A Bouquet Of New Beginnings Chapter 15: "Flowering Maple"

A Bouquet of New Beginnings Chapter 15: "Flowering Maple"

Floriography - Enlightenment

Summary: Professor Fig is back from the fruitless trip to the Ministry, and another chat with Professor Rackham is had.

[AO3]

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

Her heart and footwork were equally light as she made her way toward Professor Fig’s classroom with the note delicately folded into her pocket. The path was all but etched into her memory as she silently weaved through the student crowd. In fact, she didn’t stop until she knocked onto the professor’s office door, heart elated when she heard the voice beckoning her in.

“Professor Fig,” greeted Artemis warmly as she stepped through the threshold and clicked the door behind her. “Welcome back.”

Professor Fig looked up from his desk, weariness etched into his features but the English grey eyes brightened nonetheless.

“Artemis, it’s good to be back. Please, have a seat.”

“How was the errand to the Ministry, sir?”

“About as useful as pearls to a horklump,” sighed Professor Fig in lingering frustration as cups of warm chai were placed. Artemis took the seat across from him in front of the fire in the usual armchair. “Minister Spavin was much more concerned of the rogue dragon in the skies, and not in the least bit concerned of Ranrok and his ilk. But, I wouldn’t say it was a completely fruitless trip.”

Professor Fig gestured toward the back of his classroom where she noticed a distinct, new mound of papers and books were haphazardly stacked in a shaky lean equivalent to the Tower of Pisa.

“I was able to swing by my flat and grab Miriam’s old research. I presume you would like to read through those with me?”

Her mouth practically watered as she nodded. Professor Fig chuckled.

“Also, thank you for handling the Moste Ponte Potions.”

“Why did you need that book, sir?”

“Ah, you see. I had a feeling that this trip would be exactly like it ended up. So I thought we could brew something a little…useful. Call it a secret project,” teased Professor Fig as he opened the book and flipped it for her to see.

Polyjuice Potion. Her shoulders shook as her eyes scanned the calligraphy. Deliciously complicated, brilliantly long, and utterly disastrous if done wrong.

“I look forward to brewing, sir.”

“I could tell.”

“Are there any other potions that we should consider?”

“Hmm… why don’t you take a quick look? What Madam Scribner doesn’t know won’t hurt.”

Artemis flipped through the book; many were less than stellar, and some of them were downright dastardly. Not that the drawing of a woman with spider legs growing out of the tendrils of her brain on the Polyjuice Potion page was any bit delightful. She created copies of those she deemed necessary.

“Professor, while you were away, I was able to track down the missing pages of the book.”

Professor Fig choked on his chai.

“You – what?”

“I tracked down the pages, sir.” Artemis pulled out the pages from her legside bag, a poor attempt at righting the wrinkles clear. “It, er, it got a bit crumpled.”

She passed the paper; his English grey eyes scanned the lines. “How did you come by this?”

“Well, I became friends with a ghost named Richard Jackdaw initially when I dove into the Black Lake –”

“- wait, you dove into the Black Lake?”

“Yes. But I’d been reading at the boathouse when he popped by and mentioned that he’d pilfered a few pages from Peeves once. Of course, I asked him where he had them just in case and um, it turned out he had died in a cave. So I… may have gone to search for his bones to bring him back since he’d apparently been forgotten there for four decades – ”

“- you went to search for a dead boy’s bones?”

“Mm. But, of course, the pages were the ones from the book, and sir. The cave was like Gringotts and the Restricted Section, with ancient magic and those ornate decorations. It led to a chamber with a portrait of Professor Rackham a few floors beneath Hogwarts. He also said we would need the book,” finished Artemis.

Professor Fig inhaled then exhaled exaggeratedly.

“And were you alright? During this unsanctioned excursion?”

“Yes,” answered Artemis. He didn’t need to know of the tussle with the arachnids or the close call with Ranrok’s loyalists.

“Did you go alone?”

