A Bouquet Of New Beginnings Chapter 22: Vine

A Bouquet of New Beginnings Chapter 22: Vine

Summary: Another nightmare, a conversation on Unforgivables, and a calmer introduction to the Undercroft.

Floriography: Connection & Friendship

Full Chapter: [AO3] //6.5k words

*There are trigger-warnings in this chapter. Below excerpt does not contain the items, but read carefully if reading the full chapter.*

Excerpt Below:

“Artie!”

Artemis looked up from the boathouse docks as her feet dangled above the Black Lake. Natsai came over with a few bottles of water and pumpkin juice in her arms.

“What are you reading?”

“Alice in Wonderland,” said Artemis as she slipped the purple hyacinth bookmark inside. “A fun read.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” Natsai took a seat next to her. “Poppy said she’ll join after getting a few more snacks. I’m glad to see that you are doing better than last night, my friend.”

“Motion sickness is a bane.”

Natsai gave her a sympathetic look as she gestured toward the small basket. “How did you manage to bring lunch this early?”

“I made it,” answered Artemis plainly.

“You…made it?”

“I mean, it’s just throwing together sandwiches, but yes,” explained Artemis as she opened the small basket. Deek had been more than happy to get her the ingredients, especially after introducing him to all the beasts this morning. “Plus, I didn’t think our conversation would be good for the Great Hall.”

“True,” agreed Natsai. There was a pause. “So, about what you asked last night.”

“About you being a gazelle?”

“No, about my uniform,” said Natsai sarcastically as Artemis chuckled. “Yes, about being a gazelle. How did you know?”

“Poppy and I saw a gazelle hanging around the Hog’s Head. Frankly we thought Harlow’s poachers had brought the gazelle from Africa. Then I saw the gazelle melt and change into a person that looked like you, but then that would be barmy right? Because we were in the forest. But then you were actually there, and really, how many gazelles are running around Scotland,” said Artemis.

Natsai laughed brightly. “Of course, the first people to spot me is you. Does Poppy not know?”

Artemis shook her head. “She was facing me when you turned back. I’m assuming that’s magic?”

“Yes, yes,” laughed Natsai as she placed a hand on her chest. “I’m an animagus.”

“Animagus?”

Natsai nodded. “It’s a branch of self-transfiguration not often practised in Britain, and not taught at Hogwarts. It’s a complicated process, but I can change into a gazelle at will. Professor Weasley has… ‘gently discouraged’ me from it, or discussing about the subject since it’s considered dangerous here, but I find it freeing.”

“Sounds very handy, especially for a quick escape.”

“Somehow I knew you’d say that,” said Natsai. “I’d been sneaking around the Hog’s Head more so recently but have been travelling around the forest since last year – it reminds me of when my father ran with me back in Matabeleland. My father transformed into the most beautiful giraffe.”

Artemis recognised grief like a glove. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you,” said Natsai. “It’s been a few years but, some days, it is harder than the others. Running as a gazelle helps me to feel closer to him.”

“Did you choose to become a gazelle?” Artemis asked as Natsai shook her head.

“Oh no. When you go through the process, you become the animal that represents your personality. My mother is convinced that my form is a gazelle because I adapt well to any situation. I believe it is because I can sense danger and keep my wits about me. I would appreciate it if we kept this between us. My mother and I are both registered because we need to be, but I’d rather not have everybody know.”

“Of course,” Artemis readily agreed. “But in return, could you show me some wandless magic? Just until Poppy comes.”

“Truly? Well, you’re easy to please,” teased Natsai as she pointed to Artemis’ book. “I can do better. I’ll teach you basic wandless magic, especially since you asked me to show you our first Charms class, and I’ve been neglecting you.”

“Really?” Artemis asked; she didn’t think her friend would teach her.

“Of course! Wandless magic isn’t too different aside from the obvious. There’s no spell that is tied to a particular hand gesture, but there are tendencies. Levioso.”

Natsai held her hand out, palm up, and gently curled her fingers as the book levitated from Artemis’ lap. Artemis watched with fascination as the Gryffindor did the same movement for Accio, and the book went into Natsai’s open hand.

