Chaos at its Best (Invite Only) Warning: Mature/Violence

Eris had planned this to go perfectly. Her little puppet was being so naughty. Who told little miss mouse that she could move on? Who told her to even think about looking at Murray, yet keep Benjamin pining. She wasn't buying the innocent act, she wasn't buying the whole obliviousness she had to keeping Benjamin close. 'It's always the quiet ones' she thought annoyed.  Sighing she leaned back on the couch that had formed and plotting everything out. Ever since potions, she noticed how the two gravitated to one another, and based on rumors around, there was a clear history of the two, from a broken engagement to the fact they both worked together, willingly.

She wanted to break that. Tess Holmes deserved nothing but pain and heart break. Why? Because Eris said so. It was as simple as that. She didn't mind breaking everyone's neck until everything worked out her way. She never got her hands dirty, but she had others for that. But she wanted her little mouse to lose everything, wondering what she did wrong, and Eris to tell her only but "Because I wanted you to."

A wide grin was formed from Eris' red lips. Oh that just brought a happy shiver down her spine. So far things were working. It had started with her blue eyes meeting Murray's and the glint there, a glint that she knew he recognized. Oh she could read him, the virility and the need for control he had. It was cute on him, and had he been older, the things she would do to him. So she played it, first a coy smile, a shorter skirt, and a clear invite for more. No matter how powerful he was, he obviously was a teenage boy, and she knew how to have teenage boys. Her tongue flicked the bottom of her lip and she chuckled.

But first, she had gotten her favorite brooding Slytherin. Benjamin needed to find out, he needed to see that his cute little Slytherin was not so innocent. She wanted Benjamin to lose the perspective of Tess, to see her as imperfect, and break the podium in which he held her up. She'd break it, through lies, jealousy, and it would be beautiful. He would be there in a few minutes, and the fun would really begin.

"Oh this is going to be so much fun." she purred.

She needed the pawns to appear, and then, she would watch the world burn.

Ben moved through the halls with purpose. Or, at least, the appearance of purpose. Really, he had no where he wished to be, other than out of site from any other living person. Ever since his last confrontation with her, he stayed clear of the common room as much as possible. Which left few other places he felt safe in.

Reaching the seventh floor, his hands clasped behind his back as he turned on his heel. Three times, he thought to himself, muttering under his breath. He felt jittery, like he was barely holding on. No matter. Classes were done for the week and he wasn't on duty tonight.

As the door appeared, he walked through it swiftly. The room was not unfamiliar, set up with furniture all about the place, portraits, fireplaces, and all manner of things that adorned most common rooms. There were large rugs strewn across the stone floor, giving the room a bit more warmth as well.

But he didn't give two shits about any of that. What mattered now was the girl sitting across the largest couch, across from one of the fires. If it was actually possible, he could have sworn he could smell her intoxicating scent from where he stood. His eyes narrowed on her as he moved closer and took the vacant spot next to her on the couch. Normally he didn't seek her out during the day time, during his more lucid hours, but there was something about today, about this whole past week, that pushed him closer to her. He didn't care nor desire to find out why.

Laying his head back against the sofa, his eyes closed, his hand closest to her reached out. Not demanding, but laying open, as if expecting completely that she would take it.

Her mind ran with different ways of telling him the so called gossip that she had heard through the halls. 'Oh the possibilities' she thought giddily. Something about creating chaos, curled her toes in ways that she only felt when she was laying on her back. Speaking of the person that usually had her on her back, there was her darling Benjamin.

He didn't even greet her, instead threw himself on the couch and signaled what he usually did. She usually complied, with some annoyance, but this time around, she wanted to wrap herself around him. Pulling him closer, she laid on her back, placing his head on her chest and ran her fingers through his hair. She knew that he liked that, like something in him craved to be touched. She wasn't fond of it, because if it didn't involved her wrapped up in his sheets tired out, or having him be compliant to her wishes, then she wasn't having it.

But she needed him close, so he could smell her; she knew he enjoyed the scent of her, often times she'd lose clothes on purpose to keep him at bay. Because as much as she loved having him wrapped around her finger, she needed space. She didn't do relationships, especially when he was in this mentality, but she did do his codependency.

"You know I heard rumors today hun" she hummed softly as she tugged and teased her fingers through his hair. "It involves someone you know" she added in a sing-song tone.

