New Years Surprise
“....I fucking hate you,” Yuu groaned, laying down on the ground as Thumper smiled, leaning down to look over Yuu.
‘I win,” he grinned evilly, Yuu groaning into his hands as he rolled deeper into the snow.
“You messed with our animals! I know you did,’ Yuu whined, unbothered by the cold as the rest of his team limped over to their family. “Admit it!!!” He demanded, or more like whined, limp on the ground.
‘Your just a sore loser,” Thumper snorted, crossing his arms as Granny Felmier began to rip Epel a new one for losing. “But then again, you NRC people aren’t used to not being on top, so I suppose this is suspected.”
‘Oh fuck off,” Yuu whined, flopping onto his back to look at Thumper proper. “I don’t wanna do it…”
‘We bet. And I won. You owe me a request,” He grinned, hands on his hips while he leaned down to show Yuu all his teeth. “And I will cash it in soon. But not today. Too tired and too fucking sore,” he grunted, rolling his neck. “Come on. Let’s go. Get some pie, then go home and shower. And crash.”
‘Deal,” Yuu sighed, taking the offered hand with a sigh before he was hauled up onto his feet. “Uuugh, I am going to be subjected to both spectrums.”
“...Huh?”
“OI HERBIVORE! HOW COULD YOU LOSE?”
“SHISHISHISHI! NOT THE BEST YUU!”
“AT LEAST YOU TRIED YOUR BEST YUU! RIGHT SILVER?”
“Huh? Yeah Kalim.”
“OH MY BOY, SOME EXTRA TRAINING FOR YOU!!!”
“Oh,” Thumper realized. “Ha! Have fun,” he clapped Yuu on the back, smiling despite the glare the other boy had on him. “Later!’
“Tch, asshole,” Yuu rolled his eyes, voice having no real bite to it as he was ushered into the middle of a cluster of bodies, batting away Lilia’s attempt at pinching his cheeks before he caught up to Epel. “Got reamed a new one?”
“No shit,” Epel snorted, giving a look to Vil when he shot him one in response to his language. “But New Years is the day after tomorrow and then there's only a week left before we head back. Are you ready for the big Fireworks show?”
“Hell yeah I am,” Yuu smiled, allowing Epel to hook an arm around him steering him back to the house as Idia was fangirling in the back. “Still can’t believe you not only look like your Granny, but that show was modeled after her and her friends.”
‘Small world, huh,” Epel shrugged, deflecting the look alike comment with ease. “At least Idia will be occupied for a bit and not be glomming up the place…despite his mom’s best efforts.”
“That shit is funny,” Yuu snickered, his puffs of air turning to fog as he did so. “His mom is so extraverted it’s hilarious. His father is better than him, but man…he really nailed a woman huh!?”
‘She made her helmet and everything pink. Along with her work wear,” Epel reminded him. “She is the opposite of them all.”
“...Yeah..” Yuu hummed, looking back to see her trying to get Idia off of Granny Felmier who looked annoyed at Idia’s voice and his insistence of learning about her old sledding days.
“Come on, pie at home,’ Epel grinned.
“Damn straight!”
The rest of the group followed, Idia being dragged by the ear by his mother who was blushing in embarrassment at her son’s antics and how shameless he could become if he was invigorated too. Azul was lamenting to Jade about his loss, the Eel smiling through his pain at said loss while he strangled his brother who had laughed at him before being put into a headlock. The other eel was whining to be let go while Sebek was crying about bringing shame to Malleus.
Most ignored him and tried to get him to shut up.
As they arrived at the manor, the guards of both the Kingscholar’s and Draconia’s had set up refreshments for them all, the team rushing forward to grab some as the others spoke of the end of the race with glee.
“You did very well,” Maleficent informed Sebek as he cried to his grandfather. “It was a good idea to try and run at the end! But that Thumper boy was determined!”
‘Yeah, asshole,” Yuu grumbled, sipping his crisp cider with a sigh. “Man, I hate this!”
“You know Thumper too,” Epel asked, blinking as he began to take off his cloak.
"Yeah, he saved me from cracking my head open on the first day and offered to show me his garden as an apology for not being able to thaw the sidewalks,” Yuu sniffed, getting more cider. “He’s pretty cool and he’s intelligent. He’s a cool kid to talk to.”
“Yeah, he’s cool and all,” Epel nodded. “So you guys made a bet on the race?”
‘Yeah…” Yuu grumbled, sipping his drink with a pout. “I really thought we were gonna win…”
“Me too. But then again…”
‘Rabbits,” they both snickered, locking eyes before devolving into laughter again.
“Ohhh, what is this? Yuu is making a friend of his own violation,” Lilia teased, appearing before them, a wide grin on his face. “I never thought I would see the day! I am so proud! He’s growing up!”
“...Ha, ha, ha,” Yuu laughed dully, face blank. “Very funny Lilia-Senpai. I can make friends, you know, but I find myself with a massive amount of them that I don’t see the need too.”
“Well, it’s never a bad thing to broaden your horizons,” Lilia informed him, coming down from where he was floating. “What do you owe this Thumper, hmm?”
“...A request.”
“...Ha,” they both asked, blinking while Yuu blushed and turned away.
“I owe him one request,” Yuu grumbled, slumping his shoulders.
“Damn,” Epel snickered, covering his mouth. “That must suck for you! Have fun with that one!”
‘Oh shove off Epel,” Yuu turned to his friends, poking him on the side making the other yelp before he retaliated. The two continued their poking war while Lilia’s eyes narrowed, moving off to the side as he contemplated what Yuu informed him of.
A request huh…
If anything, that made him extremely worried now. Of all the things for him to offer, a request is not something that Lilia would offer up. Even if Yuu wasn’t a fae, the thought of a request from him made Lilia worry and had him pursing his lips.
He didn’t like the thought of Yuu being verbally bound to a request, though better than it magically being binding…it still made him uneasy.
Ah to be Fae, he contemplated.
"What are you after Thumper Woodlands,” Lilia murmured, eyes narrowing as Diaval and Zazu turned to him.
“Lord Vanrouge?”
“...Nothing,” he assured them, smiling brightly to calm them. “Nothing at all, just thinking!”
“...Okay,” Diaval blinked, not believing him but knowing better. “Don’t hurt the boy.” He warned, moving to head in all the while Lilia narrowed his eyes and thinned his lips.
“...We’ll see.”
“Hey! Let’s have some Coco outside and watch the sunrise,” Ace called, waving to them all.
“Oh! I’m down,” Epel smiled, grabbing his mug and rushing after his friends.
“Ah, the joys of youth,” Lilia commented, following them at a leisurely pace. “I won’t be able to keep up with them all soon!”
The group of them had begun to make a fire in the pit, laughing at something or another as the sun began to peak over the horizon. Yuu was laughing as he jumped onto Jack’s back, the other groaning before he took off, Yuu’s shrieks ringing through the air; Floyd whining as he wanted to do the same thing with Yuu.
“Shrimpy!~ Come on, let me do it too,” he called, making grabby hands toward the younger boy.
“I’d probably slam into a tree branch,” Yuu accused, holding tighter onto Jack who snorted. “I think I will stick with Jack!”
“No I won’t,” Floyd protested.
“...Nope,” Yuu sighed.
‘No fair! Shrimpy! Let me carry you,” he stomped his foot.
“No!”
“Let me!”
“NO!”
“COME HERE SHRIMPY!”
“RUN JACK! RUNN!!!!”
“Damnit,” Jack cursed as Floyd began to chase after them. “Why did I have to be in the middle of this!!!”
