If there was a time that Hogwarts students loved, it was the weekend. Especially if it was a Hogsmeade weekend. The Great Hall was full of students excitedly discussing their plans for the day. Our small group of teenage Slytherins was no different.
"So, what are we doing today?" asked Bonnie as she filled her plate with breakfast.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I will probably start working on my Arithmancy homework," said Evelyn.
"Homework?! On a Hogsmeade weekend?! Forget it." said Emma with a tone that clearly said that there was no room for disagreement.
"Girls, I really have a lot of work to do, and I haven't even started on the runes translation homework,"
"Shush you! I don't want to hear another word about work. Why did you even choose those subjects?" asked Lucinda in exasperation.
"They seemed to be the most interesting ones..." mumbled Evelyn.
"See, we warned you that those are subjects that no one chooses, because they are too difficult! And then you went and chose them both! Now, just add Alchemy at the beginning of the sixth year and we will probably never see you again because you will move to the library and study 24/7,"
"She is right. You should have chosen Divination or Muggle Studies, just like we did. Now you are stuck with all that work," said Emma.
"Okay, okay, that's enough," said Bonnie, trying to calm the situation. "The point is that today you are not going to study. We should make it a girls' day out and go shopping."
"Now, that's what I like to hear!" lightened up Lucinda.
"Sounds fun! Although I have a meeting in the afternoon, so I will probably leave you guys to yourself after a while," said Emma.
"A meeting?" asked the girls, surprised.
"Ohoho~, is it by any chance a date with a certain Slytherin?" teased Lucinda, causing Emma to blush.
It was no secret that there was something happening between Evan Rosier and Emma Vanity. Ever since Emma became the Slytherin Quidditch captain, the two of them have been seen together more and more and as it usually happens, the rumours started to spread soon enough. While others just guessed the Slytherin girls were certain; they were like the couples in the movies, where it was obvious to everyone but them that they had feelings for each other.
"Sh-shut up! We are just friends with Evan! No, someone else asked me out," mumbled the blushing girl.
"Woah! The year just started, and you are already going on a date. You move fast," said Lucinda.
"So, if not Rosier, then who is this mysterious person?" asked Bonnie, intrigued.
"Just… A boy."
"A boy! Wow! We would have never guessed!" came the sarcastic comment from Evelyn.
"You shut up! Just go back to your books!" shouted Emma, and the girls just laughed.
While the girls were enjoying their breakfast, a group of Gryffindors was not having such a great time.
"I'm going to do it!" said Sirius Black, sitting at the Gryffindor table and watching the Slytherins laugh.
"Sirius, don't do it," sighed Remus Lupin, who was sitting across the table.
"Listen to Remus, she is not worth it. Just let it go. There are other and better girls. Look at Amelia Fawley," said James as he motioned to the Hufflepuff table, "she changed over the summer, if you know what I mean."
Sirius shot a look at the fourth year Hufflepuff. James was right. Unlike last year, when she wore her hair in strange ponytails, now she let her long curly blonde hair fall on her shoulders. She also started to wear makeup and it seemed that she gained some curves. It was a nice change.
"James is right. Also, there are other, less humiliating options. Let her have her breakfast in peace and ask her later. Just give it a rest," suggested Remus. However, when Sirius stood up, he added, "And why do we even waste our breath, when we all know that he is just going to do whatever he wants to do?"
"This is going to end badly," whispered Peter, who was too busy with his breakfast to try to stop his friend.
"Hey, Williams!" shouted Sirius as he neared the Slytherin table and suddenly, the whole Great Hall went silent.
The same thought formed in everyone's head: 'What is he up to now?'
"What do you say? You, me, Hogsmeade?" asked Sirius with a charming smirk on his face while he motioned to her and him.
"You have been asking me the same thing since last year. What makes you think that the answer will change?" asked Evelyn with a raised eyebrow.
"Fine, be that way. I was just trying to be nice and help you out, in your current situation…" said the boy with a dramatic sigh.
