Namjoon breathed out his anxieties as he smoothed out the bedding on the bed he’d chosen for himself and Jess, wanting her comfortable - especially with the fact that Jess didn’t seem to be in the best state as of late. Peering over at her with the thought, he smiled as he sat down, watching her, taking her in, feeling immensely blessed with the fact that he had Jess in his life, that she was his and that, no matter the darkness that surrounded them, he had the one light worth holding onto in the form of Jess, in the form of love. Feeling her resting her head against him, he slid his arm around her and kissed the top of her head gently. “I’m doing just fine, love,” he whispered, giving her arm a gentle squeeze before he shifted, burying his face against her hair, his eyes closing as he took in the scent that he was so familiar with, the scent that calmed him to the depths of his soul, the scent that was so very Jess. “I know this isn’t the best place for us to be hiding out, but at least it’s safe.” For now, anyway. He hoped it stayed that way, because he didn’t want Jess to be in danger, he didn’t want her to be in the line of fire. As long as Jess was safe, then Namjoon had faith that the world would get through what Voldemort was putting it through, because Jess was the biggest source of hope that Namjoon could ever ask for. Peering down at her, he reached a hand up, brushing a strand of hair out of her face to tuck it behind her ear gently, taking her in, his eyes running over her features and committing everything about her to memory. “How are you feeling, though?”
Lorelai’s gaze had been on the floor as she walked - well, more so, her stomach. She knew it would only be a matter of time before she started showing, and she knew now wasn’t the best time to be dealing with the dilemma; she hadn’t had a chance to talk to Taehyung about it yet, a part of her not wanting to worry the man she loved any more than he already was. Hearing his voice, Lorelai tore out of her thoughts and lifted her gaze to him, and she blinked before offering a weak smile. He was already worrying without even knowing what was going on - of course he was, she knew he would have noticed how she’d been acting lately, the nausea, the lightheadedness, everything. But, she wasn’t ready to tell him, not yet. “I’m alright,” she promised quietly, nodding, “Just thinking, that’s all. Plus, I’ve never been on one of these before, I’m a little curious.” She smiled jokingly, though her heart swelled when he took her hand and led her along and, squeezing his hand, she sat down at the bed he’d decided on. “Oh, I won’t lie, it feels really nice to sit down.” She grinned up at him, taking him in, just relishing in the fact that he was there.
Yoongi peered back at Frenchie as they walked, admiring the way his jacket hung over her form, his expression softening when she moved closer to him. Reaching over, he wrapped his arm around her and held her close to himself, rubbing her shoulder gently. “Here works,” he promised quietly, nodding as he set their things down - they hadn’t brought much, too much in a rush to get out of the area to properly pack, but all he really needed was Frenchie. Smiling gently as he examined her, he shook his head as he processed her statement and he pressed a loving kiss to her temple. “I don’t think you’re one to talk, love. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you seeming ill lately.” His expression softened with the thought, and he swore, all he wanted to do was to protect her, to ensure her wellbeing, and he wondered if there was anything he could do to help her with whatever was troubling her. But, he didn’t want to pressure her to talk about it, if it was serious. “Are you alright, love?” His eyes ran over her expression for a few moments, looking for any sign of discomfort, anything that could tell him whatever was wrong with her, because all he wanted was to have her there with him; the very thought of losing her in any way cut to his core, he didn’t want to think about what an experience like that could really feel like. “At least there seems to be plenty of room here.” His eyes moved away from Frenchie’s gaze for the first time since they’d climbed onto the Knight Bus, just to take in the area around them. “Not the coziest place, but I think it will do for now.”
Violet turned to look at her mother, making sure she was close, and she reached for her hand quickly as she trekked through the area, determined to get them somewhere safe. Personally, she wasn’t worried about her own safety; she knew how to protect herself. But, her mother couldn’t - and she was determined to ensure her mother’s safety, because her mother was all she had. “Just a little farther, I’m sure,” she murmured quietly, squeezing her mother’s hand. She paused, though, when she heard the familiar swooshing of people apparating and, looking around, she saw several people surrounding them and, seeing them raising their wands, she quickly shouted, “Protego Totalum!” to keep them protected, the others’ spells bouncing off the shield that formed quickly around herself and her mother. Peering around, she took in each face, keeping her wand raised, though she nearly paused when she saw Draco Malfoy there. Of course he was there. Why was she even surprised?
