Chapter 9
The First Task
The dreaded day of the first task had finally arrived, and Lyra woke up early, her stomach churning with heavy dread. The morning was too chilly for her usual swim, so she opted for a long run instead, wishing she never had to return to the castle. But she did return, briefly, for a quick early breakfast in her rooms. Afterward, she showered and dressed in dark jeans, a white shirt, and a heavy white blazer. Over it all, she fastened her white coven cloak. Her wand found its place in its holster, and her black leather boots were tightly laced up.
Lyra made her way to the Quidditch pitch, which was now transformed into an arena filled with students searching for seats to witness the champions' performances. She navigated the bustling stadium, which looked completely different from just a day before, now filled with rocks and stones, resembling a dragon's den more than anything else.
Entering the tent where they were to gather, she found all the other champions and mentors present. Staff, judges, friends, and family were buzzing with excitement, some mentors were discussing last-minute theories and strategies with their champions.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Sarah conversing with a tall man and a short woman. Lyra's heart did a small somersault, her breath catching in her throat.
"Michelin!" Lyra's voice cut through the bustling tent, drawing the attention of the man who was in conversation with Sarah. He swiftly turned, a mixture of surprise and joy spreading across his face, and hurried over to his sister. As they embraced, it was as if they hadn't seen each other in ages.
Lyra clung to her brother, the tightness in her chest slowly melt away. They held each other as if they were trying to bridge the months they'd spent apart. Michelin expressed his gratitude repeatedly, thanking her for being there for his daughter, but Lyra brushed aside his thanks. Instead, she simply closed her eyes and continued to hold her brother close.
It was a peculiar relationship they had, these unlikely siblings. Their dissimilarities were evident not only in their appearances, which bore no resemblance to each other, but also in their personalities and lifestyles. Michelin was a responsible, well-ordered adult, while Lyra was a whirlwind of volatility and recklessness. Yet, beyond these disparities, they shared a bond that transcended mere blood ties. It was a connection that ran deep, a source of strength for both of them. Lyra understood all too well how much she owed to Michelin, and she cherished their unbreakable bond more than anything in the world.
Breaking away from her brother's embrace, Lyra saw Zenia, her best friend, launch herself at into her arms. Zenia was short and petite, so Lyra instinctively bent down to hug her and then, as usual, picked her up off the floor. Lyra laughed heartily, genuinely delighted to see them. Zenia, on the other hand, was on the verge of grateful tears, and Lyra did her best to soothe her. The tables had turned; usually, Zenia was the one consoling Lyra.
"Champions and mentors, we will be commencing the first task shortly, please gather around..." Boomed Mr. Crouch, drawing their attention.
"Guests, may I request you to join us in the stadium." Added Mr. Crouch as the tent began to empty.
"Here..." Said Michelin, taking Lyra's hands in his. He began fastening his solid gold cufflinks on her shirt.
"Michelin, are you mad? These are your favorite! Mom got them for you when you were 17!" Lyra protested, yanking her hand away, but her brother was unyielding.
"Stop flapping your arms like a squid and come here! Gold is supposed to be lucky for the 27." He insisted, referring to an old wives' tale.
He pulled his sister into a tight hug again.
"Try not to die, Phoenix." He quipped, using her nickname. Lyra nodded firmly at her brother. He then turned to his daughter, hugging her just as tightly and kissing her on the top of her head.
"Stay strong, my love..." He whispered to Sarah, holding her chin. His daughter, who had initially been pushing her parents away, now jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly, then pulled her mother into the hug. They exchanged one last look with Sarah before exiting the tent.
Lyra placed her hand gently on Sarah's shoulder, hoping to provide her with some strength. Sarah looked up at her aunt.
"We're fucked, aren't we?" She asked, nervously chewing her bottom lip.
"We may not be..." Lyra replied with a reassuring smile. Sarah's eyes brightened, wondering if her aunt had a plan.
They joined the rest of the group, where Mr. Crouch was holding a bag in his thick-gloved hands.
"Ms. Marks, not in full uniform today?" Mr. Crouch complained. They had been instructed to dress formally for the occasion. Athena shot a pointed look at Lyra, who simply rolled her eyes. Did he expect her to face a dragon in all-white attire? Did he understand how intricate a spell it took just to remove dirt from just that stupid cloak?
"Welcome, champions and mentors, to the first task..." Announced Dumbledore, as the atmosphere grew tense.
