Posts will be two chapters at a time and features the Coven and Foxxay. Enjoy! (Originally headcanoned with and beta-ed by Grace)

Rated T

CHAPTER 3

"What are you doing?"

Zoe looked up at Madison and vaguely waved her free hand at the book in her arms. "I'm studying. I've been studying. We have an exam in Potions today, and Divination tomorrow. And I'm pretty sure Queenie said Professor Pembroke is gonna give us a written homework sometime this weekend on some type of troll war. I'm catching up on that too."

"You look like you're struggling."

"I am." The blonde grouched. "Unfortunately, we're not all gifted like Nan and Luke. Frigging Ravenclaws." Madison shrugged and reached for the croissant by Zoe's elbow, biting into it with abandon. "Wait, haven't you been studying?"

"Nope."

"Why not?"

"Well, let's see." Madison wiped at the corners of her mouth with her napkin. "Potions, let's be honest, you either got it or you don't, when it comes to a practical. The instructions are on the board. I got it. Nobody fucking cares about Wizarding History, I don't need it to pass my year."

"And for Divination?"

The Slytherin smirked. "Well, I'm hoping Professor Day will show up."

"What do you mean?"

"You're still kinda new." The dirty blonde righted herself and crossed her fingers in front of her. "Professor Day's got a habit of walking into class when she's excited and in need to talk to Cordy right then, and that happens a lot. She's usually rather random with her pop in times, though she's done it a lot to the younger classes this year, which is why you haven't seen it happen yet, even though we're hitting December."

Zoe sighed, irritated. "What does that have to do with the exam?"

"Let me finish. When the lovely Professor Day shows up, the just as lovely Professor Goode tends to dismiss class. Actually, she always does. Day's barely got her curly head through the trap door that Cordy's ushering us down and tripping over her own panties."

"You're disgusting."

"It's true." Madison shrugged, leaning back. "Believe me if you want, or don't. But something tells me we're not having an exam in star charts anytime soon."

Zoe scowled, but didn't close her book.

"Star charts are a waste of time. Always have been." A voice sniffed disdainfully from behind them. The two blondes turned to gaze at a woman standing a few feet off, her toes barely on the floor, her nose upturned.

Though her head was in her hands.

"Good morning, Madame Lalaurie."

"Is it?"

Madison rolled her eyes, but Zoe gave the poltergeist a tight smile.
"Well, the sun is out." She tried, pointing up at the large windows.

"But is it a good morning?"

"Why are you always so fucking cryptic?" Madison scowled, turning back to the snack in her hands.

"In my time, I wouldn't have spoken to my elder in the way you just did."

"In your time, you were alive."

"Madison." Zoe hissed, the tip of her boot finding the dirty blonde's shin underneath the table. She heard the Slytherin mutter a "oh, fuck off" but only gave her a well placed glare before she turned back to the woman's ghost. "What are you planning to do today, Madame?"

"I haven't stood on Ravenclaw's tower in a few weeks."

"You can wait all you want, your husband isn't coming home from war." The dirty blonde taunted without looking up.

"I was thinking of pushing a certain Slytherin off the edge, actually." The poltergeist hissed.

Madison suddenly stood, sneering. "You'd never get me up there." She threw her croissant into her knapsack. "Unless I'm jumping off myself."

"Where are you going?" Zoe asked, eyes wide.

"Out. Away."

"But, the mail-?"

"If my owl shows up, send it back."

OOOoooOOO

"Will you be coming back?"

"That's a silly question. Of course I'll be back." Zoe smiled, squeezing Kyle's hand in hers. He smiled down at her, a light smile that matched the sun in his hair. "Besides, one can only take so much of my parents before they go insane."

"I'd love to meet them, one day."

The Gryffindor blushed. "Maybe you will." She played with the handle of her luggage. "What about you? Going home for the holidays?"

"Ah, no. Headed to a friend's in Hogsmeade. My father's a muggle and thinks I'm at a year round private school. And my mom and I," He paused. "I need space."

"Even after four months?"

"Especially." He laughed lightly, and she scuffed the tip of her boot on the platform.

Behind them, the Hogwarts Express rang out, smoke rising from its stack.

"Zoe, come on!" Nan called from the door, Luke standing behind her, waving at the blonde to hurry up.

