Imelda Reyes - Tumblr Posts

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. 

A Bouquet of New Beginnings Chapter 13: "Whitty Pear"

Floriography - Harmony & Prudence

Summary: Just a weekend with some gals and opening trap doors.

[AO3]

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

Incessant bangs roused Artemis from measly hours of sleep; Nocturne protested within her arms with a meow. With the still lingering tiredness from the earlier adventure, she managed to shuffle herself up and opened the door.

“Imelda?” Artemis mustered out with a still gravelly voice. Imelda, who stood there with both hands on her hips and dressed in Quidditch gear, snorted.

“Glad you remember my name," said Imelda sarcastically. "Didn’t believe it when Violet said your bed curtains were still shut.” 

“Sshh, you’ll wake Nerida and Priscilla,” shushed Artemis as she let the black-haired girl in. Her simple braid slipped off her shoulder and dangled to her mid-back as she shut the door. Nocturne rubbed himself around her ankles as she read the shared clock. Seven-thirty.

“Nerida would sleep through a bloody graphorn charge. And Priscilla isn’t even here; probably off with whichever friend in season. Hurry on and get changed; we’re going to strategize how to bludgeon that motion sickness out of you.”

“That isn’t how motion sickness works,” mumbled Artemis.

They’d never arranged anything, but they’d run into each other every other morning at the pitch. Or rather, Artemis was already there and Imelda came around in her flying gear. Each time, Imelda insisted Artemis fly with her, and without reason to refuse, she obliged.

Imelda shrugged as she sat at the edge of Artemis’ bed, the beryl eyes on the two sets of folded uniforms on the small, plush ottoman.

“Where’s the rest of your clothes?”

“You’re looking at them,” said Artemis as she grabbed one set.

“Seriously?”

“Dragon?”

“Ah, right, forgot about that.”

Artemis lifted an eyebrow; Imelda smirked.

“Anyways. Priscilla wasn’t thrilled. Insisted I’ve plans tomorrow.”

“Right. You’ll probably be marched into Gladrags and that frilly boutique. Good luck with that,” snorted Imelda. “Anyways, beating out your motion sickness. Spintwitches is open again.”

Artemis stepped behind the shade and started to change. “Spit witches?”

“Spintwitches,” corrected Imelda. “The sporting shop. Albie Weekes runs it – a bit barmy, but he’s got some brains. Heard he made some broom upgrades. Maybe you won’t get sick on a broom with one.”

Artemis grimaced. “I did say I don’t do well with swerves.”

“Yes, but curling on the ground like a pill bug?”

Artemis rolled her eyes at the tease.

“Besides, I don’t own a broom,” noted Artemis as she finished changing. Nocturne jumped onto the table and looked expectantly between her and the mirror on the floor.

“So get one! You won’t need to borrow the school’s then. Plus, it’s a handy way to escape if you’re surrounded by Ashwinder wankers,” reasoned Imelda

Artemis hummed. “You have a point.”

“I always have a point.”

“Fair,” said Artemis as she began her usual braiding ritual.

“Settled then, we’ll go after we fly,” said Imelda. Her beryl eyes met Artemis’ forest greens in the reflection. “Wait here.”

Artemis lifted an eyebrow with half her hair braided as she watched Imelda leave. Nocturne tilted his head before he pawed over two hairpins. She chuckled as she met the cat’s head bump with her own forehead.

“Thank you darling. Such a gentleman.”

Nocturne puffed his chest in pride. Artemis looked back briefly to check that Nerida’s curtains were still drawn. It seemed she really could sleep through a whole conversation.

The door clicked as Imelda returned with another set of Quidditch uniforms before they were flopped on her stack of Healing books.

“Now you have three sets.”

“But I – ”

“ – Keep it, they don’t fit me anymore” insisted Imelda as she crossed her arms and cocked her hip.

Artemis gave a smile. “Thank you, Imelda.”

“Whatever,” said Imelda as she rolled her eyes. Imelda reached toward her desk and picked up the perfume bottle. “La Fleure?”

Artemis chuckled as she finished pinning one braid around her head. “It was a gift. Apparently, it’s for… special occasions, but the bottle’s too beautiful to be stuffed in a drawer.”

Imelda gave a hum as she kept reading the bottle.

Artemis continued wrapping her other braid around. “What is Anne Sallow like?”

“Why?” Imelda asked, her sharp eyebrow lifted.

“Just curious.”

Imelda huffed a laugh.

“Take Sallow, shrink him a few inches, give him long hair and put a decent pair of tits on him.”

“Imelda!”

“You chide, but you’re smiling,” remarked Imelda as she smirked.

