Me Whenever My Friends Are Like "oh Can I See What You Write?"

Me whenever my friends are like "oh can I see what you write?"

people who only use conventional social media are so funny bc they’ll casually be like “can I see your tumblr??” are you Insane. this is no instagram or twitter. this is my vault of secrets

HOLY SHIT!!

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A Bouquet of New Beginnings Chapter 14: "Purple Hyacinth"

Floriography - Please Forgive Me

Summary: Artemis is encouraged to take a certification, Sebastian & Artemis delve into that book from the Restricted Section, and an overdue conversation is had with a certain blond.

[AO3]

Below is an excerpt of the chapter. Full chapter can be viewed from AO3 link above!

“The Draught’s…working,” attempted Artemis.

Ominis’ sighed small as he shook his head. “What are you doing out here at this hour?”

“I was,” started Artemis as she swallowed. He didn’t need to know the cause. “I was waiting for Sebastian. Going to spell practise. Followed Nocturne. Distracted with the painting. Then… well.”

Silence fell as she caught something flash across Ominis’ face. Artemis, now completely under the effect of the Calming Draught, slowly stood; Ominis followed her movement. Nocturne kept his claws dug into her shirt as if to dare her to put him down. She gave him a soft kiss on his forehead.

“Sorry for troubling you. I’d… appreciate it, if you didn’t tell anyone,” whispered Artemis. “You should be gentle, with the grip.”

“What?”

“The grip. On the arrangement, so the stem doesn’t snap. You’re meeting up with someone, right? You should, go to them. I’m fine.”

Nocturne faintly protested in her arms. The blond sighed as his head tilted away and slightly shifted his feet.

“It’s for you,” mumbled Ominis after a few moments.

“…huh?”

“It’s for you,” repeated Ominis clearer.

He held out the arrangement toward her, and now she could see the single, purple hyacinth in the wrapping. The floral scent was powerful and the petals dewy fresh. He cleared his throat.

“I was hoping to find you. To give this to you to… apologise. Clearly right now isn’t the best time –”

“It’s fine, Ominis.”

Ominis’ eyes briefly widened at her words before he let out a breath.

“I’d been an absolute prat,” started Ominis slowly.

Artemis blinked twice at the unusually informal word but remained silent.

“I shouldn’t have lashed out at you like I did, nor ignore you when you’ve just been trying to help. I’m… I’m sorry.”

The hyacinth shook minutely in his grip.

She placed Nocturne on the rail platform only for him to drape over her shoulder before she conjured a flower of her own. Artemis gently accepted the hyacinth, and instead placed a single white tulip into his hand. Ominis moved his wand to gently touch the petals before he brought the flower to his nose.

“A tulip?” Ominis asked as he smelled it.

“A white tulip. Um, it’s the colour of fresh snow,” described Artemis. Her mind cobbled together something to describe white to someone who couldn’t see. “Sweet as sugar, soft as pillows… I accept your apology, Ominis. Thank you… for earlier, and the hyacinth. It’s beautiful.”

Ominis’ eyes widened briefly before he bodily relaxed, the white tulip held delicately in his hand. She wondered if this was why he wasn’t at dinner.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone describe colours like that before,” said Ominis softly. “It’s… nice.”

“Happy to do so,” answered Artemis, equally as soft.

A Bouquet of New Beginnings Chapter 12: "White Lilac"

Floriography - Youthful Innocence

Summary: Intra Muros.

[AO3]

Below is an excerpt of the chapter, full chapter can be viewed from the AO3 link above!

As she stood next to Richard’s skeleton, Artemis brought out the small, simple jewellery box she’d purchased from her legside bag. A velvet bed lay within, and she let out a small breath. It wasn’t much, but she could at least do this. Slowly, she knelt to the ground with her legs folded under her thighs.

Jewellery box placed at her side, Artemis gently picked up Richard’s skull onto her lap. Her thumbs gently grazed his cheekbones; for four decades his skeleton lay here. Four decades Richard wandered as a pale version of his life, and nobody knew. Even when people could ask, nobody… nobody did. Nobody talked to him.

But she could do this, she could finally bring someone home. Her vision blurred with pools of tears gathered on her waterline. Her throat choked up even as she gave her strange, ghost friend’s bones a soft smile.

“Let’s go home, Richard,” she whispered.

