drawn to your core

Alexia was still in a bit of disbelief with the fact that they were at Hogwarts. Her hair braided neatly but pinned up, she found herself peering around, still adjusting to the school that was far different from her own and her cousins’, Beauxbatons. While she was aware that not many other students from Beauxbatons were interested in Hogwarts, she found herself curious, wanting to explore, but she held herself back, not wanting to disgrace her school. Settling her gaze on her cousins, she idly wondered if they were as intrigued with the school as she was. She didn't dare say a word, though, preferring to keep most of her thoughts to herself. They'd already had breakfast and were preparing to separate for classes; the night before, the announcement of the Triwizard Tournament had been made and everybody was quite excited, even Alexia, but she found herself wondering who would represent each school and what Beauxbatons’ chances of winning were. As the thought passed her mind, though, her eyes scanned the halls around them still, silent because she wasn't quite sure what to say, and her eyes landed on a group of boys not too far away. They each seemed to be about hers and her cousins’ ages and, for a moment, she wondered about asking them for any directions to their classes, should they need it, but her gaze fell on the boy with hazel eyes and any words that might have wanted to escape were suddenly stuck in her throat and she found herself staying right where she was instead, just wanting to watch him while she could.

“Honestly, I wonder what we're to expect here,” Mailys spoke quietly to her cousin, Victoire, pouting as she leaned against the corridor wall, peering into the Great Hall for a moment. “Or why we had to come. It's not as though we can put our names in the Goblet.” And, it was a shame, really, because she found herself curious about what it would be like to participate in the Triwizard Tournament. She didn't care for the fame or glory, of course - no, she wanted to be faced with a challenge and it truly seemed that no greater challenge existed than the Triwizard Tournament, at least not for students of magic. Even to this day, though, it still amazed her what she was capable of - her and her cousins were all muggleborn, the fact that they could produce magic, wield it, explore it, it was all so fascinating to her, even in their sixth year. But that was what made Mailys want to explore it further; she wanted to discover all there was to know about magic, she wanted to learn everything she could. It seemed a bit greedy, she knew, but the opportunity had presented itself when she first got accepted into Beauxbatons, and she just wanted to see what boundaries existed for magic. Sighing, she straightened herself, reminding herself that she was meant to be proper - it was only expected of a Beauxbatons student. “Shall we just be on our way, see if we can find our classes on our own?” She arched a brow before noticing Alexia's attention elsewhere and, following her gaze, she caught sight of the group of boys as well, pausing at the sight of the brightest blue eyes she'd ever seen.

Calum grinned to himself, leaning against the corridor wall as he tossed an apple into the air a few times before pulling out his wand to chant “Wengardium Leviosa” just for the hell of it, flicking his wand around to make it move on occasion. Dropping it back into his hand, he took a large bite out of it before peering at his friends, and loosening his Slytherin tie with a proud grin. “Alright, mates, what's on the agenda for today now that we can go about our days?” he asked. A part of him was still bitter about the announcement of the Triwizard Tournament, he couldn't lie - how unfair was it that you couldn't put your name in the Goblet of Fire unless you were seventeen or older! If somebody had the mind to put their names in the Goblet, he thought it should be allowed, regardless of age. If an idiotic First Year got picked, well, then it would have been their own bloody fault. Scoffing with the thought, he shook his head, but smirked when he spotted a First Year walking their way. Muttering “Wingardium Leviosa” once more, he floated the apple over towards the First Year, floating it above their head as they walked. “Oi, dare me?” Arching a brow, he peered at his friends, certain they would egg him on, because not only was it a Gryffindor First Year, it was also a muggleborn. And, really, who out of the four of them would pass up the chance to torture the poor fool who decided to walk alone? It was the kid's own fault in the end; he should have been smarter than to walk the corridors without a friend accompanying him.

Michael watched his friends with an amused grin, shaking his head slightly at Calum's antics. The four of them had grown up together - their parents before them had grown up together. And, like their parents before them, they were all best friends and they were all Slytherins. Moreover, they all shared a similar belief, their hatred for and disdain towards muggleborn running through their veins as if it was ingrained in their DNA. Michael didn't mind; in fact, he loved it. He loved having a group of friends who were like-minded, who believed the way he did, who he'd gone his whole life knowing. It was because of this that he didn't care much about the Triwizard Tournament himself - he doubted a Slytherin would get picked, but the fact that it wouldn't be any of his friends, for sure, meant that they were safe, and he wouldn't have to wonder what life would be like without them. After all, he'd spent practically his whole life with them at his side; he was in no rush to lose that. Hearing Calum, though, he peered over, watching the apple, and smirked slightly. “15 points if you knock him out,” he said easily in response, “Perhaps the mudblood would learn a lesson that way. And, if not, it always makes for great fun, anyway. And target practice, of course.” He grinned, almost wickedly, with the thought, and peered over at Calum once more, arching a brow. “After all, what good is a spell if you can't aim properly, anyway? Come on, then, do it.” Of course, he knew Calum would likely do it without the pushing, but Michael was eager to see it either way - it would make for a great way to start the day, he was sure.

