Aurora
The first rays of the spring sun indicate that a long and difficult winter has passed, there will be no more frosts, snowstorms and snow drifts, a new amazing and joyful time has come. The breath of spring is felt in everything. It awakens still sleeping nature to a new life. The sun is really warm, the snow is melting, the drops are ringing. Everything around rejoices and sings, rejoicing at the awakening from a long sleep. I especially love listening to the choir of the spring drop. This is amazing and incomparable music, created by nature, tired of the long winter. It filled my mind with light, warmth and boundless joy, locking up constant worry, anxiety and sadness in the far corners of my mind. And I could finally take a deep breath, enjoying this, unexpectedly come, pacification.
Anna and I walked in silence towards the owlery. She wrote to her father several times a day, expecting from him at least some news. I looked down at my feet, trying not to slip on the wet ground from the melting snow, and for the first time in a long time, I thought about the amount of homework we received today in Defense Against the Dark Arts, instead of any nonsense that had disturbed my thoughts before. To my surprise, my heart was finally at peace. At this thought, my lips involuntarily broke into a blissful smile.
"So, Ora, tell me immediately what happened yesterday? I've been watching you all day. You're kind of too... calm, or what?" Anna could not stand it, breaking this protracted silence and disturbing my peace. "What did Snape tell you?"
I stared at my friend in surprise, not understanding what she was talking about. Annabelle fixed me with a searching gaze, which made me shiver a little, trying to get rid of the feeling that I was being examined under a microscope.
"What are you talking about, Anna? Everything is great!"
"That's exactly what "great" is! But yesterday, like six months ago, everything was bad! Why such a drastic change? Did Snape tell you something new? Something about your power? Did he find a way to get rid of it? Why don't you tell me anything?!" Anna bombarded me with questions with concern and curiosity at the same time.
"No, nothing new. Our professor only said I had nothing to worry about. And it's true! I completely trust him. Only thanks to his potions my state of health improves and everything is fine with me. I don't understand what you are already thinking..."
"Are you kidding me? Nothing to worry about? Is this a new way of accepting the inevitable?"
"Calm down, Anna. If something had happened, I would have told you everything, of course. I repeat to you again: everything is fine, there is nothing to worry about," I rapped out every word, only the sound of the last ones I did not like. It echoed in my head with some strange sound, causing unpleasant sensations.
"Well, okay. As you say," Anna snorted offendedly and fell silent again.
Each of us was lost in our own thoughts and I did not notice how we soon found ourselves on the last step to the owlery.
The time of mail had long passed, that's why all the owls were in place and hooted noisily inside. Fortunately, none of the students were in the room, since everyone who wanted to had already sent letters to their relatives or received answers from them.
"Phobos?!" Annabelle suddenly exclaimed excitedly, which brought me back to the real world. "What are you doing here?"
She went to the window and held out her hand, on which a rather large black raven immediately sat down. I remembered from her stories that ravens were honored in the Black family from generation to generation. These noble birds were on their coat of arms and, of course, not a single Black family, of which there were many before, could do without a real, tame raven. But they were rarely used as messengers. Only in special cases, when something serious happened, or complete confidentiality was necessary.
"He has a letter," I remarked, pointing to a tiny bundle tied to the raven's left leg.
Anna immediately untied it and opened the parchment.
"Merlin! It's from dad! Finally!" she exclaimed joyfully, but at the same time worriedly.
"My dear girl.
Forgive me for the long silence. I needed to wait out the time so as not to give myself away. But do not even think to worry, everything is fine! I'm only sending you Phobos because that kind of information can't be passed through regular owls.
I found what I was searching for. But... Many facts and inconsistencies with what you told me confuse me.
Firstly, such a power really exists, but not in a person. A person cannot endure such a gift. Besides, it was bestowed by Death itself. Secondly, it has the appearance of a stone, which is no longer quite suitable for Ora's situation.
Well, and thirdly, which is the most important thing: no power can resurrect this or that creature in its full measure. A creature, or a person, returned to life — neither dead nor alive, doomed to eternal torment and suffering. But this is neither infernal nor a ghost. This is an eternally tormented soul, which is stuck between two worlds.
And, again, none of this fits with what Snape scared you with. After all, you definitely do not have such a relic, as well as the other two. The only thing that ties all these legends together is that He is looking for one of these relics. But as far as I know, this is not a stone, but something larger in size. Alas, I have not been able to find this out.
