Hogsmeade Station
When the train finally arrived at Hogsmeade Station, Severa gently nudged Mulciber awake. "We're here," she said softly.
He blinked groggily, sitting up and stretching. "Thanks, love," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. "You have a very comfortable lap."
Severa rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "Don't get used to it," she replied, standing up and grabbing her trunk. The compartment was buzzing with excitement as students gathered their belongings and headed toward the exit.
As they disembarked, Severa felt his hand lock with hers. She looked up at Mulciber, who gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't try, I'm not letting go," he said, his grip gentle but firm.
Severa nodded, her heart conflicted. "Whatever," she said, squeezing his hand briefly before letting him hold it. They made their way through the bustling crowd of students, the cool evening air a welcome change from the stuffy train.
The carriage ride up to the castle was filled with Mulciber flirting. "Come on, Sev, please just call me by my first name. I wanna hear it on your lips."
Severa rolled her eyes, trying to hide the small smile that tugged at her lips. "Maybe if you stop pestering me about it," she teased, glancing out the window as the castle loomed closer.
Mulciber chuckled, leaning back in his seat. "Fair enough. But I'll get you to say it eventually."
As they arrived at Hogwarts, the grandeur of the castle never failed to impress. The first-years were led towards the Great Hall for their sorting, their wide-eyed amazement bringing a smile to Severa's face. She joined the rest of the older students, finding her place at the Slytherin table.
As soon as her bum met the seat, she was immediately hit with questions and compliments about her new appearance.
"Severa, your hair looks amazing!" one of the girls exclaimed, reaching out to touch her new bangs.
"Yeah, really suits you," another added, nodding appreciatively.
Severa shooed away the girl's hand. "Don't touch me," she said sharply, her eyes narrowing. The girl pulled her hand back, looking taken aback and a bit embarrassed.
"Sorry, just got excited," the girl mumbled, retreating slightly.
Severa didn't bother to respond, her attention already shifting as she looked around the table, noticing other students who were eager to catch up. The awkward moment passed quickly as other students began to chatter about their summer adventures and plans for the new school year. Severa joined a conversation with Lucius and the Black sisters, feeling a little more relaxed as she settled back into the familiar routine of Hogwarts.
As Dumbledore gave his speech, not a single Slytherin listened. Instead, they whispered among themselves, exchanging gossip and plotting for the upcoming year. Severa caught snippets of conversation about new hexes, secret duels, and plans to undermine students from other houses.
When the feast began, Severa picked at her food, her appetite still not fully returned. The conversations around her buzzed with excitement about the new school year, the latest gossip, and plans for upcoming classes. She listened more than she spoke, absorbing the energy and letting it distract her from her own worries.
After the feast, the Slytherins made their way to their common room. The stone walls and green tapestries felt both comforting and oppressive. Severa started making her way up the stairs when her name was called out.
"Severa," he beckoned from his spot by the fireplace. "Come sit with us."
She stared, surprised. There were strict un-written rules when it came to Slytherin common room, especially about the 'Circle' in front of the fireplace. Only purebloods or powerful Slytherins were allowed there. If you weren't one of them, you didn't have any reason to step foot inside the circle.
The only way to get inside was to be invited and Bruce Mulciber just invited her into the fucking Slytherin royalty. She pushed all the shock out of her body, now was not the time to act all shocked and shy. She walked over to him, her eyes cold as if this was a normal thing and not one of the biggest power shifts in Slytherin.
She took a seat beside him, acknowledging the other Slytherins with a nod as she settled in when she raised an eyebrow in surprise as Mulciber unexpectedly pulled her into his lap, causing a few murmurs of interest from the other Slytherins around them.
She shifted slightly, feeling a mix of discomfort and curiosity at his sudden action.
"What are you doing?" she whispered, her tone casual but tinged with a hint of confusion. She glanced around discreetly, wondering if this was some sort of power play or if Mulciber was just being his usual unpredictable self.
Mulciber grinned mischievously, his arms wrapping around her waist as he leaned in closer. "Just making sure you're comfortable, love," he replied in a low voice, his breath warm against her ear.
Severa couldn't help but roll her eyes at his response, though a small smile tugged at her lips despite herself. She leaned back slightly, maintaining a facade of nonchalance even as her heart raced with uncertainty about what Mulciber was playing at.
Before the convocation could pick back up, Lucius quickly piped up. "Ok, Now I gotta know what the hell is going on." Severa tilted her head as Lucius looked around before his eyes landed on her. "You hate taking gifts and you punched Even last year when he grabbed your hand, so what's happening here?"
Severa arched an eyebrow at Lucius's direct question, impressed by his perceptiveness but also slightly annoyed at the attention being drawn to her and Mulciber. She shot him a brief glare, silently willing him to drop the subject, but Lucius remained unfazed, his curiosity evident in his gaze.
She sighed inwardly, realizing that deflecting the question would only draw more attention. With a resigned shrug, she decided to address the situation head-on, her tone laced with sarcasm as she glanced at Mulciber.
