AN: As always let us begin with the first verse of the Harry Potter Bible, Chapter 1, Verse 1: I own nothing and it all belongs to JK Rowling, long may she reign. I don't necessarily write for reviews, follows, and favorites, but they are one hell of a motivator to keep writing, so thank you all for them. I struggled with this chapter, and I'm still not sure it ended how I wanted, but I couldn't do much better. There are a couple moments that I do love, and I hope it makes up for the rest. Hopefully y'all enjoy it and if you don't, whatever floats your boat y'all.
"Did you place your name in the Goblet of Fire?" Dumbledore asked calmly. The whole room was tense, accusations of cheating had already been said, and James Potter, who had come in with Sirius Black and Dumbledore, looked furious.
"No." Thomas answered. Aries noted that a third man with greasy hair and a hooked nose made a soft noise of impatient disbelief. He recognized him as Severus Snape, the youngest potions master in history, or at least he had been. Snape's books on potions had been some of Aries' favorite growing up and he looked forward to learning from him personally.
"Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?"
"No." he answered vehemently, but Aries could see that he was afraid.
"Ah, but of course 'e is lying!" cried Madame Maxine.
"Of course he's not." Aries venomous statement cut off the argument before it could continue. "Look at him, only a fool could believe that he did it. He's terrified, as he should be."
"Black's right," a man gruffed from near the door. He only had one real eye, the other being a magical one that swirled around the room and he hobbled on a wooden leg towards them. "He's been forced to compete. They've all got to compete. Binding magical contract and the like. Rather convenient, eh?"
"Convenient?" Kakaroff asked. "I'm afraid I don't understand you Moody." Ah, he was the Auror, Alastor Moody, though most called him Mad-Eye if Aries remembered correctly. Aries did not miss the way his headmaster attempted to belittle the Auror.
"Don't you?" Moody growled. "It's very simple Kakaroff, someone put Potter's name in the Goblet knowing he'd have to compete. People have died in this tournament, and someone is probably hoping Potter is going to die from it."
They finally let the champions leave after a pointless argument in Aries' opinion. The Goblet of Fire was a magical binding contract and so now four champions would compete in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. He could tell that Delacour had been interested in walking with him out of the castle, but Madame Maxine had held her back. Unfortunate as the last thing he wanted was to be with Kakaroff alone. The man annoyed him to no end, and while Aries respected the position he held, the man was a coward pure and simple. Thankfully Kakaroff was pulled aside by the potions master and he was able to enjoy a quiet walk back.
The halls, and his mind, had a different idea however. Much like eight years ago when Aries had visited the Chamber of Secrets, memories that did not belong to him floated to the forefront of his mind. He could remember taking that hall to the boy's room, and he undoubtedly knew that that left turn could lead him down to the Slytherin common room, even though he had never been there. It was a lot to take in and he welcomed the void, pushing the assaulting memories back in the recesses of his mind.
Aries exited the castle and breathed in the fresh air. The Spanish galleon that he'd call home for the next year looked remarkable in the cloudless sky, a half moon shining its light onto the great lake. Professor von Reich greeted him on the deck, a glass of firewhiskey in his hand. He was tempted to join him, knowing his mentor would allow him a glass or two, but his friends were most likely waiting up for him, putting up with Muller's gambling, and so he headed to his cabin. The moment he was through the door a small body attacked him with a vicious hug. Arianna pulled back with a large smile, and Haydn and Ivan looked equally pleased.
"Congratulations!" she shouted in German. "Too bad that Potter boy went and ruined it for everyone. Doesn't he have enough fame already?"
"How did that work out Aries?" Ivan asked as Haydn took the opportunity to deal him in. Aries gave a shake of his head at his friend's addiction, taking a seat next to Arianna on his bunk.
"Potter did not enter willingly, that was obvious."
"Legilimency?" Haydn offered. Aries glanced at his hand before answering, he'd lose this round. Did Haydn cheat or was he just bad at cards?