What do I want to say to all of this? Girls, please be careful. I never trusted Snape, he's a slippery type. There is definitely something not clean here. Don't trust him blindly. Take care of yourself, both of you.
With love,
Dad"
Annabelle finished reading the letter aloud and stared at me.
"And what does all this mean? There is no power? Why did Snape tell you about this?"
"I don't know, Anna," I answered confusedly. "Our professor couldn't deceive me."
"But you heard everything my dad said! A person cannot endure such a power. Snape intentionally intimidated you!"
"It can't be. He wouldn't..."
I didn't have the energy to think or speculate. Had our Head really deceived me?
"But you see visions and can give flesh to ghosts!" not appeased Anna, thinking aloud. "What is it then?"
I shrugged, feeling unbearably tired of all these unanswered questions. Some obsessive thought was spinning in my mind, I kept trying to grab onto it, but it eluded me.
I needed to go outside and breathe fresh air. Annabelle quickly wrote a short reply to her father and sent it by raven, after which we finally left the owlery. The spring aroma, standing in the air, acted intoxicatingly and excitingly. Thousands of restless thoughts whirling restlessly in my head faded into the background for a moment.
*
Several weeks passed, we exhausted all the guesswork and assumptions, and decided to take advantage of the lull and let everything take its course. In addition to our problems, no one canceled studies and upcoming exams. It was high time to catch up.
In the evening, I returned to the castle after another exhausting detention with Professor Sprout. Indignantly rubbing my bruised knuckles and swearing softly, remembering how my hands almost suffered while studying another completely "safe" plant, I did not notice how I accidentally ran into someone in a narrow corridor between greenhouses.
"Got you," the guy smiled cheerfully, hugging me to him.
I wanted to break out in indignation, but when I looked up, I saw Harry in front of me.
"Oh, hi, Harry," I smiled at him.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" he asked, still holding my shoulders.
It looked like he was about to hug me, but he kept that distance.
I narrowed my eyes slightly, watching him and noticing subtle changes in his behavior. He spoke so strangely. Like he was drunk.
"I'm going to the castle," I replied, scrutinizing his face intently. "And you? Are you all right?"
"I'm looking for Slughorn, but I'm going to see Hagrid."
"It is very logical. So you're looking for one person, but you go to another instead?" I asked incredulously.
"Maybe there's no logic, but that's the way it should be," Potter replied indifferently, not seeing any problem in this. His eyes burned with some kind of manic fire — he seemed to be in euphoria.
"Your reasoning is interesting," I snorted and pulled away from him. "Well, good luck with your search or whatever..."
"Yes, luck is just with me," he replied with feeling and smiled again.
"Why did you decide so?"
"I just know."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"Are you drunk?"
"No," he said firmly, suddenly serious.
I felt embarrassed at how sincerely truthful his words sounded, and I bit my lip.
"Okay, I'm sorry. I have to go."
"Wait, Aurora. I'd like you to come with me, but... I know you're not allowed."
"So why are you telling me about this?" I asked, feeling hurt by his words.
"I just want you to know that I'd be happy... Look, maybe we could go to Hogsmeade together? If you stop ignoring me and pretending that nothing happened between us and we don't know each other at all."
I was taken aback by his fiery speech. It didn't feel like Potter at all. I didn't know him that well, but he suddenly became noticeably bolder, as if he was on a roll. It was as if he had drunk Veritaserum or just drunk as hell — he radiated such confidence, as if he had no doubt that luck was always on his side.
"Harry... Thanks for the offer. I would be very pleased to go with you. But..."
He decided not to wait for what other excuses I could come up with for refusing him, instead taking my elbows tightly and squeezing them a little. I was taken aback by his determination and arrogance, but at the same time I felt a strange weakness in my knees and a slight dizziness. Adrenaline rushed through my veins, and my brain got drunk from the release of endorphins. His ragged breath tickled my skin, sending goosebumps through my body. His eyes were green, exciting, and were very close. Unbearably close... The emerald pools looked directly at me, and a genuine, persistent desire splashed in them.
