Kapitel 24: Chapter Twenty-Three: Mistakes of The Past.
Beauxbaton was a mystery in itself.
Over the past two days, Cordelia hadn't done much but waltz around the halls to try and make sense of the mystical designs and historical creatures dotted around the palace. Antoine had been a splendid host and had constantly entertained the Slytherin girls, showing them every aspect of Beauxbaton.
He had started with the library per Cordelia's request, however, she didn't have much time to dwindle and gawk at the columns of deep blue bookshelves filled to the brim. With a solemn promise to visit the books again the pureblood which was dragged out of the chamber per Phyllis's request, their fanatics drawing amused giggles from the French boy and glares from the librarian.
Next, they wandered towards the ballroom, something Cordelia had been delighted to witness.
The room was covered with velvety baby blue curtains and pillars with gold designs. A large chandelier and marble floors completed the picturesque room, its colours mimicking the occupants' clothing. Several Beauxbaton students waltzed around the room in pairs, their skirts and ties swirling as they intricately danced their way around each other.
Unlike Hogwarts they didn't use a music box to play songs, instead favouring a live choir of woodland nymphs. Their voices paired with the students' dance was enough to make Druella and Phyllis swoon as they begged Antoine to ask the professor to let them join.
Cordelia, however, was too lost in the music to pay attention to her friends' quarrels.
"Lia?"
The call startled her as the girl in question turned towards Antoine, her gaze briefly lingering on Druella and Phyllis standing beside two French boys.
"The professor allowed the three of you to join in for one song."
A smile played across her lips as Cordelia noticed the palm held out for her paired with raised eyebrows. While she was unsure about dancing with a boy she just met, Lia figured it wouldn't be too much of a scandal if the only people she knew in the room were her friends.
"It's a simple waltz, nothing too grand."
She nodded as Cordelia absorbed Antoine's words, allowing her gaze to linger on his black locks and blue eyes.
"That's unfortunate."
Antoine laughed as they took up the starting position, joining the circle of couples in the middle of the room. While he had promised the dance wouldn't be too hard, Cordelia couldn't help but feel a little confused as the nymphs began singing a fast=paced older song.
The circle of French students twirled on the spot before dipping the girl and moving to left just as the girls were pulled up and they began waltzing. With a slight hum from the teacher, the students briefly diverted from the waltz, doing a spin to make the circle smaller just as the nymphs moved to the chorus of the song.
"You're a good dancer."
Cordelia smiled at the compliment, waiting for Antoine to twirl her before speaking.
"I've learned ever since I was five."
At that he simply hummed, diverting his attention to the dance before turning back to her as the chorus ended.
"Do you know what they're saying?"
Lia shook her head, intrigued by the meaning behind the nymphs' words.
"It's a song about a lost maiden looking for sanctuary. This verse talks about her blue eyes, and how the tears flowing from them mirror the river in her town."
The meaning shocked Cordelia. She had never thought such an upbeat song would have a solemn meaning to it, especially when the dance itself was so joyful and intricate.
"You know in a way one could say the verse is about you."
Her shock was deepened as Cordelia furrowed her eyebrows and cocked her head, tightening her grip on his shoulder just as they spun yet again.
"How is that so?"
Antoine smiled in a bittersweet way, subtly lowering his voice as to not draw attention.
"You're a blue-eyed girl who longs to go back to Hogwarts, and the lake around it."
While he had a peculiar way of putting it, Cordelia supposed the French boy's words held a bit of truth. She had, in fact, been longing for the Slytherin dorms and the window beside her bed. The blue-eyed brunette had a hard time falling asleep after a long day, and the soft waves and deep waters calmed Lia as she turned in her bed.
She had once read that if a person was longing for sleep they should stare at the moon, yet Cordelia preferred staring at the water and its inhabitants as they swam past her window, the occasional bubble or wave seeming like a lullaby of sorts as she would doze off.
"How did you know?"
Antoine shrugged, speeding up along with the students around them as the song slowly came to an end.
"Slytherins sleep close to the lake, I just presumed you missed the view."
Cordelia smiled at his words, keeping quiet as they twirled and Antoine dipped her one final time before the circle became as small as possible. Then the couples twirled out of the circle in a quick fashion, receding back to what the circle used to be in the start.
"You know, your eyes remind me of my father's. They're the exact same shade."
