Shortly after enduring the shock of Asterion being chosen as champion he had to leave Aurora’s side but at least his intention to enter was validated; he knew now that Aurora would be safe from the horrors of the trials that were now to be laid out before him. After a farewell kiss to his beloved he left to go with his father to where all of the other champions gathered in the trophy room of Hogwarts. Aurora’s breath became caught in her throat once Asterion leaned over to her and pressed his lips against hers. It all happened so fast that she had no time to register any emotion other than pure shock. It was the kind of shock of looking at a steaming cauldron and placing your hand in to feel freezing cold. The girl’s rosy cheeks wiped themselves of their color as she saw him leave. Aurora’s eyes became almost dry and not on the verge of tears at all. She shuddered when suddenly the man holding the banner yelled at Asterion for him pausing in his trek to claim the flag bearing the snake crest. There was something wrong with this picture as she saw Asterion high tailed it in fear to the man. When Asterion stood by the shady looking figure it finally clicked inside her head. The man who draped his arm over the boy’s shoulders was his father; Rabastan Lestrange. Aurora’s chocolate eyes widened in fear as Asterion’s expression looked hateful and pained. It was nothing like how he was around her and it felt like the devil hung on his shoulder. In a way he was to the poor boy. Aurora’s fingernails dug their way into her fleshy palms as she held in emotions that she had never thought she had experienced before. Aurora finally gathered the courage to stand and she completely overlooked the fact that her father was there in the first place but when he went where the other champions were; he would not have seen her walk out of the Great Hall in the first place. She then picked up to a run as she ran to the Black Lake Aurora; who had been too shocked and numb to cry due to sadness from worry of her boyfriend collapsed to her knees. She stared out into the Black Lake with no expression on her face at all. That was when she finally heard someone speak from behind her.
“If it isn’t the girlfriend of the Slytherin Champion; Aurora Eckles. How thoughtful of you to be here all by yourself.” Aurora slowly turned but soon she was knocked down to the ground. She felt someone’s boot dig deep into her back as pain pierced the center. She winced and hissed in pain as tears broke through the flood gates of her eyes.
Cambria smiled slightly as she loomed over the girl like a vulture. Her leather knee high boot digging into the center of her back; keeping her pinned to the ground. Aurora was alone and now Asterion was not here to save her or anyone else for that matter. Cambria then continued
“Such a small and meek little girl; it’s a wonder what he even sees in you Eckles. You’re nothing compared to a true pureblooded witch like myself.” She continued to hold Aurora down with her foot as she then pulled her wand out and she smiled deviously. Aurora sobbed softly as the words cut into her like razorblades soaked in lemon juice. Cambria removed her foot from Aurora’s back and the seeker desperately pulled herself up and looked at Cambria with shock at the hatred towards her. Tears stained her face and then Cambria only smiled as if she enjoyed every bit of Aurora’s suffering. If only she could add a little gas to that flame of misery. Cambria then chuckled softly and then her eyes grew aflame with hatred as she raised her wand to the girl and Aurora looked at her shocked and wide eyed; already consumed by an array of emotions she had never experienced before she was immobilized with her internal thoughts.
“To make sure you know I am serious I am going to show you how serious I am…” Aurora then heard Cambria hiss something under her breath and all of a sudden the sixth year girl was hurled backwards onto the grass as an unbelievable pain sweep through her body. Aurora could only writhe and scream on the grass as her suffering echoed on the Black Lake. Cambria lowered her wand after several seconds of enjoying the unbearable torture she inflicted physically upon the girl. After feeling pleased with herself she turned away and Aurora drew her wand as she had gotten up. Aurora’s face was contorted into one of fear and her eyes were still innocent as if she was a beaten animal. The pain she endured would be something she would have never forgotten her whole life.
She ran away toward the owlry then rested her back on the cold stone. Aurora had never looked so weathered in a long time from the hatred of Cambria. The worst part about it was that she had to lash her heartstrings in order to save herself from the wicked Cambria. She had to forget about Asterion just after she had put her trust into him and that felt like a pain that pierced her soul. The pureblooded witch slowly slid down the stone as she wiped the tears from her face to expunge any signs of her persecution. She had to forget the act but remember the warning. After closing her eyes she thought of the feeling she had when she was flying on her broom. She felt free and unbound to the pain she had experienced as happiness filtered through her veins. The feeling of the wind blowing through her hair and upon her face brought a smile to her lips. Her brown eyes opened again and the girl had become anew with her warm disposition once more.
