Another piece

[Epiphany Bones]

Epiphany mulled around in her head what was in Rumor Has It. Maybe, just maybe, she could use the pages of the book to her advantage, maybe send a letter to the person who wrote it under the name of the magizen. Even though she was slammed in it's pages Epiphany felt little more than a slight tingle of what a resource like that could mean for her. She had a bottle of bubble solution that she had made out of the school's soap and a bubble wand. She lazied on her back on the very edge of the cliff as she made the bubbles go to the sky. She looked absent minded but really she was thinking. As each round soap sphere floated onward to the sky Epiphany let a bit of her true nature slip. There was no expression on her face and her eyes where voids of empty black. She never showed this side to any except Lolita. It was because of this, Epiphany was convinced, that she was kept around. That and she kept getting headaches which she could't explain but there was no way for her teacher to know about those.

Again Epiphany ran numbers and facts in her head. Of course she could never make those who's names where in the pages of RHI suffer herself. Epiphany was little sunshine, grinning and sparkling sweetheart in the pink pom-poms. Of course she had little place in her heart for half breed freaks but was another matter all together. It was too bad.. no scratch that it would be her pleasure to see who was behind all the madness that is RHI. Epiphany was sure that the crack against Luthor would not go unavenged. She was curios but she would have to live with that curiosity for now. She dipped the bubble wand in the solution again made another trail of bubbles fly into the sky each, in her damaged mind, representing a thought that needed to be worked over.

 

[Heath James]

Heath was relieved. He was relieved that he did not make it big in the Rumor Has It magazine. It was frustrating that the stereotype 'Hufflepuff's are nice' was a strong belief in the school. Since he was sorted into Hufflepuff he saw that it was the leftover house. He did not possess any real talents, so he was stuffed into Hufflepuff. Seeing how nice his housemates were sickened him. How could he be placed in such an annoying house? Heath fixed his black tie. He made sure that his uniform showed no sign of him being in Hufflepuff. If another person knew he was in that house he would have a breakdown. He took extra time to make sure the Hufflepuff crest on his robes and clothes was covered up with a black piece of parchment. He was ashamed of his house. Being in Hufflepuff did not help with the boy's depression. It did not help at all. He should have gotten at least Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. The hat obviously did not see how much he enjoyed reading and studying, or the horrid thing just dismissed that trait.

Heath was worried about Epiphany. She had been one of the first magical people he met. He certainly did not see the girl as a friend, but she was someone he would want to keep close to him. He was still clumsy, and he still had a horrible sense of direction. He unfortunately had been late to several of his classes because of this. He tugged at a long strand of his orange hair as he walked to the Cliffs. His hair had been growing quite rapidly, and now it was almost shoulder length. He had to admit that the style did look on good on him though. He spotted someone small at the edge of the cliff. In a few strides he was able to see it was Epiphany. He stood next to the girl, but he made sure he was away from the edge. "Does blowing bubbles make you feel better?"

 

[Epiphany Bones]

Epiphany brought the bubble wand to her lips to make another trail then looked up at her Hufflepuff pet. She never called him that of course because it would insult him as well as the others she kept around her just in case. "No but it does help me think. It would be a pleasure wouldn't be if something as simple as bubbles could make pain go away." She said with brought a small smile to her face. It would take her a bit to bring back the sunshine and daises that she had presented in the hall be cause there had been formulas for potions going around in her head, new spells that she would have to wait until she learned more magic to test out. Her mind had gone into calculation mode and it always too her a bit to bring herself back to a perky mask when she allowed herself that so she chose a saddened mask instead. "I wonder though, who has access to such secrets. Not it was entirely a secret if the Hufflepuff girl is in fact sleeping around which is disgusting by the way." She said.

Epiphany had learned a bit about the art of seduction from her older sister Zazuka but this did not mean that she wanted to follow in her older sister's footsteps in that area. She knew that she could use her looks and her body to gain favor but she was too young for that. At eleven she was still relying on the fact that she was cute and Epiphany Bones was nothing if not cute. The kind of cute that one saw in a child as it goes up to give it's mother a hug kind of cute though. Some people could see through her though but not many. "I could have Missy cover up the badges on your uniform permanently if you want. It's not like Rumor mentioned you by name anyway." She added pointing up at the parchment that Heath wore over his Hufflepuff insignia.

