A Bouquet Of New Beginnings Chapter 7: "English Ivy"

A Bouquet of New Beginnings Chapter 7: "English Ivy"

Flower Language: Friendship

[AO3]

Summary:

Artemis' second day of school, and first day as a Slytherin, begins!

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

“So, nobody in our class knows?” Imelda asked as the two of them made their way toward double Herbology.

Artemis shook her head as she passed over a green apple. The tart and crisp fruit filled her mouth as her teeth sunk into the fruit in her right hand. Her eyes roved the greenhouse grounds, mentally ticking off the names of the flora and trees that grew.

Imelda cackled as she took the offered fruit and took a big bite.  

“Oh, this is going to be fun.”

Artemis didn’t understand the remark as they finished up and entered the greenhouse. Most of their classmates were already there, conversing in their separate groups. Imelda bid a farewell before she went off to a potting station, and Artemis barely turned forward before her eyes met the group gathered nearest the venomous tentacula.

“No way!!” Garreth announced as he brazenly pointed a finger.

“Oh, hell yes!” Sebastian exclaimed as he thrusted his palm out toward Leander. “Cough it up.”

“You’ve got to be joking, I thought for certain…” Leander muttered as he fished out some coin from his pocket. Artemis, meanwhile, made her way silently to the open station next to Sebastian.

“Well, the green looks good on you,” commented Natsai with a warm smile. “Though, it would’ve been nice if you had been in Gryffindor.”

Artemis gave her a warm smile in return; it would have been nice to be in the same dorm as Natsai, most definitely. But they had so many classes together, it wouldn’t matter.

“There were bets?” Artemis asked.

“Just those two idiots,” added Ominis, though his back remained turned away from the group. 

Let's talk about canonical Sebastian

For some reason Sebastian got a reputation of another dark Slytherin who's obsessed with power. Many added him to ✨the Slytherins✨ list. Although in fact he's nothing like Draco, Snape and especially Voldemort. So let's forget about fanons where he's obsessive and possessive and remember some FACTS about him. All based on his behaviour in the game.

He's a brilliant student. Professor Weasley and Scribner both said it. And teachers don't usually praise you for nothing;

He's the BIGGEST NERD in Hogwarts. "What I do with every book. Read it." Had me. He also mentioned his parents tought him to love books. Dude goes to the restricted section not to become another dark lord, but because curiosity in his nature;

He's loyal and protective. I don't even beed to comment on this one;

He is full of youthful maximalism. Which is completely normal at the age of 15. That's why he thinks he knows better than anyone else and hates ALL the goblins just because one cursed his sister (as he thinks);

He expects everything from his beloved. But just because he would do everything for them too. Like risk his life and soul to safe your life? So he doesn't use people, he just thinks it's normal;

He's understanding and supporting. Yes, part of him saw mc as someone who can save his sister. But he only mentioned it once or twice. Beside of that he saw them as partners. When mc said they can't tell him their secret, he understood. He didn't push or try to trick them into telling him. But when they decided to share he was nothing but supportive (although he didn't understand a thing);

Again, he's like super smart. Reading books isn't enough. He actually taught himself the unforgivables and could decrypt Slytherin's book;

He has a healthy self-esteem. He knows his worth and don't have a need to prove something to someone. You can see it in his reaction when he lost in the duel. He doesn't shout about how cool he is (cough Leander cough);

He knows exactly what he wants from life and does everything to get it. Like a good Slytherin he is;

He's not even violent. You heard him screaming? Me neither (expect this one time with Solomon but oh well). Usually he just says he needs some time to think and calm down. He's very mature (If not for his maximalism, but it'll pass). At least more mature than any grown up I know. He only called mc "arrogant", but never screamed or bit anyone.

That's just a few things I could think of! Sebastian is not only cocky boy, who would kill anyone to protect his family. He's a kind, decent person, who only tried to help. What happened was Solomon's fault and not Sebastian's. He was only a child, after all. It was Solomon's job to protect and support them. And he failed.

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.”

🌼🌿

*Slams reblog button*

*Shakes fist at the land and ocean difference*

Reblog if you have made a friend online that you would love to hang with, but they live far away.

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.