𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗜 ━━ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧
003. this godforsaken property

          𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗗𝗢𝗥𝗠 𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗠, 𝗦𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗠𝗘𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗔 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗘 which was equally joyful and confused. "Am I in the wrong place?" Everest wondered, "I work fast so I asked around, every dorm has four to five people."

The dorm room was decorated with majestic emerald green, silver-stones all over the pieces of furniture. Two single-beds sat side by side with a narrow aisle in the middle, a bed-side table at the end of it. 

"I asked for a single room," Scarlet squinted her eyes, scanning the godforsaken property she was forced to attend. 

"You can't ask for things, this isn't a hotel," Everest raised a brow, crossing her arms over her chest.

Scarlet noticed Everest could get feisty and fierce, and she was not complaining. "Well, knowing it's you, I'm not going to go back and complain about it, I actually like you."

The brunette's smirk stretched beyond the point of tolerable. 

Scarlet settled down her bags on the floor. "Also, I'm a Bridget, I can ask and get a lot of things so ask away."

"Do you think we can ask for a coffee machine in our dorm room?" The girl gaped hopefully, eyes glinting under the dim light of the place.

"Oh, Eve, we're gonna get along quite well," Scarlet said with an amused tone. "Because I already asked for one."

"Shut up!" She yelled in excitement, in response. "My mother wouldn't stop babbling about my caffeine intake, so what if I'm eleven, I can handle it just fine."

Scarlet was arranging her coats, dresses, and robes in her wardrobe, and Everest slumped onto her bed with a loud yawn. 

"I'm not a stalker or anything," Everest started, "But I noticed you entering the Hall hand-in-hand with that Black, are you two an item?"

Scarlet let out a humourless laugh, and the monotone sounded inhuman to Everest who squinted her eyes in confusion. "Absolutely not... we're good friends."

"Well, the whole Gryffindor-situation must be a turn-off, no?"

"I only wonder how everybody else will react," she shrugged, closing her closet and turning to face the resting brunette. "You know how purebloods get about the sacred nonsense."

"You really believe it's all nonsense?" Everest asked, sudden hope tinkling in her emerald eyes.

Scarlet paused the conversation momentarily, feeling hesitant. "Most of it, yes," she took a deep breath, "Are you not sending letters to your parents?"

"I'm sure my brother in seventh year will keep them updated," Everest shrugged nonchalantly.

"You have a brother?" Scarlet nodded at the new knowledge of information.

"Seven actually."

"SEVEN BROTHERS?" Scarlet shrieked, "Did your parents have backup children for their backup children?"

"They just really desired a girl," Everest shrugged. "I was pretty wanted... and this is going to be so peaceful!" she excitedly cheered, referring to the personal space due to it only being the two of them, and then exaggerated her gratitude. "I owe you my life."

"Hm, wonder what must be like," the blonde sat on her bed, staring off at the wall. "I'm an only child, and my cousins are my worst nightmare, everyone from my mother's side... ugh! That Malfoy is such a bigot."

Everest gaped, "Lucius Malfoy is your cousin?" She chuckled humourlessly. "I can't imagine what that must be like."

"How are you not tired of boys, already?" Scarlet wondered, "It must be quite noisy and frankly, irritating to live with that many people..."

She stopped talking when light snores were heard from the girl in the next bed, and Scarlet only wondered how she fell asleep in a bright room while someone was talking. Without leaving it another thought, she allowed herself to drift into sleep after turning the lights off too.

      "SCARLET!" EVEREST CALLED FOR THE BLONDE GIRL who walked down the corridor with two books in her hand, making her way over to the Great Hall for breakfast. "Have you guys met?"

Scarlet turned around and scanned her eyes over a nervous blonde boy and an elegant and steady dark-skinned girl. Her skin was practically growing as though she has been sunkissed.

"I'm Dorcas Meadowes," she replied with a tight-lipped smile, lending her hand for the blonde to shake. 

"Scarlet Bridget," she replied, shaking her hand firmly with a light, approving smile.

Everest glanced between the two, "Looks like Scarlet's found her match," she giddily cheered.

"Scarlet, hi," the blonde boy chimed in, shaking her hand. 

"We've met before, Rosier, right?" She recognised and bowed her head a little politely. "Good to meet you." 

"Yeah, pleasure's all mine," he replied kindly, blinking rapidly. Scarlet may not have remembered him very well, however, Evan Rosier remembered her all too well ever since a specific incident at one of the Bridgets' Christmas balls.

The Slytherin group of friends walked inside the Hall, some Gryffindor students eyed them intensely as they walked to their table.

"Do you think they hate us or want us?" Everest whispered to her friends, gesturing towards the Gryffindor table.

"I'm sure they want to be us," Dorcas chimed in, sitting down beside Rosier.

"Oh Salazar, we share four classes with Gryffindors," Evan grimaced.

"Defense against the Dark Arts, Potions, Astronomy, and Herbology," a deep voice came from beside Scarlet who was startled at the sudden tone. 

"Morning, Severus," she smiled lightly.

