Purfume, Lies, and Other Stinky Things

Mira's porcelain face was lit with a bright pink glow from the rack of love potions. She wasn't actually going to buy one, but they had her caught staring for some reason. I guess it was the idea of 'real love' over 'forced love'. Because even though there was no potion, the love that she and Elijah shared was still forced and in some ways artificial. Mira had often wondered while trying to fall asleep that if Elijah had not been pre-assigned to her if she would have ever noticed his existence. He was deadly handsome of course. But most of what made him so lovable was the deeper things. Things that you only found out about after being stuck together in a room together to 'talk' for a few hours. When you saw the ins and outs of every aspect of a person you gained a new respect for them.

And if what caused the love was forced, did it mean the love itself was real?

Mira reached out and picked up one of the evil little pink bottles. She turned it around and around in her tiny hand. It felt warm and welcoming. Mira knew it would be too easy to slip Elijah something but she also knew that was the worst idea in the world. If he ever, ever even suspected something like that Mira knew it would be 110% over in the blink of an eye. Elijah cared about her but didn't love her, and anything like a stunt like that would be more than enough of an excuse to prove to his parents that she was unworthy. Contrary to popular belief, Mira wasn't stupid. She knew Elijah was having second thoughts and accepted it. It was his right to be worried about being forced into a married with a girl who was "a harpy", "impossible", and a variety of things. People didn't even give her a chance any more. Not that she would ever change.Mira's fate had been chosen the day those bastards had killed Alice.

And if there was anything Mira knew how to do, it was do things dramatically and with style. And if ice queen was what she was doing, why not play it up to levels no one had seen before? Go down in Krum history as crazy B**** first, Elijah's wife second. What could go wrong with that plan? The little bottle in her hand quivered a little, as if to agree.

The reason why Miseria actually came all this way to London to visit the Weasley's Wizards Wheezes was because she wanted to have some fun. Alone, like always, but that didn’t matter to her. She never saw anyone from the school after the seventh year students graduated, and although it made her life quite miserable, she got over it quickly. Everyone had a life, and so did she.
Miseria entered the shop, surprised to see so many people over there. Mostly the younger ones who, like she, wanted to have fun, and buy some silly stuff to scare the other’s people c*ap out. She’d never teach her daughter, Dakota, to do such things. In fact, she’d rather keep her away from everything that would make her... like Miseria. Worthless, “headless“, stupid, adrenaline-freak werewolf, and probably the worst mom Ever. She wanted to raise her daughter to become a good, better person than She was, but first thing that she had to do, was to Grow up.
And according to today’s plan, it had to wait.

Weasley’s twins were definately Geniuses. Bigger geniuses than Merlin! They had made so much awesome stuff, and for a person who never had visited their shop before, it was quite hard to decide what to buy. She walked between the shelves, looked up, and down, searching for something explosive or something weird. Something that’d cause... Something. She stopped when she saw something bright and pink on the corner. Love potions? Grin appeared on her pale face when she stepped closer to those. Her face was pink when she stood right next to the potions “table“. Carefully (things usually break when she touches them), she took one little bottle, and looked at it. First thing that came across her mind was to use this little potion on her ex, but then she shook this thought off. He was long gone, and she didn’t even know where to start looking for him. At the other guys... She never was interested in anyone else.
She placed little bottle back, and noticed someone else next to the table. “Having trouble with love?“ she joked. Why else people wanted to buy those little things?

It took a moment for Mira to realize this girl was talking to her, in the busy shop. She set the tiny bottle back on the pink shelves quickly. Despite her knowledge that she was a superior breeding of the two (and therefore, obviously, the superior person), Mira felt slightly ashamed of being found looking at the bottle. She was about to snap back at the girl with some comment about how 'a girl like me doesn't have love problems' but stopped herself. It would probably be a bad idea to lash out at random strangers. She might be someone who was actually important. Unlikely, but possible. Plus, Mira just didn't feel like making another enemy. She had been sleeping a lot, spending time with Elijah, and wearing pretty dresses. The combination of the three had put her in a constant good mood.

So Mira laughed, catching the hint of joking in her voice. "Not really. Yourself?" she asked. Not that she really wanted to listen to some random girl gush about her boyfriend but it was a risk she was willing to take. Maybe the girl had an even more screwed up love life than she did. Again, unlikely. The girl was pretty, and Mira felt like she should know her. Obviously she went to Hogwarts, as she was school age. She wasn't in Slythirin. Mira made a mental note to ask about her. For a girl like Mira things like house, blood status, and family name were deeply important. Because Mira was honorable in all three categories she considered herself to be better than everyone else.

