𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞.

ophélie faustine allaire 

(   cis   woman   |   she/her   |   ester   exposito   )   ——   isn’t   that   OPHÉLIE   “ELLIE”   ALLAIRE?   yeah   that   is   them,   sitting   there   at   the   RAVENCLAW   table   with   those   other   SEVENTH   years.   when   sybill   looks   into   that   crystal   ball   of   hers,   she   sees   clenched   fists   &   split   lips;   bruised   knuckles;   blood   red   wine   in   a   cracked   glass;   a   ruined   painting   with   it’s   canvas   slashed   which   seems   about   right   for   that   NINETEEN   year   old.   anyway   i’ve   heard   they’re   pretty   VINDICTIVE,   BELIGERENT,   and   VOLATILE.   apparently   they’re   a   MEMBER   of   VENIT   TEMPESTAS   and   PUREBLOOD   but   i’m   sure   that’s   not   related…

CHARACTER   INSPO:   lady   macbeth   (macbeth),   gwendolen   fairfax   (the   importance   of   being   earnest),   eleanor   shellstrop   (the   good   place),   anne   boleyn   (six),   sera   (dragon   age:   inqusition),   yennefer   of   vengerberg   (the   witcher   &   witcher   3)

pinterest

          ❛     𝑢𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑦,        what  this  woman  is   asking   for  is  impossible .     ❜

    ❝   did  you  already  forget  that  i  said  i  would  pay  earlier  ?  you  can  buy  next  time  ,  i  promise  . ❞ 

    𝑜𝑓  𝑡ℎ𝑒  𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑠           barty   imagines  have  ellie  feeling   puppeteered   ,   he’ll  admit  to  the  shock  of  it  being  so   literal .   he  forgoes  the  subtlety  then ,   tensing  to  wait  on   more ,    ❛     from   who  ,   ❜    it’s  barely  posed  like  a  question ;   the  words   grating   through  his  frown ,   imposed   in  the  narrowing  of  his  eyes .   it  implodes  in  something  that   retracts   quickly  in  his  chest ,   a  not - too - unfamiliar  emotion  boiling   red   in   him .    it  isn’t  too  difficult  to  press   past   it  to  further  answer  her .   he’s  only  surprised  to  feel  it   simmer   as  he  goes  on ,   unwithstanding  his  usual  asphyxiation ,   despite  the  gentleness  he  exudes  in  bringing  a  hand  under  ellie’s  jaw  after  he  thinks  it  over ,   trying  to  coax  her  over  for  the  answer ,      ❛     you’re   unyielding ,   ❜      he  explains .    ❛    unapologetically   whatever   you   decide .   ❜      because  it’s  different  from  unapologetically   one’s  self .    he   knows   ellie  does   too  much   in  nothing  more  than  the  name  of  pettiness .  of   proof .   coercion .   and  likely   more .     ❛    i  can’t  say  it’s  common  to  find  that ,    let  alone  where  it  would  turn  an  interest  to   me ,   as  well .    most   would  read   disinterest  on   my   part .    but   you   didn’t .   i’m  fairly  sure  the  only  consensus   i’ve   gotten  is  that  we’re   not   the  same .    nearly   opposites ,  ❜    a  foil  to  myself ,   his  mind  supplies .   without  the   clash   that  should  usually  come  with  it ,   on  spectrums  much  like  the  parts   he   plays  himself .    smoke  to  his  mirror ,    as  if  pushing  all  that  he  isn’t  to  the  forefront  would  hide  much  of  what  he   is .     but  how  does  he   say   that  there’s  the   mirror   of  it  in  her  without   revealing   too  much ?    that  she  chases ,   knowingly  or  not ,   for   every   aspect  of  him ,    relishes  in  it  —   without   confirming   it  outright .     it’s  all  another  game  to  play ,    but  a  new  one .    a  breath  from  the   boredom ,   without  having  to   forgo   any  of  it .     ❛    but  i  don’t  think   you   got  that  from  me  at  all ,  ❜   he  settles  on  the   hint  of  it  instead ,   eyes  fully  boring  into  hers  for  it ,    before  softening  again .     ❛    and  i’m   more   than  interested  in  seeing  how  you  came  to  that   conclusion .    just  as  i  am  interested  in   every   conclusion  you   come   to ,    should  it  be  grating  my  nerves  or   not .   ❜     he  supplies  with  an  added   gleam   in  his  eye .    it’s  true ,   in  the  end ,   that  he’s  only  ever  so   easy   on  the   forgiving   end  of  ellie  by  way  of  her  mind .   what  she  chooses  to   latch   to  surprising  him  to  no  end ,   and  honestly   —   it’s   refreshing ,   to  be  so   abruptly   taken  aback  without  it  necessarily  being   entirely   inane .

