Flights of Fantasy(Lydia)Early June.:Girls Dorm

[Meredith Mulciber]

It was the slow glide of ink on parchment and the smell of burning wax that always marked the end of Meredith Mulciber's day. She always seemed to come back to this little desk as the day drew to a close, and she always seemed to be writing. Mostly for school, but sometimes she wrote in her journal; or she wrote letters, though not very many letters lately. Tonight she was penning one her mother. School would be wrapping up in a few months –six years, she could barely believe it- and she hadn’t written her mother since she had honed in on end of the year studying.

There could be no slacking off; she had to make top marks across the board to beat out a certain mudblood and get the Head Girl badge next year. Plus she still had all her normal duties and obligations here at the castle. It made very little time for herself, much less writing her mother. Alas, after the fifth unanswered letter her mother threatened a howler and Meredith just couldn’t have that. So she had taken a whole night off from studying to write to her mother, relax, read, and maybe get to sleep early if she could get her brain to stop running arithmetic equations.

The blonde signed her name with a flourish and set the quill aside, she picked up her wand and dried the paper with a whispered incantation. She then folded it, sealed it with green wax and her family crest, by hand, and set it aside too. Before she sent it in the morning she would place the necessary charms on it to keep unwanted eyes from reading it, but for now, it sat innocently on the edge of the dark wood surface of her desk. There one matter handled. Time for faze two. Meredith pulled her robe tighter as she got up, her back protesting, and pulled a predetermined book from her personal collection.

She made herself adequately comfortable and attempted to read the ancient tomb on curses and counter-curses –defiantly not part of the school’s curriculum. Right off the bat, she couldn’t focus, Lily Bloody Evans kept popping into her mind. So Meredith stood up. She couldn’t shake the sudden feeling that it may be possible. That piece of filth may actually sweep it all from under her, ruin all her perfect plans. “Lydia,” she said, her voice perfectly calm despite the fact that she was about to reveal a very real fear. She turned her hazel gaze toward the bed next to her own. “I think Evans is going to get Headgirl. I think she has me beat. And Dumbledore likes her better. We have to kill her.” Well, that last bit she hadn’t thought about, but it seemed a logical solution to the problem. That’s how they did it in the beginning of things after all. If you wanted to wear the crown, you had to cut the one who wore it down first.

[Lydia Avery]

A quiet night in the sixth year Slytherin girls' dormitory was disturbed by her dear friend. She and the other girls were wrapped up in their own activities, and her striped Amethyst - a sweet but dimwitted feline - stretched herself up against the glass, determined as ever to catch a fish or two. Lydia's fingers were twined in her own long hair, busy trying to replicate a braid she'd seen in Witch Weekly, mirrors levitating at eye-level in front and behind her so she could see exactly what she was doing. But her mind went to work on the other's declaration as she finished her hair; once she'd secured the braid behind her ear, and gave an approving nod, she lowered the mirrors and turned her attention to Meredith.

"Obviously, we do - I haven't got one idea about how that may turn out poorly for you," Lydia replied smoothly, while her mind filled with - quite literally - thousands of ideas about how killing Lily Evans would lead to Meredith's demise instead of her success. "Why wouldn't Dumbledore award you the position after you've murdered one of his favorite students?" She rose a brow before breaking into a smile, chuckling. Oh, Meredith. The blonde held a special place in the other's heart in part because of moments like these. Lydia rose, taking the open magazine with her, and sat behind Meredith on her bed. "Let's think about this - and while we do, I've got a new braid to try on you - keeping your hair short was brilliant, I can't say it enough," she went on, making herself comfortable; the slight girl sat up on her heels so she could see the top of the other's head, and got to work without waiting for permission.

Lydia had long been accustomed to being the thunder to Meredith's lightning - never far behind, but never seen first. Her counterpart loved to speak loudly and sharply, to act unforgivingly and quickly, while she...added her own sort of boom afterwards. Just because they wouldn't kill the mudblood - a lightning strike like that wouldn't actually be useful to Meredith's goals - didn't mean there wasn't something coming for the unsuspecting redhead. Together, she and Meredith were a storm, and as unstoppable as any that brewed up in the sky. And while Meredith deserved to be Head Girl, and while their headmaster should seek some diversity in appointments for all of his preaching about trust and unity, Lydia felt that that the prefect was correct in her unfortunate assumption.

