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CHAPTER SIXTEEN:

TO RULE

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Aurora being in charge of Merlen, fulfilling her family destiny, felt like it had been the best thing that had happen to her. It had been exactly a month today since she had come into her rule of Merlen and in that month the island had changed a lot.

To begin, the repairs in the island had started and almost all the facilities that Marcos had destroyed had been making their way back to normal. The school was the last project that needed to be complete as Aurora had her own vision for that which she was still keeping to herself. Minor repairs in houses had been fixed, such as pluming issues or pest problems. The city was still quite behind when it came to electricity, and most of the island opted to remain using the outdated options of candles and fires in oppose to lights and central heating. Aurora had many arguments about this at the beginning but now she had learned to accept the fact she couldn't change everything about the island.

Now that the island had money back in it's hands, it made the rise of the island easier.

The jobs were done by the men and women of the island, most of them wanted to do it for free, and if they had the chance they would but she forced them to take money for it. The people had no form of an income until now: some of them actually send back the envelope of money she sent to their houses as they truly did not taking money from her.

The people of Merlen had found it wrong to be payed by an Aleksander, if they had the choice they would work for free.

The last month had not only been hard work on the people but it had also taken a toll on the youngest Aleksander to rule the island ever. The black haired girl had been awake at all hours of the night trying to fix problems with the island, as well as training with Damien and trying to listen to the needs for the people of the island. There had been council meetings she had to attend, there was stuff like food importation that she had to manage and medical funds, and most draining was the fact she had to sit in the Entrance Room of the castle (the room Aurora just referred to as the colourful chair room) for many hours everyday and allow members of the island to come and speak to her about things that bothered them or concerns they had.

In short, ruling an island was a lot more difficult than she imagined.

And this is why the black haired girl can be seen fast asleep (the first good nights sleep in months) in her bedroom, taking up the entire bed, and oblivious to Louis who walked into the room.

"Aurora," He shouted loudly, and in response was greeted with a range of mumbles and low cut snores. Louis folded his arms across his chest, "You need to wake up. Aurora, it's ten o'clock. You were supposed to be awake an hour ago. They're waiting on you."

Slowly, she turned around, grey eyes barely open. "What .... time is it?"

"TEN O'CLOCK."

"Shit," She cursed falling out of the bed, the mop of newly cut black hair managed to still get into her face. A groan left her lips when he funny bone bounced off the floor, but she hadn't the time to focus on that. She was still in the same outfit as yesterday and quickly took it of whilst Louis instantly turned around. "Why didn't anyone wake me?!"

"Cause you should be able to wake yourself." Louis replied in a monotone voice. "Perhaps you shouldn't of kicked your little friend out of your room."

"I didn't kick anyone out of anywhere and you know his name is Luke. I'd learn it if I was you."

She finished pulling up the handsewn dress Hestia had adjusted to fit her a week ago, sleeveless and cut around her stomach so the dress was split into two. It was a black and got darker at the dress reached the floor, and cut open around the chest area. Hestia made most of her dresses black as she thought it suited her the most. She zipped it up with the flick of her hand and ran a brush through her hair.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Louis questioned when she was half way down the hallway. She gave him a confused look and he pointed at her bare feet. She clicked her fingers and her shoes went onto her feet. She raced down the stairs with him slowly following intact to ensure she got their safe, which she thought was another ridiculous rule.

Louis jogs down the stairs after her, "Y'know, maybe if you were more organised this wouldn't happen."

"You know I really don't care what you say or think." She replied, reaching the end of the staircase and turning a corner.

Louis rolls his eyes but nonetheless still assists her outside into the gardens where she attended her daily council meetings. He stood outside and kept watch whilst she entered.

Council meetings were probably one the only things she'd come to dislike during the short time she had been ruling.

The point of them was to take an hour out of everyday -sometimes more if there was any conflict or disapproval about a topic- and discuss what was to come next in Aurora's "time of rule" as Damien called it. Basically she had to sit in the gardens and listen to what was going on with the island and give her input as to what could be improved on.

            According to Damien, it was important she attended the monotonous meetings.

She was only allowed to have four people on the council: four advisors. Anymore would have been wrong according to Damien. Naturally, the first person she asked was Luke because his opinion mattered to her more than anyone. Luke, was also intelligent in many ways and had spent the last month reading books in the Aleksander Library. Besides, even if he had not been on her council, she would end up telling him everything anyway. The second person had to be Damien, he was her mentor and his advice and training was the reason she was in the position. The third person she choose was Hestia because the girl was familiar with the island and Aurora had grown to like her. They had to be people she trusted and those three she did.

