for Ben.

"No, I'm going to check on Rowan during the break."

"Are you sure?" Penny said softly. Her soft blue eyes looked at her, full of worry. "Why didn't you tell me? I could have provided with extra help."

"I don't ken. I have been so distracted by everything. Sorry, I did nae ask." Juniper admitted.

"You know we're here for you, Juniper."

"Yeah, you can't have all the fun adventures by yourself. Sharing is caring, right?" Tonks winked, which caused the other two to giggle, which was what Juniper needed before heading to her first lesson.

Juniper couldn't focus in any of the classes. Especially since neither Ben nor Rowan was with her. At the break, she mustered enough courage to waltz into that hospital wing...was what she had hoped for. Instead, her legs seemed controlled by an immobolus jinx. She spent her entire break staring at the entrance as the nauseating smell of cleaning products hit her. Madam Pomfrey used the same ones as the St. Mungo Hospital she connected. Juniper determined to make a later attempt at lunch.

Her legs refused.

Juniper wanted to scream and cry at her body for why she couldn't simply see her best friend. Madam Pomfrey noticed the young Ravenclaw lingering.

"If you're going to loiter about, then I suggest you, Miss Moss." The Matron said sternly. She was much more likeable as the patient than the visitor.

"I really want to visit my friend Rowan but I..." Juniper started her knuckle cracking, and her heart was racing. What could she say? That she has a fear of hospitals. "Hospitals make me really uncomfortable."

"I have noticed." Madam Pomfrey sighed. She knew that Juniper desperately wanted to see her friend, so she made a suggestion. "Would a calming draught help?"

Juniper nodded. She hated that all her life; she had avoided using calming or sleeping draughts like her mother, yet Juniper found herself requiring the aid of those dreaded potions to even be able to stand in a hospital on her own.

The wave of calmness washed over her. She understood more and more why her mum would constantly take them. Madam Pomfrey guided her over to Rowan, who sat up and met her with an awkward grin.

"Rowan! Are you okay?" Juniper rushed in and smothered Rowan with a hug. It earned her a tut from the Matron, and she commented about being careful with her patients.

"I feel like I got run over by the knight bus." Rowan wheezed while receiving a disapproving stare from Madam Pomfrey. "How did you manage to get in here on your own?"

"Madam Pomfrey gave me a calming draught before I came inside."

"They work wonders, don't they?" They heard a voice pipe up. Juniper pulled the curtains and found a much healthier-looking Ben. "Sorry, I just overheard you guys." Curiously, he glanced at the witch. "Why do you need them, Juniper? I mean, you're so brave, so I never thought you would need something like potions to help you stay calm."

Juniper stared between her two friends. Rowan arched an eyebrow to indicate she could not conceal her fear for long from Ben.

"I'm terrified of hospitals, actually," Juniper said in a low voice.

"Oh, I didn't know. That does kinda make me feel better," Ben admitted.

"Speaking of feeling better." Juniper quickly changed the conversation. "When are you going to be let out?"

"Tomorrow, hopefully. I have so much to catch up on school work." Ben was rubbing his temples. Worry creases formed already for the young Gryffindor.

"I can help you with that," A gleeful Rowan determined. Of course, schoolwork would bring the biggest smile to the studious Ravenclaw. "Juniper knows where I keep all my notes, so you can use that to help."

The worry lines didn't disappear, but they were more faded. They chatted for a bit longer. The Ravenclaws updated the boy on their findings in the forbidden corridor and again asked if he had any recollection before being found again.

The next day, Juniper was so happy to finally have at least one of their friends back. She missed having someone to chat with between corridors and whisper in classes, passing notes. Though she dreaded attending potions class alone. She would have to suffer the unbearable Merula, who was surprisingly quiet for the past semester.

"I haven't had to see much of you outside of class, Moss. What have you been doing?"

