You'd Come Around Soon.

[Benjamin Chase]

When the holidays came, the Head Boy of Hogwarts expected a rather quiet holiday to himself, in which he would spend in America with his little brother around to irritate the living crap out of him. That was the norm when it came to the holidays, unless people whom he knew decided to break that cycle and host something exciting or he would break out from his laziness and do something worth his time for once during the hols. He was about to graduate anyway, so before he became a working man he had to make the most out of his school life. Making the most out of it meant accepting every social event that came upon his lap and starting to mingle and make a positive name for himself with his fellow pureblood peers about his age. Now that the holidays arrived to him like a gift adorned with gold, he decided to accept the upcoming soiree a family friend invited him to, for that friend was going to celebrate his 20th birthday. Benjamin agreed to by writing him back with his laziest scrawl, stating that soirees held by his hosting skills were always the talk of the town for the following weeks. Of course Benjamin said it out of politeness, even if the main reason of his attendance was to meet at least a few people and the consumption of alcohol.

The venue of the event was decorated simply yet everyone could sense the touch of black elegance to it. Benjamin appreciated its beauty, especially since this family originated from New Zealand and pureblood families from different countries always stood with a unique sense of beauty. He was currently with a group of giggly young ladies, who teased him like he was some ten year old school boy. It was a given they were older than him but the age gap was nothing more than four years. The fast paced but torturous talk they shared put Benjamin in a blurry lull. The words they were saying and giggling about were silent in his ears and when they looked at him, he chuckled politely at them like the gentleman he was. At least, he was a gentleman for appearances. "That is lovely ladies, but if you'll excuse me. I think someone is calling me from the outside." He smiled at them when they pouted at him and gave them his best smirk of charm so they could free him from their trap. Apparently one of the ladies decided to share one last story from her school days, which forced Benjamin to stay for almost two minutes listening to her adventures with her ex in empty classrooms. He excused himself again, this time not waiting for their permission. He just slipped away like the Snake he was and when his head was turned away, he scowled and headed to the table of champagne.

He got a glass and sipped, feeling the liquid soothe his throat down. Initially alcohol was something he disliked but now he liked it as much as he liked drinking banana chocolate shake. Benjamin smoothed the invisible wrinkles on his shirt and headed towards the balcony of the massive room, where its huge space was enough to fit more than twenty people. There was a pair nearby talking to themselves and Benjamin thought that spending his time outside for a few minutes would calm him down and ready him to look for another group of people to make a conversation with. So far the type of company he was expecting was just not coming to him lately.
​

outfit

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

When Athena had received the invitation to the party, there had been no doubt in her mind that she would attend. Her friend came from a prominent New Zealand pureblood family, one that her own family associated with on a fairly regular basis. It meant that, even if she hadn’t wanted to attend, she likely would have been forced to go and show face. Purebloods tended to be overly sensitive about what they perceived to be silly slights and not sending someone from the family would come across as a form of disrespect. Luckily, she rather liked the guy who would be celebrating his twentieth birthday. If it had been his sister who was having the birthday, Athena would have made more of a fuss of attending the party. She hated the girl who was a year younger than her and seemed to believe that those twelve months meant that she knew so much more about life than Athena did. Athena had responded to the invitation, letting him know that she and her brother would be in attendance, and so they were.

Athena had immediately lost her brother as soon as they had apparated over, but she didn’t really care too much. She’d walked around the venue, admiring the decorations and making some small talk with some of the purebloods in attendance. She knew many of them to some degree, enough to know their name and their family but not so much that she wanted to carry a long conversation with any of them. Athena kept excusing herself from conversations, telling each pureblood that she was with that she just had to say hello to someone else. Drifting towards the champagne table, Athena grabbed a glass as she continued on, moving deeper into the party, pleased when she spotted one of her older cousins. With a genuine smile, Athena walked over and hugged her cousin, a tall, slim blonde. The two women spent the next several moments catching up before they were interrupted by another girl, one that Athena had never met before. She held out her hand and shook the girl’s hand politely, a fake smile plastered across her face. Although she’d never met the girl before, there was something about her that she didn’t like. As she began to speak, launching into a story about a recent job interview, Athena did not warm up to her. Perhaps it was the way she ended her sentences as if she was asking a question every time or perhaps it was the way she flipped her hair every time she laughed, which was often and loudly. Either way, Athena took the first opportunity she could to run away by downing the rest of her champagne. “Refill” she stated, pointing at her glass as she backed away, a fake laugh escaping her. The peal of laughter that followed her made her roll her eyes and scowl as soon as she turned her back on the pair.

