You're the only way out of this sea of lovers losing time and lovers losing hope." - Sea of Lovers by Christina Perri


Carmilla grumbled as she entered Mattie's office followed by Filch and his stupid tabby cat, Mrs. Umbridge. She practically shoved the damn excuse slip at his face yet he still didn't believe that Mattie really did ask her to come up. Something about her being good enough to use a forgery spell. While it was flattering that he thought that she was capable enough to cast such a spell, it was awfully inconvenient. She was tempted to stupefy Filch then obliviate him but voice in her head (that sounded suspiciously like a certain nosy Gryffindor) told her "That's not nice, Carmilla!" while another (that sounded just like Lex) said, "Such a thing is unbecoming of a Karnstein."

Carmilla sighed. She hated it when that happened. What happened to the girl who didn't give a fuck about rules, regulations, reputations, and all that shit?

(Gone soft, apparently.)

"Miss Belmonde," Filch announced, giving Carmilla a light (not) shove. "I found this girl wandering about. She claims to have been summoned by you. She even tried to fool me with a supposed excuse slip!" He waved the slip of paper triumphantly.

The headmistress' office was circular and surrounded by windows with dark blue curtains drawn over them. A raven was watching Carmilla from a bronze perch next to one of the windows (possibly the one with a view of the mountains). Candles were floating throughout the room, casting a warm orange glow in the room. Portraits of the past Headmasters and Headmistresses of Hogwarts decorated the walls.

Mattie was seated behind an enormous mahogany desk, of her own choosing. She had the older desk replaced because "Armando Dippet had horrible taste. I mean, really? Claws? " On top of the desk, were two stacks of papers next to a gold ink pot with a navy blue quill. The Sorting Hat rested on top of the shelf behind Mattie.

"Aulus, if you could refrain from unnecessarily shoving students, you can keep your job," she said. She was smiling wide but Carmilla shuddered. There was something very unsettling about it. "And yes, I did ask Miss Karnstein to come here, so you may leave."

Filch scowled before stomping out the office. Mrs. Umbridge hissed then followed her master.

As soon as they left, Carmilla grinned. Mattie chuckled and stood up, opening her arms just in time for Carmilla to run into them. Mattie laughed and spun the younger girl around.

"Where were you all summer?" Carmilla asked as soon as Mattie set her down.

"Oh, you know your mother, darling," Mattie said, winking. "Always sending me off to do errands for her."

Carmilla chuckled. "That's true."

The cabinet pushed against the wall to the left of Mattie's desk suddenly shook, drawing Carmilla and Mattie's attention.

"What the-" A soft meow interrupted Carmilla. "Is that a vanishing cabinet?"

"Indeed, it is," Mattie said. "Your mother sent it over." She approached the cabinet, opened it and picked something in it. When she turned around, she was holding a jet black cat with piercing yellow eyes.

"Sheridan!" Carmilla said, walking forward and taking the cat from Mattie's arms. The cat snuggled into Carmilla's arms before purring in content. "When did he get out of St. Nionia's?"

"Just yesterday. William did quite a lot to your precious feline," Mattie said. She frowned and tilted her head. "I do hope you didn't try to retaliate against your cousin."

Carmilla scoffed. "I did no such thing, but if something were to happen to him, he had it coming."

Mattie rolled her eyes and gestured to one of the two ebony seats in front of her desk. Carmilla gladly sat down and Mattie took the seat opposite her.

"So I heard Alessandra paired you up with the tiny nymph again." Mattie conjured two silver goblets filled with hot chocolate. She took a sip from one and raised an eyebrow at her niece.

The younger girl sighed and began playing with the stem of the goblet. "Yeah, unfortunately. Lex thinks talking to her would do me some good, or something."

Mattie laughed. "Well, that's Alessandra for you." She shook her head. "I honestly don't know why you still put up with that girl. She's cold and apathetic and she's so obsessed with keeping everybody in line."

"Oh and how is that different from you, oh Wise One," Carmilla teased.

Mattie rest her chin on her fist. "Please, I'm pragmatic and I actually know how to loosen up once in a while."

"Loosen up?" Carmilla scoffed. "You and Lex practically tore at each other throats when you invited us to your estate to 'relax'." She used finger quotes for emphasis.

"Oh honey," Mattie shook her head. "That was simply me releasing some of my stress. Alessandra just so happened to be in the line of fire,"

Carmilla rolled her eyes. "Ugh. You are such a drama queen. It's gross."

"Nihilist."

"Existentialist."

"Absurdist, at best."

The two stared at each other before bursting into laughter.

"So how's William?" Mattie asked as soon as they calmed down.

Carmilla scoffed and inspected her neatly-trimmed nails. "You know, same old. He's still an annoying prat."

