Imogen Eve Connolly

Charity Burbage was as fun to bother as anyone else, but she was also braver than the average Hufflepuff. Bravery was a fun addition every now and then, when he felt in the mood for a challenge. However, he wasn’t in the mood for that right now. What he wanted was to find Imogen Connolly, so that he could continue with his game. He pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes. “Didn’t anyone tell you not to be so rude, Burbage?” He retorted, his eyes flashing in annoyance. He looked away from her, moving down the aisle. Maybe Connolly was hiding? He wouldn’t put it past Burbage to stow her away somewhere.

“Don’t worry about what I’m doing here.” He snapped, bending over to peer underneath the tables. He couldn’t spot her anywhere, and for a moment, he considered giving up. But then he registered the stutter in Burbage’s voice, which only served to pique his curiosity. As annoying as Burbage could be, he’d never known her to be scared in the way that others were. “Are you alright, Burbage?” He asked, changing course so that he was walking towards her rather than away from her. “You seem nervous.” 

Imogen’s heart felt lodged firmly in her throat and she took quick shallow breaths through her nose as she watched Amycus stroll down the rows of work tables in the green houses quite obviously looking for something. Looking for her. She’d heard the stories whispered between frightened first years of the way the Carrows would corner their fellow students, taunt them, tease them, and even hurt them. While Imogen had done well to steer clear of the twins, she’d never been scared of them the way she was of Amycus now. Then again, she’d never been chased down by one of the Carrows before. Had Charity? Imogen had never seen Charity scared of anyone, and did her best to channel her friend’s courage and force her hands to stop shaking as she shoveled soil into the pot in front of her.

“Nervous?” She scoffed, her gaze locked on her hands, willing them to stop shaking . “Of what? You?” She rolled her eyes again for good measure and tossed a piece of hair out of her face. “I just- I just swallowed a bug is all.” She said, clearing her throat and praying that he would buy it. After a moment of silence, she glanced up to watch him as he stalked forward and had to resist taking a step back. 

“Does it have any sentimental value to you?” Antonin asked, the bored expression remaining clear on his face. Truth be told, he didn’t care much for the ring. He was just in the mood to annoy someone, and Imogen seemed like a particularly nice target. 

The ring did, in fact, hold sentimental value to Imogen but instinct told her to hold her tongue. “What does that matter? It doesn’t change the fact that it’s mine.” Imogen retorted, holding out her hand expectantly. 

She was pleasantly surprised to see the other girl take a seat. They’d never truly spoken much up until now, and was happy for the opportunity. It caused her to shift her focus from what she was working on and more towards the girl. Quickly she attempted to free up some space for her, which really just meant taking up more space at the other end of the table. It wasn’t as if there was anyone else around them so it didn’t really matter either way. Most of the other people at the library had chosen to sit elsewhere. The fact certainly didn’t bother her, if anything she preferred it as it meant less distractions. She welcomed the one that Imogen brought as it appeared she had lots of good ideas on the subject to bring to her attention. 

“I don’t believe anyone has looked into it, at least not like I am.” She started to explain, unsure of how much she could really say. Pandora had already had multiple discussions with the ministry about her work, and wasn’t looking to have anymore. The last thing she needed was for them to ruin everything she’d been working on by taking it all away from her. “I think it is usually something that one works up to. All anyone really knows is that you have to have a strong willpower to do so. I just wonder if that willpower can be converted into a spell of sorts. Like the patronus charm! Happy memories becoming a powerful spell. That way one does not have to suffer to get rid of it.” 

“So it would be a preventative spell? Or like a shield charm of sorts?” Imogen was fairly talented at protective magic, at least, she was much better at defensive than offensive spells. She didn’t believe in violence or raising her wand against another. Throughout her childhood she saw the way that anger and hate led to division, loss, and sorrow. It didn’t matter what the weapon was, a harsh word, a fist, a wand, or a car bomb. The damage those weapons caused when turned on one another was permanent. Perhaps that was why the idea of a spell to stop suffering from ever happening in the first place seemed so appealing. “And you think it’s possible?” 

