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solemn-marauders · 11 months

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“I suggest this become a conversation between you and Mister Sallow.”

Sebastian x MC (Thea)

Their sixth year Defense Against the Dark Art class gets a front row seat to the juiciest gossip of the year.

My previous piece, x

Disclaimer: More of my Hogwarts Legacy drabble that I’m posting. These are written quickly while the ideas are fresh. They are short and most likely sprinkled with errors. I’m posting these for me, but if other people enjoy them, then all the better. I will be using my MC’s name, Thea, since this is her story. I also keep the time period in mind. I do my best to keep it as period accurate as possible.

Trigger Warning: None

Additional Information: This takes place early in their 6th year. The longest one I’ve written yet, I believe.

“Today’s lesson is one that I hope you will never have to use, but should you find yourselves in unfortunate circumstances, it could save your life.” Professor Hecat always had a way of keeping her students on the edge of their seats. “I will be teaching you the Patronus Charm today.”

A nervous murmur rippled through the classroom. Thea and Poppy exchanged hesitant glances. Amit’s hand shot into the air.

“Yes, Mr. Thakkar?”

“Forgive me, professor, but the Patronus Charm is incredibly advanced. Most witches and wizards go their whole lives without ever having been able to cast it.”

“What is your point, Mr. Thakkar?” Her words were not unkind, just blunt, as she always was.

“What I’m asking is, do you really think we would have any success?” He looked down at his desk. Ever the academic, and in true Ravenclaw fashion, Amit hated failure.

Professor Hecat gave him a small smile before drawing closer to her seated students. “I believe it’s safe to assume that by now most of you know the lore of Illyius and Raczidian?” Every head in the classroom nodded. Thea thanked the founders for Professor Weasley and the guide she had gifted her last year. Without it, Thea would have no idea about any wizarding lore, other than Merlin of course. All of this due to her muggle upbringing in the orphanage. “Illyius,” their professor continued, “was said to be only ten and seven years of age when he was able to cast a fully corporeal patronus.”

“Right, but that’s legend! There’s no way to know if that really happened!” It was Duncan who interjected his opinions. Thea glanced over to where Ominis sat, sharing a desk with Sebastian. His hands balled into tight fists at the sound of Hobhouse’s voice. Thea stifled a snort of amusement.

“Oh hush it, Hobhouse! We all know it’s possible. Almost our entire class saw Sebastian’s corporeal patronus back in fourth year. Ow!” Ominis could never quite bite his tongue when it came to Duncan. Judging by the intense look on Sebastian’s face towards his friend, it was safe to assume that he was the cause of Ominis’s exclamation of pain.

Thea’s head whipped around to her deskmate. “Poppy, is that true?” She whispered.

The Hufflepuff nodded. “He spent most of fourth year teaching himself the charm and practising. The minute he was successful, he showed off to everyone. Even casted it in front of Hecat.”

“That sounds about right.” Thea grumbled under her breath.

“I don’t think you fully understand, Thea. The Patronus Charm is an ancient and mysterious spell. No one knows its origin. Not only that, but Amit is right, it’s incredibly hard to cast even an incorporeal patronus, a full-fledged one is near impossible. Sebastian won Slytherin 75 points that day after showing Hecat. Most in his house credit him with Slytherin winning the House Cup that year.”

“I must say that I am disappointed in my class’s lack of self-confidence!” Hecat boomed, gathering all their attention again. “This is not for any marks. I am teaching you this to arm you for the future. Everyone, on your feet!” The class barely had time to stand before the desks and benches vanished with a flick of her wand. “Evenly space yourselves around the room.”

Thea stood near the back, next to the wall. Poppy had placed herself a distance ahead of her. She immediately caught a whiff of a very familiar scent. The frustratingly intoxicating smell of smoky earl grey surrounded her. She glanced to her left and sure enough, the source had planted himself, not evenly spaced she might add, next to her.

“Wands out!” All wands were raised as she began to demonstrate the motion for the spell. “Counter clockwise circles. Everyone try it with me. Very good, keep the momentum up. Now, the incantation is ‘expecto patronum’. The most important part of this spell is to channel the entirety of your focus into the happiest of memories. Replay that memory in your head over and over and as you rotate your wand, when the image of the memory is clear in your head then try the incantation. Expecto patronum!” A flash of silver erupted from the tip of her wand. There was a collective gasp as the students took in the translucent leopard that paced in front of their professor. It’s spots swirls of blue and white as its shoulders rolled with every step. This seemed to be motivation enough. The room fell silent as everyone worked hard to produce a patronus of their own.

Thea’s eyes swept across her classmates, most had their brows furrowed and even a few had the tips of their tongues protruding past their lips in a look of fierce concentration. She would have laughed, if it were not for the fact that she herself was finding it difficult to conjure a cheerful enough memory. She closed her eyes and continued moving her wand. She thought of her dear animals in their vivariums. The nifflers scaling her body in an attempt to snatch her pearl earrings. The puffskeins bouncing around. The hippogriffs attacking the dark wizard dummy. These thoughts had her giggling. She opened her eyes, “expecto patronum”. The tip of her wand glowed a faint blue, but nothing more. She let out a huff and glanced around to see if anyone had witnessed her failed attempt. Her gaze landed on the brunette far too close to her, and he was staring right back with what looked like great interest. Thea immediately went on the defence.

“What?” Her tone was entirely hostile. “At least I’m trying. I don’t see you participating.” It was true, Sebastian had stood with his arms crossed while his classmates attempted the complex spell.

His smile was slow, the effortless kind that always made Thea’s breath hitch. Her traitorous body still reacted in the same way and it made her livid. He was only an arms length away. This was the closest contact they’ve had since last year. Being this close, she could fully see how much taller he had grown. Thea by no means was short, on average, she stood at least a few inches taller than her fellow female classmates. Last year, the top of her head came up to his eyeline. Now, it would barely graze his chin. Usually a growth-spurt like that would leave a person gangly, all limbs, but of course, not Sebastian. No, she assumed all the work he did on the cottage and in the garden over the summer made it easy for his muscles to retain a perfect ratio to his newfound height. If anything, he had filled out a little too well. He wore no robe and had his sleeves rolled up to the elbows, his toned forearms on full display. She had found that to be her weakness when it came to the opposite sex. Why forearms exactly, she hadn’t the faintest idea.

He was still smiling when he spoke. “Ominis so graciously pointed out that I’ve already mastered the Patronus Charm. I’m just enjoying the show.”

Not only was this the closest proximity they had been within each other since summer, this was also the most words they had exchanged and he was already grating on her nerves.

“Go on then.” She challenged. “Let’s see.”