"Now, after a moment to think on it, I'm sure you agree that we cannot actually kill Lily Evans," Lydia said, twisting Meredith's soft blonde hair with her skilled fingers. "But that doesn't mean she can't be buried alive. Metaphorically, of course, which I shouldn't have to say, but you're in a rather homicidal mood, so..." She checked the magazine as she finished one of the braids, and moved about, floral robe slipping from her shoulder as she appraised the work thus far. "This is looking lovely, by-the-by - so, how can we make her life a living hell?"

[Bronwyn Nott]

A quiet night in their dorm was a nice change of pace from how hectic things had been with getting ready for exams. Studying was the worst, really, but she couldn't possibly allow Meredith to beat her in all subjects the two of them took together. She had to be better than Meredith, had to prove that she was simply more than the daughter of Cantankerous Nott. Sure, being the blood relative of the man who had written the sacred 28 was worth something, but she had learned over the years it was only worth so much. Besides, the Mulciber family wasn't even part of it. And yet Meredith had shown her up every year in at least once class. It was infuriating to say the least.

Just as frustrating as watching two of the prettiest woman she knew sit together on Meredith's bed, close enough to each other that it was driving Bronwyn mad. She flicked her eyes back down to her book, continuing with her mission of pretending to read. She couldn't help that she naturally wanted to watch them both when they were doing small tasks. In fact - she could hardly think of a night where she didn't pretend to read while watching Meredith write from the corner of her eye.

But at least the conversation was interesting, and she listened quietly while Lydia attempted to talk Meredith out of her plan. What good would metaphorically burying the mudblood alive do? Snapping her book shut, she sat up on her bed and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Nonsense, she's too well liked for us to come up with anything good enough in such a short amount of time. Face it Meredith, killing her really is the only option. She's Dumbledore's favorite, and next year the school will have a Mudblood as Head Girl if you don't do something about it." She turned to swing her legs over the bed and walk over, leaning against one of he posts.

"Although I would recommend waiting until summer starts, don't need another Moaning Myrtle about the castle."

[Meredith Mulciber]

It would have been easy to let Lydia talk her into settling for underhanded revenge, even if Mere didn’t like the initial sarcasm from the darker haired girl. As if the she didn’t know it would be extremely difficult to run Lily Evans through with a sword and get away with it. However, Meredith had gotten very comfortable with having Lydia around and had taken too trusting her advice above anyone else’s. It would have been easy to let her best friend talk her down, and she felt a little of her blood-lust die down.

“Yes, I like it short too. I’m not sure though, I may want to grow it back soon.” As Lydia pulled and tugged at her hair, another thing Meredith had gotten comfortable with -even enjoyed-, Bronwyn spoke up. The spark of fear and bloodthirstiness within her flared up higher than ever. Wyn was right. She was right in the first place, Lily had to die. Sure “burying her alive” would be fun and slowly satisfying, but just offing the red head was a sure way to fix all her problems quickly.

Meredith narrowed her eyes at her fellow blonde roommate as she leaned on the post of her bed where she and Lydia sat. “Well, I wouldn’t say there isn’t adequate time for me to come up with a life ruining plan for one little mudblood Bronwyn.” Meredith was slightly put out, she was a genius, and pretty evil –or so other people said- of course there was time enough for her to work something out. Plus, plus, they had Lydia, who was even better at this type of stuff than Meredith was. But none of that really mattered.

The soon to be seventh year took a moment to check her hair in the hand mirror on her nightstand when Lydia was done doing it up. It was beautiful. As usual. "You're getting really good Lydia." she commented. It was rare that Meredith gave anyone an outright compliment but lately she felt she was growing a little soft were the people closest to her were concerened. Her inner self sneered at the idea and she turned her attention to Bronwyn with a more severe look. “But you’re right, we can’t let either of those things happen. That thing cannot be Head Girl, and we cannot have another sniffling, sobbing mudblood spirit hanging around. I think we should snatch her on the train ride home.” Yes! That would work!

