Two brains are better than one

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Blowing a piece of her hair away from her eye, Athena read over what she had written and frowned. She scratched it out angrily and then pushed her hair over her ear. That darn hair had fallen across her cheek again. The fourth year was not pleased at the moment and she shot a venomous look at a couple that walked by her little table in the library. They were oblivious to her poison stare and soon rounded a corner and disappeared from sight. The promise that she had made to her father to try and do better in her classes was proving to be more challenging than she had expected, especially since she found most of her classes to be boring. Honestly, Athena could not understand how her classmates could sit in transfiguration and act as if Professor Davershire was any sort of interesting. Defense against the dark arts was ok but it was a bit awkward to be taught by her relative. She didn't know how her cousin handled it.

Astronomy, now that was her favorite class. She had always enjoyed daydreaming and looking to the skies. Now, she was learning what she was looking at. Glancing down at her paper again, her silver eyes rolled in disgust. This is so not Astronomy, she bemoaned to herself. She picked up her quill again and wrote something else and then closed her book quickly. Whatever was there was there. The girl stood up and began to pack her bags. She didn't want to spend an extra moment in this place if she didn't need to. In fact, Athena was getting tired of school in general. She missed her daddy and her brothers and sisters. She also really, really missed her dad's cooking. The house elves cooked pretty well but it was nothing like her daddy's cooking. Sighing, she picked up another book and stuffed it in her bag.

 

[Hades Styx II]

Hades Lutrov the Second had finished with another training session with the one and only happy go lucky Professor Davershire, a professor even though he was growing to tolerate, and it would not bother him if she managed to fall off the edges of a cliff. That was likely not going to change anytime soon either. It was definitely not something Hades could help, but he was no closer to being able to see what he was going to change into when he became an Animagus. Hades decided to go to the library and get some peace and quiet to sooth his head. Even trying to transfigure himself have him a rather rough headache. He had tried, and failed miserably. Hades entered the library, and there were some others in the room already, which already boosted his bad mood. Hades did not have any sort of bag on him, since he had nothing to study for. He just wanted to come in here and read more on the art of Animagi. It was the only thing on his mind, besides that one girl. Him training to be what he wanted was a secret, one that no one knew, except the professor, Kaia and Mylie. Otherwise his family just thought he was good at Transfiguration.

The darker Hufflepuff made his way toward a table, when his onyx eyes landed on someone he knew, and was related to. Hades took a quick notice that she was packing her bags like she had gotten frustrated or something. Hades approached his cousin, Axel's daughter Athena, before he murmured, "What's the rush, Athena?" Hades folded his arms across his chest, as he wondered how she felt about not having siblings in the school anymore. Leviathan and Kamaria had graduated, but Athena was left here. There were other family members here, like Kailie, his aunt that was younger than he was, and finally there was Kaia, his adopted sister. Hades felt like he was the eldest one in the school, but truth be told, he had no idea when Athena's birthday was, or even Kaia's. He did not pay much mind to birthdays. Not even his own. "Did a mudblood touch you..." Hades looked around and he could feel some glares on him, but he ignored them. Their glares could never match with his own. Hades knew that Athena could have some glares behind her eyes too. What Zhefarovich born didn't?​

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Athena recognized the voice that spoke to her and hardly glanced up at the tall frame of her cousin, Hades. She saw him everyday since they shared all of the same classes, so she knew his voice from hearing it as he answered questions. She also knew it because they had spent time together growing up as family often did. Even though her cousin had found himself in Hufflepuff house, Athena didn't lose any respect for her cousin. She knew who he was and what he could do. She shook her head at the second question he asked, her hair moving over her shoulders as she did. When she looked up, Athena caught some glares that were being made in their direction. "No" Athena said in a quiet voice, her face losing some of its frustration. She could recall a time when the idea of being touched by a mudblood would make her physically recoil and put her into a near panic. Now, she didn't think she would recoil, but she still wouldn't be happy. Her silver eyes swept up to meet her cousin's darker ones and she frowned slightly.

"I'm just frustrated with a stupid assignment" she explained, a sigh escaping her lips. She simply couldn't understand why she had allowed herself to grow so upset. It was just a stupid assignment. Deep down, she knew what it was all about. The young girl wanted her dad and Kara and Levi to be proud of her. They were each so good at something and Athena had not found her something yet. She certainly didn't think it was academics but she thought it would be a nice start for her to show that she could do better if she tried. "Are you alright, cousin?" she asked, speaking to him in what some might consider to be a formal way even if it was normal for her. Hades looked a little off and she couldn't tell if it was simply concern for her or something else that was causing her to think that way.

