Azura: The Black Mage Girl
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Chapter 3- The Station, Sisters Part
The enthusiasm of the day is lost only for about an hour, as excitement builds in little Azura. Very shortly, very shortly indeed, she would be taking the train to Hogwarts. After a little more site seeing, and short trip to Ollivander's, the pair make their way back to the Leaky Cauldron for dinner the out to the rented car. The drive to the hotel where Scarlett made reservations is short but chatty, the two going on and on about things that have happened in their lives during the time they've been apart.
Azura tosses her new belongs onto her bed messily once in their room, and Scarlett instantly gathers them up in slight irritating and packs them neatly in Azura's rolling luggage case. Azura snickers at her neat-freak sister and removes her cloak hanging it on the post-hook, "I was gonn'a do it. Eventually." and spins on her heels, headed toward the bathroom. "I'm gonn'a hop in the shower, I want to be nice and clean for that long train ride tomorrow." then disappears inside, leaving the door ajar.
Scarlett sighs, stands and stretches. The airplane ride to London had been very cramped, with much noise. She was rather tired, and looking forward to getting some sleep. She notices Azura's cloak, and eyes it carefully, noticing something peculiar about the partly exposed inside. She picks it up and begins to study it closely. Deep purple, almost black, it had padding in the shoulders to make them look broader and the inside is filled with pockets. Scarlett notices something odd about the neck, and unfolds a high collar that would well hide half of the back of her sister's head if raised.
"Where'd you get this cloak Azy?", she calls out.
Azura pokes her head out of the bathroom door saying, "I made it. I'm really good with sewing ya know." and ducks back inside.
Scarlett looks it over and shakes her head a bit, contenting herself with not worrying about what type of things her sister hides in it back home. Instead, she plucks up her pointy hat off the bed, noticing it seems a lot heavier than she would think. Suddenly, it lurches and wings flutter in Scarlett's face making her yelp. Amaris lifts into the air and lands on the nearby curtain, her beady black eyes surveying her new accommodations.
"AZY!!! Where did you get that??!" Scarlett calls out, half excited, half in shock.
Azura pokes her head back out the door with a slight look of irritation, "I -am- trying to get into the shower here..." and follows her sister pointing finger. "Oh! I forget to write you about her! Twice actually! Her name's Amaris, haven't had her for very long but... Well, it's a secret, promise you won't tell anyone?". Azura ducks back in for a moment and slips back out wrapped in a blue towel. "You promise?"
Scarlett simply nods, a look of curiosity and adoration clear in her expression.
"Well..." Azura explains, "When I close my eyes...and concentrate on it.. I can actually see through Amaris's eyes. Just see, I can't hear or smell, but I can see as plane as if I was her."
Scarlett quirks an eyebrow, debating rather or not to believe that claim. "But, bats don't really use their eyes... They use sonar."
Azura hops and smirks, "WRONG! Not all bats! See, Amaris is a flying fox, a Malayan flying fox to be exact, pteropus vampyrus to be scientific about it. They are daytime fruit bats, and have good eyes in both light and dark. Amaris isn't quite full grown yet, but when she is her wingspan could be over five feet!" Azura looks down, and rubs her chin in thought. "They certainly don't live in England, I have no idea why she ended up on my bedroom window one night, and auntie is quite sure she's never seen her around the house before." she perks back up "But I took her in and we've gotten really close.. Though, she's a bit disobedient and willful at times."
Scarlett lets out a little snicker saying, "Just like you. Your perfect for each other."
The two giggle for a bit, and Azura disappears back into the bathroom to enjoy her refreshing shower. Scarlett stretches out across the bed, though there isn't any sleep for a while as two sisters separated over-seas for so long have a lot of catching up to do.
The morning is spent in a rush, as the two hurriedly fix themselves up, redress and eat breakfast. Much to her despair, Azura has to pack away her favorite cloak and hat, not knowing when she'd get a chance to wear them again. She had grown very found of them. The only exclusions from the packing are the birdcage for Amaris, the cauldron and the broomstick. One robe and her new regulation hat to change into before reaching Hogwarts are packed inside Azura's book bag along with her my prized books and other odds and ends for the trip.
