"Ah, here we are - now that the idiot first years have arrived, we're about another half hour away from eating," a voice commented, staring almost hungrily at the incoming line of first years, led by a rather stern-faced Professor McGonagall. Some of the first years looked scared from their heads to their toes, but experienced eyes could spot which would be Slytherins. They would be the few with their heads thrust above the others, proud and regal, or the quiet ones that were cold and calculating, despite their lack of conversation.
"Shut up, Avery," Lucius and Severus chorused together. Snape's beetle black eyes flashed dangerously as he surveyed Alexander Avery with a distinct air of disgust. The silly boy was always concerned with food, with no real interest in the Dark Arts, politics - no ambition whatsoever. It still amazed him how he had managed to be accepted by the Malfoy's general social group. However, the surname Avery was rather old, and the friendship between the repulsive Avery boy and the rest of his Slytherin colleagues was based on surname alone, not the boy's obnoxious personality.
One girl in particular caught the critical gray eyes of Lucius Malfoy. She was rather petite for her age, though she carried herself in the manner of a proud queen. Her white-blonde curls cascaded down the back of her black Hogwarts robes, contrasting oddly with her aristocratic, pale skin. The girl surveyed the mass of waiting students, already sorted to their respective Houses, yet her gaze was critical, as if she was just sizing the whole lot of them up at once. However, the girl merely focused her cruel blue eyes on a tapestry in the corner, and nothing else. Lucius nudged Severus in the arm, and wordlessly gestured to the girl with the white-blonde hair.
"Oh yes, that's Charna Wellington. Atrius Wellington's heir," Severus drawled coolly, also gazing at the girl. "She will definitely be a Slytherin." Beside him, Lucius nodded in agreement. "Wellingtons are always excellent strategists - I would expect nothing less, in any case, given that her father is the Chief Unspeakable at the Ministry," Severus added as an afterthought, as the Transfiguration professor began to rattle off the students' names after the Sorting Hat had finished its song about House qualities. Despite that it was a different version every year, it always gave the same boring message.
Turning with a murderous glare, Severus fixed it on Avery, whose stomach began to rumble rather loudly, like a beast of the forest threatening its prey. How embarrassing, Lucius thought to himself, rolling his eyes - he was after all only in second year, despite what he thought at times. To his companions, Lucius added "Make a space, the Wellington girl is going to be in our circle." Being the head of the clique, there was no opposition, as one of the 'lesser beings' sacrificed their seat for the girl they were expecting to be Sorted into Slytherin.
Toward the end of the roll, Charna's name was one of the last to be called. With her confidence slipping a few notches, Charna sat on the three-legged stool, and placed the Sorting Hat over her gleaming blonde curls. Hmm, the Sorting Hat began. Where to place you - you're a very brilliant person, I can tell. Ravenclaw would suit you well. However, I see that you are power-hungry, a strategist. Oh my, yes that's certainly a large amount of ambition that you have. Perhaps, Miss Wellington, you would be …"SLYTHERIN!" the Hat shouted aloud. Charna received a polite smatter of applause as she strutted over to the Slytherin table.
Producing a charming smile that displayed his two rows of gleaming white teeth, Lucius smiled to catch the young Wellington's attention. Across from him, Narcissa Black scowled, rather jealous. With a short wave, Lucius caught the cold eyes of the newest first year, gesturing to the empty place beside him. Before Charna was seated, Severus whispered something in Lucius's ear. "Wonder what took it so long," he muttered, greeting the Wellington heir with a formal nod. He would certainly be watching her closely over the next few weeks, to be sure.
"Good evening, Miss Wellington. Good of you to join us, but how rude of me. Allow me to have the pleasure of introducing myself," Lucius drawled, a calculating gleam beneath his stormy gray eyes. "I am Lucius Malfoy, and these are my companions - Severus Snape, Alexander Avery, Narcissa Black, Antonin Dolohov, Bellatrix Black, and Rudolphus Lestrange," he said, gesturing to each one of them in turn as he mentioned their names. To test the caliber of this possible new strategist to the group, Lucius extended a hand. Intrigued, his friends watched. However, Charna merely stared at the manicured hand as if it were a slug.
"If you are so noble as you say, Monsieur Malfoy, I will not shake your hand. That is only a common greeting of peasants," Charna said simply. Lucius smiled.
"Welcome to Slytherin, Miss Wellington."