He let out a deep chuckle, a maddening tingle ran up her spine. “There’s no fun in that. Besides,” he stepped closer, “you didn’t say ‘please’”. Had his voice deepened over the summer?

With a most undignified huff she turned her attention forward, hoping he hadn’t seen the warmth spread across her face at his poor attempt at flirting. She refused to look at him as she spoke, “If you are resolute to remain insufferably presumptuous, then I must ask you to provide me with the adequate space that Professor Hecat originally demanded.” She continued her wand motions.

Sebastian did not move one inch, if anything he leaned in closer. His deepened voice barely above a whisper, “And what if I behave? Would you allow me to linger?”

Her eyes widened at his boldness. She had made it abundantly clear that she wanted less than nothing to do with him, and yet he was conversing with her as if the last few months had never happened. She decided that a reply would only be rewarding him, so she remained silent, hoping it would agitate him instead.

Thea turned her thoughts back to finding a pleasant memory. Even turned away from him with her eyes closed, his presence still assaulted her senses. His scent, the feel of him being within reach had him leaching into every memory she tried to summon. She was using all of her focus and energy just to bat those thoughts away.

“Oh my, something is happening and you haven’t even said the incantation.”

Thea’s eyes flew open at his words, she looked at the end of her wand and saw the last of the blue lights disappear. “Oh!”

“Try again, you’re on the right path.” His tone was encouraging and excited. She had to fight the innate desire for his approval.

“Hush! You’ll ruin it.” She closed her eyes again and admitted defeat. This time she allowed thoughts of Sebastian to play across her mind. Their first meeting in this very classroom. Him smiling up at her as he laid on his back after losing their duel. Him sneaking her into the Restricted Section, taking the fall for her when caught. All of the little moments of closeness. “My new charge.” “I’m glad to have met you.” “A kindred spirit.” Every finger brush, cheek graze, longing stare, it filled her with a warmth she hadn’t allowed herself to feel for so long. She opened her eyes, “Expecto Patronum.”

The light that shot out from within her wand was blinding. The shape that stood before her was much larger than the one Professor Hecat produced. As her eyes began to focus, she couldn’t help but smile once she recognized the familiar shape.

“Merlin’s beard, is that a thestral?” Her classmates were beginning to murmur.

“I’ve only ever seen illustrations of them. So we can see them if it’s as a patronus?”

“What does that mean? They’re dark omens, you know.”

She ignored their comments as her spirit guardian flapped its wings and cantered around her. A laugh of pure joy fell from her lips. Upon closer inspection she could tell that hers was a female.

“How intriguing.” Thea hadn’t even noticed that Hecat now stood in front of her and her spectral protector. “A thestral, the second most rare of patronuses.”

“What’s the first?” Hobhouse yelled out.

“A phoenix, you ninny!” Ominis shouted in reply from somewhere in the room.

Thea turned her attention to her professor. “Ever since joining the wizarding world, I’ve always held an affinity for them.”

“An understanding of one’s deeper traits is a powerful thing.” Professor Hecat cast a surveying look at Thea. “Well done, Miss. Gravethorne. Once again, you have mastered extraordinary magic in record time. A most interesting outcome indeed.”

Feeling humbled under the professor’s scrutinous gaze, Thea kept her eyes on her feet. “Thank you, Professor.”

“That will be all for today! I commend you all for trying today’s most challenging lesson.”

“Wait! I want to see Sallow’s patronus!” It was Duncan again. “Gaunt talked a big game about his friend’s abilities. I want to see it.”

Over the mumble of agreement from most of the class, Thea could make out a faint scuffle ahead of her. Garreth was latched on to Ominis who seemed to be fighting his grip in an effort to storm Hobhouse. She then turned her attention to Sebastian. He wasn’t standing so close anymore and even looked a bit sheepish. The shameless charm from earlier, entirely gone. “I’d rather not. Wouldn’t want to overshadow the Girl Wonder.”

Revenge was about to taste oh so sweet. It seemed to Thea that his hesitancy was most likely due to his inability to cast the complex charm any longer. Oh how she would love to see him knocked down a peg or two. She put on her most endearing of smiles. “I don’t mind one bit. I, for one, would love to see your patronus.” Her words dripped with a challenge, not noticing that her own patronus had vanished just moments ago.

His eyes met hers, they silently pleaded with her. Good, make him squirm. She arched an eyebrow at him. She could see his jaw twitch with the clench of his teeth. He attempted a steadying breath and closed his eyes. He raised his wand and made the proper motion. One could hear a pin drop in the classroom. Thea heard a slight shuffle next to her and turned to see Ominis standing by her side, a look of absolute concern etched on his face. What’s got him so worried?

Soon enough, Sebastian said the incantation and his wand flared to life. A large skeletal creature sprang forth, an almost exact mirror to her own. No one spoke, it felt like everyone held on to their breaths. Everyone, except,

“I thought you said thestral patronuses were rare?” Duncan’s voice cut through the stunned silence.

“They are.” It wasn’t like Hecat to be quiet, but Thea barely heard her reply. Their professor looked upon the spectre with an almost sympathetic look.

Thea looked back at Sebastian, his face the picture of stunned terror. She turned to Ominis and saw that crease of worry between his brow had grown even deeper. What was she missing? Maybe Sebastian really meant it when he said he didn’t want to overshadow her. She was just told that her patronus was extremely rare only for him to have the same one. But why did the entirety of the class seem to be shocked? Ominis himself had said that Sebastian had shown everyone his patronus back in their fourth year. She knew that most, ignorant, people thought the equine to be dark omens, but even Poppy, who loved all animals dearly, looked as shocked as everyone else. His thestral looked perfectly normal. The only difference between his and her own was the gender. Thea had spent enough time caring for them in her vivarium that she could easily spot the subtle differences. Suddenly, the apparition vanished. The caster had snapped back to his senses. He seemed to be avoiding Thea’s gaze entirely. Without a moment of hesitation, he bolted out the door. Thea felt movement beside her as Ominis rushed after him.

Hecat broke the prolonged silence. “Class dismissed!” Soon the room was filled with the sounds of students gathering their things and muffled chatter. Thea made her way to her things and made sure to grab Poppy’s hand in the process.

“Poppy, what am I missing?” She felt like she was going to explode, it seemed that everyone knew something she didn’t. “I understand that casting a corporeal patronus is rare and that a thestral one is rarer still, but you all saw Sebastian’s patronus ages ago. Why was the floor littered with everyone’s jaws as if you all were surprised?”

Her Hufflepuff friend seemed to be avoiding her gaze as well, but she finally turned and looked her friend in the eye. “I’m not sure you want to know.”