Amos had been so quiet over the years. This entire time he and Imogen had been in the same year and house but he had made no effort to even try to be close to her. Talking about himself was a scary topic because he had no idea who he was, just who the person his father wanted him to be. His friendship with Charity was based upon the fact that neither dug too far into the other’s past, focusing entirely on the present and how they felt safe and not alone when they were together. Soon though she would be leaving him and he’d be alone again. More friends probably wouldn’t hurt. He definitely realized that he needed that bright spot in his life. “Yeah” he said with a nod, “My house in the woods so I guess I just kind of grew up surrounded by trees” 

Imogen nodded as he spoke, determined to focus more on his words than the urge to look over her shoulder every few moments. “That sounds nice.” She said, usually not one for small talk but finding it comforting now. “My dad used to take me on walks through Phoenix Park.” Imogen added, thinking back on how they used to walk the trails when the crowds were smallest, and the freedom she felt not having to hide her hair under a hat or stop her eyes from changing color as they made their way along the lesser travelled paths. “It was the closest thing we had living in the city.”  

“Of course I do” Bennet affirmed, “we’re best friends. We’ve been best friends for six years and we will continue to be best friends after we graduate. Pretty sure we promised each other that a couple of years ago and I at least do not break my promises”. Holding on to the old promises they had made one another helped him to be optimistic that things really would get better. “I’ll talk to him for you, okay?” 

“Thank you, Bennet.” Imogen said, though the words felt woefully inadequate. He’d always been such a bright spot in her life, always there to make her smile when she felt sad and ready to jump at a moment’s notice if there was any sort of favor she might need. Of course she tried to be the same for him, but it was a rarity to see Bennet down for very long if at all. “Of course we’ll be friends!” She exclaimed, sniffing away the last of her tears and trying for a smile. “You’re stuck with me for good.” 

“Dropped it?” Antonin looked positively blasé at the words. “Too bad. I’m keeping it.” 

Imogen frowned, her brows drawing together and she stared at her hand hanging in the air, empty. “But it’s my ring.” She said, her chin tilting in confusion. “Why would you keep it?”  

Nodding her head, Pandora most certainly did not catch on to any sarcasm. It wasn’t as if she didn’t know what sarcasm was, she just didn’t understand how it worked or seemed to know when other people used it. Which meant that it often times went over her head, but it was better that way. “Possibly.” She mumbled, continuing to flip through the pages as if nothing had occurred. A moment passed before she shifted, allowing herself more access to the paper she had on the table and jot a not down. The page was filled with lots of scribbled, some sideways and upside down in an order that certainly did not appear to make much sense. “Or possible not.” 

The smile on her face was faint as she spoke, quietly but rather fast. “We believe that it is all we know, but what if it’s now? Now I’m not saying anything is going to come from my research. But isn’t it rather curious that there are few who are ale to resist the Imperius curse? Surely there must be something about them that causes them to be able to do so while others can’t. And if there is something that causes them to do so, then surely it can be replicated to help others escape the curse. This is all very hypothetical of course, just something I found to be rather interesting.”  

Normally, as Pandora rambled, Imogen might have tuned out. It wasn’t because she disliked the girl, it was just that more often than not, her ideas were a bit far-fetched and difficult to follow. Imogen was by no means unintelligent, but she was often impatient, and found deciphering what the other girl meant in conversation tiresome at times. Today, however, Imogen found herself hanging on every word, inexplicably interested in what Pandora had to say. Without thought to what she was doing, Imogen drew a chair and settled at the table across from Pandora, wanting to know more.

“You know, now that you mention it, it is curious how some people are able to resist the curse.” She mused, her head tilting in thought. “And you’re saying that no one has ever looked into it? Or have they just not found any similarities between cases?” Her thoughts were spinning with possibilities, for some reason finding the topic fascinating, but more importantly, extremely important. “How does one know they are able to resist the Imperius Curse? Do you suppose maybe some can’t at first, but that someday- miraculously- they can?” 

