NORTHERN CANADA - Long ago
....
Rolling hills of green and orange passed as far as the eye could see though at this time of year they were covered by a tick layer of snow , Roads passing In between as the canopy of the stars twinkled with silent judgement .
A cry in the night caused all small animals to freeze in their tracks , A thrum in the air , A chill colder than the winter atmosphere itself came with the cry , And instinct made them flee .
Not long after , a pair , A couple fled through the snow towards their home nestled in the wilderness .
" Come on Ava " Tom leant down as his lover tripped , hoisting her up as they ran like bats out of hell for the cabin in the distance.
Even now , Heartbeat hammering In his ears . The whispers of the unknown cascaded through the ferns that lined the way , His vision obscured occasionally by snowfall as they trudged through the snow towards safety .
" I... can't it hurts " Ava cried out as blood trickled in her footsteps with each step . She stumbled and wept , The hue of light in the distance a clear sign of their safety. Yet the cries of creatures unknown shook the forests .
Teeth chattered , Skin palid from low temperature , and yet they didn't stop . Even as the voices slowly surrounded them from all sides as they trudged forward .
" Not far now " His voice a promise ... hope , The cabin broke through the snowfall into view.
Not ten metres away , the light stretched Tom the cabin into the white of their surroundings .
" COME ON " He pulled his love up with all his might , Roaring forward with all the strength he could muster .
And just beyond the safety of the light , with his love in his arms as he dragged her , The Weight lifted .
Not a cry escaped , but a whisper of the wind as the very love of his life was wicked away into the shadows , He didn't even realise until he collided with the snow lit by the cabins lantern, Her sleeve still in hand .
" No...n...." He stared down at the piece of fabric , Eyes reddening rimmed with tears . And his gaze raised to the forest line before him .
The trees were silent , The shadow , a void in the night standing just behond his sight , taller than any man , A looming presence weighing on him , And he cried out at it .
" GIVE HER BACK ... " Tom cried out , braving the creature with fierce love taking control , He strode forward to just before the lights reach , roaring out in anguish at the tall shadow .
" GIVE HER BACK YOU BEAST " His voice echoed through the range , Followed immediately by wracked sobs , Falling to the snow .
He wailed , a cry of anguish desperate enough to shake the hearts of the stern .
Between each sob , The thing stood just beyond the night , unseen , watching ... looming .
" I'll do anything ... just please " He plead into the snow heedless of the chill , Bloodshot eyes turning to stare up into the black silhouette .
" Tom ..."
He froze as the voice of his wife spoke clearly , from within the shadows came her voice , and from within , a pair of slender feminine arms reached out , wide ... beckoning just under the standing silhouette of shadow .
" Don't fret ... Tom "
...
Class for the week ended without fanfare , The hassle of classes leading to the stress of homework . Tensions subsided ever so slightly yet remained present for all .
As the final bells tone wrung across hogwarts , A black corvus suddenly flew from an open window , Black wings carrying it across the skies towards the outskirts of the school .
" Ah there he is " Lucious smiled as he and his friends joined up together, Reserved smiles present as they rounded a corner , Spotting their query seemingly talking to someone from round another corner.
" Ah assatur my friend there you are ... would you like to join us " The void curtains of assaturs head shifted as he seemed to pass something to a waiting hand , whose body remained completely unseen from view , Though from its rather small height , lucious assumed it to be some form of servant , perhaps a house-elf .
The group , Now accompanied by narcissa whom joined at lucious's side , stopped as Assatur rounded to face them , A ghost of a smile toying on his rather palid lips .
" Where too " The deep baritone voice cascading from the other sixth year made lucious's friends pause , With lucious himself casting a hidden glance around the corner to see whom assatur had been handing something off to , Only to he met with a strangely and uncharacteristically empty hall .
' Strange ' Pursing his lips , Lucious continued on.
" Hogsmeade , We're meeting some old friends and would love for you to come with us " He placed a gentle hand on severus's shoulder , The palid boy across from them seemingly pondering for several seconds.