“Of course I do! You know how much I loathe being the last to know anything.”

Poppy nervously glanced from side to side before meeting her eyes again. “We were surprised because when Sebastian showed us his patronus back in year four, it was a Red Fox, not a thestral.”

Thea was taken aback by the simple answer. “Oh, alright. So patronuses can change, why is that such a massive deal?”

“Because it’s not normal for them to change.” And with that, her friend was off, leaving Thea more bewildered than ever.

She was far from done with this topic. She approached Hecat’s desk, her shoes slapping across the wooden floor in determination. “Professor!” She looked up from her writing and heaved a heavy sigh.

“Yes?”

“What makes a patronus change form?”

She looked upon her student with the same sympathetic gaze she gave Sebastian. “It takes an extremely strong shift of inner-self and emotion.”

Thea thought back to his actions in the catacombs. Surely that wasn’t the reason why. Thestrals were not dark creatures, one wouldn’t become your patronus if you had killed someone. Right?

“Can you offer me an example?”

Her professor sighed again, it made Thea want to scream. Would everyone stop dancing around it?

“A monumental life event or an emotion so strong that it overpowers everything within you.” She pinched the bridge of her nose before continuing. “I will be blunt with you, Miss Gravethorne.”

“Please!”

“One’s patronus can change and mirror another’s, if there is an immense amount of love present.”

Thea staggered back clutching her stomach. “You’re saying that Sebastian’s thestral isn’t just a coincidence?”

“It’s the second most rare patronus, my dear.” She took in her student’s pale face and glassy eyes. “I suggest this become a conversation between you and Mister Sallow.”

#hogwarts legacy #hphl #hogwarts legacy mc #hphl mc #sebastian x mc #sebastian sallow #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian x thea #sebastian sallow x theadora gravethorne #theadora gravethorne #sebadora #sebastian sallow fanfic

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xixiao-yankai · 10 months

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Who says Harry isn’t powerful?

Lily’s letter to Sirius mentioned Harry zooming around on his toy broomstick at a year old. I’d say displaying magic at that age is impressive. Plus going on to become the youngest Seeker in a century.

Killing the Basilisk. At age 12! With help from Fawkes, but still! Godric Gryffindor level of combat skills.

Conjuring a stag Patronus at age 13 to fend off a hundred Dementors, when most adult wizards couldn’t even cast an incorporeal one. His ability caused quite an uproar at the Wizengamot later on.

Surviving and WINNING the Triwizard Tournament at age 14. Had help here and there, yes, but Harry walked onto each battlefield alone.

Using Protego masterfully by age 15 that it reflected Snape’s Legilimens spell right back at him. Casting a Shield Charm powerful enough to expand and fill the Great Hall. Many adult wizards have trouble casting a sufficient Protego.

Leading Dumbledore’s Army and improving their DADA skills to significantly above average. Fighting courageously and sustaining the least physical damage at the Department of Mysteries.

Succesfully casting Imperio and completely resisting it. Successfully casting Crucio on his third attempt. Unforgivable curses take powerful magic, said Snape.

And finally, Hogwarts studies - yeah, maybe not top in nearly every subject like Hermione, but getting all Es on exams he wasn’t interrupted during and an O in DADA, outperforming his best friend Ron who grew up in a pure-blood wizarding household. Harry was raised by Muggles. Not the same starting point, and yet Harry ended up slightly surpassing Ron academically with that Outstanding score.

Recognized powerful characters - Marauders generation, certain Death Eaters, the professors - they are at least 20 years Harry’s senior. Being defeated by them does not, at all, make him mediocre. I’m sure that by his 30s, he’d have greatly increased in magical aptitude and solidified his status as one of the most powerful wizards of his generation.

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carnivorousladybug · 8 months

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HOTD Inktober

Hey guys, I am planning to draw some halloween inspired art for our favorite HOTD characters. Keep in mind, I'm a busy college student so I might not finish all these by Halloween — I might not even complete the list at all — but I'll try to draw for as many days as I can and drag the challenge out into November to give me more time. This is my first time participating in Inktober and I'm soooo excited 😁

Here is what I have currently planned (subject to change):

All Hail the Pumpkin King: Aegon as Jack Skellington

Down the Rabbit Hole: Helaena as Alice in Wonderland

Hellfire: Aemond and his son as Frollo and Baby Quasimodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Stitches: Alicent as Sally the Ragdoll

Black is Such A Happy Color: Rhaenyra and Daemon as Morticia and Gomez Addams

Nyctophilia: Aemond as an Edgy!Biker

Nevermore: Jace and Baela as Nevermore Academy students

"Why So Serious?": Daemon as the Joker.

Psycho: Young Rhaenyra as Harley Quinn

Something Wicked This Way Comes: Hogwarts AU? Witchy vibes? We shall see.

Little Mermaid: Alicent as Dark!Ariel

Murder House: for some reason I want to see Aegon as Tate Langdon

Dead Men Tell No Tales: Aemond as a Dark!Pirate

Freak Show: I'm thinking something with Helaena and her twins...

The Overlook Hotel: Baela and Rhaena as the twins from The Shining

Hawkins, Indiana circa 1983: Stranger Things AU

"I, myself, am strange and unusual" : Aegon as Beetlejuice and Helaena as Lydia

Til Death Do Us Part: Helaena as Corpse Bride

The Count: Aemond as Dracula

"Nothing here is vegetarian": Daemon as Hannibal Lecter

Mystery Incorporated: Alicent as Daphne Blake

Ice Cold: Rhaenyra as Jadis from Narnia

Haunted Mansion AU

The Phantom of the Opera: Viserys and Alicent as the Phantom and Christine

“I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind?”: Aemond as Frankenstein's monster

Underworld: Aemond as Charon, the Ferryman of the Dead, or Daemon as Hades.

Barbenheimer: this is going to be a piece for the 3rd generation characters...

Dia de los Muertos: Alicent and Rhaenyra as sugar skulls

221B Baker St: Jace and Luke as Sherlock and John.

Voodoo: I want to see Aemond as Dr. Facilier from The Princess and the Frog

The Headless Horseman: Criston as a headless horseman.

Some additional ideas that I might use as backups for inspiration:

— Zombie!Lucerys

— Helaena as Dark!Sleeping Beauty

— Alicent as Ophelia from Hamlet

— American Midwest Gothic AU of Alicent and her kids (they have the vibes, am I right or am I right?)

— Alicent and Aemond as Norma and Norman Bates

— Aemond as Michael Myers

— Tale As Old As Time: Aemond as The Beast

(Can you tell I love drawing Aemond and Alicent?)

