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Aug 31, 2025

'You're A Natural' Chapter 1

Invited back to Hogwarts by Viktor, your old Care of Magical Creatures professor, you make a less than ideal first impression on the two scariest members of staff.

Word Count: 11.3k

For a moment, you are cut off from the world as everything goes dark, the bustling sounds of the crowded train station fade away and you can't feel the air on your skin as you hurry forwards while pushing the trolley. Then you can see once more, and draw to a halt on a much calmer platform.

Light filters down from a glass roof and casts a warm glow along the tracks. Shadows move with the few witches and wizards already gathered, their quiet conversation emphasised by the strange emptiness of the station.

A thin white cloth covers a special piece of cargo on your trolley. You remove it with a flourish, unveiling a large silver cage that holds a niffler; a small creature with a black, fluffy and rounded body, black beady eyes that sparkle with curiosity, and a bill that can curve ever so slightly into a smile. It isn't curved now - she is too indignant at being shut up in her cage.

"There's my lovely girl," you coo affectionately, slipping a finger between the cage bars to scratch beneath the niffler's bill, to which she closes her eyes and gracefully accepts despite her grouchiness. "Sorry to keep you cooped up, Fifi. I'll let you out on the train."

You look again to the other people and begin pushing the trolley with purpose towards one man in particular, pale with a mop of brown hair, a tailored waistcoat and leaning on a cane with a gold top while he talks animatedly with another man, taller with more tanned skin and also wearing a waistcoat. You move behind the pale man and tap him on the shoulder. "Professor Viktor?"

The man jumps a little, gripping his cane as he turns to you quickly, then relaxes. "Of course it's you." Viktor's voice is soft and quiet, not the way of somebody who was shy but as if he expected people to listen closely. "Who might this be?" he asks, looking over the cage.

"This is Fief - she's gorgeous, isn't she?" you say, looking proudly back at your niffler. It’s smart of Viktor to ask after your pets before you. "The name suits her perfectly, if you were wondering."

"I can imagine," Viktor murmurs, nodding approvingly at Fief who wags her little stump of a tail. Viktor is, of course, perfectly knowledgeable in the field of magical creatures, given he is in charge of teaching Care of Magical Creatures. "And you? You look well. No visible burns or scratches, at the very least."

"No, they've mostly healed," you say nonchalantly. "And you look..."

You recognise your mistake as you regard Viktor properly. His pale skin is more grey than it should be, there are small but noticeable eye bags that make his golden eyes look more sickly than you remember, and while the cane had never made him look worse, he seems to be putting more weight on it.

"You look... Well."

"Still an awful liar," Viktor mutters, rolling his eyes but the corner of his lip quirks upwards in good spirit. His eyes then fall on the other man, who is pretending to admire Fief as you talk, who in turn is admiring his shiny cuffs. "This is Jayce, my associate. You'll get along, he only started teaching at Hogwarts last year."

You turn to Jayce who straightens up as if expecting to be evaluated. "Nice to meet you," you say, smiling. He looks familiar. He can't be that much older than you…

"Yes, it's very good to meet you," says Jayce, stepping forward and holding out a hand. You shake it. "I'm Jayce Talis. I teach charms at Hogwarts." He then flashes a grin and for a moment you're blinded by shiny white teeth. When you recover you notice his golden-flecked eyes which shine much brighter than Viktor's, with a definite vitality about him. There is a nick in one of his eyebrows, but otherwise he was clean-shaven and admittedly handsome.

"I'll bet you do," you mutter, taking back your hand before speaking up properly. "You're already a teacher? You don't seem much older than me."

Jayce grins again, causing you to squint through the bright flash of his teeth. "I've always been interested in progressing quickly. What could lead to more progress than working under Heimerdinger alongside talented witches and wizards, all while teaching the next generation?"

As he talks he holds one hand behind his back and gestures with the other. The way he talks sounds rehearsed.

"That's how he talks," confirms Viktor, examining Fief at a respectful distance through the silver bars.

You nod slowly, smiling politely. "How... Professional."

Jayce's chuckles out of embarrassment as he puts both hands behind his back. "Sorry, I just wanted to make a good first impression. I've just heard a lot about you - you'll be Viktor's new assistant, yes?"

"Yeah, although I think I'll be working in the creature reserve more than helping Viktor with lessons and such." Just the idea of going back to the creature reserve and being allowed to handle all the creatures who live there excites you.

"Really? Sky mostly worked in the library and greenhouses so I thought you'd be doing the same. Aren't you here to… replace her?" enquires Jayce, glancing at Viktor.

"Who?"

"Jayce is twenty-seven, only three years older than you," Viktor cuts in. "He was captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team for his last two years, and Head Boy."

You look over Jayce once again. Now that you think about it he could resemble one of the old Gryffindor team but it was always hard to tell what people looked like under those helmets the teams always wore within games. You'd never been particularly interested in quidditch during your time at school anyway.

"It's beginning to ring a bell..."

A loud, familiar whistle echoes through the sparse platform and the next moment a great red locomotive pulls into the station and comes to a screeching halt, steam billowing from its chimney to flood the air with smoke and warmth. You grab your trolley and steer it towards the train alongside Jayce and Viktor. You're not the first one to reach the door, as you stop behind somebody boarding before you, a tall woman with dark skin, dark hair and a slightly crooked nose. She nods to your group in acknowledgement before hauling her own trolley onto the train.

You board the train next, followed by Viktor who struggles to bring his own trolley on. Jayce pushes the trolley on just as Viktor pulls, sending Viktor and the trolley flying backwards. You hurriedly grab onto the trolley as well to stop Viktor being crushed by his own luggage. He holds one protective hand over a silver trunk, frowning at it.

"You okay?" you ask.

"Yes, yes, fine..." he insists, straightening up. You notice he has put his cane on top of the trolley and he leans on it as he pushes it down the train cars behind you while Jayce follows cautiously behind him.

The train is as large as you remember, and with how few people there will be on board it's easy to find somewhere to sit.

"Let's get one close to the exit. I get motion sickness and I want to get off this thing as soon as I can since I forgot to bring a potion for it," you say, choosing a car only a little down from where you boarded.

Viktor raises an eyebrow at this. "I don't remember you getting sick when you would sneak out of your common room to ride that griffin," he says accusingly, but he slips into the car too. “Careful with that one,” he adds as Jayce lifts the silver trunk up onto the rack above the seats, looking at it wearily.

“Is this one important? It’s lighter than the rest,” Jayce comments.

“They’re all important. That one is just more…” Viktor struggles for the right word, ”difficult.”

You take Fief's cage off of your trolley before putting your own baggage up onto the racks. Jayce takes the trolleys and disappears for a moment, and in his absence you take out your wand.

"Alohomora," you chant softly, and the lock on the cage clicks open. "There. Told you I'd let you out, sweetie."

"A troublemaker?" Viktor muses, leaning back against his seat across from you and resting his cane against the table.

"She's lovely," you praise as she nudges open her cage and scurries out onto your lap, standing up on her little padded feet to poke her little beady eyes over the table top. They fix onto Viktor's shiny waistcoat buttons.

Viktor notices this and moves one hand to cover a few buttons while his other hand rests on the gold top of his cane. "She is trained?"

"We're working on it," you say nonchalantly, running two fingers over Fief's head. Her eyes stay on Viktor even as she leans into the scratches, but they immediately latch onto Jayce as he walks back into the car. You wonder if she's taken in by the shiny cuffs, the shiny buttons on his blazer, or his shiny teeth.

Jayce settles down next to Viktor as a woman walks past the door. Everyone looks up to see an utterly gorgeous woman with black skin and dark hair in a braided bun. Her hair is adorned with shining gold accessories, as is the rest of her - long golden earrings, a golden necklace, a golden ring that flashes as she lifts up her hand to wave lightly at your group, seemingly in slow motion so that her beauty can be appreciated as long as possible. Even her eyes seem to have been afflicted with a golden tint despite being a dark olive green, although you don't get to see if her teeth are as blinding as Jayce's.