As the car pulls onto the side street and parks in front of the Kings Cross Station, Azura's excitement is bubbling over, causing her to jitter in her every movement, nearly leaping out of the car before the wheels have settled. Hurriedly, she rushes around to the trunk and gathers her belongings, then looks up at the clock pipe'n, "Come on! Don't want to risk missing it!"
Scarlett rolls her eyes saying, "You have tons of time Azy, calm down or you'll wet yourself and we'll have to unpack your case so you can change your cloths in front of all these muggles." And nudges her sister with her elbow teasingly.
"Oh, you are so funny dear sister. But looks aren't everything you know.", replies Azura jokingly as she slings her book bag over her shoulder and takes the handle of her rolling case, and it isn't long before they stand at the barrier between platforms 9 and 10.
Remembering Amaris's birdcage was left in the back seat, Scarlett rushes out in hurry to retrieve it. As she stands there holding her broom, Azura sees a boy approach pushing a trolley piled with what she knows at once is supplies for going to Hogwarts. The boy himself is slim and small built, with a pointy chin, sleeked back platinum-blonde hair and cold gray eyes much like Azura's.
As the boy starts to pass, he eyes her for a moment, then stops in his tracks saying, "I don't remember seeing you at all last year. Are you an exchange student?", in a mildly condescending voice.
Azura doesn't exactly care for the bit of attitude audible in his voice, but realizes she might have a chance of making her first real friend as a Hogwarts student. Letting it go, she smiles brightly and says "Yep! I attended the Highcrest school of Sorcery and Spellcraft in America, but I'm gonn'a start at Hogwarts this year. My name is Azura, Azura Sha-"
The boy cuts her off saying, "America? What a shabby school they have there, my father says the wizards it produces aren't worth the wood their cheap wands are made from."
Azura's brows twitch a bit, as she fights off a tinge of anger. "Well. It's not all that bad really.... But, Hogwarts is the best so that's where I want to be." she says as warm as she can muster.
The boy responds coldly, "Do you even know any magic? What makes you think your ready to get into a school as advance as Hogwarts?"
"I know a lot of magic thank you!" then fighting the anger she breathes in, and determined not to make an enemy already she continues with a slight smile, "I know I'm ready for Hogwarts, and I know I'll do great. I'll probably be top of the class."
The boy only looked at her for a while, the sniggers. Once he manages to get it out of his system he continues, "Not very smart are you? You sound like a mud-blood to me."
"A what!" Azura nearly shouts, her cheeks hot with anger. She'd heard the term before and never liked it, but it meant a lot more to her to have been called it, having been from two wizard parents both of all magical families. "I'll have you know I am Azura Shalstone, and there is not a single drop of muggle blood in me!" Remembering the idea of half bloods doesn't mean anything to her, she instantly wonders if she had the right to get upset by it.
"Shalstone?" the boy responded, with a surprisingly non-condescending tone. "I've heard my father speak of your family, said they had a lot of potential." The boy thinks harder a minute and smirks, saying in his old condescending tone "Until they got all scared and hid away from the rest of the wizarding world because they wouldn't stand up to the over-righteous twits. Traitors really is you ask me, they-"
This time it's Azura who does the cutting off, hissing "Nobody ask you now did they?! You hold your tongue or I see to it you can't speak at all!" intending full well to do it too.
The boy just smirks, saying "Students are forbidden from using magic outside the school, so go ahead and I won't have to put up with you this year."
Azura glares icily at him, her gray eyes transfixed on his, "Well -I'm- not a student yet...now am I?" she says coolly as her hand slips inside her sleeve, her fingertips settling on her wand.
The boy narrows his eyes, his forehead wrinkling a bit in his little scowl. "You better go home now Shalstone, you've made an enemy you'll regret having cheeked." He gives his trolley a shove and disappears through the barrier.
Azura stands for a bit, fuming. When Scarlett arrives with the birdcage, she snatches it from her without thinking. After some apologizing, she explains what had happened.