 

[Hades Styx II]

Hades wondered what the deal was with his cousin. He knew some about her, but they only knew of each other through the family. Nothing on the personal level. His side and the Zhefarovich family were rather distant, but still family regardless. If there was something wrong with his cousin, Hades would gladly deal with it accordingly. If he were older, then things would be handled very differently. He would be able to kill and whatnot, but for now he would have to settle with listening and being this good kid. He was not smart enough to handle that just yet. He simply could not wait until he was however. Hades watched as the answer was the one with two letters, and her expression of frustration seemed to have faded. Hades simply nodded and he spoke once more, "Good, as Axel's daughter, I would have expected you to handle it, not whine or pout." This was speaking of what he was expecting of every single one of his family members. This was something that he however did not expect from the few non pure-bloods of the family. He was sure that once the Patriarch came back, there was no way they were going to let anything less than pure into the family.

"What assignment are you working on? Depending on the subject, I might be able to assist." There were a few subjects that he did not think that he could help with. Transfiguration and Defence Against the Dark Arts, he was excellent at, but anything else, he was an average student. It was hardly a reason to really get upset, in his own opinion. School was only temporary. However he thought that mudbloods would last forever unless they get rid of every muggle on the stinking planet. When asked if he was all right, his onyx eyes were averted to the ground. He did not want to go into it. His Animagus training itself was a secret, even from the family. Letting out a sigh, he shook his head for an answer for the time being. He would add something in a moment, but he had to think of the words in English. He was unsure if she knew Russian. "I just have a lot on my plate right now. I don't want to go into it. Though beating heads around in Quidditch helps with my frustration." Hades shrugged lightly, before he hoped that his cousin would not ask further details. The expression alone spelled out that he didn't want to.​

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Athena nodded her head as she crossed her arms across her chest. Had this been a case of being touched by a filthy mudblood, her reaction would have been quite different. She was sure that everyone in the library would have heard her shrieks. Because of how she'd been raised, Athena had some very deep-seated prejudices regarding mudbloods and halfbreeds. "I don't whine" she stated, her back straightening with Zhefarovich pride in case anyone else was listening in to their conversation. It wasn't exactly true because she whined when she was in her house sometimes. She didn't do it as much as she used to because she was older now and it was unbecoming of a young lady to sit and whine. That and she had other methods to get her way now. The girl's silvery eyes strayed to the other tables and she caught a few people shifting their gaze away.

Shrugging, Athena's gaze returned to Hades as she answered him. "It's just the stupid History of Magic assignment" she replied. It wasn't even a tough assignment, but Athena was frustrated that she couldn't remember any of the things she had learned last year. She supposed that went to show how much she cared about the class. "Is that one of the classes you're good at?" she asked. She was actually more curious to find out about Hades' issue at the moment. If something was bothering him, it had to be pretty big. Perhaps a mudblood had touched him, though she had the feeling that he would handle it rather than be upset or bothered by it. Athena smirked at what he said. She wasn't a fan of quidditch but knew that many people used it to rid themselves of frustrations. Athena nearly opened her mouth to ask more about what was on his plate, but the expression on his face clearly indicated that he didn't want to do so. Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she chose to move the conversation in another direction. "I can see how that might be helpful. It's too bad I don't like quidditch. I suppose I'll have to find another way to get rid of my frustration" the Slytherin stated, twisting a piece of her hair between her fingers.

 

[Hades Styx II]

Hades grew curious, if a mudblood dared to lay a finger upon her, if she would have screamed, or tore the person a new one. He prayed it would have been the latter then he could have laughed. Hades smirked even more, glad to hear that his cousin does not whine. He had never heard her, so her starting now would be a very large change indeed. Hades was sure that the librarian would have kicked her out for her words and curses that would have flown. At least that was what he was assuming. If it had been him, he would have sent someone, or others around, to the hospital wing for laying a finger on him. "Very good, something I like to hear. Never change that, no one likes a whiner," responded Hades before he figured that she would have known what he had added. No one whined in their family without being punished. By their age, they should all know better. The younger children hardly got away with his. His own brothers and sisters kept their mouths shut around their father. Hades, the older one, was not tolerant of whining and moaning. It was just the way their mighty family worked.

