Rivals In Study

[Benjamin Chase]

The Great Hall was filled with students in all sorts of levels, eating and chatting excitedly about their upcoming plans for the holidays that will be soon after the long damn week of exams. Benjamin was able to keep his mood cool while he was eating lunch with his fellow Slytherins. The older Snakes were talking privately and not even bothering to pay attention to the younger ones. Those sixth and seventh years' eyes were cold if ever Benjamin stole a glance from them. Each person contained a different eye color, which was interesting to look at during his spare time. He made his presence unknown for the others not to mind him at all. Benjamin returned to his well picked lunch. The contents of his plate were food that he always had in the manor. They were fresh, expensive to buy and rare to eat. He finished all his food in just a small amount of time, planning to go to the common room after.

The Slytherin Common Room was almost deserted when the first year boy entered. There were the usual occupants, but all of them were silent. Half of them were studying, aiming to get a well deserved grade before the break comes in. However, the other half were just on the couches and the armchairs, planning to spend their time in their beloved common room. Without any thought, Ben looked at his expensive and newly bought wristwatch, only to see that it was already fifteen passed two. His brain did a mental flip, telling him that he was supposed to meet Hariah Meadow in the library, because of her plea to help her with Potions. Potions was such an easy subject and who the hell would need his help? Benjamin sneered at the thought yet remained calm and silent while he passed the other Snakes. He got his bag containing his Potions book, notes, quill and ink bottle. All the information about Potions were with him and he was ready to leave. His casual attire made him look like any ordinary Slytherin except for the fact that it was also newly bought about a month ago only.

It was his first time to pay a visit to Hogwart's beloved library and he perfectly knew where it was located. With his mother being a Ravenclaw alumni, she shared with him those times that her and his father would see each other there, just to arrange their engagement. Benjamin's legs dragged him there, and he arrived just five minutes before 2:30 arrived. He yawned and ruffled his black hair while he took a seat at one of those silent corners of the place. His place of option was so far the best, since there was only silence that was heard and the librarian was pretty far away. Students that were also there were just studying for their own good, not even giving him a look which made him glad enough. The boy stood up and got an old book from the shelves and began to read, knowing that it was a biography of Merlin. Merlin was pretty much a boring subject, but he could not care less. Benjamin sat down again, oblivious to the others who were studying around him. His mind only revolved around the book's subject which made him sleepy enough to just dream away in the library. ​

 

[Hariah Meadow]

The day did not start off well for Hariah, she spilt ink all over her Herbology notes and had to write them out again, her room mate had accidentally moved some of Hariah's revision resources in attempt to clean up the room and now Hariah couldn't find them thus resulting in not being able to revise and to top it all off Hariah received a letter from her father that she wished she hadn't read. It brought grave news, something she thought would never happen in a million years.

Hariah had spent the whole day desperately revising everything she could. There was emphasis on doing well in exams in her family. Her father put that pressure on her and her grandmother put that pressure on him. Even though Hariah felt it was unfair it did create good exam results and her father achieved his dream and became a ministry official. Hariah hoped to follow in his footsteps and took everything he had told her to heart, including the need for doing well at school. It had worked so far, she learnt a lot of things from him when she was being homeschooled. All she really wanted was to carry on the family tradition and to please her father.

The letter came just as she was getting ready to go and meet Benjamin, the young Slytherin, whom she had convinced to help her with her revision on Potions in the library. She didn't want to be late for him as he said he would leave if she wasn't there in time and as being an unfriendly soul she knew he wouldn't listen to her excuses. She read the letter before she went to see Benjamin but that was an unwise move. Reading it made her even angrier and in an even worse mood for Benjamin which he would surely love to pick apart.

She stomped down to the library and swung open the wooden door that closed the Library off from the corridor. The heavy door hit the stone wall on it's swing and shook the walls a loud bang reverberated off of the walls. Normally Hariah would be bothered that she caused a scene, but not today. She saw lots of faces turn to her and she glared at them all. She made her way to the table where Benjamin was sitting and threw her bag onto the floor, got out her writing utensils, took out her notes and placed them on the table in front of her. "Well what are you waiting for?" she hissed at Benjamin.

