A/N: Thanks for the reviews. I'm going to do my best to post a new chapter every Monday like RaineArilan. Here's the next one.
"Tania!"
She froze, halfway to the safety of the stairs to the Dorm. She had been trying to get through unnoticed, and usually she made it. Still holding her books and schoolbag close to her chest, she turned to face the voice. Alex Bellmonte was seated at a table with Blaise Zabini.
"Come join us," she invited. Tania swallowed and frantically tried to come up with a good way to refuse, but after a few long seconds nothing came to mind.
"I was just going to get a book from my room," she said, quietly.
"Well, bring it back down and read here. Even if we're that boring, you should be able to read." Alex said, wryly.
"I-I wasn't trying to imply you were, Lady Bellmonte," Tania said, paling. Please say she hadn't insulted the older girl. Falcon would kill her.
Alex sighed and rolled her eyes. "I'm not offended, but I will be if you keep calling me Lady Bellmonte. That's my mother."
Tania nodded quickly, before anything else could be added, she said, "Alright, Alex. I'll be right back." She glanced at Blaise, who was twirling a quill in his fingers and yawning, and fled upstairs. Tania set her school books on the nightstand and knelt at the bottom of her bed and opened her trunk. Under her clothes were her personal books. She left the book she had been intending to read, Runes and Dark Spells, with the rest and pulled out her copy of Potions of the 13th Century. Grabbing a roll of parchment and a quill, she hurried back down stairs. As much as she'd like to stay up here, she couldn't ignore a Bellmonte. Tania stepped off the last stair and hesitantly walked over to the table where the two friends sat. Alex was the first to notice her.
"Ah! There you are," she trailed off as Blaise jumped to his feet and pulled out a chair for her. Tania hesitated briefly, unused to such courtesy, then carefully sat down. Only once she was seated did he return to his own chair.
"What are you reading?" he asked kindly, his fingers finding the quill they had earlier and played with it again.
"Potions of the 13th Century," she responded in a low voice, making a show of laying out her parchment and quills to avoid looking at him. Eye contact was bad. Either it let someone see too much of what you were thinking and feeling or it turned into a war of dominance. She didn't want to start any of them.
"Really?" Alex leaned in towards Tania a little, apparently to look at the front of the book. "I've heard of that one but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. Will you let me know if it's any good once you finish? I'd love to borrow it off you if it is."
"Of-of course," Tania agreed, sending Alex a look out of the corner of her eye without thinking. How could Alex have never read this book? It was fundamental if one wanted to understand the proper uses of dragon scales and phoenix claw. Not only that, but the wizards of that time had come up with some amazing basic potions, especially considering the limited knowledge they were working with. What could Alex have found that was more interesting than this?
Alex grinned and raised an eyebrow. Tania realized that her look had been seen and struggled to keep panic out of her face. "Anyway," Alex changed the subject, "we were talking about Moody. I must say the bloody man bugs me."
"He's not even one of those Professors. The ones that condescend us because we're Slytherin," Blaise explained to Tania.
Tania nodded, acknowledging the explanation, but not really agreeing with them. While Professor Moody wasn't one of those Professors….
"You disagree?" Alex asked, interrupting her train of thought.
Tania paled, almost backing down. How dare she contradict a Bellmonte and a Zabini? Swallowing she answered anyway. "Yes. Well, I mean, maybe he's nicer to you older students..."
"He's not," Alex said flatly and Tania wondered what had happened in their first lessons.
"What I meant," Blaise broke in, "is that, while he does condescend and poke at us, he seems to...to understand us I guess?" Blaise looked like he was at a loss for words. Tania inwardly smiled. At least she wasn't the only one who did that.
"Those professors act out of a fear of an unknown, but assumed evil, while Moody knows what we are and what he's dealing with and acts according to that...so it's different even if the result is the same," Tania murmured to herself.
"Exactly!" Blaise exclaimed causing Tania to jump out of her skin. Her heart was beating wildly and she was prepared for anything to come flying at her or attack. She hated loud noises and being startled.
"That's it exactly." He continued, obviously not seeing the reaction his words had caused, "Ha! Beauty and brains. I do believe she's the perfect woman, Alex." He reached over and took Tania's hands in his. "My dear, would you do me the honor of marry-OW! ALEX!" The blood, which had fled from her face before, instantly returned as her hand came in contact with Blaise. No guy had ever touched her on purpose, except for Falon…and Hunter.
Alex waved her wand at him. "Put the girl's hands down and I won't have to hit yours again."
"Tania, he was joking," Alex assured the bright red girl. "Never, and I repeat never, believe a proposal from him unless it comes in the form of a letter from his grandmother with your parent's signature on the bottom as well. I would know from experience." Tania almost laughed, but only nodded instead. Like she was ever going to receive a letter for a marriage. She was going to live at the Manor for the rest of her life. The thought filled her with an endless despair, but she managed not to loose focus on the conversation around her. That would have been horrible. Alex sent a pointed glare at the smirking Blaise. He rearranged his face for a moment and managed to look a little bit contrite. It didn't last long though.
"Besides, I think we've covered that she was too young for you. What about your familial duties?" Alex pointed out.
Blaise grinned. "Oh I believe I could work myself up to the task..." Tania almost lost the war with the desire to flee at that statement. Only Alex's quick response stopped her from leaving her chair.
"Blaise!" Alex yelled, pointing her wand at his nose. "Talk about Moody," she threatened.
"Fine. Fine. Just put your wand away." Once she'd complied, Blaise smiled. "I didn't know you were this into old men though, Alex m'dear."
Alex's hand dove back into her pocket and Tania flinched.
"Okay, OKAY! Tania, say something insulting about Professor Moody!" Blaise yelped. "Quickly, girl! I'm seeing my life flash before my eyes!"
"I...I..." Tania stuttered frantically, her mind drawing a huge blank. Any insults that she ever came up with were only ever thought in the quietest corner of her mind. Finally she spoke rapidly, not censoring what she said in a panic to give Blaise the answer he demanded.
"P-Professor Moody is an immature, idiot of a scum bag. His mother was an owl and his father was a Triverian maggot! He fornicates with his dust bins!"
Alex froze. "W-what?" she asked in a strained voice.
"Oh I think you heard her, Alex." Blaise commented. Tania knew her mouth was hanging open as she registered what she had just said. With a burst of wandless magic that a girl her age should not have been able to perform, Tania swept her book and papers into her arms with a wave of her hand and fled up the stairs, certain that laughter was following her up. What had possessed her to say that? She flew up to her room, dumped her books on the table and buried her face in the pillows until the shaking stopped.