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halothenthehorns · 3 years

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TLTNL- THE NOBLE AND MOST ANCIENT HOUSE OF BLACK

James came back down the stairs to find they were already trying to wrangle together some kind of answer for this 'weapon' that was clearly the big deal with keeping Harry in the dark, but no one was getting very far. Remus and Sirius kept breaking off to take shots at each other, and Harry kept giggling at every crack they made making Lily smile indulgently and occasionally throw her own witty retort in before someone tried to push them back on track. James remembered his promise to try and dig some answers out of his brother for the way he'd been acting regarding Molly in the last chapter, but suddenly he just couldn't bring himself to do it right now. James just leaned against the banister for a moment and watched them all, his two friends who would soon be so unrecognizable to him, his wife and now grown son and the fate hanging over their heads. The goosebumps erupting over his flesh as the chills traced him gave him a nice kick to jump in and force past that moment he never wanted to live without them.

Lily had to dig the book out from under the recliner where it had fallen and give it a toss at Sirius' face to cut him off for the last time, "you've said that three times now, no Sirius it is not Voldemort's plan to string together troll hairs for anything, now would you read."

Sirius pouted up at her and honestly considering sitting on the book just to force his point home, but honestly he really was just as curious to see the real answer so he flipped to the correct page while telling Lily how much potential she was wasting by cutting him off.

James didn't try to hide his pleased smile as he watched his brother treating Lily how he should have been treating Molly, at least he got to see the proper response once.

Mrs. Weasley followed them upstairs looking grim.

"That's ridiculous, she looks nothing like me," Sirius sniffed, enjoying for the moment being able to hold the book and make that joke so he could smirk at Harry's chuckle.

Demanding of all of them they go to bed at once, no talking.

Lily still couldn't stop a nasty scowl in place as Molly kept trying to baby those teenagers.

Then she added a bit more softly to Hermione that as Ginny was probably already asleep, Hermione should be extra quiet.

"If Ginny has actually gone to sleep, than we have drastically misjudged her," Remus rolled his eyes.

"And that's never happened before," Sirius sniffed.

"Right," Harry fought off a smile at the lot of them, Hermione easily coming to mind, but knowing they were joking regardless.

Fred muttered for his brothers ears that if Ginny was asleep and not waiting to pounce on Hermione, he was a Flobberworm.

"Well both us, and the twins can't be wrong, that is impossible," James smirked.

Harry and Ron wandered into their room and quickly got into bed after Ron threw some owl treats up for the birds, telling Harry that they didn't let them out every night as Dumbledore was worried the birds would make the area suspicious.

"And the paranoia levels are still rising," Sirius rolled his eyes at this display. So what if a few owls started hunting in the area, no one who spotted and cared could still get in, or honestly would think much of it as owls had a large hunting range.

Then Ron quickly bolted back out of bed, saying he'd forgotten to lock the door, then answering to Harry's confused look that this was needed because of Kreacher.

Sirius nodded to himself like that made absolutely perfect sense while Harry was still wondering if his friend and godfather were being a bit paranoid themselves now.

Ron told of his first night here, and how he'd woken up to the elf prowling around his room and how creepy it had been. Then he added in a softer voice what Harry reckoned?

Harry didn't need to ask what he meant.

"I'd be worried for your mental health if you did," Remus agreed.

Harry first told they hadn't said much that they couldn't have guessed.

"That's true," James pouted at the two like it was really all their fault. "What's gotten into you two? You should have started with that weapon the moment Molly was out of sight."

"I honestly have no defense for myself," Sirius sighed while Remus agreed.

All they'd really said was what they were trying to do to stop Voldemort, ignoring as always Ron's gasp at the name. Harry demanded when his friend was going to get over that? Ron just ignored him.

"Most people do for some reason," Lily rolled her eyes.

Neither could get much farther in the conversation when there was a CRACK and someone yelped in pain, while another someone hissed at Ron to keep his voice down before Mum came back.

"I'm fairly confident the crack was louder than the yelp of pain," Harry smirked, finding it utterly amusing not one person was surprised to hear the twins making a reappearance like this.

Ron snapped back they'd just Apparated onto his knees!

Fred defended it was harder in the dark.

Then one sank down onto Harry's bed, the other remaining on the edge of Ron's as George asked if they'd guessed it yet.

Harry confirmed he was talking about the weapon Sirius had mentioned.

"Actually, you referred to it as a weapon Harry," Lily corrected as she really thought it all through now. "Sirius just didn't correct you, which either means you guessed right-"

"or dead wrong," James finished for her as he really picked apart Sirius' word choice.

"All we really know is it's something he doesn't have this time," Remus huffed, "that doesn't really tell us anything."

Fred corrected it was more like he'd let it slip, no one had heard of that on the Extendable Ears.

Harry asked what it was, and George pointed out it could be anything. Ron asked if it could really be worse than the killing curse?

"I love that he's naïve enough to be asking that," James whispered mostly to himself while staring hard at his wife.

Fred suggested it could be something to kill loads of people at once.

"I really don't even think it's that kind of weapon," Lily shook her head. "It must be something he needs to get more power, and something to kill just isn't that hard to come by."

"Maybe there's another Philosopher's Stone out there?" Remus offered.

"He'd have no more use for that," James waved him off. "He can get himself plenty rich, and clearly he's already reached some level or immortality from not having died when he should have."

"It must be something that doesn't even exist yet," Sirius sighed, "otherwise we should know about it now."

Harry was starting to get a horrible feeling every time this was mentioned now, beads of sweat spreading across his brow and leaning in very close to his godfather. Before anyone could say anymore, he practically pleaded, "does it make you all feel better if I say I'm convinced right now I find out what it is, and we can move on?"

They all watched him with deep worry for a moment, it wasn't at all comforting that this topic was causing him so much pain just to be poked at and they suddenly decided they may not want to know if it involved that look on Harry's face without the memory to reinforce it. So Sirius gave Harry a reassuring pat and decided to do just that.

Ron suggested it involved torture as well as pain, but Harry corrected there couldn't be anymore more effective than the Cruciatus for that.

Sirius' voice hitched as he was forcefully reminded his little pup had lived through that experience.

Then George asked who they supposed had the thing now?

"Well I'd assume it was someone we trust, otherwise we wouldn't be worried about Voldemort getting it," Remus pointed out.

"Let's hope it's not being hidden at Hogwarts again," Lily huffed, clearly still bitter about that Stone.

Fred pointed out Dumbledore probably had it, while Ron asked at Hogwarts?

George agreed it made sense, that's where he hid the Philosopher's Stone.

"Hid is the wrong word, since apparently everyone in the world knew what and where it was seeing as Harry was implied to have supposed to figure that out on purpose," James rolled his eyes.

Ron protested the weapon was bigger than that Stone.

"Not necessarily," Sirius disagreed, still sometimes wishing Ron was here so that he could turn and say those kinds of things to him.

Fred disagreed size was no guarantee of power, look at Ginny.

They all laughed happily for that comparison, Lily hardest of all.

Harry asked what that meant, and he was happily treated to her experience in the Bat-Bogey Hex.

"Oh I remember that spell being mentioned," Sirius' eyes brightened at once, "I've been meaning to ask for ages, did you two ever ask Hermione to teach you that one?"

Harry's laughter doubled as he agreed she had indeed, though the two had honestly thought the incantation was her idea of a joke, but it had worked when they'd tried it. Seems Ginny had taken to it even more than her brother. Harry wondered who the Marauder's first victim would be on this new to them spell.

No one had time to say more when footsteps arrived on the stairs,

"That woman," Lily rolled her eyes with an honest touch of fondness as all of the boys exchanged an indulgent smile at that nostalgia.

and the twins vanished with another crack.

"Yes, I'm so sure Molly won't find that cracking noise suspicious," Remus snorted.

A few seconds later, they heard the floorboard creak outside their door; Mrs. Weasley was plainly listening to check whether or not they were talking.

"And what if they were?" James snapped at once. "What's she going to do then, come in and give them a spanking for staying up talking."

Harry wished he was playing off a joke, but the dangerous tone he still carried meant he wasn't cutting any slack for her, especially in regards to him.

Ron waited until her footsteps faded away again to mutter how she didn't trust them at all.

"Says the boys, doing exactly what they're not supposed to be doing," Sirius muttered for Harry alone, who was at least pleased to see a small smile on him. James threw the two a sour look for clearly trying to smother some humor.

Harry expected to lay up for hours thinking over everything, but before he knew it he could feel the day weighing on him, and he swore he could hear more footsteps on the stairs that actually sounded like a many-legged creature.

"Err, is Buckbeak there or something?" Remus asked.

"Actually that's a good question," Sirius suddenly looked a little concerned, "where is that hippogriff? I don't see why I would have kept him around for a whole year but then not have wanted to keep him, but that's not exactly a friendly place for the beast."

"I'm sure Buckbeak's fine," Harry soothed with a soft smile, he found it adorable how concerned Sirius was for the beast and had a sneaking suspicion Sirius would enjoy the answer.

Then Hagrid's voice was telling Harry what beauties they were!

"Oh, he's dreaming," James realized.

"Thank you Captain Obvious," Sirius snorted without looking up, "here I thought Hagrid had snuck into the room to tell Harry this."

They'd be studying weapons this term, and Harry looked back just in time to see a horse like creature with a cannon for a head pointed right at him.

"That was probably one of the most normal dreams you've ever had," Lily giggled.

"It does make some sense as Hagrid's been known to let information slip before, so if he does know the answer to this mystery thing I'd put money Hagrid'll help you figure it out," Remus agreed.

Next thing he knew, he was waking up to daylight.

George's voice was already floating up the stairway about them hurrying up, that Doxy infestation was waiting, and she'd even found some Puffskeins.

"Fascinating," Sirius pouted, now honestly wishing he could hand over the book to Harry early or something, he had no want to read of this place even if it did give him some small pleasure to hear of the disrepair it was in. He resisted the impulse though, he'd forced himself to read through worse, that stupid house wasn't even so bad as other things.

In no time at all, Harry and Ron had joined the twins, Hermione, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley in the drawing room, all with their faces covered and holding little black bottles.

"I'm surprised she trusts them to be around such fearsome and dangerous creatures without having them all in bubblewrap," James huffed.

"I'm impressed you know what bubblewrap is," Lily tried to poke fun in favor of agreeing, at least trying to break out of her own bad mood at any mention of her.

James remained in a fuming silence, so Lily worked out for herself who must have introduced that to him.

The moment Molly caught sight of them, she instructed they do the same. She had some Doxycide on hand, but she'd rather not use it. This infestation was terrible, what that house-elf had been doing all these years was anyones guess.

"Seems without dear old Mum around, Kreacher takes the Black name to new levels with that house," Sirius sniffed in disgust. He did find it a bit odd, he'd have thought that vermin would keep the place as pristine as his favored Mistress had always wanted it, but he supposed without direction the old thing would circle into the useless state Sirius had always claimed he was. He could live with that.

Even with Hermione's face half concealed, Harry still saw her give Mrs. Weasley a look for that comment.

"Now that would be an interesting argument," Remus smirked at the thought.

She tried to defend how old Kreacher was, and how hard it must be for him to manage-

but she was cut off by Sirius arriving to tell her that Kreacher could manage wonders when he tried, while placing a bloodstained bag on a chair, clearly filled with dead rats.

"I think I found out what you're doing with Buckbeak," Remus blinked in surprise.

"Either that, or I'm fixing to get some really interesting revenge on Molly," Sirius agreed.

At the odd look Harry was giving the bag, Sirius explained those were for Buckbeak.

"Still okay with this," Sirius chuckled.

He'd just been upstairs feeding him in his mother's old room.

"There are so many ways I can laugh about this, I can't decide which to choose," James blinked spastically while Sirius chose outright joy and promptly fell back against his seat laughing so hard his face was turning red.

Lily watched his amusement fondly, but she was honestly a bit saddened by it as well. What had his mother done to him that would cause him to be so bitter and happy about this petty insult? She couldn't help her mind flicking back to Molly. If this is what Molly saw of Sirius from the beginning, she almost empathized with the woman who only saw the face of Sirius and his careless ways. She hadn't taken the time to get to know him, and really would just see the reckless man who thought of nothing but himself. It didn't excuse the way she'd spoken to him though, not by a long shot, so she forced herself to stop thinking about the matter.

He stepped farther into the room and examined the desk Molly had mentioned the night before, agreeing with her that it most likely did contain a boggart, but they should still wait for Moody.

She agreed that was the best course. Both were being formally cordial to each other, making it clear they were both still sore about last night's argument.

Sirius was trying to speak in a light way as well, he didn't want to get his friends yelling about her again, nor did he want to dwell on it himself.

No more could be said when the doorbell went off, and Sirius groaned he'd told them all to stop that as he sprinted out of sight.

"But who doesn't want to announce their arrival like that," Remus rolled his eyes.

Not a moment later and the loud shrieking of Mrs. Black could again be heard of all their dishonor, filthy half-breeds, and traitors!

Mrs. Weasley cut off that noise by asking Harry to close the door.

James was still so rankled he wanted to shoot something at Molly just for that tiny little thing.

Harry took his sweet time in closing the door shut, only just managing to hear Kingsley speaking below of Hestia relieving him from his shift and she was now in possession of Moody's Cloak, and Kingsley just wanted to drop off a report for Dumbledore.

Feeling Molly's eyes on his back,

Sirius sighed, and to redirect something he could feel coming, he instead threw out, "well someone's definitely still on guard duty over something, and they're hiding, why else would they need a cloak around?"

The others didn't disagree, but no one played along in speculating with him, Harry just because he had no more new information and an already building headache at the idea of this thing again.

Harry regretfully shut the door and turned back to see Molly flipping to the chapter on Doxys in Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Household pests book.

"Why does she still have that?" Remus sputtered in disgust.

"The information is still right, even if he did steal it from someone else," Harry reminded.

"Did you never tell her, or Dumbledore never told anyone about him?" James asked as they hadn't heard anything about it otherwise.

"I never did," Harry shrugged, he hadn't taken much of an interest in Lockhart after he'd left school, though it did leave Harry wondering why he thought he might see him again.

The others hoped that at least Dumbledore had informed the public of that sham, preferably putting some kind of charges on Lockhart in the process for what he'd done.

She instructed that she had a bottle of antidote for the Doxy's if someone got bit, but she'd rather not need it, so they should all be careful

"Did Ron get bitten by anything last year?" Sirius randomly asked as he remembered his first three years. "I think a pattern got broke, and I'll be disappointed if it doesn't pick up again."

"Sirius, you were the last thing to bite Ron," Harry reminded sadly, causing Sirius to quickly decide to change the subject, as he had not forgotten that.

She stood and faced the curtains, and called on her command they would all start spraying and then dump the stunned creatures into the buckets.

"What's she going to do with them afterwards?" Harry asked.

"Probably toss them outside and let them find somewhere else to nest," Lily shrugged.

Harry only got one squirt before the swarm all came out, but everyone was a good enough shot to get them in the face, and soon the floor was littered with the tiny furry creatures. Mrs. Weasley managed to keep attention on both her own pests, and her kids as she instructed Fred to stop playing with them and stun it already.

"She won't even let them properly investigate what they're spraying? They could be trying to educate themselves on these little things," Sirius told with a wide eyed expression Harry was sure never fooled a single teacher.

Fred agreed at once and did indeed have the creature go limp, but the moment his mother turned her back he slipped it into his pocket with a wink at Harry.

"What is he doing though?" Lily asked in confusion, this had gone from playfully joking around to them clearly up to something.

"Fingers crossed Harry asks," James said eagerly.

George came over and whispered next to Harry they were going to use these things venom for their experimenting in their Skiving Snackboxes.

Remus at once tried to lean over and see what this new mischief was about, but Sirius just as quickly pushed his face back away and ducked protectively over the book to read on loudly at this already brilliant name, he had no doubts it would be followed up with some new invention of the twins he was going to love!

Both twins at once began, in low undertones so their mum still couldn't hear, that those were their newest inventions. A range of double ended sweets, the orange half left you vomiting so badly you had to be left for the Hospital Wing, while swallowing the purple half left you healthy as ever and free to go at your leisure.

Lily's mouth was hanging open by the end and Sirius just had to stop for a moment to marvel at this.

"That is, brilliant," Remus managed to get out first, blinking spastically as he thought through it. "I've never heard of that, yet the idea is so-"

"This is the best idea ever!" James shouted as he began bouncing in his spot. "My word how did we never come up with this? It's fantastic!"

Sirius didn't even look like he wanted to keep going, all the boys were clearly fixing to have a full blown chat about the ideas of this and what could have gone into such a thing while still praising the twins genius, so Lily had to clear her throat hard to keep them on track. Sirius did eagerly return though, he wanted to know more!

George sad that they weren't perfect yet, the testers were having trouble stopping vomiting long enough to get the purple half down.

"Testers?" James repeated with a grin, wondering which brother had befallen this trick first.

While Fred explained that the testers were sadly only them, they'd been taking turns on all the products. George had done the Fainting Fancies, both of them had tried the Nosebleed Nougat, while George inserted that their Mum thought they'd been dueling each other.

"A fair assumption, along with those banging noises I remember being mentioned coming from their rooms," Lily grinned indulgently. "Clearly this has been a long standing practice to try their material on each other."

Harry came to the conclusion their joke shop was still on then?

"I'd be insulted if it wasn't by this point," Remus' shoulders kept shaking he was trying to force himself to stay quiet enough through his laughter so Sirius wouldn't stop.

George agreed they hadn't got any premise yet, as of now it was a mail order service through the Daily Prophet.

"That's the best start they could ask for," James agreed at once. "Can't start too big, they still look to inexperienced. I've no doubts it's going swimmingly though!"

Fred swiftly added on it was all thanks to Harry, not that Mum still knew. She hadn't been reading the Prophet since it went off on him and Dumbledore.

This clearly didn't impress anyone but Harry, who found the gesture oddly nice, and a blessing as it saved him from hearing about another row that could land him and the twins in some very hot water.

Harry grinned at them, he still didn't regret giving them his thousand Galleons prize money from his Tournament last year, but he was also pleased Mrs. Weasley yet knew of his involvement in the twins future plans as she did not approve of this joke shop idea for her kids.

"And I still don't care," James said nastily.

"Dad," Harry groaned for the tone.

"Nope," he snapped back at once, not budging an inch.

"James, I'm still angry to, but don't antagonize him," Lily sighed to cut off Harry who really may have said something back.

James just rolled his eyes while Harry was still looking sadly at the pair of them.

They went back to help the others before anyone could grow suspicious, and the de-doxying took up the rest of the morning. By that time Mrs. Weasley moved to collapse into the nearest chair, and managed to sit on the bag of dead rats.

Most of them got a revengeful giggle out of that, the Marauders more than anything as they really were wondering if this emphasis Sirius had on killing rats of late had some not so subtle meaning.

The curtains now hung damp but pest free, at the foot of them was the pockets of the former occupants and some eggs they'd managed to find, which Fred, George, and Crookshanks were all eyeing curiously.

"They were shown to have grabbed at least two each by now," Remus raised a curious brow, "and I'm still not even sure what they think they're going to use Doxy venom for. It doesn't cause vomiting, so I'm sure they should be good."

