Party at Krum's house

“I am almost ready...”

The fact that her father, the famous Viktor Krum, decided to celebrate his birthday only with his closest friends and family came as a surprise to Estella. Usually everyone he knew were summoned, even those he had only seen once or twice in his life. Perhaps it was the Krum thing to show off and extend things in this manner, she did not know, but she believed she would enjoy the meeting with the smaller group of people. That was a good change for a while now.

She was up in her room, dressing up for the occasion and peeking out of the window from time to time. The guests were arriving and she recognized some of the familiar faces she had seen last year but half of them, due to the lack of interest, were not even spoken to. Although Estella had no interest in truly talking with her relatives, nor was she even entirely interested how they all got along with each other, she made a small promise (hopefully the one she won't break today) to at least speak with some of them. That would not hurt anyone, correct? Besides, like her father said, everyone was interested what the youngest Krum did with her life after graduating from Durmstang.

She ran fingers through her hair as she stood now before the mirror and observed herself.
Estella was not the prettiest girl around the corner. She had brown eyes, very pale complexion and wide mouth, something she inherited from an anonymous ancestor she never even knew. She was skinny, perhaps way too skinny and bones were visible from under her clothes even though she tried her best to hide them.
Her wide shoulders were covered with twilight colored scarf and her hair, sadly, remained untouched. She thought of making a ponytail, but with a recent haircut it was merely impossible. Her hair was simply too short for that.

Sighing quietly, disappointed in everything about herself, Estella lifted her chin and left the room. If anything, she was known for having a careless attitude towards her own looks and she forced a smile on her face as she thought of it. At least today, on this special occasion which was her father's birthday, she chose to look ladylike and show off some skin instead of hiding in behind a cloak and a hood like she usually did.

Once downstairs, she looked quite surprised as if she had never seen those people in her life. But soon enough she got used to them all and she began searching for Viktor in order to give him a present and congratulate him.

“I can’t be there on my own,” Irina Krum begged, not for the first time that evening. Elijah smoothed back her silver blonde hair with his practised fingertips and pressed into the bun he’d twisted up for her a handful of pearl grips. He took the last one from between his lips and pressed it in carefully before picking up his wand, placing a few sticking charms down so it would all stay in place. Then, when he took his hands away he stood back and admired his handy work. She looked lovely, if he did say so himself – though he couldn’t help but glance at the swaddled child braced against her chest and wonder, not for the first time: how. How did she allow him near her?

“You only have to play nice for a few hours,” Elijah told her, running his fingers through his hair which he’d let get long again, much to his inward despair. “I’ll look after Giorgi and the others.” He gestured to the infant and she reluctantly relinquished him into the strong grasp of his half-brother. The baby sniffled a little bit and immediately Elijah began to rock him to and fro in the crook of his left arm, his right hand coming up to pick off her dress from the top of the mirror. He handed it to her expectantly and she sighed, sliding behind the French screen.

“Please, Eli,” she began again. “Your father is dreadful when the entire family is together.” Irina deposited her clothes on the top of the screen before hastily donning the dress, stepping out and turning her back on Elijah so he could zip her up which he did without question. She turned to him and put her hands on her hips, furrowing her brows at him expressively, begging him with her expressive grey eyes to go with her. Elijah felt himself budge a bit and he knew that if he gave her an inch, she’d take a mile. A beam lit up her face. She’d gotten her mile too.

Inexplicably, Elijah found himself walking into his old home – a pariah once more but no less well received for it. He was thrust from embrace to embrace and even spoke at length with Tatiana and Andres who, surprise, surprise, were adding to their family. After that he found Irina again and wound an arm around her waist, popping a kiss absently to her temple. He inquired after her countenance and she replied in kind, expressing it to be dismal. Elijah barked out a laugh and kissed her again as they moved over to another group – this time to his father’s little circle.

“Evening, Viktor,” Irina smiled for the benefit of her husband and she changed embraces much to Elijah’s immediate disdain. He stayed cool and merely narrowed his eyes as Viktor leaned down to kiss his wife on the mouth. Folding his arms over his chest, Elijah waited patiently for the businessman to lift his gaze and sure enough he did, a light smirk playing at his lips.

“Hello, Elijah,” Viktor greeted his son smoothly, holding out a hand to him. Elijah looked at it but didn’t move an inch, causing those who Viktor had been talking to – some distant cousin of sorts though Elijah didn’t care to see who it was – to push off. They disappeared into the thrumming crowd and Viktor dropped his hand, narrowing his own gaze at his son who was no longer the boy he could order about.

