When Euphemia Parkinson got her Hogwarts letter she knew the plans for her life, get sorted to slytherin, meet an honorable pureblood, get married, and have children. Her mother always made it seem so simple.
She always thought it was strange that her brother Cassius was allowed to have bigger dreams, like playing quidditch, or working for the ministry. How was she supposed to just be content being a mother and wife? She wanted more, she wanted to travel the world, to be great.
Up until her sixth year she would push her own dreams aside, constantly ignoring her own happiness to make her parents proud. That was until her best friend and dorm mate kissed her. She didn’t know that she could feel that way and it didn’t even matter that she was a girl, because to Euphemia she was just Walburga.
For a moment Euphemia saw it, how much there was, how much more she could do, have. The only problem was Walburga didn’t, she couldn’t see anything past what her own parents spouted. The ideal life, so really she should’ve seen it coming when walburga came back to school the summer after fifth year engaged.
“You’re engaged!?!?!” Euphemia whisper shouted “To who?”
Walburga just looked at her as if this wasn’t insane and Euphemia’s heart wasn’t breaking.
“Orion Black” She’d said it so proud of herself, like it was her greatest accomplishment.
“You’re Cousin?” Euphemia exclaims even more confused.
“As if that matters,” Walburga scoffed. “What has gotten into you Effie, this is good news”
Euphemia gulped hard. Was it good, cause Euphemia thought that maybe they could avoid marriage and be together. Ridiculously, she really did think that somehow they would leave school and be together.
“I’m happy for you” Euphemia says it with as straight a face as she can. Not even believing it herself. At that a flicker of something passed over Walburga’s face before quickly disappearing and with a seemingly forced smile Walburga makes up some excuse to leave.
For the remainder of the train ride Euphemia cries in an empty compartment, alone and broken.
-
They don’t speak. For weeks they exist around each other, not talking, not looking, and not daring to touch. It isn’t until a month into school when at a party Walburga pulls Euphemia away from everything. Admittedly Euphemia had drank a few too many fire whiskeys and would’ve done anything Walburga asked of her, so when Walburga pulls her away and touches her face and looks at her like that, she can’t be blamed for how easily she folds.
Kissing her is like coming up for air after a month of drowning without her, and for a moment she forgets why they weren’t talking at all.
Once they make it up to their shared dorm and confirm that they are alone they fall onto Euphemia’s bed. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry” Walburga chants between kisses. “I don’t want to marry him, it’s you. I’m sorry”. Oh. Euphemia doesn’t know if she’s ever heard anything more sweet.
In lieu of answering Euphemia just kisses her, like it’s the last time they might ever kiss, and merlin wouldn’t that be a shame.
“Effie, Effie” Walburga gasps again as Euphemia starts kissing her neck, sucking kisses to her skin there.
“Yes” Euphemia says, detaching herself and looking up at the beautiful girl underneath her. Her hair falls long and curly and dark as the night sky. Her skin is porcelain and it’s so fragile, if Euphemia were to hold on tight enough she’d bruise.
“Please, help me” and oh that’s not what Euphemia was expecting. “I can’t marry him.”
She’d said it with so much venom in her tone that Euphemia would’ve gone and killed Orion Black in that very moment. Though she stayed looking at Walburga and trying to find a way to help her. They could run away together but it’s doubtful they would make it far. A magical engagement is unbreakable and they both knew this, and where would they go. They wouldn’t make it far in muggle london. They have no money, no muggle education.
So with wide eyes Euphemia just said, “We will figure it out.” Walburga breathed out with so much relief, foolishly believing Euphemia’s words.
They lay together for the rest of the night knowing deep down this was it. Walburga wanted out. Euphemia couldn’t get her out.
-
Fleamont Potter was friends with everyone. It did not matter to him who a person’s family was, what color their skin was, what house they came from. He was raised to love all and was going to do just that.