“RUN! RUN!” Yuu yelped, Floyd gaining on them with a maniacal grin.
“I’ll save you Yuu,” Epel yelled out, already making a snowball in his hand.
“Are you a fucking idiot! Don’t do that! Epel! Epel! EPEL!!!” Yuu shrieked as the boy threw the snowball in hand toward a rampaging Floyd.
It was like the whole world moved to in slow motions, horrified eyes following the arc of the snowball that careened toward a laughing Floyd who was none the wiser. All eyes followed as the snowball drew closer and closer to it’s intended target, their stomach dropping as they realized it was going to hit him square on the face. Jade raised a brow as his brother stopped, turning to look at the direction of the incoming snowball before laughing as it hit square in the middle of his face.
“...”
Silence.
Pure silence.
They watched in fearful silence as the broken snow began to drip and drop off of Floyd’s face, the eel standing still in the snow, up straight and not moving as his face slowly began to emerge from the splattered snow, showing a blank face with eyes closed.
Epel slowly began to back up in hopes of making his mistake.
“...Someone is gonna get squeezed,” Floyd began, smiling brightly and full of teeth. “So who is it gonna be…Shrimpy?~ Who was it~?” He turned, opening his eyes to lock with Yuu’s.
“...I…I…-RUN,” Yuu screamed, urging Jack to run as Epel began to scream his head off.
“COME HERE!!!!~~”
“Run for your lives,” Yuu shrieked, eyes wide and breathing frantically as he looked worriedly at a manic Floyd.
“SHIT! SHIT! SHIT,” Ace pushed Deuce to the ground as an offering despite not even having thrown the snow, not wanting to face Floyd’s wrath again like he did during finals.
“You asshole,” Deuce yelled out, scrambling to get back up as Floyd’s head snapped over to him.
“Eheheheh!!”
“MOMMA,” Deuce yelled, unashamed as his mother raised a brow.
“You can do it baby,” She crooned, the boy rushing past Ace, but getting his revenge as he pushed the idiot to the ground.
“DUDE!”
“Every man for himself!”
“Ahahah! Come here! All of you,” Floyd cackled, others running as he began to throw without shame.
“A monster! He’s a monster!!!” Azul yelped, ducking as he was barraged with snowballs himself. “Watch where you are throwing those things! I will reduce your wages! You hear me!!”
“AHAHAHAH!”
“He’s not listening,” Jamil yelped, ducking under a snowball. “Arrgh! This is like Beanfest all over again! Maniac, using the bean blasters as fucking weapons,” he cursed, pushing Kalim to the ground just as Floyd flew over them.
“Follow me Jamil,” Kalim whispered, urging them to crawl on the ground as more screams echoed in the air.
“Motherfucker,” Leona yelped, jumped back to avoid being hit before throwing Ruggie in the line of fire and smirking as he took three to the back.
“Ouch! Leona,” he growled, kicking up some snow to the lion who growled in response.
“OI! I don't wanna be attacked by that lunatic and…oh great now his brother has joined,” he sighed, moving to the side as Jade used his magicked and reinforced slingshot to fire off at greater distances as Floyd continued to chase those who were too slow.
“Gaaagh,” Cater shrieked like a little girl as he tried to get away, not knowing his phone was recording the whole thing from wonky angles as he tried every trick in the book to avoid being hit and get out of Floyd’s rampage. “Come on man! Leave me alone! I didn’t do anything!”
“Come here Sea Bream,” Floyd yelled out, throwing two at a time to Cater who managed to slide past Riddle, the shorter teen getting hit by both straight on the face.
“...Oh fuck,” Trey whispered, head dropping into his hands while Rook gave a laugh behind his hand.
‘....FLOYD,” Riddle boomed, red face melting off all the snow on his face while the teen in question merely cackled at his reaction.
‘Ahahah! Jade! Jade! Jade! Look at Little Goldfish! He’s so red! It’s cute! Really, really cute!!!” He was jumping up and down like a toddler while his brother nodded, in response all while he was casually loading up another snowball.
“WHAT DID YOU CALL ME FLOYD!? ACTUALLY! I HAVE HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH YOU,” Riddle yelled, his veins straining against his neck, Floyd still laughing as he pointed out to his brother about Riddle.
“....He’s gonna literally self combust,” Idia whispered in horrified awe.
“He’s currently reaching a BP of 130/95, I would recommend sedation,” Ortho offered. “Otherwise he may pass out!’
“...He’s got issues,” the Shroud Patriarch commented, arms crossed while his wife looked between the two teens in confusion.
“He’s working on it,” Ortho offered his father as Riddle began to melt the surrounding snow around him, rushing after Floyd who was egging him on further and further.
“Ohahahah! Here comes Gold Fishie!!!”
“FLOYD,” Riddle roared, a path of melted snow all around them as he continued his pursuit of the eel.
“AHahah! This is funnnn!!!~”
“Do not hit waka-sama,” Sebek yelled out as a snowball barely missed Malleus who was wide eyed at the whole situation beside his grandmother who had a brow raised.
“This is interesting,” was all she commented, stopping another rogue snowball from hitting HER while Floyd pouted at it being stopped. “You have courage.”
“It’s just snow,” he pouted, Maleficent smiling as she realized he simply didn’t care who she was.
And she liked it.
“Indeed,” she nodded, tapping her staff on the ground and burying the Leech brother under a mound of snow. “Simply snow.”
“....”
“Holy shit,” Epel breathed, blinking at the moving mound of snow that Floyd was currently buried under. “He’s got balls.”
“He’s gonna get killed,” Floyd’s father grumbled, his son bursting out from the snow with a manic laugh.
“That was fun! More! More!” He cackled, Maleficent nodding as she began to summon snow.
“Shall I include the others in our game,” she questioned.
“GODSDAMNIT FLOYD,” they all yelled, rushing for cover while Maleficent merely smiled, a large cloud of snow moving to cover them all.
“RUN FOR IT,” Yuu screeched.
“Ahahaha! This is so fun,” Maleficent crooned, looking happy despite the fear all the children were showing. “I can see the appeal!”
“WHYYYY MEEEE,” Cater screamed, his video still recording.
“Oh-ho-ho-ho!”
“WE’RE GONNA DIE!!!” Jamil screeched, his sister waving at him in a solemn goodbye despite the shit eating grin on her face. “YOU'RE COMING WITH ME!!!”
“WAH-? NO! NO! MAMA! PAPA! HELP ME,’ She pleaded just as Jamil tackled her.
“THAT’S WHAT YOU GET,” Jamil sneered, putting her in a headlock as the snow began to fall on all of them.
“HELP US,” They all yelped before being buried.
“....They will be fine, right,” one parent asked.
“I can see Cater’s phone, so they should be fine!”
“...Yeah, I can see that.”
“Let’s get them out and have them rest up, yeah?”
“Okay.”
Mockingbird lost it when Cater decided to post the 4 minute long video.
*HOLY SHIT! THEY ARE ACTUALLY INSANE!
*FLOYD LEECH HAS IRON BALLS AND WE ARE NOT WORTHY!
*Vipers have such sibling behavior. If he goes down, sure as hell he is gonna drag her down with him.
*Look at them being such good friends, it’s awesome that they have such a huge support network.
*OMG! They are hilarious! This is so fucking funny!
*How are they not dead? Seriously! My heart dropped when Floyd threw that ball at Lady Maleficent!
*Good on them for enjoying their Winter Break! That’s how you do it.
*Dudes…Cater has balls to post this! I mean…good for us, bad for him probably.
Neville shook his head, pocketing his phone as he rounded up the last of his books before making his way to Ramshackle to finish up his research.
