Not that again ((Open))

[aryasillhouette]

Arya had just recently gotten back from her weekend at Hogsmeade again and was reenacting the adventure of having dinner with her parents for Hester. She couldn't believe that they were still fighting with her about her interaction with the members of the other houses. Had she not carried on a whole minuscule conversation with a well known Ravenclaw last year before the girl left the school. Was she not trying to make friends with the other houses. It wasn't easy for her, considering that she had her standards and refused to talk to anyone that she could obviously tell wasn't pureblood. It just wasn't her style. She couldn't help that. It was something in her genetic structure. "It must have skipped both my parents' generations." She said jokingly to Hester as they walked through the castle toward their favorite place.

Hester and Arya loved hanging out at a window near the Great Hall. From there you could hear all the latest gossip, and tease the younger students both before and after they went into the Hall to eat. They rarely went into the Hall theirselves, usually they just talked some younger students into bringing them food to their window, "Nothing like window service." They would always say jokingly. But this day Arya wasn't in her usual mood. She had to get the frustrations of her conversation with her dinner off her mind before she could tease the younger students, otherwise she was more likely to hurt one of the braver ones that actually showed some gull and stood up to Hester and herself. Arya didn't want to do that. She had been looking around the castle for Thai, but had not seen him since the day on the train home just before the summer break, when he admitted to being the one to give her Shadow. She still wondered how he had managed to get the puff into the dorms without being caught. She knew she had to talk to him about this, and Hester had told her that she hadn't even seen him in classes.

The two reached their window, and turned to sit on the windowsill as they watched everyone pass. Neither girl feeling like picking on any of the other students at the moment.

[Kennedy Valak S6]

For reasons beyond his knowledge, Kennedy was in a rare happy mood for the day. Not that he was usually upset, but just not always this happy. Class was over for the day. That was one positive thing that helped lift his spirits. He was on his way back to the common room to drop off his books and such. He figured he would then try to find Fiona. The two of them hadn't spent much time together lately- especially compared to the amount of time they got to spend together over summer break. He was a bit disappointed that their class schedules were not as similar as he had hoped, but at least her not being in every one of his classes would help him to pay attention better; not that it helped much in reality though.

As he walked down the halls, he tried his best not to look so happy as younger students walked by. He didn't want them thinking he was some flighty Hufflepuff or something, of course the green accents on his robes would surely indicate that he wasn't. Regardless, he tried his best to keep his unusually happy feelings inside.

Noticing a few Slytherin girls sitting near a window, he strode over to see what they were doing. He figured they might be picking on some younger students or something, so he decided to stop by for a moment, just to observe the fun. "Hey Arya," he said casually, nearing the girls. "What trouble might you be causing today?" he asked with his usual grin. The girl was a year older than him, and he didn't know her on a personal level, but they had met once or twice before in the common room.

((I know it's short.... but I was out of ideas...))

[Israel Moon S7]

Ever slowly Israel's day wore on and the classes passed one by one. Final period, divination, Israel just skipped completely, fed up with simply sitting there not concentrating with nothing to do. Instead she went into the common room and stared into the fire. It was her final year at Hogwarts, she was the last Moon sister and soon she would be gone. How would the school function without her? The Queens? How would she function without her Hogwarts life? Quite well she believed if she was really honest with herself. She had nothing to worry about but she still found herself wondering, who would she grow to be?

It didn't matter at the moment though. For now she was hauled up in school to study for her future career of... whatever she decided to do. Children started trickling into the common room and Israel realised classes must be done for the day, she had lost track of time. Sweeping up she went to her room to read for awhile, away from the world, but after five minutes gave up. Dinner would be served soon, she could always go down to eat then try catching up what she missed in divination. Israel stood up and straightened her robe; made sure she looked immaculate in the mirror.

As Israel approached the Great Hall she noticed a little group of three, two girls from the year below her who often kept to each other, and a boy younger still. "Is this a congregation? A gathering of Slytherins? Why, then, as I not informed that the Slytherin table was broken tonight? Please, join me." Said Israel coming up behind them in a way they would be stupid to refuse; Israel was a Queen and a seventh year Slytherin girl, she got what she wanted. Besides, this was a great opportunity for all of them to get on her good side, somewhere everyone wanted to be.

