𝗙𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗫 𝗙𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗦
chapter two

                   ✶  The Great Hall of Hogwarts was alive with a buzz of excitement and anticipation. The enchanted ceiling mirrored the star-speckled sky outside, casting its ethereal glow over the gathering students. Golden goblets clinked as laughter echoed from every corner, the house tables alive with chatter as the first feast of the year began. Thalira Valebane sat among the Slytherins, her presence as magnetic as ever. She exuded a calm poise, her golden eyes surveying the room with an almost feline detachment, though her lips curled into a faint smirk every now and then at the antics of her housemates.

            Her sister, Imelda, sat across from her, deep in conversation with Regulus Black, their hushed tones and occasional smirks betraying the depth of their camaraderie. Thalira had grown used to their closeness, though it still sent a pang of nostalgia through her chest whenever Regulus's features reminded her of someone else entirely.

        Sirius.

                He was at the Gryffindor table, loud and carefree, his laughter carrying over the din of the hall. Beside him, James Potter leaned in, animated as ever, his glasses catching the flickering candlelight. For a moment, Thalira's gaze lingered on Sirius—on the easy smile that once had been directed at her, and then on James, who threw back his head and laughed at something Sirius said.

         Her smirk wavered. She looked away.

            "Thalira," Lucinda's voice broke through her thoughts, drawing her back to the present. Her best friend lounged beside her, twirling her wand between her fingers as though it were the stem of a wineglass. "I swear, if Slughorn tries to recruit me for another of his dinners this year, I might actually hex him."

            Thalira let out a soft, almost musical laugh, her voice laced with just enough irony to turn heads at nearby tables. "Oh, come now, Lucinda," she said, leaning in conspiratorially. "A little attention from Slughorn is hardly the worst thing. If anything, it's a free meal—and a chance to network, as our dear parents would say."

           Anaya, sitting primly beside Lucinda,(she usually sat with them even if she was sorted into ravenclaw)  looked up from her plate, her brows furrowing slightly. "Or a chance to end up on the wrong side of history," she muttered under her breath, her voice just loud enough for Thalira to catch.

             Thalira's smile froze for a fraction of a second before she recovered, her expression softening. "Oh, Anaya," she said, her tone half-teasing, half-reassuring. "You always think the worst of us, don't you?"

          "I'm just saying," Anaya replied, her tone sharper now, "we all know what he's trying to do. Gathering the brightest and most ambitious? It's not exactly a secret, is it?"

         Lucinda snorted, leaning back in her chair with a grin. "I'm not ambitious," she said, twirling a lock of her hair with exaggerated carelessness. "I just happen to be brilliant."

          "Subtlety has never been your strength," Thalira quipped, earning a loud laugh from Lucinda and a faint smile from Anaya.

                  Their banter carried them through the rest of the feast, but Thalira's mind was elsewhere. Even as she laughed at Lucinda's sharp wit and reassured Anaya's quiet concerns, her gaze flickered occasionally to the Gryffindor table. James's loud, booming laughter grated on her nerves more than she cared to admit, though she told herself it was simply irritation. Nothing more.

                      Thalira's dark eyes were sharp, though her expression betrayed no interest in the conversation. She caught sight of Mulciber from the corner of her eye before he moved purposefully toward her end of the table, his heavy boots thudding against the stone floor. He leaned over her seat, his presence imposing and deliberate, and the surrounding chatter seemed to dim as he cleared his throat.

              "Thalira," Mulciber said, his voice low but with a confident edge that made her set her teacup down. "I was thinking—you and I should go to Hogsmeade together this weekend." His dark eyes gleamed with an unsettling mix of arrogance and expectation, as though he assumed her agreement was a foregone conclusion. Thalira tilted her head ever so slightly, her dark eyes narrowing as she examined him with a look that was equal parts amused and disinterested.

                  Around them, a few nearby Slytherins exchanged knowing glances, waiting for her reply. "That's a generous offer," she finally said, her voice dripping with sweet sarcasm, "but I make it a point to avoid tedious company when I can." She turned her attention back to her tea, effectively dismissing him, while Lucinda smirked and whispered something under her breath that made Anaya hide a grin behind her book.