At least Yuu was having a good Winter Break after all.
His could be going better, but he had access to Ramshackle after all so it wasn’t all that bad so he was able to hide for most of the day. With a hum he set down the path from the Library to the dorm where he took notice of the Ghosts setting up some Christmas lights.
“Heh, Christmas Spirit,” he hummed, his breath coming out in a puff in front of him that had the Gryffindor smiling. “I wonder if Yuu left some ingredients…me and Luna could make cookies,” he murmured, humming to himself before his steps faltered.
On the path where Dean and Seamus.
Great, just what he wanted to avoid.
“Of all the days for this to happen,” Neville bit his lips, contemplating hiding out in Sam’s Shack before Dean caught sight of him.
“Oi! Neville,” Dean called out, Seamus turning to face him, Neville knowing that he was going to have to confront them. “Where have you been!? We haven’t seen you at any of the recent DA meetings!”
“....I’ve been busy,” Neville swallowed, shifting the books in his hands in hopes of hiding them. But it was useless.
“...What are you doing studying magic that we can’t even do,” Seamus asked, looking confused as he moved to grab a book only for Neville to step back.
“We don’t know that,” Neville sighed, knowing this old argument was going to crop up again. “We haven’t tried, I mean…Yuu has a wand and a magic pen. It might just be a matter of how we think of it,” he defended.
“Yuu is a right menace and you know that the people here only tolerate him because he brings money to the school,” Dean snorted.
“Yeah right,” Neville murmured. “You lot have no idea the caliber of students that go here…” He grumbled under his breath before looking up. “Look, I have been training with both Luna and Yuu. I have gotten more out of them than DA and I think maybe we should be looking into alternative spells instead of the spells that our in our books.”
‘Wh-! Why,” Seamus’ eyes bugged out in shock, Neville swallowing his fear as Dean turned to him with narrowed eyes.
“Because the bad guys are going to know our spells and they are going to know how to counter them. We need more practical training and Yuu is offering up ideas for the DA….only if we apologize to him.”
“...Apologize? For what,” Seamus demanded, hands on his hips while Dean snorted out laughter.
“Look, we have been twats…no you all have been right twats to him for no reason! He tried to do a good thing and because we all thought he was a muggle we treated him horribly!”
‘They got it backwards! Muggles can’t handle magic! Look at me dad,” Seamus rolled his eyes. “Nearly lost his marbles!”
“Maybe if your mom was upfront with him it wouldn’t have been so bad,” Neville snapped, making the two of them step back with wide eyes.
“Bloody hell! What has gotten into you Longbottom!” Dean demanded, face contorting in anger.
“I am sick and tried ot being the punching bag of our house! Of the school! I want to be able to do what I want without people belittling me for my intelligence or skills!” He snapped, holding the books closer. “Yuu is loads better than you lot because he actually gives a damn about my intelligence and doesn’t stop me from doing what I want to do. He understands me a far lot better than any of you have for the last five years!”
“...OI, don’t be like that neville! We have tried-”
“Yeah right,” he snorted, stopping Dean. “I told you all that the DA wasn’t going to get us far and now we are struggling in basic battles because we can’t anticipate what our opponent is going to do because we are afraid to actually use spells against one another. You think the Death Eaters will stop at disarming us? No. They are going to torture and kill us. We are not ready for what we have signed up for! I can’t deal with this anymore!’
‘With what!”
“With blindly rushing into what we think is right,” Neville exclaimed. “We are going to end up killing ourselves if we keep doing this and I for one am not going to have a single part in this death parade!”
With that Neville pushed past the both of them, feeling liberated for the first time in years and he felt wondrous.
“...that’s it,’ Dean demanded, Neville stopping in his stride at the fury in his tone. “You get some nice words said to you by a manipulative-”
“It’s not nice words, it’s the truth. I am able to actually be myself and I don’t get made fun of by my stutter or the fact that I struggle in certain subjects compared to others. I’m not told to ‘catch up’ or to ‘get better’, I am actually helped and told in a way that I can understand. He listens to me, you all don’t,” Neville hissed, fed up and frustrated with years of being treated like he was.
“Oi! We are your friends Neville-”
“Because you want to be or because it’s out of pity for me,” Neville demanded. “Because I would love to know which it is.”
“Why are you acting like this,” Seamus demanded, looking like he couldn’t believe what was happening to him right now.
“I am acting like this because someone finally understands me and works with me, not against me,” Neville snapped, tears welling up in his eyes. “Year after year, I have dealt with being the butt end of your jokes and struggling to catch up to all of you and your jeers. I have found someone who is willing to be there for me when I need him too be and not when it’s convenient for him.”
‘Nev-”
“I finally found a place where I feel like I belong and by Merlin, I am not going to give it up for so called House Unity,” Neville sniffed, a single tear running down his face. “If anything, Night Raven has been far more accommodating to me in these last few months than you lot have been in the last five years.”
“...Neville-”
“Piss off and leave me alone,” Neville hissed, turning on his heel and sprinting the rest of the way to Ramshackle. Shoto spotted him first, blinking in shock at Neville's face before opening the gate for him.
“What’s wrong! Did something happen,” the fat ghost asked, Neville sniffing as he shook his head. “Ohhh! Um! Luna! Luna!”
“Oh…you seem to be free of Nargles finally,” Luna commented, coming into the foyer from the sitting room, dressed in fine silk robes that were no doubt given to her by Yuu from his ever expansive closet. “Good for you!” She eagerly clapped, Neville offering a small smile before he sighed.
“Mind if I use a room,” he asked, looking defeated.
“I don’t mind. Yuu will have to be consulted for after winter break,” Luna nodded. “But we have an extra room ready,” she grinned.
“...Thanks. Only have to survive the New Year's feast tomorrow,” Neville sighed. “That will be fun.”
‘Yes, lots,” Luna giggled.
“Oh! Ho, ho, ho! Look at her! A rightful Night Raven Student if I have ever seen one,” the shorter ghost crooned. “Loving the chaos around here and encouraging it as well!”
“Yup, yup! A Night Raven Student for sure,” the skinny one smiled. “And a perfect fit for the dorm we are in right now!’
“Heheheh,’ they all laughed, Luna joining in as Neville found himself smiling brighter as well.
“And you could be too…you know,” Luna told him, turning to Neville who blinked. “You have what it takes.”
“I seriously doubt that,” Neville scoffed, shaking his head.
“Hmmm, we’ll see,” was all Luna stated.
“Bollocks! We don’t have enough of the reagent,” Fred cursed, looking at the empty bottle. “Anyway we can bug Neville to ask Yuu to send more?”
“I don’t know,” George sighed, leaning back in his chair as they lounged in the early morning light of their little workshop in Yuu’s dorm. “He’s no doubt going to be busy! It is New Years Eve today,” he grumbled.
“...I guess,” Fred grunted, throwing his head back with a sigh. “I wanted to make a light show to thank him when he comes back. It’s been nice to branch out…who knew science was so fun,” he grinned.
“I know right,” His twin laughed. “I have been having a ball with all the curious goop we can make that they all scramble to magic away!”
“Damn right!”
Both of them became silent after that, mulling on possible projects and the like all the while they tried to find words to speak.
“...You think we should do it,” Fred suddenly asked, George understanding the question and keeping silent. “I mean…we have finally been able to act like ourselves for the first time in…forever. You know?”
