There is something she notices as the tutoring lessons take more and more space in her daily life. It is that the time spent with Tom Riddle is surprisingly fast.
Still not the best hours she can get, mind you. But still more enjoyable than the numerous ones she's spent with the girls when revisions often ended up in gossip time. There is one thing she unfortunately can't deny here: Riddle is a marvellous teacher. Without any bad pun. The way he explains difficult parts, takes time to repeat as many times as Eileen needed to comprehend a subject, especially the way he instantly knows where her flaws lay at so that he's able to correct her straight away and dissect parts of the matter piece by piece in order for her to process everything perfectly.
Now she could see why the bastard would be so eager to grab that defence teacher's position in the future. He has a thing for this. A gift for pedagogy no other possesses except Merrythoughts and later on, McGonagall.
Even the way he keeps a flawless posture while reading her essay is incredible. The guy literally gives a teacher vibe without even knowing it. Or maybe he already is aware and is only enjoying the effect it had on others. Eileen is unable to take her eyes off him as he is still focused on an old essay filled with uninteresting hypothesis on some sleeping potion she couldn't give enough care about.
"Not bad."
And isn't it a rare praise coming from the eternal imperturbable mini dark lord? Soon the heavens would be falling on their heads.
"No need for that face, Floquet. I know when to aknowledge progress and intelligence."
"Yeah, not shocking at all," the sarcasm can't be more obvious. The sigh Riddle makes is louder than the low murmurs around the library.
"You made use of the advices given to you. You took time to double-check the informations instead of writing it down blindly like any other mediocre student in this class. You went for the result using the curiosity I forced you to conceive. This is the kind of work I find acceptable for a Slytherin. Keep going like this and you'll be able to achieve a lot of things."
"Like what?"
The placid answer full of void is evidently not what he expected, given the stare he throws at Eileen.
"Like good grades. Like your Housemates' recognition." He leans on the table a little more. "Like being invited in Slugclub's gatherings in order to get to know important people."
Oh, joy.
Everything she didn't give a bloody fuck about.
"No thanks. Not for me. I'm fine without all this."
He lets out another sigh. It's the third one since the start of the hour and it is becoming funny for the oh, so umblemished teenage Voldemort. Eileen decides to count them from now on.
"Floquet. You can't tell me you have no ambition at all being in Slytherin."
Ha. Funny.
"I have one actually." Arms crossed over her breast, she fixes him in the eyes. "Graduate, be away from all of you and live peacefully."
The distate showing on his normally apathetic mask is quite a sight to enjoy. Riddle puts down the essay on the table. He then starts massaging the bridge of his noise like an old wizard tired of life.
"Disgustingly so Hufflepuff. And here I thought you were finally worth something. Sometimes I wonder if I'm wasting my time."
"You are. You should've listened when I told you so—"
"Quiet, Floquet."
Her mouth shuts instantly. Riddle seems to be deeply thinking of something, making the sudden calm grow into an atmosphere full of tension. Here goes the good vibes she was drawing from those tutoring lessons. It was only the fourth session and Eileen is already messing everything up. How many more before her unavoidable death? She glances around, looking a little bored exept for the fact she is currently checking all the possible escape routes surrounding the breathing danger.
The students all around the library are unable to do the same, because Riddle has casted a privacy charm doubled by a Notice-Me-Not that had the fantastic effect of not being stared at every minute. But the charm had its flaw- putting her in the incapacity of screaming for help unless she runs out of the privacy bubble, a move which Riddle could easily counter with a Stupefy of his own.
"I can see that you grab most of the lessons' parts quickly. You can be smart. You obviously lack motivation that could place you above everyone who is mocking you right now. And yet for a reason I can't quite understand, you don't seem willing to change that when you have the ability for it. Why?"
He looks so calm about it, but it's not hard to perceive the little frustration behind the burning gaze.
"Can't I enjoy tranquillity?" she asks back, "I don't like rivalty or spotlight, I think you already knew this fact. My slytherin side simply doesn't lie in darkness and political talk. It resides in enjoying the shadows, staying true to myself and use my intelligence for things I have interest in."
"You forget hiding secrets."
