Chapter 2: The Heir of Shadows:
The years drifted by like whispers on the wind, each one steeped in regret and longing. Far away from her true family, Aurora grew up in the opulent but stifling confines of the Blackwood estate. The grand manor was a testament to the family's immense wealth, adorned with dark wood, shimmering chandeliers, and portraits of stern ancestors whose eyes seemed to follow her. She was taught the ways of the elite—etiquette, dancing, and the intricate art of conversation—skills she wielded like a mask to cloak her true self.
In the race of making her the best and perfect heir, they had made her forget who she truly was. She was mere a puppet getting controlled by the strings held by her parents. Sometimes when she saw other students at her school, living off their lives with perfect families, going on vacations, getting whatever they wanted, getting loved, she dreaded their lives, thinking to give up everything in order to live a life like theirs. She loved being loved. But this never happened in her life.
Not until the day after she turned fifteen when she find a letter with a strange message inside that changed her entire life. It was from Albus Dumbledore, who was presenting the idea to adopt Aurora Potter as their heir as it was getting hard for the Potters to take care of her with their Infant child, Harry Potter. And all other things will be discussed once they meet. Her real parents were the Potters and they had abandoned her! She knew all about the Potters, how their son, Harry Potter had defeated the Darklord when he was only one year old, and how James and Lily Potter had become one of the most influential people in Great Britain after that. But Aurora was their daughter and they abandoned her? She confronted the Blackwoods about that who didn't express a single emotion and told her that she shouldn't focus on this and that she was now their heir and that's what she would have to live with. The Blackwoods didn't change that day but Aurora did. She no longer remained that girl who dreaded to be loved… she changed into a fierce, cold girl who didn't care about anyone or anything in that harsh world. She pushed herself harder every day. She pushed herself to be ruthless, merciless on those who had abandoned her, on those who had hurt her, on everyone.
After a few months, Lady Blackwood died, and with that, the major pressure of the family had come over her shoulders. She started attending Met Gala's as Lady Blackwood. She attended the meetings of French Wizengamot even though she was underage. By the time she turned Seventeen, Lord Blackwood too passed away, leaving Aurora to be the Lady of the State. She had already made her name in France but her influence spread over the whole world once she attended the International Council of Wizards.
One day, she was summoned by the Headmistress of her school, who offered her to go to Britain to compete in the Triwizard Competition. Aurora was about to refuse because of her busy schedule, but a part of her told her to go, to find out who she was. So after a week, she was boarding the carts that were going to take them to Hogwarts, the school where the Triwizard Competition was going to be held. When they arrived at the castle, all the students were standing line by line as a welcome from the students of Hogwarts. The Headmistress guided the students into the dining hall and they were later joined by students from Durmstrang and students of Hogwarts. The Headmaster Albus Dumbledore stood up and addressed the students and then the feast opened. Aurora scanned that man for a while but then turned to her food. Her heart sunk when a notion passed through her Mind... Harry Potter was a student of Hogwarts too. At the very same moment, her eyes locked with a boy, his eyes the same as hers, a lightning bolt scar on his forehead which further confirmed who he was. They kept looking at each other for a while, but then Aurora broke the gaze and focused on her food. After the feast ended, the goblet of fire was placed in the hall. She decided to put her name tomorrow and left the hall.
Next Morning when she walked in the hall, she was greeted with echoes of laughter from a group of students of Hogwarts. Two of them had some kind of beards grown out from their face, and everyone around them was laughing including Harry Potter.
''How peaceful for you, right!'' she thought looking at him with pure disdain.
They all fell silent once they noticed her standing. She walked and put the paper with her name in the Goblet.
''I did warn you,'' said a deep, amused voice behind her. It was Albus Dumbledore, addressing the boys with the beards, ''I suggest you two go to Madam Pomfrey who is already…'' his eyes fell onto her, and his expression changed. For a Few seconds, it was as though he went into a trance.
''Did he know?'' she thought.
''Ahhh! Ms. Blackwood I guess!'' he said, still looking in thoughts.
''Lady Blackwood, Headmaster Dumbledore!'' she said in a highly professional way.
''Oh yes,'' he chuckled, but he looked hesitant and confused.
Behind him, a familiar face walked in. It was Victor Krum from Bulgaria.
''Lady Blackwood.'' He said approaching her, she offered him her hand which he kissed.
''Mr. Krum.'' She addressed with a slight bow, ''Excuse us, Headmaster.'' She said and they walked away. ''I heard about the match, you played well.'' She told him.
''Oh yes! It was quite a match,'' he said, with a disdainful look. They both had met on certain occasions, in a few meetings of ICW and at her parent's funeral. They talked for a while and then headed back to the hall for lunch. Victor went to the Slytherin table to his fellows and she walked towards the Ravenclaw table where students from her school were sitting.