The last couple of days had proven rather fortuitous for the friendship lucious was building with the enigmatic kaiwan. Though strange and no doubt rather reserved even by pureblood standards, there was something about assatur that drew them to him so . Whether it was the strange way he spoke , or the prickling ones senses ... the void of which his pupils would regard those that approached , he was mystery begging to be solved . And yet ... not unpleasant .
" I see no harm in it ... " With a rather lustrous flurry of his robes , non standard amongst the slytherins . Lucious caught sight of a yellow , almost golden . It shimmered in its strange swept look with an almost eye like centre . Quite quickly , lucious diverted his eyes as assatur's robes shifted over the strange pendant , for looking at it for those scant seconds brought an unparallelled headache to the forefront of lucious's mind .
" Then let's go ... our acquaintance is already waiting " They all departed without further delay , Snape tagging along with assurances he wouldn't be found out nor get in trouble for going to hogsmeade under their care .
...
' How quaint ' The small assortment of buildings straight out of a medieval village , lined concrete roads as many students walked between each , adults whom lived there were still milling about their everyday lives .
" Have you been here before " Lucious asked , Approaching the three broomsticks , the rest of the group talking in hushed whispers .
" I can't day that I have " The triangular building glistened under the moonlight , the stars shifting above as they approached the cosy inn .
Duran opened the door to allow them entry to which the group thanked him and walked Iinside .
" Just be conspicuous " Lucious whispered , placing a comfortable hand on the boys shoulder and guided the rest of then towards an unattended booth .
" It... a cosy atmosphere in here " His eyes darted to the auburn haired woman cleaning a mug behind the bar , A large mirror behind her that reflected the rest of the bar . The stairs leading go the second floor illuminated by the soft orange light offered by lantern and the fireplace .
" Here we are " Lucious gestured to the booth , Allowing Duran and fletcher to slide to take the wall , With luciois and narcissa sliding in on fletcher's side whikst snape saddled up beside Duran before finally assatur taking the end .
They broke into small talk whilst waiting for whomever was to show up .
Eyes surveryled the entire interior of the inn , Cosy and warm ... welcoming even though it was obvious some of the customers were of the not so pleasant sort .
" What can I get you dears " The young barmaid that had been wiping down mugs approached , Glancing over the group for a moment , Eyeing snape for several seconds before shrugging .
" Butterbeer " Lucious gave his order , speaking for the whole group before returning his attention to his lovely mistress.
Seeing the barmaids brow thicken for a moment , assatur thought she might say something , but she regained her composure and simply departed to go fullfill the order .
" Snape , What's that on your chin " Lucious tilted his head slightly, Eyes adjusting to the small mark of red on the boys left cheek .
" Show me " He reached across like a overprotective older brother ,Turning snapes head to the side to study the mark .
" It was those boys again wasn't it ... I told you hanging with the girl will cause nothing but trouble " He lowered his hand and sat back against the booth .
" But I... " Snape hung his head as the barmaid arrived at the table , placing the six ordered butterbeers on the table at the centre .
" Those people ...half-bloods , mudbloods and blood traitors. Disgusting the lot of them ... next time ... strike first ... Disgraces the lot of them " Lucious hissed , Hand planted on narcissa's lap as his disdain for the afformentioned group clear .
" Like you ... assatur ... " Amidst trying the butterbeer , assatur turned his attention back to the conversation .
" What was that... " Assatur asked , He hadn't been listening ... rather ... preoccupied .
" What would you do in snapes situation... If they hurt you ... cast jinx's and curses on you ... tormented you " Lucious crowed .
" In my case ... i'd destroy them ... physically ... emotionally ... mentally " Assatur spoke in low tones , Turning to state at snape at his side , studying him intently for several moment .
' He has ... some talent ... ' He took another sip of the butterbeer and placed it down on the table .
" Hm ... let me ask you this severus " He turned his Torso to face the crooked nosed boy.
" You have talent ... budding ... unrecognised ... but it's there . But ... but enough to reciprocate what they do ... what's stopping you from retaliating ... a hard target isn't as .. easy . Or is it something else " Assatur didn't blink as he looked down into those black pits in snapes skull , Glowing against the shadow ... unblinking .
" Or ... " At that the group paused , waiting for what was to come out of his mouth .
