05 | THE SNAKE CHARMER

HOGSMEADE STATION WAS DARK WHEN THEY ARRIVED, rags of lazy clouds dragging themselves slowly over the moon and the stars. Surprisingly, the weather had changed and all there was left of the impending rain was the smell when the students excitedly jumped out of the train, first years following Hagrid to the lake shore to hop on the boats. A part of Alexia wanted to go with them, not only because she still remembered her own ride, the magical feeling of crossing the Great Lake at night, but also because it would mean she wouldn't have to face the Thestrals, or the fact that she was one of the few that could see them. The fact that she had seen death, and because of that, a part of her had become it.

Alexia could imagine that many of these kids' parents could see them too. Scars from the war. But after the Battle, most kids had grown up in safe, warm homes with nothing but love and no sign of violence or death. She was one of the outcasts, as always.

Noah put an arm around her shoulders protectively. He and she, as always.

Kendra couldn't see them, and both Alexia and Noah were determined to ensure she never did. In fact, the most accurate representation Kendra had seen of one was not in the magical creatures handbook but in one of Noah's paintings.

The three friends climbed into a carriage silently, Alexia trying not to pay much attention to the fleshless, scrawny creatures all around her. They were too sinister, not because of their appearance but because of what it meant. Especially to her. She could see Thestrals because there was someone she couldn't see anymore. Someone who once was the only one.

"I can't believe Hogwarts still doesn't have Wi-Fi." Noah chipped in, shoving his hands into the pockets of his robe as the carriage started moving. Kendra gave him a small, appreciative smile, knowing he was just trying to keep Alexia's mind out of itself. Thestrals didn't affect him like they did to her; the person he had seen dying was a great-uncle he barely knew. "It's 2022, for God's sake. Like, seriously, what am I supposed to do with my Netflix subscription, hang it on the wall---"

"Between Dumbledore and the Fat Lady? Yeah, we know the drill, Noah, you're always saying that!" Kendra chuckled, tucking one of her braids behind her ear. She was the unscarred one out of the three of them, born to a marriage of love between a Muggle and a wizard.

"But it's a serious complaint!" Noah protested. "I've got friends online, Muggles, who I can't exactly reach to via owl. Not to mention all the notifications I'll have to check, the trends I'll miss... I just thought by now Hogwarts would be a little more updated."

"You're right. We should organize a protest," Alexia agreed, "for that, and the fact we can't practice magic outside of Hogwarts before we're seventeen. Not that I have a problem with that anymore, unlike you babies."

"Nott, remember you're one year older than us, not one year smarter," Noah said with his annoying little smirk. "But, seriously, Hogwarts—"

"Ah, come on!" Kendra exclaimed, her affectionate grin taking over her features. "You two love Hogwarts. That's why you can't stop complaining about it. Because that's what you do, you adorable dumbasses. Complain about the only things you actually have nothing to complain about."

But, as they would soon discover once they stepped out of the carriages, that would no longer be exactly true.

ϟ ϟ ϟ

"Wait, what is the Headmistress doing here?" Several students asked as they walked through the school grounds and stopped in front of the doors that led to the Entrance Hall, where the figure of the Headmistress awaited them. The sight of the imposing castle deeply carved onto the cliff was always enough to make Alexia's heart race. It was exceptionally beautiful at night, like most things were, the lights rivaling with the stars above. The soft wind blew against the calm waters of the lake and the mysterious trees of the Forbidden Forest and Alexia sighed of relief. She was home, at last.

"I told you I had a bad feeling," Alexia whispered to Kendra and Noah as the students gathered in front of the Headmistress. Adelina Corbyn was a fairly young woman for her position at Hogwarts, but no one had complained, given the fact she had the blessing and the support of previous Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall. Adelina was cherished by her colleagues, loved by her students and respected by their parents. A Hufflepuff who had shown that kindness could lead too.

"Welcome, welcome, everyone," she started in an almost singing voice, a smile taking over the entirety of her face as her blue eyes shined. She was staring mainly towards the first years, nervously standing in the front of the crowd, their eyes widened in awe at the magic around them. "Welcome, those of you who have returned for another school year, and a very special welcome to those of you who are only getting started. Being nervous is normal, but do not worry. By the end of term, I promise Hogwarts will feel like home to you. Now, I know this is an unusual start of the school year and that we usually first meet at the Welcoming Feast, in which you are too marveled by the food to pay any attention to me and my words."

Adelina smiled again when light laughter travelled through the crowd. Her eyes weaved their way through it until they found Alexia's and stopped there for a second. Alexia didn't smile, even if she could have. She had a hard time trusting people, especially those who were too kind. She never knew how to act around those. They were as foreign to her as aliens.

"But this year Hogwarts has a very special surprise for you all, one I'm sure you will all like," Adelina made a pause to observe the curious faces and heighten the suspense, "as part of an agreement to bring together the three largest wizarding schools in Europe, as well as to promote school spirit and the meeting of cultures, the three Headmasters of the respective schools decided that, for this entire year, Hogwarts is to welcome students from the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and the Durmstrang Institute."