George sat, nearly hunched over, his elbows on his knees, hands clasped together nervously, anxiously staring ahead as he wondered where Ron was, whether he was okay, whether any of his family was truly safe. So much distress was spreading across the wizarding world and news of deaths or disappearances of witches and wizards was spreading just as quickly. His thoughts were interrupted, though, when he heard Isabella’s words and, lifting his gaze, he peered over at her, blinking slowly as he registered what she said, and he offered a small smile Dropping his hands, he rested his hands over hers gently, giving her hands a gentle squeeze. In all the chaos around him, he was grateful to have Isabella there to ground him, to keep his thoughts and concerns focused rather than for them to continue whirring around, and he could never thank her enough for that. “Sorry, love,” he murmured, leaning forward to press a kiss to her forehead gently, lovingly, because she held his heart in a grasp so tight that he knew it would always belong to her - and he didn’t want it any other way. “Just worrying about everybody. I’m sure they’re fine, though.” Squeezing her hands again, he gently tugged her up, pulling her gently onto his lap, his hands resting on her hips as he squeezed her hips, watching her. “And, at least I know that you’re safe. I’m sure that my father will keep to his word and send an owl our way in case anything happens there or if he hears any news, anyway.” He watched her for a few moments and shifted to press his forehead to hers. “Are you alright?”
Nyla was so tired of Death Eaters trying to recruit her and her family to join them. She’d narrowly escaped a small group of them, having ducked into an alley the first chance she got, and she’d put as much distance between herself and the Death Eaters as she could. Pulling her cloak tightly around herself, she pulled the hood up and ducked her head, desperate to find somewhere safe. Almost as if her thoughts resonated in the air and influenced fate in the best of ways, she heard a voice she recognized all too well - a voice she, admittedly, had all but prayed to hear for months, and she’d wanted to see the owner of the voice even more. Lifting her gaze, she tried to ignore the swell of hope that rushed through her and, chewing on her lip, she picked up her pace to get through the alley, turning at the end to spot Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes up ahead but, better than that, Fred Weasley, in the middle of the street. “Fred?” she called out quietly, quickly tugging off the hood of her cloak, and she tried hard not to grin, but it forced its way onto her features before she could fight it away, and the rush of relief shot through her quicker than she thought possible. “Oh, Weasley, you have no idea how glad I am to see you.” Quickly, she made her way over until she was standing in front of him, peering up at him almost in awe. “What the bloody hell are you standing in the middle of the street for?”
Louis had spent much of the day running errands for his mother. Even though his family was full of purebloods, he didn’t like the idea of his mother being out and about, running the errands herself. Carrying a few bags of groceries and even essentials that they needed around the house right now, Louis made his way home, hoping he could get there before his father arrived. His father wasn’t cruel - at least not to his family - but he was strict and Louis didn’t want to deal with being told what was wrong and right today. As he walked, though, he swore he could hear voices nearby and, pausing, his brows furrowed as he peered towards the source. He could hear movement, too - the crunching of leaves, the snaps of twigs, - and he wondered who would be hiding around here. Pulling out his wand, he murmured a quiet “Lumos,” and watched as the end of his wand began to glow brightly, lighting up the path ahead, - living in a village where only witches resided had its perks, he didn’t have to worry about a Muggle catching him using magic - and he followed the noise quietly, up until he came across a trio he recognized. Only one of the trio actually mattered to him, though, and he paused in shock as he registered who he was looking at. “Amelia?” he asked - he knew the other two, of course he did, but he could tear his gaze from the girl he’d fallen for when he’d been attending Hogwarts, the girl he never got to admit his feelings to, even after they graduated. “What are you doing out here?”