"I'm positive they've been at it long enough they won't raise suspicion to their mother," Sirius assured.

"They might be using them for a new pill," James offered, "after all, if they've already got one almost out of the testing stages, then they're probably right on track with the next, maybe it'll cause some kind of fever since that's what doxy venom is known to do."

Molly was looking at the glass cabinets at the other side of the room and decided they'd clean out those after lunch, Harry could already spot a vile of what he was sure was blood.

"You would be correct," Sirius sighed, clearly not noticing more than anyone else Harry's sudden unease about those cabinets.

Then the doorbell rang, and Mrs. Weasley told them all firmly to stay upstairs, she'd bring the food up.

"Just put them all in a playpen and put up baby gates everywhere, I'm sure that'll hold them," James mocked.

She left the room, closing the door carefully behind her. At once, everyone dashed over to the window to look down on the doorstep. They could see the top of an unkempt gingery head and a stack of precariously balanced cauldrons.

"Glory that man has a death wish," Lily's brows began creeping into her hairline. "Dragging that stuff there, isn't that what he went to do instead of watching you? With Molly and Sirius already there and in bad moods."

"This could turn into a bloodbath," James agreed, though he didn't sound particularly concerned.

Hermione was stunned he was bringing all those cauldrons in.

Sirius suddenly paused with a stupid smirk in place, and Remus and James were already bracing themselves as Sirius turned to Harry and said, "hey pup, what does your best mate and those have in common?"

At Harry's blank look, Sirius continued on in the same breath, "they're both called Ron!"

It took a moment, Harry mouthed the word again to himself, then his eyes brightened and he laughed like Sirius had just made another pun about his own name.

The others were honestly beginning to wonder if Harry may be faking that to indulge Sirius, it couldn't really be that funny? Sirius clearly didn't care though as he kept reading cheerfully.

While Harry pointed out he was looking for a place to stash all those dodgy cauldrons.

"I'm sure Percy and his Cauldron Bottom report would just love to get his hands on this," Remus snorted.

Fred agreed their Mum was going to be ticked.

"Doesn't seem like she likes much of anything," James muttered.

Everyone crept to the door so that they could hear Sirius and Kingsley greeting him, while Fred suggested they should try and pop upstairs for the Extendable Ears, see if anything important was going on.

"Why would they want to?" Sirius had an odd smile in place as he was picturing the carnage to come. "Don't they get enough of their mum yelling? I'd think they'd enjoy from a distance her turning on someone else."

"They're not going to be discussing anything about the Order anytime soon, but better safe than sorry I suppose," Remus shrugged.

Before either could act on that, no sneaking device was needed, as the whole household could hear every word from Mrs. Weasley's voice.

"There it is," James nodded without surprise.

Shouting at the very top of her lungs that they were not running a hideout for stolen goods!

Fred inserted conversationally how he loved hearing her have a go at someone else, it made such a nice change,

"Is that all she's going to do though, shout?" Sirius pouted. "I really was hoping she'd do a bit more, like hex him."

"I'm sure that's where you'll step in," Remus chuckled.

He even opened the door a crack to let the noise filter better about how they had enough to be worrying about without him dragging illegal things through here!

"Again, even against his will, it is Sirius' place," James sniffed. "Don't see how she can say all that."

"You know you'd agree with her at the moment," Lily scolded softly, keeping her eyes on the book intently. "Stop being petty and listen."

James was still scowling but shut his trap.

George shook his head at the rest of the household letting her get her stride in, you had to head her off early otherwise she could go on for hours.

"Poor boys have learned that from experience," Remus winced for them.

When Mrs. Black began her own course of insults finally drowning out Molly, George tried to shut the door, only to have a house-elf shuffling into the room.

"Oh joy," Sirius' interest vanished at once as he realized the topic was getting switched off of yelling about Dung. He'd rather Harry snuck out now to keep watching what Molly did best, this one was going to be far worse.

He only wore a filthy rag around his saggy skin, and though bald, he had a large quantity of white hair sprouting from his ears along with bloodshot eyes, batlike ears, and the same snout like nose as the others elves hung from the wall outside.

He seemed to take no notice of those already in the room, and instead was muttering as if to himself in a deep, bullfrog's voice.

"Most elves act invisible actually," James told Harry, "that's how they're trained. It really isn't so odd this is the first one you're properly interacting with."

"Wouldn't have been my first choice," Sirius grumbled.

He was already on a tangent about Mundungus, which easily slid into repeating everything his Mistress portrait had been saying about how all of them were Mudbloods and werewolves and traitors amongst his precious dwelling.

Everyone was angry by the end of that rotten little speech, though all for entirely different reasons, at least Sirius didn't feel bad about how he was now reading as if speaking about his own mother and no one was going to tell him off for it, they all saw entirely why.

Fred cut off the spiel by saying hello to Kreacher, who spun around as if in surprise.

"Don't know why he bothered," Sirius grumbled, "he turns around and says it to their faces again anyways."

"I can't believe he really says all that," Lily sighed.

"Why do you think my mother preferred him over me?" Sirius reminded with a hard look. "I refused to say any of that, yet he went around saying it all the time."

He began apologizing to the young master that he had not seen him while bowing.

"Why'd he call him master?" Harry asked, his burning hatred of Kreacher still at the top with everyone else, completely ignoring any other feelings he might have for the thing.

"He is a pureblood," Remus reminded, "so he does it on instinct. It won't hold weight for anyone but Sirius though."

Then, still facing the carpet, he added perfectly audibly what a nasty little blood traitor of a brat he was.

George inserted they hadn't quite caught that last bit?

"Wish I didn't," James grumbled, he'd only met Kreacher in person once, and he'd never again laughed at thinking his friend exaggerated this thing.

Kreacher quickly said he'd said nothing else while giving a bow to George as well, and adding on not even the slightest bit in a lower tone what unnatural brats the two were.

"Those unnatural little beasts are the most brilliant thing that's ever existed," Remus scoffed, "so Kreacher clearly has no idea what true talent is."

Harry didn't know whether to laugh or not.

"I much prefer cursing him, but laughing in his face is a good start," Sirius agreed.

The elf straightened up, eyeing them all malevolently, and apparently convinced that they could not hear him as he continued to mutter.

Harry kept watching his Godfather curiously, like he was hoping he'd answer that, but Sirius decided the less he spoke about Kreacher, the less swear words that would be involved, so the less Lily would keep glaring at him.

His eyes next fell on Hermione, referring to her as a Mudblood

Sirius still despised having to say that, if there was one thing he'd punish Kreacher for saying outright it was that, stupid thing was lucky he wasn't in the room to hear that one.

standing there in this house, oh what his Mistress would say. Then his eyes spotted Harry, a new boy, and Kreacher wondered who he was.

"It's always nice to not be recognized," Harry grumbled as he still glared hatefully at the book for referring to his friend like that.

Hermione politely informed Kreacher of Harry's name, and Kreacher kept speaking entirely to himself out loud about how he would not even acknowledge that the Mudblood had spoken to him, oh what his mistress would say.

Sirius got all that out through gnashing his teeth in frustration, oh he had a very good idea what his Mum would say to Hermione, and Lily.

Ron and Ginny finally yelled at him not to call her that!

"Always love Ron's automatic defense of her," James smiled, "now Ginny's joined in."

"I think they've shared a room two summers in a row now," Lily reminded fondly, "I suppose they've grown a bit close."

Hermione tried to stop them, saying he wasn't in his right mind and didn't know what he was saying-

"I can not believe she's actually defending this thing," Sirius grumbled with disgust.

but was cut off by George saying she was kidding herself.

Kreacher's eyes were still on Harry as Fred asked what he was even doing in here, and the elves evasive answer was to say cleaning.

"So, were we meant to hear that, or is he talking to himself some more?" Harry asked.

"If he answers you without the insults, he's actually answering," Sirius huffed.

A new voice entered saying how much he believed that, and it was Sirius in the doorway. From behind him, the shouting had ceased, so Mrs. Weasley and Mundungus must have moved to the kitchen below.

"More like moved the body back to the gutter," Lily rolled her eyes.

Upon his arrival Kreacher took such a low bow his nose was flattened against the floor.

Sirius impatiently told him to stop that, and answer what he was really doing.

Kreacher insisted he was cleaning to serve the Noble House of Black-

While Sirius cut him off it was getting blacker every day with how filthy it was.

"There's my Padfoot!" James beamed upon hearing that.

"Can't believe it's taken you this long to play a joke on your name," Remus agreed affectionately.

Sirius didn't seem to pleased with himself for now, though the shock of his friends actually indulging him in doing this was more than enough to pull him into a slightly less bad mood.

Kreacher did not argue the point, it seemed, except to continue muttering about how ungrateful this master was who'd broken his mother's heart,

"Wasn't much of one to break," he inserted with a mutter.

while Sirius snapped his mother hadn't had one of those!

"Sirius, please don't parrot yourself," Lily groaned. "No one wants to hear that twice."

"Not my fault it was so true it deserved to be said twice," Sirius smirked.

Kreacher apparently agreed with him, before continuing to himself that this Master wasn't fit to wipe the slime from his mistress boots, oh how she'd hated him and what a disappointment he was-

Harry really felt a lot of sympathy towards Sirius more with every word he spoke. Had his mother really said all that to his face, repeatedly? Enough he said it again without much more care in his voice than of normally speaking about an elf he hated so much.

Sirius cut him off by demanding to know what he was doing in here? Trying to sneak something else out?

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Remus said deadpan, though they all looked to Harry in concern when he flinched at that for seemingly no reason.

Kreacher insisted he would move nothing from its proper placing, before uttering he would not let them destroy that tapestry.

"Don't know what he's bothering with," Sirius rolled his eyes, "I already know that things got another Permanent Sticking Charm on it."

"Do I want to know how you know that?" Lily asked with honest curiosity.

"Nope," he said simply, popping the p for emphasis.

Sirius was not surprised this was his current object, but dismissed he couldn't do such a thing as he was sure it had another Permanent Sticking Charm on it.

Sirius frowned uncertainly as he phrased it like that. The memory was clear as day in his own mind, but the idea it may have faded all together while he was in Azkaban was only one of the disturbing things he'd realized he'd soon be experiencing.

Then he told Kreacher to go away, and Kreacher actually could not disobey a direct order, so he had no choice but to slunk back out of the room still muttering the whole time about how he'd come back from Azkaban now order poor Kreacher around, and oh his poor mistress, what would she say if she saw the house like this?

"Several colorful things, quite centered around Kreacher, though I'm sure she'd find a way to throw my name in there even before I came back," Sirius rolled his eyes.

All these scum living in here, and the worst one probably a murderer,

"Wish he was," Remus muttered so only Sirius could here.

Sirius barked if the elf kept this up he would be, while slamming the door.

Hermione tried to tell him it was just because he didn't understand they could hear him.

"So that makes it alright for thinking it?" James demanded with a poisonous brow.

Sirius just said it was because he'd been alone to long, taking orders from that mad portrait, but he'd always been a foul little thing.

Hermione tried to persuade he should just set him free- but Sirius corrected it was too dangerous to the Order, he knew too much.

"Don't know what stopped me from doing it the second I walked in there though before this could start," Sirius huffed.

"I'm actually worried it would be the same reason Dumbledore's telling to keep you in there dear," Lily said tentatively, already feeling bad for him being in such a bad mood, but she had been wondering the same thing of him. "If you set him free of you, he'd immediately go running off to the next person in line who he thought should have him, like the Malfoy's. Do you really want Voldemort knowing you've been to your house recently, a place where you were looking into Headquarters."

Sirius' face flushed with frustration as he couldn't work a way to argue that point, but he still snapped back his other point, "that doesn't change how stupid it is to keep me in there all the time! We're in the exact same circumstance as last year, what's the sudden need to force me to stay in!"

Lily did not want to start an actual argument with him, and as he was near shouting at the end it was clearly headed that way, but she also was hoping that maybe someone explaining this to him would lessen his mood just a bit as she pointed out, "well no actually, the big difference is Voldemort is back now. You can't go back to those mountains, not with, him, knowing them just as well as you. Can't stay at Remus' place as he's more than likely being watched by Death Eaters as well just waiting for you to arrive."

"Doesn't mean I have to be there!" Sirius seethed, a vein starting to thump with frustration against his temple. "Pick any vacant house in London and I'd rather be there!"

"Would you really though?" Her voice kept growing quieter the louder his was getting. "Away from even those meetings that you'd rarely visit at that place, kept even further out of the loop, and so far away you couldn't get visitors or even help if it came to that."

Sirius was physically chewing on his tongue to stop himself shouting back at Lily that didn't make this right, but he seemed to have run out of comebacks for now as he turned back to the pages.

The others had watched the exchange with silent fascination, Remus in particular wondering if this had been the exact same way Dumbledore had handled Sirius into being there.

Besides, the shock would kill him.

"You don't have to say that with so much pleasure," Lily sighed, which Sirius blatantly ignored.

Sirius walked across the room to examine the tapestry Kreacher had been trying to protect. Harry followed him and found it covered the whole wall, at the very top it read The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, and just underneath that, Toujours pur.

"What does that translate to?" Harry asked cautiously, as Sirius still seemed likely to explode any second.

"Always Pure," James answered for him as Sirius was still trying to pretend the others weren't in the room.

Harry was examining the bottom few branches, and pointed out he couldn't find Sirius' name.

Sirius agreed he was that blackened spot where his mum had blasted him off after he'd run away from home, Kreacher loved telling that story.

James still winced as he remembered how his brother had turned up that night. Harry was dying to ask for details, but Sirius was still in such a foul mood he wasn't sure if he'd get it or continue being ignored.

Harry was stunned he'd done such a thing, while Sirius agreed he'd made a run to James place, his parents, Harry's grandparents, had adopted Sirius for a time after that. Then he'd struck out on his own when he hit seventeen. His Uncle Alphard had left him with a decent amount of money, probably why he wasn't on here anymore either. He'd always been invited back to Sunday lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Potter though.

James and Sirius both winced at the reminder while Lily placed her hand lovingly over her husbands. James' parents had only passed away the previous year from Dragon Pox, and it was still sharp to both boys. They hadn't even lived long enough to meet their only grandchild. Lily was still happy James had never suggested giving their son his father's name, it would have been too hard to tell him no.

Harry asked why he'd left?

Sirius ran his hands bitterly through his unkempt hair.

"Thought that was obvious," Sirius sniffed which sounded a bit more watery than he meant it to.

Remus couldn't even bring himself to break the tension with a joke about Sirius' vanity, it was still a horrid reminder Sirius didn't even come close to keeping his appearances up like he did now, their Padfoot would never let his hair get anywhere near unkempt.

He answered briskly it was because he hated the lot of them, and his idiot, soft headed brother who'd gone along. He jabbed at a date, of both birth followed closely by a death marked some years previously.

Sirius felt something just wilt inside him at the news that his brother wasn't even alive. Or at least, he wouldn't be in a very short time, as it was nearing the end of October now. He wasn't even sure why he was so surprised, he'd told that little idiot the day he'd found out he was going to join the Death Eater's he'd meet a fast end, and Regulus had just laughed him off. That had been the last time Sirius had seen his brother...and now Sirius realized he wasn't going to see him again.

"Sirius?" James whispered softly, not really sure if he even wanted to get his attention, but willing to do anything to get rid of that blank look on his brother's face.

Sirius shook himself, blinking several times before he put up a smile no one believed. He tisked and put as much carelessness in his voice as he could muster, which wasn't much even to his own ears, "why should I care? Told him this was going to happen, and he told me to f' off. S'not like I care," he finished with a mutinous huff, clearly failing at believing that himself as much as he was trying to convince the others.

Sirius explained such a short life had happened because he'd joined the Death Eaters.

Harry was stunned at the news, but Sirius said he'd seen it coming. His parents, and many others, and thought Voldemort had the right idea with his pureblood supremacy and found their youngest a hero for joining up.

Sirius still managed to read that with a burning hatred that he'd yet had the pleasure of turning on his parents, but now he would be very, very soon. Those idiots had gotten his little brother killed by convincing him it was a good idea to do this, filling his head with lies from the age he was born. Of course it was his own fault as well, weak willed little shit he was who'd never bothered telling their parents no, or anyone for that matter.

Sirius was becoming so twitchy at this topic that he was beginning to fall under the threat of tearing pages out, but he was also clearly refusing to hand the book over as well.

Harry asked if he'd been killed an Auror?

Sirius corrected by Voldemort,

Sirius heard someone choking in shock for that news, but he continued reading on loudly over whoever so that he could hope for more, his mind just couldn't grasp the little idiot earning that pleasure.

or more likely a subordinate of his, Regulus couldn't have gotten in that far. Apparently he'd joined up, but then gotten cold feet over what he was being told to do and tried to run. That didn't work of course, you promised a lifetime of servitude under that rule.

Mrs. Weasley's voice cut in announcing lunch.

Sirius couldn't force himself to keep going for a moment, just sitting there in a stupor as he realized, he'd done it. His brother had actually tried to take a step back, out, to leave all that. Where the hell had he been when this was happening? What if Regulus had tried to reach out to him, right now, would he listen? His instant answer was yes of course, but this was now knowing that he'd got killed for clearly trying. Yesterday, before he'd heard this from his own mouth? Perhaps not, as he'd just think it was some ploy.

He was almost grateful when Remus cut into his train of thought by demanding, "Sirius, how on Earth would you know that?"

Sirius had to blink a few times, and shook his head to clear it as he muttered, "no clue. I certainly never heard of this now. Maybe I really did go looking him up after I got out of, well after. Trying to think of someone I'd trust to both know this and I'd ask, and maybe it was from Andromeda."

"That makes sense," James agreed fairly. "You've mentioned she still stays in touch with her sisters, Narcissa anyways, and I'll bet they've said something about this and maybe you ask her."

Sirius wasn't as keen on the idea, as Andromeda's contact with her sisters was the reason Sirius didn't go around seeing her much. He was never sure how much he could entirely trust her, as he absolutely did not trust Narcissa at all, but Andromeda still sent frequent owls to her favorite sister. Sirius had no clue if Lucius even knew about it, he'd asked and Andromeda had always said Cissy had never exclusively said anything about it. Still, the woman had stayed married to a Muggle-born and had one hell of a daughter, so Sirius did hope he'd get back in contact with his favorite cousin, and he guessed he could still count on her for some kind of information about his little brother.

She came in holding a tray of sandwiches for them all, but neither Sirius or Harry took notice as Sirius kept examining the lines and pointing out a few, like Araminta Meliflua, who'd tried to pass a bill in the Ministry making Muggle-hunting legal.

"Lovely," Lily squished up her face in disgust while her husband moved a few inches closer to her.

and dear Aunt Elladora, she'd started the family tradition of beheading house-elves when they got too old to carry tea trays.

"I still don't understand sticking them up on a wall," Remus rolled his eyes.

"Trophies of how many generations the house has carried," Sirius said without any of his usual mocking, or voice imitation, or anything to really show he even realized he'd answered. His eyes were still vacant.

Of course anyone who'd shown a shred of humanity was blasted away. Like Tonks wasn't on here, that's probably why Kreacher wouldn't listen to her.

