mirrorball

It was so rare for someone to knock on Remus’ front door, that for a moment he thought his mind had just made things up. Most house calls let themselves in via fireplace, or just by apparating into his living room, so the rapt of knuckles against the front door was a very surprising occurrence. Jumping up as much as Remus could, he darted towards the doorway, brow furrowed as he perplexedly opened the front door. “Brianna?” he breathed, eyes widening. Remus didn’t know who he would have expected, but certainly not the daughter of his former student. Swept up in a fascinated confusion and delight, Remus almost smiled, before realizing that Bri looked very upset. “Oh-” Remus sighed, leaning forward in concern, his brow swept upwards into a concerned arc. “Certainly, of course-” Remus held the door open wider for her as he ushered her in with a sweep of his arm. As he had done with Teddy and Mia nearly all of their lives, Remus lead Bri to the kitchen counter, gesturing for her to take a seat at one of the bar stools while Remus walked to the other side, pulling two cups from the cupboard. As Remus set a saucepan upon the stove, he eyed her wearily. “Is this… something you’d like to talk about, or be distracted from?” he asked softly.

Bri didn’t know if it was appropriate for her to just apparate into Remus’s home—or else she would have. She couldn’t even remember the last time she knocked on a door. She was certain she was one of the last people he expected to be at her door. In her state, it might’ve been even more shocking. Her throat burned from crying, and her cheeks were wet with tears that were still coming out of the corners of her eyes. She couldn’t remember the last time she cried like this.

“I know how odd this might seem,” she managed to get out when he let her in. His expression seemed to change into quick concern once he’d had a chance to take her all in. The young chaser took her place at one of the barstools across from where, she assumed, he’d make the tea. God, what had she done? The regret was quickly setting in, and she wanted to take it all back. 

She chewed on her fingernails. “A little bit of both, I guess.” It was something she had done since she was a first year as a source of comfort. “James proposed.” Eyes fell on her bare left hand. “And I told him no. Didn’t give a reason. I just said no.” The lump formed again in her burning throat, and she tried to swallow it down. “I’ve ruined everything again, but I can’t marry him. He’s too good for me.”

If there was one thing that Brianna Chang was certain of, it was that she had never felt love the way she did when she was with Jamie. It scared her, and she’d fled from him before due to her own silly fears. Now, she watched him anytime he looked away while she made him a cup of coffee and a cup of tea for herself. a smile gracing her face each time she’d catch his gaze. SInce the chaos a few weeks ago, she’d hardly left his side. The momentary fear of losing him seemed like it’d never fully subside.

Her biggest regret was only mere months ago with him. Two months ago she’s left him after he had been through absolute hell. It was weeks of her seeing the hurt she’d caused in his eyes every time she closed her eyes. She’d found herself on the front step of remus lupin in search of his wisdom after. She should’ve said yes, but she was so terrified to let him down one day. It was easier to do it then—to save any further hurt. At least, she’d thought that.

“Jamie?” she began, handing him his mug. After a quick kiss to his cheek, she crawled beside him on the couch with her legs draped across his lap. Leaving him in such a time of need had eaten her alive. He had lost his father. Brianna couldn’t imagine losing her own mother. “I know we’ve never been easy.” Hands wrapped around her mug so tightly that she thought it might break. It was a way to ease her nerves. It was always easier to be smart than it was to be brave. “I’m sorry. I’m so so sorry. All that I put you through right after your dad died. It wasn’t fair to you.”

The warmth in the greenhouse had her buzzing with a newfound energy that had seemed to be lost over the last few weeks. The outside air had a bit of a chill this time of year, and, normally, Brianna loved it. There was something about sitting on her little porch with her calico cat with a cup of tea while the wind delicately danced around her hair that made her smile. She’d had trouble finding that joy in the last few weeks. So, she paid a visit to someone that she knew could make her smile. 

Brianna still remembered bonding with the other Ravenclaw alum about their shitty fathers. She’d taken a liking to Aiden rather quickly--sensing the same desire for trouble that Brianna carried too. “I’ve always been jealous of how much plants love you. I’ve seemed to kill everything that I touch.” Fingers danced across one of the leaves that was stretching for the sun. “I needed this. I’ve missed seeing you.”

