| Details for The Queen of Slytherin and the Black Knight |
| Summary: | Medusa and Alphard, being the natural leaders that they are, come up with a plan to increase Janette's suffering and make it clear everyone else should participate. They also discuss the upcoming dance because it can't all be about being mean all the time. |
| Date: | 9 October 1938 |
| Location: | Slytherin Common Room, Hogwarts |
| Related: | — |
| Characters |
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The Slytherin commons room is a low-ceilinged, dungeon-like affair illuminated during the day by a multitude of greenish lamps and a roaring fire which also works to partially ward of the perpetual chill of the dungeons. The common room is filled with low-backed, black and dark green leather sofas and armchairs accented with buttons that create dimples deep in the upholstery. For the decorative carvings of the dark wood cupboards, the columns, the mantelpiece, and other architectural details of the room run strongly towards snakes and skulls motif. All these details combine to create a quite grand atmosphere with a touch of spooky and cold.
Day or night the enchanted windows are filled with an eerie green glow from the water on the other side. Occasionally the Giant Squid and other residents of the Black Lake will swim by the portals. Over all the common room has a sunken ship feel, though is oddly enough also gives a strange cozy sense as well.
Medusa is sitting smugly on one of the sofa's speaking with several other Slytherin, enjoying the nasty gossip about Niko and Janette. "Well," she says, "you know how kind-hearted I am. I warned Abbott. I told her people would turn on her but she swore her love would survive it. That what they had was pure and beautiful."
"Don't you know, Denholm is -perfect-." Alphard didn't need an invitation to join a group of Slytherins busy saying mean things. It was expected of him. The Sixth Year drifted over, looking pristine as usual. His windsor knot immaculate, his shirt pressed and tailor fit to his lean frame, not a hint even a speck of dust anywhere on him. Looking at him one'd think he never got into trouble. With a -flop- he went into the sofa, sprawling like a teenager was wont to do. "She is giving him her daddy's -personal- tailor to make their Halloween affair -awesome-." Eyeroll, his voice cruelly mocking.
This latest bit is news to Medusa and a few of the others too because they snicker and start making jokes. "My father's tailor wouldn't even give his card to a half-blood," says Medusa with full confidence in her father's purist beliefs. "I think that Denholm must be addled. Guess what he said to me Alphard."
Alphard's eyes went wide as a puppy's as he gaze deep into Medusa's. In a mock impersonation of Niko's soft and sincere voice, he told her: "That you are an awesome human being, who will find great things in life. We should be friends forever, because I just feel that you're -such- a good person, I couldn't even dream of not spending every night snuggled against you, hearing your heart beat in time with my own." Deadpan, his expression not flickering for a moment.
Medusa bursts out laughing and gives Alphard a playful shove. "That is an amazing impersonation." She leans over and grabs a sweet from the bowl on the table between the sofas. "Even more stupidly he thinks…get this…he thinks his blood is as good as ours!" Shaking her head with bemusement at the half-blood's stupidity Medusa unwraps the candy and pops it into her mouth.
"No surprise. Why do you think I so absolutely -detested- having potions projects with him? He wouldn't stop talking about his precious Muggle side. How awesome it was. How -proud- he was of it. Like having mud for blood was somehow something that he felt the need to brag about. And you know that nice guy act of his? It's so -obviously- phony. I just want to catch him somewhere outside school grounds, with no witnesses, and then teach him just how -nice- I am."
None of the others in the common room seem to be surprised at the conversation, but then the Blacks and the Malfoys are the undisputed rulers of Slytherin House. "I was thinking it would be the honourable thing to do to write a letter to Mr Abbott. Showing concern for her and the poor choices Janette is making." Medusa props the heels of her booted feet up on the small table and looks over at Alphard. Her grin is decidedly bitchy.
The Black eyed the sweets for a moment, but then decided against them. It was almost time for the first Quidditch matches. He needed to be top drawer. Mean and lean, a pure-blooded fighting machine! "Her good friend Medusa Malfoy, who once thought that dear little Janette had -such- a great future ahead of her, but now she's just -sooooo- concerned. She's even involving her father directly by using his tailor! Like it's a gift from Mr Abbot, sanctioning the union."
Moving her sweet from one side of her mouth to the other Medusa snickers. "It is too perfect Alphard. Like a gift from Merlin himself. Douglas tried to help me set her up in a compromising position but the little bitch got wind of it somehow and tried to turn it around on me. A day later she goes and hoists herself up there for us all to aim at."