Yeah, that too.
"Everyone has secrets. We've been through this subject already."
"Not enough."
All books and essays end forgotten on the table's corner. Riddle leans back on the chair, eyes never withdrawing from Eileen's. It sends shivers through her spine. "What do you mean?"
"Who are you really, Floquet? Why are you in slytherin and why do you object in integrating yourself with your peers? Or anyone for that matter. Even though Myrtle Warren and that other boy seem to both have the privilege of your rapt attention."
"What happened to me? I got enough of struggling everyday of my life in order to be left alone. I got tired of you all, of my illness, of being weak and powerless in a house where strength and power are crucial traits to possess in order to fit in. I didn't fit in, still don't and will never do in the future so I decided to be myself and not give a single shit of the rest. That's what happened."
Half of the lie is true. Still not enough for Riddle though.
"No one can change their personality like you did. It's like you completely became someone else. I would have accused you of being polyjuiced if I didn't know better."
"You are dellusional."
"Am I? Or are you, thinking you could fool everyone else including me. I have yet to mention the fact Orion saw you wipe Parker's pride effortlessely the other day. Care to explain that? Or are you going to dodge the question again with one of your thousand lies?
She bits her lips to the verge of bleeding. He can wait for a reply forever. It is supposed to be a tutoring lesson, not a questionning session. The silence streches further until it becomes unbearable for Eileen who can't help but resolve herself to keep her mouth shut. Finally and against all odds, Riddle gives up first.
"I will have my answers sooner or later, Floquet. You better spill everything out before you do it in a less pleasant way."
"Are you threatening me?" she exclaims, almost outraged. Almost.
He doesn't say anything. Because the answer is totally obvious. No one defy Tom Riddle and goes away unscratched. After a long pause, he naturally (and finally) frees her from his gaze.
"Speaking with you always leads to a headache. Let's stop here for now. Pick up the books, you can leave while I talk to Mrs. Gobblerock."
That's all he says before leaving the chair, then graciously walks toward the librarian's desk. The prick. Why does Eileen had to clear up the mess he did to begin with? Annoyed by the incapacity to rebel against the subtle order, the slytherin girl does as she is told. After two long minutes spent in the infinite aisles to put the books back in place, Eileen leaves the library without one glance towards the future murderer smoothly getting under Gobblestock's skin, probably trying to get his way to the Restricted Section illegaly. Again.
The prick. (bis)
Riddle is slowly starting to get on her nerves lately. Although the tutoring lessons were absolutely useful, his presence was becoming more and more suffocating as days go by. His eyes are sharp, knowing, doubtful. Following her everywhere as soon as Eileen had the misfortune of straying away from the group for more than five minutes. She has been so much anxious since she woke up in this universe, knowing that a dead body coming back to life would attract the worse people's attention ever on her. She had been afraid of Dumbledore. Of Grindelwald. And then she almost had a heart attack when she saw Tom Riddle on her first day at the train station two years ago.
Really, the possibilities of becoming a rat lab, a prisoner or even just a dead body again was not on her to-do list. That's why she has decided to stuck to the boring, apathetic persona from the day her soul was forcefully put into Eileen Floquet's shell.
Eileen barely has time to turn the corner ahead of the library that she is violently grabbed by the collar and pushed into the alcove. Pain erupts on her back but the only sound she makes is a small grunt of annoyance, more intensified when her eyes meet Greengrass's. "What are you doing?"
"Are you enjoying it?" Atheis asks with so much venom that it's surprising acid hasn't come out of her mouth.
"What?" Eileen blinks dumbly.
The grip tightens.
"I am asking you if you're enjoying your little bubble of comfort."
"Well, I don't know if being pressed against the wall by you is something I can think as comfortable but—"
Out of nowhere, Atheis's wand is now digging into Eileen's throat like a threat. The hate in her eyes can't be more real.
"I'm talking about Riddle!" she spits. "How dare you show your pathetic self with him in front of everyone as though taking his generosity for granted! You've always pretended to be indifferent towards him and now look at you. Spending time with Riddle at every single chance you can get! You're disgusting."
"Wait— Are you for real?!"
