All Blood Runs Red

iv. catching up

As the sixth year Slytherin girls made their way into their dorm they sighed in relief. 

"We're home." Daphne smiled, turning towards her two roommates. 

"We're just lucky we get to have the dorm all to ourselves right now," Pansy rolled her eyes as she started unpacking her trunk, "Milly must be out snogging Goyle or someone just as horrid."

Daphne chucked a pillow at her friend while chastising her, "Pansy Parkinson, be nice!"

Analia remained in the doorway, observing her best friends banter as Daphne mused, "Wonder why she was never close with us, it's not like we didn't try to include her."

"Because she's strange Daph. S.T.R.A.N.G.E, just like that vomit shite the Gryffindor Princess came up with a couple of years ago." Pansy chuckled, spelling out the acronym as she teased.  

"It was S.P.E.W Pans," Analia finally spoke up, "You know, I actually quite enjoyed Hermione today. She was very nice when I sat with them." 

Analia had begun walking towards her bed so she didn't see her roommates look of shock.

"Hermione?" Daphne questioned, cocking her head to the side. 

"Yeah, since when are you so friendly with the Gryffindorks Ana?" Pansy scoffed.

Analia frowned at the girls, "I told you all that I sat with them on the train after Malfoy was a prat." 

The other two winced at the mention of the train. Daphne grimaced, "Yeah, I'm really sorry about that Ana. We know you didn't want the boys to find out."

Pansy was fuming, "Fuckin' Draco, can't be arsed to care about anyone else or even think before he opens his trap. You should've seen his face after you told him off though, hell I don't think I've ever seen the prat so pale. At least he took care-"

Pansy was cut off by a coughing fit from Daphne, and after the blonde shot her a warning look, she ended her ranting speech. 

"Anyways...how were the Gryffindors?" Daphne asked, trying to turn the conversation around. 

Analia smiled, "Honestly, they were way nicer than I thought they'd be. I mean, I kind of always assumed Granger was just a know-it-all swot, but she was super nice. Ginny Weasley is hilarious, honestly I think Pans and her would get along great." 

Pansy scoffed, "As if, that little ginger bra-"

"Pansy," Analia hissed, "What does Daphne always tell you?"

Looking thoroughly scolded, though not very sorry about it, Pansy mumbled, "Don't say anything if you don't have anything nice to say."

Daphne giggled, "Very good Pans! I personally think we should all try to get along, maybe just us girls first though. I'm not sure how the boys will take that one." 

She walked over and slumped down onto Pansy's bed, ruffling her short black bob. Pansy crossed her arms like a child, making Analia smile. 

"I missed you two." Ana said, lovingly admiring her best friends. 

"Missed you too 'Lia." they chorused.

The girls chatted while they unpacked their trunks, catching up after a summer apart. Analia realized how lucky she and Daphne were, at least they had siblings to hang out with while at home. She noticed how Pansy got more subdued whenever Daphne mentioned spending time with Astoria, Daphne's sister two years below her. 

However, whenever Analia mentioned Theo her eyes seemed to light up and the inhibited Slytherin would turn her head, hiding the small smile that crept up her face at the mention of Analia's twin. Nonetheless, her best friends missed nothing and smirked at one another, their assumptions from previous years finally being confirmed. 

As the three Slytherin girls finally fell into their respective beds and after a chorus of goodnights, Analia heard Pansy speak out, "Hey Lia?"

"Yeah Pans?" she responded. 

"Quidditch tryouts are tomorrow right?"

"Why, you want to try out Parkinson?" Analia teased. 

Daphne laughed from her bed speaking in a fake posh accent, "How dare you? Ms. Parkinson is far too refined a young women to ever step foot on that most ghastly pitch!"

Analia clutched her side from laughing so hard, hearing a pillow from Pansy's direction hit the blonde's bed. 

"Fuck off blondie," Pansy muttered, "No, I was just checking. I think I want to come watch this year."

"Aww, you're going to support your best friend!" Analia praised, knowing full well the other Nott would be who's jersey her friend would cheer on. 

"Of course Lia, only for you," Pansy said sarcastically. 

Daphne let out a laugh from her four-poster causing Pansy to flick her wand, closing all the curtains on the girls' beds. She called out, "Goodnight ladies!"

The other girls laughed, before saying their final goodnights and falling asleep soon after. 

All three girls had their first night of sleep back in their true home, finally feeling safe enough to close their eyes fully. 

Analia wondered how long that would last though.

✦

It was drizzling out the next day, perfect weather for Quidditch in Analia's opinion. Everyone else, though, not so much. 

"Fuckin rain," cursed Draco, placing his head in his hands after sitting down at breakfast. 

"I personally love the rain, especially for Quidditch. It adds some fun, some danger. Oh, sorry Malfoy I know you're just probably too scared." Ana patted the blonde on the back condescendingly. 

"Scared?" he scoffed, spinning to look at Ana.

"Yep," Analia replied, continuing to eat her breakfast and ignoring the fuming seeker on her right. 

"Oh you little-" Draco started on a rant, but was cut off by the rest of the table's inhabitants. 

"Would you two knock it off?" Blaise groaned.

"Hey, watch it mate that's my sister." Theo playfully glared at the blonde.

Daphne just rolled her eyes, laughing at the pink heart Pansy conjured over the bickering pair's heads. 

Canceling the charm with her own wand, Ana sighed, "Has anyone gotten their schedules yet?"

The group all pulled out their scrolls from their bags, comparing which classes they shared. They all shared the same core classes; Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, DADA, Astronomy, Herbology. Analia, Draco, Pansy, and Theo shared Arithmancy, Daphne and Blaise taking Divination, and Draco and Analia had Ancient Runes together. 

"Bloody hell, what's wrong with the two of you?" Pansy scoffed, comparing Draco and Analia's schedules. 

"Hey, I quite enjoy all my classes." Ana preened.

"Swot," Theo whispered, earning a clap on the back of his head from his sister. 

All of a sudden, Ana felt Draco tense up beside her. "What's wro-" she started. 

She then paled as she saw what all her friends were looking at. Or who they were looking at. 

Marcus Flint stood over their table.