Hello all! This is an SYOC, and you can find the info for it on my profile alongside the rules and the form! For now, here's the basic premise of this AU!

"This is an AU SYOC where the events of the books and its student characters, as well as antagonists, were fictional - however the wizarding world itself, and the teachers at Hogwarts, were real and simply embellished by Hogwarts graduate, JK Rowling. In the year 2019 young witches and wizards take inspiration from the ideals of the Death Eaters, forming their own order: The Neo Death Eaters, led by their Dark Lord and Lady."

Let me know what you think and I hope you all enjoy! The deadline is October 19th!

I.

July, 2019

Too bright. Too many sequins. Too funeral-y. Too "mother of the bride". Way too white.

When did all the fancy dress stores in London run out of dresses she liked? Shopping for something was never this hard, was it? Meri tapped her heel against the floor, quicker and quicker, as the anxiety continued to consume her. She'd been here plenty of times before and had been forced to look away from some that caught her eye because of the price, but now… Where in the world had they all gone?

The pressure was just getting to her, she reasoned as she sifted through another rack of dresses. It'd been… how many years since Clotilde had last contacted her? Not many, she would admit, but it was longer than Meri had gone in her life without talking to someone. A summer holiday was the limit for her. Not a peep since she graduated and moved to London? Until now? Her stomach was doing somersaults with every dress she passed over.

Meri chewed her lip and slowly crouched into a squat. The dress she was looking at was pushed aside, and Meri just hung her head with a defeated sigh. Why would Clotilde have sent her an invitation? Meri may have been the head of the family, but Clotilde had made it pretty apparent that she considered Meri an ill fit. And that was putting it nicely, she thought with another sigh. So why?

This was too stressful. Even if Meri could take a peek into Clotilde's thought process, she'd just get a brick wall in return. Her little sister was simple-minded and ditzy at the best of times, but Meri would be damned if she wasn't hard to keep up with every so often.

A throat cleared behind her. Meri, startled, fell from her squat and onto her backside, and clung to the bolero on her head in an attempt to keep from losing it. The person behind her let out an equally surprised sound, and then Meri was meeting the gaze of the store clerk as she knelt down next to her.

"I—I'm sorry, ma'am!" the clerk panicked. "I didn't mean to startle you!"

Meri let out a long sigh. No, that was on her. She really should've been paying more attention and noticed the clerk approaching her.

"It's fine," she said. Meri quickly ran her fingers through her hair and pushed herself back into a kneel.

"Was there anything I could help you with?" the clerk tried again. How long had it been since Meri had walked in the doors? She searched for a clock, but like every other wedding apparel store in London, there was none to be found.

"I, uh…" she patted her pockets for her phone. Maybe she'd have better luck somewhere else, she thought. Clotilde probably wouldn't even approve of the dresses in London, not for her special day. "I think I'll come back later. My shift should be starting soon anyway."

"O—Oh…"

The clerk simply retreated to the counter once more. Meri fixed her jacket and finally found her phone; the part about her shift starting soon was a lie, but she wasn't about to make this poor clerk look like an idiot. She put on a show, checking the time on her phone and mumbling, "Shit," as she hurried for the doors.

She wasn't having any luck here. Muggle stores just weren't going to cut it—but then she'd have to make extra trips just to check even one store if she went to Diagon Alley. Having something made for the wedding would take too much time, too.

Meri ran across the street and scurried in the direction of the next store on her list. Maybe just ordering a dress online would work. Even the international dress stores would have it at her doorstep before the day of the wedding.

Then again, maybe something from Twilfitt and Tattings would suffice…

Meri shook her head and scowled. Like hell she was going through all that effort for one dress! Stopping at Gringotts for the currency, navigating the area, putting up with everyone asking if she was still living with the muggles—she wasn't about to put herself through all that! Besides, Clotilde probably invited her to keep up appearances. Why would she suddenly want her sister at her wedding now? That had to be the only explanation. She was just inviting the head of the Sinister family, not her sister.

If she didn't find a dress in this last store, she was taking herself back home and spite-shopping online. Meri was tense as she strode inside, even as she browsed the dresses on each rack. Why did she care about looking nice? She did on occasion, but that was for Walter—not for a misguided little sister who may as well have been estranged. Meri already decided not to bleach her hair and get rid of the dye, so why would she worry about a stupid dress?

