The Best Defense

Dexter blinked up at her. "Do you think I don't realize that? For three years people have been recruiting me, for seven years they have been trying to manipulate me. I do know a bit about these factions. There's nothing to be done for Dark Followers, except to maintain a loyalty to Dark that will last the kids until they get into the Death Eater's ranks. I do realize this. That's my point. Actual power comes with the Death Eaters. The Dark Followers offer me nothing but loss of self. I'd like to hold on that for a few years."

He sighed. "And I never flattered myself into thinking I could be brainwashed. Why do you think it is I have refrained from joining a side in this war? I will consider what you have said."

Dear Merlin he was intolerable. Even worse than Amelia; at least Amelia had a certain amount of tact. Besides, if Angelique was completely honest, the only reason she disliked the other Ravenclaw was because she was every teacher's pet.

"Yes, I think you don't realise that. I think you don't realise how powerless you are against people who believe in good or evil with all their hearts and I think you're probably even stupid enough to try to play each side off against the other," she said.

Angelique drew her wand but didn't threaten him. Simply held it in one hand and stroked the other down its length.

"See that you do," she answered. "Because I have no compunctions about maiming you if you don't do as you're told."

"It's not stupid if it gets results," he sneered at her. "I am powerless against anyone who wishes me harm, why would I offer my services up to any of them?!" He was usually non-confrontational and passive, but after awhile, the forceful recruitments of both sides were incredibly tiring. He needed to stand up every now and then.

Even if it was to a girl.

She drew her wand and Dexter leaned back and his eyes strayed down to the wand. Usually he was the type to put his head down, mumble something that would appease her, and walk off. But he was tired of it. "You wouldn't do it," he said. "I'm tired of bluffs."

Angelique frowned. She tilted her head to the side. He didn't seem the type to have a deathwish. This was one of those times when Angelique just didn't get people. Why couldn't he just swallow his pride and turn up to the meeting? He didn't even have to do anything. Just show.

"Yes, I would," she said. "I'd cut your ear off and make you eat it."

There was nothing angry or resentful or even boastful about the way she said it. It was just the truth.

"If you want to come to the Hospital Wing, we could do it now. I'm not completely heartless. I'll even use anaesthetic."

Dexter reeled at the way she stated the threat, as though it were not a threat but merely a fact of life, something as normal as stating "The sun will go down at sunset, the moon will rise, and the stars will come out." Simple as that. He was used to death threats, but not so matter of factly either. He finally recovered and crossed his arms, standing up, sure his expertise on death threats surely surpassed hers.

"That constitutes as a threat. Abuse and torture. Your head of house, or better yet, the headmaster, would be severely disturbed to know you said such a thing. I told you I'd consider, but now you are threatening to maim me if I do not join a club that I am fairly sure is not permitted. Good day to you," and he turned and began to weave through the bookcases to leave and find an authority figure.

Well, duh. For someone so supposedly clever, Dexter was terribly slow on the uptake. The whole point was that it was a threat.

Angelique let him walk. If he did tell anyone, which she doubted since he seemed to like the attention, they wouldn't do anything. People in this school threatened each other all the time. It was practically a requirement for getting into Slytherin, so nobody would actually take his concerns seriously.

Dexter hunched his shoulders as he walked, something not to out of place for the boy, but also as a sort of precaution. He was honestly flinching, ready for the jinx he was sure she was about to send. He may be a terrible athlete with bad reflexes, but logic tended to protect him in duels. His hand fingered the wand in his pocket, his knuckles white as he gripped it.

He made it to the front with no problem. He pulled out his books from his bag, the ones he had already set aside in his bag to check out and handed them over to the librarian, sneaking a glance at the girl. He quickly looked away, not trying to look afraid. Death threats or no, she had given him things to think over. He could not deny it.