"Yes and no, it was clear on his face that he was terrified. One of the Aurors seem to think someone's out to get Potter. But he'll compete. Four champions. Makes for a rather interesting tournament." Haydn would have had them play until sunrise, but the moment Arianna started dosing on his shoulder Aries sent them back to their own cabins. They had filled him in on the student exchange and the fifth year Durmstrang students would shadow the Slytherin's in Potions, Transfiguration, and Charms. Professor von Reich would teach them Battle Magic and Runes. Krum had already put together a team for the Quidditch tournament and no one argued against the Bulgarian star. Aries would have to make it a point to talk to the older boy, he had been looking forward to competing in the Tri-Wizard Tournament and he wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings. Viktor's friendship, and future connections, was an asset he did not want to lose.
Aries had enjoyed the potions class, though he was disappointed he did not get to see the potions master brew himself. Professor Snape had simply left instructions on the board and left them to brew, spending the lesson antagonizing the Gryffindors to the endless amusements of the Slytherins. Transfiguration reminded him much of his own professor back at Durmstrang and he welcomed the strictness that the old woman brought. His only disappointment was that his class was further ahead than Hogwarts, making it much more of a review than an actual learning experience. Charms had been his favorite so far, the miniature wizard being much more interesting than theirs at Durmstrang, whose dull, monotone voice only sounded alive next to Professor Binns.
It was that Thursday following Charms, that Aries decided to go for a stroll outside Hogwarts. The fresh air was much welcome compared to the frigidness one breathed in at Durmstrang. He had a feeling one could really enjoy learning at Hogwarts, but the survival lessons taught at Durmstrang put all of its students leagues ahead of its counterpart in his opinion. Aries stroll had brought him down to the lake, where he found Thomas Potter skipping rocks into the lake with as much enthusiasm as Draco put into being nice to muggleborns. He was not oblivious and had seen many of the Hogwarts students wearing badges claiming Diggory as the 'Real Hogwarts Champion,' though occasionally it would change to say 'Potter Stinks.' It had been a rather ingenious idea of Draco's, one that even he found amusing, but many had taken it the extreme. Aries had also noticed that the two fourth years that had sat next to Potter at the welcome feast ignored him and much of his house avoided him besides a red headed third year and a chubby fourth year. He was not sure why he walked towards the boy, but he was also a champion after all, and as much as Aries loathed to admit it, the boy was being forced to compete, and did not deserve the way the rest of the school treated him.
"Potter." The Black boy greeted. Thomas looked up surprised and almost dropped his handful of rocks at seeing the Durmstrang student.
"Oh, hello." Thomas returned the greeting awkwardly. "You're Aries Black right?"
"Indeed I am." The Potter boy had a rather confused look on his face before turning back to the lake.
"Are you related to Sirius?" Aries bit back the sarcastic remark. It would not do to anger a potential connection, one that may have serious political influence in the future.
"Yes, I'm his nephew. His brother, Regulus, was my father."
"The Death Eater?!" Potter had fixed a rather scared look on his face. This was the wizarding world's savior? He was afraid of a dead man! Could he even say the Dark Lord's name or did he say You-Know-Who like the rest of them?
"Yes, though if I remember correctly, the Dark Lord killed him, so I'm not sure why that would matter." That had come out far more sarcastic than Aries meant, but it seemed to relax the boy, who continued skipping rocks into the lake.
"Sirius wants to talk to you, but I think he's scared you'll reject him or something." Ah, so that explained his uncle's distance.
"You can tell him that I'll talk to him, though it would be best if kept his expectations of me locked up."
"Yeah Sirius tends to be a little irrational sometimes," Thomas said with a grin. "I'll let him know." Silence spread out between them, Potter continued to skip rocks and Aries looked to the forest, longing to change and run through the trees. He shook his head, that was a secret too great to risk being caught, especially in the daylight.
"I see your friends have abandoned you." Not a very sensitive way to say it, but Aries tended to be rather blunt. Thomas winced and chose to chuck the next rock, rather than skip it.
"Yeah, they don't believe that I didn't put my name into the cup."
"And does everyone believe that?"
"I think so." Potter glanced up at the castle, and Aries could tell he was deep in thought.
