𝒏𝒐 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆 | 𝑻.𝑹.

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒏𝒆: 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔

Platform 9¾ was a cacophony of sound and motion. The thick, white steam from the Hogwarts Express swirled around the platform, mingling with the chatter of excited students and the cries of owls. Evelyn Noir stood at the edge of the platform, her dark eyes scanning the crowd. Her parents, Cassius and Ophelia Noir, stood rigidly beside her, their expressions masked with pureblood superiority.

As they watched the students bustling about, Cassius muttered under his breath, his tone dripping with disdain, "Disgraceful. Look at us, having to mingle with mudbloods and half-breeds. Ugh, as if they belong here."

Ophelia's lips curled into a sneer as she glanced around at the diverse crowd. "They're polluting our magical society, bringing in their Muggle filth."

Evelyn, accustomed to her parents' elitist views, felt a twinge of discomfort but nodded slightly in agreement. She understood their concerns about preserving wizarding traditions and heritage, though she didn't share their extreme disdain for Muggle-borns and half-bloods. She had classmates who were Muggle-borns whom she respected for their magical talents and character.

Cassius narrowed his eyes as he spotted a group of Muggle-born students laughing and chatting nearby. "Hogwarts used to be a place of true wizarding heritage. Now it's been tainted."

Ophelia nodded in agreement, her gaze icy. "It's a disgrace to our ancestors."

Evelyn glanced away, she had learned to keep her dissent silent to avoid their wrath.

"Evelyn, remember what we've discussed," Cassius intoned, his voice cold and commanding. "This is your fifth year, you must focus on your studies, the Noir name demands nothing less than excellence."

"Yes, Father," Evelyn replied obediently, though her thoughts drifted to the upcoming school year and the challenges it would bring.

At Hogwarts, Evelyn found herself consistently second in her class, just behind Tom Riddle. He was a formidable student—intelligent, charismatic, and skilled in magic beyond his years. Evelyn respected Tom; he was a young man of sharp intellect and undeniable ambition.

Yet, being a Noir, Evelyn couldn't help but feel the weight of expectation pressing down upon her. Her family's name carried a legacy of excellence and pureblood lineage, a heritage she both upheld and resented. She knew she had the potential to excel, yet the fact that she consistently ranked behind Tom Riddle fueled a quiet frustration within her.

As the school year had progressed last year, Evelyn immersed herself in her studies with renewed vigor. She spent countless hours in the library, pouring over textbooks and practicing spells until they were flawless. Every achievement Tom made spurred her to push herself further, to excel not just for herself but to uphold the honor of her family.

Despite her competitive drive, Evelyn maintained a cordial relationship with Tom. They exchanged nods in the corridors and occasionally found themselves studying in the same room in silence. Tom's presence was a constant reminder of the gap Evelyn aimed to bridge—the space between being second-best and claiming the top spot.

Evelyn was momentarily lost in her thoughts, she was abruptly brought back to the present, as she saw Ophelia, her mother, lean in, her icy blue eyes boring into Evelyn's. "And stay away from trouble, Evelyn. We cannot afford any scandals."

Evelyn nodded subtly, her posture straightening instinctively under her mother's piercing gaze. The Noirs were known for their impeccable reputation and adherence to proper wizarding etiquette. They represented a pinnacle of pureblood society, and their appearance always reflected their status. Ophelia, Cassius, and Evelyn were adorned in the most exquisite wizarding robes, crafted by Ophelia's own fashion brand—Noir Elegance. Their robes were tailored to perfection, rich in deep shades of emerald and sapphire that shimmered with intricate magical embroidery.