The other champions began filing out one by one, followed by their parallel banner bearers, leaving Asterion and Rabastan in the trophy room with the Headmaster and the Minister of Magic. Rabastan did a sort of bow towards the two of them before placing a sly smile onto his face.
"If you don't mind, I would love to congradulate my son in private. I shall return, Minister." His voice was exceptionally deeper than Asterion's and more gravely as if he'd been through a lot of pains and toils. Truely he had, for Azkaban Prison does that to the soul. Grabbing Rion's arm in a sort of vice grip, he guided him back towards the door to the Great Hall. Rion kept his face perfectly blank, not wanting his peers to see the true depth of his loathing for his father.
When the reentered the Great Hall from one of the back doors behind the Staff table, the two Lestrange males walked side by side down the center isle between the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables. Rabastan looked nothing but proud, like any father should be for their son, but his eyes showed a hidden malice; a preview of the things to come. Asterion tried to keep his face mostly blank, though he did give a very small smile and nod to those who congradulated him in passing. He wasn't about to let on that he was upset or angry about anything; he was a Slytherin Prince after all. This was the type of things that Slytherin Princes did.
Upon exiting the Great Hall, all sense of properity ceased as Rabastan grabed his son's arm once more, and steered him through the two huge oak doors to the exterior of the castle. Once out the door, Rab basically threw Rion down the few steps right outside the doors; this caused him to stumble and fall to his hands and knees in the dirt. Staying that way, Rion stared at the ground while trying to keep the angry tears that were already forming in his eyes at bay. This act only solidified his hatred for his father, and it sent home the fact that he was still very much terrified of him. Rabastan circled his son like a preditor circled a wounded animal before they pounced; and that was exactly what was about to happen
. "I take the trouble of finding you a suitible girl to wed, a pureblood wizarding family who's name goes back just as far as ours. And what do you do? You go running off with that Eckles brat!" When he said the last part, the elder Lestrange delivered a powerful kick to Asterion's abdomin area, causing him to cry out in pain while holding his ribs.
Rabastan didn't even blink an eye at Asterion's pain; in fact he looked like he rather enjoyed it. A foul smirk played upon his face as he began to circle the boy again. Rion was visibly shaking now, in both pain and fear. Why did his father always have to show up and ruin everything, why? Looking up at him for the first time, the younger Lestrange glared up at his father in a defiant way.
"I love her, father. I'd do anything for her." This was perhaps one of the worst things to say to his father, for a second later his father had a strong grip on the back of his neck, pulling him to his feet in a rough manner.
"Love has nothing to do with this. It's all about blood, and the old ways. Neither of which I value in the Eckles line. You will marry Cambria, boy. You will if you know what's good for you." With that said, he trust his son forward towards the castle doors, which he leaned against heavily in pain and loathing. He shook visibly as if he were trying to keep back a wave of emotion from flooding out.
"Now go clean yourself up, boy. No one needs to see you this weak." That was the last thing he said to his son, before gliding back into the castle to be with the other ministry officials.
Asterion stood leaning against the front door for a long moment, before stumbling slightly in the direction of the grand staircase. He had a mission on his mind; he needed to find Aurora. She was the only person he wanted to see at that moment. Only her.
After Alverez Eckles saw all the champions leave; he decided to pay a visit to his little girl. He had to explain that Rabastan’s boy was a betrothed young man and that Aurora was going down the path of ruin. The poor daughter needed to be steered from further heartbreak and disaster. Alverez walked down the halls as he smiled and waved to all of the students who knew of the famous wizard. If anyone went to a professional quidditch game or dueling tournament the man would be there to watch from the VIP box. The Slytherin graduate thought of the only place that he knew his daughter would be the most; the library. When he walked in the librarian blushed and waved in which Mr. Eckles waved back in common courtesy. He walked through a couple aisles and then he said
“There you are my pretty princess.” He grinned as he saw Aurora turn and with bright eyes she ran up to her father and embraced him happily.
