The Crossroads of Fate
Chapter 28.5 The Salem Prodigy
The Salem Witches Institute
The Salem Witches Institute is among the best magical schools in the world, and second to none in the United States. The Salem Witches Institute has a long, proud history. It has a history of surviving betrayals and massacres. It has a history of bringing out the best talents of the nation, a history of bringing out the best talents in the world. Above all, it has a known history of perseverance, determination, and willpower. It has a history of pride and dignity amongst its students. Almost all students grow up to become one of the Elite and their families grow to be respected. Most of its students are children and previously accepted families so to be included into one of its dynasties of strong, capable families is a privilege, not a right. This right may be withheld from you at any time should you fail to live up to our expectations required of you. Your expectations are simple: Uphold the dignity of the Witches of this Proud Institute.
"So, be careful," Marius told his young daughter. "You are among the youngest to ever be accepted. Your exam went swimmingly, now to pass this interview. Should you pass, the institute and its resources will be in the palm of your hand."
Seven year-old Aries V. Kimble walked into the room, trying to hold her head as high as she could. How uncertain she was. She worried so much she would ruin this. She studied so much, she even had exceptions made so she could get her wand early and prove herself in the practical part of her examination. She read and reread her written part so many times, her eyes were red. Now, the third part of her trial was the interview. She sat down, her knees shaking as the tall woman sat across from her. The woman across from her did not appear to have any facial expression. She simply regarded Aries through horn-rimmed glasses, long black hair and a hard jaw. She seemed more calculating, more analytical than a talker.
"Aries, this is High Lady Gwendolyn Garth," Marius introduced.
Garth made a motion to suggest Marius leave. When he did, she turned back to young Aries, "Ok, so Miss Kimble, why do you wish to join our Elite?" she asked, straight to the point, no introductions.
"Umm…"
"And if you do not have an answer, why did you bother taking the exam?"
"Well, my father"-
"If your father wishes you to be accepted here, why did he not take the exam?"
"Well, he's a"-
"Wizard? And… does he not feel like admitting his inferiority? I'm more likely to respect the Wizard who admits he is inferior than a Wizard who stay away thinking he'll be rejected. Don't you agree?"
Aries was silent. She would never say a word against her father. She felt so overwhelmed with questions she did not know how to answer, especially when Garth did not give her time to gather her thoughts. She took a deep breath and opened her mouth to speak, then Garth spoke over her again, "Uncertainty is a sin. Speak what's on your mind. Salem witches who fail to speak suggest they have no minds, those without minds do not deserve to be among us."
"Ok, well, I'm trying to be accepted because"-
"Trying is a sin," Garth interrupted. "There is either success or failure and failure is not tolerated. You strive for success, or you do not strive at all."
"Can I speak?"
"Of course you can't," Garth said impassively. "You've displayed three major sins so far. Uncertainty, trying, and weakness. Weakness is not tolerated. The only thing that will get you in now is what you strive for. And maybe the Salem Witches Institute will help you on that path to greatness. What is it you strive for, Miss Kimble?"
"Well"-
"Wealth? You have plenty of that. Power? You come from good enough stock, so"-
"Exactly," Aries said suddenly, for the first time interrupting Garth. "I com from good stock, so you should accept me. I want to be the best. I want to be the most powerful witch in the world, I want to be known as the witch who surpasses Albus Dumbledore, I want to put Merlin's line on display for the world to see, I want to defeat powerful witches and wizards and be a heroine. I want to be loved, respected, and admired. And in the end, when I'm all grown up, my fiancée back in Britain will marry a powerful witch and our kids will come from better stock and we can be known throughout the world as the family of action. I want to be even better. I want to study early and get good grades. I want to"-
"Enough," Garth interrupted for the umpteenth time. "That concludes our discussion. You will hear your results in ten days time. You may leave."
The Welcome Letter
Aries did not take long to assimilate into the Institute. She was surprised, but the High Lady accepted her in despite her poor performance. She did not understand but her father termed the interview as nothing more than procedure. Lady Garth was not very forthcoming when she personally delivered her acceptance. Even her mother was surprised that Garth was personally delivering the acceptance. Aries did not know why, but Garth stood at the doorway to their condo and her eyes noticeably scanned the interior of the house. Her face had no expression. Aries and Garth then locked eyes briefly before the Lady turned and left, disappearing with a loud crack.
Dear Miss Kimble,
We are pleased to inform you of your acceptance into the Salem Witches Institute. Please note that all books are bestowed upon you following a fine of no less than two thousand galleons. This fee may be refunded by as much as one hundred percent should you triumph in later dueling tournaments, and increased by as much as one hundred percent should you fail. Please choose your actions wisely. Also note your schedule is as follows for the coming year which will begin on August 28th 2013.
History of Magic- 8:00 am to 9:30 am
General Magical Theory- 9:30 am to 11:00 am
Magical Debate- 11:00 am to 12:00 noon
Luncheon- 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm
Recess- 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm
Charms- 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm
Transfiguration- 2:15 pm to 3:00 pm
Hexes- 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm
Jinxes- 3:45 pm to 4:30 pm
Recess- 4:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Curses- 5:00 pm to 5:45 pm
The Dark Arts- 5:45 pm to 6:30 pm
Defense Class- 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm
Dueling class- 7:15 pm to 8:00 pm
Yours Sincerely,
Jacob the Humilus,
Assistant to High Lady Gwendolyn Garth
As exciting as it the letter made her, Aries really just wanted to start working. Refund for those who won the dueling championship? She would not only win, she would strive to smash the competition. She just wanted to start working.
The Salem Witches
Aries started doing well from her first day. Having spent well over two months reading her History of Magic textbooks, she was far ahead of the class in terms of information. Her grades in General Magical Theory was over-the-top and she proved to be well adept at translating theory into practicality. The only class she did not do well on was Magical Debate. She was not good enough to voice her own thoughts, in many cases she did not know what her thoughts even were. She was seven! How was she expected to have an opinion and be able to debate it? The expectations almost offended her. At least that was the only subject she was doing poorly in. She would ask her mother to help her with it.