It took her almost forty-five minutes, but Meri could say she was proud to walk out those doors with a dress in a paper bag and a purpose in her step. At the very least, this store was closest to the apartment than the others. Her plan to work her way back from the furthest store wasn't a complete waste of time, she supposed.

Well… She definitely would've saved time if she'd just gone to this shop first. But then she would've spent the whole day second-guessing and freaking out and caring. Now that she'd come full circle with her panic, she was certain she'd be wearing this in a month's time and not giving a single damn. She might even have redyed her hair by then too!

Meri all but kicked down the door to the bookstore beneath the apartment. Typical of a Wednesday evening, it was completely empty save for the few regulars who waited for the parents to pick them up from school. She'd never imagined that she would come to call teenagers with nothing better to do but buy a book and read at breakneck speeds regular, but she wasn't going to be picky. They never really caused any trouble like the parents demanding secondhand books from the reading list. A few faces looked up and greeted her by name—she may as well have made up the "Co." in Fell and Co. out front—but most were too immersed in their books to notice. Meri weaved through the maze of shelves and scanned the rows of books as she did so. It was a habit that came with the job, just making sure everything was back in its proper order even as she passed them by idly.

Walter was at the only desk in the store, clicking away on his laptop and deep in thought. He must not have heard the bell above the door chime, let alone the regulars greet her. Meri leaned on the counter and stared at him for a few moments; he didn't show any signs of noticing her, and clearly whatever he was reading was far too interesting to look away from.

She smiled to herself. What a nerd, she thought, getting so absorbed by his tasks. Not that she was much different in her schooling years, but it would be a cold day in hell before he found that out. Someone had to be the cool one in this relationship, and Walter was too proud of his quirks to take the role.

Meri was just about to set down her bag and lean on her elbows when Walter finally moved. He clicked once, and she could see the screen change colour against his glasses. For a second she was confused, but once the colours reflecting off his glasses registered, she stood up straight again and held back a groan.

Those damn books again. How long had it been since the series ended? Like, twelve years ago? The youth would've been moving on to something else more fantastical nowadays, wouldn't they?

She looked back down at Walter, and he was grinning at her now. He knew exactly what she was thinking. He leaned forward, voice lowered as he said to her, "Be a good sport, won't you, Meri?"

Almost as soon as he'd said it, a younger teen came barrelling out from the shelves and towards the counter. Meri scooted aside as the little redhead dumped half a dozen books, all from the young adult section, on the desk.

"Good news," Walter chirped. Those hazel eyes brightened immensely as they stared up at him. "I can order a copy for you, each version available. Any preferences? Been sorted into a House yet?"

Meri's heart leapt into her throat. For the umpteenth time since Walter started selling those books, she had to remind herself that no sane witch or wizard in training would waltz into a muggle bookstore and blurt out their life story.

Walter jabbed a thumb at Meri and added, "She's a total Slytherin."

Meri gawked at him. "That's not a bad thing," she grumbled.

The redhead looked to Meri with those big eyes then. "Me too!" she squeaked. "My friends think Ravenclaw and all the quizzes online say Gryffindor, but I like Slytherin best."

A few clicks from Walter. "One Slytherin House edition of Prisoner of Azkaban. And all these too?"

The redhead nodded. Meri just watched as Walter tallied up the total and the redhead paid with her card. It was a quick exchange, up until she wrote down an email address for him to notify her of the book's arrival, and then she was out the door with an enthusiastic goodbye to Meri over her shoulder.

Meri raised a brow at Walter. He waved her off. "You can complain upstairs after we close," he told her. "How'd shopping go?"

She picked up the bag and dangled it in front of her. "I gave up without really giving up. Kind of just spite-purchased by the last store."

"Did you even try it on?"

She snorted. "Of course I did. I'm not an idiot."

He stared at her blankly.

"Walter Fell, if you want to see me in this dress you'd better stop with that look." She shook her head at him and let out a dramatic sigh. As she breezed past him, she heard him half-heartedly rescind his dubious thoughts and return to his laptop.