His words made Cordelia falter as she missed a step of the song, the mistake causing Antoine to nearly loosen his grip just as he dipped her one final time. With a huff the French boy stared at her quizzically, making Cordelia flush as the song came to an end.
"Sorry, I forgot the step."
It was clear Antoin didn't buy the lie, but he simply nodded as they detached from one another and moved to the side of the room. Cordelia, however, faltered yet again as they walked towards Ella and Phyllis.
"I-"
Antoine turned towards her with an expectant smile, the look making her frown tighten as Cordelia backed away from him.
"I just remembered I had to speak with Slughorn today, I should get going."
"Are you sure you can't stay for a few minutes?"
Cordelia shook her head, suddenly feeling chocked up and dizzy.
"No, I shouldn't be late."
Antoine nodded, walking forward to approach yet halting as Cordelia shook her head and took a step back.
"I should go alone, it's Hogwarts things. Please just tell Ella and Philly I'll see them during the announcement."
Yet again the French boy looked beyond confused, but he simply nodded as Cordelia quickly twirled on the spot and sped out of the ballroom.
Antoine couldn't possibly know her darkest secret, could he?
No, it was impossible. Only the Blacks were aware of what transpired sixteen years ago at the Wiltshire house, and even then most of the family was unaware of it. Antoine couldn't possibly know what had happened, no it was simply her mind playing games.
Cordelia's paranoia had been heightened the second they landed outside the Palace of Beauxbaton, and it was known to eat away at any sane part of her mind. Antoine wasn't aware of it, he was simply stating a normal opinion. Many people had blue eyes like hers after all the shade wasn't a unique one.
Stop being so damn parano-
The thought was cut off as Cordelia bumped into an unknown person, their hands automatically going to rest on her waist as the brunette witch pulled back and rubbed her forehead.
"Sorry I wasn't looking."
"Evidently."
Tom's husky voice made Cordelia mentally swear as she looked up at the brunette boy. While he looked as he did two days ago on the train, she couldn't help but search for anything different, as if she expected him to grow a pair of hours at Beauxbaton.
"Are you alright?"
His question made her snap out of her reverie as Cordelia simply nodded, noticing how he suspiciously looked past her to ensure no one was there. She took that time to snap her gaze away from his eyes, instead focusing on the tiled floor.
"I'm fine, just...busy."
If her lie with Antoine didn't work out well, this lie felt like a broomstick enchanted to crash into everything. The sudden reminder of the one secret Cordelia wanted to keep under wraps had certainly taken a toll on her, and Riddle wasn't one to overlook such things.
"I figured as much."
She rolled her eyes at his words as Cordelia finally looked up from the floor, her gaze flickering away from Tom to instead land on Theodore and Abarax making their way towards the duo from the other end of the corridor, shocked frowns and furrowed eyebrows accompanying them.
Cordelia was suddenly very aware of Tom's hold on her just as Rodolphus and Orion turned the corner to join the two boys, their gazes too resting on their Lord's sudden companion. While Orion chose to continuously stare at his sister even when the others looked away, Theodore simply smirked and winked as Cordelia rolled her eyes yet again and turned back to Tom.
"You can let go of me now."
It seemed he too hadn't noticed his hold on her as Riddle awkwardly cleared his throat and backed away, subtly turning to look at his knights as Cordelia adjusted her uniform. The two of them met each other's gaze just as the brunette witch side-stepped Tom, sending him a tight smile as her paranoia came rushing back.
"If Druella and Phyllis ask, please tell them you saw me with Slughorn."
The request drew yet another confused frown from Tom as he opened his mouth to question her. Cordelia, however, didn't wait for his queries and rushed down the hallway, paying no heed to Orion's calls as she dashed towards the Hogwarts girls' dormitories.
All was silent as the blue-eyed witch stared at a stray piece of parchment on her diary, its tattered state clearly showcasing its age. A gasp and light sob passed through her lips as Cordelia stared at the parchment for the umpteenth time, her oceanic pools constantly lingering on one word.
With a sigh Cordelia finally turned away from the words, choosing to pick up a stray quill and circle the last name on her list. A teardrop smudged the 'R' as the witch finally allowed herself to sob freely, paying no heed to how loud she was being.
Unfortunately, Cordelia's past had finally caught up with her right when she needed it to stay away.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein