Just while he was waiting for Dumbledore to make his appearance in front of the podium with his cheek leaned on the palm, a mix of heavy but feminine cologne with soap did reach his nostrils, making him act like he was about to throw up.Which meant one certain thing. [i]Alyssa LeStrange.The prototype of bitchiness.[/i] And yes, his no. 1 rival in his whole life as a Hogwarts student.He was definitely surprinsed to hear that her last name had been LeStrange when they first fought in their first year,because he was pretty sure that a surname like LeCow or LeBitch would suit her much better. And no, he doesn’t usually adopt this ‘discourteous’ way when it comes to girls. But she couldn’t be considered a girl, right?Of course, she was looking like one… okay, maybe more like a [i]physically appealing[/i] one (judging by the ridiculous amount of popularity she’s gained ), but who could be so sure she was indeed one and not some ready-to-thrust-her-fangs-anytime kind of viper in disguise? He didn’t care about gender when it comes to Slytherin, it was like all of them share the same canting genes.This is why he didn’t even bother himself to look up at her, it would waste about 5 seconds of his precious time.However, there was one thing that made him raise an eyebrow – and it was the way she called him.Once the Queen Bee and her flock headed towards the Slytherin table, the Gryffindors couldn’t help themselves but roll their eyes knowingly, while some of the girls chuckle mockingly at the blonde girl – it was obvious that the Gryffindor gals didn’t have a very ‘nice’ view of her neither.

„Don’t mind her, Noah.” A girl in year 4 who stood in his right did whisper encouragingly.

”You know her--” A boy in his year – his name being either Zayn or Zack, he couldn’t remember exactly – added, only to be cut off by a blonde familiar-looking boy.

„Wait, wait a minute!” Jacob Greyback stood still for a second, as if trying to make an effort to hold back his laugh, though failing miserably. ”Did—did she call you a---ahaha- m-muggleborn?” He said between laughs, wiping a nonexistent tear off the corner of his eye. ”W-What a dumb-ahaha!Does she even know what a muggleborn mean?” Noah smiled, knowing what his friend was trying to say.

„Well, he isn’t pure-blooded either. So your point is invalid, Greyback.”A dark-skinned boy in his 6th year did reply matter-of-factly from the Ravenclaw’s table while adjusting his glasses.Noah narrowed his eyes once their eyes met– he wasn’t sure whether the older boy was trying to sound sarcastic or to take Alyssa’s side.Although he was betting on the first option, since the Ravenclaws were ‚smart’ enough to [i]not[/i] side with the hypocrites.Or to not side with anyone.Unlike some of the Hufflepuffs ; well, not exactly siding with them, more like being forced to.

Yes, Noah was [i]neither[/i] .He was half-blooded, though most of his life was spent in the care of his muggleborn mother in London, after a forced break up with his pure-blooded father – one of the Hollingsworth’s successors – due to family matters.Although once his mother died at the tiny age of 12, he was more than ‚welcomed’ into the prestigious but cold family, whose symbol – a salamander – was tattooed on the right side of his stomach.And then again, what’s with this sudden interest in his life matters?

„And since when is my wizard status more important than the Test’s rules, Williams?” Noah asked with a fake ‚curiousity’, though his next sentence did prove its rhetoric effect.”Oh, right, since a Slytherin little bitch decides to stick her filthy nose into my personal life.Which makes total sense, because it looks like my life is by far more interesting than hers. ” Some of the nearby Gryffindors did chuckle approvingly, as well as 4 or 5 Raveclaws, despite Slytherins’ death glare. The dark-skinned Williams guy did crack a small smile, sign that he was by Noah’s side. 

Once the Dumbledore left out a loud, intimidating cough, all the students turned their attention awkwardly to their principal , letting the heavy silence overwhelm the room. After checking the mic, the old man began reciting his [i]so[/i] well-known speech, that you could easily mouth him after 3-4 years of living in the castle.The history of the H.A.A.T, the founders of the game, the [i]famous[/i] rules.Shit like that.Meanwhile, a bunch of house-elves were rushing through the students to set the various mouth-watering meals and drinks, which lessened the boredom of looking at an empty table. 

Noah licked his lips hungrily at the sight of his plate, yet something stopped him from trying the food yet, looking up at the old man. „... and this year we’re going to have only 550 participants in the Test : 185 out of 300 Slytherins, 189 out of 300 Gryffindors, 114 out of 300 Ravenclaws and 62 out 300 Hufflepuffs.An interesting decrease, in comparison to the last year, when the number of the players did surpass 800.” Loud gasps could be heard in the room.Yes, it was shocking.But Noah wasn’t impressed, not after the last year’s game where out of 800 students, only 68 managed to pass.„And here’s the answer : 549 young men and only one courageous lady!What a surprinse!” Okay, now THIS is shocking!Noah’s eyes widened before he turned to glare meaningfully at his female mates – they just shrugged out of shame. [i]Gryffindor’s bravery and determination my ass.These chicks are just scaredy-cats.[/i] 

Then, no one needed to inform him who the ‚mysterious’ female player was, all the glances were fixed on a certain blonde gal.Which made his whole appetite vanish as their eyes met.