Chapter 4
The once peaceful atmosphere of Hogwarts Castle had transformed into a buzzing hive of activity. The chatter of students filled the air, their voices a mix of excitement and nerves. It was the start of another year at the school, and Aurelia couldn't help but wince at the dull ache in her abdomen. Of course, on the first day, her period chose to make an appearance. She cursed silently to herself, wishing the discomfort would fade so she could at least appear normal among the hustle of returning students.
She pressed a hand to her stomach, trying to steady the cramps, and walked toward the Great Hall, where the Sorting Ceremony would soon take place. Her steps slowed as she entered, but the sight of her assigned seat gave her little comfort. To her dismay, her place was between Professor Snape and Professor Lupin. As she approached, she caught Snape's eyes briefly. The cold, dark gaze held her for a heartbeat before she quickly looked away, not wanting to entertain any thought of a conversation with him. She had enough on her mind, and Snape was never someone to make things easier.
Sitting down at the long table, Aurelia felt her stomach twist uncomfortably again. Other professors began trickling in, and the students slowly filtered in, taking their places as well. Remus Lupin, ever the kind soul, greeted her warmly.
"They'll do the Sorting Hat first," he said, voice soft but full of that familiar warmth. "Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw—"
"Gryffindor and Slytherin. Yes, I'm aware, sir. My sister went to school here," she replied, cutting him off, her gaze flicking toward the staff table.
His brows arched in surprise. "Oh, what was her name?"
"Flora. Flora Lights. I think it's Hurdman now, though," Aurelia said, bitterness in her tone. She hadn't even known Flora had gotten married—hadn't been told, at least. There had been so many unspoken words between them over the years.
"I had no idea you were associated with such a—" Remus trailed off, seeming uncertain how to finish the sentence. "...such a prominent family."
Aurelia felt the weight of his words, but she didn't respond. The truth was, she didn't feel as though she was a part of that world anymore. The ties with her family felt strained, distant, almost foreign.
Before Remus could say anything more, the grand double doors of the Great Hall swung open, and the distinguished figure of Professor McGonagall appeared, a scroll in her hands. Behind her trailed a gaggle of wide-eyed first years, all staring in awe at the enchanted floating candles above them. Remus gave them a soft smile, his eyes twinkling as the children were called forward, one by one, to place the Sorting Hat on their heads. The ceremony was traditional, magical, and it made Aurelia wonder, if only for a moment, which house she would have belonged to had she been sorted as a first year.
Her sister, Flora, was a Slytherin—her mother, too. Was it in their blood, some kind of hereditary trait? But that thought quickly faded as the ceremony drew to a close.
The headmaster's voice filled the hall next.
"As many of you can see," Dumbledore began, his voice warm and welcoming, "we have some new additions to our staff. Our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Remus Lupin."
The applause for Remus was immediate, and he stood, nodding humbly, a smile on his face.
"And, of course," Dumbledore continued, "a new professor for Muggle Studies, Professor Aurelia Lights."
Aurelia stood at the mention of her name, her head bowed in acknowledgment. The Slytherin table, which was right in front of her, barely clapped. She stared at them unblinking, unfazed, before sitting back down. She didn't expect their approval—and frankly, she didn't care. The weight of their cold indifference was nothing new.
"Now, let the feast begin!" Dumbledore announced, and with a wave of his hand, the tables were filled with an assortment of food. Golden platters of chicken, mashed potatoes, bread rolls, and vibrant salads appeared, stacked high, as if by magic. The scent wafted through the hall, and though it all looked delicious, Aurelia barely had the energy to pick at it. She felt exhausted, her head spinning slightly, and her stomach continued to ache. Her father would have loved all this. One of their favorite things to do back then was try new foods together.
She forced herself to nibble on a few pieces of chicken and salad, but when she tried to cut her chicken, the most absurd thing happened. The chicken ruptured in sticky confetti. Aurelia froze, her face turning red as the entire hall erupted in laughter.
It was a prank. A simple, childish prank, but it felt like too much. Her stomach churned—not just from the cramps, but from the humiliation. She wiped at her face with a napkin, trying to ignore the sting of the laughter ringing in her ears.
"Miss Lights," Remus said, his voice filled with concern, offering her a napkin. "Are you alright?"
She took it, muttering a quiet thanks, and excused herself from the table. The cramps were becoming unbearable, but this... this embarrassment was the final straw. She stood up, trying to mask the pain, and made her way toward the door, her head spinning.
With each step, the pain grew more intense, more relentless, until she could hardly focus on anything but the ache in her lower abdomen. She couldn't wait to get to her chambers, shut the door behind her, and finally rest.