Juniper rolled her eyes and ignored the Slytherin. She pulled out her textbook and the half-written homework. She knew she would receive a big fat zero on the essay from Snape, but Juniper had more pressing concerns than a five-page essay on swelling solution.

"Avoid me while you can, Moss. When my plan comes to fruition, no one will be able to ignore my power." Merula was annoyed by the cold shoulder. Juniper accidentally let out a snicker at her childish sayings. She was so tired of everything.

"You do realise how stupid you sound? Is it because everyone is ignoring you so you need some attention?" Juniper mocked, pretending to make a sad face for Merula. "I wonder why you don't have any friends?"

"Shut up, Moss!" Merula hissed, clearly upset at Juniper's verbal attack. "I do have friends! Actually I have a friend helping me to find the cursed vaults before you and your stupid friends do. That cursed vault is mine you hear?"

"What was that?" Juniper covered her ears. "I could nae hear you."

Merula looked like she was ready to pounce on Juniper. The girl knew she may have taken it too far. Still, she noticed the uncomfortable stares of Professor Snape throughout their lecture. After the lesson, he informed Juniper to stay behind. Merula bared a pearly grin. Juniper knew that the devious imp had a hand in whatever trouble she would find. Juniper worked hard to keep clear of Professor Snape's radar, who was eager for any reason to hand out punishments.

"You are in for it now, Moss. I wonder...will Professor Snape expel you, or murder you?" She said sinisterly.

"Not long ago I visited your dormitory, Moss." He stated monotonously. Juniper couldn't get a read on his mood.

"Why?"

"I received information that you have been stealing supplies from my classroom."

Juniper was stunned. Yes, she has done mad things, but directly stealing was something she hadn't done. "That's ridiculous. Why would I do that?"

"I can think of a multitude of reasons like you thought it would somehow help with your foolish pursuit of the cursed vaults? Because like your brother, you insist on testing the bounds of school rules, and my patience?" Snape listed. Unfortunately for Juniper, some were entirely plausible reasons. "I have no desire to know what goes on in your warped, tiny mind. Explain why there were stolen potion ingredients in the drawer next to your bed."

Juniper glared at the grinning witch and pointed to her. "Merula obviously put them there. She sabotaged me before, and she'll do anything to get me expelled."

"How would Miss Snyde even get into the Ravenclaw common room?" Professor Snape argued.

"I wouldn't put it past her to bribe or blackmail or trick someone into helping her." The Ravenclaw argued back. Wait, that night she came to her dorm after visiting the cursed vault, someone was rustling about in her dorm.

"Is this true, Miss Snyde?" His eyes looked bored by this line of questioning.

"Of course not." Merula's voice squeaked. "I want to see Moss expelled, but only because he's disgrace, and a danger to everyone at Hogwarts."

The potions professor sighed. Juniper's heart started to race.

"I geniuenly wish you weren't lying."

"Excuse me?"

"Your eyes dart back and forth ever so slightly when you aren't telling the truth, Miss Snyde. You are an absolutely atrocious liar. Particularly for a Slytherin." Snape berated her. Juniper stifled a laugh from the imp being found a liar finally. "You will stay after class every day for the remainder of this year to clean and organise organise my supplies as punishment for attempting to frame Moss. Dismissed."

He didn't need to remind her twice as Juniper sprinted out of that potions class. But it left her with an important question. Who in her dorm would want to work with Merula? Or better yet, who would want to frame her?

Previous chapter: chapter 15

Next chapter: chapter 17

#the ice knight #hogwarts mystery #lily’s writing #juniper moss #rowan khanna #chester davies #penny haywood #nymphadora tonks #merula snyde #professor snape #ben copper #madam pomfrey

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ariparri · 1 year

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This pick up line was absolutely PERFECT for Charson (๑>◡<๑)

Got this done very quickly because I actually like this one the most. Also like I really freaking adore this ship (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵) I know I made Carson and Tulip endgame in my canon, but there’s something about Chester and Carson that I just love (´°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀) I’ve been in a dilemma with Carson's ships for a while now.