Now, naturally you'd presume Beckham would be the fourth but he refused when she asked him and claimed he "had enough council meetings for a lifetime".

        So Aurora was the first Aleksander to have a council of three.

She quickly walked down the white steps and entered the small greenhouse type of area, that overlooked all the flowers in the garden. The flowers were bright, colourful and she wanted to plant about a dozen more peonies in the centre of the garden. She was greeted with Damien, Hestia, and Luke.

Luke looked away from examining to looking towards the black haired girl who came rushing down the stairs.

           "You're late," Damien commented as the sat down on the chair at the top. The one preserved for her only. "And you missed breakfast, people were asking for you."

              "Last time the eggs were undercooked." She told him, sarcasm lacing her tone as she leaned down tying her shoelaces.

              "You need to make an appearance at breakfast, it doesn't seem important but it is." Damien added.

            "Sorry, won't happen again." She mumbled, fixing herself in the chair. "Right, so what's on today's agenda?"

          "We've got to start training the people of the island for the war," Damien mentioned bringing forward the topic she knew was going to eventually be discussed. "Most people on the island are fairly acquainted when it comes to physical violence but when it comes to magical, eh, not so much. The sooner the school opens back up, the sooner we can try to influence the idea of magic on the kids."

Hestia asked. "What about the adults?"

"Aurora and Luke are "working on it"." Damien mentioned, rolling his eyes at the indiscretion. "Whatever that means."

"It means that Luke and I have found a way to make wands for the people of the island." Aurora grins.

            Damien and Hestia exchanged a look. "How?"

             "I read in one of the books in the library that some Aleksanders were able to make their own wands using a drop of their blood and reciting an incantation." Luke explained to them, remembering his conversation about it with Aurora in the library about a week ago. "It says it requires a great deal of magic and not to make more than five in a day, but still, it's something. Only some of the islanders don't have wands, the rest do."

            Glancing from Luke to Aurora, Damien looked at them both questionably. "Forging a wand doesn't seem like it would be easy to do. You're still only learning."

            "And by doing this I'll learn." She rephrased, a grin on her face when she saw that she had caught Damien out.

            "Fine but let me know how you get on with that. I think I read something a while back about Aleksander wand forging, it can be pretty dangerous if you get distracted whilst doing it." Damien says, "And if something goes wrong make sure you tell--"

"Tell you, got it." Aurora finished.

"Look at that, you've learned." Damien let out a gasp, an almost sarcastic one. "She finally knows to tell us when something is wrong."

"Very funny." Aurora replied giving a fake laugh unlike Luke who thought what Damien said was hilarious.

The next half an hour was spent talking about what they were going to do about the issue with the school which she had been trying to repair but the island was overflown with teens and children, all who had a broken education. There were a few trained teachers on the island but none in the magical sense: it was more like a muggle level of education, a basic one. There were no one trained in teaching defence or potions. So, that was the issue of today.

"Is that all?" Damien asked once the meeting had finished. When all of them nodded, they all stood up from their spots, that is everyone except for Aurora.

"Actually I have something else I wanted to discuss. I want to go to Romania," Aurora finally brought the topic up. When all of them turned to her with inquisitive eyes, she coughed out. "I have business over there."

"Business. What business?" Damien asked, a brow rose.

She probably could have just went herself in the middle of the night and not told anyone but she was starting to realise the dangers in her keeping stuff to herself. "I want to see Charlie Weasley."

"Charlie Weasley?" Hestia asked, "What business do you have with this man?"

"I ... want my dragon back."

Luke lifted his head up, "Hyperion?" he asked at the same time Damien went, "Dragon?"

"When Luke and I were in Hogwarts, we went to this class, care of magical creatures which is basically when you take care of animals and study them. We had to mind these dragons." She explained, trying to think back to those days. She remembered studying with Theo, and wondered if he was still alive. Most likely he was fine considering he came from a highly respected pureblood family. "At the end of sixth year, they had become so big that they had to be sent back to Romania."

               "And you want them back why?"

               Aurora's mind went back to the night she escaped from Runskin's imprisonment:

               "He wants to complete the sacrifice that Marcos started all those years ago." Pierre mentioned, hand around her side and pulling her alongside him throughout the halls. She felt cold, weak, and was sure if he let go off her she would collapse onto the ground. Pierre hosted her throughout the halls. "Are you listening? This is it .... he is going to kill you."

               "Good," She croaked out.

               "Aurora," Pierre shook his head.

