SHARING THE SUNLIGHT WITH THE FREE - THE DAWN
Chapter 8
Aurelia soon found that even for Seers, life went on normally. Kière was rather disappointed that no more supernatural magic manifested itself in her, but she was glad about it. After all, if she could not detect her powers, she certainly would not be able to use them in any way - either good or bad.
The Christmas holidays were soon to arrive. Kière was especially excited, for some reason which Aurelia could not place. (He teased her a bit about that - 'Can you not See why?') Only a week before the holidays were to start did she find out.
Kière's family owl swooped down over the table and perched on Kière's shoulder, nearly making him topple off his seat. Aurelia laughed - the Banning family owl was a huge tawny one, and was nearly twice the size of their heads. To see it perched on Kière's shoulder unevenly was indeed a comical sight.
Kière ignored her laughter, and pulled out a scroll of parchment from beneath the owl's large talons. As all Kière's letters were, it was a very formal-looking one.
His reaction, however, was by no means formal. He gave a loud shriek, scaring off his owl, who fluttered away, giving him a reproachful look. Everyone in the hall turned and stared. Kière paid them no mind, just turned to Aurelia with shining eyes.
'What will you be doing this holiday?'
Aurelia wondered if his owl had accidentally knocked his head.
'I stay at Hogwarts all holidays, do you not remember? I shall be studying for the Hogwarts leaving exams, of course. And try to learn more about -' she fell silent, on account of the number of people staring. They looked away once she glanced at them.
Kière shook his head, grinning.
'Not this holiday. Read this!' he brandished his letter triumphantly. Curious, Aurelia took it and read.
Lord & Lady Henry Banning
Banning Residence
She gave Kière a questioning look. He coughed, a little embarrassedly.
'Just my family - they have letterheads on all their letters.read on.'
Dear Kièran,
Your mother and I have taken your unusual request into consideration, and we have decided that on account of the wonderful descriptions that your professors have so helpfully provided, we will accede to your requests.
We therefore cordially extend this invitation to Miss Aurelia Bland, to pay the family residence a visit, this Christmas holiday season.
Please notify us of the date on which you will be leaving school. The carriage shall be dispatched to fetch you to the residence.
Sincerely,
Your loving parents.
'Wonderful descriptions that your professors have so helpfully provided?' Aurelia stared at Kière.
'They wrote to ask about you,' he replied quietly. 'I apologise - they are rather.worried about the kind of friends I make. I - they would not want me inviting an awful devil like Darby back after all.' He looked up hopefully. 'You are not angry at me about that, are you?'
'No.' She scanned the letter again.
'Then - will you come? My parents - you will charm them absolutely.they will love you - do not think too much about them trying to find out if you are.er.a suitable friend.anyway I would not care if they thought you were not because I think you are.' he was blabbing, getting redder and redder by the second. Aurelia laughed.
'Do not worry. I would be delighted to go.'
'Really? You mean that? I mean - yes, I - I am just so happy.I.' Kière looked at her in speechless delight, then engulfed her in a big hug. He let go almost immediately, blushing harder than ever. 'Sorry - I - I am glad you will be spending the holiday at my home.' Grinning broadly, he gathered his books and dashed away.
Her heart gave a queer flip as she stood there, watching him leave. This was the second time already. What was going on? Confused, Aurelia just stared at her half-finished breakfast dishes.
~
As the holidays drew nearer, the mood in the school grew more festive. Students chattered everywhere about how they planned to spend the break, seeing their families again. Some, like Aurelia, were to be visiting their school friends, and their excitement was almost tangible, hanging in the air around them. Aurelia could understand that. She was ecstatic to be going to meet Kière's family, none of whom she had ever met before.
The one person in the castle who did not join in the festive mood was Professor Slytherin. Quite the contrary, his temper got fouler the nearer it came to Christmas. This was actually a very common occurrence. In all the years that Aurelia had known him, Professor Slytherin had always been very opposed to Christmas. She had never found out why. Every time she had asked either of the other Professors, they had only sighed and shook their head. As for asking Professor Slytherin - why, the idea was completely out of the question. In time, she had just given up wondering.
This year, however, Professor Slytherin only seemed to become stranger as the Christmas season drew close. He was rarely seen around the castle, except during lesson times, and even then he appeared preoccupied.
Professor Slytherin was not the only thing strange in the school. Aurelia's Seeing powers were working her up into a big mess. A cloud of darkness hung in the air, she could feel it, however each time her mind wandered to it, it disappeared and she would feel trapped, in a cold, wet mist. At night, she began having nightmares about the witch-hunter again. She dreamt that she was tied to the stake, burning in fiery flames, however the fire was not hot, but freezing cold, and choking. She woke up feeling nauseous, shivering under her covers, yet hearing a voice in her head, telling her not to be foolish, dreams were just dreams and nothing else.