“....Yeah, I know.” He sighed, closing his eyes while deep in thought. “It’s been real nice to not put on a performance you know? Not having to keep up all the fake laughter and smiles.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Fred murmured, getting up to pace. “I have really enjoyed myself the last few months myself you know? It’s been a blast and by Merlin,” he breathed, looking up at the chandelier. “It’s been right wonderful to been seen and not….seen,” he murmured.
“I mean he noticed how you come up with the ideas and I am the one that comes up with the execution,” George nodded, crossing his arms. “He also noticed that we picked things up more quickly than most and he hasn’t said a word about it other than pointing us in the direction of his stocks!”
“Science is much more than our dad made it out to be,” Fred wistfully breathed, grabbing the empty reagent bottle again. “It really is like magic, but we are actually making it by hand and it’s so much more….personal.”
“Heh, that’s right. I haven’t has as much as since we found that map in first year and it faded after we memorized it,” George sighed, flopping back down onto the couch while Fred hummed.
“What do you reckon Dumbledore will do if we decide to go to Yuu’s classes? I mean…you know he knows,” Fred asked, George breathing in deeply before he shrugged.
‘Hell if I know,” he admitted, pursing his lips in contemplation. “He knows Luna and Neville are gonna switch, that’s a given.”
“I’m not too surprised by that,” Fred nodded, putting the bottle back down. “Neville’s been more confident lately and he practically lives here in the dorm, only coming back to Gryffindor to sleep.”
“Same could be said for us you know,” George commented, putting his hands behind his head. “We eat breakfast with the family and then piss off here to do Morgana knows what in the eyes of Hogwarts you know.”
“Yeah, I suppose. Best be getting back to the dorm now, eh,” Fred nudged his brother with his leg, grabbing their jackets while George groaned.
“We should’ve asked Yuu if we could have camped here during his winter break, to make things more tolerable for us,” he grumbled, placing his coat on as they walked down the ornate hall to the foyer where Luna was entering from her daily walk.
‘Leaving so soon? You two don’t leave until well into the night. The sun just set not an hour again,” she commented, hanging up her fur lined, crystal encrusted coat. “Is something wrong?”
“Nah, just knowing our siblings; they’ll storm this place and end up setting off the alarms again,” George commented, picking up his shoes to place on.
“Well, we are more prepared this time,” Luna reminded them, following them onto the porch with her slippers on. “Yuu doesn’t mind you two, you do realize that right? He wouldn’t offer the labs to you or Neville if he didn’t trust you,” she informed them.
“....Thanks,” they both murmured, Luna waving them off as they took down the stone pathway back to the school. It was silent, both of them contemplating what Luna had told them the entire way back to the dorms; both of their minds wandering to the last interaction they had with Yuu before he left for his vacation.
------------------
“Oi, you two,” Yuu called, entering their little lab with his usual scowl. “I need a report on that latest prank you did.”
“...Huh,” Fred asked, looking up with his goggles still on his face, two smoking beakers in his hands. “What for?”
“That little lightshow you did in the greenhouse, they want to know what you did,” Yuu sniffed. “They simply want to know how you did it, you're not in trouble. If you were, I would throw you to the wolves, not even a warning to you.”
“That we know, but..why do they need it?”
“How should I know,” Yuu demanded, crossing his arms.
“You basically run the school because your headmaster has the attention span of a goldfish,” Fred reminded him, Yuu snorting as he shrugged in a way that showed the twins he agreed with them.
“I may run the school, but he still does a *majority* of the paperwork…thank god…” Yuu grumbled the last part, rubbing his forehead. “But he does want what you did in the greenhouse reported to him. No doubt he wants to see if magic had any component in it for whatever reason,” Yuu raised his hands and shrugged.
“We haven’t used magic for our pranks in the last two months,” George cocked his head to the side, going over the blueprints for the machine they need to build.
“Is that so…then this will work in your favor,” Yuu murmured, the two exchanging looks before Yuu caught himself. “Just get it to me before I leave. So I can enjoy my vacation in peace,” he sighed, as close to begging as he would give them.
“...Yeah, sure,” Fred nodded, George following before Yuu gave his own in response leaving without another word.
------------------
Both of them blinked as they found themselves at the entrance of their dorm, both steeling themselves before they entered. They flinched at the rowdiness they once participated in, so used to the soft sounds of chemicals bubbling and the peace of Ramshackle that Gryffindor almost became too much.
“There you two are,” the voice of their youngest sibling and only sister had them tensing.
An argument was coming.
“Where the hell have you two been,” she demanded, arms crossed and a glare on her face as they rolled their eyes.
“We have been working on something magnificent, my dearest baby sister,” Fred began, his theatrics showing through while George worked to get himself in the mood for this.
“And what would that be,” she pressed.
“If we told you then it wouldn’t be as magnificent,” Fred scoffed, looking offended at her suggestion.
“Oh, Fred! George! Someone dropped this off, addressed to the both of you,” Hermione commented, coming up with a manila folder in her hands. George took it, blinking at the sight of both of their names on it before opening it. He took out the paper inside, noting it was VERY good quality; like the ones Yuu used when he was writing to the societies he was apart of about his newest invention or improvement.
After skimming for a few seconds George felt his jaw go slack and he looked up to his twin with a dumbstruck expression.
“...George,” Fred asked, only to be handed the piece of paper in response.
Fred’s face soon went slack as well after he read what was on the paper, Hermione coming around beside him to read what could make the twins go silent.
Greetings Mr & Mr. Weasley.
We are contacting you on the behalf of the Magical Botany Association about your recent discovery of chemical reagents used in fireworks you have created that seemed to react to certain magical plants in an extremely beneficial way. Tests have shown there was a 50-75% in potency of the afflicted flora and we are hoping you would take this opportunity to inform us of the methods used to achieve such results. We would also be looking to change the compound of the fireworks to work with other flora of different climates. You would be under an apprenticeship to be able to access our facilities in name only, but be on official payroll due to the nature of your experiments for us. As we are in good relations with Yuu Fujimaru, no other recommendations are needed for us to proceed forward.
We ask you to contact us as soon as possible with your answer and hope that we can work to provide a better future for those afflicted with tragedy.
Sincerely,
Dixie ‘Mama’ Ode
President of the Magical Botany Association of Twisted Wonderland
“...Holy Merlin,” Hermione breathed. “What…how…”
“...Yuu,” both of them said at the same time, their last conversation coming to mind.
“What, what does he have to do with this,” Ginny blinked, confused at what was happening around her.
“Bloody hell, he really does what he wants,” Fred laughed, hiding the paper from his sister while Hermione turned contemplative.
“It’s not such a bad idea,” she murmured, the twins turning to her with looks of shock on their faces. “It’s a way to get a foot in the door. And they are going to pay well.”
“...What if this…this is a way for him too-”
“He does things because he can,” Hermione reminded them both. “He does things because he wants to have some peace of mind instead of being bombarded. He doesn’t do things out of the kindness of his heart, he does it when it benefits him.”
“Yeah, you're right. If he gets out of work by pushing it onto someone else, then we are simply the ones being passed the buck,” George snickered, but he was elated all the same.
They were being taken seriously.
Despite all their pranks and all their acting, they were being seen for what they really wanted to be seen as.
Intellectuals!
“This is obviously a trap,” Ginny snorted, looking like she felt pity for her brothers. “He’s just trying to put you in his debt like those snakes in Slytherin!”
“...Ginny,” Fred began, feeling annoyance creeping up in his skin. “You don’t know anything because you made your choice and you have stuck to it. You have an idea about him and you won’t even try and see anything else, while you are allowed that…we are allowed something else.”
“...When did you get all smart and self righteous,’ she scoffed, looking annoyed.
