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˚ ₊ ♡ ❰  NATURALLY ❱
*✧ ─── ❝ ❪ NEVER BEEN WRONG ❫ ❞
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˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ ACT ONE ── the unicorn disaster  🐍 ⁺⑅

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DREAMERS DUOLOGY  ⋆ 🐉.
♯ ❝ I'D LIKE TO THINK I AM ❞
CHAPTER TWO ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
˚ ₊ ♡ 1989 ─── year six
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MARIE-CLAIRE HAS CRAFTED THE PERFECT FACE OF INDIFFERNECE OVER THE YEARS AS SHE SITS IN ONE OF THE compartments further down the train for these kinds of moments. Levius is staring her down like she just had set Merlin himself aflame, trying to find all the answers he is looking for through her eyes. She shows know signs of acknowledging him as he looks at her questionably because of their earlier encounter with the Weasley clan and the chase one of the redheaded blood-traitors gave her.

"Will you stop looking at me like that you git." Her façade cracks for a second, (--as it only does around her closest friend ) as she sets her narrowed eyes upon him—eerily looking like her father in that moment that even Levius can't help but avert his eyes towards the window.

"Just wondering why that redhead was chasing you like my little brother chases that boisterous Malfoy kid." In true Nott fashion, Levius fires back coolly, hands folding on his lap.

Marie scoffs, not even attempting to explain anything and instead she leans down to grab Meeko off of the ground to bring her feline companion closer to her chest.

It is silent for a moment, until Levius once again breaks the silence , "You still taking that atrocious class this year?"

The redheaded beauty knows immediately what class her friend is speaking so distastefully about. "I am actually." A small smile adores her face as she thinks about the upcoming term. "Father has allowed me to continue it in my fourth year, so I will no throw away my progress now."

"What progress?" The dark skinned boy scoffs, "All you do is wait for Kettleburn to lose another limb."

Marie shakes her head, soft laughter spilling from her mouth like a little melody that birds sing in the morning. "Only you would think that's what we do Levy."

"isn't it?"

Marie bites the inside of her cheek, if she is honest most of the time everyone waits anxiously when Kettleburn brings another potential dangerous creature to class, expecting the man to actually lose another body part. But she would never admit such thing out loud.

"Shouldn't you be patrolling the train with the other Prefects?" She replies instead.

Levius casually shrugs, his trait mark Nott smirk—one his younger brother Theodore also already mastered is sprawled on his handsome face. "Why? Need me to give Weasley a love letter in secret?"

Marie-Claire's face contorts into one of disgust, the mere idea of associating herself with the boy leaving her uncomfortable. "As if."

Levius only laughs at the girl's flustered face before he stands up, dusting of his new set of robes at the same time. "Well I'll see what these idiots have cooked up this year for us to do."

Marie laughs, brushing the loose strand of fiery coloured hair away from her eyes and behind her ears as she waves her friend goodbye. "Good luck."

A short few minutes pass as Marie gazes longingly outside the window and into the Scottish countryside that blurs passed her in hues of green and brown. A feeling of serenity settling inside of her as she instinctively strokes Meeko's soft grey fur.

Not before long, her gaze drifts away from the pleasing outside view and back to her bag next to her where her favourite book peeks out. The tattered and faded blue book has seen better days, but with the amount of times it has been read it shouldn't look brand new anymore.

Without much thought, she grabs is once again, the golden letters indicating the title sparkling in the sunlight that streams inside the compartment.

Fantastic beasts and where to find them she traces the words mindlessly with her finger before she opens it again, eyes fleetingly looking at the small inscription on the inside. No one had known about its presence, she had been lucky to find the man she admired immeasurably without her parents hovering over her like hawks during a trip to Diagon Alley.

She had barely controlled her excitement as she hesitantly approach the elder man with her newly purchased book clutched to her chest at the eve of her return to Hogwarts for her fourth year.

Dear Marie-Claire,

I hope you'll fall in love with all these
     creatures as I did many many years ago,
     take care and all the best of luck to you.

Newt Scamander

It still warmed her heart as recalled the memory. How she aimlessly talked with the elder man about her newfound love for magical creatures—leaving out the part where everyone else in her family thought it to be completely useless.

She still remembers how long she was able to talk about all these creatures and have her questions be answered with interesting facts and encouragement to find out more, unlike the distasteful short answers she received at home about the subject.

Marie grins, turning the page, eyes scanning over the pages she had seen so many times before—but unlike when she first bought it, now the pages were filled with additional notes and ideas. It had become her little secret, not even Levius was allowed to take a peek at her true passion.

