Alternate Universe - brothers Draco & Harry

Chapter 56 - the Calm before the Storm

In the opulent dining room of Malfoy Manor, Voldemort, still the handsome lad, Tom Riddle, addressed his followers, who were seated along a long, grand table. At the head of the table, he sat, his eyes gleaming with fervour. "Soon, the Wizarding World will undergo a transformation like never before," he began, his voice silky and commanding, yet it had a certain charm to it. "We shall emerge from the shadows and step into the light, no longer hiding who we are. Together, we will establish a new order where wizards reign supreme. I shall be the bearer of this light, leading us to a future where we rule over all."

A round of enthusiastic applause followed his words. Sabrina, seated beside her father, glanced around the room. She noted the presence of the prominent Bank family, also American purebloods, sitting nearby. Tom Riddle had the Malfoys on either side, near them sat the Petrovs from Russia. Her gaze then swept across the assembled Death Eaters, taking in their expressions of determination and loyalty. Finally, her green eyes fell upon a well-known figure – a man she recognized as a professor at the prestigious Hogwarts and one of Voldemort's most ruthless lieutenants. Their eyes met, and Sabrina felt a chill as she recalled Tom Riddle referring to him as Snape. 'So that must be Snape,' she thought to herself. 'I've heard of his work. One of the Dark Lord's most vicious torturers of muggles. Ugh, his gaze is so cold and eerie, I wouldn't wish to be a muggle at the end of his wand.'

The Dark Lord then continued, "The time for secrecy is over. We shall claim our rightful place in this world, and those who oppose us will be vanquished. Our strength lies in our unity and our purpose. Each of you plays a crucial role in this grand design. Together, we shall create a world where wizards rule unchallenged, and magic is celebrated, not concealed."

The room buzzed with the anticipation of what was to come, and Sabrina's mind raced with the implications of her presence here. As the applause swelled once more, she couldn't shake the feeling that her life, and the lives of those around her, were about to change forever.

................................

More than three days had passed since what happened in the forest. Hercules had avoided Aurelia like the plague. For some reason, he just kept feeling guilt, like he wasn't sure of what to do or what to say. A part of him felt like he did not deserve to be with her any longer. She was suffocating him, he was demeaning her. It was almost like they were an oroboros, a serpent with its tail in its mouth, continually devouring itself.

He was finally ready to meet her. In his head Hercules had decided to end things. He was miserable, all this twisting and turning, the boy felt like he was just pulling her down with him. But not any longer. He'd end it, end it for good. And as he sat alone in the dark empty Slytherin common room, he finally heard someone enter. Hercules knew it was Aurelia, he'd sent her a letter, asking to meet with her that same night.

But the moment his silver gaze landed on the girl, something in him shifted. A feeling of indescribable warmth coursed through the boy the moment he laid eyes on her. She walked in, her long brown locks up in a high pony, her blue eyes bright, her cheeks paler than last summer so they looked more pink in this light. She was wearing his black hoodie with cute white short-shorts. Her legs were bare, and she was clad in slippers and white socks. It wasn't a stunning look by any means, but for some reason, it made the boy's heart race. And he knew that letting such warmth-filled person slip from his hands would mean living with regret forever.

"Aurelia..." he finally spoke her name. She looked up, their gazes meeting, and the boy knew that she was ready to have a serious discussion as well. So the pair sat down on a couch, a meter between them. Her gaze shifted and he could see she felt slightly uncomfortable. "Thank you for meeting me here."

"Hercules," his name on her lips never sounded sweeter. "I came here because I'm worried about you. You've been acting so strange, I guess you always have been strange but... listen... I know, okay. I know you've brought me here to end things between us. Our last conversation about our future probably scared you, I understand. I'm not stupid. Like I haven't felt you pulling away for weeks, only to ignore me and avoid me for three straight days. So," she cleared her throat. "If you want to end it, just end it."