I also want to draw Alys as Malificent, Esmeralda (Hunchback of Notre Dame), Jennifer (Jennifer's body), or Bellatrix Lestrange (and also a spooky drawing of her summoning Ghost!Aemond) but it's gonna be hard because we don't know how Gayle Rankin is gonna look in her Alys getup and how her vibes are going to be on screen. So I suppose I'll just have to postpone all my art ideas for her til next Halloween. This goes for Cregan Stark, Gwayne Hightower, and Alyssane Blackwood too. (Ugh, I have a spooky idea for Cregan that goes something along the lines of "there's something lurking under the ice".)

#house of the dragon #inktober #halloween art #hotd art #hotd fanart #alicent hightower #aemond targaryen #aegon targaryen #rhaenyra targaryen #daemon targaryen #art challenge

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findroleplay · 8 months

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Hi there! I am a 26 year old looking for literate, 21+ 3rd person writers to do MxM romance roleplays set in fandom universes! At the moment, I am still searching for:

Adventure Time

Bee & Puppycat

Big Time Rush

Breakfast Club

Dachabo

Demon Slayer

Disenchantment

Disney

Harry Potter (Hogwarts Mystery + Legacy only)

Helluva Boss

Inside Job (Netflix)

Inuyasha

My Hero Academia

Regular Show

Pokémon

Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated

Scott Pilgrim (comic)

Something’s Wrong With Sunny Day Jack

Star vs the Forces of Evil

Teen Titans (2003)

Total Drama

TMNT (2012+AUs)

All characters will be aged to 21+

I am OCxCanon/double friendly and can do any gender pairing for your side! If interested, heart this post and we can exchange discords!

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queer-cosette · 7 months

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20 questions for fic writers!!

Thanks for the tag @private-bryan!! :D

How many works do you have on ao3? 45

What’s your total ao3 word count? 715,982

What fandoms do you write for? Heathers, Les Misérables, Total Drama, Derry Girls, Miraculous Ladybug, Equestria Girls, Rainbow High, and Monster High, plus a few original pieces (mostly poetry).

What are your top 5 fics by kudos? mArinette (Miraculous Ladybug), today I woke up wanting to kiss you (Total Drama), Cute Boys With Short Haircuts (Miraculous Ladybug), Mistlejoke (Miraculous Ladybug), and More Adventurous (Miraculous Ladybug)

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? I do my best to - I'm a very anxious person so responding to comments feels a bit like pulling teeth, but if I get one really nice comment on a fic I'll usually reply to it and then while I'm still riding that high reply to all the other ones too.

What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Posted, probably vivere sine dolore est (Miraculous Ladybug). Planned, a tie between Max Kanté and the Murder on the Startrain Express (Miraculous Ladybug), and The Mystery Solvers of Derry (Derry Girls).

What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? I write a lot of fluff, but I think the most cathartic payoff happy ending has to be The Dark Gate (Les Misérables).

Do you get hate on fics? On one fic, my most popular and yet most controversial - mArinette. It's the curse of writing for a big fandom - about 10% of all fandoms are assholes, so the bigger the fandom, the more assholes there are.

Do you write smut? If so what kind? Yup! I was born on the run (but I'll die holding you're hand) and Waitin' on the Sunrise are both Heathers smutfics - the kind that's fluffy, emotional, and trauma-healing (hey, fandom looks for what it didn't get in the source material!). Weirdly, I'm less self-conscious about letting my IRLs read my smutfics than I am about letting them read the fantasy epic stuff.

Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve ever written? Are we counting fusion here? Putting the characters from one fandom into the plot of another is kinda my jam! Memorable ones include mArinette (Miraculous Ladybug Easy A AU), On Se Sent Comme Par Magie (Les Misérables Winx Club AU), Max Kanté and the Murder on the Startrain Express (Miraculous Ladybug Poirot AU), and The Mystery Solvers of Derry (Derry Girls Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated! AU)

Have you ever had a fic stolen? Hopefully not!

Have you ever had a fic translated? Not by someone else - I've translated a Monster High fic - Ginny MacFerrouson: Profile and Diary - I wrote in Scots to English, but haven't posted the translation yet.

Have you ever co-written a fic before? Not unless you count goofing around in google docs with @deinde-prandium discussing the possibility of writing a Miraculous Ladybug RENT! AU. I once wrote several snippets of a multifandom Hogwarts AU with an IRL friend, but I'm kind of a control freak who even struggles to relinquish control to a beta reader, so co-written works from me are probably unlikely.

What’s your all-time favourite ship? Right now it's JDonica (Heathers), but other favourites include Marisette, Enjoltaire, and Courferre (Les Misérables), Jerin (Derry Girls), Sunflash (Equestria Girls) and Duncney, Gidgette, and DJxDawn (Total Drama).

What’s a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will? Right now a lot of fics have had to be put on the backburner while I deal with my ongoing JDonica brainrot, but the one that I'm doubtful of ever going back to is probably 10 Times Carlotta Sugrue-Dupain Got Very, Very Angry. It's a shame, because it was a fun writing exercise for an OC, but she's developed a lot since I posted it, so I doubt I'll ever go back to it.

What are your writing strengths? According to my beta reader for On Se Sent Comme Par Magie, readability, emotional connection with the characters, and engagement with the plot. Ignore the small piece of dust in my eye...

What are your writing weaknesses? Endings. I am so bad at coming up with endings. Usually I try to write the ending before I write the beginning, because if I don't do that, I suck so bad at coming up with an ending.

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic? Here's the thing. English is my second language, my first being Scots, which has a somewhat different spelling system, and 44 of my 45 published fics are in English. I've written bits and pieces of dialogue in French for Miraculous Ladybug and Les Misérables fics, but I mainly use an online translator for that. I don't take issue with other people doing it - sometimes a story requires it, y'know?

First fandom you ever wrote for? Published? Total Drama. Ever? When I was six I wrote fanfiction of a two-part wildlife documentary about whales because the first part ended very tragically and I wanted a happier story. The adventures of Spermy the Sperm Whale (I was six, ok?) was handwritten and illustrated on a little paper booklet and is probably in my attic somewhere.

Favourite fic you’ve ever written? On Se Sent Comme Par Magie, the six part Les Misérables epic!fic set to a Winx Club AU. It's like my beloved child. I've been writing it since 2017 and it's responsible for most of my AO3 word count. And you don't have to know anything about either fandom to read it! My beta reader doesn't. I'm the Will Smith meme pointing to it.

Tagging @deinde-prandium, @theladyfae, @multimousenette, and @hanaasbananas!!