Paria could feel every muscle in her leg aching from how much they’d travelled, but she didn’t dare complain, not when they were trying to survive. She tried to ignore the way the twigs snapped and the leaves crunched under their feet, tried not to cringe with each noise they made, worried that even the smallest, quietest sound would attract attention to them and get them caught. When she heard Amelia’s voice, she lifted her gaze to peer over at her, nodding slowly. “Yeah, but where would we even start with finding shelter?” she asked quietly, though her attention went to Harry when she realized he’d joined at her side and she swore, the moment she felt his arm around her, she felt a little more energized, a little safer, and she nodded to his words. “We trust you, Harry,” she murmured, offering a smile up at him, because if Harry said it was only a little farther, then it had to just be a little farther and they’d find somewhere to rest, even for a little while. Hearing the noise, though, she paused in her steps, silencing herself as she peered around, trying to ignore the feeling of dread that filled her. Still, she nodded to Harry’s question, not wanting to speak, though she stepped back when she saw a certain Tomlinson heir step through the trees, and she watched for a long while, unsure of what to say, or what to do. Would he sell them out to Voldemort? Chewing on her lip with the thought, she looked to the others, unsure of what to say.
There were some days that Calum regretted returning to Hogwarts, where he wished he was out in the world, helping those who needed help, doing what he could to protect those who were incapable of protecting themselves. Any time he had these thoughts, though, he was reminded that there were people he could protect here - namely, Ramona Carter. The girl was capable of chasing away any shadow, any darkness, that loomed over Calum’s thoughts, over his life, and he wanted, more than anything, to be able to provide the same for her. In all honesty, Ramona was the single reason Calum even bothered to return to Hogwarts this year - he wanted to be here for her, to protect her if there ever came a time that she needed to be protected. As he walked to the Great Hall, his thoughts were interrupted when he heard Ramona’s voice, and he swore his heart warmed and eased at the same time, because hearing her voice was all he needed in order to know that she was okay, that she was safe. Smiling, he looked towards her, though his heart ached a bit when he saw how weak her own smile looked, and his expression softened. “Ramona,” he said before he made his way over to her, tilting his head as he examined her with concern. “Is everything alright?” His eyes examined her for a few moments, trying to notice anything, any telltale sign that anything specific was bothering her. “Not that you have to talk about it if something’s wrong, but I’m always here to listen, if you want.”
Aveline stared out the window of the girls’ dorm in the Gryffindor tower, watching the darkening sky for a few long moments. Dinner was approaching, but she didn’t have much of an appetite. How could she when she knew what was happening beyond the grounds of Hogwarts? Feeling the pit in her stomach deepening, she swallowed hard, anxious about the year ahead, about the events that the war could bring, but she was determined to survive it and to protect her friends. Straightening with the thought, she turned, not wanting to dwell on her prior thoughts, and she descended the stairs, leaving the Gryffindor tower quickly before she headed to the Great Hall. As she walked, though, drawing closer to the Great Hall, she could spot familiar curls, and she couldn’t help the slight smile that formed on her lips. Just seeing the familiar silhouette made Aveline feel a little better, a little braver. “Luke,” she called, picking up her pace to walk alongside him, peering up at her taller peer. She paused, though, when she saw how… Serious he looked. “Is something wrong?” she asked, but she made a face when she realized how truly useless the question was, “I mean, aside from everything that’s been wrong lately, that is…” Shaking her head, she tried to ignore her own poor choice of wording, and she offered a small smile instead. “Sorry, nevermind, just ignore all of that.”
While seated at the Hufflepuff table in the Great Hall, Michael’s eyes lifted when he noticed others looking towards the entrance. His gaze landed on Euphemia and he felt a small grin cross his features. She was a wonder, and he had so much faith in her - so much so that he’d almost started a fight with another student for muttering insults under their breath. Professor Flitwick had been quick to charm them away from each other, but Michael hadn’t heard that particular student say anything cruel about Euphemia since. He, however, knew that there were still several students who would take any chance to insult Euphemia, and he wanted to be there for her to help her through that. Standing to his feet, he made his way over to Euphemia, offering a smile to her. “Euphemia, hey,” he greeted quietly before motioning, “How about you sit with me?” He didn’t want her eating alone, but, more than that, he wanted to be near Euphemia, he wanted to bask in her presence, because she was everything he wanted, everything he needed, and he’d be damned if he let anybody make her feel even remotely upset. No matter how many times people treated her cruelly, he wanted to be there to help her through it, but, more than that, he wanted to do everything he could to protect her from it. Of all the people in the school, in the universe, Euphemia deserved the cruelty the least, and he wished everybody could see what he saw, that they could see how amazing she truly was. “Come on.” Grinning, he motioned with his head, offering his arm out to her.
