{Staine x Bunny} Feathers and Fangs

[Staine]

Sebastian Prince had found it easy so far. Joining Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at the age of 17, a freshman, it had been everything he had ever dreamed of, a place of magic, of wonder, of learning...and he'd most certainly learned. His father had died close to this very school, going by a different name, dying a hero...and it had been kept secret that he'd even had a son at all, born not so long before his death and given to another relative to raise...his cousin. Elena Prince had been like her mother, Sindy, both turning their noses up at Eileen Prince for lowering herself, diluting her bloodline by marrying a muggle and bearing his child, they'd all but severed her from the family tree but Eileen's son had remembered the letters addressed to Sindy, asking for help, asking for money, and he'd remembered that she had always come through. Family...it was a powerful thing, and so when Sebastian had been born his father had sought them out with the aid of, it was rumoured, the headmaster of Hogwarts at the time. Albus Dumbledore, the name had always held sway, and so Sebastian had been raised without his father, never knowing who his mother was or even if she yet lived.

When he'd come of age to join at 17 he'd been excited. Without even a name, he knew at least that his father had been known here, that some still remained who knew who he was and he had a single clue: His father had been in the house of Slytherin. That suited Sebastian just fine...he'd read stories of this place as he'd grown up, of the adventures of Harry Potter and his friends, he knew all about the houses and of Slytherin's dark past and even that didn't deter him, he wanted in. Hufflepuff didn't interest him, Sebastian felt that hard work alone wouldn't grant him success, he'd always worked hard and yet Elena had never truly treated him like a son...if she'd treated him like family it had been a distant nephew at best, which he supposed he was. Gryffindor was a noble house, the house of the hero himself and yet that too didn't hold any interest for Sebastian. If his Aunt had taught him anything it was that helping others was all well and good but it wouldn't bring him happiness. She'd helped his father, she'd raised him and yet she didn't seem very happy with her life. Ravenclaw...he could have been happy in Ravenclaw, he sought out knowledge like every kernel of truth was a precious gemstone, he valued intelligence highly, he was quick witted...but his ambition was the most striking scar on his soul. Sebastian, who had never known his father but had been constantly reminded that he had been half-muggle, who had heard only recently that he'd been killed by Voldemort himself and sought to learn of his heritage as much as he sought to change the wizarding world...he belonged in Slytherin and the sorting hat had almost immediately agreed. Fuck the bad name Slytherin still got amongst the other houses, it was no different than Hufflepuff being known as screw-ups and blundering idiots or Ravenclaw being insufferable know-it-alls in his eyes.

In his first year he'd already distinguished himself from his peers, he was well above average in all of his classes, he had a thirst for knowledge and a drive to prove that he belonged in Hogwarts, that he would be a great wizard and in particular he had excelled in potions. Sebastian seemed to have an innate understanding of how the ingredients would best interact with one another, how to treat them to get the best results, he even had an aptitude for creating his own unique flasks which had impressed the potions teacher...but being gifted in all the subjects had brought ire from the other houses, all of whom hated each other. It had been in his third year that he had been approached by Headmistress McGonagall who had taken him aside, shown him a photograph of a sallow older man with a large hook nose. She had been one of the few to know who his father had been, entrusted with the secret of Sebastian's birth, and as he turned 20 she had decided it was time he learned the truth about his heritage, about who he was. In the two years that had passed he'd still never told another student but he had new goals. Yes, he wanted to change the wizarding world, he wanted to prove he belonged, and now that he knew his father was considered a great man, a hero, he wanted more. He wanted to prove himself to be the best in the school, push the house of Slytherin to new heights and eventually, when he graduated, take his father's name. A name that had died with him, a muggle name, he wanted it to become one of the most well known names in wizarding for generations to come. Despite his father's actions and the actions of others from the house of Slytherin they still had that reputation for dark wizards, still were seen as untrustworthy, inter-house relationships had gotten worse, not better. Friends were simply no longer possible between the houses and while he'd never hated the others, he wasn't going to let them drag Slytherin down either. He would prove they were the best.

So he listened intently as Professor McGonagall stood at the head of the class. "Students of Hogwarts, it has come to our attention that the houses have been fighting amongst themselves again. Just last Wednesday we had an all out aerial battle, even the seekers were ignoring the game and we have had enough! The Four Houses of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry stand for teamwork, for co-operation, for family. This in-fighting has...to...stop!" Raising her wand and taking a sweeping look over the four long tables in the hall, all separated, the houses resolutely apart, she waved her wand. Next to her, a much smaller table had been covered by a purple cloth which flew away to reveal the ornate cup beneath it. "Now I'm sure you've all heard of the Tri-Wizard tournament...well the staff have collectively decided that we would take a little inspiration, and so Hogwarts will be hosting our own set of games." She held up one, open palmed hand as though shushing the enraptured hall full of students. "Five rounds in total." She held up her other hand, wand clutched in it and her index finger held up beside the other hand. "Six teams. All students will place their name into the Chalice of Unity, each and every one of you, no exceptions. Each of the six teams will be made up of two students, and there will be no teams from the same house permitted. Each of our champions will have to work with the champion of another house in order to win the prize, fame, glory and a guaranteed job in any field they desire once they graduate." She sat back down in her seat at the head of the staff table. "Remember, this is about working together, you can not and will not succeed alone, and one team will be eliminated in each of the trails so it's best that you try to get along if your name is chosen. Now, single file, we will start with Slytherin, write down your names on the parchment provided and come put it into the chalice."