Scarlett sighs, and touching her temple explains, "Azy.... baby. I know you haven't had a chance to be around anything but American kids for the most part, so you have to realize things can be a lot more competitive and proud amongst wizards in England. Wizarding families can mean everything to some, and the purer the blood generally the greater the pride. Now I know you don't think that way, neither do I but you have to be prepared for kids who are going to be rude and unfair to you. You simply have to learn how to handle those people, and never let them know they bother you. That gives them the power, and even if your stronger, smarter or more talented then them they'll always have the power of that knowledge, always have that over you."
Azura sighs herself, and nods, agreeing "Yes... I know, I just can't stand when people speak bad of me when they don't even know me."
Scarlett smiles down at her sister, brushing her braid from infront of her eye and caressing her cheek she adds, "Azura Gayle Shalstone. Anyone who takes the time and initiative to get to know who you are inside will think highly of you. Those who won't, aren't worth the trouble to concern yourself about. Concentrate on those who are good enough in their hearts to want to know who you really are."
Azura smiles happily, as she stares into the loving eyes of her only sister. They embrace suddenly, and hold onto each other for a while, each with tears running down their cheeks.
"You better get going," Scarlett sniffs, "It's about time for the train to leave.. I love you Azy, so much."
Azura wipes her eyes on her sleeves, and smiles "I love you too Scarlett. I've gotten use to not having you around, but I know I'm still going to miss you so much."
Scarlett motions toward the barrier, "Go love.. Put the sadness aside, you have a whole year of wonderful things ahead of you, go and make it your happiest year ever."
With a final hug, and exchanged of blown kisses, Azura dashes into the barrier and disappears. Scarlett stands for several minutes, clutching a tear moistened handkerchief tightly, thinking of how she had moved out, and left Azura to live alone with their mother. However, she's sharply disrupted from her thoughts as a family of red-heads storms past, bickering at each other, a boy with black hair in tow. Sighing, she turns and walks away with a slight smile at the dark haired boy.
.......................................................................
Chapter 3- The Station, Sisters Part
The enthusiasm of the day is lost only for about an hour, as excitement builds in little Azura. Very shortly, very shortly indeed, she would be taking the train to Hogwarts. After a little more site seeing, and short trip to Ollivander's, the pair make their way back to the Leaky Cauldron for dinner the out to the rented car. The drive to the hotel where Scarlett made reservations is short but chatty, the two going on and on about things that have happened in their lives during the time they've been apart.
Azura tosses her new belongs onto her bed messily once in their room, and Scarlett instantly gathers them up in slight irritating and packs them neatly in Azura's rolling luggage case. Azura snickers at her neat-freak sister and removes her cloak hanging it on the post-hook, "I was gonn'a do it. Eventually." and spins on her heels, headed toward the bathroom. "I'm gonn'a hop in the shower, I want to be nice and clean for that long train ride tomorrow." then disappears inside, leaving the door ajar.
Scarlett sighs, stands and stretches. The airplane ride to London had been very cramped, with much noise. She was rather tired, and looking forward to getting some sleep. She notices Azura's cloak, and eyes it carefully, noticing something peculiar about the partly exposed inside. She picks it up and begins to study it closely. Deep purple, almost black, it had padding in the shoulders to make them look broader and the inside is filled with pockets. Scarlett notices something odd about the neck, and unfolds a high collar that would well hide half of the back of her sister's head if raised.
"Where'd you get this cloak Azy?", she calls out.
Azura pokes her head out of the bathroom door saying, "I made it. I'm really good with sewing ya know." and ducks back inside.
Scarlett looks it over and shakes her head a bit, contenting herself with not worrying about what type of things her sister hides in it back home. Instead, she plucks up her pointy hat off the bed, noticing it seems a lot heavier than she would think. Suddenly, it lurches and wings flutter in Scarlett's face making her yelp. Amaris lifts into the air and lands on the nearby curtain, her beady black eyes surveying her new accommodations.