We’re still days away from the 11th, but I want to brainstorm something for my birthday σ^_^’ I have a lot of favorite ships but I don’t know which one to do :;(∩´﹏`∩);:

❌ NO REPOSTING ❌

#ariparri #hphm valentines #carson ivey #chester davies #charson #hphm mc #hphm #hogwarts mystery #harry potter hogwarts mystery #hphm chester #chester davies x mc #chibi art #I need a better ship name for these two xD #maybe caster 🤔#also my love for the au ship is so much stronger than the endgame ship for Carson 😩#I’m so sorry tulip #I think I might scrap you guys and your ship name was perfect too glitterbomb #but then what am I gonna do with Calum and Raylene?!

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akaisenhatake · 2 years

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dont think ill ever finish this but. annalena and chester because they're the only fanon characters fron the Ministry that i remember unless im missing someone else

annalena's clothing color palette looks ass btw, i dont get why they didn't wanna give her a vintage color like every employee of the ministry. u can still give her the pink green shit but cmon hightlight colors, seriously?

anyways i will bark for her

i love chester he's very cool

#hphm #hogwarts mystery #harry potter hogwarts mystery #hphm fanart #my art #annalena murk #hphm annalena #chester davies #hphm chester #just akai things

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deafeningwizardsquare · 11 months

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It is been ages since I wanted to post this but I'VE FINISHED THE FROG CHOIR TLSQ AND oh my, lots of stuffs!

#hogwarts mystery #hphm #hogwarts mystery mc #tulip karasu #chester davies

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marmotish · 4 months

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In earlier posts you wrote that Freyja's best friend at age 6 was Chester the kneazle-cat hybrid (you later changed his name). But I'd be interested to see how Chester himself would react to Freyja having a cat named after him as a child. lol

woah those are OLD posts you’re referring to 😲

Chester the cat was actually named by Freyja’s grandma, before either Jacob or Freyja went to Hogwarts . So it wasn’t actually named after Chester the prefect, it was just an unfortunate coincidence ⭐️

But how would he have reacted? He’d have hated it.

Because shit like this would happen a lot ->

#hogwarts mystery #hphm mc #freyja young #tulip karasu #chester davies #ask #anonymous #life’s hard enough as a spotty 16 year old nerd without sharing a name with a hairy thing that licks itself clean #tulip is by far the biggest culprit for this kind of shit

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domaslut · 1 year

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MC spilling tea.

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the-al-chemist · 1 year

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Artemis Hexley: The Wilderness Years

Chapter 11: Ring Down the Curtain

A/N: Artemis has been keeping secrets from Chester again, but this time, she isn’t the only one hiding something. Warnings: a bit of angst.

The midsummer sun was high in the sky over Ottery St Catchpole. Artemis sighed as she looked out of the window at the honeysuckle tree that stood proudly in the middle of the Weasleys’ garden and the rolling green fields in the distance, all bathed in bright light.

“It’s a perfect day for flying,” she said, as much to herself as anyone else. From her spot by the window she could see that the door of the Weasleys’ broom shed was ajar. “Anyone else want to go?”

She turned her attention back to the people inside the Burrow; Bill and Charlie, their parents, and Chester. None of them made to move, and Bill laughed as he shook his head.

“Artemis, we’ve just eaten. I can’t believe you want to go flying now.”

“I agree with Bill,” said Chester. “I’d much rather remain stationary, but don’t let me stop you.”

Artemis did not miss the amused look that the Weasley brothers shared at his words, and she herself had to suppress a smile. She had never been one to let anyone stop her from doing anything, and she was not about to start now.

Still, for the sake of politeness, she placed one hand on Chester’s arm as she stood up and asked him: “Are you sure?”

“Positive. It’s not like you’ll be able to concentrate on the conversation without fidgeting until you’ve been out and gotten the energy out of your system, is it?”

