snakes and lions
The crisp autumn air buzzed with excitement as students filled the stands, banners waving wildly in support of their houses. The Gryffindor and Slytherin Quidditch teams sat in their respective sections, waiting for their cue, tension crackling between them.
At the commentator's stand, Mylo adjusted his magical microphone, his voice amplifying across the stadium. "Alright, Hogwarts, it's time for the first friendly match of the year! Gryffindor versus Slytherin! Will the lions claw out a victory, or will the serpents slither their way to dominance? Let's find out! And now, introducing the teams!"
The Gryffindor team appeared as their names were called, striding confidently onto the pitch. Jayce led the charge, grinning as he waved to the cheering crowd. Vi and Claggor followed, giving each other a quick fist bump before mounting their brooms. On the opposing side, the Slytherin team emerged from their stands, Mel and Powder at the front, their expressions cool and determined.
Professor Grayson strode to the center of the field, her sharp gaze sweeping across both teams. "I want a clean game. No funny business," she warned, eyeing both sides before blowing her whistle.
With a sharp toss, the Quaffle shot into the air, and the match was on.
"And they're off!" Mylo’s voice boomed. "Vi snatches the Quaffle right out of the air—classic move! She’s charging down the pitch, but Mel is right on her tail, not letting her get an inch! A quick pass to Gert—oh, but she’s not holding onto the Quaffle for long! Back to Vi—AND SHE SHOOTS!"
Jayce hovered near the Gryffindor goalposts, eyes locked on the action unfolding ahead. Meanwhile, Claggor swerved to intercept a Bludger aimed straight at Vi, sending it careening toward Mel instead, forcing her to dodge.
Powder soared high above the fray, her eyes sweeping the pitch in steady, calculated motions. She knew better than to rush; patience was key. Below, the match continued at full force.
Meanwhile, Mel had regained possession of the Quaffle, her movements smooth and calculated. She wove through Gryffindor’s defense with practiced ease, locking eyes with Jayce at the goal. With a powerful throw, she sent the Quaffle hurtling forward—
"AND MEL SHOOTS—BUT JAYCE BLOCKS IT! The man is a brick wall! The score remains Gryffindor 10, Slytherin 0!"
Vi grinned as she caught the deflected Quaffle and bolted down the pitch once more, determination blazing in her eyes. But the Slytherin Beaters had other plans. A Bludger whizzed past her ear, forcing her to swerve sharply. Another came barreling toward her from the opposite direction—an unmistakable trap.
She ducked just in time, but the maneuver threw her off balance. Mel seized the opportunity, ramming into her shoulder and knocking the Quaffle loose. Vi barely had time to regain control before Mel snatched it mid-air and veered away toward the Gryffindor goalposts.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME? They practically tried to knock Vi off her broom! Where's the foul, Grayson?!" Mylo’s voice rang out, dripping with outrage. "Mel takes possession, but I guess if attempted murder is part of the strategy—"
"Mylo!" Vander's stern voice cut through the stadium, making Mylo huff. "Fine, fine! Play continues, and Mel takes possession!"
Mel didn't waste a second. She tucked the Quaffle close, speeding toward the Gryffindor goalposts with laser focus. Jayce braced himself, eyes darting between her and the approaching Chasers. At the last moment, Mel feinted left before launching the Quaffle hard to the right—
"AND SHE SCORES!" Mylo's voice exploded over the crowd. "Slytherin ties it up, 10-10! But Gryffindor isn’t backing down!"
Vi takes the Quaffle straight from the restart, dodging a Bludger with a sharp roll before weaving past a Slytherin Chaser. She’s putting on a show now, effortlessly spinning through the air as if she was born for this. The crowd roars as she fakes a pass, only to tuck the Quaffle under her arm and surge forward.
"Oh, she’s toying with them now! Look at that broomwork!"
She zips past one defender, then another, pulling off a sharp dive before launching upward at the last second, leaving her opponents scrambling. Vi passes to Gert, who barely has time to handle the Quaffle before a Slytherin Beater sends a bludger her way. She narrowly dodges, steadies herself, and—
"AND GERT SCORES! A BEAUTY OF A SHOT, FOLKS! Gryffindor is on fire today! That’s another 10 points for the lions! Slytherin better step it up if they want to keep up!"
