"Alamort"

exhausted, half-dead

9th August 1996

"This is fucking stupid."

The duelling/training hall had become a war zone. The pillars that held the ceiling had fallen or were on the verge of crumbling apart. Three wizards were focusing to hold the ceiling up but Athena 'took them out' before doing it herself with a few spells. Roots seemed to have busted from the ground and wrapped out several Aurors up high from the ground. Areas on fire, also rings of it trapped some Aurors.

Athena looked around the hall, trying to find her 'threats'. They are currently having a training session where Athena has taken a hostage which is her mother and her boss. Camille scoffed while Chloe chuckles. Athena was set on just watching what was happening or helping, not being the one people are trying to attack.

"Chloe, I'm giving back all your paperwork. You do that yourself!" Athena said as she directed marble stones out of the walls, trapping the Aurors in them. Athena can't use her extra abilities because it was sealed with a spell by her mother, to give them a fair fight.

And the only ones that have those abilities are the women of the Blood of the Auclair family.

Atlas and Damon jumped out of the smoke and cast spells at Athena which she deflected easily and redirected towards the other Aurors. Atlas had his wand extended in a whip and wrapped Athena's hand with her wand, pulling her back. His twin tried to switch her hands but his brother got the other arm. Her wand was then taken away by their aunt and she disappeared but Athena wasn't focused on that.

"Getting cocky, brothers."

The Ashryver Brothers smirked at the Ashryver Heiress while their sister with all her strength pulled both brothers in before making the whips disappear and they toppled, losing balance. Then, with her wonderful mind, she threw her brother into the walls and made them consumed and trapped in the marbles. Athena manage to dodge a dangerous spell from Audrey, she smirked at her and turned to face the blonde that may or may not make Fleur jealous.

"Garnier."

"Ashryver—oh wait, Auclair."

Athena chuckled as she made her brothers' wands disappear from her hands and really tried to find her wand.

"Having trouble—without your wand?"

"With or without, you're losing."

Audrey smirked at her and cast a wonderfully powerful spell and Athena took a deep breath before raising her hand to block. She did struggle, of course, but the competitiveness gets a hold of her ego. She will be the most powerful wizard in the entire Wizarding World, surpassing her ancestors and all the great names in history. Camille looked at her daughter in awe while Chloe really couldn't believe this is the power her Captain holds as she grinned at the Ashryver.

"She might be more powerful than you, Cam."

"Yeah, that's annoying."

Audrey never underestimates Athena because each time trained and duelled with one another, Athena always had the last laugh while she fall on her ass but that was when she had her wand. The Garnier still acknowledges the skill and talent the Ashryver had without her precious wand.

Athena was pushed back slowly as she cursed under her breath and brought out her other hand, pushing against the powerful magic. Camille glanced at Chloe as a signal to get ready if Athena does lose this fight but they both knew the kid won't let it come to that and were equally impressed at how well Audrey is making Athena struggle.

The two were taken aback when they heard Athena speaking in Latin. Like actually because Athena had learned that on her own. Latin is very difficult to learn with limited resources. The language is also a source of lost magic.

"What the fuck is your daughter made off?" Chloe scoffed and received a chuckle from the Minister as Athena went on her knees, tapping the ground and still speaking in Latin before the illuminated spell disappeared. The Brunette scoffed at the Blonde, who was confused with what just happened. Athena cancelled her magic and took her time to breathe.

Audrey screamed.

Really did when roots burst out from the ground and wrapped around her in an instant she was confused and couldn't take a second to process what was happening before her wand flew out of her hand and into Athena's, whose focus was already on her aunt. Audrey lifted off the ground, defeated, and was held in the air.

Her brothers laughed in defeat, stuck to the wall as they watch their sister being an absolute menace.

"Auclair!"

