Fear in the Air (Nicolette)

Antares smirked as she sat on a stone bench, one leg crossed over the other with her gaze on the situation unfolding in front of her. Of course, she would never actually lower herself to the level of physically taunting somebody, preferring that others did it for her. A Gryffindor from her father's school days was walking through the courtyard when he noticed her presence. Wide eyed, he had skirted around her and her bench, only to walk into the path of a couple of boys who had not been frozen in time. They were childhood acquaintances of hers, and she had to admit that it was disgusting the way that the boys actually laid their hands on the mudblood.

The Ravenclaw girl enjoyed the way that the "Order kids" were in constant fear, knowing that it was her world- along with her family and their vaste network of friends. These people who had returned out of hiding had to have been stupid to believe that they might manage a normal Hogwarts experience now that the Dark Lord was in charge. Having never actually met a muggleborn- or even a half blood- throughout her childhood, Antares had no way to know that there was any doubt in the pureblood ideals that were taught to her and her brother. So, she viewed anything less than pureblood to be no better than a house elf. But at least house elves were useful, while muggles and their relatives only caused problems.

She heard somebody join her on the bench and she did not look over to them as she said, "I've been waiting for you."

Nicolette wasn't sure she knew how to feel about this new arrangement. All her life she had been surrounded by adults - by His followers - and kids of her own kind when she had felt the need to mingle. And yet now here she was in school with people from her time, a time passed and from both walks of life. It made no sense to her.

As she walked lost in these thoughts, she spied one of the constants in her life. Antares looked to be occupied with the scene before her; but she knew better. As was seen when she addressed her blindly. A small smile and a mock sigh of annoyance left her as she sat beside her. "One waiting, the other always intercepting. I can never escape the two of you." She sat quietly for a moment, watching as Anya did before propping her legs up on the bench, turning so that her back was leaning against Anya's shoulder. "What is it that my favourite Malfoy wants?"

Antares grinned despite herself, rolling her eyes at her friend's sigh. "That's the point, Zabini," she answered quickly, snorting as the Gryffindor attempted to plead with hid tormentors. It was as though he thought that there was any chance for him to be left alone. However, when the boys around him grew more violent, Antares called out to them. "He says that we must not harm them," she said, slightly disappointed by the fact. After ensuring that the boy would not be physically harmed, she turned her attention to the brunette beside her.

"I'm glad to hear that I'm the favourite," at least to someone, she added in her mind, "but I simply wanted to see my best friend. How are you liking it here?"

"But of course my dear Raven. I'd be lost without your charming company." At the question she had to laugh a little. "Like it? Oh it's a beautiful place sure, nothing how I imagined school to be like though." And that - she only had to guess - was due to the fact that most of the people were here against their will, scared out of their wits end, keyed up for a fight or the cause of it all. Nicolette didn't understand what He was thinking. But she was smart enough not to voice the thought to her.

"It gets a little boring at times. I can hardly hold a conversation with people when they're wary of talking to me. If anything, I'm the nice one here." She said a bit haughtily but of course it was only a joke. "You on the other hand," a chuckle left her. "I'm sure somehow or other that was your fault." She gestured blindly to the two antagonizing the poor boy. "Having fun?"