Ben's eyebrow rose in reluctant questioning as he felt Eris tugging him closer. He was well enough aware...for the time being, anyway...and knew how unusual this was of her. But he went with it anyway, situating himself over her so that her body cradled his perfectly. Like they were made to lay just like this. Keeping most of his weight off her with his arms, he was still able to lay his head on her chest, right above her heart.

Feeling the warmth of her body against his helped a little in relaxing his nerves. Her smell seemed to surround him as he pushed his nose up closer to her neck. And her fingers...sweet Merlin, they were magic! He'd always had a sweet spot for this, when he was with...

A deep hum started in his chest. A sound of contentment mixed with the want to forget. It wasn't a long-lived feeling, however, as Eris began to speak. Her endearment made a shiver of dislike run down his spine. But it was the inflection in those last few that made his eyes open.

"I know as many people as are worth knowing in this damned castle," which wasn't much. "What do I care for gossip?"

No, he just wanted to lay here and let everything fall away.

Eris bit back a sigh of annoyance as she wanted those small touches. They were endearing in the beginning, the way a new puppy was. But now he sought out touches that she wasn't capable of doing naturally. She didn't always understand his need for curling around her, maybe not so much a dog, more of a cat. It sneered and scratched, but crawled back for attention. His humming was his way of purring, approving of her touches.

She moved her head away as he moved to the crook of her neck. She was a tall girl, so it wasn't as uncomfortable as it could have been considering his height. She was relieved she wasn't pressed against the couch as she once thought, but the faster she relayed the news, the faster his neediness would disappear. This was the wrong emotion.

"I know as many people as are worth knowing in this damned castle," which wasn't much. "What do I care for gossip?"

"Well, humor me then by pretending to listen" she hummed in return to his snide response. "I heard that a cute little mouse was dating the biggest snake out there. Can you believe it? The fact that Josh Murray, Murray was interested in pursuing the little brown mouse of Holmes." she laughed, "I mean imagine it? I can't. I mean I know they had history, from the engagement, to the whole game they have going"

The venom coming from her mouth was coming out in every word. Everything she wished was true, was just slowly forming in her storytelling.

"You know he keeps her on the team because she's a good shag" she sniggers, "those grass stains when she comes back from training? Well I heard they're from when he takes her next to the equipment. And her bruises? He's a rough one" she let a slow smirk appear as she ceased playing with his hair. "He's her first, the poor thing didn't stand a chance with a man like him."

Ben let out an annoyed sigh at her request. If it would get her to finally shut up an let him be, then he'd listen. As her hands stopped in his hair, he lifted his head to look up at her. He couldn't help but wonder, in a fleeting moment, how someone could still look so perfect up close. Usually girls put on too much makeup, but it was easy to see what was underneath if you looked. But with Eris, it was just perfection under perfection. Almost nauseating, really. Boring.

It took him a few seconds to catch on to her words. Mouse...snake... For some damned reason, Eris like to play with words in the most unnecessary of ways. As if it made her more alluring. It doesn't, Ben thought. But as soon as the names fell from her lips, he stiffened above her.

Tess.

He'd done so well in NOT thinking about her directly, that his stomach sank at the blatant mention of her. His mouth twisted in disgust at the way Eris spoke about them, as if she didn't know what this meant to Ben. Of all the things she could bring up, why speculate about some possible interaction between the other two Slytherins?

Pulling away from the warmth of the girl under him, he returned to his spot on the couch. Away from her. His eyes focused on the fire with such intensity that all that existed to him were her words. Images of what she was saying played in his head. Twisted, vile things that turned his stomach.

Her...with him... Ben's long, piano fingers clenched in a vice-like grip, shaking as his heart started to race. "Who..." his voice was thick, choking him with the sound, "Who told you this?"

Eris felt him stiffen above her, and not the fun kind that she preferred. But at this moment, she bit back a grin as he moved away and looked so stony. She did miss the body heat, but was relieved to be able to breathe properly, and sat herself up, trying to impersonate that big stupid look that the Holmes gave him. It was clear that cluelessness did not suit her well and she sighed waiting for his brain to process all her insinuations and respond to them.

While the quietness ran through the room, she ignored the way the room got colder, and instead tried to fix herself up. She wasn't going to coddle him, she knew it enough that he would push her off, and she would have rather not touched the cold floor. Because where the carpet ran through the room, now was a cold tiled floor.

"Who told me?" she repeated innocently. "I saw it of course. I mean you see the subtle ways that they do it in public. He always takes charge, and she lets him. Merlin, even gives him little smiles, as if she knows that she gets him under her skirt later if she's a good girl."

