Chapter 9: Solutions
I opened my eyes and looked into my father's grave face.
A little smile flickered on his lips. My body felt like it was sore from within, while the memory of the duell came slowly back to me. I sat up and said: "I've won."
"Yes, you have."
My gaze lingered on the bedside table, where a stack of books lay.
"Your classmates brought them, well behaved girls."
I swung my legs out of the bed, ignoring the sharp pain in my chest and stood up before he could stop me. I was still wearing my blood stained old uniform. He stood up as well and laid a hand on my shoulder. "I am very proud of you."
"Thank you." I now realised that it was early morning.
"I'll go back to the dungeons, I don't want to stay here."
"Yes, of course. My men should be done searching the grounds by now, they might have found something." We left together and silently walked the deserted corridors. We passed the Great Hall on our way and I saw that most students were having breakfast at the moment.
At the entrance to the common, he kissed me on the forehead, before turning around and walking away. Slowly advancing through the common room because of the exhaustion I've felt, I met Mulciber. He came in and with a surprised expression on his face went to support me, I let him. For once I was glad that someone came to help me.
"How are you feeling?" He sounded frightened that I was gonna lose conscience.
"I'll survive," I simply stated.
When we reached my door he slung an arm around my waist to keep me standing and tried to open the door. He winced and looked at his hand.
"Ahh, it gave me an electric shock."
Hm, I seemed to have forgotten that boys couldn't enter.
"I'll be alright from here, thank you Mulciber. That was very nice of you." He turned bright red and answered immediately:" Any time. I mean if you ever need help with anything, I'll gladly assist you."
"That's kind of you," I smiled at him and he turned even redder. Well, his intentions were obvious, what a fool. I opened the door and closed it shut quickly, not wanting to spend more time than necessary with that waste of space. I lay down on my bed after I finally freed myself of the battered clothing. Slipping under my bed covers I sank into a deep sleep within seconds.
I paced three times and the room appeared. Opening the door, I could see my knights already waiting for me. They all stopped dead in their tracks and sat down at the long table in the middle of the room. Naturally I took my seat at the head and cleared my throat, while the six boys waited expectantly.
"We have a serious problem, gentleman."
They still only looked back at me.
"The issue we have to deal with is severe. As I am sure you all had the chance to witness yesterday's duell and have noticed Miss Crane's...superiority compared to most students. I had a little talk with her, when I was attacked the other day. I offered her a seat at this table."
Lestrange, drew a sharp breath and started to bite his lip. The others reacted in a similar manner.
"She declined. Quiet vehemently."
Mulciber glanced at me, white as a sheet and wide eyed.
Rookwood on my right side was the first to speak.
"What do you want us to do about it, my Lord. Should we obliviate her?"
Mulciber seemingly relaxed now, was nodding in agreement.
"No, I doubt we could get so close without being blasted to pieces." At the last part of the sentence, I couldn't prevent the corners of my mouth to turn up slightly.
"What if we lure her into the forest and tell her what happens if she won't keep her mouth shut," Dolohov looked at the others as if this was the only logical option.
"That won't work either. I've already tried and after her little demonstration I doubt toturing would succeed with her."
"So...what could we do about it then ?" Mulciber ran a hand through his brown hair and looked nervously at the others.
"We wait," I stated.
"What advantage do we have, gentleman?"
Silence fell over the room and only the crackling fire nearby could be heard.
I sighed deeply, annoyed by their obvious lack of brains.
"The numbers. She is new, talented but alone. No one would believe her or could prove that she could be right. In the end we will have the upper hand. We need to gather more information about her. One has to know one's enemy. Is there anything you might want to tell me?"
"She likes to read, I've seen her in the library a couple of times, my Lord," Rookwood said eagerly.
Rosier started to talk for the first time since the meeting started.
"The girls suddenly left her alone. My sister is very suspicious and tries to keep a close eye on her. She hasn't found out anything yet, though." I nodded, a girl spying on her would be very useful.
"Mulciber, do you want to get something off your chest ?" The boy was squirming under the look I gave him.
"I-I think she is...nice. Maybe she can be trusted. She could support us." He swallowed and his breath quickened.
"I don't think she will. Miss Crane has stated her opinion in a quiet determined manner." The ice in my voice made him flinch visibly.
"I think she must be related to a veela. That would explain a lot." Nott sounded convinced.
A chuckle escaped me, before I said: "I don't think so. I've seen a photograph of her mother and she didn't seem to be descended from one. Nor does her father, as you all know."
Nott gazed at the fireplace with a brooding expression, his face suddenly lit up and a smirk settled on his face.
"She might not want to join us, but we could make her loyal through different means." He glanced at the others, clearly animated by his idea.
"One of us could...well, court her. She is decent looking, from a good family and gifted. If she falls for one of us she'll have to support us."
I cocked my head to one side and put my sheer disbelief into words.
"Do you think you can make her compliant?"
The memory of her standing before me at the green houses crossed my mind. How she gazed at me, with calculating coldness, but also with a small spark gleaming in her eyes. It was a hunger for danger, I thought.
"Well, it is also a way to find out more about her. It could be a good solution. And if one of us wins her over, she'll have to obey." Lestrange could see no fault with his arguement and the other boy was glad to hear approval.
"You have my consent," I finally said after consideration. "Try, if you think you can manage this affair."
Mulciber's face showed his confusion even before he had asked.
"Aren't you...considering to...convince her yourself, my Lord," he stated carefully.
"No, why would I? Wasting my time like this would be ludicrous."
He let out the breath he was holding, relieved.
A week later...
"Medea, you have to wake up," Josephina spoke softly. Opening the eyes, I saw the light of the rising sun stream into the room. Slowly getting up, I watched Annis running around, searching for something like every morning. Hasper brushed her hair far longer than necessary and Belvina was looking over her homework a second time. I became used to this routine and was relieved that nothing had changed. A feeling in my gut told me that something was up, not knowing what it was made me even more paranoid.
I got out of bed and went to the bathroom, where most girls hurridly left after I entered, like every morning.
"There is a Hogsmead weekend coming up, you'll enjoy it, I think."
Belvina told me what shops one could find there and what I needed to see. The flicker of a smile on my lips, I was glad that she explained this in such a calm and unassuming way. I sat down between her and Josephina, who handed me scrambled eggs without asking first. She knew that I liked them best. I was feeling better, now that my father had left again. They hadn't found anything and settled for using strong defensive spells on the boarders. He didn't like that, of course. But he had left unwillingly to resume his other more pressing duties, looking gloomy.
After the duell, the girls grew even more afraid of me and many boys acted strange around me. They were intimidated, but most of Tom Riddle's bunch had been uncommonly friendly this past week. Saving seats next to them for me, offering to carry my bag and complimenting me. Tom Riddle himself had not said a word to me during this time, but I had caught amused glances a few times.
"Good morning, Crane. How are you today?" Lestrange had interrupted my thoughts and smiled politely at me. The blonde boy had something about him that I didn't like, not showing my dislike I beamed at him while I answered.
"Great, thank you. What about you?"
Smirking, he bluntly said: "Fantastic, considering the view." I faked a laugh and when he turned around rolled my eyes. Realising I was being watched, I turned around and met the gaze of an entertained seeming Riddle. Not willing to cause him any joy, I smiled provocative and winked at him. The effect was immediate, the corners of his mouth dropped and he looked at me with loathing. Making sure nobody would see, I blew him a kiss. He turned around with a bored expression, but I could see that he was very uncomfortable.
