Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Perfect day, where nothings standing in my way. It’s a perfect day where nothing can go wrong.” - Perfect Day, Hoku

The sun rose on a cream colored villa that sat in the countryside of Scotland, on the shore of a lake, surrounded by woods. The only sound was the wind and the faint sounds of the creatures that were housed in the small barn out back. A phoenix, the symbol of rebirth, was out for its morning flight in the sky. This was just like any other morning at the Saland villa, except for one girl who was currently sitting alone in her room touching the soft fabric of a freshly cleaned school cloak.

The black school robes was a stark contrast to her cool skin, she looked over it a bit longer before tucking it away into a red leather trunk. Her stomach churned at the thought of packing up her life and moving away to the first day of school; leaving family and pets behind for months. It was bad enough she had to be uprooted from her own country that she had lived in for all ten years of her life. All for the glorious purpose of attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, just as her mother before her.

Speaking of mothers, the matriarch herself was calling up to her daughter at this very moment, “Requiem, hurry up, you don’t want to miss the train, do you?”

Requiem ran a hand through her dark brown curls, calling back with a sigh, “I’m coming!”

“Yeah, Requiem,” a snarky voice said, “you don’t want to miss the train.”

Requiem sighed, closing her dark brown eyes to brace herself, before turning to face the girl leaning against her doorway wearing the same face as her. “I heard her, Noc, why don’t you go find another doorway to darken.”

Nocturne smiled and sauntered into the room, sitting down on the bed. “Are you ready for your life to change completely? Think of how many cool people we are going to meet.” Nocturne flipped her straight brown hair behind her shoulder and smiled. “Going to be put into the greatest house on the planet, unlike like dear old Mavis.”

Requiem rolled her eyes, plucking her wand and a silver dagger from her vanity, carefully placing it on the top of her trunk. “Good luck with that. And you can just call her ‘mom’ you know, like a normal kid.”

Nocturne snorted at the idea of it. She then asked, a bit appalled, “You don’t care about being put in the right house?”

“I don’t.” Requiem replied, closing her trunk and reaching over to scratch a fluffy tortie cat that was laying on her bed. The cat grumbled as her sleep was disturbed, but it was time for her to get up and ready for her journey as well.

Nocturne studied Requiem with her cold green eyes. “You care.” she attempted to call Requiem’s bluff, “You want to be put in that brave and noble nonsense house.”

Requiem met Nocturne’s frigid green gaze, unafraid of the other girl. “Nope, I don’t care one bit.”

“You’re a stone cold liar, Rem.” Nocturne hissed. “While you are over there wanting to be in the baby club, I’m going to be making the real friends. Connections with other purebloods. Raising ranks. This school is going to be my playground in no time.”

Requiem sighed, exasperated already with Nocturne’s superiority complex and snotty attitude. “Whatever you say, Noc.”

“Last call!” Mavis called from down the stairs.

“Coming!” The two girls called in unison.

Requiem was seen off by her parents, heading onto the glossy red and black train that was destined to take her to her new home. The compartments were all filled with children of various ages, all excited for the adventures that awaited them that year.

Requiem passed the compartments, each more crowded the last. Nocturne was hovering behind her with a smirk on her face as she watched Requiem avoid the compartments with other children, looking for a place to sit on her own.

“Coward.” Nocturne teased.

“Shut up.” Requiem shot back curtly. A kid that was in front of her, looking back at her in question. Requiem smiled and apologized, waving them off, while Nocturne stood there and smirked.

Eventually, Requiem gave up the hopes of finding an empty compartment and ended up sitting at a small table in the social cart. Nocturne sliding into the seat across from her with a wicked grin as they settled in for the journey ahead.

Requiem got out a small red leather bound journal from the messenger bag that she had brought with her on the train. She opened it, starting to document her day in a flourishing handwriting with a scarlet quill.

Shortly through the ride, Nocturne’s attention was pulled up by a large group of kids that were sitting a bit further down the car. Requiem peaked her round brown eyes up over the back of the seat to see what she was looking at. There was a group of kids huddled around a single table. A handful of girls crowded around the group, and they seemed to be fawning over a petite blond boy.

The boy could be heard boasting over his father and his money. He seemed to be on friendly terms with the other boys at his table; their families knew each other, he pointed out. The girls seemed to hang onto his every word, which made Requiem’s eyes roll. There was one girl who kept speaking over the others, with ebony hair and a squished face.

“What house do you think you will be in, Draco?” the squished faced girl asked.

The boy, Draco, snorted. “Slytherin, of course. My whole family has been in Slytherin. It’s the best house. The best spot for purebloods.”

The girls giggled at this as if it was a joke. “I’m going to be in Slytherin too.” The squished face girl said.

“They are so pathetic.” Nocturne’s higher toned voice said over the shoulder of Requiem. “Look at that spoiled little kid. All those girls hanging all over…” she started to point to each girl in the group, “Ugly, fat, buckteeth, pig nose…”

“You are so rude.” Requiem sighed, turning back around in her seat and giving Nocturne an annoyed look.

Nocturne shrugged with a smug look on her face, “Just pointing out the facts.” She slid out of the booth and flipped her straight hair, “I think I am going to go talk to him.”

“You like that boy? You don’t even know him.” Requiem asked the other girl with a slight eyebrow raise. “I guess he is pretty, but he seems kind of rude…”

Nocturne laughed, “I don’t like him. But those girls want him, so I think I am going to take him. I want all those other girls to know who the real boss is.”

Nocturne started to walk down the cart only for Requiem to grab her wrist, pleading, “Nocturne, don’t.”

Nocturne sneered down at her, jerking her wrist free, “Come on, Requiem, you little goody too shoes love this sense of adventure type stuff.”

“Your sense of adventure is very different from mine.” Requiem said while pulling on one of her curls anxiously. Nocturne giggled, flipped her hair, and sauntered over to the group.

“Draco,” one of the girls started to ask a question.

“Do you think that Slytherin will win the house cup this year?” the squish faced girl interrupted. All the other girls grumbled.

Draco opened his mouth to respond, but at that moment, Nocturne walked past the other girls and slid into the booth next to him. The group of girls fell silent.

“Excuse me,” the lead girl asked, “What are you doing? We were having a conversation.”

Nocturne blatantly ignored her and turned to Draco. “Hi. You’re cute. What’s your name?”

The girl turned red and puffed up like a blow fish. Draco tilted his head back and squinted at Nocturne. “Who the hell are you?”

Nocturne smiled, “Just another girl. I seemed to have missed the introductions. So just trying to play catch up.”

“Yes, you did.” The blow fish said, “I think you shouldn’t get into a conversation in the middle. Don’t you agree, Draco?”

Draco glanced up at the girl and back to Nocturne. “I think it will be okay, Pansy.”

Nocturne smiled again, giving her best deception of kindness, “It’s Draco is it?”

Draco smirked, “Draco Malfoy.”

“Ah,” Nocturne nodded, “A Malfoy.” she sat back in the booth seat making herself comfortable, turning her legs more towards Draco, and her back to the group of girls. “I should have realized that sooner.”

Draco’s smirk grew, “You have heard of my family?” before straightening up and clearing his throat, “Of course you have heard of my family.”

“Purebloods,” Noc said, “Pretty rich and famous. You’ve got the same pointed features, fair skin, and blond hair as your whole line. No wonder you have groupies.” she gestured to the girls.

“Groupies?” Pansy growled. Nocturne smirked to herself but ignored her. Draco raised his eyebrows.

“Guess I know who to make friends with. Purebloods should stick together, don’t you think?” Nocturne smiled in innocent camouflage.

“Right, exactly.” Draco agreed, “I was just telling Crabbe and Goyle here that we only needed the best of friends at school.”

Nocturne nodded, looking over the boys in the booth, the two named Crabbe and Goyle, and two others.

“Well I for one can’t wait to see where this friendship is going.” Nocturne said with a smile at all of them, then slid out of the booth. As she turned to walk away she called back, “See you in Slytherin.”

“You didn’t tell me what your name is.” Draco called.

Nocturne called over her shoulder without looking back, “Nope, sure didn’t.”

Requiem stared in abject horror and embarrassment as everyone stared at Nocturne walking away. Whatever game Nocturne was playing at, she won. The boys were amused, and the girls were glaring. As Nocturne passed Requiem, the glaring eyes of the other students then turned on Requiem. Requiem could feel the flush of embarrassment on her cheeks, and not being able to handle it, slid out of the seat and left the car.

Leaving Nocturne to her own vices, Requiem headed past some of the private cars on her own. There were lots of much nicer looking kids inside that were all talking, already settled and having made friends. Requiem was starting to wonder if it was too late for her to get a jump start on making friends as well. Especially since Nocturne seemed to have already put the both of them on the list of the other Slytherins.

A few doors ahead Requiem could see a treat trolley being stopped outside one of the carts and a group of older kids buying sweets. Excited for some treats, she hurried up to the trolley to see what they had. There was a group of older class men on one side, and a cluster of kids her age on the other.

“Hey, you getting anything?” a boy with locks asked some of the older kids behind him.

The woman handed two of the older girls their sweets and they went back into the cart, making way to see who the boy was talking to; a set of twins.

“Nah, we don’t have any money this year.” one said.

“Mum spent all the extra funds on Ron’s new school supplies.” the other chimed in.

“Suit yourselves.” The boy with locks shrugged and walked back into the cart, leaving just the other first years.

“If you want something I can get it for you.” Requiem said to the two twins before thinking it through. The group of upperclassman gave disgruntled looks to the young first year with curly brown hair.

“We don’t need any charity, thanks.” one of the twins said.

“Oh, no.” Requiem blushed, embarrassed, “I just, I have a sister myself, and I know what it’s like to have to share everything.” She fumbled over the words, but it seemed to diffuse the tension a little bit.

“I just mean,” Requiem took a deep breath and started over, “I guess don’t think of it as charity then. Just as an investment. And maybe if I need an upperclassman’s help sometime with studying, you can pay me back that way?”

The twins glanced at each other, having some kind of internal conversation, before turning back to Requiem. “Alright then.”

“But you might want to think twice about having these two help you with studying-” the locked boy cut in with a laugh, earning an elbow from one of the twins.

“You’ve got yourself a deal.” the other twin nodded.

Requiem held back a smile at them whisper fighting with their friend and turned back to the trolley woman. “I’ll just take two sugar quills, an acid pop, and whatever these two want.”

The trolley woman handed Requiem her sweets and gave the twins Bertie bots and licorice wands before waddling down to the next doors.

“I’m Fred, this is George.” one of the twins said, pointing to the other.

“And that dork back there is Lee, and the lovely Katie and Angelina.” George said, gesturing to the others in his cart.

“I’m Requiem.” She introduced, noting that the others were wearing red edged robes and ties, “are you all in Gryffindor?”

Fred smiled, “That’s right. Whole family is in Gryffindor. Little brother about your age is probably going to be there too.”

Requiem nodded, “Well, here’s hoping I get put with you guys, you all seem pretty nice.”

“We would be happy to have you.” Angelina said from the back.

Fred and George nodded before turning back into their cart, the door sliding shut.

“That was really nice of you.” a small voice said from behind.

Requiem turned to see a fragile girl with black hair and glasses sliding away from her blue eyes, standing in the doorway across from the twins. “Thanks,”

“Were you looking for a place to sit? You can come sit with us.” she said, and gestured to come inside. Requiem headed inside the cart where four other girls were waiting. “My name is Miri, this is Luna, Carmilla, Parvati and Padma.”

Requiem looked over the girls; Luna was just as petite as Miri but with wispy blond hair. Carmilla was a light skin girl with wild ginger coils that put Requiem’s waves look meek in comparison. Parvati and Padma both had beautiful sleek hair and dark eyes, almost looking like they belonged in the picture of a magazine.

“Requiem,” Requiem introduced herself to the other girls, hoping she found a group of friends.

“I heard you wanted to be in Gryffindor. Gryffindor is a nice house.” Luna commented in a dreamy tone.

Requiem nodded, “Yeah I think that would suit me. I was reading up on the school a bit before coming here and I think that would be a good place for me. Although my mother was hoping for another house.”

“Reading up? You hadn’t heard about Hogwarts before?” Carmilla asked.

Requiem shook my head, “No, I haven’t been in the area very long. My family bought land and moved here only about a year and a half ago to get ready for my school years. Everything I know is from my mother telling me stories of her own time here.”

“Oh that’s exciting.” Miri said, “So where did you live before?”

Just then we were interrupted by scratching on the door of the cart. Miri opened the door with a confused face, and in walked the fluffy tortie cat. The cat walked over to Requiem and let out a squeaky meow, twirling around her legs.

“Oh sorry.” Requiem sat up, tapping the seat for the cat to jump onto her lap, settling down with a grumble.

“Oh, she is so cute! Is she yours? Is this who you brought with you?” Padma exclaimed.

Requiem began petting the long fluffy fur of the cat on her lap, “Her name is Prelude, she doesn’t much care for people. I brought her, and my owl should be around here somewhere as well.”

“I thought we could only bring one.” Parvati said, reaching towards the cat only to earn a growl.

“Yeah, I did bring my cat. But my owl will be delivering mail most of the time anyways, and take breaks at the owlery. Even if I bring my owl its not like I can keep it in my room like every other pet. So I brought both.”

“So, you broke the rules?” Miri asked hesitantly.

Requiem smiled at her with a tint of mischief, “What’s wrong with a little rule breaking here or there?”

The Great Hall was less hall like and more great than Requiem had imagined. A glorified dining hall with floating candles and the night sky through the ceiling. Requiem was lead through the middle like cattle with the rest of the first years. The school headmaster, Dumbledore, made a grandiose speech introducing the teachers and each of the houses before bringing out a singing hat. This hat was supposedly to decide the futures of Rem and her comrades in arms.

“Surely they could have come up with a cuter accessory to be sentient and all knowing.” Nocturne whispered, appearing behind Requiem and making her jump. Requiem shushed her, getting a few looks from her schoolmates, and Nocturne giggled. “It better not mess up my hair, that’s all I’m saying.” she said quietly.

“Whats the matter, forget to pack your straightener, Nocturne?” Requiem teased her.

This time another classmate shushed, Requiem apologized sheepishly and noticed that students names had begun being called. With each student, a song would sometimes be sung from the hat. Sometimes, he would just look like he was thinking. Sometimes he would just know right away which house to place someone.

Requiem watched as the friends she had made, Miri, Luna, and Padma were sorted into Ravenclaw. Impressive, really. Ron, who looked just like Fred and George, was sorted into Gryffindor, along with Parvati and Carmilla. Good, Requiem thought, at least she would have friends in the house her age.

Then it came time for the girl and boy that Nocturne was picking on. The hat took a few moments to sing a song for the girl, but with the boy, Draco Malfoy, he almost instantly yelled out the house the second he was sat atop his head. Slytherin.

Malfoy’s friends, Crabbe and Goyle, also got sorted into Slytherin, along with the two other boys at his table, who Requiem learned were named Blaise and Theo.

Then, it was Harry Potter who was being called. Everyone went silent. This was a big deal for the wizarding world. Even not having been from here, Requiem knew about the boy who lived. His name was known by wizards all around the world, even from the States.

The hat took some time to think. A lot of time. But decided on Gryffindor. But not before asking “not Slytherin?” out loud.

“He sounds like you, a wimp.” Nocturne nudged Requiem, earning a glare.

After a few more students, her name was finally called.

“Requiem Saland.”

Requiem jumped a little bit, not expected it even though she knew it was coming. She walked through the crowd of kids and up to the stool, sitting down. If he could think about what house he wanted, then she could too, right?

Requiem projected Gryffindor House to the forefront of her mind. She was smiling and took a deep breath as the hat was lowered onto her head; expecting a song or for the hat to think for a few minutes to consider the request. But as soon as the hat touched the the top of a curl on her head the hat yelled without hesitation.

“SLYTHERIN.”

Chapter Text

“Flashback, we were over dramatic. Trying to carry the world, force an attitude change. Earth to us: we were playing with matches. But the risk was never enough” -Superhero Heart, Mr Downstairs

“What?” Requiem asked the hat, “That can’t be right?”

“You are all scrambly in here, girl,” a voice in her head said, “but there is no doubt about what intentions lie beneath. Slytherin is the place for you.”

Before Requiem could even argue, the hat was plucked from her head and she was ushered off the stool and down to the Slytherin table. The school booed at her. They actually booed at ten year old Requiem, a child. Requiem looked around, stealing glances to the others. Miri and the Ravenclaw girls all looked confused. Fred and George just looked sad and disappointed. Malfoy looked smug.

Requiem chewed on her lip, pulling anxiously at a curl. She straightened up to walk straight past his group and down towards an empty spot on the table. She sat down, crossing her arms, and tilting her head up in adolescent defiance. She would fix this as soon as all this blew over, she told herself. But for now she wasn’t going to let the goon squad get the better of her.

Soon after, Nocturne slid into the seat next to her. No surprise there.

“I told you,” she teased, “that pureblood is just too strong, we belong in Slytherin.”

“You belong in Slytherin.” Requiem said to her, “I am going to go get switched out of here first thing tomorrow.”

“How ambitious of you.” Nocturne said with a smirk, grabbing a piece of food that had just spawned in front of them. Requiem let out an exasperated groan and also helped herself to some food.

Soon after dinner, the children were led down out of the hall and into the dungeons. “The dungeons? Are you serious? Do they hate us?” Requiem asked, complaining about her current house location.

“Maybe they just hate you.” Nocturne whispered, earning another sharp look from Requiem.

They were led to the entrance of what they were told was the Slytherin common room. A secret hidden entrance, with a password. They were told to always remember it, as it would change every fortnight. The inside looked dreary and meek. Stone walls and floors with ornate carpets thrown about, leather chairs around a fireplace, desks and bookshelves along the walls. Green lanterns hung off the walls giving a low glow. There was an alcove off to the side with a long table, lined with bookshelves. In the back were windows with bay seating. Windows that looked out into green murkiness.

The prefect explained that part of the dorm was under the lake. He then showed the first years to two stairwells, the girls and boys dorms. “The stairs will automatically change to lead you exactly to your rooms. Your possessions should already be at your assigned beds. Please use the rest of the day to make yourselves comfortable.”

Everyone ran up the stairs excitedly, or over to look out the windows, or to the fire. All excited children who were enthralled with their new home.

“Don’t forget to unpack!” Nocturne yelled back at Requiem while walking up the stairs with a group of girls.

Requiem sighed and looked around the common room. It seemed so dark and gray in here. I know they love their green but would it have killed them to put a warm light or something?

She noticed the group of Slytherin boys over by one of the desks, picking up magical items and playing with them, which made her sigh angrily, chewing her lip. They really have no respect for magical artifacts, do they? They probably don’t even know what half of that stuff is. Wouldn’t know a shifter scale from a mermaid tear.

“They are gonna get themselves killed.” Requiem said quietly to herself.

Septimus Saland, Requiem’s father, was a renowned man who’s entire career was built around magical artifacts. He collected, traded, identified, and even repaired rare or cursed magical artifacts. He even went so far as to identify and remove the curses even. A talent that was utilized by many wealthy families trying to remove curses from old heirlooms, or who wished to acquire a new piece for their showrooms. A talent that, for a few years now, Septimus had been training Requiem to acquire as well.

They must have heard her because Draco looked up across the room at Requiem, and Theo followed his vision as well. Draco handed the item he was palming over to Theo and started to walk over to Requiem, who turned on her heel and walked quickly straight up into the girls dorm. The absolute last thing she wanted to do was speak to the boy that Nocturne had been flirting with.

Requiem entered a room with tall walls and green curtains cascading down the stone, the room was circular, and five beds sat around them, each one with a trunk at the end. Each of the beds had dark wooden posters and green canopies. Prelude was already curled in a soft sleep on the bed that her red trunk lay at.

“Good cat.” Requiem called to her, petting her head and sitting on the edge of the bed. By the looks of it, Nocturne was placed in a separate room, because four unknown girls were wandering around the room, unpacking their things. Four mostly unknown girls.

The girl with black hair and a squished face was in her dorm.

“Oh, great. Look at what has been dragged in.” the girl, Pansy, said, followed by the other girls laughing.

Great, Requiem thought, she was already late to get any friends on her side in the dorm. “I really don’t want to deal with any issues you have with my sister.”

The girls looked at each other and laughed. “Let’s just be perfectly clear, okay?” the ringleader said, “Draco is mine. Sister or not.”

“I don’t want him.” Requiem laughed, throwing her hands out. “He’s all yours.”

The girls eyeballed her and then turned away, back to putting their items away. It was clear they didn’t believe Requiem when she said she had no interest in the young blond pureblood. It was as if they could not fathom a girl in Slytherin not finding interest in him as the cream of the crop.

Requiem groaned and tossed herself back onto the bed. Fantastic, even sleeping might not even be safe here, she thought to herself. She rolled off the bed and got down onto her knees in front of the trunk. Requiem unlatched it and dug around under the books, setting them aside. Slowly, Requiem could feel a lingering presence behind her.

“If you touch my stuff I will curse you so badly you’ll be popping boils for a week.” Requiem warned the girls trying to look at her things. The girls quickly shuffled away.

Requiem’s hand grazed against cold metal and she pulled out the silver dagger, studying it to make sure it gleamed. Two snakes intertwined forming the hilt of a knife, each one with an emerald set in its eyes. She slid the knife into her boot and kept digging through the trunk. She pulled out a wand box, set it aside, and grabbed a set of sleeping clothes- just a torn up Twisted Sisters tee shirt and pair of soft shorts.

Requiem pulled the wand box onto her lap and opened it. A beautiful deep red cherry wood wand, phoenix core, simple with a standard handle. The only unique ornate is a round red ruby at the end of the handle. It was all hers. Something she didn’t have to share with Nocturne. She felt the unique thrum of magic pulsing through her wand, like a lightning rod before the strike. She wrapped her fingers around the handle and immediately felt the jolt of her magic coming to life. It was just like at the wand shop, feeling a surge of power shooting through her wand like a conduit for her own internal magic. Requiem smiled to herself at the power she felt, as if it was a blessing from the gods themselves.

Requiem stood up, tossing the clothes onto the bed and raising her wand to the trunk. She muttered a small curse and flicked the wand with a heavy flourish. “Furnunculus.”Red magic shot out and wrapped around the red trunk like heavy vines covered in thorns.

“You can’t do that!” One of the girls gasped.

Requiem looked over at them, raising an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

The girl tapped the leaders arm, and the leader looked from her to Requiem. “F-First years aren’t allowed to do magic.”

“And you’re going to stop me?” Requiem asked, and waited for a response. There wasn’t one.

“How do you even know spells like that anyway?” Pansy asked with a sneer.

“My family is pureblooded, I was taught many things growing up before I, legally, should.” Requiem said, standing up and turning to look at the girls with her arms crossed. Time spent with Nocturne taught her the ability to stand up to snotty girls like these, and she was going to make sure they knew that.

The girls looked at each other in surprise at the news of being a pureblood, and they dissolved into their own whispers. Requiem shrugged and turned away from them, muttering another spell around her canopy, and then tossing her wand on the bed. She grabbed the clothes and went to walk out of the room, seeking the lavatory.

“Oh, and remember,” Requiem said, not turning back to the girls, “No touching my things.”

The next day the Slytherins were herded down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Requiem sat on her own again, but she could tell from the whispers coming from the girls around Malfoy, that they were telling their group all sorts of things about her antics last night.

Nocturne flopped down and snatched a muffin from the table, “It serves them right, you know.”

“What?” Requiem asked, tearing her eyes away from the troublesome groups and looking up at her.

Nocturne shrugged, “I’m just saying, cursing your roommates is pretty ballsy. I’m proud of you, Rem. You got a bit of me in you yet.”

“I didn’t curse them.” Requiem argued, annoyed that they are already spilling rumors around the school, “They threatened me, over your actions thank you very much, I just …. set boundaries.”

Nocturne looked up with a dangerous green flash in her eyes, “They threatened you?”

“Just about that dumb boy.” Requiem rolled her brown eyes, “I don’t get whats so great about a boy anyway.”

“Who threatened you?” Nocturne asked, all mirth gone from her voice as she stood up, her eyes shooting over to Malfoy and his group.

“The one’s you called ugly, fat, and pig nosed. Plus one other I don’t know. My roommates. For now at least.”

“Still on that, are ya?” Nocturne asked without looking away from the group of girls.

“I’m going to get out of this house one way or another, you’ll see.” Requiem said with a firm nod.

“Keep telling yourself that kid.” Nocturne said, turning back with a smile and ruffled the top of Requiem’s hair before turning and walking away without eating her food. Requiem scolded and tried to fix her hair back into perfect curly waves.

After breakfast the houses were lead to their classes. However, Requiem went straight for the headmaster’s office.

She got lost on the way to the headmasters office. How are you supposed to find anything around here? Luckily, a portrait got tired of laughing at her scrambling on the moving stairs and told her where to go.

