Chapter 3: Pity
Four years later
Emily Potter sat by herself in a secluded corner of the Slytherin common room, reading. She found the peace of the dungeons very inviting and glad she had the space she needed. Her fellow House members didn't care what she was doing, and she didn't care what they were doing…unless it was breaking some kind of rule.
Her Prefect badge shown in the fire's light and she smirked to herself.
Another thing that brother of mine was mistaken about. Rounded up it's a total of three out of six.
James had once listed off things she wouldn't be able to accomplish in her time at Hogwarts and at the current time only one was completely out of her reach: making the Slytherin Quidditch team. Not only had see come to realize that the sport was a complete waste of her time and that she could rather be studying than wasting her time with practices and all that, she sucked at flying. Also, the fiasco that was her first flying lesson had left her completely afraid of heights.
It was a slip in her plans and would forever remained unchecked on her list of 'Ways to prove James wrong about her', but she could care less about it. She was made a prefect and had every intention of becoming Head Girl in her seventh year. She was one of the smartest in her year, and had even made a good enough impression on her head of House, Professor Slughorn, to get him to invite her to his Slug Club.
Although, she had to admit, becoming the prettiest girl in Hogwarts had been a bit of a wistful dream. After all, there were a lot of girls in Hogwarts. But that didn't mean she didn't consider herself pretty. She did and her hard work would not go unappreciated. She worked very hard on making a potion to control her awful hair. She made a successful potion in her third year after two years of researching and testing, and now her hair was straight and manageable, reaching her waist in length. She only had to drink the potion once a month and her hair was just as she always wished it to be.
Although no one would ever admit that Emily was pretty, not many liked her. It was no longer because she was a Potter. She had gotten her Housemate to think she was like them, a pureblooded snob, in her second year, at the expense of some muggleborns in the school. They didn't like her because she spilled a potion she had been concocting for her hair all over Narcissa Black during her second year and causing hair to grow wherever the potion touched. It didn't wear off for a week and the blond girl had to walk around with a hairy face and arms. It was the first time Emily had shown fear when the angered blond attacked her because of the accident.
Narcissa never got over it and took it upon herself that Emily remained friendless and unlikable with rumors.
Emily had felt that getting them all to think she was like them had all been in vain, but by her fourth year she no longer cared. The friendships of Slytherin were empty and the loneliness had only made her bitterer and caused her to try and prove her worthiness even more. Being an outcast made her smart, and her strength, cunning, and ambitious dreams were what made her a true Slytherin and better than everyone else.
Although, just because she wasn't liked didn't mean she was friendless, or rather, acquaintance-less.
The older Slytherins deemed Katrina Pearl, a girl in her year, an outsider for eavesdropping on one of their conversations and accidentally retelling it in front of some teachers. It was Lucius Malfoy, a seventh year at the time, who ordered the shunning. He merely had to order others to hate someonehe had the most power in the Slytherin house in his time. He was oldest and for the most prestigious family at the time.
Emily took the opportunity to 'befriend' the other girl, but never considered Katrina her friend, nor did she trust the other girl. Not only because trust became a feeble thing to Emily, but also because Katrina couldn't keep her mouth shut if her life depended on it. She's told something juicy and soon the whole school knew about it. She would have held the position of gossip queen if Narcissa didn't already hold that position.
Emily glanced up as said person entered the common room and made her way over to Emily.
Katrina sat on the armchair across from her and leaned foreword, her blue eyes alight with excitement. "Emily, you'll never guess what I just heard about Narcissa." She continued on and Emily pretended to listen.
Katrina had many flaws, as humans usually did, but her biggest and most annoying was her obsessionwith Narcissa Black.
It was nothing romantic, thankfully. Katrina just admired the sixth year girl and wanted to join Narcissa's circle of friends. Only the most worthy could join, though, and the girls in Narcissa's group had to be pretty, witty, and strong. They also could never show Narcissa up. Narcissa had to always be the best, for she was the prettiest, smartest, wittiest, from the most prestigious family, and was engaged to Lucius Malfoy.
Katrina was ready to join and would do whatever Narcissa said; a good attribute for a willing follower. Unfortunately, since Katrina had upset Lucius Malfoy, she upset his wife-to-be, Narcissa. Which pretty much got rid of any chance for Katrina to redeem herself in the eyes of Narcissa.
Still, that didn't stop Katrina from trying.