A gentle knock brought the redheaded Slytherin girl back to reality to see a young girl standing in the opening of the door, big bright doe green eyes staring up at her and a toothy grin on full display. With one simple glance at the blonde girls robes, Marie came to the conclusion that it was a first year student yet to be sorted.

"Can I sit with you?" She asks sweetly, arms waving back and forward nervously as she tries to maintain eye contact with the intimidating looking girl in the compartment. "All the other compartment are far too loud for my taste."

Marie's façade does not crack, she remains completely indifferent to the little girl as she eyes her. "What's your name?"

"Primrose Lovegood."

Marie's face contorts in the slightest at the response, while the Lovegood name might have been one of a pureblood, it did not hold any significance among her family and it associates. The redhead hums, ready to send the girl on her merry way but before she can even utter a word, the little blonde girl notices the book on her lap. "Oh Fantastic Beasts and where to find them!"

The blonde girl immediately abandons all hesitation she had earlier posed about entering the compartment as she drops in the seat next to the older girl. "I have read that book recently! I truly loved it so much. I find it fascinating how he looks at all the creatures."

"You—"

Marie doesn't even manage to get a word in as Primrose rambles on without a care in the world, "My dad told me I can't take Care of Magical Creatures until my third year, that's a bummer. Do you take the class?"

"Yes." Marie-Claire replies curtly, voice void of any sort of emotion. "You should le—"

"Is it as amazing as I think it is?"

Marie takes in a deep breath, trying to calm herself down as the blonde Lovegood girl keeps on talking and talking. . . and talking.

"Didn't you say the other compartments were too loud." Marie manages to cut in, eyes narrowed at the child beside her.

"Well, they didn't have anything interesting to say, wouldn't want to waste my time shouting about Quidditch." Primrose replies matter of factly, coaxing a small smirk on Marie's face as she hums.

"So what is your name?" Primrose inquires with a curious look.

"Marie-Claire." The redhead finally caves in.

"Oh that's a pretty name." Primrose gleefully smiles, "My little sister has a pretty name too!"

Marie-Claire just nods, intending to ignore the talkative first year, seeing at the blonde ball of energy doesn't seem to be leaving her alone anytime soon. Her gaze remains fixated on the window, where darkness is slowing encasing the Scottish countryside. Beautiful hues of orange and yellow mixing together to paint the sky in an early September sunset.

"What House are you in?" Primrose wonders as she swings her legs back and forward.

"Slytherin."

"Oh." Marie waits for the same spiel she has heard a thousand times before, but she is pleasantly surprised by the blonde's next few words. "You must be pretty ambitious then!"

Marie sneaks a glance at the girl from the corner of her eye, fighting the urge to let her lips curl into a smile. "I'd like to think I am."

"I'm probably going to be a Ravenclaw, my dad thinks I'd be a pretty good fit."

"Hufflepuff."

"Huh?"

"You're going to be sorted into Hufflepuff." Marie elaborates in an even tone, "you're open minded and clever for sure, but I think there's more to you than that."

"What makes me a Hufflepuff then?" Primrose asks inquisitively, crossing her arms over her chest.

Marie finally let's a small genuine smile appear on her face, "That is something for you to figure out yourself. But let me tell you this, I have never been wrong about a sorting before."

With that said, Marie-Claire gathers her belongings—the brown satchel bag with one arm and Meeko with the other.

"Where are you going?"

"Leaving, I'm not going to associate myself with a filthy blood-traitor." Her words sound monotone and harsh, like a sentence repeated, practised and drilled for years and years and Primrose eyes widen in surprise by the sudden turn of events.

With those words said, the redhead slides the compartment door open with a grace only those with years of practise have mastered. Something does however tug at her heartstrings as she casts one last look over her shoulder at the young first year. Her gleeful expression had become crestfallen.

Marie sighs, "Hey kid?"

Primrose peeks up.

"You stay you. Don't change."

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Marie, girl watcha doing! 🙈 well. . . Our little redhead still remains her parents pride and joy even when they aren't around whoopsie. Poor Primrose. 🤷‍♀️. couldn't help but also throw in a little clueless reference 🔎🕵️. Whatcha guys think about Levius and Prim? Am I also going to get the hufflepuff/slytherin brotop trope in this story? Who knows hehe, just kidding, I'm living for that sh🙊t! Don't forget to leave a little love! A commeng goes a long way 🥰 Bye bye guys!