Then she's gone, and you have to be the first to snap back to reality to wrap your arms around Fief, who is struggling desperately against you to dart out of the car and after the woman.

"Don't even think about it!" you snap, restraining her as best you can while you scoot across your seat and kick the door shut. "Who was that?!"

"That was Miss Mel Medarda," says Viktor gravely as he elbows Jayce, bringing him out of some kind of trance. "She is our transfiguration teacher."

"Is her jewellery covered in charms? Is she covered in charms?"

"No, she really is just that beautiful," Jayce sighs, tearing his eyes from the door and instead looking at Fief as she is still trying to wiggle free from your arms. "Trust me, you will never get used to it."

"'Working on it' you say?" Viktor looks between Fief and Jayce's cuffs.

You look down at Fief, frowning. "Stop squirming or you're going back in the cage."

She stops almost at once, but lets out a displeased squeak. When you loosen your arms she slips out of your lap and curls up in the corner of the seat.

"Dramatic, aren't we?" you say dryly.

Fief sulks in the corner as more people pass the car, and soon the train begins to move. You lean back against the seat and face the window, grinning as the train pulls out of the station and soon familiar country-side scenery begins to fly past. You look with nostalgic pleasure as you pass lakes, fields and trees you never thought to remember in the last few years.

"I never really thought I'd be able to go back," you confess, idly reaching out to run your fingers over Fief's fur. She snickers at first, but you feel her move around beneath your hand until you're stroking her stomach. "I've been to Hogsmeade a few times but..."

"You know you'd always have a home at Hogwarts," says Viktor. "You haven't been a student for years but you certainly left your mark. I know Heimerdinger remembers you."

"He probably remembers the dinosaurs."

"How long will you be at Hogwarts for?" Jayce asks. "Are you just here for a term, a whole year, or something more permanent?"

You lean an elbow on the table and rest your chin in your palm. "I'm not sure yet. I want to stay for at least a year but really it's up to Viktor. I'm only going because he asked me to."

Jayce looks over at Viktor, who avoids his eyes. "Is it until Sky is found?"

"Whose Sky?" you ask. Jayce frowns and Viktor chooses this moment to become very interested in the state of his shoes. "Was she your assistant before me?"

"Yes," says Viktor slowly. "I mentioned in my letters she recently became unavailable."

Jayce gawks at Viktor. "Don't tell me that's all you wrote! Does she know-"

Before you can ask more questions the door to the train car slides open, revealing two figures standing in the doorway. One is a skinny man with deathly pale skin, worse than Viktor, with one regular blue eye and the other blacked out with a fiery orange iris. His nose is crooked and his hair is black with a few faint white strands, and he wears a black and red coat with golden buttons that both emphasises him and makes him seem a little smaller. He stands straight but relaxed with his hands folded behind his back. Yet somehow this apparent machiavellian character isn't who holds your attention.

Standing behind this man is a taller woman, with dark skin and short dark hair partially pulled back. She has a large build that is poorly disguised by a red poncho, but otherwise she is dressed in earthy brown trousers and boots both adorned by copper that glints with the sunlight pouring in through the train window.

Her eyes are what draw your attention, a sharp contrasting grey that suits her serious expression. For a brief moment they fall on you.

"Professor Viktor, Jayce, I hope you're well?" the man began courteously. You swallow down a comment along the lines of 'look at him, it's amazing he was even let on to the train'. The man too seems to realise this mishap and moves on before he can get an answer. "Excuse us for jumping to business so quickly, but..."

Viktor tiredly waves a hand. "I have what you need, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. The journey always tires me..."

"Professors," Jayce says, standing up quite smoothly for somebody on a moving train and gesturing to you. "I don't suppose you've met Viktor's new assistant?"

The figures look to you, taking you in properly. Then the man steps forward and extends a hand to you. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss, Viktor mentioned you were coming."

You hesitate before taking his hand and shaking it. It’s uncomfortably cold, and you can feel the bones. "It's nice to meet you, Professor...?"

"Silco," he says, taking his hand away and putting it behind his back. "I teach Potions at Hogwarts. I've been working closely with Viktor for about four years now."

He moves to one side and the woman steps forward. She slips a hand out from under her poncho and shakes yours. It feels coarse, like she's used to getting her hands dirty. Warm too.

"Sevika," she says curtly. Her voice is deep, rough even. "Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts."

You nod before introducing yourself, and look at Sevika carefully as her hand falls back to her side. "Have you... been a teacher for long?"

"Four years this year." Sevika's eyes search you sceptically, before she steps back.

"I take it she'll be Sky's replacement?" Silco seems to give the question great care as he addresses Viktor and Jayce rather than you. Jayce opens his mouth but stops himself from saying anything, instead glancing at Viktor.

"She is my assistant for this year and the foreseeable future," says Viktor slowly, "but she won't be doing Sky's work. She's working in the Creature Reserve for the most part."

"What? I don't suppose-"

"No," Viktor cuts Silco off, "Absolutely not."

Sevika narrows her eyes. "But she'll be working closely with you? Viktor, do you understand how... Difficult that could make things?"

You're quickly growing sick of people talking about you like you're not in the room, even with them speaking so delicately as if there's something they don't want you to hear. You clear your throat and everybody turns to you as if they've forgotten you're there, despite you being the topic of discussion. "I'll mostly be helping Viktor with taking care of creatures, sometimes with lessons, and probably looking after him if he gets ill. Don't argue, you're a mess," you say before Viktor can make a comment. "I can help out with other stuff too, if you need it."

Everybody must realise your displeasure at being left out of the conversation. Jayce and Viktor at least have the grace to look embarrassed about it.

"Excuse us for being so rude, miss," Silco apologises to you. "We have other matters to attend to - we'll see you when we get off the train. Have a nice journey." With that, Silco and Sevika leave the train car, and Sevika shuts the door behind them.

"Other matters to attend to," you repeat sulkily. "We're on a train, what could they have to do right now?"

"They're busy people," says Jayce simply, sitting back down and leaning forward toward you. "I won't lie, they can be..."

"Fucking terrifying?"

"I was going to say rude, but yes, that too," Jayce admits. "Some friendly advice: don't piss them off. Silco's head of Slytherin house for good reason. He can make deadly poisons easily if he wanted to, especially since he's close with Singed-"

"Singed?" You perk up. "He still teaches?"

"I know, right? He looks worse than Viktor, but he's still going strong." Viktor rolls his eyes and slouches against the window as Jayce continues. "Anyway, Silco is scary enough but Sevika could crush you like a bug. She used to be a professional dueller and ran a duelling club for a year. They're two people you don't want to get on the wrong side of."

You give a low whistle, leaning your head back on your seat. "I'll try to keep that in mind. I'd better keep this little one out of their way so she doesn't cause trouble..." you murmur, reaching over to run a hand over Fief once more.

Your hand moves through empty air and lands on the seat. You glance down at Fief, wondering if she's moved positions, but to your horror she isn't there. You check her cage in case she’s wandered back in, then your lap, then down at the floor, up at the luggage racks, at the buttons on Jayce and Viktor's waistcoats - no niffler.

"Do either of you know where Fief went?" you ask hopefully. Jayce and Viktor start looking around, with Jayce looking in what few nooks and crannies a train compartment can hold while Viktor goes for the more practical method of checking anything that gleams.

"She can't have gotten far," Jayce insists with the confidence of a man who is wondering if Fief has climbed out of the window and been taken by the wind, never to be seen again.

"She absolutely can," Viktor corrects unhelpfully, his gaze also wandering over to the window.

You ignore them, knowing Fief is sneaky but not that sneaky, and to your dismay realise the car door is now ajar; you were certain you'd seen Sevika shut it properly.