After all these years, she’d nearly lost count of how many times she’d left the porch of the love of her life’s home completely heartbroken. Thinking that this was it—that she’d never see him again. Somehow, life always seemed to lead her back to him. However, this time felt different. He wanted to marry her, but Brianna wasn’t ready. The second her tearful declination slipped past her lips, she regretted it, but it was too late to her. Her fear of turning out like her own parents did and becoming a shell of a human and wasting away overtook the love she had for Jamie.

Brianna couldn’t go home. There would be too many reminders of what she was leaving behind her. With one last look behind her, she apparated with a swift flick of the wand. The first person that crossed her mind wasn’t her mother. No, she wouldn’t care. She’d stare at the blank wall before her and nod every now and then to pretend she was listening. Bri found herself tearful on the front steps of the home of Remus Lupin. Tucking her wand away, she attempted to wipe some tears away but to no avail. Remus had always been so kind to her for as long as she could remember. When Bri had mentioned her mother’s former professor to her, Bri swore she saw what might’ve been a flicker of a smile.

She knocked gently on his door before wiping a few more of her tears away. God, she hoped he was home. “Do you have time for a cup of tea? I think I need a cup of tea.” Was all she could manage to get out the second she laid eyes on him.

Bri was still recovering from the events at the Quidditch Stadium just mere weeks ago. Each time she closed her eyes, she heard the same voice echoing as if she was right back there. She didn’t want to release her burdens onto anyone without their permission. She’d searched high and low for distractions. Her teammates had seen her practicing more often than before even after the healer at St. Mungo’s warned her of her concussion. It was one of the few times she could clear her head even when it was still pounding.

She’d self diagnosed herself as healed once the persistent headache subsided earlier that morning. After rotating her time at Jamie’s and her tiny cottage, she decided a desperate change for scenery was needed. Her tiny cottage was serene and peaceful, but something different might help clear her head. 

“A single malt whisky, please?” she asked the kindly bartender at the Leaky Bartender. Whilst waiting for her drink, she turned to examine her surroundings to find a familiar face. “Mia! Oh, it’s nice to run into someone.”

-

Jamie may have been the most hopeless Potter where magic was concerned, but that did not mean he was entirely stupid on the topic. He knew one thing very well — magic could be used to deceive. He was aware of potions that made one’s form change, of beings such as metamorphmagi who could take on the appearance of another with ease. During a heavy moment such as this, Jamie figured it would probably be wise not to trust just anyone who stumbled upon him. Magic could be used to deceive. But that thought bore little weight as he registered the voice calling out to him. He had known her for so long, and so intimately, there was no question that it was Brianna there. Everything in him just knew he was safe, comforted just by the sound of her voice. No wonder he kept going back to her after every petty (devastating) break up between them; there was a cosmic pull that even in that fearful moment caused him to crawl out of his hiding place to gravitate towards her without any hesitation.

“Much better now that you’re here,” he sighed in response to her question, a vibrant smile overcoming him despite the situation they found themselves in. When he’d managed to get to her, Jamie reached out with his uninjured hand to take a hold of hers, as if needing the physical confirmation she was actually there, and he wasn’t just seeing things. But there she was, real as ever and safe. “I think I hit my head during all the commotion… I don’t remember falling over, and when everyone else got out.” He blinked, taking the moment to look around and take in their surroundings more thoroughly. There appeared to not be any immediate dangers, at least nothing that stood out to him as being worrisome. Stroking a sensitive spot on the back of his head — likely where he’d fallen on earlier — Jamie leveled a sheepish look onto Bri. “Or maybe I was falling asleep during the debate; kind of a snooze fest, eh?” He was trying, and perhaps failing, to make light of the situation.

