Blackbird

Chapter 7: Embracing the Pain

One thing I realized that night, lying in bed, was that I liked certain things about who I was.

My clothes, for one thing. Mother might be terrible, but she had an eye for fashion. And I enjoyed being put together. There was a power that came with looking amazing, a confidence I hadn't recognized until I stepped into the fight.

I was allowed to do whatever I wanted for another. Maybe not at home, but here at school. My older cousins were gone and no one else could care less of my existence. I was free to make waves however and whenever I wanted.

My friends were not picked for me like Regulus. I had none, but that could be a simple fix. There were a few older Slytherin girls I occasionally shared beauty tips with and a Ravenclaw or two in my year that would suit me just fine.

So the next morning, there was no drastic change, no dramatic hair cutting, clothes ripping transformation.

Instead, I focused on the accents. Trying a new pattern with my eyeliner that changed a wide eyed, open look, to lethal. My hair and clothes were still doll-like, I always had the ends in ringlets. Tied back in a half up, half down with a big green ribbon

I added a silver chain loop to my skirt, redid the charm to help the silver accents of my nails stand out again. A darker red lipstick instead of cute pink was applied.

People should know who they were messing with, after all.

It's interesting to see how little changes are noticed by people. When you no longer bother about people's attention, you can command it.

Slytherin girls from my year are parasites and fools. Some tried to worm their way into a best friendship, others tried to tear me down. I ignored them all, firmly turning them all away.

Somewhat annoyed, I sat at the end of the Slytherin table. A prime spot typically, and one many were not happy was filled.

The older girls, Veronica Flint, Minette Rosier, and Willow Shafiq, came and sat next to me. They were all such fun girls, bold in their own way. Most pureblooded girls grew as the perfect pawns. Whether it be lax parents, an inherent will, or maybe just finding each other, these girls refused to conform. They had their own power, and they knew it.

I like to think they stopped by because they found me to be one of them.

"I knew you had it in you Black. The chain is a nice touch." Veronica was without a doubt, the fox of the crew. Long black lashes and beautiful chestnut long hair that many boys dreamed of tangling their fingers in. Her style was much like the one I'd found I liked.

"You must tell me what spell you use to keep your uniform so well pressed." Willow was a moody mystic. She gave off an aloof air that somehow surpassed the other two. She only ever supported the smokey eye, smoking hot appearance. Look, but don't touch.

"Heard what happened with Lionel. Felix got it straight from the Carrow boy himself. Got a good look at the nose too, he'll be sporting two black eyes thanks to you." Minette Rosier and her twin brother Felix were demons in disguise.

Strawberry blonde hair, a pink pallet with plenty of accessories, Minette was an incurable gossip. But even better, she had the same effect as a mirage. She could flirt a boy out of his purse and he'd never realize what happened. It was rare anyone could hold her for long.

My smirk comes naturally and razor sharp. "It's too bad, he looked almost half decent before I smashed his nose in." Minette leaned in as though sensing a scoop.

"I didn't really mean too, of course. But when someone pulls your hair.." I add a little shrug with my all but innocent smile, "what else is a girl to do?"

Veronica leans in, dark eyes sparkling with interest. "Minette said Pucey tried to pull blood rank. You put him in his place?"

If my smile wasn't genuine before, it is now. "In a way that would've made cousin Bella proud."

A faint smile appears on even Willow's lips. "Well, I'm sure our boys will keep him there. Can't have someone trying to snatch you away before any arrangements can be made."

She's teasing, the tilt of her chin giving her away, but there's a truth to her words. We've got your back.

And it's been so long since I've felt that, my smile I'm sure, is ridiculously huge.

"Careful now Black, we can't have you stealing Minette's sunshine title. She'd be lost without it." Veronica's chin tips up a bit as she speaks to me, before selecting several berries to add to her plate.

She seems to have a thing for berries, her pancake a meager disguise, nearly covered in a mound of them.

Willow sticks to the breakfast casseroles, a bit more balanced, although on the heavier side.

Minette appears to inhale everything she wants. Croissants, French toast, cinnamon rolls, breakfast sausage and bacon.

I stick to my hash browns and muffins, happy with the new friends that seem to have found me. And yet, I can't help but notice a rather large gap at the Gryffindor table. Two people big, and yet, half the table's sound is missing, the other two Marauders quiet without their rowdier companions.

But I force myself to move on, pulling myself back to Veronica's teasing and Minette's dramatic responses. Willow chuckles under her breath, throwing a barb every now and then.

Yeah, yeah, I think I could get along with them nicely.