The utter silence was replaced by a wave of murmurs and muffled exclamations as students exchanged glances among one another, most of them in excitement. Kendra already had a smile glued to her face, but Alexia and Noah's eyes told of other tales: they were displeased and disbelieving, and most of all, wary. Both of them, through their past histories, had learned to be aware of all they didn't know.

"So, it is our duty to make our guests feel welcome in all possible ways. I expect you to put aside any differences you might have, and to find out the common ground that unites you not only as students of magic but also as growing humans. You'll be able to make new friends and learn all about the culture and traditions of other countries. If all goes well, in the next years the two other schools will have the possibility of being the hosts of this program and Hogwarts students will be able to go there to study. Now, it is with incredible joy and honor that I welcome our friends from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang!"

The next few minutes were the unfolding of a spectacle that left Alexia stunned with astonishment and wonder, even against her will. First it was the winged horses, slicing the air with their fast hooves and catching the moonlight in their white wings, the silvery reflection being casted over the castle, the students, the lake.

The horses were pulling magnificent blue carriages throughout the air, their powerful wings making the wind rustle the hair and clothes of the students below. They were passing over the moon now, and some first years screeched in amazement. Someone tugged at Alexia's sleeve and she looked down to meet Scorpius' blue eyes, who seemed to have some of the night lights in them too.

"Did you know about this?" He asked, looking up, his skin even paler now.

"No, why would you think that I would?"

"You always know about everything," Scorpius answered, the ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. Albus was, of course, beside him, his focus purely directed towards the shimmering carriages who were now in descent. "I mean, you know about me, and most people don't."

"I only know about the things I care about, Scorpi," Alexia chuckled, winking at him. He smiled back and they watched together as the horses landed softly on the ground, almost with no sound. They didn't have much time to focus on that, though, because the next second a ship was rising out of the Great Lake's water, as if it was a treasure long forgotten in the depths of it. It emerged slowly from underneath the surface, sliding swiftly across the calm waters, the sails of the ship flaunting two-headed crimson eagles.

"This is some Pirates of the Caribbean shit," Noah murmured, his voice oozing with approval. The ship seemed ancient and mystical, carrying an aura of enigma and danger with it. It also seemed dark and haunted, and instantly alluring.

"So you like the idea now?" Alexia asked, trying not to feel betrayed.

"No, but you have to admit the ship is cool as hell. Imagine the parties they must throw in there!"

Alexia rolled her eyes, an unsettling feeling settling permanent residence in her stomach. She didn't like this. She didn't like this at all. For some reason, she felt threatened already. There was too much she couldn't control in the unknown.

"My God, I'm going to die from my bisexuality, I don't know where to look at," Kendra's voice brought her back to reality, to the Beauxbatons students who were rushing out of the carriages in an elegant, graceful way. There were boys and girls from different ages and clearly different countries, going by the blend of languages filling the air. The coat of arms in the carriage and in their uniforms shined in gold, but other than that everything was blue. "They are all so pretty. Look at that guy over there! And oh my god, that girl..."

Looking around herself, Alexia could see Kendra was not the only one impressed. In fact, everyone other than her and Noah seemed mesmerized. She didn't know how people could get so charmed at first sight, it never happened to her, she didn't let it happen, and she liked to praise herself on that. Instead of checking the students out like everyone else was doing, she started measuring and judging them, evaluating the level of threat and potential for disaster. This was her school, after all. She wasn't just about to let some foreigners come and ruin the only good thing she had in her life. She was overprotective of Hogwarts and everything in it because Hogwarts protected her of everything outside of it.

"Don't they look like angels? They look a little bit like angels," Noah mused as a blond guy passed by them and whistled 'oui, oui!'.

"Noah, not you too!" Alexia exclaimed, alarmed by the possibility he too had joined the smitten side.

"Relax," he shot her a comforting smile, "you and me against the world. Always."

"Hey, just because I like what I'm seeing doesn't meant I won't stand by you two, fools," Kendra intervened, winking at them. "Always. But come on, even you two hearts of stone have to admit they're easy on the eyes."

"As if, I don't see anyone spec..." Alexia stopped talking abruptly, her eyes accidentally stumbling upon the bluest blue she had ever seen, upon a stare she wasn't ready to find, that she was sure she'd never be. Below the lights of the night his eyes seemed like liquid sapphires, so blue it was as if the color had been invented in them. He was staring back at her, with an intensity that almost made her step back, and as veiled and indecipherable as the start of the universe. Alexia felt something abrupt inside her, like a replica of an earthquake shaking her atoms, rattling her cells, pulling her in every direction, mostly his. Oh, no, hell no, she thought. Not me. This can't happen to me.

But deep down, she knew it could. It had.

It was too late.

Because for the first time in her life, the Snake Charmer had been charmed.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I'm quite happy with this chapter so I hope you are too!

Leave your thoughts on it if you will ♥