Sophisticated Lady (Open)

[Samantha Montgomery]

Solitude. Peace and quiet finally. Samantha laid on her back staring at the cieling to her new room. Hogwarts was a far stretch from the refined Beauxbatons, but at least here she would have a new start, perhaps she could be a new person.

She laughed derisively at the thought, she would always be who she was, and it wouldn't be so pathetic if she had even an inkling of who that person was. All she knew for sure was that whoever she was, wasn't a likable person, not really.

Lord, if only her mother could see her now. "'Stop Moping Samantha!" she could practically hear the woman's voice so refined yet cold as ice. She wrapped her arms tighter around herself before looking out the window. It was October now, winter would soon be upon them, that suited her fine.

She wondered what her father had to do in order to be allowed to transfer in a month late, she wondered how much it cost, not that money was ever an issue. Perhaps that was her problem, she was used to getting what she wanted, she had enough money to do so, and enough wits to boot. Perhaps that's why she didn't see the trainwreck that was her life happening before it did. Whatever the reason it was time to set things to right. Two more years and she'd be done with school.

She stood up and stiffened her spine like a broom handle. Determinedly with a steel core she made her way down into the common area to see who was about.

[Rabastan Lestrange]

Rabastan, lounging in the common room, had just looked up when he heard soft steps, definitely coming from the girl's dorm.

His eyebrows went up slightly, and he smiled, trying not to be predatory about it. He hadn't met Samantha yet, but he'd been hearing about the new transfer. She would be worth his efforts, he thought. She was hot, and he could tell she had spirit too.

"You must be Samantha," He said in a velvet tone, trying to catch her attention. "You're countanence preceeds you."

[Samantha Montgomery]

Her brother believed that names were important, indeed to hear one's name spoken, often brought warmth, but to hear her name fall like a liquid caress from a man with a presence as devastating as Rabastan's, was almost more pleasure than any female should have to endure. It was a good thing she was pretty and had her own presence otherwise he would simply swallow her up.

Her "countenance" slipped only for a second as she took her measure of him wondering if he would buy her snow queen act. She also wondered if it would be worth it to simply shed the good girl and follow her baser needs. It was only a thought, a harmless thought, and she was sure naughtier ones had been thought about this man. Quickly she adjusted the mask back on her face as she dipped a small curtsy to him lowering her lashes so she could peer at him from below.

"I do hope that's a compliment Mr. Lestrange."

She stayed in that position until he responded.

[Rabastan Lestrange]

Rabastan caught the slip. Of course he had. Girls always faltered for that brief second, and he had learned to look for it. It was the moment when he knew for certain that he could break in to their hearts. He lived for those moments.

He took hers as an invitation to sit near her. "Of course it's a compliment. Especially in Slytherin, where everyone's name precedes them."

He was intrigued that she knew his name, though he supposed it shouldn't be that big of a surprise. The Lestranges were well known.

[Samantha Montgomery]

She would have rather that her name didn't precede her or at least everything that was associated her name, there was subtle hesitation as he said that, but a brilliant smile for him when he sat down.

"And you sir? What should I expect from your reputation?" she asked in a good naturned tone.

[Rabastan Lestrange]

He laughed.

"Whatever you'd like to expect from it, love," he told her, easing his own stance so that he didn't seem intimidating, in case she had thought he was. "But I promise you, I break expectations." He wanted to wink, but decided to wait on that for a while.

"How is Hogwarts treating you?" He asked. "I apologize that we're not so refined as the French school you attended."

[Dorian Knight]

It figured that Dorian found Rabastan there, already zeroing in on the new girl. Well, who could blame him? She was hot, no one could deny that. But it irrtated him how entilted Rabastan felt he was to every girl in the school.

He grinned. Perhaps there was one he could steal away.

He shifted his course towards the chairs and set his bag down in one of them.

"I haven't gotten the chance to introduce myself," he said, blatantly interrupting, and held out his hand for hers.

