All warnings were given first chapter… please refer to it!
The Crow
(Second Arc: The witch from the Eastern lands)
(Part 17)
XxxxxXxxxxX
Clow returned to the stall as the sun was setting, finding Violet loitering behind Wang as he closed things up – she's tried to help him, but was rebuked and told – mimicked – to stay out of the way.
"So, did you meet with your student?" Violet asked, fighting to tone down the beats of her heart as she regarded Clow, beautifully decorated paper lanterns lighting up the twilight sky with even more reds and oranges.
"I did. Unfortunately it went how I expected it" The sorcerer admitted, expression troubled. It wasn't easy to tell, since Clow perfected an inscrutable poker face, but Violet prided herself in her observational skills.
'He's sad about something'
The witch narrowed her eyes, giving in to the instinct that was urging her to touch him. So she snagged his hand, effectively pulling his attention on their point contact.
"What do you mean?" Violet asked, Clow hesitated, making her heart race with a different kind of nervousness. "Talk to me" She urged softly. Words spilling into that single sentence that she wouldn't have been able to speak out loud. 'I will never betray your secrets, please, lean on me a little'
"People always have ways of surprising you, even someone you've known for years and trusted once upon a time" The sorcerer smiled. It didn't reach his eyes.
"Is that your way of saying you've been betrayed?" Violet asked slowly, prompting the sorcerer to answer. She didn't want to aggravate him, yet she did want him to open himself a little for her.
'Just ask the right questions' the witch reminded herself.
Clow searched her face carefully. The witch wasn't offering pity, she was offering understanding. So she smiled grimly, eyes closing as she let memories consume her.
This time, she's decided to share too.
"I had this professor… Severus Snape… he taught Potions in Hogwarts, and seemed to despise the very air I breathed. He relished in every opportunity to humiliate and diminish me" Violet's voice hitched. Professor Snape died in her arms, giving her his memories with his last breath "I hated him. I hated him for years until I learned the truth and learned to forgive him… professor Snape was in love with my mother. They were friends, but then fell out after a fight. He and dad were arch enemies while in school, but dad did an unforgiveable thing, he saved Snape's life… Professor Snape didn't acknowledge the debt, however, he joined with Voldemort and his Death Eaters – you remember I told you about them? – And overheard part of the prophecy that foretold the dark lord's fall. Snape told Voldemort about the prophecy, and Voldemort attacked me and my parents on a Halloween night…"
Violet paused to breath, as the stingy pain of old emotional scars flared. The sorcerer had his head tilted, lips pulled into a bewildered half smile. "You forgave the man who caused your parents' death?"
Shocked, she shook her head.
"No, it wasn't that simple" the witch's back slumped. Clow caught her, resting her forehead against his shoulder. "My father… had three inseparable friends. They liked to play pranks and did everything together, calling themselves the Marauders. Prongs, Moony, Padfoot and Wormtail were their nicknames. They graduated Hogwarts and joined the fight against Voldemort. When the prophecy was proven to be about my family, mum and dad went into hiding using one of the most secure wards they knew, the Fidelius Charm" Violet buried her head against the sorcerer's warm robes, taking in his scent and ordering her thoughts.
She continued explaining, relaxing a little more when Clow raised a hand to comb through her hair, aligning strands and undoing knots from the curly locks.
"The charm can hide anything. Whatever it is becomes a secret, and the secret is given to someone you trust - a secret keeper - the only one who can share it. The one everyone thought the keeper was Padfoot, since he and dad were almost brothers – so to protect the secret further, dad and Padfoot decided to make Wormtail the secret keeper, since Padfoot would attract attention to himself leaving Wormtail safe… Wormtail was… secretly a Death Eater"
Implications ran obvious in her tone, as did the succession of events.
"Your father's friend betrayed the secret to Voldemort, thus allowing him to target you" Clow correctly concluded on his own. Violet nodded, the movement absorbed by the sorcerer's thick robes.
"Yeah… but I was talking about professor Snape" the witch pointed out, not willing to dwell on Peter Pettigrew more than necessary. She saved his life, and he died saving hers at the end.
'I don't hate him, but I hate what he did at the same time I find myself glad he died saving me, the one he condemned…'
She's not fond of the pile of bodies left in her wake – the path to defeat Voldemort for good was long, tiring and bloody. 'I don't even know if it was worth it!' Being whisked away into this new world as soon as Voldemort was down!
