The Serpent’s Post-Christmas Feast ((Slytherins))

[millicenbulstrode]

Millicent unpacked all of her things the moment she arrived back at Hogwarts ‘They are much too expensive to be left in trunks’ she reasoned with herself as she groaned at the chore. She brought out robe after robe after robe and many other wizards clothes. She refused to wear anything that had been thought of by muggles or that could be seen on a muggle; but that defiantly did not stop her from having a lot of clothes. As the last bracelet slipped into place in her jewellery box Millicent looked around at all the empty trunks. She then walked up to the mirror and took down her long black hair out of its ponytail. She then brushed it and placed two green clips shaped like snakes in to hold it out of her eyes and food. She then left the room knowing the houseelves would take care of the trunks while she was at the feast.

Coming down the stairs Millicent noticed many other Slytherins just sitting around, apparently not having left for the feast yet. Looking around Millicent did not notice anybody she knew. Therefore she continued on out into the corridor and up the stairs until she reached the entrance hall. She saw some student standing around here and there lazily to chat before they went into the Great Hall. Millicent did not feel like wasting her time out there though, knowing everybody worthy of speaking to would be at her table anyways. Millicent glanced up at the ceiling as she stepped into the room and was in awe of the beautiful night sky. Although she had been in Hogwarts for five and a half years now she still never tired of the view. Being the good Slytherin that she was though Millicent keep her face expressionless and sat down near the middle of the almost empty Slytherin table. Looking around she noticed people from other houses fluttering around talking to one another excitedly about their breaks and others sitting glumly obvious upset to be back. She smirked at a little Gryffindor first year sitting across the room that looked thoroughly distraught to be back and very nervous to be alone in the Great Hall with nobody she knew.

[jersey]

Frusteration ran threw Jersey as she read an owl that her grandmother had sent her. "How dare she say these crude things to me!" she grumbled aloud. Jersey ripped up the letter and threw it on the floor. Not being able to control herself, she picked up all of her neatly folded clothes and began violently throwing them in every direction. She gave out a small scream and fell onto her bed and for a good, long awaited, cry. "I hate my life!" she sobbed. "I just wish I had a family who loved me. All I have are dead parents, a rude grandmother, and a sister who I barely see." Jersey layed their on her back looking up at the ceiling collecting her thoughts for a good 10 minutes.

Jersey had heard people coming in and out of the dormintory, but she had payed no attention to them or what they had to say. Sniffling and wiping her eyes, Jersey sat up and hopped off of the bed. "I need to get out of here." Going over to the mirror she saw her eyes were all watery and red, but this time Jersey didn't care. Remembering the feast she left the dormintory, leaving it a mess, and went straight to the Great Hall.

Feeling miserable, Jersey walked slowly through the corridors collecting her thoughts. She kept to herself and did not bother anyone who passed her, which was an unusal thing for her.

Reaching the Great Hall, Jersey felt a tad bit better, yet she was still rather upset. As she opened the door, she had not set her eyes on the decor surrounding her, or anyone else for that matter. She walked straight towards the Slytherian table and sat down with a thump, next to a fellow 6th year. Jersey sat in a daze with her elbow on the table and her head rested in her hand.

[millicenbulstrode]

The girl looked up and noticed Millicent smirking at her; she then made a pitiful attempt to smirk back and looked down at the table once again. Laughing at the silly little girl Millicent then turned her attention up to the professor’s table, which was nearly full. Then at the doorway, which had people streaming through it like water through a faucet. Taking yet another glance around Millicent felt the bench compress as someone sat down beside her. Millicent looked over apathetically and saw Jersey Scott, a fellow sixth year Slytherin sitting on her left.

Jersey looked as if she had just been crying by her pink blood shoot eyes and the slight colour on her nose. ‘Must have been she I heard while unpacking’ Millicent though. She had heard something but had not felt like caring enough to see while she was in the room. Millicent picked up her big clunky purse and pulled out a box of tissues. “Not happy to be back I see.” Millicent said to Jersey in as caring a way as Millicent gets. Her face and tone were still emotionless from years of conditioning but after all their years sharing the same room Millicent knew Jersey would be aware of the fact that she did care.

[jersey]

Jersey still in a daze heard Millicent say something about her not being happy to be back, and in a generous offer, offered her some tissues. Jersey snapping out of her daze, looked over at Millicent and smiled, with still a few tears in her eyes. "Thanks." Jersey said plainly.