Athena placed her glass on a tray that was floating around as she headed for the champagne table again. Grabbing her second glass, she held it as she made her way towards the balcony. Stepping outside, Athena immediately felt better as she glanced towards the sky. Stars adorned the sky, and Athena quickly spotted several constellations, an action that always proved to calm her down. Feeling slightly better, Athena took a sip of the champagne as she took the balcony in. It was truly beautiful, more beautiful than anything that was inside. The couple in the corner seemed to be in deep conversation, though it looked like pleasant conversation. Athena looked away from them quickly, her own troubles with Declan filling her mind for a second. She quickly pushed him out of her mind. He was the one who’d asked for a break, after all. Shifting her gaze, Athena’s eyes fell on a young man standing alone. It took her a moment to recognize him, but when she did, she surged forward. Her silver eyes took the physical changes in the guy with a glimmer of appreciation. “My, my, my. Look what the cat dragged in” she stated, a smirk crossing her face as she stopped right in front of Benjamin Chase. She lifted the champagne to her lips once more and took another small sip.

Outfit! (the link works now)

 

[Benjamin Chase]

He was not big on alcohol, but Benjamin did wish he had taken a shot or two before entering this event. Everyone here were only trying to be polite or if not, they were trying their best to be civil in case they had any business opportunities to the one they were conversing with. Benjamin wished he was in an environment where everyone just expressed themselves bluntly, like his own house with his siblings, because it was very tiring to act so indulged in a discussion when the truth was you wanted to snap in front of their face the fact that no one gave a crap. Well, he had to admit, these people were better to be with than those he was with in Hogwarts, surrounded by those of tainted blood. Disgusting, but as a role model, he had to keep his tongue in line. The rush of the breeze that swept his reluctant emotions to the side were replaced by tranquility that blanked his mind and told him that if he did stay in balcony for a few more minutes, he gather the capability to converse again with his fellow purebloods that either made him feel deeply irritable or bored.

He sipped from his glass of champagne but froze when someone seemed to refer to him with her statement. It had a hint of smugness and a flash of familiarity and Benjamin's stiff shoulders forced themselves to relax to show that he was no affected by her approach. He scowled at the voice, his thoughts racing faster than a cheetah running in its fullest speed to search who among his peers belonged to that kind of drawling and smug tone. He bowed his head, his back still facing the female owner and thought of a come back that would make himself proud. "Well, the cat must surely drag in Benjamin--" He stated, whilst turning around fast to see who it was. When his green eyes connected with those familiar silvery ones, he froze in the middle of his sentence, a flood of memories rushing towards him. Of course he remembered her. He remembered that blonde hair and that slim build that was fit for an athlete. He recalled being slightly shorter than her, but now after more than a year of seeing one another again, he was quite sure they were almost of the same height. Maybe he was even taller. Benjamin blinked at her in surprise, recovering by clearing his throat and smirking, feeling that this blonde was someone he can deal with all by himself. Athena Zhefarovich was back in his life once again.

