Rebound (Lyra/Open)

[Samantha Montgomery]

She turned the bottle in her hand to show Lyra the expensive bottle of bourbon, "Only the best of course. Papa has a case of this at home." she sighed.

She removed the cork and glanced around for the glasses, "sh*t." she said looking back at the bar. Then glancing to either side she murmured a french word and a careless shrug and took a sip from the bottle itself before handing it to Lyra.

"They'll be by here soon with more, but after all that dancing I'll be damned if I'm going to walk down there again without something large and muscular helping me." she winked.

Samantha had grown quite a bit in the last year. Her experiences at Hogwarts as well as at home allowed her to open up more. She was still an ice queen and top tier b*tch, but there were a few trusted souls to whom she didn't mind being herself around.

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra laughed and took the bottle as Sam passed it to her. She took a large sip and handed the bottle back to Sam as she wiped a small drop that had fallen onto her lower lip. The bourbon melted down her throat much more smoothly than her last drink. 

Lyra allowed the warm sensation of the drink to wash over her already flushed skin as she looked out over the crowd dancing before them. The crowd looked much more attractive from this angle, or perhaps it was the drinks. "They are good for something things," Lyra responded with a smirk.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam was quickly finding that out. Before, with her mother, Sam's skills of seduction were put to use to further her mother's motives. Sam had never flirted on her own behalf until this last year. Sam had never noticed men before this last year either, and she found her abilities to be quite the blessing rather than the curse she had always believed it to be. The veela blood that ran through her veins heated with a passion that bubbled dangerously just below the surface and young sixteen-year-old Samantha Montgomery was just starting.

The other bottles came - as well as Mindy, their server for the evening - and Sam chatted amicably with Lyra discussing life at Hogwarts, latest gossip, how the magazine was, etc. Finally Sam spotted a familiar face by the entrance and her lips curved upwards, " About damned time."

[Ashton Lane]

Ashton was ironically headed toward Spellbound for the evening when he received Samantha's owl.

He had business there this evening, but Samantha's presence was an added bonus. They had gotten to know one another after the Tournament. Ashton had thrown one of his infamous "underground" parties to sample the new potions he had been experimenting with and who should show up but Miss Slytherin herself? He had been quite surprised and understandably delighted, as it turned out miss high and mighty ice princess was human after all. He knew Natasha couldn't stand the girl, almost all Slytherin females enjoyed being in the spotlight or pulling the strings, or both, and Samantha did both of those things with flourish - so naturally there was tension there. Ashton had thought to message Natasha over the affair, but she was still hiding from Scotts and therefore not taking any chances.

It was to his advantage to make an ally out of Samantha rather than an enemy as he would discover over the next few months. She came to him for potions and quick fixes, the good stuff that he usually reserved for himself, but Samantha was discerning in business despite her young years and also had deep pockets to afford whatever Ashton charged.

He was skeptical at first, until she knocked back one of his harder mixes like a pro. She was full of surprises to say the least, but it was thanks to her that he was closer to his dream than ever, and for that she had his unwavering loyalty.

"About damned time."

Ashton put a hand to his chest, "I'm honored that you should be so impatient." he drawled the amusement thick in his voice.

He turned his attention to Lyra, "Ah, a fellow alumni. How have you been Ms. Newbury?" he asked all charm before sitting down at their booth.

[Lyra Newbury]

It was so nice to have a natter with Sam, one where she could just talk and enjoy her friend's stories. Lyra's tales since leaving Hogwarts were rather limited, considering many of them revolved around matters that Lyra refused share with her friend. Friends, it seemed, were rare and she didn't want to lose one because of her current, temporary circumstances. And Sam, true to form, was not short on stories to fill their evening. Lyra listened and provided the appropriate "oh!" and "no, she did not!" and of course offered a snotty remark about anyone who played the villain in tale. 

