Both twins turned piercing gazes on Delta. The little conversations they held between them, plotting, bickering, planning, were meant only for them. Delta was an intrusion. It was Cordelia who lifted her chin and said, âSo you do believe that a vampire can be poisoned.â The words pushed, playing on the worries the girl had so far displayed. It wasnât like Cordelia to assuage her fears, though the suggestion had only been morbid humour.
She snorted disdainfully at the spew of long words from the girlâs mouth. English was her second language, but she understood most of it. âStereotypes are there for a reason. Do you really believe that Foley âas not âad a single sip of blood since starting 'ogwarts?â she asked, her French accent ringing. âMore likely 'e âas been leaving tooth marks on the necks of 'is favourite students and professors and telling them to keep quiet.â Cordelia could believe that one too. Vampires, after all, were creatures driven by bloodlust as far as she was concerned.
Caitlin, it seemed, was the only one of the three of them not completely distracted from brewing her antidote. She seemed completely unconcerned by Deltaâs attitude, though it was for the Hufflepuffâs benefit when she turned to Cordelia and said as an aside, âThat would be 'ow we get the poison into 'im. We poison you first, let 'im drink, then give you the antidote.â
Delta felt herself shrinking back under the harsh gazes of the twins. One glare she could barely handle, but two equally vitriolic glares? Delta could feel her resolve crumbling all at once. She should have learned long ago not to speak to people who wouldnât see reason but hearing people attack vampires felt like an attack on herself and her mum had taught her to always, always, stand up for herself. âI donât know any more about vampires than you do. Although I do seem to know more about being a decent--â Deltaâs words began strong but slowly faded under the continued stare of the twins.Â
âY-you know as well as I do that vampires can survive off of human food just as well as their regular diets, and Professor Foley is strictly forbidden from drinking blood while on the grounds!â Despite the stutter, Deltaâs voice had become strong again amidst a new wave of self doubt. She didnât know as much as she could have about vampires for a reason. They had always been a very secretive race--outwardly flamboyant and garish to distract from the many secrets they were hiding. Even her father had been secretive to his own daughter about the vampire half of her, trying to protect her perhaps from situations like this where she would go about blabbing her own secrets/.
Delta couldnât help but make a face of disgust at the suggestion of poisoning her own sister--it sent a shiver up her spine. âActually--nevermind.â she told them, spinning around quickly as the smell of her potion became stronger, ready to be stirred. She had turned her back on them but she was well aware the conversation was far from over.Â