"Athena Zhefarovich... It's been long. Been stalking me as of late, yeah?" Benjamin asked, chuckling when he looked at her from head to toe. Still, she was gorgeous as ever and there was still a small part of his mind that reminded him of the awkward boy he used to be. Well now, he could still be awkward but normally he drowned it with his oozing self confidence that some people thought was just a shield. Benjamin leaned on the thick railing and opened his arms to motion she should join him. "Stay with me. We have lots to catch on with each other... Besides from the fact that you missed me - well, that's a given already don't you think?" Really, he was warming up to this silly banter of theirs that often led to tension he could not distinguish all too easily. He matched her smirk with his own, wondering if the tall blonde had changed at all or remained the same even after almost two years after her graduation. He had lots to tell her about Hogwarts and most especially, himself of all people.
​

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Even though he had his back to her, Athena could practically see him thinking as he tried to figure out her voice. When he finally turned around to face her, Athena had her glass to her lips once more as she finished the last of the champagne in the glass. Their eyes connected, and the blonde noted that she no longer had to look down very much, certainly not as much as she had at the Yule Ball that they'd attended together. The only reason she did so at all now was because of the heels she was wearing. It was a pleasant discovery, one that she noted by ducking her head slightly, her silver gaze falling on the lipstick stain she'd left on the glass. She licked her lips before lifting her gaze to meet his.

Athena couldn't help but rolling her eyes at his statement. "Leave it to you to think that I'd spend my days stalking you" she stated, a shake of her head as if she were indulging a very silly little boy. She nearly gave him a pat on the cheek, but stopped herself as he spoke again. The former Slytherin didn't need the invitation to stick around and chat, though she was pleased by it all the same. She placed her empty glass on another passing tray before taking a step to lean on the railing as well. "You flatter yourself too much, Benjamin" she stated as she patted his arm, a smirk on her face. Athena would be lying if she said that she didn't notice the bulge of a muscle underneath the shirt. It seemed that time had been good to the boy she remembered from Hogwarts.

Leaning in just a little closer, Athena looked around the balcony as if she was going to share a secret with Benjamin. She waited for him to lean a little closer himself before speaking. Her silver eyes gazed right into his green ones as she stage whispered. She really didn't gave a damn who heard. "Between you and me, you probably are one of the more interesting people here. If I have to hear one more damn story about someone's magical trip to Barbados or some other place" she stated with an eye roll, "I will frickin' crucio somebody." Athena gave a little laugh before speaking again. "So, do tell me how life has been, Benjamin. Any magical trips?" she asked with a raised eyebrow before leaning back again.

 

[Benjamin Chase]

The black haired man nodded, a humorous smile perching on his lip giving his green eyes a kind of amused light. He felt the soft pat Athena gave him regarding his ego and Benjamin shrugged, merely affected by her statement. She was a pureblood woman who was surrounded by people even more arrogant and self confident than he was. This level of self confidence only came about to him whenever he needed it so - like in social events like these wherein he had to make a cool and smart impression on people. So far he seemed to bordering on the impression of being very polite and an ambitious young man with so many goals he wanted to reach but no one ever thought of Arthur Chase's son as someone certainly capable of handling bigger things in the near future. Benjamin was not exactly bothered, but he did want to leave at least the slightest stamp on them that showed a glint of his determination to do well. Benjamin was only taking a break and thank God for giving him Athena Zhefarovich for some company. This was the best thing so far that has ever happened to him for today.

Benjamin leaned in, clearly perceiving that she wanted to murmur lowly to him. Having the entire soiree hear about what she was going to say was not her plan of action. Benjamin listened, his eyes fixed on hers and when she finished her sentence, he could not agree more. He was unquestionably tired listening to stories of his older acquaintances about their Milan trips and their endless stories of schoolgirl failures, like getting caught in an empty classroom to be seen kissing someone by the professor. Just because Benjamin had not left school did not mean that he was some giddy schoolboy around. He chuckled with Athena, thinking that it would be pleasing if they did cast an Unforgivable. Benjamin took a second or two to contemplate her casual question, something that he thought was more genuine than the other questions that have been asked onto him tonight. "Last break I went to Scotland. I was only visiting a very good friend of mine. Without her I would not have survived the boring holidays. That's it really, but still, I had a good time even if there was no shopping." Benjamin was not a big shopper but when he did, he pretty much many things that were too heavy for him to even carry. Splurging on clothes was just done almost every three months only, thanks to Benjamin's wise usage of clothes and laziness. "Unlike some people here - they think visiting another country without having to go to at least five clothing shops is boring. I'm assuming that's the stereotypical thing for women these days... I dunno, you tell me." he wondered, his questioning eyes searching Athena's if she would agree. She was a female, after all.