Artemis rolled her eyes as she placed the final pin. Her reflection smiled back at her.

“I didn’t need that image, thank you.”

Imelda barked a laugh, though she turned serious a moment later.

“Want my honest opinion?”

“Here I thought you were always honest,” said Artemis. Imelda lifted a corner of her mouth.

“Huh! Didn’t think you had cheek in you. But I’m starving, so after breakfast. A proper breakfast, not just green apples,” said Imelda.

The subject matter closed until they were on their brooms and above the Ravenclaw tower, far away from prying eyes and ears. The cool wind lifted her bangs as her ribbon fluttered.

“Anne’s not a bad sort. Roomed with her before she left. Decent enough chaser that I didn’t want to throttle her. But the general opinion of her went up when she left. Pretty sure only Ominis was her true friend.”

“…went up when she left?”

“Yeah. I assume you know Anne’s been sick since last year?”

Artemis nodded; she’d garnered that to most, Anne Sallow had ostensibly left the school due to a long-term illness. Only Sebastian, Ominis, and now herself knew that she had been cursed.

“Well. Anne’s always been cheery and polite enough to everyone. Taste for chaos that even made Garreth’s explosions look tame… though she partook in most of those. Part of that Crossed Wands club. Had a wicked tongue and temper too. Nobody really talks about the latter two now that she left,” explained Imelda as she moved forward.

Artemis kept up as she casted a pre-emptive libro; the wind pressed against her chest faster and harder. She tightened her core to keep herself as steady as possible.

“When you said Ominis was her only true friend, what did you mean?” Artemis asked curiously. Their voices were louder to cut through the whipping sounds from the speeding air.

“Exactly that. Can’t exactly call Sebastian her friend when he’s her twin. Both are friendly enough with most people, but it’s surface level. Pretty common for Slytherins. Anyways, that trio stuck together like a permanent sticking charm. Even last year, Sebastian and Ominis stuck together and nobody entered that third slot.”

Artemis agreed with that thought. Despite the friendships she’d formed here, Henry would always remain her closest friend. She highly doubted there would be anyone who could surpass him.

“That is, until you gave Sebastian a right battering. It’d been a while since I’d seen either of them take to someone so quickly.”

Artemis chuckled awkwardly; she wasn’t sure where she stood with the blond at least.

“Still got your insides together?” Imelda asked, completely unaware of Artemis’ turmoil.

“Oh yes.”

She casted another Sensory Balancing Charm.

“Then you better keep up. We’re beating out that motion sickness. Race you to Hogsmeade!”

“Again, that’s not how this works...!”

Imelda only deigned her with barked laughter.

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.”

I’M BACK!

Gosh, sorry I’ve been gone for so long. I’ve been in a bad headspace the past month, but now I’ve dragged myself out of the hellhole. Will be replying to your mentions and then posting this abandoned WIP I’ve been working on veery soon. I’m 98% done with it!

In the meantime enjoy this WIP of eye screenshots 😋

Sneaking friends into the Room of Requirement 👀 Guess what each of them are saying/thinking?

Sebastian: (looking at a potion Garreth asked him to test) Do you think this will kill me?

Imelda: I honestly hope it does.

MC: Very supportive, 'Melda.

I did some HC’s For Hogwart’s Legacy Characters! Since I became obsessed with this game. ❤️

Tbh most of the professors just give off AroAce vibes.

Sebastian Sallow is Bisexual

Anne Sallow is Omnisexual & Asexual

Ominis Gaunt is Pansexual

Garrett Weasley is Pansexual

Poppy Sweeting is Pansexual

Imelda Reyes is Lesbian

Leander Prewett is Trans & Straight Ally

Everett Clopton is Gay

Amit Thakkar is Gay

Sirona Ryan is Trans & Lesbian

Victor Rookwood is Straight Ally

Theophilus Harlow is unfortunately Hetero..

Phineas Black is Straight Ally

Abraham Ronen is Gay

Aeshop Sharp is Bisexual

Bai Howin is omnisexual & Asexual

Binns is AroAce

Charles Rookwood is Straight Ally & AroAce

Chiyo Kogawa is Lesbian

Dinah Hecat is Bisexual

Eleazar Fig is AroAce

Matilda Weasley is Bisexual

Mudiwa Onai is Omnisexual & Asexual

Mirabel Garlick is Lesbian

Satyavati Shah is AroAce

Gladwin Moon is Gay

Percival Rackham is AroAce & Straight Ally

San Bakar is AroAce

Niamh Fitzgerald is Lesbian

Isidora Morganach is Lesbian

His patience snapped 😅 Original video