Mattie's eyebrows shot up at that. "Your voice seems to have a lot more disdain than usual.

"Really now? Because I'm pretty sure I've always had this amount when it comes to him," the younger girl spat out.

"Darling, please. Does this have something to do with what happened during your Quidditch match last year?" Carmilla simply scowled. "Look, I don't blame William for doing what he thought he had to do to win. It's a very Eisen trait." Mattie put a hand on her niece's knee. "If anyone's to blame, it's Alessandra."

Carmilla frowned. "How come?"

Mattie chuckled and leaned back into her seat. "Well, if she wasn't so busy dilly-dallying with Ms. Fitzroy, she would have been more focused on your match and William wouldn't need to do," Mattie made a circular motion with her right hand. "all that."

Carmilla thought about it. She knew that Lex didn't 'dilly-dally' but she also knew that Mattie didn't get along with her for one reason or another so arguing would be pointless. "Perhaps," she said, instead.

Mattie waved her hand as if banishing something she didn't like. "Enough about your cousins. I want to know about you. How has my little monster been?"

==xx==

"Look, Laura. I honestly have no idea why I still have to take Transfiguration," LaF said as they walked with Laura to Classroom 1B where their Transfiguration class was being held. "I'm a Metamorphmagi! I can transfigure myself naturally!"

Laura chuckled as she shook her head. "That's great, LaF but what if you have to transfigure someone else? You might turn someone into a sea urchin instead of just slightly altering their appearance!"

LaF mumbled something along the lines of "I'd do that on purpose." That made Laura laugh out loud and the two of them walked into their Transfiguration class. The two took their seats up front. Their professor wasn't there yet so they sighed in relief. Professor Magnussen was a great teacher but she was just... really strict. And uptight. And intimidating. Last year, she transfigured a Gryffindor boy into a shrew for being late to class and trying to suck up to her. Nobody really knows how that slipped Headmistress Belmonde's attention. Either way, nobody really wanted to try anything afterward.

The sound of someone giggling caught Laura's attention. She slowly turned her head towards the source of the sound. She saw that it was her house's seeker, Elsie. She was seated right next to the one and only Carmilla Karnstein. Laura resisted the urge to throw up all over the floor. She should've seen this coming. Carmilla was a notorious flirt and it shouldn't have been surprising that she would go back to her… ways after they broke up.

(Laura was afraid to really think back because if she did, she would have realized that she was the only one her ex-girlfriend seriously flirted with.)

LaFontaine nudged her and Laura nearly got whiplash with how fast she turned her head.

"Yeah?" She asked LaF who was looking at her with her a smug smile on their face.

"You're staring," they simply said.

Laura was pretty sure her face took on a tinge of pink. "What? No. Definitely not staring at Carmilla. You're making things up."

If it was possible, LaF's smirk grew even wider. "I never said what, or rather, who you were staring at."

Laura's mouth opened slightly. "But you- you said- you practically implied-"

LaFontaine laughed. "Laura, relax before you get an aneurysm." Laura glared at her friend. "And close your mouth before something flies in it."

She clamped her mouth shut but continued glaring.

Another round of giggling came and Laura resisted the urge to look. Thankfully, their professor walked into the room and their class started.

==xx==

Four years ago…

After a year in Hogwarts, one would think that Laura would have adjusted to the Wizarding World. That was only half-true. Sure, she got used to seeing strange things but that didn't mean that those would stop amazing her. For instance, their professor was showing them how to turn beetles into buttons. Sure, she already read about all the things she would be learning to do at Transfiguration class but seeing them in action was a completely different story.

Laura probably looked completely in awe because she could hear some of those who weren't raised in muggle environments snickering, probably at her. She ducked down in an effort to hide her reddening cheeks. Her friend, Betty Spielsdorf, scooted closer to her so their arms were bumping. Betty turned to glare at whoever was laughing.

"Don't mind them, Hollis. They're prats. They won't be laughing after you beat them in the written exams again," she said. Laura nodded.

She and Betty had a really odd friendship. Betty was a brilliant witch in her own right but she wasn't exactly fond of exerting a lot of effort. The homework Laura would so eagerly do, Betty would put off until an hour before they were due, claiming that they were boring. Betty's muggle father, George Spielsdorf, is a high-ranking officer in the British military while her mother, Elena, worked in Muggle Relations. Betty's family would spend the first half of the summer with George. During the second half, she and her mother would stay with Elena's parents. That was probably why Betty is always so unfazed when it comes to the Wizarding World. Laura couldn't help but wonder that if her mother was alive, would she have been like Betty?

Another round of snickering. Betty was about to turn and glare at them when they were shushed by someone else.

