The rush of the wind on my face felt amazing. Oh, how I missed flying. It was as if the broom was a piece of me. I swooped and soared around the stadium. I tried to see how close to the ground I could get before I had to swerve up. After a while I had an idea. I pulled out my wand and yelled "Accio snitch". A moment latter I saw my snitch flying toward me. I caught it mid flight and examined it. Then, letting it go, I gave it a moments head start. When I decided it had been long enough I set off in search of the little bugger.
It only took me about two minutes to spot it. I immediately started full speed after it. Three minutes later and I was holding the snitch in my hand once more. I began to head back toward the ground when I heard clapping. I spun around on my broom until I saw him. He seemed rather out of place standing on the bleachers of the quidditch pitch. His surroundings was not the only out of place thing. The man in front of me was not the snakelike creature I had grown used to seeing in real life, but instead the good looking brunette I had only ever seen in memories. The smile on his face when I spotted him was not errie and terrify as it had previously been. It was, in fact, somewhat charming. The only difference between this person and the one from the memories was that he was not a school boy, but a man who appeared to be in his early twenties.
"Well done Auna. That was rather impressive. Now if only we could get you to apply your quidditch reflexes in your dueling. Then you would be unstoppable. On the subject of unstoppable, how did you manage to leave the manor without my death eaters noticing?" His question made me freeze in place. What if I wasn't supposed to have left the manor? His face should mere curiousity, but I was still worried. Apparently my fear showed.
"Don't worry, your not in trouble. You have every right to enjoy some fresh air. I'm just curious how you managed to remain undetected." He seemed to be telling the truth. "My dads cloak." He looked confused. "It's an invisibility cloak." I added. I was not about to tell him that it was one of the Hallows. He didn't need to know that. "Ah, clever. Perhaps you will make a better fighter than I had thought." It was so strange. The man standing before me no longer seemed to be the uncaring and cruel man I had always thought I knew him to be. He was still a strict man with high ambitions and a need for respect. Those ambitions, however, did not seem to be evil ones. Replacing the cruelty I saw something much more humane and civil. I might not go so far as to call it caring or kindness, but it definetly wasn't the evil I had thought it to be. I had gotten so lost in my thought I didn't realize that we had been sitting there in silence for multiple minutes. I about fell of my broom, as I had forgotten I was in the air, when Voldemort cleared his throat. Looking back at him I realized I still wanted answers. He had gotten his. The question was how I was going to ask without sounding rude.
"I...you...how", was all I managed. At this he chuckled. "You noticed", he said gesturing to himself. I snorted at this. How could I not notice that the beast had turned into...a beauty. His look turned stern for a moment. "Manners Potter. We will have to work on that." Yep, the beast was still there somewhere, just drastically improved. I received another stern look, with some curiosity behind it. Was he reading my thoughts? I quickly put up a shield whilst flushing bright red. He continued, "Severus has been working on this for quite some time and has finally come up with a solution." Snape did this? Well, for once the slimy git did something I actually approve of, what do ya know! If Voldemort could read through my shield he chose not to comment. "The potion Severus created is similar to polyjuice potion only longer lasting and more permanent. I've heard you have seen the affects of polyjuice potion first hand?" I nodded, a little embarrassed by my rule breaking. "The potion will allow me to remain in this form for a month before I must take it again. Each time I take it this form will remain a bit more permanent until the potion is no longer necessary at all." Wow, so there would be no more moldy voldy around! I was really glad I had my shield up.
"So, Aunalay, what do you think?" He was asking me! I looked at him once more. In all honesty, he was kind of hot, but I wasn't about to admit to myself or him that I believed my former arch enemy and a man considered to be one of the darkest wizards of all time to be hot. "It's...nice," was what I settled for. "It's nice?! Is that all? I was under the impression that you and your friends had referred to me as something along the lines of snake like and slimy before." I blushed. "I have to imagine this would be more than 'nice' in comparison. Come now Aunalay, I know a bit about how teenage girls work. What do you think." This last sentence was a bit more intense. I knew what he was fishing for, but I was not going to say that for both our sakes. "It suits you. As you said it is definitely a drastic improvement from before. I approve. I think you may have to do more to fight off Bellatrix, though." I flinched, waiting for his response. I really wanted to change the subject from me and my opinions no matter the cost. Instead of a curse I heard him laughing. I looked up to see him smiling at me. "I'm afraid you may be right Aunalay." He looked at me once more and I could feel him trying to break through my shield. he didn't pry, however.
"Perhaps we should return to the mansion. It is beginning to rain and the air is rather cool." I looked up to see he was right. I had been so distracted I hadn't noticed the change in the weather. I headed back toward the ground and dismounted as he began my way. My scar prickled as he came closer, but I ignored it. When he reached me he stopped and pointed towards my broom. "You may want to store that down here. I have a feeling you will spend a lot of time on the pitch. Follow me." He lead me back to the storage shed I had previously explored. We walked inside and to one of the empty stands. He gestured for me to place my broom there. As I did the tag changed to read 'Aunalay Potter'. I was rather impressed. We then walked back across the yard in silence. After entering the mansion I had said goodbye to Voldemort and headed back towards my room. It had been an awkward good bye once again because I had slipped up and almost called him Voldemort. In the end I had just settled for goodbye and darted down the hall. An hour later I was headed back downstairs for my lesson with Dolohov which went surprisingly well. He was shocked on how much I knew about various order members. I was even able to help him out a little. He shared with me some facts about people I hadn't ever known before, as well. It was certainly a step up from Bellatrix's class. Dolohov himself wasn't even that bad. I could see how he had gotten his reputation. He was certainly a commanding presence with a lot of ambition. Nevertheless, Antonin Dolohov certainly did not come across to me as evil.
Around five o'clock we wrapped up. "Well, I think we have covered enough for the day. You are quite brilliant, you know." I stared at him shocked. No one had ever said that to me, least of all a death eater. "I think Bellatrix would beg to differ. Even Dumbledore and the Order might have something to say to the contrary." I then added, "Thank you." He stared at me for a moment. "Don't worry about Bella. It takes a lot to please that sour puss. I'm sure you will manage it, though. As for the Order, their loss." I smiled at him and practically skipped toward the door. "Bye," I shouted back.