"It can't just be the tapestry though," James disagreed, "otherwise he wouldn't take Orders from you as well."

"Guess it is marginally more specific than that," Sirius agreed restlessly, his thoughts still on a brother he'd disowned and was now bitterly regretting. "It has to be my surname or nothing, unless he so chooses."

At Harry's surprise, Sirius explained the relationship that Andromeda, Tonks' mother, was his favorite cousin. She'd gone off and married a Muggle-born named Ted, so bam!

Bellatrix and Narcissa, her sisters, had both married respectable pure-bloods.

Sirius wondered what Andromeda had been thinking while he'd been accused those twelve years of his crime. Had she believed he'd been fooling everyone as well? Or had his years in showing his approval of her husband kept her convinced and she just hadn't been able to do anything for him? Neither answer was comforting, as he still couldn't forget the one person who had believed it all, and Remus should know him better than anyone.

Sirius aimed to where their names swirled off, and Harry was shocked to find Draco Malfoy's name on there.

"Because I always love that reminder," Sirius sneered.

"Does that magically update itself, or were your parents alive to add that?" Harry asked.

"Magically," Sirius replied.

Sirius agreed all pure-bloods were some kind of interrelated.

"Reminding me that I'm technically related to him as well," Harry groaned.

"About as much as I am, and I don't even make the list," James said with chipper. "Potters got labeled as blood traitors way back when all of this nasty business was still being developed, so we hardly even get recognized at it, yet we still manage a pureblood lineage. I still claim it's by accident more than anything."

He was in fact related to the Weasley's as well, but Harry would never find them on here, their whole line was nothing but blood traitors.

James couldn't help a little wince though Sirius hadn't used him as an example. He supposed it was easier, them being right there in the room, but he also wondered if it didn't have more to do with the face it must hurt Sirius something terrible to still say his name.

Harry had turned attention to the last, and oldest sister Bellatrix Black.

Harry felt a nasty, creeping feeling rising up inside of him at Sirius mentioning her.

It was connected to Rodolphus Lestrange, and Harry repeated the surname, wondering why it stirred at his memories?

"Voldemort mentioned them," Remus quietly reminded, causing Harry to wince but acknowledge with a nod that must be where this bad feeling was coming from. They were still in Azkaban, obviously he had no connection to her.

Sirius agreed her, her husband and his brother were all dragged in with Barty Crouch junior and had all been on trial and were now in Azkaban.

"Oh wow," James blinked in surprise. "Didn't even occur to me that was her, though it does explain the nutjob qualities of that woman."

Sirius wished he could join along, mock back the situation, but he really was finding it harder with every line to pretend enthusiasm at this topic of his heritage.

Harry realized that's where he knew her from, the proud woman who'd shouted from Dumbledore's Pensive that she would be rewarded by Voldemort for her loyalty.

"That's not where you remember her name from, they didn't mention any of them by name in that," Lily gently reminded.

"I just put them together like that," Harry agreed.

Harry began to ask why he'd never mentioned any of this, and Sirius snapped back why would he? These weren't his family!

'No, they're all dead,' Sirius hated the nasty little thought that flitted through his mind, but then he glanced to either side of him and amended, 'not all of them.'

He hadn't seen any of these people in years, unless you counted watching a few get dragged past his own bars in Azkaban.

Sirius still hated the hitch that tore through his throat as he was once again reminded of that, it seemed to manage to hurt worse every single time, though not nearly as bad as watching those around him flinch because of it.

Harry began to apologize for bringing all this up, but Sirius waved that off and instead apologized for snapping. He just hated being back here, never thought he'd be stuck in this place again remembering it all.

Harry completely understood that. He could imagine he'd be the same way if he was forced to live back in Private Drive for an unknown amount of time.

Lily felt like she'd been smacked in the face for ever suggesting it was a good idea for Sirius to be in there now. Safety reasons be damned if Harry comparing his life to how Sirius' must look in that moment, and his tone completely agreed with Harry's comparison. She'd vouch for him living at Hogwarts in the boys dormitory then. "Sirius, I'm so sorry, I never should have said it was any good for you to be there, I just-"

"It's alright Lils," he grunted, though he did meet her eyes so he clearly wasn't really that mad still. "I was more pissed I couldn't think of anything to argue back, probably can't with Dumbledore either which is probably why it's working."

Lily flushed, she didn't want to be compared to Dumbledore right now as angry as she was with him. She still wanted to tell him of her idea he just stay at Hogwarts, but Sirius seemed to find that conversation done as he kept going.

Besides, the place really was ideal for headquarters. His father had put every magical protection on this place that existed, and then Dumbledore had added a few of his own on top of the Fidelius Charm. With him being Secret Keeper, no one could get in that Dumbledore didn't know about.*

"Wait, he can do that?" Remus's face puckered in confusion.

"That doesn't make any sense," Lily agreed uneasily, suddenly tense in her husband's arms of all that this made them wonder. "If the person can be Secret Keeper, then why weren't James or I just one? I was going off the assumption you couldn't live at the house to be one, no offense Sirius love," she quickly added.

Sirius waved that off, he completely agreed, but he couldn't unlock his jaw to any more than scowl hatefully into the fireplace for the reminder of this.

"Maybe this time they just had more time to test the idea and figure this out," Harry offered uneasily, he could already tell they all just wanted to move on from this topic, but it was a good question, and one that he'd been wondering himself. "When you two used it for the first time, you did say Mum it was a lost spell Dumbledore must have come across and put up spur of the moment. Didn't have time to test the idea past well, using the first volunteer or-" he broke off as he couldn't play this off anymore or ignore the building growl coming from all the boys.

Sirius got the gist of Harry's idea, and it did make sense, so he forced himself to keep reading loudly before he started digging a hole in Lily's carpet to get out of here.

He promised he could bare it a bit more if he could just get out once in awhile. He'd asked Dumbledore if he could escort Harry to his hearing for some moral support, as Snuffles obviously.

"I wish you wouldn't," James hated having to say it while Sirius was looking to his breaking point any second now, as literally every topic he hated hearing had all come up in this one chapter! Throw in some mentions of dementors and Snape and he'd hit the jackpot. Still, that didn't stop him reminding, "there are enchantments all over that place to stop people from concealing themselves inside there Pads, you know that. We've never tested the idea an Animagus can get through there unchecked."

"Maybe we should," Sirius insisted, his eyes too bright, but just wanting to think of anything good for a moment, and being there for Harry was certainly one of them. "Send in McGonagall first, have her scope out the place as a tabby with Dumbledore, or some other member of the Order for some cock n bull reason like-"

"You're assuming she's in the Order," Remus reminded, "she's not this time around, though Dumbledore trusts her. What makes you think she is the second time?"

Sirius sat there stumped for a moment, then finally snapped and barked at him, "can't I just have one good idea for one second!"

Remus raised his hands in surrender while Sirius turned fumingly back to the pages.

Harry felt like he'd just sunk into the earth below. He hadn't had to think of his upcoming hearing while he'd been here, but now he realized as he looked back at his friends he very well may not be going back with them to school.

Sirius understood at once, and promised Harry he'd be cleared, there was definitely something in the laws about how he was allowed to save his own life in those circumstances.

"Look Lily, some of what you say does get through to him," James forced a smile none of them felt, when were they going to leave this house already? Sirius acting like this was really dragging them all down.

Harry ignored that, and instead turned pleadingly to his godfather that if he was expelled, could he come live here with him?

Sirius just gave a sad smile.

Harry persisted he would feel at least a little better knowing he had some other options than going back to the Dursleys'.

Sirius looked around glumly as he said how bad they must be to prefer this place.

"I have no idea," Sirius informed his future self, even if he did have an odd look in place for doing so.

Mrs. Weasley called over to the two to come get some food before it was all gone.

"Yes, how dare they have a private moment," James sneered.

"How does she keep managing to have the worst timing," Remus agreed with him, "one more second, and Sirius would have asked for details about that!"

The two did indeed join the others, and then began tackling the glass cabinets now accompanied by Sirius. He paid for it by getting bit by a snuffbox, and then his hand developed a tough brown scaly glove appearance.

"Wartcap powder," Lily quietly told Harry before he could ask, "used in a lot of fire protection potions."

He fixed it with a tap of his wand, explaining to them it was just Wartcap powder before throwing it in the bin. Harry saw George sneak that into his pocket next.

"I can see why they'd have a use for that," Remus smiled to himself, "I'm convinced they must have set a few accidental fires in their time, and that's not particularly easy to come by."

More assortments of things included a tweezer that tried to stab Harry until it was smashed with a book, a music box that made them all drowsy until Ginny snapped the lid shut,

Lily shivered at the idea of that thing, and managing to find it extra fascinating Ginny had been the one to fight off such a thing. Guess the poor girl must have an extra sense now of things trying to charm her into submission.

a heavy locket that none of them could open,

The moment Sirius read that, Harry felt such a huge wave of nausea and vertigo, he actually momentarily blacked out. He came back peering at the book in shock, his hand pressed hard to his temple as he tried to understand where that had come from. The last time he'd felt something so powerful, was when he'd heard about Ginny's diary...but what did this have to do with that? He wondered if he was finally cracking, if his memories were just getting so disjointed that he could no longer separate what he was hearing now and what he may be feeling in the future. He refused to linger on it, waving off everyone's concern and promising he wasn't pushing at anything as he insisted Sirius just go on.

and an Order of Merlin, First Class, labeled to Sirius' grandfather for 'services to the Ministry.'

Sirius took one contemptuous look at it, and said it meant he'd given a lot of gold to people before giving it a toss into a rubbish sack as well.

Harry suddenly didn't think of that award in the same way if it really could be handed out all willy nilly like that.

Kreacher made a few more appearances, always near the trash pile and trying to sneak things back away, finally bursting into tears when Sirius wrenched a ring from him. He fled the room calling Sirius things Harry had never heard of before.

"He had a real talent for that at least," Sirius agreed with any resemblance of fondness he was positive he could ever foster for that thing. "Taught me most of my vocabulary."

"Great, now I dislike him as much as you," Lily rolled her eyes.

Sirius replaced it back with the pile while explaining that had been his fathers. Kreacher hadn't been quite as fond of him as Mrs. Black, but Sirius had still caught Kreacher snogging some of his old trousers last week.

"Fascinating to walk in on I'm sure," Remus tried for a genuine smile.

Mrs. Weasley kept them all hard at work in the room until finally the only undesirable thing left was that tapestry, which indeed would come off no more easily than the portraits below, and the still rattling desk as Moody had yet to come by.

They moved downstairs into the ground floor dining room, where Ron vacated the area for a while as he needed a spot of tea after some spiders the size of dinner plates could be spotted in the banisters.

"Well sometimes you manage to mess up the first pot, and it becomes a real hassle to hunt down another, I really can see him taking some time," James agreed fairly, not one of them held any humor for that, not after Aragog.

Snape may have referred to their work as just 'cleaning', but in Harry's opinion they were really waging war on the house, which was putting up a very good fight, aided and abetted by Kreacher.

Harry had many times believed and thought that Hogwarts felt like a living presence to him, but he wasn't as happy to be thinking the same about this old place.

Sirius had quickly grown tired of simply telling him to leave the room, and at one point threatened him with clothes. Kreacher just fixed him with a nasty smile and reminded, apparently only to himself, that his master would do no such thing as Kreacher knew what they were up to, plotting against the Dark Lord with Mudblood, traitors and scum.

Sirius finally lost his temper and actually threw him from the room.

"Sirius!" Lily tried to groan in rebuke, but it came out more as a sigh of acceptance she just couldn't fight him on this.

"Wish I could do that to everyone who calls my friends and family that," he replied easily.

The door continued going off several times a day, several Order members coming and going. Harry had spotted Snape a few times, though thankfully he'd never had to come face to face with him.

"There's a relief," James groaned, he had to stand that guy enough at school, no need to add to his ever growing list outside of the place.

Harry also caught sight of Professor McGonagall, and she also seemed too busy to linger.

"Ha!" Sirius barked as he waved a triumphant finger into Moony's face.

Remus took the prod in the nose from that with acceptance, though he did still wonder what the difference was in Dumbledore including her that time but not now. Though maybe she was a member now, in deep secret that they didn't even know about. He couldn't imagine what the motive for that would be, but he wouldn't be surprised if there were secret Order members they didn't know about either.

Sometimes the visitors did stay to help, like the memorable night Tonks had come around and helped them with a murderous ghoul in a toilet. Lupin came and went frequently, apparently staying at this place with Sirius but leaving for extended times to do unspoken work for the Order.

Remus winced, but no one looked very surprised except Harry. He was dying to ask just what this 'work' was, but even judging from how pale he'd gone now and a look he'd grown accustomed to seeing over them all at any mention of his lycanthropy, Harry thought he had a pretty good guess, so why bother him over it for details.

He'd been the only one able to repair a grandfather clock that had developed the unpleasant habit of shooting heavy bolts at passers-by.

"How could you not want to keep that feature?" Remus asked in a too high voice that James and Sirius still managed to smile at nonetheless.

Mundungus redeemed himself slightly in Mrs. Weasley's eyes by rescuing Ron from an ancient set of purple robes that had tried to strangle him when he removed them from their wardrobe.

"Well so long as he has his uses," Lily murmured approvingly, hoping this would help Molly to lighten up all around now that she saw there was more than one side to everyone. She really was hoping to hear of a make up between her and Sirius before Harry went back to school, an apology really was in order for Sirius.

Despite the fact that he was still sleeping badly, still having dreams about corridors and locked doors that made his scar prickle,

Harry rubbed furiously at his scar now as he gazed blearily around in confusion, still trying to resist word vomit anytime that place was mentioned even if his scar wasn't paining him now.

The others dearly wanted to speculate on this now. At first it had made sense in the dreamscape of his trapped feelings at Private Drive, but now? They supposed he could be feeling trapped and suppressed by that hearing, so the recurring dream would stay, but none of them liked how Harry kept reacting to it like it should mean more.

Harry was managing to have fun for the first time all summer. So long as he kept busy, he was happy, but in those moments at night where he was left alone, he was forced to realize some unseen Ministry person forbidding him returning to Hogwarts, snapping his wand.

"They can't," Sirius's voice broke on that though, and he couldn't pretend to keep going. There was a lot of things lately the Ministry supposedly couldn't do, and yet had been doing. It whipped them all terribly they couldn't be of any comfort to Harry about this, but Harry still didn't look nearly as worried about this as he just had about that locked corridor nonsense, so they tried to console themselves if this had happened, he'd be a lot more panicky about this.

The only small light he had was that he would not be left back at the Dursleys forever, he would come back here with Sirius.

"I'm positive you give the place a brighter charm pup, even though that's not a needed option," Sirius put more enthusiasm into that than he had this whole book so far, managing to make Harry smile up at him for real.

The night before the dreaded thing, he felt like a brick was smashing down on him as Mrs. Weasley told that she'd already ironed his best clothes, and she wanted his hair to have a good wash before he left in the morning. A good first impression did wonders.

"Well she's not wrong," Lily muttered petulantly, still not entirely happy with agreeing about anything with her, even universal advice.

Harry asked how he was getting there, and Arthur piped up Harry was coming with him to work.

Harry turned curios eyes to Sirius, but Molly was already answering that Dumbledore had said it was not a good idea for Sirius to be coming along.

"Since when do I pass every solitary action by that man," Sirius ground out in frustration. "What, am I supposed to start telling him when I use the loo? Would he like to know my regular schedule of how often I-"

"Padfoot, considering how well I know you, please don't finish that," Remus finished almost pleadingly, while Sirius harrumphed but kept going on testily.

Sirius bitingly cut her off how much he agreed this was a good idea.

"Run that by me again, I don't think I quite bought the sincerity of that," James sighed.

Harry asked when Dumbledore had been here to say this, and Arthur said just last night when Harry was asleep.

"He couldn't have woken me up?" Harry yipped in protest.

"Apparently you were too busy, must have been in a private meeting of your own," Sirius stated just to agitate Moony who refused to look over at him. Sirius just grumbled when he got no reaction and finished.

Sirius viciously stabbed a potato without further comment. Harry turned with even more worry and depression back to his own plate, unable to understand how Dumbledore had been in this very house and hadn't bothered to come speak to him. He hadn't realized he could feel worse until now.

"Chapter's over," Sirius groaned as he thrusted the book into Harry's lap. "By the way, I completely agree, the man's behaving like a wanker towards you, not bothering to once come by and hear your side."

"You can't have it both ways Sirius," Remus sighed. "You can't go complaining one minute he's too involved in Harry's life, and then say you're annoyed he hasn't checked up on Harry when the man would know Harry's fine."

"There's a difference and you know it," Sirius snapped back, but Harry was already flipping to the next chapter to avoid an argument, even if he was on Sirius' side.

HPHPHP

*Oops, ignore my earlier * back in chapter four, my brain completely skipped the fact that this was mentioned right here, so hope you enjoyed that.

#The LIfe that Never LIved #Harry Potter #fanfiction #reading the books #hp #Ootp #Jilly #James Potter #Remus Lupin #Sirius Black #Lily Potter

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boogiewrites · 3 years

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Mae Flowers Ch. 7

Characters: Alfie Solomons x Mae LeBlanc (OFC)

Summary: A modern, magical Alfie Solomons AU. Mae works towards growing her powers and Alfie is there to explain every step. They begin learning more about each other and find a connection that neither truly expected.

Warnings/Tags: Language.Magic/Supernatural. Soul mates.Some domestic fluff, getting to know you stage. Talk of the unknown.

Click on my screenname then go to Mobile Masterlist in my bio for my other works and chapters. (Had to do this since Tumblr killed links, sorry.)

The sun rose high enough to peek through her curtain. It wakes her by gently kissing her face. Mae greeted the new day with enthusiasm.

Alfie had given her the task of sprouting, growing, and blooming a plant with her powers. She had been a bit cocky, she supposes, after the meditation went so well. But using her own undisciplined powers to do work was entirely different from receiving a gift of knowledge from her light. With Alfie's strong influence, the visions were much stronger than she could’ve formed herself. He’d asked endless questions, just like she would do. But unlike her, he'd had years to find the answers.

She stood in the kitchen, glaring out the bay doors at the sprouted plant on the patio table. She sipped her coffee as the maker gurgled in the background. The house was quiet, save Percy's feet crunching in the litter box.

Alfie had set her a task, and she was days into trying to achieve it. He had vaguely explained that he had some spell work to do that he needed privacy to accomplish. After giggling at the way he pronounced privacy she nodded and he disappeared. He’d still been up every morning, looking a little rough around the edges. She didn’t want to pry but she also thought she might want to know what was going on in her house.

It was almost 10, she’d taken her time and lazed around long enough. She'd showered and eaten while hoping he would appear. But he hadn’t. So her curiosity got the better of her.

She made her way to the wall that held the archway to her sunroom and the door to the guest bedroom. She stood with a furrowed brow and pressed lips. She felt like she might be behaving rudely. She quietly knocks, her hand hovering over the door for some minutes before she talked herself into it. A quiet knock, then a more confident one after no noise from the other side. She pressed her ear to the door and heard nothing, not knowing if she felt relieved or more worried.