 

[Benjamin Chase]

Merlin's biography was just annoying to the brain of Benjamin Chase. He was in the same page, somewhere in the beginning and it showed there the family tree of Merlin. Hell, who could actually care about it? It would be more interesting if the writer of the book would explain the history of the wizard in such a way people would be attracted to it. Even the front cover was bland and it was dusty enough for Benjamin to estimate that he was the first one to open it once more after months. Students seemed to read only the famous people's biographies, because of their exciting life that they had when they were still living. The perfect example was Lord Voldemort. The Dark Lord was one of those subjects that Benjamin loved to read, not just because he was the one to be defeated by Harry Potter, but Voldemort was able to split his soul into multiple pieces. He was also a Slytherin alumni, and Ben read those biographies about people from the same house as his. The hands on Benjamin's watch read 2:30 to the spot. Benjamin completely forgot about Hariah Meadow, since his brain was only focused on the biography he was holding in his hands.

A loud 'thud!' caused Benjamin's shoulders to tense up and he looked up only to face Hariah Meadow, causing a scene. Students that were there were looking at them, but a majority of them were looking at Meadow. Benjamin watched her as she prepared her while she was fuming about something that surely nonsense to him and he raised an eyebrow while he looked at her flushed face. The boy checked the small accessory on his wrist and found that it was only 8 minutes past 2:30. Hariah just in time for Benjamin to be entertained. "You, to be honest." Benjamin's tone was casual, as if making a conversation. There were whispers from the people surrounding them. Thankfully, the section where the librarians were stationed were far from them. If they were just near those people, they would probably be kicked out already. "Angry that you came here to study with a Slytherin?" Benjamin's lips formed into a smirk and his eyes twinkled with Hariah's anger. It amused him to the greatest. He got up and put the book back to the shelf. The table that had the perfect size for the two of them, seemed not so perfect anymore because of the anger that Meadow had. It was occupying the air, and the Slytherin was game to increase it more.

Out of Character:

Exams are on already? That's funny.

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[Hariah Meadow]

Hariah did a fake laugh to Benjamin who said a sarcastic comment, she saw a smirk form on his lips. Any other day and Hariah could have handled the Slytherin's sass but today was different, today he really didn't want to upset her even more. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down, but everyone was still looking at them and it made her angrier. Why were people so nosey? Why did they have to get involved with everything, why can't they just leave things alone and let people get on with their lives. Hariah quickly turned round and shouted at them all "What are you staring at?" She looked a Benjamin and narrowed her eyes, she knew he was up to something, he seemed that type of person. She wasn't afraid of Benjamin, she wasn't afraid to stand up for herself and have a go at him to if that was needed. "No actually, it has nothing to do with you. Not everything centres around you, you know." Hariah said to him while flicking through her notes.

It came to a page of notes that Hariah marked with an asterisk, it was of lots of potion ingredients and their properties. She handed the page to Benjamin and said "Test me. I want to see how much I know about the properties of the ingredients." She flicked her hair back and folded her arms ready to answer. She wanted to get this over and done with, it would take her mind off things at least for a little while.

 

[Benjamin Chase]

Benjamin's ears stung with irritation when Hariah let out a laugh that was just one of a kind. He knew that they were just the same age, and the Gryffindor had no fear against him. Benjamin was always hard outside and he had a fiery personality with other people he did not know personally. He always showed his dark side with people that thought he was just a Pure Blood brat. Heck, with all the people that he has met, he officially knew the names of those first year Gryffindors much to his dismay. Slytherins were supposed to be his company, not those Gryffindors. They were people who were said to not get along with the Slytherins because of their attitude. Slytherins always thought that riches, rank, power and alliance were the ones that mattered, and it always helped them get to the top. All these years, the Slytherin House was teaching them one thing only; 'Do not let other people bring you down.' Benjamin smirked to the other people when Hariah continued to look at them with loathe in her eyes. He decided to copy it, just for fun. "You heard her," Benjamin shrugged, using his acting skills to pretend to get along with Hariah. "Leave us." He finished, getting his quill to twirl it around his fingers before letting out a sigh that was full of defeat, just to make the others hear that the two of them were getting along, even at the slightest chance.

