Slytherina.01 - The silver trio, I LOVE that! I'm also very excited to see what's in store for everyone! I have a rough plan, but so much takes me by surprise when I'm writing. So pleased you're enjoying reading :)
Guest - Wow, that is such a compliment! I know the feeling very well when you read or watch something and it leaves an almost shellshocked feeling behind when you're finished, so I'm extremely flattered that this story has done that for you. Although I've got to say I'm a teeeeny bit concerned that you finished my couple of months worth of writing in 20 mins haha! I best get typing!
The weeks after the introduction of strict lockdown rules on the students following the fresh attack from the Heir of Slytherin passed sluggishly. As the weather grew brighter and more inviting outside, everything became duller and darker inside the heavy stone walls of the castle. Slytherin's common room, whilst never a truly cheerful chamber, became positively depressing and Cornelia wasn't alone in becoming listless and fed up.
There was never a moment of peace to be found with all the students holed up in the common room and dormitories, and several fights had broken out in the cramped space. Cornelia was on the verge of throttling Pansy but, as usual, Theodore had noticed and taken her revenge into his own hands; Pansy ended up being an endless victim to his pranks and seemed to be on the brink of a breakdown herself.
Theodore even seemed on edge; he had always been the kind of person that re-charged through quiet moments alone and now that was unavailable to him he was quick to snap and direct his feelings of being overwhelmed at whoever crossed his path.
Draco on the other hand was in his element what with the news circulating the castle that his father was responsible for the sacking of Dumbledore. He revelled in both the praise he got from his fellow Syltherins and a couple of older Ravenclaw students, and even the backlash he received from Gryffindors. Although there were limited possibilities for students from other houses to cause any real trouble, Cornelia found herself once again on bodyguard duty whenever they were outside their common room, despite the internal screaming she experienced every time Draco opened his mouth to gloat.
She teased him perpetually about it when they were out of earshot from other students, repeating his words back to him in a mocking baby voice, and they were often not on speaking terms because of it.
One good thing to come out of the castle lockdown was the lack of detentions Cornelia had to attend. Due to behavioural issues and either missing or unacceptable homework, Cornelia had been quietly taking herself off to detention multiple nights a week before the attack on Hermione and Penelope; however, Professors' were now keen to keep students out of the corridors and accompanied at all times, which meant detentions were completely abandoned.
Cornelia's attitude in classes didn't improve, it had become normal for her to disregard lessons now. Theodore, who had never been the best student, joined her in finding distractions to fill the hours usually dedicated to learning, his stormy mood affecting his ability to focus. Instead they plotted and planned together, or sometimes Cornelia would just whisper instructions to Theodore on ways to wreak havoc during class. It was the most fun they could find during those long weeks.
Cornelia also made sure to write a lengthy letter to Rosalind after her conversation with Blaise. As much as she resented Rosalind for her scheming and manipulation, she couldn't deny the thrill of opening her letters, her quick wit and cunning shining a sickly light in some of Cornelia's darkest moments. She found that she was still able to spill her murkiest emotions onto the page when she wrote to her, finally expressing some of the rage she harboured inside her lately (although she kept Rosalind's hand in that rage out of the letter), and she supposed that it was for the best that she remained as honest as possible in some respects; it would make her part in the game they were playing all that more believable.
The academic year steadily drew to a close, but, in usual Hogwarts fashion, there was a twist in fate during the final weeks of term. Cornelia had been in Herbology, flicking slugs at her classmates much to the amusement of Blaise and Theodore, when Madam Hooch had rushed into the room, her freckled face flushed and panicked. The room quietened as they watched her murmur in Professor Sprout's ear who gasped and turned back to the class with tear filled eyes.
"Class dismissed everyone, back to your common rooms at once! I'm sure your Head of Year will explain shortly."