“Alfie?” She asked with a crack to her morning voice, not yet warmed up. No response. She tried to focus, head to the door, and see if she could feel anything. She didn’t really know what she was doing though, they hadn’t gotten to that lesson yet.

With no answer she reluctantly reaches for the knob, hand once again waiting to take action. As she clicks it, it sounded like one of the loudest noises she’d ever heard. She makes a space big enough to peep her round face through.

“Alfie?” she spoke softly, voice barely above a whisper into the stillness of the room. She made her way in, turning to see him star fished on the bed. His hair was a mess, hands still covered in what looked like soot, and lips pooched out while he was clearly in a deep sleep.

There were jars sealed with wax all over the dresser, salt around them, and little labels attached with twine to each. She was most curious and began to move towards them before a sudden grunt and sniff catch her attention from the bed. Unknowingly she’d passed the threshold of protection Alfie had cast and it had woken him up from his much-needed rest.

“Mmph Mae? What ya- bloody hell what time is it?” His brow arches high, dad noises followed as he rolled over to reach for his phone. “Oh fuck I’ve slept in.” He mutters and begins the process of moving his tired and half awake limbs to sit up on the bed.

“It’s not a problem, I just didn’t know what you were doing in here. I knocked… by the way. I was worried about you.” She explains hesitantly.

“No need. Just restin' me eyes.”

“Mm hmm.” She hums.

“Don’t appreciate that sarcasm Mae.” He rubs his eyes but she sees the grin behind his soft dark gingery beard.

“I knocked… like I said, twice, and said your name and you just laid there so…”

“You callin' me a liar? Bold of ya.” He kept a deep gruff tone as he yawns and stretches, but she could tell he was joking somehow. She felt comfortable with him in the snippy exchanges.

“Well I ain’t callin' you a truther.” She shrugs and gives a huff of a laugh.

“You’re a funny little flower, Mae.” Her odd response makes him laugh that turns into a cough. They share a pleasant lingering smile before something catches Mae’s attention. A movement under the covers of the bed.

He feels it against his hand and shoots his eyes in the direction Maes wide ones are staring.

“What the-?” He grumbles and jerks back the covers, and much to Maes horror a huge snake is making its way from the bed to the floor and towards the open window. “Fuck me, that wasn’t a dream? Ya sneaky cunt! Get out, ya slag!” He shoves the snake off the bed with a heavy thump while Mae presses herself against the door with too many questions rapid firing in her head. “I was tired from the work and you come all the way out here-?” His hands wave and he stops as if he were interrupted as he pushed the snake out the window. “Work innit?” He snaps and opens the window wider. “Ya ain’t fuckin special love. That’s always been ya problem. If ya never learn you’re gonna be like that forever!” He sticks his face thru the window opening before slamming it shut.

He turned around all huffed and annoyed and now awake.

“Uh… friend of yours?” Mae asks with a broken nervous laugh.

“I’m sorry Mae. She snuck in, I didn’t invite her. She’s never been much for respecting people’s space.”

“Wuh… so it was a friend?” She asks with eyes still looking at the spot where the snake had slithered out even though Alfie is moving around the room now to put the sheets back on the bed in his pajamas, a very rumpled white t-shirt with a v cut and his always present smattering of amulet holding necklaces.

“Well… yes and no. Bit complicated.”

“Like Facebook ‘It’s Complicated or…?”

“Like what?” He stops to plop on the bed and gives her an intimidating stare that suggests she might be behaving like an idiot.

“Y’know the relationship options on Facebook?” She says with an obvious nod. “You do know what Facebook is right?”

“Of course I fuckin know what Facebook is ya cheeky bugger.” he says harshly but huffs a single hard laugh.

She grins at his response and continued on with a lazy lilt to the early afternoon conversation. Her hands moving casually as she talked like the dust that was visible in the sun through the guest, well, Alfie’s room window now. “People can put it’s complicated as a relationship status. Usually, a sign someone’s made some bad decisions at some point.”

“Yeah? Like, fuck a snake?”

She snorts and covers her mouth as she laughs with bright eyes. “I wasn’t gonna say it but-“

“Didn’t have to read ya mind to know that’s what you were thinkin’, mate.” He shakes his head and fussed with his hair for a moment.

“I’ve been told I have a very bad poker face.”

“Terrible.” He says obviously but she felt the warm tone in his voice as he stood and gave her a smile that wasn’t accusing. “But it’s also somethin' you can learn.”

“Another thing to add to the long list of things you’re going to teach me.”

“That it is.” He says with an affirmative nod. “It comes with controlling your emotions. You feel things so strongly because you are unpracticed but we’re workin' in it yeah?” He nods and pats her shoulder.

“We are. I don’t feel as bad as I usually do after a rough day like yesterday.”

“Very good. Since I slept in like a fuckin lazy sod have ya got around to ya studies today?” They both move and carry a conversation into the kitchen as he makes himself some tea.

“Not yet, was being slow because I didn’t want to start until you got up. But then-“ she motions towards the cracked guest room door.

“Ridiculous, innit?” the previous annoyance at his unexpected visitor comes back to show on his face. “Not even my house and she doesn’t know you, yeah? Just invites herself in. Like everything’s bloody normal.”

Mae blinks with curious but very polite eyes as he rests against the counter for a moment, huffing and displacing a fluff of hair hanging onto his forehead. “I’m glad you also don’t think it’s normal. I know things are gonna start changing now, but python booty calls were not something I was prepared to handle.” She pauses her thousand-yard stare shifts to him. Blinking her full lashes over brown, now golden in the noon sun, eyes. “Not to be rude or anything. Just… being honest.” She shrugs, making herself smaller. “Thought it would be best to be… y’know with… all this witchy stuff.”

“First off, not a booty call.” He dismisses with a swipe of an expressive finger. “Secondly, honesty is the best policy. Always…. Unless ya Gotta lie.” He gives a more sly and cheeky smile her way as he takes a sip of tea.

“Are you lying about the snake booty call?”

“Nah, mate.” He gruffs out casually, “Not that I didn’t before she found herself in her current form. A stone-cold bitch of a witch that one. Piss off the wrong witch and ya go 'bout bein a twat and then next thing ya know you’re cursed to take her so-called, and very dramatically said at the time I might add- “true form”. He pauses, his tight but expressive face once again hides behind the tea mug and the fluff of mustache over the rim. “Old flame 'n that. Long, long time ago now.”

“How long is long for you? Since you’re…?”

“I prefer the term immortal to old if that’s what’s ya askin'.”

“I wasn’t but thanks for clarifying.”

“Years before you were even swimmin' in ya gran dads bollocks.”

“That’s the grossest way I’ve ever heard that put. Creative but, still gross.”

“Didn’t mean to be crude at the table, love.” He gives a nod but the polite face has mischievous and playful eyes behind it.

She huffs out a quiet laugh. “Wasn't a complaint.”

“Good to see ya aren’t squeamish. A sense of humor will help ya out in this work. Also nice to know my other half isn’t a stick in the mud.”

“Oh, I’ve been called that before.” She adds quickly and he laughs.

“Eh, don’t seem too bad to me Mae.”

“Well we just started so just give me a bit and I’ll let ya down.”

“Bad attitude like that means one thing.”

“What?”

“You didn’t eat a good breakfast did you?”

“I had-“

“Yeah, those bloody breakfast bar- bullshit things.” He cuts her off. “Ya have to eat real food now, pet. So we’ll be late getting at it today but nothings gonna get accomplished by no human without bein' fueled properly.”

“I don’t usually cook a big breakfast.”

“And ya ain’t gonna start now. I got it.” It’s almost as if her thought of standing to help was nipped from her mind, swearing she might’ve felt a light push to stay in her seat by some invisible force.

"You're not fattening me up to eat me are you? You and that snake?” She asks with a subtle playful smile but accusing eyes.

He lets out a loud sudden amused sound at her suggestion. “Maybe I am. Gonna butter ya up and stuff you in the oven.” He gives her a wink and chuckles to himself at the delightful energy she was putting out today before he turned back to the counter.

She blinks rapidly and finds herself hiding a flush in her cheeks at the seemingly innocent gesture. She retreats back to her normal sitting posture clenching her teeth to fight the smile that would otherwise appear on her face. Being forced to reckon with a handsome man winking at her that she wasn’t repulsed by was something new and she didn’t want to look like a giggling school girl. She was far from being a schoolgirl by being in her thirties but he made that same old energy bubble up inside her.

She clears her throat and tries to gain control of her emotions before they sweep her away. Since he’d been around all sorts of things were becoming quickly overwhelming. Since Alfie's appearance in her life, she’d started having mood swings, vivid intense dreams, and some rather animalistic passing thoughts. Most of them with the focus being on her new roommate. And she wasn’t talking about the unusual amount of reptiles she’d seen the past few days. She could swear the birds chirped louder now. It was as if she was going through some psychic puberty. Every sense and emotion was turned up so drastically it was as if she could feel a static tingling at all times. It didn’t hurt, but it was something she was trying to get a grip on. She was trying to be optimistic but her first round of puberty was something she felt she’d failed miserably at.

Alfie could feel her energy shifting and remained quiet. He had been both confused and impressed with her attempts to control all this new energy herself. He didn’t know why she didn’t ask about it but knew she was a scrappy little thing, forgo the occasional breakdown. Which he thought she had earned.

“MROW?” Percy jolts up from his warm bed in the sunroom, his morning sun spot starting to shift. He trots into the kitchen, the shifting of energy from his master drawing him from the bed.

He was a welcome distraction for her and both the men in the room, both he and Alfie felt ease as soon as Percy was in Mae’s lap and focusing her attention.

“Good little lad you’ve got there,” Alfie says, looking over his shoulder at the cat purring and grooming its owner.

“When he wants to be he’s very sweet.” Mae let’s put a sigh and cuddles him closer, feeling the tension in her body dissipate as she rubbing her face into the fur of the large white fluffy boy with his pink toe beans and nose.

“You know… I have a Percy.”

“You have a cat?”

“No, love. Percy is your familiar. I have one right now as well.”

She blinks in thought for a moment. “My familiar?” She asks, directed at the cat who was staring up at her with bright green eyes.

“A companion. A kindred spirit. He’s a little soul that is meant to help yours.”

She stares into the cat's eyes. “He just showed up one day. Like he already lived here.”

“Because he was called to you. Your power must’ve been blossoming at the time.”

“So you’re my familiar huh? If you’re supposed to help, why do you sleep on my clean laundry?”

Alfie let out an amused chuckle.

“Mrrm.” Percy responds and flicks his tail.

“I’d like to know how sleeping all day is supposed to help me out.” Mae gives him a big smile and scratches his chest. “Sassy little butthead.”

He purrs in response and rubs against her chest.

“Is your familiar a cat?” Mae asks while fussing over the affectionate cat in her arms.

“Oh no. Charles is nothing of the sort. A cat wouldn’t suit me would it?”

“A big fluffy ginger cat might.”

“Offensive language.” Alfie protests and Mae chuckles to herself.

“What is he then?”

“I’ll have you meet him sometime soon. Best to let him introduce himself instead of me.”

“Is he an animal?”

“He is. Familiars tend to be.”

“Can they be other things?”

“Sometimes a human. But rarely. Some have been Fae. Some like to stay in specter form if their counterpart is gifted in communicating with that plane.”

“So like spirit guides?”

“Good comparison, yes.” Alfie nods as he continues moving about the kitchen. “There are many forms any single soul can take, you see..” he began an impromptu lecture which he had done on occasion for the sake of educating her. He kept talking, as she found he had the tendency to do if the mood struck him. For now, he stuck to lessons about her, the baby steps any born and raised witch would know without even realizing. He didn’t want the sweet thing to seem like she lacked common sense when it came time to mingle with others like them. So he tried to begin with what to do to be able to perform at your best. He spoke of fuel and food, energy creation and destruction, and how it works with people like them. Or well, her, he was different from her biologically. But that was a lesson for another day.

—————————-

Alfie checks on Mae once again, a little lump sat in the grass in her back garden with those golden eyes focused on her task. He hadn’t really known how fast or slow the process would go, and the fact that she had made any progress at all made him happy for her. She sat with her hands pushed against her face, elbows on her knees as she sat with crossed legs in the grass in front of the plant. Her button nose was wrinkled, thick dark brows made her look more severe than usual. A stray loose curl would flop in the wind on occasion, but besides that, she was being very still. The fruit-bearing trees planted along the high fence line now had different symbols in new shiny paint. Mae had learned about protection and she was taking it very seriously. The glitter paint, her choice, sparkled in the light along with the various windchimes and suncatchers she had hanging all over the garden. You could always hear at least a small ting of metal against metal outside, it was something Alfie grew accustomed to quickly and found it rather pleasant now. All her new decor made space seem even more full of life with the rapid onset of spring. Not to mention Mae’s growing powers were causing the flora all around her home to begin to flourish early.

Alfie was writing labels, carefully packaging the spells he’d made to send out. He was enjoying a quiet afternoon. The weather was pleasant and the clink of chimes with the lazy breaths of wind outside was a calming melody. He was musing about how nice it was to finally feel some true calm for the first time in his afterlife. This is why the sudden shrill scream of Mae made him almost drop a spell jar in surprise. He would’ve never let his guard down enough to get caught off guard like that before he’d met Mae. He’d never stopped to consider if being with his other soul half might make him soft. But it was swept away from his cares when he saw the bundle of sunshine that was Mae. He could see the joyous yellow rays emanating from her small feminine form. Her hair bouncier and her cheeks flushed as she screamed his name in the middle of jumping up and down with excitement.

“Alfie! LOOK!” She squeals and stomps her feet, her hands with the chipped yellow polish point towards a now fully bloomed plant on the ground.

“WHAY!” He throws his arms up in celebration! “Mozel tov boobah!” He claps and approaches her. Much to his surprise she fillings herself towards him in an impactful hug. As soon as her delightfully soft cheek pressed bare against the fuzzy section of his chest his shirt allowed, their breaths caught in tandem. His hand on the back of her fluffy hair, one arm keeping her steady in her back. There was an ebb and flow that much resembled (to those gifted enough to see such a thing) an aftershock that shot through them on contact and was sent back into the world around them.

It felt almost as if she was in the middle of a giant speaker in the back of some fuck boy's car. Or those old 5ive gum commercials. The second feels drawn out and heavy as that pulse connects them and is loaded into their systems. something neither had felt in such a pure form before they felt a split moment of euphoria. A total lack of worry and anxiety, total zen.

They both exhale with synced breath and everything shifts back to its former self. Mae looks up at Alfie with an expression of what the hell was that and he blinks down at her and tells her that for the first time in a long time. He didn’t exactly have the answer.

Mae licks her lips and looks at his chest, her nose set above puckered lips showing the wheels turning behind her eyes. That were a very vivid -damn near glowing actually- golden. They were large and often wet and they reminded Alfie of a frog on occasion. Especially when she wore her little round glasses. He considers this a compliment as he is quite fond of frogs.

“That was..” she takes a deep breath and clears her throat, “...you know those little sand...zen gardens with the stick and you-?” She draws a swirl on his back where her hands stay.

“Yeah. With the wee Buddha’s?”

“I feel like what one of those is supposed to make you feel.”

“Felt much like I’d gone up and slapped the Buddha and he hit me arse back on my end.”

“Didn’t it feel… good? Though?” Her face shows her uncertainty as it always does.

“Ya bloody right it did.” He lets out a warm laugh that reassures her.

“What is..?” She hugs him again. The same grip as before but it doesn’t happen. She squeezes. Waits. Alfie looks around after her third attempt and considers intervening.

“‘Ere.” Alfie says. Moving her hand to mirror his, slightly outstretched towards each other. “Can you see that?” He asks quietly as if he might scare something away.

“I don’t… I feel something though. I think…”

“Trust your intuition, Mae. It’s where the answers are.”

She follows his advice, taking a deep breath and a slow exhale and clearing her mind and really looking at the space between their hands.

“Do you feel anything?” He asks after a moment, seeing her face shift.

“Yes.” A much more confident response.

“Good girl. What is it?”

“It’s..almost like electricity.”

He keeps quiet as he sees it differently. It fascinates him.

“Like the Ghostbusters ray guns.” She answers seriously then laughs. “Except it isn’t really a color exactly it’s, it’s sort of yellow.”

“I see yellow as well.” He nods.

“Now concentrate. Look at the… rays and what they feel like.”

“Oh! They’re happy.” She answers quickly and cheerfully.

“What happens when I-?” He asks and touches their fingertips together.

She smiles and laughs, “It's like you’re touching the surface of a lake.

“It’s a reflection.” He nods. “Now watch.” He begins to move it away and it’s as if a string is being pulled, the flow is taffy and it becomes thinner the farther away he gets. Her power is less loud, less clear the farther he is.

“It’s reacting to you.”

“It’s us. Welcome to stage one of your awakening. You can now see energy.”

“Did this happen because of the flower?” her head tilts like a curious baby animal.

“Flower?”

“Oh! Shit! I forgot! The flower! Alfie look!” She grabs his wrist and proudly shows off the fully blossomed Lily.

“Brilliant work, love.” He touches it and it’s strong and very alive. “Look at this little lass. Gorgeous.” He pets the plants leaves affectionately. “Lovely innit.” He leans towards Mae. “Takes after her muva.” He teases.

“I don’t see anything around it.” She says waving her hand near it.

“You won’t see everything at once. Be grateful for that because you’d go as mad as the first mantis shrimp.” He snorts at his own joke.

“The what?” She asks and shakes her head. “Alfie stop talking about mudbugs and explain.”

“You’re growing Mae darling! It’s all very good. Don’t worry. If there was cause for worry I would tell you, yeah? You’re learning to wield your powers and activating new ones. Natural innit?”

“So this is just my power growing?” She asks referring to the wobbly bit of energy as she moved closer to his body.

“I believe it is our souls. They want to be close. The closer the more vivid it is, see?” He touches his nose to hers and shows the tiny jolt of electricity that appears where their skin touches.

“It’s like static electricity. But it doesn’t hurt.”

“Nah, love they’re happy. They want to be close, little monkeys. They haven’t seen each other for so long. They get a bit excited.” He chuckles and rubs her arms reassuringly. He left a warm and good feeling behind in his wake. “Your powers are growing. You’re doing so well. In fact, I believe you are much deserved a few celebratory festivities, love.” He speaks quietly as he remains close to her.

“Like donuts?” She asks with a perky inflection.

“Could be but I was thinkin' more you should get yourself done up. Celebrate yourself. We can go out and I suppose eat since that seems to be where your mind is.”

“Done up? Like go out and eat together? A date?” There’s a mild flash of horror in her eyes.

“If that term scares you so then no. I am simply your friend-“

“Soul mate” she corrects.

“...soul mate who believes you should do things to celebrate this growth. Hard work earns hard play and you Mae darling have been working your bum off. You deserve it. Stop selling yourself short.”

“You being able to read me is good and all but it also really gets on my nerves. You get too real too fast on me like I’m just supposed to be okay with you plainly saying my obvious shortcomings.”

“It’s called growth. It’s what we’re here for.”

“When am I going to make you start growing?”

“Already have.” He states fast.

“I have?”