"I'm coming!" She yelled back, before turning back to the Hufflepuff. "Jesus."

"Ravenclaws and their time keeping." He smiled. "Get going, or you'll be stuck here." She nodded quickly and picked up her luggage, headed for the compartment's door.

She paused and turned back. "Kyle?"

He looked up. "Yeah?"

She stood up on tip toes and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "I'll see you next semester."

OOOoooOOO

"They're all gone."

Misty looked up from her lap, her arms filled with crup pups, and she grinned questioningly. "Delia?"

"Here, let me help." The older blonde reached down and picked up one of the furry animals, cooing in its ear. "The students are gone. For the holidays."

"Oh, already? I hadn't seen the time." The younger professor blushed deeply.

"You know what that means."

"I do?"

Cordelia laughed lightly. "It means no classes, no distractions."

"I like the sound of that." Misty smiled, her blue-green eyes roaming over the other's body, pausing to take in the other's cloak.

"We should get going. We'll be late. And for the first feast of the year, that's bad press."

Misty stood straight long enough to kiss Cordelia on the cheek. "One second, I'm almost done."

"What are you hiding anyway? You've been all secretive lately." The Divination professor asked, trying to nudge past the wild blonde. Misty shook her head and pushed her back.

"One second. God you're impatient."

"Hurry up." Cordelia whined, placing her hands on Misty's back, urging her on. The taller blonde sighed and stood. "Close your eyes".

Cordelia did as she was told, frowning slightly as her lover draped a heavy cloth over her shoulders.

"Okay, open up." Misty said softly, her fingers at the woman's neck. She added a quiet "I just gotta-" The shorter woman glanced down and watched as Misty fastened one last link to the cloth, finishing the fasten and securing it around her neck. "There, finally done."

"Misty-"

"Shh. Just admire it in the light. It's glistenin'."

Cordelia turned this way and that, watching as the links shone and brightened and darkened all at once. "Is this what I think it is?" She asked, passing the palm of her hands against the cloak.

"It is."

"Like your shawl."

"Exactly."

The older blonde paused. "I'm honored."

"I love ya."
Cordelia smiled, and leaned in to kiss the younger professor. "And I you, more."

"What are you thinking of?"

"Nothin'."

"Wrong answer, that particular light in your eyes says otherwise." Cordelia smirked, her fingers sifting through fur.

"I just really, really love ya." Misty said quietly, a lazy smile overtaking her face.

"Let's go inside. It's really chilly out here." The older woman put down the animal in her arms and held out her hand for her lover to take. Misty nodded and ushered the crups into their enclosure, fixing the latch on the gate before intertwining her fingers with Cordelia's and following her back into her shack.

They settled down on the couch, Misty's head in Cordelia's lap, the fire roaring in the corner. The Divination professor's finger began wandering down the other's side, pausing to scratch circles into bare skin, the girl's shirt having ridden up.

"We have three weeks to ourselves." Cordelia whispered.

"Your ma won't want ya home for Christmas?"

"She didn't invite you, I'm not going."

"You're a dork. Ya should go." Misty sighed, sitting up.

"I won't. Not without you. My mother can suck it." The wild blonde slapped Cordelia's arm lightly before leaning over and kissing her deeply. She climbed onto the older woman's lap and anchored her hands in silky strands.

"It's gettin' warm, don'tcha think?" Misty asked softly, nipping down an ivory neck. "Maybe ya should take off a few layers."

"Only if you do."

OOOoooOOO

"Delia-? Oh, Madison. Hi."

"Where you waiting up for her?" The dirty blonde sneered.

"No, actually she just left, I figured she'd forgotten somethin'." The jab was lost on the professor, and the young Slytherin could find nothing to do but sigh deeply. The older woman glanced around before laying her blue-green eyes on the girl. "What are you still doin' here? Didn't the train leave for the holidays this morning?"

"It did."

Misty paused. "Oh." She flirted with the edge of her shawl and glanced over her shoulder at the inside of her home. "Would ya like, would ya like to come in? I got some tea goin'."

Madison nodded softly, and the professor moved aside to let her through. The Slytherin sniffed slightly as she took in the older blonde's home. A few blankets were strewn around and she raised an eyebrow as Misty moved past her to grab at a shirt and threw it over her shoulder, into a corner. It obviously wasn't hers.

