Marcus had split off from the group after Potions, half-heartedly explaining that he was off to second year Defense when Lydia badgered him enough. Boredom prompts many a badgering.
Oddly, the first year Slytherin class seemed colder without his ire to heat things up. Or maybe, Lydia grumbled internally, just quieter without anyone to talk to. She hadn't really connected with anyone in her own age group yet. That was probably something to get around to. Networking was somewhat important in any situation after all. From what she'd seen, the hierarchy within Slytherin operated on power and powerful connections. Since she wasn't exactly powerful on her own, it might be to her advantage to secure some alliances. Or meat shields, whichever happened to be more convenient.
This was probably more thinking than Lydia had ever seen necessary before taking action in her life before Hogwarts, but in a way, it was almost fun. Exciting, how her mind stretched, rather than broke, under the demands of Slytherin.
With this in mind, Lydia kept her ears open for opportunity to join her classmates' conversation on the way to Transfiguration. So, when Margaret Bulstrode lost her books to a sweeping Gryffindor hand in the crowd, probably Fred, the hint of glee Lydia felt at the greater opportunity could be excused.
She rushed forward, snatching a textbook from the trampling feet of other students, "Here."
The harried expression on Bulstrode's face did not help her vaguely dog-like features, but the gratitude was sincere as she accepted the book from Lydia's hand, "Thank you."
Lydia let her smile show sans the triumph, "Any time-" she searched for and grasped the name- "Margaret."
They stood together once the other Slytherin's supplies had been re-gathered, and the sturdy Bulstrode gave an embarrassed cringe of a smile, "I'm afraid I don't remember your name...?"
"Lydia," She supplied readily, trying to keep her eagerness under wraps and failing entirely. Hey, she was new to the whole social thing; Katherine had sort of clung to her as a child, and she hadn't been able to make many friends outside the family.
For a second, she wondered if Katherine had caught that thought and nearly winced, but it seemed that their weird twin thing was not as strong as the Weasleys', since it had mostly settled to knowing the other's location after the initial spike in reaction to increased magical influence in Diagon and Hogwarts. At least, that's what they thought caused it. For all the two knew, it may have just been a freak occurrence with some lunar phase or the planets aligning. Lydia decided that was a Divination teacher question and laid the line of pondering to rest.
"So," Margaret started, almost shyly ducking her head, "Are you- Do you have plans to sit with anyone in Transfiguration?"
At first, Lydia's thoughts ran to Katherine, but she was sure neither of them wanted to be referred to as "the Ravenclaw twin" or "the Slytherin twin," so this was probably for the better. She may also have been rationalizing a bit, "Not yet! Do you?"
"No."
"Sit with me, then," Lydia decided more than asked, and Margaret flashed a hesitant smile.