"AZY!!! Where did you get that??!" Scarlett calls out, half excited, half in shock.
Azura pokes her head back out the door with a slight look of irritation, "I -am- trying to get into the shower here..." and follows her sister pointing finger. "Oh! I forget to write you about her! Twice actually! Her name's Amaris, haven't had her for very long but... Well, it's a secret, promise you won't tell anyone?". Azura ducks back in for a moment and slips back out wrapped in a blue towel. "You promise?"
Scarlett simply nods, a look of curiosity and adoration clear in her expression.
"Well..." Azura explains, "When I close my eyes...and concentrate on it.. I can actually see through Amaris's eyes. Just see, I can't hear or smell, but I can see as plane as if I was her."
Scarlett quirks an eyebrow, debating rather or not to believe that claim. "But, bats don't really use their eyes... They use sonar."
Azura hops and smirks, "WRONG! Not all bats! See, Amaris is a flying fox, a Malayan flying fox to be exact, pteropus vampyrus to be scientific about it. They are daytime fruit bats, and have good eyes in both light and dark. Amaris isn't quite full grown yet, but when she is her wingspan could be over five feet!" Azura looks down, and rubs her chin in thought. "They certainly don't live in England, I have no idea why she ended up on my bedroom window one night, and auntie is quite sure she's never seen her around the house before." she perks back up "But I took her in and we've gotten really close.. Though, she's a bit disobedient and willful at times."
Scarlett lets out a little snicker saying, "Just like you. Your perfect for each other."
The two giggle for a bit, and Azura disappears back into the bathroom to enjoy her refreshing shower. Scarlett stretches out across the bed, though there isn't any sleep for a while as two sisters separated over-seas for so long have a lot of catching up to do.
The morning is spent in a rush, as the two hurriedly fix themselves up, redress and eat breakfast. Much to her despair, Azura has to pack away her favorite cloak and hat, not knowing when she'd get a chance to wear them again. She had grown very found of them. The only exclusions from the packing are the birdcage for Amaris, the cauldron and the broomstick. One robe and her new regulation hat to change into before reaching Hogwarts are packed inside Azura's book bag along with her my prized books and other odds and ends for the trip.
As the car pulls onto the side street and parks in front of the Kings Cross Station, Azura's excitement is bubbling over, causing her to jitter in her every movement, nearly leaping out of the car before the wheels have settled. Hurriedly, she rushes around to the trunk and gathers her belongings, then looks up at the clock pipe'n, "Come on! Don't want to risk missing it!"
Scarlett rolls her eyes saying, "You have tons of time Azy, calm down or you'll wet yourself and we'll have to unpack your case so you can change your cloths in front of all these muggles." And nudges her sister with her elbow teasingly.
"Oh, you are so funny dear sister. But looks aren't everything you know.", replies Azura jokingly as she slings her book bag over her shoulder and takes the handle of her rolling case, and it isn't long before they stand at the barrier between platforms 9 and 10.
Remembering Amaris's birdcage was left in the back seat, Scarlett rushes out in hurry to retrieve it. As she stands there holding her broom, Azura sees a boy approach pushing a trolley piled with what she knows at once is supplies for going to Hogwarts. The boy himself is slim and small built, with a pointy chin, sleeked back platinum-blonde hair and cold gray eyes much like Azura's.
As the boy starts to pass, he eyes her for a moment, then stops in his tracks saying, "I don't remember seeing you at all last year. Are you an exchange student?", in a mildly condescending voice.
Azura doesn't exactly care for the bit of attitude audible in his voice, but realizes she might have a chance of making her first real friend as a Hogwarts student. Letting it go, she smiles brightly and says "Yep! I attended the Highcrest school of Sorcery and Spellcraft in America, but I'm gonn'a start at Hogwarts this year. My name is Azura, Azura Sha-"
The boy cuts her off saying, "America? What a shabby school they have there, my father says the wizards it produces aren't worth the wood their cheap wands are made from."
Azura's brows twitch a bit, as she fights off a tinge of anger. "Well. It's not all that bad really.... But, Hogwarts is the best so that's where I want to be." she says as warm as she can muster.