The joking grin on his face vanished as he registered the woman before him, frowning as he reached over to delicately cradle the side of her head. Her hair was dark, but it looked a little wet from something. Blood. “Bri, you’re hurt,” his voice softened as he drew closer to inspect her injury. Long fingers tenderly brushed the area around her wound, careful not to irritate or touch a particularly sensitive spot. “You came all the way out here to get me when you should have been seeking medical attention…” She already made his heart swell from just being there, but now it practically ached. Light as he tried to make the situation, things were very dangerous. She could have gotten seriously injured if she’d fallen onto someone else. Or worse… A thought he didn’t quite wish to dwell on. Maybe he was more a liability to his loved ones than he’d realized.

“We’ve gotta get somewhere safe, get someone to see to your head… do you think everyone’s gathering at the school? Or, or maybe Hogsmeade?” He wanted to pull her into his arms and carry her all the way to St. Mungo’s just to get her head checked and ensure she was okay. He had practically forgotten about his own injured wrist in that moment, too busy cradling Bri’s face and searching for any other signs of harm. But time wasn’t exactly on their side, and Jamie knew now wasn’t the right time to dilly dally. They needed to escape from there, and fast. Now what kind of secret routes and pathways did he know of nearby… His mind was foggy, unable to concentrate. He just kept seeing his father’s face on those banners… He hastily blinked the images away.

“Which way did you come from?” He asked in a shuddered breath, gazing around. The memory of those banners and that voice reminded him once again that he was a sitting target for whatever radicals were lurking about. The eldest son of Harry Potter, weak and defenseless, and now Bri was there and was in just as much danger. Useless as he was, Jamie couldn’t fathom what he would do if anything were to happen to her. He just got her back, he couldn’t lose her now. Which brought him to another group of people he couldn’t be without. “I need to find my family,” he exclaimed suddenly, “Gotta make sure they’re safe. An-and you, I gotta get you somewhere safe, and make sure everything’s okay — that everyone is okay, of course, but you, I need you to be somewhere safe.” His voice was soft albeit a bit frantic, his heart racing quicker as he came to realize just how scared he was in that moment.

She’d lived her life with Jamie longer than she had lived without him. She still remembered the first time she saw him as a keeper. Until she mustered up the courage to talk to him, she’d watch him from her broom or the stands in longing. Even in her desperate attempts to distance herself from him, she found herself back at his doorstep. As much as she wished, she couldn’t keep away from him. She’d loved him half her life, and she hoped to love him for the rest of it, too. Every ridiculous breakup, every silly fight, meant nothing now. The fear that had filled her for the last few hours was slowly dissipating now that he was in her sight.

“I could say the same.” His cheerful smile somehow erased all her negative emotions ever since she was a kid. Brianna took his hand in hers, and she noticed the way his other hand seemed to be cradled against him. He was hurt, but he was safe and alive. There was no imaging what was happening in his head when he saw his late father’s face unrolling before him. She wanted to take his pain away. They wouldn’t be safe for long. They were easy targets out here in the middle of the Quidditch Stadium. Death Eaters and enemies alike could be lurking. Jamie was enough of a target. Bri needed to get him to safety. She just needed a moment, though, to look him over. Hands cupped his face as if he’d disappear from her any moment. How he was able to make light of this situation she didn’t know, but she was thankful for it. A moment of laughter slipped past her lips. “Politics are always boring. Someone had to make it exciting.”

The grin that she found so much joy in disappeared. A hand joined his at the side of her head. “I think a blasting curse. I was standing too close. I’m alright, promise. It looks worse than it is. The head just has more blood vessels.” Bri wasn’t going to admit her terrible headache to him. Not now. “Your arm. Is it broken? Here.” She muttered a bandaging charm underneath her breath. It was the only healing charm she could do without fail. All the years of Quidditch had helped her become rather good at conjuring bandages. “You need help, too. We must get out of here first, okay? It’s not safe. You’re not safe.”

“I helped Remus get all the younger kids the Great Hall, but I don’t think it’s safe for you here. There’s a secret passageway to Hogsmeade we can take. No one will see us.” Bri leaned her cheek against his hand. Despite the fear in her voice, she wasn’t making much of a movement to get up. So much had happened, and she’d barely had time to process it all. Lips kissed his palm in an attempt to reassure him. “We’ll get out of here and get that arm checked out. I don’t think you want me mending broken bones.”