"Just a friendly gesture, Lucius," she replied casually, her words tinged with a hint of amusement. "Mulciber here just can't resist showing his affection in the most embarrassing ways possible."
Mulciber chuckled beside her, though there was a hint of something more in his eyes as he met Lucius's gaze. "What can I say? I'm a man of many talents," he quipped, his smirk widening as he made a show of gripping her thigh.
Severa rolled her eyes at his response, though a small part of her couldn't help but appreciate the subtle display of solidarity. She shot Mulciber a grateful glance before turning her attention back to Lucius, hoping to steer the conversation in a different direction.
But Lucius wouldn't let up now, not when he had Narcissa questioning it too. "But, What about this whole appearance change, Severa?" All eyes went from Narcissa to her, looking at her appearance. "I mean, I saw the house elves with your trunks, and they're brand new. Is Bruce like your trust fund?"
Severa quickly slaped her hand over Mulcibers mouth, knowing him, he would gladly say he was even though he wasn't. "No, he's not my trust fund. I came into some money and decided it was time for a change."
Severa's voice was firm as she spoke, her hand still firmly planted over Mulciber's mouth to prevent any unwanted interjections. She shot him a warning look, silently daring him to stay quiet as she listened to Narcissa's question.
"Does this 'change', come with a new wardrobe?" Before she could fully nod, Narcissa stood up, Followed by the rest of the girls in the circle, and grabbed her hand before making her way to the stairs. "Come on, you must show us!" She glanced back at Mulciber, shooting him a helpless look before allowing herself to be swept away by the group.
As they ascended the stairs to the girls' dormitories, Severa couldn't help but feel apprehension at the prospect of unveiling her new wardrobe to the girls. She had always prided herself on her sense of style, but this sudden change had taken even her by surprise.
The girls chattered excitedly as they made their way up the stairs when Narcissa asked a good question. "Severa, who's your roommate this year?" they all looked at her as she vaguely answered. "I paid extra for a personal room, so I don't have any."
Her response was met with a mixture of surprise and admiration from her friends. They exchanged impressed glances before turning their attention back to Severa, their curiosity piqued.
"A personal room?" Narcissa echoed, her eyebrows raising in surprise. "That's...I didn't even know we could do that."
Severa shrugged nonchalantly, though inwardly she felt a sense of satisfaction at the envy in her friends' expressions. She had made the decision to forego having a roommate this year in order to have more privacy and freedom to design and read without distractions.
As they made it to her dorm, Narcissa couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. "I have to see this room," she declared, a hint of excitement in her voice.
The other girls nodded eagerly, their curiosity mirroring Narcissa's. Severa led them down the corridor, her heart pounding slightly as she anticipated their reactions. She pushed open the door to her room and stepped aside, allowing them to enter first.
The room was spacious and elegantly decorated, a stark contrast to the more utilitarian dorms the other girls were used to. Rich green and silver accents adorned the walls and furniture, reflecting Slytherin house colors. A large window overlooked the grounds, letting in a soft, ambient light. Bookshelves lined one wall, already filled with Severa's favorite volumes, and a comfortable reading nook was set up by the window. Her bed was covered in a luxurious quilt, and a writing desk stood neatly organized in the corner.
Narcissa's eyes widened as she took in the scene. "This is incredible, Severa," she said, turning to look at her with genuine admiration. "I had no idea you had such good taste."
Severa felt a flush of pride at Narcissa's words. "Thanks, Narcissa."
Bellatrix, who had been quiet until now, gave a low whistle of appreciation. "This is definitely a step up from the usual dorms. How did you manage it?"
Severa shrugged again, trying to play it cool. "I just talked to Professor Slughorn and offered to pay extra. He was surprisingly accommodating."
The girls immediately made their way over to her wardrobe, eager to see the rest of her new collection. As they flung open the doors, a series of gasps filled the room. Rows of neatly hung dresses, shirts, skirts, and other garments lined the inside, each piece more stylish and luxurious than the last.
"Wow, Severa," Bellatrix exclaimed, running her fingers over the fabric of a particularly elegant cloak. "You really went all out."
Severa smiled, extra pleased with their reactions as half of the clothes she made herself. "I figured if I was going to make a change, I might as well do it right."
Narcissa picked up a sleek, emerald-green dress, holding it up to herself in the mirror. "This is stunning. You have excellent taste."
"Thanks," Severa said, genuinely appreciating the compliment. "Feel free to try anything on if you like."
The girls exchanged excited glances before diving into the wardrobe, pulling out various pieces to admire and try on. Severa watched them with a sense of satisfaction, glad that her efforts were being appreciated. It was a stark contrast to her previous years at Hogwarts, where she had often felt overlooked and underestimated.
Glancing out the window lost in thought, something about this year felt...different and she couldn't tell if it was her or the people around her but either way, she was gonna use this to her advantage.