A/N: Sorry about the delay guys but I have been stupidly busy. This month I am having more time to write so expect faster updates :D.
hdecarranza: Pues ya conocemos la historia de Hermione y como crecio rodeada de las aventuras y peligros junto a Harry pero no sabemos practicamente nada de Fleur por lo que decidi hacerla menor para poder darle una buena profundidad al personaje que pretendo modelar. Fleur mas joven es algo que me parece interesante y pues Hermione mayor es un ying para la rubia yang. Espero que mi explicacion rara te satisfaga XD.
ceMR: Lol he's kinda cool, I mean he is nice when in Durmstrang and salty with his sister, like siblings are at times, I guess. Thanks, I loved writing the sorting a lot.
Thestral212: Jajajaa recuerda que Hermes es el gemelo de Hermione asi que quizas esa sea parte de la atraccion inexplicable de Fleur. Lol deja a mi [Tendo] Maya en paz que es fantastica y ademas tiene su contraparte [Claudine] Ares que le sienta como anillo al dedo XD. Tu sabes que mi musa es loca pero ya la tengo amordazada en un sotano bwhahaha.
Asmodeus Stahl: Thank you! I worked really hard on that sorting because since is completely my own world, I wanted it to be awesome and I am glad you found it nice. Durmstrang is a place nobody likes to write about apparently, and that's why I chose it when I decided to write a darker fic, it's actually nice to have this freedom instead of stuffy Hogwarts and the Triwizard [that would be only mentioned as I am tired of it]
Enjoy!
5.- Amaterasu Ōmikami's mirror
On three different villas, three mothers looked at the sky and observed how the moon shone and bathed everything with a silver glow. The mothers of three different veela had the same vision of three young girls with strange yet familiar appearances that were sorted into a group, and the three mothers were able to recognize their long-lost children in those three girls which meant that they were very much alive and that filled them with hope.
She is alive, three veela mothers thought with renewed hope. Luckily, the veela council would meet with the clan's heads in a month, and they would have the chance to discuss the whereabouts of their lost heiresses and expand the search to all wizarding schools around the world.
Three days later, the lists with the top students per branch were released, and the delegation of Durmstrang with the best pupils was formed. They would depart in a few days, and the rest of the students were really excited about their great chances at winning the Triwizard tournament since they had Drachen's quidditch star Viktor Krum among the chosen to go to Hogwarts.
"I wish we could go with them," Eudora commented while pouring pumpkin juice in a cup.
"Me too" Galatea nodded with a pout.
"Again, we are unprepared" Persephone added before serving some eggs and toast on her plate. She turned to get some sausages when she caught a glimpse of Hermes' talking animatedly with Viktor Krum.
Feeling observed, the younger student turned, and hazel locked with gray. At this, the fourth year smiled and waved at Persephone that smirked, and turned to look at her cousins, "but I won't deny that it would be an interesting experience."
"True" the blonde cousin nodded.
"Whatever, let's eat" Eudora added grabbing her spoon and filling it with oatmeal before placing it in her mouth with a piece of toast.
"Yeah, let's," Galatea said between bites "we can't afford being late to class"
"Agreed" Persephone commented before serving some berries to an eager Maya and observing how Hermes continued talking to Viktor.
There's something about him.
But what it is, I wonder.
"Welcome to your first class of Defense against the dark arts for Drachen," a woman with shiny dark hair with purple highlights and yellowish eyes greeted her students "my name is Rubina Kutz, the head of your branch, and I will also be the one in charge of your advanced classes"
"What is this any different from a regular class?" Eudora asked before propping her chin in the palm of her left hand while twirling her wand in her right.
"For starters, you are the group with the most talented witches and wizards, and that alone, is one of the main reasons you are in Drachen" Professor Kutz smiled at the redhead who shrugged her shoulders "among other requirements, of course"
"Like?" the redhead asked once more.