‘We always have been,” George sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You just saw us as nothing more than your prankster brothers who are good Beaters and good at making things explode. We have other talents, you know.”
“I! I know that,” she scoffed, lookin affronted. “But you don’t know him like I do-”
“I say we know Yuu a fair lot more than you think you know him. He was forced to take you all in without his consent you know,” Fred reminded her.
“That doesn’t mean he had to be a twat about it,” she scoffed.
‘...I’m tired, let’s head to bed,” George was not in the mood to fight with their fiery sister at the moment.
“Right.”
“Hey! Fred! George! I’m talking to you! Don’t ignore me! Hey!” Ginny called to them the entire way to their rooms, being met with a door to her face as the twins shut her out completely. “Oh! You twats!” She snapped, stomping her foot before rushing back to her own room.
Fred and George began working on stepping out of their winter gear, Fred taking notice of a package on his bed. He stepped forward, taking the note before snorting and handing it to George once he finished.
Merry Christmas. Luna, Neville, your own numbers and mine have been added already. There is a comprehensive notebook on how to use these and customize them along with protection for the phone so they don’t break. Repair spells aren’t as good on technology that’s already been infused with magic.
Do not call me for the ‘fun of it’ or to ‘make a prank call’.
I will hurt you.
Happy New Year.
Yuu
PS: Mama Ode isn’t a patient woman, contact her quickly via this number #(702)-XXX-XXXX
P.P.S: Don’t even think about thanking me. For one, this gets her off of my back and second….I do hate wasted talent you know. I personally find it the saddest thing in the world.
“Well, this is sure going to be a fun few months,” Fred snickered.
“I’m looking forward to it, to be honest,” George gave a bright smile. “It’s our chance, you know. To be seen for who we really are.”
“He hates wasted talent.”
‘I find myself agreeing.”
Draco murmured to himself as he walked through the halls of Night Raven in the dead of night as he had taken to doing as of late.
He was stuck with his conversation with Dumbledore.
And truth be told…
He did want it, in the end really.
He wanted to be able to explore and create in ways that he would not be judged for, ways that he could simply create.
Maybe that’s why he really doesn’t like Yuu, he has what he wants.
Freedom in an intellectual space, with no one questioning what he was doing or why.
Merlin…that sounded great to Draco in all honesty.
Sighing, he shoved his hands in his pockets, looking down at the village below and feeling an intense urge to go down and just explore…
But he had no money and he didn’t want to risk setting off whatever ward or alarm was around this damned school, having to deal with both headmasters. His was just enough thank you very much…but still…
“Oh!...Um…H…Hi Malfoy!”
“...Longbottom,” Draco nodded in greeting, the Questionable Gryffindor blinked at his attitude before his eyes went to the village below and he pieced it together.
‘...If you continue on this path, there is a gap in the gate that can get you onto a hidden path to the village,” Neville began, smiling as Draco snapped his head to him with an incredulous gaze. “I…Well…Yuu left money there for me and Luna to use if and when we wanted to go down to the village for some things we might want or need,” he coughed.
“Surely, being in his good graces, you are able to leave anyways,” Draco scoffed.
“Take the fun out of it,” Neville shrugged, smiling with a huff of laughter. ‘I am a gryffindor, despite what I act like,” he huffed out. “Besides, Yuu said that it was in our nature as teens to be rebellious and to want to do something sneaky.”
“...Is he even a child,” Draco found himself voicing.
“No clue,” Neville admitted. “But me and Luna won’t have time to go to the village all that much and Yuu will throw a fit if the money isn’t spent in some sort of way, so go down and clear your head,” Neville told him.
“...Why help me. You know me and Yuu don’t exactly get along,” Draco rolled his eyes, shifting in place as Neville sighed.
“I guess…we are in a similar position,” Neville offered up, looking unsure of himself. “I…I don’t find my self at home anymore in Hogwarts. I find myself wanting to explore avenus that have never been opened to me before and now that they have…I can’t go back,” he admitted. “Surely you have the same feeling…no?”
“We will have no choice but to go back, you know,” Draco told him, turning to leave down the path he mentioned.
“I love my parents, I love my nan…but…they don’t do me much good when all they do is pile things on top of me every time they get the chance too. I’m sure you understand too.”
“....Yeah,” Draco sighed. ‘I do.”
“They have a parade going on tonight, you might want to check it out. Might be fun,” Neville smiled. “And…enjoy yourself.”
With that he left and Draco continued on his path down to see everything the Gryffindor had described, even the whole time filled with money that he folded into his wallet before crawling under the fence. Shaking himself once he crossed the barrier his feet soon found the path that led him into town where it was…
…So warm and bright.
Smoke rose from the shops filled with delicious pastries and goodies, people sat at tables with steaming cups of beverages and soon a sign caught his attention at one of the shops.
*NEW SEASONAL ITEM!!*
PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE WITH WHIPPED CREAM!!
*Limited time offer*
“...Sounds good,” Draco blinked, moving to get in line and being bombarded with the cool and harsh scent of peppermint, smiling as he saw the cups being adorned with a rim of crushed peppermint.
“Heya! Coming in for our new item i’m guessing,” a boy his age commented, Draco nodding. “Alright. Medium or Large?”
“I’ll be walking around for a bit,” Draco found himself joking, the other laughing as he nodded.
“Large it is then! Anything to add on? Caramel sauce? Extra whipped cream? A chocolate chip or cinnamon cookie?”
“...Cinnamon Cookie sounds good,” Draco nodded.
“Large peppermint hot coco with a cinnamon cookie coming up right up for…?” He trailed off.
“Draco.”
‘For Draco,” he nodded. “Be out in a moment. Do you want the cookie warmed up to eat?’
‘That sounds great. How much?”
‘It’s gonna be $8.69,” he nodded, Draco handing out a $10 bill that he quickly placed in the register before handing him his change. “Listen for you name, it will be on the counter in a bit.”
‘Thanks.”
“No problem! Enjoy the winter market,” he called, Draco making way for the next customer as he stood by the counter to look out the window and blinking at the light snow.
Right in time for New Years eve tomorrow, he noted, distantly hearing his name being called. He turned to take his items, nodding his thanks to them before making his way out of the warm and cozy shop to the cold air of the street, drink in hand.
He hummed at the warmth that flowed through him after his first sip, smiling at that kick of peppermint he got before continuing down the mainstreet of the town, taking in the sights and the atmosphere.
So many people doing magic and so many without it, they acted as if nothing was wrong.
“Hey! Hey! Did you hear? Yuu-chan and his friends are making a makeup collab and it’s going to be great!”
“Really?”
“Yup! 12 pan palette! 3 lip glosses. 3 lipsticks. 4 eyeliners and 3 blushes!’
“Omg! Any accessories?”
“I haven’t heard, but I so hope sooo!!’
“...Hmm,” Draco hummed, mulling over the information.
Yuu was not handsome, he hadn’t hit puberty yet but he was conventionally beautiful and he wasn’t afraid to put on makeup to enhance it.
In fact most of the school wasn’t afraid to do it, they simply stopped because they were annoyed with Hogwarts for staring and commenting on it every 5 to 10 minutes. Draco didn’t see the appeal, but he did admit that they seemed to make people happy and more confident and he saw nothing wrong with it.
So why couldn’t others in his school do the same?
It’s not like they where forcing it on others or god forbid using an unforgivable on them to make them use it or place it on them.
So much of what was normal at home or what was considered taboo was openly accepted here and Draco actually felt a weight lifted off his shoulders. He didn’t have to act like he hated one thing or another, or that he was leaning toward one side more than another.
Who cared, in his honest opinion.
