Ashlynn Pereira was never one for participating in parties, especially not ones that her parents arranged. Why? Because it always ends with a bit of bloodshed.
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I winced in pain as I finished stitching up my wound. examining the stab in my hand that I got from another Mission. what would my parents say if they were to see their little girl and see what she turned into...I quickly muttered a healing spell. What was the spell they used again? It could come in handy..Sectum...something?
A knock came from the other side of my door "My lady, Swifty is here to help you get ready for the party" Swifty's old and scratchy voice said.
I looked back to my mirror; where I saw my reflection,My pensive sharp brown eyes,my wavy deep auburn brown hair framing my heart shaped face and my signature one strand hair making its way to the middle of my face stopping at the tip of my nose. My other signature features are My permanent furrowed brows that Odette; my step father's wife. scolds me about it making me look upset and unapproachable. And the slightly noticeable freckles and a single mole underneath my eye that not many people can see unless they are close enough. They never do.
"Enter, swifty." I call out after I put on my gloves over the new bandage up stabbed wound. As Swifty walks in she gives a look of pure disgust at the state of my room. Which made my cheeks burn a bit from embarrassment, looking at the room from her point of view. All the papers everywhere, the books scattered on my bed and table, a few plates and a bunch of empty teacups. Some are even broken already. The elves would try and fail to go in my room to clean it up but there're so many things that they can stubble upon that I can't risk finding out.
Swifty walked farther in and began helping me change into my dress. A beautiful deep red dress that looks black in some lighting, golden lighting pattern on it. It was given to me by my late mother; a hand me down, since the dress I'd commissioned wasn't like this; but I'm not complaining. This one is better in my eyes and I would've hated to give it up. And after putting on my rose gold eyeshadow and glitters with my drawn on cat eyes. Swifty styled my hair into a gorgeous updo
After getting dressed I send Swifty out to tell Odette that I'll be ready in a short while. Once she left, I pocketed my wand and made my way down to the stairs. There, Odette and Pierce Cresswell, were there waiting for me. Odette looked as elegant and cold as usual, her face not giving anything away as she held a sleeping Samson, her son and my step brother. Pierce looked up from his pocket watch and gave me a smile escorting me down.
Pierce Cresswell is the head of the curse breaker and was the man that took me in after my parents were killed in the case he was handling at the age of 9. My mother was a muggle born witch while my father was an obscurial. and they never once spoke about magic. And After the loss of my parents I was brought here to the wizarding world where I was told I was a witch, a muggle born witch.. Soon After I was adopted by Pierce and was given a life filled with servants and a different change of setting. and became his daughter. I can't bring myself to hate him...after all he didn't mean to kill them, my parents just didn't want to live in a world where magic existed. And so they left me in the hands of their murderer. I am still so wary of him.
As we made our way to the main stairs leading to the ballroom, the smell of sweet fruits and flowers were the first to hit my nose, hearts and pink sparkles floating around the chandelier. The ball was the color of crimson with the theme of love. People were chatting, some about politics and some scandalous drama happening. Odette began to her regular set of rules as we descending the stairs
"Ashlynn, You must not make your father look bad, you must always be polite. And would you please do something about that scowl you have on?" she exclaimed, her face still the peak of elegance. Odette was, as one would call it; a perfect lady of the wizarding world. Pureblood, half veela, blonde, and came from a rich background. Having a daughter wizards consider a ‘mudblood’ must've made her wary of what I'll do to bring shame to the house of cresswell. I sighed, and noticed the faces in the crowd. Ah there's the Parkinson's talking to the minister, the Malfoys talking to the Greengrass. It Must be about the annulment of their two heirs. I wonder if the rumors about Draco Malfoy being in a relationship with Hermione Granger are true, I thought they hated each other but alas what would I know?
Noticing a familiar face that I didn't expect was Lilith Hemlock? This surprised me, wasn't she in a different country? Is she presenting the notts? no can't be…Wait. Does that mean he's here? No…he can't be, he must be back in another country.
Lilith's smile was always so conservative and polite. She was holding a glass of wine and oh no, he is here…Kai kurokawa-debois. His hair was as darker then Lilith's and that lazy lopsided grin on his face that the girls swoon over. Kai was a typical prince charming to the girls back at school. They are like flies to his honey.