"Good morning," he said in his usual mumbling manner.

As soon as breakfast hours started, Everest stuffed her face with almost everything. She loved tomatoes, and practically took the entire table's. Scarlet slowly realised it was not just tomatoes, the girl was fond of everything edible. 

"Must you eat so elegantly and make me feel like a peasant?" Everest told Scarlet who ate rather gracefully. The girl simply shrugged.

"You don't look like a peasant," she fake-frowned, her tone mockingly sweet. Everest was not amused by the act but she continued with her habit nonetheless.

Suddenly, owls started to bust through the windows to land letters to all. Scarlet received hers, immediately opening it quickly.

Dear Carly,

I spent the entire night waiting for your owl, but it seems as though you have forgotten about me as soon as you found friends. I have nothing much to say other than I'm glad you're in Slytherin (yes, I find out all the information soon enough). Remember everything I've taught you, and do not associate with people I do not want you to, it's for your own benefit. If anything appears out of the ordinary, always contact me. 

Also, keep an eye out for that boy of yours. Walburga threw a four hours-long tantrum yesterday after hearing the unfortunate news, I couldn't get any sleep.

I hope you have a great time and focus on your studies. Jaggy and I miss you a lot.

Love, 

Celeste Bridget. 

Scarlet slapped Everest who was trying to take a peek at her letter, and the girl yelped in astonishment. The blonde could understand Everest seemed to be one of those people who are curious about gossip. 

The girl raised a brow at seven letters dropping in front of Everest. And they were long. "That is a lot of letters."

"We're a clingy family," she shrugged nonchalantly, opening the letters with excitement.

      Scarlet did not know what to think of her cryptic mother's messages. Her mood changes from sweet to dangerous within seconds. Despite the pureblood mania and her expectations for her to maintain their reputation, the letter wasn't all unkind, it was rather sweet (minus the part where she referred to Sirius as her 'boy' despite being told not to). 

      After all the owls had made their way out, another one appeared at last and dropped a howler at the Gryffindor table, right in front of Sirius Black who mustered all his strength to destroy it, failing to do so.

"SIRIUS ORION BLACK—" the torment started and the entirety of the Great Hall turned to the Gryffindor table. Scarlet felt awful at Sirius' miserable face. 

      "HOW DARE YOU! — THIS IS THE WORST SCANDAL OUR FAMILY HAS EVER WITNESSED, YOU'RE A BLOODY DISGRACE TO THE FAMILY — AN AWFUL EXAMPLE FOR YOUR BROTHER! I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU SINGLE-HANDEDLY DESTROYED YOUR FUTURE—! WHO WILL EVER MARRY A USELESS GRYFFINDOR? UNBELIEVABLE, DISGRACEFUL—!"

No amount of warning could have braced Sirius for the ranting from Walburga Black's booming voice. The Gryffindor students made all their effort to tear the thing down to pieces but the angered voice continued. 

Feeling miserable, Scarlet slyly took out her wand and lazily flickered it towards the table, "Reducto," she whispered under her breath, watching as the howler fell into pieces, being destroyed. The woman's voice first fades and later stops completely.

The hall's students turned and glanced around in confusion. No one was ever able to stop a howler, and they could not find anyone using magic since Scarlet was quick with her actions.

      But Sirius knew. Of course, he knew. He slowly turned around to the Slytherin table and gave Scarlet a knowing look. Neither of them expressed anything with their faces—not a smile or a raise of a brow, they spoke a silent language where neither had to thank the other.

      Breakfast hours were over and Scarlet tried to approach Sirius to converse with him after the agonising act from his mother. However, when she called his name, he merely looked the other way and pretended not to hear her, getting into a conversation with James and Remus. 

      He just ignored her, and Scarlet was left utterly embarrassed at the act. 

      The first lesson was Potions with Gryffindors with Professor Slughorn who also happened to be the Head of Slytherin. 

For potion lessons, Slughorn partnered students who were meant to work together for the rest of the year.

"Welcome to your first Potions lesson, also your first lesson at Hogwarts," Slughorn clapped his hands together, "And you happen to be lucky to have me, everybody likes potions,"

The students tediously stared up at the excited teachers, awaiting the start of the lesson.

He took out a piece of paper and started to call out the names of pairs.

"Mulciber and Rosier — Fortescue and Longbottom — Black and Potter-"

James and Black excitedly cheered like little girls, earning a roll of eyes from most of the Slytherin pupils. 

"Let's scratch that, Potter with Evans—"

"Oh, bloody Merlin!" James jumped up and down on his feet, quieting down with a cough, his tone resembling a man's as he looked around with wide eyes. Meanwhile, Lily looked utterly annoyed, sharing a defeated look with her friends.

Slughorn defeatedly shook his head. "All right, all right, back to the lesson;

      "Meadowes and Snape — Black and Pettigrew — McKinnon and Chasseur — Bridget and Lupin—"

Everest looked around and her eyes laid on the blonde Gryffindor girl, she nodded sharply at her with a smile when she realised that was McKinnon. Scarlet finally realised the awkward boy's name was Remus Lupin.