Artemis rolled her eyes, but grinned as she left Chester’s side to walk across the room, pausing as she reached the sofa where Charlie was sitting.

“You’ll come with me, won’t you, Charlie?” she said, raising her eyebrows as if she were daring him to say no. Charlie swallowed and quickly glanced across at Chester, and Artemis sighed loudly. “Charlie. I’m asking you a question.”

“Of course. Sorry,” said Charlie. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, I’ll come with you.”

The air outside was crisp and warm and grass scented, and the two of them walked in companionable silence to the broom shed and selected two of the least battered and worn-looking broomsticks to take out across the fields that surrounded the house Bill and Charlie had grown up in. Once up in the air, they weaved between the trees in the orchard and raced up to a grassy bank on the side of Stoatshead Hill, where they paused to take a break in the dappled shade provided by a sycamore tree.

“It’s good having you back,” Artemis told him. “You and Bill. This is the first time I’ve seen you all year.”

“I know. I should come home more often.”

“You should. I miss hanging out with you.”

“Literally?” Charlie asked, rising in the air to grab hold of a branch and using his arms to lift himself up. Artemis laughed and shook her head.

“Very funny, monkey boy.” She pulled a face, and Charlie returned to his broomstick, still smiling. “You know what I mean.”

“I do. I’ve been busy, you’ve been busy. It feels like everyone’s busy, and then before you know it, six months have gone by without seeing anyone.” Charlie paused and glanced back in the direction of the house. “Things seem a lot better than they were back in December. Between you and Chester, I mean.”

“They are. I overreacted, really. It was just an argument, that’s all. A big argument, and it was my fault, but yeah. It’s okay now. I told him stuff, and now I think he gets it. I mean, you saw how much effort he was making with all of you today.”

Charlie hummed in response. His eyes didn’t quite meet Artemis’ own, and she got the feeling that he didn’t believe her.

“And we had Kingsley over last month and went to my aunt and uncle’s the other night, too,” she continued. “He suggested all of it. So he’s trying, really trying.”

“Yeah. That’s great. You definitely look happier.”

“I am.”

“That’s the main thing.”

At last, Charlie looked her in the eyes. He was being sincere, and so Artemis returned his good-natured smile, though hers quickly became sheepish.

“I’ve accepted a new job,” she said, quietly.

“I heard. Sounds like a good one, too. Personal assistant to the Head of Department.” Charlie let out a low whistle. “Very high-powered.”

He grinned, but Artemis bit her lip. She shook her head.

“No, I’m turning Ludo down. I’ve taken a different job. A Curse-Breaking position.”

“You’re going back to Gringotts?” Charlie frowned. “No offence, mate, but I’m surprised they’ve taken you back.”

“No, they’d never do that,” Artemis laughed. “It’s an independent agency, the one Merula works for. Won’t pay as well as Gringotts, or as the Ministry even, but it means I’ll be able to travel loads, which is good.”

“Right. And Chester doesn’t mind that?” asked Charlie. Artemis didn’t respond. Charlie looked at her. “You have told him about this, haven’t you?”

“I only took the job a couple of days ago.”

“And he has no idea?”

“I will tell him, it’s just that we’ve both been busy since then. Everyone’s busy, you said so yourself.”

Not wanting to see the expression on Charlie’s face anymore, Artemis turned back to look at the view instead. She heard Charlie sigh beside her, and she glared at him from the corner of her eye. He shrugged.

“I’m happy for you,” he said.

“You are?”

“Yeah, I am.”

Artemis smiled. “Thank you. I know I probably shouldn’t have taken it without telling Chester, but they offered it to me, and it was such a good opportunity, and I’m actually excited about it. Really excited.”

“I can see that. It’s great. When do you start?”

“Whenever I want. I’ll be finished with the tournament tomorrow night, after all.”

“And when are you going to tell Chester?” Charlie asked, and Artemis raised her eyebrows at him. He shook his head. “I’m not judging, don’t worry.”