The two chat in hush whispers and from the corner of the room I notice Draco Malfoy and Theodore nott watching them, Malfoy looked interested in what Nott was talking about or more like complaining about. I guess it's the fact that his betrothed is talking to some other guy that she used to date? I made my way through the crowd only listening in to the latest news about the Ministry. And the dance began. I forced a smile as a boy the same age asked me to dance and proceeded to drag me to the dance floor, the song was light; the harps and piano a perfect bond together, as the violin joined in. Richter, the boy you drag me here began talking
“You look exquisite, that dress looks perfect on you my lady” he said as we danced “I'm glad you like it, the dress I mean” it's my dead mother hand me down I resisted saying that though no matter how funny and how satisfyingly awkward he'll be because of it. As we danced we had to change partners and I was in the arms of Theodore Nott. We met when I was in Hogwarts for the trial wizards tournaments in 5th year. I was at durmstrang while he was a student from hogwarts. He was also my date in the yule ball and now we are both trainees under the same company. He's a unspeakable while I'm in Auror trainee. Safe to say we aren't strangers, he smirks as he spins me.
“Ashlynn I'm surprised you decided to dance since the last time we danced you demonstrated just how horrible you are at it” I scoffed, smiling. “Look at the pot calling the kettle black. I'd remind you that you were as awful as me Nott” he chuckled his hands on my waist but his eyes weren't on me but from something or rather someone behind me, for an unspeakable trainee he was awful in hiding his longing for the person behind me.
I sighed, feeling somewhat sympathetic to the bloke. But I don't wanna pry into what he and hemlock's relationship is like. But those eyes can't lie, he then turned to me and he's back to the carefree Nott I grew accustomed to, “y'know someone might take that pretty flower away from you if you keep sitting by” I mutter my lips close to his ear, and his chuckled and rubbed my waist subconsciously. “Yet, if I try to pluck that flower too early…she'll wilt” I rolled my eyes at that. “Flowers wilt no matter what you do.” He laughed “hey you brought up the flower metaphor I just added my own flare to it” that made me grin. “But are you gonna let kurokawa-debois have her? C'mon Nott Don't let that birdbrain take your prey, use that Slytherin brain of yours” He looked surprised. “Y'know Kai?”
I rolled my eyes at that and felt my blood boil. Kai kurokawa-debois was the so-called ravenclaw prince and has the aura of someone who thinks they are above others and he's a real pain when you have to duel against him or with him. He doesn't like being told what to do as much as I hate when he orders me around. The worst part is that he is like my rival when it comes to our O.W.Ls and other school related work and can charm out of any situation. All he has to do is flash his alluring grin or just a smile and everyone will do as he says.
Theo watched my face and the grins his grey eyes carried a hint of mischief “I take it you aren't one of his fans?” I step on his foot purposely, he grins wider and something flickered in his eyes “hm, do you care for me and my well being Ashlynn?” I was surprised at the sudden change and notice he was moving us closer to the ravenclaw pair. I realized Theo's plan and I grew frantic trying to stop him “oh hell no, I ain't gonna dance with Kurokawa-debois so you can dance with your flower” I whisper harshly yet the bastard has the audacity to grin wider. A flat out smile.
“Hey, you said I should use my Slytherin Brain. What's more Slytherin than sneaking a sweet dance with my betrothed?” He says. There are more different ways, like spilling juice on Kai and telling him to go change! Or something?? Why did I have to be dragged into thi—
“ah, it appears it's time to change partners.” A cool deep voice says behind me. The hair on the back of my neck tense up and I felt a chill past me. I looked behind me and sure enough it was Kai kurokawa-debois. Extending a hand to me. His eyes glossed over, he was smelt of,…wait is he?
“Woah, mate are you drunk already?” Theo laughed and Lilith Hemlock chuckles soon followed “He is, I might've accidentally forgot to tell him that my glass wasn't just ordinary fire whiskey.” I was surprised the only thing I knew about Lilith's personality was that she's friendly and smart but I would have never guessed she's the type of person to Spike a drink at another's party, huh that's interesting. Her gaze moved up to my partners face and she blushed
“I'll take it, I'll be your partner now?” He smiled softly and took her hand and kissed it “Who said you stopped?” and they left. Leaving me with a drunk Kai.