It was makeup…it was clothes…
Fuck, who cared what people did half the time; Draco could never understand.
A scowl was on his face as he contemplated all the rules he was forced to follow as well as social expectations all the while he munched on the rather nice cookie.
It was so frustrating to keep up a vapid facade and to act like an idiot in certain situations to appease the adults.
….Huh, he was starting to understand Yuu a bit more now.
“...Should I want…this…” Draco suddenly asked himself, stopping by an open area in a courtyard. “Should I want…what’s right in front of me?”
“You want to be a good son, even if it means getting rid of who you actually are.”
….tch, that sentence still annoyed him to this day but Yuu did have a very good point. He was becoming basically a Mini Lucius and he hated every comparison he got because of that. His father was a tortured man and he thought he was hiding it from his son to give him all his best qualities…
Draco was a spoiled kid, but he wasn’t stupid; very far from it.
“Should I,” Draco bit his lip, looking up to the sky to see the clear night sky glistening with stars and countless snowflakes falling down.
You don’t know what you want.
I want you to want better.
Both their voices rang in his ears and Draco wanted them to leave, but he still heard those sentences anyways.
“Wanting better and knowing what I want,” he scoffed, finishing off the drink with a wistful sight. “Can I even want either of those things?”
Silence met him as he mulled over his thoughts, with each passing day away from the stress of his family and of his house he found himself saying yes more and more.
And he was inclined to go with that idea, but what happens when he finally finds what he wants and is getting better; only to be thrown back into his home.
He loved his parents and his parents loved him, it was clear as day and he knew the decision would cause them grief but he would finally…FINALLY be able to be himself.
“...Merlin,” Draco groaned, siding a hand down his face.
He really was between a rock and a bloody hard place.
But with each day the decision became clearer, it was only him that was preventing himself from seeing it and taking it in the end.
“...Will he even accept me in a half assed state,” Draco found himself sighing, looking out to the main street and felt his eyes widening.
Floats.
Beautiful Parade Floats made of all manner of things, from the magical to non, made their way down the street to Wizards and Muggles alike. Many people ooohed and awwed at the display, magic being thrown to the delight of children and adults alike.
…Yeah, Draco decided.
He wanted this.
He wanted this peace he was seeing, and all of his family be damned if they prevented him from getting it.
NEW YEARS DAY
Hermione grumbled, looking around the school as she tried to stall for time before she HAD to be at the New Year's Feast.
She honestly didn’t even want to go.
Not with everyone acting like a right twat.
Especially Ron and Harry.
Gosh…those two…they made her blood boil.
“Honestly, they are so bullheaded it makes me wonder what would happen to them if I wasn’t here,” she grumbled, feeling her eyes twitching with all the stress she had in her body. “I swear I am going to hurt them both…”
“Oi! Mione! What are you doing here! The feast is going to happen soon!”
“Speak of the Devil,” she murmured, turning to Ron who was with Harry.
Joy.
“I know, Ron. I just needed fresh air,” she sighed, crossing her arms with a scowl.
“Does it have to be out here,” he whined, Hermione closing her eyes as she felt a stab of pain in her left eye.
“Yes,” she said slowly. “Because this is outside and the dorm is inside. Besides, all of the students here are GONE, for their WINTER BREAK,” she hissed, eyes narrowed while he crossed his arms.
So he was in a fighting mood it seemed.
“Doesn’t mean that we have to get all comfortable in this place-”
“We might as well Ron, Harry,” she turned to her bespectacled friend who blinked in confusion as to why he was being dragged into this argument. “Don’t think I don’t know that you think the same,” she warned the chosen one who blushed, looking away without a word. “And don’t think I don’t know about you both hounding Neville and your brothers,” she snapped her head to Ron who turned red.
“Wh…What are you accusing me of,” Ron demanded.
“Ron,” she sighed. “They have a great opportunity. Sure it would only be for a few months but it is good for them nonetheless. Neville is even going to the same association with the twins. They will have one another and they will be able to to learn so muc-”
“From people who support that know it all twat,” he challenged.
‘You are such a child Ronald,” Hermione snapped. “Is that the only insult you can think of?”
“And all you care about is people who can keep up with you, so sorry we can’t!”
“...You are such an idiot,” Hermione settled on after a moment of silence, hands clenched into fists as her hair crackled. “You are my friends, but right now all I see is two people who can’t get their heads out of their asses!”
“And what about you!”
“Me,” Hermione demanded.
“You seem to be all buddy buddy with that twat and what he says. In fact when he came to the DA you said nothing after he embarrassed my sister!”
“Ginny put that upon herself and you know it Ronald!” She hissed, eyes wild in her anger. “He had a valuable lesson and she decided to be…well frankly a brat!”
“Wha-?! Don’t call my sister a brat Hermione!” Ron yelled, turning red.
“What! Ronald, you know it’s true,” Hermione scoffed. 'She purposely is picking fights with him and it’s getting on everyone's nerves because he comes back it make it even and it’s a whole cycle!’
‘He should be mature!”
‘You sister is literally older than him by 3 years Ronald! If anything she should be the one to be more mature, Yuu is only doing what he is doing because he sees it as his right to do so!”
‘Your just saying what I am saying! But going about it in your Kno-”
‘Do not call me a Know It All,” Hermione snapped, eyes narrowing in warning as both the boys stepped back. “Need I remind you that this ‘Know It All’,” she said mockingly with a vicious snarl attached. “Is the one that got us all out of all the trouble both of YOU,” she pointed to them both, “got us into! I did what I did to make sure that we got out with all our limbs and without a threat of expulsion!”
“That’s all you care about in the end isn’t it Hermione,” Ron snorted, Harry looking like he agreed while Hermione gapped.
“...I beg your pardon?”
‘I mean…you always bring up Expulsion every time we try and fix our mistakes-”
‘If you two weren’t dunderheads that got into fights or trouble at every opportunity then I wouldn’t need to,’ Hermione blinked. “But the fact of the matter is that you two do and that we need someone with a head on their shoulders-”
“There you do,” Ron rolled his eyes, Harry sighing as he looked to the side. “Always going on and on about how we don’t think about things or don’t think things through.”
‘Because you don’t,” Hermione seethed. “You two think that things will magically all work out in the end because we are Gryffindors or because we are young and the real world doens’t work like that!”
“You could do more with being more optimistic and actually enjoying some normal things for once,” Harry offered up tentatively and Hermione felt numb.
….enjoying some normal things…
…normal things….
…normal…
“....Are you saying I’m not normal,” she whispered, feeling as if her entire world had shattered.
“No! No! You just…you take a lot of things seriously and…well…we do have to wrangle you to do anything fun with us,” he admitted, looking sheepish.
“And no, Mione,” Ron stepped in. “Studying is not fun nor is learning about some new spell that we have no use for!”
“....Is that what you both believe? Why didn’t you tell me,” Hermione demanded, looking upset as they both sighed.
“W…we thought you would have figured it out by now,” Harry told her, looking unsure as Hermione felt sick.
A lie.
All of it was a lie.
“...Yuu was right,” Hermione whispered, both of them blinking as they hadn’t heard what she said. “I could be friends, but they would never do for me what I could for them.”
“...Mione? Are you listening to us at all? Mione,” Ron called, looking more and more exasperated with each passing moment before he went to grab her arm.
At that moment she reacted.
“Don’t touch me!” She snapped, pushing the hand off of her with a heave of her breath, she was panting, panicking as Yuu’s words rang true.
‘A lie…A lie…” she murmured.
“Mione?”