Upon hearing the subject that was bringing her issues, he rolled his eyes in an obvious manner, "A useless class indeed. They never teach the most interesting things of history, just the boring parts, enough to put a Ravenclaw to sleep." His distaste for the class was rather obvious, and he liked to show it. "Unfortunately no, I'm not too good at it. If it was Transfiguration or Dark Arts, I could help." Hades conveniently left out the fact that he had also a knack for Muggle Studies, not no one would understand his curiosity to see how they lived, so he could blend in and do what he needed to do without getting caught. Hades was relieved that she was not oblivious to his looks and how he did not want to go into what was bothering him. Instead, his wise cousin moved the conversation into another direction. Hades chose this time to go over near a bookshelf that was close to the two of them and lean back against it, his arms folding over his chest. "Just like Leviathan. Well, you could choose to bully others, write, punch things, the limits are infinite. Depends all on what you like to do." It all mattered on what she liked to do in order to serve as a distraction to life.​

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Athena nodded her head once in agreement. He didn't say it, but she knew that he was referring to their family. It was true that no one liked a whiner, but in their family that sentiment was taken to another level. She honestly wasn't sure what her dad would do if she was one and she was usually pretty sure about his reactions to things. It was just one of those things she had never thought to test. She didn't like to make her dad angry, so she saw no reason to try and see what would happen. It was why she was often surprised in class when students whined over assignments and the amount of work they had to do. She almost expected the teachers to take out their wands and do something to the students, but they never did. She probably would have if she was a teacher.

Glad that her cousin agreed, Athena suddenly didn't feel so bad about complaining. She listened to her cousin, and smiled faintly. If it was dark arts, she wouldn't need the help. She wasn't a stand out in that class but she did well enough."Indeed. I even heard the professor is taking us to a muggle movie meter...whatever that is" she said, her mouth twisting in disgust simply because it was muggle related. She was hoping that was a rumor because she did not want to go. Not at all. As Hades leaned against a bookshelf, Athena sat on the edge of the table even though she knew it was against the rules. She hadn't seen a librarian pass by since she had entered the library. She swung her legs a bit as she listened. They almost grazed the floor, but she was a couple of inches shy. Rolling her eyes, a smile crossed her face at the mention of her big brother. Truth be told though, she liked the comparison. Athena thought about it for a second, her silver eyes staring at her shoes as they swung. She didn't really like to do any of the things that he suggested. "Bullying is more Levi's thing." She was too quiet to be a bully and didn't like to write much either. "I like to stargaze" she revealed, "but that doesn't really get rid of my frustration per se" she said and then shrugged. "I'm sure I'll figure something out" she added.

 

[Hades Styx II]

Hades was relieved that she had caught on to what he was saying, though the words through his lips were never murmured. Things were just told like that, and it had always been. The family right now as not as together without the Patriarch, but her dad and his brother were leading. Not doing a grand job at it, but it was enough to keep from total anarchy. Though even Hades was worried, he wondered where his great-grandfather had vanished off to. He was positive that others were worried too. The mere mention of something muggle, and Hades sneered at the sheer word. Movie theater, he didn't know what it was, but in his muggle studies class, they were bound to go to one. Disgusting. But he needed the class to get the job that he wanted. "Filthy muggle topics. I have to suffer through Muggle Studies just to become an Obliviator. Can you imagine the pain and suffering that class is? A total disgrace. The professor teaching it is an idiot too. Same with the professor before her." Hades had just insulted Prodan Zhefarovich, but that was his honest opinion about the man. Teaching that subject was awful, and laughable. That man could have put their family through so much disgrace just doing that. It was a relief that he had quit.

Moving his curtain of black hair that had fallen in front of his pasty white face, he continued to stare at his cousin with dark, onyx eyes. Perhaps she would stand up for the uncle that he had just insulted? He was Axel's brother. Albeit half-brother, but brother regardless. "After Aleyha put Prodan into stitches, I was happy for her. Shame she was expelled though." According to the oldest students he had spoken to, Aleyha was the first to be expelled, and not the last. She attacked a professor, and was expelled by her own family. That had to have hurt. Hades thought that it was worth it though. Prodan, the black sheep, deserved it. If only there was a way to turn him. Hades could even see the admiration she held for her siblings. He wondered if his own siblings would hold that for him, as he was the first born. "Indeed. Star gazing though? That would put me to sleep. Not unless there were stars that had shapes of something getting dismembered." There had to be something that could help Athena out with her frustrations. She didn't like Quidditch, nor did she like bullying. "I'm sure you'll find something. You are Axel's daughter. Just don't get have children as young as Axel did." From doing the math, Axel was still in school when he knocked up Emerald. It was hard to really know though. If his math was correct, that is.​

