Chapter 3: The Snake
While Illustris was closing her eyes to go to sleep, another child in the Wizarding world was laying awake.
In a few months time, I will be attending Hogwarts alongside my best friend.
His name is Maraudo Orion Juno, the heir to the Juno fortune. While the Apollo family is considered a gray family, the Juno's are a known dark family. Dark families have an easier time mastering dark magic, similar to light families mastering light magic. It is not to say that they cannot use other forms of magic but they would have much more difficulty in doing so.
He is not one to allow for it to stand in his way of gaining power. It's his determination that allows him to excel in the way a pure-blood should. But that does not necessarily mean that he does not hold his own faults nor does that stop him from holding some of the beliefs of a aristocratic pure-blood.
I wonder if my parents are going to take me to Diagon Alley or would it be Sally, the house elf.
Most pure-blood families who hold themselves in high values, allow the house elves to raise their children. That creates a strain among the parents and the children. Look at Maraudo, he doesn't trust his parents... yet he can't help but seek their approval but for how long will that last until he realizes that he is only a chess piece, in a pure-blood game.
Might as well close my eyes to get ready for Diagon Alley tomorrow.
*Next Day*
"Maraudo it's time to wake up." a voice says.
I wonder what it is like to sleep in every once in a while.
"Yes Mother." He said before she walked away.
Evelyn Celestial Juno, the mother of Maraudo is a 'respectable' pure-blood woman in the public eye. In the face of reporters, she is a caring mother but Maraudo knows that it is just a front yet, can't help himself from longing a mother's love.
Maraudo prepares himself for the day with the help of Sally.
"Thank you, Sally."
Sally tears a bit but recovers quickly before responding.
"It is alright, Master Maraudo."
Houselves are considered to be below a wizard, yet they allow for them to raise their children who are wizards themselves and trust that they won't poison their food. Maraudo had always found that to be quite funny. Because in a game of chess, one must be aware of all their pieces and to understand its power and loyalty to its King/Queen, unless you wish to lose. After all, everyone knows Maraudo is a master in manipulating others to do his bidding.
He walks downstairs to eat breakfast with his parents that was provided by the houselves. As he sat down he says, "Good morning, mother and father." Only receiving a nod in return from both.
As said before, the Juno family care for their heir but not for their child.
Few minutes past in silence before Maraudo paused to question his family on what is going to occur today.
"Mother. Would you be taking me to Diagon Alley or will the house elf?"
"We have an image to uphold. Of course I will be taking you, any good mother would."
Maraudo nodded.
Once he finished eating, he prepared himself to go to Diagon Alley.
I will just write a short reply to Illustris before going.
He hurriedly walked upstairs to grab a quill and piece of parchment.
Dear Illustris,
Sorry for not replying sooner but knowing you, you would have fallen asleep by then.
Thanks for the offer of going with you but you know mum, we have an act to perform after all, but we can meet up at our spot but I may arrive a bit late to throw off suspicion. It would probably be best that we don't go together to Diagon Alley, our families are no longer on the same side of things...
You know as good as I do that with the Dark Lord rising, we are all in danger. No matter how 'pure' your blood may be. I just want to be a kid enjoying Hogwarts but I have a feeling it won't be as easy as we want it to be.
Sorry to keep this short but I have to go to Diagon Alley now. See you in days time.
Maraudo
He folded the piece of parchment then called out, "Vulcan." Maraudo gave him a small snack before sending him off and getting re-dressed into an outfit that was appropriate to walk in public in.
Once both mother and son were ready they used the Floo Network to go to Diagon Alley. Without struggle they walk out of the fireplace in the shop.
"Let's go to Madam Malkin's Robes first before heading to Obscurus Books."
"Alright mother."
Will Illustris be here already or has she not arrived yet? I don't think she has come, knowing that I went instead.
The Juno duo had entered Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions when they heard, "Please stand on the stand while I do the final measerments for this child."
Maraudo stepped up to the stand waiting patiently, while looking to his right to see who else is being measured for robes. Only to see Zion, someone he has not seen in a long time.
He must have stared for too long because Zion was staring right back. When he catches him watching, he sarcastically says, "Look who we have here… the Great Maraudo Juno. How have you been?" Finishing it all with a look of annoyance.
You see we have not always been hostile to each other but ever since this war began, any friendship between light or dark families became strain since many were on opposite sides of war. His father was killed by Death Eaters and it does not help that it was my father that yelled the Killing Curse at his so called friend. One day we may become friends again but I don't think he can ever look at me and not see the person who had killed his father.
