I made my way across the room, weaving through panicked students until I reached the epicenter of chaos. Noodle was now coiled in the middle of the floor, looking enormously pleased with himself.
‘Having fun?’ I asked him mentally.
‘Yes,’ he replied, unrepentant.
I crouched down, extending my arm. “Come here, you little freak.”
The women backed away further as Noodle slithered up my arm and settled around my shoulders like a scaly scarf.
“That thing is yours?” Melissa demanded, still standing on her chair.
“His name is Noodle, and he’s harmless.” A slight exaggeration, but she didn’t need to know that.
“You brought a venomous snake to the academy with you?” Percy asked dryly.
“He’s my familiar.” I stroked Noodle’s head with one finger. “And he’s usually better behaved.”
‘Not sorry,’ Noodle commented privately.
“It could have bitten someone!” one of the other women protested.
“He,” I corrected. “And he wouldn’t bite anyone unless I told him to.” I locked eyes with Percy. “Or unless someone threatened me.”
A tense silence fell over our immediate vicinity.
Draco leaned forward slightly. “Interesting choice of familiar.”
“I didn’t choose him. He chose me.”
Aiden’s golden eyes narrowed. “Snakes are traditionally associated with the Ophis designation.”
I smirked. “Wow, you learned that all by your big self?”
Aiden’s jaw clenched, a muscle working visibly beneath his skin. I felt a small thrill of victory.
“You’re deliberately causing disruptions already and it’s only day two,” Percy said.
“Yes, I specifically told Noodle to cause chaos tonight because I knew you’d be here. My entire existence revolves around annoying you, specifically, Percy. You caught me.”
Eris, who had remained silent until now, let out what might have been the beginning of a laugh before quickly masking it with a cough. Percy shot him a look that could have frozen fire.
“Maybe keep your... pet... contained,” Percy said. “Or the administration might reconsider its presence here.”
“Hispresence,” I corrected again. “And he stays with me. Director Waverly already approved it.”
‘I like him,’Noodle commented privately.‘He’s angry. It’s funny.’
“Shut up, Nood. You’re supposed to be on my side, remember?”
The women who had been hovering around the shield were now watching our exchange with undisguised interest, their previous fear forgotten in the face of potential drama.
“Come on,” Melissa said, touching Aiden’s shoulder possessively. “Let’s move tables. Away from the... reptile.”
I couldn’t tell if she meant me or Noodle.
“We’re fine where we are,” Aiden said, shrugging off her touch without looking at her. His eyes remained fixed on me, calculating.
Draco tilted his head slightly. “Black mamba, isn’t it? One of the deadliest snakes in the world.”