“But because there’s more overlap, the intention becomes much more important, and knowing where your magic comes from. At Uagadou, before we learn how to cast magic, we learn how to gather magic into our palms. Like this.”

This time, she held both her palms up, and Artemis gasped mutely as she watched a ball of red with golden hues coagulate. It reminded her of the colour of the Secret Sharer. Natsai spun the magic as it floated and expanded, flicking like a fire before extinguishing it.

“Try it,” encouraged Natsai. “Hold your palms up like you’re cupping water. Then, concentrate getting your magic from your core to your palm, and hold it for as long as you can.”

“Um… any guidance on that, Professor Onai?”

Natsai guffawed. “Please don’t. I feel like my mother.”

Artemis rolled her eyes as she chuckled. “Teacher Natty?”

“Acceptable. When I first learned, I thought about the savannah and running. How my heart would pump, the golden beauty under the sun, and the freedom I felt. I imagined my heartbeat pumping the blood – and my magic – into my palms. Maybe something like that?”

Artemis hummed as she looked down at her hands – an illusion of matching, unmarred palms. Since Natsai’s magic was the same colour as the Secret Sharer, theoretically, hers would be as well. She closed her eyes slowly. She enjoyed running through the forests around home, but that didn’t seem right.

No, what it sounded like was the need to direct and control her magic. Maybe it was like preparing to plant the garden, to find the perfect bit of fertilised soil. To dig just enough to plant the bulb. The more she imagined her the process of planting through the Briar Greenhouse, the more she felt her magic tingle throughout her body; like it needed room to breathe. She imagined how she felt when she first stood at the greenhouse entrance with everything finally planted.

Breathe In. Two. Three. Four. Out. Two. Three Four.

As she breathed out, a cooling sensation coursed from her chest through her arms, and centred in her palms. Keeping the slow, controlled breathing, she opened her eyes and let out an elated gasp as a blob of iridescent blue-green shimmered with a silvery hue within her hands.

“That’s it Artie! You’re doing great!”

It only lasted for three seconds before the warble fizzled away, but Natsai clapped cheerfully.

“You did really well! Not many people can get it in the first try, and certainly not for that long. It gets easier with practise, I promise.”

“How long do I need to be able to keep it before moving onto spells?” Artemis asked.

Natsai hummed. “Our professors had us hold it for three minutes. Our first spell, by the way, was levioso.”

“I’ll keep working on it then,” agreed Artemis.

Natsai held up her fist; Artemis bumped hers.

“And I will help you of course.”

“Artemis! Natty! Sorry I’m late!” Poppy’s voice carried as Natsai and Artemis lifted their heads. In her arms was a large bag, undoubtedly filled with sweets. “The house-elves were really nice and gave us the rest of the Halloween desserts.”

Poppy sat to Artemis’ right with an excited huff, and Natsai chuckled from her left. With sandwiches and sweets in hand, the three started their cobbled outdoor picnic. The November air was crisp and cool, though it didn’t feel that way with the company kept.

“Highwing’s safe. The place I had in mind worked,” started Artemis.

Poppy beamed. “Really? What about the other hippogriff? And the thestral?”

“Them too.” Artemis nodded. “I can bring Highwing out anytime you’d like.”

“Thank you. Truly, both of you. Let me know if either of you ever need help.”

Natsai and Artemis both smiled.

A few moments of silence passed before Artemis brought up the question.

“The spell that Harlow casted… the one with the green light… it killed that owl, didn’t it?”

In the lake’s reflection, Artemis saw Natsai and Poppy both pause in their reverie as they looked at each other. A small fish popped above the surface momentarily.

“It’s called the Killing Curse,” started Poppy.

Artemis whipped her head toward her. “The what curse?”

“The Killing Curse,” sighed Natsai. “An Unforgivable.”

“… unforgivable…?”

“It’s a collection of three of the most powerful Dark curses,” continued Natsai. “We learned what they are last year, obviously just the name and what they do. The green one last night is the Killing Curse. Avada Kedavra. The effect is self-explanatory – instant, painless death.”