"I also have some good news," professor Kutz ignored the question before flicking her wand and a stick of chalk raised and started writing for her "if you keep your scores and reach the top ten among the students of your year, you will have an extra advantage"
"Which is?" Galatea asked trying to stifle a yawn. She was not a morning person, at all. Persephone wasn't either but was able to mask it better shielding her own yawn behind her hand while playing with Maya's wagging tails as the fox refused to stay back in their room.
"That at the beginning of your second year you will have the chance to take the 2Ts" the professor chuckled amused at the confused face of her students "it stands for second-year tests and includes everything you would see in that year so, if you pass, you will be exempt of those subjects and could take the next year's classes"
"So, we can skip a year?" Persephone asked with interest.
"Actually two" professor Kutz commented "if you stay on the top ten of your year, by the fourth one you can take the 4Ts and skip that one as well and graduate in five years instead of seven"
"That's awesome!" Galatea shouted and the class laughed.
"In fact, it is Miss Black, but don't get me wrong" professor Kutz added "that would mean cramming lots of information all the time, including Christmas and summer holidays," the students whispered excitedly at the possibility of graduating sooner "and the 2Ts and 4Ts are tough, but as I said, being in Drachen has the advantage of classes with more content"
"Isn't that unfair with the ones in Vruk and Mustela?" Persephone's question escaped her lips before she was able to prevent it.
"As is life Miss Persephone, but if they study hard, they can make it to the top, as well" the professor calmly replied before clapping her hands three times "in any case, let's begin"
"Professor Kutz wasn't kidding with the extra content thing" Eudora sighed while placing her books on a nearby table "look at all the homework we already have and it's only the fifth day of class"
"I know" Galatea pouted while checking on her own pile of books "we have so many parchments to write in so little time, it's ridiculous"
"Oh, I remember that we do have some slaves" Eudora commented when she saw the Avery twins entering the library while placing a curl of her red hair behind her right ear "yo, annoying twins!"
"Shhhh," Mr. Wilkerson hushed the redhead that nodded apologetically while the man went back to his issue of Quidditch weekly.
"What do you want?" Alina, the shortest of the twins, snapped.
"What we want, huh" Eudora tapped her chin as if she was thinking about what to say next "do you remember that you made a bet against us"
"And we won, so…" Galatea added with a dangerously sweet smile.
"Slaves for a month" Eudora waved her right hand as if she was directing an orchestra.
"I don't know how you cheated the sorting snake" Alana glared at the pair of cousins with her dark purple orbs "but we will find out"
"We did not do such a thing," Persephone interrupted while placing several books on the table and sitting between the twins and her cousins "it was just meant to be"
"Lies!" Alina shouted and Mr. Wilkinson glared at her before warning her with a raised finger pointed at tall the twin.
One more and you are out.
"Lies" Alana repeated in a hushed tone.
"Whatever slaves" Eudora commented with a grin. Before the sisters started a new argument, Persephone raised her hand and all the witches stayed quiet. There was something about the dark-haired witch that imposed authority.
"First, no more about that slave business" Persephone scolded her cousins before turning to the twins "I'd rather we get along"
"Second, can we start over?" gray orbs blinked, and a polite smile adorned her face "I bet we can benefit each other by studying together, don't you agree?"
"I…guess" Alana, the taller of the twins agreed despite the pout of her sister.
"Brilliant, let's start over, then" the oldest of the Black witches extended her hand "Persephone Black, first-year at Drachen and these are my cousins Eudora" the dark-haired witch pointed at the redhead to her right "and Galatea" doing the same with the blonde to her left.
"Alana Avery" dark purple gleamed and her lips curved in a smile "and this little one is my sister Alina" the tall twin ruffled her sister's brunette tresses and the latter huffed "she's nicer than she looks"
"The same applies to my cousins" Persephone giggled amused at Eudora's scowl and Galatea's pout.
"So, tell me, Alina" gray eyes turned to look at the pouting twin "do you have a favorite subject?"
"Flying!" Alina exclaimed excitedly earning another glare from Mr. Wilkinson.