“Course! I don’t know if you could tell but I have not historically been known to be a very… coddling man. I have been alone and seen and done violence with my darkness… but being around you, your soul, it makes me feel like I’m young again at times. Your...spunky little personality- which is a great relief I must add- paired with the positive attitude and earnest approach has made me address how I approach things.”

“You like my personality?” her eyes look a bit sad but more intrigued.

“That’s what you took from that?” He chuckles.

“It’s a really nice compliment.” She quickly feels tears burn in her eyes.

“Oh bless your cotton socks.” Alfie laughs and pulls her in for a hug. “You little bugger.” He rubs her back as she gives him a tentative hug back. “You are kind and honest and curious. The world needs more like you. Your emotions are a gift. I do not see them as the burden you do. Most humans go through life feeling so very little. Did you know? It is a blessing to feel so strongly.”

“You’re so nice.” She sniffles and he once again laughs and kisses her head. “C’mon love. Let’s have a cuppa and we’ll get dresed up eh?”

“And then we go get food.” She sniffles.

“Yes, darling Mae then when go get food.” He lets out a deep chesty laugh as he escorts her back towards the house.

@jaegeeeeer @brianaisasongbird @hardygal69 @emerald-bijou @captstefanbrandt @coolgh0st @tinastarkandco @xstylishmileage @s-h-e-w-r-i-t-e-s @peakys-mystic

#Alfie Solomons #alfie solomons au #alfie solomons fanfic #alfie solomons fan fiction #alfie solomons fic

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lovemalecforever · 3 years

Text

Chapter 16

Angels and Immortality

After resolving the issue, Jace and Alec went in search of others and found them in the library, reading the history of parabatai.

"So, how does this procedure work exactly?" Jace spoke.

Izzy and Clary exchanged a look, then looked at Alec and smiled widely. "Finally, Jace! Glad to know you got back into senses." Izzy commented.

"I had my own worries, okay? Don't look at me like that!" He eyed both women.

"Okay, enough!" Alec said. "I'll call Cat and let her know!"

They all nodded and Alec left the room to call Catarina. After 15 minutes Catarina came with the book held in her hands with the help of her magic and met them in the library, she kept the book on the circular table placed in the library and looked at Alec worriedly.

"Alec, can I talk to you privately?" She asked, her tone visibly worried.

"Yeah, sure." He frowned but followed her outside.

They were standing in the hallway outside the library when Catarina voiced her concern.

"Alec, did you talk to Magnus today?"

"Yeah, in the evening. He seemed fine. Why, what's wrong?"

"Alec, I got a call from Miss Rose, she's Madzie's teacher here at NY, they've organised a world tour for all the warlock children, she was in Alicante to take Madzie. She left with her around half an hour ago. Alec, Magnus-"

"He's alone..." He said with concern dipped in his voice, instantly getting worried for his husband.

"Alec, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I'm calling Magnus to check up on him, you go inside and explain Clary her part." He said. Catarina nodded and left.

Alec sighed, rubbed the bridge of his nose, then took out his phone from his pants pocket and dialled Magnus's number.

__________________

Magnus kept refilling his glass of Dry Martini, trying to wash away the emptiness and disappointment residing inside him. He was standing by the bar counter, eyeing the dance floor and ordering a new refill when his phone buzzed, he saw the caller ID and gulped. He quickly took the glass from the counter then put a sound barrier spell around himself blocking all the noise of the bar around him then received the call.

"Alexander, thought you wouldn't call. How was your day?" He said trying to sound cheerful.

"Hey, love. It was fine. What are you doing?"

"Oh, n.. nothing, just tucked Madzie into the bed, she's really stubborn and mischievous, didn't want to go to sleep. She finally slept just now. It was such a tiring day running around her. She's a sweetheart though. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, I'm thinking of teaching her some new tricks." He gulped, hating lying to him but he didn't want him to worry.

Alec clenched his fist tightly, anger seeping through his body after hearing a clear white lie from his husband. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, not wanting to yell at him, remembering the state he could be in. "Magnus! Seriously!" He said coldly instead.

"Alexander, what? What happened?"

"Really Magnus!?"

Magnus was about to say something when realisation dawned on him. 'Shit! How can I be such an idiot! Catarina is with him in New York, she must have told him, and I lied to him right now. Damn you, Magnus!' he cursed himself.

"A... Alexander, I.. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lie to you, I just didn't want you to get worried, that's all. I'm really sorry."

Alec sighed heavily. "Magnus, if you keep lying to me like this, how can you expect me to not get worried?"

"I... I understand and I'm really sorry, Alexander. I just-"

"Are you drinking?" Alec asked sternly, cutting him mid-sentence.

"What!?" Magnus was shocked by his sudden question.

"Are you drinking, Magnus?" He asked again.

Magnus looked down at the glass he held in his hand of Lilith knows what number of refills, and gulped nervously. "N..No. No, I'm not drinking, Alexander. I was just about to go to bed. Don't worry, I'm fine."

Alec rubbed his temples in frustration. He could clearly hear his hoarse and rough voice, the voice he always gets after infinite no. of drinking. But is still oblivious to the fact that his husband is at a bar in Germany and not at home. "Fine, Magnus. Just take care of yourself, love. I'll try to be back as soon as I can."

"Hey, do your job, shadowhunter, I'm fine, okay. I'll go to bed now."

Alec sighed. "Okay, I love you, bye."

"I love you too, darling."

Magnus sighed heavily when he cut the call and removed the barrier around him. He looked at the glass in his hand, rubbing his finger around the rim of the glass, he closed his eyes, thinking about the lies he just said to his shadowhunter, then opened his eyes and swallowed the content of the glass in one big gulp. He then paid the bartender and left, completely oblivious to the deep black pair of eyes watching his every move.

"Oh my love, so vulnerable, Magnus. It's going to be so much fun." The woman gave a vile smirk and disappeared into the crowd of people.

___________________

Alec sighed frustratingly. 'Why Magnus! Why do you lie to me so much? Why hide your pain? Why don't you talk to me? Just why?' he thought as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. He stood in the hallway for sometime, calming his nerves then walked inside the library, noticing everyone's eyes were on him.

"Are you okay, big brother?" Izzy asked, voice filled with concern.

Alec nodded in response.

"Alec is Magnus," Catarina started, but Alec cut her mid-sentence.

"Not fine. He lied to me again. He's drinking, even when I've warned him not to." He looked at Cat, noticing her worried filled eyes for her best friend.

"Can we just please get this over with!" Alec said in a low voice, everyone nodded knowing talking about Magnus will only worsen Alec's worries. Jace put his hand on his brother's shoulder and squeezed it gently.

The book was placed in the center of the table, and everyone took their places beside it, giving Alec one final look of reassurance.

"Clary? You know what to do, right?" Catarina asked, and Clary nodded.

Clary closed her eyes and focused her attention on calling Angel Ithuriel.

"I calleth upon thee, Angel Ithuriel. Prithee hark to mine plea." She repeated it like a chant several times but she frowned and opened her eyes when it didn't work.

"It's not working..."

"Is there something written in the book on how to call upon him?" Alec asked Cat, rubbing his hands over his face in frustration.

"No, there's nothing in this book for that. I've gone through it many times already. Sorry, Alec."

"Try something else, Clary. Maybe say it in your mind instead of saying it out loud. Don't stress yourself, just relax first then try again." Izzy suggested she saw the look on her brother's face and hated seeing him like this. She wanted to do anything she could to make her brothers happy.

Clary nodded as she took a few deep breaths to relax herself, then closed her eyes again and concentrated.

"The light to the darkness, the creator of our kind, the one we pray to. I calleth upon thee. Prithee hark to mine cries for thee. I plea for thy presence." She said in her mind, then started repeating it like a chant, just when she thought it's not working again, her body became stiff, she felt cold and felt like she's falling down from an infinite spiral of darkness, the world around her completely gone.

Everyone looked at Clary in shock when her body became stiff like a statue. Her skin became pale and she looked really peaceful like that.

"Guys, her skin is really cold." Izzy said when she touched her.

"Clary? Are you okay? Clairebear?" Jace asked, worried filled in his voice for his girlfriend.

"What's happening?" Alec asked.

Izzy was about to touch her again when Catarina stopped her. "I think it worked, we can just wait for now." She said and looked at the others. They all nodded and looked at Clary's stiff form.

Clary felt like she got stuck in an infinity loop when she finally felt ground beneath her. She got up and opened her eyes. When she did, she saw bright white light all around her. When her eyes adjusted to her surroundings she realized that she was in a forest completely covered in mist. There was the rustle of winds and whispers of distant forest creatures. The forest seemed like it was enchanted.

"Why did you call upon me Clarissa?" A heavenly voice echoed in the whole forest.

"Angel Ithuriel!" She looked around to find him, but there was no one.

"I'll only appear when you give me the reason for your visit." The voice echoed again.

"I need your help, Angel Ithuriel. My friends need your help. He has a request for you."

"What is that, Clarissa?" The voice was soft this time but still had the heavenly essence in it.

Clary explained to him all about Magnus and Alec and the situation they were in, and Alec's request to get an immortality spell from him. When she was done she saw Angel Ithuriel standing in front of her in all his glory. She smiled helplessly.

"Immortality is not something to gain, Clarissa. This spell was removed from existence because of the consequential damages it wreaked upon the mortal lives. I've only provided to those who have proven their worth that they'll cherish and respect it, not regret and waste it."

"Alec won't disappoint, Angel Ithuriel. He'll respect it till his death."

"I'm not risking it until I see it for myself, Clarissa. I want to see from his eyes why becoming immortal means so much to him."

Clary's eyes widened. "But, how?"

"Is that person sitting near you?"

"Yes."

"Then hold his hand and don't remove it until I ask you to." He said and put his right hand over her head.

Everyone was tense with Clary's state, she hadn't moved in the last 15 minutes. They all started to get worried when Clary moved her right hand.

"Clary?" Jace asked.

"Looks like she's searching for something! Clary? What is it?" Izzy asked.

"Alec!" She whispered, sounding completely different from her own self.

Everyone looked at Alec, and Alec moved his right hand forward and held her hand. He didn't feel anything at first, but after some time he felt a wave of energy flowing inside him and invading his mind and memories. He closed his eyes to block the sudden brightness which appeared in front of his eyes. After what felt like an eternity but were just ten minutes, he felt the energy withdrawing from him. He opened his eyes and saw that everyone except Clary was looking at him with shock written on their faces. Not long after, Clary withdrew her hand and went back into her trance state.

"Okay, that was weird!" Alec stated.

The angel removed his hand from Clary's head when he was done going through Alec's memories. Clary looked at him expectantly, desperately wanting to help Magnus if this was the only solution left.

"I see, that boy is really determined and strong. His passion and protective nature will make him even stronger. His intentions and heart are really pure. I'm ready to help him, Clarissa."

"Thank you, Angel Ithuriel."

The angel put his hand forward and a light golden colored ball appeared in it. "These are the spells, Clarissa. I'm giving it to you now."

He absorbed the energy in his hand and put his thumb on Clary's forehead.

They were all confused and shocked after what happened a few minutes ago. Alec was feeling restless, and others were looking at Clary and waiting for her to get out of her never-ending trance. Suddenly, Clary's forehead started glowing with bright golden lights.

"Clary! What the.." Jace exclaimed.

"Paper! Pen! Fast!" Clary whispered.

Catarina quickly summoned a pen in her hand and a piece of paper in front of her. As soon as Clary felt the pen around her fingers she started scribbling on the paper. Once she was done, the glow on her forehead stopped and she got out of her trance-like state with a loud gasp. She blinked a few times to adjust to the surroundings.

"Clary! Claire Bear! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Jace." She said softly but suddenly widened her eyes at Jace. "Did you just called me...?"

Jace blushed, not realizing he called her by the nickname they decided not to say in front of others. He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, didn't realize I said it." He pleaded with his eyes not to be mad at him.

"Aww.. as much as this is fun seeing you both like that, we need to know what happened." Izzy said mockingly, earning a glare from Jace.

"I got the spells!" Clary exclaimed while holding the paper in her hands. Everyone sighed with relief and she handed the paper to Catarina when she asked for it.

"So, what's next?" Jace asked.

As soon as he asked, a copper bowl with intricate designs over it, and a metallic dagger laced with emeralds and diamonds on its handle appeared on the table.

"Next is," Catarina said, "Clary, you're going to cut your palm with the help of this dagger and pour your blood in this bowl, then I'll perform the spell on it and keep it in the moonlight. Alec, I'll let you know when you have to reach the forest, I'll be present there already."

Alec nodded in response. Clary went ahead with the procedure, after filling the bowl to its brim, she felt exhausted. Izzy helped her by activating her iratze, healing her cut instantly. Catarina vanished the bowl and the book into her apartment then took her leave and left.

"So, you're going to drink my girlfriend's blood, I didn't say it before, but it's disturbing, Alec."

Alec glared at him. "Shut up! Jace!"

"Come on, people. Let's get some rest." Izzy said while dragging everyone out of the library and into their rooms.

*************************

*Next day at the early stage of dawn*

Alec stepped out of the portal into a jungle, where Catarina was already there completing the pentagram. The copper bowl with the blood already turned into golden white was kept on the ground. He looked around, it was dead silent, the stars were gone and the sky had started turning into light shades of blue. He could see the moon vanishing into the clouds.

"Alec, on time. You need to remove your shirt and step in the center of the pentagram. You have to handle me your stele and your pho-"

"I've already given it to Jace." He handed her the stele, then stepped inside the silver pentagram drawn on the ground. Then she handed him a bowl of blood.

Alec looked at the bowl in his hand and sighed heavily. 'I love you, Magnus. Always and forever.' he thought to himself, then looked at Catarina and nodded.

He took the bowl and placed it on his lips and started sipping on it, as on cue Catarina started performing the spell simultaneously.

With each sip, he felt a tingling sensation in every part of his body. He could feel the smallest of the sensation, the gentle wind touching his skin felt like millions of sharp needles poking on his skin. His blood rushing through his veins, the slow rhythmic beating of his heart, he was able to feel everything. By the time he was done drinking, he noticed that his whole body was glowing.

Catarina waited till he stopped glowing, then she stepped into the pentagram, stood in front of him, and placed the immortality rune right above his heart to seal the spell. Once she was done she stepped out of the pentagram.

"I have completed the procedure, Alec. Your awakening will start in some time and I can't stay here for that. It will be really powerful, so I'll leave now."

"Thank you, Cat. Your help meant a lot."

She nodded and smiled at him then created a portal for herself and left.

After sometime Alec felt pain surging throughout his body, he screamed and fell on the ground.

"It's not easy to turn into an immortal, Alec." A heavenly voice said.

Alec looked around and saw a man standing by the woods who was slowly walking towards him.

"A.. Angel Ithuriel!?" He gaped at the man who was looking glorious, a huge pair of white wings were fluttering by his sides and was in ancient clothing.

"Yes, it's me, Alec. You're really brave, but it's not going to be easy, child."

"I'll d...do my best, A... Angel Ithuriel! I.. I want this." He managed to say while gritting his teeth because of the immense pain surging in his body, especially on his spine and shoulders.

He screamed in pain and fisted his hands in the grass beneath him as all his pain got centered around his spine and shoulder blades and he felt his skin and muscles getting ripped and something crawling out of it.

He fell on the ground and screamed as loudly as he could, his eyes becoming watery when all the pain got focused on his ripped skin and his shoulders and back started getting heavy. He felt the blood oozing out of it and flowing down on his back.

He composed himself and started getting up when he felt the pain fading away, but heaviness was still there. His mouth fell open when he realized the source of the heaviness.

He stood straight then looked around himself and found a pair of 8 foot long appendages on either side. Before he could react his body started glowing again, his runes glowing a brilliant shade of goldish silver, his beautiful hazel eyes turned into a mesmerizing pair of icy silver, and his wings fluttering beside him.

The angel looked at him in complete disbelief, his eyes never leaving the newly awakened angeled shadowhunter.

"A.. Angel Ithuriel? Is something wrong?" Alec asked the wide-eyed angel, once he stopped glowing and his eyes turned back to hazel.

The older angel stepped forward and ran his fingers through Alec's wings, each feather carved in three different colors, white on the base blending into brilliant silver-tipped with a light tint of gold.

"Silver!" The heavenly voice stated. "Silver is a rare color for angels to have, Alec. You might not have realized, but your eyes turned to icy silver for a fraction of the time. The angels possessing silver eyes and wings are very rare and really powerful. They are supposed to be great warriors and protectors of the earth."

The older angel looked at Alec with gleam and pride in his eyes. "You were destined to become an angel, Alec Lightwood. If you wouldn't have chosen for yourself, destiny would have caught you up in some other ways. You're brave, strong-willed, a leader, with a pure heart who wants to protect his loved ones by any means. You are one of your own kind, Alec."

Alec's jaw was dropped on the floor and he was left completely speechless by the older angel's confrontation. His wings fluttered and curled around his legs in excitement.

"Wha.. I.." He looked at the wings curled around himself in confusion.

Angel Ithuriel smiled. "Your wings are part of your body now, Alec. They will react to your emotions and feelings."

"Oh! But on my shoulders, it's still painful. And the heaviness.." he trailed off, still confused by the new abilities he gained.

"That's why I'm here, you're here, in the bed of nature, nature is the source of our energy, it's going to help you. Now, let's help you control your awakened powers."

Alec nodded and stepped out of the pentagram with his new pair of wings and a newly turned immortal. He smiled to himself knowing he's an immortal now. 'Only for you, Mags. I love you, always and forever.'

#asaab #angst with a happy ending #angst #fanfic authors #alec lightwood #fanfiction #lightwood bane family #malec forever #malec fic #fantasy #fanfic #happily married #magnus bane #malec

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biconicfinn · 4 years

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Hi shakthi! what do you feel about royalty/ fairytale au's? The idea of any variations of prince!Magnus au always gets me. -luxxmagnus

I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!! i love royalty au when it’s set in a diff universe and i dont always go for modern royalty, but a few of them i’ve read are well done so it’s really dependent on the way it’s written! but i’ve got a few must haves for a royalty au that get me like 😍

sorry this is messy and all over the place sgkagbkdag

MAGICAL PRINCE MAGNUS AHHHHHHHH okay so obviously prince magnus>>>> because the aesthetic of prince magnus in fancy clothes, with an intricate crown and beautiful jewellery!!! also it means we can get courtship! and political intrigue! he still has magic because i say so!! also because magnus is so perfect he’d be the type of prince with a great relationship with his people so we’d get magnus being the sweetheart he is! also prince magnus overthrowing his father, the tyrannical king asmodeus????? UGH PERFECTION!!!!!! also i’d like to think that after asmodeus is overthrown, magnus still is not yet of age to be crowned king so ragnor (his older cousin, and no dont ask how they’re related) is the regent but really magnus has a lot of input in the ruling and ragnor is there as more of a formality and an advisor to magnus? cat, raphael, and dot are also members of the royal court and are magnus’ closest advisors and they have their own little family you know? also magnus’ mom died of a sickness when magnus was young and it was tragic and he was really broken by it because he loved his mother so much. so asmodeus tries to raise magnus to be the perfect weapon but thanks to his heart of gold and his found family, he doesn’t become the monster his father says he is. he wants to lead his kingdom to greatness, and do his best to help his people recover from asmodeus’ rule and move forward.

