Wings of Hope
Author's Note: Well, I just couldn't take it any longer. It's incredibly hard to write a story where the main character doesn't speak, particularly when she's screaming in my head to make her say something (My characters do that sometimes). So it won't be long now before Aureilia's a non mute character. Anyway...oh, Quidditch tryouts in this one. More credit to Ith and Dove, I agree totally with what they said about the Quidditch team fifth year, so I'm supporting them on that.
Chapter Four: Like a Bird on the Wing
How long can a girl be tortured by you?
And how long before my dignity is reclaimed?
How long can a girl be haunted by you?
Soon I'll grow up and I won't even flinch at your name.
-Alanis Morrisette, Under Rug Swept
Aureilia looked up at Professor Delacour, then looked away again, covering her face. The young woman sniffed. Do not act so vairy vain. Everyone cries. It is not zat big of a deal.
Aureilia didn't turn. Fleur sighed, and shook her head. Aureilia could see from the corner of heer eye the teacher's white-blonde hair flying around her head in a floaty cloud. Mademoiselle Rose, I can see I will be aving more trouble wis you zan I ad anticipated. Ow you can stand to be so wisdrawn is beyond me. It is quite perplexing.
She walked around so that Aureilia was staring right at her through her fingers, and sat down in front of her. Professor McGonagall sent me to find you. You must ave realized by now zat I am to be your mentor of sort here at Ogwarts, no?
Fleur took Aureilia's hands and pulled them away from her face. You'll ave to look at me, Mademoiselle, or else I cannot understand ze words you do not say. Did no one tell you zat you were to ave a mentor to alp you get adjusted ere at
Aureilia nodded slowly. Fleur sighed. But zey did not say oo, I am sure. Mon dieu...Mademoiselle Rose, do not look away from me. I do not appreciate it.
Aureilia turned her head back to Fleur, focusing just below her chin. Fleur closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and leaned forward, taking the locket from Aureilia's hand. What is zis? It's lovely.
Aureilia took it back, and shook her head. Fleur frowned. Is it private? Can you not even say what it is?
Aureilia looked down, then opened the locket a tiny bit. She closed it before Fleur could see the picture, but Fleur understood. Ah. A locket. I understand zat now. What I do not understand is why you ran out of class in such a
She crossed stretched out her legs and crossed her ankles. Without even seeming to think about it, Aureilia tucked her legs underneath her so as not to infringe on Fleur. She titled her head for a minute, thinking, then looked at Fleur significantly. She theatrically clutched at her heart, rolled her eyes backward, opened her mouth in a silent scream, and fell backwards. After lying there for a moment, she sat back up, and looked at the teacher curiously.
Fleur's forehead wrinkled slightly in thought, then she ventured, Somesing frightened you?
Aureilia shook her head, and help up her thumb, tilted slight upward but pointing to the side. Fleur sighed. 'Ow difficult. Zes would be much easier if you would just speak, but...all right. You were frightened, but zat is not all. A nightmare of some sort?
Aureilia thumb moved slightly more in the upward direction. Fleur's brow creased a little more. You were frightened because of a nigthmare...I am not sure I understand what I am missing. She paused, then pulled a tiny roll of paper out of one voluminous sleeve. She handed it to Aureilia, then removed a quill from the other sleeve. Are you adverse to writing it out?
Aureilia shook her head, and scrawled a quick explanation on the paper. She held it up so that Fleur could see the two words written in the thin, long letters: Panic attack.
Fleur's eyes widened slightly, then she nodded. I see. Zat does make sense. Well, in zat case I am certain Professor McGonagall with be a bit more understanding. We may want to see if you can take ze rest of ze day off to recover. You still do not look vairy well.
Aureilia looked down at her hands, and realized they were already shaking from reaction to the attack. She nodded emphatically, and tucked her hands into her lap.
Fleur watched her for a moment in silence, then asked quietly, 'As zees appened to you before?
Aureilia started, then nodded slightly, eyes down.
For ow long?
Aureilia held up one finger.
A year? Yes? Zat is about ow long ago you stopped speaking, no?
She nodded, a little surprised that the young woman knew that little bit of information, but growing tired from the attack and not really caring.
And yet you did not stop talking until well after your family was killed. It was after you and your friends were kidnapped, is zat correct, Rei-Rei?
Aureilia looked up, eyes furious, and a moment later, Fleur winced and fell back onto her elbows with a gasp. Merde! You did not ave to be so violent, Mademoiselle Rose!
Aureilia looked down, peering up angrily at Fleur through her lashes. Fleur blinked, and rubbed her head. All right, per'aps I deserved it. But I am only trying to find out more about my pupil. I do not sink zat warrants a full-blown attack.