She walked up to the eagle statue and up the stairwell behind it. There was a wide hallway leading to a big door. Shelves on shelves of magic items upon the shelves. Some things even Requiem couldn’t name. Some she could. It was actually impressive, Requiem desired to be able to hold and study these up close, maybe send a letter off to her father to ask about them.

Requiem heard a voice clear their throat through the door and jumped. She looked down to the door, and raised her hand to knock. “Yes, come in,” the voice called. Requiem opened the door slowly, surprised and startled. Albus Dumbledore sat in the middle of his room at a desk. With him, the sorting hat, and beside him, a phoenix. “Hello, Miss Saland, I’ve been expecting you.”

Requiem nodded, looking around the room at all the other magical and non-magical objects. “Clearly.”

“I understand you have some qualms with your sorting. I would like to guarantee you that the sorting hat, while zealous in nature, is never wrong.” Dumbledore said in a quite voice.

Requiem nodded, turning back to the desk, looking down at the hat, before turning to the phoenix on a perch nearby. She walked over to it, holding a hand out softly. “I don’t think that’s right. The sorting hat takes into consideration the house you want. But it didn’t consider me at all.” The phoenix leaned forward to inspect my hand, carefully looking at it to make sure it was safe, before nodding its head and allowing itself to be pet.

“There was nothing else to consider, child.” the hat spoke, “Much in your head, yes, but very clear.”

“So you didn’t consider what I wanted.” Requiem argued like a petulant child, turning to the hat.

The headmaster held his hand up. “Sometimes what we want to be, isn’t what we are. But only our actions can prove that.”

“So what?” Requiem asked, “You’re saying if I prove I’m not a Slytherin, I can change houses?”

“I am saying,” Dumbledore took a breath, “That you are late for class. Now. If you head there now, you might be early for potions.”

“But I-”

“Potions, Miss Saland.” He said with another wave.

Requiem could feel her face crinkle in anger as she turned around, stomping out of the headmaster quarters and down the stairs. Fine, they wanted her to prove she wasn’t a Slytherin, then she would prove it.

Chapter Text

“I took a sip from my devil’s cup and slowly its taking over me.” -Toxic, Britney Spears

Requiem was able to get to potions class before everyone else, slamming her bag onto a table. The Professor leered up at her from his desk and Requiem whispered a quick apology. She plopped down onto the table and sat her head down with a hard thud. The day could not get any worse.

Students filed in settling down in seats all over the class room. The wood chair next to her scooted across the floor, causing her to jump and sit up, looking over as a bag was sat on the table and a figure sat down next to her.

A wide crooked smile greeted her, and sea glass eyes looked up at her forehead from under brown tousled hair. “You’ve got a mark on you, just there.” He pointed up to where she had slammed her head on the table.

“Oh.. Yeah.” Requiem rubbed her forehead, turning to face forward in her seat. She was feeling grateful it wasn’t her horrid roommate or Malfoy, that had found the seat next to hers. Instead Malfoy sat with his friend Goyle. Crabbe was with Blaise, and her two wicked roommates were together.

“I’m Theo.” the boy next to her said, leaning forward into her peripheral vision.

Requiem glanced over at him and then back to the front of class. “Requiem.”

“So I’ve heard.” he said with a chuckle.

“Heard of me, huh?” Requiem said in passing, just hoping for class to start quickly. She didn’t want to know what Pansy and the others had started to say about her.

Theo ran his hand through his hair, “Yeah, I gotta say, threatening to curse Pansy..”

“Yeah, yeah,” Requiem nodded, waiting for the ball to drop.

“It’s kind of funny.”

“What?” She asked, turning to him with a questioning and surprised glance.

He was biting back a smile, “Yeah, I mean, she’s kind of annoying, right? And she probably did something to deserve it.”

Requiem smiled a bit to herself, leaning over to him to speak quietly “She got mad over that blonde boy wanting to talk to me.”

Theo snickered to himself, “Sounds about right. She thinks she has a claim to him. It’s really weird.”

“Can I help you two?” The Professor hovered over the table, glaring down. His black robes sweeping around him, and her greasy dark hair clinging to the sides of his face.

“Sorry professor,” They both said quickly, straightening up. The two exchanging an amused glance once the professor left to head back to the front of class.

Thus began potions class, where they were meant to learn the process to brew the first potion- a cure for boils. Requiem smiled to herself and saw the girls glare at her smugly. They weren’t brewing anything today but had to take careful notes. The professor seemed to like calling on Harry, or Malfoy. He seemed to favor Malfoy.

Requiem’s flourished writing graced the page as she took notes; however she left out several small anecdotes, like needing to stir a certain amount of times or in a specific direction. Surely those were not that important.

Soon enough it was time for lunch, and Requiem packed up her stuff to head out of the classroom. She heard someone calling and a shuffling behind her and soon Theo was in step beside her.

“Hey, don’t be a stranger.” he smiled.

“I wasn’t?” Requiem replied curiously, looking at the boy. They were about the same height, which she found a little amusing.

“Well you ran off fast enough.” he said, as they made the way into the great hall. He waved at his group of friends who were already settling down to their place at the end of the table. Theo turned to face Requiem, “Come sit with us.”

“You’re kidding right?” She asked, laughing a little as if it was a joke.

“Come on, it’ll be funny! Pansy will lose her mind!” He said, walking us towards the Slytherin table. “Plus if you think what she says is funny, you’ll find loads of funny stuffy rich boy stuff to make fun of at our spot.”

Requiem looked at him as he smiled to himself, “You’re serious?” He walked over and sat down next to Malfoy and then turned, waving her over. Reluctantly but curiously, Requiem walked over and sat beside Theo.

She kept quiet and kept her head down at first, listening and observing the others. Looking over the food that magically appeared and thinking about what to eat. Sure enough, Pansy shrieked when she noticed.

“Why is she here. Theo, what did you do? Did you invite her here?”

Theo smiled and gestured to her, “Yeah, you remember Requiem? She’s a pureblood, like us. We stick together, don’t we Malfoy?”

Malfoy leaned forward to inspect Requiem as the other boys looked over. Pansy and her friends were glaring.

“She said she would curse me and Daphne.” Pansy complained.

“And yet, here you are,” Requiem said dryly, gesturing to her, “Curseless.”

“So far!” Daphne interjected.

“So far.” Requiem nodded in agreement.

Theo chuckled and gestured to Requiem again, “She’s funny, see.”

Malfoy, after what seemed like an eternity of scrutiny, finally sat back and began to load his plate. “She can stay.”

Somehow getting his approval just made Requiem feel gross. She didn’t think this was the kind of group she want approval from. She decided to keep quiet and eat lunch without much input. Listening as they complained about Potter, Weasleys, and Gryffindors, about “my fathers” and all sorts of petty things. Theo was right, this was silly.

Thankfully, lunch went by fast and it was off to another class. This was a class she had with the Ravenclaws, so Requiem was relieved to be able to see Miri, Luna, and Padma.

“I am so glad you guys are here.” Requiem said to them, walking over and sitting next to Miri, “Today has been awful.”

“What happened?” Miri asked. “We saw you sitting with those pure Slytherin mean kids.”

“Yeah, what was that about?” Padma asked.

Requiem shook her head, “One of them invited me. Another is my roommate. I can’t stand it over there. I just want to get out of this house.”

“Can you do that”? Luna asked.

Requiem shrugged, “I think so.” She settled down into the group with the girls atop the astronomy tower. They spent the lesson talking about their time and how well things were going for them. Astronomy was fun, it wasn’t her best, Requiem realized, but sitting next to the Ravenclaw girls helped.

She was so relieved to have class with some friends for once. It actually felt normal. Felt happy. She could see what it would really be like to be at this school in the right house, truly. Requiem would come to find this place quite nice if it could just be like this.

But soon it was time to move on again, to Defense Against the Dark Arts, a Gryffindor shared class, so Requiem got to sit with Carmilla and Parvati. It wasn’t what Requiem expected it to be, mostly studying and on paper. It was a lot of basic spells that she had already learned from her time at home. Requiem’s parents brought her up around magic, so having a basic knowledge of spells, (or boil curses), was already ingrained in her. She had figured most other purebloods, or even half bloods, probably also had this knowledge, so no one really paid attention to the teacher.

After DADA was Herbology; Herbology couldn’t be that hard, right? She helped take care of lots of magical creatures back at home with her mom. Surely magical plants couldn’t be that much different right?

In class with the Hufflepuffs, Requiem learned just how much the plants hated her. She couldn’t get them to behave at all. Requiem decided to step back and just take notes mostly for the first day, to avoid any more snickers coming from Pansy and Daphne when she tries to fight with the vines.

Finally, her first very long day came to an end and it was time for dinner. Requiem sat down with a heavy sigh, excited for the day to end. Someone slid into the seat next to her, and then someone slid in next to them.

She looked up to see Theo smiling, and Malfoy and his gang taking their places around her spot. Requiem was confused, as they weren’t near the end of the table. One just sat down and they all seemed to wedge into their assigned spots around Theo. It was weird, like watching a cat try and fit into a box another cat already occupied.

“How was class?” Theo asked.

“Saw you were having trouble with those plants.” Pansy laughed.

“I’d rather have plant troubles than boy troubles, Pansy.” Requiem shot back at her.

Theo laughed, Blaise snorted, and Pansy turned red. “Draco!” she tried to call for support but Draco, also laughing, waved her off.

Pansy huffed and stood up, rushing out of the hall with Daphne on her tail. Requiem watched her go calmly as they rounded the corner.

Theo nudged me, “I told you you’d have fun sitting here.”

“Yeah..” she said quietly, suddenly feeling fuzzy headed. She turned to Theo, “I’m actually not feeling so good, I think I’m gonna turn in for the night.”

Theo groaned but didn’t protest as she got up and walked out of the great hall.

When Requiem made it back to the dorm, she was thankful to be alone, sans cat. She changed out of her school uniform and into sleeping clothes. Requiem laid down into bed with Prelude purring and gave her scratches. She pulled up the covers and curled up, finally ready for the day to be done.

The sound of a scream made Requiem shoot up in her bed. A figure was knelt over Pansy’s bed, wand to her throat. Requiem flipped on the lamp next to her, catching dark brown hair and flashing green eyes. “Nocturne!”

Nocturne was smiling down at Pansy, as Pansy looked up at her in horror. “It’s fine, Rem, just go back to sleep. I’m handling it.”

Requiem looked around, noticing that the other girls were stunned while sleeping, none of them would ever know what was happening. “Nocturne, let her go.”

“And let her threaten us again? No, come on, Rem. We can do better than that.” Nocturne lowered her face down to Pansy and something flashed in her left hand. The snake dagger. Requiem could see it in her hand, snake heads peeking out as Nocturne slid the point of the blade under Pansy’s chin.

“I’m going to be perfectly, perfectly clear, Pansy, okay? If you come near us ever, ever again, I will do so much worse than cover you in boils.”

Pansy cried out as Nocturne poked her with the point of the blade. “Use your imagination, sweetie, you won’t be disappointed.”

Nocturne slowly backed up and away and Pansy burst into tears. Nocturne smiled and giggled to herself, walking backwards, not turning her back to Pansy. As Nocturne passed Requiem’s bed she tossed the serpent blade onto the bed with a soft thud.

“Are you crazy?” Requiem hissed at her, snatching the blade and hiding it away in a drawer. Nocturne winked at her before turning and disappearing out the doorway. Requiem stared in shock before turning back to Pansy who was still crying in bed. “Pansy, are you okay? I am so sorry, I never meant for her to-”

Pansy picked up a book from her bedside table and launched it across the room. It hit the curse barrier with a loud crack and fell to the floor, and Pansy’s face erupted in boils.

Chapter Text

“I’m just a minor threat, so pay no mind.” -The Anthem, Good Charlotte

Requiem slammed her hands on the table and glared at Nocturne sitting across from her, “You are going to get us expelled!”

Nocturne smiled and laughed to herself. “Easy there, Rem, you’re sounding a bit feisty today.”

“Oh, that doesn’t begin to cover it.” Requiem hissed at her, “And where do you get off, going through my things? You should have never had that snake knife.”

Nocturne’s eyes flashed dangerously, “Watch it, Requiem.”

“No. You watch it, Nocturne.” Requiem argued, “Don’t touch my stuff!”

Nocturne shot forward, leaning over the table and speaking low and venomously, “Let me be clear, Requiem. The only reason you have that blade is because of me. And its not a knife. It’s a dagger. The least you could do is call it by the right name.”

“It’s mine.” Requiem doubled down, feeling possessive, not wanting Nocturne to take her things again.

Nocturne studied her face, anger radiating from her body, before it slowly melted away and she leaned back, full of her mischievous mirth once more. “You’re right, I gave it to you. It’s yours. I won’t touch it again.” Nocturne leaned her hand forward, offering her pinkie, “Promise.”

Requiem glared up at her from across the breakfast table and reluctantly took her pinkie. “It’s a promise.”

Transfiguration was Requiem’s first class of the day. She missed it the day before, as the professor pointed out. But she made good time making it up by turning frogs into tea kettles and back without much limb displacement.

History of Magic and Charms also seemed to fly by, with flak from the professors for missing the day before, of course. Requiem struggled a bit in History, but did well in Charms. She felt like she had a real talent for actual spell casting, and less so for the on paper stuff. It was a good feeling to have, being good at something. And each time she got to use her cherry wand she felt its pulse of power like a jolt of adrenaline.

Unfortunately, that meant Flying was next. Madame Hooch spend no time in pointing out that Requiem was missing the day before, and had to then learn how to summon her broom whilst everyone else in the class was learning to balance and levitate.

“But, I don’t really have an interest in flying on brooms.” Requiem said hesitantly, eyeing the training broom on the ground.

“That’s enough of that. Every witch and wizard needs to learn to fly on a broom.” Hooch said, and raised her hand when she tried to protest about other flying methods. “Stand here until you can summon a broom effectively.”

Requiem sighed, standing off to the side as the Slytherin girls laughed. She tossed the broom on the ground and stared at it. Dumb piece of wood. Requiem raised a hand over the broom and commanded it upwards, to no avail.

Madame Hooch instructed the others before wandering off inside for a moment. Requiem kept trying to get the broom to raise, but was distracted by Malfoy’s group laughing and some of the Gryffindors yelling. Requiem left the broom on the ground to wander over and see what was happening.

Gripped in Malfoy’s hand was a remberall, a basic magic item used to keep track and remember forgotten things. According to the yelling Gryffindors, it didn’t belong to him.

“Give it back, Malfoy!” Harry yelled, trying to snatch the ball back.

Carmilla was behind Harry, looking like she was about to throw hands with Malfoy herself.

Malfoy pulled his hand away in time to dodge Harry before hopping on his broom and taking off. “Come get it then.”

A bushy haired Gryffindor girl protested as Harry got on his broom. “You can’t be serious!”

“She’s right,” Requiem said, “flying is really dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. You could get hurt.”

“Shut up, Saland!” Daphne yelled at her for trying to help the Gryffindors. Pansy was in the nurses wing, so Daphne had to berate Requiem on her own today.

The Gryffindors gave Requiem a questioning look, wondering why she was trying to help or seemed concerned at all. Parvati ran over and nodded, “She’s right, Harry.”

Harry shook everyone’s concerns off as Malfoy taunted him again, and shot off into the air. They all watched from the ground as the two boys flew into the air, and Malfoy launched the ball towards the castle. Harry zoomed off to the gasps of the Gryffindors, while Malfoy landed and was patted on the back by the other Slytherins. Parvati grabbed onto Requiem’s hand in fear as they watched Harry hurtle towards the castle.

“He’s not going to stop in time.” Requiem whispered, worried, as Parvati clutched her hand.

“No, he’s got this.” Carmilla said firmly, sounding much more sure of herself than the others.

Suddenly, Harry did a roll and snatched something out of the air before he could hit the wall. He waved it in the air and sailed back down to the grass. Parvati and the others cheered, and she ran off with her house to greet Harry as he dismounted his broom.

Carmilla turned to Requiem with a grin, slapping her on the back. “Told you.”

Soon Madame Hooch and another Professor were storming back out into the yard and yelling at Harry. The Professor left with Harry as Hooch rounded all of the students back up to their spaces.

“You,” she pointed at Requiem, “you still need to make that broom go up.”

Requiem would enter potions class only mildly triumphant of making the broom raise off the ground. Meanwhile, Harry was promoted to a quidditch player. Malfoy seemed very annoyed by this because he was flying as well, and should also be able to play quidditch as a first year.

Requiem rolled her eyes as he continued to complain to his friends, and sat in her seat. Theo sat next to her with his crooked smile. “Pretty interesting class, huh?”

Requiem shrugged and started getting out what was needed for potions. Today they would try and brew an endurus potion, a defensive style brew that added a layer of protection to its consumer.

As class progressed Requiem kept looking between her cauldron and Theo’s. Hers seemed to be hissing and angry, and a sickly purple; where his seemed to be perfectly calm, bubbly, and a nice lilac. Requiem looked at the next instruction she had written down, cut up horned slugs. The slugs were slippery, and a bit hard to cut, never mind having to actually touch them. It couldn’t matter that much if they were not cut, right? She picked up the cutting board and shook the mildly sliced slugs into the potion.

Theo looked over at Requiem, eyebrows raised. “You are horrible at this.”

“Can it.” She retorted, before looking at her notes again. There was a scribble and an arrow pointing in front of the slugs that lead to a note saying ‘Take off fire first.’ Requiem mumbled to herself and shut the fire off from the cauldron.

Theo slid perfectly chopped slugs into his unlit cauldron before grabbing the porcupine quills and handing some to her. “Here, you don’t have to cut these at least.”

“Thanks,” she mumbled to him, taking the quills and dropping them into the potion. His turned a lovely shade of pink, where as Requiem’s was still a bright sickly purple.

“Clockwise.” he said quietly, picking up his wand and stirring his potion, finishing it with a wave so it emitted a soft pink smoke.

“Right…” Requiem said, picking up her cherry wood wand and stirring the potion clockwise. She waved over the potion with a snappy flourish and it exploded. Purple goop pooled out of the cauldron onto the table as the explosion sent her wand flying into the air.

Theo and Requiem took several steps away from the table as the goop bubbled on the floor. Everyone had turned to stare in horror; about as much horror as when Neville’s blew up and covered him and his table in rock-like growths just moments earlier.

The Slytherins erupted into laughter as Snape stormed over to the table. “A fail for you, Miss Saland.” he said, and looked at Theo’s cauldron. “Perhaps you should pay more attention to Mr Nott.”

Requiem sighed, covering her face in her hands as the laughter died down. Theo tapped her arm several times and she looked over at him, just to see him staring at the ceiling. Requiem followed his eyes up into the rafters, where her wand was firmly wedged into the wood beam, and it was now a sickly purple color.

Chapter Text

“Pinch me, is this real? I’m on a one way ticket back to Loser-ville. Heading for the social flat line.” -Ticket Outta Loserville, Son Of Dork

“I hate it here.” Requiem complained, throwing her messenger bag on the floor next to Miri and the Ravenclaws.

“What happened?” Miri asked, unpacking her astronomy supplies, her tiny hands plucking the large scrolls out and setting them down, her glasses sliding down her nose.

“I blew up my wand.” Requiem sighed, deeply annoyed at the fact that her once beautiful cherry wood wand was now stuck as a sickly bright lilac.

“You blew up your wand?” Padma exclaimed, “How did you manage that?”

“Apparently I’m not very good at potions.” Requiem grumbled, running her hands through her hair, getting them stuck in a curl halfway through and having to yank her fingers out.

“Do you want help?” Miri asked, “I’d be happy to study with you.”

Requiem looked up at her with desperate pleading eyes, “Would you?”

Miri smiled and fixed her glasses, “Sure. I can help you. Why don’t we start meeting up in the courtyard after dinner?”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Requiem praised Miri, shaking her shoulders which she laughed at. “I can’t blow up any more things. If any more rumors start about me I’m gonna vomit.”

“But what will you do about your wand?” Luna asked, tilting her head which caused her hair to fall loose around her shoulders.

Requiem shook her head, grabbing her bag and pulling out the poor, purple, wand. “I think it still works fine. I’ll have to see if I can send it to get fixed whenever we have a free weekend.”

“What a pretty color.” Luna commented, causing Requiem to groan. She was, at the very least, thankful that the red glossy stone at the end of the handle retained it’s original color.

Thankfully there was nothing else she could blow up in Astronomy, DADA, or Herbology. She skipped dinner, not wanting to face the Slytherins, and headed straight for the courtyard with her potions supplies. There was a group of upper class men nearby chatting, and as Requiem settled into a spot by a bench, she noticed it was the Gryffindors that she had met on the train.

“Hey,” Requiem said, walking over to them, a little nervous they would turn on her just for wearing silver and green.

At first, that’s the looks she got, until one of the twins recognized her and jumped up.

“Requiem!” Fred said with a smile, “Hey, guys this is the girl that boiled Parkinson and then blew up Snape’s class.” The group seemed to lower their defenses and started to lighten up.

“I heard about that! You gotta tell me, what was Snape’s face like?” Lee asked, “I need to know what he looked like when you blew up the class.”

“Good job on cursing that Parkinson.” Katie said and Angelina nodded, “She’s always been mean and picking on all the other girls.”

“Serves her right.” George commented as he leaned against the wall of the courtyard’s pillars.

Requiem breathed a sigh of relief that they weren’t somehow mad at her. She vividly remember some of them booing her when she was sorted. “Yeah well, what goes around comes around, I guess.”

“That’s right.” Fred said with a laugh, nudging George.

“Should curse the whole lot them. Boils for everyone.” George noted to his twin who agreed in earnest.

“You may be a Slytherin, but you’re alright with us.” Lee said, tapping Requiem on the shoulder.

“Yeah, just keep your curses pointed at the other Slytherins.” George said with a smile.

“Requiem!” Miri called, having wandered over and set her stuff up at the bench. Requiem waved goodbye to the upperclassmen and headed over to Miri. “Alright, why don’t you show me your notes?”

Requiem nodded and sat down next to her on the bench, leaning to get her notes from her messenger bag and handing them over.

“How…. How did you manage to make anything with this?” The smaller Ravenclaw girl asked as she peered over the notes.

“I, as a matter of fact, did not make anything.” Requiem acknowledged, leaning over Miri’s shoulder to look down at her cranberry colored writing.

“Oh. Right.” Miri said, scanning the notes from under her glasses with a flushed face. “Sorry.”

Requiem shrugged.

“You really should be more specific with your note taking. You don’t just cut the slugs, its more of a dicing. And you left out taking off the fire and added it in a little arrow.”

“Yes, I can see that.” Requiem agreed, causing Miri to blush again and apologize once more. The small mousy girl seemed to be easy to embarrass and fluster, especially anytime Requiem was blunt with her, which Requiem found amusing.

“Maybe we should start with proper note taking, and referencing the book when you are making potions. Here, why don’t we just start over with your notes on…. everything, and we can go off my notes and cross reference them in the book.”

Requiem nodded, pretending to understand what she was going on about. Miri pulled her parchment out and tore Requiem’s notes from her book, flipping to a fresh page and handing her a quill.

“So, Miri,” Requiem asked as they were copying notes together, “How are you enjoying it here? Do you miss your family?”

Miri looked over at the Slytherin, her kind blue eyes flashing behind glass. “I do miss my family. I have little brothers and sisters. Mom and Dad were away a lot, so I kind of had to raise them… I miss them a lot.”

Requiem watched Miri’s face change to a soft sadness as she moved her quill along her page. “I am enjoying it though. There’s more to know here then I ever thought I could learn. Much more. I’m really excited about it. I think, maybe, once I know enough… I’ll be able to get a really good job, and then maybe my parents wont have to be gone so much.”

“Oh…” Requiem felt a tugging of sadness and sympathy towards Miri. She had never really knew what it was like, growing up with that many family members, without money to help keep her family at home. Sure, her father was always traveling, and sometimes her mother would have to go out, but they were never gone long. Never gone every day. “You must feel lonely.”

Miri sniffled and straightened up. “No, it’s fine. I feel happy here. I’m happy to have my friends; you and the other girls. It makes it feel much better.”

Requiem smiled at the smaller girl, knowing she was just trying to appear stronger then she let on. It was very clear the small Ravenclaw missed her family very much. Requiem leaned against Miri’s shoulder in a small sense of contact and comfort for the girl. Hoping it was enough for Miri to know she wasn’t alone.

Walking into the common room, Requiem encountered the Slytherin boys crowding around the fire, laughing and joking. She tried to make it passed them but was stopped.

“Hey,” Theo called, “Didn’t see you at dinner.”

Taking a deep breath, Requiem shouldered her bag and walked over to the couches, leaning against the armrest. “Yeah, didn’t feel up to being social.”

