kiss me, beneath the milky twilight

『 m a r a u d e r s 』

- 𝚘 𝚗 𝚎 𝚜 𝚑 𝚘 𝚝 𝚜 -

↠ [Love From the Other Side]

summary/prompt: Sirius Black x reader, Love From the Other Side by Fallout Boy

warning(s): blood, death, death eaters, voldemort in the flesh, yk, not good ending

↠ [London Boy]

summary/prompt: James Potter x reader, London Boy by Taylor Swift

warning(s): nothing

↠ [Mine]

summary/prompt: Remus Lupin x reader, Mine by Taylor Swift

warning(s): death? idek

↠ [Broken One]

summary/prompt: James Potter x reader, Broken One by RaeLynn

warning(s): divorce (if you need to talk, reach out. this is something I know personally so I'd love to be someone you can trust about it.)

↠ [arms]

summary/prompt: Sirius Black x reader, arms by Christina Perri

warning(s): Sirius :)

↠ [Cold]

summary/prompt: Sirius Black x reader, I hate making these.

warning(s): ptsd, flashbacks, trauma, yk, the usual with our boy Sirius

↠ [Horribly Right]

summary/prompt: Sirius Black x reader, after seeing Sirius being slapped by his mother, you decide to pull a prank that's outcome goes horribly... right?

warning(s): abuse, getting disowned

↠ [Like you hold the world in your hands, and the stars in your eyes]

summary/prompt: Sirius Black x reader, none (once a pt. 2 is posted this will be moved to the series section)

warning(s): none really, just cursing

↠ ["Just Friends"]

summary/prompt: James Potter x reader, truth or dare leads to drunken confessions leads to sweet kisses

warning(s): alcohol, mentions of weed

↠ [Lover]

summary/prompt: Remus Lupin x reader, Lover by Taylor Swift

warning(s): none I don't think

↠ [Pancakes for Dinner]

summary/prompt: James Potter x reader, Pancakes for Dinner my Lizzie McAlpine

warning(s): heavy anxiety omg, plane crash-ish?

↠ [Timeless]

summary/prompt: James Potter x reader, Timeless by Taylor Swift

warning(s): none

↠ [Possibility]

summary/prompt: Sirius Black x reader, loosely inspired by Possibility by Likke Li

warning(s): heartbreak. not a

↠ [It's Okay]

summary/prompt: Sirius Black x Reader, reader is acting differently. Angrier, sadder.

warning(s): nothing too explicit, just some tough things

- 𝚜 𝚎 𝚛 𝚒 𝚎 𝚜 -

↠ [Adele; 19 as fics]

summary/prompt: it's own mini masterlist, the songs from her first album as fics

warning(s): different for each fic

↠ [Dying pt.1] [Definitely (Dying) pt.2]

summary/prompt: poly!marauders x reader, the marauders had known their girlfriend smoked to dissipate the pain from her abusive family. They just didn't know how bad it could, and would get

summary/prompt pt.2: poly!marauders x reader, a failed attempt and a year later, y/n is finally okay

warning(s): serious TW, mentions of abuse, toxic asf family, drug abuse, weed, alcohol, whiskey, underage drinking and smoking, substance abuse, self harm, cuts, abuse (ish?), depression (not mentioned but apparent), seriously bad mental health

↠ [I Don't Know Who You're Talking About] [You (pt.2)]

summary/prompt: Remus Lupin x reader, after everyone they loved was gone, they needed each other but he was too scared (i'm not very good at these)

summary/prompt pt.2: after twelve years, she meets him again

warning(s): angst, blood, sad, murder, the usual

↠ [No pt.1] [Yes (No) pt.2]

summary/prompt: James Potter x reader, James won't give up until he gets a yes

summary/prompt pt.2: James Potter x reader, James finally gets a yes and makes sure you don't regret it

warning(s): James is lowkey and pushover and I'm pretty sure asking someone to go out over and over again is harassment so that too

↠ [a christmas advent calendar]

summary/prompt: mini masterlist, just 25 days of Christmas (my birthday!)