Aureilia shifted her gaze to her hands, letting her anger smolder. Fleur sighed, and stood. Two steps forward, and two steps back. Mademoiselle, we need to get back inside before we bos' freeze in zees abominable English weazer.
She helped Aureilia up. The minute she could stand on her own without swaying, Aureilia snatched her arm away from Fleur and moved away from her, walking slightly unsteadily back into the school. Fleur followed at a slight distance, close enough to help if the girl fell but far enough away that Aureilia wouldn't feel closed in.
Once they reached the portrait of the fat lady, Aureilia stopped, then sullenly looked at Fleur. Without saying a word, Fleur simply strode forward to the portrait.
she fat lady asked, looking around. The portrait swung aside, and Aureilia stepped through the entrance. Behind her, Fleur held back the picture just long enough to call after her.
Aureilia turned.
You cannot keep all zees to yourself, you know. Fleur smiled sadly. No matter what you ave been srough, you are still but a leetle girl. If you need anyone to talk wis, come to my office. We ave more in common zan you may sink.
Aureilia turned back around without replying, and the portrait swung closed behind her.
*
Hermione split off from Ron and Harry almost as soon as they left the last class of the day. I'll see you two later!
Wait! Hermione! Ron called. Where are you off to?
I'm checking up on Aureilia! she called back over her shoulder. I asked Professor Sprout while you two were cleaning up why she wasn't in class, and he said she'd been excused for the day to recover! I want to make sure she's all right by herself!
She hurried around a corner without waiting for a reply, and practically jogged to the Gryffindor tower. She paused to catch her breath, then walked sedately to the fat lady.
The fat lad sighed, and swung aside. Hermione walked in, breathing a little more slowly, and stepped into the common room. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dimness of the room-almost every light had been extinguished. Once she could see better, Hermione spotted Aureilia sitting in a chair, back almost completely to the entrance, staring intently at something.
Hermione moved closer, identifying the object as a necklace of some kind. Aureilia didn't seem to notice her at all. She was totally absorbed in her thoughts. Hermione lay a hand gently on her shoulder. Are you all right, Aureilia?
The girl gasped, and fell out of the chair. The back of her head hit the chair with a loud crack, and her eyes unfocused for a second. Hermione cried out, and moved to help her. Aureilia put a hand to the back of her head, touching it gingerly. She let out a hiss of pain, and shrieked. God, that stings!
Both girls froze. Hermione looked at Aureilia. The tiny girl seemed surprised herself. After a moment, she shook herself, and pulled herself to her feet using the chair. She looked at Hermione, annoyed. Well, thanks a lot! I've spent the last year not saying a word, and you go a break my silence with that little stunt!
Aureilia's voice was raspy from disuse, but Hermione could just barely detect an accent and a lovely wispy voice underneath the scratchiness. Aureilia rolled her eyes. I never thought I'd blow the whole thing just because someone made me hit my head!
She pushed past Hermione and headed towards the portrait hole. I need something to drink. When you haven't talked for over a year and you're suddenly forced to scream at the top of your lungs, it hurts.
Hermione stared after her, still speechless. Aureilia turned around suddenly. Oh, and don't breathe a word of this to anyone. If I find out you've told even a single person I can talk, I'll sneak into your room one night and stick a bat up your nightdress.
She left the tower quickly, coughing slightly. Hermione stared at where she'd been for a long moment, then blinked, recovering. Wait a second! We share a room!
*
Harry was a wreck when the start of Quidditch season rolled around. It had been a long time since he'd played, after all, due to the cancellation of all Quidditch gams the previous year, and without Oliver and Katie playing, they would have to find a new Chaser and Keeper before the first game.
That rather pressing problem was the reason Angelina, who had become the new team captain after Oliver's graduation, decided to hold tryouts the day of their first practice.
If Harry was in a fret about playing after so long, and with new two new team members nonetheless, Ron was a total wreck. He wouldn't explain why, but he seemed to be fretting about the season as much as Harry. He spent very little time with his friends, and never told where he was when they went looking for him and he wasn't there. Hermione seemed to know something, but Harry was so worried that he couldn't pick up on a thing from Ron.
Besides, he had a new task at hand-convincing a certain girl to try out for the team.
It started a few days before tryouts. Draco Malfoy and his Slytherin cronies still hadn't let up on Aureilia for her silence. The verbal teasing had worn off, only to be replaced by the rather childish trick of using Summoning Charms to hurl strange objects at the girl at all hours of the day. It had taken a bit for them to developed their aim, and for the first day or two, Aureilia hadn't eve had to dodge the flying objects very much at all-they went flying in every direction but at her. However, three days before the practice, Pansy Parkinson had been the first to be able to consistently hurl her chosen projectiles directly at Aureilia.