Clearing her suddenly dry throat with a swallow, Violet lingered inside the sorcerer's warmth. "When he realized what folly he did, Snape begged Voldemort to spare mum" she revealed "Voldemort obviously didn't spare anyone, and thus Snape decided to give himself to Dumbledore – the headmaster and leader of the Order of the Phoenix, an Order created to oppose Voldemort's growing influence – and work as a double agent, spying on the Death Eater's movements and ploys. He… died to protect me"
"After all that happened, all he did, and you still forgave him" Clow deadpanned with a sigh, yet there was wonder in his voice. "How big is your heart, Violet?"
Green eyes widened, she felt she didn't deserve his words – but his arms were like vices holding her against his side, so she gave in and relaxed once more, this time truly snuggling shamelessly. 'Thank Merlin there are drapes in the stand! If not this would be an uncomfortable example of PDA…' A detached part of her brain which spoke with an uncanny resemblance to Hermione noticed.
"It's not about me though. I wanted you to know that I understand placing your trust in the wrong people" Violet pointed out, not letting him change the subject or manipulate her into talking more about herself. Her nerves felt raw as it was, even if her hearts felt lighter.
'A burden shared is a burden halved'
"And you're the right one…" The sorcerer traced the lines of her jaw with the lips of a finger, delicately mapping her profile as she hid her face in the folds of his robes by his neck. "It isn't a nice story though"
"Mine wasn't, either"
"Our fates are interwoven together. Bonds spring between people as soon as you meet them, different in strength and power and value, it is inevitable, bonds will influence your life for better or worse. My gift is prescience…" The sorcerer trailed off, composing an answer that would satisfy her. Violet had a sudden flashback.
…
"My true gift is prescience; I can see everything from past, presence and future"
…
Clow continued "And through it I am assaulted by the future of the people who cross my path. Sometimes I try not to look deeper, out of regard or disinterest, but it is unavoidable that I catch glimpses now and then. Su Yung was my student, later she became more, but I felt that if she continued with me, she'd cripple her potential. I left her, respected her enough not to look into her future since she could do it herself. And so it went, for years… until recently when her activities became too damning and bled into our bond, I saw it. Saw the hideous acts she was committing against everything I taught her" Violet could feel his temperature plummeting, a flutter of anger making his heart beat slower.
'I'm afraid to ask what has caused him so much conflict, because he is going to answer and that's what really scares me' Clow seemed tolerant, mild and calm. Violet knew that's because he had to.
She didn't need to ask, though. The sorcerer leaned down, burying his own face in the junction between her shoulders and neck, drawing strength from Violet. The witch's heart soared, so much she could feel the thrumming power of her bond with Clow swelling and reveling in their closeness.
"She was stealing magic from children… Luring them with fake promises, using a cursed lake to drain their potential… I came to see her, wondering if she'd see reason but knowing she wouldn't. Su Yung blamed me, bitter and angry, betrayed in her own right. So I took away her sins and sealed her in a spell to drain away the corrupted magic she stole"
"It wasn't your fault" Violet told him firmly. 'Just like it wasn't mine, eh Violet?' the witch ignored her snide cynic side, and uncurled from the sorcerer's body, bringing his face close to hers.
"I know" Clow let her know simply. A bright, happy glee filled the witch, mixing in with the confusion and hurt she felt in the sorcerer's behalf.
'Clow opened himself a little more to me' the green eyed young woman was bitter sweetly happy with today's events, so much impulsiveness was demanding retribution.
'You can do this Violet, don't think about anything else but right now' And oh, how she wanted it. It was clear as day by the amazed light in his silvery blue eyes that the sorcerer has read her mood correctly, and yet did nothing in return.
So the witch took matters in her own hands.
Leaning up slowly, savoring the sweet anticipation, Violet brushed his lips with hers. Such a gentle contact, yet sparks flew through her, breaking apart their magic and joining together again. It wasn't just a kiss; it was the acceptance of something bigger.
