Opeila Closed

Opeila had not expected an answet that quick.
She had been on her way upstairs, when she noticed that owl following her and quickly relieved it of it's burden.
She sat down on a window sill to open and read it.

Charmer. Opeila could almost imagine Vladimir's shit-eating grin how Victor called it, when she read the first paragraph. He really was laying on thick, wasn't he? She shook her head, lightly frowning, a little smile on her lips. Opeila did not believe a word of this.

He agreed to answer her questions, that was a good thing. If she had to play this game to get to answers, fine. Whatever role she needed to pl-

Her eyes had pointed the words Blossom Ball on the paper, causing the first year to freeze. He wanted her to be his Blossom Ball date. He had heard rumours about the secret ball.

She would have believed it. If it wasn't Vladimir Athanatos who wrote this. What were the chances? No one had spread word of that ball yet, what were the chances that Vladimir of all people happened to hear it? Cold goosebumps spread over Opeila's body, suddenly she felt like she had drawn a target on her forehead. She heard Professor Jensen's words in her head again. This is more dangerous than any of us know...

The first year looked up, looking around. Was she watched? Had she been interfering too much, would Vladimir get rid of her when no teachers were there? It would be the perfect place. Hundreds of people, Olphie the only adult. If they could convince her.
Her heart pounded.
Are you tricking me again? Have you tricked me back then?

When did she get that paranoid? Opeila got up that window sill and walked away, to the study room. A place with other people. Where her panic suddenly seemed ridiculous again. This was real life, not some horror movie.
She would simply ask him how he knew of this.

Time to face the next question. Would she go to the ball with that narcissistic, possibly dangerous third year? Professor Jensen asked her to travel in groups, but she probably didn't mean a forbidden event, where one rather got lost in the crowd.
But on the other hand... How dumb would she be to say no? He could answer all her questions. She had a whole evening to find things out.
The only bad thing was, that this crossed out her plan to ask Flash Holmwood... She would have loved to go to the ball with him. She sacrificed it to get answers. That was so like her, wasn't it...

Thinking, she grabbed a quill and a piece of paper, finally calm again.

Vladimir,

Thank you for your kind answer, I am deeply flattered. I would have not been surprised, if you had already forgotten me, surely someone like you has a lot of admirers.

The happier your question makes me. How can I say no to such a kind question?
I will happily go to the ball with you, although I am curious; Where did you hear those rumours about the ball? I didn't know those rumours existed.

Your owl followed me through half of the castle, it seems like she sensed that I would send you an answer.

Thank you for your response,
Opeila Seilun

Indeed the owl had followed and now sat on the table next to her. "Okay... This one right back please.", she murmured to the bird and attached the letter to it's leg.
Opeila watched it flying away.
What had she done?

@Vladimir Athanatos

A snowy owl would rap on the window of the Ravenclaw Tower. Vladimir was studying, truly a Ravenclaw cliche. A history book, nothing peripherally nefarious. To understand one's past they can glean something of their fate. 

That was likely a letter from Opeila. At least he received a timely response. He took the letter from the owl's claws and glanced over the contents once for a superficial assessment and then a second time to confirm the words. Opeila said yes, Vladimir never doubted that she would accept his invitation. 

Those questions that she wanted were already being asked it would seem. He felt so dirty. So used. Oh well... She wanted to know how he knew. Well, that was not a fun question to answer. A man needed to maintain an air of mystery about him. He would give her a reply.

I know lot's of things. Pick you up at 8.

It was an abbreviated answer, the message intended carried on the wings of that single avian creature. he did not have long before the evening of the ball, but he would not need much time to prepare. An Easter holiday trip to Diagon Alley and he would have everything that he needed.

The second owl reached her quickly as well.
Opeila was at the lake, spending some time with her good old murderous friend, the giant squid. Who always ended up getting all of the Slytherin's breakfast.
It was the reflection of the lake she first found the owl in, that only a few moments later landed next to the first year. "Well let me guess, who this is from...", she murmured, detaching the letter from the owl's leg.

She stroke the bird while unfolding the letter. The contrast to his first letter couldn't have been any bigger. Where his first letter had been stuffed with pretty words, this one was very short. Nine words and a number.

He would pick her up at- "What the hell?", she asked in disbelief. He knew of the ball's existence and apparently time and date as well. She would ask the planning team, if they spread rumours. Opeila would not be surprised if they did not. It would exactly fit with the creepy image of that guy, she had right now.

The ball would be a kind interrogation, possibly while dancing. That's how she would think about that. She didn't feel bad for it, she had asked him from the beginning if he would meet her to answer her questions. She never said anything different, he had made this weird date thing out of it.
Opeila just hoped he wouldn't expect her to actually play along there.
A sudden thought came to Opeila.

Willow. She had not really seen her for a month. Opeila would totally ask her to go and buy dresses with her.
The note she sent back to Vladimir was even shorter than his.

Great, I'll be there.

@Vladimir Athanatos

Vladimir already had everything he needed. It was not as if the Blossom Ball was a novel concept, it came each and every year without exception. Even when they claimed that this year was the exception. People had their own expectations -- what was right, what was theirs and what they were owed. They would never comply, that was a fact. With the mere mention that the Ball would be no more, the gears had started turning in not just their head but the heads of several others. They were mrely the most successful. 

He with take the letter from the owl and read it over. The note was short, curt even, as if a deal was made. Deals were the devil's work. He smiled. With her confirmation the next portion of his plan could be underway. A candle on the table before him, he set her note ablaze. No need to keep sentimental love notes such as this. Or perhaps... not. He would collect the fine grey ash in the palm of his hand and funnel it into a small vessel no larger than a matchbox. 

Considering all of the tragic circumstances that have befallen the student body, it was astonishing that children maintained the uncanny ability to forget. It seemed self-destructive. Perhaps they were masochists. Fatalists. No matter. Their lack of regard for their own safety made things easier. He did not send another letter to the girl, there was no need. He would pick her up in a few days time at eight.

In the meantime...

Victor was looking for him. At least that was the rumor. It was about time they reconvened. He was... in the dungeons again it would seem. Always there, just outside of his reach. At least he believed that. It was time for a little visit.