[Lydia Avery]

Lydia was certain of most things in her life, but one of the most frustrating things she was uncertain of was how these roommates of hers could twist her logic into sounding like madness, while their bloodthirsty plans were somehow the best options. As Winnie came by to share her opinion, Lydia tilted her brows up, her lips forming a pouting plea to the other. I was getting her away from this lunacy! It wasn’t that the girl was against getting her hands dirty, but this was simply not how to deal with a situation like this! She loved Meredith, and Hogwarts under the young woman’s thumb would be a place run how it should be. No more preferential treatment for those who didn’t deserve it, no more tiptoeing around the fact that magic only belonged to those with families in the fold. But if Mere took the position, while she would have the support of her House, it would be a hell of a year. She’d face an absurd amount of flack from the majority of the student body and, most disappointingly, much of the faculty. They were soft, unwilling to take the proper side in the war for the goal of…what, exactly? What was there to gain by educating those who had no right to magic?

The year would be awful for Meredith without the support a Head Girl needed. While Lily Evans would have support from members of many Houses. She was a likable girl, intelligent enough to be respected for her academics, objective enough in discipline to be respected for her tenure as prefect - but her false acceptance into Wizarding society would never allow those of their way of life to support her.

The year could be tolerable for Meredith if she could learn to work with the Gryffindor. Not closely, not becoming chums, not forgiving her for what she was - but time outside of their fold had to be treated as a means of survival. That was why Lydia had so many friends outside of their House! Even having acquaintances of mixed blood! They were almost done with their Hogwarts years, didn’t the girls see that outside of the school was where they would do their true work? Make their real marks on the world? Hogwarts - as valuable as a place it was to network and learn - was not a place they could change in a year. With Dumbledore at the helm, their sort of change could never occur in the widespread way it needed to.

After the Dark Lord won, and Hogwarts was under new leadership, a Head Girl like Meredith could thrive. But that was not now.

So she gave an approving nod to Meredith’s remark at there so being enough time to come up with a “life ruining plan,” for there absolutely was! But before the could start a brainstorm, Lydia was being complimented by the blonde, and she nuzzled into the girl’s shoulder, glad to have the praise. Are you placated enough to do away with this?

…no, no, silly of me. Of course we still think murder is the best option.

She held in a sigh, moving to curl up with her back against the post Winnie wasn’t occupying, and looked between the two blondes. Needing a little time to think, to put together the right words, wasn’t unusual for her, and it was better than hopping on to this sure-to-fail scheme. "You know I love you, Mere," she began, nudging the girl with a pink-slippered foot, "and I know you would be amazing as Head Girl. But we are going to be part of something bigger than Hogwarts, you both know that." Lydia’s dark eyes shone with eagerness at her meaning, and with the familial connection all of them had to the Dark Lord’s forces, she knew she wouldn’t be misunderstood. She didn’t think she could do what her brother did, fighting wasn’t appealing to her, but her talents would be useful elsewhere, she was certain. There would be a way for her to help further the cause, just as there would be a way to mollify these girls without killing a fellow classmate.

…but there was much less risk in killing a fellow civilian.

"I hate to say it, but I think we’re going to have to bow our heads - lay low in public and undermine her without her getting wise. But once we’re out?" She smirked, shrugging, as she played with the end of her long braid. "With no Dumbledore to protect her, she’s just a girl on the street with a stolen wand. If we can wait out the year, I promise you, we can get rid of her when it won’t hurt us. You’re going to go on to do phenomenal things with or without the honor, Mere," she assured, nodding with finality. Patience wasn’t a strong suit within their dorm, and sometimes she hated that she had been born with a strong inclination towards it. But it had proven useful to her in the past, and she felt it would with this as well…if her friends would agree.

[Bronwyn Nott]

The banter between her and Meredith had always been there. Friends, but still enemies at the same time. Wyn rolled her eyes at Meredith's comment, waving a hand in the air. Whatever Meredith wanted to think - Lily had too many friends. If they weren't careful then those disgustinggroup of Gryffindors would try and stop what they were doing and it would all spiral downhill from there.

