Hogsmeade
Eliana had bumped into Catrina on the way down to breakfast that morning. Catrina was still avoiding her gaze.
"Just admit you fucked up the bloody potion Cat! I'm really not bothered but at least have the guts to admit it!"
"Fine! I did it! God now can you leave it." Catrina shoved her playfully.
"Hah! Who were you trying to impress? Don't tell me it was snivelly?"
"Bleh 'his greasiness'? I don't think so. It doesn't matter Elle. Promise you're not mad?"
"Well, you know I'm gonna have to get you back for this Cat. Besides, it's Lily you're gonna have to watch out for. She doesn’t play when it comes to potions"
"Right, Slughorn's 'pet', hah" Catrina smirked. "So, catch me up? Who do we like, and who do I need to hate?"
"Leave Lily alone if that's what you were thinking! Really, she's a nice girl. All of them are! The boys are full of themselves though, you met James and Sirius already. Not Remus though, he's chill. And well, Peter's just... Peter."
"Yes I'm aquatinted with Sirius... lucky you right, most of my housemates are arses."
"Not all of them right, you didn't spoil our potion for nobody." She smirked, prodding her twin.
"Well." She turned into a whisper. "There's Mulciber, you know from Potions and Charms. He's alright. And my dorm mate, Alecto, and her brother, they're alright too. Rest are pricks really. Especially Snivelly!"
"Wow, you're making me feel popular."
"Well I did speak to some other guys, in seventh year. I got invited to a party already. Some weird one though. An 'iniation ball' they kept saying. Christ! I hope they don't put me through a hazing!"
"That sounds rather satanic. Who's 'ball' (She couldn't stop herself laughing as she said this) is this?"
"It's Lestrange's gaff but Malfoy invited me. They were all secretive about it. I don't think he wanted me coming." Catrina said.
"Be careful Catie. I don't think I trust these guys." Eliana pondered. "There is some weird stuff going on around here. Have you heard about this 'you-know-who' fella?"
"I have. Not a clue though. I think he's opposition or something, or a grass roots one."
"Jesus! Like a communist?" Elle gasped.
"Think so. A socialist, wants to get rid of the ministry."
"Wow! I didn't think the wizard worlds political sphere was so complicated."
"Right. We should keep up with this stuff Elle, if we want to fit in with this place. I'll keep an eye out and let you know if I hear anything good."
"Same here. See you later Catie."
The twins parted ways and went to sit at their respective house tables for breakfast.
An ensemble of all different shapes and sizes of owls flew into the great hall. Eliana was used to the quirks of Hogwarts by now to be unfazed.
A noble tawny flew over and landed on the table in front of Lily Evans.
"Ooh, my daily prophet!" Lily unfastened a roll of newspaper from the birds leg.
Peter had loaded his breakfast plate with four rashers of bacon, three fried eggs and sausages, two hash browns, a hefty portion of baked beans and two black puddings.
"Calm down Peter, the food isn't going anywhere." James said, as Peter was ravishing his meal.
"You're one to talk Potter, look at the size of your plate." Lily scoffed.
"Hey! All this early morning quidditch practice has me famished!" James laughed. "What's your excuse Pete?"
"Well mum says I've always had quite the appetite, I ate my twin in the womb!" Peter giggled and was eyeing Eliana, everyone laughed awkwardly.
"Don't look at me... maybe sometimes I wish I had done that." She said jokingly.
She was still slightly bitter over the potion spiking fiasco. Just slightly.
"How's the news look Lils?" Marlene McKinnon peered over the auburn haired girl's shoulder.
She was quiet for a moment, garnering everyone's attention.
"Nothing out of the ordinary I suppose. There has been werewolf sightings, they suspect potential attacks." She scanned over the paper, then laid it down on the table. "Look, it's that Greyback guy."
There was a moving photo of a group of men at night, oblivious that they were being watched. It looked like a Bigfoot sighting or something silly.
"They found the body of a young boy in the same woods that night, he was completely mauled." Lily said solemnly. "The papers are really cryptic but, Dumbledore thinks that you know who is recruiting them."