"This task has been designed to test your daring nature and exceptional skills. Barty, would you do the honors?" Dumbledore added, stepping aside.
Mr. Crouch stepped forward, opening the bag as a cloud of smoke emerged from it.
"Right then, these are just miniatures of what you'll be facing out there today. The task will be split into two parts: each team will have to retrieve a golden egg, which will also contain a clue to the next task. One of you will retrieve the egg, while the other defends against the dragon. Once you've collected the egg, the task will conclude. However, please note that the egg is protected by a series of difficult charms that you must navigate through." Explained Mr. Crouch, detailing the task.
"Now, ladies first..." Said Mr. Crouch with a smile, holding open the smoking bag.
Sarah approached the bag hesitantly, her eyes filled with terror. She carefully placed her hand inside, yelping as she burnt her finger in the process. But she managed to retrieve a tiny dragon.
"Ah, the Welsh Green..." Mr. Crouch marveled as Sarah examined the tiny dragon, her gaze shifting to her mentor. She handed the baby dragon to her aunt, who lifted it by its tail for examination. The small creature was far from pleased with its handling and spat acid, narrowly missing Lyra. She glared at the defiant creature before securely placing it in her cloak pocket.
Once all the champions had drawn their dragons, with Harry Potter seemingly drawing the worst, the Hungarian Horntail, it was time for them to begin the task, in reverse order of their drawing. This meant that Potter and Moody were up first.
The other champions and mentors were assigned corners to await their turns patiently.
After a thorough discussion, Lyra and Sarah decided that Lyra would distract the dragon while Sarah worked on removing the protective charms around the egg. Sarah excelled in charms and would likely be defenseless against a dragon, but Lyra was prepared to shield them both.
"Potter has defeated the dragon...Krum, you're up next!" Zeus announced. Krum grunted in acknowledgment and made his way toward the arena.
Zeus glanced at Sarah, who was diligently reading from an extensive book about dragons, while biting her nails nervously. Her mentor, on the other hand, seemed to be catching a quick nap.
Zeus then turned his gaze toward his own mentor. Snape was arranging various plants and potions on a nearby table, hastily labeling and pocketing several vials. One of these vials contained a venomous tentacular petal, which he placed delicately in his pocket. Zeus and Snape had devised a plan that would play to their strengths.
How in the world was Lyra Marks able to sleep at such a stressful time?
"Is she…alright?" Zeus approached Sarah, his gaze shifting between her and Lyra, his concern evident.
"Huh? Oh her? Ignore her…she's weird." Sarah replied dismissively, waving off her aunt's peculiar behavior.
"Are you facing the dragon like Potter…or breaking charms?" Zeus inquired, wanting to understand their strategy.
"I don't think I'd be able to take on a dragon…she's much better suited for such…activities…my aunt has a penchant for reckless behavior…so I hope the years of putting down trolls and dark wizards come in handy…I mean…a troll is pretty deadly too, right? And, she's put down so many in her career…even busted rings of vampires…and…"
"Sarah…shut up…I'm trying to sleep." Lyra interjected abruptly, her annoyance clear in her tone. Sarah shot her a disdainful look in response.
Zeus noticed Sarah's discomfort and decided to change the topic. He extended an invitation for her to join him and his mentor at their station and offered her some pumpkin juice from their jug. Snape watched Zeus warily, and the boy responded with a nonchalant roll of his eyes.
"Keep helping the enemy and you'll be in for a lot of pain, Zeus..." Snape warned darkly.
"She's not my enemy…she's…my friend..." Zeus retorted pointedly. He raised his glass to clink with Sarah's and took a sip. Snape muttered something under his breath about his champion's foolishness.
"Professor Snape…Zeus…you're up next…" Professor Flitwick interrupted their conversation, peering into the tent. He was assisting in preparing for the first task.
The two men exchanged a nod and pocketed their multiple vials before making their way to the exit.
"Good luck Sarah!" Zeus wished her with a warm smile as he left the tent.
"You…too..." Sarah replied, but Zeus had already disappeared.
Another hour ticked by as Sarah paced around nervously, her heart racing. There were no more nails to bite, a testament to her anxiety.
"Ms. Lincolns…Ms.…Marks? Is she asleep?" Professor Flitwick asked, clearly astonished, as he peered into the tent. He couldn't fathom how someone could sleep through this tension-filled atmosphere.