"Take a seat." Professor Day opened her arms. "Wherever ya want."

"Yes. Thank you." Madison sat lightly onto the nearest chair, her wrists on the table's edge. She watched with curious hazel eyes as Misty filled a teacup and placed it in front of her.

"I must admit," The wild blonde laughed lightly. "That I'm surprised that ya, of all people, walked all the way down here to see me."

"I can always leave. I wouldn't want to give you a heart attack."

"What do ya need, Miss Montgomery?

"I need you to pass me."

"The year isn't over."

"The midterm, Professor Day." Madison snapped. "If I don't pass the exam, I'll be screwed over for the final. I'll be killed if I don't pass my year."

"You're bein' dramatic."

"You don't know my parents." The Slytherin snapped. She paused. "Sorry."

"You're right, I don't know your parents." Misty said, sitting down across from the girl. She raised her eyebrows, but Madison didn't say anything more. A few beats passed as they gazed over each other.

The dirty blonde yelped as something licked the inside of her knee, and she backed up quickly, glancing down underneath the table. "What the fuck is that?"

Misty laughed. "Sorry, that's King Cone."

"King Cone. You named a dragon, King Cone."

"It's ah, it's Delia's, I mean, Professor Goode's favorite ice cream, and-" The wild blonde paused. "It's a long story."

"I'm sure it's not." Madison smirked. She glanced down again at the golden reptile at her feet and picked it up gingerly. "So you're a dragon tamer."

"Yes, my specialty is dragons, but I'm no dragon tamer." Misty replied, somewhat harshly. "I'm a friend to them. Tamer and trainer aren't words I want to be associated with."

Madison reeled back. "Yeah, okay."

"I just make sure they don't burn down the whole damn forest." The wild blonde continued grouchily, reaching for her cup of tea.

The Slytherin hugged her knees to her chest, a curious look overpassing her, fingers on the dragon curled up besides her. "How'd you become a tam-I mean, a friend, to dragons, anyway?"

Misty smiled softly, comfortable with a topic she loved. "I took a sabbatical after graduatin' from Robichaux's. I traveled all round Europe for a few months, and I was in the mountains, somewhere in Sweden, and I met a pack of Swedish Short Snouts, and I don't know, I just fell in love. Instead of headin' back to Louisiana, I got an internship up there and just followed jobs wherever they got me. Dragons have a certain likin' to me. Never knew why, I don't think I ever will."

"So you've always been good with animals?"

The professor nodded. "I had quite a few as a child. I guess I smell like bacon, or somethin'." She laughed lightly, and Madison couldn't help the smile on her own face.

After a moment, she spoke again. "Why don't ya try harder in my class, Madison? Ya don't have to like animals to feed one a carrot. I'd pass ya if ya at least tried."

"I just don't like animals."

"Your hands say otherwise." Misty pointed down at the dragon in Madison's lap, the Slytherin busy with stroking its scales as it snored lightly.

"Oh, I-No. I don't like animals." Madison repeated, cautiously picking up the baby reptile and placing it down on the ground.

"What are ya afraid of?"

"What's in the trunk?"

"Pardon?"

Madison sighed. "The trunk. What's in it?"

"Ah, souvenirs, I guess." Misty motioned for Madison to go ahead and open it, puzzled at the sudden change of conversation. The dirty blonde, her curious side too powerful, went over and opened the top, hazel eyes wide at the insides.

"Scales?"

Misty nodded proudly.

"Did you harvest them?"

"Don't be rude, Miss Montgomery. I picked them up from the ground, after they'd fallen."

"You've got thousands."

"Yeah." Misty said thoughtfully, fingers grazing her shawl.

"That's what Cordy's cloak is made of." Seeing the look of warning pass over Professor Day's face, Madison backtracked. "Professor Goode's cloak, I mean."

"Yes. I, well I made a matching set." The taller blonde pointed down at the unusual cloth draped on her shoulders. "Hers is from various Alpic Long-Wingeds. I spent a summer in France and Italy, that's where I got them. Though a few links were Hungarian Horntails, I'll admit I didn't quite have enough gold." She paused. "It took me a few months to finish that cloak, but it was worth it."

"I bet." Madison muttered, passing her hands through the scales beneath her, glittering in the fire's light. She turned to face Misty. "So, King Cone is an Alpic Long-Winged, or whatever?"