"Quoi?" Juliette chuckled as she played with Athena's wand while her niece huffed, throwing a tantrum. The oldest Auclair, laughing at her niece's tantrum, had to look at the chaos the youngest Ashryver made. It was fairly hilarious to see some of their Aurors stuck to the high ceiling of the duelling room. Some are tied together with roots and ropes. Audrey basically became Jesus and her nephews were engulfed by the beautiful marble stones on the walls. A lot of frozen, knocked out or even taking the time to process what had happened. The poor Aurors didn't register what had happened. "My dear niece, you are terrifying but I will be winning."

"Will you?"

"You are exhausted, my dear."

"You—" Juliette used her own tricks against her. Without her broom or wand to boost herself, Athena had to be precise with her apparating to prevent injuries and her agility while a string of roots and a wall of marbled stones chases after her. "—why are you using my own—"

Athena was hit by a stone pillar, making her crash into the wall and Juliette was ready for whatever to come. Camille and Chloe cringed as they felt the impact, both knew Athena is going to be pissed. The Captain took a second to collect herself before Juliette really went all out against her Captain who is also her niece. She is ready for whatever punishment Athena made as long as she wins. The older woman knew that Athena would have beaten her if she wasn't so exhausted after the many rounds that her sister and boss put Athena through.

No one can tell Fleur.

Athena wasn't planning on it either.

The fight went on as Juliette did everything to exhaust Athena and it was working. The entire time, the Aurors had tried to take away Athena's wand and it was not working until the last second. The younger woman redirected the roots with her hands towards her aunt while it was stopped with an invisible and only received a grin from her not-so-currently-beloved aunt. Athena tripped and twisted her ankle, with a scowl she tried to heal herself, barely. Juliette went to free the 'hostages' but Athena had made sure there was extra work.

"Of fucking course, your daughter is too smart."

Camille let out a chuckle, also figuring out how to rid of her bindings while Chloe was a little worried that they might be stuck if Athena decides to.

A strangely powerful spell was blocked by Juliette, which made her confused because even the most powerful wizards in the past can't use that spell without a source to channel their magic properly.

And of course, Athena had a wand in her hand, Elaine's, the closest to her wand. The oldest Auclair forgot that Athena had been collecting wands and was confused at first, but now she understood. Athena had a plethora of wands that she can use as long as it was good enough for her use.

Before Athena knew it, the Dubois and the Laurents had come out of their confinement and managed to summon their wands due to Athena's loss of focus and attacked while Elaine manage to get her wand back. David and Jonathan focused on distracting her while the other two did everything to trap her. Nicholas used her own tricks against her as Juliette did.

Before she knew it, the Captain was wrapped with chains and thrown into the wall.

Athena hung her head low before smiling at them, people are terrified. Camille and Chloe will never be able to come out of their confinements unless Athena lifts the enchantments. Juliette really tried with her vast knowledge of spells but Athena's knowledge is far wider than hers.

Whatever they are dealing with was arcane magic. Ancient, lost for centuries.

Then the four-hour time limit was finished.

The Aurors groaned as Athena laughed, still trapped and let go of her mother and boss. Athena had that smug look on her face with the Aurors slowly let go, carefully, and they asked for their wands.

"Let me go first."

They rolled their eyes and the Laurent siblings let her slip out of the trap, not knowing she had sprained her ankle and also completely exhausted. Athena groaned in pain and fell to the ground, holding onto her ankle. Elaine rushed over with her brother and Nicholas, panicking.

"I'm fine, it's my ankle. I reduced the pain a little." Johnathan quickly removed her boot and sock while Elaine winced at the very bad bruise as Athena returned each and every Auror their wands back, which appeared in their dominant hands like it never left. She could hear the wood clicking on the ground after some of the Aurors couldn't catch their wands in time.

"That's bad." Elaine huffed, quickly get on with healing her Captain's ankle and glanced at Camille who was brisk-walking over after checking on the other Aurors. Athena hates being crowded so adding herself in, her daughter would despise her.

"Very very bad," Nicholas whispered.