"She's just…"
"Wake her up, Ms. Lincolns…you're next!" Professor Flitwick instructed in bafflement.
"Yes…yes, sir!" Sarah responded urgently, shaking her aunt awake.
Lyra slowly opened her eyes, stretching and yawning as she did so.
"Are you refreshed?" Sarah asked sarcastically, throwing a pointed look at her aunt, who responded with a mischievous smirk.
"I needed to be well-rested…"
"Whatever for…I haven't slept all night panicking about this!"
"Then it's a good thing you'll be at a distance." Lyra replied casually. She stood, poured herself some water, took a few sips, and then splashed it on her face. After drying her face with her hand, she retrieved her wand from its holster.
"Go on…champion!" She smirked at Sarah, gesturing for her to go out first.
The moment Sarah stepped out, a wave of extreme pride washed over her, momentarily pushing aside her fear. She couldn't help but laugh in delight as she spotted AIMS banners waving wildly throughout the crowd. All her AIMS classmates had crafted magical banners to cheer for their champion, and they were chanting her name enthusiastically.
"Feels nice, doesn't it? All that admiration?" Lyra remarked, coming to stand beside Sarah, her eyes scanning the cheering crowd.
"You must feel like this all the time!" Sarah exclaimed, her gaze fixed on the lively stadium.
"It gets nauseating after a point..." Lyra replied, her smirk fading into a wry expression.
They walked together to the center of the arena, Sarah noticing a nest tucked away in a corner. With determination, she made her way toward it.
The whistle resounded, marking the beginning of the task.
Lyra stood in the midst of the arena, her eyes darting around to locate the dragon. She couldn't spot it anywhere, so she shifted her focus to Sarah, who was quickly working on dismantling the protective charms surrounding the golden egg.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed from behind Lyra. She whirled around to see the massive dragon charging towards her, one of its legs still chained.
With her heart pounding in her chest, Lyra sprinted away from the spot, taking cover behind a cluster of large rocks as the dragon unleashed a torrent of fire and acid. Lyra's breaths came in gasps as she narrowly avoided the deadly attack.
A second fiery assault reduced the rocks to dust. She had to find better cover quickly. Another blast of fire and acid approached. Lyra dashed toward the back of the dragon, narrowly evading the swaying tail that sought to ensnare her.
"Ligare Radices!" Lyra yelled, her wand pointing at the ground beneath the dragon. The earth shook beneath it, and massive roots erupted, wrapping around the beast.
"We all knew we'd witness extraordinary magic in this round, and here it is, folks! Lyra Marks is showcasing some groundbreaking magic!" Announced Ludo Bagman, his voice amplified by the magical microphone.
Lyra maintained her concentration on the spell, twisting her wand and advancing cautiously toward the ensnared dragon. The roots held it securely, but the beast struggled fiercely to break free. Lyra then realized the true nature of this task—the dragon was a nesting mother, protecting her eggs. It struck her as cruel, but this tournament was known for its ruthlessness.
"Sonorus!" Lyra shouted, channeling her magic. A radiant aura enveloped the dragon, which gradually ceased its struggles and closed its bright green eyes, succumbing to a deep slumber.
Lyra stepped back, panting heavily, as casting such a potent Sonorus had drained a significant amount of her energy and made her extremely drowsy.
"No wonder! The rumors of her brief nap in the tent earlier make sense now. A sleeping hex has put the dragon to sleep, and such a potent spell could knock out the entire stadium as well. What a fantastic display of relatively simple magic! Judges, take note!" Ludo Bagman announced, trying to sound enthusiastic.
"Are you serious?!" Sarah yelled incredulously at her aunt, her mouth hanging open. Lyra chuckled and shrugged.
This was her plan? To put the dragon to sleep? Sarah couldn't decide whether her aunt was the most brilliant person she knew or the craziest!
"Hurry up! The spell won't last long!" Lyra urged Sarah to continue with her task.
"And the AIMS champion is making remarkable progress with her charms. Look at the precision and elegance of her magic—truly a sight to behold!" Ludo Bagman's commentary breathed new life into the previously bewildered and drowsy stadium audience.
Lyra kept a watchful eye on the slumbering dragon, fearing that any noise might rouse it. But an unexpected disturbance caught her attention.
