F A K E R

“I’m not even sure anymore.” Peter confessed to the younger student. It was a load off of his chest as he hated the idea of not doing something perfectly…nonetheless being able to stand his ground about it. This was people’s money and he was just more embarrassed now. “I think that…I think that I can get it sorted in a day or to…maybe with a remembrall or something.” He scratched the back of his neck, still hoping for confrontation to be avoided. 

A day or two? A remembrall? Now Elsie couldn’t tell if he had genuinely forgotten or if he was trying to hustle some more money out of her. “Well, clearly my name isn’t there, otherwise you wouldn’t be asking. Isn’t that enough?” She swore, if she found out that this was Barty or Alice and whoever this was was just confused, she was going to tell on them for betting just out of spite. That would surely shock their parents, given it would have been the first time she had written them in months, although the betting might cancel out that surprise with anger. She guessed that she’d find out if that was even the case to begin with. But the other option was that he was just an idiot, which wasn’t as mildly satisfying.

“When I figure out where it’s heading, I’ll tell you.”

Yes, Peter may have had the best handwriting in his year but the ink seemed to have been muddied by the handling of the envelope, the clamminess of his own hands. “Um…with an E.” He muttered, eyes scanning the lines of names trying to put it out as best he could. Of course there was no alphabet system to it. “Sorry, I don’t-” She wasn’t particularly scary, he thought suddenly. “I don’t think you’re on here. I haven’t messed this up before actually.” 

“...Yes, with an E,” maybe her tone had been a bit too harsh, her words a bit too quick, but quite frankly Elsie also thought it was a bit of a stupid question. How else would you spell Elsie? With an A? “It’s, fine. You were, probably just looking for Alice. Or Barty,” ok, that was nicer, right? That was sort of redeeming? Because she did feel a little bad for how freaked out he had been. Not that she looked particularly similar to either of her siblings - half-siblings - but she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Or, at the very least she was trying to be.

            “  it’s  a  party ?   and  we  won ?   why  would  i  not  drink ”

Peter snapped the envelope back to his chest before looking down at the names across the back. He could read his own handwriting, in fact he had the best handwriting out of the whole lot. He practiced quite frequently. “What’s your name again?” Sheepish answer made his eyes dart away from her line of vision. “Because I got a lot of ten galleons on Hufflepuff. And I can’t be giving away money to the wrong folk.”

“Elsie Crouch,” the name slipped out by habit. It was the one she was most use to giving, the one she’d been taught to give. But it wasn’t her actual name, and she’d been trying hard at using her real name more. And while she was sure that she hadn’t put her name down for this stupid bet, on the slim chance that she somehow had - or perhaps that somebody else had for her - she wasn’t sure which name would have been given. “Or, Elsie Hare-Crouch. It, could be either.”

            “  what  else  would  i  be  doing ?  ”

the smile that stretched his lips was one of his genuine ones – not the careful polite smile he had mastered under his mother’s care, no there was something endearing about the youngest crouch, despite her words that could dent his ego, “did you have your sights set on hufflepuff?” he questioned curious - seemed only natural considering both of her siblings had ended up there, thoughts of heading back to the tower and testing out his skills with the riddle were foregone - no, this conversation had him enraptured and perhaps, it was out of selfish intentions. she was alice’s sister - alice loved her and well, alice was everything to him, he’d hope to leave a good impression – “i might have guessed ravenclaw –” he admitted, the younger girl seemed logical  – not that the other houses didn’t share that quality, but the way she approached him – the brunt of her honesty, he would put her in with his bunch or slytherin– 

Huh, that made her think for a moment. What had she set her sights on? Elsie couldn’t really recall wanting to be put into any house in particular. Although, looking back, she supposed that if she had been thinking that way then Slytherin would have been her last choice, given it’s reputation. “I’m not sure. I guess I expected it? Other families seem to get put together a lot, so it would have made the most sense,” but then again she, Barty and Alice weren’t really family, were they? That was something that had been pressing on her mind a lot lately. They were raised together, but they didn’t share the same blood. Not entirely, anyway. Which was something she had always known, but somehow it felt more pressing, like more of an issue, knowing that it wasn’t 0%. There was at least some Crouch in her, so why didn’t she behave more like a Crouch? “Maybe it’s the Hare in me. Nature against nurture, and all that.”

