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Post by Nyalna on Jul 24, 2009 18:55:54 GMT -7
The slytherin girl stalked in between the numerous shelves of library books, putting one foot in front of the other and making her way back to the room. It was a Saturday and while most students were off at Hogsmeade, Aquila had stayed behind. As usual, she was dressed in high style wearing tight, distressed denim jeans and a red voluminous silk shirt, with a mint green sash around her waist, emphasizing her curves. Her chocolate hair lightly bounced as she moved, curly today. Her overall appearance did not look frightening in the least bit and in reality, male heads turned to give her a look over. However, her graceful walk was also one of aggression and as usual her moody golden eyes clearly said stay away.
In her long, pale fingers was a single, small slip of paper. Slughorn’s untidy scrawl ran across the right corner. Though she was not one for petty groups, Aquila had taken advantage of her inclusion into the Slug Club. That foolish Potions professor had been wrapped around her finger after a few exceptionally well-made potions and a bit of small talk. It had been easy to get him to give her a permission slip for access to the Restricted section of the library. Without hesitation, she let herself in the roped off area, simply stepping over the rope, instead of unhooking it.
Her pace relaxed once inside and instead she browsed lazily through the shelves. While she was here for specific purposes, there was no reason why she could not simply look. She didn’t expect anyone to bother her; it would be unlikely another student would be here. And as far as Madam Pince was concerned, Aquila had a slip and could be here till 8 when the library closes. Actually, if she wanted to sneak back in, she could be here longer.
The restricted section was eerie. The books inside seemed to moan as she walked past. She was not one to spook but it did strike her as a bit gloomy. While she would find glee in the secrets these books possessed, the novels seemed to hate what they held in their pages. Out of curiosity, she picked out a book, Moste Potente Potions, which might prove of some use to her. Slughorn would probably be pleased if she showed it to him, earning her extra points and making him more likely to do these little favors for her.
Then she saw one of the things she was looking for. In awe, she tucked the potions book under her arm and pulled one particular tattered book off the shelf and opened it. Flipping to the page she had been instructed, she scanned the words and was satisfied to find the one she'd been told to find. She smiled to herself. He would be pleased with her. A noise distracted her an aisle over and Aquila's eyes dashed to the direction it came from. It sounded like someone flipping through books and she quickly snapped the book shut and put her Moste whatever it was called over the top of it in her hands.
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Post by Sirius Black on Jul 24, 2009 20:48:36 GMT -7
Bugger. Why did it always seem that someone had the bloody book she was looking for? "Are you checking that out, or are you using it for a cover up? 'Cause if it's the latter, I really couldn't care less what you're concealing." Twila drawled, leaning against the bookshelf behind her. She had also managed to get a note from Slughorn- mainly as a way of enticing her to join the Slug Club. Twila didn't have time for old men and their bizarre attempts at recapturing youth, but if it meant she had access to the restricted section, well, it just might be worth it to fake it.
Twila's violet eyes seemed as black as her hair in the dim light of the restricted section. She was tight black pants and a black tank top that showed off her pale shoulders. The snake bracelet on her right arm seemed the brightest thing on her at the moment, glimmering in the light.
Twila was having a rather bad day. First, arguing with Lucius, then Severus had turned down her proposition again, and now, someone had the damn book she needed. The next person to anger her was going to get a hex in the face.
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Post by Nyalna on Jul 24, 2009 21:15:55 GMT -7
Aquila was sorry to see who it was coming. Twila. She knew who she was. Every Slytherin knew who she was. As far as Twila was concerned, she ruled the Slytherin house. Aquila had always been polite to her even if she was annoyed with the LaCroixs’ little perspective that they ruled the whole damn universe. In the future, however, the 4th year could prove to be a powerful ally. She could provide useful information seeing as how she liked to stick her nose into everyone’s business.
“Hello Twila,” she said coolly, neither with friendliness nor disdain. Just calmness. She did notice that the other girl, who was generally sitting high on her horse, didn’t exactly look like a happy ray of sunshine. “As a matter of fact, I am planning to check both of these books out, not hiding anything except from maybe Madam Pince’s eyes. Not in the mood for her questions, but you understand. However, I might be willing to share.”