WHO: Emmeline Vance & anyone  WHERE: The Great Hall WHEN: Right after the Quidditch match, on Saturday, March 11th

With a red-and-gold top hat on her head, Emmeline pouted at the Gryffindor table. She had not bothered to stick around after the match – it was bloody and the other Gryffindors around her were annoyed. Instead, she had made her way to the kitchens to grab a bowl of oatmeal before heading to bed. Emmeline wasn’t in the mood for celebrating, and she hadn’t eaten all day due to pre-game festivities. Grouchy was an understatement for how she was feeling. Her spoon clanged against the porcelain bowl as she felt a light touch on her arm. Without looking up, Emmeline groaned. “Are you here to pour some liquor in my oatmeal? I’m not interested, if you’re not.” 

The party in the Hufflepuff Common Room was just getting started, and already they were running low on refreshments. Imogen hadn’t minded a break from the boisterous crowd to dash down the corridor to the kitchens for more. The house-elves never seemed to mind Hufflepuffs running in and out, so Imogen had no trouble raiding the pantries for all kinds of snacks. Her arms loaded, she was about to dash back out when she noticed Emmeline Vance sitting off on her lonesome. “Hey now, don’t look so sad. It was a good match! A real nail-biter at the end!” She said, dumping the snacks onto the table and plopping down next to the Gryffindor. “I left mine back in my Common Room, you want some?” Imogen asked, bumping Emmeline’s shoulder with her own, trying to get her to cheer up. “It’s only just down the hall.” 

Connolly was a lot faster than Amycus had intended. She quickly disappeared from his sight, running around the corner of the greenhouse and he had to break out into a run to try to catch up. He would be extremely annoyed if he lost her— Merlin help the next first year he ran into. For a moment, he was sure it was a lost cause. Wherever she was, she was faster than he was. But then he heard the slamming sound of a door closing, and he knew that she hadn’t gone far. He tried to remember if the slam sounded close by or far away, but then just yanked open the first door he encountered. He looked inside, and then frowned. It was empty. The second greenhouse was empty too, and with a deeper frown, he approached the third. 

He yanked the door open harder than was necessary, and to his happiness, the room wasn’t empty. The smile returned to his face, and he yanked the door shut behind him. “You’re quick aren’t you, Con—” He stopped mid-sentence, finally registering that it was Charity Burbage in front of him. The frown returned, and he narrowed his eyes, “Oh, it’s just you.” It wasn’t that he didn’t like bothering Burbage. He had no qualms about that. But he’d really been looking forward to messing with Connolly, and he would be lying if he thought it wasn’t a let down. He glanced to the put and shovel in her hand. 

“What are you doing in here, Burbage?” He demanded. 

Though she had expected for the door to open, Imogen still jumped when it did, revealing Amycus Carrow just steps away. Imogen had to force herself to breathe as evenly as possible, her chest still rising and falling rapidly from running. For a moment, Imogen doubted her disguise, wondering what it was Amycus saw. But with a toss of her head, she caught a glimpse of Charity’s familiar dark locks and felt her confidence grow. If there was one thing she was good at, it was impersonations. In fact, she’d done well to make a decent income off of it in her time at school.

It was comforting that Amycus seemed so ready to dismiss her, and Imogen began to relax. Perhaps he would leave her in peace, obviously not interested in bothering Charity at the moment. Clearing her throat, Imogen took her time in responding, her mind racing for the most Charity-esque response she could think of. “What does it look like, Carrow?” She retorted holding up the pot and shovel, giving them a shake for good measure. “I’m repotting some plants for Professor Sprout.” It wasn’t a bad explanation, as Hufflepuffs often assisted in the greenhouse for a few extra credit points or house points from time to time. After a moment’s hesitation she added. “Wh- what are you doing here?” Her voice cracking under Amycus’s scrutiny. 

Bennet always managed to find something humorous about every situation, with a few major exceptions. Imogen, Benito and Darcy had become like a second family to him and it really hurt him whenever one of them was hurting and right now it seemed as if they all were and of course Bennet had absolutely no clue what to do about it. “You guys have been together for six years. There’s a lot of things you guys have conquered together, that the four of us have. I’m sure you’ll be okay. This is just another one of those things. Like me and Darcy. You guys will get through it. We’ll all get through it.” 

“Do you really think so?” Imogen asked, sniffing again as she pulled out of Bennett’s embrace and wiped the tears from her eyes. She needed to pull herself together. It wasn’t as though she minded showing emotion in front of others, but in the crowded Great Hall it would bring unwanted questions and Imogen hardly wanted to tell the story over and over again. “Is Benito okay, do you think? I know he won’t tell me he’s not if he thinks I’m worse off.” 