The wild blonde blushed deeply. "Ah, yeah." She sobered. "Madison. I want to know why ya won't try harder. I ain't lettin' ya leave till ya tell me. I need ya to help me, so I can help ya."

Madison opened her mouth to protest, but Misty held up her hand. "I don't want to hear any excuses. Give me the truth."

The dirty blonde bit her lip. "My mom never let me have pets."

"A lot of kids don't have pets. But guess what, they come to this class to see some. So what's your problem?"

"You want the truth? Really?"

Misty nodded.

Madison sighed, her head falling into her hands. She paused before speaking again.

"My parents sell magical creatures on the black market. Illegally." It took a long moment for her to continue. "I could never get too close to them, they'd be shipped off really soon, and if I let myself get close to them... I can't get close to them. I can't. Most of them were hurt and I couldn't-" She let out a little sigh as her hand came up to wipe away at a tear. "I couldn't help them. They'd stare up at me with their little eyes and I had to leave them in their cages. They sell hundreds a year. Thousands. Thestrals and acromantulas and hippogriffs." She laughed nervously. "And dragons. Seeing your creatures run around like that makes me feel horrible. I feel like I've got this horrible tarnish on my soul that I can't get rid of."

"Madison-"

The Slytherin sobered, her cheeks wet. "You can't tell anyone. If you tell anyone they'll get sent away to prison and I'll lose my home and my family and my fortune. I'm nothing without my fortune."

"Madison, it's illegal. They'll get found out."

"But not yet." Madison snapped, standing up. "Not yet." She added quietly.

Misty stood too. "I won't tell."

"Thank you."

The wild blonde chewed on her lip. "But I can't guarantee their safety. Ya have to know that. If someone asks, I have to tell the truth."

"They're safe as long as the Minister is Minister." The girl grimaced. "I've got another few years to hoard money and material wealth before they get sent to Azkaban by true justice."

"Fiona Goode knows?"

Madison laughed bitterly, and it was enough of an answer for Misty.

The professor pulled the Slytherin into her arms, and Madison didn't fight too much, tears silently tracing down her cheeks again. "You're gonna be comin' to class regularly now, understood? And stayin' after. I'll teach ya all you've missed, and more. And you're gonna love those animals. Ya might not have time to learn enough for the midterms, but you'll be the boss of that final, and you'll pass the year. Understood?" She pulled away to look into hazel eyes. "You're not your parents."

"Professor-"

"You'll pass that final exam, Madison Montgomery, if that's the only thing I can help with. You'll pass it of your own free will." She pulled the girl's head up by her chin. "Understood?"

"Yes."

CHAPTER 4

"You look fucking tired." Queenie raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you sleep over the holidays?"

"I am." Madison sighed, rubbing her eyes raw. "And I didn't."

"Have you," Zoe grinned, sharing a glance with her fellow Gryffindor. "Have you been studying for the midterms?"

"I-maybe, no." The Slytherin snapped. "No, I haven't been studying."

"Luke says he saw you at the library." Nan shrugged, joining the conversation as she sat besides Zoe and Queenie, across from Madison.

"Yeah? Well Luke can get new glasses."

"He doesn't wear glasses."

"It was a joke, numbskull." The dirty blonde snapped.

"I didn't think you could get any snarkier, and then you go an impress us all." Queenie shook her head.

Zoe nudged her, cooing. "She's trying so hard for us, look at that. She does care."

"Fuck you all. And your mothers."

The four of them looked up as owls began to fly overhead on their morning route, wings making shadows at they blocked out the ceiling's sunny skies.

"If you see my winged terror, shoot it down." Madison muttered, looking back down at her cereal bowl.

"Expecting a howler?" Queenie teased.

"Always am." The Slytherin smiled mockingly at her. "You know me, I collect them."

Zoe looked up pensively, spying the wings above them. "Why would you get one? You got a pretty good grade last week, on that Dark Arts test."

"My parents don't need an excuse to send me hateful letters."

"They really don't." Nan added.

OOOoooOOO

"I might keep this little guy."

"Right. Keeping a lizard in your bunk is in no way a bad idea."

Madison scowled. "You've been hanging out with Queenie far too long." She moved her arm sideways as the little reptile ran up her fingers and by her elbow. "Are you jealous that I managed to change my teacup into Salazar?"