A Bouquet of New Beginnings Ch. 17 "Calendula"

Floriography - Health & Trouble

[AO3]

Summary: A month into the new school year. Professor Weasley checks in on progress, and Poppy invites Artemis for some moonlight rescue.

Below is an excerpt of the chapter; full chapter can be viewed from AO3 link above.

The beds of green slowly shifted to red, gamboge, and brown to welcome autumn. Students brought out their warm cloaks and jumpers to welcome the cooler months ahead. This particular afternoon, Artemis sat across from the redhaired Deputy Headmistress in her office. Fresh cups of earl grey wafted their elegant steam as the snow-haired girl rested her hands, right over left, in her lap.

“Miss Loreley, thank you for coming to see me so quickly.”

“It was no trouble, Professor Weasley,” responded Artemis quickly. Her palm tingled from the slight rub of her thumb against the hidden scar.

“It’s been a little over a month since you’ve come to Hogwarts, and I wished to check in on your progress. May I see your Field Guide?”

Artemis dutifully pulled out the tome from her school bag with both hands.

“How have you been adjusting?” Professor Weasley asked as she began to flip through the pages.

“Well, ma’am.”

A perfect blend of bitter and sweet swirled her mouth with her tea.

“I’m glad. I was starting to worry, since you’ve shown up to breakfast only once.”

She swallowed; the liquid felt like molten lava. Her gaze fell to the liquid surface. Reflected back was her carefully neutral façade. The additional Glamour Charm hid the increasingly darkened under eye circles.

“I eat light in the mornings, Professor.”

“I see. Well, you certainly keep yourself busy. Hospital Wing volunteering, the Briar Greenhouse, and I’ve heard you’ve taken to extra broom lessons with Miss Reyes. Nurse Blainey has also expressed that you wish to undertake the next Asclepius Record.”

A small smile stretched the Deputy Headmistress’ lips. Artemis wondered if this woman had ears in every crevice of the school.

“Collectively, all the professors of the mind that you are rapidly catching up to your classmates. You’re making great progress. Well done.”

Artemis’ gaze moved toward the desk as another sip of earl grey glided down her throat.

“Professor, may I ask a question?”

“Of course.”

“The room I stayed in my first night… did it disappear?”

No matter how many times she’d passed by that hall, the door never reappeared. Professor Weasley lifted an eyebrow before she chuckled softly.

“I’d wondered when you were going to ask me. Frankly I’m surprised it took you as long as you did.”

Artemis gave a sheepish smile. “I wanted to make sure I’d not been mistaken.”

“Hm. Very well. Nurse Blainey did mention the lack of a… what was it… a Healing mannequin? Perhaps the Room will have it.”

“The… Room, Professor?”

The professor held the Field Guide toward her. “Yes. Come, I’ll show you.”

Artemis followed the Deputy Headmistress without hesitation; her heels clicked as the clumps of students parted the halls. Professor Weasley’s overwhelming presence dulled her own as she followed in the taller woman’s shadow. The seventh-floor corridor wasn’t far, and there were no students there.

“Now, walk past this wall three times, and focus on something you need. To make it simple, how about somewhere to focus on the Asclepius Record?” Professor Weasley suggested warmly and gestured her arm toward the hall.

Artemis began. To and fro, her soft treads barely made a noise on the castle floors. Her mind, however, went broader than the Asclepius Record. She needed somewhere that could offer her all the Healing texts available, including texts in the Restricted Section, for herself, for Professor Fig, for Henry, for Anne even. Somewhere to train her Healing magic. Somewhere to go that wasn’t the Witty Pear if she were ever hurt, but couldn’t raise Nurse Blainey’s suspicion.

A… clinic.

Slowly, a dark cherry wood door unfurled itself from the middle of the greyed brick, and Professor Weasley gave a noise of awe.

“Well done! I do have to say, I’d never seen a wooden door before. Go on in,” encouraged the professor.

The door opened inward to something akin to a hexagonal conservatory. Some sort of conjured sunlight warmed the room from the kinmokusei glass mosaic on the ceiling. Half of the walls were made of clear glass, and beyond was a glade that closely resembled her mother’s glade. The solid walls were painted a pale sky blue, two of them nearly covered by the dark cherry bookshelves full of every other Healing text possible – delightfully, in both English and Japanese. Two Healing training mannequins stood in the corner, where the floor was tiled unlike the rest a light English Oak.

