"Is there anyone going to listen to my story, all about the girl who came to stay?"
*
One second, she was talking to Harry & Co, the next, she was in his face. "You're Draco Malfoy," Eileen decided. It was not a question, it was statement.
"Yeah," he said coldly, "What do you want? How did you even get into this house, Mudblood?"
Ignoring both questions, Eileen pushed on."We need to talk."
"About what?"
Eileen grunted something similar to "You'll see," but by now her attention was focused on Crabbe, who was sitting in the seat next to Draco, the seat she wanted.
"Do you think you could move for a minute?" she asked.
Crabbe didn't answer. He just sat there, looking as solid and immovable as a boulder.
Eileen flashed Crabbe a vicious look before sitting on his lap. She flipped a lock of her hair behind her ear, making sure to hit him in the face in the process. Turning to Draco, she began, "Okay, what I want to know is--"
"Hold on there," Draco interuppted, "what YOU want to know? We've sure as hell got a lot to ask you!"
"We...?" Just then, it dawned on Eileen that all Slytherin eyes were on her.
"For countless years, only the best people have populated this house," he snapped, "How is it that you, four years late and a Mudblood can just waltz right in here?"
"Ask the Sorting hat," Eileen shrugged. "I was wondering about that point, myself. In the begining, I was hoping I'd become a Ravenclaw, beacause, you know, Hufflepuff and Gryfiddor are so..." She made a face, and the Slytherins nodded, knowingly. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I'd actually make it here. Okay, okay," She smiled, and lowered her voice as if sharing a secret. "maybe in my very wildest ones, I'd picture myself here, under the symbol of the snake, learning and growing among some of the most talented young witches and wizards of today..." She drew a tear, and, twisted Crabbe's pinky, hard. He, too, drew a tear, and soon the entire population of the house was sobbing,as Eileen told the story of her pipe dream to be a Slytherin. "...And today, friends, I am here. I don't know how, I don't know why...but won't you accept me for who I am?" There was vibrant applause. Crabbe got up and offered the seat to Eileen, which she willingly accepted. She spent the next fifteen or so minutes, making inconsequential conversation with her new house mates. It was similar to the introductory session she'd had with her sister's friends, but with a sardonic edge. For the most part, she got a kick out of it.
All the while, Eileen was distinctly aware that she was not universally loved. In the gestures, and the eye movements of some, she could detect derision, condescension, fear. She found she was among people as subtle and clever as she, and deep down, she didn't like it. It is one thing to pull strings, and quite another to have the sinking feeling that somebody is pulling strings...and not exactly in your favor. Yet, in another way, she was glad she was put in Slytherin. It would be fun, she decided, to be among like minded people, if she played her cards right. However, she needed friends and allies in order to survive here, or she would be swallowed up. 'This could--this will--be vastly entertaining,' thought Eileen. She smiled.
Unpacking had to be done, so Eileen had to leave early. Crabbe was eager to regain his seat. Just before leaving, she grabbed Draco by his collar.
"We've still got to have that talk," she whispered.
He turned around, looking startled.
"Scared?" she said aloud, grinning like a barracuda.
Gathering his senses, Draco retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "Of what? You?"
Eileen just smiled mysteriously. She leaned forward, until her face was just centimeters from his. "Midnight in front of the common room. Be there."
In a louder tone she added, "Bye, Racco!"
"Wha...don't call me that!" he shouted after her. But she was already out of earshot.
***
"She's the kind of girl you want so much it makes you sorry, still you don't regret a single day..."
*
Draco lay awake that night, waiting. He knew he wouldn't wake up at midnight if he set his alarm. Besides, he wasn't at all sleepy. His mind was busy. Thinking, thinking....who was he kidding? He was thinking mostly of her, of course, the other Granger girl. And he hated it.
Why was it always the WRONG girls that got stuck in his head? First, it was a lovely Hufflepuff brunette. He'd liked her for a year or so, but whoever heard of a Slytherin going out with a Hufflepuff? It would be even more ridiculous than going out with a Gryffidor, though not nearly as contriversial. Oh, and of course he'd picked one of those next! 'Hermione...figures I'd go for Potter's best friend.' Draco thought, bitterly.