It hadn't taken anyone very long to realize even that wasn't going to faze the transfer student.
The first few objects Aureilia had merely dodged by moving just slightly out of their way. Then Draco and a few others began changing the direction of the objects to intercept her. They'd begun with a rather large book. Harry had been extremely frightened when it went flying past his head in the hallway, and even more frightened when he realized it was headed straight for Aureilia without the girl even turning around. It was large enough to really hurt her.
He and Hermione had both begun to call out, but when the book was about six inches from her, Aureilia glanced back, sighed, and caught it as easily as breathing. Harry's mouth dropped open. Aureilia flipped the book in her hand, and a moment later it was whizzing through the air back in the direction it had come from.
This had continued for the next two days. No matter what object it was, how large, how fast it was moving, or what direction it came from, even if Aureilia didn't seem to notice it, she could catch it and send it right back at her attacker. More than a couple of Slytherins were put in the hospital wing for a few hours to recover from a blow to the head or a broken finger. It was something Harry would've thought was impossible-and yet Aureilia could do it without exerting the least bit of energy.
Then, the day of tryouts, Madame Hooch decided to let anyone interested in tryouts have a free hour to prepare. Harry was more than a little surprised to see Ron immediately hop onto his broom and go shooting off. He turned to Hermione. I never knew Ron wanted to be on the team.
Of course he did. That's why he's been gone so much, Hermione whispered back. He's been working like a madman to prepare.
A broom went zipping past them, then halted, then continued it path. It moved stealthily, stopping and then moving again, right towards Aureilia. Hermione sighed. They don't give up, do they? She'll be able to see the coming a mile aw-Harry, look!
Aureilia was walking straight at the broom. Draco, noticing her advance, immediately terminated the charm, but before the broom hit the ground, Aureilia grasped it with one hand. She swung her leg over it and rose off the ground with practiced ease and grace. She paused to flip her braids behind her shoulders, then shot forward towards Draco. She leaned over the broom just slightly, and her speed picked up so that her long braids flew out almost totally straight behind her. Draco blinked, narrowed his eyes, and hopped onto his broom. He pushed off, soaring high above Aureilia, and laughed. Look at this! The retard's too slow to even figure out you're supposed to fly up, not just-
His words were cut off as the Aureilia abruptly changed her direction, flying straight up at him at almost a right angle with the ground, preparing to intercept right underneath his broom. He swung the the side, and Aureilia halted the broom within a hair of her destination. She righted herself, and glared at him. He smirked smugly. Not bad. But not nearly good enough.
Aureilia's eyes narrowed, and she dropped a few feet below Draco. He laughed. Giving up already?
She shook her head, smilingly faintly, and flew sedately forward. It took everyone on the ground, as well as Draco in the air, until the minute she stopped that she was directly under Draco's hands.
Aureilia smiled, switched her position so she was sitting sidesaddle on the broom, and daintily kicked upward. Her foot connected solidly with Draco's knuckles, and he cried out, releasing his broom. He plummeted towards the ground, resulting in gasps and screams from the crowd below.
Without pause, Aureilia calmly zipped down and caught him by the robe. She lowered him to the ground, then dismounted herself. She thwacked him in the knees with it before heading back to where she'd been sitting before.
Ron walked back over to Harry and Hermione. Did she grow up flying or something?
Harry whistled. She's definitely trying out for the team.
What is she doesn't want to? Hermione objected. She hasn't shown any interest before!
I don't think Angelina's going to let her get away once I tell her about this, Harry said with a smile. But if you insist-oi, Aureilia!
The girl looked up, and raised an eyebrow quizzically. Harry waved. Want to try out for the house Quidditch team?
She shrugged, nodded, and went back to reading.
*
Angelina sighed as Colin Creevy crashed headlong into the ground trying to dodge a Bludger. Nice try, Creevy. Next, we have Ron Weasley!
Ron flew out onto the field, obviously incredibly nervous even from Harry's viewpoint. Fred and George whistled and clapped, and Angelina had to look at them for a long time before the teasing catcalls they were giving their brother tapered off. Angelina tossed the Quaffle from hand to hand. All right, Weasley, let's see how well you can catch and block.
She waved for Fred to come and give her a hand. He grinned wickedly and flew up to join her. Within moments, a wild game of mid-air catch was in full swing as Ron blocked, caught, and returned the Quaffle to Angelina with only one miss. Angelina finally blew the whistle around her neck, borrowed with permission from Madame Hooch. All right! George, bring out the Bludgers!
George soared into the air, carrying the two Bludgers in a tightly closed basket in one hand, and the two bats in the other. He tossed a bat at Fred, then opened the basket. The Bludgers shot out, and Angelina tossed the Quaffle at one of the goals again.
