Bookworm.

“Funny how rarely sense and self-preservation seem to go together,” William said wryly. “I mean, people say I have sense… and look how much of a self-preservation instinct I have.” That said, he was trying to be more careful these days, though, despite his tendency to take on more than he could safely handle.

“I can’t say I know Dora all that well, but she seemed like a smart kid,” he went on, when she was mentioned. “You’re right about James, though - he and the others are going to devote themselves to teaching his kid to be the terror of the Hogwarts staff. I’d bet McGonagall will consider resigning if she has to face another Potter, especially one Sirius helped raise.”

There was quiet for a moment, and he revelled in her closeness. Emmeline was always someone he could talk to, and William needed that more than ever now.

Her little fit of giggles and the list of traits his kids would definitely inherit just made him laugh, though. “Are you sure we’re talking about the same kids?” he teased. “I mean, I can see your point about the hair, but really - brave, wise and beautiful?” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I mean, if they were our kids… I can see them getting all those good points from their mother,” he added softly.

bookishgryffindor1x1:

“Funny how rarely sense and self-preservation seem to go together,” William said wryly. “I mean, people say I have sense… and look how much of a self-preservation instinct I have.” That said, he was trying to be more careful these days, though, despite his tendency to take on more than he could safely handle.

“I can’t say I know Dora all that well, but she seemed like a smart kid,” he went on, when she was mentioned. “You’re right about James, though - he and the others are going to devote themselves to teaching his kid to be the terror of the Hogwarts staff. I’d bet McGonagall will consider resigning if she has to face another Potter, especially one Sirius helped raise.”

There was quiet for a moment, and he revelled in her closeness. Emmeline was always someone he could talk to, and William needed that more than ever now.

Her little fit of giggles and the list of traits his kids would definitely inherit just made him laugh, though. “Are you sure we’re talking about the same kids?” he teased. “I mean, I can see your point about the hair, but really - brave, wise and beautiful?” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I mean, if they were our kids… I can see them getting all those good points from their mother,” he added softly.

Emmeline couldn’t help but laugh – he did have a point. Mundungus was just one of the many examples; he wasn’t stupid, per say, and he certainly knew how to worm his way out of any difficult situation, but he had no sense, really. “I think it’s kind of hard to have any real sense of self-preservation when we’re fighting what we are fighting, William.” Her voice sobered slightly, although her touch was still soft, and she hoped he could tell she appreciated that he was trying to be more careful – that was all she could ask for, all she could pray for.

“She is. She’s a little devil, sometimes, apparently, too. I think Moody’s going to have his hands full if he’s still around when she becomes an Auror,” she spoke as a strand of hair fell over her eyes, ignoring it as she smiled. “I think that may just send McGonagall into an early grave, you know. Or an early retirement…” Her lips stayed twitched up into a smile, as she spoke. “But, then again, she’s always had a fondness for James and Sirius, even if she won’t admit it with words.”

Her fingertips skated over his skin, leaning into his embrace as if it was one of the only things keeping her alive. Emmeline couldn’t help the way her exhaustion seemed to melt away whenever William was near.

William rolled his eyes, but didn’t venture to comment further. The thought of Mundungus Fletcher crossing Moody and Alice, two of the scariest Aurors in the office, was somewhere between hilarious and painfully stupid. Not that he would venture to mention that to anyone; being, as he’d said, the most junior member of the office - and the Order, come to think of it - his opinions were worth only slightly more than a couple of mashed Flobberworms.

“At least we know they’re all good with kids,” he said thoughtfully. “I mean, that little cousin of Sirius’s seems to worship Frank and Alice, and James is pretty fond of her from what I hear.” A little shiver ran down his spine at Emmeline’s gentle caresses, and he smiled, watching her for a moment. “…Your kids would be smart and really, really beautiful,” he blurted out, and then reddened at the implication.

“Dung’s never had much sense,” Emmeline mumbled, one of her hands sliding down to rest against his chest with her drink cradled in hand. “He’s got a hell of a self preservation streak, though.” Her gaze is warm, like the candlelight above them, lips twisted into a smile which feels rare, which it usually is, but it isn’t when she’s around him. Mundungus Fletcher was a feature around the Auror office, if only for his proclivity for illicit activities and the need for information which he provided, in exchange for no charges being brought against him for any of his nefarious activities. She was surprised he’d even been permitted to be anywhere near the Order, but, then again, Knockturn Alley was, somewhat, of a Dark Wizard hotspot, and that was Mundungus’s playground, if you will.