So, Orion Black was a mystery. Fleamont saw him, the stares across the great hall, the smiles he couldn’t hide when Fleamont made a fool of himself in class. It made him curious, because everytime Fleamont tried to talk to the mysterious boy, Orion would insult, or hex him.
So when they came back to school for his seventh year and Orion black was engaged, Fleamont was curious. He needed to know what it meant, because the stares didn’t cease if anything they increased.
Orion not only stared more openly but longer and it was as if he was trying to live before he got married. It was driving Fleamont crazy. He couldn’t understand why he would stare but then be so cruel, he needed answers. To understand.
-
Fleamont had a long standing tradition of going out to the astronomy tower the first day of November when the Orion constellation became most visible. He’s done it for years, ever since the boy who was named after it started to become so interesting to him. Obsessed isn’t the right word but it’s close to that.
It was just that everyone liked him and it made him crazy that Orion “hated” him.
When he hears the slight creak of the stairs he slips behind a pillar, the cold november air hitting him harshly. Footsteps of someone he can’t see walk all the way to the railing and then fidgeting with the bar making a little noise.
Fleamont then moves very carefully very quietly, maybe he can slip out without being noticed, and that’s when he sees him. Orion, And he’s dangerously close to the edge. Is he? No he wouldn’t. Right?
Careful not to spook Orion he says into the silence. “It’s beautiful. Isn’t it” At this Orion doesn’t jump and doesn't even flinch as if he knew Fleamont was there all along. “The constellation” he feels the need to clarify.
Finally Orion looks at him stepping down from the railing, “I don’t know what you think you saw Potter, but you’ve seen nothing” He says it harshly but Fleamont can hear the silent plea in his voice.
“Well of course” Fleamont says casually “You were just looking for your constellation”
“Right” Orion breathes, shaking his head. “Yes”
“I can leave you” Fleamont offers. “Or I could stay for a little while. If you don’t mind”
Orion’s hard look wavers for a moment, weighing his options. “ Well, you were here first”
Maybe it’s hopeful thinking but Fleamont takes this as a ‘yes, please stay’.
They sit in silence for a long time and Fleamont tries not to, he really does, but after what feels like an eternity of silence he looks over to Orion. Finding him already looking, he looks away almost as soon as he’s been caught, seeming almost bashful.
“So” Fleamont whispers in the air between them. “Why do you do that”
He’s so hopeful to get answers. This is the first and possibly only time he will ever have the opportunity to ask. Orion looks at him again, startled, as if he didn’t know what he was talking about. But Fleamont knew better, knew he wasn’t crazy.
“I see you,” Fleamont says again before Orion can deny anything. “When no one else is looking and I pretend I don’t but i see you”
In an instant Orion is on his feet pacing around the tower. Fleamont follows pleading for him not to freak out on him.
“You do not know what you are talking about.” Orion spits, “you know nothing”
Fleamont says nothing embarrassed of his words. Maybe he is crazy and was imagining what wasn’t there that whole time. He’s about to apologise when Orion starts again.
“I can’t believe this accusation,” He says with a strange look in his eyes, and then he says it. “I would ne-”
That’s when Fleamont has had enough. “It was just a question” He says this upset with the turn this was taking. “Do not act as though I have accused you of murder”
Orion looks at him oddly then, like he's holding himself back from doing something he might regret, and Merlin Fleamont wishes he would just let go. Lose control, do something.
“You are so infuriating” Orion says finally “You think I owe you explanations”
“Yes!” Fleamont nearly screams, “I do! For the last six years, you have done nothing but confuse me!”
“Sorry!” Orion matches his yell, “Maybe if you weren’t always sitting there so handsome and perfect I wouldn’t be watching!”
Orion quiets immediately, face paleing, mortified in what he has just said. Realization washes over Fleamont all at once.
“You,” Fleamont approaches carefully, “think im handsome”
Orion looks at him as if he’s grown another head, as if it’s sinful the things he’s said. Fleamont is giddy, he’s gotten his answer, and ‘bloody hell’. He didn’t know he wanted that until he got it.