Taking the tissue Jersey began rubbing the tear residue from underneathe her eye, and then used the tissue to give her nose a good blow. Keeping the snotty tissue in her hand, she turned to Millicent and smiled. "Sorry you have to see me like this, I hate crying in front of people, I really do, but I really didn't care today." Jersey turned away from Millicent and sighed.

[millicenbulstrode]

Millicent was glad she could help a fellow Slytherin as she noticed Jersey smile and thank her for the tissue. Millicent then listened to Jersey speak about how she would normally not allow others to see her looking so upset but had not cared today. Millicent nodded her head to indicate that she knew the feeling. There had been many days that despair had left Millicent feeling lethargic and truly apathetic as to everything around her, including her own appearance and the impressions she made. After spending so many years sharing a room with the girl Millicent also knew that Jersey was usually very concerned with her appearance, primping even to go to the library or have lunch. Millicent was much more laid back about that type of thing. She was big boned and therefore could not wear anything too fashionable. She had a chubby face and makeup sometimes just accented that. Not that Millicent was consciously aware of any of that, but the way she dressed and made herself up was proof that on some level she knew.

Millicent managed to give Jersey a slight smile as she finished talking before her face whipped clean again. “Well if there is anything I can do you have only to ask.” Millicent said to Jersey before returning her attention to the other students in the Great Hall preparing for the feast.

[kris]

Kris entered the Great Hall and without glancing to the other students, headed straight to the Slytherin table. A quick scan showed that it was still almost empty or at least didn’t have anyone Kris would know there, so he slipped into a seat opposite of two girls. Both sixth years, Kris figured.

“Ladies,” Kris greeted with a sly smirk and a nod as his eyes took in Jersey’s red eyes and the box of tissues between the girls. Kris clicked his tongue and pulled out his wand and murmured a concealing charm towards Jersey, while keeping his wand half-way hidden in his sleeve. Why bring unwanted attention to themselves?

“A Slytherin that looks like she has cried or a bit down? That certainly won’t do,” Kris said observing his hand-work. Jersey looked like she hadn’t cried before, except when you looked really close, her eyes seemed to shine a bit more, “Especially around the other houses. The little Gryffs would love to see this, so let's not give them the pleasure.”<br>

[jersey]

Still sniffling Jersey smiled as Millicent said "if you ever need anything just ask." which was just what Jersey needed at the moment, someone to talk to. "Thanks." Jersey said plainly. Sharing a dormintory, for 6 years, Jersey realized that she had never had a good conversation with Millicent, only a few times was there conversing between the 2. However, Jersey has never wondered why she had never talked to her until now.

Looking down at the table, Jersey covered her hands over her face, and turned to Millicent and thought about telling her everything, but then realized she probably wouldn't care too much. Turning away she heard footsteps behind her, and in curiousity, she turned around and noticed a 5th year greet them.

Jersey felt her face turn a beat red in color, and embarassment rushed through her. Jersey quickly snapped her head the other way and made it clear that she did not want to be seen crying in front of him. Jersey gave out one last sniffle and looked towards the 5th year. She knew exactly what he had done. Jersey smiled slyly at Kris and laughed, "Wow, thanks, wouldn't have thought in a million years to pull that one." Jersey got up and slung her arms around him and whispered in his ear, "I'm Jersey by the way."

[kris]

Kris smiled and hugged Jersey back with one arm, that was on the side, from where Jersey hugged him.
“No need to thank me. Everybody have bad days once in a while,” Kris answered calmly with a small smile that had melted girls hearts in all countries Kris had been, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jersey. I’m Kris. Kris Graas.”<br>
Kris smiled thoughtfully – how come he always seemed to loan a shoulder to cry on to a lot of girls? He wasn’t the nicest or most compassionate guy around, but still girls – even practically strangers sometimes – seemed to feel safe enough around him, to cry on his shoulder.

“I have a ‘cousine’ who is 16, and she wouldn’t be caught dead crying in public as wouldn’t her grand-mother and my legal guardian. They are both rather self-concsious and hold up the appearance of the family. It’s thanks to them that I know the charm and know that you wouldn’t want just anybody to know what’s up,” Kris continued in a conversational tone, lightly, not wanting to press matters that might be hurtful to Jersey. He had had enough of practice with upset and crying women. He still felt uncomfortable around their tears, like every other male did to some point, but he knew how to dry them, should the need arise.

“Just let me know, if you need my help to get over what ever it is,” Kris added with a sly wink, “A cherry?” Kris picked up two cherries and offered one to both girls.