But she couldn't help but grin when Meredith agreed with her, nodding her head. Lily Evans could not be Head Girl, no matter what anyone thought of her. Meredith was perfect for the job, and the rest of the Slytherin's would be there to back her up. Dumbledore was far too fond of those Gryffindor's and the nonsense they did. It was time for change.

But of course Lydia, the one who thought rationally about things was chiming in, and Bronwyn sighed before taking a seat on the edge of the bed to listen to what she had to say. Yes, they would be part of something bigger than Hogwarts, that was for sure. But did they really need to lay low in the mean time? Yes, once Lily didn't have the protection of the school it would be easier....

"Meredith deserves to be Head Girl, and that's not something I would say lightly," Wyn stated, crossing her arms in front of herself. "And while you make accurate points, wouldn't it be simpler to find out where she lived and just deal with her over the summer? Surely she doesn't have friends from school that come and visit. And I bet we could get Severus to tell us where to find her."

[Meredith Mulciber]

Meredith stared at her friend as she considered her words. Lydia had a certain way of making whatever was coming out of her mouth seem logical and true. They were a part of something far larger than the Headgirl position and one slimy mudblood. Their world was on the verge of a a great reckoning, and they were on the right side of it. But the blond wasn't quite ready to give up on her plan that easily.  

“Wait an entire year?” she asked incredulously over her friends reasonable voice. Meredith calmed a little at the compliment tacked on the end and kept quiet in order to listen to what Bronwym had to say. She too realized the merits of Meredith being head girl but unlike Lydia she was on board for capital crimes. The slighter blond tilted her head at the comment about not having friends to visit their redheaded nemesis. As soon as Nott was done speaking Meredith squared off with Lydia. “By that time it won't matter Lydia, she would have already gotten what should be mine. Regardless of what I accomplish outside of these wall, I have worked my arse off to be the best student in this school and I will be damned if Lily bloody Evans steals it from under me.” 

She began to pace then, back in forth on the same patch of cold floor, glancing between her two roommates as she mulled things over. Most of her mind was determined to see to the demise of the Gryffindor girl, another -much smaller- fraction was ruminating over Lydia's points. It was just something she had to think about, not that she wanted to, it was just ingrained to think everything though to the fullest of her intellect. But she didn't let it take up too much of her focus, she was too angry. Angry enough to start swearing apparently. She flicked that thought to the back of her mind, everyone swore now and again.

“I still think we should snatch her on the train Winnie. She may be lowly but she does have some friends, I'm sure of it. I don't want to risk any collateral damage or worse witnesses. We can take her from King's Cross. Either way we should speak to Snape, that's a good idea." He would know how to get to her. As soon as Meredith started thinking of all the ways to do it, to kill Lily, it became very real in her mind. She was currently preparing to take someones life, well mentally preparing at least. For all of her intellect and fire, she had never taken a human life before. Insects, a rabbit, a squirrel, but never a person. If you could call a mudblood like Evans such a thing. Still, when the time came, could she really do it?

[Lydia Avery]

You two are being needlessly exhausting.

Lydia nodded primly at Meredith's anger at her suggestion, not willing to back down. Her cat, tired of her lack of success catching the fish, jumped up to join her on Meredith's bed; while petting the cat usually calmed her down, in this case her distress was too mighty to be so easily distracted. And so she listened, patience waning, as Winnie - Circe's sake! - agreed with their third and started plotting in earnest. Going to the mudblood's home over the summer, getting Severus' assistance - As if he would help you do this, whatever happened between them he'd never just let you have a go at her....

In her agitation, Meredith turned to her sharply, her words causing the other's generally carefully put together face to fall. The blonde got to her feet, her mind working as she paced. Lydia turned her frown to Bronwyn, more disappointed than surprised that the other girl had fallen into this trap of revenge. Haven't you learned anything from me? Either of you? Meredith's voice, when she had thought long enough, evidently, was determined and cold, decisive -

"You don't see any way that could go wrong?" the brunette, and sole voice of reason, heard herself exclaim. It was quite unlike herself to speak out against anything coming from her friends, but the girls were driving her to this madness! "Taking a girl from King's Cross? Where she will absolutely have her family and friends about, not to mention countless other witnesses?"