#coco speaks #coco writes #beloved mutuals #private-bryan #tag game #love is stored in the tag game #writer tag game

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grassyhorizon45 · 2 months

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Saw you looking for microfic requests… feel free to ignore, but what about a first-date style microfic in Hogsmeade or something? Thinking like year 6 or 7? Not sure if you’ve done one of those before and sorry if this is too broad. Any character(s) would be cool!

aaaa this took me a while to brain but I hope it's what you were looking for 👀

oh and my friend gave me three words to try and incorporate in this too 😅👍

the way he immediately switched to bomb and death :sob:

word count: 1113

ding~

The bell above the door chimed, announcing my entry.

“Welcome to Honeydukes,” the owner, Mr. Flume greeted me. I responded with a subtle nod, not wanting to say anything but not wanting to be rude at the same time.

I scanned the nearby shelves; toffees, chocolates, some Fizzing Whizzbees……

There it was, carved neatly into the wooden sign board were the words ‘Special Effects’.

My gaze was followed by none other than the owner himself.

“Ah, the special effects section. Might I recommend you the–” I stopped him, smiling.

“I've already made up my mind, thanks Mr. Flume.”

Not at all offended, the lovely Ambrosius Flume nodded and left me be.

I grabbed a blue box off the top shelf and brought it to the cashier.

“The finest sugar quills,” he said, taking one look at the box of sweets. “You my dear, must have an eye for confectionery, no?”

I blushed, not taking compliments well.

“It's for a friend,” I explained. To which he replied with a knowing, “I see.”

I never did like giving people chocolates, they were too common. But sugar quills? They're my signature go-to when it comes to gifts, my own little flair you could say.

I left Honeydukes with the box of sweets neatly bagged, roaming the streets of Hogsmeade a while before finally settling down in the Three Broomsticks Inn, giving my watch a quick glance……

Ten more minutes.

“Someone's early.”

His silky voice took me by surprise. I looked up and smirking gray eyes met mine. I smirked back, rolling my eyes.

“Sit down, Malfoy.”

Never in my life would I have expected this. Draco Malfoy, the very guy that tormented me for years, was now on a freaking date with me.

Though it was true that Draco was the one who initiated the date, deep down I knew I too had developed feelings for the boy.

Draco was an absolute player, every soul in Hogwarts knew that; and as the silence between us dragged on, I started to wonder why the heck I was here in the first place.

“Y/n– You okay?” His voice drew me back to reality. “Madam Rosmerta just asked if you'd like to order anything.”

“Oh, huh– I'll just have butterbeer, th-thanks.” Draco only continued staring at me intently, like I was a mystery yet to be solved. I avoided his gaze, mumbling a quick, “Sorry, I zoned out.”

It felt so out of place when he just grinned back. He wasn't making small talk, we weren't talking at all. Was it because of our history with each other? Was this whole thing just a joke to him?

“Hey,” Draco spoke in the most casual way possible, gaining eye contact with me.

“Hi?” Was the only thing I could think to blurt.

He smiled at this.

“First time, love?”

How did he know—

“And I bet you've been on tons,” I slipped, echoing the negative thoughts in my head.

Draco tilted his head. “And why would you say that?”

I looked away, “No reason.”

He grabbed my chin and forced me to face him. Draco's touch was gentle but unfamiliar, sending shivers down my spine.

“I know you think im some asshole that loves messing around,” his voice was stern, the very kind he used when he was actually being serious. “But I really want you to trust me on this. You and I, this isn't a little fling I'm playing at.”

The man in front of me knew me more than I knew myself. At times I saw it through his insults and bullying, but at times I saw it through the way he secretly cared for me…… Maybe that was the reason I'm here.

“Please?”

I nodded, “Okay.”

His stern face melted away and was replaced with an indifferent one. “So tell me about yourself,” he tried.

“Seriously? I've known you since year two…” I mumbled.

“Well, tell me something I don't know then, y/n.” There was a tinge of harshness to his voice but that somehow only turned me on even more.

“I don't think I could live a day without you.”

Shocked, Draco was completely speachless. And I only realised the weight of my words after I'd blurted it.

“I-It's true… I don't know what I'd do without your daily snarky remarks and insults… Th-They give me a sense of hope that somewhere under all that,” I gulped. “Y-You cared.”

It was a strange feeling, wanting his attention. It was even weirder that I was admitting all of this to him but that's just how I am, an absolute pushover.

Our drinks arrived just then and I dived into my mug of butterbeer without a thought, wanting to wave off the bomb of awkwardness I had just dropped.

“Look, y/n… I do care,” he stated. “I care about you way more than you know. It's just something I don't find easy to show, I've never felt this way for someone before.”

I smiled at him, he smiled back, and I felt blush creep all the way up to my ears.

“Oh! I almost forgot–” I pulled out the lapis blue box I had bought from earlier. “I got you something…”

“Hm?” Draco took the box from me, “You didn't have to...”

I caught him take a quick peek at the sugar quills inside.

“Just something small, I didn't want to show up empty handed.”

He chuckled, putting the gift aside. “Thanks.”

Secretly, I was relieved; I didn't want to see his reaction anyways.

Draco and I chatted as we slowly drank our butterbeers, touching topics like school and family, basically filling the empty silence we would otherwise have between us.

But as our drinks neared their end so did our conversation burn out, leaving us to sit there silently in each other's presence.

The silence this time round was oddly soothing, knowing there wouldn't be any judgment from either party. We were already close before this, taking this ‘date’ as a progression in our relationship from enemies to lovers.

Draco got up to pay short after, leaving me alone at the table. The box of sugar quills was open in front of his seat and it looked like he'd already gone through one over the course of our conversation. I smiled, I think this relationship is gonna work out just fine.

Two gentle hands found themselves on my shoulder from behind. I tilted my head upwards and was once again met with his loving gray eyes.

“So, what do you say? You, me, we make this official.”

I smiled back at him. “Deal.”

He grinned. “Alright then……

Till death do us part.”

#draco x y/n #microfic #draco malfoy #butterbeer #hogsmeade #draco × reader #fluff #honeydukes #microfiction #oneshot #writing requests #requests open #draco x you #first date #enemies to lovers #enemies to friends to lovers #hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry

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doingproblematicmedia · 1 year

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Shabbat shalom my lovelies!

Quick update on Hogwarts Legacy: today was the official release day. Still no word on a day 1 patch, which is bizarre to me. Anyway, Empress, the premier cracker of Denuvo games, has vowed to crack Hogwarts Legacy in 10 days. Keeping a close eye out for updates. As soon as I can get in, we’re doing this. It might not be pretty, but that’s not what I’m here for.

Afterall, this blog is not called ‘doingnicemedia’.

