Disclaimer: Kindly note the name of the website. Thank you. Now, all I own here is Aweina and the plot. Oh yeah, also Aweina's training group and Persephone!
Muse responsible: Rrissa!
Aweina's thoughts and "-0o0-"will denote the beginning and end of a dream or flashback. Oh, and the letter being read aloud is in italics too.
Clarification for something you'll find out later: Remus and Aweina are not together. They knew each other at school, were assigned partners on a project or two, helped each other study for tests, that sort of thing. They were friends at Hogwarts, and it's lasted, but that's all that's there. Sorry for those of you who were hoping for a torrid romance. :P
Sunday and Monday passed quietly, and soon enough, the week rolled around to Tuesday yet again. Aweina walked up and down the width of the classroom, passing periodically in front of her desk, lecturing on some of the nastier defensive curses-ones that did not only block and neutralize, but turned back the spell, sometimes adding unexpected, nasty side effects. Sporadically, she stopped to call on a student, asking questions on previous lessons.
Aweina had just turned to the board to write an incantation, intending to quiz another student, when a gray owl swooped into the classroom through the last still-open window as the days grew colder. Said owl flew across the classroom, dropped a letter on Aweina-she caught it-and glided out the window again. Aweina stared at the letter and after the owl for a moment, nonplussed.
Turning both eyes to the letter, Aweina looked at the seal-an official one in blue wax…the Ministry seal.
Um…maybe it's Allen, she thought, slowly opening the letter, He…has an odd sense of humor…
Still, there was a worm of dread that had suddenly writhed to life in her stomach, causing Aweina to bite her lip nervously.
As she scanned the note's first few lines, the chalk fell forgotten from her hand, shattering on the stone floor. Aweina gasped in shock and staggered-the words alone were like a physical blow from someone the size of Hagrid. Catching herself heavily on the desk, Aweina dropped the letter, but her eyes followed it…
Hermione and Ron had leapt to their feet the moment she had staggered. Aweina drew a ragged breath, trying to keep it from sounding like a sob and failing. Hermione picked up the letter, and Ron stood uncertainly, staring at Aweina.
"Read-read it," Aweina whispered, biting back a sob. Apprehensively, Hermione began to read.
"To Professor Aweina Aquila,
We of the Ministry regret to inform you that the Dark Mark has been found hovering over your home, Aquila Manor." Hermione stopped dead in horror, as the class gasped collectively. Aweina motioned curtly for Hermione to continue and almost staggered again as her hand left the desk. She returned it, turning her face to stare at her fingers, white-knuckled as she gripped the edge of the wood like a lifeline. "Though it has been years, we…regret to say that the meaning has not changed," continued Hermione, her voice trembling.
"Among the dead are your mother, Riana Aquila, your brother, Andrew Aquila, your nephew, Evan Aquila, and your niece, Lucia Aquila."
Aweina had only reached her mother's name before she couldn't read anymore, but she released another gasp-close to a sob-at the other three names. Her nails dug into the wood of her desk as she tried to keep from falling over.
"Please come to your home by Floo as soon as possible," finished Hermione, falteringly, "Regretfully yours, the Ministry of Magic."
Aweina was in shock-though her eyes were whirling, she could barely see, and only her grip on her desk kept her upright. "Mother…Andrew…" she whispered, in a choked voice, "Evan…he was only five. He was only five. Why? Lucia…she was a baby. Just eight months…I sang her to sleep when she had a cold this August…"
Aweina was horribly conscious of the stares upon her-the horrified looks on the faces of all her students. She whirled her eyes away, memories twisting through her head as her view of the room spiraled…
-0o0-
Aweina, teaching Andrew to ride a broom, though she was barely old enough to use a real broomstick and her little brother could barely hold on to his…
Playing tag with Evan, chasing him down the halls of Aquila manor…
The dinner with Riana, just that weekend, laughing about the Auror's strange collective support of Puddlemere United over tea…
Lucia, her newest niece, holding the baby in her arms as Andrew clasped Violet's hand tenderly between his own…
And suddenly, unbidden, breaking through the miasma of anguish and memory-
Alastor's roar breaking through Aweina and Kali's conversation, making them both jump-"Remember your duty, Aurors!"