"Let me give you a life lesson Potter," Aries began, waiting until Potter looked at him before continuing. "Friends are nice, but at the end of the day all you have is yourself. If they don't believe your word, then they aren't good friends any way. I saw that boy you were with, Weasley I think? He looked at the cup like it was the answer to all his problems. And then dropped you in a second when he thought you robbed him of it. That's not the kind of person you want to be around. Make some new friends Potter, ones that believe you and value what you say. Forget these people, and when the first task comes, prove them wrong. Prepare yourself rather than sitting around moping, or this tournament will kill you."
Aries wasn't sure why he had helped Potter, but at the time it seemed the right thing to do. The second week of classes went by quickly and the First Task, set to take place on the first of November, was now only two weeks away. He had found an abandoned classroom on the third floor that he used to practice some of his spells and his friends routinely joined him to throw out ideas of their own. It was on the Tuesday in their third week, while Aries was making his way to Transfiguration, that he was at last confronted by Sirius Black. His uncle had been floating around often, always seeming to be on the verge of saying something to him but deciding against it at the last second.
"Aries! Hold up!" The Black boy turned around with an expectant look on his face.
"Uncle Sirius," Aries almost drawled. "It's good to finally meet you."
"So, you do know me." That was a rather ridiculous statement considering the conversation he had had with Potter last week. "Where are you headed?"
"Transfiguration. I'm assuming you'd like to walk with me?"
"Yeah sure." He allowed Sirius to lead and to give him a moment to collect his thoughts. It was obvious that his uncle was unsure of what exactly to say, but he waited patiently for him to decide.
"How are you finding Hogwarts?" Sirius asked at last.
"Warm, Durmstrang tends to be much colder than here." Aries noticed the way Sirius' face darkened at the mention of his school but chose to ignore it. "Draco and his friends have been kind enough to welcome us with open arms."
"The Malfoy boy? Why are you hanging around with him?"
"He's been my friend since I was five years old, and considering my mother was a Malfoy I don't think I need much more of an explanation."
"His father was a Death Eater-"
"As was mine."
"And you're hanging around the people who followed the man that killed him! People who love the Dark Arts!" Aries rolled his eyes.
"I think you're forgetting that I go to a school that teaches the Dark Arts. And besides Regulus killed himself uncle."
"What?" Sirius asked incredulously, the last statement catching him off guard. It wasn't the truth per say, but it was from Aries' point of view.
"I do not blame the Dark Lord for killing my father." he answered statement only seemed to anger his uncle even more.
"Don't call him that! You sound like one of them! And how could you not blame him?!" Aries rolled his eyes and stopped to face the man.
"My father joined the Dark Lord willingly, and then betrayed him. If I had been in the Dark Lord's position I would have done the same. Betraying someone as powerful as him is not a good idea for staying alive." Anger rose up in Aries and he fought to control the desire to hex his only other family member. "And what about you Sirius? How many Death Eaters have you killed? How many children have you left without a father? Is their hatred of you any less deserving because their fathers were not killed by a dark lord? No, Sirius, the Dark Lord is not to blame. If anyone is to blame it's you." Sirius had paled considerably at that statement, and was backed against the wall, almost seeming to want to run away from Aries' upcoming accusations. "My father came to you days before he was killed. It's in his journal he left with my mother. I don't know why he betrayed the Dark Lord, and why it was a big enough deal to be dealt with personally. All I do know is that he came to you for help and you turned your back on him. You turned your back on blood and family. If you're looking for someone to blame Sirius Black, maybe you should start with yourself."
Aries waited a few moments to see if Sirius would respond, but he seemed at a loss for words. With a shake of his head he left his uncle leaning against the stone wall. He had hoped he might be able to connect with his uncle, and perhaps pull him away from Dumbledore's grasp to help rebuild the House of Black. Aries did in a way blame Sirius for his father's death, but it wasn't like he was the one who cast the killing cure. Part of him truly wanted to build a relationship with his uncle despite what he had done. Unfortunately, Sirius was too busy being narrow minded, like many of the Light families that followed the Headmaster.
