Not The Place {Andromeda}

[aliice]

If you were looking for the ideal role model for everything bad, then Georgina Parkinson was the one. There wasn't a single thing she did that was 'right' or 'good', and no matter what your first impression of her, it's was always wrong.

Georgie had grown up on the wrong side of life and got involved with the wrong people from a young age, and now? She did it because she wanted to. She didn't live by anyone's rules but her own and that was exactly how she liked it.

As usual, Georgie was giving classes the miss. She hardly ever showed up for the anymore. Sometimes she wondered why she was even allowed to stay in the school considering how little 'school stuff' she actually did. Though, it was probably because they knew just how much trouble she could cause if she was set out on the world... Didn't they knew she spent more time of the school than in it to begin with?

This time, it was potions that she was missing. She didn't want to face Slughorn and his happy-go-lucky attitude. She couldn't be bothered with fighting throught the blizzarding storm that was brewing outside of the castle walls either, so it looked like she was going to be stuck indoors. Now what to do...

The christmas holidays were in a matter of days and Georie was staying at the school. Or so she said. She had no intention of staying inside these four walls any longer than she had to. But she did want someone to... play with, this holiday. Some one gullible... some one she could mould and try and wrap around her finger... someone she could tempt over to the darker side of life. Whether she'd find someone like that here though was another matter entirely.

Standing in the school bathrooms, Georgie pulled a joint from her pocket and lit up. The chances of her being disturbed in here were slim. Besides, what did it matter if someone caught her where she shouldn't be doing things she shouldn't do? People should have come to expect by now that Georgina Parkinson played only by her own rules.

The door creaked open and Georgie let out her breath, a long stream of smoke with it. She didn't even look at the door from where she was perched on the counters for the sinks. She just raised her joint to her lips again. "And you are?" She asked in a bored drawl. Hopefully someone who would at least amuse her for a little while.

[quof]

Andromeda took a deep breath as she made her way down the hall. She didn’t slouch, though like always she desperately wanted too. It had been a long day, well, every day felt like a long day. She sighed, when had she let herself become so dreary? And her life become so...meaningless?

She’d been in charms, one of those few classes you could leave without the teacher glaring at you so much you sat down again even though you were about too… though she wasn’t here for that. She’d just needed—to be away from people for a little bit. She was going to splash water on her face, check her hair, and maybe brush up a little bit on her make-up.

As she entered the bathroom she was shocked to see someone perched on the counters, and even more shocked when she saw who it was. Georgina Parkinson…who had quite an interesting reputation. Her stomach dropped. She supposed it wasn’t exactly surprising to see Georgina there, all things considered, but it certainly wasn’t someone she expected—or wanted—to meet. She was almost as fearful of her as she was of her own older sister, for she knew Georgina to be just as capable as Bellatrix.

“Andro…Andromeda Black,” she was stumbling over her own name, not a good sign, especially since it was because she was shaking a little bit. Blacks didn’t stutter—nor shake—, and she knew Georgina might sense her nervousness, though she hoped she might take it for stupidity because that would entail far lighter consequences . She doubted Georgina had a very high opinion of her to begin with, though honestly she probably didn’t think about Andromeda all that often. She had never really been popular among the slytherins; she didn’t really fit in and she didn’t try to change that either. But most people gave her a break out of fear for her sister, though Georgina didn’t really seem like a Bellatrix suck-up. She knew the two of them sometimes hung out, though she had seam them together enough to know it was any sort of friendship, and that was something to be concerned about.

However, she tried to keep herself calm and composed as she waited to see how the other girl would respond.

[aliice]

“Andro…Andromeda Black,”

Andromeda Black? Well, well, well. If it wasn't her darling roommates baby sister. Hadn't she heard Bellatrix ranting about her sister and muggle borns or something? Georgie knew enough about Narcissa to know that she wasn't the type to mix with muggles, but this girl?

Georgie took a long drag on her joint before looking in Andromeda direction. She let her eyes sweep over her and a slow smirk spread across her face.