Miseria didn’t actually wait for her to understand the joke. People, who didn’t get it, usually never replied or said something ’smart’ to her. “Not really. Yourself?“ She smiled, and walked slowly around the shelves, still looking at those tiny little bottles. She loved magic. She really did. Without it her life wouldn’t be so fun. Things wouldn’t be so easy, and she’d be a muggle. A person whom she doesn’t really know much about. “But there are tiny problems?“ she asked with a soft smile on her lips. It was almost like she encouraged the girl to buy this potion, and make the Dream boy – Prince Charming, hers.
Miseria didn’t believe in love from the first sight. She never even let anyone close to her anymore. She shook her head when the girl wanted to know about her. “No. I’m single and that rocks,“ her smile widened. At least for now she felt better without anyone on her shoulder. Now that she was close enough to the girl, she could see her face more clearly.

She was obviously from Hogwarts. Tiny school, but she didn’t know anyone. Miseria wasn’t big friends with Gryffindors, Ravenclaws and Slytherins so it was hard to say in which house the blonde belonged. She seemed to be not much older than Miseria. Maybe she was even younger. It was hard to tell. “Miseria,“ she introduced herself finally.

Mira smiled. At least the girl wasn't one of those incredibly boring people. She seemed pretty funny and comfortable in her own skin, something that Mira wasn't used to in her perfection driven world. It was actually quite refreshing. Mira sometimes wanted to be more like those confidant girls at school - Jack Dyllan who was the leader of PA and honestly a total badass, Amelia Lyons who might have been sort of mean towards Mira but still knew who she was and didn't try to change it, Piper Handler who didn't care what people thought but knew how to make a statement, and even her best friend for all intents and purposes Athena Goyle. And those were just the beginning. It seemed like everyone at Hogwarts knew their role and how to play it but Mira. 

"Amen. I'm Mira, nice to meet you. You go to Hogwarts?" By now Mira was almost positive of this but she didn't want to look like a fool by staring to talk about the school and have Miseria have no idea. Miserias name sounded way more familiar than her face, and Mira was pretty sure the girl was in 7th year and had done something heroic sometime or another. Or she at least had some gossip spread about her. In a small school like Hogwarts you heard of most people. Or at least all the people who had lives. What would Miseria have heard about Mira Anderson? For once Mira hoped someone didn't know her name or reputation. She could actually see herself getting along with this girl but her past actions and merciless gossip could ruin that. 

People said Mira was a "whore", a "spoiled brat", and a "harpy". Sometimes this was true. But for the people who called her a "goddess", "stunningly beautiful", and "powerful" they weren't wrong either. Mira was a mixed bag and you never knew what side of the bed she would wake up on. But lately as long as it was Elijahs bed, it didn't matter. Maybe with his help it would be possible for her to loose the bad and keep the good. And even though being a B**** was wonderfully fun and effortless, having less enemies would not be an unwelcome thing. 

Amen? Miseria raised her eyebrow. Was the girl religious? That didn’t matter much, but it was interesting. Miseria never believed in God, however, she believed in existance of something stronger, much more powerful than magic, and will. Something, that held the whole balance in the world.
She smiled again when she introduced herself. “Yeah!“ It was hard to imagine that she had to study only for One year, and after that she could do whatever she wanted!
Mira’s name was well known in Hogwarts. Thanks to the gossips, of course. But Miseria never payed attention to them. There were some rumors about herself as well, which most of them were actually lies. When it came talking about others’ weaknesses, mistakes, and such things, people were basically stabbing each other with sharp knives.

She picked up one bottle from the shelves, and looked at it. The pink glow made her eyes look like deep purple with many sparkles in them. She smiled, and looked up. “So, how’s summer?“ she asked, just to keep the conversation up. Right now she felt more like listening to whatever the girl was about to tell her than talk about her own life. Mira seemed to be like an interesting girl.

Mira couldn't help but smirk a little when the girls eyebrows raised. Mira had thought nothing of her wording until she saw the reaction. Even though she was in no way religious, if it made her more complicated and mysterious than go for it. Mira wasn't a complicated girl to anyone who really knew her. Just a very pretty face who needed to be in control of everyone else because she wasn't in control of herself. Apparently that was her mothers job, and Mira was growing to detest them for it. Chase Moor had once told her that being controlled like she was wasn't so bad compared to other things but Mira didn't believe her. Sometimes Mira felt out of control, like she was spinning into nothingness. Ironically the only one who made her feel grounded again was the person who she was the most forced to be with - Elijah. He was her prince, her hero, her knight in armor (even when it wasn't so shiny). He was everything, and everything could be taken so quickly.

When Mis confirmed she went to Hogwarts, Mira was surprised that she didn't find herself wanting to ask what house. She didn't care. Mira knew that if the girl was a Gryffie or a Puffer her opinion would be tainted immediately. Miseria seemed like an interesting enough girl and Mira wanted to keep talking to her as if house didn't matter. So happily she answered the girls question. "Summer is good. I went on an amazing vacation to the Carribean. Flirted with cute muggle boys, made my boyfriend jealous. All good fun. But I actually miss school for the first time. All those people I never get to see." Mira realized she was referring to Rafael. Opps. Mira knew she shouldn't be thinking about the boy. He was officially 110% off limits. He had moved on.. To that slutty little fifth year. Mira mentally slapped herself to stop thinking about people like Georgia and Rafael. They only made her life harder. 