[Samantha Montgomery]

" News really does travel." she said surprised, but not entirely, that he knew where she transfered from. She knew it must have been easy for him with women, they would melt in his eyes and that smile, it should have been illegal.

"So far.." she said smiling up at him as if he were the reason for her answer, "Really well."

Sam paused looking up at the "intrusion" only to find another face that resembled an angel's a dark and sinister angel, but it was Slytherin, what did she expect except to be tempted into oblivion.

"Oh.." she turned and offered her hand in a graceful fashion, "Samantha Montgomery." she offered.

[Dorian Knight]

Dorian took her hand and turned it to kiss the back of it. "Samantha Montgomery... it is my pleasure," he said sweetly. "I'm Ryan Knight. Welcome to Hogwarts."

She was gorgeous, he decided. Hot in a way that Rabasta Lestrange could never appreciate more than once. He never did repeat performances. He'd at least give her a go twice. The nice thing about not having the reputation that Rabastan did, though, was that he could often be there to pick up the pieces the other Slytherin left behind. It was a win win situation.

[Rabastan Lestrange]

Rabastan rolled his eyes. "Oh, so glad you could join us, Dorian," he said, knowing he hated his full name, with nothing but apathy in his voice. The younger boy tried too hard, and he was intuding on Rabastan's time now. He wouldn't stand for it.

Besides, he was Rabastan Lestrange. No one topped him in this department. Maybe he should let Dorian hang around just so he could know what rejection tasted like.

[Samantha Montgomery]

If only she knew what they were thinking, not that she didn't have a pretty good idea. She was only twelve when she had her first "offer" and from that point on it was just something she got used to, Men wanted her, she more often than not could care less. Though with these two gentlemen there was more caring, they were beautiful specimens of the male kind.

When Dorian lifted her hand she felt a tremor go through her skin at the contact, it was strange for she wasn't really one for overly romantic gestures. "Thank you. " she said not losing eye contact for a spell before shaking out of it when Rabastan spoke.

His droll tone almost made Sam laugh.

[Rystain Quandry]

Rystain walked into the common rooms from the guys dorms, he didn't have any books with him and he'd just woken up from a nap. His hair was still tossled and he'd left it hanging loose whenever he wasn't in a class and a few locks of hair spilled over his eyes but he wasn't really concerned. He was wearing his usual tailored black leather pants and a slightly crumpled green shirt that was obvious he'd slept in it and not cared to change out of as long as he was just in his common rooms.

Rystain noticed Sam sitting on one of the couches with Dorian and Rabastan looking like they were both about to pounce with their eyes anyways and they had that competative look that was obvious to other guys. He wasn't in the mood for the contest of a woman, he didn't chase after women normally he didn't usually need to stalk them they came willingly on their own without his help. Not that he was cocky about it but he just didn't need a girl on his arm he had other ambitions and there were plent of girls out there that would work as well as any other to obligate any needs he might have or to please his pureblood family. He was always a bit amused by Rabastan's stalker tendancies but he'd never said anything. It was one of those things guys just didnt' talk about. He knew Rabastain well enough over the years and had seen his line of broken hearts and found it amusing rather than competition like some other guys did. Besides the best women were the ones who didn't need to be seduced, the strong willed ones who knew what they wanted and went after it. He admired ambitious women more than those who were easily seduced.

Rystain walked over and sat in a nearby couch in front of the fire and just slouched back relaxing and half watched the exchange between the threesome while his thoughts drifted watching the fire dance.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam enjoyed the attention, she was programmed to live for the love of others. If she wasn't the best looking, if she wasn't the most sought after, if she wasn't the most popular, then she wasn't good enough. A finger down her throat, a charm here and there, new clothes for this or that anything to make her look better. She had been gaunt at one point with her mother's insistance that she lose weight, after her mother died Sam was allowed to eat to her heart's content, to her surprise she didn't blow up like a balloon, she still didn't eat much but she had filled out curves now.

