The August sun filtered through the curtains of the mansion's main bedroom. Aurelian lay on his bed, his wand resting on a table next to a cup of tea with fresh mint leaves from his own gardens.
The silence of the mansion was broken only by the occasional song of a distant bird or the soft rustling of leaves. A breather before the new year at Hogwarts.
Then, without warning, Stinky appeared at the foot of the bed, bowing and holding a letter in his hands.
"Master Aurelian," said the elf in a respectful and amused voice, "this letter arrived... from the young ladies."
Aurelian raised an eyebrow and took the letter. On the parchment were enchanted flowers that opened and closed with the warmth of his fingers. The calligraphy was impeccable, artistic, and excessively adorned with hearts.
He tore the seal and began to read.
"Dear Aurelian,
We, Hestia and Flora, have decided that we couldn't start the new school year without seeing you, without hearing your voice.
We wanted to invite you to meet us at Diagon Alley to do our school shopping together. It would be the greatest pleasure and... perhaps... the only moment of true joy before we are once again trapped at Hogwarts among people who simply don't understand.
We have dreamed of this moment.
Please don't keep us waiting.
Your destiny is with us.
With love, H & F
P.S.: Bring your smile. We need it"
Aurelian held the letter in front of him for a few more seconds, contemplating each word, then smiled.
It was a gentle smile.
"They're completely crazy," he muttered, as if it were already inevitable.
Then he looked at Stinky and spoke softly.
"But I like them."
The elf looked at him with an indecipherable expression.
"Are you going to see them, sir?"
Aurelian stood up, still holding the letter. He stretched out his arms and let the magic of the place make a book on his bed disappear.
"Yes, I will. It's time to buy what I need, and there's no reason to avoid their company."
He looked at the letter again.
"Your destiny is with us..."
Aurelian folded it carefully and walked over to his desk, where he had already prepared parchment, black ink, and his favorite pen. He sat down, thoughtful for a moment, while Stinky watched him silently. Then he wrote a reply.
He signed and sealed it with a simple spell to look at Stinky.
"Deliver it directly."
Stinky nodded solemnly and disappeared with a soft pop.
Aurelian leaned back briefly in a chair, crossing his arms behind his head.
"At least it won't be boring."
With a smile, he stared out the window at the sky, wondering how much the Carrows had changed since he last saw them.
__________
The Carrow twins' shared bedroom was a perfect blend of symmetry and perfection. The dark green curtains were carefully drawn, the books stacked precisely.
They sat side by side, as always. Their legs crossed in sync, their hair styled identically, Stinky appeared from the shadows, bowed low, and handed them a small sealed letter.
"From young master Aurelian," he said respectfully before vanishing.
Both girls remained motionless for a second. Then Flora took the letter. Hestia approached from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder, wanting to read the reply at the same time. Her eyes shone with an inhuman intensity.
As they read, their pupils dilated with every word.
"He will come..." said Flora, her lips trembling.
"He will accompany us..." added Hestia, with a smile.
Both slowly lowered the letter, as if it were a sacred object.
"Don't dream too much about me..." Flora repeated in a whisper, referring to a phrase in the letter.
"We already dream about you, every day," whispered Hestia, almost in a trance.
They looked at each other, with the same idea burning in their hearts. The world was full of threats, of smiling idiots like Cedric or the annoying Weasley twins. They all talked to Aurelian. They all looked at him. They all tried to get close to him.
But only they truly loved him.
Only they understood him.
"Tomorrow... will be just for us," said Flora, in a soft tone, as she ran her fingers along the edge of the envelope.
"And after that too," added Hestia, her gaze lost in nothingness. "We'll do whatever it takes... Whatever it takes."
Then, in an act as synchronized as ever, they kissed the edge of the parchment and placed it next to a portrait of Aurelian that they had made themselves.
"We'll see each other soon," they whispered in unison.
The usual bustle of families buying books, robes, cauldrons, and wands filled the air with a constant murmur. Children's laughter, hurried footsteps, and the jingle of galleons mingled in a chaotic but warm symphony in Diagon Alley.
Aurelian stood in front of Flourish & Blotts bookshop, his hands in his pockets and his gaze somewhat distracted, watching the crowd. He was wearing a rather elegant robe, and although his expression was serene, his senses were as alert as ever.