“Father, are you here to assist with the tournament?” Aurora asked when she looked up at him.
“I am little angel.” Alverez sent a warm smile to his daughter. It was the same warm smile that Aurora had worn, definitely a genetic mannerism.
“I would like to speak to you about Asterion Lestrange.” His smile faded and Aurora’s went blank. She looked down at the floor as if he was scolding her which in a way he was.
“The boy is to be engaged to Cambria Nagini. I don’t know what is wrong with you two but I do not want you to look like someone who we both know you aren’t. I love you too much for you to do this.”
Aurora stared in shock at her father. She had no idea that Cambria and Asterion were arranged to wed. Aurora knew that Cambria obviously wanted to be with Asterion because of the event that happened earlier and now that it opened up Aurora’s innocent eyes; Nagini had every right to want to claim what was rightfully hers even if Asterion would do anything to avoid the proposal. Aurora’s heart couldn’t have sunk any lower to hear her own father speak this to her now. He saw the hurt in his daughter’s eyes and he frowned.
“If you want I know a young man that I can arrange you with. He’s a good boy Aurora and he can take care of you if you would only let me… I can save you from further heartbreak.” Alverez spoke gently to his daughter. He hated seeing such suffering in her eyes. It was more than he could bear.
Aurora bit her bottom lip as it quivered slightly and she looked back up at her father.
“I’ll think about it okay daddy? I need some time before I have my answer.” Alverez hugged his only child tightly.
“Of course, take as long as you need. I won’t be too far away.” Alverez said and then he left the library after kissing the top of his daughter’s head. When Aurora knew that he was gone her stomach felt like stone and her limbs were wobbly. She had been pierced with a pain that could have rivaled what Cambria did to her. Asterion had taken so long to prove his love to Aurora but she had no idea that he was predestined to be with someone else. This was going to be so much harder to do to the only person that had pursued her so devotedly and courted her so diligently. Aurora swallowed all the pain and wiped the hot tears that flowed down her pale face. She had to not look so unbecoming and she had to conceal all the hurt. She could hold herself in from crying anymore but the sorrow was saturated in her soul so her eyes would easily give it all away. Aurora walked back to her things on the table as they remained untouched and neatly positioned on the cherry wood table. She sat down and then taken a few calming breaths to get herself calm again. The Slytherin seeker packed up all of her things then walked out of the library to the common room. After getting inside, she walked to her room and dropped everything off then changed her clothes. She pulled out her music device and put the ear buds in then walked out with three of the books she had stacked in the large pile she had taken from the library earlier that day. After getting back to the library again, she sat herself down in a comfortable chair then opened her book and began to read of the Extensive and Detailed guide to Dragons.
Asterion had finally made his way through the corridors to the library. Before entering, the Slytherin boy leaned against the doorframe and pressed his hand hard against his ribs as if stinting the pain. Unless one had ever had a broken rib, it was not easy to explain such things. Taking in a deep breath, Rion walked as perfectly as he would into the library in search of his girlfriend. Through the many isles of piled books, and the many shelves of manuscripts he searched, until he came upon Aurora sitting at a small cherry desk close to the back of the room. Smiling slightly to himself, in happiness and to hide the pain.
Sauntering over to her the best he could, Asterion sat in the chair directly across from her, giving her the best smile that he could muster. Right now he was feeling such a whirlwind of emotions from the night’s happenings; fear, anger, humiliation, sadness, and a few more. Aurora’s presence always comforted him, even when they weren’t exactly on speaking terms.
“Hello, my love. I’m sorry if I’m interrupting your studies, I just wanted to be around you.” That couldn’t be any closer to the truth for the Lestrange.
Aurora shuddered as soon as he heard Asterion’s voice. Aurora closed the book slowly and gently then laid the dragon scaled book down on the desk. She found it paining to even think about gazing into those blue orbs of loving longing. Those sapphire eyes of Asterion’s; she could not get lost in for fear of unfurling all of her pain to him.
“Asterion…” her voice cracked and her jaw quivered. She wanted to bury her head into his chest and have his arms embrace her.