‘Wh…Why can’t you just shut up and at least listen to what I want to do,’ she asked, both of them stopping their walk toward her. “I saw you were never into it and that you complained, but I thought you were joking. You actually meant all of it,” she demanded.
“...Mione…we just don’t…it’s not our…” Harry began.
“And yet I still help you both with Quidditch when you need, even though I hate the sport and don’t get it. I still help you with chess even though I am not good at it and I don’t understand it all that well. I still help you with your interests no matter what because I enjoy having something to do with you both,” Hermione was near the point of sobbing. “I validate your interests and likes, I validate your fears and show you are stronger than you think and you don't have the courtesy to do the same for me?”
“Mione…we don’t understand half of what you-”
Leave me alone,” Hermione finished, turning on her heel to leave.
“Come on! Don’t be like that Mione-”
‘My name is Hermione! Use it,” she snapped, cutting Harry as he tried to bring her back. “I wish to be alone.”
With that she stomped away, tears flowing down her face as she spoke the same thing.
‘They lied. They lied. Yuu was right. He was right.”
------------------
“You know…they don’t validate your interest do they,” Yuu commented one day, stopping by her spot in the library.
“...Pardon,” Hermione blinked, looking up from her texts to Yuu who stood beside her.
‘Harry and Ron. They don’t validate you or your interests, do they,” he hummed, blowing his gum into a bubble with a cock of his head.
“...What?”
“I saw you helping them with their…quidd…whatever practice. You sucked at it,” he commented, Hermione flinching at the mention of that day. “But you were helping them because it's their passion and you want them to be as good as possible right,” he asked.
“Yes, of course I do.”
“So why haven’t you noticed they don’t do the same for you,” he asked again.
‘I-”
‘You thought to teach them a neat spell you had found, one you converted from this magic system,” he nodded down to her textbooks as well as the schools. “You were a good teacher, Neville got it down with ease. But he told me Harry and Ron spent most of that complaining about how they were never going to need it or use it.”
“..It’s how they are,” Hermione defended, feeling her heart clench at the words.
She knew it was true deep down, but she didn’t want to face the reality of it.
‘I know it’s easier to lie to yourself than to face reality, but you shouldn’t allow yourself to be trampled on, you know,” he hummed.
“...I…I don’t know.”
“Your allowing yourself to see this friendship for the lie you believe it is, but it’s not an equal exchange. They aren’t bad, per say,” Yuu admitted with a shrug. “But they are better as friends, than as best friends you know?”
“...I…How could you think that-”
“Everytime you come up with something to get them out of the mess they found themselves in, they accuse you of only being worried about expulsion or bring uptight and not wanting things to go crazy when they shouldn’t involve themselves further. Leaving it to basically implode on themselves,” he hummed, Hermione freezing in place.
“Please,” Hermione begged. “Leave this topic alone.”
“...I hate intelligence not being validated, it’s what causes it to suffer and fade you know,” he blew another bubble. “But I understand your desire for validation. It’s hard to be smart in a world that doesn’t understand it the way we do. It makes them feel lesser and they fight back against it.”
“...Just leave.”
“If you won’t leave, fight for your validation,” Yuu suggested. “Don't live in a lie any longer. You deserve it you know,” he smiled, waving her goodbye as she whipped her head to him in shock. “I’ll be back in about three weeks yeah,” he commented.
“...What…”
------------------
Hermione stopped, hearing the voices from the Dining Hall and her heart seized.
Both her hands covered her face and she sobbed.
She just wanted what Yuu had in droves.
To be validated by those who she trusted and was trusted by in turn.
But even she couldn’t have that it seemed.
Luna hummed as she sat down at Ravenclaw’s table, ignoring her housemates with practiced ease.
Her eyes went to a few places.
Neville was scowling at his place, ignoring Dean and Seamus with valiant effort all the while he shoved Turkey into his mouth.
Hermione was seated between the Weasley twins, her face puffy as she spoke to Fred in a quiet tone; George glowering at Ron and Harry with a disappointed face as he speared his turkey with a vengeance.
The twins were tense, no doubt with what had happened between Hermione and the other two, as well as some rumors she had heard form Neville about a fight with Ginny. Who, in her line of sight, seemed to be rolling her eyes at the trio and speaking to Ron with no doubt, a bratty tone.
Her eyes flicked to Draco who was withdrawn and sullen, poking at his mash with a scowl on his face. He ignored his classmates, and he ignored Umbridge who was trying to catch his eye.
Speaking of…
Her eyes went to the teachers, all of them in heated argument over something, she had a hunch it was Yuu, and in the midst of it, Dumbledore sipped his wine.
The Dining Hall was silent, barren of all noise and chatter that was usual during the feasts; but Luna minded it little. It wasn’t like she even liked the feasts to be honest, always felt forced to be there and she would much rather eat in the dorm; but alas she was still a Hogwarts Student.
SCREECH!!
“YOU CANNOT ALLOW IT!”
All eyes turned to Umbrudge who looked appalled at Dumbledore, the older man humming as he once more sipped his wine.
“It is the new year feast. We should not be discussing this now,” he offered, looking jolly as ever but Luna saw his hand tighten around his goblet.
He was just about done with her it seemed, how nice!
“Headmaster Dumbledore, I understand that. But this matter takes precedent! Yuu Fujimaru-”
‘Now, now,” Dumbledore coughed. ‘No need to air it out.”
“...Yuu,” Luna whispered.
It was then that things got worse as the feast continued even as the professors left, still arguing about Yuu and what to do with him no doubt.
Truly, when would they learn to leave him be she wondered.
But before she could continue to contemplate on that, rattling of plates caught her attention.
Neville slammed his hands on the table, said some words to Dean and Seamus before he left the hall, steaming mad at what occurred between them.
Fred and Geroge followed soon after, no doubt after an argument with both Ginny and Ron. Hermione followed them, silent even as Harry and Ron tried to get her attention. All attempts thwarted by Fred and George’s vicious stares that had them reeling back.
She turned to Draco, blinking before smiling as she saw he was already long gone.
How Wonderful! Ramshackle is going to be a fun place very soon!
Very, very soon!
With a nod she finished up her plate, nodding to the chefs who smiled at her before she stood up and began to leave.
‘Oi! Where are you going,” one classmate demanded.
“...Hmm,’ she smiled, turning to leave with a skip in her step.
Yuu would be so pleased! His hard work was really paying off, Luna knew he could do it!
Now, she just needed to speak with Dumbledore-
“Ah! Miss Lovegood, seeking me I presume,” her headmaster’s voice made her turn to see him sneaking out of the lounge with a smile.
‘Yes. About Yuu’s offer and my thoughts on it,” she hummed, swaying side to side in giddiness.
“I have no problems with it,” Dumbledore assured her. ‘You will need to speak with Yuu’s Headmaster and get properly sorted; but I won’t stop you.”
“Of course. Is he here now?”
“Yes, I am sure Yuu has dragged you to his office in an attempt to streamline the process,” he smiled, Luna nodding. “You may go, I doubt he needs my approval if Yuu did so. Simply tell him I give you my blessing.”
‘Right…but aren’t you sad that I am leaving?”
“On the contrary, I couldn’t be more happy you are chasing what you want,” Dumbledore sighed, looking both sad and wistful. “It is in the hands of you all to know what you want and to take it when you know, after all.”
“...Right!”
“Now, run along. I need to head back in before they realize I am gone,” he shooed her, smiling with his usual twinkle before heading back into the lounge.
“YOU! I KNEW TOU HAD RUN OFF!! COME BACK IN HERE ALBUS!’
Oh, how Luna was not going to miss that!