[Samantha Driscoll]

Samantha Driscoll was thinking about ballet since she had just finished practising. She had never understood what it was that people liked so much about Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. She felt it to be a story with far too many emotions and melodrama and was sure the person who had invented had been some stupid muggle with an overactive imagination. What kind of person came up with a story where a nutcracker turned into a prince? Honestly. Samantha was practising the role of the King of the Mice, one which she did not really hate since she felt him to be an evil character, but she hated the fact that the stupid nutcracker defeated him. She had always wondered why her parents had made her learn ballet; she thought it was a muggle pastime, but her mother had told her it had been witches who had originally invented it. She winced as she walked because her toes felt very sore after the two hours of practice she had just finished. She had not taken a minute to rest. This was very much like Samantha, she was always one to drive herself to inordinate lengths and still not feel satisfied with the results. Samantha derived no pleasure from dancing ballet, like everything else she did because her parents said she should. She liked the fact that it kept her body in shape and made her body so flexible, but she did not understand the people who loved the dancing so much. She would never admit to anyone that she did only because it was her parent's wish.

Clad in robes of emerald green and a choker around her neck, she dried her hair after the shower she had just taken and put on a pair of hoop earrings, then left the dormitories and went to the Great Hall where she had heard that some Slytherins were holding a party. Always one to socialise with her fellow house members Samantha arrived to find Jersey Scott whom she had met in the common room before looking like she had just finished crying. People thought the Slytherins did not care about anyone, and Samantha knew she had no real feeling for others, that had gone long ago and was a door she had closed and forgotten about, but she did think that all Slytherins should stick together and that they were the elite and the only way they would conquer the world was if they were united. So she joined Millicent Bulstrode, a girl who was stronger than a lot of boys she knew, and a fifth year she knew by name but no more than that in comforting Jersey. She gave him an appraising look and then decided maybe she could compliment him. That always worked with Slytherins and it was something very easy to do. She knew that because of her vanity and lack of self-confidence that always made her feel very chuffed when she received one herself. "Good work. Hardly a position we should care to be seen in. I am sure you’re now aren't you Jersey? Feel like talking about it?" Samantha was one who didn’t like sharing a lot about herself with people but she knew that wasn't the case with most people. From her experience you just had to ask people why they were troubled about something and they were always eager to explain at great length all their worries.

[millicenbulstrode]

Millicent looked up as a boy approached the table, she knew him by sight as being Kris a fifth year. “Sir” she responded to his greeting while slightly nodding her head at him. He the preformed a charm that would make Jersey look normal to the other houses, superb idea in her opinion. Not long after when Jersey and Kris were wrapped up in the other Samantha Driscoll came up and sat with them, bringing their number up to four. “You’re looking well Samantha.” Millicent said despite not knowing a thing about fashion, she was simply assuming the girl’s look was up to date. After so many years of sharing a room with Samantha as well she knew of the girl’s vanity and wanted to keep her as cheery as possible this morning, for Jersey’s sake at least.

Jersey seemed to be getting a lot of support though. That was a great thing about Slytherins; they stuck together and supported each other. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that the rest of the school was beneath all of them so they would not let each other fall; or maybe just that those worthless half-breed, mudbloods, and mudblood lovers were always trying to tear them down. Whatever the reason Slytherins took care of each other, when it did not cost them. ‘Exactly as it should be.’ Millicent thought, ‘everyone pulls their own weight and encourage each other and we will all succeed. Unlike them who all fall like a bunch of lined up dominos.’<br>
Millicent then waited for Jersey’s reaction to the question they had all asked; did she want to talk?

[kris]

Kris took in the new girl who had joined the table and nodded in greeting, noticing a Hufflepuff first year from the corner of his eyes. Turning halfly around Kris bared his teeth in a threatening smile towards the boy, who meekly gulped and dived behind some older Hufflepuffs, who seemed quite puzzled by this action.

“Sorry, couldn’t help it. The boy is deadly afraid of me,” Kris explained with a smirk, turning back to the three girls, “Had to trip me in a hallway some time ago as a dare. After a couple carefully chosen hexes – well, you saw his reaction. It’s rather amusing.”<br>
Kris shrugged and smiled at Jersey: “I repeat Millicent and Samantha. If you want to talk about it, we are listening. If not, then it’s your choice.”<br>

[jersey]

"Yeah. Thanks." Jersey said plainly at Kris who had been saying something about his family, however, Jersey felt anger rise up through her as he mentioned the word grandmother. Trying to control her anger she turned away. Jersey began to take deep breath in and out, something that her sister would make her do when her grandmother had just finished yelling. Turning back towards Millicent and Kris, trying to show that the last remark about his family didn't bother her she smiled and noticed Samantha Driscoll coming their way.

