CHAPTER TWELVE
When Maya Potter's name was called and no such child stepped forward the hall broke into quiet murmurs. All those that Malefic shared a compartment with sent her startled looks likely recalling what she had said on the train.
"Potter, Maya," Professor McGonagall repeated again. She sounded almost desperate.
Professor McGonagall glanced to the man with the beard that would make even Cousin It jealous. His position in the middle amongst all the professors told Malefic that this was Headmaster Dumbledore. Headmaster Dumbledore's shining blue eyes flickered around the room subtly, tense enough that you'd notice it if you were really looking.
He gave a hearty laugh that Malefic noticed didn't sound the slightest bit fake. It was always nice to know if potential enemies could lie with a straight face and Headmaster Dumbledore was practically a ruler in his bluff.
"She must've wondered off and gotten lost. I will go and look for her while you proceed with the Sorting, Professor McGonagall," the headmaster told her, standing up with a bright grin and leaving through a chamber behind the professors' seating.
Malefic's eyes quickly flickered over the professors, attempting to weed out who had seen through the headmaster act and who hadn't.
None looked all too concerned, most looked relieved by Headmaster Dumbledore's words however there was one professor who looked like he was swimming in vats of toxic, boiling fluid with how pained his expression was.
Malefic wasn't quite sure what that was about but she would most certainly find out by the end of the following day if she had anything to say about it.
Having examined what she could about the professors she attempted to return her attention to the Sorting only to make direct eye contact with the man in the turban beside the pained professor.
A stinging pain went up her arm. Not so much as flinching Malefic kept eye contact with the professor who flinched and clutched the back of his turban as if it were on fire.
The professor broke eye contact first and Malefic lost the tension in her body that had gathered due to the pain. She didn't mind pain, she practically reveled in it but something about this hadn't quite felt right.
Finally returning her attention to the Sorting Malefic watched as Heirs Crabbe and Goyle were sorted into Slytherin. They both sat near Malefic with Heiress Greengrass following their lead shortly after.
Soon Heirs Malfoy, Nott and Zabini were too sorted into the house of snakes. Heir Zabini being the last one and the hall quiet, unsure as to what to do with the Sorting over and the headmaster gone.
Malefic glanced at housemates and noticed that a sort of circle had been made around her. Heirs Zabini and Nott sat to her left and right and Heir Malfoy sat across from her. There were only two that had been sorted that she hadn't recognized.
Millicent Bulstrode and Tracey Davis. Both Bulstrode and Davis also sat in the circle, seeming to have recognized that their fellow first years deferred to Malefic to some extent.
Even Miss Parkinson respected the hierarchy that seemed to have been established, although she sat toward the corner furthest from Malefic.
Malefic noticed the older years glance toward them with raised eyebrows and exchanged whispers. She made eye contact with boy that sat at the head of the other end of the table. He was definitely a seventh year and by the way the rest of the house seemed to unconscious turn toward him when eying the first years she would guess he was the peer selected leader of the snake house. He smirked at her then moved to say something to the girl on his left.
"Maya Potter didn't show," Heir Zabini commented, the corner of his mouth barely moving and his eyes trained to the front.
Malefic noticed those that had heard her words regarding Maya Potter on the train perked up at his words, all having had an ear in Malefic's direction.
Malefic said nothing, only watching as Headmaster Dumbledore returned. He beamed at the school from the podium, spreading out his arms in front of him as if to ask for a hug.
"Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! "
Only a few people began to eat as the food appeared, everyone else was either staring at Headmaster Dumbledore expectantly or loudly demanding about the presence of Maya Potter.
Headmaster Dumbledore ate his own food as if nothing were wrong, ignoring the wide eyed glances his staff were sending him.
Malefic began dishing up — the spread available nothing like what she ate at the Mansion but she would make due — and following the headmaster's lead, ignored the wide eyed attempts her house mates were making to get her to talk.
It was once again Heir Zabini who brought it up. "What happened to Heiress Potter, how did she die?"
Malefic bit into the baby potato she had on her fork and chewed slowly. Once she swallowed she responded with, "Her title is Lady Potter."
Heir Zabini's stared at Malefic before nodding and moving to dish up for himself. The other first years — aside from Heirs Crabbe and Goyle, who had dished up when Headmaster Dumbledore said they could — stared at Malefic for a moment longer then started with their own meals.
The meal certainly wasn't peaceful. With each passing minute more and more people began to loudly question where Maya Potter was and soon it couldn't be ignored any further.
Professor McGonagall leaned over to whisper to an unconcerned Professor Dumbledore who wiped his mouth and then nodded.
The noise died down as he stood. "I understand that many of you are concerned about Lady Maya Potter. To ease your minds I will tell you what I am permitted to."
All eyes were on Headmaster Dumbledore now, no one able to suppress their curiosity and Malefic interested to see what the headmaster would say.
"Maya Potter will not be joining us at Hogwarts this year," he said holding up a hand as if to stop protests that hadn't even left anyone's mouth yet. "When I went to locate her I was contacted by her guardians who informed me that she would be receiving private tuition for her own safety. In respect to this decision I can say no more." He grinned at the students. "Now, let us return to our meals with our minds sated."
The story had certainly sated the minds of some — most of these individuals twittering away at how 'cool' is was that the Girl-Who-Lived was receiving private training — but there were many that looked sceptical of the story. Malefic caught sight of many suspicious glances being thrown at Headmaster Dumbledore and comments being made is hushed whispers to others.
The Slytherin table seemed the most suspicious of the lot at Headmaster Dumbledore's words. Malefic's words on the train seemed to finally have made it to the ears of others as many glanced at her. Her own year mates however seemed to have realised they would get nothing from her and it would be pointless to press so they only ate their meal and exchanged polite small talk.
Soon the main courses were cleared and replaced by dessert that Malefic made no move to touch. She could deal with food that wasn't Granny's but desserts made by anyone but her tasted plain — probably due to the lack of special ingredients Granny added to give it more flavour.
Malefic noticed an older student whisper something to Miss Bulstrode who nodded and whispered something to Miss Davis. Soon the whispered message made its way down the group of first years and toward the centre where Malefic sat. The message was passed to Heir Zabini who smirked at what he was told.
He turned to Malefic and took a bite from his lave cake. Malefic stared at him unimpressed until he finished chewing and took a point gulp of his food.
"The upperclassmen wish to speak to you in the common room," he told her.
"Who are these upperclassmen?" Malefic questioned smoothly.
"No names were mentioned however you are to be assured that should anything of malicious intent happen on their part then you are welcome to cut off their wand hands."*
Malefic's eyes flickered down the table and she noticed the well hidden stares she got from the upper years and she smirked. "Of course I will meet with them, it is important to establish connections is it not?"
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LAST EDITED: 01/10/2022
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* Your wand hand is important and to openly invite someone to cut it off assures them that absolutely no ill intent is intended.