Chapter 11: New Revelations
I stood there for a long time, trying to process what had happened.
She had just kissed me, clearly trying to use me like a puppet. Her only intention was to scare of her suitors.
She had used me like a toy. And yet I couldn't say what came over me to let her. It felt...natural. As if it was supposed to be like this. I couldn't leave her alone now. I've never believed in coincidences. That she was sent to Hogwarts, sorted into Slytherin and her abilites that matched mine, meant something.
When I opened the door to the common room, excited voices could be heard.
"No, I swear!"
"That is nonsense."
All four boys looked up when they heard me enter.
Dolohov spoke first: "My Lord, my cousin's letter has arrived."
"Good, let's discuss it in the dormitory."
Avery, Dolohov, Rosier and Nott followed obligingly behind me.
I sat down in my favorite armchair and nodded to Dolohov to start reading.
"Dear Antonin,
I'm glad to hear that you are well and I hope it will stay this way. What I now write has to stay between us, for I am in a dangerous position.You asked me for information about Medea Crane and I have to say that I don't know much about her personally. Except for the things she has done to some of the students. As you might know, Grindelwald's support is strong here, poisoning students and teachers alike. Medea Crane was the best student Durmstrang has had in a long time. She won the duelling contests every time, since her first year. At first people opposed her, older students tried to pick on her. Again, I don't know the specifics, but they must have cornered her after dinner. Three or four boys tried to attack her, what she did could only be described as brutal. Rumour has it that she used an Unforgivable on them. Nobody tried to fight her for years. She became the teacher's favorite and was shown to others like a trophy.A year ago, a new group was formed. Grindelwald's army had recruited several students and they attempted to do the same with Medea. Her beliefs were largely ignored by the teachers, but had severe consequences for a lot of us. In what way it came up, I cannot say, in the end a duell was fought. I've heard from a hopefully trustworthy person, that they tried to kidnapp or kill her. They ended up in the forest at night during the last winter. Three of Grindelwald's supporters were killed. A boy confessed the murders. If you ask me and the other students though, she must have messed with his head. One girl accused her in the middle of a lesson and shortly thereafter her heart stopped. It just stopped.We think she was poisoned. I know how this might sound. I've known her for a few years now and have to say that she is cruel, if she gets attacked.Don't get on her bad side, Antonin, snakes bite. She is strongly protected, since she was called the talent of a century when she was only twelve years old. And even here, there are still students calling her a genius. She is rather convincing and if she wants to even charming. Don't be fooled by this, cousin. She is not harmless, just stay away from her.
I hope you are not in trouble.
yours, Dalus."
Silence fell over the room and my mind was racing. She was even more valuable than I had imagined.
"Stay away from her and be only polite, not more."
The boys nodded and looked at each other with worried expressions.
Sunday morning I decided that it was time to visit Hogsmeade. It was an attempt to free my mind of Tom Riddle. I would keep my distance, whatever might have happened yesterday shouldn't have any effect on me.
It was growing colder outside, so I put on black tights and a simple dark green dress. Taking my black coat off a hook, I followed Annis and Belvina and said Good-bye to Josephina, who would stay to study.
Annis started to talk about this and that. I tried to pay attention to distract myself.
"The boys in our year are hideous, all of them. Except for Riddle, obviously.
How are we supposed to find a husband? I don't want ugly children. No fortune could make up for that. Of course, I could always marry one of my cousins, but only as a last resort."
Belvina nodded, but didn't answer.
"There is only one option then, you'll have to marry Riddle." Laughing at this thought, I turned around to see her deep in thought.
"No, our children would look like angels, though. The only problem is that he is a poor half-blood." She sighed heavily.
"Who cares? I mean blood-status is so overrated. How many stupid Purebloods do you know and how many bright Muggleborns? Also, inbreeding like this only leads to mental instability."
Annis stopped dead in her tracks, Belvina was walking into her by accident.
"Well...I suppose you...have a point."
Her gaze was fixed on the ground and her eyebrows were furrowed.
Belvina looked at me seriously and said in a low voice:"Between you and me, I know you're right. Our family would never tolerate or even acknowledge this. We would be social outcasts, if we don't marry a Pureblood."
"Even a family like the Malfoys has allowed marriges with half-bloods. Why can't we get rid of this outdated opinion?"
"Wouldn't your father be furious if you were to, well, marry someone like that?" Annis was now looking at me inquiringly.