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Glad to have someone that she didn't have to censor her disgust for muggles in front of, Athena pursed her lips at the thought of muggle topics. Her silver eyes widened in utter shock as she re-considered the words that had just left Hades's lips. Surely, he hadn't just said that? Realizing that he had, Athena shook her blonde head. "Oh, Hades. It must be dreadful. Isn't there any other way?" she asked, unable to believe that he was being forced to take that class of all classes. She drew her lips into a grim line as she thought about Prodan Zhefarovich, her half uncle. She knew that he'd been the muggle studies professor before whoever it was that taught the class now. She didn't know who it was. But she did know that her half-uncle had seemed to enjoy teaching the class, from what she had heard anyway. She crossed her arms across her chest, staying mum on the subject of Prodan. Her feelings for him were similar to how she felt about Azerail. Ambivalence, for the most part, with a hint of disgust.

Glad when the subject was changed, Athena relaxed a bit more. She rolled her eyes slightly at her cousin. She didn't think that anyone got her fascination with the stars. They were so far away and allowed her to imagine the possibilities. Laughing, she replied. "I don't think so. I'll keep my eyes out for dismemberment." She nodded her head. She certainly was Axel's daughter and liked being labeled as such. Any mention of her mother was never welcome, so she always thought of herself just that way: Axel's daughter. Another chuckle followed. Children? She had no intentions of that. "Nope, not me. I don't even know if I even want children. I don't have a betrothed like Levi did, so I don't have to rush into marriage or children or any of that stuff" she shrugged. That reminded her of other family traditions, ones that she did have to take part in without choice. "Do you think we'll get our tattoos on time?" she whispered, her eyes widening as she thought about that particular tradition. Her grandfather wasn't around, hadn't been for a while now, too long of a while. She knew that her dad and uncle were in charge, but she wasn't entirely sure if they were given permission to do that while grandfather was away.

 

[Hades Styx II]

Hades shook his head when he revealed that there was no other way that he was forced to take those classes. While this year, he had to deal with an airhead barbie, next year he would have to deal with a total basket case. Either way, he was definitely screwed, and he was not interested in learning anything to do with freaking muggles. He hated them, and he just loathed them. He wanted to slaughter them all if he could. "The Ministry was being stupid when they set the standards. Why in the hell would they want wizarding kids to learn about bloody muggles? They are vile animals that either deserve the lowest form of respect, or as slaves." Hades was speaking harshly, and he could not resist. It was something that was just coming out of his mouth, and he had never had to filter what he said when it came around family. He was simply relieved to have a family member in here that thought so much like himself. Then again, Kaia had as well, but he was not sure about Kailie. His aunt that was a couple of years younger than him which was strange enough. Hades felt no need to continue on how worthless he believed Prodan was. However with every Zhefarovich, all one needed was a beating, and some time alone in that bunker that he had heard so much of.

He smirked even more before he released a soft laugh. That was uncommon for him, but it was enough anyway. He nodded, and hoped that there would be something about someone he did not like being dismembered. She was quite the unique one though. He never heard of a Zhefarovich looking toward the stars, but anything was possible. Hades was believing that as Axel's daughter, she would not be having children early. Kamaria had not, and she was not in an arranged marriage. Athena may have that luxury, and she could find the one that would treat her right, and a pure-blood too. He was positive that Athena would not settle for anything less. "One Zhefarovich not want children? That would be a first. Although it is best to focus on a career first, before family and such. I don't know if I want kids either. Don't really care." Hades shrugged somewhat. He really didn't think about that too much. He was more focused on his Animagus training and other things like that. But it was when Athena asked that one question made him wonder. Hades looked somewhat confused, but he was in thought. "I honestly don't know, with the Patriarch being gone, it could be grandfather doing it, but I would have to go to him to ask." Hades was almost positive that Axel and Benjamen did not know how to make the tattoo. Kalif though, he was almost sure that he did.​

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Athena nodded her head in solemn agreement with her cousin. ”It’s too bad nothing can be done about that” she said sympathetically. She was surprised that the Minister of Magic hadn’t changed the standard when she took office. She was a pureblood after all. And if she hadn’t it was surprising that her Deputy Minister hadn’t fought for a change. He was of the same belief that Athena’s family was. At least she thought so. She didn’t pay attention to politics much at all but, from the little she had heard, that was the way things were. To anyone else, the words would likely have sounded harsh and horrible, but Athena quite agreed with what Hades was saying. She wasn’t sure about enslaving them though. Athena didn’t think she could do with having that much contact with any muggle no matter how good they could clean. Although she didn’t voice her opinion on the matter quite so often, her blood prejudice was much engrained.

