#grindylows

Characters: The Marauders, Lily, Alice, Reader Warnings: None really, apart from it gets quite cheesy and dramatic lol Word count: 2405 Hope it’s ok for you! It took a while as I lost inspiration and had to wing it. xo It was an early Friday morning and students were spilling into the Great Hall for breakfast. Today, the enchanted ceiling was blue and cloudless. ‘Pass me over some toast please, Pads, I’m starving,’ James yawned as he joined his friends at the Gryffindor table. As he looked over, he realised something looked out of place with Sirius. 'Since when do you read the paper?’ he asked him. 'I don’t. It’s just, Peter’s face was bothering me and I needed something to block the view,’ Sirius smirked. 'Oi, don’t be harsh,’ piped up Remus. 'I’m only joking! You know I’m joking, don’t you, mate?’ Sirius said, ruffling Peter’s hair. “Course I do,’ he said, rolling his eyes, grinning. 'I’m not a complete asshole, you know.’ 'I beg to differ,’ Remus muttered into his Goblet. 'Sod off!’ Sirius replied as they all laughed. 'So, Pad, anyfig interestig in der dismornig?’ James said with a mouthful of toast. 'Na, not really. Er, someone in the department of Magical Law Enforcement has got a promotion; something about Centaur versus human Divination; a big number of Grindylows are moving around European waters; a new magical plant has been discovered; and today is the hottest day of the year, apparently. Papers are pointless. I mean, why would you want to read more if it tells you all you need to know on the front page? Well, if this is the stuff you need to know, then -’ Sirius pointed at the cover of the paper and raised his shoulders and arms in an I-have-no-idea kind of way. James laughed as Remus rolled his eyes. 'Well if you actually tried opening the paper, you’d find there’s a lot more to read about. It can be quite interesting.’ 'Yeah, you would say that, Moony. But plants aren’t exactly my idea of an interesting read.’ James smirked. 'Padfoot, you never read,’ Remus said. Sirius paused in thought for a moment. 'Touché.’ Remus shook his head, grinning. 'Hey, we’ve all got a free period at the end of the day, right? What should we do?’ James asked, eyeing up more food. 'Prank Snivellus!’ Sirius said almost instantly. 'No, we won’t.’ 'Don’t be boring, Moony.’ Remus gave a stern look at Sirius. 'Fine! What do you suggest then, Dad?’ 'We should hang out near the lake. Because, you know, it’s a nice day and the paper tells us it’s the hottest day of the year so far, right, Sirius?’ 'Sounds like a plan,’ Peter smiled. 'We should invite the girls. Make it more fun. They’re off this afternoon, too.’ 'Yeah, nice one, lover boy,’ Sirius laughed, chucking an apple core at James. 'You’re one to talk!’ James retorted, chucking it back. 'All you do is try to chat up Y/L/N,’ he teased. 'Do not! … Alright, maybe, but you’re the same with Evans.’ 'Either way, the more the merrier.’ 'Speaking of whom …’ Remus pointed towards the doors to the Great Hall. 'Evans!’ James shouted, waving Lily over who was looking curiously at them. She looked at Alice and Y/N who was stood next to her, and they made their way over to the group. 'Yes?’ she asked. 'How do you three fancy hanging out with us later at the lake? We’ve all got a free period last thing, right?’ 'James, those times are best for studying.’ 'Come on, it’s just for an hour or so. What do you say?’ James said looking up at her with puppy eyes. She looked at the two girls on her left as they shrugged their shoulders in response. 'Why not?’ Y/N said smiling. Alice nodded. 'There we go! Evans?’ Sirius prompted. 'Fine! But I’m bringing my books,’ Lily said, starting to walk further down the table. Alice followed. 'She’s not bringing her books,’ Y/N said quietly to the group, winking before she joined her friends. James whistled as he caught Sirius watching Y/N smiling and chatting away to her friends. 'Piss off, Prongs,’ grinned Sirius.

