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English
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Carrier Bag Flash Comp
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Published:
2025-09-04
Words:
982
Chapters:
1/1
Comments:
16
Kudos:
14
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26

Ruby Fire Glimmers On

Summary:

A gift, a vow, a lifetime of light and colour.
Light catches in the golden ring on his ear, reminding him of her words.

Notes:

Prompt:
Why does Kingsley Shacklebolt pierce his ear?

Thank you klari for hosting this Flash Comp! What a cool idea 💕

And huge thank you to my beta nub for your help (especially in fighting my arch nemesis punctuation with me). All remaining mistakes are - of course - my own.

Work Text:

“And what do we have here?” The Auror stops right in front of Kingsley, his face contorting into a grimace. “A little princess wearing her jewelry?" 

The words draw a snigger from the line of new recruits he’s part of. A finger flicks against his earlobe, harsh, unwanted. But the gold ring sits there, unbothered, warm against his skin, pulsing with memory.

Don’t shrink yourself, love. The world’s already got enough grey in it. You bring the colour.

Kingsley keeps his gaze fixed ahead, jaw locked. He will not let them provoke him, they do not deserve that much consideration.

The room was thick with smoke and chatter, men and women alike talking, drinking, laughing together, filling it with life. Not a place for a child, his mother had said, but Kingsley couldn’t care less. Tonight, he’d see her perform again. 

The clock behind the bar ticked on, and his excitement surged.

“Mom! Mom, look!” He tugged at her hand as the lights around them dimmed, only one spot remaining. “It’s time!”

She didn’t turn, too engrossed into the conversation with yet another man who’d be hexed out of their house before long.

Then, the first chord. His legs bounced. The band began to play, and there she was: Auntie Gloria.

She stepped into the light, hips swaying, voice rolling out over the crowd: low, rough, alive, infatuating them.

It was as if the light itself decided to follow her every move, catching in the ruby earrings so they burned like fire. He couldn’t look away. In that moment, she was the brightest thing he’d ever seen.

“I hate Moody!” Frank flops down onto the bench, sweat dripping down his forehead.

Kingsley leans against the lockers. “I don’t know… He is a bit strange, but—”

“A bit strange?” Alice cuts in, following them out of the training hall. “Try sadistic.”

Kingsley shrugs. “He’s got his reasons.” 

His fingers find the golden earring without thinking, the curve smooth and warm against his skin. The familiar feeling anchors him, soothing his soul.

“Constant vigilance,” Alice grumbles. “Why can’t we just have one normal instructor for once?”

“What’s so wrong about being a bit different?” Kingsley asks.

Some folk will try to put you in a box they’ve built in their heads. You’re not made for boxes. You’re made to fly through the skies.

Alice softens. “I didn’t mean it like that.” 

“You’re an idiot.” Kingsley pushes off the wall. “Joey’s at seven?”

“Yes, please.” Frank grins. “I need a beer.”

Kingsley paused before the closed door to straighten the bouquet in his hands. His mother’s voice echoed in his head. ‘Don’t make a fool of yourself, young man. She doesn’t need flowers, she needs a miracle.’

But he brought them anyway. Auntie Gloria loved flowers. 

Taking a deep breath, he braced himself for the smell of potions and sickness awaiting him behind this door, then he turned the knob. 

Auntie Gloria lay propped against a tower of pillows, her robe deep red, her hair wrapped in a neat turban. 

“Kingsley.” Her frail hand lifted from the covers, reaching out for him.

“Auntie Gloria.” He stepped closer, clutching the bouquet like a lifeline.

“Oh, you brought me flowers.” Her brown eyes lit with joy, even though her body was too tired to smile. “Thank you, my star.”

He transfigured a vase, filled it with water from his wand and set the flowers on her nightstand.

“How are you, love?” she asked, though he should have been the one asking.

“I’m good. Remember I told you I applied to be an Auror?” His excitement slipped through despite himself.

“How could I forget that?” She smiled.

“I’m starting training in two months!”

She kept beaming at him. “Look at you.” She reached out to pinch his cheek. “My little star, shining without having to try. That’s how you were made. Never let anyone tell you different.”

His throat tightened. Something about her words felt like…. He grabbed her hand, squeezing.

“Auntie—”

“I have something for you.” She reached into her nightstand. “I know you won’t wear them, but… you always liked them.”

Two big ruby-red earrings glimmered in her palm.

“Auntie Gloria, I can’t—”

She stilled him with a wave of her hand. “Don’t argue. Take them. I want you to have them.”

“But—”

She only shook her head. “No need to make me sad, my star. You go on, live your life, and remember to keep your fire.”

Kingsley swallowed around the lump in his throat. So this was goodbye. She wouldn’t allow him back. She was stubborn like that.

“Thank you, Auntie.”

He closed his hand, the rubies cool in his palm, and promised himself to honour her last wish.

“...we’ve been tested.” Kingsley looks down at the rows of people: his fellow graduates, their trainers, their families, all listening intently. “We’ve studied, we’ve trained, we’ve gone beyond what we thought possible. All to stand here tonight, and to finally step up into the ranks and do our duty. From this day on, we will protect, we will aid, and we will fight evil.”

Applause filled the air.

“So let me end with words from the wisest witch I’ve known. These words carry me through dark days, when evil seems to grow faster than we can fight it. And I hope they will carry you, too:

'There’ll be days when the world feels small. When folk look at you and think they’ve got you figured out. Let them. You know better. You’ve got a light in you, bright and rare, and you don’t hide for anyone. Even on the darkest days, you let it shine. That’s yours. Your light. No one can take it away.'"

The words echo in silence for a moment, then applause erupts. Kingsley stands, watching. Light catches in the golden ring on his ear, sending a sparkle into the cheering crowd.