#musashi

His name was Everett Vale — though most people called him Evei, because Ravenclaws had a way of softening everything into nicknames. You hadn’t meant to spend time with him, not really. It started with a project McGonagall had paired you on. He was sharp with Transfiguration, patient in a way that made learning feel less like a weight.

The first evening in the library had been nothing: just two students hunched over parchment, the scratch of quills, the faint clatter of Madam Pince shelving books. You’d been tired, smudging ink across the page, when Evei gently slid the quill from your hand, rewrote the messy line, and pushed it back without comment.

Something in your chest loosened.

By the end of the night, he’d made you laugh. Really laugh. The kind of laugh that slipped out unguarded, warm and bright, the kind you hadn’t heard from yourself in weeks.

Unfortunately, someone else heard it too.

Across the library, Sirius’s head snapped up at the sound. James stiffened beside him, his grip tightening around the edge of his textbook. Remus, quiet as ever, just lowered his gaze — but the muscle ticking in his jaw said enough.

It wasn’t supposed to mean anything. But it grew.

Evei started waiting for you outside class, holding your bag without a word when he saw you juggling books. He pulled out chairs for you in the library, slipped you sugar quills “to keep you focused,” reminded you to drink water when you looked bleary. Small things. Easy things.

The kind of things you used to do for the Marauders.

James noticed first. At Quidditch practice, he almost toppled from his broom because he was too busy scanning the stands — searching for your face, your cheer — only to find you bent over parchment next to Evei, oblivious to him. His spectacular dive meant nothing without your applause.

Sirius noticed next. He’d tossed you a chocolate frog across the common room, expecting your usual smirk, only for you to shake your head. Hours later, he saw Evei press the same sweet into your palm in the library, and you actually blushed. Sirius’s jaw nearly cracked from how hard he clenched it.

Remus noticed most of all. He sat in bed at night, ink-stained fingers gripping a half-written apology letter, heart stuttering with every word. He tore it up again and again, pages littering the floor, because what good were words when someone else was already giving you what he hadn’t?

It boiled over on a Thursday evening. You and Evei were tucked into an armchair in the common room, parchment scattered between you. He leaned in, murmuring some clever remark that made you laugh, and for a fleeting second, you forgot the ache in your chest.

The portrait hole slammed.

Sirius, James, and Remus stood dripping from the rain, tension rolling off them like a storm.

“Alright,” Sirius snapped, storming forward, “what the fuck is this?”

You blinked, startled. “A project.”

“With him?” James spat, the word “him” sour like poison.

“Yes, with him.”

Remus’s voice was quiet, low, but dangerous. “You’re still with us.”

You laughed then — sharp, bitter, nothing like the laugh you’d given Evei. “With you? Do you really think that?”

James’s fists curled. “You never said we were over.”

Your smile was ice. “Do you want me to write an official letter and send it by owl? Would that make it clear enough?”

The words hit their mark. James flinched, Sirius’s fists dropped to his sides, and Remus swallowed like it hurt to breathe.

“I’m done playing the option when I was never the choice,” you said, voice trembling with fury you’d held back too long. “So yes — consider this the letter.”

You shoved your books into your bag, heart pounding, and turned away.

Evei rose instantly, catching the strap from slipping, holding the door for you like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Don’t let them rattle you,” he murmured, his hand brushing yours as you stepped into the hall. The simple warmth of it steadied you more than all the Marauders’ grand gestures ever had.

Behind you, silence cracked like a curse.

But jealousy doesn’t die quietly.

James grew louder, desperate, throwing Quidditch stories into every room you entered. You didn’t look up. Remus offered to carry your books, standing there hopeful, but you passed them to Evei instead. Sirius cracked the fastest, cornering you in the corridor one night, his voice raw and reckless:

“So what, d’you like him better than us now? Is that it?”

You froze. Evei was a step behind, waiting, watching, protective. You turned, gaze steady, even as your chest ached.

“I liked you better than anyone,” you said softly, a dagger in the quiet. “And it still wasn’t enough.”

The words landed like a hex. Sirius’s face collapsed, James’s chest heaved like he couldn’t get air, Remus went utterly still.

And then you turned, walking away with Evei at your side. His hand hovered at your back, not possessive, just gentle. He didn’t need to claim you — he simply stood there, steady, and that was enough.

For the first time in weeks, you felt something like peace. For the first time in weeks, they finally understood what it felt like to lose you.

💔

Jessie: Listen, I know this is weird for both of us. I wasn't trying to fall in love with your mom.

Ash: Ugh you're making it weirder-

Jessie: I KNOW I DIDN'T LIKE HOW THAT SOUNDED BUT PLEASE LISTEN. I know you still don't trust me either and that's understandable. I was a massively successful, evil villainess after all

Ash: That doesn't help your case

Jessie: But that's behind me now. And I promise, I would never do anything to hurt Delia.

Ash: ...I get it. Mom deserves someone to be there for her. Must be lonely here since I started my journey.

Jessie: You could stand to come visit her more. I'm sure she'd appreciate it.

Ash: She does seem happy. And that's all that matters to me.

Jessie: You're a good twerp, kid– I mean, a good kid, Ash.

Ash: Y'know, you seem happy too!

Jessie: W-well of course I am! It's... nice. To be a part of a family. I care about Delia a lot, and I care about you too. Especially after all this time.

Ash: Thanks, Dad

Jessie: DAD??? Oh god I'm gonna puke.

Ash: Mom's already "mom"! You can't be mom too!

Jessie: I do NOT wanna open the can of Orthworms that comes with being your father.

Ash: Fine, what about "Mother"?

Jessie: NOPE!

Ash: "Ma"?

Jessie: BAD!

Ash: "Mum"?

Jessie: WORSE! Please just call me Jessie, this conversation is over!!!