CHAPTER TWO; GOBLET OF FIRE

❝ a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step into the void the future holds  ❞

･ ｡ﾟ☆

❝ plantform 9 3/4 ❞

WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS Aurora getting herself into? Why did she agree to go through with her father's plan? How was she even planning to do as she had been instructed? All those anxieties riddled questions lingered in the back of her mind as she, her sister, and father were standing on the platform saying their goodbyes.

Mercurius, with his cane in hand warned both girls, "You two know what is expected of you. Hordes of Aveline's have attended Hogwarts and been in sorted into Slytherin House. I was willing to delay your inevitable schooling here when your mother was alive, now she's gone and you two will follow the rest of our family's footsteps."

Anika nodded hurt by her father's cold mentioning of her mother's death, "Yes father," she answered despite it.

"We understand," Aurora confirmed showing none of the anger she truly felt. 

Her father had no right to mention her mother, under no circumstance. If only she could tell him how Rhea had told her daughter that when they were young her father was a dream, he was everything to Rhae. She dreamed of having a family together –– but then the war happened. He chose his side, and Rhea was doomed alongside him for it. Rhea never once believed in the things Mercurius did, but she was too afraid to ever try and chase freedom knowing what she knew. She stayed with him and endured it all, she kept her children close and sheltered from most of their father's rage. But even to Rhae herself her greatest failing was never trying to leave sooner. He did not have the right to label her life as some sort of inconvenience from following the traditions of a bunch of blood purity mad men.

But Aurora could not say any of these things.

Looking to his youngest Mercurius ordered, "Get on the train Anika, I have to talk with your sister." Anika, as always looked to her sister, but her father harshly repeated, "Oi! I said go on the train, not look to your sister, get on the train. Now Anika." Fearful of any further outbursts Anika listened getting on the train but not going far. Once alone Aurora waited for the inevitable speech about what she was about to do. She learned young her father was a fan of the sound of his own voice. "As for you, you know what to do first. Nikolai will reach out with our instructions; we will send word soon."

"Who's we," Aurora asked curiosity getting the better of her.

Mercurius shot her a warning look snaping his fingers at her insisting, "You never mind that. Just pay attention to what you need to know, which is get close to the boy, befriend him, and make him trust you." Aurora nodded as her father gave her one last warning, "Do not fail Aurora, it's in the upmost importance you succeed. For all of us."

"Goodbye father," she answered knowing if it came down to it, she would figure out a way to do as she was told. Without another word said Aurora lifted up the comfortable bag holding her cat Hecate made her way towards the train. 

"Aurora," he called out just as she stepped in the doorway. The brunette turned back looking to her father who repeated, "I'm serious girl, do not fail, or all of us will be in for a worser fate if you do." What the hell was that supposed to mean, Aurora thought confusedly. Knowing he wouldn't explain himself even if she cried and begged him to, Aurora took the warning to heart getting on the train with her bag firmly in hand.

Whoever their father was going to hand the information off to was always a contributing factor Aurora was aware of, but until now she didn't feel she had enough reason to fear them. Yet as she stood there on the train's steps, she suddenly realized just how afraid she should've been. Aurora swore her father looked almost afraid when he warned her.

"Rory," Anika's voice gently called out making the brunette look inside the train. Her sister was standing off to the side with a boy who towered over Anika. Seeing that her sister was obviously suspicious of him, Anika's smile grew as she explained, "This is Edmund, he's invited us to sit in his cart."

Speaking up the boy's warm hazel agreed, "It'll be no problem, in fact it would be a pleasure to welcome Hogwarts newest students. It's not often we get them you see." The Aveline girl looked at the boy's hand's noting the leatherbound book with bursting pages gripped firmly. 

Aurora nodded her eyes falling to the box of seeds resting on top of his suitcase. Rows of healing dittany, slumber educing asphodel, even fluxweed for Polyjuice. And she could tell by how thick the box was he had more, it made sense the boy carrying seeds would be the first Anika would find. Anika was always fond of her mother garden; she had learned everything from Rhea. 

Still the Aveline excused them taking gentle hold of her sister, "I'm sure, but I need to speak with Anika privately."

The younger brunette sent her sister a disappointed, "Can we talk later? I think it be good for us to talk to some student before we arrive. Edmund said because there's so many first years that we'll most likely get sorted after them."

