Styx Manor

Chavdar leaned back in the couch, and felt the material. Kalif should have went with leather. Chavdar shrugged slightly. He glanced up to see Jaken's look, and only laughed in his mind. If it wasn't for him maturing, then Chavdar would have made a comment, but he thought first. This young woman did not know about Kalif, obviously. Chavdar only shook his head slightly. "Let him hear me. He has called me worse names. And I made fun of him. It is a mutual thing." Chavdar turned his attention to Estrella and answered, "Yes, I am. And where are you from, Estrella?" He could not place her accent.
 
Jaken simply shook his head at Chavdar and inquired, "Is this what I have to live with when Kaleb and I mature?" He hoped not. Kaleb looked up to Jaken like a hero or something like that. But that was when he was stirring up havoc in Durmstrang. "Chavdar, you do realize that both Estrella and I have him next term? I don't want our grades to falter because of this." Jaken gave Estrella a smile, before fiddling with his hair, still not used to the whole shortness thing.
 
Estrella could only give the two a weak smile as they exchanged conversation, trying hard not to feel out of place. But when you were with people cut of the same cloth, it was difficult to familiarize all the time. Family shared experiences that only they could relate to. She hadn't known Jaken before Hogwarts New Zealand, and pretty much everyone else did. She listened to them with a light smile, making herself comfortable in the seat. The Ravenclaw girl could only nod as Jaken made a comment about classes. Of course, she didn't want to screw that up, being a Ravenclaw and all.

Turning to Chavdar as he addressed her, she replied warmly, "Well, I'm not going to go into detail explaining that- but I was raised in the States. Not born there though." Her accent had become a blend of two, possibly three different places, so she imagined that it was difficult to pick out. She always hated answering that question, because she never really knew which place to call home. In fact, she doubted that she ever would.
 
Chavdar only shrugged, "Eh, probably depends on the relationship you have now. Kalif and I never really got along growing up. But enough of that subject." Chavdar wanted to include Estrella in this, since she was here after all. He heard her answer, and could only smile, "I won't ask for details. But the States? Hm, I went there a few weeks ago. I had to see how those..." he had a slight annoyance tone in his voice, if noticable, "muggles performed those movies and such, see if they were live or recorded. Are you from California, Estrella?" He knew full well that he practically butchered the pronounciation of California.
 
Jaken only laughed when Chavdar explained his experiences in the states. He himself has not known much on muggle inventions. It wasn't until a few years ago when Namina actually allowed a television in the house, and Jaken wondered day and night how those things worked without magic. Jaken covered his laugh at Chavdar's pronunciation of California. Chavdar's accent was still heavy with Bulgarian, whereas Jaken learned how to cover his accent, or tried to at least. "Sounds awesome, the States."
 
Estrella grinned at the both of them, feeling a bit less awkward as she spoke, conversation rolling quite smoothly off her tongue considering this was her first day in the house. She snickered at Chavdar's slaughter of the word California, replying, "Nope, I'm not from the Golden State at all. Been there once though, it's pretty warm." She was not sure what to make out of the way he pronounced the word muggle, as if he had some sort of irritation with them. Just to be safe, she decided not to remind everyone that she was half muggle herself. "My family's from Minnesota actually. Summers are decent- not like the ones in New Zealand, but in the winter it can get worse than here, I believe." From Bulgaria's location, she imagined that the winters weren't positively horrible, but she could be wrong. "Otherwise, I was born in Britain, and usually stay with my grandfather in Norway over the breaks. Confusing, huh?" She gave the two a slight smile, hoping that they had been able to keep their heads on straight through all that banter.
 
Chavdar could only smile while he listened to Estrella. Once she had finished, he shook his head, "The winters at Durmstrang are much harsher, so this is like spring to me. And I have never heard of Minnisota." Chavdar smiled, knowing he butchered that word too. "Not confusing at all. Trust me, Jaken's little brother, who is supposed to be coming here to my house sometime in January, is a lot worse. He practically jumps from New Zealand, to Bulgaria, to Germany, and sometimes France with Namina. That kid is quite hyper. He will be attending Hogwarts here next year though, considering that Jaken gets his siblings back, except Alessine." Chavdar bit his lip. "Sorry if I lost you. Jaken, this is surely not new to you, right?" Chavdar raised an eyebrow.
 