She didn't have to be told to watch her heart around these gentlemen, she could tell that gleam in their eyes from a mile away, but the only problem was, she didn't have a heart to break. She wasn't falling in love, and there wasn't going to be any falling from grace.

[Rita Skeeter]

Rita walked in through the common room door with a smirk of a job well done on her face, she'd managed to catch a little scoop of info and.... she looked over seeing Sam surrounded by two very handsome men. She knew them both, she knew everyone since she made a habbit to know them and winked across the room at Sam indicating that she thought the woman had them on wound around her fingers, knowing the boys had not yet seen her behind them. "Hello Samantha Montgomery."

[Samantha Montgomery]

"Rita!" she said charmed, she already knew how "enchantingly nasty" Rita could be, and just how devilishly useful. If anyone could dig up dirt and spin a tale it was Miss Skeeter, and if she had an idea for a story it got written accurate or not, you did not want Rita on your bad side, no, you wanted her safely in your pocket where you could keep an eye on her, "How have you been? It's been some time hasn't it?" she asked knowing she had met the girl before and had intentions to bring back that relationship.

[Rystain Quandry]

Rystain turned as Reeter Skeeter entered. At least that what he called her, but not to her face. He knew as well as any other that Rita could bite like a viper if she wanted to, but if you kept her close she was easily used.. a tool if you will. In that she was very useful to have around, and when you wanted to make a puppet dance she was one of the strings you could easily use to do so. Oh she could be charming and friendly when you wanted and already she had readers who were devoted to her, enough that she could easily rip apart a reputation or put doubts in faith, or make you love or hate whoever she wrote about. He was sure she used her own hidden spells that she never let on about to get what she wanted, she was devious but she was also useful.

Rystain nodded to Reeter Skeeter as she walked over to say hello to Samantha before turning back to the fire though still listening even while he turned his thoughts back inwards.

[Rita Skeeter]

Rita saw Rystain nod at her before Samantha spoke. She thought Rystain was charming and was someone to know if his ambition would dictate his future career, but right now he was not of much interest other than this good looks which even she wasn't immune to. People might think she was cold as ice, but infact she was just as human as any female... most of the time. But she didn't need relationships unless they were without commitment and only to fullfill certain needs or if they were useful for some reason.

Rita turned her attention to Sam, "Sam, darling beautiful Samantha" Rita knew she was the heiress to a magazine empire and had good connections that could boost Rita's career, it paid to be complimentary. And Rita wanted to have her as a friend, even if it was for selfish reasons... it was benifitial to keep people close who could boost her connections. Her calculating smile grew friendly, even if it was contrived she was sincere in that she actually might like the woman.. maybe.. but she could make herself like anyone for the right reasons.

Rita walked closer and sat herself down next to Sam half turned towards her and half still easily watching the two guys she'd been obviously talking to. She crossed her legs and leaned back. She was out of classes for the day and might as well enjoy the rest of her afternoon with her fellow housemates. Where everyone shared something in common.. be it ambition or power or just the need to be the best at something, she could easily understand many of them and felt more comfortable when she was in the company of those with ambition who understood what it meant to have friends in all the right circles.

"Adjusting well to the new school I see... " ..with a pointed grin at the two guys sitting across the way now. "How are you doing, dear?"

[Samantha Montgomery]

Rystain and Samantha both had very clear views of Rita's abilities, and Sam intended for those abilities to be put to work, not that she didn't have anything to reccomend herself, oh no, she had something Rita would just love of that she was sure. Her smile became more genuine, more devious as well, " Oh Hogwarts is simply wonderful. I am most happy to be here." she tapped her chin, "Now let me see I believe the last time I saw you was father's summer party." she announced as if just deducing that.