She flipped her hair back and needed something good, something reliable.

"Hell, I even saw it at the party. You remember the Slytherin party that you didn't want to go with me? Well there was a little cranny, by the window. The host was gone for a while, and interestingly enough, I saw her pressed up against the window with her legs around him like some wanton tart. Who knew she had it in her? It's always the quiet ones no?"

Her blue eyes stared at him, shining at the way that he responded to the possibility. Sure it bothered her that he still had Holmes in this pedestal, but that would teach them to put her second. She could destroy everything, not with her fists, but with her words.

"She looks happy you know? He had her grinning, both like the cat who ate the canary. Scandalous really."

Why, why, WHY! was she saying these things?! Ben knew Eris was no idiot. He'd known it for years. But the calm, collected Watson was gone. No longer was he the cold and distant Head Boy that roamed the halls aloof and uncaring. Not with the images playing across his mind.

Tess. His Tess, smiling at Murray like she used to with him. How could he have not seen it!

But he had, hadn't he. He'd just been too in control to even react to it in classes. Everything moved around him while he focused on the work, and that's how he prepared himself. He thought it would be easier, to see nothing. But now...

He felt nauseous, and hot in an uncomfortable way. The nerves taking over, his body propelled away from the couch, moving over to the fire place. The heat from the fire was nothing compared to the poison in his veins. The potions had never effected him like this, but then...he'd never thought possible, the things coming out of Eris' mouth.

Hands gripping at the mantle, his head hanging down, he tried to catch a hold of his spinning, toppling world. Their spot... The anger boiled in the pit of his stomach, fueled by a fire he'd thought burned to ash.

"No..." the word fell softly from gritted teeth, as if it came from his very heart. Before he knew what he was doing, his wand was pulled out, and he'd crossed to Eris. One hand moved to her shoulder, pressing her into the back of the couch. The other moved his wand to her throat, his hand twisting the wood slowly, pressing it deeper into that delicate skin that he'd reveled in minutes ago.

The tension in his body felt ready to spring at the slightest provocation. His eyes alight, Ben searched her face, drinking in what he found there. "Tell me again how happy she is. I. Dare. You," he seethed.

Eris was fighting from giggling like mad at the pathetic look that her darling Benjamin expressed on his face. It was sad really, if she really looked at it. But then again that was the fun of it all, the pain evident on his whole body expression. She tilted her head and studied him, the way his eyes had shined brightly, as if grasping it, then slowly dying out, as if she took something out of him. She gripped the end of her skirt playing with it to keep her hands busy. It'd be unwise to touch him, so instead she studied him, not even bothering her hide the curiosity.

Something alighted in him suddenly, something that made her wonder what was going through that once beautiful mind of his. His depressing nature was souring the fact that she had him in her grasp. It was almost enough to leave him,almost except for the fact that she knew she was a selfish bitch and would do nothing but take thrill in keeping him to her.

No...

At his verbal cry, she turned to look at him curiously and made the mistake:

"What are you-"

Before Eris could even wrap her head around what was happening she was pinned down. She didn't cry out, instead swallowed it, and showed him her neck, ignoring the stinging of the wand against her skin. This was something she wasn't expecting, and looking back, it was her stupid error. She looked up at him, her blue eyes unwavering, but showed a mixture of fear and arousal.

"Tell me again how happy she is. I. Dare. You," he seethed.

She parted her lips to lick them nervously before finding herself and trying to respond. This was a twist and if she was honest with herself an welcomed surprised. He was alive, thriving, from a tragedy he rose up to anger, something she always begrudgingly admired. A snide remark was coming his way, but then her words were cut off as she heard someone coming in.

"Didn't your mother teach you not to force women, Watson?"

Ah, there he was, just in time. She turned her head to face Josh and let out a half smile, her eyes showing no fear, but amusement at the predicament that he had caught them in. She slid her hands down to her skirt and patted it down making sure she kept some sort of look of decency.

"You don't even know if we were just finishing up" she replied smirking.

Her eyes trailed back up to Ben wondering what was coming from this enigmatic man.

Ben's stomach turned at the look in the girl's eyes. The twisted vixen was actually enjoying this. Why am I surprised? There was some part of him, too close to the surface for comfort, that knew he deserved her twisted antics. That Eris was the best he was ever going to get now.

