August 1996
Fleur sighed as she carefully paddled out of the room, not wanting to wake Hermione with whom she shared the room. Their relationship was strained at best. They would exchange a few neutral conversations here and there, a few kind words but that was it. The only time they spent time together was during those few hours of sleep. The older witch knew that Hermione was also hurting, she could see it but there was nothing she could do about it. Lilith was the one to call the shots. It was her decision when and what she would share, it was her decision to reach out or ignore the girl and Fleur decided it was for the best to stay out of it. Her main concern was Aveline and Lilith, not Lilith's relationship with Hermione. Lilith made it clear multiple times that she didn't like the interference and Fleur didn't know what Lilith shared with Hermione and what she did not so the smartest decision was to remain a bystander.
She made sure not to step on the creaky spots on the stairs and finally made her way to the kitchen. Ever since she started to spend her time in England in her youth, she started to appreciate having a cup of tea to calm her mind. As the water started to boil and she pulled out the tea along with a big mug she took a liking to, she looked out of the window and blinked in surprise.
It was as if she saw a ghost. The resemblance was uncanny. A figure with long dark hair was sitting on the grass outside, a lit cigarette in their left hand and head tilted back, looking at the stars above. She remembered how many times she caught Lilith like that. In that exact same position with the exact same cigarette. But she knew it couldn't be Lilith. Lilith was left-handed, but she never held a cigarette in her dominant hand. And with the atmosphere around, she wouldn't be this close to the Burrow. This left only one option left. Aveline.
She sighed as she poured the water into the mug and stirred it with a spoon before quietly making her way outside. The younger witch didn't seem to notice her as she came closer.
"Is it doing anything for you?" she asked as she sat down next to the younger witch. She noticed Aveline jump a little bit out of surprise before she turned to face Fleur. The resemblance became more prominent over the summer. The only difference was Aveline's dark blue eyes that went from Fleur to the half-smoked cigarette in her hand and she sighed.
"No, not really."
"Where did you even get that?" Aveline looked at her shoes.
"I knicked her jacket some time ago and she had a pack in the pocket." she mumbled quietly. "Are you gonna lecture me or something?" Fleur shook her head. She carefully reached out and took the cigarette out of Aveline's hand, without much protest, and in exchange she gave her mug of tea to the younger witch.
"I don't think sinners should lecture sinners." she said and took a drag from the cigarette. Aveline blinked in surprise at the sight.
"Did you start smoking with her?" Fleur looked at the cigarette.
"We started around the same time. It was kind of a teenage rebellion on my part." she sighed. "For her, it was an escape I think."
"Escape?" Aveline took a sip from the tea.
"From everything." Aveline shook her head.
"Why do you always do that Fleur?"
"Do what?"
"Make excuses for her. You always do that." Fleur heard the bitterness in Aveline's tone. "Are you still in contact?" Fleur let out a small cloud of smoke.
"We are."
"And do you know what she did?" Fleur paused and looked up. The stars were shinning all over the night sky.
"I do." she heard a scoff from Aveline.
"My point exactly. You always excuse her. You always stand by her. Whenever she calls, you come running. It's pathetic, Fleur. You're pathetic." Fleur closed her eyes. Aveline's words didn't hurt her. She was aware of how bitter and blunt the younger witch became over the summer.
"Well, I suppose all of us can be a little bit pathetic when it comes to our first love." Fleur took a drag from her cigarette and kept looking at the stars.
"What?" gone was Aveline's bitter tone. Fleur didn't look at her. "What do you mean your first love?"
"Exactly as it sounds." she looked at Aveline. The dark blue eyes were staring at her, widened in surprise.
"She was my first and only friend. She was the first person outside of my family to show me love and compassion. So could you blame me for falling in love with her albeit briefly?"
"Do you still love her?" Fleur shook her head and put out her cigarette.
"I love her from the bottom of my heart but not in a romantic sense. She's my platonic soulmate, she was always the first one to hold me and tell me everything would be okay. So yes, I will make excuses for her and defend her until my last breath." Fleur reached out and tucked a loose strand behind Aveline's ear.