"What situation?" asked Evelyn with furrowed brows.
"You know, with me constantly asking you out, people think that I am persistent, but it's been a year now and you have never been on a Hogsmeade date. That's embarrassing," snickered the boy.
"How dare you!" stood up Lucinda at the same time as Emma said: "Watch it, Black."
Evelyn just motioned for the girls to settle down before she said: "Just because I refuse to go with you doesn't mean that I don't go with other people,"
"Oh please, as if you would. You believe that you are better than everyone else - no wonder no one asked you out yet."
After this sentence, the people in the Hall were stunned. Evelyn just blinked in surprise, while everyone else was astonished. No one ever dared to talk to others in this manner in public. Especially not to purebloods.
"Should we step in?" asked Filius Flitwick at the teacher's table.
"No, let's wait. He deserves to get hexed," replied Minerva McGonagall calmly, taking another sip of her tea.
"You are wrong," said Bonnie quietly. "She has been asked out more than any of us. The only reason she is refusing to go out with you is because of her boyfriend."
"What boyfriend?" asked Sirius, confused, and Evelyn shot a surprised look at Bonnie.
"Look, she was just trying to be polite and try to find a nice way to let you down," cut in Emma.
"Exactly! And now you have given her a reason why she doesn't have to talk to you anymore! Good job, Black!" smirked Lucinda.
"No way! Is that true? Are you really seeing someone?" asked the astonished Sirius.
"Apparently," mumbled Evelyn.
"Don't mind her, she is just mad because we let it slip! Now that you got your answer, you can leave," said Emma.
"But – "
"Are you deaf?! Get out, before I hex you!" shouted Lucinda and Sirius stormed out of the Great Hall.
"What the hell was that?" questioned James as he and the rest of the marauders caught up with Sirius in the hallway.
"I - I don't know! Everyone was watching, and the words just kept coming!" shouted Sirius.
"Well, if there was a chance of her ever going out with you, now you have completely destroyed that," said Peter.
"Pete, you are not helping!"
"What did you expect? You attacked her in front of everyone! You are lucky that she or her psychotic friends didn't hex you..." said Remus.
"Damn, I fucked up..." sighed Sirius as he leaned on the cold stone of the wall.
"Cheer up, mate. I know exactly what you need," smirked James as he placed his hand on his friend's shoulder, "there is a new spell Moony showed me the other day."
"I didn't show you. You found it when we were supposed to study in the library," said Lupin quietly.
"Anyway! I think it would be fun to try it out, and I know exactly who we should test it on." continued James with a smirk and Sirius' mood lightened up instantly.
"The nerve of that boy! How dare he talk to you like that?!" fumed Emma as she and the girls were walking to the village.
"And in front of everyone! You should have taught him a lesson," added Lucinda.
"I thought about it, but then again, what good would it serve? I would have just gotten into trouble… No, I will have a word with him when we get back. I wonder what the meaning of this little play was…" said Evelyn, confused.
"The meaning? Evelyn, for someone so smart you can be so dumb… He wanted to shame you into going on a date with him!" shouted Lucinda.
"Yeah, I get that bit, but why would he think that I can be manipulated that way? He should know that I don't care about things like that."
The other girls just deadpanned.
"Evelyn, you think too highly of Black…" sighed Lucinda.
"But what are we going to do now?" asked Bonnie and the girls just stared at her, "I mean I told them that you are seeing someone, and we all know how quickly word travels at Hogwarts..."
Evelyn just sighed, "We will think of something,"
"Well, I can mention you to my cousin. He is from the States; quite smart and not bad to look at," said Emma.
"Long-distance relationship? No, don't do that," advised Lucinda.
"No offence, but I wouldn't date anyone related to you girls," said Evelyn. "Anyway, we shouldn't let him get to us. Let's get some shopping done and forget about that arse."