Aurora was strolling in Hogwarts ground when she saw Harry and his friends laughing and playing with each other. The redhead twins were chasing another redhead girl who was screaming and shouting and then the twins ran towards the bushy-haired girl who screamed and ran away. She found herself smiling at them but again shifted to her cold demeanor.
''You should go easy on yourself,'' Dumbledore said slightly smiling.
"Go easy on myself? When no one else went easy on me?'' she said sharply, '' and you are here,'' she chuckled slightly.
''I merely worry you're carrying a weight heavier than you should, especially for someone so young," he said, in a slightly caring tone.
''Oh wow! Headmaster.'' She said in a mocking tone, '' Where were you when they turned me into a weapon? When I had to be perfect or suffer?"
"I was watching from afar… regretting more than you know. But I am here now, and I would like to help." He said quietly.
She laughed bitterly, "Help? Like you helped me back then? Like you helped my parents hide me? Throw me away like an inconvenient secret?"
"Do you know… about your parents? About who they are?" he said, a flicker of surprise across his face.
"Why shouldn't I know? After all, I am just the living reminder of their worst mistake." Aurora replied coldly.
"You are not a mistake. You are a miracle that survived a tragedy. Your parents… they never stopped caring. I understand you may never forgive them—" he said calmly,
"Good. Because I don't plan to." Aurora said, cutting him off.
" You don't know. They did what they believed would save you… and perhaps the world. But we did not throw you away, Aurora."
"Oh? Then what was it? A gentle relocation? A secret family and a secret life while I was taught to smile through pain and bleed in silence?" Aurora said, mocking him.
Dumbledore's eyes dimmed with guilt, his fingers steepled together in thought.
She turned to leave, but Dumbledore spoke once more, his voice gentler than before.
"One day, Aurora, you may find that the pain you carry is not a burden you have to bear alone. I only hope that when that day comes, you'll let someone carry it with you."
Aurora didn't reply. She paused for a second longer, then walked away, her footsteps echoing in the quiet.
Aurora sat in the Beaxtebexons cart, looking at Fleur Declaour animatedly talking to her friends, her mind racing with different thoughts about the conversation she had with Dumbledore. He was making lame excuses now.
''They never stopped caring!'' she thought, ''It looks like the thought of her existence never crossed their minds once in their life.'' She thought about Harry and how happy he looked, a carefree child with loving parents, those parents who gave him everything and took everything from her. Every single day her hatred for them all was increasing.
The next day when Aurora walked into the Great Hall for dinner, it was decorated with hundreds of carved pumpkins at every corner, live bats were flying at the top of the hall. Apart from the decorations, the environment of the Great Hall was heavy. Everyone was talking about who could be the champion of their respective schools. After the feast ended, Dumbledore stood up and announced that the Goblet was ready. He indicated towards the room where the Champions would go after Goblet announced their names. He took out his wand and gave a great sweeping wave with it, all the candles except those in the pumpkins were extinguished. After a few minutes, the Goblet turned red, and a tongue of flame shot into the air, a chattered piece of parchment fluttered out of it and Dumbledore caught it.
'The Champion for Durmstrang,' he read in a strong voice, 'is Victor Krum.'
Viictor stood up from the table where the Durmstrang students along with some Hogwarts students were cheering , and walked towards the Chamber.
The Goblet turned red again and a piece of Parchment came out of it which was caught by Dumbledore.
'The Champion for Beauxbatons is,' he fell silent and looked at Aurora, whose expression remained unchanged,' is Aurora Blackwood.' Some of the Beauxbatons cheered but most remained silent. Everyone had expected and wanted Fleur Declaour to be the Champion. Aurora walked into the chamber where Victor Krum stood, leaning against the walls.
'No surprises,' he said, a grin on his face.
'Yeah!' Aurora replied,' Congratulations.' She said. A few minutes later, a boy walked in, who she guessed was Hogwarts Champion.
'Cedric Diggory,' he introduced, offering a hand. Aurora shook his hand and replied, 'Lady Aurora Blackwood.' He nodded and walked towards Victor.
They were standing around the fire when Harry walked in. All of them looked at him and expected him to say something, but he didn't.
'What is it, Mr. Potter?' she asked coldly. But he didn't reply, it was as though he was in shock of something.
'Harry!' Cedric called his name, which seemed to pull him out of his thoughts.
Behind him, a man walked in took his arm, and pulled him forward.
'Extraordinary!' he muttered, ' Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen . . . lady," he added, approaching the fireside and addressing the three. "May I introduce — incredible though it may seem — the fourth Triwizard champion?"