His family whole heartedly endorsed his relationship with Pansy, which was a major turn-off. Still, he had to admit she was good to look at, and great for experimentation, if slightly...irritating. She was everywhere, there was no escaping her. Just the sight of her blonde hair at the other end of a hall...hair...hair...
Then Draco's mind set drifted entirely, 'Hair. She had such lovely hair. Dark, just a beautiful curtian of dark, with just a bit of curl at the end. She would toss it every once in a while, right in Crabbe's face, that lucky bastard. And the way she talked to me was so...different from other people. Less respectful, yeah, but I like it. That smile of hers, she'd use it a lot, a mysterious Mona Lisa sort of smile. Yes, she uses it. She's brilliant in a devious sort of way. She's absolutely brilliant...'
Draco bit his lip hard enough to squeeze out all thoughts but those of pain. He scolded himself for picking yet another fish he could never catch. And for being so damned sappy about it this time. Opening his eyes wide, he looked over at the clock. It was a quarter to twelve. He felt himself getting out of bed, checking his image in the mirror, and silently leaving the room, as if by instinct.
***
Eileen looked her new roommate in the eye. "Hello,"
The girl nodded, and said, "Hey. My name's Sadie. It's short for Susannah." Seeing Eileen's confused look, she continued. "I'm not really sure how my parents got Sadie out of Susannah either."
"Did you have a roommate at all this year?"
"Yeah," Sadie said begrudgingly. She didn't feel like talking to this weird newcomer. Eileen took the hint, and went back to organizing her desk exactly how she had it had it at home.
Ten minutes later, Sadie walked over to Eileen. "I'm tired. Do you think we could turn off the lights now?"
Eileen looked at the wall clock. It was a whole half hour before lights out. What the heck was this Sadie trying to do? Well, if this was a test, then she planned to get an A. "Sure," said Eileen sweetly, "As long as you don't mind the light from the bathroom. Oh, and I may make some noise moving about, but I'll try to be quiet." She turned off the lights. "Night, Sadie."
Eileen went into the bathroom. She wet her face, shook it, and slowly patted it dry. Scrutinizing her apperance in the mirror, she decided she looked a little haggard. Yawning, she considered going to bed then and there. It had been a long day, and she needed her beauty rest. Why had she made that meeting for tonight, anyway? It was a stupid, spur of the moment move. 'There you go,' Eileen muttered to herself, 'further proof that spontaniatenty leads to ruination.'
That cocky little elitist Draco might not even show up, Eileen considered. She kicked something, probably the garbage can, but she didn't bother looking down to make sure. He represented everything about the wizarding world that she hated. If she didn't need that information so, the information that she was positive he had, she might have abandoned the entire affair.
And if he did show up, would he tell her?
Eileen sighed. She continued her customary nighttime bathroom activities, loudly enough to annoy Sadie. Then, she looked up at the mirror. It had darkened, somehow, and her own reflection had become vauge. She leaned forward, curious, but unafraid
The mirror began to speak. "Do not be frightened, my child."
"Don't worry, I'm fine,thankyouverymuch," Eileen said, skeptically, "and I'm not your child."
She put a soundproofing charm on the room, knowing it was probably against one rule or another. The mirror continued. "We have been watching you. We have seen your progress. And we are impressed. Quite so. Now we would like to offer you an invitation. An invitation to join some of the greatest witches and wizards of the world today in serving our Lord--"
"Hell, no!" cried Eileen, "I don't want to serve some half-dead evil guy! Neither should you. Can't you see it's folks like you keeping his being alive? Can't you see he's using you?"
"There will be great rewards--"
"--that's what he tells you," Eileen snapped, trying to somehow make eye contact with the mirror. "but you're just a pawn. Nothing more. You mean nothing to him. Your life...what's your life but something to be sacrificed towards his cause?"
The mirror was silent.
"Nothing. Nothing at all. Don't you want more?"
No answer.
"Isn't there more to your life? Don't you want there to be?"