Soon, Aurelia was counting down the days to when she left the school. At Kière's home, she would be free from whatever it was troubling the school this term. Perhaps after a week with Kière and his family would help clear her mind, and aid her to See properly what she was supposed to.
Kière too was probably counting days off the calendar. He was more excited than Aurelia had ever seen him - perhaps even more so than on the night of the Samhain race. She could not think why - certainly, she was eagerly anticipating the holidays, but was it really necessary to make such a big fuss? Kière, however, thought so.
'It shall be just perfect, Aurelia. You will love the residence - wonderfully large, though nothing compared to Hogwarts, of course. But there are gardens and ponds and everything is lovely. Not that I am any expert in judging, but Mother thinks the elves did a beautiful job, and she is usually right,' he would say, or, 'Just wait until Christmas dinner, it will be absolutely scrumptious! I have never counted the number of dishes, but there are probably hundreds! All the relatives gather at our residence, you see. You shall meet all my cousins too.'
Kière's incessant chatter soon halted, though, not due to diminishing of excitement, but to an unexpected event. Before the holidays arrived, there was an announcement that both shocked and scared the student body. The great wizard Merlin was dead.
The news came a week before the Christmas break was to begin. As most rumours do, it made its first rounds as whispers from various corners of the school. It was never certain where it started, however it was confirmed when one morning during breakfast the students entered the Great Hall to find it decorated in black, and the four professors seated solemnly at their table.
It was Professor Hufflepuff who made the announcement.
'We are aware that there have been rumours spreading around the school. I am indeed sorrowful to have to break the sad news to you, that the stories are true. One of the greatest wizards of our time is dead.'
Although this news had been circulating around the school for a day or two, it was still met with stunned gasps. Perhaps many students had just been disbelieving, until this announcement. Aurelia was one of these. Why, she had barely encountered Merlin a month or so ago, and he had seemed in perfect health. How could he suddenly be dead? But Professor Hufflepuff would not lie to them.
'How?' cried a fair-haired girl, from Aurelia's table. She was sitting at her proper house table this morning.
Professor Hufflepuff glanced back at the other professors, as though to seek their consent before divulging this information. Professor Slytherin shrugged. Professor Ravenclaw looked pained, but nodded slightly. Professor Gryffindor motioned for her to go on.
'He died battling a magical beast, of which has not been seen in this world before. It is not certain how the beast killed him, especially as he apparently managed to slay it just as he died.'
Murmurs of apprehension arose. What wicked beast was this that could slay a powerful wizard - perhaps the most powerful wizard in the world?
'The beast's body has disappeared. No one is certain what it is exactly. All we know that it is believed to be a species of snake.'
A table away, at Professor Hufflepuff's house table, a young boy fainted. From Professor Slytherin's house table, a girl was having hysterics. Aurelia herself was feeling queasy inside.
'Calm yourselves,' snapped Professor Slytherin suddenly, standing up. The hall went dead quiet. The hysterical girl choked back her cries.
'If the beast was to burst in here now, is this how you would protect yourself? Screaming, fainting.all these useless antics! Are you or are you not witches and wizards in training!'
'Salazar! They are but children, do not speak so harshly of them,' admonished Professor Hufflepuff gently.
'And I suppose a great beast would stop to ask their ages before attacking? Or besides magical creatures, suppose a horde of Muggles, even, desperate to root out our kind - would they stop to consider that children of magic are but children? Well, I shall enlighten you - it does not matter to them! They will b-'
'Salazar!' Professor Ravenclaw cut him off mid-sentence, glaring. 'You have gone far -'
'Enough,' roared Professor Gryffindor. 'Both of you, have you forgotten where we are?'
The students were all staring wide-eyed at their professors, watching the argument. Undoubtedly, there would be gossip all over the school about this.
Looking rather abashed, the two professors retained their composure. Professor Gryffindor addressed the pupils.
'None of you have anything to worry about. The beast has been slain, and in any case, this appears to be a singular event. Concerned as Professors Ravenclaw and Slytherin may be about your safety, it is merely as a precaution. We are, however, in no immediate danger. Lessons will go on as usual.'
'There will be a memorial service for Merlin this evening,' Professor Hufflepuff continued on where Professor Gryffindor left off. 'All students are welcome to attend. I believe that is all - you may break your fast now.'
It took a while before everyone got over the shock of the announcement and the following argument. But the hall eventually returned to its normal state of morning activity.
Aurelia stared at her bowl, not seeing it.
'It does not matter to them! They will burn you all at the stake.' It was what Professor Slytherin would have said, she was sure.
'Burn at the stake!'
