Summer was slowly fading away at Gaunt Manor. The flowers that Stinky tended with devotion and the song of the cicadas filled the air with a lazy melody. Aurelian was resting in a white wooden armchair under a pergola covered with vines, with an open book in one hand and a glass of ice-cold lemonade in the other.
He wasn't really reading; his eyes were just moving over the words. It was one of those rare afternoons when he allowed himself to simply exist, without thinking about anything.
At his side, Stinky appeared and disappeared with a snap of his fingers, bringing him sweets, fresh fruit, or adjusting the umbrella so that the sun didn't shine on his face. The little elf watched him with a mixture of pride and affection that only someone who had seen him grow up could have.
"The master seems calm today," said Stinky with a smile. "Stinky is very happy to see him resting."
Aurelian put the book aside and nodded.
"I needed it. It's been a very long... and productive summer."
The elf nodded enthusiastically.
"The young master did great things. He healed minds, trained, and became even stronger. Lady Elaine must be proud," he said, lowering his voice with a touch of nostalgia and affection.
Aurelian closed his eyes for a few seconds, letting his mother's name echo inside him.
"I know, Stinky."
The elf bowed, touched, before disappearing with a faint flash. A moment later, he reappeared holding a tray of chocolate cakes.
"Stinky made one of the master's favorites. Chocolate cake with strawberries!"
Aurelian let out a soft laugh.
"If you keep this up, you'll make me too lazy to go back to Hogwarts."
"That would be an honor for Stinky," replied the elf, puffing out his chest.
Silence filled the garden once more, bringing with it a serene and peaceful atmosphere.
Aurelian thought about everything that had happened to him in recent months: the Flamels, the engagement, the Philosopher's Stone, the healing of the Longbottoms... It was curious how each step he took brought him closer to people, awakening in him a feeling he had forgotten: belonging.
His gaze turned toward the horizon, where the fields were tinged with gold under the setting sun. Aurelian allowed himself to enjoy the peace, the aroma of tea, the rustling of the leaves moving in the wind.
The mansion clock struck six with a crystalline sound. Stinky appeared once again.
"Master, Stinky has your things ready for Hogwarts. Also your robes, your books, and the letters from the Carrow sisters."
Aurelian raised an eyebrow, amused.
"Letters, you say?"
Stinky nodded quickly.
"Yes, master. Three arrived this morning."
Aurelian sighed with a slight smile.
"Of course they did..."
Aurelian entered his study shortly after sunset.
The room was lit by the warm glow of a lamp. Three envelopes lay neatly arranged in the center of the desk, sealed with emerald wax and emitting a faint floral scent.
"Hestia and Flora," he murmured with a smile.
He settled into her chair and carefully opened the first envelope. The calligraphy was neat and elegant, each word written with enthusiasm and great sweetness.
"My beloved Aurelian,
Dad says everything is ready for your winter visit. Flora and I don't want to wait so long to see you. The mansion feels empty without you. I've practiced the spells you taught me, although Flora insists they're not powerful enough to impress you. I promise that when you see us, we'll be even better, so we can always measure up to you.
With love, Hestia."
Aurelian smiled. He could perfectly imagine Hestia biting her lip as she wrote, trying to make her handwriting perfect.
He opened the second letter. The ink was silver in color and had a slightly intense perfume scent.
"Dear Aurelian,
Dad and Mom talk about you all the time, but I ignore them. They don't understand what you are. You are someone who makes everything make sense. Hestia gets excited by your compliments, but I just want to see you to make sure you're still eating well. If you're not, I'll get angry.
With love, Flora."
Aurelian let out a small laugh. Flora was more protective and direct, with an affection that he found endearing.
The third letter was shorter. They had written it together.
"Aurelian,
Don't forget that we love you and that you will always have a place with us.
Hestia and Flora."
Aurelian folded them carefully, placing them in a small ebony box along with the others he had received. He leaned back in his chair, letting the silence envelop him.
He thought about how curious it all was. The Carrow twins were proof that even in a world full of ambition, war, and secrets, there could still be people who genuinely loved him, even if it was with a love as intense and strange as theirs.
That thought inevitably led him to his mother, Elaine.
Aurelian got up and headed for the highest room in the mansion. The sky was clear, and moonlight filtered through the windows.
He sat down in a chair near the window and took a deep breath.
The air became denser, charged with energy. He slid his finger across the resurrection stone and whispered softly.
"Mother... I would like to talk to you."
The ring glowed with a faint light, and slowly the figure of Elaine Harper began to take shape, with a smile of tenderness and pride.
"Aurelian," she said in a soft voice, so familiar that the young man's chest tightened. "You have grown so much since we last spoke."
He lowered his gaze, with a mixture of sadness and relief.
"There was a lot to do... but I've learned, Mother. I've done good things. This time... I saved a family."
Elaine slowly approached, her ghostly hand caressing her son's cheek without actually touching him.
"I know, Aurelian. Every time you do something good, every time you choose to do good, my soul is filled with peace."
