firecracker ???

The train sped on through the countryside, and in their compartment, the atmosphere gradually shifted from laughter to lazy comfort. Blaise flicked through a magazine. Daphne braided Pansy's hair while gossiping in hushed tones. Theo and Elestara had pulled out a deck of enchanted cards that reshuffled themselves with every hand.

"Did you practice at all over summer?" Theo asked, dealing.

"Of course I did," Elestara said, narrowing her eyes as she glanced at her hand. "But you cheat."

"I don't cheat," he replied, offended. "I improvise."

Draco and Blaise were locked in a conversation about the newest broom model.

"The Nimbus Two Thousand," Draco was saying. "Father says it outpaces anything the school team uses."

"Think they'll let you join the team in first year?" Blaise asked, half teasing.

"Why not?" Draco puffed up. "I'm better than any second-year already."

Elestara rolled her eyes. She turned to Pansy and Daphne, the three of them leaning together as they exchanged predictions about which professors would be dreadful, who would faint at the sight of a real spell, and which students were already trying too hard.

The air grew a little thicker as the train rumbled on. Laughter quieted, and the soft lull of conversation and rustling robes took over.

There was a faint shuffle of movement in the corridor outside.

Elestara caught a glimpse of someone walking past the door—a boy with dark hair, slipping his arms into his Hogwarts robes. He slowed as he passed, and for just a moment, his eyes met hers through the glass.

Elestara didn't move. Her hand paused on the card she was about to place, eyes locked with Harry Potter's for a beat too long.

Theo looked up from his cards, following her gaze. "Potter," he muttered.

Draco twisted slightly to look, catching the tail end of the exchange. His eyes narrowed, and a slow, mocking smirk spread across his face.

"Still pretending he doesn't know who we are," he said.

Elestara blinked, the moment broken. She dropped her card. "He's already boring."

Some time later, the door slid open.

A girl with bushy brown hair and a bossy air poked her head inside. "Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one."

They all blinked at her. Silence followed.

"No," Elestara said flatly.

Hermione frowned. "Well, if you do see one..."

She trailed off at their disinterest and left.

"She'll be insufferable," Pansy said.

"Definitely Gryffindor," Daphne agreed.

-

The boats glided across the lake, the castle glowing in the distance like a storybook come to life. Elestara, seated beside Theo, didn't look at the scenery so much as at the awe-struck faces of the Muggle-borns.

She said nothing, but the smirk played at her lips.

The Great Hall was even more dazzling, with floating candles and an enchanted ceiling that mirrored the star-flecked sky. The Sorting Hat sat at the front, wrinkled and twitching.

When Elestara's name was called—"Black, Elestara"—whispers broke out at once.

"Black... she said Black..."