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Post by Scarlett Archer on Aug 22, 2006 1:28:15 GMT -5
Although they were only a relatively short way through the year, Scarlett had grown tired of the suffocating atmosphere Hogwarts seemed to hold. Well, perhaps suffocating was an overstatement, but the blonde Gryffindor 6th year was prone to such exaggerations. She allowed a soft sigh to escape her pale pink lips, tucking a platinum blonde strand of hair from her fringe behind her ear so it would bother her no longer. Luckily the rest was tied up with her favourite ribbon, because the day was fairly windy and it would have been somewhat irritaing otherwise.
The wind whipped her robes around her knees, causing her to draw them in closer as her teeth began to chatter. Despite this discomfot of the situation, Scar would have preferred this to being inside in the library like some people she knew. The sunsets at Hogwarts were always beautiful and she found the lake the best place to be sitting, as she could watch the shimmering reflection slowly shrinking. A few metres from the bank she took a seat, hugging her knees in closer for warmth.
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Post by Narcissa Black on Aug 27, 2006 4:11:24 GMT -5
"A Gryffindor?" Narcissa said as she approached the blonde. "Really? How... brave of you to venture to our lake. You realize, don't you, that you're sitting on top of the hallway that leads to our dorms. It's not a very smart thing to be doing..."
Narcissa knew that she was older than her--by at least two if not three years--but she was a Gryfindor and Narcissa was a Slytherin. That was all that really mattered.
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Post by Scarlett Archer on Aug 27, 2006 6:51:30 GMT -5
Scarlett's froze as she heard a voice behind her. On such a windy day as this she hadn't expected company at all, least of all this type of company. Of course, Scarlett knew Narcissa Black. Being pureblooded and all, Scar's parents told her about all the most respectable families to associate with. However judging by her speech, Narcissa didn't particularly want to associate with her. Instead of turning around straight away, Scarlett got to her feet with a smirk. "Oh yes, really. Are you blind as well as stupid, or can you not see the red trimmings? Your lake, eh? I wasn't aware that this section of Hogwarts was owned exclusively by anyone. I suppose I should be afraid now?" began Scarlett, malice and sarcasm oozing from her every word. Honestly, Scar hated her house as much as the Slytherins but this time she took it as a personal insult.
Subconsciously, she sized the smaller girl up. From what she knew, Narcissa was a fourth year, meaning Scarlett had two years more experience in magic than her. Scarlett couldn't wipe the smirk off her face; it would be an easy match for her, if the girl decided to try anything. If her skills in fighting held any comparison to her arrogance, though, it would be more difficult that she had imagined. "Perhaps you're the one that isn't very smart, as I seem to recall being told by my brother that the Slytherin dormitory is in the dungeons, not near the lake. Or were you just confused about where you are?" Scarlett rolled her eyes at the younger, smaller girl. With the amount of influence the Black family held, it was certainly daring for her to be saying such things.
But still, when Scarlett's temper fired up, so did the Gryffindor tenacity. "And I don't remember claiming to be smart anyway, so I find your petty insult of no consequence. Unless you have something of interest to say, I suggest you move along to your tea party, or whatever it is you 11-year-olds do for fun in this god-forsaken place." One thing to be said about the young Archer woman was that she inherited her mother's catty nature. Although she rarely acted like a Gryffindor, this was where her bravery came in; she would stand up to any enemy in a fight, whether it be verbal or physical, and she wouln't back down. She began to examine her nails, which she tried to keep perfectly manicured in any circumstance.
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Post by Narcissa Black on Aug 27, 2006 18:40:52 GMT -5
"Well, the Slytherin hallway leads down out from the rest of the building. Our dorms are under the lake." She decided to ignore most of the other comments the girl had said, and focused mainly on the insult of her age.
"I'm fourteen," she said with a frown. "Not eleven. Do you realize who you're talking too?" Narcissa asked. Her family was well known, if not from her eldest sister who was the band of every student in the school--even the Slytherins. And although she was the youngest in her line, she deserved more respect now than the Gryffindor ever would.
One look at the Gryffindor's face told her that this girl knew exactly who she was talking to. And she didn't care. "A Gryffindor that can stand her ground," Narcissa said in an almost complimenting voice.
Narcisa smiled as she looked down at the obnoxious red and gold. "So how is it that you wound up in Gryffindor where your brother is in Slytherin?" she asked with good manners, deciding that this girl might have more to offer than most Gryffindors.
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Post by Scarlett Archer on Aug 28, 2006 0:19:10 GMT -5
Scarlett simply shrugged at Narcissa's first comment, as she had never really been to the Slytherin common room, just heard of its whereabouts from her brother. As it was she hadn't been expecting to be completely correct, but this was good enough for her. The corners of Scarlett's lip twitched at her proclamation; indeed, Scarlett knew who she was and exactly how old Narcissa was. "Yes, I'm quite aware of your age... and I know exactly who you are. Narcissa Black I believe, unless I'm very much flawed. You have a very respectable, pure background indeed. But make no mistake in thinking that I'm going to let you insult me because of it. I happen to be a pureblood as well, although my family name doesn't hold as much fame as yours."
