We meet again ((Pandora))

[ariana]

Ariane was walking in the castle once again. She had already acquaintanced herself with the Grounds – or at least part of the Grounds. She would still have to learn how to move around the castle quickly and efficiently as well. Luckily her friends had showed and her parents had told her a bit of the castle so Ariane didn’t have too much trouble finding her way. The classes weren’t overly hard either. Transfiguration was Ariane’s favorite and Potions wasn’t bad either. Ariane already knew the ropes that she had to walk and had forced others from the 3 worthless houses to take her into account. Wasn’t that hard really – the Hufflepuffs were spineless and Gryffindors mentally handicapped.

Her feet carried her down the hallway quickly as Ariane walked towards the main staircase. She had dressed very casually today – red-black checkered skirt and a fitting blouse. Even her hair had been pulled up for some leisure time, leaving only a few tendrils framing Ariane’s face. Laid back time did not mean you had to look as if you didn’t care for yourself. The hallway was almost eerily quiet as Ariane slipped through it, took 2 lefts and one right before reaching a small platform overlooking the floor beneath. Seeing a Hufflepuff and Gryffindor quarreling down there Ariane stopped and observed it from her high point of view. Quite a crowd had gathered to surround them two parties offering their opinions and dividing into two opposing groups.

Ariane sneered as she looked down at the display. Worthless powerplays where no one actually had any considerable power. That didn’t mean Ariane wanted to walk in the middle of it. She didn’t want to get hit with a stray spell as this looked as if it could turn into a duel. Standing at the railing Araine merely observed how things went with one hand resting calmly on the railing. She rather felt than saw someone approaching. Looking up the mirror reflection on the opposing floor Ariane took recognized the person easily. Giving Pandora time to approach Ariane commented lazily: “Leave it to idiot and imbecile to create a scene. Pleasure seeing you again, Pandora. Charming blouse.”
It was only now that Ariane turned her head and offered Pandora a sly and collected smile in greeting.

[pandora]

Pandora had been wandering the halls for at least an hour trying to memorize her way around. It wasn’t going to be easy, that’s for sure, and she did not have the fortune of any older siblings to show her the best routes to take. Her movements were almost silent as she slipped from hall to hall but not because she was trying to be stealthy. She was dressed casually today and the soft soles of her boots swallowed the sound of her passing, leaving only the gentle swish of silk in her wake. She was dressed in one of the many outfits her mother had insisted she have before going anywhere in public. It was as if the woman was terrified of the fact that Pandora would now be out alone and she feared the child would ruin everything she’d work so hard at. Pandora’s blouse was of hunter green silk, the sleeves were long but were laced down the outside of the arm in a harlequin pattern. The throat of the blouse was also laced in the same pattern which descended to just above her collar bone. The rest of the shirt was plain but the elegant statement was made more by the flair of the lacing than by any additional ornate designs. It was tucked a little loosely into the waistline of a pair of black, Egyptian cotton jeans. The boots were without heel and sported only the vaguest hint of some shining decoration just above where her jeans ended; it flashed silver for a brief moment when she walked. The design was just one of the little secrets Pandora liked to have on her. She felt it was a fun game to play, hiding something on yourself that only those paying attention would notice. The curiosity of others was a good source of power and Pandora LOVED secrets.

AS she wandered down the hall, the sound of arguing rose to her ears. She paused a moment in the hallway and held perfectly still to listen. Deciding she was thoroughly bored and this sounded at least entertaining, Pandora turned towards the sound and headed swiftly, but without looking hurried, up the hall. Before her the hallway opened to overlook the floor below and that was apparently where the sound was coming from as she spotted the graceful form of Ariane leaning over the railing. As she approached, Ariane greeted her and stated, “Leave it to idiot and imbecile to create a scene. Pleasure seeing you again, Pandora. Charming blouse.”

Pandora smiled a little inwardly. Ariane liked the way she was dressed. Good, she’d chosen well then. Pandora made her way over to where Ariane was leaning now that she felt the etiquette of approach had been offered. Ariane had asked her to come talk without having to say it outright. This was what Pandora loved about the royal ways of the Slytherin; all the small subtleties of the game were so elegant and interesting. In Slytherin, you could say one thing and mean it a thousand different ways. Pandora leaned easily on the railing and looked down at the display below her. The two students were all but screaming at one another now and Pandora was vaguely entertained by the spectacle; these two must have had a long standing grudge from last year. Pandora met Ariane’s gaze and nodded her own greeting in return, “The pleasure is mutual, Ariane.” Looking back down at the tense scene below them, Pandora managed a look of disdain at their behavior. “At least you’ve chosen a good spot. This truly is beneath us, isn’t it?” Pandora looked back up at Ariane and half-smirked at her little joke, hoping Ariane would find it as amusing.

[ariana]

Ariane gave a small smirk as she looked over the railing at the display: “As if there was ever any question whether or not they belong below us. The only questions that still keeps on amazing is how they haven’t managed to set themselves on fire yet.” Ariane gave Pandora a half-smile as her eyes flew to McGonagall who was making her way among the crowd. Was there anywhere this wretched lady didn’t go? She was a bigger nuisance than that squib Filch and his battered cat. Did she intentionally seek out students who didn’t want to see her wrinkled face?
Despite her thoughts Ariane let her hand fall from the railing as she took a half a step back. It wouldn’t be good to be associated with trouble just yet. Ariane wouldn’t be a goody-two-shoes, but it would be better to be seen much more innocent than she really was for as long as possible. As if on cue McGonagall looked up a few moments later, so Ariane smirked with contempt.

“Looks like the show is over however. Touring the castle?” Ariane asked Pandora as she gestured down the hallway in a half-questions if Pandora was touring in a half-invite to join her for a moment, “Have to admit that for the grandiosity this place demonstrated on our first night here, has lessened in my eyes. Surely the castle is big, but too… unkept for me. At the very least they should have allowed us separate rooms as there doesn’t seem to be a problem with rooms.” That was one thing Ariane hated about the castle. Having to share a room with other girls – did he Headmaster really think it would teach them some idiotically noble values? Sharing, tolerance, team-work? It just taught Ariane the better to shield her emotions and pour her anger out on other houses who wholly deserved to be shipped off to some far away country to where they would be condemned for life.