“W-why didn’t you tell me that you were to wed Cambria Nagini?” she wheezed on her words as if it crushed her lungs.
“I-I c-can’t be that other kind of girl. I-I’m not her and you know it Asterion.” Aurora looked at him as the last sentence ended with a little sting. Her graceful fingers glided over the smooth scales that made up the book’s cover and binding. They reflected a pretty array of colors. It must have been the opaleye dragon’s scales that were used as a model for the books unique design. Aurora’s eyes looked regretful and torn. It was as if she was dying from the inside out. She looked quickly down at the book before Asterion could find out too much of what she was going through.
“M-my father told me that you were engaged. H-he offered to find me someone to help feel better and forget the hurt. His name I-is Emmett Preacher, is in your y-year but a Hufflepuff.” She bit her lip hard and it bled a little from the agony of pushing the boy she loved, away from her grasp.
Asterion's sweet smile slowly fell from his face at what Aurora started saying about Cambria. This was not the conversation he wanted to be having right now; though he knew it would come up, he hoped it wouldn't be for a long while. Sighing, he looked down at his hands that were neatly folded on the table in front of him.
"I did not tell you because I was looking for a way to get out of it. I don't love Cambria, I could never love her." His voice was very quiet, and grim, for he knew that they were having a very serious conversation. All couples had spats, hell look at Adam and Laurie, but this was way too soon in this relationship to be having this kind of trouble.
"I know you're not like her, Aurora. It's precisely for that reason that I adore you...." He trailed off and stole one glance up at her with his sapphire eyes, searching for a ray of hope in her chocolate ones. It seemed as if she were avoiding his gaze at all costs. That thought was completely disheartening.
Upon hearing what Aurora's father proposed, Rion clenched his hands into fists so tightly that his knuckles looked quite white, and a very grim look passed his face.
"I'm sure he's a pleasant chap." He bit this out word for word, as if he were wanting to say something quite the opposite. He wasn't about to go insultig someone he didn't even know, not at a time like this. Taking in a deep breath, he let it out slowly, but painfully, trying to calm himself down before speaking again.
"Our families were very close throughout the first and second wizarding war, so naturally they wanted the families joined forever. I personally could care less what our families want." After speaking, he made sure to look straight into Aurora's eyes so that she knew he was dead serious about everything he was saying.
"I would die before I married Cambria Nagini, that much I promise you." The sad truth was, that was most likely to come true, one way or another.
Four Years Earlier
It was right before Christmas break, and Asterion was walking gallantly down the many corridors of the castle, with a pack of his good friends. Well, he wouldn’t exactly call them friends, more like minions in his mind. They did what he told them, they listened without question; minions in all senses of the word. That was until a certain voice caught his ear from behind the posse, causing him to look back in annoyance; Cambria Nagini. This witch had been in his life for as long as he could remember, for when they were very young their parents arranged a marriage between them; something that Asterion had been against ever since the beginning. He was a pureblooded wizard, no one was going to tell him whom he can or cannot marry. Poppycock.
A split second after hearing Nagini’s horrible voice, Rion dashed away from the group towards the library. That was one of the few places he knew he could hide from the other Slytherin girl, for there were many shelves to dash around, causing confusion enough to run out to another hiding place. The library was a nice quiet place where most of the brainiest hid to do their studies, or just read for fun; Rion would never really admit that he could often be found here doing the same exact thing. Upon entering the resting place of thousands of ancient and new books alike, he slowed he pace to a jog, and darted around the many shelves of books, hoping to lose Cambria among them. But what happened next was something he wasn’t expecting.
Rounding a corner, Rion ran smack dab into another student, causing both of them to tumble over in a pile of books and flailing body parts. A look of sheer agitation was quite present upon the Slytherin’s face as he tried to untangle himself from the foolish git who had dared run into him, though he was the one at fault. But a split second later, his face went blank as he took in whom he had run into. It was a female of Slytherin house, fourth year if he remembered correctly; and she was absolutely beautiful. Her brown hair was long and elegant, and her eyes were of the purest chocolate brown; her frame was slender, but well rounded as well. Aurora Eckles.