Eileen took the stainless steel plunger from its position next to the toilet. She smashed it into the mirror, one, two, three times. Panting, she placed it on the ground, and watched the sharp pieces. They were still dark.
Then, before her, a form started to Apperate slowly. As it became more and more distinct, the glass on the floor became lighter and lighter. Finally, a fully present little man was before her on the ground. He wore a brown cloak, and clutched his wand tightly.
"Look up," Eileen ordered.
He did, reluctantly. She examined his face. "You're Peter Pettigrew, aren't you?"
The little man didn't answer.
"Aren't you?" she growled, squatting down so she could look him forcefully in the eyes.
"It doesn't matter who I am," he said quietly.
Suddenly, she grabbed for his wand. It was an unexpected move, and his arms were weak, so she easily overpowered him. "Aren't you?" she asked, in a mockingly sweet tone.
"All right," the little man admitted.
"Thank you." Most sympathetically, she added. "Now, I'm really sorry, but I have to leave you here. I've got a meeting at midnight, with the son of one of your colleagues. A quite important one, if I'm not mistaken."
"Malfoy?"
"Now, do you really think I'm going to tell you that, honey?" She laughed." I'm going to take this with me." Eileen gestured toward Pettigrew's wand. "And I'm going to leave my familiar with you, just in case you DO happen to get up to no good."
She opened the door to the bedroom. "Here, kitty, kitty," A tiny calico cat appeared. "This is Trotsky. He's a real sweetheart. But don't mess with him, because those claws are sharp!"
As Eileen locked the door to the bathroom from the outside, she couldn't resist adding a sarcastic "Have fun!"
A/N- I haven't been on all summer...I've been really busy. Now that I'm back, there'll be updates much more often. Thanks for reading this chapter, and I'd appricate it if you'd leave a review behind. Suggestions, comments, flames? Put it all in! Don't worry about insulting me...I've got sunshine in a bag, after all. Abstract lyric refrence to "Clint Eastwood" in case you're confused. And the song lyrics in the story? They're from the Beatles song, "Girl". This chapter's kinda contrived, but trust me, the next one's full of twists and turns. Lotsa love ~Eleanor
*
One second, she was talking to Harry & Co, the next, she was in his face. "You're Draco Malfoy," Eileen decided. It was not a question, it was statement.
"Yeah," he said coldly, "What do you want? How did you even get into this house, Mudblood?"
Ignoring both questions, Eileen pushed on."We need to talk."
"About what?"
Eileen grunted something similar to "You'll see," but by now her attention was focused on Crabbe, who was sitting in the seat next to Draco, the seat she wanted.
"Do you think you could move for a minute?" she asked.
Crabbe didn't answer. He just sat there, looking as solid and immovable as a boulder.
Eileen flashed Crabbe a vicious look before sitting on his lap. She flipped a lock of her hair behind her ear, making sure to hit him in the face in the process. Turning to Draco, she began, "Okay, what I want to know is--"
"Hold on there," Draco interuppted, "what YOU want to know? We've sure as hell got a lot to ask you!"
"We...?" Just then, it dawned on Eileen that all Slytherin eyes were on her.
"For countless years, only the best people have populated this house," he snapped, "How is it that you, four years late and a Mudblood can just waltz right in here?"
"Ask the Sorting hat," Eileen shrugged. "I was wondering about that point, myself. In the begining, I was hoping I'd become a Ravenclaw, beacause, you know, Hufflepuff and Gryfiddor are so..." She made a face, and the Slytherins nodded, knowingly. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I'd actually make it here. Okay, okay," She smiled, and lowered her voice as if sharing a secret. "maybe in my very wildest ones, I'd picture myself here, under the symbol of the snake, learning and growing among some of the most talented young witches and wizards of today..." She drew a tear, and, twisted Crabbe's pinky, hard. He, too, drew a tear, and soon the entire population of the house was sobbing,as Eileen told the story of her pipe dream to be a Slytherin. "...And today, friends, I am here. I don't know how, I don't know why...but won't you accept me for who I am?" There was vibrant applause. Crabbe got up and offered the seat to Eileen, which she willingly accepted. She spent the next fifteen or so minutes, making inconsequential conversation with her new house mates. It was similar to the introductory session she'd had with her sister's friends, but with a sardonic edge. For the most part, she got a kick out of it.