“I’ve always thought it was really peaceful” Amos admitted, looking down towards the girl beside him. The forest had always been his safe place, not that that was something that he had ever really talked about with someone. At least within the confines of the forest one knew that there was danger and could expect it. There was also a perfect balance of beauty to danger. Everything thrummed with life even if it was just birds chittering in the higher branches or squirrels playing in the fallen leaves.  

Imogen supposed the forest was a peaceful place now that she had a friend by her side. Clinging to his arm, Imogen was glad for his warmth, the sound of his footsteps crunching leaves on the ground, and his soft voice reminding her that she wasn’t alone. She was perfectly safe. The forest was never truly quiet, alive with all sorts of sounds, but they weren’t necessarily a comfort in the way a sound of a friend walking next to you was. “Is that why you were out here in the first place?” Imogen asked, eager to keep the conversation going. 

Benito’s father, for all of his flaws, had been a romantic man. On the days they got along, he and his mother were quiet theatrical in their displays of affection. Deep kisses in the morning, and dancing in the night. Benito had always wanted what they had, without all of the bad. He seemed to have found that within Imogen. It was moments like these that he thought about as he fell asleep at night. The feeling of her head resting on his shoulder, and the gentle sound of her voice as it whispered of love. Imogen was the only person Benito had ever chosen for himself, except for Bennet, maybe. To put a smile on her face for any reason was blessing enough, but especially today. 

“Do you like it?” He asked, even though he knew that she did. He looked over it all, smiling even wider. He took a step forward, and the arm that was around her waist slid away so he could grab her by the hand. He tugged her gently towards the water, squeezing her hand gently with every step. He leaned down, and with his free hand he grabbed the bottle of wine. It was open already, because he had a sip while he decorated the room. He held it out to her, “Would you like a drink?” 

Letting go of her hand, he reached for the bottom of his shirt and tugged it up his body. “The water should be hot still, I charmed it before I left here.” It had been quite the struggle getting all of this done in time to meet Imogen in time to set up Ted’s Valentines Day surprise. He could barely believe he had managed to accomplish it.  

“I love it.” Imogen assured him softly, her gaze still roaming around the perfect sight, committing it to memory. She never wanted to forget it, the sweet surprise he’d given her. His careful consideration was evident in each flower petal sprinkled on the ground beneath their feet, the sweet smell of the bubbles floating in the warm bath he’d prepared. Loving Benito felt like she’d fallen into a dream most days, but especially in moments like these.

She allowed him to grab her hand and pull her toward the water, her hand squeezing his back as she flashed him a playful smile. Imogen wondered for a moment if she ought to pinch herself, to make sure it really wasn’t a dream, but quickly changed her mind. If it was, she didn’t want to wake up. “You know I do.” She said, accepting the bottle with her free hand and glancing at the label, though more to appreciate the detail, committing it to memory as well.

Lifting the bottle to her lips and taking a sip, Imogen watched Benito tug off his shirt. She’d seen him shirtless dozens of times, but somehow Imogen still felt butterflies swirl inside of her at the sight. She glanced from him to the bathtub and back again, a grin tugging at her lips. “Should I check?” She asked, though she didn't wait for his response before handing the bottle of wine back to him so she could kick off her shoes and peel off her stockings. 

“I’d like to” Amos told her softly, smiling warmly. In all his time at Hogwarts he had only made one friend. He would never say that Charity wasn’t enough because he was far more than he ever could have hoped for. The love and support of all those in his house astounded him every single day, even if they weren’t particularly close. Whenever a chance arose for him to repay the kindness that they showed him each and every day he was happy to try his best. Maybe this time he’d even make a friend - after all, that’s probably what his best friend would want him to do.  

Imogen felt a warm sense of relief flood her and she smiled up at Amos. “I’m glad.” She confessed honestly, reaching for his arm to pull him along beside her.”I don’t know why I thought it would be a good idea to walk in the woods alone.” Imogen rattled on quickly. “It’s a bit spooky out here.” Today that was true, but Imogen had often wandered through the woods on her own and had never before been so frightened. It was nothing but an easy out, a way to avoid explaining her sudden fear of the outdoors. Besides, now that Amos was with her, it hardly mattered and she was happy to have his company. 