-0o0-
Aweina straightened to attention at that remembered shout out of reflex, stiffening her spine with an effort of will. Aweina the woman was put to the side, and Auror Aquila came to the fore. Duty-that was always an Auror's first consideration.
"Class dismissed!" she barked, in a voice that sent the students scrambling to pack their bags, and pulled out her wand. Waving it at the door, she set a complex ward that would seal the room to anyone but her when it was closed. Aweina turned and went into her office, setting another ward on her office door. Pausing, she went into her bedroom, kicked the door mostly shut, and took off the purple scarf she had on. Setting it on the bed, Aweina took a plain black scarf from her bedside table and tied it in place with a few efficient movements. Turning, she set wards on her windows, thanking Alastor silently for her training, and Auror Aquila went back into her office.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were in there-as Aweina had half-expected as she warded her personal door. "Take that letter to Dumbledore now," she said, still in her 'orders' voice, "And once all of you are out, shut the door."
"Professor-" began Harry, but fell silent. Aweina turned her face to him, and searched his eyes. Harry's face was troubled, his brow furrowed.
Aweina drew a breath, and said, in a quieter tone, "I…you probably know how much I long to grieve for them. But now, it is duty that matters. Get that letter to Albus, Harry, and whatever you do, do not leave Hogwarts."
Turning smartly, Aweina took a handful of Floo powder and flung it into the fireplace. Stepping in, she shouted, "Aquila Manor!"
Minutes later, Auror Aquila strode out of the fireplace in the front hall, nodding to several Ministry officials. "I am Auror Aweina Aquila," she said, back in her 'orders' tone of voice, "Here to investigate."
To her surprise, Alastor was there, and he limped up towards her. "Let's make sure it's really you," he said, in his growl, "What form does your Patronus take?"
"An eagle," said Aweina, straightening to attention, "And Lucy gave you a singing rubber duck last year for your birthday. A few years ago, Paul and I were having a snowball fight, and you blew them up when we ganged up on you." Alastor nodded, though some of the Ministry members looked startled at the mention of a snowball fight.
"That's her," he said to the Ministry officials, "Let's go."
Remus was there for some reason, along with Kingsley, who had a reason-he was an Auror. So were Paul and Kali-Lucy was still in America, and Wesley was somewhere classified, last Aweina had heard. Obviously, Paul and Kali had dropped whatever they were doing when they had heard to come here. Other Ministry officials were swarming over the castle, and several reporters from the Daily Prophet were there.
"Let's start from the beginning," Aweina heard herself say, and strode out of the hall, into the front courtyard. Stopping-trailing other Aurors-she turned and made herself look up.
Even in the daylight, the Dark Mark hovered above the house, the skull and serpent vivid. Aweina noticed detachedly that the members of her family who lived in the manor were in the front of the house-Violet, Andrew's wife, or rather, widow, was sobbing on Allen's shoulder. Even at this distance, Aweina could see the white knuckles on her brother's hand.
"They hit the nursery," said Kingsley, "Most of your family was out to lunch, but apparently Evan and Lucia had colds, and your mother and Andrew were looking after them."
Aweina's fingers tightened around her wand, and she gave a short nod before striding back into the house. Whirling her eyes around, Aweina demanded, "Why has no one summoned the house-elves?"
Paul turned to look at her. "We're not part of your family, and they're…still in shock," he said, voice distant, and Aweina could tell he was struggling to hold back his own sorrow. She didn't answer, but put her fingers in her mouth and whistled piercingly.
As most of the people in view winced, two house-elves appeared in front of Aweina. The twins, Topsy and Turvy, were young, for house-elves, and had only served for a few years. Their mother, and their ancestors on their mother's side, had served the Aquilas for as long as the records went.