warning(s): different for each fic

↠ [Between Shadows and Flight]

summary/prompt: A guarded Slytherin girl, haunted by grief, discovers a hidden mirror that reveals her truest desire—and an unexpected future with Sirius Black. As war looms and secrets unravel, she follows the path of an ominous raven, drawn into an ancient ritual buried beneath the castle. Love and pain intertwine, forcing her to choose between the past that binds her and the future that might save her.

warning(s): grief, loss, angst, self-harm, suicidal ideation, trauma, emotional distress, death, war, blood magic, emotional manipulation, family conflict, supernatural elements, dark magic, isolation, obsession, gothic imagery, psychological turmoil

『 h a r r y p o t t e r 』

- 𝚘 𝚗 𝚎 𝚜 𝚑 𝚘 𝚝 𝚜 -

↠ [Can't Help but Love You]

summary/prompt: preferance, Draco Malfoy x reader, Matteo Riddle x reader, request

warning(s): none

- 𝚜 𝚎 𝚛 𝚒 𝚎 𝚜 -

『 s i x o f c r o w s 』

- 𝚘 𝚗 𝚎 𝚜 𝚑 𝚘 𝚝 𝚜 -

↠ [Always By Your Side]

summary/prompt: Kaz Brekker x reader, Saturn by Sleeping At Last

warning(s): slightly ooc Kaz, death, mentions of sickness, blood, could be an interpretation of suicide if you look at the end closely

↠ [Crazy]

summary/prompt: Kaz Brekker x reader, Trouble by Valerie Broussard, the enemy of your enemy is your friend... unless they are also your enemy

warning(s): blood?, knives, uhhhh violence lmfao, enemies to lovers

- 𝚜 𝚎 𝚛 𝚒 𝚎 𝚜 -

『 a v a t a r (2 0 0 9)』

- 𝚘 𝚗 𝚎 𝚜 𝚑 𝚘 𝚝 𝚜 -

↠ [It's okay, baby]

summary/prompt: Tsu'tey x reader, Tsu'tey has a nightmare

warning(s): blood, death

- 𝚜 𝚎 𝚛 𝚒 𝚎 𝚜 -

『 h a m i l t o n 』

- 𝚘 𝚗 𝚎 𝚜 𝚑 𝚘 𝚝 𝚜 -

↠ [All I Need is You]

summary/prompt: Daveed Diggs x reader, after a suicide attempt you're empty yet Daveed never left your side. What happens when you drag him down with you?

warning(s): suicide, self harm, bandages, sadness ig

↠ [Pretty in the Moonlight]

summary/prompt: Thomas Jefferson x reader, just missing your boyfriend and him missing you (this won't turn to black for some reason LMFAO)

warning(s): broken glass, cheesy Thomas

- 𝚜 𝚎 𝚛 𝚒 𝚎 𝚜 -

『 o u t e r b a n k s 』

- 𝚘 𝚗 𝚎 𝚜 𝚑 𝚘 𝚝 𝚜 -

↠ [I can't lose my girl]

summary/prompt: JJ Maybank x reader, JJ finds his girlfriend in a horrifying state after wanting to spend the night with her

warning(s): suicide, OD, foaming at the mouth

↠ [You cut?]

summary/prompt: JJ Maybank x reader, JJ walks in on reader doing something that breaks his heart

warning(s): TW self harm, blood, cuts, broken glass

↠ [Live For You?]

summary/prompt: JJ Maybank x reader, reader is fresh out of the mental hospital

warning(s): huge TW, suicide, self harm, mental hospital, mentions of alcohol and weed

↠ [How Well Do We Know Each Other (interview)]

summary/prompt: OBX cast x reader, Rudy Pankow x reader, the obx cast gets put to the test on how well they know their coworkers (again it won't turn black)

warning(s): drug mention, not proofread

↠ [Believe]

summary/prompt: John B Routledge x reader, your ex treasure hunting partner is your future romantic partners dad

warning(s): SPOILERS SEASON 3! swearing, mention of gun, suggestion of rape (nothing explicit, not even the word), burns, Rafe Cameron