An overly large desk with an overhead glass cabinet stood against another wall, filled with potion vials and other equipment. Hanging baskets hung on the sides, and she was pleasantly surprised the ones already filled contained dwarf roses, lavender, and mints. There was an interesting-looking quill with a bronze ink bottle that stood on the side of the desk under the soft lamp light.

Artemis breathed out in awe. “What is this place?”

“This is the Room of Requirement,” started Professor Weasley. “It’s a room that changes to fit the seeker’s needs. I requested for a comfortable bedroom for you to rest in your first night.

Now, you’ve made quite a canvas for yourself. A rather interesting Desk of Description as well.”

“Desk of Description?”

“Yes. I’m sure you’ve come across a few things you didn’t know what they were; whenever you do, place it here and it’ll tell you what the item is.”

“So, like the Information spell?” Artemis asked.

Professor Weasley nodded. “Yes, though much more powerful. I daresay you could use this space to catch up on your other studies as well. Perhaps take one of those training mannequins to Nurse Blainey?”

“I- yes, Professor, thank you.”

“Speaking of studies… I noticed that Professor Fig has put in a few requests for outdoor excursions,” started Professor Weasley. “He marked them as introducing you to the land’s history and learning to immerse yourself into wizarding communities. Now I must ask… is any of this related to what happened with the dragon attack?”

“Not at all, Professor,” lied Artemis smoothly.

A moment passed between the two before Professor Weasley gave a small, tired smile.

“I see. Now, I shall let you get acquainted with your space – you’re free to use this space as you please, though I do ask you continue to adhere to the school rules.”

“Yes Professor. Thank you, for trusting me with this.”

“You’re welcome. I did, after all, show you this on your first night; I’m sure you would’ve figured out the secret sooner rather than later. Use it well,” said Professor Weasley warmly.

Artemis nodded as she watched the redhead leave. Once the door shut, her shoulders slumped in relief. Lying had been necessary but it left a bitter taste in her mouth. She reached into the legside bag and pulled out the mysterious palm-sized box that she’d gotten from the bottom of the Black Lake. She couldn’t believe it’d been a full month since she’d picked this up.

Inside sat three, translucent stones, fashioned into ear pierces onto their velvet bed. The moment she touched one the stone changed colour until it was an iridescent blue-green with a silvery shimmer on the inside.

<<How odd,>> gasped out Artemis before she placed the box onto the desktop near the ink and bottle. Bronze runes lifted from seemingly nowhere as they encircled the box in a flurry before they coagulated into a piece of parchment where the quill wrote at a furious speed. Once it had been completed, she read the words scrawled in bronze ink.

Secret Sharer

Mid-Tier artefact, commonly used to communicate between individuals telepathically if they are within a half-mile radius. Once attuned, the stone will change to the colour of their magical core. Resets upon return.

Artemis hummed as she picked up the Secret Sharer box, and repocketed it. She supposed, on occasion, it paid to explore the lakebed. Perhaps she’d invite Richard again when he came back. Or Nerida now that they’ve started floating practise in an enlarged bathtub.

But for now, she had Healing texts to read, and a mannequin to practise on.

Her fingertips glided across the book spines until she found Duality of Healing Arts, and began to read. She’d been going to the Restricted Section on twice a week with Sebastian, and had been chipping away at its contents slowly. Now, she had the luxury of reading it at her own pace without the constant threat of Madam Scribner, Peeves, or any myriads of ghosts. The contents were not as Dark as she would’ve thought, considering where it had been located, but it did touch on the ‘other’ side of Healing arts – necromancy. Artemis scrunched her nose in distaste.

The dead should remain dead, rest from the life they’d been living.

A particular spell, however, caught her attention. She pulled the mannequin manual and tapped her wand on the rune she needed. Suddenly, the mannequin was heavily lacerated - the chicken blood flowed freely in abundance onto the tiled ground. She pointed her wand, aglow in soft green light, and attempted in a sing-song incantation.

“Vulnera Sanentur.”

A Bouquet of New Beginnings Ch. 9: "Blue Gum"

Herb meaning: "Quiet" or "I watch over you"

[AO3]

Summary: We do so love restricted areas, don't we? (Tl;dr - Restricted Section).

A little excerpt from the chapter below the cut, but the full chapter can be read at the link above!

Happy New Year and hope 2024 is fantastic!