Something stirred in her cloak pocket. Lyra instantly regretted bringing it into the arena, as she had completely forgotten about it. The tiny dragon, which had curled up into a ball in her pocket, raised its head and focused its attention on its sleeping mother. Swiftly, it wriggled out of her grasp and darted into the roots surrounding the mother dragon. Lyra tried to summon it back, but the agile creature deftly eluded her charms, finding refuge within the network of roots. Finally, it scampered up and entered its mother's nostril.
"What the fuck are you doing, you little shit?" Lyra muttered under her breath, attempting to summon the tiny dragon back.
"Oh, here's something you don't see every day! The miniature dragon provided to the champions has freed itself and is now playfully waking its mother—something she's not going to be pleased about. As all of Hogwarts will tell you—never tickle a sleeping dragon!" Ludo Bagman announced, chuckling at the peculiar scene unfolding before him.
The mother dragon, now fully awake, rose from her slumber and cast an irate glare at her tiny tormentor. She sneezed loudly, growling in annoyance as the miniature dragon shot out of her nostril with surprising force. Lyra quickly summoned the little creature back and tucked it into her pocket.
"SARAH! HURRY UP!" Lyra shouted at her niece, her voice laced with urgency.
The mother dragon broke free from the roots, unfurling her massive wings and roaring in fury. She unleashed a devastating storm of fire and acid in Lyra's direction, trapping her between herself and her precious nest. In the dragon's eyes, the nest was under attack.
Lyra flicked her wand, causing a mountain of dirt to rise from the ground.
"Duro!" She exclaimed urgently, causing the dirt to solidify into stone, bearing the full brunt of the dragon's fiery onslaught.
The dragon charged toward Lyra, shoving her to the ground and trapping her under its enormous claw. It roared fiercely in her face, its hot, rancid breath washing over her. Lyra had taken a brutal fall, and her wand had fallen just out of reach. She stretched her hand out in a panic, desperately trying to summon it. But being pinned beneath a dragon's massive foot was far from an ideal situation for the kind of focused magic she needed without a wand. The dragon opened its gaping mouth, and Lyra could see a searing ball of fire forming within it.
"Aguamenti!" Sarah snapped, her voice full of urgency, directing a powerful jet of water to strike the dragon squarely in the eye. The dragon staggered back, screeching in pain as the water hit its vulnerable spot.
"An intelligent move by Ms. Lincolns! She's saved her mentor from a terrifying fate. A dragon's eye is indeed its weakest point!" Ludo Bagman's voice echoed through the stadium.
Lyra managed to retrieve her wand and scrambled back to her feet. With her wand pointed firmly at her target, she performed a feat even she hadn't expected to be successful.
She waved her wand with calculated movements, and the dragon began to howl in agony. Lyra was transfiguring the massive beast into an extraordinarily large barrel.
The stadium erupted in disbelief at the incredible spectacle before them.
"Trans...transfiguration on such a colossal beast is...is dangerous! I hope Ms. Marks knows what she's attempting!" Ludo Bagman sounded amazed.
Lyra continued to pour all her energy into the spell, her lips moving in a constant murmur to maintain control. Transfiguring a creature of this magnitude was extremely unstable magic, as spells were never designed to contain the ancient power of dragons. However, Transfiguration had always been Lyra's strongest subject. She channeled every ounce of her strength into the spell, determined to see it through. She gripped her wand with both hands, funneling all the remaining energy she had into the transformation.
She kept her eyes fixed on the now-transformed barrel, the spell still on her lips, muttering it incessantly to maintain her focus. Despite the pain from the cut on her knee caused by all the rolling around, Lyra remained steadfast.
"I GOT IT!" Sarah's triumphant voice rang out through the stadium.
The crowd erupted in cheers, and Sarah held the golden egg high, displaying it proudly for all to see. She looked at her aunt, who beamed at her with pride. Finally, this non-sense was over!
In a surge of relief, Lyra's concentration wavered, and her knee gave out. She fell onto her back, breaking her connection with the spell. As the enchantment dissolved, the massive barrel teetered precariously. First, the wings and tail emerged, and then, in a whirl of magical energy, the dragon transformed back into its original form, right in front of Lyra.
Noticing the dragon looming over her aunt, Sarah dashed towards Lyra, but the dragon's head hovered just inches above her. Its burnt breath knocked Lyra to the ground with tremendous force. Sarah tried to reach her aunt as quickly as possible. Lyra saw the dragon shift its gaze, catching sight of Sarah in the corner of its enormous eye. She watched in horror as the dragon prepared to unleash a fiery blast in her niece's direction.