"I don't care if Sadell forgave you and took you in again out of pity. I don't care that Riddle is using you to regain some dignity for the House. But what I can't stand is you walking around Hogwarts like you were worthy of this place. You acting haughty and disregarding your betters' orders to do whatever you want without any care in the world!"
It is becoming too dangerous. Atheis seems on the verge of hexing her with no soul around to witness the possible murder. Did the pumpous bitch calculate everything?
"You should have stayed in the shadows, Floquet. No matter how healthy you became during last summer, you're still underneath everyone in the bloody castle."
"My, seems like you're quite the jealous one, aren't ya?"
Not a good idea to provoke Atheis when she already is in an unstable state, but Eileen's got enough of this crap-spitting mouth she's been forced to tolerate since weeks now. Damn Atheis and her fragile pride.
"If you don't like me around your precious Riddle, then go tell him. I'm not sure he would be more flattered in your company though, y'know how much guys of his kind like bad girls..."
"Shut your mouth!"
In a quick move, Eileen pushes the other girl and slaps the wand away. Before Atheis can summon it from where it fell, she flings it farer with a wave of hand. "You bitch—"
Eileen is now in front of her, taller by two or three centimeters that has Atheis backing up a little by surprise.
"Actually, you're right to be jealous. If you knew all the things we do together, away from prying eyes like yours..."
"In your fucking dreams!" Atheis enrages. "Stop lying!"
"Dreams?" Eileen steps forwards again, slowly and taunting, "No, no. It's vivid, you see. It's real. Riddle's touch. Riddle's voice. His warmth. Do you want me to tell you how our "lessons" are going, Greengrass? First, we pretend to be studious teenagers in public. Then at the time our burning hormones can't take it anymore, we turn into beasts and jump into the first cupboard to shag like dogs—"
She can't finish the sentence as a sorching ache erupts behind her knees, making her gasp and buckle over to the floor. She doesn't know what happened, until blood starts pouring from the cuts and until she hears the very familiar voice of the devil himself.
"Such a crude language coming from a Slytherin like yourself should be banned," Riddle's steps echo behind her back, slow and threatening. "I would like you to restrain this type of vocabulary for yourself in the future, Floquet. Especially if it's to spread indecent rumours in which I am incriminated. Understood?"
Eileen grunts, trying to get back on her feet. Another wave of burning courses through her entire body this time, pressing her to the ground without mercy. She manages to bite back a cry. It isn't a cruciatus. Riddle could not risk his title and reputation to perform an Unforgivable that could trigger the wards of the castle. But damn, it is so painful her memories and vision start to become blurry with dark spots. She can hear a laugh through the suffering moans she lets out, followed by something heavy pressing onto the back of her hands- A shoe? Is that ugly wentch Greengrass stepping on her hand right now?
Bloody hell. She can't feel anything but the million of nerves hosted within her body, boiling. It is probably the same spell Malfoy and Sadell used on her last time. She so hadn't missed that shit!
Everything suddenly stops. The pain is not burning anymore, although still spreading under the skin continuously like hundredth of needle digging through the bones.
"Understood?" he asks again, seemingly totally unbothered by what he just did. Obviously.
"... Al- alright," she pants. "Understood."
"I'm glad you can still know your place," Atheis mocks.
She watches as Riddle's wand disappears inside his sleeve. Somehow, that simple gesture is enough to soothe her mind. But Atheis isn't the kind of bitch to let things go to peace.
"Now, I think an apology is in order."
"What...?"
She doesn't like where this is going. Deeply, Eileen hopes that Riddle doesn't take the vicious witch's words into consideration, because the sun would hit Britain before he can make her apologize to that girl. When she tries to make eye contact with the devil, he simply raises an eyebrow at her like a silent question: Well?
No way.
No fucking way.
"I can't do this."
"No?" he says. "Then I'm afraid you're in for another round of pain."
"Do whatever you want. Cut me open, burn me, kill me. I won't make any form of atonement to that girl."
"You fucking—"
"Greengrass. What did I say about language?"
"But Riddle...! She is disrespecting us with her attitude and..."