“Worried you were going blow up another table?” Malfoy asked in a joking sneer.

“No, I was thinking of holding off until I saw your girlfriends face again.” Requiem replied almost without a beat.

“She’s not my girlfriend.” Malfoy mumbled under the boys laughing and joking.

Requiem smirked to herself, amused at the embarrassment of the blond boy. Malfoy gave her a flustered but annoyed glare, clearly not appreciating being the butt of the joke.

“Come sit with us,” Theo called, motioning to the couch. Requiem looked at the stairwell, not really wanting to go face the girls, and decided to sit down next to Theo on the couch, much to his delight.

“Pansy was able to clear up her face,” Blaise said with a knowing smile. “She’s saying you are crazy, threatened and cursed her on purpose.”

“I didn’t” Requiem defended herself.

“Relax, Parkinson always makes stuff up.” Theo said, nudging Malfoy on the other side of the couch. “Right, Malfoy?”

“Absolutely.” Malfoy agreed, with a look in his silver eyes that said he was often on the receiving end of Pansy’s tall tales.

Prelude hopped up on the table, letting out a soft meow. “Oh, sorry.” Requiem replied to her, sitting up. Malfoy sat up and reached out a hand to my cat, who growled and swatted at him, earning a sneer. Requiem gave her praising pets and stood up, “I have to get going.”

“Because the cat told you to?” Theo asked, an amused smile on his lips as he looked down at the cat on the table.

“Yes.” Requiem nodded, looking over at Theo. “Apparently something is happening in the dorms.”

“You can tell all that from a cat?” Malfoy asked with an annoyed sneer, still shaking his hand off from the new scratch.

Requiem looked down at the cat, who looked up at her expectantly like a lord waiting on their servant. Requiem nodded. “Yes. You can tell a lot from animals if you spend time with them.” Requiem then gestured to the long haired cat to lead the way.

Blaise rolled his eyes, mumbling something about ‘mental’, earning a laugh from Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.

Prelude hopped down and scurried towards the stairs growling, with Requiem right on her tail. They headed up the dorms to find Pansy crying and complaining to Daphne and the other girls. Prelude hopped onto the bed with a disgruntled meow and glared at the other girls.

Requiem sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, looking over at the girls cautiously. The girls stopped and glared daggers, but said nothing more, beginning to whisper to themselves.

Prelude, happy that the girls were quieter, curled up into a ball to take a nap. Requiem scratched her head, picked up the sleeping clothes to get changed. She pulled out her red leather journal and started documenting the day before she curled back into her bed alongside her feline familiar. The other girls climbed into theirs, and they all slept through the night.

Chapter Text

“You’ve got to look past what you see, try not to judge so easily. Believe it or not, you’re a lot like me.” -SiSi Ni Sawa, Maia Mitchell

Requiem was on her way to meet Miri for their usual potions study session when she passed the twins and their group seemingly conspiring a bit too loudly. Rem could overheard them complaining about someone named ‘Flint’. Requiem recognized the name as the Slytherin Quidditch Captain with the gnarly teeth and dark hair.

Apparently Flint had made a rather aggressive move during the last quidditch match and knocked Katie off her broom. She would have had to spend ages in the hospital if George hadn’t intercepted her fall. Still, Gryffindor managed to come out victorious, but the group was upset that Flint had not received a fowl for such a move.

Requiem couldn’t help thinking that this sounded like a terrible sport. Who would want to play a game that it was legal to knock over other players? She made it a point to never have to go to one of those games.

She leaned against one of the pillars in the courtyard listening to the Gryffindor’s conspiring.

“We can sneak into the Slytherin locker room and fill all their robes with itching powder.” Lee said with a grin.

“No, that’s just copying what those other Gryffindors did, we need something new.” Fred said in thought.

“The Weasley Special.” George confirmed with a nod. The twins knew they could be more creative than the others.

“We could attach fireworks to their brooms,” Lee offered with a snort.

“We could attach fireworks to their hair.” George countered with a grin.

“Ah!” Fred snapped his fingers, “Lads, we could do more than that. A whole firework display in their dorm. Red, Gold, Orange!”

“Everything it touches could be dyed Gryffindor colors.” George added.

“Brilliant.” Lee agreed with a nod.

Katie and Angelia watched from the bench in amusement.

“That’s kind of a bit much just for one guy isn’t it? And what about the others in his dorm?” Requiem asked, alerting the others to her presence.

The boys looked up at her, Fred grinning.

“Not at all,” the twins said in unison.

“Besides, the Slytherins deserve it, don’t they?” Fred asked, tilting his head in a nod.

“All of ‘em bad; ‘cept you of course, no offense.” George added.

Requiem furrowed her eyebrows, feeling some offense in fact. She sighed, knowing it was rather useless to try and argue.

“So you’re just going to waltz into the Slytherin dorm’s and light a bunch of fireworks?” Rem asked in exasperation.

The boys looked at each other curiously. Lee turns back up to her with a shrug.

“Still working that part out actually.”

Requiem shook her head, pushing off the wall and going to head over as she saw Miri appearing.

“You could do it for us, yeah?” Fred called after her.

Rem looked over her shoulder as if Fred was stating something preposterous. Turning to face them with her arms crossed. It did sound fun, and tempting. Not like it would be hard, getting into the Slytherin rooms. She could probably figure out which dorm was Flint’s or how to get the stairs to take her there.

“What’s in it for me?” She questioned.

“Glory?” George offered.

“Infamy?” Fred offered.

Requiem rolled her eyes with a small amused smile.

“Yeah, sure. Whatever. Just let me know when you’re done setting up whatever it is. I’ll get it into the dorm for you.” Rem replied with a shake of her head, moving to head over to Miri.

“You won’t regret this!”

Rem wandered over to Miri, sitting next to her and taking out her potions book.

“What was that about?” Miri asked as she pulled out a few ingredients from her bag.

Requiem shrugged and picked up one of the bottles, looking at the porcupine quills inside. “No clue really. Something about quidditch and fireworks.”

Miri gave a skeptical look through the rims of her glasses. “You? and Quidditch? And I don’t think I like the sounds of you with fireworks, Rem. You can barely handle a cauldron without blowing something up.”

Requiem snorted a little bit, shaking her head. “Well, I won’t be making the fireworks myself if thats what your worried over. What is this stuff anyway?”

Requiem looked over another small vile only for Miri to take it from her hands.

“I thought we could try and go over the endurus potion you managed to mess up. Figure out what went wrong and maybe we can reverse what you did to your wand.”

Requiem nodded and pulled out her wand which still remained a sick colored lilac, looking over it curiously. “Endurusisn’t even supposed to be this color.”

“No, it isn’t.” Miri said with a small bit of mirth, shaking her head. Which earned a small glare from Rem.

Miri looked over the ingredients before her before flipping open her potions book to the page on the endurus potion. “I don’t even know what step you did wrong or what you added to even get that color.”

“Me either.” Rem says with a small forced grin. “You tossed all my notes, remember?”

Miri sighed heavily, rubbing her forehead. This was going to be a lot of work.

After several unsuccessful attempts to figure out what had went wrong with the potion, the two girls finally called it quits and headed back to their respective common rooms. It was notably quiet as Rem descended into the dungeons, when Nocturne then fell into step beside her.

Requiem groaned before the other girl even had a chance to speak.

“So… wand still ugly?” Nocturne asked with a smirk, looking down at the wavy haired Requiem.

“Just about as much as you.” Rem replied with a sigh.

“We have the same face, Rem.” Nocturne said bluntly, looking over at her as they walked towards the entrance to the Slytherin common room.

“I said what I said.” Requiem replied with equal bluntness, not even bothering to look at the other girl.

Nocturne rolled her eyes as she fell in line with Rem. “Suit yourself.”

Requiem and Nocturne made their way into the Slytherin common room, heading across the floor towards the stairs. Rem paused at the bottom and stared at them for a few moments. The stairs were charmed to take you to your room, or the destination of the room you wanted to be in. Opposite sexes were not allowed up the stairs to each others dorms after a certain age or time of day. Rem needed to test that she would actually be able to get to the older boys dorms if she were to help the Weasley’s in their endeavor.

“Are you just going to fucking stand there like an idiot?” Nocturne asked with an eyebrow raise.

Requiem shot her a dirty look before turning back to the stairs and taking a breath. Heading up the stairs as she willed it to take her to the boys dorms. Noc followed her up, keeping close behind.

They climbed the twisting stairs until they reached a wooden door. It was definitely not the door to her usual dorm that she shared with Pansy and Daphne. Raising a hand, Rem knocked on the wood.

Shuffling was heard inside and after a moment, the door swung open to reveal the confused face of Theodore Nott.

Rem smiled. Perfect.

“Rem? What’s up?” Theo asked with a tilt of his head.

“Actually, I was hoping to talk to you about something.” Rem said, glancing over his shoulder to see Crabbe and Goyle also in the room. They were leaning in quite obviously. “Can I borrow you for a moment?”

Theo looked over his shoulder before rolling his eyes. “Yeah, sure, let’s go downstairs.”

Rem nodded, turning and leading Theo and Noc down the stairs. She glanced at Nocturne, really wishing that she would jsut go away and let her talk to Theo in peace. Nocturne, catching the look, scoffed and broke off on her own once they reached the common room.

Theo leaned against one of the book shelves as Rem turned to look at him once they reached a quiet space.

“So, whats up?”

Requiem grinned up at him, folding her hands behind her back. “I want you to help me sneak a bundle of fireworks into Flint’s dorm.”

Theo’s eyebrows shot up and a wide grin spread on his face. “What’s in it for me?”

Rem smiled back at him, “It’ll be funny.”

“Fair enough,” Theo said with a bright smile and a shrug, “I’m in.”

Theodore was nothing if not in it for a good time.

The event was spectacular. Fred and George had called upon Rem not a few days later to deliver a box of special made fireworks. How they managed to do it so quickly or got the supplies, Rem wasn’t sure. Weasley secret, she was told.

Rem conspired with Theo to get the box up into the boys dorm safely. Theo was able to get information from Malfoy about when the others would be out for quidditch practice. He then stayed in the common room to keep the remaining boys occupied while Requiem walked up the stairs and stashed the box into Flint’s trunk.

Flint could learn a thing or two about how to protect his personal property from Rem. She then charmed the box to explode the next time the trunk was opened.

All they had to do was wait.

It only took until the end of practice. The boys were still wearing their robes when the explosion went off. At least that’s what Rem learned when the upcoming quidditch match was canceled. Apparently the fireworks were very serious about charming anything the sparks touched into red and gold; including the Slytherin quidditch uniforms.

The boys outright refused to play if it meant wearing Gryffindor colors.

“Can you believe that? Canceled.” Malfoy complained as the group sat at their usual spot by the fireplace. Blaise and Malfoy were adamantly speaking in upset about the match being called off. Crabbe and Goyle sat like toads on a log on the nearby love seat. Pansy, Nocturne, and Daphne were nodding along. Theo grinned up at Rem who was perched on the armrest of his seat.

Malfoy glanced over at Theo with his nose wrinkled up. “Why aren’t you more upset, Nott? You love Quidditch just as much as us.”

Theo looked over them, holding in a grin, “I just think it’s funny is all.”

Malfoy didn’t seem to buy that one bit. He knew his friend thoroughly enjoyed Quidditch, the two often talking about it in their own dorm. He turned to face him with his arms crossed. His eyes flickering over to Rem when she held in a laugh.

“You know its funny that the Gryffindors were able to get those fireworks into the common room in the first place.” Malfoy said suspiciously.

“Is it?” Theo asked with a soft smirk and an eyebrow raise.

“It is.” Malfoy said, his sneer turning on Requiem. “You’re the only one who is friends with that lot. Seems a bit funny, don’t you think?”

“I think lots of things are funny.” Requiem replied with a small smile that matched Theo’s.

Malfoy took a few steps and loomed in front of her with his arms crossed. “You had something to do with it, didn’t you?”

“Probably, but I’m going to go with ‘no.’” Requiem grinned up at him.

“You think thats cute?” Malfoy snorted.

Rem was very aware of the others watching, Theo in amusement, the girls in distaste, and Noc with her knowing gaze.

“I’m usually cute, yes.” Rem said with her continued smile.

Malfoy’s eyebrows knit together and his nose wrinkled in annoyance and disgust. His eyes flicking over her for a moment before glaring at her again. “So you did have something to do with it?”

“I think we settled on ‘no’.” Rem said in pretend thought.

Malfoy scoffed, his petite frame growing more rigid in his annoyance. “So you’re denying it?”

“Of course am I going to deny it. What do I look like, some kind of honest person?” Rem said with a huff, crossing her legs and leaning back as she sits on the armrest.

“But you’re lying.”

“And?” Requiem replied, looking up at him blankly, earning a snort from Theo.

Malfoy sneered once more, giving her an annoyed once over. “And you have to tell the truth now!”

“I don’t think I do.”

“That’s not how it works!”

“Isn’t it?” Rem replied, holding in a small smile and tilting her head, “Just because we both know I’m lying doesn’t mean I’m obligated to suddenly be honest.”

“So what? I’m just supposed to accept what you say?” Malfoy snorted, leaning in more and getting more irritated. “You’re just going to keep up the lie even though i know its bullshit?”

“Yes, exactly.” Rem beamed, causing Theo to break down into snickers.

Malfoy scoffed, turning away towards the door. “You’re really annoying, you know that, Saland?”

“Hey where are you off to?” Theo called after Malfoy.

“I’m going to tell the Professor that it was Saland that let them in!” Malfoy called as he stomped out of the door. “That she conspired with the Gryffindors!”

Theo and Rem watched Malfoy leave the common room before turning to each other with amused grins and shrugs.

Congratulations were obviously in order after the heat died down. Malfoy was not able to prove that Requiem was involved with the fireworks instance, but he was rapidly growing his reputation as a snitch.

Fred and George were waiting along with the others out in the courtyard after dinner.

“Hey, Rem!” Fred called out, intercepting her as she was on her way to potions tutoring.

Rem wandered over with a small smile, “Boys.”

“Good work getting that box into the dorm. Wish we could have seen it for ourselves.” George said with a grin.

“Wish they wouldn’t have pushed off the match though. Wood was going mental about it.” Lee added from his spot on the bench.

“He always goes mental, that one.” George said with an eye roll.

“Wood?” Rem asked curiously, looking between them.

“Gryffindor’s quidditch captain.” Angelina replied as she looked up from her homework.

“He’s crazy about the sport. Never seen a guy so invested before.” George nodded.

“And we get a lot of quidditch nuts around here.” Fred agreed. “But even Wood was upset about Flint having shoved off Katie. I’m sure he doesn’t mind them getting what they deserve.”

“Just not if it messes up the season schedule.” Lee added with a laugh.

“Still, thanks for helping teach old Flint a lesson.” Fred said with a smile over at Rem.

Rem smiled at them and looked over at Katie, who had been watching the exchange quietly. She offered up a grateful smile to Requiem, who nodded back.

“We appreciate people who stick their necks out for each other.” Katie said, “Real Gryffindor behavior.”

“Yeah.” Lee added with a nod. “You sure they put you in the right house? Most Slytherins wouldn’t be caught dead helping Gryffindors.”

Rem shrugged. She wasn’t sure at all if the hat had placed her in the right house, and she was rapidly figuring out that houses and sides really didn’t matter. Didn’t define who people were. House rivalry and loyalty seemed superficial in the end. What mattered were the individuals. The people.

And Rem decided that she would never want to be loyal to a bigger picture. That the only thing she wanted to put her whole self into was her friends. The people she saw as worthy to be loyal to. No matter what side they were on.

Chapter Text

“I’m now becoming my own self-fulfilled prophecy.” -Oh No!, Marina

The days at school seemed to go by faster than ever. Requiem settled into a routine of breakfast with Nocturne, Transfiguration and History of Magic with Miri, Luna, and Padma, Charms, then Flying with Parvati and Carmilla, followed by Potions with Theo. Requiem would have Lunch with Theo, with the Malfoy squad nearby. Mostly they kept to themselves and she kept to herself, unless a sarcastic comment was due. After lunch was Astronomy with Miri and Padma, Defense Against the Dark Arts with Parvati and Carm, and Herbology. Requiem would have a quick dinner before running off to the courtyard to check in with Fred and George, before studying with Miri for Potions. She was happy to say she had blown up far less tables.

Requiem was able to spend weekends with Miri and the girls, or sometimes catch up with the twins pulling various pranks around the castle. They always tried to include her when they wanted to prank another Slytherin, because she had access to the common room. The pranks were getting so out of hand that Pansy started a rumor that she was the one that let the troll in on Halloween. Requiem never did fix her wand.

Before she knew it, it was already Christmas. Requiem decided she wanted to spend the first holiday here, with her friends. The castle had been adorned with new decor, several trees with fancy glimmering bobbles along the walls of the great hall. The Slytherin common room was a little less showy, with a glimmering silver tree in the corner, covered in green and black vintage glass ornaments, a bright star on top that Requiem could swear was fitted with real diamonds. The firelight bounced off the glass and diamonds, shining a calm and ethereal ambiance around the common room. A few stockings hung along the fireplace, all various forms of green, silver, black, or green and black flannel. One was embroidered with the Bloody Baron’s name.

Requiem excitedly rushed down the stairwell to the common room, already filled with Slytherins opening their presents from under the Yule Tree. The tree was loaded with lots of expensive and vast presents from various rich families. The wrapping was always a color of black, silver, or green, packaged neatly with fine crisp lines and the occasional silver ribbon.

Pansy was in the corner bragging with Daphne about their new dresses. Theo was showing off a new journal to Blaise, who had some sort of fancy sweet that was imported to him and was wearing a new tailored suede jacket. Malfoy was missing, he had gone home for the holiday.

“Hey,” Theo called, waving Requiem over. She stopped her speed through the common room to look over at all of them, a bit surprised they were still here. “You have gifts.” Theo pointed over to the Yule Tree with a smile. He held up a leather bound journal in his hand. “I got a new sketch journal, real dragon skin.”

Requiem glanced over at the tree and back to him. He seemed really excited about his journal, so she didn’t want to dissuade him. “That’s great, Theo.” she replied to him with a smile, happy for the boy. Looking over at the tree, her gifts were only too easy to spot. Among the crisp finely wrapped packages of silver, black, and green, was a modest pile of gifts crudely wrapped in royal blue, glossy red, and otherwise garish Christmas patterned papers, adored with golden ribbons and pom poms. Her father had clearly been in charge of the gifts this year, as he always was. Her mother was always more reserved and Requiem could spot the single gift box wrapped in a cream colored paper with nice edges that was bound to be from her.

Theo gestured again to the gifts, “Aren’t you going to open yours?”

Requiem shrugged, looking over at the garish pile, inwardly amused that it ruined the perfect image of a Slytherin yule tree. “I have somewhere I was hoping to be.”

Theo wrapped an arm around her shoulder and dragged her towards the tree, “Oh come on, Saland, it’s Christmas, you have to open something.”

Requiem sighed and rolled her eyes, grin on her face, as he carted her over to the pile of presents with her name written in her father’s glittery blue scratch. Requiem snatched up a small box wrapped in royal blue with an ornate silver pom pom on the top, and held it up to Theo, “If I open one, will you let me be on my way?”

Theo smiled and nodded. Requiem smiled and shook her head, pulling open the happy Christmas paper to reveal a small leather box. She opened the hinge on the box, and in it sat a golden ornate object with rings wrapping around an hourglass. She turned the box to him to show off the gift with a passive face, as if the trinket inside was just a mundane as any piece of jewelry.

Theo stepped up to her and whispered frantically, “Is that what I think it is?”

“It’s a time turner.” Requiem confirmed, looking down at the gold metal piece.

“Why are you acting so calm about this?!” Theo whisper shouted, “Are these even legal?”

“It’s broken,” Requiem chuckled, looking down at the golden rings, some of them in half and some of them missing entirely.

“Oh.” Theo almost sounded disappointed, “Why would they send you a broken time turner?”

“Sometimes if something can’t be fixed, but its still really rare, dad likes to keep them. He gives me gifts like that sometimes.” Requiem said, looking down at the box and shutting it firmly.

“That is so cool though! You just get to keep stuff like that?” Theo seemed astounded.

Requiem laughed to herself and picked up Theo’s hand and placed the box inside his palm. “Here, Theo. Happy Christmas.”

Theo looked from the box and back up with wide surprised eyes, “What, really? But its your gift.”

“It’s all yours now.” Requiem smiled, rubbing his shoulder before walking past him and making her way towards the door, leaving Theo stunned and staring down at the broken time-turner in his grasp.

Requiem raced up into the owlery, taking the steps two at a time. Tossing the door open she found several other students there also sending off last minute letters and gifts to friends and family. Requiem looked around before falling her eyes on a ghostly white barn owl.

The owl hopped around excitedly the moment it saw her walking over. She scratched his little head and and owl let out a happy whistle. “Happy Christmas, Minuet. Did you get everything out in time?”

Minuet hoo’ed and hopped around, he had taken his job very seriously. Requiem smiled, giving him another scratch before reaching into her pocket and dropping a handful of feast for the barn owl. “Good job, boy.”

Minuet enjoyed his meal as Requiem shuffled through her messenger bag and pulled out another box with a letter. “I have one more thing, I’m so sorry, but i was a bit late with finishing it. Do you think you can deliver this to Luna for me? You can finish your meal and take your time, whenever your ready.”

Minuet whistled under a mouthful of food and Requiem gave him praise before heading back out the door. On the way down the stairs she almost knocked into someone.

“Oh, sorry!” Requiem grabbed their arm and tried to steady them.

Harry’s emerald eyes looked up from under crooked glasses. “It’s okay.”

“Hi Harry,” Requiem greeted, “Having a good Christmas?”

Harry nodded, “Yeah. Just going to see Hedwig.”

“Good to hear,” Requiem smiled back, briefly looking up at the jagged scar on his forehead. She wondered why he had not tried different spells or healing potions to remove the scar, as now he had access to magic.

Harry shuffled awkwardly on his feet. He was starting to grow accustomed to people’s stares, but he never quite knew what to do with himself.

“Should you take a picture?” he finally asked.

Rem looked back into his face, a bit flustered with embarrassment. “Oh! Sorry. No. I just was wondering… why haven’t you tried to have it removed?”

“Well, the skin doesn’t come off, you see.” Harry says plainly.

Rem snorted a little, looking over at him, “I mean, there’s plenty of beautification potions and healing spells that could clear up a scar easy peesy. Why haven’t you tried? Do you just like it there? IT has to be awkward, right?”

“Don’t know what you mean,” Harry said flippantly, “I thought it was normal for everyone to stare at each others foreheads and not look them in the eyes.”

Rem looked over at him with a knit in her brow, not sure what to make of his sarcasm.

“Right…. I just mean.”

“I don’t think Voldemort’s death curse is coming off with a beauty potion, Requiem.”

Rem paused at the statement. She never really thought about it like that. Unforgivable curses might leave scars that can’t be healed. Especially something that was meant to kill you. Suddenly coming to terms with the fact she might have been being just a bit insensitive.

“Right… well, I’ll see you later!” she said, quickly passing him and heading down the stairwell before she could dig herself a bigger hole.

“Yep. See you.” Harry replied dryly with a shake of his head, heading up into the owlry.

Requiem headed back down towards the Great Hall, messenger bag in tow. She managed to find the exact people she was hoping for over at the Gryffindor table, currently wearing very itchy looking monogrammed jumpers. Requiem slid into the seat across from them and set her bag on the table.

Fred and George looked up from their conversation at her confused as she dug through the bag. Requiem pulled out several boxes of prank gifts, dungbombs, and fireworks. Their eyes growing brighter and brighter with each box. “Merry Christmas, boys!”

Fred exclaimed happily and picked up one of the boxes to examine, “You got all this into the grounds?”

Requiem smiled happily, “A little gift box from dad, delivers anything I want without going through the post. As long as it’s small enough, and isn’t going to cause much harm, of course.”

“Of course.” Fred said, glittering eyes glancing up.

“But, we didn’t get you anything.” George said, looking over the items and up at their Slytherin accomplice.

Requiem shook her head and waved them off, “No big deal. I’m just excited about the possibilities.”

Fred and George had stopped raving about the boxes and were staring at each other, having one of those internal conversations. Requiem sat patiently and confused, waiting for them to speak again. They nodded and whispered in agreement before turning back to me.

“Alright, we have a gift for you.” Fred said.

“But, it’s only good for one day.” George continued, “You’ll have to return it afterwards.”

Even more confused, Requiem looked between them, “Just one day?”

“Any day you’d like.” Fred said.

“But just the one.” George mentioned, “We can’t have it falling into the wrong hands.”

“Sorry, Slytherin and all.” Fred said with a half shrug.

Requiem shook her head and looked between the boys. “I’m sorry, what are you offering?”