Just as she was drawing away, Clow pulled her back up by her waist, hands descending to the curve of her thighs as he supported most of her weight, and swallowed whatever protests Violet had by kissing her again. Throwing her arms in abandon around his neck, the witch focused on the delicious sensations of his spicy breath mixing with hers, of the exquisite pleasure she was feeling, giving in the temptation so throughoutly that she didn't know where she began and Clow ended.
'Whoah… if this simple kiss feels like this, what would more feel like?'
"Hmm… I like this" The witch told him dazedly, listening with pleasure to the chuckles that reverberated through him and into her chest.
"I quite like this too, you tricky witch" Violet grinned, feeling the skin beneath his chin moist with her breathing.
'Well, it wasn't as if I was trying to manipulate him… I just wanted to reward a good behavior' her grin turned deceptively innocent.
"Whatever are you talking about?"
"Nothing at all" He replied amusingly.
A noise caught their attention. Violet blushed brightly when she realized what a show they must have put on to Wang, the servant was eyeing Clow with wide eyes
"zhu'ren?" Wang called, making Violet feel vindictive when the sorcerer stared pointedly at the servant. Wang bowed, stood and shook his head, passing on a message the witch also understood.
"It is time to go back" Clow told violet, letting her go, but not bequeathing her hand back to her. The witch decided she could live with that quite easily, so she squeezed his hand "We can go to your wand now, if you want"
Magic filled her smile as she answered "Oh yes! Please!"
…
They had it.
A receipt to wand creation… Violet couldn't help but shiver with anticipation. Clow told her it would take a while to make and mold a wand, and it should be a joint project, so he'd start teaching her as soon as they returned to Cambridge.
The witch would finally have a wand!
Oh she can't wait until she truly had it.
A wand made by Clow and her… it would be a nice memento to have when she went back to her friends… 'It hurts…' Violet's eyes shot closed as a wave of staggering pain laced through her heart. 'I don't want to leave Clow…'
But if today has taught her anything is…
'I should talk to him about this…'
…
Underneath her skin, flowering and winding, lay her magic. Thrumming in content and rhythm with another's… It was hesitant to allow a separation, so the witch would also hesitate, her other half would not allow her to tear.
XxxxxXxxxxX
In another world altogether, people looked with a mixture between horror and fascination as their chosen one battled against the Dark Lord. The storm brewing in the back ground was staggering, and the fierceness of the Dark Lord's followers left many people with their hands full.
No one could pay real attention to the happenings between Violet and Voldemort, no one but the circle of people surrounding the dueling duo.
They were the witnesses when Voldemort fell, his spell turned against him.
They were also the witnesses of when a lightning bolt struck down on the woman who conquered death, leaving nothing but a smoldering pile of clothes and a burnt out wand behind.
"She's not gone!" Hermione Granger, one of Violet's best friends insisted heatedly to a mourning crowd, Violet Potter just another name to add to a long, sad list.
A lot of voices rose, some in anger, others in understanding, but most denying. "Violet is gone, accept it Hermione" was what they said.
All but one…
"I agree with Granger. Potter was too stubborn to be done in by lightning… something else must have happened" The blond, silver eyed young man pointed out, refusing to meet Hermione's eyes.
"Draco…"
"No mother. You saw the same as I did. Potter wasn't pulverized, she was taken"
…
The dark silhouette stood out against the glare of the bolt. It lasted for a fraction of a second, but Draco's eyes were trained from childhood to spot quick movement – he prided himself in his Seeker skills – and although it burned his retinas, he felt he owned to Potter to at least stand vigil over her demise. So he wouldn't avert his eyes as she was crisped by lightning.
That didn't happen. Before his widened eyes, Violet's clothes were burnt, her wand – his wand actually- caught on fire, and just as the lightning receded, it took the witch with it – as if Zeus himself decided he wanted to keep the girl for himself.
…
There was confusion…
Draco donated his memories, along with everyone present that day including his mother – they also saw how Narcissa Malfoy lied to the Dark Lord about Violet being alive, allowing an opening that facilitated the girl-who-lived access to the monster - And they all saw it, hardly accepting, that Violet was indeed taken, and not… scathed by divine fire.
"She's not dead" Hermione repeated. A glint in her eyes that spoke of doom to whoever dared to oppose her claim. "We need to find her"
"We will" Ron nodded, taking his now girlfriend's hand. "Violet is tough, I'm sure she's fine whenever she is"
…
TBC~