Lunch hour and recess were her least favorite times of the day. They did not include any theory or practice for her to prove herself. It was just a break. She guessed she needed it but a part of her really wanted to continue trying to impress her teachers. During lunch, she noticed that only the High Lady was a woman, the rest of the teachers were men and each were required to turn their wands in during lunch or recess. During recess, she saw that most of the students were girls and most of them were older than her so she often felt left out. Some were boys and many were her age but were not permitted wands. The open field used during recess was mainly for break and chatting, sometimes magical games between students, and boys sometimes participated but not often. Many times, they kept to themselves.
Recess, instead was a time for Aries' thoughts to go back to Britain where she recently came from. Her family had engaged her to a boy her age named Mark and now, she would not see her fiancée for a very long time. Four years old when they were engaged. Four. She still remembered when the decision was made. Why she left, why she left him for Britain. A part of her wondered and worried if he would forget about her when she returned. Would she return? She did not know how long she was expected to stay. The plan was for her to study in Salem for four years and then return to Britain and study in Hogwarts for seven. But being absent four so long, he wouldn't remember her.
She felt so young and alone in a school where everyone was older than her. She was easily the youngest student accepted there in a century. As the bell rang to signal the end of recess, she sighed, glad to be able to distract herself with classes and studies. After Recess, she would notice the teachers receiving their wands back as classes were due to begin. She did not know why. She carried on with her books, attempting to hold herself up to a high demeanor, ignoring any questions floating in her mind.
The next classes were afternoon classes and dedicated specially to different areas of magic. Charms, Transfiguration, Hexes and Jinxes were studied then, and each class would see a fortnight of practice and study, dedicated to a single spell. It was not until everyone mastered the particular spell when they moved on to another spell. "By the end of your years here, all of you should have mastered every spell in the book," the teacher Mr. Hogan the Humilis said at the beginning of their first lesson. The same rule applied to Hexes, Jinxes and Transfiguration. She was required to practice nothing but the spells assigned to her. So quickly did she master them, she actually got bored and practiced other spells in secret under her covers. Since housing was split depending on age, Aries was alone.
Mr. Terrence the Humilis, who taught Curses, was the first to warn the class about the next few lessons. "They are the only lessons to be taught by the High Lady herself, so mind you be extra cautious and respectful. Good day."
He was not kidding. The next couple of classes were taught in the same room continuously. The High Lady Gwendolyn Garth stood at the front, mentally taking attendance, probably remembering every student and knowing who was missing and who was not. She gave Aries a bad, unsettling feeling but she stayed quiet. As they all took their seats, she started the lesson by introducing the Dark Arts. "Merciless, unforgiving, and exceedingly powerful. Who can remember the first rule of General Magical Theory that Mr. York the Humilis taught you?"
Aries raised her hand uncertainly and, probably due to the uncertainty, Garth ignored her and called on an older girl at the back. "Emotion."
"Emotion fuels underage magic," Garth explained. "Emotion is also a key driver behind the Dark Arts. Therefore, the more intense your negative emotions, the more powerful the Dark Arts will be from your own wand. As your years go on, you will slowly but surely learn to call upon the Dark Arts but you will spend your first year or two channeling your emotions. Your negative emotions. Once you gain complete control over them, we will move to the next step. Each individual has different negative emotions and different triggers so I want you all to think primarily what makes you feel angry, sad or otherwise frustrated. Think of what makes you fearful and hateful. Everyone has these emotions, it's what makes us human. The more you come to terms with them, the more control you will have over them. The more control you have over them, the more effective the Dark Arts will be."
Garth left them for fifteen minutes to think. Garth herself walked the class and met each one's eyes individually. Aries felt like she was getting her mind read but neither said a word. The class was silent, the light dim, and the window shades down. Most of the class was spent with Garth testing their capabilities in other areas of magic. She often criticized attempts, even Aries' perfectly cast Knock-back Jinx was waved aside, with Garth insisting that performing a beginner's spell perfectly did not mean they could perform Dark Magic as well.
Aries liked it better when the class ended and the shades opened, letting the dying sunlight enter the room. Garth immediately took up a different persona. "Now, to fight the Dark Arts, it requires the opposite of negative emotion. It requires a burst of positive emotion. Something that makes one feel happy, cheerful, or otherwise simply amicable. Because of the limited nature of negative emotions, to many people even a lack of emotion could work wonders in performing counter-curses and other defensive charms. Like with the Dark Arts, a year or two of channeling those emotions should be enough before going into the practical aspect of things."
The same formula was applied, so much that the two lessons quickly got boring. It would be a long two years, Aries knew, if she was expected to just spend the class time thinking.
The Salem Wizards
Her first year there, Aries' mother was pregnant with a baby. The excitement in her family was never known to Aries. Even her usually stoic father travelled to and from Britain and America to bring gifts, books and other things for the baby to play with. Aries, who saw her family every weekend, did not know what to think, except that she instinctively helped her mother and father decorate the house for the baby's arrival. That was only on the weekends though, the weekdays were dedicated solely to studies.
Aries knew the school was called the Salem Witches Institute but she never stopped to think what Wizards were doing there. They were present but they barely showed themselves outside the smaller section of the campus designated for them. In fact, for a whole year, Aries simply did not notice the distinction between witches and wizards on the campus. She immersed herself in her studies, secluding herself in her room which she continued having to herself, and barely talked to others. Still, she felt out of place, knowing it would be two or three years before she shared with witches her own age. The only students her own age were the Wizards and she barely saw any of them.
