Unpleasant Encounter (( Kris ))

[danika]

Shortly after one of the house elves had brought Kris his drink, one skittered over to her and offered up a cup of frothy dark liquid. She quickly took it before moving her other hand through the air to try and shoo the elf further away.
“Now get out of my sight!”<br>
She looked down at her drink and breathed in the aroma, pausing before she tasted it. If the drink was exceptionally bad, one could smell it and save their taste buds for the next attempt. After she sipped she paused again before nodding to Kris.
“I admit its their best so far, through it is not quite what I would have wished for.”<br>She then started to move towards the door, a silent acceptance of his offer to enjoy their barely tolerable drinks is a more desired location. After all, the air in the kitchens was so thick with the smell of house elves one could barely stand to be in the room without their stomach turning.

“Hogsmead is a pitiful excuse for a wizarding village. There is hardly enough wizard blood in the whole town to accomplish a descent show of magic. They are all mudbloods and rejects having to hide form the rest of the magical word in the shadow of Dumbledore’s supposed reputation. If it were not the only place near this school to buy anything wizard related, even if the quality is so poor one can hardly consider it that, one could hardly stand to go there.

[kris]

Letting Danika exit the kitchens first Kris was grateful to hear the door banging close after him, effectively blocking the noise and smell of the kitchens. The house-elves served and didn’t try to show some attitude, but they always grated Kris’s nerves.
“Well, I guess Zonko’s earns nicely from the mudbloods in the castle,” Kris guessed with a careless shrug, “But the rest are just narrow-minded bigots, who wouldn’t do anything to upset our senile Head-master. Rather pathetic actually. I usually order things I need by an owl from the Alley’s or from France. At least I can be more certain of the quality then.”<br>
Kris took a sip of his cappuccino and turned the cup in his hand a little, before turning his head towards Danika: “I have been to Rumenia and Russia and some other countries near that part of the world, but I think I may have missed Ukraine during my trips. I know they have pretty good books on hexes and curses but what about more regular supplies? Wand-stores, potion supplies. Are they easily reachable?”<br>

[danika]

She sipped carefully at her latte, letting both of her hands wrap around the steaming mug and pressing her palms into the warmth. That was perhaps her favorite part of the drink, the intense heat of it. She let Kris talk uninterrupted as they made their way down the hall off to find a more desirable location for drinks and discussion. They walked until they reached a where the main hallway joined the one they were walking down and another branched off to the left.

“There is a normally abandoned seating area there.” She commented as she paused, glancing back over at Kris before she replied to his question about her homeland.

“I have spent little time in the Ukraine actually, but it is where my family comes from. I spend my childhood in Romania, which is beautiful, as you said before. Magic is must wilder there though, there is little control and monitoring of what goes on among wizards and witches. In the Ukraine though, avalibility of supplies depends on your location. There are a few wizarding cities, far spread, with a reasonable selection, but other than that one is rather limited. My family is from L’viv, which would remind one of Diagon Alley, only more cultured. Magic is stronger there in a sense, there is not the line drawn between right and wrong magic. Magic is power there, and you do what you have to do to keep and strengthen it.”

[kris]

Kris let Danika pick their route as they walked towards a private sitting area. Making sure he memorized the way Kris followed Danika – this place he hadn’t even known about really.
“I like wilder magic. Less limitations – your own abilities and power are the things that decide how good – or in some cases - bad you are. A whole lot less byrocracy as well,” Kris said with a one corner of his lips curving into a charming smile, “Magic is power. I like that. Spells is a spell and often the so-called ‘dark’ curses need a whole lot more work and concentration. With not getting that kind of practice and learning the self-discipline how do the professors expect us to get stronger and develop?”<br>
Kris shrugged – he learned those things by himself as did most Slytherins. Kris was rather certain that was true for Danika as well as he took a sip of his own drink once again.

[danika]

She moved down the hallway she had referred to until she reached the small opening she had spoken of. Inside there was a window seat, two upholstered chairs and a small table, all of which were abandoned. She moved to the window seat and settled herself there, pulling her lets up as well and stretching them out in front of her before taking another sip of her barely tolerably latte.