↠ [Touron]

summary/prompt: JJ Maybank x reader, going on vacation isn't so bad when a certain blondie comes into your life

warning(s): underage drinking, underae smoking, swearing, gun, topper

↠ [Snow?]

summary/prompt: JJ Maybank x reader, the Outer Banks becomes a winter wonderland

warning(s): swearing

- 𝚜 𝚎 𝚛 𝚒 𝚎 𝚜 -

『 m a r v e l 』

- 𝚘 𝚗 𝚎 𝚜 𝚑 𝚘 𝚝 𝚜 -

↠ [Reunions and Goodbyes]

summary/prompt: Peter Quill x reader, after your best friend disappeared you made a name for yourself with the help of the Avengers, what happens when you accidently find said best friend again? But in space?

warning(s): death 😋, not proofread

- 𝚜 𝚎 𝚛 𝚒 𝚎 𝚜 -

(masterlist template by @hyunnows, text dividers by @cafekitsune)

“I am so glad,” Angelina says, leaning in, no longer paying attention to the front.

Alicia nods in agreement. “Finally, we’re even with the boys; we’ve been outnumbered since first year.”

Y/n quietly laughs, sparing the boys a glance, “They said you’d feel that way.”

Fred kicks her foot under the table, “Now you’re stuck with us.” He grins at her, George sporting a matching look.

“I wonder who you’ll be rooming with,” Lee adds.

Alicia hums, “What a coincidence that we’ve an extra bed in our room.” She glances at Angelina, who nods.

“It’s like fate.”

“Fate, huh?” George muses, catching Y/n’s eye. Etoile still lies in his lap, purring quietly as he strokes her head.

She smiles smally, “What a load of boloney.”

It was to little surprise that Y/n was, in fact, placed in the three-person dorm with Angelina and Alicia. Her stuff was already in her room once she arrived, in front of the bed next to the window. She opened her trunk and unpacked her things, taking her time to neatly put her folded clothes into her drawers and to arrange her trinkets on her side table. Y/n pauses when she comes across a frame, inside which is a photo of her family. It was taken when she was a baby, and she’s being held by her grandfather. Her little eyes looked up at the man in awe, and he smiled lovingly at her, like she was the only thing in the world. That was the last photo taken of her grandparents before they passed due to unknown circumstances. She sets the photo down, rubbing her eyes whilst being careful not to smudge her makeup.

Angelina sits beside her on her bed, “Hey, we have a tradition where we sneak into the boys’ dorm to eat candy and joke about. Would you like to come?”

Y/n tears her eyes from the photo, “I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

“That’d be the last thing you’d do.” She wraps her arm around her shoulders. “I would like you to be there, and I’m sure everyone else would agree with that.”

She offers Angelina a small smile, “Then I’d love to come.”

“Perfect, change into your pajamas and take off your makeup, all that jazz, then we’ll head up together. Alicia is waiting for us in the Common Room.” Angelina stands. “Don’t tell anyone, but she’s got a small crush on Abel Willows. He’s a fourth year, though. She’s with him.”

Y/n nods with a soft hum, “Is he cute?”

The girl shrugs, “Eh, enough. Do you have a hot French boyfriend or something?”

“Mm, no.” She shakes her head, pulling her pajama shorts out of her drawers. “I am only thirteen.”

“Some start young. Who am I to judge?”

Y/n laughs softly, “Well, no. No boyfriend.”

“Yet.” Angelina wiggles her brows, “The world is your oyster, babes. Hogwarts provides many fine men and women.”

George tosses a rubber ball into the air and catches it easily, taking a bean from their shared box of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans. He grimaces at the taste, gagging slightly. Vomit. He listens as Fred and Lee speak to each other, bouncing ideas off each other.

“Maybe she’s a long-lost French princess.” Lee muses, hitting Fred square in the face with a peppermint toad.

Fred hums, popping the candy into his mouth, “I can definitely see that. Do you think she’ll teach me French?”

George snorts, shaking his head, “I think she’ll quickly find you’re a lost cause, then.”

“I know French,” Lee says confidently.

Fred quirks a brow and nods him along, “Go on then.”

