Chapter Text
The silence in the empty corridors was deafening as you stared blankly at Barty, “well not with us–” he pointed at Pandora and himself “–Them”. Regulus looked like he wanted to set himself on fire and Evan– well Evan was just sleeping with his eyes opened.
“Since she landed on Slytherin, it's only fair they give her a tour” chimed in Pandora, nudging her brother to snap out of it “Yeah, sure come with us”
“Absolutely not. We’ll give her the tour you guys clearly didn't start on the right foot” Sirius said rather angry, shooting daggers at Regulus, who could only smile at his brother’s dismay. “I don't want a tour from neither, the bloody headless-”
“Nearly” Dorcas interrupted. “The nearly headless ghost gave me one. I’ll be fine.” Your voice was stern but you didn't care, your bed called, and you'd do anything to answer it. “Believe me you’ll need one, this place is endless” said Remus with a sigh. “I'll find the dorm by myself, goodnight to you all” with that you went storming off to the nearest staircase.
“She does know the Slytherin dorms are in the dungeons right?” Pandora asked, worried. Barty only cackled and the others huffed, James tried to go after you but Sirius spoke, “The paintings will help her soon, we’ll be late for practice Prongs”, a hand on his shoulder. “You’re right, night’” he waved at his friends and they both left for the practice court.
“You coming Dorcas?” asked Remus, eyeing her friends with worry. "Nah, I'll take a while so tell Marls’ to not wait for me yea?” Remus could only stifle a laugh “Will do, take care”
“Yeah yeah, get going you bloke!” shouted Barty earning him a blow to the back of his head.
After almost an eternity and the help of countless talking portraits you found yourself in front of a tall painting adorned by an enormous snake on its mantle. You knocked on the painting yet nothing happened. Suddenly a resounding voice spoke “Who dares to interrupt my sssleep”. Unbothered and tired you looked up and saw that the snake had moved “Ah the new sstudent, i've heard things around these wallsss, things that would make SSalazar proud”
“So I've heard, now can I get in?” You asked, and the snake only slithered around its frame “Only if you ansswer this very simple question” your eyes rolled “Shoot”
“From your translations of those fascinating texts, what does evil in itself translates to?” it asked, tongue stretching out the ‘s’ in every sentence. You thought for a small second before it clicked “Malum in se” as soon as it was said, the portrait opened and inside was the infamous Slytherin common room in all its glory.
As you stepped inside the common room you heard the voice of the snake speak. “Remember it my dear, I only help once, no matter how much my masster would have favored you”. And with that, The door closed.
The walls were a shade of emerald green, black curtains draped around multiple portraits and ivy covered walls. It was dark meaning most students were sleeping soundly in their beds, as you went up the stairs a door opened showing you your new bedding arrangements. Being so enthralled by everything you failed to notice another door creak open as a careful Regulus scurried away and out of the common room.
You sat on your new bed, all your belongings organized neatly. fingers traced the scabbing scar on your hand, each curve and ragged strokes engraved onto it. The palm that once held books about mythical creatures and spells, never expecting to use said knowledge, never having what was needed to cast such protecting spells. Now with a permanent reminder of how deadly magic can truly be.
You turn to the window at the side of said bed, the clouds cover the moon causing its light to dim, making everything much darker. Who knew life had all of this planned out for you, if only its course of action didn't involve killing the only person who made you feel safe.
Suddenly the bed was too stiff, the air in the room suffocating, and the silence too loud. Without making too much noise you exit the room and make your way down the stairs to the common room. The fire was lit and some books laid splayed on the floor indicating someone was here not long after you had gone up to your room.
No mind, you sat on the couch and stared at the burning embers until your eyes watered, was it because your eyes craved moisture or something else, you didn't know but tears escaped your eyes. No sobs, no sniffles, just tears.
"Everyone gets homesick their first couple of days y'know" a voice said from the corner of the room. leaning against the wall, figure hidden by the night, you glared at the shadow "who said you could talk to me" you scoffed. "Guess the hat made a good decision, even so you should sleep– Schools harder when you get here late"
You stand and give the dark clad figure a look, seeing if you could distinguish it before going up the stairs and into the comfort of your bed.
‘Maybe Dalia will lend me some muggle magic’
The shadow leaves its cover and sits on the couch, leg's spread as he leans his head back, the fire enhancing his tanned skin under its light. His head snaps back in place when he hears the door open, and immediately sees a toothy grin from a certain someone .
"Made you wait too long, Rosie?" Barty whispered with a mocking tone, approaching the couch his friend sat on, standing in between the blonde's spread legs. "Maybe" he smirked. Barty scoffs and sits next to him, and lays his head on the other's lap "Evan?" spoke the Ravenclaw, "yeah?"
"Do you think one day I'll stop having to sneak around just to see you?" he said looking into the fire, spaced. Evan sighed "I rather have you sneak around, than your father finding out and frying the rest of your brain with unforgivables" Barty shifted in his place to look at Evan's face "we should kill that bastard, don't ya think?" he smirked. Evan looked lovingly into his eyes before giving him a sweet peck to his forehead.
