The Marauders: A Hogwarts Tale

Chapter 5: A Tale of Two Nobels

Godric was at a loss for words as he took in the grandeur of the architecture around him. The statues, carved with breathtaking precision, seemed almost alive. The polished marble pillars gleamed under the soft, magical light that illuminated the hall, and the intricately woven buttresses bore designs unmistakably influenced by Avalon culture. It was a stark contrast to the modest buildings he had known all his life. In fact, he couldn't recall the last time he had stepped into a city, let alone a building as magnificent as this one.

The students began to sort themselves into groups, and it didn't take Godric long to deduce that they were separating by year. He stuck close to Rowena, Helga, and Salazar as they joined a specific group near the grand staircase. It was there that a tall, elegant elven woman stepped forward, her mere presence commanding attention. Her long silver hair flowed gracefully down her back, and her majestic violet robes seemed to shimmer subtly with a magical glow. With a single gesture of her hand, the bustling chatter of the students faded into silence.

"Welcome back, Third Years," she began, her voice clear and resonant, carrying an air of authority and refinement. Her piercing moss-green eyes behind a pair of frameless glasses swept over the group, taking in each face with an almost unreadable expression. "For those who are new, I am Professor Agatha Duchannes, your Transfigurations teacher."

The students huddled closer, straining to catch every word of Professor Duchannes. Godric shifted slightly to get a better view, but in doing so, accidentally bumped into someone.

The girl spun around sharply, her pristine white robes flaring with the motion. Her icy blue eyes narrowed as she looked Godric up and down, her gaze as sharp as a dagger. "Watch where you're going, peasant," she snapped, her voice laced with disdain. "Or are your eyes as unrefined as your manners?"

Godric blinked, startled by her hostility. "I... I apologize," he said, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "It was an accident. I meant no harm."

"An accident?" she repeated, her tone dripping with mockery. Tossing back her long, golden hair, she added, "I suppose that's what happens when they let just anyone into Excalibur these days. Especially the rabble."

Before Godric could respond, a calm yet cutting voice interjected. "Mind your tongue, Nerida," Salazar said smoothly, stepping forward with a deliberate, almost predatory grace. "Or has your family's famed eloquence finally abandoned you?"

Nerida turned her icy glare toward Salazar, her expression twisting with disdain. "Slytherin," she spat. "I should have known you'd be slithering nearby." Her gaze flicked past him to Rowena, Helga, and then finally to Godric, her sneer deepening. "Still keeping questionable company, I see. And here I thought you couldn't sink any lower."

Salazar smirked, unruffled by her venom. "Considering the company you keep; I'll take that as a compliment." He leaned in just slightly, his voice dropping into a mockingly cordial tone. "By the way, how's the family? Any idea when your father and brother will be released from the gulag?"

The air between them crackled with tension, sharp and volatile. A few nearby students paused their conversations, glancing at the two with curiosity and unease. Godric, sensing the hostility, instinctively stepped back to stand closer to Rowena.

"Rowena," Godric whispered, his tone urgent and hushed, "who is she? Is she someone important? And how does she know Salazar?"

Rowena's expression tightened, her voice calm but edged with a trace of distaste. "Her name is Nerida Vulchanova, the eldest daughter of the notorious Vulchanova family from Bulgaria," she explained.

"Once, they were famous for their magical prowess. Now, they're infamous—embroiled in numerous scandals and convicted of heinous crimes." Her gaze flicked to Nerida, who was still glaring at Salazar. "The only thing that exceeds their infamy is their disdain for mundanes and anyone they consider beneath them."