Topsy and Turvy wore matching tea towels wrapped like togas, like many house-elves did, and were indistinguishable from one another unless you either saw them on a daily basis or, like Aweina, knew that Turvy had a burn scar on the top of his right foot, where he had dropped a kettle of boiling water one day.
Both house-elves were distraught, and Topsy seemed on the verge of tears-she was better with children than Turvy, and most often minded them when the adults were busy. Aweina dropped to a knee to get closer to their level, and said, "I need you to help us search the house, top to bottom."
The house-elves nodded, and went to stand by the wizards Aweina indicated; Kingsley had Topsy, and Paul got Turvy. Alastor had been talking to a Ministry official, and broke off the conversation as Aweina turned towards him.
"They thought they should search with us," Moody growled, "I managed to convince them that Aurors would be better able to defend themselves."
Aweina nodded distractedly-it was what she had expected. "I hope they don't mind me taking charge-" she began, but Moody cut her off. "You're an Aquila, the only one in any condition to help. You'll need to do the secret passages."
"You search the third floor with Kali," said Aweina, "I'll…ah."
She had been trained to always search in pairs, but with Paul and Kingsley paired with house-elves, there was no partner left for her.
"I'll do it," said Remus, stepping forward. Aweina nodded. "Very well," she said, Turvy, you and Paul do the fifth floor and towers. Don't even leave a linen closet unsearched. Topsy, I'd like you and Kingsley to do the laundry and first floor. Alastor, Kali, you do the third floor and fourth. Remus and I will get the second floor and passages."
The Aurors, house-elves, and Remus dispersed. The search on the second floor took little time-Aweina combed the place with her eyes, moving from room to room. Remus stayed on guard, keeping close to Aweina.
When the search was finished on the second floor-empty, but for a boggart lurking in a bathroom cabinet; Remus and Aweina dispersed it with only two appearances of the full moon, one of the Death Eater, and one of a dead Lucy. Their battle finished, Aweina glanced at Remus, looked around, and touched a stone in the wall casually.
Part of the wall slid aside, revealing a staircase. Aweina led Remus downstairs, emerging in the kitchen, then through another passage up some stairs, down a portrait gallery, and emerging from a family tree tapestry near the tallest tower. Aweina resolutely kept her eyes away from the names-this tapestry was updated magically, and the deaths of her brother, mother, niece, and nephew would have appeared promptly at the moment of their demise.
It took nearly an hour and a half to comb the castle from top to bottom, for even after Aweina and Remus had emerged, rather dusty, from the passages, Aweina and Alastor teamed to search the fourth floor, fifth floor, and towers again, this time with more than one set of magical eyes.
However, after the search, it was plain that there were no Dark wizards in the castle. As they descended from the tallest tower to the third floor again, Aweina steeled herself for what was to come…for the nursery was on the third floor.
The hall was bristling with Ministry wizards, Order members among them, some of them trying to keep Daily Prophet reporters and photographers back. Aweina managed to push through without being grabbed by a reporter, and entered the nursery.
The bodies had been left where they had been found, though each had been draped with a sheet. Aweina clenched her fists, trying desperately to keep herself under control…
Hammerblow. Her mother was near the crib, sprawled on the floor, arms outstretched-Aweina could see them under the sheet-as if reaching for…
Hammerblow. Baby Lucia was several feet away, position of her body odd, unnatural, as if she had been blasted from Riana's arms…
Another blow, and Aweina was surprised she was not reeling as she looked at her brother in a corner, lying across it as if to guard…
Yet another blow, because Evan was lying curled in the corner, in a tight ball, and for a split second Aweina thought he was just playing hide-and-seek again, trying to fool her with the 'if-I-can't-see-her-she-can't-see-me' gambit, curled tight under a sheet, until she remembered he was dead, would never play hide-and-seek with her again…
Someone grabbed her arm firmly, and steered her out of the room, back into the hall, and now the reporters saw Aweina. "Auror Aquila, do you have any comments-" shouted one of them, holding her quill ready, and a camera flashed, taking a picture, but Aweina couldn't move, couldn't speak-
Alastor bellowed over the din, "Auror Aquila is not commenting at this time!" and escorted her down the hall, guiding her into a mercifully empty sitting room. Dimly, Aweina saw Remus close the door behind them and lock it as Alastor let her down into a chair.