There was that guy again. The socialist revolutionary, as Cat worked out. She felt weirdly unfazed at this, like it wasn't real. Werewolves is just fairytale nonsense. Then again all of this is just fairytale nonsense but she was really living it? Wasn't she?
"Werewolves? We won't have to worry about that here will we?" She tried to catch a glimpse of Lily's newspaper, as she picked it up again. She would have to tell Cat about this.
"You never know! Anything could happen these days!" Peter cried.
"Ignore Pete. Hogwarts is the safest place in Britain, as long as Dumbledore's headmaster." Sirius said, flatly.
"Well what if a werewolf got into Hogwarts, they like biting children don't they? This would be the perfect place!" Mary shivered, along with Marlene. Even Remus looked disturbed by the news, the colour had drained from his face.
"It won't happen, let's talk about something else. Coming to Hogsmeade with us Elle? Much better than watching James fall off his broom." Sirius said, mid-chew.
She looked guiltily over to James. "Sorry James, maybe you can show me how to play Quidditch another time?"
"Don't worry Elle, seeing Hogsmeade is well worth it. Have fun guys." James finished up his breakfast and was off.
"Hah, I think you've broke his heart Elle!" Sirius chortled, much to the disdain of Peter.
"Ugh, boys. Stop trying to make Elle feel bad" Lily scoffed.
~
"I hope you've all got your permission slips, hand them over to Mr Filch!" Professor McGonagall called.
Eliana certainly did not have a permission slip, with both parents dead how could she have one?
"Sirius, I don't have one, think they'll care?" She whispered.
"Oh yeah, they won't let you go if you don't have one, can't you just forge your parents signature? That's what I do."
"Well. Not really." She hated sounding like she wanted anyone's pity.
"You've gotta come! It's Hogsmeade, can't McGonagall sign it?"
"It's fine, I'll just hide between you guys and sneak out. She doesn't have to know."
"Hm. I like it. If only James wasn't at practice, we could have used his cloak!"
She thought all wizards and witches had these long, magical looking cloaks, but brushed off his statement nonetheless. If she was going to sneak past Filch and McGonagall, she needed complete stealth.
"Peter why don't you go distract them, and we can hide Elle between us while we sneak off!" Sirius shoved Peter towards the staff.
"Uh- does it have to be me, you're better at making up lies Sirius!" Peter sighed.
Eliana stepped forward. "Don't worry Pete, you can do it. Just say uh... just pretend you've lost your slip and dig in your bag, maybe drop it so they bend down to help you. Not so bad right?" She smiled at Peter.
Peter took this as if he had been graced by the smile of a angel, his blue eyes lighting up, his cheeks painting a pale shade of pink, he gazed at Eliana in awe.
"I'll do it!" He proudly exclaimed. "Carry forth the mission without me Agent Black... I've got a job to finish... I'll meet you at the base in 10. Agent Pettigrew, out."
There was an uncomfortable silence, tempted only by Sirius scoff. "Don't be gay Peter."
"Sorry Sirius..." Peter had curled back into a tiny figure. Looking ashamed.
"Atta boy Pete." Sirius shoved him away again. "Sorry ladies, he does that sometimes..."
"What are you talking about Sirius, you always do that too..." Remus rolled his eyes.
"I do not!" Sirius cried, abashed.
It was cute seeing Sirius cheeks burn up and he and Remus get into a play fight. Mary seemed to be amused too, she couldn't keep her eyes off them.
She spotted Catrina with the Slytherins, would Cat be as bold as her to sneak out to, she thought she'd let her know for good measure.
"Psst, Catie." Eliana pushed through the robes of green. "You need a slip to go to Hogsmeade, so.. don't get caught or we'll both get it. Ok?"
A broad, piggy looking girl that Eliana recognised from Potions caught notice of this.
"Oh piss off, it's Potters new toy." She scoffed. "What'dya want, slag?"
"Calm down, it's only my sister." Catrina held her new pal back. Some defence from her own bloody twin. "Thanks Elle, but don't worry, I've got it covered."
"Alright then. See you round. Don't get caught!"
~
They walked off to the village and Peter caught up eventually, red faced, panting and covered in sweat, and they made their way over to Hogsmeade.