“There’s also the Imperius Curse and the Torture Curse. Imperius, or Imperio, puts the person completely under someone’s control. And the Torture Curse, Crucio, well… it’s also self-explanatory. Intense, excruciating pain,” explained Poppy.

The memory of the red crackling lightning by that Ashwinder as she cackled at the centaur’s pained screams flitted back. Artemis pressed her thumb against her scar and let the pain keep her steady – that witch had cast a torturing curse on the centaur.

“Who would make such spells?” Artemis managed to squeeze out.

Poppy huffed. “A medieval sadist. If you can believe it, they weren’t always illegal; they became illegal in 1717.”

“That’s less than 200 years,” pointed out Artemis.

“Morality took its time,” said Natsai bitterly. “They can’t be blocked, so you have to be able to stop the cast beforehand or dodge it. Otherwise… you suffer. Or, die.”

Poppy picked off a bit of her sandwich and threw it for the gathered fish. “The one good thing is that not everyone can cast Unforgivables. Because they’re so… you know, powerful, whomever casts it needs to have a high level of skill and willpower. Remember I said the creator was sadistic? The curses are more effective if the castor has a clear, deep desire to use it. They have to mean it. Mean that they want to hurt someone, want to control someone, want to kill someone.”

“What happens if someone casts it? Consequentially, that is.”

Natsai swallowed her sandwich bite. “Azkaban. Lifetime, plain and simple.”

“But only against humans. Apparently, they don’t count as ‘unforgivable’ if cast on beasts or other beings, like goblins,” spat Poppy.

Artemis blanched. So the witch cursing that centaur was legal? The Depulso she’d casted suddenly didn’t seem strong enough… not that the witch could do that anymore. An arrow to the neck tended to put a stopper to things.

“Is that… it?” Artemis held her hand up as both girls looked at her incredulously. “I mean. The effects are horrid, yes. But, does it hurt the caster? Other than their conscience, if they have a shred of it left. It just, it seems like it’s more than just morality and some degree of sadism that made it Unforgivable.”

Natsai and Poppy both looked at each other before Natsai sighed deeply.

“According to Professor Hecat, successfully casting an Unforgivable on a living soul damages the caster’s own soul and magical cores.”

“Like we said earlier, you have to mean it. That means it’s premeditated, and if we’re talking about the Avada, that’s premeditated murder,” finished Poppy.

Poppy’s acorn eyes were steeled, and she was subtly hugging herself. Artemis didn’t comment.

A Bouquet of New Beginnings Chapter 19: Forget-Me-Not

Floriography: Clinging to the past. Remembrance. True love.

Summary: A lil' trip to Feldcroft to meet the Sallow family.

[AO3]

Excerpt of the chapter is below the cut, and the full chapter could be viewed through the AO3 link above!

With a small wave, Artemis made her way to the Common Room. Sebastian stood near the waterfall in a pair of dark grey trousers, plaid beige button down and dark brown button-down vest with his school bag. Each piece of garment looked well-loved; it suited him.

“Good morning Sebastian. You look nice.”

Sebastian turned, his eyes widened slightly as he gave a cheeky grin. “Why thank you. Wakefield’s work?”

She nodded. “Mm. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”

“No, you’re just in time,” said Sebastian. “Come on; Feldcroft isn’t too far, and you haven’t explored the area much right?”

“Not really, no,” said Artemis as she kept up with Sebastian.

“Well, we could walk there since we’re so early. It’d be a bit pricey but we could take a carriage part way.”

Artemis hummed. “What about flying part way instead?” 

“I don’t exactly own a broom,” said Sebastian.

“I do.”

Sebastian whipped his head around. “You do?!”

“Well, technically, I don’t own it yet,” started Artemis as she tapped her legside bag. “Mr. Weekes needed someone to test his upgrades, and I needed a broom. The broom will officially be mine at the end of the school year, upgrades included.”

Sebastian’s mouth fell agape for a few seconds before morphing into a smile.

“First of all, you need to tell me how a broom fit in there. Second, broom sounds fine except for one thing.”

“Oh?”

“There’s only one,” said Sebastian.

Artemis blinked twice.