Seeing the hopeful look on her sister's face Aurora released her and decided, "You can go, I'm going to find my own cart. I'm tired and should probably rest before we get there." Aurora had too much on her mind to even think about being around people she didn't know pretending to enjoy her time.

"Are you sure," her sister asked debating if she would follow Edmund or not, "I don't want you to be alone."

Easing her concern, the older Aveline offered, "I'll be fine Anika, go, have fun. Perhaps later you could introduce me to who you meet." Despite wanting to say Anika left with Edmund, and it was fine with her sister. If anything, it would be better if she could sit alone for a while. 

She had too much to think about and trying to do anything else while she was pretending to do nothing was draining. Aurora made her way down the train seeing carts with students all laughing and talking amongst each other. Much to her relief, Aurora found a smaller, but empty compartment to sit in. Once inside she sat close to the window and began looking inside her bag. After a moment of searching, she found the letter in particular she was looking for, it was from her uncle.

Aurora,

I know for some time this will be all you have from me, but I want you to know, I will not stop until you and your sister are safe. I also know, you won't either –– whatever it is that you have to do child, know I understand. There is no shame in surviving. I will not be writing to you again until you arrive at Hogwarts, it's the only place Mercurius cannot interfere with you. However, I would not doubt he will not have more eyes on you than you're aware of, so be diligent, and take care our letters are not found. As such, I beg you, use your time there to see all that you were missing. Your mother was a good woman but shielding you from everything wasn't fair now it's your chance to have a life, take it. Hogwarts was the beginning of many adventures for myself, it has still led me to an amazing life. Let it do the same for you, Aurora.

Perseus

As she finished reading the letter, she let out a breath holding it close. Since he had sent her the letter a week after the funeral she had reread and reread the letter at least half a dozen times. Putting the letter back inside her bag she leaned against the window drifting off to sleep.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ Aurora's dream / Malfoy's tent ❞

"Where the bloody hell did our fathers run off to," Anika asked as she, her sister, Nikolai and Draco had been forced to sit inside since the match ended. They weren't even allowed to explore the grounds at all, and Anika, even Draco had begged to, but they still refused. Their fathers said they'd be back but at this point they had all begun to wonder if they would ever show. It wasn't as if either of the men prioritized their children but to leave them there to do nothing was just maddening.

Especially when all the while, Aurora could sense just how much Nikolai wanted to say. How much each of them wanted to say, but they couldn't. Neither one of their siblings were aware of what they were up to, and they knew to keep it that way. Thought Aurora felt as if she were being driven mad by the anticipation of waiting for when they could speak freely.

Trying to remain patient while she sat on the comfortable black velvet couch Aurora said, "I'm certain they'll be back soon. They probably didn't want to drag us around with them."

Harshly Draco replied, "Speak for yourselves, you don't know anything about our father."

"And neither do you," the brunette quickly replied. If Aurora were truthful with herself, she greatly preferred Nikolai to this brother. Draco never had a kind word to say about anyone, not even those he called friend. He was as rotten as their father, and Aurora was pretty sure he wouldn't have it another way, while Aurora knew Nikolai dreamed of being born a different man's son.

That was the saving grace of Nikolai, but it didn't stop his brother and Aurora from acting like they were animals in a cage. Seeing that things would just get worse for them if he didn't interfere the younger Malfoy spoke up, "You two are just like children, still." Immediately both Draco and Aurora turned towards her with pointed looks forcing her to defend, "You are, and you can't convince me or poor Anika otherwise. You sound the same way you did when you were children, always bickering always teasing each other."

"No one asked for your opinion," Draco scornfully maintained.

Almost instantly the brunette spoke up defending him strongly, "And no one asked for you to be right foul git but here we are!" Just as the Malfoy boy stood to argue they were silenced by the sound of screaming and explosions.

"What was that," Anika asked the others.

Aurora looked too Draco, but he seemed just as startled and confused as they did. Her eyes fell to Nikolai who was already staring back. Something about the look in his eyes told her they had to move and move quickly. The brunette joined her sister by her side, but they all jumped hearing the screaming and explosions getting louder and closer. Her gut screaming at her Aurora announced, "We have to get back to the port key."

Immediately the brunette began grabbing their things throwing her sister her jacket. "What about father," the young girl asked putting on her jacket.