The blonde smirked as she made her cousin laugh. If only people knew what they were laughing about. Her smirk widened as she listened to Hades. It was a pretty funny idea to think of a Zhefarovich not having children. There were a few though like her uncle Benjamin. He didn’t have any children. Athena was pretty sure she was exaggerating anyway. Sure, she would eventually have children but right now she wasn’t thinking about that. She was pretty excited to become an aunt soon though and hoped that her brother would have some happy news for the family. He liked Ariah and didn’t want her to be killed because she couldn’t get pregnant. It was be a waste of a perfectly good pureblood and she knew that Levi would be sad. ”Yeah” she stated, agreeing absentmindedly. The girl hadn’t given any consideration to what she wanted to do once she left school. Nothing really appealed to her. She would have to spend the summer thinking about it and see if anything came from that. Focusing again, the Slytherin listened to Hades, her silver eyes looking slightly worried because he didn’t seem to know any more than she did. She wasn’t sure who she wanted to give her the tattoo more, her grandfather or her Uncle Kalif. She was sure that neither would be gentle. A small itch began on Athena’s back at the thought and she scratched the small of her back. It was too bad that her father couldn’t do it as far as she knew. She would have to ask him when she returned home. Perhaps he would know more. ”I guess they’ll let us know…soon maybe” she added after a moment, thinking that the professor would not want any of them going to him to ask. Even though they were related and he was her Head of House, Athena kept her distance from the man. He made her feel uneasily sometimes. Still, it would be interesting to find out what would happen. Someone would have to figure it out soon since Athena, Hades and his sister, Kaia, would be coming of age in just mere months.

 

[Hades Styx II]

While Athena thought that nothing could be done about it, Hades thought differently. Something could be done about it, but no one wanted to stand up and take charge. Someone needed to and he wanted to be one of those people that did. The current minister must not believe the same way that he knew most of the Snows to believe. Well, the pure-blooded Snows anyway. Then again look at his own Head of House. Hades sighed and he nodded, though his thoughts were mostly kept to himself on that one. He was sure that Athena would not want to hear the same thing over and over, which was what he believed politics to be. Just blabbering on and on. That was all there was to it. However he was comfortable in the fact that he was going to be able to converse with his cousin on things. She was the daughter of Axel, which made her honorary anyhow. Axel had some sort of position in the family, and was to be respected. He could kill in so many ways. Hades even laughing was not really something that most would take lightly because he never showed any sort of emotions. Only around family and Mylie did he show anything. That was just uncommon anyhow. Hades then wondered how Leviathan and his arranged marriage was going. Surely he must have knocked up his wife by now because it was getting closer to the deadline. If a Zhefarovich could not even have children, then that would have been a sight to see.

Athena was more like him than he figured. She was not wanting children, and she also did not really care. Hades didn't think about that, but he wanted to have a good future first, and then worry about children later since it didn't matter to him much at all. He also wondered if she made friends with those of lesser blood. Hades did not. Then again he only spoke with Kaia, sometimes that Zayne did and Mylie. All of which were pure-bloods. "They'll let us know soon enough I'm sure. I'll try contacting my father and see if he knows, or Professor Styx himself." Where was the noble and great Patriarch of their family? No one knew that he was out trying to make himself immortal. Hades thought that Professor Styx would not give him a detention for something like that either. Instead he felt that the library was getting a bit too crowded for him to be comfortable in, even if the students were keeping their distance from the Slytherin and Hufflepuff. "Let's go somewhere where they don't have so many idiots hanging around. I feel somewhat cramped in here." Hades shrugged before he took a step toward the door. He was supposed to look out for family members, even the females. This would be a good way to ensure he was keeping that promise.​

Out of Character:

Sooooo sorry it took soo long. I thought this would be a good way to wrap it up.