" Someone " Snape looked away , ashen and somewhat withdrawn .
" Ah ... I see now ... A one sided love ... you have interesting tastes boy " Snape nearly leapt , Snapping back towards assatur who smirked conspiratorially, Turning away from severus .
" Did you ... " Snape shivered , to have his most precious thoughts , memories ruffled through completely and utterly without so much as a whisper , Made him shiver.
" Would anything change if I did or did not ... in the end ... what could you do " The harsh truth crashed against snape " You couldn't handle the boys who bullied you . If you couldn't handle them ... you couldn't handle lucious ... and if you couldn't handle lucious ... You most certainly couldn't afford to stand against me " Lucious's lips dipped ever so slightly at assaturs words , brow creasing whikst narcissa stroked his hand with her thumb , Easing him .
' We all know but do you have to say it so loud 'Lucious's thoughts withered for a moment before he calmed himself ' I'll catch up to you eventually my friend '
Assatur's eyes darted to his own for a brief moment , and lucious shivered , Huffing whilst assaturs face contorted with a silent smug challenge .
" There is a place and time for showboating ... if you don't have the power to act ... " Now he fully turned to stare down snape down the bridge of his nose " Then grow stronger... and if you don't have the will to grow stronger .. tbe drive to change your circumstances... you don't have the right to wine when you're trampled by the weak "
" I couldn't agree more " A silky , Feminine voice spoke up as a cloaked figure suddenly sat next to narcissa .
" You're here " Narcissa whispered in joy , Her noble decorum Fleeing for a moment as she hugged the stranger.
" Of course I am ... " The girl , with curly hair hanging from within her robes , she leant over and reciprocated the hug .
" Meet bellatrix ... my sister and heir to the most noble and ancient house of black " Narcissa beamed , pride and joy shining through as she introduced her sister to her small group of friends she actually trusted ... especially lucious .
" Greetings " Assatur gave his single acceptance of her presence, while Duran and fletcher gave fingered salutes , Snape giving mumbled Greetings.
" Come ... come on " Narcissa guided her sister into the booth next to her , Ordering another butterbeer for her sister to have.
They quickly , quietly spoke about her time singe graduation , How the family was talking about marriage , their pressure in furthering their standing in the wizarding world ... before finally settling on a topic that made snape sit up .
" How is ... you know ... I know you're aiming for " Narcissa didn't dare announce her sisters goals , this close to hogwarts ... saying anything related to that group was a bad idea .
" I'm going shortly after this ... this is my last stop before going into the fold " Bellatrix whispered back , Beaming under the hood of her robes , Pride radiating from her every fibre .
" You're joining the death eaters " Like someone completely socially unaware , the awed snape regarded the woman with new light.
" I am " Not upset by snapes open admission , Bellatrix instead smiled in her beaming pride , joyous another shared her goals .
" I want to be one ... I... " He agreed with their cause , thise filthy muggles , tormenting hismelf , his beloved lily and the wizarding world ... especially his stepfather ... made him angry at their very existence .
" That is good , Their ... our goal is the most important movement we'll ever undertake ... any hands we can get is a warrior for our noble cause " Bellatrix gently pet snapes head , already advertising herself like she was a death eater " Infact ... All of you would make fine additions to our powerful ranks "
She spoke like it was already all but assured they were joining. Narcissa and luciois would surely follow in her steps like the nobles they were. Duran and fletcher , ever the bootlickers couldn't pull their tongues out of lucious's arse long enough to decide their own fates . And snaoe himself already aspired to be one . And then there was assatur .
" A strong opinion and ... a far harder goal than I believe you understand it to be " Hespoke calmly , the mug of his butterbeer now completely empty as froth smear the side of the mug .
" What " Bellatrix took a double take , like she couldn't fathom someone around her sister and her sisters France wasn't deadset on being a death eater .
" Don't get me wrong ... muggles are indeed weak creatures ... but I don't think you quite understand the danger you risk trying to subdue and rule them " Assatur now turned his full attention to the witch , having taken his time Savouring the remnants of the butterbeer .
