i g n a t i u s

Severus Snape was one to spend hours in either the library studying intensely or the potions classroom brewing new concoctions. Time slipped by him as his mind was completely consumed in the making of unique spells or adjusting potions in his Advanced Potions-Making textbook, all the while telling not a soul about what he was up to. There had been times where he missed dinner in order to finish one of his personal projects, not distracted one bit by his rumbling stomach demanding to be fed, and there were also moments where he was forced out of the library when all he needed was more hour for research. There were rare occasions where the few friends that he had allowed into his life were able to knock some sense into him and take care of himself, but he figured they knew by now what a waste of time it would be to try. 

So when he felt a presence stopping in front of the table at which he was studying, he almost outwardly groaned. He was in no mood for any sort of chit-chat as he was trying to complete his Charms essay on non-verbal spells before beginning on another assignment, both of which were not due for another couple of days. Being a procrastinator was not a characteristic of his, and he was know amongst his professors to turn his work early.

“I could have sworn,” he spoke, not entirely caring if he was being rude or not and it showed in his voice and demeanor by not looking up at the person, “that there was an entirely open table along the way. Why don’t you try occupying that one.” It was a question, he wanted to be left alone to his studies. Knowing his luck, it was someone he regarded as a friend, but he couldn’t be bothered to tear his eyes away from his parchment to look. 

         Ignatius had walked into the library, to work on a charms essay when he spotted severus. he wasn’t the warmest person, he wasn’t the most popular bloke around but he was a good student and while ignatius wasn’t a bad student, he didn’t mind a bit of help... or well, cheating. he loved that. he sat down in front of severus and smirked at his fellow student’s comments. “calm down, severus.” he said as he looked at the dark haired young man. “i just thought that we could... work together. you know, get this essay done quicker.” he told severus, knowing that severus wouldn’t agree to that but maybe he could just sit with him, copy a few sentences.

Ignatius keeps a diary, and has done from the time he was around ten years old, when he first planned to run away from home.

Iggy sometimes cries at night over the loss of his grandfather, when he thinks no one can hear him.

Ignatius’ favourite colour is dark purple.

Rita had been looking forward to this day all summer long, from thesecond the last term came to an end. Going home was viewed as nothing but acomplete bore; there was nothing todo, or see, or even talk to. Her mother was barely around, leaving her in thecompany with their house elf. Her lack of genuine friends only increased thenever ending silence, a constant reminder that she could only thrive in thecompany of others.

This year… this year was hertime to shine. It was only the first day back and already so much was going on.Agonizing grieving over break ups, over-the-top public showings of affection,and talk of a celebration was buzzing around. Her body felt like a live wire,buzzing with anticipation of everything that was to come. It took every ounceof self control that she had to not immediately go up to everyone and ask whatthey had done for the past few months, desperate to hear some sort of good story. Unfortunately, with her reputation, it wasgrowing increasingly difficult to get details out of others. She would have topractice patience now, though it was highly likely many slip ups were going tohappen.

Hearing a familiar voice, Rita’s head instantly snapped in the directionthat it came from, eyebrows instantly raising at the look on Ignatius’ face. “Readyas I’ll ever be,” she remarked, keeping her own feelings of joy supressed forthe time being. His emotions were farmore intriguing to her. “You seem happier than most to be back. Long summer?”

         He nodded. “the longest, rita, especially without you.” he told her, a grin on his face. he didn’t like her as some of these romantic fools liked their lady friends, not at all he wasn’t like that, but he did enjoy a woman like rita: resourceful, interesting, manipulative... he enjoyed it, he liked what she wrote and what she could mean for his cause. not yet though, he really wasn’t anywhere within the ranks of the death eaters, he wasn’t taken all that seriously but he would one day. maybe with the help of rita’s writing skills, who knew? for now, he just liked being around her and slightly annoying her. “what about you, rita? how was your summer?” he wondered, not sure that he liked her always asking questions. he was careful with the information he gave her, she always managed to twist it.