The staircases with their moving, the steps you could fall through from and trap doors – Ariane disliked all of them as well. But it had been amusing to see some third year trapped in a stair-case up to his waist the previous day. Why were just anyone let into this school? Once again Ariane found her thinking of the idiocity of the magical world. Things would change and for the better when her Lord triumphed. And Ariane wanted to make sure she would stand by his side when he would.
"How are you finding our little 'piece of paradise'?" Ariane asked ina conversational tone of voice.

[pandora]

Pandora let out a soft chuckle at Ariane’s remark regarding the other students setting themselves on fire. A wonderful mental image sprouted immediately to mind and she let the mirth show on her features. She followed Ariane’s gaze back down to McGonagall as the elderly woman swept in to stop the argument. It was a shame really, a few more moments and they might have had balcony seats to an excellent row….perhaps they WOULD have set themselves on fire before the end. As it was, McGonagall quickly broke up the fight and sent each student packing. Pandora followed Ariane’s lead as the girl leaned back from the railing and remarked rather bitterly “You know, if that had been a Slytherin student arguing, she would have taken house points away, instead she’ll let these two off with a warning.” She masked her emotion quickly and simply stated “Hypocrites.” The word was said with almost no emotion, as if she was certainly expecting this sort of thing from the teachers here.

Ariane had turned by this point and gestured down the hall, “Looks like the show is over however. Touring the castle?” Pandora accepted the invite without a word and slipped into step next to Ariane. Together they looked more like they were there to inspect the building than to attend classes in it. Each walked with an air of pride and confidence, though Ariane’s movements were still more graceful than Pandora’s and Pandora was looking over the walls as if searching for invisible faults in the vaulted ceilings and carefully carved statues. “Something to that effect.” Was the response she offered to Ariane’s question. The other girl began talking about how she no longer felt impressed by the building and Pandora kept her mouth shut; she was still fairly impressed with it though she would never tell Ariane that now that she knew Ariane’s opinion on the matter. The lack of house elves left her a little miffed but other than that, the castle was still very awe inspiring in it’s sheer size. Pandora enjoyed the strange hallways and little surprises it offered. It was a massive building with all new secrets to discover. Pandora mused that the secrets should be proportionate to the building so that made her all the more eager to find them all.

Pandora did agree with Ariane on the matter of rooms though. “I certainly did not expect to be staying in a room with so many other people. How is anyone supposed to have any privacy around here? It’s shameful that they have so many unused rooms but insist upon us all being forced into one.” She noted. "How are you finding our little 'piece of paradise'?" Ariane asked. Pandora looked over at her for a moment and then turned her eyes back to the hall before her to give the question some consideration. How DID she feel about it? After a few moments pause to collect her thoughts she spoke once more in the same conversational tone of voice Ariane had used. “I enjoy some of the classes more than others but feel the information we gain in all of them could prove useful at some point or another. I’m not overly thrilled that there is simply NO privacy here,” she sneered at bit at the thought, “and that I am forced constantly to be around the company of idiots. I’m glad for times like this when I can gain some genuine intellectual conversation as opposed the brain damaged chatter I’ve been subjected to lately.” She looked over at Ariane and managed to look almost offended. “Can you imagine that I spent the whole train ride here surrounded by a Hufflepuff and a Ravenclaw? I can tell you from personal experience that not ALL Ravenclaws are intelligent.”

Pandora was about to make another comment to Ariane when one of the students they’d just been watching fight stalked past them huffily. As he headed down the hall in front of them, Pandora shot Ariane a mischievous half-smile and then let all emotion drop from her face. She raised her pale slender hands and began a slow clap, as if she’d just finished watching an opera. The older student stopped and looked back at them. Pandora met his eyes and just kept clapping slowly. “Bravo.” She drawled lazily, “Such a magnificent display of house unity. Thank you ever so much for teaching us all the errors of our ways.” Each word was dripping with sarcasm and she ceased clapping as soon as she’d finished speaking. The boy up ahead was obviously the Gryffindor. He flushed a little redder and looked mad enough to kill but couldn’t seem to think of anything to say in response to that. She knew she’d touched a nerve. The Gryffindors were Headmaster Dumbledore’s little pets. They prided themselves on doing “what was right” and he’d just been called out by a first year for behaving just the way they accused the Slytherins of acting.


He looked away quickly and headed off down the hall madder than ever. Pandora let out a self satisfied sigh and one tiny corner of her mouth lifted into a half smile. “They make it so easy sometimes.” She noted with a touch of something unpleasant to her voice.

[ariana]

Ariane gave a sharp look towards Pandora hearing the bitterness in her voice when McGonagall didn’t take points. Why was she bitter? Hadn’t she been warned to not cross teachers as they were prejudiced? Only professor Snape seemed to be tolerable. He most certainly knew how to make mudbloods behave.
“Ah, but here’s the trick. Had a Slytherin been arguing, then the Slytherin would have known better than to get caught. That’s what our house is famous for, isn’t it?” Ariane replied with cool contempt showing in her voice, “Timing is everything. Hit a moment too early and the hit won’t have the desire effect. A moment too slow and the enemy has had time to block the hit. Timing and information, knowledge, is everything.”

“I have to admit that I was positively surprised in Transfiguration. For all the talk there is about how hard the subject is, I personally found it ridiculously easy. Just a matter of concentration and I have learned that before,” Ariane replied while she thought. She seriously disliked McGonagall who was the Head of Gryffindor on top of everything else. But Ariane seemed to have a natural talent for it. She was the worst there could be in Herbology, her circles in Charms weren’t the best and she was a bit sloppy in Potions sometimes or not paying enough attention. But Transfiguration came easily to her. Ariane had learned concentration before- she had been schooled in tact, history, ballroom dances and a few other subjects. Dark Arts being looked into as well, even though Ariane knew that her father would only now start serious teaching of Dark Arts for her.

“Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw? It must have been pure torture. Hufflepuffs are spineless as that fact is widely known. Their house is known for that, but Ravenclaws? Most of them really do not live up to their houses reputation. I knew – still know – an older Ravenclaw or two. I know that 6th year female prefect. Coran? She’s the cousin of a close friend I have in Slytherin. It was a shame he wasn’t able to be present during the Sorting ceremony,” Ariane replied coolly while watching Pandora’s behavior towards the quarreling parties with a cold smirk. The Gryffindor brushed pass her with a blush from Pandora’s words while the Hufflepuff looked at Ariane and already opened his mouth to say something. Ariane stared at her with an arch of her eye-brow and the second boy shook his head, mumbled and apology and left too.
Ariane let out a soft laughter with just a little bit of malice in her voice. One of her talents – how ever badly she had behaved, she would always look pure and innocent and her voice always stayed the same melodical tune.
“Ah, mudbloods. At least they are good for target-practice,” Ariane smiled approvingly towards Pandra with a small half-nod, showing her respect, “How would you feel about a light snack as I wish for a iced green tea. Kris – a friend of mine in here – told me the exact location of the kitchens. Care to join me?”

[pandora]

Pandora wasn’t all that surprised when Ariane mentioned that she was close friends with a sixth year Slytherin, after all it was Ariane and she would have contacts made long before she ever got to school. Sticking close to her was looking to be a better and better decision and Pandora was relieved to find she had at least picked up some of her mother’s skill at choosing worthy people to be around. The soft tinkle of Ariane’s laughter echoed in the hall around them as the Hufflepuff boy and the Gryffindor disappeared from view. Pandora glanced at her from the corner of her eye; Ariane was like some perfectly formed doll that a master crafter had made. She was dressed beautifully, her hair was perfectly combed and she was very lovely to look at. Pandora, too, looked very doll-like but in a colder and less inviting way. Her pale skin looked like it was carved from alabaster and it was striking against her dark hair. Her lashes were thick and black and made Pandora’s eyes stand out starkly against the rest of her features; this when coupled with the fact that her eyes were as cold and un-blinking as the glass orbs so favored by doll makers, truly did make her look like a little porcelain girl come to life.

Ariane could get away with looking innocent and would easily be mistaken for someone’s little angel if she wanted to; next to her warmth, Pandora looked rather cold and a bit un-nerving. Ariane nodded to Pandora as a sign of her respect and Pandora knew she’d chosen wisely in her actions towards the Gryffindor. Ariane had passed yet another test in Pandora’s mind. She wasn’t afraid to make enemies and, judging by her use of the term ‘mudblood’, she also felt the same way Pandora did towards those who were of mixed origin. Both were good traits that Pandora could use to mutual benefit.

“How would you feel about a light snack as I wish for an iced green tea. Kris – a friend of mine in here – told me the exact location of the kitchens. Care to join me?” Ariane invited. Pandora nodded her assent and she maintained pace with Ariane while allowing the other girl to lead her movements by subtle body language. By watching where Ariane looked and how she shifted her weight, Pandora could guess when they were about to make a turn. It allowed her to keep perfect pace with the other girl and even gave most people the impression she already knew where she was going. It was a useful little trick her mother taught her, to never let someone else know you don’t know where you’re going. In this way, it always left the other person guessing exactly how much information you had.

Pandora had watched her mother do it countless times; someone would discount her mother as having no information about them or their personal lives, then Clarissa Munio would walk somewhere with them and leave them thinking she’d already memorized their whole house. It always amazed Pandora how quickly they would take her mother into their confidence after that, thinking it the best way to keep their secrets. After all, no one wants to make an enemy of someone who knows every inch of their home.

Ariane, however, didn’t seem the type to fall for such simple tricks, but Pandora wasn’t so much trying to trick Ariane as she was simply trying to maintain etiquette and stay by Ariane’s side. No one in the Munio family followed behind someone like a servant; Pandora was certain Ariane would understand and respect that. After many floors and a lot of walking, they reached a corridor all the way down in the basements. The wonderful odor of sweet ham and various spices rolled across the walls, carried on some almost non-existent breeze. Pandora was sure her stomach growled at some point and hoped Ariane hadn’t heard it. It was about an hour from lunch and someone was cooking up all the food that would soon be served to hundreds of hungry students; all of whom would rush into the Great Hall above them, swarm into seats and devour the food greedily, never once thinking about where the food came from or who made it. Pandora was fairly certain that they would find house elves busy at work in the kitchen but with this school, you could never be certain. She rather hoped she was correct though as she wasn’t sure quite who or what would be cooking otherwise.

[ariana]

Pandora stated her agreement to having a slight snack so Ariane just turned and started to make her way down the stair-case towards the first floor. She had been to the kitchens once before so she shouldn’t get lost. The hallways where everything was situated were not too hard to memorize. The portraits and sculptures everywhere were different. And the hallways were the kitchen was positioned was even easier to recognize. Really, didn’t make much sharpness to understand that pictures of food lead towards the place where you could get food – the kitchen.
The hallways were filled with people at least some of the way, so Ariane didn’t say anything. She knew better than to say anything compromising, but yet she didn’t feel the need to have her conversations publically where everyone could listen to her. Really, where was the tact in there!

Finally entering the correct hallway with Pandora managing to keep just in pace with her Ariane strolled forward to the picture of the big bowl of fruit. Sneering at the picture and wondering who could come to such an idiotic idea Ariane raised her hand with the thin charm around her wrist clinking slightly. Tickling the pear Ariane waited for a moment for the fruit to morph into a door-handle before taking hold and opening the door. Stepping in Ariane wrinkled her nose at the display of house-elves scurrying around and cooking and preparing foods for the next meal.

