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AMERICA - 1971
...
" FUCK ME " The sasquach fist slammed into where his head had previously been , pulverising the stump he ahd just fallen against .
" FUCK OFF " He roared and raised his rifle at the furred monkeys hide , firing a round that embedded itself in its skin.
" RAAAAAAAGH " The ape cried out , roaring into the air and slinging its fist wide , striking the hunter in the arm and sending his flying across several metres .
" FUCK ... " The hunter cried out in pain as his arm crunched , A sickening snap echoing through the dense forest .
" AAAAGH " The beast lunged forward, Both arms lifted overhead about to bring them down in one final attack .
" AVADA KEDAVRA " A sick green bolt surged from deeper in the trees , winding around and slamming straight into the beasts chest like a heat seeking missile.
" Wha... " The beast fell like its strings had been cut , A green hue to it's eyes that faded not two moments later as its life was spent .
" Such a waste " A sickly sweet voice filled with mocking and sarcasm sounded from behind as a figure of yellow stepped around the tree he lay against , Rounding to his front .
She stopped over him , Barefeet smearing the forest greens underneath her toes before his gaze , shuddering slightly , his eyes darted up her supple figure . The tapestries falling from her arms to the open front of her bosom , This woman had a figure that would have made him drool if it wasn't for the fact he was almost positive she was some sort of spirit .
What didn't help was the white veil that sat infront of the figures face , hiding it from view , Shifting with each breath released . Cascading , thick long black hair fell apon her shoudlers , falling haphazardly in all directions where it landed between the crook of her near exposed breath.
Draped in palid yellow , her pitch black fingers tapped apon her wand in thought , The brown walnut wand , 12 and a half inches long with a dragon heartstill core , it cried out for the blood of the filthy creatures she found herself standing over Staring down at the fallen hunter whom looked apon her sight with terror .
" Are you going to kill me "
" I would certainly like to " Indeed , Had this been not a couple weeks earlier , she wouldn't have hesitated to end this filthy muggles pathetic existence.
" But the sheep of the shephards field know no danger " She reached into her palid robes through the gap in her exposed bosom , And pulled out a snakeskin bound tome , A yellow insignia etched into its surface .
" Rejoice .... " Her words echoed through the canopy of the trees as the hunter , in his confusion accepted the unknown book with great hesitance " Ignorant creature ... for the lord has blessed you "
She vanished into thin air the moment the book landed in his hands , Not with apparition ... not this time . But with a burst of esoteric , eldritch energy that removed her from the canvas of the world with a vortex of swirling yellow .
And as she vanished , Troy's eyes immediately moved to the yellow insignia etched into the books surface.
....
DADA
...
" Try to last alittle longer this time " Assatur once more rose to the dueling platform as his new ' Friend' ascended the other side.
Calling lucious a friend was a stretch in his opinion , But assatur acquiesced .
' They are amusing to be around no doubt ' He cranked half a smile in thought. Watching them flounder about, spewing on about their beliefs like a bunch of squabling monkeys . It was amusing to see .
And so he allowed himself to he given the label ' Friend ' .
...
" Oh I will certainly try my best " Given their equal standing in his eyes , lucious allowed assatur's good natured quip without any negative feelings . As a friend of his , And no doubt someone whim will have considerable sway in the future in his eyes , lucious found he placed quite abit of faith in assatur , though he attributed it to the no doubt formidable power assatur already weilded...
' It is only natural ... the strong and pure are only drawn together afterall ... '
Lucious and assatur bowed between eachother , Their wands aloft whilst the rest of the DADA class watched with bated breaths .
" Proceed " The teachers voice echoed throughout the hall , And luciois launched all he knew at his friend .
" BOMBARDA " Expertly executed , the spell flew from the tip of his wand the zipped through the air , poised to strike with ruthless efficiency .
" Hm ... " Across from his lucious watched with grit teeth as assaturs hand outstretched, catching the cast blasting spell with his open hand , Shrinking it down into a blinding white orb the size of a marble .
" Excellent poise and casting stance ... but "
' Strong enough to critique me on my mistakes mid duel ' Lucious winced as assatur raised his hand , Pointing the marble sized spell in his direction.
" You need to work on your silent casting lucious " And with a flick , Sent the condensed blasting curse right back at its maker .
' Curses ' He hastily cast protego just as the marble struck , And the world flashed white momentarily as its rippling explosion threatened to devour his shield entirely .