During Aries' second year, she began training herself with new spells. Still focusing on a single spell every two weeks in class, she pulled ahead every night and practiced other spells, sometimes growing bored with the classes in general. To top her life, her mother delivered a baby boy. Aries did not know what to think of this, she was so used to having time to her parents by herself, knowing she would have a younger brother sapping all the attention was not easy to take in. Then again, with her schooling and classes, she only ever saw her parents on the weekends. She knew she should feel happy, she just- didn't. As the year went on and the due date grew nearer, she distracted herself by studying even more.
One day, as she walked up the outside stairs to a building, she became aware of a young boy of around her age pulling a bag up a ramp. She did not mind him too much until she spotted a few older witches flicking their wands and tying up his shoelaces to make him trip. He yelped as he fell and the girls ran away giggling. She did not understand her sudden desire to help, she just responded to it. She never really saw misfortune before, she was always sheltered and secluded, only socializing with her fiancée. She extended her hand for the boy to take.
Strangely, the boy looked uncertainly at the hand, not sure whether to take it or not. Aries did not understand. Didn't people want to be helped? Why did the boy not take it? He picked himself up instead and attempted once more to pull his bag up. Feeling dejected, Aries decided to perform the Levitating Charm to get the bag to the top and walked away, making an effort to avoid the boy's eyes. Why he did not take her help willingly, she did not know but she was not feeling happy. She did not like being rejected.
Aries rounded a corner for her first class when she stopped and froze. Her heart skipped a beat as the High Lady Gwendolyn Garth stared down at her. "Come with me, Miss Kimble."
Did she do something wrong? She could not think what she did wrong. She knew what was right and wrong and as far as she knew, she did nothing wrong in recent memory. Why was she being called? Did she do something right? Were her grades so good, they were moving her up a year? Was that a thing in Salem? She waited as Garth set a stack of wands aside and put them away. Once the desk was cleared, she motioned for Aries to sit down. She did not dare disobey.
"So, tell me, Miss Kimble, what do you think of the Salem Witches Institute?" Garth asked conversationally.
"Umm…"
"Uncertainty is a sin, remember that," Garth interrupted. "Do you have any questions? Any… queries?"
"Well…" Aries hesitated. How should she put it? "I see Wizards here."
"Yes."
"They take part in some classes of mine and in other classes, they don't," Aries observed.
"Yes."
"And there are so little."
"Yes, anything else?" Garth sounded like a mechanical robot, programmed to respond with the same answer.
"Well… why?"
Gwendolyn Garth said nothing at first. She shifted through some papers and rolls of parchment, as if forgetting a little girl was even in the room with her. After a minute or two, she looked up. "You haven't read up on Salem History, have you?"
Little Aries shook her head and Garth flicked through the pages of a book in front of her. "In 1692, numerous trials and burnings were done against us. Magic was an abomination to the Muggle world and getting caught meant a lot of pain. Many a time, a witch or wizard could hide their wands and perform the right spells to avoid pain but one day, a group of Wizards betrayed us. You see, the trials were focused on witches and witches only. Never was a man accused, and so the men of our magical community took advantage of this. When one was caught with a wand or magic, they referred the courts to actual names of witches. These witches were fought by Wizards in secret, looking to save themselves. Witches had their wands confiscated, disallowing them from saving themselves."
Aries was no fan of history but she absorbed it all. She was not sure what to make of it, however. What did 1692 have to do with now? 2014? She stayed quiet and allowed Garth to finish. "Since then, this Institute was established as a safe haven for witches. In 1880, it became a national institute for the magical community of all stripes but its focus is on witches. This is our haven. Should a Wizard want to study here, he will do so under our rules and obligations. As they humiliated us back then, we humiliate them now. This is why our faculty is called the Humilis. They symbolize their humility and a reminder of what we had to go through and what we can do now. The Wizards have their own little building. They are forbidden from making contact with us unless spoken to first."
"O-Ok…"
"You will do well to remember that," Garth told her. "Little Alabaster has been making a lot of trouble and his parents have been at the front of it. Should the system go down, this traditional institute will capsize. The old ways are important to uphold and so we must stay within them."
"If you don't like them, why are they here? Why not let them study in another school?" Aries asked curiously.
"They are the brothers of established Salem Witches, what kind of people would we be if we denied them?" Garth explained. "And we would gladly grant education to your son, brother or even nephew. But they would be limited in what they can study and they would continue to adhere to our laws and system." With the note of finality in her voice, it was clear the meeting was at an end. She pointed Aries out of the office and out she went, relieved only that she was out of that office. She did not know why but she did not like it.
The Prophecy
When Aries was nine, her parents had visited the school alongside some wizards from the Ministry. She hoped to bring the Salem problems to light for them but she did not know how to do so without risking herself. She had spent long enough there, the Salem Defense Class was beginning to go into the Darks and its practical aspect. Marius was standing as highly and mightily as possible, not deterred in the slightest from the looks Garth and some other witches gave him. In fact, only Aries' mother, who held one year-old Apollo in her arms, got looks of welcome. Aries consented to show them around, excited to be showing her and her family off. Perhaps they would see how talented she was when she was in the presence of other talented wizards and witches in her family. Marius having Ministry guards with him could only be good. Garth also accompanied them, staying silent as Aries showed them the housing.
Once they reached the Wizard's housing, Aries realized she had never been inside before. Marius was not deterred though and ignoring Garth's insistence they pass it up, they entered the flat. Aries was shocked at how different it was. It was just a large, open space with numerous bunk beds and tables. The little boys were playing on the floor, but looked up in fright as they entered. Some got up and bowed their heads but others, namely the boy named Alabaster who had tripped a year before, looked at them in contempt. Alabaster seemed on the line, a boy beside him with blonde hair flecked with orange, looked completely frightened. The two did not bow though. Aries did not expect them to so she was confused as to why.