"Depulso!" Lyra screamed.
The spell hit Sarah squarely in the chest, sending her flying through the air. She landed several meters away, sprawled on the ground. Sarah sat there in shock, watching in horror as the dragon's mouth closed around Lyra. A torrent of fire erupted from the dragon's nostrils as it released its deadly breath. The beast growled menacingly before turning its attention back to Sarah. The dragon charged towards her, spewing fire and acid in all directions, causing the stadium to descend into chaos.
Sarah stood frozen in her spot, her mind racing with thoughts of her aunt.
Where was Lyra? Had...she...could she be...?
A powerful protective shield materialized around her as Snape stepped onto the arena floor, pulling her behind him. She tried to run towards the dragon. He snarled at her and pulled her back, but she was too far gone in her head to listen.
"LYRA?!" Sarah's desperate scream echoed through the stadium, tears streaming down her face. She struggled to break free from Snape's firm grip around her waist.
The stadium watched in sheer horror as the dragon continued to unleash fiery devastation, flapping its colossal wings to advance menacingly.
Snape abruptly pulled Sarah into a run, deflecting the fiery onslaught with a series of protective spells. They came to a halt just outside the tent, where the dragon tamers finally entered the arena.
Sarah snapped out of her initial shock and attempted to dash back towards the dragon, her wand at the ready. However, Snape swiftly redirected her to another's arms.
"NO!" Michelin exclaimed, forcefully pulling his daughter into his arms. He had entered the arena, seemingly unconcerned about the fact that he shouldn't have been there. The dragon tamers continued to fire multiple stunning spells at the enraged dragon, further provoking it as it thrashed its tail in response.
"DAD! It's...LYRA...what...DAD! I HAVE TO HELP HER!" Sarah pleaded through her tears.
"No...Sarah...no...please...stop...I can't bear to lose you too! There's no way she could have survived, not...not after that last burst of fire." Michelin's voice quivered with fear and anguish. He wasn't sure if he was holding his daughter to comfort her or seeking comfort for himself.
"GET THE CHAINS! She's gone rogue!" Yelled one of the tamers with red hair. However, the dragon was in such a furious state that it thrashed about uncontrollably. The tamers were at a loss as to why she wouldn't calm down.
Sarah cried profusely in her father's arms as they watched the chaotic scene unfold before them. The tamers tried every method they knew to pacify the dragon, but nothing seemed to work. Even their attempts to put it to sleep, similar to Lyra's earlier spell, proved futile. The dragon remained in a state of indescribable agitation, roaring and screeching in deafening fury.
"Sarah…come here…" Zenia offered gently as Sarah was transferred into her mother's comforting embrace.
"Michelin…" Athena called to her nephew with great sympathy.
"She can't be gone…she can't…" He repeated those words in disbelief, unable to accept the grim reality. He couldn't fathom how he would explain this to his parents or to Tessra. How was he supposed to accept this himself? The weight of this loss was unbearable.
The distraught family stood there, their hearts heavy, as they watched the dragon's relentless struggle in the distance.
Athena's gaze shifted toward the staff members who had descended to assist the tamers. Dumbledore and Hagrid were doing their utmost to control the enraged beast alongside the tamers. However, Athena's attention turned to her sister, whose face displayed sheer shock. Minerva clutched her stomach and stood there, her expression filled with unbearable pain.
"Michelin…look!" Zenia almost exclaimed. Michelin followed her gaze, focusing on what she was pointing at. He took a hesitant step forward, struggling to believe what he was seeing. Snape, who was standing beside him, shared the same incredulous expression. They exchanged glances, silently confirming that they were witnessing the same inexplicable event.
The once uncontrollable dragon suddenly ceased its movements. Her eyes grew glassy, her tongue lolled out of her massive jaw, and she stumbled about aimlessly before collapsing to the ground, unconscious.
The tamers stood bewildered by this sudden turn of events. Meanwhile, the tiny dragon had emerged from its mother's nostril once more and screeched near Dumbledore's foot. He gently picked it up. Dumbledore took a cautious step back as the dragon involuntarily sneezed, spewing mucus and residual acid in his direction. He deftly deflected the mess with a wave of his wand. Another sneeze followed. On the third sneeze, Lyra Marks shot out from the dragon's nose, rolling onto the ground and panting heavily. Her body was covered in burns, mucus, acid and blood. Her clothing and once-pristine white cloak were scorched and stained.
