She had been self-satisfied when the girl blushed and winced beneath her words. Hufflepuffs were easier to cut down than any other house. Ravenclaws were too difficult to figure out, and Gryffindors... the years of history between Slytherin and Gryffindor rivalries was reason enough. Her thoughts immediately broke as she caught the girl tugging on something out of the corner of her eye. It took everything in Contessa now to not stare appalled at the girl and the ratty thing that she was wearing. She tried to shake the horrific image from her mind, it looked like something a house elf were to have worn.

She smiled as bright as she could, all of her white and straight teeth showing. Some pureblood families could not be as rich as hers, she supposed to herself, only to have those thoughts shattered the moment the girl said her name. Contessa's hazel eyes went rounded as the name Gibson sunk in, fairly remembering the rumours of the girl to be a muggle-born. Muggle-born! Her stomach twisted into violent knots as her brows knitted together.

It made sense now, at least, why the girl would not be able to afford them. Cheap, poor, and beloning to muggles. There could not have been a dirtier mix for a person to be concocted from. She was ready to go off in a tirade but quickly caught herself. Always politeness first before expressing true feelings, that was her motto [she couldn't get blamed for the situation if she pretended to be nice, or so Tessa thought].

"No need to stare at your shoes, I'm no Medusa nor am I going to bite or eat you," she stated and tried to keep her smile. "This dress would make for a lovely costume at the Halloween celebration. Hmmm, just perfect for my idea." She spoke without looking at her, keeping her eyes to the dress and fabric that she touched. "What of yourself? Any ideas planned or is your pouch a bit too light for that sort of thing?" she said with a tease of false innocence.





too many faces