𝐃 𝐈 𝐕 𝐈 𝐍 𝐄, 𝐝.𝐦

𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢 𝐩𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐚

s i x t h    y e a r

When Adeline awoke in the middle of the night, she knew something was wrong. She'd fallen asleep at some point, mind buzzing over the signed name. It was not for any reason that may appear obvious to the outsider's gaze. She was in bed without a scratch, dry and warm, nothing quivered or shook in her room, there was no seedy guests or unwanted visitors. Alexandre's voice didn't bother or taunt her. Everything seemed to be perfectly normal in her own rare moments of tranquillity. But Adeline knew something wasn't right because she'd woken with a start, fresh dreams of faded memories washing away when she sat in consciousness. There was a pressure in her chest, one shaped not from fear or anxiety, but from the distinct understanding that death was near. Adeline had been growing accustomed to the feeling, she was beginning to know it as an instinct. Normally this feeling would be paired with a torment of nightmares but nothing new and frightening assaulting her sleep.

She'd fallen asleep at some point, mind buzzing over the signed name. She thought none of it really added up, starting with why Blaise would sign his name on something intent on killing her.

Then, a knock at her door.

With a steady step, Adeline walked to the wooden door and took a steadying breath. She had the unsaid knowledge that whatever lay behind it was not anything good. For some reason, this one moment before she opened the door felt like the end of something.

Snape was the man behind the knock. He looked grave and unhappy, as he does most days. Adeline stared at him wearily, surprised that it was him. Out of all of the people she had expected, it was not her Professor.

"The Headmaster needs to see you," He drawls, eyes looking down at her from above his long nose. "Urgently."

Then he turned in a flurry of black material and expected she follow.

Adeline wondered if they'd figured out her attacker already, although she had the answer laying on her bedside table.

Her feet were bare and the basement in which the Slytherin house resided never felt colder. Her pyjamas felt thinner than they were. The night smelt of death.

The walk felt like an eternity, the echoing click of Snape's shoes always a few metres ahead. He walked fast like he was constantly running from something.

When they arrived at Dumbledore's office, the man once again wasn't alone. Professor McGonagall stood at his side, worrying her hands together with a distinct frown on her mouth. She looked eternally sad like that. The Headmaster sat at his desk but stood when they entered. Adeline had been inside this room more times today than she had in her entire schooling career at Hogwarts.

"Thank you, Severus." Dumbledore's ancient voice echoed against the walls of the room. Snape nodded his head and turned to leave; Adeline caught the way his eyes lingered on her in a distinct scowl. Yet there was something behind it, very similar to the way he had looked at her when he'd caught her in the hallway that day earlier in the term. Then he was gone.