                    letting   the   first   bit   of   information   slip   ,      the   biggest   ,      did   not   ,     as   so   often   was   the   case   ,      help   the   rest   come   easier   ;      rather   ellie   found   herself   freezing   up   having   let   it   slip   ,      the   absence   of   the   secret   she   held   so   close   ,      had   done   so   most   her   life   ,      leaving   her   feeling   almost   as   hollow   as   she   did   when   the   curse   possessed   her   mind   .      but   it   was   once   again   how   barty   prompted   her   that   stopped   the   slow   stream   that   was   her   confession   from   drying   up   ,      how   he   didn’t   question   ,      her   or   her   story   ,      merely   showed   he   was   listening   ,      waiting   for   the   rest   .      and   never   pushing   .      as   antagonistic   as   she   could   be   towards   him   at   times   ,      toying   with   the   feelings   she   knew   now   they   both   had   for   each   other   ,      she   was   finding   something   new   to   crave   after   in   quiet   moments   such   as   this   .      the   feeling   of   being   known   by   someone   ,      really   and   truly   known   ,      body   and   soul   .      and   so   she   continued   her   tale   ,      the   story   of   how   she   became   just   who   she   was   ;      cracked   and   broken   ,      the   fragmented   shell   of   a   girl   who   pretended   vulgarity   and   volatility   was   an   apt   substitute   for   being   anything   close   to   a   person   .      picking   up   not   where   she   had   left   of   ,      nor   from   the   question   that   wasn’t   a   question   barty   had   posed   but   rather   from   a   place   where   the   scattering   ribbons   of   her   recollection   had   tangled   into   a   knot   she   was   just   barely   starting   to   unravel   .         ❝      i   was   so   young   when   it   started   ,      just   ten   i   think   ?      its   all   a   mess   .      but   we’d   barely   moved   over   here   when   she’d   had   enough   of   me   ,      enough   of   me   acting   up   and   acting   out   .      i   thought   it   such   a   game   ,      to   refuse   to   speak   a   word   of   english   ,      somehow   it   made   sense   to   me   then   that   they’d   have   to   send   me   home   then   .      it   only   angered   her   ,      my   mother   .      i   don’t   think   my   father   even   noticed   it      .      it   didn’t   do   anything   .      just   got   me   locked   in   rooms   ,      got   me   yelled   at   ,      had   her   resorting   to   using   magic   to   force   me   to   speak   in   the   tongue   of   the   land   .      didn’t   take   long   for   her   to   start   using   it   to   solve   most   of   her   problems   ,      and   i   always   was   one   .      she   wanted   me   to   speak   and   then   when   i   did   ?      she   wanted   me   to   be   quiet   .      i   think   that   was   the   worst   of   it   .      i   could   open   my   mouth   and   yell   and   yell   and   yell   and   YELL   and   yet   not   a   sound   .      wails   and   screeches   and   all   i   had   for   it   was   an   aching   face   and   silent   tears      ❞

                    and   at   some   point   while   she’d   been   speaking   tears   had   come   to   her   eyes   ,      the   continuous   outpouring   of   words   only   stopping   when   a   sob   took   her   by   surprise   ,      racking   through   her   frame   as   ellie   blinked   through   the   tears   to   meet   barty’s   eyes   .      she   needed   to   see   how   he   took   it   ,      needed   to   see   if   he   saw   her   as   weak   for   it   ,      she   needed   him   to   know   she   wasn’t   .         ❝      but   i   fought   it   !      i   fought   her   ,      fought   her   magic   .      last   summer   ?      i   was   finally   able   to   break   it   .      but   she’d   already   decided   to   mix   in   a   few   other   spells   in   her   efforts   to   get   me   to   behave   .      sometimes   decided   magic   was   too   much   bother   too   .      but   the   only   unforgivable   i   haven’t   felt   the   effects   of   is   the   one   you   can’t   come   back   from      ❞

