Trinity~A Raven and Snakes story

Setting the Stage

~Enter Stage Left~

Iris Abbott thought dramatically, as she entered Defense Against the arts class. She took her typical seat and aggressively tried to NOT give into the impulse to watch the door. She had told herself that she had better things to do than to obsess over anyone. She was already obsessing about her bizarre ability to see and use ancient magic. Still though, last year she would have wanted nothing more than to be at Hogwarts, sorted into a house, and thinking boys were cute.

This time last year she was a squib in an offshoot of one of the oldest pureblood families. Her family lacked the wealth and esteem of some of the other pureblood "original 28" families. Her Mother cared endlessly about these things, so she had been quite cruelly neglectful since Iris's letter didn't come at age 11. When her letter came at age 16, the age that most magical people started their 5th year, her Mother finally started caring about her again.

11 year old Iris, hell- even 12 or 13 year old Iris would have been thrilled. By time 16 year old Iris got her letter however, she had been essentially living as a servant in her own home. Her Father was passingly kind to her still, but he was almost never home. He was a minor ministry employee, but kept busy. Iris had always suspected it was due to the fact that it was painfully tedious to be home with her Mother, who spent most of her time tracing the Abbott's mostly Slytherin heritage back as far as she could.

Ah Slytherin....yet another way she had disappointed her mother. She has been sorted into Ravenclaw house, which she was pleased with. Well, she was until she met a chestnut haired, duel- loving Slytherin, who was the person she was actively trying to avoid thinking about.

She was not surprised when she was sorted into Ravenclaw. She was overwhelmingly curious, which got her into trouble constantly. She spent most of her time either reading about anything and everything she could, or participating in her local muggle schools theatre productions. Since she hadn't displayed any magical ability, and her Mother written her off, she had been able to successfully convince her Father to let her stay in muggle school in London where they lived.

Iris was shy and bookish most of her childhood, until she found theatre, and plays. She was able to escape the exceedingly depressive state of her family and home. She was able to become anything she wanted to be when she was acting. Being able to act confident helped her significantly when she all of a sudden began displaying magic. It had helped her look like she was confident and able to handle the incredible pressure and shock of entering Hogwarts as a 5th year. It helped her win her first dual in this class when she had never once dueled before. It helped her act "effortless" when her dueling partner had asked her if she had experience and congratulated her on "giving as good as she got".

Damn it!! She was thinking of him again, she dug her finger nails hard into her palms to stop the thoughts in their tracks. She had started this habit years ago when her mother would talk endlessly of her failures. Sometimes she did it so hard, her palms would bleed....

~Enter Stage Right~

Iris saw none other than the scamp, Sebastian Sallow confidently stroll into class out of the corner of her eye. He looked up, met Iris's eyes, and came over. Iris felt her heart start to race, so she took controlled breaths to still her heart and breathing so she didn't look like an idiot. She looked up at him and began acting her character of being a fellow nonchalant student.

"Abbott!! Anne was so excited to see you! Thank you for coming along with me." Sebastian stated, with a warm, good natured smile plastered on his face.

Iris began to feel her cheeks begin to blush, but she took a deeper breath so it didn't show. "Anne is a dear, I am so glad I got to meet the better Sallow twin finally", Iris said in a teasing tone.

~Enter Center Stage~

From behind them, they heard a quiet chuckle. Even his chuckle was refined, Iris thought. She knew who was behind them by the way Sebastian's face lit up.

Ominis Gaunt. Perfect, pure blood, heir of Slytherin. Sebastian and Anne Sallows best friend. He was truly effortless, every hair perfectly in place, his outfits the height of wizard fashion. Her own Mother often talked about him, ever since Iris and Ominis had a few dances together one night when they were 10. One of the very few high society events her family had ever been invited to. Of course he had been perfectly polite the whole dance. Through no fault of his own, Iris had a hard time not feeling horribly inadequate around him.

"Good one Iris, I need all the help I can get keeping this one off his high horse" Ominis said, sparing a small smile for them both and poked Sebastian with his wand.

Sebastian shrugged, but Iris could see the small blush on his cheeks at being teased. "Here Ominis, take my arm, you know Professor Hecat is always moving these tables all over the place". Ominis obliged, taking Sebastian's arm. Over his shoulder, Sebastian said, "see you later Abbott!"

Iris turned her head and hid behind her wavy, long dark hair. She didn't know why she let herself be jealous of her perfect, albeit blind classmate.

Ugh, she hated to admit it, Sebastian was very handsome and charming. He had an unruly, almost permanently sarcastic expression on his handsome face and his wild spirit made her breath catch in her throat. He made her feel things she could not even identify. He was a trouble maker, but he had also been so vulnerable when they visited his cursed sister. The fact that he seemed to love the adventures they were starting to go on, and that he was always wholeheartedly laughing at Iris's jokes- it made her heart fill warm. Not often in her life, especially in recent years, did her heart feel warmth, and nothing had ever given her butterflies like he did. Last night during a "girl talk" session, her friend Natty had told her that must Iris have a crush on Sebastian Sallow!

Sitting here in class, with her heart racing, she believed it. There was a big problem though, she knew he did not feel the same way. Yes, there was always that anxiety that crushes may not be reciprocated. This went so far beyond that.

As Iris glanced back at the boys sitting next to each other. Sebastian was teasing and prodding at Ominis to get reactions out of him. When he kept ignoring Sebastian's antics, Iris could see Sebastian stealing many non discreet glances at him.

The rather large obstacle facing Iris's crush on Sebastian, was that he already liked someone else. Iris put her head down and took a few calming breaths.

Sebastian Sallow was in love with Ominis Gaunt.

It was the most obvious thing in every room those Slytherin boys were in.