Garth gave them a cold look. "The Wizard's quarters are often violated due to past rebellions. It seems another is in the works. Men," she added to Aries' mother. "Never really grateful or satisfied with what they have. It's evident here more than anywhere else, really."
Aries' mother voiced some disagreement as Marius asked Alabaster a few questions in a calm voice. "I- the place- it's ok," Alabaster stuttered. "The Lady is- she eh… umm… she"-
"Like I said, uncertainty is a sin," Garth talked over him.
"Let the boy speak, he's with me," Marius told Garth.
Garth seemed surprised she was talked to that way. Aries disliked her but said nothing. "I don't like it," Alabaster said honesty. "She threatens me all the time with no supper and she hurts Oliver Oxcraft over here."
A red-haired boy of around five looked terrified and hid himself behind a straight-backed Alabaster. Garth looked impassive. Like being refuted and disrespected just elicited a lack of feeling from her. She showed no hint of being displeased, did not even give a threatening or displeased look. Alabaster stood still. Marius nodded, his eyes moving towards Garth.
"So… if we're done here, I can show you the theories I've been working on," Garth offered.
Marius turned to her readily, "I was under the impression my daughter was showing me around the school."
"I was under the impression that I run said school," Garth spoke back.
"I was under the impression that"-
A deep gasp sounded suddenly. Aries jumped, never having heard such a gasp before. The boys looked confused too. Then, another gasp and Aries' mother exclaimed. Apollo's eyes went wide, white and he turned to Garth and spoke. His voice, it was the first time he spoke, a baby was speaking so coherently, it was incredible, even Garth looked terrified. She stepped back.
Rebels shall strike the heart of Salem,
The school for which is the witches' emblem.
That which is done will be but in vain,
And the end result will be naught but pain.
The quell will take place with a heart of gold,
But will only rise and make the heroine bold.
The Lady which rules will make no friends,
Will only succeed in setting numerous trends.
So she shall respond with death and blood,
Which Salem will see in a consuming flood.
And in the end, she will meet her match,
And Wizards will make up the newest batch.
This is but a sign and warning unto you,
Failure to heed with result in the coup.
The room went quiet. Aries' mother looked disbelievingly at Apollo but she seemed to regret the boy even spoke. The Ministry wizards began muttering. Surely, the prophecy itself was enough to bring to light what was happening. Those words, though a good sign of his development, were unwelcome. "Apollo," she said uncertainly. The baby simply went back to cooing, like nothing had ever happened. The only difference was that its eyes were milky white. What made Aries feel very frightened was the look Garth gave the now-blind Apollo. The way her dangerous glare moved from the baby to the numerous wizards, all of whom heard the Prophecy spoken.
Underground
Aries sensed a real, definite change since Apollo spoke the prophecy. Whispers of the Salem Prophecy were spoken in hushed tones, Aries herself was getting many looks but this also gained her friends. More and more witches wanted the privilege if befriending Aries. This gave her a newfound sense of confidence. Her ability in just about every class, even Magical Debate, earned her recognition and high marks. She found herself surrounded with people and she was forced to realize how segregated the school was.
Wizards were indeed present in some of her classes, but only a small minority of these classes. It was like, Aries had a full schedule but they had only a third of a schedule. As Aries grew in social acceptability and capability, the back of her mind was being nagged by a persistent call to action. Something was just not right. It made itself evident when a red-haired boy she recognized as Alabaster's friend Oliver Oxcraft, found himself levitated and thrown out of the window and to the ground below. If the attack was not done from the ground floor, he would've been seriously injured.
The attack, while brief, did get the attention of some of Aries' followers, but the few left with her dragged her away hurriedly and used the commotion to throw her in a room. She withdrew her wand but the boy, Alabaster, held his hand up, "Easy, we're friends. We just need help."
Aries was not amused, "I know what you want from me. It's obvious. Why does everyone think I'm the savior. I'm not the one who made the Prophecy."
"You're our best bet," he said. "And the sister of the Seer. Look, you need to hear something. Garth is planning an attack." Aries opened her mouth to protest but Alabaster folded his arms and she silenced herself. "We don't know what she'll do about your brother but he started this so it's nothing good."
"He's a baby, how does he control"
"He's a Wizard, does she care?" Alabaster flared. "He spoke a prophecy and emboldened a lot of us. He basically said we're gonna win, which means she feels very threatened. She'll take preemptive action and kill a lot of us."
"Look," a girl who Oliver said was his older sister showed Aries some notes. "We nicked this from her office. Every quarter century or so, the school cleanses itself of dissent in the Wizarding housing system. Sometimes they're all just expelled, sometimes they're imprisoned with false charges, sometimes they're exiled from the country, but this time we think it's gonna be worse. Four years is the next quarter."
"But…" she looked at the girl who was named Kelly Oxcraft. She had blondish red hair. "Aries… we want you to help us. For real. Oliver is my brother and he's the first one she's gonna deal with, and she'll deal with him to get to Alabaster who's been trying to get at Garth since he moved here at five."
Alabaster looked angry, "My sister fought Garth three years ago so we can have decent care. And- and she died. We don't have a kind Lady. She passed it off as a kidnap but we never got word of her. We know she died and she won't admit it."
Aries did not know what to say. She did not understand why they were clamoring for her help when the people they should've gone to was the American Ministry. She looked at Alabaster. He was a boy after personal justice but he seemed so fierce and determined, he did not waver or move his eyes from hers. They seemed stormy and fiery, like a blaze waiting to enflame a forest. As she eyed him, she began liking him more and more. There was something in his eyes she liked, a determination she could appreciate, a strong sense of justice she could sense. She knew that if she refused like she initially wanted to do, he would fight her, he would argue and insist, probably even threaten until he got the help he needed. What was more? Aries liked that about him. He was a year younger than her but she- she wished she was fiercer and more determined than she already was. So unsure of herself, she wished she had his resolve.
"Ok… I'll help."
"You'd better," he muttered.