Ashton watched Calum's antics with a dimpled grin, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and tie of green and silver loose around his neck. Ashton, unlike his parents, had never been one to keep up appearances - he was in his Sixth year, for goodness sake, why bother? Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Ashton's eyes followed the apple with a smirk, and seeing the Gryffindor first year, Ashton's grin grew to a smirk, and he looked to the brunette that he called his best friend - the Irwin and Hood families having been particularly close. "I absolutely dare you." Ashton chuckled. "But, instead of 15 points if you knock out the filthy little mudblood, I raise it to 25. You must be determined for these kinds of things, Calum, and winning is everything." However, as Ashton studied the First Year, almost scoffing at his crimson and gold tie that was bold against his white shirt, Ashton found a blue colour caught his eye, and he looked past the little blood traitor, to a group of Beauxbatons students. The girls of Beauxbatons had been introduced, along with the boys of Durmstrang, the day before in a grand entry to the Great Hall, the three schools ready to choose their champion and participate in some friendly rivalry - although, in Ashton's opinion, the Triwizard Tournament was just ridiculous - such an outdated game. Why not just stick to Quidditch? Studying the girl for a long moment, Ashton couldn't help but to admire her long, dark hair; elegantly tied up, and the way she seemed to be looking right at him, too. Looking to the apple once more, realising how it must of looked to outsiders, Ashton decided that, as gorgeous as she was, he didn't know this girl. "Go on then."

Luke Hemmings was proud to be a Slytherin, and god damn it, he had the right to be. His house, the house he shared with his best friends, the house that had been in his family for generations, was superior to the other three, no matter what those arrogant little Gryffindors had to say - but what made it so superior? Of course, it was the bloodline. Most students in Slytherin were of pureblooded families, and Luke didn't know a single mudblood or halfblood that wore a green and silver tie. Looking to Calum though, Luke chuckled, shaking his head. "Didn't your Mother ever tell you, Calum, not to play with your food?" He raised his eyebrows in amusement. "But, I see the 25 points, and I raise it to 50. Snape might even see and award you 100." Luke smirked, rolling his sleeves up to his elbows, although his tie was still tight and neat around his neck, because he knew that keeping up appearances and giving the younger Slytherins an example was important to upholding the house reputation. Slytherins looked out for their own, and that was a known fact around Hogwarts. Toying with his lower lip as he watched the apple hover above the Gryffindor boys' head, Luke couldn't help but think the little twit deserved it - not only was he a Gryffindor, but he was a Muggleborn, and that was enough to put a bitter taste into Luke's mouth. "And if you knock him out?" Luke grinned, sharing an amused glance to Michael. "Even better." Glancing around to ensure there were no teachers lurking the corridors, Luke's train of thought was halted suddenly, when his gaze fell upon a brunette girl, dressed smartly in a Beauxbatons uniform. Blinking in surprise, Luke offered the girl a smile - surely, a school that grand, with a wonderful reputation, had to be full of purebloods, and besides, this beauty couldn't possibly have dirty blood running through her veins.

Victoire listened to Mailys' words, nodding in agreement as she neatened out her blue skirt, keeping her appearance tidy. "You must admit, the castle is simply beautiful." Victoire looked to her cousins with her words. "But we have to stay, we need to support our champion!" Victoire, although she was uninterested in the concept of the Triwizard Tournament, was keen to support whichever one of her fellow Beauxbatons students had been chosen to participate in the games. It couldn't be herself, or any of her cousins; at sixteen, they were too young to put their names into the Goblet, and thus, couldn't take part. Being Muggleborn, Victoire had never known about magic until she had received her acceptance letter from Beauxbatons, a beautiful estate, hidden within the French Pyrenees mountains - but now, here she was, discovering that magic existed all over the world and there were other schools! Hearing Mailys sigh, Victoire offered a gentle smile. "I think we'll have a lot of fun here." She reassured. "But, perhaps, asking directions might be a wise option." But when she noticed that Alexia and Mailys weren't paying attention anymore, she followed their gaze to a group of boys, her eyes settling on a particularly handsome boy, with tanned skin and dark hair. Seeing he was armed with his wand, Victoire followed his gaze to an apple he was hovering above a young students' head. Approaching the group, Victoire retrieved her own wand and aimed for the apple, gently pulling the First year out of the way. "Confringo!" She ordered, watching as the apple exploded to tiny bits. Offering the younger student a smile, she looked back to the group of boys, offering a nod and walking back to her cousins. "Mailys, Alexia, if they're bullies, they are not worth associating with." She warned.