It was as if the gods had arranged the cosmos for them to run into each other, like it was meant to be. Asterion quickly got to his feet, and pulled her to her feet as well, before opening his mouth to apologize for ramming into her. But at the moment he was about to do so, she squeaked out a quick
“Sorry!” before high tailing it out of the Library, leaving the pile of books she had been carrying behind. As he watched her run, her brown hair swaying behind her, he then knew what his life’s ambition was going to be. Aurora would be his; there was no doubt in his mind. If there were such things as this, it was love at first sight.
Now...
Aurora was completely quiet as she listened to Asterion’s words. They iced her pain temporarily only to amplify from trying harder to push him away. She licked the blood from her lip as she felt it became harder for her to breath. The longer she was with him the easier it would take for Cambria or Rabastan or even Alverez to see them together. Her time had to be short to get the point across. Her main concern was the woman who brought an illegal curse upon her and threatened her life practically. Wizards and witches died from the effects of the torture curse and if Aurora did not heed her warning she knew that her amount of time under Cambria’s wand would have doubled. She cleared her throat to make sure that she spoke distinctly as she looked into his eyes. Her eyes held all the suffering she had encountered under Cambria’s wrath. Aurora then finally spoke as her eyes started looking glassy.
“Cambria.. made sure that I was never to be with you again… s-she did something….unforgiveable.” that was all that Aurora could muster and she knew that Asterion was a smart enough boy to conclude what happened between the two girls. Aurora broke her gaze with her love and looked down as she writhed her hands together anxiously from the confession. She was trying to keep herself from collapsing into a sobbing fit. Speaking of the torture that felt like hot knives stabbing into her body was a pain she would have never wished upon anyone and to know that Cambria did it to her without any regret and even enjoyment was demonic. Granted, Aurora would never hurt anyone intentionally unless she was competing in jousting, quidditch, dueling, and sword fighting but even then she made sure that there was no malice in her actions.
The look on Asterion's face went from grim to positively lethal as he took in the look of Aurora's eyes. They held the true suffering of someone who had gone through unspeakable pain, and survived: The Torture Curse. Slamming his fist down on the table, the pile of books that Aurora had accumulated tumbled to the ground at the force of his strike.
"How dare she...I'll kill her." His voice came out as barely a growl as he tried to get to his feet rather quickly. But his ribs objected at his sudden movement. This caused him to stumble slightly into the edge of the table, holding his ribs in pain with an almost inaudible hiss. His father really did a number on him, but he wasn't about to go to the hospital wing. How on earth would he explain why the newly selected champion of Slytherin acquired two broken ribs in less than an hour of being chosen?
Lowering himself gingerly back into his chair, Rion gritted his teeth until the pain subsided enough for him to speak to Aurora again; this time a bit more civilly.
"Unfortunately...my father seems to think on the same wavelength as Cambria..." He looked over Aurora as if saying the obvious, his father was the reason for that little episode of weakness he had just experienced. Taking a few deep breaths, he decided to continue despite the growing pain in his side, and in his heart. He hoped that this wasn't the end of a beautiful relationship that barely began.
"I can't lose you Aurora....I just can't live without you....there has to be a way.." The pain in his sapphire eyes made them shine with a inner passion, a passion for the love they shared for each other.
Aurora jumped slightly in her chair at Asterion’s reaction. She watched the books she had neatly stacked beside her come tumbling down due to the forceful vibrations that the table absorbed. Aurora’s eyes went wide and she shook her head in horror. Killing someone even if they were horrible was never the answer to anything. What good would it do? Aurora had been overcome with shock as she saw him stagger from abruptly rising to his feet from his chair. Something was wrong with him and he was not like this earlier. Someone had done something to him as well. Her heart ached when he eased himself back into his seat. Aurora had to do something for him because being in this state was unfair and as a champion of their house he had to be in good shape. Then it clicked to her why he was feeling this way after he spoke of his father being on the same wavelength as the demented Cambria. He hurt him too and it brought a forlorn look upon her pretty face. Aurora thought his father was cruel for what he did to Asterion. If a father had his son be chosen to compete? Why cripple him with such abuse? He had to have been clouded by his own dark heart. When Aurora saw the way Asterion looked at her as he pleaded her to stay with him she looked down and her gaze shifted to several other places on the floor as if thinking of something; any possible way that they could be happy together.