It was a quaint little village, of old shops and houses, crammed together on a little high street.
"Wow, the three brooms looks beautiful! Look at all the flowers Marl!" Mary beamed.
"That's the pub right? I wouldn't mind a drink." Eliana said. She wouldn't miss a chance to have a bevvy, as long as wizards didn't drink the type of stuff they brewed in potions yesterday.
"I could go for one too, I can take you if you want Elle. I like, go there all the time so..." Sirius flicked his dark curls, handsomely. How chivalrous.
"Sounds good." She replied.
"Uhhh, I think we'd all like to go to the three brooms..." Mary chuckled sarcastically.
"Yeah, we can go together." Eliana smiled, to which Sirius just shrugged.
There was a tall wooden building on the outskirts of the village, looking as if it had been abandoned for years. It was all bordered up. It reminded Eliana of the old loo building in her secondary school, which no one was allowed to go in because of the asbestos. "Hm, what's that building, over there?"
"That! Uh- that's nothing, just an old crack den or something." Remus pushed to the front of the group, where Sirius and and Eliana were now standing.
"Yeah it's nothing interesting. Don't think anyone lives there." Sirius walked off a few steps, as if he couldn't be less interested.
"That? That is the most haunted place in Britain, Eliana! The shrieking shack!" Peter wailed, making a spooky 'ghost' noise.
"No Peter, it's just an old abandoned bothy. Come on." Sirius nudged him harshly.
Sure Peter was annoying and childish at times, but he didn't deserve this coldness from Sirius, who was easily cooler than Pete, and should try to be nicer to the little guy.
"Wouldn't you like to see it Eliana!?" Peter called.
"Pete..." Remus gritted his teeth.
They were getting fed up with him. Poor Peter.
"We've got much better things to show Elle, right Remus? Agh where's the bastard gone!" Sirius shot his head around, searching for his mate. "Well done Peter.." he rolled his eyes. "Let's go find the moody git, he'll probs be at the pub."
The group set off to the three broomsticks.
"Don't suppose wizards need ID do they?" Eliana didn't need any ID to get served at her local, they never checked, and the barman was a perv so she'd always get free pints.
"They aren't going to serve students any strong drinks if that's what you mean, Madam Rosmerta knows all our faces." Mary chimed in.
"No problem, she doesn't know my face right?" She smirked. "I haven't a drink since I came here, I need something strong." She spoke just to Sirius, not wanting her girl-friends to think she was an alcoholic on her first week.
"A Butterbeer will do me fine!" Peter chirped, getting ignored by his friend.
"I think a fire whisky sounds good, what about you guys?" Sirius smirked. Marlene and Mary giggled.
"She won't serve you Sirius!" Peter exclaimed. "That's what Remus would say if he were here!"
"Except you pissed him off!" Sirius snarled.
"Stop fighting. Let's go get some drinks." Marlene broke them apart.
They entered the quaint old inn, and to no surprise Remus was already sat at the back with a drink. She waved to him and he smiled back, he may have been in an odd mood, but at least Remus wasn't upset with her.
"I know him so well." Sirius smirked to himself.
"Ooh Mary let's try the new pumpkin-asparagus soup!" Marlene scanned the menu.
"Oh uh... yeah..." Mary said, half-distracted. "Okay, I'll wait here." She sat down while Mary went to go order.
"I'll go to the bar then, if you think she'll serve me, what should I ask for?" Eliana said. Glancing over to the bar, where a stern looking lady stood, shoving a group of students away.
"Two fire-whiskies, oh and a butter-beer for Pete. I hope this works!" Sirius clenched his fists eagerly.
"Hey no! I'll have a fire whisky too!" Peter sulked.
"Merlin, you switch up fast.... Here you go Elle, this should cover it." Sirius handed her some wizard money to which she had no idea how to use.
Eliana shuffled shyly over to the barmaid. Repeating the order in her head. 'Three fire whiskies' god that sounded stupid.
"Morning.. uh, three fire whiskies please." She said in a squeak, she felt silly enough saying those words and it didn't help that there were fellow students causing ruckus in the inn.
"Av not seen you round these parts? You seventeen love?" The barmaid stood with her hands on her hips.
