Do You Know Your Enemy?

"Well, hello again!" Cor said, pleasure mingling with mock surprise, and quite a bit of sarcasm. "How nice to see you here. I knew you would come to your senses and realize the importance of my company. How are you doing this evening, Mademoiselle?" His French accent was perfect, of course, even though his private tutor in his youth was convinced he could not speak a word of French. "Would you like to sit down? Pull up a chair."

Lesley's head turned at the sound of Corey's voice and she frowned biting down on her lip. Knowing exactly where her book had gone. "Give me back my book," She said frustratedly at him, making no move to sit down near him. She'd rather drop the chair on his head. And his whole french accent frustrated her even more.

Cor yawned lazily, his movements slow and deliberate. "What on earth are you talking about?" He would feign innocence at first--his voice and face exuded pure innocence, and any reasonable person would believe him if he told them the sky was going to fall. "Which book are you missing? Maybe you should sit down, and we can figure out where it might be." He gestured again towards the open chair.

Lesley raised an eyebrow at him, she knew that Corey had her book. And she knew that Corey wasn't going to give her book back unless she sat down. Narrowing her eyes, she thumped down into the chair continueing to look at Corey with a raised eyebrow. She wanted to get her book back and back into her room, she'd had enough of Corey.

Lesley didn't look convinced in the slightest, but he had gotten her to sit down. That in itself appeared to be a major accomplishment. "There, see? Now we're talking to each other like human beings. When was the last time you saw your book?" He maintained the pretense of not knowing where the book was with grace and convincingness, even though that isn't really a word. Out of his mouth, it seemed like one.

Lesley sighed at Corey, she was not in the mood. "To answer your question, it was on the table BEFORE you picked it up and put it somewhere." She said pointedly, crossing her arms over her chest. Pulling her feet across the carpet she noticed that she hadn't put her shoes back on before she left the dorm room.

Corey ignored her obvious implications, instead noticing her feet. "You really are in a frenzy, aren't you? You never even put on shoes!" He stared for a second before adding, "Your feet are rather small and adorable, though." He smirked inwardly, is outward appearance the perfect model of a genuine compliment.

Lesley frowned at him, and pulled her feet under the chair and crossing them over eachother. She decided that Corey was a creep. She raised an eyebrow at him, as he glanced away from her feet and back at her. "What do you want?" She asked getting to the point, he wanted something. because otherwise, she would have just gotten her book back when she asked.

"What do I want?" Cor asked with a feigned incredulous lilt to his voice. "Why, nothing more than a bit of company, my dear."

What DID he want? Nothing in particular. Except some fun, maybe. It was dreadfully fun being like this to her--it bothered her so much, making things entirely worthwhile.

Lesley raised an eyebrow at him. "And whatever happened the bunch of idiots that you usually hang out with? Hm?" She asked him. She glanced around the common room, it was still fairly full, not many people having retired up to the dorms.

Corey grinned.
"I'm not a person to be tied down. It is hardly fair to identify me with my usual group of friends. I'm a drifter, really. I spend time with whoever I want to spend time with."

"Well why don't you be some use and drift away again?" Lesley asked him reclining in her chair and crossing her legs on the very edge of the chair. She pushed her hair out of her eyes wondering if she could do anything to get Corey to leave her alone.

Corey smiled crookedly. "I think I'm fine right here, thank you very much. I appreciate your concern, though," he said, a trace of sarcasm in his voice, but not much. "It's nice to know you're so concerned with my happiness."

Oh screw this, Lesley thought knowing that he wasn't going to go anyway if she continued to be sarcastic. She remembered what people always used to say, ignore someone and they'll disapear. Which never had worked as she ended up losing her temper, so she generally took on a different tactic. She shrugged at him, "Stay if you will then," She said. "Couldn't care less." She yawned, leaning back in her chair.

"Don't mind if I do," Cor said, lounging back, scooting closer and closer to Lesley. He was having way too much fun with this--he was probably bothering her so much right now. The expression on her face was thinly masking her annoyance.

This was so worth the effort.

Lesley ignored him, leaning back on her hands she stared out the window, not that she could see anything, cept the sky. She understood why he annoyed her, she just wished he wouldn't. She didn't get why people just went around annoying people. "Screw this," She said sitting up. "I have a better idea." She stood up and looked at Corey. "I am going to bed, and if my book doesn't miracolously appear on that table between now and class tomorrow. You can explain to Professor Dumbledore why I don't have my book in transfig tomorrow. Won't that be fun?" She looked at him for a moment before walking off.

Professor Dumbledore had never intimidated Cor very much. He was just an old man--powerful, and creative with his punishments, yes. However, his punishments tended to work to bring people together, and it would not be like him to just punish Cor. If anything, he would stick the two together.

So, he kept the book right where it was.

Lesley continued back to the dorm, frustrated and put off. She needed her book back because she needed to finish her assignment as it was due the day after tomorrow. She was nearly done but she had to double check something before she finished writing it. As she wasn't quite sure if she was right or not.

Cor was amused by the situation. He knew it would not be long before she came back to collect her book. He would come up with some sort of ultimatum. She would hate him. He would not give back her book. She would eventually relent.

It was the perfect setup.

Lesley scowled, flouncing down onto the bed. She'd leave it for the night, and try and get her book back the next day. They had transfiguration at some point the next day, surely Corey would give her book back before the class... she doubted it somewhat. She sighed pulling her robes off and getting into the bed, lying back onto it.

Corey looked at his watch and decided to traipse up to his dormitory. He would hit the hay for the night. He grabbed Lesley's book and brought it with him, making sure she would not be able to get it from his room with a few protective spells against intruders.

Lesley didn't really expect her book to be back when she glanced at the table the next day on her way out of the common room, but she was hoping. She needed to finish her assignment, as it was due the next day and well, she needed to finish her assignment. She frowned, heading out of the common room and down to the great hall. Maybe if she confronted Corey in the great hall a teacher would notice...

Cor was in the Great Hall for breakfast the next morning. He didn't quite know when Lesley would come, but he knew she would. Luckily, most of the teachers were not there, were not paying attention, or loved him to death. Everyone but Dumbledore seemed to be in the last category, but he was not particularly frightened by Dumbledore.

He was not really frightened by any of the teachers. If Lesley tried to start something, she would fail.

Lesley frowned as she walked over to Corey, she should probably eat before she confronted him because she didn't know if she would get a chance to eat, but she wasn't in the mood to eat right then. She tapped him on the shoulder. "I want my book back," She said without waiting for him to decide whether he will turn around and look at her.

Cor turned to look at her.

"Which one are you referring to?" he asked, smiling innocently.