"–And will be punished accordingly in time. Now, be quiet and let's hear what she has to say before I lose patience and make her life a living hell once again. Would you have that, Floquet? Or do you want things to settle peacefully now?"
"You really want me to apologize?"
"I won't repeat myself."
Fuck. Fuck Riddle and the way he thinks he can order her around. (he can)
Fuck Atheis Greengrass, her high and victorious glare she gives Eileen, waiting for the words of amends that would give the Slytherin bitch the final triumph over her. Damn it. She has worked so hard to have that ounce of peace at Hogwarts. She can't just start all over again. Not so close to the end.
Riddle has his wand ready for the second round. Fuck this.
"Atheis Greengrass," she begins, eye-leveling hers as she feebly gets up. "I deeply apologize for accusing you of jealousy, and for thinking your were a self-obssessed idiot, unable to think rationally and totally fawning over Tom Riddle like the other prepubescent witches in the castle."
"What?!"
"It won't happen again, I swear."
"I will bloody kill you—"
"Now, now, Greengrass. I think it's time to go back to your dorm. Curfew is due in half an hour."
"But- She just...!"
"It's not a suggestion," he says more firmly, apparently fed up with Atheis's antics. Like everyone else should be after all those years tolerating her.
Eileen hides her smile when Greengrass just stands there, outraged and speechless, ready to burst again only to turn around swiftly. She picks her wand up from the floor and stomp away, her aggressive steps echoing in the hallway until she is finally out of range for good.
"You too, Floquet."
"Yes, yes. I was on my way before Atheis materialized in front of me and pushed me against the wall to talk about our unmatching souls," she finished by pointing at both of them.
"Being pinned against the wall shouldn't have bothered you that much with the nonsense you pulled just now."
"Yeah, well... I was only voicing her deepest thoughts. She thinks we are happily enjoying our time spent with each other. Happily! Can you believe it?!"
"Don't do it again."
Okay. He isn't so amused by the whole thing. Understandably, of course. Eileen shrugs.
"Can't promise."
"Go back to the dorm Floquet. And come find me in the Potion classroom to practice what you've learned today. I can't have you failing for the upcoming test even if you already proved you were more than capable despite your habit of laziness."
"Is that a criticism or a compliment?"
"Floquet."
"Alright! I'm going."
She starts heading up to the dungeons, walking funny due to her kneepits being cut. A "chance" that Riddle handles magic like a genius and purposefully avoided slicing the joints along. Behind her, Riddle's footsteps make soft thuds on the floor, walking in the opposite direction from the lowest part of the castle. Surely moving to an unreachable place where he can do all the evil stuff he wants without a doubt. But hey, it wasn't Eileen's business, right?
She sighs, trying to suppress the shivering of her body, caused by the after effect gifted by Riddle's curse earlier. And to think she had to apologize to Atheis after all this...
Seems like the sun is going to shine over Scottland's green pastures very soon after all.
She was right.
A few days later, heat had spread everywhere over the region and poured the students in sweat from head to toes for the majority of them who hadn't mastered the cooling charm yet. The temperature was alright within the walls of Hogwarts, but once outside... you were done for if not prepared. Like the Quidditch team who is currently regretting their game under the burning rays of light right now. They're still pretty good on brooms, especially the Slytherin team who scores another ten points against Ravenclaw. The pitches erupt in roars of either rage or triumph from every parts, almost blowing up Eileen's eardrums in the process.
"There is now thirty-five points ahead for Slytherin! Can Ravenclaw catch up the score before the last quarter of time left?! Ohhhh– And Dorian Silverbridge almost got knocked off his broom trying to hit the Bludger! Slytherin nearly lost one of their teammate just now. None of them are losing focus though- The battle is so inten— ARTHUR MORGS HAS THE QUAFFLE AGAIN AFTER DODGING THE DEADLY BLUDGER AIMING RIGHT FOR HIS HEAD! SWEET MERLIN THIS GAME IS BLOODY FIRE I TELL YOU!"