She was doing well trying to make herself look calm and composed and all that, but there was something... a stiffness in her posture or a shake in her movements... Georgie knew the reputation she had around the school, and even just around the common room. She had more friends than enemies, but she was happy with it that way. Georgie liked fear - she fed off it - it fueled her.

Georgina cocked her head to one side and let out a slow breath, sending the plumes of smoke from smoking her join in Andromeda's direction. She gave a quiet, breathy sort of laugh as she slipped on the counter and walked - or rather, strutted - towards the younger girl.

There was something about the Black's that Georgie had long since expected to see- again the posture... the composition... the movements... There was just something about the family... They all held an air about them that was instantly recognizable. This girl though? Sure she was trying for that look while she was faces with Georgie but... It seemed like more of a facade that a natural action. Sure there were similarities between Bellatrix and Andromeda that were impossible to miss but there were definite differences too.

Bellatrix and Narcissa, she'd seen, always seemed quite tight jawed and proper, with a kind of wall around them blocking them emotionally from the world. A mask easily warn to keep their thoughts there own. Too much showed on Andromeda's face that she clearly didn't intend to show.

Georgie walked around her in a slow circle, taking another drag but never taking her eyes off the girl in front of her. Stopping behind her, Georgie placed both of her hands on Andromeda's shoulders. The joint was held between to fingers and hovered dangerously close to her face. Georgie leaned in close to her while squeezing. "Why so tense, Little A?"

[quof]

Andromeda didn’t move, and scarcely even blinked, as she waited to see what Georgina would do. She also had to resist the impulse to screw up her nose as the smoke wafted over to her. Andromeda didn’t smoke, and scarcely drank too. She just couldn’t understand what appeal it held to people. She had heard it had something to do with the distraction, and maybe there was some truth if that. But she had seen enough of the people who took part in it to know she didn’t want that kind of life style.

She didn’t like the way Georgina was looking at her, nor the way she strutting toward her. Andromeda had the distinct impression that she was being looked over with eyes that did not mean her good in way, shape, or form. It made her skin prickle and she gulped, trying to keep her mind focused because if she did then maybe she could keep her heart from freaking out. A part of her wanted to follow Georgina with her eyes all the way around, but she forced herself to remain still and only look at at the girl when she was in front of her. It wasn’t like Georgina would really hurt her, she thought, and she told herself she was being ridiculous and she needed to get over it. But she couldn’t help feeling like the deer that the tigress, Georgina, was circling. Her hungry eyes momentarily playful, toying with her chosen victim before she came in for the kill.

Which is exactly what she did, almost. Andromeda started when there was suddenly pressure on her shoulders and Georgina was in her face. She knew her heart missed a beat, and her breath was finding its way in and out to be a little more constricted. She tried to answer Gerogina’s question firmly, but her side effects got the best of her.

“I—I, “ she forced herself to swallow, “I’m fine.” Though she could her the quavering note in her voice and she knew that georgina would not be fooled, no one would. But she didn’t try to add anything else, knowing that would only make it worse. She didn’t want to appear weak, but things weren’t going well for her otherwise. She just needed to stop reacting,and Georgina would get bored and leave her alone, hopefully. She was just going to have to suffer through whatever else came until then.

“Aren’t you…Aren’t you supposed to be in class?” The moment she said it she regretted it. Georgina probably knew exactly where she was supposed to be and was very aware of the fact that wasn’t. There, she meant.

Great, so in addition to appearing like a frightened rabbit, she also looked like a goody-toes shoes who couldn’t keep her nose out of other people’s business. Lovely.

[aliice]

((warning of extreme badness… apologies in advance))

Georgina let out a laugh. "Fine? You don't sound very fine, sweetie." Her voice got quieter as she spoke until it was little more than a whisper. Andromeda was clearly trying to sound like she was okay - like she wasn't phased by Georgina's being there, but she was failing at it, no matter how hard she tried otherwise. The hint of uncertainty was impossible for someone like Georgina to miss.