When Snape solemnly delivered the news to the gathered Slytherins later that day that a student had been taken into the Chamber of Secrets and that it was likely that the school would be closed as a result, it felt like a punch to the gut for Cornelia. Snape left a quietly stunned room in his wake and it seemed it was the first news all year that had penetrated the thick, proud skin of her fellow Slytherin students. All around her students were turning to their friends with astonished and colourless faces, some were crying and embracing. Could this really be the end of their time here?
Cornelia met Theodore's murky green eyes, they were unreadable like they always became when he was upset, and he was sat very straight and very still in his seat. She moved her gaze to meet Blaise's who was beside him, his dark violet eyes troubled and scared and she knew he was feeling exactly what she was feeling - out of control and useless.
None of them spoke as they looked at each other, all of them coming to the same conclusion – this could be one of the last times they were all together like this again.
"If the Heir of Slytherin has taken someone it must mean they're becoming more powerful." Draco's voice interrupted their musing, and Cornelia wearily turned her eyes to where he had made his way over to them. Everything he said at the moment irritated her, and she had taken to avoiding him when they were in the common room. Contrary to everyone else's worried expressions, Draco had an excited spark in his eyes and he was actually smiling. Cornelia wanted to punch him.
"It won't be long before they show themselves, and they won't let the school close." He continued intently.
"How do you know that?" Cornelia snapped. She could feel a painful lump forming in her throat, so she made her voice sharp to disguise it.
"It's obvious isn't it? This hasn't happened before."
"What if they're not interested in keeping the school open?" Blaise added, his voice was steady where Cornelia's shook.
"They're the Heir of Slytherin." Draco said as if it were obvious.
"That's just a name. What if they just like killing?" Blaise shot back, his own annoyance clear now.
Draco actually laughed at that. "They only kill mud-bloods!"
"Only kill mud-bloods?!" Cornelia couldn't believe her ears. She knew that Draco had adopted his father's views on blood purity, she knew that he blindly followed where his father lead, but still, she hadn't thought that Draco could be capable of such cold-blooded hatred. "You're disgusting Draco."
Cornelia stood and stormed past Draco, who had been rendered speechless by the venom in her insult. After spending a few minutes alone in the common room, Cornelia emerged again to make her way back over to Blaise and Theodore – she wouldn't be wasting her last moments with them sulking over Draco's idiocy. Draco seemed to get the message and they didn't speak until the next day.
When the next day arrived, the mood was even darker in the common room. By now the rumour had reached the Slytherins that the student taken was Ginny Weasley, and it had shaken them even more than the news of the school closing. It was well known that the Weasleys' were pure-bloods, blood traitors, yes, but pure-bloods all the same. Suddenly the possibility that the Heir of Slytherin's main purpose was to rid the school of mud-bloods wasn't so clear, and beneath their armour of blood status the Slytherins were more scared than anyone. Many attempted to write home to their parents and ask for their return home immediately, but trips to the Owlery were forbidden, even food was taken in the common room.
Cornelia had almost, almost, broken her resolve to ignore Draco in her usual plight to protect him (although she knew she wouldn't stand a chance if the Heir of Slytherin decided they wanted him), but she had stood her ground if only for the fact that he was always within sight anyway.
She, along with everyone else in the common room, had watched the Malfoy owl arrive at the window and swoop down to Draco's shoulder at lunch time. There had been an enormous scuffle afterwards of other students fighting for the owl to take their letters to their families, but the owl was as aloof as any Malfoy and had removed itself from the room out the way it came with a mocking "hoot".
In the end, Cornelia's curiosity won over her previous disgust at Draco's presence, and she made her way quickly over to him, pushing her way through the other students that were clamouring at Draco to hear a scrap of news from the outside world.
As soon as she broke through the crowd and caught a glimpse of Draco's face, she could tell it was bad news. His face was paler than usual and his jaw was clenched as if her were fighting back some emotion. She turned to the other students and fixed them with her scariest stare. "Everyone back off. Now."