       “what’s that supposed to mean? hmm?,” she asked, eyebrows raised, arms crossed. whatever stereotypes people seemed to have towards hufflepuffs were – in alice’s eyes – nothing but idiotic. hers was by far the most diverse house, if you asked her, and she was glad that the hat had sorted her there, rather than gryffindor. “hmm, actually, i think it has everything to do with ego. you’re bragging now, too, after all, and seem to be making nothing btu empty promises.”

         He grinned. “well, we generally outsmart your team.” he said, though often times that meant that they were less than fair in how they conducted themselves during the game. slytherin team was ruthless, cruel and if they needed to be, they bent the rules in their favour. “empty promises? it’s a warning, alice. come prepared, i will.” he said, enjoying the banter with alice. he liked being around slyterins, he did, but he also liked talking to other people, especially someone like alice who he could banter with. she was a pureblood and though she wasn’t really at their side, at least the others wouldn’t comment on him talking to her.

     “well, good luck with that, because that will NEVER happen,” said alice, a grin on her lips now, rather than a smile — if there was one thing she liked, it was talking about quidditch with players from other teams. besides, she had loads of faith in her team; with the jones’ siblings and archie and herself, they were a strong unit. above all, they played fair, and that was the most important thing to alice. well, besides winning. “your ego has grown quite a bit over summer holidays, hasn’t it? i’ll love watching it shrink back a little during the next meeting.”

         He smirked at her and shook his head. “slytherin’s don’t lose. not to puffs.” he told her, because really, he believed that his team, the one he supported would win, no doubt. they were better than any other team if you asked him. he shrugged when she mentioned his ego. “it has nothing to do with ego, alice. it’s just the truth. i’ve been practicing all summer, and i’m so ready to wipe the floor with you.” he told her, plainly.

   alice was READY to take this year by storm. her seventh year was already promising enough — with her being granted the head girl position and her NEWTs so near there was only room to go forward. while it was scary, in a way, she was nothing but excited when she thought about the things she would accomplish coming months and the world that was going to be waiting on her outside the castle walls.

   of course, returning to hogwarts also meant returning to the studentbody. part of that she liked and got along well with, but there were definitely people at hogwarts she could do without ( which was a harsh way of putting it, really, but alice was tired ). ignatius weasley belonged to the last category — to come from a family so similar to her own like the weasleys and still pursue purist ideals? it not only enraged her, but made her feel queasy. she wondered if that could happen to her siblings, perhaps ( though she doubted it ) and it messed with her views. and if there was one thing alice didn’t like, it was having her views challenged.

   “oh, absolutely, i was born ready,” she said, a little surprised when he’d addressed her. a small was painted on her face and she tried to play nice — she was head girl now, and didn’t want to jump into arguments as quickly as she would like to. “and you?”

         He looked at the other girl and had to suppress the urge to roll his eyes. “born ready? well, i can’t wait to see our team kick some hufflepuff ass. that will be fun.” he told her with a snarky smile. “and well, defeating you in dueling club will be a pleasure... as always.” he said, though honestly, as far as he remembered he’d lost and won against alice quite equally. for a hufflepuff, he guessed she was sort of an alright witch though honestly, he didn’t think that in a real battle, on a battlefield, she’d win from him. not in a million years.

         He ran his hand over his brand new robe his grandmother had bought him and walked with the crowd towards the castle to start yet another school year. he was glad that dumbledore was gone and he was thrilled at how the death eaters had pushed one of the most mighty wizards off his throne. he had feld, he was one the run. what a coward, he thought as he kept on walking. if anyone asked him, which they had not yet done, what he thought dumbledore’s involvement was with everything that had gone on, he’d say that he was guilty, just as he knew the death eaters wanted. he knew it probably wasn’t true that dumbledore was involved, but the means justified the end. the glorious end, the vision of a world in which purebloods like himself would be almighty. just what he had been craving, for so long. power, respect.

         He walked up to a familiar person and grinned at them. “ready for a new school year?” he asked, looking almost gleeful. the side he was on, was winning and for now, that was enough to make him quite happy.

“this place about to blow. now what (what). we're taking control. we get what we want. we do what you don’t.”