When Sam's eyes locked on someone coming through the door, Lyra turned to see who it was. Ashton. She hadn't seen him since they graduated, and before then she only saw him in passing or when she occasionally spent her extra money on a euphoria potion he had brewed - nothing too strong, she just liked the sensation from time to time, and he had the best stock. As he approached, Lyra looked to Sam. Since when had they become such good friends? Lyra knew she had missed a lot of socializing toward the end of her year at Hogwarts, having basically exiled herself from the other Slytherin students. But she didn't remember Sam and Ashton getting on so well that he would be the first in Sam's mind to invite to their night of debauchery. She would need to make more of an effort in her social life and be more aware of these sorts of things.

"So formal, Mr Lane," Lyra teased with a smirk. "I hope you're not expecting us to put on airs tonight," she teased as she passed him a glass of bourbon.

[Samantha Montgomery]

He wasn't the first on her list, but given what he usually carried in his pockets he was always on the list. She had also messaged some other recently graduated classmates anyone who might liven up the scene.

Sam shared a look with Ashton when Lyra mentioned putting on airs. There was a moment of silence and finally Sam sighed, "Well?" when he just smiled she rolled her eyes, " for Godric's sake Lane, are you going to make us wait all night?"

[Ashton Lane]

Taking the glass from Lyra he took a sip before replying, "I'm thinking about it." he teased already reaching inside his pocket, "The usual?" he asked.

As Sam's eyes greedily studied his frame he knew it wasn't his body she was practically devouring. Retrieving the vial he tossed it to her.

His supply was good and he knew it, but unlike other suppliers his wasn't addictive, at least by anything other than a person's own addictive nature. He knew his business was for the long haul, he wanted his customers happy, healthy, and capable. He also knew that Sam wasn't a stranger to the scene as he might have believed when he first met her.

He had about fifty to a hundred vials on him tonight and he had intended to make a killing. He glanced at Lyra in question.

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra knew that Ashton's stock was good, very good. And that meant pricey. Merlin, she should have thought this through before agreeing to Sam's invitation out tonight. Between the drinks, the private booth, and now this, Lyra was going to have to sell herself on the street to be able to eat anything for the rest of the month. Perhaps they'd just ignore the fact that she was passing up this very tempting offer. A little Euphoria right now was just what she needed, if only her coin purse agreed with her.

She gave Ashton a quick smile, and then grabbed for the closest bottle on the table and poured herself a drink without looking to see what it was. She swallowed the nearly whole glass in two large gulps, and reached to pour herself another. She thought better of it, and put the bottle and her glass down. "I need to use the ladies'," she said, excusing herself. Maybe by the time she returned they would be on about something else.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam rarely indulged in Euphoria. She was after a different high, one that helped her feel more in control of herself, not out of it. Sam enjoyed a numbing detachment as she went through the million things on her plate. Euphoria was a rare luxury, but one she felt like indulging in tonight with Lyra.

She was mildly surprised Lyra didn't jump at the chance. Ashton shrugged it off, and by the time Sam would have thought twice about it, she was already feeling the effects.

"Oh...this is very good Lane...maybe your best yet." she sighed feeling relaxed.

"Really Lyra...you should try some."

When she got up to go to the restroom Sam almost got up to go with her, but reconsidered. They were not the type to group up and pee together or whatever else it was that girls did together in bathrooms.

After she left Sam and Ashton discussed business plans. By the time Lyra would return Ashton would be gone "making the rounds" as it were.

[Lyra Newbury]

In the bathroom Lyra splashed water on her face and stared at herself in the mirror. Get it together, she thought. She took a few slow, deep breaths before grabbing a towel and patting her face dry. Her eyeliner was smeared, and she used her finger to wipe away the excess and make herself look presentable. Reaching for her bag, she opened it to count how much money she had left for the night. Six sickles and three knuts. That would buy one more drink, at most. She sighed heavily, but just as she did that door swung open and a group of witches came in chattering about the boys they had been dancing with. Lyra stuffed her money quickly back into her hand bag and exited the ladies' room.

