The morning of September 1st had an unusually warm atmosphere inside Gaunt Manor.
In the lobby, where an intimidating silence normally reigned, there was now a small crowd gathered to say goodbye to the young Lord of the house. Aurelian's trunk, magically shrunk in his pocket, had everything he needed for his new school year; all that was left were the goodbyes.
Aurelian adjusted his robe in front of the hall mirror before turning to his strange and dark... company.
Lord Voldemort, settled into an armchair that Barty had enchanted so that he could move with a little more dignity, stepped forward first. His eyes, which to the whole world were wells of terror, looked at his son with warmth and some concern.
"Remember the plan, Aurelian," said Voldemort in his raspy voice, though there was a hint of anxiety in it. "But even more important than the plan... be careful. Dumbledore will be more vigilant than ever about what's happening on the continent," he sighed. "He's still an Archmage, and it's best not to be on his bad side."
Aurelian nodded, bowing slightly to bring himself level with his father.
"I will, Dad. You just focus on getting stronger."
Nagini was the next to approach. The woman wore an elegant dress and, thanks to Barty's lessons, was now beginning to get used to being human again. She smiled tenderly at him. Without hesitation, she wrapped Aurelian in a gentle but firm embrace.
"Good luck, little Master," she whispered close to his ear. "We will be waiting for you. May your magic be strong and your will unbreakable."
"Thank you, Nagini," Aurelian replied, returning the hug briefly.
As soon as Nagini let go, Aurelian was engulfed by a whirlwind of expensive silk and a strong scent of cologne.
"Oh, my prince!" exclaimed Barty Crouch, hugging him with surprising force that almost knocked the wind out of him. "We're going to miss you terribly! The house will be so boring without your characteristic sarcasm!"
Barty pulled back slightly, held him by the shoulders, and shook him gently, his eyes shining with emotion. Then, with quick hands, he adjusted the collar of Aurelian's shirt and removed a nearly imperceptible piece of lint, but one that Barty had clearly noticed.
"And remember: Elegance!" Barty warned him, raising a finger. "You are a Gaunt. You're royalty. When you walk down those halls, do it like you own the castle. Don't let those traitors forget who's above them. Show them how a true wizard carries himself!"
Aurelian rolled his eyes but smiled at him.
"Whatever you say, Barty. Try not to burn the mansion down while I'm gone."
From a corner, Peter Pettigrew timidly poked his head out. He rubbed his hands together and offered a weak, nervous smile, revealing his large front teeth.
"Have a good school year, Master Aurelian," Peter squeaked. "We'll be... we'll be here supporting the Dark Lord with the final details."
"See you, Wormtail," Aurelian said dryly, nodding goodbye.
Finally, Stinky appeared, bowing.
"Don't worry about a thing, Master," the elf assured him, his chest swelling with pride. "Stinky will take care of everything at the mansion. Stinky will make sure the Rat doesn't eat the food in the pantry and that Mister Barty doesn't break or throw away his Muggle things."
"I trust you, Stinky," he replied, smiling at him.
Aurelian turned and walked toward the exit. The huge oak doors opened before him, letting in the morning light. He walked along the path until he reached the main gates, flanked by the basilisk statues. Before crossing the protections to apparate, he stopped to turn around one last time.
There, on the threshold of the imposing, dark mansion, he saw the silhouettes of his father, Nagini, Barty, and even Peter's small shadow. They were monsters, murderers, madmen, weirdos, wanted criminals. Some were the nightmare of the wizarding world.
But they were... in one way or another, his family.
Aurelian sighed and a smile lit up his face.
"I'll be back," he whispered to the wind.
With an elegant twist on his heels and a loud crack, Aurelian Gaunt disappeared, leaving Little Hangleton behind to appear amid the hustle and bustle and steam of King's Cross station, ready to conquer his sixth year at Hogwarts.
Platform 9 ¾ was chaos, something he was already used to, with owls hooting and trunks rolling around, a stark contrast to the stillness and silence of the last few weeks at the mansion. Aurelian walked through the crowd with his usual poise, effortlessly making his way through as students instinctively moved aside when they saw him.
Suddenly, a hand tapped him twice on the shoulder.
Aurelian turned, ready to deliver a sharp retort if it was some annoying admirer, but his expression softened when he saw who it was.
"Aurelian!" said the other voice.
Neville Longbottom was standing there, giving him a broad, confident smile. There was no trace left of the chubby, trembling first-year boy. The Neville standing in front of him was tall, with broad shoulders and a steady gaze. His training had paid off. Aurelian had taken a piece of coal and, with pressure, magic, and discipline, had begun to turn it into a diamond.
"Neville," Aurelian greeted him, shaking his hand firmly. "You look good. I see you didn't neglect your physique this summer."
"I did what I could," Neville said modestly, but there was a hint of pride in his voice. "I missed you during the holidays. I sent you a couple of owls, but... well, I figured you were busy. Why couldn't you come to the mansion? Grandma wanted to see you."
"I'm sorry, buddy," Aurelian replied gently. "You know how busy you get when you run a company, and... well, I had a few surprises. It was a chaotic summer."
"I can imagine," Neville said, suspecting nothing. "Come on, my parents want to say hello."
Neville led him a few yards to a quiet group near the locomotive. There were Frank and Alice Longbottom. Seeing them healthy and conversing lucidly always gave Aurelian a deep sense of satisfaction. It was living proof that his magic could not only destroy, but also heal and help others.
"Lord Gaunt!" exclaimed Frank Longbottom, extending his hand with the confidence of a former Auror. "It's a pleasure to see you again."
Alice Longbottom smiled warmly at him, her eyes shining with gratitude.