Georgina stepped backwards away from Andromeda, staying just out of sight. She was also stood between the 6th year and her only exit from this bathroom, and she was sure that was a fact Andromeda was more than aware of. Georgina knew both Bellatrix, and to and extent Narcissa, and she was wondering just how well this middle sister would compare.

Georgie raised an eyebrow at the question and another look of amusement crossed her face. "Aren't you?" Was this Little A grasping at straws right now or was there a reason for her questions? See seemed to be trying very hard to keep it all together, and Georgie wonder just how long she'd be able to keep it up for. Well, she wasn't short of time, was she?

[quof]

Andromeda felt her heart quicken at Gergina’s response, but she forced herself to stay calm, reminded herself that Georgina had no reason to hurt her. Mess with her, yes, toss her around a bit, probably, but actually harm her? No, not unless Andromeda gave her reason too.
She focused on Georgina now, keeping her face expressionless. Whatever this girl could dish out, she could deal with it. At least, that’s what she told herself, and she’d found that if you did that for long enough eventually you started to believe it.

Well, she had her there. She could just say, ‘I was just going to the bathroom,’ which would only cement her appearance as a perfect little student. And she couldn’t say, ‘I just needed to get away a bit’ because that would only sound like an evasive excuse, even if it was the truth in this case. And she definitely couldn’t say, “I came to check on my make-up,” because then she would sound like a simpering little girl who only cared about her looks. Andromeda did have some reservations when it came to reputations. But what else could she say, that she was skipping class? Andromeda may have been reserved, but she was a prefect who’d gotten one of the highest scores on her O.W.L.s in her year, there was no way she would believe Andromeda was skipping class, and it was slim that she could actually pull off that lie in the first place.

Her mind drifted back to the make-up one. She was Narcissa’s older sister, so it wouldn’t be too hard to believe that she cared about looks. Not that she thought Cissy was only a shallow girl who only thought about appearances—she would never do his sister the dishonor—but she couldn’t deny that she sometimes gave that impression.

She gritted her teeth, it wasn’t great, but it was the best she had. “Just…taking the opportunity to freshen up,” she said nonchalantly, not meeting Georgina’s eye.

[aliice]

“Just…taking the opportunity to freshen up,”

A slow smirk spread over Georgina's face. Freshening up? Generally something one waited till the end of class to do, not the middle of it. So what was Andromeda really doing here? And why wouldn't she make eye contact as she said it? That smirk spread.

Taking another long drag, Georgina held it towards Andromeda, waiting for her reaction. "What? If you're going to be all baaaaad and skip class, you might as well do it properly, right?" She put on a sweetsy voice but there was a challenge underneath it too. She'd heard some of the rumors that this particular Black might not be as 'Black-like' as the family would hope. Hadn't she been mixing with mudbloods lately?

"Oh, come on. Aren't we Slytherin's supposed to be the bad b*tches of this school?" Again, the challenge. She stood part way between the 6th year and the door, and gradually moved the joint closer to Andromeda, waiting to see what she would do.

[quof]

Andromeda stiffened and star at Georgina with wide eyes. “What, No I’m not skipping class, at least not for very long,” she said, though she knew she didn’t sound very convincing.

She actually took a step back and Georgina moved closer, not a good move. It definitely made her look intimidated. She didn’t know what to say to her next comment, it was true that out of all the houses, the Slytherin’s had a reputation for being the worst in almost every sense of the world. She’d never really caught on though, another reason why she was kind of an outcast. When Georgina held the joint out to her she wanted to move back until she was against the wall. She kept her feet planted, but she couldn’t help herself from leaning back a little as Georgina brought it closer.