"Shit," you groan, getting up out of your seat and pushing the door further to step out into the corridor. At first, the distance you might have to cover to find Fief daunts you, but then you hear a yell only a few cars down and are both relieved and mortified when you realise where she's gone. You rush down the corridor to where the yell came from, and are guided by another shout to the car you're looking for. You fling open the door and are greeted by a bizarre sight.

Silco, who only minutes ago had seemed so calm and controlled, is leaning back in his seat with his hair slightly dishevelled and his coat has clearly taken some damage as some of the copper buttons appear to have been ripped off, and he is looking with disgust up at Sevika, who is standing up and has Fief by the scruff of her neck, shaking her to try and get her to drop whatever was in her bill.

"That's two fucking galleons, you little shit!" Sevika hisses at Fief, who squeaks in terror as she is shaken even harder

You force yourself to stop gawking and hurry forward, quickly snatching Fief from Sevika's grasp. You squeeze a spot on the back of her neck that causes Fief to let out some peculiar quacking noises and her bill opens up, dropping some galleons and copper buttons.

"Merlin's sake, Fief!" you snap at her, hugging her close to your chest to keep her from going for round two, but she seems literally shaken up. You crouch down and clumsily gather up Fief's loot with one hand and stand up again to face a bewildered Sevika. "I'm so sorry, she's not usually this badly behaved - well she is, but we're working on it, I took my eyes off her for a second-"

Sevika holds up a hand to stop you from blabbering on. "It's yours then? Why wasn't it in a cage or something if it's not trained?"

You feel your cheeks heat up in embarrassment under her accusing stare, her grey eyes stormy as she looms over you. "She doesn't like her cage that much. I just- I wanted to let her out until we got to Hogsmeade. I'm really sorry for the trouble she's caused."

"You," says Sevika sharply, pointing to Silco's ruined coat, "are going to cover the cost for that. It's the least you can do." You nod, trying not to look down at your feet in shame. "And put that oversized rat back in its cage where it clearly belongs." At this you hum non-committedly, hoping Sevika interprets it as agreement. From the way she narrows her eyes though, you decide it might be smarter to comply.

A series of footsteps can be heard coming down both sides of the corridor. You glance over your shoulder to see Jayce appearing in the doorway, shortly followed by Viktor who had hurriedly grabbed his cane, and your heart sinks a little when you see the dark haired woman who you'd let board ahead of you earlier appear in the doorway too, frowning. This was not the first impression you'd wanted to make.

"Is something the matter?" the woman asks, her dark eyes surveying the mess.

"It's my fault," you say awkwardly, turning to hold up Fief a little for the woman to see. "I, er, wasn't keeping a close eye on her."

By now Silco has fixed his hair and straightened his coat, still managing to make it look civilised despite its current state. "It's already handled, Grayson, don't trouble yourself. We can figure out the details later," he says coldly as he glares at you.

You feel like shrinking down into a hole, but instead you offer up another quick apology before leaving the compartment alongside Jayce and Viktor, face burning as you bury it in Fief's fur.

Fief must sense how much trouble she's in as she doesn't cause a fuss when she's carried back to the train car and put back in her cage without a single treasure, where she curls up so she's facing away from you.

"Feeling guilty? You should," you mutter, but you know she's not entirely to blame.

"So much for not pissing off Silco and Sevika," Jayce sighs, flopping down after Viktor takes his seat by the window.

"I really am sorry," you say again, bowing your head to Viktor. You were his assistant now - hopefully this wouldn't reflect poorly on him.

Viktor shrugs. "I'm sure they'll forget about it after you pay Silco back. I think they're mature enough not to hold grudges."

You sigh and lean back, resting an elbow on top of Fief's cage. To think you'd started off the day so enthusiastic, and you had already made yourself look like an idiot. But, looking down at Fief, you're reminded you have strengths. You can prove that this is a one-off, no problem. There was plenty of time to change Silco and Sevika’s minds.

Especially Sevika. She looks like she could crush you without even using a wand. Hopefully you can win her over quickly.

The train pulls into Hogsmeade station and soon you're helping Viktor down the step onto the platform despite his unconvincing protests. Jayce brings out the trolleys for your luggage and while Viktor scolds Jayce for nearly dropping the silver trunk you place Fief's cage right at the top of your own trolley. You consider letting her ride on your shoulder for the remainder of the journey despite her earlier behaviour since she'd spent so long in it now.

But then Mel Medarda gracefully descends from the train and you get a glimpse of what appears to be golden heels. For a second you're reminded of an especially high-maintenance dragon hoard. You quickly snap out of it when you see Sevika get off the train after her, casting a disdainful glance in your direction. Fief will be fine for another hour.

Jayce leads the way off the platform, and you grin as you walk out of the train station on the familiar outskirts of Hogsmeade, a row of shops closed for the evening while you can tell by the noise within the Three Broomsticks that the evening is just beginning. Despite your previous visits here it still feels wonderfully nostalgic to have come here on the Hogwarts Express - and arriving just as the sun was beginning to set, just like when you were a student.

"I remember you wanted to live in Hogsmeade," says Viktor as you all make your way down a path that will lead to your next means of travel to the castle, away from town. "You wanted to live close to Hogwarts so you could fly over to the reserve whenever you wanted."

"Still do sometimes," you admit, smiling softly. "I was going to come over all the time and build all the creatures' houses out of the trees. Can't believe I kept that up until I was fourteen."

"That's not bad. I was convinced I'd be playing quidditch professionally when I was seventeen," Jayce chuckles. "Although I'm sure a lot of kids thought the same. Charms was the last thing on my mind, let alone teaching it."

"I thought you were all about progress, and that working with the next generation was the best way to do that or something?"

"Well that wasn't at the forefront of my mind ten years ago."

You round a corner and gasp in delight. "Oh, the thestrals! I completely forgot!"

Four carriages have been drawn up to carry the few passengers up to the castle as well as their luggage, very different from the small army of them you remember being arranged for six years worth of students. But you're distracted by more important matters - for the very first time you can see the creatures tethered to the carriages, ready to pull them. Four pale horses with skeletal bodies and wide, leathery bat-like wings stomp their feet lightly but impatiently, ready to be on their way, one to each carriage. As you move up a little closer to them, just enough to still keep some distance, you admire the reptilian features of their faces.

"Not too close!" Viktor calls after you, and you realise in your excitement you've gone up ahead of the group. You turn around and give a dismissive wave to him - even you know better than to get too cosy with a creature you're not used to handling.

Jayce catches up with you first. "You can see them?" he asks.

"I can now. Back when I was younger I was always whining because I couldn't."

He sighs as he loads his luggage up onto the closest carriage. "I'm the only staff member who can't see them. I used to think my classmates were playing a trick on me every year."

You jump as you feel something touch your shoulder and spin to see Viktor. "You see them now?" he enquires, asking another question entirely.

"Yeah… Accident with a Ukrainian Ironbelly," you say quietly. He nods in understanding and pats your shoulder, before letting Jayce haul his precious luggage up onto the carriage and help him up onto another.

You join Viktor in the front carriage but before Jayce can get in, Mel Medarda approaches him.

"I don't think I've had the chance to say hello to you yet, Jayce," she says, her voice smooth like honey.

"Med- Mel, it's good to see you," Jayce stutters, but he sticks the landing. "Come ride with us, we can catch up. Can I help you up?"

Mel graciously accepts Jayce's hand and he helps her onto the carriage. She sits across from you and Viktor, and a moment later Jayce sits next to her. She turns her dark olive eyes on you curiously.

"I don't believe we've met. Mel Medarda," she says, extending a delicate hand to you.

You shake her hand, surprised to find it so firm, and introduce yourself. Then you squint at Mel in consideration as her name sounds vaguely familiar. "Do I know you from somewhere?"

Mel smiles a little wider and shakes her head. "I doubt we'd have run into each other before." She shoots a glance at Jayce, who had opened his mouth but found himself closing it again under her gaze.

"You teach transfiguration, right? How long have you been teaching?" She couldn't be that much older than you, but surely you'd remember someone as mesmerising as her at school, no matter how much you kept to yourself.