"Mine too!" Eudora and Galatea replied with equal excitement and the three witches started chatting about their favorite quidditch players and positions.
"What about you Persephone?" An interested Alana asked in a hushed tone.
"Me? I like Defense Against the Dark Arts, charms, potions, transfiguration…" the dark-haired witch started enumerating with her fingers.
"So basically, all of them…" the taller Avery chuckled amused.
"Well, I don't like Herbology much and History of Magic is just…" Persephone giggled before pointing towards her redhead cousin "she's pretty good at herbology and Galatea excels at charms which makes her brutal at dueling."
"Do you duel?" Alana asked with surprise. Dueling was something they would not cover until their second year "are you any good?"
"Well, our mothers taught us since we were little, so it's something as natural as breathing for us, I might say" Persephone replied pensive "we still have so much to learn as we haven't defeated our mothers yet"
"You are too modest, Persh" Galatea interrupted, and Persephone winced at the horrid nickname "last time we dueled, you almost defeated Aunt Andromeda"
"Mum was distracted by your whining" Eudora commented nonchalantly, and the Avery twins giggled.
"She wasn't" Galatea pouted again and crossed her arms over her chest
"She was!" the redhead shouted louder.
"No, she was no-" the blonde Black's shouts were interrupted by a slam on a desk and the library grew quiet in an instant.
"Out, out, all of you" Mr. Wilkinson pointed towards the Black cousins and the Avery twins' table "you are banned for a week!" the girls promptly picked up their books and almost ran out of the library. The library man was pretty scary.
"My apologies, Mr. Wilkinson" Persephone promptly added before closing the door behind her being the last of the group leaving the library.
"Well, that was fun" Eudora joked, and Galatea, Alana, and Alina giggled.
"It's not even our first week and we are banned from the library" Persephone sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose "how I am supposed to study now?"
"Relax, we have enough books back in our room" Eudora commented.
"And it's only a week" Galatea added trying to sound supportive.
"How about this…" Alana offered "we all go back to our rooms, wash up, and get together after supper and work on the most immediate homework?"
"Sounds good" Persephone smiled before taking Eudora by the ear who started complaining "we will see each other later, then"
"So long" a giggling Alana replied before heading towards Vruk's quarters with Alina in tow. Later that day, the three Drachen and the two Vruk studied together in the midnight chamber and, fortunately, finished all their most pressing homework before curfew.
A week after the ban, the Black cousins were at the door of the library waiting for Mr. Wilkinson to first, apologize again, and with the hope that the librarian finally let them in.
"I hope you are not here to cause more trouble, Blacks," the man said while running his fingers through his red beard with a glare.
"Quite the opposite, sir" Persephone replied rather formally to avoid further confrontation with the grumpy librarian "I am here to apologize and assure you that it won't happen again" gray orbs turned to glare at her two silent cousins.
"Absolutely" Galatea nodded profusely.
"Never again, sure" Eudora added with a shrug.
"Just keep it quiet" Mr. Wilkinson relented with a deep frown "I will be watching you"
"They will behave sir" a male voice stated from behind the cousins "you have my word"
"I hope so" the man sneered before turning to classify a pile of books and parchments.
"Thank you, Hermes" Persephone smiled.
"Not a problem" Hermes grinned "just behave and he will forget about you, girls"
"We will, thanks" the dark-haired witch commented, and the wizard winked at her before entering the library.
"Who was that?" Eudora asked with a frown.
"He seems nice" Galatea commented.
"Ah, he's Hermes" Persephone entered the library with her cousins in tow "he's a fourth-year that I met the night we got into Drachen" the dark-haired witch grabbed the first book of her long list of tomes to borrow in order to finish her homework "he helped me get a book I couldn't reach."
"Sounds fishy" Eudora replied with a glare. She was very protective of her cousins.