"We can't worry about him if we're both dead," Aurora reasoned quickly grabbing Anika's hand leading her toward the exit. In truth, Aurora didn't want to leave him, but didn't exactly care to find him. Looking back seeing Draco was frozen she yelled, "Draco! Come, we have to get out of here now!" The older boy was frozen until Nikolai's hand was on his shoulder shoving him forward.

"Stick close," warned Nikolai looking to Aurora.

 The moment they exited the world turned to chaos, all the laughter and excitement had vanished. Anika grabbed tightly onto her sister's hand, "Get in front of me," Aurora order pushing her sister forward trying to get them out of there fast. Nikolai was doing his best to lead them through the crowd by pushing his brother forward and being careful to pull Anika by her wrist.

As they ran shoving their way through the hectic crowd, Aurora caught glimpses of figures in pointed hoods carrying flaming torches walking across the campsite chanting. Smoke was filling her lungs from their fires that had begun to consume the whole campground. The crowd cared for no one, knocking people over left and right walking over them as if they weren't there. The chaos forced Aurora to lose her grip on her sister, "Anika! Draco! Nik!"

Immediately the three turned trying to reach for her through the people. Nikolai forced Draco to take hold of Anika demanding, "Go, get her to the portkey. Take her and do not lose her." Anika attempted to protest, but not even Draco was heartless enough to leave the youngest of them behind. He lifted Anika up swiftly carrying her despite her thrashing. The second they were gone, Nikolai turned back shoving people aside as he tried to come back for her.

 "Grab my hand," he shouted doing his best to reach for Aurora.

Try as she might Aurora couldn't reach his hand and the distance became too much until she was on her own. Trying her best Aurora tried to make her way through the hordes of pushing people but it was impossible between them and the fog. Suddenly the Aveline girl ran into someone and forced them both onto the ground. Horrified the brunette said, "Are you alright? Take my hand, we have to keep moving." Pulling herself off the boy she saw none other than the famous boy who lived dirty from the soot in the air, "Harry?"

"Aurora," he realized finally getting a look at the girl who had knocked him down. He hardly had a moment to think before Aurora had taken him by her hand and yanked him up to his feet. The Potter boy allowed her to lead him through the crowd until the force of someone slamming into her forced her to the ground again where she hit her head against the wood stake holding up one of the tents. Just as Harry turned back to help her, he fell down and was trampled unconscious.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

"Aurora," a friendly voice called out to her quietly, "Wake up. Please, Aurora, wake up," they begged shaking her slowly awake. As her eyes opened, she saw Harry ice like eyes hovering over her with concern all over his face, "We have to be quiet, we don't know who else is out here." Harry gently helped her to stand asking, "Is your head alright?"

Aurora nodded answering him in a whisper, "I'm fine." Touching her head, she could feel a cut near her scalp that no doubt left blood on her forehead. Looking over Harry's shoulder she saw man walking through the rubble kicking at things on the ground. "Harry, who's that," she asked. The Potter boy turned around seeing the man she was talking about cast a spell which caused a bright flash and a large ghostly skull to form in the sky with a snake crawling from its mouth. Aurora gasped out of fright knowing exactly what that mark was, she grabbed the back of his arm, "We have to go, now Harry."

The brunette tugged on his sleeve, but he wouldn't move, he was too focused on the man who grinned dementedly. Just as Aurora tugged him back his stumble over the sticks alerted the man to them. He began stalking towards them, "RUN," Aurora shouted immediately pulling Harry with her.

Once they started the pair never let go of each other and never looked back. After a moment of running, she stopped hearing various voices shouting for Harry. Soon one of the boys she had meant earlier in the night appeared, Ron, and with him was Hermione. They were practically falling over themselves to get to Harry. "Been looking for you for ages. Thought we lost you," Ron announced eyeing Aurora suspiciously while Hermione checked for wounds on her friend.

More concerned with the mark in the sky Harry asked them all, "What is that?" Before anyone could answer Harry clutched his head in pain hunching over, the Granger held him up but suddenly they were fired on. All four teens fell to the ground doing their best to keep each other shielded from the blast.

"Stop," a voice screamed at the wizards firing at them, "That's my son!"

Looking up Aurora saw adults standing all around them, aurors she assumed. "Aurora," Mercurius called out coming into sight for his daughter to see. He hugged her tightly almost seeming, relieved to have her there in front of him alive as he pulled her away from Harry. Aurora had almost forgotten what it was like to feel this concern for her well-being.