"Uh... I'm eighteen?" She mumbled. Was that a trick question?
"Alright. Just a moment love." She pitched the drinks. "Tar. That'll be 9 sickles."
She froze. She hoped Sirius had given her the right amount, she just handed it all to her in hopes it would suffice.
"You taking the mickey? Don't be such a show off girlie! I'm no charity case!" The barmaid handed back a hefty amount of change and went to serve somebody else.
Eliana brought the tray of whiskies back to Sirius. They were a deep orange. "You gave me way too much money, she was really insulted when I handed her all those coins." She giggled, handing the glasses to Sirius and Peter.
"Wow Elle! You're brilliant. We thought it was over when Dirk Cresswell queued up beside you." Sirius laughed, his grey eyes filling up with joy. "You bloody owe me Pete! They've gone up in price since the start of the war!"
"You're so stingy Sirius!" Peter wailed, pulling some coins from his robes.
Eliana glanced over to Sirius. "Uh sorry, I'll pay you back another time."
"What? Oh don't worry about paying me back Elle, drinks on me." Sirius smiled, revealing his handsome smile, his teeth were stained yellow, but it didn't hinder his appearance in the slightest, instead giving him a sort of rogue look.
"Did you not buy me a drink?" Mary laughed, a bad attempt at not trying to sound annoyed. It was unclear if Mary expected her to order her drink or wanted Sirius to buy her one.
"Oh sorry Mary." She shrugged.
"I was talking to Sirius..." she mumbled under her breath, Sirius wouldn't have heard it.
Sirius and Peter sipped at the drink, their cheeks flushing red at the heat. Remus was sat besides them, still quiet, chugging a black coffee.
"Come on, you can do better than that." Eliana gulped down the whisky in one go. Coughing at the fiery heat.
Sirius and Peter looked at her in awe.
"Nice one new girl." Sirius said cooly.
Peter took another sip but choked on the spice. Sirius finished the rest of his own, releasing an unsavoury belch. "Just go get a butter beer Pete, I'll finish that off for you."
"Oh I'll finish it, I'm really thirsty." Mary casually grabbed the glass and began to chug it down in the same fashion.
"Uh, Ogden's Fire Whisky is not exactly a thirst quencher.." Remus looked up from his hands for the first time since they'd sat.
Before Remus could finish his sentence, Mary was burning up and spitting out the fiery beverage all down her blouse.
"Oh dear, I've got a tissue Mary, here." She handed a napkin to Mary, who accepted it gratefully.
Sirius took little interest in Mary's accident and waited until Peter got up to get a butter beer (?), to speak to Remus. Something was obviously bothering him but Eliana knew it wasn't any of her business.
"Remus..." Sirius tickled his side, playfully, to which Remus coldly pulled away.
"Not right now Sirius."
She felt like she was watching in on something private and scanned through her mind for anything interesting to bring up.
"So, can you guys tell me more about you-know-who, the insurgent guy? Lily said he's liaising with werewolves this morning?" Eliana thought back to their conversation at breakfast, and the one she shared with her twin.
"I wouldn't call him an insurgent, more like a power hungry tyrant." Marlene said. "Of course you wouldn't have known about him and all the war stuff, being muggleborn."
Neither Sirius, Remus or Mary felt inclined to join the conversation.
"He Who Must Not Be Named is an evil dark wizard!" Peter wailed. "Dumbledore thinks he wants to take over the ministry and destroy commoners like you and Mary!"
"Oh.. er"
"Jesus Peter...well, I guess he's right. It's nothing new to us though. All the Slytherins think just like him. Dumbledore's the only wizard he fears. We will be safe under him as headmaster."
"How powerful is he? Well, how much support does he have?" She said.
"That's the thing. We don't know for sure. It's all very cryptic. He probably has thousands of followers. Including the werewolf's..." Mary sighed.
Sirius and Remus seemed to hate the talk of it. Maybe it was bigger than she thought.
"Don't forget the giants!" Peter cried. "And all sorts of horrible beasts!"
"It's only conspiracies. But if Dumbledore thinks there is truth in them..." Mary began.
They were silent for moments more. The tension was cut the sound of the entry bell at the door opening.
