𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥

Chapter 1

The grand doors of the Great Hall creaked open, drawing the attention of every student and professor present. Annalise Blackwood stood poised at the threshold, her dark, flowing hair cascading over her shoulders like an ebony waterfall. Beside her, Draco Malfoy held her hand, his presence both a shield and a statement. The room seemed to hold its breath as they stepped forward, their entrance commanding and enigmatic.

Whispers rippled through the hall, weaving a tapestry of curiosity and speculation. Annalise moved with a graceful confidence, her deep-set eyes scanning the room as if she were already privy to its deepest secrets. Draco had spent the past six months telling her everything he knew about Hogwarts, from the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall to the hidden passageways and the infamous Gryffindor trio: Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, and, of course, Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived.

At the Gryffindor table, Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a mixture of intrigue and skepticism. Annalise's arrival had been the talk of the school ever since the news broke, and now, seeing her with Draco Malfoy only fueled their curiosity.

Professor McGonagall, who had been in the middle of announcing the day's schedule, paused to address the interruption. "Students, please welcome Annalise Blackwood, who will be joining us in her fifth year," she said, her tone neutral yet tinged with curiosity. "Miss Blackwood, come up to the front and we'll place you into your house."

Annalise nodded in acknowledgment, her lips curving into a subtle smile. She released Draco's hand and made her way to the front, every step echoing through the silent hall. As she approached the Sorting Hat, it seemed to almost twitch in anticipation.

"Good luck," Draco whispered, his eyes following her every move.

Annalise sat on the stool, and McGonagall carefully placed the Sorting Hat on her head. The hall was utterly silent, every student leaning forward in their seats.

"Hmm," the Hat murmured, its voice echoing in Annalise's mind. "Interesting... very interesting. Courage and cunning, intelligence and ambition... Where to put you?"

The room held its collective breath. The seconds ticked by, feeling like hours.

"Slytherin!" the Hat finally declared.

The Slytherin table erupted in cheers, Draco's applause the loudest of all. Annalise rose, the hint of a satisfied smile on her lips. She made her way to the Slytherin table, taking her seat beside Draco.

"Welcome to Slytherin," he murmured, his voice filled with pride and possessiveness.

Across the hall, Tom and Mattheo Riddle observed the exchange, their expressions inscrutable. There was something about Annalise that set her apart from the usual newcomers. She was a puzzle, one they were both eager and wary to solve.

The next morning, Annalise found herself seated at the Slytherin table for breakfast, Draco by her side. The enchanted ceiling above reflected the pale dawn light, casting a soft glow over the bustling Great Hall. She noticed eyes still on her, curious and assessing, even as Draco leaned in, whispering sweet nothings meant to soothe and enchant her.

"You're going to love Potions with Professor Snape," Draco murmured, his breath warm against her ear. "He's brilliant, and he's always had a soft spot for me-and now for you."

Annalise offered him a distracted smile, her thoughts elsewhere. As she scanned the room, her gaze locked onto two boys seated at the far end of the Slytherin table. One had straight, jet-black hair and wore a neatly pressed suit, his dark brown eyes piercing and calculating. The other had messy, curly dark brown hair, a noticeable slit through his eyebrow and across the bridge of his nose, giving him a rugged, almost dangerous appearance. His eyes, also a deep brown, held a brooding intensity.