Ascendancy - Book I of the 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔠𝔨 𝔖𝔢𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔰

II. 12th September 1931 - the kiss

Dorea had successfully entered Slytherin House. She had not seen Charlus since that day, but she had made friends. Elenys Rosier and Odora Nott had become her best friends in just one month. Deneria Avery shared their dormitory, but she preferred the company of a group of Slytherins to theirs, even if they got on well. Charis came to see her from time to time to ask about her, but it was only out of pure obligation. In any case, everything that concerned the others was done out of obligation. After a while, you didn't even care anymore.

So Dorea had taken up a regular study schedule. Her mother had already been pleased during her childhood with her ability to learn quickly, and Dorea loved to read, which had only strengthened her knowledge. At Hogwarts, she enjoyed it. She sometimes spent whole afternoons in the library, sharing her discoveries with Elenys and Odora. The two girls were just as passionate about knowledge as she was, which made her very happy. Sometimes, when they talked about it in their dormitory, Deneria also participated in their discussion; for a girl who frequented the Ravenclaws, she must have been used to it.

She soon received a letter from her elder brother congratulating her on her entry into Slytherin, as well as one from her parents and her aunts and uncles. She made sure to tell everyone how good it felt for several hours. Cassiopeia helped her send them all by owl, and the two sisters watched the letters go out the window with a similar smile.

The leaves turned yellow quickly, covering the ground with a brown and red layer. The wind blew through the outer corridors of the castle and jumpers and scarves appeared. However, the interior of the school was quite warm. On a Saturday afternoon, when Dorea was happy to have finished all her homework, she entered the Great Hall to join her sister and cousin, Callidora. The two girls were already talking about an exciting topic when she sat down opposite them.

"You don't understand, he's a mysterious, evil beauty," said Callidora.

"A beauty? His beauty is scary, then. The last time I looked at him, I felt as if his eyes were piercing me like a sword."

"Already he's looked at you, count yourself lucky."

"My dear, we are Black. I do hope he deigns to look at me."

Callidora rolled her eyes. Dorea took advantage of this short silence to ask the essential question:

"Who are you talking about?"

Cassiopeia grunted and twirled her fork in the mash. It was Callidora who answered her:

"Harfang Longbottom."

Dorea turned to see this mysterious 'beauty'. She had only heard of the Longbottom brothers briefly, but she didn't know which one was the subject of the girls.

"The one on the far right, with the untied tie."

"The blond one?"

"Yeah."

Oh, yes. Yes, he was. She understood her words now. Slumped on the bench, he listened with a distracted ear to his friends talking. His unbuttoned white shirt revealed the beginning of a perfectly shaped and well-muscled torso. His facial features were angular but elegant, bringing out a noble but also evil air. For yes, his gaze seemed to want to break everything he could.

"Doesn't he have a brother?"

"Yes, an older brother who is no longer at Hogwarts, but he is quite different from him. Harfang was born in the dark, while Theo was born in the light. That's what makes them interesting."

"Turn around, he'll notice you," her sister scolded her.

Dorea obeyed and looked at her cousin with a smile.