After pushing through the crowd, Lyra finally made her way back to the booth where Sam was still sitting. But Ashton had gone. She looked around the room and saw him on the dance floor with a group of attractive women around him. Like Sam, they were after his potions. "How is it?" Lyra asked of the potion Sam was still holding.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam had also composed herself by the time Lyra had returned. Not that she had been anything less than impeccable, but sometimes it was hard to remain so with Ashton's stash of goodies. Ashton once told her that if he could make a potion to make her unwind he'd consider it his greatest success. From that moment on it had almost been a challenge, and Ashton had only perfected his craft since then.

"Wonderful. I wouldn't consider a partnership with anyone else." she said revealing another business venture she had a hand in. As Lyra was worrying about securing a job, Samantha was able to play fast and loose with the kind of money to set up an enterprise win or lose.

Not that she intended to lose. Ashton was one of the most promising apothecaries of the century, well at least in a particular field. Really Sam was just capitalizing on the boy's talent. Sam had an eye for talents, like the rest of her family whatever she touched turned into money.

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow at Sam. "Partnership?" Lyra moved further into their private section and took a seat to Sam's right. "You know you're going to tell me, so don't bother acting coy." It wasn't jealousy that Lyra felt at that moment, but there was some pang that rose in her chest as the knowledge that Sam was once again so successfully rich she could even venture into the dangerous world of mind-altering potions and still come out ahead.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam grinned like a cat who licked the cream, she enjoyed having a friend, someone whom she didn't have to put up airs in front of. Sam could play the haughty b*tch and Lyra would join her, but they could "giggle" or as close as giggling got for girls like them, and they could conspire, and for the first time in her life Sam felt like she could be herself with another girl that wasn't related to herself. Even with Christine it was difficult, and her aunts and step mother at home. They all loved and cared for her, but sometimes Samantha thought that they were too good for her, that she'd disappoint them by being too much like her own mother. Lyra on the other hand knew that Sam was wicked and didn't care, in fact the girl could conspire on Sam's level and yet was still a good person in Sam's eyes. That made Lyra very precious to Sam.

She quickly told Lyra of her budding enterprise with the young apothecary, and finished with a gleeful remark, "With my connections and money, and his potions and brilliance, it should be a quite lucrative venture wouldn't you say?"

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra nodded her head in agreement. It sounded terribly savvy, but then again no one did business like Sam. It was amazing that at such a young age Samantha was able to see potential investments and manage people so successfully. Her family had bred it into her. Lyra wished she had taken after her father's success in the same manner that Sam had done. "I expect I'll get a friendly discount," she said with a smirk.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Her mother had taught her to be calculating and ruthless, her father was just starting to see how capable she was in terms of business, but it was something in the Montgomery genes that everything they touched turned to gold. Not that they needed it either, they came from old money, and for all intents and purposes could have enjoyed the lifestyle of the idle rich, but they were too ambitious for that.

Sam rolled her eyes at Lyra's friendly discount, while she wasnt aware of her friend's new circumstances, she had rarely expected Lyra to pay for anything. Sam never reached for money, she had an account at all the places she frequented and had the accounts settled at the end of the month. The very idea of a "discount" was foreign.

"Oh that's probably the best perk, the samples" her eyes pretty much turned to liquid at the thought.

[Lyra Newbury]

"Well then, obviously I think it's a smashing idea." She looked sincerely at her friend. If Lyra had had half of the skill and business acumen that Sam had, well she certainly wouldn't be counting her money in a public toilet to ensure she could finish a night out. "Honestly, Sam, I don't know how you do it."

The pang in her chest made itself known again but she buried it deep down where it fought with her sincere happiness for her friend. It was a strange sensation, having opposing emotions battling inside her. She needed to drown them out. "This is a great song," she said without really listening, "let's go dance."

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam enjoyed the praise from her friend. She preened a bit even. Most of her lackeys that followed her around scraped and bowed, agreeing with everything Sam said and did, but they would buy bottled cat pee and call it perfume if Sam told them to so there wasn't much stock in their praise.

The potion Ashton had given her dulled her senses a bit, the earlier niggling feeling that something was off with her friend had disappeared, and she no longer felt like interrogating her.

But she did feel like dancing. She let Lyra pull her to the dance floor where several other young, now "influenced", bodies were dancing and grinding against one another toward the beat of the music. She smiled at her friend.