Leonie followed her cousins closely, turning the map of Hogwarts they were given by their headmistress, Olympe Maxime, every which way, trying to decipher it. "Are we sure that finding lessons by ourselves is a good idea?" She lifted her gaze, catching up to the group and neatening out her blazer, her hair tied into a beautifully done bun. "We have standards to uphold, and being late for class certainly wouldn't help keep them up." She offered an amused glance, but when nobody replied, Leonie followed their gaze as she stood closely to Alexia's side, having always been closest to the youngest of the group. When her gaze finally landed upon a group of boys, Leonie raised her eyebrows in curiosity, seeing that her cousins seemed to be enthralled by this particular group - studying each boy, Leonie struggled to see why, until her eyes landed on the most colourful character, with bright hair and a smile that could probably light up the whole universe. "Oh," she breathed out quietly, feeling her heart seize in her chest. But seeing the apple floating, Leonie frowned when she noticed it was hovering above a first year's head. "Oh." She repeated, a little firmly, rolling her eyes at the cruel joke they seemed to be playing. When Victoire stepped forward and destroyed the apple, Leonie shifted, because it meant that attention had now been drawn to the group.

Alexia watched the display quietly, idly, but a small frown had settled upon her lips as she listened to the boys quietly. The boy who had caught her attention in the first place had gone on about mudbloods and that was enough for Alexia to know that she wanted nothing to do with them. After all, she and her cousins were all muggleborns, lucky to have each discovered their magical talents, and luckier still to have been invited to Beauxbatons. And, seeing the way these boys were treating a First Year, of all people, solely because he was a muggleborn, made her stomach churn, but also made her blood boil. The quieter girl let herself speak up to inform her cousin, “I doubt they would associate with us, anyway, Victoire. They’re obviously not fond of muggleborns - and, you’re right. They’re bullies, they’re not worth it.” But, she moved forward, then, crouching down in front of the First Year as she offered a smile. “Hi there. How about we get you to your friends? There’s safety in numbers, even against rotten bullies like them.” And, standing, then, she offered her hand to the boy before she led the way back to the Great Hall, though she released her hold once the boy entered the Great Hall and joined his table inside.

Mailys could feel her jaw clench as she watched the boys, scowling slightly as she rolled her eyes. Of course it would be her luck to find herself attracted to a bully, of all things. But, still, she stood straight and offered little more than a roll of her eyes when she saw the smile the blue eyed beauty had aimed at her. “Well, now that that bit of disappointment is over, let’s distract ourselves from the cruel show those boys put on and focus on the task at hand?” she suggested, moving over to Victoire and Leonie to get a look at the map. “We might have to ask somebody else for help. Perhaps one of the professors? I believe they’re still in the Great Hall, if you want me to go ask?” Arching a brow, she was determined to ignore the presence of the vile boys, and she offered a small grin to her cousins. “After all, I’m sure a professor would be much more trustworthy than some people.” And, as quickly as the grin had formed, it disappeared as she shot a disgusted, distrustful glare towards the four boys, though she was determined to not let them ruin her day - and if they continued to find poor kids to bully, she was sure she and her cousins would find more ways to step in and ruin their fun.

Calum had been grinning, eager to show off, and eager to show his friends what he was made of. More than anything, though, he was determined to really enjoy this year and push every limit that he could. “Well, how can I pass up a challenge like that?” he asked jokingly, his grin falling to a broad smirk. His fun was short-lived, though, as just before he was about to drop the apple onto the First Year, he’d heard a voice shout out a spell and, seeing the apple exploding, he’d lifted his arms to block the apple bits from getting all over him. A frown formed on his features as he peered towards the source of the whole problem, though he was shocked to find that the source of the loss of his fun came in the form of such a beautiful girl. His mouth fell agape for a few long moments and he wasn’t sure if it was because of how stunned he was with her beauty or because of his shock with the fact that she’d stepped in and gotten in the way of his little game with his friends. “Oi,” he said, his frown deepening as he took a step forward, determined not to let his amazement of the girl get in the way of the fact that she’d interrupted his game. “Who gave you the right to go and do that, hm? You could have just stood there and watched, maybe you could have gotten a laugh out of it.”

