Care of a Magical Creature (Mer Levi x Witch Reader)

Year 1

Autumn had arrived in earnest at Hogwarts, bringing a crisp chill to the air. The Slytherin dormitory – being both in the dungeons and underwater – was even cooler than the other areas of the castle. But you didn't mind. In fact, you were perfectly content as you curled up in a green leather chair in front of the crackling fireplace, wearing your cozy House sweater. Your boots sat on the floor beneath you – having been discarded so you could put your feet up while you read your History of Magic textbook.

You had been a little nervous when you were first sorted into Slytherin after arriving at Hogwarts a month ago. (Although, to be fair, you would have been nervous no matter what House the Sorting Hat put you in.) However, now that you'd had a chance to get acclimated, there was nowhere you'd rather be. Despite its cutthroat reputation, Slytherins were fiercely loyal to their own, and as Professor McGonagall had stated in her brief introductory speech, your House had become like your family.

On top of the bonds you'd formed, you absolutely adored the common room. It was like living in a secret lair – if secret lairs were designed by Gucci. Honestly, people who thought the dungeons were dank and moldy were absolute morons. As if the most elite House would stand to live in such squalor.

The dark-grey stone floors and walls of your dormitory were always pristine. Matching columns lined the space – each one bearing a large torch, so it never felt too cold despite the underground location. The common area was tastefully decorated in your House colors, with a stone carving of a snake hanging over the cozy fireplace. Reference books and quick-fix potions occupied the handful of shelves, waiting for any student who might need them. And to add an extra touch of hominess, one of the side tables was always full of chocolate frogs – though you had learned to eat them in moderation after getting sick on your first day.

Arguably your favorite part of the common room was the handful of windows that allowed you to look into the depths of the Black Lake. Sometimes, you would grab a chair and simply stare at the water for an hour or so, watching to see what passed by. Grindylows and selkies were most common, though many of the older students claimed to have spotted a giant squid during their time.

Now, even though you were supposed to be studying, you felt an urge to glance at the nearest window. It was a pricking on the back of your neck, like something was watching you. And when you looked up, your eyes met those of a creature you had heard of only in legend.

The mer staring back at you was male – and about your age, if you had to guess. His tail was longer than his legs would have been if he had them, and it was made of shimmering scales that seemed to shift between grey and blue. After a moment of observation, you noticed the scales matched his gorgeous eyes, which appeared as deep and mysterious as the Black Lake itself.

You smiled, and he showed no reaction beyond a slight lifting of his eyebrows. Perhaps merpeople didn't know how to smile, or perhaps it meant something different for them. You really weren't sure, as none of your classes had yet explained these mysterious beings.

Trying a different tactic, you slowly raised your hand and waved it back and forth. To your delight, the merman mirrored you. Although he still didn't smile, his demeanor suggested that he was at least curious about you. When you thought about it, you imagined your legs must've looked pretty strange to him.

Suddenly, the door to the common room creaked open, admitting a group of fifth-years who were deep in conversation about their boatload of homework. It was enough to startle you out of the trance you shared with the merman, and you whipped your head toward the sound before quickly glancing back. However, it seemed the noise had startled the young mer as well, and the brief amount of time you'd turned your head was all it had taken for him to swim away.