“Young missus, can Toby help you?” came an exited squeek as an house-elf stopped in front of them with a patch of flour visible on it’s cheek. Ariane eyed the flour coldly taking in the house-elfs slightly disheveled appearance.
“Sweet Iced Green Tea for me. And you better have cleaned yourself off before getting my things. Cheese, grapes, crackers for a slight snack,” Ariane nodded to the house-elf regally as the over-exited creature turned to Pandora to see what she would wish. Ariane took half a step away looking around the room with a serene mask. She didn’t like it here very much – the lightning was wrong and the house-elves were bothersome – but it wasn’t really bad either.
Finally Pandora seemed to be ready and Toby disappeared somewhere out of view as Ariane came a half-smile that barely curved one corner of her mouth.

“Let’s hope this house-elf will be able to fulfill the orders properly,” Ariane made her way over the kitchen to a small area with chairs, tables and a few couches. Ariane lowered herself onto the dark-red couch gracefully, throwing one leg over the other and offering Pandora an absent-minded smile.

[pandora]

Pandora walked silently beside Ariane the whole way to the kitchen, noting that apparently, Ariane didn’t care to talk in the hall. She wasn’t sure if it was that what Ariane had to say was not something to be overheard or if Ariane had other reasons for her silence but Pandora did question them. She was simply glad that she wasn’t being subjected to the idiotic conversations she’d had forced on her recently. Pandora noted the common theme among the paintings on the wall and a little voice in her head said ‘How droll. Follow the food.’ She allowed a little frown to tug at one corner of her mouth at what she thought was a rather bad joke and then quickly put back the mask of calm she usually wore.

They arrived at the kitchens finally and Ariane opened the door. As the two stepped in, Pandora looked around the whole room to take in everything and everyone in it. This had become a habit for her now and she was hardly aware she was doing it until she heard Ariane speaking to an elf in front of them. Pandora turned back to see the disheveled servant watching Ariane with a mixture of awe and fear. Yes, Ariane seemed to have that affect on lower life forms. After Ariane placed her order, the little creature turned it’s massive watery eyes on Pandora who was suddenly reminded of the elves she had at home. Filthy little things really. She was fairly certain her mother’s elves would have killed her in her sleep by now if they weren’t bonded by magic to her mother. With that lovely thought in mind, she raised her chin a little higher and ordered her drink in a tone of voice one would use when giving a royal command.

“I shall have lemonade with just a hint of raspberry. You will serve it in a frosted glass with no ice in the drink itself. I don’t want it to get watery. I shall also have crackers, cheese, grapes and a little bit of red salmon caviar for a snack.” The elf hovered for a moment waiting for any additional orders and then scurried off to get the requested items. Ariane’s sweeping movements caught Pandora’s attention from the corner of her eye and she turned to see the other girl heading for some seating in the back of the room. Pandora hadn’t quite expected to see a place to sit down her but she followed quickly towards the seats. Ariane had already arranged herself on the couch and offered Pandora a simple masked smile. It was the same type of blank smile that Pandora had practiced many times before. It hid everything you were truly feeling but wasn’t hostile either. Just a mask.

Pandora chose a seat across from Ariane and lowered herself into the thick overstuffed chair; she quickly arranged her robes about her to present the best picture possible and crossed her legs in a lady-like fashion. She placed her hands neatly in her lap and looked at Ariane calmly, her own features mirroring the other girl’s. Pandora decided the time for subtle games had begun. She leaned easily back in her seat and offered a secretive smile to Ariane. “So,” she began slowly, “what aspirations for the future bring you to Hogwarts? What noble profession would entrance a Diane?”

[ariana]

Ariane smirked at Pandora’s choice of words. Polite with the hint of exaggeration that made the questions seem friendlier. Cold green eyes locked calmly on Pandora’s face as Ariane replied with a pleasant smile: “Why, I will be taking on my families inheritance and fulfill my duty to the wizarding world. What exactly is the service that will be requested from me one day – only the Lord knows that.”
IT was true – Ariane’s parents were both Death Eaters, even though his father wasn’t marked regularly. Being the Head of the Department of Mysteries Ariane’s father could allow this. His mark hadn’t been burned onto his wrist – it had been placed on his rib-cage. Her parents supplied information, insight to the Ministries plans and quite frankly – helped the Death Eater in dealing with money support Lord Voldemort financially.

Ariane knew she would inherit her families fortune one day as well as her families duties as she would serve the Dark Lord faithfully. She had been schooled well however in the political and diplomatical words. ‘Only Lord knows’ – who else but people who shared loyalty to Voldemort would interpret it the right way? Lord Voldemort was the one and only Lord Ariane would serve. Everyone else would simply understand it as a referral to god into who’s existence Ariane didn’t believe.
“What else would you have thought?” Ariane replied with an sarcastic raise of her eye-brow, “Or have you yourself had any more precise plans?”

Ariane didn’t move herself as the house-elf placed the things they had ordered onto the table before them. The house-elf had cleaned himself up a bit Ariane noticed with satisfaction as she lazily reached out and tasted the cold tea brought to her. It was up to satisfaction so Ariane reached out once again picking up a grape on a toothpick as well as a piece of cheese. It tasted good together as Ariane calmly chewed on the bite before swallowing.
“It’s shamefully really. The behavior of other houses. They trample into the Great Hall to eat every time as if they haven’t been fed at home for years! I understand most of them are mudbloods and lower than dirt, but one would presume they would at least try to put up an act?” Ariane commented with a sneer as she thought back at the sight of some people eating in the Great Hall.

[pandora]

Each word Ariane spoke was carefully weighed and analyzed by Pandora. She knew better than to take anything a Slytherin would say at face value. Everything has double meaning to those who move in social circles like the Dianes and Pandora raised one fine carefully shaped eyebrow at Ariane’s choice of words. Ariane didn’t come across as religious to her, thus the last words she had spoken most likely held more weight than they sounded like. ‘Only the Lord knows that.’ She had said. Pandora could make a fairly educated guess who ‘the Lord’ was. Her own mother had used that title before and she was only ever speaking of one person. Ariane certainly hadn’t been saying any prayers before she went to bed at night so she must be referring to the Dark Lord. Pandora, herself, had never even met a death eater as far as she was aware of and was intrigued at this little hint that Ariane knew something more about the on-going wizard war.