“I came from the castle. I had to find you.” Her mother was safe at home, and Jamie was all she had left. “We’ll find them. I promise, but your safety is what’s important now.” His voice was frantic, and Bri worried he’d start to panic if they stayed here any longer. Delicate hands cupped his cheeks. “Hey, deep breaths. Let’s go to Hogsmeade, and we’ll find your family.” A reassuring kiss to his forehead as if they had all the time in the world to escape. “I got you, Jamie. Let’s get somewhere safe.” With her wand at the ready, she took his uninjured hand in his. They had to get to safety.

Remus nodded to her. He felt invigorated- here was something he could do. “There is more than one way to Hogsmeade-“ he started under his breath. “We can escort any of the vulnerable as soon as the students are accounted for. Keep your wand up!”

It didn’t feel right to leave Brianna on her own, but as soon as the Great Hall could be secured, there would be somewhere safe, and that would make all the difference. So, despite his worry, Remus pivoted and pushed the doors to Hogwarts open, wand drawn.

His skin still prickled coldly as Bellatrix’s voice echoed in his mind. He tried not to think about who might be lost to wixkind today, and to focus on salvaging what he could.

As Remus walked through the threshold, reciting every anti intruder jinx he could recall, he couldn’t help but feel welcomed by the castle, emboldened by his familiarity with it. As a teacher, he’d spent many nights casting protective spells throughout the castle in the hopes of deterring Sirius Black- it was overwhelming to think how long ago that was, how distant it felt. Nevertheless, the spells came back to him easily enough and in what felt like mere minutes, Remus found himself inside of the Great Hall. There wasn’t a death eater in sight. It unnerved Remus, but he also knew it would be foolish for them to enter. Surely, all of the Hogwarts staff were doing their part to collect students and bring them back, just like Brianna. Sweeping his wand across the room, Remus pushed the long tables and chairs against the walls, hoping to create more space for people to shelter. “Come on Bri…” Remus murmured anxiously under his breath as he began to walk back to the front doors.  “Please be alright.”

He was anxious to know what she’d seen in the fray- any clue to what the Death Eater’s designs were.

“More than one way? What do you mean?” Now wasn’t the time for questions like this, though. Remus’s attention was quickly back to the vulnerable. They were what was most important. Brianna’s wand was gripped so tight in her hand that knuckles were stained white.

She wanted to admit her fear. She wanted to stay with Remus, but she knew what they had to do. With a nod, they departed. Brianna took back to the Quidditch stadium for any hiding or hurt students. Her mom was safe at home—she didn’t have to worry about her, but her mind drifted to Jamie. The man she’d loved for nearly half her life and how she hadn’t seen him since the commotion started. He had to be okay, but emotions weren’t allowed to overtake her in this moment. Not now. She had a job.

Bri spotted a few first years huddled behind the wreckage of what was left of the stands. She managed the bravest face she could pull. She couldn’t imagine going through this at such a young age. Everything was supposed to be simple. Silly little charms and turning animals into water goblets. Not the place you called home falling apart before you. Not the horrors of a world that they never thought they’d have to live through standing before them. Brianna reassured each and every kid as she herded them back to the Great Hall.

Everyone seemed unharmed as she checked them over. After one last trip, she had gathered as many students as she could find. After another checking of heads, she saw Remus.

“Remus!” she called out across the crowds of people huddled, moving through them all. “Are you hurt? Did anything happen to you? I found as many students as I could.”

────────

lorcan is a mess in this situation, but at least he is not the only one. not the only one running, not the only one calling out for a friend, not the only one ducking out of sight when he sees someone - anyone - with their hood up or whose face is obscured. the shouting is enough to give him a headache - the running, enough to put him out of breath, but it’s not like he has much of an option. so caught up in the chaos of it all, he nearly trips over someone before they yell.