"You could be nicer you know," she suggested.
He eyed her warily. "Your morality is questionable. Your sense of justice isn't strong enough," he told her. "You shouldn't have questioned or even wondered why we asked for help. If you have the ability to help someone, it's your duty to do so. You have a moral obligation to help out of your own free will. The fact you didn't says something. Change… or I want nothing to do with you. I'll seek help elsewhere."
"I'll do it!" she said again, almost pleadingly. She did not know but she felt something inside she only ever felt with Mark. She liked this boy, she wanted him to be pleased with her. "I'll do anything you ask, ok? I'm sorry."
He continued eyeing her. "I guess since you tried helping me up once, that's fine. But I'm not weak. I'm not he one you should be helping. They are. You want to do what I ask? Quit worrying about individual wizards and think more of the collective population. Your brother counts too, you know. As long as Garth is in control, there's no way that Seer will be allowed in. People here hate Seers. They cause trouble more often than not and the last three were killed."
"K- what?"
Alabaster turned and walked away as Aries' mind visited an unwelcome scenario. She rushed out. She hoped Garth was in her office. If Garth tended to- what kind of sick woman- why was she even there? Aries started fearing for her brother. She began wishing she never came to Salem. She wanted to be back with Mark. And then she felt bad because if she never came, she never would've met Alabaster.
She burst into Garth's office. The Lady was standing by the window with fie other witches, all of them older. Aries knew without asking that they were the Elders of the school. Garth turned to face Aries and in her hands was Apollo, crying his eyes out. Aries stopped. No…
Justice
"So, here's how it's going to go," Garth said quietly as she handed Apollo back. The baby was silenced with a Charm to stop the noise carrying. "You take the baby back, I take credit for rescuing him. Breathe a word about this and I swear to you I will see to it your little friends are killed, your brother killed, your father, your mother and in the end, yourself. Do you understand me? Threaten me, will you? I am a High Lady, I have connection, I can make it all happen as I wish. If you, Alabaster and that Oxcrat boy know what's good for you, you'll silence yourselves immediately or the next quarter century, they'll find themselves slaughtered without a sweat."
All Garth had wanted was to silence Aries. She got it too. Aries refused after that to have anything to do with the rebellion. Her little brother, one year old, had been tortured over this and she was not prepared. She was a child. She was nine years old. She did not even know how to explain to her parents how this happened, and her mother was unable to explain how Apollo was even kidnapped. Just that she was stunned from behind and when she awoke, her baby was not there. What mattered was he was safe. Aries wasn't testing Garth any further.
She explained as much as Alabaster and Oliver. She hoped Alabaster did not look down on her as she explained her reasoning and why she decided to choose her family over what sense of justice he had. She could see the disappointment in his eyes but he did not berate her. Oliver looked from Aries to Alabaster tensely but the boy just nodded, "If- stopping the fight could bring my sister back, I'd stop. So, you do what you think is right. I won't get you in trouble."
Aries wanted to explain to him, to make him understand that she was just scared but he did not seem to show emotion, "Just- remember that there are people that are not well off. If you leave us, we're going to die."
She felt so terrible and torn but the boy just nodded, "I'll be seeing you."
"He's fine," Oliver told her. "He's just hung up. He hoped or your help but he can't exactly blame you either. You did the right thing."
Oliver left too and she stayed in the room. She wondered if she was being watched somehow. If she was, they could not hold anything against her since she had dropped out. Aries just tried to put everything behind her and return to her studies. She continued excelling in her subjects, even arguing different girls into a corner in the Magical Debate class. As the year went on, she continued studying and during recess, she even sat aside with Alabaster to just- talk. Talk about anything. She wanted to me it up to him by being his friend.
He did not respond well at first and just appeared impassive but she had a feeling that the more time she spent with him, the more likable she got to him. At least she elicited a small smile from him. No matter how hard she tried though, she could not forget how pained her brother was. Blind and in darkness, he was put under intense pain. She knew what the Cruciatus Curse could do even if she never saw it in action. The fact that she knew her brother was placed under it hurt. And he was alone, for good. He always woke up early screaming, she kept getting letters from home updating her about his condition, which seemed to deteriorate by the day. It made her want to do something, but she did not want to risk Apollo's life again, nor Alabaster's.
When she turned ten, things got better. Apollo stopped screaming so much and he even regained his sight. They did not dare take him outside to get him checked though, for fear others may go after him. Marius' research revealed that those in the area did not trust Seers in the slightest. It was best Apollo was left to recover. Alabaster, meanwhile, got a little happier around Aries. He began opening up to her about so many different things. His home life, what his older sister was like, what he wanted to do when he was older.
"I'm going to become the first Lord of the Salem Institute," he told her one day with a smile. "For real. Amy would've wanted that. She fought for me so I'm gonna fight for her memory."
His company became something more to look forward to than to dread fighting. They just- lived. She could see them getting older, changing things as adults, without the threat of persecution. As kids, they were under Garth's rule. As adults, they would be under the Ministry's playbook. They would not stand for this. She wondered if her and Alabaster would still be friends. She had to admit- she liked him. He made her feel things she only felt around Mark, things she felt bad for feeling initially, but things she made peace with as she grew older. Mark was in Britain, and judging by his last letter, he was due to start Hogwarts. He sounded really happy and she- she liked that. She felt some sort of closure with her old fiancée. She felt that the two were prepared to go their separate ways and live their lives.
"I never told you about my fiancée," she told Alabaster one day when she was eleven.
"F-fiancee?" he exclaimed in slight shock. "You're- what- ten now, now?"
"Eleven," she replied indignantly. "And so is he? Why, doesn't everyone have a fiancée?"
Alabaster scoffed with bemusement. "No. It's not exactly common these days. Especially at our age. Why not just call him boyfriend?"
"Our parents engaged us when we were four?" she told him conversationally.