It seemed as though most students named were not pleased with their placement, let alone stick with it for an entire year. the students slowly shuffled around, grabbing their wands and books to swiftly take a seat next to their partners.

Whilst Slughorn lectured the class about their first task, Scarlet felt a burning gaze at the side of her head with her impressive instincts.

"Enjoying yourself over there?" She smirked as soon as the staring boy's cheeks turned crimson, he instantly averted his gaze, fiddling with his book's spine. Scarlet's smirk dropped, he was practically radiating anxiousness. "I'm only messing with you."

"Oh, yeah—o-of course," he chuckled lightly, turning to look at her, "I'm Remus."

"I know," she answered, not rudely but his face fell again. "We met on the train... I'm Scarlet," she introduced, assuming he had forgotten.

He looked like he just mentally slapped himself. "I knew that, of course, I did, I don't know why I said that, I'm sorry—"

"Why are you apologising?"

Remus bit the insides of his cheeks to stop talking—rambling, even. "Right, sor—I mean, all right."

The Professor instructed everybody to turn to a specific page on their Potions textbook whilst writing the ingredients on the board. "I'll get the ingredients," Scarlet told Remus who was reading the instructions with extreme concentration. 

      After a few moments of potion brewing, Scarlet looked around as Remus was cutting a few berries to put in. Suddenly, her eyes caught Severus — who sat two seats away using the wrong ingredients. Severus Snape appeared to be a smart student, she had no idea why he was doing something wrong. 

Behind him, James was snickering to himself, and the girl could only assume he did something.

"Severus," she whisper-yelled, "What are you doing?"

The black-haired boy looked up at her, "I think I'm making the Draught of Peace," he shrugged, gesturing to his partner who was busy twirling her hair and giggling with another Slytherin girl.

"It's about to be the Draught of Destruction if you don't use the right ingredients," she spoke in a monotone, her voice still low to avoid humiliating him. 

Severus looked at her in confusion and glanced at his book, noticing his pages had flipped midway. He muttered a small thank you as a grunt escaped James' lips.

      Scarlet turned back around at the boy, shooting him a deadly glare which caused him to instantly look away, his expression falling. Snape—noticing his mistake—started to take his tray to the back of the class.

      Using this as a perfect opportunity, James raised his leg into the aisle and Snape's foot tripped over it, causing him to fall down with a loud thud, the tray causing a loud noise which caused most startled students to gasp. 

"Merlin..." Slughorn sighed, making his way over and helping Severus to clean up.

Lily shot James a disgusted look as he snickered. Before any of the Slytherin students could help the tripped-over boy, the redhead leaned down and helped Snape up to his feet kindly. "Are you all right?"

Snape nodded, mustering a small smile at the Gryffindor girl and going forward to collect his right ingredients. 

"Your friend is a dick," Scarlet muttered to Remus who shot her a guilty, tight-lipped smile.

"Uhm, excuse me?" Sirius spoke from behind her, Peter elbowed him in an attempt to shut him up.

"I said, your friend is a dick," she politely replied a lot louder for everybody around them to hear and, seeing as though Sirius really wanted her to repeat herself. 

Perhaps, she was still bitter about him ignoring her. Some people's heads whipped around, a few of them snickering as James rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Besides, why were you eavesdropping?" she scoffed at the Black. 

"You're not very sleek, it didn't take a lot of effort to hear you."

"You're not very sleek when pretending to ignore me, Black," she hissed back, watching as his face fell.

Sirius tried to muster a fake mask over his emotions the same way the Bridget did—the only difference being, that he was horrible at doing so. So the mask he attempted to wear vigorously and not allow Scarlet a glimpse at his vulnerabilities always slipped, leaving an utter misunderstanding and confusion between the pair.

"Miss Bridget, Mr Black, is there a problem?" Slughorn raised his chin from his book, glancing between the two.

"No, sir," The Bridget girl muttered under her breath, paying attention to her potion again.

After everybody had finished their potion, Lily earned Gryffindor House ten points with her perfect potion. everybody easily assumed James had nothing to do with the outstanding work.

"Hey, Bridget," Remus awkwardly stopped her movement with a hand on her elbow, and he instantly backed away when she shot him a deadly glare. "I didn't mean to be a weirdo or anything... You just—I don't know—look familiar..."

Confused, Scarlet shrugged. "Okay." 

He inhaled sharply, quickly gathering his equipment and swinging his bag over his shoulder to get out of the class. But Scarlet stopped him with a sharp tone. 

"Look, I know I may not have been quite the delightful person," Scarlet turned to him with an apologetic look, finding her own behaviour unpredictable, "This is just how I am."

"Don't worry about it, I liked working with you."

Scarlet felt a sense of relief wash over her as she nodded, waving him a small goodbye and walking out of the class with her friends.

𝑪𝑨𝑹𝑨 𝑺𝑷𝑬𝑨𝑲𝑺

boring.