" MISTER KAIWAN PLEASE REFRAIN FROM HARMING THE REST OF THE CLASS " The professor cried , a second shield hovering protectively over the rest of the class faded away as the devouring flame bled away , Leaving a sweating lucious shuttering across from his opponent .
" Verywell professor ... now then " Luciois found himself shivering , His poisonous thoughts cursing his inability as he knew their duel was only just beginning .
" That was a satisfactory opening .. let's continue "
' Hm ... ' Seeing his friend wasn't immediately moving to end the duel , Lucious realised his friend was allowing him to save face .
" Let's " They gave an incline of their heads before once more exploding into actions, curses , blasts and jinx's flying out of their wands with speed and haste .
' He's ... ' Lucious felt sweat run down his brow, Steps faltering ever so slightly as his eyes remained poised on assatur like a surpents hungry gaze .
Yet even as a curse wizzed by , Assaturs face remained ever impassive , Weaving a cathartic dance between each spell , Circling his place on the dueling like rehersing a demented play . Infact if lucious wasn't mistaking , he wasn't even paying complete attention on the duel , Simply going through the motions . A step to the side , a weave of the hand that skirted over a confringo like dancing fingers over a flame .
' He's... surely not ' His opponents robes even moved with his body , Like they were glued to his body , Nothing out of place like some kid of permanent masterpiece.
' You can't be this much stronger ' Another spell he cursed out under his breath was blasted by an exact copy directly at the centre of the platform , Yet his opponent didn't utter its incantation nor any wand movements, just a point of the wand and the exact same spell that lucious had to focus to cast leapt from his wand to intercept .
" You're doing good lucious " There was no sense of mockery , No looking down at him , Just quiet support and hidden respect for his abilities.
' Don't compliment me while I'm losing ' Sure , He hadn't lost yet , but the clear difference in skill was paramount . Akin to the difference between heaven and earth , Such was their skill gap . With every utterance, every bead of sweat that ran down his forehead , Assatur simply waved his hand , Simply side stepped every spell as he apparently couldn't be bothered blocking . Not even a knick on his uniform or an out of place hair .
' You bastard ' He wasn't upset , He was enjoying himself surprising , as a smile danced on his features like a wistful ghost .
' I'm nearing my limit ' His legs were growing weak , His head ached and felt the need to throw up , Something he had never experience before .
He faltered and yet assatur didn't capitalise on the chance , Instead merely regarded lucious with a contemptuous gaze.
' Winner of this exchange wins ' Surely from their performances luciois knew he was the loser , But one last exchange between the two of them ... a last wager to salvage his pride .
Though he didn't say it allowed , the uplifting of assaturs eyes conveyed his understanding and acceptance.
' You're a good friend to me ' He recognised that clearly . Duran and fletcher were well and good , But they didn't truly care , they were bootlickers at best , annoyances . Narcissa his dear love was the light of his life and had earnt her place . It was seldom that lucious found hismelf with any true friends , someone to he able to rely on and confide in... maybe he had found that.
'Power draws in afterall ' He raised his wand ,tip glowing as assatur mimicked his movement.
" EXPELIARMUS " Lucious cried out nit as a single blast , but as a beam that roared towards his friend , white in colour , similar to his hair .
BOOOM
A shockwave shook the classroom as across from him , A palid yellow beam the same colour as his eyes erupted from assatur's wand , cracking the very air around it as It collided with lucious's disarming spell .
' You lowered its power ' Lucious smiled to himself in self deprecation , Clearly assatur intended them to win not through strength of spell , But mental fortitude needed to maintain the spell .
' Verywell then ... ' His eyes crystallised as his determination turned to stone , and his grip on his wand turned knuckle white ' I WONT LOSE THIS TIME '
The surrounding students were aged, as their robes billowed and the teachers mouth hung slightly, The backlash from their colliding spells boiled into metaphysical plasma that spewed in all directions.
For nearly a minute lucious maintained the spell , Shifting through several stances to divert his action to the spell , Even as his arm wavered , his body exhausted, Crying out to him to stop .
Yet his determination , His sheer will remained solidified , Even as he watched their beams collision started to retreat closer to him . As the corners of his vision began to blacken .
The widening smile on his face never vanished , even as finally , on the brink of collapse , His body gave out before his spirit ... his wand torn from his grip . He didn't see the awe on the faces of the other slytherins nor heard their praises . As he collapsed to the floor in sheer exhaustion. All he could see as everything faded to black was the small, sincere smile on assaturs face.
' Ha.... good show my friend '
....