The song changes to a piece I recognize, waltz no 2 shostakovich. It carries a hypnotic, almost surreal quality. The waltz has a driving, rhythmic pulse that creates an eerie sense of tension. The music shifts between playful and haunting, with the sweeping orchestral strings giving it a light, almost cheerful vibe at times, but underneath, there’s an undercurrent of something more unsettling, adding to the sense of unease.
Kai even when drunk still looked handsome and composed. If I wasn't so close to him I would've thought he was sober as a judge. He was gazing down at me and it was almost awkward on how calm he was at me after the last time we spoke. We both were having a heated debate In Front of the classroom yet here we are, me glaring at this drunken bastard. “Tell me, do you glare at everyone you dance with or am I the exception” he muttered as his eyes looked to me that damn lopsided grin on his face "Oh, I only glare at people who can't tell their left from their right—so you’re lucky, I guess.” a short laugh escaping his lips. “Woah,You really hate me don't you?” I sighed “almost as much as you hate me” he was silent and just stared at me, it made me grow more anxious so I try to look away and Then finally the music slowly died down
After a gentleman began to shout with another, they both began shouting louder than the music and a lady was sobbing in the background. What the— “ah, that's Sir and Mrs Jones and sir wester. Rumor suggests that Mrs Jones and sir wester were having an affair.” Kai's mouth was right beside my ear as he and I watched the spectacle.sir Jones;a muggle born. and sir wester;a pure blood.
are natural rivals and more importantly they are important people with connection all over the dancing room. It happened so fast. All of a sudden blast came from Jones's wand and quickly another blast followed the crowd went frantic, some tried to fight it and ended up in the crossfire and some began to fight on opposite sides. The rest Begin to apparate away or just run in the opposite direction.
I cursed as I moved to get in the fight when all of a sudden I was hauled off by Kai “w-what are you doing?” “Getting you out of danger, Pereira.” He Slurred making his way behind one of the many pillars aligning the ballroom and pinned me behind it so no one could see us as the chaos ensued,I try not to look at nor even think about how close he was to me how his heavy breathing sent chill down my back how his eyes looked so glossy and distant I try to focus on the shadows of spells and running figures behind his frame.
“If your plan is to hide here then go ahead. But This is my house and I won't have it be destroyed by a bunch of drunken men” I snapped but stopped and notice he was breathing hard, and without warning he laid his head on my shoulder causing me to freeze up he was breathing heavily and it drowned out the screaming and the fighting and it awoken a new rush of anxiety within me.
“fuck Li-chan didn't hold back in the drink..I think I'm gonna throw up” he says and I watched in horror as he sticks his head out behind the pillar we were hiding and vomited using my stiff body to hang on to while doing so, after he was done I came back to reality where I hear a loud shrilling scream and curse inwardly at the idiot and grabbed him so we can run out of this place. I grabbed my wand and casted a silencing charm around us and began to play, wait then run. Where we hide and run from pillar to pillar trying to get closer to the exits.
“What are you doing? Why are we hiding..?” he asked, as if trying to make sense of what's going on “you wanna get out of here, right? I'll take you out” he chuckled “you will?” I gritted my teeth. “Yes with a fist to your face if you don't start walking.” he does as he's told
but after a few minutes he stopped and sat down behind a pillar while I was on the other pillar oh great just great. He was looking at his hands. He was calm and was just…feeling his palm. He looked disheveled to say the least. His hair tossed back some lock falling close to his eyes. His suit wrinkled, a few buttons gone, so is his tie. And he still wore that dazed expression
“Their idiots..” he muttered and I furrowed my brows in confusion “what?” “They both want each other, both crave each other yet both are in a situation of mutual pining. Li chan thinks she's forcing him and he thinks he is forcing her but all they're doing is just playing a tug of war but both are pulling at the same side.” he scoffed and muttered a cleaning spell on his face. “I know Li-chan wants him..and he wants her and all I can do is…make sure they live happily but it hurts watching them together sometime..but it's all for her…but why him..?” he pulls his knees to his face
I was silent until I muttered “of course you think like that. Look, You wanna know what your problem is? Debois? " I sighed, sitting down on my pillar looking at Kai as he glowered like some cat. I pause minutely, and when he doesn't jump into the small gap, I barrel on.