Her red lips pulled into a smile. It didn’t matter if Twila asked for the book underneath the potions one. There was only one page that was crucial and even if through some odd manifestation, Aquila magically showed it to her, the other Slytherin wouldn’t know what was so important about anyway.
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Post by Sirius Black on Jul 24, 2009 21:24:07 GMT -7
The girl wanted something. Twila could see as much, though she didn't know exactly what Aquila was after. She didn't particularly care, either. Aquila wasn't usually nice to people who were up in her face, which could only mean that she wanted something from Twila, and Twila wasn't in the giving mood.
"I have no interest in sharing." Twila said impatiently, tapping her manicured fingernails lightly against her arm. "I need that book." She stated again. Crabbe had ruined the first copy of the ingredients list she had compiled for the particular poison she was experimenting with, and Moste Potent Potions was the only book that even contained the recipe. "What are you doing with it, anyway?" Twila asked, raising a brow. Clearly something secretive, if she didn't want the idiot librarian to see. And anything secret was certainly worth looking into...
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Post by Nyalna on Jul 26, 2009 20:18:46 GMT -7
Aquila shrugged and turned away from Twila to keep searching books. Her countenance was unalarmed at Twila’s demanding tone, a smile still playing on her crimson lips. “What a coincidence,” she said dismissively as she pulled another book off a shelf, studying the bound for a few moments, before adding it to her pile. “I happen to have no interest in giving potentially useful items without retribution. It’s funny how these things works.” She was careful with her words. It would do her no good to royally piss Twila off. She wasn’t afraid of being hexed especially by someone her junior. Not only that but Twila’s specialty was potions. Aquila’s on the other hand was charms and curses; spell-casting of any kind for the most part. But still, she needed Twila’s connections. Not immediately. But likely soon.
At the other Slytherin girl’s next question, Aquila’s dark eyebrows shot up and she turned to look at her. “Well clearly Twila, I want to make a potion,” she said. Though not in a fake sweet inflection; not one of belittlement either. But more of a monotone, matter-of-fact tone, almost bored. She knew this game. Hell, Aquila was a master player of the game. She was just more subtle. While Twila nudged her nose into everyone’s business, Aquila searched it out herself rarely without going to the direct source and unusually through pure observation.
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Post by Sirius Black on Jul 27, 2009 5:24:08 GMT -7
"Come out with it then." Twila snapped impatiently, folding her arms over her chest and giving the other girl an irritated glare. "What do you want, and then we'll see if I'm willing to negotiate." Aquila was lucky she had caught Twila today, when her impatience was running high. She could have always waited a few days and come back for the book, sure, but she felt she was so close to perfecting the particular poison she was working on that she could practically taste it. And in order to finish? She needed that book.
She rolled her eyes at Aquila's cheek. No shit she wanted to make a potion. "Obviously." Twila snorted. "What I want to know is- what sort of potion are you brewing? It's obviously one that will get you in quite a bit of trouble..." Twila's usual pout turned into a thin smile. She may not be subtle, but she could play this game as well as any. Better even.
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Post by Nyalna on Jul 27, 2009 12:31:58 GMT -7
Aquila waited for Twila to completely finish speaking before answer her as she bent over still scanning book binds. “I never get in trouble,” she said flatly. “And if you mean trouble as in illegal or could potentially physically hurt someone,” she paused looking at Twila for emphasis since Twila’s little concotions were no secret among Slytherins, “Then no.”
She stood up and turned to look straightly at Twila. “What I want, I think, is pretty simple and perfectly within your grasp.” She paused again drawing out Twila’s gaze, making sure she fully had the 4th year’s attention. “I want in.”
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Post by Sirius Black on Jul 27, 2009 13:10:11 GMT -7
Twila raised a thin, dark brow at her. It didn't seem like a threat, but if it was, well, no one would ever find her little concoctions, now would they? Even if they infiltrated the lab she had hidden away in the room of requirement, all her finished products were not there. They'd just find the ingredients and the tools. Her special stash? What Lucius didn't sell, she had hidden somewhere that they would never be found. "Maybe you don't." She said indifferently, completely unruffled. "But luck is fickle. Better not to, ah, tempt it."