"Yeah, no shit." Johnathan scolded Nicholas afterwards as they helped to relieve the pain in Athena's ankle. Out of everyone, Athena had the most injuries. Well, she was basically attacked by the entire Bureau. David took care of her comfort, Johnathan took care of the visible injuries on her lower body with his sister focused on her ankle and Audrey took over Nicholas with Athena's upper body because she was familiar.

"Gods, Athena," Camille whispered after seeing her ankle and was grossed by how bad the bruise was. Who wouldn't? "It's broken."

"Oh yeah, I didn't notice Mother." Athena sarcastically voiced while Juliette apologised and returned her wand. Camille scoffed and pressed on the bruise and Athena winced in response before she was scolded by her sister and was pushed away.

"Hey! I was checking!"

"Go away." Juliette voiced, healing the cut on Athena's cheekbone within a millisecond. Camille looked at her daughter who was barely holding off from passing out from exhaustion before her sons crowded their sister. Completely ignoring that her sister is fucking pissed off with everyone already crowding her.

"My daughter's going to pass out of exhaustion if you haven't noticed," Camille scowled at everyone helping to heal Athena and pushed everyone away. The Minister picked up Athena in her arms, who immediately passed out after a second in her mother's warmth. "Sister, Laurents and big Dubois come to my office."

"Yes Ma'am."

"Big Dubois?!"

"You are the oldest."

"But Big Dubois?! That's my husband's name! Call mm maiden name! Beaufort or something."

"I like Big Dubois, so no."

"I'm going to kill you."

"Eh—that's treason."

"You bitch."

Camille snorted in response while she readjusted a little how she hold Athena. A lot of her subordinates watched as the Minister carried her unconscious daughter to her office, with no struggle of course, while three Aurors and their Bureau Head followed closely. Camille and Chloe had small conversations as Elaine and Juliette listened to Johnathan's rare but lame jokes, swirling around his wand.

¬-¬

Camille laid a blanket on her daughter after everything was to help Athena ease her pain and chased everyone out, even her family. And she will that dreaded duty to tell Athena's wife. Because whenever it comes to Athena, Fleur is terrifying.

We know this.

"Gods, you really are as stubborn as I am," Camille whispered as she placed a kiss on her daughter's hair and sat in front of her, continuing to read the stacks of paperwork and approvals she have to do. She yawned too many times in such a short period of time, listening to the snoring of her extremely exhausted daughter.

Sooner or later, Camille falls asleep to the very calming presence of her daughter. She was too exhausted and stressed with everything. Especially keeping her family safe and to add, the entire country safe.

A couple of knocks on the door didn't wake both of them, when it usually does, before Apolline entered with Camille's sons and sister, with takeouts. Audrey was there too because The Ashryver boys dragged her with them.

Apolline giggled to herself as they found them sleeping. The Asheyver boys gave their women a soft smile as Audrey exhaled deeply, smiling slowly. In all honesty, they look adorable. The paperwork in Camille's hands was slowly slipping from her hands and Athena let her arm droop over her mother's shoulder as if she was holding her close.

"Just put the lunch down and will have ours in Chloe's office. I need to disturb her."

"I need to give her paperwork anyways."

"Same."

"Me too."

"Is it because Athena is basically passed right now?"

Audrey hummed in response, carefully and quietly shutting the door. Apolline was slightly terrified because these three Aurors with her are ranked the few highest despite their age. They beat the Laurent Siblings which is clearly that pissed them off. So those two can't slack anymore and everyone else who is older than them can't lose either.

Sometimes talent shines more.

However, hard work shines even brighter.

But pure power takes the cake.

That is what the three Auclair women have.

"Athena has a broken ankle?! Oh, my daughter can't find out."

"But how are we supposed to hide that?"

"Fleur's out of the country for the month, because of Quidditch."