Once again, Eileen has the buzzing noise shut down from her bubble of peace. Her eyes aren't on the amazing quidditch game taking place right in front of her like the rest of the spectators, but on the letter sitting on her lap. A special letter that had her turned into a blinking statue the moment the owl had landed graciously on the table, nearly hitting Malfoy's perfectly brushed haircut on the way. She has never received any letter since the day she left home. No one would have bothered writing to the only child of the Floquet family who was already disowned by her own mother, even if not officially.
So when she has seen the name on the well-crafted paper, vaguely reminding her of the pureblood side of the line she comes from, she had just... frozen. Even Sadell hadn't known what to make of the sudden turn of events. Only Atheis stayed true to herself with the hypothesis of an unworthy lover or the Wizarding board deciding she was far too unworthy to remain in the magical Britain. Really, it would have pained her to leave Hogwarts and all, but the peace and quiet the muggle world could offer was a proposition that would have Eileen seriously consider the idea.
But no. No notice of expulsion was written inside the letter. Only an annoucement from David Alexandre Floquet. Her father. Her father she has met only once as the new Eileen Floquet. The cursive writing is even more stranger than the memory of Lord Floquet's face.
Dear daughter of mine,
I hope this letter finds you well.
It has been a while since we've met after your miraculous recovery. I am writing this letter as I know Hogwarts' end of term approaches. You will be coming back home then, and I deem this long break much appropriate to talk about your future and everything we couldn't before due to your unfortunate illness.
I trust that your health is even better than before, seeing that we haven't received any letter from you or the professors since your miraculous recovery two years ago. This is good. No matter what kind of miracle saved you back then, this is great news.
A servant will pick you up at King Cross's station.
I wish to hear from you before you come back home.
Magie dans nos veines, magie dans l'esprit.
Kind wishes,
David Alexandre Floquet, Lord of the Floquet House.
And that's all. Nothing more. Just this. She reads the lines over and over, unable to understand the reason for this mail. There is no family bond between them, and David Floquet never tried to contact Eileen since the last summer, even when she has supposedly died and during the few days he's spent in the manor. So what the bloody hell is he trying to do by sending this out of nowhere? Eileen doesn't really want to know. Especially when the letter would smell trouble once the semester finishes.
Munching on the piece of bread she grabbed at the kitchen earlier, Eileen put the parchment in her bag, then picks a blank one with a self-refilling inked quill. – A gift from Sadell when the latter got a new one for Christmas.
Placing the paper on her lap, Eileen doesn't even notice the dangerous drift of a Seeker in front of her pitch to chase after the Golden Snitch and begins to write a reply.
She kept it short, cordial and simple. That way, her father shouldn't notice any difference, especially since the previous Eileen Floquet must not have written to her progenitor often back then. That remained a risky bet but still necessary if Eileen doesn't want this David to worry or worse: send another creepy mail like this one.
Sighing on her way to the owlery, Eileen has to check her watch every minute to ensure not to be late for Sadell's studying session. Which is going to start in precisely sixteen minutes. Just enough to send her mail and walk to the great hall.
That was one of the many things Eileen regretted from her past life- the use of cellphone.
Seriously. Wizards are mocking muggles for their lack of magical capacity, but still, she finds that a lot of their creativity in techology was far from being rustic. One second was enough to alert people of the last worldwide gossip. No need for a damn whole fireplace in order to make a call. Most of their inventions was immediate, compensating Magic by machines.
"Do you wanna know, know that it doesn't hurt me? Yeah yeah ooohh. Do you wanna know abour the deal that I'm making? Yeah yeah oohhh..."
She is almost skipping on the way, waving the mail around like a fan. She reaches the end of the hallway before going outside where the owlery is showing off its big height from the small hill.
"Youuuu, it's you and meeee..."
Today is a great day. Atheis had been nowhere to be seen since morning, same for Riddle and Orion and Malfoy. Professor Merrythoughts believed in her imaginary illness that had her standing aside while everyone duelled each other and Professor Dumbledor hadn't even acknowledged her existence in class.
"And if I ooonly could, I'd make a deal with God... And I'd get him to swap our placeees..."
It takes only two minutes to reach the tower. The door is already open, so Eileen goes in and starts climbing the steps one by one without losing an ounce of her good mood.
