Hierarchy of Need [t.r]

Chapter Three

  Next was a boy with dirty blonde hair, his skin was tanned and he held a light smile. "Cain Avery."

  The platinum blonde Malfoy turned his gaze on her and smiled charmingly, it was crooked and endearing. "Abraxas Malfoy." Her heart was beating rapidly and she was sure they'd be able to hear it. She wondered if Abraxas had any of the same mannerisms as Draco. "It's a pleasure to meet you all." The food appeared on the table and she feigned surprise. "Oh how lovely!" She laughed lightly and her eyes seemed to wander towards Elio. It was quite unfair that all of Tom's friends were attractive.

  He returned her smile and leaned forward on his elbows. "If you think that's something, look up." She already knew he was talking about the enchanted ceiling, but she let her eyes wander upwards and a genuine smile reached her lips. She'd missed looking at the stars during her meals. Or if it was raining, thunder clouds would rumble softly above their heads. "It's beautiful."

  "Miss Pontmercy-" she laughed and shook her head at Tom. "Call me Delilah, please. Miss Pontmercy is too formal." She realized she'd have to get used to the much more formal etiquette of the forties. "Of course. Well, Delilah, do you know what classes you'll be taking up?" She told them what her curriculum was and Cain raised his brows at her. "Well you're certainly a smart one, you're seriously taking advanced arithmancy and alchemy?" He shook his head in disbelief as he bit into a roll of bread. "My brain hurts just thinking about it." He said through a mouth full and Pyrrhus hit him upside the head. "You have no manners, I swear." He muttered and Delilah smiled in amusement.

  "What school did you go to before? Or are you home-schooled? I heard people were doing that now because of Grindelwald." Abraxas asked. Before she could open her mouth, Tom answered for her. "Delilah went to Beauxbatons, believe it or not." The boys scoffed and turned towards Delilah in amazement. "That school is beautiful, especially the ladies." Pyrrhus commented and Tom shot him a look. "Manners, gentlemen." Pyrrhus shrugged and winked at Abraxas, both were picturing the light blue skirts the Beauxbatons girls wore.

  Elio rolled his eyes and smiled at Delilah with a bit of a challenge behind his smirk. "Parlez-vous vraiment français, mon cher?" She blushed slightly as she filled her plate. "Oui. Est-ce que tout le monde parle français ici?" First Tom spoke to her in French and now Elio? Well, she expected him to know. A majority of the Rosier line lived in France. "N'excluons pas l'autre moitié du groupe, l'anglais s'il vous plaît." Tom mused and only then did Delilah notice the confused looks she was getting from Cain and Abraxas. "Sorry." She blushed.

  "Oh, no. Please keep going. When Rosier speaks French it's annoying but it's sounds like heaven coming from your lips, love." Abraxas winked at her and Delilah was sure she was beat red in the cheeks. "Merlin." Elio chuckled and shook his head as he smacked Abraxas on the arm lightly. "What? A little flirting never hurt anyone." The blonde shrugged and Delilah decided to just quietly eat her food. However, Dippet called attention and she froze with her spoon halfway to her mouth.

  "May I have your attention!" He called, his voice boomed and she could only assume he charmed his vocal chords. "I would like to welcome a new edition to Hogwarts, Miss Delilah Pontmercy. A transfer from Beauxbatons and a seventh year Slytherin!" He gestured for Delilah to stand up and she shook her head. She spotted Dumbledore smiling at her in amusement from the staff table and she mentally cursed him. Delilah attempted to duck down, but Pyrrhus gripped her elbows. "No, stop it!" She whispered and he smiled at her mischievously. He stood up and practically dragged her into a standing position. "She's a little shy." He called out and Delilah's eyes widened and she smacked his chest. "Shut up." She hissed and spun around to look at all the eyes on her.

  Delilah smiled awkwardly and waved. "Hello." She was slightly surprised by the reaction she was getting. On one half, most were just curious or indifferent. A good majority of the Gryffindor table had suspicion behind their eyes. She resisted the urge to flip them off, she hated house prejudice. She fumbled at she sat down and elbowed Pyrrhus. "That was embarrassing!" She bit and glared at the amusement radiating off of him. "Now, I expect all of you to give her a warm welcome! And if she or any student needs help, I expect each and everyone of you to give it." With that, Dippet nodded and returned to the staff table.

  Delilah flushed at all the glances she was getting and sunk lower into her seat. "He has a flare for the dramatic, I'm afraid." Tom said as cut into his apple but paused as he watched Delilah bite into hers. Her left cheek pushed out as she chewed and she raised a brow at him before it dawned on her, he probably thought she looked like a hamster.

Right. Forties etiquette. I'm supposed to be a dainty female.

  She swallowed and set her apple down. The others were wrapped up in their own conversation. "Tom, would it be too much trouble for you to show me where my classes are tomorrow?" He shook his head although he'd prefer to just have Elio or Abraxas do it. She seemed rather taken with those two. As Head Boy he had a reputation to uphold, however. "Of course, I believe we have Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts together tomorrow."