Pandora also knew better than to openly ask. Such tactics were crass at best and any information she wanted on this matter would have to be gleaned one precious tidbit at a time from her fellow Slytherin. Ariane would not take to being pressured for information so Pandora would have to be subtle and patient. She would simply have to prove to Ariane that she was worthy of such knowledge and gain as much of the girl’s trust as two Slytherins could ever give to each other. Pandora chose not to comment on the tantalizing clue Ariane had dangled out before her, and instead simply offered her a secretive smile, hoping the other girl would understand that Pandora had caught the reference. When Ariane asked her what plans she, herself, had made for her career after school, Pandora simply smiled pleasantly and responded “I haven’t made any specific career choices yet. I shall, of course, inherit from my Mother as anyone could expect but haven’t decided on what I shall do other than that. Nothing truly promising has caught my attentions as being worth my time. Perhaps I simply haven’t been offered the correct opportunities.” This last sentence was said with another knowing smile in Ariane’s direction; it all but screamed ‘Go ahead….tempt me.’

Pandora watched Ariane’s every move as the girl delicately picked at the snacks brought before them. She was pleased to see the elf had taken her hint about the serving of the food and had brought each of them a small tray of crackers and cheeses rather than assuming they would share. Pandora reached for her own plate, delicately placing a single slice of cheese onto a cracker and topping it with just a little caviar. She nibbled at the treat and allowed herself to enjoy the salty yet hearty mix of cheese and roe. Ariane was currently voicing her displeasure over the behavior of the other students in the dining hall and Pandora heartily agreed. She’d seen some Gryffindor just this morning who wolfed down breakfast like an animal, his lack of finesse had turned her stomach. “Well, we really shouldn’t have expected much more from them. Just looking at the way they dress and carry themselves, it’s obvious they don’t care about appearances at all. Little better than animals really. Most were, after all, practically raised in barns. Just look at the Weasley family.” She sneered in distaste at this last sentence as if the very mention of their name might soil her. “Poor people really shouldn’t breed.” She finished. She looked down at her own snack and wasn’t sure she should have brought up wizards like the Weasleys. After all, it wasn’t polite dinner conversation and could easily ruin one’s appetite.

[ariana]

Ariane lowered her eye-lids. Pandora just smiled without comment, so Ariane supposed that she had caught the hint. This wasn’t the place to discuss such matters publically. House-elves were nosy little creatures and Ariane didn’t doubt for a moment that the house—elves would be reporting everything to that lunatic of a Headmaster. Why was he even kept at his job? As far as Ariane had heard scraps form the conversations of her parents, there had been awfully many slip-ups among students during the last few years. Yet the old fool was kept in his place. Father had mentioned once that it was because he was viewed as a genius – and though father had admitted that in some ways Dumbledore was talented – he just held too much influence over Fudge.

Ariane’s eyelids fluttered as her ears caught Pandora’s words. ‘Inherit form her Mother’. As far as Ariane knew Pandora’s father was living as well. So why wasn’t in mentioned that Pandora would inherit from her parents, instead not only from her father. This was something she would have to remember. Perhaps even ask her mother about it. Phosporus had proven to be surprisingly trustworthy and intelligent. Swift too as he delivered Ariane’s letters and their replies quickly.
Ariane’s eyes opened fully as she offered Pandora a mystical smile, carefully noting that Pandora made no hint towards serving the Dark Lord either. Weren’t her parents loyal? Ariane simply blinked calmly at Pandora smile and took a sip from her drink. Touching the corner of her mouth lightly Ariane send a cool smile with her words emotionless smile back at Pandora: “Perhaps you haven’t.”

Ariane’s eye-brows rose when Pandora brought up the Weasleys. Ariane took hold of a kn ife and slowly started to spread cheese over her cracker while replying easily: “Now, I understand why Weasleys keep attacking food. They are poorer than dirt, so I can easily see how they can’t afford enough food to feed that horde at whatever shack the live in,” Ariane replied with a smirk twitching at her mouth-corners, “I don’t really mind poor people breeding either. I do need servants to do the dirty works that are obviously below mine. I do not wish a house-elf to touch my hair, so mother does keep a few human-servants around. Some who are poor, some squibs. People of no importance. House-elves have never stricken me as the cleanest creatures so I do not want any of them touching my hair!” ariane was vain. She knew she was and therefore she used her vanity to bring out the best of her looks and use it for her own advantage. She could perfectly well care for her hair herself as well, as the time spent at Hogwarts had showed clearly, but before formal events she sometimes preferred to have someone else do the job, while she or mother directed the hair-dresser.

[pandora]

Pandora noted with some concern that Ariane’s demeanor was no warmer, even after Pandora had silently given her all the hints she should need that Pandora shared her views on the Dark Lord. Of course, she didn’t let this concern show on any of her features and kept her face a mask of serene calm, all the while her thoughts were replaying what she’d said to make sure it wasn’t offensive. Ariane answered Pandora’s open invitation of co-conspiracy with a simple “Perhaps you haven’t”. Pandora wasn’t sure if this was Ariane testing her further or if she had just been refused. Deciding to bring the matter up at another time to test her footing again, Pandora turned her thoughts towards what Ariane was saying about having poor people as servants. The girl was very vain about her appearance and Pandora noted sourly that she could afford to be. Pandora was ever in a battle to keep herself looking as perfect as she could but Ariane had this talent naturally.