 

[Heath James]

Heath shrugged. He stopped tugging on his hair. He still had a fear that it was going to fall out if he tugged on it to hard. He just listened to Epiphany. She seemed to be out of it. She made talking about bubbles uncomfortable. One must have a lot of talent to do that. He rolled his eyes. The magazine was stupid his his opinion. If someone wanted to embarrass him he would rather they do it to his face. Not through some stupid magazine. It was funny how some people could fear just a little piece of paper. "It is probably more than one person." he said and crossed his arms over his chest. He ignored Epiphany's comment about the Hufflepuff girl. Even if she was sleeping around, how was it anyone's business. He was not trying to stick up for the girl, but he believed people should give others some privacy. It was definitely not his business if a girl wanted to sleep around.

"Really? That would be awesome Pint! She is in your house, right?" he asked curiously. Heath was almost out of black parchment anyways. It was not like he could write Luvesha to send him more. He thought Missy was an odd name. He did not believe he had any classes with a girl named Missy. "I don't think everyone wants to know I made a girl cry anyways. It is not that gossipy or whatever." he grumbled, and he kicked a rock over the edge of cliff. In the process he almost fell backwards. Heath decided he should just stand still. "Where did you meet Missy?" he asked curiously. He still wanted to know a little more about the girl named Missy.

 

[Epiphany Bones]

Epiphany patted the ground next to her. "I would sit if I where you. Plummeting down to the rocks below would be a most unattractive death." She said while looking up at him. She meant it. How was she supposed to keep him if the body was all mangled by the rocks below if he did die. Epiphany brought herself up to sit cross legged on the edge of the cliff. She wouln't fall, not too far down that was. Her sister had told her the scamatics of the cliffs as well as for most of the school. She was also going to explore on her own, maybe find a place to hide a few of the darker pieces she managed to sneak out of home. "Powerful network then. What a waist though. Those secrets and scandals could make lives fall apart and here they are giving them out for free? A good chunk of it must not be true but the very idea." She wondered. She supposed it was time to get her old snooping skills oput again. While at the Manor Epiphany had gotten into all sorts of things she wasn't supposed to and had never gotten caught doing it.

Her perky grin game back full force now that she had managed to slow her mind enough to put on her 'lovely' mask. "Before school started. She was reading one of the higher level Potions tombs when I met her and we hit it off well." Epiphany was not going to mention that they had been planning sabatog for the other houses so that Slytherin won the House Cup. It was fun to think about and even more fun to plan but there where better things to focus on then a silly cup. "She's sort of princess spoiled but a girl how knows how to go after what she wants. Given enough time I think she could become a very good friend to me. I can talk to her and ask if she can't put a cloth over it so you can use the parchment for other things." She said her smile sweet and kind though her intentions where of course nothing of the sort.

 

[Heath James]

Heath did not argue, and he sat down next to Epiphany. "Since when was death attractive?" he asked rhetorically. He did not want to receive an answer from Epiphany. Death is not something you want to talk about with a depressed kid. It could easily make him suicidal, but Epiphany needed to keep him close. Heath still felt strange around the girl. She had earned his loyalty, but not his trust. He feared that she would use him for bad things. The Slytherin may be cute and cuddly on the outside, but he had a feeling it was a facade. Part of him did not want to give up on the girl, but another part of him wanted to stay and see what she was capable of. Heath was sure that with Luthor at her side she was capable of anything. "You want to ruin people? That does not sound normal my friend." he said. He started to twirl a strange of bright orange hair.

Heath nodded. "You should introduce her to me. Then you won't have to be the middle person." he said after he listened to Epiphany expand on who Missy was. He hoped that Epiphany made friends with people other than that Luthor guy. 'I don't think he should be considered a friend though.' he thought in his head. It made him feel horrible to think about Epiphany being alone all her years at Hogwarts. He knew how horrible loneliness was, and he did not want anyone else to feel that way. It always broke Heath's heart to see depressed people like him. He guessed he kind of cared for Epiphany's well being. "I hope you become friends with her." he said quietly.