Sebastian sighed as he lifted his finger.

“One broom, Artie,” repeated Sebastian as he moved the finger between himself and her. “You’re okay with riding with me?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I? It’s just a broom,” said Artemis.

Sebastian let out a noise. “Have you ever ridden with another person?”

“Twice,” grimaced Artemis. “Thought if I flew it this time, it could be different. Unless you mind?”

“No, of course not,” answered Sebastian too quickly. He cleared his throat. “Alright. Let’s walk to Keenbridge then fly. I can help steer.”

Sebastian filled the air with excited conversation the entire way to Keenbridge. He spoke of how Anne was excited to see them today, of how they used to run around the hamlet and jump into the ocean during the summers. His warm chocolate eyes sparkled under the October sun. Artemis listened and responded whilst carefully concealing the nerves of going to a new friend’s house.

Keenbridge was a humble but lively hamlet. A potioneer was busy manning her stand, villagers chattered away with their tea and children played in the hamlet centre. A nostalgic smile spread as she watched a girl being playfully chased by a boy. Her gaze lifted to Sebastian, who looked wistfully at the same pair. She averted her gaze as she proceeded to pull out the Moon Trimmer.

Sebastian leaned in as he appraised the broom.

“Moon Trimmer? Reliable, but not speedy. Why didn’t you go for the fastest one?”

“This one has bags,” pointed Artemis before expanding the Cushioning Charm.

As she mounted the broom, she looked toward Sebastian who remained standing where he was.

“Sebastian?”

The freckled boy took another moment before he made his way behind her and mounted the broom.

“Pardon me,” said Sebastian as he leaned forward.

His left hand wrapped around the broom handle right above hers, and his right arm circled her waist, holding her steady against his chest. She could smell the cinnamon from his cologne mixed in the wind.

Sebastian cleared his throat. “The broom’s going to tend downward. Give it a few laps low before we go up.”

His breath tickled her ear, and suddenly she wondered if this was why Imelda asked of the attire choice.

“Right.”

The broom was reliable and steady; it didn’t fail her when she wore armour, and it wouldn’t fail her now. Soon, they lifted into the softly lit sky and leaned forward.

“Libro.”

“What did you just cast?” Sebastian asked.

“Sensory Balancing Charm,” answered Artemis.

“Why?”

Artemis hummed. “I get motion sick. This helps me to… not.”

Sebastian let out a laugh. “Huh, so you do have some weaknesses.”

Artemis chuckled in lieu of a response. As they flew, the foliage painted the lands below in their myriads of colour. The crisp autumn air caressed her cheeks like a long-lost lover.

“Wow, this is … breath-taking,” breathed out Artemis.

Sebastian chuckled low behind her, his hand carefully guiding the broom toward Feldcroft.

“Yeah, it’s nice to just… get away from it all sometimes,” sighed Sebastian.

She hadn’t heard him sound this relaxed before.

“I take it you like flying?”

Sebastian nodded. “Anne and I used to chase each other around with the school brooms. Even got Ominis to join once or twice. Granted, he was the one clinging onto me.”

“Were you on the Quidditch team as well? Imelda mentioned Anne was a Chaser.”

“Mm. Played Beater. We were back-up our second year and starters in our third but after Anne got cursed,” paused Sebastian as he sighed. His warm breath tickled the back of her neck. “Anne was much more into Quidditch; I prefer casual flying.”

“Hopefully she’ll be able to come back soon,” said Artemis.

“She will,” said Sebastian. “I know it.”

She heard the faintest crack where the parasitic frustration snuck beneath the optimism. It was the same frustration that turned her father into a near stranger. She slid her left hand up just enough so her fingertip ghosted his wrist.

“You aren’t alone,” murmured Artemis.

She thought she heard Sebastian’s breath hitch. She began retracting her hand - perhaps she overstepped. Instead, his hand wrapped over hers and gripped tightly.

“Thank you,” whispered Sebastian.

She gave a small hum. Only the sound of wind flitted for a few minutes, and he made no attempt to move his hands away.

Sebastian cleared his throat. “Your hand is freezing.”