George turned and dug through his pockets and pulled out a large parchment, and unfolded it on the table. It was completely blank. Looking over it, there was a bit of writing in the corner she couldn’t make out. “I am assuming this isn’t just a plain parchment. What’s the joke here?”

“Oh, its no joke…” Fred said quietly, and tapped the parchment. Ink sprung forth across the pages, depicting the castle in great detail, and in the middle was a title.

Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs

Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers

are proud to present

THE MARAUDER’S MAP

“A map?” Requiem asked, confused.

“A map of Hogwarts.” Fred nodded.

“But not just any map.” George explained, “It shows everyone, every room, every person in the entire castle.”

“Including secret passages.” Fred said with a grin.

Requiem looked over the map in awe, but saw none of the promised things. “Its not here.”

Fred chuckled and folded the map back up, “It takes a secret phrase to unlock. We can’t go giving all of our secrets away.”

“We will give you the phrase on the day you borrow the map.” George noted, “And you’ll return it at the end of the day.”

“Understand?” they asked in unison.

Requiem nodded, still looking down at the map in awe, wondering about its possibilities and knowing she had to be very specific of when she would want to use the map. Something like this couldn’t be used on any given day, it must be used for something special. “Alright, seems fair.”

The twins smiled at me, “Then it’s a gift.”

When Requiem returned to the common room, Theo was very seriously attempting to draw the broken time turner in his new journal, the girls had vanished, and Blaise was off speaking to another group of boys.

Requiem walked over to the tree to go through the other gifts from home. Her father Septimus’ familiar glittering blue scratch had written small notes on each of the packages. There was one package from her mother, written in elegant writing. Requiem pulled the cream colored gift from her mother from the pile, ripping open the paper and opening up the box.

Inside the box set in neat glittery tulle, was a new dress. It was black with long bell sleeves and lace. It was more modest than Requiem’s usual style choices, but still managed to fall into the vibes she enjoyed. Her mother always was more about proper pureblood looks and standards, though she still managed to let her daughter express herself. Along with the dress was a new book on magical creatures, and a nicely bundled stack of phoenix feathers. The phoenix feathers must have come from Serenade, her mother’s phoenix.

Requiem’s fingers brushed against the soft feathers. The phoenix was the crest of her mother’s family. Serenade, the phoenix, had been passed down from matriarch to matriarch for generations, spanning back all the way to the beginning of her family tree. Each life cycle of the phoenix, the matriarch blesses the bird with a new name, symbolizing its rebirth. One day, Serenade will be given to Requiem herself when it is her turn to become head of her family. She hoped that one day, she too, would give the bird a new name.

Chapter Text

“And think to myself: Where do I belong forever in whose arms, the time and place?” -In My World, Avril Lavigne

The girls were all excited about the gifts Requiem had sent them. The Patil twins enjoyed their lavish golden jewelry in house colored gems, Luna absolutely adored her handmade hippogriff feather scarf which Requiem assured her was made ethically. Miri was the best, she was almost mad that Requiem had sent such and amount of gold to her family, plus some brand new school supplies just for her. Requiem just wanted her parents to be able to take some time to spend with her and her siblings, she explained, which made Miri cry. Carmilla, the more tomboyish of the group, got a rather nice new tartan coat made of wool, the new twisted sisters album, and some chocolate frogs. Carmilla collected the cards.

Nocturne bragged about all of her new things once she showed back up, and constantly wore flashy new clothes around the castle. She bragged and humiliated Pansy and Daphne that their dresses were less expensive, less nice, than hers. Which did nothing for them taking their aggression out on Requiem.

Theo took a certain interest in studying the broken time turner, and would constantly be drawing diagrams of it in his new journal. Sometimes he would draw other things, like the castle grounds, or the ghosts, or the creatures. Theo was surprisingly good at sketching. Requiem noted that he was decent at most of his school work as well, and she started to wonder if he was good at everything.

Everything fell back into normalcy after the holidays. With spring coming, there was quidditch; Harry was doing really well much to the dismay of Malfoy and the other Slytherins. Requiem was not totally failing her classes. Everything was becoming rather comfortable, and Requiem found she was rather happy here.

She was spending more time in the common room. You would expect it to be cold and murky, but it wasn’t. It was actually quite warm, even when the fire wasn’t lit. The stone didn’t seem mossy or leaky, it was warm and smooth. And if you got closer to the windows, you could see the creatures swimming under the black lake. It was much less bleak than Requiem first remembered.

She often found herself in the evenings curled up in one of the bay windows, reading her new book from Christmas. Theo sat by the fire, scratching at his journal. It was well past lights out time and the common room was emptying save for a few students staying up to work on their various studies. It was nice and quiet in the room, with the occasional page turn, crackle of the fire, and Theo’s scratching pencil.

“You know,” Theo said, not looking up from his sketch,“If you ever get tired at that Ravenclaw tutoring you, I’d be happy to teach you myself. I’m in the top five of class, I’ll have you know.”

Requiem chuckled lightly, “I am well aware, Theo, I sit right next to you. And yet, you never stop me when I’m about to do something drastic.”

Theo shrugged, “It’s funny.”

Requiem laughed and shook her head, reading over the book and glancing up at him sitting over by the fire occasionally.

“What do you think?” He asked, turning his book to show Requiem his sketch. She looked up, expecting to see another still life, only for it to be a messy sketch of herself. Requiem was sitting cross legged and pouring over a book. He caught the way her hair poured over her shoulders in sweeping waves, and the shading from the fire. Requiem couldn’t quite understand what would drive him to draw her of all things, but it made her stomach all twisty.

“It looks just like me.” she said quietly, getting up from the window and setting her book on a nearby table to walk closer for a better look.

“Well, I would hope so.” Theo said, and stood up with a stretch, handing the drawing over for her to look at closer. “I’m going to turn in. You should think about doing that too.”

“Maybe in a bit. I’m almost done here.” Requiem said quietly, looking over the picture and then handing it back.

“Goodnight.” He said as he walked away and headed up the stairs.

“Night Theo.” Requiem said, looking over at him as he disappeared down the stairs.

Requiem returned to the bay window, sitting back down but finding it a bit harder to concentrate on her creature book. She was about to give in for the night when the common room door creaked open, and someone stormed through with heavy stomps.

Requiem looked up to see a tiny disgruntled Malfoy fuming and storming through the doorway. He took one look at Requiem and glared. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?” he spat.

“Shouldn’t you?” Requiem responded, defensively, before her face dropped blankly. “Wait, where were you?”

Malfoy huffed and stomped over to the fireplace, throwing himself onto the leather chair he adored. “Potter and his bloody friends were sneaking out in the middle of the night! And all I did was go out and tell the professor that they were breaking the rules. And what do I get? Detention!”

Requiem couldn’t help the small smirk pulling on the side of her lip as she asked, amused, “So you were also sneaking out at night?”

“Only to catch them!” Malfoy hissed. “Now I have to go out into the stupid woods with the stupid Gryffindors and that bloody oaf!”

Requiem looked him over, sorting her book back into her bag and walking over. “So… you’re upset that you are in trouble for…. breaking the same rule they were?”

Malfoy’s nostrils flared as he leered down his nose with tight lips, “Shut up, Saland, who asked you anyway?”

Requiem shook her head in amusement, “Are you afraid of the woods?”

“What? No!” He lied, defensively.

Requiem glanced up at him as he sat the fire, his face crinkled up in annoyance. The way his knuckles were clenched couldn’t hide his fear. Requiem almost felt bad for him. She sighed, cursing herself internally for feeling pity for the boy. “Do you want me to get detention with you?”

“What?” he asked, giving me the most incredulous look.

Requiem gestured to him, “You’re obviously worried. And you hate being alone with those guys. Do you want company or not?”

“I’m not worried.” He said, snapping his head away in avoidance.

Requiem groaned and picked up her book, annoyed with herself for even bothering with him. She grabbed her things and headed towards the stairwell, “Whatever Malfoy, suit yourself.”

“How would you even get detention anyways?” he called after her. Requiem paused and looked back at him. “Not that I’m scared. Or want your company. I just don’t think you can do it.”

Requiem rolled her dark brown eyes at him and headed up the stairs.

It was almost easy. Requiem called on her cohorts, Fred and George, and skipped a whole class period to attach dungbombs to several of the moving stairwells. They would secure them so they were hidden in a corner, so it would only go off when the stairs moved. The poor unsuspecting students would be trapped there until the stairs stopped moving. But Requiem needed something immediate. After their work was done, she sent off Fred and George, who seemed to think she was crazy for actually wanting detention. Requiem took what was left of the bombs, promising them a new box as soon as possible, and headed to the top floor.

Requiem waved happily to the portraits, garnering their attention, and dumped the entire box straight down the middle of the stairwell. The bombs fell several floors and exploded in spectacular fashion. She ran out of the stairwell before the brown cloud could reach her as it rushed higher and higher up every floor. It would smell in there for weeks.

Detention secured.

Malfoy held back no comments about how he thought Requiem was crazy, stupid, and a complete idiot, as they stood at the edge of the forest with Ron, Harry, and a bushy haired girl named Hermione. Requiem pet the drooling dog that Hagrid had brought with him, much to the disgust of Malfoy. Hagrid explained they would be off looking for unicorns. Perfect. Requiem could do unicorns. Mother had told her all about unicorns. She never saw one, but she knew what to expect.

Requiem felt calm as she faced down the forbidden forest. She had spent the last year or so traversing the woods that surrounded her family villa. It was part of her family land, and was a small preservation for various creatures. She also had a small skill in tracking as well, as often the creatures in their barn back home would wander the woods and need to be brought back in. This detention was going to be a cakewalk.

“We will go in groups of three then,” Hagrid explained, “Harry, you take Malfoy and Saland. I’ll go with Ron and Hermione.”

“Fine, but we get Fang.” Malfoy cut in, insistent on taking the large dog with him since they would be without an adult.

“Fine, but he’s a bloody coward.” Hagrid said, and the dog whined. Requiem smiled down at the dog, patting its blocky head.

Requiem followed the two boys through the woods as they both tried to argue over which one of them had chosen the right way. Neither of them had chosen the right way. She held tight onto Fang’s leash, giving him lots of pets and encouragement when he got worried. Malfoy would often roll his eyes and sneer each time Requiem gave the poor pup encouragement just for going for a walk.

“It’s this way.” Malfoy said, carrying the lantern, turning away from her and pointing in another direction.

It wasn’t. Requiem sighed, thinking about what she had learned from her mother, Mavis, about how Unicorns are more likely to hide deeper in the forest and not near the edge. Requiem decided she was tired of listening to the boys squabble. “Hey,” she interjected, “Fang found something this way.”

The boys, unwilling to argue with a dog, turned and the group headed deeper into the forest. Eventually, they did find the silver blood of a unicorn. Requiem leaned down to look over it carefully. It’s silvery glow reflecting in the moonlight. She didn’t even have to worry about tracking the beast if it just laid a trail of blood for them to follow. The children reached a clearing where a slain unicorn la, but hovering over it, was a dark hooded figure.

Harry froze up, and Malfoy stumbled back a bit. Fang whined and growled, hiding behind Requiem, who tightly grasped her wand and felt its power course through her arm. The figure suddenly stood and hissed, lunging towards the kids.

Malfoy screamed and turned, dropping the lantern and shouldering straight past Requiem, who was knocked down. Dropping Fang’s leash, Requiem was sent rolling down a hill. She yelped out as she landed at the bottom of the hill, a stinging pain tearing through her ankle which suddenly felt wet. Requiem sat herself up, reaching down and pulling back her boot to see the serpent blade she usually kept there, and a nasty bleeding gash across her ankle from where it dug into her skin when she landed on it.

Requiem hissed, pulling out the dagger from her boot, which was objectively a terrible place for a sharp dagger. Fang and Malfoy’s wines could be heard trailing off in the distance. She heard Harry yell from the top of the hill and looked up to see a horse shaped creature run across. Requiem recognized it as a centaur, which she was surprised resided in the forest. She held her leg, stinging from the blade, unsure if she would be able to get up. Slowly, Requiem rose up and, gritting her teeth, tried to climb back up the hill. By the time She made it to the top, Hagrid was there, reaching a hand out to her.

Requiem sat on one of the itchy hospital beds in the infirmary wing as the nurse fussed over her leg. Nocturne sat at the chair beside her, watching the nurse with an amused expression.

“I just don’t understand.” Pomfrey said, looking down at the leg, wrapping it in bandages. “No spell, no dittany, no potion. Nothing! Nothing at all.” She shook her head and walked away, moving over towards Harry to check over him.

Nocturne snorted and Requiem looked over at her. “What?” she asked, leaning over and touching the bandages softly, “What are you laughing about now?”

“She’s got no clue what to do.” Nocturne laughed to herself, “It’s funny to watch them all fumble about.”

Requiem looked over at her with curious eyes, knowing Nocturne must have known something. “What do you mean?”

Nocturne looked over with an annoyed groan, “You’re slow, you know that?” She sat up, leaning forward in her chair as to not be overheard. “The Serpent Blade can’t be healed with magic.”

“Oh.” Requiem said, in mild surprise, “Did Dad tell you that?”

Nocturne studied Requiem’s face and then sat back into her chair, “Yeah. Yeah, Dad told me all about it.”

Requiem glanced over at the blade sitting carefully on her bedside table, “Maybe I shouldn’t carry it around so much. That sounds dangerous.”

Nocturne shot forward again, “Don’t be stupid, Rem. It’s just a trinket from dad. You just have to be more careful is all. Maybe don’t stash it in your shoe like a bloody idiot.”

Requiem looked back at her, a bit skeptical about Nocturne’s sudden insistence, “Yeah, maybe you’re right. I just need to be more careful with it…”

Nocturne stood up and patted her on the shoulder, “That’s right, Rem.” she walked out of the infirmary headed back for the common room.

Requiem sat back against her bed, looking over at the blade and its serpentine handle. She would have to get some kind of holster for it, a proper one. She could probably find one in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley, and would make a point to pick one up over summer.

She picked up her creature book that was on her bedside table and flipped through it. She was surprised to find out that not only unicorns were in the forest, but a whole centaur herd. She wondered what other wondrous and magical creatures lie within the treacherous wood, a deep curiosity that seeded inside of her as she looked over her book. She was reading, hearing Pomfrey fussing over Harry in the background when a figure walked into her peripheral vision, and she looked up to the small thin boy in front of her.

Malfoy walked around the bed and sat into the chair that Nocturne had just vacated. He sat quietly, looking anywhere around the room but at her, swinging his legs and ringing his hands.

“Malfoy?” Requiem prompted, causing him to snap to attention. He looked flustered as he instantly stopped his body movements. It was such a fast knee jerk reaction that Requiem wondered how often he was scolded for fidgeting at home.

“I should apologize,” he said quietly, too quiet for anyone else to hear, “for knocking you down.”Requiem looked over him, positively bewildered that the usually snotty boy was actually admitting he did something worth apologizing for. “You’re apologizing to me?”

He glared, snapping quickly. “Don’t go getting all soft about it.” he hopped up from the chair and moved closer to the bed, gesturing to her leg. “I know you got injured. And you wouldn’t have been in detention if it wasn’t for… Anyway.”

He moved around the bed and started back towards the door. “You’re not half bad, Saland.”

Requiem smiled to herself. Not half bad. She wasn’t half bad. She didn’t know why but it made her feel proud and almost smug to have the tiny Slytherin boy’s approval. Approval that she once found gross. But this time it wasn’t for being pureblooded, or her cursing Pansy. It was for her own selfless acts of reckless idiocy. Something that was uniquely her. And for some reason, his approval of that felt good.

Requiem looked out the window into the dark night. She could see some of the stars in the sky, one shining more bright than all the others. Requiem almost thought she could recognize the constellation from Astronomy class, but without Miri there, she would never know.

She turned back to her book, reading quietly as she sat in the infirmary wing, the brightest star keeping her company just outside her window. She still wondered if she was placed in the right house. Her reckless bravery having Gryffindor written all over it. But she didn’t seem to care as much anymore. Her friends cared for her just as much wearing green as they would wearing red. And that, for now, was enough.

I’m gonna be just fine.

Chapter Text

“Cause every girls crazy about a sharp dressed man” -Sharp Dressed Man, ZZ Top

Spending the summer months at home was a breath of fresh air for Requiem. She hadn’t realized just how much she had missed the villa in her year at school. She had missed the sounds of the cattle in the backyard land, and the sound of Serenade the phoenix singing its morning song.

The insides of the villa were often cluttered with various magical artifacts that her father, had collected through his work. The dining hall was a particular mess, the table strewn with things he was currently fixing, identifying, de-cursing. In the corner was a vertical piano, old and dusty, with half its keys broken and flaked with dried blood. It was once sent to the Saland family to remove a nasty curse that would force anyone who plays it to continue playing until their fingers bled. Only once the cords had its fill, would it finally release its pianist. It also had quite an annoying habit of playing at all hours of the night and day, a trait that Septimus found delightful, and Mavis found quite annoying.

Mavis, her mother, had long since given up using the dining hall for actual dining. Back at their old estate in the States she would often host gatherings of the pureblood families. They would talk business, expectations, standards. Requiem was often forced to dress smart and play along with the usual pureblood vision of a perfect girl. Quiet and docile, quite unlike the witty and reckless girl. Mavis had taught her daughter the standards of both American purebloods, as well as British purebloods like herself.

As the family moved to Europe, Mavis has since abandoned the idea of having gatherings in the home and hosting. She allowed Septimus to take over the dinning hall as an office of sorts, as this villa was much smaller than their old estate that allowed him an entire workshop. She also had released all the house elves back in the states, and the family was now on their own in terms of service. Mavis didn’t see the point in traveling all the elves across seas, as she could always get a new one. No, Mavis didn’t host anymore, she spent most of her time networking with the local elites and going to their gatherings instead. Which Requiem was grateful for, as she didn’t have to come along to be paraded around like a trophy.

Mavis did warn her daughter however, that the British pureblood expectation was more patriarchal than what Requiem was used to. Where in the States, there was a bit more equality between the sexes, and it was often normal to see matriarchal families. Septimus was very excited about this, because he had very little interest in traditions or pureblood expectation. Septimus was a stones throw away from what British purebloods would consider a blood traitor, having turned his back on familial expectations and only followed his passions of his career. He was all too happy to turn the reins of leading the family over to Mavis.

Requiem chose to believe her parents loved each other, in their own ways. Their union was arranged as a business deal shortly after Mavis graduated Hogwarts. Mavis, the heir to a family that ruled over magical creature preservation and trade, was signed away to the one and only son of a pureblood family in the United States. By the time Septimus graduated Ilvermorny, he had already made quite a name for himself. He had abandoned most studies in favor of studying magical artifacts and curses. By the time he was fourteen, he had already learned to remove the most basic of curses, and repair the most mundane artifacts. At seventeen, he had taught himself to repair every artifact in the school, taking them apart and putting them back together to see what makes them tick.

Mavis’ marriage to Septimus granted her a green card, and access for her families lineage to stretch across countries, gathering new creatures to trade, sell off, and ship away back to Britain. It guaranteed their bloodline would span even the great sea.

For the past several years, Requiem had been learning all about her parents trades. She had a passion for magical creatures, often helping with the ones in the woods, or with the hippogriffs her mother kept in the barn. But her real interest, like her father, was magical artifacts. She had been learning to repair and identify most artifacts, and Septimus often let his daughter watch the de-cursing process. Requiem learned from an early age how to identify cursed objects, and how she had better not touch them.

Septimus was already excited about showing off his latest fix. “It’s like a phone, but it’s a mirror!” He exclaimed, waving a tiny mirror in the air and then setting it down and picking up a small jewelry box. “And this! This is like a vanishing cabinet but much smaller! Just like the one I gave you.”

He picked up an ornate salamander statue, placed it in the box and flipped the lid closed. He opened it with a resound “TaDa!” And the box was empty, showing it had been fixed.

Requiem smiled at her father’s enthusiasm. He was always so excited to show off the most recent objects he had found on his travels or were sent to him for repair or de-cursing. She was always entertained watching him wind up and go.

“I have to go drop these off at a place just off Diagon Alley, do you want to come with me?” He asked, “We can go get you some school supplies after. Just the two of us!”

Her brown eyes lit up, “Really? Just us?” Requiem was excited at the idea of not having to bring along Nocturne.

Septimus looked around as if he had already misplaced the mirror, “Of course, little salamander.” He said absentmindedly, and then exclaimed out when he found the mirror. “Well then, how should we travel? I could apparate us, or we could go floo?”

“I don’t suppose I could talk you into letting me fly Bolero?” Requiem asked meekly, looking up at her father with brown doe eyes.

Septimus barked out a loud “HA! Not a chance. Hippogriffs flying over London? The ministry will be knocking at your mom’s door in no time. No, No, let’s take the floo network.”

“Fine.” Requiem sighed, following her father through the dining area to the fireplace. He picked up the floo jar and handed some to her, and they were off.

Requiem coughed as she emerged from the soot covered fireplace to Borgin and Burkes. She looked around the old gray store with interest as Septimus paraded straight through. His royal blue pinstripe three piece stood out against the background of blacks and grays. He fidgeted with a gold chain that led into his pocket, presumably a watch piece attached at the end. Septimus walked up and greeted a tired looking old man and the two walked into the back room, leaving Requiem alone.

Requiem walked around the store looking at the various magical items, naming the ones she could to herself and making note to ask her father about the others. There was a large amount of dark objects in this store, and it made Requiem question what kind of store it was, and what business her father had here.

The store was so eerily quiet that she could make out the footsteps that came up behind her, followed by a posh yet skeptical, “What are you doing here?”

Requiem turned to see Draco Malfoy, a bit older from the summer, a bit taller, but still thin and looking down his nose at her. She had to tilt her head up ever so slightly to look at the older boy. “Malfoy? I’m here with my dad. We’re on business.”

“Business?” Malfoy scoffed, walking up beside her and looking down at all the objects. He didn’t seem to want a response.

“What about you?” Requiem asked, looking at him curiously and wondering what could have possibly brought him to the dark artifact store.

He glanced his silvery eyes down at her and his eyebrows crinkled too. “I’m here on business too.” he said curtly, as a matter of fact.

“Sure.” Requiem said, not truly believing him. She watched curiously as he eyed the objects in front of them, reaching up to touch a glossy onyx bracelet.

“Don’t!” Requiem snatched his hand quickly away from the bracelet just as a set of teeth emerged from it and tried to take a bite of his hand.

Malfoy stared at the thing, startled, and then down to where Requiem still had hold of his hand. The two children yanked their hands away from each other almost in unison. Requiem almost embarrassed, and Malfoy rubbing his hand in disgust as if he had gotten dirt on him.

“You shouldn’t go touching things.” Requiem scolded him. “There are cursed objects here.”

“I know what cursed objects are!” He lied, “This one is obviously broken.”

“I’m sure.” Requiem rolled her eyes at him with a scoff.

“Draco.” An cold voice called, belonging to an older, much taller man; who looked much like Draco, but with deeper set angles and long hair. “Come here.”

Malfoy glanced over at Requiem and walked over to his dad, who was by the doorway that Septimus and the old man were emerging from. She followed close behind Malfoy, mostly out of curiosity, and because the tone of his voice made it seem like the children should both be behaving.

“It was great doing business with you, please send me an owl anytime! I am happy to help!” Septimus said shaking the old storekeep’s hand vigorously. He turned and was surprised to find his daughter with two blonde men. “Ah, Requiem, a friend of yours?”

She cleared her throat and nodded, gesturing to Malfoy. Her chin tilted up regally, and speaking in a calm and polite tone that made Malfoy give her a side eye, “Dad, this is Draco Malfoy, we go to school together. In the same house. And I believe this must be his father.”

“Lucius Malfoy.” Malfoy’s father looked down his nose at Requiem, much like his son.

“The Malfoy’s, I’ve heard much about you. You work for the ministry right? My name is Septimus Saland, and my daughter, Requiem.” He stepped up, running a hand through his sandy brown hair and offering the other to Lucius.

Lucius perked up at Septimus’ introduction and reached a hand out to shake. “Mr. Saland, yes, I’ve heard of you. I hear you have quite an interest in cursed magic objects. A collection even. I happen to be on the look out for some objects for my collection, perhaps we can talk sometime?”

Septimus nodded several times as he shook Lucius’ hand one too many times. Lucius seemed annoyed by this but masked it behind a polite facade. “Absolutely! I would be happy to help. Let’s see if we can help locate some of those for your collection, just send me an owl anytime!”

He then turned to his daughter, “Now I’m going to take my little salamander to get some school supplies, it was wonderful meeting you both.”

“Salamander,” Malfoy scoffed in amusement under his breath.

“Shh,” Rem hushed him with an annoyed glance.

The two adults barely spared a glance at the exchange, saying their own farewells.

“Pleasure.” Lucius replied before turning and walking into the back with the old shopkeep.