Jaken tried to take in what Estrella said, and it took a moment to process. "I got all that, barely." He laughed. He listened to Chavdar, who seemed to be in a chatty mood. He did not know why. Jaken heard what Kaleb did from time to time. Jaken let out a sigh, knowing he couldn't do that. Not between all those countries. "No, dad informed me a few weeks ago. I know what all happened." Jaken wondered if Estrella remembered him talking about his aunt that took Kaleb and Kailie away. Well, in any case, she passed on, and Kailie was attached to Namina, and Kaleb just stays with random relatives until he can attend Hogwarts with Jaken and his father.
 
Estrella smiled back at Chavdar. "Well, it doesn't draw that much attraction except it has way over ten thousand lakes and has the biggest mall in America. May be the world now, I'm not for certain." With a shrug of her shoulders, she crossed one leg over the other. She wondered what was going on with Kaleb, and why he was moving everywhere. Trying to follow on, she could only assume that Jaken's little brother would be going to school next year. Jaken hadn't updated her on the family gossip lately, so she was lost, again. She grinned politely, leaning back against the soft sofa and simply listening. She had never imagined that any of Jaken's relatives would be so agreeable.
 
Chavdar glanced down, struggling to remember what a mall was. When it clicked, he glanced at Jaken, and smirked, "I know where I am going before I go to Bulgaria to pick up Kaleb." Chavdar gazed at Estrella, and gave a look to Jaken, "You didn't tell her?" Chavdar sighed, and revealed, "The woman caring for Jaken's little siblings died sometime in November. It hurt Namina pretty bad. It was her sister, but not by blood." Chavdar shrugged, and glanced at the ground, before looking at his watch. "My god, I promised Hadan that I would be back within a few minutes." Chavdar stood up and informed Jaken, "I adopted Hadan Johnson, if you know her. Second year Slytherin, albino. Well, in any case, I'll go and fulfill my promise. Nice to meet you, again, Estrella. And I'll come back in a few days." Chavdar waved at them, before leaving the family room.
 
Jaken only shrugged when Chavdar informed Estrella of what happened. Before he knew it, Chavdar was telling him that he adopted a girl. Hadan Johnson? Jaken turned to Estrella once Chavdar left and asked, "You know her? I don't recall seeing an albino girl anytime. And sorry for not telling you about the family business lately. It didn't really affect me." He hated Barbara, down to her DNA. Jaken smiled, and heard no footsteps of Kalif returning. "So, what do you think of Chavdar?" Jaken was right about him being busy. Chavdar could never sit still in one place for long.
 
Estrella listened, her expression softening just a bit as she heard the news. "That is truly sad- I am sorry for your loss." She wasn't sure what else to say, considering that she hadn't even met the woman. She shook her head. "I do not know a Hadan Johnson." Come to think of it, she had never seen an albino student. "It was nice to meet you too," she replied politely after him as he disappeared.

Turning to Jaken, the Ravenclaw girl smiled. "He was rather- friendly," she stated, not sure how else to sum his uncle up. She almost added 'for someone of your family' but she didn't want to go about hurting her boyfriend's feelings. It just wouldn't be becoming to her considering she had been taken under their roof for two weeks. She wondered if the rest of his family was the same way, although she would never bet a single knut on it. Pulling her hair back, she grabbed a tie out of her pocket and commenced to put it into a ponytail. She usually let her hair down but now and then she liked it out of her face.
 
Jaken could only shrug. He smiled, "I guess I'll be meeting her sometime then, if he adopted her. She must keep to herself a lot of the time or something." Jaken glanced down at the material the love seat was made of, before staring back at Estrella. "Friendly...that guy can never sit still for long." Jaken did notice a huge scar on Chavdar's neck, and wondered where he got it from. It was a caused by sectumsempra, but Jaken was unaware of this. Jaken glanced around, and laughed, "Surprising that dad hasn't come in yet. I think he finally trusts me to some degree."
 
Estrella gave Jaken a warm smile, and sneaking a peck on his cheek, she poked him in the side. She decided that she would take every opportunity she could, considering that she was pretty sure Kalif would not give them any breathing room. Smirking mischievously, she leaned back, wondering how he would respond to that. "Well- you wouldn't want to usurp that trust now would you?" She nodded as he spoke about Chavdar and his kid, but she didn't really know either of them. She was still wondering why the man had used the term muggle so coldly, considering that he seemed to be rather cordial. Her stomach sinking a bit as she thought about it, she wondered if the man hadn't known her heritage. Would he have treated her any differently if so? She had to wonder.
 
