Chapter 3: Good Actors

When dinner time arrived, I couldn't help but notice that the attention of the entire table was focused on the Crane girl.

She smiled warmly at the people surrounding her, while they asked her way too many questions.

All her answers were polite, but short. Nott was basically hanging on her lips. The glances the other girls gave her were not so friendly, one could say they looked at her with pure hatred.

That could become interesting. Slytherin girls were usually not very...reluctant to express their opinions. That might teach her a lesson. How she walked through the castle, as if nothing could harm her. She might be a talentd witch, but this was new territory.

Walburga Black stared at her with disgust, as Crane turned to her with a brilliant smile and eyes that were burning with rage. Walburga kept staring at her for a few seconds and then looked down on her plate. She had won this round, but there were many more to come.

"She is so...charming," Mulciber turned bright red when these words left his mouth. They just couldn't stop talking about her since they reached the dormitory. I was laying on my bed trying to read in peace.

"And an excellent match, too. Her family has a lot of influence, she will inherit their fortune, since she is an only child," commented Rookwood.

How boring...Who could have thought that one girl could cause such a distraction.

"I will write to my cousin at Durmstrang, maybe he can tell us more about her," mentioned Dolohov.

Deep breaths.

"How about you pull yourself together. This is an important year and you want to waste your time over something like this ?" I could feel the anger rise in me.

All of them looked somewhere else and didn't dare to answer.

Dolohov, who had a bit more courage than the rest answered carefully: "My lord, it's just that most of the possible matches are just...well...not so ...nice to look at. Or closely related."

The others nodded in agreement. Still not daring to look up.

"Then try your luck, but don't waste my time with your plans, while I try to concentrate." I couldn't believe that this was such an important matter to them. What a waste of brain capacity.

"Yes, my lord," was the only response I got or wanted to hear anyway. Silence fell over the room.

I continued to read my book about the history of Giants in Europe.

Three days later...

When the last lesson, Herbology, finally ended I was relieved. I needed a bath after encountering so much dirt. I said a Good-bye to Professor Beery, an old wizard who was at the moment up to his shoulders deep in dirt. Or what he called it: earth.

For me it was just a variation of dirt. Even after such a short time I felt quiet at home in this old castle. With long strides , I contiued my way up to it, accompanied by Belvina and Josephina who I also shared a room with.

Belvina was calm and submissive, but Josephina was very strong willed. Which I didn't find to be a problem since she was also a friend of reason. She accepted me as more advanced in magic, so there were no conflicts at all.

Of course, I noticed glances from other girls that were not so kind.

But I shrugged them off, knowing I would succeed at the end anyway.

We reached our room and I laid down my heavy bag and went to the bathroom. I decided to take a shower, because it was faster and I enjoyed the hot water on my skin.

After what felt like a little eternity, I stepped out. I dressed in a comfortable white summer dress. When I was rubbing my hair with a towel the door opened.

A girl, who I thought was called Walburga, came in. She must have been one of Belvina's and Annis' many cousins, I suspected. Behind her entered two others that I couldn't name.

I ignored them and continued to dry my long wet hair. While I looked into the mirror, Walburga stepped behind me. Our eyes met and I could see her intention glitter in her eyes. Intimidation.

How pathetic.

She would be quiet disappointed after this. A bored expression settled on my face, while I focused on her.

"I'm not done yet."

"I think you are," said her voice shaking with anger.

I raised one eyebrow, this could become interesting. A sigh slipped out of my mouth before I asked: "What do you want? Oh, and make it short." I turned around to face her, my wand laying on the sink next to me.

"You act like you own this castle. I think you need to learn where your place is," she stepped closer. Her big nose only inches from mine.

I smiled sweetly and answered in a soft voice: "I don't agree."

Her hands were shaking when she grabbed my shoulders. I used the moment to take my wand, as she pushed me to the other two girls. Standing in a triangle, I turned to all of them in turn and said: "I give you one chance to go back to your rooms, like nothing happend." One girl seemed to consider it, but she was undoubtedly in the minority.

"Well, sounds like you decided."

Twirling my wand in my hand, I looked at Walburga.

"How do you want to do this ? A duell ?"

But my suggestion was ignored when she suddenly threw a punch at me. She hit me right in the face. It took me a moment to recover from this sudden brutality. I couldn't help but laugh at her. Confusion crossed her face. She flew backwards a few metres with a flick of my wand. The other two backing away from me. I locked the door with another flick. Walburga was still motionless on the floor. They drew their wands.

I disarmed them quickly, before they had any idea what was going on. Big eyes looked back at me, they had obviously not mastered spells non-verbally yet. Interesting.

"So, what are we going to do now ?"

I went to Walburga to take her wand, too.

"W-eee...will go and leave you alone. You can...sort this out between you two."

"Hmm...I don't think we can." My voice freezing cold.

"But we were only here to make sure no one enters the bathroom, while she..."

"I understand. You must know that I can't let his go. You could try something like this again."

"We won't, really. We promise." The other one nodded vehemently in agreement.

"I'm sure you won't," my smile must have shown my intentions since they shot each other looks full of panic.

"Crucio!"

While enjoying an early breakfast, I noticed that something of importance must have happend.

Medea Crane sat down across from me, not looking in my direction but at the girl next to her. Smiling radiantly and stroking her arm, while asking:" How are you this morning, Mary?"

What I then saw surprised me, it was paralysing fear. She started to shake and mumbled something in response. She received another smile, before Crane turned to her breakfast.

I was looking at her when she looked up from her plate. Her emerald eyes fixed on me, she cocked her head to one side, a little smirk on her lips.

Whatever might be going, she enjoyed it greatly. Mary Crabbe quickly got up and almost ran to the doors tears in her eyes.

"See you later, love," Crane called after her in a melodic voice.

"Oh, Riddle. Isn't tomorrow this little gathering with Slughorn?" An innocent expression on her face.

"Yes, exactly. Tomorrow at 7 o'clock. Shall I accompany you, to make sure that you won't get lost?" I asked as friendly as I could.

With big eyes she responded: "That would be sweet of you. Thank you very much, you are just so considerate. Shall we meet in the common room, around a quarter to seven ?" Amusement was evident in her eyes.

"As you wish."

Our little exchange had not gone unnoticed, Nott openly gaped and Rookwood's smile slid off his face.

Well...this suddenly became interesting.