***

'No, you need to chuck it on more of an angle. Look -’ James threw a flattened rock so it skimmed across the sparkling water several times, before sinking. 'Ha, see?’ he said with a nod, looking out at where the rock just disappeared. Peter looked up at him with admiration, before trying again. He picked one up from the edge of the lake, positioned his arm behind him, and chucked it. It sunk straight away with a big splash. Sirius, who was watching silently from the tree behind them, snorted. 'Nice, Wormtail, nice.’ Remus - sitting next to him - hit him in the arm. 'Keep practising, mate, you’ll get it eventually,’ James said, patting Peter’s shoulder. He moved away to sit back down in the shade of the big tree. 'So, when are you going to ask Y/L/N out then, Pads?’ James said, watching Peter’s attempts. 'I - I’m not …’ 'Come off it, mate, we’re not stupid.’ 'I - I, er …’ 'Well, this is a first! Is the great Sirius Black actually losing his cool over a girl?’ Remus teased. 'No!’ Sirius tutted. 'Bugger off.’ James and Remus chuckled. 'We know you’ve liked her for ages. Can you really hold it in for any longer? When are you going to ask her?’ James questioned. 'I don’t know,’ he said seriously, looking in Peter’s direction. 'You’re saying this to me, but don’t you think you’d better get a move on with Lily?’ His mouth curled up slightly. James decided not to say anymore. The three of them sat watching Peter attempt to make a rock skim the water at least two times before he promptly gave up and joined them. 'You make it look easy, Prongs,’ Peter sighed. James chuckled. 'So, I’m missing out on a study session for rock throwing?’ The four boys turned their heads to see Lily with the arms of her cardigan tied loosely over her shoulders, Alice and Y/N walking towards them smirking. 'Ah, nice to see you can join us,’ James said, brushing his hair back and gesturing at the ground in front of him. 'Yeah, well, I almost didn’t come,’ Lily’s mouth curled up slightly, 'but these two here persuaded me,’ she added with a nod of her head, untying her cardigan. The girls sat down. 'Only because we agreed to buy you ice cream and new quills in Hogsmeade tomorrow,’ Y/N said, and they all laughed together. Y/N and Sirius looked at each other for a moment, until Remus’s sudden cough distracted them. 'Why I’m offended, Evans, that it takes ice cream and new quills for you to hang out with m-us …’ James tried to cover up quickly. Sirius rolled his eyes, shaking his head. James noticed this; clearing his throat, rolling up his sleeves and unbuttoning the top of his white shirt, he said 'It’s hot, isn’t it?’ 'Well, how about you take a dip in the lake?’ Lily smirked, knowing he wouldn’t want to ruin his already messy hair. 'Maybe later, Evans. You could join me if you like,’ he winked. 'In your dreams, Potter.’ James stared at her, biting his lip slightly. 'Alright, how about a proper game of truth or dare?’ Y/N suggested. 'I like your thinking, Y/L/N,’ Sirius said, making her smile. Peter and Alice were the only ones looking slightly nervous, as for the rest, excitement shown on their faces. Lily had forgotten all about studying now. 'Well, seeing as it was your great idea, how about you choose first?’ said James. 'OK … Alice!’ Y/N said, making her friend jump, 'truth or dare?’ 'Oh, Merlin, er … truth.’ 'Is it true that you and Frank have a thing for each other?’ Y/N asked with a grin. There was a pause; all eyes were on Alice as her face was growing rosy pink. 'Yes! We do, alright?’ Whistling came from James and Sirius as Lily and Y/N screeched with excitement. 'We know! We just wanted to hear you say it out loud!’ Y/N laughed as they hugged. Remus grinned at the sight. Alice covered her reddening face in her hands. 'Your turn, Al!’ Lily said. 'Er, OK … James, truth or dare?’ This went on for quite a while, so long, in fact, the sun was glistening beautifully now onto the Great Lake. 'Right, Sirius, it’s your turn again,’ Remus said. He instantly grinned, turning his attention to Y/N, who had conjured a fan to cool herself down. She was glowing. Sirius had lost himself for a moment, then James clicked his fingers near his face to snap him out of it. He jumped. 'Hey, Y/L/N, truth or dare?’ Sirius said quickly. 'Hm, I’m feeling daring, so let’s go with that,’ she replied, still attempting to cool herself. That’s when he remembered what Lily had said to James earlier. His mouth curled upwards. 'I dare you to jump in the Lake.’ Y/N smiled, got up, took her shoes, socks and cardigan of so she was left in her top and knee length shorts, and strolled over to the dock as if it were nothing. 