“They don’t expect us to develop. Instead we are to stay their weak little puppets, knowing just enough magic to survive in the world, but not enough so that we can make this world into what it should be. As long as we don’t get stronger they can still hold us down and keep us under control.” She paused for a moment, sipping at her latte and staring forward for a moment, her deep honey eyes seeming to darken. “There are times when I wish my parents didn’t think I was in need of the civilized word of London. At least in Romania, magic was magic and we didn’t divide it into good and bad.” She turned her head sharply, letting her gaze settle onto Kris, her eyes fading starting to fade back to their honey color. “For all Hogwarts is dubbed ‘a great school’ it falls very far from acceptable about reasonable standards.

[kris]

Danika took hold of the window seat so Kris lowered himself calmly to the high-backed chair near the window, so they could converse without problems. Throwing his legs up on the table, Kris didn’t even arch an eye-brow at the amount of work the house-elves would have to do to clean it again. That was what those small creatures were for anyway.

“At least my legal guardians understand that I need to teach myself in a lot of subjects. So I get enough supplies of books – as well as an allowance to read them freely, so I won’t have to hide the books that are considered half-dark,” Kris mused. He had even cleaned up a rather private room and kept his darker books there. Snape knew about it as did some other Slytherins. Millicent borrowed books for reading there sometimes as well, as Kris had free access to rareties – he only needed to say which book he wanted.
“Meredith was a Slytherin, so she understands the basic necessities, even though she is a bit too tolerant from time to time,” Kris added as an after-thought, “I understand magic should e divided. But by it’s strength and those mudbloods trying to push their way into a world they don’t belong should be locked into Azkaban. Instead of some perfectly good wizards there. And witches of course.”<br>

[danika]

She sat up slightly straighter and her gaze shot back to Kris. She did not speak right away, instead she let her slightly narrowed eyes watch him for a moment. There was one piece of him she could not quite figure out. One tiny bit of him that held back form the rest. He would fall into a true Slytherin thought, and then there was a moment where he slipped and seemed to have a fleeting instance where his Slytherin nature let something else shine though.
“There is no need to divide anything. Magic is magic, good and bad that’s all it is. We simply divide it to protect the weak from the strong and keep those who should suffer from suffering. Magic is power and the poor little mudbloods just don’t have enough to keep up. Now that our world is over run by them even the pure are weakening to their cause when really they should send them into exile. Flat out slaughter can be so messy sometimes, and exile has more suffering involved.”

[kris]

Danika’s eyes flew back to him and Kris arched a calm eye-brow towards her. Kris had the valued qualities of a Slytherin, but at the same time he had some of his won beliefs that came before Slytherin beliefs.
“Magic is power and only those strong – and good – enough should be allowed to pursue such power,” Kris disagreed lazily, taking a sip of his cappuccino, before deciding that the drink wasn’t worth it and reaching forward, placed the cup on the table, “Mudbloods who can’t keep up should be used as servants, but why allow them even wands? Physical labour and breaking them mentally is much more satisfying sometimes.”<br>
Kris smiled towards Danika: “Although exile sounds good too. However that might cause some problems – the mudbloods may start thinking too much of themselves on some secluded place and try to rebel. And as much as I hate admitting it – some of they seem to have some part of their brains working.” It was true – Kris suspected that if the mudblood Granger had been a Slytherin a lot of Slytherins would like to learn some spells from her. She was smart – there was no doubt of that. If only she wouldn’t be a wretched Gryffindor and a mudblood.

[danika]

He mentioned the use of wands among the mudbloods, and a rather pleased smile crossed her face as she leaned back against the edge of the window, taking another sip of her latte. While not quite her idea of perfection, it was the best they had managed to brew as of yet, and among creatures with minimal intelligence, that was quite the accomplishment. She did have an idea that the reason for the improvement was simply because she had brought them espresso beans from home. Apparently neither the filthy creatures, nor whoever was in charge of supplies was capable of buying an event remotely acceptable quality product.

“Mudbloods should never be given wands in the first place. If they ever had a band, it should be broken, then send them out to fend for themselves in the big wide world. Let them be known witchs and wizards to be hunted by those brain dead muggles as if they were animals. Perhaps the better quality of them will be allowed to work as slaves and servants, but most of them are hardly worth the air they breath.”

