| Creatures of the Knight | Tom Riddle

3: Liability of My Own Confinements

1945: Master of Potions

Elizabeta Lestrange:

I stood staring at my fragile reflection. The mirror next to my bed stood twice the length of me. Just like the train it had a gold frame around it, the paint itself started to chip away at the edges. Everything in this castle, was old. Even magic couldn't sustain forever.

I pulled my skirt up higher and tried to fold it over so it would look shorter on me. It was so long, it hung to just past my knees. I whispered an incantation to shorten the hems. I admired the green and black checkered patterns on it. I didn't try on the uniform at Madame Malkin's in Diagon Alley, as I went with the same size I usually wear. I must have lost a fair amount of weight since last year, and apparently gotten shorter. How could that even be possible? The tailor must have given me the wrong size.

I decided to leave my sweater blazer and only wear my white buttoned up shirt today as it wasn't as cold as most days. The castle itself felt rather warmer than usual. Maybe I was glad to be out of my own icy cold house. I felt more comfortable here.

I shared a dorm with three Slytherin girls, none of them spoke a word to me. I've known these girls my whole school life and still nothing. I've been told by Corvus to make the first move but I'm not that type of person. Maybe I should. I really didn't want to be alone this year.

We are supposed to have five of us in the dorm. I peer over at the empty bed next to mine. I've heard the new transfer from Beauxbaton Academy hadn't arrived yet. The girl already had a couple of the start of year letters that were left on her bed side table. Including her class schedule. Untouched. This might give me a chance to find a friend. 

I don't understand what I did so wrong with these girls. Maybe I was too concerned with my brother and his friends the very first year, and so forth ignored them. But having Corvus completely discourage me and leave me to rot by myself was not what I had planned.

I made note to know everyone's movements and even my worst enemy. Louisa Calaritine sat on the edge of her bed, braiding her hair. Everyone close to her, called her Lisa. Pureblood. She was a lone girl, like myself but she still had her friends. I watch through the reflection behind me as she shuffled her position. Her back to me, I noticed that she cut her hair shorter this year. It was blonde, not silver like Malfoy's, but more yellow toned.

Gabriella Carrow, pureblood. Brown haired, blue eyes. Her family was very well known as most of us Slytherin knew of each others family. Her father created the rotting curse. She was outgoing and very friendly to everyone except me. She did however give me a small smile once in the girls lavatory.

And there was Ruby Sallow, pure blood. Dark hair, similar to mine but she had it cut into a neat classy bob. Her hair reflected her eyes, as her irises shone in the moonlight. She had mentioned to Gabriella that she had gotten the position of Head Girl. I wouldn't think any different of her. She was from an old family line of Slytherins, it fit her perfectly. I fear the girls and most students are afraid of me, weary of my movements. Because of my family name? No. Maybe from the company I used to keep. More specifically because of Riddle and his Knights. This year will be different though, I've been banished. I roll my eyes at the thought. Mission to self, make at least one acquaintance.

I placed my Slytherin tie around my neck, leaving it loose enough so it didn't feel like it was choking me. I gazed at the slight bruises around my neck, they looked like hickeys. I've never experienced a hickey  before but I have witnessed them on the older girls, definitely being in their 7th Year in Slytherin. I've heard this is the year everyone explores their sexuality. I scoff.

Even if anyone took notice of the hickey looking bruises, they would think I have been around. Which was not the truth. I flinch at the memory of my own brother gripping my throat against the cold stone wall. He has never hurt me like that before, maybe a few hexes and sibling brawls, but never this. Tears started to swell in my eyes.