Ron's performance wasn't quite as flawless this time-he let three shots get past him, and was spun in a circle when one of the Bludgers hit the front of his broom-but it was still the most impressive job out of everyone who had tried out that day. Harry smiled and gave Ron a thumbs-up from where he watched in the stands. Ron grinned back, then knocked the Quaffle away from the farthest goal.
Angelina blew the whistle again. All right! very good job, Weasley. Last up, we have Aureilia Rose!
Aureilia flew casually through the air, and Harry blinked from his seat. Ever since the first day of the school year, she'd worn her long dark hair in those two plaits. Now, however, her hair was in a single tight braid down her back. It wasn't a significant change, nor was it an impractical one-a single braid would get in the way less than two, after all-but it was still a change. Harry was more than a little startled.
Aureilia nodded at Angelina, who immediately launched into the catch-and-block trial.
And Harry's jaw practically unhinged.
If watching her chase Draco earlier that day had been wild, this took his breath away. Aureilia didn't use many of the tricks to increase speed and mobility that were second nature to him, but she seemed to be able to make small adjustments that were twice as effective without even thinking about it. She wasn't quite as quick as Harry himself was, but Harry's strengths lay more in his speed and agility. He was good, but even he knew that there were areas he had to work on.
Aureilia may not have been quite as good in Harry's strongest areas, but she was equally strong in his weaker areas. She was, undeniably, the best flyer he'd ever seen. He was certain she had to be even better than he was. She took to the sky like she was born there.
Aureilia didn't miss a single catch. Not once did the Quaffle get past her into one of the goals. Below, Harry saw Ron tense up, and he suddenly became very worried. Now that he knew how badly Ron wanted to be on the team, he wanted desperately for it to happen. But Ron wasn't fast enough or agile enough to be a Chaser, and Aureilia could be taking his chance at Keeper before his eyes.
The whistle blew, and the Bludgers went out. Harry felt his heart sink into his boots. The tiny girl was even better at dodging the Bludgers than she was catching. And she was quick enough to be able to turn right back around and get the Quaffle away from the goals. She knew tricks Harry had never seen before, and used them effortlessly. She was a natural.
Harry hoped violently that for a change, the twins would put in a good word for their brother.
Finally, the trials ended. Angelina, Fred, and George landed, and waved for Harry to come down from the stands. The team conversed briefly before making their selections.
Ron's good, Angelina said in surprise. I never knew he was that good. We could definitely use him. He was one of the best out there.
What about Aureilia? George said quietly. Harry blinked, and looked at him. George seemed perfectly composed, but his lips kept trying to twitch into a smile, and for either of the twins to be suppressing some sort of grin was a highly unusual occurrence.
She was easily the best, Angelina said carefully. I'm worried about that not speaking thing, though.
I wouldn't, Harry interjected. She follows directions well enough, and she's every good and communicating even without words. I've seen it in class.
Fred frowned in concentration. Ron really deserves a spot, but Aureilia didn't miss a single shot. With her as Keeper, there'd be no contest. I don't think anything gets past her.
Harry's stomach dropped. Angelina nodded. I agree. Rose? she called, stepping out of the group.
Aureilia stepped forward, and Harry noticed with a second start that the bland look in her eyes was no longer there.
Rose, how would you like to be Keeper for the team?
Harry could see Ron's face fall. He closed his eyes, trying not to look at his friend, then focused on Aureilia.
To his surprise, she shook her head. Angelina raised an eyebrow. No? Why not?
She pointed at Ron, then at herself, and finally at Angelina. Angelina blinked, then looked at Harry. I'm not practiced enough. What?
Aureilia pointed to herself again, then at Angelina. Harry translated. She wants to be a Chaser like you, Angelina.
Angelina's eyebrows shot up into her hair. Why didn't we think of that? She be a fabulous Chaser! Are you sure you don't want to be Keeper, though? You're very good.
Aureilia shook her head, gave Angelina the thumbs-down sign, then pointed at Ron. She smiled, and kept pointing until Angelina threw up her hands. All right! You're right. Ron's a much better choice for Keeper. Weasley!
Ron looked up, surprised.
You're our new Keeper. Rose will be a Chaser. The rest of you, I'm sorry, but please try out again next year.
Aureilia smiled at Ron and Harry, and waved as she started off. HArry watched her for a moment, and his eyes widened in surprised as George split off to intercept her. His voice was low, but Harry could still hear him. Congratulations. I'm glad you made the team. I can't wait to practice with you.
Aureilia nodded, and George grinned. Do you have a nickname or anything I can call you? Aureilia's a mouthful.
She blinked, smiled, and Harry's mouth dropped open again.
she said in a quiet, high voice, and she left the field.