[kris]

Kris smiled at Danika, completely sharing her opinion. The almost boyish grin – a rather rare sight on Kris’s face, even though it fit him – brought a sparkle into his eyes: “Worth the air they breath? They are ruining the good air!” Letting an amused chuckle escape him Kris tapped a small piece of parchment with his wand and picked up the guitar it transformed into.

With his fingers strumming a random tune on the instrument Kris eyed Danika. The fourth year was not bad company at all. Kris was rather enjoying the conversation. And what was most important – she held Slytherin values high, instead of befriending mudbloods like so many younger students did. Even the level of Slytherins seemed to be falling drastically.

“Came upon someone especially infuriating lately, or just the regular bunch of trollops?” Kris asked with a smile still tugging at the corner of his mouth.

[danika]

He was smiling—if that could be called a smile at least. It was almost the expression a child had on their birthday, when they set their sights on a mountain of presents; that odd mix of delight and slight surprise. He seemed amused by the comment, as well as having agreed to it. But then, such a statement was rare, even among Slytherins these days. She watched him further amuse himself with his newly transformed guitar.

“They are all especially infuriating, but one can not expect much from one with mud for brains. That is why I never speak to them. Simply being in their presents makes me ill.” She paused for a moments, her gaze dropping back down to the guitar as Kris let his fingers move easily across the strings. “You play?”

[kris]

With a half-smile half-smirk still hovering at his lip-corners, Kris glanced out of the window: “It’s a shame how low the schools standards have gone. Even Slytherin seems to be accepting just about anyone nowadays. Can’t name anyone in the younger students – with the exception of one – who might actually be worthy of carrying on the inheritance of Slytherin. It’s a disgrace to the whole house.” Kris scowled as his mind wondered over the first, second and at most cases at third year students. With the exception of Mary, Kris really didn’t know anyone worth some of the honour of being in Slytherin. They associated with mudbloods and half-breeds and Kris couldn’t really understand how they could be friends with someone so much below their own level.

Pushing the thought to the back of his mind, Kris’s eyes returned to Danika. Swallowing a rather sharp retort that obviously he was playing the guitar, Kris just tilted his head, letting his fingers roam over the strings freely: “I play. A little. Learned as a kid.” One of his lip-corners curving up again in a surprisingly charming smile, Kris didn’t bother to specify that he had learned from his father, “And mind if I’m curious and wonder what a gorgeous and smart girl like yourself does to spend free time?”<br>

[danika]

She did not fight against the casual topic change that was taking place, after all, one could not waste all their time discussing such filthy ignorant creature. Perhaps it was time that she and Kris, who she had since firmly decided was not nearly as unworthy as she had originally decided, discussed more important things, such as themselves.

She let her gaze linger on the guitar for a moment longer before lifting her gaze up back towards him. She had only a slight fascination with music. Most of the time it was fat too muggle influenced for her, but there were a few wizarding pieces that she found interesting. She had learned to play the wizards grand piano when she was younger, as they had one at their estate in London. It wasn’t that challenging really. The guitar though, she had never had much contact with. She found it a bit…uncivilized for her tastes, though the piece seemed to suite Kris for some reason. She shrugged it off just as he slipped a rather flattering question into their conversation. “Gorgeous and smart, am I?” She raised an eyebrow in response, a slightly please smile crossing her lips. There were times when flattery would reach her, and times when it would not, though right now, from Kris, it was no entirely unwelcome. “Now we are getting somewhere.”<br>
She paused for a moment, taking a sip of her drink before she eased it down onto the table that was near Kris. Then she held out one of her hands, and drawing her wand, tapped her palm, conjuring a thick spiral bound pad, its blank pages willed with sketches. She put her wand back into the folds of her clothing and opened the book. She casually flipped through the pages, replying to Kris as she did. “In my free time, I prefer to be as far away from the stench of mudbloods as I can possibly be, and since this while castle its flooded with that toxic smell, I would prefer to not be here. Sadly though, my desire for travel must be suppressed as I am trapped here until the school year is out.” Her voice paused again, and it seemed that she had finally reached the page she had been looking for. She folded the book in half, exposing the sketch she wished him to see. She leaned over towards the seat he had taken as his own and handed the thick pad to him. It was exposed to a page where the background was done in nothing but think black, almost primitive lines. It was almost like a runway, with the tall slim figure of a woman walking. It was the dress she was wearing that was to be the center of her work. It was done in full color and shading, showing every detail. It was a very formal emerald green gown. It was strapless, with a very fitted corset style top, with and overlay in black, the skirt, long, with a full train in a much brighter green, marks of embroidery embellishing her work. “I spend my time here being an artist. I drew that one about a month ago. A designer in Milan is making it for me.”