From the tone of voice she encountered next and the smile that came after it, Scarlett decided that she must have been found at least somewhat decent, otherwise the blonde Slytherin would have left ages ago. But then again, Scar wasn't exactly a psychologist. She nodded in reply. "Unfortunately so. I've always thought apathy was what got me here... but it's too late to change anything now." she answered, a slight smirk on her face. Now that Narcissa had spoken to her with manners she decided that there was no point in being rude. "My brother isn't the only one, though... I have cousins in Slytherin. Sydney at the very least should have been put elsewhere... she doesn't even deserve to be in Slytherin. I would gladly trade her any day." She paused for a second as another 'Black family fact' came to mind.
"But I suppose I'm not the only one with a relative in another house, eh? Were you shocked when your sister was sorted into Gryffindor? And your cousin, as a matter of fact." she questioned with mild curiosity. If the Black family was anything like her own, they would have been appaled when Sirius and Andromeda ended up in the house of the lion rather than the noble house of Salazar Slytherin. Distastefully, she reflected upon the fact that to this matter, she could relate.
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Post by Narcissa Black on Aug 28, 2006 12:43:14 GMT -5
Narcissa turned up her nose. "We don't even speak of either of them anymore. Andie--Andromeda--had a lot going for her. I don't even know why she turned like she did. Sirius... Well, he's friends with Potter for goodness sakes. Potter's not anything to speak of, so neither is Sirius. I don't even know why Sirius is still allowed to be a member of his family."
She frowned. "It's a disappointment that you're in Gryffindor. And a shock, as well. You don't seem anywhere as noble as they all are." Narcissa flipped her long hair over her shoulder. It was starting to wave again, and she mentally groaned. She had spent thirty seconds that morning making sure every strand was perfectly tamed and straightened. All to no use.
"So are most of your friends in your own house, or with the rest of the Slytherins?" Narcissa asked, genuinely curious. She hadn't really met anyone outside of Slytherin that she enjoyed keeping company with.
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Post by Scarlett Archer on Aug 29, 2006 0:54:21 GMT -5
Scarlett nodded curtly at the reaction from Narcissa. Of course, she would be the same had any other members of her family been the same... perhaps that was why she didn't get along with her cousins Tiana and Sydney as well as she did Adrian and Brae; she thought they were teetering on the egge of becoming a disgrace to the family. But of course they were already somewhat distasteful due to the fact that they were not pure of blood as she was. Scarlett would not tell anyone about thatfact, though, because Braedon was a friend and she had no reason to embarass them. Plus, he was more than halfway decent - a 3/4 blood to be precise.
"Understandable, of course. I would be the same if my brother or cousins did that to my family. But of course most of my cousins have a certain sense of dignity." she said simply, wishign that she had a nail file, as she had spotted a chip in her otherwise impeccable nails. Scarlett had always been a ver vain girl, always more concerned with her appearance than her intelligence.
Scarlett smiled lightly at Narcissa's next comment. She too thought it ridiculous that she had been sorted into Gryffindor. "Too true. My parents were devastated, from what I hear. I can't say I'm any happier about it. As you might be able to see, I've tried to alter that fact," she gestured to a frayed spot on her robes where she had attempted to get rid of the Gryffindor emblem. "but unfortunately these seem to be stuck on with some kind of permanent charm, so I can't get it off. Nobility is over-rated, if you ask me, so I try to act as differently to the little goody-goodies as possible... but unfortunately that still can't change what I am." Scarlett sighed. How she would have loved to strangle the breath out of that darned hat, had it been alive.
"Well, I do talk to my brother Adrian's friends; Slytherins of course. Some of the Slytherins dont mind me, but others aren't as accepting. So I have friends in mostly Slytherin and Ravenclaw, since the birdbrains seem to be the only oher decent house." Scarlett certainly associated with her housemates as little as possible. Hufflepuffs were another group she rather disliked, because in her opinion, loyalty was a personal choice. If she wanted to be loyal she could be, it wasn't exactly a hard quality to possess... for that reason she respected them less than evern her fellow Gryffindors.
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Post by Narcissa Black on Sept 3, 2006 2:57:16 GMT -5
Narcissa nodded as she looked on the frayed spot. "You've done a great job considering the charms in place," she complimented. "It almost is starting to look worn. Perhaps with time the badge will fall off." She looked back up as Scarlett with a smirk. "But you'll still be a Gryffindor at heart, won't you?"
"You're right on that, though," she said--thinking of the Ravenclaws. "They seem to be the sort that would be on their own side. Or at least the winning one. I personally couldn't really care one way or the other. I'm not as fanatic about everything as Bella, though I'm sure she'll make our family proud. I'm just going to marry off well and bring in money to the Black family fortune."
