To Be Somewhere New Solo Fin

☼☼☼
Said in Parseltongue
June 3rd, 2021
After Dinner, Before Curfew

Blanketed by the dark of the night, and guided by the light of a third of the moon, Colette and Calypso made their way to the Great Lake. It was only a little after dinner, during that period where no students would be among the halls, but they’d still probably awake, tucked safely in their Common Rooms. Parselmouth and snake took advantage of the opportunity, and came out to the Grounds to see if there would be any prey for the large Emerald Gazer. Colette knew that she would have to make arrangements so she could have a sure supply of food for her companion for her next feeding, but in the mean time, they had to make do.

It was not an easy feat for the large reptile to go about the castle undetected, but they were able to use the lesser populated passages to get outside. It was took twice as long, and was a longer path, but it was a necessary precaution. After all, she did not need the whole school to know of her ability. Perhaps to the regular students, they would not suspect much. They would see her as a peculiar lady with a snake for a pet. But both of them feared that someone might catch on, especially those who knew Colette’s family. Gossip ran deep in the world of Purebloods, and the situation did not necessarily do much to quell rumors.

At the lake, stood a few feet from the edge, the dark water reflecting the night also reflecting her appearance. “Alright, go on. Try not to take too long, and play nice with the other snakes.” She would tell her companion. Calypso did not say anything in return, but she did literally hiss at her before she slinked off to accomplish her business.

It was mostly quiet, with the occasional rustle and noise from the stray owl or other small critters. Colette did not pay attention, much too preoccupied with her thoughts.

Earlier that day, she’d received letters from her siblings, a reply from the owls she sent telling them that she’d arrived and had gotten settled in at Hogwarts. The twins were in Beaxubatons, as they had been since their first year. They’d come a long way from when she’d first had to come home when they were 11. Now they were 16, and well on their way to building careers in their fields of choice in the wizarding world. Her sister was furthering her studies in magizoology, while her brother wanted to go into alchemy. Unlike their eldest, they did much better in school, and almost never got into trouble.

“Congratulations mother, at least two of your children meet your approval.” Colette couldn’t help but scoff at the thought. She’d long stopped seeking Isla’s approval, even if for a while it was all she really wanted. For some time when she was in Durmstrang she tried to get top marks, hoping that her mother might finally be proud of her, but regardless of what she did, her mother seemed to care about herself more. Even moreso as her siblings grew to be much more well-behaved, and much better for her mother’s image than she was.

She’d also not contacted the woman for years except for the occasional owl to tell her mother how her siblings were doing. There was never a reply, but letting her know about them after she’d technically abandoned them was a luxury Colette afforded her, mostly because her siblings actually liked their mother. Now that the twins could write to her themselves, they said they sometimes exchanged letters with her.

Colette would never admit the stinging feeling in her chest when she’d hear about it, but she would also never deny its existence.

With a deep breath, she decided not to dwell on thoughts of that woman for now. Her eyes drifted back to Hogwarts, the castle looming over the lake. This was a new beginning for her, a new place and a new job, perhaps an entirely different chapter in her life.

She decided to make the most of it.