Great Hall

[Alecto Carrow]

"I don't recognize the name, *Mr.* Chevalier, tell me a bit about yourself," Alecto said in a tone that was a bit too conversational.

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex took a moment to collect himself. Capturing her attention was exactly what he didn't want. Blending into the background was always the safest bet. However, now he had to try his best to avoid antagonizing her.

Slowly nodding, he met her gaze, purposefully conveying how uncomfortable he was in her presence. Defiance and even collected confidence would only make matters worse.

"I'm a 7th year member of the Ravenclaw house," he responded tentatively. Her question was unnervingly open ended.

[Alecto Carrow]

"Really?" Alecto asked arching a dark brow "And is that all there is to you?"

[Theo Nott]

Theo turned back to his meal, even as he listened in on the conversation between the professor and Chevalier.

[Rodolphus Lestrange]

Rodolphus entered the Great Hall and made his way over to the Professors table. Scanning the room as he did so his eyes fell on Alecto, meeting her gaze he gave a small nod of greeting before settling in for a meal.

[Alecto Carrow]

Seeing Dolph, Alecto offered him an incline of the head in greeting before looking back at the boy.

[Alexander Chevalier]

Eyes momentarily shifting as Rodolphus walked in, Alex then refocused on the dangerous woman before him. What could he say in response? Was there even a right way to reply?

"There isn't much else to say," he admitted somewhat meekly. "What would you like to know?"

[Ginny Weasley]

Ginny moved through the doors of the Great Hall, eyes shifting around the room as she moved to a seat at her own table, noticing with pity that the female nutter had targeted Alex already. It seems she started early in the day. Biting her lip, the redhead slipped into position, keeping an ear out to see if she could pick up on what was being said without being obvious about it. She didn't *want* to draw the nutters attention, but she didn't want to leave the older boy to her mercies either. He was probably in a difficult enough position with his own father, without having her interfering in it.

Her eyes caught Nevilles across the table as her friend quirked an eyebrow, making it clear he was aware of the situation as well.

[Alecto Carrow]

"Now, now *Mr.* Chevalier, I don't have to do *everything* do I? You're a 7th year Ravenclaw, you should be smart. Tell me what you think I'd care to know…" Alecto asks dusting imaginary lint from his shoulder.

[Theo Nott]

Theo watched as Rodolphus moved into the room. The man looked much better than sixteen years in Azkaban would leave most to believe. Turning once more to his meal, he focused back on the conversation between Alecto and Alex.

[Professor Sprout]

Pomona watched the people in the Great Hall silently as she stirred her milk and coffee. She watched Lestrange come in, the Carrow woman teasing the students.

[Alexander Chevalier]

From within the corner of his eye, Alex saw Ginny walk toward her table. He didn't dare shift his attention to glance over though and forced himself to remain entirely focused on Alecto.

She reached out and brushed a hand across his shoulder and he withheld the urge to openly flinch. He felt entirely backed into a corner, the only thing he could do now was try his absolute best to keep the situation under control. She was taunting him a little in remarking on his level of intelligence. Still, answering her question without paying any mind to potential, displeasing information wasn't entirely wise. Though, prolonging the inevitable didn't seem the smartest thing to do either.

What could he say to appease her? He supposed he could mention his father. Try and steer the conversation in an uninteresting direction.

"My family isn't notably affiliated by any means," he began. "My father has worked for the ministry a few years now and has made the headlines a couple times as well. He's very opinionated and takes the opportunity to provide his thoughts on almost every political matter."

[Rodolphus Lestrange]

Rodolphus watched as people entered the room a small vicious smile on his face, when he spotted Ginny. Turning his focus back onto Alecto and the boy he shook his head, as the boys comments filtered over to him. That certainly was going to be interesting.

[Ginny Weasley]

Feeling eyes on her, Ginny's own flickered automatically to the head table, catching on Lestrange as he leered at her. Her eyes narrowed in both distaste and defiance before she tossed her hair and turned back to her table mates, leaving the pervert to whatever disgusting thoughts populated his head.

[Alecto Carrow]

"*Really*?" Alecto asked raising a brow and tilting her head "And *do* tell, what are those thoughts and political matters they're about?"

Her gaze flicked over the boy, he was not poor, his robes were of nice quality. Was he pureblood? He should answer that next… maybe she should encourage him to.

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex watched as her eyes perused his attire and surmised that she was trying to verify his status. It was unavoidable, he supposed. There really wasn't a way out of this. Still, he directed his focus to the question at hand instead.