Aweina was…numb, mind still reeling under the blows of seeing her mother-dinner on Saturday-and Andrew-he had nearly always lost good-naturedly to her in chess-little Evan-Quidditch mad at five, she had given him a ride on her broom that summer-and Lucia, her newest niece, the adorable, chuckling baby-she had been so light in her aunt's arms just after birth when Andrew proudly told her Lucia's middle name was Aweina…
"Aweina?" said a gentle voice, in front of her, and Aweina focused an eye on him with difficulty. Remus was there, dropped to a knee in front of her chair, but it was hard to see him-
I don't care, she decided, and tore the scarf from her head, letting it fall carelessly to the ground. Remus came into view more easily now; Aweina had found over the years it grew difficult to focus through objects when she was upset, possibly because she couldn't shed tears, or possibly not.
"They-oh, please, why?" Aweina pleaded, voice wavering on the very edge of control, begging Remus for an answer. Why was her beloved mother dead? Why had her brother and nephew and niece been murdered? Why would anyone kill a baby, why would they ever kill Lucia? Why?
Remus bit his lip unhappily, as Aweina remembered he did when he was thinking-Funny, it seems like yesterday he was helping me study for that Care of Magical Creatures test in the library, she thought out of nowhere, but her mind whirled away from the flash of memory.
"I don't know," said Remus, quietly, "I don't know why anyone would do such a thing." Rolling an eye to the side, Aweina saw Alastor nod slowly, and knew he was seeing others in place of her family, knew both of them saw loved ones in the places her kin were in now-
Before she knew it, Aweina had slid to the floor on her knees with a thud, and had fallen forwards, only to be caught by Remus. Aweina clutched the front of his robes and buried her face in his shoulder, her control shattering as she broke into desperate sobs.
She noticed dimly that Alastor had taken the seat Aweina had so recently vacated, and was resting a hand on her right shoulder, registered numbly that Remus had gently put his arms around her. At this point, Aweina probably would have cried on Severus's shoulder, had he offered-which he wouldn't have-she was so afraid and grieving, not to mention as tense as a harpstring on the breaking point.
Aweina didn't know how long she wept, only conscious that she couldn't take the pain riding on her shoulders, and that crying might siphon off a little. Neither Remus nor Alastor said anything, but Remus remained still, his arms loosely around her, and Alastor's hand was comfortingly heavy on Aweina's shoulder.
After a long while-half an hour? Two hours? Aweina had no notion of time anymore-she felt the sobs lessen, felt some of the strain leave her. Even after she quieted, the Auror remained on Remus' shoulder for a while, waiting until she could shoulder the burden again.
After a time, she straightened slowly, sinking back onto her own knees, which were numb by now, and released Remus' robes. Reaching into her robes, Aweina found her handkerchief and blew her nose. Detachedly, she noticed that Remus' robes weren't even wet-but of course, her tear ducts were years gone and she could shed no tears. Tucking the handkerchief away, Aweina picked up the scarf and knotted it around her head again.
She rose and straightened her robes, taking her wand in hand again. "Let us investigate," she said, voice steady.
Aweina's emotions had frozen, the storm of grief calmed for now. She was not calm, per se, but rather on the other side of calm…she seemed to be floating loosely, detached from everything around her. She glided down the hall, wand in hand, and swept back into the room, the image of control-though the Auror was extremely glad they had left the sheets over the bodies of her family.