"And… do you miss him?"
"Sort of, but he's happy," she said with a confident smile, ignoring the squirm in her stomach complaining that he was abandoning her commitment. "That's what matters, right? That we're both happy?"
"I guess, but- I dunno- did you ever break up?"
"No…" she said uncertainly.
His reaction was exactly what she liked, that fiery attitude in his eyes she liked in him, the attitude she wished she could adopt, "Then you can't just call it quits like that! He's your fiancée! You're supposed to like him! If anything you're supposed to finish your education off and go see him! Maybe get his help in changing things here! Lord knows we need it!"
"But what if he doesn't want to come?" she asked worriedly.
"Then justice comes first," Alabaster said firmly. "You come back, finish the job, and then return and ask for his hand like you promised. It's only right. But we need to- never mind," he said hesitantly as a tall elder witch passed their table.
Their talks were more cordial after that. Something certainly changed between them but when she turned twelve, he began getting much closer to her. He seemed happier. He was beginning to even move past his sister's death and Oliver elected to join them too. Aries knew Garth was watching but talking to boys was never against the rules. She put a brave face up, just as Alabaster would. Alabaster. She found herself daydreaming in class, thinking of what he was doing at the time. She even wrote an essay about what she liked in friends, which was an assignment in General Magical Studies.
During the Dark Arts and the Salem Defense class, she paid extra attention to Garth as the Lady spoke, but some quips seemed to be directed at her. "Now, let's look at my theory," she said loudly. "Underage magic is among the most powerful pieces of magic, that we know. What causes it? Emotion. This leads me to the belief that emotion fuels extra magical power that can be obtained even through the wand. My theory is, if you lose someone dear to you, your emotion fuels the magic and you gain excessive power, power enough to smash through even the toughest shields. Opinions?"
Aries got to work, certainly, and wrote her opinion that she was wrong. Aries used Garth's own words against her and brought up the importance of positive or neutral emotion in the Defense class, saying that offense could not be complete without defense and that neglecting one only made a witch or wizard half complete. She submitted it and waited. She usually got her essays read to the class but this time, Garth passed it away, probably disliking her mention of the word 'wizard.' She felt proud. She could not wait to tell Alabaster.
Massacre
Garth was not happy at all with Aries but without the support of the Ministry-appointed board, many of which contained wizards, she could not expel her. Aries even sent an owl to the Wizards of the board swearing that if they did not remove Garth, she would herself. Enough years passed with nothing being done, however, that peace was beginning to resettle on the campus. Despite her promise, Aries did nothing and Garth did nothing. Garth, Aries hoped, took the prophecy to heart and decided not to take any action. It was a relief but Alabaster was getting more and more uptight. When Aries was thirteen years old, she took the boy aside and asked him what was happening.
"I'm going to die," he said casually, like it hardly mattered, though she could see some fear dancing behind his eyes. "My sister was twelve, like me, when she died. The looks the Lady's been giving me… I don't know. But I think she wants to kill me."
"She won't," she assured him. "She- I mean, we all heard"-
"She won't care, you don't know her," Alabaster told Aries bluntly. "Twenty-five years passed. It's time. If she wants to do something to us wizards, now is the time. So, I'm going to die."
Aries was not sure what to do about this except hand him her own wand. She would manage some other way. "Take it. I'll nick a wand from someone else. Just in case she does come after you."
Ever since his remark, Aries was quite worried about him. She wished she could stay at the Wizard house overnight but she knew she'd be caught and punished. The risk was far too great. She tossed and turned, wondering if Garth would really ignore the prophecy and attack him. Why would she?
Every quarter century or so, the school cleanses itself of dissent in the Wizarding housing system. Sometimes they're all just expelled, sometimes they're imprisoned with false charges, sometimes they're exiled from the country, but this time we think it's gonna be worse. Four years is the next quarter.
Four years ago… four years later… it was about time she did what she usually did. It was never specified what Garth would do if she went ahead. Perhaps it was a mistake not spending the night there, perhaps in hiding. She lay awake, the whole night, wondering. She finally got to sleep early in the morning. She could've sworn she heard her name being called from a distance but she slept on.
As Aries slept, the High Lady Gwendolyn Garth walked through the night. She used her wand to unlock the door and walk in. What met her but silence. No one was in their beds. A group of Wizards stood in the pajamas, facing her tentatively. She considered them briefly before deciding on less harsh measures. "All of you are expelled. Leave the school, and you live. I have decided to spare you."
Some of the boys looked relieved but Alabaster folded his arms. "No. We've decided that we're standing up to you. We're an anvil on you. If you kill us, the Ministry will know. They won't accept this and you'll be punished. Hopefully given the death penalty. So, no. We have power over you this time and we're not leaving. Ever. This is our home. My home. My sister died for me, she died for us, and she died by your hands because you're a murderer. I'll never listen to murderers. So, dream on."
Alabaster's speech seemed to ignite some passion in his followers. Oliver had his hand in a back pocket and she knew. She could tell. "Turn out your pockets, Oxcraft. Now." Oliver did not respond. He stepped back. "Turn them out or I'll make you." Still nothing. "Imperio!"
Forced, Oliver turned his pockets out and revealed a wand. Garth released the curse on him and smirked. "Ok… so you've chosen to fight me. Are you all quite sure this is what you wish?"
Every single Wizard took their wands out. They had all broken one rule or another to get a hold of their wands. Alabaster held two wands. Some seemed to be shaking but none ran. They fixed her with determined little eyes. Oh… that would be the last thing they would ever see. Very well, she had tried giving them a way out. She would kill them. All of them. And to shut the girl up, she would die too. She would take her elders and move on the Kimbles and take Apollo for good. How dare he? How dare all of them. She provided housing against her better judgment and this was how she was repaid? They would all die without mercy.
"Avada Kedavra!"