"I am good, how is your family?" said with a smirk.
Cold I know, but when your family is in the opposite side of war then your friends, it leaves you in a bit… of a mad state. He has chosen his side and I am sure that Illustris has too. The only one who hasn't... was me… and no matter what side I choose, I will be broken in the end. So much for being a happy eleven year old, right?
"We have been better bu -"
"You may go now Mr. Rhea. Come back later to pick them up." It looked like he wanted to say something but changed his mind and walked away.
I wonder what he was going to say.
"Now stand straight, Mr. Juno. While I do my work."
I had forgotten that Zion would be going to Hogwarts. I had known him since we were two, since our fathers were old friends. So when my dad killed him, I wondered if they were ever friends to begin with.
"Come back later for your robes."
He stepped out of the stand and walked out of Madam Malkins.
"Now let's go to Obscurus Books for your course books."
"Yes mother."
After getting his books they went through the school list as they see the shops, only leaving Ollivanders and Eeylops Owl Emporium left. Maraudo's mother pondered where to go next before saying, "We will go get your wand before getting you your own owl."
Finally! I have waited forever to get my wand.
"Of course."
As the two walked to Ollivanders Maraudo was hit with a ball of nerves. After all, it is the wand that chooses the wizard not the former. When he entered he felt a surge of magic that almost gave him whiplash.
"Well if it isn't Maraudo Juno. I have made your mother's wand; 10.25 inches long, made of Ebony with a unicorn hair core. Always the most difficult to turn into the Dark Arts."
Maraudo was surprised at this revelation because how can my mother preach about the Dark Arts yet has a hard time to doing it herself. Makes you wonder what side of the war she would choose if given a choice.
Evelyn however, stiffens when remembering her Hogwarts years, when she had to make a choice between her blood or the friends she had made.
"And don't forget your father's wand; 10 inches long and made of redwood with a unicorn hair core. It is strange how both your parents wands were the hardest to sway to the Dark Arts, isn't it?."
The room got colder like a dementor had just entered with how dark my mother's glare was to Ollivander.
"We are here for my son's wand not for a cup of tea, Ollivander."
"You once did." he said sadly.
What in the world is going on?! What does everyone know that I don't.
"Now please Maraudo please step forward to try out the wands."
The tape measure was measuring on its own, while Ollivander picked out a wand.
"Give this a twirl, it is 9 inches long made of cherry with a unicorn hair core. Similar to your parents."
When he grabbed it… it felt familiar but not right.
Ollivander took it right away before giving him another. He said, "10.25 inches long made of cypress with a dragon heart-string core."
The second he grabbed it, Ollivander took it away and whispered, "Could it be… there was the other… just maybe…"
This time he had a sparkle in his eye when giving him this, saying, "11 inches long, made of mahogany with a dragon heart-string core." When Maraudo grabbed it he felt an overwhelming feeling of power.
"Well that is interesting, interesting indeed."
Bad interesting or good interesting?
"What is so interesting Mr. Ollivander?"
"It is just interesting that the wand that had chosen you comes with great power but it is easily swayed to the Dark Arts than unicorn hair. After all, to destroy one's enemy, you must understand them in ways others won't be able to. There will be temptations but it is up to you on how the story will end this time around."
Maraudo looked towards him wondering.
He can't mean who I think he means, can he? And what did he mean this time around?
They paid him the 7 Galleons that were due before walking outside with a heavy silence wavering around them only to be broken by Evelyn saying, "Here is 30 Galleons you can waste on your own but the other 20 Galleons will be spent on your owl. I will be at Rosa Lee Tea but once you are done, come and find me. Understood?"
"Understood."
I wonder what Ollivander meant when he said my father and mother were the hardest to sway to the dark. I will need to revisit what Ollivander said later on because there is more to the story than I thought.
Maraudo heads to Eeylops Owl Emporium to pay for his own personal owl.
He walked in and looked at every owl until he spotted a brown scrawny owl.
"He is a biter that one but is loyal to the one who proves there 'worth'. Just between you and me, that owl will nip anybody who he does not like." a voice said behind him.
"How much is he?"
He walked out 20 Galleons lighter with that very owl, which he named Nipper.
I am going to head to 'Sugar Plums Sweets Shop' to buy some delicious sweets.
Once he finished buying 1 chocolate frog and 2 bundles of licorice wands, leaving 20 Galleons and 3 Sickles left.
He deposited the extra to his Gringotts account that has his own personal money.
You never know when you would need the emergency fund.
He slept that night with an excited hum in the air that not even the upcoming war can destroy.
I can't wait for Hogwarts!