Ariane’s hair caught sunlight perfectly and made it look like the sun itself worshiped each golden lock. She was petite and pretty, a perfect little girl. Pandora was certainly pretty but not in the same way. She envied the ease with which Ariane moved through life and a part of Pandora resolved itself yet again to achieve this sort of grace. She would work, struggle and manipulate her way through the higher societies of the magical world until she achieved a level of power like the Dark Lord himself. Then she wouldn’t have to sit here and worry if she’d said the wrong thing anymore. She’d say what she pleased and others would watch their tongues around her. Perhaps the Dark Lord himself was the best person to seek out for such things, though Pandora wasn’t even sure where to begin.

For now, Pandora simply nodded her assent and allowed just a hint of a smile to play across her features. “It’s a vile thought.” She agreed. “I am glad my own hair is short. It frames my face better and I can take care of it myself without anyone ever having to touch me. I would feel positively soiled if some house elf dared touch me.” She looked back down at the cracker in her hand and mused almost to herself. “It’s funny though, isn’t it? How we think on them as dirty yet we let them cook and serve us food?” Pandora thought back to her own home. Her mother kept several servants for various odd jobs and Pandora had barely ever spoken a word to any of them. She rarely even saw the house elves unless she summoned them to her room. She simply always woke up to breakfast being served and her bed was always made by the time she got back upstairs. She fancied that the house elves were mostly terrified of both her and her mother. Pandora had practiced several spells and tried out numerous potions on them over the years. There always seemed in inexhaustible supply of them and her mother ran through them so often that Pandora had long since stopped trying to remember their names.

[ariana]

Ariane looked at Pandora at she expressed her satisfaction over short hair. Ariane and Pandora looked as different as they could. Ariane looked light, golden hair and big light-green eyes. Everyone’s perfect little angel who seemingly couldn’t even think a bad thought. Pandora was the opposite – dark hair, paler complexion, big dark eyes that entranced you tempting you to drown yourself in them. The girls were as different as night and day. At least on the outside.
“This hair-length fits you. If you’d wear your hair longer, then it might start competing with your eyes and take away the enchantment they seem to carry now,” Ariane mused loudly as she observed Pandora, “And you have a nice enough jaw-line to be able to support such a hair-cut without problems from there either. Nothing to sharp, but the lines are smooth and firm features.”

Ariane leaned back again taking a bite out of her cracker now covered with cheese. She herself was very proud of her hair – it was thick, long, and she took extremely good care of it. She only washed it with shampoo that mainly consisted the juice of stinging-nettle. Ariane had discovered that shampoos with that particular plant seemed to fit best with her hair. And therefore special shampoo she used was imported from Italy. Ariane would hold a high enough place in the wizarding society one day so her parents expected her to look the best. Her whole ward-robe was tailor-made, her jewels were small so to not insult her young age, but always made of the best materials at the best jewelries. Ariane took pride in her outlook and it showed.

The silk shuffling lightly as Ariane moved herself and raised on of her legs over the other. Letting her shoe dangle from her foot Ariane replied casually: “House-elves are filthy little creatures, but useful none the less if they are punished well enough to make sure they stay in line. I’ve tried to make sure that Maeve – a house-elf that obeys me at all things in our manor – would look suitable enough. But let’s not spoil our little lunch with such topics, shall we? Do you have any plans for the Christmas vacation? Mother and father were pleased to hear how quickly my sorting went, that they decided to take me to a vacation at the Caribbean during that time.” Ariane smirked. Her sorting had been quick. The Sorting Hat had seen knowledge and ambition and pointed them out, but on the whole it had taken the Hat about 20 seconds before it shouted out Ariane’s house. A feat Ariane was very proud of. It showed that her true nature did belong in Slytherin.

[pandora]

Pandora was careful not to let too much of her pleasure show through as Ariane expressed her approval of Pandora’s appearance. She had never thought of herself as not being pretty but had also never compared herself to anything like Ariane. To hear Ariane compliment her even in an off-hand way was a true source of pride for Pandora. It stoked her ego just a little higher and she allowed herself to settle back with a bit more ease into her chair. She watched Ariane nibble at her cracker and looked back down at her own, still clutched in between her fingers. She took another petite bite from it and listened to the bell like tones of Ariane’s voice. When Ariane asked about her plans for Christmas vacation, Pandora’s heart sunk just a little, though she kept any hint of it from her face. She was dreading the idea of going home for Christmas.

While her own mother had indeed been proud of the fact that Pandora had been sorted into Slytherin, it was little more than her mother had expected and had earned her no special favor. At most it had proven to Clarissa Munio that her child was not a complete waste of time after all and despite what she thought of as atrocious slips in decorum, her child had managed to pull through and get herself into the right house. Ever the one to climb the ladder, Pandora’s mother saw the 11 year old girl as nothing more than another tool to raise her own status. A well behaved Slytherin girl in Hogwarts was always a good way to raise one’s own standing and in some way proved her mother’s worth as much as it did Pandora’s. Pandora was unaware of all this though, and only knew that she always seemed to fall just short of impressing the one person in the world whose opinion mattered most. She craved desperately to be as beloved to her own mother as Ariane obviously was to her parents.

Christmas break had already been planned out for her long before she ever got to school. Her mother had an important Christmas party to attend in Germany and Pandora would be going with her to make an appearance now that her mother had something new to brag about. While the idea of accompanying her mother to a party was wonderful to Pandora, the thought of what would happen in the time she wasn’t in the spot light was ever in the back of her mind. At least in Germany, she might be able to go view some of the sights. Pandora tried to view the brighter side of her own situation in light of Ariane’s luck. “My mother has been invited to attend a Christmas function at the home of Otto von Hurtz, the German duke. I’ll be going with her of course. We’ll most likely visit the Black Forest while we’re there.” As she said the words, she knew they were a lie but kept any hint of it from her voice. No. She’d be going to the Dark Forest. Her mother would more than likely find something that did not require Pandora’s presence. The rest was true though so the little lie slipped easily from her.