"Hey there." Jersey said with a smile, "Yes I'm okay thanks, it's just some family problems, that have occured." Jersey began to notice how much her fellow Slytherian's cared, although most Slytherians were cold hearted and crude, one will find that they do infact care. Feeling as if she had to talk, for the sake of her well being, she decided this was a good time to let everything out, even if no one listened, atleast she could get it out. "Well, just this morning my grandmother sent me an owl that was bloody rotten and full of hatred. She is an evil, evil person that women is, never once in my 17 years of living, have I ever once felt love towards her." Jersey felt herself talking louder than usual as she finished up her thoughts on her grandmother. "I basically have nothing left, no parents, no guardian, all I have is a sister who would rather pay more attention to her bloody boyfriend."

Jersey could feel her heart thumping with anticipation, she felt at that very moment that she could scream so very loudly and possibly rip out her hair. Jersey stayed strong and she felt great after letting all of it out to people, who atleast showed they cared.

[kris]

Kris winced a little inside. Obviously his comment about his legal-guardian and grand-mother hadn’t been best placed, but it didn’t show outside.
A rotten grand-mother and a sister, who cares about her boy-friend.
“I’ll be going back to Italy for summer, to my family mansion. I’m the only one living there, except the house-elves, as my parents are dead, so if you want, you can com visit any time you need like it’s all a bit over-whelming and you need an escape. There’s enough room, so you don’t even have to see me, if you don’t want,” Kris drawled out slowly, “Millicent and Samantha may do it as well also, naturally.”<br>
“I’m not forcing you to come, but you are welcomed if you wish,” Kris continued calmly glancing at a cup of pumpkin juice and grimacing, before pulling his wand out again, and tapping it to the edge of the mug, with a quick spell transfigured the juice into a steaming cappuccino. “If your grand-mother is that much of a nasty bitch I can get my legal guardian to send you an official invitation requesting for a visit. She probably would be charmed to get such an invitation for you from Meredith Graas.” From Jersey's description Kris had guessed the her grand-mother was a pure-blood. Or maybe a half-blood, but he would have bet on pure-blood.

Kris smirked – Meredith and Julian were well known in the wizard world. Mainly in France and Italy, but in they were known among pure-bloods in England as well. Julian had been the Minister of Magic in France a couple of years ago as well, and the couple was proud, pure-blooded, wealthy and extremely influential. They had stayed away from Voldemort though.

[jersey]

Jersey's anger subsided as she listened to Kris talk. He had said that he was going to Italy for the summer and that he lived alone in a big mansion because his parents had past. Jersey smiled, not at the fact that his parents were gone, but at the fact that he had probably known how Jersey had felt in someway or another.

"That is very sweet of you Kris." Jersey said blushing forgetting about the other 2 girls around. "That'd be absolutely great." Laughing at his comment about her grandmother she brushed her hair out of her face and tucked it swiftly behind her ears. "Well, I'm pretty sure that if things go as planned I am moving in with my sister, and that insignificant boyfriend of hers, therefore and hopefully my grandmother would be out of the picture." Stopping to take a quick drink of some pumpkin juice she started up again, "However now that I think about it, that invitation will probably be brought out to the fullest, as living with her and that boyfriend will probably be one annoying household." Smirking Jersey took another sip of the juice and placed it back on the table.

[kris]

Kris smirked, noticing Jersey’s blush. He seemed to have that effect on a lot of females, despite the age.
“I’ll expect your visit during the summer then,” Kris said calmly as he waved his wand to three cherries, transfiguring them into paper. With a quick scribble of his wand Kris added his address on the paper – for using floo-powder and the coordinates, when a port-key would be used.