"I...we never talked about it, to be honest. My mother was a half-blood, though. Her mother was a Muggleborn witch from a german island and her father was high up in the german Ministry for Magic. My father doesn't seem to care about blood-status too much."
We walked in silence to The Three Broomsticks and sat down in a quiet corner.
"Annis, are you alright?" She was staring at her butterbeer with a broody expression.
"If...if I was going to tell you a secret, will you promise to keep it to yourself?" Belvina and I shared a glance and nodded.
"I've liked Martin Alderton since our first year." Tears were slowly running down her face and she began to sob.
The other Black next to me and I could only manage two words.
"The Hufflepuff?" He was notoriously clumsy, as far as I've seen.
"Yes, he is so adorable. Every time I have Herbology, I would try to seat myself close to him. Just to hear him talk. But...my family would kill me. And he probably doesn't even like me back."
"Ask him," I simply stated.
"You are an independent person, aren't you? If he does, you should start to worry. Your family has no right to forbid it."
"I suppose you are right," she had finally stopped to cry and looked determined.
When we left for the shrieking shack, Belvina whispered to me.
"That was nice of you, to encourrage her."
Nice? Did I say something nice? Hm, I figured it was a rather well placed comment. I'd never had talks like this before. It was odd.
Josephina told us about everything she had studied today, proud of herself.
"Did you finish that essay for Binns, yet? Could you pass me the chicken?" I asked.
"Sure, and yes. I did finish it, took me long enough. I know you already finished yours days ago, could I have a look?"
"Of course, I'll give it to you after dinner, if that's alright ?"
Josephina nodded with a bright smile. My eyes fell on Rosier, at the other end of the table. He was nervously looking around, his eyes darted to the entrance of the Great Hall every few seconds.
Tom sat next to him and seemed to ignore the blonde boy altogether. Instead he was glaring at the turkey in front of him, deep in thought. But no, I had decided to cut him out of my life and forget about everything.
I finished my dinner without haste and stood up to go to bed early, Belvina and Josephina following me like shadows, as always.
Deciding to go to bed early, I grabbed the book I was currently reading and slipped under the already warm blankets of my bed. I quiet enjoyed novels written by muggles, which my roommates left uncommented. Soon I lost myself in the story of a young man who did not age, instead his soul was decaying and all because of a portrait.
The next morning I still had no idea how to convince her. Brooding over my breakfast I played through every possible scenario in my head. And even though I had done this countless times already, I could not decide on the right way to act.
I noticed her when she entered, with a stern expression on her face. Acting like I didn't see her, I focused on the wall across from me instead. It was still early, so not many people had bothered to get out of bed yet.
After what felt like an eternity the hall filled with students.
Rosier came rushing towards the Slytherin table, his face a mask of fury.
He grabbed Crane's arm and held it in what looked like a painful grip. Anger was rising inside me, but I made myself stay exactly where I was.
"What have you done to her?" He screamed in her face, while forcing her to stand up.
She was obviously confused and answered in a calm voice. "What are you talking about?"
"Druella, she's been missing since yesterday evening. She was in Hogsmeade too, just like you."
"So were many other students, why would I be interested in harming her." Her sound dripped of poison, but she didn't make a move to free herself of him.
"Don't you play the innocent, I know what you are. A monster."
"Well, if you really think so, you should stop this behavior. Before it has serious consequences."
He stared at her with pure hatred, visibly in his eyes.
I considered to stop this dispute, but I was too curious how it would play out.
Suddenly she grabbed his face and he started to scream and struggled to keep himself upright and letting go of her.
"What was that?" Sheer panic was in his voice.
"Do you think I need a wand to defend myself?" Her voice sounded icily and her eyes were burning with rage.
"You gave me an electric shock...without..." His eyes were now widened in fear and understandably so. She looked at him with loathing and it was a fearful sight.
She was able to perform wandless magic. Again she succeeded in surprising me and everybody else. The attention of the entire room was fixed on her.
"I don't know what happened to your sister, nor do I care. So leave me alone and spare me your false accusations."
Snakes bite, I thought.
Rosier glanced to me and looked for support. I responded only with a resentful face. How could he dare to cause a scene like that?
"I'll find out," he simply said. His intention was clearly to get away from her as soon as possible, she merely sat down and finished her breakfast calmly.
Rosier was a fool, after the letter Dolohov received from his cousin he should have known better than to attack her openly. He wouldn't stand a chance against her. Nor would anybody else in this room, except for me.
