"Not like this. Try to keep your wand straight in front of you. And don't bend your arm, it restrains the flux of magic from channeling between your hand and wand."
"Like this?" Myrtle tries to follow Eileen's instructions with a sweating face, having been standing like this for more than ten minutes already.
Legs crossed and with her palm under her chin, the slytherin girl watches idly as the ravenclaw's arm is trembling with efforts, keeping the fighting stance through pain and fatigue. Eileen is currently sitting on the closed toilet bowl inside the cabin that is left open. Myrtle is in the middle of the bathrooms, training like a first year after stalking the other for weeks in order to make Eileen agree to help her.
"Yep. Definitely better than last time. You are much more intimidating like this. Are you able to conjure a shield?"
The other seems to falter a bit.
"I... Maybe? Never tried since year two to be honest..."
Eileen sighs. No wonder she keeps getting harrassed if the idiot can't even defend herself.
"Remember the word, at least?" At Myrtle's ashamed silence, another sigh echoes in the empty room. "Protego. Burn it inside your tiny brain until your last breath, got it? It's gonna be very useful in the future, believe me."
She nods vehemently although looking a bit terrified, and in some ways Eileen is pleased with what she sees.
"P-Protego!"
Something appears at the end of the black wand, sparkling for a second before a dazzling blue light comes out in a round shape. The entire thing covers half the body of the ravenclaw witch who looks shocked at what she must surely consider a miracle.
"Woah... WOAH! It worked!"
"Of course it worked," Eileen is fast to break whatever little trance she is drown in, "Even a first year can do this much. Now, focus."
"O-Ok. Now, what do I do?"
"Nothing but focus. Stupefy!"
The spell jolts out of the light brown wand and aims straight at the gasping Myrtle, not ready for the impact ramming against her shield. The protection manages to hold on for about three seconds, then it simply disappears along with the arming spell. Myrtle doesn't know what to say. Everything happened so fast that she had no time to rejoice in the succeeding of one of her rare shots of magic. She has just stopped a slytherin's hex by her own. Incredible. However, the face Eileen is making right now isn't matching the full happiness taking over Myrtle at this moment. If eyes could talk...
"What are you celebrating? It was terrible, Myrtle. Your shield hasn't even lasted five seconds against the simplest spell, this is not something to be proud about!"
"But... But I did it! This is the first time I make a duelling spell that actually works!" protests the ravenclaw.
"Merlin..." Eileen grabs a handful of hair in frustration. "I thought it was going to be bad, but not that bad. You are in fourth year, Warren. Fourth! Do you know that even Harvey would be able to defeat you at this rate?"
"Who is Harvey?"
"Nevermind. Looks like the problem is not your stance or lack of knowledge in spells. The problem is you."
"It's not!" Myrtle protests as tears are gathering in the corner of her blue eyes. She doesn't whine this time, but it doesn't make the sight less unpleasant.
Eileen was against the idea of training Myrtle at first. Not because she would have to take responsibility in case something went wrong, nor because of the fear of not knowing what and how to teach the whining brat. But simply because Eileen was far, far from roused to that kind of exhausting, patience-testing activity. She can't take time to herself in order to study her own spellwork (boy's love novels and long nap are considered top priority) so why should she bother with teaching a bullied girl who would probably not make it to the end of term?
She's still ended by accepting the deal. Myrtle's strong insistence through stalking, crying and (laughable)threatening to come to the slytherin table to beg is one of the reasons why. But the main one is just that getting Warren to get stronger might actually diminish her efforts in half. A stronger Myrtle equals no more immature pranks against Hornby at lunch, a possibly avoided death if she doesn't come to hide in the bathrooms anymore, and more time for Eileen as the girl would be able to stand on her own feet.
Alas, the world would end before the hopeless ravenclaw can perform a single Stupefy without blowing everything up in the process. As these depressing thoughts scroll down her mind while watching the girl whine and foolishly wave her wand around, Eileen sighs for the hundreth time and gets up from the toilet seat.
"Let's try again."
Damn Merlin and the wizarding world if she doesn't get Moaning Myrtle to shut Hornby up at least once before the summer break.
