𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗻

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐: 𝐀 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭'𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞

Flashback
The Sorting Hat had barely brushed Vivienne's head before it shouted, "Slytherin!" The proclamation sent a wave of whispers and gasps rippling through the Great Hall. A Muggle-born in Slytherin was nearly unheard of, and the news spread like wildfire. Vivienne felt a mixture of pride and apprehension as she walked toward the Slytherin table, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew her journey at Hogwarts would be anything but ordinary.
As she took her seat, she could feel the weight of a hundred eyes on her. The Slytherins were notorious for their pride in blood purity, and she was certain her presence was both an anomaly and an affront to many of them. Despite the tension, Vivienne held her head high, her resolve unwavering. She had faced prejudice before and had no intention of bowing to it now.
The feast began, and the chatter around her was filled with curious glances and barely concealed whispers. Vivienne kept her focus on her plate, pretending not to notice. Just as she was beginning to think she might survive the night unscathed, a shadow fell over her.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" a cold, drawling voice said.
Vivienne looked up to see Bellatrix Black standing before her. Bellatrix was a third-year student, already infamous for her haughty demeanor and fierce loyalty to her pure-blood heritage. Her dark eyes glittered with curiosity and something more sinister as she studied Vivienne.
"You must be the talk of the night," Bellatrix continued, her voice dripping with condescension. "A Muggle-born in Slytherin. Quite the paradox."
Vivienne met her gaze evenly, refusing to be intimidated. "And you must be Bellatrix Black," she replied, her tone steady and cold. "I've heard about you too."
Bellatrix's eyebrows arched in surprise, a small smile curving her lips. "Is that so? And what have you heard?"
Vivienne leaned back slightly, matching Bellatrix's composed stance. "That you're a pure-blood supremacist with a penchant for trouble. But I don't put much stock in rumors."
Bellatrix's smile widened, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Interesting. You're quite bold for someone in your... position."
"I'm not afraid of you," Vivienne said, her voice firm. "Or anyone else here."
A flicker of something—respect, perhaps—passed through Bellatrix's eyes. She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You intrigue me, Vivienne. Most Muggle-borns would have been terrified to be sorted into Slytherin. Yet here you are, calm and composed. Tell me, what makes you so different?"
Vivienne's eyes narrowed slightly, a spark of defiance in her gaze. "I suppose you'll just have to find out, won't you?"
For a moment, there was silence. Then Bellatrix laughed, a sharp, ringing sound that turned heads across the hall. "Very well, Vivienne. Consider this the beginning of... an interesting relationship."
With that, she turned and sauntered back to her seat, leaving Vivienne to ponder the encounter. As the evening wore on, Vivienne noticed that the eyes of the other Slytherins were no longer just curious—they were wary. Bellatrix's acceptance, however tentative, had granted her a measure of protection. It was a small victory, but one that Vivienne would build upon.
                                                                                               ---
Present Day
The morning sun streamed through the windows of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom as Vivienne Florere prepared for her second day of teaching. The memories of her own time at Hogwarts were never far from her mind, especially encounters like that first meeting with Bellatrix. They had shaped her into who she was today—resilient, unyielding, and determined.
The students filed in, Gryffindors and Slytherins taking their customary places on opposite sides of the room. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat near the front, their eyes on Vivienne, their curiosity not yet sated from the previous day's lesson.
Draco Malfoy, flanked by his cronies, sauntered in with his usual air of superiority. He caught Vivienne's eye and smirked, as if daring her to challenge him again. She met his gaze with the same calm authority she had shown the day before.
"Good morning, class," she began, her voice cutting through the chatter. "Today, we will delve deeper into the nature of dark curses and their countermeasures. Understanding the enemy is the first step to defeating it."
As she spoke, she could feel the undercurrent of tension in the room, particularly from the Slytherin side. Draco, ever the provocateur, raised his hand.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?" Vivienne said, acknowledging him with a nod.
"I was just wondering, Professor," Draco began, his tone dripping with mock innocence, "how does a Muggle-born like you come to know so much about dark magic? Did you have a... mentor, perhaps?"
The question hung in the air, a blatant challenge. Vivienne remained unfazed.
"My knowledge comes from years of study and experience," she replied smoothly. "I have learned from many sources, not all of them pleasant. The important thing is to use that knowledge for good, to protect and defend."
Hermione, watching the exchange closely, couldn't help but feel a pang of unease. There was something in the way Professor Florere spoke, a hint of personal pain and resolve that suggested a deeper connection to the dark forces they were studying.
"Let's move on to practical defense techniques," Vivienne continued, addressing the class as a whole. "Pair up and practice the Shield Charm. Remember, the strength of your defense depends not just on your magical ability, but on your focus and intent."
As the students began their exercises, Vivienne walked among them, offering guidance and corrections. Her mind, however, lingered on the past, on the friendships and rivalries that had defined her time at Hogwarts. She had come full circle, returning to the place that had shaped her, now tasked with shaping the next generation.
Hermione's thoughts mirrored her professor's. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Vivienne Florere than met the eye. As she practiced her Shield Charm, she resolved to uncover the truth. There were too many questions, too many coincidences. And in the world of magic, nothing was ever truly as it seemed.

