The Secrets a Snake Keeps // S.S x O.G x M!MC

Chapter 1 - A Regular Thursday

I

As usual, Nathan was in his dorm room alone. The three other beds were empty, exactly like every other time he woke up in the morning, it was the curse of being a deep sleeper he supposed. Although because of that Nathan didn't know any of his roommates. He either got to bed too late into the night, although sometimes he didn't even make it to the dorm, instead going to the room of requirement so as not to wake the others. The others got up too early in the morning and were already gone when he decided to sleep in his dorm.

The hearth in the middle of the room was lit, one of the other fifth years must have lit it before they left the room. He supposed he was grateful, it fought off the chill of autumn and the cold of being underwater in the dungeon.

He was not ready for the morning. He had potions first thing then transfigurations straight after. Potions were fine, he understood adding certain ingredients together at certain times creates a potion, it's like cooking in a way. But for transfigurations, he could not grasp the way one thing was supposed to change into another.

He sighed as he picked up his robe, the green accents matched his paisley vest. Nathan thought it was still too warm to put on his jacket and robe, but that could just be the heat exuding from the hearth.

Nathan glanced to the side of his bed where his owl was perched, she was a beautiful tawny owl that Sebastian had helped him pick out during their trip to Hogsmeade. That was nearly a month ago now, how time flies. Nathan had named her Gwendelin or Gwen for short, a beautiful name for a beautiful bird. He pet her gently, just under her chin, watching as her feathers puffed up at the action before heading to the Slytherin common room.

He had a pretty packed day for a Thursday but he guessed that was just for him to catch up with the rest of the fifth years. As he passed through the common room he took note of the towering glass windows and the small portion of the Black Lake he could see behind them. The seaweed swayed with the current and a small school of fish passed by causing a flurry of bubbles. There were still some first years with their noses pressed against the glass, believing Ominis's word and keeping a lookout for any mermaids. He would never admit to it be sometimes, late at night when the common room was empty he would be sat next to the windows, watching out for mermaids and any other sea creatures.

The Heat from the fireplace was almost unbearable, but Nathan chalked it up to him running rather hot in the mornings. Thankfully whispers about him being the new fifth year had died down. Sure he had a certain flare for the dramatics but being the constant centre of attention was impossible. He was used to standing at the back, being somewhat invisible, but here he was called upon in almost every class to see what he had learnt and what he needed to improve on, he was sure the others were most likely getting sick of his voice. He was grateful that his teachers were just as concerned about his learning as he was for the upcoming O.W.Ls, but there had to be a better way to show it than putting him on the spot and showing off how new to the magical world he was.

As he exited the common room the whispers hit him like a brick wall.

"Did you hear? Sallow and Gaunt are arguing in the great hall."

"Fighting like an old married couple from what I heard."

Nathan pinched the bridge of his nose. It sounds like Sebastian had asked Ominis about the Scriptorium then. He should probably go and check on them, make sure neither had bitten the other's head off.

He made his way through the castle, getting lost more than once, not that he would ever admit it. He passed by a group of girls from all different houses but looked to be in their fourth year. Maybe, all he knew was that he did not have any classes with them, as he passed them they started whispering and giggling to one another, thinking he would be out of earshot.