She hated smoking. She always had. Many members of her familiar would occasionally smoke a cigar or a pipe, including her father. And much of the upper levels of the Slytherin’s had done it at least once, so she wasn’t unaccustomed to it, but it had never appealed to her. She just couldn’t understand the logic of puffing smoke into her lungs. Smoke did not belong in lungs, isn’t that part of the reason why fires were so dangerous? She understood the part about getting high and losing a bit of control, well, she understood why someone might find appeal in that. But she didn’t. She had always figured if she ever really wanted to drown her sorrows, she would do it with Alcohol and even them only sparingly.

But she couldn’t say any of this to Georgina. She eyed the exit, and began trying to edge towards it. It was time to leave, before things got stickier.

“No thank you,” she said coolly and as politely as she could, her eyes still glued on the door.

[aliice]

Andromeda was uncomfortable, that much was clear, and it only amused Georgie more. She could tell that it was taking a lot of self control for the sixth year to stay in place and not back away or try to run. It was quite clear she wasn't to keen on the idea of having the joint in her face either, and there was a slight look of distaste as Georgie moved it closer.

Andromeda's eyes looked past Georgina and there was no question about where she was looking to as she politely declined the offer of the joint. "Thinking of leaving already? But you haven't even 'freshened up' yet, lovely. What a waste of a trip..." She let out a slow laugh and turned around, heading towards the door.

Georgie reached for the handle and slowly ran her fingers over it before letting her hand drop to the lock just beneath it. She turned it quickly and the bolt fell into place. It could be unlocked easily enough from the inside, but it would take time, and at least it meant it was harder for anyone on the outside to get in, too. Georgie wasn't quite done with her little... intimidation yet.

"Are you sure I can't tempt you with just one, itty bitty drag?" The words were almost coo'ed like one might do when talking to a young child or baby or something. Mocking? Yup, she sounded it right now.

[quof]

Andromeda was tired, she did not have the energy for this. And even before then, she had never been one to stir up a fight. But Georgina was really starting to irritate her, and against her better judgment she found herself wanting to strike back just a little.

"Yes, Well I'm having second thoughts about that," she said as calmly and as in control as she could, though she was sure some of her frustration slipped through. She should have known better than to leave, it wouldn't have been that hard to make it through the whole class period. She could have just let herself get absorbed in her book, shutting out her world and her classmates like she'd always been able to do. She wouldn't have had to miss a single moment, and now she was wondering if she was even going to be able to make it back before class ended at all.

She didn't back up when Georgina offered it too her again, but her hands clenched into fists at her side. "No Thank you," she said through gritted teeth, even when she was angry she was still infallibly polite. It was one of the things that annoyed Andromeda most about herself, and probably part of the reason why no body was ever intimidated by her. Still though, she forced herself to meet Georgina's playful gaze with a cool one of her own.

[aliice]

Georgie always had such fun in these kinds of situations. It was so easy to mold and intimidate people it was like a fun sport for her. It definitely drew out the strongest and weakest personalities too. Some people could take it for a while, others caved in mere minutes. Andromeda, actually, wasn't doing too badly considering.

"Oh? And why is that, sweetie? What made you change your mind?" Georgie tried to gauge a reaction from Andromeda as she locked the door and stood between the sixth year and her only exit, but her expression was almost unreadable. Admirable...

Once again, Andromeda refused the joint, but this time there was a definite edge of annoyance creeping through. "Oh you're no fun." She coo'd again, taking a long drag of her own and once again blowing it out in the younger girl's direction.

"So... I suppose that now you want me to step aside and let you go? Then what? You go play tattle tale and tell big sister dearest of what a big bad bully I am?" Geogie made a scoffing noise and rolled her eyes. She was probably one of the only people who wasn't scared of Bellatrix around here. Her roommate didn't scare her at all.

[quof]

Of course she would ask that. Andromeda knew that Georgina knew the answer to her question already, but she could scarcely stand the idea of her hearing it from Andromeda's own lips. But the weary look she gave Georgina was enough of an answer. Andromeda cast her eyes at the floor, restraining a sigh. She was fully intent on remaining silent, but something in her frustration slipped out and she muttered to the ground. "Guess I didn't realize exactly what it would entail." She was going to regret saying that, she knew.