 

[Epiphany Bones]

Oh Epiphany could be ruthless. She needed Heath because of his loyalty and his size. He needed a bit of work though, he needed to be absolutely sure that she was the only one that here for him, without her he would have no one. It would take time but if anyone could do it it would be her. She listened to his question about death being attractive and she thought of all the taxidermy animals that she had in her room, each one of them made somewhat by herself from pets that she had over the years. That was how death was attractive to her. She had made all her pets into dolls so they would never leave her. The kitten that she had gotten before school started was going to head down the same path sooner or later. But Epiphany would never say such things. "Oh no I don't want to ruin people, that's the point. People don't like to have their secrets exposed, their lives on display. They will do whatever you want if you hold something in hand that they don't want to public to know. Reputations, respect, friends all these are things that people do not want to lose and will do anything to keep them. She said a bit absentmindedly. For now she would drop the subject with Heath. He did not have her disposition for this kind of things.

Epiphany nodded. "Of course, I will talk to her and see if she is nt willing to meet you. I'm sure it will be fine though." She said with a bright smile. She was sure that Missy would be nice to Heath if she asked her to be. Missy didn't seem like the nice type though. They got along because they had a shared interest in potions and because they similar personalities though Missy had gotten everything she wanted while Epiphany had manipulated it out of people over the years. "And are you not my friend?" She asked, her black now sparkling eyes boring on to him as if wanting to read more than his words.

 

[Heath James]

Heath shrugged. "To be honest I don't know if I should be your friend." he told Epiphany with all the honesty he could muster up. It was a fear of his to be trampled on and used. A thing that contributed to his loneliness. The Slytherin had not yet gained his full trust, and Heath wanted to know he could trust the girl. He still did to understand why the girl talked to him. He had nothing to offer her. He was a Hufflepuff. What could he possibly offer her. He had no talents. No talents that would help Epiphany on her quest for power. "I don't even know why you talk to me. I don't have anything to offer you. I am a Hufflepuff remember, and I am a Muggle born. I am not even good at being friends with anyone anyways. I made you cry remember?" he asked. He tried to convince the girl that he was not worth her time.

 

[Epiphany Bones]

Epiphany sat up and looked at Heath's face hard. "No the fact that you're muggle born means that you haven't had time to explore what your good at yet. I believe that given a little time you'll find something in the school that you completely love and that when we will see your full potential. Everyone has it but not a lot of people use it. That's why I chose to be your friend. I see greatness in you even if you are a Hufflepuff. All you need to do is trust in what I see." She said. Epiphany moved a lock of hair from Heath's face and smiled brightly at him. He was her 'pet' there was nothing that was going to change that but she did like his in her own way. Epiphany took the bubble wand again and started to blow bubbles again, one after the other floating off into the oblivion past cliff side.

 

[Heath James]

Heath gave up. He gave up trying to understand. He would just go along with what Epiphany had planned for him. "Fine. I guess I will 'trust what you see'." he said and he smoothed out his hair. He watched as the Slytherin started to blow bubbles again. He still did not believe that he was great, and it was because he was in Hufflepuff that he did not see any greatness in himself. Feeling useless was natural to him though. He was very much used to it. Heath did not know if being around Epiphany would make the feeling go away or stay and fester inside of him.

 

[Epiphany Bones]

Epiphany smiled at him before letting another bubble float up into the sky above them. "Very good. I was starting to think I was going to lose a friend and I would never want that. Even if the entire world turn's it's back on you I will be here." She said sweetly. Until I decide your no longer of any use to me. She though in her true voice. Being here and meeting the people that she has, Epiphany had no doubt that she was going to build a great empire for Luthor, when the time came he would have to admit that she was of use to him even if it's begrudgingly. She may live to annoy him but she also liked to please him every once in a while. After all it was what a good wife did. Not that Epiphany was planning on being a good wife for a while. She had to be a good student first.

 

[Heath James]

Heath rolled his eyes. "You'd be able to make new ones." he said simply. Heath was probably not going to make many friends at Hogwarts. He would probably walk away as soon as he was asked what house he was in. He did not know if he would ever get used to being in Hufflepuff. The only good thing about the house was that they were above all the houses in points already, and it was only the beginning of the year. "Do you think Slytherin will ever get more points than Hufflepuff?" he asked and nudged Epiphany gently in the arm.