Slytherin had control of the Quaffle once again, but Gryffindor wasn’t letting up. Mel zipped down the pitch, weaving through the defenders like a snake, eyes locked on the goalposts. But Claggor was ready, his broom sweeping under a Bludger to clear the path for Jayce. He took the opening, charging forward, ready to steal the Quaffle back.
And with a well-timed swipe, he knocked it right out of Mel’s hands. The Quaffle went flying through the air—straight into Vi’s outstretched arms.
"Here we go!" Mylo’s voice rang out with anticipation. "And Vi is off! No stopping her now! She’s pushing through—"
Vi shot past two Slytherin Chasers with ease, spinning on her broom to avoid a Bludger aimed her way. She could feel the eyes of the crowd on her, every single one of them hanging on her next move. The roaring cheers only spurred her on, her confidence soaring with each twist of her broomstick.
She faked a pass to Gert before pulling the Quaffle back and veering left, leaving a stunned Slytherin player in her wake. With a quick flick of her wrist, she aimed for the goalposts. Jayce tensed, waiting for the save, but there was no need. Vi had already made it too easy.
"AND VI SCORES AGAIN!" Mylo screamed, his voice full of awe. "What a move! You can’t let her showboat like that, Slytherin! The crowd’s loving it!"
Vi threw her hands up in the air as the Quaffle sailed smoothly through the hoops, the crowd erupting into a frenzy. She spun on her broom in a tight circle, grinning from ear to ear as the stadium shook with cheers. With a dramatic bow, she raised her arms as if she’d just pulled off the greatest trick in the world.
"Talk about putting on a show!" Mylo added, laughing. "Gryffindor’s up by 30 now—looks like Slytherin’s got some catching up to do!"
The game was in full swing, Gryffindor dominating. The Slytherin players were growing more agitated with each goal, their frustration evident as Gryffindor’s confidence soared. The crowd was buzzing with excitement, especially as Vi and the others continued to show off their skills, clearly enjoying the match.
But Slytherin wasn’t about to take this lying down. Powder had a sharp edge to her gaze now as she hovered above, itching to make a move. Below her, the Slytherin Chasers were no longer taking calculated shots—they were throwing themselves into the fray, each one more desperate than the last.
Mylo’s voice cut through the tension. "Gryffindor’s still in the lead, but I can see it now—the Serpents are getting frustrated! Look at this! The beaters are going wild!"
Vi darted across the pitch, swooping down to grab a loose Quaffle, clutching it to her chest as a Bludger screamed past her ear, followed by another one coming straight at her back. The Slytherin Beaters had clearly decided it was time to play dirty.
Vi narrowly dodged the first Bludger, but the second one caught her off guard, grazing her shoulder and forcing her to break formation. She fought to regain her balance, but Slytherin wasn’t done. Mel rushed at her, shoving her off course with a sharp jab, sending Vi spiraling for a brief moment before managing to stabilize.
"My God, this is a full-out brawl now!" Mylo continued, the crowd's excitement blending with the tension. "Slytherin’s going all in, and they’re not holding back!"
Vi’s eyes blazed, her competitive spirit ignited. She wasn’t about to let them get away with playing dirty—she swerved her broom around in a smooth arc, pulling back into the fray. With a snap of her wrist, she sent the Quaffle spiraling toward Gert, who caught it effortlessly before sending it rocketing toward the goalposts.
"But Slytherin’s on the attack again!" Mylo added, his voice tinged with disbelief. "The Beaters are all over Claggor—this is getting ugly, folks!"
A Bludger came screaming toward Claggor, and he barely had time to deflect it before another one was sent his way, forcing him to swerve hard to avoid a direct hit. The Slytherin Beaters were relentless now, hounding him like a pair of wolves, their bats swinging dangerously close.
"OI! BACK OFF!" Mylo’s voice cracked through the stadium, completely abandoning any pretense of neutrality. "That’s my damn brother, you absolute trolls!"
"Mylo!" Vander's voice boomed from behind him.
"—and by trolls, I mean very respectable, rule-abiding players who should definitely reconsider their life choices!" Mylo quickly corrected, though the glare he shot the Beaters said otherwise.
But down on the field, Claggor wasn’t rattled. Gritting his teeth, he swung his bat hard, smacking the next Bludger straight back at the Slytherin Chasers, forcing them to scatter. His broom shot forward, clearing space for Gryffindor to regain control.
