Polarisgreenley - Solution: More Tea

A Bouquet of New Beginnings Chapter 8: "Royal Fern"

Flower Language: Fascination

[AO3]

Summary: Artemis continues with her first week of school, and does reconnaissance on a certain library.

Excerpt below the cut (the full chapter can be read through AO3 Link above):

Poppy was, by all impressions, pleasant and quiet. The latter she could relate, so she gathered every ounce of social ability and made to start a conversation, or at the very least, ask if the seat next to her was available. That was the intent, most definitely. Until the brown ball of something in Poppy’s arms, with giant, round, brown eyes jetted out a long, whip-like tongue.

Right at Artemis.

She dodged instinctively with a quick neck tilt; it cracked gloriously loud. Loud enough Poppy turned toward her and gasped.

“Oh! So sorry, Gerald’s a bit excited and, um, are you alright?”

“Yes, yes I’m fine,” mustered Artemis as she looked down at the ball of fur. “Is the seat available?”

“Oh, of course!” Poppy exclaimed, seemingly surprised. “I’m Poppy. Poppy Sweeting.”

“Artemis Loreley, pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise. Oh, this is Gerald. He’s a puffskein. I think he likes you.”

Artemis and Gerald the Puffskein locked eyes before he let out some sort of croon. She supposed he was cute enough, previous transgression of tongue lashing forgiven as her fingers tickled his – assumedly- chin.

“He seems very nice.”

x

A Bouquet of New Beginnings: Chapter 4 "Dandelion"

[AO3]

Artemis and Professor Fig are in for a ride of their lives (literally).

Excerpt below (the rest can be read through the AO3 link above!):

“Professor,” started Artemis. “I wanted to thank you for this summer. I’m… I’m very glad that it was you that brought the letter to me last month.”

“That’s quite alright Miss Loreley, there’s no need to be so formal.”

“Artemis is fine, Professor,” said Artemis with a soft smile.

Professor Fig’s eyes widened briefly before his eyes crinkled, a smile on his lips.

“Artemis, then. I feel I should be the one thanking you. It had been a long while since that flat had seen such life. Not to mention a significant improvement in my diet.”

“Apologies, but your pantry was in a sordid state,” remarked Artemis as Professor Fig chuckled.

With a crack through the air, a slightly rotund English gentlemen with round glasses and moustache appeared. The two men exchanged greetings; it was clear this man was George Osric. She politely stood near the door, absentmindedly feeling the wand in her pocket and her legside bag through the skirt fabric.

“Of course. Why don’t we speak en route to Hogwarts? We have a start-of-term feast and a Sorting Ceremony to get to,” suggested Professor Fig.

“Wonderful idea. As long as your young charge here doesn’t mind me tagging along.”

The address of a ‘young charge’ brought Artemis back to the present. The chipper man wiggled his fingers to mimic legs.

“Not at all, sir,” responded Artemis as she gestured toward the door with a polite smile.

The interior of the carriage was plush and comfortable in the same red and gold décor. The air quality was a vast improvement, though she wondered if they could open the window when they reached the countryside. She undid her blouse’s top button.

“Sir, isn’t this road a dead end?” Artemis asked as Professor Fig sat to her right, and Mr. Osric sat across. Professor Fig lifted an eyebrow amused.

“Artemis, the road isn’t limited to the ground now, is it.”

The cart jolted, then the sensation of wheels on cobblestone lessened until it was no more.

They were flying. In a cart with winged thestrals. Her fingers gripped the windowsill until her knuckles were white.

Artemis decided to not think about the possible plummet as the latest décor of London streets and stared out the window. She casted the Sensory Balancing Charm for sanity and to keep her lunch; the men spoke to each other and opted to leave her to gather herself together.

I just had to do it

I think one of the reasons friendships in fiction are often overlooked in fandom is because they're not written like real friendships. Like don't get me wrong, a huge part of it definitely stems from an obsession with sex and romance on the part of the people consuming the media, but that's not all of it.

In fiction, friendships are often trivial bonds. An easy relationship to establish between two characters. A way for the two of them to establish how they're feeling about a particular event by using each other as a vessel for a long personal rant. And pretty much all actual emotional relationships and important dynamics are given to romantic or familial relationships.

But in real life, friendships can be the things that change you more than anything else. They can be deeply impactful in a way that romance sometimes isn't. Your friends can be the people that you lean on when times are tough, who support you and bond with you. They can even save your life. And you don't need a traditional "found family" plot as an excuse to write this either. Sometimes your friend can feel like your sibling, but sometimes they're just your friend, and that can be meaningful all on its own.