"First thing after we graduate we'll bleed him to death" he smiled.
"I'll hold you to that" Barty said before closing his eyes to drift off to sleep. "I know you will Bee" and so he closed his eyes, letting sleep engulf him.
Inside the Ravenclaw common room, not far away from the snake's, Pandora and Regulus sat on a small opening underneath the stairs leading up to the girls' dorms. "Reggie dear, I'm sure if you just talk to him maybe an agreement could be settled?" she spoke looking at her finished cup of tea, trying to decipher her divination project. "That's out of the question, Panda, I can't be seen talking to that..traitor." She looked up, "you can't even bear to say it, you sound more like Kreacher as the days pass" she giggled and went back to her cup.
Regulus just looked down at his own cup, the streak of dark liquid that was left on the cup engulfed the bottom of the cup completely, he looked at it puzzled, before the liquid parted to make the silhouette of a hand, seemingly reaching out to the surface, out of the vile waters.
"Panda what the fuck does this even bloody mean" he asked exasperated.
"Lemme see that" she replied, grabbing the cup from his hands. As soon as her eyes were set on the inside of the cup, her head snapped back violently, eyes going blank, mouth slightly agape.
Regulus wasn't usually faced, after all they have all seen her have visions before, becoming more recurrent as the years passed. But this was different, she was quivering, muttering soft pleas, and her white eyes releasing crystalline tears. Regulus knew better than to snap her out of a vision, it could turn ugly quickly but he was worried. As he grabbed her shoulders her head returned to its normal position and eyes rolled back into place.
"Pandora, what was it this time?!" he whispered, not wanting to wake anyone up. She bore her eyes into his, tears beginning to dry on her cheeks, courtesy of the cold breeze. "I-Im not sure, but it hurt, it hurt a lot"
"I'm sorry...I must have summoned it wrong" he spoke, soothing her with a palm to the back. "Don't worry about me Reg, seen worse" she smiled, yet it didn't really reach her eyes.
"I'll bring Barty back alright?" He said, still worried.
"I'll go to bed, my head is pounding"
Regulus nodded and left to retrieve the Ravenclaw.
He stood in front of the painting uttering out the Slytherin password, walking through the doorway he saw Barty sleeping on the couch, head on Evan's lap while the latter carded his fingers through his head, barely conscious.
Regulus came closer and tapped Barty, making him whine
“Let's go sleeping beauty, it's almost four in the morning, we are going to get caught” he said, causing Barty to grumble annoyed. Evan sighed, “Up you go wanker, c'mon” he ushered him, standing up to force him off of him.
“Alright alright I'm gone. Sleeping beauty? Who the fuck even is that?”
You were woken up by the sound of murmurs and whispers near your bed, once your eyes were opened you were greeted by three girls staring right at you, no shame whatsoever. “Zoo exhibition is over” a voice spoke from the door causing all your spectators to scatter. Standing up from the bed you walked past a bored looking Evan to reach the bathroom, “‘Thank You’ would be nice!” he said loud enough so you could hear him. Before closing the door you just glared at him “Thank you,”
“Quite the talker this one” he groaned as he left the girls dorm before someone called him a perv.
You looked at your reflection in the small mirror of the bathroom, “Gods help me” you could only groan.
The grandfather clock at the corner of the common room striked six which meant you only had around 30 minutes to get lost around the school again to try and find the Great Hall and hope to be in time to atleast have an apple.
You decided to follow behind some other students without them noticing, who’s up this early with the want to chat?
As soon as you reach the enormous doors of the Great Hall you sigh out in relief. Your smile reaches your eyes as soon as you see Lily wave at you, followed by Marlene almost bolting out of her place at the table to go get you. “Morning pretty! How did you sleep with the snakes?” she says as she links an arm around you. “Slept like a baby i gotta say” she let out a snort “Still think that hat doesn’t know what it’s doing, red is definitely your color, not this” she says grabbing your green scarf with a look of disgust causing you to laugh.
Unbeknownst to you Regulus and Evan were already glaring holes into the Gryffindor table, “oh please! What's the problem? We hang out with you guys all the time and no one really says anything” Barty insisted while spinning the spoon inside his tea cup. “That’s because no one likes you in your houses” they both say in unison. “No offense Panda” said Regulus while Evan ruffled his sister's hair violently. “None taken- stop that!” Barty batted his eyes at Evan in hopes of an apology, he looked back at him unamused “Oh I meant all the offense on yours, eat up” He said with a smirk, shoving his toast on the Ravenclaw’s plate
“You know how bad this makes us look?-- What if they take off points” Regulus added and Pandora only threw a grape at him “If only you three weren't such pricks to her she would actually like us better”
“She's no saint either Panda” Evan replied before Barty continued “Anyway i took a small itsy bitsy peak of her schedule and she has two classes with us helpless 4th years” he said dramatically throwing his hands in the air. “She’s not getting rid of us that easily” Regulus smirked, looking back at the way you were chatting away with Sirius and James.
“This is why everyone is afraid to talk to you blokes” Pandora sighed, putting butter on her toast.