The summer continued to pass very slowly for our heroes, ever since Kendra died. It had been heavy for many and things didn't fully improve either.
Arianna, for starters, refused to come out of her room. She barely ate or talked to anyone, dismissing even Roxanne when she tried to help.
The ever-so image of her was only if someone was lucky enough to look at the window on the first floor and see her staring through the glass with a hollow and haunted expression.
Aberforth was even more grumpy if that was possible. He tried to keep the house and their little farm animals that had been recently bought by their mother; all while ensuring Arianna at least ate.
Albus was trying his best to put everything in order and to help but he often clashed with his younger brother about who was right and what should be done. He was still young and often impatient, not hiding that he didn't truly want to do that but had to.
His sour moods and attitude only made the two brothers to have an even bigger gap in their relationship.
Roxanne also took the death and the funeral to heart. She tried hard to keep that positive outlook she always had but with the Dumbledores slowly breaking apart, her father's condition worsening and the fact that she was unable to help; it started to change her.
She started to feel guilty about what took place 8 years ago with those boys. She started to wonder what more she could have done differently and if she was stronger, Arianna would have never ended up so scared that her powers would backfire. If they were more careful, then perhaps both Kendra and Percival would be alive; Arianna would be healthy and Albus would be able to live his life.
All those regrets and thoughts made her feel weak and she went as far as to beg Gellert to help her train through duelling. If they would eventually lead a revolution and change the magical world, she had to be ready.
She refused to fail in protecting those that needed to be protected because she would be too weak to stand up for them and herself.
Gellert was surprised by her request but agreed, although he made it clear that he would not take it easy on her as they did at Hogwarts.
This is how they ended up spending yet another day, close by the Willow Tree on the small hill.
Gelleet was on the offensive, throwing one spell after the other at Roxanne. The young witch was only defending herself either with a shield charm or by merely deflecting his attacks to the side.
"You can't just defend. You will either do both or attack" he scolded her as he kept pressuring her. "You said you wanted to improve, this is the only way. Attack me!" He Commanded.
His attacks that left her no room to breathe only ended up frustrating her. However, that frustration was eventually the catalyst to become more aggressive.
Since her shield charm was advanced for her age, she could hold it up without much of a try. She then started to attack back, her spells either clashing with his midway or him easily deflecting her.
"Better but not good enough," he said, not once sweating while she continued to struggle.
"Flipendo," she said as she managed to time her attack.
A strong repulsive force hit Gellert and sent him flying back a little bit. He managed to land on his feet but he did place one hand against his chest, where the spell had hit him.
He looked at her, seeing her panting faintly and did the mistake of lowering her wand ever so slightly.
"Your opponents won't go easy on you, ever" With those words, he cast a spell once he found an opening.
One moment Roxanne was standing and the next she felt an excruciating pain all over her body. The force of the attack had sent her flying and she had landed with her back on the ground. The pain lasted for a few seconds but it was so strong that it left her stunned for a moment.
Her whole body ached and she was sure she even had let out a small yelp of surprise or even pain.
"There won't be any friendly spells thrown at you. So you must never lower your guard" she heard Gellert say as he approached her.
She managed to roll her body to lay on her front and with a groan, she pushed her body off the ground. She took her time, feeling her body sore as if someone had stabbed her with hundreds of burning needles all over her body.
"I got that," she said, her hair tips changing to a deep brown as she tried to ignore the annoyance within her.
A hand was placed beneath her chin and her head was directed to look at the owner, being none other than Gellert. His eyes inspected her like a prized showhorse, scanning for any injuries or something more. He found none although her hair had escaped her ponytail and was falling messily against her back.
"You did well after such so few practises and not many can get up so easily after being hit by the mild version of the cruciating curse," he said, a proud smirk on his face.
Her expression quickly changed to that of shock, the revelation so big that all of her hair turned white. She tried to take a step back but he held a good grip on her chin, not letting her move.
She looked into his eyes, trying to find a reason behind his actions but the darkness within them was not helping. "You used the cruciating curse on me?" She repeated, feeling that it was the only thing she could do.