Carmilla hit Will, who was one of the people laughing at Laura. Will glared at Carmilla who glared back. Will rolled his eyes and turned to his other friends. Carmilla turned to look at Laura and winked at her. Laura shook her head and Carmilla grinned. The two of them certainly got along better after they set aside their differences during the previous year. Carmilla became Laura's unofficial tutor and Laura became Carmilla's unofficial guide to the muggle world. Carmilla also got Laura interested in Quidditch. There was something about flying that gave Laura a sense of freedom. Growing up with an overprotective father made Laura feel trapped. Yes, she loved her father and she knew that he was only that way because of what happened to her mother. That didn't stop her from wishing he'd be more lenient with her. She was in a school of magic for crying out loud!

On another note, Danny mentioned something about there being an opening for a chaser for the Gryffindor quidditch team. Laura still wasn't very familiar with the specifics so Carmilla offered to help train her. Apparently, she and her cousin play a lot with the kids of her mother's associates during the summer. Carmilla mentioned something about not getting along with their "elitist asses".

Laura was pulled out of her musings when their professor cleared her throat and all but shooed them out of the room. Betty bumped her as they exited.

"Hey so are you still planning to try-out for Quidditch?" she asked her. "Try-outs are in two weeks!"

Laura swallowed and shrugged. "I'm not very sure. I mean, I don't think I'm good enough."

Betty scoffed. "Please, Laura. You were surprisingly one of the best in flying class last year.

"Yeah but Quidditch is different!" She threw her hands up in the air. "I grew up in a muggle environment. Sure Madame Teaño taught us the basics but I can't exactly practice on my own."

"I think I can help with that." Sometime during her conversation with Betty, Carmilla made her way to Laura's side. "I did offer to train you this year. Besides," Carmilla said. "I could use some practice myself."

Laura remembered Carmilla mentioning that she wanted to try out for seeker this year.

"Are you sure?" She asked. "I mean, I don't want to be a bother or anything. I don't even have a broom!"

Carmilla waved her off. "Don't worry about that, sugar. I can borrow my cousin's."

Betty prodded Laura's back when she hesitated. Laura glared at her friend who raised her eyebrows. "Okay fine."

Carmilla grinned. "Great. I'll see you tonight, Sundance."

Laura's eyes widened. "Wait. Tonight?!" she called after Carmilla who started to walk the other way.

"Yeah! Wear a sweater or something!"

Betty snickered as Laura's jaw dropped. She tapped Laura's chin prompting Laura to clamp her mouth shut.

==xx==

It was nearly 11 in the evening and Carmilla still hasn't returned from the Quidditch pitch. Lex was starting to think that maybe, just maybe, she should've accompanied her cousin. Unfortunately, the excuse slip Mattie gave Carmilla was only for her, supposedly. Lex also wasn't sure why Carmilla needed two brooms though she had a hunch.

Just then, the stone wall behind the couch Lex was sitting on slid open and she stood up.

"It's late," Lex said as soon as Carmilla entered the common room carrying two brooms. "And I still want to know why you borrowed my broom."

Carmilla looked up at her cousin and just smirked. "I was practicing for the try-outs next week, Lex. Relax." She tossed one of the brooms to her cousin who caught it with ease.

"That still doesn't explain why you needed two brooms."

Carmilla didn't answer but Lex could see that she was trying (and failing) to hide a smile.

"You were helping out that Hollis girl, weren't you?" Lex asked, though it was more like a statement than a question. The two of them started walking down to the rooms of their respective years.

Carmilla shrugged and the older girl sighed. "Hey, I'm not judging. I just wanted to be sure." Lex scratched the back of her head. "Whose broom did you make her use?"

Carmilla scoffed. "Don't worry, Lex. I let her use mine."

Lex shook her head but smiled. "You're definitely helping this girl because you like her."

The younger girl rolled her eyes. "I don't like how you stressed the word like."

"Why because it's true?" Carmilla said nothing. She just shook her head and Lex grinned. "So who's going to tell Will about this? You or me?"

Carmilla whirled around, eyes widening. "Don't. You. Dare."

Lex laughed, hitting her cousin's arm and walked past her. "Go to sleep, Carm. We're getting up early tomorrow."

Carmilla groaned before pushing the door to the bedroom of the second years.

==xx==

Present...

Quidditch try-outs were tiring for Lex. Sure, the same things happen each year but having to observe the newcomers and trying to see which tactics would fit who made her brain hurt. Lex made everyone do the standard exercises and drills with the veterans demonstrating for the ones trying to make the team. Will was still required to show up even though he was on suspension. She needed his opinions on the potential beaters. Lex couldn't deny that he is their best beater.