Her easily disgruntled cat let out a low sound of disapproval at her outburst, slowly leaping off of her lap and padding to Lydia's own bed. Lydia let out a harsh breath, pursing her lips as she gathered her words more carefully. Going against the majority was likely not wise, and she would expect the girls to give her the cold shoulder for a while, but that was the most they would do to her. Can you be so sure of that? They're senselessly plotting murder! "I understand that this is terrible for you, Meredith, I do, but killing her before we're done with school isn't going to solve anything. I can't let you go through with something so foolish." At a loss, Lydia looked up at her livid friend with a plea in her eyes. In the moment, she wished she hadn't so easily allowed herself to be second fiddle to the girl, so perhaps the blonde would take her more seriously. But it had made her life easier these last few years, Meredith taking the brunt of the drama while she got to enjoy watching and adding her two Sickles of underhanded attack in the aftermath. And perhaps because of the unusual "defiance," the others would reconsider...

More calmly, Lydia continued, "I want her dead too, for what she's doing to you. But not yet."

[Bronwyn Nott]

Lydia had some fantastic ideas, but she was much more laid back than one should be when considering something of this nature. Hadn’t they all suffered enough with the red head stomping about the castle as a Prefect? While most of the Prefect’s weren’t tolerable in the first place, she was the absolute worst one. It was clear the mudblood thought she was better than Meredith, you could see it in the way Lily Evans acted. And while they had their differences, Bronwyn would never doubt Meredith’s abilities at commanding respecting and running the castle as Head Girl the way it should be. Was it not enough they were being forced to learn with these sort, did they really need to go through this as well?

Meredith agreed with her, and Bronwyn didn’t miss the frown Lydia shot her way. Oh Lydia, can you imagine it? Meredith loosing Head Girl to a mudblood – she would be devastated. Meredith’s voice drew her attention, and she nodded in reply. Perhaps the girl did have some friends, “What’s collateral damage if they would rather have her as Head Girl over you?” It wasn’t as if anyone worth while was going to be friends with a muggle born.

Lydia, ever the one intent on not murdering Lily, was clearly quiet annoyed. Bronwyn looked to Meredith, giving the girl an exasperated look as the brunette continued speaking against their current plan. If not now, then when? The only other option was over summer and Meredith had already voted against that. “Then we kill her before we leave, who is going to be checking she got on the train? It’s not like it’d be impossible, something killed that annoying girl in the bathroom. Or take her from the school, hide her until after King’s Cross. Snape’s an idiot, but I’m sure he’d have a potion that could help us out.” If only they had enough time to brew something themselves…

[Meredith Mulciber]

Lydia's tone had Meredith looking at her sharply, none to pleased with how vehemently the other girl was against this. It was even disconcerting when the darker girl starting listing of valid points against she and Winnie plot to rid the world of one more slimy mudblood. Why did things have to be complicated this way? Why wasn't the world as it should be? If she were head girl it would be, at least here at Hogwarts. 

But that seemed more and more like an un-eventuality. And if Lydia wasn't on her side to help...no. She did not need Lydia Avery to go through with this. She didn't need anyone. Though, it would be useful having Bronwyn around, and she was glad the other girl didn't seem deterred in the least by their third's reluctance. “The bigger mess we make, the harder it will be to get away with it Winnie.” she said, a little crossly, as this seemed very obvious to her.  

Again, Meredith looked at her best friend pointedly. Her hazel gaze momentarily flaring in outrage. “Let me go through with this?” she asked calmly, quietly, dangerously. How had she let her get so close? Close enough to think she had some sort of power over what Meredith did or did not do, who she killed and who she let live? Close enough to call her foolish? Close enough to care what Avery thought as well, which was the worst part. She exchanged a loaded glance with Bronwyn before turning back to Lydia. “Clearly,” she said slowly. “you don't want her dead enough. I don't require you be a part of this.” And with that she turned away from the girl, taking up residence on Bronwyn's bed.  