As the lesson drew to a close and the students began to gather their belongings, Draco Malfoy lingered by his desk, his eyes fixed on Professor Florere. She noticed his hesitation but continued to supervise the students' departure, ensuring that they had properly stowed their wands and were leaving in an orderly manner.
Once the classroom had emptied and only the sound of shuffling feet in the hallway remained, Draco approached her, a folded piece of parchment in his hand.
"Professor Florere," he said, his voice uncharacteristically subdued, "I have something for you. It's from my mother."
Vivienne took the letter, her face revealing nothing. "Thank you, Mr. Malfoy," she replied, tucking the parchment into her robe pocket. "You may go."
Draco nodded and left the classroom, casting one last glance over his shoulder before disappearing down the corridor. Vivienne watched him go, her expression inscrutable.
Once alone, she retrieved the letter and carefully unfolded it. The handwriting was elegant, unmistakably that of Narcissa Malfoy. Vivienne's eyes scanned the page, and as she read the words, a tear slipped down her cheek.

"Love is a dog from hell,

It has its own rules.

We are but players in its tragic play,

Destined to be both savior and fool."

-N.B.

The lines were from a poem by Charles Bukowski, a reflection on the painful and often destructive nature of love. Vivienne's mind was flooded with memories of a time when she and Narcissa had been close, before the weight of family expectations and dark alliances had driven them apart.

She quickly wiped away the tear, taking a deep breath to steady herself. With a determined motion, she crumpled the letter and tossed it into the wastebasket. She couldn't afford to dwell on the past; there were more pressing matters at hand.
                                                                                                ---
Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and shadows began to lengthen, Vivienne slipped out of the castle and made her way toward the Forbidden Forest. The trees stood tall and foreboding, their branches intertwining like skeletal fingers against the darkening sky. She moved with purpose, her steps nearly silent on the forest floor.
Unbeknownst to her, Hermione Granger had noticed her departure and, driven by curiosity and a sense of foreboding, decided to follow. Keeping a safe distance, Hermione trailed Vivienne into the forest, careful to remain hidden among the underbrush.
Vivienne ventured deeper into the woods, the thick canopy overhead blotting out most of the remaining light. She seemed to know exactly where she was going, her path unwavering. Hermione watched as she approached a small clearing, where a solitary, ancient tree stood in the center. Its gnarled roots twisted and turned, partly above ground, giving it an almost mystical appearance.
Vivienne stopped before the tree and knelt, placing a hand on its rough bark. She whispered something under her breath, words that Hermione couldn't quite make out. A faint glow emanated from the tree, illuminating Vivienne's face in the dim light.
Hermione's heart pounded in her chest. What was Professor Florere doing out here? Was she meeting someone, performing a ritual, or perhaps communicating with a hidden ally? The possibilities swirled in her mind, each more unsettling than the last.
After a few moments, Vivienne rose and stepped back, the glow fading away. She stood in silence for a while, seemingly lost in thought. Then, with a final glance at the ancient tree, she turned and began to make her way back towards the castle.
Hermione quickly hid behind a large oak, holding her breath as Vivienne passed by, unaware of her presence. Once she was certain that the professor was a safe distance away, Hermione began her own cautious retreat, her mind racing with questions and suspicions.
As she made her way back to Gryffindor Tower, Hermione couldn't shake the feeling that she had witnessed something important. Professor Florere's actions in the forest were shrouded in mystery, and Hermione was determined to uncover the truth. There was more to Vivienne Florere than met the eye, and whatever secrets she harbored, Hermione intended to bring them to light.
The events of the day weighed heavily on her mind as she slipped into bed that night. She knew she would have to tread carefully, but her curiosity and sense of justice were too strong to ignore. The pieces of the puzzle were beginning to come together, and Hermione was resolute in her quest to uncover the hidden past of the enigmatic new professor.