A Bouquet Of New Beginnings Ch. 16 "Peony I"

A Bouquet of New Beginnings Ch. 16 "Peony I"

Floriography - Life & Honor

Summary: The First Trial of the Keepers and Other Traumatizing Events

[AO3]

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

*There are trigger warnings listed within the end chapter notes on AO3, but the below excerpt is the section without any of the triggers involved.*

The steam smelled of honey and peony as the silver ladle created calm ripples across the magenta liquid. Sleeves rolled up of her sky-blue uniform, Artemis hummed her mother’s lullaby as she leaned over the Potions station before she stopped stirring and picked up the pestle and mortar. Mornings when she was tasked to brew and restock the apothecary were a boon, wherein she required just enough focus on a straightforward objective to not be distracted by unwanted thoughts.

“Professor Fig informed me that you were going on an exhibition this afternoon for your independent study.”

Her heart thudded loud against her ribcage as she lifted her gaze from the crushed myrtle petals. The gruff Potions professor’s eyes were lifted as he sat at his desk - a silent insistence to observe her brewing.

“Yes, sir. He was kind enough to offer to show me some of the ruins in the area for History of Magic,” answered Artemis succinctly.

That was technically true – Professor Fig did in fact state that the destined tower was heavily weathered, and they were going under the pretext of catching up on some sections of History of Magic. They couldn’t very well say that they were going to an old, abandoned tower that served as some sort of trial for ancient magic.

“I presume you are aware of the increased activity in the area?”

Again, Artemis nodded as she sprinkled in the crushed myrtle petals and adjusted the fire. The liquid was brought to a roiling boil as the mixture slowly rendered into a viscous pink whilst she stirred seven times counterclockwise.

“Inverto.”

The inversion magic left her wand, and the viscous pink shimmered before the colour dissolved into a milky white. Potent fertility inverted to a potent contraception – a simple idea with complex application. The binding spell in place, and the potion was complete. She poured a sample and gave it to Professor Sharp to test. A single drop of the potion coated the testing strip, and offered the visual of an upside-down peony – a success.

“Good,” commented Professor Sharp as he corked the vial. “Not many would get this potion right to this… potency.”

Artemis bit her inner cheek and bit back her comment; Professor Sharp lifted an eyebrow as he waved for her to finish up. The potion vials clinked together as she packed up, though her mind was now on the trial she’d undertake that afternoon. She hoped that whatever it was, she was ready.

“Miss Loreley,” cut in Professor Sharp as she was about to leave with the box filled with cushioned potion vials balanced on her hip. The professor made his way to her, a sealed roll of parchment in his hand.

“You are to work on this for the upcoming weeks. Ordinarily I wouldn’t be concerned but you… you ought to be prepared.”

“Sir?”

The parchment was tucked into the box.

“You are to work on these during the next few office hours. It would do well to bolster your arsenal other than just spells and Healing potions.”

Artemis blinked twice as she managed to dumbly nod.

The parchment was unfurled amidst Professor Binns’ monotonous review on a goblin rebellion in the 1300’s. Snores weren’t bothered to be concealed, and once again Artemis and Amit were the only two that seemed to remain remotely awake. Leander and Andrew fell asleep within five minutes. Poppy and Natsai made valiant efforts before they too succumbed; Ominis’ dark blond locks glowed softly in the spilled sunlight as he lasted perhaps a minute. Garreth and Sebastian, once again, did not show up.

Her eyes scanned over the parchment as she read the harsh calligraphic handwriting of Professor Sharp, and tilted her head. Sticky Solution was written on the top with a list of ingredients and directions. This looked like an original recipe. Giddy excitement bubbled in her chest at the prospect.

Ominis shivered slightly next to her even as he slept. She envied that he, and frankly every other person, could take a nap. Professor Binns glided by, and a pleasant coolness settled around them. Or rather, it was pleasant to her; everyone else seemed to shiver in their varied states of slumber.

She snuck another look at Ominis, who’d taken to using his arm as a standing pillow. He’d kept her request to keep silent about her embarrassing panic; she knew Sebastian would have relentlessly asked otherwise. She still wondered what she’d missed between the two of them when the topic of where to practise the spell came about, but that was beside the point. The point was that Ominis didn’t need to keep silent, and yet he did.

Her mind flitted to the purple hyacinth that now stood atop her desk in its vase. She sent a gentle warming charm from under her desk toward him, and Ominis’ shoulders relaxed. With a small smile, she continued to read up on the new potions recipe.

An audio excerpt from the English version of Chapter 3 of the beautiful work "In the Shadow of Our Ghosts" by @betheckart located on Wattpad.

Thank you for giving me permission to do this audio for you, and I look forward to seeing Beth's story unfold💗

*Note: I own absolutely nothing except for the undying love for this tale and the hyperfixation upon Hogwarts Legacy.*

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.

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