"AND CLAGGOR SHUTS THEM DOWN! That’s right, big guy, show 'em who’s boss!" Mylo hollered, still fuming but clearly enjoying the turn of events.
The brief opening was all Gert needed—she tucked the Quaffle close and shot forward, slipping past the distracted Beaters before they could close in on her again.
"And she scores!" Mylo shouted. "Gert with a beauty of a shot, and Gryffindor stretches their lead even more! Slytherin better get their heads in the game, or this one’s over before they know it!"
But even as the Quaffle sailed through the hoops, the tension on Slytherin’s side was palpable. They were no longer playing like a team—they were playing with desperation. And the crowd could feel it.
Just as the Gryffindor team celebrated their latest goal, a sudden shift in the air caught Powder’s attention. Her eyes narrowed, scanning the pitch, and then—there it was.
A flash of gold.
The Golden Snitch zipped across the sky, its wings flicking erratically as it darted over the heads of the players. Powder’s heart skipped a beat as she locked onto the tiny, elusive ball.
“AND THERE IT IS!” Mylo’s voice boomed, almost in disbelief. “Powder’s spotted the Snitch—just like that! She’s off like a bolt of lightning!”
The crowd went wild, erupting in cheers as Powder shot forward, her broom cutting through the air with unrelenting speed. The Snitch was fast, but Powder was stubborn. She maneuvered effortlessly through the flurry of Bludgers and Chasers, her focus entirely on the prize ahead of her.
"Look at her go! The way she’s handling that broom! Slytherin’s Seeker is putting on a show now—this could be it, folks!" Mylo continued, practically out of breath from excitement. "It’s a race to the finish!"
Vi, having already recovered from the last play, was flying near the middle of the pitch when she noticed Powder’s sudden burst of speed. A small grin spread across her face. She knew exactly what this meant. If Powder caught the Snitch now, the game would be over.
As the Snitch zipped through the air, it changed direction, heading straight toward Vi.
“Wait— is Vi gonna grab it? ”
For a brief second, it looked like she might. The Snitch headed straight for her. Vi lifted her arm.
But then she saw Powder—her sister, locked in, flying like she was born for this.
Vi hesitated. And then she moved, narrowing dodging Powder.
With a sharp twist, Powder lunged forward, extending her hand and—SNAP!
The stadium exploded in cheers.
“AND SHE DOES IT!” Mylo shouted, his voice cracking with excitement. “Powder snatches the Snitch, that's the game!”
As the final scoreboard flickered into place, the numbers glowed bright against the sky.
Slytherin: 130 – Gryffindor: 120.
A razor-thin victory.
The stadium erupted . Slytherin fans screamed in triumph, their green banners waving wildly, while Gryffindor groaned, hands flying to their heads in disbelief. It had been so close .
Vi exhaled, running a hand through her hair before glancing toward Powder, who was still gripping the Snitch tightly, her teammates piling on her in celebration. Their eyes met again across the chaos.
Vi winked. You earned that one.
Powder grinned back, raising the Snitch just a little higher, like a silent gotcha .
The dimly lit Slytherin dungeons were alive with the soft crackle of the fire and the murmurs of the group, their voices bouncing off the stone walls as they lounged in the cozy common room. The scent of old books and damp stone mingled with the warmth of the fire, and the flickering light cast long shadows over the worn furniture.
Powder was pacing in front of the fireplace, her movements exaggerated as she vented to the group. The others sat back, making themselves at home, amused by her very public meltdown.
“I don’t even KNOW what I did! I said ‘hi’ ONE time, and now she’s just… THERE! Everywhere I go! I turn a corner? BAM—Lux! I sit down at lunch? BAM—Lux! I SWEAR she’s got a tracking spell on me!”
Lux, a fourth-year student from Beauxbatons, was one of several visiting students at Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament. While most of the Beauxbatons students stuck to their own lessons, Lux had taken an interest in Hogwarts' Herbology curriculum, choosing to sit in on the class Powder was in twice a week. Unfortunately for Powder, this also meant Lux had seemingly taken an interest in her. A very persistent, unavoidable interest.
Meanwhile, the group was dying, stifling laughs and snickers.