“My friend taught me this, goes to Beauxbatons himself.” Lee clears his throat. “Je suis excité parce que tu es très canon.” (Translation: I am horny because you are very hot)

The girls stand at the door, and Y/n’s eyes are wide. She clears her throat, her cheeks painted by a faint pink.

“What did he just say?” Fred asks Y/n, and she shakes her head.

Lee glances at her, “What? I don’t know what it means, but my friend had me say that to a girl I thought was cute.”

“And what was the outcome of that?” Y/n asks quietly, embarrassed.

Lee pauses and scratches his head, “She slapped me?”

Y/n nods, “Valid reaction.”

“What did he say?” Alicia asks as she steps into the room, pulling the girls with her.

George scoots over so someone can sit beside him and use his bed as a backrest as well. “I’d like to know as well, I mean, if it warrants a slap.”

“I need to know if I should be slapping him as well-” Fred joins in.

Y/n lowers herself next to George, “Uh- well, you told her…” She looks down at her hands. “That you were- I’m not sure I actually know the English word for it.”

Angelina shoves Fred over and sits next to him, “Do your best. Maybe try to explain it and we can fill in the blanks.”

“Right well, it is when you find someone attractive and you… feel things?” Y/n was embarrassed. She had just met these people, and she was trying to explain what such an explicit word meant. What a school this is.

Lee tilted his head, “Like feelings? Having a crush on someone?”

Y/n shakes her head, “No, no. More. Physically.”

Alicia furrows her brows, “Butterflies? Or…” Her eyes widen and her jaw drops. “No way.”

Angelina stifles a laugh behind her hand, “Horny?”

Y/n’s eyes light up, and she nods, pointing, “Yes! Yes. You have said that you are horny because she is very hot.”

Lee pales and reddens simultaneously, and he drops his head into his hands, shaking his head in disbelief. “I need new friends.”

George grins, “Apparently.”

Fred places his hand over his heart and waves at him seductively, “I, for one, am flattered. I didn’t know I had such an effect on you, Lee Jordan.” The group bursts into laughter, and even Lee laughs behind his hands.

Minutes later, the group is passing around candies and stories. Fred eats one in particular that makes his voice rise multiple octaves and fluctuate as he talks about the first-ever prank he and his twin pulled in Hogwarts. The prank was rather small, and something George commented was “amateur”, but it amazed Y/n nonetheless. Students at Beauxbatons were too afraid of punishment to participate in activities like such activities. Consequences were strict, and many people were occupied with being perfect in all ways.

Fred stands suddenly; the effect of the candy has worn off completely. “Frenchie, my friend, I have a question for you.”

Y/n nods, “Yes?”

“Will you speak to us in French? Woo us, perhaps?”

Angelina scoffs, “Fred, sit down and shut up. That’s a weird thing to ask of someone.”

Alicia shrugs, glancing over to Y/n, “I like listening to French people speak, though, so I understand. They speak so beautifully.”

A faint blush spreads across Y/n’s face, “I wouldn’t know what to say.”

“Introduce yourself in French, maybe?” George offers.

Y/n hums, “Bonjour, je m’appelle Y/n L/n. J’ai a treize ans, et j’habi-”

Lee interrupts her, “How do you do that thing with the 'r’s?”

“Thing with the 'r’s?” The girl glances around questioningly and shrugs. “I don’t know, I just do.”

“Teach me how to say 'My name is George, and I am amazing, ' in French,” Fred says.

George rolls his eyes, “You’re not George.”

“Je m’appelle George, et je suis incroyable.” Y/n smiles. Fred nods, attempting to say the sentence exactly how she did. Y/n snorts, nodding slowly. “Sure. I could understand that enough.”

Fred grins, “I’m basically French.”

Angelina rolls her eyes and pinches his side, causing him to flinch away from her, “You’re annoying.”