“What are you doing here?” He asked sharply in thick Bulgarian. It almost tricked Elijah’s ears. He hadn’t realised how used to English he was. He couldn’t believe how times had changed.

“I’m the prodigal son, father,” Elijah informed him, picking up a glass of champagne from the passing tray of a waiter. “Aren’t you pleased to see me?” He asked, taking a sip.

Estella did not know how to feel about the fact that their family was so huge. Usually she celebrated her birthday alone with some gifts sent by her parents. She made it clear that she did not intend on having any parties and although this was against their traditions. She looked around, surprised more and more by the people who hugged and greeted her. They all seemed so strange even though she basically grew up with the people. It had only been two years since she followed the steps of her older brother and exchanged Bulgaria for England where she hoped to find something new and better.

She clumsily made her way around, looking for her papa and holding the box of delicious candy in her hands. It was well wrapped in a silver toned paper. The gift was purely traditional, Viktor had everything one man needed at his age: a wife, a house and a loving family that surrounded him all the time.

Also she was ashamed to admit that she simply did not know what to present him as a gift. England sure had many interesting things, but a small statue of Big Ben or a cup as a souvenir would not work there.

She did not know for how long she had been walking around in search for her father, but finally she saw him together with someone who she did not expect to see so early! Elijah Krum himself had come and not alone – he also brought his wife!
Estella, who was not so well accustomed to Irina, made a note to herself to speak with the woman some time in the future; if she will keep that in mind of course. With her anti-social tendencies, she might even “forget” her plans.

Not caring whether or not she was interrupting something, Estella approached them quietly, catching only the last parts of their conversation as she came near. “Papa!” she greeted Viktor happily and hugged the man once he turned around. “Happy birthday!”
At least, in front of his dearest daughter, he did not act as sharp as moments ago. “Here, I hope you will like those. These are my favorites!

And Eli! It's so nice to finally see you! How are you?” Estella asked, rushing in and hugging her brother as well.

Around the waist of his wife, Viktor Krum brought his arm, his fingers seizing into the soft fabric of Irina’s dress. He leaned over and pressed a brief kiss to her temple again, watching as his son squared his shoulders and took another terse sip of his champagne. Viktor smirked, endeavouring a brief shake of his head, and released Irina, letting her return to her step-son’s side. Elijah’s lips curved around the glass in Viktor’s direction and the answer was given, the jurisdiction of the blonde woman established. She was Elijah’s charge.

“How are you, then?” Viktor asked idly. “Is Alice well?”

Elijah nodded in response and Viktor sighed, glancing around for someone else to speak with. That came in the shape of his daughter who approached with verve and excitement. Viktor contentedly returned the embrace and took the package from her, thanking her with a kiss to her cheek. Elijah, meanwhile, froze when he was wrapped up in a show of affection and he found himself wondering not for the first time that evening why he’d come.

“Fine,” he replied gruffly, taking another sip. He swallowed hard and looked at his father who had drawn Irina back to him, his fingers idly playing against her back. She shivered a little but greeted Estella with a warm, pleasant gaze. She didn’t say anything, though, and continued to sup at her own drink thoughtfully. For a while, no one really said anything though the party went on around them. Elijah felt it spoke volumes about them. About their relationships.

“Is this it then?” Viktor asked impatiently. “Is this the way it’s going to be?”

The tension between two men was so sudden that Estella did not know what to do at first. As she backed away from Elijah, she first looked at her father to see if she had done something wrong, but his face was an emotionless mask currently and Estella was a bad expression reader. Nor did she not do well when it came from looking the truth from his eyes, so she said nothing, only stared at them, questioning the true reason why the aura of the birthday seemed suddenly so hostile.
If they would not have been her family, she would not had cared otherwise. Then her brown eyes stopped on Irina who seemed to feel relatively uncomfortable herself. Why? She did not believe it was the first time she met Viktor and the other Krums who, as always, seemed to be very interested in everything that surrounded them, and also some new meat in their lines.

Estella, too, took the glass of champagne from the passing servant and sipped the golden bubbly liquid and wrinkled her nose from the taste. Alcohol was not her thing, but due to a birthday she could make an exception.

Her eyes went to Irina once again and she wanted to ask something, act polite and friendly, but the silence that fell made her immobile and she could say nothing. So she remained quiet, shrugging her shoulders gently and sipping the champagne, trying to enjoy the taste so to say, but the outcome was not what she expected. Estella wanted to spit it out; her belly began to ache and the taste was terrible.

Viktor was the first one who broke the silence and she looked at him with a small surprise in her eyes. It was surprising now to see how they disliked each other. A father and a son. They were of one blood and yet... Estella pressed her lips together and looked at Elijah.v