This time, she could have sworn she heard a snake-like voice, hissing it.
Chapter 8
Aurelia soon found that even for Seers, life went on normally. Kière was rather disappointed that no more supernatural magic manifested itself in her, but she was glad about it. After all, if she could not detect her powers, she certainly would not be able to use them in any way - either good or bad.
The Christmas holidays were soon to arrive. Kière was especially excited, for some reason which Aurelia could not place. (He teased her a bit about that - 'Can you not See why?') Only a week before the holidays were to start did she find out.
Kière's family owl swooped down over the table and perched on Kière's shoulder, nearly making him topple off his seat. Aurelia laughed - the Banning family owl was a huge tawny one, and was nearly twice the size of their heads. To see it perched on Kière's shoulder unevenly was indeed a comical sight.
Kière ignored her laughter, and pulled out a scroll of parchment from beneath the owl's large talons. As all Kière's letters were, it was a very formal-looking one.
His reaction, however, was by no means formal. He gave a loud shriek, scaring off his owl, who fluttered away, giving him a reproachful look. Everyone in the hall turned and stared. Kière paid them no mind, just turned to Aurelia with shining eyes.
'What will you be doing this holiday?'
Aurelia wondered if his owl had accidentally knocked his head.
'I stay at Hogwarts all holidays, do you not remember? I shall be studying for the Hogwarts leaving exams, of course. And try to learn more about -' she fell silent, on account of the number of people staring. They looked away once she glanced at them.
Kière shook his head, grinning.
'Not this holiday. Read this!' he brandished his letter triumphantly. Curious, Aurelia took it and read.
Lord & Lady Henry Banning
Banning Residence
She gave Kière a questioning look. He coughed, a little embarrassedly.
'Just my family - they have letterheads on all their letters.read on.'
Dear Kièran,
Your mother and I have taken your unusual request into consideration, and we have decided that on account of the wonderful descriptions that your professors have so helpfully provided, we will accede to your requests.
We therefore cordially extend this invitation to Miss Aurelia Bland, to pay the family residence a visit, this Christmas holiday season.
Please notify us of the date on which you will be leaving school. The carriage shall be dispatched to fetch you to the residence.
Sincerely,
Your loving parents.
'Wonderful descriptions that your professors have so helpfully provided?' Aurelia stared at Kière.
'They wrote to ask about you,' he replied quietly. 'I apologise - they are rather.worried about the kind of friends I make. I - they would not want me inviting an awful devil like Darby back after all.' He looked up hopefully. 'You are not angry at me about that, are you?'
'No.' She scanned the letter again.
'Then - will you come? My parents - you will charm them absolutely.they will love you - do not think too much about them trying to find out if you are.er.a suitable friend.anyway I would not care if they thought you were not because I think you are.' he was blabbing, getting redder and redder by the second. Aurelia laughed.
'Do not worry. I would be delighted to go.'
'Really? You mean that? I mean - yes, I - I am just so happy.I.' Kière looked at her in speechless delight, then engulfed her in a big hug. He let go almost immediately, blushing harder than ever. 'Sorry - I - I am glad you will be spending the holiday at my home.' Grinning broadly, he gathered his books and dashed away.
Her heart gave a queer flip as she stood there, watching him leave. This was the second time already. What was going on? Confused, Aurelia just stared at her half-finished breakfast dishes.
~
As the holidays drew nearer, the mood in the school grew more festive. Students chattered everywhere about how they planned to spend the break, seeing their families again. Some, like Aurelia, were to be visiting their school friends, and their excitement was almost tangible, hanging in the air around them. Aurelia could understand that. She was ecstatic to be going to meet Kière's family, none of whom she had ever met before.
The one person in the castle who did not join in the festive mood was Professor Slytherin. Quite the contrary, his temper got fouler the nearer it came to Christmas. This was actually a very common occurrence. In all the years that Aurelia had known him, Professor Slytherin had always been very opposed to Christmas. She had never found out why. Every time she had asked either of the other Professors, they had only sighed and shook their head. As for asking Professor Slytherin - why, the idea was completely out of the question. In time, she had just given up wondering.
This year, however, Professor Slytherin only seemed to become stranger as the Christmas season drew close. He was rarely seen around the castle, except during lesson times, and even then he appeared preoccupied.
Professor Slytherin was not the only thing strange in the school. Aurelia's Seeing powers were working her up into a big mess. A cloud of darkness hung in the air, she could feel it, however each time her mind wandered to it, it disappeared and she would feel trapped, in a cold, wet mist. At night, she began having nightmares about the witch-hunter again. She dreamt that she was tied to the stake, burning in fiery flames, however the fire was not hot, but freezing cold, and choking. She woke up feeling nauseous, shivering under her covers, yet hearing a voice in her head, telling her not to be foolish, dreams were just dreams and nothing else.