"You know.. My mother likes to keep informed," and spread gossip around the Pure-Blood circuit like she was a pro at it." I'm thinking a little letter saying how 'shocked' I was that Mr Abbot would publicly embrace Denholm by helping him and Abbot get their Halloween costumes together.. Might end up being the talk of a few galas." His eyes slipped away from the blond haired Malfoy, laughter traded for arrogant command. Each every Slytherin around that table got the look. The look that said similar little letters was -expected- of them. Or else.
Medusa nods with mock seriousness. "I think it is only right that we share our concerns with our parents. I learned my lesson last year, that is why I offered that advice. I put my name on a piece of paper. She has gone so much further, she is dating someone who thinks their Muggle parents is better than we are."
"I know you did.." Alphard murmured, his smile of sympathy not managing to wipe way the underlying edge of his voice. "But you know, you really should talk to Professor Flint. I mean, -I- know what you really believe. I wouldn't be you friend if I didn't.. but it doesn't hurt to embrace those ideals in public. The Magijugend could use another proper thinking student."
"Alphard, I am no follower. I am a leader. Malfoys lead. You, are, I expect just there because you will likely take it over next year. Make sure that happens. It sounds like only Slytherin understand the real truth anymore." Medusa bites down on her sweet, crunching it between her teeth.
"I'm there because I believe," Alphard told Medusa with with a slow shrug. Also because he was expecting to lead the whole movement, and have little sycophant Magijugend students doing whatever he liked. But mostly because he believed! Surely. His arm lazily stretched out in her direction, long pale fingers seeking out an imaginary speck of dust on Medusa's shoulder, flicking it away. "But.. you know, whatever." Siiiiiigh. Like anyone who didn't try to join the Magijugend needed to rethink their ideals. "So what're you going as to Halloween?"
Medusa crunches the last of her sweet. "Well I did consider going as some kind of goddess but then decided that was too last year. So now I am going as the last great veela princess." Her foot taps the side of his leg, "What about you Alphard? And who are you going with? I saw Theodoria Fawley eyeing you up at breakfast." The girl could have been imaging him with a mustache of course.
"I'll probably go with Esamine Joney," a fifth year Ravenclaw pureblood. There was no way that Alphard would in a million years go with anyone who wasn't, after all. "I don't know. I mean, I -guess- I could go with Theodoria. I mean she's cute enough." And had the right blood. "But then she starts talking about how her moles look like famous wizards. She ever tried to show you the one on her lower shoulder? The one that she thinks looks like Ptolemy? It doesn't. Really, it looks like a blob. An ugly blob."
Medusa laughs. "No, Theodoria has never tried to show me her moles. She must really like you Alphard." The mental picture of the girl chasing down Alphard to show him her not-so-unique moles has Medusa clutching at her stomach. "Oh that is too funny. You really should go with Esamine then." She wipes at her eyes with the backs of her hands. "Just make sure you lead when you dance. She has big feet."
"I guess so," Alphard murmured, seriously considering Theodora once he realized that he might be the only one she had opened up to. After all, -everybody- should consider him important enough to reveal their most intimate secrets. With a blink he returned to the current time line, eyeing Medusa up. "What, -you- don't have a secret mole that represents something?" Teasing grin.
As if to remind them they aren't alone another student calls over from one of the armchairs, "Ask Macmillan, he probably knows." Medusa, because she is inside the common room, doesn't hesitate to whip her wand out and point it at the boy. "Do you really want to risk me transfiguring away something important to you, Goyle?" Her lack of skill in transfiguration is well known enough that the member of the great house of Goyle blanches and decides to withdraw to a table near a window. Smug, Medusa calls after him, "I didn't think so!"
"Speaking of personal things.." Alphard drawled slowly, watching the exchange between Medusa and the boy with the reserved detachment of a royal. It wasn't his place to interfere, after all. -He- might consider it alright to poke fun at Medusa, but only because he was a Black. Anyone else had to -earn- the right, or suffer the consequences. "Let's have a walk. I wanted to ask you something."
With a nod Medusa gets to her feet, tucking her wand away. "Sure." She tosses her hair back over her shoulders and waits expectantly for Alphard to lead her wherever it is he has planned.