"Here comes trouble." Sirius grinned eagerly, leaning in to whisper. Eliana craned her neck to see the trouble in question.
~
Catrina was irked that Eliana doubted her own intelligence, of course you'd need a bloody permission slip, and of course she'd know to sneak out!
She met Amycus in the courtyard, and much to the pair's annoyance, his sister tagged along with them. Guess this wouldn't be the drinks date she was expecting.
It seemed that sneaking out like her twin did, wouldn't work. Filch was checking the Slytherins, very astutely. Nobody would be able to thread through unnoticed.
"Do any of you have paper and a pen- a quill?" She whispered.
"Here, I've got paper." Mulciber handed her a small bit of parchment. "Don't got a quill though."
Amycus smirked and used his wand to make a quill appear out of mid air. "Failing transfiguration are ya Mulcey?" He grinned. To which Mulciber merely scoffed. "Here you go."
"Thanks Carrow." She used the quill to quickly forge a signature from the carer back at the child home.
"Tch! Even Filch isn't stupid enough to fall for that!" The nasally whine of Snape creeped up behind her.
"Thought that was you Snivelly, saw a trail of grease on the floor." She folded her arms, defiantly.
"Should've just got mummy or daddy to sign it... oh wait...they're dead." He sniggered, falling into a whisper when he came to the word 'dead'.
She withdrew her wand as if it were a knife. She didn't know what she was going to do with it, but she wouldn't let that slide.
"Hah, very threatening new girl." Snape cackled. "I'd love to see how you'd fare against me!"
She cringed at herself as now everyone was watching. She'd really have to muster something up to save herself from embarrassment. Thankfully, she didn't have to.
"Piss off Snape, go back to writing in your little dairy you poof. Picking on birds. Tch." Amycus gave Snape a shove, Snape was so skinny that he fell back at the lightest touch. Snape scurried back, muttering curse words under his breath.
"She's not going to let you shag her Carrow! Sucker." Snape called out, fidgeting with his wand.
"If I wanted her fanny that bad I would just take it. Some of us aren't little cucks like you Snapey, trailing after that ginger mudblood, worshipping the grounds she walks on. Have some self respect!" Amycus
spat.
Catrina flushed at his slightly-rapey forcefulness.
"I would never want scum like that!" He snarled, rather unconvincingly, he then looked to Catrina, "Don't get a big head just because your 'boyfriend' is protecting you, Carrow will fuck anything that moves, even his sister. Come on Mulciber, Avery. Let's go." Snape slithered away.
"Yeah get lost you little cock scratcher." Amycus withdrew his wand before turning to Catrina. "When I do get my hands on you though, you'll be the best looking thing I've shagged."
She blushed harder "Er... thanks."
Catrina glanced at Mulciber, who shrugged and gave her a smirk. She thought he was too cool to be hanging round with Snape, but then again, they'd known each other longer, so who was she to say it wasn't right.
"That was so hot and intimidating brother. I think Snape just got a boner!" Alecto guffawed.
Before Catrina could process what she just heard, the queue had cleared up and Filch approved their slips, not without trouble from Mrs Norris, his cat.
"Come on then. Let's go t' pub." Amycus grabbed Catrina's wrist. "Er, do you have to come Alecto? It just looks a bit gay if I hang out with my sister."
They headed off to Hogsmeade, Alecto sulking and trailing along behind them.
Mulciber, detached from his trio, walking side by side with Catrina. "Snape was only messing about before you know. Carrow was doing too much."
"Are you only saying that because you wish it was you?" She teased.
"Tch! No way! You didn't need defending anyway, was only Snape." He laughed. "Though actually he is a bit of psycho, I wouldn't put it past him, knows some weird spells..."
"I can imagine." She looked over to Amycus, who was laughing with the older Slytherins, and creeping on third year girls.
"I heard what Snape said. Thats why you didn't have a signed slip eh? Sorry to hear." Mulciber looked away awkwardly. She really didn't want his pity.
"Yeah. It's fine. I wasn't close with them so.." she could feel her cheeks burning up. "My dad died when I was quite young."
"Happens, don't it. I'm not particularly close with mine either."