She swept her eyes over the room dispassionately, doing her best to remain aloof. Aweina considered the positioning of the bodies, and when she spoke, it was as though her voice was coming from a long way away. "From the layout of the…the bodies," she said, "It appears the attacker stood there." Aweina pointed to a spot about halfway between the window and the hearth, in front of a tapestry of a unicorn. "It looks like my…my mother, Riana, tried to take the baby and run, but first Lucia, then Riana, were murdered." Aweina pointed at Riana and Lucia, respectively. "Meanwhile, Andrew and Evan backed into that corner, and…"
Aweina's voice trailed away. Alastor's natural eye narrowed, and the other Aurors looked thoughtful. "Are there secret passages in this room?" said Kingsley, in his low voice.
"Just one," said Aweina, promptly, and pointed across the room from where the attacker had been standing-too far away from Andrew and Evan for them to run for it, and Riana had obviously been making for the door.
The noise outside the room pressed in on Aweina's ears as she glanced through the wall. The Ministry officials, by now looking rather harried, were still keeping back the press of reporters. "Anything?" said Aweina to Paul, who had been searching the room very carefully.
He shook his head wearily. "I talked to some of the Ministry officials earlier," he said, "They found nothing. Neither did your family. And I'm assuming you didn't see anything, or you wouldn't have asked."
Aweina rubbed her temples. What she really wanted-well, other than her family back-was a stiff drink and some sleep. "We can't track if there's no bloody trail to follow," she said, bluntly, "I…I'm not going to be of anymore help. I'm going to the Wands."
With that, Aweina Disapparated, appearing in the pub she had named.
The Crossed Wands was north of the Leaky Cauldron, though still in London. For some reason, it was frequented by Aurors in particular, though other Ministry wizards visited it as well. Every Auror had been here, though, and it was the traditional celebration spot for the ones stationed in England.
Perhaps it's like our support of Puddlemere United, thought Aweina as she mused. No one knows quite why, but it's a tradition…
Aweina was well aware that her thinking was rather sub-par at the moment-the internal rambling about the Crossed Wands and Puddlemere United made that clear. She was also aware that this was a rather normal reaction-shock, delayed by instant action and the distraction of duty, was now settling in.
The Auror rather welcomed the numbing feeling as she walked slowly to the bar and sat down. The bartender, a tall witch called Macy who was good at keeping secrets, listening, and knowing when to keep the drinks coming, instantly recognized the look on Aweina's face.
Aweina had been in here before, occasionally with the woebegone, shell-shocked look upon her face that was there now, but far more usually with a cheerful expression. Macy took one look at the Auror and poured her a glass of firewhiskey.
Aweina stared at it. "You'll hear about it in the news," she mumbled, "The Dark Mark…the Dark Mark reappeared over my home."
Macy dropped the flask she had been holding, and it shattered. The bartender stared at Aweina in horror, grabbing the bar to steady herself. "Merlin…" she breathed, "Who…"
Aweina tossed back the firewhiskey without noticing and set it down. Macy refilled it with shaking hands. "Mother. Drew. My nephew Evan. My niece Lucia."
Macy's knuckles were white on the bottle of firewhiskey. Aweina had known the woman for a whileat Hogwarts; Macy had been in third year Aweina's first year, though she had been in Hufflepuff to Aweina's Ravenclaw. "Merlin," she whispered again, supporting herself on the bar. Aweina tossed back the second glass of firewhiskey, mostly to give herself something to do other than talk to the bartender.
Mercifully, Macy stopped talking after a few more questions-the bartender could clearly see that Aweina was in no mood or condition to answer. She simply kept the drinks coming, quietly refilling Aweina's glass down at the end of the bar whenever she noticed it was empty.
Aweina stared at the fourth glass-or was it the fifth?-morosely. The alcohol had dimmed the memories, thank Merlin, shock had fully settled in, and didn't seem like it was about to move much.
Didn't I order a butterbeer? she thought, after a few minutes, It's what I always get…
Aweina became more aware that her thinking was even more sub-par than it had been when she had walked into the Wands, thanks to the shock, which would have been enough, and the alcohol. Firewhiskey was strong stuff, and Aweina had drunk rather a lot…
But she didn't feel like moving. Didn't feel like…anything.