Vi, barely holding back a laugh, leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. “You snuck into my bed every night for a month in your first year.”
Powder whipped around, eyes narrowing. “THAT WAS DIFFERENT, WE’RE SISTERS.”
Vi snorted.
Jayce leaned forward, grinning. “Maybe Lux just thinks you’re cute.”
Powder gagged, her face turning an even brighter shade of red. “EW. Don’t even joke about that. She’s like—she’s like a little lost duckling! She just waddles after me! What if she imprinted or something?!”
Caitlyn deadpanned. “Congrats, you’re a mother now.”
The group laughed, and Powder collapsed into an armchair with a dramatic groan.
She huffed, clearly done with the whole situation. "And she won't stop bragging about her brother. He's not even a champion yet, but you'd think he already won the damn thing."
Mylo leaned back in his chair, mulling it over. “I wonder what it feels like to put your name in the Goblet, you know? Does it burn? Or is it surprisingly cold?”
Jayce, distractedly, spoke up. “Nah, just a little warm. That’s it.”
The room froze. Everyone stared at him in stunned silence for a moment. Then, all at once, chaos erupted.
Viktor’s jaw dropped. “You put your name in?!”
Vi narrowed her eyes, leaning forward. "When?"
Jayce rubbed the back of his neck, looking slightly sheepish. "Not entirely sure. I think it was last Sunday?"
Ekko’s eyes widened in disbelief. "You think ?"
"Yeah, after we left the pub. Had a bit of a buzz going, saw the Goblet just sitting there, thought, ‘why not?’"
Mylo screeched. "You put your name in drunk ?!"
Jayce muttered, shrugging it off. "Not that drunk."
Caitlyn, deadpan, sighed. "Oh, well that makes it so much better ."
Mylo stared at Jayce, utterly flabbergasted. "No, no, no. This man put his name in the Goblet of Fire while intoxicated."
Claggor raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "And lived to tell the tale."
Powder, ever the dramatist, threw her hands up in exasperation. "Are we sure the Goblet didn't reject his name just out of concern for his decision-making skills?"
Jayce, leaning back with a confident grin, shrugged. "Well, it didn’t, so joke’s on you."
The chaos gradually settled down as the group caught their breath, the laughter dying out into an amused hum. Everyone shifted back into their comfortable positions, still reeling from Jayce’s accidental revelation.
Caitlyn turned to Jayce with a teasing grin, her eyes narrowing playfully.
"You're probably going to break a bone in the first challenge," she said, the corners of her mouth twitching. "Out of sheer stupidity."
Jayce’s eyes widened in mock offense. "Hey, I’m not that reckless!"
"You? Not reckless? You once tried to play Quidditch blindfolded, Jayce."
"That was strategic! I just didn’t need to see the Bludger coming at me."
"Yeah, and the only thing you succeeded at was face-planting into the ground."
The group chuckled at their banter, but before anyone could say anything more, Mel without looking up from her book stepped in.
"Oh, don’t worry," she said, her tone full of quiet confidence. "The Goblet’s definitely going to pick me over him."
The room went silent for a moment as everyone turned to look at Mel.
The dungeon classroom was cool and dimly lit, the flickering light from the torches casting long shadows over the rows of worktables. The faint scent of dried herbs, damp stone, and something vaguely acidic lingered in the air. Vi adjusted the sleeves of her robe as she dropped into her usual seat, arms resting lazily on the desk. Beside her, Caitlyn sat with perfect posture, neatly laying out her quill and inkpot before flipping open her booklet.
Next to them, Mylo and Claggor were already whispering, half-distracted as Professor Silco strode to the front of the class. His sharp gaze swept over the students, silencing any lingering chatter.
"Today, we will be focusing not on brewing, but on understanding the nature of the ingredients you so carelessly throw into your cauldrons," Silco said, his voice cool and deliberate. "Many of you have relied too heavily on instructions rather than intuition. That will not serve you in the long run."
A flick of his wand sent thick booklets floating down onto each desk. Vi caught hers before it could hit the table, flipping open the first few pages. Each ingredient had a section dedicated to its properties, uses, and the effects of different preparation methods.
"Work in pairs. You will analyze the given ingredients, describe their characteristics, and hypothesize how different methods of preparation—crushing, slicing, steeping, drying—alter their effects in potions. Accuracy is expected," Silco continued. "You may begin."