It was not the first time she had been told she was know fun, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. It wasn't a phrase that had very much effect on her, in fact, it was cause to celebrate. It sounded very much like Georgina had grown bored with her, which is what she had been hoping for all along. And in truth, there's a part of Meda that wondered if she would have given in eventually. It wasn't a happy thought.

She snorted when Georgina mentioned her sister, she couldn't help it. She going to older sister and babbling about Georgina's treatment of her? She would sooner eat a cactus. "I doubt she even cares," Andromeda grumbled, and she instantly regretted it. Her strained relationship with her sister wasn't exactly a secret among the Slytherin's, but it was one of those things that was just never mentioned, by anyone. And who else for Andromeda to fail to do this with that her sister's lovely roommate. She sighed, why did everything she did have to tinged with regret?

[aliice]

Oh, so the kitten had claws? Amusement flittered over her features, but she continued on talking. "I thought your Black girls weren't quite so prudish. Seems you you might be the only none wh*re of the group." It didn't phase Georgina at all to blatantly insult the family. It was no secret that she and Bellatrix didn't entirely get along, and when they did it was always with a fake front. Basically, Georgie just didn't like her dark haired room mate, and as for the youngest sister? Well, Georige just couldn't begin to imaging how anyone would want to act in the way that she did. She was far too stuck up and loved herself far too much to be healthy. Then again, Georgie was rather a fan of herself, too, but she wasn't about to go around preening her feathers every five minutes, nor was she going to avoid having fun just because it meant getting her hands dirty.

"Doesn't care, hmm? The only thing your darling sister cares about is her reputation and that tattoo she holds on her wrist. But then, she likes a good fight, doesn't she? She might make an exception for you if it's beneficial to her."

Georgina stepped away from the door and put her joint out by scrubbing it against the bathroom wall, leaving a large dirty stain in place. She smirked at it. "Well, Little A, this has been a nice little chat, hasn't it. She smirked as she passed Andromeda and headed for the door. "Well have to do this again some time. I'll look for you, how's that sound?" Without even waiting for a response, Georgie flicked open the lock on the bathroom door and stepped out, a smug grin on her face. She just that she'd just left with threatening promise hanging in the air between them, but Geogie was going to need something to do to keep her entertained for a while.

[quof]

In some ways that could be considered a compliment—especially by Andromeda's standards—but she still reacted like she'd been slapped. Maybe it was that she was unaccustomed to hearing her family talked about in such a manner, especially her sisters. The name of black commanded a certain respect among most pure blood families, a respect that towed the lines of fear. And the only person she had heard talk that way about her eldest sister had been Sirius and his friends. Andromeda may not like all the traits associated with her family, but it did give her a certain security that she had never realized she'd been taking for granted. And it would appear her family's instilled pride had not been wasted on her, as she still reacted like she herself had been insulted. Funny how she could feel so far from them but still be connected in such a way.

"It won't be." Said Andromeda with more conviction that she felt. What she could really picture was Bellatrix joining forces with Georgina should a situation like this ever occur again. but maybe she was being to hard on her sister. She had taken special interest in Andromeda's well being in her own, twisted Bellatrix way. Would she come to Andromeda's defense? It was too weird to think about.

Andromeda could barely register that she was leaving until she actually out the door. It made sense, as the younger student could hardly be the most entertaining part of her day, but still, this conversation had seemed like endless only a moment ago, and now it was over. Andromeda closed her eyes, letting out a long breath as Georgina's last words washed over her. great, she'd made a sort of enemy with one of the most reputable Slytherin's to enter this school that was exactly what she needed. She leaned against the wall, maybe she'd get lucky and she'd forget Andromeda existed, but she doubted it. She wait for a few moments, giviGeorginaina plenty of time to get somewhere where Andromeda wouldn't run into her again, before she slipped out and quickly made her way back to class.