SHADOWS OF SORROW [S.S]

13 - In the Shadow of the Gaunts

The halls of the castle were filled with house elves, so busy, they didn't dare apparate when students passed by, because decorating Hogwarts for the Founders Ball was seemingly a lot more work than everyone might have thought. The temperature was slowly but surely making its way down the thermostat with each day that passed, driving Riva even more manic than she already was, until Amaya had to ask Professor Sharp for a Sleeping Potion recipe he gladly taught her, knowing how busy her friend was. The witch sneaked it into the cup of tea they sometimes enjoyed in the Common Room at night, making sure she'd sleep through the night at least this once, finishing up some of Riva's work that was spread out on the low table in front of the fireplace. Amaya despised her room since she had to move out of their shared dormitory. It felt so immensely lonely after she was used to sleeping in a shared bedroom for all her life. She rather slept in that armchair instead of her own bed, knowing Riva was there. It was no surprise that when the sun rose, illuminating the Black Lake in front of their windows, Riva was furious when she realized how long she slept and that her supposedly "best friend" drugged her. But after all, she did indeed feel better, not so stressed and on edge, accepting Amaya's apology as she saw that some of her assigned work was also done. "You know it was for your best. You wouldn't have slept until the night after the ball, if it weren't for that potion." Riva sunk deeper into the armchair, still a little drowsy after that kind of knock out. "That was a strong ass potion, did you brew it yourself?" Amaya smirked, organizing the sheets of parchment on the table. "Professor Sharp helped me. He said it would help him as well if you were able to pay attention to class instead of causing bigger explosions in your cauldron than Garrett." Riva covered her face with both hands, laughing at the memory now that it was all a little clearer to her. "I'm almost ashamed. Almost." - "You should be, not even a cleaning charm was able to get those stains out of my robe. Your disastrous attempt to make a thunder brew caused an electrified robe in my closet. I can sometimes hear it at night, little frizzles haunting me in my sleep." Amaya mocked the small noises, making Riva laugh even louder, both smiling as they heard the first students head out of their dorms, to attend their morning classes.

A little sigh was audible as Amaya sat back into the armchair, looking out the windows to her right, the seaweed dancing under the impact of the lake's motions. "What's your first class?" Riva stretched, getting rid of the tired feeling in her muscles as she watched some second year's leave the dorm,, climbing up the spiral stone stairs, the sound of the waterfall it surrounded almost forgotten after she's spent so much time in the Common Room. "Charms class. I heard we are having another Accio duel." She groaned at the thought, throwing her head back against the chair. Riva was fed up with those spells being taught over and over because they didn't dare teach them the important combat spells. Especially in this time of need where the goblins endangered the wizarding world. "That's better than having to repot a mandrake for the 5th time this year already. I love Professor Garlick but if she wants to kill us she shouldn't give us any cotton to stuff into our ears." Amaya played with a thread on her indigo trousers, noticing she might have to change into something else after her blue ensemble got damaged in the fight yesterday. Those Poachers were truly nasty. She might still have that black ensemble, but it was even more flattering to her body shape than this one already was and Amaya knew the stares she sometimes got for those inappropriately tight pants and corset vest. It was easier to fight in something, where the fabric couldn't get in the way of her spells but maybe she should stick to those wool layers and robes for her classes.

As they made their way up the stairs, leaving the Slytherin complex and ascending the great staircase, a high screech made Amaya turn around, looking for the source of the sound, already knowing what it might be. "Merlin's beard..." With a sigh she stretched out her arm for Bethany to land on, blinking at the witch with a letter in its' mouth. "Hello Beth... Thank you." Amaya took the parchment to store it in her pocket, giving the owl its' well-deserved pats before it flapped and made its way back to the owlery. "You get a lot of letters from that person if you already know the owl's name." Amaya just nodded, ignoring the letter in her pocket as she made her way up the rest of the stairs to get to the Central Hall. It was quite the detour but at least she was able to accompany Riva this way. "Aren't you going to read it? What if it is urgent?" - "Believe me it is not."
"Amaya!" The witch sighed, halting on a step to turn around and look at Riva who crossed her arms, giving her a challenging look. "Who is it from?" Amaya hesitated before unclenching her jaw and looking somewhere else. "Sebastian." It didn't even take a second for Riva to stand next to her, getting a hold of the letter to rip it open herself if Amaya wasn't going to.