Everly tried not to let the gloom that surrounded Hogwarts get to her - after all, just because a war was brewing or raging, it didn’t mean that they had to let it change them. Moreover, she didn’t want it to change who she was. There had to be some positivity, even in dark times like these, and Everly considered her positivity to come in the form of Ashton Irwin, one of her dear friends, who held her heart in a way that he wasn’t even aware of. As she walked towards the Great Hall, she could hear a few people speaking cruelly about several Slytherins - including both Ashton and Euphemia. When she heard somebody saying something particularly cruel, she quickly did a spell to tie their laces together to trip them, and she tilted her head as she watched the boy fall. “Oops. Maybe you shouldn’t speak so terribly about people you know nothing about,” she said almost casually. She wasn’t naturally cruel and tied laces was likely the extent of any harm she would force onto a fellow student, but she wouldn’t just let others talk about people who mattered to her without lashing out in some way. Turning, she proceeded to the Great Hall, though she perked up a bit when she spotted Ashton and, smiling, she made her way over to him. “Ashton,” she greeted cheerfully, though she blinked, “Where’s your tie?”
Remus lifted his gaze from the paper only when he felt Allison press a kiss to his cheek, his thoughts having been twisting this way and that; the longer he’d read the paper, the more he was reminded of everything that happened the last time He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named rose to power. There was nothing but death and warnings written in the Daily Prophet lately, and he spent much of his time staring at the words, willing them to change, willing for the world around them to return to the calmer times. Still, if anything good came out of all of this, it was that he had Allison there with him, that he knew she was safe, and he was absolutely determined to protect the love of his life and keep her alive. “There never is these days,” he said gently in response, sighing when Allison took the paper from him, but his gaze remained on her, as if worried that, the moment he looked away, he’d lose her to the cruelties that had returned to their world, practically knocking at the door, looming over them in a way that Remus wished weren’t possible. But, he’d lived through it once, he knew just how possible it was, and he hated the thought that he could lose Allison to all of this. “I know. Of course, you’re right. Hopefully, he’ll take more after Lily in these instances, use his brain, rather than be as reckless as James.” And, at the very least, Harry had his friends to protect him and vice versa. His focus falling on Allison, he smiled fondly as he watched his fiancee for a few moments, just taking her in before he stood to his feet to help her with the tea. “At least I know that you’re safe.” And, he planned to do everything in his power to ensure she remained that way.
Astra was slowly getting used to the building, all of its creaks and moans; it’d been unnerving at first, but Isaac’s presence had made it easier as time went. It felt surreal, finding a safe place to hide from all the chaos and danger and havoc sweeping across the wizarding world. Even behind these walls, though, Astra only ever really felt wholly safe when she was by Isaac, in his presence, in his arms. Standing in the room with the Black family tree, she couldn’t help but to stare at Sirius Black’s name, his portrait gone, scorched, burned away by his own mother. Just staring at the name made her wonder how many more people would die in a war like this - war always had casualties, losses, and she could feel her heart sink with the thought of losing more friends, or of losing the man who held her heart. As if taking a cue from her thoughts, she could hear Isaac’s voice, and she tore her gaze from the wall long enough to look over to verify that she hadn’t just imagined his voice to ease her concerns. When she saw him, she could feel a small smile form on her features, always relieved to see him, to hear him, to be near him, and she breathed out before settling her gaze on the wall. “Just thinking,” she told him quietly, though she felt the tension and concern within her ease the moment she felt Isaac’s arms around her and she leaned back into his hold. Shifting, she rested her hands over his arms, chewing on her lip in thought. “I’m just wondering who else we have to lose… Or who else we’ve lost that we don’t even know about.”
June 2nd, 2019 at 11:31am