Treating myself to some good Scooby-Doo in the meantime! I’ve heard that Mystery Incorporated was an awesome show that successfully did what Velma tried - more adult themes, relationship drama with the characters, and lovingly poking fun at classic horror and Scooby tropes. I’m not gonna do a whole analysis on this series, but I’m guessing the material will be a good comparison for Velma.

Have a lovely weekend all! Don’t let the trolls and transphobes get you down. <3

#housekeeping

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gaygryffindorgal · 2 years

Photo

► basics;

Full Name: Juno Alexander Creed, formerly known as George Alexander Smith

Birthday: March 2nd, 1965 (Pisces)

Pronouns: he/him

Sexual Orientation: gay

Hogwarts House: Gryffindor

Blood Status: Muggleborn

Nationality: English

► magical info;

Wand: Larch, 12 inches, phoenix feather core, rigid

Larch: Strong, durable and warm in colour, larch has long been valued as an attractive and powerful wand wood. Its reputation for instilling courage and confidence in the user has ensured that demand has always outstripped supply. This much sought-after wand is, however, hard to please in the matter of ideal owners, and trickier to handle than many imagine. I find that it always creates wands of hidden talents and unexpected effects, which likewise describes the master who deserves it. It is often the case that the witch or wizard who belongs to the larch wand may never realise the full extent of their considerable talents until paired with it, but that they will then make an exceptional match.

Patronus: Black mare

This animal is typical for people who show strong motivation in life and usually represents passion, determination, and an appetite for freedom. Black is a relatively uncommon coat color, so this could represent a part of your personality that you'd rather keep hidden or just reveal to your personal circle. This specific color could also refer to instinctual urges of your mind for the unknown and mysterious.

Patronus Memory: The first time he ever knowingly performed a spell with his brand new wand.

Boggart: Voldemort

Specialized/Favourite Spells: The patronus charm, the boggart-banishing charm

Class Proficiencies:

Astronomy: A

Charms: O

DADA: O

Herbology: A

History of Magic: O

Potions: A

Transfiguration: O

Electives:

Care of Magical Creatures: E

Muggle Studies: O

► background;

Place of Birth: Bristol, UK

Home: London, UK

Pre-Hogwarts:

Juno grew up in Bristol with his carpenter father and stage actor mother. The family didn’t have a lot of money but they got by. His childhood was average, although he had many instances when strange things happened to him, like things catching fire spontaneously, or people he didn’t like tripping and falling seemingly without reason. He sometimes got into trouble at school and his parents thought of him as a bit of a difficult child. Juno was always studious and hardworking though, and didn’t like to cause trouble on purpose.

The First Wizarding War:

When Juno started school in 1976, the war was already ongoing. He was out of his depth, thrust into a new world that didn’t fully accept him, so upon entering Hogwarts, he came up with a new name. He chose Juno based on his favourite detective novels and Creed from a TV show he used to watch and created a new identity. He kept his middle name Alexander because it was the name of his maternal grandfather and because he was obsessed with Alexander The Great as a child. The first war was difficult for him, although he was relatively safe at Hogwarts due to Dumbledore’s influence.He chose to become an auror to stop people like Voldemort from gaining power ever again.

The Second Wizarding War:

By the time the second war rolled around, Juno was an accomplished auror. He was appalled by the Ministry’s denial of Voldemort’s return and tried to convince them to take it seriously, with repercussions to his career. Once things got really bad, he had to leave the Ministry and go into hiding, working for the Order of Phoenix from the shadows, as not to endanger his loved ones.

► physical;

Faceclaim: Hayden Christensen

Eye Color: Blue

Hair Color: Light brown

Height: 6ft or 182.9 cm

Tattoos, Birthmarks, Scars, etc:

► relatives;

Father: Roland Smith

A muggle carpenter who prefers his life simple and straight-forward. He is not happy about his son being a wizard because he has to incorporate new ideas into his narrow world-view but he does care for his son and tries to accept his “strangeness”. He is a man of few words and rarely talks about such unmanly things as emotions or feelings or what have you. He does remain in his son’s life until his death, with Juno occasionally visiting his parents in Bristol.

Mother: Emma Smith (née Alcrey)

Emma is an actress at a local theater. She’s friendly and talkative, often living with her head in the clouds as a polar opposite to her husband’s feet-firmly-on-the-ground outlook. Emma is thrilled that her son is a wizard because she always wanted there to be a bit of magic in the real world.

► relationships;

Allegiances: Gryffindor house, Ministry of Magic (Magical Law-Enforcement), The Order of Phoenix

OC Friends: (hmu if you want your OCs to be friends with Juno)

Valentin and Ursula Hartford @potionboy3

Dorm mates: (hmu if you want your mc to be Juno’s dorm mate! School years: 1976-1982)

Love Interest: Valentin Hartford by @potionboy3

Juno and Valentin went to school at the same time. Valentin didn't remember Juno from the school years, being so "busy" and popular himself. They didn't get along at all at first when paired up for their job, being very different from each other but after working together in many cases, they became good friends and later boyfriends. Juno also became a big part on Harker’s life and eventually helped Valentin raising him. Things got dark and complicated during the Second Wizarding war for the two. Juno being a muggleborn got him in trouble and he had to leave the Ministry. Valentin stayed behind to try and work on the situation from the inside, pretending to be fine with how things were going, trying to protect his family.

Step-son: Harker Hartford

Harker is the son of Valentin and step-son of Juno. Juno helps raise him from a young age and becomes a part of his family. He’s also the parent Harker would rather come to with bad grades or after getting into trouble.

Pets: A crup called Hope

Enemies: Voldemort, Deatheaters, dark wizards and other sort of criminals

► personality;

Juno is curious, passionate, and has a strong sense of what’s right and wrong (in his opinion). He’s extroverted but some might describe him as a little bit strange, as he is from the muggle world and hasn’t done a very good job integrating into the wizarding society, even as an adult. It’s not that he doesn’t know how wizard culture works, it’s just that he’s vehemently of the opinion that the wizards are stuck in their ways and could learn a great deal from muggles. While he likes to plan things, he can also be rash and stubborn and stuck in his ways.

► misc;

Hobbies: Wizard Chess, History

Extracurriculars: Chess club

Quidditch: n/a

Favourite Subject: Defense Against Dark Art, History, Muggle Studies

Favourite professor: Minerva McGonagall

Least favourite professor: n/a

Professions: Auror

template (x)

#hp golden era #golden era oc #harry potter oc #juno creed #*mine #golden era #*profiles #ok it's done it's fine i'll edit it later i've been working on this for way too long

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greycappedjester · 2 years

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“Hinata’s quite unique,” Akaashi gave a small private smile. “Hopefully one in a bazillion.”