There was a tense silence for a moment.
"You know Lestrange, in seventh year? Are you going to his ball... I was invited." She didn't know what prompted her to say this, except a violent urge to change the subject. And perhaps to know whether friend was also attending.
"Course. Suppose you want me to ask you to be my date. Hah." He smirked.
"Ah! Er...I'm sure you've already got one, I didn't mean..."
"Would've thought Carrow beat me to it." He scoffed.
"No...he's going as well?" She couldn't picture Amycus at ball, dancing like a gentleman with a girl.
"Yeah, don't hold it against him for not asking you though, I don't think he'd expect you were coming, I certainly didn't."
She looked back over to Amycus, who was still terrorising the third year girls, he had one in a headlock, a hand up her skirt.
"I'm surprised you're invited... it's just.. not a regular ball, you know? I didn't think you were with that crowd." Mulciber quietened his tone.
She had never been to any balls to know what a regular one was like.
"You're going to have to elaborate, I've not even been to a ball before so it can't be that weird to me."
"Don't make me say it. You really don't know?" He lowered his voice, looking around nervously. "It's not really a ball, per se, the ball is gonna be the after party. It's an initiation. For the Dark Lord." He whispered.
"The Dark Lord?" She stared blankly. "Sounds dodge."
"Hah, what are you on, you weirdo." He laughed. "You do know about him, right? You Know Who?"
So this was about the commie. The Slytherins were joining his revolt. They didn't strike her as the type who supported a redistribution of wealth or whatever.
"Hardly. Can't you fill me in?"
He looked utterly baffled, as if what she said was of deep offence to him.
"Ah... I've misunderstood it seems. I thought... since Malfoy invited you, you must be within that... circle." He started.
"You thought wrong. I've never met Malfoy or any of his mates till I came here."
"Well, my initial suspicions were right at least. You don't seem like the type to be involved in the dark arts. Not that many girls are." He laughed a cold laugh.
"Would you care to explain what this initiation for this Dark Emperor guy is all about?"
"Hm. Not sure. Can I trust you?" Mulciber shrugged. "I don't go around talking about this to just anyone."
"Well I'm invited to this initiation party aren't I? Isn't that enough."
"I guess so, if Malfoy and Lestrange think you're good enough, then I suppose..." He paused, looking around again. "Still I'm shocked you don't at least know who he is."
"Told you I was an orphan, didn't I."
"Right. Sorry....hang on..." his face curled up into that offended look once again. "You're suggesting that...you're telling me, you weren't raised by wizards and witches? You didn't grow up in our world?" He looked genuinely discomforted.
She feared this, yet she wanted his trust, so she would tell him.
"That's right...I.." this felt far too vulnerable for her liking. Would this be the end of her? Surely as long as she was well bred, however she was raised would be irrelevant?
"Hm." He avoided meeting her gaze. "Apologies... it's just unusual."
"You think worse of me...?"
Catrina knew this was coming. Only a fool could think they would be able to hide their background for ever. Her new peers are the sort of people who could sniff out a commoner at once. Like the private school yobs down at the local town rugby club, with their gilets and their land rovers. Her housemates were merely the wizard equivalent and she could never be on their level.
"It's not my place to judge. As I said, Lestrange is alright with you attending the 'event', and his family is closest to the Dark Lord...so, you're alright new girl."
"Thanks." She smiled meekly. He wasn't as disturbed of the news as she expected. It felt like a weight off her chest.
"I've got a lot to catch you up on then..." he hummed as they continued the walk to Hogsmeade, side by side. "Thought you were shite at magic. Now I know why. Hah."
"Hey!"
"Really... we've got a lot to work on, I don't want people thinking I chose to spend my company with a common mud-blood."
She assumed this was the technical term for being an unpure blooded wizard. "Yes, I wouldn't want that either. Er... all of this initiation and 'you know who' stuff would be a good start, if I'll be attending."
"Don't worry, I'll get you up to speed, if the Dark Lord was running things you'd never have to feel like this... muggles would be aware of our supreme abilities, we wouldn't have to hide and you wouldn't be lost from your true identity."
"That's why he wants to be in charge of the ministry? and... muggles? Are they the enemy?"