"Salazar."

"I've named him."

Zoe smiled, puzzled, as they rounded a corner in the hallway and headed down a short flight of steps. "I thought you hated animals."

The Slytherin stopped dead in her tracks, hazel eyes trained on the girl. "You know what-"

"Hey, hey, I was joking." Zoe held up her hands in surrender. She elbowed Madison in the ribs softly. "Salazar's a nice name." The dirty blonde scowled, but she didn't feel the emotion behind it as she linked her arm with Zoe's.

"I'll have to change him back into a teacup before we get down in the dungeons." The Slytherin said off-handedly. "Otherwise Laveau will take him and stick him into a brew. Eye of newt and all that shit."

"Madison?"

"Hmm."

"What's up with your parents?"

"I'm a 'rebellious pain in the ass'. You can imagine how they're like."

Zoe chewed on her bottom lip. "You know Madison. If, if you need somewhere to stay this summer-"

Madison stopped her from continuing and shook her head, but the Gryffindor was sure she heard a soft "thank you".

OOOoooOOO

"Good morning everyone."

"And welcome to the first of many boring meetings this new year."

Professor Snow frowned softly from behind her cat eye glasses. "This is a staff meeting, Madame Lalaurie."

"And?"

"And spirits aren't invited."

The poltergeist sniffed disdainfully as her eyes swept the room. "But the voodoo queen is?"

"She is a staff member, so yes." Myrtle Snow sighed softly, her hands flat against the oaken table. Next to her, Marie Laveau scowled and bared her teeth at the ghost, eliciting a small laugh from Misty, sitting by Cordelia at the other end of the the table.

"This is racism."

"Ghosts ain't race." Marie snapped from her end. "You just dead. As white as ever. As white as a sheet."

Instead of replying directly, the poltergeist chose to pass through one of the walls, muttering expletives as she cast one last look at the adults around the table.

"Alright then." Myrtle sighed. "As I was saying, welcome back from holidays. I'm going to start right off by reminding you that midterms begin at the end of the week."

"Can't really forget when the kids are running around like ants." Quentin laughed.

"And Misty dear, we've had complaints about the squid again."

"Sorry, she's been real cranky lately." The wild blonde grimaced from her corner. "I think she might be pregnant."

"Great." Pembroke sighed.

"I'll take care of it, Professor Snow."

"Thank you Misty. The scheduled February trip to Hogsmeade is right after the exams, who will be chaperoning this time around?"

"I'll go." Cordelia said.

"I'll, uh, I'll go too." Misty added, raising her hand. "After the squid, of course."

OOOoooOOO

"Hello."

"Hi Kyle." Nan grinned brightly at the sun kissed boy, sitting amongst her piles of books in the library. "How are you?"

"I'm good. I just came out of the herbology midterm. Zoe and Queenie are somewhere behind me, dragging their feet."

"How do you think you did?"

"Perfectly fine. I was prepared." He sat down besides the Ravenclaw. "It is my best subject, after all. What about you?"

"Just came out of my Wizarding History. It went great. I managed to write four scrolls before time ran out."

"Pembroke's gonna love reading that." Kyle laughed. They both glanced up as Luke Ramsey, adorned in silver and blue, came down the short steps to stand besides the Hufflepuff. They shook hands and exchanged smiles before the 7th year gazed down at Nan.

"Thought I'd find you here."

"Like a proper Ravenclaw." She smiled back.

"I was wondering if you'd join me at Hogsmeade, next month."

Kyle grinned as he took a step back.

"I, ah, together?"

"Yes, of course."

"As in, alone?" She asked, eyes wide.

"If you wouldn't mind." Luke laughed.

"I-" Nan glanced over at Kyle, who nodded his head excitedly and gave her a thumbs up. "Sure. Of course. I'd love to."

"Alright, perfect. I'll pick you up outside the Great Hall. Have a good afternoon, Nan." The brown haired boy smiled at her fondly. "See you around, Kyle."

The blond nodded his head, and they watched as he left through the French doors. Kyle turned back and sat down across from the girl.

"Nan!"

"What?"

"You're going on a date!" Kyle laughed. "This is so exciting!" The Ravenclaw blushed deeply as she shushed him, glancing around at the students glaring from behind the bookshelves. "I have to tell the others."