Rereading the series for fun and…hey akaashi???? what’d u mean by that🤨🤨 yeah u, don’t go, explain yourself further🤨🤨

Also, i wanted to add that when I first started reading your hogwarts series, I had never really watched or read Haikyuu and I also had never finished the Harry Potter books. Still, I did not find it difficult at all to keep up with your series tbh. You did a good job incorporating elements from both series and explaining them well.

Very, very, very excited for the next chapter of Department of Mysteries. Looking forward to the book you’ve called the conspiracy book from what i remember

Hmm, what does Akaashi mean by that? Good question ;)

Also, yay!!! I'm always super glad to know that the explanations behind my story make sense even when people are less familiar with either Harry Potter or Haikyuu. Thank you!

And yep, Department of Mysteries is definitely the conspiracy book. Just wait....

#hq at hogwarts

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elrikjyestellion · 2 years

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Eromia: Introduction to my Fanfic Blog

This is my creative fanfiction Blog, where I am to post stories with my original characters, themes, and plots. Currently I'm running two projects on this page. The Lantern in the Stars is set in the world of the His Dark Materials, and Eromia in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I hope to add my own unique taste to these worlds that inspire me so greatly, and expand upon what I find most compelling about their settings. I enjoy that His Dark Materials incorporates the theme of religion and it's related topics in how we feel about god, sin, the afterlife and our own freedom. The Lantern in the Stars is meant to expand on the world, lore, and deeply explore it's themes as well as building upon previously established worldbuilding topics (ie deaths, daemons, spectors, and the afterlives).

As far as Harry Potter I enjoy the aspect of mystery that is displayed in the series, and plan on expanding that with my own added twists, juggling many characters through flashbacks and flash forwards. The band are off to Mystif College- the first ever magical higher education founded by some of Hogwarts finest alumni.

The Lantern in the Stars

It was woe to him.

That it couldn’t be. Wouldn’t be. It twisted, turning vast, and vast faster, spinning, it was vastness he could see. Yet hardly, hardly in this darkness anything could be. Not even that love but the stars oh the stars were twinkling in defiance, brightly, a force against the pounding, suffocating void that surrounded all that was, would be. And in the same way his heart pounded against his chest beating showing that there was a mighty way through all this despair.

He felt their love, and nothing had because everything couldn’t. And he, he cries out into it, with all his being. He wars for it. In defiance he cries, Adam and Eve.

“Are you sure this was even the write thing to do?”

The Thestrals close in around them swiftly kneeling their heads in their dark eyes penetrating the man, unpredchurbed by what he can not see- thats’ what’s irriritating her.

She settles her hand on their snouts, cool and calmly as to not alert her partner of their attitudes. “Absolutely yes,” she flipped her hair slightly her pale skin ivory with age, and motherhood.

He steps closer, “The older they get and,” She turns and grabs his tie, the Thestrals turning and facing him following suit, shuffling together now revealed in their mass. “Isn’t this what we’ve always done?” she whispered, close to him, her bright blue eyes always pools of light, now more shimmering, desperately.

“Sort of- ing,” he said, ultimately catching. He almost stumbled on her, and his words, then meeting to re balance.

She thought, Being in awe of what we created.

She was catching him, and their lips met like butterflies from a net, one of lies.

Between their lips and on their tongues they felt them, oh, and in such necessities and demand.

“What’s it going to be like for Hogwarts?”

She’d let go, concerningly, sensing that from him.

She sighed a deep sigh like she’d been over a million times “Lovegood,” she gushed, his green tie remembering of the times they’d felt caught so far apart in that place.

“We said that if you can’t change a place,” (aggressively).

“Progress it,” Tonyor was saying, summoning more conviction from it than he'd had ever, it seemed to take upon itself a new meaning in that moment, it would for the rest of his life.

Then they turned and flew away their dry wings flapping like a murder far into the setting sky they dotted into, flooring the horizon chasing the suns set. Luna turned with them, and then he held her, them over the branches of the trees.

“What do u see?” He muttered from behind her his arms crossing her hips.

She reached up and put his hand on his cheek.

“How am i to spell such a thing.”

So many words he thought, he sighed.

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mystery-journaltv · 2 years

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The most mysterious desert on Earth

Man has always had a great curiosity and because of this motive he was able to discover a lot of things, so we set out from discovering our ocean to the depths of the seas and even space.. But despite that, many places on our planet are still shrouded in mystery and horror, for example the Bermuda Triangle, but it is not The only one, but there is another place

youtube

#desert #top secret documents #earth signs #hogwarts mystery #history #stranger things #mystery incorporated #mystery books #mysterious #secret #Youtube

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imdavidheresmyblog · 1 year

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Hogwarts Legacy: A Review

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There are hardly many book series or movie franchises with the same level of fandom as the Harry Potter and associated universe. Visit the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour in the UK to see for yourself how much these stories and characters mean to people of all ages. Visitors pour out of the attraction wearing pricey replica cloaks and brandishing their brand-new wands.

Therefore, it may seem strange that the Potterverse has not received much attention in the game world. There have been a few mobile games (with varied degrees of popularity), a few mediocre movie tie-ins, and a few Lego platformers, but not many that deepen the lore and theme. It has gotten far less attention than, say, Star Wars.

Hogwarts Legacy is crucial for Warner Bros. Games and the large fan base because of this. The first video game to do so puts you in the position of a new student at the most prestigious school for witchcraft and magic. Additionally, it tells a brand-new story. Fortunately, it is also pretty nice. This is why.

A full-fledged action role-playing game, Hogwarts Legacy features stats, loot, combat, and an extensive, in-depth tale that lasts for about 40 hours - or 70 if you take on all the side missions. It takes place in the late 1800s, almost 100 years before Harry Potter enters the Great Hall at Hogwarts and 30 years before Newt Scamander publishes his book on magical creatures. This gives the game's creator, Avalache, and publisher, Portkey Games, fairly free rein to depict a previously unrecorded tale.

You take on the role of a brand-new Hogwarts student who is about 15 years old and has the largely uncommon distinction of commencing school as a fifth-year student. Due to this, the game may include more mature themes and a challenging fighting system that incorporates risk that would not seem appropriate if the protagonist were just 11 years old.

Even the sound of your voice may be customized when creating a character. Talents and spells are unlocked later, so everyone begins with the identical set of fundamental skills and abilities. However, it quickly becomes clear that you are more than just a witch or wizard since the mystery tour you will be on includes information about your history and connection to the realm of "ancient magic."

