porcelain, ivory, steel.

Whatever answer Rodolphus was anticipating flew from his mind as Emma replied. “That’s fucking morbid.” He told her, followed by a twisted laugh. The waters appeared black this time of night, making it near impossible to see anything. “That’s impressive though. I’m assuming you didn’t report this, did you?” Or he was hoping she didn’t. There was something about a girl willing to overlook possible crime that appealed to the darker side of him. Emma had always been a loose canon, something unpredictable but entertaining to watch either way. Being Alecto’s best friend, Rodolphus always kept a weary distance. 

Yet tonight, the alcohol only reminded him that Alecto wasn’t here to see the gleam in his eyes and pull her friend away. He watched her for a moment, small and burdened with books and schoolwork. “You’ve definitely got me topped by that, I mean honestly. I don’t even want to tell you the worst of what I’ve seen now. I’m lacking in comparison.” Even though he was admitting defeat, arrogance dripped from his words. Confidence had always radiated from the boy, it was something that appealed to the professors and intimidated his peers simultaneously.  That, and his weight he threw around in his younger years to terrorize other students. He only had to do it long enough for them to learn his name, the ones born outside of the wizarding world. The ones that didn’t know Rodolphus Lestrange did not make new friends, and not to try. “I would offer to finish your school work for you as your prize, but quite frankly I’m not sure that’s what you want.” 

Allowing himself a quick moment to glance around the common room, he focused in on a group of remaining fourth years before meeting Emma’s eyes. He wasn’t sure what she thought of him, but he was sure she already had preconceived notions of him. They all did. Pushing himself from the place he’d been sitting, he stretched his body long and sighed. “It isn’t my watch that you want, is it? Because it would take weeks to get another one made and delivered. I am a man of my word though, so I’d endure that for you. Although I can say a better prize would be the rest of this brandy and better company than our current cohabitants.”

Emma scoffed. “I’m not a rat; I keep my mouth shut. Besides, who would believe that a Slytherin saw floating heads in the Black Lake? If anything, they’d think I was lying just to freak people out.” She was a storm of a girl, not many people knew how to contain her, how to handle someone like Emma Vanity. She was the heart of the storm, she was a cautionary tale. But she was not loved. And that was okay. 

“Oh come on, I told you what I’ve seen, it’s only fair to come out with what you’ve seen.” Batting her eyelids at him, Emma’s bottom lip jutted out into a small pout, which was perhaps spurred on by the alcohol running through her veins. Her eyes flitted towards the remaining students for a moment, reminding her to tone it down, but Emma had never been one to listen to her conscience. Rodolphus’ confidence was infectious, he held himself together so well, and for a few moments, Emma thought she should take a few pointers from him, because being limited to only a few friends had her feeling suffocated. It wasn’t her fault that she was a handful; Emma was loud to be noticed, to be feared. She was a GOD on the Quidditch Pitch - - - well, she had been, but Gods fell from their Kingdoms all the time and the same was said for her. It was a punch in the gut, being forced to hand in her captains badge and then to walk away like it didn’t affect her one bit. She was livid. “No,” Emma agreed with a smirk, “that’s not what I want at all. I could pay someone to do my homework for me, I don’t need you to do it for free.” 

Standing up and striding towards Rodolphus, she took his wrist in one hand and pretended to study it carefully. “Well, it is shiny, and I do like shiny things. But I like alcohol more,” Emma locked eyes with him for a moment. “So you can keep your watch, honey. But I will take the rest of the brandy and better company. Two things I cannot resist.”

School was nearing to an end. Exams were crawling closer and students were growing weary. This wasn’t uncommon for the students of Slytherin to do, meet in the common room and study together. It wasn’t long before someone cracked open a bottle of stolen brandy straight of Slughorn’s office. Nights like tonight felt defining. They were the kind of nights that looking back, Rodolphus knew they were different. They were the beginning of something.

Students had began to filter out, stumbling back to their dormitories and abandoning their studying altogether. Rodolphus had been completely comfortable with the knowledge he’d pass his classes with ease. He’d mostly been there for the other students. The ones that needed the extra help. Lucius was gone, as was Amycus by this point. The only students remaining were a few fourth years (who never lasted long into the night) and Emma Vanity. Emma, who had brandy stained lips and a wild grin etched upon her face.

Rodolphus had been sitting in the floor, facing the windows looking out into the bottom of the lake. Night time was so much worse, the murky waters played tricks on your mind at night. Drifting plants would look like strange creatures, and strange creatures would look far more threatening then they were. “Emma–” Rodolphus called out, the alcohol flirting with his blood stream and causing everything to feel more vibrant than it was. His legs were splayed in front of him, ankles crossed with an easy elegance. “– tell me the craziest shit you’ve seen in the lake at this time of night. If you can top what I’ve seen you’ll win a prize.”

This was where she was; in the common room, leaning against the back of the couch, legs crossed under her with her books left abandoned and was instead focusing on a particular tasty bottle of alcohol. It wasn’t where Emma wanted to be; the stars were calling her, to whisper deadly secrets and hopeful wishes, and with a content sigh, a grin slipped across her lips; fire dancing across her eyes. 

Humming Christmas tunes to herself, despite it not being Christmas at all, it took a few moments for Emma to reply to Rodolphus; his honey voice running over her skin like water. His question threw her off and she raised an eyebrow, pursing her lips in thought. “Well,” she murmured quietly from her side of the room, not taking notice of the remaining lingering students, instead resting her dark gaze on him. “There was a time a few months ago, where I thought I saw a few floating heads. I’m not sure if they were actual heads, but man, it was so trippy. What about you, Rodolphus Lestrange?” His full name rolled off her tongue with ease, and she grinned with the simplicity of it all. They were friends, at least friendly with each other. Nothing more, nothing less. “What’s the most crazy thing you’ve seen?”