Narcissa was blunt with her future. It had been drilled into her since forever. She was the pretty one, and her job was one thing. Marry well. Marry rich. Marry powerful. She wasn't concerned with it in the least. She would find a way to make it work, whenever it began to matter. As of now, she was fourteen, and marriage wasn't on her mind.
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Post by Scarlett Archer on Sept 3, 2006 6:17:02 GMT -5
Scarlett nodded in agreement, a half-smirk, half-smile on her face as Narcissa complimented her handiwork. "If my aunty sees it falling off she'll just make me get new ones, then it'll be evern harder to try to get the emblem off," she said with a grimace. Scar paused as she was reminded that at heart she would always be a Gryffindor. Even after they left Hogwarts it was probable that they would have to tell their coworkers what house they had been, something that would remain a source of shame for Scarlett.
But she had her heart set on redeeming herself one way or another; joining the Death Eaters [as she had heard her brother considering with her cousin Brae] seemed like the perfect option. But of course she would have to wait until after school to do that; what use would a 16-year-old girl be to them at this stage? Scarlett shrugged. "I suppose that I'll still be a Gryffindor at heart forever, however grudgingly it may be. But of course I've lived with it for he past 5 years, by now I've learned to cope with it."
Scarlett nodded again. "Most of them are more neutral than anything else, I guess - perhaps it's sensible not to get involved. But I was never one for watching on the sidelines... some of them have interests in the dark arts, though. Surprising really, but I suppose they're supposed to be the intelligent ones in this place." As Narcissa explained her perspective, Scarlett nodded in agreement. It was a smart plan to be sure, Scar had little doubt that it would fail. After all, what sane, self-respecting male pureblood wouldn't want to marry into the Black family?
"I plan to marry well as well, but I have other things in mind apart from that... I feel I should redeem myself for being what I am - a Gryffindor, that is. See my parents were both Slytherins, I suppose everyone expected me to follow suit. But of course, things are never that simple..." Despite the insecurities and uncertainties her future held, Scarlett had never stopped being confident about herself. Failure wasn't in her blood - neither was Gryffindor, hence the reason she planned never to shame her family like that ever again.
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Post by Narcissa Black on Sept 3, 2006 17:00:23 GMT -5
Narcissa felt a stab of pain for Scarlett. "Maybe being in Gryffindor is a blessing in disguise," she found herself saying. "I mean, depending on what career you want, some might be more trusing of you if you tell them that that was your house. You know? Slytherins don't have the best reputation--not that I'm ashamed of it, of course--but if it could help you..."
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OOC: Short, I know, I apologize, but French is calling my name. That and lack of inspiration of this post.
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Post by Scarlett Archer on Sept 4, 2006 0:31:06 GMT -5
Scarlett nodded slowly in understanding. She had considered that fact herself, but she doubted employers were able to discriminate based on houses anyway... Still, perhaps it would be useful for infiltration... but Scar had always planned to work in media, not the ministry or business like her parents. Unless of course it was a business she enjoyed working in. "That's true... if I ever found a position in the ministry I suppose they would be less reluctant to tell me important information... I don't know, sometimes our houses can be an advantage, sometimes not so much so... either way, I'm sure I'll be able to turn it my way... I'm fairly good at manipulating people, or at least that's what my aunt told me..."
OOC: I understand where you're coming from, lol. I used to do French, too... hehe...
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Post by Narcissa Black on Sept 6, 2006 22:39:40 GMT -5
OOC: Sorry... I couldn't think of much to put in the post...
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"Really? You do honestly seem more Slytherin than anything. But if you say you're apathetic... that might very well be why you're sporting those colours." Narcissa flipped her hair vainly. "So what are your plans once you leave this place? Any interesting dreams on the near horizen?"
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OOC: What year are you?
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Post by Scarlett Archer on Sept 7, 2006 1:42:03 GMT -5
Scarlett nodded again. "That's what everyone always seemed to think, myself included... but I suppose that no one really knows me." she replied with a slight shrug. Perhaps if everyone had known more about her, they wouldn't have been so surprised; after all, her parents were rarely around. Perhaps the occasional visit every fortnight or so, sometimes even monthly visits, during the holidays. But they always brang gifts when they did visit, which made it acceptable for Scarlett. "Well, I would like to work as a gossip columnist... making up gossip is something I've always been good at," she began with a small smirk. "But if not, I'll probably start my own business. That's what all my relatives do... either they work in the ministry or create their own business... so I suppose it's in my blood. But whether or not my dreams are considered interesting, well, I'll let you decide that..." Some people seemed to think that her dreams were average or boring. But she found both journalism and business to be two slightly risky, daring career choices. Perhaps, she really was more of a Gryfindor than even she hd ever thought.
((That's fine. Anyway, she's a sixth year, even though it's not in my title.))
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