Making Us~T. Riddle

Chapter 4

Astonishment.

It was the only existing word that could describe what I had been feeling in the moment.

Not only had Cerelia been talking the entire way to the prefect's bathrooms, where she was currently positioned on the sink, but she had also made it her mission to convince me that the thing that had attacked her was actually good.

She had tried to approach it when she found it in the woods, because it looked hurt and scared, and it had suddenly lashed out. I was astonished because this girl was stupid enough to approach a rabid animal; I was astonished at the fact that after it had hurt her, she still thought it good.

I had never taken much of a liking to the word 'good'. I thought that there were much more explanatory words than something so simple. It was too broad, because what did being good really mean? Was it being nice to others? Was it simply having the right intentions? And if so what were considered the right intentions?

"You know I always thought that you were a total wanker." Cerelia suddenly admitted, and I nearly broke my concentration to stare at her. I was standing in front of her and making use of some supplies I had swiped from Madam Pomfrey on her bloody gashes.

"And why is that?" I asked because I was helpless not to. Most people didn't mind me, afraid maybe, but they normally enjoyed my company and I had to wonder at what made Cerelia and her friends any different.

I knew Pria simply thought that she was smarter and she hated that I was so close to besting her. Saelihn didn't have much of an opinion on me, I didn't bother her and she didn't bother me.

But Cerelia had no reason to dislike me. Sure we had gotten into our fair share of arguments over the years, but nothing drastic. She loved animals and would spend her time convincing others that they deserved the same respect that people got. I had an opinion or two about that statement.

"You're mean." She stated, almost like it was a fact. Before I could ask her if that was all she kept talking.

"You don't do something for nothing, you're very self absorbed and you're only nice when you're working an angle." She admitted, and now I did look at her, my fingers stilled, hovering above he skin. Her hazel eyes stared back down at me, and I saw no shame in them, she knew what she was saying and didn't worry whether or not she was offending me.

"Working an angle?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Yea." When I said nothing she seemed to realize that I wanted her to elaborate. "You wanted some book out of the restricted section once that you couldn't get your hands on, so you spent a week sweet talking the librarian because you knew she was lonely since her husband died and no one else ever came in to keep her company. Now she lets you borrow whatever book you want without a permission slip, because you come in and talk to her twice a week. It's also how you get your gossip on the other people, students and faculty, because she sees a lot and you like blackmail." Cerelia said and I was shocked.

Normally I would deny it, play it off but I decided that if she had been paying enough attention to know that, then there were probably other things she noticed.

"You are a lot smarter than I thought." I admitted, and it was the closest thing I had ever given to a genuine compliment. No angles.

"And you are more complex than I gave you credit for." She replied.

I had been about to ask her what that meant when she slid off the sink and started to unbutton her shirt. "Would you mind leaving now? I feel kind of dirty and this is a nice bathroom." She barely reached my chin, but she was awfully demanding for something so small.