Depending On Apathy ((Padme))

[Adalia St John S5]

‘Ugh this is too obvious’ Adalia thought exasperated as she closed her novel and turned up the music she had playing in her gigantic library – larger than most common muggle homes. ‘I know the people seem rather apathetic as to the deaths of others but… why would they not at least attempt to hide that they are behind it? Why if the people unravel that these deaths were murders they will ask why and the whole society will unravel. And I already know what’s going on only half way through the book.’ she thought somewhat annoyed despite the fact it was an ok book. Adalia would read most anything put in front of her though so that wasn’t exactly high praise.

The song came to an end and Adalia shut the WWN off before standing up and brushing off her navy blue silk robes. Walking up the curling iron staircase to the third floor of the library Adalia carried the book to a door that led to the hallway containing her bedroom. Once there Adalia grabbed a black book bag and threw the novel in along with a few other things she may find need for throughout the day. “Car out front now.” Adalia spoke the orders calmly knowing there would be a houseelf nearby to hear and make sure they are carried out so that by the time she had descended the steps and got out front there was the car waiting for her. “Diagon Alley.” She said simply to the driver as she slid into the backseat and fiddled with the WWN finding a good station while the car took off down the muggle roads.

It stopped in front of a grimy little pub and Adalia grimaced at the thought of going in but knew it was inevitable. Better a few steps through this dirty old place than having to travel through random people’s dirty fireplaces. She touched nothing as she made her way through and out into the Alley where it was relatively cleanly though crawling with mudblood filth. She walked briskly through the crowd weaving in and out of people until she arrived at a small teashop and pushed open the door. The small tinkle of a bell above the door announced her entrance as Adalia went and sat at a corner table with her book. She ordered a pot of ginseng tea and began to read.

[Padme Rendel S2]

((Sorry this took so long to reply. ))

Padme walked into the bathroom and looked at her appearance in the mirror. Her long dark brown hair was pulled up in the usual elegant bun, she was wearing a green blouse and skirt, long earrings dangled from her ears and a few choice bracelets jangled at her wrists. Smirking her approval at her reflection, Padme moved away from the mirror and toward the kitchen. Her house was a normal house really, just a little bigger than a normal muggle house. Padme smoothed her skirt as she sat down on a stool next her step-father, Cameron. "Morning." He grunted before eating. Padme said nothing in return, just a small nod before standing up and strutting to the door. "I'll be gone for the day." she told him before stepping out into the bright sunlight. Cameron didn't seem to mind that she had left, which was better than him protesting. Padme brushed away a stray string on her blouse before walking up the street of London. No one stared at her anymore; they knew what would happen if they did. Padme had an odd case for glaring at people whenever they looked at her. It always worked to make the people look away and mind their own business. What was nice about living in London was that everything needed was always down the street. As she walked toward the Leaky Cauldron, Padme found that most of the street was deserted. Finding the source of attention, she stopped, glaring at it. A carnival was being held a few blocks done and girls and boys about Padme's age were screaming and laughing so loud that it carried to Padme's ears. Padme wrinkled her nose at them before stepping into the pub, which was always rather dirty. She touched nothing, didn't look at anyone, until she was out of the pub and into Diagon Alley.

Here, people were busy bustling around getting school supplies. Padme had all ready gotten hers'; she came her as much as she could. She strolled to the middle of the street, before stopping to frown at her surroundings. Where was she going to go today? She was sick of the ice-cream parlor at the moment and nothing else seemed of any interest. Moving down the street, Padme looked in on a few shops, stopping occasionally if she saw something that might interest her. Finally, getting rather bored of this, Padme entered a tea shop that was located a few stores down from the ice-cream parlor. The bell jingled it's welcome to her, but ignoring the noises around her completely, the young girl looked around. A few odd looking wizards, a witch with purple hair....a girl about Padme's age sitting alone reading a book. Padme raised an eyebrow before stepping toward her, moving cautiously in case the girl was of filthy heritage. "Who are you?" she asked rather bluntly, but Padme was never one to consider other people's feelings. She moved around the table to get a better view of the girl, but she didn't dare sit down; who knew who the girl had been.