Michael couldn’t help but to laugh when he heard Luke and Ashton challenging Calum further, making everything all that much more interesting. But, then, it was a usual thing for them - they were always trying to find ways to outdo each other, to make things more interesting, to make things more fun. What Michael hadn’t been expecting, what wasn’t usual, was the fact that somebody had gotten involved, inserting themself in the situation and, arching a brow, he peered over, flicking off a piece of apple that had landed on his shoulder. “Well, would you look at that, Cal,” he said with a grin, “Looks like a girl wants to stand up to you.” But, then, as he peered over the group, his gaze fell on one of the others - the girl with the map, to be more specific, and, for a moment, he found himself breathless at the sight of her. How was it possible for such a gorgeous girl to exist? It was as though everything bright and beautiful seemed to be wrapped in one being, and, for a few moments, he stared, watching her, unable to tear his gaze away. But, then, he wondered why she was frowning. It couldn’t have possibly been the worst thing in the world that they were bullying some kid. And a part of him, a part he didn’t want to admit to having, wished there was a way to wipe the frown off her face, that he could think of a way to make her smile instead.

Ashton watched as the beauty that so easily captured his attention knelt in front of the rotten little First Year, offering him a smile. Ashton was certain that his stomach twisted with an emotion he couldn't quite understand, unfamiliar to him. Ashton Irwin wasn't jealous of anyone, usually it was the other way around. But something about seeing this girl - did he hear the name Alexia? - was just so incredible that Ashton couldn't push it away. Watching as she offered the little worm a smile, Ashton rolled his eyes. "He isn't a baby, you know." Ashton spoke with annoyance, attitude - but when she spoke of muggleborns, Ashton realised that she probably was one, and realised how awful his behaviour would look. When Alexia called him and his friends rotten bullies, Ashton rolled his eyes, but understood why she would think that. Seeing the first year take her hand though, Ashton felt a surge of anger in his chest, and when Alexia walked away, Ashton scoffed, looking to his friends. "You have got to be joking." A small part of Ashton - one Ashton never acknowledged - wish he could chase the beauty and apologise, but he refused to turn his back on his friends.

Leonie blinked as Mailys approached her, holding one end of the map as Mailys took the other. "Perhaps asking would be a good idea." Leonie admitted with a smile to her cousin, nodding. "Professor McGonagall seems lovely." Leonie pointed out, and although she wanted to stay around the brightly coloured boy to see if he would apologise for his caveman behaviour, she would rather step out of the situation and remind herself where she came from, and who - what - her family were. Looking to the group of boys with Mailys' words, Leonie frowned. "Well, some people just don't realise that they have the power to be good. Unfortunately for them, I don't think good exists within that kind of cruelty." Leonie shot easily. "C'mon, let's go and ask for directions." Leonie offered Mailys a small smile. "We'll meet you outside the Great Hall, Victoire." Leonie promised, although she was unsure of whether or not the girl was paying attention. Linking her arm through Mailys', Leonie led the way.

Luke smirked when her heard the girl - Mailys? - speak of the whole situation as a disappointment, because to Luke; that meant that she had held some hope of Luke being a good person. And he was, but only to those who deserved it. Watching the fluid way she moved to her friends, Luke bit his lip, running a hand through his hair as he studied her, and he decided that it was her he wanted, nobody else. Trying to speak to her would be a challenge, but one he wanted to pursue. He couldn't leave a beauty like that. "Oh, we're not that bad, sweetheart." Luke shot back. "Why do you even care, it's only a first year." Luke spoke nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders, and when he saw the glare Mailys shot the group, Luke lifted his hands in surrender, smirking the whole while. "He wasn't worth the ground you walk on." Luke continued, trying his hardest to seem worthy of her forgiveness, and knowing he was doing a bloody miserable job at it. Seeing the girl that Michael had been ogling leading the way away from the group, Luke scowled, rolling his eyes. "How about a trip to the Great Hall, lads?"

Victoire glared at Calum as he spoke to her, and seeing him frown, the brunette rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "Who gave me the right?" Victoire scoffed. "I gave myself the right. How dare you treat a first year in such a cruel way?" Victoire retaliated. "And if that's your idea of a joke, I wouldn't like to see what you would consider cruel." Victoire didn't let the boys' step forward break her stance. She wasn't afraid of him, not like he wanted her to be. "And if I would laugh at something so cruel, I would consider myself to be the lowest type of creature." Studying the, admittedly handsome, boy, Victoire frowned when she saw the green and silver tie he wore around his neck. "You must be a Slytherin. Yes, we were warned about your kind." Victoire shook her head. "No good to or for anyone." Hearing her cousins, Victoire went to follow them, looking back to Calum once more before catching up with her cousins, smiling as she joined them, vowing silently to herself that she would always try to undo whatever damage the Slytherin boy with the beautiful eyes and smile tried to do.