All the while, Eileen was distinctly aware that she was not universally loved. In the gestures, and the eye movements of some, she could detect derision, condescension, fear. She found she was among people as subtle and clever as she, and deep down, she didn't like it. It is one thing to pull strings, and quite another to have the sinking feeling that somebody is pulling strings...and not exactly in your favor. Yet, in another way, she was glad she was put in Slytherin. It would be fun, she decided, to be among like minded people, if she played her cards right. However, she needed friends and allies in order to survive here, or she would be swallowed up. 'This could--this will--be vastly entertaining,' thought Eileen. She smiled.
Unpacking had to be done, so Eileen had to leave early. Crabbe was eager to regain his seat. Just before leaving, she grabbed Draco by his collar.
"We've still got to have that talk," she whispered.
He turned around, looking startled.
"Scared?" she said aloud, grinning like a barracuda.
Gathering his senses, Draco retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "Of what? You?"
Eileen just smiled mysteriously. She leaned forward, until her face was just centimeters from his. "Midnight in front of the common room. Be there."
In a louder tone she added, "Bye, Racco!"
"Wha...don't call me that!" he shouted after her. But she was already out of earshot.
***
"She's the kind of girl you want so much it makes you sorry, still you don't regret a single day..."
*
Draco lay awake that night, waiting. He knew he wouldn't wake up at midnight if he set his alarm. Besides, he wasn't at all sleepy. His mind was busy. Thinking, thinking....who was he kidding? He was thinking mostly of her, of course, the other Granger girl. And he hated it.
Why was it always the WRONG girls that got stuck in his head? First, it was a lovely Hufflepuff brunette. He'd liked her for a year or so, but whoever heard of a Slytherin going out with a Hufflepuff? It would be even more ridiculous than going out with a Gryffidor, though not nearly as contriversial. Oh, and of course he'd picked one of those next! 'Hermione...figures I'd go for Potter's best friend.' Draco thought, bitterly.
His family whole heartedly endorsed his relationship with Pansy, which was a major turn-off. Still, he had to admit she was good to look at, and great for experimentation, if slightly...irritating. She was everywhere, there was no escaping her. Just the sight of her blonde hair at the other end of a hall...hair...hair...
Then Draco's mind set drifted entirely, 'Hair. She had such lovely hair. Dark, just a beautiful curtian of dark, with just a bit of curl at the end. She would toss it every once in a while, right in Crabbe's face, that lucky bastard. And the way she talked to me was so...different from other people. Less respectful, yeah, but I like it. That smile of hers, she'd use it a lot, a mysterious Mona Lisa sort of smile. Yes, she uses it. She's brilliant in a devious sort of way. She's absolutely brilliant...'
Draco bit his lip hard enough to squeeze out all thoughts but those of pain. He scolded himself for picking yet another fish he could never catch. And for being so damned sappy about it this time. Opening his eyes wide, he looked over at the clock. It was a quarter to twelve. He felt himself getting out of bed, checking his image in the mirror, and silently leaving the room, as if by instinct.
***
Eileen looked her new roommate in the eye. "Hello,"
The girl nodded, and said, "Hey. My name's Sadie. It's short for Susannah." Seeing Eileen's confused look, she continued. "I'm not really sure how my parents got Sadie out of Susannah either."
"Did you have a roommate at all this year?"
"Yeah," Sadie said begrudgingly. She didn't feel like talking to this weird newcomer. Eileen took the hint, and went back to organizing her desk exactly how she had it had it at home.
Ten minutes later, Sadie walked over to Eileen. "I'm tired. Do you think we could turn off the lights now?"
Eileen looked at the wall clock. It was a whole half hour before lights out. What the heck was this Sadie trying to do? Well, if this was a test, then she planned to get an A. "Sure," said Eileen sweetly, "As long as you don't mind the light from the bathroom. Oh, and I may make some noise moving about, but I'll try to be quiet." She turned off the lights. "Night, Sadie."