[Adalia St John S5]

((No worries at all Few people reply instantly and I never expect it considering I can not promise it myself ))

Adalia sat and read for a short while when somebody approached her – a pureblood by the clothes she wore though Adalia would have to work to place her before she knew for sure. Adalia knew at least the name and could match it to a vague description of every pureblood in wizarding society thanks to her mother’s instructions. It was a way they assured the St Johns would never be disgraced by associating with filth – they made sure they knew everyone worth knowing and ignored all they didn’t recognize. “Who are you?” the girl asked and Adalia lowered her book to raise an eyebrow at the girl – little doubt as to who she was now. She had fit a few descriptions but that attitude with one noticeably better than her made this girl undoubtedly Padme Rendel. “Obviously a million times your better if you don’t recognize me. Now do you often go by speaking to people with no knowledge of their status? That could get you in a big mess my dear. How could a pureblood have so little pride as to not know those of their same status on the surface?” Adalia said before lifting her book to read once more. If this girl did not already know her name then she obviously wasn’t worthy of being told.

Almost as soon as Adalia lifted her book a waitress came around and put Adalia’s pot of ginseng tea and placed it on the small table. “Your tea Miss St John. And is your friend joining you? Can I get you anything dear?” She said kindly and Adalia ignored her – the waitress had done her job and was now of no further use – thereby rendering her useless and not worth the wasted breath. Adalia poured herself a cup and began to drink slowly – just the way she had always been instructed.

[Padme Rendel S2]

Padme looked at the girl coldly, her mind jammed as she tried to think of her name. The girl seemed to know her name, however, which raised an eyebrow. "Really, I don't need to know the names of people who are purebloods or vermin. Even purebloods can be unworthy of my time and attention, I believe they are called mutts now-a-days." Padme inspected her fingernails in a bored fashion. "I can decide for myself if someone is worthy or if someone is not. A name is nothing. Now, if you don't want to tell me your name, that's fine. But, I am much better than you, if you lower yourself to such a level as to judge people but some silly name. I don't mind being with the wrong pieces of utmost filth; they'll understand never to bother me when I'm done. So really, I take what live gives me when it happens, not by a history book." she sneered at the girl, her honey-brown eyes searching her appearance, still trying to guess who she was. The waitress then came over and asked if Padme wanted something.

"Yes, I'll have some tea." she said dully, not looking at the woman. The tea came rather quickly, and Padme couldn't help but feel thankful for good service. Taking a huge gulp, she looked over at the girl to see what she was doing she was drinking rather slowly, which made her want to laugh. Padme sat down in the seat across from the girl. "You must be Adalia, are you not?" she had taken this logical guess because of the waitress; she had called the girl Miss St. John, so really she had to be Adalia. Smirking, Padme laid back in her chair, gleeful that she had gotten the name right.

[Adalia St John S5]

Adalia looked up with an amused smirk as Padme mentioned that even purebloods can turn out to be unworthy. “Well of course that is a possibility but at least they have hope. At least a pureblood has a chance of being worth my time. Mudbloods and half-breeds have no chance whatsoever so why pretend by actually bothering with them? All that will happen is it will reflect poorly on me being seen with them. And just a note deary, I don't judge people on names. I judge on blood and on their family – their name has nothing to do with it. If they come from a family of filth then they are dirt themselves no matter what they are called.” Adalia sneered out before quickly returning to her apathy.

When Padme finally figured out who she was though Adalia looked up once more. “Good girl; would you like a cookie? A treat for the bright little girl who figured out my name almost all on her own.” Adalia said in an obviously patronising voice, as if she were speaking to a baby.

[Padme Rendel S2]

Padme smirked but said nothing. She couldn't think of a good insult on Adalia's first few words, but as soon as she said that she didn't judge people on their names but by family and blood, Padme's smirk became one of triumph. "You see, you are judging people by names, dear Adalia. If you judge people by family, I do believe children gets their name from family. You know who their family is by their name, do you not? So, in a very twisted way, you are judging people by their names." Padme twirled a strand of hair around her finger idly, her eyes watching Adalia closely. "I felt the need to correct you so you don't go around in life believing that family had nothing to do with names." Padme sneered harshly. Bringing her hand back down to her side, she took a drink of tea still watching her over the rim. Once she felt like her throat was blistering by the pain of the hot substance, Padme set it back down. By then, Adalia had already said that she may have a cookie for finding out her name.

Padme's smirk flashed back onto her lips. "Really, a cookie? How kind." Padme's voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Are you sure you have your priority's straight? I don't believe you would do well in Slytherin by giving people cookies, dear. If that's even the House you wish to go into. I'm sure you'd fit in among those awful Hufflepuffs. They might take a cookie or two." Padme let out in a low drone. She was perfectly aware that Adalia had only said that to get her riled which did happen. Padme, unlike some, however, had complete control over her voice and eyes so naturally she could act well. Still smirking, Padme waved the waitress over again and ordered another cup of tea.