autumn | severus snape

twenty four

Ophelia had breakfast with Andrew the next morning. She hadn't really talked to anyone except for this one Ravenclaw, George, who had introduced himself by accidentally knocking her to the ground that morning. They found out they shared a few classes together. And then there was Alya, who liked to sleep for breakfast.

Ophelia looked at her schedule. "So, you don't learn math or- or geography, or history?"

"We learn about the history of magic," Andrew shrugged.

"What about the World Wars?"

"You mean the Wizarding Wars?"

She frowned. "Chemistry?"

"Potions?" Andrew sipped his pumpkin juice. "Didn't you attend Ilvermony?"

Ophelia shook her head, "I went to a muggle school."

Andrew hummed and finished the last of his eggs. "What's your first class today?" He asked.

"Double Herbology."

"You'll meet our Head of House, then," he smiled. "Professor Sprout is lovely."

"I'm sure." Ophelia grabbed her books and stood up. "Alright, I should head out, see you at lunch?"

Andrew shook his head. "I have a meeting with the Head Boy and Girl, night patrol scheduling and such."

"Okay, abandon me on my first day, why don't you?" She pouted.

He grabbed his bag and smiled, "you'll be fine."

Ophelia saw Ana at the Slytherin table on her way out of the Great Hall. She was laughing with some girls before looking up and waving. Ophelia waved back, the sight comforting.

Finding her way to the greenhouses proved to be more complicated than she thought. She knew George and Alya shared the class with her, although neither of them was at breakfast. As she turned yet another corner, a familiar voice broke through her thoughts.

"Lost, Delisle?"

Ophelia turned to see Draco leaning casually against the wall, a smirk playing on his lips. His presence was a strange mix of familiarity and novelty. Now that he had returned to Hogwarts there was something slightly different about him. More assured, maybe. More composed.

She rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips despite herself. "I know where I'm going, thank you very much."

Draco raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced as he stepped away from the wall to walk beside her. "Are you sure? I wouldn't be surprised if you ended up halfway to the dungeons, looking for plants."

Ophelia shot him a mock glare. "I'm not that hopeless."

He gave her a sideways glance, his smirk softening into a genuine smile. "Good thing I'm here, then. I've got some free time before my first class. I'll make sure you don't wander off into the Forbidden Forest by accident."

Ophelia let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "You just can't help yourself, can you? Always so smug."

"Who, me? Smug? Never." Draco's tone was light, teasing.

They walked in comfortable silence for a moment, the noise of students bustling in the distance fading as they neared the greenhouses. Ophelia was keenly aware of Draco's presence beside her, his strides confident, his silver-blond hair catching the morning light.

"So," she began, glancing at him curiously, "you really decided to come back as a teacher's assistant, huh? DADA, of all things."

"Seemed like a fitting choice. After everything with the war and joining the Order, I figured I might as well put some of that experience to good use." Draco shrugged. "I'm just trying to do something different now," he said, his tone quieter. "Something that matters."