Nighttime Chats

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Flipping through the pages of Teen Witch magazine, Athena waited patiently for her ‘partner’ to arrive so that they could begin working on their assignment. She was seated in one of the window seats that overlooked the grounds, her bag and her telescope leaning against the wall. The Slytherin wasn’t particularly fond of working with others and much preferred to work alone, even if it meant that she had to do more work. And, when she was forced to do group work, Athena much preferred choosing her own group as opposed to what the professor had done. Athena had been fully prepared to sidle up to one of her cousins so that she’d at least be working with someone she liked, but just as she’d locked eyes with her cousin she had heard the professor call out her name and an unfamiliar one. The silver eyed girl had to look around for several moments before she spotted the Ravenclaw transfer who she’d been teamed up with. She had given the girl a once over and then promptly looked away, rather displeased with the whole thing. Athena had no idea what this girl was like, whether she even knew anything about the stars and the moons but she would have no choice but to find out. Not that their assignment was difficult. It was more of an interview than anything, finding out about the person’s interest in Astronomy, what their favorite things to look at were and other things like that.

Turning to another page, the blonde moved her wand over the words, the lit tip illuminating the words to an article about dealing with your first breakup. Been there…done that , she thought to herself as she quickly turned the page, the paper making a loud sound. Athena adjusted her body, glancing towards the steps as she watched several students heading downstairs. It was dark enough that they would be able to see the skies with ease but not so dark that they needed to worry about curfew, which was a good thing for Athena. She had stayed out of trouble for several months now and intended to keep the streak up. Athena rested the magazine on her lap and reached over to open the window slightly. She gazed out at the half moon outside, thinking about Matthew for several moments. She had read and re-read the note that her father had sent her declaring that he had done some ‘hunting.’ Athena knew exactly what that meant and her heart was heavy because of it and she knew that she would never, ever see Matthew again. Nor would anyone else. The Slytherin brushed away a tear that threatened to fall and sniffed loudly. There was no sense in crying. What was done had been done and she would do well to not dwell on things that she couldn’t change. Athena sighed, wishing that December would hurry up. She needed a good distraction.

 

[December Pearl]

December slung her book bag over her shoulder before exiting her dorm room. Since arriving at Hogwarts New Zealand, she hadn't really clicked with anyone and that had been disappointing. Which had resulted her into spending most of her time alone, either in her dorm room or common room. A book was most likely placed upon her lap, branding her a true Ravenclaw, but she didn't care. Books were her only escape from reality, since reality wasn't something she could keep her hopes on.

She hadn't been at the school long, but had fell into routine as if she had always been there rather quickly. There were a lot of similarites, but there were also differences. The biggest difference was the fact that she had chosen to take classes that she wouldn't normally. Like Astronomy. December had always prized in imagination and nature, something the night sky held to the T. Yet, she hadn't continued to take the class after a couple of years. But, since joining the attendance of her new school, she figured why not? And it had proved to be quite useful in fact.

That was until, that day. When their Professor had informed them that they would be doing their next assignment in partners. December had never liked the idea of partnership with school work. Especially since the teachers seemed to think it amusing that they be partnered up with someone they weren't familiar with. Not that December had anyone in the school she was familiar with, but the others were, and who ever would be partnered with her was most likely disappointed --making it harder for December to even introduce herself. But, not being one to judge too quickly, December hoped that her partner would be a bit more leniant on the fact that she wasn't their best friend.

Athena....something, December thought --trying to remember her partner's name. When their names had been paired, December had had no idea who that person could be and had searched the room effortlessly. That was until she caught sight of a blond Slytherin sitting farther up towards the front who was looking back at her. The look only lasted for a split second before the blond turned back around, but December assumed that she was Athena.

And her assumption proved to be right, because as December turned the corner of a corridor and entered the barely lit room, she spotted Athena sitting on the window sill of one of the large windows overlooking the grounds. Shifting her book bag on her shoulder, December approached her, not making any noises to announce that she was there. Except for the shuffling that her shoes were making as she took each step. Putting up a hand lamely, she gave her a small smile.
"Hi. I'm December. You must be Athena, right?" she asked, placing herself next to the girl on the window sill and setting her bag on her lap.

Opening the bag up, she took her telescope, notebook, and inkless quill out before setting the bag aside.
"Sorry you're paired with me. I'm sure you aren't too happy about it," she replied, before pressing her lips together on baited breath. She knew if it were the other way around, she wouldn't be. She always hated being partnered up in classes. Assignments were meant to be done on their own. Not in pairs. And if Slytherins here were like the ones she knew, they weren't too friendly during their first impressions.