“I can’t let you change your bet after the game.” Eyebrows raised in sheer astonishment. “I-I mean look here. You put your name right there…” Peter held out the parchment envelope with bets listed down the side, trying to hide any wince of fear within his frame. “You put ten galleons on Hufflepuff winning.” @petrificusstarter​

The young Slytherin looked up towards Peter, incredulously. “...No I didn’t?” Why would she bet against her own house? Actually, more than that, why would she bet full stop? It seemed a useless passtime, and one she’d never partaken in before. There were better things to spend her money on, after all. Like anything else.

𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍  / /  @petrificusstarter​

            “  this  anyone’s ?   no ?   okay  well  its  mine  now  ”

frank couldn’t help the way his eyes widened with her harsh honesty – mouth opening just to simply close as he tried to collect himself  – he couldn’t really hold it against her, he had asked for it - and was she really stating something he didn’t already know?

hint of a smile at his lips as he stayed quiet and listened to her reasoning, “i would give that to dear ol’ rowena - only seems fair, doesn’t it?” he chuckled softly, “i may never be the best, but i can hold my own” he stated with a new found confidence - he could work with it as long as he knew what to expect, he may never be the best, but he can be the most skilled - the most dedicated - the hardest working - the opportunities seemed endless. 

“i reckon you’re not the best slytherin out there –” more of a statement than a question - the boy was clearly teasing.

Elsie shrugged. “I don’t know, I don’t know enough about her to-” wait, he had chuckled, that probably meant... “Oh, that was a - nevermind,” she shook her head, smiling a little herself. At least he seemed to be feeling a little better. That was good.

Evan heard footsteps entering the kitchen and looked up from the cup of tea he’d been nursing, fighting another bought of insomnia. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?” he asked, a smirk forming. “It’s way past your bed time.” He moved his head in the direction the clock hanging from the wall, it was just past 1am at this point. Evan thought he was the only (student) anyway still up. When he couldn’t sleep, he liked coming down to the kitchens and making himself a cup of tea. His parents would have gone ballistic if they could see, their son, in a kitchen full of elves. But Evan had no attention of mingling with them, they kept to themselves, clearly not as dumb as they looked. @petrificusstarter​

It wasn’t often that Elsie snuck up to the kitchens at night, but the girls in her dorm were being just a little too loud, and it was just a bit much for her at the moment. She wasn’t really that hungry, but she figured any prefects that caught her might give her a bit more slack if she was just going to get a glass of water, or something. So it was just her luck that someone else just happened to be down there at the same time.

“honest” words slipping from his lips without a doubt, “always honest –” he repeated firmly, as much as he appreciated kindness, it was honesty that always shone through - it’s not a trait that came easy to most and he couldn’t help get curious with elsie’s truth. 

he hadn’t really interacted much with the youngest crouch - but it was probably no secret to her that her older sister had him wrapped around her finger, “you can take a seat –” gesturing to the empty chair before him, “if you want” he added quickly, weary smile at his lips.

Thank God. Else could do honesty. She was far better at it than she would ever be at flattery. Nodding, she took the seat, putting some of the books she’d picked up on the table she she did, before turning to face Frank.

“if you break me, i do not stop working - if you touch me, i may be snared - if you lose me, nothing will matter” 

he could repeat the riddle a hundred times over and yet it wasn’t sticking - he knew that answer was obvious and he felt that the second he heard it, he was most likely going to want to bang his head against a wall, but here he sat in the library, completely and utterly stumped – “if you’re here to tell me that i’m not the best ravenclaw - you’re right and you can carry on” he grumbled. 

Very few things got under Lucius’ skin at school; it just wasn’t worth his time he felt. That being said- he was not having a good day. He was running around like his head was cut off to get everything done and he still just didn’t have enough hours in the day. He was sitting at a Great Hall dining table, trying not to get any of his food on his papers while he scribbled something down for Herbology to made just enough sense to keep him passing. Hearing a snarky remark and some plates being sat down in front of him- Lucius dropped his quill, sighed and begrudgingly looked up at whoever had decided to make themselves apart of his night. “Come again?” 

