December 16th, 1889 — Ancient Runes Classroom

A glance down at her book told Cora she was still following along on the right page, despite her chin being propped on her chin and her gaze directed out the classroom window. Snow was packed around the school grounds like a snug blanket, and all Cordelia wanted to do was go upstairs and take a nap. In addition to Professor Cramming's soothing if not slightly boring lecture (she loved Professor Cramming, but Cora was a student and still sometimes found everyone's lectures to be painfully mundane), there were a group of gossiping Ravenclaws that would. not. shut. up. in the back of the classroom. Several irritated glares thrown at them by the Gryffindor seemed to fall upon turned backs.

Really - they might think they know the lecture, but at least give the illusion of paying attention instead of disrespecting Professor Cramming. Of course, before she could call them out on their chatter, they were all split into pairs and Cordelia found herself heading over to Seneca Lestrange's table - a blonde witch in her year whom she'd had cordial interactions with on and off. Lestrange seemed to respect her enough, which was always a point in Cora's ledger. She gave the blonde a smile, but not before passing the Ravenclaws a dirty glance.

"If you're not going to pay attention to the professor, why not skive off and chatter like idiotic birds elsewhere?" she muttered under her breath as she slid into the chair next to Lestrange.

– Seneca Lestrange –

  

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Someone could have easily placed a lethargy charm upon the entire classroom. Even Seneca, who didn't have a short attention span, was having difficulty focusing on the professor's lecture. She was trying not to drift off in her mind, because the lesson taught was important. It was about some certain runes that went in pairs, where one denoted that an action was a one off thing, whereas the other that it was continuous process. Since Seneca was interested in alchemic practices, it was important for her to see those differences, because they could play a difference when she translated texts into English and thus in the way she performed certain alchemic things.

They were placed in pairs and she got Miss Cordelia Fawley. Seneca didn't mind the girl, she seemed clever and she was a pureblood, though she must have had some negative quality to have placed her in Gryffindor. Perhaps she was insecure and wanted validation. Most Gryffindors were like that. They needed everyone to appreciate them and recognize how brave they were, because they couldn't cultivate these feelings for themseves, by themselves.

For example, Seneca found Miss Fawley's comment to the chatty Ravenclaws as an attempt to show off her bravado. That being said, she also found them annoying, so she smiled a bit at the comment, even if she wouldn't go about telling them to stop talking in such a loud way. Auntie Olivia had taught her the art of being "polite" while she scolded others.

"Miss Faaawley," Seneca told the Gryffindor in a cheery tone and smiled at one of the Ravenclaws, the one with the very curly and very vulumous hair. "Don't be so harsh on Miss Doe! It must be difficult for her to hear and see with ease with that unruly hair of hers!" This was spoken in a cheery, light-hearted tone, though Seneca meant for it to be an insult. Just not obviously so. "You Ravenclaw ladies are so smart, so diligent about your studies that I know, you sometimes don't have enough diligence left for your hair, especially when it's so difficult to manage!"

  

Catching Miss Lestrange's eye, Cora steadied herself for a reproachful comment; cheerful and peacemaking. However, it became apparent that the opposite was true and she let out a small "ha!" of delight before covering a hand over her mouth.

Reaching down she took out her Ancient Runes book and flipped to the appropriate page. One of the Ravenclaw girls scowled back at Miss Lestrange, clearly irked by her backhanded comment. "Miss Lestrange, isn't it?" she sneered, "So that must mean you only have time to study and none to spend on appearances! Such a shame you'll only be wanted for your name rather than your looks."

Were they not in class in front of a teacher, Cora would have cursed them right then and there. It wasn't so much because she and Miss Lestrange were particularly close as it was because Cora had had it up to here from Ravenclaws being so undeserving of their own house. First Holliday Fudge and now these twits? "Jealousy is such an ugly shade on you, Miss Doe." she drawled, marking her spot in her book and leaning over to look at them. "A pity all you may offer your matches is a vapid countenance and minimal intelligence."

