Sirius seemed to brighten instantly.

"Got another love letter, Haliwell?"
She stiffened slightly but made no reply, making sure her book was safely in her bag before regarding the three remaining marauders.

"And If I do?" She asked coolly. A small smile tugging at her lips.
"Just thought I'd ask. You seemed to be smiling a lot." He said, and indeed there seemed to be a slow change in the Slytherin girl's demeanor since she had started getting those letters.

She grinned mirthlessly, striding forward, her eyes glinting strangely as she wrapped her arms around Sirius's neck.

"And why shouldn't i?" She asked, her voice a low purr as something cold and sinuous slid from her sleeve to wrap around the marauder's throat, a slender, darting tongue flicking from between scaled lips. He raised an eyebrow, moving swiftly away from her.

"Somebody slip a love potion in your butterbeer, Haliwell?" James asked as he watched, expression caught somewhere between concern for his friend and loathing for the strange girl and her venomous pet.
"Those things are poisonous you know!" Sirius stammered as she moved towards him again.

"Only if they bite you." She chuckled as the viper hovered, half in her sleeve and half out, eyeing the three boys intently, as she stuck out her lower lip out in a cruel parody of a pout.
"That's not funny," Sirius muttered, not afraid, but seeming almost nervous around the girl. After all, unlike the werewolf he hung out with every month, he didn't know what this crazy person before him would do. She grinned.

"he wont bite." she assured them softly as the snake wound it's way up her arm to settle around her neck like a piece of living jewelry.

"Knowing you, he just might."
The snake raised it's head lazily an she ran a finger along it's head.

"Not unless I tell him to." She said lightly as the reptile cuddled into her hand like a housecat.
"Told you she was a freak," Peter muttered.
She narrowed her eyes.

"I'd watch your tongue if I were you, Pettigrew." She hissed, and the snake hissed as well, raising its head angrily.
"No need for that, Haliwell," James said, turning to the other too. "We've got to get back up so we can meet Moony, anyway," he told them pointedly, looking for an excuse, any excuse to get away from this frightening and possibly vengeful girl.
She gave them all a sweet smile and turned away, dark hair fanning out behind her as she strode towards the dark forest.
"Freak," Peter muttered again as they made their way toward the castle. A low hiss from the ground at his feet made him jump, and another sleek green viper followed the Slytherin girl.
"Just shut up, Wormtail," Sirius said, looking back at her a moment before leaving.

Lydia sat beneath a large tree, both snakes cradled in her hands as she planted light kisses on their scaled noses.

"Thanks for the help, boys." She hissed in their tongue, smiling to herself as she watched them slide away gracefully through the grass.
"Interesting." Came a familiar drawling voice from the trees to her left. She glanced up slightly, tensed suddenly. Lucius Malfoy was leaning casually against her tree.
"Hello Lucius." She said softly, affecting the appearance of one completely at ease.
"You're a Parselmouth, are you?" he asked, a grin on his handsome face.
"Yes." She replied as another viper curled around her wrist. "Surprised?"
"Intrigued. I always knew you were different, special, but I never realized this." He breathed, studying her with newfound interest. She raised an eyebrow at him.

"And now that you do know?" she asked, ever the cautious one around serpents like him. He was far more dangerous than her scaled friends, they both knew it. Well…she could play that game as well as any…
"I'm just curious. You have a rare gift, Lydia."
She shrugged.

"It comes in handy, I suppose." She said casually, eyes on the snake as it entwined itself about her arm, it's gaze on hers. She couldn't let her pride in her gift cloud her judgment, not with the lord of all Hogwarts intrigue standing next to her.
"There are many things you could do with that." He purred, smiling almost warmly at her.
"like what?" She pressed. He had something to gain from this conversation, and she was going to make him tip his cards for her. He shrugged casually, taking a seat close beside her. 'ooh' she thought to herself. 'Narcissa wouldn't like this at all!' The snake regarded him warily and Lydia stroked its back, murmuring words of comfort in a soft, sibilant language that sounded like a light breeze.
"But there are rumors." He continued, undaunted by the serpent's baleful eyes. She glanced up at him as the snake settled into her hands like a sleepy kitten.

"Rumors, Lucious?" She asked innocently.
"About the things someone with your talent could do."
"Are you referring to the Chamber of Secrets?"
"So you know!" He said gleefully, clapping his hands together.
"I've heard stories, nothing more." She said dismissively.
"I know. They're true."
"And you're suggesting i go into it and release the monster?"
"If there was ever anyone you felt like... disposing of... at this school."
She furrowed her brow slightly, seeming to consider his words.
"Of course, if you have no one in mind, don't even think on it. But if there was someone..."
"Do you know how I can find this chamber?" She asked softly.
"Possibly. Who are you thinking of?"
She smiled a bit.

"That, lucius, you will have to find out later." She said coyly. His grin matched hers.

"I can help you."
"Tell me where to find the chamber."
"You've heard of Moaning Myrtle, I would assume."
She nodded, crinkling he nose in remembered annoyance.
"In her bathroom, I believe, but no guarantees."
She nodded, dropping the snake casually in his lap, part joke, part warning.

"Thanks Lucius." She said with a cold smile. He started slightly, but seemed not terribly concerned.

"If you need help!"
She waved a hand unconcernedly and kept walking. If she needed help, he was the last person she would ask, and he wouldn't dare retaliate if she had the Monster of Salazaar Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets at her beck and call. The snake hissed once and then shot into the darkness.
With a wicked grin on his face, Lucius rose to his feet, watching the girl disappear before deciding to head back to the castle himself.

Lydia strolled unconcernedly through the corridors, up flights of stairs, humming to herself. Finally, she was getting what was her due. But, as she turned a corner, she bumped into something solid. She backed away quickly, hand going reflexively into her robes, reaching for her wand.
Sirius looked down at her, worried, distracted, expression on his face.
She gave a curt nod and moved to sidestep him. She had more important things to do than dwell on her vendetta against Bella's annoying cousin.
"All right, Halliwell?" he asked, halting her movements as he noticed her.
"Fine." she said tartly, something moving in her hair, a small green snake that had been holding her hair in a loose bun.
"Listen, about earlier..." he muttered, seeming to find it hard-pressed to do what he was about to do.
"yes?" she asked impatiently, raising one dark eyebrow slightly, crossing her arms. She really did not have time for this.
"I wanted to apologize," he said, grey eyes meeting hers. Her expression flickered slightly.

"You did?" she asked, skepticism obvious in her voice.
"Honestly," he said, brow furrowed as he considered her, watched the little green snake in her hair.
"why?" she asked softly, suddenly seeming far less the Slytherin than a few moments ago.
"why what?"
"why would you want to apologize?"
"Because, it's not right, what we've... I've done. Especially when you did nothing to initiate it."
She offered a small smile.

"it's alright. I really don't care anymore." She said with a shrug.
"Really?"
She nodded.

"really. I have...other things that require my attention."
"Well, I promise that we'll... well, if we don't leave you alone completely, we'll ease up. A lot," he said, offering her his hand.
She eyed it warily for a moment. "You'll be sorry if you go back on your word." She warned him, eyes flashing dangerously before she accepted his hand.
"I'm sure of it." He laughed a moment. "You certainly scared, Peter," he whispered.
"That's nothing compared to what I could do." she assured him darkly.
"Right. Well... I've got to go meet Moony," he said, eying her curiously. "See you."
She nodded curtly and ducked into the girl's lavatory, snapping irritably at Moaning Myrtle as well. Suddenly an eerie silence descended upon the hall. He stared after her a moment, head tilted to one side before he shook himself like a dog shedding water and strode away to meet with Peter and James.