@petrificusstarter 

“I said you wouldn’t be the first person to get a stain on their Herbology homework?” Had he actually said that out loud? She sincerely hoped so. Not for his benefit - he was definitely overreacting - but because she could get into some serious trouble if he hadn’t. Regardless of whether or not he snitched or picked a fight himself. Although, from what she knew about the Malfoy, he seemed far more like the snitching type.

            “  two  years ,  five  months  and  eleven  days  ”  alice  corrected  before  she  even  thought  about  it ,  the  exact  difference  between  them  springing  to  mind  the  second  elsie  brought  up  that  old  argument .  “  that’s  almost  two  and  a  half  ”  as  if  that  extra  half  a   year  justified  her  actions .  “  everyone’s  in  danger  elsie ,  you’re  not  unique .  we’re  in  danger  because  of  dad .  you’re  in  danger  because  of  your  blood  but  then  there’s  your  mother  so  who  knows  what  one  wins  out .  and  just  do  what  they  think  of  your  gifts ?  ”  maybe  elsie  had  a  point ,  or  maybe  even  just  half  of  one  but  it  wasn’t  enough  to  win  out  over  the  instinct  alice  had  since  she  had  first  met  her  sister ;  that  it  was  down  to  her  to  protect  the  younger  girl .

            “  did  you  even  think  if  i  wanted  your  help ?  ”  maybe  that  was  a  little  harsh .  “  what  benefit  could  you  provide  that  outweighs  the  risk ?  we’re  both  high  profile  targets  thanks  to  dad ,  you  don’t  need  to  add  another  reason   they’d  be  out  to  get  you  ”

“...Why would you even track it- no, that’s not the point here. The point is that you’re just proving my point. Even if I’m not unique - a point I would be inclined to disagree with - I’m still in danger. We’re all in danger, that’s how terrorism and war works.” Was she the one being dramatic here? No, she didn’t think so. She would absolutely argue that the ability to read minds made her pretty unique, as far as ease of use, and even disregarding the points she had already made, they were both still Crouches, even if she was illigitimate. As for her mother, well, God knew what else she and the rest of the Hares had done. She loved her mothers side of her family, she really did, but she wasn’t as naive as they seemed to think she was.

。·:✧:· FIDGETING WITH HIS hands, severus wasn’t sure why he was so afraid of everyone or of everything. if he wasn’t such a wimp, all of this would be easier. taking a deep breath, he knew he had to start standing up for himself and being an actual good person rather than a crybaby every single day. “i’m fine, everyone’s just frustrating me. i’ve been laughed at for trying to join a cabin, so i just got but hurt,” he explained, pulling his sleeves over his hands. “i don’t want to interrupt or get in your way or be a burden,” severus explained, shaking his head. 

Oh, God. This was a situation she would definitely much rather not be in. People had laughed him out of a cabin? Why? There had to be a reason, even if it was a stupid one, and the feeling of missing something - whether it was genuinely important or just being left out of a joke - wrapped around her heart and squeezed. Metaphorically, of course. Speaking on a purely physical level she seemed to be - for the lack of a better term - running just fine. But that small missed breath, that strange cocktail of annoyance and sadness, still passed through her. But apparently she was more like her sister than she cared for. “You’re not a burden. Just, get up off the floor and follow me.”

            “  yes ,  it’s  what  sisters  do  ”  she  insisted ,  not  quite  noticing  the  slip  of  her  tongue .  sisters  not  siblings .  not  quite  trusting  their  brother  and  all  his  accolades .  “  it’s  the  same  thing  ”  and  alice  believed  or  at  least  believed  it  was  near  enough  the  truth .  “  i’m  a  big  girl ,  elsie  ”  alice  said ,  looking  up  at  her  sister .  “  you  don’t  need  to  worry  yourself .  you  were  doing  just  fine  staying  out  of  everything  ”