“Fuck it” Orion whispers and lunges forward closing the space they had between them. Fleamont had kissed people before, girls at parties, his friends on cheeks, but the way Orion kissed him hungry and desperate was so different and so perfect.
They fought for dominance in the kiss and Fleamont let the other boy win, not even caring for control. He had never felt so out of control before and so free all at the same time.
After a moment Fleamont pulled away for air and Orion just laughed. Why was he laughing, was this some kind of prank, is Ashton Kutcher gonna jump out and say punk’d. Orion though is still just laughing and Fleamont realises in the six years they have orbited each other at a safe distance, he had never seen him laugh.
“This is ridiculous,” Orion blurts out still laughing, “I just kissed you, oh wow”
“And I kissed you back” Fleamont throws out there almost like he can’t believe it himself. “I just kissed you” He whispers to himself this time. Realization washes over him at the impact of this moment.
Orion stops laughing at Fleamonts tone, “You won’t erm, tell anyone will you.”
“What” Fleamont gasps out “That’s what you’re worried about right now, me telling someone”
Fleamont without another word walks away with one final glance at the terrified boy.
-
By the new year Walburga and Euphemia have fallen back into the routine of being best friends and secret shared kisses when no one else is looking.
It’s the week before summer that Euphemia starts to get anxious. By this point she knows there is nothing she can do for Walburga, her fate is sealed, but she can protect herself.
She has to figure out a way to get out that’s safe but where she doesn’t have to marry. She’s decided she can’t go home on the train and risk her parents finding anything out.
Euphemia has found an apartment far from home and has enough money saved from christmas to make it there safely. She hasn’t told Walburga and she’s not going to, scared of what this means for there, friendship.
Euphemia has to put herself first, just this once, she has to practice some self preservation. So, maybe that’s why she indulges in being with Walburga while she still can.
Euphemia is thinking just this when Walburga enters the dorm, they’re alone, one last time Euphemia tells herself. Maybe that’s why when Walburga wordlessly comes in and lays down on Euphemia's bed with her, she wraps her own arms around her in return.
“Effie,” Walburga practically purrs into Euphemia’s ear.
“I love when you call me that.” Euphemia bites her ear as she whispers.
They kiss like that for a long while, both of them eager to touch as much as they can without taking it too far. But fuck it, this is probably the last time will ever feel Walburga underneath her finger tips, so just this once she pushes it a little further.
With no warning Euphemia’s leg comes between Walburga’s thighs and the girl's eyes shoot open, before slowly rolling back. Leaving Euphemia satisfied enough to keep going. As they kiss with Euphemia’s knee still pushing up between the other girl's thighs Walburga starts to ride it, and this, this they’d never done before. Kissing? Yeah. Hickeys? Of course. But actually getting off they’d never pushed it, not wanting to do something they couldn’t take back.
While Walburga rides Euphemia’s thigh, illicit moans of pleasure roll out of her mouth indicating that yes, she wants this just as much as Euphemia does.
After Walburga’s come down from her high, Euphemia can’t help but look at her sadly.
“What’s that for?” Walburga whispers. “You look sad.”
“I love you.” Euphemia admits. Like it brings her actual pain to say it aloud.
“Don’t ruin it Effie.” She says effectively breaking Euphemia’s heart.
“Leave,” She says, scarily calm. “Get off my bed now.”
Walburga does so, just as cold as ever. She leaves the room not even glancing over at Euphemia as she goes. They didn’t speak again for seventeen years.
-
After the night in the astronomy tower, Fleamont and Orion started seeing each other more, by chance. The first few times they bumped into each other and wouldn’t make eye contact. Then it was being potions partners on a project. But what really did them in was the week of detention. It’s hard not to talk when you are alone with one person for hours everyday.
So, the third night of dusting trophies Fleamont breaks the silence.
“Can you say something?” He exclaims sick of this cold treatment.