Narcissa entered the medical wing with quick steps , Rushing to the bedside where her boyfriend lay .
" What happened " sure she had heard rumours , that lucious had collapsed during a duel in DADA , But the specifics were hazy at best .
" He overworked himself " A sharp voice stopped narcissa in her tracks , sitting beside her boyfriends bed , Neutral as ever , simply gave her the diagnosis " More specifically... The sheer effort of maintaining the spell for such an extended amount of time was too much for him to sustain ...plus his heighetened emotional state "
" Oh ... it's nothing series " Lucious laughed aloud , Trusting his friends words first and foremost, Having been ordered to rest within the infirmary for the afternoon.
" See ... I just gave myself an aneurysm " Lucious sat himself up and pet the bed infront of him " Come here love .. "
Red faced and sputtering , narcissa thought of refuting , especially in the company of another. But with the look in his eyes , she let out a huff and sat herself down apon the neat surface of her lovers bed.
" Better " She huffed , But smiled gently , kneeding lucious's hair as he shifted and layed his head down in her lap .
Sitting in the corner , Assatur studied the couple with keen insight.
" Hm ... " He tilted slightly , Curious as ever.
The way they looked at eachother , like there was nobody else around them , they simply lost themselves in eachother , Accepted eachother for what they were , faults and all without looking back nor caring for the judgement of the people around them.
' Is this love ... I wander .. what would happen if either of them died. Would they crumble , would they strive to bring them back ... or would they follow ' He pondered , But there was a sadness to his gaze.
'Is this what it is like to see something you don't nor will ever have ' Love ... he understood it in principle. Understood how and why ... but he didn't know what it felt like , Couldn't gaze apon another and feel like they could . It wasn't that he was jealous either for that would mean he would have to he able to possess jealousy in the same sense ... no it was a gnawing curiosity to know , to feel like those two infront of him.
" You look sad " His eyes regained their clarity as he refocussed in on the activity of the couple , seeing the black and white haired woman looking at him with twisted features , lucious too looking at him with the same pitying look .
" Do I... " His hand raised and gently stroked his features , Yet to him it felt the same as ever , As impassive as ever.
" Its not your face ... it's your eyes " Assatur tilted at her words , Lips thinning as he rose and dusted his sleeves.
" I wouldn't say that I am sad per se ... just lost in thought " He placed a hand on lucious's shoulder " I'll see you in the commonroom later "
A small understanding smile bristled the blonde boys face " That you will ... "
Assatur nodded once and departed without any fanfare , whikst narcissa and lucious watched him leave without hurry , Hands clasped behind his back .
...
He walked around the castle in thought , Pondering as birds flee over the aged towers , echoes throughout the castle whispering of the students , And yet he had no real goal. But perhaps ... to his thought, he knew where to seek his answers ... not from a book , you could write all you wanted , but you couldn't convey emotion as well as speaking.
And so he found himself standing before the entrance to the headmasters tower .
" Password " A stone gargoyle spoke calmly , it's keen eyes studying the black haired student with open curiosity, another strange one to go to the tower .
" Open " The gargoyle made to scoff , but found itself aghast as both it and the doorway opened for the boy at his mere command , like he had instinctually allowed the boys words to be followed .
" Well I never " He recieved no further reply , a simple hand on what would be his shoudler , an impassive look of understanding on the boys face as he ascended into the headmasters office .
...
' Quite homey ' He found himself staring at the interior of the office , The wall lining bookshelves and twin staircases sitting behind the headmasters desk , It all lay bare before his eyes.
" Hello young one " A phoenix, Having recently experienced its rebirth , stared up at him as it trot around in the ashes that had been its previous body .
" Is the headmaster in " He approached the bird sitting on the tray under its perch , Hand reached out in offering.
It shrunk back , eyes narrowed and feathers fluffed , yet seeing no immediate danger , sniffed at the offered finger, before allowing assatur a single stroke of its head.
" Hm ... " No longer curious about the small bird , he turned his gaze to the bookshelves.
" Accio " A book from the leftward bookshelf flew into his awaiting hand , Where he gazed apon the cover .
' Hogwarts ... a comprehensive history '
" I guess I'll do some reading while waiting for the headmaster ... " He felt the gazes apon his back , the wall of portraits pretending to be frozen , but were watching him intently. As he strode to the headmasters desk and took one of the available chair , flipping the book open to its first page before quickly becoming engrossed in readying whilst under the watchful gazes of everyone present.
....