Before I had time to come to my senses and ask him why such a sudden change in his behavior, his soft lips covered my mouth, opening it lazily, invading deeper, tasting, as if trying to drink to the bottom. A sweet shiver ran through my body, and that particle of consciousness that was trying to analyze what was happening began to slowly turn off, giving way to another, burning with the desire not to resist and give in to its pressure. He gradually deepened the kiss, and I felt my lips open to meet him by themselves, like a blossoming flower, basking in the sun. His tongue gently played with mine, softly caressing the palate. A blazing heat washed over me, and, obeying the primitive instincts and throwing all thoughts into the background, I answered his kiss, pulling his head closer, reveling in the taste of his lips, melting in his arms. My fingers gently ran through the strands of his black hair, and his strong arms clasped my waist, pressing me to him, giving an amazing feeling of security and calmness. It was so reliable with him, so good... I did not want to let him go, and I wanted these sweet moments of dizzying pleasure to never end.
After a while, we broke away from each other to take a breath.
"Alas, I need oxygen," he smirked and ran his finger gently down my cheek, warmly watching me giggle and blush. "Although, if it were my will, I would never let you go. You drive me crazy," he whispered, barely perceptibly touching my neck with his lips, so that I moaned a little.
"I see ..." I breathed, smiling with the corners of my lips in response and pressed my forehead against his forehead.
At the same moment, everything faded, and then lit up with a bright flash. New images appeared before my eyes.
It seemed to be Slughorn, but much younger, and next to him stood a handsome dark-haired Slytherin unknown to me with thin, artsy features, as if engraved from marble — dark cold eyes contrasted sharply with pale skin. His whole image seemed Byronic, but for all its beauty, somehow inexplicably frightening. From the badge neatly pinned to his robes next to the head boy's badge, he was a member of the Slug Club. Carelessly smoothing his wavy hair, he slowly approached the professor, asking him in an unctuous, ingratiating tone:
"Sir, I'd like to know what you know about... Horcruxes?"
Slughorn froze for a moment and looked at the student suspiciously, but then, as if reluctantly, but very easily, he began to say:
"This is a material object in which a person encloses a part of his soul."
"But I don't quite understand how this happens, sir," the Slytherin's voice caressed the ear like silk.
"You split your soul and hide it in an object. And even if your body is attacked and destroyed, you will not be able to die, since part of your soul will exist in this or that object," Slughorn spoke as if he was in a trance.
"But how does the soul split?" The young man's eyes lit up red, and the intonations began to slightly resemble the hiss of a snake.
"By means of the highest act of evil — murder. A encases in another object with a special spell."
"Curious, is it possible to split the soul into several parts?"
Suddenly my body shook and I recoiled from Harry in shock at what I was seeing. Merlin! Again! My head is not a garbage pit and not a sewer, where everyone can dump some kind of waste! When is this going to stop?!
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I abruptly pushed the discouraged Gryffindor away from me.
"Ora, are you all right?" he asked worriedly, keeping his eyes on me.
I looked at him with resentment. Another vision — and all because of him! Such an indescribable gamut of feelings struggled within me that it seemed that I was about to explode. I took a deep breath and pulled myself together, looking up at him boldly.
"Harry. Listen, I can't be silent any longer. I'll go with you to Hogsmeade."
A happy smile lit up his face, and out of the corner of my ear I heard him sigh in relief.
"I want to tell you something very important."
I saw how sharply his face grew serious. He took my hand, and I squeezed his hand in gratitude. He took my chin and kissed me again, this time gently and affectionately, making all the problems fade into the background again.
"Tell me now," he breathed, tearing himself away from my lips.
"Let's not ruin this moment," I said in a barely audible voice. He silently agreed.
*
"I've never heard of this term... What's it like? Korcruxes?"
Anna asked as we sat late at night in our common room by the fireplace on our favorite sofa.
"Horcruxes," I answered in a whisper. "I didn't hear it either, but it's obviously something terrible and dark."
"Of course, since it's a murder," agreed the friend. "Didn't you see more about that guy? Slughorn didn't mention his name?"
"No, everything was very abrupt. It may not even be a complete dialogue. I don't know." I shrugged. "Is there anything in your books at home about Horcruxes?"
"I have not met. And we don't have such a big library either," Annabelle shook her head thoughtfully, and then it seemed to dawn on her. "But the Malfoys might well have something about it!"
"Well, we're definitely not going to ask Draco."
"Why do we need him? We can figure it out on our own during spring break!" Anna suggested.
"How?"
"For example, we can go to the Manor under the pretense of visiting Narcissa. One of us will distract her, and the second will sneak into the library."
"Hmm… Why not? That's an idea." I nodded.