She called it her father's summer party, but the party had been for her, now that she was getting older he was giving her more free reign on her mother's company, which she had been running practically when she was six years old. Oh her mother loved gossip and society, but was never dedicated to doing anything beneficial for the magazine itself, she didn't know how to organize or discipline, Sam had wonderful ideas, even at the young age, and her motehr hated her for it. For anything Sam did wasn't good enough, and anything that Sam did better than her mother, simpily wasn't tolerated. Still for business sake by the time Samatha was eleven she was running the company behind her mother's exterior, everyone loved Marrion for the work on the magazine, only a select few knew that it was Sam behind genious. When her mother died that Company was left to her, there were those however who wanted to take their funding what did a Child know about running a magazine? But then her father stepped in and hired a renowned editor to keep the magazine afloat until Sam was of Age.

Fat lot that, Samantha couldn't stand the woman who had been sent in to replace her, neither could the staff, Samantha would have lost the magazine if she hadn't cajoled, stomped, and cried her way into her father's reason until he allowed her to take over. The magazine had been back on top ever since, and her father believed it was time for her to make more contacts, more acquaintances for later on in the business world of anything writing, and her father knew them all considering his publishing firm. In fact the only one competing for publishing firms was the family's the old one, but that was buried into so many layers of history it would never die out no matter how ancient it really was. Besides the elders insisted on keeping it the same though Edward wanted to give it new blood and most likely tripple their income, but it wasn't as if they weren't rich enough. Well one day, not that she was looking forward to it mind you since it would mean her father's death, one day, all three companies would be left to her. Yes she needed to make those contacts and at a young age as well they needed to see her grow up and be entranced with her as anyone else before her because she was to be their new cornerstone, and there were many who could not stand to see such power in a woman, especially one so young.

But it was at that party where she had last met Rita " You were reccommended to the firm for your articles, I had hoped I'd run into you we were very impressed with your work."

[Rita Skeeter]

"Of course you were dear, I only submit the best of the articles I write." Which was most of them she thought to herself. "You father always did a flare for the parties in the business, though you were quite the splended socialite that night if I remember correctly. "Many of us were happy to see you finally taking over your mother's business. You and I have much in common with our careers already in the right direction especially for our ages, but I think you have the skill more than your mother ever did if rumors I heard that night were true. You were wearing that blue silk gown weren't you? I remember the men trailing after you.. as a matter of fact I was surprised to see you'd changed schools. I thought with all those boys at your feet you would have wanted to stay there. And then I vaguely remember that one fellow.. who thought he was being your shadow like a stalker." Rita was sure not many had noticed it, but Rita had a keen eye and she never forgot a face or forgot a memory, and if the arguement she saw Sam hold with him later that evening was any tale tell sign Sam had noticed it too.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Rita didn't pull punches she gave beautiful words of enchantment and then pulled out your dirtly little secrets, but to Sam's credit she didn't even flinch. It was funny no one had brought up why Sam transfered yet and she wasn't going to let anybody get the full story not even Rita Skeeter.

"Ah well, yes it was unfortunate, I believe he had designs to marry, but .." she lowered her lashes as the good demure socialite was supposed to, " Father didn't believe it to be in my best interest. He is why I switched schools you know." she smiled fondly, " He wanted me to be nearer to home over protective and all of that." she said positively adoringly. "Oh and the blue gown!" she said as if that were more interesting than her stalker, " Oh it was to die for, I'm so glad you noticed."

She would have to have a personal chat with Rita later, when she didn't have an audience, what was and what wasn't acceptable gossip.

" Ever since my mother passed, I have been doing all I could to follow in her footsteps, it's so difficult, she was such a paragon of womanhood." the sincerity in Sam's voice would make her want to vomit, and the sorrow etched on her features was so beautifully tuned out it was apparent that Sam would be glorious when or if she ever did cry. She gave the perfect picture of how a woman should feel towards a death of their mother, but on the inside she was roiling with a hatred so fierce Rita could write forever upon and win award after award for the depth of Sam's emotion.