Alexia peered over when she heard Ashton’s words, and she frowned slightly. “He stills deserves kindness after you lot treated him like that,” she pointed out, but she fell silent after that, not wanting to prolong the conversation or have any further attention on herself. In fact, she wanted to get as far away from that spot as possible, so when Leonie suggested they go to ask for directions, she offered a small nod and moved to follow after the other two. She did, however, peer back at Victoire, concerned for her cousin, and she waited just inside of the Great Hall for her in case anything further happened. When Victoire walked away from the boy, though, and moved to follow them inside, she offered a weak, concerned smile, and nodded, relieved things hadn’t escalated, before she headed further into the Great Hall, following Leonie and Mailys to where the professors were. She hoped things wouldn’t end up worse throughout the day, though, a part of her almost wishing they hadn’t come to Hogwarts after the confrontation.

Michael arched a brow as he not-so-discreetly listened in on what the beauty who’d caught his attention was saying. Quietly, he snorted with the knowledge that she seemed to think Professor McGonagall was a great choice. The Professor was kind, yes, but, well, she was a Gryffindor, and Michael knew better than to really care for any Gryffindors, professor or otherwise. “What a waste,” he muttered quietly, scoffing quietly to himself, though he paused when he heard the girl continue to talk and, seeing that she was watching them, he arched a brow as he examined her for a few long moments. “Ooh, ouch, sweetheart,” he called after her, “That would be a great insult if we happened to care.” He smirked, though a part of him felt his heart sinking in his chest, because, whether he would openly admit it or not, he did care, especially when it came to this beauty. Something about her spoke to him on a level that he wasn’t quite used to and he wanted to embrace it, but he knew better. Watching her walk away, he couldn’t quite tear his gaze from her but he looked to Luke when he heard his friend’s words. “I think that sounds like a brilliant idea, mate.”

Mailys felt her jaw clench as she peered over at Luke, watching him for a few long moments. “I care, because that’s what people with hearts do, they care,” she informed him easily, “Moreover, the words you lot spat make it seem as though you think he’s not worth the ground we walk on, because of his blood status. And, yet, that would mean we’re not worth that ground, either, considering our blood status is the same as his - of course, I don’t expect you to have realized that, considering you can’t seem to see past your own ridiculous prejudices that you don’t stop to think that perhaps you should learn to keep your mouth shut.” She looked to Leonie, then, though, and nodded. “Right, let’s get going, Leonie,” she decided, walking with Leonie, her arm through hers, and she proceeded into the Great Hall without another glance towards the boy with ocean eyes. Settling her gaze ahead, she stopped just in front of Professor McGonagall and, quietly, she asked for directions, to which the Professor seemed to have no problems with relaying the information they requested.

Calum examined Victoire, a smirk forming on his features as he listened to her talk, and he tilted his head as he processed everything she was saying. “There’s hardly anything wrong with treating a First Year however we want to treat him,” he pointed out easily, “After all, we could have been much worse.” And, bloody hell, that was the truth. He’d heard tales his parents had told of what they’d done to students in their time, after all. When he’d been younger, he’d listened in awe, but, as he’d grown older, the stories weren’t quite as admirable to him. Of course, he never admitted such a thing aloud, not even to his closest friends. “What I was doing was tame, love.” He smirked proudly with the thought, arching a brow as he examined her. “But, if that sort of thing gets this kind of reaction, perhaps I’ll up the stakes next time.” And, more than anything, it was to get under this girl’s skin, to rile her up, because she was gorgeous when she was angry. “Warned? Sweetheart, you should be bowing down to my kind. And, who ever said we wanted to be good?” His smirk broadened as he watched her walk away, letting himself check her out, and he nodded to Luke’s suggestion without looking back at his friends. “Well, then, come on, you lot, let’s get in there.”

Ashton blinked as Alexia stood up to him and his friends. Nobody had ever done that before, had talked to him with such a fierce confidence. It was almost admirable, but Ashton didn't want to back down. "Oh, please!" He snickered. "He's nothing but a worm." Ashton's voice remain cruel and firm, but he couldn't help the disappointment that began to pool in the pit of his stomach when Alexia turned her back on them, on him. Ashton almost felt guilty for wanting her attention on him constantly, because the girl was a beauty that couldn't be ignored, and Ashton wanted the opportunity, the privilege to speak to her. "Honestly," Ashton shook his head, leading his friends to the Great Hall so he could have more opportunity to look at Alexia, even perhaps get a formal greeting - he knew it was wishful thinking, but still. He couldn't bare to take his eyes from the beauty.

Leonie heard the handsome stranger scoff, and she looked to him with a frown. "Keep your opinions to yourself. Free speech belongs to those who use it for good." Leonie snapped, and while the girl, academically, wasn't a genius, she still knew the meaning of respect, and this boy deserved none. "And don't call me sweetheart, my name is Leonie and you will call me as such." And despite being torn between wanting to slap and kiss that smirk from his lips, Leonie turned back to Mailys and Alexia, trying to keep her upperhand by walking away and not indulging an argument, because she was in a school that wasn't her own and she didn't dare bring dishonour onto the Beauxbatons reputation by arguing with those who looked for trouble. "Is he okay, Alexia?" She asked, regarding to the first year Alexia had walked into the Great Hall, quite aware that the Slytherin boys planned to follow them.