        he   wracked   his   brain   around   who   ellie   could’ve   possibly   gone   to   that   she   would   know   —   but   then   it   dawned   on   him,   why   is   ellie   going   around   asking   people   about   him   in   that   manor   ?   not   that   it   didn’t   inflate   his   ego   a   bit,   but   it   sure   was   a   weird   confession.   ❝   god,   ellie   —   no,   i   don’t   think   you   want   to   fuck   my   father.   you’re   so   vulgar   you   know,   someone   outta   clean   out   that   filthy   little   mouth   of   yours.   ❞   he   should   stop,   especially   after   she   already   initiated   the   conversation   that   now   made   his   question   to   barty   make   sense.   gold   digger   ellie.   ❝   ahh,   yes,   ❞   best   friends,   merlins   sake.   ❝   and   even   so,   you’re   still   fucking   my   brother   so   i   have   to   deal   with   your   presence   no   matter   who   i   marry.   ❞   and   how   on   earth   did   narcissa   get   along   with   the   ellie   he   knew   ?   maybe   he   doesn’t   know   either   of   them   as   well   as   he   thinks.

      ❝   oh,   from   what   you’ve   heard   ?   didn’t   realize   you   were   to   type   to   follow   the   opinions   of   others.   ophélie   allaire   —   a   follower.   ❞   rikard   was   curious,   just   yet   another   flaw   in   his   nature,   but   he   wasn’t   going   to   let   the   words   of   ellie   get   to   him.   not   when   he   didn’t   even   have   the   slightest   clue   who   could   be   gossiping   about   something   so   …   false.   ❝   because   i   take   after   my   father,   more   than   anyone   else.   ❞   that   wasn’t   entirely   true   —   not   even   being   sorted   into   the   same   house   could   make   that   a   solid   comment.   ❝   i   am   plenty   of   fun   —   too   bad   you’re   too   preoccupied   to   know   fully.   ❞

                       ❝   hilarious.   —   you   want   the   real   answer   ?   dump   barty   and   date   me.   ❞   rikard   shrugged,   playing   coy   and   walking   along   a   dangerous   line.   he   didn’t   actually   want   to   date   ellie,   but   knowing   she   belonged   to   his   brother   made   everything   entertaining.   ❝   henrika   likes   me   best,   and   senior,   well.   .   .   ❞   he   trailed   off,   looking   around   before   his   eyes   fell   back   and   his   lips   turned   into   a   grin.   ❝   i   am   a   slytherin.   ❞  

        “have you considered what you’ll be doing after this year? running off with barty, settling in with some apprenticeship, taking a trip to the moon?”

                  bold what applies. i’d give credit, but i can’t find the original, so.

     ℎ𝑒  𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑠  𝑡ℎ𝑒           hesitation  in  her  tone ,   the   check   of   his   choice  in  them ,   covered  in  something  like   disappoint .   even  so ,     ❛      almost  ,   ❜     he  says  again ,    a  confirmation  on  his  lips .    he  won’t   act   like  they’re  any   more   similar  than  they  need  to  be ;    after  all .   for  a  moment ,   he   hesitates   on  this  decision .    it   does   seem  that  ellie  was   looking   for  it  to  be  another  way .   for  that   connection .    but  her   own   explanation  crumples  it  again  in  his  mind .   comfort   or  not ,   two   loose  canons  would  make  nothing  short  of  a   blast .    and  there’s   little   to  do  with  melted  scraps .    he  stands  his  ground ,    only  humming  in  acknowledgement  of  her   words ,   lips  pulling  together .     ❛     i  see ,   ❜     he  says ,    then :    ❛    again  ?   ❜       whether  or  not  he   should   prod  for  the  seeds  that  planted  her  act ,    as  he’s  sure  there’s   more   —   is  irrelevant .    he  makes  it  clear  he’d   want   to  hear  it .    that  he’d  want  to  listen ,    understand ,    whenever  she  wishes  to  however  much  of  share  it .     and  he   does ,   of  course .   context   is  always   helpful .   it’s  how  he   shapes   it  that  matters .    what   reaction   he  gives  out  of  it ,   and   when .    her  thanks  comes  as  a  relief  of  barely - present  tension ;   little  more  than  light  tightening  in  his  muscles .   even  with  the   dig   of  their  very  first  fight   (   he  hopes  their   quick   coupling  would   explain   that ,    and  not  that  she’s   truly   going  to  be  upset  by  it  so   long .    but  he  supposes  if  they’d  never   had  it ,   they  wouldn’t   be   here  ) .    barty  sees  no  use  of  explaining  himself   again .     instead ,   he  snorts  in  a  sort  of   exhale ,   eyes  falling  off  in  a  moment  of   collection   before  darting  back  up  to  ellie’s ,    reaffirming   instead :     ❛    there   was ,  ❜      he  echoes ,   consonants  exaggerated .   they  soften  on  emphasis  again  as  he  holds  a  palm  against  her  cheek .     ❛    i’m   trying   as  well .  ❜