"Ms. Marks…are you…alright?" Dumbledore asked urgently as he crouched beside her.
Lyra turned her head to look at him and nodded faintly, struggling to catch her breath.
Michelin couldn't contain his emotions. He ran toward Dumbledore and his barely conscious sister.
"LYRA!" He exclaimed, falling to his knees beside her.
"Mich…I followed...the little fuck..er..." Lyra coughed and chuckled weakly, her voice hoarse from the ordeal. As she began recounting with pride how she had managed to survive the dragon's fiery insides.
"But…I lost…your cuffs…gold…gold…knocks out…dragon…ss..." Lyra's words were strained, her breath shallow. She then succumbed to unconsciousness, her body finally giving in to the exhaustion and pain.
"We need to get her to the hospital wing, Mr. Lincolns…" Dumbledore said quickly. With a wave of his wand, he levitated Lyra's limp body into the air.
Michelin matched Dumbledore's steps as they hurried toward the castle.
Once they were in the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey began her work, tending to Lyra's burns and injuries. Michelin paced near the bed, his anxiety ponding at him. His wife and both his aunts soon joined him. Dumbledore, who had been trying to calm the agitated man, excused himself to speak with Snape, who had been tasked to bring in some potions and a mountain of healing salve.
"Michelin…stop pacing for Merlin's sake…you're giving me a headache!" Snapped Athena, Michelin threw her a sharp glare.
Athena peered through the curtains to check on her unconscious niece.
Athena couldn't help but gag at the stench of burnt flesh as she watched Madam Pomfrey work on Lyra's injuries. Tears welled up in her eyes as she beheld the battered state of her niece. She quickly composed herself and turned her attention back to her nephew and his wife, who were having an intense discussion.
"She'll be alright…" Said Athena, attempting to reassure her nephew. Michelin glared at her, unable to find comfort in her words.
"Alright? Alright? Thea! Does she look alright to you? She almost died!" Michelin snarled in frustration.
"Well, she's resilient, Michelin…like always. I'm sure she's been through worse. These are just burns and a few broken bones; she'll be fine." Athena replied calmly.
"She just crawled out of a dragon's nose, Athena. These aren't mere burns...this...this will count! You know that!" Michelin's voice trembled with anger as he paced back and forth.
"You need to calm down, Michelin!" Zenia intervened. Michelin's frustration boiled over as he paced relentlessly, refusing to find solace in her words.
"Calm down? I will not calm down...I told Reggie this tournament was a terrible idea! The Lincolns...we...we...we're not suited for adventure and eternal glory!" Michelin's agitation continued to surge.
"Well, technically, she's not a Lincolns, is she?" Zenia remarked brusquely. Michelin cast a pointed glance at his wife, perturbed by her unwavering support for Lyra's unconventional beliefs.
"Michelin, please, don't get riled up about this...you understand well what Zenia is trying to convey!" Athena interjected gently, hoping to mediate the tension.
Michelin turned away, his frustration deepening as he begrudgingly acknowledged her perspective. Zenia had fallen under Lyra's sway regarding the notion that Lyra wasn't truly a Lincolns, which Michelin vehemently disagreed with. This disagreement had often fueled heated arguments between the husband and wife.
"You realize what…what this means, don't you, Michelin?!" Athena said, attempting to shift the focus away from the ongoing disagreement between her nephew and his wife.
Michelin sighed and rubbed his face tiredly.
"She's defied it twice…I know what it means."
"It's going to inflate her ego even more..." Zenia commented dryly with a helpless chuckle, attempting to lighten the mood. Athena scoffed alongside her.
"Do you realize there's no one in the Coven with a mastery in fire? There hasn't been one for decades..." Michelin said, gazing toward the curtained bed.
The family fell into a contemplative silence, absorbing the implications of Lyra's actions.
"Do I have to leave, Aunt Athena?" Michelin asked softly, exhaustion replacing his earlier anger.
"You know the rules, Michelin. Besides, we'll be seeing you at Christmas." Athena replied calmly.
"I know…I just…I don't want to leave her here…like this…alone."
"She will not be alone." Minerva chimed in as she joined the conversation.
"I will be here." Minerva added resolutely.
"Minerva…I'm sure you have more important matters to attend to than watching over an unconscious..." Athena started, but her sister interrupted her firmly.
"I. Will. Be. Here." Minerva stated firmly, her eyes unwaveringly fixed on her sister. Athena gave her a warning look, but Minerva paid it no heed.