"I started working here as an assistant about six years ago, but I've been officially teaching for the last four years. Hogwarts was not where I'd expected to end up, but I think it's the best decision I've ever made. I was happy when Jayce joined the staff last year," she adds. You pretend not to notice the nervous tapping of Jayce’s fingers against the side of the carriage. "It's nice having somebody closer to my age around."

"So you were never a student at Hogwarts?" you press, leaning forward in intrigue.

"Oh no, I could never have gone to Hogwarts. Mothers and wanting the best for their children - you know how it is," she sighs dismissively. You grimace and nod, surprised to find common ground with this woman so quickly. "Enough about me - it's nice to have a new face with us, even under the circumstances. The last year was of course rather hectic, but hopefully we'll get a peaceful start."

"Circumstances?" you begin, but at that moment Jayce chokes on a laugh he isn’t able to suppress. "What's so funny?"

Jayce raises his hands up in defence. "I feel like we're past the point of a 'peaceful start'. Especially after what happened on the train."

"Oh, what was all that fuss about?" Mel asks as you once more feel the blood rush to your face and sink down slightly in your seat. "I heard something from Grayson but she wouldn't go into detail. She never likes to gossip."

"My niffler, uh, got in a bit of trouble with Sevika," you offer vaguely.

Viktor offers you another sympathetic pat on the shoulder before embarrassing the hell out of you. "She let her niffler out of its cage, and it followed Sevika and Silco to their car. It went for Silco's buttons and I believe it even went after Sevika's galleons."

Even Mel's laugh sounds gilded as she holds a hand up to her mouth but makes no effort to stifle herself, more as a polite gesture than anything else. "Sevika? Of all people?" She shakes her head and looks at you in a mixture of wonder and bewilderment. "Did you come here with a death wish? I hope you told Viktor first, he'll be needing another assistant."

"Another assistant like Sky?" you say, crossing your arms. It was time you knew about this mystery assistant.

The mention of this Sky has the same effect as somebody putting a cold hand on everyone else's shoulders. Jayce looks down at the floor of the carriage whilst Viktor looks at the passing trees. Mel looks at you oddly before turning her sharp gaze to Viktor.

"You did tell her about Sky, didn't you? Didn't you?" Mel demands, aghast.

"I told her I was in need of an assistant," Viktor says plainly as though it should be obvious he's done no wrong, but you see him fiddling nervously with the gold handle of his cane.

"For goodness sake..." Mel rolls her eyes. "Nobody told you the poor girl is missing?"

Your mouth drops open and you turn slowly to Viktor. "No, I think I might've skimmed that part of the letter," you say icily, "because nobody in their right mind would leave out such an important tidbit of information, would they?" Victor sheepishly puts a hand on the back of his neck as you and Mel stare him down in disbelief.

"I'm sure Viktor just... forgot?" Jayce suggests weakly.

"Rubbish." You huff and cross one leg over the other. "But if he did, I'm sure he can jog his memory enough to fill me in on the details now that I'm here."

The fuss being made in your carriage seems to have caught the attention of the other carriage a little way behind yours, as past Mel and Jayce you notice the woman with the deep voice and Sevika eyeing your group. Viktor notices too and leans forward, speaking quietly enough so everyone else leans in too to listen to him better.

"Sky was my previous assistant, although she handled things like paperwork and detentions more than the work I'm hoping you'll do with the creature reserve. Since I'm getting more... Delicate, I figured it would be best if I started handling the less physically demanding jobs," Viktor rambles, before Mel clears her throat and he returns to the point. "Sky was my assistant for two and a half years, but halfway through the previous school year she- she went missing. There was no trace of where she went, or that she was planning to leave. The idea of a break in at Hogwarts is an alarming one. We've - the staff - we've investigated and even had the ministry of magic come in to help."

Jayce huffs and Mel's nose wrinkles in displeasure at the mention of the ministry of magic. You feel your shoulders sag at the mention of them too. They'd never directly interfered with Hogwarts but in the last few years they had become more active, more invasive of outside organisations and more negligent of their own practices. A weight settles in your stomach at the idea of the ministry finding excuses to get their grubby boots past Hogwarts' castle doors, but you can't blame the staff calling for help in such an odd situation.

"Did somebody break in?" you ask tentatively, not believing it to be possible.

"There was no sign of a break in anywhere. We searched the castle top to bottom, I even led searches into the forbidden forest. There was... Nothing. Nothing of her..."

A heavy, mournful silence hangs in the air. You don't look at Viktor but you want to, surprised at how choked up he sounds. It's not that he's never been sentimental. On the contrary, his passion for bettering lives for magical creatures and finding new ways to ingratiate them better into the magical world instead of wizards continuing to hunt them or only keep them as pets that they barely know how to care for always inspired you to work harder, to love all sorts of magical critters just a little bit more. Seeing him sentimental over somebody you'd never had a chance to meet shouldn't be strange.

Maybe it was the utter loss with which he said it. There had always been some direction with Viktor, some certainty he could grasp to turn a situation on its head or just whittle it down, realistic or not. But now he sounded as though he was at a crossroads without signs, and all the paths had been buried under heavy rocks.

"The students noticed, of course," Viktor continued heavily. "We said she'd had to go home for an emergency, but then the Daily Prophet must have gotten a leak from somebody in the ministry less than a month after Sky was declared missing. Copies came to Hogwarts and students found out, as did their parents and everybody else. Well, I'd hoped not everyone..."

A sliver of understanding shows in your eyes. "I couldn't read the Daily Prophet. We were stationed too far out."

"Pardon?" says Mel.

"I wrote him a letter a bit over two years ago," you say slowly, putting the pieces together as you go. "I told him I'd landed a temporary job as a dragon caretaker on a far out island. The distance wasn't really the problem," you continue, misunderstanding Mel and Jayce's gawking, "it's just that these dragons in particular were so big and dangerous that you legally couldn't get close enough without approved qualifications and clearance to handle or at the very least have a fundamental understanding and past experience with dragons. We got the Daily Prophet maybe once every two or three months, and letters were also hard to get. So I was really surprised when Viktor managed to get one to me."

Under your accusatory glare, Viktor finally crumbles.

"Yes, I had hoped you hadn't seen the papers. Nobody else would agree to take over Sky's position," he admits begrudgingly. "But really, I am glad you took the position. Even if circumstances had been different, I know you're capable, and I was thinking it would be good to have you at Hogwarts again."

"You..." There's a tense pause. "Somebody went missing, and you thought now was the best time to invite me back? Did you not think- I mean, if something dangerous is going on at Hogwarts..."

Viktor shrugs. "Danger always seemed to suit you well. You had a bad habit of walking up to it and sticking your tongue out. But please..." He rests his cane against the side of the carriage and puts a hand on your shoulder. It's not frail, but not firm as you remember it being when he would do the same while scolding or encouraging you. "Please know that I- there are people here that can keep you safe. You're capable, I know that. Nothing will befall you here at Hogwarts. If anything, I feel my students would be safer with you around."

It's nice to hear but you'd have preferred to be told something like this without the context. You glance at Viktor's hand, noting how the veins are easier to see with how pale he's gotten and how it's easier to look at than his face at the moment.

"You're goddamn lucky to have me here," you finally grumble, shrugging off his hand and turning to the trees.

You feel his hand withdraw. "Yes, I think so," he murmurs.

Mel and Jayce act as respectfully as they can during this exchange, checking their shoes and Jayce's watch and looking everywhere but at you and Viktor, pretending they're not paying attention. Now, Mel smiles as the forest seems to suddenly drop away as the thestrals pull the carriage through the thicket, and for a moment you forget about this new development and perk up.

