Orion had taken to the owlry again, having needed to send a letter off to his parents. The boy rolled his eyes to himself. He didn't enjoy being treated like an eleven year old anymore. He was sixteen. Why was it still necessary to report home? It wasn't like either of his parents really cared. They just wanted to make sure he was upholding the family name and not making a fool of himself or his family.

Having the pureblood lifestyle ingrained into one since they were born didn't make it any more simpler to understand. It was all about prestige, and power, and pride. Three things his family had. Pride, Orion had in abundance though. As for power, well, his magical capabilities weren't anywhere near those of Potter's, or maybe even Malfoy's, now that he thought on it. But he was still a formidable opponent, and anyone who didn't think so was always in for a rude awakening.

Today didn't seem to be his day to send a letter however. Orion's own eagle owl was off picking up a few books he had ordered for purely research reasons. Which meant the sixth year needed to use one of the school's owls. But it seemed like the beasts were not in the mood to be sent off for work, and one had already snipped at his finger. What was with the bloody animals these days? "Ruddy owl.." He growled lowly. This seemed to be a mistake.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the damn beast with wings seemed to take high offense and attack him. Orion put his arms up to protect his eyes and face from being flawed by talons or plucked by a beak and backtracked out of the owlry where he ran into one of the Lestrange twins. A sneer overtook his face, thinking it was Leyton Lestrange. But he soon realized, once he was certain he wasn't at risk of being attacked by owls again, that it was Luca.

Orion arched a brow at the older boy. "My apologies. Next time I'll simply allow myself to be pecked to death by bloody birds." He snapped back, his sarcasm coming out to play.

Once he stepped around the younger boy he shook his head with a scowl dusting off the non existent dirt on his jacket.  It was odd to catch someone else coming out of the owlery and especially at the high rate of speed as Orion.  So Luca could only assume that the boy had been up to no good.

"Well I can only assume the bird had a good reason to attack you.  So you get what you give eh."

Shrugging he crossed his arms over his chest giving the snake a look, he was in no mood for no nonsense.  All he wanted to do was send out the letter to his mother and retreat back to the common room and relax in front of the fireplace. 

His housemates were making it harder and harder to keep his nose out of trouble and unlike his brother he did not enjoy serving detention every other day of the week.  Luca had no idea what in the bloody hell had gotten into every one this year but at the rate they were going they would all be lucky if they made it out alive.

Orion merely rolled his blue eyes at the older boy. "Yea. It's reason is because it's a bloody insane bird. Not exactly a good reason, but a reason nonetheless." He retorted, mocking smirk gracing his features as he slipped his hands into his pockets, gazing at Luca casually.

The younger wizard had no reason to really pick a fight with the older snake. Luca had never bothered Orion, had never slighted the younger and arrogant boy. All of Orion's anger was aimed more towards his twin, Leyton. He was a reckless Slytherin who was constantly pushing his luck with the wrong people. And constantly putting his hands on the wrong people too.

Speaking of which..."So. I heard quite the rumor involving a few family members of yours Luca. Is that what you're writing home about? Doing damage control before the papers find out?" A cruel smirk curled the boy's lips as his blue eyes laughed. It would make quite the scandal, even Luca would have to admit that. And Orion didn't see either families being happy with the situation.

It was unfortunate that secrets rarely stayed secret at Hogwarts. Orion was almost completely sure the entire castle knew about the tryst between the two cousins, and even more sure that some idiot would leak it to the press. The most curious thing was that Riddle seemed either unawares about it all, or was sticking loyally by her wizard. Strange that one, but she would still make a lovely trophy.

His smirk grew, and Orion took a casual stance as he mulled over the things Luca said. Minus the bird business, of course. He didn't deem that worthy of a response. It was rather unfortunate that the older Slytherin was finally cutting the cord that had him continuously cleaning up Leyton's messes. It was surprising, to say the least, but Orion didn't let that show.

But he was far from through with the older boy. On the contrary, he had only begun. It was always amusing to the sixth year that so many people overlooked him. He preferred it that way, however. Usually reserved and observant, he picked up on a lot of things others wouldn't, and it was clear from the glittering of his cold blue eyes that Orion knew something he probably shouldn't.

"This newfound lack of responsibility for your brother and cousin wouldn't have anything to do with a newfound attraction to a certain witch with uncannily colored eyes now would it Luca?" He smirked knowingly at the older boy, every bit of cockiness showing as he stood there casually, nearly taunting the other snake. "I always find it entertaining when others don't notice my presence. It makes overhearing things so much more simpler." He explained with an air of true amusement. "I wonder what your cousin would think about you sneaking around with his witch on dates to the music room. Then again, he doesn't seem to care much at all, based on the things being said about him your brother."

Luca had no idea what the younger boy in front of him was playing at but he was growing more and more annoyed by the second. An angry Luca was a sight to see and he put even his brother and aunt to shame. It was not a nice place to be and if things kept up Orion would find himself there very quickly with little chance of escaping.

Rolling his eyes, it was the only emotion that showed on his face. What was it with his housemates suddenly choosing this year to start paying attention to the things that went on around them. They were always painfully oblivious before, but this year not even the smallest things could go unnoticed. What he was accusing him of though was not the entire truth and if he protested too much it would only make it look like it really was the truth.

"Orion you would not know the truth if it slapped you in the face, so do not bother starting now. If you are referring to with whom I had breakfast I did not know it was a crime to have breakfast with a housemate. Whatever will we do... everyone will have to eat breakfast alone. The horror," he said with a mocking tone trying to throw the boy off. "And as for your second observation, the last time I checked it was also not a crime to teach a friend a thing or two on the drums. Unless you play drums differently than I do, then that is an entirely different story."

So that was his game then? Orion only smirked more, blue eyes laughed as they gazed at the other boy knowingly. Luca might think he could hide things so smoothly, but the older boy had been letting a lot of things slip lately. He seemed to forgot that for six years Orion had been in the same house as him. Been eating his meals with him.

From the time he was a first year Orion had been extremely watchful, born into the trade of finding things he shouldn't and knowing more than he should. There was hardly a thing about any of his housemates he didn't know except for their actual thoughts. He wasn't a mind reader. Orion read people.

He could tell Luca was bluffing, grasping at straws really. But did the older snake realize how little his holey excuses would matter once the damage was done? Even Orion knew just how far the relationship between all the cousins had deteriorated. And the sixth year lived to start fires and watch them burn.

"On the contrary Luca, I know more than you would assume of me. Bad form on your part, to underestimate a snake." He replied lazily, tone almost bored. "For instance, I doubt aside from your so called family I may be the only person to know what it means when you show concern for others. Or when you watch them walk away. Or why you sneak out to watch the Slytherin team practice."

"Well good for you and every thing that you supposedly know." he said with a roll of his eyes. Luca refused to rise to the occasion, to take the bait as the boy tried to spark a fight between them. Luca knew every thing the younger boy was saying was true but he refused to acknowledge it. This was the last thing he needed right now.

He had enough on his mind, what with the drama with his family and then the pressure to keep his grades perfect. Plus on top of that there was the added pressure to take the Dark Mark no later than next summer and if his luck continued the way it had been going he would have it by Christmas time. He couldn't help but grimace inwardly at the thought of taking the mark.

"Unfortunately, I have better things to do than to listen to your wild observations, so if you will excuse me." Without waiting for another word he stepped around the younger boy and into the owlery to get his letter sent off.