Alya tossed and turned several times in bed, trying in vain to fall back asleep, but she was now wide awake. Therefore, she decided to get up and enjoy the morning quiet in the common room.

She slipped out of the emerald blankets and got dressed. It was Saturday and there were no classes scheduled for that day, so students were allowed to wear their clothes as they pleased, but Alya opted for the school uniform anyway: she was so excited to have ended up in Slytherin, she wanted to show off the colours every time.

The girl moved into the room, stealthy as a cat, since her friends were still sleeping like logs. Alya didn't want to disturb them.

Taking advantage of that unexpected privacy, little Black rummaged through the contents of her trunk until she found, submerged under piles of clothing, the small book entitled Treasure Island. She quickly threw it into the bottom of her bag and headed downstairs.

The common room was deserted; the weekend had begun and the absence of classes allowed students to sleep late in the morning.

Alya immediately took refuge in the room's library, being able to freely choose where to sit. Usually, the best seats were always occupied by older students. Alya chose a secluded corner, abandoning herself on a soft green velvet armchair, which faced one of the large windows overlooking the placid waters of the Black Lake. The perfect view to immerse oneself in a relaxing read.

Alya pulled from her bag the small book that Harry, the friendly Muggle boy she had met during the summer, had lent her. Alya had already read several pages when she was still in Grimmauld Place, secretly, during the night when everyone was asleep. No one in her family would have approved of her unusual interest. The only one who could have understood her and shared the same passion for Muggle literature was Sirius, who paradoxically detested her ardently and hadn't spoken to her for a couple of months.

Alya shook her head, trying to banish that sad thought. She opened the little book and plunged into concentrated reading, losing herself in the pirate adventures of Harry's favourite characters. The events described were so gripping that Alya soon lost track of time. She spent more than an hour with her nose and eyes glued to the pages and didn't even notice.

Her face only resurfaced when she heard the footsteps of someone preparing to descend the spiral staircase. Alya immediately closed the volume and pushed it into the depths of his bag. She absolutely could not risk being caught with something Muggle in her hand. She had a reputation to uphold, as Narcissa had sternly admonished her. Her family repudiated any sympathy towards the non-magical world, considering it inappropriate and disreputable; after what Narcissa had confided to her about what Andromeda had done, Alya was aware of the terrible consequences that would befall all Blacks if she too showed even a faint trace of curiosity towards the Muggle world, as despised as it was banished. The shame of dishonour would haunt them for who knows how long, so Alya was determined to keep that small book carefully hidden, as a personal heirloom.

The girl stood up and pressed her nose against the cold glass of the window, which looked directly onto the waters of the lake. Just a second later, several students scattered lazily around the entire common room and Alya feigned a deep interest in the creatures which inhabited the depths, expanding before her view.

Behind Alya's back, the figures of Elizabeth, Melyssa and Philippa emerged.

"There you are! How can you be so early even on a Saturday?" exclaimed the latter. Alya clutched her shoulders.

"I just wanted to explore our library in peace, without tripping over the feet of our older mates," Alya explained, with partial sincerity.

"Shall we go for breakfast?" proposed Melyssa, in her usual cheerful tone and scatterbrained air. Alya and the others willingly agreed: they were starving.

The foursome then left the Slytherin common room for the huge Great Hall of the castle.

Over breakfast, Alya and her friends planned to return to the common room later, to do homework together.

At one point, a great fluttering of wings was heard: a storm of owls and owlets invaded the Great Hall of the castle, delivering packages and letters to various students. In the midst of the flock, Alya caught sight of the owl that she had sent to Grimmauld Place. The bird deposited two envelopes in her hand, both sealed with black wax, bearing the unmistakable rampant dog, symbol of the House of Black. Alya threw the two letters into her pocket; she would read them later, in the quieter privacy of her common room. Unconsciously, she cast a quick glance at the Gryffindor table, where she immediately spotted her brother Sirius. He too had received an envelope, the same as Alya's. The boy wasted no time and unwrapped it. He quickly read the contents, with a grim expression. Then, with a grimace of disdain, he crumpled it up, throwing it on the floor. Alya glared at him reproachfully for this disrespectful gesture.

