25/11/2021
I did it! I updated two days in a row! Take that writer's block! Sooooooo here is Chapter 1 I hope you guys like it!
Sunlight streamed into a room draped with yellow and black. The rays seeped into a bed right under the eastward facing window. Tucked under the canary blankets slept a witch. The beams of dawn bounced off her honey blonde hair. She had dyed the underside of her hair iris purple four months ago, on her fourteenth birthday. Her face, buried in her tangled locks, was tan with a sprinkling of freckles on her cheeks and nose that wouldn't disappear even in the depths of winter. Caribbean blue eyes fluttered open gazing outside the window. The witch slowly got out of the blankets and walked to her wardrobe passing the foot of her bed that read Seraphina D. Hope. The girl, Seraphina, grabbed her clothes, and softly padded to the bathroom. As she entered, she cast a soft Muffliato and set about beginning her day.
Seraphina, called Sera, Phina, or Fi by her friends, stepped into the chaotic Great Hall. The Gryffindors were at it again, playing pranks on one another and all together being disruptive; Sera's house dodged projectiles coming from the students in red and gold; Ravenclaw was calmer with student speaking in quiet voices talking with their friends or asking a question to a peer; Slytherins were stiff, barely talking unless it was necessary. Sera couldn't believe how deep house pride went, even after three years at this school. No one would be caught dead with another of a different house except a few. It was accepted that those who interacted with those of another house were either exceptionally brave or incredibly stupid. She sat down in front of an empty plate. She pulled out her potions book, her first class of the day, and touched one of the charms on her bracelet given to her by her half brother, Will. He made it for her along with Kayla when they were eight as a gift for her eleventh birthday. The charm bracelet held objects that looked like small marbles and held music that they all added to each year. It helped her block out noises to focus during loud days at Hogwarts. In third year she found a charm that let her know when someone was talking to her when she was listening to the music. Sera finished her breakfast, took some last minute notes for Potions, wrapped her yellow and black scarf tighter around her neck and rushed to class.
Ears ringing Seraphina brushed her blonde hair out of her eyes peering into the smoke. Quinn Cordova, Sera's dorm mate, had added ten lionfish spines at once, instead of in batches, causing it to explode throwing potion and smoke everywhere. Sera had luckily ducked under her desk pulling her potions partner for that day, Severus Snape, when she noticed it change from red to blinding white. When the smoke cleared Sera saw Quinn and her partner were covered in the remains of what should have been a Wiggenweld Potion. "Are you alright?" Sera asked, making her way to the Hufflepuffs.
"I think so," Haley Marigold answered shakily. Evan Rosier, a Slytherin who bullied anyone outside of Slytherin, sneered down at the witches in yellow and black, "Watch out Snape. You wouldn't want to be seen with these duffers. They can't even make a beginner potion. How pathetic." Sera kept silent trying to keep out of the mess and help her dorm mates. "Don't stoop to their level. You are a talented wizard, for being half Mudblood, and I think your skills would be useful." Rosier said, brushing some of the hardened potion off his desk. The blonde had enough, for the past month since school began Rosier had been hounding her house mates after every little mistake. She got up from helping Haley vanish the potion off her book, "Oh and I bet you can do better! I've never seen you complete a potion without help from Smith. We all know she only helps you because she wants your status."
"What do you know halfblood? No wait you're worse than a halfblood, your own father wouldn't stay with you and your pitiful mother," Rosier seethed. Sera glared at him, hands clenched into fists trembling, not with fear but frustration. Even in the previous years, Roiser had never been this harsh. Whispers of Slytherins turning to Voldemort echoed through the halls and some of the gossip seemed true.
"Just leave Hope to pick up the mess so we can get on. I would like this class to be over as soon as possible." Snape suggested putting back his books into his bag. Sera glared at Roiser and joined Snape with packing up. Professor Slughorn came back from the supplies room he disappeared to after giving three instructions at the beginning of class. "What is going on here?" He sputtered seeing half the class packing up and the others cleaning up the potions incident. Quinn piped up, "Sorry Professor. I did something wrong with the potion and it made a mess."
"It's quite alright my dear, but next time have someone call for me. What would I do if your potion turned out corrosive and injured one of you? Oh the paperwork would be dreadful!" Professor Slughorn exclaimed.
"Sir, we have to go now," a Hufflepuff muttered from behind them.
"Yes, yes. Please write three inches about the Wiggenweld Potion by Tuesday." Sera stayed in the room waiting for Snape when the rest of the class left rushing to get out of the dungeon. Her attention strayed from their conversation about their next practical. Sera closed her eyes thinking about camp. She missed it even though it had only been a month since she left. Everything had been so chaotic when she left, Nico had left, Grover had heard Pan, and Thalia became a hunter. Sera thought about how everyone was. She had IMed Thalia and Annabeth the day before but they hadn't told her about how Nico or Grover were faring. No one had heard from Percy since everyone left for school except the year rounders. Sera was jolted out of her thoughts when she saw Snape and Professor Slughorn walking towards her. "Thank you, Sir," Snape mumbled.
"If you have any more questions I am always free. Now hurry along or else you will be late for your next class," Professor Slughorn replied. Snape trudged to the door looking like he would rather be doing anything else than leaving the Potions classroom. Sera walked out with him but stopped Snape just outside the door. "Thank you for stopping Roiser."
"You're welcome, just don't tell anyone else. The other Slytherins have enough reason to dislike me and helping one Hufflepuff won't endear me to anyone. They would just think I'm tricking you. I won't help again, so try not to provoke Roiser anymore." Snape muttered looking around the halls as if he was worried someone might see.
"I won't but pairing up in potions wasn't too hard and we are both good at it. Would you like to partner up for the next lesson as well? You could tell the other Slytherins that Professor Slughorn made you help me," Sera proposed, as they started walking down the corridor.
"If it will keep me from being stuck with a useless bumbling Hufflepuff or anyone in my own house then yes."
Suddenly boisterous laughter and footsteps could be heard getting louder and louder by the second. Sera glanced back at Snape who started to fidget and look around desperately for someplace to go. Sera grabbed his hand and pulled him next to the wall, but they were too late. Professor Slughorn's next class turned the corner and saw them. Leading the pack were the Marauders. As soon as the group saw them the joking stopped and whispers started. Sirius Black stepped towards Sera and Snape.
"Are you okay darling?" Black said with a smirk, "Is Snivellus bothering you?" Snape looked down at the floor as if he was wishing it would swallow him whole. Sera straightened up glaring at the boy in red and gold.
"The only one who's bothering me is you. If you would be so kind as to move, Severus and I need to go to our next class," Sera said, taking a step forward. Snape looked up from the floor looking at her in astonishment.
"You don't have to do this, Hope." He whispered only loud enough for her to hear.
"Please, Severus. We are friends, why don't you call me Seraphina."
"Hope, you shouldn't be interacting with those of his sort. They are all waiting to turn on you. Slytherins will bully and use you," Black butted in.
"Oh just like what you are doing right now, and will keep doing until someone finally tells you you're wrong. Just because you are in the house of Brave doesn't mean you are right," Sera exclaimed.
"Seraphina, we should go. They will just make us late," Severus said tugging on her arm.
"Yes, listen to Snivellus. Scat," Black walked past them shoving Severus' shoulder and stalked into class, followed by the rest of the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws.
For the rest of the day rumors were whispered from neighbor to neighbor about the Hufflepuff that defended a Slytherin.
Thanks for reading please review! It can be a comment, criticism, question, etc, but please review! It helps so much when you do!
-BK13