"I got it," Audrey hummed and basically end her wondering why Athena was sort of hiding in her office a lot because of how needy of attention she was. "I can take care of her."

Apolline smirked at Audrey which made the three confused before the younger woman notice her cheeky hands.

"Quoi?" Atlas asked, oblivious, while his brother read the room. Damon knows who the woman his sister is sleeping with. He kept his excitement under wraps leaving Atlas to be very confused.

"I live quite close anyways."

"You know exactly where she stays?"

"Course not, she doesn't even tell me that. She just told me the vicinity and plus she had been coming over and I'm excellent with apparation."

There were even extra precautions that the Ashryvers took place. Everyone that knows where their apartments are have to know a specific word or phrase and it is different for everyone. Athena set that up, of course.

The only places where everyone knew the exact are the Auclair Château, the Ashryver Mansion and the Delacour Château. But there are extreme precautions because, for the Auclair and Ashryver, those places will be used as a safe haven for the war to come.

And it is also a place for balls and parties with their reputations and wealth.

So what's a better place to show off?

¬_¬

"Thena," Camille softly said, shaking her daughter as she tried to wake her up and reheated their lunch, neatly placed on the coffee table of her office. Athena sucked in her breath and slowly woke up to her mother's calling. "Hi, baby."

The Minister found how adorable Athena is when she was disoriented every time someone woke her up from her nap. The young Captain took a good minute to realise where she was and how much pain her body was in. Camille cooed and help with the pain, using a few

"Merlin's beard, why did I go all out?"

"Because you didn't want to lose. You were incredible."

"And terrifying. I didn't know I had all that power."

"But you were beautiful with it."

"Yeah well, my ankle's broken."

Camille scoffed and handed her lunch, then started to nag at her daughter for not taking care of herself when she fights. Athena prettily ate her lunch and took all the nagging and scolding.

"Thank the Gods, Fleur's out of the country."

Camille snorted in response, also grateful that the Veela will not be hearing any of this because if she did, the Ministry will suffer some destruction.

Mostly just the Aurors and Camille, herself.

"Athena, what is with this paperwork?"

"Uh—I think I was falling asleep."

"This one?"

"Fleur's dessert."

"Ugh but good for you."

"Ugh," Athena mocked her mother and Camille slapped her thigh as hard as she could. "Honestly, Ma, you are very loud. Like good for you, you're getting laid but Gods, you don't have to tell the whole building."

"Since when were you at the apartment?"

"I wanted to get a few of my coats but you wouldn't notice with Vanessa in between your legs."

"What makes you say that?"

"Thank Merlin, you were in the bedroom and I don't know what you're—Ma, both of us are bottoms."

"You don't know that!"

"So defensive."

"Eat your goddamn lunch."

Athena scoffed continuing her lunch while Camille glared at her daughter and really want to say something but Athena brought attention to the paperwork. Camille enjoyed her lunch but did not after not hearing any sounds from Athena.

"Athena Minerva Ashryver! How many times do I have to tell you not to look at classified papers?"

"You are careless with your nosey daughter and I have clearance, no?"

"I will remove Audrey from your team and make you very needy. You hate being like that. Your clearance is not applicable to this."

Athena pouted, still curious about what the Bureau of Mysteries is up to. They are a really strange bunch, the secrets and the paranoia is making her like that. "That won't affect me much, however. Then, I will send Vanessa on a long, very long mission."

"Hey! I'm stressed enough without my daughter threatening."

"I'm stressed too! My offices are a mess!"

"We need assistance."

"I have Audrey."

"I can't have Vanessa because she's in your bureau. I need to talk to Lucian."

"Yeah, your sister has her too."

"What?"

"I think they spend too much time at one another's apartments. And Aunt Juls have hickeys all over her skin which she can't be bothered to hide. Vanessa too."

"So Vanessa's being shared by two Auclairs."

"I don't think she minds at all but—"

"My sister does."

"Your dad needs to take leave for me."