After breakfast, the four Slytherins returned to the school dungeon. Melyssa, Philippa and Beth ran to occupy one of the still vacant mahogany tables, flooding it with books, writing feathers and still-pristine parchment scrolls. Alya, on the other hand, stayed apart, sitting on one of the black leather armchairs near the fireplace. She extracted the two letters from her pocket and began to read.

When she unwrapped the first envelope, Alya immediately recognised her mother's impeccable handwriting:

Dear Alya Merope,

your father and I are very proud to know that you have been sorted into Slytherin. You are sure to find many interesting people in this House with whom you can make friends, as you have already experienced.

Now that you are at Hogwarts, work hard and always hold our family honour high.

I know you will not let us down,

Mother

A message that was as concise as it was cold and detached, as befitted Walburga's inflexible and rigid character, but at the same time extremely effective: in just a few words, Mrs Black had reminded her daughter of her role and task as a descendant of a pure-blood lineage, implicitly alluding to the high expectations both parents placed on her, both in school successes and in social relationships. Exactly as Narcissa had pointed out on the first night at Hogwarts.

Alya repeatedly read the phrase your father and I are very proud, the only veiled praise for the conduct the child had shown so far. A faint show of affection, amidst that tangle of harsh and uncompromising words, which sounded like stern warnings not to fail in one's responsibilities.

Alya set aside the letter she had received from her mother and grabbed the second envelope.

When she saw Regulus' tiny but elegant handwriting, little Black was seized by a sudden nostalgia. Only then did she realise how much she missed her brother.

Alya read Regulus' long letter with avidity.

Dear Alya,

If you only knew how much I envy you! I'd throw the entire collection of flying brooms Dad gave me for Christmas into the fire to get to you at Hogwarts right now! I'm so bored here at home without you. In desperation, I spent all afternoon yesterday chatting to Kreacher while he tidied up the kitchen. I'm not sure Mum was pleased to see me interacting so much with our servants, but thankfully she didn't comment.

She is much calmer since Sirius left.

However, both she and Dad got quite furious when they found out that Sirius ended up in Gryffindor. Personally, I wasn't surprised.

Sirius has always been different and the sorting confirmed it.

Anyway, our dear brother didn't even deign to write us two lines. Mum and dad had to send a letter to the headmaster, asking about Sirius's outcome. Crazy stuff! I wonder what the heck he's trying to prove by behaving like that. Anyway, I think Mum sent him an owl with a letter well stuffed with her disappointment. Just for a change!

Turning to our cousin, what Cissy told you is true. Andromeda really did run away from home, to be married to a Muggle-born. Our uncles came to our house the same day you left for Hogwarts, to warn us. Bella was also with them. I don't remember ever seeing her so furious. She was scary! Uncle Cygnus explained that they waited so long to tell us the dreadful news - from what I understand, Andromeda escaped over a fortnight ago - because Auntie Druella was hoping with all her might to talk some sense into her and bring her home. Bella searched the whole country for her, but even she couldn't find her. It seems Andromeda is well intent on not being found. I guess she is afraid of what might happen to the man she ran away with.

Anyway, Dad was very understanding, he even offered to join the search. But Mum said she thought it was all a waste of time. She looked very worried; maybe she's afraid of how this incident might affect Sirius' already rebellious nature. He always adored Andromeda!

However, in the end Mum convinced our uncles not to stall any longer and to proceed with the Ritualis Evulsionis immediately.

"We must eliminate the rotten branches of the family immediately, before the infection spreads irreparably!" she said. Auntie Druella burst into tears, but finally agreed.

The ritual is taking place tomorrow, in our living room. The family tapestry will be needed. I'll have to participate too, you know. In theory, all the members of the main household must be present, but since Narcissa is busy at Hogwarts, I'll be taking her place.

I must admit, I'm rather curious to see how the ritual works. Although I feel a little sorry for Andromeda, I've always liked her.

I'll tell you all about it in my next letter!

I must say goodbye now. Take care, write to me soon!

