FHB: Chapter 3

Lucius casually slid from the center of the seat to the side before saying, “Have a seat.”

The rest of the Slytherin prefects immediately fell silent as Tanya happily sat down.

“Thank you. You are so very kind,” she said with a smile.

Nobody said anything after that, as the other prefects were surprised and confused by Lucius’ sudden kindness.  Lucius did not break the silence either as he casually pulled out a small black book from under his jacket. Those who followed him knew what the book was for, and they never asked. He usually carried it around and wrote small notes and reminders. Yes, he could have been mistaken for a Ravenclaw.

Tanya sat quietly like the rest, watching the train roll into the outskirts. The lush greenery was a striking resemblance to the initials, ‘L.M’, that was written at the bottom of the book cover. The silence was soon broken by the odd question Tanya brought up.

“Did you write that in ink? Is it Mont Blanc?”

“Who?” Lucius asked in replied.

Tanya laughed before saying, “Not ‘who’ silly, ‘what’.”

Lucius merely looked at her with an eyebrow raised.

“Have you not heard of Mont Blanc? It is only one of the most famous brand for fountain pens.”

Not wanting to look dumb,  Lucius turned to one of the Slytherins across him and the male prefect immediately asked, “What are fountain pens?”

Tanya laughed even harder. “Pens are like quills! You just don’t have to dip it in ink.”

“Which wizard made it?” another prefect asked.

Everyone was now keen to hear of this item that none of them knew about, including Lucius.

“Not a wizard, a muggle!” Tanya replied with the widest smile.

That word immediately sent all of them scoffing.

“What are you, a muggle lover?”

“What’s wrong with muggles? I’m actually muggle born. I mean, my dad is a squib and my mum is a muggle. That makes me a muggle born, right?” Tanya said and turned her last question to Lucius.

Their side of the prefects cabin immediately rose with unsettling words. Lucius did not answer Tanya’s question and wrote three words on an empty page of his notebook.

Tanya, who was already confused at the reaction of the other prefects, saw what Lucius wrote and did not hold back another question.

“What is mudblood?”

Lucius looked up from the fresh black ink that read, ‘She’s a mudblood’, and said, “You.”

“What does it mean?” Tanya asked seriously. She was no longer smiling.

“Dirty blood,” a few prefects answered simultaneously.

Tanya looked from one prefect to the other, extremely confused and worried at the same time. Lucius knew she still did not get what it meant, and he found himself feeling sorry for her.

“Don’t worry, it can be cured,” Lucius said.

Everyone turned to him, and he saw the disgusted looks on the prefects faces slowly turning to grins.

“It can?” Tanya asked eagerly.

“Yes, you just need to do what I tell you to.”

Tanya nodded thoughtfully.

“What house are you in, Tanya?” Lucius casually asked, as though the mudblood issue was settled.

“Ravenclaw,” Tanya replied, and her smile was back.

“When did you get sorted?”

“A month ago, during your school break.”

“And you studied where, previously?”

“Home schooled. My grandfather taught me all he knew.” Tanya seemed rather proud of her grandfather as she said so.

“I see. Well, he hasn’t taught you enough.”

Tanya was taken aback, as though she was the one insulted, but that reaction soon faded into a laugh. She must have convinced herself Lucius was joking.

Lucius said nothing after that, and the other prefects decided to start their own conversations. They were definitely talking about Tanya, yet she seemed to be able to block out their sarcastic and crude comments about her and her family.

After Tanya had enough of gazing at the scenery, she pulled out a text book and started reading. Lucius was also caught doing his own thing, which was scribbling a to-do list in his book followed by mentally listing down the things he could make Tanya do for him.

Her ignorance was going to make a good game, even though he knew the game wouldn’t last long. Her soon to be new found friends would educate her enough, so he better make use of this situation as soon as possible. Unfortunately, he had no good ideas just yet.

When the train finally stopped at Hogwart’s station, prefects scrambled to carry out their duties. Tanya excused herself too, but Lucius stayed. He waited till his usual followers nervously entered the prefects cabin to carry his stuff for him.

Everything from then till dinner at the great hall went smoothly. Lucius briefly forgot about Tanya as he enjoyed his return to school. It was only after dinner did he bump into Tanya. She was attempting to gather the students as her fellow 5th year prefect headed the group.

Lucius had his fellow prefects do all the work since they offered and when Tanya saw, she found it odd.

“Don’t all prefects have to-“

“I don’t,” Lucius cut her short.

“I do, and I have no idea where we are going,” Tanya replied with a chuckle.

That was when an idea came to him. Maybe he could offer Tanya a tour, they did not have an early curfew after all. But was it too much of an effort, considering he had no proper plans for the tour?

To Be Continued…

(Leave a comment below or vote on whether to give Tanya a tour or chill in the Slytherin common room!)