Along the journey, you will pick up various articles of clothing from chests and defeated foes that will increase your character's capacity to deal and absorb damage, as well as learn about a wide variety of defensive, offensive, and beneficial spells from the school's professors and teachers. RPG so far, so good. Later on in the 10-hour instructional phase of the game, you will also be able to allocate talent points to your spells and talents to strengthen them, as well as gain extra useful tools like the ability to choose new spells via an on-screen directional menu.

In many ways, Hogwarts Legacy is like the Knights of the Old Republic of the Potterverse: a rich, lore-filled role-player that is unconstrained by previously unrevealed characters and stories. It also grounds everything in well-known places, much like the old Star Wars game, which, it goes without saying, will make Potter fans wail like uprooted Mandrakes.

Hogwarts and a sizable surrounding area are featured in the game's quite expansive open-world scenario. There are other tiny hamlets and caverns to explore in addition to Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest. In fact, the entire game environment is designed to encourage exploration. A Harry Potter enthusiast would happily spend hours exploring it because it is jam-packed with mysteries, riddles, NPC encounters, and general areas of interest.

This includes the several stores in the aforementioned village, which even has a local Olivander's location where you may buy your preferred wand. Even they include hidden clues and fun activities that will not necessarily advance the plot but will satisfy your curiosity. You may locate, interact with, and make purchases from a wide variety of various merchants in the game.

The major attraction, though, is Hogwarts. It is vast and perfectly realized, allowing you to see nearly every corner and crevice featured in the novels, movies, and other media. It looks fantastic, features moving images on every wall, and is brimming with interaction, ranging from little animations to puzzles with bountiful rewards. Even when not on a mission, it is exciting to wander through its halls and grounds since there is so much to see and do. You will be offered side and major objectives to keep you going, but an inquisitive mind will uncover so much more. I ran about for an hour or so, just taking everything in.

In terms of plot, once you have been assigned to a House by the Sorting Hat (which asks you some questions and makes a suggestion that you can accept or reject), you will mostly be zipping from class to class, learning spells, how to brew potions, and growing your own plants in Herbology. All of this is a means to an end, since everything learned will definitely be essential as the narrative deepens.

This is especially true after you are no longer need to attend classrooms every time you need to make a fresh recipe or provide materials. Around 10 hours into the game (provided you have completed all of the side objectives up to that point), you will have your own location in the Room of Requirement to accomplish pretty much all you need. It also means you do not have to travel as much, however the game does enable rapid transit through a Floo Network of locations strewn over the world - once you have visited one, you may return to it at any time.

The most crucial applications of the talents, potions, and spells you gain occur during combat, which is where the gameplay thrives.

Combat in Hogwarts Legacy is surprisingly complex and engaging given the subject matter. It is built on combos and quick-fire ranged assaults, with primary spells and short, basic casts alternated for the optimum effects. There is a targeting mechanism that allows you to switch between enemies, as well as defensive blocking with a Protego spell that creates a temporary magical ball around you. These may also be used to perform well-timed blocks that stun opponents, as well as a dodge function that allows you to roll out of the way. Later on, you will be able to transfer over small distances to avoid assaults and avoid adversaries. In fact, the variety of moves available is reminiscent of more complicated action RPGs, requiring strategy and skill that belies the assumed button bashing.

It may also provide a reasonable challenge at the highest difficulty level, and with four difficulty levels to pick from - narrative to hard - there should be something for everyone. The younger children may struggle with the riddles. Most are optional and exist to reward you with extra things or in-game currency, but some can be difficult to complete, while others involve a significant amount of controller manipulation. There are Merlin tasks spread throughout beyond the walls of Hogwarts that may be solved with various spells; some demand you to dash between columns that lower into the ground and rest if you are not quick enough. One can assume that they might be difficult for younger children.

The school itself also has various riddles, including brain teasers and timed puzzles. There are also treasures almost everywhere, including pages for your field guide, which functions as an encyclopedia of all things Hogwarts. Collecting them also grants you several customizing skins for clothes and other items. The game's fundamental appeal is because there is almost nothing in it that is not helpful. It is reminiscent to the Fable RPG series for Xbox and PC in many aspects - there is stuff to see everywhere you walk.

The game also has a lot of conversation. Almost everyone you encounter has something to say about themselves, sometimes to tell you a tale or offer you a side assignment, sometimes just to contribute to the atmosphere.

Unfortunately, this is one of the less polished areas.

While most of the dialogue is pertinent and well-written, it is not always properly delivered. The primary characters and in-game companions are OK, but many of the extras you encounter have bad accents or an odd tone to their speech, implying that adults were frequently cast to portray classmates. Furthermore, the spoken sound mix appears to be incorrect - it feels disconnected from the game itself. The lip sync is adequate, but the vocals float in the air rather than being blended with any other noises.

It is similar to listening to an audiobook or radio drama, when different performers play different roles but do not appear to be in a certain location. Today's games are normally fantastic at getting the voice acting just right, thus it is unusual that this doesn't. However, when everything else is considered, this is a minor gripe.

It is a flaw that is not paralleled by the very wonderful Potter cinematic-style soundtrack or the graphics, which are excellent throughout. Hogwarts and its grounds are brilliantly drawn, and exploring the globe rewards you with some spectacular views. The interiors are also well built, with detail packed into every nook. Some missions outside the school are particularly surreal - so much so that you might be excused for simply hanging about and soaking in the scenery, forgetting that an army of gigantic spiders is lying in wait right behind you.

Avalanche Software has also supplied five visual presets to select from, with fidelity mode offering the greatest resolution at the expense of frame rate (it is 30fps), while performance mode reduces sharpness somewhat for an apparently consistent 60fps. Balanced, high frame rate, and ray tracing modes are also here.

To be honest, I thought performance mode was a wonderful compromise, and the 60 frames per second helped things flow much more smoothly. However, having a variety of alternatives is advantageous.

Conclusion

You would have guessed by now that I am a huge Harry Potter fan, so this game was certain to appeal to me on some level. However, it is much better than my expectations. The gameplay isn't anything fresh or new, but it takes some of my favourite RPG elements and places them in a world that thrills at every step.

I'd wager anyone who has not already been caught by Potter fever will feel as if they have been struck by a Confundus charm, since the narrative and whole game assumes at least some familiarity of JK Rowling's inventive universe.

Those who have been known to wave a stick in front of the bedroom mirror will enjoy Hogwarts Legacy, despite the somewhat disconnected voice acting. Combat is particularly superb, and the sheer weight of mythology is more than enough to keep you occupied for hours on end.

Some things are worth the wait.

8/10

#hogwarts legacy #ps5 games #game review #amazon affiliate

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