Maybe it was the severity of her voice or the intensity of her glare, but she was surprised when everyone actually obeyed, muttering amongst themselves and eyeing her resentfully. She turned back to Draco and gently squeezed his shoulder, bending down to murmur in his ear. "Let's go to your dorm?"
Without a word, Draco nodded and stood to join her, avoiding everyone's gazes as they walked. Cornelia scorched a path through the students with her eyes, daring anyone to comment as they made their way into the boys dormitory. Nobody dared.
A couple of boys were lingering in the dorm, chatting from their beds, but they silenced when they looked up and saw Draco and Cornelia. "We need some privacy." Cornelia used the same demanding tone that she had used in the common room, and once again was surprised to see that it worked immediately. Without question the boys filtered from the room, watching them with wide curious eyes.
Draco still hadn't made a sound and when Cornelia next looked at him, she realised that the emotion he had been suppressing was rage. It was clear in every hard plane of his face. She didn't have to say anything, Draco thrust the letter at her as soon as there was a door safely closed between them and the rest of the students.
Dear Draco,
I thought it best to write to you as soon as possible to prevent any confusion or further embarrassment. As you're aware, your father has worked very hard this year to get on the School Board to help restore Hogwarts back to its former glory; one of his greatest achievements to date has been to remove Dumbledore from his position as Headmaster. I know you have been very proud of your father and his work, as have I, but there are many that disagree with our views and fanatically support Dumbledore.
I'm sorry to say Draco, that your father has lost his position on the School Board and that Dumbledore has returned to Hogwarts as Headmaster. It has come as a great blow to find that we have been betrayed by none other than Dobby.
We do not know how, but your father believes that Dobby has been sneaking off to meet Harry Potter and informing him of confidential information. Dobby and Harry Potter worked together this morning to trick your father into presenting Dobby with an item of clothing – you know what that means.
We are therefore in a very sensitive position. Our family house-elf is now free to tell anyone he wishes of any number of our secrets, and we believe that he has already been incriminating us with the Heir of Slytherin. Dumbledore claims that none other than Harry Potter has defeated the Heir of Slytherin – a clearly ridiculous idea but you know about the fool's infatuation with the boy.
I am writing to implore you to keep a low profile for the remainder of the school year and to mention your father as little as possible. I don't doubt that the news will travel fast, and I apologise for any discomfort this will cause you during these last few weeks. Rest assured that we will not take this offence lightly, and the time will come when those that have humiliated us will see the error of their ways. Until then, head down and ears open, my love.
We shall see each other shortly.
All my love,
Your Mother
Cornelia had to read the letter twice before she could take everything in. Lucius had been fired, Dobby had betrayed them, the Heir of Slytherin had supposedly been defeated by Harry Potter and Dumbledore was back.
"What the hell?" Was all she could say, and pretty much all she could think right then.
"It's that fucking Potter!" Draco's voice split into a yell and he kicked out at his bed frame before flopping onto it, face hidden in his hands.
Cornelia lingered where she stood, casting her eyes over the letter once more. Dobby had been passing messages on to Harry Potter – but what messages could those be? What did Harry Potter possibly need to know about the Malfoys? Unless… her previous suspicions of Lucius's involvement with the Heir of Slytherin were true.
Her heart raced a little at the prospect and she suddenly clutched the letter to her chest, turning her gaze back to Draco who remained laid on his back, his face covered with his hands. She knew he wouldn't want to hear reason right now, to talk logistics. She needed to be gentle with him.
"He's an interfering little prick, and he'll get his comeuppance. We'll see to that." She made her way over to the bed, wrapping her arms around one of the posts and resting her head upon it as she looked down upon Draco.
"I want to kill him." Draco's voice was muffled behind his hands, but Cornelia could hear that he was on the brink of tears.
"Maybe one day you will. I wouldn't stop you."
