It was five to six when I made it down to the Entrance Hall. I descended the grand staircase, overlooking a sea of black robes. The doors to the Great Hall were closed and it seemed the entirety of the returning student body was congregated here. I slipped down into the crowd of waiting, hungry bodies- I thought I had gone unnoticed, but no such luck. Both of my arms were seized.
"Come on," Orion said, grinning that wicked, easy smile of his as he and Cygnus lifted me off my feet and hauled me back up the staircase, the soles of my shoes dragging roughly over the flagstones. We stood above the heads of the students, I tried to pull myself free, but they both just chuckled and held me tighter.
A bang was let off and suddenly the crowd parted. Cassiopeia walked straight down the middle of the newly formed causeway. She flashed her trademark smile, dangerous yet enticing. Even I couldn't help but be in awe of her presence.
As the students realised exactly who was gathering their attention, a hush fell over the room. I doubted even the headmaster could get a response that quickly.
She stood next to Orion, her grey eyes scanning the crowd critically. I could see people shuffle uneasily under piercing gaze.
"Welcome back," she said slowly, as if she was regarding every one of them individually. She wasn't even raising her voice, yet it carried and every student heard. "May I introduce, Poppy Black."
I thanked all the gods that I was not the kind to blush; instead I succeeded in looking haughty and impressive. Just like a proper Black. Or so I hoped.
"She is a fifth year, she is a Ravenclaw and most importantly she is my cousin," Cassie announced. "Do I make myself clear?" She cast an eye over the room again, an eyebrow raised in challenge.
The threat was clear.
There was silence.
"Excellent," she said shortly, stepping down from her podium.
Had it been anyone else who had made that speech, I was sure they would have been hexed. But I was getting the distinct impression that Cassiopeia Black ran this school. I could feel all eyes on me as Orion and Cygnus accompanied me down the steps.
"There we are," Cassie said with self-satisfaction.
"What was that about?" I demanded.
"Now everyone in this school is aware of you, well except the first years of course. They all know you are a Black and therefore you are under that protection," she replied.
"Also every male in this hall can't take his eyes off you," Cygnus pointed out, smirking as he surveyed the room, giving menacing grimaces to any male he caught gawping. I suddenly felt self-conscious.
"First rule of Hogwarts, everyone must know you are beautiful," Cassie started. "Check."
"Second, they must know you are untouchable, check," Orion contributed. "Third they must know you are intelligent, after a day of classes that will be ticked off the list."
"And forth," Cassie said, smiling wickedly and leaning in closer. "Every male in the student body must be driven wild with jealously when you date the biggest bloody idiot in the school. Everyone will sympathise once it ends, after all you're new, how were you supposed to know? And in the future, when you need certain…connections, every man in the building will remember how they held a torch for you and your poor little broken heart."
"Cue Abraxas Malfoy," Cygnus said with a grin. "He's a good friend of ours, nice guy really but the worst womaniser in the school."
"Not to mention easy to manipulate," Cassie added with a growing smirk. "Act cold and he will flock to you, he likes them hard to get and you my dear are a shiny new toy he won't be able to resist." She lifted a hand to my check, stoking it softly with the backs of her fingers.
A show of affection and dominance I did not miss.
"Brilliant," I had to admit. "Very Black."
The three laughed, and Cassie rocked onto her tiptoes, seeking out our other relations in the throng. Before she found anyone else, the doors to the Great Hall opened. I was one of the first in, so I sat as elegantly as I could at the Ravenclaw table and tried not to look too desperate for company.
Thankfully, other fifth and sixth years huddled around me, wanting to meet the new girl I supposed.
"You must be Miss Black?" one boy said by way of greeting. "Do you mind if we join you?" he motioned to his friends.
"Not at all," I said, almost gratefully, extending my hand. "It's lovely to meet you, please call me Poppy."
"Casper Crouch," he replied, brushing his lips against my hand and taking a seat next to me. "This is Henry Boot, Lizzie Turpin, Bradley Clearwater and Hazel Hemsley."
Anything more than introductions were interrupted by the sorting, I watched it, but no name I recognised from the future was called, so it was hardly interesting. Dinner couldn't come soon enough.
"Your cousin Charis, has told me about you Poppy," Casper said, making conversation as he passed the bowl of roast potatoes.
"Really? All horrible I hope."
"Of course," he laughed.