William just chuckled into the kiss, not even bothering to argue over who won the not-competition, and took the opportunity to edge her away from the bar, where others were queuing up to be served. There was something uniquely relaxing about being with Emmeline, a special closeness he’d never quite been able to foster with his more energetic friends, and he treasured it.

“To be honest, I don’t think I want Dung around too much,” he said wryly. “At least that way he’s not nicking anything of ours that isn’t nailed down.” The petty thief wasn’t William’s favourite person, but he could at least appreciate the man’s usefulness.

After a few moments of thinking to himself, he added, “It feels so weird. I’m a year out of school and people are having kids all around me. Almost makes you wonder what it’d be like, doesn’t it?”

Emmeline shifted with him, letting him steer them away from the bar and all the people who were glaring intently at the lack of space at the bar. She broke the kiss after a few moments, wrinkling her nose slightly. It was an odd thing, to describe what it felt like to be with someone who made you feel so utterly calm and yet so nervous at the same time, to be with someone she just yearned to have any form of contact with.

“Dung’s quite the character. Did I ever tell you about that time he thought it’d be a good idea to ask Moody if he’d be interested in buying any of his stock?” She grinned at him, head tilted slightly. “I remember when Alice hung him upside down so he’d give her back the quills he’d taken from her desk without asking.” She mused aloud, shifting to tilt her head back again.

“It’s not a competition,” William protested lightly as she snuggled into him, though he couldn’t help laughing quietly all the same. Given how hard Emmeline worked herself, pushing herself to her limits on a regular basis and hardly ever letting down her professional front, it was always good to see her being playful and letting out her less mature side. The idea that she let her walls down more easily around him was enough to make him grin and nuzzle into her neck for a moment before pulling back.

“New faces would be good,” he agreed, settling his free arm around her waist comfortably. “Even our usual suspects have sobered up a bit these days. Honestly, I can still hardly believe Frank and Alice are going to be parents…” The thought made him chuckle. “Then again, I can hardly believe James and Lily are, either.”

He shivered at the touch of her fingers on the back of his neck, and stole a quick kiss. “I just know they’ll be great at it, though.”

“Says who?” Emmeline spoke with a raised brow, the protest light and teasing on her lips. Her lips twitched up into a playful smile against the rim of her drink, taking a quick sip and letting it slide down her throat before she spoke again, smiling gently. “‘Sides, I won.” Even with Lily and Alice, Emmeline rarely got the chance to be so open - they were some of the few that could inspire her to let out her less mature side, the side that she had caged away in recent months. Her smile lifted, gaze unclouded, registering him pulling back after nuzzling her neck briefly.

“Think everyone is looking forward to having some fresh faces around. Haven’t seen Mundungus in a while, come to think of it. Alice can’t believe it herself. She sent me a three page letter yesterday morning about her crying over a broken kettle.” Her voice was quiet, amusement obvious from the way she let out a soft laugh. “They’re so excited for ‘baby Lames’. It’s adorable. Think they’ve decided on names, too.”

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to let the stab of grief fade away with it. The memories threatened to rise up, but he forced them away, wrapping one arm around Emmeline and holding her close. “I love you too,” he murmured, leaning his cheek on her hair. With her close, he could remember more easily the joy he’d found with her, and how lucky he was to have a girlfriend who loved him so much.

Pushing his mind back to business, he managed a brief smile. “Well, in any case… hopefully the office is getting more than two new recruits this year. Even with the awful Defence classes at Hogwarts, more people are beginning to teach themselves independently. And it’ll be nice to have a few new faces in training, too.”

She nursed her glass in one hand, the other pressing to the counter as she felt him exhale. She was thankful that he leaned on her, when he needed to - that he loved her and trusted her with every part of himself. The hand that had been pressing to the counter moved to rest over where he’d curled his arm around her. “Love you more.” She indulged that childish part of herself only very occasionally and usually around him, as it was a part of herself that she so often hid away that it felt like she was airing something out that she had forgotten about.

@hpminorcharnet creation event: marauders era - emmeline vance

“Hmm, alright then,” Emmeline grinned, leaning her head towards the bartender, her voice low as she asked for the nicest whiskey they had, on the rocks. “It isn’t that hard, once you know the tricks of the trade. The only reason I know any of them is because of Caradoc, the jammy sod. Three years, was it really that long ago that I first started? Blimey, I’m old.”