Artemis nodded, and she got the distinct feeling that Professor Fig was not pleased with that response. “But, Richard knew where I’d gone and he would’ve reported it if I didn’t come back, and I’d mentioned to Sebastian I was running an errand.”

“I see. Though I am glad you had put some contingencies, if you do something like that again, I do not care if I am in London or Cairo or the North Pole –”

“– the North Pole?”

“It’s just an example. Anyways, I would like you to owl me beforehand. Send a notice somehow. Understood?”

Artemis bit her lower lip.

“Yes, sir.”

“I know you’re more than capable, Artemis, and I realise you didn’t have many options. But just to ease this old man’s heart, alright?”

She smiled meekly toward his fond one.

“Were you able to find his bones?”

“Yes, he’s still deliberating on how he would like to be handled. There was one more thing I wanted to discuss with you, sir, but I’m not sure if I should wait for Professor Rackham since I’m not sure if it’s ancient magic related or not.”

“You’re full of mysteries today. Very well, let’s go down to the Restricted Section first; you could show me the pensieve, and we can bring up the topic to this Professor Rackham,” concluded Professor Fig.

Both Professor Fig and Artemis stood up from their respective chairs and made way toward the door.

“I wonder if all of the statues reset themselves,” mused Artemis. Professor Fig chuckled.

“Godric’s heart, I hope not. I’m no spring chicken.”  

I’m not a perfectionist, but finding a typo or a grammatical error in my own already-published fic is like stepping on a Lego honestly

A Bouquet of New Beginnings Chapter 11: "Amaryllis"

Floriography - Determination

Summary: Snippets of Artemis' second week of school - the good, the bad, and the nightmare.

[AO3]

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

“So, I heard that you’re quite the covert little thief.”

Artemis paused her quill as she lifted her head. Sebastian and Ominis had been doing their assigned Charms essay, and she her extra assignments, in relative silence for the past half hour in the tucked away corner of the library until Ominis broke the silence.

“Oh?” Artemis asked as she pointedly looked at Sebastian. He was the only source that could’ve possibly said anything to Ominis.

Sebastian had the audacity to give an innocent smile.

“Oh indeed. Something about a padlock and a cat? A traipse into the Re-”

“-Oi! Not so loud,” cut in Sebastian. Ominis rolled his eyes as his head tilted back toward her.

“Just hadn’t expected you to be so brazen already with the rules,” paused Ominis. “Well done.”

Artemis had opened her mouth to make a counterargument, only to shut it in the unexpected praise. In contrast, Sebastian’s jaw dropped.

“What? So I get scolded when I go, but Artie gets a compliment? I see how it is.”

Ominis snickered at his friend’s expense.

“She doesn’t barge into our room with erumpent stomps at two in the morning, Sebastian. Though I am curious as to what you could possibly need. You’ve been here less than two weeks.”

Artemis was saved from answering the question as a sneering voice came from her left.

“Well, who do we have here? All alone and – oh, Gaunt. Sallow.”

Their table was at a strange angle that provided blind spots – clearly, Alistair had thought she’d been alone. The change in his tone was drastic, as the moment he saw the two boys his demeanour completely changed.

Sebastian glared daggers and Ominis’ expression was a carefully controlled brand of neutral.

“Avery. Care to finish what you were saying?” Sebastian asked dangerously.

“No, no I think I’ll take my leave,” said Alistair diplomatically.

“Do,” said Ominis as he slowly turned. Alistair’s hand balled into a fist, glared at Artemis once before he stomped away.

“Git,” spat out Sebastian before he turned to Artemis. “How’d you have the misfortune of meeting him?”

“Poppy and I stopped him from pulling on Persephone’s whiskers,” answered Artemis.

“Still petty I see. Can’t believe he’s the same year as us,” sighed Ominis.

“He seemed intimidated.”

“He should. I’d gladly fry him crispy,” huffed Sebastian.

“More my last name than me,” corrected Ominis. He looked like he bit a bitter bug. “Descendant of Salazar Slytherin, my father being friends with the headmaster. The Gaunt name has its… uses, despite the unfortunate run of pureblood mania.”