WARRIOR PRINCE ALEC HELL YEAH so with alec i like the idea of him being the crown prince of a neighbouring kingdom and he and magnus meet and it’s like Instant Sparks and they fall in love at first sight, as they tend to do, and it’s amazing. alec would be the prince who has a reputation of being stoic and cold and closed off but he’s just under the weight of all the expectations you know? plus i feel like his kingdom would be a kingdom of warriors and so he’s also excellent in combat and gets a reputation as an amazing archer and strategist. and it’s hard to please the lightwood parents who are forever comparing alec to jace and belittling him, and it’s tough but he does it for izzy and max, so they don’t take the pain. (alec lightwood is the best big brother ever). and he’s got all these ideas to open up idris and form proper alliances with the neighbouring kingdoms, to unify and bring peace to his people.

FANCY ROYAL BALL FOR LIKE SOMEONE’S ENGAGEMENT IDK IT’S NOT RELEVANT BUT THAT IS WHERE MALEC MEET it’s the 18th birthday of idk clary who’s a princess of some other kingdom idk it’s not relevant the exact occasion and the only thing that matter is this is where all the romance get set up! so it’s a big diplomatic thing and the leader and/or their heirs are expected to attend and magnus goes to represent edom with the immortal squad, and alec is there with izzy (and jace but they just ignore him after he runs after some poor girl to dance wth her). alec exchanges pleasantries with a few of the other guests but he’s not really there for gossip, trying to discuss alliances and trade agreements. magnus is asked to dance by many suitors, but he’s not looking to start a relationship nor to fuel the rumour mill so he politely declines and carries on mingling and soon enough the two princes meet and it’s like magic. magnus makes a terribly cheesy pun in response to a stranger at the bar’s sarcastic retort at some pompous duke and oh no he’s hot!!!! they both smile and introduce themselves with a distinct lack of effortless flair for magnus, or the calm composure typical of alec. they get to talking and it’s easy to see that neither of them have experienced this kind or ease and comforting familiarity when talking to someone outside of their inner circles.

whilst magnus and alec are falling in love over the course of a conversation, there is some hilarious shenanigans as maia, raphael, meliorn, and simon find themselves tangled in a love quadrangle as they all feel so drawn to one another, taking turns to dance with one another before retreating to their friend groups to be like “they are all so beautiful and sweet and kind please help!!!!” and so ensues one of the most elaborate slow burn romances the royal courts have seen in ages (the betting pool is also exceptionally large and is won by meliorn who with raphael, started more than half the rumours in order to stir the pot and collect the winnings and spoil their partners).

so anyway back to malec, they talk and have a few drinks and all is well and good and still pretty calm until alec picks up the way magnus is swaying to the music and tapping his feet to the beat, so alec asks magnus to dance and leads him to the dancefloor where they dance the night away, alec more than happy to twirl magnus around the dancefloor and make him giggle and blush, showing him off to everyone else. realising that they’ve attracted quite a fair bit of attention, they decide to steal away to an empty garden and continue dancing in the moonlight, the night is pure and utter perfection, and they part somewhat reluctantly, wanting to spend more time with one another, but also eager for the next day where they have agree to spend the day together. alec steels himself to press a brief, sweet, chaste kiss to magnus’ cheek before leaving to escort a tired and tipsy isabelle back to their guest chambers. magnus is left blushing, hand pressed to his cheek where alec’s warm lips pressed a gentle kiss that gave him butterflies.

oh my god this is not what i set out to write im in too deep now kdsbvfvasjbvjsav sorry may

COURTSHIP!!!! i desperately need courtship rituals!! like alec sending magnus elaborate flower arrangements with sweet, affectionate messages in flower language, magnus sending alec charmed tokens like a simple necklace or leather bracelet that has protective and healing spells woven into it!! them sending love letter to one another! they spend a lot of time together at social events and at “diplomacy meetings” where yes, they do discuss trade and alliances and what not but also it’s an excuse for them to spend at least a week with one another in either kingdom and they go on picnic dates on palace grounds, sneak out of their rooms at night to stargaze, wander through towns and eat street food (and alec always buys magnus little gifts and tokens that remind him of his love) and they train together, teaching each other the fighting styles of their respective kingdoms, and yes, there is a gratuitous alec teaching magnus archery scene because im fucking weak!!! and alec likes to hang out in the royal apothecary in edom and watch magnus make a whole bunch of cool potions, invent spells, and write magical theory. magnus in turn, is very fond of going to the training sessions of idris’ elite warriors–the shadowhunters, to watch alec obliterate a whole bunch of soldiers at various combat skills.

BATTLE COUPLE!!!!!! so they’re together for months and all is good but then valentine happens and has been getting his forces gathered during this whole thing and even before it (im just stupid and forgot to mention it sdkfvbabhvjabv) and anyway he attacks!! and the crown princes of idris and edom unite, together with the other young royals from the neighbouring kingdoms and their armies to defeat valentine. and the two of them are damn near impossible to beat, alec with his honed-from-birth warrior skills, and magnus with his proficiency in both magical and non-magical combat. and it goes well at first but then the tides turn and they have to split up and they part and it’s this moment of “i don’t know if we’ll survive this” and they almost go tosay i love you but then alec is like “i’ll tell you when we survive this, so please come back to me, and i’ll come back to you” and they’re both crying a little but they share one last kiss before separating.

the battle ends and they’re desperate to find each other, tearing through the battlefield to find their love. and they finally see each other and run into each other’s arms, both looking a little worse for wear, and they pull away from the embrace long enough for alec to blurt out “i love you” with so much conviction and surety that magnus subconsciously shakes his head, disbelieving that someone could love him of all people, before confessing his own love for alec. they kiss and it feels like relief and home and hope.

IDK HOW TO DESCRIBE BUT THE THING WHERE THEY’RE A DISGUSTINGLY CUTE COUPLE AND THEY’RE BASICALLY ENGAGED BUT NOTHING OFFICIAL

so they recover from the battle and they mourn their fallen, celebrate their victories, and bring justice to the invaders. this young generation of leaders more or less formally ascends to power and usher in a new era of peace, collaboration, and unity (the fact that there are so many inter-kingdom royal romances certainly doesn’t hurt the alliance)

in this time of peace, cat and dot get married and adopt madzie, the polycule are living their best lives, and izzy gets together with clary.

magnus and alec continue their courtship for a couple more years until they both turn of age to be crowned kings. alec plans an elaborate proposal that sweeps magnus off his feet and just a month after their respective coronations, they marry and their kingdoms are merged as one. and they all lived happily ever after

#skyrambles #skygetsasks #cosmicnovia #malec #magnus bane #alec lightwood #shadowhunters

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war-of-the-words · 4 years

Text

Stuck in the Balance - Part 2

Written Sept 2019 <<Previous Part Read on AO3

When Luck summoned the two of them to the meeting chambers, Kaito was surprised. Aoko knew that the upcoming ceremony was stressful for everyone involved, so why she would summon the most important people in it--this close to it--escaped him.

When Kaito arrived, the other apprentice was already present. He was silently sitting in a chair near Aoko’s. Kaito bowed slightly since it had been a formal summons before taking his seat.

The future Death spoke before too long had lasted, “Lady Luck, to what do we owe the pleasure of being summoned here today?”

Kaito had to take a moment to register that the other’s voice was what he had heard. It was absolutely beautiful. Kaito turned his attention to Aoko as she started her response.

“I simply wanted to get a feel for how you two were handling the preparations for the ceremony. Most before you haven’t handled the transition well.”

Kaito shot a quick glance at the other man. He seemed to be almost frustrated at her response. “I don’t see the necessity to pull us out of our preparations just to ask how everything is going. If you don’t mind I’ll be taking my leave now. I have much to accomplish and very little time to do it.”

As the future Death approached the door, Aoko said one last thing directed to him, “Just-- Please keep in mind that you are never alone in your position. The rest of us are here to help.”

With a nod, he left the room.

Kaito watched as Aoko noticeably relaxed after he obviously wasn’t coming back. “Aoko, was that all you were going to say?”

“No, no it wasn’t but it will have to do for now. He is a stubborn one, you’ll have your hands full, Kaito.”

-<3-

Shinichi had to hold himself back from acting aggressively when he felt the transfer of power and confirmed it with Fate before she sent Life and Death to their next phase. His understanding was that there would be time for a quick rundown on control before they were separated from their mentors until their time on earth was over. He could already feel the slight pangs of no control and he was suddenly glad that any current realm holder couldn’t die.

But, he could now put a name to the other man that had been training on the opposite side for as long as he had. Kaito. His only true equal for as long as they held the titles. This should be interesting.

-<3-

The first time Kaito had to use his powers to negate Shinichi’s he honestly wasn’t expecting it. They had had an earlier conversation discussing what to do with a species that had invaded another’s space and was causing massive death on both sides. Together, they had come to the conclusion that eliminating the invading species was the proper way to solve the problem.

So, when he felt the spike of the other’s power he wasn’t surprised. He was surprised, however, when there seemed to be something fighting that spike, and then the spike was more like a tidal wave.

Kaito was quick to infer the answer: Chaos had decided to intervene. Chaos was a being that he had only met once before. When around him, Kaito had ended up confused enough that his mentor had separated them, leaving Kaito with a headache to nurse for a few days. After he had recovered, he was informed that Chaos was best left alone, as he was the only one that could influence another’s power to the point of no control.

Kaito’s best guess was that Chaos had created the mess they were trying to fix in the first place. So, the new Life rushed to his equal and opposite’s realm to help.

What he found was Shinichi crumpled on the floor, conscious, but obviously in pain, and, not 3 feet away, with rage flashing in his eyes, Chaos.

Kaito first addressed getting rid of the extra factor. Since he could influence the use of another’s power he could prevent his from helping Shinichi. “Leave, Chaos! Before you cause more harm.” The other being only smirked at him before vanishing. Next, Kaito had to focus on Shinichi. He slowly reached out with some of his own power and began soothing Shinichi’s with his own. Kaito watched the other relax and quickly moved closer, “Shinichi, are you alright?”

The other was slow to respond, but when he did it was with a smile. “I am now.”

-<3-

Gaining their own apprentices was an interesting process. Every little detail had to be approved by Fate and Luck both. The two had to be compatible, usually meaning they had to come from the same species and time period. Shinichi and Kaito usually were sitting together at a conference table in Fate’s realm when they had no other duties to attend to.

After the first month of searching, because the candidates they kept choosing were so different, Fate had made it so compatible possibilities would be connected to each other by a list toward the end of their profile.

By the time that Shinichi and Kaito had decided on a matching pair, they were already running behind in the other preparation necessary for their introduction.

-<3-

Introducing a new apprentice to the other-world was a much harder experience than either Kaito or Shinichi remembered their introduction being. But, it very well could have just seemed that way due to being on the opposite side of the preparations. For months ahead of time, they sat down with many of the other beings trying to arrange a schedule to introduce the apprentices to those that would truly be available for them to consult with on decisions that have to be made.

The actual bringing the apprentices to them was easy. Fate cast her spell, and suddenly they were there. Explaining what they were being dragged into? Much, much harder.

“So you’re like, making us immortal?”

“Kind of. Not entirely though. There are restrictions and policies that you will have to follow.”

“What exactly are we supposed to do though? Like do we need to-”

Shinichi cut off this question before it was finished. “You help maintain the balance. It’s not hard. You make sure creatures that die are replaced by living ones and vice versa. And then in a century, you get to teach your own apprentice how to do everything properly to take over for you. And the next few months should give you an idea on how to do that.”

-<3-

Before the ceremony, Aoko planned one last meeting between herself and the leaving Life and Death pair. She had had her first meeting with the apprentices early this morning, and wanted to consult with Kaito and Shinichi before they were to leave for Earth.

When they walked in, with the customary greetings and normal glances toward each other throughout their meeting, Aoko knew that it was time to let these two go be humans and left them with a few final words of wisdom before the next day’s ceremony--Fate never lets her Life and Death pairs get away with not meeting.

-<3-

Shinichi breathed in deeply as he lead his apprentice to the meeting point. The group of four had met many times before, if only in a way to show that Life and Death could have more together than just isolation. However, the catch to this was that they had to be very careful with names during these meetings because the apprentices were not allowed names until the passing ceremony, and Life could not know Death’s apprentice’s name until the same point and vice versa.

As they approached each other, Shinichi reached out his hand to take Kaito’s. They exchanged smiles before turning to their apprentices.

“After today, you will no longer have us to depend on. Your choices will be your own. If you really need it the others will help you, but you also need to help one another if it comes down to it. You don’t have to become as close as we are, but you do need to at least form a bond of tolerance otherwise the next 100 years or so will not be fun.”

Kaito snickered at Shinichi’s statement, “Trust us. When we were in your spot, we properly met each other once before the ceremony, not that you would think that would be the case.”

The two stared at them for a moment before turning to one another and shaking hands. Satisfied, Shinichi and Kaito turned around and led their apprentices into Fate’s ceremonial chamber hand-in-hand.

-<3-

“Do you, Shinichi Kudou, agree that your apprentice is prepared to take over the symbolic role of Death for at least the next century?”

“I do.”

“Have you, as their mentor, taught them everything you believe they will need to know to take care of this role for the time in which they will fill it.

“I have.”

“Do you, Kaito Kuroba, agree that your apprentice is prepared to take over the symbolic role of Life for at least the next century?”

“I do.”

“Have you, as their mentor, taught them everything you believe they will need to know to take care of this role for the time in which they will fill it.

“I have.”

Fate had Shinichi and Kaito step to the side and had the apprentices step forward and take their places kneeling in the same spot the two had just left.

“Do you promise to take care of your role and perform it to the best of your ability?”

Both apprentices nodded in agreement.

“Do you accept that one day you will be on the opposite side of this ceremony and will have to train an apprentice of your own to take on the role when it is decided it is time to move the titles on?”

The two apprentices once again nodded.

Once fate had recognized their responses, she turned to Shinichi and Kaito. “Are you ready?” At their nod and fleeting glance at one another, she waved her hand, a dazed look came over their faces and the apprentices felt the power transfer. She turned to them, “Did it transfer properly?” They nodded, she snapped her fingers, and Kaito and Shinichi faded from view.

-<3-

“C’mon, Shinichi! You promised you would go to Tropical Land with me! My friend Aoko bought the tickets already! You can’t just let that go to waste!”

Shinchi sighed and put down his copy of A Study in Scarlet. “Ran, I don’t have time to go to Tropical Land this afternoon. I have to go into the office to put the final touches on a police report.”

“Then why haven’t you done it yet? I bet you’ve been reading Holmes all morning. Besides, you never leave a case only needing ‘final touches,’ you always go ahead and finish it.”

Shinichi inwardly grimaced at being caught in the lie. Sometimes he forgot just how freakishly well Ran could read him. “Fine, I’ll go, but--” he was cut off by Ran cheering and attempting to pull him out of his chair, “--but, I’m not doing any of the weird souvenir photo stuff.”

Ran pouted slightly before accepting the compromise and dragging him out the door.

When they finally arrived at the entrance to Tropical Land, it became obvious that Ran was looking for somebody specific before even considering joining the steadily growing queue.

“Ran! Over here!”

Shinichi brought his attention to the call for his friend only to see a girl that he found to be strikingly similar in appearance to Ran and a boy that looked way too familiar for it to be the first time that they had ever met. Had they seen each other before and Shinichi was just having trouble putting the name to the face? No, that couldn’t be it. He always remembered names. Perhaps they frequented the same park and had seen one another in passing? That was more likely.

Shinichi watched the same slightly confused look that was surely on his face form on the other boy’s as Ran dragged him closer to the other pair. Good, so at least he wasn’t the only one that felt some sort of recognition when looking at the other.

When the two pairs stood across from one another, the Ran-look-alike spoke up, “I’m Aoko Nakamori. You must be Shinichi Kudou. Ran has told me a lot about you.” She took a moment to smile at him, which gave Shinichi the chance to see further recognition flash in the other boy’s eyes, before continuing, “And this is my friend--”

“--Kaito Kuroba. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” the boy-Kaito-said as he extended his hand. When Shinichi took it, it was like the world stopped.

Years worth of memories seemed to hit him at once. He could remember doing things that he definitely had not done in this lifetime, but felt right. Him escorting Ran into death’s realm, the first time Shinichi had met Life’s apprentice in that cafe, the awkward meetings that they were sent to toward the end of their mentor’s time, and the many, many escapades they had gotten up to in the ensuing years. Everything that they had done together throughout the last century hit his mind at once, leaving both of their faces warm at some of the more embarrassing moments.

Shinichi thought back to everything that Aoko said shortly before their resignation ceremony. Fate really does tie its Life and Death pairs together forever.

END

#short fic #Kudou Shinichi #kudo shinichi #Kuroba Kaito #kudo shinichi/kuroba kaito #kaishin #dcmk #player 1

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probablygoodrpgideas · 5 years

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Since you all loved the Lich Queen and her ex-wife, here is their story!

Bonifatia

Born 13/4 10000 BT

Bonifatia was a potato farmer in Zarn that had nothing special in life. Her parents both died when she was a teenager, she had no siblings, no friends, no lover, no nothing. Until one day, Bonifatia was 127, her local knight became a Vampire and killed everyone who didn’t manage to escape. Bonifatia was turned into a Vampire Spawn. She served the evil vampire for many years.

Hildegard

Born 12/3 10000 BT

Hildegard was the daughter of the local knight of Oifacburg. In that time, Okery wasn’t a unified nation yet, and Oifacburg was simply the biggest town in the region. She and her brother both studied magic, and they were both amazing at it. Like, really amazing. Her brother was older than her so she didn’t expect to ever rule and went adventuring instead. She didn’t have a permanent party, but she did have some people that helped her from time to time. All of that would change on the fateful

08/27 9430 BT

Hildegard decided to slay the vampire that ruled the small village Zarn with an iron fist. She went into the castle and got attacked by Vampire Spawn. But they were no match for the powerful wizard. She got to the Vampire Lord who began to fear for his unlife. He hoped that maybe he could increase his odds of survival if he turned all of his spawn into proper vampires who have much more fighting power after all. So he let one of them drink from his blood. But these few seconds were enough for Hildegard to turn the helpless Vampire into dust. With him, all of the Vampire Spawn vanished. Except for the one that got to drink the blood of the Vampire seconds before. This new Vampire Lord looked at her liberator and fell in love instantly. “My name is Bonifatia. I am pleased to meet you” she said quietly, and also a bit scared. Hildegard knew that this woman wasn’t a ruthless tyrant, at least not yet, and so decided to spare her life. They talked for a while. Hildegard, who never knew love in her 369 years of walking the material plane, fell in love with this woman in one evening.

The next morning, Bonifatia made herself the new knight of Zarn. The villagers first thought this wouldn’t change much, just one Vampire tyrant to the next, but she asked the villagers to her castle so they could draft a code of laws together. The villagers were surprised by this. They agreed that Bonifatia would protect the people of Zarn for a tenth of their monthly income, the usual knight stuff. They also agreed that Bonifatia could request up to 3 people every week to drink blood from, but she was not allowed to kill them in the process. This would allow her to keep living as a Vampire without having to kill anyone. She was also allowed to completely drain anyone she sentenced to death, making them her Spawn. Of course, the villagers would be extra careful about unnecessary death sentences.