Eileen went into the bathroom. She wet her face, shook it, and slowly patted it dry. Scrutinizing her apperance in the mirror, she decided she looked a little haggard. Yawning, she considered going to bed then and there. It had been a long day, and she needed her beauty rest. Why had she made that meeting for tonight, anyway? It was a stupid, spur of the moment move. 'There you go,' Eileen muttered to herself, 'further proof that spontaniatenty leads to ruination.'
That cocky little elitist Draco might not even show up, Eileen considered. She kicked something, probably the garbage can, but she didn't bother looking down to make sure. He represented everything about the wizarding world that she hated. If she didn't need that information so, the information that she was positive he had, she might have abandoned the entire affair.
And if he did show up, would he tell her?
Eileen sighed. She continued her customary nighttime bathroom activities, loudly enough to annoy Sadie. Then, she looked up at the mirror. It had darkened, somehow, and her own reflection had become vauge. She leaned forward, curious, but unafraid
The mirror began to speak. "Do not be frightened, my child."
"Don't worry, I'm fine,thankyouverymuch," Eileen said, skeptically, "and I'm not your child."
She put a soundproofing charm on the room, knowing it was probably against one rule or another. The mirror continued. "We have been watching you. We have seen your progress. And we are impressed. Quite so. Now we would like to offer you an invitation. An invitation to join some of the greatest witches and wizards of the world today in serving our Lord--"
"Hell, no!" cried Eileen, "I don't want to serve some half-dead evil guy! Neither should you. Can't you see it's folks like you keeping his being alive? Can't you see he's using you?"
"There will be great rewards--"
"--that's what he tells you," Eileen snapped, trying to somehow make eye contact with the mirror. "but you're just a pawn. Nothing more. You mean nothing to him. Your life...what's your life but something to be sacrificed towards his cause?"
The mirror was silent.
"Nothing. Nothing at all. Don't you want more?"
No answer.
"Isn't there more to your life? Don't you want there to be?"
Eileen took the stainless steel plunger from its position next to the toilet. She smashed it into the mirror, one, two, three times. Panting, she placed it on the ground, and watched the sharp pieces. They were still dark.
Then, before her, a form started to Apperate slowly. As it became more and more distinct, the glass on the floor became lighter and lighter. Finally, a fully present little man was before her on the ground. He wore a brown cloak, and clutched his wand tightly.
"Look up," Eileen ordered.
He did, reluctantly. She examined his face. "You're Peter Pettigrew, aren't you?"
The little man didn't answer.
"Aren't you?" she growled, squatting down so she could look him forcefully in the eyes.
"It doesn't matter who I am," he said quietly.
Suddenly, she grabbed for his wand. It was an unexpected move, and his arms were weak, so she easily overpowered him. "Aren't you?" she asked, in a mockingly sweet tone.
"All right," the little man admitted.
"Thank you." Most sympathetically, she added. "Now, I'm really sorry, but I have to leave you here. I've got a meeting at midnight, with the son of one of your colleagues. A quite important one, if I'm not mistaken."
"Malfoy?"
"Now, do you really think I'm going to tell you that, honey?" She laughed." I'm going to take this with me." Eileen gestured toward Pettigrew's wand. "And I'm going to leave my familiar with you, just in case you DO happen to get up to no good."
She opened the door to the bedroom. "Here, kitty, kitty," A tiny calico cat appeared. "This is Trotsky. He's a real sweetheart. But don't mess with him, because those claws are sharp!"
As Eileen locked the door to the bathroom from the outside, she couldn't resist adding a sarcastic "Have fun!"
A/N- I haven't been on all summer...I've been really busy. Now that I'm back, there'll be updates much more often. Thanks for reading this chapter, and I'd appricate it if you'd leave a review behind. Suggestions, comments, flames? Put it all in! Don't worry about insulting me...I've got sunshine in a bag, after all. Abstract lyric refrence to "Clint Eastwood" in case you're confused. And the song lyrics in the story? They're from the Beatles song, "Girl". This chapter's kinda contrived, but trust me, the next one's full of twists and turns. Lotsa love ~Eleanor