Twila didn't resist to scoff impatiently at Aquila this time. It struck her as vaguely ironic that the ones that Lucius wanted, and the only student she had ever wanted in, refused. It was the ones that they didn't want who were there at every corner, vying for the luck. "I'm afraid I can't help you. I don't control who is in." It was only a partial lie. Twila certainly had a say in who was out, but she rarely ever bothered bringing people in. The only "pet" she herself had chosen was Severus, and he was proving rather reluctant. Andromeda had been an executive decision made between her and Lucius- she knew too much to be excluded, and her healing properties might come in useful in the future. "And if Lucius wanted you, well, he would have asked you himself, wouldn't he?"
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Post by Nyalna on Jul 29, 2009 8:41:37 GMT -7
Aquila simultaneously lifted a single brow, listening, expecting some sort of garbage to come from little Ms. LaCroix’s mouth. She snorted at Twila’s response to her request. “Oh please Twila. Don’t think we are all unaware of the influence you have, whether or not you choose to exercise it.”
She had done her research both in and out of Hogwarts. Twila was definitely Lucius’s lead henchman. Anyone with eyes could clearly see that much. However, even with that fact bright as day, Twila had done a good job of covering just how much sway she held over the “Slytherin Court.” Well to everyone except for Aquila at the moment. But she’d done further investigation into the LaCroix’s family, which had been fairly easy to access with the right connections. And of course Lucius’s enterprises on the black market, which practically any pureblood family of significance could look into if they cared too. She rounded a corner of bookshelves, calling back to her in a slightly challenging voice, “And maybe he already has.”
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Post by Sirius Black on Jul 29, 2009 9:55:53 GMT -7
Twila gave Aquila a thin smile. "But that, I think, is precisely the point. It isn't hard to win Lucius' favor, I suppose, if you know what to look for. My favor is reserved for only the exceptional.... you, my dear, haven't struck me as that." In fact, in the four years Twila had been on the court, Severus was the only one who came to be exceptional in Twila's eyes. She had a grudging respect for Aquila growing, however- not many would seek her out instead of Lucius. That took guts. However, it didn't mean that she was going to give in to Aquila's desires. Twila was hardly ever aquiescing.
"Come now, Aquila. Do you really think I'm that dumb? If Lucius had asked you, one, I would know about it, and two, you wouldn't hardly be asking for my help, now would you?" She trailed after Aquila, lightly dragging her fingers across the bookshelves as she did so. "Besides, I hardly see what's in it for me, really. There's other copies of that book in the world, and, though it's rather inconvenient, I can always go get one."
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Post by reese.parker on Jul 30, 2009 0:11:13 GMT -7
The fifth year Hufflepuff girl was getting lots of stares as she sidled into the library. She was used to the looks from students who wore 'regular' Muggle clothes. Reese was wearing a simple black mini shift dress accessorized with long necklaces, her usual large-faced watch, almost knee-high boots that were paired with knee-high grey socks, and a black fedora over her long wavy brown hair. She smiled at a couple of people she knew and began weaving her way through the rows of bookshelves towards the Restricted Section. Reese's marks in History of Magic were slipping, so Professor Binns had gladly written her a note for a book that might 'spark an interest' as he put it. Unfortunately, the book was located in the Restricted section. Reese was scanning the books looking for the book, The Untold Tales of the Goblin Wars: A Gruesome Retelling , when she heard a voice that she was familiar with. The Slytherin girl Twila was arguing with another girl whom Reese could not place the voice to a face. Reese stopped in her tracks uncomfortably, she could hear the voices clearly, they were only on the other side of the bookshelf. Consequently, the book Reese needed was right in front of her, wedged unceremoniously in between two other large books. It would obviously make a noise if she tried to take it. And Madam Pince was upset already to let her go to the Restricted Section. Reese started to play with her hair, trying to decide what to do. Finally she came to the conclusion that she didn't want the Slytherin girls to accuse her of eavesdropping. Quickly she turned around, but ran right into the bookshelf with a loud crash.
