Chapter Nine: A Promising Future

Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry was known for its excellent alumni.

Whether it be the ministry, healers, educational careers, magizoology or any other career in the Wizarding World, Hogwarts was known for dishing out students with excellent grades and a formidable sense of professionalism.

While most presumed Hogwarts' success rate was due to the parents and professors, only a choice few were aware of the efforts the students had to go through to ensure they upheld the institution's reputation regardless of what they chose to do in their lives.

It was why the professors were so keen on being involved in their students' futures and ensuring the youngsters were aware of the best options for them and how to go about exploring said options.

At first, Cordelia had never minded the annual meetings that took place ever since their OWLs, but as time went on and everyone else seemed to find their place in the world, Cordelia couldn't help but loath the idea of confronting the professors and shooting down their hopes with her uncertainty.

Thankfully, Cordelia Black wouldn't be publically humiliated if Albus Dumbledore had anything to say about it.

"The seventh years will have one-on-one interviews with a professor of their choice."

Cordelia couldn't stop the grin that spread across her face at Theodore's words. Dumbledore had prolonged their meeting for far too long, going as far as to immediately shoot Cordelia down when she so much as asked him for advice after class.

She couldn't understand much, but with the way his bespectacled eyes twinkled the way they always did when he was hiding something, Cordelia was certain Dumbledore needed something important but couldn't find the right time to say as much.

Getting a response a month into Hogwarts wasn't exactly the most ideal situation, but Cordelia would take what she could get so long as it was worth it.

"Well, we all know Slughorn's going to be booked this afternoon."

"Unless of course, the Slytherins were to choose anyone else."

Druella giggled at her cousin's response as she leaned against a stray column in the corridor outside the Charms classroom.

"No offence Lia, but you just might be the only Slytherin who to trust Gryffindor's head of house more than our own."

Theodore and Phyllis nodded along to her words, prompting Cordelia to mock pout at the trio before her.

"That's because I'm the only Slytherin who has the courage to branch out."

"Watch it, Black, you're starting to sound too much like the Gryffindors."

Even if she wished she hadn't, Cordelia couldn't help but notice the way Theodore flinched at Riddle's impromptu appearance.

It had been like that for the greater part of their first month at Hogwarts; with Cordelia rekindling her friendship with her friends who bothered to stay while forming an alliance of sorts with Tom and Abarax. At first, Druella had been more than elated at the thought of having Tom Riddle, Hogwarts' most sought after wizard, join their circle but Cordelia knew how uncomfortable it really made them.

Everyone knew every snake charmer was destined to be bitten, and the seventh year Slytherins couldn't help but think their Queen was due for a venomous bite of her life. After all, you couldn't string Tom Riddle along as an accessory unless there was something in it for it.

Cordelia knew that Tom was more than capable of avoiding Tracy Travers if he really wished to do so, and if she had learnt one thing over the past seven years it was that Tom Riddle never did anything out of the goodness of his heart.

She would have been a fool to think he was doing anything except collecting favours and exploiting her strained friend group, but the shock on Aurora's face as Tom and Abarax showed up out of the blue and joined Cordelia's makeshift group was too golden of an opportunity to pass up.

You couldn't be the queen of snakes without being bit, but Cordelia would rather have Tom Riddle as her traitorous snake than a friend she thought she knew.

"Maybe if I sound enough like them, they'll be foolish enough to let me into their ranks."

The statement was a clear dig at the two friends Cordelia had been avoiding since their first and last time together, one that wasn't taken too well by the Ravenclaws stationed on the other side of the corridor.

But as the Slytherins around her chuckled at Cordelia's mocking tone, the witch in question couldn't help but feel bad for Augusta Fawley who was looking at her with a look of betrayal. The girl had been nothing but kind to Cordelia, but perhaps that was her first and last mistake.

Augusta should have known better than to take in a wounded snake, but considering her friendship with the Hufflepuffs Cordelia wasn't surprised that her impromptu friend was too kind for her own good.

Unfortunately for her, Cordelia wasn't one to swap public appearances for possible friendships. It was cruel, really, it was, but the brunette was already walking on thin ice due to her slip-up, and couldn't afford to get close to people her house clearly despised.

"It's good to have you back, my queen."

Theodore's joke was paired with a swooping bow that had their group giggling while Cordelia pretended to play along, paying no heed to the annoyed Dark Lord beside her.

Cordelia felt terrible.

Contrary to popular belief, Slytherins weren't heartless creatures without a string of empathy in them. If she was being honest, Cordelia was certain she knew several Slytherins who were more caring than the rest of Hogwarts combined. Cordelia herself didn't fall into that category, but she still had enough of a heart to feel remorse over her actions outside the Charms classroom.

Augusta Fawley's betrayed face had been eating away at her psyche for the entirety of Charms, so much so that Druella had to copy her notes at the end of the lesson to ensure her cousin didn't miss out on anything.

By the time the professor dismissed them with a quick reminder of the homework due the next day, Cordelia was ready to shoot out of her chair and confront Augusta and Olivia, who had been purposely avoiding the cluster of Slytherins at the front of the class.

Her position in the front row ensured that Cordelia could easily spot the mix of blue and yellow heading out of the doors hurriedly, a sight that prompted her to do the same, much to Druella's confusion.

"Lia where-"

"Lavatory."

The Slytherin witch was out of her seat and past the threshold before Druella could so much as mutter a conformation, something that had the gold-eyed witch staring at Cordelia's empty seat in confusion as she wondered what her cousin was up to.

Cordelia, on the other hand, had no time to waste as she raced through the mob of students pouring into the corridor and headed towards an empty corridor she had spotted Augusta turn into.

