Frozen Stiff PV Mia Alexander Closed

Walking through the hallways, Mia held her breath. It was important to look her finest when meeting other pure-blooded children of important families, so she took time preparing, pressing her robes and arranging her hair into a wavy, carefully combed, pillar that stood firm along her back, like a marble pillar. A prettier, auburn pillar.

She walked closer to the door and checked her golden watch carefully. It was 5 minutes before the arranged time. Good. Grandmother had taught her never to wait for another person, but never to be late either. "Fashionably late is not fashionable at all. Be punctual, but not early. Us Alexanders will never wait for someone else unless necessary."

Pushing open the door, Mia kept her back strait as possible, as if a rod was stuck through it. It was unseemly of a girl of her status to slouch. Besides. This was strictly buisness. It wasn't as if she wanted to meet the girl. This wasn't her friend, it was her potential ally.

Smiling with her lips pressed together, Mia entered the room, only to meet a girl her age. She walked towards Mia, and with a few brisk strides, she met her by the door and suck out her hand. Mia shook it firmly and looked her in the eye.

Dorothy Proxima Centauri Dippet Dolohov. You must be Ms. Alexander. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

Mia shook her hand once again, and then let go. She always made a point of letting go first, but not too soon. It showed-well she wasn't sure what it showed. But Grandmother instructed her to do it, and she followed. As always.

Thank you. It's a pleasure to meet you as well.

Smiling coldly, she looked straight into the girls eyes. If someone had seen them in here, they would've laughed at their serious expressions. "Little girls playing adult-are they?" But this was serious. It was surprising that it mattered, but in their world this was the alliance of two very influential families. This meeting could change the future. It was all up to her, well her and this girl-Dorothy.

Mia wondered why the girl picked her. It wasn't like she was the only Alexander at Hogwarts-in fact she was the youngest! There was Micheal and Alexandra, they were both older. Maybe it was because she was destined to be heir. Well, it was her or Micheal.

Lovely weather we are having, is it not?

Mia almost scoffed at the girl. It was ridiculous, was it not? Of course they were having nice weather-it was the summer! But Mia just pressed her lips tighter and drew herself up even more, her expression attentive, but not too much so, and polite.

Glancing upward for a second, Mia debated as to what to say. She could say the truth: Well, to some. I, for one, prefer colder weather. Oppressively humid heat is not my favorite. Or she could say: True or something like that. It wouldn't do good to insult the girl by disagreeing with her. But Mia had a streak. Plus the girl was rubbing her the wrong way. She seemed haughty, almost. As if she didn't respect her, or thought that she was above it all.

So she chose the first option.

Well, to some. I, for one, prefer colder weather. Oppressively humid heat is not my favorite.

Dorothy pondered the girl's response for a moment. She could sense a certain edge to the Slytherin's voice she didn't exactly approve of.  Mia sounded tense, and this made Dorothy feel uneasy.  This was important. It was her job to gain this girl's trust or at least her favor!  If she failed... No. She wouldn't fail.  Keeping her chin up, she responded to the girls comment with practiced expression.

"I agree that there is a certain appeal to cool weather.  I was only referring to the fact that it hasn't rained recently." 

Her lips parted into a slight smile, showing rows of strait, white teeth.  The smile was also practiced.  These arranged introductions were always slightly uncomfortable.  It wasn't the relaxed greeting most children experienced.  This was business.  Dorothy was attempting to make an ally that would benefit her and her family.  The way she spoke, what she wore, the way she looked.  Everything mattered!  She bit her puffy lower lip self-consciously.  Her mouth had always seemed overly large to her, and she recalled her cousins calling her 'froggy face' because of this.  That was their problem of course, and Dorothy had decided she would ignore the crude name.  Still, she couldn't help but think of it at times like this. 

How foolish she was being, thinking about her mouth at a time so crucial.  Dorothy cleared her throat an clasped her hands behind her back, lightly brushing her clean robes as she did so.  Mia was prepared, obviously, and expected the best from the young Hufflepuff.  If she spoke politely, allowed Mia to brag a bit, and made sure to smile every now and then things should go smoothly.  This tactic worked on other pureblooded children.   Her stepmother had taught her this many years ago, at one of Dorothy's first dinner parties.  