"Let's just focus on getting the books we need" Persephone sighed tiredly. She had been studying by herself for too long, and she really needed the reference books she came for "I don't want to be banned again so you two get what you need and behave"
"Fine" Eudora rolled her eyes and grabbed some tomes as well. Just when Persephone was going to reprimand her redhead cousin a rather loud thud was heard, and all eyes turned to a certain blonde witch that just dropped a heavy tome, and some parchments cascaded down the shelves and pooled around an embarrassed Galatea.
"Sorry" the blonde witch shyly grabbed the thick book and placed it on a nearby table before trying to fish the parchments that kept on falling.
"Who was the one disturbing the peace of my library?" Mr. Wilkinson shouted while turning around. His enraged eyes landed on the three cousins. The redhead and the dark-haired one, fearing being banned again, pointed at the shorter blonde in unison.
"Banned for another week!" The man yelled while grabbing the tome Galatea just dropped before using his wand to stop the parchments to continue falling. Persephone mouthed a soft sorry while Eudora just waved her goodbye with a Cheshire cat smile.
"Come on!" Galatea pouted to no avail. She was banned again.
A week later, the first round of 2Ts and 4Ts was over and several students passed with flying colors while others failed one or two subjects which automatically meant that they didn't pass and had to attend to their second or fourth-year classes.
By the end of the second week, the last two tests were scheduled and the ones taking them were easy to recognize by their disheveled appearance and dark circles under their eyes.
One of those exhausted wizards was Hermes Moreau who had passed all his 4Ts so far. The young wizard had proven to be very talented on different subjects and just needed to pass one more test to be allowed to start his fifth year.
Such a difference from his 2Ts where he failed three tests and had to take all the subjects of his second year. This time, he was prepared. This time, there was no room for failure. He would prove that he was better than his sister where she shone the most; academically.
A week later during breakfast, the results were announced, and Hermes now proudly sported the fifth stripe on the bottom cuff of his left sleeve. He was now a fifth-year student, one year above his twin sister, the so-called brightest witch of her age, and the young wizard couldn't be prouder of his achievement.
That will teach her who the brightest one really is.
"Bloody hell, I didn't think he was that smart" Eudora exclaimed before finishing her orange juice in three big gulps.
"Rumor has it that he is a very talented wizard, but his athletic skills are almost nonexistent" Alana commented before eating a spoonful of popara, a traditional Bulgarian breakfast dish.
"A friend of mine that is a third-year told me that he failed the 2T of flying because he fainted while trying to finish an obstacle course" Alina added before grabbing an extra bread roll "he also broke one of his arms during the 2T dueling test."
"That's quite unfortunate" Persephone pointed out while placing small pieces of bread, berries, and cheese on a plate for her fox to eat. The eager pet sat next to her owner wagging her tails while waiting for her treat to be served.
"Well, but now he passed his 4Ts which means that he was better prepared this time," Galatea commented with a shrug before going back to her potions essay that was due after breakfast, and was still missing a few paragraphs.
"I am glad that he passed" The dark-haired witch added, and a smile graced her features when Maya started eating.
"You sound like one of his fans" Alana teased.
"I am not" Persephone replied with a scoff.
It's just that there's something about him.
As if the young wizard could read her thoughts, his hazel eyes looked up and he approached the group of witches while withdrawing a small tome from his robes.
"Good morning, Persephone, girls" Hermes greeted the group with a charming smile and the cousins waved while the twins said hello with pink cheeks "since you were interested in magical creatures, I found this book that might interest you, as well"
"Oh?" Persephone took the book intrigued "from wings to talons, the history of flying creatures."
"I know the title sounds a bit cheesy, but the book points out interesting facts about some species" Hermes added before petting Maya that growled at him and raised her tails as a warning, the fox was wary of strangers.
"Thank you, I will read it right away" the dark-haired witch commented with a polite smile.
"There's no rush, so take your time since it's mine and not the library's" Hermes replied with a small nod "when you are done, I can lend you some others"
"That would be very nice of you, thank you, Hermes," Persephone added before placing the borrowed book in a pocket of her robes.