She nudged his hip with her own, a knowing smile on her face as she squeezed his hand, thumb darting over the skin of his nearest finger. “You won’t be the new kid for long, there are some new recruits starting in about three weeks. Moody’s still got Crouch on his case about not having enough Auror applicants.” Her voice was gentle as she all but leaned her entire weight against him, sideways on to the bar.

He shook his head and leaned in to kiss her. “You’re not old,” he replied with a brief grin. “Even if it’s four years ago you started, not three. You’re barely into your twenties.”

Emmeline smiled, a broadening smile that lit up her features. “Both is good.” Her voice lifts at the end, emphasis on the good, squeezing his hand. “Hmm. Moody’s a softy, really. You just need to know his tells. And what whiskey he really, really likes after having dealt with Scrimgeour all day, and promise him you’ll finish all the paperwork another day. I’d love a drink.”

William couldn’t have wiped the smile off his face if he’d tried. “How about both?” he replied, interlacing her questing fingers with his. “I wasn’t expecting you for at least another half-hour. Moody didn’t seem like he was up for any escape attempts when I left… but now you’re here, did you fancy a drink?”

another collection of sentence starters because i haven’t made one in a while. feel free to request some :-)

you’re adorable, you know that?”

“star-gazing was such a great idea.”

“you have know idea how much you mean to me.”

“i shouldn’t have left you.”

“let’s build a fort!”

“don’t leave me! you’re too warm.”

“i don’t like lightning.”

“i’m here for you.”

“the carnival’s in town!”

”you smell nice..”

“don’t you dare leave me, not now.”

“talk to me.”

“i thought you loved me. i guess i was wrong.”

“i thought i loved you and i guess i was wrong.”

“so, slow and loving, or hard and punishing?”

“you’re dead to me.”

“i just want you to know that i’ll never stop loving you.”

“i fucked up, alright? i’m sorry.”

“we should try adding a third person.”

“you’re hair is really soft after you wash it..”

“you’ve been hiding something from me, haven’t you?”

“would it be alright if i borrowed your sweater? it smells like you..”

“you’re my new pillow.”

“how about a kiss?”

“don’t get up, i’ll do it.”

“stop lying to me and tell me the truth!”

“how could you keep this from me?”

“your bedhead it really cute.”

“you belong to me.”

“i think you’ll be happy to know that i’m not wearing any underwear..”

“you look beautiful in the moonlight.”

“you are very endearing when you’re half asleep.”

“it’s beautiful.”

“you’re perfect to me.”

“do i really me nothing to you?”

“just leave me alone.”

“i never meant to hurt you.”

“may i have this dance?”

“i’m so lucky to have met you.”

“will you marry me?”

“you don’t have to me so gentle.”

“you’re a little shit, but at least you’re my little shit.”

“we should move in together.”

“c’mon, i’ll make you some hot chocolate.”

“let’s have a picnic.”

“i don’t want this to end..”

“you said you loved me!”

“i never loved you..”

{ the angst edition is here! }

“you are so cheesy.”

“i didn’t know you were a romantic.”

“oh my god. i can’t believe you did this.”

“wait, let me get a picture!”

“you are absolutely ridiculous.”

“i have the perfect day planned out.”

“i made it myself.”

“i made it myself, which explains why it’s a little burnt.”

“i tried making it myself, but i figured food poisoning doesn’t make for a very good valentine’s day present.”

“has anyone ever told you that you have a funny idea of romantic?”

“where are we going to put a bear that big?”

“did i just hear a bark?”

“when you said you were planning something big, i didn’t expect it to be this big…”

“i told you you didn’t have to do anything!”

“this might be the happiest day of my life.”

“how did you know my favorite chocolate flavor?”

“help me find a vase for these flowers?”

“this holiday seems like the best opportunity to ask you out.”

“i know a place that sells hot chocolate with heart-shaped froth.”

“i want to make you this happy for the rest of your life.”

“is today a good day to say i think i love you?”

“i think i’m in love with you.”

“i love you.”

“i love you so much. you know that, right?”

“…that’s for me?”

“…are those flowers?”

“…i didn’t get you anything, though.”

“you didn’t have to.”