As she reached her chamber, she winced again, the pain taking over. Her body was protesting every movement, and she couldn't ignore it any longer. She needed something for the pain, the infirmary, she needed to go to the infirmary. She felt hot and dizzy, she reached to lock her chamber doors, fumbling with the key. She dropped it, Aurelia bent down to pick it up. But as she straightened up, the world spun violently, sparks danced in her vision, and she began to collapse.
"...Anemic."
Aurelia's eyes fluttered open, her senses still foggy. She was no longer in the hallway but in a curtained-off bed in what seemed to be the infirmary. The scent of antiseptic and herbs filled her nose, mingling with the metallic taste of the potions she'd been given. Confusion clouded her thoughts. One moment, she had been walking, and now—she was here.
The curtain parted, and Madam Pomfrey stepped in, looking startled to see her awake.
"Oh, good, you're awake," she said, relief washing over her face. She handed Aurelia a flask, her tone no-nonsense. "Your iron levels are dangerously low, not to mention your malnutrition."
Aurelia's heart sank at the words. "I've struggled with low iron for most of my life," she explained quietly, though she already knew it didn't excuse her current state.
"And what excuse do you have for your malnutrition?" Madam Pomfrey scolded, her voice sharp but not unkind.
Aurelia didn't answer. She hadn't had much of an appetite since her father's death. Nothing had felt the same since then.
"What's this?" Aurelia glanced at the flask in her hands.
"An iron potion. It replenishes your blood. Professor Snape kindly provided some for you, though I doubt I need to remind you—when a woman has your kind of bleeding, she needs to take better care of herself. Sleep, food, and far less stress."
Aurelia was about to speak, but before she could, there was a cough from beyond the curtain. The kind to bring attention.
"Ah, Severus, perfect timing," Madam Pomfrey said, turning to the door. Aurelia's heart skipped the sound of Snape's name making her feel suddenly self-conscious. Had he heard everything, even the part about her period? How embarrassing.
The conversation between them was soft, low enough for Aurelia to barely hear.
"I suppose she is well, Madam Pomfrey?"
"She is awake. She will need to take these as well."
"May I be dismissed?" Aurelia asked loud enough to be heard. She still had a few more things to do before her first class.
Madam Pomfrey pulled open the curtains with a sharp motion. "You're lucky Severus found you just lying in the cold corridors, with a house-elf running around in circles. Here," she thrust several more flasks into Aurelia's hands, "drink these, and then Severus will escort you back to your chambers."
Aurelia opened her mouth to protest, but the nurse was already gone, and Snape was standing just outside the curtains. She sighed heavily, staring down at the potions with distaste.
The first one was bland, tasteless—easy enough to drink. But the second was thick and metallic, and she nearly gagged. The third was worse, and the final one had a sharp, bitter taste that lingered on her tongue. She downed it anyway, her throat burning.
With a groan, she grabbed the cup of water next to her bed and drank it all in one go, trying to rid herself of the foul taste. She peeked out from behind the curtain, catching Snape's eye. He was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed.
Aurelia sighed, her legs feeling weak as she stood, forcing herself to her feet. She walked toward him, feeling the weight of the moment settle heavily on her shoulders.
Snape straightened as she approached, his gaze sharp but unreadable. The silence between them was thick with unspoken words, but Aurelia couldn't ignore the gratitude she felt, no matter how reluctant it was.
"Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, yet it carried the weight of genuine gratitude.
Snape's eyes remained unreadable, the usual coldness in his gaze, but his subtle nod was all she needed.
They walked in silence until they reached her chambers. Aurelia fumbled for her keys, her fingers stiff with the lingering discomfort from the potions she'd swallowed. When she finally found them, she unlocked the door and turned back toward him.
"Good night then, sir," she said awkwardly. She pushed the door open, ready to retreat to the sanctuary of her room, but before she could step inside, Snape's voice cut through the air.
"Here."
Aurelia blinked in surprise as she turned to see him extending his hand toward her, something small and clear glinting in his palm. Her brow furrowed as she stared at the object. "Do I need more?" she asked, her confusion apparent in her tone.
Snape's gaze was fixed on her, his features as unreadable as ever. "It's for the pain," he said, his voice steady but with a hint of something else—something softer, though it was hard for her to place. "Take a few sips as needed."
She felt a heat rise in her cheeks, warmth spreading across her face as she took the small vial from his hand. Her eyes darted away from his, refusing to meet his gaze, her mind too overwhelmed with a mixture of emotions to focus on anything but the bottle in her hands. "Thank you," she whispered, her words wrapped in an awkwardness she couldn't shake.
Without another word, she quickly retreated into her chambers, the door closing softly behind her, but her mind remained unsettled. She could still feel the lingering presence of Snape, his calm demeanor cutting through the heaviness of the moment. As the door clicked shut, Aurelia leaned against it for a moment, breathing in deeply, trying to steady her pulse and calm the racing thoughts in her head.
How embarrassing!