He was, but Artemis didn’t mind. Deep down, she knew he had a point.

“I’ll tell him tomorrow. It’ll be fine, it’s a great job, and it’s what I’m good at. Yeah, the one with the Department pays better - a lot better, actually - and I’d be around a lot more, but it’s not really me. Chester will understand that.”

“Yeah,” Charlie agreed, but his eyebrows furrowed. “Maybe don’t tell him you’ve actually taken the job.”

“But I have taken it.”

“I know, but he doesn’t know that.”

“So I should just lie to him?”

“No, just don’t tell him every single part of it. You’ll still be telling him more than you are anyway, and it’ll probably save an argument,” Charlie shrugged. “I just think he’ll accept it better if you tell him you want to take the job rather than saying you’ve already done it without talking to him about it first.”

Artemis pursed her lips, considering the suggestion.

“Would you accept that better?”

“I reckon so, yeah. I mean, you’re supposed to be a team, right? This is the sort of thing that you should maybe talk about before making snap decisions. Again, not judging, just saying.”

“Yeah. You’re probably right,” Artemis gnawed on her lower lip. “What if he says that he doesn’t want me to take the job?”

“Artemis, you are obviously over the moon about it. He’s not going to say no to something that is so clearly going to make you happy. And it’s not like you’d listen if he said no, anyway.” He smirked, and Artemis pulled a face at him. “Come on, let’s go back. They’ll be wondering where we’ve got to.”

Not long after they returned, it was time for Artemis and Chester to leave. Artemis hugged each of the three male Weasleys in turn; and Chester kissed Mrs Weasley on the cheek.

“Thank you for lunch,” he said. “The gammon was delicious. Much better than my mum’s, but don’t tell her I said that.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Molly beamed. “You two must come again soon.”

“I’m sure we will.”

“Try to stop us,” said Artemis, and Mrs Weasley turned her attention towards her. Artemis stiffened as Molly made a high-pitched noise and smothered her in a hug, emerging with an even wider smile than before and her eyes sparkling with tears. “Molly, are you alright?”

“Yes, dear, I’m… It’s just so lovely to see you, that’s all.”

Artemis laughed. “We’re seeing each other tomorrow.”

“Of course we are, dear. Silly me. Now, are you sure you’ve taken enough leftover Bakewell tart?”

“I don’t think I can carry any more, Molly.”

“No, and I suppose you won’t want to ruin your appetite for this evening.”

“What’s this evening?” Artemis asked, and Chester cleared his throat before Molly could answer.

“We’re going out for dinner,” he said. Artemis frowned, and he smiled at her. “I thought that we should celebrate the Tournament finishing.”

“But I thought we were all going to the Three Broomsticks after to celebrate.”

“We can celebrate twice.”

“I think celebrating twice is a wonderful idea,” said Molly, nodding her head so quickly that Artemis thought for a moment it might fall off. She made that strange squeaking noise again. “Oh, come here and let me give you another hug.”

As Molly’s arms wrapped around her once more, Artemis made eye contact with Bill and Charlie over her shoulder. Bill shook his head and Charlie looked as confused by Molly’s behaviour as Artemis felt.

“So, we should probably get going,” Chester said with a firm but diplomatic tone. He turned to Bill and held out his hand, and Bill removed his own to shake it. “Thank you. You too, Arthur.” Mr Weasley inclined his head, a small smile playing on his face, and Chested nodded his own at Charlie. “Pleasure to see you again.”

“You too, mate.”

With that, they left the Weasleys waving goodbye to them on the doorstep, Molly’s tear-filled eyes remaining on them all the way to the front gate.

“What’s up with Molly?” Artemis whispered to Chester. “Was she being that strange while we were out flying?”

“I don’t think she was behaving strangely at all.”

Artemis raised her eyebrows in disbelief, but Chester merely smiled at her. She sighed.

“So, where are we going for dinner?”

“Patience is a virtue, Artemis.”

“What?”