“shit, sorry, sorry, sorry,” he says, stumbling back. it’s all he can do to keep his feet; his shoulder bumps against something; a pole, one of the goalposts. how is this still the stadium field? “i’m- here, let me help you up. he scrambles forward just as quickly as he had moved back, reaching for her and hoping only that she doesn’t put that wand to use.

She wondered if she was cut out for this. Her fear seemed to overtaking every other possible emotion. Brianna wasn’t as brave as she once thought she was. She never considered herself a coward, but that was how she felt in this moment. Helpless, scared. The chaos and fear filled faces fly by in complete blur while she attempts to gain her bearings nce again. The young witch pulls herself to her hands and knees.

A surprised yelp slipped out before her wand was pointed and at the ready. Oh, thank goodness. An old school friend was standing above her. The Quidditch goalposts loomed over her, and the screams were slowly getting further and further away. “Lorcan! I’m so sorry. I didn’t--I had no idea.” Her wand went to her other hand. It was too dangerous to put it away. There was no predicting who was looming near. Taking his hand, she pulled herself to her feet. “C’mon. We gotta get to the castle.”

he knew it was a bad idea to ignore bellatrix’s call – sure, political debates were boring, but he’d end up on the crime scene one way or another. evan took in the atmosphere as soon as he stepped foot on the stadium. oh, the chaos and destruction - it was.. comforting in a sense. a hit wizard sent to arrest death eaters, a death eater sent to ensue even more chaos. nothing evan rosier wasn’t used to.

he walked through the aftermath of the explosions, looking for a good opportunity to contribute to the chaos. he had to be careful – after all, he was wearing his uniform. for a moment the rosier thought he had his chance; he watched some person flip and push back, obviously hurt. he couldn’t recognize them, couldn’t see their face clearly from all the smoke and the crowd sprinting in various directions in order to escape the mayhem. evan attempted to get closer to them, took out his wand, about to finish the job one of his own had started – no, he couldn’t. not now. there were too many people watching. fellow hit wix. it would be stupid.

he blasted a harmless spell at the death eater as his colleagues ran towards him; evan, however, knew the other would be free in about two seconds and escape successfully. perhaps, it would be a good distraction for the other hit wix. he approached the woman who’d pointed her wand at him; he could see more clearly now. “are you hurt?”

Merlin’s beard, her head was pounding. Everything was still spinning around her, and Bri knew she couldn’t hit shit in this state. Either way, she kept her wand at the ready. There were several people that could be standing in front of her, and she was hoping for a familiar face.

The voice came before Brianna’s vision stopped spinning. Evan. The man she once remembered loathing in school. Years ago, his mere presence caused an eruption of arguments between them, and Bri had never been one to back down. She was guilty of egging him on just to see how far she could push him. It was never on her agenda to find Evan Rosier a dear friend of hers. They had much more in common than she had anticipated. She certainly never expected to share far too many drinks with him that night, and to leave the bar calling him her friend.

Her wand hung in the air a few more moments before taking in a deep breath to calm herself. “i would be if those fuckers stopped trying to blow everything up. i might’ve hit my head, but i’m fine.” Bri carefully pulled herself to her feet. “Are you alright? We have to get out of here.”

amadeus didn’t think it was a secret,  that he wasn’t the most interested in politics or family.   hell,  he’d fucked off to sweden as soon as he was able half because he really loved the job waiting for him there,  and half to get away from his family and their politics.                 but he was back now,  and appearances were important.   when your cousin runs for minister,  amadeus had thought,  the least you could do was show up and watch the debate. 

well,  fuck him.   next time he’d see about doing even less than that.   

    he didn’t have any skin in this game   ━   he wasn’t going to whip out his wand and add even more chaos to a event that was already sending people running,  startled & scared.   running himself wouldn’t help,  either,  not in the mad crush of the crowd.   he ducked under an unidentifiable blast of magic,  grabbing at someone else’s arm to bring them down with him,  away from whatever unknown fate might’ve waited for them if he hadn’t.   