His hand moved from her chin to cup her cheek, his thumb caressing the scar existing there. "The mildest version of it but like I said, your opponents won't go easy on you if you lower your guard" he explained, so easily justifying his actions.
She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. While unethical, Gellert made a valid point. Even the muggle boys did not show mercy to her when they attacked her and perhaps they would have wounded her more if Percival had not arrived.
Now, grown-up wizards and witches that disagreed with them...their attacks would be stronger, more painful and perhaps even deadly.
There was no room for mistakes or moments of weakness and while she would never kill someone else; she still needed to knock them down before they finished her off.
"I understand," she said, opening her eyes and giving a small smile.
Gellert was satisfied with both her acceptance of his training and her realistic mind to understand the truth of the situation. Optimistic or not, certain things smiles and kind actions would not fix. She had to learn the tough way if she was meant to survive with them on this mission.
On top of everything, his last attack was a curse. He had no true hatred for her and so, the cruciating curse would never have its full effect on her.
However, it would cause just a tad of more pain than any other spell and that would challenge her. He was mildly surprised to only hear the faintest of sounds from her, coming more due to the surprise of the hit rather than the pain itself.
Despite the pain, she stood up a few seconds later. It was clear that her body was aching and there would be sore parts both from the spell and also her harsh landing but she was already up on her feet and ready.
It satisfied him, seeing how stubbornly and mentally strong she could be. He needed people like her to follow him in the upcoming war, weakness having no place in his ranks.
The sound of angry steps climbing up the hill made the two of them break their intense and silent gaze to look at who had chosen to join them.
As was expected, it was Albus since rarely anyone truly knew that little secret place. Yet, it was a surprise to see him as angry as he was that day.
Without as much of a word, he reached the tree and sat by the base of it. He let out a sigh of frustration, his back and head pressed against the hard trunk of the tree.
"Albus? What is wrong?" Roxanne asked, quickly pocketing her wand in one of her pockets.
She knelt by his side looking at him as her eyes checked for any injuries or signs of pain; passively using the medical skills she picked up from her father and his books over the course of the years.
"Aberforth is...this ungrateful..." he let out a heavy sigh and closed his eyes. "I try to do something and he immediately disagrees. It's my fault for insisting that he should continue studying and me staying back to look after Arianna"
Roxanne placed her hand on top of his, giving a strong grip to reassure and comfort him. Her amber eyes looked at him with sadness and empathy, hating seeing him like this.
He refused to look at her and he simply glared daggers at the grass laying between his perched-up legs, as if that would solve all of his problems.
"That boy doesn't understand. If I were you, I wouldn't make that sacrifice for him. With the revolution approaching, there are more important things at stake and if he truly wants you to do something; he should let you go and change those ridiculous laws" Gellert said as he kept standing, his shadow being cast on Albus' sitting form.
The 18-year-old wizard was quiet for a moment before he lifted his head to look up at his towering form. "You can consider me part of your plan. Now and during the year, I will find ways to help you detect the Hallows"
His words took his two companions by surprise, not expecting his sudden volunteering choices in finding the Deathly Hallows and starting Gellert's plan.
But what they did not know, was the fact that Albus had a selfish reason for choosing to participate so actively. If he found the resurrection stone, one of the three Hallows, he could bring back his parents and let them look after his family while he was free to live his life as he had planned before his mother's demise.
Gellert did not honestly suspect the reason why Albus was suddenly so interested but he would not question. With Roxanne leaving for Hogwarts in a month, he needed all the assistance he could get.
Spending some time with Albus and having him by his side as they found the first Hallow and started their revolution; it was more than ideal and it was something he had faintly seen two years ago during one of his Sheer moments.
It was why he had managed to track down his distant great aunt and reside in Godric's Hollow. For it was there, his vision took place and he knew that it was there where everything would start.
Now, he was becoming more and more certain about it. He could almost taste it in his mouth, just how close he was to getting what he always wanted.
And all those that crossed him before, ostracised him for thinking differently than most; would bow their heads and then perish by his hand as he would finally establish wizarding superiority.