“And yours is burning,” countered Artemis.

“I admit, I run hotter than most, but your hands are colder than Ominis’,” chuckled Sebastian. “Ah, we’re almost there.”

Feldcroft appeared below with blankets of grass and scattered little homes. There was a centre circle and farms for each home, but not much else. The air filled with a haze of dust as they dipped lower, and she sneezed quietly into her chest.

“You alright? Not catching a cold are you?” Sebastian asked. His arm tightened around her waist.

She shook her head. “No. But it’s a bit dusty, isn’t it?”

“Thanks to Ranrok’s lot,” muttered Sebastian.

The blood froze in her veins. “What?”

“Yeah,” said Sebastian bitterly. “See that castle to our right?”

Artemis turned her head; in the not too far distance stood a castle. Even from this distance it was clear the castle was past its glory days.

“Ever since last year, Ranrok’s Loyalists took a peculiar interest in it. Rookwood castle. No one has felt safe here since.”

“Wait, did you say Rookwood?” Artemis asked. “As in, criminal leader Victor Rookwood, Rookwood?”

“Could be. As far as I know – or rather from what Ominis gathered – there’s at least three Rookwood’s alive. I don’t know if it’s Victor Rookwood that owns that castle now but, either way, it’s overrun with Loyalists,” gritted Sebastian. “This dust, and all the debris is coming from that plateau to our left. There’s an abandoned estate up there, and the Loyalists have been digging for something… Anne was cursed there by them.”

Artemis tilted her head. “But why would they want to curse a child?”

“Dunno, Anne wasn’t going there for tea,” said Sebastian darkly. “We smelled smoke in the middle of the night, and there was fire shooting from that estate. Before we could stop her, Anne rushed out – racing toward the fire, worried someone’d been hurt.”

The grip around her hand tightened as his arm around her waist shook. She didn’t need to see his face to know he was furious. At the goblins or himself, she didn’t know.

“She came face to face with a horde of goblins frantically trying to stamp out the flames. Suddenly, an icy voice drifted out from somewhere in the smoke; ‘Children should be seen and not heard.’ A blinding blast followed. They didn’t even give her a chance to run. Even worse, my uncle refuses to investigate, even though he was an Auror.”

Rookwood castle. An abandoned estate. A quaint hamlet.

On a hunch, Artemis dipped further until they both hovered above a lookout, and it clicked.

“Sebastian, this view… it’s the one from the pensieve!” Artemis exclaimed.

“What?”

“The memory in the Restricted Section. The hamlet they revived – it was Feldcroft!”

Sebastian gasped. “Damn, that hamlet? Wait, so the girl –”

“– Isidora. The estate must’ve been her home. This – this can’t be a coincidence, Sebastian.”

Sebastian leaned forward as his cheeked touched her ear. Her cheeks warmed at the contact.

“Wait, you mean those goblins could be digging for something to do with ancient magic?” Sebastian asked loudly.

Artemis averted her gaze as she gave a nod. It took a moment before Sebastian slowly leaned back, at least, his cheek was no longer against her ear.

Sebastian cleared his throat. “Do you think Anne’s curse could be ancient magic related? You’d be able to see it then, right?”

“I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but I can definitely check,” agreed Artemis.

Sebastian hummed. “Come on, it’s high time you met Anne. Land us there.”

Honestly this is like. The best weather. Please no more sunshine, or maybe gloomy sunshine I want the storm and the rain.

i love the way you draw your sebastian !! i don’t know if this is weird to say but i can definitely imagine him having some stretch marks on his stomach or arms

THANK YOU! ♥️ and oh my god I love this little detail YES 😭 I had to implement this in a drawing

Sebastian fresh out of shower and wondering where the f are his clothes (his wife hid them)

Oh my gosh the way his spine curves? the bones? I'm. This is gorgeous 😭

"In the Shadow of Our Ghosts" by @betheckart.

Chapter 13. "The Haven" (English ver.) Audio Excerpt.

Full chapter located here on Wattpad.

Thank you for giving me permission to once again bring this scene to life, and I hope that I did some justice for your beautiful writing of Beth's tale 🩵

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