"It's amazing that Potter knows about this," Annabelle remarked with a snort.
"It turns out like this. Otherwise, I wouldn't have seen this. These are not some sudden pictures that none of us concern. A person should know what, so to speak, involuntarily shows me," I was surprised at my own conclusion.
"I wonder if Potter was looking for Slughorn for the same reason? By the way, I noticed how the professor began to ignore his "best student"," Anna drawled with sarcasm. "Looks like Potter pissed him off already."
"Well, Harry said he was looking for him, but he was going to see Hagrid." I shrugged, blushing a little as I remembered the time I had spent alone with him.
"He's not smart, that's for sure," Anna grinned again, but I ignored it.
The silence was broken by the chimes in the common room. They struck nine in the evening. An hour later, lights out, but we still had time to do one thing. I caught myself and jumped up from the couch:
"Come on, it's time already. At this time, he just descends into the cellars."
Annabelle nodded and we rushed out of the common room in search of the Bloody Baron. A quarter of an hour later we finally managed to find him. He wasn't in the best of moods as always, but seeing us Slytherin students lifted his spirits instantly.
"Baron, we're looking for you!" Anna and I spoke almost in one voice.
"Wonderful ladies are looking for me, and why?" The ghost flew up to us and stopped, looking at our faces with curiosity.
"We need your help," Anna answered.
"Could you find one of our lost items... in the Forbidden Forest?"
"Dear ladies, I will do anything for you with great pleasure, but we ghosts are not allowed to enter the forest," he said in an unquestioning tone.
"Well, we have something," Anna smiled, looking at me. "For you."
"The fact is that I have a certain power… And I can help you to gain flesh. At least for a short while."
We immediately noticed a genuine interest in the eyes of the Baron, who began to listen to our words with much greater enthusiasm.
"And what do you need to find?"
"Brooch."
"Just a brooch? It won't be difficult. Go on, lovely lady!"
Annabelle looked at me again, smiling contentedly, and winked at me. I nodded in response and tried to tune in to summon that power within me.
I clenched my hands into fists and closed my eyes. Mentally imagine what I want to achieve.
But a minute or two later, and nothing happened.
Maybe I still can't control it? I tensed again as much as I could, and even pulled out my wand just in case. But nothing came out.
Merlin! What is it? I exclaimed with displeasure and made a third attempt.
I imagined a ball of energy emerging in my chest and tried to throw it out. But all this was only in my thoughts, but in reality - nothing.
"It doesn't work…" I whispered guiltily.
The Bloody Baron frowned and, not wanting to wait any longer, vanished into the darkness of the corridor with an indignant grunt.
"It's okay, maybe you need to practice more before you get down to business... We'll try next time," Anna consoled, upset and just as surprised.
"No, let's go!"
I decided not to give up. Grabbing my friend by the hand, I led her up the hall to the stairs. Where the rest of the ghosts live. Where this "revival" happened for the first time. Perhaps I just need the right atmosphere for that.
We climbed the stairs and remained standing on it, waiting for it to begin to change its movement. We saw several ghosts in the distance, peacefully talking to each other, until one of them paid attention to us:
"Oh look, it's that student!"
"Yes, yes, it is definitely her. The one Sir Nicholas is crazy about now!"
"Right! And Myrtle talks about her all the time!"
"Let's go to her! Suddenly, we will succeed in the same way as they do!"
Anna took my hand again, thus letting me know that she was supporting me.
As soon as the ghosts surrounded us, the stairs began to change their position, and we almost fell. Grabbing the railing, I felt a little dizzy again. Well, here it is, this moment! Excellent! Now everything will work out. Everything was repeated exactly according to the same scenario as last time.
"Over here, closer!" I shouted to the ghosts and they immediately obeyed, surrounding us from all sides.
I closed my eyes again and tried to tune in. Ghosts were flying around us, the stairs were moving.
Come on, Aurora, you can do it!
At some point, the stairs swayed more strongly and froze.
I opened my eyes, delighted.
But in front of her she saw only displeased faces of ghosts. They were furious.
"Ahem, it's obvious that the young lady is just a regular charlatan!"
"Sir Nicholas imagined it all!"
"Aren't you ashamed, miss, to mock the dead like that? You will arrange your jokes with someone else, and not with us!"
The ghosts indignantly moved away one by one. And Anna and I just looked at each other in confusion.