Jaken smiled as she peck him on the cheek. Jaken barely moved when she poked him in the side. He could only laugh softly. Jaken glanced down, and leaned his head against the couch, staring at Estrella with admiration. "Hey, I'm seventeen. I think I am able to get out on my own sometime soon. It's not like I care much about his trust anyway," Jaken replied, smirking. Jaken inquired, "Is there something wrong? Maybe I ought to get up sometime and give you the grand tour later on." Jaken also had to show her where the bathroom, or one of them at least, was.
 
Estrella's lips spread into a wide grin as she leaned against the couch, staring back at Jaken fondly. Even after they had been dating for nearly a year, he could still set the butterflies dancing in her stomach, just as they were now. "I keep forgetting that we'll be graduating from school in a year. I can't seem to get out of school mode." Her lip pursed as she thought about it. "What are you going to do when you get out of school, anyway? Stay in New Zealand? Head off to somewhere else?" Estrella hadn't even begun to imagine what she was going to do yet, although she figured that she would need a plan sometime or other. Closing her eyes, she breathed in deeply, and opening them again she replied with a hopefully convincing smile, "No. I'm totally fine." Her lie was small, so it was easy. "And a grand tour sounds nice anytime."
 
Jaken smiled, enjoying the silence that there was in the house. Unlike the other Manor, this one was smaller, and seemed more quiet. The other, it was simply creepy sounding but elegant also. Jaken thought about it, before answering, "I think I am going to head back to Bulgaria. I miss that place so much, you know?" Jaken heard her say that she was totally fine, and wondered if that was true. Even after a year or nearly a year, he could never tell. He stood up, and held out his hand to help her up, "Well, I say we get started on it then."
 
A few days later....

Estrella had become as situated as humanely possible as she could in the Styx household, forgoeing the strange looks she received from her boyfriend's father. As big as the place was it seemed devoid of people. She had spent the last few days with Jaken, enjoying her time immensely despite how frigid things around the place seemed to her. After eating breakfast and talking little she and Jaken had left each other's presence to get ready for the day. She finished early, deciding not to do anything with her hair and forget makeup.

Figuring that she would wait for Jaken, Estrella found her way to the living room with less difficulty than the days before. She was slowly getting to know the place. Curling up with a rather intriguing book, it was not long before she had made herself comfortable on the loveseat, kicking her legs up onto the armrest without a thought. Normally, she would have corrected herself for such an informal gesture but she was too immersed in her reading to notice or care.
 
Asparuh walked along the concrete, his boots not making much noise. Asparuh, wearing his casual yet expensive black robes fluttering around him and his blond hair tied back, made his way to the door. His hand wrapped around the doorknob, and he opened the door, allowing himself in. Kalif didn't bother telling him that he had to knock. After all, Asparuh was here to discuss some matters anyhow, especially over Nataliia. His eyes, almost black, scanned the area. The boy, Jaken was supposed to be around here somewhere.

Asparuh entered the living room. His gaze immediately locked on a girl about Jaken's age reading a book. Asparuh folded his arms across his chest, staring down at the girl. He was indeed the tallest in the Zhefarovich family, and his height was impressive, however, his body was slender, more so than Jaken's and Chavdar's. Asparuh said, his voice sharp and icy, "Who are you, girl?" Kalif did not inform him of some girl intruding today. In fact, he was going to get to the bottom of this, and soon.
 
Estrella was so lost within the pages of her book she did not notice the man enter the room, nor approach her. She let out a gasp as his voice reached her ears, losing hold on her book and jumping ever so slightly. Her book descended to the floor with a loud thud. More than a little embarrassed, she swung her legs to the floor, reaching for the title. Not until she looked upward did she realize how tall the man was. She couldn't remember ever seeing someone so large, unless she counted her own family of course. This guy was lacking build, at least where Valcan or Tristan were concerned, but he wasn't a bean pole either. With a warm smile, she stood, trying to put on a nervous smile. Why were these people so unfriendly, anyway? Was it a Bulgarian thing? The man was definitely older, and she judged by his good looks that he was probably related to Jaken.