It's as beautiful as you remember it. The crescent moon hangs high in the sky and the soft moonlight makes the dark waters below shimmer and enchant you. Across the water you see the castle, perched upon an enormous hill, its dark silhouette wonderfully familiar. In the past when you would be taken here the windows would all be lit with candle light, torches in the hallways or fireplaces, but now without anybody being there it's hauntingly black, beautifully so. You lean your elbow on the side of the carriage and tilt your head as you take it all in.

"I'm lucky to be here," you say quietly, earning a small chuckle from Viktor.

The rest of the journey seems to pass in a haze. Feeling truly like you're home despite having not even stepped through the front door, you rest your eyes for the remainder, letting them flicker open now and again to pay attention to what somebody else is saying or to check how much closer you've gotten.

At long last the carriages pull to halt. The thestrals don't seem to be acting under anyone's instructions. How familiar they must be with this job. You wonder if these very thestrals once pulled your carriage as a student. Had Viktor been the one to care for them? You don't remember seeing them in the reserve - well of course you wouldn't have. How were they fed consistently if most people couldn't see them? Did they hunt for themselves most of the time? Did they have a place at the reserve, or were they rented out for journeys to and back from the castle? They're usually solitary creatures if you recall so it's surprising that they'd be used-

"You can see them later," says Viktor sternly, shaking your shoulder to snap you out of your quiet analysis. "I'll tell you whatever you want to know. Not now," he adds quickly when you open your mouth. "Tomorrow. It's been a long day."

Jayce, the first out of the carriage, hands you down to the ground and does the same with Mel which takes a little longer. Viktor taps his cane impatiently before Jayce helps him down too.

"It's nice that he's such a gentleman, don't you think?" you suggest to Mel. Jayce seemed like he'd appreciate being talked up to her just a little.

"It is," she says simply. "He’s a nice presence. A bit like a dog."

Ah. You don't know what to make of that, and instead wait with her for the people in the other carriage to join you. Grayson dismounts first, followed by Sevika who turns to hand Silco down, as well as the man behind him.

You grin in recognition. "I knew it was him!" Your face falls when the man turns a little and you get a better look at his face. "Oh..."

Mel taps your shoulder to get your attention. "Better not to stare. Although I don't think he'd really care if you do."

Getting older was one thing, but seeing so many faces from the past being so much worse for wear has you worried about the state Heimerdinger will be in.

"Must be something in the air," you murmur, glancing back at Viktor as he walks over to join the man. When Viktor gestures to you, you straighten up quickly and walk over.

The man puts a hand to his chin as he inspects you. It's hard to tell if he's smiling beneath his pulled up mask. He's tall, not limping or slouched as you might expect from a man who must be over seventy years old. He's lost the last of his hair, and you guess one of his explosions must have blown up in his face. Literally; half his face is scarred a red-ish colour, and the eye on that side is a decayed yellowed-white, completely blind. But despite this, you hope his mind is as sharp as ever.

"I wondered if I'd ever be seeing you again," says Professor Singed. His voice has become more gravelly. "Good to see you haven't been eaten."

"I always thought I'd be eaten too, but Viktor said it would be from losing an arm."

"You can live with one arm. You can live with only one organic limb or less if you try, without the assistance of magic. Muggles do it all the time. But it's nice to know that so far you've been careful with the ones you already have."

"There's been a few close calls." You tear your eyes from Singed's face, privately considering how well the name suits him now, and focus on his tattered brown coat. You'd only ever been able to imagine Singed lingering in the castle's greenhouses, the dungeons or the potions classroom. Arriving at the school at the same time as him meant he probably couldn't live year round at Hogwarts, which even as an adult is hard to wrap your head around.

Singed nods as though he'd expected such an answer, when the last carriage pulls up with everybody's luggage. Sevika is the first to get there and begins moving baggage onto the ground for people to get to more easily. You raise an eyebrow as Viktor goes up to her and she leans down to hear him as he whispers something in her ear. Then she straightens up and scans the collection of suitcases and bags before reaching over and grabbing the silver case. When she moves it, she groans as you gasp in delight.

"Oh, Fief!" You hurry over to the carriage as Sevika puts the silver case at Viktor's feet. You turn to her eagerly. "Could you get her down for me?"

Sevika frowns but grabs the cage, handling it with less care than she did the suitcase, and shoves it into your arms. You barely notice as you coo at Fief affectionately through the bars as though it had been a week since you'd last seen her rather than an hour and a half.

"You'll get used to it," Viktor assures Sevika. Sevika rolls her eyes and starts hauling more bags off of the carriage.

Fief graciously allows you to scratch beneath her bill despite being stuck in her cage for most of the journey, possibly knowing it was partially her fault, and you put her cage up on top of your two trunks. As you check over Fief to make sure she hasn't been too upset by her uncomfortable arrangements, another woman comes up behind you.

"Viktor's new assistant, yes?"

You turn suddenly at the deep and gravelly voice. "That's me. Grayson?" you guess.

Grayson nods. She stands tall with her back straight and both hands behind it, looking down at you as if inspecting you. "For now, your room is going to be down in the dungeons near the Slytherin common room. They like to have teachers stay where their old houses align."

"Okay, that makes sense." You look up at Grayson thoughtfully, wondering what house she might have been in. "What do you mean 'for now'? Do you think I'm going to be moved?"

"Viktor talked to me on the station platform back in Kings' Cross, before you arrived, but I believe he wants to tell you himself. For now, don't unpack properly in case you end up being moved elsewhere."

You glance over at Viktor, who is watching Jayce like a hawk as he charms the silver case to join a group of floating luggage to be taken to their rooms. "He's just full of surprises today," you mutter.

Next to you, Fief begins squeaking quietly as her beady eyes settle on Grayson, who frowns back at her. "Does it... Like me?" she asks.

"I think she likes your pin," you say, noting how the gold pin on Grayson's chest gives a vague glimmer even in the moonlight. "Have you not seen nifflers before?"

"I have, but I don't have much experience with these sorts of creatures. I have an owl, but otherwise I have little interest."

You nod but keep your face turned from Grayson when she says this. Of course it would be silly to judge somebody for not having the same interests as you, but you know you can't keep the distaste out of your expression. Not everybody cared much for magical creatures, and rarely did you find somebody who found them as amazing as you did, but it had never rubbed you the right way. How could anybody not find magical creatures, in all their different forms, qualities and quirks, at all interesting?

Maybe if people took a little more interest, creatures wouldn't be used for half as much dirty work. After finding out where the thestrals are kept, you decide you ought to drop off a few treats.

"I saw the mess it made in Silco and Sevika's car this morning too..." Grayson continued.

"That was my fault, she hasn't had a chance to be properly trained yet," you say quickly, putting a protective hand over Fief's cage. "She won't cause any more hassle."

Fief's eyeing of Grayson's pin doesn't seem to convince her, but she lets it go and walks off towards Mel. You hear them strike up a conversation as you grab Fief's cage in one hand and take out your wand in the other.

"Wingardium Leviosa," you murmur, and your trunks float up into the air where the wand points. You couldn't float Fief of course, just in case you tipped the cage too much. Then she'd really give you the cold shoulder - no tummy scratches for a couple days perhaps, unless you gave her a little present. "Come on, trouble," you whisper to her sweetly.

Everyone begins making their way into the castle, and once more you relish how the nostalgia seems to fill you from top to bottom. Somebody waves their wand and the torches in the long corridor flare up, and your footsteps echo on the stone floor. You walk past the grand door that leads into the great hall, excited at the prospect of a filling dinner later after the long journey. You pass the large trophy case displaying the last few years of Hogwarts quidditch history, something you decide to get a better look at later once you’ve settled down a little.

You turn a corner, then walk through an archway, and keep walking as you look up to continue admiring your surroundings. The dozens of random staircases above you don't register until you've got one foot off the ledge. You let out a strangled noise and something grabs the back of your collar and roughly pulls you back to safety. Fief lets out a startled squeak at the sudden motion.

"Thanks-" you start before being cut off.

"Watch where you're going. Did you not go to school here?"