Just when he was going to let go of her, wanting nothing more than to return to his dorm and be alone, he heard another voice from across the room. Words grated on his nerves, flashing through his mind though not fully registering. He was left with images of Murray towering over a doe-eyed girl, his shadow slowly engulfing her as fear flickered across her eyes.

Pushing away from the couch, Ben didn't even register the force behind his action as Eris was tossed aside. Instead, his eyes were trained on the blonde. The Head Boy had never had reason to fight, save one scuffle with his once closest friend. But as he starred into the dead eyes across from his own, he wanted nothing more than to make Murray bleed.

"Sectumsempra." His voice was low, guttural, as if coming from someone else entirely. His wand hand moved swiftly through the air, belying his ragged demeanor and disheveled look.

Eyes narrowed, he didn't wait to see the outcome. Stalking around the couch, he fired shot after shot, each one stronger than the last. His voice grew breathy as images bombarded his mind of Murray and Tess. My Tess.

No, his mind rebelled, HIS Tess. Heat flickered through him, making his jaw clench as he bit back a yell.

Well wasn't all of this unexpected?

While being on her back was definitely a position she was used to being in, the thing she wasn't used to was two men in the same room. In another life, she would have loved getting involved and digging her claws in Josh Murray, just for the fun, the notch on her bedpost and get another thing Tess Holmes never got. Stupid little thing.

What she didn't expect was the way she was thrown on the side. As she fell off the couch, her hair covered her face, annoying her all the more as Ben literally walked over her and towards Murray. Growling a bit at the fact her perfect due was mucked up, she managed to look up to see the fireworks starting.

Sitting up, she watched the fire in Benjamin's eyes that triggered glee in her own. Oh it was majestic, the anger radiating from him in waves that made her shiver. Sure they didn't make any affect on Murray at first, but she could see them sizing one another up, and she was curious to see the chaos she caused over a few words.

Getting up, she wiped her skirt of any dirt and fixed her hair as the boys only had eyes for one another. At a safe distance away, a chair appeared and she sat down, making herself comfortable as they began to feel the blood pumping. Her blue eyes scanned the two of them, already reading the faults and advantages. For Ben was the anger, it was fueling him, but also making him slow on aim, and for Josh was the pride, he jumped in, not even sizing Benjamin up. Oh it would be marvelous. She tapped her blood red nails on the armrests and leaned back.

Her only mild annoyance was the counter that Josh threw towards Benjamin's side, bringing up dust and ripped fabric, that instantly grew back in the room. Slowly she saw it become a dueling ring, and she the only spectator.

"Well aren't I special?" she purred to herself, her lips tugging as she fought back a grin.

"Someone doesn't like sharing."

For the first time since his brief scuffle with Conner as they moved from work partners to friends, Ben wanted someone else's pain at his own hands. Wands were great for distance work, but something inside of him wanted more. Wanted to feel Murray's blood for himself.

Distracted by these new thoughts, he didn't see the change up of spells from the other boy. The words barely registered in his mind before the spell hit the ground in front of him. Ben lunged to the side, feeling debris peppering his body.

The other Slytherin was right, they were both skilled enough that spells wouldn't get them anywhere. And Ben was in no state to get an upper hand, with his body rebelling against him. Even now, he could feel the pull between controlled detachment and drowsy oblivion.

Tucking his wand away, he lunged at the blonde. Murray had more muscle mass, but Ben had height and long limbs. And a rage urged on by images that Eris had embedded in his mind. His momentum carried the both of them to the ground easily. Taking advantage of the position, he pulled back his arm and let loose a few good blows. Some connected better than others, face, jaw, moving on to his ribs. It didn't really matter to him where he hit, so long as it was hard and lasting.

The wind was knocked out of Ben as Murray tried to defend himself. That first shot was a weak one, as it was obvious that the older boy had gotten the upper hand. The attempt at a hit caught him right in the diaphragm, cutting off his air for a moment. Still, he fought on, not content with the blood staining the boys mouth as he tried to dodge Ben's fists.

He was winning. What he was winning...he didn't quite know. The momentary thrill of overpowering the one boy who'd been a thorn in his side for so long was fading as he realized this didn't accomplish anything. Fighting him wouldn't get Tess back.

HIS Tess... him mind provided.

Ben's eyes closed as his heart twisted in pain. It was a quick moment, but one that cost him dearly. Heat erupted on the left side of his face. Heat, searing pain, and a warm fuzziness that made him want to escape. His body listed to the side as the skin over his cheekbone split and bled. He could feel it starting to puff up, but he couldn't catch up to the idea of having gone down. Not in enough time to block Murray's advance.