" You ... you think we'll lose " She leant back , aghast at her presumptuous words .
" I don't think so ... I know so ... the moment the boundaries between the magical world and the nugfle world are lifted ... wizards face near instant ... and clear defeat ... the only chance you have is if you rule through puppets and maintain the statute of secrecy " He stated the only two clear outcomes as if deciding tomorrow's weather .
" You lie " She snapped aggressively, Curly hair flying from under her hood .
" Do I... do you know what a nuclear bomb is ... do you understand nuclear fusion ... how they can drop a portable sun on you ... can you dodge a bullet let alone a million of them ... can you kill a billion people before they kill you with those same bullets and then you have the rest of the muggles " He refuted her refusal , Growling in mock anger that he didn't truly feel, why should he care for the opinions of this girl .
" You ... you certainly know alot about them " Bellatrix lowered her voice , narrowing her eyes and pinning assatur with her black eyes .
" I'm a collector of all knowledge afterall ... I wouldn't have the title If I didn't know " Assatur dismissed with a turn of his head , Though the way bellatrix's lips were curling .. she seemed to be fuming .
" So you study them " Her tone turned accusatory , Growling as her pale hands clenched her wand under her robes .
" Do you like those filthy heathens .. " Bellatrix hissed , To think lucious would surround hismelf with someone with such heathenistic beliefs .
" I don't... " He snapped his book shut and leant back onto the booth chair .
" Gods do not concern themselves with the squabbles of the masses . Slaves ... ants ... nourishment for the plants ... their places are not my concern ... " As intelligent as she was , bellatrix could clearly understand the mocking , the sheer movie and swagger in his voice , as if she was so far beneath him she didn't even qualify as an equal .
" You're mocking me ... you think I'm mad " Voice uncharacteristically high , Bellatrix withdrew her wand and pointed it at assatur .
" All great minds are ... You're already halfway there " Lips parted as he avoided answering , His pale face shifting as the shadows of his eyes illuminated through his golden eyes.
A spell attempted to leave her wand before anyone could intervene , A curse meant to hurt but not kill , Even as narcissa moved to stop her sister .
" I'll help you the rest of the way " They didn't know what became of her spell , Seemingly Vanishing seamlessly into her own wand before it could be cast .
To bellatrix herself , the world suddenly faded to black as her eyes landed on the boys gaze , Her feet suddenly without purchase as she tumbled head over heels through the shadowed void that instantly appeared all around without warning .
" AAHHHHHHH HAHAHAHA " She cackled in barely concealed fright before her fall was halted , the world a cascade of colours flying by before she found herself laying on pale dirt .
She sat upright with a huff , her frilly hair marred with the pale dirt below , Mountainous slopes stretched fad and wide , The skies wrong ... marred by cosmic debris stretching far into the night as black stars hung in the canopy .
" How rude " She rose and dusted herself off , Observing the mountains entirely bare of any flora with a critical eye .
" I'll.."She tried to apparate back , to use the magic coursing through her body since she was a child to return to her sibling .
Then terror racked her body , For she could not feel it , not the hum of her magic nor the familiar sensation of shifting through space.
Her wand in her hand ... a simple stick. In that instant, She felt true powerlessness .
" No.... nononono " She fell over , Hand clutching her wand , Pointing it towards a nearby rock .
" BOMBARDA " And yet nothing happened, Not a whisp nor the familiar surge that followed her magic following her will ... nothing but the whispering of the winds passing through the mountainous valleys .
" CONFINGO " Nothing .. silence again ... maddening ... empty silence wraught with the confirmation of her worst fear.
No attempting to apparate ,she couldn't reach for her magic or feel the familiar resonance of her wand... it was simply ... empty . Like in a split second , She had a gaping pit torn within her very being , a part of herself removed with ruthless ... masterful precision .
" AAAAAAHHHHHH " She couldn't be... would be one of those accursed creatures , A monkey amongst the worthy , She wouldn't... couldn't be .
She reached up and began to tear tufts out of her own hair , slamming her head into the stone ground she fell on , flattening her nose and bruising her face , Her screams of anguish echoing through the valley for nobody but her own mind to hear .