[Kennedy Valak S6]

Before the girls answered Kennedy, he heard another female voice behind him. He turned to see the seventh year Slytherin prefect talking to the three of them. At first, he wondered what she wanted. Normally, she and the other older Slytherins wouldn't bother talking to those his age, unless they had important reasons. However, the girl asked them to follow her.

Kennedy's first instinct was to question her request. Then, he thought he might wait to see what the other two would do. However, then he decided that maybe it would be for his benefit to see what the girl wanted. He was curious, and it didn't seem like it was a prank or anything. Compromising between his first instinct and his gut feeling, Kennedy followed the girl, and then asked, "Are we simply joining you for dinner?" He inquired, hoping his questioning wouldn't irritate the girl. He had seen the Queens when they were annoyed, and that was the last thing he wanted to do.

[Zeak Nitesh G2]

Zeak had vowed that he would become one of the greatest wizards in all of history despite his disability. Yet this school wasn't making that job any easier for him. After turning about 100 rats into what his class mates say are definitely not teacups, and waving his wand followed by the screaming of a class and heavy crashing sounds, and pricking is finger on poisonous thorns all day Zeak was not in the highest of spirits. He sighed as he made his way down the corridor, his walking stick tapping rhythmically in front of him. He did have something to be happy about. He was memorizing the layout of the school much better now. He could already make his way from the Common room to all his classes and the great hall now. He sighed once again, even that knowledge did little to soothe his spirits at this moment.

He turned and walked through what he knew was the doors to the great hall and immediately the sound of many talking voices assaulted his ears. As alway he winced slightly as his sensitive ears picked up the sound rather loudly. It took him a moment but soon his ears got used to the noise and the level shrunk down to a reasonable volume. Putting on a smile he stepped fully into the great hall and turned, than stopped. "Oh crap." He muttered to himself. Which one was the Gryffindor table again?

He turned a full circuit and racked his brain. This day had been filled with so much information he had forgotten on what side of the Great Hall sat the Gryffindor table. "Hmmm?" Zeaks ears perked as he heard the sound of voices near him. He turned to face them. It seemed like a small group of students were grouped near him. Perhaps he could ask them for directions. Zeak moved up the group. "Um, excuse me? Could you help me? Would you mind helping me find the Gryffindor table? My minds so flustered today I seem to have forgotten where it was located."

[Hester Amythest Burrell]

Hester sat as usual beside her friend Arya, just chatting about the horrific boring day that they had been having. How was it that they had made their way almost through a whole day without teasing anyone. Hester’s hatred for the filth that roamed the castle had kept her in the common room for so long that she had made up for the many years of not teasing the mudbloods and half-bloods. It had even taken Arya approaching Hester for them to become friends. Hester had not been in the market for a friend when Arya found her, and now it seemed as if she and Arya were inseparable. It was as if Arya totally understood Hester’s hatred and feelings. They had quickly became a pair that many were used to seeing together around the castle and in Hogsmeade a few times. Hester had even been with Arya on her last horrendous visit to her parents house, where they were both forced to listen to a lecture about the good that it would do them to be associated with mudbloods and muggles and half-bloods.

The two girls, now sitting in the window had been trying their hardest all day to leave the younger children alone. And Arya had been holding up well to the task, but Hester was becoming unsure of how long she herself could continue to be so polite. “Oh, Come on Ary, let me just give one of these filthy little rodents a quick jinx. No one would know who had done it.” She had pleaded with her friend as Arya reminded her that they were in the middle of the Great Hall’s entrance and in clear area for the professors to see them. “Drat.” was all Hester had said when Arya told her no. Hester again thought she would get her chance when a younger Slytherin came up to them, but as he began to speak to Arya, Hester noticed that the boy and Arya must have had met before, which meant Arya wouldn’t let her have any fun yet again. Arya smiled at the boy, whom she had called by Kennedy, and explained to him that the girls had decided to sit there to try to stay out of any trouble. Hester chimed in, “As if that’s any fun at all.” Arya couldn’t help herself but to snort a bit of a laugh out at Hester’s comment. “I know it’s not much fun, Hester, but at least we don’t have to see one of the professors after classes again, or after dinner like the last time.”