Pandora finished her cracker and reached for another one, delicately placing another slice of cheese and a small amount of caviar on it. “So how are you faring with Charms so far? I’ve managed to get the shrinking charm down for the most part but the charm to restore the item still evades me at this point.” Pandora easily slipped to a new subject that she figured Ariane could easily discuss with her. “Any luck with Transfiguration? I swear that someone hexed my cup last class. I know I was doing the right wand movements but my cup simply wouldn’t turn into a tea cozy.” She, of course, was referring to Professor McGonagall and was certain the old woman had it out for her. She would never be so crass as to openly declare that the teacher herself had stooped to such measures, especially not in the company of nosy house elves, but she knew Ariane would catch her meaning. “I swear it’s like they try to take away our dignity. Tea cozies? Really. Couldn’t we turn the cups into something less…..degrading or useless?”

[ariana]

Ariane smiled as Pandora mentioned her plans for Christmas. “Otto von Hurtz. Isn’t he known for throwing those elaborate Christmas parties? I have never attended one as my parents decided to not to make along due to being too young when they went there about 4 years ago. It should be a very interesting experience for you.” Ariane’s parents had been to one of such Christmas parties, but usually they stuck to attending parties at the Ministry – due to Ariane’s father high position there – or visiting one hosted by a close family friend. Ariane had been taken along the first time when she was 10 and even then she had been sent back home earlier. Her parents had decided that she was still to young to attend such parties at full length. Especially since her own parents would often converse with other Death Eaters at such parties.
“The Black Forest? Now that must be an interesting sight to see. Sounds rather nice,” Ariane replied thinking of the Forest. She herself was under no condition a ‘natures’ girl. Ariane would prefer boutiques, historical sights, but Black Forest would be one of the few things she would gladly go and see.

“Charms,” Ariane sneered at the mere thought. She wasn’t good at Charms at all. Something was just always missing from her Charms, therefore never seemingly to be able to make a charm work correctly. “I have got the flick and swoop down. But I do seem to be having a spot of trouble. I can only get the thing to grow, shrinking isn’t that easy. Nothing that can’t me helped with a bit of practice,” Ariane replied coolly even though her eyes had turned cold. She hated admitting that she was bad at something, yet Pandora brought up Transfiguration next and Ariane gave a small smile.
“Transfiguration? Why yes, I can turn my cup completely at first try by now. It takes some concentration only, really. A matter of ah… bending the reality?” Ariane replied. She had managed with her transfiguration. While she didn’t show any talent at all in Charms – she was extremely gifted in Transfiguration, “I most certainly aren’t satisfied with how… the subject is being thought, but I haven’t ran into any problems in it yet. Someone hexed your cup…” Ariane’s eyes turned at Pandora coolly as she valuated the statement. She didn’t think that anyone would have wanted – or dared – to hex the cup. McGonagall was pain-takingly fair and obvious. Something that would always work against her so it really was a question as to if such a doubt would have any truth to back it up or not.

[pandora]

Pandora nodded her assent when Ariane asked about Duke Von Hurtz. She knew very well that Ariane was making polite conversation and that the questions were purely rhetorical so no answer would be needed. Pandora felt a little better about the idea of her own Christmas plans when it seemed apparent that they had been mulled over and approved by Ariane as an acceptable way to spend one’s vacation. A few more petite bites disappeared from Pandora’s cracker as the young woman across from her spoke. Ariane was good at Transfiguration but then, Pandora had already known this. Pandora had purposefully NOT sat with Ariane during their Transfiguration class; to do so would have come across as clingy or sadly desperate, neither of which Pandora wanted to convey to someone as important as a Dianne. She already sat next to the girl in Charms and they sat near one another in Potions as well (it was rather hard not to since all the Slytherins seemed to huddle on one side of the class) and Pandora certainly felt sitting next to Ariane too often would make the older girl think she was being suffocated. Besides, too much time around anyone causes hard feelings, so since they had to share classes and even sleeping space, it was best to give a little breathing room to one another.

Regardless, Pandora had certainly noticed in Transfiguration that Ariane seemed to have quite the knack at it. It brought her some satisfaction that old McGonagall would have to accept that a Slytherin was doing so well in her class. Pandora, on the other hand, would win NO awards for her ability to transfigure anything. She soothed her bruised ego with thoughts of Potions class though. It was the one area she truly shined in. Pandora had many chemistry sets at home that her mother had purchased over the years and Pandora had closeted herself away most of the time she was home to work on her potions. The art of it was so very magnificent to her. She could practice at home and since no wands were involved, it was very hard to get caught at. Pandora watched Ariane’s reaction to her claim that her cup was hexed and figured the other girl didn’t believe her, regardless, Pandora simply couldn’t see any other way she could have failed so miserably to get the small china cup to change. It’s delicately painted pink flowers had simply sat there mocking her with their refusal to turn into a tea cozy.

“Well, either way, I’m glad at least one Slytherin has proven herself very adept at it.” Pandora truly was glad that Ariane was good at the subject. “We should have at least one Slytherin in each class who excels. In this way, we can show the other houses that Slytherins really are better.” Pandora quickly amended her statement. “It’s not that there should ever be any doubt but I rather enjoy being able to prove it on a continual basis. It shuts them all up so nicely when you can point to specific examples of why we’re better.” Pandora thought back to the notice left by one of the Slytherin Queens about how the Slytherins simply have to win the house cup this year.

[ariana]

Ariane tilted her head slightly at Pandora’s words. Adept at Transfiguration – it was a somewhat compliment so Ariane treated it such. A small move of her head, to show she had heard and accepted, yet understood that it wasn’t big enough deal to be pointed out again. Ariane finished her cracker with the cheese and took a sip of her drink before dabbing the corner of her mouth lightly to make sure there were no crumbs on her lips and mouth. That wouldn’t look good.
“I’m sure that when we look at older Slytherins we find people who excel in every class. Slytherins are supposed to be sly and cunning. Even manipulative, so it’s pretty much said that Slytherins are smart with that. In order to be cunning and manipulative you do need to be good at what you do and have information. Unlike Gryffindors who storm into trouble head-first getting themselves - and the people who were forced to come and rescue them – killed because of their stupidity. Slytherins however have the ability to think for themselves and avoid pointless victims.”