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Turning as she heard some slight movement, the magazine that had been on Athena's lap slipped to the floor. She reached down to pick it up, her eyes on the girl who had just joined her. She remembered her name right away and nodded her head in acknowledgement of the girl's question. She scooped up the magazine and bent over to place it in her bag before standing up to her full height. December had taken a seat on the window sill in an attempt to have a conversation before they began working, or so Athena assumed.

Athena pushed her hair over the shoulder of her sweatshirt and straightened her outfit as she watched the Ravenclaw remove her belongings from her bag. She rather liked the bag that she had and wondered where she had gotten it from. She had seen something similar to it in the Teen Witch magazine that she'd just been reading. Athena shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm not but what can I do" she replied honestly, never one to sugercoat things for anyone. It was one of the qualities that she was sure had resulted in her not having many friends. It wasn't as if she would have been happy to be partnered with most of the people in the class. There were few sixth years that she was fond of. Going down on one knee so that she could remove her notebook and quill, Athena spoke once more.

"Can you just answer one question for me?" she asked, not looking up as she asked the question. Instead, she continued to rummage in her bag, trying to find her favorite quill. It was a green one that matched her badges. "Please tell me that your birthday is in December and that your parents didn't actually name you that and your birthday is like in August or something." She looked up when she finished, her fingers having closed on the green quill. She knew it by the feel of it, of course. Its feathers were worn.

The Slytherin stood up once more, tucking her notebook and quill on her arm after she'd put the strap to her telescope over her shoulder. She looked down at the Ravenclaw, waiting for a reply.

 

[December Pearl]

December was sure that Athena wasn't too keen on the partnering, especially at the sound of her voice and her body language. It was as if she wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. Something December could agree on and sympathize with. So much for becoming friends, she thought lamely. Standing up and placing her quill and notebook up on the sill, she rolled her shoulders before placing her telescope in both hands. She was beginning to feel a bit awkward.

But then she laughed, a small quiet laugh at Athena's question as the Slytherin untucked her quill and notebook from her own school bag in front of her. "Yes, my birthday is in December. I wasn't told much on the matter, since my mother passed soon after I was born. But I can assume it was because they liked the season." It was the truth. Marian, her mid-wife, had been very vague when talking about her mother. Honestly, the only things she did know about her mother was why she died and that she looked similar to herself. Only with vibrant red hair. December had seen photos of course, confirming this information.

"What about you? Are you named after the Greek War Goddess?" she asked curiously, before turning towards the window and placing her telescope up to one eye. The constellation Orion became clear at once and she admired it for a moment before giving a glance over her shoulder at her partner. December did know a lot about the Greeks, having been interested in the mythology for a very long time. And she knew that a lot of people were named after them, simply because of the personality traits that parents hoped to have within their children. She wondered if that was the case with her partner. Or if there was a different reason all together.

Pureblooded families, in her own experience, were very routine like in naming their children. As in, naming them after important things in life. Like Gods or Goddesses. Constellations. Even Seasons, maybe. They were always unique, December thought. Never common. And they seemed to run in the family as well, being passed down from generation to generation. Especially in the older pureblooded families. Not that she knew if Athena was in fact a pureblood, but she lamely assumed that because of the Slytherin traits.

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Athena was glad to hear that December’s birthday was, in fact, in December and that her parents had some sense. She had once met a girl named June whose birthday was in August. Athena had hated the girl, finding both her name and the girl’s personality stupid. As the Ravenclaw continued, Athena listened, surprised to hear the girl speak of her mother’s death so matter-of-factly. Athena’s own mother had died very recently, and even though she had not been close to the woman and hadn’t even seen her in nearly eight years, she doubted that she could speak of the woman in the same manner that December spoke of her own mother.

When the questions were turned on her, Athena clutched her books more tightly to her chest. She shrugged her shoulders. “I would assume so since there’s no one in my family named Athena, but I…never asked” she replied, her voice low and hesitant. She continued on, not wanting the girl to ask why she had never asked about her name. Athena had never thought to, if she was being honest. She certainly wouldn’t have asked her mother though. The woman’s moments of lucidity had been few and far between, and Athena had spent most of her childhood trying to stay out of the woman’s way. Perhaps Kara recalled something about why Athena had been chosen as her name. “My birthday’s in December too” she volunteered. “The 31st.”

Putting her books down beside December’s, Athena quickly set up her telescope. It was a new one that she’d gotten over the summer. Checking it quickly, she found it to be in focus and she quickly looked up, her silver eyes gazing at her ‘partner.’ “So…do you enjoy Astronomy?” she questioned, opening her notebook to a clean sheet so she could jot down the Ravenclaw’s answers.