A flicker of shock crossed her face but she didn't show. 'How could there be a fourth champion and of all the people, it be Harry Potter,'' she thought.
Viktor Krum straightened up. His surly face darkened as he surveyed Harry. Cedric looked nonplussed. He looked from the man to Harry and back again as though sure he must have misheard what he had said.
'How is this possible?' She asked coldly, fixing her circlet.
'Harry's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire! We don't know how!" he replied.
Krum's thick eyebrows contracted slightly. Cedric was still looking politely bewildered. Aurora frowned.
'One's name couldn't just come out, there's been a mistake or someone of age added it intentionally,' she said, looking at Harry, 'Did you ask someone to put it for you?' she asked him.
'No, I didn't! I don't know how my name came out,' he replied, quickly.
'He'll get himself killed,' she thought. 'Someone would have confounded the Goblet,' she said thoughtfully.
'Lady Blackwood is right,' Dumbledore said calmly, who had just entered the chamber.
'It iz impossible,' said Headmistress Maxime, 'the boy must have entered his name himself.' She accused Harry.
'Harry! Did you enter your name in the goblet of fire?' he asked calmly.
"No," said Harry.
'Did you ask any older student to put it for you?' he asked.
'No, I didn't,' Harry replied. Aurora could feel that the boy was telling the truth.
''Ah, but of course 'e is lying!" cried Madame Maxime. Karkaroff nodded his head.
"He could not have crossed the Age Line," said one of the Professors of Harry sharply. "I am sure we are all agreed on that —"
"Dumbly-dorr must 'ave made a mistake wiz ze line," said Madame Maxime, shrugging.
"It is possible, of course," said Dumbledore politely.
"Dumbledore, you know perfectly well you did not make a mistake!" said the Professor angrily. "Really, what nonsense! Harry could not have crossed the line himself, and as Professor Dumbledore believes that he did not persuade an older student to do it for him, I'm sure that should be good enough for everybody else!" She shot an angry look at everyone else.
They all kept arguing with each other, the man with strange eyes and legs, who was called Mad-Eye Moody, gave the same idea that the Goblet would have been confounded and that it was someone really powerful who did that. In the end, all decided to go with the decision of Goblet and that Harry would have to compete in the Tournament.
Aurora was shocked at the stupid decision. 'Crazy! You should be trying to find out who the hell put the boy's name in the Goblet Instead you all are forcing him to compete!' She argued.
'Aurora! You- ' Madam Maxime said but she interrupted, 'Headmistress, you know well, that this tournament is not a child's play, and besides it would be unjust with Harr -Mr. Potter to compete with all us.'
'There is nothing we can do, Lady Blackwood. There is a danger to Harry's magic if he backs out now.' Dumbledore said.
'Huh! And what about his life?' she argued, her tone strict and cold.
'Is this care?' It was Dumbledore, he was intruding her brain. She pushed her out immediately.
'DON'T EVER DARE!' she shouted, looking at the man in his eyes. She was about to draw her wand on him but stopped.
'Calm down, everyone!' a man, called Barty Crouch said. Aurora backed off and walked to the other corner of the room. Her heart was racing, with what had just happened. She let him enter her mind. How could he? She gritted her teeth.
"The first task is designed to test your daring," Barty Couch told them, "so we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard . . . very important. . . . "The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and the panel of judges.
"The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests."
Mr. Crouch turned to look at Dumbledore. "I think that's all, is it, Albus?"
"I think so," said Dumbledore, looking at Aurora with concern. Aurora walked out of the chamber quickly.
Aurora didn't go back to the carriage instead she kept strolling in the grounds. 'How could I let my mask slip? How could I show concern? How could he-?
'You are the Heir of the state! You should be perfect! You are weak! Failure! Disgrace!'' There were a hundred voices of her parents echoing in her mind. 'AAHHHH!' And before she knew the ground in front of her was tearing apart.
'I think you should calm yourself!' Someone called from behind,
Aurora fell to the ground.
'CALM YOURSELF! RELAX!'' the person said, holding her with his hands. Aurora calmed herself, trying to remember the good moments in her life. Not a single moment. The ground was torn apart.
'Look at me!' he said. Aurora looked at the icy blue pair of eyes, 'Relax,' he said, 'Breathe… Breathe.' she took a deep breath and continued the process. The voices in her head had faded and she was getting aware of her surroundings. The ground was torn apart.
She stood up and saw the havoc on the ground.
'Shit! What the ' Aurora swore. She pulled out her wand and fixed the ground.
She turned to the person who had helped her, but he had just vanished. She looked here and there but there was no sign of him.