As the air gets colder, the friendships between the third-year students only grow stronger. Y/n and the twins had grown particularly close, and she finds that every letter sent home involves them in some way, shape, or form. Her parents were happy, but they advised her to stay out of their antics, as they wouldn’t be satisfied hearing she got detention due to one of their pranks. Y/n would reassure them, then turn around and help the two boys plan their mischievous acts, though she never directly participated. Y/n had attempted to teach her friends some French, but nothing but a few funny-sounding words or phrases actually stuck, so she found herself giving up rather quickly.

Eventually, Christmas break rolled around. Y/n had received a letter a few weeks prior from her parents, explaining that they had to go to America for business and couldn’t house her over break. Thankfully, the twins had gotten a similar letter, explaining how their parents were visiting their older brother, Charlie, in Romania. The three of them bid goodbye to the other half of their friend group and then spent Christmas break doing various activities together. Snowball fights were frequent, and often included Harry and Ron, and they were even able to get professors to join in once.

The actual day of Christmas was spent opening gifts from family and friends, and playing various pranks on the two younger boys, which Y/n had actually participated in. If the trio wasn’t close before, they’re inseparable now. With inside jokes they didn’t even realize were created, or laughing just because the others existed. By the time their friends came back, they felt as if they’d been gone for years, missing out on jokes that had the three of them clutching their stomachs in laughter. But their friends didn’t mind; in fact, it was entertaining for them.

The year came to a close faster than any of them had liked. Y/n was walking with the girls, and they were speaking about meeting up during the summer. Angelina and Alicia wanted to visit France with Y/n, and she was already thinking about how she would propose the idea to her parents. Meanwhile, the twins, with the help of Lee, had been preparing for their end-of-year prank, which they wanted to be better than ever. Y/n had been informed of the ones they pulled the previous years, and she had nodded along, grateful she wasn’t present for those. She could only hope this year that she had gotten close enough to them to be spared from their unforgiving antics.

Her hopes crashed and burned the moment she walked into the Great Hall. Orange slime pours over her and her friends, covering her completely. She gasps and immediately gags as the substance reaches her taste buds. Maniacal laughter bursts out beside the three girls as Y/n wipes goo from her eyes, the others following along. They glare at the boys furiously, but Y/n’s face lights up suddenly as she walks towards the boys.

“George, you look like you need a hug.” She says with a grin.

George stops laughing and shakes his head, “No- no, I definitely do not.” But he doesn’t have time to move out of her way as she wraps her arms tightly around his shoulders, effectively getting goo on the boy.

This made Fred and Lee laugh harder, to the point where snorts were falling from Fred’s lips, and Lee was basically wheezing. Unfortunately for them, the other two girls had decided to follow suit, and they hugged the other boys suddenly. There’s a moment of silence before the entire group bursts into laughter, clinging to each other. Professors and students watch curiously, grins sporting some faces. Professor McGonagall shakes her head as she approaches the group, waving her wand silently to instantly clean all the goo away.

“It would do you six good to take your seats.” She looks to the twins, who were peeling away from their respective huggers. “Mr. and Mr. Weasley, you are lucky that there are no further evenings to spend cleaning my classroom. Move along.”

The six children took their usual spots at the Gryffindor table, listening intently as the boys laughed about the others that have fallen victim to their prank that day. Y/n takes the moment to watch her friends with a content smile. The bonds she had gained with these five had grown unbreakable quickly, and she finds herself grateful that her family had stumbled upon the Weasleys. It brought her to the twins, who brought her to Lee, who eventually brought her to Angelina and Alicia. She had grown more fond of these in a year than she had of anyone in her lifetime in France. These were her people, whom she had no doubt would be in her life until the end of it, and then beyond.

my masterlist

I am assuming that if you liked the previous post, you wanted to be notified of future posts. If this is a mistake, please let me know!

The girl tugs on her father’s sleeve, “Papa, peut-être qu'ils peuvent aider.” She motions to the family, and her father nods, mumbling an affirmation. He gently pulls his wife and daughter towards the family.

“Excuse me,” Her father says, his voice thickly accented. The family pauses and looks to the man expectantly. “Uh, would you be able to help us find Platform 9 ¾? We are not from here, and my daughter is transferring to Hogwarts for her third year.”

Her mother pops in, her English easier to understand, “We are simply lost on how to access the platform.”