Bonifatia and Hildegard decided to marry. This was probably a rushed decision, they hadn’t even known each other for a day yet. But so they traveled back to Oifacburg, to request the approval of Hildegard’s parents. When they arrived there, they found Hildegard’s parents to be very ill, on the verge of death. They thought it was weird their daughter wanted to marry a vampire, but they knew how smart she was so they gave her blessing. Before the two could actually marry, the parents died. Then, Hildegard’s brother surprised her: He didn’t want to become a knight, he wanted to open a school so he could teach magic to other people. Hildegard accepted to take the position instead of him, and so he could open the University of Oifacburg. Too late, Hildegard realized that this could bring ruin to her town. She was married to a Vampire, and most people believed Vampires to be inherently evil. She wasn’t afraid of any individual, she, her brother and Hildegard together were (and still are) capable of killing almost anyone who would dare to oppose them. But in the south, two of the first nations of the world had recently formed. The Empire of Nar’Adsch and the Empire of Oozridge. They had armies, and these armies could kill Bonifatia. But Hildegard had a plan. She wanted to unite the villages of Okery to become a nation.

Hildegard didn’t want to create an Empire like the Basguri or the Dragon-Kaiser. She lived her whole life under a system where the people of a village swear their allegiance to a knight and get protection and governing in exchange for a percentage of their income. Hildegard wanted to implement this system on a higher scale. The knights should swear allegiance to her, their Queen, and get protection and governing in exchange for a percentage of their income. Also, they would have a large group of other knights they could rely on should an emergency arise.

It took them almost 20 years to convince all the knights of Okery to swear allegiance to Hildegard. Some of them saw the benefits of uniting under one banner, some of them refused, so she killed them and replaced them with people loyal to her. After Okery was united, Hildegard realized that she needed second-in-commands, ruling all of these knights at once would be too much for her. So she made two knights her “Major Knights”. These knights would each rule over all knights within their region while still serving Queen Hildegard. The first major knight was the knight of Magdfurt, the second one was supposed to be Bonifatia, but she declined. She was contempt with ruling her little village and helping her wife in ruling the nation. So the knight of Trar got the title instead.

And so Hildegard and Bonifatia ruled together for many happy years. When the King founded his Kingdom of Humans in the east, he modeled his governing system after Hildegard’s. He, Hildegard and Bonifatia talked a lot about government and other stuff and the three became friends. But after a few centuries, Hildegard became very sad. The King was made immortal by his people’s belief in him and Bonifatia was an immortal Vampire. It seemed as if she would die eventually, leaving her best friend and her wife behind.

But it should not come to this. Hildegard was still a very powerful wizard, and one day, a stranger knocked on her palace doors and said he could help her with her magical research. Intrigued, she let them in. The stranger revealed himself to be Micolo, god of Necromancy. He told her that he was deeply thankful, Hildegard and Bonifatia did a lot for the social acceptance of the Undead in Draxnor. For that, he would share the secrets of Lichdom with her. And so Hildegard became an immortal Lich. A few decades later, her brother discovered the Clone spell, essentially making him immortal as well. And so it came that Hildegard still rules Okery to this day, her brother leading the University, her wife leading Zarn, and her best friend leading the Kingdom. Nations around them came and went, but these four remained a staple in the history of Draxnor.

I can’t tell you how they broke up because that might be a spoiler for my campaign! Maybe you’ll find out eventually though! Hope you enjoyed reading this and remember:

It’s not 2 pages of lesbian fanfiction if it’s actually canon.

#not ideas #setting stuff #long post #I feel like naming lesbian undead after local saints is quite a powermove #d&d

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eternityunicorn · 5 years

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Elijah’s Eternity: Smutty Oneshot - My Conscious +18

Author: eternityunicorn

Genre: Romance/AU

Pairing: Elijah Mikaelson x OC

Warnings: Smut, pure unadulterated smut!

Summary: AU of TO Season 3, Episode 11 - Elijah Mikaelson stands behind the Strix witch Ariane, ready to kill her after she has seen too much of his secrets buried in his mind. Just as he is preparing her for her inevitable death, Eternity enters to stop him. An annoyance to be sure, as she is always there behind him, acting as his conscious, dictating to him, trying to stay his hand. Will his conscious be able to stay his hand this time?

NOTE: OC is from my up and coming novel series!

AUTHOR’S COMMENTARY: I’ve been bouncing around between the next installments of The Doppelgänger, Brothers, and EE: New Orleans, trying to decide on which to finish and post first. Well, I decided none of the above, so here is a lovely smutty oneshot for you lovelies instead.

PS: If this is the first fic you’re seeing, you should totally check out my other fics. There’s a link at the top of my blog, under the description. Thanks and happy reading!

———————————————————————————————————

The young, pretty witch knelt before the witches’ pool, waiting bravely for her end. She knew it was coming. She was completely aware of his presence before he even revealed himself, speaking to him in full knowledge that he was there to kill her.

“You found it,” Ariane said softly, speaking of the remaining white oak his family had been searching for.

Elijah appeared around the corner fully with one hand casually stuffed into his pants pocket. He slowly moved forward, ready to tie up this loose end once and for all. Like a true predator, he moved with minimal sound, despite the fact that the witch was already aware of his purpose.

“Which means you've come to kill me,” Ariane carried on, without fear, “We both know I have no more answers to give you, and you can't allow me to live with what I've seen. The things you keep hidden....” She rose to her feet then, but did not turn around as there was no point in it. “I am released,” she said, almost relieved, just as Elijah reached with the hand that had been in his pocket to move the soft blond locks from her neck, exposing the column to him.

There was something poetically sexual in this moment between them; between predator and prey. He was ready to kill and she was ready to accept her death.

The Original gripped the back of the young girl’s neck harshly and let his vampire visage come forward in preparation for the kill. There was a breath, a moment, before the end was to come for the witch.

It was in that brief pause, she appeared behind him in the doorway, “Elijah, stop!”

Elijah growled in frustration, letting his human face return, and turned partial around to see that blasted woman standing there yet again, to interfere in his affairs.

Eternity!

She was gorgeous, unlike anyone he had ever encountered before in his long life. Her ethereal beauty was unmatched with a shining grace that made her glow in the darkness like a bright light. She was amazing and Elijah acknowledged that he was smitten by her. Yet, he was also very, very annoyed by her presence there or any place in which he was dealing with loose ends, because she always tried to stop him from killing his prey. She was always trying to make him choose a different path that didn’t involve the death of another, even when all he wanted was the kill.

Her acting as his conscious was infuriating and did nothing to maintain his fearsome reputation as an Original. He needed to be feared by all, if he was to ward off his enemies or those of his family. He needed everyone to tremble at the very sound of his name. He was an alpha amongst the supernatural community, along with his siblings, and he wanted to keep it that way. Yet, it seemed the glowing goddess behind him wanted nothing more than to tear up his reputation.

“Do not interfere,” Elijah growled back at her venomously.

Eternity ignored his warning growl as she cautiously approached. Her expression was stern and it was clear that she wasn’t going anywhere, not so long as there was an innocent life on the line.

“If it is blood that you seek, Mr. Mikaelson,” she told him slowly, as to not provoke him, “then please take mine. You know it will sustain you and you can drink your fill without harming me. Just let the girl go. You don’t have to do this. There is another way.”

Elijah did know that what the annoying goddess said was true. He had tasted her blood before, once when they had been in confrontation with each other and he tried to be rid of her by draining her. Yet, she did not die and he felt positively euphoric, as well as stronger and more powerful.

He was also aware that there was another way. There always was whenever Eternity was present.

However, this matter was a loose end. He couldn’t let the girl go - he didn’t want to. No, he wanted to drain her dry and make sure that she could never reveal his secrets to anyone. Even so, Elijah was paused by the eternal woman’s words with the waiting girl’s neck in his grasp. They were staying his hand again.

“Please, Elijah,” Eternity said, now standing right at his shoulder and whispering near his ear. “Let her go. Let her go and let me deal with your loose end.”

“How?” He asked quietly, the feeling of her so close was affecting him.

His heart sped up and he felt his cock twitch with want. He desired to teach her a lesson about interfering with his affairs, in the best ways imaginable. The alpha in him wanted to completely dominate her without mercy.

“I can erase her mind,” the ethereal beauty answered. “I can make her forget everything and send her to a better place than this, away from the Strix. I can give her the freedom she wants without having to end her young life. Just release her, Elijah.”

Testing her, the Original inquired, “And if I do not?”

The immortal queen sighed heavily and hesitated before she barely whispered, “Then I will have no choice, but to kill you, Mr. Mikaelson.”

Though she hesitated, Elijah could hear there wasn’t any waver in her voice. She was steady. There was only resolve, which meant that despite her reluctance, Eternity would do as she said. She would kill him to save the young witch.

Immediately, he let Ariane go, freeing her from her fate by his hand. He finally turned to face his personified conscious. He was displeased greatly by her meddling and it showed on his face, he was sure. He stared down at the small woman whom possessed such formidable power, wanting to follow through with his desires for her right then and there, despite the young girl’s remaining presence.

Instead of following his instinct, he gracefully stepped to the side and let Eternity cast her spell upon Ariane. He watched as the immortal woman approached the girl, whom gazed at the white-haired beauty with childish wonder. The queen cooed to the witch gently as she explained what she was about to do. Without further ado, Eternity put her hands on the sides of Ariane’s head and with a quick single word in a foreign language that Elijah didn’t know, the deed was done.

With Ariane’s mind erased and altered, the ethereal woman sent the young witch on her way to her new life elsewhere.

Once she was gone, Elijah found himself alone with Eternity. He stared at her contemplatively with one hand casually in his pants pocket and the fingertips of the other running over his lower lip. He wondered if he should do as he pleased now that there was nothing to stay his hand in taking her, except for Eternity herself of course. Though, something told him that she wouldn’t refuse him, if he did act on his lusts as he so itched to in that moment.

“Thank you for not forcing me to kill you, Mr. Mikealson,” the pale immortal said to him with a small smile playing upon her pink rose lips. “It would be a shame if you hadn’t heeded me.”

She was being flirtatious, a typical feature in their interactions.

“Would it now?” Elijah replied in a deep rumble, as he took slow, measured steps toward her. “Why is that?”

He could hear her heart beat a little faster and the scent of her arousal waffled into the air upon his approach. Yes, it seemed she wanted him too. It was intoxicating and did nothing to help keep him from taking her. His resolve to resist was fading quickly.

When Elijah was standing mere inches from her, Eternity breathlessly spoke, “I think we both know why.”

Elijah did know why. He always knew why.

Unable to take it anymore, with vampire speed, he grabbed hold of Eternity’s arms and slammed her harshly into the hideout wall. With one hand firmly on her throat, he kissed her hungrily, while the other hand reached down to grip her leg and lift it to curl around his hip.

She wore one of those flowing dressed of hers and it afforded him the ability to touch her bare skin. The softness was exquisite and when Elijah reached to cup her backside, he nearly growled in approval at the lack of undergarments. There was nothing to impede his taking of her.

First things first, he thought. She owed him her blood in exchange for releasing Ariane.

The Original moved his mouth away from hers to trail along her jaw and then down the column of her neck. He laid open mouthed kisses there upon the pale flesh, causing Eternity to cling to him and murmur his name needfully. Just as she was relaxing against him, enjoying his attentions, did he strike.

Elijah let his vampire visage come forward, and without warning, sank his fangs into the flesh of her throat. The queen gasped in surprise, but it quickly turned into an orgasmic cry. There wasn’t an ounce of pain in her voice and he swore he could smell her arousal spike, as her hips rocked against his while he drank from her. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced and he couldn’t say he didn’t find it incredibly erotic.

If his biting her sent her into orgasm, the taste of the crimson liquid that poured from her neck was nearly enough to make him follow. He swore that if it wasn’t for him impeccable control, he would have came from the sweet flavor that was uniquely hers. It had been the same the last time he had tasted her blood. An unexpected shock then, but certainly a welcomed sensation now.

Hard as a rock, Elijah found his patience had quickly deteriorated into nonexistence. He needed to be inside her. Every instinct in him roared for him to claim Eternity. He found couldn’t resist the call nor did he plan to.

With his fangs still embedded into her neck, he trailed the hand that had been on her throat downward to grip her other leg and lift it to join it’s twin around his hip. Once it was securely wrapped around him, Elijah didn’t waste another second in moving things along. He reached between them to deftly undo his pants, pushing them and his boxers out of the way enough to release his cock.

Without needing to look, he lined up with her soaking entrance and with one hard thrust, buried himself inside her hot little body. He tore his fangs away from her throat to groan loudly at the incredible sensation of her walls wrapped tightly around him. It was incredible, more so than he ever imagined - and he had imagined.

Then his burning gaze fell onto Eternity’s silent gasp. His human face returned as his mouth quickly devoured hers, his tongue plundering the warm, wet cavern greedily in time with his thrusts as he moved in and out her over rapidly. Her legs tightened around his hips as she began to move with him, helping take them higher in pleasure.

Elijah wasn’t merciful. No, he took her with a punishing pace that was sure to leave her sore. Her keeping up with him only drove him harder, faster, until she was screaming in orgasm for a second time. Her walls constricted around him and it was nearly his undoing, but he managed to hold back, not quite ready to finish with her.

Once she stopped spasming, he removed himself from her warmth and swiftly set her legs down on the floor, before he forced her to face away from him. With her hands planted on the wall, Elijah made her bend over. Her long dress had fallen back into place and growling in displeasure, the Original quickly pushed the fabric up out of the way to pool around her waist.

Once more without warning, Elijah gripped her hips tightly in his grasp and thrusted into her again. She cried out his name at the feeling of him filling her again. As before, he didn’t take her gently, but with that same punishing pace. He drove into her over and over again, pulling her back into him as he did.

“Don’t stop,” she breathed, as he rode her. “Please, don’t.”

“Oh, I don’t plan to, Sweetheart,” Elijah responded in a heavy pant. “You are too good of a fuck to stop. Come for me, darling. Come for me!”

It wasn’t long before Eternity was doing just that. Her walls tightened on him once again as she screamed in orgasm. This time, he didn’t hold back, thrusting even harder into her as his own end took him and he spilled into her with a roar.

He wanted to collapse in the aftermath and nearly did. However, with quick reflexes, Elijah managed to catch himself with one hand splayed on the wall near Eternity’s. He hovered over her back as he came down. All that could be heard was their echoing pants for a long while.

As soon as he was able to move, Elijah pulled out of the immortal queen’s warmth and moved away to put himself back together. He tucked himself back into his pants and straightened his suit, so that there wasn’t any evidence that he had just defiled Eternity against the wall.

Speaking of Eternity, the beauty had turned around and slumped against the dark bricks. Disheveled, she stared at him with a lusty fire in her sapphire eyes, as if they hadn’t just engaged sexually or had an incredible orgasm or three. Her hunger for him knew no bounds it seemed and Elijah found he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Please tell me you’re planning on taking me home tonight,” the queen said with a filthy grin.

Elijah smirked and found himself automatically saying, “Tonight and every night from now until the end of time, Sweetheart. In fact, I don’t think I'm going to let you leave my side ever again.”

“Good, because you need your conscious with you at all times,” she beamed with a wink. “It will surely make my job easier keeping you in line, Mr. Mikaelson.”

He growled playfully at her. “Ah yes,” he rolled his eyes. “Where would I be without that annoying little voice keeping me on the straight and narrow path?”

Eternity poured at him, “Annoying am I? Well perhaps I’ll just take myself elsewhere then.”

She turned to leave him. She didn’t get far, however.

Elijah grabbed ahold of her before she took more than a single step toward the exit and slammed her against the wall again. He glared down at her, before he kissed her passionately with his mouth devouring hers throughly and his hips grinding against hers as his own lust was reignited.

Things grew heated all over again, but this time he showed restraint. It was best they took this affair elsewhere, before the Strix came back to find one of their witches gone. With one quick final kiss, Elijah released Eternity completely and stepped back from her. He held out his hand to her and waited for her to take it.

Panting breathlessly, she didn’t hesitate. From there, they left the Strix hideout together hand in hand with the dark promises of exquisite passion laying ahead of them.

Perhaps having a conscious wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

The End

#elijah mikaelson #daniel gillies #original character #elijah x eternity #romance #vampire romance #the originals #the originals oneshot #the originals fanfiction #the vampire diaries #the vampire diaries oneshot #the vampire diaries fanfiction #alternate universe #alternative universe

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lilacmoon83 · 5 years

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Dreaming Out Loud

Also on fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 101: And Wake Up Where the Clouds Are Far Behind Me

The years passed quickly, as Rumpelstiltskin secretly trained Regina in the ways of dark magic. It had been very difficult for her at first, but her overwhelming rage at her mother and sister had changed her and facilitated the needed changes in her to mold her into the woman he needed to cast his curse.

Over the years, Arawn had assimilated many Kingdoms under his rule. George and Midas were allowed to remain on their Thrones as mere figureheads under Arawn's complete control. King Hubert and his Queen had been too resistant and were executed, while Hubert's most trusted Knights saw to it that Phillip was sent east into hiding.

King Stefan had folded to Arawn as well, allowing him to keep his Throne, much to his daughter, Princess Aurora's chagrin. Knowing that the late Queen Briar Rose would be horrified, the fairies that had been her allies eventually whisked Aurora away into hiding.

King Stefan tried to appeal to the other King's thirst for power by telling him that they should invade Maleficent's castle next and kill the dragon woman. But Arawn refused. He was known for avoiding magic that he wasn't completely sure he could overpower her and thus Maleficent's castle was left untouched for the moment, as was the Dark One's castle for obvious reasons.

Next, Arawn had moved south to a small Kingdom ruled by Lord Maurice. Arawn was well aware of the deal the man previously made with the Dark One, who ended the threat of the ogres in exchange for the man's beautiful daughter, Belle. But all that had done was pave the way for Arawn to easily assimilate Maurice's Kingdom next without any ogres in his path.

After that, Arawn seized the maritime Kingdom, forcing Prince Eric to flee to the east to avoid execution. The Prince's ailing father had just passed away months ago, but there would be no coronation for Prince Eric.

Regina's Kingdom was one of the only ones left standing on its own, save for the mysterious Arendelle. And magic was definitely the reason for that. Neither Frollo or Arawn were completely sure they could combat the magic of Queen Cora and her daughter Zelena. But Arawn was not giving up. He was a patient man and if he could not overtake Leopold's Kingdom, then he planned to appeal to his and his Queen's greed by proposing a merger when the time was right.

As for Arendelle, Princess Elsa had finally come of age and her coronation was underway. He had sent Hans into get a scope of the Kingdom and hoped to hear good news from his youngest brother soon.