What on earth? was the first thought that went inside Benjamin's mind. He looked at her in such a way that she was unbelievable, uttering foul words in front of him. The Slytherin did not appreciate that and it made him angry inside. Could she just shut up for one second and stop spilling all her anger on me? The Slytherin scowled at her and replied in knowing and quiet tone, with a serious expression on his face. His dark hair matched his eyes completely, giving him a dark look that Hariah would definitely not to like to see. Hopefully. "Yes, I do know that. Neither does the whole world revolve around you. And don't spill your anger on me. I'm just helping you here." Benjamin was quiet for one second, smirking inside his head what can Hariah respond to him. He made sure to keep his expression the same way he responded to her. He wanted her to feel that she was the wrong one, not him. Besides, the usual arrogance that Benjamin contained was just his daily thing. There was nothing unusual for Benjamin to be arrogant towards others. Also, it was his way to interact with people. "Which ingredients that are here can be properly diluted?" Benjamin rubbed his fingers on the parchment that Hariah gave him, containing her notes. His notes were simpler than this. It only contained phrases and not the whole sentences that Professor Adelia lectured them with. ​

 

[Hariah Meadow]

Hariah's eyes narrowed once more. Benjamin was acting very strange, why was he agreeing with her all of a sudden? What was he planning? She was sure he was up to something. Maybe he wanted to wind her up even more, which she didn't like. Benjamin would feel her full anger if he did and she didn't want to take it out on him, but he was pushing it. She just wanted to get the revision over and done with so she could be alone. If they had an argument it would be very interesting, Hariah and Benjamin were both very stubborn and argumentative so it would be very heated. Benjamin was the only Slytherin that Hariah was unfortunate enough to meet, if they were all like this Hariah didn't want to meet anymore, she didn't want conflict like this everyday. Was Benjamin trying to keep up appearances? The very thing Hariah like to do the most, but had let her guard down today (which was quite out of character.)

Her mouth opened as she was about to apologise for what she said to Benjamin but she saw that it really got to him so she closed her mouth and had a satisfied smile on her face. The first time she had smiled that day. However, she was not prepared for his response. She was a bit taken aback, raising her eyebrow she replied "I know that also, but your the one acting like a victim in all this. I just want to do some revision as quick as I can." "If that's alright with you" she added moodily. She was relieved that he took the sheet of notes of her and started to test her. "Thankyou" she said to him bitterly. Hariah sighed "Hellebore and a Bubotuber?" she said not really caring anymore. Her mind was busy concentrating on more pressing maters at home. "Is that right?" she asked him shortly.

 

[Benjamin Chase]

The thin atmosphere around them was beginning to become a little heated every time a person (Benjamin or Hariah) would talk to one another. The more foul words they would spit out, the more awkward it became. Hell, Benjamin would give one fourth of his galleons, just to shut this girl up. A small metal that could hold her lips together firmly would be appreciated so much by Benjamin if ever he would be given the perfect opportunity to do so. Even though he was just a first year, his acts were always clever when it came to those people he did not want to get along with. The black haired Slytherin did not know if ever Hariah was an exception since all he knew about her was her stubborn personality and her determination. Benjamin sighed slowly, planning to relax and not to fire up his temper. He did not plan anything and he also wanted to get this done. It was probably only five minutes, and arguments had been going through. "That's what you asked for isn't it? To review you for Potions? I'll give it to you then, since that was what we owled about." Benjamin spoke in a quiet tone again, while he got the parchment from the other student. Gladly, several of the lookers were already facing in another direction. Unfortunately, some were still looking at them, with interest. Benjamin scowled at them as he stole a quick glance from them. His sea green eyes turned to the parchment just in front of him, as he went over it.