Before anymore words could be exchanged between the two of them, the sound of a furious, loud roar shook the ground and was located outside.

Slowly, Aurora lifted her eyes from the ground, brows furrowing, "Was that a ...."

"Dragon," Pierre finished. "Yours to be precise."

"A dragon?" Hestia practically shouted out, snapping Aurora out of her thoughts. "Like the fire breathing ones?"

"Yes." Aurora was reminded how secluded this island was when it came to magic.

"Aren't those dangerous?" Hestia asked, "Why would you want one on the island?"

"I mean...he is my dragon and the only reason Luke and I couldn't keep them was because they were overgrown but this island is massive and has plenty of room. They're not viscous or anything ... or at least they weren't when we were minding them." Aurora told them, not wanting to indulge in the fact she had come to miss him. She had grown an attachment to the gentle creatures.

Surprisingly enough Damien nods, "If that's what you would like to do then you should go to Romania and find this man."

"Really?" Aurora rose a brow. What was the catch? Where was the big speech about the dangers?

"I trust your instincts and if you want to go to Romania then you should. This last month you've proven well able to manage yourself so go to Romania." Damien replied. "If these dragons are that important to you then you should go and get them. They might actually come useful for what's coming." She waited another few moments because she knew that he had something to add. There was no way that he was just going to let her go to Romania without saying something, "Who is going with you?"         

"Luke." She didn't need to ask Luke because she knew he would instantly want to go with her and when she looked at him, he nods.

"Louis is going with you two as well," Ah, there it is.

"I think we'll be alright on our own." Luke stated, somewhat hopeful. Neither of them particularly enjoyed the company of Louis.

"I think it'd sleep better tonight knowing Louis was with you," He replied, directed at the two of them. The safety of both of them was important, and he knew that if harm came of Luke that it could set the girl back ten steps. Not to mentioned he felt partly responsible for the well being of the two as neither of them had parents around or any guardians. "Louis is going with you two."

In particular, he felt responsible for Aurora. Especially since she had been so quick to save him when in The Other World.

And he had come to absolutely hate having that responsibility. He had never met a child who was tolerable with putting herself in danger.

"You need to be back by tomorrow tonight though," Damien told her, and when he saw the confused expression spread to her features, he added. "Remember it's your party?"

           Oh that. She had almost forgotten about another one of the ridiculous things that came with having to rule this place and one of them was having a coronation: which to begin, she absolutely refused to have. It made her feel like she should pack her bags and move into Buckingham palace. The notion that the people of the island wanted her to put some sort of bloody crown on her head and have celebrate it was beyond her. She was supposed to have this little ceremony the day she revealed her identity to the island but she downright refused to. Instead she agreed to host a party (not really thinking of it until now) for tomorrow night and invite all the people of the island.

"Merlin, please don't tell me that I actually have to do that." She groaned.

Damien appointed her a "really?" type of look and appeared to be having none of it, "Most Aleksanders would of just had the coronation but you didn't want to do it--"

               "Cause it's ridiculous." Luke interrupted.

               "Agreed." Aurora added.

"Which means that you have to at least have this party and actually engage with the people of the island." Damien pointed out, as they walked out. "Not all of your family members that used to rule this place had much to do with the people, some of your lot used to basically get their council to make all the decisions. A good ruler, like what you will come to be, would go to all their meetings and give their inputs. Since you keep saying you're not like the rest of them, it's important that you show them that you actually have an interest in this place."

In her defence, she really did have an interest in the place. After all, the island was now in her name and the people had been so welcoming to her rise in leadership. The first day that she told the people of her existence, they cheered on the streets during the night time and celebrated.

"I don't really like parties, why do I need to have one?" Aurora groaned walking out the greenhouse and up the steps. Luke walked by her side.

Hestia let out a gasp from behind her and linked arms with Aurora. "Parties are fun! You know before you got here it was very boring? Now, everyday something different happens. I'm even on your council, it's a great honour. I told my parents about it, they're so proud. Besides, do you not want to wear the dress I made you? It'll be perfect on you."

                    "Everything you make looks perfect, Hestia." Aurora mumbled.

                    "You make everything I make look perfect." Hestia corrected. Aurora smiled in the girls direction.

Hestia wished them luck on their journey and went to inform Louis of the change of plans. Aurora could only imagine how delighted he was going to be knowing that he was about to spend the next twenty four hours alongside Luke and Aurora. The two of them quickly went upstairs to gather their belongings, the sooner they went to Romania the better. Damien said travelling countries, especially as far as Romania, could make her slightly worn out for a bit so that's why she needed to rest when she got there.