Ariane toyed with the thin golden bracelet around her wrist lazily, twirling it around. Proving Slytherins were better? Pandora was right to say that there was never any doubt about it. Not only were they smarter than most, they knew what they wanted and how to get it. And if that wasn’t enough yet – purebloods had long family-lines, meaning the magic in their veins was old. More powerful thanks to age and being always surrounded by magic. No mudblood could ever compete with that, even if the mudblood happened to have some power by a stroke of luck.
“We are better in more ways than just one. Are you sure mudbloods are even intelligent enough to exactly even comprehend how much we are better than them?” Ariane asked with a sweet smile which just added to the sting directed towards mudbloods and people Ariane counted unworthy.

[pandora]

Pandora listened intently as Ariane spoke and nodded now and then in agreement with what she said. Of course Slytherins were better than the other houses; Pandora had no doubt of this. Her concern lay not with the older students but with the newest blood to enter the walls of Hogwarts. These upstarts and children of fools seemed bent on trying to irritate Pandora’s last nerve. “I realize of course that the older students have maintained our own high standards, I have no doubt that they have proven time and again that Slytherin is the better house. My concern is that we, as the newest blood to enter this noble house, should be sure not to lapse in our pursuit of perfection. I would like to see not just a Slytherin exceeding in every class but a first year Slytherin excelling in every class.” Pandora stated with the air of a well trained politician. She prepared herself another cracker with graceful movements and noted to herself that she shall have to get a thin bracelet like Ariane had to accentuate her wrists.

“As for whether mudbloods can understand how much better we are, well, that entirely depends on how you show them. The more ignorant they are, the more important it is that they be shown their place. For example, we simply cannot allow the other houses to win the house cup because they would then have some small glimmer of hope to cling to that lets them think they are better than us. Since this silly cup means so much to them and they use it to judge themselves, we, as the better house, should have it every year just to prove to them in terms they can understand that we are superior.” Pandora watched Ariane’s slender form for any sign of understanding. “I realize you must be asking why we should care what they think, and usually I wouldn’t, but this seems an ample opportunity to put lesser people in their place long before they ever enter the work force after school. I also have little time or patience for the stupidity of others and this would be a good way to cut any foolish non-sense off right from the start.” Pandora finished with a small bite of her cracker and waited in silence for Ariane to respond. She realized she’d spoken more in the last few moments than she usually did during an entire conversation but she felt she’d gotten her point across well and was curious on Ariane’s take of her plan.

Pandora sat back comfortably and waited for a response from Ariane, her eyes drifting to the other girl’s bracelet as she tried to decide what her own should look like. Perhaps she would ask her mother for one over Christmas.

[ariana]

Ariane thought about Pandora’s words, being careful to keep her face as possible. She had practiced it in front of the mirror a little after seeing the completely blank faces of her parents, who were extremely good at hiding heir own emotions. Ariane was sure that she was no where the level of her parents, but she tried her very best. Ariane supposed that she did agree with Pandora in some points. Lower life forms like mudbloods and half-bloods should be reminded that they were in fact lower. Very often they needed to be pushed into their place forcefully as well. Yet Ariane felt that Pandora seemed to feel a bit to strongly about what such mudbloods thought of her and of Slytherin. Mudbloods would never be able wholly and truly understand what thrives Slytherins, their motives, desires and wishes. So therefore how could they completely comprehend exactly how much better Slytherins and some pure-bloods were?
“All foolishness should be cut off as quickly as possible. Yet there is stupidity that is so great it can’t be cured. Mudbloods are a fitting example here as they never seem to stick to where they really belong and instead crawl to this school and infest it with their degrading presence,” Ariane replied finding many points in Pandora’s words she agree to and a few where her views weren’t the same as Pandoras,

Looking around Ariane noticed with displeasure that the house-elves had been starting to be seen more often. It was a sign of a bad servant who made it’s presence known. Yet what was top quality in Hogwarts? Not the general populace of the student body most certainly.
“I think I would appreciate a bit of fresh air. The smells of baking is untolerable,” Ariane said slowly as she let her leg slide off from her other knee, “Are you planning on staying here or joining me for a while more?”

[pandora]

Ariane’s face seemed to lose any emotion at all as she considered Pandora’s words. For a few tense moments, Pandora was certain that Ariane must think her a fool, but soon enough, Ariane began speaking. She seemed to agree to a point with Pandora and that was good enough to ease Pandora’s racing thoughts. The two girls didn’t have to agree on everything so long as neither truly offended the other. Different views could be good to a point and Pandora had to admit that a lot of what Ariane said seemed to make sense. She watched a measure of distaste come over the other girl’s delicate features and Pandora in turn glanced over at the small, swiftly moving forms of several elves preparing lunch for the rest of the student body. In the light of the fireplace, their small hunched bodies looked even more grotesque than usual and Pandora looked back down at her cracker with a little less appetite. She knew she would still need to eat the food they were preparing but seeing them bustle about with flour on their cheeks and soot on their humble excuse for clothes, Pandora just couldn’t bring herself to partake of the rest of her cracker.

Pandora set the remains of her food back on the plate before her and left it uneaten on the table. Perhaps she would be able to eat once more when she no longer had to look at the little monstrosities that slaved over the stoves all day. Nothing like an ugly servant to ruin one’s apatite. Ariane noted that she did not like the smell of the baking and Pandora replied with a sneer, “It’s not the smell of the baking I mind.” She cast one last look at the elves and then rose easily from the couch motioning to Ariane that she go first. It was only proper manners after all. “I would be delighted to go for a stroll outside but I had planned to continue exploring the castle. It would benefit me greatly to know as much about this place as possible as we are all to be confined here over the course of several years. Knowledge is power after all.” The last was stated with a note of something more sinister laced among the words, a hint of darkness not quite tangible. “I look forward, of course, to our next meeting. It’s refreshing to have proper company that can converse intelligently with me.”