Sebastian's eyes lit up as he scribbled down a name on to the piece of parchment. He'd planned to wait, but this was too good an opportunity. Approaching the chalice, he dropped the piece of parchment into it with a smile. This would be perfect, his grand reveal.

Sebastian Snape.

 

[Bunny]

Another school year awaited and in truth Rosemary was torn between excitement and dread. On one hand, it meant another year of learning... A world of literal magic laid bare before her. School work had always been something that Romy had excelled at. Eagerly gobbling up the knowledge that each lesson brought. Books and their contents had always been her friends. It was hard for someone like her to make friends normally but to quote many of her peers, being an insufferable know it all, didn't help matters any. Was it so wrong to take pride in her learning, in herself? Romy struggled with that fact and without others to bounce the question off of, she was left drifting. A friend, any friend might have helped, but just like school in the muggle world, Romy was a pariah in Hogwarts as well.

It was a struggle to be sure. Being a know it all alone might have been okay, but there was more to it than that. Rosemary was a Legilimens. It was a talent that most had to struggle to achieve, but not her. Romy could flit in and out of minds like a honey bee did to the spring flowers. At first, she hadn't really understood and neither had her classmates, for Muggles never really understood magic, not really. They had known her to be weird though. At Hogwarts, it had not taken them long to figure the same thing out and there were those with their suspicions. It wasn't something Romy shared, knowing that most people didn't trust her kind.

Sitting at the end of the long tables that filled the Great Hall, Romy tucked her inky black hair behind her ear, reading one of her new school books while idly poking at her food. No one talked to her, though the buzz that filled the hall surrounded her. No one ever talked to her if they had a choice. Unless they were being mean that was. Then they willingly talked to her or rather, at her. Turning a pace, her purple gaze traced the words on the page, committing each word to heart. Slowly the chatter around her died down and she placed a finger between the pages, turning her attention to Headmistress McGonagall. That was far from a surprise. Even with the defeat of Voldemort, the houses collectively were against Slytherins. Though there was a rift that was ever growing between the other houses. Reckless, know it all, screw-ups. Each house was known for their own thing, her own house known as screw-ups, dreamers... In truth Romy had never agreed with any of the stereotypes. They were all different, all unique in their own ways. The negative connotations mattered little to her. With each house focusing on a set of traits, there would always be a counterpart that brought them down some. Yin and yang Romy supposed. No light without darkness and all that.

A chalice appeared as Professor McGonagall said the in-fighting needed to end. The amethyst gaze swept over the cup, a frown forming. All students. Inhaling she held her breath, hating the idea for reasons all her own. Not arrogant enough to assume she'd be picked, but pragmatic enough to worry if she was. No one would want to work with her. Always picked last. Not even her dazzling intellect could save her from that fate and if it did, she was left alone with the entirety of the project. She didn't mind that so much, it was really no different than normal. Her heart sank as she exhaled. Lashes lowered and she looked at the leather bound book in which she still held her place.

It was the murmuring of voices that had Romy lifting her face once more. Sebastian. She knew him only by reputation really. Prefect, Quidditch Keeper... He was adept at his studies as well. He was also handsome. While Romy didn't normally care about such things, it was almost impossible to ignore the fact. He was indeed handsome. Watching as he dropped his name into the cup and swagger back to his table she bit her lower lip, eyes lingering on him.

Others had risen after him to enter their names. It wasn't like they had a choice after all. One by one they left the Great Hall until only Romy was left. Pulling out a slip of paper so wrote her name neatly, her script flowing together.

ℛ𝓸𝓼𝒆𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 𝓓𝒆𝓿𝓸𝒆

Slipping the paper into the chalice she walked back to her table and picked up her book before heading to bed.

☆*ﾟ ゜ﾟ*☆*ﾟ ゜ﾟ*☆*ﾟ ゜ﾟ*☆*ﾟ ゜ﾟ*☆*ﾟ ゜ﾟ*☆​

A week had gone by without any more being said about the contest and the memory of their first night had drifted into the cobwebs of most of their minds. Romy hadn't forgotten, but she was in no rush either. She had no desire to work with anyone else, to have a spotlight on her. She was comfortable being mostly ignored, though she could have done without the ridicule. Chewing thoughtfully while she transcribed her notes anew, she looked up as Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, drawing their attention to her. "It has been a week an all names have been entered into the Chalice. Tonight we shall pick the teams. Like with the Tri-Wizard, upon entering your names, it became a binding magical contract. All participants will complete their tasks to the best of their ability and there will be no shirking of your duties." Her voice was stern as she peered over her glasses at them. "Once chosen please head along the staff table to the door on the right."

Moving to the Chalice she held out a hand. Glittering ribbons of blue poured from its mouth and two pieces of paper appeared in her hand. Looking down at them she read out clearly. "Sebastian Snape and Rosemary Devoe"

There was a stunned silence for a moment before chatter erupted around her. It had nothing to do with her and everything to do with him. Snape? The Snape? She could hear snippets of conversation as she rose from the table stiffly. This was exactly what she had hoped wouldn't happen. Luckily for her, he had everyone's attention and she was able to slip into the back without too many noticing her. Inside the room she fought the urge to fidget. Her hands smoothed down her black skirt, straightened her black and yellow tie. Nervously her hands made a small path around her body. Her thigh high socks were tugged on, her shirt, chin length black hair tucked behind her ears. Untucked. Of all the people to be paired with too... it had to be him. The one she had a crush on. The one all eyes would be on. There would be no hiding even if she tried now and in truth Romy wanted nothing more than to fade into the shadows in which she stood as the door opened once more.