"But that doesn't mean I won't be there for you. You're my little sister Avy, blood or not. I'm always here for you, all right?" Aveline looked down at her shoes but nodded in acknowledgement. Fleur smiled.
"Good." the younger witch eyed the cigarette butt on the ground.
"Does that mean I have to give you that pack?" her quiet question made Fleur chuckle. Even though Aveline refused to acknowledge that, she and Lilith were unbelievably similar. The looks, the stubborn nature, that question. It was the same question Lilith asked her what seemed like ages ago now.
"I said I'm here for you. I care about you, Avy. But that doesn't mean I won't let you make your own choices. Keep it. If you'll smoke it, you'll smoke it. If you won't, you won't. You learn by making mistakes, and I trust you enough that you know the risks and weigh them before making that decision. I might step in from time to time but I won't stop you."
"Thank you." Aveline mumbled quietly and Fleur noticed that the mug of tea was almost empty.
"But may I suggest something?" Aveline hummed. "Don't give up on quidditch." Aveline groaned and was about to argue but Fleur stopped her. "Don't interrupt me on this." Aveline grumbled and sipped on her tea but fell silent, letting the older witch continue. "I saw the badge Avy. They named you captain. That's huge and I'm proud of you, you deserved it. Quidditch makes you whole, it's your outlet. Ever since you learnt how to fly on the broom, there was hardly a time when you weren't in the air. You love it, and it will be good for you. Especially now. You need something that will keep you occupied and you need something where you can let out everything you feel healthily." she reached out and gently squeezed Aveline's hand. "Please, just think about it."
"I will." Fleur gave her a small smile and stood up, leaving Aveline under the stars.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lilith sighed and sipped her firewhiskey as she lazily deflected a spell flying her way and counter-attacked, not bothering to look up as she heard a loud thud.
"Again." she said and heard loud breathing from the other side of the room. She watched as the blonde girl struggled to get up but finally scrambled to her feet. She could see beads of sweat glistening on her forehead as her chest frantically raised and fell.
"Discendio!" she rubbed the bridge of her nose as she sidestepped and with a flick of her wand, she sent the blonde girl flying against the wall.
"Ah!" she heard her groan as she cradled her side, laying on the ground.
"Get up."
"We've been on this all day!" Daphne groaned as she managed to kneel.
"I don't care. Get up. Now." she sipped the honey-brown liquid as she watched the girl grumble but eventually, she got up. Lilith knew she was tired but she also knew she would do the girl a disservice if she went easy on her.
"Eyes on me, Daphne." the blue eyes locked with brown. "Remember what I told you. You know the spell. You know what it does. Picture it in your mind, its name, its power. Picture it clearly, then cast it. Understood?" Daphne nodded. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and lifted her wand up. The corner of Lilith's mouth lifted slightly as she watched the girl open her eyes and send a spell her way, all while being completely silent. She deflected it, but raised the glass in her right hand up in Daphne's direction.
"I did it!" Daphne squeaked and threw her hand up in celebration.
"You did."
"I want to try again." Lilith shook her head.
"I think it's enough for today."
"But I finally did it!"
"And that's why we should end on a good note." she gestured for her to follow her and exited the room, heading for the balcony. She could hear the girl's footsteps behind her as she put the glass down on the table and motioned for her to sit into the chair, pulling the second one closer. Daphne almost collapsed into the chair. Lilith grimaced a little bit as she saw a small trickle of blood coming down from Daphne's hairline, and could see her breathing being a little inconsistent.
"Don't move." she said and pointed her wand at the hairline. "Episkey".
"Ouch." Daphne said quietly as the small wound closed. Lilith moved her wand to Daphne's ribcage.
"Episkey."
"Ouch!" groaned and cradled her ribs but it seemed to work because her breathing went back to normal. Lilith searched in her pocket and pulled out her cigarette case and lighter, offering Daphne one which the younger girl accepted, and lit it for both of them.
"Good progress today." Daphne rolled her eyes.
"It took me all day. And you beat the shit out of me." Lilith hummed and puffed out a small cloud of smoke.