  

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It was annoying when others didn't let have the last word. Seneca had planned it in her head that, after telling Miss Doe her polite insult, the curly-haired girl would be left at loss of words, humiliated and sad, struggling to keep her tears from pouring out.

Instead, she bit back with a comment about her appearance! Seneca's eyebrows furrowed in surprise because she needed some seconds to process the insult, until finally she smiled.

Seneca never had any insecurities concerning her appearance. She took after her mother, who was said to be a good looking woman. Furthermore, she could use her abilities to achieve perfect symmetry with her features and thus have her appearance registered as attractive by the human eye. But Seneca had never felt the need to abuse her powers for such things, because being insecure over your appearance was weak and Middle Class.

Her name was probably what made Miss Fawley run to her rescue, as if she was her very own Godric Gryffindor. Seneca was pleased that she didn't have to get into a quarrel with Miss Doe. It would be foolish of her to be adamant about proving something to some nobody.

"Why are we all so worried about marriage?" Seneca said in a light, bemused tone. "Don't we all have at least a year and a half ahead of us before we have to worry about those things? I am sure we will all get to experience the joy of married life, there is no need to let worry seep into our hearts and make us bitter!"

  

Of course Miss Lestrange would say that, Cora mused as she shot the Ravenclaws another look. While the Fawleys were pureblood and had a perfectly respectable name, the Lestranges were known widely throughout the wizarding community and thus, the blonde prefect would have little problem finding a decent match for herself. Being middle class herself with her cousins being upper class, Cora knew the odds for her were marginally less fortunate, though by no means dismal. Be that as it may, she couldn't help being a touch chagrined at Miss Lestrange's words. She still smiled and set up her quill and ink bottle to her right. "I suppose you are quite right, Miss Lestrange," she replied, "Lest one of us get pulled out to attend Pendergast's!" She added.

She turned her gaze to the blackboard where their translations for this pairing were already written and ready to be transcribed. She took a fresh roll of parchment from her bag and began scrawling them down. "Though I do believe some of us have better prospects than others." She added under her breath, out of earshot from the Ravenclaws – who in her statement were the 'others'.

  

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Seneca believed that she would be married soon after coming out. She imagined that she would be like a Penelope, with a dozen suitors fighting for her hand. She had no reason to believe otherwise. Anyone with pure blood and ambition would want to marry her and she would have the pleasure to choose who she liked best. As long as her Papa agreed, of course, but Seneca rarely disagreed with her father on things.

"Yes, some don't even need to attend my aunt's school. Not because they couldn't use finishing, but because nobody cares whether they do so or not." She was, of course, making a slide attack on one of the Ravenclaws' financial status. She was middle class, like Miss Fawley, but on the poorer side of the spectrum. Seneca didn't think that her comment might be offensive to Miss Fawley, because with her being a pureblood and from a respectable family, Seneca didn't see her as Middle Class as she viewed others.

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With her attention directed down to her text book and making the preliminary organizational notes (symbol key, heading, etc), Cora couldn't suppress the grin that was tugging at her lips again. Surely no one would care if Miss Doe went to Pendergast's unless it was Cora finding out Miss Doe was to be her room mate there.

Perish the thought. She'd rather drink bubotuber puss before rooming with Miss Doe. "Some just aren't cut out for that life, either." Her dark eyes slid over to Doe and her posse in a sidelong glance. "Nor should they be."

  

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"Exactly," Seneca replied, this time more quietly so only Cora would hear because Professor Cramming was starting to look at their direction. "Everyone should know their place."

Some people were at the top for a reason and that was because they were more clever and talented. Otherwise, they would be at the bottom. Certainly, some people at the bottom were extremely talented and they could raise up to the top. But it was one thing to be known as a scholar and another to just marry someone richer. Seneca had no respect for the second type of "success".

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Cora smirked and put a hand to her mouth as she covered a giggle. Unfortunately there were some people (like Fudge) who clearly didn't, but acted so high and mighty as if they were above reproach. "It seems we're to get along quite well, Miss Lestrange." She said quietly as she took notes from the board.

  

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