Luke grinned with Mailys' retaliation, impressed by her courage and willingness to stand up for what she believed in. "Oh, darling, save it for someone who does care." And even though Luke did care about what the beauty had to say, he had appearances to keep up and he was determined to do so, because his parents expected him to. Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Luke smirked. "So, you're muggleborns, eh? Shame, I thought Beauxbatons were about pride. Clearly not if they let your kind in." And, while he knew he would be hitting a nerve, Luke followed Ashton's lead, watching Mailys carefully when she told him to learn to keep his mouth shut. He found that much more attractive than he should of, and when she went to speak to Professor McGonagall, Luke rolled his eyes, standing by the entrance, keen to make an impression, whether or not it was a negative one. He didn't want the beauty to forget his face or his voice, like he wouldn't forget hers.

When Victoire saw Calum smirk, she pursed her lips together, not wanting to admit the sight was so attractive that she was sure she was ready to kiss him there and then, but as she reminded herself what sort of boy he was, she pushed the thought from her mind. "Perhaps if it's respect you want, you should treats others with respect." Victoire stood her ground, glaring at Calum. "And I'm not your love, so don't call me that." She snapped, and as she noticed Calum examining her, she shifted a little bit. "The day I bow down to your kind, as a muggleborn myself, is the day I die from shame." Victoire retaliated easily, turning to her family once more and catching up with them, neatening out her uniform to upkeep the appearances they were expected to, shaking her head at Calum's behaviour.

Alexia scoffed quietly as she listened to Ashton. “Then, you’re wasting your breath on me - because, in your eyes, we’re the same as him,” she said simply, though she didn’t dare look at him. Normally, she wouldn’t even stand up to a bully like him, but something about him got to her, under her skin, and she couldn’t help but fight back, determined to shut him up. Still, she settled her gaze ahead as she walked, though her gaze went to Leonie when she heard her cousin’s question, and she offered a small smile, looking towards the boy who went to join his table, and she thought for a moment before nodding. “He’ll be okay, I’m sure,” she decided quietly, looking back to her cousin, “He knows he’s not alone now, and that helps people like us stay strong when having to deal with people like them.”

Michael arched a brow as he watched Leonie, the way she snapped at him just making him all the more attracted to her, even with everything else, and his smirk only grew. “Sorry, sweetheart, that’s not how free speech works,” he said easily in response, keeping up with the nickname instead of addressing her by her name. A part of him just didn’t want to let her win, but the bigger part just enjoyed her reaction to it all, enjoyed annoying her, finding himself attracted to the way her anger made an unfamiliar fire burn within him. “I think I’ll stick with sweetheart, but your input is noted.” And, to add to the fire, he winked at her, but he scoffed quietly when she walked away, joining the others, and he wasted no time in following his friends as they followed the girls, his gaze never leaving Leonie, not wanting to look away from her, afraid she’d disappear if he did.

Mailys couldn’t help but roll her eyes as she listened to Luke speak, wanting to slap him, or curse him, or whatever it took to get him to shut up. “You’re slime,” she said easily, watching him for a long moment, “A parasite, pathetic and cruel and only finding enjoyment in ruining everybody around you - either by hurting them or influencing them to be like you. It’s disgusting.” And, tilting her head, she arched a brow, trying to ignore how attractive he was with his hands stuffed in his pockets and a smirk on his features. “I take pride in who I am, and Beauxbatons’ pride would wipe the floor with somebody as inadequate as you.” Satisfied with herself, she went to speak with Professor McGonagall, getting the information she and her cousins needed to maneuver their way around the castle to get to their classes.

Calum eyed Victoire, amused, and he smirked slightly, deciding that she was certainly somebody that he could find himself enjoying, regardless of her blood status. “I think I will call you whatever I want to call you,” he said easily in response, “And I’m not obligated to treat anybody with respect. What fun would that be?” Arching a brow, his smirk grew when he noticed the way she shifted under his gaze when he eyed her, but that just provoked him to take her in all the more, wanting to affect her in any way that he could, finding himself enjoying it. “You’ll already be dying with shame because of your blood status,” he taunted easily, following her, “Might as well go out with a bang and die from shame in the mix, yeah?” And, while he knew his words were cruel, he also knew that her dying was the last thing he wanted - but he could never truly admit that, especially with barely knowing the girl.