One fell dead but the rest rushed her at once, Alabaster in the lead. She waved around them, casting another down, summoning a burst of fire as Alabaster fired two spells at once. They made it through the fire, impating Garth but they had little effect. It made the fire go out of her control, hitting three in the face before Alabaster used all his power with his two wands to contain it. It seemed to be working while Oliver and three others ducked around Garth. He had barely gotten it under his control before yelling for Oliver and the others to stay away. They did as commanded and he sent the dangerous fire at Garth. It looked like she was hit with it. It certainly seemed to engulf her but in seconds, it disappeared and her wand shot out a powerful burst of bright fiery light.
Another three young wizards fell and she had Oliver suspended in midair, choking he air out of him. Alabaster rushed her physically, interrupting her killing his friend. His sudden weight certainly sent her to the floor as Oliver fell and hit his head on a fallen piece of rubble. A jet of violent, fiery red light impacted Alabaster in the chest as she cursed him off before turning to the rest. Just ten remained now. They backed away in fear as she rushed them mercilessly, jets of green light being fired from her wand.
Death
Aries did not go for class as she usually did, but to the Wizard house where Alabaster and Oliver stayed. What met her there scarred her for life. She almost fainted, her knees certainly gave way as she stared. They were dead. All of them. Twenty Wizards just laying there, faces to the ground, some staring up, and others buried under rubble. She just knelt there in shock, getting the feeling she was being watched but not caring. Then, a low voice sounded, "Aries…"
She gasped. The Wizard beside him was Alabaster. He was holding her hand as he stared up at her. She stared in shock, hoping, praying he would be ok. But she knew it was helpless. His eyes flickered open and shut. She picked him up and hugged him tightly, "It'll be ok," she whispered. "Don't worry, I promise it'll"-
"Do-don't make a promise you can't keep," he muttered. His hands were falling from being wrapped around her back. He seemed the happiest he ever felt. "I love you, Kimble." She knew those were his last words, knew as his hands fell that he died on her shoulders. She was beyond tears for that moment. She saw Oliver a little way off and crawled to him. He seemed ok, perhaps the only survivor. He was unconscious but his head was split. She quickly healed it, using the Charms she knew well. He, at least, would be fine. But Garth…
"It was my duty," she said from the shadows. "They had tested me, and allowing people to test you and gaining leverage over you is the biggest sin of all. I would not allow it."
"You killed them," Aries whispered.
"Of course I did," she said casually. "What did you expect when our traditions are threatened, for me to roll over? It won't happen, the Ministry itself is behind me, you stand alone! So, Kimble, how do you feel? Enraged? Hateful. Fearful? Let it all out, go ahead. Let's see the true implications of emtion on magical power. GO ON! AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Aries would've loved to let it hit her, feeling so depressed but as the curse burst from Garth's wand, she could almost hear Alabaster's voice in her head, yelling, Duck, damn it!
What Aries did next defined her forever. Garth, the Elders, the ones in charge, even the Ministry, they were all evil. Well, they would pay. She was enraged. Garth proved that much. And this rage… so Garth wanted to know about the effects of emotion on magic? She was about to find out…
Aries vs. Garth
"Flipendo!"
Garth easily parried it. She walked on up to Aries casually, parrying spell after spell. Aries backed away, trying to avoid tripping over the bodies. "Incendio! Glacius! Petrificus Totalus!" All blocked, all easily blocked. The more Aries failed, the angrier she got. "Stupefy!" Again, it was blocked and Garth was gaining ground. Aries finally tripped over and as Garth walked up to her, she took a risk, "Avada Kedavra!"
It was the first time she tried the spell but it did not work. Garth actually seemed a little disappointed, "Well, it looks like all those deaths were for nothing. No even a death blow from you. You're either weak or my theory was wrong."
"AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!" Aries screamed in fury. She rolled away from a jet of green light, her wand blowing up the air around her. She did not even use a spell, it was the first time in years an uncontrolled burst of magic had happened. She got up and rushed Garth viciously, firing the toughest spells she knew. "Verracurum!"
Garth re-angled it to hit a body instead, defiling it even more. It angered her more. "Strangulo!"
This spell had an effect, at least. Garth was forced to perform the nonverbal counter-curse to her own suffocation giving Aries time to fire again, "Crucio!"
Garth fell apart, screaming in pain. Aries watched it all, but hearing her scream only made her more and more hateful. Hurting her wasn't enough. She wanted this evil woman dead. She killed Alabaster. She killed all of them, only Oliver was alive. She couldn't get Alabaster;s face out of her head, she'd never forget him. The way he smiled, the way she could talk to him, the way she felt about him, how she looked up to him, wanted to be like him, to channel his own spirit. Was this how he felt when his sister died? If she survived this, would she become like Alabaster?
She was so blinded by rage, she did not realize the curse had lifted. Garth picked herself up, raising her wand. "No, you forget the number one rule of Unforgivables! The Cruciatus takes a sadistic mind to do! A mind that can either be or imitate sadism. You need to enjoy it, anger does little. Avada Kedavra!"
Aries duck! Aries ducked just before the curse even burst out. She felt shaky with anger but there was a sense of resolve in her. She knew what Alabaster would tell her to do if he was there. She knew him so well, it was clear what he would've advised. Roll over, be smart. Outsmart that mad witch! It's not hard!"
She rolled to the side from a jet of black light. "Expulso!"
Garth threw a shield up but Aries was aiming at the floor, allowing pieces of marble and earthy rubble to fly up. She used a transfiguration spell to send them at Garth as bombs and she raised her own wand, "Incendio!"
She'll avoid those. Surprise her. Now! Aries summoned up all the hatred she had, her desire to see this witch dead. As Garth parried the bombs and had them blow the ceiling up instead, Aries yelled, "Avada Kedavra!"
Garth barely had time to, but she succeeded on avoiding it. Aries pointed her wand at the jet of green light, "Vertex!"