You scowl back at Sevika as if she hadn't just saved you masses of broken bones. You'd have had to spend the night in the infirmary on your very first night, but that idea doesn’t tick you off nearly as much as her disapproving glare does. "It's been a while, I forgot." Fief lets out another disgruntled squeak and you’re reminded of the chaos she caused Sevika earlier. “Sorry,” you add quietly.

A staircase that leads upwards twists around and connects to the ledge. Mel, Jayce, Grayson and Viktor make their way up, with Jayce masterfully charming all their luggage into a bubble above them.

"See you at dinner everyone," Mel calls back. You offer a small wave and hang back with the rest of the group, observing the other moving stairs and preferring to reassure Fief after her fright rather than interact with your group. Silco and Sevika likely weren't interested in chatting, and Singed always seemed to prefer quiet company after pleasantries had been exchanged.

It's not long before the staircase moves away and is replaced by another, this one leading downwards. Sevika takes the lead, her wand pointing upwards to hold up luggage belonging to her and Silco. You're happy to hang behind the group as you descend down more and more staircases, the echoes of your footsteps getting louder until you reach the very bottom.

The dungeons are about as lovely as you remember - dark, dank, and slightly damp. You shiver and speed up , appreciating the warmth that comes from the torches mounted to the walls that Silco sets alight as he passes them, but slow down again when you pass the potions classroom door. You almost stop to peek inside, but decide against it - it's probably even colder in there.

It's a relief when you step into the Slytherin common room, with the large fireplace already lit. The warmth stretches as far as it can in such dreary conditions, but the light reveals two sofas and a coffee table in front of the fireplace, a long table off to the side with chairs set neatly around it, a desk in the corner. Green flags depicting silver snakes are hung high up on the walls, barely illuminated by the fire.

"Seven years," you mutter, unsure whether to look upon your surroundings with fondness or disappointment, "and still no bloody furniture."

Maybe now that you were being paid to be here you could buy another armchair or rug. Silco takes over the lead through the common room to the dormitories. Three corridors - two led to the student's boys and girls dorms, the third was the teacher's. A knot of dread forms in your stomach as you walk down this hallway. Were teachers able to get their own rooms or did they have to share like the students did? Obviously you wouldn't be made to room with Silco or Singed, but the idea of spending the next year in the same bedroom as Sevika is daunting.

If you weren't bringing Fief it might not have been so bad. Sevika seemed intimidating but so far all her frustrations towards you had been reasonable - she just needs to get past her first impression of you. All you had to do was pay Silco back for the ruined coat, apologise again to both victims, and train Fief as fast as possible before she ends up raiding Sevika's luggage.

The corridor breaks off into two different directions. Sevika manoeuvres her wand to lower the bags onto the floor, and holds two of them out to Silco.

"We'll meet up in twenty minutes for dinner," says Silco, sliding back his sleeve and checking a bronze watch that gets Fief trembling, before taking his suitcases and disappearing down the right corridor with Singed.

Left alone with Sevika, you walk a little ways behind her as she strides onward, the sound of her heavy boots bouncing off the bare walls. There's no denying she's tall, probably overshadowing other staff members even without the boots, and she certainly has a powerful build. You've glimpsed her biceps, which would come in handy when working with bigger, more stubborn magical creatures. You remember shaking her large hands and feeling the warm roughness of her skin, so she must be used to some level of manual labour which would be ideal…

"This one's yours," Sevika says, bringing you back to reality. You stop next to her in front of a wooden door, looking worn with age but otherwise perfectly fine. You twist the knob and push it open to reveal a small, quaint little room with a neatly made twin bed, a simple rug, a desk and a wardrobe. There's a small fireplace opposite to the bed, not yet lit.

"Oh, good," you sigh, stepping into the room and putting Fief's cage on the desk. "This could be... cosy."

There isn't anything wrong with it on the surface. It's clean - very clean. The rug seems newer than the rest of the furniture.

"Don't get comfortable. Viktor seems to have other plans for where you're going to be staying," says Sevika from the doorway, her grey eyes lingering on Fief disdainfully. "Keep that locked up while you're here."

"Not sure how I feel about everyone being so invested in where I'm sleeping," you mutter as you put your bags down at the foot of the bed. You decide not to do any unpacking until you talk to Viktor - if he didn't want you staying down in the dark and dingy dungeons then all the better.

"Five sickles."

"What?" you turn to Sevika, frowning. "Am I meant to be paying rent?"

"Silco's coat that your pet ruined," Sevika clarified. "It was five sickles. Can you pay now or do you need to wait until your first paycheck?"

Oh, right. You open up a bag and rummage around before producing an old, battered wallet, and opening it up.

"One, two... Three..." you resist groaning and look over your shoulder at Sevika. "It'll have to wait till I get paid, sorry.” Most of your savings were at Gringotts Wizarding Bank. You'd be paid before the term was over and you could stop by Diagon Alley - maybe you should stop by for the next time Fief gets into more trouble.

"Fine." Sevika leaves abruptly, closing the door behind her. Even so you can hear her taking a few more steps down the hallway before another door creaks open and closes.

You practically collapse on the chair next to the desk and reach a finger between the bars to scratch Fief's bill. "You know, I don't think she likes us very much," you whisper to her and chuckle, as if you're both sharing a private joke. You steel yourself to break the news: "We're both paying for that coat by the way. No treats for a week."

Sevika walks past just as you leave your room, but stops in her tracks at the sound of scratching from the other side.

"I'm starving from the journey, aren't you?" you start before she can ask. "They didn't have the trolley with all the sweets."

"That's usually for the students' journey. Is that thing-"

"Oh well, just means more space for the real food." You hurry past Sevika, eager to sidestep her suspicions. Around the corner, Singed and Silco are already waiting.

The group makes their way back through the corridors, through the common room and up the restless stairs. When Singed pushes open the doors to the great hall you feel yourself light up as you take in the long empty tables, the enormous stone fireplace on one side of the room, the ceiling bewitched to look like the night sky…

And at the very end of the hall is the teachers' table, arranged with nine chairs. Mel, Jayce, Viktor and Grayson had arrived earlier and were now talking amongst themselves. You make your way up to the table and slide into the chair next to Viktor, right at the end.

"Didn't know my sleeping arrangements were so high on your list of priorities."

"Don't be upset, you'll like this," Viktor assures you. "I can't arrange it myself, so I'll have to ask Heimerdinger when he arrives tomorrow."

"I did think it was weird he wasn't here, but I assumed he was just going to make his own way here somehow. Is he that busy?"

Viktor chuckles. "No, there is an opera happening tonight that he simply had to attend."

You blink at Viktor expectantly as he looks down at his golden goblet which he hasn't even touched. "So...?" you press.

"Oh, yes. I was going to ask him if you'd be able to take up residence in the old groundskeeper's hut, closer to the creature reserve than the castle is." The silence that follows his statement causes him to look up at you, concerned. "Is that alright?"

You shake your head, rendered temporarily speechless. But as this sinks in you break into a grin, stars in your eyes. "You're my favourite teacher ever."

"I'm not your teacher."

"... Coworker?"

Suddenly the table is filled with platters of delicious looking meats, vegetables and sweet treats. You quickly help yourself, filling up your plate with delicacies. All the excitement of the day has distracted you from your empty stomach, which now growls demandingly.

"Merlin, I've missed this," you say blissfully before dutifully shovelling food into your mouth.

"Me too," sighs Jayce, sitting on the other side of Viktor. "I've been eating sandwiches in my study over the summer for lunch and dinner. The family always invites me to supper but I worry I’d make it uncomfortable, seeing as I’m basically an outsider.

"Jayce is being sponsored by the Kiramman family," Mel explains, seeing you raise an eyebrow. "A rather wealthy family who have been letting Jayce stay with them for a long time. They've even given him his own study, so I’m unsure why he insists that he’s such an outsider to them. Perhaps you've heard of them?"

You finish chewing and wipe your mouth with a napkin. "The Kirammans? Not to doubt your abilities, but what are they doing investing in a charms teacher?"