"Be running up that road, be running up that hill– Be running up that building... See, if I only couuuuld ooohhh..."
Maybe she could ask M. Dippet for an early depart. Staying at the castle three days after the exams is what she would call a waste of her free time. Better go home as soon as possible, deal with whatever her father wants and spend two months in peace.
"Come on babyyy... Oh come one darliiing..."
She leaps on the last step of the tower and enters the main olwery room.
"Ooh come one ange— uh."
... only to stop at the surprising scene happening in front of the glassless window. Something she couldn't have foresee but still could have guessed somehow, knowing the large frivolousness Orion Black possesses.
"What are you looking at, Nifflerhead!?" the girl previously devouring Back's mouth spits at the petrified newcomer. She has yet to arrange her wide open shirt under which Eileen can see almost everything– because the bra is mostly undone and uncovering the upper part Eileen didn't want to see.
Well. Fuck.
Orion doesn't seem perturbed by the interruption, but rather amused by the fact they were caught in the middle of their little affair. Sweet Merlin's dusty balls. She was having a great day before those two came to ruin everything!
"Hey, I'm talking to you!" the other girl roars, straightening herself so that she isn't leaning on the alcove any longer. "And keep your eyes for yourself. What are you, a pervert?!"
Dear God. Her ears are already ringing and it's not even two minutes since she's stepped into the owlery.
"Do your business, I won't be long."
Choosing not to give them attention anymore, Eileen climbs up the wooden stairs leading to the open floor and directly to the bigger glasseless window. She is quick to retrieve the owl that delivered the mail this morning. It's a big one, with blueish shades on its greyish feathers. Its eyes shine bright gold like the mass of Galleons it must have costed to the Floquet Family. Really, if there is one thing Eileen doesn't regret by coming back to life here, it was the healthy part of her misfortunes.
"I can't believe it. Who does she think she is?
"I'm Eileen fucking Floquet, Eldwins' dog and the Slytherins's black sheep. If you wanted to shag I wouldn't advise you this kind of open space where everyone can come and go at will."
"You shut your–"
"It's crowded with bird droppings and flies, how can you choose the owlery if not to catch some unknown diseases?"
She attaches the letter to the owl's foot, securing it with a small thread. Satisfied, Eileen takes the volatile and throws it through the window, watching the owl take its flight into the endless grey of the sky. One thing done.
"Orion, say something!"
Now, here is the second one. Descending the cracking stairs, Eileen catches Black's gaze and pins her own into his. "Are you not supposed to be engaged with Walburga?"
She might not remember every part of the scenario, but this detail is not one she can forget. Shock can be read over Orion and his "date"'s face. It makes Eileen frown on the moment because she had thought it was an official thing by now. ...Was it not?
"WHAT?" the other girl hollers, startling a few owls on the process.
... Oh. So it wasn't.
"Is that true?!"
"Yes, it is," Orion says. "Although I'd like to know how you happened to have this information Floquet. A handful of people only knows of this fact."
Shit.
"Maybe one of them couldn't keep their mouth shut. I have ears everywhere you know."
"I can see that."
"It doesn't matter! Orion, you flirted with me when you are engaged with that bitch? I thought you said there was no woman in your life. You said you'd consider getting engaged with me if I pleased you!"
"I lied," he replies without an ounce of guilt. Eileen wants to facepalm. "I simply wanted to have my way with you because you were cute. Girls have no meaning for me except to help me escape boredom."
He is breaking the ravenclaw girl. Tears are forming at a warning scale. Absolute shame is colouring her cheeks in bright red. What is he thinking?
"You're... joking, right?"
He sighs. "Selena. I'm not in love with you."
"Liar..."
"Every girl is just a toy to play with until marriage. I'm sorry for manipulating you. You don't have to see me secretely anymore."
"LIAR! You can't be serious! Not after everything we did!"
Okay. Time to disappear. Step by step, Eileen heads towards the exit in order to run from the drama as fast as possible. Orion can fix his shit himself, she isn't needed there and hopefully never will be in the future. But once she is barely one step away from leaving for good, a hand grabs her from behind and pin her against a flat chest. Eileen has no time to blink as she is turned around, now facing Orion's mischevious look.