"How are you, Aurelian?" she said softly. "You don't know how happy we are to see you. Neville hasn't stopped talking about you all summer. 'Aurelian said this,' 'Aurelian taught me that,' it's always the same."
Neville blushed to his ears and hung his head in embarrassment.
"Mom!" Neville complained.
Frank laughed and patted his son on the back.
"Don't be ashamed, son. It's good to have role models to follow." Frank looked at Aurelian seriously. "Really, boy, thank you so much. Not just for healing us, but for everything you've done for Neville. He wants to be as strong and capable as you."
Aurelian looked at the family gathered together. They looked happy. For a brief moment, the coldness that accompanied him left him. He had saved this family not for political reasons, but because he could. Neville deserved to have his parents, and he was truly happy for him.
"Neville has his own strength, Mr. Longbottom," Aurelian said with a smile. "I only helped him find it."
Before they could continue, a familiar scent enveloped him.
"Aurelian!"
Hestia and Flora appeared at his sides, laughing in unison. Oblivious to the people around them, Hestia kissed his right cheek and Flora kissed his left, immediately clinging to his arms.
"Good afternoon, Lord and Lady Longbottom," the girls said in unison, with the perfect courtesy of purebloods, although their eyes never left Aurelian.
"Misses Carrow," Frank greeted them with a polite nod.
Aurelian took the opportunity to say goodbye.
"Well, I think we should find a compartment before they fill up. It was a pleasure to see you, Lord Longbottom and Lady Longbottom."
"You don't have to be so formal," Alice replied with a smile. "Take care."
Aurelian turned to Neville.
"See you later on the train or at dinner, Neville. Save me a seat at the lions' table if you dare."
Neville smiled, getting the joke.
"Whenever you like. I'll stay with them a little longer before going up."
Aurelian nodded and walked away with the twins, leaving the family behind. As they walked in search of a train car, the noise of the station seemed to fade away for him.
Just before boarding the train, he stopped and turned to Hestia and Flora. He looked at them closely, noticing how beautiful they looked in the sunlight, their beautiful, bright eyes watching him adoringly. After a summer surrounded by Death Eaters, madmen, and snakes, seeing them was a balm.
He quickly hugged them both tightly, pulling them close to his chest.
"I've missed you," Aurelian whispered into their hair, letting their warmth envelop him. "I've really missed you. The mansion was... too crazy without you."
Hestia and Flora blushed violently, a little surprised, but even more delighted by such a direct display of affection in public.
"We missed you too, my love," said Flora, pressing herself against him.
"A lot," added Hestia with a radiant smile.
"Come on," said Aurelian, letting go of them and taking their hands to board the train. "We have a very interesting year ahead of us... and I need to tell you a couple of things you won't believe."
Once they were safely inside a compartment and Aurelian had cast the usual silencing and blocking spells, he began to recount his summer, carefully omitting details about the plan to kidnap Potter through the Triwizard Tournament. He told them about his father's unexpected arrival, the surprise of him being accompanied by a Maledictus, and the bizarre appearance of Barty Crouch Jr. at his door.
Hestia and Flora listened intently, fascinated by the fact that the Dark Lord was living under the same roof as their beloved. However, when Aurelian got to the part where he described Nagini—mentioning her beauty in passing—the temperature in the compartment dropped several degrees.
"A woman?" Hestia asked, narrowing her eyes dangerously.
"And she lives with you? Does she serve you food? Does she touch you?" added Flora, her voice becoming a whisper.
Aurelian raised his hands, trying to calm the waters.
"Calm down, girls. She's practically an aunt."
Hestia and Flora weren't listening to him; they began to whisper to each other, ignoring Aurelian completely.
"We could put acromantula venom in her tea," whispered Flora.
"Or an accident on the stairs," suggested Hestia with a murderous look. "No one touches what is ours. That bitch will regret it."
Aurelian, realizing that his girlfriends were actively planning a murder, decided to finish telling his story.
"Besides," Aurelian interrupted loudly, "Barty is madly in love with her."
The murmuring ceased instantly. The twins turned to him.
"Crouch?" asked Hestia.
"The very same," Aurelian nodded, stifling a laugh. "He's... courting her. He writes her poems, kisses her hand, and treats her like a goddess, and she, surprisingly, seems to accept it and enjoy his attention."
The tension in the girls' shoulders evaporated instantly. The threat had been neutralized.
"Oh... well, that's very nice," said Flora, smiling sweetly again.
"That's very romantic," added Hestia, as if five seconds ago she hadn't been planning to kill her.
Both threw themselves at Aurelian.
"So," whispered Hestia on his lips, "that's why we couldn't go to the mansion."
"You were protecting us," concluded Flora, kissing his neck. "Now we have to make up for all the lost time."
Hestia captured Aurelian's lips in a deep, hungry kiss, biting his lower lip possessively, while Flora bit her lips, waiting impatiently for her turn. They took turns every few seconds, devouring him with the passion accumulated during those short but heavy months of separation, claiming him, marking him as theirs, making it clear to him that he belonged to them.
Aurelian let himself go, responding to their kisses and enjoying their crazy love.
"We are yours, Aurelian," they murmured against his mouth. "And you are ours."
"Always," he replied breathlessly.
At that moment, the train whistle echoed through the air and the locomotive began to slow down.
"Well... looks like we're here," Aurelian announced, pulling away from them with difficulty and straightening his rumpled tunic.
Hestia and Flora wiped their lips and smoothed their hair, exchanging a small smile of satisfaction. It had definitely been a very long summer.
The train stopped at Hogsmeade station. Hogwarts awaited them, and with the Triwizard Tournament on the horizon, Aurelian knew that this year would be unforgettable for everyone.
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