Aurora then stood up and taken out her wand. She flicked her wrist and the books she had stacked on the table rose up and fleeted to their respectable places on the shelves in the library. Her hands gently helped Asterion out of his chair and she whispered in his ear.
“Please, I need you to come with m-me. You can’t continue to be this way, I won’t allow it.” She looked into his deep blue eyes and he looked confused at her sudden reactions but he nodded. The two left the library secretly together while avoiding as many students as possible. Ducking behind statues and corners of hallways, sleeking about in the shadows was a natural talent of slytherin students so they were able to get into the dungeons undetected by anyone. Aurora and Asterion walked into the common room and Aurora took her boyfriend’s hand and guided him down the hallway to where the girl’s dorm rooms were. She could still see Asterion purse his lips and wince in pain but she gave him a reassuring and loving gaze as she helped him into her room. Once they were inside Aurora had sat him slowly upon the bed and he still grasped his chest to show that his suffering was still evident. Aurora then pulled out a sack and unloaded a huge array of potions on the bed that he sat upon, next to him. All of the potions together were not only just healing ones, they were a great many things. All the small bottles and vials were securely corked and the colorful glass sparkled. All of them were labeled
Faust’s Famous Concoctions and the name of the specific potion, brew, or draught was located under the brand name. “My uncle Faust had given these to me. He’s a rather brilliant man; I’m sure you’d love him.” Aurora said with a charming smile as she plucked a purple glass vial from her collection. She uncorked it and handed it to her love.
“It’s a quick fix for ribs since I do not trust my episkey spell enough for something like this. I do not want to risk puncturing a lung if done incorrectly.” She smiled slightly as the genius girl sat down beside Asterion.
The trek through the cooridors and the winding halls of the dungeons took quite a bit more time that it should have, but then again Asterion was quite a bit slower than usual. The two would side in the dark corners, or the shadows behind stattues when they thought others were looking their way. It was best for no one to see them, lest word got back to Cambria that they were seen together. That would bode ill for both of the Slytherins. When the two entered the common room, Asterion tried to walk a little taller and prouder, for he didn't want others to see him in such a state; he was too proud a snake for that. But a rather confused look came upon his face when Aurora led him to her room up in the girls' dormitories; weren't boys forbidden to be there? Shrugging off the feeling of worry, he let himself be guided into her room by the hand, he other pressed against his ribs as if to hold in the pain they were emiitting. Hissing lightly in pain as he was seated upon her bed, he watched her go to work, siffeling through her many bottle of potions. At first, he wondered if she had been the one to create them all, until she spoke of her uncle Faust.
A look of confusion passed over his face as he listened to her speaking of her uncle, but it couldn't be the same Faust that Rion had looked up to for so many years. Could it really be?
"Your uncle is Faust, as in The Faust?" His sapphire blue eyes held nothing but wonder as he took in that little bit of information. The change of possibly meeting his idol of so long made his heart quite giddy, so much so that he barely even registered the fact that Aurora put a potion into his hands. He merely just took a sip of it. A second later, he gasped in slight pain as his broken ribs righted themselves by snapping back into place. Quite frankly he wasn't sure what was worse, the pain from being righted, or the taste of the potion. Grimacing slightly, he handed the vile back to Aurora.
"That was dreadful, but effective." Was all the grumbled out, as if he were a child forced to take medicine that he clearly didn't want to take.
Rion let is azure gaze dance across the many bottles and vials of potion that Aurora had emptied from a sack onto her bed. There were so many different shapes and sizes, and for many different uses. And as if on cue, his eyes widened exponentially, before he turned to Aurora with a look of hope in his eyes. Taker her hands in his, he shook lightly from the amount of passion that was in his voice.
"What if there was a way for us to escape Cambria? A way for her to forget her lust for me?" Asterion closed his eyes for a second, as if thinking over exactly what they could do to fix this horrible situation that they found themselves in.
"What if we created a potion to make her forget? I'm sure your uncle would know of something we could do." The look in his eyes was almost heart breaking, for it held that childish hope that something, anything, could help them.
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