What is it? ((Shadow))

[Padme Rendel S2]

Padme's footsteps did not echo like everyone eleses. The noise was often irritating, although the steady click of her heels could be heard a corner away. As she glided down the halls, her face became waxen as she saw the people emerge in the shadows behind her. Slytherins no doubt. Padme stopped and hesitated. Lately she had been avoiding Slytherins because of her fault with Tessa. She was getting weaker every day, but she didn't want the Slytherins to know that. They would crush her easily, that much she knew. Padme turned sharply and clicked her way back to a detour, letting the harsh voices dwindle away behind the solid walls. Breathing a heavy sigh of relief, Padme cleared away her blouse from all unsuitable wrinkles. She had to look perfect all the time. Her brown hair swept down to cover her hard brown eyes, making her appearance angelic. Her smirk still adorned her features, although she wondered if she deserved to even wear it. She was less Slytherin then the others. She may be the one with the hottest temper, the more rage and subtle fire, but it didn't matter if she was weak. That's what she was now.

Her dark eyeshadow, mascara, and eyeliner made her eyes appear ten times darker then they already were. She liked it that way. Dark and mysterious to all her 'enemies.' Padme saw another group come at her from the right, making her turn immediately toward the heavy doors at her left. They led to the Courtyard, where she could find a few peaceful moments before getting on the move. Padme brushed her hair away from her honey-brown eyes this time, wanting to see everything in crystal clear vision. Tightening her lips into a pleased smile, Padme noticed that the Courtyard was virtually empty. Still smiling in th awkward way, Padme started toward a chair. She picked the smallest table, of course, since she had no intention of having others join her. Perhaps Jack or Mack or Dix would be sufficient, but that was all. Stretching out her legs under the table, Padme sniffed haughtily and took out a reading book, glancing up every few seconds to see if anyone was coming into the Courtyard that could be a potential threat to her and her pride.

[slytherinicequeen]

Shadow sighed as she walked out of the Slytherin common room. She was still tired from lack of sleep. Her long black hair wasn't as straight as it should have been. Her thick black eyeliner shouldn't have been as messy as it was today. If she had bad sleep she also looked bad. And that was just a fact of Shadow. Her jet black kitten with white feet called Insanity followed Shadow at her feet. Insanity never left Shadow's side. Even when she went to lessons. Shadow would hide her in her bag and tell Insanity to be quiet. Which, of course Insanity was.

Shadow yawned, wondering what to do. The corridors were deserted so she couldn't torture 1st year Hufflepuffs. Her vivid green eyes scanned around for anyone she knew. But there was no one. She growled and made her way towards the Courtyard. She hardly went outside, judging by her pale face. But today she was willing. She had to read her potions book anyway.

So of she went, outside. Her robes flowing behind her. She smirked at some of the portraits who watched her intently. She pushed open the heavy doors and walked out into the sun. Insanity hissed as the sun was brought on her face. Shadow rolled her eyes, slightly blinded from the sun. She looked around and spotted a 1st year Slytherin. She smirked. 'Weak? Or just alone?' She thought to herself. She made her way to the wall facing the table where the 1st year was. Luckily the wall was in shadows. Meaning Shadow could only be spotted by her eyes looming out of the darkness.

[Padme Rendel S2]

Padme's fingers flipped through the pages, desperately seeking refuge in the words. Nothing could keep her mind off her troublesome life however. Padme sighed and turned the book over, trying to read the back but her eyes refused to translate the words. Snarling with rage, Padme shoved the book back into her back just as the door opened. A Slytherin in their second year stepped into the Courtyard, immediately heading toward the shadowy wall. Padme watched out of the corner of her eyes, reproachfully eying the girl for any signs of threats. When the girl practically hid in the shadows, Padme nearly laughed aloud.