" That is enough " The voice of the boy suddenly spoke as his pale hand landed on her shoulder, And she was right back in the booth they found themselves in .
The boy... reaching across the table with nothing but a small , knowing smile planted on his face , Like he knew the sheer terror she had just experienced ... bequeathed apon her by his gracious self .
And in her hands , the tufts of hair she had just torn out of her own scalp much to the bewilderment of the group around her. Blood splattered on the table , Where she had smashed her face into it as hard as she could before the eyes of her sister .
And through it all , Assatur simply sat back , face impassive yet ... satisfied .
Narcissa grabbed bellatrix in her loving embrace , Dragging her through to the lavatory whikst lucious gave assatur a careful , secretly fearful gaze .
' No wand ... no incantation ... just ... instant aftermath ... what kind of magic could that have possibly been ' Lucious paused as Assatur's gaze fell apon himself , Eye lidding whikst his face contorted in a small smile , a secret to be held by the two of them .
" Sorry ... bellatrix has been feeling sick lately... stress you know ... the world outside of school is rather... " Lucious left his half hearted excuse in the air , both for then and for assatur to maintain his innocence .
They didn't believe it , to watch bellatrix suddenly freak out , tear at her own hair and slam her face into the table awakened a terror in them they didn't know existed ... a fear of the unknown ... of Insanity. They didn't want to be like her ... or on the revieving end of whatever spell she had been put under.
...
" IT WASN'T AN ILLUSION NARCISSA " Bellatrix cried out in anguish , Flinging her arm wide , eyes open with terror as narcissa attempted to sooth her sisters hurt pride " I KNOW WHAT THAT MAGIC FEELS LIKE ... IT...it... wasn't that "
She fell to the ground in a wail , The feeling of being stripped of her power , of her very right to exist carved permanently into her soul .
" I ... I was there ... I was ... I was one of those mudbloods " Her shoudlers began to shake as she sobbed into the floor " I was a bug to be tread underfoot "
Now she understood ... now she saw . It went against the very belief of the powers that be but she understood . To stripped someone of the very magic that surrounded them , shutting a door that couldn't be shut ... and then to open it again at a whim . Make her a prisoner of her own body ... A toy to be thrown about at one's whims.
" Bella " Narcissa whispered , Gently reaching down and holding her arms " We'll get him "
" NO.... " Bellatrix all but cried , mouth agape yet teeth bared sharp " No you will not ... it was my mistake ..... it was "
Narcissa hushed her , Choosing to silence her sisters words and calm her before level heads could arise ... lifting her and choosing to depart the premises to find elsewhere to eat and catch up.
' Maybe next time ... when things are calmer ' Thoigh her bias favoured bellatrix , she couldn't completely fault assatur , And with the way lucious had been trying to court assaturs friendship recently , Animosity between her sister and assatur was ... not something she wished to come into the equation.
' I'll have to smooth things out for both of them ... '
...
He watched narcissa depart with her sister , promises of meeting back up later , and as they did so , assatur accompanied lucious with snape as they moved through the different activities of hogsmeade .
Committing themselves to enjoying the night before they had to return to the school .
" But don't I... " Severus protested , he shouldn't have even been out of the castle proper , it was against the rules for a first year to be in hogsmeade .
" I didn't know you cared about then more than us ... fine .. go " Lucious's previously friendly demeanour shifted , Dismissing severus and turning away whilst assatur watched like a looming shadow .
Severus watched , torn between following and following the school rules, clearly lucious had been displeased by his insistence on returning... but was it worth losing the friendship for the few people that actually liked him. A school that treated him like a disease, or the friends that looked out for him.
The choice was clear .
" Wait up " Severus rushed to follow , And lucious smiled ... all the whole assatur watched the interaction with an uncaring stare .
Their night unfolded into pleasantries and joyous occasion many couldn't afford to attend , But was open to them ... and later narcissa rejoined now somewhat weary of assatur ... yet she didn't press at her sister request ... bellatrix herself missing and unaccounted for . For hours more they enjoyed themselves , until just before 9:30 where they had to return to the castle to make it intimate for curfew .
...