"Still, you managed to cast a nonverbal spell after one day. I'd call it a good progress. You're a pretty quick study." Daphne chuckled.
"Well, if Fleur freaking Delacour gives you a lecture about it, I think anyone would be." a corner of Lilith's corner tugged up. Since Fleur's little pop-up visit, Daphne seemed to throw herself into her training. She could swear Daphne was a little bit infatuated with her.
"Yes, Fleur has that effect." she hummed and inhaled from her cigarette. Daphne leaned back into her chair and puffed out a cloud of smoke.
"I swear, if she shows up here again, I'm going to have a heart attack." Lilith smirked. So she was right.
"Too bad, Greengrass. She's taken." Daphne groaned.
"No! How serious is that?"
"Well considering the fact that I'm about to be her maid of honour next summer, I'd say it's pretty serious."
"You've gotta be kidding me." Daphne groaned and covered her face with her hands. "I've had a crush on her since the First task in Triwizard Tournament. This really breaks my heart." Lilith chuckled.
"I think you'll live."
"Well if you keep kicking my ass like you've been doing for almost a month now, I don't think I will." Lilith rolled her eyes.
"You know why I've been doing that."
"I know." Daphne mumbled and puffed out a cloud of smoke. "But I still suck."
"No, you don't. Since you've been here, you've made great progress."
"Well, I have a good teacher." Daphne smiled. "Did your dad train you?" Lilith's smile fell and picked up her glass, downing it in one go. She could see Daphne's smile dimmed.
"He did." she said, looking at the bottom of the glass. "He wasn't very gentle about it."
"I've always heard your siblings speak very highly of him." Lilith inhaled deeply from her cigarette, attempting to numb the pain in her heart.
"Daphne, you and I both know that we'd do anything to protect our siblings. Even if we have to lie to them." she didn't look up to see Daphne's reaction. "You know the glass display in the study? The large one?"
"Yes?"
"When I was learning nonverbal spells, he blasted me right through it. Didn't help me up, or end the session. He made me get up with the glass embedded in my back and legs, and continue for another two hours. He didn't apologize, didn't heal me up. He just said I was a disappointment and should take it as a lesson and sent me to my room. Squeaky spent three hours picking the glass out." her eyes met Daphne's. Her mouth was slightly agape, staring at Lilith in shock.
"What?" she clearly didn't expect it. Lilith didn't blame her. Her father was the picture of a gentleman in the wizarding society.
"He wasn't a good man but he was a good actor. In public, he played the role of the calm, honourable man. With Avy and," she paused, the numb feeling in her chest tugged at her heart. "And Seb, he played the role of dotting father. He never lost his temper with them. With me, well, he stopped playing the charade. I think he lost his mind when Mum died." she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "After that, his only priority was to raise an heir who would take on the role after him and wouldn't embarrass him. And he didn't care about the methods he used. He wanted a strong heir, a powerful weapon. I'd say he succeded." she inhaled from her cigarette, trying to cover up the bitter feeling in her mouth.
"If he did all that to you, if he was the way he was," Daphne whispered. "Why do you carry on with it? The Lady Farrow role, I mean." Lilith chuckled humourlessly.
"My father's behaviour and character doesn't diminish the the respect I have for my role. Ever since he started training me, he drilled me in our family history, in the history of the wizarding world, in politics, economy, and relations. I fell in love with it. I admired the role. All those Lords and Ladies Farrow before me, each of them made a mark on our world. Kept the peace in the darkest times, kept the economy afloat, opened foreign relations for the government, and crushed rebellions. All of that without being mentioned in the official history books. I admired that. To be seen and not seen at the same time, to hold such power without holding any official position, being the shadow figure. Maybe that's why I put up with his training. Not because of him but because I wanted to make my ancestors proud. To live up to their name. If I just gave up now, folded my arms and stepped back, let our family's name turn to dust, just to spite my father, I'd know he won over me. And I'd be damned if I let that bastard win from beyond the grave." Daphne chuckled.
"Cheers to that." the corner of Lilith's mouth tugged up.
"As you know, everything I just said,"
"Is considered a secret due to the bond."
"Ah, you're finally starting to get me."