The boy responds coldly, "Do you even know any magic? What makes you think your ready to get into a school as advance as Hogwarts?"
"I know a lot of magic thank you!" then fighting the anger she breathes in, and determined not to make an enemy already she continues with a slight smile, "I know I'm ready for Hogwarts, and I know I'll do great. I'll probably be top of the class."
The boy only looked at her for a while, the sniggers. Once he manages to get it out of his system he continues, "Not very smart are you? You sound like a mud-blood to me."
"A what!" Azura nearly shouts, her cheeks hot with anger. She'd heard the term before and never liked it, but it meant a lot more to her to have been called it, having been from two wizard parents both of all magical families. "I'll have you know I am Azura Shalstone, and there is not a single drop of muggle blood in me!" Remembering the idea of half bloods doesn't mean anything to her, she instantly wonders if she had the right to get upset by it.
"Shalstone?" the boy responded, with a surprisingly non-condescending tone. "I've heard my father speak of your family, said they had a lot of potential." The boy thinks harder a minute and smirks, saying in his old condescending tone "Until they got all scared and hid away from the rest of the wizarding world because they wouldn't stand up to the over-righteous twits. Traitors really is you ask me, they-"
This time it's Azura who does the cutting off, hissing "Nobody ask you now did they?! You hold your tongue or I see to it you can't speak at all!" intending full well to do it too.
The boy just smirks, saying "Students are forbidden from using magic outside the school, so go ahead and I won't have to put up with you this year."
Azura glares icily at him, her gray eyes transfixed on his, "Well -I'm- not a student yet...now am I?" she says coolly as her hand slips inside her sleeve, her fingertips settling on her wand.
The boy narrows his eyes, his forehead wrinkling a bit in his little scowl. "You better go home now Shalstone, you've made an enemy you'll regret having cheeked." He gives his trolley a shove and disappears through the barrier.
Azura stands for a bit, fuming. When Scarlett arrives with the birdcage, she snatches it from her without thinking. After some apologizing, she explains what had happened.
Scarlett sighs, and touching her temple explains, "Azy.... baby. I know you haven't had a chance to be around anything but American kids for the most part, so you have to realize things can be a lot more competitive and proud amongst wizards in England. Wizarding families can mean everything to some, and the purer the blood generally the greater the pride. Now I know you don't think that way, neither do I but you have to be prepared for kids who are going to be rude and unfair to you. You simply have to learn how to handle those people, and never let them know they bother you. That gives them the power, and even if your stronger, smarter or more talented then them they'll always have the power of that knowledge, always have that over you."
Azura sighs herself, and nods, agreeing "Yes... I know, I just can't stand when people speak bad of me when they don't even know me."
Scarlett smiles down at her sister, brushing her braid from infront of her eye and caressing her cheek she adds, "Azura Gayle Shalstone. Anyone who takes the time and initiative to get to know who you are inside will think highly of you. Those who won't, aren't worth the trouble to concern yourself about. Concentrate on those who are good enough in their hearts to want to know who you really are."
Azura smiles happily, as she stares into the loving eyes of her only sister. They embrace suddenly, and hold onto each other for a while, each with tears running down their cheeks.
"You better get going," Scarlett sniffs, "It's about time for the train to leave.. I love you Azy, so much."
Azura wipes her eyes on her sleeves, and smiles "I love you too Scarlett. I've gotten use to not having you around, but I know I'm still going to miss you so much."
Scarlett motions toward the barrier, "Go love.. Put the sadness aside, you have a whole year of wonderful things ahead of you, go and make it your happiest year ever."
With a final hug, and exchanged of blown kisses, Azura dashes into the barrier and disappears. Scarlett stands for several minutes, clutching a tear moistened handkerchief tightly, thinking of how she had moved out, and left Azura to live alone with their mother. However, she's sharply disrupted from her thoughts as a family of red-heads storms past, bickering at each other, a boy with black hair in tow. Sighing, she turns and walks away with a slight smile at the dark haired boy.