The differences between Emily and Katrina were obvious. While Emily just made sure she her hair and grades were kept under control, Katrina spent more time on her looks and worrying about what Narcissa thought than studying. And although Katrina was pretty, if not beautiful, she was on an average intelligence level and wasn't very witty. She also had the tendency to babble about unimportant thing, which she was doing now.
"Katrina." Emily intoned uninterestingly, successfully cutting the other girl off. "Is there anything you want to tell me that doesn't have anything to do with Narcissa Black?"
Katrina paused. "Well…Regulus Black broke up with Marissa Jones."
Emily raised an eyebrow. "And I would care…Why?"
"Well, now he's single." Katrina drawled.
"And…?"
"And now I can become his girlfriend!" Katrina said excitedly.
"Ah." Emily muttered, losing interest and returning her attention to her book. "Highly unlikely." She added.
Katrina frowned. "Why do you say that?"
"Although you're very pretty," Katrina beamed and flicked some of her long blond hair over her shoulder. "You're not smart enough and your family isn't rich enough." Emily said bluntly.
Katrina stood up quickly, looking outraged. "You're just jealous!"
Emily didn't even glance up. "Katrina, why don't you think about that for a moment? Even though you're prettier than Marissa, your conversation skills are horrid and your family has lost most of its riches after your father died. I highly doubt that Regulus Black, who could have any respectable pureblood girl, would choose you, an air headed blabber mouth."
Katrina sighed and sat down. "Maybe I should change my hair."
Emily let out an annoyed sigh. "Yes Katrina, you do that, that may change everything."
Katrina smiled and stood up again, heading towards the portrait hole. "Then I'm going to go to the Owlery and send mum a letter about owling me more hair potions."
Emily sighed; glad she was gone,not in a tolerating mood. She pulled the hair out of its ponytail, shaking her head slightly to help it tumble down, and stretched. A yawn escaped her and she suddenly realized how long she had been sitting in the common room reading. Figuring it was a good time to get to sleep she put her book into her bag and headed to her dorm.
All the while not noticing the curious eyes that watched her as she passed.
Emily stared at Katrina, dumbfounded, as the blond happily took a seat next to Emily at the breakfast table. Usually she spent the morning moaning and groaning about not wanting to get up and that classes were too early. "What are you so happy about?" Emily inquired.
Katrina just smiled and glanced further down the table. Emily followed her gazed and saw Narcissa. She noticed suddenly that the older girl looked worried about something…
"I found something interesting while in the Owlery." Katrina said, drawing Emily's attention back to her.
Emily raised an eyebrow. "Interesting…how?"
"Let's just say by this time tomorrow, I'll be the most popular girl in all of Slytherin."
Emily took notice of how Katrina only referred to herself. "And how are you going to do that? Shag a popular boy and tell everyone? You've already tried that." She hid her smirk as Katrina's cheeks turned red.
Katrina shot her a nasty look. "Keep talking like that and I won't tell you."
"Fine, I apologize." Emily said with no meaning.
Katrina smirked, looking like she won some grand prize, and pulled a folded picture out of her bag. She opened it under the table and Emily looked at it curiously, only to recoil in disgust. "Why do you have a picture like that of Narcissa?" She suddenly began question if Katrina did love Narcissa romantically.
Katrina folded it and put it away. "It's not what you think. It was on the floor of the Owlery. I think she was sending Lucius a birthday present of herself in various positions…like that, and dropped one."
Emily narrowed her eyes. "Right, that's grand. Now what are you going to do with it?"
"I'm going to tell Narcissa I have it and then she'll have to be our friend, making us popular. But since I found it and came up with the plan, I'm going to be considered more popular. I'm sorry Emily, but you'll still only be considered second best to me."
Emily nearly choked on her breakfast. "Second best…to you?"
"Oh," Katrina said surprised. "You didn't know? Everyone knows I'm prettier than you, and smarter, and I've had way more boyfriends than you, but don't worry, I won't tell anyone you're still a…" She looked around and said in a soft voice. "Virgin."
Emily was at a loss for words as she stared at Katrina, unable to comprehend how much of an idiot the other girl really was.
Katrina took her look as saddened shock and smiled with fake sympathy. "Oh, don't you worry dear; I'll take pity on you and let you hang out with Narcissa and I."
Fury bubbled up within Emily. She'll take pity on me?!
Katrina didn't take notice Emily's anger and stood with a pleasant smile on her face. She even had the nerve to pat Emily's head, like Emily was her pet. "See you in class."
Emily watched her leave, back stiff and her eyes filled with a hidden flame.
No one pities me. I swear she'll regret this.