As her father ushered Rem out the door, she whispered over her shoulder to Malfoy, “Don’t touch anything!”

“I’m not!” He whispered back in indignation.

As they cleared the shop and headed out of Knockturne Ally, Septimus looked down with amusement at his daughter. “How close were you to losing it back there with that little polite girl routine?”

Requiem snorted, looking up at her father, “It wasn’t so bad, just a polite introduction to the other purebloods. Mom would have a total cow if she learned I was improper to someone as regal as the Malfoy line.”

Septimus barked out laughter and nodded, “That she would. Dear Mavey would be absolutely livid.”

Diagon Ally was much brighter and busier than Knockturne Ally. Students getting last minute supplies, first years running around with new wands and too big robes, parents waiting at the bank to pull out funds for the older kids who got to go to Hogsmeade this year.

The two Salands made their own way through the stores, buying new clothes and getting supplies for the year. Requiem did manage to pick up a hip holster for the serpent blade that would fit under her skirt. She was also excited to find a cute Slytherin headband she could wear with her uniform, and a nice embroidered gray vest.

Septimus slowed down when they passed by a shop that had the latest brooms and quidditch supplies inside. “What do you think, little salamander? Do you want a broom this year?” he asked, steering them both into the store before she had the chance to respond. “Now that you are a second year, you are allowed to have your own broom! No longer have to use training brooms, no no! And you can try out for Quidditch this year!”

Requiem looked wearily over the new brooms as Septimus fussed over the newest Nimbus. “I dunno, dad. I think I prefer the hippogriffs.”

“Nonsense!” he exclaimed before wandering off to another part of the store, enthralled with the various supplies and brooms, a wave of nostalgia in his hazel eyes.

Requiem sighed heavily to herself. She had failed flying lessons in first year, which she hid from her parents. She would be happy if she never had to touch a broom again, finding the hippogriffs back home to be a much more stable means of flight. Not only did she have no intentions of trying out for quidditch, she barely liked the sport to begin with.

“My father is going to buy me the new Nimbus.” a posh voice bragged beside her. Requiem looked over to see Malfoy again, looking down at her over his pointed nose with a smirk. “They aren’t even released to the public yet.”

Requiem studied his face, as he seemed to be expecting her to ooh and awe over him like his friends do, when suddenly she came to a realization. “Are… are you trying to impress me?”

“What?” he flushed, and gave her the most disgusted look. “No! Ew.”

Requiem rolled her eyes, “Then you’re bragging about your money? Trying to make me jealous?”

“Well, yeah.” He admitted, “You should be.”

Requiem scoffed and walked past him, “I could buy a whole team of Nimbus’ if I wanted to. Maybe you should try to brag to poorer. Like your friends.”

Malfoy crinkled his nose in annoyance, “Fine, I will.” he mumbled before quickly walking back to the Slytherin side of the quidditch supplies.

Requiem shook her head, and wandered through the store, searching for her father.

Septimus was back in the brooms, raving over a Firecracker and talking about his days as a chaser. Rambling to the poor shop stewardess about how his keen eyes helped him be the man he is today in identifying magic objects and spells. Requiem groaned and walked up, hoping to release the poor woman. She placed her hand on Septimus’ arm and he looked down at her as if he had just realized she arrived.

“This one looks great, dad, thank you.”

Septimus beamed down at his daughter with a million watt smile and teary eyes. He turned to the shop steward ecstatically, “We will take this one! And a round of Slytherin Quidditch robes!”

“Dad,” Requiem groaned.

They made their way to the final stop, the book store, where they had to get several copies of some himbo author as a required part of the learning this year. Said himbo was actually at the store that day. Septimus was excitedly buying the books, wondering if he should get them signed, after all- signed would be worth more.

Requiem was walking along the upper level looking around for anything that might be more interesting of a read. She managed to find another book on magical creatures, an elective she was looking to study and ace. It was basically in the bag already. But maybe this book had some more things she didn’t hear from her mother yet.

Requiem wasn’t sure what second elective she wanted, muggle studies almost seemed too easy, and ancient runes seemed too hard. She decided to grab a book on both to see which was going to be better for her. As she headed toward the stairwell, she saw Malfoy ripping a page from a book before setting it back down and wandering down the stairs.

“So uncivilized.” Requiem rolled her eyes, following him down the stairs and picking up the book to see what it was. It was the same magical creature book she had picked up. Requiem shook her head, placing down the in tact book and deciding to buy the now ripped copy, feeling bad for the store. She went down to find her father, who had just got to the check out counter, and added her books to the pile.

“It’s going to be a good year, kiddo. I can feel it. This guy really seems to know his stuff!” Septimus said, excitedly.

Septimus was wrong.

Chapter Text

“Ah, shit, here we go again” -All My Friends, A Day to Remember

Requiem reached out a hand to Miri as she climbed down from the Hogwarts Express, followed by Luna, Carmilla, and the Patil twins. Behind Parvati and Carmilla tagged along another Gryffindor, a dark skinned girl named Lavender that the two girls had befriended during first year. Lavender was a rather calm girl but would get animated when around close friends. For some reason, Rem did not qualify as a friend, nor did Luna or Miri. Lavender mostly kept to the other Gryffindors, and while she tolerated Miri and Luna, she seemed to have a particular aversion to Requiem.

Prelude the cat followed the gaggle of girls with a grumble. The ride on the train was a much more enjoyable experience this year, being able to sit with friends, and being able to avoid any of Nocturne’s antics.

Requiem pulled Miri along by her hand as the girls made their way over to the carriages. The group approached one of the free carriages and the twins piled inside with cat in tow. Lavender was close behind, taking a seat next to the twins. Carmilla took a moment to speak to some of the Gryffindor boys before turning to look over at Requiem and Miri with a grin, her hazel eyes flashing down to the two girls holding hands.

“You coming, Carm?” Requiem called to her friend as she helped Miri up the stairs of the carriage.

Carmilla shook her head, still wearing an amused grin. “Nah, I’m going to ride with Seamus and Dean for now. I’ll catch you at school!”

Requiem smiled and shook her head, “Suit yourself.”

She began to turn to the carriage but was suddenly distracted with the creatures looming in front of the carriage. After the other girls were on the carriage Requiem slowly walked in front of the carriage, approaching the creature from the side.

It was like a featherless hippogriff, smooth leathery skin, hallowed eyes and a beaked face.

“Thestrals.” Requiem said quietly to herself in awe. She knew about thestrals from her studies with her mother. She thought they sounded beautiful, though she didn’t realize how much so from just the books. She found their black leathery skin and gaunt frames gorgeous. Their blank eyes looking over at her curiously. She knew thestrals were mostly wild, and often she wondered if a herd resided in the woods of her family land. She would have never guessed that the school had their own herd of perfectly socialized thestrals.

“You can see them too?”

Requiem glanced over to see Luna standing beside the carriage, watching with wide glossy eyes.

“They are beautiful.” Requiem said with a smile, “I heard about them, but never have I been able to see one before.”

Luna smiled and walked up beside Requiem, “They are quite nice, you know. Most people don’t think they are beautiful, being so scary and associated with death. I’m glad someone else finds them as pretty as I do.”

Requiem smiled to herself. She couldn’t judge the thestrals for being associated with death, after all, she too was associated with death by name. She reached up and slowly showed her hand to the thestral, it glanced over and then away. Requiem placed a hand on its flank and pet it slowly.

“Girls, come on!” Hagrid yelled, trying to usher the rest of the students back onto the carriage. He kept a close, curious eye on Luna and Requiem as they walked away from the thestrals and climbed onto the carriage.

Luna settled down next to Padma, who was next to Parvati and Lavender.

It was funny that most people could not tell the difference between Padma and Parvati, unless they were wearing their house robes. But the subtle difference in their tones was clear; with Padma having a darker, deeper, cool undertone, and Parvati having a warmer lighter undertone. Padma was clearly a deep winter while Parvati was a bold summer, Rem noted.

“So, are you excited for this year?” Miri asked as Requiem settled into the spot next to her that Prelude had claimed. She was close enough that Rem could pick up notes of the lavender, vanilla, and honey perfume she wore.

Requiem nodded, “Yeah, I think so. Have you guys seen the new DA teacher?”

Padme and Parvati nodded excitedly, “We have read his books.”

Lavender nodded as well, with a smile that seemed to imply she was excited for the new teacher.

Miri, however, seemed more reserved. “I’m not so sure about this guy. Some of the sources in his books seem a little… off.”

“What do you mean?” Requiem asked curiously, looking over at the smaller girl.

“Just some of it doesn’t seem to add up is all.” Miri shrugged. “Maybe I’m still learning about all this wizard stuff though.”

Requiem shrugged it off. “Hey, maybe this year Gryffindor won’t win the house cup.”

“Hey!” Parvati pouted.

Requiem laughed a little, “Oh, come on, we were so close. The only reason you won was because of some last minute pity points for Harry and Neville.”

Parvati and Lavender rolled their eyes.

“What about you? What are you most excited for this year?” Requiem asked Miri.

Miri smiled, “I’m just happy we get to start looking into electives for next year. I’ve already chosen Arithmacy and Ancient Runes. What about you?”

“Oh, Care of Magical Creatures, all day.” Requiem replied. “It’s like home away from home. I wasn’t sure about the second one, but if you’re doing ancient runes maybe I’ll do that.”

Requiem looked over at the other girls who also spilled the beans on their chosen electives they wanted to look into. Padma, Parvati, Lavender, and Luna were all equally set on Divination for their first choice. Breaking into discussion about their second elective choices.

Carmilla was set on Arithmancy, as it was a required elective in order to become an Auror; which was her goal in life.

Rem considered taking Arithmancy as well, so that her, Miri, and Carm could all be in class together.

A few moments after, the carriage pulled to a stop.

“There already?” Requiem asked as she hopped out of the carriage. Prelude jumped off and then ran off towards the castle with a grumble. Requiem waited by the door and held her hand out, helping each of the girls out of the carriage. She walked with Miri towards the castle, pausing for another moment to look back at the thestrals.

“You coming?” Miri asked, and Requiem turned and nodded.

They headed into the castle and through to the Great Hall. Then waved goodbye to friends who headed over to their assorted tables.

Rem wandered off to the Slytherin table. She sat down near the end where she had grown accustomed to sitting. Nocturne sat down across from her, giving a glowering long stare from across the table before turning to look up at the professors filing in.

The ghosts were more lively than they were last year, floating around the tables and conversing with students. The Bloody Baron, the ghost that particularly haunted Slytherin house, floated by with a greeting. A few murmuring excitedly about something called a Death Day Party.

The end of the table began to fill in, with Daphne and Pansy taking places next to Nocturne. Blaise took his place at the top of the table, with Crabbe and Goyle across from him. Requiem felt a cloak brush against her and Malfoy slid into his space next to his two goons, leaving an empty space between him and Requiem. He looked over at her, surprisingly unsneering, before turning away without a word. It was… weird. Requiem would have thought he would at least try to be snarky.

Long legs slid into the bench between them and Theo folded himself down into the seat. He grinned at Requiem with the same sea blue eyes and off kilter grin as before. His hair had gotten a little longer, a little shaggier, and he had grown tall.

“Hey Rem,” he said with his grin. “How was summer?”

Requiem gave him a smile back, “Pretty good, though much shorter than yours it would seem.”

He looked down anxiously and ruffled a hand in his hair, “Yeah.. I haven’t heard the end of it.”

“Sorry.” She said sheepishly, earning a grin.

Dumbledore then called everyone to attention, to announce the new year and new dark arts teacher- Gilderoy Lockhart. The sorting commenced, no one new and noteworthy graced the Slytherins this year. Finally, the feast appeared and all enjoyed themselves over dinner.

The group caught up over pumpkin juice and roasted potatoes, each one trying to one up each other over who had the most lavish summer holiday. After several instances of bragging and showmanship, the Slytherins conceded that Daphne had the most lavish holiday. Her and her sister had spent most of the summer visiting various pureblood soirees all over the country, the Greengrass family a staple of the sacred twenty eight.

After dinner Requiem made her way to the common room, Nocturne falling into step next to her.

“So, new year. What are we going to mess up first?”

“Nothing.” Requiem scolded, looking over into her green eyes. “I don’t want any more problems this year. So please behave.”

Nocturne rolled her eyes, “As if. You are such a baby, you know that, right?”

“Please just don’t threaten to stab my roommates again.” Requiem said with a sigh.

They made the way into the common room and Nocturne disappeared up the stairs but not before giving Requiem a mischievous, dangerous gleam. Rem looked around the room, seeing familiar and new faces all getting comfortable in their home for the next few months.

Malfoy and his goonies had set up near their preferred spot at the fireplace, including the girls Daphne and Pansy. Theo waved and Requiem offered a wave in return. A cranky meow was heard and Rem looked down to see Prelude weaving through her legs. Rem reached down to pet the cat that led her faithful servant up the stairs to the dorm.

The next morning after settling in it was day one of classes. Requiem walked down to the great hall for breakfast and slid into the usual spot, Nocturne sitting across from her. She picked up her usual breakfast choice of a blueberry muffin spread with raspberry jam as the mail began to sail in from the ceiling.

Minute, the ghostly barn owl, flew down, dropping off a letter that was clearly from Septimus; it was a brown envelope with a blue seal, and his usual glittering blue scribble across it.

“Look, Weasley’s got himself a howler.” a voice yelled from across the hall.

Eyes turned over to the Gryffindor table as the hall fell silent, everyone wanting to know what was about to happen. Requiem wasn’t entirely sure what a howler was, but she was sure it wasn’t a good thing from the way Ron, the youngest of the Weasley boys, was holding a red envelope and looking terrified.

“This is going to be good.” Nocturne said quietly over the table.

“You’ve seen one of those before?” Requiem asked her.

“Oh yeah. Just watch.” she replied, turning around and leaning her arm on the back of her chair to watch the spectacle over at the Gryffindor table.

Requiem watched as Ron opened the red letter and it folded itself into a mouth and started screaming at the top of it’s lungs. Ron had apparently stolen a flying car and was seen by muggles, causing problems with his father’s work at the ministry. The envelope turned to a small red head girl that had gotten placed into Gryffindor, and congratulated her, before it turned back to Ron, blowing a raspberry before tearing itself up.

The hall erupted into laughter at the expense of Ron. Even Requiem managed to have a laugh at how amusing it all was. It ended up being a delightful start to the day, putting Rem in a good and humorous mood for the first day of classes.

During Herbology, a class earlier in the day, they were learning about mandrakes: ugly little plant babies whose scream could kill you. Requiem was not a big fan of Herbology, and it still was not a big fan of her. As they lined up by the table with pots, they were handed out various ear muffs to place on. Big fluffy ones that stuck off the sides of your head, filled with extra stuffing and protection.

Following the instructions of Professor Sprout, everyone reached down, grasping the mandrake and pulling them out of their pots. Requiem winced as she could hear a horrible noise from beyond the ear muffs. Her mandrake was an ugly pudgy baby, covered in wrinkles. She dropped it haphazardly into the pot and wiped her hands of it, throwing dirt on top of it before looking around at the others, who were still holding theirs up and admiring them. Why they would want to admire such a thing, Requiem had no idea.

Malfoy was poking at his as if it was cute, and ended up getting bitten, while a Gryffindor boy, Neville, ended up fainting. Both of them were sent off to the infirmary while class was finished.

Requiem looked over at Nocturne, who was trying to hold back her laughter at the two boys in pain. Requiem rolled her eyes and went back to paying attention to the class.

After lunch, it was time for Defense Against the Dark Arts, with the new Professor, renowned author Lockhart. Requiem made her way into the class, doing her best to ignore the ticking clock that sat just outside the classroom. She came to learn that she was fairly good at spells, and DADA was one of her stronger classes, one she rather enjoyed.

Lockhart introduced himself coming down the stairs with a flurry of a cloak and started talking about his books and various feats. He spoke about the dangers of facing various beasts, some of which Requiem knew the names of.

It did peak her interest, being an adventurer was quite an interesting idea for a job. Much better than settling down to become a ministry desk hag. Though Requiem knew her career would one day be taking over her family business, she couldn’t help but wonder what her future would look like if she took a more spell heavy career.

She leaned forward to listen to him more intently, wondering if maybe she had gotten this Professor all wrong.

Nocturne rolled her eyes from her place beside Requiem, jerking her head towards the Professor and then making a sleeping motion. It was clear she thought he was boring. Rem did her best to ignore her as he started the lesson.

He spoke about facing horrors outside of these walls, poking at a cage on his desk that jittered. Everyone’s attention was drawn to the cage, and Lockhart revealed the cage, pulling a veil off of it. It was filled with Pixies.

Requiem recognized the pixies. Mostly harmless, but rather mischievous. She sighed, looking over at Nocturne who was giving a look that said ‘I told you so.’. She guessed it made sense to not bring anything truly dangerous into the school for a bunch of kids to fight.

One of the students spoke up about how much of a laugh the pixies were, and Lockhart, taking the jab personally it seems, decided to unleash the pixies on his class.

Pixies were flying around the class, throwing books, swiping at kids, picking up supplies, playing with anything they could get their hands on. The class erupted into screams and many of the kids ran out or hid under their desks. Parvati and Lavender both darted out of the class, arms covering their heads. Carmilla stood by the door, firing off spells at the pixies and providing cover for fleeing students.

As one of the pixies flew at Requiem, she picked up a book and swatted at it, grabbing her wand and starting to cast spells to knock the pixies down and off of their flight paths.

Most of the other kids, including Nocturne, had ran from the classroom, leaving just Requiem and four of the Gryffindors. Requiem whacked another pixie with a spell when Hermione, one of the Gryffindors, got up and shot a spell into the air, imobilizing the pixies so they floated in place.

Requiem took a deep breath, looking around to see two boys climbing out from under a desk. Another boy was hanging from a chandelier.

Requiem looked over at the girl and nodded, “Thanks, that was smart thinking.”

She looked over at Requiem curiously, nodding and pocking her wand. Requiem walked over to them, looking up at the boy stuck on the chandelier. “Got any ideas for getting him down?”

“Why are you here?” Ron, a Gryffindor boy, snapped, “We don’t need any Slytherin’s help.”

Requiem looked over at Ron, confused at him lashing out, and then back to the girl. “Anyway, what’ve you got?”

Ron sneered at Requiem’s dismissal and ignoring of him. Hermione looked from her to the boy and cast a floating spell, helping him float gently down back to the ground.

“Cool.” Requiem nodded and looked over at the boy now on the ground, “You alright there?”

Nevillie, the boy, seemed less than happy about what happened, but otherwise in one piece. He was thanking and checking in with the other Gryffindors as Requiem started to pluck the pixies from the air and put them back in their cage.

“Why are you still here?” Ron snapped.

Requiem looked over at him and then back to what she was doing, “You know, your brothers are much nicer. I think I prefer them.”

“I don’t have any brothers in Slytherin.” Ron hissed, “Only evil wizards are in Slytherin.”

“Is that so?” Requiem asked, picking up another pixie and putting it away.

“Ron.” the girl hush him.

“Excuse me, but why are you helping us?” Harry asked, making himself known.

Requiem looked over, not having noticed Harry being there right away. She gestured to the pixie situation. “Did you not just see the whole pixies attacking everyone? Why would I not help?”

“It’s just that all the others ran away.” Harry said, motioning to the door.

Requiem nodded, glancing at the door. “True. But I don’t fancy myself a runaway.” she shrugged and continued to help clean up the pixies.

They all looked at each other before shrugging it off and starting to clean up the pixies as well. Once they were all put away Requiem latched the door and Hermione locked it with a spell. Requiem nodded to her, thanking her again, before moving to pick up her belongings.

“I’m late for Transfiguration now.” Requiem said, “Hopefully the professor will understand that Lockhart just left us here with this mess to clean up.”

“McGonagall.” Harry said, speaking about the transfiguration teacher.

“We have Transfiguration too.” Hermione said, “We can explain together, I’m sure she will understand.”

Requiem nodded at her, walking over to them. “Thanks.”

“Why are you helping a Slytherin?” Ron whispered.

“Shut up Ron.” she whispered back.

Requiem followed the Gryffindors to Transfiguration, hoping to have made some new friends as well as being able to convince the professor not to give them detention.

Chapter Text

“All these thoughts they make no sense, I find bliss in ignorance.” -One Step Closer, Linkin Park

Requiem visited the library that day. She hadn’t been in the library last year, and found that it was a large sprawling room with tons of books on various subjects, and a room locked away in the back corner with a placard that said ‘Restricted’ across it.

She decided to continue to do more research on magical creatures, as well as the what she could find out about the Forbidden Forest surrounding the school. She had become very curious after last year when she found unicorns and centaurs roamed the woods, and now thestrals as well. She spent some time over her summer traversing the woods around her family land, learning how to properly explore and map out the surrounding areas, as well as honing her tracking ability to try to track more than just her mothers hippogriff cattle.

Requiem sat at a table near the front, having pulled books on magical creatures, Hogwarts: A History, as well as a few books on astronomy. They didn’t seem to have any books on cartography that she could find, so she decided that astronomy and mapping out stars and constellations might be the best learning tool for her to learn to map.

A figure approached her, hovering over the table and looking down at her work. Requiem glanced up to notice a flash of platinum, and silver eyes.

“Hello, Malfoy.”

“Saland,” he greeted starkly, looking around the library and at the various trinkets and displays.

Requiem kept looking over her research, glancing up at him a few times to see what he wanted. When he didn’t reply but kept hovering, Requiem paused to look up at him. He seemed to have taken a small white horse figure off one of the shelves and was examining it. Malfoy, Requiem noted, had a habit of looking with his hands. He constantly seemed to be picking up things and checking them out, even when they didn’t belong to him.

“Malfoy?” Requiem prompted again, looking at the small statue in his hands.

Malfoy turned, setting the white horse down near Requiem and leaning his hands on the table to leer down at her. “What business was your father doing at the shop that day?”

Requiem raised an eyebrow at him, curious about his question. “Business?”

Malfoy scoffed, clearly annoyed at the questioning. “Yes. You seemed to know more about those cursed items in the shop than I thought. How do you know all that? Is your father into… dark arts?”

Requiem laughed at this, shaking her head. “No, not like that.”

Malfoy’s face turned red at her laughing at his insinuation. “Then what?”

Requiem cleared her throat and looked up at him, “My father is a magical artificer. He identifies and fixes magic objects. Sometimes he even is hired to remove curses from artifacts as well. He was dropping off a few items at the shop that the shopkeep had hired him to fix and de-curse.”

“Artificer?” Malfoy asked with a raised eyebrow and a sneer, as if that was a silly profession. Most pureblood men were politicians, worked in government, or were aurors. He had never thought that fixing magical items was something that was a job. Surely he could just have house elves fix everything, or buy new ones. “That sounds stupid. I bet you don’t have a lot of money just playing around with toys like that.”

Requiem resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his downplaying of her father’s work. “Not just any objects, rare ones. Surely you had to realize that someone out there fixed them and sold them? I bet you even have a bunch of magical artifacts on display in your home don’t you? Most purebloods do.”

Malfoy gave her an annoyed side eye. Malfoy Manor was indeed the home of several various artifacts, all pristine and on display for anyone who came by to see and marvel at how rare they were, how rich his family was and lucky to own such things. There were even more at his grandmother’s, the Black Estate, and their various homes.

Requiem smiled at his lack of response, “See? Where do you think all those things come from? You can’t just buy them at the store. Things like that only come from specialists who spend their time and energy collecting them from around the world. I’d be willing to bet even your manor has items they specifically bought from the Saland family.”

Malfoy sneered, he didn’t like the idea that his family paid hers. Like he was writing her checks for her and making her wealthy. “I guess I didn’t think about that.”

Requiem nodded, and Malfoy asked another question, sliding into the chair beside her and fidgeting with the white horse again. “So you must have all sorts of rare objects at your home. Do you ever have anything no one else has? Something dark?”

Requiem raised an eyebrow, pulling at one of her curls in thought. “We have this piano that made you play until you bled. Dad never let me near it, not until he removed the curse from it anyway.”

Malfoy looked disappointed and intrigued all the same. “A piano?”

Requiem nodded, “Yes, but the people who hired us to fix it never came to pick it back up. It’s just sitting in our dining hall now.”

“Do you play it now that it isn’t cursed?” Malfoy asked curiously.

Requiem shook her head, “Afraid not. Its broken. Half the keys don’t even work anymore. I think Dad just has this thing about throwing things away.”

“You keep a broken piano?” Malfoy snorted, “Why don’t you fix it? Since you are so good at fixing things. Weren’t you the one that gave Nott that broken piece of junk he’s obsessed with? Is your whole family interested in trash or just you and your father?”

Requiem rolled her eyes and huffed, “Yes, I gave Theo the broken turner. And… I suppose I could try and fix it. I’ve never thought about fixing things that weren’t magical. Maybe I should give it a shot, it might be fun.”