As the group stood there, they were shortly approached by another Slytherin, one that Hester quickly recognized as a Queen named Israel. Hester knew that it would be a bad idea to turn down the Queen’s invitation, but she had to tell Arya this before Arya took the chance to do so. “Of Course. We would be delighted to join you for Dinner, Israel.” Hester said smiling at Arya and giving her a bit of a wink. The girls aroused themselves off of their windowsill, and began to follow Israel into the Great Hall.

Shortly after agreeing to join Israel, the group of Slytherins was interrupted by a Gryffindor Ickle Firstie. Oh no. This kid is in for it now. I just hope he has an ounce of pure blood in him somewhere, or that Arya minds her manners since we have company with us. Hester thought to herself, wondering if Arya would let one of the others point out the table to the young boy, or if she would waste no time, knocking him onto the proper table with some sort of jinx of hers. Hester’s jaw dropped as she saw Arya just turn away from the boy as if she had not heard him. Arya really wasn't going to answer him with a jinx. This was a first. Hester began to wonder if Arya's parents weren't starting to get to her, then Hester saw that Arya was just giving the Queen the opportunity so that she wouldn't feel threatened.

[Israel Moon S7]

Israel smirked as the boy seemed intelligent enough to follow her despite his momentary hesitation. One of the girls, at least, jumped to join her, which Israel found quite amusing. She lead the small group into the Great Hall before yet another joined their number; this one quite unexpected. Almost a "one of these things is not like the others" situation when a child from Gryffindor joined them, a white walking stick leading his way; evidently this was the blind kid she had heard about. Giving him a curious look Israel decided to ignore the boy so he would go away before he spoke - having forgotten where his table was.

Taken aback Israel took a moment to think what she could do; nothing would be gained by attacking this kid, there wouldn't even be any fight with him being so young as well as blind; a verbal assault wasn't necessary considering he didn't know who he was talking to, he would never interrupt a Queen on purpose, this didn't seem some sort of sick joke; but he certainly could provide her some ammusment... Of course, the perfect torture and with the way the girl had tried sucking up to her it would be simple.

Israel flashed a quick malicious grin at the Slytherin boy before turning to the Gryffindor, seeing if he would get the joke. "Of course, these two girls here will show you to your table, personal. Don't worry they won't mind, will you girls?" Israel smirked at Hester and Arya. She then turned and winked at the Slytherin boy searching his face for some sort of recognition, it was not the Gryffindor she was putting through hell, rather it was the two girls, she would see how well they would follow what she said. If they didn't show the boy properly she could get them for disrespecting her, if they did they would be forced to be civil with a Gryffindor first year.

[aryasillhouette]

Arya looked as the boy and then at Israel as she offered for the two girls to help him to his table. Hester quickly agreed to do so, but Arya had to think about it for a minute. She could easily tell that the boy was nothing more than a blind mudblood and that helping him would be demeaning and go against everything she stood for. But then not helping him would be upsetting a Queen, and that could cause trouble. Arya had to decide quickly which was more important to her. Everything she stood for or upsetting a Queen. Arya had never really hoped to be a Queen so that really wouldn’t be so bad. Sure the Queens were looked upon highly, but Arya had always placed herself so high on a pedestal that she deserved to be treated better than what Israel was expecting of her.

“Hester, you feel free to do as you please and help this mudblood if you wish. Israel, you must be insane to think that I’m going to take your simple order and go against everything I believe and stand for. I have fought too much with my own parents about my feelings toward mudbloods to give into your mere whim and help one now.” Arya said firmly with no plans on changing her mind at all. “So what if you are a Queen and a fellow Prefect. That doesn’t mean that I have to do everything you tell me to. I refuse to be bullied by anyone just because they think they are better than I am.” Arya let a sly grin cross her face. “And besides just sheer pleasure of being pleased, what else could you possibly gain from this. Don’t tell me that pathetic blind mudblood is a friend of yours.” Arya knew that this bout of wits would turn out to be an interesting one if nothing less than that.