"Aries." Sirius' voice was soft and without Aries' excellent hearing he might not have heard his uncle. He turned to face Sirius, who now stood staring down at his hands. Sirius took a deep breath and meet Aries' eyes. "You're right, I turned my back on Reg. And not a day goes by that I don't regret it. Fifteen years I've been haunted by the fact that maybe I could have saved my brother. Then you show up, the son of the only member of my family I ever loved. Maybe if I had helped him, Voldemort would've been destroyed before he killed your father. You could've been raised here, and I would've snuck you away for adventures while your father tried to teach you all about being a proper Black." Sirius looked to be fighting tears. "But that's not meant to be. Regulus is dead, but you're here now. Please let me get to know you, the real you. Let me try to be the uncle I could have been if I hadn't made the biggest mistake of my life. Please Aries."
Sirius' confession rocked Aries, it had been the last thing he had been expecting. Maybe his uncle wasn't so far out of reach after all. Aries walked calmly over to Sirius, looked him in the eyes, and grazed his uncle's mind. Guilt hit him like a hurricane, and it threatened to drown him. Only his years of Occlumency helped him keep the neutral look on his face, but guilt was not the only thing he felt. Rising in that storm was hope, and at that Aries made his decision. He reached out his hand, waiting for Sirius to take it, and shook it.
"I'm Aries Black," he greeted. "It's good to meet you Uncle Sirius." The older man smiled brightly, and Aries ignored the obvious tears that threatened to fall.
"It's good to meet you too cub." Sirius looked away for a second, clearly trying to reign in his emotions, and Aries felt guilt for something else rising in his uncle. "Look you've got the tournament and all, so I don't want to distract you right now. If you need any help feel free to ask, but there's a Hogsmeade trip the weekend after the First Task. Maybe we could get to know each other over a few butterbeers then?"
"I prefer firewhiskey." Aries replied with a grin. "But yes, that's acceptable."
"I'd tell you that you're underage and all, but that's not something an uncle is supposed to do." He looked as if he wanted to hug Aries, but decided against it, much to Aries' relief.
The rest of the week passed by without any further incident. Surprisingly Viktor had been incredibly busy whether with preparing the Durmstrang Quidditch team or, for whatever reason, sneaking off to the library, but Aries had finally tracked him down. It was with much relief that the older boy laughed off his worries, saying that he could now show the English and the French how Quidditch was supposed to be played. If Aries wasn't practicing or hanging out with his friends or Draco, Daphne Greengrass occupied his time, much to Arianna De Cordova's chargin. Daphne had been rather cold to his advances, something Draco found rather amusing, but after reluctantly sharing an Ancient Runes text, one he had spent hours looking for in the library and was not about to just give up no matter how beautiful the girl was, she seemed to warm a little. The girl often asked about Durmstrang and Germany, while providing invaluable information on the correct political situation in England. Her father, Cyrus, sat on the Wizengamot, and kept her up to date on the happenings of the high wizard court of law.
It was after Daphne joined him for one of his practice sessions that she surprised him. Draco had told him a lot about his friends throughout the years, and while Aries had needed to be introduced to them it did not mean he was ignorant of them. Greengrass, according to Draco, thought much of the blood prejudice was rubbish, and did not hold to the more extreme pureblood beliefs. Despite all this, Aries did not miss the way her eyes lit up the first time he cast a Dark Arts spell. It had been days before she built up her courage to approach him, but when Daphne asked if he would teach her some of what he knew of the Dark Arts, he accepted all too happily. Now the pureblood heiress sat with him at meals often, something he now enjoyed rubbing in Draco's face, and discretely read the Dark Arts book he had given her anytime she invited him to the library.
Arianna was tense as he slipped in beside her in Battle Magics. Aries was more than aware of Arianna's dislike for Daphne Greengrass, but he thought that she was over reacting. He had never shown any signs of returning the Spanish girl's feelings, and while they had a closer friendship than most boys and girls had it was no where near a relationship. It was something he would need to address soon, though he pushed it far from his mind as their professor joined them at last. Professor von Reich had opted to take over an abandoned classroom on the second floor, not doubt to get away from Headmaster Kakaroff. His lesson was unique, even for Durmstrang's standards and the collective Durmstrang delegation seemed to enjoy the change of pace. Aries made to leave as von Reich brought their lesson to a close, hoping to catch up with Arianna who had left rather quickly, before his professor asked him to stay.
Their argument had happened over a month ago, and while they had continued their lessons at Durmstrang they had yet to have one upon their arrival at Hogwarts. It was still somewhat tense between them Aries noted as he took the offered chair in front of von Reich's desk. He waited patiently as his professor scribbled a note, taking the moment to notice how much different the man had made this room compared to his classroom at Durmstrang. Aries came back to look at von Reich, who was leaning forward, looking at him with an expression of curiosity before leaning back, placing his hands in his lap. He waited for his master to speak as he was not sure if this would be a social conversation or if he was about to be reprimanded.
"What did you think of today's lesson Aries?" The question caught him off guard, but he quickly recovered.
"Dementors are a rather interesting discussion, something I didn't think was covered until seventh year." The creatures did intrigue them, as did many dark creatures, and had read up on them from an early age. Their loyalty to dark wizards was a potential asset he had been researching since his arrival at Durmstrang.
"They also have a tendency to show up in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, something I thought you all would be interested in, particularly you."
"I've noticed," Aries drawled. "The Patronus Charm is on my agenda to learn after the First Task."
"And do you have a plan?"
"Yes." Aries was unsure of how much to tell the old man but decided that being open could be rewarding. "Dragons are definitely an interesting challenge."
"Ah, so Kakaroff told you, did he?" He enjoyed the look of disgust on Professor von Reich's face. Their mutual dislike of the Headmaster was a common topic during their lessons. "That man is a coward. Afraid of losing anything, including this tournament."
"I had hoped to enjoy the challenge of not knowing the task but-"
"But you did not wish to offend the man?" Von Reich finished for him. "A wise decision. No doubt you do not wish to burn that bridge. Kakaroff, despite him being a coward, could potentially push many valuable students your way." Aries nodded at that. Kakaroff was important to his future plans, unless he could be replaced with someone better. "Your affinity for fire will be useful for this first challenge then."
Aries gave an amused snort at that. "Dragon fire is very different than magical fire."
"Ah, but elemental fire is much closer in nature. Your ability to bend and control the elements will prove useful in this tournament." Aries could not help the troubled look on his face and Von Reich glanced back at his notes for a moment. "Tell me what you think of your competition."
"Diggory is indeed my strongest competitor. Fast, nimble, and has a wide arsenal of spells, though admittedly light. The Delacour girl, a veela, is a close second. If her allure affected me I'd consider her above Diggory. Still, she also has an affinity for fire, as do most veela, and the Goblet chose her for a reason. I've been trying to get close to her, but Madame Maxine seems against the idea of her 'fraternizing with the enemy.'" His professor nodded along while Aries took a moment to reflect on his last opponent. "Potter is the least concerning. Though that is if one is considering which of three deadly snakes one wants to avoid the least. No doubt he has had some training, but his inexperience gives me an advantage."
"As expected, your assessment is correct." Again, that curious look crossed his mentor's face. "Tell me Aries, why did you decide to be a champion?" This was the second time the professor had caught him off guard, but he silently collected his thoughts before answering.
"The dueling tournament was a fantastic way to introduce myself to the people of England. But this tournament, it can be the beginning of the return of the House of Black."
"Then why are you going to hold yourself back? I can see your reluctance to use your one of your more refined abilities. If you mean to introduce yourself why not show them all of what you can do?"
"The reward is not worth the risk," Aries almost gritted out. He did not want to have this conversation, but his master did not agree. He did not answer right away, but he eventually spoke again.
"Eight years ago, Cassiopeia Black came to me, telling me of a boy that needed a tutor. She told me that this boy was exceptional and incredibly powerful. I expected someone in their teens, but I found myself tutoring a seven-year-old boy." Aries remembered well the day that Professor von Reich came to teach him, mere days after receiving his wand. "I was not disappointed however. For two hours, five days a week, I taught you under the watchful eyes of your aunt. Immediately I knew you had power, and the determination to succeed. Every great wizard, and many of the finest duelists, long to find an apprentice, to pass on their knowledge and see it perfected. I had given up hope of finding someone worthy to pass on my knowledge to, and then I found you. That first day I taught you I asked your aunt for permission to apprentice you, and she denied me. I'm ashamed to say I begged, and still she refused, but I was determined. For four years I taught you Battle Magics, Transfiguration, Charms, Runes, and Potions, watching as you surpassed my expectations day after day. Every day I asked to make you my apprentice, still your aunt denied me. Yet I could tell it was only the tip of the ice burg, and that you both were hiding something.'