A hug,

Regulus

Alya put both letters back in her pocket. She sat for a few more minutes in the armchair, pensively contemplating the flames in the fireplace. She pondered what was about to happen to Andromeda. A few more hours and she would no longer be part of the Black lineage, uprooted like a dry branch from the family tree. Sirius would not take this well, Alya considered with certainty.

With a bitter sigh, Alya got up and went to join her friends. She tried not to think about her family issues anymore and concentrated on her homework, trying to appear cold and unfeeling, like her mother. She wore the hard mask of austerity, which her noble family had always taught her to show.

***

It was a warm and sunny afternoon, the ideal condition to spend a few hours lazing around in the large park surrounding the school.

Alya, Philippa, Melyssa and Elizabeth were lounging on the soft blanket of grass, admiring the bright landscape stretching immensely before their eyes. Alya's grey gaze had been enraptured by the golden glare of the sun shimmering on the waters of the Black Lake; from time to time, the purplish figure of the giant octopus peeped up to the surface, swimming lazily, illuminated by the warm rays.

Melyssa, on the other hand, watched with interest the dense cluster of trees to her left.

"Who knows what hideous creatures live in the Forbidden Forest?" she wondered aloud, with her usual blank expression.

"No one knows -- Maybe, only Dumbledore, he's the Headmaster of Hogwarts," Alya replied, without looking away from the lake. Philippa giggled, as she fiddled with a small leaf torn from the grass with her fingers.

"My brother Glenn went there once, with his friends. He swears he ran into a pack of centaurs," the blonde declared, with the air of someone who knew a lot about the subject. Alya rolled her eyes in amusement: Philippa's brother must have made up a tall tale, because centaurs were not tame creatures to run into without painful consequences.

Nevertheless, Philippa's attempt to draw her friends' attention to herself was successful. Elizabeth stared at her with eyes full of curiosity.

"Really? How brave! I'd love to see a centaur up close, too!" she claimed.

"How about a little hike?" whispered Philippa, leaning towards her companions.

"I'm in!" squeaked Melyssa, ever ready to lend a helping hand to her friend.

"Uh, I don't know -- I mean, the Forbidden Forest is -- forbidden!" muttered Elizabeth, reluctant at the idea of going into that patch of dark vegetation.

"Come on! Didn't you want to see the centaurs?" urged Philippa, pouting. Eventually even Beth nodded, more out of fear of being left out of the group than out of a desire for adventure.

Philippa's watery eyes finally pointed at Alya, with an obvious spark of defiance.

"And you, Alya? Are you with us or are you chickening out like Beth?" the blonde asked, with a crooked grin.

Alya turned to her, her expression inscrutable. Honestly, she found ridiculous the idea of sneaking into a forest, when they could relax in the warmth of the sun. However, she was well aware that a tacit little war, aimed at electing the leader of that small group of girls, had just begun. And Alya had no intention of conceding victory to Philippa so easily.

"I'm in, of course. I'm not afraid of four shrunken little trees!" she retorted with superiority. Philippa's faded gaze narrowed into a disappointed slit.

"Great, then let's go!" said the young Travers, rising with the others.

The four young girls skirted the Herbology greenhouses, which were just a few metres from the border of the Forbidden Forest. After making sure no one was looking in their direction - there were no teachers around and the other students were too busy enjoying their free time to be interested in four freshmen - Alya and her firends dashed like jackrabbits towards the woods.

In a flash, the four girls entered the forest and were engulfed in heavy darkness. It seemed as if night had suddenly fallen. The blanket of branches and foliage above their heads was so thick and tangled that the rays couldn't penetrate it. Alya heard Beth swallow audibly. Melyssa clung to Philippa, grabbing her arm. For a moment, also the blonde girl assumed a frightened expression. But she didn't retrace her steps. On the contrary, she began to walk with feigned bravado, following a narrow path that snaked beneath their feet.

Alya followed the little group, inhaling at the top of her lungs the damp scent of vegetation which hovered in this enchanted place. Little Black was not afraid. For some inexplicable reason, she felt attracted by everything around her: the majestic trees, the mighty trunks, the tangle of branches and the green darkness that enveloped them appeared to her like a seductive picture, enticing her to penetrate deeper into that arcane forest. She even had the strange feeling that there was something familiar in that place, as if she had been there before. But that, of course, was impossible. At a distance of a couple of metres from her friends, who were pawing uncertainly at each other, Alya continued with her head held high, admiring every inch of the place.

