Now You've Come Around ---

[Benjamin Chase]

continued from here.

Benjamin nodded truthfully, his expression solemn regarding the fact that Hogwarts always ate up his stored energy through the form of revisions, quizzes, homeworks and the like. Schoolwork, as always, was the devil in his perfectly formed life. He knew all the preparation that school provided was for the future and with him to run a massive business in the near future, he was certainly aware that he needed this training. The pile of homework was nothing compared to his to do list once he reached 25, that he was completely certain of. The breeze blew his dark locks, distracting him for the time being from his thoughts regarding the inevitable future. Well it was not distracting per se - it drove a certain sense of assurance to him with a mild touch of tranquillity. The utter distraction here was Athena Zhefarovich. She always had this aura that compelled him to converse or banter with her and honestly, she was one of those purebloods whom he really liked to talk to, even if all they did was compete with each other's wit. Wit was charm for Benjamin and under normal circumstances, he would use his sharp tongue to get away with things. A habit he had grown to use as long as he was breathing.

The way Athena composed her sentence using the word 'traumatized' was exaggerated, though Benjamin laughed. Reminiscing these old yet golden memories were better than forcing himself to talk to people who thought he was an insignificant schoolboy. "The little baby deserved it," stated Benjamin, remembering his wails clearly with those tears streaming down like a waterfall. Obviously, he was too homesick to function properly, that all he could do was sit down and piss the older years with his cries. During that time, Benjamin only wanted to check on the little boy, then proceed to shut him up forcefully. Athena was quite right on calling him a jerk. He smirked and raised a finger to emphasize whathe was about to say. "I was a jerk. I'm much better. Honestly," responded Benjamin and set down his finger. Now he was only being cocky but nowadays Benjamin did jnow better. Most of his childish kicks had faded, but some habits were simply too difficult to cast away. "I'm pretty wise now," joked the green eyed wizard lightly, his orbs displaying a playful light that Athena could easily distinguish. She was a smart woman and he knew she could come up with a comeback as easily as he could.

The smirk that curled her lips grew, which as well pulled out the following reaction from the Head Boy. He rolled his eyes, and chuckled. True, he was not the best student Hogwarts has ever had however somehow, the badge was sent to him when he reached his sixth year. Whether it was intentional or by chance, Benjamin adored the power granted to him. Even up to now, he sometimes bullied the younger years in a minor way and that action alone contradicted his statement earlier regarding his maturity. "Well, yes. That man has high standards and for me to reach his attention is... Actually very odd," admitted Benjamin with a shrug. He smiled weakly at the blonde who was still listening up to this point. Good, because he actually wanted her to stay and catch up with him and vice versa. Nothing extra spectacular has happened in his life but some were still worth sharing to others. His accomplishments and such warmed his heart still. "Still haven't guessed? Oh, don't allow me to spill it for you." All she had to do was to pick up hints. Becoming a prefect was something surprising and at first it felt like he was filling in Athena's position. Nothing else pleased his family when they heard about the news. A small accomplishment as of now, but it was worth his oozing pride.
​

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

"He did? Didn't he?" she mused, chuckling as she recalled the night that she'd been forced to perform her prefectly duties. Benjamin had done little to help the situation, which at the time had annoyed Athena in all sort of ways. It hadn't helped that the boy's wailing had been akin to a banshee. Athena's silver eyes narrowed as Benjamin indicated that his days of being a jerk were in the past. "Oh reeeeally?" she questioned, dragging out the words. That he thought himself wise was nothing more than male bravado to the blonde young woman. "If you do say so yourself, of course" she stated, her silver eyes rolling as she gave Benjamin a playful shake of her head. "Wise ass is more like it, I'm sure" she added with a snort.

Listening as Benjamin continued, Athena's eyebrows rose. "Oh...I didn't realize I should have been guessing." The blonde moved a manicured finger to her lips and tapped on them as she began to think. She thought back to what he had just told her about Styx seeing something good in him and having high standards for him. She added that to the news that her cousins had brought her of the Slytherins being in power and her mouth dropped into an 'o,' her silver eyes widening in utter surprise. " No way. No effing way" she stated, her voice rising in pitch. Another couple entered the balcony area, the woman giving Athena a look of disgust for dropping the f-bomb. Athena was so floored by her assumptions that she didn't even notice the look she'd been given. Instead, she stared at the Slytherin in front of her, really stared at him waiting for the slightest indication that she was right. Benjamin was good though, letting her guess on her own.

"You're Head Boy..." she stated slowly, surprise mixing with awe that he'd actually been given the position. It really was a big deal. Most of the time, the Head students ended up leaving the school and acquiring prestigious positions. Not to mention that you spent the year being treated like a boss. Now that she'd said it aloud, Athena knew that had to be his news. That is what was different about Benjamin. It was the confidence that came with being in such a position. "Oh dear...I can only imagine the torture you've inflicted on the first years" she stated with a giggle. Moving closer and putting her hands on both of his shoulders, Athena was surprised by how much taller he'd gotten. Last time, they'd been in this position had been when they'd danced at the Yule Ball and he'd been a full head shorter. Now they were nearly eye to eye. The blonde tried and failed to ignore the muscles she felt under his shoulders as she spoke. "Now, I know why you said that you were a jerk" she stated before continuing with a smirk, "Now, you're Head Jerk."