Caitlyn adjusted the booklet between them, scanning the first entry before glancing at Vi. "Let's start with this one—dried billywig stings. What do you know about them?"
Vi paused, tapping her quill against the desk. "Besides the fact that they make you feel all floaty if you mess up the dosage?"
Caitlyn rolled her eyes but didn’t hide her amused smile. "Yes, and?"
Vi leaned in slightly, their shoulders nearly brushing. "Well, fresh ones pack more of a punch. If you dry them too fast, the potency drops, but if you let them sit for a few weeks, they mellow out. Too much heat ruins them completely."
Caitlyn blinked, slightly taken aback. "That’s… actually correct."
Vi feigned offense. "Wow, you sound so surprised."
"Where do you even learn this stuff?"
"Just picked it up." Vi shrugged, quickly moving the conversation along. "What’s next?"
Caitlyn glanced at her but let it go. "Hellebore."
Vi leaned in again, pretending to examine the booklet, though her focus was more on Caitlyn than the words. "You know, if you wanted an excuse to sit this close, you could’ve just asked."
Caitlyn faltered, her fingers tightening around the quill. A faint blush crept up her neck, but she masked it well, giving Vi a flat look. "You’re insufferable."
Vi grinned, clearly enjoying herself. "You love it."
Caitlyn rolled her eyes, but the amused twitch of her lips gave her away. She turned slightly, meeting Vi’s gaze. For a moment, Vi didn’t move. Caitlyn’s eyes held hers, steady, unreadable. The warmth of their closeness pressed in.
Vi’s stomach twisted.
She pulled back abruptly, breaking the moment like snapping a thread.
"What’s next?" she muttered
Caitlyn hesitated, letting out a soft breath. "Right."
She turned to the booklet, tapping the next entry. "Crushed, sliced, or steeped—how does it change the Hellebore’s properties?"
"Depends on what you’re brewing," Vi said, her voice more neutral now. "Steep it too long, and it can poison the whole potion. Slicing keeps it stable."
Caitlyn carefully noted Vi’s answer in her booklet, her quill scratching against the parchment. Silence stretched between them for a beat too long.
Then, Caitlyn spoke—hesitant. "You know… you kind of disappeared over the summer."
Vi froze at Caitlyn's statement, her fingers pausing as she quickly searched for an answer. "Oh, you know," she said with a forced grin, brushing her hair back. "Summer got hectic. Things got... busy, I guess." She shrugged casually. "It wasn’t personal."
Caitlyn seemed to consider this, her quill hovering uncertainly over her notes. Silence lingered for a moment, but it wasn’t as uncomfortable as it had been earlier.
"Okay," Caitlyn finally said, her voice softer now, though there was still a touch of curiosity behind her words. "I just... wanted to make sure everything was alright."
Vi smiled softly, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I- yeah, thanks. I’m good."
Caitlyn gave her a small nod, though Vi could tell she wasn’t entirely convinced. Instead of pressing, Caitlyn just glanced back down at the booklet, her quill scratching across the paper as she moved onto the next section.
Vi let out a quiet breath, the weight of Caitlyn’s words lingering in the air between them, but she forced herself to focus on the task at hand.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class, and students began gathering their things. Vi packed her bag slowly, avoiding Caitlyn’s gaze. She could feel Caitlyn watching her, waiting for something—anything.
As they headed toward the door, Caitlyn spoke up, her voice hesitant but hopeful. "Hey, I was thinking of heading down to the lake to relax for a bit... Want to join me?"
Vi froze for a moment, the guilt twisting in her chest. She turned to Caitlyn, offering a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I’d love to, really, but..." She trailed off, fingers tightening around her bag strap. "I’ve got some stuff to take care of."
Caitlyn’s expression fell for a split second, but she quickly recovered, her voice soft but steady. "Okay, no worries. Just thought I’d ask." She shrugged, trying to mask the disappointment.
Vi’s heart squeezed, but she forced herself to sound casual. "Maybe next time?" she suggested, offering a faint smile.
"Yeah. Maybe," Caitlyn said, her voice barely above a whisper before she turned and walked off toward the lake, glancing back only once, the weight of her unspoken words hanging in the air.
Vi watched her go, the guilt gnawing at her, before she sighed and headed in the opposite direction.