Bittersweet Nightshade

Arrival

His aunt was waiting for him at the entrance gates, greeting him with her usual warm smile.

"Garreth. I'm glad you could make it."

He laughed curtly.

"It's not like you gave me much of a choice, did you?"

She chuckled, leading him across the Belltower Courtyard.

"Where is my fault in wanting to spend time with my nephew? You have never bothered to visit me here."

"Yeah, because I didn't have to. You are quite prone to inviting yourself into my home."

His aunt chuckled again, then shook her head, sighing.

"Oh, well, I suppose I cannot fool you. You always were the one with the keen perception among my brother's children."

At that he snorted with laughter.

"Did you just call my sisters stupid?"

She shook her head, smiling fondly.

"No, I just mean that you never let things go. Very well, I might as well tell you. There is indeed something I wanted to talk about to you. But let us get inside first."

***

Garreth had never been to his aunt's private room and he sincerely wished she would have just taken him to her office.

Being in the living and sleeping space of one of his former professors who also was his aunt made him feel anxious and nervous at the same time.

He didn't know what would be worse – being scolded in her stern teacher voice or accidently opening a drawer that contained her undergarments.

He was so on edge he didn't dare move a single inch as he waited for her to ready the tea and levitate the tray stacked with cups, tea sandwiches and scones over to the small coffee table between the settees.

At the sight of food though Garreth forgot his apprehension, feeling his stomach churn. He hardly had eaten anything today and being outside, travelling all across the highlands had made him starving.

"It is good to see your appetite hasn't changed since you were a child."

His aunt observed him bolt down several sandwiches and scones and two cups of tea, idly sipping on her own cup.

Eventually, Garreth looked up at her and remembered what she had invited him for.

"Sorry, aunt Matilda. What is it you wanted to talk about?"

She sighed and set down her cup, folding her hands in her lap.

"I wanted to inform you that there will be a major staff change this year."

At that, he frowned.

As much as he appreciated his aunt keeping him up to date with the latest Hogwarts gossip, he didn't quite understand how far a staff change concerned him. Still, he eagerly raised his brows.

"Is it Black? Please, say that it's Black..."

She shot him a gloomy look.

"Sadly, it is not..."

Then, she let out a shuddering exhale and he noticed her hands were shaking.

"It is... It's Aesop-... I mean, Professor Sharp."

Her voice quivered and Garreth felt a dooming sense of foreboding take hold of him. Despite the fact that the potions master had taken more house points from him than all the other teachers together, Garreth still had never felt spite towards him.