"Yours?" she asked, at first only to appear polite. But then Mira realized she wanted to talk to this girl. Wanted to hear what she would say. This in itself was enough to tell anyone that the pair would go far. And far they definitely would go.

Suddenly, a grin appeared on Miseria’s face, when she heard the word ’jealousy’. She loved to make people feel this way, and it wasn’t a secret that sometimes she even felt the same way. But that was almost like never. Miseria had everything that she wanted. Although her real parents were long dead for now, she was adopted by Lupin family, and now she even had a daughter. It was all too perfect. And with her own money that her parents left, she could do whatever she wanted. But then again, there wasn’t anything that would satisfy her taste or needs. You already have everything, she always reminded herself. And she never was interested in buying such things like jewelry or other accessories . “Aah,“ she sighed, looking at Mira with a funny smile on her face. “Jealous? How? Did he hit the poor guy or you two ended up in a little fight?“ Or her boyfriend just walked away. Either way, it was Cool. If Miseria’d know that Mira’s boyfriend is Elijah, another close friend/person to Khaat, she’d be little irritated. Or maybe not. It wasn’t her business what other’s did. In fact, she and Elijhah weren’t even close friends. They barely talked to each other.

When she mentioned school, Miseria looked down at the floor. Yes, she missed Hogwarts, too. Although she never did anything special in that place besides reading or studying, she loved it. It was her second home, and it was one of the most magical places! “Well... My life isn’t that interesting as yours, I guess. I mean, I never made anyone jealous, however, I did go clive diving once. That was Amazing! I recommend it to you, too, if you like extreme sports, and stuff.“ She stopped. Yes, that was pretty much all. And because she didn’t know Mira enough, she didn’t want to tell her about Dakota. What would she think about her, then?

Mira couldn't help but break into a big smile right alongside Miseria. No, Elijah didn't get into any fights or anything. It had been an amazingly conflict free vacation. It was rare the pair spent thar much time together without any screaming and yelling (or at least irritated ignoring). It was probably because all of that time and energy normally wasted on pointless fights had been put into romantic walks on the beach and love making under the stars. Just thinking about it made Mira giddy inside. Or was that feeling because of the present and the girl standing in front of her? Extreme sports? Miseria was definitely interesting. And even though extreme sports was the last thing Mira would consider doing she was now positive that the two could end up good friends. 

Laughing out loud Mira replied "I've never been brave enough to do something like that. But I've always wanted to go jump off a bridge or something. Just to see what would happen." Mira knew very well that what would happen would be freaked out muggles over a suicide and trouble with her parents. Mira didn't always like it but she followed the rules. What her parents said went, no exceptions. It was amazing the kind of power you had - even over your own children - when you had all the money.  Mira knew that someday she would be the one to hold all the cards, and somehow that distant future made this horror of a present worth it. But Mira wondered if she could ever really break rules like that. And then she realized... If she had someone to break rules with... Mira smiled at Miseria widely as thoughts started tumbling around her head. 

"I know we just met but.." Mira paused and raised her own eyebrows as if shocked about what she was saying. "Do you want to jump off a bridge with me?" It was probably the most stupid sounding phrase that Mira Anderson had ever muttered. But it would also turn out to be the most important. 

Smile was like glued on her face. It just didn’t disappear, although, Miseria’s lips were already tired of this stupid little grimace. “I’m not brave either,“ she replied, looking away for a moment. Love potions glowed. They looked really pretty, and Miseria would buy one just because it looked yummy. But there was no way she’d drink one of those. She wouldn’t even give them to somebody else. She wasn’t that mean, although, she’d Love to see what would happen.
“I just don’t think about the consequences and do whatever I want.“ She looked back at Mira. Finally her smile faded away, and she sighed quietly, and thankfully. “M, you can always die. But if you won’t-“ Miseria stopped to think, looking at the girl infront of her. She bit her lip:“You will get in Big trouble.“
If Anna would be alive, and she’d see Miseria jumping off a cliff or fighting for Hogwarts like the last time, she’d faint, however, her father would give her a golden medallion for it. When he was younger, he loved extreme sports, too. Marriage made ’normal’.

Miseria picked up one bottle. Suddenly she wasn’t able to keep her fingers away from it. She could feel the warmth against her fingers when she twirled the bottle in her hand. When the girl started talking again, she looked up with raised eyebrows. There was a little pause after Mira finished. Then she started laughing. Quietly, but people noticed, and looked at her. Miseria ignored them. Mira’s question was probably one of the best questions she ever heard. Jump off a a birdge with me? “Let’s do this!“ she said without any hesitation. “But first... I want to buy this one.“ She showed Mira the little bottle that was in her hand, and then walked towards the counter. She payed for the potion, and looked at her companion. “Which bridge would you like to dominate?“