Benjamin shrugged. "Besides from Scotland, I've been nowhere but in school and at home. Hogwarts has been..." trailed the Head Boy, looking for the best adjective he could give to the bustling halls of students and professors alike. As the Head Boy, extra curricular activities added to his Head responsibilities were nothing out of the norm for him this school year. He sighed, finishing his statement. "Busier than St. Mungos' emergency ward. At least it has been for me." The green eyed man put an emphasis on the last word. He took the smallest sip from his champagne, savoring the flavor as it poured down his throat. The Slytherin looked up at the blonde who was now taller than him thanks to her heels that made her enormous height even more enormous. What was it, a good 2 inches taller than him? Benjamin did not mind the difference, although he knew that without those they would be looking each other around eye level. "And I must add, when you graduated, Styx must have seen something good in me. Must have been the time where we both comforted a homesick first year." He chuckled lightly, remembering that encounter vividly. "Surprising right?" Benjamin hinted in a subtle way, his smirk growing into something prideful. Of course Professor Styx probably only appointed Benjamin as a prefect because he had no choice but still, Benjamin loved that first year of prefect duties. It was his power he was playing with.
​

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Athena’s silver eyes narrowed as Benjamin spoke. She listened without comment, leaning against the balcony railing as she did. With a glance to her right, she was gazing out at the long lawn below, wondering what it would look like during the day. With a glance back at Benjamin, Athena gave him a small shrug, not confirming or denying that women loved to shop. Athena knew that her trips to foreign countries usually did involve massive shopping trips, especially when they meant that she was given free rein to be alone. That didn’t happen very often for the Zhefarovich women, who were usually escorted by one of their brothers. When it came to shopping trips, Athena often preferred the company of her younger brother, Elijah, who was at least good at helping her choose clothing that fit her well. Levi would simply complain the entire time, wondering how many more stores he would have to accompany her to before they could head home. Her love of shopping was probably one of the few things that she did have in common with the other pureblood women in the room. Pleased that the conversation drifted elsewhere, Athena waited for Benjamin to fill in the gaps about how Hogwarts had been. She had been gone from the school for a couple of years now, but news was always welcome. She did have several relatives still there, so she still felt a sort of connection to her former school.

“Oh?” she asked, wondering if he would say more on the subject. It was his seventh year after all, and she was sure that the professors were continuing to stress students out regarding the NEWT exams and their importance. Athena had heard rumors through her cousins that the Slytherins had been ruling the school since she’d left, so she figured that he couldn’t be that stressed out. Athena realized that she really didn’t know much about Benjamin’s plans for the future. They had never really had those sort of conversations. As purebloods, they were expected to become productive members of wizarding society in some manner.

She pushed back a lock of hair that had blown in front of her face as she continued to listen to the Slytherin speak. It was funny how easily they had fallen into conversation with each other. Back when they’d been in school, conversation between them had never flowed so easily. They were usually quite short with each other, something that Athena had never quite figured out since she was never really mad at him. She chuckled before speaking. “If I remember correctly, it was more like you traumatized the little baby” she laughed, her last words dripping with contempt for the child she’d been forced to comfort. “You were such a jerk” she continued, a laugh on her lips as she recalled having called Benjamin that on that night as well. Then, she’d really thought of him as a jerk, anger coursing through her as she’d said it. Now, it was done in a more playful manner. “I left Hogwarts just in time then if Styx thinks that you’re a good boy. I don’t know if that’s the word I’d use to describe you” she added, a smirk growing on her face.