"Kyle."

"Please, let me."

Nan shook her head, a big smile on her face. "Fine." She paused. "Kyle."

"Yeah?"

"I'm going on a date. With Luke."

"Yeah."

The two shared another giggle, their hands meeting at the center of the table.

OOOoooOOO

"This is a giant mess, Myrtle."

"Hello, Delia."

The younger professor waved her hand at the headmistress vaguely. "This is a giant, humongous mess." She repeated.

"What is?" The redhead asked from behind her glasses.

"The midterms. Misty and I-" She paused. "Professor Day and I were just grading papers together and we've had about a dozen kids each fail completely." She shook her head as she continued walking around the office. "I don't want to send anyone home, Myrtle. Neither does Misty."

"Cordelia."

"What will they do if they get sent home? It'll be on my conscience forever. We can't send them away. What will happen if we send them away? Their whole lives will be ruined, they won't get an education, they'll live out on the streets, that's what'll happen."

"Cordelia!"

"Yes?"

"No one's getting sent home."

The blonde stopped pacing to face Myrtle Snow as she chewed on her bottom lip. Her dark eyes were wide. "What?"

"All our students passed."

The blonde laughed, incredulous. "Didn't you hear what I just said?"

"As much as Fiona Goode knows, they passed." The headmistress tilted her head to the side. "I'll just, boost a few grades here and there." She shrugged.

Cordelia let out a bark of laughter, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth. "You, oh god she'll kill you." She let out another laugh, now biting on her knuckle to keep herself from squealing out.

Myrtle smiled. "Now you just have to worry about getting your kids to pass the finals." She glanced at the clock on her wall. "Get going, the students are leaving for Hogsmeade in less than an hour."

"Right. Myrtle?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

OOOoooOOO

"I can't get enough of this stuff." Zoe admitted around her mug of butterbeer, eyes wide as she took yet another gulp. Across from her, Kyle laughed heartily, watching her with an amused look. "I don't know why they don't import it. It'd work super good over in America."

"Don't get sick." The boy shook his head, eyes full of mirth.

"I don't care if I get sick, at this point. Are you going to finish yours?"

"I'll get you another one, once you're done."

"Might as well get it now then."

The two shared another laugh as Zoe put her glass down to rub the palm of her hands together.

"I'm kidding." She said quickly.

"Even if you weren't, I wouldn't mind." Kyle smiled warmly at her. He glanced down at his lap before looking back up, mouth slightly open as he openly thought. Zoe cocked her head to the side, waiting. He paused to glance around the inn, before gazing back at the Gryffindor. "Zoe?"

"Yeah?" She breathed back, tightening her red and gold scarf around her neck.

"I was wondering, if, you know, if you're interested, ah-" He shook his head, laughing nervously. "I mean, you don't have a boyfriend, and I don't have a girlfriend, and- yeah. Would you like to?"

"I'd love to."

Across the room, Misty nudged Cordelia's knee with her own beneath the table. "See, now that's cute."

"Are you listening in to their conversation?"

"Maybe. But aren't they cute?" The wild blonde asked. She awwed at the sight and leaned forward, chin in hand. "We were that cute once."

"Are you saying we're not anymore?" Cordelia laughed lightly.

"I meant, awkward cute. Not knowin' how to act around each other." Misty elbowed her in the ribs.

The Divination professor smirked as she cocked her head to the side. "I don't remember us going through an awkward phase, Mist. I just remember you barging in a lot. And that hasn't changed."

"Do ya, do ya remember that one time," Misty leaned in, suddenly whispering against her ear. "That one time after your ma'd just left? Last year?"

Cordelia shivered as a blush crept up her cheeks and into the roots of her hair. "Mist."

"I'm just remindin' ya." The wild blonde laughed, her fingers tightening against her lover's.

"We're in public."

"That we are."

"And we're not out as a couple."

Misty tilted her head to the side as she glanced around the room. "No, we're not. But we could be." She looked back at Cordelia, smirking.

The older blonde let out a defeated sigh, gazing deep into blue-green eyes. "What are you thinking?"

The taller woman scooted impossibly closer, her grin growing. "I was thinkin', the Howlin' Shack?" Cordelia groaned openly, but didn't object.

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