"Their daughter, Caitlyn Kiramman, attends school here," Jayce answers, poking at his roast chicken with his fork. "Her parents are paying me for private tutoring at home and at Hogwarts. She's a bright girl, super talented, and honestly she doesn't even need tutoring. But I can tell her heart isn't in it. She's smart and she's great at charms, but she's more interested in other subjects."

"Well why don't her parents look into tutoring for those other subjects?"

"They think charms is the most appropriate subject for her. They don't think flying or potions is as impressive as charms or transfiguration."

You grimace at this and quietly go back to stuffing yourself. The clinking of silver cutlery and idle chatter from the table somehow fills the enormous space of the hall, playfully bouncing off the walls in a way that warms you. Viktor gives you a sympathetic glance before taking your mind off of miss Caitlyn Kiramman in the worst way.

"I don't suppose you've apologised to Silco and Sevika yet?"

"Sort of," you murmur between bites. Sensing his expectation, you swallow and clear your throat. "I can't pay Silco back for the coat yet, I want to apologise to him properly when I get paid. I can try apologising to Sevika again after dinner. Or maybe after I move into the hut and Fief isn't around..." You perk up at the idea. "Am I forbidden from keeping pets in the hut? And if I'm not, is there a limit?"

"Before I can even begin to drill into you that you cannot keep dragons or whatever else in your hut just because you wouldn't be in the castle," Victor begins sternly, "I highly encourage you to sincerely apologise to those two, pay whatever compensation they're asking for, and then stay out of their way. Silco is an excellent potions teacher, but he hates to be distracted or inconvenienced. Sevika is probably the best Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had, and she's even qualified to duel. Of all the teachers here, I'd hate to see you make an enemy of them."

You hunch your shoulders, guilty at having worried Viktor. You glance along the table, accidentally meeting Sevika's grey eyes and looking down again quickly. It feels like being a silly teenager again who's worried your teacher is going to check the homework you haven't done.

"I'll make an effort," you promise Viktor, straightening up with new resolve. "Seriously, I'm going to work hard here. I'm glad you invited me here. Even if it was because your last assistant disappeared under mysterious circumstances and nobody else would take the job."

"How sweet," Viktor responds sarcastically, but pats your hand gently. "I'm sure you'd have found your way back here eventually."

You flop down onto your bed, rubbing your now full stomach. Fief scurries up beside you and tucks herself comfortably into your arms in greeting.

"Sorry I didn't save you anything, lovely," you whisper to her apologetically, "but rules are rules. I'll start getting you something after the week is up."

The niffler snickers and slips from your arms, hopping off the bed to explore the room further. You get up again and grab your battered wallet off the desk, offering a knut out for her to play with. Fief takes it in her little claws, sniffing and inspecting it, before deciding it will do better as a toy rather than a worthy start to a new hoard.

As Fief begins rolling the knut around on the rug, you once again pick up the sound of Sevika's boots coming down the hallway. You'd left dinner before the rest of the slytherin group, eager to digest your dinner and all the excitement of the day.

Recalling Viktor's advice, you take a deep breath and open the door just as Sevika walks past.

"Um- Sorry, Sevika?" you call out nervously. She stops, sighs, and turns to you. How encouraging.

"Yes?" she asks impatiently, crossing her arms over her chest.

You feel your cheeks heat up a little, still embarrassed. It's not that you want to waste her time, but she's probably moments away from tapping her foot and rolling her eyes. You can’t help but rub your wrist to soothe yourself.

"I know I've already said sorry, but..." you trail off awkwardly, then shake your head and carry on despite your voice beginning to waver. "I really am sorry about what happened before. Fief - my niffler - is my responsibility and I should have kept a better eye on her. I really, really wanted to make a good impression with everyone but I know I've ended up causing you and Silco trouble. So please, if there's something I could do to make up for that other than just paying for the coat..."

Sevika's glare softens as you go on, just a little bit, and her stiffly crossed arms relax somewhat. She tilts her head, considering your apology. In the flickering torch light of the corridor, it’s hard to tell if her eyes really are grey like you’d first thought, now seeming so dark. "Well... Maybe I have been a little-"

At that moment Fief comes rolling out of your room behind you, deep in play with the bronze knut. She grabs it with her little paws, takes the knut in her bill and shakes her head around. Then, in swift momentum, she twists her head and the knut flies out of her bill and through the air, hitting Sevika squarely on the forehead.

She steps back and puts a hand to her forehead, more surprised rather than harmed. A terrible silence follows as you stare at one another in disbelief, before you both look back down at Fief. Fief, apparently unaware of what she'd done, scuttles over to the knut now lying at one of Sevika's boots, takes it back in her bill, and disappears back into the room as if nothing happened.

Sevika's face darkens as she overcomes her shock, her grey eyes hostile as they fix on you.

"I- She's, erm," you splutter, mortified.

"Didn't I tell you to keep your rat in its cage?" she snaps. "Get that thing under control, or I'll have it thrown into the forbidden forest - and you with it." With that, she turns abruptly and storms off to her room. You wince as she slams it behind her.

Fief is unphased when you come back into the room and slowly close the door behind you. The pure audacity of her to squeak at you pleasantly as you sit down beside her on the bed.

She even has the nerve to act shocked when you lean over her, eyes narrowed, and pass your sentence.

"No treats for a month."

______________________

As of uploading this on here, I have 17 chapter of this fic already up on AO3! I've been meaning to upload the whole thing on here eventually though since I know everyone's worrying about censorship recently. If you want to read everything that's already up, here is my AO3!

Sorry for any issues, I've never posted an actual fic on here before. Pls provide tips if you have any!!

local-daddio

for anyone wondering, this is /THE/ sevika x reader fic imo!!!!!!

local-daddio

Jul 31, 2025

Cat and Mouse | Hange Zoe x Reader

✧ Vampire!Hange x Hunter!Reader

✧ Word Count: 2k

They have you backed against the crumbling stone wall of the crypt, your stolen kunai pressed gently against your throat as they stare you down with their good eye. Every instinct honed by years of training at The Academy screams at you to fight - kick, bite, lash out with bared teeth.

They smirk down at you and only then does the traitor in your chest begin to race.

“You’re getting sloppy.”

You glare. You’re not sloppy. You’re one of the best. Perhaps Hange just knows you too well, now, after all your close encounters. If you were smart, you would end this game tonight once and for all.

It’s unfortunate then, that almost all rational thought leaves your mind around this enigma of a supernatural.

The first time you met Hange you very nearly killed them. Embedded a silver stake straight through their chest, narrowly missing their heart. If they hadn’t pierced your side with their own sharp claws maybe your trajectory wouldn’t have been off.

It took almost two weeks for the deep wounds in your side to heal before you could return to your duties like normal. You always wondered how they made out. You never did get your stake back.

“I’m surprised.” Their eye follows the edge of your kunai as it drags lightly across the underside of your jaw. “To think you’d fall for such an obvious trap.”

Their other arm pins you to the wall of the old mausoleum, holding you firmly in place. “Were you really in such a hurry to see me?”

You scoff and their eye drags back up to your face. “Maybe I have you right where I want you.”

“Oh?” They raise an eyebrow and look around the two of you mockingly. “Well now I’m really curious. What do you have in store for little old me?”

You can feel the knife hidden at the waistband of your pants press sharply against your lower back as you try to shift subtly in their grasp. If you can just distract them for a second…

You drop your voice to match theirs and meet their gaze, looking up at them from under your lashes. “Why don’t you let me go and we can have a fair fight?”

They pretend to think it over for a moment, humoring you, before they grin, showing off the razor sharp edges of their prominent canines. You try not to shiver.

“You know I don’t believe in those. Plus, I’m in no mood for a staking tonight.” They tap your chin with the flat of the kunai. “Nice try, though.”

