#serpentberry

Thanks, Rach!

They were only fifth years, but they were already fighting for their lives. Hogwarts had been invaded for only the second time in history, and the castle was lit up mostly by spells whizzing through the air, aimed at particular targets or perhaps just being shot into the night at random.

They were going to have to split up, and Melanie knew it. Melanie needed to go find her brother and her mum, who had been one of the first Aurors dispatched. Stella was worried for Brittany, who’d come back to defend the school she loved. And family came first, even though Stella was the family she’d choose, time and time again, if she got the chance..

The lines had been so blurred throughout the years, ever since Stella had said she was in love with Melanie during their third year. Things were the same, but not the same, and Melanie had always tried to be so careful not to send her best friend mixed messages, while Stella had been careful not to say anything that made it seem like her feelings were anything more than platonic anymore.

With people falling and likely dying all around them, Melanie took the briefest of seconds to imagine a life without Stella Pierce, and it was the worst pain imaginable.

Stella was her best friend, her partner in crime, her family, her... everything. Every time she imagined the rest of her life, her boyfriends didn’t factor in, nor did her brother or her job or her parents.

All that mattered was Stella, and Melanie placed her hands on her best friend’s cheeks, leaned forward, and kissed her -- slowly, gently, with as much hesitation and uncertainty as she could afford when there was a battle raging around them.

“I love you, too, Stell,” Melanie whispered, not sure what this meant for them or if there would even be a later for them to figure it out during. “I love you, and I’m not leaving you, okay? We’re going into battle together -- live together, die together, none of it means anything if you’re not there with me. Now lead the way, okay? I’m following you until the very end.”

Elliott: Have you ever been around a person who's so amazing as a person and a friend and a girlfriend that all you can really do is just stare at them and kinda maybe bury your head in your hands and make embarrassingly smitten faces because you don't know how to express how lucky you are to have them? I've been doing that for about an hour.

Elliott: That being said I am so fucking here for watching you shut down anonymous (and other) people trying to fuck you over. You write another shut down speech like that, and I'll honestly probably follow you into a battle over the situation because holy shit that was practically poetry.

Elliott: Also yeah I'm a flirt but you're the only person I kiss. Or serenade on the regular because you deserve to know you're amazing and special and fantastic. Or who makes my heart skip a beat every time I look at them and makes all those sappy love songs makes sense and gets a whole mess of other Rachel Berry Only privileges that I'm not going to list because I'm going to embarrass myself.

[Text] I’m sorry but you’re far too pretty to die, Rach. I can however make your heart stop with sweet gestures and other niceties. I’m also an excellent distraction.

[text] LMAO GUESS WSHTS BIG N GULL OF BOOGEYS?? YAH NOSE AYYY

[text] hwo hav yuo ben farign berry??? im bery happy yuo graduated bc now yuo acnt obssess over me anyrmore

“You look so cute when you’re sleeping.” 

“Woah, Rachel -- woah, what are you doing here? Did my mom let you in? Dude, that’s seriously not cool. Look, I know we’re like... hanging out to make Quinn and Finn jealous and stuff, but they’re not going to see us in my room. So there’s no reason for you to be like stalker watching me while I sleep, okay? It’s just gonna make me sort of freaked out.”

“Hmm…what’s this? It feels nice, don’t stop.” 

“Oh -- oh, God, Britt, I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think about it, it’s just... you looked so pretty in your nice new shirt that mom got you, and I wasn’t thinking, and you’re my sister, and -- wait, don’t stop? B, you sure about this? I mean, this is the kind of thing... if Grandma walked in on us, she’d probably throw us out the window or hit us over the head with a Bible or... oh, uh -- okay, wow, you’re right, that does feel really good. This can be our little secret, okay?”

“Fuck you.” 

“And I thought I was supposed to be the dramatic one in this friendship. Amy, stop moving. If you’re going to be going to all these coordinator functions and pretending to be my girlfriend at them, you need to at least look like you put a little effort into looking nice for my big event. ‘Hot but looks like a hobo’ isn’t going to cut it in front of the Sinnoh Coordinator’s Association, okay? Now just let me curl your damn eyelashes or else you’re going to end up getting poked in the eye, and it’s not going to be pretty.”

"Oh yeah well you can just kiss my ass then.” 

“God, Rachel, can you just stop with the hating me thing already? If you were a dude, we’d just punch each other in the face and get it over with, but you’re kinda starting to make me mad being all aggressive and stuff. I’m sorry your brother or whatever he is didn’t get the role -- which, by the way, would have been creepy, but whatever -- but do you need to keep reminding me you hate me every five seconds? I mean, I’m bummed that I’m working with like the scariest girl in the 11th grade instead of my kind-of girlfriend, but I’m not sitting here reminding you I wish you were Marley all the time. Uh... except for right now, but let’s just pretend I didn’t say that part, okay?”

“If you call me your super hella gay bff ever again I’m going to kill you.”

“I’m sorry, it just slipped! It’s not like you’re in the closet anymore, Stell, I don’t get why it’s such a big deal. People love lesbians! At least, Muggles love lesbians -- they even have all these shows on the telly about them. Sometimes they’re in prison, but people seem to love them anyway. What’s so wrong with being proud of being your bff just the way you are, with no secrets and no pretending?”

“Stella, stop! I get it, okay? I get that you’re mad at me, I get that you don’t like Will, I get that... I get that you probably still have feelings for me. And I know it must be hard, but the last thing I’d ever want to do is hurt you. I could tell you were sad, I could tell it was starting to affect our friendship again, and that’s why -- um, that’s why I broke up with him. Because even if we’re just best friends, because you’re more important, okay? So please, please stop acting like you’re the only one who’s sad, because I did this for us. I did this for you. And it stinks to see him in the hallways and know he’s not mine anymore, but if it means you’re happier than it’s worth it.”