"Well I spent almost a month with you, so yes, I'd say so." Lilith puffed out a cloud of smoke.
"I have a field assignment for you for tomorrow." Daphne blinked in surprise.
"We're going out?" Lilith nodded. She could see Daphne smile brightly. They've been closed in Cave Hill almost the whole summer, ever since she picked Daphne up at her home at the beginning of July. She didn't want to start the girl's training until after she was out of school but she just declared full-out war so all her plans were scrapped. Daphne needed training immediately.
"Diagon Alley to be precise."
"But I already have all my books." Lilith rolled her eyes.
"I need to take care of something there. You will shadow me. You can't be seen or heard but you will see and hear everything. We practised that, I'd say you did very well. So it's time to try it in the field. Feeling up to that?" Daphne eagerly nodded.
"You can't wait to get out of here, huh?" the blonde's cheeks flushed.
"Don't take this personally, it's beautiful here, but yes."
"Thought so."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hermione didn't have a clue what she was thinking when she slipped from under the Invisibility cloak and entered the shop. She didn't belong there, not in the slightest. She tried to be confident and casual but she stuck out like a sore thumb. She could feel Borgin's eyes following her as she stalked around the shop. He knew it, she knew it. She shouldn't be there. She looked out of place, she asked the wrong questions, and her tone and personality were completely out of place. She opened her mouth again, maybe she could get some information about Draco's purchase if she didn't put her foot in her mouth once more but she was interrupted by the bell above the door chiming again. Her heartbeat picked up. Did Malfoy come back? What would happen if he suddenly saw her there just after he left?
But it wasn't Draco. No. It was someone Hermione wasn't prepared to see.
"Lady Farrow!" Borgin's tone went from bitter and suspicious to respectful as his attention turned to the front door. Hermione nearly knocked the nearby skull off the shelf as she stared at the older witch like a deer caught in headlights. She hadn't seen Lilith since the funeral. But she instantly knew this wasn't Lilith. The cold, calculated look on her face, her straight posture, the air of authority. This was Lady Farrow.
If she was surprised to see Hermione in the shop, it didn't show on her face. Instead, her attention quickly switched to the shopkeeper as she strode through the shop towards him.
"Hello, Mr Borgin." she greeted him. "I hope your books are in order."
"Of course, of course." the shopkeeper bowed his head.
"Truly? Because I've recently received your yearly report." Lilith leaned closer over the counter. "I do check them, Mr Borgin. And there were some inconsistencies."
"Surely not." he let out a strained chuckle. "I can show them to you if you want. You can take a look for yourself."
"Let's see them then." Hermione watched in awe as Borgin paled.
"W-What?" she stammered.
"Your accounting books, Mr Borgin. I want to see them. Now." the shopkeeper quickly bowed his head and started to nervously scramble around the counter. Lilith used that moment to quickly turn her head at Hermione. The younger witch stared at her as she watched Lilith's face soften a little but she quickly pulled herself back together and sharply motioned for her to leave the shop immediately. Hermione didn't have to be told twice. The older witch turned back towards the counter as Borgin pulled out an old, dusty book that made a loud thud as it fell on the desk. With one last look at Lilith, Hermione quickly ran out of the shop.
The interaction threw her off so much that she completely forgot about her friends waiting under the cloak. She stumbled out of the shop into the street and took a left turn instead of coming back from where she came from. That was her mistake.
"Who do we have here?" the voice itself made the hair on the back of her head stand up. It was low, sinister, almost a growl. The man in front of her whom she ran into didn't look like a man, more of a beast. He was tall and large with matted grey hair, his almost yellow eyes watching her hungrily. Hermione stumbled back from the man, her back hitting a wall. He smirked viciously as he took a step forward, caging her between himself and the bricked wall. The witch's heart quickened, panicked. She knew she had her wand but it was hidden behind her waistband. She was trapped.
"Such a pretty little thing." he leaned closer, so close that Hermione's senses were filled with the awful smell coming out of him. "My my, you smell delicious." he stepped closer, almost leaning against Hermione who was on the verge of a panic attack. "I will have so much fun with you, little one." he chuckled and Hermione pulled her head back from his hand that reached out to touch her cheek. He growled and his hand went to grip her hair.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Hermione almost let out a sigh of relief as she heard the voice that made his hand stop mid-air.
