Ambitions and Hard Work PV Rafal Devereux

Rafal's declaration about trying to learn everything about Hogwarts made her pause.

Well, she thought that he would let the chamber gaffe slip, but it looks like he underestimated his determination to find out about it. Normally, she would have just asked the other person to either drop it or act ignorant about the entire thing.

But Rafal is a very interesting person and a stimulating conversationalist. She could give him some clues... maybe. But she'd rather answer his earlier questions first.

"My friend's in Gryffindor," she answered "Met her at Diagon Alley before the term started. Her name's Sadie Murdock, and she's perfectly lovely. Never met someone who grew up in a non-magical household. She even taught me something about ektricity!"

Her excitement seemed to fuel her boldness, though she still kept her words careful, which made her feel a bit looser around him. He had been scanning the book and casually asked if he can borrow it for some light reading. She could see a small smirk on his face- is he testing her?

Still feeling the remnants of her earlier excitement, she gave a grin and said, "Please go right ahead. Oh, but please return it to me at least before the term ends, I don't want the librarian mucking up my record because of a late book."

She borrowed it in hopes of learning about the Von Thaines, but she knew it would just be another dead end. It would be better to ask her childhood friends if their parents could give more information about her mum's family.

Not to mention, his declaration that he was indeed a human forced her to hide a smile. "Of course. Though I must say I would have pegged you for a dhampir for all the mysterious aura you exude," she lightly teased by gesturing to his entire frame. "Maybe even a werewolf, but there are hardly any marks I can see... unless you're under a glamour," Eira added, blue eyes scanning his face as if willing a scar to appear.

She leaned towards the desk, placing a hand on her chin as she repeated his words. "'Want to learn everything possible about this school', was it? That is quite a lofty goal you have set for yourself."

Peering into his eyes, she carefully stated, "You know, some areas had certain requirements to keep it secret. Just hypothetically speaking, are you willing to do some quid pro quo to get some information about it?"

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Hah. Jackpot. Rafal had to fight to stop a huge grin from overtaking his face, which no doubt would have been immensely suspicious. Yes, he was the best! Eira thought she was as smart as him? That she could play with him? Take that!

Sadie Murdock. Somehow, even the name made the girl sound like a Gryffindor. Of course, it was possible Eira was purposely misguiding him, but the alternative was sensational - and Rafal did always think of himself as a bit of an optimist. With any luck, this Sadie would be far more similar to the other Hogwarts students he’d met prior, gullible and foolish, open to spilling a bit of information on a particular blue-eyed Slytherin.

Gosh, he sounded like an evil villain. Where had that come from? All that was missing was the facial disfigurement and wicked cackle. Rafal closed his eyes for the briefest second, to poise himself. All right. That was enough Dark Lord Rafal for now.

"Yeah, thanks." He closed the book shut and slipped it into his satchel, then turned back to Eira. At her comment on how Rafal appeared to be a species other than human, he chuckled lightly. "All I’m hearing is I look cool and mysterious." Paused, then added jokingly, "Also that I’m so good-looking you can’t believe this-" he gestured towards his grinning face. "- is real."

Though upon closer inspection, Eira seemed to be completely serious. Huh. That was interesting. Rafal mentally filed that information away for later. Maybe it would come in handy.

Eira's eyes really were the oddest shade, the most vivid of aquamarine. He couldn’t help but notice it as she placed a hand on her chin in a thoughtful gesture, peering intently at him. Requirements? Rafal's breathing turned shallow, as he attempted to calm his beating heart. This was it. He couldn’t mess anything up.

"That depends." He tried to keep a level tone. "What sort of trade are we talking about, exactly?"

Interacting with @Eira Cravensworth

A smile split her lips once more, though one couldn't determine if it was out of sincere happiness or one of slyness, like how a spider had caught a fly on her web.

Her fellow Slytherin seemed pleased with her prior assessment of his appearance after placing the book into his satchel, though she had to admit that amusement lingered even as he pointed at his face. There was another look in his eyes when she mentioned Sadie to him, how she wished she could read his mind like the healers in St. Mungo's.

Oh, but it's unbecoming for an heiress to think about such things, is it not? Madam Roscov would click her tongue with disapproval, and not to mention, her father, who's a former barrister, would most certainly be disappointed to find his daughter sneaking into people's minds without consent.

She wanted to take a step back, might warn him about the implications of her sacred place... but she remembered what she thought when she read about the dark wizards and witches. They had power, but they just had to be greedy, and that same greed led to foolishness. Would Rafal be greedy for secrets as well?

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Maybe, maybe not. It's a bit of a toss-up in the air, isn't it? Nobody should ever play mind games with a Slytherin after all, but it's quite nice to have someone with this level of cloak-and-dagger conversation. Not that she doesn't appreciate sincere conversations with Sadie and Harvey, but variety is the spice of life. She held his gaze, a blend of blue and green staring back at her with utmost conviction. Merlin, if it wasn't for his cunning, she would have thought he was a Gryffindor!

Well, she already had confirmed his suspicions, so there's no going back.

But she's not going to show her hand, oh no. He has to earn it.