Orion just looks up at Fleamont with an unimpressed glare. This jerk really does not care about anybody or anything and it pisses Fleamont off to no end.
“What?” He tries again “you mute now or something.”
“No, just some people don’t like talking to those less than.” Orion replies smoothly
Fleamont flings himself at the other boy ready to hit him with everything he has. Cause really? Spoiled little rich kid is gonna talk to him like that. No way.
He lands one good hit before he sees it. He’s doing this on purpose, he wants Fleamont to hit him. At this he stills, the boy beneath him despite being seventeen, a grown man, looks so young.
“Why are you doing this to me?” Fleamont whispers as he slides down to the floor by the trophy case, Orion following him down with a blooming bruise on his cheek. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you since…”
It’s left unspoken, the kiss. They both remember, they both are dying trying to ignore its existence. They both want the other more than anything. This all becomes clear when they lock eyes again.
On the floor with another hour of detention it happens again. They kiss right there unmoving for what feels like forever but is really just minutes.
“Don’t regret me again.” Fleamont says, mostly to himself.
“I never did” Orion answers softly, as soft as Fleamont had ever heard him.
They stay like that on the ground in silence until they have to go back to their houses.
-
It goes on like that until the end of school, nothing more than a hookup once or twice a week. To Orion it’d meant everything, those months of touch, feeling.
They never say goodbye, they are just left there as a moment in time.
-
A year later Euphemia is living life as a muggle. After putting up enough wards to hide her from her parents she was free.
She is the first runaway Slytherin, the first Parkinson to take her life and actually live it. She lives a quiet life working as a receptionist at a local newspaper.
She’s happy, and for the first time her happiness isn’t reliant on someone else, she is happy with herself and what she’s done.
She’d thought she’d left the wizarding world behind completely when she was at work and a familiar face walked in. Fleamont Potter, they’d never spoken much in school but she knew him right away being the quidditch star he was in school. Maybe he won’t recognize her, she hoped he wouldn’t, she left behind that life and did not intend to go back under any circumstances.
When he comes up to her desk to greet her, she tries to hide her face behind a folder she is holding up. “What can I do for you?” She chirps, still trying to keep her face hidden.
“I’m here for an interview,” He responds in a confused tone not particularly understanding why the woman in front of him was acting so strangely. “Sorry, I’m not really familiar with how this works.” He gestures his arms around the office they are in.
“You can just follow me.” Euphemia says more confidently now that she doesn't think he’ll remember her. He’s in his own little world, she thinks relieved.
After she shows him to the head journalists office curiously she wonders what Fleamont Potter is doing at a muggle newspaper office. She makes a note to ask her boss what his story was about.
-
When Fleamont left school he started experimenting with different potions that would fix his mess of hair and that’s when he figured it out. Sleakeazy potion for messy hair, it was so perfect and he really did try to make it in the wizarding world, but Potter isn’t exactly a name that turns a lot of heads.
But when he reworked the potion into a serum to put in hair and decided to try his luck in the muggle world everything changed.
They loved it! How simple and effortless it was and almost immediately it took off. This is why he finds himself giving an interview to a newspaper writer in muggle London.
The last person he expected to see at the front desk was Euphemia Parkinson, what was a member of the sacred twenty eight doing at a muggle job in london. She was acting so strangely too.
If Fleamont learned anything from his time with Orion it was to approach with caution, and that’s just what he did.
When he came out of the interview he went up to Euphemia’s desk slowly and with a warm smile.
“Euphemia?” He asked and she looked up from her papers. “Do you want to talk?”
Despite her looking slightly scared she agreed to go out for coffee with him. Not as anything just because they were both lonely wizards living in muggle london, it only made sense that they’d become friends.
-
After a few months of friendship, they became as close as two people could be. One night when the lighting was just right and the two of them were ready, they kissed.
That was in September.
By January they were married.
By the next March they had a son.
They named him James.
Sometimes love isn’t screaming matches and rough kisses. Sometimes it’s just a partnership and a commitment to always be there for one another.