"Farrow." the man growled, stepped back from Hermione, and turned towards the voice. The younger witch could finally breathe as she watched Lilith standing a few steps behind them, watching him with an almost bored expression with a lit cigarette in her right hand.
"I thought you preferred little boys, Greyback. Isn't she a little bit old for you?" her question seemed to agitate the man as he walked closer towards her.
"What I do is none of your business, Farrow." he snarled and leaned closer, but Lilith didn't seem to be afraid of him as she slowly let out a small cloud of smoke. "Maybe you forgot, but you're not off limits anymore." he was so focused on her face that he didn't see Lilith's left hand slipping inside her cloak, pulling out something shiny.
"I've always wondered what you'd taste like."
"How about you look down?" she said with a raised eyebrow. Greyback's head slightly moved in that direction. Hermione narrowed her eyes. In Lilith's hand was a dagger, aimed precisely at Greyback's chest. "Pure golbin-made silver. Take another step, and this goes straight into your heart." she narrowed her eyes and moved her left hand forward, making Greyback step back with a small groan.
"I'm not in a joking mood, Greyback. So how about you turn around and run back to your master like a good dog you are?" she raised her dagger, making Greyback take another step back. "Now." Greyback grumbled something Hermione couldn't hear before sidestepping and walking in the opposite direction. Lilith watched his back as he slowly turned the corner. As he finally disappeared from their line of sight, Lilith threw the cigarette on the ground, hid her dagger and marched towards Hermione. The younger witch blinked in surprise as Lilith grabbed her elbow and dragged her to a small, dim back alley.
"What in Morgana's name were you thinking!" Lilith hissed, her hand still gripping Hermione's elbow. "Knockturn Alley? Do you have a death wish or something?! Are you completely mad?!" Hermione bit her lip. She was still coming out of the shock of her near attack and Lilith was standing right in front of her. She looked tired, frustrated, almost unhealthy but this wasn't Lady Farrow. This was Lilith. Her Lilith. Hermione didn't say anything. She couldn't. Instead, her body reacted on instinct. Her body pressed against the older witch, arms wrapped themselves around Lilith's waist and she buried her face in the crook of Lilith's neck. The intoxicating scent of roses and cigarettes enveloped her, calming her racing heart. It took a few moments before she heard Lilith sigh, and the familiar, slender arms wrapped around her waist and shoulder, bringing her closer. She could feel the fingers waving through her hair, gently resting at the back of her head.
"Did he hurt you?" the concern and worry in Lilith's voice almost brought her to tears.
"No." she shook her head and could feel Lilith squeezing her a little bit tighter. "How did you get here so quickly?"
"I have sources." again with a vague response but Hermione couldn't complain. "Where are the boys?"
"Near the shop." there was no point in lying to her. Those three were a package deal. Lilith nodded.
"Alone or not, don't come here again. Not again. Promise."
"I promise." Hermione whispered and meant it. She had pure luck and she knew it. Lilith pulled away a little bit and gently cupped Hermione's cheeks, shaking her head as she looked at her sadly.
"You're a trouble magnet, Granger." she sighed, tilted Hermione's head down, leaning forward until her cold lips softly touched the younger witch's forehead. Hermione closed her eyes, her hands covering Lilith's as she relished the moment. She missed her. Oh, how she missed her. She could feel her heart slowly pulling itself back together as she stood her with Lilith as if they were the only people in the world. The moment, however bittersweet it was, was cut short when Lilith pulled away.
"Go." she motioned toward the entrance of the small alley and pulled her hands back. Hermione immediately missed her touch.
"I will know when you get back to them. Go, now." Hermione bit the inside of her cheek. She didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay with Lilith, talk to her, and let everything out but she couldn't. This wasn't the time or the place. So she nodded and with one last look, she left Lilith and stepped back into Knockturn Alley, heart slowly healing heart hurting in her chest and the ghost of familiar lips still fresh on her skin.
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