"Go on Casper," Henry teased, elbowing his friend in the ribs. "Ask her if dear Charis had talked about you." Casper went a faint shade of pink under his light brown hair and shot a stern look at his friend.
"Boys," Lizzie chided. "It's the first day back, can we save it?"
Lizzie then steered the conversation away from me, which I was thankful for. It was as if she could sense I was becoming uncomfortable. It looked like it was easy to become fond of Lizzie, she had a knack of stopping tiffs from escalating. An understanding smile lit up her round, kind face as she passed me the gravy.
It turned out Hazel was the gossip of Ravenclaw tower.
"So do you want to know about everyone?" she asked rapturously, her eyes lighting up. "First you should know about the Slytherins, they're the most dangerous," she said without waiting for an answer.
"You see Cassiopeia?" I nodded. "Next to her, is Raimond Lestrange."
"Prince Raimond," Henry said, rolling his eyes.
"He's French," Lizzie contributed casually. "Son of the High Duke and Duchess of Bordeaux and seventh year prefect."
"He's descended from royalty," Hazel explained, flipping her dark red hair over her shoulder, as if this was the most delicious gossip on offer. "Rumour has it, he has special magic." She raised her eyebrows, eyes wide.
The others sniggered into their plates.
"What kind of magic?" I couldn't help but ask. Lizzie dissolved into giggles, covering her mouth with her hand. Hazel shot her an irritated look and leaned closer to me.
"Powers of seduction and romance," she whispered seriously, sending a look in his direction. I supressed a smirk and widened my eyes, in a way that seemed to appease Hazel. She nodded, eyes wide as she helped herself to broccoli.
I caught Lizzie's eye and had to hide my smirk in my goblet.
I looked over to the Slytherin table, sure enough Lestrange was sitting next to Cassie, drinking deeply from a gilded goblet. Just as my gaze fell on him, he looked up and our gazes locked, a shiver was sent down my spine.
Special powers eh? So not to embarrass myself with him thinking I was staring at him, I tilted my head to the left. He nudged Cassie with his elbow and we exchanged smiles. She sent me look which obviously asked.
'Is everyone being nice to you over there?'
I smiled in return.
"Next to him is Abraxas Malfoy," Hazel said, rattling off some gossip about how much of a serial flirt he was.
"Now before you ask, yes, it would seem that Slytherin has more than their fair share of completely flawless male specimens. And there is Tom Riddle and he's no exception," she said, my attention was immediately regained. "He's super smart, and a prefect."
"You want to stay away from that one," Henry said, suddenly serious. "He's into the dark arts."
"And he hates everyone," Hazel added brightly. "Well everyone except, the Blacks, Malfoy, Lestrange and Greengrass anyway."
"How can you tell with Greengrass?" Henry asked, rolling his eyes.
"The ice queen of Slytherin," Hazel informed her.
"And when you meet the rest of that house you'll know she up against fierce competition on that front," Henry added with a grin.
"So have they squeezed another bed in our dorm then?" Lizzie asked over pudding.
"No there wasn't really any room," I lied smoothly. "They've put me in a room of my own on the first years' floor."
"Yay," I added sarcastically.
It had the affect I was looking for.
"Oh you poor thing," Lizzie sighed. "You must come and hang out in our dorm all the time; we wouldn't want you getting lonely." I smiled in thanks, but also because I successfully broached the subject of not sharing without my housemates without inciting jealousy.
Cassie, as promised swooped on me as I left the hall.
"To the kitchens, my darling," she instructed, linking our arms together as we strolled down to the basement. Neither of us were unaccustomed to house elves so the kitchens weren't that impressive but knowing their location and making friends with an elf or two was imperative to the success of a Hogwarts education.
As promised she showed me to the Black common room it was basic, but I could appreciate the privacy it would offer when there were familial matters to discuss.
Cassie was walking me back to the tower when we heard a shout.
"Cassiopeia!"
We turned as a broad shouldered, Gryffindor caught up with us. I noticed the head boy badge on his robes.
"Charlus," she replied cordially, though her tone suggested she was put out by his company.
"This is my cousin Poppy Black. Poppy this is Charlus Potter."
He didn't look like I would have expected. He was muscled and strong with hazel eyes and honey blonde hair.
"Pleasure," I said quietly, trying to ignoring how he towered over me.
"It's all mine," he said hurriedly, brushing his lips over my hand.