"It was the day I was offered the Battle Magics post at Durmstrang that your aunt came to me. That only confirmed my assumption that I had been offered it because of your aunt. It was then that I learned of your immense power, far beyond even what I had guessed, and it was also the day I learned of your mother. That day she finally approved my request, and you became my apprentice with an eagerness I yearned for. Throughout your first year I tried to push you, and yet you were afraid to let go. I passed it off, thinking it was just the irrational fear of an eleven-year-old boy. Then your second year came, and still you were afraid. So, I changed tactics, teaching you spells and focusing on your rather unique affinities, forcing you to release your power in intervals, gaining more and more control. You returned for your third year, and I knew something was different. You finally had unleashed enough to overpower me, now I just had to refine you. It was not until I found your secret room on the second floor that I truly understood. You weren't scared of your power, as the havoc you created in that room showed, rather you feared what you would do to people. When I questioned you and questioned why you were so determined to control the storm inside you, you surprised me again with the demand of an Unbreakable Vow. Knowing your aunt, I should not have been surprised. That was when you told me that you were not just the Heir of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, but also the Heir of Slytherin, and told me of what you had planned for the future." Aries nodded, he remembered that too, but where was his professor going with this?
"All your power, your determination made sense now. All the missing pieces of the puzzle came together and throughout your fourth year I pushed you and pushed you. Antagonizing you, hoping to make you angry enough to unleash your power until at last this year something inside you snapped. I don't know why you reacted, all I know is you finally unleashed that storm inside you. If you want their respect Aries of House Black, you need to unleash it again and again in this tournament."
"I can't." Aries interrupted.
"Then why are you in this tournament?!" Von Reich demanded.
"I'm the Heir to the House of Black!" Aries yelled in return. "And more importantly I'm the Heir of Slytherin. But I'm just a fifteen-year-old boy from Durmstrang who grew up in Germany. None of these Englishman will respect me. I did not grow up around here, but I can show them what I'm capable of and make them respect me without unleashing everything."
"Quit lying to me! Despite your childish fears even I can tell that somewhere inside you, you want to unleash that power. Now tell me why you won't do it!"
"I DON'T WANT TO BECOME A MONSTER!" There it was, the deep hidden fear that had always been inside him. His aunt had never hidden her plans for them, and he even had his own. But too often he saw himself becoming another Voldemort, another monster. He called for the void, as the nightmares of his youth assaulted him.
"Good," Von Reich said softly after a moment, bringing him back to the present. "Then don't." Aries choked out a laugh at that. "Grindewald and Lord Voldemort have one very important thing in common. They both lost their humanity along the way. Grindewald's 'Greater Good' eventually rivalled the evil of Adolf Hitler, and the Dark Lord turned reform into massacre, not caring for what it did to the magical community. We both know of what you have planned Aries and there's nothing wrong with what you desire to achieve but let me tell you there is no handbook that sets any sort of rules for what a dark lord can or cannot be. Many have earned that title through their cruelty and through genocide, Grindewald and the Dark Lord included, but you will not earn it as they did. It will be given to you by wizards too ignorant to see that you are only doing what must be done, what others are too weak to accomplish themselves. You are so concerned with making connections here that you do not realize this is the perfect opportunity to let other sees that they should be the ones getting on your good side.'
"You schooling at Durmstrang and your love for the Dark Arts will push the Light families away from you. So, forget them and unleash your power Aries. Unleash the darkness, that raging storm inside you, and show the dark and grey wizards of England what you are capable of. Show them that you can be the dark lord that Voldemort never could. Keep your rules, keep that part of your humanity, and do only what is necessary. Show them why they should fear and respect you. Show them what it truly means to by the Heir of Slytherin. You will only become a monster if you let yourself become one. You are a dark wizard Aries, and you will be the Dark Lord of the coming century. But that does not mean you will become another Lord Voldemort. It does not mean that you have to be evil, like those who came before you. Put away that childish fear and become who you were born to be."
