Chapter 7 - The Pressure of Pure Bloods
Meissa spent most of breakfast in the Great Hall glaring over at Leighton Hayes, who seemed to be giving a performance to a group of his Gryffindor cronies. He melodramatically motioned clutching his face. She gritted her teeth, wanting to know exactly what his little story was about. Wanting revenge.
Once again vicious hisses were travelling down the table, perhaps because Tabby and Alex had joined her in staring at the whirling contents of her cereal bowl. 'Claude is studying' Tabby told her darkly, as though the prospect was unthinkable. She smirked as he waved at a Slytherin a few seats away, the one Meissa had a feeling had been hanging upside down above their table only last night. She intended to take Snape up on his word, and with this thought went back to happily dwelling on which way to curse Hayes first.
After slipping a dusty book into her bag unbeknownst to Madam Pince, whom Meissa expected would have been quite reluctant to lend her the book, Meissa knew she had a way of Making Hayes regret ever setting eyes on her.
Now all she had to do was wait... for the perfect time. It happened in the corridors as students rushed off to their next lesson. Meissa was on her way to Charms. She had been in a world of her own thinking about Lucien when a glitter of sparks shot past her. She dropped her bag instantly as students scattered - obviously prepared to bet that the Lestrange girl was not someone to be cursed easily - they were right. Pulling out her wand, she hissed under her breath. Hayes had been in the middle of laughing when it happened. Slowly it became apparent that his voice was gone, and a silence fell over the corridor as it dawned on students how powerful this charm of Meissa's had been.
'What's wrong Hayes' she shrieked with delight 'Lost your tongue - hey now there's a good idea'. For most of the students - who had never heard her utter two words before - this was perhaps even more bizarre than the now panicking Hayes. It just so happened that Snape was making his way down the corridor. 'What's this commotion' she heard him hiss dangerously at Claudia and the others - who completely ignored him as they were too involved with the situation at hand. Hayes motioned painfully to Snape, whose mouth twitched slightly, then he rounded on Meissa. 'Silence is Golden' she muttered quietly before he could speak, once again meeting his gaze as no other student could.
'Miss Lestrange - perhaps another Detention will put a stopper to these-' Snape seemed to contemplate how best to phrase his next words 'public performances' he finished. An excited babble had broken out in the corridor, though it was silenced with one stare from Snape. Claude and the others were doubled in silent laughter behind Snape, and Meissa had to fight to keep her face straight as she stare dup into his hollow gaze.
Despite herself, she found that she liked Snape far more than any other professor, even if he had given her two Detentions in a week. She sighed as she made her way down the steps leading to the dungeon. Snape was pacing the room when she entered. He pointed at a chair in front of his desk and she sat, facing him. 'Well, it seems you at least took my little bit of advice - Lestrange can I remind you that if you keep on attacking your class mates I shall have to use higher methods of discipline - perhaps a report to the Headmaster' Snape's voice was hinted ever-so-slightly with sarcasm , Meissa could have sworn he had exchanged a significant look with her but she would never be sure 'What is it that is bothering you so much?' Snape asked, now leaning forward with one hand propped under his chin.
She bit her lip and squared her shoulders. 'It's personal' she mumbled. His eyes flashed dangerously. 'Lestrange! As you Head of House I demand an explanation for your behaviour' his voice had lost its silkiness now.
She glared up at him through her dark hair, and he was forcefully reminded of Sirius Black. He leaned forward, barely whispering. 'As your Head of House, the decision on whether you stay in this school or not resides entirely upon me'. She blinked, staring at him with some resentment 'I thought that was the Headmaster's decision' she replied sourly, instantly wishing she hadn't.
She stiffened slightly, waiting for him to speak. Snape sensed her sudden sense of foreboding, leaning back in his chair with a look of disdain, hands settling on the arms of his chair. 'Once again, I shall ask you, what is troubling you to cause this sort of behaviour' he asked, silky tones replenished. 'I... no one understands' she said quietly, questioning how it would be snape to hear these thoughts. 'And why is that?' he asked, without a hint of concern. She looked up at him with anger in her eyes, gritting her teeth slightly 'You wouldn't understand - everyone knows what my parents did...'
Snape blinked' And this is why you have caused more mayhem to me in one term than some of my fifth years?' he smirked slightly. 'If you had bothered to study a bit more of your history, you would have perhaps noticed that pure bloods are all interrelated. You might then come to the conclusion that the powers you have undoubtedly shown so far, according to Professor Mordant-' at this Snape sneered once again '-is not in fact your heritage. It might just be that you have a natural talent' he sneered. 'I don't give compliments lightly, so I suggest you stop wallowing in your own misery and pull yourself together'.
Meissa's eyes widened, and she looked up into her professor's dark, unfathomable eyes. She nodded and decided the conversation was closed. She slid off her chair and left the office without another word. Severus Snape sat back in his chair. That was the second time he had given advice to a student.
And it had been the same student.
'Quidditch today…Gryffindor VS Slytherin' Tabby said, tickling Meissa until she yielded, moaning. Seth raised an eyebrow.
Meissa followed Seth into crowd of Green and Silver clad fans, waving their flags and hissing at the opposite stand, a sea of Red and Gold. Snape was perched a few rows below them. He was sitting stiffly amongst the Slytherins. The two teams walked out onto to the pitch and Meissa grimaced as the cheers deafened her.
The game began and she sat forward, watching the players zoom around the pitch, mere blurs of colour. Meissa noticed how cocky the Gryffindor team was, shooting around, more engrossed in their screaming fans than the game. She imagined Hayes with his little Red and Gold flag and felt even more vindictive. She hoped and hope Slytherin won. Sure enough, the Slytherin's were taking advantage of their opposing teams lack of engrossment in the game. It was only natural that they won, though it meant she and the other's had to watch Tabby's sullen face all through dinner. Claudia threw a roll of bread at him, and he snapped out of his strop. The group had successfully instated themselves with both the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables. No one approached them or even spoke to them.
Meissa noticed that Claudia seemed put out by this, she knew her friend was lonely. Perhaps she should try and make an effort to be more companionable. 'So what are you wearing to the ball?' she asked faking interest. Seth smirked but Claudia sat up 'oh…I'm wearing these amazing deep purple robes, they have gold lining and everything' she grinned. Meissa returned her grin, and they immersed themselves in a long conversation about hairstyles and make-up. Meissa hoped Seth wouldn't get annoyed by her. Then it occurred to her how much she cared about his feelings.
Severus Snape watched the Lestrange girl sit and chat with her friends. He could have predicted she'd end up with a group of oddballs. Seth Emerson was one of his prized students, though he had never told him so. Both Emerson and the Lestrange girl were undoubtedly good at Potions. He knew Emerson had used the Room of Requirement a number of times to study in secret. He could only hope the Lestrange girl would do the same.
He watched the Gryffindor redhead shriek with laughter as the group left the hall. 'A funny one, isn't she?' said a voice in his ear. He surveyed Dumbledore sideways through slitted eyes. The headmaster chuckled. 'And what is it you find amusing?' Snape asked, annoyed. 'Why Severus, I have never known a student who has terrorised you so within their first term of being in your house'. Snape rolled his eyes. Albus Dumbledore grinned as the man drew himself up from the table and billowed out of the Great Hall.