Fan Fiction ❯ The Weaver Telarius ❯ Enter Cordelia ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Magically, more food than I had ever seen on one table in my lifetime appeared before me. And it all looked and smelled delicious. I didn't know what half of it was, but I was eager to try. There were a few familiar items, such as roast beef, cooked just under the right conditions, all juicy and tender, and halupki, which only seemed to be in front of my plate, oddly enough. I served myself up one and tested the flavour... it was difficult to make good halupki. They, in essence, are cabbage rolls, stuffed with ground beef and a little tomato sauce, and cooked in a tomato broth with some brown sugar. Made correctly, they were absolutely wonderful. Made poorly, the taste of cabbage is too great and ruins everything.

I took a bite, and found myself in a Kroation heaven. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. As I sampled some more of the other food to offer, the blonde haired kid I met before extended his hand to me from my left. "Sorry about earlier, there. I lost my temper. Didn't realize you were one of us."

House loyalty must be a big thing. He obviously didn't want any infighting. I didn't blame him, and it seemed like a good gesture on his part. I offered a small smile, and extended my hand. "Don't worry about it for another second. I often rub people the wrong way on a first encounter, and our personas conflicted. Happens a lot. Your reaction was quite natural. No, the number you did on me wasn't nearly as bad as that cloaked menace..."

"A dementor? You were assaulted by a dementor?" the boy asked, looking rather astonished and impressed, as he looked into my eyes and saw nothing but silent acceptance of the fact.

"Yes," I said, happy that the boy had provided me with the name of those things, "Took me for a ride, actually. I held out for a good while, but it got to me in the end. I was saved, thankfully, by Professor Lupin. He must really know what he's doing. I never figured out what spell to use against those things."

His expression was one that I could tell he didn't show often. It was awe, almost reverance. "You must know quite a bit about the dark arts in order to hold one off, even for a second! Probably why they have you student teaching. Would you mind telling me how you held off against it?"

I shook my head immediately. "Yes, I would mind. Nothing personal," I added quickly, as an annoyed expression returned to his face, "But a gentleman must have his secrets."

He nodded as if he understood, then went back to eating. I wasn't satisfied that our conversation was over, though. Something was troubling me. In a moment, I had it. "Excuse me?"

He turned around, and gave me as pleasant of an expression as he could. "Yes?"

"I never got your name," I said, simply.

He looked as though it was the most rude thing he had ever done. Somehow, I doubted that highly. "Draco. Draco Malfoy. You might have heard of my father, Lucious Malfoy?"

I pursed my lips for a second, as if to show that I was thinking. In reality, of course, I had no sooner heard that name than Albus Dumbledore's until I got his letter. I simply didn't want to seem as ignorant as I really was. People take you differently when you act like you know what's going on, and I was well practiced at that. "No, can't say that I have. Still, I've been rather isolated from civilization for a good long time. I mean, imagine, all this time a wizard and they just now find out about it..."

Draco nodded. "Yeah, I found the whole matter rather fuzzy myself..."

"As did I," a third, deeper voice spoke over my shoulder.

I instinctually turned around, and my hand was sneaked out of sight, to the place where I concealed my wand. Call it a paranoid reaction... well, because it was. I saw behind me the man who escorted me from the hospital wing. I got a better lookover of him now. He had a bulbous nose, and I'm sure you now know who I refer to. It's a rather characteristic feature of the head of house Slytherin. He placed his hand on my shoulder to calm me, as I was definitely looking a bit tense.

"Welcome to house Slytherin, Telarius," the man known as Severus Snape extended his hand in greeting and I took it, removing it from my wand. He had a good grip, and seemed an okay sort. "I hope you've done your share of studying. I expect good things from my house, and will tolerate nothing less."

I gave him a slow nod. I liked him already, but I could tell he was going to be in a world of confusion with me. That's okay. I like confusing people.

I resumed my dinner, which was turning out to be quite excellent. I must say, if I do leave here, one of the things I will miss greatly is the food. I had, of course, noticed the roll of paper that Snape had slid into my hands during the handshake, but resolved to keep it secretive, since it seemed as though Snape wanted this kept that way. I slid it into my robes rather skillfully, if I do say so myself, not missing a beat in my parlay with the mashed potatoes.

Then, the person across from me suddenly put her hand on mine as it dived for a biscuit. Rather annoyed at the disturbance from my attainment of biscuity goodness, I looked up into her eyes. I almost melted. Quite a stunner, if I do say so myself, with wonderful red hair and bright green eyes. Had this body been a bit older, I'm sure my brain would have caused hormones to start moving and making things happen in all sorts of areas. Thankfully, I was spared such discomfort. I merely smiled. "Yes?"

"You've been eating all night, and not saying a word to anyone, practically. We're going to be living in the same house and all... don't you at least want to make friends? Get to know people?"

Goodness Irish accents are so wonderful. Her tone sounded like actual concern, but I saw right through it. I was a mysterious presence, and she saw making my acquaintence to be to her advantage. Well, good for her. No reason not to. I was not so niave as to believe that a pretty face implies a good person. Quite often this is not the case. "Well, I am quite famished, milady. I do apologize for my antisocial behavior, though."