"Forgive me but this is important, Orion and Cygnus are causing havoc again," he said, breathing heavily. "They've locked all the first years out of your common room and are scaring them silly. Slughorn said to get you immediately."
So Potter must have run all the way from the dungeons. And Slughorn was so incompetent he needed Cassie to sort out a bout of pranking? How pathetic.
"Bloody hell," Cassie muttered under her breath. "Poppy I apologize; can you find your way to the tower from here?"
"Of course, I came this way to the feast," I replied. Cassie gave me an apologetic look and took off with Charlus to the dungeons.
Cassie had barely turned the corner when someone else joined me in that corridor on the second floor.
I wasn't expecting to hear a deep, velvety voice calling out to me and that is what caught me off guard.
"What are you doing out of bed?"
I got shivers up and down my spine as those simple syllables resonated in the cold stone walls. His tone was rich, his articulation refined. One look told me all I need to know about who had found me.
Tom Riddle.
I never counted on his voice having the ability to melt my bones where I stood. I quickly shook off the pleasant honey haze which clouded my mind and turned toward him.
"Cassiopeia was showing me my classroom for tomorrow morning, so I wouldn't get lost and be late."
Of course the castle was more familiar to me than the back of my hand so I had no problems finding lessons really.
I held my head high, showed no signs of intimidation.
"Ah," he said, recognition in his dark eyes. "And where is Cassiopeia now?" He was advancing on me. I couldn't help but analyse his walk. There was something in the set of his shoulders and his piercing dark stare which made him look predatory. I refused to be his prey.
"Charlus came to get her, Orion and Cygnus are causing trouble with the first years in the dungeons," I said, unaffected.
"And she left you here, all alone?" he asked, his concern was false and mocking.
"I had time to look around this afternoon, and I have been told about every inch of this castle from my cousins," I replied, realising halfway through I sounded defensive.
"It takes first years weeks to learn to find breakfast," he pointed out accusingly, eyes narrowed as he watched my reaction. His eyes were dark, like mine, almost black. But his burned.
"I am not eleven years old," I replied haughtily, crossing my arms over my chest.
"Nevertheless I shall accompany you to Ravenclaw tower," he stated. It was clear that was not a request, and it would be foolish to argue with him.
"Thank you very much," I replied instead, giving him a bright, mocking smile. "After you?"
Tom walked leisurely, like he owned the school. Which to an extent I suppose he did, or at least he would. For now it was Cassie who reigned supreme. It was her domain and only people she saw fit had any influence. But she was leaving at the end of the year; surely Tom would be her successor?
"I must apologize for my rudeness," he said eventually. Though he didn't sound very sorry at all, he sounded bored and mildly irritated, as though I had in some way forced this inconvenience upon him. "I did not even tell you my name. Tom Marvolo Riddle."
"Poppy Black," I replied.
"Pleasure," he replied curtly. I noticed he didn't go to kiss my hand, so I didn't offer it. It seemed Tom Riddle was not one to bow to the customs.
"Forgive me if I am intruding, but Poppy does not sound like a Black name to me," he said astutely.
I stopped in my tracks, fixing him with a cold look.
"I am a love child, Mr Riddle," I said bitterly, yet I refused to be ashamed. "My grandparents would not stand for me being named by convention."
Tom did not reply, he just looked at me, his brow slightly furrowed. He was judging me-that I could see. But for my parentage or my boldness? I didn't know. And I didn't care.
But Merlin he was attractive, and I hated my mind for choosing to acknowledge it at this moment in time.
"I'll find my way from here Mr Riddle," I said haughtily. "Goodnight."
And without another look at him, -and more importantly, definitely not a single thought about his sweeping dark hair- I went to bed.
(A/N- the customs I have developed for this story include a social hierarchy and magical-political history which will be explained in future chapters- which includes a French dissolved monarchy. The nature of the aristocracy is on the brink of changing during the beginning of this story, and therefore the current customs are dealt with as the leadership of magical Britain –referred to as Britannia by wizards- changes. I have also used the word 'cousin' to mean any cousins of varying degrees of relatedness (second, third, once removed etc.) and to mean other close family members. For example, Cassiopeia is Walburga's aunt, but they would still refer to each other as cousin. I am basically using it to mean people of the same relative age group within a House. The House is the family you 'belong' to now, either because you are male and this has not changed since birth, or through marriage or adoption. Your Clan is the house you were born into. For example, Orion and Lucretia's mother's full title would be The Lady Melania of House Black and Clan McMillan.)