Aweina didn't know how long she sat there, head in her hands, occasionally sipping the firewhiskey, but as her eyes lazily whirled, she became aware that Paul had walked into the door, followed by Remus and, strangely enough, Albus Dumbledore. Paul pointed her out, after he had scanned the bar-Aweina was down at one end, slumped over her drink.
Paul sat down beside her. "Oh, Aweina," he said, picking up the glass of firewhiskey and sniffing it to confirm what it was, "You didn't."
"That's only her fourth," said Macy, coming down the bar, "She hasn't touched it for nearly half an hour, though. And I don't think she's in a mood to repeat…the Incident."
Even through her shock and alcohol-fogged brain, Aweina winced. "I thought we'wer never going t'talk about that again," she said, trying not to slur her words and succeeding, somewhat.
Remus raised an eyebrow behind Aweina. "The what?" he said, obviously confused.
Before Paul could open his mouth, Aweina punched him in the arm, not able to make it as hard as she'd intended. "Don't ask," Paul said, hastily, "Just don't."
"B'sides, it was six glasses, tha'time," muttered Aweina, fumbling a hand into her pocket and pulling out a Galleon. She dropped it on the bar. "Take it 'way, Macy."
Paul silently handed her a flask. Aweina took it, sniffed it, and winced-this was the sharp, astringent potion Aurors used when they needed to sober up quickly. With a sigh, she took a sip-not enough to entirely unfog her mind, but enough to clear her speech and enable her to move right again.
She turned slowly on the barstool. "Have I mentioned I despise that stuff?" she said, trying to keep her tone light and failing, for the most part.
"Several times," said Paul, and helped her up. Aweina swatted him away, and as he flinched, wished she hadn't.
I'm going to start bawling again in a minute- she thought, as she crumpled back onto the stool, Oh, Merlin, please-
The men waited politely as Aweina fought with her emotions, at last bringing them under tenuous control. "I've canceled your classes for tomorrow," said Albus, gently, "The memorial is next afternoon. You've missed dinner, but I taught the rest of your classes in the room across the hall. I must say, you've brought them along further than I'd expected in just three months."
Aweina nodded wearily, knowing she should acknowledge this somehow. "'nks," she said, in a barely audible tone of voice.
"I'm going to send you back to my office," said Dumbledore, rummaging in his pockets and pulling out a crumpled ball of paper-Aweina dimly saw that it was the letter that had been sent to her that very day-and tapping it with his wand. He handed the paper to her. "Go see Poppy when you get there."
Aweina held on, felt the familiar jerk of a Portkey, and raised a hand slightly in farewell to Remus and Paul.
She reappeared in Dumbledore's office, as he had said, and stuffed the paper in her own pocket. Walking down the moving staircase and through the halls, Aweina numbly followed the order to see Madam Pomfrey, ending up at the hospital wing.
Aweina entered slowly, and looked around for the nurse. It didn't take long-the woman was bending over someone in a bed to the right, with twigs growing out of his ears. After a few moments, Poppy stood up and turned around. "Yes?" she said, absently, straightening her robes before taking a good look at Professor Aquila. "Oh, my."
Aweina leaned heavily against the wall, rubbing one of her temples through her scarf. "Do you have something to help me sleep without dreams?" she said, in a barely audible tone of voice.
Within moments, Madam Pomfrey had given her a flask and a tumbler, with strict instructions to drink a half-cup of it every night before bed for a full week and a half. Before she knew it, Aweina was standing in front of her own door again.
Pulling out her wand, Aweina silently thanked Alastor for putting her through training so grueling she could ward and unward a door even an inch from total collapse, before she drank some potion and fell into bed.
Sleep was not long in coming, and mercifully, there were no dreams.
That was…a very depressing chapter. It was hard to write, too. –sniffle- Hope you liked, anyway, and please review!
-Fireblade K'Chona