“Okay, fair enough, but… When I have kids, you won’t be meeting them until you promise not to turn them against me.”

      ❛     𝑎𝑙𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡 ,   ❜          he  answers   this   time .    barty   has  never  had   trouble   waking  from  his   nightmares .     he  can  spot  the  telltale   signs   of  a  dream  like  a   clue ;    the  strange  behaviours ,   vivid  colours    —   and   snap   his  subconscious   awake .   this ,   however …      ❛      i  would  want  the  strings  in   my   hands .    they  can   stay   all  they  like ,    but  i  want  them  wrapped  around  my   own   fingers ,    stirring  them  away  as  i  please .   ❜    having  turned   fully   to  face  ellie  now  —  mind  completely  awake   —   he  makes  to  move  his  own  hands  around  her  just  as   easily .    he  holds  her  gaze  where  she  doesn’t .    and  he  realises ,    only  then ,    that  he'd  need  to  be  faced  with    quite    the   dilemma   to  ever  foot  himself   against   ellie .    he   fails   to  even  think  of  an  example .     maybe  because  she  simply  doesn't   align   herself  too  strongly  on  much  at  all  that   opposes   him ,    but  the   result   is  there  nonetheless .    he  can't  much   think   of  what  that  means  for  him .   whether  it  rests  layered  but  untouching  over  his  skin  or  passes  right   into   him ;  soft  and   vulnerable ,   like  he  knows  ellie  must   mean .    maybe  he  doesn't   want   to  know .    as  either  a   now   or  a   later   question .     either  answer  would  leave  him    restless .    ❛     you  can  trust  me ,   ❜     he  tells  her ,   hand  coming  up  to  brush  back  her  hair ,   trying  to   find   her  eyes  again .    ❛    i  hope  i've  never  made  you   think   you   couldn't  ,  ❜      he  smiles  a  little ,   soft  thing ,   and  lets  it  hang  a  moment  before   affirming ,    barely  prompted :    ❛     and  i  trust  you .  ❜

    ℎ𝑒'𝑑  𝑛𝑜𝑡  𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔          settled  into  his   new  place ,   and  hadn’t  even  thought   twice ,   now ,   before  bringing  ellie .    they  laid  by  each  other’s  sides  the   same   night ,    and  he  remained  still  in  catching  their   breaths  —   nearly  meditative .    when  ellie’s  voice   fills   the  air  again ,    he  assumes  he  could  easily   make   with  feigning  sleep .    instead ,   he  gives  a  light   pause ,   waiting  for  the   punchline   that  never  comes .     ❛     i  do ,   ❜     he  answers .     he  doesn’t  say  which   part .    he  doesn’t   specify   the  whys  or  the  hows .    he   opens   his  eyes  and   blinks ,   turning  their   tired   attention  to  ellie .   his  voice  is  deep  with   fatigue ,   and  he  lets  it  soften ,   attention   stilled   to  her  gaze .    ❛     as  a   puppet ,   or  in  a   dream ,   perhaps ,   ❜     he  fills  the  void   closer   in   echoes ,    but  there’s  still  no  lie  to  be   had   there .   he  only   assumes ,   from  the  last  half ,    that  it  must  mean  more   to  ellie .    he  hears  it  in  the  slight   tremor   to  her  words ,   in  the   trepidation   of  her  touch ;    or  lack  of  it .    he  steadies  on  the   study   of  her  expression ,   unsure  what’s   lead   to  it  passing  through .    ❛     why  mention  this  now  ?    ❜