After the girls finished their shopping, which took longer than expected thanks to both Emma, who took her time looking at new Quidditch supplies, and Evelyn, who bought a good amount of stationery, they headed to the Three Broomsticks.
"So, what are the rules?" asked Emma.
"We are not going to follow you," said Lucinda.
"Or hire someone to spy on you," said Evelyn as she rolled her eyes.
"We are going to respect your privacy and return to the castle after we are done here." finished Bonnie and Emma smiled.
"Exactly! Now, excuse me, I have to get going. See you later!" she said as she left the table.
"Don't tell me you are not even a little curious about who she is meeting," said Lucinda as she took a sip of her drink.
"Oh, we are. I mean, she has never been this sneaky before. I wonder who he is," said Evelyn.
"Maybe it's someone she is ashamed of?" suggested Bonnie.
"Like who?" questioned Evelyn.
"Maybe it's that wimp Dirk Cresswell!" laughed Lucinda.
"That Hufflepuff Mudblood?"
"Well, think about it. He is a nerd, no offence Evelyn, he is a Mudblood, and a Hufflepuff with probably the weakest presence ever," explained Lucinda.
"Eh, I don't know. Why would she give him a chance?" said Evelyn.
"Girls, I feel like we got really mean really quick," laughed Bonnie.
"Okay, let's change the subject. So, Evelyn, any ideas on how to solve your little situation?" turned Lucinda to Evelyn.
"Why do we have to talk about it right now and right here?" asked the startled girl.
"What else would we talk about? Bonnie's latest heartbreak over her summer love, so she can remember the bloke and start to ugly cry? No, thank you. And talking about Jugson's and Macnair's body is only fun when they are around so that you girls can see what I'm talking about,"
"I agree, you are more interesting!" said Bonnie and Evelyn just sighted.
"I don't know. Why do I even have to deal with all this bullshit?" she questioned.
"Because life sucks. Now, don't change the subject," said Lucinda.
"Um, I think we should try to set up a profile, so we know who we are looking for?" suggested Bonnie.
"Good thinking!" exclaimed Lucinda. "She obviously needs someone intelligent."
"But not someone who is constantly boasting," added Bonnie.
"And someone who can put up with her passivity." said Lucinda, which got her a small "hey!" from Evelyn.
"He also has to be good-looking!"
"But not too good-looking, otherwise she would have too many rivals,"
"This is good! We should write this down!" said Bonnie.
"Right? Evelyn, give us one of the notebooks you bought!" said Lucinda.
"What? But it's a new one..."
"Just give it here!"
The Slytherin girl just sighed and reached into her bag, "You are going to get me a new one for this. Anyway, shouldn't it be me who lists what I want in a boyfriend?"
"No way, this is more fun!" said Lucinda and Evelyn just rolled her eyes.
Two hours and a couple of drinks later, the girls had the notebook full.
"So, are we ready to conclude?" asked Bonnie.
"Yes," answered Lucinda as the two of them looked at Evelyn dramatically, "Your boyfriend - "
Here, Bonnie started to beat on the table to pretend that it was a drumroll.
"- is non-existent." finished Bonnie.
"... And it took you this long to figure it out?" asked Evelyn with a raised eyebrow.
"What? You should be surprised and devastated!" said Bonnie.
"Well, the moment your requirements filled more than half of my new notebook, I knew that to find someone who passes at least the majority of your requirements would be impossible."
"Oh, look at her; Miss Smarty Pants. If you are so smart, then why don't you find yourself someone who is good enough?" asked Lucinda.
"While you were busy with creating your perfect guy, I thought about who the best choice would be. Obviously, Matthias Bulstrode," said Evelyn with a sigh.
"But didn't you say that you don't like him?" asked Bonnie.
"Of course, I don't! He is probably the fakest person at Hogwarts! Playing the chivalrous prince, always being nice to everyone! No one is like that," sneered Evelyn.
"So?"
