Disturbing Arrogance

Amongst the studious individuals of Hogwarts that had retreated to the library not an hour after dinner, tucked up in a corner sat at a desk pushed up against the wall beneath one of the tall windows was a dark haired Slytherin. Her pale hand wound slackly around a raven feather quill guided the writing instrument across one of the many rolls of parchment surrounding her, leaving in its wake neat, loopy script coloured with the purple of the ink recently bought from the stationary shop in Hogsmeade. Her dark curls acted like a curtain or some sort of barrier protecting her from the outside world. Drawn over her shoulder, allowing only a hint of green from her robes to peep through its thick winding locks, the curtain giving a somewhat sinister edge to her persona. Her lips parted as if cupid was drawing his ruby red bow and in the place of the arrow, the bow came around the very tip of the raven feather quill. Her teeth bit into it as her brows wrinkled in thought, her internal narration of the essay coming to a stop as she searched for the word.

The young woman had entered the library after the over-eager Ravenclaws just dying to bury their heads not between the legs of willing bed partners but instead in the crease of a tome more than a handful of centuries old. No, they preferred books over sex. She didn’t blame them, of course, but they really didn’t have their priorities in order. Sometimes though, it was important to get homework done and despite the amount of people that would begrudgingly help the Slytherin, Athena thought it was high time she got to the bottom of the homework pile herself. She’d been using sheepish little pubescent Ravenclaws since her second year and had only lulled in paying them to do her work when her father made it clear she would be cut off. So really, it had not been long since she’d decided to do her work by herself. In fact, for her it felt oddly liberating - just like all of her new freedoms did.

However, that didn’t mean that Athena did not subscribe to the Pureblood way of life. Outwardly, she still lived lavishly. She still clothed herself in sumptuous silks lined with expensive furs, materials she’d taken from the manor upon her departure in the New Year. She carried herself in the Pureblood manner, looking down upon those not worthy of the presence of someone with blood as pure as hers. Athena was undeniably self-important and continued to exude this despite the mellowing her character was experiencing given her new freedom.

Athena gave a heavy sigh and set down her quill. She picked her wand up from the desk and cast a drying spell over the ink, touching the tip of her index finger to one of the delicately arced A’s. She brought it to her face, bringing it into her line of sight and her frown lines smoothed when she realised it had in fact been a successful spell. Satisfied, Athena rose, her robes swishing around her, and began to gather her books up, fully intending on returning to the dungeons for the night undisturbed. However, it was unlikely she’d be free of disturbances.

It was Hogwarts after all.

To say he was scared didn't even being to cover how he felt. Terrified seemed to be the better word, and it for well. Right about now his parents were going to receive the letter that he sent them and they would he furious at the contents of the letter. It had been three years since he had sent them anything while he had been in Hogwarts and they must assume that the news would be bad if he chose now to send them something. When they opened the letter he could already imagine his mother crying hysterically and his father going on a rampage. If there was one thing he hated, it was disappointing his parents but now he knew that what he wrote to them explained the best way to disappoint them and he felt guilty about it. Why wouldn't he? After all he was going this to his family and he could possibly ruin the connection between the three of them.

But there was one thing he had decided to do to try and divert the attention from that to something else. He was now determined to step up his game in his classes and when he graduated he was going to work at the Ministry. He knew this would make his father happy even if he was disappointed in him. Miles had always wanted his son to work at the Ministry, he didn't care as what, just so long as he worked there. He was pinning too many of his hopes on the job at the Ministry for the happiness of his father, but right now it was the only thing he had to please Miles. The happiness from that wouldn't last long though, and he didnt know what else he could do to keep his father happy after he found out about Kiara.

Right now all he could do was focus on his work at Hogwarts and hope for the best. Atticus ran his hand through his hair as he walked through the corridors on his way to the library. Maybe in doing his work he would get another idea as to how to keep his father happy. But he wasn't known for actually doing the work, on time anyways. Atticus usually didn't like doing his work, but right now he didn't have a choice if he wasn't going to be a total disappointment. He pushed the doors of the library open when he stood in front of them and he sighed softly as he took a step in. He pulled the bag he had with him up slightly on his shoulder and he walked further into the library, already knowing where he was headed to find the book he needed for his work.

The library was a perpetually dusty place and that was perhaps the one thing Athena couldn’t stand about it. She pursed her lips at the sight of a fresh layer of dust on the hard cover of her books and she brushed her fingers across the top in a vain attempt to rid the book of the clinging particles. She was understandably unsuccessful and with a long-suffering sigh, slipped the books into her bag. Athena double-checked her bag was fastened correctly and lifted it, glad of the lightening spells, onto her shoulder. With an exhale, Athena cast her eyes across the area she’d been working at, looking for anything she could perhaps leave behind accidently if she were to be careless enough. Satisfied, Athena felt for her wand in her pocket to make sure it was there and turned around, slipping out from behind the bookcase and into the main studying area of the library.

There were about five Ravenclaws for every one person from the other houses. The sight of them made Athena smirk and as she weaved round the stacks of books that they’d taken from the shelves, she found herself chewing anxiously on her lower lip. It didn’t take long for her to grow frustrated with the Ravenclaws and despite her respect for the tomes, she kicked a stack over, much to the obvious dismay of the Ravenclaw who had lifted them from the shelves. The call of dismay and the expletives that followed were silenced when the Ravenclaw realised who exactly he was cursing. Athena raised a slender eyebrow at the gawky boy and he shrank back, clutching his books to his chest as he stuttered his apologies, believing the books to be some sort of armour that would protect him from her no doubt ensuing wrath. She didn’t reach for her wand or make a snide comment. Instead, Athena turned, a smirk on her lips and weaved back towards the exit. However, she didn’t quite make it before she bumped into someone.

Athena recoiled immediately, her hand reaching up to wipe away invisible bits of lint transmitted. Her eyes narrowed and she found herself glaring up at the boy toy for everyone that didn’t have the pleasure of being bedded by Kendall or Elijah. Athena had her favourite of the two, finding Elijah better for a midnight drinking and talking session than a quick shag. Of course, here was Atticus Bletchley. He was a child by comparison. He didn’t have as many notches on his bed post, that was for sure, but he certainly attracted a certain amount of attention.

“You can read?” Athena remarked callously by way of greeting.