"A wide range of things," he replied. "The very way in which the ministry is run, the leniency of some of our laws, the previous schooling system, distinctions of class, even matters to do with non-human creatures."

His father was very intolerant, on almost every issue. However, the absolute extent of his intolerance was verbal disagreement.

[Alecto Carrow]

"And?" Alecto asked raising a brow. "What are these views?"

[Alexander Chevalier]

"Well," the boy continued, trying to keep his mind as detached as possible. He could be completely honest in regard to his father. "That the ministry and our laws are far too lax when it comes to the distinction of the noble class from those beneath. And also the matter of blood purity, he doesn't appreciate any tainting whatsoever or the presence of Muggleborns. His ideal is a society of the absolute elite."

[Caden McGinnis]

Caden made his way into the Great Hall, scanning the vicinity very briefly with his eyes, before walking over to a fellow Raven he recognized. "Alex!" he gave him a firm clap on the back as he slumped into the seat beside him. Picking up on the tense situation, he glanced between the boy and the rather striking woman looming over him. "Professor," he added with an inclination of his head and a pleasant smile.

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex tensed the instant he felt the slap on his back. Glancing to his left, he spotted Caden, his housemate, and then shifted his gaze toward Alecto. How was she going to react to this? Still, he had to admit that he was a little relieved. This momentary distraction might serve to distract her from continuing the line of questioning.

He heard Caden's easy greeting and marveled at how easily the boy faced any situation, no matter the severity. He seemed entirely comfortable.

[Caden McGinnis]

Turning the pleasant smile on his housemate when he remained silent, Caden informed him, "You know, it's sorta rude not to say anything back. I think I should feel insulted."

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex narrowed his eyes slightly in response to the boy. Now wasn't the time for this. However, once the thought had left him, he considered that perhaps Alecto would be appeased by a bit of amusement.

And so, he forcibly smirked, ignoring how uncomfortable he was within the woman's scrutiny. "But you never do the things you should. It doesn't become you."

[Caden McGinnis]

"'Course not," Caden agreed, the makings of a laugh escaping his mouth. "It'd be so boring otherwise, wouldn't it? Always doing and saying exactly what you're s'posed to all the time, what's expected of you or whatever. Though, you'd know all about that, huh, Alex? Tell me," he widened his eyes in faux-fascination, "how do you do it?"

[Alexander Chevalier]

Caden's implications were clear and Alex fought the urge to glare in response. He couldn't afford to let Alecto see the extent of truth to his friend's words. Though, as sharp a woman as she was, he doubted it made much of a difference.

"Perhaps boredom merely suits me," he replied tonelessly.

[Caden McGinnis]

"Tch, lame," Caden responded, shaking his head at that and maintaining the lighthearted tone. "You should get out more, have some fun, spend a little less time on homework or whatever it is you do." Lowering his voice, though more for the dramatic effect than his concern for his volume, "You should try causing a little trouble sometimes. It's way more fun."

[Leanna Barker]

Leanna had been sitting silently, watching Alecto interrogate Alex. She shook her head at Caden and reached out, grabbing the back of the boy's shirt and pulling him down onto the bench. "Sit down and shut up." she whispered, glancing past him to Alex, then to Alecto. She shouldn't have been getting involved, but here she was, sticking her neck out for her housemates.

[Caden McGinnis]

"I am sitting down," Caden informed the girl matter-of-factly. He glanced down to where her hand was holding on his shirt and smirked, musing, "This was just an excuse to grab ahold of me, wasn't it?"

[Leanna Barker]

"Oh yes, I'm secretly in love with you but I can't express it so I have to grab your shirt to stop you interrupting a conversation between and student and professor." Leanna returned dryly. "Please, oh please... Kiss me now." She dropped his shirt and rolled her eyes, pouring herself a cup of juice.

[Caden McGinnis]

"I wasn't interrupting, just having a word with a friend of mine," Caden insisted, reaching out and patting the high-strung girl atop the head. "And if you're really wanting a kiss, all you have to do is ask. Don't go to such lengths to get my attention, sunshine."

[Leanna Barker]

She smacked his hand away from her head. "Don't pat me. I'm not a dog." she growled at him. "I wouldn't kiss you if you were the last man on earth. I've already got my Frog Prince." she mumbled, making a vague reference to a Muggle fairytale. "He just doesn't know it yet."