Professor von Reich's words haunted him, replaying over and over in his head. His dreams seem to be even worse, as one night he'd see himself standing in the place of the Dark Lord and the next he'd relive the nightmares of his youth. No screams came from him now as they had when he was younger, but they still troubled him nonetheless. His friends had taken his sudden solemn mood as symptoms of the upcoming task, but truthfully it did not worry him at all. Whether he went with his original plan or followed the advice of his mentor, the dragon would be no concern.
There were a few bright spots that did manage to cheer him up, such as the fact that Draco and Daphne began joining the fifth-year Durmstrang students more often to relax or study. He knew Draco joined them, rather than inviting him to be with his own friends, because Parkinson could not stand Arianna, and vice versa, and thus left him alone. Aries was happy that the Spanish girl did not leave at the site of Greengrass girl as she had been doing before even though her dislike for the English girl was still plain but things were starting to go back to normal. He only hoped that it would continue.
It was a cool Saturday that found Aries walking along the Black Lake, exactly a week away from the First Task. Two weeks had passed since his conversation with Potter, who from Aries' observation seemed to be doing much better. He had seen him often with the chubby boy, and two red-headed girls. His musing was unfortunately interrupted by Potter himself calling for him. Aries considered ignoring him, and the call to run among the trees of the forest was almost too much a temptation to pass up. Almost.
"Potter," Aries greeted again, coming to a stop next to a rock jutting out of the ground. "Can I help you?"
"It's Thomas you know," he said with a kind smile. Aries suddenly had to fight the urge to hex the boy and when he didn't respond Potter continued. "I, um, just wanted to say thank you. You kind of gave me a reality check. I hope I can be friends with Ron again, but if not maybe it's for the best."
"Good." Awkward silences were starting to be a trend that Aries did not enjoy. "Are you prepared for the First Task?" His passive Legilimency kicked in: Moody pulling Potter aside. Summoning a pillow in an abandoned class room. Dreams of evading a dragon on broomstick.
"I think so," Potter answered awkwardly. "I just wish I knew what the task was."
"No need to lie Potter." Aries drawled. He nearly slapped himself, he was starting to sound way too much like Draco. "We both know its dragons. And I have no doubt that Delacour and Diggory know."
"Yeah. I told Diggory actually." Stupid Gryffindors. Now he was thinking like Draco!
"That was foolish, but rather brave too." Potter gave him a curious look. What was with people doing that?
"I just hope I can make it out of this tournament alive." It returned in him in that moment, the desire to help Potter again. He wasn't sure why, but part of Aries saw a bit of himself in the younger boy. Fate had thrown duties on them at an early age, one to defeat a dark lord and the other to become one. Perhaps that was where the desire came from.
"Tell me Potter, do you know what it means to be a Tri-Wizard Champion?"
"No," Potter answered curiously.
"I researched it after we were chosen, simply out of curiosity. The creator of the cup had this to say: The Goblet of Fire does not choose one based on power or skill, though it does play a large part. Rather it chooses one worthy enough to sacrifice everything in pursuit of victory, to push oneself beyond the limitations and boundaries of themselves to achieve and earn the eternal glory that the tournament brings." Aries waited a moment for that to sink in. "That statement stuck with me, it mentions glory not fame. To push oneself and to exceed their own limitations. Simply put to be a champion means that you are capable of pushing yourself farther than you thought imaginable, to exceed your own boundaries, and achieve glory in the pursuit of victory. It only mentions the pursuit, not actually winning the tournament. Although you were forced to compete that statement can still be true for you, if you allow it. I think Potter, that that is what you should focus on, rather than just surviving."
Potter did not answer him, too focused on thinking about Aries' words, but he didn't mind. He stood there quietly next to him contemplating his mentor's words again. Perhaps his mentor was right, maybe it was time for his to follow his own advice and push himself beyond his own limitations, as the Goblet believed that he could. Yes, he at last decided, it was time. It was time that the world was shown the power of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black.
An: The next chapter: The First Task