The night followed their return to the castle with hushed whispers , secrets on the tips of their tongues . Lucious and narcissa gazing apon eachother with fervent and open love .
Severus a quiet presence that slipped into his dorm apon their return .
And yet assatur didn't return to his dorm even as the others tucked in , Instead he walked back out of the commonroom , Back up through the dungeons and out of the castle without worry , head held high , Steps slow ... and purposeful.
Walking right past an ignorant rule breaker as if they simply couldn't perceive his existence ... and those that did , the ethereal of the castle , the bound and the dead , they strayed off his path like devilssnare and sunlight .
Across the bridge and into the bowels of the surrounding wood .
His robes shifted like tatters on the wind , sands flying out like peppering shards from beneath his robes as he waltzed into the shadowed wood like he owned it .
...
" Peeves ... why are you " Minerva adjusted her spectacles as the poltergeist of hogwarts whirled around from having been peeking through the castle entry .
" AH PROFESSOR I... " Peeves looked like he had gone another shade pale , Floating away as if conflicted , Itching himself .
" I was Ah... Ah is that the bloody baron " The joker pointed behind the professor before popping out of existence , The jade coloured woman sagging , Rubbing her brow as she approached the large double doors that lead Into the castle .
" Mr Pringle " The current caretaker filtered into view , hobbling along as he was called to her presence .
" Yes deputy mistress " Pringle , an old withered man with greyed , Previously brown hair stood at her side .
" Please make sure peeves hasn't don't anything untoward within the castle " Wirh a huff she turned and stormed away back to continue grading students work for the day .
" Of course deputy headmistress "
....
" Its rude to follow someone you know " The shadows of the forbidden forest stretched , Yet his own shadow was longer , longer than that of the towering trees, darker than the night above .
And yet his stalker didn't speak, They didn't need to , rather they watched , not daring to get in his path , But following like a dog that was too scared to be seen ... yet loyally followed its masters shadow .
" Will you not speak " His eyes glowed as he turned to the exact location his stalker stood , staring ahead as if no shadows nor trees could hide them from his gaze .
" Very well ... " He didn't press , he didn't care for he didnt need to ... nobody would believe , and so he folded in on himself like a tear in the fabric of the world , Spiralling colours stretching eternally into a vortex of blending light the size of a dime. It wasn't apparition, Something far more profound was pccuring before the fervent eyes of his follpwer .
His stalker crept forward , Rushing to follow with quick breaths , Their black coloured nailed hands stretching to brush the quickly fading Spiralling vortex ... before they too vanished to parts unknown .
...BETWEEN THIS LIFE AND THE NEXT -
Tom floundered about as he stumbled apon the whitened dirt below , More akin to salt than dirt itself , he knew not how or when he arrived , just as he was .
Wandering endlessly in a single direction longer than his memory would allow , days ... weeks... months ... years even . He knew not naught but his name .
The same shrouded wilderness stretched as he tread eternally . After time unknown , Eyes sunken , cheeks drawn of their previous fullness .
He dawdled .
' Forward ... always forward ' Repeated over and over for the longest time he could perceive.
It was in that state , Stuck between the suffering of life and the sweet grasp of death , but denied both .
That the scenery around him changed without his notice , the trees receding behind him .
It was only when his feet sunk into silent waters that those sunken black eyes in his emaciated skull finally took notice of the world around them .
The black stars hung in the skies , With circling debris of moons and planetary bodies alike circling between their shining darkness .
Still waters stretched as far as his eyes could see , Silent as the night without a single ripple . Fog rolling across its surface as the acrid atmosphere cast its glow across the waters still surface .
All around , black dead trees reached their gnarled fingers to the skies , Baring no leaves nor signs of life , A forest of what could have been stripped of life .
And as his gaze rose to stare directly up almost instinctually . His eyes widened and body shook .
His legs faltered , The spill underfoot spreading away as he collapsed , his gaze staring up in silent , unspoken terror .
For in the heavens , Suspended over even the black stars , Twin palid orbs , rimmed by flaming iris of searing radiance bristling golden orange and yellow light , Stared down in their eldritch sight from behind even the stars of the distant cosmos themselves .