Chester laughed. “It means you’ll have to wait and see.”

Artemis had never been good at waiting, and there were still several hours remaining until it was time to go to dinner. Chester preferred to eat late in the evening, and so by the time the two of them arrived at the little restaurant in Covent Garden they had gone to on their first ever date, she was regretting not taking more of Molly’s leftovers.

They were seated at the same table by the window, outside which the string quartet was still playing. Artemis tilted her head to one side as she listened to them, only partially aware that Chester was watching her do so.

“It’s peculiar coming back here now, isn’t it?” he asked her, and she hummed in response. He took her hand in his. “The last time we came here, we barely knew one another, and now we’re living together. I’ll be applying to officially join the council, you’ve got your job with Ludo… It feels like everything’s coming together, doesn’t it?”

Artemis drew a deep breath. Now was her time to tell him perhaps not the whole truth, but more of the truth than she’d told him so far.

“Yeah,” she said, nodding her head slowly. “About the job thing. I’m thinking I might turn it down, actually.”

Chester’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh? Why is that?”

“I’ve been offered something else. Something better. Curse-breaking.”

“Gringotts want you back?”

“No, it’s an independent agency. My friend Merula works for them, and she put in a good word. I looked into it, and it’s a better option.”

“So they’ve offered you more money than Ludo?”

“Um, no. They can’t pay me as much,” said Artemis, and Chester’s eyebrows furrowed as if confused. “But it means I can travel more, and do what I’m good at, what I really like doing.”

“But I thought you hated curse-breaking.”

“I hated Gringotts. Curse-breaking I actually liked, really liked. So I think I should go back to it again, don’t you?”

“I’m not certain that I do,” Chester told her.

“Why not?”

“Well, it’s less money, it means you will be away a lot of the time, and it’s hardly like curse-breaking is a particularly safe line of work. It’s a risky business.”

“I don’t mind taking risks, though,” Artemis shrugged. “I think it would make me happier.”

“Perhaps, perhaps not. There are other things that might make you happy.”

“Like what?”

“Well, like this. Us,” Chester exhaled. “Artemis, I’d really like to talk about us, and where we’re going.”

“Do you not want to move to Cardiff anymore?”

“Not… No, Cardiff I’m happy with. I’m happy with a lot about our relationship and the direction it’s heading in, and… Well, I think that perhaps it’s time that we officialise things.”

Artemis wasn’t quite sure what Chester meant. She frowned, and he removed his hands from hers to reach into his pocket and bring out a small box, which he opened up to reveal…

A ring.

It was made of silver so unblemished it must have been goblin-wrought, with blue and white glittering stones set into the band in the shape of a flower. Artemis blinked.

“Is that…”

“It was my grandmother’s,” said Chester. “I’d like you to have it, if you’d do me the honour.”

“Wait,” Artemis shook her head. “Let me get this straight. Are you just giving it to me as a gift or…”

“I’m giving it to you as a way of asking you to marry me.”

“Why?”

“Because,” Chester laughed, not unkindly, “I’d like you to be my wife.”

“Again, why?”

“Artemis, you are one of the most interesting and impressive people I’ve ever met. The things you’ve overcome, what you’ve achieved in spite of what you’ve had to face… It’s extraordinary,” said Chester. He smiled and looked at Artemis with an earnest expression in his always tired-looking eyes. “I know that you have been let down in the past and that you’re afraid of being let down again, and I want you to know that you don’t have to be afraid anymore. I’m committed to you, and to us. You can trust me.”

Artemis swallowed hard. She didn’t think that she was afraid. Was she? She didn’t feel afraid. But she could trust Chester, she knew that much, she could see that he was being honest from the look in his eyes. She was the dishonest one.

“I told them I wanted it,” she said quietly. Chester frowned.

“What?”

“The curse-breaking job. I’ve already accepted it.”

“You’ve already accepted it,” Chester repeated her words. He withdrew his grandmother’s ring from her, ever so slightly. “Were you not planning on talking that decision through with me first?”