The jet disappeared in a sort of warp hole. She rolled away from another jet of green light, feeling Garth gaining on her again. She knew she could not last forever against her. As she rolled, she found herself by Alabaster again. She gave up. Just seeing him, she wanted to be in his place. She picked him up, willing herself to die holding him. Aries… I love you. You'll be amazing one day. Just… live.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Aries didn't know why. Perhaps the curse didn't hit her. She didn't feel it hit her. It just- veered off tangent. Like she was warped from existence for that single second. Perhaps Potter was right and her love for Alabaster saved her, or maybe it was a simple burst of underage magic, a sudden desire to live through this and beat her. Her brother's screams entered her head again and she remembered. Garth would be going after him next. No. Nobody was hurting Apollo again. Ever. She'd be damned first.
"Praeter Vertex!"
The existential hole opened up again and shot Aries' past Killing Curse she'd been saving. It went straight for Garth from behind, impacting her at the back. She was surprised, it seemed. Had enough time to have a look of surprise before falling down. Aries had won but she didn't feel like she'd won. No, she was not finished yet. Not at all.
She could feel Alabaster frowning down at her, she knew he wouldn't be pleased. She'd cry over his grave later, first things first. The Elders of the school found themselves tortured, one of them into insanity. One had just enough time to call the Minister but she tortured that one too and waited patiently while they were unconscious. The Minister was part of this too. The second the Minister and his guards walked in, she leapt at him, blocking the Stunning spell. Please, Aries, don't. Don't do it. Please…
She let out a burst of energy at the Minister, watching him suffer on the ground, letting the guard die. Aries, stop!
"Avada Kedavra!"
The Minister fell.
Aries… why?
Reflection:
More happened but it was all a blur. The house was under attack too but Marius held them all off. She arrived just in time to help him, but she had given up. She was definitely expelled but it was apparent Apollo was not safe where they were. She wasn't happy where she was. She felt hated, despised, she felt cursed and above all, she felt bitter and angry. The Ministry of course, would never trace the murders to her. There was nothing liking her, except a boy named Apollo. Nonetheless, she lived, expecting someone to come and arrest her. Oliver might've told on her but he never did. He was the sole survivor. All Aries told the Ministry was that Garth killed the Wizards and she killed Garth back. She expected them to arrest her but- nothing.
She allowed them to think it was Garth who killed the Minister. The Minister's death was passed off as a murder by Garth. She felt horribly guilty and a part of her wanted to blurt out that it was all her but Marius warned her not to. No good would come from it. And so, for months, she was left to live with the guilt gnawing away at her. A few months away from school didn't help her either. Her defeat of Garth certainly made the news, they painted it like they were long-standing rivals, like the prophecy began this. More and more people wanted Apollo ether tested or dead. Seers were hated and just because of their irrational dislike for a baby who spoke a Prophecy, she hated them back.
She visited Alabaster's grave but she felt nothing from him. Where she felt like he was still with her while she fought, she felt he abandoned her now. She'd done something horrible and she couldn't- she couldn't bring herself to regret it. If he was alive, he'd be furious with her. She would never forget him. Ever.
When she went home again, she found a letter waiting for her. A letter from Mark. Her old fiancée. She had forgotten about him. At first, she was terrified of opening it, terrified of him hating her, wondering why the hell she never communicated with him. It made her feel worse. She deserved losing Alabaster. She abandoned Mark. Alabaster asked her not to and she did. Alabaster was fair, he told her what was true, what was fair and right, and she never listened. She blinded herself and in return, she had him snatched from her.
She could not abandon it forever, though. She stared at the letter for weeks, maybe a month, when Marius sat across from her, leaning on his staff. "Death is a very mysterious concept, Aries. It appears horrible, appears to be a fearful, dreaded end, but some fail to think from outside their point of view. Many believe that death is the beginning of a new adventure, man believe in a plane of existence your soul enters upon death, and some simply believe that the dead stay dead and they live on in our memories. Whatever you believe, Aries, is Alabaster in your memory?"
"Y-yes," Aries stuttered. "I'll never forget him."
"Then, he has attained immortality in a way," Marius told her calmly. "Keep him with you. The death of a child is a terrible thing to suffer but even they, however short their lives were, have a profound impact on those who are left. And I think he had a profound impact on you. And however bad it might've been, Aries, life goes on. You're still alive, the one who did it is brought to justice, and Salem is in the midst of serious soul searching. Oliver Oxcraft lives, Apollo Kimble can recover, and we- we can start anew. I think you want to read Wallader's letter."
"He probably hates me," Aries muttered.
"I am quite sure that is not the case," Marius said calmly. "Mr. Wallader has experienced severe changes just as you have. The reason I keep things quiet from you regarding him is because it is simply not my place to inform you of his life change. He would want to tell you, and if you read his letter, tell you he did."
Dear Aries,
It's been a while since we talked. I haven't seen you in six years but I read an International Prophet about you defeating a dark witch. I don't know much about I, I wasn't following but I guess I wanted to write to congratulate you and tell you I miss you. I guess you might've forgotten about me. We were really close in childhood and our parents engaged us when we were four. Sort of sudden now I look back. I hope you're happy. I hope you have a boyfriend and I hope you've found your calling. I hope to see you again one day, maybe that time we will have our families and meet and catch up.
I lost my parents a couple of years ago and was adopted by the famous Potters, including a foster brother. I honestly don't know how much longer my sanity will hold with that guy's attitude. I'm ok though. I made peace and I said goodbye, Closure is always good to have when somebody dies. So… I guess this is goodbye. Well, not goodbye. Just, till next time. And take this advice from me, keep who you have close. I learned that the hard way.
Ever yours,
-Mark Wallader
Ever yours. He still loves you, see? And he needs you. Maybe we were better off apart. I look forward to the day we see each other again. Until next time though. Don't forget me.