[kris]

Kris listened to Danika’s answer curiously. The girl was intriguing to say the least and Kris wanted to get a little insight on her.
“Piano? The so-called royal instrument,” Kris added calmly accepting the note-book being handed to him, “Do you sing as well?”

Eyeing the abstract model critically Kris took it in calmly. Not rushing to pull it down, not rushing to say it was great. Just taking his time to actually see and evaluate the drawing. In his mind adding Danika’s appearance to the sketch, Kris decided that it might look rather good.
“Ever thought of making a career in the fashion business?” Kris asked, turning the pages back to the beginning and flipping through the pages, taking his time to see the drawings, “You have a good hand and a very good eye for colours.”
Kris could flirt and flatter almost subconsciously – it came naturally, and those compliments were usually worthless. Comments he really meant were quiet and you had to know how to read out the compliment from them – like the one it had just been.

Holding the notebook in his hand Kris cocked an eye-brow: “Speaking on the experience I have from my female relatives – are you thinking of some special piece of jewelry for this outfit? Not really my expertise, but I can tell one gem from the other. And I know the colours. So anything special in addition to the dress or some special occasion you are making it for?”

[danika]

Her expression was unchanged at the at his comment and the question that followed. Any proper wizard would have training in the arts. While they did not necessarily play great importance to life, they were skills that came in handy when playing up the social aspect of the pureblood life.
“I have had some training in all the arts. Music, including singing and dancing were a part of that.”

Her eyes drifted back to her book as Kris looked through the pages. She rarely showed her sketches to anyone, her drawings were something that belong to her and her alone. Something that had nothing to do with Hogwarts, and the disgusting muggles-lovers that surrounded her here. “Among other things.” She replied in response to his asking about her future in fashion, there were of course a few more important things that must be taken care of, but fashion could fit in around mudblood hunting.

She let the slightest hint of a smile return to her as another flattering comment escaped from Kris. For the time at least, she concluded that she was enjoying the offered flattery. She was rather sure it was not deep and true, but even superficial flattery had its place.

“I considered having and opal piece accented with emeralds made to go with the dress, but I have not made my final decision yet.

[kris]

“Opal and emeralds,” Kris raised an eye-brow turning the note-book in his hands to get a better view of one of the drawings there, “Interesting conception. Might look quite intriguing. The emeralds reflecting the dress and bringing out the opal, the opal adding mystery, colour and class.” Kris tilted his head and turned back to the dress they had started with and eyed it once again. At least on the picture it had a more-or-less simple cut and straight lines – something Kris preferred.

“I think the most interesting piece of jewelry I have ever seen consisted black pearls – the one’s called ‘Dark Moonlight’ – placed in tempered steel. I think the steel was partially infused with silver, but steel made up the bigger part of it. It was rather curious,” Kris stated slowly, recalling the ear-rings, bracelet and necklace he had seen. Beauty mixed with strength – pearls and steel. Kris wondered briefly who had made it, but brushed the though aside and concentrated on Danika again. The dress had brought back the image of it. Or maybe Danika reminded him of the necklace – stubborn, smart and strong and all those characteristics adorned with good looks.

“When shall I have the glorious opportunity to see you in such a dress? If I get to see you wearing it at all?” Kris asked, placing the note-book on the table and leaning back in her chair with a charming smile towards Danika, “Such a moment would require a fitting background for you. Or is the dress meant for some special moment that will be coming up this summer, next, in the span of 10 years?” Pure-bloods often had social events they were expected to attend so Kris didn’t have any doubt that occasions to wear such a formal dress would raise often for Danika.