"You can come out, girl," Padme said with a cold smirk. "I don't bite....usually." Silently cackling with glee, Padme motioned for the girl to come sit with her. She was just a second year. Padme could get some amusement out of her company. Placing her bag closer to her with an abruptness that was closely hidden, Padme glanced at the girl again. The contrast with the girl's figure and the shadows was nearly invisible. Only the glowing eyes could be seen. Padme watched her with scorn and waited for the girl to approach her table. Moving in her seat, Padme made sure she felt her authority in the air before glaring at the girl again, waiting for her move.

[slytherinicequeen]

Shadow watched the girl intently. She heard her speak and laughed at the last remark. Insanity looked at the girl then at her owner. Shadow made no move to get out of the shadows. She noted at how the 1st year shifted in her seat. She smirked as she waited, still not moving.

She waited for about 5 minutes before walking quietly out to wards the table. Insanity following her. Shadow blinked a few times, waiting to get used to the sun. Which could take some time for her. She sat down wearily at the table, waiting for the girl's next move. She glared coldly at her, though she was laughing on the inside.

[Padme Rendel S2]

The girl made no move to get out of the shadows. Padme glared at her eyes, waiting to actually see the girl with her own eyes instead of just glaring at nearly nothing. Finally, the time came when the girl hastened out of the shadows, blinked rather stupidly, and then sat down at Padme's table. She raised an eyebrow lazily at the girl.

"Are you mute or something? If you are, you're just wasting your time. I have more important things to do then pay attention to brutes." Padme glared at her while picking carelessly at her blue nail polish. "And, if you aren't mute, where are your manners? Aren't you supposed to ask someone to sit at their table before actually sitting? Or hasn't your mother taught you that?" Padme smirked cruelly and flicked her brown hair over her shoulders with arrogance. "I saw that she taught you very nicely how to hide from people, but beside that...."

[slytherinicequeen]

"Do I look like I'm mute?!?" Shadow snapped, answering the first question. "And yes, my mother did teach me manners. But I rebelled and forget them. Then she died. So now I have no need to use them" She said wavering her hand as if dismissing the whole family death.

"And hiding in the shadows is something I do not do. I just prefer the shadows to the sun." She said, sighing as she stared up at the soon before looking back at the 1st year.

This was the first time Shadow had ever mentioned her family death. She had forgotten about it recently. Until now that is. She smirked. "I do hope you know what the sun is" She said, still smirking.

[Padme Rendel S2]

"Perhaps," Padme replied arrogantly, leering at the girl nastily. She was becoming rather amused with her, so she restrained from dismissing the girl from her presence. Like a princess, Padme's chin was tilted up ward to give the air of authority around her felt. She smirked and shook her hair out of her eyes before commenting. "Ah, I see. Stupidity does go through Slytherins too...." She fought back a bark of laughter as she surveyed the girl. "Rebelling against your mother when all she wanted to do was teach you how to be a lady? How...ah....immature of you." She sneered and leaned back in her chair, interlocked her fingers, and gazed at the girl with a cold glare.

"I see. Do you prefer to think of yourself as a shadow or do you just like darkness better?" Sarcasm slipped through her voice as she commented, rather aggressively actually. She smirked sadistically. "Of course I know what the sun is. Me. I'm the sun. Do you want to know why? Everything revolves around me." Padme smiled a twisted smile after saying this, positive it was true. After watching the girl for a few more moments, Padme deciphered the fact that the girl's mother must have died. She hadn't caught on to it before, but now she could possibly use it against her. "So, your mother is in her grave now? I'm so...sorry to hear that. She must have been unable to survive seeing her daughter turn into a brute."

[slytherinicequeen]

Shadow laughed coldly and shrugged. "She looks better with dirt on her as she slowly rots away in her coffin" She said. "Besides I never wanted to be a "lady". Because judging by you, if I had to be a "lady" then I think my chin would hurt from sticking it up all day."

Shadow noticed her sarcasm and played along with. "Also remember my dear, sarcasm is the LOWEST form of wit. So yes stupidity does run in Slytherins. And it starts off with 1st years who think they know better" Shadow hissed.