"You only think about yourself. You want and think things are exactly the way you imagined them to be or the way you'd like them to be, and you don't even bother to think about who that might hurt. And then, when people do get hurt and things break and you start to feel bad, you still only think about yourself. You want to make some big spectacle, some-some big sacrifice, instead of doing the thing that might actually fix the situation. You want to suffer, and it's just as selfish as the thing you did in the first place."
I took a deep breath and continued;
“So what if they are acting like some love sick fools and they can't talk about it. It has nothing to do with you or me. We don't know what their struggles are and why they won't accept each other but it's not simple.” For a moment, we're both quiet. I have run out of breath.
"That description of me is very different from what the others call me," he says, a small smile pulling at his mouth was a contrast to his slightly wide eyes.he looked like an interested cat-. And just like that, I was momentarily charmed. I still hate him, but I also want to hear what he's going to say next. “Though you too, don't know much about me.” he paused and lay his head in the pillar behind him “but you might be the closest one to ever be accurate to puzzling..me.” I scoffed and looked to the side, only a drunken fool would tell the truth so easily.
I'm not his friend and we just talked about how I think he's the worst so why is he drunkenly explaining his sad puppy crush to me? “Well at least I'm not alone in this situation. After all you and y'know Nott” He hummed which made me pause and whirl my head back to him, gaping “y'know since you have a thing for Nott, right..?” He looked uncertain, a new look I've never seen before and it might be the hysteria or just everything going on that made me feel so easy to just laugh.
I laughed at his suggestion which only made him look more confused. “I-HAHA I will never go out let alone fall for Theodore Nott.” I chuckled, and something happened I'd never expected. He looked…Embarrassed? His cheeks were flushed and he was looking down to his feet “くそ, This is embarrassing.” he laughed “I bet.” I smirked and when our eyes locked we were silent for a second.. huh he has beautiful eyes
But he begins to mutter, chuckling “since you told me my character I think it's only fair to talk about yours. you are a “try hard”. I never could understand why. You hate magic, it was obvious. and it's not even a secret. Hm I wonder why though? Is it the purebloods? Was it because of the way they belittle, humiliate, and violently lash out at your kind? Muggle borns I mean,” he softly whispered only for me to hear which made my blood run cold. He's saying this when there are people hexing and jixing and possibly Killing each for this very reason. And he's being all so calm and nonchalant about it.
“But, what is even more nuanced about your character is that you also kind of love magic. Don't you? You love how beautiful and magical we are. You love it here don't you and you hate it. Heh in short you're an overachiever with major trust issues. A Damaged character, who has donned the armor of violence and rage, in a hostile world.” He says smirking to himself and I felt my breathing speeding up. He..how?
“What, do you think I'll be a good detective or is it a therapist?” I felt exposed. I felt ripped open for only him to see all my ugly parts just laid bare. all the parts of myself I don't understand and try to hide out. It almost feels like I can't breathe when he looks at me. But before I could say anything or do anything he leapt; more like barreled to my pillar like a cat resulting in him on top of me our face close to each other. What th—
before I knew it the pillar he had been hiding at was blasted. And I realized he was dodging the attack. Fast reflex huh.”huh let's cut this therapy session short.” he says Panting, he lifted up his wand from his pocket. “But Listen, I know we don't really do well fighting with each other but just this once.” He gave me another lopsided grin
“I'll let you be in charge” we stayed there looking…or I was looking at his mouth as he pants and for a split second he too was looking at mine. I hate feeling my cheeks burn. I scoffed, my wand at the ready and pointed at his chin “You better Keep up, Gato” I say as I blasted the guy behind him.
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7 hexes and 18 jinxes later we found Theo and Lilith safe, some blood on their cheek and some blood on Lilith's knees but she looked alright and she looked relieved to see Kai. “All of you have to leave, there's a exit right around the corner. Nott knows where it is”
“What about you?,” Hemlock asked as I turned my back to them, my wand up “I appreciate your worry, Ms Hemlock but I'll be fine.” I smiled trying to sound reassuring. I began running