It took a while for Draco to calm down, even with Cornelia quietly agreeing with his ranting. They agreed not to mention the news about Lucius to anyone, they would just let everyone know about Dumbledore and the Heir of Slytherin. Cornelia kept her word right up until she found a quiet moment with Blaise and Theodore, which wasn't long after receiving the letter. With the news that the Heir of Slytherin and whatever creature they controlled were destroyed, the students were allowed to roam the castle and grounds at their own free will once more. As soon as she could, Cornelia whisked Blaise and Theodore off to a quiet corner of the grounds to explain everything that the letter had contained, and to share her suspicions about Dobby and Uncle Lucius.
"Dobby must have had some information that he felt really strongly about to be able to break out of the Manor on his own." Theodore pondered once Cornelia had finished talking. She nodded seriously.
"The Malfoy's wouldn't think twice about talking about something important in front of him. They wouldn't have thought he was intelligent enough to understand."
"But you think he was?" Blaise asked, his voice ever so slightly condescending. Cornelia straightened slowly, pulling herself up to full height and staring Blaise down.
"I know he was." She said in an authoritative tone, and Blaise looked a little embarrassed. "But I thought it was impossible for him to break the family's confidence? Or to do anything behind their backs?" Cornelia continued to Theodore who had at least referred to Dobby as having feelings.
"House elves can do certain things without their owner's permission, so I suppose that creates a small loophole that Dobby might have taken advantage of. Still, it goes against their nature to betray their owner's trust so he will have punished himself really severely. Wouldn't your aunt or uncle have noticed that?"
Cornelia snorted at that. "Not at all – they're often the ones handing out the punishments."
Theodore caught her eye and she knew that she saw a flash of pity in his face. "You have a house-elf?" She asked him.
"Of course. Most old wizarding families do."
"What are they called?"
"Gonry." It was clear in the softening of his voice that Theodore didn't share Blaise and the Malfoy's views on the sentience of house elves, and Cornelia gave him a private, supportive smile, which he echoed.
"So you think Lucius had something to do with opening the Chamber of Secrets?" Blaise asked, clearly wanting to redeem his previous stumble with Cornelia. Cornelia glanced around to double check nobody could hear them and frowned.
"It just all seems so coincidental. Uncle Lucy wanted to hurt the Weasleys and Dumbledore, and who was it that was most effected by the opening of the Chamber? Ginny's lucky to still be alive."
Blaise and Theodore both nodded thoughtfully. "Do you think he might have been the heir?" Theodore whispered.
"No. He's not smart enough for that."
"Then what…" Blaise began and Cornelia heaved a frustrated sigh.
"I don't know! I just know he had something to do with it. I can feel it."
The final weeks at Hogwarts were generally joyous for most of the students. Cornelia was certainly amongst the majority who suddenly found themselves much more grateful for being at the castle and the new-found freedom its walls and grounds represented. Draco, on the other hand, was not. His previous ego and boisterous behaviour had vanished, and he now skulked around the castle quietly, avoiding crowds and conversations.
Cornelia usually preferred Draco this way, but this dark mood of his was even getting to her. She generally left him to sulk with his loyal cronies – she wasn't upset that Lucius had been fired at all, and she knew that only irritated him further.
The end of year exams were a disaster for Cornelia, but she pushed the dread of the results and the consequences of said results to one side to enjoy her final days of second year with her friends. She had a long, morbid summer ahead of her, one that was to be even more unbearable than ever if Uncle Lucius's mood was anything like Draco's, and she wanted to fully embrace these carefree moments whilst she could.
Still, time seemed to slip through her fingers like fine grains of sand and before she knew it they were all back on the Hogwarts Express again, speeding through the countryside away from Hogwarts. Another year ending before her eyes.
WE DID IT! OH BOY WE DID IT! I cannot believe how long or how many words COS has taken to cover to say it's my least favourite movie/book. I wonder if the years will just take longer and longer to cover? I kind of hope so. I love getting completely immersed in characters and their day to day to day lives... so I hope you do too.
Until next time!