With a skip in her step Luna began to the trek to Crowley’s office only to stop short as she turned the hall to see him before the Mirror Chamber.
“....Ah, Lovegood,” he hummed, nodding at her and expecting it to be the end.
But no! Luna was getting her dorm!
“...Could I be sorted!”
“...I take it you have made your decision…and that Dumbledore has approved,” he asked, none of his usual flamboyance in his voice. But none of that bothers Luna.
She was getting what she wanted!
“Yes! And yes! May I please be sorted! Please,” she begged, rushing up to him to stare into his yellow eyes.
“...The dark mirror is damaged beyond repair. I doubt it still has the capabilities to stare into your soul-”
He then cut off, tensing as green light alighted his face; Luna turned to see the torches of the chamber burning a bright green and a face appear in the cracked mirror.
“...Co…Come Forth. Speak Thy Name. Bare Thy Soul to Me.”He commanded, Luna turning to Crowley who had his lips pressed into a thin line.
‘...Stay behind me,” he commanded, taking point as he entered the chamber with calm measured steps. “Will you sort this soul,” he demanded of the mirror.
“Come forth and speak thy name child,” the mirror commanded, Crowley eyeing it for another moment before sighing.
‘Come forth,” he nodded, Luna eagerly coming before the mirror.
“Speak thy name.”
“Luna Lovegood!’
“...The essence of thy soul…tis Ramshackle.”
With that he vanished and the torches went out.
“Yes,” Luna cheered. “Ramshackle! Ramshackle!” She continued to chant all the while Crowley glowered at the mirror.
What game was this thing playing?
HARVESTON
Yuu smiled as he overlooked the large bonfire that Harveston had made, all his friends laughing and partying it up as they awaited the stroke of Midnight and the coming of the new year.
“Not in the mood for dancing? Or S’mores?”
“Not really,” Yuu snickered, allowing Thumper to sit beside him as they looked at the bonfire. “Two left feet and a stomach ready to implode on itself if another piece of food is added.”
“...Fair,” Thumper shrugged, Yuu bumping shoulders with him before silence reigned once more.
“...What’d you come over for,” Yuu asked after a couple minutes of silence.
“I…wanted to tell you I'll be on Sage Island, coming August,” he admitted, Yuu blinking before turning to Thumper.
“NRC?”
“...RSA.”
“We can never talk again,” Yuu deadpanned, Thumper jolting at his serious tone before sighing at the smirk on Yuu’s face. He pushed Yuu onto his side, getting a ‘hey’ from the other while he ran a hand through his grey hair.
“Not cool dude,” he grumbled, Yuu snickering before shrugging.
“What can I say,” Yuu hummed. “RSA and NRC do not get along, AT ALL,” Yuu stressed.
“Yeah, yeah,” Thumper grumbled. “I know, but I thought to tell you.”
“...Well, I’ll see you on weekends then,” Yuu offered.
“No way,” Thumper mock gasped. “Mister ‘I don’t leave the house on weekends because of experiments’ willing to leave on the weekends to meet little ole me?”
“Well when you say it like that, then I’ll stay at NRC then,” Yuu snorted.
‘Come on,” Thumper snickered. “But thanks. It will be nice to see a familiar face. I know a lot of celebs are in RSA right now and I don’t mix well with city folk…”
“It’s because you call them city folk, that you stick out,” Yuu snorted, Thumper growling in warning while Yuu rolled his eyes. Not intimidated at all.
‘Not very scary cottontail.”
‘Oh, fuck off.”
“Not likely.”
“...Well, at least you're honest,” Thumper smiled, Yuu shrugging before he blinked.
“...3 minutes till New Year,” he commented, looking at the clock and the parents rousing their kids.
‘Already huh…best get a beer-”
“Been hiding it since Leona and his brother got into a drinking contest,” Yuu snickered, stopping Thumper from getting up as he produced two cans of Apple Barley Beer.
“...Nice,” Thumper smiled, taking one of the offered cans. “Thanks.”
“I had a feeling someone would join me,” he grinned, bothing of them cracking their cans but not drinking. Not until New Years. “...Only another 5 days and then we go back,” he sighed, face falling as it became 2 minutes to New Years.
“...About that…I figured out my request from you,” Thumper began, Yuu blinking before turning to see Thumper looking intently at the bonfire. “If…if you're up to it.”
“...Well, what is it,” Yuu demanded, Thumper taking in a deep breath as people began to murmur as the clock hit a minute. “...Thumper?”
“...Nothing. It’s nothing. It’s stupid,” he grumbled, Yuu blinking.
‘Come on, we promised a request from the loser, don’t back out now,” Yuu snorted, hitting him on the shoulder. “Come on, we aren’t bothered by shit in the slightest. SO long as you aren’t asking me to strip and run around in this weather or do something illegal, I’ll do it.”
“No, no,” Thumper shook his head. “It might ruin our friendship.”
“...Do you think I’m that vapid,” Yuu demanded, looking offended as he tried to get thumper to look at him.
“THIRTY!”
They ignored the countdown from the crowd as they focused on one another.
“No, no. I just…I’m an idiot and I don’t want to ruin things-”
“If you tell me then I will let you know if anything is going to be ruined. This isn’t like you and I know we haven’t known one another for a long time, but dude you are a good friend and I like your company!” Yuu demanded as they hit twenty seconds.
“Just drop it okay? I’ll think of something else! It isn't that serious,” Thumper groaned, red like a cherry while Yuu sighed.
“Thumper, come on! You have it in mind and it’s never gonna leave if you don’t do it now! I don’t lose often you know and I won’t lose next year,’ Yuu warned, Thumper snorting with a roll of his eyes.
‘Yeah, yeah,” he grumbled. ‘But no, seriously! I’m fine!
“TEN!”
‘No you're not and I am not going to let this go until you fess up, so spill!”
“NINE!”
“Yuuu….”
“EIGHT!”
“Don’t ‘Yuu’ me! Come on and tell me! I’m sure it’s not as bad as you say!
“SEVEN!”
“I wouldn't be so sure. You’d probably sucker punch me!”
“SIX!”
“It takes a lot for me to do that to someone, despite how much they annoy the shit out of me.”
“FIVE!”
“Not helping!”
“FOUR!”
“You have nothing to worry about! You're not a coward, Thumper, don’t start acting like it!’
“THREE!’
“Sometimes, you need to be one-”
“TWO!”
“Don’t even start with that bullshit! I am serious Thumper!”
“ONE!”
“Ah fuck it!”
“HAPPY NEW YEARS”
In that instant Thumper leaned forward and captured Yuu’s lips, the others eyes widening at the act before it was taken away.
He sat gaping, blinking and blushing as Thumper was bright red and refused to look at him.
“...A kiss,” he murmured. “I…I uh…wanted a kiss from you…I…I really, really….REALLY like you…Yuu.” He confessed, Yuu pursing his lips as his cheeks burned hot.
“...Oh…” Yuu squeaked.
“...Sorry-”
“I…I think your pretty cool too,” Yuu gasped out, Thumper blinking in shock before he seemingly deflated in on himself.
“...really,” he asked.
“...Y…Yeah,” Yuu nodded, looking still a bit shocked. “I…I think…you…your really nice…”
“...I’ll….let you know when I’m on the Island…so you can show me around,” Thumper asked, looking sheepish.
“O…or I can come in the summer,’ Yuu offered.
“...Sure,” he smiled.
It was going to be a good New Year it seemed.
Away from them Lilia pursed his lips, none too happy about what had happened and convinced that this was not going to be good.
Yuu was WAYYYY too young!
He didn’t need romance to add onto his workload!