Ashton nodded in agreement. "You're right, sweetheart. Birds of a feather flock together, and you half bloods and mud bloods aren't nothing more than dirt on the sole of my shoe." Ashton spoke calmly, shrugging his shoulders as if he was giving Alexia directions through the castle. Watching as the girls regrouped, Ashton couldn't help but smirk, and his eyes didn't leave Alexia, not once, and he knew that, for as long as she was in the castle, he could have some fun with her, get under her skin just a little more. Following Alexia, Ashton shoved his hands into his pockets. "So, sweetheart, tell me about yourself." He spoke with an obnoxious tone, loud and ensuring that he was louder than Alexia's friends. "Do you speak French?" Ashton's smirk widened with the question, because damn, that was a sound he wouldn't mind hearing. "Are you a smart cookie, or a little bit dim, like your friend there?" He hinted to Leonie, knowing that taking a stab at her friends would be the best way to get her to focus on him, and him alone. "How does it feel knowing that Beauxbatons are going to come last in this tournament again?" Ashton laughed, looking to his friends then.

Leonie's eyes darkened in annoyance as the mean boy with green eyes continued to call her sweetheart, but she continued to stand her ground. Flicking her hair over her shoulder, Leonie folded her arms across her chest, studying Michael carefully. "It's such a shame," Leonie sighed overdramatically. "Something so handsome being as cruel as you are." Leonie rolled her eyes as Michael winked, and as she heard him scoff, Leonie smirked, linking her arm through Alexia's, listening to her cousin with a nod, quite aware that she could feel Michael's gaze burning into her like the most incredible fire. "That's something, at least." Leonie spoke softly. "And a big comfort to us when people so foolish exist." Leonie looked over her shoulder then, but quickly refocused on her cousin. When Leonie saw Mailys and Victoire walking away from the head of Gryffindor house, she offered them a smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with her free hand, going to smooth out her blue skirt then. "All fixed?"

Luke blinked in surprise with Mailys' words, and he frowned, although admittedly impressed by her courage to stand up to him and his friends. "Spend an afternoon with me honey," Luke jibed, his smirk returning as he folded his arms over his chest with a confidence that, in that moment, felt almost non existent. "You'll join the dark side, and who knows Frenchie, you might enjoy it." And leaning against the large door arch that led out of the Great Hall, Luke watched Mailys' movements as she went to speak to Professor McGonagall, and he couldn't help but allow his eyes to study her perfect form, and Luke couldn't help but think that he certainly wouldn't mind getting his hands on her, to let her see that he wasn't the big bad guy she assumed him to be from the events of the morning, and he definitely wouldn't mind hearing his name fall from her lips in the most sinful of ways. "Something tells me," Luke looked to Calum. "That this tournament is gonna be a lot more fun than we thought." He arched an eyebrow with amusement, and he officially had his sights set on Mailys, the beautiful girl that held his curiosity in the most incredible way.

Victoire listened to Calum's words, and although the boy spat nothing but venom, his voice was pleasing to listen to, and inwardly, the girl scolded herself. Seeing Mailys speaking to Professor McGonagall, Victoire joined her cousin, offering a polite smile to the Gryffindor head of house, turning to look over her shoulder to admire the Great Hall, admiring the mixture of students, coming together to celebrate their unique abilities of magic, coming together in some friendly rivalry, and as her eyes fell on the mean, golden skinned boy once again, Victoire couldn't help but allow herself to study him for a long moment, defiant against him and his cruelty, but finding him so incredibly endearing, in a way she didn't want to admit. "Come on, Mailys." Victoire spoke softly, adoring her cousins and swearing to always protect them against any sort of prejudice against their blood status. "Thank you, Madame McGonagall." Victoire smiled, offering the woman a polite nod.

Alexia felt her jaw clench as she listened to Ashton speak, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of reacting to his questions - she wouldn’t give him the satisfcation of showing how much he was upsetting her. So, instead, she turned to face him. “Is this your way of flirting?” she asked, arching a brow, “Because, if so, imagine what your friends and fellow prejudiced purebloods would think if they realized you were flirting with a muggleborn.” She stepped closer to him then, staring fully at him, her eyes narrowed. “And, if that is what this is, you should know this - read my lips.” For a moment, she leaned in, nearly close enough that their lips were a breath away from each other. “You’re nothing more than the dirt on the sole of my shoe.” Satisfied with the fact that she’d used his words against him, she turned and joined back up with her cousins, determined to ignore him from that point on.

Michael could feel his expression becoming more amused, a brow arching, because did she really think something like that would get him to shut up? If anything, it only fuelled him further, made him more determined to press his luck, to see where this could take him. “Well, at least we know you’re attracted to me now,” he said easily, smirking, “And, in my experience, good girls like bad boys - so perhaps you should just accept it instead of pretending you’re not interested. After all -” He pushed off the wall to follow after her, just for a few steps, just to get his words in, not willing to let her have the last word, and certainly not willing to let her think she had won this little argument; there’d be no fu in that. “I bet a chill runs down your spine when you think of all the wonderful things a ‘handsome’ guy like me could make you feel. I bet you’ll even dream about it tonight.” Leaving his words hanging in the air, he smirked, retreating back to his friends for now, listening to Calum and Luke. “Oh, this year will be a blast,” he agreed with his friends.