'Wow, Y/N, you’re eager!’ Lily shouted to her. 'Not a dare, really. I’ll enjoy this!’ She shouted back. They watched as she ran to the end of the wooden platform and did a cannon ball. They all whooped and laughed as she resurfaced. 'This is amazing!’ she shouted, then proceeded to swim around gracefully on her back. The sun was making the water gold. Sirius couldn’t keep his eyes off of her. All he could think about was how beautiful she looked. James and Remus looked at each other, smirking, then back at Sirius. 'We’ll let him have his moment,’ James muttered. 'I heard that.’ Everyone was watching between Y/N and Sirius now, not needing a game of truth or dare to keep them entertained. 'Come on, Sirius, I wouldn’t want you to miss this! I dare you!’ 'You’ve got to be kid- I’m good, thanks, Y/L/N!’ he shouted back. 'Go on, she dared you,’ Lily said, encouraging him. 'Oh, alright, alright!’ Sirius got up and started walking to the platform. Y/N was slowly swimming towards him, smiling, but as Sirius was about to take off his shirt, however, there became a gasp and a splash from the water. She was gone. 'Very funny, Y/L/N, stop pissing about!’ Sirius shouted. But she did not resurface. ’Y/N?’ Lily shouted. They all ran over. 'This better not be a prank …’ James said. ’Y/N?!’ Worry started to set in. There came bubbles before a splash again as Y/N came back up, coughing. ’Help!’ she screamed. It was then they knew it was no prank; she sounded terrified. Other students were now starting to look over at the commotion. 'Something’s pulling me un-’ She was gone again as quickly as before. ’Y/N!’ Sirius yelled, panicking. 'I’ve got to grab her-’ He was ready to jump. Lily crouched as she noticed something in the water … multiple of them, in fact … 'Grindylows! They’re Grindylows!’ she shouted. 'Sirius, don’t, or they’ll only grab you too!’ Peter said, holding his arm. 'What the hell am I supposed to do then? Let them drown her?’ Sirius was thinking furiously now. He saw more bubbles and a hand come above the water. Y/N was holding her wand up before disappearing yet again. Sirius made a grab for his own, then shouted the first incantation that came to him. ’RELASHIO!’ The water seemed to calm again almost instantly. The Gindylows seem to have been scared off, for now. Lily cried as James hugged her tightly. They were all looking at the water with anxiety, waiting. 'Come on, Y/N, come on …’ Sirius whispered. Still nothing. So he dove. The water was cloudy, but the sun rays acted like a giant torch, helping him find his way to Y/N’s body. He saw movement in the distance behind them; the Grindylows. They were coming back. He grabbed her around the waste, mouthed 'Ascendio!’ hoping it would work from under water. He felt them rocketing out of the lake, landing meters away from the platform and back on the grass. Y/N was unmoving. The others bolted to their drenched friends. When they reached her, they saw that her lips were slightly grey, her skin paling with red suction marks over her face, legs and arms. 'She- she’s not moving!’ Lily panicked. They all looked at her in shock. ’Y/N? Y/N, wake up!’ Sirius said angrily as he held her cheeks. 'She’s breathed in water.’ Remus knelt down on the other side of her unconscious body. Sirius panicked. 'What do I do?’ he cried, gripping his hair. ’Argh, what’s that fucking spell?! … Rennervate!’ he yelled, pointing at her chest. Y/N suddenly spluttered out water, rolling to her side slightly, coughing and inhaling air harshly. Sirius brushed her hair from her face as Remus patted and rubbed her back. 'Oh thank goodness,’ Lily exhaled. ’Y/N?’ Remus said. Y/N was breathing heavily as if she had run up the grand staircase. 'I’m never doing that again,’ she panted. Sirius pulled her into his chest, hugging her tightly. 'I’m sorry,’ he said. 'What? You - you weren’t to know, Sirius.’ She looked at his dripping wet body, then into his grey eyes and paused for a moment. 'Thank you,’ she whispered, squeezing his hand. 'You don’t need to thank me.’ Then he realised. 'The paper this morning, it said Grindylows were - bloody hell,’ he sighed. 'Well, apart from those little bastards, it was a pleasant swim.’ 'Come on, you’re tired. Let’s get you inside, shall we? Get you checked over,’ Lily said to Y/N. She nodded, and Sirius helped her up, guiding her back inside with the others. 'Wait - you read the paper today?’ 'Don’t look so surprised, Y/L/N, it can happen,’ Sirius smiled. 'Well I am, a bit,’ she grinned back softly.