"Mother, I don't understand.  How do you know they'll like me."  a young Dorothy asked, pulling at a stray curl that hung at her prominent little collarbone.   Her stepmother, a harsh looking lady, gave her charge an  obnoxiously sugary smile.  "Because dear, you shall do as I say."  Madam Shafiq turned back to the large, intricate mirror in front of her and applied another layer of rouge to her already dark cheeks.  Her hair was piled up on top of her head and wrapped with a string of pearls that spiraled up the mountain of curls.  A pair of long, shimmering diamond and pearl earring swung slightly as the glamorous lady attempted to fluff her hair-do further.   "Listen, Dorothea.  If you apply a certain level of flattery and a polite attitude, you can make anyone like you.  How do you think I became so successful?"  Shafiq smiled at herself after that last part.   Dorothy turned to stare at her stepmum with a startled expression on her face.  "But mother! What if I-" "Silence daughter!  Just do as I say and things will be fine.   Now off with you! Mummy is busy."  Dorothy stared at her mom, who was now struggling to fit multiple jewel pins into her already glittering hair.  The small child turned and walked out of the room, holding her head high.  

The now eleven-year-old's eyelashes fluttered as she snapped back to reality.  Mia was still there, and Dorothy still had to make a good impression.  She gave a charming smile before turning on her heel and walking towards the nearest trophy cabinet.   Standing in front of it with her hands clasped behind her back stiffly, Dorothy addressed the Alexander girl a third time. 

"So, you're an Alexander?" she glanced over her shoulder at Mia. "Your name must be mentioned many times here.  Show me?" Nodding her head towards the same trophy case, Dorothy waited expectantly for the girl to spring into motion.  It didn't take much to get a pureblooded child to speak of her family's success.  Everyone was eager to say who they were and why they were important.  Dorothy hadn't experienced this personally, but she'd  seen it happen with others. 

She could see Aljasus's reflection in the trophy case's glass.  So Shafiq mean't business?  Dorothy did too.  

I agree that there is a certain appeal to cool weather. I was only referring to the fact that it hasn't rained recently.

No. That was not what the girl-Dorothy-had meant. Not at all. But it was a game. Mia played it well, and so did Dorothy. Everyone did. And if they didn't, well, they were never invited to come back and play again. It was quite simple, actually.

Yes. The absence of rain is certainly to my liking-I'm assuming yours as well.

Smiling slightly at the girl-just enough for her to see her shiny white teeth, Mia closed her mouth and watched the girl do the same. It was silly, actually, how practiced this was. Mia was sure that she would complement her in some way, and then Mia would do the same. Flattery was key. That was what Grandmother had always told her.

Focusing back on the girl, Mia noticed that she seemed to be in another world. This was not the time to daydream. Suddenly, the girl's eyelashes fluttered and she gave a small, but charming smile. Then, as soon as she finished with that, she turned on her heel and walked towards the nearest trophy cabinet, clasping her hands behind her back stiffly.

So, you're an Alexander? Your name must be mentioned many times here. Show me?

It had went the way that the Slytherin had expected. The girl's tone was pointed and a slight bit flattering. Mia was sure that she had practiced this dozens of times in front of the mirror, always getting it just perfect.



Yes. You assumed correctly.

Pointing at some Quidditch trophies, Mia pointed out every single one of them that had Alexander engraved on them in long, swooping letters. There were 13, a large number even for a family of her status. Of course, most of them were from Silas-8 in fact-but that was only expected from a professional Quidditch player.

Those are from the Alexanders-there are 13 for Quidditch, and 12 for Gobstones. I'm hoping to add on at least 2.

Smiling a quick smile at the blonde, Mia focused back on her completely. Now it was her turn for slight, but not obvious, flattery. The Alexanders would never bow down completely to anyone.

What about the....Dolohov and Dippet clan? Any trophies?