"Now, if you excuse me, I will head to class" Hermes commented before waving "see you around, Persephone, girls"
"Not a fan, sure" Alina whispered loud enough for all the girls to hear. Not even a second later, the small group of witches bursts into a fit of giggles.
"Shut up" an exasperated sigh escaped Persephone's lips.
It's not like that, but I can't deny that there's something interesting about him.
That's all.
Months passed by in a blur, and in the blink of an eye, the wizards and witches at Durmstrang would have to take their first tests before leaving for Christmas break. The second ones would be by spring solstice and the final examinations were scheduled by summer solstice respectively. After getting their final test results a week later, students could go home to enjoy their holidays at home with their families.
Soon enough, fall came to an end, and the temperature started to drop dramatically. It was time to wear their crimson winter jackets and thicker robes and hats. Now mornings were adorned by a thin layer of ice that made halls slippery and more than one student had fallen collapsing the infirmary due to twisted ankles and wrists.
The ones handling cold better were Eudora and Galatea while Persephone used an extra layer of clothes plus gloves, and double warming charms just to leave their room to have breakfast.
It was hilarious to see the normally calm and collected Persephone Black turned into a shivering mess the more the temperature dropped. That is why the raven-haired witch decided to have their study sessions in the warmest part of the library where she booked a study room a month in advance.
It was around midmorning when the three cousins went back to their room to change clothes as their last herbology class became quite messy when an annoyed Mustela poked with her wand a mimbulus mimbletonia and the entire greenhouse stank when the plant started spitting stinksap out of its boils and all the students' robes got dirty and smelly so, Mr. Burbage dismissed his class earlier, that way everyone could go shower and change clothes.
"I swear that Rabnott girl did this on purpose" Galatea complained while stripping her clothes and wrapping her body in a fluffy light blue bathrobe before heading to the showers with Persephone and Eudora in tow.
"I don't thi-"
"Of course, she did it on purpose Persephone, come on" Eudora interrupted her cousin "that girl hates Drachen since she's in the crappiest branch"
"Don't say that, it's rude" the raven-haired witch scolded.
"Fine but it's true" Eudora replied while rinsing her reddish mane "on the bright side, we left herbology earlier so-"
"Thanks Merlin, because that class is so boring" Galatea replied while wrapping her hair in a towel of the same shade as her bathrobe.
"Herbology is an important subject if you want to be a decent potion maker, you know that," Persephone added while walking towards their room shivering. She definitely hated cold weather, and this morning had been particularly chilly. She thanked Merlin every day for her pet fox that kept her warm at night with her flaming tails.
The raven-haired witch got dressed and cast a warming charm and an additional spell to dry her hair before heading to her trunk and withdraw a bag with treats for her fox.
"Maya, come here, girl" Persephone called her pet that just tilted her head and stared at her until she saw that the young witch had some berries in her hand "snack time" the fox barked happily before approaching and started devouring the berries that Persephone just served her on her plate.
"Such a glutton" the dark-haired witch giggled while brushing her pet's tails. Her fox was quite mischievous and tended to explore all over the school which meant constant fur care as she would come back filthy. Luckily, Persephone was quite good at cleaning spells to the point that she could cast them wordless and wandless now due to the constant practice with Maya.
"Persh, have you seen Katt?" a now dressed Galatea burst into their shared room.
"I saw her earlier in the common room" Persephone commented before turning to look at a chuckling Eudora with a raised eyebrow.
"The only silly one that names her cat, Katt" the redhead added between laughs "what an idio-hmpf" Eudora was not able to finish when a pillow hit her face and Persephone laughed amusedly.
"You know that you named your owl, Coba which literally means owl in Russian, right?" the dark-haired witch commented while cleaning Maya's plate that just finished eating and was now licking one of her rear paws.
"I do know" the redhead threw the pillow back "but you gotta recognize that it sounds cooler than Katt"
"I can't argue against that, she's right" Persephone replied with a shrug.
"Hey!" Galatea pouted before turning her cerulean eyes to look at Persephone "can Maya help me look for her?"
