Hey, there!
I know that this isn't an official chapter so this technically shouldn't be up here but I need input from you—the people that actually seem to read my work for reasons I can't figure out.
Corinne Wyncrest is a powerful figure. When she's older, she'll be extremely powerful, both magically and politically. I'll admit that she's a little OP but, to survive and be worth mentioning in the HP universe and in the universe I've created for her within HP, most everyone has a trait that makes them shine.
My question to you is this: who do you think is man (or woman) enough to step up and be her equal? Who do you, the readers, want to see her eventually stumble her way into a relationship with. This will be a slow and arduous task of having my little Slytherin fall in and out of love (I love some drama every now and then) so don't expect she'll wake up, realize she loves so-and-so, and they get married the next month. Not gonna happen.
I want you to know that not everyone in the HP universe is fair game. I'm not sticking her with Snape, for example. He's her head of house. It'd be weird and I'm not budging on that one. Other no-nos would be Tom Riddle/Voldemort. She's made it pretty clear that she's not going down that particular evil path and, with the diary destroyed, all of the remaining soul-bits are a little too old for my innocent-ish little third year.
On the other hand, most people outside of the HP universe are fair game. If you give me a character from a story I know and like, I might make an OC based on that character and let that particular drama unfold in its own weird twist.
Basically, if it's not drastically out of character for the character progression I've charted for cor, I can do it. For simplicity's sake, let's say the age line is ten years older than Cor and three years younger—anyone between Bill Weasley and Dennis Creevey is fair game. Girl, boy, centaur, whatever you want. Pick predictable or weird and I'll take a look at my options.
Note: having the most votes to one character will not ensure that that is the character that ultimately winds up with Cor. Because almost anyone is up for grabs, I'm relying on you to do something. Either PM more or put in a review at this story and let me know who you think Cor should end up with. Pick up to five characters and try to tell me why you think it'd be a good/funny/dysfunctional match. Even if you just think they'd look nice in a photograph together, let me know why. It might influence my feelings toward the pair.
The fun is in reading the journey, not the destination, so get voting!
(Just in case someone decides to be persnickety and flag this chapter as an A/N, here's an itty-bitty one-shot for you!)
The train compartment was silent for a long moment as my eyes measured my company. There were three other will-be first years in the compartment and I could readily identify each of them as future Slytherins: Daphne Greengrass, Blaise Zabini, and Theodore Nott. Out of the four of us, I was the only unknown.
Information. I needed information. These were not people to make enemies of.
Daphne Greengrass. She and I had grown up together, but were not close. She and I were both heiresses to old families, though her title was likely to be transferred to her husband when they married. Greengrass was a patriarchal family and, unless stipulated otherwise in a betrothal contract, it would continue to be so. She was intelligent and charming, two traits needed to survive in high society, but her name didn't carry much weight. Her family had money and they were an old family but they had lost many connections by actively fighting in the war against Grindelwald and lost even more by remaining neutral in the war against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. She was tenacious and decisive but, ultimately, would likely be a follower of the strongest in her friend group.
Blaise Zabini. Not a member of an old family but he had money. His mother knew how to marry expertly and, though she'd only just moved on from the last husband, it was clear to everyone that she was a black widow. She was a beautiful woman, as I knew from the many social gatherings she had stalked, but I would be rather worried for anyone who caught her eye. Blaise was innocent of the scheme from what I knew. He was a sociable boy and, for the most part, wasn't hard to make an enemy out of. With his mom courting a different flavor each week, he probably felt it best to remain unconcerned. With his easy-going personality, he was likely to bridge friend groups and smooth relations. From what Bass told me of Slytherin, he'd need all his charm to survive.
Theodore Nott. I didn't have much on him, admittedly. He was notoriously shy despite his father throwing him into the best of circles. Lord Nott wasn't a man to be trifled with, especially given the suspicions surrounding his activities in the war against the Dark Lord, but he was very keen on maintaining his family's name and power. After the death of his mother, the younger Nott had seemed content to shrink away from society. As a loner, Theo shouldn't be affected too much from his house standing. He ignored others by choice rather than necessity and, when his father passed him the lordship, it will only be those who befriended him by choice that earn his favor.
It bothered me that I had so much information and experience with these people but absolutely nothing to talk about. Daphne hated Quidditch, Blaise knew nothing about potions, and Theo had hardly said two words to me since he had sat down. I couldn't ask about Hogwarts houses as every one of them was likely to be sorted into Slytherin and, after saying such, we'd fall into silence again. I needed an avenue of conversation, not chit chat.
At this rate, I wouldn't even be able to be sorted into Hufflepuff, where friendship was lifted on a pedestal.
My mouth was dry as I fiddled with the seat cushion, distracting myself unsuccessfully.
I didn't need friends. I needed allies. If I didn't get allies fast, I was dead in the water.
"So..." I forced my hesitation to be brief. I couldn't let them think I was fishing for something to say, even if I was. "What subjects are you guys most interested in?"
"Transfiguration," Daphne said, offering me a lifeline. I took it gratefully, even if I refused to show it in my eyes, and immediately jumped into a conversation about our upcoming school schedules.
Daphne Greengrass... She might not be very well connected anymore, but she's already made one good move in my book. I'll have to return that favor one day.