Beatrice Lestrange has always been an outsider in her own story. Born into one of the darkest families in the wizarding world, she grew up under the looming shadow of her infamous mother Bellatrix Lestrange.
Despite this, Beatrice is nothing like th...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The crisp air of December had settled over Hogwarts, bringing with it a thick blanket of snow that coated the grounds in a dazzling white. Icicles hung from the castle's towers like glass daggers, and the Great Hall had been transformed into a winter wonderland, adorned with towering Christmas trees and enchanted snowflakes drifting lazily from the ceiling.
Despite the festive atmosphere, the Hufflepuff common room was quieter than usual. The sting of their recent loss to Ravenclaw still lingered, casting a shadow over what should have been a time of celebration. Beatrice sat by the fire, her hands wrapped around a warm mug of hot chocolate. She stared into the flames, her thoughts racing back to the match.
It had been a tough defeat, and though they had fought hard, the Ravenclaw team had been relentless, outmaneuvering them in the final minutes. Cho Chang, Ravenclaw's Seeker, had caught the Snitch right under Cedric's nose. The loss hadn't come with the same sting as the victory over Gryffindor, but it left a bitter taste nonetheless.
Beatrice sighed and glanced around the room. Cedric was across from her, scribbling something in his notebook, likely reviewing the match or planning strategies for the next one. His face was calm, though she knew him well enough to sense the frustration simmering beneath the surface. The rest of the team had taken the defeat in stride, but Cedric took every game seriously, and losing was never easy for him.
— Christmas is coming soon.— Hannah said brightly, breaking the silence. She was perched on one of the armchairs near the window, staring out at the snowy landscape. — I bet the castle will look even more amazing by the end of the week.—
Beatrice smiled, grateful for Hannah's attempt to lighten the mood. — Yeah, and we could all use the break after that match. I still can't believe how fast Cho moved. She was everywhere at once.—
Hannah nodded, though her usual cheerfulness was tinged with a hint of exhaustion. — It was a tough one, but we'll bounce back after the holidays. Right, Cedric? —
Cedric looked up from his notebook, giving a small smile. — Definitely. We have plenty of time to regroup before the next match. No need to dwell on it too much. —
Beatrice appreciated Cedric's attempt to reassure them, but she could tell he was still running the loss through his mind, analyzing every move, every decision that led to it. She wasn't the only one who felt the pressure building as the season continued.
Beatrice leaned back in her chair, her gaze drifting to the frosted windows of the Hufflepuff common room. Outside, the snow continued to fall, thick and steady, blanketing the castle grounds. It was beautiful, serene—but inside, something restless stirred within her.
Just as Hannah had predicted, the castle would be transformed into something spectacular by the end of the week, but it wasn't enough to shake the strange tension that had settled over her ever since the match. The next Hogsmeade weekend was just days away, and Beatrice had mixed feelings about it.