“ hey, “  he said,  voice strained and words sharp,  quick.  “ stay down.   are you alright? “ 

Brianna doubted she’d be standing at this debate had she not joined the Order a few short months ago. Politics, though, were far from what she was interested in. It always seemed like a dick measuring contest every since she was old enough to grasp what it all was. The silly debates were politicians acted like children were entertaining occasionally.

There was no mental preparation for the haunting voice that still echoed through her head. Every hair on her skin stood straight up on its end. Bri searched the crowd for friends, fellow Order members, or any familiar face. A sudden blast of magic close to her brought her back to the harsh reality around her. Before she had a moment to react, a firm hand was on her arm and bringing her to the ground. Her chest hit the grass beneath her, and hands came over her head to protect it from any potential falling debris.

Turning to the voice beside her, she nodded quickly. “God, what’s happening,” she muttered mostly to herself. “I think so. What about you? You alright?” As the words left her lips, another blast quickly followed the first. Her own hand gripped Amadeus’s arm. “We have to get out of here.”

There was a searing pain shooting through her head. Horrified spectors thundered past her after another explosion of spells and curses erupted around them. God, where was her wand? She’d been knocked to the ground from the sheer force, and something had struck her in the head. Stretched an arm out, she felt the handle of her precious blackthorn wand against her fingertips. A tight grasp wrapped around it as she worked to bring herself to her feet. She managed to get to her hands and knees. Her vision was blurred from whatever hit her. A hand came up to only come back with spots of blood on her fingertips. “Shit!” she muttered.

Eyes focused on the ground in hopes that maybe the ground would stop spinning. The footsteps approaching forced her to pull herself together. Flipping to her back and pushing herself into a sitting position, she pointed her wand in a panic at the noise. “Get back!” She could only hope the fear she felt was not reflected in her expression.

Remus pushed open the front doors to the castle with a wave of his wand. It felt good- abstractly, it felt like the castle remembered him, it helped Remus feel a little more calm. “Oh, Brianna- good.” Despite the frenzy, Remus smiled to her and gave her a thankful nod in salutations. Then his expression quickly returned to being weary and stern. She was fast- she’d ran to his side in no time. “Round up students and bring them here. I will make sure the castle is safe. If you find anyone from the Order who’s injured, send them this way. And please-” Remus reached over and squeezed her shoulder, “be careful.”

There was something about Remus’s presence that helped her believe that maybe things would turn out alright. Between being at the first place she called home and being with a man she trusted with her life, she’d never felt safer. Bri blocked out the chaos for a moment and took in a deep breath to ease herself.

Bri was able to manage a smile back at him, but his smile was quick to fade. This was no place for smiling when the world seemed to be crumbling around them. “I can do that. Maybe help organize the chaos a bit.” The squeeze to her shoulder melted away the insecurities about her magical capabilities. She was capable of doing this. “I will. Please, you be careful too. I can find you in the Great Hall as soon as I get as many as I can rounded up. Does that work?”

{ cis woman, she/her } ❝ have you forgotten that you’re godless? ❞ huh, who’s NATASHA LIU BORDIZZO? no, you’re mistaken, that’s actually BRIANNA “BRI” CHANG. she is a TWENTY- SIX year old HALF-BLOOD witch who is CHASER FOR THE HOLYHEAD HARPIES. SHE is a RAVENCLAW alum and the child of CHO CHANG. pronoun is known for being PRIDEFUL, COMPETITIVE, JUDGEMENTAL, IMPULSIVE, and RULE-BREAKER but also LOYAL, AMICABLE, CLEVER, LOGICAL, and PERSISTENT, so that must be why she always reminds me of the song RAGGED WOOD BY FLEET FOXES and A FORGOTTEN CUP OF COFFEE IN THE WINDOWSILL, BRUISED KNUCKLES, DRUNKEN LAUGHTER AND KISSES, THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF FAILING, PRANKS THAT WENT TOO FAR AND FORGETTING THE CONSEQUENCES, A WELL-LOVE BROOMSTICK. i hear she is aligned with the ORDER OF THE PHOENIX so be sure to keep an eye on her. { syd, 23, cst, she/her }

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