The next weekend is actually relieving for once. Hogsmeade's trip is expected for the last break of the month and every students, including Eileen, are always waiting for this whiff of fresh air in contrast to the dusty gusts coming from every bits of the castle that hasn't been cleaned for centuries.
The High Street in the village is full of black robes right now, roaming around Zonko's Joke Shop for most of them, Honeydukes and the hairdressing salon for others, and then the library Tomes & Scrolls for the rest. Eileen takes her time before entering one of them. She likes to walk on the streets to take a look at the old building giving vibes of ancient times she's never known. The bricks are old, still perfectly aligned be it on the walls or embbeded in the paved way. She can't help but think that, were Hogsmeade not a magical village, everything would be ruins at this moment.
The idea of visiting a ghost town is absolutely thrilling for her dramatical mindset.
There are as many wizards as there are students here. Sometimes it's a wonder how adults grow so attached to this small place where there is nothing to do but eat, drink and go decades back in time while looking at the big castle standing proud from afar, remains of some good memories inside these walls for most of wizards.
After her little touring, Eileen finally decides to enter her favourite shop. Tomes & Scrolls is a very small place for all the books stored in it. The concept of space is something foreign to the owner secluded behind the cash desk, swallowed by moutains of thick volumes pilling up on it. Books rise in dozen of towers everywhere when not placed on the shelves. Walking round a high pile of tomes covered in brown and deep blue leather, Eileen goes straight to the aisle she's aiming for since entering the chaotic boutique: the muggle section.
The only ones that never fail to enlighten her daily routine when she has nothing else to do. The ones that generally include relationships between men, with a bit of action and a lot of passionate scenes that could make a granny feel fresh again. The third tome of "The man from Beyond" is already out, and Eileen has waited two atrociously long weeks just to get in there.
When she finds what she was looking for, she automatically grabs the book with hungry hands and simply holds it for an eternal minute, feeling the cover and the words written inside as though the ink are piercing through the pages and cover to penatrate her burning veins. Merlin, she loves it. Muggle books as well as wizard books, but she must admit reading the former ones makes her feel a bit nostalgic of the past. The themes, the simplicity of the world, the philanthropy of humans that definite themselves as just this: humans. Not greater than anything else, not more powerful, not taking side between light or dark. Wizards are not very creative, she has noticed. A lot of tales exist in their litterature, a lot of dark fantaisies too. But most of them rely too much on politics, blood, wars and good and evil.
When she came across the muggle ouvrages a while ago, Eileen has been pleasingly surprised to see that gay literature was on trend amongst the female community. Because despite the topic not being openly frowned upon in this universe, it's still mainly subject to lots of debates in big pureblood families where even Mother Magic can't produce heirs on Its own.
"What are you doing here?"
Glancing up from what she is holding, Eileen is rather surprised to meet the incredulous expression of Alphard Black. The boy is alone and doesn't seem to have sought her presence for bad schemes, like she would have believed with any other slytherin member. That fact isn't much reassuring though.
"Buying books?" Eileen replies after a pause.
She swiflty puts the item away from his sight with a panic quickly covered by a blank mask. A slytherin caught in reading ridiculous romantic muggle books would be seen as the most heinous crime ever heard in the House. Even though it is committed by the most hated and freaky witch they have to deal with since the beginning. But more importantly... What is one of the Black heirs doing in this peculiar section, of all things? Surely the un-asked question is mutual because Alphard takes a look at her, conveying mutely a "you know what I mean" glare.
Did he see the book?
"What are you doing here," she retorts, hoping to change the course of the interrogation and get the hell away from this indecipherable snake. And to her surprise, it works. Or, to be more precise, it almost works.
"None of your business. Now, tell me."
"Same here, so that puts both of us in a dead end from which we could easily slip away, were you a little less adamant to check on my reading material."
