The Return to Hogwarts
The Sorting Hat Ceremony had dragged on longer than anyone cared for, but finally, the final first-year had been sorted, and the golden plates on the tables brimmed with a lavish feast. The Great Hall erupted into chatter, laughter, and the clinking of goblets.
Astoria settled into her seat at the Slytherin table, wedged comfortably between Ominis and Imelda. Across from her, Sebastian was already piling his plate with roasted chicken and buttered potatoes, his appetite as insatiable as ever. The feast was grand, as it always was, but something felt different this year.
"This year, there's an absurd number of Gryffindors," Imelda grumbled, stabbing at her roasted pheasant as though it had personally offended her. "More reckless, glory-hogging fools to deal with."
Sebastian smirked, glancing at the Gryffindor table where a group of boisterous first-years were practically bouncing in their seats. "Oh, come now, Imelda. Think of it as entertainment."
"Entertainment," she scoffed. "If you consider watching them lose to us in Quidditch 'entertainment,' then sure."
At that moment, Professor Black rose from his seat at the High Table and cleared his throat. The Hall quieted almost immediately.
"I shall make this brief," he announced. "Many of you have inquired about the status of your beloved Quidditch program. After careful deliberation..." He paused, clearly relishing the suspense. "...I have decided that this year, Quidditch shall resume."
The reaction was instant. The Great Hall erupted into cheers, and Imelda practically shot out of her chair, her fist punching the air.
Sebastian chuckled at Imelda's enthusiasm. "I take it you'll be trying out for Captain?"
"I don't try," Imelda sniffed.
Astoria smiled at the scene but found her gaze drifting over to the Gryffindor table, where a few familiar faces sat among the red and gold. Natty and Garreth were deep in conversation, no doubt scheming their next bit of mischief. Poppy, on the other hand, sat quietly, absentmindedly feeding a piece of roast beef to a tiny, hidden Puffskein in her lap.
Something else caught Astoria's attention however, a group of older Gryffindor boys at the far end of the table—each of them blatantly staring in her direction.
Sebastian noticed them too. His grip tightened around his goblet.
It wasn't that Sebastian wasn't used to people staring at Astoria. She had always commanded attention, but there was something different about her now. Over the summer, she had...changed. She carried herself with an effortless grace, and the way the candlelight reflected off her golden-brown hair made her almost ethereal. Her striking features—sharp green eyes, porcelain skin, and full lips—had only grown more defined.
She had always turned heads, but now? Now people practically tripped over themselves to get a second glance.
Sebastian, for reasons he couldn't quite explain, found himself irritated.
"What are they looking at?" he muttered, his voice sharper than intended.
Astoria followed his gaze, her brows furrowing slightly. "Looking for trouble, no doubt." She turned back to her meal, unfazed.
Sebastian, however, wasn't convinced.
Once the feast concluded, students began filtering out of the Great Hall in groups, heading back to their dormitories. Astoria, Sebastian, and Ominis rose from their seats together, prepared to head down towards the dungeons. Just as they reached the massive oak doors, they were intercepted.
"Astoria!"
Natty and Poppy appeared first, their faces lighting up as they pulled her into a warm embrace. Garreth wasn't far behind, grinning broadly.
"It's so good to see you!" Natty said, squeezing her tightly. "It feels like ages since we last spoke."
Poppy nodded in agreement. "How was your holiday?"
"It was lovely," Astoria replied, returning their embraces with equal enthusiasm. "Quiet, but just what I needed."
Sebastian stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching the interaction with mild disinterest.
"So," Garreth said, leaning against the stone archway. "I hear we're off to Hogsmeade tomorrow after class. Astoria, you'll be joining us, won't you?"
"Of course," she said, smiling. "I need to pick up some supplies anyway."
"Brilliant. Butterbeers on me."
Sebastian exhaled sharply through his nose. He wasn't sure why Garreth's invitation annoyed him, but it did.
The group exchanged a few more pleasantries before Natty, Garreth, and Poppy bid them goodnight and headed off towards their respective dormitories.
Sebastian watched them go, his gaze lingering on the back of Garreth's head longer than necessary.
Ominis sighed beside him. "I know that look."
"What look?" Sebastian said, feigning ignorance.
"The look that suggests you're contemplating something reckless."
Sebastian scoffed, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Ominis hummed knowingly.