"I said he would be the best choice. My family would be happy with the choice. However, he doesn't strike me as the type who could treat it simply as a business deal and I am not going to play house with someone I don't like. In the end, I will probably break his heart and be the bad guy, so he is out of the question," explained Evelyn, and the girls just stared at her blankly.
"You know..." started Bonnie.
"... you are probably the only person who thinks about it as a business deal." finished Lucinda.
"What can I say? I am my father's daughter," smirked Evelyn.
"So, who do you have in mind?" asked Bonnie hopefully, but Evelyn just looked at the ground.
"I didn't come that far," she mumbled, and the girls just sighed.
"If Emma was here, she would figure something out," said Bonnie.
"Yes, she would say something like: If we treat it as a partnership, how would you describe your partner?" said Lucinda imitating their friend.
"Oh my God, you are a genius!" shouted Bonnie, and the girl just looked at her. "Think about it! You said it yourself that you are your father's daughter!"
"Hmm... Well, it needs to be someone desperate enough to do it. Also, someone who we can intimidate if things come to worst. Someone who I can tolerate and is agreeable. Someone who has a lot to gain from this."
"So, someone like – "
"Snape!" said Bonnie, and the girls stared at her weirded out, "Oh, no, I mean, look, it's Snape with Regulus," she said as she pointed to the door.
The girls turned to see them enter, and they greeted each other as the boys passed them.
"Are you two going to join us?" asked Bonnie with a smile.
"Not today. Avery, Mulciber and Rosier are supposed to meet us here. Maybe next time," said Regulus, "We also heard about what happened this morning..." he added, looking at Evelyn.
"Oh, you mean when your brother tried to humiliate me in public for not going to Hogsmeade with him? By now, probably everyone knows," said Evelyn.
"Black is a git, don't let him get to you," said Snape.
"Oh, I am not. I am just not fond of causing a scene," replied Evelyn.
"Look, Avery is here. It was nice meeting you girls. See you later," said Regulus as he and Snape made their way to the back room, where Avery was headed.
"Wait a minute! I have a fantastic idea! You have known Regulus since you were little. Why don't you try asking him?" asked Lucinda.
"Ew, no. It would be weird; he is like a cousin to me," came the disgusted reply from Evelyn.
"Oh. Then what about Snape?" asked Bonnie.
"Snape?" questioned Lucinda.
"Hmm… now that I think about it, I may have heard my mother mentioning his mother briefly. I think they went to Hogwarts together, but she run away to marry his father. He is a Slytherin. I am sure that he would want to take back what belongs to his mother as she has no siblings who would inherit…" said Evelyn quietly.
"Not to say that it would piss off Black," smirked Lucinda.
"Eh, I still don't know…"
"I mean, his looks are nothing worth mentioning, but we could fix him up," suggested Lucinda.
"Don't you have classes and extra-curricular activities together?" asked Bonnie.
"We do, of course, we do. I - I just need to think about it," said Evelyn.
Sure, they have known each other. They were in the same house in the same year and had most of their classes together since the first day. They worked together on projects that were assisted to them, usually potions, and they also attended the duelling club before it got cancelled (courtesy of a group of mischievous Gryffindor boys).
"I mean, we talk, but that's it," she said.
"I heard that's the most you can get out of him. He also tried to cheer you up now, so I think you are good," said Lucinda.
"I need to think about it. Maybe gather some information first," said Evelyn, as she ended the discussion.
Soon, it was time for the girls to return to school.
"Let's go for supper. I am famished," said Lucinda.
"Emma said that she will meet us there, so let's see if she is back," said Bonnie.
"You girls go ahead; I will see you later."
"Huh, why?"
"I have some letters to write and I would like to do it as soon as possible."
"Oh, okay, see you later," she said, and Lucinda just waved as the girls made their way to the Great Hall and Evelyn returned to the dungeons.
She put down her things on her bed and pulled out fresh parchment as she started to write. This was one of the moments when she was glad to have been born into her family. Right now, she needed information, and she knew exactly how to get it.