“Your ideas of fun are stupid.” Malfoy said with a huff, standing back up and crossing his arms. “So you don’t have anything rare or useful? Like a working time turner perhaps?”

Requiem shook her head, “We have plenty and I know what you are thinking. Playing with those things are dangerous. Even if I did have something rare or dark I wouldn’t let you use it on a whim.”

Malfoy scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Figures. You’re as useless as they come.”

Requiem watched in amusement as the blond turned on his heel and walked away, his cloak roaming behind him.

Requiem brought back the books from the library to her room and stacked them by the bed. She knew Pansy and Daphne wouldn’t mess with them, they had learned that lesson last year. No matter how much they disliked Requiem, they never stepped foot near her bed or possessions again.

She reached down to take the serpent blade from her hip holster and noticed something curious. She sat down on the edge of her bed, rolling up the hem of her skirt just a few inches, only to find a few jagged lines along her thigh. Requiem could not remember getting hurt, or had any idea where they had come from. The angry red lines looked like they were only a day or two old. She made a note to visit Pomfrey the next day to see if she could get them healed up the rest of the way.

Requiem laid on her bed, taking out her red leather bound journal from her nightstand and stashed the blade inside in return. She pulled out a scarlet quill and began to note her day in her journal, just like she did every night.

Chapter Text

“Educated with money; he’s well dressed, not funny, and not much to say in most conversations, but he’ll foot the bill in all situations ‘Cause he pays for everything.” -Boys and Girls, Good Charlotte

The first week of school went by well, soon enough it was the weekend. Weekends were wonderful because Requiem never had to worry about sticking with her house or classes, and was able to see her friends a lot more.

Requiem sat in the courtyard with Miri, Padma, Lavender, and Parvati. she waved to the Weasley twins nearby, who sat in their usual corner with their friends playing gobstones together and talking.

Miri was going over her notes for the upcoming electives, meanwhile Padma was hunched over an astronomy chart making sure it was perfectly up to par. Parvati and Lavender were playing a game of gobstones that had been enchanted to spray perfume instead of that normal nasty smell. Requiem was leaning against the wall when a flood of green came through the door next to her. It was the Slytherin Quidditch team, and at their tail end was a small blonde boy.

“Malfoy?” Requiem asked, leaning off the wall to look over.

Malfoy turned to look back to see who dared to speak to him and smirked when he caught sight of Requiem. “Saland, I made the Quidditch team. I thought you were going to try out?”

Requiem shook her head, stepping forward away from curious eyed friends to speak to him. “No, that was more dad’s thing. I am perfectly fine here on the ground.”

“That’s a shame,” Malfoy said, and pulled a broom to his shoulder. “You would have gotten yourself one of these.”

Requiem looked over the broom, it was dark green and black, the new model he had been talking about that wasn’t released yet. She realized every one on the team had one. “You bought them for the team after all?”

Malfoy smirked, “And why wouldn’t I? We want to beat Gryffindor, don’t we?”

Requiem shrugged, “I’m not really that concerned about sports honestly, Malfoy.”

He sneered a bit at this, his face falling. He turned to keep walking over to the rest of the team, who had stopped and were now talking to the Gryffindor team.

Curious, Requiem headed over to listen in. She noticed Carmilla trailing behind the Gryffindor team, looking over the players. Requiem smiled in a bit of amusement and waved her friend over. Carmilla approached with a smile, slinging an arm over Requiem’s shoulder as they watched the debacle.

“You’ve got a new seeker? Who?” The captain of the Gryffindor team asked.

The Slytherins parted for Malfoy to walk up, smirking down at Harry. He went on to brag about the new brooms as well.

“At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in.” Hermione snapped at Malfoy.

Malfoy, not taking kindly to this at all, stepped up, getting into her face and looking down his pointed nose at her. “And who asked you? Filthy little mudblood.”

There was some laughter among the Slytherins at this. Requiem and Carmilla exchanged disgusted looks. Their friend, Miri, was a muggleborn; and they didn’t like the idea of the Slytherins looking down on her or any of the others. Carmilla, the only halfblood of the friend group, had muggle parents, and was particularly disgruntled and looked like she was a hair away from jumping the tiny blond. Fred and George were not far behind her, only held back by Flint. Ron, however, stepped up and started yelling at Malfoy, pulling out his wand before Carmilla or his brothers got the chance.

Requiem reached out to try and grab for Malfoy’s robes to pull him out of line of fire, but it was too late. Ron yelled at him to eat slug, and fired a shot- and went flying back.

Malfoy, who had just looked like he was about to die of fright, started laughing as Ron leaned up on his hands and barfed up a slug onto the ground.

“Oh jeez.” Requiem rolled her eyes and, wanting no more part of this,walked back to her friends. Carmilla followed Requiem, catching up to her quickly with her longer strides.

“That was pretty funny, you have to admit. Though that little brat had it coming.” Carmilla said with a wide grin. She meant Malfoy, not Ron, which Requiem understood. Carmilla looked over her shoulder again at the waves of green and red clad students. “You have to admit though, those quidditch robes look really good on the players.”

Requiem snorted as they reached the others, sitting around on the ground with them. “Don’t tell me you’re going to start fawning over quidditch players simply for wearing robes?”

“You have to admit, they do look nice.” Parvati said, looking over at the Gryffindor team.

Requiem rolled her eyes at her friends while she sat by Miri, but she noticed Carmilla still looking over at her with a grin.

Later Requiem was spending time in the library again, continuing her research while also looking over the books she selected for electives next year. When Nocturne came up and leaned over the table with a scowl on her perfect lips.

“What are you doing?” she glared down at the books, “Don’t tell me you are seriously considering Muggle Studies.”

“It is much less difficult than runes.” Requiem sighed, trying her best to ignore her.

Nocturne sighed, leaning over the table, “I can tell you how to read runes. It’ll be easy. Just don’t make us suffer through muggle nonsense, I’m begging you.”

Requiem looked up at her from over the table, “You are more than welcome to take Runes if you want to, Noc. I won’t be cheating on them with you. Besides, I happen to like muggle studies.”

Nocturne slammed her hands on the table, “Muggles are not worth studying, Rem. Take it from your friend Malfoy; them and all the other little mudbloods are good for naught.”

Requiem stared at her for a moment before looking back down at the books on the table. “You heard about that, huh?”

She leaned over with a toothy smirk, “Who didn’t? And can I say, I agree with him. It’s a big disgrace having mudbloodsin the school. Let alone half bloods… Salazar was right about that much.”

Requiem sighed at her, looking over the curriculum for next year. “For the record, he is not my friend.”

“Who?” Nocturne said raising a perfectly arched eyebrow.

“Malfoy.” Requiem replied, glancing up at her wondering why she already forgot.

She shrugged, “Maybe he should be. The boy has a good head on his shoulders after all. And money. Who doesn’t like money?”

“We already have money, Nocturne.” Requiem said, closing the book and piling them back up to shove into her Slytherin messenger bag; coming to terms with the idea that she will not be given any more peace tonight.

“But we could have more!” Nocturne said with a smile and a wide sweeping gesture. “Marry rich husband, settle down, be an heiress to a fortune?”

Requiem shoved the last of her books in her bag, barely having the space for them all, and shook her head. “We are heiresses to a fortune Nocturne, if anything, someone should want to marry me for my money.”

Nocturne smiled, hopping up from the table and sliding in beside Requiem. “So, what’s wrong with the little pureblood boy who is going to add to our funds?”

Requiem slung her bag onto her shoulder and sighed at Nocturne. “I’m eleven, can we stop thinking about marrying anyone and just get through school please?”

“Spoil sport.” Nocturne said, rolling her eyes as they walked out of the library heading down the hall. When Nocturne realized that Rem was not heading for the stairs back to the dungeons, she paused. “Where are you going?”

Requiem sighed inwardly, already tired of Nocturne’s existence. “I’m heading up to the Astronomy Tower. I need to talk to Padma.”

“Ugh, gross.” Nocturne scrunched up her nose. “At least she is a pureblood, but really, Rem, you need better friends.”

Requiem rolled her eyes with a heavy inward sigh. “I like my friends very much, thanks.”

“You really should spend more time with that Malfoy boy.” Nocturne said, looking over at the other girl in judgment, “Or at least that Nott kid you seem to be fond of.”

“No one is asking you to come with me to Ravenclaw Tower, Noc.” Requiem sighed, tired of Nocturne’s elitism. Although she was, at the very least, glad she liked Theo. That was one thing they could agree on.

“Yeah, right.” Noc snorted, tossing her hair, sounding a bit sarcastic. “I’ll just go off then.”

“Good. You do that.” Requiem replied with a scoff, heading up the stairs towards the Astronomy Tower as Nocturne fades off into the distance.

Requiem climbed the stairs upon stairs that led up to the gods forsaken Astronomy Tower. She was aware of the Ravenclaw Common Room being somewhere around here, thanks to the Hogwarts: A History book they had to read as their first year subjects. Also the girls often talk, and so we mostly knew where each others were. Except Carmilla, who outright spilled the location of Gryffindor Tower to the other girls, much to Lavender’s scolding.

Requiem walked the halls and climbed stairs to no avail until finally a ghostly veiled figure was seen passing through the halls. “Hey, wait!”

The ghost came back out through the walls, turning to look down at Requiem. She was beautiful, with waist length hair, and dressed in regal gowns and a floor length cloak. Once the ghost recognized the green of Rem’s uniform, her inquisitive look turned into haughty arrogance with a hint of disdain.

Great.

“You’re the Grey Lady.” Requiem says tentatively, looking up at the tall ghost. It wasn’t a statement but Rem was hoping that she would confirm either way.

“Yes.” The Grey Lady replied curtly.

Rem resisted the urge to sigh, feeling like she wasn’t going to get anywhere with the ghost. “Can you please let Padma Patil in Ravenclaw house know that Rem is looking for her?”

The Grey Lady looked down her nose at Rem, studying her as if to try and find out if her intentions held any malice. A decent judge of character, the Grey Lady decided that Requiem was not of ill intent, and nodded before turning to walk back through the walls.

Requiem sighed, hoping that the Grey Lady was actually going to tell Padma of her arrival, and wasn’t about to just leave her to wander the halls. Rem walked over to the steps that led up to the Astronomy Tower and sat down on the bottom step and waited. She hoped she wouldn’t be waiting too long.

Well enough, Padma showed up from around the corner a few moments later, with Miri in tow surprisingly and much to Rem’s delight. Rem smiled up at the girls from her seat on the stairs. The two Ravenclaws walking up to them. Miri sat down next to Rem on the stairs and Padma stood in front of them, hands folded and chin high, looking every bit as proper as any pureblood.

“Rem! Helena said you were looking for Padma?” Miri asked as she slid in next to her Slytherin.

“Helena?” Requiem asked, looking over at the smaller girl.

“The Grey Lady.” Padma said in correction, looking down at the two girls sitting on the stairs and blocking the stairwell. “She allows only Ravenclaw students to call her Helena. The other houses were not deemed worthy, especially Slytherins.”

“God so that House elitism junk really runs even to the ghosts, huh?” Requiem said up to Padma.

Padma shrugged a little, as if to say she didn’t make the rules and nor did she want to pry into The Grey Lady’s personal distaste for Slytherins.

“Right…” Miri interjected, breaking the slight bit of tension that formed. “What did you need, Rem?”

“Oh, right.” Requiem said, looking over at Miri and then up to Padma. “I was hoping you could help me learn more about Astronomy and charting stars.”

“Astronomy?” Miri asked, curiously. Requiem was not particularly apt at Astronomy, and usually sat with the Ravenclaw girls during that class to get assistance. But Requiem wasn’t failing that class as she was in potions, so Miri found it curious that Requiem wanted assistance.

Padma smiled at the Slytherin, her dark brown eyes sparking a bit at the mention of one of her favorite subjects. She also felt a bit proud that Requiem was asking her specifically for help, and not Miri or Luna. Miri and Luna were both relatively respectable at Astronomy, but Padma excelled in a way that many didn’t. “I’d be happy to help!”

“But what do you need help for? You’re not doing that badly in Astronomy.” Miri asked, curious as to why Requiem was getting help. Miri also felt a bit of disappointment that she had asked Padma, and not her, although she understood why.

Requiem looked between the two girls. “I’m trying to learn a bit of cartography, but we don’t have any books like that in the library. I figure the closest thing to it would be star-mapping.”

Miri nodded, finding it insightful and a bit impressed Requiem was able to make that connection. “That’s… smart.”

“Don’t act so surprised, Miri, you’ll hurt my feelings.” Requiem says with an amused smile, leaning over to the smaller girl and putting an arm around her.

“I would love to help, Requiem.” Padma said with a nod and a smile, looking beautiful and regal as ever. She was more than happy to help Rem with learning star mapping properly.

Requiem smiled up at the Ravenclaw, arm still around Miri, “Thanks, Padma! That would be great.”

“So what has you interested in cartography all the sudden?” Miri asked as she leaned against Requiem.

“I was just thinking about how there isn’t a proper map for the forbidden forest. And I have a forested land back on our family land that I often explore. At least the shallow bits. I figure I could be the one that could map out the forest for the school!” Requiem explained, much to Miri and Padma’s horror.

“The Forbidden Forest? Are you daft?” Padma interjected, sounding shocked and worried.

“It’s full of horrible creatures, Rem.” Miri said, looking over at the younger, taller, girl. “Centaurs, Acromantuala, maybe even werewolves!”

“Werewolves?” Requiem asked, surprised, turning her attention to Miri.

“Don’t be so excited!” she scolded, lightly shoving Requiem’s shoulder.

Requiem laughed a little and Padma shook her head, amused with Miri’s overly motherly behavior. Miri was always fussing over Requiem or Carmilla getting into something they shouldn’t. All those years raising her siblings and acting like a parent really rubbed off on her, and Rem often found herself at the end of Miri’s scolding.

Requiem squeezed her arm tighter as she looked over at Miri, leaning in and grinning. “Oh come on, I’m not going to charge head first into the forest into a spider den! I’m just going to explore the outter edges, I promise!” Requiem lied.

Miri sighed, looking over at the girl in apprehensive worry.

“Are you sure? I’m happy to help you learn the mapping, but I’m not going anywhere near that forest.” Padma pointed out with her arms crossed and shaking her head.

“Don’t worry, I promise I wont bring you into the forest, I just want to learn the mapping. I’ll do the rest myself.”

“Good! Then I have no disagreements.”

“Padma!” Miri scolded the other Ravenclaw. “Don’t help her. You know she’s going to wind up doing something stupid.”

“Oh, come on Miri,” Requiem said with a grin, pulling the small girl tighter. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

Chapter Text

“And when you think about me all of those years ago: you’re standing face-to-face with “I told you so”” -Good Luck, Babe!, Chappell Roan

A breezy day in October Requiem made the trek to Gryffindor tower. She had been working nonstop in researching the Forbidden Forest and what creatures she could possibly find within. She had been doing what she could to learn about cartography though astronomy, and had sent off her owl to request her father to send books on the subject. Like her father, while she didn’t often enjoy studying for school work, if she set her mind and focus on something, she was going all in. She found researching topics she actually wanted to learn was much easier to retain than school subjects. There was just one final stop she wanted to make before she started her own self imposed journey.

As she approached the portrait of the Fat Lady, which she knew was the entrance to Gryffindor tower because Carmilla had spilled the beans, she looked up at the woman who was preening in a looking glass.

The woman looked down at Requiem from her reflection in the glass, her eyes darting down to Requiems green robes. “You are at the wrong house, child. I will not be letting any snakes into my den tonight.”

Requiem rolled her eyes with a sigh; it seemed like even the portraits participated in house rivalry. Requiem cleared her throat and looked up at the lady with her chin tilted up, “I am looking for Fred and George Wesley. Please let them know that Requiem is here to see them.”

The Fat Lady gasped, lowering her mirror and turning to look over at her, “Do I look like an errand boy to you?”

Requiem looked up at the fat lady with a blank, dry expression, “You look like a doorman.”

The Fat Lady gasped again, clutching her pearls, “How dare you, I’ll have you know that I am much more than just a doorman.”

“It’s your job to let the students inside know when guests come to see them.” Requiem pointed out, getting a little irritated at the Fat Lady and her dramatics.

“Well, thats up to me to decide, isn’t it?” The Fat Lady said with a smug grin.

“Your portrait…” Requiem said quietly, looking over the frame and delicate canvas, “It’s rather flammable, isn’t it?”

The Fat Lady gasped and then out a titter, “Oh, child, if the portraits in here were to be so easily destroyed by simple fire spells there would be no portraits left. No, I have much more protections than that.”

“I’ll still take that wager.” Requiem said with a shrug, still eyeing the frame. The Fat Lady narrowed her eyes down at the girl. Requiem reached down for her wand which was tucked snugly in her boot when a hand wrapped around her wrist.

Requiem looked around to see a smiling freckled face and wild ginger coils, “Let’s not resort to burning down the house of Gryffindor just yet, huh?” Carmilla said in jest.

Requiem sighed, turning to Carmilla with a half grin and crossed her arms. Carmilla looked up at the portrait with her head tilted high, confidence radiating from her eyes and smile. “Balderdash.”

The Fat Lady scoffed, looking down her nose at the little Slytherin, and swung her portrait open to reveal the entrance. Requiem looked like she was holding in an amused grin.

“Balderdash? Really? That’s not even a magical term.” Requiem pointed out as she went inside with her friend.

“That’s why its perfect. Everyone expects it to be some kind of magical term. It’s perfect to stop little Slytherin purebloods from figuring it out, because they would never think of something so mundane and muggle.” Carmilla said with a grin, eyeing Requiem when she mentioned Slytherin purebloods.

Requiem rolled her eyes at this. Though, she did realize there was a point to it. Most wizards, especially Slytherin, would never think to use a muggle term for a password. It was almost ingenious. It made her think what other muggle things that wizards wouldn’t expect or predict. She decided to store that information for later to test.

“Why are you trying to get into the tower anyway, are you here to see me or Parvati?” Carmilla asked, looking over Requiem curiously.

Requiem shook her head in response, “I was looking for Fred and George actually. I have a question for them.”

Carmilla raised an eyebrow, and a small smile formed on her face that Requiem immediately didn’t like very much. Requiem shook her head. “No, Carm.”

Carmilla rolled her eyes as she led Requiem off to the side of the common room and placed her hands on her hips. Requiem looked around the common room in a bit of amazement. It wasn’t nearly as classy as Slytherin’s common room. It had rugs and tapestries thrown everywhere around the large round room. There were no bookshelves full of artifacts, old tomes, and expensive trinkets. Instead, trophy cases lined some of the walls with various house cups, quidditch cups, ribbons, triwizard cups, and other such things. There were also a handful of wizard portraits as well. The common room was roaring and alive, and noisy. With mismatching armchairs that had fraying seams or peeling leather. Rings from glasses adored the mahogany table that sat near their fireplace. Gryffindor Tower felt alive and well lived in, like the comfort of your best pair of worn in shoes.

Requiem found that she didn’t like it all that much. While everyone in the tower were talking to one another across the room, she quite realized she preferred the quiet of the Slytherin room. Which everyone minded their own business and kept to their own private circles. There was no yelling across the room, or enchanted paper airplanes flying in the air, or quaffles being tossed. No, Requiem enjoyed sitting in the quiet low light of Slytherin common room and being able to read or journal, which she highly doubted she would be able to concentrate on doing here.

“I’m glad you’re here though, there’s something I have been meaning to talk to you about.” Carmilla said, looking down at her short friend. Requiem looked up at Carmilla curiously. Carmilla seemed to be tilting her head a little, as if studying Requiem. “I thought we could maybe talk about… boys.”

Requiem let out a long, dramatic, exasperated groan. She had come to realize that Carmilla was the first of the girls to find and interest in the opposite sex. And boy did she make it known. Carmilla, who was early to develop, would often be found following after various Gryffindor boys; mostly Seamus. Requiem could tell that Padma and Parvati were not going to be far behind Carmilla in the boy train, and often the three would talk shop. Though the sisters didn’t seem interested in their own pursuits of boys just yet, they were okay with looking. That left Requiem, Miri, and Luna.

Carmilla held in a grin and a scoff at Requiem’s distaste. “I know I know, just bare with me.”

Requiem dramatically rolled her eyes and crossed her arms even tighter over her chest. Carmilla laughed even harder at this, and then stepped closer, towering over her smaller friend, and leaning down to speak quietly. “You once said that Malfoy was pretty.”

Requiem scrunched her nose up and made a noise of diastase that rumbled in her throat, causing Carmilla to laugh.

“Yeah, alright alright,” Carmilla shook her head and looked down at Requiem with glistening amusement. “But even though you say he is pretty, you don’t seem to actually like him. What is with that?”

Requiem scoffed and shrugged, “He’s kind of a prick if you didn’t notice. Plus, I don’t even really know him that much.”

Carmilla looked down at Requiem with a measured look, tilting her head and raising an eyebrow. “So, even though you think people are pretty you don’t get this rush of attraction?”

Requiem shook her head slowly, an eyebrow raising and looking up at Carmilla in confused curiosity. “No… I think there’s quite a difference between recognizing someone is attractive and being attracted to that person… Why?”

Carmilla shook her head, as if she wasn’t going to tell Requiem the secret, but there was a small smile pulling at her lips. Requiem huffed, pressing her lips together in mild annoyance and glancing away from her friend.

“Do you…” Carmilla said, looking down at Requiem with that same measured gaze, as if heavily considering her words. “Do you realize when girls are pretty too?”

Requiem looked up at Carmilla with the same confused eyebrow raise and shrugged. “I mean, yes, I guess so. I mean, it would be really silly to not realize how pretty some of the girls are.”

Carmilla’s smirk that she tried to contain broke out even more, and she looked up at the ceiling to stop from chuckling. Requiem was even more confused than before.

“Carm, what are you getting at?” Requiem asked, getting a bit annoyed, “Are you just here to poke at me and then laugh to yourself, keeping your secrets?”

Carmilla laughed, holding her hands up in surrender, “Easy, killer. I was just curious about how that brain of your works. I just… wanted to see how different it was to me.”

Requiem rolled her eyes, again, and looked up at Carmilla, “Well are you done making me your little test subject? I have things to do.”

Carmilla, still chuckling, gestured Requiem to go ahead. “Alright, fine. You’re free to go. For now.”

Requiem huffed, turning and walking away from the still laughing Carmilla, heading through the common room. She weaved past seas of red clad students, ducking quaffles and paper airplanes, avoiding games of gobstones and chess on the floor. Until she managed to find a corner of the common room where the group of upper classmen were.

Fred, George, Lee, Katie, and Angelia were all hanging out in a pile of pillows on a fluffy rug in a corner. Lee was playing Fred in exploding snap, which George and Angelina were watching and laughing. Katie was sitting against a bay window, polishing a nice but slightly outdated broom, occasionally looking up with a smile at the game.

Requiem walked over, immediately drawing the attention of George and Angelina, as her green stuck out in the ocean of red.

“What brings a snake into our dens today?” George asked, standing tall and crossing his arms, but he had an amused smile on his face. Fred and Lee looked up as well, Fred offering a grin and Lee turning back to the game.

“I actually wanted to speak to you, and or, Fred.” Requiem said, approaching and looking up at George.

Fred glanced up curiously from his game, “Well, go on then.”

Requiem looked down at Fred and then back up to George who had a tilted smile. “It’s about some schoolwork I need help with. I thought I could ask a few questions.”

Lee snorted, looking up from the game of exploding snap, “You’re just asking for a fail if you ask these two for help with school work.. Maybe ask Angelia, she’s one of the top in our class.”

Angelina seemed to smile at this and Requiem smiled in return but looked down at Lee for a moment before looking back at George.

“Actually, I really need the twins on this one.” Requiem said, trying not to reveal too much. “I’ve been trying to do some research into cartography. You know, maps?”

This seemed to draw attention of both the twins. Fred and George looked at each other, having one of their silent twin conversations. George turned back to Requiem with a smile and gestured her to lead the way. Fred stayed behind to keep Lee from getting too curious.

Requiem and George walked towards a more quiet space in the common room, if one could exist. George leaned against the wall, crossing his arms and looking down at the little snake in front of him. “So, is today the day?”

Requiem shook her head, she knew he was asking if she as going to borrow the Marauders Map today. “No, but i did have a few questions about it. Did you or Fred make it?”

George thought about his response, as if he was curious how much to say. He didn’t have Fred here to consult with.

Requiem sighed a little, looking up at him, “Let’s just say answer a few questions and we will call it even for the sweets I bought you first year on the train.”

George gave her an amused and surprised look, “You remember that? We were kind of hoping you forgot.”

Requiem smirked up at him, “I never forget the debts people owe me. I keep them written in my journal.”

George shook his head in amusement, “Spoken like a true Slytherin. Alright, a few questions for the sweets.”