"What the fu—"
Lips are pressed on hers. Quick, warm and definitely uninvited. Before she can process what is going on, a hand is placed on her neck, pulling her forward in a brieve demo of control. A tongue is plunged inside her mouth and takes hers in an agressive waltz. As she gasps, he takes things even further to explore every part of it shamelessly. Selena's scream is long forgotten amidst the gigantic shock Eileen was processing.
It doesn't take any longer for her to regain her senses and push Orion away as violently as possible. "What the fucking bloody hell are you doing?!"
He is fast to regain balance, as though he hasn't been violently shoved just now.
"Kissing you?"
The slap that hits him in the face right after doesn't come from her. It's with a mix of disbelief and intense pleasure that Eileen watches the other girl beat the crap out of Black in fury. Sadly, it's only one hit and the ravenclaw is already running down the stairs, probably going to hide herself for the remaining hours left before curfew.
"Ow, that hurt."
"Deserved," Eileen glares. She can't stop scrubbing her lips aggressively. She could still feel the bastard's lips on them. "Seriously, what were you thinking?!"
"Why? Everyone would kill for that innocent kiss you know."
Innocent, my ass.
"I will definitely kill you if it happens again."
"Well, it helped me get rid of that noisy girl."
She takes a look at her watch and nearly swears in front of the tiny clock. Three minutes left to join Sadell in the Great Hall.
"How did you know about Walburga?"
"I have to go."
As soon as she is ready to take off, an incantation resonates throughout the owlery. A pile of bricks materializes in front of her, popping one after another inside the entrance's frame. Two seconds later, the only exit has turned into a solid brick wall preventing any possible escape.
She could surely shatter it with a counter spell if only she knew the incantation. Even a bombarda would do, sadly not without exploding pieces of rocks in their faces.
"Answer me."
"I already told you, someone didn't keep their mouth shut because I accidently heard it from... uh- a slytherin upperclassmen."
"Who?"
"I don't know them?"
"You're lying." The voice is so close, it startles Eileen who turns around at light speed. Orion's height is towering her in an intimidating way.
"I'm not."
"How do you know about Walburga?"
"You and Riddle have to seriously stop being suspicious about everything I do. You know what? I don't fucking care about who you shag or who you're truly engaged to. Not my business and certainly not the kind of gossip I'm interested in so keep living the perfect, hypocritical priviledged life like always and leave me the hell alone, will you?!"
She doesn't even flinch when a wand is digging into her throat for the second time this week. She just wants to be in the Great Hall on time.
"Don't forget who you're talking to. I could hex you until you vomit blood if I wanted to, Floquet. Do you want that?"
Oh, wow. It is the first time in months she's seen Orion Black that serious. The lack of his usual smirk is disturbing, although not enough for Eileen to back down. "Alright," she says, "Hex me. Beat me. Do whatever you want if it makes me get out of this stinking place. I'm already used to it. It's not like it's going to change my mind.
He says nothing at first, keeping the tip of his wand on Eileen's weak point. One more push and the skin would break. It's so tempting. To see those unwavering eyes widen in fear and pain. To watch the new Eileen Floquet go back to the frail, trembling girl on whom everyone had their back turned. So tempting...—No.
Not like this. It would be terribly boring if things go back to normal. Fun has just begun this year, there is no way he's going to stop it now when everything is so interesting. The anger disappears instantly, as well as the weapon that almost leaves a burn on Eileen's skin. She gasps some air as soon as the abrupt release allows her to, not without taking the glare off Orion.
This insignificant girl is facing someone who can ruin her entire life, stain her future carrier and financial legacy three years before the start of her adulthood, and this idiot is still ready to confront him fearlessly?
Amazing. And incredibly funny.
The wall behind Eileen dissolves in a matter of seconds. Orion is first to walk past the entrance without waiting for her. He knows she's going to follow. It doesn't miss, indeed, because Eileen calls for him when he is about to step outside.
"Hey, Black. Don't ever tell a soul about what happened in there or I'll murder you."
Ahh, the melody of meaningless threats...
Floquet won't know what is coming.