The last exercise she made everyone do was the scrimmaging. This was the favorite part of the existing team members because they got to show off their skills. On the other hand, it was Lex's most hated one because she usually ended up as referee and that meant having to dodge quaffles and bludgers that headed her way courtesy of those trying out (in this case, two potential keepers, and four potential beaters). Her three current beaters and the other keeper flew up to the stands and were now sitting to observe the match.

Lex heard a whistling sound coming from behind her and promptly ducked as a bludger whizzed over her head. She sighed and turned around to look at the one responsible. It was the fourth year girl, Rachel Silk. She gave Lex a sheepish grin before dodging a bludger from another beater. Rachel seemed to be the strongest beater trying out. She just needed to work on her aim. Lex would have to consult with Will about that, a conversation she wasn't looking forward to. Things were tense between them after she suspended him from two of their games. It wasn't an easy decision to make but it was necessary.

Lex side-stepped to dodge yet another bludger. She looked up at the two seekers and nodded, signaling them to catch the snitch. Carmilla grinned and immediately dived down with the other seeker, Elliot, right behind her. Carmilla seemed to adjust to the Firebolt quite easily. Lex's throat suddenly felt tight. She shook her head trying to clear the feeling.

"And Silver Team wins!" Lex yelled. A few groans of disapproval came from the ones trying out.

Of course Carmilla would catch it. Lex wouldn't expect anything less of her cousin.

"I'll be posting the results on our common room's announcement board tomorrow after dinner. In the meantime, take ten before we cool down," Lex said as soon as everyone alighted and gathered in front of her.

Carmilla walked up to her. Lex noticed her eyeing one of the fifth years, a girl who was also trying out for beater. Lex did her best to stop her face from showing her distaste at that. Sure, Carmilla had her heart broken but Lex didn't think that it excused her from flirting with random girls, getting their hopes up, sometimes getting in their robes, then not talking to them ever again. Well, there was nothing Lex could do about that. They all had different ways of coping with their respective woes. Lex threw herself on schoolwork and Quidditch, Carmilla threw herself on girls, and Will, well…

(Became an even bigger prat.)

Lex nearly laughed out loud at that thought.

"That sixth year girl," Carmilla started. "What's her name again?"

Lex frowned. "The redhead?" Carmilla nodded. Lex glanced at the sheet she had in her hands. "Isabelle. Why?"

Carmilla smirked. "Eh. Just curious." Lex looked sternly at her cousin who rolled her eyes. "Come on, Lex. We're just going to have a little fun. Mattie's right. You do need to loosen up."

Lex glared at her cousin as she sauntered away. This probably makes Isabelle the fifth girl Lex observed her cousin flirting with.

Will probably noticed the glare on Lex's face because he sidled up to her. "What's Kitty up to now?"

Lex closed her eyes and shook her head. "The usual, unfortunately."

Will scoffed. "You going to suspend her for misbehaving too?" An obvious jab.

Lex's lips twitched. "Well, Will, unlike you, Carmilla doesn't do anything unnecessary during a match."

"Yeah, well Ravenclaw's chaser was on a roll and you were distracted for one reason or another. I had to take her out."

Lex nearly lunged at her cousin when Sofia stepped between them. "Yo, Cap. Five minutes are up. You gonna lead the cool down or not? Because I'm down with being pseudo-cap," she said in a sing-sing voice.

Lex inhaled deepy before chuckling. She put her right hand on the shorter girl's head and pressed down. "In your dreams, Suarez." Sofia yelped and swatted Lex's hand away.

At least she still had some friends.

(Unless I end up pushing them away too.)

Lex glanced at Carmilla. She was really bringing up her A-game, whatever that was.

Lex was going to have a talk with Mattie. She made a mental note to put some defense charms on herself before going to her office just in case her darling aunt decides to try and tear her throat out as a cheetah again.


Author's Note:

Sorry for updating late. I had exams to study for, and post-labs + papers to write. Also, I didn't really like this chapter so I wrote and re-wrote it several times.

Once again, thank you to my friend, Robin, for editing this for me. Special thanks to my girlfriend for motivating me to write and for walking me through describing things.

1) We're starting to get to the Quidditch bits so yeah. Can't wait 'til we get there. Those were my favorite parts to write.

2) Mattie-Carmilla moments! Yes, I know that Mattie's supposed to be Carmilla's sister but I planned out her character before she showed up in the Web Series. She wasn't supposed to be related to any of them in the first place (she was just supposed to be an acquaintance of Adelaide) but after seeing her in the web series, I just HAD to change that. Hence the aunt bit. I hope it works for this story.

3) I made a little blog for Lex on tumblr. It's called lexistired. Go check it out if you want. I put links to the songs I used there. Also, I use the tags "J1Y" and "Carmilla HP!AU"

For anyone still following this story, thanks for doing so and thanks for being super patient!