The woman in the group gives the family of three a warm smile, “Ah, of course, we will help. You are not the only ones confused.” The small, black haired boy smiles sheepishly. “My sons are in the same year as your daughter; they can help her through the wall.” The girl's eyes find two boys, almost identical, with short red hair.

“I’m George,” One says.

“Uh, Y/n.” She introduces herself politely. “Y/n L/n.”

The other furrows his brows, “You’re not George, I am.” The girl tilts her head, confused as she glances towards the woman again.

The woman sighs, “Percy, you first.”

The tallest of the group gives Y/n and her family a polite nod before running straight for the pillar. She gasps softly as he moves through the wall and disappears. Despite going to a magical school for two years, she grew up a muggle, and magic still amazes her from time to time.

“Fred, you next.”

The shorter one of the two gives her wide eyes, “He’s not Fred, I am!” Y/n’s father hums, confused.

The other (George?) shakes his head, “Honestly, woman, you call yourself our mother.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, George.” She motions for him to move along.

George moves in front of the wall and grins at his mother, “I’m only joking. I am Fred.” Her father mumbles something in French, her mother nods along, and Y/n tries to hide a smile. The second boy, whom she thinks is the real George, looks at her with a smile.

“Come along then, we’ll go in together. It’s easier for your first time.”

Y/n glances at her parents, and they nod with encouraging smiles. She pushes her trolley forward with the boy, and together they run towards the wall. The feeling of phasing through the wall is different and leaves her skin tingly. Fred is waiting for them on the other side, and he smiles at the two of them.

“I am Fred.” He reassures, holding his hand out. She shakes it with a smile as George nods.

“And I am George. We just like messing with our mum.” He affirms with a grin.

Y/n nods, “I assumed.” Fred opens his mouth to ask a question, but he doesn’t have a chance to ask it as Y/n’s parents appear by them.

Her father looks at the boys, “May we have a final moment with our daughter? Then she is all yours.” Fred and George nod politely, and they distance themselves from the family.

Y/n’s mother pulls her into a tight hug, “Tu vas nous manquer.” (Translation: We will miss you.)

Y/n reciprocates the hug with a smile, “Et moi, toi, mama.” (Translation: And me, you.)

They pull away, and her father smiles, ruffling her hair before pulling her into a hug as well, “Reste loin des ennuis, ma puce, et n'oublie pas de nous écrire.” (Translation: Stay out of trouble, my flea, and don’t forget to write us.)

She nods as he lets her go. Her father wraps an arm around her mother, and they look at her with pride. Her father cocks his head towards the twin, silently telling her to go on. She grabs onto her trolley, and her cat meows curiously from inside its cage, having just woken up from its nap.

“Je t’aime.” She says, finally, and they reciprocate as she walks towards the two redheads, now joined by a boy with dark skin.

“Y/n, this is our friend, Lee Jordan.” Fred (she thinks) introduces.

Said boy smiles and holds out his hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Y/n takes it, “You as well.”

“Angelina and Alicia already boarded the train. They said they’d save us a compartment.” George speaks up. “They’ll be glad to have another girl in the group.”

Fred pats Y/n’s shoulder, “In case you haven’t noticed, we are adopting you as our friend. All of our friends.”

On the train, Y/n met Angelina and Alicia, and quickly decided that she liked them very much, along with the three boys. She was immensely grateful she found them at the station. She explained that had originally been attending Beauxbatons in France, but for reasons she was unaware of, her family had to move to England. Despite not wanting to, her parents had forced her to transfer schools as well. The group had told her more about Hogwarts. The way it’s run, the houses, the professors. She now knew that once she arrived at Hogwarts, she would need to be sorted into her house. She hoped for Gryffindor, solely because her newfound friends all belonged to that house. Y/n had noticed that her friends didn’t like the Slytherins much, but were indifferent to Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.

She looked out the window as the other began engaging in conversation. Her cat, whom she had taken out of its cage, now sat on her lap, once again napping. She watches the scenery go by, her stomach slightly unsettled. Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice.

“What’s your cats name?” George asks gently from beside her.