Does he thinks he is in position to make any demand? They have nothing to do with each other. In fact, Alphard probably is the second unofficial outcast of slytherin, and if it wasn't for the Black title showering the brat like golden dust, he might have been as much pushed around as she herself have been. This Black is not like the others. Villainy and maliciousness is not what defines the boy compared to his entire family. No, Alphard is a quiet boy, not too kind nor too mean, with just enough care to aknowledge and speak to whoever he wants, including some Hufflepuffs. He never merges with his housemates, or maybe a few of them Eileen wouldn't qualified as friends to him. He likes being alone, doesn't like being pressured or commanded. Sure, Alphard is ambitious and cunning enough to be placed in the house of Green, but that doesn't mean he likes playing the bad guy every bloody minute of his life and follows Riddle like a lost puppy.
Even though he is someone Eileen has come to admire sometimes, she can't seem to feel any friendly attraction to her male counterpart. He was far too unreadable for her to know if the guy was clean or not. And associating herself with a Black, although not appreciated by his peers, would only put more attention on her. Just- Nope.
Alphard's eyes descended on the book hidden underneath her coat, unable to read the cover. No need to, really, because there is only one kind of novel in this part of the library anyway. Unless you were Magus Parker, there was no need to be a genius to point out the obviousness in this situation. And he must have read her mind then, because Alphard's expression darkens considerably. It's not the "threathening" type of glare, no. But the suspiciously curious type instead.
"I know you are not the kind to be smart, Floquet, but I'd thought you would be lucid enough to put yourself away from any awkward situation where everyone at Hogwarts would raised an uproar about a Slytherin reading muggle book," Alphard says placidly.
And really, were Eileen a little more emotional, she would have reacted more agressively than the blank stare she sends him. A stare that lasts a bit too long for her pleasure. Because that same guy giving her lessons is wearing the same colours while being in the same aisle of the shop, spitting hypocritical facts. Trying to defend herself would only prove useless and Eileen has very little time to waste. She must leave this place and stall as much time as possible alone before Sadell decides to whistle her dog back.
So, instead of playing coy as she should as a snake, Eileen simply shrugs.
"Okay, I will remember that. Thanks for the advice."
Before Alphard can place another word, Eileen is already running towards the exit, weaving through the piles of worn books trying not to bump into one of them. She quickly throws three silver coins on the desk where the short old librarian is still buried in thick Atlas. Then a blink of an eye later, she is gone.
Eileen stumbles out the door with her precious item she carefully puts in one of her inner pocket. The girls were going to the library after dinner as Astronomy class has been cancelled. She is supposed to do homework as well as Sadell's too, still on probation for having strayed away from the group the past week, but surely there would be a moment of break when neither of them would bother her anymore. Sadell & Co can pretend to be diligent and bookish pretty well, but in truth they are very talented at covering their hobby of gossiping about their male housemates (*cough*Riddle*cough*) with thick books randomly picked up from the shelves after one hour of intense studying. If only they could be as passionate about leaving her alone as they are about Malfoy's new set of expensive ties, Orion's trinkets worth thousand of Galleons or Riddle's supposed new flirt interest– a girl from Gryffindor who appears to know some people he might have use for later.
Her failing classes would not affect any of their pride anyway. So why bother?
Speaking of class, Dumbledore's asked her to deliver a performance from the last transfiguration course she had missed while being comatose in the hospital bed...
Well. Nothing a little effort of magic would fail to execute. The problem was, she has spent months trying to pass as a weak little lamb like the previous Eileen Floquet was and now she is slowly failing mostly every classes due to the result of her lastly too much active character. Dumbledore is still greatly suspicious about her even though Eileen has already proven to be heavily innocent. She is aware that performing suddenly well just to be eligible at OWLs would raise the man's doubts even more.
So, what to do... what to do, indeed?
"Well, well, well. Would you look at that?"
Eileen looks up and suddenly wishes she'd had more patience with Alphard. Reinhard Lestrange and Logan Mulciber have appeared out of nowhere to pop in front of her nose with their condescending stares that only manage to embitter her more than Lestrange's bitchy voice.
"The mudblood's holding a book now. What is it for? Never thought she knew how to read given her level of stupidity."
Mulciber quirks a grin at his friend's jeer.
"I don't know, Reinhard. But it certainly doesn't fit the brainless idiot's image she usually gives. Do you think she intends to simply look at the pictures?"