Bitterness was sourly appreciated by the boy, especially if it came from the Gryffindor in front of him. He offered her a weak smile as he took the notes from her hand. Today, he planned to be as quiet as possible. He also had his own plans to finish later, which was to also study for the exams by himself. Company was not needed and will be never needed when Benjamin studies, since they were the ones who distracted him from answering. He did not really get all the wits of the family, since almost all landed to his fellow sister. Benjamin smirked when he heard the final answer of his fellow student from the other end of the table and he bit her back with his own words. "Not quite. You got Bubotuber correct but not Hellebore." Benjamin ruffled his hair a bit, not even knowing that he was doing it in front of the Gryffindor. It was his way to get out all the irritation and relax him from all the bombarded things that his brain would give him. "The other answer is Belladonna. Hellebore is said to create peace." The Slytherin scanned the Gryffindor's notes again, and tapped his foot casually on the library floor. It took him almost five awkward seconds to find a new question again for Hariah to answer. "Tell me about Wormwood." Benjamin told her. He wanted all the precise details, with the exact idea on what it said here on her notes. ​

 

[Hariah Meadow]

Despite being concious of the fact that some students were still glancing at them still, instead of calming down and being more civil it just made Hariah more angry and wanting to cause more of a scene. Hariah hadn't felt like this in a while. The last time was a few years ago when she lived back in England with her family and she felt angry on a daily basis because of her mother and sister. They had arguments all the time, and from what she had read it wouldn't be long before this all started up again. She prayed her father would see sense, he at least agreed not to do anything until he had spoken to Hariah about it properly, which was something. Hariah glanced over to the other side of the room where the librarian was sitting, she didn't seem to notice Hariah and Benjamin's outbursts, yet.

Sighing Hariah sat back in her chair and folded her arms. "Belladonna? oh right" she replied through gritted teeth. Rolling her eyes at Benjamin's smirk she flicked her hair over her shoulder and chewed her lip. She didn't like being corrected, especially by someone like the Slytherin opposite her. "I know what Hellebore does!" she snapped at him. "I'm not completely clueless." Hariah tapped her fingers on the table while she waited for Benjamin to find something else to ask her, the atmosphere was very tense, most of that by her own doing. "Wormwood? It's used in wands... You can combine it with Asphodel in potions.. and it symbolises something" she said pausing "Oh yeah bitterness" she said staring at Benjamin giving him a satisfied smirk.

 

[Benjamin Chase]

Benjamin was not nervous with what attention was giving him. In fact, he enjoyed it while the other people were staring at mostly Hariah, giving her odd glances because of such an idiotic behavior that she announced just moments ago. He smirked while she was busy about the stares being given to her. Oh the joy of doing this plan. Maybe after all, this plan was going just lovely that Hariah thought at the beginning. Benjamin was winning quietly but he did not make her even notice that little competition in his mind. He planned to make her the furious one with him only playing with her around. The plan was nothing really lovely, but Benjamin thought of making it his entertainment. Slytherins, after all, were people who made sure they got what they want, always. "Stop being such a hot head. You're causing more heads in our direction." Benjamin replied as he flicked through her notes, eyeing them with fake interest that was worth an award. His tone was not bossy, but it was demanding and serious. He liked the way it sounded, and he now faced Hariah with a seriousness in his sea green eyes. They were demanding, telling her to stop and calm down. If Hariah just leaned a little forward, she'd be able to see the real color of his eyes. They were relaxing and reassuring, yet it changed its look most of the time to something dangerous and cold.

The smirk hanging on Benjamin's moist lips grew wider when the Gryffindor did such a childish act. Ben always found it funny when the other person becomes more irritated by him. It was merely entertaining him though. Not just because of a small scene, he would be completely be satisfied. Only 2% of his body seemed tingling with happiness, but that was just it. Ben caught her as she flicked her hair. He immediately looked down at her notes and disgustingly thought about it. Flicking of the hair was one of Ben's turn off things because it seemed that the girl tried to act better than the guy. The Slytherin looked on the "Of course, we all know that. You're not completely clueless even though you answered my previous question with one wrong answer." Benjamin replied with a casual smirk again on his face. He always had that smirk every time he played along with people. That was enough for now. He resumed looking at her notes while rubbing the piece of parchment fondly. He loved that smooth texture on the paper. It was so soft and it smelled good when it was bought, brand new from the shop. Benjamin looked up as he heard the Gryffindor's voice again, telling him her response to his question. She hoped that she'd get it correct, just for him to stay silent once more.