"Ron, Harry, Hermione are you alright," Arthur asked searching the faces of the teens in his charge.

Accusingly a man approached the four of them the mustache on his face moving with furry as he demanded to know, "Which of you conjured this?"

Astonished Arthur attempted to block the man from his son as he replied, "You can't possibly..."

Shouting as he cut him off the man maintained with the children, "Do not lie! You have been discovered at the scene of the crime!"

"Crime," Harry puzzled still having no understanding of the mark he was seeing in the sky.

In defense of all of them Arthur reminded, "Barty, they're just kids."

Mercurius, with his arm protectively wrapped around Aurora, defended, "My daughter had no part of this monstrous crime. I did not raise her to be a monster." The defense made Aurora bite down on her tongue fighting the bitterness they brought.

Aurora hated herself for wishing it was true, that he did care. That he wasn't raising his daughter to be a monster, but Aurora had accepted this if it meant Anika would not. Though she still hated how he was only concerned because people were around, and he was expected to.

Once more Harry questioned, "What crime?"

"Harry it's his mark," Hermione informed him in a hushed whisper as she gripped his arm. The two of them were the only ones without their parents there to defend them. Hermione knew men like Mercurius would be all too pleased to blame this on her, probably throw her in Azkaban before they even called her muggle parents.

Realization hitting him Harry said, "Those people tonight, in the masks... they're his too, aren't they? They're his followers." Just as the aurors went to leave and not even bothering to answer him, Harry rushed out, "There was a man. Before. There."

"All of you, this way," the man in charged ordered leading the men away to where Harry had directed him.

Curious as they all disappeared from sight Arthur wondered, "Harry, who?"

"I dunno. I didn't see his face," Harry told them truthfully his eyes locking on Aurora.

Suddenly, Aurora awoke hearing the sound of someone sliding thedoor open. "Aurora, come on now," Anika desperately called out, "We're here!" Excited as anyone Aurora got out of her cart taking her bag rushing off the train with her sister. She was so excited to finally catch a glimpse of the castle. As she stepped off the train she was able to see the top half of the castle, and it was so beautiful, so welcoming. It felt like she was coming home even now.

"Get a load of these two Blaise," Draco's voice announced making the two turn to see him accompanied by another boy. Blaise, as Draco had referred to him as was a tall, dark skinned boy with high cheekbones and long, slanting eyes. "Wide eyed and ready to face the world for the first time," he mocked standing in front of them, "See daddy kept his shameful daughters hidden but now he doesn't care about you at all does he?"

Anika opened her mouth to speak, "Merlins beard Draco do you ever get tired of the sound of your own voice," she replied tiredly.

"Don't you ever get tired of being a talentless oaf Anika," Draco tossed back at her.

The youngest Aveline moved forward about to defend herself but Aurora grabbed her hand saying, "Don't bother sissy. Draco only teases us because he too knows what it's like to be his father's shame. Self hatred comes in many forms doesn't it Draco, it's fascinating."

Unable to help himself Blaise chuckled at her comment, "Something funny Blaise," Draco asked warningly. Quickly Blaise stopped laughing the threat of Draco's tone being enough for him.

"I'd say it was downright comical," jeered Nikolai as he joined them accompanied by a brunette with even darker hair than Aurora. If she hadn't known better, she could've easily believed it to be black hair. It took but a moment to recognize her as one of the girls that would be around them during the summer holiday. In fact, Aurora was pretty certain the boy Blaise was one too.

"You know Nikolai, kissing Aurora ass won't make her like you," Draco mocked. Nikolai had never said it, Aurora would never let herself believe it, but Draco knew exactly how much Nikolai wished for it to be him their parents were forcing to marry.

Nikolai smirked returning, "Of course brother, I'm not delusional like you with believing father will someday like you for something other than the order of your birth."

Stopping them from going any further Edmund walked over, "Anika, Aurora, do you want me to show you the way to the school?"

Anika looked to her sister who nodded, looking back at the boy in front of her the brunette smiled happily, "Yes, your company is much better than our present option." Both girls turned away from the Malfoy's walking off with Edmund. As she disappeared Nikolai couldn't take his eyes off of Aurora, she had always been so infuriating yet so captivating. She drove him mad.