NightWish’s World

AU originally written with an OC but figured this would be more fun for everyone

Patricia Rakepick x Fem Reader

Moonlight cast a silver glow upon the stone walls of Hogwarts as you and Patricia move in unison down the darkened corridors. Your footsteps the only sounds amidst the quiet of Hogwarts. Each of you carrying a wand at the ready, the warm light of Lumos piercing the shadows where secrets and dangers might lurk.

"Left here," Patricia murmurs, her voice low but clear in the quiet. "I've sensed something off in this wing for a few nights now."

You nod, allowing the curse-breaker to take the lead. It irks you to not be at the forefront, but you recognize the strategic advantage of Patricia's expertise in this arena. She is the one that attended the school after all.

"Feel it?" Patricia asks, pausing by a tapestry depicting the triumphs of long forgotten medieval wizards. She looks over her shoulder at you, her eyes flickering across your face as if gauging your expression.

"Like a static charge.” Your shoulders brushed, sending an unexpected jolt up your spine. "Residue of dark magic?"

"Could be," Patricia says, her gaze lingering on you a second longer than necessary. "Or it could be us— stirring up an unlikely chemistry.”

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," you quickly retorted, shutting down any attempts of deception or manipulation. Though you do feel your heart beating a little faster. The allure of Patricia's confidence is not lost on you, despite the repulsion of that admission, nor do you like the way it challenges you to rise to match the redhead’s energy. Even in jest, letting her win is not an option.

You continue your patrol, moving from one corridor to the next until the clock tower struck midnight, signaling a well-deserved break.

The kitchens provide a haven in the dead of night, with the scent of baking bread and simmering stews wafting through the room. House-elves stop their bustling to greet you with wide eyes and small bows. They scurry around, setting out an array of warm bread, cheeses, and a pot of steaming tea for you both.

You watch Patricia interact with the house-elves, her demeanor shifting from vigilant to gentle as she thanks them with a soft smile. It's a side of her that’s always uncanny to see—the softer, more caring side that hints at depths beyond her fierce exterior.

Seated at the wooden table, you both take in the comforting atmosphere of the warm kitchen. The crackling fire casts dancing shadows on the walls, adding an almost cozy charm to the hidden room.

Patricia pours two cups of tea and pushes one towards you, her eyes meeting yours in a moment of unspoken understanding. Despite the tension that often simmers between you, there is a shared camaraderie in moments like this. It feels like she’s a completely different woman compared to the usual sarcastic and cold witch that knows exactly what buttons to press to rile you up.

That’s not to say Patricia doesn’t have a sort of charm to her; the confidence in every stride she makes, the sway of her hips, her natural wit and intelligence that made her the forefront in any interaction she had.

The torches cast dancing shadows across Patricia’s face, softening her features. You felt a pull in your chest, like the strings of an instrument strumming a melody you’d never heard but always known.

"See something you like, Y/L/N?" Patricia teases.

You raise an eyebrow, refusing to let her fluster you with those piercing blue eyes. "Don’t flatter yourself. I’m enjoying a minute of respite before I have to go back to working with you."

“I can provide you a distraction from work if you let me.” Her tone lowered to a sultry whisper, her gaze unwavering as she leans in slightly, testing the boundaries of your resolve. Her closeness sends a shiver down your spine, an unexpected thrill mingling with the familiar tension that always crackles between you.

You hold her gaze steadily, refusing to show any signs of weakness as you reply, "I'm not here for your distractions, Rakepick. We have a job to do, remember?"

Patricia chuckles, a low, melodious sound that seems to echo in the cozy warmth of the kitchen. She leans back, swirling the tea in her cup thoughtfully before meeting your eyes once more. You swear feeling her foot brush up your calf as she shifts to cross her legs. "Always so serious. But don't worry, we'll get back to work soon enough."

The glint in Patricia's eyes hints at a mischievousness that you've come to expect from her. As the fire crackles and casts playful shadows in the kitchen, her smile is both inviting and challenging, a subtle invitation hanging in the air between you. You can never quite predict which version of Patricia Rakepick will surface— the focused curse-breaker or the enigmatic woman who revels in toeing the line between rivalry and something more.

"I only care about our obligations to protect," you reply coolly, lifting your tea to your lips and taking a deliberate sip. The warm liquid soothes your nerves, grounding you amidst the swirling emotions that Patricia seems to evoke effortlessly. "We can't afford distractions, not with what's at stake. Everyone residing here is counting on us to keep them safe. I for one, take that seriously.”

Patricia arches an eyebrow at your response, a look of something unreadable in her gaze. "Always the noble hero, aren't you?" she muses, her tone tinged with a hint of mockery that doesn't quite mask the underlying curiosity. "Distractions can be enlightening, you know.”

"Only if one knows how to handle them," you retort in a tone steadier than your heart.