"Damien say you could go to Romania?" Beckham questioned, catching up with them in the hallway, a cigarette in his mouth. He passed it to Aurora who gladly took a drag.

"Yeah, packing for the journey now." Luke mentioned.

"What if Charlie doesn't wanna give you Hyperion and Archion." Luke questioned, shoving some of his belongings into a backpack, she believed it was Beckham's he was borrowing. She had been looking in her wardrobe for her own bag but see it. She stopped squinting her eyes and turned back to look at Luke. She had not really considered what she would do it Charlie Weasley said no. "If he's as stubborn as Ron then....."

"Low chance he is gonna just hand you over two dragons." Beckham finished.

"Then I'll have a civil conversation and using my charm I'll convince him to give the dragons to me." Aurora replied. "Now have you seen my bag anywhere?"

"I think you need glasses." Luke let out an almost laugh, walking over and pulling her bag out from the wardrobe. It had been right in front of her but she had not seen it. She gave him a quick thanks and took it from his hands. "Maybe you should see the island doctors about your decreasing eyesight."

"My eyes are perfectly fine."

"Liar." Luke and Beckham said in unison.

"Doesn't matter," Says Aurora. "I may not have perfect vision but I can see."

Louis walked in the room, already prepared and looking as though he could complain but didn't want to. She continued to pack her stuff into her bag quickly as she could. Once she was finished, she incanted the hiding spell on herself and Luke. This would keep them hidden from anyone who was trying to track them, such as her immortal kin. Damien claimed the spell was powerful enough for at least a day against anyone trying to find them.

"Look after the place while I'm gone." Aurora pointed a finger at Beckham.

"Of course," Beckham mentioned and extended his arms. She accepted the hug instantly and wrapped her hands around his torso. Once she released him, she turned to the other two boys. "Ready to go?"

"Ready as ever." Louis replied sarcastically. If he wasn't such a prick to her, they probably would of actually gotten along. Some of the time, he was actually quite funny.

"Good luck," Beckham grins.

"We're dealing with a Weasley, we'll probably need it." Luke says. Aurora extends her arms and slowly particles start to form into a portal.

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It had been a few hours since Louis, Aurora, and Luke headed to Romania. According to Damien they should be distancing their trip, starting she should have opened a portal to France-as it was the most close country to Merlen- and then spaced out into the different countries from there, preferably going France, Italy, Austria and Hungary. But knowing Aurora she had probably decided to ignore Damien's suggestion and travel straight to Romania.

Whilst they were gone, Beckham was in charge of tomorrow nights party which he actually was looking forward to.

He stood in the middle of the Entrance Room, which was now appearing more like a ballroom with the decorations the maids of Merlen were putting up and had been delighted to be set to the task. According to the drawings in the library and the bibliography of many of the Aleksanders, they had parties a lot in the castle. In the beginning, only selective people would be allowed to attend these parties but as the years went on many of the kinder Aleksanders opened it to all.

"I'm not really feeling the purple colour, can we try a bit more of a golden theme?" Beckham shouted, taking out his wand and giving it a small flick to the side, a low incantation leaving his throat. All of the purple and pink decorations switched to golden, and appeared a lot better. "Ah, that looks better."

"We have a problem." The voice of Damien shouted and when Beckham turned around, he saw the man appearing rather anxious and actually looking worried for once. "We have a very bad problem."

"What is it?"

"I think you'll want to come and have a look for yourself." Damien did not wait for his response and instead headed back out the door. Beckham kept his wand close to him but had a feeling this wasn't an attack or anything too serious, it was probably a burst pipe or something.

Beckham looked around the hallway. "Is someone attacking the island?"

"In case you're forgetting this island is warded with spells more powerful than anything you or I can ever imagine. People with bad intentions can't come to this island."

"So Runskin isn't here?" Beckham asked again, he had a fear of the man. He had been worried about the power he possessed and what would happen if Aurora lost against him or if he erased her from their minds again. The other part of him also wanted to wrap his hands around Runskin's throat and strangle him if he ever got the chance.

"No and you shouldn't worry about any sort of danger breaking into the island." Damien told him, "Other than Runskin, Aurora could wipe anyone who opposes any sort of danger on her. She's just too inexperienced and afraid too."

"You think she's afraid?" Beckham didn't really think she seemed afraid of anything, except Runskin.