Mailys nodded slightly to Leonie’s question, determined to ignore the way she was certain she could feel Luke’s attention on her, and she hated how it made her feel. She’d made a point of not saying anything in response to Luke’s taunting, because she knew any reaction at all would be a bad one. If she reacted negatively, he’d throw out cruel words, and if she reacted positively, it would all be a cruel joke. After all, he’d made it clear what he thought of muggleborns, and she wasn’t about to give him any way to make things at this school worse for her and her cousins. “Yes, it’s all fixed,” she assured, offering a smile to Leonie before she looked ahead, not even bothering to look in Luke’s direction. “Let’s get going.” She then began leading the way for herself and her cousins, wanting to put as much distance between them and the cruel boys as possible.

Calum smirked slightly as he watched Victoire, easily admiring her, his eyes drinking her in, and he wanted nothing more than to feel her skin against his, her legs around his waist, her breath mingling with his, and to hear her moan in his name in all the best ways. His eyes ran up her form, taking in everything about her that he could, and he didn’t miss the way she seemed to be so intent on pretending he wasn’t speaking, ignoring him, and he could admit, at least to himself, it was attractive as fuck. “You know what, Luke,” he said easily, not missing a beat once his friend spoke, but also not taking his eyes off Victoire, and not bothering to hide that his attention so easily gravitated towards the girl and settled on her, unashamed, “I think you’re quite right. Luck us, hm?” And, while his gaze was still on Victoire, still watching every move she made, even as she was leaving the Great Hall with her friends, his head tilted, his smirk growing. “If nothing else, at least there’s something new to keep us entertained this year.”

Ashton smirked when Alexia asked if this was his way of flirting, and crossing his arms over his chest as she stepped closer, Ashton raised his eyebrows in a way that dared Alexia to step closer, to get under his skin, to see the consequences of what would happen if she dug just a little too far - he'd never hurt her, of course not, but still, he had a trick or two up his sleeve that would either impress her, or make her hate him just a little bit more than she already did. Smirking with the idea, Ashton laughed. "Oh, cheer up, will you?" Ashton coaxed, and as she leaned in, so close enough that their lips could touch, Ashton's demeanour quickly changed, his cheeks heating up with a blush, his vision tunnelling and his world revolving around her for a brief moment - and Ashton could admit that he wanted it to stay that way. "Calm down, kitten." Ashton laughed as Alexia moved away, rubbing the back of his neck. "There's no need for such claws." Seeing her retreat to her cousins though, Ashton feigned an over-dramatic pout. "See you later then, baby." And with that, Ashton went to his friends, laughing. "I love this year already."

Leonie felt a warm shiver run down her spine with Michael's words, but still, she would deny it - even if his voice made her want to tune into him for the rest of her days, with lips that demanded to be kissed... shaking the thought from her head, Leonie pulled her wand from her sleeve, aiming it at Michael's shoes and muttering a spell in French that made his laces tie together, and she couldn't help but grin, because she didn't need words to win an argument - she might of been the airhead, but she still knew a spell or two that could make a boy as foolish as him eat his own words. Deciding to turn away from those boys once and for all, Leonie focused on her cousins, offering a sweet smile to Mailys. "Lets." She nodded, gently tugging on Alexia's arm. "Come on!"

Luke grinned when Mailys didn't respond to him, knowing damn well he had the upperhand and the power to get under her skin, and that's all he wanted, to get under her skin, to get a reaction, to have her attention on him. "As long as those four are here," Luke nodded to the girls then, looking to his best friends with a cocky smirk. "This year's going to be a bloody brilliant one." And watching Mailys leave the Great Hall with her cousins, Luke laughed, shaking his head. "C'mon you lot, let's go and see what classes we have in common with the frenchies." Luke grinned. "I'm not missing an opportunity to talk to that one." And god, that was true. Mailys was beautiful, and she already had an affect on Luke, despite the tension between the both of them, because their blood status itself had already set their fate, but hey, he could still have fun, keep himself entertained.

Victoire could feel the gaze of the golden skinned boy fall from her shoulders once she and her cousins had left the Great Hall, and exhaling heavily, Victoire looked to the others. "Are you all okay?" She asked, always having a sense of duty to put the youngest girls before herself, because it was a sense of protection, a sense of family. "Those boys are fools, nothing more. Don't let them get under your skin." Victoire smiled then. "So, unfortunately, we are being split up for our first class, but we'll be back together by lunch, which is something, isn't it?"