Pandora simply smiled, shrugging it off. Truthfully it wasn’t a big deal if she did touch the books. The blonde just simply didn’t want anything to move from where she’d placed it. Each book had been piled into specific piled, each in a specific order. If one were to be moved it would throw her whole system off. A system that only she truly understood, as it would most likely not make sense to anyone else. She was okay with that though, and it usually worked as long as it didn’t get messed up. It most likely would though as she was never going to finish all the books she still needed to read, and would certainly not be allowed to check them out for the night. Which was why she was attempting to work quickly. 

The question had taken a moment to process, as she didn’t want to answer it. Pandora didn’t even know what she was doing, desperately hoping to come across an answer to a million unanswered questions. “Research?” Her brows furrowed. “Yes, research.” She said much more confidently. The thought didn’t even cross her head that Imogen would expect anything more than that. The thought actually going through her head that she thought it was quite obvious she was doing research.  

Imogen glanced down at the piles of books haphazardly stacked across the library table, her eyebrows raising as if surprised. “Research?” She repeated, though there was a hint of sarcasm in her voice. She could very well see that it was research. It was either that, or Pandora had a bad habit of collecting books on like subjects for fun. “I see..” She said, pulling her hands away from the books to fold behind her back.

Still her gaze kept flickering back to the title of the book on top of the pile, the gilded letters impossible to turn away from for very long. “What is there to research about an Unforgivable Curse?” Imogen asked, her brows narrowing. “Don’t we know all that we need to about them? 

Amycus must have left a very big impression on Imogen that day near the Lake. Even without memory of the event, something inside of her knew that she ought to run from him. A smile blossomed on his face as he took in the change of her stance. From a stiff, anxious walk to an anxious, fearful sprint. He licked his lips, laughing to himself. He felt strong in that moment, a man powerful enough to send a girl running away just at the sight of him. Imogen had never been one of his preferred victims, not when little Addie Ivers was there for easy pickings. However, he was surprised to find that there was a specific kind of fun in tormenting her. Perhaps it was because she had no recollection of her drowning, whereas he did. He was tempted to do something similar, but he had not yet perfected the Imperius Curse, and he did not dare to upset Bellatrix by interfering with her plan.

At least he could play games. He could always do that. Amycus quickened his pace, not wanting to lose sight of her. He rounded the corner after her, eyes lighting up when once they had her in their path. Still, he remained quiet, doing his very best to keep his feet light and quiet against the ground underneath him. He rolled his shoulder as he moved, resembling a wild predator more than a schoolboy in that moment. His eyes flickered towards the clear sky above, and his smile widened. It was such a beautiful day.   

Imogen’s heart pounded erratically in her chest, her gasps audible in her panicked sprint. Glancing over her shoulder, she could see as Amycus rounded the corner. There was no doubt in her mind at this point that he was chasing her, and a surge of adrenaline pushed Imogen to run faster. It was as if her feet knew something that she didn’t, and Imogen couldn’t explain why she was so desperate to get away other than the deep feeling in her gut that something horrible might happen if she let him catch up to her. Ripping open the door to one of the greenhouses, Imogen stepped inside and pulled the door tightly shut behind her. A quick scan of the room told her there was nowhere to hide and she felt tears burn at the back of her eyes.

What was she to do? Running her hands through her hair she could tell it was rapidly changing color in her anxiety and that’s when inspiration struck. She could disappear without actually hiding at all, she just needed someone to change into. Her first thought was Benito, he always did know exactly how to handle a bully. But then, Imogen hesitated, remembering how scared he had been in the midst of her last panicked episode. No, Benito wouldn’t work, and besides, she was wearing a skirt. She needed a Hufflepuff girl, someone strong enough to face Amycus Carrow. Charity Burbage was the first name that flashed in her mind, her features instantly shifting to resemble her friend. Quickly, Imogen reached for a pot and shovel, attempting to make it look like she’d been there for ages, hoping that Amycus wouldn’t be clever enough to realize there was no other escape out of the greenhouse, or that she was breathing quite heavily for a person who was only potting plants.