        At the Gryffindor table, the Marauders were in the midst of a typical rowdy discussion. James Potter was practically bouncing in his seat, a wide grin plastered on his face. He leaned across the table to tap Sirius's shoulder with his finger, making Remus Lupin, who had been reading Romeo and Juliet, look up with a bemused expression. Peter Pettigrew, sitting beside him, was already chewing on a piece of chicken, watching the exchange with mild interest.

        "This is it," James said, his grin growing wider. "I can feel it, lads. This is the year Evans will finally fall in love with me. I know it."

          Remus sighed, closing his book and shaking his head. "You said that last year, and the year before that. What's different this time?"

       James's grin never wavered. "You'll see," he said with confidence. "I've got a plan. I'm serious about it this time."

     Peter swallowed his bite of chicken and raised an eyebrow. "Don't you also say that every year?"

     "I mean it this time, Pete," James insisted. "This is the year I'll get her to notice me. I can feel it."

      Sirius, who had been silent for most of the conversation, suddenly leaned in, his trademark smirk spreading across his face. "No, Prongs," he said, pointing at himself. "You're not Sirius . I am."

           James let out a laugh, throwing his arm around Sirius's shoulders. "You're not wrong there, Padfoot. But this year... it's gonna happen. I swear it."

              Thalira Valebane walked among them, her dark hair cascading like a waterfall down her back, her strides purposeful —head high, robes immaculate, her dark eyes scanning her surroundings with an air of quiet superiority.

                  Lucinda Talkalot strode beside her, twirling her wand absentmindedly, her dark curls bouncing with every step. "Do you think Slughorn will make us brew something boring today? I swear, if I have to stir another Pepperup Potion, I'll scream."

          Thalira smirked. "I doubt it, Lucy. He wouldn't dare subject you to such mediocrity."

             "I'd hope not," Lucinda quipped, casting a playful wink at a passing seventh-year boy, who tripped over his own feet in response.

         As they turned a corner, a familiar voice called out, "Honestly, do you two ever slow down?"

                 Anaya Sable hurried to catch up, her Ravenclaw tie slightly askew and a thick book tucked under her arm. Unlike Thalira and Lucinda, Anaya's energy was more grounded, her clever eyes always scanning her surroundings with a quiet alertness.

           "We didn't think you'd make it out of the library," Lucinda teased. "Did the books beg you to stay?"

            "Not all of us can glide through life with half a brain and a dazzling smile, Lucy," Anaya shot back, adjusting her tie. "Some of us actually study."

        Lucinda gasped dramatically. "Half a brain? I'll have you know I've got at least three-quarters, thank you very much."

         Thalira chuckled softly, the sound low and melodic. "You two are exhausting."

         "You love it," Anaya replied with a grin. "Anyway, are we still meeting after lunch? I'll need a break from all the essay planning."

          "Of course," Thalira said. "Lucy can't survive a day without spilling someone's secrets, and I wouldn't miss it for the world."

        Lucinda pouted. "I'm not that bad."

           The other two girls exchanged a knowing look but said nothing, their silence far more damning than words.

            The dungeon classroom hummed with quiet anticipation as the students settled into their seats, the faint scent of parchment and stone mixing with the more acrid notes of brewing potions. Professor Slughorn stood at the front, his round face beaming with pride as he set up the day's lesson. The table in front of him held a large cauldron, the bubbling contents inside giving off a warm, golden hue.

          "Today, we'll be making a very delicate potion—Felix Felicis, also known as 'Liquid Luck,'" Slughorn announced, his voice carrying easily through the room. "This is a potion that can make all your efforts feel effortless, where every move you make is touched by fortune. But be warned, it is not to be used lightly. Too much luck in one's life can have unintended consequences."

         A murmur ran through the room as students exchanged curious glances. The idea of having access to such a potent substance was enough to make even the most disciplined witches and wizards feel a flutter of excitement. But Thalira, ever the calculating Slytherin, merely raised an eyebrow, her expression calm and unreadable.

          "Felix Felicis is a very precise potion," Slughorn continued, "and must be brewed carefully. We will start by adding the powdered moonstone, followed by a dash of powdered ginger root to ensure a smooth texture."

