Scrabble Challenge –revamped – Harpies
The A-Maze-Ing Race Challenge – leather
Issues/Sensitive Topic Challenge – nicotine addiction
A weakness was all you needed to allow everything to fall apart. You often wouldn't even realise that everything around you was crumbling into dust until all that remained were piles of dust with no indication that they had ever been something brighter than they were.
You had fallen. The weight of your brother's legacy and expectation falling to you, the youngest, despite the fact that the oldest still lived to be the heir you were trained to be. You understood the implications as well, because the Black family never made mistakes, not noticeable ones at least.
You watched the girls sitting together around the Great Hall. You were to marry one of the purebloods here. Your mother had ordered you to search for one that seemed most suitable. You were given a choice, something more than your peers had ever been offered by their parents. The choice would be difficult though, all you saw when you looked at these girls were a bunch of harpies that were willing to do anything to get what they want, be it revenge, or the 'hottest' boyfriend.
They were silly, shallow creatures who cared only for their outward beauty. You had to admit there was the odd, occasional girl who had any substance but they were few and far between. They didn't exist in your year unfortunately.
You stood as you felt your annoyance with them grow. You couldn't understand how you were supposed to wed and live with any of those. Accepting their seemingly useless existence was difficult enough.
Your hand brushed your robe pocket telling you that the small box Kreacher had handed to you that morning was still there. It was the only thing that managed to calm you whenever you thought of the future your parents had mapped out for you.
Sirius was the lucky one. He had escaped everything. He even had a place to stay should he ever truly be kicked out of the house as their mother often threatened.
You wished you could say the same, but you had no friends. In Slytherin, the concept of 'friendship' was nothing more than a façade for allies and supporters. The more 'friends' you had, the more influence you held. Every action and word had to be carefully weighed for possible consequences you did not wish for.
The rich and luxurious leather couches of the common room were a contrast to the often tense atmosphere within it.
Stepping out into the sunshine, you raise your hand to your eyes as you search for a shadowy corner. Seeing none, you move into the fringes of the Forbidden Forest.
Your fingers wrapped around the thin, white stick, and you sigh as you feel the smoke fill your lungs.
You could take every day as it came, as long as you had this relief.