 

[Benjamin Chase]

Wise ass? Honestly, Benjamin thought Athena was more focused on insulting him (affectionately, if he might add) rather than keeping up a civil and light conversation hanging. Now that he thought of it, treating their relationship like some other was quite dull. Athena never did dull in his opinion, unless she really had to. Benjamin enjoyed her company for she was not afraid to speak her mind about him. Honesty was truly appreciated in his mind because even for an intelligent young man like him, there were things already in front of his face that he could not quite grasp. People and their subtle signals were lost in his brain however Benjamin truly did know how to pick up the tone of sarcasm, manipulation and blackmailing. It was not a talent but a skill he was required to develop over the years of his childhood and adolescence. Benjamin gave Athena look that told her she was wrong and he shook his head, because he clearly heard her disbelief in that sentence. Why was it difficult for some people to believe he had grown mentally? He was more capable of things, unlike the fifteen year old boy he evolved from. He smirked instead and gave her the benefit of the doubt. Actually, there was no doubt since it was all true. Mostly.

"Go on. Guess," breathed Benjamin and he leaned a little closer for some effect. This was good, because keeping someone in a guessing mode always served as a good act to boost his swelling ego about his position. The weight of being the Head Boy was nasty and yet it oddly felt fulfilling in his life. Without it, he would not know how to handle writing an essay and talking to complaining students simultaneously. The only thing was, his multitasking skills were not broad enough. Benjamin still enjoyed focusing on one task than all at once, for putting his entire mind into something gave him better results. He leaned back and literally felt the wheels in her head turning rapidly. She was quite the thinker and judging by her expression, she was putting the pieces of the puzzle nicely. A low whistle smoothed its way out of his mouth when her eyes matched his in surprise. Massive surprise in fact. Of course, who knew Benjamin Chase would someday get the title of Head Boy? No one. Not even the ass himself. He grinned deviously because finally, she guessed it without him dropping too much clues. Her reaction was hilarious and his grin opened to release a laugh. She just half cursed in front of him and he was quite thankful she did not say the legit curse word or else the people around might stare at them for a good one minute straight. Great, now this conversation was pumping more. It was not toneless like the ones he had inside the room and immediately, he took a liking to the balcony they were in. The free moving breeze reminded him of the freedom they had away from those boring people.

She said it with awe in her eyes and Benjamin's heart kind of took that as a compliment. It was a sincere look on her face and he absorbed the genuineness of it like a sponge. People hearing of his position just made him feel better for himself, despite the shallow insecurities buried underneath. "Damn right!" Benjamin responded and felt his eyes shimmer with pride. Everything was good in his life. Being Head Boy reminded him that he was not some lame prefect assigned to the task just for the sake of having a prefect. It was the golden medal he attained through respectable behavior under the surveillance of the professors. He rolled his eyes as she expressed her "concern" for the youngest of all students. Why, he wasn't a cruel man! He expected she would address his bullying tendencies and really he could not blame her for that. "Head Jerk sounds terrible, Athena." Despite his words that really did express hurt whatsoever, his lips were growing into a funny smile. Her hands that were placed on his shoulders made him aware of the closeness in between them and Benjamin did not move under her touch. "Thank you, however, for expressing your congratulations. Being Head Jerk is massive fun. If both of us were in the same year and became the Head students, we would have put the school in a frenzy." Both of them seemed adventurous in their own ways and he had no doubt that if he had to work with her, they'd be called Head Troubles instead. "There'll be Gryffindors protesting and calling it unfair and who wouldn't like to witness that torture upon them, correct? Not that there are several Gryffindors protesting now but imagine the amount of students petitioning for us to step down." He grinned, a twinkle of mischief present in those green orbs of his.
​

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

As far as Athena was concerned, things were far more interesting out here on the fairly empty than they were in the very full hall that was just behind them. Athena knew that she’d easily made one of her better decisions tonight by deciding to come out here. Finding Benjamin had been a surprise, of course. She hadn’t known that he was even at the party, let alone on the balcony. It was a most pleasant surprise, however. Athena could count on one hand the number of purebloods that she wasn’t related to that she considered a friend. Benjamin was certainly one of those people even if it was hard to tell from the hard time that she always gave him. It was just Athena’s way, and Benjamin made it easy for her. He seemed to enjoy her sarcasm and her brutal honesty in a way that few other people did. Athena gave him a smirk as he stated his opinion on being called ‘Head Jerk.’ “Too bad. I like it” she stated, giving his cheek a soft pat after she’d removed her hands from his shoulders. Athena leaned against the railing, her elbow balancing carefully so that when she put her head into her hand, it didn’t fall off. Thinking about his hypothetical situation, the smirk fell off of Athena’s face. She pretended to give the idea some serious consideration. “The universe knew what it was doing by not having us in the same year” she stated with a soft chuckle. She knew that it was true. Had they been Head students, it would have been a fun year for them even if it wouldn’t have been so fun for everyone else.

“Gryffindors” she stated with a head shake, her blonde hair coming to land across both shoulders. “Can’t live with them and… actually that’s it. You just can’t live with them” she stated with an eye roll. Athena knew that there were several members of her family who’d ended up in Gryffindor, but it didn’t matter to her. Those were the family members that she didn’t like much even if they were purebloods. They were too self-righteous for her liking. “In all seriousness, though. Congratulations. Being Head Boy…it suits you” she stated, a genuine tone to her voice.

A tray full of champagne floated lazily by, and although Athena glanced at it, she made no move to get herself one. She’d had enough to drink this evening. Already, she was beginning to feel that swimmy feeling that she got in her head when she drank too much. It wasn’t terribly strong, but it was there. “As much as I’d love to see you in action, I’m glad I’m not at the school anymore. My father teaches there now…potions. Can you imagine the horror of having to be one of your father’s students?” she stated with a grimace. Athena loved her father dearly, but having him in the castle with her would have been too much even for her.