Her mouth feeling like sandpaper, she finally mustered a reply. "I'm- Jaken's girlfriend, er, Sir. Estrella Drage." She extended a slender hand, not sure what else to do. He certainly didn't look like a happy camper, and she had the feeling that he was not at all pleased to see her. She wanted to smack herself for appearing unbecoming.
 
Asparuh watched, barely any amusement flickering in his eyes when the girl jumped and dropped the book to the floor. Asparuh simply processed her name, and he only recalled Valcan. This has to be that granddaughter of his. I cannot recall her being pure or being a half blood. Asparuh did not think she was pure, because normally, pureblooded people wouldn't have reacted to a man like himself. Asparuh glanced down at her hand, and did not move his arms from his chest. Asparuh introduced himself curtly, his voice low, "Asparuh Zhefarovich."

Asparuh shifted his posture, his eyes bearing onto the Drage girl. "You are Jaken's girlfriend. What in the world is my son thinking? I did not raise Kalif to act like this." Asparuh glanced in the hallway, and then upstairs, hearing shower water running. More than likely Jaken, because Kalif stayed downstairs the majority of the time.
 
Estrella felt a bit put off as her hand fell back to her side. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Zhefarovich," she replied politely, although it was not a pleasure at all. She figured that this was Jaken's grandfather, and she could tell that this was where he had gotten the good looks. The attitude? Not so much. She frowned as he stared at her, wondering if this was a cue to leave or not. Ultimately she decided to stay. Snapping her book shut, she held it at her side, not feeling comfortable enough to sit back down. Hopefully, someone would come and rescue her. Didn't Jaken have siblings galore?

Her eyes narrowed as the man spoke, and in response she straightened her posture, holding her head high. Whether or not she was trying to fill the insufferable silence, she replied to his comment, "Whatever does that mean?" She bit back on her tongue as she said it, knowing that it had not been the smartest move. But who could blame her? At school, she was usually bold and forward, so it wasn't really any surprise that she was unraveling over the break. She couldn't stand keeping her mouth clamped fast for too long anyways. She was better than she was as a child, but sometimes she just couldn't help it. Crossing her arms over her chest coolly, she waited for the inevitable.
 
Asparuh tapped his arm with his left finger tips, out of impatience. Asparuh had spent years controlling his anger, but impatience was another issue. Asparuh heard her comment, and his black eyes had a flash of anger, before returning to normal. He retorted simply, "I think you know, Drage. Depends on whether Kalif allowed a girl with a muggle parent in the house, or allowing his son's girlfriend in. Whichever is horrid." Asparuh was more or less old-fashioned when it came to having a mate over. Asparuh allowed no such thing, and had trained Kalif not to. What on earth got into him? This was an outrage. Asparuh's hand trailed up to his face, studying the girl. She had to be Tristan's daughter. Valcan's other children were much older.
 
Estrella felt quite taken aback, her expression darkening as she looked back at the man, or rather, up at the man. "Excuse me?" she replied quietly, appearing very much like her grandfather at this moment. Oh, the nerve! She hated pureblood supremists and their attitudes. She couldn't believe that Jaken's grandfather, a grown man, was speaking to her this way. Standing her tallest, which was not tall compared to the man, she seethed, "What does it matter if my parent was a muggle or not? How would you know that, in any case?" This man, out of East Jesus nowhere, knew her lineage?

The girl's eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms haughtily over her chest, and she would have sworn up and down that she could hear her blood boiling. Her posture now regal and rigid, she waited for the man to respond. She wanted to wipe the self righteous smirk right off of the man's face. Estrella had perfected Valcan's glare, although she did not know it in the slightest.
 
Asparuh only laughed in his mind, but his face remained blank and cold. Asparuh thought, Ah, very much like Valcan. This is very interesting to see. Asparuh simply shrugged, and remarked, "I wouldn't, in fact. I thought it would either be one or the other, since the Drages are pureblood. It was more or less a guess, and you just informed me. Otherwise, you would have reacted much different." Asparuh only stared at the Drage girl, not at all intimidated by her glare. It reminded him of Valcan, of course, and the man was indeed larger than him. Asparuh walked by the girl, his black robes swishing around him. He had his back turned on her, hiding his smirk. "If you thought Kalif was bad, then you have no idea with who you are dealing with right now. I suggest you calm down."
 
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