Aurelian closed his eyes for a moment.
"Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing the right thing... if the path I'm following is really mine or the one the world is forcing me to take."
"It will always be your path, son," she replied tenderly. "But remember that even shadows can be used to shape the light."
Aurelian smiled, a small but genuine smile.
"Thank you, Mother. I will remember that."
Elaine nodded slowly before fading away as gently as she had appeared. The stone stopped glowing.
Silence filled the room once more, but it was no longer empty. Aurelian remained there a little longer, calmly observing the stone. Tomorrow would be the day of his return to Hogwarts, and although the world continued to move with mysterious forces behind it, he was ready to face them.
The white smoke from the Hogwarts Express rose above the platforms at King's Cross, forming a thick veil that reflected the golden hues of the morning. The students moved among laughter, luggage, and the squawking of owls impatient to leave their cages.
Aurelian appeared discreetly at the end of the platform, walking calmly and elegantly. He wore a black robe with silver trim, his eyes, as dark as onyx, scanning the crowd.
It didn't take him long to recognize the two figures waiting for him near the main carriage.
Hestia and Flora Carrow.
As soon as they saw him, they rushed towards him. Hestia wrapped her arms around him, laughing happily, while Flora hugged him tightly, hiding her face in his shoulder for a moment.
"Aurelian!" Hestia exclaimed in a sweet voice. "We saw you in The Daily Prophet!"
Flora nodded, smiling slyly.
"Yes," she said with an amused expression, "Lord Gaunt heals the minds of St. Mungo... so the headline said."
Aurelian, somewhat surprised, let out a slight laugh.
"I guess the press is faster than my own correspondence."
Hestia intertwined her fingers with his.
"We were surprised by the news, but we know that if anyone could heal them, it was you."
Before he could respond, a male voice approached from behind them.
"Me too, Lord Gaunt."
Aurelian turned and found Alaric Carrow walking alongside his wife Selene, both impeccably dressed. Alaric's face showed admiration and respect, while Selene's had a gleam that he couldn't quite understand.
"It was an admirable act," said Alaric, shaking his hand firmly. "Not many young people your age could accomplish such a thing. My family and I congratulate you, Lord Gaunt."
Selene nodded.
"The name Gaunt is regaining its strength."
Aurelian bowed his head respectfully.
"Thank you. I only did what I thought was right."
The conversation remained warm and relaxed. The twins stayed close to him, laughing softly at every word, radiating a genuine affection that did not go unnoticed.
However, the atmosphere changed subtly when Augusta Longbottom appeared a few meters away, accompanied by Neville. Both approached with determined steps, the boy carrying his trunk while his grandmother maintained her characteristic haughty bearing.
The Carrows, upon seeing them, exchanged quick glances. The Longbottom surname still evoked memories of old political positions, and Augusta, true to her lineage, was not a woman to hide her opinions.
"Lord Gaunt," Augusta said politely, bowing her head slightly. "I'm glad to see you. I hope everything is well."
Neville stepped forward, smiling broadly.
"Aurelian, thank you for everything... my parents have started to show even more reactions, just as you said." His voice was full of gratitude.
Aurelian nodded, smiling sincerely.
"That's great news, Neville. Keep talking to them, progress will be slow but steady."
The pride on Augusta's face was evident, although she maintained her composure.
"My family will always be indebted to you, Lord Gaunt," she said firmly.
The gesture, however, did not go unnoticed by Selene Carrow, who simply raised an eyebrow with a polite smile.
"How inspiring," she commented in a friendly tone but with a subtly haughty undertone. "Although it is curious to see the Longbottoms receiving help from a Gaunt. The world is certainly changing rapidly."
The air seemed to tense up a little. Augusta looked at her with the icy expression of someone who fears no battle.
"And it's changing for the Carrows too, it seems. Less... diplomatic in the past, I would say."
Alaric intervened in a calm voice, although his smile was tense.
"Diplomacy is a virtue when you understand the force behind it, Lady Longbottom."
Before the exchange escalated, Aurelian calmly raised a hand, trying to calm the atmosphere.
"Please. There's no need to argue. Everyone here wants the same thing: a more stable future for the magical world."
The silence that followed was immediate. The adults maintained their formalities, Neville looked at Aurelian with respect and admiration. Hestia and Flora, at his side, watched him with a hint of satisfaction as he handled the situation with elegance.
The train began to whistle, announcing its imminent departure.
Aurelian turned to Augusta.
"Lady Longbottom..." he bowed slightly, "keep me informed of any developments."
"Of course, Lord Gaunt," she replied with sincere respect.
Hestia took his hand gently.
"Come, Aurelian, we'll find a compartment before the train leaves."
He nodded, politely bidding farewell to the elders before boarding with the twins.
As the Hogwarts Express began to move, Aurelian watched through the window as the figures of Augusta, Alaric, and Selene faded into the smoke.
A new stage was beginning. And although he sensed that the school year would bring even greater challenges, his gaze remained serene.
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