Albus arrived silently, Stepping through the fireplace in his office , He wasn't at all surprised to find that student sitting there , Now reading a fifth book even as the evening sun was beginning to set.
" Find anything good to read " He asked good naturedly , Striding around his own desk in curiosity. Studying the titles of the books the boy was reading for a moment before Nodding to himself .
" Yes headmaster ... though I do question the authenticity of some of the claims I do find them somewhat humorous " Another book related to howarts and its history, this time a personal memorabilia from a previous headmaster was open in his hands .
Albus felt his lip twitch , eyes straying to a painting in the corner whom looked quite offended at assaturs words.
" Personal bias aside ... they are quite insightful " Albus agreed , taking a seat in his chair and reaching for a piece of candy " Would you like some ... I imagine you missed dinner "
" No need professor .. I'll get something from the kitchens before bed " Assatur proceeded to close the diary he was ready and placed it with the other four books he had already read.
" So ... " Albus chewed " What can I do for a promising young student such as yourself "
His eyes twinkled , curious at what an outstanding student wanted from him , the company they kept not withstanding.
" I had thought of asking another professor ... but I don't think they'd have the understanding ... nor insight to what I sought " No he wanted someone he was sure would know , someone who had lived their life.
" And what is it you're seeking to understand" Albus asked calmly. Waiting for anything that would come out of the boys mouth. And unless it had to do with teetering down a dark path , he would do his best to help , but he wasn't expecting what came.
" Professor ... I want to know what it feels like to experience love... " Albus was stumped , utterly and completely. And it must have shown on his face.
" You don't understand love ... " He couldn't help but utter , and reacuevdd a nod from the boy in turn.
" Oh don't get me wrong professor ... I understand it. But I... hesitate to say that I feel it. I see students around the castle , parents with their children ... even professors speaking about their passions .. I wouldn't say that I'm jealous because truthfully ... I don't know what that feels like either ... " Assatur spoke calmly amd concisely. Like he hadn't just uttered that he lacked a fundamental thing needed for such things as empathy " I just ... I want to know what it feels like to feel like they do "
Albus paused, unsure of what to do or say , even as several beats of silence passed ,the boy looking apon him expectantly ... it wasn't that he didn't want to help , It was that he wasn't sure of what to do.
Until ...
" Would you allow me ... " Albus asked the question without formally asking , the boy giving a single nod before he allowed himself to pry into the boys thoughts .
' Silence ' Albus felt an almost instinctive shiver , The boys surface thoughts were ... basic at best , Hollow... almost in nature . But beyond that , The more he pried ... the more confounded he became. There wasn't the usual fear , anger , happiness of other accompanying emotions . More like ... instinct ... drive ... it wasn't that he felt nothing but hatred or was some malicious person. There was just an emptiness.
And that was the most sad thing albus thought he would ever see of another persom . Complete... and utter emptiness . No ... not emptiness ... there was a hunger ... but as albus pried even into that , he felt himself saddened further by the boy. It wasn't a hunger in a traditional sense ... but a simple hunger for knowledge. The desire to understand. The want to truly feel as he and others did... to read every book. To experience all things.
As a tear streamed down album's cheek. He felt the need to do something that would convey atleast a small understanding to the boy. And so , he reached into his own mind. Pulling from the most tender ... raw emotions he had ever experienced , the ones he kept deep down ... he transmitted them into the boys own mind ... so he would feel atleast once ... what true emotion feel like, even if it came from a second hand memory .
' Such a pitiable child ' His lips thinned , Watched as assatur's face twist slightly , those eyes of his dimming slightly as he processed the memory dumbledore had given him.
Even as his face return to its neutral state , There was no significant showing , no epiphany... just ... a new understanding.
" I see ... " The voice was quiet , As if the boy was momentarily overwhelmed " Thank you for your insights professor ... "
" Think nothing of it young man ... everyone deserves to feel love or loved .. atleast one time in their lives " Albus whispered as assatur rose , Nodding slightly as he turned to leave " Aren't you going to finish your book "
The boy turned back , about to leave before seeing the diary he had yet to finish reading " Are you sure professor "
" Quite ... when you return it ... I'll allow you to borrow another. Remember ... hogwarts always helps those who seek it " The diary floated into assaturs hand , Whom nodded in silence once more time before leaving without any further exchange.
Even as the door to his office shut , Albus stared ahead , Lips thinned and pondering.
" You're crying albus " The portrait of dipped spoke up , Startling albus whom quickly wiped his eyes.
" Ah ... Not to worry my friend ... just lost in thought "