paint it black [GRACE]

[noir beaumont]

Classes were finally over but not without homework. School was an absolute joy. Noir frowned as she made her way out of the school to her favorite spot on the grounds. It was unfortunate that a certain slippery Slytherin was now in most of her classes. If there was one thing that she hated more than the house, it was probably Grace Brown. She could deal with the Alexis but Grace was worse, much worse. She remembered Hogwarts. It wasn't too long ago that she'd been there. Her last year was her fourth since that was the year her family died. Now, she had to start all over again. She was a first year at Beauxbatons when she should've been a sixth year at Hogwarts. The British boarding school wasn't so bad. She was cold but she was on civil terms with most of the Ravenclaws. The occasional Hufflepuff was able to greet her. Gryffindors and Slytherins were a whole different story. Gryffindors classified her as the typical Slytherin. Her own house spoke behind her back but that was no big deal. She had her best friend, Scarlett by her side. As much as she hated to admit it, she depended on Scarlett to be there for her. The girl was like a sister that she never had. It was nice to think that someone would be there by her side. When Scarlett was expelled in their third year, she was furious. When she was furious, it was scary. She had used a spell against one of the teachers and sent them to the hospital wing. Even at such a young age, dueling had always been one of her strongest suits. It didn't help much that she used a spell that only people from her family knew. Her father had grounded her for that.

Grace happened to be one of those girls who didn't believe Scarlett. That only intensified her hate for the girl. She had never been fond of Grace in the first place anyway. The only good thing that came out of leaving Hogwarts was probably the fact that she didn't need to see Grace again. Unfortunately, here she was again like a poltergeist that haunted a castle. This can only mean trouble. She knew that her godmother and Scarlett would keep her secret but would Grace do so? She had heard that Grace's parents had been tortured into insanity. Noir couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity for her. She knew what it felt like to lose someone. She had lost three people who were important in her life. The feeling of pity was gone as quickly as it came. Pity was for the people who truly deserved it not those who turned their backs on a fellow housemate and accuse them of murder. Pity was for the orphans with no parents. Grace still had hers in a physical sense. Healers were progressing so she could get her parents back. Noir couldn't get hers back neither can Scarlett get her father back. She hated that she was still able to feel some kind of pity for Grace.

The sound of footsteps distracted her from her homework and thoughts. Noir looked up. Speak of the devil. Here she was, the girl that she dreaded to see. It was clear that Grace had already seen her so there was no use in leaving. Noir was not a coward so she wasn't going run away like one. It was time to face the problem head on. She left her books on the ground as she stood up. It would be like a game of chess. They'd wait and calculate each of their words. One wrong move then it would be game over. "Lovely day, isn't it, Annarosetta?" she asked before the other girl could speak. If she played her cards right, she'd make it out without loss. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"