"I think so," Persephone clicked her tongue and Maya's reddish ears twitched before turning to look at the dark-haired witch, and sitting on the bed next to her owner.
"Could you please find Katt?" Persephone asked while scratching behind Maya's ears. At this, the white fox gave a high-pitched bark, raised her nose, and smelled the air as if trying to catch the cat's essence. When the fox got it, jumped from the bed, and ran out of the room followed by the three cousins.
They ran out of the common areas of Drachen and only stopped when a teacher scolded them for running in the halls. Maya barked, and resumed her run. At this, the girls walked briskly to avoid being grounded, again.
They followed the small fox through parts of the castle that they hadn't explored yet. After what felt like an eternity, Maya stopped and sat by a door before starting barking. The panting witches stopped to catch their breath.
The old-looking double door was magnificent. It had elaborated carvings of scales of different sizes and woods which gave the design texture and depth. Two dragon heads decorated the door as knockers but were lacking the handle. The one on the left had a bowed head crowned with spikes, a short snout, and bright yellowish eyes while the one on the right had a raised head, a horn on each side, a long and elegant snout, and silver eyes.
"I guess Katt might be in that room" Persephone stated before grabbing Maya from the ground and scratched behind her ears before whispering a soft thank you. At this, the fox barked back.
"Let's get your cat and head back, it's almost supper time and I am really hungry," Eudora commented before trying to push the door. The moment her right hand touched the wooden surface, Eudora was pushed back by an unknown force and her back and head hit a nearby wall.
Seeing this, Galatea and Persephone ran towards her redhead cousin that was trying to stand. The blonde witch wrapped an arm around her waist to hold her steady while her raven-haired cousin checked her for injuries.
"Well, that was unexpected" Eudora chuckled amused. After making sure her cousin was unharmed, Galatea walked to the door wand in hand.
"Alohomora" the blonde shouted but the door didn't budge. An invisible force pushed her back making her trip and land on her butt.
"It repels touch and unlocking spells" Persephone voiced aloud while walking towards the door "interesting."
"Be careful, Persh" Galatea warned while rubbing her now sore butt. "Landing on the cobbled floor hurts a lot."
"So, it reacts negatively to intruders" the raven-haired witch pondered "the design is of dragons which means that we, as members of Drachen, are allowed to enter but, how?" her gray orbs widened when the realization hit her.
It must be similar to our branch entrance, so…
A wide smile appeared on her face as she raised her left arm and placed it before the two dragon heads "this has to work."
After a few seconds, the dragon on the left raised its head and opened its mouth exposing several rows of teeth that trapped Persephone's arm but didn't harm her. The elegant head of the right did the same and the door turned translucent; access has been granted.
"Go and get your cat," Persephone ordered her cousin before withdrawing her arm now free from the dragons' grasp.
"What is this place?" Eudora asked aloud while entering the strange room.
A/N: dun dun dun. Reviews make updates come faster, just saying :P.
A bit of history behind the chap's title: Amaterasu Ōmikami is the incarnate goddess of the Sun. She governs the Universe and is the main deity of the Japanese Shinto religion. It is believed that the royal family of Japan descends directly from this important goddess. She represents fertility and makes plants grow that gives life not only to humans but also to the gods. As the guardian of the Japanese people, she is represented by the emblem of the rising sun on the Japanese flag. The meaning of her full name, Amaterasu-ōmikami means 'the great kami (goddess) that shines in the sky.
The original mirror that reflected Amaterasu was made by the blacksmith of the gods. It is kept in the Great Shrine in Ise in central Japan and it's called Yata no Kagami. To this day, the sanctuary accepts visitors, and you can see the building where the mirror is stored. The mirror itself, however, has been hidden for 1,500 years. It is said that the mirror has eight sides since eight represents the number of perfection in Shinto. All mirrors are considered sacred to Amaterasu and it is a way to connect with her and reflect the state of the viewer's soul.
A Japanese proverb says: "When the mirror is dark, the soul is not pure."
