Half-Blood Princess

Chapter 9: Dragons

Peri sat at the long wooden table in the Great Hall, sunlight filtering through stained glass windows to cast colorful patterns on her breakfast spread. The usual frenzy once surrounded her had dissipated, leaving a serene quiet broken only by the gentle clinking of silverware and soft murmurs of conversations. Her plate was adorned with various dishes, from golden-brown croissants to a steaming cup of fragrant tea that curled tendrils of steam into the air.

As she lifted the warm cup to her lips, grateful for the tranquility that enveloped her, a sudden flurry of wings disrupted the peace. An elegant owl descended gracefully, dropping a copy of the Daily Prophet before her. Before Peri could react, Pansy's voice sliced through the calm atmosphere.

"May I?" Pansy's tone held a mischievous edge as she reached for the paper.

Despite their complex history, a fragile civility between them prevented their interactions from escalating into open conflict.

"Look here! Rita Skeeter's piece on the Triwizard Tournament champions is finally out," Pansy exclaimed with genuine excitement.

Peri's eyes performed an exaggerated dance of disbelief, diverting her gaze to the bowl of steaming porridge before her just as Pansy let out a dramatic gasp that swiftly redirected everyone's focus to the newspaper clutched in her hands. "Look at this headline: The Unveiling of Periwinkle King," Pansy announced, thrusting the paper towards Peri.

The article featured a striking portrait taken during Peri's recent photoshoot. Eagerly seizing the paper from her cousin, Peri skimmed through the text with Draco hovering close by, his curiosity piqued.

"Go on, read it out loud," Blaise prodded her.

So, with their peers gathered around, hanging on every word she uttered, Peri began to narrate the article's contents.

"Periwinkle King, also referred to as Peri, is the daughter of Cassandra Banks, better known as Cassandra Rice. Cassandra became a teenage single mother to Peri when she was just sixteen years old."

Peri looked up from the paper, "She was eighteen when she gave birth to me, not sixteen."

"Keep reading!" Pansy snapped.

Peri's eyes scanned the words on the page, her fingers tracing the sentences as she delved deeper into the story.

"She sought refuge in the land of endless possibilities, America, accompanied by her daughter, Peri, and two goddaughters, Hallie and Holly Porter. Her quest led her to a prominent American known as Mr. Richard Banks, a descendant of the legendary Merlin. Despite facing familial disapproval for bearing a child outside of marriage, she viewed marrying him as a strategic move to ensure financial security for herself and her offspring. While it wasn't a union born out of affection, she recognized it as a pragmatic choice for survival in this unfamiliar land."

With frustration evident in her voice, Peri slammed the parchment onto the table and declared, "My mother's devotion to my father is unwavering!"

"Will you stop talking!" Pansy snapped again, taking the paper back from her, "I will read then..."

Pansy continued reading the article, "Similar to her mother, Peri has caught the eye of a wealthy pureblood wizard. Draco Malfoy, a fourth-year student at Slytherin House in Hogwarts, seems interested in her. Could a budding romance be between the prince of Slytherin and the Half-Blood Princess?"

The photograph captured the moment she accidentally collided with Draco after their 'interview. ' Their bodies pressed together, their hands intertwined as if they were two lovers. Their eyes, locked in an intense gaze, only added to the impression of a romantic connection between them. It was a perfect snapshot of the chemistry and tension that crackled between them, creating an image that could easily deceive onlookers into thinking they were deeply in love.