[danika]

He had an understanding of jewelry, and that was a rare find among the male gender. Most of the time they could barely put on close that looked even remotely reasonable together, let alone understand the finer points of accenting one’s wardrobe. He spoke of a piece that she though she distantly remembered. She saw many pieces of jewelry though. Her bother had her own sense of style and fashion as well, and there were many trips of jewelry makers all over Europe and occasionally beyond.

“There is a maker in Germany who prefers steel to silver, perhaps the work was his doing. I visited him last year and he said that steel was powerful, and it countered the femininity of the gems he used. It was a rather interesting idea.”

She watched him place her sketchbook back onto the table, her eyes dropping down to the original design for her dress. The sketch was rough and actuate all at the same time. The lines were sometimes harsh and abrupt, but it was exactly how she wanted it.

“I have not made my final decision for the purpose of the dress yet. Perhaps it will make its appearance at Dawn’s coming party. The last update from Milan was that it was almost complete.”

She paused for a moment, eying Kris. There was a rumor that he would be unable to attend the party, as she assumed he was invited. Only the elite in the Slytherin house had been invited.

[kris]

“Femininity of gems?” an almost boyish grin appeared on Kris’s face, “I do argue with the fact that not all gems are feminine. I have a squared emerald in my family-heirloom ring and I wouldn’t really call the ring very feminine.”

Kris tilted his head and sighed hearing when Danika was going to wear the dress. Clicking his tongue Kris sent a sad pout towards her: “You have to get a picture done of you in all your glory then. I’m afraid I won’t be able to reach Dawn’s party. Now that is a real shame. Dawn is most certainly one of the most competent of Slytherins – not counting you of course. The level of this school has been going down for years but it has started to affect Slytherins now as well.”

Kris narrowed his eyes thoughtfully as he observed Danika curiously: “Are you planning on joining the queens as well in two years. I think sixth years were the youngest the accepted.” Slytherin Queens were known. Kris got along rather well with Millie. Dawn was alright as well and Kris had spoken with Samantha. The other he didn’t know besides their names and faintly could connect their names with the faces. Well, he could do it with Pansy. But Danika certainly seemed to have the character to be a good Queen. As well as the right views for a Slytherin.

[danika]

She nodded in agreement to his comment about gems. Many of them were feminine in appearance, but not all. Often it depended on hue and cut, or at least that was the case with many of the colored gems. Some such a Moonstone and Opal would always seem feminine.
"That was simply how the artist expressed himself. He took gems he saw as feminine and placed them in something considered masculine. It was the contrast that was appealing."

She leaned forward and picked up her sketch book, carefully closing the cover she smoothed her hand over it. The book was one of the possessions she truly treasured. Gems, dresses, even wands could be replaced, but what was contained within these pages had no duplicate.
"I heard that you would not be among the attending, and I admit I am disappointed. I will try and get a picture at my fitting if you so desire, though only a live viewing would truly grant the dress what it deserves."

A slight smile played across her lips as Kris brought up the Queens. It went with out saying that the Slytherin Queens were well known among the school as the truest of all Slytherins--among the female gender at least.
"I like to associate with those who understand what it is to be a Slytherin, and that is something age does not change. If the Queens think you have to be a sixth year to know what it is to be pure, then let them wait for me, but I will not simply stand around holding my breath as I wait for them to decide."

[kris]

“Well, I won’t be able to make t admire it in it’s full beauty,” Kris said calmly while listening Danika’s opinion about the Queens. Kris didn’t always approve everything the Queens did – or he thought they could be classier about it. Wasn’t Kris’s problem actually as he would never be a Queen. And the Queens didn’t seem to have anything against him either. Always a positive thing.
“The Queens would gain a very valuable member in you. A worthy pure-blood, with good views, smart, powerful, not to mention pretty,” Kris said with a sly wink, “The pleasure of meeting you is all mine, my dear lady.”

“What about after Quidditch? The first female Minister of Magic? Or a designer? Or something else?” Kris asked curiously. The question was often irritating, especially since you were expected to know and pick the subjects to learn at NEWT level accordingly. So everyone was forced to spend a little thought on the subject, no matter how much they liked or disliked it.