Upstairs was the apartment, connected by a single door that was clearly a fire hazard. The stairs were always a pain to climb up, especially with her hands full—one day Meri was going to wind up tumbling down those stairs and twisting her ankle, all because she hadn't been looking where she was going. But the inconveniences were worth the apartment, more so the shop beneath it. She and Walter had worked hard for it, and it was more home to her now than the Sinister estate ever had been.

As mundane as the apartment was, with its simple furniture and minimal number of rooms—four total, if Meri wanted to count the change in flooring between the kitchen and living room—there were still touches of the wizarding world inside. The bookshelf with her old books, keepsakes to make sure she never got rusty; the drawer she hid her wand in at night, on the off chance some burglar broke in; and, of course, the fireplace that served as the centrepiece of the living room and the Floo powder that was safely stored beside it.

Meri all but collapsed onto the couch and dropped her bag onto the floor. No sooner had she done so, the telltale thumps of small feet against the floor echoed through the room. Whenever Meri went out, Minthe wasted no time greeting her upon return. Be it just downstairs to work, or a day in the town with friends, the Kneazle craved its owner's attention like a drug.

Minthe jumped onto the couch and walked all over Meri. It dug its paws into her back, kneaded at her jacket, and curled up into a ball on top of her. How quickly it would make itself at home on her, she thought.

Well, Kneazles did make for good guards. And lately this was how Minthe chose to guard its owners. Maybe Meri shouldn't complain about the need to be so close.

She had to have fallen asleep at some point, Minthe's fur keeping her warm and tempting her to rest. Or maybe she'd just zoned out for longer than usual—either way, Meri was coming back to reality with Minthe howling in her ear loudly and footsteps ascending the stairs outside. She reached around with one arm for the shopping bag, Minthe painfully jumping on top of her to urge her awake again, and with the other she swatted at her back feebly.

"I'm not dead," she snapped at the Kneazle. Minthe persisted, swatting back at her and howling even louder. "I said I'm not dead!"

The front door opened. Keys rattled loudly as they were dropped into the bowl beside the door. That was as good a sign as any that Walter had closed up the shop for the day and was ready to relax.

"Sleeping on the couch like that is bad for your back, love," Walter called as he passed the living room. He was heading straight for the bedroom, like always, to change into his pyjamas and melt into his armchair.

"Having a Kneazle weigh me down isn't helping."

"He worries. And I bet you didn't give him a treat when you came in either."

Ah, right. Walter wouldn't have had time between his morning routine and opening the shop. Meri pushed at Minthe softly and told it, "Alright, I get it, I'll feed you." It was all she needed to say to get it off her, and she could hear the jingle of its bell collar make its way to the kitchen.

She swore some creatures were too smart for their own good.

With Minthe full of treats and Walter taking his place in the living room, sinking deep into the armchair with a groan, Meri finally decided it was time to give the dress a less cynical look. She'd bought it with spite in mind, but she still had to make sure it actually looked nice on her. And who better to put that decision onto than her fiance?

Her exhausted fiance.

Meri leaned against the kitchen counter and buried her face in her hands. Why was Clotilde's wedding making her so… not her? Meri went all these years not caring and just doing her own thing, even if it was aimless, and now she was just all over the place.

"It's one night," Walter said from the armchair. He was leaning forward now, in full supportive-mode. "I know it may be a formality, but I'm sure she'll appreciate you showing up."

"That's just it," Meri whined. "I don't even know if she wants me there or if she sent the invitation to tick off a checklist. 'Oh, I invited the Sinister family head, my disappointing big sister, so I can't be held accountable if she bails'. I just can't see her being happy after the last time we spoke."

"Wow, you wizard folk really don't know how to bullshit a formal event." Walter rose from the chair and ambled over to her. Meri's hands were taken in his own and she was met with a warm smile. "Just do what you've always done with the tupperware parties and junk here—omit details and pretend you're happy to be there. If she asks how life is treating you, just tell her half-truths. You don't have to bring up me or the muggle world, just how you feel and what you get up to."

Meri pursed her lips and nodded. Walter always knew what to do when responsibility came crashing down on her. He was just as easy going as she was—it was hard to remember sometimes that he had to be the adult in his own childhood.

He gave her hands a quick shake and leaned forward to peck her on the forehead. "Now," he said. "You found a dress?"

Meri practically rushed to change into it. Walter waited patiently for her, keeping Minthe company all the while. She didn't bother with shoes, not this time, and looked herself over in the mirror once before nodding with satisfaction. She really did pick a blue that matched her hair. That was a rarity when she was in a hurry.