“Why do you have the key to Fig’s classroom?” Sebastian asked as Artemis beckoned him in. It’d have been simple enough to, perhaps, speak in the Common Room, but there were too many people clambering. No, better to go where she knew nobody would be listening in.

“He gave it to me before he was conscripted to Headmaster Black’s whims.”

“Poor Fig. Anyways, this is great timing, really.”

“How so?” Artemis asked as the door clicked shut behind her.

“Garreth and Natty may be curious about Rookwood and the troll, but neither of them heard what we did,” said Sebastian as all hints of jovialness dissipated. “Why are Ranrok and Rookwood after you?”

Artemis rubbed her thumb against her hidden scar; the tingle tremored through her forearm. Frankly, she was surprised it’d taken Sebastian this long to ask, though she supposed she'd hardly been alone outside of being in her room.

I trust you.

Professor Fig’s words came back to her as she made her decision.

“We’re not entirely certain,” started Artemis slowly.

“We?”

“Professor Fig and I. There was… before I go on further, you mustn’t tell anyone what I am about to tell you. Not even Ominis,” insisted Artemis. Her mouth tasted bitter at leaving Ominis out, but she agreed in Professor Fig's judgment; the less people that knew right now, the better.

“I won’t, you have my word,” declared Sebastian with a confident smile. “Not Natty or Garreth?”

“I’ll only tell them if they ask. Like you said, they didn’t hear Ranrok and Rookwood talking. Frankly, I’m not sure if knowing or not knowing is safer. Either way, I’ll… let you know, if I do.”

“Fine,” said Sebastian as he flopped into the nearest seat. “Either way, I’m asking. Why are they after you? It isn’t everyday where the leader of the goblin rebellion and the top criminal in the region are both after the same person. Let alone a new student.”

She noted that Sebastian had emphasized with a fair degree of malice the word ‘goblin’.

“We suspect that they’re after something that we retrieved at Gringotts.”

“- Wait. Gringotts? The bank? When were you at Gringotts?”

“After the whole, dragon situation. Professor Fig managed to grab the portkey – ”

“– Wait, a portkey? To Gringotts?” Sebastian repeated back. “I’m not sure I follow.”

Artemis chuckled as she took a seat across from Sebastian. His freckles looked like the amanogawa against the afternoon sun through the window panes.

“Long story short, we picked up something at Gringotts that Ranrok wants. It’s a map of Hogwarts, and it leads into the library. The Restricted Section, to be precise.”

“You can’t be serious.”

Artemis looked at him pointedly; Sebastian gave a long, slow nod.

“Okay, you are serious. So, did you end up going?”

“Not yet. We were going to during independent study, but…”

“Black conscripted Fig for his toils,” finished Sebastian.

Artemis nodded as she let out a small sigh.

“Exactly. Headmaster Black, in some mental gymnastics I fail to understand, concluded that being nearly eaten by a dragon was Professor Fig’s fault, and he’s now en route to London.”

Sebastian rolled his eyes with a shrug.

“That’s Black for you. But I see where this is going – you want to be proactive.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“So, you came to me. I’m honoured.”

“Well, you did say you were clever enough to get into the Restricted Section,” offered Artemis. “I thought perhaps I could ask you for advice on how to get in unseen. Without needing to use excessive invisibility potions.”

She saw Sebastian’s back straighten as his chest puffed ever slightly.

“I am. Though, with your soft treads, you might even do better than me without magic.”

“I doubt that.”

“You’ve nearly given me seven heart attacks the past five days, Artie. Seven. Almost flung that book into the fireplace earlier…” muttered Sebastian as Artemis gave an apologetic smile.

“Sorry about that, truly.”

Sebastian batted the air nonchalantly with an easy smile.

“Whatever. Anyways, if you’re going into the Restricted Section, I’m coming with you. I’ll teach you the trick tonight.”

“Wait but –”

“– Uh-uh, like I’m ever going to pass up an opportunity to go. I do so love getting into places I shouldn’t be,” teased Sebastian. He leaned his cheek into his propped-up palm. “Besides, two heads are better than one.”

Artemis hummed in thought as she met Sebastian’s gaze. The warm chocolate eyes conveyed a clear intent that he would not budge on his decision. It did seem he wanted to go in for his own things, and she needed the assistance.

Artemis nodded in agreement. Sebastian laughed bright; his smile devious as dimpled formed on his freckled cheeks.

“Meet me in Central Hall at eleven, and don’t tell anyone.”