The street is fully crowded, the student all dispatched everywhere around Hogsmeade, so why- WHY do they have to be right here right now when Eileen needed it the less?! Fuck Fate. She quickly grimaced a smile, then proceeds to walk past them, only for her arm to be roughly grabbed before she can go further. Okay, so pretending not to see them in vain hope of becoming invisible doesn't work. Gotta cross this approach out.
"Hey, hey. Not so fast!"
"What?" she impatiently groans at the good-looking brute who's started to grin. "I thought the bullying era was over. Did I miss the remake introduction?"
"Who's bullying who?"
She blinks blankly. "You, to me?"
"Nonsense," he snorts. He still releases her like the contact had suddenly burned. "I am above wasting my time with the impurity you are, Floquet."
He wasn't saying that the day he cast a boiling hex with Orion and Mulciber.
"I'm a half-blood."
"Still a mudblood," Logan sighs, lacking the usual venom he holds over those he considers as such.
"Do not think for a minute that just because Eldwins decided to take you as a Pet you will be welcomed in Slytherin. You do not belong with us, and will never do," Lestrange threatens.
She is sure Reinhard has spit the same thing at Riddle in first year, along Malfoy and the rest. And yet, here he is today, following and bowing before the same Mudblood they used to mock and hate.
"Yeah, sure. You're absolutely right."
Better be done with it as quickly as possible.
"What?"
"I'm a Mudblood, I don't belong. Heard it a thousand times before. Can I go now, so I can cry alone in a corner wishing I was never born?"
His expression is quite funny. She has to suppress a laugh and almost fails to do so. Eileen decides to grab this opportunity to get away in the direction of the castle in her haste to read. But the whole universe has definitely decided to go against her today, because rather than being rebuked and quickly bored with Eileen, Lestrange grabs her again, his face showing another spark that instantly puts Eileen on guard.
"There is something I don't understand, Floquet."
"That's sad for you, but I really have to go—"
She is about to dive and free herself from Lestrange's clutches when Mulciber moves in front of her to block her attempt of escaping. Seriously, what is wrong with these imbeciles?!
"Something does not sound right with you since you came back. You were weak, emotional. Yet, you do not cover anymore. You don't cry. You talk back and never ask for help. Why?"
"Glad to see you're suddenly showing interest in my lowly person, Lestrange. Is it your new hobby?"
"You're proving my point right now," he says, staring even more. "It's like you are a completely different person. It's just weird. Aiden thinks the same."
Wow! So now she learns that Mulciber, Avery and Malfoy are holding little reunions to talk behind her back! How lovely.
"Being constantly sick does that sometimes," she snaps. "Now let me go."
"Being sick doesn't make a person change that much," Logan intervenes and Eileen loses all the patience she previously had.
"Good for you!" She forcefully manages to free her arm. "Now, I have somewhere else to be, so stop bothering me and fuc–"
She is suddenly pulled again, this time being lugged away in the opposite direction. Her shock makes it easier for Mulciber to pull her through the crowd alongside a confused Lestrange. "Although you love being a mystery, I know one thing that hasn't changed over the years."
"Ha?!"
"Riddle," Logan lets out in a playful drawl. Seeing the way she reacts, his smile widens and the bully continues, "You're still afraid of him. And what a great timing, because you see, we're supposed to meet with him at the Three Broomsticks in a minute."
"Logan," Lestrange groans while Eileen pales, "Tell me it's not what I think..."
"No. Way." Eileen couldn't have that. Not right now and not ever. This is the only day in a month she can be detached from all the bad vibes of the notorious band. What was the point to force her presence in their gathering, aside from annoying her to the core?! She can't be around Riddle when she is this close to explode and accuse him of murder! Logan might be a bullying dickhead right now but he is totally right about her apprehension of their terrific leader.
"You're joking!" the heir Lestrange growls but does not stop him as he takes the same pace as his slytherin friend. "You can't bring the Mudblood to the meeting! Not only would it be outrageous, but what of all the secrets–"
"It's not an official meeting Reinhard, calm down," Mulciber rolls his eyes. "And does it not unnnerve you to watch that bitch getting all cocky with us without getting punished?"