"True." Benjamin accompanied it with one nod only, again looking at the questions he could provide. He did not even bother to look at her reaction but he made sure he watched her from the corner of his eyes. The notes in his hands were temporarily his distraction, just so he'd be able to concentrate on what he needed to do with Hariah. He completely had no idea what the time was, but he hoped it was getting late already. Spending time with the stubborn Gryffindor was making his insides twist and turn with awkwardness. "This gives boils to the skin of the person who touches it." Benjamin stated blandly, while briefly turning his eyes on Hariah again to see if she was still acting bossy and irritated on him or on the people who were staring at them, seeing if ever there will be another shout from the Gryffindor. Benjamin hummed a song inside his mind while waiting for the response of the female student seated across him. He leaned forward, making his body reach the table and his arms on the table itself, careful not to wrinkle or form any crease on the parchment. ​

 

[Hariah Meadow]

Hariah raised her eyebrow at Benjamin "I'm not being a hot head, I haven't said anything to them have I? If they want to look.. THEY CAN." Hariah said raising her voice at the end. She was aware that she contradicted herself at the end but she didn't care anymore, not about Benjamin, the people around them or her family. she knew that Benjamin wanted to make her angry and she wouldn't disappoint him if that's how he wanted it. She couldn't calm down as much as she wanted to, she couldn't. Each little thing set her off again, it seemed that everything was getting on her nerves today. Especially Benjamin. Why did she suggest and persist to revise with him? Why did she think it was a good idea? because it blatantly wasn't. It seemed that Benjamin took joy in mocking Hariah's incorrect answers, which greatly angered her. Didn't he want to give her a break after the news she had. Not that Benjamin would know what had happened and Hariah certainly didn't want to to tell him if he could help it. He wouldn't understand anyway. Hariah scoffed "Yes that was ONE answer Benjamin" she replied to his smart comment. She screwed up her face, he was smirking again. It was one of the things Hariah hated about him, always smirking, every time he was pleased with himself.

It was Hariah's turn to be smug, she had got the answers right and she returned that smirk that Benjamin did so well. She was starting to get a little hungry and bored and wondered when she could leave this awful, tense atmosphere for a more pleasant one with friends. She wanted to get this over and done with probably as much as Benjamin did. "That is a Bubotuber" she answered him promptly "and I wish you would touch one" Hariah muttered under her breath while folding her arms and grinned slyly at her own comment.

 

[Benjamin Chase]

Benjamin's shoulders tensed up as he heard Hariah's voice rise up again. Hell, it scared him. At first, he thought he was in peace already, not to mention the other people who were even turning her heads just to see what exactly they were doing inside the library. They were supposed to study, for Merlin's sake! Not shout at each other for some childish reason. Her voice was raised high, enough for him to actually look at her for a second with a rare expression on his face. A surprised one was set up on his young features, but it only lasted for only two seconds. Two seconds that was surely worthwhile for Hariah to see and enjoy. Ben usually hid his feelings under a mask of a smirk, but this time, he really was surprised of her spontaneous response. He immediately set up his most relaxed expression, to tell her that he did not give any damn for her. "Shut up. Your voice is so loud." He replied silently, while looking at her straight in the eye. It was some kind of a challenge and he also believed that it sometimes indicated respect for other people, especially to those who were worthy for him to actually talk normally too. Normally like a young boy with no problem at all in life. Not like a Slytherin, but someone like Benjamin Chase himself as a normal kid, not even minding that he was a Slytherin.

Inside, he felt his impatience boiling inside him. The boy was impatient ever since he actually learned to order commands from all elves they had at home. His family was indeed wealthy yet he planned to keep it to himself. The people around him were the ones who would find out by themselves. He never wanted to boast his wealth, only his smug attitude would do for him to be entertained daily. Ben looked at her as she made a face, and chuckled simply. He always loved doing this. Their expressions made him happy enough. He never knew where he got this trait. It was probably because of his father's stern things towards him, or maybe how his mother would spoil him every now and then. As Hariah answered the question correctly, Benjamin gave no hint of irritation. He looked up and found that same smirk on her face. That smirk he always wore! There was a flash of anger, but he quickly hid it. "Pardon? I didn't catch the last sentence." He said as he leaned in. His tone was more of the irritated side already with a touch of curiosity yet he planned not for Hariah to win this game. He wanted her storming all the way out of the library, leaving him being the one smirking once more.

Out of Character:

I'll reply earlier in my next post. Exams are ongoing here.

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