“If I don’t accept fellow Slytherins in my house, then who would I?” Kris said with deep nod, handing each of the three girls one slip of the paper, “You are welcomed, whenever you should arrive. Do knock before you enter my bed-room, though.”<br>
Kris put his wand away and picking up his cappuccino, smiled carefully selecting an almond and propping it into his mouth. And smirking: “You won’t get any pumpkin juice there though. I absolutely despise the drink, so you’ll have to settle for something else.”<br>

[Isabella]

Its was a cold morning and Isabella walked through the open doors to the castle. The loud noise startled anyone near and far. Looking at the people around her she glared at them and pushed anyone out of her way. Then suddenly some one stepped in her way. A girl who age looked at her and started to steep back from Isabella icy cold eyes. "Now either A you move and won’t get hurt but still get mocked. Or B you stand there and I can push you around. What do you prefer I personally like the pushing around?" Isabella told the girl and moved a steep closer. Looking at her robes she saw the budged of a Gryffindor. Looking from the badge to the girl she smirked. "Ha a little weak Gryffindor huh? Well you don’t seem to be almighty and brave at the moment. I advice you to never approach a Slytherin like that bad things well happen...." Isabella said and turned around on her heels and stooped. "Very bad things!" She told the girl and laughed coldly and walked towards the Great Hall.

Walking down the halls she still shoved little kids out of her way to get through. "Move it! Watch out! Get out of my way!" Isabella told everyone and pushed them to the ground. Smirking she opened the doors to the Great Hall with a loud whack. Smirking at everyone she entered and walked over to her beloved table. Sitting down she noticed that a few people had already arrived. Not caring she turned towards her plate and took an apple and bit into it. Crunching loudly she noticed some people around her. Three girls who age and one boy a year below. Swallowing she set her apple down and crossed her legs and looked up at her fellow Slytherins. "Good evening and how have you guys been lately? By the way my names Isabella Robinson if you don’t know." Isabella told them in her Italian voice and turned back to her apple. Taking another bite she washed it down with some pumpkin juice. Setting her goblet on the table she looked up at the people and smiled slyly.

[kris]

“Good evening, Isabella. You were right - I didn't know,” Kris drawled out almost lazily, letting his eyes wander to the girl who had just approached the table and sat down and was now eating an apple, “I’m Kris. These are Jersey, Millicent and Samantha.” Kris nodded towards each girl, as he introduced them.

Kris let his eyes take in Isabella once again before smirking: “The fruit of sin. How extremely suitable for a Slytherin.” Kris nodded towards the apple Isabella was eating and rolled his cup of cappuccino in his hands, while picking up one more almnd and propping it into his mouth.

[millicenbulstrode]

Millicent lat out a little laugh at the baby Hufflepuff’s reaction to Kris; she and this boy would very likely get along just splendidly. Millicent listened to Jersey speak about her family problems and truly felt sympathetic although she was unsure as to how she could help out. Kris solved that problem though by inviting them all to his house over the summer. Millicent accepted the slip of paper, which had formerly been a cherry and place it in her purse.

Just then Isabella, yet another sixth year Slytherin girl, walked up. “Good evening Isabella I have been just fine.” Millicent answered before Kris did his little thing on the fruit of sin. “Actually Kris it is never specified what the fruit was. They simply assumed it was an apple but there is no cannon basis for it. The bible simply says fruit meaning it may be an apple; but it may be a banana or an orange or a pear or any other tree grown fruit.” Millicent said plainly before looking up at the staff table once again.

Professor Dumbeldore had stood up and started talking. He said little of any import but did mention that the Weasel girl had been found and that classes should be starting again shortly. As soon as he had finished the tables filled up with food and Millicent began filling up her plate.

[kris]

“Not known,” Kris shrugged eyeing Millicent with a small smirk, “Well, then we could also use the old Greek myth about Hades and Persephone and select a pomegranate to be the so called forbidden fruit.”<br>
Kris smiled as food appeared on the table and reaching over picked up the dish with seafood and oysters and pulled some on his plate. Kris opened the oyster shell with his fork skillfully and ate the tender meat inside the hard shell. There were always oysters and lobsters and sea-food like that on the table, but Kris was actually one of the few people who ate them.

“At least the house-elves know how to cook,” Kris commented dryly, finishing off his oysters and lobsters and then moving on to pasta-dish, waiting for someone else to pick up the conversation again.

[jersey]

"Eh." Jersey said tilting her head to the left, as Kris had mentioned no pumpkin juice at his house. "I only drink it because it satisfies my taste for some reason, I don't exactly like the taste." Jersey said taking another gulp, and making a weird face at the taste.

Setting down the pumpkin juice she noticed that another girl had joined them. Jersey had known her only from sharing a dormintory with her but nothing else. Jersey watched as the girl gave them a sly smile. Staying silent, Kris introduced Jersey and the rest to Isabella. Cracking a tiny smile, still a little shaky on the grandmother situation, Jersey spoke. "Could be better." glancing at Isabella for a moment and then towards the food which had just appeared.