She seemed taken aback. Perhaps she hadn't heard the accent, or the vocabulary, before now. Either one, or both, would cause her reaction. She smiled, though, and allowed me my biscuit, which I promptly dipped into my beef stew. I really wasn't lying about being famished. Fighting a dementor takes it's toll on even the most iron willed of souls.

"So, where do you come from?" she asked, attempting to make conversation.

"That's an interesting question, and quite difficult to answer. I am not lying when I tell you that I am not quite certain myself," I left it at that. Make a truthful statement, but cloud it in confusion, and people usually don't know where to go. Another technique that I've honed to perfection over time.

"Do you always wear those glasses, or are they for some other purpose than seeing?" she asked, insisting on getting to know me better.

"I hadn't even noticed that I was still wearing them," I lied, blatantly. Sometimes, it's good to throw in a blatant lie in the midst of your half-truths. It really messes with people. I promptly removed my glasses and slipped them into a pocket inside of my robes, in the area of my left breast. "I use them only for reading purposes. I've grown so accustomed to them that, half the time, I don't even realize when I forget to remove them."

She smiled, sweetly. "You may look sophisticated with them, but you look better in general without them."

Simple, flattering statements. This girl was good. She knew exactly what buttons to press with males, and I could tell that the very lowest occupation she'll ever attain would be the wife of a powerful figure. She certainly looked as though she could play that part well in a few years.

I almost smacked myself. Perhaps some hormones were still working in this younger body... or maybe I always think like this, regardless of hormonal influence. The idea caused me to chuckle, slightly, though I kept most of it in. "Thank you. I appreciate the compliment immensely. I wish I had one in turn to pay to you, but any I could say right now would seem to be less sincere and more compensatory, ne?"

She nodded. "Sharp one, you. You'll go far, I can tell."

"Can you now?" The butterscotch pudding was heavenly.

She nodded once more. "Yup. I have a knack for these things. You'll probably even succeed in this school. Perhaps in Quidditch, since you seem too young to enter the tournament."

I laughed a bit, mostly to veil my ignorance. "What are you? A Divination specialist?"

"Yes, actually."

I almost lost my pudding. That would have been a shame, too. It really was good. I had to remember that I was at a magic school. "Well, I may be asking of your assistance, then. Divination is one of my weaker points."

This wasn't an outright lie because I honestly didn't know, at that point, what my strengths and weaknesses were. "I'd be happy to assist."

I smiled a bit. "I appreciate the gesture. I never caught your name...?"

She gave a sort of half-bow, since we were still sitting at the table. "Cordelia Lorenth. Pleasure to make your acquaintence."

I allowed the grin on one side of my face and not the other. "That's my line, milady."

"Really? I suppose you were around thousands of years ago to create it?"

"Absolutely. Just after I invented murder, theft, and betrayal."

She grinned and laughed a genuine laugh. Regardless of what her prior motivations were, it seemed as though we might actually become friends at this point. Then again, I had no way of knowing what her motivations were anymore. As the bustle began to start, I realized that it was time to be heading to the houses. I drudged along with the rest of the students, feeling quite uncomfortable in such a crowded environment, with my hand impulsively grasping my wand within my robes. Cordelia stayed at my side, and I wished I could read her at this point. Should have never started talking with her, really. By the same token, though, she was correct. My mind may be keen, but intelligence can only carry one so far. Everyone falters, and when that happens, allies are what is needed. It certainly would be useful to have her as such.

When we got to the house, and the password was spoken by the prefect. I mentally noted it for future use. I stepped within and found myself quite tired. Cordelia seemed reluctant to part with me, and, as I spoke good night to her and gave a courteous bow, she smiled with flushed cheeks and started along her way. I could tell that she watched me all the way to my room before she continued up that staircase.

I plopped on my back, amazed at my fatigue, and stared up at the ceiling for a moment in thought. A lot had happened that day, and it was time to reflect upon it.

From what I could discern, I had been whisked away from my normal realm of existence into this one, by whom or what and for what reason I could only hypothesize. My physical dimensions were altered, my voice raised, and I resembled, in every bit, one much younger than my mind. A nineteen year old mind in a body not even at the teenage years. I had been drafted into a magic school, met by someone who I could swear was half-giant, gotten anything I wanted bought for me at the school's expense, and was attacked both by a snobbish young boy and a being which, as far as I could tell, drained happiness itself from someone.

But wait, there's more. I have left behind a world that I truly wish to return to. I had life, love, and my music. What more could I ask for? And there was something brewing... something big. Something that people who counted on me needed my talents for. Something that I've been preparing for for a good long while. And where was my love? Of all things, I missed her the most.

I turned over onto my side. I truly hoped that I hadn't won the attraction of Ms. Lorenth. She was beautiful, no doubt of that, and would probably only get moreso with age. How long would I stay here? How do I get back home?

That night, I resolved to devote a lot of my time and resources into figuring out how to get home. I would build up advantages, stashing them away for critical situations. I would claim my right to the life I had before.

...but after I had slept this night.