Athena snickered, noting that if Lucian visits, she have to avoid going to the apartment or Chateau, and a few knocks were heard on Camille's door. The Minister answered as Athena sat on the couch and let the papers settle themselves.

"Can I steal my captain?" Athena perked up hearing the familiar voice of Audrey. Camille smirked and let Athena wrap up her lunch.

"Of course. Please take care of her and drag her ass home."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Please tell me you are going to take care of me another way."

"Yes, Ma'am."

-sike, since when-

"Athena, wake up. You need to take some potions for the pain." Audrey sighed, summoning potions and medication while waking up slowly. Athena was still asleep on her chest. Audrey had to change out her clothes into loose jerseys and shorts because Athena hated tight-fitted clothes, generally, because she was barely awake after an hour of reaching her apartment. "Wake up, darling."

Athena's eyebrows furrowed, and the Captain still asleep, snuggled into Audrey's neck which actually woke her up because Athena is so used to the vanilla, rosey and orangey smell that Audrey's put her off.

"Do I smell bad?"

"No no—" Athena yawned, annoyed at how bright the sun was while Audrey giggle and made her give the right stuff to Athena. "—I'm just used to Fleur's."

"Ah, I get it. You and Karina share similar taste except yours is more natural?"

"Yeah, I changed my stuff. Smell more of me rather than the products. Fleur loves it because—"

"Let me guess, she can mark you." Athena scoffed in response, finally sitting up and embracing the morning. "That woman is more animalistic and feral whenever it's you. Supposedly, you're her mate as a pure Veela would have."

~~

Fleur felt a sneeze coming as she held on to the ball closer, flying across the field before passing it to her teammate.

"Ashryver! You okay?" Captain Ludwig, a gorgeous German, has been on the team for five years now. One of the best Chasers in the world.

"Yeah, why?"

"You had the opportunity to shoot and this is the first time you pass the chance."

Fleur turned away to sneeze before looking back at her Captain.

"Someone is talking about you." The Goalkeeper, Dumont grinned before Fleur sneezed again, making him chuckle. "Chinese superstition."

"Huh."

"It's probably her special wife." The beater of the team, Chastain commented before throwing the quaffle back to Fleur. One or two, maybe three despise Fleur being married to a woman or being married to the one and only Athena Ashryver.

"I want oranges now."

"Missing the wife a little too much?"

"Not a little. Too much."

Her surrounding teammates either scoffed or laughed at Fleur as she looked up to the slowly setting sky. A lot of things in Venice remind her of Athena, because she loves Italy as much as herself, especially the rural parts of the beautiful country. And hell, they had their wedding in Italy.

The next country she will be going is Berlin, Germany.

¬-¬

"This is disgusting. You are sure they are right?"

"Your mother sends them and it's medicinal potions and pills." Athena groaned, turning away from the things that would make a slightly better while Audrey went to take a shower. "And where are you going?"

"Work. Chloe said you can rest at home for the rest of the week."

Audrey dried her hair with her towel, rummaged through her closet and took out some clothes for Athena, which is the Ashryvers that she had stolen. Some of it is Fleur's too.

"Ah—don't die."

"You really are bad at showing affection."

"I show affection...in the little things."

"Yeah, we know." Athena let out an exhale in response, falling asleep as Audrey get dressed. "Well, Captain, I'll see you for lunch at Marlene's bar."

"You really love to say Captain as it was a joke."

"I love women with authority."

Athena scoffed before pulling the thick duvet covering her face while Audrey hurry up to get dressed to let Athena go back to sleep. Audrey made sure she put something light for Athena to eat when she woke up and medicinal stuff in her handbag, knowing that Athena will not bring it, either purposely or not.

¬_¬     ¬_¬

a/n

not me being very late, aha, my bad. I am so stressed out rn and didn't have the time. My finals are coming soon but I will still try to give you chapters ;3

thank you for understanding

have a great day/night!

byee