You open your mouth, an argument on the very tip of your tongue, but you’re interrupted before any sharp words can make it past your lips. The sound of footsteps descending the worn stone stairs into the mausoleum has your back straightening.

“Oh good, I haven’t had fresh blood in days.”

You turn your head slightly, minding the blade still held near your face. The figure that appears is large. It takes up the entire archway, its silhouette swallowing what little moonlight managed to filter into the overgrown crypt. If it weren’t for the several lit candles scattered throughout the room, you wouldn’t be able to make out any of its features at all.

But there are. And you can.

You stiffen and your blood runs cold at the glowing red eyes that fix themselves upon you with barely concealed bloodlust. Shit. A thrall. You really don’t feel like dealing with a thrall right now.

It’s voice is deep when it talks again. “Hurry and slice her open so we can eat.”

With Hange’s attention momentarily diverted, you slowly slide your right foot forward, shifting it just enough to rest lightly on your left boot.

Hange flicks a brief, uninterested glance at the thrall - one second, two - before the look fades into dismissal. "Piss off."

The thrall hesitates, clearly irritated. It snarls low in its throat, but it knows better than to challenge Hange’s authority.

There’s a flicker of something in their gaze, a predatory gleam that isn’t aimed at you but at the thrall. And then, just as quickly, the smirk returns.

Hange’s eye falls back on you, their focus sharpening, and the distance between you both feels almost suffocating.

“Now,” Hange says softly, but the edge in their voice is unmistakable. “Where were we?”

They know exactly what they're doing. The way they lean in, the way they look at you, it’s more than just a physical threat now. It’s a game. And you’re trapped in it.

The thrall, meanwhile, shifts from the doorway and begins to slowly edge its way around the room.

“I wonder,” you murmur, eyes locked on Hange’s, “how long you’ll tolerate that thing before it decides to make its move.” Your foot presses more firmly against your boot now, a necessary brace.

The words land between you like a challenge, but also a subtle distraction. Hange’s lips curl, amusement flickering behind their eyes.

“I’m not worried,” they reply. “And neither should you be.”

The thrall shifts on its feet, eyes glinting with impatience. “Come on! Enough talking. I'm starving!” But before it can take another step forward, Hange's hand moves with casual precision. Without even looking away from you, they send your kunai flying across the room and straight through the skull of the large creature.

Wide-eyed, it falls to the floor with a thud. Dead.

You blink, trying to hide your surprise, but you know it must’ve taken considerable strength to send the small projectile straight through the creature’s frontal bone.

“You killed it.”

Hange's lips curl into a satisfied smirk, unbothered. “It was annoying me.”

You can’t help but pause, eyes tracing every shift in their expression, every subtle movement.

“Why haven’t you killed me yet?” The words slip out before you can stop them, a mixture of challenge and something deeper.

For a fleeting moment, their gaze flickers. The hint of a frown, the smallest shift of emotion, but it’s gone before you can place it.

Then, just as quickly, their usual cocky smile returns, like a mask settling back into place. “I don’t want to kill you. Not yet at least.”

The words hang between you, sharp and unreadable.

You narrow your eyes, voice low, a bit strained. “Then what do you want from me, Hange?”

Their gaze immediately drops to your neck and the tension in the room thickens. That’s all it takes. A single flicker of their focus, and your pulse kicks into overdrive.

“Well,” Hange murmurs, a trace of something dangerous threading through their voice. “I thought that was pretty obvious.”

Goosebumps erupt over your flesh and you struggle, instinct kicking in, trying to break free of their iron grip, but their fingers grab for your wrists, unyielding and cold.

Slowly, they lean in, their lips barely grazing the curve of your neck, but they don’t bite. Instead, they tilt their head, eyes locking with yours once more.The proximity is suffocating, their presence pressing against you like a storm waiting to break.

“Don’t worry.” Their voice is a low hum and you can feel the words slip across your skin like cool silk. “I’ll wait for you to give it up willingly.”

You grit your teeth, clenching your fists. “That will never happen.”

Hange’s chuckle is soft as they lift their head from your neck, never breaking eye contact. When they speak, their voice comes out as a whisper. “I’m very patient.”

The words hang in the air, thick with danger, but something inside you snaps. Enough.

Without warning, your left foot presses up firmly, a barely audible click sounding as the hidden spring in your right boot releases. A small blade shoots out from the toe, and with a practiced flick of your leg, you swing it back and drive it into Hange’s calf with surprising force.

“Son of a—!” Hange stumbles, cursing as the surprise makes them loosen their grip just enough for you to break a wrist free and pull the hidden blade from your waistband, swinging it sharply at their neck.

Hange reacts fast, jerking their head back, and your blade finds the soft skin of their cheek instead, cutting a line right under their leather eyepatch.

They blink in surprise, but only for a moment before a loud, triumphant laugh erupts from them.

“That’s a new one,” they tease, wiping the blood from their cheek.

Without missing a beat, they grab a candelabra from a nearby table brandishing it high as you advance on them. “Well, if we’re doing this…”

The fight resumes in a blur, your blade clashes, their candelabra swings, and Hange’s wild laughter echoes as they move like lightning. But you press on, matching every move with precision.

Finally, you spot your opening. You press forward, driving Hange back until they stumble into the large stone sarcophagus at the center of the room. In an instant, you’re on them, pinning them to the cold stone with a breathless slam.

Your blade hovers over their chest, ready to plunge at the smallest movement, but Hange’s hands lie open on either side of their head in gentle surrender.

“Well, well,” Hange sighs, grinning up at you despite being at your mercy. “Guess you win this round, huh?”

Their gaze watches you closely as you struggle to decide your next course of action.

“You did say you had me right where you wanted me,” they murmur softly. “Now what will you do with me?”

You glare and press the knife hard against their chest, the tip breaking skin just to the right of their sternum. “I should kill you.”

“You should.”

Your brows furrow. “Do you ever shut up?”

They huff out a laugh and their smile turns gentle.

“You’re beautiful.”

The words hit you like a sudden gust of wind. You freeze,and for the briefest moment, the familiar game slips away. You think of all the times you’ve circled each other, each encounter a deadly dance, each move carefully calculated to end the other.

But now... it’s different. There’s a hollow ache in your chest - something you hadn’t noticed before - that starts to spread, sharp and sudden. You could end this. Right now. You could kill Hange without hesitation - it’s your job. It always has been.

And yet, the thought of never seeing their smile again, of never hearing that stupid laugh, feels unbearable.

You clench your eyes shut and take in a steadying breath. When you open them again, the decision is made. A job is a job.

You raise your blade, and Hange closes their eye, as if they already know what’s coming - peaceful, resigned.

Tonight, your aim is true as the sharp point of your dagger slices down through flesh, between bone, and thuds into the deteriorating stone of the casket.

Hange jolts forward in pain, eyes flying open wide as they take in the sight of their left hand. Your dagger pinning it through to the stone underneath.

They grit their teeth against the pain. This is going to be a bitch to heal.

“I really wish you would stop stabbing me!” They whip around, chewing you out, but you’re already gone.

The only evidence you were ever there is the faint scent of vanilla left on the breeze and your silver knife burning a hole through the center of their palm.

With a resigned sigh, Hange turns to pull the dagger from their flesh, hissing as the wound smokes from the contact with the silver. They reach into their trousers pocket, retrieving a folded silk handkerchief, and wrap it around the handle of your blade.

Their gaze drifts back toward the crumbling archway where you vanished, a quiet chuckle escaping their lips as they rub their uninjured hand over their forehead. “Ah, I’m in trouble.”

For a long moment, Hange sits there, thinking. Tonight’s game had changed, hadn’t it? The usual thrill of the hunt, the pulse of danger, it all felt... different now. They couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever had shifted between you two would never go back to the way it was.

Hange looks back down at the dagger, the silver gleaming faintly under the dim light, and smiles. “Another one to add to the collection.”

#hange x reader #hange zoe #x reader #aot #nonbinary hange zoe #wlw #nblw #hange zoe x reader

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