"Muggles are the inferior race. You know, non magic folk. He disagrees with how the ministry segregates wizards from the muggle world, shielding our greatness from them. He dislikes how the mud-blood race infiltrate our institutions... our bloodlines, how they steal our magic and how the ministry allows it. Should I and the other boys succeed at his trial, he will brand us as his servants. And we will join his noble cause."
She had many questions. What would his trial entail? Would she have to do anything if she would be there? Who else is getting hazed? Mud-blood?
Mulciber continued, "If you're to get up to speed, I suppose you'll need some... one to one sessions." He smirked. "If you'll oblige?"
"Of course I'll oblige, that's kind of you."
"Tch, don't flatter yourself new girl, I'm only helping you to practice my own magic. Now quiet, Snape's being a nosey git." Mulciber scoffed.
"Doesn't matter now does it. He already knows of my... situation."
Snape pushed past her. "That I do. Hope my tongue doesn't slip, never know which of your new pure blood suckers will be nearby."
"Lie all you want about me being a commoner, it's your word against mine, and why would they give a toss about what your nerdy arse has got to say, over me!"
"I don't know why you humour her Mulciber, she's so full of herself." Snape scoffed, tossing his head so his greasy hair revealed his dark eyes.
"Come off it. Look it's the three brooms up ahead. Maybe you can sort your differences over a few drinks." Mulciber turned to her, looking down into her eyes. "I'll get you a drink, my treat."
The Slytherins continued into the 'three broomsticks' which couldn't be a more fitting name for a wizard pub. Somewhat comical.
It was a shabby yet quaint Tudor style house, with uneven beams and dusted with cobwebs.
To her pleasant surprise, and Snape's utter annoyance, the only table big enough to fit their group was one right besides a group of Gryffindor fourth years, which happened to include her sister, as well as Sirius Black.
"Hiya Catie!" Sirius and Elle waved from the neighbouring table.
"Hi gu-
She stopped. Amycus had ceased perving on prepubescent girls and had joined them at the table.
"They look older and older every year. Bloody hell did you see the rack on that third year? Still got nothing on Alecto's tits at that age." Amycus laughed, tickling his sister playfully.
"Stop being a perv!" She hit him back.
The rest of them shuffled uncomfortably in their seats, as they waited for Mulciber to return with the drinks. Coughing to fill the silence.
Sirius Black called out to her. "You don't have to hang out with these tossers just cos you're a Slytherin you know. Don't let Snivelly hold you hostage Catie!" He sniggered, he was drinking a deep orange beverage.
"Excuse you, Black, I'm doing the girl a service by gracing her with my presence. I'd rather not, but my housemates have bad taste."
"Tch. Whatever."
"Thought ya didn't associate with Slytherins, Black, but you'd still shag one wouldn't you?" Amycus snorted, chugging down a pint. "Don't blame you, this one's cute, don't you think so sis?"
"Yes. She'd be great fun." Alecto giggled.
Catrina chose to ignore that, feeling now uncomfortable about sharing a dorm with the girl. The tension was eased as Mulciber returned with her drink in hand.
"For you." Mulciber handed her a glass of dubious contents.
Snape was slouched in the seat closet to the wall, next to her. His head and arms folded onto the table, he was invested in a tatty little book, etching vulgar sketches into the margins.
The textbook was annotated with all sorts of letterings, doodles and writing that meant nothing to her, except reconfirm her suspicions that he was a nerdy loser.
She looked back to the Gryffindors, they were enjoying a tray of shots, Sirius getting through them the quickest. He was stood with one leg lifted onto the table, singing Bowie obnoxiously. She took note of the fact wizards are familiar with ordinary music.
She was conscious of this after her confession to Mulciber, of course Sirius and the goody-goody Gryffindors wouldn't think twice about singing Bowie or Queen. But would the Slytherins second guess her if she did the same? Did wizards have their own cultural channels. She would know in due time. It was still early days.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed on Sirius' behalf, Catrina averted her gaze to the first thing she saw. Snape's textbook. He had made progress on the drawing of... well, whatever it was. It looked like a penis made of tentacles.