Requiem nodded, asking the first one again, “So, did you make the map?”

George shook his head, “No, we nicked it from Filch’s office. No idea where it came from.”

“Damn,” Requiem cursed, earning an amused look from the upperclassman as the eleven year old in front of him cursed.

“Does it extend to the forest, or is it just Hogwarts?” Requiem asked her next question.

“Just the school, it ends at the edge of the forest.” George replied, earning a disappointed look from Requiem.

Requiem, determined to get something out of this debt, continued to try and ask questions, “Do you know how it’s scaled? Or Enchanted?”

George, unfortunately, shook his head. Requiem started to look more and more defeated. “What are you up to anyways?”

“I want to try and start mapping out somewhere.” Requiem said, looking up at George, “I was hoping that maybe if I learned how your map was made, I could be able to replicate it without having to hand draw everything.”

George made a small noise of recognition and shrugged, “Well, sorry to disappoint. We don’t know who made the map, or how it works really.”

Requiem sighed and nodded her head. “Can I take a look at it so I could see how its scaled and designed? There aren’t any books on cartography in the library, so I haven’t been able to see a lot of examples.”

George seemed to consider the request before taking a paper out of his pocket, unfolding it over and over and mumbling something to it before ink sprung forth through its pages.

Requiem looked over the Marauders Map, a large map of Hogwarts. It really did track everyone in the whole school, which was amazing, but wasn’t what she cared about right now. She instead just took in the size of the paper, the scaling per square, and the compass in the corner that seemed to turn with the page. She nodded up to George after a moment and he whispered something to it, the ink vanished, and he pocketed the map once more.

“Thanks, George.” Requiem said with a small nod. George nodded in return and Requiem turned to head out of the common room. She felt like she learned very little from the map. Though she had a visual representation of a decent mapping, and soon, she could figure out how to make her own, though much less impressive.

She left the Gryffindor common room to start heading back towards her own, walking down the steps and through once of the halls. As she head down the halls, a figure slipped into pace beside her, just a bit taller, with dark brown straight hair, and sharp green eyes.

Requiem sighed as Nocturne smirked down at her. Nothing ever good happened when she had to deal with Nocturne.

“What were you doing?” Nocturne asked, her high sweet voice like nails on a chalkboard that made Requiem’s hairs stand up.

“None of your business, Noc.” Requiem said, shooting her an annoyed look.

“Mhm.” Nocturne flipped her hair, facing forward and walking with her chin up, like she was better than Requiem. “You can lie to everyone else, Rem, but you can’t lie to me.”

Requiem sighed deeply, already annoyed with the other girl. “What do you want anyways? Why are you all the way up here?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” Nocturne pointed out with a grin.

Requiem didn’t reply as they walked down the halls, she knew she would get nothing out of Nocturne. Nocturne only gave up what she wanted to give up. Soon as they made their ways down the halls, Requiem noticed water all over the floor, getting more and more prevalent as she got closer to the bathrooms.

“What is this?” Nocturne asked in disgust, as if she was offended at the water for touching her shoes.

Requiem mumbled at her to shut up as they walked around the corner, seeing a small horde of students huddled around a passage of wall. Requiem and Nocturne walked up, looking at what everyone was staring at.

In glistening and dripping crimson blood, on the wall for everyone to see, were the words: The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, BEWARE.

“Did you do this?” Requiem whispered to Nocturne as they stared at the blood dripping on the walls.

“No, but I wish I did,” Nocturne admitted, clearly impressed, “look at the drama!”

Requiem scoffed in disgust, looking back at the wall in a bit of shock. She thought that seeing blood smeared on a wall, she would be shocked, disgusted even, horrified. But mostly, she was just a bit surprised, maybe even intrigued.

“That’s human.” Nocturne said quietly.

Requiem looked over at the other girl curiously. Nocturne was looking intently at the blood soaked walls. Her green eyes sparking with what can only be presumed as delight. She was almost fascinated and enthralled with the blood. The realization made Requiem feel a little sick and guilty for being intrigued in the blood, as she refused to be anything like Nocturne.

“You can tell its human blood? Just like that?” Requiem asked in a hushed voice, looking over at Nocturne in deep concern and shock. She was even more shocked that Nocturne could tell the orgin of the blood than she was at actually seeing blood. Nocturne nodded confidently.

“You’ll be next mudbloods!” Malfoy’s voice called out, snapping the two out of their conversation.

Nocturne snorted and laughed quietly, Requiem gave a look of annoyance.

Chapter Text

“Hello there, The angel from my nightmare. The shadow in the background of the morgue. The unsuspecting victim of darkness in the valley.” -I Miss You, Blink 182

Nocturne was acting even more snotty than usual. The writing on the wall seemed to ignite something inside of her that fueled her fire in a way that Requiem had never experienced before. She was more excited, more enthralled, more animated than usual. However, she was also more harsh, angrier, on edge. It was like the Chamber of Secrets had lit her fuse and now she was a bomb just waiting to go off.

Requiem had never seen her like this before. Nocturne had always been cool, collected, controlled. Almost to a fault. Nocturne was mean, and demanding, and bratty, but she almost never snapped. That was Requiem’s thing. Requiem was the one with the short temper, where was Nocturne could remain cool in the face of rage. The world was her game, and she played it like a fiddle.

No, Requiem had never seen the girl so rattled before. Nocturne spent more time around Requiem the rest of the evening and the next morning through classes, circling her like a sleek black snake with bright emerald eyes, coiling in on its prey.

During History of Magic, Nocturne hovered over Requiem as she sat at the table next to her. Requiem was pouring over the book, looking over it as Professor Binns rambled in the background. When out of no where, Binns called on Hermione. When Hermione asked about the Chamber of Secrets, Nocturne jerked in her seat, looking from Hermione to Binns.

“While the Chamber of Secrets is a sensational legend, ludicrous even, I think we should stick to History and facts.” Binns replied calmly. After prompting from some of the other students, the ghostly teacher finally caved, “Oh, very well… As you know Hogwarts was founded and built over a thousand years ago by the four greatest witches and wizards of their time: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin.”

Requiem could feel the tension and rage radiating from Nocturne sitting next to her, it was almost suffocating. However, neither girl could look away as Binns continued to weave his tale.

“The founders worked in harmony for some years, seeking out children who were magically gifted and bringing them to the school to teach. However, a rift began to grow between Salazar and the others, who wanted to be far more selective about who was allowed to be taught magic. He wanted magic to only be taught between all magic families. A rift so wide that caused Salazar to eventually leave to school.”

Nocturne bristled in her space, her green eyes flashing dangerously, though she still hung on every word like a lifeline. Every word like a personal slap in the face.

“Some say that Salazar built a secret chamber, only to be accessed by him and his own heirs, and inside lie a beast that can only be tamed by Salazar’s personal bloodline. That even after he left, one day his heirs will return to the school and release the beast hidden in the chamber to purge the school of all those unworthy to study magic.”

“I bet I could figure out what the beast is.” Requiem said quietly, her mind already running wild with possible creatures that could be in the school.

“Shut up.” Nocturne hissed with such venom that it made Requiem snap her head over to look at the green eyed girl. Nocturne seemed to be positively vibrating with tension as the students dissolved into their discussions over what the beast is, how to find the chamber, if it existed.

Requiem, curious but knowing better then to poke at a coiled viper, turned back to her Hogwarts: A History book and flipped through her pages to try and find the section on Salazar Slytherin. She found it soon enough, an entry with basic information to start with, and a portrait. Salazar Slytherin was an indignant bland man with a long white pointed beard. He was wearing long dress robes, a long golden chain and locket dangling from his neck. A large pendant stone with a snake winding around it was pinned onto his robes, keeping his cloak firmly in place. His hands were folded in front of him, but it was clear he had snake rings, snake chains, snake belts keeping his trousers up. The man loved snakes.

Requiem’s book slammed shut with a snap and she looked up, started, to see venomous green eyes glaring at her like she was her own personal lunchbox. The black viper that was Nocturne was giving her the most dangerous, warning look she had ever seen from the other girl. Requiem chewed on the inside of her lip anxiously before turning her face back to the front of the class, not touching her book again.

Dinner went by as usual, sitting next to Theo, the two of them stifling laughs at the ridiculous nature of the other more pompous of the Slytherins. Requiem could still feel Nocturne’s venomous glare on her the whole time, especially as Malfoy brought up the Chamber of Secrets once more.

After dinner, Requiem went out to the courtyard, it was a bit chilly so she brought a black jumper with her to put on over her uniform. She found Miri in the same place as always, already pouring over her potions book. Requiem smiled softly down at the petite girl with short dark hair and slid into the space next to her on the bench, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and leaning in. “How goes it, Mir?”

Miri startled and flushed a little, clearly absorbed in what she was doing that she didn’t notice Requiem’s approach. Her blue eyes looking up to meet Requiem’s dark brown ones. “Rem, I- I didn’t hear you.”

Requiem looked over her and smiled lightly, “You were so into that book you’d let just any old snake sneak up on you, huh?”

Miri huffed, looking away with an embarrassed flush as she held her book tighter.

Requiem smiled more at her defensive trait, pulling her a little closer, “Ah, come on Mir. I’m just teasing you.”

Miri huffed in exasperation, dropping her head. Requiem laughed, dropping her arm from the little Ravenclaw’s shoulders and looked over at her. “Seriously though, how are you holding up? You must have heard about the whole Chamber of Secrets thing by now.”

Miri nodded, looking over at Requiem, “I have.”

“And?” Requiem asked, looking over as her quizzically, “Do you think it’s true?”

Miri shrugged, “Who’s to say? Its possible. There seems to be all sorts of passages and secrets in the school. Why not one more?”

Requiem thought about Fred and George and their map that showed all the hidden rooms and passages. Surely they would have found the secret chamber by now if it was on the grounds, right? She inwardly cursed herself for already using one debt with them to look at the map, which turned out to be a total wash. It would be nice to look at it again to find this chamber. But Requiem knew she would need it for something else one day, and the way Nocturne was acting lately was like a warning to stay away from the chamber.

“Not to mention the whole ‘Mudbloods beware’.” Miri said with a small upset huff.

Requiem looked over at her, reaching over and placing a hand on her shoulder. “Malfoy was being a right prick about that. Don’t listen to him. If he or any ‘heir of Slytherin’ or chamber beast tries to come after you, I will personally floor them.”

Miri smiled, shaking her head and looking over at Requiem with sparkling blue eyes, “I do wish you wouldn’t be so violent. Carmilla told me you wanted to set fire to the portrait of Gryffindor tower as well?”

“That priss wouldn’t let me in the door. I had business.” Requiem defended her actions with a smirk.

Miri shook her head once more at the brown haired girl. “You really are a snake in the grass, you know that?”

“Ah, but a good one.” Requiem said with a grin, pointing her finger up as a matter of fact.

“Yes,” Miri said, looking over at her with a soft smile, “A good snake in the grass. Truly a white light shining among all the dark scales.”

“And don’t you forget it.” Requiem said with a grin.

Later in the common room, Requiem was sitting in the bay window, writing in her journal about the days events; about the chamber, and Nocturne, about missing time, and Miri. She was so distracted, she hadn’t noticed when Nocturne arrived, sitting in the armchair near her window, aimlessly flipping though a leather bound journal that was a sickly olive green.

Requiem looked up from her red journal with confusion. “Since when do you have a journal?”

“Since a few weeks ago.” Nocturne replied, flipping through the pages as if she was going over old memories.

“I thought that wasn’t really your thing?” Requiem asked, a little defensive as she closed up her red leather journal and bound it. “You always called me a dork for it.”

“You are a dork.” Nocturne pointed out, still not looking up, “But I thought i would see what all the fuss was about. I’m actually having an awful lot of fun.”

Requiem sighed and rolled her eyes as Nocturne tucked away her green journal and leaned forward, crossing her legs.

“Tell me you aren’t going to be stupid and go looking for that chamber beast.” She hissed at the brown eyed girl.

Requiem looked over at Nocturne, crossing her arms. “And if I do? I can handle any creature.”

“You will not go looking for the chamber, Requiem.” Nocturne hissed, “In fact, you aren’t going to look into anything about Slytherin at all. Not his beast, his chambers, nothing.”

“What’s the matter, Noc, going soft?” Requiem couldn’t help but taunt Nocturne that for once she was the one who wasn’t on the defensive.

Nocturne lurched forward like a snake striking, her face coming within inches of Requiem’s. Like staring into a cold, dead, green eyed mirror.

“I will kill you myself if I have to, Rem.” she spat out the nickname like it tasted vile, “Your recklessness won’t do. I am warning you not to go looking into this.”

Requiem laughed once, bright and clear, into the face of the black snake, “And then you’ll tell mom and dad what exactly? ‘Sorry, I murdered my twin sister, see you at Christmas’?”

Nocturne studied Requiem for a few moments, eyeing her like the prey she was. “Maybe… Maybe I’ll just wait for you to explore that forest you’re getting so obsessed with, and then I’ll make it look like an accident… ‘Sorry mom and dad, Rem got eaten by an acromantula. See you at Christmas.’”

Requiem sneered up at Nocturne, who smirked back. Nocturne slid up from her seat and hovered over Requiem. “Just remember, I’ll be watching you. So you better stay away from that chamber.”

Chapter Text

“I’m living for the only thing I know. I’m running and not quite sure where to go. And I don’t know what I’m diving into, just hanging by a moment here with you.” -Hanging By A Moment, Lifehouse

Saturday was the first quidditch match of the season, and it was going to be Gryffindor vs Slytherin. The entire school were dressed in various shades of green and red, even if they were from other houses. Quidditch was apparently a very big deal. Which meant the entire school would be down at the quidditch pitch, leaving Requiem the perfect opportunity to sneak off to start her first expedition into the Forbidden Forest.

She wanted to make sure it was during the day, since she was well aware of the creatures that could come out at night. Especially after Lockhart did a very small class on werewolves the other day. Though it was mostly him talking about his book, and fighting a werewolf pack of Waga Waga. Requiem was sure he didn’t know much about what he was talking about, but added the book to the pile anyways. The last thing she wanted to do was encounter a werewolf in the Forbidden Forest.

Requiem came to breakfast prepared, dressed in dark green plaid pants, a black jumper, and her loyal doc martens. She pulled her curls up into a ponytail to keep out of her face while she explored, and she emptied her Slytherin messenger bag of all its school contents to make space for mapping supplies and first aid items, just in case.

She ate breakfast at her place next to Theo, who was more animated and excited than he had been in ages. He wasn’t pouring over his sketches for once, and was actively participating in conversation with Blaise and Malfoy instead of just keeping to himself and laughing at them. Requiem couldn’t help but enjoy the fact that her friend was so full of life today. He was wearing a Slytherin green jumper, his tousled brown hair hanging over his eyes which sparked when he spoke about the upcoming quidditch match. There was a long gold chain hanging around his neck, and the broken time turner swung at the end like a pendulum.

“You repaired the chain.” Requiem said quietly, surprised, as she reached out and picked up the timepiece at the end of the chain.

Theo paused his animated speaking to turn to look down at Requiem with a small smile, “Yeah, sure did. Ages ago. I usually have it tucked away.”

Requiem let the timeturner fall and Theo picked it up, licking syrup off it that must have gotten onto it when it swung over the table, and dropped it down his jumper.

Malfoy was leaning forward in his seat, looking over between the two of them with his nose scrunched. “Are you two done then? Can we go back to talking about my match today?”

Requiem and Theo exchanged amused glances before both leaning to look over at Malfoy.

“I’m so sorry, my liege,” Requiem said with a smirk.

“Please, do go on in telling us peasants about your massive quidditch skill set.” Theo continued.

Malfoy gave them both small glares before turning back to the whole table and continuing to brag about being the new seeker, the new brooms, about how he has been flying his whole life, and how he was going to crush Potter like a bug.

Malfoy soon left to head down to the pitch and the locker rooms. Around eleven the other students all started to file out of the Great Hall and towards the pitch as well. Theo hopped up from his seat as fast as his long legs allowed and waited for Requiem to do the same.

Requiem stood up, looking up at him a bit surprised that he was waiting.

“Come on, lets go, I want to get a good spot.” Theo insisted, leading the way and expecting the girl to follow.

Requiem looked over at him curiously, “I, uh, wasn’t planning on going.”

Theo stopped and looked back at her with a confused and surprised expression, “You weren’t going to go? It’s quidditch. Its the first match of the year. Its against Gryffindor!”

Requiem smiled a little at his shock. “I just don’t really care too much for sports, Theo, I gotta be honest.”

Theo’s lips fell open like he had been slapped. His sea glass colored eyes wide under the brown tousled locks. Something about the poor boy looking wide eye and lost down at her, made Requiem cave just a little bit.

She sighed, “Alright… Let’s go watch the sports game.”

The stands were crowded and loud, full of screaming and yelling children clamoring over each other. Theo managed to use his new found height to maneuver the two of them towards the railing near the stairs. He shifted himself between the smaller girl and the other students as a barrier.

Requiem leaned her elbows on the railing, stepping up on the bottom tier to look out over the pitch. She was silently grateful for Theo creating a small body barrier between herself and the other, noisier students. She wasn’t too keen on physical contact, especially for anyone she wasn’t friends with. So having Theo blocking the other kids from accidentally nudging into her in their excitement was a blessing. It also created a warm pocket between him and the stand walls that blocked her from the wind.

The two friends smiled, looking down over the pitch as the players came out. Theo was quick to point out a flash of blond hair in green robes coming out. “There’s Malfoy, the pompous prat!”

Requiem snickered and looked down at the blond. Several first years where cheering for him, and he waved in a boastful nature at the screaming crowds as if it was just for him. Theo and Requiem rolled their eyes together, exchanging a look.

“If he loses I’m gonna rag on him for weeks.” Theo said, leaning over with a grin to talk to Requiem.

“And if he wins?” Requiem asked in response, looking up at Theo.

“I’m still gonna rag on him for weeks.” Theo said with a crooked grin.

As the match started, Slytherin started off strong. The new brooms the team had received from Malfoy were paying off. Each time one of the team scored, the stands would erupt, and Theo would lean down to explain the play to Requiem, who was looking totally lost.

She jumped when a bludger nearly hit Adrian Pucey, which made Theo laugh. “How do people like this barbaric sport?”

“It’s exciting!” Theo said in response, clearly enjoying the players getting nearly beheaded by angry balls.

“What happens if you fall?” Requiem asked as she watched Malfoy flying around looking for the smaller gold ball.

“You hope the ground is soft.” Theo shrugged, still grinning. Requiem gave him the most bewildered look.

She looked back at the teams playing, surprised and shocked that this game was allowed, encouraged even. She wanted to think it was hard to believe that her father was once a chaser and would play something this insane, but it actually seemed right up his alley all the way down to the terrible rules and point keeping.

Soon, it started to rain lightly, and Requiem looked over at Theo, “Can the players see in this? Do they stop the game?”

“The game never stops!” Theo said, pulling off his jumper to show off a black teeshirt under and held his jumper over his head like a cover. He stepped in closer to his friend to give her a little cover as well, to which Requiem was grateful. She didn’t want to mess up her curls.

After a while, it seemed like Malfoy was less intent on searching for the snitch, and more amused with watching Potter try and out maneuver a bludger that seemed to want his head. Requiem and Theo both tried yelling at the boy to focus, but it was swallowed up by cheers and rain.

Eventually, Harry dove towards Malfoy, who dodged and started trailing them, the two trying to best the other for the snitch. The bludger was in pursuit, and managed to clip Malfoy, who toppled off his broom onto the field. Harry, with no more competition, caught the snitch, much to the dismay of the Slytherins. He then promptly fell off his broom, and passed out.

In the aftermath of the game, both Potter and Malfoy were brought to the hospital wing, Fred and George had to wrestle a rouge bludger, and Lockhart managed to de-bone the chosen one. Theo was delighted by each of these things.

Now that it was raining, the likelihood of her making it to the forest was slim, so Requiem decided to tag along with Theo to go visit Malfoy in the infirmary and give some helpful remarks.

“Maybe try staying on your broom next time, you nonce.” Theo said to Malfoy, who was groaning and surrounded by his usual goons as well as a few extra sympathy girls.

Malfoy gave him a snotty glare, which made Theo laugh, which in turn made Requiem laugh.

“Not you too Saland.” Malfoy mumbled, giving her a pointed look. “Thought maybe you’d have some sympathy. Instead of going along with Nott.”

Pansy placed a hand on Draco’s shoulder, “You don’t need her sympathy, Draco.”

Malfoy didn’t look at Pansy for a moment, but seemed to be pleased that the girl was fussing over him again. The prat really did adore attention.

Requiem and Theo exchanged amused looks and continued to spend the afternoon teasing the young blonde until he was released from the hospital wing.

Chapter Text

“I feel I’ve come to realize how fast life can be compromised.”- Hell Song, Sum 41

Requiem woke up to clearer skies on Sunday. She was determined to make this the day she started her first trek into the forest. She showered and noted more cuts along her thighs, cataloging them into her memory suspiciously. She still hadn’t figured out what had caused them before, and she needed to make sure she noted them and the days they appeared precisely if she had any hope. Her journal would eventually uncover a pattern if there was one. Everything was written in there.

She went to her vanity and used her wand to make sure her curls fell in perfect loose spirals, not a hair out of place. It was the smallest bit of vanity she allowed herself, making sure she took care of her shiny dark brown curls. She got dressed into a similar outfit as yesterday, a jumper, pants, boots. No use wearing a skirt or dress into the forest.

After breakfast she set out onto the grounds. She decided to make her entry point down by the lake. It would be unnoticed by most of the other students and staff, and if she was caught she could just say she was going for a walk down to the lake. There was a wet dew under her boots, so she made a note to be careful climbing anything.

On the way down to the lake, she realized how serene and peaceful it was. The light reflected off the surface creating a orange glow. Once she reached the edge of the water she paused for a moment, just taking the time to take in its beauty and serenity. It was calm, peaceful here in a way she didn’t realize was possible. It reminded her of the time she would spend around the lake shore of her family villa.

After allowing herself a moment respite, she turned and headed into the forest without a second of hesitation. She had already drawn out a base map, marking out the edges of the forest. She added a small compass in the corner that she managed to charm to move with true north. She even added a symbol of the bright star she often saw at night, and it would orbit the map to show its own position, like a guiding light to bring her home.

She made a plan that she would come out during the day each weekend and spend a few hours delving into the forest. She would explore the outer area first, where there was less danger, and slowly as she got more comfortable and learned more spells at school, she would travel deeper.

It would take her over a month to completely explore and map the outer area of the forest. She found the threshold where the outer ring of the forest became the inner depths of it. The trees became thicker, dense, and the air became cold as if it held its own breath. She followed the threshold all the way around the school, marking it on her map.

Her days became routine, her schedule solid. Weekdays was breakfast with Nocturne, classes, Lunch and dinner with Theo, and after Dinner was potions tutoring with Miri; then she would return to the common room to research more on the forest and what could lie within. Weekends were breakfast early and then out to the forest for several hours, sometimes even missing lunch. Dinner she would have with the girls, and spend the evening with them. Before bed, she would write down her day in her journal, every day. In the back of her mind she still wondered about the Chamber of Secrets and why Nocturne was so upset about it, but for now her focus remained elsewhere, even when the first student was attacked.

A Gryffindor boy named Colin was attacked by the chamber beast. Which only solidified the rumors as true; there was a chamber, and it indeed had been opened. It sent Miri and Carmilla into a tizzy entirely, being not of pureblood. Miri spent way too much of her time researching the idea of the chamber and what could lie within its depths, almost like she was preparing herself for war. Carmilla was equally interested in finding the chamber beast, but in a ‘let me find it and I’ll punch it’s lights out’ way.

The girls sat together at a table in the great hall, picking over the last bits of dinner and pouring over their various chosen vices. Requiem was reading over the cartography books her father had sent her, and sitting next to her Miri was reading over a Hogwarts History book that was well above her grade level. Carmilla was helping braid Lavender’s hair while she was working on DADA homework, and Luna seemed to be making a crown out of dried leaves she brought into the castle and deposited onto the table.

“I can’t believe Slytherin actually had a chamber hidden away in the school, and hiding a beast inside that could take out only blood traitors?” Miri said, pouring over her book turned to Slytherin’s page. “Rem, what do you think the beast could be? You’re good at creatures.”

Requiem looked over at Miri, pausing for a moment when she looked into the blue eyes of the other girl. “Well, I’m not sure yet… So far everyone has been petrified, so maybe some form of gorgon? They are related to snake beings, and can petrify, so that might be up his ally. Honestly, I would need more information before I could take a guess at it.”

Carmilla, though focusing on braiding the new hair into Lavender’s, kept looking up between Requiem and Miri with a small amused smile on her face, as if she knew a secret that no one else did.