"Stop talking like I'm not here!"
Eileen barks as she tries to catch the eyes of every strangers in the street, hoping one of them would help if they see her . She isn't that lucky, though. Reinhard doesn't look the most thrilled about it, but the Lestrange Heir isn't complaining anymore. Then, together they lead Eileen to her doom.
The pub is awfully crowded. It's the time of the day when wizards comes to relax and enjoy the end of the freedom they have in the weekends, and this applies especially to Hogwarts students who will soon have to go back to the castle as soon as the clock hits six.
Eileen thinks it's been an hour since she had been dragged inside. Now it is five in the afternoon and her housemates still haven't move from their usual spot in the pub. Mulciber has managed to pull her through the long high street to the Three Broomsticks as if dragging a powerless child. Atheis, Elizabeth and Avery had not seemed very pleased with her sudden appearance, starting an uproar of complaints before Sadell calmed the girls down with her signature icy glare. Although it was quite funny to watch, Eileen was disappointed that Riddle never showed anything else than the unimpressed face of his, like her hanging around wasn't even an anomaly in the first place. Too bad. It would've been the only con of this horrible mess she is being forced into.
She is sitting quietly since their arrival the hour prior, not participating at all at the boring conversation they are having as though Eileen isn't even here. They are discussing politics as always, but also the students petrified in the infirmary and other shady business Riddle runs with his little army plus some gullible ravenclaws. Enjoying the little bubble she has put herself in in the midst of the pub's lull, she wraps her hands around the butterbeer she has ordered some time ago and eagerly takes a mouthful of the beverage that soothes her throat a little bit.
This is the third glass she gets even though Eileen is not a fan of alcohol. Slowly, she can feel the slight effect the drink has over her train of thoughts and motions too. The percentage of liquor poured in it is not nearly enough to bring someone to a wrecked stage anyway. The weight of her book in the inner pocket also helps to keep a certain focus of her surrounding. Detaching herself from the world, Eileen thinks of Harvey-Not-Harvey, the way he was hunched and bruised, the way the sight had irked her apathetic part of her and made her want to hex Parker to oblivion– She actually intends to do so one day. Harvey is struggling by himself too. Pureblood but still so shy and innocent, giving loads of Hufflepuff's positive vibes that keeps his emo Housemates at bay. Someone has to protect this little spark of purity before a devil like Riddle devours him whole until nothing is left but crumbs of dark hatred.
She sighs.
Then looks up when the sudden silence becomes too loud, only to notice the multiple pairs of eyes fixed upon her form. She blinks.
"... Yes?"
"Is our conversation that boring for you to sigh so disgraciously?" asked Ezekiel with a sneer.
Greengrass mirrores the gesture. Sadell holds onto her perfect impassive mask and Orion raises a flawless eyebrow. It's only ten seconds later she realizes they are waiting for a response. She can't even figure out what they wanted to hear.
"Um, sorry what?"
She isn't ashamed about it, and maybe it's what irritates the others more.
"At least that answers the question," Mulciber mocks.
"Eileen," Sadell calls like a mother about to scold her child, "It is rather unusual for you to sit with us for Hogsmead trip. You should use this opportunity to learn some etiquette and try to blend in a little, don't you think?"
Blend in with future murderers and past bullies that almost killed her numerous times? Over her dead body—
"Sorry, it's a bit complicated to try to fit in where you're not wanted. And I would be terribly sorry to force myself into your beautiful friendship any longer, so I am thinking of leaving you all alone and get myself out of there—"
"Sit down, Floquet," Mulciber orders, sighing like she has been exaggerating things. The twat. "I didn't bring you here for you to disappear like a thief."
"No, you brought me here to make me uncomfortable. You suceeded, by the way. Congratulations."
"How are we making you uncomfortable?" Orion asked in the most innocent manner. "We haven't been picking on you for a while now. We even accepted you back after you ran away like a kicked puppy. I haven't called you Heiress of Slytherin again like I promised. Is it not enough?"