Meredith ignore the feeling in her chest. That tight coil of disappointment and betrayal. She had already had one friend turn their back on her, and as much as she didn't want that to happen with she and Lydia, she was also not backing down on this one. Why couldn't she just support her like Winnie was? “Lily Evans must die.” she pronounced, her attention focused on Bronwyn, her tone contemplative. “We just have to decided how to do it. I admit it is a good idea, taking her and stashing her somewhere until we can deal with her later, it has merit. However, your refusal to acknowledge that Severus Snape is most definitely not an idiot, will be a hindrance. The half-blood may be a very many things, unintelligent is not one of them. I doubt he would help us if he knew we were planning the demise of his beloved mudblood. We will have to be strategic in dealing with him. I should probably do that bit myself come to think of it.” 

[Lydia Avery]

Have I been wasting my time with you two? Do you truly not trust my opinion this much?

Winnie was looking at her with those striking blue eyes of hers, an odd mix of sympathy for their friend and obscene thrill at the prospect of this conversation's reality within them. The girl started outlining a new plan, one that involved another housemate, one who couldn't possibly be counted on as trustworthy for this, not with his history with the mudblood. As much as she loved the blonde, Lydia felt she was being more than slightly dense, agreeing with Meredith so easily on something potentially so dangerous instead of trying to talk her down from madness. It was true that this could be just the talk of late evening frustration, that in the morning Mere would wake and realize that this was absolutely unrealistic. But Lydia wasn't willing to take the chance that it wasn't, humoring the fierce girl who could prove herself up to dispatching of Lily Evans in cold blood. She returned Meredith's look, forcing herself to not waver; she was so used to backing down to the other girl that this felt contradictory, but couldn't Mere see that if she was so against this that it truly was insane? See reason, Meredith!

Her next outburst was not well received, if Meredith's fiery look to her was any sort of tell. Which it, judging by her tense and measured words, was. Lydia swallowed, straightening her spine, refusing to show the discomfort she felt at being on the receiving end of the girl's ire. You trust my judgement, I know you do. What had she done wrong? To show herself as not worthy of their respect? Truth be told, she didn't know how she could stop them if the pair actually made gains in acting upon a plan; it wasn't as if she could turn them in, the next year in this dormitory would be sheer hell if she did; anything that sounded remotely like a threat would only cause the blondes to explode at her...

Unfortunately, Lydia knew how the next morning would most likely have to go.

She'd need to swallow her pride and apologize as if she'd been in the wrong. Admit to being out-of-sorts because of exam stress or some other believable lie. Get back into their good graces somehow or another to remain secure in her position with them...

But I can't let you ruin yourselves over something so petty.

Meredith left her for Bronwyn, clearly making a divide within their small space. Lydia listened discontentedly from her perch on Meredith's bed, leaving it for her own shortly with a huff of annoyance, seething at being so obviously ignored. Who were they to throw her aside like this? Who was Meredith to take Bronwyn's word over her own? Didn't they see that it wasn't defense of the mudblood that had her arguing against them, but rather her protectiveness of the two of them? She turned blind eyes back to her magazine, stroking the cat as Amethyst returned to her lap, and continued listening in. Reluctantly, to not make either her own situation or the situation regarding Evans any worse, she kept her mouth closed...just stay quiet.

[Bronwyn Nott]

Okay, so Meredith has a valid point. More than one body would be hard to explain. But maybe it would make people realize they weren't safe at Hogwarts. But she hung on every word her father would give her about life as a Death Eater. And while he was not fond of the idea of her joining - apparently he was worried about bad influences from others affecting her - she was going to do it regardless.

Meredith was putting Lydia in her place, in a tone quite worthy of a Head Girl. And quickly settled into the end of her bed. She felt bad for Lydia, who seemed to be content at fuming in silence, having returned to her own bed. Winnie listened intently, rolling her eyes at Meredith's words. "I know he's intelligent, but he's like a sick puppy about Evans. So clearly he's got something wrong with him. So feel free to discuss it with him yourself." Leaning back, she paused for a moment before adding. "It will be easy enough to get her by herself on rounds."