Before he knew it, the blonde was over him, reigning down his own blows. The first one was bearable, weighted but not aimed well. The next ones...he could have lived without those. While Ben had wanted to feel blood on his hands, Murray seemed to have a need to break bone, as every blow thereafter was to his ribs. Ben felts like an outsider, watching as someone narrated how each rib splintered and cracked, spreading the searing pain into his very soul.

It stopped suddenly, and Ben tried to take in a breath, tried to think through the haze. One deep inhale and he was crying out in pain, a sound ripped from inside of him. His eyes locked on the boy above him as he brandished his wand. No time...no time! All Ben knew was that this wasn't going to be good. He may hate himself more than anyone else ever could, but he didn't want to be under anyone's control.

He raised his hands up in defense, which hurt even more. Desperate and unaware of a way out, he tried to conjure one last good memory. One more before the awaited pain sliced through him, tearing flesh from bone as it slowly took him apart...

He saw her then, standing in the ballroom, surrounded by their classmates. He knew she'd spent time on her appearance, picked the dress deliberately, primped her hair. But what he loved most was the small bits of her that were still her. And when she caught sight of him, even though they couldn't let on...his world was perfect.

The fire blazed then, caught up with the memories, mixed with the sorrow of loss. His palms splayed open, fire lit them, bursting forth. It wasn't continuous, but the aim was spot on. With his eyes closed, Ben only felt the rush of power, leaving him like a dying breath.

Ben watched and the fire licked at the other boy, as if it had a mind of its own. It latched on to him, surrounding his shoulder and not letting go. Eyes wide, the older boy could do nothing but watch. He'd learned to produce the flames, but not to control them, if that was even possible.

Pushing himself up off the stone floor, his ribs rebelled against the movement, making his jaw clench in pain. A moment of joy passed, as he watched the younger boy start to panic. But it slowly cleared as reality set in.

I did that.

The part of him that had scared off Tess, the monster inside of him...There was reason to fear it after all. He thought he'd known how to control it. Known how to reign it in. But clearly he was mistaken. He couldn't stay here. Not with the evidence of his own demons screaming on the floor.

He stood slowly, not bothering to look in Eris' direction. She would either stay or go, and it mattered little to him. There was nothing left for him in this room. The fire would either go out, or engulf the boy. And in this moment...he couldn't care. Eris, the prim little princess that she was, wouldn't let the boy die. But it was her problem now.

His feet took him away. Down the stairs and to the one sanctuary he had. He only hoped he'd be left alone.

The way the two of them fought entertained her greatly, the anger, the pompous nature, everything was just going according to plan. Soon enough, they would tire themselves out, as all boys did, then she could pat them in the back, tell them to walk it off, and she could have that memory stored for a lifetime. But something seemed off, even for her. Slowly her hands gripped the arm rests as Benjamin dove towards Josh. Physical fight? Fascinating, but something didn't sit with her well. The punches landed, some were enough for her to even jump a bit from her seat.

Soon enough, the game had gone too far, far crossed the line she had set. Fire. Fire! Eris leaned forward, her blue eyes widening in shock as Benjamin seemed to light himself and in turn Joshua Murray. She got up, and thought this was enough. She wanted to run, but something in her psychosis told her to move forward and Ben had pushed himself back.

Looking over she saw how pathetic the Murray heir looked pleading for help. She whipped her head towards Benjamin and glared.

"You stupid stupid boy! Punches and hexes was one thing, but burning him?! You're so stupid you spoilt everything! You-" she didn't even finish as Ben walked off as he had done nothing leaving her to clean up.

She walked over staring at the younger boy on the floor, burns looking bad. She wasn't touching him.

"I hate cleaning up" she murmured and touched Josh's leg with her heel wondering if he was even alive.

Taking a deep breath she pushed her shoulders back and knew the role she had to play. Leaning down, she touched Josh's cheek softly and tilted her head. He seemed unconscious.

"Apologies my love, seemed like my little puppet got out of hand. If you keep quiet when it all ends, nothing bad will come" she smiled softly and ran off knowing she had to cry out for help.

Soon the cold persona put on the mask of the worried school girl as she cried out for help. Her lungs burning as she screamed for help. Any teacher, anyone basically who could clean this mess up and ignore her even finding him.

"Help! Injured student! Anyone please!" running down the hall, her heels clicking.