She looks over to him, “Étoile. It means star, in French.”

“Étoile,” George tries the name on his tongue and smiles. “Why star?"

She smiles as she gently pets her cat, “My mum is an astronomer. I had gone to work with her one day, and when I got home my dad had gotten me a cat. I figured it was only right to name her Étoile.”

George hums as the cat, now awake, blinks at him curiously. “Can I pet her?”

Y/n hums, and he does so gently. The cat stands, sniffing his hand, before making her way to his lap and finding a comfortable spot there. He laughs softly, looking down at the creature.

“I think she likes me.”

Y/n nods, “I think you’re right.” She makes eye contact with him and offers him a smile, which he returns happily.

Y/n finds herself in a sea of small first-years, all awaiting to be sorted. She was told by an older lady, Professor McGonagall, that she would be up to get sorted first, as they try to prioritize transfers. While they all waited, she conversed quietly with the boy from the station, and the twins’ little brother, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. They had a small dispute with a blonde boy, Draco Malfoy, but it was interrupted by Professor McGonagall, instructing the students to enter the Great Hall.

Y/n looks around the large room with awe. The ceiling was enchanted as the night sky, and there were hundreds of floating candles lighting the room. There were four rows of large tables, surrounded by students sitting impatiently in front of plates, waiting for the sorting ceremony to be over so they could eat. Her eyes meet her friends, and she waves at them, they give encouraging smiles in return, Fred even sends her a thumbs up.

As promised, her name was called first. She walks to the front of the room nervously, her stomach churning. She felt everyones eyes on her as she sits on the low stool, and a regal brown hat is lowered onto her head. Her heart beats heavily against her chest, and she breathes deeply, willing for it to slow down. A curious weight settles on her chest, something heavy, but not physical. She felt as if someone was looking, not at her, but in her. She shuts her eyes tightly.

The hat sighs deeply, before a voice fills her head, “Ah, interesting. Very interesting, indeed. You’re not an east one. There’s ambition in you - yes, yes. The kind that could climb high, if you so desire. You’ve a thirst to prove yourself, to carve out a space in history for you. That’s Slytherin’s gift, it calls to you.”

A chill runs down her spine. Her back straightens and her muscles tense. The air of the Great Hall seems tense, and she finds herself wishing she was still at Beauxbatons. “Oh? But there’s more. A fire, bright and reckless, unwilling to cower. That’s Gryffindor, loud and clear. You would fight for everything that matter. Sacrifice anything, even if that means losing it all. You are brave… more than you think, more than you admit even to yourself.”

Brave. She had always been cautious, careful. A survivor, her parents had once said, after she had recovered from a rather nasty dog attack. But she had never thought of herself as brave. However, a warmth spread throughout her chest, a spark she couldn’t name.

“Ah, and loyalty,” the Hat continued. “You care for others, fiercely, deeply, and loudly. That is Hufflepuff’s strength. You are humble. You do not seek glory, only the safety of those you hold dear. And don’t think I’ve missed the sharpness of your mind. A trait of Ravenclaw’s, no doubt. You notice things others don’t, connect things.”

Her mind swirls with thoughts. Confusion befuddles her. She knows nothing of any of this, and this Hat knows her better than she seems to know herself. It brings up things she hadn’t thought of, things she barely believes. But why would the Hat lie?

“So which is it? Shadows or fire? Loyalty or wit? You could belong to any of them. And yet you belong only to one.”

She wills for the Hat to choose, for this to be over. The weight of everyone’s stares is crushing on her, and she’s been sitting on the damned stool for what’s felt like hours, but she’s sure has only been a few minutes. The suspension of it all is leaving her on edge, and her hands grip the sides of the stool until her knuckles turn white.

“Brave.” The Hat repeats, it’s voice deeper know. Enticing, ominous. “Courage tempered with cunning, tempered with wisdom, tempered with loyalty. You will do well. Your fire shall guide you… and perhaps one day, you will change the world.”

The entirety of the Great Hall is silent, the only sound being the quiet crackles of the flames above.

“Gryffindor!”

my masterlist