[Meredith Mulciber]

Meredith paused in her critical assessment of Avery to turn her eyes on Bronwyn, considering her words. It was easier plotting with the other blonde than it was focusing on the sting of betrayal from her best friend. They were usually so in sync. Why wouldn't she want Evans dead? "It is something to think about, but I'm not sure if I want to try covering up a murder in this castle. Especially with the old dot at the helm of it. The Headmaster has special...permissions within the school that no one else does you know; anyone would be a fool to deny how dangerous he can be when called upon. Dumbledore is a dicy foe." She concluded decidedly. No, if her father's Master was wary of meeting Albus Dumbledore in battle, then it was wise to be wary as well. Meredith didn't dare voice the part about the Dark Lord aloud because honestly, it frightened her a little to think that their seemingly docile Headmaster was really a force to be feared. 

Shaking her head, she slipped from Bronwyn's bed and stood at the glass wall, her fingers going to her head to run over the twisted hair there. It was a thing of nervous energy, to play with her hair, but it helped her think. So, she traced what Lydia had done to her shorter locks until she was no longer second-guessing her decision that Lily Evans had to die. "Right, the castle isn't the place to do this. I still think snatching her at the station is our best idea, but, I'm not convinced of its success yet."  

She turned from the Black Lake, her eyes glassing over Lydia and resting on Bronwyn again. At least she had one friend who was with her no matter what. Besides, what did it matter how close she felt with one or the other, she didn't need to be close with anyone. With that resolution she climbed into her own bed, sitting cross-legged and facing Winne with a resolute set to her face. "We should keep thinking about it and yes, in the meantime I will talk to Severus. Any information we can glean about Evans is information worth having at this point."

[Lydia Avery]

Lydia turned the glossy pages in her magazine with more vigor and noise than necessary as her roommates turned full-on lunatic on her. It was one thing to joke about murder, which was hardly something kept from conversation weekly; it was another entirely to begin scheming on how to best off one of Dumbledore's pets. There was some sick sort of pride that even their Head of House had when it came to Lily Evans, a muggleborn who was just oh so talented. Her absence, even for an hour, would not go unnoticed. How exactly are you going to get away with this?

She watched from the corners of her eyes as Meredith moved around their narrow dormitory, heart beating unsteadily in her chest as the blonde fingered the braids she'd done only minutes before. Could she be thinking of her? Reconsidering this foolhardy plot? Taking her advice? Evidently not. For as Mere turned from her consideration of the lake, while she was admitting that killing Lily at school would end in disaster, apparently she thought that Severus could be the key. Lydia could hardly contain a snort of laughter at the thought; while their housemate was a splendid potioneer, he was so blind when it came to Evans that anything Meredith got out of him about her would need to be sifted through with a fine-toothed comb to find any speck of truth. What did Meredith expect to hear? An unknown Achilles heel? Their group did enough digging about potential threats to know things that made girls like Lily Evans uncomfortable; what more could Severus supply?

[Deleted]

With their exams starting tomorrow, there was hardly time to be messing around with other students in broom cupboards, but there she was, doing just that. It had been an eon since she and Winnie had gotten any time to themselves, and there was no way she could rely on Rabastan to give her what she truly needed - especially not while she was still spending her time between these Merlin-forsaken walls. So that left her with subpar options - not that there was anything subpar about the way Rufus Fudge liked to f*ck, but the fact that he was a Gryffindor brought the whole effect down for her.

She fixed her school shirt and entered her dormitory to heavy sarcasm from Lydia, and a smile grew on her face at the sound of it. ”What sort of brilliance am I missing out on that’s got the munchkin sounding like that?” Instead of going to her bed and missing out on the action, Corry swiftly walked over to Winnie’s and laid herself across her best friend. The blonde needed something better to look at than that book of hers anyway. ”Fill me in, ladies.”

As they spoke, she watched a particularly disgusting fish swim by their viewing window into the Black Lake. "Sounds like she has it coming - sneaking in here with her fake magic and probably trading sexual favours for her various titles." It wasn't too far fetched to think that the pretty redhead had gotten up to some naughty things to get ahead in a Wizard's world. Merlin knew that Cordelia had.