            Thalira set to work, her movements elegant and sure. She grabbed the moonstone, her fingers brushing over the finely ground powder as she measured out the correct amount. Her sharp green eyes scanned the ingredients list, mentally calculating the proper proportions. Lucinda Talkalot, who was sitting beside her, was distracted, flipping through her Witch Weekly magazine with a distracted air, but Thalira didn't mind. Lucinda's lack of attention would just make it easier for Thalira to assert her dominance in the class.

        "Lucinda," Thalira said, her tone light but commanding, "pay attention, will you? We need that ginger root now."

       Lucinda sighed, barely glancing up from the pages of her magazine. "Fine, fine. Just don't get all bossy on me."

              Thalira didn't bother to respond to Lucinda's playful sarcasm. She had other things to focus on, like making sure her potion turned out perfectly. She gently sprinkled the powdered ginger root into the cauldron, watching as the liquid shimmered and swirled into a rich, golden color. The aroma in the room began to shift, a subtle but unmistakable scent of warmth and sweetness filling the air.

         Meanwhile, the Marauders were having their own fun at the Gryffindor table. James Potter was sitting with his friends, clearly in his element as he cracked jokes, oblivious to the chaos around him. Sirius Black, with his signature grin, was attempting to use his wand to juggle a few ingredients, despite the glaring disapproval from Remus Lupin, who was silently reading his book on the other side of the table.

      "Oi, Moony, you're just jealous because I've got better hand-eye coordination than you," Sirius teased, holding up a flask of powdered unicorn horn like it was the prize of the class.

       Remus, ever the calm and collected one, just looked up over the top of his book and sighed. "You'll be the one blowing up the classroom if you keep messing around, Pads."

        James, who was trying to add a dash of dragon liver into his own cauldron, chuckled and said, "It's fine, Remus. A little bit of chaos never hurt anyone." He turned to Sirius and gave him a wide grin. "If anyone's going to blow something up, it's going to be me. Not you."

       Sirius smirked and set the flask of unicorn horn down carefully. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Prongs."

          Back at the Slytherin table, Thalira's focus was unwavering. The potion was starting to take shape beautifully, the liquid in her cauldron glowing with a soft, enticing light. Lucinda, sensing Thalira's intensity, finally put her magazine down and watched her friend work, slightly impressed.

        "You're really something, you know that?" Lucinda remarked. "It's like you always know exactly what to do. You make it look so easy."

       Thalira didn't smile, but there was a flicker of satisfaction in her gaze. She had no time for sentimentality, not in moments like this. "I simply know how to get things done," she replied coolly, her sharp eyes still focused on the potion. "There's no room for mistakes in this class."

        Lucinda snorted, clearly amused by Thalira's no-nonsense attitude. "Right, well, I'm not complaining. It makes it easier for me to mess around." She leaned back in her chair, stretching lazily. "But seriously, Thalira, this Felix Felicis stuff is going to be amazing. Think about it—just one sip, and you're practically invincible. Like, the world could be at your feet."

      Thalira gave a nonchalant shrug, her eyes still trained on the cauldron. "Maybe. But I've always believed in controlling my own fate, Lucinda. I don't rely on luck to get what I want."

     Lucinda tilted her head and gave Thalira a playful look. "Not even a little bit?"

         Thalira's lips curved into a sly smile, but it was laced with something darker. "Luck is for the desperate. We Slytherins don't need it. We make our own luck."

        Their conversation was interrupted when Professor Slughorn made his way over to their table, his eyes widening in delight as he looked down at Thalira's potion. "Well, well, Miss Valebane, I must say, this is a work of art! Ten points to Slytherin!"

       Thalira's eyes sparkled with approval, but her face remained composed. 

         Slughorn moved on to the next table, and Lucinda couldn't help but whisper under her breath, "You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're angling for a spot in Slughorn's special club."

           Thalira's smile this time was colder, more predatory. "I'm angling for what's mine. And if that includes a few extra points, then so be it."

             ✶ the way i kind of has based thalira as katherine pierce (before she met james) and that she is based of elena gilbert (after she met him) ugh i cant wait for you guys to meet her soft side :'))