Suddenly, little Black saw something that made her heart leap. She stopped, heedless of losing sight of Philippa, Melyssa and Beth, who, on the other hand, didn't notice that their friend had been left behind.

Alya followed another path, much narrower than the master path, and much less visible. The darkness became denser. But Alya advanced undaunted.

After a handful of metres, she reached what had made her jump in astonishment.

She stood at the foot of a gigantic yew tree, silhouetted majestically against the leafy sky. It was identical to the tree she had seen in her last dream. The same yew tree.

How could it be possible? wondered Alya, unable to give herself a logical and convincing answer.

Then, a sudden rustle made her snap, impulsively drawing her wand. A useless gesture, since she still had no idea what kind of spells to use to defend herself against a possible attack.

"Alya Merope. At last we meet again." hissed a voice hidden in the darkness, which had nothing human about it.

"Koboro?" retorted Alya, her eyes wide. Wrapped tightly around a large low branch of the tree, the sinuous body of a cobra, black as onyx, blended in with the rest of the darkness. Koboro's triangular snout now stared at Alya, with a glittering gaze.

"What are you doing here?" asked Alya, in Parseltongue, incredulous to find the reptile she had rescued in faraway Cornwall standing there before her.

"I'm here for you" he replied, solemn.

"For me?"

"You saved my life, remember? I owe you." replied Koboro.

"What you have done this summer has created a bond. An unbreakable bond. It is my duty to repay you, according to the honour of the race to which I belong. Now, I must repay you with something of the same value." the reptile explained, unbending.

Alya pondered the matter for a few seconds.

"I don't think I have any such important favours to ask of you at the moment." she whispered, shaking her head desolately.

"Don't worry. We cobras know how to wait. I will stay here, in this beautiful forest, until you've found the right price to reward your noble gesture." hissed Koboro. Alya nodded, hesitant.

"But how did you sneak in here, to Hogwarts? There are very powerful spells protecting these borders!" the girl asked, genuinely curious. Koboro shook his scaly head.

"Trifles when compared to the magic of us cobras. It was puppy snake play to overcome the defensive magic that envelops this place!" Koboro replied proudly.

Alya squared him in awe; the cobra's magical abilities were far beyond her imagination.

"Can I come and see you?" asked the girl, in a shy voice.

"As often as you like," he replied, making his forked tongue vibrate merrily out of his jaws.

Alya smiled. After all, she didn't mind having such a powerful magical creature as a friend.

"I think you should return to the castle now. You have been out too long. Your friends are looking for you." hissed Koboro, seriously.

It was time to take leave. Alya nodded.

"We'll meet again soon, Alya Merope." greeted the snake, lightly swaying her triangular head.

"See you soon, Koboro." Alya replied, trying to show reverence.

The black cobra released the large branch from the grasp of its massive coils and disappeared with a flicker into the expanding darkness behind the big yew.

Alya turned in the opposite direction, heading for the exit of the Forbidden Forest.

As she emerged from the tangle of branches and trunks, the dazzling light of the sun stunned the little girl. By now, her eyes had grown accustomed to the darkness and it took her a few seconds before she spotted her friends near the greenhouses, who were waving their arms about. Alya caught up with them.

"Oh my God, Alya! We thought you were lost!" chirped Beth, worried.

"I wasn't. I just wanted to explore a bit." Alya replied, shrugging.

"Weren't you scared to be alone in the forest?" squeaked Melyssa, incredulous. Alya shook her head, with superiority. Beth and Melyssa looked at her with admiring eyes.

"Come on, let's go back inside!" interrupted Philippa, abruptly.

She gave Alya a smile as fake as brass, squaring her with a contrite expression. Once again, Philippa had been overshadowed by her noble schoolmate.

Then, the four girls returned to the castle.

For the rest of the day, Alya thought back to her strange encounter with Koboro. In her heart, Alya was happy that the snake had come at Hogwarts.