Scotland
Hogwarts
Draco

    It has been two weeks since Draco visited Belinda. He was shaking with nervousness as he stood in front of Morrigan Manor. The bite of the cold weather and the mud on his shoes did not bother him as much as the thought of the person behind the door. It took him ten minutes to find enough composure to ring the bells. It took less for her to enchant him once again.

    Belinda opened the doors, gasping for air, as though she was running hurriedly. She smiled. Time slowed as his heart started racing. Draco had never thought of Belinda as beautiful, though many, if not all people do. For him, 'beautiful' was too gentle a word for what she is.

    He left the manor with an uncharacteristic bounce on his feet. Belinda had told him that she was going to transfer to Hogwarts and his smile did not falter for weeks on end.

    "Did you hear?" Crabbe said, his eyes almost bulging out from his sockets. "Belinda Gaunt is transferring to Hogwarts this year."

    "Bollocks," Theodore responded, "Why would she transfer to this hideous place?"

    "It's true. I've read it on the Daily Prophet." Goyle retorted.

    Everyone around him laughed, except Draco.

    "Since when have you read?" Blaise said, stifling his laughter.

    "Who's Belinda Gaunt?" Pansy asked, earning the gaze of everyone around her.

    "Are you serious?" Theodore turned to Pansy, "The Protection Stone, The Magnus Entrapment, The Alchemist? Do any of this ring a bell to you?

    "I asked for an answer, Nott. Not more questions." Pansy said angrily, annoyed at how Theodore is seemingly mocking her intelligence.

    Pansy had never liked Theodore at all. She did not like how untidy he was nor how loud he spoke his words. Theodore on the other hand had different thoughts of his own. Everyone knew of Theodore's affection, even Draco.

    "Belinda Gaunt is the youngest witch to have ever performed high-level alchemy." Blaise explained, "My mother told me she's working with the ministry, creating weapons, magical weapons."

    "So she's another Granger then. Another know-at-all." Pansy rolled her eyes as Draco shifted from his seat.

    Blaise noticed the change in Draco's demeanor and had quickly interrupted Pansy before Draco could say anything. "She's a pureblood, Pansy. A direct heir of Salazar Slytherin and the Great Witch, Morrigan. Don't compare her to Granger."

    Crabbe animated from the turn of the conversation, leaned over from his seat and whispered. "And she's the only living relative of You-Know-Who."

    "Will everyone shut up?" Draco snapped. "This room is loud enough for all your bickering."

    All fell silent, processing Draco's sudden capricious attitude. Theodore leaned into Blaise whispering and laughing as he turned to tug the hems of Pansy's robes. Draco knew they were whispering about him but he couldn't care less. He wasn't amused at how Pansy insulted Belinda nor he liked how they were starting to talk about her past.

    It was no secret. Belinda truly had a dark life before her, and she had been constantly haunted by it. When he saw her in Morrigan Manor, he knew she was suffering even worse. She looked tired and sluggish. He tried to not bring any more thought to it, thinking it was due to her travels. However, Belinda has never stopped wearing her gloves.

    It took all of his self-command to not demand an answer from Belinda. He tried to ask her about it calmly, but her body stiffened and it enraged him even more. He knew Belinda trusted him but with Belinda, there are always secrets that she will choose to remain untold.

    Dumbledore began his speech. After a few announcements and a warning about the castle's east wing, the sorting had finally begun. The Great Hall's double doors swung open, revealing Mcgonagall trailing ahead of the line. Behind her were the first years, wide-eyed and heads raised on the ceiling as always. Along the very end of the line was Belinda, she looked much better now, more animated. Draco felt relieved.

    As they walked past through the hall, Belinda caught Draco's gaze and smiled.

    Hi, she silently said, before whipping her head back forward.

    Draco's heart started racing. He watched Belinda stand with the first years, exuding elegance without effort. Her long, dark hair shone against her robes and her iridescent, olive skin glowed radiantly in candlelight. She was impossibly perfect. Everyone in the room, male and female had their eyes trained in her direction, equally enamored.

    "Bloody hell," Theodore said, "Crabbe, you did not mention she was gorgeous."

    Draco wanted to punch Theodore in the face but he couldn't. Somehow, ever since they were young, Belinda's presence lessened Draco's impulse on hexing anyone who angered him.

    The room erupted in applause as soon as the first person was sorted. Four Hufflepuffs, five Ravenclaws, six Gryffindors, and four Slytherins after, it was finally Belinda's turn.

    "Belinda Roxana Gaunt," called McGonagall.

    Everyone raised their heads in anticipation. Belinda walked past the first years and made her way towards the sorting hat.

    "Do you think she'll be sorted here?" Goyle asked.

    "There's no question," Blaise answered, "She's a descendant of Salazar Slytherin. Why else should she be sorted somewhere else?"

    Blaise's words made Draco tense. He realized he wasn't sure where Belinda was going. Unlike most of the Slytherins, Belinda never cared for pureblood supremacy nor she cared for the power she held. Draco fidgeted with his rings, unaware that Pansy was looking at him skeptically.

    McGonagall placed the sorting hat on Belinda's head as everyone fell silent. Draco watched Belinda and noticed that her eyes were unfocused. The sorting hat was talking to her. Draco wanted to leap out of his seat and reap the answer from the hat, immediately. The bloody thing was taking too long.

    By three minutes, everyone had started whispering. All were confused as to why the hat was taking ages to decide. Given Belinda's bloodline, everyone expected her to be sorted in Slytherin as quick as light. Draco turned his gaze towards the other houses. They were expectant. He looked back at the hat, wanting to burn it into ashes.

    "What is taking her so long?" Theodore muttered.

    Draco was about to punch Theodore in the face when the sorting hat bellowed, "SLYTHERIN!"

    The Slytherin House erupted, simultaneously rising from their seats. Draco was startled, almost losing his balance. He watched Belinda walk towards the table, their table. Draco smiled, relieved, as he took back his seat. There was no need for his anxiety. There was no other place for Belinda's power but in Slytherin.

    He tried to pry his head through the many people who were talking to her. He wanted to catch her gaze and congratulate her, however, he caught Crabbe's instead.

    "Do you mind passing me the chicken?" Crabbe asked.

    Draco looked at Crabbe, baffled as to how he's giving him orders. He took a quick glance at Belinda and saw her smiling; he gave Crabbe the plate of chicken.

- end of chapter two -