Two familiar figures approached. He turned and saw them at that very moment. Hestia and Flora were running toward him from the corner of the Quidditch shop, their robes fluttering behind them.
"Aurelian!" they shouted in unison.
Before he could respond, they had already reached him.
Both threw themselves into his arms, tightly and tenderly at the same time. It was a warm, possessive embrace. As if they were trying to make sure he was there. As if they feared that if they didn't hold him tight enough, he would disappear.
Aurelian blinked, surprised. He had learned something important. Their affection, though strange in its intensity, was not always a threat.
"We're so happy to see you," said Flora, without letting go.
"We missed you... so much," whispered Hestia, resting her head on his shoulder.
"I'm happy to see you too," he replied, offering them a slight smile as he gently pulled away.
They both smiled back at him.
"Ready to get school supplies?" he asked, taking the initiative again.
"With you, always," they said, perfectly in sync.
The three walked down the alley. It was a strange scene. The twins kept pace with him as if they had rehearsed it a thousand times, their eyes alert to anyone who dared to look at him.
As they bought books, potions, and scrolls, Aurelian noticed something curious: no vendor seemed to dare address him directly. Not because of his last name or his presence... but because of the looks Hestia and Flora gave when someone got too close.
"Do you already have a new cauldron?" asked Flora, leaning over to look at her list.
"I do, but... thanks for the offer," replied Aurelian calmly, knowing that arguing with them would only make them insist even more.
They finished their tour just before tea time, stopping in front of Fortescue's. Hestia, as if reading his mind, asked,
"Ice cream, Aurelian?"
"Only if you have some too," he said with a smile.
They sat at a secluded table under a parasol that emitted a soft blue glow. Aurelian tasted his ice cream while watching the twins, one on each side, stare at him silently as they ate. They said nothing, but their eyes spoke for them.
The ice cream had melted halfway when Aurelian put his spoon down. Not because he wasn't hungry, but because he felt Hestia and Flora's persistent gazes like two invisible threads delicately enveloping him. They didn't talk much when the three of them were alone... there was no need. They shared a language beyond words.
"We only have one more place to go, right?" asked Aurelian as he stood up.
"Madam Malkin's," they said in unison, rising immediately.
As they made their way through the crowd, Aurelian noticed that people moved aside when they saw them. It was because of the strangeness and unusual energy that surrounded them: a pale young man with a deep gaze, accompanied by two identical girls who radiated intense affection. It was as if they were in a completely different world from the one everyone else inhabited.
They entered Madam Malkin's shop, where the seamstress greeted them with her classic professional smile.
"Welcome, welcome! Come in, come in," she said professionally.
Aurelian nodded.
The twins also sat on the stools, their movements perfectly synchronized, while their measurements were taken, their eyes never leaving Aurelian's reflection in the mirror. They watched him with the tenderness of someone observing something dear to them, as if every minute by his side was too precious to waste, even for an instant.
When the session ended, they left wearing their new robes, folded into enchanted bags that floated quietly behind them.
The sun was already beginning to set, casting long shadows on the stone facades of the alley.
"I suppose... it's time to say goodbye," said Aurelian, stopping at the mouth of the alley.
Hestia and Flora stood still.
Hestia spoke "We don't like to part with you, Aurelian..."
"But we know we'll see you again soon," added Flora, with a small smile.
Aurelian bowed his head, with a calm gesture.
"We'll be at Hogwarts soon. We're always close there," he said, looking at them both with a warm gaze.
Hestia and Flora looked at each other for a moment, as if talking to each other without words. Then, without warning, they approached Aurelian at the same time and wrapped him in a hug, as if they wanted to melt into him.
It was not just any gesture. It was intimate, profound. They did not squeeze him tightly, but with intensity, with need. Their bodies trembled, as if that contact were the only thing that kept them whole.
Aurelian stood still, surprised by the spontaneity of the gesture. But inside, something warm ignited, a spark amid his usual composure.
Aurelian gently placed a hand on each of their heads.
"We'll see each other sooner than you think. I promise."
They slowly pulled away, as if it were difficult for them to let go.
Then, without saying another word, the twins turned and walked away into the crowd, enveloped in that mysterious aura that always surrounded them. But before disappearing completely, they turned to look at him one last time.
They were smiling.
Aurelian stood silently, staring at the spot where he had last seen them. It wasn't sadness he felt, nor even melancholy. He sighed softly, standing in the same spot for a few seconds.