When she was finally close enough to be certain that the duo holed up in the abandoned corridor were her new friends, Cordelia couldn't help but come to a stop to try and assess the situation. Something she would later thank herself for.

"You just need to hold on for a bit longer, Augusta, until we can convince her to sign the petition. Do you know how many people would take us seriously with the Cordelia Black's signature on our petition?"

Olivia Lovegood's voice had never sounded as sinful as she did while convincing her friend to use the wounded Slytherin for their benefit.

"I know, Liv, but I can't bear being around those Slytherins that much. Have you seen how awful they are?"

Cordelia was conflicted, but even so, she couldn't help the anger that slowly seeped through her form. She could understand why they would use a formidable pureblood presence for their benefit in their fight against sexism, but the blue-eyed witch couldn't possibly forgive them for thinking so little of her friends.

Sure, Cordelia wasn't exactly as close to them as she used to be a year ago, but that didn't give the other houses a free pass to insult her fellow Slytherins as they pleased.

"Stupef-"

"Miss Black?"

Professor Dumbledore couldn't have chosen a worse time to make an appearance.

How come Dumbledore was never around when Cordelia needed him, yet he appeared out of nowhere when she didn't want him or any other authoritative figure around?

Cordelia couldn't help but roll her eyes as she turned towards the side and faced Dumbledore in all his disappointed glory. Neither of them bothered saying anything for a moment, but when the Transfiguration professor finally spoke, Cordelia couldn't help but feel slightly smug.

"Miss Lovegood, Miss Fawley, you will both be facing detention for two weeks due to misconduct and mistreatment of fellow students. A letter will also be sent out to your respective families."

Dumbledore didn't give them a chance to respond or argue, simply dismissing the duo with a wave of his hand and mutters of being late to their classes.

It wasn't until the two witches and the remaining students hovering in the corridor to spy on the scene unfolding had walked away from them that Dumbledore finally turned towards Cordelia with a frown so deep she couldn't help but feel guilty.

This wasn't the first time Cordelia had been reprimanded by her favourite professor, but there was something about the prospect of disappointing Dumbledore that had her muttering out a nearly nonexistent apology.

"You should know better, Miss Black."

Usually, Cordelia wouldn't bother with apologies much less let the professor's words get to her, but her acquaintanceship of sorts with Dumbledore ensured she felt more than just guilty. They were both aware that her remorse was directed at being caught by him rather than actually committing the act, but over the years Dumbledore had gotten used to working with what he had.

"If I recall correctly, you chose five subjects for your NEWTs, correct?"

"Yes, professor."

Dumbledore hummed at her response before abruptly turning towards the main corridor behind them and silently asking Cordelia to follow.

"I was just on my way to collect my first seventh year for the day, but I suppose I could swap mister Potter out for you."

The prospect of being prioritised over Fleamont Potter would have usually elated Cordelia had she not just been caught attempting to curse fellow students, but as Dumbledore led her towards his office door, she couldn't do much except follow after him and hope for the best.

Dumbledore was weirdly silent as he busied himself collecting papers and setting aside the sweets on his desk. It was only when he had run out of small tasks to do that the bespectacled professor turned towards Cordelia with a tight frown.

"If I recall correctly, you were facing quite the predicament over your summer concerning your future."

"If I recall correctly you chose to ignore the matter."

Cordelia's response clearly affected the professor before her, but not in the way she had hoped. Instead of reprimanding her or even glaring at her rudeness, Dumbledore simply chuckled and stroked the Fawk, who had flown down from his cage to join them, as he spoke.

"Have you considered options outside of the obvious choices?"

"Which options?"

Dumbledore almost seemed disappointed at her question, as if the answer was staring Cordelia in the face. Considering their predicament, Cordelia wouldn't be surprised if his answer was doing just that.

"You always had a liking for competition and belittling others-"

Cordelia flinched back at his words, feeling offended even if it was the truth.

"-I implore you to use that talent and drive to do better."

Cordelia hadn't given any thought to her options for the future in a long time. Perhaps it was due to the security of having a backup plan of simply marrying a rich pureblood and spending her life as a simple trophy wife, or perhaps she was hesitant to confront her uncertainty for her future.

Whatever the reason, Cordelia could no longer hide behind her book of excuses and had to face Dumbledore head-on.

Outside of marriage, there were several options for Cordelia to choose from. Options that she would pick without a shadow of a doubt if it meant escaping the typical life of a pureblood woman.

She could take a leaf out of Dumbledore's book and become a professor at Hogwarts, train as an Unspeakable, or go on to become a potioneer and the future head of Slytherin. The probability was slim, but if Cordelia could somehow get through to Arcturus she could even replace him in the ministry when it was time.

Something that the Blacks would never agree to.

The thought of her father's career, however, opened possibilities Cordelia hadn't previously considered and urged her to dig deeper until she settled on an answer she knew would satisfy the bespectacled professor before her.

"The ministry."

Dumbledore smiled.

It was the first time that afternoon he had allowed himself the small pleasure of reassuring his student and letting her know she was doing something right. The action made Cordelia reciprocate his gesture as she waited for him to carry on where he left off.

"Be good, Miss Black, and change the wizarding world for the better."

"It isn't as easy as you make it out to be."

Dumbledore shook his head at her words as if he knew something she didn't.

"You already snagged the title of the first female Triwizard Champion; thus, I wouldn't put it past you to become the first witch to be the Minister of Magic."

For what seemed like the first time in forever, Cordelia felt a familiar smirk crawl across her face as she pieced together the puzzle that had eaten away at her psyche for far too long. It was then that Cordelia finally leaned forward and rested her elbows onto Dumbledore's desk in intrigue, her attitude changing into what it used to be during the Tournament.

"What course of action would you suggest, professor?"