There were a few words written in a space at the top of the page. 'Stulto Lapsus - tripping jinx'
Sirius appeared to take interest in one of the Gryffindor girls sat with him, she was shorter, with coarse curly hair, and a rounder frame. His arm was flung around her and the girl couldn't look happier, as she sank into his attention.
Sirius and the girls faces were just inches apart. "Never realised how fit you are MacDonald."
Only took him a few shots. There was an inexplicable tinge of displeasure in Catrina's core at the act she saw before her.
"Black is making a right fool of himself. Reg look at your brother, you gonna let him embarrass you your name like that?" Amycus and his sister wheezed, calling to Sirius's brother, who was enjoying a brandy with Barty. "If you're gonna try score some ethnic mudblood pussy, at least have the decency to do it in private!" Amycus added, as if he was talking from experience.
The younger Black's cheeks flared up. He simply scowled, his eyes darting to the menu as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.
This did not go unnoticed by his older brother.
"What's the matter Reggie? Ashamed of your own brother?" Sirius scoffed handsomely. "Don't be such a sour puss." His hand was trailing up the girls thigh, the rest of the Gryffindors looked rather uncomfortable. Catrina turned to look at her twin, who was deep in conversation with that Lupin boy.
"You'd stoop so slow and humour this filthy, common girl?" Sirius' brother scowled, before turning to 'MacDonald'. "He's just using you for your body, fool."
She would feel bad for MacDonald, currently the subject of scrutiny and cruel words. But for some inexplainable reason, it gave her an odd spark of delight. Why should she feel bad for the girl? She wasn't a Gryffindor, she wasn't her friend. It suddenly hit Catrina, she was a Slytherin.
Maybe it was an urge to side with her housemates, or maybe it was an uncouth desire for Sirius Black. She couldn't tell. But it brought something out in her. Something so petty and seething of adolescent jealousy.
She wanted to embarrass the Gryffindor girl.
She withdrew her fathers wand from her robes, concealing it beneath the table. She was a witch. She might as well get used to it.
She raised her wand above the table, aiming at the MacDonald girl. Sirius was turned away, his back facing to Catrina, at least he wouldn't see her at her most unpleasant. She was going to murmur an incantation, to cast a spell, as she had seen other students do previously. It would be a miracle if this bloody worked, the physics seemed all wrong.
"Stulto Lapsus" she muttered, flicking her wand as gently as she could, she was not yet used to the feeling. It was the only spell she could remember, she saw it written in Snape's book, only moments ago.
To her own, and the rest of the group's amazement, the spell had worked, somewhat anyway. It had hit Sirius' back and Sirius Black went tumbling down, head first, into the girls crotch. The gravity or whatever must've taken a hit on him, because at that moment,
Sirius threw up all over her lap.
The MacDonald girl looked as if she could implode from embarrassment. If Sirius didn't turn her off with his annoying singing and heavy alcohol consumption, he had done now.
"Hahah! I'd throw up too if I had to get that close to mudblood fanny!" Lestrange howled, giving Catrina an approving nod.
"Erm, sorry Mary!" Sirius chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head, and wiping vomit off from his mouth. "Don't know what happened there."
"You've had too much to drink is what's happened Sirius!" Lupin scowled at his friend, like they were a married couple, casting some sort of cleaning spell.
The Slytherins had erupted into tears. It wasn't the original plan, to embarrass Sirius, but she had done it. She'd impressed them. She earned a smirk from Regulus and Barty as well. Not that the approval of third years was something she frequently sought, it was just nice to knock them off their high horses for once. Thank God Malfoy and Lestrange had seen it too. This would surely do her reputation favours.
Weirdly, it was most satisfying of all when Snape audibly laughed at the prank.
"Hah! Black the fanny sniffer! Nice one, new girl." Amycus sniggered. "Lucky Black. I'd love to have my head between them thighs."
"Eugh, you degenerate." Avery scoffed.
Catrina felt a sense of pride she hadn't felt in some time, it was enough to overshadow the guilt she felt over embarrassing Sirius, he didn't seem to mind too much though, or perhaps he was too drunk.
"Knew you had it in you." Mulciber whispered to her.
~chapter end~