Hester smiled, though did as Israel had asked her too, and began to escort the blind boy to his table, not because he was a Gryffindor, but because he was blind. Hester had always had a weak spot for those more unfortunate than she, and it had always been her downfall. “I’ll show you to your proper table.” She said taking the boy’s arm and leading the way.

[Zeak Nitesh G2]

Zeak's heart jumped to his throat as he felt the entire group turn to look at him as one. It occurred to him that this group of students may not be part of the "Friendly to muggles" circle of students here at Hogwarts. There was a second of silence as the group seemed to recognize him as human and decided what to do with him. The silence only lasted for a second, but to Zeak it seemed like hours before finally one of them spoke. The voice was female, and sounded much older than him. His sigh was nearly audible as he heard the girl speak rather kindly to him and than told someone to show him to his table. Zeak's brow crinkled in confusion. Who was this girl that seemed to have the authority to order other around. Was she special somehow.

Her feelings toward him didn't seem to be shared by the group as another girl, again sounding much older than Zeak, began to speak about him in a complete opposite tone than the previous girl. Zeak flinched as the girl called him a mudblood. This would be the second time anyone had ever called him that and even though he still wasn't quite sure of its meaning and stung a little. He turned toward the hostile girl. What had he ever done to her? Why did he deserve this from her? Before he could speak though someone grabbed his arm and began to gently lead him away.

"Thank you." He managed to mumble at the girl before being lead away. Zeak was quiet as the girl lead him toward his table as he thought over what just happened. He turned his face up toward the girl leading him. "Why?" He asked and than realized the girl wasn't a mind reader. "Why do people like that other girl hate me? I haven't done anything to her? I haven't done anything to deserve that anger? So why?"

[Hester Amythest Burrell]

Hester led the young Gryffindor carefully to his seat not thinking of asking any thing. She barely spoke as she made their way to the Gryffindor table. She did understand Arya, but couldn't make her believe that it wouldn't kill her to be a bit nice to the others, especially someone like the young Gryffindor.

Hester was lost in her own train of thought when she heard the young Gryffindor speak to her. He was wanting to know why Arya was the way she was, why she had directed so much anger toward him. "Ummm.." Hester said thinking of an easy way to answer for Arya's beliefs. "Arya wasn't angry with you. Her beliefs are just different than most, and she stands by them firmly, as you just heard. Arya believes the same as Salazar Slytherin. She believes as do most Slytherins, but not all, that only those of pure blood heritage should have the right to learn the skills of magic, and be able to call themselves witch or wizard. To her, you are just filth. It has nothing to do with you personally." Hester finally explained. She hoped that the explanation was sufficient enough for she couldn't think of anything else to add to it. That was just the way Arya was. Hester helped the boy feel for his seat as they reached the Gryffindor table.

[Kennedy Valak S6]

Before long, what began as an interesting situation was soon full-fledged irony. He watched as a young, blind Gryffindor student joined the three girls and himself. When the boy asked for help, Kennedy had to stop himself from laughing when Israel announced that the girls would indeed guide him to his table. Kennedy wasn't quite sure why Israel felt the need to chose them over him, but he wasn't complaining. It seemed as though he had earned Israel's favor, at least for now.

Wondering exactly how the two girls would respond to such a situation in which either way they went, they were doing something against a typical Slytherin nature, Kennedy was surprised to see how differently the two reacted. Arya simply defied Israel's orders, while Hester seemed obliged to help the young boy. Quietly eying the three of them, Kennedy didn't want to involve himself until he saw how Israel would respond. Quite frankly, he was also wondering which girl she would praise and which she would be angered with. At least he figured that's what would happen. One would receive Israel's favor, and the other, her disgust. In a way, Kennedy sensed that Israel had planned this all along. He found it amusing, her sense of humor. She was a Queen though, and he really didn't expect much less than her quick wit and clever charm.