She broke down just like that? Lucius was speechless: this girl’s mental resilience is way too weak! At the very least, she should have argued back a few rounds and reclaimed her dignity!
And she even left with that line, “You’re all bad people!” How childish! Lucius pondered, thinking that Lilith Nott before her transmigration was probably a young elementary school student.
(Lilith rolled her eyes and pounded the table: Not at all! I’m eight years older than you! Screw you, childish elementary schooler!)
The kind who’s been pampered and never experienced the harsh realities of society.
(Lilith smugly: Of course! Even as an illegitimate child, I’m still the daughter of a wealthy man. You, a girl from the slums, could never understand the superiority of my life, hmph!)
“Ahem, gentlemen and ladies, we need to keep quiet.” Lucius cleared her throat softly, her eyes darting toward the direction of the professors’ table. “Our Head of House seems to be watching us.”
Whether it was her imagination or not, Lucius felt that Professor Snape’s gaze seemed even colder, while Professor Quirrell, sitting beside him with a thick purple towel wrapped around his head, seemed to have been staring at her intently for quite some time.
Damn it! Lucius almost slapped her thigh in frustration. Her terrible memory! She had almost forgotten something very important: Professor Quirrell had Voldemort parasitizing the back of his head.
Was that troublesome cheap father of hers secretly keeping an eye on her? Lucius wondered, feeling a chill run down her spine.
“Riddle, I don’t think you have the right to say that. You’re the one who drove Lilith Nott away…”
Pansy Parkinson, with her black short hair styled in a hime cut, had enjoyed watching her rival’s drama but couldn’t stand Lucius, a Half-blood, acting so “commanding” in front of them pure-bloods. She curled her lip and spoke coldly, “As a first-year student in Slytherin and the instigator of this farce, shouldn’t you go and bring her back?”
“Remember, you’re just a Half-blood. It seems you’re the only Half-blood among this year’s freshmen. You should remember your place.” The haughty little girl emphasized her words with a rising and falling tone, particularly stressing the word “Half-blood.”
Oh, this flat-faced pug! Lucius complained inwardly. Don’t blame her for judging by appearances—it’s just that this brat’s mouth is too annoying.
“First, I must clarify that Miss Nott left of her own accord, as everyone witnessed. I believe she might be too ashamed of her rude behavior and needs some quiet time alone.”
As she spoke, Lucius glanced thoughtfully at Professor Snape, who was currently staring at Harry with a complicated expression, before returning to the topic. With a touch of Slytherin-style arrogance, she continued: Slytherin has always valued strength above all else and is a united family. While pure-bloods may be noble, Half-bloods are not necessarily inferior. If I recall correctly, our respected Head of House, Professor Snape, is a Half-blood—and a powerful, talented Potions Master at that.
“Miss, if you continue to speak so disrespectfully, I might think you look down on Half-bloods, including our respected and great Head of House, Professor Snape.”
Lucius paused, her sharp eyes seeing through Pansy Parkinson’s unease, and pressed on: Or perhaps, we could discuss the wonderful topic of pure-bloods and Half-bloods with Professor Snape.
“No! That’s not what I meant, Riddle!” Pansy said through gritted teeth.
Even she wasn’t foolish enough to offend her own Head of House at Hogwarts. Even as a pure-blood Parkinson, she wouldn’t fare well if she did.
“Of course, I thought so too.” Lucius’s lips curved slightly, forming a charming smile. What a little fool!
Blaise looked somewhat surprised at Lucius, who was overly sharp-tongued and unwilling to take even the slightest loss. He couldn’t help but feel this Half-blood girl was a bit different. Even when facing pure-blood young ladies like Nott and Parkinson from the Sacred Twenty-Eight families, she remained calm and composed, carrying a sharp edge in her casual conversation, clearly not someone to be trifled with.
She looked like a sweet, well-behaved beauty, but in reality, she was a wild rose with thorns.
After Nott and Parkinson’s provocation ended in defeat, Lucius finally had some peace and quiet. Although she didn’t like causing trouble, especially making too many enemies before her wings were fully grown, letting those arrogant young masters and ladies step all over her was absolutely impossible.
By showing a little claw, at least these pampered little snakes would know that Lusa Riddle, though a Half-blood, was definitely not some pitiful creature they could trample on at will.
……….
This year, the number of first-year Slytherin students wasn’t large, and the girls were oddly numbered. As a seemingly “unapproachable” Half-blood, Lucius was lucky enough to be assigned a single room.
The cool dungeon, with transparent glass windows outside which magical underwater creatures tumbled and splashed, had silver and green cold-toned interior decor. On the large, soft bed, a light green silk-cotton quilt was neatly folded. A few centimeters from the bed, a thoughtful dark green small cabinet with drawers was placed—neither too big nor too small, just right for storing daily books and some pretty little trinkets.
Although located in the basement, perhaps due to some magical enchantment, it didn’t feel particularly cold. The temperature and humidity were just right, making it very comfortable.
Lucius was extremely satisfied. At the orphanage, she had dreamed of having a room all to herself, her own private space. Rolling around on a soft, springy bed, listening to the sound of the lake’s waves crashing outside, she could easily drift into sweet dreams.
What a wonderful day today!
The next day, Lucius saw her fellow transmigrator Lilith again. She seemed a bit more emotionally stable, her palm-sized face seemingly smeared with some whitening and concealing potions, making her appear radiant and exceptionally charming.
So much so that her roommate Millicent was made to look like a listless black crow in comparison. Millicent was tall and sturdy, with plain, unremarkable features that, when put together, gave her a somewhat fierce and menacing appearance.
Wow~ A perfect contrast group (≧≦)/
Lucius seemed to have forgotten yesterday’s friction with Lilith, putting on a hypocritical smile and waving her little hand: “Good morning, Nott, Millicent.”
Although both ignored her directly, Lilith took advantage of an unnoticed moment to shoot Lucius a fierce, threatening look.
But it lacked any real menace, and Lucius only smiled more brightly.
“Morning, Draco.” As the young Malfoy heir swaggered into the Great Hall with his two lackeys Goyle and Crabbe in tow, Lilith instantly transformed into a bashful little sweetheart, her flawless pale cheeks flushing with faint pink. “Let’s have breakfast together. We have Professor McGonagall’s Transfiguration class later, and I’m really looking forward to seeing your exceptional performance.”
Lilith gazed at Malfoy with starry eyes, her voice so sickly sweet it could have suffocated a fly. Pansy, following closely behind, made a face as if about to vomit, then like defending her territory, she preemptively occupied the position to Malfoy’s right.