“I talked about it just now.”

“A little too late when you’ve already accepted the position.”

“I didn’t know if they’d wait, and I really wanted it. It’ll be good for me.”

“What about what’s good for us?”

Chester’s question went unanswered. Artemis looked out of the window.

“I thought you’d be happy for me,” she almost whispered, and she heard him sigh.

“Of course I’m happy for you, I just wish that you’d discussed this with me before making a decision,” he told her. “This affects both of us, especially now that we’re getting married.”

He looked pointedly at the ring that was still in his hands and not yet on Artemis’ finger. She raised one eyebrow at him.

“I haven’t said yes yet.”

“No, but you will,” Chester replied. He chuckled, but his voice was confident and self-assured, as if he were telling Artemis rather than asking her. She stiffened slightly, and as she did, so did Chester. His smile faded. “Won’t you?”

Artemis pursed her lips and looked at the ring sparkling in the candlelight until Chester closed the box so that it snapped shut. He rubbed his jawline with one hand.

“Ah. Right,” he said. “I feel like an idiot.”

“You’re not an idiot. You’re really clever.”

“And yet I completely misjudged this.”

The expression on Chester’s face was one of mingled disappointment, surprise, embarrassment, and hurt. Artemis shook her head.

“It’s just a big decision, that’s all,” she told him, trying her hardest to undo the damage she had done. “You’re always talking about thinking things through before making big decisions.”

“I think if you need to think this through, then your decision is pretty evident,” said Chester. He let out a quiet but harsh-sounding laugh. “This is so humiliating.”

“Hardly. It’s only us that knows…” Artemis’ voice tailed off, realising from the look on Chester’s face that this wasn’t true. “Molly knew. You told Molly.”

“She heard me talking about it to Bill and Arthur.”

“Why were you talking to Bill and Arthur?”

“Because I was asking for their permission to ask you.”

“What? Why would you do that?”

“Well, in most cases you’d ask someone’s father or older brother,” explained Chester. “I could hardly do that, so instead I had to go for the other options. Bill, Arthur, Kingsley, your uncle…”

“Wait,” Artemis wrinkled her nose. “You asked all of them and never even thought to ask me-”

“I asked you just now.”

“Bit too late when you’ve already gone and got your grandmother’s ring out,” Artemis half-snapped. “Did you ever even bother to think about what I wanted?”

Chester blinked. “I thought that you wanted this.”

“What do you mean, this?” Artemis asked, her irritation growing by the second. “Sitting in a nice restaurant and wearing someone else’s ring on my finger and working in an office under the ground? Having boring dinner parties and talking about politics like it’s just interesting and clever and not something that actually affects people and-”

“Having some sort of security and a real family after years of struggling on your own and having been abandoned by everyone,” Chester corrected her. “I thought you would want that.”

“Well, you thought wrong,” Artemis replied. “And not everyone has abandoned me, either.”

“Don’t act like you don’t understand what I mean,” said Chester coolly.

“You’re the one who doesn’t understand.”

“What don’t I understand, Artemis?”

“Me.” Artemis raised her eyebrows. At last, she understood. “I thought that it was all my fault because I didn’t tell you everything, but even now… I make my own decision, and you say we should make that decision together because it involves both of us, but then you go and make decisions for me. Not even with me, because you ask Bill and Kingsley, and… You think you know what I want, but you don’t know me, and it’s not my fault, it’s just... You don’t understand me even one bit.”

“No,” said Chester, and he looked at Artemis as if he were seeing her properly for the first time. “I don’t think I do.”

There was nothing left to say. The two of them fell silent, while outside, the string quartet continued to play, their notes long and drawn out and mournful, as if they knew that something was about to die.

#artemis hexley #the wilderness years #harry potter fanfiction #hpff #charlie weasley #bill weasley #molly weasley #arthur weasley #chester davies #hphm fic #hogwarts mystery

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