She wants to roll her eyes so badly but Sadell would definitely not approve. She doesn't know why the dynamics have changed that much over the past year. Or the past eight months. Little by little, it is like they no longer see her as a disgusting parasite deserving multiple cutting hexes every ten minutes, but as a tolerable parasite deserving sneers and jabs here and there as though she isn't worth their time anymore. It is a cool change in any case, but still unwanted at times like this when she was in the middle of all of their inquisive stares.
"I..." She doesn't know what to say. And the way Riddle watches her like a bird of prey is stressing her out. Keeping a long suffering sigh for herself, Eileen sits back on the chair and swallows the last big gulps of butterbeer.
Alright. She stays. But it doesn't mean she has to join the discussion. They could talk about assassinating innocent babies for all she cares, it isn't her concern. Not in this era, and certainly not in this universe.
"Floquet."
... Okay. The universe in question is not indulging one of her whims right now. Right before returning in the shadow for the rest of the afternoon, Riddle has to pull her into the light again.
"Don't forget, tomorrow after Herbology. At the library."
Eileen blinks. Hard. "What..?"
"Tutoring session."
It takes around a long minute for the words to sink in... Oh. OH. No, no no no. She has totally forgotten all about this nonsense. The panic in her eyes and voice is hard not to notice.
"You mean... You weren't joking..?"
"Joking?" he says with a perfeclty plucked eyebrow. "And when, pray tell, have I ever joked about anything?"
"But... But I thought you only said what Slughorn wanted to hear, like you always do!"
"Like I always do?"
Now he is intrigued. And not in a positive way. Eileen gulps. "No- I mean- Of course everything you say or do is genuine Riddle. Don't get me wrong..."
"Too late."
"... I'm not ready for this," she quickly confesses, not bothered by the mockery she summons from everyone at their table. Damn them all, she is not going to have the future Dark Lord tutoring her.
"See? I told you she was afraid of Tom," Mulciber's laugh get the attention of everyone for a short moment before Riddle takes the lead again.
"I don't know how it is my problem wether you're ready or not. I will personally make you suffer if you don't show up in time. Mark my words."
"Why are you doing this?" Eileen asks suddenly.
Why did you accept Slughorn's request when you know it's useless? Why are you so intent on helping me when you absolutely don't want to?! And don't give me the 'I'm the altruist model student who lives to help people' because we both know it's utter bullshit.
This is why she is dying to ask. To accuse. And she is on the verge of doing just that right now.
"If you think your title is enough to—"
"Eileen," Eldwins interrupts and everything tells her that were Eileen to pursue her next sentence, everything she's worked for in order to get things back the way it was between her and the rest of the House, all of that would crumble in pieces. Pulling herself out of trance, she is quick to divert her gaze from Riddle's who has yet to pull back from the staring contest.
"We should hex you for this," Atheis mutters, getting approval from Nott next to her.
"Now, now. This is becoming far too interesting!"
"Only for you, Black," Malfoy sighs.
Riddle remains resolute about this tutoring absurdity. So Eileen finds herself determined to find any excuse she can in order to avoid it. But she can't. She knows she can't avoid something Riddle has planned for. It is simply inevitable.
"The reason I am doing this Floquet, is because I think it's time to reeducate you about how things work here. Forget about that new temper of yours. Even after everyone started to leave you mostly alone you still continued to neglect your studies and fail grades without shame, indirectly impacting your House's reputation. The Gryffindors are mocking us. The Ravenclaws too. Salazar forbids the infuriating Hufflepuff are pitying us while I'm talking right now. All of this because of you. I didn't bother at first because I thought you needed time to reajuste your schooling with your... new health conditions. But now seeing that you don't plan on improving at all, I feel obliged to do something."
"You don't—"
"I will reeducate you, either you want it or not. You should use this opportunity to try and as Eldwins implied, get along with your housemates in the meantime. It seems we have a lot to learn from each other, don't you think?"
Translation: I know you have secrets, and I'm going to peel them off of your little brain one by one.
She doesn't nod. Doesn't acquiesce. She shrunk back on her seat in silence, finishing the last drops of butterbeer and simply go back to sulk like a little kid. So, potion tutoring it is, then. She really hopes Slughorn will have her coming death on his conscience.