Her hand grazed the doorknob of the bedroom just before something caught her eye—a flash of bright green seeping under the door and through the cracks, fizzling out just as fast as it had appeared. Meri threw open the door, already fully alert, but her fear wouldn't last long. Not with the cry that came from her unexpected visitor.

"Minthe! Mum's home!"

She stood in the doorway, eyes wide and unable to break away from the scene before her. Minthe leapt from Walter's lap, howling once more as it ran for the fireplace; Walter was bug-eyed and half-off his armchair, clearly scared out of his wits by the sudden appearance of their guest; and stepping from the fireplace, arms outstretched and already skidding to a kneel to meet the Kneazle, was one Damian Valie.

Meri blinked and took a tentative step forward. Was Damian… visiting today? She didn't remember him mentioning it, not by owl or Howler or even the last time he was there. Her nostrils were filled with the smell of smoke and ash as she continued walking into the living room; the closer she got, the more she could smell the scents of various creatures mixed in.

Damian finally looked up at her, Minthe having climbed on his shoulders and making itself comfortable. He practically beamed at her and sprung back up to his full height.

"You got an invitation too!" he cheered. He rushed to meet her halfway, all but embracing her once she was within an arm's reach. "Oh, thank goodness. I was not going to that wedding alone."

Meri blinked. She lightly patted his back in return and cast a confused glance at Walter. Poor man was still clutching his chest and recovering from the Valie flair.

"You… got an invitation to Clotilde's wedding?"

"Just arrived today. My whole family's been invited, so I'm being harassed into making an appearance." He pulled back, holding her by the shoulders and looking her up and down. "Wow… You picked a good one, Meri! Ah! I didn't get any soot on it, did I?"

"No, no—I mean, I can wash it later—" Meri could feel her hopes rising. Maybe she could go. She could just avoid Clotilde and spend her time with Damian. He was one of the few people who knew why she and Clotilde were so distant nowadays. She let out a relieved breath and smiled. "You and Walter are life savers."

"Speaking of…" Damian turned to Walter then. Walter was only just now stretching his legs back out, catching his breath proper. "How is Jolly Wally?"

"Down twenty years in his life span," Walter wheezed. "Every time."

Damian waved a hand at him. "Nothing some cuddle piles can't fix. I promise you'll get the birthday treatment after the wedding for the scare."

Walter perked up at that. Ever since his twenty-first birthday, when Damian had introduced him to the glory that was the Zouwu cuddle pile, Walter had been counting down the days till his next in hopes that he'd get the same treatment again.

"See? I just added ten years back with that promise!"

"Five," Walter corrected him. "The other fifteen comes back when I'm buried under them."

Damian clicked his tongue. "Fussy."

"S—So!" Meri derailed that topic as soon as she could. She just really needed confirmation that Damian was going to be there with her. It'd been too long since she'd last spoken to anyone else from Hogwarts anyway, and she wasn't fond of mingling with the political members of wizard society. "You're, um, going to attend the wedding?"

"That's what I was going to ask you," Damian said. "Be no fun if you weren't there, y'know?"

Meri nodded eagerly. She was hesitant before, but now she had something to look forward to.

"Then I'm going." He crossed his arms in front of him and took on a more mischievous expression. She knew exactly what he had in mind for their wedding antics. "In that case, take the Floo network to my menagerie and we'll head over from there. The location is pretty close—close enough for a leisurely—"

"Broom ride," Meri quickly cut him off. Like hell she was riding one of the beasts in his menagerie to the wedding. They'd be kicked out in seconds.

Damian deflated somewhat. "Brooms, whatever," he mumbled. "So you're on board with the plan?"

"When aren't I?"

He carefully set Minthe on the floor and gave her a dubious grunt. He bid them farewell in his usual enthusiastic way, and Meri shielded her eyes as he jumped into the emerald flames that would take him back to his menagerie.

Once the flames subsided and quiet settled over the Fell apartment, Meri collapsed onto the nearby couch and let out an excited giggle.

"At least he remembered to leave Minthe here this time," Walter said.

Once again, the deadline is October 19th and I look forward to hearing what you all think! Remember, the form and rules are on my profile!