𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍:
Annoying Howlers
(1971)

THEY FINISHED POTIONS with Viviane giving Sirius, Remus, and James a quick goodbye, and the girls headed to their last class for the day. The Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom is located near The Grand Staircase and The Hospital Wing.

"Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom. No cursing allowed." A notice said just right outside the large wooden doors. Myra opens the door and sees their Professor sitting at the Professor's desk with the syllabus already written on the board and the Professor's name, Thelma Zigour. They quickly took out their notebooks and started to take down notes. Once all the students arrived, the Professor did their required roll call.

"Mama told me that the DADA post is jinxed. Apparently rumoured to be jinxed, as no teacher could hold the post for more than a year." Myra whispers beside her, and Viviane furrows her eyebrows.

"Why?" Viviane asks, intrigued.

"No one knows. Just that it's been jinxed for a long time." Myra answered, and the Professor spoke with a loud voice, aiming to catch their attention.

"Since this is your first exposure to the Dark Arts, we will not be going too in-depth this term. We will cover some basic creatures and how to defend against them, if they need to be defended against, as well as a few simple spells that will begin to build the foundation for your spellwork in future years. Here is the outline of what we will be discussing this term." Professor Thelma points her wand toward the board.

"It is impossible to say that there is a "beginning" to the Dark Arts; as long as there has been light, there has been dark. This balance is one that the universe creates itself - there cannot be one without the other. The "Dark Arts" is a blanket term that covers anything that has the intent to harm, injure, or even kill another person. It also covers a wider range than that which I can teach you in this course. The Dark Arts include many branches of magic, particularly potions and charms." Professor Thelma says as she rounds around the classroom with her wand in her hand.

"The Ministry has further broken down Dark spells into three categories. Can someone tell me what those categories are?" She asks, looking at her students expectantly. Viviane just stays silent. She doesn't want to be hated in the class and be called an attention seeker or a know-it-all, even if she does know it.

Students raised their hands as Professor Thelma called, "Yes, Ms. Wadsworth?"

"The three categories are Jinx spells, Hex spells, and lastly, the Curse spells, which is the darkest and most dangerous classification of the Dark Arts," Viviane remembered the girl from earlier—she was also with her in Charms Class, and the girl she was with on the boat.

Calista.

"Very good, Ms. Wadsworth. Five points to Ravenclaw." Professor Thelma commends as Calista sits back down on her seat with the boy beside her grinning. Viviane looked at him. She remembered him from the sorting yesterday. Dominic Montgomery, she recalls. Quite the handsome bloke, in her opinion, cute with his blonde hair, dimples, and this glint in his eyes—like Sirius has, that boy is trouble. Viviane shrugs, focusing her attention on their Professor.

After their classes for the day have finally ended. Viviane decided to take Hades for a walk and let him potty. Myra offered to go with her—because in her words she was in dire need of fresh air. While Aurora and Althea decided to finish their notes in the library. Dorcas is at their dorm—napping before dinner.

Finally, it was dinner and Viviane was quite nervous. Their letters will be delivered today. But she didn't let it show that something was very much bothering her. She just ate her dinner while Andromeda and Narcissa decided to sit beside her. Apparently, she isn't the only one nervous.

They were all expecting letters in response to what happened in the sorting yesterday.

The large doors swing open to welcome the winged messengers. Their packages were dropped right in front of them. Each student with their own excited expression as they opened their packages. Hermes landed in front of her, his claws gripping a light blue dotted box. Cauldron cakes.

Viviane untied the package on his foot and Viviane took the letters from his letter holder. Giving Hermes bits of sausage that he ate delightedly with a hoot.

Viviane smoothed out his feather, "Tiring journey, I presume, Hermes?" Viviane asks. Hermes nodded another hoot in response. Andromeda takes Hermes and places him in between their seats, taking him off the table.

Narcissa and Andromeda shared a look as they opened their letters, reading. Both wincing—Druella must be expressing her disappointment. Viviane sighs heavily, opening her own letter from her Father. It's best to give it over with.

Dear Viviane,

I am pleased that you are sorted into Slytherin. It is only the right house, as we Hawthornes are only sorted into Slytherin for centuries, unlike your troublemaker cousin, Sirius, who's sorted into Gryffindor. Walburga had been throwing a temper tantrum when she received the news. I know that you and Sirius are quite close, but do limit your conversations with him. I don't want him to be a bad influence on you. I told Bellatrix to keep an eye on you from now on.

I received a letter from Professor Slughorn that you made quite an impression on him during your potions class. I expect nothing less from my own daughter—

Viviane was suddenly disturbed by a loud screeching coming from the Gryffindor table that sounded exactly like her Aunt Walburga's voice. It was roaring and wailing, deafening the large Dining Hall.

"SIRIUS ORION BLACK!"

She sighs again. Of course, Sirius would receive a Howler from Walburga. It's inevitable. Narcissa and Andromeda look at the Gryffindor table in worry. Viviane heard Bellatrix and her friends' snicker. Sirius is glaring at the floating, moving crimson Howler. He sat firmly, not letting his emotions be seen.

"HOW DARE YOU SHAME MY FATHER'S HOUSE? YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A DISGRACE IN THE MOST NOBLE AND ANCIENT HOUSE OF BLACK FOR BREAKING OUR TRADITION. WHY CAN YOU NEVER BE LIKE YOUR PERFECT COUSIN VIVIANE? YOU HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT A BRAT, AN INSOLENT CHILD, A MISTAKE, AND A DISAPPOINTMENT SINCE YOU WERE BORN. I WISH YOU WERE NEVER BORN, YOU WRETCHED LITTLE BAST—"

Viviane abruptly stood up from her seat, wand pointing towards the Howler, "Diffindo!" She cast, voice firm and full as it echoed loudly, and the students scrambled away from the spell. The Howler was suddenly sliced in half, and the Great Dining Hall was suddenly silent as their eyes cast towards Viviane and Sirius. Some were impressed that a first-year student could cast such an advanced spell, while others looked at her in fear at how unreadable Viviane's expression was and how she didn't hesitate to cast the spell.

Sirius squares his shoulder, chin up, looking behind his shoulder, eyes set on Viviane with a look that can only be read by them. They both nodded at each other,

"We won't break,"

A silent promise and agreement.

Sirius looks back to his table, eating his food like nothing happened, with a stoic expression while the three boys look at him in concern. Viviane sat back in her seat and continued to read her letters while the students started to whisper and murmur about what just happened.

And the two cousins proceeded to mind their own business.

As if nothing happened.

Author's Note:
—Happy New Year, my darlings!