I really really loved it

I was wondering, if you were to make the parkdale haunt crew a spooky creature from woodbine what would they be?

Thank you! Can't wait to see what you'll think of S2, hahaha.

Hmm. Cryptids...

JUDITH: A fae who's accumulated too many names and is desperately trying to return them to their owners.

CLAIRE: Is a half-grindylow in a band with Jenny Greenteeth, Nelly Longarms, and Peg Powler and they've been cheated out of money by their manager! RUDE.

OWEN: He's just a guy trying to find his fur-bearing trout. It's somewhere in the lake! It's gone bald! You gotta help it!

A. BIRD: His messenger ravens have been hijacked and have been sending him nothing but spam messages ("sv4r på dette pergam3nt3t f0r en størr3 p3n1s!")

ADAM: Eaten by a grue.

Ok this is my fanspecies here are a few things (this picture is only of one member of the species, not all members of it look like this)

Species Name: Grindylows (they’re named after a type of British sea monster, you might recognize the name from the Harry Potter series)

Classification: Amphibian

Planet: Grindylows live on the planet of Megophias (The planet’s namesake is from "Megophias megophias: A large sea lion-like creature with a long neck and long tail. Over 200 feet (61 m) long. Only the male has a mane.“). The planet mainly consists of oceans, being about 96% water, with some small islands each containing their own separate ecosystem. None of the islands have names, but are referred to as "encampments”, because they’re where criminals/heretics are banished to (more on that later). The northern and southern poles of the planet are very cold, and contain large icebergs, while the middle of the planet is usually warm and is home to a lot of reefs. Anywhere between that can vary in temperature and what marine life they contain, depending on their proximity to the poles and the planet’s middle.

Biology: Grindylows have long, snaky bodies, with different colors on different parts of their bodies. This coloration can vary depending on where they live, due to the fact that they are able to adapt quickly to their environments. They also have crests on the back of their head, the shapes of which can vary. In addition, they have markings the same color as their crests on their body. Both their markings and their crests are bioluminescent, although this feature is only really utilized by Grindylows that live in the deep sea. They have finlike hands, as well as long legs.

When they’re first hatched, they do not have any limbs. They start growing limbs at the age of around three tides (a tide is 400 earth days), and they are fully developed by the age of four. Grindylows have the ability to retract their limbs into their body in order to swim faster. Walking around with your arms retracted and your legs out, however, is weird and not very helpful for anything in particular. Some never develop arms or legs. More on those later.

Newly hatched Grindylows measure about 3 feet long, and they can grow to be around 40 feet when fully stretched out. The longest one on record was about 70 feet long, which is inconvenient but very cool. Elder grindylows may also start growing a crest on their chin, like a beard. 

The species does not possess a real gender binary, but they are split between “layers” (ones who can lay eggs) and “nonlayers” (ones who don’t). Aside from the egg-laying thing, the only difference between the treatment of the two is that layers usually have to spend about 2 tides in a special facility to help them lay.

Religion: Grindylows follow a religion based on nature spirits, believing that divine forces formed their planet, and that these divine forces reside in the planet’s core. There is a firm belief that the deeper a grindylow is under the sea, the closer they are to spiritual presences. Whoever the current ruler of Megophias is resides in a very deep trench at the bottom of the ocean, only emerging occasionally. Meanwhile, criminals and heretics are banished to the islands above water, because that is the furthest away from the spirits they can be (they have not discovered space travel yet). 

The “original spirit” is said to be a serpentine creature with no limbs. For this reason, in the rare even that a Grindylow without legs or arms is hatched, they become the heir to the Megophian throne.

Culture and Technology: Grindylows are pretty technologically advanced, considering that they’re eel people that live underwater. There are hundreds of underwater cities located on Megophias, and they have managed to develop a lot of technology similar to human technology (television, cell phones, etc), along with a waterproof form of electricity referred to as mana. Some areas are more advanced than others, with large metropolises having cybernetics and hologram technology, while smaller villages struggle to operate generators. 

Religion influences the culture significantly, and Megophian mythology is extremely widespread. They also possess weird versions of certain human shows, games, and movies, despite not knowing that Earth exists. 

Alignment: Neutral. They don’t know Alternia exists… yet.

Finally a non genderbinary alien race! You accomplished sth Hussie didnt quite nail. I dig their looks and beliefs, although i cant really imagine of the retraction of limbs works (id love to see that)! But yes, they are cute. Now i want my own Grindylow... 

Some ideas for further  info and filing on depth: Does their planet have a sun/moon? What are their living conditions, do they have food culture? How does education take place, do they have some sort of schools, do they have much of a choice? Considering professions? Also are there different subcultures of their belief, are there different parties/clans/tribes who are seperated by location and/or fight each other? To which extend is the Grindylow monarch emporered? What view does society have on reproduction/sexuality? In general, are there any forms of oppression against a minority? Are Grindylows very social/communicative intraspecifically; and also, how does the species think about their kind (directly linked to that, are there other sapient lifeforms)? How dense is the population? What languages are spoken/written? If you can, illustrate a scheme of their planet too!

Thats about it, thanks for this submission~