The feast, if that is what it was to be called, was underway. Riotous laughter and shouts could be heard from the Gryffindor table, cheerful exclamations from Hufflepuff, organised arguments from Ravenclaw and cool, perfect etiquette released little sound from Slytherin. They had a reputation to uphold. They would not lower themselves to such a level. It made a very, very real mad glint appear in his cold Avada-Kedavra eyes.
His sleeves were rolled up to show he knew perfectly well that there were those around him of higher station than himself. The ghost of his smirk still lingered on his sharp, pale features. His back was straight, his posture perfect just as the dear inmates of Azkaban had taught him. And oh, how he delighted in the way he unnerved those around him. All, except for Draco it seemed.
He slowly tore his bread roll, his eyes calculating those around him. Some shivered as his gaze fell upon them…one girl whimpered though she would deny it later.
"Quit terrorizing our house mates," Draco said, his eyes dancing with amusement.
Harry's eyes slowly dragged themselves up to meet Draco's gaze. "I don't know what you mean," he drawled. "I'm simply assessing their…lives."
His play on words made one or two first years scoot further away from him. He wanted to laugh, he did, but that moment was to be saved for a truly special occasion. He hadn't, after all, laughed properly since he was just six years old. How times changed.
"Hmm?" Draco said. "And what have you deducted?"
He was not oblivious. Much of the house leaned in slightly, eager to hear what he had to say so…naturally he took his time in giving his answer. He had not interacted with people in some time; he did not count the Potters nor their associates as people.
"That boy there, the one who is poorly trying to hide the hickey on his neck," Harry started, inclining his head to a dark haired boy of about seventeen, "Had an affair with another girl over the summer and is desperately trying to hide it from his girlfriend, whom, he sits across." There was a low gasp. "I would judge his life as about a three, maybe a four if I was feeling generous. Women are not toys, they are not to be used, and therefore should not be treated as such." A feral grin drew up the corner of his mouth. "Especially for sex."
One boy coughed, hastily trying to hide his choking on the pumpkin juice his goblet so readily provided.
A first year, Theodore Nott he believed he was called, looked at him curiously though warily. "How did you know that, if it is indeed right?"
"Magic," he answered blandly.
Really now, he was not going to give away all his cards, especially the one where he revealed he could use Legilimency with ease; such a useful talent. Especially since he had merged with the blood of his inmates, something he was sure he would be grateful for in the near future.
The rest of the meal was rather droll after that. The boy that he had picked on spent it cringing away from his girlfriend, or rather, ex-girlfriend, who was hissing angrily at him through a cool, perfectly placed mask of indifference. The rest put forth their start of year power plays in mentions of how their summers had gone and the first years… They simply tried to gain allies and a form of social standing; many grasping desperately at the robes of one Draco Malfoy. Harry simply observed, he would get what he wanted without the need of grovelling. He only needed the help of one man and he was certainly not going to be found posing as a student in Slytherin House.
The Dark Lord did have some dignity after all.
Silence fell across the hall as the headmaster stood, his damned blue eyes twinkling as he smiled beneath that infuriating beard.
"Ahem- just a few more words now we have all been fed and watered. I have a few start of term notices to give you.
"First-years should note that the forest found on the grounds is strictly forbidden to all pupils, and a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well.
"I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.