Snow White still eluded them, but there had been sightings over the years. He suspected though that Hades and Persephone had kept her sequestered in the Underworld most of the time. Eli was in hiding as well and there were rumors that he was living somewhere near the city of Athens, well known to be protected by Athena, though there had supposedly been sightings of him in Thebes as well. But that did not bother him too much. He was still confident that he could capture the wayward Princess and use her to his advantage. His Kingdom would continue to grow and soon, he knew he would rival the power of the Gods. Especially if Frollo's research and experimentation yielded the results he soon hoped for.

Arawn entered the top spire of the castle that was formerly George's and spied his Vizier at the infamous Cauldron that had come into Arawn's possession many years ago. While the Cauldron's past was lousy with black magic, these days, Frollo used it for his scientific experiments and dabbles into alchemy.

For years, Frollo has been attempting to change ordinary metals into valuable ones like gold. But more importantly, he was on a lifelong quest to use science and the cauldron to create an elixir of immortality. Arawn shared in his quest for immortality, but he had employed Frollo to explore another avenue on his path to immortality for him.

In the ancient scrolls from his homeland, the texts spoke of a creature and a mountain that could give him what he wanted. If the creature deemed him worthy, he could essentially take on the powers of this supposedly dormant creature that was known in the texts by a few names and one of those being the black god. This creature was said to be far more powerful than any God on Olympus and even mightier than any of the Titans. But the location of this mysterious, supposedly cone shaped bald mountain was unknown. However, through his assimilation of Kingdoms, he had finally found a clue in one of the oldest libraries in Lord Maurice's Kingdom. It was in a dead language that no one he knew of could read, but fortunately, Frollo was attempting to use the Cauldron and science to translate the map they had found.

"Any luck?" Arawn questioned.

"Not yet...but I may be onto something," Frollo responded, as the cauldron boiled with a sickly green liquid. Frollo added a drop of some unknown ingredient, making the room smell even fouler than it already did. Frollo carefully filled a vial with the liquid and poured one drop on the encrypted map. It gave off a faint glow, as the sorcery rippled over it.

"Did it work?" Arawn asked.

"It did not decipher the map...however it has left us another clue. One that could make translating the map irrelevant," Frollo said, as the sorcery on the parchment took life in front of their eyes in the form a dancing broom, which then morphed into a hat with stars on it.

"What is it?" Arawn questioned.

"I've seen this only once...in the ancient pagan texts back in the Cathedral. It is the magical hat worn by the mysterious Sorcerer. The legend says that no one knows the identity of this great Sorcerer and the hat is in the possession of his apprentice," Frollo recalled.

"What does this mean?" Arawn pressed, as he watched the image of the hat fold into a dormant form in that of a circular box with stars atop it. Then the transparent image fell to the map and to a mountainous region in the northeast that was known to be quite barren and scarcely populated.

"It means we can find the hat in this region and then it is the hat that will decode this map, leading us to Bald Mountain," Frollo responded.

"Then you will take a few of our men and find this hat by any means necessary," Arawn ordered. Frollo bowed to him.

"At once, My King," he obeyed.

~*~

David wiped the sweat from his brow, as they paused for a beat in their practice duel. His family and Snow's family were all enjoying a brief respite at Persephone's summer cabin in her meadow near the ocean. Over the years, Persephone had added two more cabins in the meadow, one for his family and one just for him and Snow.

There was a brief lull in the war recently and they had taken full advantage of the opportunity for a visit. They were a bit worried about what Arawn's attention might be on, because of the lull, but they did not let it mar their time together.

During the warring years, Eli had taken the opportunity to sharpen David's swordsman skills and Hades usually joined the teachings when he was able to. The Underworld had been sadly a very busy place in the last few years, but thankfully, he was enjoying a lull too. They had long ago taken well to their future son-in-law, for he made their little Snow very happy and had decided one of the few things they could agree on was they wanted him to be exceptional in his skills so he could protect their little girl. David had welcomed the training, wanting to be able to protect her against anyone as well.

"You're getting very good…" Eli mentioned, as the younger man parried his strikes.

"If it means protecting Snow...then I want to become a master swordsman," David replied, as they continued the duel. Eli smirked, as he heard Snow huff from the sidelines.

"Daddy...don't you think that's enough for today?" she asked impatiently. Patience would never be his little girl's forte.

"I suppose so...he is here, after all, to see you, sweet pea," he answered, as they ended the duel. Snow smiled and put her arms around her beloved, kissing him passionately.

"I'm all sweaty," he warned, as she pressed herself flush against him.

"I don't mind," she replied, with a coy smile. Persephone handed her daughter a picnic basket with a smile, as the young couple joined hands and began to stroll toward Stardust.

"Have fun!" Ruth called, with a smile, as they rode off.

"Don't you want me to clean up first?" David asked. Snow smirked.

"Oh, I think I can clean you up myself in the ocean," she replied. He grinned.

"That sounds like fun," he agreed, as they rode off for a romantic rendezvous.

"Don't pout," Persephone scolded her ex.

"I'm not pouting...she's just all grown up and needs me less and less," Eli lamented.

"She still needs you...she needs us all. They both do," Hades reminded. He nodded.

"David is a good man. I couldn't have hoped for better for her," he agreed.

"That's what happens when Athena etches your love in the stars. Their love will save us all," Persephone said, though she knew that meant that her daughter and her love would face insurmountable odds and stare down evil to do so. But she was confident that love would prevail.

~*~

Zelena cackled, as she used her spell to create a storm that she unleashed upon an unsuspecting village.

"You're getting very good, dear," Cora complimented and the devastation seemed to have no affect on them.

"This is just the beginning, Mother. When I cast the Dark One's curse, they all shall be under my thumb, even the powerful King Arawn. He'll be nothing compared to me," the redhead boasted.

"Yes...the time draws near, doesn't it Rumple?" Cora questioned.

"It's too early for the curse. I'm not ready yet," he replied. But this angered Zelena.

"Well, I am!" she shouted.

"I am tired of this land and King Arawn's rule! I should rule, mother! But you won't allow me to unseat him!" she shouted.

"His Vizier, Frollo, is much too unpredictable, my dear. If he was able to nullify Midas' power, than he may have a way to counter ours. It's too risky right now," Cora admonished.

"Which is why we need the curse! What exactly are you waiting for?" Zelena questioned her Master.

"That's my business," Rumple hissed in return.

"Why is it always about what you want?! What about what I want?!" Zelena argued, as Rumple looked at her.

"Careful dearie...you may think you're in charge here, but you'd be mistaken. I may be providing you with the means to cast a great curse and rule over all the lands. But make no mistake...I'm in charge," he warned.

"Well, I don't accept that. I'm more than confident that the student has surpassed the master," Zelena hissed. Rumple let out a giggle of amusement.

"Oh you'd be wrong there, dearie," he boasted, as he disappeared and appeared behind her, much to her surprise. Zelena growled and turned to him, effectively blasting him with her green magic.

"Why won't you give me what I want?! I've done everything you've asked!" she cried psychotically.

"Zelena…" Cora chided, but the out of control redhead batted her mother away, much to Cora's surprise.

"I'm more powerful than you both! And I'm going to cast this curse now!" she demanded.

"Go ahead and try...but you'll fail," Rumple responded in a sing-song voice.

"Rumple...what are you talking about?" Cora questioned.

"I've decided to alter our deal," he confessed.

"What?" Cora questioned.

"You've done a very exceptional job in raising a daughter that loves nothing, which is the opposite of what I need," he responded.

"Love is weakness," Cora proclaimed. He giggled at her.

"Wrong again, dearie...it's actually quite powerful and extremely useful when you know how to use it. She can never successfully cast my curse. Read the last ingredient," he prodded, as Cora looked at the tiny scroll.

"The heart of thing you love most…" she recited and then looked up at him, as realization dawned on her. He giggled.

"I see you've finally gotten it. You raised the perfect, heartless monster...in your image no less. You must be so proud," he said distastefully.

"The problem is that I need a monster that still has a heart and fortunately for me...you actually didn't fail to give me one," he responded dramatically.

"What are you talking about?" Zelena demanded to know. He giggled again.

"Your mother created you in her image. Heartless, full of hatred, and you wouldn't know love if it smacked you in your green face," he poked fun, which only enraged her more.

"You're wrong...I love power! It's the only thing that matters!" she refuted.

"According to your short sighted mother...yes, but love is what makes the world go round, dearie. And true love...well, that is the rarest of all magic, but that's a story you don't need to know about," he added.

"However, your mother and you have created another monster as well; one that you don't even realize," he said cryptically, as Regina emerged from the shadows.

"Regina?" Cora asked in shock.

"Hello Mother...Zelena," she greeted with a smirk and then showed her power by lighting a tree on fire.

"You...you've learned magic," Cora uttered in surprise and slight dread in her voice.

"Well...when you took Daniel away from me, I knew I couldn't let you get away with it," Regina responded.

"Darling...I did that for your own good. I was looking out for your best interest," Cora claimed.

"You were looking out for yours!" Regina snapped.

"After all, you couldn't have one of your daughters marrying someone without royal blood. So when he offered me a path to revenge for what you both did to me...I took it," she added.

"You see...she's the monster you created, but she's far more dangerous than this one, because she still has a heart. She knows love, while this one only knows envy," he said, with disgust, as Zelena's skin slowly turned completely green.

"Regina will cast my curse...and she will do it when I say," he stated.

"No!" Zelena cried.

"This was to be mine! I am supposed to rule and have everything! But you're giving it to her?!" Zelena cried in outrage.

"That's right," he said nonchalantly. Zelena growled and unleashed her green magic on her sister, but Regina was ready with an immobilization spell. She knew if she let Zelena get the upper hand that she might be evenly matched or even overpowered by her more experienced sister.

"Yes...I will be Queen and cast this curse, but you don't get to come. I'm going to cast you out for what you did! You destroyed my future with him and you did it on purpose!" she snarled, as she summoned another spell, while Rumple watched on with a pleased expression and Cora in one of awe. Zelena cried out in horror, as a twister came down out of the sky and snatched her up.

"Enjoy oblivion...witch!" Regina cackled with glee, as the twister carried her sister away to another realm.

"Regina...what have you done?" Cora cried.

"Aren't you happy, mother? I've become evil...just like you always wanted," Regina responded, as she approached the older woman.

"My revenge against you will be very sweet for what you did to Daniel. Now run home to your disgusting, degenerate husband and count your numbered days, because I'll be coming for you both," she warned. Cora looked at her former master, her eyes flashing with betrayal and she saw the smug look on his face. He was enjoying his own revenge against her. With no other choice, Cora disappeared in a puff of magenta smoke.

"That was fun," Regina commented.

"Yes...and there is more to come. The time for my curse will soon draw near. But there are still a few things I need that must happen," he replied. She shrugged.

"I'm in no hurry...it gives me more time to craft the perfect punishment for my mother. But tell me...does everyone else have to be miserable in this curse?" she questioned. He smirked.

"It's whatever you want it to be. But they all must fear it, so you need to sell it as their certain doom or they won't take it seriously," he responded.

"Easily done...as long as my mother and Zelena pay, that's all I care about," she replied. He giggled with glee. Things were going very well for him now.

~*~

Prince James dueled an onslaught of Arwan's best soldiers in an exhibition for the mighty King. George had insisted he showcase his talents when Arawn announced to the Kingdom that they were having a problem with a truly monstrous beast that threatened to destroy his entire army. The beast guarded an important mountain pass that was crucial to have control of in the next phase of the war. So Arawn had called for only the best to lead an onslaught on this dragon beast and slay it for him. James hated the idea of doing anything for Arawn and even mouthed off to his father about how he should make his stupid Sorcerer Vizier find a solution or the God Deimos, but that had gotten him a smack to the back of his head. Despite being grown now, his father never missed an opportunity to inflict abuse as his means of correcting him.

"Impressive…" Arawn stated, as James defeated all the soldiers quite swiftly.

"Yes...James is the best swordsman in all the Kingdoms," George boasted.

"Then he will lead a battalion of men and slay the beast that blocks our passage through the mountains," Arawn announced. James pushed down the urge to flee at that. The mission that Arawn was sending him on was certain suicide, but he didn't see anyway out.

~*~

Snow mewled into his kiss and panted in impassioned gasps, as he made love to her in the sand. The tide was coming in and washing over them. He kissed at her neck, desperately, as they chased the height of pleasure that was building between them.

"David…David…" she sung wantonly, as he pumped hot and deeply, their hips colliding with a euphoric feeling.

"Snow…" he rasped, as his lips worshiped her body. Snow raked her nails along his back, as she neared her climax, bringing him pleasured agony. They finally reached completion together, nearly simultaneously in an incredible wave of ecstasy, before they collapsed together, limbs tangled and water beading on their bare bodies.

As their skin quickly began to cool in the ocean water, they wrapped themselves together in the very large blanket they had brought with them and rested together against a rock, while they watched the sunset together. They kissed tenderly and cuddled, enjoying an afterglow that was just as euphoric as their lovemaking had been.

"I love you so much, my darling…" he whispered. She smiled at him, her emerald eyes sparkling with love.

"I love you too, my Charming," she replied, as she nuzzled her nose to his.

"Let's not wait any longer," he whispered to her.

"Any longer for what?" she asked.

"To get married," he responded, as she looked at him in surprise.

"But...the war isn't over yet," she reminded.

"And it may not be for years, Snow...I want to marry you now. Not then or whenever this war is done. I'm tired of that heartless King being the reason that you're not already my wife," he said. She smiled gently and he knew she felt the same.

"But we still might have to be separated sometimes," she reminded.

"I know...and as much as I hate it, at least I know you're safe from those lunatics in the Underworld and I will cherish every moment we're together and think of you every moment that we're not. I just want to be your husband while I do," he confessed passionately. A tear slipped down her cheek and she sniffed.

"I want that too...more than anything," she agreed, as their lips met again in a smoldering kiss. He smiled brightly back at her.

"Let's go tell our parents," he suggested, but she smirked at him slyly and tackled him to the sand again.

"Later…" she whispered, as passion overtook them again.

~*~

Rumple returned to his castle that evening and noticed with mild interest that his new maid was carrying out the duties of which he had ordered of her. The first few weeks with her had been tedious at best with a lot of crying, but she had eventually settled into a routine. As expected when he returned, she had the tea readied and poured it for him. Curiously, the cup she had chipped days ago was still there as neither of them could seem to toss the silly thing.

"How...how was your lesson?" Belle asked curiously.

"What do you know of my lessons?" he questioned.

"You always take spell books with you on this day and since you don't seem like the type that still needs a book to do magic, I deduced that you have a student," she replied, as he stared at her with scrutiny.

"Very observant," he finally said after an unnerving pause.

"And this one was more productive than usual," he commented, as he enjoyed his tea and that somehow brought a smile to her face. Which was curious, for she knew whatever he was teaching his student probably wasn't good. But the fact that he was pleased brought her a sense of comfort for him.

There had been a lot of development today. Now that his curse was securely in Regina's hands and Zelena was effectively no longer a problem. That meant that once the Savior was conceived, his plan would be accelerated. And there was still one thing he needed, he reminded himself, as he went to his potions cupboard. He had something in every slot, except for the one with the heart.

"What potion goes there?" Belle asked curiously.

"If you must know...it's true love. It's the only magic I haven't bottled," he replied.

"How can you bottle true love?" she asked.

"There is only one true love worth bottling and I've been waiting three hundred years for it to finally come to be. The time is finally at hand...but that's none of your business," he snapped. The time was finally drawing near. He would bottle the true love shared between Princess Snow White and her charming shepherd, the Savior would soon be conceived, and then his curse would be cast. Then he would find his son at last…

~*~

The next morning, all of them, except Snow and David were up early as usual, preparing for a family breakfast. Their children had come home very late and so they were letting them sleep in.

They were surprised though that morning to get a visit from Apollo. Ruth, Sera, Robert, and Eli hung back, as Persephone and Hades greeted him. The last time he had come directly to them was a few years ago after he had tried to show Arawn and Frollo the proof that Snow as framed for Ravenna's murder. And they both knew him coming to them personally could only mean bad things.

"Do you have news of the war?" Hades questioned.

"Yes...Arawn is attempting to move east with his conquest. A great and fearsome dragon blocks his path through the north eastern mountain ridge. He's already lost an entire battalion to this creature, but presses on to find someone to slay it," Apollo reported.

"If he invades the eastern Kingdom and manages to somehow overthrow their Emperor...his army's numbers will quadruple," Persephone feared.

"I believe that is his goal," Apollo confirmed.

"That's a huge undertaking, even for him. The Emperor's army is nearly five times as large as Arawn's, even with all the armies he has assimilated. There's no way they could overtake them, not without some serious advantages," Hades argued.

"Word has it that they are forcing peasants to work assembly lines and mass producing that weapon that Frollo created," Apollo replied.

"You mean the one that David was hit with?" Snow chimed in, as she and David came out of their cabin, hand in hand.

"Yes, I'm afraid so, dear niece," he confirmed.

"But I fear that is not the most disturbing news I have," he continued.

"Of course not," Hades muttered bitterly. He had a feeling his lull would be ending soon and he was going to be very busy once again.

"Frollo has found a map. He can't read it yet, but it the map to Bald Mountain," Apollo revealed, as he met Hades' eyes.

"That's not possible...I destroyed every map to that place," the God of the Underworld growled.

"There is a very old library in Lord Maurice's Kingdom that still had one...in a dead language, but Frollo has used his sorcery to give him a clue. He's traveling east as well in search of the hat," Apollo revealed.

"He cannot get that hat…" Hades growled.

"What hat?" David asked in confusion.

"The Sorcerer's hat...it's very powerful and will lead Frollo to an evil, demonic creature. He has a name I'd rather not speak, but we also used to refer to him as the black god," Persephone explained.

"The Black God?" Snow asked.

"Yes...a Titan that was so evil that your mother and I sealed it away in a volcanic mountain after the Sorcerer, who was supposed to guard the hat, got himself sealed away in a freaking tree," Hades said in frustration. She nodded.

"Originally, this demon was sealed away in the hat itself, but once the sorcerer was trapped, it was freed. It took all of us, including Zeus to seal it away in an enchanted volcanic mountain," Persephone explained.

"If Frollo gets the hat and finds the mountain, he can not only use the hat to release the creature, he and Arawn can control it too," Hades added.

"Then we have to stop Frollo," Snow stated.

"She's right," David agreed.

"You two aren't going anywhere close to this," Hades refuted.

"Yeah...no way in hell," Eli added.

"And not that you need it, but that goes triple from us," Robert agreed, causing the young couple to collectively roll their eyes.

"He's right...but we will be going to stop him," Persephone said. Apollo nodded.

"If they release the black god...then Arawn and Frollo will become unstoppable," he warned.

"Are you leaving right away?" Snow asked, as she and David exchanged a glance.

"We cannot delay much, snowdrop...but we do have the advantage of being able to magic ourselves ahead of Frollo," she said.

"Good...because before you go…" Snow said, as she addressed all of them and then looked at David.

"We want to get married," David finished her sentence, as they gazed at each other with love and eagerness. And no one present could help but smile, including Apollo.

"And I shall be glad to officiate such a destined union," he agreed, as preparations ensued.

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #AU #HadesxPersephone #rumbelle #Swanfire #Greek Mythology meets fairy tales #romance #adventure #family #dreaming out loud

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