Soon, Aurelia was counting down the days to when she left the school. At Kière's home, she would be free from whatever it was troubling the school this term. Perhaps after a week with Kière and his family would help clear her mind, and aid her to See properly what she was supposed to.
Kière too was probably counting days off the calendar. He was more excited than Aurelia had ever seen him - perhaps even more so than on the night of the Samhain race. She could not think why - certainly, she was eagerly anticipating the holidays, but was it really necessary to make such a big fuss? Kière, however, thought so.
'It shall be just perfect, Aurelia. You will love the residence - wonderfully large, though nothing compared to Hogwarts, of course. But there are gardens and ponds and everything is lovely. Not that I am any expert in judging, but Mother thinks the elves did a beautiful job, and she is usually right,' he would say, or, 'Just wait until Christmas dinner, it will be absolutely scrumptious! I have never counted the number of dishes, but there are probably hundreds! All the relatives gather at our residence, you see. You shall meet all my cousins too.'
Kière's incessant chatter soon halted, though, not due to diminishing of excitement, but to an unexpected event. Before the holidays arrived, there was an announcement that both shocked and scared the student body. The great wizard Merlin was dead.
The news came a week before the Christmas break was to begin. As most rumours do, it made its first rounds as whispers from various corners of the school. It was never certain where it started, however it was confirmed when one morning during breakfast the students entered the Great Hall to find it decorated in black, and the four professors seated solemnly at their table.
It was Professor Hufflepuff who made the announcement.
'We are aware that there have been rumours spreading around the school. I am indeed sorrowful to have to break the sad news to you, that the stories are true. One of the greatest wizards of our time is dead.'
Although this news had been circulating around the school for a day or two, it was still met with stunned gasps. Perhaps many students had just been disbelieving, until this announcement. Aurelia was one of these. Why, she had barely encountered Merlin a month or so ago, and he had seemed in perfect health. How could he suddenly be dead? But Professor Hufflepuff would not lie to them.
'How?' cried a fair-haired girl, from Aurelia's table. She was sitting at her proper house table this morning.
Professor Hufflepuff glanced back at the other professors, as though to seek their consent before divulging this information. Professor Slytherin shrugged. Professor Ravenclaw looked pained, but nodded slightly. Professor Gryffindor motioned for her to go on.
'He died battling a magical beast, of which has not been seen in this world before. It is not certain how the beast killed him, especially as he apparently managed to slay it just as he died.'
Murmurs of apprehension arose. What wicked beast was this that could slay a powerful wizard - perhaps the most powerful wizard in the world?
'The beast's body has disappeared. No one is certain what it is exactly. All we know that it is believed to be a species of snake.'
A table away, at Professor Hufflepuff's house table, a young boy fainted. From Professor Slytherin's house table, a girl was having hysterics. Aurelia herself was feeling queasy inside.
'Calm yourselves,' snapped Professor Slytherin suddenly, standing up. The hall went dead quiet. The hysterical girl choked back her cries.
'If the beast was to burst in here now, is this how you would protect yourself? Screaming, fainting.all these useless antics! Are you or are you not witches and wizards in training!'
'Salazar! They are but children, do not speak so harshly of them,' admonished Professor Hufflepuff gently.
'And I suppose a great beast would stop to ask their ages before attacking? Or besides magical creatures, suppose a horde of Muggles, even, desperate to root out our kind - would they stop to consider that children of magic are but children? Well, I shall enlighten you - it does not matter to them! They will b-'
'Salazar!' Professor Ravenclaw cut him off mid-sentence, glaring. 'You have gone far -'
'Enough,' roared Professor Gryffindor. 'Both of you, have you forgotten where we are?'
The students were all staring wide-eyed at their professors, watching the argument. Undoubtedly, there would be gossip all over the school about this.
Looking rather abashed, the two professors retained their composure. Professor Gryffindor addressed the pupils.
'None of you have anything to worry about. The beast has been slain, and in any case, this appears to be a singular event. Concerned as Professors Ravenclaw and Slytherin may be about your safety, it is merely as a precaution. We are, however, in no immediate danger. Lessons will go on as usual.'
'There will be a memorial service for Merlin this evening,' Professor Hufflepuff continued on where Professor Gryffindor left off. 'All students are welcome to attend. I believe that is all - you may break your fast now.'
It took a while before everyone got over the shock of the announcement and the following argument. But the hall eventually returned to its normal state of morning activity.
Aurelia stared at her bowl, not seeing it.
'It does not matter to them! They will burn you all at the stake.' It was what Professor Slytherin would have said, she was sure.
'Burn at the stake!'
This time, she could have sworn she heard a snake-like voice, hissing it.