So she slightly tilted her head into her hand and answered, "Mmm, secrets in Hogwarts are valuable, you do understand so the equivalent exchange requires an exact cost. Not that it's limited to philosophy, of course."

"If I tell you about a secret of Hogwarts, then I'm entitled to get a favor from you. I may collect it now, or in the future. Are you willing to grant my favor for a secret, Mr. Rafal?" she proposed.

This would be much easier if she had Veela blood in her to be more persuasive, but one must be resourceful. She just needs to gauge how much he wants the information.

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This was the most stimulating conversation Rafal had had at Hogwarts, perhaps even ever. He wouldn’t have known by himself, but it turned out that the first year very much enjoyed having someone to challenge him, secrets to discover. It wa thrilling!

Rafal cast his eyes down at his desk, brows creasing as he warily weighed Eira's offer. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that her proposal was by no means a fair trade. There were too many outward factors, too many ways making a promise like this could go wrong. And what was to prevent her from giving him a fake or useless piece of information, or one he already knew about, then collecting the favour anyways? And Rafal had a feeling Eira was not someone whose debt he would want to be in.

No, if he was truly going to get anywhere, he had to be smart about this. Rafal couldn’t let her set the terms. If Eira didn’t want something from this exchange as well, she wouldn’t have entertained him this long. He didn’t know what it was, but perhaps he could use it to his advantage.

He met Eira's eyes once more. "No." Rafal spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully but with no less conviction. "That’s not a fair deal, and you know it. I propose something that is more… Equal on both parts."

"We can both ask the other a question, which must be answered truthfully. It doesn’t have to be right now. But latest, before the end of the school year, and just one." Rafal held out a hand, praying that he hadn’t overreached. "Deal?"

Interacting with @Eira Cravensworth

Oh.

Blink

Oh?

Another blink.

Eira stared at Rafal with a look that may be compared to an owl's inquisitive stare. At first, she didn't know how to feel. Rafal's answer is pragmatic in nature but there is another meaning behind it.

He doesn't seem to trust her offer.

It should have made her feel hurt or even offended, but somehow, a breathy giggle came out instead. She tinkered with the thin chain of her necklace, letting the pattern be more exposed to her companion.

It did feel bad that her deal didn't fall through, though. And she's not a Hufflepuff to just openly give the information. No, that's how someone will gain an advantage over you. His compromise with her original offer is smart, especially when owing a favor is worth more than her weight in galleons.

He's not an avaricious fool.

That thought was the one that elevated her mood rather than pout at the missed opportunity. She had dangled the prize up front, and he didn't take it. Whether she would tell him exactly how to open that secret place if he said yes, well, he will never find out now, would he?

But he wants a truthful answer, and he will provide the same. What if he points-blank asks what the secret place is, then she won't have any leverage.

"I will only agree if there are specific rules on what we can and cannot ask" she countered. "For instance, I won't answer anything about a Hogwart secret, it's my raison de vivre. So to speak, of course"

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Rafal ponders with no giveaways on his face. He knows that Eira is not one to give in so easily, but neither is he. She stares at him with the confounded inquisitiveness of a person who did not expect this, did not expect him. He feels the same way, and the stinging rush, the buzz of the moment is almost addictive.

He smiles and braces an arm against the desk. "I knew you would say that." He tilts his head, observing, calculating. It is too much to hope for that she would give up her greatest leverage this easiest, of course, and her response is no less than he expects.

And he would continue to poke and prod and fight with her for the temporary upper hand, but Rafal has more intentions. And he is tired. He wishes to figure out her mystery and the mystery of her. "Well, then." Rafal beckons her to continue with a slight nod of his head. "State your conditions."

He thinks he could get used to this, the thrill of the moment, of the sparring of intellect with someone who can keep up, and give as good as she got. Now he knows why people gamble and steal, risk everything on something that could change at a moment's whim.

Interacting with @Eira Cravensworth

The sounds of footsteps and disembodied voices began to fill the corridor; no doubt the time for their conversation is drawing to a close, much to her disappointment. It had been an enjoyable interaction, but she knew this was not going to be the last she would see of him.

He has her book after all, and he will certainly look into the chamber. She felt like swinging that information like one would tease a kneazle with a ball of yarn.

Ah, but he his not that simple, is he? No doubt he will retaliate if she so much as treats him like a bullheaded Gryffindor or overly trusting Hufflepuff.

No. He's a snake, and so is she.

And as he accepted her terms, she knew it was a sign that she shouldn't be so complacent, even if she laid the rules, so she needed it to be on equal grounds at least. If he feels that she's holding out on him, it will be over.

So she straightened her posture and nodded, "Then my condition is quite simple. No questions with regards to the subject of the book that you have in your possession."

Eira gave a smile, a genuine one. "In return, I shall make sure to keep any information you impart as safe as if it's my own. And if you agree, you can ask me about any information at any given time. Shall we seal it with an Unbreakable Vow?" she asked in jest before she held up her pinky as her other hand thumbed her necklace chain.

"Or... we can do a Pinky Promise."

It was something Sadie had taught her during one of their many conversations on how Muggle gestures are. She once said that Pinky Promises are considered sacred to Muggles, so hopefully this would seal their pact effectively.
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