"Aunt Minerva…when she does wake up…she's going to try her best to get rid of you." Michelin warned with a knowing smile.
"Michelin, I handle teenagers on a daily basis. I think I am capable enough to handle her." Minerva replied with a smile. Michelin chuckled in response.
"Well then, you must be made of much stronger stuff than we are..." Zenia added with a chuckle, her tone filled with affection. Minerva smiled at her.
"We will see you at Christmas, Michelin." Athena said softly.
"Thank you." Michelin said gratefully, holding Minerva's hands. She smiled at her nephew kindly.
"We should probably go check on our daughter..." Zenia suggested as she glanced toward the curtains. Sarah had been whisked away by the crowd of celebrating AIMS students, but the traumatic experience was sure to weigh on her mind. They needed to make sure their child was alright.
"Professor Dumbledore, thank you for your help!" Michelin said to the man in the distance. Dumbledore looked away from Snape and nodded graciously.
The couple then left the two sisters standing by the curtained bed.
Athena turned to her sister, her frustration evident as she crossed her arms.
"Minerva…what are you doing?" Athena snapped, her tone highlighting her concern for her sister's impulsive behavior.
"Don't bother, Athena..." Minerva shot back, refusing to engage in an argument.
"This...this is...Minerva...if you say anything..."
"I will not say anything. I'm not foolish."
"You can't even stop looking at her...like..."
"Like what..."
"Like you're going to bloody combust!"
"If I had made the right choices, Athena...perhaps I wouldn't have to."
"Minerva...you need to be careful!" Athena advised, extending a hand towards her sister, who pulled back resolutely.
"I know what I need to be, sister!"
"I'm only looking out for you."
Minerva stood there in tense silence, her gaze locked on the curtained bed.
"Minerva...you know the consequences...you're only making it more complicated..." Athena cautioned.
"I understand how difficult this is for you, but..." Athena began.
"No! No...you don't understand Athena...you will never understand." Minerva snapped loudly, causing both men to turn their attention to the bickering sisters.
"She is my niece too!" Athena declared, her voice matching Minerva's. A sharp and angry shush from the matron came from behind the curtains.
Athena gave her sister a pitiful look, but Minerva averted her gaze.
"Ladies...may I escort you to dinner?" Dumbledore interjected. He had sought to restore peace and decided it was best for all of them to leave for dinner.
Athena's gaze seethed with anger and resentment as she directed it at Dumbledore. Albus took a step back, expecting her to be upset but not anticipating such a heated confrontation.
"You've got some nerve, Albus Dumbledore...unbelievable!" Athena raged, directing her fury at him.
"ATHENA!" Minerva snapped sharply, attempting to stop her sister's outburst.
"You walk around, all self-righteous, acting as if nothing ever happened. Let me make it clear for you..." Athena continued, tearing into him.
"Athena...please, not now...not here!" Minerva hissed at her sister, casting an apprehensive glance at the potions master, who stood nearby, overhearing Athena scolding Dumbledore.
"Ridiculous! I can't believe you, Minerva. What are you even doing here...with him!"
Minerva turned away from her sister, her nostrils flaring. She was weary of constantly being told what to do, especially as the youngest of three sisters.
"How can you live like this?!" Athena spat at her sister, her rage unabated.
"You should have just moved to Boston with me…with us!" Athena snapped at her.
She then shot a disgusted look at Dumbledore, forcing him to take another step back. Athena glared at him and then grabbed her sister's hand, pulling her out of the hospital wing.
"What was that?" Snape inquired silkily as he approached Dumbledore.
"A most regrettable and unfortunate tale of my foolish choices..." Dumbledore replied with a sigh. Snape frowned at his mysterious words.
The matron drew back the curtains surrounding the bed and addressed the two men.
"Ms. Marks is currently stable. She should regain consciousness by tomorrow. I've administered sedatives to keep her pain from the burns, broken rib, and knee injury at bay for the night. It's truly miraculous she survived. Clearly, there's some powerful magic coursing through her veins, as one would expect from a member of that coven." Madam Pomfrey remarked, giving the woman in the bed a meaningful look.
"It's been an exhausting day for all of us...shall we go and have a meal?" Dumbledore proposed. They both nodded and, after a final glance at the slumbering woman, Snape and Madam Pomfrey followed Dumbledore out of the hospital wing.
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