[Padme Rendel S2]

Padme smirk never faltered and her snide expression merely flickered in feign surprise as the girl began to play along with her game. Padme arched an eyebrow lazily, trying to decide whether it was worth it to answer the girl. She shrugged and drawled out slowly, "obviously you don't know a thing about the world yet. First off, I only tilt my chin upward to prove you are lower then dirt in my presence.... As for it hurting your chin if you proved to be worthy enough to do such a notion.... it would show how much of a weakling you are." Padme rolled her eyes at the girl, amusing herself with her insults. She snickered softly and raised a polite eyebrow, wondering if the girl had anything good to say this time.

"Hypocrite." Padme sneered as the girl said that sarcasm was the lowest form of wit. "Perhaps you should think more often before you speak. Obviously, you just used sarcasm yourself so you are - frankly - a seething hypocrite, lurking in the shadows, saying your mother looks better in the dirt, and that sarcasm shows the lowest wit level. Perhaps you should take some lessons from me to learn how exactly the world turns. After all, you don't seem to understand." Padme let a cold smile flicker across her lips as she considered everything the girl could backfire with. Padme needed to be ready for anything, especially from some weirdo who comes out of shadows. She wrinkled her nose in dislike at the girl, still tilting her chin higher to show her calm, yet obvious authority. "You agree, do you not?" She asked sweetly, smirking all the while.

[slytherinicequeen]

"I am not a weakling first of all. I've been for more then you could ever dream off. You've been smothered with money and objects. I've been put through everything. Including muggle so if I was you. I'd shut your mouth before I seal it myself" She hissed, not caring if she had been in the sun for more than a couple of minutes. Shadow's eyes turned black for a moment before returning back to their original colour.

"And who said I was being sarcastic about my mother. I'm happy that she's rotting away with my father. I couldn't care less about them. I don't need family. They're worth nothing to me" She said, her eyes becoming darker. "I'm happy that they're dead to be honest. After all it was me who put them there. They got so sad that their little 'princess' rebelled against them. They thought I'd be a good little girl. But all good girls go bad at some time. I just went bad early than most good girls. And I stayed bad." She said, watching her put her chin up higher. She had to resist the urge off pushing it up so high that her neck would break.

[Padme Rendel S2]

Padme scoffed lightly but waited for the girl to finish her little speech. A bore it was too - which explained her impatience for the girl to end. "I can tell that you don't know much about myself or even life." Padme said loftily, picking at her nails while rolling her eyes. "But please, keep on thinking I've been pampered and smothered with money, as you put it." Padme sneered while placing her book back in the bag carefully so the book would be safe from all the edges of the bag. Her honey-brown eyes didn't even give the girl the dignity of looking at her, which amused Padme. After all, this was all her instinct. She wasn't even thinking - it was in her blood to be such a person.

"As for you enjoying the thought of your family locked away in darkness forever, decaying in their graves. It's not even pleasant for me to think about....but for their daughter?" Padme smirked at the girl. "To each it's own, I suppose." She leaned back in her chair, her eyes boring into the other girl's. "I think that you forgot to introduce yourself. What is your name, again?" A movement caught her attention. A black kitten with white feet was at the girls' feet. Padme raised a fine eyebrow before saying snidely, "nor have you introduced that wonderful young kitten at your feet." Padme smirked at the girl, lacing her fingers through the shoulder strap of the bag, signaling she might be about to leave if the conversation didn't turn toward the good.

[slytherinicequeen]

Shadow sighed. "My name is Shadow Croft" She said as if she was disgusted to be called a Croft. Shadow's kitten jumped up into her lap and stared at the girl. "And this is my kitten Insanity" She said.

At the mention of Insanity's name the kitten meowed loudly before staring back at the girl. "And who are you?" Shadow asked raising an eyebrow at the girl.