Welcome to Hogwarts
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry— Scotland
Drina fights the urge to fidget with her skirt as she and her classmates approach the entrance to Hogwarts, her stomach churning with equal measures of anticipation and dread at the thought of meeting a specific pair of onyx eyes once again.
Drina had considered writing to Severus several times, but could never get the nerve to put quill to paper.
What would I even say? ‘Hey, it’s the girl you fucked in a church a few months ago, how have you been?’
No. Absolutely not.
She nearly had a stroke when Father Kiernan announced the seventh years would be spending the next year at Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament just days ago. Apparently, Beaux Battons was meant to represent France but backed out last minute— Drina can’t decide whether to think of the coincidence as a blessing or a curse.
Thoughts of what Severus might feel about seeing her again bombard her mind as Adrienne chatters at her side until they come to another set of large, wooden doors just inside an entrance hall. Her heart jumps in her throat as Father Kiernan begins directing them to form two neat, even lines.
Well, I guess I’m about to find out.
***
Severus barely catches himself from rolling his eyes as Dumbledore prattles on about the tournament with all the usual flourish, his leg itching to bounce with impatience. He could barely believe his ears when the Headmaster informed the staff of the change in schools attending the tournament just days ago and had been climbing up the castle walls ever since. The little witch has haunted his mind and flesh since the moment he left her in Paris, driving him to pen and promptly burn an embarrassing number of letters over the past few months.
She likely would want nothing more to do with me, his mind is always quick to remind him with more than a hint of self-loathing. It’s just like the universe to throw his worst transgressions back in his face— honestly, he should have expected something like this to happen.
Despite all this, a small part of him can’t help but hope that Drina might be looking forward to seeing him again. Regardless, he’ll find out soon enough once Dumbledore kindly decides to shut the fuck up.
“Now, please join me in welcoming our friends from St. Sebastian!” Dumbledore finally says, prompting those seated at the head table to rise.
Severus mentally checks his mask of feigned indifference as he stands, but it quickly threatens to crumble as soon as she walks through those doors. He follows her confident stride with a hungry gaze and bated breath as he joins the applause, his muscles tensing as he watches her eyes begin to scan the head table. His chest tightens when those mossy green eyes finally meet his, a stunning flush of pink staining her cheeks before she gives a tentative smile as if to gauge his response to her presence. He discreetly tips his head in response, a thrill of warm satisfaction flowing through him as he sees her fight a broad smile before she turns to stand just before the dais with her peers.
Severus finds excuses to linger a bit longer in the entrance hall after dinner, definitely not hoping to catch sight of the witch once more. He’s glaring at Karkaroff from across the hall when Lucius appears at his side.
“Severus, old friend. How are you?” Lucius asks.
“Splendid, as always.” Severus drawls, briefly glancing at him before returning his gaze to roam over the students exiting the great hall.
“I’m going to lose my fucking head if a Gryffindor gets chosen as our champion,” he murmurs conspiratorially, leaning closer. “I’ve already told Draco—“ Lucius pauses as his eyes flit to somewhere over Severus’s shoulder. “My, my, do my eyes deceive me or is that Miss Drina Vandeleur,” he suddenly calls with a broad smile.
“Lucius!” Drina smiles with a small laugh as she approaches them. His eyes nearly pop out of his head as he watches Lucius circle his arms around her, lifting her with a dramatic spin as she throws her arms around his neck and laughs.
“It’s been too long, darling,” Lucius says, setting her down.
“Much too long,” she grins before her eyes flit briefly to Severus. “Well, I better catch up to the others or I’ll be sleeping in a hallway tonight,” she says with a quick squeeze to his arm.
“We’ll catch up soon,” Lucius smiles before watching her leave.
Severus narrows his eyes at Lucius. “How do you know Miss Vandeleur?”
Lucius swivels his head to the side with matching suspicion. “How do you know Miss Vandeleur, Severus?”
“We met briefly while I was in Paris,” Severus says in a clipped tone, quickly smoothing his expression to feigned indifference.
Lucius blinks, puzzled, before a sly smirk tugs at his mouth. “Oh, Severus…” Lucius says, putting a hand to his mouth to stop from laughing.
“What?” Severus snaps.
Lucius draws closer, whispering in his ear the last words Severus would ever think to hear, a deep shiver of cold dread spreading through his veins.
“Drina is my niece— Bellatrix’s daughter.”
Circe’s fucking tits.
***