Slytherin has a bunch of pureblood supremist bigots, not to mention families associated with the Dark Arts. The Malfoys, the Blacks, the Lestranges, the Gaunts.

“The headmaster has friends…?” Artemis asked instead, perplexed at the concept.

Sebastian choked on air as he quickly muffled his laughter into his elbow; Ominis’ shoulders shook as he controlled his. Madam Scribner gave the group a warning glance as she walked by on her patrol.

“Artie, did you hear back from your contact?” Sebastian asked after it was clear the librarian had left their vicinity.

“Contact?” Ominis asked, his head giving a slight jerk.

Artemis looked between Ominis and Sebastian; the brunet nodded as Artemis let out a soft breath.

“They said they’d need to review their contract for the finer details first,” said Artemis. She’d hoped Leto would have responded back before telling Sebastian, but alas. “But, tentatively yes.”

“Really?” Sebastian asked, his eyes brightened. In contrast, Ominis’ features darkened.

“Contract?” Ominis repeated back.

“Artie has a Healer contact in the Ministry. Said she’d reach out regarding Anne.”

“A Healer? Wait, you told her about Anne?”

“I was getting her a –” started Sebastian before he stopped and ran his fingers through his hair. “Never mind, yes, I told Artie about Anne.”

“Why?”

“She’s my sister, I can tell whomever I like.”

Ominis hummed, though his expression didn’t ease as he looked at Artemis.

“Rather generous of you,” said Ominis. His jaw was set.

“Ominis,” Sebastian started, surprised.

Ominis tilted his head toward her; Artemis’ heart sank. She’d not felt this since Chalvey. Palpable mistrust, clear suspicion.  

“So? Why are you helping?”

“Because I want to.”

She managed to keep her voice controlled. It was understandable, why he would be like this.

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Because she didn’t want history to repeat itself… but nobody else needed to know that.

“You’re lying,” retorted Ominis. “What do you gain from this?”

Her throat tightened. Sebastian’s warm chocolate eyes hardened toward his best friend.

“Ominis, stop it -”

“- Is treating someone the way you wanted to be treated so unbelievable?”

The soft, wobbled words were out of her mouth before she could stop herself.  She hadn’t intended to say that, not really.

Her hands moved quickly as both boys were stunned; Ominis’ eyebrows furrowed rather quickly afterward.

“Excuse me,” muttered Artemis as she pulled out her wand, the rest of her items haphazardly in her arms.  She muttered a quick disillusionment.

“Artie, wait!”

“Mr. Sallow! This is the library!”

Madam Scribner’s shrill warning rang loud behind her as she slunk away into the green floo flames.

SEBASTIAN SALLOW'S FELDCROFT HOUSE TOUR

These screens could be useful for Fic Writers' and Artists' inspiration / fantasies 😉

GENERAL: - Right: Kitchen - Left: Bedroom, Bath/Potions and Library Area - Front: Living room (those hanging pots on the ceiling are lovely)

KITCHEN:

They have a fire pit on the left and keep all cooking pots in that open counter on the right. They also have some barrels and a cabinet to store some plates, cutlery, cloths and a tea set.

LIVING ROOM:

They keep a RUM BUTTER bottle and pints in the living room cabinet 😜

BEDROOM:

I guess Anne's bed is the green one because she has a shelf on top with her meds/potions and some books ( for some reason, the bottle hidden behind is actually a good quality whisky! 👀)

BATH / POTIONS AREA:

Here is the bathtub beneath the table and some potion shelves. I can see a brain on one of the potion labels (must be for Anne's condition?), a pig , a lion (maybe for some Solomon's╰⋃╯dysfunction? 👀), and a leaf (for colds?).

BOOKCASE / DOCUMENTS AREA:

They also have a humble library. I don't know why they keep some horns on that counter though...

HALL / WAY OUT / WC? 🥲:

(yes, their toilet area must be outside among some bushes?)

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!!

ADDITIONAL UPDATES AND FEATURES?!