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Post by Nyalna on Jul 30, 2009 8:58:43 GMT -7
“Exactly,” she said confidently. “I don’t want Lucius’s favor.” It was true what Twila had said. Lucius included people into his little circle like he ate candy. But rarely were they of much importance. In terms of the “Slytherin Court,” they were the worshippers. Not the nobility. “I don’t want to be one of the little harlots he keeps around simply because they strike his fancy. He has approached me in the past because our family connection and we are both prefects. I declined.”
She stood up straight and completely faced Twila, looking her in the eye. “I’m going to level with you, Twila,” Aquila said, sincerely and didn’t avert her cat-like bronze eyes. “I’m not asking this because I’m social climber. I’m not here to ruin your little fan-base or even a fan. I’m not here because I’m a little suck-up who would give you my left hand, if it meant Lucius would look twice at me. I’m here because there are bigger things at work than your potion black market or your groupies. I’m here because of the skeleton on the ceiling and the dead muggles.” She took a step closer to Twila.
Then there was a crash. Aquila’s eyes snapped in the direction of the sound and she whipped her wand out of her ribbon belt. She moved past Twila and rounded the corner to see the little Hufflepuff girl with a big bump on her head. “What do you think you’re doing?” she said in a low, demanding voice.
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Post by Sirius Black on Jul 30, 2009 9:11:15 GMT -7
"Then why me?" Twila asked, raising a brow. With every word the girl spoke, Twila's respect for her grudgingly rose. For once, someone had sought out the Queen of the court with a genuine argument, rather than a desire to be elevated based on absolutely no merit. Aquila was smart, Twila had to give her that, and she understood the influence the court had. Sure, they didn't control the Minister of Magic or anything like that, but with the connections Lucius and Twila posessed, they had a fair invisible hand working in their favor. "I'm sure that you have something that Lucius wants that would warrant 'nobility' status." Twila cocked her head to the side, appraising the girl. She was rather pretty, and would make a nice bauble for the court. It was no wonder that Lucius had already approached her to be a courtesan, for lack of a better term.
Twila's own gaze didn't avert from Aquila's when she faced her, and the other girl didn't back down, either. Very interesting. For once, Twila seemed to have found someone she considered near her level- and near her level was the closest Twila would ever come to seeing someone as her equal. "Or is it simply because I don't give my favor?" She mused. "It's a greater prize to win my support than Lucius', or so I am told." Twila's eyes lit up when Aquila mentioned the skeleton and the muggle body, and she stowed it away for further questioning when she heard a crash. For the first time in all of her years at Hogwarts, someone could finally pay the price of her approval, and once she got her prize, Twila would make it formal. First, however, they were being eavesdropped on.
She followed Aquila to the other side, her own wand in her hand as she stared at the young Hufflepuff. "Didn't anyone ever teach you that eavesdropping has horrible consequences?" Twila asked silkily, raising a brow.
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Post by reese.parker on Jul 30, 2009 13:16:55 GMT -7
Reese placed her hands on her hips and surveyed Twila. "I didn't know that getting a book considered eavesdropping." Reese retorted. Reese held the girls stare. She knew pissing her off could be bad, but she didn't want to run away like a scared animal. Still, she was gripping her wand, hoping that she wouldn't need to use it. How could she convince Twila that she hadn't heard anything but the name Lucius, but seeing as they were friends, it wasn't anything vital or something that constituted hexing someone.
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Post by Sirius Black on Jul 30, 2009 13:34:57 GMT -7
"Fetching a book would not," Twila agreed simply. "However, you have been standing there much longer than a few minutes. You weren't exactly quiet when you approached this section, and I assure you I am not deaf."
Somewhat hypocritically, Twila hated eavesdroppers. She liked eavesdropping, however, but the idea that the girl had interrupted something extremely important, coupled with the fact that Twila was already having a bad day, she was not thrilled. She looked at Aquila with a somewhat conspiritoral smirk- if nothing else gave her a read on the girl, this would. "Just what punishment do you think befits this girl for listening in on us?"
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