Requiem leaned over, looking at the book Miri was reading. She knows that Nocturne had warned her not to look into the Chamber of Secrets, but she couldn’t help but be curious, and Nocturne wasn’t in sight so…

It was another picture of Salazar on the page, and more background of his time at school and creating the castle. The portrait was animated and turned, sneering down at anyone who was looking at him. As he turned, something silvery glittered under his robes at his hip. Requiem’s eyes caught his brooch again. The one with the large stone and the snake winding around it. It was deeply unsettling and familiar.

Requiem started to feel a cold shiver up her spine and a spaced out just a little bit as she stared down at the moving portrait.

“You’re looking at the brooch?” Miri asked, leaning down and following her eyes.

Requiem looked over at Miri, snapping back to reality and smiling over at the girl, feeling much more grounded. “Yeah. It just looked familiar is all.”

“It says its on display in the library. A piece of Hogwarts history. Would you like to go see it?” Miri asked, smiling lightly.

Requiem seemed a bit surprised by this, looking back down at the picture. It made sense for the school to have pieces of the founders on display in the school. The thought just hadn’t occurred to her. Requiem turned to Miri and nodded. Something about this brooch was calling to her, and she didn’t understand why. She needed to see it, to hold it for herself.

Miri turned to the other girls with a smile. “Do you three want to come too?”

Luna looked up with a dreamy smile and opened her mouth when Carmilla reached a hand out and placed it over Luna’s chest like she was holding her in place. “You two go right ahead. We are going to stay here and finish what we are doing.”

Lavender looked over her shoulder with a questioning expression to which Carmilla just gave a cheeky grin in return.

Miri nodded and slid out of her seat. Requiem looked over at Carmilla in question, who just gave the same grin back. Requiem and Miri walked to the library together, in step with each other. She listened to Miri talk about what she had been learning about the Chamber, about Salazar. Miri was animated and happy when she spoke, her eyes lit up, and her glasses slid down her nose because they never fit quite right. It made Requiem feel calm, and grounded, and even happy, to watch and listen to her best friend ramble.

As they approached the library, Requiem held the door open for the little ravenclaw and they both went inside. Miri led them towards the back, past the restricted section and over towards the History section. When they reached it, she pointed to a glass display cabinet. “Right there.”

Requiem walked up to the glass, leaning against it, her breath fogging it up. There it was, Salazar Slytherin’s brooch. A large amethyst that had a silver slithering snake wrapping around it as a setting. The snake was a gleaming silver with detailed scales, and emeralds set into its eyes. A lump was starting to form in Requiem’s stomach at the sight of it, at the familiarity of it. But it wasn’t enough.

Requiem reached up and slid open the glass case.

“Rem!” Miri reached out and grabbed Requiem’s arm, and Requiem looked over at her. Looking into those blue eyes was always a sense of calming and grounding and it made her feel more stable, more herself.

“It’s fine.” Requiem smiled at the girl, before turning back to pick up the brooch.

“It is not fine! You cannot just go around picking up priceless heirlooms. What if you break it. I swear…” Miri complained, exasperated.

Requiem laughed a little at Miri’s fussiness. She carefully picked up the brooch and held it up to look at. Even Miri couldn’t stop herself from stepping in close to look at the artifact. Requiem could feel the dark ancient magic radiating off of the brooch in waves. It felt familiar, and looked even more familiar.

She stared down at it for a long time, her fingers twitching at her sides.

“Rem, are you okay?” Miri asked, looking up at her friend.

Requiem took a slow breath and nodded. Feeling centered with Miri at her side, she reached her twitching fingers to the holster she kept on her thigh under her skirt and plucked the serpent blade out.

She held the dagger next to the brooch. The dagger which was plated in silver, whose hilt was two winding snakes fighting each other with detailed scales and emeralds for eyes. The magic inside was different though. Not as ancient, but just as dark. But the craftsmanship was one for one.

“Miri, your book,” Requiem said quietly, tilting her face towards the smaller girl, “Open that page to Slytherin again.”

Miri pulled her book out from under her arm and opened to the page with the portrait of Salazar Slytherin. Requiem leaned over to watch the man move for a bit, before he shifted and then she saw it, the flash of silver at his hip under her cloak. The hilt of a dagger. The Serpent Blade.

“Rem!” Miri gasped, noticing the blade in the picture. “Did you steal that?”

Requiem shot Miri an annoyed look, “No! I can’t believe you would think that!”

“Well you don’t just have Salazar Slytherin’s dagger without reason!” Miri whispered frantically under her breath.

“No…. No I suppose I don’t.” Requiem said quietly, looking down at the blade for a bit longer in contemplation, before finally stashing it away. She carefully placed the brooch back into the display cabinet. “I gotta go find Noc.”

“What?” Miri asked in surprise as Requiem turned suddenly and started to head out of the library. “Rem!”

“I’ll talk to you later, Mir! I’ll let you know what I find out!” Rem called back, rushing from the library. The last thing she wanted to do was drag Miri to go talk to Nocturne. Nocturne was a house elitist, a blood purist, and first and foremost, a bitch. She didn’t want to know what would happen if she brought Miri with her. Nothing productive would get done.

Requiem headed down to the Slytherin common room, rushing past Theo with not much more than a wave. She head to the stairs, willing the stairs to take her up to Nocturne’s dorm room so that she could talk to her about her discovery. Surprisingly, the stairs took her up to her own room, where Nocturne sat on the bed, flipping through Requiem’s journal.

Requiem bristled immediately at the sight. She hated it when Nocturne touched her things, she hated to share. “What are you doing! That’s my diary you jerk!”

Nocturne laughed as Rem snatched the red leather bound journal from her hands. “Relax, little Rem, it’s not like its anything new or interesting.”

Requiem started to scold Nocturne about going through her things, about being in her room. She went over to her trunk and stashed the journal away, still on her rant when she remembered why she was looking for Nocturne in the first place. She fell silent and looked over at the other girl that looked eerily similar to her, save for green eyes and straight hair. “Noc…”

Nocturne straightened up, her chin tilted high as if looking down on Requiem. “Rem?”

Her voice sounded stern and cold, like a parent that had just caught her child sneaking out and wanted explanation.

“What do you know about the Serpent Blade?” Requiem asked, pulling the blade from its holster and looking from it over to Nocturne. “Did you know this belonged to Slytherin?”

Nocturne’s green eyes flashed in a hint of anger behind her usual haughty facade. “Didn’t I tell you not to look into Slytherin?”

“Yeah, I thought you were worried about the Chamber! About me trying to find the beast!” Requiem scoffed walking over and sitting on her bed next to Nocturne. “I didn’t know you were trying to hide the fact my own dagger belonged to Salazar fucking Slytherin!”

“I warned you not to look into it!” Nocturne hissed, looking over at Requiem, leaning forward in a way that was menacing, predatory.

“Why do we have Salazar Slytherin’s blade, Nocturne?!” Requiem shouted back, not backing down from the other girl.

Nocturne shoved the other girl back, her head hitting the solid wood of the posters of her bed. “I told you! You need to learn to listen, Rem! You need to learn to obey.”

Requiem hissed and rubbed the back of her head for a moment, feeling foggy and dizzy. Suddenly Nocturne was leaning over her, and she had somehow managed to snag the blade from her. Requiem hissed as she felt the cold metal stinging and slicing across her legs.

“Noc, stop!” Requiem cried out, shoving the other girl off of her. She sat up, hands covering the open wounds on her thigh, holding in the seeping blood. “You fucking psycho!”

Nocturne stood tall and strong willed in front of Requiem, holding up the sanguine blade and staring down at Requiem in apathy. Nocturne leaned over and plucked her own journal from the bedside, its sickly olive green with Nocturne’s name embossed across the front. Noc stuck the blade between its pages, holding it tight, and wiped the blood clean with a quick swipe.

“I did warn you…” Nocturne said in a quiet voice, almost sounding full of mirth but also reserved. As if she was disappointed for having to correct and reprimand Requiem, who could have just heeded her in the first place.

“Fine! Bloody wack-job.” Requiem shouted, waiting for the bleeding to coagulate and stop slipping from her skin. “I’ll just ask dad.”

Nocturne’s green eyes flashed in anger once more and she stepped closer to Rem, looming over her with the blade in hand still. “Don’t you dare. I’ve already warned you once, Rem. I wont have your insolence again.”

“What is wrong with you?!” Requiem shouted at Nocturne, who was starting to sound less and less like an eleven year old girl with her threats and verbiage.

“I told you not to look into Slytherin. And you will listen.” Nocturne pointed out, still standing over the girl and filled with menace.

“Fine! Fine!” Requiem shouted, looking up at Nocturne holding the blade. A sinking feeling in her stomach that told her Nocturne wouldn’t stop if she continued to press the subject. She wondered just how far Noc was willing to go.

Nocturne backed off just a little, but still stood tall in front of Requiem, looking down at her as if she was nothing more than a bug. “Good. See that you don’t.”

“I just don’t understand why we have something that belongs to Salazar Slytherin.” Rem said quietly, looking down at the bleeding on her legs.

“Why is that a surprise?” Nocturne asked, crossing her arms and sitting back down next to Requiem on the bed. She sat the dagger down on the bedside table. “Sep- Dad, works with all sorts of artifacts. It’s unsurprising that he came across something belonging to a founder at some point.”

“Did you know?” Requiem asked, looking over at Nocturne, her deep brown eyes meeting the cold green. Nocturne didn’t answer right away, looking over the wavy haired girl. That was enough for Requiem to know. Lately it seemed like Nocturne had an obsession with Slytherin, with the Chamber of Secrets, and she had always been a bit possessive over the Serpent Blade, even after it landed in Requiem’s hands instead of her own. There was zero doubt in her mind that Nocturne knew.

It almost made Rem angry and livid. She was supposed to be the one that knew about the artifacts that her dad brought home; not Noc. She was the one being trained to take up the mantle of Curse-Breaker and Artificer from Septimus. It bothered her to no end that somehow, Nocturne, who couldn’t care less about the artifacts or Septimus’ career, somehow knew more about it than her.

It made her feel inferior; and that just wouldn’t do. Requiem wanted to order Nocturne to tell her what she knew about the blade. But she was too proud. She couldn’t admit that Nocturne knew more about it than her own passion.

Nocturne’s eyes narrowed at Requiem as she saw the resolve there. “Don’t.”

Requiem looked up at her with annoyance, “Don’t what?”

Nocturne stepped forward once more, looking over Requiem in unspoken threat. “Don’t look into the dagger. I won’t be so nice next time.”

Then, Nocturne turned on her heel and walked away, down the stairs.

Requiem was left sitting on her bed, holding her bleeding leg. She knew Nocturne meant it too. If she dug into the information of the dagger, she would likely be dealing with worse than just a few open wounds. And Requiem had a choice to make; was her curiosity more apparent than her fear of Nocturne?

No… No she didn’t think it was.

Chapter Text

“We need guidance, we’ve been misled. Young and hostile but not stupid.” -Anthem pt. 2, Blink 182

“There’s a dueling club!” Carmilla called to the other girls as she stood in front of the notice board by Seamus and Dean. Requiem, Parvati, and the Ravenclaw girls had sent Carmilla over to the notice board to see what the big deal was and why everyone was gathered around it.

“Dueling?!” Requiem asked, excited, and walked over to Carmilla and the group to look at the notice board.

Carmilla nodded and stepped aside to let the shorter girl read the notice. “Tonight. We’re going right?”

“Absolutely!” Requiem said with a grin, looking up at Carmilla. She then turned to look at Miri, Padma, Parvati, Lavender, and Luna. Miri sighed in exasperation.

Luna and Padma shook their heads, they were not interested in dueling.

Parvati, however, nodded after giving it some thought.

Requiem hopped over to Miri, grabbing the smaller girl’s wrists. “Miri! You’re coming too, right?”

Carmilla watched with an amused and reserved grin, walking up to the girls and crossing her arms.

“Someone has to keep you two out of trouble.” Miri conceded, earning a bright smile from Requiem.

“That’s right!” Requiem said with a nod, dropping Miri’s wrists in order to give her a quick hug.

Carmilla smirked even wider.

That night Requiem head down the stairwell of her dormitory having changed into jeans and a ruby colored jumper, pinning her hair up into a clip to make sure it was out of her way. She crossed the common room in small strides but was interrupted before reaching the exit.

“Saland!”

Requiem turned with a sigh as she saw the blonde and his cohorts walking over to the exit as well. She was delighted and relieved to see Theo in tow as well, though she wouldn’t consider Theo part of Malfoy’s cohorts.

Malfoy swept up to her, looking down his pointed nose. “You heading to dueling as well?”

“What’s it to you? Want me to beat you in a match?” Requiem offered back with a cheeky grin.

Malfoy rolled his eyes as he gestured for Requiem to lead the way out of the common room. Theo stepped into place beside her, their height difference always a bit striking. Requiem didn’t enjoy having to crane her neck to look at him, and when she was particularly done with his nonsense she decided to stare at his chest instead.

“What are you wearing?” Malfoy asked in a sneer as he walked on her other side, looking down at her jumper.

“Clothes.” Requiem replied with a shrug, looking over at Malfoy.

“I can see that for myself, I mean why is it red?” Malfoy said with a sneer and a scoff. “You know you’re a Slytherin, right?”

“Yeah?” Requiem said with a shrug, “It looks good on me though. Plus, most green washes me out.”

“It washes you out?” Malfoy scoffed in indignation. “Bloody girls…”

Requiem rolled her eyes. Of course Malfoy didn’t care about color pallets and skin tones. He was a boy. Boys don’t have to worry about looking their best. Most of them got to wear black anyways.

“You should at least try to look less like a Gryffindor.” He tried again with annoyance. “You’re going to make the rest of us look bad. Especially if you come to my quidditch games. You better not be caught dead wearing anything but silver and green.”

Requiem snorted and rolled her eyes as the group made their way up from the dungeons to the Great Hall. Theo was quiet but the smirk on his face let it be known he was eating up Malfoy bickering over something as simple as colors.

“I don’t go to quidditch,” Requiem said with a sigh, “Plus ruby is my favorite color. You can pry it from my cold dead hands, Malfoy.”

Malfoy stuttered in his stride, faltering for a moment before regaining his composure and walking alongside the girl. “What do you mean you don’t go to quidditch?”

“That’s what I told her!” Theo finally interjected with an exclamation.

Requiem groaned as she walked between the two boys who were adamantly speaking over her head about the importance of Quidditch and why she was required to enjoy it.

She was grateful when they reached the Great Hall and she spotted Carmilla’s ginger coils towering over the other girls. Requiem didn’t even bother to announce her exit and just dipped out between the two boys and head over to her friends.

She walked up with a sigh, taking her place standing next to Miri, who reached over and touched her arm lightly. Carmilla’s eyes flicked up to Theo, Malfoy, and his gang, eyeing them with a look of distaste.

Requiem turned to Miri, throwing an arm around her shoulder and leaning on the smaller girl. “So, you going to duel anyone today Miri?”

“Parvati said she would be my partner.” Miri answered, a bit disgruntled at the added weight of Requiem leaning on her.

Requiem frowned a little bit, looking from the small Ravenclaw over to the beautiful Gryffindor.

Parvati smiled her million watt smile, just happy to be there. This did nothing for the odd twisting feeling in Rem’s stomach.

Carmilla snorted at the internal struggle of her Slytherin friend, reaching over to wrap an arm around her shoulders. Miri grunted as the weight of the both of them leaned into her.

“Relax, viper, you’re with me.” Carmilla teased with a grin, “I figured you would be up for more of a challenge. And we both know Miri would go easy on you, and you couldn’t bring yourself to hurt the little mouse.”

Miri and Requiem both shot Carmilla an annoyed glace at the accurate call out, which made Carmilla laugh more.

“Look!” Parvati interrupted, pointing up at the dueling stage as a lilac dressed Lockhart stood side by side with Professor Snape.

Lockhart made some boastful announcements before the two Professors turned and bowed to each other, ready to start their demonstration. After the count down, Snape made quick work of the Dark Arts Professor with an unusually aggressive Expelliarmus that sent him flying, much to the shock of most of the girls.

Requiem on the other hand, covered her mouth in an attempt to hide her snorting laughter. Theo, from across the room, apparently made no such attempt.

After Lockhart had righted himself, the two Professors exchanged comments, Snape’s snide remarks being foiled by Lockhart’s boundless confidence. Finally, it was time to break off into groups of two to start dueling.

Carmilla and Requiem stood at ends with each other, each one wearing a smug smirk as they thought about besting the other. Carmilla had a knobby and barky kind of wand made of blackthorn, just a tad bit longer than Requiem’s.

Requiem held onto her 11 inch sickly lilac wand, feeling the phoenix tail feather pulsing in its core. Like most times when she held her wand, her magic felt overwhelmingly strong, like it was ready to overflow and burst forth at any moment. Like her small body could barely contain the magic running through her veins. Always sparking and eager.

Carmilla’s dueling technique was aggressive and jabby. She handled her wand like a saber, with strict, sharp movements.

Where as Requiem moved her wand more fluidly, like a ribbon streamer, and often finished up her movements with a flourish. She put her whole body into the movements, pulling up legs, throwing out her other arm.

It was both distracting and annoying for Carmilla.

Miri, on the other hand, was watching intently, already having been bested by Parvati. Miri noticed the flaws in Requiem’s movements. While fluid and allowed her to dodge, and even distract her opponents, it left her off balance often, and made herself a larger target when she was tossing her limbs and hair about.

Parvati, the only other pureblood in the group seemed to be amused. “She’s dancing.”

“What?” Miri asked, confused, looking up at the Gryffindor girl.

“Just there.” Parvati said, pointing to Requiem’s footwork, how she was careful to circle Carmilla and not let her get too close. “That’s similar to a waltz. And when she follows through her wand movements with her arms and legs, that stems from swing dancing.”

“She’s… dancing?” Miri asked in disbelief, looking over at Requiem. Sure enough, once Parvati pointed it out, it was obvious to see. Requiem was using her knowledge of various dance and applying it to her wand form. “Is that normal for purebloods?”

Parvati chuckled and shook her head, “Not at all, no. But most girls have to learn basic dancing like the waltz. Never seen anyone use it in wand work though.”

Miri turned back to the duel, watching as Requiem was able to gain ground on Carmilla.

Requiem cast a knockback jinx on Carmilla, who barely deflected in time. Carmilla was frowning a little, clearly having underestimated Requiem’s magic. It somehow felt stronger than her own, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to best Requiem by sheer force. Carmilla assumed this was pureblood magic, and that most pureblooded individuals must have an upper hand in magic due to their bloodlines.

Carmilla noticed Requiem getting closer and took the opportunity to get closer. She waited for Requiem to follow through with one of her leggy flourishes and then quickly dropped and swept the leg right out from under the unbalanced Slytherin.

Requiem dropped to the ground with a thud and an oof, rubbing her head and looking up at Carmilla holding her wand to her face. “That was dirty!”

“All’s fair, Rem.” Carmilla said with a grin, lowering her wand and reaching out to pull up the brunette.

“I thought I was supposed to be the tricky one.” Requiem said as she pulled herself up and stashed her wand into her boot. She started to fuss with her curls to get them back into place. “How did you learn to do that anyways?”

“Brothers.” Carmilla said with a grin, “Three of em. The younger one is nice but the two older boys are right gits.”

“Brothers?” Requiem asked curiously as they moved to go watch some of the others dueling with Miri and Parvati following. Crabbe and Goyle had equally rendered themselves useless and, much to Requiem’s proud feeling, Theo had bested Blaise almost easily and not without taunting. Most of the class were gathered around Harry and Malfoy now. “I don’t remember you saying anything about brothers. Did you tell me you had brothers? How come they aren’t here? Sqiubs?”

Carmilla shot Requiem a nasty look before Requiem realized that maybe Carm thought she was being derogatory in the use of the term. “I just mean… were you the only one that turned out with magic?”

Carmilla turned to look down at the small Slytherin and tilted her head. After a moment she came to the conclusion that Requiem didn’t mean any harm and was simply stupid and privileged. “I’m the only half-blood in the family.”

Requiem tilted her head, even more confused. Miri looked at Carmilla with interest, and Parvati wondered if her mother had done something scandalous.

“Not like that.” Carmilla sighed with an eye roll. “I was born from a… doner. My brothers and I all have different fathers.”

“Different fathers?” Parvati asked, surprised. Which was surprising that Parvati didn’t know this as the other Gryffindor and having spent the most time with Carmilla objectively. Miri and Requiem came to the conclusion that Carmilla must not talk about her family on purpose.

“Yes,” Carmilla said, glancing around for a moment before looking back at the girls, specifically between Miri and Requiem. “My moms each take turns being the one to give birth. So even my bothers aren’t even half related to me. But we are all a family. That’s what matters.”

“So you don’t know who your father is?” Miri asked curiously, “But he was a wizard?”

Carmilla nodded, almost amused with the smile on her face. “Yep! Although apparently its a big deal in the Ministry. A Wizard donating to a muggle bank, knowing that wizards would not use it, knowing that he would be spreading half-blood and magic genetics through the muggle world… Pretty sure the Ministry has a warrant or something out for him. They asked me for a magic sample and a magical lineage test when I was small. I figure if I want to know who he is I could just look it up.”

Miri looked pale and in shock at the prospect of magical children being littered across the muggle sperm-doner system. Requiem and Parvati however, seemed less concerned as they didn’t grasp the severity of being magical in a non-magical environment and how hard that could be as a child.

It was then that a black snake burst from Malfoy’s wand, and most of the students backed away, drawing the attention of the girls back to the dueling. Requiem stared down at the coiling snake in interest, tilting her head. She wondered if magically produced creatures behaved the same as real ones.

Her question was only partially answered when the snake turned on a boy named Justin, ready to strike. Requiem stepped forward, an undeniable need to assist the snake in its turmoil, when suddenly Harry stepped forward.

A series of long S sounds and Sh-es coming from Harry’s mouth gave everyone pause, and even Requiem looked up at him confused as all hell. However a cold shiver ran down her spine that made her feel like this was not a good development. She suddenly felt very on edge.

Snape managed to banish the snake and Harry was torn from the room by his friends.

Requiem looked up at Carmilla and Parvati, wondering if the other Gryffindors were going to follow. Carmilla shrugged.

Parvati and Miri seem to be the only ones still in a bit of shock and horror about what had just happened. The two girls turning to follow behind the golden trio in low headed whispers.

Requiem looked up at Carmilla who shrugged once more. “They’ll tell us when they figure it out.”

Requiem nodded and turned back to Carmilla. “So, your brothers taught you how to throw people to the ground?”

“Well, they are brothers.” Carmilla said with a shrug. “Muggle brothers at that. White ones. Sort of happens. Why? Did you want to learn?” She grinned.

“Yeah!” Requiem said with a wide smile. She wanted to learn how Carmilla managed to disarm her without magic, physically. Requiem was interested to know how she could be even better, and thought that physical fighting in addition to magical was sure to give her an edge on other wizards. There was also something stirring in her stomach that made her feel excited about the idea of fighting.

“Great! We can meet up after lunch every day. It’ll be nice to have someone to grapple with again.

“Sounds great,” Rem replied with a grin.

Suddenly a lanky figure appeared at their side and Rem glanced up at Theo. Even Carm, the current tallest of the girls, had to look up at him.

“Did you see that snake? And then Potter talked to the damn thing!” he exclaimed, almost excited.

Carm scrunched her nose at his excitement.

Rem laughed a little with a nod. “Yeah, I noticed that. Pretty weird, huh?”

“Malfoy is not happy.” Theo said with a snort, crossing his arms and looking over at Carmilla curiously, who just continued to give him a disdained look.

Sure enough, Malfoy and his squad were sweeping out of the dueling room, pausing only to shout something over at Theo.

“Oh, hold it yourself!” Theo shouted back earning an incredulous glare. Rem snorted a little as Theo turned back and looked over Rem and Carmilla.

“So, your other friends didn’t make it today?”

Requiem shook her head, “Nah, Padma and Luna aren’t really the dueling type. I’m not sure why Lavender didn’t come. Miri and Parvati just left.”

“Not that it’s any of your business.” Carmilla interjected.

Requiem gave her a confused look and Theo eyed her curiously.

“Alright then…” he replied.

“You good, Carm?” Rem asked her friend.

“Fine.” Carmilla said, looking up at Theo like she didn’t trust a single hair on his head. Requiem wondered if it was because of Malfoy or the other Slytherins, or the whole bloodline animosity happening at the moment. “I’m heading back to the tower. I’ll catch you later, Rem.”

“Right,” Requiem said curiously, watching her turn and go. “See you tomorrow.”

Theo shrugged once Carmilla was out of sight and turned to Requiem. “Shall we head back?”

Rem nodded, following Theo out of the dueling room which was still abuzz with the recent development of Harry and the snake. Wondering what in Merlin’s name had gotten into Carm, and why everyone was so worried about Harry now.