"She still can't control her powers when it comes to her emotions. She get's even a little bit mad and the paintings all fall down. I think no one, including myself, realises what she can do. Every Aleksander in the universe has had one power each. There's only been three who have not, so those three are very powerful individuals. Quite literally the most powerful people in the world are alive at the very same time."

He followed the man out of the entrance of the castle and cursed at how fast the older man could walk. Eventually he caught up with the man and found himself outside the front door of the castle. These were the doors that Aurora walked out a month ago and declared her existence (at least the Aleksander part of her) to the people of Merlen. Beckham heard a hummer of noise outside the door, voices.

"Now, tell me what are we going to do about this?" Damien asked before swinging open the door.

At first, Beckham almost reached for his wand when he saw the group of people standing outside the door. His instant thought was to attack the new people standing outside the doorway but when he caught a set of familiar grey eyes, he stopped. His instant reaction was surprise, especially because he had not expected to see so many people.

Firstly, the first person standing here was Sirius Black. Had not aged a day and still looked the same as the first time Beckham met him in his house in England during Christmas. His black hair was slightly longer than before, still the same shade as his daughters, and could probably best be described as sable or in simple terms jet black. The only differences was now he had a beard and appeared a lot more muscular than before. His face was covered in bruises and dried blood which concerned him.

His hand was latched with the brunette woman beside him, who also had dried blood on her face. Beckham felt intimidated when looking at the woman, she tended to have the same look as Aurora did when she was mad but she wore it constantly. She was a very beautiful woman, and shared resembles with her daughter, all apart from the brown eyes.

But it wasn't just them two that was here, no, there was an entire bunch of them. Like maybe about a dozen or more. He scanned the crowd and spotted a few more familiar faces, Ginny Weasley, Phoebe Williams, Remus Lupin, Jackie Carter, the Weasley Twins, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and some other people who he did not know. There was a crowd of them and he did not have the time to look at them all.

All of them were covered in dust, scratches, blood, and looked like they were going to pass out any minute.

Damien looked at them all. "Who the hell are you people?"

"Who the hell are you?" Sirius retorted.

It took Damien one second after the man said that to remember who it was standing in front of him. His eyes went from Sirius to Magnolia, ah yes he did remember.

Behind them, James Potter stood, also covered in developing bruises and had broken glasses on. "I need to sit down."

Hermione was looking out at the sea, "Where on earth are we?"

"I think we're dead." Ron was holding his head in pain.

"If you were dead, you wouldn't know you were dead," One of the twins says.

"What happened to you lot?" Beckham breathed out.

"There was an attack in Hogwarts." Magnolia whispered and Beckham looked at her in concern. Sirius had been hoisting her up, and supporting her in his arm. Sirius had looked like he was about to pass out, but his concern seemed to be on the woman next to him. "They came, Runskin and Voldemort. They blew half the place to pieces. There was so many of them ... too many of them .... no one stood a chance."

"Blown to pieces." Remus muttered, eyes on the ground, thinking of the castle that was now a dilapidated castle full of fallen wands. "The castle is gone."

"You don't seem that surprised to see them here." Damien pointed out, looking in Beckham's direction. Beckham ignored him.

"Does that offer still stand?" Magnolia asked, looking around the place. Despite the fact that this was technically her family island, something told her that this place no longer belonged to her. To be honest she hadn't really care about who ran the island, she was more focused on trying not to pass out. Beckham looked at the woman, and could see she was trying to keep herself composed. It was silent for a moment before the woman adds, "Where is she?"

Beckham paused. Aurora. Shit. "Uh she ... isn't here,"

Magnolia looked at Beckham with an almost worried look in her eyes, "Is she okay?"

Now that, right there, had him and Damien both pause. Rather than asking where she was, instead the woman asked about her safety. Beckham went to reply but a dramatic groan of pain interrupted him.

"I think I broke my glasses." Someone says and instantly Beckham tried to locate the familiar voice.

Someone stepped forward, and the person had caused an instant reaction from him. He tried not to be obvious in his shock when Harry James Potter stepped forward, holding a pair of broken glasses in his hands.

Beckham's eyes widened, "What the fuck?"

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If you enjoyed this chapter, please leave votes and comments as it REALLY helps me writes more and update quicker! I appreciate all the comments on the last chapter so much!!

ALSO who is happy to now have all the mains from book 1, HARRY, MAGNOLIA, SIRIUS, JAMES, REMUS ETC be apart of book 2 as mains again!!! Originally I was gonna give it about another 4-6 chapters before adding them in BUT I decided it was time to bring back the main harry potter characters and focus on them!

The next chapter is very chaotic, so be prepared....